@Fred Machabert / www.ypmedias.com

Giro d’Italia: Bernal wins the Trofeo Senza Fine

Having led the race since his victory on the 9th stage, Egan Bernal dominated the 104th Giro d’Italia. Then the 24-year-old Colombian succeeded in adding a prestigious victory at the end of the 16th stage to Cortina d’Ampezzo in appalling weather conditions. In the final days, even stage victories by Simon Yates (3rd in the GC) and Damiano Caruso (2nd in the GC), did not prevent Bernal from taking his second Grand Tour victory after winning the Tour de France (2019). Seven years after Nairo Quintana, he is the second Colombian to lift the Trofeo Senza Fine in victory. “During the final time trial, I was focused on my effort. But in the last straight section, I saw all the flags of Colombia and I understood that I had won. It’s indescribable.”

The results: 1. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) ; 2. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious); 3. Simon Yates (Bike Exchange)

Stages won by: Filippo Ganna and Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) ; Tom Merlier (Alpecin Fenix) ; Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermarché Wanty Gobert Matériaux) ; Jose Dombrowski (UAE Team Emirates) ; Gino Mader  and Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) ; Victor Lafay (Cofidis Solutions Credits); Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) ; Mauro Schmid, Giaccomo Nizzolo and Victor Campenaerts (Qhubeka Assos); Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe);  Andrea Vendrame (AG2R CITROËN TEAM); Lorenzo Fortunato (Eolo Kometa); Dan Martin (Israël Start-Up Nation) ; Alberto Bettiol (Education – Nippo) ; Simon Yates (Bike Exchange) ; 

*****

Grand Prix Herning: Victory for Kristensen

Having taken second in the Danish national time trial championship last year, Mads Ostergaard Kristensen won the Grand Prix Herning. The 23-year-old on Team ColoQiuick won in a two-up sprint against compatriot Magnus Bak Klaris.

Results: 1. Mads Ostergaard Kristensen (ColoQuick) ; 2. Magnus Bak Klaris (CP :Play-Giant) ; 3. Niklas Larsen (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team)

***** 

Critérium du Dauphiné (Fra): Van Moer believed in himself

The Critérium du Dauphiné opened on the roads of the Auvergne around Issoire. And this first day was marked by Bren Van Moer‘s impressive coup. Having been among the riders in the early breakaway, the Belgian from the Lotto Soudal was never recaptured by the peloton ! At 23, he posted his first professional victory and took possession of the leader’s jersey.

Results: 1. Bren Van Moer (Lotto Soudal) ; 2. Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) ; 3. Clément Venturini (AG2R CITROËN TEAM)

*****

The races to come

 Critérium du Dauphiné (Fra), 30/05-06/06, www.criterium-du-dauphine.fr/en

Course de la Paix Grand Prix Jeseníky (RTC), 3-6/06, www.jesenickacyklisticka.cz

Tour de Suisse (Suisse), 6-13/06, www.tourdesuisse.ch

Rund um Köln (Ger), 6/06, www.rundumkoeln.de

@Fred Machabert / www.ypmedias.com

Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol (Esp): First for Lopez

Miguel Angel Lopez did not take long to start winning with his new Movistar team. Less than a month after returning to racing on April 27th at the Tour de Romandie, the Colombian notched up a victory at the Ruta del Sol this May. “I’m really happy to win here. After the Tour de Romandie, I came to this race with a lot of confidence and the team had a lot of positive momentum. I wanted to show off the jersey, and we did it!” Lopez also won the third stage.

Results: 1. Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar); 2. Antwan Tolhoek (Jumbo-Visma); 3. Julen Amezqueta (Caja Rural Seguros RGA)
Stages won by: Gonzala Serrano et Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar); Ethan Heyter (Ineos Grenadiers); ; André Greipel (Israël Start-up Nation) ;

*****

Vuelta a Burgos Feminas (Esp): Four-way Dutch battle

The Spanish event offered the racers a big battle each stage. Four stages, four different stage winners, and a different leader every night. But the Dutch cyclists reminded everyone that they have the numbers when it comes to exceptional cyclists. World Champion Anna van der Breggen (SD WORX) took the stage on the last day, and with it the overall classification ahead of two of her compatriots also on the podium.

Results: 1. Anna Van Der Breggen (SD Worx); 2. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar); 3. Demi Vollering (SD Worx)
Stages won by: Grace Brown (Bike Exchange) ; Anastasiia Chursina (Alé BTC Ljubljana) ; Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) ; Anna Van Der Breggen (SD Worx)

***** 

Giro d’Italia (Ita): Bernal creates a gap

At the time of writing this, the Giro d’Italia peloton was preparing to face a terribly difficult day in the Dolomites, a 212-kilometer marathon stage including 5700 meters of climbing. Having taken the lead in the race after winning the 9th stage, Egan Bernal has never missed an opportunity to increase his advantage over his rivals. And even the Zoncolan, won by Lorenzo Fortunato, did not give the Colombian’s opponents a chance to reverse the trend. As far as the general classification is concerned, ahead of the last six stages in the race, the INEOS Grenadiers leader has an advantage of 1’33” over Simon Yates (Bike Exchange) and 1’51” on Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious).

