©Yves Perret – YP Médias

Bretagne Classic-Ouest France Benoît Cosnefroy takes on Alaphilippe

“To win in front of Julian, with his World Champion jersey: I will frame the photo.” After his first UCI WorldTour victory, Benoît Cosnefroy still couldn’t believe it. The AG2R CITROËN TEAM rider achieved his greatest success by winning the Bretagne Classic, a first for him at the UCI WorldTour level. Isolated at the front of the race with Julian Alaphilippe and his teammate Mikkel Honoré, the former U23 World Champion (2017) maneuvered perfectly to raise his arms in victory after a very long straight to the finish line at Plouay. A first that should appeal to others.”

The results: 1. Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R CITROËN TEAM) ; 2. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck Quick-Step); 3. Mikkel Honoré (Deceuninck Quick-Step)

*****

Vuelta ciclista a Espana: Odd Christian Eiking earns the right to dream

When it comes to taking stock of the Vuelta, the finish of the tenth stage in Rincon de la Victoria will perhaps resonate in a particularly special way. This is where the Vuelta tipped over for the first time. Three days after his first success, 24-year-old Australian Michael Storer (Team DSM) showed that he has a bright future ahead of him. At the same time, Norwegian Odd Christian Eiking took the red leader’s jersey with a 58’ lead over Guillaume Martin and… 2’17’ ’over Primoz Roglic! After five days with the leader’s jersey on his back and ahead of the second day of rest, the Norwegian is still in charge. Perhaps his lead is just 1.36 over Roglic, but he can still allow himself to daydream for a few more days.

The results: 1. Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché Wanty Gobert Matériaux) ; 2. Guilllaume Martin (Cofidis) ; 3. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma)

Stages won by: Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) ; Jasper Philipsen (Team Alpecin Fenix) ; Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché Wanty Gobert Matériaux) ; Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo) ; Michael Storer and Romain Bardet (Team DSM) ; Fabio Jakobsen and Florian Sénéchal (Deceuninck Quick Step) ; Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) ; Rafal Majka (UAE Team Emirates)

*****

Tour Poitou-Charentes Nouvelle Aquitaine: Swift takes his wins abroad

Already winner of the Tro Bro Léon this season, the Briton Connor Swift added the Tour du Poitou-Charentes Nouvelle Aquitaine to his list, his first overall victory at a stage race. The rider from Arkea Samsic was able to avoid the pitfalls of the first three stages before taking 9th place in the time trial won by Ben Hermans, in a time that was sufficient to allow him to don the leader’s jersey of the event. And the final day, marked by the victory of Frenchman Clément Carisey, did not change the situation. At 25, the former champion of Great Britain (2018) proves that he knows how to win on the international stage.

The results: 1. Connor Swift (Arkea Samsic) ; 2. Bruno Armirail (Groupama FDJ) ; 3. Morten Hulgaard (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team)

Stages won by: Elia Viviani (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) ; Jason Tesson (Saint Michel Auber 93) ; Ben Hermans (Israël Start-Up Nation) ; Clément Carisey (Team Delko)

*****

Simac Ladies Tour (Ned): Van den Broek-Blaak, five years later

When talking about the Simac Ladies Tour, how can we not mention the incredible Marianne Vos? The Dutchwoman may not have won the general classification, but at 34 she has added three more victories (the prologue and two stages) to her track record and now has 238 UCI career victories. Incredible. In the general standings, Chantal Van den Broek-Blaak of the Netherlands won the overall, five years after her first victory. The former world champion (2017) took control on the evening of the penultimate stage and handled the final day perfectly around Arnhem. Already a winner at Strade Bianche and Dwars door het Hageland at the start of the season, Van den Broek-Blaak will be one of the women to watch in the weeks to come.

