EUROTRASH Thursday: Tour Time in Florence!

Loads of Tour de France news in today’s EUROTRASH Thursday, plus we catch up with the Canadian road championships.

What have the ‘Top Four’ got to say before the Tour – TOP STORY.

Tour de France news: Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe ready for the Tour, no Tour for Sepp Kuss, floods to change stage 1? Bernard Hinault doesn’t believe Vingegaard can win the Tour, Marc Madiot doesn’t expect an exciting Tour, Tiesj Benoot on Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour form, can Mathieu van der Poel win the first yellow jersey? Tom Dumoulin doesn’t think so, Alpecin-Deceuninck with Grey Attack and Dark Denim kit in the Tour, Cofidis has special Tour kit, Soudal Quick-Step Tour team, Lotto Dstny to the Tour de France, Intermarché-Wanty Tour squad, dsm-firmenich PostNL reveals stage-hunting Tour de France squad and Movistar confirms 2024 Tour de France line-up.

Rider news: Oscar Pereiro never had contact with Floyd Landis after the 2006 Tour and triple World Champion Peter Sagan joins MyWhoosh.

Team news: Pidcock and Tarling in the British team for the Olympic Games, Lachlan Morton’s journey with EF Pro Cycling continues, Lani Wittevrongel and Ilken Seynave join Lotto Dstny and Mirre Knaven joins EF Education-Cannondale.

Race news: Santos Tour Down Under announces stages for 2025.

Plus: RTVE and La Vuelta pay tribute to cycling fans in the official video featuring Miss Caffeina’s ‘Cuando acabe el verano’.

Tour coffee time!

 

TOP STORY: What Have the ‘Top Four’ got to Say?
The 2024 Tour de France starts on Saturday in Florence and everyone will be looking at the ‘Top Four’: Vuelta winner, Remco Evenepoel, Giro and three time Vuelta winner, Primoz Roglič, Giro and winner of two Tours, Tadej Pogačar and winner of the last two Tours, Jonas Vingegaard. We catch up what they have had to say in the run-up to the Grand Départ:

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step): “I want to win a stage anyway, that’s clear. For the rest, I hope I don’t get into trouble and I want to take it day by day. We have always said that we dream of the top 5. That is a great goal, but it is still only my first Tour. It’s hard to put expectations on it. We can be ambitious, but we have to wait and see. I have to feel the extent to which I have improved in the race. I was able to complete my training well, I took good care of myself and for the rest I tried to get to the start here as best as possible. I did what a professional has to do to get here in top shape. Normally it should be better than in the Dauphiné anyway, but surprises can always fall from the sky. I certainly still have to grow during the first week. It is the perfect week for that with a difficult start and some transition stages. It is ideal for growing to my top level. Then I hope to be at the top from stage 14 (Pla d’Adet in the Pyrenees). The last week will be very important. I think Tadej Pogačar is eager for victory after two years without a final win. He will be very motivated at the start. He is my favourite. They will also determine the Tour. What Visma | Lease a Bike did last year with UAE Emirates will now be reversed. We should expect war from day 1.”

Primoz Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) spoke on Wednesday about his new team sponsor and bike: “I’m incredibly excited to be entering this new partnership with Red Bull, especially considering the relationship with Specialized is only getting stronger. It’s no secret cycling is a sport of fine margins and Specialized sets the performance benchmark in cycling. Having the very best bikes and equipment is critical for success. With Specialized we know we have that and it’s a key reason I signed on with this project.”

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates): “Never felt so good” “After the Giro I took the time to relax, I was back in Monaco quite quickly after the Giro. When I got home, I was actually eager to get on my bike again. I soon felt good again and was quickly back on the bike to train. It is very important to switch off every now and then. Mental recovery is very important, just like physical recovery. It is important to find the right balance. It is important to take a rest every now and then. I like to hang out at home with friends, eat ice cream or go to a restaurant. I also watched a lot of good series. I’m really looking forward to the start of the Tour. It’s a special start, as I won the Giro and the Tour starts in Italy this year. It seems that I have gotten even better since the Giro. My form is better than I expected. I trained well, tested my legs a bit and to be honest, I have never felt so good on the bike. Jonas was of course seriously injured, but I think he was able to prepare well. We have to take into account a scenario in which he will appear at the start in top form. Remco and Primoz were doing well in the Critérium du Dauphiné. Perhaps the Dauphiné arrived a little too early for Remco, but Primoz was already in good shape. I think they will all perform at a top level. I expect a very competitive Tour, although you can never be completely sure. People expect me to win the Tour every year, but that has not been the case in recent years. Of course, there is always pressure to perform and win. After all, the Tour is the biggest competition. I become more mature every year, I learn from my mistakes and experiences. That will always remain the case.”

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) hasn’t said much recently, but he assured his fans that he will fight “as hard as I can to defend my title. I am the defending champion and I am very determined to face that status.” He is convinced of his ability to “mark the history of the sport.”

What does stage win co-record holder, Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) have to say: “It’s a beautiful story. You can’t end your career with a broken collarbone. The story surrounding that 35th stage victory is beautiful. For the sponsors, for the fans and for the media, but it is also fun for myself as a cyclist and athlete. It’s a goal. It gives me the motivation to get on my bike every day. I want to win 36, 37, even 40 stages. A sprint is always hectic. There are many variables that are beyond your control. With a good lead-out you can control those variables a little more.”

Florence gets ready for the 2024 Tour de France:

 

Rain and Determination Define the 2024 Canadian Road Championships (Elite, Junior, U17 and Para)
Canadian talent in the U17, junior, elite and para categories converged on St-Georges, Quebec, from June 21 to 24, to vie for one of 30 coveted titles at the 2024 Canadian Road Cycling Championships. For the first time in history, Canadian titles were also on the line for U17 athletes.

In torrential rain, athletes competed in the road race, time trial and criterium on the hilly roads of Beauce.

A first Canadian title for Woods
In the elite category, Pier-André Côté made his mark by winning the Canadian time trial title and taking second place in the road race, just behind his Israel-Premier Tech teammate Michael Woods. Although known internationally for his prowess at the Tour de France 2023, among others, this was the Ottawa-born rider’s first-ever Canadian title.

“It’s certainly a life goal, a career goal,” said Woods. “I was lucky enough to have Pier-André Côté in the breakaway with me. It was thanks to him that I was able to win today. I knew I had to attack in the hard moments, and I chose the most difficult parts of the climbs to attack as much as I could, which resulted in a perfect situation for us.”

In the criterium, victory went to Matisse Julien (Vélo Studio Toguri) in the combined U23 and elite category.

On the women’s side, triathlete Paula Findlay did it again, winning her third consecutive Canadian time trial title, Olivia Baril (Movistar) was 24 seconds behind.

“The course was a little more hilly than last year in Edmonton,” said Findlay. “It works in my favor to have a hilly course that isn’t technical, so I climbed the hills well and was able to relax on the descents. It was interesting to ride in last position, because I could see ahead of me, and I was using the riders in front of me as extra motivation.”

Baril, meanwhile, stood out in the road race, taking top honours in a sprint against silver medallist Magdeleine Vallières-Mill (EF Education-Cannondale), whose powerful attacks were felt throughout the race and whose performance in the criterium was enough to earn her the win.

Roldan triumphs in the U23 category
Taking the top step of the podium in both the time trial and the road race, Mara Roldan (Cynisca Cycling) had a near-perfect weekend in the U23 women’s category, finishing third in the overall road classification combined with the elite women, just behind Baril and Vallières-Mill.

“This weekend was special; I didn’t expect to take the top step twice,” said Roldan. “Some of these women I’ve watched on TV for the last five years of my life and to be able to run with them is an incredible opportunity.”

In the road race, it was Quentin Cowan (SCO-Dijon) who took the honors, while Jonas Walton (Ecoflo-Chronos) won the time trial title.

Volstad defends junior title
Alexandra Volstad (Team Alberta) once again proved her strength in road racing, winning a second consecutive junior title, her third in her career. On the final day of competition, she made her mark in the criterium, scoring a win in the combined U17 and junior category. She commented: “I was a bit nervous because I know there are strong girls on the hills and climbing is not my strong point, but I trained a lot to try and adapt to the course and it turned out well in the end.”

In both categories, several experienced track athletes, including Canadian track medalists Jayden McMullen, (road race), Sidney Swierenga (time trial), Alexandra Fangeat (road race) and Jake McLean (time trial) won in their respective categories.

Carl Truffer (time trial), Zachari Moreau (road race), Adam Smith (criterium) and Elly Moore (time trial) claimed their first-ever Canadian titles in their respective categories.

International Caliber in Para-cycling
Para-cycling competitions showcased Canadian talent, many of whom excelled in both time trial and road racing, including Paralympians Joey Desjardins (men’s H1-3) and Shelley Gautier (women’s T1-2), as well as Jessica Law (women’s C4-5), Maarten Duif (men’s H1-2), Katty Abran (women’s H3-5) and Benoît Lalumière-Cloutier (men’s tandem).

