The first Monument of the 2024 road season is this Saturday – We have all the news in the run-up to Milano-Sanremo. Plus race reports from the men’s and women’s Danilith Nokere Koerse and Milano-Torino with results, rider thoughts and video.
2024 Milano-Sanremo route and riders – TOP STORY.
Rider news: Judge rejects settlement offer from truck driver who killed Davide Rebellin, Mathieu van der Poel starts his season on Saturday, Filippo Ganna confident for Milan-Sanremo, Arnaud De Lie will not start Milan-Sanremo, Toms Skujins adds cobbled Classics to his program, Olav Kooij hopes to ride the Olympic Games, Jasper Philipsen doesn’t rule out leaving Alpecin-Deceuninck, Magnus Cort out of action with a broken thumb, Santiago Buitrago escapes injury in Paris-Nice crash, no fractures for Richard Carapaz from crash in Tirreno-Adriatico, Wilco Kelderman breaks collarbone on the final corner of Paris-Nice, Rohan Dennis case extended to August 6th and Annemiek van Vleuten to be an analyst for NOS and Sporza.
Team news: UAE Team Emirates, Visma | Lease a Bike, Soudal Quick-Step, Lidl-Trek, Bahrain Victorious, Polti-Kometa and dsm-firmenich PostNL Milano-Sanremo rosters, Evenepoel recons Tour de France ITT, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale has new kit: The ‘Galaxy’ and Bahrain Victorious optimises performance with Training Peaks partnership.
Race news: Road to Paterberg repaired in time for E3 Saxo Classic and Tour of Flanders and Rod Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain race director,
Plus: Florian Vermeersch – The Comeback video.
Thursday EUROTRASH coffee and a read.
TOP STORY: 2024 Milano-Sanremo Route and Start List
The 115th edition of the Classicissima will start from Pavia, where the presentation of the teams will take place on Friday at 4.30 p.m., and will end in via Roma. Mathieu Van der Poel, winner of the 2023 edition, Tadej Pogačar, dominator of the Strade Bianche, and Filippo Ganna, runner-up in 2023, headline the entry list. Former winners Kristoff (2014), Démare (2016), Kwiatkowski (2017), Alaphilippe (2019), Stuyven (2021) and Mohorič (2022) are expected to participate.
The entry list for the 115th edition of the Milano-Sanremo presented by Crédit Agricole, the first of the five Monument Classics, scheduled on Saturday 16th March, has been unveiled. Many top riders are expected at the start in Pavia, starting with the winner of the 2023 edition Mathieu Van der Poel and the dominator of the Strade Bianche, as well as 4th on the finish line in Via Roma twelve months ago, Tadej Pogačar. Alongside them are many prestigious names, starting with former winners Alexander Kristoff (2014), Arnaud Démare (2016), Michal Kwiatkowski (2017), Julian Alaphilippe (2019), Jasper Stuyven (2021) and Matej Mohorič (2022), and continuing with world class riders such as Jonathan Milan, winner of two stages and the Maglia Ciclamino at Tirreno-Adriatico, Mads Pedersen, six wins so far in the season, Caleb Ewan, twice runner-up in the Classicissima, Christophe Laporte, reigning European champion, Jasper Philipsen, winner of a stage at Tirreno-Adriatico and Filippo Ganna, runner-up in 2023.
You can download the Entry List HERE.
Teams Presentation
Friday 15 March at 16:30 at Piazza della Vittoria in Pavia will be held the presentation of the teams that will give fans the opportunity to meet the great protagonists of the Classicissima.
The Route of the 115th Milano-Sanremo Presented by Crédit Agricole
The 2024 Milano-Sanremo presented by Crédit Agricole starts in Pavia and, after covering around 44 km of flat roads astride the Ticino River, it merges back onto the classic route in Casteggio. From there, the race once again takes the route that has connected Milan to the Riviera di Ponente for over 110 years, through Ovada and the Passo del Turchino, dropping into Genoa in Voltri. From there, it rolls westwards, by the sea, following the Statale Aurelia through Varazze, Savona, Albenga (avoiding the Manie climb, which only featured in the route from 2008 to 2013) and Imperia. In San Lorenzo al Mare, past the classic sequence of the Capi (Mele, Cervo and Berta), the peloton will negotiate the two climbs that have entered the race route in recent decades: the Cipressa (1982) and the Poggio di Sanremo (1961). The Cipressa is just over 5.6km long with a gradient of 4.1%. The highly testing descent leads back down to SS 1 Aurelia.
Final kilometres
The ascent of Poggio di Sanremo begins with 9 km remaining to the finish (3.7km, average gradient less than 4%, maximum 8% in the segment before getting to the top of the climb). The road is slightly narrower, with 4 hairpin turns in the first 2km. The descent is testing, on asphalt switchback roads, narrow at points and with twists and turns as far as the junction with SS 1 Aurelia. The final part of the descent enters urban Sanremo. The last 2 m are on long, straight urban roads. There is a left-hand bend on a roundabout 850m from the finish line. The last bend, leading into the home straight on the Via Roma, is 750m from the finish line.
# You can hear what Chris Horner has to say about ‘La Primavera’ HERE and the ‘PEZ Milano-Sanremo Preview’ is HERE. #
Danilith Nokere Koerse 2024
Tim Merlier won the Nokere Koerse on Wednesday. The Belgian rider of Soudal Quick-Step jumped away on the Nokereberg insight of the finish line. Fabio Jakobsen and Jasper Philipsen couldn’t catch the flying Merlier and finished second and third.
The Nokere Koerse for 2024 had been made more difficult this year, as more cobbled sections had been added to the large final circuit. It was expected that there was less chance of a bunch sprint.
The course change also encouraged the attackers. The early break of six included: Abram Stockman (TDT-Unibet), Yentl Vandevelde & Victor Vercouillie (both Flanders-Baloise), Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Alex Vandebulcke (Tarteletto-Isorex). They built up a lead of just under 4 minutes. The peloton was mainly led by Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal Quick-Step. Stockman of TDT-Unibet looked to be the strong-man of the group. On the difficult course he dropped the others of the escape to go solo. He was eventually caught 37 kilometres from the finish, but he had won the KOM prize. In the peloton it was UAE Team Emirates and Groupama-FDJ who had taken over the lead work.
