A very full EUROTRASH Thursday as we head towards La Vuelta a España Femenina and the Giro d’Italia. The prologue and stage 1 of the Tour de Romandie with results, reports, rider quotes and video.
Wout van Aert training outside – TOP STORY.
Rider news: Remco Evenepoel might ride Flanders and Sanremo in 2025, Tom Pidcock frustrated after Liège, Liane Lippert returns after injury, Logan Currie says he caused the crash in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Nairo Quintana will start the Giro d’Italia, Cofidis is interested in Julian Alaphilippe, Tudor fighting for Marc Hirschi and Thibau Nys started his road season on Tuesday.
Team news: La Vuelta Femenina teams: Movistar, Liv AlUla Jayco, Canyon//SRAM Racing and dsm-firmenich PostNL, Jai Hindley and Florian Lipowitz extend contracts with BORA-hansgrohe, Isaac Del Toro extends with UAE Team Emirates, Lorena Wiebes stays with Team SD Worx-Protime, Ruth Edwards confirms future with Human Powered Health and Lotto Dstny Ladies selected for Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
Race news: Giro d’Italia: The entry list has been announced, Tadej Pogačar took the Côte de la Redoute KOM, Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift teams and Torino and the Giro d’Italia, an unbreakable bond.
Thursday EUROTRASH coffee time!
TOP STORY: Wout van Aert Training Outside
Wout van Aert’s recovery seems to be going well. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider is now able to train outside, four weeks after his crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen. “Almost professional again,” he wrote on his Strava page.
Last week Van Aert took his first ride outside, but it was only about 30 kilometres on his mountain bike. Since then he has off road three more times. On Today he rode 93 kilometres in 2 hours 48, at an average of 33.2 km/h. His Visma | Lease a Bike also has a video on social media. “It’s been almost four weeks and I’m happy to be riding in the open air again,” said the Belgian. “Almost professional again.”
It is not yet known where and when Van Aert will return to competition. His next goal should have been the Giro d’Italia (May 4-26), but the Italian GT is now not possible. The Belgian now hopes to be ready for the Olympic Games in Paris. The time trial is on Saturday July 27, the road race on Saturday August 3. Whether he rides the Tour de France for training is not known.
Wout van Aert on Strava:
Tour de Romandie 2024
Maikel Zijlaard was a surprise winner of The Prologue of the Tour de Romandie on Tuesday. The Dutchman of the Tudor Cycling Team was faster than many big names in a short, technical time trial of 2.28 kilometres. Cameron Scott finished second, Julian Alaphilippe was third. Zijlaard is also the overall leader.
The first day of the Swiss stage race was an individual time trial of 2.28 kilometres in Payerne, in the canton of Vaud. There were thirteen bends and a chicane on the course.
Luca Jenni of the Swiss national team was the first down the start ramp. The 21-year-old set the first fastest time, but it wasn’t a serious target. 24-year-old Dutchman, Maikel Zijlaard, who rides for the Swiss Tudor team, recorded a final time of 2:55, at an average speed of 45.146kph. He was 3 seconds faster than Dorian Godon and Tim van Dijke. The GC men couldn’t get near the time of Zijlaard: Enric Mas – 3:01, Lenny Martinez – 3:02, Juan Ayuso – 3:02 and Aleksandr Vlasov – 3:03. The fast TT men also couldn’t get near the Dutchman’s time: Benjamin Thomas – 3:01), Jan Tratnik – 3:0 – and Magnus Sheffield – 3:02.
No rider could came close to Zijlaard’s time. Julian Alaphilippe tried hard, but the ex.World champion of Soudal Quick-Step was 2 seconds down on the Dutch rider. Ethan Hayter looked like he might be one of Zijlaard’s biggest challengers, but he finished 15 seconds behind Zijlaard after a near crash on a corner. The later starters proved unable to come close to the best time. The relatively unknown Antoine Aebi managed to sneak into the top 10, but didn’t really threaten Zijlaard.
The last starters were Jonathan Castroviejo, Simon Yates, Josef Cerny and Brandon McNulty. But it was Cameron Scott who was the biggest surprise. The Bahrain-Victorious Australian came within 1 second of Zijlaard. Cerny, winner of the prologue last year, finished just over 4 seconds slower. McNulty started last, but he finished 11 seconds down. This was Zijlaard’s first real professional victory. Scott finished second, Alaphilippe came third. Zijlaard is also the first overall leader.
Stage winner and overall leader, Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor): “This is my first victory, my first in the WorldTour. I can’t believe it either. I am good at prologues, so my goal was to perform well. It’s hard to believe that I won today, but I did it. I wanted it so much, for myself, for the Team. The last two hours of waiting were the worst two hours of my life. I started very early, so I had to wait a long time until everyone crossed the line. This is a dream! From here, I am going to take it day by day. As a team, we’re going to celebrate a little bit today. And then we’ll see again tomorrow.”
2nd on the stage and overall, Cameron Scott (Bahrain-Victorious): “The shorter, the better for me. I grew up in Australia doing lots of crits and track racing, so this course was almost perfect.”
3rd, Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step): “I am happy to be on the podium of the prologue, it feels good to return to racing and start with such a nice result here. We have a strong team and we hope to take a win, I believe we can do it. I’m looking forward to the next stages and the opportunities we’ll have. It’s an important week before the Giro and I’m really motivated to do my best.”
6th on the stage and overall, Tim van Dijke (Visma | Lease a Bike): “With so many bends, I understand that many guys opted for a regular racing bike, but I actually take the bends faster on this bike. It is and remains a prologue. These almost always happen very quickly and are often decided in milliseconds. I wasn’t fast enough this time. There were still many riders to come in after me, but I did my best. I really enjoyed it.”