Stages won by: Filippo Ganna and Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers); Tim Merlier (Alpecin Fenix); Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermarché Wanty Gobert Matériaux); Joe Dombrowski (UAE Team Emirates); Gino Mäder (Bahrain Victorious); Victor Lafay (Cofidis Solutions Credits) Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal); Mauro Schmid, Giaccomo Nizzolo and Victor Campenaerts (Qhubeka Assos); Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe); Andrea Vendrame (AG2R CITROËN TEAM); Lorenzo Fortunato (Eolo Kometa)

*****

The races to come

Giro d’Italia (Ita), 8-30/05, www.giroditalia.it

Grand Prix Herning (Da), May 29, www.gpherning.dk/en

Critérium du Dauphiné (Fra), May 30 – June 6, www.criterium-du-dauphine.fr/en

@Fred Machabert / www.ypmedias.com

Circuit de Wallonie: Laporte the fastest

Christophe Laporte is one of the best French sprinters. And at 28, he has just scored a very big success. At the Circuit de Wallonie, he largely dominated the sprint to secure his 19th professional success: “The team did a great work all day to help me so I’m happy to have been able to make this win a reality for them.”

The results: 1. Christophe Laporte (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) ; 2. Marc Sarreau (AG2R CITROËN TEAM) ; 3. Laurence Pithie (Continentale Groupama FDJ) 

*****

Tro Bro Leon (Fra): Swift  a first in Brittany

Connor Swift had not been able to lift his arms in success since his title at the British road race championships in 2018. Now the Arkea Samsic rider added a great result to his palmarès by winning the Tro Bro Leon whose route borrows from the graveled paths typical of the region. “This race beats in the heart of our team. I thought I had lifted his arms too early, so I’m very happy to have won.” This victory also gives Arkea Samsic its 5th success of the season … in less than two weeks. 

The results: 1. Connor Swift (Arkea Samsic) ; 2. Piet Allegaert (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) ; 3. Baptiste Planckaert (Intermarché Wanty Gobert Matériaux)

***** 

Giro d’Italia (Ita): Bernal takes control

Winner of the 9th stage at Campo Felice, Egan Bernal took command of the Giro d’Italia. At 24, the Colombian who has already won the Tour de France in 2019 had never actually won a stage in a Grand Tour. The first week of the event also saw the emergence of the young Attila Valter. Overall leader for three days, he is the first Hungarian rider ever to wear the leader’s jersey at the Giro. At the time of writing, the peloton had only just taken the start of the 10th stage ahead of the first day of the race on Tuesday.

Stages won by : Filippo Ganna and Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) ; Tom Merlier (Alpecin Fenix) ; Taco Van Der Hoorn (Intermarché Wanty Gobert Matériaux) ; Jose Dombrowski (UAE Team Emirates) ; Gino Mäder (Bahrain Victorious) ; Victor Lafay (Cofidis Solutions Credits) Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) ; 

*****

The races to come

Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del SolRuta Del Sol (Esp), 18-22/05, www.vueltaandalucia.es

Vuelta a Burgos Feminas (Esp), 20-23/05, www.vueltaburgos.com/feminas

Giro d’Italia (Ita), 8-30/05, www.giroditalia.it

@F. Machabert / www.ypmedias.com

Giro d’Italia Ganna back to his winning ways

The Time Trial World Champion, Filippo Ganna started the 2021 Giro d’Italia as he had finished it in 2020: with a victory. On the streets of Turin, the INEOS Grenadiers rider completed the 8.6 kilometer time trial with an average speed of 58.748 km / hour! “The Giro could not have started better,” Ganna said after his victory.

The day after the opening time trial, the Belgian Tim Merlier won the first road stage in a sprint. It was a particularly big victory for his Alpecin Fenix, which is racing its first Grand Tour.

*****

Tour of Rwanda: Rodriguez takes the victory

The French teams dominated the Tour of Rwanda by winning five victories out of eight stages, and the general classification. After taking the leader’s jersey at the end of the 6th stage, the Spaniard Cristian Rodriguez(Team Total Direct Energie) cemented his place in the overall classification in the African event by winning the last stage. At 26, he has posted the first two victories of his career: “I have been waiting for this moment for a long time! At the briefing, it was a question whether I could attack on the last major climb but not too early. I felt great when the time came, so I made my move and it worked.”

The results: 1. Cristian Rodriguez (Team Total Direct Energie); 2. James Piccoli (Israel Start-up Nation); 3. Nahom Zerai (Erythrée)

Stages won by: Brayan Sanchez (Team Medellin) ; Alan Boileau, Pierre Rolland (BB Hotels P/B KTM) ; Valentin Ferron, Cristian Rodriguez (Team Total Direct Energie); Jhonatan Restrepo (Androni Giocattoli – Sidermec);

*****

Races to come

Giro d’Italia (Ita), 8-30/05, www.giroditalia.it

Circuit de Wallonie (Bel), May 13, www.lecircuitdewallonie.be

Grand Prix Criquielion (Bel), May 16, www.ententecyclisteacrenoise.be

Tro Bro Leon (Fra), May 16, www.trobroleon.com

Giro d’Italia (Ita), May 8-30, www.giroditalia.it

@Tour de Romandie

Tour de Romandie: Geraint Thomas in spite of everything

The image was surprising, and the consequences could not have been more striking. A few meters from the finish line of the fourth stage at Thyon 2000, Geraint Thomas tried to sprint, but his hand slipped off his hood and the Welsh rider found himself quickly on the ground. Twenty-four hours later, the INEOS Grenadiers rider took third place of the final time trial in order to win the general classification, nine years after his victory during the prologue of the Tour de Romandie: “This time trial reminded me of the one at Espelette when I won the tour in 2018. I’m really happy to win this event, especially after what happened to me the day before.” On the podium, Thomas was joined by his teammate Richie Porte (winner 2017) and Italian Fausto Masnada.

Men’s results: 1. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) ; 2. Richie Porte (Ineos Grenadiers) ; 3. Fausta Masnada (Deceuninck Quick Step) ;

Stage winners: Dennis, Sagan, Colbrelli, Soler, Woods, Cavagna

*****

Vuelta Asturias Julio Alvarez Mendo: Quintana comes good
Having had two knee operations at the end of last season, Nairo Quintana is back. The Colombian, a former winner of the Giro and the Vuelta, won the first stage of the Vuelta Asturias and in the end won the general classification of the Spanish event after three days of racing: “It is always a great joy to win. I knew that little by little things would go better after my knee operations, and the rehabilitation time that would be required.” In the general classification, he finished ahead of Antonio Pedréro and Pierre Latour, the winner of the final stage.

Men’s results: 1. Nairo Quintana (Arkea Samsic) ; 2. Antonio Pedrero (Movistar); 3. Pierre Latour (Total Direct Energie) ;

Stage winners: Quintana, Carretero, Latour

***** 

Tour du Rwanda: Sanchez takes the first stage

The race in the country of the thousand climbs began with a stage between the capital Kigali et Rwamagana. For this first day, it was the Colombian Brayan Sanchez who took the victory. The event ends on May 9 with a stage around Kigali.

Men’s results: 1. Brayan Sanchez (Team Medellin) ; 2. Alex Hoehn (Wildlife Generation Pro Cycling); 3. Weimar Alfonso Roldán (Team Medellin)

*****

The races to come
Tour du Rwanda (RW), 02/09-05, www.tourdurwanda.rw

Giro d’Italia (Ita), 8-30/05, www.giroditalia.it

@A.S.O.  / Aurélien Vialatte

Flèche Wallonne: Alaphilippe shines the rainbow jersey

After having skipped the race last year after taking an emotional victory at the World Championships, Julian Alaphilippe returned to his winning ways at the Flèche Wallonne. The Deceuninck Quick-Step rider now ties with Moreno Argentin, Davide Rebellin, Eddy Merckx and Marcel Kint, all of whom have three wins a piece. This time, he beat the Slovenian Primoz Roglic and the veteran Alejandro Valverde, quintuple winner of the event: “Thanks to my team I was able to save my energy all day, I am happy to win here wearing the rainbow jersey.” 

The women’s event saw the seventh consecutive victory for the Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen. Since 2015, no one has been able to overcome the cyclist of SD Worx on the steep slopes of the Huy. Great !

*****

Liège-Bastogne-Liège: Pogacar adds a monument to his tally

Tadej Pogacar has dreamed of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The Slovenian did not take long before taming la doyenne! At the end of a very difficult race, the 22-year-old rider won the sprint in front of Julian Alpahillippe and French David Gaudu. “It has been a dream of mine to win here and now it becomes a reality. After my victory last year at the Tour de France, I am very proud to win this monument.”

A few hours earlier, the management for the SD Worx team must have been rubbing their hands with delight that they had hired the young Demi Vollering at the beginning of the season. The 24-year-old Dutch rider won the greatest victory of her career and paid tribute to the work of her teammate van der Breggen in the final. Van Vleuten and Longo Borghini completed the podium.

Men’s results: 1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo, UAE Team Emirates); 2. Alaphilippe (Fra, Deceuninck Quick Step); 3. David Gaudu (Fra, Groupama FDJ);
Women’s results: 1. Demi Vollering (SD Worx); 2. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned, Movistar); 3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita, Trek Segafredo);

*****

Upcoming races :

Tour de Romandie (Sui), 27/04-02/05 : https://www.tourderomandie.ch/?lang=en

Vuelta Asturias Julio Alvarez Mendo (Esp) : 30/04-02/05, www.lavueltaasturias.com

Tour du Rwanda (RW), 02/09-05 : www.tourdurwanda.rw