There were accelerations from Tim Wellens, Stefan Küng and Daan Hoole, but their attempts all failed due to the sprinter’s teams. Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal Quick-Step wanted a sprint finish for Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier, but there were still attacks coming. Four kilometres from the finish there was a last minute attempt by Wellens, who opened a gap. The chase pulled Wellens back before the battle on the Nokereberg. There was a bad crash before the final kilometre, which split the bunch and Merlier had to make up some places. The former Belgian champion pushed his way to the front and then started a long sprint. He surprised everyone and immediately opened a gap. Philipsen tried to sprint to him, but was unable to make up ground. Merlier was the winner ahead of Jakobsen and Philipsen.
Race winner, Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step): “I saw a gap and I immediately had a big lead. There was little organisation towards the end. There were many attack attempts, as we predicted. Ultimately, I was surprised that we were still sprinting with such a large group. I got back into position thanks to the good work of the team. But then Pascal Ackermann did a manoeuvre that sent me flying into my own train. Jonas Rickaert, my own lead-out, then fell. It was a serious crash. I was a bit affected by the moment. My chain was also off, so that was a bit of a panic. Fortunately he came back and I could start my sprint in his slipstream. Bert Van Lerberghe (his lead-out) went to the left and that created a gap. I dove in and immediately had a big lead. It is nice to be able to win for the third time in a row so close to home.”
2nd, Fabio Jakobsen (dsm-firmenich PostNL): “Tim Merlier left when I thought it was too early. That I’m happier than Merlier? Tim had seen that fall, that’s why he was more somber than me. In the sprint I was behind Jasper and thought it was too early to start sprinting, but just then Tim went. Then it was immediately clear that we were going to sprint for second place. It was too early for me. In retrospect, maybe I should have taken it. But Tim is in good shape and he is clearly continuing that. I missed the start of the season a bit, but I now feel that I am catching up. It is a long-term project, that will be fine. I am now looking forward to Brugge-De Panne, Tour of Turkey and the Giro.”
3rd, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “The sprint didn’t go as planned, but that’s the way it is now. I arrived with a lot of speed in the final kilometre, but lost it quickly. Tim Merlier was able to maintain that speed and I then had to accelerate again. Then it was already lost. My momentum was completely gone. I actually hate sprinting on cobblestones, I can’t use my speed on them. So I will have to approach it differently if I come back here. I enjoyed being able to participate in the race today, I can do that at this level. I therefore go to Milan-Sanremo with a good feeling. This gives confidence.”
Danilith Nokere Koerse Result:
1. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step in
2. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) dsm-firmenich PostNL
3. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
4. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Israel-Premier Tech
5. Simone Consonni (Ita) Lidl-Trek
6. Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Israel-Premier Tech
7. Maikel Zijlaard (Ned) Tudor
8. Milan Menten (Bel) Lotto Dstny
9. Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Israel-Premier Tech
10. Pavel Bittner (CZ) dsm-firmenich PostNL.
Nokere Koerse’24
Danilith Nokere Koerse Women 2024
Lotte Kopecky won the Danilith Nokere Koerse for women on Wednesday. In a repeat of last year, she has controlled the race and then put in some strong attacks. The World champion crossed the line solo in Nokere. Behind her, her teammate Lorena Wiebes out-sprinted Lily Williams to take second place.
After last year’s win in the Nokere Koerse, everyone was looking at the on form World champion – Lotte Kopecky. This year’s 127 kilometre race was harder, with 10 climbs and 17 kilometres of cobbles. It looked like Kopecky’s biggest opposition would be from her own team as Lorena Wiebes was also at the start in Belgium.
The first 40 kilometres of the race passed quite calmly and the peloton stayed together over the first three cobbled sections, because no one tried to attack. SD Worx did have a panic when after 30 kilometres, Lorena Wiebes and Lotte Kopecky both crashed. Both were able to continue and soon rejoined the peloton. The first attack took place at the passage of Hellestraat and Holstraat. Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ) tried to get away from the peloton, but she couldn’t quite manage it. Then Lotte Kopecky put in an early move. In the run-up to the Petegemberg she launched a counter-attack to Bertizzolo. There were some splits in the peloton, causing a group of 25 to chase Kopecky. AG Insurance-Soudsl made a big effort to bring back the lone Kopecky. Her escape lasted about 15 kilometres, but the World champion was pulled back with about 60 kilometres to go and with that, the pace dropped.
Then one attack came after another, but no one managed to escape, but a few riders were dropped. The peloton was still large when they started the decisive circuit of Nokere. The first to take a serious lead was the Australian Anya Louw (AG Insurance-Soudal). She managed to gain 20 seconds, but the tough Lange Ast, Doorn, Huisepontweg and Nokereberg were still to come. On the first of these sections, Kopecky showed her strength with another big attack. The World champion only had her teammate, Lorena Wiebes, on her wheel, but Lily Williams (Human Powered Health) and Arlenis Sierra (Movistar) managed to join them. In the final, SD Worx was able to use their superior numbers and Lotte Kopecky was able to escape again with a strong jump. In Nokere, Kopecky crossed the line solo. Lorena Wiebes and Lily Williams had to settle for second and third places.
Race winner, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime): “We wanted to make it a hard race. This race suits me. I wanted to win here again. I am happy that it worked out. Nokere Koerse has a nice course that lends itself to making the race hard. We were keen to make this race our own again. That worked out well. At 70 kilometres from the finish, I placed my first acceleration. I hoped a number of riders would slide along, but I got away alone. From the following car I got the signal: choose what you want to do with it, but (laughs) I am not Pogačar. I waited to see if some riders would still join up. When that didn’t happen, it turned out to be a futile action. We had planned beforehand to put an acceleration on the Lange Ast. Lorena Wiebes came along nicely. Then, on the cobbled stretch, the wind came from the side, which made it a man-to-man situation. The perfect moment to make the difference. The scenario is a bit identical to last year. It’s nice to finish one and two again.”
3rd, Lily Williams (Human Powered Health): “It feels so good to get that first podium. I feel like I’ve believed in myself for a long time but you always have doubts. To move in the direction that I want to be in is extremely gratifying. As an American, performing in Europe has been my goal since I first came here, but it takes a long time to feel like you have the respect of the European peloton. Coming from the track, I like when the bunch is chaotic and I love the fight for positioning and I can get quite emotional and vocal, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But you have to fight for your spot and I hope this showed that I will always try to be in there with my team. A big part of progress is the years it takes to learn to and develop, but also having the team today who committed to the plan and helped me save as much energy as possible. When you look at my numbers from today, they aren’t that special, but I can get so much more out of my physical performance by being with a group that can execute the race tactically, and I am excited to see what is to come.”