Tour de Romandie Prologue Result:
1. Maikel Zijlaard (Ned) Tudor in 2:55
2. Cameron Scott (Aus) Bahrain-Victorious at 0:01
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:02
4. Dorian Godon (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at 0:03
5. Ivo Oliveira (Por) UAE Team Emirates
6. Tim van Dijke (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike
7. Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
8. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Bahrain-Victorious at 0:04
9. Alex Aranburu (Spa) Movistar
10. Antoine Aebi (Sui) Swiss Cycling.
Tour de Romandie Overall After the Prologue:
1. Maikel Zijlaard (Ned) Tudor in 2:55
2. Cameron Scott (Aus) Bahrain-Victorious at 0:01
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:02
4. Dorian Godon (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at 0:03
5. Ivo Oliveira (Por) UAE Team Emirates
6. Tim van Dijke (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike
7. Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
8. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Bahrain-Victorious at 0:04
9. Alex Aranburu (Spa) Movistar
10. Antoine Aebi (Sui) Swiss Cycling.
Romandie’24 prologue:
The First Road Stage of the Tour de Romandie was won by Dorian Godon (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale). After a hard stage of 165 kilometres, the Frenchman won the sprint from a thinned peloton in Fribourg, ahead of his teammate Andrea Vendrame and Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Prologue winner, Maikel Zijlaard, lost his yellow jersey to Godon.
Stage 1 started from Château d’Oex and finished 165 kilometres later in Fribourg. A hilly stage, held in cold condition with six categorised climbs and more climbs on the finish circuit of 40 kilometres, the Arconciel (1.8km at 7.3%) and Lorette (700 meters at 12.7%). The Arconciel had to be climbed three times, the last time was 9 kilometres from the finish.
Fausto Masnada started a break of six. The Italian of Soudal Quick-Step was joined by Juri Hollmann (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Patrick Gamper (BORA-hansgrohe), Raúl García Pierna (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty) and Joey Rosskopf (Q36.5). Their lead increased to 4 minutes. The peloton kept them at that gap, but on the circuit round in Fribourg, Movistar, Lidl-Trek and EF Education-EasyPost started to set a fast pace, this caused the yellow jersey of Zijlaard to be dropped from the peloton 75 kilometres from the finish. Their gap to the group of six was 2 minutes with two laps to go.
In the final lap, Jan Christen attacked on the cobbles of the Lorette climb. The young UAE Team Emirates rider had Richard Carapaz and David Gaudu with him, but they were quickly caught. It was too fast for second overall, Cameron Scott and he was dropped. Robert Gesink went to the front of the peloton for Tim van Dijke. Gesink, along with Movistar and Decathlon AG2R, had the break in sight. The last time up Arconciel, the gap was bridgeable. Julian Alaphilippe was the first the jump to the leading group at the top, but was quickly caught.
The Frenchman attacked again on the descent of the Arconciel, but the teams of the remaining sprinters tried to pull everything together. Several riders attacked; Jan Tratnik and Andreas Kron, but they couldn’t escape and the stage would finish with a sprint. Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale put Dorian Godon on the front with Andrea Vendrame on his wheel. The finish straight was slightly downhill, so the speed was high and Vendrame couldn’t gat past Godon, so the two teammates finished first and second. Gianni Vermeersch was third and Milan Menten fourth. Godon now leads by 6 seconds ahead of Vermeersch. Julian Alaphilippe and Tim van Dijke are third and fourth.
Stage winner and overall leader, Dorian Godon (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale): “The whole team did a great job like it has done since the beginning of the season. Jaakko Hänninen rode in the final to catch up with the breakaways. At the top of the last climb, I was left behind but Jordan Labrosse and Bruno Armirail brought me back to the peloton with 3 km to go, then Nicolas Prodhomme, who is a climber, gave me the perfect start to the sprint. In the end, we did the double with Andrea Vendrame and I took the leader’s jersey, which was really pleasing. It’s my first WorldTour win. I’ve been patient so far and I’ve been rewarded today. The yellow jersey? That’s a bonus.”
3rd on the stage and 2nd overall, Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “I was a bit surprised at 5km when Alaphilippe attacked, he was in the belly of the group and suddenly he was among the separated ones, so it was quite stressful. We were only able to come back with 2 kilometres left and it was a great effort. Then Xandro launched the sprint very well, but third position was the best possible result. The speed was very high, I could stay on the wheel and try to maintain third place.”
4th on the stage, Milan Menten (Lotto Dstny): “I was very well positioned until 300 metres from the finish line. But when I tried to accelerate, I got stuck, which prevented me from sprinting. However, I have a very good feeling after 3 weeks without racing. Another sprint is on the agenda for Sunday, so there are new opportunities.”
Tour de Romandie Stage 1 Result:
1. Dorian Godon (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale in 3:49:58
2. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
3. Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
4. Milan Menten (Bel) Lotto Dstny
5. Kasper Asgreen (Den) Soudal Quick-Step
6. Matevž Govekar (Slo) BahrainVictorious
7. Alex Aranburu (Spa) Movistar
8. Clément Venturini (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels
9. Thibaud Gruel (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
10. Kobe Goossens (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty.
Tour de Romandie Overall After Stage 1:
1. Dorian Godon (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale in 3:52:46
2. Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:06
3. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:09
4. Tim van Dijke (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:10
5. Alex Aranburu (Spa) Movistar at 0:11
6. Antoine Aebi (Sui) Swiss Cycling
7. Jan Christen (Sui) UAE Team Emirates
8. Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
9. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at 0:12
10. Matevž Govekar (Slo) Bahrain-Victorious.
Romandie’24 stage 1:
Remco Evenepoel Might Ride the Tour of Flanders in 2025
Patrick Lefevere is thinking of entering Remco Evenepoel in Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders in 2025, the team boss told La Dernière Heure. Soudal Quick-Step had a disappointing classics campaign, but Evenepoel could possibly change that.
Tim Merlier won Danilith Nokere Koerse and the Scheldeprijs, but Soudal Quick-Step was not involved in the cobblestone Classics this year. Yves Lampaert was The Wolfpack’s best finisher in the Tour of Flanders, in 18th and Paris-Roubaix 36th. Mauri Vansevant was the team’s best rider in the hilly Classics, but there was no win.
“If you know someone at the level of Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar or Wout van Aert, who is available and affordable, I am interested,” said Lefevere, who then acknowledged that he also has one of the greats in his team. Evenepoel saved Soudal Quick-Step’s spring in 2022 and 2023 with victories in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but had to miss the hilly Classics this year due to the crash in the Itzulia Basque Country.
“At the end of the year, together with Remco, we will see if it is not a possibility to do Milan-Sanremo and then the Tour of Flanders, with a very specific program. Then he can rest, so that he can take part in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and later the Tour. I think that Remco is ultimately a bit of a Flandrien. He sometimes trains on these roads. I’m sure he wants to ride De Ronde one day.”
