Tadej Pogačar seems to want to set the 2024 Giro d’Italia on fire from the start. Demi Vollering dominated La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es, we have the final stages. Plus the Tro Bro Leon and Grand Prix du Morbihan, all with results, rider quotes, reports and the important video action.
Eddy Merckx on Tadej Pogačar: “He is great, he can do the double” – TOP STORY.
Rider news: Patrick Lefevere had an argument with the Giro organisation about Remco Evenepoel’s starting money and Wout van Aert to make his comeback in the Tour of Norway.
Team news: Antonio Tiberi extends contract with TBV, Luke Rowe announces retirement, Intermarché-Wanty unveils its special jersey in honour of Vini Fantini and Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe ready to go.
Race news: Grand Départ of 2026 to be in Barcelona and financial problems lead to cancellation of Tour of Scandinavia.
Plus: The Wolfpack Howls: Pieter Serry.
You’ll need something bigger than an espresso!
TOP STORY: Eddy Merckx on Tadej Pogačar: “He is great, he can do the double”
In an interview with La Gazetta dello Sport, Eddy Merckx has spoken about Tadej Pogačar. The former multi-champion recently appeared in public for the first time since his major operation. “It is possible for Pogačar to win both Grand Tours (Giro and Tour),” said Merckx about the Slovenian.
Merckx said a while ago that his recovery needed time. He has now gone into more detail about his health situation. “I was really scared,” he said about the major intestinal surgery. “Things are already going a little better. I’m trying to recover slowly. The weather is bad here in Belgium, so it’s not really inviting to go outside. But this way I can follow the Giro on television, of course.”
The Belgian won the Giro five times, this makes him a co-record holder. This year’s big favourite, Tadej Pogačar, is not yet on that list, but that could change. Merckx thinks so too. “He raced a little less in the spring to get a fresh start. This way it seems that he will never have to go ‘in reserve’ in the Tour,” Merckx thinks. “It is possible to win both Grand Tours. But I don’t know what will happen between now and July 21st. For example, will Vingegaard participate in the Tour or not? Tadej is great. That’s even an understatement. But he is not unbeatable.”
The two top champions – Tadej Pogačar and Eddy Merckx:
Giro d’Italia 2024
Stage 1 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia was full of surprises. The expected break of the day was reeled in, and then the UAE Team Emirates put the pressure on and we saw some big names in trouble. On the final climb, Tadej Pogačar attacked from the peloton and pulled back the group in front, but Jhonatan Narváez managed to hold the Slovenian on the descent and win the sprint for the first stage and the first pink jersey. Maximilian Schachmann took second place ahead of Tadej Pogačar in third.
La Grande Partenza is in Venaria Reale, in the province of Turin. The first stage finishes in the city of Juventus and Torino football clubs and is short at only 143 kilometres. There are 3 categorised climbs, with a total of 1,850 metres of climbing. The first climb is the Cat.4 Berzano Di San Pietro (4.4km at 4.1%). Next is the famous climb of the Superga (4.7km at 9.2%). At 26 kilometres from the finish is the toughest climb of the day, the Colle Maddalena (6.1km at 7.4%). Then at the finish there is the San Vito, which is 1.4 kilometres, with and an average of 9.4% gradient.
The first attack attempts were shut down, but then a six man group were given the green light by the peloton. Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-Kometa) and Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani), Louis Barré (Arkea-B&B), Nicolas Debeaumarché (Cofidis) and Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty) and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl-Trek) managed to take a lead of 2 minutes. In the peloton it was the team of top favourite, Tadej Pogačar, who took control. Led by the strong Norwegian Vegard Stake Laengen, UAE kept the break within distance. The lead of the six never really exceeded two minutes and it was only a matter of when they would be caught. The front riders were not left to fight for the first KOM of the 2024 Giro. On the first climb to Berzano Di San Pietro (4.4km at 4.1%), there was a lot of fighting for the mountain points. Pietrobon tried to surprise the others with an early jump, but was passed by Fiorelli well before the top. The fast Italian managed to take the 3 KOM points. Barré 2 points and Ghebreigzabhier took the last 1. After the first climb, Fiorelli also took the first intermediate sprint. Behind; Alpecin-Deceuninck put four men on the front to put their sprinter Kaden Groves into position. The Australian was the first of the peloton to cross the line to show his interest in the points jersey. Next up was the climb of the Superga (8km at 4.3%).
On the steeper slopes of the climb, Calmejane attacked, but the Frenchman was quickly put in his place by Ghebreigzabhier. The Eritrean was the best climber in the leading group. The Lidl-Trek rider quickly built up a nice lead over Calmejane, Fiorelli and Pietrobon, the three first pursuers. Barré and Debeaumarché had been dropped. Ghebreigzabhier was the first to reach the summit of the Superga. On the descent, the Eritrean was joined by Calmejane and the two headed towards the first passage of the steep climb of San Vito. Not much happened there, but in the run-up to the toughest climb of the day, the Colle Maddalena, the nervousness in the peloton increased. The pace was considerably increased by the men of UAE Team Emirates. This was necessary, as the difference to the leaders had increased to nearly 3 minutes. Just before the foot of the Colle Maddalena, there was a crash in the peloton. Robert Gesink and Domenico Pozzovivo, the leader of VF Group-Bardiani and in his last Giro, were both held up. This was a very bad moment as UAE Team Emirates had put the pressure on at the front. Mikkel Bjerg and Felix Großschartner managed to thin things out. The hard pace of Bjerg in particular claimed several victims: Valentin Paret-Peintre was dropped early, but more surprisingly was Thymen Arensman. The co-leader of INEOS Grenadiers and last year’s 6th overall was clearly in trouble. Arensman was not the only one as Romain Bardet and Luke Plapp were also dropped. Pozzovivo managed to rejoin at that point.
At the front of the race, Calmejane had left Ghebreigzabhier and was the first to the top of the Colle Maddalena, to take the first KOM jersey, although he was only just in front of the chasers. However, Calmejane took time on the descent. UAE Team Emirates had left Pogačar virtually alone. The Slovenian only had Rafal Majka and so eight riders jumped away: Nicola Conci, Maximilian Schachmann, Alex Baudin, Mikkel Honoré, Alessandro De Marchi, Giulio Pellizzari and Damiano Caruso crossed to the lone leader Calmejane. Pogačar was thus forced to chase. All was not lost for the Slovenian, as the difference between the two groups was not too big. Seven kilometres from the finish, the lead of the eight at the front was only 20 seconds. The co-operation in the front group was also not good. Conci decided to jump away from the leaders. The Italian of Alpecin-Deceuninck made a nice gap and was the first to start the final climb of the San Vito. On this steep ramp of more than 9%, the race was split. Pogačar had to do everything he could to get back to the front of the race. The big favourite threw everything into his climb to pass everyone, including Conci. One rider managed to follow. Jhonatan Narváez managed to hold the Slovenian’s rear wheel and they started the descent of the San Vito together. Schachmannn also managed to join Pogačar and Narváez just after the top and so there would be a final sprint with three riders. Pogačar was up against the possibly faster Narváez in the sprint. The Ecuadorian responded to Pogačar’s early jump and managed to stay with the Slovenian and come past before the line. This was his second Giro stage victory and he also took the first pink jersey. Schachmann was second, Pogačar finished third. Baudin was fourth, Conci won the sprint for fifth place, ahead of Belgians: Quinten Hermans and Mauri Vansevenant. This group also included Antonio Tiberi, Geraint Thomas, Caruso, Daniel Felipe Martínez, Cian Uijtdebroeks and Ben O’Connor.
# You can see lots more photos in the full PEZ ‘Stage Report’ HERE. #
Stage winner and overall leader, Jhonatan Narvaez (INEOS Grenadiers): “It’s impossible to compare my two wins at the Giro d’Italia. They’re completely different. They happened at different times in different stages. Today was my first opportunity and it’s nice to beat a strong guy like Tadej Pogačar. I will enjoy it a lot. We know he’s the strongest guy in the world. I was on his wheel, it was hard to stay there, then I had to play my cards. After my crash at Gent-Wevelgem, the team looked after me very well and sent me home for an altitude training camp in Ecuador. I’m in the best shape of my career, I’m in my best years, but I can’t fight with Pogačar in the biggest climbs, so it’ll be hard to keep the Maglia Rosa tomorrow. My wife and my son Lucas knew I had a chance to win today so he was wearing pink today and I guest he’ll do also tomorrow.”
2nd on the stage and overall, Maximilian Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe): “The penultimate climb wasn’t that fast, so I thought the UAE didn’t want the pink jersey today. That’s why I attacked, I took advantage of my opportunity. We were a small group, but with what was at stake in the 1st stage and the pink jersey, no one wanted to collaborate, it was a disaster. But I knew going into the final climb with a 10 second lead could help and it did. I went at full speed to return. And then there was the sprint, it was very difficult and unfortunately I didn’t win.”
