On Saturday we were treated to a most exciting finale of Milano-Sanremo, we catch up with all the action and ‘what the riders thought’. Plus reports, results and video from the Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio, Grand Prix de Denain – Porte du Hainaut and the Bredene Koksijde Classic.
The fastest ever Milan-Sanremo and Poggio climb – TOP STORY.
Rider news: Wout van Aert believes in his different approach to the spring Classics, Sonny Colbrelli prevents Bahrain Victorious bike theft, Sepp Kuss finished the Giro’23 with covid, Giulio Ciccone back in training, but no Giro, three months off for Lars van den Berg, Filippo Baroncini breaks elbow in the Grand Prix de Denain, Jonas Rickaert breaks collarbone in Nokere Koerse, track rider Christos Volikákis found guilty of doping at the 2016 Olympic Games and the sad news of Jonas Bresseleers who died after collision with a truck.
Team news: Nairo Quintana makes his comeback in the Tour of Catalonia, Soudal Quick-Step to Volta a Catalunya, dsm-firmenich PostNL to Catalunya, Bahrain Victorious line-up for 103rd Volta a Catalunya, Tadej Pogačar to Lead UAE Team Emirates at Volta Catalunya, Lennert Van Eetvelt signs with Lotto Dstny for two more years, BORA-hansgrohe wants to sign Oier Lazkano and Jan Tratnik and UCI gives Patrick Lefevere a suspended fine for inappropriate comments.
Race news: Stefan Küng skidded on the mud of GP Denain and Adam Hansen criticises the race organisers, Richard Plugge will not continue as chairman of AIGCP and Team Polti Kometa has its official espresso coffee: SOLO Caffè Monorigine, the new brand from Aroma Polti.
Sit back and enjoy EUROTRASH Monday.
TOP STORY: The Fastest Ever Milan-Sanremo and Poggio Climb
The 2024 Milan-Sanremo was the ridden at the fastest ever time and Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel set a record time up the climb of the Poggio.
Last year, Mathieu van der Poel set a new record time on the Poggio di San Remo. This year, there was not only a new time set for the Poggio, but also for the complete Milano-Sanremo race. With an average speed of 45.99 kilometres per hour, the race was faster than in 1990, at a speed of 45.80 kilometres per hour, although the race was 6 kilometres shorter this year.
The Poggio record was held by Mathieu van der Poel, who climbed it last year in 5:40. This year, according to Dutch website, WielerFlits, Pogačar and Van der Poel crested the Poggio summit in 5:39. Last year the riders had a strong tailwind of approximately 29kph on the climb, this year there was a crosswind of 9kph. You can have a look at Tadej Pogačar’s Strava, which he titled: ‘Easy spin with some friends’ here, where he seems to have taken quite a few segment records.
Fastest Climbs of the Poggio
2024: Tadej Pogačar & Mathieu van der Poel in 5:39 (39.29km/h)
2023: Mathieu van der Poel in 5:40 (39.18km/h)
1995: Maurizio Fondriest & Laurent Jalabert in 5:46 (38.5km/h)
2019: Wout van Aert, Julian Alaphilippe, Michal Kwiatkowski, Oliver Naesen, Peter Sagan, Matteo Trentin & Alejandro Valverde in 5:50 (38.06km/h)
1998: Alberto Elli in 5:51 (37.95 km/h)
2020: Julian Alaphilippe in 5:55 (37.52km/h)
2017: Julian Alaphilippe, Michal Kwiatkowski & Peter Sagan in 5:55 (37.52km/h)
2000: Peter van Petegem, Davide Rebellin & Andrei Tchmil in 5:56 (37.42km/h)
1994: Giogio Furlan in 6:01 (36.90 km/h)
2001: Michele Bartoli, Gabriele Colombo, Peter van Petegem, Roberto Petito & Davide Rebbelin in 6:02 (36.80km/h)
Tadej Pogačar going for more Strava segments:
Milano-Sanremo 2024
Jasper Philipsen out-sprinted the group of favourites to take the win after a close battle on the Poggio and down into the streets of Sanremo. Tadej Pogačar and last year’s winner, Mathieu van der Poel cancelled each other out, but Alpecin-Deceuninck still took the win. Michael Matthews was second and Pogačar third.
The start of Milan-San Remo this year was not in Milan, but in Pavia, just south of Milan. This year’s race was slightly shorter at 288 kilometres. The final climbs were the same as usual: The Tre Capi: Capo Mele, Capo Cervo and the Capo Berta. Followed by the Cipressa and the Poggio di Sanremo.
We didn’t have to wait long for the ‘break of the day’ to form: Sergio Samitier (Movistar), Romain Combaud (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Davide Baldaccini, Valerio Conti & Kyrylo Tsarenko (Corratec-Vini Fantini), Davide Bais, Mirco Maestri & Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa) and Alessandro Tonelli & Samuele Zoccorato (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè). The 10 man escape were not given much of an advantage. Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek, with especially Silvan Dillier and Jacopo Mosca, took the front of the peloton. They kept the leading group within three minutes all day. The two tams were working for last year’s winner Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen. Not too much happened on the Passo del Turchino, the first climb of the day, but the race favourites; Van der Poel and Pogačar kept an eye on the action. They were well positioned at the front, especially for the descent. All the favourites then disappeared from the front again and the team work-horses took over. Would there be attacks on the Tre Capi? On Tre Capi; the Capo Mele, the Capo Cervo and the Capo Berta, it was UAE Team Emirates at the head of the peloton for the first time. Leader Tadej Pogačar had given instructions to start to make the race hard on these climbs. The leading group lost some of its advantage, but they were able to hold out for quite a while longer. Just before the Capo Berta, there was the first crash. Tim van Dijke and Cedric Beullens with some others, all hit the deck. The strong pace of UAE Team Emirates men also started to cause riders to lose hold at the back of the peloton. Surprisingly, European champion Christophe Laporte was amongst them. Much more was expected from the co-leader of Visma | Lease a Bike.
The pace was now at ‘top speed’ to the foot of the Cipressa. Many teams came forward which caused nervousness in the peloton. The UAE Team Emirates riders lost their place at the front for a while in the run-up to the Cipressa, but after only a few hundred metres on the climb, they were back at the front and again there was an acceleration. It was Isaac del Toro who set the pace, but he looked to have done too much and had to drop back. The young Mexican couldn’t maintain his high pace and it was left to Tim Wellens to take over. Pogačar had used up most of his ‘lead-out’ men by that point. Wellens put the pressure on in the final kilometre of the climb. This thinned out the peloton to about 30 riders at the top. Two of the remaining escapees crashed on the descent as the peloton caught them. This left Bais out front of the race. It took some time for the chase to get organised in the peloton. There was also a chasing group behind that came together with the favourites. There was now quite a large group heading the Poggio. It was the Tudor team for Matteo Trentin, who were the first to hit the Poggio. INEOS Grenadiers took over a little later, but we had to wait for real acceleration. It was Wellens again, he came through 2 kilometres from the top and initiated an attack by Pogačar. The Slovenian jumped 900 metres from the summit. Van der Poel saw it coming and was on the Slovenian’s wheel. As were Alberto Bettiol and Filippo Ganna.