Sanremo and Flanders for Evenepoel:
Alexey Lutsenko had to Abandon the Tour de Romandie
Alexey Lutsenko had to abandon the Tour de Romandie on Wednesday, he was one of the favourites for the final overall victory. The champion of Kazakhstan has fallen ill, according to his Astana Qazaqstan team.
“Due to a decision by the team’s medical staff, Alexey Lutsenko and Igor Chzhan unfortunately had to withdraw today because they are a little ill,” Astana Qazaqstan wrote on social media. Lutsenko, winner of the Giro d’Abruzzo earlier this month and 8th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, started the Tour de Romandie on Tuesday with a 124th place in the prologue.
In addition to Lutsenko, his teammate Chzhan also had to leave the race. Soudal Quick-Step lost Mattia Cattaneo early in the stage. Jan Stöckli (Corratec-Selle Italia) didn’t start after the prologue.
Alexey Lutsenko out of the Tour de Romandie:
Tom Pidcock Frustrated after Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Tom Pidcock was very disappointed after Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The British rider had to chase for a long time, just before the final, after he suffered a puncture, at the same time as a crash split the peloton. “That was the worst possible moment,” he said after the race.
“I had to make a huge effort there,” said Pidcock, who tried to cross to the front group together with Romain Grégoire and Mauri Vansevenant. Later, Mathieu van der Poel and a big group also returned, after being held up by a crash, coming through the cars. “I just heard that other riders were able to return behind the car. That’s frustrating.”
“I went very deep there, cutting off my own legs. That was a shame. Because I didn’t say too much about it before this race, but this week I broke all kinds of records during training. I went really well.”
Pidcock finished 10th, in the group that sprinted for rd 3place. “The sprint was very hectic. I wasn’t even really sprinting, I was boxed in. I had to find my way. Am I satisfied with the shape? The legs are good, I know that. It’s frustrating, but that’s how it is.”
On the last climbs of the day it was mainly Egan Bernal who showed himself for INEOS Grenadiers. “It’s so nice to see him racing like this again,” said Pidcock. “He has had to go through more than I can imagine. It was very nice that he was there. Who knows what might have been possible if it had gone smoothly. We could have played two cards.”
Pidcock frustrated after Liège:
Liane Lippert Returns after Injury
Liane Lippert couldn’t race in the spring due to a stress fracture to her hip, but she will return to racing on Sunday. The German champion will be at the start of the Vuelta España Femenina (April 28-May 5).
Lippert suffered the injury at the end of November, while running. The expectation was that she would be back on the bike after two weeks, but the injury turned out to be persistent. The German champion was able to resume her training at the beginning of March and she is now ready to race.
In 2023, Liiert finished 7th in Strade Bianche, 3rd in the Brabantse Pijl, 2nd in the Flèche Wallonne and 8th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. She also won a stage in the Tour de France Femmes, a stage in the Tour de Romandie Féminin and Tre Valli Varesine.
Liane Lippert back racing:
Logan Currie Says he Caused the Crash in Liège-Bastogne-Liège
It was one of the most important points in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, when there was a big crash with 100 kilometres to go. Several riders were behind the crash and had to chase for a long time. Logan Currie admitted that he caused the crash. The New Zealander spoke about what happened and how he blames himself to Het Nieuwsblad.
“That big crash a hundred kilometres from the finish, which caused quite a few guys to fall, suddenly there was no way to get through and everything came to a standstill. So you can largely blame me,” said Currie. “I was too eager and wanted to move up. As a result, I became trapped and ended up in the gutter. Suddenly I was on the ground. And I’m not alone. From then on my race was ruined.”
The 22-year-old Lotto Dstny rider explained what it was like in his group after the crash: “I reminded myself that I had to fight back into the race and tried to cheer myself up, but by the time I managed to do that, they were already busy with the final at the front. Not that the riders around me were angry. Or at least they haven’t shown that. Actually: they didn’t say anything at all. In any case, I decided for myself that I absolutely had to finish the race. As punishment for my mistake.”
Currie was the last to cross the finish line, but he didn’t realise it at the time. “After that crash and that loss of time, I treated the last 50 kilometres as good training. We took the group in tow with a few riders and rode really hard to achieve a decent time. The others were on our wheel. Until the finish line came into view. They suddenly passed us en masse. Well…”
That crash in Liège:
Nairo Quintana Will Start the Giro d’Italia
Nairo Quintana will be at the start of the 107th Giro d’Italia in a week on Saturday, but the Colombian will not be going for the GC. The Movistar rider spoke about his up and coming Giro at the presentation of his Gran Fondo.
Quintana’s fitness for the Giro d’Italia has been in question. The Colombian had to withdraw from the Tour of the Alps due to physical problems, this would have been his last race before Italian tour. The 34-year-old climber is at home in Colombia, where he is recovering from his crashes in the Tour of Catalunya.
Quintana crashed twice in the Catalan race. He suffered no fractures, but had to abandon after his last fall. He was suffering from an almost complete tear of the anterior sterno-clavicular ligament in his right arm, the joint that connects the sternum to the collarbone. For that reason he didn’t start the Tour of the Basque Country.
His recovery is said to be going well and Quintana has confirmed his participation in the Tour of Italy. It is ten years since he won the Giro and in 2017 he finished second overall, behind Tom Dumoulin, but this year Quintana will not be going for the final overall prize, but stage wins. “The plan is to hunt for stage victories in the mountains, I am ready to give everything of myself. We are going for it 100%,” he said.
Stage wins at the Giro for Quintana:
Cofidis is Interested in Julian Alaphilippe
TotalEnergies would like to sign Julian Alaphilippe, but now it seems Cofidis is also watching the situation of the two-time World champion. Team manager Cédric Vasseur spoke to GCN about the possibility.
Cofidis has not had the best season so far and is low on the UCI WorldTour ranking. The French team runs the risk of losing its WorldTour license at the end of the 2025 season. The team needs to collect as many UCI points as possible over the 2024/25 seasons and are looking to strengthen their roster.
