© Milano – San Remo 

Milan – San Remo: Van der Poel, 62 years after Poulidor! 

Sixty-two years after his grandfather Raymond Poulidor, Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel won Milan-Sanremo solo on Saturday after an impressive attack over the Poggio. The rider from Alpecin-Deceuninck made the difference just before the summit of Poggio, five kilometers from the finish, to edge a group of three other superstars by fifteen seconds. Second place was settled in a sprint by the Italian Filippo Ganna ahead of the Belgian Wout Van Aert and Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.

This is the third victory for van der Poel in one of the five Monuments, after his successes in the Tour of Flanders in 2020 and 2022. “I couldn’t imagine a better scenario than today,” van der Poel explained at the finish. “I told the team that I felt very good when we were on the Cipressa climb. I knew I wanted to attack on top of the Poggio and found a small space between Tadej Pogacar and the wall to do so. It was a race that I really wanted to win and the way I did today exceeded all my expectations. It is indeed very special to win here. Not just because my grandfather did it in the past, but also because it’s a Monument and a race that every rider in the peloton dreams of winning one day.”

The results: 1. Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceunick) ; 2. Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) ; 3. Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)… 

***** 

Danilith Nokere Koerse: Merlier shines at home

Tim Merlier continued his convincing start to the season by retaining his crown at the Danilith Nokere Koerse. The Belgian champion won after seeing his Soudal-Quick Step team annihilate all the breakaway attempts in the last hour of the race, in particular that of the trio Sep Vanmarcke (Israel-Premier Tech), Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Dstny ) and Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ), who were reeled in the closing meters. “It’s my home race. Winning it for the second time gives me a lot of pleasure and makes me very proud,” Merlier explained. “The race was a little crazy, especially the final. I am happy to have been able to finish off the work of my team.”

With this race, Merlier won his fifth victory of the season, dominating his compatriots Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) and Milan Menten (Lotto Dstny).

The results: 1. Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) ; 2. Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) ; 3. Menten (Lotto Dstny)…

***** 

Milano – Torino: De Kleijn surprises

The great annual rehearsal for Milan-San Remo, the Italian classic Milano-Torino ended with the expected sprint finish. Dutchman Arvid De Kleijn of the Tudor Pro Cycling Team won ahead of Fernando Gaviria. The Colombian, beaten by a whisker, accused De Kleijn of having cut him off in the final. However, his appeal did not succeed in proving his case with the commissioners. Casper Van Uden (21) completed the podium. “It’s incredible. The team did an amazing job of putting me in a good position. And when I launched with 300 meters, I knew I was going to win, I felt it,” De Kleijn said at the finish. “Everyone around me told me I could win, so I believed it. I have a great group of guys around me. Things are going very well with the team; we have a good train. As a result, we showed that we were capable of accomplishing incredible things.”

Before the final sprint, a breakaway of five then four riders (Veljko Stojnic could not keep pace with Johan Meens, Stefan De Bod, Alessio Nieri and Alessandro Iacchi) had escaped from the peloton before being caught at 12 km from the finish after 180 km of being on the front.

The results: 1. De Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) ; 2. Gaviria (Movistar Team) ; 3. Van Uden (Team DSM)… 

***** 

Grand Prix de Denain – Porte du Hainaut: Molano wraps up the win for UAE Team Emirates

It was a race to whet your appetite three weeks ahead of Paris-Roubaix. At the end of a very lively day marked by numerous crashes, Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates) won the Grand Prix de Denain, which is the second round of the Coupe de France. The Colombian rider, among a group of five riders who came out on top in the last of the twelve cobbled sections of the event, which also included his teammate Mikkel Bjerg, was the fastest in the final sprint, finishing ahead of Tim van Dijke (Jumbo- Visma), Timo Kielich (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies). “I am very happy. I had really good legs,” a very happy Molano said. “The team was very strong, we were in a very good position throughout the day. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Mikkel Bjerg, he is an excellent rider and he did an extraordinary job in the final. This victory is for the team, for the staff, for my family…”

The results: 1. Molano (UAE Team Emirates) ; 2. Van Dijke (Jumbo-Visma) ; 3. Kielich (Alpecin-Deceuninck)…

***** 

Bredene Koksijde Classic: Thijssen doubles up

Gerben Thijssen continues to impress. The Intermarché-Circus-Wanty sprinter won by a handful of centimeters ahead of the German Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) and the Australian Sam Welsford (Team DSM) at the Bredene Koksijde Classic.

However, the UAE Team Emirates team had done everything to win. They initiated an increase in tempo with fifty kilometers to go to the finish, after two favorites crashed: Tim Merlier (Soudal – Quick-Step) and Hugo Hofstetter (Arkéa-Samsic). Then by launching Ackermann perfectly after an impressive pull from Juan Sebastian Molano. But Ackermann was finally overhauled by Gerben Thijssen. His win is the eighth victory of the season for his team.

The results: 1. Thijssen (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) ; 2. Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) ; 3. Welsford (Team DSM)…

*****

Cholet – Pays de la Loire: A first for Pithie

Laurence Pithie (Groupama – FDJ) took his first victory in the professional peloton. The 20-year-old New Zealander was very aggressive in the final moments of a 205-kilometer long race to win ahead of Anthony Perez (Cofidis) and Lorenzo Manzin (TotalEnergies).

In the final circuit, the Arkéa-Samsic, Tudor, and Cofidis formations controlled the many attacks that punctuated the last 50 kilometers. But three kilometers from the line, a group of about fifteen riders got off the front before Alexis Vuillermoz (TotalEnergies) tried to take the win with an attack in the last kilometer. Laurence Pithie reeled him in quickly before dropping him in the last 500 meters. “Today was really tough. We wanted to be aggressive during the last laps and we executed this plan to perfection,” Pithie explained. “Lewis Askey and I went in a strong group of five. It came back on the last lap, but Lewis did an incredible job to allow me to play for the victory. The effort I made in the last kilometer was so hard. I had never ridden so hard in my life. I managed to keep the advantage. I was already very happy with my second place yesterday, but every rider wants to win so I’m happy to achieve this performance today.”

The results: 1. Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) ; 2. Perez (Cofidis) ; 3. Manzin (TotalEnergies)… 

***** 

Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio: Van Anrooij takes her first win 

Shirin Van Anrooij won her first victory in the Women’s WorldTour at just 21 years old at the finish of the Trofeo Alfredo Binda. The Trek-Segafredo cyclist won solo after being the first to attack. Twenty kilometers from the finish, she left the pursuers behind to take a fifteen-second lead. On the last climb of Orino, Van Anrooij continued her efforts and further increased her lead despite the attempts of the other riders to bring her back. “I can’t believe it,” she explained at the finish. “This is my first victory in one of my favorite races! I absolutely did not expect to stay at the front. I thought the peloton would catch me and Balsamo would win the sprint. But somehow, I managed to win this race!”

The Trek-Segafredo posted a double with Elisa Balsamo taking second place. Vittoria Guazzini (FDJ-SUEZ) completed the podium.

The results: 1. Van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo) ; 2. Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) ; 3. Guazzini (FDJ-SUEZ)…

***** 

Upcoming races: 

20 to 26 March: Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, https://www.voltacatalunya.cat/en/

22 March: Classic Brugge De Panne, https://classicbruggedepanne.be/fr/

24 March: E3 Saxo Bank Classic, https://www.e3saxoclassic.be/fr_BE

26 March: Gent-Wevelgem hommes et dames, https://www.gent-wevelgem.be/fr

26 March: Roue Tourangelle, https://www.larouetourangelle.com/

@Paris Nice 

Paris-Nice: Pogacar, the art and the style

Tadej Pogacar continued his sparkling start to the season by winning the 81st edition of Paris-Nice. Above all, the Slovenian impressed with his mastery as the winner of three stages, and already sends a strong signal to his rivals four months ahead of the Tour de France.

In yellow after his success at La Loge des Gardes during the 4th stage, the leader of UAE Team Emirates never panicked despite the good form displayed by David Gaudu, the runner-up in the final classification, and the attacks of Jonas Vingegaard, 3rd at the finish but too short of form to compete with the double winner of the Tour de France. Pogacar, who comes from Komenda, showed his strength by taking prestigious victories at the top of the Col de la Couillole as well as on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. “It was a good choice to participate in this race,” he explained at the finish. “We finished under the sun with a great victory, the Yellow Jersey… I’m super happy. We did well as a team. I feel in very good condition as well, but I think I still have a little room for improvement. Not much, but still…”

With nine victories in 13 days of racing, Tadej Pogacar has started the 2023 season on a high note and is now heading for Milan-San Remo, his next big goal for a season that he hopes will be gargantuan.

Final classification: 1. Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) ; 2. Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) ; 3. Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)…

 Stages won by: Merlier (Soudal – Quick Step) ; Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) ; Jumbo-Visma ; Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) ; Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) ; 6th stage cancelled due to heavy winds ; Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) ; Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).

 *****

Tirreno – Adriatico: Roglic also succeeds in his comeback

Like Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) also won as soon as he returned to racing.

Following his victory in 2019, the Slovenian won Tirreno-Adriatico for the second time in his career after a controlled week. Winner of three stages, the leader of the Dutch squad was never worried about his win ahead of Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) and Tao Geoghegan Hart (INEOS Grenadiers). “It’s nice to get back in the race like that and win,” Roglic said. “I enjoyed this whole week. My teammates were very strong, and I would have liked to have them with me on the podium to celebrate together. A week ago, I mostly expected to suffer, I just wanted to race again. But everything went well. The fact that I got some good results makes it even better. As the Giro d’Italia approaches, it is above all a confirmation that we are doing well. We have to keep working to improve and we always try to do that.”

Note also the fine week of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin – Fenix), winner of two stages in the sprint.

Final classification: 1. Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) ; 2. Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) ; 3. Geoghegan Hart (INEOS Grenadiers)…

Stages won by: Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) ; Jakobsen (Soudal – Quick Step) ; Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) ; Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) ; Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) ; Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) ; Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix).

 *****

Upcoming races :

15 March: Danilith Nokere Koerse, https://www.nokerekoerse.be/

15 March: Milan – Turin, https://www.milanotorino.it/en/

16 March: Grand Prix de Denain – Porte du Hainault, https://gpdenain.fr/

17 March: Bredene Koksijde Classic, https://bredenekoksijdeclassic.be/

18 March: Milan – San Remo, https://www.milanosanremo.it/en/

19 March: Cholet – Pays de la Loire, https://www.choletpaysdelaloire.fr/

19 March: Trofeo Alfredo Binda – Comune di Cittiglio, https://www.cyclingsportpromotion.com/

@Strade Bianche

Le Samyn: Menten continues the good run by Lotto Dstny

Lotto Dstny continues its sparkling start to the season. Relegated to the second division at the start of the year, the Belgian team added a new success to their list by winning Le Samyn, their fourth victory of the year. Belgian Milan Menten won in the sprint in the streets of Doue ahead of Frenchman Hugo Hofstetter (Arkéa-Samsic) and Belgian Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo). “I arrived with a lot of question marks at the start,” Menten admitted. “It feels like a dream to be able to win here. I cannot believe it. My teammates made the race difficult, which was an ideal scenario for me. Thanks to their work, I arrived fresh in the last kilometers. After a complicated race, this type of finish suits me very well.” Note that European champion Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal – Quick Step), favorite for victory, was forced to retire following a crash.

The results: 1. Menten (Lotto Dstny) ; 2. Hofstetter (Arkéa-Samsic) ; 3. Theuns (Trek-Segafredo)…

 *****

Grand Prix Criquielion: Welsfond let his power speak

For its premiere in category 1.1., the Grand Prix Criquielion provided a thrilling race scenario. Ending with a mass sprint, Sam Welsford (Team DSM) won with a blast ahead of the  Belgian Milan Menten (Lotto Dstny), who came very close to his second victory in a week. Norwegian Kristoffer Halvorsen (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) took third place. “It was a tough day and I’m really relieved to end it like this for the guys,” said the DSM rider from Australia. “They protected me and rode in the wind all day. In the last kilometers, it was quite tense, but the guys annihilated all the attacks. We knew it was a long uphill sprint, so we didn’t want to start too early. I knew it would come fast from behind, so I let a few guys get past me and then used them so I could slingshot past everyone. I’m delighted to get this first victory in a one-day race.”

The results: 1. Welsford (Team DSM) ; 2. Menten (Lotto Dstny) ; 3. Halvorsen (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team)…

 *****

Strade Bianche Men’s : Pidcock, the art and the style

The mark of the greats. Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) performed a very high-flying number to win the Strade Bianche. Having attacked more than fifty kilometers from the finish, the Briton resisted the chase of the other favorites to enhance his record with a new prestigious victory. After the Olympic title in mountain biking in Tokyo in 2021, the world title in cyclocross last year as well as his stage victory at the top of Alpe d’Huez at the last Tour de France, the 23-year-old prodigy earned himself one of the most prestigious classics on the calendar. “When I went on the attack, it was absolutely not the plan,” he smiled after the finish. “Obviously that sector is normally a deciding spot, so I was just riding hard. I got a gap on the descent and just kept going. Many times they approached and I thought, ‘I’ve ruined everything, I’ve gone too soon and I wasted my shot here’. But in the end, I held them off. This week I had a good feeling, and I knew something good was going to happen. I knew today was my day. That it actually paid off is pretty amazing honestly. I don’t even know what to think right now.”

Pidcock triumphed in the streets of Siena alone, 20 seconds ahead of Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) who settled the group of chasers.

The results: 1. Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) ; 2. Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) ; 3. Benoot (Jumbo-Visma)…

 *****

Strade Bianche Women’s: Vollering – Kopecky, the royal duo for Team SD Worx

An unexpected end result. While she seemed ideally set to do a double at Strade Bianche, Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx) was surprised… by her teammate Demi Vollering, who threw her bike over the line to grab the prestigious race for herself after her victories at La Course by le Tour and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2021.

The Dutch team was a step above the rest on Saturday, able to play its two cards to perfection on the roads of Tuscany. “This win means a lot to me. I have always loved this race, but I have always had to work here for my teammates,” explained Vollering, who took  second place overall at the Tour de France femmes avec Zwift 2022. This year, the team and especially Chantal van den Broek-Blaak told me that I really had to believe in myself at this event. It gave me a lot of confidence and I thank them for it.”

The American Kristen Faulkner (Team Jayco AlUla), caught in the last few hundred meters after a solo escape of more than 40 km, managed to take third, keeping her place on the podium.

The results: 1. Vollering (Team SD Worx) ; 2. Kopecky (Team SD Worx) ; 3. Faulkner (Team Jayco AlUla)…

 *****

Paris-Nice: Merlier takes the first yellow jersey

Enjoying an excellent start to the season, Tim Merlier (Soudal – Quick Step) confirmed his very good form by winning the first stage of Paris-Nice, this Sunday at La Verrière. The Belgian champion, who already has five victories since the start of the year, won ahead of Sam Bennett and Mads Pedersen. “I don’t know how I managed to win,” Merlier laughed at the finish. “To be honest, I don’t even know if I’m really the fastest. Everything is going well, I’m very, very happy with how I feel, in the team and on the bike, while I don’t even have my best watts yet compared to what I did last year. It’s probably because I have always been well placed, whereas last year I sometimes had to come from further away. I hope it will continue like this for a few more weeks, until Paris-Roubaix.”

This first stage was also marked by Tadej Pogacar’s attack in the final. The Slovenian took the opportunity to take six bonus seconds and is already on the podium in the general classification. The Race to the Sun continues until Sunday.

 *****

Next races :

Until 12/03 : Paris-Nice, https://www.paris-nice.fr/fr/

From 6 to 12/03 : Tirreno – Adriatico, https://www.tirrenoadriatico.it/

© UAE Tour

UAE Tour: Evenepoel hits hard

The second race of the season was good for Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian won the UAE Tour like a boss, his third overall success in a WorldTour stage race after the Tour de Pologne and the Vuelta. At the age of 23, the Soudal – Quick Step rider’s record of achievements continues to grow and proves, once again, that the current World Champion will be a force to reckon with at the upcoming Giro d’Italia, his main objective for the season. “It was a packed race, breathless until the end. Seven days at this level was ideal preparation and I received several good signs ahead of the Giro,” he explained.

The results: 1. Evenepoel (Soudal – Quick Step) ; 2. Plapp (INEOS Grenadiers) ; 3. A. Yates (UAE Team Emirates)…

Stages won by: Merlier (Soudal – Quick Step), Soudal – Quick Step, Rubio (Movistar), Molano (UAE Team Emirates), Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla), Merlier (Soudal – Quick Step), A. Yates (UAE Team Emirates).

*****

Tour du Rwanda: Mulubrhan: a new hero

The Eritrean flag fluttered in the skies over Rwanda. By winning the last stage in Kigali, Henok Mulubrhan kept his yellow jersey for the Tour du Rwanda until the end to win the overall general classification. The 23 year old double African champion earned himself the first stage race victory of his career. He also becomes the 4th rider from his country to win the event and confirms his recent progress, in the shadow of the great rival of his youth, Biniam Girmay. “I am so happy to put this race on my list. I had a magical week,” said an enthusiastic Mulubrhan, a new force in African cycling. He finished ahead of Italian Walter Calzoni (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Belgian William Junior Lecerf (Soudal – Quick Step Devo Team) in the overall.

The results: 1. . Mulubrhan (Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) ; 2. Calzoni (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) ; 3. Lecerf (Soudal – Quick Step Devo Team)…

Stages won by: Vernon (Soudal – Quick Step), Vernon (Soudal – Quick Step), Mulubrhan (Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), Bonnet (TotalEnergies), Ormiston (Global 6 Cycling), Badilatti (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Tarozzi (Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), Mulubrhan (Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè).

*****

Faun Ardèche Classic: Alaphilippe roars to his 40th

Missing out on a win for seven long months, Julian Alaphilippe has broken his drought at the Faun-Ardèche Classic. Exceptional on the ramps of the climb of Saint-Romain-de-Lerps, the French puncher found his legs, and sent a signal to those who no longer saw a future for him at the very top of world cycling by sprinting ahead of David Gaudu, who was the only rider to be able to stay with him at the front in the final of the French classic. “I really wanted to take a victory because it is a feeling I have missed a lot,” Alaphilippe admitted, visibly moved. “I was looking forward to getting there. I know that I have worked a lot in the last few weeks to be in good condition. It validates the work. I look forward to continuing.” Alaphilippe has launched his season in the best way, after his 2022 was marked by mishaps.

The results: 1. Alaphilippe (Soudal – Quick Step) ; 2. Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) ; 3. Skjelmose (Trek – Segafredo)…

*****

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Van Baarle, a victory with style

Starts with fanfare. The Dutchman Dylan Van Baarle won the first Belgian classic of the season solo this Saturday at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The 30-year-old rider as a result won his first victory with the Jumbo-Visma team and confirms his love of the classics one year after his victory at Paris-Roubaix and his second place at the Tour of Flanders.
After the bunch was reduced thanks to the incessant attacking of his teammates – six of the seven Jumbo riders attempted an escape within 100 km from the line -, Van Baarle placed his decisive acceleration 40 kilometers from the line, in the Molenberg, one of the twelve climbs of a route also embellished with nine cobbled sectors. “The goal was to win convincingly with the team. We tried to control the race as much as possible. It’s new for me to race in this way,” Van Baarle explained. “Everyone did a great job. I can only thank the guys for having raced like this and allowed me to take the victory. “
Arnaud de Lie (Lotto Dstny) and Van Baarle’s teammate Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) completed the podium.

The results: 1. Van Baarle (Jumbo-Visma) ; 2. De Lie (Lotto Dstny) ; 3. Laporte (Jumbo-Visma)…

*****

Faun Drôme Classic: Perez wins in dantesque conditions

Cofidis rider Anthony Perez won the Drôme Classic solo, the second part of the Boucles Drôme Ardèche. The 31-year-old Frenchman asserted himself with a very big attack 37 kilometers from the finish. Despite a headwind that greatly complicated the final kilometers, he managed to keep the lead to win and chalk up his fifth victory as a professional. “I’m super happy,” he said. “The team trusted me and I’m really happy to have won. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, I’ll see when I wake up in the next few days. My dad was at the race and that makes this even more moving. We still had four riders on the 2nd around the circuit and then I went as hard as I could. It suited me that it was a race of attrition, I suspected the course suited me well and it did. I’m super happy!”

The results: 1. Perez (Cofidis) ; 2. Costa ( Intermarché – Circus – Wanty) ; 3. Bagioli (Soudal-Quick Step)…

*****

Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne: Benoot and Jumbo-Visma continue their streak

In the aftermath of Dylan Van Baarle’s victory over the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the Jumbo-Visma continued to impress for the opening weekend of the Flanders Classics. The Belgian Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma) raised his arms at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne after a strong demonstration by his team. He won ahead of his compatriot and teammate Nathan Van Hooydonck.
Isolated in a group of four in the last 50 kilometers also with Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious) and Taco Van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Benoot accelerated under the flamme rouge to win with a small margin over his breakaway partners. “I don’t win very often but when I win, they’re great races,” he said at the finish. “Here, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne for me is a Classic. And it is clearly one of my greatest victories. With the team’s performance today, it’s really nice to end like this.”

The results: 1. Benoot (Jumbo-Visma) ; 2. Van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma) ; 3. Mohoric (Bahrain – Victorious)…

*****

Upcoming races:

28/02 : Le Samyn, https://lesamyn.be/

04/03 : Grand Prix Criquielion, https://www.ententecyclisteacrenoise.be/

04/03 : Strade Bianche (hommes et femmes), https://www.strade-bianche.it/en

From the 5 to 12/03 : Paris-Nice, https://www.paris-nice.fr/fr/.