© Amstel Gold Race

Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition: Vollering and another SD Worx Masterclass

The SD Worx team once again beat the competition in the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition, won by Demi Vollering. Second of the last two editions, the Dutchwoman was finally able to win at home by exploiting superb teamwork executed masterfully and magnified by the second place of her teammate Lotte Kopecky.

The SD Worx duo ideally placed themselves when approaching the Cauberg, the last of the 21 difficulties of the day, thanks to great teamwork, in particular with the help of Lorena Wiebes, to soften up the opposition.

Vollering then took advantage of the hesitation in the group of favorites to attack 1600m from the finish. A choice that paid dividends for the 26-year-old racer, who arrived solo to achieve a second prestigious victory this season after her win, again ahead of Kopecky, at Strade Bianche.

Vollering and Kopecky’s spring results are stunning. Kopecky picked up three victories in seven races (Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Nokere Koerse, Tour of Flanders) and two second places (Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race), in addition to a seventh place in an unlucky Paris-Roubaix.

Demi Vollering has meanwhile obtained three victories in six races (Strade Bianche, A Travers la Flandre, Amstel Gold Race) as well as two second places (Tour of Flanders, Flèche Brabançonne).

The results: 1. Vollering (SD Worx) ; 2. Kopecky (SD Worx) ; 3. Van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo)…

*****

Amstel Gold Race: Pogacar, again and always

The big favorite, Tadej Pogacar did not fail to impress and won the Amstel Gold Race, bossing the whole peloton. Two weeks after his triumph in the Tour of Flanders, the Slovenian added a new prestigious race to his record, winning the race in grand style solo. The insatiable rider from UAE Emirates covered the last 28 kilometers alone to win with a 38” lead over the surprising Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), who already took second in the Flèche Brabançonne four days earlier, and more than two minutes ahead of Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers). Just another impressive demonstration to post the 11th victory of his season.

“It’s incredible to win here,” Pogacar explained at the finish. “I didn’t think I would attack so early, 90 kilometers from the finish, but once at the front, I gave it my all until the end, I was exhausted. When I attacked for the first time, it was not planned. I managed to get into the leading group, it was a great situation because I just had to control. As I didn’t know this race very well, I exchanged messages with Mathieu van der Poel, who advised me to attack in the Keutenberg. It was a climb that suited me perfectly. I will thank him for the advice.”

Pogacar also becomes the fourth rider to do the Tour of Flanders-Amstel double after Eddy Merckx (1975), Jan Raas (1979) and Philippe Gilbert (2017). His performance sends a warning message to his opponents ahead of Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday and Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.

The results: 1. Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) ; 2. Healy (EF Education-Easy Post) ; 3. Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers)…

*****

Giro di Sicilia: Lutsenko finally kicks off Astana’s season

The Kazakh Alexey Lutsenko has opened his win tally this season by taking the victory at the Giro di Sicilia. The Astana Qazaqstan Team rider up-ended the scenario of this 5th edition by distancing all his opponents in the 4th and last stage between Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto and Giarre (216 km), which he won solo.

Only in 4^th place at the start of the final day, Lutsenko escaped 25 km from the finish and crossed the line 40 seconds ahead of South African Louis Meintjes and 1 minute 13 over Italian Vincenzo Albanese. They ended by being the two men who also accompanied him on the podium of the final general classification.

New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black, who had been the leader since his victory in the first stage, was distanced and finished 4th.

“It’s been over a year since I won a race. It’s great to do it just before the Ardennes classics,” the 30-year-old Lutsenko was happy to report.

The results: 1. Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan Team) ; 2. Meintjes (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) ; 3. Albanese (EOLO-Kometa)…

Stages won by: Fisher-Black (UAE Team Emirates) ; Bonifazio (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) ; Suter (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) ; Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan Team).

***** 

Paris-Camembert: Ferron as the boss

Valentin Ferron (TotalEnergies) won Paris-Camembert, the seventh round of the Coupe de France. At the end of the 209 kilometer race, the Frenchman dominated the two-man sprint ahead of the young Ewen Costiou (Arkéa-Samsic). This was his first victory of the season after a string of runner-up spots since the start of the year. Fredrik Dversnes (Uno-X) finished third, 15 seconds behind the leading duo.