Signing Julian Alaphilippe, who is at the end of his Soudal Quick-Step contract, would be a good move for a French team, like Cofidis. Vasseur spoke about the possibility: “As team manager, I would really like to work with Julian, but we have not really spoken seriously yet. We don’t want to bring in Alaphilippe just for the name. We want to bring him to Cofidis for what he can give to the team. He is having a hard time at the moment and so we will wait and see. We are a cycling team, not a retirement home. We cannot afford mistakes. We all saw the situation with Peter Sagan (with TotalEnergies) and we don’t want something like that.”
“If Julian comes to us, he will have to perform. So that as a team we can move towards 2,500 UCI points,” Vasseur stated. “I don’t know at the moment whether Julian is capable of doing that. I don’t want to bring him in because I value and respect him. I am looking for riders who can perform well so that we can secure our place in the WorldTour.”
Where will Alaphilippe go in 2025?
Tudor Fighting for Marc Hirschi
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Marc Hirschi will ride for Tudor Pro Cycling next year, but La Gazzetta dello Sport says the deal has not been finalised. Although the Swiss team is in pole position to sign Hirschi, Q36.5 and his current squad, UAE Team Emirates both want him.
The Italian sports paper reported that Hirschi has an expiring contract with UAE Team Emirates and that he has been linked to Tudor for some time. The ProTeam is Swiss and the team’s founder, Fabian Cancellara, is also Hirschi’s manager. But the other Swiss team, Q36.5, has not yet given up the fight for his signature. His current team, UAE Team Emirates, is also in the battle, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, although Tudor has the best chance.
The 25-year-old Hirschi made his breakthrough in 2020, winning the Flèche Wallonne and a stage in the Tour de France. In January of the following year, he left Team DSM early, after which he signed with UAE Team Emirates. Partly due to injuries, he was unable to really confirm his previous performances. However, the Swiss rider performed strongly last autumn with several victories and also won in 2024. At the end of February he won the Faun Drôme Classic and was second in the Amstel Gold Race.
Where will Hirschi be in 2025?
Thibau Nys Started his Road Season on Tuesday
The road season started on Tuesday for Thibau Nys. The 21-year-old Lidl-Trek rider returned from an altitude training camp in Tenerife last week, before starting the Tour de Romandie. He is ‘hungry’, but is still looking for confirmation, he said in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad.
“I also take into account that I will still lack some intensity and hardness after my altitude training. Maybe I will hit my limits very brutally,” said Nys, who also did an altitude training course for the Tour de Romandie last year and raced well in the Swiss stage race. “But then I had only taken ten days of rest after the cyclo-cross season and also rode Nokere Koerse, Brugge-De Panne and some other spring races (GP de Denain and Bredene-Koksijde). That makes an immense difference. I have now taken three weeks of rest without any spring races. The valley from which I have to climb is now much deeper. I have certainly had a very nice preparation, but it may not be in Romandie that I reap the benefits. A nice conclusion could be that after Romandie I will probably be further ahead than last year.”
Will Nys be able to compete with the best in the two sprint stages of the Tour of Romandie= “I have the feeling that my explosiveness has diminished a bit after an altitude training period and many hours of endurance training. I won’t say that I have doubts, but I would like confirmation: I can still do it in that area too. The line of what I could do as a newcomer or junior in peak values has not really been continued.”
Nys has grown enormously as a rider since then, he says. “My twenty and ten minute values are much better. And in December I peddled my best five-second value ever. That absolute peak power cannot be far away either.”
Nys is a reserve for the Giro d’Italia, but it is not the intention that he will start the Italian GT. “That could also ruin my season. I am happy with the program that I will be riding in the coming weeks: Eschborn-Frankfurt, the Tour of Hungary, the Tour of Norway, the Canton Argau GP. All competitions where there are opportunities for me.”
Nys finished 18th in the Romandie prologue:
La Vuelta Femenina Marks First Grand Tour of 2024 Season for Movistar Team
Liane Lippert’s return into racing biggest headline of 2023 title holders, set to start final stage on Sunday 5th May from their sponsor’s headquarters Distrito Telefónica.
The Movistar Team opens its ‘Spanish month of May’ in the UCI Women’s WorldTour on Sunday 28th with the second edition of La Vuelta Femenina, held this time over eight stages which start from Valencia and will end, Sunday 5th May, at the Sierra de Guadarrama during a final day which will depart from Madrid’s Distrito Telefónica.
The Blue outfit, coordinated at their home Grand Tour by team manager Sebastián Unzué and sports directors Tim Harris + Jorge Sanz, bring a seven-woman roster with the biggest news of Liane Lippert’s return into racing, back from her injury in the winter. The lineup is completed by Olivia Baril, Mareille Meijering, Emma Norsgaard, Jelena Erić and Spaniards Sara Martín and Sheyla Gutiérrez.
2024 LA VUELTA FEMENINA GUIDE | All info on Movistar Team
García Aims to Shine for Liv AlUla Jayco on Home Soil at La Vuelta Femenina
Home hero Mavi García will lead Liv AlUla Jayco at the first grand tour of the season, La Vuelta Femenina – 28th April to 5th May.
The Spanish national champion was a top-10 finisher overall in last year’s race and comes back with high hopes for her home race after a consistent spring campaign.
A longer, tougher route
Having grown from its roots as a one-day race, the Vuelta Femenina is now one of the longest races on the women’s calendar. One day has been added to the route for the 2024 edition, making for an even tougher challenge for the peloton.
Starting out in Valencia on Sunday, 28th April, the race kicks off with a 16km team time trial that will set the scene for the overall battle. The route takes the peloton close to the north coast of Spain for stage 5, before turning south and towards Madrid for the final showdown the following Sunday, 5th May.
It won’t be a processional finale into centre of Madrid, instead the general classification riders will be duking it out at 1,860m to Valdesqui. Coupled with the La Laguna Negra finish on stage 6, it will be a decisive moment in the fight for the red jersey.
Mavi García: “I really want to do the Vuelta because it is a different race this year. I think there are more days that are better suited for me. Also, I’m excited for the TTT with this team because we are strong at this discipline. I have been feeling better than I did last year and, at this stage, I think I can do well in this race. It’s difficult to say what you think you can do but I always want to target the podium in a race like this.”
Strong support
Backing up García in the tough terrain around Spain will be Ingvild Gåskjenn, who took a memorable podium finish at the Amstel Gold Race earlier this month. Fellow Scandinavian Caroline Andersson also has a key role to play on the climbs for Garcia.