The Pogačar group didn’t continue the move and a lot riders managed to join them. Pogačar took advantage of the moment and jumped away again. Van der Poel had to close a gap, but was able to close the gap on the descent. A group of about 10 other favourites were also not far back and they also rejoined on the descent. Just before the end of the descent it was the dare-devil, Matej Mohorič who shot away from the group and immediately took a big lead. It was too much for the former winner and he was caught with 1 kilometre to go. There was then attempts from Matteo Sobrero and Tom Pidcock, the INEOS man looked to have the race, but they couldn’t stay away. It was Van der Poel who was pulling the group together for Philipsen was still in the group. Van der Poel ensured that the Belgian was in the perfect position to sprint for the win. Michael Matthews looked like he might take the big win that he has been trying for all his career, but Philipsen came past on his inside next to the barriers to win Milano-San Remo. Matthews had to make do with second, Pogačar sprinted to third place ahead of Mads Pedersen who had been piloted well by Jasper Stuyven. Bettiol finished fifth and a happy Mathieu van der Poel was 10th.
# You can see more photos in the full PEZ ‘Race Report’ HERE. #
Race winner, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “I am extremely proud, also of what Mathieu did in the final. What great teamwork! It is wonderful how we did this as a team. This is one of the few monuments that I can win. I felt good all day and I had the feeling that it could be my day. Right from the start I felt that I had good legs and I believed in it, but then I still have to succeed. On the Poggio the favourites looked at each other a bit, but I was able to return and Mathieu was there to help me. I have to thank him very much. I was especially afraid of Mads Pedersen, I didn’t expect Matthews to be so good. A sprint after 300 kilometres is always strange and different, but luckily I still had five centimetres to eventually beat everyone. It’s really incredible. I still have to let it sink in. I dreamed of this.”
2nd, Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla): “Obviously, I’m happy with the podium, but being so close, it’s bittersweet. I think tomorrow morning I’ll be happy with my performance, but in this moment right now, being this close to a Monument after so many podiums, it’s hard. I think the way I bounced back [from illness], I’m really proud of myself, Paris-Nice obviously didn’t go to plan, but this is my favourite race of the year. It’s always a race that I love to perform at and it always puts a smile on my face when I’m on the start line, so to be here in Sanremo on the podium, it’s really special. Obviously they were difficult [the attacks on the Poggio], but I think they probably weren’t as strong as we all thought, but that suited me better and I could get through the climbs with better legs for the finish. We rode our race and we came away with a podium, so we can be happy.”
3rd, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “This podium is one of the finest I could imagine. Michael and Jasper are good friends so I’m really happy to be able to climb the podium with them. I had really good legs and felt I could have won but here everyone wants to win, so I can be pleased with my podium. The team did a really great job, almost perfect I would say on the Cipressa and Poggio. I couldn’t open a gap on the final climb no matter how hard I tried so I tried my luck in the sprint. We’ll come back again in the future and try for the win.”
4th, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek): “It’s very disappointing for myself. I’m not at all surprised by the result of today’s race. I’m happy with the way we rode as a team, but I’m sorry that I didn’t do a better sprint and didn’t reach the podium. I am disappointed and I am also sorry. It is a monument and I am not finishing the team’s work. The way we rode, and especially with Jasper’s help in the final, I should be on the podium. That’s why it’s even more disappointing for me that I didn’t achieve that.”
7th, Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny): “We were in the group with pure sprinters. I had predicted top-5 or top-10. Seventh, that’s perfect in the middle, isn’t it. Maybe I’ll never be in such a good position as today. Milan-Sanremo is really a strange race. Now everything stayed together and there were still fast men among us. Still, you hope that everything will go well at the finish and that you can try for the surprise. I actually think this is a very nice race. Very relaxed on the start, but suddenly it becomes hard against hard. Will I ever return to win? Of course.”
9th, Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step): “I am happy with my race. I felt good the entire day and had an incredible team by my side, who protected me and made sure I was in the right place when it mattered. It’s disappointing that I had that flat, because without it I am sure I could have finished higher in the classification. Anyway, top ten in the first Monument of the year isn’t a bad result, especially as I could feature in the finale despite everything. I can’t wait now for the Belgian races, where I hope to continue my upward trajectory.”
10th, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “That was no surprise (when UAE Team Emirates took control on the Tre Capi). In my opinion that was not the smartest move. We also saw that they did not perform very well on the Cipressa, which we actually expected. Lidl-Trek, who had the strongest team for that, did very well. I then did everything well on the Poggio. I would have liked to ride to the finish with Tadej Pogačar. I didn’t expect him to manage another gap at the end of the climb. I had to go very deep to get him back. Jasper had already come to tell me that he had super legs. In the end it is very nice. Of course I’d rather win myself, but I can enjoy this. We have already helped each other a lot. I wish him the best. I hope that I will improve a little in the coming weeks. I didn’t expect to be as good as last year. But I was definitely fine today.”
Late attacker, Matteo Sobrero (BORA-hansgrohe): “It is always a special race, especially for me. To be there in the final was already very good. I tried to surprise the others. I was hoping they would look at each other, you never know. That makes Milan-San Remo so special. Anything can happen. I’m happy, I feel good and I’m going to keep trying.”
Break rider, Davide Bais (Polti Kometa): “We attacked, managed ourselves very well, and in the last hundred kilometres we went all out. Our leading group kept getting smaller and smaller until I tried that last push. A really tough race for which we are really happy.”
Milano-Sanremo Result:
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck in 6:14:44
2. Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco AlUla
3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
4. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek
5. Alberto Bettiol (Ita) EF Education-EasyPost
6. Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain Victorious
7. Maxim Van Gils (Bel) Lotto Dstny
8. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Lidl-Trek
9. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step
10. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck.
Sanremo’24:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB2tHyduH5M
Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio 2024
The Trofeo Alfredo Binda was won by Elisa Balsamo on Sunday. The Italian rider of Lidl-Trek beat World champion Lotte Kopecky from a thinned group of favourites. Puck Pieterse was third, Soraya Paladin fourth and British champion, Pfeiffer Georgi fifth.
The Trofeo Alfredo Binda is the oldest race still on the Women’s WorldTour calendar and has been on the program almost continuously since 1974. This year’s race had World champion Lotte Kopecky, Silvia Persico, Mavi García, Juliette Labous, Marta Cavalli, Puck Pieterse and last year’s winner, Shirin van Anrooij. The peloton had to tackle the difficult local circuit in and around Cittiglio, with the Via Sciareda (800m at 8.4% average) and the climb to Orino (3.1km at 4.4%, maximum 10 %).