“It’s a race that I really like, it suits me very well. This year, I have a win unlike last year; it feels very good. I’m happy to raise my arms, to get my first victory of the year,” Ferron admitted. “I work for that in training. It will take the pressure off me, and for the team too. This is a very good result. The form has been good since the Route Adélie, I had a good performance at the Tour des Pays de la Loire, it’s good to get things done.”

The results: 1. Ferron (TotalEnergies) ; 2. Costiou (Team Arkéa-Samsic) ; 3. Dversnes (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team)…

***** 

De Brabantse Pijl – La Flèche Brabançonne: Godon, a victory that feels good

Dorian Godon posted “the greatest success of (his) career” by winning De Brabantse Pijl after winning a two-man sprint against his breakaway companion, the Irishman Ben Healy, at Overijse in the Brussels suburbs. 

His teammate Benoît Cosnefroy completed the triumph of the Savoy-based team by taking third place ahead of his two compatriots Rémi Cavagna and Axel Zingle.

At 26, Godon was part of a six-man breakaway initiated by former French champion Remi Cavagna 38 kilometers from the line. The latter was unable to follow Godon and Healy when they accelerated on the penultimate climb of the day, at 18 km from the finish.

“I didn’t have very good feelings when the breakaway of six took shape but I gradually found my legs. And in a two-man sprint, I was not going to let go: we have so few opportunities to play for the win,” commented Godon after his seventh success among the professionals. “The team was pretty unhappy during the cobbled classics. Then here, we get first and third with Benoît, who has arrived in very good shape for the Ardennes. It really feels good. This is my greatest victory. When you look at the past winners, there are a lot of big names.”

The results: 1. Godon (AG2R Citroën Team) ; 2. Healy (EF Education-Easy Post) ; 3. Cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën Team)

***** 

Classic Grand Besançon Doubs: Lafay, a star (almost) at home

For the kick-off of the Franche-Comté triptych, Victor Lafay showed his power to win the Classic Grand Besançon Doubs. The victory came very close to home for the Cofidis puncher, whose uncle lives in Montfaucon, the new finishing town for the event.

Lafay maneuvered himself perfectly on the second ascent of the Côte de la Malate by responding to the attacks of the young French climber Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ). Even though Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), Roger Adrio (Equipo Ken Pharma) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) managed to rejoin them for a short time, the two men broke away again in the last kilometer before Lafay, the faster sprinter, won. 

“It was important to put this win on my record, and it’s done so I’m super happy,” Lafay said. “It’s always good to get the first win of the season, I hope there will be more to come.”

The results: .1 Lafay (Cofidis) ; 2. Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) ; 3. Adria (Equipo Kern Pharma)…

***** 

Tour du Jura : Vauquelin confirms his talent

A professional for only a year, Kevin Vauquelin never ceases to amaze. The Arkéa-Samsic rider distinguished himself in the Tour du Jura by winning solo after managing to make the difference two kilometers from the finish to win ahead of Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Guillaume Martin (Cofidis).

In dantesque conditions, between gusts of wind and incessant rain, Vauquelin took advantage of the steepest gradients on Mont Poupet to pick up the third success of his season, after winning the overall and a stage of the Tour du Var et des Alpes Maritimes.

“The start was a bit complicated,” Vauquelin admitted. “It was hard. The speed was pretty insane. Finally, at the end, I felt that I was really good. My teammate Alessandro Verre did a great job breaking away. That allowed me to be well placed behind without having to work. However, when I felt it was time, I made my own move. The tactic was perfect. We are a strong and united team. It’s all teamwork. Andrii (Ponomar) rode well from the start and then we were always one step ahead. We were very attentive. I am happy to finish off all our hard work”, he explained.

The results: 1. Vauquelin (Arkéa-Samsic) ; 2. Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) ; 3. Martin (Cofidis)… 

***** 

Tour du Doubs: Herrada surprises Pinot

Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) won the Tour du Doubs, triumphing at the top of Larmont (Doubs), the new finish line for this 38th edition, which was raced in appalling conditions. The 32-year-old Spanish climber, already the winner of a stage in the Tour of Oman this season, separated himself from the group of favorites 400 meters from the finish to hold a tiny margin over his pursuers. This is the 20th victory of his career.

Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Nans Peters (AG2R Citroën Team) completed the podium.