There will be chances for the fast finishers on stages 2, 4, and 7 and Georgia Baker returns to the saddle in Spain with eyes on potential sprints following some strong results earlier this season.
Brent Copeland – General Manager: “We’re looking forward to getting the grand tour stage race phase of the season underway starting off with the women’s Vuelta a España. The performance team has worked hard to put together a line-up that can challenge for top results at this race. The team has made some great progress and enjoyed some great results throughout the classics period and we expect to see some more great results in the Vuelta. As always, I want to say a huge thank you to all our sponsors and team owner Gerry Ryan for enabling us to be on the start line with a strong team after some solid preparation.”
A big engine room
No watt has been spared in bringing together the roster for La Vuelta Femenina and the line-up is completed by some powerful riders.
Silke Smulders was a key rider throughout the cobbled classics this spring and will be important for the core strength of the team. With her TT talents, Georgie Howe will be in her element in the opening team time trial and adds some firepower to the engine room of the team.
Rounding out the line-up will be Teniel Campbell, who brings both strength and valuable experience to the roster.
Martin Vestby – Sport Director:
“The Vuelta Femenina being eight days gives it a bit more of a grand tour feeling to it and expanding by one day is a good thing. The course this year starts with a flat and fast team time trial that we are excited about. I think we have a strong team that can do well on that opening day. In general, it’s not the hardest Vuelta with the longest climbs, but a lot of the stages are really open and exposed where wind could make it a stressful and hard race. Even some of the mountain stages have sections of exposed roads where everyone will need to be alert and focused. I like the course and the variety of profiles, and I think we have a good team that suits these stages well. There will be a lot of opportunities on this course for different scenarios to play out.”
Liv AlUla Jayco at the 2024 La Vuelta Femenina:
Caroline Andersson (SWE)
Georgia Baker (AUS)
Teniel Campbell (TTO)
Mavi García (ESP)
Ingvild Gåskjenn (NOR)
Georgie Howe (AUS)
Silke Smulders (NED).
Mavi Garcia for La Vuelta:
La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es Roster Announced
CANYON//SRAM Racing reveals its lineup for La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es. The team heads into the eight-day stage race on the back of a successful spring classics campaign and brings a mix of youth and experience and contenders for sprint and GC stages.
The lineup: Zoe Bäckstedt, Ricarda Bauernfeind, Neve Bradbury, Justyna Czapla, Antonia Niedermaier, Kasia Niewiadoma and Maike van der Duin.
It’s a La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es debut for Bäckstedt, Czapla, Bradbury, Niedermaier and Van der Duin, paying testament to their development. Between the five debutants, they’ve already tasted success on the World Tour scene with a stage win at the 2023 Giro d’Italia Donne for Niedermaier, leading the Best Young Rider classification at the 2022 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift for Van der Duin, winning the Best Young Rider classification at Simac Ladies Tour for Bäckstedt, and second in the general classification at the 2024 UAE Tour Women for Bradbury.
In 2023, La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es signalled the arrival of Bauernfeind to the World Tour. After two years in the development team, CANYON//SRAM Generation, Bauernfeind finished fifth in the general classification at La Vuelta, the first of four World Tour general classification top tens in 2023 for the German rider. Teammate Niewiadoma leads the team into the stage race season on a high after a second place and victory in the one-day spring classics, Ronde van Vlaanderen and La Flèche Wallonne.
The race expands to eight stages for the first time in its young history, starting with an opening team time trial (TTT) in Valencia on Sunday, 28 April, and featuring one flat stage, two undulating stages, a mid-mountain stage, and three mountain stages.
The 16km TTT stage will crown the first leader of the general classification with the ‘maillot rojo’ or red jersey. In 2023, CANYON//SRAM Racing missed the TTT stage win by less than one second and will aim to start the stage race with another strong performance. The squad will be boosted by young time trial talents Bäckstedt, Czapla, and Niedermaier.
From Valencia, the race then moves towards the mountains, with the Pyrenees hosting a women’s stage for the first time. The eighth and final stage is a summit finish in Valdesquí on Sunday, 5 May, setting the stage for a fierce general classification battle until the last metres of the race.
Rider Quotes
Maike van der Duin: “I’m looking forward to my first stage race of 2024, which will finally mark the start of my road season after just two races so far. However, I’m a bit nervous. The biggest expectations from myself are that I am there to help my teammates and that we are committed to the GC.”
“The team time trial on stage one is the first time I will ever race a TTT. I have some track experience, so it won’t be difficult from that perspective. I can’t wait to suffer with my teammates in the TTT and achieve the best result together.”
“On paper, stages 2, 4, and 7 are more sprint stages, and there is an opportunity to mix it in the final with the sprinters again. But we’re motivated to explore all of our options. We have a strong team for the GC. In the climbing stages, we can aim for the win. I can’t wait for the race to start on Sunday because I want to put in the hard work to help the GC riders achieve the best result possible together.”
Kasia Niewiadoma: “From the start of the season, our team grew in strength with each race. You could see that in Liège-Bastogne-Liège—despite lacking a podium place, we had a good race with numbers in the front. We missed the timings, and that prevented us from finishing the spring campaign on the very highest note. It still gives our riders a lot of confidence going into the next part of the season.”
“We have a young team coming to the La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es just a few days later. Most of our riders were born after 2000! That brings a lot of energy and potential for good results. I’m looking forward to this race with a young team and to share my experience with the team and the GC riders. Working with a different team at a stage race is very exciting for me to see how everyone reacts to specific moments, different stages, and race pressure.”
“Stage one TTT is a classic time trial: straight, all out, turn, all out, finish. We have a lot of climbers on the team, but they’re also very good time trial riders—like Antonia, Ricarda, and Justyna, and then we have the powerhouses of Maike and Zoe. The TTT is important, but I don’t see significant gaps in the GC. It’s straightforward and is about putting power down, which many riders can do.”
“The overall will be decided in the last few stages. Stage five is the first big GC day. It will create some gaps, but the final stage is the hardest, so anything can happen until the last day.”
Ricarda Bauernfeind: “Last year at La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es, I learned a lot from various race situations—crosswinds, mountain finish, hectic sprint finals. I also learned to prepare myself for multi-day tough stage races. These experiences gave me confidence for the stage races that followed in the season.”
