© Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol

Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista del Sol: Tadej Pogacar starts with a bang

He makes a little more history. Tadej Pogacar won the 2023 edition of the Vuelta a Andalucia. Winning three out of five stages, the Slovenian crushed this 79th edition, becoming the first Slovenian to put his name on the list of winners of the Iberian event.
By taking the general classification more than a minute ahead of Mikel Landa (Bahrain – Victorious), the double winner of the Tour de France already has five victories this season (51 in career, at barely 24 years old). “The result is a little surprising, yes, but I knew that my form was good”, he explained Sunday evening. “I felt very strong in this race and I hope to be strong in the next ones as well. In any case, I want to continue the season as I started it!”

The results: 1. Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) ; 2. Landa (Bahrain – Victorious) ; 3. Buitrago (Bahrain – Victorious)…

Stages won by: Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Wellens (UAE Team Emirates), Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Fraile (INEOS Grenadiers).

*****

Tour of Oman: Jorgenson by a second

Matteo Jorgenson did not have time to savor his stage victory at the Tour of Oman. Having taken the leader’s red jersey after his win at the top of Jabal Hatt during the third stage, the American of Movistar remained under threat from the Belgian Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal-Quick Step) until the end of the race.

Finally, the 23-year-old climber managed to keep a second of margin between him and Vansevenant, who broke away to win the last stage at the top of Green Mountain. However, Vansevenant did not win by enough of a gap to grab the overall lead. “It was a really difficult final”, admitted the American Jorgenson at the finish. “I may have seemed to ride with a lot of confidence, but I was secretly very nervous before the start. I’m still quite strong and I really had to push my limits on the climb. No one can imagine how special this victory is. Two days ago I won my first professional victory and now I have won the overall at a stage race, it’s crazy!”

Long in the fight with the leading duo, the French Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R Citroën) finished third on the stage and completed the final podium of the Tour of Oman.

The results: 1. Jorgenson (Movistar) ; 2. Vansevenant (Soudal – Quick Step) ; 3. Bouchard (AG2R Citroën)…

Stages won by: Merlier (Soudal – Quick Step), Herrada (Cofidis), Jorgenson (Movistar), Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) ; Vansevenant (Soudal – Quick Step).

*****

Setmana Ciclista – Volta Comunitat Valenciana Femines : Ghekiere surprises everyone

A surprise winner at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana Femines. At the end of a breathtaking fourth and final stage, Justine Ghekiere surprised everyone to win the final general classification. The AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step rider stole the leader’s jersey by just one second from her teammate, South African Ashleigh Moolman.
Everything was decided on the last day, between Tavernes de la Valldigna and Gandia. Present in the morning breakaway, Ghekiere placed herself at the head of the race on the ascent of the Alto de Barx along with Elise Uijen (Team DSM). Though the 19-year-old Uijen finally won the sprint for the stage Ghekiere took enough time, thanks to the bonus seconds, to secure the first victory of her professional career. “I was not expecting that at all. It’s just crazy to win the general classification. When I went into the breakaway, I was aiming for the mountain jersey. But I’m even happier to go home with the yellow jersey”, she said.

The results: 1. Ghekiere (AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step) ; 2. Moolman (AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step) ; 3. Spratt (Trek-Segafredo)…

Stages won by: Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo), Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo), Moolman (AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step), Uijen (Team DSM).

*****

Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var: Vauquelin, the blossoming of a talent

Kévin Vauquelin finally has his first victory as a pro. Highly visible since the start of the season, the rider from Arkéa-Samsic won the first general classification of his career among professionals at the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var. Leader at the end of the first stage where he soloed in the last kilometer to win the stage, the 21-year-old rider was able to keep his yellow leader’s jersey by resisting the threat of Aurélien Paret-Peintre during the last stage. By winning alone in the streets of Vence, the AG2R Citroën climber secured the first victory for his team in the process but missed taking the top step on the final podium by seven seconds. The American Neilson Powless (EF Education – Easy Post) completed the top-3, third at ten seconds. The third stage went to Paret-Peintre solo. “When I arrived here, I wanted to do well in the overall, and at least win a stage. It started much better than expected”, said Vauquelin, who will be one to watch during the next Paris-Nice (March 5-12).

The results: 1. Vauquelin (Arkéa-Samsic) ; 2. Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën) ; 3. Powless (EF Education – Easy Post)…

Stages won by: Vauquelin (Arkéa-Samsic), Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo), Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën).

*****

Tour du Rwanda: Vernon keeps up the momentum

Already victorious this season in Mallorca, Ethan Vernon (Soudal-QuickStep) won in a sprint during the first stage of the Tour du Rwanda, in Rwamagana on Sunday. At the end of a stage designed for sprinters (the rest of the menu will be more mountainous), the Briton showed his power in the last few hundred meters to win ahead of the Frenchman Émilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies) and the Eritrean Henok Mulubrhan (Green Project-Bardiani). “It was a perfect day for me. The last corner before the final straight was tight and that’s where I made the difference. As we had been there four times before on the final circuit, I knew that was where everything could be decided”, Vernon explained.
The Tour du Rwanda continues until February 26.

*****

Upcoming races:

Now until 26/02 : Tour du Rwanda, http://www.tourdurwanda.rw/ 
From the 20 to 26/02 : UAE Tour, https://www.theuaetour.com/ 
25/02 : Faun Ardèche Classic, https://boucles-drome-ardeche.fr/ 
25/02 : Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, https://www.omloophetnieuwsblad.be/nl/wedstrijd/elite-mannen/wedstrijdinfo 
26/02 : Faun Drôme Classic, https://boucles-drome-ardeche.fr/ 
26/02 : Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, https://www.kuurne-brussel-kuurne.be/ 

© ASO / Thomas Maheux

Tour of Oman: Jesus Herada (Cofidis) takes command

While the Tour of Oman will deliver its final verdict this Wednesday at Jabal Al Akhdhal, at the end of the 5th stage, this 12th edition of the race has offered two first stages that have been rich in lessons. In a majestic setting, Tim Merlier took his first win for 2023 in Muscat after a first stage perfectly mastered by his new team Soudal – Quick Step. The double Belgian champion made his power speak in the final straight to take the only stage, on paper at least, made for sprinters. “It is of course special,” Merlier said. “It’s a victory for my son born ten days ago, for Cameron, my partner, who had her birthday yesterday.”
He was ahead of David Dekker (Team Arkéa-Samsic) and Axel Zingle, the young rider from Cofidis. Cofidis also distinguished itself the next day in the first finish designed for punchers in Quryyat. In the final climb to Qurayyat (2.5 km at 7.3%), Jesus Herrada was the fastest of a group of 50 riders to win ahead of Maxime Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) and Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates).
The 32-year-old rider posted the 19th victory of his career, the first this season, and took the lead in the general classification with 4 seconds ahead of Van Gils and 6 over Ulissi.
“I feel very good, I am very happy with this victory,” he explained. “We have a team in good shape here at the Tour of Oman. The final today was good for me, and the team did a great job. In the end, I gave everything to get this victory, for me and for the team. We achieved our first objective with a stage victory. We’re going to go day by day now and defend the overall lead for as long as possible.”

Stages won by: Tim Merlier (Soudal – Quick Step); Jesus Herada (Cofidis).

******

Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia: Ben Turner takes his first victory in style

A big first for Ben Turner. The Briton from INEOS Grenadiers took the first victory of his professional career on Saturday, February 11, by winning the Vuelta Ciclista a la Región de Murcia. In a difficult and tortuous final, the 23-year-old rider won the Spanish classic by dominating Simon Clarke (Israel – Premier Tech) and Jordi Meeus (BORA – Hansgrohe) in the sprint from a small group. Frenchman Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) finished just off the podium. “My teammates did an excellent job,” said Turner, who took 11th place in Paris-Roubaix last year. “I do not know what to say. Without them, I wouldn’t have even come close to winning. In the end, I didn’t want to be tricked. After the reconnaissance, I knew I had to be in front and start my sprint as soon as possible. I hope it will not be the last victory of my career. It’s good to have a victory in February. Let’s see what the rest of the season will bring me.”

