©Tour de la Provence

Tour de la Provence : Quintana tames the Montagne de Lure

The Colombian Nairo Quintana won his second Tour de la Provence on Sunday after his success in 2020. Though he was 32 seconds behind the current race leader, the Italian Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers), ” El Condor” built his overall victory on the final ascent of the Montagne de Lure by dropping Julian Alaphilippe some three kilometers from the finish line. “I decided to attack because I knew that Julian Alaphilippe would have been faster than me in the sprint if we had arrived together. So I attacked several times with the aim of finishing alone, and it worked. The team worked really well and then it was my responsibility to attack,” said the Colombian.

The results: 1. Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic), 2. Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Alpha Vynil), 3. Mattias Skjelmose Jesen (Trek-Segafredo)…

Stages won by: Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic)

*****

Tour of Oman: Masnada takes the lead after the 4th stage

The fifth stage of the Tour of Oman will see the climbers battle it out on Monday with the finish at the top of the famous Green Mountain, an ascent of nearly 6 kilometers at more than 10% average gradient. The battle promises to be fierce with riders like Jan Hirt and Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Elie Gesbert (Arkéa-Samsic), Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates), and Anthon Charmig (Uno-X). Winner of the fourth stage on Sunday, Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) will try to keep his leader’s jersey in the general classification: “I have worked hard all winter, so to be rewarded with a victory so early in the season is incredible,” confided the Italian. “Having the red jersey on my shoulders now is a big bonus. On Monday we will try to do our best to defend this leader’s jersey.” 

The sixth and final stage will take place on Tuesday.

The current standings: 1. Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alpha Vynil), 2. Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Pro Cycling), 3. Jan Hirt (Intermarché Wanty-Gobert Matériaux)…

Stages won by: Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates), Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vynil), Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Pro Cycling), Fausto Masnada (Quick-Step Alpha Vynil)

*****

Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia Costa Calida: Alessandro Covi solo

The 42nd edition of the event saw the solo victory of Italian Alessandro Covi. At 23, the UAE Team Emirates rider earned his first professional victory in style. His teammate Matteo Trentin led the chasing group home ahead of Frenchman Matis Louvel (Arkéa-Samsic). “The last five kilometers were really very difficult but having the victory in sight made me go even faster. I really went for it. Mattéo (Trentin) finished second and Brandon (McNulty) rode a very good race, and so did all our teammates,” the winner enthused. Antonio Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), the winner in 2021, suffered a mechanical incident in the final.

The results: 1. Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates), 2. Mattéo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), 3. Matis Louvel (Arkéa-Samsic)…

*****

Clasica de Almeria: Kristoff pips Bouhanni

Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic) came close to winning on his first outing this season. But the Clasica de Almeria in the end smiled this Sunday on the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), winner for the first time in his new team colors. Victorious in 2021, Giacomo Nizzolo (Israel-Premier Tech) completed the podium.

The results: 1. Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), 2. Nacer Bouhanni (Arkéa-Samsic), 3. Giacomo Nizzolo (Israel-Premier Tech)…

*****

Races to come:

Tour of Oman 10-15/02 www.tour-of-oman.com

Setmana Ciclista Valenciana 17-20/02 www.ccescapada.com

53e Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var 18-20/02 www.tour06-83.com

Tour du Rwanda 20-27/02 www.tourdurwanda.rw

UAE Tour 20-26/02 www.theuaetour.com

©ASO – Pauline Ballet

Saudi Tour: First for the Belgian Van Gils

Aged 22, Belgian Maxim Van Gils, from the Lotto-Soudal team, won the Saudi Tour at the end of the fifth stage on Saturday. He overtook the Colombian Buitrago in the general classification. Van Gils had laid the foundation for his victory on Friday by winning the queen stage: “It’s so special. This is my first professional victory,” said the Antwerp resident, 7th in the Tour de Wallonie in 2021 for his first year as a professional.