Danilith Nokere Koerse Women Result:
1. Lotte Kopecky (Bel) SD Worx-Protime in 3:15:55
2. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx-Protime at 0:17
3. Lily Williams (USA) Human Powered Health at 0:18
4. Sofie van Rooijen (Ned) VolkerWessels
5. Arlenis Sierra (Cub) Movistar at 0:22
6. Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Movistar at 0:37
7. Emma Norsgaard (Den) Movistar
8. Fauve Bastiaenssen (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 1:13
9. Marthe Truyen (Bel) Fenix-Deceuninck
10. Kathrin Schweinberger (Aust) CERATIZIT-WNT.
Nokere Koerse?24:
Milano-Torino 2024
Alberto Bettiol won Milan-Turin on Wednesday. The EF Education-EasyPost rider attacked with 30 kilometres to go and held off the chasers. Jan Christen, Marc Hirschi and Diego Ulissi (all UAE Team Emirates), finished second, third and fourth. USA’s Kevin Vermaerke (dsm-firmenich PostNL) was fifth.
This year’s Milano-Torino was raced on a hilly course. On the finishing circuit of 44 kilometres, there were the climbs to Prascorsano (3.5km at 7%) and Colleretto Castelnuovo (3.8km at 3.9%). After the last ascent there were 18 kilometres to the finish. After 10 downhill and flat kilometres, the final to the finish in Salassa was slightly uphill.
The early break was: Mattéo Vercher (TotalEnergies), Marcel Camprubí (Q36.5) and Marco Murgano (Corratec-Vini Fantini), but their lead was never large enough. They were caught about 40 kilometres from the finish as the climbing started. On the Prascorsano, UAE Team Emirates took the lead, but Alberto Bettiol put in a storming attack. The Italian of EF Education-EasyPost soon had a lead of more than 20 seconds. BORA-hanshgrohe saw that Bettiol was going well and put riders on the front.
Bettiol came over the top of the Colleretto Castelnuovo on his own. His lead, which had been 45 seconds, dropped to 15 seconds, due to the fast pace of BORA-hansgrohe and an attack by Bob Jungels. There was no co-operation in the chase, which allowed Bettiol to stay away all the way to the finish. Even though BORA-hansgrohe and UAE Team Emirates had several riders in the second group, Bettiol was not caught. They came very close in the last kilometres, but there was never any organised pursuit. UAE Team Emirates finished second, third and fourth. Jan Christen jumped away for second place, while Marc Hirschi and Diego Ulissi won the sprint from the group of chasers for third and fourth.
Race winner, Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost): “Mostly importantly, this win gives confidence to my team. It was important to see where I was after a very very hard Tirreno-Adriatico and I’ve done it in the best possible way, winning this race, which is one of the most beautiful in the world. All the riders dream of being part of the record book since this event was created just after the unification of Italy. I thank the organisers for having changed the course to my advantage. In previous years, either the finish at Supergà was too hard for me or the finale was too flat and tailor-made for sprinters. The two climbs today reminded me of the Cipressa and the Poggio but it doesn’t change anything ahead of Milano-Sanremo, I don’t consider myself one of the favourites. I didn’t expect to arrive alone. I couldn’t get a big gap and I thought Marc Hirschi or Diego Ulissi would come across but they didn’t. My team car was too far behind so I couldn’t hear anything else but yells on the radio so I just rode like a time trial, thinking that if my move didn’t work, then I’d put myself at the service of my team-mate Marijn van den Berg who is a modern sprinter because he can survive some climbs as well. Worst case scenario, it would have been a good training for Milano-Sanremo. There was a bit of a headwind and the last 10km have been very hard. Less than 180km and only climbs have been enough to split the peloton in several parts. My intention was to attack in the second climb but I caught the opportunity on the first. In today’s cycling where the same riders or riders from the same two teams win almost all the time, such an opportunity was to not be missed. It’s a good sign for me and for the whole Italian cycling.”
2nd, Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates): “It was a good race for us but [Alberto] Bettiol was stronger today so Marc Hirschi and I have to be satisfied with second and third. For me, the first time on the podium of a pro race is a special moment but we came here to win and we’re only second and third. In the end, Bora-Hansgrohe was pulling hard and I was waiting for the perfect moment to try to attack. Maybe I waited a bit too long to go. I did but it was not enough and Bettiol deserves the win.”
3rd, Mark Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates): “It was very short to recover from Tirreno-Adriatico but I knew Milano-Torino was a good race for me so we tried to win it with the team. Second, third and fourth is a good result but not what we hoped for. We waited for Bora-Hansgrohe to close the gap but they just didn’t make it. They lost a bit of power and never asked us to help. They had five guys. Jan [Christen] jumped and then I was too late to catch Bettiol who was just the strongest today. That’s how it is. My next goal will be to help Tadej [Pogacar] to win Milano-Sanremo.”
Milano-Torino Result:
1. Alberto Bettiol (Ita) EF Education-EasyPost in 3:54:13
2. Jan Christen (Sui) UAE Team Emirates at 0:07
3. Marc Hirschi (Sui) UAE Team Emirates at 0:09
4. Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
5. Kevin Vermaerke (USA) dsm-firmenich PostNL
6. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
7. Emil Herzog (Ger) BORA-hansgrohe
8. Martin Marcellusi (Ita) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè
9. Nick Schultz (Aus) Israel-Premier Tech
10. Frederik Wandahl (Den) BORA-hansgrohe.
Torino’24:
Judge Rejects Settlement Offer from Truck Driver who Killed Rebellin
The judge of the Vicenza court has rejected the settlement offer that Wolfgang R., the truck driver who killed Davide Rebellin, previously reached with the public prosecutor. There will therefore be a court hearing on May 27.
The accident that killed Rebellin took place on November 30, 2022. Wolfgang R. fled after the collision, but was tracked down through a collaboration between the Vicenza Public Prosecutor’s Office and the German police. The 63 year-old German was initially not arrested because the crime in question is not covered by the German criminal law. He was later arrested and extradited to Italy, where he was charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to provide assistance to a person in need.
Wolfgang R. and the prosecutor then reached an agreement on a sentence of three years and eleven months, but the judge did not agree. The German is currently in house arrest in an apartment in Treviso, Italy, where he will await the start of the trial on May 27.
Davide Rebellin:
Mathieu van der Poel Starts His Season on Saturday
Mathieu van der Poel will start his 2024 road season in Milan-Sanremo on Saturday. The World champion was the winner of ‘la Primavera’ last year, but can he repeat that win in his first race of the year?