3rd on the stage and overall, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “It was a short and fast stage which we tried our best to control. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be our day but I think we still did a good job as a team. I went full gas from the bottom of the climb to the top but could not shake Narvaez. I knew he would be hard to beat in a sprint, he’s faster than me. Tomorrow is a day that should be good for us, we’ll see how the legs are after today but it should be a nice one. It was a beautiful stage and start all-round to the Giro here in Torino.”
4th on the stage and overall, Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale): “I have progressed a lot since last year, I have done good preparation, the Giro was planned from the beginning of the season, so at the beginning I was very confident and had good legs, and today was a very good day for my. It was one of the best rounds, and impressive to see them on this climb. Unfortunately I couldn’t keep up with them, I got a little lost. You’ll have to try again. I come from the Alps but I’m more of a puncher than a climber, I like short climbs like today’s. Tomorrow we will see, I will try to keep the white jersey, it is an honour to wear it so I will give my best.”
Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike): “This result gives me confidence. It’s a nice feeling when you can keep up with the strongest riders in the peloton. The legs felt good, which is not always evident after a long period of training. At Colle Maddalena, I felt fresh. It was a longer climb that also suited me better. I had a harder time in the San Vito, which was much more explosive. Plus, it was also too high up, so I had to make up some spots. In general, we can look back on a good day. I ended up in a good group with other drivers in the classification. I thank the team for their work. From now on, we will see it day by day.”
KOM, Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-wanty): “My goal in this breakaway today was to get as far as possible in the final. The collaboration with Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier was good, because we shared the same intention. When we still had a lead of almost four minutes with 40 kilometres to go, I believed it was possible to survive for a long time and join the best riders in the peloton in the final. I gave everything on Colle della Maddalena, because I knew that the first one on top would conquer the mountain jersey. I never thought about the stage win because my lead at the top was too small. If the cooperation in the group that caught me in the last 10 kilometres would have been better, eighth place would have been the best possible result. My performance today confirms the good feelings of recent weeks in racing and training. This mountain jersey is a fantastic start and brings hope for the rest of the Giro. I want to show a lot of great things and who knows, maybe realise my dream of winning a stage and completing the trilogy.”
Break rider, Andrea Pietrobon (Polti-Kometa ): “Right from the start Maestri, the Bais brothers and I gave it a try. We knew it was difficult to join the breakaway today but fortunately, it formed quickly. I felt good and I’m happy… but not satisfied!”
Giro d’Italia Stage 1 Result:
1. Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu) INEOS Grenadiers in 3:14:23
2. Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) BORA-hansgrohe
3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
4. Alex Baudin (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at 0:06
5. Nicola Conci (Ita) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:10
6. Quinten Hermans (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
7. Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
8. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious
9. Attila Valter (Hun) Visma | Lease a Bike
10. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers.
Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 1:
1. Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu) INEOS Grenadiers in 3:14:13
2. Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:03
3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates at 0:06
4. Alex Baudin (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at 0:16
5. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious at 0:17
6. Nicola Conci Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:18
7. Quinten Hermans (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:20
8. Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
9. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious
10. Attila Valter (Hun) Visma | Lease a Bike.
Giro’24 stage1:
Tadej Pogačar rode like a man possessed on the final climb of Stage 2 to the Santuario di Oropa. His team softened the opposition for the Slovenian champion to deal the killer blow. He finished half a minute ahead of a chase group of ten riders to take the stage and the pink jersey. Yesterday’s stage winner and overall leader, Jhonatan Narváez, came in over 2 minutes down.
Day two finished on the Santuario di Oropa, a Cat.1 climb. Another chance for the GC men to take control and go for victory and some overall lead time. From San Francesco al Campo, north of Turin, the peloton heads 161 kilometres northeast to finish on top of the Oropa (11.8km at 6.2%). There are two climbs on the route; the Oasi Zegna and the Nelva, but both are Cat.4, so the action will come on the summit finish.
The second stage of the Giro d’Italia started without Robert Gesink, who had crashed in the opening stage and suffered a leg fracture. A break soon emerged. The all Italian escape was: Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan), Andrea Piccolo (EF Education-EasyPost), Davide Bais (Polti Kometa), Filippo Fiorelli & Martin Marcellusi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè). The five built a lead of almost 5 minutes on the peloton. INEOS Grenadiers for Narváez in the pink jersey and the UAE Team Emirates for top favourite, Pogačar set the pace. In the run-up to the first intermediate sprint of the day, 65 kilometres from the finish, the sprinter’s teams came to the head of the peloton. Behind the leading group, where Filippo Fiorelli took the full points and expanded his points lead, Kaden Groves, Olav Kooij and Caleb Ewan crossed the line first in the peloton.
Kooij was involved in a crash with Eddie Dunbar. The Dutchman was able to continue, but had damaged his knee and elbow. Visma | Lease a Bike’s Attila Valter also crashed, he was also able to continue. The stage climbing had now started. Intergiro points were on offer at the top of a second climb. Here too, Fiorelli came through first. Then, Andrea Piccolo thought it was time to attack. The EF Education-EasyPost rider went solo and soon had a nice lead over his chasers. Piccolo was doing well to hold off the peloton. But when INEOS Grenadiers took over from UAE Team Emirates, the power of Filippo Ganna, the pack quickly closed. At the top of the Nelva (3km at 6.6%), the penultimate climb of the day, Piccolo still had 1:45. There was another crash on this climb. Domenico Pozzovivo crashed for the second day in a row. The Italian had to wait a long time for a new bike before he could chase. Just before the final climb, it was the turn of Tadej Pogačar to hit the road. The UAE Team Emirates had a flat front tyre and as his team car was right behind him, his front wheel slid away. INEOS Grenadiers continued to lead, but didn’t increase the pace to take advantage of the Slovenian’s situation. In an intermediate sprint, just before the climb, Geraint Thomas took a 2 second bonus. Pogačar rejoined not much later and moved, with his teammates, to the front of the peloton again.
UAE then took over from INEOS Grenadiers at the head of the peloton and increased the pace, resulting in Piccolo being caught, just 6 kilometres from the finish. It would now be a battle between the favourites on Oropa. Daniel Felipe Martínez looked to be struggling, as the Colombian was at the back when Rafal Majka was setting the pace. The Pole did this to soften the competition for Pogačar’s attack. The Slovenian jumped 4.5 kilometres from the finish. Ben O’Connor was the only one who tried to hang on, but that didn’t last long. Pogačar soon dropped the Australian. The Slovenian champion continued alone, while Thomas pulled in O’Connor. The top favourite slowly rode further away from a group of about 10 favourites forming behind him. Uijtdebroeks was the first to join Thomas and O’Connor, followed by Michael Storer, Jan Hirt, Einer Rubio, Lorenzo Fortunato, Juan Pedro López and a recovered Daniel Felipe Martínez. Florian Lipowitz also joined them and started to work for Martínez. O’Connor was then in trouble and had to let the second group go, as Romain Bardet, Thymen Arensman, Damiano Caruso, Antonio Tiberi and pink jersey wearer Narváez had all already done. The Ecuadorian would give the pink to Pogačar at the end of the day. The Slovenian crossed the line solo with a large lead and so did a good job for the general classification. Behind him; Martínez, after strong work from Lipowitz, had the best legs in the final kilometre. He sprinted to second place, ahead of Geraint Thomas. They finished 26 seconds behind Pogačar.
# You can see lots more photos in the full PEZ ‘Stage Report’ HERE. #
Stage winner and overall leader, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “Today the stage suited me better and I was super happy to win after the fantastic job done by my team. I’m also super happy to get the Maglia Rosa. I didn’t panic when I had a flat tyre. I hit a hole in the city. I was thinking to stop before the corner but from the car they said “after the corner” but I was riding on the wheel with zero pressure, just on the carbon. I made the mistake not to stop before the corner for changing bike. There was a bit more of adrenaline kicking, but I was confident I’d come back, which we did. Then we set the pace that we like and it was perfect. It means a lot to win here, just like any other stage win. The atmosphere was incredible on the climb so I can say it was a real pleasure to ride solo in the last couple of kilometres. The support from the fans was incredible. One of the dreams and goals in my career was a stage win in all three Grand Tours. Not many riders achieve that, it’s pretty big for a cyclist”
2nd on the stage and 3rd overall, Daniel Felipe Martínez (BORA-hansgrohe): “It has not been an easy stage, but in the end I felt quite good and in the end I was able to be second. Florian and I finished with the group of favourites and were able to improve our overall classification in the end. “Today’s result is excellent for our morale and confidence, but we still have almost the entire Giro ahead of us.”
