Pidcock / Van Aert, a great week

Pidcock / Van Aert, a great week

De Brabantse Pijl – La Flèche Brabançonne: Pidcock loses no time

Thomas Pidcock knows how to do everything. World Champion on the Road, Cyclocross and MTB, the British prodigy joined the Ineos Grenadiers team on February 1st. And at age 21, he did not wait a long time to take his first classic by winning the Flèche Brabançonne in front of Wout van Aert and Matteo Trentin. “I know that sprints like these are particular, but I was confident,” he said after his Belgian victory. 

In the Women’s event, the victory was taken in a close sprint by the US Champion, Ruth Winder (Trek Segafredo).

Men Results. 1. Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) ; 2. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma); 3. Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates).
Women Results. 1. Ruth Winder (Trek Segafredo); 2. Demi Vollering (SD Worx); 3. Elisa Balsamo (Valcar Travel e service)

*****

Amstel Gold Race: Van Aert missing nothing

Take the same protagonists and start again! Four days after the Flèche Brabançonne, Pidcock and Van Aert were again the ones to play for the victory. And this time it was the Belgian’s turn to raise his arms. It was his first victory at the Amstel Gold Race: “I launched my sprint from the first position. It was to my advantage to have a little extra speed at that moment, and I did not want to wait too much longer,” he said. But it took a photo finish to decide which of the two men had succeeded in winning. As at Gent Wevelgem, Jumbo Visma scored the double after the success of Marianne Vos in the women’s event, which was the 233rd success of her spectacularly successful career.

Men Results. 1. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma); 2. Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers); 3. Maximilian Schachmann (Bora Hansgrohe)

Women Results. 1.Marianne Vos (Jumbo Visma); 2. Demi Vollering (SD Worx); 3. Annemiek van Vleuten (Team Movistar)

*****

This following week :

21.04 : La Flèche Wallonne : https://www.la-fleche-wallonne.be/en/ 

21.04 : La Flèche Wallonne Women : https://www.la-fleche-wallonne-femmes.be/en/ 

25.04 : Liège-Bastogne-Liège :   https://www.liege-bastogne-liege.be/en/ 

25.04 : Liège-Bastogne-Liège Women https://www.liege-bastogne-liege-femmes.be/en/ 

Itzulia Basque Country: Primoz Roglic fights back

Itzulia Basque Country: Primoz Roglic fights back

Itzulia Basque Country : Roglic en combattant

 

Scheldeprijs : Jasper Philipsen le plus rapide

Three days after the Ronde Van Vlaanderen, the riders headed to the Scheldeprijs and were faced with very difficult weather conditions. The event once again went to the sprinters. Jasper Philipsen succeeded in earning his first victory wearing his new colors for Alpecin Fenix : “I am super proud of this victory, it means a lot. The team did an incredible job to get me into the right position.
By finishing ahead of the Irishman Sam Bennett and the Englishman Mark Cavendish, Philipsen deprived Deceuninck Quick Step of two chances to win the race. In the women’s event, Lorena Wiebes (22) from the Team DSM posted the 22nd success of her career

Mens results. 1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Fenix) ; 2. Sam Bennett (Deceuninck Quick Step) ; 3. Mark cavendish (Deceuninck Quick Step)
Womens results.
1. Lorena Wiebes (Team DSm); 2. Emma Norsgaard (Team Movistar); 3. Elisa Balsamo (Valcar – Travel & Service)

******

Itzulia Basque Country : Primoz Roglic fights back

The former ski jumper loves Spain! A few months after his second victory at the Vuelta in Espana, the Slovenian added a new Basque beret to his collection after having already won this race in 2018. Having dominated from the opening time trial, the Slovenian of the Jumbo Visma was briefly up-ended during the 4th stage which saw the promising rider from the USA, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) take control of the overall lead. But the final stage on the slopes of Arrate allowed Roglic to set things straight. Though it was the Frenchman David Gaudu (Groupama FDJ) who won the stage, it was Roglic who captured the general classification: “I am very happy with what we were able to do this week with a young team.”
The Dutch team even did the double with a second place for the Danish rider, Jonas Vingegaard, 24 years old.