“This year, we have a powerful team. The team time trial is important to start the stage race in a good position, but we race several mountain finishes that suit our team and will play the biggest role in the GC. I aim to support our entire team, especially on the long climbs, for our GC ambitions.”
Neve Bradbury: “I’m feeling good after the classics season. I felt good in races that aren’t perfectly suited to me, and that gives me confidence for the longer climbs we’ll race at La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es. There are various courses, from TTT to summit finishes, a possible cross-wind day, and some stages for the sprinters.”
“Starting the race on a positive note in the TTT stage one would be the best scenario so that we can grow from there. Our team is very strong, and we’ve started the year well. The Vuelta is about continuing our upward progress together. We’re all looking forward to getting stuck into stage racing.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL Reveal La Vuelta Femenina Roster
Rebranded last year, La Vuelta Femenina, continues to grow and expand as it makes its return to the calendar at the end of the month – with an exciting mix of racing set to whet the appetite of the Grand Tour racing aficionados.
Fighting it out over eight stages the peloton will kick things off with a team time trial – which is a unique event on the Women’s calendar – so fans are set for a spectacle from the outset. From there, a mix of rolling and flat terrain should give those with a fast kick a chance of going for a result over the next three days. Stages five and six see summit finishes, while day seven could be one for the attackers, but it does come with a punchy uphill sting in the tail. Finally, the race is rounded out with the queen stage which includes over 2000 metres of elevation in just 90 kilometres of racing; so the fight for the overall title could go down to the wire.
Aiming to build on consistent performances throughout the opening quarter of the year, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL once again intend to be at the proverbial pointy end of proceedings, no matter the terrain.
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Albert Timmer explains more: “La Vuelta Femenina is the first big stage race on the calendar for our Women’s program. The parcours look like an intriguing one with multiple opportunities for different types of riders. Like last year, we have the same goals for the race. We will focus on riding well as a team and go for the best GC result possible with Juliette as our finisher. Next to this, we will also bring a very capable lead-out group and aim to bring Charlotte into a prime position for the sprint finales. We have a mix of experience in the team, but everyone is really motivated, and we are confident that we can bring home some top results.”
Speaking about the race Labous said: “Last year the Vuelta went well for us with a stage win in the sprint with Charlotte, and I was fighting for the GC podium until the last day. I think we can come with high ambitions again this year. Firstly, we have prepared well for the opening TTT and have a strong team for the route. For the sprint stages with Charlotte, and in the GC we will look to perform like last year, and there are may be some breakaway opportunities for the girls as well. I have done a three-week altitude simulation camp over the last month, and I felt really good in training and recently in the races. We’ve worked a lot to improve my GC abilities so I want to aim for a podium, and we will do everything we can to achieve that goal. Personally, I am looking forward mostly to the TTT and then to stages five, six and eight which are the hardest days and where the GC will likely be decided.”
Jai Hindley and Florian Lipowitz Extend Contracts
Jai Hindley and Florian Lipowitz – two riders who have much in common but are at different stages of their careers. Both are climbers and GC riders currently racing for BORA – hansgrohe at the Tour de Romandie. While one already has major Grand Tour trophies at home, the other is just about to make his Grand Tour debut.
The winner of the 2022 Giro d’Italia, as well as stage winner and wearer of the yellow jersey at the 2023 Tour de France, Jai Hindley, has extended his contract with BORA – hansgrohe in time for the 2024 Grand Tours. The 27-year-old’s early decision is one for his ‘second family’.
Jai Hindley: “I’m very happy to extend with BORA – hansgrohe. I really appreciate the trust and opportunities that the team has given me so far, and everything the team has done for me. They’ve been a huge part of my career and development. It’s really become like a second family for me, and I feel at home here.”
“I can’t wait to keep growing and developing, and targeting big goals in the future, which is something that’s always been important for me. We have the same vision, and I’m grateful for the trust they’ve put in me to fulfil this. I can’t wait to continue my journey here”, adds Jai Hindley.
Florian Lipowitz has made important steps in his career at a rapid pace, even though his journey in cycling is still in its infancy. The former biathlete impressed in his first full professional year with BORA – hansgrohe. Top results in shorter stage races like the Czech Tour and the Tour of Turkey underline his great talent. The 23-year-old is now taking the next step, extending his contract ahead of his Grand Tour debut.
Florian Lipowitz: “I am more than happy to continue being part of BORA – hansgrohe. I was able to make a big step forward last year. That showed me that this is the right team for me. The trust I receive motivates me even more to continue working on myself.”
“BORA – hansgrohe was almost my first contact with cycling when I made the change from biathlon. Since the beginning and also now continuing together, it just feels right. I hope that I can play a big part in making the team even more successful”, comments Florian Lipowitz.
Ralph Denk, Team Manager BORA – hansgrohe: “I am delighted that we have been able to retain Jai and Florian early on. Both are great talents, and both play an important role in our long-term stage race plans. With Jai we celebrated the biggest Grand Tour success in the team – his abilities are obvious. We know Florian’s potential and we want to develop it together step by step.”
Jai Hindley extends contract:
Isaac Del Toro Extends Contract Until 2029
Mexican talent commits long-term to Emirati squad
UAE Team Emirates continue to strengthen their squad for the future with the news that Isaac Del Toro will extend his original 3 year deal by a further 3 years to bring him up to 2029.
Having made a name for himself after winning the prestigious Tour de l’Avenir in France in 2023, the 20 year old from Mexico made an instant impact at World Tour level taking a stage win at his first race at the Tour Down Under and playing an instrumental team role in many of the team’s victories.
He now plans to continue that trajectory at the new home he has found at UAE.
Mauro Gianetti (Team Principal & CEO): “We are very pleased to announce that Isaac will continue in the UAE colours for years to come. We knew already his capability as a rider and his level of talent and his progression has been very impressive so far and we feel he has integrated very well into the team since his arrival. He is still young and the plan will be to continue to learn and grow and a rider and as a person in a good environment. We continue to be committed to our project to develop young talent and build for the future.”
Isaac del Toro: “Since coming to the team everything has been like a dream, it has been perfect. I’m very grateful for the team for showing me the trust and giving me the opportunity to be part of this special group, it feels amazing. I am learning everyday and still have I’m taking i all in and enjoying as much as possible with my feet on the ground and a lot of excitement for what is to come.”