Alpecin-Deceuninck team manager Christoph Roodhooft spoke about the first Monument Classic of the season with Het Nieuwsblad. “With what we know today, we are satisfied with Mathieu’s level of form,” he said. “And so it is logical that we will be at the start on Saturday with expectations. We do not fear a lack of competitive rhythm. Two years ago he also started his road season in Milan-Sanremo and finished third. After he came out of injury and only on Thursday it was decided to let him start as a replacement for the sick Gianni Vermeersch.”
Van der Poel rode two races last year in his run-up to Sanremo, but this season he has ‘only’ been training. “Would it have made a difference if Mathieu had ridden Tirreno? It would certainly not have been a guarantee of success,” Roodhooft believes. “Milan-Sanremo is a particularly difficult race to win, also for Mathieu van der Poel. But fortunately that applies to everyone. So we have a chance.”
Many eyes will be on Van der Poel, but the World champion will have to deal with Tadej Pogačar. That the Slovenian is at the start this year is an advantage, according to Roodhooft. “It definitely makes racing easier for Mathieu. If riders of that caliber are alone in a peloton, then all the weight of the race falls on them and their team. As soon as two or more real top players are at the start, the race starts and the race becomes much easier in a way in which they can effectively win the race.”
Van der Poel can smell victory:
Filippo Ganna Confident for Milan-Sanremo
Last year, Filippo Ganna crossed the finish line in Sanremo behind Mathieu van der Poel in second place. The Italian did managed to beat Wout van Aert in the sprint. This year the Italian is aiming to improve this performance. “In the best conditions you need a lot of power for an hour and a half,” said his coach, Dario Cioni to Bici.Pro.
The Italian INEOS Grenadiers rider has had a quiet start to his season so far. Ganna didn’t have any significant results in Tirreno-Adriatico, the Tour of Algarve and the Tour Down Under, but he hopes to change that in La Primavera, according to his coach Dario Cioni, who said there is an upward trend in the condition of his rider.
“His fitness certainly seems to be on the rise, because we didn’t start this season with the best Ganna,” said Cioni. “In Tirreno he suffered from the cold for a day, but then we saw the regular ‘Pippo’ again, who did a series of excellent tests. He was in the breakaway, was at the front for a day and helped his teammates to take the final climb with the leading group, showing that he is in good condition.” For Ganna, a sprint in Milan-Sanremo would suit him. The powerhouse has previously proven to be a formidable opponent in a sprint to the finish. What does his coach think about a possible attack? “You have to look at who you would attack, but I would say it is much more difficult for him to finish the Poggio alone than in the wheel of the first. If he could have stayed in Van der Poel’s wake last year, things would have been different.”
This year, Ganna once again will focus on the final climb. “The Poggio is one of the critical points of Milano-Sanremo for all riders, unless Tadej Pogačar attacks from the Cipressa this year. The lighter riders have an advantage at the moment of attack, but once you are launched and on the wheel, you compensate for the difference due to the disadvantage of weight and aerodynamics.”
For Cioni it comes down to being able to peak for ninety minutes. “You certainly give maximum effort, but then you still have to go to the sprint, in which you certainly do not achieve the same values as in a sprint after an easy stage. In the best conditions you need a lot of power for an hour and a half.”
Can Filippo Ganna go one better on Saturday?
Arnaud De Lie Will Not Start Milan-Sanremo
Lotto Dstny has confirmed that Arnaud De Lie will not be at the start of Milan-Sanremo on Saturday. The sprinter dropped out of Paris-Nice last week. There will now be a changed program for De Lie, with the GP de Denain and Bredene Koksijde Classic.
The 21 year-old De Lie started his season in Spain, then rode the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, where he finished 10th after an attacking race. Three days after the Omloop, he crashed in Le Samyn, but he started Paris-Nice, but abandoned after three stages. Milan-Sanremo was the next race on De Lie’s schedule, but he will not go to Italy for the first Monument of the season. De Lie will now ride an alternative program, including the Grand Prix de Denain on Thursday and the Bredene Koksijde Classic on Friday.
“We sat together today and reviewed his program,” sports manager Kurt Van de Wouwer explained to Sporza. “If you are not 100%, there is no point in traveling to Milan-Sanremo. We suggested to Arnaud ourselves that he should scrap the Primavera and he agreed.” De Lie now rides two other one-day races. “First and foremost to gain competitive rhythm.” With the GP de Denain and Bredene Koksijde Classic in his legs, De Lie hopes to perform well in the most important weeks of the Flemish spring, with the E3 Saxo Classic (March 22), Ghent-Wevelgem (March 24) , Across Flanders (March 27), Tour of Flanders (March 31) and Paris-Roubaix (April 7).
De Lie looked good on the Muur:
Toms Skujins Adds Cobbled Classics to His Program
Toms Skujins has had a good early spring. The Latvian impressed in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and finished second in Strade Bianche. After his strong performance in the Omloop, his program has been changed, he told Het Nieuwsblad. He will now ride some cobbled classics, something that was not originally on his race schedule.
“I wasn’t going to return to Belgium for the cobbled Classics, but the Omloop has made the team and myself realise that it might make sense to be there,” said Skujins. “It has not yet been decided which races I will participate in. But I won’t be at the start as leader. With Mads Pedersen in the team it is clear who will be the leader. With Mads there, the course will be different and I will have a more helping role. However, every now and then I do get a leadership role within the team. Then it is up to me to fulfil that role, as I did in Strade Bianche. Or like last year in the Clasica San Sebastian. It makes me happy that the team has so much confidence in me.”
Skujins has ‘surprised himself a bit’ with his performance in recent weeks. “The legs never felt better at this stage of the season. It is now important to capitalise on my condition as best as possible. It took me a little longer to recover from the Strade, partly due to the fall. I didn’t give it my all in the opening time trial, but my body is feeling a lot better now.”
The 32-year-old rider has no real explanation for his progress. “Of course I have had a good winter, without illness or anything. But even though I have been working with the same coach since 2016, we still try to change something in the approach every winter. Just experiment a bit. Unfortunately, we do a number of things differently every year, so it is difficult to pinpoint where the basis of my success really lies. I already felt great during the training camp in January. Which I interpreted as a bad sign because I feared that I would not be able to maintain this condition.”
Toms Skujins to ride the cobbled Classics:
Olav Kooij Hopes to Ride the Olympic Games
Two men are already almost certain of a place in the Dutch team for the Olympic road race in Paris: Mathieu van der Poel and Dylan van Baarle. But Olav Kooij, who recently won two stages in Paris-Nice, hopes that he will be in Paris.