The break of the day took a while to form. Giorgia Serena (BTC City Ljubljana Zhiraf Ambedo) opened the attack, but she was soon caught. Canadian Clara Edmond of EF Education-Cannondale was next to try and managed to take a lead of more than 1 minute on her own. She was also eventually pulled back. Several more riders tried to get away, but the peloton kept the race tight. Just over 30 kilometres from the finish, Puck Pieterse attacked on the tough Via Sciareda. No one joined the Fenix-Deceuninck rider, but she kept going solo. The chase group mainly looked at each other, and there was no real pursuit. This allowed Pieterse to take more time, although the difference was never over 15 seconds. Pieterse was eventually joined by Niamh Fisher-Black who jumped across to Pieterse on the climb to Orino. The New Zealander of SD Worx-Protime worked with Pieterse, but the difference to the thinned peloton was never big. Fisher-Black and Pieterse were caught on the descent of the climb. Marlen Reusser then attacked, but the Swiss time trial specialist couldn’t get away. The lead group of about 60 riders started the last 20 kilometres together, but on the climb of Via Sciareda the race was split once again. Fisher-Black attacked again and formed the first group of favourites, this also turned out to be short-lived, as everything came together again on the descent. The race was together for the last climb to Orino.
At first no one rode hard on the climb, but it was Fisher-Black again who attacked on the steepest sections. This was a significant acceleration and last year’s winner, Shirin van Anrooij, had use all her strength to close the gap. The Lidl-Trek rider closed on the New Zealander just before the top, but she took several riders with her, including Pieterse, Sarah Gigante and García. A first group of about 20 riders remained after the last climb. Movistar’s Mareille Meijering jumped away from the peloton and built up a nice lead, with a possible win on the cards. It wasn’t to be: In the last kilometre, Meijering was caught and so there would be a sprint form what was left of the leading group. The World champion, Kopecky, started her sprint and had the lead on the others, but Balsamo had the edge to win ahead of Kopecky and Puck Pieterse.
Race winner, Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek): “The Binda Trophy is a race that I love. I was very motivated, but I knew that today would be hard, with that extra final climb. It turned out to be a super selective and tough race, I think this gives added value to success. And, again, I have to thank my teammates, who kept the race under control and gave me a chance of victory. Thank you so much. In the end I played my cards in the best way. I knew from experience that it requires strength, because it is slightly uphill, and tactics, because without proper timing they won’t catch you. There were a few fast riders in the group, I tagged Kopecky closely and then went full throttle. Surviving the last climb wasn’t exactly easy, I knew it was the most critical point… but when a sprinter smells victory, it’s like regeneration. Our strength, as Lidl-Trek, is teamwork. We don’t always have the strongest individual, but as a collective we have few equals. The plan was to have Shirin ready to follow the climbers’ attacks, while my role was to be there in case a peloton finished together. Shirin was commendable, she deserves special thanks. We are a fantastic group, always willing to sacrifice for each other. That’s something that makes the difference in cycling. Race after race I grow, I improve. I have been working hard since the winter to be at the top in all the tests that I have on my priority list for this season. The Binda Trophy was one of them, now there are the Belgian classics. I am 100% sure that, as a team, we will excel again.”
2nd, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime): “I only traveled to Italy last minute and it’s not like I thought: I’m going to quickly turn this race to my liking. It’s not that easy, even though sometimes people seem to think it is. I did feel like this race and wanted to try to get the most out of it. I haven’t revisited the sprint yet. I also had to really push at the moment I went. Elisa Balsamo was just faster. Of course you always want to win, but it’s not possible. So I’m happy with this result, though. This was the first time I rode Trofeo Alfredo Binda. It’s completely different than a Flemish classic, but I like the race. There were a lot of climbing in it. It was the ideal time to finish this race in function of what is still to come in the spring.”
Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio Result:
1. Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Lidl-Trek in 3:40:09
2. Lotte Kopecky (Bel) SD Worx-Protime
3. Puck Pieterse (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 0:01
4. Soraya Paladin (Ita) Canyon//SRAM
5. Pfeiffer Georgi (GB) dsm-firmenich PostNL
6. Karlijn Swinkels (Ned) UAE Team ADQ
7. Olivia Baril (Can) Movistar
8. Silvia Persico (Ita) UAE Team ADQ
9. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-SUEZ
10. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZ) SD Worx-Protime.
Alfredo Binda’24:
Grand Prix de Denain – Porte du Hainaut 2024
Jannik Steimle was the fastest at the finish of the GP de Denain on Thursday. The German rider of Q36.5 was part of the early break that held off the peloton, He then beat break companion Ceriel Desal in a two man sprint. The group of favourites never caught the leaders partly due to a big crash. Dries Van Gestel (TotalEnergies) won the sprint for third place.
The 2024 Grand Prix de Denain took the peloton over four difficult circuits around Denain. The second part of the 200 kilometre race was especially tough, because the riders were faced with 12 cobbled sections. The last of these was the Aversnes-le-Sec-Hordain which was 1800 meters long, 13 kilometres from the finish.
A group of five made an early escape: Ceriel Desal (Bingoal WB), James Fouché (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Paul Hennequin (Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur), Maxime Jarnet (Van Rysel-Roubaix) and Jannik Steimle (Q36.5) and built up a lead of 7 minutes. At the first cobbled section, the leaders still had about 5 minutes. Stefan Küng tried to cross on his own. Sixty kilometres from the finish, the Swiss rider got within 3 minutes of three remaining escapees: Jarnet, Desal and Steimle. Küng couldn’t get any closer, but Fouché, who he had caught, were joined 40 kilometres from the finish by about 10 riders, including Arnaud De Lie, last year’s winner Juan Sebastián Molano and his teammate Filippo Baroncini, who didn’t wait and set off after the three escapees on his own. Twenty-five kilometres from the finish he was still 2 minutes from the leader and 5 kilometres later he had to drop back into the group of Küng, De Lie and Molano. That group also including Küng’s teammate Lewis Askey, Brent Van Moer, Dries Van Gestel, Piet Allegaert, Aimé De Gendt and Hugo Page, initially couldn’t get much further away from the thinned out peloton, which was mainly pulled by the Tour de Tietema-Unibet riders.
Heading towards the last cobbled section, the second group came closer to the front riders, who seemed to have slowed down. The difference was less than 1 minute at 12 kilometres to go. Then almost the entire group crashed on the last section. Küng was at the front when he skidded on mud and the rest crashed into him. Only Van Gestel and Van Moer got through unscathed, but they were unable to close the gap to the escapees, mostly because Van Moer didn’t work, with Van Gestel, waiting for De Lie. There was also action at the front on the last cobbles. Due to Desal’s speed, Jarnet was dropped. At 6 kilometres from the finish they had 1:20 on Van Moer and Van Gestel, who saw De Lie and Page close again. This foursome would fight for the last place on the podium, Desal and Steimle would be going for the victory. There were no more attacks. Desal and Steimle rode to the finish together. It was Desal who had the lead in the final kilometre, but Steimle still had the most left in his legs. Two hundred metres from the finish, he came off the Belgian’s wheel and sprinted to victory. Desal was second. Behind him, Jarnet was passed by the De Lie group in the final kilometre, where Van Gestel was the fastest. The TotalEnergies rider took the last place on the podium. De Lie was fourth.
Race winner, Jannik Steimle (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team): “I’m really happy with my first victory with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team! I didn’t expect to go on the breakaway today but I was there and felt good from the start. The whole team supported me all day and pushed me to the line. I’m really happy that we made it to the finish. It was a good group from the start and we really raced well together. The key was to stay on the bike in the wet cobbles. I was not so happy with my shape in the last weeks but my family supported me through it all and today I’m so happy it paid off! It took me three months to get this first victory with the team but now It’s here and I’m going into the big classics in the next weeks with a lot of motivation!”
2nd, Ceriel Desal (Bingoal WB): “I am very happy with my performance at the Denain Grand Prix where I had my best race ever. But I’m also disappointed to have come so close to victory. I think I started my sprint too late and Steimle very quickly took a good advantage. The goal in Denain was to take the breakaway, which allows you to ride at the tempo at the front and not suffer from the accelerations and slowdowns of the peloton. We rode hard in the breakaway and it was the right choice because we held on until the end. I knew we would go far when we approached the first cobbled sections with more than four minutes to spare. This is very encouraging for the rest of the classics campaign: I have a very good winter under my belt and I am in good condition. I will be at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, two Monuments of the World Tour: these races will be very tough but I will give them all the enthusiasm I gained in Denain.”
4th, Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny): “Küng fell in front of me, but it was certainly not his fault. It was also a dangerous race this year. Luckily I didn’t hurt myself. I’m happy with my fourth place. I haven’t recovered 100% yet, but I’m happy with the feeling after a difficult Paris-Nice. I am motivated for my next goal. After Paris-Nice I did nothing but rest, rest, rest. That is the key.”
Grand Prix de Denain – Porte du Hainaut Result:
1. Jannik Steimle (Ger) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in 4:40:31
2. Ceriel Desal (Bel) Bingoal WB
3. Dries Van Gestel (Bel) TotalEnergies at 0:11
4. Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto Dstny
5. Hugo Page (Fra) Intermarché-Wanty
6. Maxime Jarnet (Fra) Van Rysel-Roubaix at 0:13
7. Brent Van Moer (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 0:15
8. Aimé De Gendt (Bel) Cofidis at 1:06
9. Simon Dehairs (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 1:09
10. Amaury Capiot (Bel) Arkéa-B&B Hotels.
Denain’24:
Bredene Koksijde Classic 2024
Luca Mozzato won the Bredene Koksijde Classic. The Italian of Arkéa-B&B Hotels beat Dylan Groenewegen by a tyres width in a sprint from about 50 riders.
The riders 201 kilometres to cover between Bredene and Koksijde and with the wind at force 5, there was going to be echelons, which made for a nervous peloton.
Mauro Verwilt (Tarteletto-Isorex) and Jasper Haest (VolkerWessels) were the first attackers of the day. Behind them the echelons formed in the expected crosswind. The peloton split into pieces several times, but no one was willing to continue the moves. Jens Reynders (Bingoal WB), Matteo Milan (Lidl-Trek), Abram Stockman (TDT-Unibet) and Max Croonen (VolkerWessels); took advantage of a moment of calm to jump across to the two leaders. The six had a gap of 2 minutes, but the hills that were similar to Gent-Wevelgem were still to come at halfway through the race: Two climbs of the Kemmelberg, on two different sides, and the Baneberg. The first time on Kemmelberg, it was Intermarché-Wanty who tried to split the race. They had four riders leading Gerben Thijssen. Although it was Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) and Dries Van Gestel (TotalEnergies) who looked the best. At the top there was around 30 riders left together. But riders, including Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla), managed to return. Then on the steeper side of the Kemmelberg, De Lie put the pressure on, but no one went with him and into the wind it all came back together.
Baptiste Planckaert (Intermarché-Wanty) and Joshua Giddings (Lotto Dstny) crashed 75 kilometres from the finish before the peloton split into pieces again. Only about 30 riders remained at the front, with Dries Van Gestel, Nils Politt (UAE Emirates) and men from Lidl-Trek, Lotto Dstny and Intermarché-Wanty in particular pushing hard. Of the fast-men, Simone Consonni Arnaud De Lie, Gerben Thijssen, Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), John Degenkolb (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Luka Mezgec (Jayco AlUla) were still in the first group. The echelons formed again through the open plain of De Moeren. Politt initially tried, but fell back. It was once again Intermarché-Wanty who kept the pace high. BY the end of the crosswind section, there were 15 riders left at the front. Arnaud De Lie was not there at first, but he single-handedly closed a gap of about a 100 metres into the wind. After his strong effort he joined the first group and teammate Brent Van Moer, the trio of Gerben Thijssen, Madis Mikhels and Roel Van Sintmaartensdijk (Intermarché-Wanty ), Gil Gelders (Soudal Quick-Step), John Degenkolb, Luka Mezgec and Robbe Ghys (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Simone Consonni, Hugo Hofstetter (Israel-Premier Tech) and Rasmus Wallin (Uno-X Mobility).
This attempt also came to nothing. At the back, Tudor and Jayco-AlUla had united to get their fast men Arvid de Kleijn and Dylan Groenewegen back up front. Under their impetus, all the sprinters were in a promising position again at the start of the local circuit in Koksijde. The final started with about 50 riders. But no team was strong enough to control the situation. Intermarché-Wanty tried to control for Thijssen for a long time, but when Nils Pollit tried again to disrupt in the last 10 kilometres, they sent Dries De Pooter. He didn’t work with Pollit, Yves Lampaert (Soudal Quick-Step), Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek) and Patrick Eddy (dsm-firmenich). When Lampaert put in an attack 3 kilometres from the finish, only Eddy could react. The two looked like they could build a lead, but Arkéa-B&B Hotels and others, brought everything back together. It was going to be a chaotic sprint, which was also disrupted by a crash by Amaury Capiot (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto Dstny). Dylan Groenewegen started his sprint too early. In the final metres, the fast Dutchman was just beaten by Mozzato. Thijssen was third.
Race winner, Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-B&B Hotels): “I’m very happy, especially because the season hasn’t gone great for me so far. Today a lot changes. Winning a race like this is special for me. We are in cycling country Belgium, this is a classic. That makes it extra special. The biggest problem was the fans. Everyone knew it was going to be a crosswind, so everyone was super nervous from the start. With the team we tried to stay at the front as best as possible. Also on the Kemmelberg. Always sitting at the front is the mentality, and that’s how we wanted to survive the violence. On the other hand, I tried to save as much energy as possible, and so I still had a good sprint. There were still quite a few sprinters involved. For my sprint, it didn’t change much that the second group came back. But the compositions of the teams did change, there was more support for some sprinters.”
2nd, Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla): “It was a tough day, especially in the hilly zone we knew it would be difficult. I survived that pretty well. Then I fell at the worst time. I was somewhere in the fourth group. Then it was going from group to group, moving up a bit. Ultimately you have to be happy that you are back at the front. If you ride a very strong sprint, but maybe start a little too early and then just don’t win, then I am a winner and I am very disappointed. The legs are just really good, but it’s all about winning and that’s what I did. When you get into that situation, you want to finish. It’s a bad excuse, but the bike didn’t respond when I wanted to shift gears. I thought there was a crash and the man from Arkéa-B&B Hotels came to my right. I thought: I’ll just go. I know I often do long sprints, I like that. That’s my way of sprinting. But another one came over it due to the strong headwind.”
3rd, Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty): “I raced at the front for almost the entire race and managed to survive all selections. Even after the crash in Poperinge with Baptiste Planckaert, I preceded the split in the peloton together with Madis Mihkels and Roel van Sintmaartensdijk. Once we reached the local laps it was a big challenge for my four teammates to keep everything under control, but they managed to show their collective strength and create the best possible situation for me. Even when Dries De Pooter was on the attack in the final kilometres, his mindset was still in full support of me. That shows how close our group is. Not only the team around me in Bredene-Koksijde, we also wish our teammates the best of luck in Milan-Sanremo this Saturday. In the end I finished in third place today, which was probably the best possible result since I had to dig deep several times during the race. This day confirms that I continue my progression in this type of race scenario, in which I managed to stay in the front all race. I am in great shape and am looking forward to my next race, Brugge-De Panne, with another very strong team around me.”
6th, Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny): “Not bad, I was good, but I had no chance in the sprint. I did participate in the race. In the sprint it is impossible. I mainly came here to improve my fitness. I was strong, also in the echelons. That is good for the next goal, which is next week.”
Bredene Koksijde Classic Result:
1. Luca Mozzato (Ita) Arkéa-B&B Hotels in 4:46:30
2. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla
3. Gerben Thijssen (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty
4. Simone Consonni (Ita) Lidl-Trek
5. Emīls Liepiņš (Lat) dsm-firmenich PostNL
6. Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto Dstny
7. Arvid de Kleijn (Ned) Tudor
8. Timothy Dupont (Bel) Tarteletto-Isorex
9. Hugo Hofstetter (Bel) Israel-Premier Tech
10. Dries Van Gestel (Bel) TotalEnergies.
Koksijde’24:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t568BLJKlKs
Wout van Aert Believes in his Different Approach to the Spring Classics
This year, the 2020 Milano-Sanremo winner, Wout van Aert has an alternative run-up and preparation for the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and then his first Giro d’Italia. On the team Visma | Lease a Bike website, he is already looking ahead to the coming weeks.
After a successful Opening Weekend, with a 3rd in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the win in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Van Aert went to the Spanish island of Tenerife for some altitude training. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider is training volcano on Teide, preparing for the spring Classics, especially the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
“Normally this is the period in which I race a lot. In short, you could almost say that the training is actually completed at this point,” Van Aert said on the team website. “I just hope to take one last step forward by riding a number of races and recovering as best as possible each time. I have often noticed that it is sometimes difficult to maintain my best condition, especially for a longer period.” Van Aert is opting for a different approach this year. “I am now going to start one last major training block. I will now switch to competitions much closer to my big goals. That is indeed a very different approach. I now try to be ready for the biggest races through training.”
“Especially in races like Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice, it is always a bit of a gamble as to what you will be presented with,” says Van Aert. “You never know how a race will go. Sometimes what you want is to be pulled out of your comfort zone. But during a training camp you can have much more control over what incentives you receive and give. I always have very good experiences with this, especially during altitude training, so I have confidence in it.”
Van Aert’s next race is the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday, March 22.
Van Aert has changed his spring preparation:
Sonny Colbrelli Prevents Bahrain Victorious Bike theft
Sonny Colbrelli, ex-rider of Bahrain Victorious, narrowly prevented the theft of the race bikes of his team, the day before Milano-San Remo.
“1-0 for Bahrain Victorious versus the Thieves,” Sonny Colbrelli wrote on his Instagram. The winner of Paris-Roubaix was forced to end his career due to heart problems and now works on the technical staff of Bahrain Victorious.
“We were sitting in the hall of the hotel and suddenly we heard someone shout loudly: ‘Our bikes, our bikes!’ It turned out to be our bus driver, in his underwear of all things. He saw someone trying to steal our bikes. We went outside and we saw about ten young people. I started walking and chasing them to the woods, where a car almost hit me. Someone told me, ‘Jump in my car and we’ll catch them.’ That did not work, because they also drove away in a car.”
Colbrelli came up with a solution. “In the end, we and the staff slept in our rooms with some bikes,” said the Italia. The team’s Matej Mohorič finish sixth.
Corbrelli saved the day for Bahrain:
Sepp Kuss Finished the 2023 Giro d’Italia with Covid
During the Giro d’Italia, Sepp Kuss was infected with Covid-19. The 29 year-old American and his team were aware of the infection but decided that he should continue in the Italian tour. This was seen in the new documentary series ‘All In’ about the 2023 Jumbo-Visma season.
The 106th edition of the Tour of Italy was dominated by bad weather and abandonments, including top favourite Remco Evenepoel who had to leave the race with a covid infection, the Jumbo-Visma team also had covid problems. In the run-up to the first Grand Tour of the year, the Dutch team struggled with two Covid cases. The selection had to be changed just before the Giro start. Rohan Dennis and Sam Oomen replaced the sick Robert Gesink and Tobias Foss. To make matters worse, the team also lost Jan Tratnik, the Slovenian was hit during a training ride and could not be at the start in Italy. He was replaced at the last minute by Tom Gloag.
It looked like the Dutch team had used up all its bad luck. Despite the many withdrawals due to weeks of bad weather, the team managed to reach Rome with its entire team. The documentary series about the team’s miracle year shows that the selection did indeed struggle with illness. Sepp Kuss turned out to be infected with the covid virus during the Tour of Italy. The American said in the documentary that he had little trouble with his infection. “I was positive for corona, but had more or less mild symptoms.” Kuss turned out to be barely contagious due to a high CT value. In consultation with the team and the authorities involved, it was decided that the climber could continue. The video shows how Kuss was isolated from his teammates during the race. On the bus before a stage we even see a Facetime conversation between Roglič and his most important domestique.
It turned out to be a good decision by the team to keep the 29 year-old rider in the race. During the 16th stage, Kuss played a crucial role for his leader. He took Roglič in tow on the final climb, the American managed to limit the time loss of his Slovenian teammate to main competitors Geraint Thomas and João Almeida to just 25 seconds. In retrospect, this turned out to be a crucial moment, as the Olympic time trial champion won the final overall by only 14 seconds from second placed Geraint Thomas.
The second season of ‘All In’ shows how Jumbo-Visma managed to win the Giro d’Italia and also the doubts and mutual tension within the team during the two other major tours. The five-part documentary can be viewed on Amazon Prime from Saturday, March 16.
All In with Jumbo-Visma 2023:
Giulio Ciccone Back in Training, But No Giro d’Italia
Giulio Ciccone will not be at the start of the 2024 Giro d’Italia. The Italian climber is back in training after having a cyst surgically removed at the beginning of February, but there is not enough time for him to prepare for the Italian tour.
The 29 year-old Ciccone has not raced this season. After he had the cyst removed in February, he was then not allowed to ride the bike for weeks. He had to miss an altitude training camp on Mount Teide and Tirreno-Adriatico. The man who won the KOM jersey in the Tour de France last year has now resumed training. Ciccone would have been the Lidl-Trek leader in his home tour. The team plans have now changed. “Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to achieve the ideal form,” the team said in a press release. “Given the long period of inactivity and the need to increase his training in a gradual manner, to avoid further problems, it was mutually decided to shift Giulio’s focus to goals later in the season.”
The team thinks that Ciccone will be able to race again in May, but Lidl-Trek will only decide in April where and when the Italian will compete in his first race of 2024.
No Giro for Giulio Ciccone:
Three Months Off for Lars van den Berg
Lars van den Berg will have to rest for at least three months after his crash in the Faun Ardèche Classic. His team Groupama-FDJ said on social media. The 25 year-old Dutchman became unwell during the one-day race, lost consciousness and crashed.
“I feel good,” Van den Berg now says. “I just have to be patient and take some rest. I am well supported by my loved ones, family and the team.” It is not yet known why Van den Berg suddenly lost consciousness. “You would think you felt bad all day or that you felt it coming, but it was one of my best days on the bike,” he recently said in his own podcast Cycling Inside. “The fact that you suddenly become unwell makes it all the more confusing. We’re working hard to find out what it is. It looks like there will be a decision in the short term. I don’t have an answer to it yet.”
In the same podcast, Van den Berg said he hoped to get more clarity soon. “I am constantly monitored by the cardiologists. I have undergone several tests and hope to hear more soon. I am positive that I will return, but health comes first now. You want to be 110% fit again before you participate in top sports again. I feel a lot of support from family and team and will come back stronger.”
Lars van den Berg out for 3 months:
Filippo Baroncini Breaks Elbow in the Grand Prix de Denain
Filippo Baroncini was injured in the Grand Prix de Denain on Thursday. The 23 year-old Italian of UAE Team Emirates was involved in the big crash in the final of the northern French one-day race, and suffered a fracture of his elbow.
As the race got closer to the last cobbled section in the GP de Denain the second group, including Stefan Küng, Lewis Askey, Brent Van Moer, Dries Van Gestel, Piet Allegaert, Aimé De Gendt, Hugo Page, Arnaud De Lie, Juan Sebastián Molano and Filippo Baroncini, was getting closer to the three leaders: Ceriel Desal, Maxime Jarnet and Jannik Steimle. The difference was less than 1 minute, with 12 kilometres to go to the finish. But almost the entire group crashed in the last sector. Küng was in the lead, slipped on the mud and the rest crashed into him. Most riders were able to continue, but Baroncini was unable to get back on the bike.
The 2021 U23 World champion in Leuven had to be taken to hospital. “Filippo unfortunately broke his right elbow,” said UAE Emirates team doctor Adrian Rotunno. “He will have surgery tonight (Thursday) in Belgium and will then go home for his recovery and rehabilitation.”
It is still unclear how long Baroncini will be out of action. It is not the first time the promising Classic rider he has broken something. In his first professional year, 2022, he broke his arm and collarbone and last year he had to stop due to a broken radius bone.
Broken elbow for Baroncini:
Jonas Rickaert Breaks Collarbone in Nokere Koerse
The Alpecin-Deceuninck team has had to deal with quite a few injuries in recent weeks and now Jonas Rickaert is also out of action. The Belgian had a serious crash in the final of Nokere Koerse on Wednesday and broke his collarbone.
In the last kilometre of Nokere Koerse, just before turning onto the cobbles of the Nokereberg, there was a crash in the peloton. In the battle for the best positions there was a bump between Pascal Ackermann and Tim Merlier. They almost fell, but managed to stay on the bike and a few hundred metres later they were sprinting for victory. However, Jonas Rickaert, was not so lucky. The Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter crashed hard at high speed and took several riders with him.
“On examination, a displaced right collarbone fracture and two broken ribs, albeit without displacement, were discovered. In his right hand he has a deep wound that has already been sewn up. Regarding the broken collarbone, Jonas will undergo surgery this morning,” Alpecin-Deceuninck said via ‘X’ (Twitter).
The Belgian team is having injury problems. Michael Gogl, Søren Kragh Andersen and Kaden Groves are also currently unavailable and Silvan Dillier recently had to retire from Paris-Nice due to illness.
Rickaert out:
Track Rider Christos Volikákis Found Guilty of Doping at the 2016 Olympic Games
Four-time Olympic track cyclist Christos Volikákis has tested positive for doping in a reanalysis of samples from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, the UCI reports. Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) were found in the sample, which would promote muscle growth and fat loss. The Greek has the right to request a ‘B’ sample test and has been provisionally suspended.
Christos Volikákis won medals for Greece in track cycling at the world and European championships, but was unable to win a medal at the Olympic Games. He was selected for every edition from Beijing in 2008 to the Tokyo Games in 2021. Based on a reanalysis of a sample taken on August 16, 2016, the 35-year-old Greek has now been found guilty and faces disqualification.
Samples collected from each Olympic Games are kept for up to ten years and are routinely reanalysed as part of a program commissioned by the IOC. The purpose of this is to track down athletes who are still active ahead of an upcoming Games and have not been caught in the past. The program allows further testing based on updated information thanks to surveys and improved detection methods.
For the time being, Volikákis is now suspended and has the right to request a B sample. The Greek is one of the first athletes to be found guilty of banned substances based on retesting from the Olympic Games in Rio.
Christos Volikákis suspended:
Jonas Bresseleers Dies after Collision with a Truck
Twenty-four year-old cyclist, Jonas Bresseleers, was killed in a serious traffic accident in the Belgian village of Meer on Friday, March 15, his Acrog-Tormans team announced. Bresseleers suffered a serious head injury in the collision and died at the site of the accident. He is the second fatal accident of a rider from the team in five years.
Bresseleers was riding near the intersection of Blauwputten and Tolberg when he was hit by a truck, Het Nieuwsblad reports. A traffic expert was sent to the scene to determine the exact cause of the accident. The driver of the truck was a 29 year-old man from Meer. He tried to resuscitate the rider, but unfortunately it was to no avail.
The sudden death of Bresseleers hit the Acrog-Tormans team hard. “Words are inadequate for this untold drama. Much strength, courage and strength to the relatives to bear this loss,” the team wrote on Facebook. The team experienced the same horrific situation five years earlier. Then it was Stef Loos, Bresseleers’ teammate, who died in a traffic accident.
That day, Loos was hit by a van during a race, in which Jonas Bresseleers himself was also participating. This happened after he, along with about thirty other riders, had left the course without realising. Bresseleers escaped with some minor injuries on that occasion.
RIP Jonas Bresseleers – Taken too young:
Nairo Quintana Makes his Comeback in the Tour of Catalonia
Nairo Quintana had to postpone his European season start due to a covid infection, but the 34 year-old Colombian climber can now prepare for his return. Quintana is part of the Movistar team for the Tour of Catalonia (March 18-24).
Quintana has already raced in Colombia this season. He started his comeback with the Colombian Championships and then rode the six-day Tour Colombia, where he didn’t show much form and eventually finished 21st overall. The Movistar rider was supposed to ride the O Gran Camiño in Spain, but a covid infection stopped him. Now after a month, Quintana appears to be fit enough to race again. He will now start the Tour of Catalonia on Monday.