“Winning national championships in the time trial and road race is a testament to my dedication and preparation this season,” said Desjardins. “I feel strong and ready to take on all the challenges that lie ahead.”

The full results list can be found here. Next up on the Canadian Championships calendar is the Canadian BMX Racing Championships, to be held in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, QC, on July 6. The full calendar of national events can be found on the Events Page of the Cycling Canada website.

 

Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe: The Start of a New Era in Cycling
A new name, eye-catching outfits, helmets designed to fit the Red Bull athletes’ look, bikes with a shiny metallic white silver design. Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe has arrived in the world of cycling, bringing a fresh style to the peloton. The new look makes it clear that today is a milestone for the team, a departure for big goals. Nothing less than to become the most attractive brand in cycling.

The vision of developing Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe into the most attractive brand is a long-term one. The team will benefit from the success of other sports and the unique performance expertise of its new partner, Red Bull. In addition to strengthening the WorldTeam, global scouting will be expanded for the new season and a U23 team will close the gap between the team’s own juniors and the WorldTeam. Finding talented riders and developing them into future Grand Tour stars and iconic riders – this is the beginning of a new era for manager Ralph Denk and the team.

Ralph Denk, CEO Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe: “Today we open a new chapter in our team’s history as Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe. I would even go so far as to say that this is a milestone for cycling as a whole. Our project has always been ambitious, but now we clearly have our sights set on the top, we want to shape our sport and become the most attractive brand.”

Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO Red Bull Corporate Projects and Investments: “Today is a special day and we are looking forward to finally getting started. We are very ambitious, we want to continuously develop and take the next steps to win grand tours and the biggest races in cycling. Red Bull has shown in many sports how these goals can be achieved with a clear vision, the development of talent, professionalism, and innovation in sport. We are proud that our long-standing partners BORA, hansgrohe and Specialized remain with our team and are starting a new era together with us. I would like to express my sincere thanks to them.”

The ambitious project starts on Saturday. With the commencement of the Tour de France, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe will make an impression.

Strong team in the fight for yellow
With the new setup, the team is ready to fight for yellow in the biggest race of the year. Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe relies on a strong team surrounding leader Primož Roglič.

On the climbs, the leader relies on climbing specialists Aleksandr Vlasov and Jai Hindley. Both have only one Tour de France under their belts – but they were spectacular firsts for both. Vlasov finished the 2022 Tour in the top 5, while Hindley’s day in the yellow jersey last year was a highlight in the team’s history. The team’s top-class support in the high mountains recently proved its strength with the overall victory at the Dauphiné. Just as there, debutant Matteo Sobrero will provide mountain support at the Tour de France as well.

The physical strength and presence of Danny van Poppel, Marco Haller, and Nico Denz will provide concentrated power on the flats. The trio has the experience of 29 Grand Tours and will give the climbers plenty of reassurance. Veteran and Tour de France stage winner Bob Jungels will take on the role of road captain.

New style – new partner: BOSS becomes fashion partner
In addition to Red Bull, BOSS is another new brand to appear on the jerseys. The core brand of the global fashion and lifestyle company HUGO BOSS has a long tradition in sports sponsorships. As a partner of the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe team, BOSS is immersing itself in professional cycling at the highest level. Just in time for the Tour de France, the “Official Partner for Fashion Apparel” is outfitting the team’s athletes and staff with new casual and athleisure styles.

Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe Team for the Tour de France:
Primož Roglič
Aleksander Vlasov
Nico Denz
Matteo Sobrero
Bob Jungels
Jai Hindley
Danny van Poppel
Marco Haller.

 

No 2024 Tour de France for Sepp Kuss
Sepp Kuss will not be at the start of the Tour de France on Saturday. The American was on the Visma | Lease a Bike start list, but has not fully recovered from a covid infection. Bart Lemmen will replace him.

Kuss rode the Critérium du Dauphiné as final preparation for the Tour de France. Kuss started as one of the favourites in the French stage race, but didn’t show much. He didn’t start the final stage, after which he announced that he had not felt good for several days.

“Sepp Kuss has not recovered sufficiently from his corona infection and will not compete in the Tour,” Merijn Zeeman announced on the team website. “This is of course very sad for Sepp. His contribution is always of great importance to the team, but of course he must be completely fit. Unfortunately, today we have had to conclude together that this is not sufficiently the case after that infection. He now needs to recover properly and will therefore not start. Fortunately, we have a good replacement ready in Bart Lemmen.”

Bart Lemmen is in his first season at Visma | Lease a Bike. Last year he competed for the ProTeam Human Powered Health and before that he rode for the Continental VolkerWessels team. However, the former soldier has already shown that he has no difficulty with at WorldTour level. He finished fifth in the Tour Down Under and tenth in the UAE Tour. Lemmen recently finished second in the Tour of Norway.

“Despite the fact that he has only been a professional for a year and a half, Bart has already proven to be a very reliable and strong rider,” says Zeeman. “He is developing very quickly. He already proved that this year with several good placings. He rides well uphill, and is happy to sacrifice himself for his leader Jonas Vingegaard. I have a lot of confidence in Bart.”

Visma | Lease a Bike Tour de France 2024 team:
Jonas Vingegaard
Tiesj Benoot
Christophe Laporte
Jan Tratnik
Bart Lemmen
Wout Van Aert
Matteo Jorgenson
Wilco Kelderman.

No Tour for Kuss:

 

Flooding on Part of Stage 1 Might Need a Route Change
Due to flooding, part of the route of the first stage of the Tour de France is under water, but it is still unclear whether the flooding will have consequences for the route of the opening stage.

The opening stage of the Tour de France runs from Florence to Rimini and it has rained a lot in recent days, causing flooding in the area. The roads that the Tour will use have been damaged. The road surface is particularly bad between Premilcuore and Ponte Fantella. There is about 7 kilometres of affected roads, starting after 64 kilometres. After the riders have completed the first climb of the day, the Col de Calico Tre Faggi (12.5km at 5.1%) and before the Côte des Forche (2.5km at 6.2%).

It is still unclear whether measures need to be taken. Rain was also expected in the Emilia-Romagna region on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the weather will improve for the weekend.

Bad weather in Florence before the Tour:

 

Hinault doesn’t believe Vingegaard can win the Tour
Last year’s winner, Vingegaard was in a race against time to get fit for the start of the Tour. Bernard Hinault doesn’t have high expectations for the Dane.

Hinault, who won the Tour in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985, looked at this year’s Tour in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. What does Hinault expect from the battle for the yellow jersey and Vingegaard? “He crashed in the Tour of the Basque Country and has a difficult preparation. If he can win the Tour again this year, I don’t understand the race anymore,” the Breton said. “Compare it with Pogacar’s situation last year. He broke his wrist in Liège-Bastogne-Liège at the end of April. In the Tour he was good, but not at his best level. UAE and Visma | Lease a Bike are worth each other as a team. Visma has had a lot of bad luck, but remains strong in the field. Ultimately, it is always the leader who determines which team is the strongest. The team will win stages, not the classification.”

And Pogacar? The Slovenian says he is in the shape of his life, but of course he already has the Giro d’Italia in his legs. However, according to Hinault, this makes no difference. “Why would it? I did it. Merckx was able to do it, other riders have done it. Why not Pogačar? Otherwise we say that today’s riders are not as good as we used to be. That is not true.”

Hinault actually has a lot of admiration for the Slovenian. “The record he has today, at the age of twenty-five, is greater than ours at the same age. He has won the Tour twice and has now won the Giro. And also a bunch of classics. If nothing happens to him, he will be one of the greatest riders of this century.”

Hinault doesn’t think Vingegaard can win the Tour:

 

Marc Madiot Doesn’t Expect an Exciting Tour
Marc Madiot, the team boss of Groupama-FDJ, is not counting on an exciting Tour. “The Tour de France will have already been decided after three or four days,” Madiot said to the French sports-paper L’Équipe. “Pogačar will tear everything apart and blow Vingegaard away. I would do that in his place, to ensure that he (Vingegaard) cannot grow to his very best level.”

Madiot, who won Paris-Roubaix twice, fears a boring third week of the Tour. “In the final week they will hand out gift vouchers at UAE Team Emirates. Just like in the past Giro d’Italia.” Pogačar is chasing his third Tour victory to go with his first Giro d’Italia and doing the Grand Tour double.

Madiot not expecting much from the 2024 Tour:

 

Tiesj Benoot on Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour Form
We don’t know what form Jonas Vingegaard will be in at the start of the Tour de France on Saturday. His Visma | Lease a Bike team also doesn’t know exactly how good the Dane will be, according to Tiesj Benoot. “I am one hundred percent sure that no one from the team dares to bet money on the fact that Jonas will reach the podium,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws.

Benoot was at an altitude training camp in Tignes together with Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert and others of the team. The two team leaders both crashed in the spring and had a long rehabilitation. “I don’t dare predict how good they are,” said Benoot. “Neither do Wout or Jonas themselves. Every athlete coming out of an injury is insecure. Only after the first weekend will we be able to estimate how good they are.”