“It is a nice classic course and I hope I can be there,” said the Visma | Lease a Bike to De Telegraaf. “With a small field of participants, it will also be good to have three men who can work and who also have a chance. I would also have no problem riding for Mathieu. I would think it would be really cool to appear there at the start.”
National coach Koos Moerenhout, who will make the selection for the Games, also sees that Kooij has made progress. “The way he won on Thursday was very impressive. The level in Paris-Nice was extremely high, you can’t play hide and seek there. Olav shows that he has nerves of steel and won by a big margin. Will he become the third man to participate in the Games? He certainly qualifies for it.”
Based on the course in Paris, Moerenhout states that Van der Poel and Van Baarle are the leaders of the Netherlands team. “Do you want a helper, or do you want three leaders? ‘Paris 2024’ is still a long way away and a lot can happen in terms of injuries, for example. If, for example, you cannot field Mathieu for such a reason, that makes a big difference. It changes the whole dynamic of the team.”
Moerenhout does mention that Kooij has only competed in a few races of more than 200 kilometres, while the Olympic road race is 273 kilometres long. “There lies a challenge for Olav, although he finished eighth last year in Gent-Wevelgem, a race of 260 kilometres. Next weekend I am also very curious to see how he will do in Milan-Sanremo, although that is a very different race.”
Olav Kooij wants Olympic selection:
Jasper Philipsen Doesn’t Rule Out Leaving Alpecin-Deceuninck
Jasper Philipsen, together with Mathieu van der Poel, has been a top winner for Alpecin-Deceuninck, but it is not certain that he will stay with the team next season. Philipsen is in his final year of his contract and there is interest from various teams. The sprinter now also has a manager, Alex Carrera, for the first time in his career.
“We have known each other for a long time and we get along well,” Philipsen told Het Laatste Nieuws about his collaboration with Carrera. The Italian rider manager believes that a move to BORA-hansgrohe or a return to UAE Team Emirates are possible for the 26 year-old sprinter, Tudor Pro Cycling has also made a contract proposal.
“I told Alex that the next four or five years will be my best years,” said Philipsen. “I hope to find a team where I can get the best out of myself. That could also be in my current team. All options are open. I will look at the full picture and then decide.”
Philipsen is friends with both Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Would that influence his decision? “It’s nice to have good friends, but before I sign a new contract, I will have thought about myself first,” he said. Philipsen above all wants to race for a team where his “potential is best achieved and where I can pursue my dreams.”
Jasper Philipsen moving on?
Magnus Cort Out of Action with a Broken Thumb
Magnus Cort broke his thumb in a crash in Tirreno-Adriatico. The new rider of Uno-X Mobility can’t race for the time being and will probably miss Milan-Sanremo (March 16).
Cort crashed on Saturday in the penultimate stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, which finished on Monte Petrano. The 31 year-old suffered a fracture of his thumb and had to abandon early. “We wish Magnus a quick and complete recovery,” Uno-X Mobility said via ‘X’ (Twitter).
It is a set-back for Cort, just before Milan-Sanremo. The 31 year-old rider has always ridden the Italian Classic in recent years. In 2018 he finished 8th in La Primavera, the year before he was 11th. Cort is still looking for his first win of the season and for his new Norwegian team. He had some good places in the Etoile de Bessèges and the Volta ao Algarve. He was also 27th in Strade Bianche.
Magnus Cort out for a time:
Santiago Buitrago Escapes Injury in Paris-Nice Crash
Santiago Buitrago didn’t suffer any serious injuries in a final stage crash of Paris-Nice. The Colombian climber hit the road on a wet descent and was in pain, but escaped with some bruises.
The 24 year-old Buitrago had a mixed Paris-Nice. The climber had to abandon in the final stage due to the crash, but managed to win the hard stage to Mont Brouilly earlier in the race. Buitrago seemed to be establishing himself as a candidate for the overall win, but after a crash on the sixth stage to La Colle-sur-Loup, he dropped down the overall rankings.
On Sunday’s stage, starting and finishing in Nice, Buitrago crashed again, and this time the Bahrain Victorious rider couldn’t continue. “Luckily nothing was broken,” his team announced. “He was discharged from hospital without serious injuries. He can’t ride for a few days, but will then start training again with a view to his next races.”
Buitrago showed his good form earlier this season by finishing second overall in the Tour of Valencia, behind Brandon McNulty. He also finished seventh in the Ruta del Sol, which was shortened to a one-day time trial.
Santiago Buitrago
No Fractures for Richard Carapaz from Crash in Tirreno-Adriatico
Richard Carapaz has not suffered any serious injuries from his crash in the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, his EF Education-EasyPost team announced on social media.
Carapaz looked to finish the flat final stage to San Benedetto del Tronto, but with less than 30 kilometres to go the 30 year-old Ecuadorian crashed. The Tokyo Olympic champion lay on the ground and unable to continue and finish Tirreno-Adriatico. His American team has the good news that the winner of the 2019 Giro d’Italia is unscathed. “Richard suffered abrasions in his crash in Tirreno-Adriatico, but X-rays revealed no fractures or dislocations. We will continue to monitor his condition in the coming days. We wish you a good recovery, champion!”
Richard Carapaz – Nothing broken:
Wilco Kelderman Breaks Collarbone on the Final Corner of Paris-Nice
For Wilco Kelderman, Paris-Nice ended badly. The Dutchman saw his teammate Matteo Jorgenson win the final overall, but he crashed in the last stage and broke his collarbone. His Visma | Lease a Bike team reported that Kelderman has already undergone surgery.
Kelderman crashed on the last corner of the final stage to Nice. At the time, he was in a group that included Egan Bernal and Luke Plapp, which was fighting for sixth place. The 32 year-old rider managed to cross the line in 21st place and received the same time as the men in the group he was with at the time of the crash. He managed to finish eighth overall. It now appears that he finished the last metres with a broken collarbone.
In Paris-Nice, Kelderman had the opportunity to ride for his own chances, but he rode for Matteo Jorgenson in the last stages. The American was in good shape and took the overall victory for the Visma | Lease a Bike team. “Wilco underwent successful surgery today (Monday). We wish him a good recovery,” the Dutch team wrote on ‘X’ (Twitter).
The intention was that Kelderman would travel to Tenerife after Paris-Nice for a three-week altitude training camp. He would then ride Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège before starting the Giro d’Italia. It is not yet known what Kelderman’s program will look like now.
Broken collarbone for Wilco Kelderman
Rohan Dennis Case Extended to August after Fatal Accident
The judge handling the case against former professional cyclist, Rohan Dennis, for causing the death of his wife Melissa Hoskins by dangerous driving, has been postponed to August 6, so that an extensive investigation into the incident can be completed, ABC reported on Tuesday.