3rd on the stage and 2nd overall, Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers): “It was great for the second day of the Giro. Yes, I didn’t feel as good as yesterday. I felt a little more explosive yesterday, but it was fine for the second day. Hopefully we can continue to participate well in the race. Everything is still possible, but Tadej… Yes, he is Tadej. We expected Tadej’s attack. I hoped I could follow, but I knew if I continued like this I would explode. I felt bad that I was on Ben O’Connor’s wheel for a while, but I was really at the limit. I had to recover. Then the group came from behind and I tried to get a nice finish in the sprint. The reason we took control of the peloton was to be at the front. We wanted to stay out of trouble in the technical run-up to the final.”
7th on the stage, 4th overall and the Maglia Bianca, Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike): “I’m for sure very satisfied with my ride today. I was not at all riding with the Maglia Bianca or anything special in mind. I was just racing full gas, giving everything till the end. After I crossed the line I heard I had the Maglia Bianca. It’s my first distinctive jersey in a Grand Tour. Last year at La Vuelta, I was right behind Juan Ayuso. It’s amazing for me. There’s still a really long three-weeks of racing ahead of us. Still a lot can happen. But once you have this jersey, you want to fight for it. I will do until we get to Rome.”
Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich PostNL): “Today has been a difficult day for me. The boys took good care of me on the climb and I just gave what I had until the finish line. I hope to recover and feel 100% in the next few days and improve from there for the rest of the race. We will continue fighting.”
Davide Piganzoli (Polti Kometa): “Tadej is too strong, but we managed to stay together and maintain our pace!”
Break rider, Davide Bais (Polti Kometa): “After placing in intermediate sprints and KOMs, I decided to conserve precious energy: the corsa rosa is still long and there are several days to try to achieve a result.”
Giro d’Italia Stage 2 Result:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates in 3:54:20
2. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Col) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:27
3. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers
4. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan
5. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) BORA-hansgrohe
6. Michael Storer (Aus) Tudor at 0:30
7. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
8. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar
9. Juan Pedro López (Spa) Lidl-Trek at 0:35
10. Jan Hirt (CZ) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:37.
Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 2:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates in 7:08:29
2. Geraint Thomas (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:45
3. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Col) BORA-hansgrohe
4. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:54
5. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar
6. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan at 1:05
7. Juan Pedro López (Spa) Lidl-Trek at 1:09
8. Jan Hirt (CZ) Soudal Quick-Step at 1:11
9. Esteban Chaves (Col) EF Education-EasyPost at 1:24
10. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan.
Giro’24 stage 2:
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es 2024
Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) took the overall lead of La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es by storm in the first mountain stage on Thursday. She tortured her rivals in the devilish steep final climb of Stage 5 to Jaca’s Fuerte Rapitán until powering away solo with 800 metres to go to collect her first victory of the season. Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) were her closest challengers, crossing the finish line 28 seconds in arrears. Vollering is the overall leader with a 31 seconds advantage on Longo Borghini and 53 seconds on Visma | Lease a Bike’s Riejanne Markus.
130 riders took the start in the 5th stage of La Vuelta Femenina’24 by Carrefour.es, which covered 113,9 kilometres between Huesca and Jaca’s Fuerte Rapitán. The peloton initially rode into a headwind, and breakaway attempts by Stine Dale (Coop-Repsol), Alison Jackson (EF Education-Cannondale) and Antri Christoforou (Human Powered Health) failed. Tereza Neumanova (UAE Team ADQ) and Elena Hartmann (Roland) quit the race during the stage – the former because of health issues, the latter due to a crash halfway through the course.
At kilometre 59, Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi’s Lourdes Oyarbide attacked and got a small gap on the bunch, she had 30 seconds at the foot of the 18,5-kilometre-long Alto del Monasterio de San Juan de la Peña (Cat.2, 85,5km). She was caught 72 kilometres into the race by a peloton on which FDJ-SUEZ and Visma | Lease a Bike took the reins, whittling it down to 60 riders. An attack from Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM) strung things out ahead of the summit, crested in first position by Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) to secure one more day leading the Mountains classification.
The descent to Jaca (IS, 108,6km) was an eventful one, with a crash taking Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) out of contention and a push by Aniek van Alphen (Fenix-Deceuninck) creating several splits. Swinkels took off solo with 12 kilometres to go as the GC favourites came back together to create a 50-strong main group behind her. The Dutch rider held a 20 stages advantage on her chasers at the intermediate sprint, yet was caught at the foot of Jaca’s Fuerte Rapitán climb, with 3,4 kilometres to go. Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) went to the front of the race, setting a strong pace that dropped her GC rivals one by one. Only Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) kept with her under the 1 kilometre to go banner, and were forced to surrender 200 metres later.
Stage winner and overall leader, Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime): “I felt really strong this season, but I hadn’t been able to win as of yet. I stood in some podiums, but victory was taking too long. I am very happy I could take it here. Last year I had this beautiful Dutch national champion jersey already, but I couldn’t win with it as most days I was wearing the UCI Women’s WorldTour leader jersey. Getting at least one victory in this beautiful jersey was a goal for the year. I’m really happy I made it. Now I’m getting the Red jersey, which is very pretty too, and I want to keep it until the very end. As for today, it was actually quite a calm stage, not really hard in my opinion. I felt really good and the whole team put its focus on bringing me to the bottom of the last climb in the best possible position. I expected the final climb to be harder, actually, as it looked really steep and pretty long when I checked it online. I started to pace halfway through and kept pushing because I felt Elisa was struggling on my wheel. I decided to give it all until the very end to get some time on her. It turned out nicely, and I hope for some more nice days to come too.”
Most combative rider, Lourdes Oyarbide (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi): “I believe everybody wanted to be in today’s breakaway, and that made things very complicated out there. It was our goal as a team, and it was very hard to actually make it as many GC teams were controlling every attempt. I was only able to go clear in the last possible moment, and out of sheer persistence. It was a short-lived breakaway, but at least I showed my team’s outfit at the head of the race and I got the most aggressive rider award, which is always nice.”
Best Spanish rider, Mavi García (Liv-AlUla-Jayco): “I thought I was much better than I actually was. I just exploded in the final climb. My legs are not working as I expected. I guess I paid today for yesterday’s efforts, as I spent a lot of time with my nose in the wind, chasing, and that takes its toll. I was hoping to be in a much better position in this Vuelta Femenina. I was indeed feeling well throughout the stage, the first climb included… yet in the end I was not where I meant to be.”
QOM, Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ): “I tried my best. It was a nice race and I’m happy I claimed some points for the Mountains classification in order to keep the polka dot jersey. After the climb, I gave the lone breakaway a go because you never know what may happen when you go on the attack – if you don’t try, you don’t win. My legs feel bad after the stage… [laughs] … but it’s also good, because it means we keep trying to play the game with the girls. I have lost a lot of time today, so I hope to be able to go in the breakaway in the coming days in order to claim some more QOM points.”
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es Stage 5 result:
1. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime in 3:09:52
2. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 0:28
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek
4. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-SUEZ at 0:39
5. Sarah Gigante (Aus) AG Insurance-Soudal at 0:41
6. Ricarda Bauernfeind (Ger) Canyon//SRAM at 0:44
7. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike
8. Juliette Labous (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL at 0:47
9. Kim Cadzow (NZ) EF Education-Cannondale at 0:57
10. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 1:08.
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es Overall After Stage 5:
1. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime in 13:09:45
2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 0:31
3. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:53
4. Kristen Faulkner (USA) EF Education-Cannondale at 1:10
5. Juliette Labous (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL at 1:13
6. Marlen Reusser (Sui) SD Worx-Protime at 1:23
7. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ) SD Worx-Protime at 1:34
8. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon//SRAM at 1:47
9. Marianne Vos (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 2:07
10. Silke Smulders (Ned) Liv AlUla Jayco at 2:41.
Vuelta Femenina’24 stage 5:
24-year-old Frenchwoman Évita Muzic landed an unforgettable victory in the Sixth Stage of La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es by beating Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) in the last few meters of the climb to Vinuesa’s Laguna Negra. The FDJ-SUEZ rider was the only one who could keep up with the Red jersey’s excruciating pace up the devilish, double-digit gradients of the final kilometre. Muzic now sits 6th on GC still led by Vollering, who increased her advantage on Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) and Riejanne Markus (Visma | Lease a Bike).
124 riders took the start of the 6th stage of La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es, which covered 132,1 kilometres between Tarazona and Vinuesa’s Laguna Negra. There were three DNSs: Camilla Bye (Coop-Repsol), Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM), who was 8th overall before pulling out. The race started uphill, with 31,5 kilometres which alternated flat and climbing sections, and riding into a headwind that would persist throughout the day. There were attacks left and right, with groups as strong as 17 riders trying to break away, yet no attempt managed to really go clear within the first third of the stage.
It was at kilometre 47 that Laura Molenaar (VolkerWessels) and Claudia San Justo (Eneicat-CM Team) finally managed to put some daylight between themselves and the peloton. They were joined shortly after by Aurela Nerlo (Winspace) and Fauve Bastiaenssen (Lotto-dstny). The four-strong breakaway enjoyed a maximum gap of 3:50 at kilometre 70. It was at that point that Aniek van Alphen (Fenix-Deceuninck) crashed out of the race. From then on, some agitation by Visma | Lease a Bike combined with some control by SD Worx-Protime steadily reduced their gap until the peloton reeled them back in with 18 kilometres to go, just ahead of Vinuesa (IS, 114,9km). Green jersey Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) was first across the intermediate sprint to strengthen her position as leader of the Points classification.
As soon as the peloton began the final climb to Vinuesa’s Laguna Negra (Cat.1, 132,1km), Grace Brown (FDJ-SUEZ) started pulling. She marshalled the affairs, reducing the front group down to 20 riders, until 4 kilometres to go. It was then that Red jersey Demi Vollering took matters in her own hands to set a steady pace that enabled her to drop rivals one by one. An attack by Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) with 2 kilometres left to climb picked the pace up for good, leading to a new long, asphyxiating acceleration by Vollering. Only Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) could keep up with the Dutch rider, managing to out-sprint her in the final 50 metres of the stage. Meanwhile, Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck), Riejanne Markus (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) crossed the finish line 15 seconds, 17 seconds and 21 seconds in arrears, increasing Vollering’s lead on the GC.
Stage winner and 6th overall, Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ): “I said before the stage that I wanted to stay on Demi’s wheel and then overtake her in the final meters, but I wasn’t 100% sure that I could do it. When I looked back and I saw that I was the only one on her wheel, I started focusing on not getting dropped. Finally, I came around her. I’m very proud of what I have done. All my teammates did a really good job all race long to keep me in a good position, and then Grace Brown did the lead-out in the first part of the climb. They were amazing, and this win is also for them. This victory means a lot to me! I often finish 4th, like in La Flèche Wallonne Femmes, and also yesterday or in the climbing stages of last year’s Vuelta Femenina. I really wanted one big victory, and now I have it. I think now I will have more confidence on me. Sometimes, I’m too kind and I always start the climbs a bit too far behind, but I always have the leg as I showed everyone today. I won’t be fighting for the overall win, but I will try to gain some more positions on the GC… and why not scoring one more victory?”
Overall leader and 2nd on the stage, Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime): “I felt really good today. The final climb was a bit more difficult than yesterday because of the headwind. It made such a difference whether you were at the front or behind someone, and of course it’s way easier to climb on the wheel of someone else. I couldn’t get rid of Évita, so it’s a deserved win for her. We can’t assume that we are winning the GC, because it just takes a crash or some mishap for everything to be over. My team and I need to stay focused. A strong breakaway can make things difficult, as was indeed the case today with all that headwind on large roads. My teammates put on a quite a remarkable display to control the race all day long. If we stay as focus as we were today, we will for sure bring the Red jersey home.”
Most combative rider, Claudia San Justo (Eneicat-CM Team): “We had been trying to be on the breakaway all Vuelta Femenina long, and we finally made it today. I’m very happy I got this prize and managed to feature at the front. This is being a very hard Vuelta for me, with such high level… I’m taking it day by day, doing my best to finish the race. What I achieved is very special for the whole Eneicat-CM Team, as we had been very unlucky when it came to attacking. Being represented in at least one breakaway is a big deal for us – especially if, on top of that, we get to stand on the podium! I think I’m going to frame this white jersey. Who would have known that I was going to get a jersey on my first Vuelta!”
Best young rider, Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM): “Unfortunately, we lost Kasia (Niewiadoma) before the stage. I think it would have been really good to have her with us, but she was ill. We are making the most out of the situation. With Ricarda (Bauernfeind) and me, we could do something on the climb, and I think we can be happy with our overall performance. The felling was quite good today. We are all tired, but it’s normal since it’s stage 6. We are really motivated and we will play our two cards all the way to the finish. We’ve been trying hard to be at our best. The last day is the queen stage, so we are really looking forward for this. I think everything will change there. Nothing is decided until the very end, so let’s see what we can do there with the team.”
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es Stage 6 result:
1. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-SUEZ in 4:10:20
2. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime at 0:02
3. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 0:15
4. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:17
5. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 0:21
6. Ricarda Bauernfeind (Ger) Canyon//SRAM
7. Juliette Labous (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL
8. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 0:33
9. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ) SD Worx-Protime at 0:38
10. Kim Cadzow (NZ) EF Education-Cannondale at 0:40.
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es Overall After Stage 6:
1. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime in 17:20:01
2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 0:56
3. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 1:14
4. Juliette Labous (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL at 1:38
5. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ) SD Worx-Protime at 2:16
6. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-SUEZ at 2:42
7. Marlen Reusser (Sui) SD Worx-Protime at 2:52
8. Ricarda Bauernfeind (Ger) Canyon//SRAM at 3:17
9. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 3:25
10. Kristen Faulkner (USA) EF Education-Cannondale at 3:29.
Vuelta Femenina’24 stage 6:
Few athletes in the world of sports have aged like Marianne Vos has done – evolving from a sharp all-rounder to a consistent fast-woman, yet keeping a killer instinct that enables her to expand her legend with every racing day. The Visma | Lease a Bike scored her second stage victory in La Vuelta Femenina’24 by Carrefour.es on Saturday’s Stage 7 in Sigüenza, out-powering Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Cannondale) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) in the final uphill kick to win the stage and seal the Points classification. Fourth across the finish line was Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), who managed to navigate the echelons that defined yet another windy stage in order to keep the Red jersey as an overall leader ahead of the final mountain day on Sunday between Madrid’s Distrito Telefónica and Valdesquí.
122 riders took the start in the 7th stage of La Vuelta Femenina’24 by Carrefour.es, which covered 138,6 kilometres between San Esteban de Gormaz and Sigüenza. There was one DNS in Debora Silvestri (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi), as a consequence of her crash in stage 4. After a very aggressive start, it took 25 kilometres for Laura Tomasi (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi), Anna Kiesenhofer (Roland), Yuliia Biriukova (Human Powered Health) and Veronica Ewers (EF Education-Cannondale) to go clear, followed by Angela Oro (Bepink-Bongioanni), Quinty Schoens (Volkerwessels) and Stina Kagevi (Coop-Repsol). These two groups merged to form a seven-strong breakaway whose advantage peaked at 1:25 in Almazán (59km), but it was shut down at 73 kilometres, as the peloton accelerated out of sheer fear that the strong cross-tailwinds would create echelons like the ones we saw on stage 4.
Current Olympic champion Anna Kiesenhofer was not ready to just sit within the peloton and took off again as soon as her six fellow escapees were brought back. Many riders counter-attacked. Those whose move stuck were Tota Magalhaes (Bepink-Bongioanni), Anya Louw (AG Insurance-Soudal), Laura Molenaar (Volkerwessels), Georgie Howe (Liv-AlUla-Jayco), Carolina Vargas (Eneicat-CM Team), Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck), Cristina Tonetti (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) and Silvia Zanardi (Human Powered Health). They eventually joined forces and linked back with Kiesenhofer at kilometre 90, creating a nine-strong group at the front that bore a one-minute gap on a peloton that has been as far behind the Roland rider at 1:50, clocked at kilometre 85. They kept a 33 second gap on the Visma-led peloton at Barahona (IS, 97,9km). Vargas came first across the intermediate sprint. Meanwhile, her teammate and compatriot Andrea Alzate crashed out of the race.
As the road turned south again after Barahona, Lidl-Trek put the hammer down and found the co-operation of riders from Liv-AlUla-Jayco and SD Worx-Protime to create echelons and whittle down the peloton. Out of the top-10 riders in the GC, only Fenix-Deceuninck’s Yara Kastelijn missed out on the split. The resulting 30-woman front group rode fast towards the final 500-metre uphill kick in Sigüenza, with several attacks by SD Worx-Protime’s Mischa Bredewold and Marlen Reusser failing to go clear. EF Education-Cannondale led the final climb, first with Alison Jackson and then with Kristen Faulkner. Visma | Lease a Bike’s Marianne Vos only came out of her wheel with 150 metres to go to power away and raise her arms in victory ahead of Faulkner herself and Lidl-Trek’s Elisa Longo Borghini.
Stage winner and points leader, Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): “We really wanted to try and go for the stage win today. That’s the reason why the team controlled the peloton all day long. And of course, when they do so much work, you want to try and finish it off. Riejanne Markus and me were in this final break when the echelon started. That was a good situation, but of course also a little bit hard to control. It was a bit stressful but then, when we entered the final kilometre, we just tried to stay in the best possible position and go for it.”
Overall leader and 4th on the stage, Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime): “We expected more sidewinds and backwinds, but there were also a lot of headwinds. It was important not to fall asleep, as the wind could change anytime to tear things apart. When the echelons happened, I found myself surrounded by many teammates. From then on, I had to stay focused because staying at the front became more and more difficult. Once we were safe GC-wise, which was the main goal today, we started working towards sprinting with Blanka [Vas] on this demanding final, uphill kick. As for tomorrow, I think the stage suits me well. I haven’t looked into the details as of yet, but it will be a hard stage and that’s nice for me. As for challengers to look out for, I think Yara Kastelijn has already shown how strong she is, as did Évita Muzic yesterday. And you can never underestimate Elisa Longo Borghini – she is always dangerous!”
Most combative rider, Anya Louw (AG Insurance-Soudal): “I’m really surprised with how my legs worked today. I woke up this morning feeling incredibly tired, but I guess the whole peloton feels like that by now. I found myself able to follow a good move and we got a nice gap by the time the peloton split, so I was able to hang on with the first group until the finish. Visma | Lease a Bike was very active today, and quite adamant. They were riding because they were confident Marianne Vos could finish it off like she did. I figured that, if they let a breakaway go, it would be a wasted opportunity for them and for many other teams. This Vuelta Femenina has given me quite a wealth of experience. I am a rider who is quite new to the pro peloton, so I’m learning with every race. To do an eight-day stage race teaches a rider resilience, and enables you to practices skills day in and day out for a week. To me, that’s the most important thing – I’m learning new things every day.”
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es Stage 7 result:
1. Marianne Vos (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike in 3:27:56
2. Kristen Faulkner (USA) EF Education-Cannondale at 0:02
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek
4. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime
5. Ingvild Gåskjenn (Nor) Liv AlUla Jayco
6. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ) SD Worx-Protime
7. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike
8. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-SUEZ
9. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 0:08
10. Eline Jansen (Ned) VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team at 0:10.
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es Overall After Stage 7:
1. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime in 20:47:59
2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 0:52
3. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 1:14
4. Juliette Labous (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL at 1:48
5. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ) SD Worx-Protime at 2:16
6. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-SUEZ at 2:42
7. Kristen Faulkner (USA) EF Education-Cannondale at 3:23
8. Marlen Reusser (Sui) SD Worx-Protime at 3:24
9. Ricarda Bauernfeind (Ger) Canyon//SRAM at 3:27
10. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 4:07.
Vuelta Femenina’24 stage 7:
Two stage wins, including the Queen Stage. The polka dot jersey of the Mountains classification. The Premio Estela Domínguez, after conquering the race’s main climb, and, of course, the Red jersey as overall winner. The list of achievements of Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) in La Vuelta Femenina’24 by Carrefour.es is as impressive as her ride over the whole race in general and on the final climb to Comunidad de Madrid’s Valdesquí winter sports station on the final Stage 8 in particular. The Dutch rider made up for her painful defeat in last year’s edition of the Spanish Grand Tour with a week-long triumph. Riejanne Markus (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) stood on the final podium along with the absolute victor of the event. Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) took the Points classification, while Mireia Benito (AG Insurance-Soudal) was awarded the white jersey as the race’s most aggressive rider.
119 riders took the start in the 8th stage of La Vuelta Femenina’24 by Carrefour.es, which covered 89,5 kilometres between Madrid’s Distrito Telefónica and Comunidad de Madrid’s Valdesquí. There were two DNSs: Sara Martín (Movistar) and Eva van Agt (Visma | Lease a Bike). After a very aggressive start, 13 riders went clear at kilometre 15. They were Jelena Eric (Movistar), Elena Cecchini (SD Worx-Protime), Brodie Chapman (Lidl-Trek), Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ), Abi Smith (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike), Alessia Vigilia (FDJ-SUEZ), Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck), Silke Smulders (Liv-AlUla-Jayco), Sarah Gigante, Mireia Benito (AG Insurance-Soudal), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health) and Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Cannondale). They had a maximum gap of 1:45 after 38 kilometres.
The break had a 50 second advantage on the peloton at the foot of the Puerto de la Morcuera (Cat.1, 56,3km). Benito set a strong pace that was used as a springboard by Gigante, who took off with Chapman and Swinkels on her wheel 5 kilometres from the summit of the climb. Behind; a pull by Maud Oudeman (Visma | Lease a Bike) whittled the bunch down to 20 riders. 3,5 kilometres from the summit, Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck) powered away and overtook all the breakaway riders, but she was brought back by a main group then led by Grace Brown as she was 1 kilometre from cresting the day’s first climb. Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) was first at the summit to take the provisional lead of the Mountains classification.
Swinkels broke away solo with 20 kilometres to go and led the race across Rascafría (IS, 70,7km) by 20 seconds on a main group with Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ), Niamh Fisher-Black, Marlen Reusser, Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), Brodie Chapman, Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), Ricarda Bauernfeind, Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM), Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Riejanne Markus (Visma | Lease a Bike), Évita Muzic, Grace Brown (FDJ-SUEZ), Yara Kastelijn, Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck), Ingvild Gaskjeen (Liv-AlUla-Jayco), Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Kim Cadzow, Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Cannondale), Monica Trinca Colonel (Bepink-Bongionanni) and Karolina Perekitko (Winspace). The Dutch rider increased her advantage up 1:20 at the foot of the climb to Comunidad de Madrid’s Valdesquí (Cat.HC, Cima Estela Domínguez, 89,5km). The final, 12,8 kilometre-long ascent, was due to be decisive. Lone leader Swinkels was reeled back into the main group by Brown’s fierce pace with 9,5 kilometres to go. It was 3 kilometres later that Vollering took off, tearing the race apart as she dropped her rivals one by one and was solo 500 metres later, the road was clear for the Dutch rider to triumph. Meanwhile, Markus got a small gap on Longo Borghini that she increased up to 27 seconds, just enough to overtake the Italian national champion in the GC, on which they finished 2nd and 3rd. Muzic came around Markus at the finish line, taking the 2nd place of the stage and climbing to the 5th overall.
Stage, KOM and final overall winner, Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime): “The team did a good job all day. Of course in such a tough mountain stage it is still a bit nervous. I didn’t find this last climb super tough. There was headwind again, but it wasn’t super steep. There was a part where we had the wind at our back and you could pace yourself. There I thought: I have to attack to make sure I have an advantage on that stretch. After all, then the rest will have to chase me again later in the headwind. It’s nice that I was able to increase my lead later on the climb and thus win this stage as well. To end the Vuelta this way is fantastic. As a team we rode strong here all week. With two stage wins, the overall victory and some podium finishes, we can be proud of ourselves as a team. This overall win is hopefully a good ‘start’ for this summer. I hope to ride some nice stage races first here in Spain and then in the Tour de France Femmes in the coming months. With the red jersey in my pocket, I am ambitiously looking forward to the rest of the season.”
3rd on the stage and 2nd overall, Riejanne Markus (Visma | Lease a Bike): “I’m super happy. I couldn’t wish for anything better. Last year I was 3rd in the GC until the last day and came 4th in the end. This time, I’ve moved up one position, from 3rd to 2nd. Everything went perfect this week. As a team, we got two stage wins and came close to a third one in the TTT – and we were present in the echelons, as well! I’m thankful to all my teammates. I was never confident that I could overtake Elisa [Longo Borghini] today, but I felt really strong and I was hoping I could somehow attack her today. Everything worked out as I was hoping for. I’m very proud of this result. La Vuelta Femenina is always a very hard race, and an all-round one with TTT, echelons and tough mountain stages. To be 2nd here, just behind Demi [Vollering], is really cool. Now I head home for two weeks before going on altitude training camp to prepare for the rest of the season. I won’t do the Giro, but the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.”
3rd overall and 7th on the stage, Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek): “It was a beautiful week in Spain. I have to say that the course of La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es was a great one, overall. No stage was easy – we always raced full on! I didn’t come here in my optimal form after the tough Spring campaign I had. I was not at my very best level, but I fought hard with my teammates as we did believe until the very end that we could keep the 2nd place. In the end, it wasn’t possible and I finished 3rd. This is sport – sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I don’t think I made any mistake. I just gave my 100% and this what I got. I go home now, and I’m still happy. I am in the purple jersey as leader of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, and that means that I have been very consistent during my Spring. I’m satisfied with my first part of the season. Now it’s time to rest, reset and restart thinking of the second part of the season.”
Points competition winner, Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike): “We are very happy. Our goals were going for stage wins and for the final GC. The whole team worked really hard, the two stage wins were great, and to have Riejanne Markus standing second on the overall podium is fantastic. It was a good La Vuelta Femenina 24 by Carrefour.es. We started off with a bit of bad luck with Anna Henderson crashing out in the second stage and we missed her this week, but hopefully she will recover well. The rest, we just were going for it every day, and we ended with a very good feeling. Today we wanted to make the race as hard as possible. We know Riejanne has a big engine, so if it’s hard, she’s on her best. My idea was to try to get in the breakaway and survive as long as possible, but I didn’t make it over the first climb. I’m very proud of the girls. They worked really hard and made it also hard on the climb, and then I’m also very proud of how Riejanne finished it off.”
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es Stage 8 result:
1. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime in 2:43:06
2. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-SUEZ at 0:29
3. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:33
4. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 0:53
5. Ricarda Bauernfeind (Ger) Canyon//SRAM at 0:56
6. Juliette Labous (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL at 1:00
7. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek
8. Antonia Niedermaier (Ger) Canyon//SRAM
9. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 1:10
10. Kim Cadzow (NZ) EF Education-Cannondale at 1:28.
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es Final Overall Result:
1. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime in 23:30:55
2. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 1:49
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 2:00
4. Juliette Labous (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL at 2:58
5. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-SUEZ at 3:15
6. Ricarda Bauernfeind (Ger) Canyon//SRAM at 4:33
7. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ) SD Worx-Protime at 5:14
8. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 5:27
9. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 5:42
10. Kim Cadzow (NZ) EF Education-Cannondale at 6:19.
Vuelta Femenina’24 stage 8:
Tro Bro Leon 2024
The 40th edition of the Tro Bro Leon was animated for a long time by a seven-man break, which, as in the last two years, included Morné Van Niekerk (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93). The final rider in the breakaway, the South African, was only caught with 6.5km to go, just as Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) launched his attack on the legendary ribin de la ferme. Only Pierre Gautherat (Décathlon AG2R La Mondiale) managed to stay with the Belgian before the express return of American Riley Sheehan (Israel-Premier Tech), who had dominated the roads of Paris-Tours last October. Even though the three riders were very close to each other, they were caught by six chasers just before the final kilometre. De Lie had it all to do again. But he still had enough energy to dominate the sprint ahead of Clément Venturini (Arkéa B&B Hotels) and Gautherat. The 22-year-old ‘Taureau de Lescheret’ thus exacts revenge for his runner-up finish last year when Giacomo Nizzolo jumped him at the line. He has finally won the Tro Bro Leon, a success made all the more pleasing by the fact that he had two punctures, forcing him into two frantic chases late in the race, with the help of his teammates.
The start of the 40th edition of the Tro Bro Leon was at 11:59am with a decent breeze and a few rays of sunshine filtering through the cottony sky. The 137-rider peloton was in no mood to leave any openings as the first attack came on the first of the 203.6 kilometres. A group of seven riders, including Morne Van Niekerk, who had already escaped from the field in the last two editions, took a 15-second lead before being caught at 11km along the seafront on the scenic route. A group of five riders tried their luck but to no avail. Then, the break of the day came at 22km under a brief drizzle.
The breakaway featured Kévin Avoine (Van Rysel-Roubaix), who had made several attempts since the start, his teammate Samuel Leroux, as well as George Jackson (Burgos-BH), Morné Van Niekerk (St Michel-Mavic Auber 93) and Jaume Guardeno (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA). The peloton lost 2 minutes in the first sector, n°29, a new section introduced this year. Nicolas Aluztiga (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Alexander Konijn (Nice), who had been between the breakaway and peloton for a long time, finally joined the leaders at km 39. Avoine won the first of the three intermediate sprints at km 57 in Lanorven, ahead of Leroux and Van Niekerk. The gap peaked at 6:30 in the crossing of Landerneau, where Julian Alaphilippe had donned the Yellow Jersey in 2021 after winning stage 1 of the Tour de France. After two hours of racing, the average speed was 42.5km/h. The peloton, led by two riders from Q36.5, was 4:30 back at the race’s midway point. In the heart of the sumptuous Ménéham natural site, on a narrow road nibbled by the dune, Avoine won the second sprint ahead of Leroux and Van Niekerk. The peloton also nibbled away at its deficit (3:05). Three riders from Arkéa B&B Hotels – who wore a special black and white jersey this Sunday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Breton squad and the 40th anniversary of the race – now led the chase. But the gap grew to 4:04.
Several riders suffered punctures in sectors 21 to 19, including Piet Allegaert (Cofidis), the runner-up in 2021, Konijn, who was dropped from the break, and one of the pre-race favourites, Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dsnty). Nils Eekhoff (dsm-firmenich PostNL), third last year, took a tumble. Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) accelerated in ribin 18. The attacks were multiplying. Only about 30 riders remained at the start of the last 60 kilometres. The Groupama-FDJ team, led by Eddy Le Huitouze, set off to maintain an accelerated tempo, preventing De Lie’s return. However, this was only temporary, as the gap was bridged with 50km to go. A little further on, at the first time by the finish line, the six frontrunners were only 1:06 ahead. Avoine took second place in the third intermediate sprint and secured his place in the classification. He made up the gap. However, he preferred to accelerate again at the summit, only to fall victim to another incident that dropped him by more than a minute. Up ahead, Van Niekerk dropped his last companions before section n°9. And he managed to regain some ground. Thanks to the work of his teammates, De Lie managed to catch the peloton with 16km to go, while Cosnefroy made several attacks. Van Niekerk still had a 15-second advantage when the final lap bell rang with 12.6km remaining over a peloton of some 40 riders. He was finally caught on the last section of the “ribin de la ferme”, at 6.5km, just as De Lie launched another attack. Only Pierre Gautherat (Décathlon AG2R La Mondiale) managed to stay on his wheel before Riley Sheehan (Israel-Premier Tech) joined them. The three riders managed to pull together, but a group of chasers caught them before the red flag. The win was decided in a nine-rider sprint. And Arnaud De Lie had the last word, winning the Tro Bro Leon for the first time in his career a year after finishing runner-up.
Race winner, Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny): “This makes me really happy, what a race. We’ve had our share of bad luck. Fortunately, I – but also the team – managed to stay calm with each setback. I felt really great, had top legs, so I tried to attack again at the end. It didn’t quite work out, so we had to sprint with nine. Even there, I managed to keep my composure and not make the same mistake as last year when I went first. I had my sights set on this (laughs). Oh well, I’m mainly happy that my condition is clearly good. I won in Famenne last week, came second yesterday, and now I’ve won the Tro Bro Leon. After today, I really have to thank my team double for all the hard work.”
2nd, Clément Venturini (Arkéa-B&B Hotels): “We always start to win, but today (Sunday) I have no regrets. I gave it my all. I had a puncture on the first step of the sector known as “the Farm.” I wasn’t in the best possible position, but my sports director, Arnaud Gérard, told me not to give up. I wanted to leave every last drop of sweat on the road and that’s what I did. The final was very hectic. For a while, Luca Mozzato and I abandoned each other, but we came back. I did the sprint, but on Sunday a stronger team beat me. I wanted to take the Arkea team home. We were all motivated for it. We all gave our all and we have nothing to reproach ourselves for. The Tro Bro León is a very nice race. Winning is a dream come true and that is why we will return here.”
George Jackson (Burgos-BH): “It was a very hard day, but I was able to make the break. The idea was to ride at the head of the group to be able to choose the best route on the dirt sections. In the final part, after having been in the lead for so long, I began to notice fatigue in my legs. In the end they caught us about 20 kilometres from the finish line, but I ended up happy with my performance and that of the team.”
Tro Bro Leon Result:
1. Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto Dstny in 4:55:23
2. Clément Venturini (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels
3. Pierre Gautherat (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
4. Riley Sheehan (USA) Israel-Premier Tech
5. Jonas Abrahamsen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
6. Morné Van Niekerk (SA) St Michel-Mavic-Auber93
7. Luca Mozzato (Ita) Arkéa-B&B Hotels
8. Thomas Gachignard (Fra) TotalEnergies
9. Markus Hoelgaard (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 0:08
10. Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Israel_Premier Tech at 0:49.
Tro Bro Leon’24
Grand Prix du Morbihan 2024
Benoît Cosnefroy won the Grand Prix du Morbihan for the second time on Saturday. The Frenchman of Decathlon AG2R defeated Axel Zingle and the Belgian Arnaud De Lie in an uphill sprint.
The 34th edition of the Grand Prix du Morbihan was held in and around Plumelec. In this one-day race of just under 200 kilometres, there were no really tough climbs, but it was up and down all day, with the Côte de Cadoudal (1.7km at 6.3%) as the deciding obstacle. The race climbed the Cadoudal fourteen times, once each lap, with the finish on the summit on the last lap.
Before the start, the favourites were Arnaud De Lie, Luca Mozzato, Benoît Cosnefroy, Axel Zingle and Nils Eekhoff. Hugo Aznar (Equipo Kern Pharma), Iker Bonillo (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Romain Cardis (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93) and Negasi Haylu Abreha (Q36.5) managed to to gain a maximum lead of just under 3 minutes. This would not to be enough to stay away from the peloton, which continued to increase the pace towards the circuit in Plumelec. After catching the escapees, several attackers tried to escape. This turned out not to be easy, so the race would be decided by a group of around 40 riders in an uphill sprint.
Arnaud De Lie is normally the favourite for this kind of finish, but this time the Belgian was beaten. The Lotto Dstny rider had to come from too far back in the finishing straight, he managed to work his way to the front, but was too late to catch Axel Zingle and Benoît Cosnefroy. Cosnefroy had the best punch and beat his younger compatriot and De Lie had to settle for third place. This was Cosnefroy’s second victory in the Grand Prix du Morbihan. In the 2019, he beat Jesús Herrada and Odd Christian Eiking.
The women’s Grand Prix du Morbihan (1.1) was held earlier in the day. The race turned into a sprint by an elite group and Silvia Persico came out as victor. The Italian of UAE Team ADQ beat French champion Victoire Berteau to second place. The Polish rider, Marta Lach was third
Race winner, Benoît Cosnefroy (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale): “I have great emotions, but we are happy to enjoy Victoria and raise our arms, for our work. The team has worked to perfection throughout the day and is satisfied with the overall results.”
3rd, Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny): “It was a beautiful race, but very, very tough. I won’t say I went all out on all 13 climbs of the Côte de Cadoudal, but at least 7 times. Maybe I lacked a bit of confidence, but I’m ultimately satisfied with my third place. The team worked well for me. We were racing in the front the whole time, and they were there when it mattered. That gives me confidence. Last week was nice, but here, in this challenging race, you don’t perform unless you’re in good form. So, this is a good confirmation and gives me confidence for tomorrow’s Tro Bro Leon.”
6th, Luca van Boven (Bingoal WB): “The race was very hard and the skimming took place from the rear. We were lucky with the weather which was dry overall. The team did an excellent job in favouring the sprint I was always well positioned in the final knowing that the last climb of the Cadoudal hill was essential. I kept my tempo and I remained well placed until the end. with the best and 6th place is a good result I continue on Sunday with the Tro bro Léon, a totally different race, where luck is an element that will have to be taken into account on the gravel trails. and we will race offensively like in Morbihan. The goal will be to play our card in the final. The race will, in any case, be less controlled than the GP du Morbihan and, therefore, there will be opportunities to seize.”
Grand Prix du Morbihan Result:
1. Benoît Cosnefroy (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale in 4:51:20
2. Axel Zingle (Fra) Cofidis
3. Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto Dstny
4. Clément Venturini (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels
5. Fredrik Dversnes (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
6. Luca Van Boven (Bel) Bingoal WB
7. Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Arkéa-B&B Hotels
8. Odd Christian Eiking (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
9. Xabier Berasategi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
10. David González (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA-
Morbihan’24:
Patrick Lefevere had an Argument with the Giro Organisation about Remco Evenepoel’s Start Money
Patrick Lefevere was sitting in front of the TV watching the Giro d’Italia on Saturday. The manager of Soudal Quick-Step was hoping for a good day from Julian Alaphilippe or Mauri Vansevenant in stage one, but he was looking back on the past few months in his weekly column in Het Nieuwsblad. Those were months of arguments with Giro organiser RCS.
This all started last year when Remco Evenepoel was forced to drop out of the Giro d’Italia. “For Remco, the Giro is of course unfinished business, after he had to give up last year due to covid. As we know, the organisation then – rightly – blamed us for not having personally informed them that Remco could not continue. That was very emotional and very Italian. According to RCS CEO Mauro Vegni, the pink jersey had left like un ‘ladro nella notte’, a thief in the night.”
“Until a few months ago, there was a financial dispute with RCS over this,” Lefevere now admits. “Because Remco didn’t finish the Giro, they did not want to pay the agreed starting fee. I thought that was nonsense because the word starting money says it all: money to start. I don’t want to be too cynical about that, but no one can claim that Remco didn’t play his role as a poster boy in the Giro, with promotional videos and interviews before and during.”
“He was simply sensational in the opening time trial. I thought it was a shame to skimp on the price with a forced forfeit. It is not that Remco simply left the course. Starting fees are not huge sums, but I won’t reveal a secret when I say that in a cycling team, every little bit helps. To give an order of magnitude: Remco’s starting money in the Giro – in practice a sum for a package of RCS races – can ensure that we just have a budget for an extra rider.”
The dispute was eventually resolved, confirmed Lefevere. “In the winter, when the Giro-Tour was double on the table, RCS came up with a kind of amicable settlement: if Remco rode the Giro again, they would still match the amount owed, on top of the starting fee for 2023. Also that double fits into the team’s agenda.”
Money for Evenepoel and the team:
Wout van Aert Wants to Make his Comeback in the Tour of Norway
Wout van Aert is looking ahead again after his bad crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen. The Belgian of Visma | Lease a Bike has made it a goal to make his comeback in the Tour of Norway, according to HLN.
Van Aert has been back on the bike for about two weeks, and if his recovery continues well, then the comeback in Norway is realistic. The damage that he suffered in Dwars door Vlaanderen included his collarbone, seven ribs and his sternum, meaning that the Classics and the Giro d’Italia had to be missed.
The Tour of Norway is scheduled for May 23 to 26. This would be followed by more specific training towards the Belgian time trial and road championships, which are on June 20 and 23. The big goal of the summer will be the Olympic Games. But Visma | Lease a Bike would also like Van Aert to ride the Tour de France. It now looks like Jonas Vingegaard will not be ready for the French Grand Tour. Van Aert can go for stage wins in the TOUR and prepare for the Olympics at the same time.
Van Aert back soon:
Tiberi Extends Contract with TBV
As the 2024 Giro d’Italia gets underway in Torino, Bahrain Victorious are delighted to announce the contract extension of the team leader for the race and one of the sport’s rising stars, Antonio Tiberi.
“I am so happy to have extended my contract with Bahrain until 2027,” said Tiberi after putting pen to paper in Italy on Friday. “Above all because after nearly a year with the team I’ve really felt at home here, and I’ve seen my condition improve so much – both physically and mentally. Everyone here has done so much to help me, in every aspect, and with that support, I’m excited to see what I can do going forwards.”
Since joining the team in June last year, the Italian has gone from strength to strength as a part of the TBV roster, and as we wait to see what he can achieve in the coming three weeks, 2024 has already been a success thus far. At the much shortened Ruta del Sol, he finished an impressive 3rd in the only stage (a time trial), which was followed by a top ten overall at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. At last month’s Tour of the Alps, Tiberi was third overall and left with the white jersey for the best young rider, before putting in an impressive ride at his first Liège-Bastogne-Liège two days later.
The 22-year-old has already shown that he has talent and potential, both of which have led team management to move early to secure his future with Bahrain. Performance Manager Vladimir Miholjević has no doubt about what this deal could bring:
“For the performance group of TBV it’s exciting and a privilege to know that we can count on Antonio Tiberi as a rider who can deliver a lot of great things in terms of both results and performances for the team.
It’s a real pleasure to work with a young guy who has such a strong character. He has already shown an ability to cope with pressure and deliver what is expected of him and more. We believe we will see significant progress from Antonio over the coming years, so we are delighted to be a part of that.
As an organisation we are committed to helping young riders become leaders at stage races, and in doing so we think the future is bright here at Bahrain Victorious.”
As for the young rider himself, he seems to have found a new lease of life since donning our jersey, and is excited about what lies ahead.
“I’m confident that my results will keep getting better, of course, but to be honest I’m just super happy to have signed with TBV for another two years. I get on well with my teammates, the staff, with everyone; there’s such a good atmosphere that I feel genuinely at home, and obviously that is reflected in my performances. I’m growing as a rider and as a person here but I’m not going to rest on my laurels … I will keep doing my absolute best on the road and for the team, and now we get to do that together for even longer.”
Managing Director Milan Erzen believes Tiberi is on the right track to become a key rider in the peloton over the next three years: “Antonio has already shown great promise this season. He has been highly dedicated to improving his talent and has displayed great maturity, which is why he is our leader at this Giro. For a young rider, he already has great confidence and GC qualities that will only develop over the coming years.”
Luke Rowe Announces Retirement
Luke Rowe, trusted Road Captain and the longstanding INEOS Grenadier, has announced he will retire at the end of the 2024 season.
Luke has been with the team since becoming a neo-pro in 2012 and has ridden an impressive eight consecutive Tour de France races. As well as a standout rider in the Classics, with his own impressive performances in some of the toughest races, Luke has played the critical role of Road Captain for three different Tour de France winners in Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal.