The idea that Visma | Lease a Bike would like the other teams to believe that Vingegaard and Van Aert are not as good than they actually are, Benoot finds it laughable. “That’s funny, isn’t it? If you say you are good, they think you are arrogant or have a big neck. If you say that you are the underdog and the favourites are riding elsewhere, they think you are throwing sand or playing hide and seek… You don’t believe that we as a team are deliberately spouting fog, do you?”

Benoot refers to Wout van Aert’s performance in the Tour of Norway. Van Aert sprinted to third and fourth places, but had to take it easy in the more difficult stages. “He just wasn’t himself there. Not at the level he can normally reach. Wout has made progress in recent weeks, but is not at the level of last year and certainly not at that of two years ago.”

Benoot cannot say how Vingegaard is doing. He really has no idea. “He has not raced since the Tour of the Basque Country and was in hospital for two weeks in between. Even though he feels good in training, he and the team are unsure. Don’t forget the mental aspect, Jonas doesn’t know how he will behave in the peloton.”

“He is riding the Tour because the team management thinks there is a chance that he can be top. But I am one hundred percent sure that no one from the team would dare bet money on Jonas reaching the podium. What they hope for, but don’t know. I only know that Matteo (Jorgenson) rides very well. He still grew after the Dauphiné, but is that enough to compete with Pogačar, let alone beat him… Pogačar already won the Giro while playing. It is very clear that UAE is the top favourite to win the Tour.”

Tiesj Benoot can’t say how good Vingegaard is:

 

Can Mathieu van der Poel Win the First Yellow Jersey? Tom Dumoulin Doesn’t Think So
The 111th edition of the Tour de France starts on Saturday in Florence. The riders will have to prepare for a very tough opening stage to Rimini, with 3,600 metres of climbing. Does Mathieu van der Poel have a chance of winning the first yellow jersey?

The 206 kilometre opening stage from Florence goes through Tuscany and the state of San Marino to the finish in the coastal town of Rimini. The first stage of the Tour has seven categorised climbs. Four Cat.3 and three Cat.2 climbs, with abound 3,600 meters of climbing. It’s a tough opener.

The GC riders have to be ready, but what about someone like Mathieu van der Poel. “No,” Tom Dumoulin is adamant in the podcast In Het Wiel for the Algemeen Dagblad. “The classification teams will be so nervous and ride so fast because of that nervousness. The ride is automatically too gruelling for Van der Poel,” the former rider thinks. “I don’t think he has his mind set on that either. It’s too heavy.”

Dumoulin comes with some advice for the world champion. “I would sort out my days, but in the last week I haven’t bothered with it anymore. Nice to find the grupetto and restore it. I think this is the way to excel at the Olympic Games. Mathieu has specialized more in classical work. He hasn’t necessarily become a better climber in recent years. It is often all or nothing. I love that. He can play so well and win so beautifully, but can also be so invisible at times.”

“If he wins a stage, preferably the one in Troyes, and then contributes two or three times to a stage win for Jasper Philipsen, rides invisibly for the rest of the Tour and then becomes a glorious Olympic champion, then that seems like a fantastic scenario to me.” said Dumoulin. “And a Tour without a stage? If he still becomes Olympic champion, he will fully agree to it.”

Van der Poel in yellow in 2024?

 

Alpecin-Deceuninck with Grey Attack and Dark Denim Kit in Tour de France
During the Tour de France, don’t look for our traditional blue denim outfit. For the next three weeks our riders will ride around Italian and French roads wearing a Dark Denim kit with the aim of highlighting the new media campaign of our main partner Alpecin.

Alpecin launches a Europe-wide media campaign during the Tour de France, featuring their Alpecin Grey Attack shampoo. The product presents a solution that provides a natural-looking colour effect for less grey hair and a fresher, more youthful look. Check out the commercial starring our current world champion Mathieu van der Poel and our team managers, the Roodhooft brothers.

While in the commercial van der Poel literally fights against time on his racing bike, the team managers Phillip and Christoph Roodhooft symbolise the fight against one of the most visible signs of aging – grey hair. The campaign tells a heroic story, that shows that it is worth fighting and never giving up – even in the battle against time. To support the campaign, Alpecin-Deceuninck will ride the upcoming Tour de France in The Dark Denim outfit: our traditional jeans shirt in grey-black. World champion Mathieu van der Poel will be featured in the Dark Denim shirt during both time trials, our other seven riders will wear it for three weeks.

Philip Roodhooft, Team Manager of Alpecin-Deceuninck: “Strong sponsorship partners like Alpecin are essential for the success of our team. The values of discipline, endurance, and perseverance expressed in our credo ‘Never Give up’ are fundamental values that we live by daily and appreciate in our riders and employees.”

Eduard R. Dörrenberg, CEO of Dr. Wolff Group: “The Tour de France offers an outstanding platform to draw international attention to our brand Alpecin and to impressively demonstrate the performance of our products in the context of cycling.”

Alexander Krümke, Vice President Marketing at Dr. Wolff Group: “With our motto ‘Never Give up,’ we integrate our sponsorship activities even more strongly into our brand. The campaign spotlights what is equally essential while tackling grey hair or excelling in cycling: Never Giving up.”

Grey for Alpecin-Deceuninck:

 

Cofidis has Special Tour Kit
Alpecin-Deceuninck have changed their clothing for the Tour de France and now also has Cofidis. The new kit is still red and white, but in a new different pattern.

The Cofidis Tour jersey is made up of red and white sections. The kit also features in white the names of main sponsor Cofidis and other partners; Mobel, Look and Ekoï. The team will also use this special kit in the Vuelta a España.

Cofidis will be counting on Bryan Coquard, Guillaume Martin, Axel Zingle and Alexis Renard, Spaniards Ion Izagirre and Jesús Herrada, the German Simon Geschke and the Belgian Piet Allegaert in the Tour de France. Coquard will take care of the sprints on the flatter stages, while Martin will want a good GC place. The French philosopher could also take a stage win and go for the polka dot jersey. With Zingle, Herrada, Izagirre and the retiring Geschke, the team can look for stage wins.

Cofidis team for the 2024 Tour de France:
Bryan Coquard
Guillaume Martin
Axel Zingle
Ion Izagirre Insausti
Piet Allegaert
Jesus Herrada Lopez
Alexis Renard
Simon Geschke.

Different kit for the Tour:

 

Soudal Quick-Step to the Tour de France
Remco Evenepoel headlines our team for the event taking place between 29 June-21 July

The most important race of the year gets underway in just a couple of days, from Firenze, the cradle of the Renaissance and one of Italy’s most stunning cities, which gets to host the 26th foreign Grand Départ in the Tour de France’s history. It will be for the first time that Le Tour starts from Italy, marking exactly one hundred years since the country’s first overall triumph at the race, brought by the legendary Ottavio Bottecchia.

Covering a total of 3492 kilometres, the parcours of the 111th edition will include five summit finishes: Saint-Lary-Soulan, Plateau de Beille, Superdévoluy, Isola 2000 and Col de la Couillole. The race is also set to feature the iconic Col du Galibier and Col du Tourmalet, a return to Cime de la Bonette, almost 60 kilometres of individual time trial, 35 of which come on the final stage between Monte Carlo and Nice, and an incredibly hard stage 9 around Troyes featuring more than 30 kilometres of gravel roads spread over 14 sectors.

For Remco Evenepoel, this will be his fifth Grand Tour start but first Tour de France presence. The 2022 Vuelta a España champion, a winner of five races this season – including stages in Paris-Nice and the Critérium du Dauphiné – is looking forward to this experience.

“Riding the Tour de France is the dream of every kid who falls in love with cycling. It’s something I too have dreamed about since the moment I rode my bike and I’m incredibly excited to be at the start for the first time in my career with this great team. We have a strong squad and we are ready to give our best. Of course, I would like to have a good Tour and get some nice results, but let’s not forget it’s my debut in this hard and beautiful event which is unlike any other, so the plan is to discover the race, take it one day at a time and see where this leads us”, said Remco ahead of traveling to France.

Joining the 24-year-old Belgian on the Soudal Quick-Step squad for the Grande Boucle will be Jan Hirt – a top ten finisher in May at the Giro d’Italia – Yves Lampaert, Volta a Catalunya runner-up Mikel Landa, who brings a wealth of experience on the climbs, Gianni Moscon, Casper Pedersen, Ilan Van Wilder and Louis Vervaeke.

“With both Remco and Mikel on the team we can aim for a good result in the general classification. Mikel has a lot of experience, as do many of our riders, and together they make for quite a strong and balanced team. Looking on the parcours, I think you can easily say this will be one of the toughest editions in recent years. The start is very hard, we have some big climbs early in the race followed by that gravel stage, and then the second and third week will be very demanding. We need to be focused and at the top of our game to get some good results, and we are confident in this team and what it can do this July”, said sports director Tom Steels.