Résults. 1. Roglic (Jumbo Visma) ; 2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) ; 3. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). 

******

This following week :

14.04 :De Brabantse Pijl – La Flèche Brabançonne (Bel) www.debrabantsepijl.be/nl/dbp/elite-mannen

18.04 : Amstel Gold Race (Pays-bas) www.amstelgoldrace.nl

Ronde van Vlaanderen, youth and experience

Ronde van Vlaanderen, youth and experience

Dwars door Vlaanderen – A travers la Flandre (March 31) Van Baarle goes solo

Three days after Gent Wevelgem, Flanders was back at the heart of the action with Dwars Door Vlaanderen. And it was Dylan Van Baarle, a member of the Ineos Grenadiers team since 2018, who set out on a long, lonely raid: “This victory ranks at the top of my list along with my victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné (2019).”

In the women’s event, the European Champion Annemiek van Vleuten posted her first success for her new Movistar team.

Men Results. 1. Dylan Van Baarle (Ineos Grenadiers) ; 2. Christophe Laporte (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) ; 3. Tim Merlier (Alpecin-Fenix).
Women Results. 1. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar) ; 2.
Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon Sram Racing) ; 3. Alexis Ryan (Canyon Sram Racing)

*****

Gran Premio Miguel Indurain (April 3): The eternal Alejandro Valverdre

Forty-eight hours before the Itzulia Basque Country, Alejandro Valverde showed that age was not getting the better of him. The 40 year old leader of Team Movistar won the 131st victory of his career: “I want to thank the people who believe in me.” Valverde had gone without a win since August 2019. 

Results.. 1. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) ; 2. Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Premier Tech) ; 3. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Premier Tech)

*****

La Roue Tourangelle Centre Val de Loire (April 4): Démare opens his account

The best sprinter at last’s Giro d’Italia has opened his 2021 account by winning the La Roue Tourangelle Centre Val de Loire, the third round of the Coupe de France: “I didn’t really have any other choice than to win today. I was definitely expected to,” he explained.

Results. 1. Arnaud Démare (Groupama FDJ) ; 2. Nacer Bouhanni (Arkea-Samsic) ; 3. Marc Sarreau (AG2R CITROËN TEAM)

 ***** 

Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres (April 4): Asgreen and Van Vleuten, youth and experience.

Nine days after his victory at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, Danish Kasper Asgreen (24) won his first monument at the Ronde van Vlaanderen. He dominated the sprint against Mathieu van der Poel, winner last year. The Deceuninck Quick-Step rider explained: “I do not yet realize what I’ve done. The Ronde is the biggest classic in the world and I manage to win it! Two years after my second place here, it’s crazy.” Greg van Avermaet took third place, his 4th podium place at the event.

A few minutes later, Annemiek van Vleuten (38), won the Ronde for the second time, ten years after her first success on the cobbled climbs of Flanders: “It’s been so many years that I was waiting for a new victory here,” commented the Dutch rider.

Men Results. 1. Casper Asgreen (Ineos Grenadiers) ; 2. Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) ; 3. Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R Citroën Team).
Women Results. 1. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar) ; 2. Lisa Brennaueur (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling) ; 3. Grace Brown (Team BikeExchange)

*****

 

This following week

5-10.04 :  Itzulia Basque Country (Esp) www.itzulia.eus

7.04 :  Scheldeprijs (Bel) www.scheldeprijs.be/

 

From Catalunya to Flanders

From Catalunya to Flanders

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (March 22-28): Ineos Grenadiers make history

A high quality field was assembled for the 100th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. The Ineos Grenadiers team struck a blow by posting a historic treble with the victory of the Briton Simon Yates ahead of his teammates, Australian Richie Porte and the Welshman Geraint Thomas.

Results. 1. A. Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) ; 2. Porte (Ineos Grenadiers) ; 3. Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers).