Dutchman Groenewegen was full of confidence in Saudi Arabia where he won two stages.

The results: 1.  Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Soudal), 2. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), 3. Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates)

Stages won by: Cadel Ewan (LTS), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange-Jayco), Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Soudal), Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange-Jayco).

*****

Vuelta a la Comunitat Valenciana: The Russian Vlasov well in control

Russian Aleksandr Vlasov won the 73rd edition of the Vuelta a la Comunitat Valenciana on Sunday.

By overhauling Evenepoel to take the leader’s jersey during Friday’s queen stage after a tour de force performance, Vlasov has arrived in the best way possible for the Bora-Hansgrohe team: “I am very happy to win the overall victory, we have had five perfect days,” the Vyborg native commented. “I’m happy with my form and I think we have a good base to build on for the next goals.”

By winning two stages, the Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen also confirmed his good condition at the start of the season.

The results: 1. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe), 2. Remco Evenepoel (QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl), 3. Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers).

Stages won by: Remco Evenepoel (QuickStep- Alpha Vinyl), Fabio Jakobsen (QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl), Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe), Matteo Moschetti (Trek-Segafredo), Fabio Jakobsen (QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl).     

****

Volta Ciclista a la Comunitat Valenciana féminas: Italian double in Valencia

At 36, the 2007 road world champion Marta Bastianelli won the women’s race in Valencia on Sunday. She had already tasted victory in this race in 2020. This time, she took the measure of her compatriot Ilaria Sanguineti in the final sprint. Barbara Guarischi took third place before being relegated due to the jury deeming her sprint as irregular. In the end, the Austrian Kathrin Schweinberger completed the podium.

The results: 1. Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), 2. Ilaria Sanguineti (Valcar Travel & Service), 3. Kathrin Schweinberger (Ceratizit -WNT).

****

Races to come: 

Tour de Provence 8-13/02 www.tourdelaprovence.fr

Tour of Oman 10-15/02 www.tour-of-oman.com

Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia Costa Calida (Esp) 12/02 www.vueltamucia.es

Clasica de Almeria (Esp) 13/02 www.clasicadealmeria.net

16 new organizers join AIOCC in 2022

Following our General Assembly in November 19, new organizers join us : 

• ZLM Tour
• Tour of the Alps
• Setmana Ciclista Valenciana
• Lotto Belgium Tour
• Ladies Tour of Norway
• Giro di Sardegna
• Adriatica Ionica Race
• Cholet Pays de la Loire 
• La Classic Grand Besançon Doubs
• Le Tour du Jura 
• Paris-Roubaix Women
• Tour de France Women 
• Vuelta ciclista andalucia “ruta del sol” elite women
• Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana
• Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana femenina
• Tour de Romandie Women

AIOCC Trophy : Awarded to Eddy MERCKX

Already the winner of the AIOCC Trophy in 1980 at the end of his sporting career, Eddy Merckx received the award this year to recognize the positive influence he has had over cycling through the years.
 
Awarded since 1960, the Trophy rewards an influential cycling figure each year. Over the editions, the recipients include Eugène Christophe (winner 1965), winner of Milan San-Remo 1910, Jacques Anquetil (winner in 1974), five-time winner of the Tour de France, and Jacques Goddet.

Members of the new Board of Directors (from left to right): Yannick TALABARDON ; Mauro VEGNI ; Wim VAN HERREWEGHE ; Sonia MARTINEZ BARRIO ; Kiko GARCIA (General Director) ; Christian PRUDHOMME ; Ruben PERIS ; Ed BUCHETTE ; Luc GHEYSENS ; Renzo OLDANI ; Javier GUILLEN
© YP Médias

The AIOCC held its General Assembly this Friday, November 19 in Paris. 85 member races were represented in person this morning and 8 members followed the discussions by video conference. A new Board of Directors was elected which appointed Christian Prudhomme to chair it for the next four years.