29.06–21.07 Tour de France (FRA) 2.UWT
Riders:
Remco Evenepoel (BEL)
Jan Hirt (CZE)
Yves Lampaert (BEL)
Mikel Landa (ESP)
Gianni Moscon (ITA)
Casper Phillip Pedersen (DEN)
Ilan Van Wilder (BEL)
Louis Vervaeke (BEL).

Sports Directors: Davide Bramati (ITA), Dries Devenyns (BEL), Klaas Lodewyck (BEL) and Tom Steels (BEL).

Evenepoel looking forward to his first Tour:

 

Lotto Dstny to the Tour de France
Lotto Dstny reveals their eight names that will head to the Grand Départ in Florence.

On Saturday 29th June this year’s Tour de France will take off in the city of Florence, Italy. The Lotto Dstny Team will tackle the 21 stages, with a diverse team, in the search of a stage win. Maxim Van Gils, Arnaud De Lie, Victor Campenaerts, Brent Van Moer, Jarrad Drizners, Harm Vanhoucke, Sébastien Grignard and Cedric Beullens are ready for three weeks of racing on the highest level. Unfortunately Andreas Kron didn’t get ready on time for the Tour, due to the consequences of his crash in the Dauphiné. Sports Manager Kurt Van de Wouwer gives his view on the Tour squad.

Maxim Van Gils, who got close to a stage win already in his first participation last year, earned his spot in the Tour team after a magnificent spring. “Maxim did a great Tour debut last year, coming close to that win. The goal is to go for a stage win with him, but of course we know that won’t be easy.”

Arnaud De Lie, who just became Belgian champion on the road, makes his first appearance at the Grande Boucle next week. “Arnaud goes to the Tour without any pressure, as it’s his first participation we don’t put any expectations around him. He goes there to learn and gain experience, of course there are some stages that suit him and in sprints he can try his chance, but without any musts.”

“Initially Harm wasn’t on the long-list, but his good results and his personal desire to go, made us choose him. He deserves the selection and in the mountain or hilly stages he can also try to go in a breakaway. Jarrad and Cedric will both help Arnaud in the lead-outs. Victor can bring a lot of experience and calmness in the young group of riders we bring and he was the most combative rider last year. He just became a father, so he had a bit of a different preparation but we know he will be ready 100%.”

“Further on, Brent can also go his own chance, he has proven in the past he’s capable of that. Sébastien is someone we can always count on. He’s always there. Looking to the team we have a strong group, hopefully we can make it a beautiful Tour de France together”, Kurt Van de Wouwer says.

New Belgian champion, Arnaud De Lie, to ride the Tour:

 

Intermarché-Wanty to the Tour de France
On Saturday June 29, Intermarché-Wanty begins its seventh Tour de France in Florence (Tuscany) towards reaching Nice on July 21. The Belgian World Team unveils a solid selection with the ambition of winning the very first stage victory in its history in the Tour and being among the ten best riders in the final individual ranking.

For the seventh Tour in its history, Intermarché-Circus-Wanty will participate in an edition of the Tour with an unprecedented Grand Départ and final. Because for the first time, this 111th edition will start in Italy on 29th of June from Florence for three days in the country. And for the first time, the Tour de France will not finish in the capital but in Nice with a time trial at the Côte d’Azur on 21st of July.

The 21 stages through Italy, San Marino, Monaco and France are divided in two time trials, eight flat stages, four hilly stages among which one containing gravel roads, and seven mountain stages. Apart from the stages in the Apennines and the Massif Central, four finish on a mountain top in the Pyrenees or the Alps.
The opening stage between Florence and Rimini is the Grand Départ with the highest amount of climbing meters in the history of the Tour: 3600 meters. The second day, a double ascension of the Madonna di San Luca promises a difficult final towards Bologna, on the eve of a first opportunity for the sprinters in the longest stage of this edition towards Torino.

The peloton will head to the French Alps on the fourth day, with a finish after the descent of the Col du Glibber. The first time trial occurs on the seventh day with 25 kilometre until Gerry-Chambertin, preceding a spectacular ninth stage with 32 kilometre of unpaved roads around Troyes, divided in fourteen sectors.

After the first rest day, the peloton will cross the open fields between Orléans and Saint-Amand-Montrond to reach the Massif Central on day eleven with more than 4,300 climbing meters in this stage. After two transition stages, two big days in the Pyrenees come up. The first mountain top finish on Pla d’Adet follows the ascensions of the Col du Tourmalet and Hourquette d’Ancizan. The next day ends on top of Plateau de Beille, which is preceded by five more climbs.

The third week brings the peloton back towards the Alps for three decisive uphill finishes. An explosive final towards Superdévoluy awaits the riders on day seventeen. In the nineteenth stage, three summits higher than 2000 meter will have to be conquered: the Col de Vars, Cime de la Bonette (the highest paved road in France at 2802m) and the final climb towards Isola 2000.

The final mountain stage contains the Col de Turini and la Colmiane in the direction of the finish on top of Col de la Couillole, preceding the final time trial of 34 kilometre between Monaco and Nice, passing the Col d’Èze.

For its seventh Tour de France, Intermarché-Wanty unveils a solid selection with three Belgians, several Grand Tours stage winners and three debutants, who will compete under the direction of Aike Visbeek, Laurenzo Lapage and Dimitri Claeys.

Seventh in the 2022 Tour de France, but also eighth in 2016 and 2017, the South African climber Louis Meintjes is designated for the general classification for the fourth consecutive year. Winner this year in the Basque Country, Meintjes has been competing with the best climbers since joining the World Team in 2021, also tenth in La Vuelta 2022 where he won a stage.

Giro stage and Gent-Wevelgem winner Biniam Girmay is competing in his second consecutive Tour de France. The Eritrean rider has demonstrated his great condition in recent weeks, with a victory on the Franco-Belgian Circuit, second places at the Brussels Classic and the Rund um Köln after his stage podium at the Giro, in addition to his victory at the Surf Coast Classic in January.

Sprinter Gerben Thijssen is discovering the Grande Boucle for the first time, he is one of three Belgians in the selection. Since his arrival at Intermarché-Wanty, he has won nine victories against the elite sprinters. This year, he won at the Trofeo Palma and at the Tour of the Algarve, and recently reached the podium at the Tour of Belgium against Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen.

In addition to Thijssen, the young Hugo Page and Laurenz Rex are the two other debutants in the selection for this Tour de France. In 2023, they made solid debuts on a Grand Tour, Page on La Vuelta and Rex on the Giro, with several top 10s. And this season, they distinguished themselves helping the team by contributing to the victories of Girmay and Thijssen, in addition to personal achievements such as Rex’s victory on Le Samyn and Page’s podium on the Critérium du Dauphiné.

The most experienced figure in this team is Mike Teunissen, stage winner in the 2019 Tour de France and wearer of the yellow jersey, he has four Tours to his credit. This season he has played a major role in the sprint train and classics, alongside Biniam Girmay and Gerben Thijssen, and recently placed fourth in the national championship in the sprint won by Dylan Groenewegen.

Climbers Kobe Goossens and Georg Zimmermann complete the selection. The Belgian Goossens made an impressive return to competition after eight months of injury, immediately in the top 10 at World Tour level at the Eschborn-Frankfurt classic and the Tour de Romandie, he is at the start of his second Tour. As for Zimmermann, stage winner on the Dauphiné, he is starting his fourth Tour in a row alongside Louis Meintjes, coming very close to victory last year with second place in Issoire.

Aike Visbeek (Performance Manager): “Our goals in this Tour de France are clear: to win our very first stage and place Louis Meintjes in the top 10 of the general classification. The selection we composed has been preparing for this since the winter. We had already announced six names, the last two were decided in the last two months. Kobe Goossens was in recovery, so it was necessary to assess the situation step by step. He is ready, with Georg Zimmermann, to support Louis Meintjes in the mountains. Both will also be vigilant for breakaways, particularly in the hilly and transitional stages.”

“With already one Tour de France under his belt, Biniam Girmay leads our team with more experience. Even if his preparation was adapted due to his double crash in the Giro, Biniam displays excellent condition and recent boost of confidence with his victory in Circuit Franco-Belge. We are in this Tour with another top sprinter with Gerben Thijssen, making his debut. This gives us several options tactically in the sprint finishes. But above all, Gerben’s objective on this Tour is to learn and gain experience.”

“Then we have Mike Teunissen as captain and lead-out. With Laurenz Rex and Hugo Page, who are also very fast assets with a big engine, they will have the mission of keeping the sprint train in position. There is a mix of experience and young beginners in this selection. We are counting on Meintjes and Teunissen to take the other riders under their wings. This group has the capacity to gain strength throughout this Tour and to achieve our ambitions and win our first stage of the Tour.”

 

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL reveals stage-hunting Tour de France squad
An exciting Grand Départ awaits the Tour de France peloton this year with the 21-day festival of cycling getting underway in Florence, Italy this weekend. Today Team dsm-firmenich PostNL announce their eight-rider roster that is set to take on the wide variety of parcours on offer over the three weeks as they hunt stage success.