The Movistar team also includes Enric Mas, Einer Rubio and Iván Ramiro Sosa, they should all be able to go for the GC overall. Iván García Cortina can aim for the flatter stages. Jorge Arcas and Javier Romo complete the team.
Movistar for Volta a Ciclista a Catalunya:
Enric Mas (Spa)
Nairo Quintana (Col)
Javier Romo (Spa)
Einer Rubio (Col)
Iván Ramiro Sosa (Col)
Jorge Arcas (Spa)
Iván García Cortina (Spa).
Quintana back in Europe:
Soudal Quick-Step to Volta a Catalunya
Mikel Landa will be in action for the Wolfpack next week at the seven-day race
Maybe more than ever in recent memory, the Volta a Catalunya will be a mountainous affair, and that’s because the organisers have decided to include three tough summit finishes: Vallter 2000, Port Ainé – the mammoth 18.5km climb averaging 6.8% – and Santuari de Queralt. In addition to these, several other special and first-category ascents promise to spice up the race, which will once again conclude in Barcelona, after going six times over the Montjuic hill.
Fifth overall last year, Mikel Landa returns to competition for the first time since late February, when he helped Remco Evenepoel win the Volta ao Algarve, and the 34-year-old looks forward to next week’s race: “Catalunya signals the start of a big and important block of racing. I am happy to go there. There are a lot of hard climbs and I look forward to seeing where my shape is. The plan is to take it day by day, try to fight for a stage win and help the team get some good results.”
The Basque climber will be joined for the 103rd edition of the race created back in 1911 by Tour of Oman runner-up Jan Hirt, neo-pro Antoine Huby, James Knox, AlUla Tour runner-up William Junior Lecerf – back after a successful outing in Rwanda together with the devo team – Ilan Van Wilder and Mauri Vansevenant.
“Catalunya is a beautiful race, with a parcours which gives an opportunity to a lot of riders. Of course, the climbers are favoured, but we should also see some days for the sprinters and the puncheurs. Our team is a strong one, with Mikel back in action after a strong Algarve. Him and Ilan, who had a solid UAE Tour, can fight for a good general classification. Our squad comprises guys who can be in the mix for a stage victory but also riders who can go in the breakaway, so the confidence and motivation for next week are quite high”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Geert Van Bondt ahead of the race where our team has won a total of ten stages.
18.03–24.03 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (ESP) 2.UWT
Riders:
Jan Hirt (CZE)
Antoine Huby (FRA)
James Knox (GBR)
Mikel Landa (ESP)
William Junior Lecerf (BEL)
Ilan Van Wilder (BEL)
Mauri Vansevenant (BEL).
Sports Director: Klaas Lodewyck (BEL) and Geert Van Bondt (BEL).
Mikel Landa to Catalunya:
Volta a Catalunya – MAR 18 – 24
Phil West – Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach: “Volta a Catalunya will be the first of many visits to Spain in the coming season and we can as ever, anticipate an exciting and challenging parcours around the beautiful Catalunya region. We will be targeting day results throughout the race, where we will take on the sprint stages with Emils, supported by a solid team to prepare the sprint on those days. Outside of the sprints, we’ll take our opportunity as protagonists by racing aggressively for the other stages, where guys like Pavel, Sean and Frank can play a part in the finals each day.”
Line-up:
Patrick Bevin (NZL)
Pavel Bittner (CZE)
Frank van den Broek (NED)
Romain Combaud (FRA)
Sean Flynn (GBR)
Emils Liepins (LAT)
Martijn Tusveld (NED).
Sean Flynn to Catalunya:
Team Bahrain Victorious Line-Up for 103rd Volta a Catalunya
Following intense battles at Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico, the 103rd edition of Volta a Catalunya serves as a pivotal platform for our GC contenders to further refine their fitness and prepare for the upcoming Grand Tours, be it the Giro d’Italia or laying the early foundations for the Tour de France.
With its seven stages devoid of time trials and featuring challenging climbs, Volta a Catalunya presents the perfect platform for climbers to excel. Starting on the Sant Feliu de Guíxols coast, the riders will race over 1,173km and climb a gruelling 19,829 vertical meters With three summit finishes on stages 2, 3 and 6 before the finish in Barcelona.
Team Bahrain Victorious is packed with a lineup of climbing prowess to take advantage of the parcour, led by Wout Poels and supported by Damiano Caruso, Antonio Tiberi, Jack Haig, Wout Poels, Torstein Traeen, Nicolò Buratti, and Edoardo Zambanini.
Sports Director Franco Pellizotti: “Wout will lead the team, given his great showing in previous editions of Catalunya, while Antonio is our co-leader. With an excellent team in support, we expect strong showings from Damiano, Jack, and Torstein, who will have their chances to shine in the mountain stages. I am confident that Wout can contend for a top-5 finish, and Antonio, having raced the Tirreno, is well-positioned to aim for a top-10 placement.”
Pogačar to Lead UAE Team Emirates at Volta Catalunya
UAE Team Emirates resume their World Tour calendar on Catalan roads with the Volta Catalunya from 18-24 March in the north-eastern province of Spain. Meanwhile a young squad will go to Coppi e Bartali from 19-23 March led by the experienced Diego Ulissi.
For Catalunya Tadej Pogačar spearheads the squad fresh from in Italy. Local favourite Marc Soler and Joao Almeida will also look to be at the head of affairs in the week long stage race.
Pogačar: “It’s my first time racing in Catalunya and I’m excited about it. It’s a tough parcours and looks like definitely a race for the climbers and attacking riders so I think the fans will get a good show and a nice weeks racing. We have a strong team and also tough rivals so it will be entertaining. It’s been a quick turnaround from Sanremo but it’s gone smooth and we’ll be ready to get things going on Monday.”
Sports Manager Matxin Fernandez (Spa) will guide the team with Andrej Hauptman (Slo) and Tomas Gil (Ven) as Sports Directors.
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya [2.UWT] – 18-Mar-2024 / 24-Mar-2024:
Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)
Felix Grossschartner (Aus)
Domen Novak (Slo)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Pavel Sivakov (Fra)
Marc Soler (Spa)
Jay Vine (Aus).
Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali [2.1] – 19-Mar-2024 / 23-Mar-2024:
Sjoerd Bax (Ned)
Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
Diego Ulissi (Ita)
Gal Gliver (Slo) (Gen Z)
Jonathan Guatibonza (Col) (Gen Z)
Al Ali Abdulla Jasim (UAE) (Gen Z)
Pablo Torres (Spa) (Gen Z)
Lennert Van Eetvelt Signs with Lotto Dstny for Two More Years
The 22-year-old winner of this year’s UAE Tour stays with Lotto Dstny.
In 2020, Lennert Van Eetvelt joined the Lotto Dstny Development Team. After making the step to the pro team in 2023, he has never left Lotto Dstny, and now the 22-year-old Belgian climber signs a contract until the end of 2026. His season started really successful, with a win in the Mallorca Challenge and an impressive ride at the UAE Tour in February, seeing him take the victory at the last stage, the overall and youth classification.