De Toro with UAE till 2029:
Lorena Wiebes Stays with Team SD Worx – Protime Through 2028
Lorena Wiebes has opened her contract with Team SD Worx – Protime and extended it through 2028. “I didn’t hesitate for long. I feel completely at home in this team and I also feel that in this environment I can make the necessary steps in the coming years,” Wiebes indicated.
The 25-year-old Wiebes still had a commitment with Team SD Worx – Protime through 2025 and was positively surprised when the team came with the proposal to break open the contract. “It is a big compliment for me that the team wants to work with me as far into the future as 2028. I was offered a nice contract, so we quickly reached an agreement.”
The Dutch cyclist is known as the best sprint star in the peloton, but she also gets better in the classical work every year. This spring, in addition to stages in the UAE Tour Women, she also won the classics Miron Ronde van Drenthe, Gent-Wevelgem and Scheldeprijs, while finishing second in the Amstel Gold Race.
Wiebes: “I have been racing for this team since 2023. I notice that I have made the necessary steps in this environment and thanks to the good guidance of the team. That I have become a lot stronger has shown last spring with the victory in Gent-Wevelgem as the highlight. The fact that the team has a lot of confidence in me also strengthens me.”
For Wiebes, it is also important that world champion Lotte Kopecky has extended her contract with Team SD Worx – Protime through 2028. “I get along well with Lotte. In the races we strengthen each other. How Lotte occasionally pulls the sprint for me is unprecedented. In the classics, I pull up to her. It’s a great prospect that we will still be together in a team for the next four years.”
Sports manager Danny Stam, who himself also extended his contract with Team SD Worx – Protime through 2028, is delighted that Wiebes will remain on the team for the next four years as well. “Lorena is a real winner. As a sprint star she knows how to win the necessary races, but we also see that she is making huge strides in the classical work. She is eager to learn and get stronger. In addition, she fits well in the team. Often she is an atmosphere creator in the team.”
Wiebes with Team SD Worx-Protime to 2028:
Ruth Edwards Continues Through 2026
American confirms future with Human Powered Health
Former American champion Ruth Edwards has signed a contract extension with Human Powered Health Cycling through 2026.
The 30-year-old joined for 2024 and in that time has already racked up a podium finish at Trofeo Oro in Euro, fourth in the Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race, and a top ten placing on stage 2 of the Tour Down Under.
“When I remember my reasons for returning to the sport, I know now that Human Powered Health was the perfect fit,” she said. “For the love of the chase, to see how good we can be, to support each other not just as athletes, staff, and sportspeople, but also as humans.”
She may have only been on the team for a few months but Edwards has fit in excellently.
“I feel really taken care of and supported here while striving to be better in a supportive and motivating way,” she says. “I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Now amid the Ardennes Classics, Edwards thrives on the undulating terrain and has been regaining fitness and confidence since coming back from a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen.
“It’s been a rough spring so far, with a few crashes and sickness but the fact that I feel nothing but support from Human Powered Health is very inspiring to me,” Edwards explains. “I wasn’t sure when I returned if it would be for a year or longer. The fact that despite the rough spring I’ve had so far I want to keep racing is just a true showing of how much I’m enjoying being part of this team and excited to grow with them and help them grow however I can.”
Edwards will be a linchpin as the team begins stage racing and will lead the team at the upcoming Vuelta España Femenina by Carrefour.es.
“My objectives as a rider are to continue to push myself to be my best athlete and with that, I hope I can get strong results among the best.”
Along with Daria and Wiktoria Pikulik and Lilly Williams, Edwards is the fourth high-profile contract extension for Human Powered Health Cycling this spring. General Manager Ro De Jonckere says that this shows the long-term sustainability and growth of the team.
“We are very happy with these contract renewals through 2026, as they fit perfectly in our strategy of building a top-tier women’s team over the next few years,” she said. “Since last summer, we have put a lot of effort into improving our structure and the further professionalisation of our team. It is nice to see how this has not missed its effect and the riders feel confident that our team is the right environment for them to reach their full potential.”
Ruth Edwards to say with Human Powered Health:
Lotto Dstny Ladies Selected for Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
Lotto Dstny has joyful news to share, as the Lotto Dstny Ladies have been selected for Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. A.S.O announced this today.
Good news, as our Lotto Dstny Ladies are heading to Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Our team is one of the lucky 22 squads chosen for the 3rd edition, which this year begins abroad for the first time. The race starts in Rotterdam and concludes at Alpe d’Huez. Organizer A.S.O revealed the teams this afternoon.
Leading the Lotto Dstny team, Thalita de Jong, is particularly thrilled with the yellow ticket: “Selection has always lingered in the back of my mind, but I thought as a continental team we might fall just short. So, it was a surprise when our CEO Stéphane Heulot came with the good news this afternoon. I’m already starting to study the route, that will be homework for the upcoming weeks. The Tour is the biggest event on the cycling calendar for a rider. And the fact that we start in the Netherlands, my home country, this year makes it even more beautiful. For us and our sponsors first and foremost, but also for me personally and for my family. Everyone is already requesting vacation time (laughs). The Tour de France Femmes so close to home is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Le Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift starts this year on Monday, August 12 in Rotterdam. The race stays in the Netherlands for four days before continuing through Belgium and on to France. On August 18, we’ll know who will take home the third yellow jersey. The climax will be in the Alps, with the stage from Le Grand-Bornand to the top of Alpe d’Heuz. The peloton will cover a total of 946.3 kilometres.
Lotto Dstny to the Tour de France avec Zwift:
Giro d’Italia: The Entry List Has Been Announced
Tadej Pogacar, Geraint Thomas, Julian Alaphilippe, Filippo Ganna, Cristophe Laporte and Jonathan Milan are among the top riders awaited on 4 May in Venaria Reale
The entry list of the Giro d’Italia, which will start on 4 May from Venaria Reale, has been announced today. As in 2023, it will be Rome that will celebrate the winner of the Trofeo Senza Fine.