Taking inspiration from the film Italian Job, the doors could be blown off the bunch on the opening stage where they face a challenging parcours to Rimini, while the puncheurs and climbers will fancy their chances again on stage two which borrows the famous San Luca climb from Giro dell’Emilia. The fast finishers in the peloton will be thankful to get an opportunity on stage three before the climbers or breakaway artists will do battle the following day as the race returns to French soil. A time trial, a mixture of sprint stages and those for opportunists, plus a gravel-filled stage nine round out the opening week of action. Week two is balanced between sprint stages and climbing days, but of course the barodeurs and breakaway specialists will no doubt toss their proverbial hats into the ring for stage glory too. The final week gets underway with the last sprint opportunity of the race before the route heads eastwards and not north, towards the grand finale in Nice. A couple of potential breakaway days sit amongst hard mountain days where those still in the GC battle will look to play their hands one last time, while the climbers will also set off in pursuit of stage glory. The race then ends with a spectacular and hilly time trial from Monaco to Nice; the first time that the Tour has finished with a time trial since 1989, and more amazingly the first time the race has finished outside of Paris in over 100 years.

Looking to build on their good recent form, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL are ready to take on the 21 days of action; aiming to ride smartly as a unit and pick their opportunities to go all-out for stage results throughout the Tour de France.

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Matt Winston said: “We’re looking forward to being on the start-line of the Tour de France once again. This year we come in with the sole focus of going for day results, whether that be in the sprint finishes, in the mountains or on the rolling terrain in between. We have an exciting group of riders who are all committed to that, but we will need to be smart about when and where we use our energy to maximise our chances. In the pure sprints we will go with Fabio as our finisher, with John, TDF debutant Bram and Nils as his final lead out. It’s good to have Nils back in action after his recovery from concussion, motivated and ready to go to complete this group in this sprints. In the hills and mountains we have the likes of Romain, Warren, Frank and Oscar – the latter two also on their TDF debut. We believe everyone in the team can play a role in the finale on the right stage and in the right circumstances. We will need to show good teamwork from the off as we can expect a hard start on the climbs in Italy, before some sprint opportunities after that. From that point there is a variety of parcours and terrain over the three weeks where we can be in the mix. We will look together as a team and make plans for the best possible way to approach each stage, so that we can show ourselves at the very front of the race.”

Fabio Jakobsen added: “I am really excited to take on my first Tour de France with Team dsm-firmenich PostNL. We bring a really strong group to the race that can go for stage success on every terrain. I have a nice group around me to target the sprint stages, but with Warren, Frank, Oscar, and Romain, we also have really strong riders for the hilly and mountainous stages. We aim to show strong teamwork and really fight for each other, and if we perform at a high level, I believe we can have a great race together. I can’t wait to get started.”

Line-up:
Romain Bardet
Warren Barguil
John Degenlolb
Nils Eekhoff
Fabio Jakobsen
Oscar Onley
Frank van den Broek
Bram Welten.

 

Our 2024 Tour de France Roster
It’s going to be an exciting July. We’re going for stage wins.

It’s time for the Tour de France.

Alberto Bettiol, Neilson Powless, Ben Healy, Marijn van den Berg, Rui Costa, Sean Quinn, Stefan Bissegger, and Richard Carapaz will race the 2024 Grand Boucle for EF Education-EasyPost.

Every one of them is a winner. From the Grand Départ in Florence, Italy to the grand finale in Nice on the Côte d’Azur, they are going to light up this year’s Tour de France in attacking style, chasing stages at every opportunity. Our 2024 Tour team balances youth with experience, strength in the windswept vineyards and sunflower fields of middle France with climbers born to fly up sweltering cols in the Pyrénées and Alps. Sit back this July, because we won’t. From stage one to 21 of this year’s Tour de France, every day will be an opportunity for EF Education-EasyPost.

It’s going to be an exciting summer.

Before the Tour gets started in Florence, hear from our riders.

Alberto Bettiol
“My first race in my new Italian champion’s jersey will be in Florence, my hometown, at the start of the Tour. It’s going to be very, very special. The Grand Départ will be crazy beautiful. I know the roads really well. I want to win a stage at the Tour. I’ve been close before and know I can do it. This year is really important for me. I’m not super young anymore. I don’t have too many years in front of me. Winning the Italian championship was a goal and another goal is to win a stage in the Tour de France. I have to make the most of all of the opportunities I get. To win in this jersey would mean a lot to me. You have to be ready and you always have to fight, because winning in the Tour is not like winning in any other races. It’s doubly hard to win a stage at the Tour, especially for an all-rounder like me. I think the team is making a smart choice to go for stages. It is going to be fun and really exciting.”

Neilson Powless
“I think this was probably the hardest year I’ve had yet with injuries and illnesses, so I’m just excited that I was able to overcome that and still race the Tour de France. Nationals and the first half of the Dauphine reassured me that I’m back to a really high level after the rocky spring. I’m going into the Tour with high ambitions and big goals. I really want to win a stage this year. I still haven’t gotten one. Winning a stage is my first and foremost goal, and I think I’ve got the fitness to do it. It’s just about getting it right on the day, just following the right moves and using my energy wisely. I think everyone on the team is eager to take their shot. Every one of us has something to prove. We haven’t had the smoothest spring as a team and everyone is chomping at the bit to make up for that.”

Ben Healy
“The Tour is the biggest race there is and I am really excited for it. It’s a pretty big milestone. The first step is making it to the WorldTour and the next is going to a Tour. I’d love to try and win a stage. That’s what I’m good at. That’s what I want to go and try to do. I need a pretty hard day out with a hard finish. Stage one looks really good for me, but there are a few towards the end of the second week as well. Since the Ardennes, I’ve knuckled down and done the altitude camps and some good races. The preparation has gone well for me. I’m excited that we’re going to get to go for our own opportunities. There will be days when I’m really suffering. I will just go all-in on the days when I’ve got to go all-in and save my legs on the others, when our other guys will be going for it.”

Marijn van den Berg
“Going to the Tour is something I had always dreamed of. When I was a kid, we would often go on holidays to France in July and watch the race. We would watch it in a bar or on a terrace. That’s the thing I remember the most, my brother and my dad and I would do a ride and then go to the swimming pool and then watch the race afterwards . I would be super happy if I got a bottle from a rider and always be a big fan of that rider because of that. Now, to maybe become the guy who does the same thing is a strange feeling actually. You watch it as a kid, and it’s super special and now you are a part of it. It shows that hard work pays off. I hope we can get some stage wins with the team. For me personally, there are a few stages that suit me, so I will definitely focus on those, and then help the other guys on the others to get them in the best position possible to go for stage wins as well. I will have some chances of my own, but also help the team. My friends at home who don’t have a lot of knowledge about cycling always ask if I have done the Tour. Now, finally, I will be able to say yes.”

Rui Costa
“It’s going to be an honour for me to represent my country and wear the colours of Portugal at the Tour. Since joining EF Education-EasyPost I always wanted to have the Portuguese flag on my jersey. That was one of my ambitions this year. Now, when I wear the jersey at the Tour, I will have accomplished two dreams. I went through a lot after my crash this spring. I worked very hard to get fit for the Tour and to get selected for it. In the end, it worked out and I’m super grateful for the selection and that the team believes in me. I will do my best to fight for a stage, fight as a team and get wins for the team. It’s the most important race of the year. The level of the Tour is a level that you can’t experience in any other race of the season. The team looks very strong, and there are many stages for us. This will be our focus, to go and hunt for stages. I believe we will win. We will get a big one this year.”

Sean Quinn
“I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment forever. So, I’m really pumped. The Tour is the reason I started chasing the dream of being a professional in the first place. Getting selected is an achievement in itself. I think it’s probably my most proud accomplishment so far. Wearing the stars-and-stripes jersey is going to be sweet. It’s an opportunity to represent the country on the world’s biggest stage. I will just do my best and try to make everyone proud, because I will be representing a lot of people by flying that flag. The race starts in Italy, where I raced a ton as an amateur and I know that area super well, and then it finishes in Nice, which is where I live now, so we’re going full circle. If I could win a stage myself, that’d be pretty epic. We’ll see how many opportunities I get, because I will also be helping the other guys. I’m just happy to be there, but the big dream would be to win a stage. For all my friends, it’s the only bike race they actually know so they’re going to be pretty pumped to see me. They will be like, ‘okay, so you’re actually a real cyclist.’ My parents have seen me work at it for many years. They’re super pumped about it. They know they played a big part in the journey as well and are really proud of me.”

Stefan Bissegger
“We’re going to go for stage wins, so I’m going to try my best and hopefully come back with a nice result. I like the first TT. I would like to tell my son that I won a stage at the Tour. That’s the goal. Just riding is one thing, but I don’t participate just to be there. I want to perform. The Tour is such an important race. I always watched it with my own father, all the cycling races, but especially the Tour. We watched it basically every day. For sure, he is super proud. The Tour is never easy. It’s also always different than you expect it to be. There is always tension in the bunch, and so much more media and so many more spectators. It’s a lot more stressful for us riders. I will drink my coffee in the morning and try to be relaxed. Good coffee in the morning and then it should all be great.”