After the last two years marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and the many difficulties encountered by the organizers, the participants were able to discuss the subjects introduced by the AIOCC.

• Safety is a recurring theme which is faced head on by all the organizers.
• The AIOCC is delighted with the development of women’s cycling; the momentum is gaining with 25 UCI Women’s WorldTour events in 2022. The economic balance will be decisive for the future.
• The organizers undertake to continue their efforts to respect the environment, which is a necessity. Competitive cycling should be seen as a driving force behind the desire to engage in cycling for as many people as possible.

Christian Prudhomme: “Our unity is important”

“I am proud of the confidence placed in me once again by the members of AIOCC, which is the voice of the organizers. Our unity is important as is the unity of the cycling world, which has enabled most of races to run in 2020 and 2021. Everyone worked together.

We will continue with strength and conviction to do the work that we have carried out for several years to better explain the job of the organizers, which is varied and not limited to the sporting aspect.

I strongly believe in the cycling pyramid. You need a wide base. We have the will with the new Board of Directors to do more for the races of the other members to support them, encourage them, and answer their questions.”

The new Board of Directors :

President: Christian PRUDHOMME (FRA) – Tour de France

Deputy Vice-President: Ruben PERIS (ESP) – Vuelta Catalunya

Vice-President: Wim VAN HERREWEGHE (BEL) – Tour of Flanders

Secretary General: Luc GHEYSENS (BEL) – Gent-Welvelgem

Assistant Secretary: Sonia MARTINEZ BARRIO (ESP) – Tour de Burgos Femmes

Treasurer: Ed BUCHETTE (LUX) – Tour du Luxembourg

Deputy Treasurer: Yannick TALABARDON (FRA) – Flèche Wallonne Femmes

Members: Thierry GOUVENOU (FRA) – Paris Roubaix; Mauro VEGNI (ITA) – Giro d’Italia; Javier GUILLEN (ESP) – Vuelta a Espana; Renzo OLDANI (ITA) – Tre Valli Varese; Sébastien ARSENAULT (CAN) – Grands Prix Cyclistes Quebec et Montreal

©Chrono des Nations

Chrono des Nations: Küng finishes well

Double European champion in the individual time trial, the Swiss Stefan Küng concluded the season perfectly by winning the Chrono des Nations. The Groupama FDJ rider completed the 44.5 kilometers around Les Herbiers at a speed of 51.561 km / hour. Another great performance was given by the experienced Dane, Martin Toft Madsen (36) who finished 36 seconds behind the Swiss rider. The French event secured a top-notch podium with third place for Alessandro De Marchi, who also wore the pink jersey in the Giro d’Italia this year.

In the women’s event, Marlen Reusser of Switzerland, the silver medalist in the ITT at the World Championships, edged out Olympic road race champion, Austria’s Anna Kiesenhofer by 52 seconds. In nearly the same time as Kiesenhofer, Germany’s Mieke Kröger completed the podium.

The results men: 1. Stefan Küng (Groupama FDJ) ; 2. Martin Toft Madsen (BHS – PL Beton Bornholm); 3. Alessandro De Marchi (Israël Start-Up Nation)

The results women: 1. Marlen Reusser (Alé BTC Ljubljana) ; 2. Anna Kiesenhofer ; 3. Mieke Kröger (Team Coop – Hitec Products)

*****

Grand Prix du Morbihan: Marit a revelation

Two years after Benoît Cosnefroy’s victory, the Grand Prix du Morbihan has had a makeover. The Cadoudal climb, which generally caused a big selection among the riders, is no longer on the program. Instead the peloton moved a few kilometers away to Grand-Champ, a town which notably hosted the French Championships last year. And this new version of the Grand Prix du Morbihan smiled on the young Belgian Arne Marit (Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise) who finished ahead of two renowned sprinters, Bryan Coquard and Elia Viviani.

The results: 1. Arne Marit (Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise) ; 2. Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels p/b KTM) ; 3. Elia Viviani (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits)