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

24^th 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

Thank you Corinne, welcome Emilie

12th February 2020 – Corinne Rimet-Baume, who currently holds the position of general secretary of the 2020 UCI Road World Championships in Aigle-Martigny, is no longer in charge of the administrative secretariat of the AIOCC.

We warmly thank Corinne for her professionalism and involvement and wish her every success in the organization of the World Championships.

Emilie Lambelet, who works with Chassot Concept as a project manager and the general secretary of the Tour de Romandie, will now hold this position. Emilie worked at the Union Cycliste Internationale from 2012 to 2018 as a road assistant and road team coordinator.

To contact Emilie Lambelet: admin@aiocc.net