Richard Carapaz
“I’m now back, working hard, and not only prepared, but also excited for this Tour. The Tour is the Tour and it’s always emotional. After my crash at Suisse, I got sick. My form will arrive late, but I will give my best for this Tour de France. My preparations before the crash were very good. The first week will be very hard, but I will try to get through it as best as possible. Winning a stage is super important. In the last editions, I was very close, so winning one would be very important for me, but also to the team and everyone who prepared for that moment. It would be the result of hard work and perseverance. Last year was tough. I had to go home. This year we’re going for it again. Everyone around me knows how much I’ve prepared for this. We have a strong, versatile team. We can win on all sorts of terrain.The Tour is the best race of the world. It creates many emotions and that’s what makes it special.”

Alberto Bettiol to the Tour:

 

Movistar Confirms 2024 Tour de France Line-Up
Telefónica-backed squad with more appearances than anybody else at the French grand tour as they head into Italian Grand Départ this weekend.

The Movistar Team will reach no less than 42 appearances at the ‘Grande Boucle’ as they start the 111th Tour de France from Florence, Italy, this Saturday (June 29th).

The Telefónica-backed squad – already 14 times with the ‘M’ on their chest at the world’s biggest bike race – will line up in Tuscany with an eight-man squad formed by Enric Mas, Oier Lazkano, Davide Formolo, Nelson Oliveira, Alex Aranburu, Fernando Gaviria, Gregor Mühlberger and Javier Romo.

Chente García Acosta, Max Sciandri, Pablo Lastras and Iván Velasco will be the Blues’ sports directors at a race that, for the first time in history, will not end in Paris. Nice is scheduled to host the final ITT of the race on Sunday, July 21st.

2024 TDF GUIDE | All info on the Movistar Team at the race.

 

INEOS Grenadiers 2024 Tour de France Squad Announced
Carlos Rodríguez and Egan Bernal will spearhead a seasoned squad of riders at this year’s 111th Tour de France, featuring two previous Tour winners and five Tour stage winners. The team’s eight riders have ridden an impressive 39 editions of the Tour de France and collectively know what it takes to succeed in cycling’s most prestigious race.
Following Carlos Rodríguez’s strong performance at the 2023 edition of the Tour de France, he has continued his progression as a GC rider in 2024 with a win overall and Best Young Rider at the Tour de Romandie, a second at the Tour of the Basque Country and a stage win and overall, fourth placing in the Critérium du Dauphiné. A Grenadier since 2020, Carlos confirmed his long-term commitment to the team last season by extending his contract until 2027, with the team praising his natural talent, racing spirit and professionalism.

Popular Colombian Tour winner Egan Bernal has continued his impressive rise back to the top tier of cycling after a potentially life-changing accident in 2022. His 2024 season has seen him consistently building form with a seventh place finish at Paris-Nice, third at Volta a Catalunya and fourth at the Tour de Suisse.
Lining up alongside Carlos and Egan will be some of the leading names in the sport, providing the Grenadiers a variety of cards to play as the race unfolds.

INEOS Grenadiers lineup:

● Egan Bernal (27), Colombia – the 2019 Tour de France winner will be racing his fifth Tour de France this year after a run of strong performances including an impressive podium in Catalunya.
● Jonathan Castroviejo (37), Spain – the versatile and ever-reliable climber and six-time national time trial champion will be starting his 10th Tour de France after a consistently strong 2024 season.
● Laurens De Plus (28), Belgium – the strong climber and stage racer starts his second Tour de France after a successful lead-in that includes an impressive fifth place finish at the Critérium du Dauphiné.
● Michal Kwiatkowski (34), Poland – the former World Champion is one of the most experienced riders in the peloton. As a double Tour de France stage winner, Kwiato lines up for his 10th Tour de France in 2024.
● Tom Pidcock (24), Great Britain – the multi-discipline rider and 2022 Tour de France stage winner is tackling his third Tour de France this year after a season that has seen him win Amstel Gold, demonstrate strong form in stage races and achieve mountain bike success.
● Carlos Rodriguez (23), Spain – co-leader for his second Tour de France following a breakthrough stage win and fifth place overall in 2023, the young Spaniard has been riding into form throughout the 2024 season, winning the Tour de Romandie and the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
● Geraint Thomas (38), Great Britain – G, with 12 Tour de France starts for the team including his 2018 victory, second in 2019 and 3rd in 2022, starts his 13th edition of the Tour off the back of a hard-earned podium place at the Giro d’Italia.
● Ben Turner (25), Great Britain – the popular and super-strong Brit lines up for his second Tour de France after an impressive season focussed on the Classics.

Scott Drawer, Performance Director, said: “We are all ready to start in Florence and take on three weeks of the hardest racing in sport, in front of the best fans in the world. The competition is tougher than ever, but nothing is a given in Grand Tour cycling. We have been racing this season as the hunters not the hunted and that brings its own advantages. The Giro last month was a perfect example of how we love to race as a team – putting the pressure on, fighting for every opportunity, and taking chances, and it is how we plan to race in France over the coming weeks. After a strong and consistent season, Carlos will be leading the INEOS Grenadiers’ charge across France. Carlos has continued to impress us with his racing as well as his professionalism and attitude on and off the bike. Right beside him will be the strength and Tour experience of Egan, with Tom and Geraint providing support but also looking to race aggressively, disrupt and take the race to our competition. Laurens’ climbing ability will also be invaluable in the high mountains while Castro will bring his trademark selfless and steady presence to the team and will help to drive the pace. And with all his experience and Tour de France wins in his own right, Kwiato will provide insight, protection and look for opportunities on the flats and cross winds alongside Ben, a popular powerhouse of a rider. This exceptional group has real depth of experience and a broad range of skills, and their collective insight into what it takes to succeed in the Tour de France will prove invaluable over 21 gruelling stages with over 52,000 metres of elevation gain.”

Carlos Rodríguez said: “My preparation has gone well so far, and I feel confident that I will be starting in Florence in the best shape possible. I had a good training block at the end of last year and a great altitude camp in January. I had a slower start to the year than I wanted but have turned that around and the legs are now feeling good, and my body is responding well. I think that shows that the plan has worked, and we have done things in the right way and in the right order. The team has helped me a lot this year, looking at every aspect of my performance and going over every detail to help me improve. Now I am feeling ready and am really looking forward to the Tour starting. I have great memories from last year’s Tour de France, sharing some special moments with the team and my family so I hope this year will be even better.” Reflecting on the strength of the wider group of riders in the team, Carlos added: “In cycling, you get individual results but it’s a team sport. The help from these teammates and from the staff will be what makes all the difference, especially when the level of racing is going to be so high. Having such a strong group of riders around me is what is going to help us get the best result possible as a team.”

Egan Bernal said: “I am very happy to be selected again. It’s a big honour to be in the biggest race in the world and as with every year, we’ll fight for the best result possible. My ambition is to be really competitive and to be someone who can make a real difference in the race. As a team we want to win and we have a few riders who can do really well. It is going to be important to have different options especially in the second and third week. If we can reach that point with a number of riders high on GC it can become a bit of a strategic game, and having various cards to play is going to be important.”

Tom Pidcock said: “Preparation for the Tour this year has gone really well and I feel like I’m in a really good place ahead of it. We’ve selected a team that’s going to provide opportunities for us to continue to race in a way that’s very exciting for me personally, and the team. I’ve won a Tour stage before and that’s really something I would love to do again, it was one of the best days on the bike. The opening few stages this year presents a real opportunity but of course there are many riders with eyes on the yellow jersey. After a block at altitude and then getting back to racing at the Tour de Suisse, I was improving every day and I had my best day on the TT bike, which is very promising and certainly the right direction I want to be going in at the moment. I can’t wait for my third Tour.”

Geraint Thomas said: “Can’t quite believe I am starting my 13th Tour de France – let’s hope it’s a lucky one! I didn’t know how I would feel after the Giro and getting back to training as I have never done the Giro-Tour double before, but it’s been a solid block and the legs are feeling pretty good. I thought it would be really hard to stay on it but I’ve actually enjoyed it and got some good work done. Obviously, it’s a slight unknown how the body will respond given I haven’t had a season like this before, but I am feeling pretty fresh mentally and just looking forward to the Tour getting started now. It’s going to be a super competitive and hard race, but we’ve got a super strong team with plenty of experience and Carlos is clearly on the up this season. Personally, I am looking forward to racing with a bit less pressure and more freedom to mix it up and try to get really stuck in.”