Welshman Luke, who turned 34 last month, explained his decision to bring forward his retirement by a season: “I’ve had an amazing career and I have absolutely no regrets. But the last eighteen months have been testing in different ways and with this latest crash and resulting injury, it just feels like now is the right time to bow out, head home to Wales and spend a bit more time with my family.
“I’ve got so many amazing memories and I have loved every part of being a professional cyclist. There are so many people who have played a key role in my career – too many to thank individually. Obviously huge thanks to my family and friends, but I’d also like to thank everyone in the INEOS Grenadiers, many of whom are also like family. I’ve been incredibly lucky to spend all thirteen years as a pro bike rider with one team and it’s been a team who has supported me 100% through the good times and the bad. Their commitment and support to their athletes is world class and it’s part of the reason I have never wanted to race for anyone else.
“For now, I am focussing on recovering from this latest injury and working with the team and doctors to try and get back on the bike. I have the rest of the season left and would like to race again in 2024 – with the Tour of Britain being my dream race to end on. The fans around the world have always been amazing but it would be pretty special to end my career racing around the UK in front of home fans.”
John Allert, CEO of INEOS Grenadiers, praised Luke’s racing ability but also the positive impact he has on the team off the bike: “Luke is a massive part of what makes this team so special. He has been here since the early years and has played a huge part in our biggest wins and some of the most iconic moments in the team’s history.
“Not only is Luke a fearless, gritty, powerhouse of a racer who can read and control a race like few other riders, he’s a fantastic personality and team-mate off the bike too. In the last few years, he has been a willing mentor to our younger riders, passing down his wisdom, experience and tactical knowledge.
“We are all going to miss Luke, but he’ll always be a Grenadier, and I’m sure has a bright future working in some aspect of the sport he loves so much. I’m sure I speak for everyone who has ever worked with Luke, when I say thanks for everything and good luck with the remainder of the season.”
Luke Rowe to retire:
Intermarché-Wanty Unveils its Special Jersey in Honour of Vini Fantini
For the third year in a row, the eight riders of team Intermarché-Wanty will be wearing a special jersey during the Giro d’Italia, in honour of their Italian wine partner Vini Fantini. The new jersey, manufactured by Verge Sport, will be unveiled during the team presentation at the Valentino Castle in Turin this Thursday.
During this 107th edition of the Giro, which starts this Saturday 4th of May from the Piedmontese town of Venaria Reale, the peloton will cross four regions in which the Fantini Group is active: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Campania and Tuscany.
The colour palette of the new jersey combines shades of blue with the fluorescent yellow that characterises the Walloon World Team, as a reference to the Adriatic coast and the hills that surround the headquarters of Vini Fantini in Ortona in the Abruzzo region.
Belgian designer stycle.design has made a link to Italian cuisine with a playful presentation of all kinds of Italian pasta, including linguini, farfalle, gnocchi and ravioli.
The position of the VINI FANTINI logo is clearly visible underneath the title partners on the stomach and now also on the back, in addition to its usual position on the left side of the bibshorts.
Biniam Girmay: “Two years ago, we accomplished a memorable Giro d’Italia, wearing a special jersey in honour of our Italian partner Vini Fantini for the first time. Last season, my teammates also shone in a kit in a lighter colour palette, which reflected the light blue of the Italian sky above the vineyards. I’m pleased that this year a predominantly blue pattern has been chosen again, in reference to the Adriatic Sea, as I love this colour. The combination with our traditional neon yellow creates a perfect synergy that will allow us to stand out in the peloton. I can’t wait to be at the start of my second Giro this Saturday wearing this special kit and to make all our Italian partners proud, especially Vini Fantini!”
Valentino Sciotti (Director Fantini Group): “We are incredibly grateful to the team for dedicating us the special Vini Fantini kit for the Giro d’Italia. Every stage of the Giro on those iconic roads will be a tribute to the lands where we produce our beloved wine. Watching the athletes ride through the regions of southern Italy, where our grapes come to life, fills us with a deep sense of gratitude and pride. May this kit be a tangible lucky charm for the team and show how strong the team spirit is!”
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Ready to Go
The partnership between Red Bull and team manager Ralph Denk’s operating company has been formally sealed. Starting with the 2024 Tour de France, Red Bull will join long-time partners BORA and hansgrohe as another main sponsor. Starting in 2025, a new U23 program will also bridge the gap between the juniors and the WorldTeam.
After the foundations for the joint venture were laid at the end of January, the partnership was worked out in just three months and officially signed this week. From the Tour de France onwards, the German team will ride in the peloton with a new look and under the name “Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe”. The declared goal is to become the top address in professional cycling in the long term.
Team Manager Ralph Denk: “I am very grateful to all three name partners. It is clear that we have one goal, one vision, when you look at how quickly we have implemented this partnership. Without BORA and hansgrohe, we would not have grown to this great level. Red Bull has a very cooperative approach – together with BORA and hansgrohe. Together we will share many new highlights.”
Willi Bruckbauer, CEO BORA: “We are in the tenth year of our main sponsorship and have already achieved a lot together with the team. I particularly remember Peter Sagan’s 3rd World Championship title in 2017, his Paris-Roubaix victory in 2018 and Jai Hindley winning the Giro d’Italia two years ago. Successes that I experienced live on site and of which we are very proud. Now we are delighted with the team that Red Bull has added further resources and a wide range of expertise that offer the potential to reach a new level. It’s a great opportunity for everyone.”
Hans Jürgen Kalmbach, CEO Hansgrohe SE: “We are delighted to have Red Bull on board. The partnership brings great potential for the further development of the team. We are looking forward to the upcoming Grand Tour season and are keeping our fingers crossed for our guys!”
The goal: to be at the top of the sport
With Red Bull as majority owner of the operating company, Team Manager Ralph Denk will optimise the existing structure and benefit from the extensive performance expertise gained from other Red Bull projects.
Ralph Denk: “We have always been in a very healthy position and have achieved an extraordinary level together with BORA and hansgrohe. And we also want to continue to win in the future. That’s why I was looking for another strong partner who fits with me and our current team, shares our vision and acts innovatively and sustainably. We have known Red Bull as a team partner for three years and they are known as a sponsor and developer in the sport like no other. We now have access to the Red Bull world. This knowledge is unique in the world of sports, and we look forward to benefiting from this expertise and taking the next steps together.”
Focus on talent – new U23 team from 2025
The long-term development of iconic riders is a key part of the new strategy. Ideally, these riders will come from the team’s own ranks of young talent. That is why a new U23 team will be created for the upcoming season. It is a further milestone in the Rookie Program, which already consists of the junior team “GRENKE – Auto Eder” as a recognised talent factory and the “Red Bull Junior Brothers” as an innovative scouting campaign. With the new U23 team, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe will offer the best talents a continuous career path from the juniors to the WorldTour starting in 2025.
Team Manager Ralph Denk:
Grand Départ 2026 to be in Barcelona
It looks very much like the 2026 Tour de France will start in Barcelona as the Catalan capital will host ‘le Grand Départ’. According to the Italian sports-paper La Gazzetta dello Sport.
This will be the fourth Tour start outside France in the last five years. Copenhagen (2022), Bilbao (2023), Florence (2024) and now Barcelona (2026). Spain has hosted the start of the Tour de France twice before; San Sebastian in 1992 and then Bilbao last year.
The Tour start was popular in Bilbao last year:
Financial Problems Lead to Cancellation of Tour of Scandinavia
The Women’s WorldTour stage race, the Tour of Scandinavia will not take place in 2024. The stage race was originally scheduled from August 29 to September 1, but the organisers are unable to put the finances in place
That financial aspect is the main reason why the tour cannot continue. “We have made many intensive efforts in recent weeks to find sufficient financial resources to allow the competition to go ahead. But we have to admit that we have not found the foundation we had hoped for. There is a deficit of approximately 3 million Norwegian krone (€250,000), which makes it irresponsible to continue with our plans for this year,” a press release said.
The organisers hopes to limit losses by canceling the event and is already thinking ahead to 2025, when they want to return to the highest level. The WorldTour license has already been applied for. “We are actively developing the route for next year, but the final pieces of the puzzle still need to be put in place. We are also working on a robust, long-term vision in our financial model by entering into strategic partnerships,” the organisers said.
Last year Annemiek Van Vleuten was the final overall winner:
The Wolfpack Howls: Pieter Serry
In the first of our Giro d’Italia specials, we spoke with one of the funniest riders around, a member of our team since 2013.
Pieter Serry is not the most famous rider on our Soudal Quick-Step squad, but he is a popular figure within the team due to his jovial demeanour and the hard work he puts in for his teammates.
On this first of our Giro d’Italia specials, he talks about his love of racing in Italy, where he is about to make his 10th Corsa Rosa start, and his thoughts on what our team can do in this year’s race.
You can listen to this episode, here.
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