Prosecutors asked the court for more time so they could carefully make a comprehensive reconstruction of the incident. The request was granted by extending Dennis’ bail by seven months from the date of the incident in December. As a result, the former professional will now appear in court again on August 6. If Rohan Dennis is found guilty of death by dangerous driving, careless/inaccurate driving and endangering human life, the Australian could face a maximum sentence of fifteen years in prison. The Australian will remain at large until at least August 6 when he is due to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.
During the hearing, the two-time world time trial champion remained silent the entire time. The former World champion has also not yet publicly responded to the incident. Melissa Hoskins, 32, was hit by a Ute (pick-up truck), just yards from her family home on Saturday, December 30. She was then taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition, where she died due to her injuries. Dennis is said to have been behind the wheel of the vehicle. The Australian was arrested on the same day for death by dangerous driving. He was later released on bail and was able to attend his wife’s funeral with his children.
Dennis case extended to August:
Annemiek van Vleuten to be an Analyst for NOS and Sporza
Annemiek van Vleuten retired from cycling at the end of last year, but will remain involved in the sport. This year she will work as an analyst for NOS and Sporza at several women’s races, CyclingOnline reports.
Van Vleuten would have the same role in the women’s races as Tom Dumoulin does for the men’s races. This spring she will work on Gent-Wevelgem for Sporza and the Amstel Gold Race for NOS. She will also be on TV for the NOS channel during the National Cycling Championships. Van Vleuten will also be present at the Olympic Games, the World Championships and the Tour de France Femmes.
Annemiek van Vleuten to analyse races:
UAE Team Emirates take aim at Milano-San Remo with Pogačar at the helm – Slovenian leads squad at ‘La Primavera’
UAE Team Emirates will continue their 2024 campaign with the first of the five classic Monuments, Milano – San Remo in Italy on Saturday 16th March. The team will look to build on their tally of 13 wins already this season with World No.1 Tadej Pogačar leading the line.
The seven rider squad for Milano-San Remo will be under the direction of Sports Manager Joxean Matxin Fernandez (Spa) and Sports Directors Andrej Hauptman (Slo) and Marco Marzano (Ita).
Milano-Sanremo [1.UWT] – 16-Mar-2024:
Alessandro Covi (Ita)
Marc Hirschi (Swi)
Brandon McNulty (USA)
Domen Novak (Slo)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Diego Ulissi (Ita)
Tim Wellens (Bel)
Tadej Pogačar: “I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year like I had in Strade Bianche. The team is racing well and achieving good results so we want to stay on that path and keep it going. I’m excited for Milano-San Remo. The finish is not too far from where I live in Monaco so I know the last part of the race and the final climbs quite well. As we’ve seen before, this race is one of the most difficult to win and can end in many outcomes. For sure we will make a plan and put ourselves in the best position possible. It’s a race we’d dearly love to win.”
Visma | Lease a Bike Has Two Leaders for Milan-Sanremo
Visma | Lease a Bike usually attacks Milan-Sanremo with Wout van Aert, but the 2020 winner will not be on the start line on Saturday. On the podcast Kop over Kop, sports director Arthur van Dongen spoke about the team: “We go to the race with a lot of young boys. Most of them will make their debut on Saturday. They are also extremely keen to create something beautiful,” said Van Dongen. The provisional list of Visma | Lease a Bike riders includes: Olav Kooij, Christophe Laporte, Johannes Staune-Mittet, Tosh Van der Sande, Julien Vermote and brothers Mick and Tim van Dijke.
“We indeed do not have a clear leader, but we do have two clear leaders,” said Van Dongen referring to Kooij and Laporte. “We are aiming for the highest possible result with them, but we don’t have the absolute top favourite in the ranks, as we did in the past with Wout. With Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar, the biggest contender is not in our team.”
“The battle plan is to protect Christophe and Olav as best as possible all day long. And then drop them off in a good position at the foot of the Cipressa. That’s where it will normally start. It is important to sit well at the front. It is difficult to make things difficult for men like Van der Poel or Pogačar. The course is not really suitable for this,” said Van Dongen. “I don’t know if Olav is able to survive yet. He is still very young. Milan-San Remo is not a very difficult race, if you compare it with other Monuments. But it is distance that will matter. I am convinced that Olav will be able to handle it in the future.”
Laporte has already proven himself as a Classics rider, unlike Kooij. “Christophe is a lot older and more mature than Olav. He will certainly be able to handle the climbing, but whether he can keep up when the two top favourites start, remains to be seen.”
Christophe Laporte could be the man for Visma | Lease a Bike:
Soudal Quick-Step to Milano-Sanremo
Julian Alaphilippe headlines our squad for this weekend’s appointment
The first Monument of the season is scheduled this Saturday, and just like last year it won’t start from Lombardy’s capital. Pavia, lying some 40 kilometres from Milano, is where the riders will gather early in the morning to kick off what will be a 288km journey to the sunny Ligurian coast.
This long procession will come to life inside the last 30 kilometres, when those wanting to drop the sprinters will have a first opportunity of doing so on the slopes of the Cipressa. From its top only 12 kilometres remain until the Poggio, the legendary climb of Milano-Sanremo, where some of the race’s most unforgettable moments were written. And if a small group is still together after the 3.6km hill, there’s always the technical descent left where some of the riders can try to make the difference before the iconic finish on the Via Roma.
Winner of the event in 2019, Julian Alaphilippe will be at the start of the Italian Monument for the seventh time in his career, together with a strong Soudal Quick-Step squad that is set to include also Kasper Asgreen, Mattia Cattaneo, Josef Cerny, Gianni Moscon, Casper Pedersen and Luke Lamperti, the young American neo-pro who gets to make his debut in a Monument after a very impressive start to the season.
“We will start Milano-Sanremo with a lot of motivation. We know we aren’t the main favourites, but this doesn’t mean we won’t try to do our best to get a good result. The race is six kilometres shorter than last year, but that doesn’t change anything and the action should once again kick off in the final hour of the race. The riders we have at the start are determined to give their all out there and we’ll just have to be confident and wait to see how things will pan out after seven hours”, said sports director Davide Bramati.
16.03 Milano-Sanremo (ITA) 1.UWT
Riders:
Julian Alaphilippe (FRA)
Kasper Asgreen (DEN)
Mattia Cattaneo (ITA)
Josef Cerny (CZE)
Luke Lamperti (USA)
Gianni Moscon (ITA)
Casper Phillip Pedersen (DEN).
Sports Director: Davide Bramati (ITA) and Wilfried Peeters (BEL).
Alaphilippe and a strong Soudal Quick-Step team:
Lidl-Trek take Pedersen and a Strong Team to Milan-Sanremo
The Lidl-Trek team for Saturday’s Milan-Sanremo will be led by Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan, but they are also taking spring revelation, Toms Skujiņš and former Sanremo winner Jasper Stuyven.
The leader will be Mads Pedersen. The Dane has already had six victories in the first weeks of 2024. In Paris-Nice. the ex-World champion finished second twice in the sprint. The 28-year-old Dane hopes to take a shot at his first Monument victory on Saturday. Pedersen has been at the start of La Primavera twice before, in the 2022 and 2023 editions he finished sixth.
Lidl-Trek also has Jonathan Milan, if he can survive the Cipressa and the Poggio, but with his fast finish, the two-stage winner in Tirreno-Adriatico must be reckoned with. The team could also have a more attacking approach with Toms Skujiņš. The 32 year-old Latvian has been a surprise in recent weeks. In the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad he looked to be one of the strongest in the race, but lost out in the final. Then in Strade Bianche, Skujiņš finished second behind the solo Tadej Pogačar.
Tim Declercq, Ryan Gibbons, Alex Kirsch and Sanremo winner, Jasper Stuyven complete the Lidl-Trek team for Sanremo. In 2021 Stuyven surprise favourites; Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Caleb Ewan with a late attack.
Lidl-Trek team for Milano-Sanremo:
Jonathan Milan (Ita)
Mads Pedersen (Den)
Alex Kirsch (Lux)
Jasper Stuyven (Bel)
Ryan Gibbons (SA)
Tim Declercq (Bel)
Toms Skujins (Lat).
Jonathan Milan is on form:
Mohorič to Lead Bahrain Victorious in Milano-Sanremo
Bahrain Victorious is set for the first Monumental Classic of the season, Milano-Sanremo, scheduled on Saturday, 16th March. This year, the race begins with a new start in Pavia, concluding after 288km in the iconic Ligurian town.
The only alteration to the historical course occurs in the first part, which then merges with the classic route after 44km, from Lombardia to Liguria, climbing the Passo del Turchino, hugging the coastline for a picturesque journey that unfolds with the traditional sequence of the Capi (Mele, Cervo and Berta), and the two legendary climbs the Cipressa and the Poggio beginning with 9 km to go.
The twisty and technical descent from the summit, a pivotal moment in the outcome of the race, played a crucial role in Matej Mohorič’s extraordinary victory in 2022. The Slovenian Champion, etched his name in history with a strategic attack and a masterful use of equipment, clinching victory in a thrilling downhill finish on Via Roma, which remains the race’s traditional endpoint this year too.
Once again, Slovenian ace Matej Mohorič will lead the Bahrain Victorious team at the 115th edition, aiming for another day of glory on the Italian roads: “Coming back to Milano-Sanremo is always a special emotion for me. I have been feeling very good so far this season, and I am really looking forward to the race this year. I believe I have a chance to win, and I will grab the opportunity if it comes my way. I will once again have great support from my teammates this year. We will need to be really patient and wait for the right moment to go on Saturday.”
“You need a perfect day to win the unpredictable Milano-Sanremo, but you also need the legs”, TBV Sports Director Franco Pellizotti explains. “Last year, our boys showcased impressive teamwork on the Poggio for our leader, securing an 8th place finish. I hope to see this kind of team spirit and commitment again, and, of course, we aim for success with Matej. Considering the contenders, our goal is at least a podium spot, though a top-ten result is commendable in a Monument. I anticipate a rider like Fred Wright to make a mark sooner or later. He is in good shape and will be prepared for any sprinting opportunities in the finale”.
Highlighting the crucial role in the race, Pellizotti adds, “I’m convinced that taking the Cipressa in the top position is fundamental. Our riders, especially the young debutants Nicolò Buratti, Matevz Govekar, and Fran Miholjevic, will work to perform this task. The experience of our road captain, Nikias Arndt, and Andrea Pasqualon, will also be essential to provide support after the Cipressa and ensure optimal positioning before the Poggio. Milano-Sanremo may seem straightforward in strategy, but its unpredictability makes it one of the most difficult races to win.”
Monumental Saturday is Coming, Team Polti Kometa ‘With Reins Loosened’ Towards San Remo
The Milan-San Remo really needs no introduction. The first monument of the year, almost three hundred kilometers long, and a sequence that cycling enthusiasts know by heart: Turchino halfway through, then the three capes (Mele, Cervo, Berta) and finally Cipressa and Poggio.
This year, the only variation is the initial segment, with the start from Pavia and 40 km between the Ticino and Po rivers before joining the usual road at Casteggio. Team Polti Kometa will show up at the Classicissima with the same Milano-Torino riders: Lonardi, Maestri, Gomez, Sevilla, Pietrobon, the Bais brothers.
Returning to the team car after the Tirreno-Adriatico is Stefano Zanatta, who analyzes the prestigious appointment: “It’s the most important one-day race of the first part of the season, and we face it with the right fighting spirit and the perfect lineup for this prestigious showcase. It’s a pity we couldn’t recover Restrepo from the flu that hit him at the end of the Tirreno, but we’ll be at the start with several good attackers and a sprinter who is increasingly resilient…”
In its two participations so far, the Italian squad has honored this race by getting into the breakaway and bringing all its men to the Via Roma finish line. Among those who will try to make a breakthrough on Saturday is a 27-year-old from Trentino who stayed in the peloton in the 2023 edition but is one of Polti Kometa escape artists: “The Milano-Torino loosened up our legs and the day after tomorrow we’ll try our best, including Lonardi for the finale,” guarantees Mattia Bais, who for the first time in San Remo will have with him his brother Davide. “Last year he had to skip because he was sick, finally this year we manage to both be there!”
The Next Races for dsm-firmenich PostNL
Milano – Sanremo – MAR 16
Rudi Kemna – Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach: “We are looking forward to closing off our trip to Italy with the first Monument of the season. Our main goal is to be in the race and show our team colours throughout the day. We will race aggressively and look for our opportunities from the breakaway and through that we hope to bring ourselves in a good position for the final, where Kevin will be our card to play. He showed some good performances already this year and comes out of Tirreno in a good shape.”
Line-up:
Patrick Bevin (NZL)
Pavel Bittner (CZE)
Romain Combaud (FRA)
Alex Edmondson (AUS)
Chris Hamilton (AUS)
Martijn Tusveld (NED)
Kevin Vermaerke (USA).