 

Oscar Pereiro Never had Contact with Floyd Landis after the 2006 Tour
Oscar Pereiro is in the history books as the winner of the 2006 Tour de France, but he never rode into Paris in yellow. It was fifteen months later that the Spaniard was officially presented with the leader’s jersey. In the new RIDE Magazine by WielerFlits, they have a special story of Pereiro, who, after a monster break, could dreamed of a final victory and ultimately lost to Floyd Landis, but still won.

Pereiro and Landis knew each other well in the run-up to the 2006 Tour de France, because the two were teammates in Phonak in 2005. The Spaniard and the American could not have foreseen that they would be on stage together a year later and end up in a legal dispute. Landis was stripped of the overall victory after a positive test for testosterone, after which Pereiro was declared the winner. The two have never spoken since, Pereiro revealed in RIDE.

“I called Floyd afterwards, but he didn’t answer the phone. In 2007 he attended the Vuelta a España. As a friend, I wanted to see him there and ask him what happened, but that wasn’t possible because of all the cameras. We have had no contact since then,” explains Pereiro.

Pereiro talks about his Tour de France victory more and more often, but his victory will forever be linked to the story of Floyd Landis. “I can deal with that quite well, because I can’t change anything anymore. It’s impossible to take those stories apart, so what can I do about it? It changed my life, but I don’t think back on how it happened. I have accepted how things turned out and that makes it okay for me.”

Pereiro still involved with cycling:

 

Triple World Champion Peter Sagan Joins MyWhoosh
Get ready to ride like a champion! MyWhoosh, the premier online training and racing platform and official partner for the UCI Road Cycling World Championships and the UCI E-sports Cycling World Championships, is thrilled to announce the new partnership with the legendary Peter Sagan.

Peter Sagan, a three-time road world champion and seven-time Tour de France points classification winner, is one of the most dynamic and charismatic figures in professional cycling. After retiring from road racing in 2023, Sagan is now returning to his roots in cross-country mountain bike racing, where he first made waves as the junior world champion in 2008.

As he gears up for his return to top-level MTB competition, Sagan will be honing his fitness using MyWhoosh’s extensive library of training plans and workouts. Even more exciting for MyWhoosh users, Sagan’s personally designed workouts will soon be available to all. This means riders worldwide can train like a world champion and even join in planned rideouts with Sagan himself.

Peter Sagan said: “I am honoured to become an ambassador for MyWhoosh, the world’s best indoor training and racing platform. Their commitment to advancing technology and supporting the global cycling community aligns perfectly with my passion for the sport. I’m excited to provide my own training plans on the platform and even give anyone the opportunity to join me for a ride. I think that together, we can inspire more people to embrace cycling and achieve their fitness goals.”

Sagan’s illustrious career is studded with incredible achievements. He made history by winning the UCI Road World Championships three years in a row (2015-17) and holds a record seven green jerseys from the Tour de France. His victories in the Spring Classics, including Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders, and Gent-Wevelgem, further cement his status as one of cycling’s greats.

MyWhoosh, a free indoor training and racing platform, is already a favourite among elite teams like WorldTour UAE Team Emirates, featuring star rider Tadej Pogačar, and Women’s WorldTour team UAE Team ADQ. Now, with Peter Sagan on board, the platform is set to offer even more exciting opportunities for cyclists of all levels.

Mark your calendars for October 26, 2024, when Sagan will attend the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships in Abu Dhabi alongside reigning Tadej Pogačar.

MyWhoosh is a free indoor training and racing platform used by World Tour UAE Team Emirates and its star rider Tadej Pogačar, and Women’s Worldn Tour team UAE Team ADQ.

Peter Sagan on MyWhoosh:

 

Pidcock and Tarling in the British Selection for the Olympic Games
British Cycling has announced its first road selections for the Olympic Games in Paris. In the men’s road race, the main focus is on Tom Pidcock. With Joshua Tarling, Great Britain also has a medal candidate for the Olympic time trial.

In the road race, Tom Pidcock seems to be the biggest contender for a medal, although the British cycling association has selected Stephen Williams (winner of the Flèche Wallonne) and Fred Wright. The fourth rider in the road race is Joshua Tarling. The young Brit will mainly be focused on the Olympic time trial, which is a week earlier. Tarling, still only 20, has become one of the best time trial riders in the world. Last year he was British and European champion and finished third at the World Championships, behind winner Remco Evenepoel and Filippo Ganna. Two riders he will be up against in Paris.

The most important rider for the road race is Tom Pidcock. The versatile Briton has been the top man on the mountain bike for several years and hopes to extend his Tokyo Olympic title. Charlie Aldridge, the current U23 World champion, has also secured an Olympic ticket. The British women’s selection is still to be announced.

British road selection for Paris 2024 Olympic Games (July 26-August 11):

Time trial (July 27):
Ethan Hayter
Joshua Tarling.

Road Race (August 3):
Tom Pidcock
Joshua Tarling
Stephen Williams
Fred Wright.

Tom Pidcock to lead the GB team in Paris:

 

Lachlan Morton’s Journey with EF Pro Cycling Continues
Fresh off his Unbound win, the Aussie racer and explorer is excited for his next great adventures with our team

On the road, on dirt, chasing WorldTour victories or FKTs, Lachlan Morton’s creative spirit has long pushed us to find new, meaningful, ways to ride and race bikes. Today, we’re proud to announce that Lachy will continue his cycling journey with our team.

The coming years are going to be some of Lachlan’s most exciting yet. He will continue to blaze trails in EF Pro Cycling pink.

“I take the most satisfaction from doing a bunch of different things,” Lachlan says. “That’s what’s cool about riding for EF Pro Cycling. It’s all been one big, long, fun journey. I like riding for the team. I’ve been able to carve out a space for myself in the sport that I really love. The team gives me a lot of support and freedom and puts a lot of trust in me and the things I want to do and definitely enables me to just focus on riding my bike. It gives me that freedom to do the things I care about. It’s a unique and lucky position that I am in, and I want to keep doing what I’m doing.”

EF Pro Cycling founder and CEO Jonathan Vaughters wants Lachlan to keep doing just that. Vaughters puts great stock in Lachlan’s contribution to our team. He first spotted Lachlan at a junior race in the United States when Lachlan was a teenager and immediately recognised the Australian’s talent. He brought him on to our development team at the time and was enthralled by his early successes in races like the Tour of the Gila and Tour of Utah. It was hard to watch Lachlan wither under the regimented nature of WorldTour racing. What Vaughters learned during those years was that Lachlan needs freedom to flourish. He truly came into his own when he got the chance to lead our alternative calendar.

“Lachlan likes to freeform it,” Vaughters says. “He basically invented his own way to be a successful cyclist that didn’t involve being in the WorldTour. He was the first rider to really ever do that, to really express himself and become an icon of the sport without winning the Tour de France. He has carved out a very creative niche for himself. Ultimately, he is the trailblazer in the gravel world, in doing an alternative calendar, ultra adventure, endurance racing. Lachlan has just been such a creative ambassador to the whole movement. Lachlan, being the artist that he is, was able to really take that canvas and paint it.”

Now, at 32, Lachlan has rediscovered the competitive fire that he used to light up road races during his first years as a pro. Just a few weeks ago, he astonished the whole cycling community with his win at Unbound. After riding the Giro, a Vuelta, and his own Alt-Tour, he has still had enough of grand tour racing, but now has his sights set on Leadville and the ever-more competitive gravel events that have breathed new life into the global bike racing scene.

Lachlan is still a winner, but won’t let going for wins define him.

“​​I know the wins are fleeting,” he says. “You have to acknowledge them for what they were, which was a great day and the culmination of years of riding, which you have and no one can take away from you. At the same time, although I’m proud of all the wins I’ve had, they haven’t been the best days of my life. When you become too attached to the winning, they quickly become your enemies; you’re trying to live up to them. I’ve learned to go beyond that and found more contentment.”

By balancing his own racing ambitions with more meaningful trips that put any number on a results sheet into perspective, Lachlan has managed to keep his love of riding bikes burning hot. His ride down The Divide last year was a case in point. Yes, he covered the route quickest, but far more important to him was the first-hand experience he got of the American West, the money he raised for Adventure for All, and the film his brother Gus made of the expedition in all of its rugged beauty. The same holds for his Alt Tour and One Ride Away projects. All in all, Lachlan has raised over one million dollars for various causes.

His playful, open-minded approach to cycling has long inspired our team. He reminds us why we fell in love with riding bikes in the first place and helps us connect with fans who love riding theirs but don’t yet spend their weekends watching WorldTour racing.

“Lachlan and his alternative calendar makes us unique in the world of professional cycling,” Vaughters says. “It allows our fans to follow something a little bit more relatable. It allows our fans to go out and race against Lachlan on occasion. For us, as an organisation, it allows us to be creative. Lachlan does different events every year. He tries to break some sort of different record every year, and tries to do something different every year in a different way. That brings us a lot of joy. It brings us a lot of fans we might not otherwise have.”

Right now, Vaughters is excited by Lachlan’s re-found racing ambitions. He has been checking his TrainingPeaks files and has been shocked to see sprints and VO2-max intervals instead of Lachlan just riding his bike all day every day. He has been impressed by the level of detail to which Lachlan has refined his bike and racing kit, but knows he still has to let Lachlan go his own way. Lachlan’s long aimless rides stoke his love for the sport.

“I just enjoy a day where I don’t have anything else on, and I can just leave in the morning with some rough idea of the direction I’m going to go, but nothing set in stone,” Lachlan says. “I could get back at two in the afternoon or I could get back at six and it doesn’t matter. I can stop when I want to stop or add on an extra loop or take a road I haven’t taken before, just having a long day out to myself, on my own time. I really still enjoy that.”

Don’t we all? Those are the rides that make us love riding bikes too. The only difference is that when Lachlan’s enjoying riding bikes he can go and win a race like Unbound.

Not that the wins are the point, or they are but only for an instant. As he trains for his next races, Lachlan is already dreaming of his next adventures.

“I’m excited by the idea of combining some bikepacking and racing, making events part of a bigger journey,” he says. “That’s something that I’ve been thinking about a lot recently. At some stage, combining some riding and hiking and running into some projects could be fun. I wouldn’t mind riding in Australia. That’s something I’ve been thinking about this year.”

Whatever Lachlan comes up with next, EF Pro Cycling will be there to support him and help him tell his stories, because those stories will change how we all ride and race bikes–for the better.

Lachlan Morton to stay with EF Pro Cycling:

 

Lani Wittevrongel and Ilken Seynave join Lotto Dstny Ladies Team
The Lotto Dstny Ladies Team closes two new signings for 2025.

Only 19 years old, but Lani Wittevrongel has already put eyes by taking silver on the European Championship scratch. “My grandfather was a race commissioner and that’s actually how I started cycling. At 13 years old, I did cyclocross and later on I also started cycling on the road. Now I combine track cycling with the road. Having signed with Lotto Dstny for next year is a very nice step, I hope to grow and learn as much as possible”, Lani Wittevrongel, who is studying communication sciences in Gent, says.

Ilken Seynave (17 years old) has proven already her time trial skills, by becoming national champion this season. “I also became Belgian Champion in cyclocross, it’s something that I want to keep on combining with road cycling. At ten years old, I started mountain biking, last year I made the step to cyclocross and this season I also do a lot of road races. I’m super happy with the chance to ride for the Lotto Dstny Ladies Team, with a beautiful program. I hope to grow, also on climbs, and I’m certain I’ll be able to do this in my new team.”

Sports Manager Kurt Van de Wouwer is equally happy to reinforce the Lotto Dstny Ladies Team in 2025: “Both Ilken and Lani have several qualities. Ilken combines the road with cyclocross, Lani also puts her focus on the track and both of them have qualities on the road as well. We always search new Belgian talent, so these new signings fit perfectly in this story.”

Lani Wittevrongel to Lotto Dstny:

 

Mirre Knaven Joins EF Education-Cannondale
Dutchwoman’s first race with the team is Thüringen Ladies Tour.

Mirre Knaven is joining EF Education-Cannondale effective immediately. She is transferring from AIG Insurance-NXTG U23. The Dutch rider’s first race with the team will be the Thüringen Ladies Tour.

“EF Pro Cycling has always been my dream team so I wanted to get here as soon as possible,” Mirre said. “My first race with the team is coming quickly but I’m super excited. I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone, the riders and directors and staff. I think it will be a really good atmosphere at Thüringen. Mostly, I just want to help the team as much as I can.”

EF Education-Cannondale general manager, Esra Tromp, concurs. “Mirre is a really young athlete; there is so much potential in her,” Esra said. “She is determined to develop herself everyday and wants to grow into a really strong classics rider. For us, it was a great opportunity to add her to the program right away. This gives us a little bit more time to get to know Mirre and to give her the support at this young age so she can grow.”

The nineteen-year-old Dutch rider is in her second season of professional racing. This year she earned her first win of her career on stage two of Gracia Orlová in Czechia where she out-kicked the field to win a bunch sprint. She also claimed the points competition and was the best young rider at the race. Mirre followed up that performance the following month by winning both the final stage at Tour de Feminin and the Queen of the Mountains jersey.

Mirre describes herself as a classics-style rider, explaining, “I’m not a climber but I can go over hills. I’m not a sprinter but I have a decent sprint. I hope to develop into a proper classics rider.”

In Mirre, Esra sees a lot of potential.

“I am really impressed by the way Mirre is racing. She has a strong sprint, but also races with heart and dares to race aggressively, something that fits our DNA. But not only by the way she is racing, she has a positive and upbeat personality, is highly focused, and has a great learning mindset!” Esra said.

Though Mirre grew up in an athletic family – her father is Servais Knaven, winner of the 2001 edition of Paris-Roubaix, and her mother, Natascha den Ouden, is a three-time cyclocross Dutch national champion – gymnastics was the first sport she practiced alongside her three sisters. When her oldest sister decided one day to trade in the gymnastics costume for a cycling kit, Mirre, then about seven years old, and her siblings followed suit. Her parents simply encouraged the sisters to follow their curiosities and passions, rarely bringing up their own racing careers.

Mirre and her sisters started riding on the road, before they all took up cyclocross and mountain biking as well.

“We all quit mountain biking because we were too scared at one point,” she said. “I still enjoy cyclocross but I do less and less of it every year. It takes a lot of energy for just one race and I’d rather be training in Spain in the winter!”

Beyond training and racing, Mirre spends her free time working toward her degree in digital design and playing music.

“I like to play piano, I play guitar, and I play the drums,” she said. “If I weren’t a cyclist, I think I would pursue music professionally. I started playing drums when I was nine and then when Covid started, I began playing the piano and I taught myself a bit. I actually like the piano the most. About two years ago, I also started playing guitar.”

The same desire to learn, coupled with her inner drive, that Mirre applies to music, she extends to cycling too.

“Last year, I made a really big step mentally in learning how to not give up. And with my win at Gracia Orlová this year, I made another step. I was scared before the stage but I did it and I took the win. That gave me a real boost and makes me excited to see what else I can do,” she said.

We can’t wait to see what you can do, Mirre, and we’re thrilled you’re going to do it in pink!

Mirre Knaven to EF Education-Cannondale:

 

Santos Tour Down Under Announces Stage for 2025

 

RTVE and La Vuelta pay tribute to cycling fans in the official video featuring Miss Caffeina’s ‘Cuando acabe el verano’
On Wednesday, RTVE’s installations in Torrespaña hosted the presentation of the official video of La Vuelta 24 in the presence of Alberto Jiménez, Sergio Sastre and Antonio Poza, the members of Miss Caffeina, María Eizaguirre, RTVE Director of Communication and Participation, and Charles Ojalvo, Director of Sponsorship and Public Relations for La Vuelta. This year’s edition will pedal to the rhythm of Cuando acabe el verano.

La Vuelta will, once again, take off from abroad in 2024 – this time from Lisbon, Oeiras and Cascais, in Portugal. To honour this special edition, Miss Caffeina has created Cuando acabe el verano, a song inspired by the memories of their youth and by the many summers spent with La Vuelta playing on TV in millions of homes all over the world.

The video is a tribute to La Vuelta fans who, year after year, watch the Spanish tour on TV and from the roadsides throughout the months of August and September, thus marking the end of summer. In it, fans are shown riding on their bikes, attending the race and enjoying the beautiful sceneries along the peloton’s route. They eventually join Miss Caffeina to the tune of their official song while, in the background, we relive the unforgettable finish-lines, hugs and landscapes that have marked the history of La Vuelta.

Cuando acabe el verano is a direct and energetic song that, through its enthusiasm and its guitars, conveys a touch of nostalgia for the spirit of la Vuelta – a race that lives each and every kilometre thoroughly and intensely, combining the wealth of its history with innovation in every edition.

The official song of La Vuelta has become one of our race’s signs of identity, with a musical and sporting tradition spanning over more than 45 years. Ever since French artists Sheila and B. Devotion provided La Vuelta with its very first official song in 1977, Singing in the rain, many national and international artists have followed suit making their own musical marks on the race.

As in previous years, the launch of La Vuelta’s official video marks the start of an intense summer of cycling on RTVE. The video will air 300 times on the various RTVE channels over the next three months, starting on Saturday, the 29th of June, with the start of the Tour de France from Florence and concluding on the 8th of September, marking the end of La Vuelta. The official song of La Vuelta will also accompany the daily broadcast of all 21 stages of the Spanish tour on the public TV station. This live multichannel event will take place on Televisión Española, Radio Nacional, RTVE.es and RTVE Play, and will be complemented by special programmes and chronicles, reports, interviews on the news and on RTVE’s social media. Over 100 professionals will transmit everything that happens on the Spanish tour to homes all over the country and the world.

 

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The PEZ NEWSWIRE!
Don’t forget to check the “NEWSWIRE” section, you can find it on the homepage, just above the PEZ Shop section. The bits of news that missed the EuroTrash deadline are in there, plus any news as-it-happens will be added there too.

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