The results: 1. Chantal Van den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx) ; 2. Marlen Reusser (Alé BTC Ljubljana) ; 3. Ellen Van Dijk (Trek Segafredo Women)

Stages won by: Marianne Vos (Team Jumbo Visma) ; Alison Jackson (Liv Racing) ; Marlen Reusser (Alé BTC Ljubljana) ; Lonneke Uneken (SD Worx)

*****

Brussels Cycling Classic: Evenepoel unstoppable

Remco Evenepoel had a prolific August with five victories. After taking the overall victory at the Tour of Denmark (including two stages), and then the Druivenkoers – Overijse, the 21-year-old Belgian prodigy has added the Brussels Cycling Classic to his scorecard. The Deceuninck Quick Step rider posted a performance that showed he knows the secret to winning his 21st race after three years in the professional peloton. He will certainly be one of the riders to watch for the latter part of the season.

The results: 1. Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck Quick-Step) ; 2. Aimé De Gendt (Intermarché Wanty Gobert Matériaux) ; 3. Tosh Van Der Sande (Lotto Soudal)

*****

Deutschland Tour: Politt a prophet in his country

Winner of the 12th stage of the Tour de France this summer, the German Nils Politt added an impressive entry to his palmarès by winning his national tour. Having taken the third stage, the reliable rider from Bora Hansgrohe managed to stay 4’ ahead of his team-mate and compatriot Pascal Ackermann. A professional since 2015, Politt had only one success before this season (the 4th stage of the Tour of Germany). The 2021 season will be a highlight of his career.

The results: 1. Nils Politt (Bora Hansgrohe) ; 2. Pascal Ackermann (Bora Hansgrohe) ; 3. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) 

Stages won by: 1. Pascal Ackermann and Nils Politt (Bora Hansgrohe) ; Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) 

*****

Races to come:

©Zoé Soullard – Tour du Limousin

Tour du Limousin – Nouvelle Aquitaine: Barguil, the patient Breton

Warren Barguil doesn’t win often: just six victories since his professional debut in 2013. But each time, the Breton wins prestigious victories and with great style. Judge for yourself: two stages of the Vuelta a Espana, two stages of the Tour de France, a national title and now the general classification of the Tour du Limousin, which he secured in the last kilometers… of the last stage! Having led the race since his stage win two days before, Dorian Godon cracked 8 kilometers from the finish of the French event’s final stage, leaving the field open to the former King of the Mountains of the Tour de France (2017). Franck Bonnamour and Pierre-Luc Périchon completed the podium.

The results: 1. Warren Barguil (Arkea Samsic) ; 2. Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM) ; 3. Pierre-Luc Périchon (Cofidis)

Stages won by: Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) ; Dorian Godon (AG2R CITROËN TEAM) ; Simone Velasco (Gazprom – Rusvelo) ; Erik Fetter (Eolo Kometa)

*****

Tour de l’Avenir: Tobias Halland Johannessen on fire

The Norwegian national team dominated the Tour de l’Avenir, winning five of the ten stages. And Tobias Halland Johannessen, winner on the Grand Colombier and then again next day at Saint Jean D’Arves, seemed to have taken a serious option on the final victory. But the former World Juniors MTB medalist got very hot during the 9th stage, which finished at the Col du Petit Saint Bernard. With a 2’18’’ lead heading into this final day, the Scandinavian rider almost saw his dreams shattered.

After a huge effort, Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez prevailed and dropped the Norwegian by 2’11”! With a margin of only seven seconds, Tobias Halland Johannessen became the successor to his compatriot Tobias Foss, who was the last winner of the event in 2019.

The results: 1. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Norvège) ; 2. Carlos Rodriguez (Espagne) ; 3. Filippo Zanna (Italie)

Stage won by: Søren Wærenskjold, Tobias Halland Johannessen et Anders Halland Johannessen (Norvège) ; Mick Van Dijke et Marijn Van Den Berg (Pays-Bas) ; Pays-Bas ; Ethan Vernon (Grande-Bretagne) ; Carlos Rodriguez (Espagne)

*****

Vuelta ciclista a Espana: Roglic leader

After nine stages, Primoz Roglic is indeed the boss of the Vuelta a Espana. Winner of the inaugural time trial, the Slovenian gave up his red jersey for three stages to Rein Taaramäe (winner of the 3rd stage) and Kenny Elissonde. But it wasn’t long before Jumbo Visma leader recovered his red leader’s jersey. Once again the leader as of stage six, the rider from Jumbo Visma hit the nail on the head when he reached the Alto de Velefique. After nine stages, only Enric Mas, who is 28’’, is within a minute of Roglic. Miguel Angel Lopez, third, is already at 1’21’’. But there is still a long way to go.