This is the third victory of the season for the British team after Luke Plapp became Australian Champion and Tao Geoghegan Hart’s stage victory at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

Final classification: 1. Ben Turner (INEOS Grenadiers) ; 2. Simon Clarke (Israël – Premier Tech) ; 3. Jordi Meeus (BORA – Hansgrohe)…

 *****

Upcoming races:

Until 15/02: Tour of Oman, https://www.tour-of-oman.com/fr 

15 to 19/02: Vuelta a Andalucia Route Ciclista del Sol, https://vueltaandalucia.es/ 

02/16 to 19: Setmana Ciclista – Volta Comunitat Valenciana Femines, https://ccescapada.com/setmana-ciclista-valenciana 

17 to 19/02: Tour of the Alpes Maritimes and the Var, https://www.nicematin.com/cyclisme/tour-des-alpes-maritimes-et-du-var/ 

19 to 26/02: Tour of Rwanda, http://www.tourdurwanda.rw/ 

© Saudi Tour / Pauline Ballet

Saudi Tour: Ruben Guerreiro, king of the desert

He had been waiting for this moment for many years. By winning the Saudi Tour, Ruben Guerreiro has finally won the general classification of a stage race. King of the Saudi desert, the Portuguese from Movistar was able to make the difference during the fourth stage, the queen stage, towards Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid by winning a tough summit finish ahead of Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain – Victorious).

The former stage winner and King of the Mountains at the Giro d’Italia in 2020, well protected by his teammates, was not worried during the last stage won in the sprint by the Italian Simone Consonni (Cofidis). “In this sport it’s already difficult to win a stage so winning a general classification is really special”, the 28-year-old climber explained. “Today, I managed to stay well placed in the tricky and technical final. I am very emotional, and I feel stronger than ever.”

The results: 1. Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) ; 2. Davide Formolo (UAE Team Emirates) ; 3. Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain – Victorious)

Stages won by: Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) ; Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious) ; Soren Waerenskjold (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) ; Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) ; Simone Consonni (Cofidis).

*****

Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Gran Premi Banc Sabadell: Rui Costa’s 30th! 

Rui Costa offered a crazy epilogue to the 74th Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. While Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) seemed on the royal road to claim the overall in the general classification after his victory in the 2nd stage, the Portuguese from Intermarché-Circus-Wanty showed his opportunism in the last short and tricky stage (93.2 km) between Paterna and Valencia. Sixth in the general classification that morning, Rui Costa pulled away from the group of favorites two kilometers from the finish to join and then overtake the Dutchman Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) on the line… and at the same time take the overall by 16 seconds. “I have found new impetus since my arrival at Intermarché-Circus-Wanty. This team believes in me and that motivates me a lot”, said Costa, who already has three victories this season. “This Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana is a very good race, I’m happy to win against such a strong field of competitors. This start to the season has been simply fantastic.”

His stage success and his overall victory mean the former world champion (36 years old) has now reached the milestone of claiming 30 professional victories. 

The results: 1. Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) ; 2. Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) ; 3. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers)… 

Stages won by: Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) ; Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo) ; Simone Velasco (Astana Qazaqstan Team) ; Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) ; Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty).

 *****

Upcoming races :

11/02 to 14/02: Tour of Oman, https://www.tour-of-oman.com/

11/02: Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia, https://www.vueltamurcia.es/es

© Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Women: Loes Adegeest offers a new prestigious success to FDJ-Suez

What a start to the season for FDJ-Suez! Thanks to its new Dutch recruit Loes Adgeest, the French team took another prestigious victory this season at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Breaking away on the final climb with Australian Amanda Spratt (Trek-Segafredo), Adgeest dominated her rival in the sprint on the home stretch. The Dutch Nina Buijsman (Human Powered Health) completed the podium. “It’s really good to start the season like this,” Adgeest enthused. “It’s incredible! I felt like I could keep up with Spratt and I was actually the only one who could really keep up with her… After the first ascent of Challambra Crescent I knew this could be my day. I played a little poker. I tried and it worked.”