Trofeo Alfredo Binda – MAR 17
Kelvin Dekker – Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach: “Trofeo Alfredo Binda is a long-standing classic in women’s cycling and we have good memories of the race, so we look forward to riding it. We come with a strong line-up where Juliette and Pfeiffer are our finishers, but the other four riders are also strong and allow us to influence the race from kilometre zero onwards, to steer it in our favour. We’ll race aggressively and look to create our opportunities.”
Line-up:
Francesca Barale (ITA)
Eleonora Ciabocco (ITA)
Pfeiffer Georgi (GBR)
Juliette Labous (FRA)
Eglantine Rayer (FRA)
Becky Storrie (GBR).
Kevin Vermaerke to ride Milan-Sanremo:
Evenepoel Recons Tour de France ITT
Together with Mattia Cattaneo, Ilan Van Wilder and Louis Vervaeke, the Belgian inspected the roads of the race’s last stage
Fresh from his victory on stage 8 of Paris-Nice – which brought him two distinctive jerseys at his “Race to the Sun” debut – Remco Evenepoel took advantage of being in the Côte d’Azur region by seeing the course for the final stage of this year’s Tour de France.
The World Time Trial Champion was keen to see the time trial course that will host the final stage of the 111th edition – making it the first time the world’s most famous race will end with a TT since 1989. And as a man always happy to ride his Specialized Shiv TT bike, Remco and the team were equally as keen to inspect the hilly route.
Soudal Quick-Step sports director Klaas Lodewyck explained: “We started in Monaco, and saw the first climb twice. Then we saw the descent several times, which was similar to the one of Sunday’s Paris-Nice stage, but we were able to discover more today, in better weather. It is a nice time trial course, but very demanding, even more so as it comes on the last day of the Tour. It will be a beautiful race on a spectacular backdrop. Many teams were also there looking at the course, so we know that others will be well prepared and it will be a great race come July. It was a very useful day.”
Remco Evenepoel checking out the final TT stage of this year’s Tour de France:
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale has New Kit: The ‘Galaxy’
The season is only a few months old, but the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team has revealed a new kit design. Because main sponsor Decathlon has made a small change to its logo, the team now has a new race kit.
Retail sports equipment chain, Decathlon, has changed to a slightly darker shade of blue for its house colour. For this reason, the predominantly light blue kit of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, which the riders had only been riding in for a few months, is also changing. A darker blue colour has now been chosen, with a mint green colour on the right sleeve.
The kit has a new colour scheme and a completely different design. The clean lines from earlier design has disappeared and is now see a ‘Galaxy’ pattern.
Bahrain Victorious Optimises Performance with Training Peaks Partnership
Team Bahrain Victorious is delighted to unveil its latest partnership with Training Peaks. This collaboration further illustrates the team’s performance-first ethos, using the premier endurance sports training platform to streamline coaching and analytics to accelerate performance.
Training Peaks’ state-of-the-art platform and expertise will provide Bahrain Victorious athletes and coaches with the tools for optimising training strategies and maximising performance outcomes. By leveraging Training Peaks’ comprehensive platform, the team will gain invaluable insights into individual athlete data, enabling precision training adjustments tailored to each rider’s unique needs and goals.
Performance Director Vladimir Miholjević expressed his enthusiasm: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Training Peaks, a renowned leader in endurance sports training tools. As Bahrain Victorious continues its pursuit of excellence in professional cycling, this collaboration will provide us with the resources and insights needed to give our coaches and athletes the best set-up for success.”
Training Peaks CEO Dirk Friel stated: “We’re excited to support Team Bahrain Victorious with our suite of advanced training tools so that their riders and coaches can keep achieving peak cycling performances.”
Learn more about: Training Peaks.
Road to Paterberg Repaired in Time for E3 Saxo Classic and Tour of Flanders
A subsidence threatened routes of the E3 Saxo Classic and the Tour de Flanders, but the Paterberg will be in both races. The repair work went well and the road to the iconic climb can be opened again on Friday evening. Philippe Willequet, mayor of Kluisbergen, informed Het Nieuwsblad.
Due to subsidence at the top of the Rampe, there was a problem for the bike races that go to the Paterberg. From that road the riders descend the Middelloopstraat to the steep cobblestone climb. Due to subsidence, the road was closed to traffic. The ground had completely disappeared on one side for 50 metres and there were fears of further subsidence. The problems have now been resolved.
“The asphalt will be poured on Thursday,” said Willequet. “The road will be opened on Friday evening. We will also place a barrier so that no rider will disappear into the abyss if he ends up next to the road. You never know. The concrete at the top of the Rampe will be hard enough to open up that part as well. It was a race against time, but the work went quickly. The piling of the slabs went very smoothly.”
The Paterberg has been saved:
Rod Ellingworth (ex-INEOS) is New Tour of Britain Race Director
Rod Ellingworth is the new race director of the Tour of Britain, the British Cycling Federation announced on Tuesday. Ellingworth, who left his last job as deputy team boss of INEOS Grenadiers at the end of last year, will take over from Mick Bennett of the now bankrupt SweetSpot company.
As race director of the Tour of Britain, Mike Bennett lead the race for many years, but had to give up after the organising company of the Tour of Britain and the Women’s Tour, SweetSpot, went bankrupt. The contract with British Cycling was terminated due to financial problems, after which the cycling governing body announced that it wanted to take control of the race itself.
The British Cycling Federation has chosen Rod Ellingworth as the new race director. The 51 year-old was involved in the founding of Team Sky in 2009 and was performance manager. He left to work for the Bahrain Victorious team, but returned to INEOS Grenadiers in 2021. In November 2023 he decided to resign as deputy team boss. Ellingworth was the temporary replacement for Sir Dave Brailsford as manager at INEOS Grenadiers. Brailsford now works for the English football team, Manchester United.
Ellingworth worked for British Cycling for 15 years previously and now has the task of returning the Tour of Britain to success, after a period of uncertainty and financial struggles. The future of the Tour of Britain is assured now that British Cycling is going to be behind the organisation. The UCI has given the green light to run the Tour of Britain in September and also the Tour of Britain Women, which will take place this year from 6 to 9 June.
Rod Ellingworth now in-charge of the Tour of Britain:
Florian Vermeersch – The Comeback
Florian Vermeersch suffered from a fracture femur, in his crash at the Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia. We went to see Florian for his 25th birthday and had a look how a rehabilitation session looks like these days.
Happy Birthday Florian! We all miss you, but you will come back stronger!
Video: Vanvid Multimedia
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