The results: 1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) ; 2. Enric Mas (Movistar); 3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar)

Stages won by: Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) ; Jasper Philipsen (Team Alpecin Fenix) ; Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché Wanty Gobert Matériaux) ; Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo) ; Michael Storer (Team DSM) ; Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck Quick Step) ; Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious)

*****

Tour of Norway: A first for Hayter

At 22, Briton Nathan Hayter is having a good season. And at the Tour of Norway he once again demonstrated the sheer scope of his talent after taking silver in the Madison at the recent Olympics in Tokyo. Winner of the first two stages, Hayter was never challenged at the Scandinavian race to take the first stage race win of his career and his 7th victory of the season!

The results: 1. Nathan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) ; 2. Ide Schelling (Bora Hansgrohe) ; 3. Mike Teunissen (Jumbo Visma) 

Stages won by: Nathan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) ; Mads Pedersen (Trek Segafredo) ; Matthew Walls (Bora Hansgrohe)

*****

Races to come:

© Tour de Pologne

Tour de Pologne: Almeida opens his international tally

At 23, Joao Almeida has up till now had just one victory in his national time trial championship. The rider from Deceuninck Quick Step had made his name last year by wearing the pink Giro jersey for fourteen days (finishing 4th overall). But in a week on the Tour de Pologne, Almeida reminded everyone that he is a rider of the future by taking two victories in the 2nd and 4th stages on the way to winning the general classification: “It is what I work for. Winning a stage race is a dream come true,” the Portuguese rider explained.

The results: 1. Joao Almeida (Deceuninck – Quick Step) ; 2. Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) ; 3. Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers)

Stages won by:  Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) ; Joao Almeida and Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck – Quick Step) ; Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) ; Nikias Arndt (Team DSM) ; Julius Van Den Berg (EF Education Nippo)

*****

PostNord Danmark Rundt – Tour of Denmark: The return of Evenepoel

At 21 years old and with seven stage races on his palmarès, Remco Evenepoel proved once again at the Tour of Denmark that he is not an ordinary rider. Already the winner of the third stage, the Belgian did it again by winning on the last day in the 10.8 km time trial around Frederiksberg. “On the last day, I didn’t want to take any chances to secure the overall. Winning this time is just the icing on the cake,” said the Belgian rider.

The results: 1. Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck Quick Step) ; 2. Mads Pedersen (Trek Segafredo) ; 3. Mike Teunissen (Team Jumbo Visma) 

Stage won by: Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jumbo Visma) ; Mads Pedersen (Trek Segafredo); Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck Quick Step); Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling) 

*****

Tour de l’Avenir: Mick Van Dijke at the controls

After three days and thanks to the team time trial, the Netherlands team with Mick Van Dijke leads the overall standings of the Tour de l’Avenir. The rider who will join the Jumbo Visma team next year is ahead of three of his teammates. Before the Dutch takeover, the Norwegian Søren Wærenskjold won the prologue and the first road stage.

The results: 1. Mick Van Dijke (Pays-Bas) ; 2. Casper Van Uden (Pays-Bas) ; 3. Marijn Van Den Berg (Pays-Bas)

Stages won by: Søren Wærenskjold (Norvège) ; Pays-Bas

*****

Vuelta ciclista a Espana: Roglic begins as leader

The reigning two-time winner of the Spanish tour, Primoz Roglic assumed his status as Olympic Time Trial Champion by winning on streets of Burgos right from the start. The next day, the first road stage was won by Jasper Philipsen, which did not change the overall situation. But this success allows his team Alpecin Fenix to post a nice hat-trick after stage victories in the Giro, the Tour and now the Vuelta. A fantastic performance for their first year in the three-week races.