The results:

1. Loes Adegeest (FDJ – Suez) ; 2. Amanda Spraat (Trek-Segafredo) ; 3. Nina Buijsman (Human Powered Health)…

*****

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race: Marius Mayrhofer (Team DSM) invites himself to the party

There’s a new face among the top international sprinting regulars with which we will have to familiarize ourselves. Marius Mayrhofer won the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Geelong on Sunday. At 22, this is the first victory for the DSM sprinter. In this return edition after three years of absence due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Australian event offered up a five-star scenario. With relentless attacks, including from 2022 Giro winner Jai Hindley (Team DSM) and recent Tour Down Under winner Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates), the final outcome remained in doubt deep into this suspenseful race. Finally, the DSM team ensured the casing peloton would come to the line together, which allowed its German sprinter to triumph in front of the Frenchman Hugo Page (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) and the Australian Simon Clarke (Israel – Premier Tech). “The last time I won was in the juniors, so finally winning my first victory, that says it all,” said an emotional Mayrhofer at the finish. “The team did a great job all day. I have dreamed of this victory for so long, I can’t believe what happened.”

The results:

1. Marius Mayrhoffer (Team DSM), 2. Hugo Page (Intermarché – Circus – Wanty), 3. Simon Clarke (Israel – Premier Tech)…

 *****

Upcoming races :

30/01 to 03/02/2023: Saudi Tour, https://www.thesauditour.com/en

01/02 to 05/02/2023: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana Gran Premi Banc Sabadell, https://vueltacv.com/  

© Tour Down Under

Tour Down Under: Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) shines at home

A star at home! Jay Vine wowed the crowds during the Tour Down Under, which he won after a well-rounded week of racing. The Australian from UAE Team Emirates took the lead in the general standings on the third stage, and was able to respond to the onslaught from the British Simon Yates (Team Jayco AlUla) and Australian Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën Team) on the final and decisive stage towards Mount Lofty. At 27, Vine has earned himself the greatest success of his career.
“It’s incredible to win here. The way my teammates handled this race was really impressive. It’s not just my success but a victory for the whole team,” he said.
This first World Tour race of the season was also marked by Bryan Coquard‘s stage success. The Cofidis sprinter won for the first time in his career at the highest level by dominating the competition at Willunga Township. “I have been waiting for this victory for ten years, my first on the World Tour,” he confided, obviously moved. “I am very proud and very happy. I won a lot of races, but never on the World Tour.”

The results:

1. Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates), 2. Simon Yates (Team Jayco AlUla), 3. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious)…

Stages won by: Alberto Bettiol (EF Education – EasyPost), Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious), Rohan Dennis (Jumbo-Visma), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious), Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Simon Yates (Team Jayco AlUla).

*****

Classica Comunitat Valenciana: Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) chalks up his first win

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) impressed upon his return to racing. The Belgian sprinter won after a difficult final. In the last kilometer on an uphill false flat, the young 20-year-old racer beat his compatriot Jenthe Biermans (Arkéa-Samsic) and the Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies). “It’s fantastic to start the season with a win,” he said. “But the most important thing is that the team was strong so that I could do my sprint.”

The results:

1. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny), 2. Jenthe Biermans (Arkéa-Samsic), 3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (TotalEnergies)… 

 *****

Upcoming races :

01/28/2023 : Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Women, https://www.cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au/

01/29/2023 : Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, https://www.cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au/

6 new organizers join AIOCC in 2023

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

🇨🇭 Grosser Preis des Kantons Aargau 👉🏼 09/06/2023
🇮🇷 Tour of Iran (Azarbaijan) 👉🏼 10-14/06/2023
🇸🇮 Tour of Slovenia 👉🏼 14-18/06/2023
🇮🇹 Giro della Toscana – Memorial Alfredo Martini 👉🏼 13/09/2023
🇮🇹 Gran Premio città di Peccioli – Coppa Sabatini 👉🏼 14/09/2023
🇩🇪 Sparkassen Münsterland Giro 👉🏼 03/10/2023