“I am happy to take the win here. I looked at the map of the final on my computer and I had spotted that there was a false flat finish,” Herrada explained. “So, I decided to start my sprint from a long way out, 400 meters from the line. I won the Classic Grand Besançon Doubs last year already, I’m happy to do it again here on the Tour du Doubs. This is my second victory of the season and the second for my Cofidis team this weekend. The Larmont climb was rolling. With Guillaume Martin, we had decided that he would repeat his attacks and if that didn’t work, I would play my card in the sprint. It worked. This gives me confidence for the Ardennes classics next week.”

The results: 1. Herrada (Cofidis) ; 2. Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) ; 3. Peters (AG2R Citroën Team)… 

***** 

Races to come :

17 – 21 April: Tour of the Alps, https://www.tourofthealps.eu/

19 April: La Flèche Wallonne hommes, https://www.la-fleche-wallonne.be/fr

19 April: La Flèche Wallonne dames, https://www.la-fleche-wallonne.be/fr

23 April: Liège-Bastogne-Liège hommes, https://www.liege-bastogne-liege.be/fr

23 April: Liège-Bastogne-Liège dames, https://www.liege-bastogne-liege.be/fr

23 April: Rutlan Melton Cicle Classic, http://cicleclassic.co.uk/

© ASO / Pauline Ballet

Paris-Roubaix: van der Poel, the hero of a record-breaking edition

Mathieu van der Poel won his first Paris-Roubaix, the fourth Monument of his career, at the end of a 120th edition, which was also marked by the bad luck of Wout van Aert. Van Aert punctured at the worst time, at the exit of the Carrefour de l’Arbre, after the two men had just made the difference to separate themselves from their companions.

Van der Poel, aggressive since the start of the day and who had just involuntarily been the cause of German John Degenkolb’s crash, immediately jumped at the chance to fly away to victory. His first Hell of the North victory, which he was able to savor for a long time on the Roubaix velodrome, came at the end of the fastest edition in history (46.841 km / h), raced under a spring sun.

“It’s extraordinary, especially to enter the velodrome alone. We go first and second with Jasper. We are really going to celebrate it tonight because it may never happen again,” van der Poel, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor, happily explained. 

The results : 1. Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; 2. Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; 3. Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)…

***** 

Paris-Roubaix femmes: the Jackson surprise

Canadian Alison Jackson achieved the greatest success of her career at the age of 34 by winning the 3rd edition of Paris-Roubaix femmes ahead of Italian Katia Ragusa and Belgian Marthe Truyen. 

Very active in a breakaway of about twenty riders, to whom the favorites of this race gave too much leeway, Jackson eliminated her opponents over the ensuing kilometers.

The rider from the EF Education-TIBCO-SVB team constantly fueled this offensive while behind, the big favorite of the day Lotte Kopecky struggled to get back up to the lead of the race. The Belgian, the winner of the Tour of Flanders last week, was the first of the favorites to put in a major attack 50km from the finish. 

Present in a group of about fifteen riders, the Kopecky was caught up in a crash 37 km from the finish, which ended her dreams of success.

“When we did the reconnaissance of the course this week and went around the velodrome, I dreamed of this victory,” Jackson explained. “Most of the time when you do that, it remains a dream. It is unreal that it has become a reality. I have no words.”

The results: 1. Jackson (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) ; 2. Ragusa (Liv Racing TeqFind) ; 3. Truyen (Fenix-Deceuninck)…

***** 

Itzulia Basque Country: Vingegaard puts on a show

Jonas Vingegaard dispelled the doubts. Beaten by Tadej Pogacar and David Gaudu at Paris-Nice, the Dane offered a demonstration on the roads of Itzulia Basque Country. The winner of three stages plus the general classification, the leader of the Jumbo-Visma team was dominant. And the final gap, just over a minute on Mikel Landa, does not say everything about his advantage, especially during the sixth stage where he won with a solo effort of 28 kilometers to seal his success.

“I have to thank my teammates first of all, they were fantastic,” Vingegaard said. “We did a perfect job all week. I had the legs and I felt good. I don’t know if I was the best, but I was able to breakaway and I’m super happy to win a week-long WorldTour stage race for the first time in my career.”

The results: 1. Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) ; 2. Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) ; 3. I. Izagirre (Cofidis)…

Stages won by: Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers) ; Schelling (Bora- Hansgrohe) ; Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) ; Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) ; Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe) ; Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma).

***** 

Région Pays de la Loire Tour: Kamp reverses the situation

Alexander Kamp (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) upset the general classification of the Région Pays de la Loire Tour on the last day. Second in the last stage at Le Mans, the Dane won the first edition of the event, beating the odds.

The Danish champion took advantage of his attacking temperament to earn himself the greatest success of his career. “From time to time, the impossible becomes possible. Above all, it was necessary to monitor the various attacks,” Kamp explained. “I am happy with this victory. There were bonus seconds available at the start of the stage, which caused me to lose even more time in the overall standings. It’s one thing to plan, it’s another to execute. It wasn’t easy, but sometimes you need luck and I got it in the end.”

Kamp won ahead of Fredrik Dversnes (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) and Valentin Ferron (TotalEnergies). Note that this first edition was also marked by the domination of Bryan Coquard in the bunch sprints, victorious in two stages.

The results: 1. Kamp (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) ; 2. Dversenes (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) ; 3. Ferron (TotalEnergies)… 

Stages won by: Coquard (Cofidis) ; Blikra (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) ; Coquard (Cofidis) ; Dversenes (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team).

***** 

Scheldeprijs: Philipsen can thank van der Poel

Skillfully helped in the final by his teammate Mathieu van der Poel, the Belgian Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won the Scheldeprijs sprint, ahead of the Australian Sam Welsford (DSM) and the Briton Mark Cavendish (Astana). This is the fourth victory of his season. “It’s never easy to win, but the team made it as easy as possible. It is very nice to see that we have taken the initiative. I thought it was really ambitious, but we managed to reach the finish line in the lead. It’s one of the biggest races of the year for a sprinter, so this victory is important, and I place it high among all my successes,” Philipsen explained.

The results: 1. Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; 2. Welsford (Team DSM) ; 3. Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team)…

*****

Races to come:

April 11-14 : Giro di Sicilia, https://ilgirodisicilia.it/en/

April 11 avril : Paris-Camembert, https://paris-camembert.fr/

April 12 : La Flèche Brabançonne, https://www.debrabantsepijl.be/fr

April 14 : Classic Grand Besançon Doubs, https://www.classicgrandbesancondoubs.com/

April 15 : Tour du Jura, https://www.tourdujura.com/

April 16 : Amstel Gold Race, https://www.amstel.nl/agecheck?redirect=%2Famstelgoldrace

April 16 : Tour du Doubs, https://www.facebook.com/tourdudoubs/

@ Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya: Roglic wins the first round against Evenepoel

They fought hard for seven days! Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel engaged in a thrilling duel over seven days on the roads of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. The Slovenian and the Belgian, racing against each other for the first time this season, were on the attack almost every day. And it was finally the leader of the Jumbo-Visma who emerged victorious from the duel this Sunday after yet another exciting stage. 

Though the world champion from the Soudal-Quick Step won the stage, Roglic secured the 18th general classification victory of his career and added another prestigious race to his collection. “It was a difficult week and I expected an equally difficult final day today. But the team was great, they kept me in a good position. I had good legs so I was able to follow Remco. Overall the week has been excellent, now we can celebrate,” a satisfied Roglic explained.

The two men will now meet again at the Giro d’Italia (May 6-28).

The results: 1. Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) ; 2. Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) ; 3. Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)…

Stages won by:  Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo), Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step), Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step), Groves (Alpecin- Deceuninck), Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Groves (Alpecin- Deceuninck), Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step).

***** 

Classic Brugge De Panne: Philipsen at the end of a suspenseful race

In pouring rain and squalls, Belgian Jasper Philipsen won the Classic Bruges De Panne, in a four-way duel in the final. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider took the victory in front of Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) with Yves Lampaert (Soudal-Quick Step) taking 3^rd after having led out the sprint. Philipsen posted its third success this season.

The results: 1. Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; 2. Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) ; 3. Lampaert (Soudal-Quick Step)…

***** 

Classic Brugge De Panne femmes : Georgi puts on a show

Pfeiffer Georgi took the women’s event in Bruges – De Panne. The Briton won ahead of the Italian Elisa Balsamo and the Dutch Lorena Wiebes. At 22, she posted her first success in a WorldTour event, the greatest victory of her young career. The DSM rider escaped seven kilometers from the line to win more than a minute ahead of the rest of the competitors. “My team came with the plan to race aggressively. To finish the job like this is fantastic. My legs were quite tired, but I gave it my all until the finish line,” Georgi said.

The results: 1. Georgi (Team DSM) ; 2. Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) ; 3. Wiebes (Team SD Worx)…

***** 

E3 Saxo Bank Classic: Van Aert, king of the fantastic three

As expected, this battle kept all its promises. And it was Wout van Aert who won it, on home soil, during the E3 Saxo Bank Classic. After shadowing his rivals during the last 20 kilometers, the Belgian made the difference in the final sprint to overtake the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel and the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, respectively second and third.

The three men, who distinguished themselves on the Harelbeke, broke away from the peloton 43 kilometers from the finish and were never caught, after repeated attacks on the climbs, punctuated by cobblestone sectors. “Very important races for me are coming. The legs are good,” van Aert explained. “The races I love the most are coming now. I will be confident when I start. A good period is coming.”

The results: 1. Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) ; 2. Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; 3. Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)…

***** 

Gent – Wevelgem: Laporte with van Aert’s blessing

The Frenchman Christophe Laporte posted the greatest success of his career by winning Gent-Wevelgem with the blessing of his leader Wout van Aert. The two Jumbo Visma riders escaped together fifty kilometers from the finish on the second ascent of Kemmelberg. In difficult weather conditions, on winding and wet Flanders roads, they quickly created a significant gap. “We had the plan to accelerate on the Kemmelberg. We did it and we ended up together,” Laporte explained. “After that, all that was left to do was give everything till we reached the line. Wout asked me if I wanted to win. He knew the answer. It’s incredible. He was stronger than me today. I owe him this victory… It was a childhood dream for me to win a classic after a stage of the Tour de France.”

Second last year behind the Eritrean Biniam Girmay, Christophe Laporte joins Philippe Gaumont (1997), Bernard Hinault (1977) and Jacques Anquetil (1964) as a French winner of the event.

The results: 1. Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) ; 2. Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) ; 3. Vanmarcke (Israel-Premier Tech)…

***** 

Gent-Wevelgem dames: Reusser goes solo

Marlen Reusser (Team SD Worx) won Gent-Wevelgem. Starting 40 kilometers from the finish, the Swiss finished 2’42 ahead of her closest pursuer, the American Megan Jastrad (Team DSM). Jastrad beat Dutchwoman Karlijn Swinkels (Jumbo-Visma) in the bunch sprint for the remaining podium places. “Team SD Worx is so strong. It’s special when you feel the full confidence of your team and can win in such a way. Since Lorena (Wiebes) has joined the team, that allows us to race more freely,” explained Reusser, who is a double European time trial champion. “My attack? It was not an attack. I just accelerated, but I got a gap right away so I kept the same pace to see what would happen. My lead quickly increased, after which I decided to go full speed ahead. It was not a difficult decision to make because I was the first card to play, there were five others behind me. The fact that I could ride alone in front for 45 kilometers was only possible because the SD Worx team was so strongly represented in the peloton. I’m already looking forward to the Tour of Flanders.”

The results: 1. Reusser (Team SD Worx) ; 2. Jastrab (Team DSM) ; 3. Van der Duin (Canyon/SRAM Racing)…

***** 

Roue Tourangelle: Townsend a surprise winner

Irish champion Rory Townsend won La Roue Tourangelle. Though Townsend (Bolton Equities Black Spoke) was on the attack on the penultimate climb of the very hilly course, he still had reserved enough strength to sprint a peloton of around forty men. He finished ahead of Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) and Pierre Barbier (U Nantes Atlantique).

The results: 1. Townsen (Bolton Equities Black Spoke) ; 2. Thijssen (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) ; 3. Barbier (CIC U Nantes Atlantique)…

***** 

Races to come:

29 March: Dwars door Vlaanderen, https://www.ddvl.eu/nl/wedstrijd/elite-mannen/wedstrijdinfo

31 March: La Route Adélie de Vitré, https://routeadelievitre.com/

1 April: Gran Premio Miguel Indurain, http://www.clubciclistaestella.com

1 April: Volta Limburg Classic, https://www.voltalimburgclassic.nl/nl/

2 April: Ronde van Vlaanderen, https://www.rondevanvlaanderen.be/fr