The Challenge for the Maglia Rosa
The big favourite to win the general classification is Tadej Pogacar. Number 1 in the UCI World Ranking, the Slovenian is making his debut in the Corsa Rosa after a triumphant start to the season that saw him win seven times out of a total of ten days of racing. His main rival will be Geraint Thomas, who in 2023 wore the Maglia Rosa until the penultimate stage. The Welshman will again have at his side Thymen Arensman, 6th in last year’s edition and one of the biggest favourites for the Maglia Bianca. Among the riders who finished in the final top 10 last year will also be at the start Damiano Caruso, (4th) and Eddie Dunbar (7th). Returning to the Giro with ambitions will be Romain Bardet, second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Ben O’ Connor, winner of a stage and runner-up at the UAE Tour, Daniel Felipe Martinez, three wins in the season, Juan Pedro Lopez, winner of the Tour of the Alps, and the Maglia Rosa of the 2014 edition Nairo Quintana. Among the most awaited debutants, also with an eye over the Maglia Bianca, are Cian Uijtdebroeks, 8th at the Vuelta a España 2023, and Antonio Tiberi, who has achieved some good results this season at the Volta a Catalunya and Tour of the Alps.
The Sprinters
Many fast men are awaited at the start of the Corsa Rosa, starting with the Maglia Ciclamino of 2023, Jonathan Milan, who confirmed his strength by winning two stages and the points classification of Tirreno-Adriatico. Among the sprinters already capable of winning at the Giro d’Italia, are Caleb Ewan (5 wins), Fernando Gaviria (5), Alberto Dainese (2), Kaden Groves (1), Biniam Girmay (1), and Tim Merlier (1). Making their debut in the Corsa Rosa are Fabio Jakobsen, 46 career victories including 6 in the Grand Tours, and two young sprinters who have made a name for themselves as Olav Kooij, 4 seasonal victories, and Laurence Pithie, winner of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and 7th in the Paris-Roubaix. Phil Bauhaus, Sam Welsford, Juan Sebastian Molano and Enrico Zanoncello complete the list of sprint contenders.
The Stage Hunters
21 stages equal 21 different chances to enter into the history books of the Corsa Rosa. The field of pretenders for the stage wins is wide and varied, starting with Filippo Ganna, six-time stage winner and big favourite in the time trials. The former World Champion will have to contend with rivals such as Mikkel Bjerg, Tobias Foss, Magnus Sheffield, Edoardo Affini, Ethan Vernon, and new entry Lorenzo Milesi, winner of the world title among the Under-23s. Two-time World Champion Julian Alaphilippe and current European Champion Cristophe Laporte both aim to leave their mark in the Corsa Rosa. In the more hilly fractions, climbers such as Hugh Carthy, Esteban Chaves, Jan Hirt, Lorenzo Fortunato, Michael Woods, Einer Rubio, Filippo Zana, Koen Bouwman, Maximilian Schachmann, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Giulio Pellizzari, Domenico Pozzovivo, Mauri Vansevenant, Michael Storer, Max Poole, Lucas Plapp, Davide Piganzoli and Wout Poels will be looking for glory. The list of riders to watch include Matteo Trentin, Jasper Stuyven, Quinten Hermans, Andrea Bagioli, Jan Tratnik, Andrea Vendrame, Lilian Calmejane, Davide Ballerini, Simone Velasco, Simon Clarke, Stefano Oldani, Benjamin Thomas and Alessandro De Marchi.
2024 Giro d’Italia map:
Tadej Pogačar Took the Côte de la Redoute KOM
Tadej Pogačar attacked on the Côte de la Redoute in Liège-Bastogne-Liège last Sunday. What the Slovenian champions didn’t know until after the race was that he also took the Strava KOM on the climb.
Pogačar took 4 minutes and 3 seconds to climb the Côte de la Redoute (1.54km at 9.9%), at an average speed of 22.9 kph. The Slovenian was 1 second faster than Jarno Widar, who took the record on October 1, 2023. The young Belgian, who was still a junior at the time and is now a member of the Lotto Dstny devo team, set his record during a training ride.
Widar then weighed in at 52 kilos and was 1.66 meters tall, beat the time of Remco Evenepoel. In Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2023, Evenepoel set a time of 4 minutes 13 seconds. This was 10 seconds slower than Pogačar, but Pogačar attacked early on the climb, while Evenepoel waited until the last, steep section.
La Redoute segment:
Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift 2024 Team Selection
In accordance with the regulations of the International Cycling Union, the following fifteen UCI Women’s WorldTeams are automatically entered:
AG Insurance – Soudal Team (Bel)
Canyon//Sram Racing (Ger)
Ceratizit – WNT Pro Cycling Team (Ger)
FDJ-Suez (Fra)
Fenix-Deceuninck (Bel)
Human Powered Health (USA)
Lidl – Trek (Usa)
Liv-AlUla-Jayco (Aus)
Movistar Team (Esp)
Roland (Sui)
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL (Ned)
Team SD Worx – Protime (Ned)
Team Visma | Lease a Bike (Ned)
UAE Team ADQ (Uae)
Uno-X Mobility (Nor).
Furthermore, the first two teams in the UCI Women’s Continental ranking in 2023 will automatically participate in the Women’s Tour de France avec Zwift 2024:
Cofidis Women Team (Fra)
Tashkent City Women Professional Cycling Team (Uzb).
The organisers invite the following teams:
Arkea – B&B Hotels Women (Fra)
EF Education – Cannondale (Usa)
Laboral Kutxa – Fundacion Euskadi (Esp)
Lotto Dstny Ladies (Bel)
St Michel – Mavic – Auber93 (Fra).
Torino and the Giro d’Italia, an Unbreakable Bond
The Grande Torino is a story that goes beyond the world of football and that is why the Giro d’Italia also joins in the memory of the Invincibles. On 4 May 2024, on the 75th anniversary of the tragedy of the Grande Torino, the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia will pass right by the hill of Superga to pay homage to all those who lost their lives in that terrible disaster.
The indissoluble bond between the Toro and the Giro d’Italia starts from a friendship between the Grande Torino players and Fausto Coppi, one of the most successful Italian riders ever. Precisely in 1949, Coppi was the first to achieve a feat that has since been repeated only six times: winning the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same year, racing with a small Torino pennant sewn onto his jersey in honour of the friends he had just lost.
Thanks to the collaboration between Torino FC and RCS Sport, the Giro d’Italia’s Trofeo Senza Fine, the Maglia Rosa, and the new jersey that Castelli, Official Partner of the Giro d’Italia, made in memory of Grande Torino were exhibited at the Stadio Grande Torino – before the Torino – Frosinone match.
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