“I’m super happy to ride for Lotto Dstny for two more years”, a happy Van Eetvelt says. “The team has made a big positive evolution the last years, which everyone sees, and I hope we can keep on making progression. It was quite some journey already, as I was a rider in the Development Team before and now this year I have taken another step with winning the UAE Tour. I know the staff and riders well, it feels like a second family. The freedom I get here and the whole project of the team is just super positive and I am glad I can keep on being part of this story.”
Stéphane Heulot, CEO of Lotto Dstny, is equally proud to see Lennert Van Eetvelt stay with the team: “Lennert is a product of our Development Team, which makes the story even nicer. Seeing his development from close is impressive, he made a big step this year winning his first WorldTour victory. I am confident we will see a lot more nice things of him in the future, we will guide him in every step.”
Two more years for Lennert Van Eetvelt with Lotto Dstny:
BORA-hansgrohe Wants to Sign Oier Lazkano and Jan Tratnik
BORA-hansgrohe wants Jan Tratnik from Visma | Lease a Bike according to Het Nieuwsblad. The Slovenian’s contract with the Dutch team ends this year and he is a good friend of Primoz Roglič, who switched to the German team last winter. Spanish champion, Oier Lazkano is also on the BORA-hansgrohe list.
Tratnik came to Visma | Lease a Bike in 2023, on the recommendation of Roglič. This season he won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but his contract expires at the end of this season, which would leave the way open for him to follow his friend to BORA-hansgrohe.
It is said that BORA-hansgrohe has also already made a proposal to Oier Lazkano. His contract with Movistar expires at the end of 2024. The Spanish champion has impressed this spring with a victory in the Clasica Jaén and a third place in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne,
Lazkano is on the BORA-hansgrohe want list:
UCI Gives Patrick Lefevere a Suspended Fine for Inappropriate Comments
Patrick Lefevere has received a suspended fine of 20,000 Swiss Francs from the International Cycling Union. The UCI Ethics Committee states that the Soudal Quick-Step team manager made ‘derogatory’ comments about women. Lefevere can still avoid punishment if he makes a public apology.
According to the Ethics Committee, Articles 5 and 6.1 of the Code of Ethics were violated in two cases. The press release does not specify which comments Lefevere made, but it does state that they were made ‘in public’.
Lefevere has been asked to make a public statement acknowledging that his comments were inappropriate and apologising. “In addition, a fine of 20,000 Swiss Francs has been imposed, which will be suspended on the condition that Mr. Lefevere submits a public statement and does not commit a similar violation of the UCI Code of Ethics within the next three years.”
Lefevere has to apologise, or pay:
Stefan Küng Skidded on the Mud of GP Denain, Adam Hansen Criticises the Race Organisers
Stefan Küng was riding well at the GP de Denain, but things went wrong in the final. He slipped on the last cobbled section and took most of the group with him. On the Groupama-FDJ team website he spoke about his race and the crash. Adam Hansen, chairman of the riders’ union CPA, has also criticised the organisers of the GP de Denain on social media.
Küng accelerated on the first cobbled section of the day. He rode away with five other riders, but then opened up a gap on his own. “When I turned a corner, I was suddenly alone. I thought: I better stay at the front and be safe for the next cobbled sections. Considering the circumstances, I thought it would be better to be at the front than in the peloton,” Küng explained his solo venture.
Küng, who was chasing the three early escapees, was joined by a group of favourites. Together they came within a minute of the leaders, but on the last stretch there was the big crash. “Despite my previous effort, I felt good and I waited for the last stretch. There was a lot of mud, it was wet, and although I didn’t want to take too many risks, I slipped. I didn’t see it coming.” Küng fell and many crashed into him. “I had nothing, but my bike was broken. I had to change and lost the race there,” said the 30 year-old rider, who finished in 26th place.
“It’s a shame because I felt really good and the guys did a great job putting me in position. It’s frustrating. I am physically good, but this is not what we are racing for. We race for results, for victories. However, let’s take the positive out of it: I’m doing well. I have some scratches, but nothing serious. Hopefully we will have a bit more luck in the next classics, especially in Roubaix. But I have confidence.”
Küng’s slip was not the only crash during the GP de Denain. On more than one occasion, riders crashed on the mud-covered cobbled sections. It led to criticism from Adam Hansen, the chairman of the riders’ union CPA. “I’m a bit confused, GP de Denain,” Hansen wrote on ‘X’ with a photo showing riders lying in thick mud. “I thought your race was registered as a race (or am I wrong), but this was a cyclo-cross? Please tell me this photo is not from your competition?”
Muddy crashes in Denain:
Richard Plugge will Not Continue as Chairman of AIGCP
Richard Plugge will not stand for re-election as chairman of the AIGCP, the association that represents the interests of professional teams. The CEO of Visma | Lease a Bike says he wants to focus even more on the Dutch team, but will always keep an eye on the interests of the collective of cycling teams.
In a statement, the Dutch CEO announced that after three years as president of the AIGCP, he will not participate again in the elections for a new term as chairman. “I think it is healthy and good to regularly pass the gavel. As a result, we all share responsibility as professional cycling teams.”
Plugge thanks his colleagues for the good cooperation in recent years. He emphasises that he is proud of what has been achieved. For example, the CEO was important in the establishment of the independent safety agency SafeR. This organisation must guarantee the safety of cycle race courses.
The CEO of Visma | Lease a Bike will focus even more on its own team in the future. “But I always continue to look at the interests of the collective of cycling teams.” The Dutchman mentions the safety of riders and a healthy business model for cycling teams as his main goals.
Team Polti Kometa has its Official Espresso Coffee: SOLO Caffè Monorigine, the New Brand from Aroma Polti
Team Polti Kometa has a new sponsor this ear: SOLO Caffè Monorigine, the new brand from Aroma Polti, a company within the Polti Group.
SOLO Caffè Monorigine is an E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) pod espresso that provides a unique and unforgettable taste experience. No blend, just the essence of coffee in its purest form from three countries where cultivation is part of the cultural identity: Vietnam, Tanzania, Uganda. The pods are 100% compostable and compatible with all 44mm E.S.E. pod machines on the market and traditional espresso machines.
Behind this selection of highest-quality single origins lies a great research effort led by Stefano Polti, CEO and founder of Aroma Polti.
“After numerous years of commitment,” announces Stefano Polti himself, “we are launching with great pride this new brand, which in 2024 sponsors Team Polti Kometa and is the official supplier of RCS Sport. We strongly believe in this project, which fully reflects the values of the Polti world: ethics, respect and a healthy lifestyle. Besides steam, coffee makes you feel good too!”
The enthusiasm is shared in Polti Kometa, as evidenced by the words of sports manager Ivan Basso: “It’s also a source of pride for me to carry on our jersey an innovative brand that is at the same time linked to Polti’s important history. We feel an integral part of the SOLO Caffè Monorigine project, which I have seen born and of which I’ve been the first testimonial.”
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