*****

Oxyclean Classic Brugge-De Panne (March 24): Bennett takes first

The Oxyclean Classic Brugge-De Panne opened Holy Week for cycling in Flanders. The Irishman Sam Bennett (Deceuninck Quick Step) won the sprint, taking his first victory in a one-day UCI WorldTour race in Belgium.

Twenty-four hours later, Australia’s Grace Brown (Team Bike Exchange) won the women’s race with a 7-second advantage.

Results Men. 1. Bennett (Deceuninck Quick Step) ; 2. Philipsen (Alpecin Fenix); 3. Ackermann (Bora Hansgrohe)
Results Women. 1. Brown (Team Bike Exchange); 2. Norsgaard (Team Movistar); 3.D’Hoore (SD Worx)

*****

E3 Saxo Bank Classic (March 26): Asgreen puts on a show

Kasper Asgreen won the E3 Saxo Bank Classic. The Deceuninck Quick Step rider paid tribute to his team after his victory: “I always knew that if I raced for this team, I could win in the classics.”

Results. 1. Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck Quick Step); 2. Florian Sénéchal (Deceuninck Quick Step); 3. Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin Fenix).

 ***** 

Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields (March 28): Van Aert’s revenge

Having taken 11th at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, Wout Van Aert had his revenge by dominating Gent Wevelgem for the first time in his career. “We know that in this race the wind plays an important role. And that was the case again today. The peloton “broke” very early on and we managed very well after that.” The 26-year-old rider dominated a group of seven competitors who had escaped with 180 kilometers to go!

In the women’s race, Marianne Vos, 33, won the 232nd victory of her career and the first victory for the new women’s team… Jumbo Visma!

Results Men. 1. Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) ; 2. Nizzoli (Qhubeka – Assos) ; 3. Trentin (UAE Team Emirates).
Results Women. 1. Vos (Jumbo Visma); 2. Kopecky (Liv Racing) ; 3.  Brennauer (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling)

 

This week

31.03 : Dwars door Vlaanderen (Bel) – A travers la Flandre  https://www.ddvl.eu/en/ddv/elite-men

3.04 : Gran Premio Miguel Indurain (Esp) www.clubciclistaestella.es
4.04 : La Roue Tourangelle Centre Val de Loire (Fra)  https://www.larouetourangelle.com

4.04 : Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres Femmes (Bel) https://www.rondevanvlaanderen.be/nl/rvv/elite-vrouwen
4.04 : Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres Hommes https://www.rondevanvlaanderen.be/nl/rvv/elite-mannen

The AIOCC at your service

The AIOCC at your service

The AIOCC at your service

24th April 2020  – The world is shaken by the health crisis linked to Covid-19. Thousands of men and women have died. This is an unprecedented situation, which upsets our certainties and our daily routine.

Cycling, like every sector of human activity, is affected and has been forced to adapt. Inevitably sport is not the first priority.

Our sport has been at a standstill since March. At the time of writing, 78 events organized by the members of the AIOCC have been canceled or postponed.

Since the first day of the crisis, the stakeholders in cycling, under the leadership of the Union Cycliste Internationale, have worked to find solutions, while respecting the health measures taken by the various countries.

Today, a new racing schedule has been drawn up which will accommodate the three Grand Tours, the UCI Road World Championships and the Monuments, as well as a number of other races.

It is important for our sport and its economic well-being that cycling resumes its season as soon as the sanitary conditions allow it.

We know that the current situation raises problems for all the organizers and that some of us will be faced with real difficulties in order to sustain our events.

The AIOCC is at your side to support you and to help you in your efforts.

By working together as a team, we can return to a sense of progress.

For any issue related to Covid-19, the AIOCC, recognized as the representative for the race organizers by the Union Cycliste Internationale, recommends that its members send their requests directly to road@uci.ch , copy admin@aiocc.net

CONTACT

A.I.O.C.C.
Association Internationale des Organisateurs de Courses cyclistes

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Secrétariat Administratif
admin@aiocc.net