The results: 1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) ; 2. Alex Aranburu (Astana Premier Tech); 3. Michael Matthews  (Team BikeExchange) 

Stages won by: Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) ; Jasper Philipsen (Team Alpecin Fenix) 

*****

Races to come:

© Vuelta a Burgos

Vuelta a Burgos: Landa in control 

Following his win there in 2017, Mikel Landa added another victory in the Vuelta a Burgos to his list of achievements. But this time the Basque rider from Team Bahrain Victorious did not manage to win a stage and had to wait until the last day to savor a second success! This Vuelta a Burgos also gave Romain Bardet the opportunity to end three years without a victory. The Frenchman from the DSM team, winner of the third stage in Espinosa de los Monteros, had taken a serious option on the final victory. But back pain from a fall prevented him from defending his chances on the final day. Great Britain’s Hugh Carthy won at Lagunas de Neila though it was Landa who pulled on the last leader’s jersey: “We had a very strong team here. I’m happy to win and I can see the sensations are good ahead of the Vuelta.”

The results: 1. Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) ; 2. Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash) ; 3. Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious)

Stages won by: Edward Planckaert (Alpecin Fenix) ; Juan Sebastien Molano (UAE Team Emirates) ;  Romain Bardet (Team DSM) ; Hugh Carthy (EF Education Nippo)

*****

The races to come

© Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa Women

Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa Women: Make it 80 for Van Vleuten!

Olympic silver medalist in the road race (and winner of the ITT), Annemiek Van Vlenten (Movistar) proved that she has recovered perfectly well from the time difference with Japan. The Dutch rider who is current European Champion clinched her 80th UCI victory by winning on the boulevards of San Sebastian: “This is more than an individual victory, this is a victory for the entire Movistar team. After Tokyo, I was so tired and jet lagged that I couldn’t get much sleep in the past two days. But with such work from my team, I had to finish it off well.”

The American Ruth Winder and the Italian Tatiana Guderzo completed the podium.

The results: 1. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar); 2. Ruth Winder (Trek Segafredo); 3. Tatiana Guderzo (ALE BTC Ljubljana) 

*****

Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa Men: Powless surprises the favorites

A professional since 2016, Neilson Powless will remember July 31st for a long time. The 24-year-old rider surprised all the favorites to win the Classica San Sebastien, a classic on the UCI WorldTour calendar! Powless, who completed his second Tour de France two weeks earlier, dominated a group of five riders to achieve his goal. The double Tour stage winner Matej Mohoric took second, ahead of the Danish rider Honoré. “I’m so happy to get this victory today. My sports director (Juanma Garate) is Basque and every time I race here the atmosphere is just amazing.”

The results: 1. Neilson Powless (EF Education Nippo) ; 2.Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious); 3.Mikel Frolich Honoré (Deceuninck Quick Step)

*****

Vuelta a Castilla y Leon: Louvel takes his first pro win

At 22, Frenchman Mathis Louvel posted his first professional victory by winning solo in the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon. With a lead of 44 seconds ahead of Odani, Louvel, who has been a professional rider for a year, even had the time to savor his success: “It was a great day. I had the legs and the luck! My sporting director said to me: Come on, it’s your day, you’re going to go get your first professional victory.”

The results: 1. Mathis Louvel (Arkea Samsic); 2. Stefano Odani (Lotto Soudal); 3. Mauricio Moreira (Efapel) 

*****

Circuito de Getxo – Memorial Hermanos Otxoa: Nizzolo is the fastest 

Winner of the Clasica de Almeria this season and a stage at the Giro d´Italia, Giaccomo Nizzolo added a third victory this season by winning at the Circuito de Getxo. The European Champion racing for the Qhubeka NextHash team was very fast in the sprint, and beat two fellow breakaway riders Aleotti and Buitrago. “I finished second here last year. This time my winning it is a great satisfaction. The race was very hard to control, so thank you to those who contributed to this victory,” Nizzolo said.

The results: 1. Giacomo Nizzoli (Team Qhubeka NextHash) ; 2. Giovanni Aleotti (Bora Hansgrohe) ; 3. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain – Victorious)

*****

The races to come