Giro d’Italia: Roglic’s revenge

Giro d’Italia: Roglic’s revenge

©Giro d’Italia

Giro d’Italia: Roglic’s revenge 

Overcome with happiness outside the Colosseum in Rome, Primoz Roglic savored his first victory in the Giro d’Italia, which has a modicum of redemption for the Slovenian, three years after his traumatic loss at the Tour de France. Above all, the leader of the Jumbo-Visma team provided a breathtaking scenario for this 106th edition. He took the victory in the general classification by just fourteen seconds ahead of Geraint Thomas, who was very honorable in defeat. Thomas even acted as a luxury pilot fish on Sunday to help his compatriot Mark Cavendish to a 17th stage victory at the Giro. 

“This success is really special, it will remain etched in my memory until the end of my days,” Roglic happily explained.

For the 33-year-old Slovenian, this Roman triumph has a very special flavor, three years after having lived through a nightmare in the Tour de France when, yellow jersey on his back, he was knocked out of the lead by Tadej Pogacar in a similarly difficult time trial. He cut a tragic figure on the eve of the final Tour stage.

The revenge is all the sweeter since this time the scenario was reversed. He took control in the Giro on Saturday by snatching the pink jersey off Welshman Geraint Thomas on a final uphill time on the daunting Monte Lussari, in front of thousands of ecstatic Slovenian fans.

Roglic’s victory is the crowning achievement in an extraordinary first part of his season. The Slovenian has won all three stage races he has participated in this year, Tirreno-Adriatico, the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and the Giro.

 

The results: 1. Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) ; 2. Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) ; 3. Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)…

Stage won by: Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) ; Milan (Bahrain-Victorious) ; Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla) ; Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën) ; Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) ; Bais (EOLO-Kometa) ; Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) ; Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) ; Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) ; Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) ; Denz (Bora-Hansgrohe) ; Rubio (Movistar Team) ; Denz (Bora-Hansgrohe) ; McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) ; Almedia (UAE Team Emirates) ; Dainese (Team DSM) ; Zana (Team Jayco AlUla) ; Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) ; Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) ; Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team).

*****

Tour of Norway: Tutlett takes his first big stage race

Taking the lead after his victory in the prologue, Ben Tulett won the Tour of Norway. This is the third victory of his career: the stage and the overall in Norway, and his inaugural success of winning a stage at the International Coppi and Bartali Week in 2022. He succeeds Remco Evenepoel as the overall winner of the Tour of Norway.

The INEOS Grenadiers rider won by 5 seconds ahead of his teammate Magnus Sheffield and 23 over Thibau Nys, who won the 2nd stage on Sunday and took 9th on Monday. That final stage sprint was won by the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff. The 35-year-old sprinter as a result took the 88th victory of his career, and the second this season after a stage in the Volta ao Algarve.

The results: 1. Tulett (INEOS Grenadiers) ; 2. Sheffield (INEOS Grenadiers) ; 3. Nys (Trek-Segafredo)…

Stage won by: Tulett (INEOS Grenadiers) ; Nys (Trek-Segafredo) ; Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team).

 

*****

Races to come: 

31 May – 4 June: Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia Ruta del Sol women, https://www.vueltaandaluciawomen.es/

2 June: Giro dell’Appennino, https://www.uspontedecimo.it/giro-dell-appennino/

4 – 11 June: Criterium du Dauphiné, https://www.criterium-du-dauphine.fr/fr

4 June: Brussels Cycling Classic, https://www.brusselscyclingclassic.be/fr

 

Vuelta a Burgos Feminas: Vollering, of course

Vuelta a Burgos Feminas: Vollering, of course

© Vuelta a Burgos

Vuelta a Burgos Feminas: Vollering, of course

The Dutch Demi Vollering imposed herself in an authoritarian manner on Sunday in the 4th and last stage of the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas, which earned her the overall victory in the general classification. She thus effectively concluded the domination of her team SD Worx.

Vollering took control 8 kilometers from the finish on the final climb Lagunas de Neil, when the gradient entered its highest percentages (13%). The SD Worx rider was followed, from a distance, by her compatriot Shirin van Anrooj. The Trek-Segafredo rider was never able to close the gap of fifteen, then twenty seconds, which separated her from the leader. Vollering never stopped widening the gap and won at the top with 1’35 ahead of the Italian Erica Magnaldi and 1’38 over her compatriot Silvia Persico, both riding for UAE Team ADQ.

Vollering scored a double on Sunday by climbing, thanks to her victory on the day, to the top of the final general classification where she finished ahead of her compatriot Shirin van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo) and the South African Ashley Moolman (AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick step). Demi Vollering highlighted, along with her compatriot and teammate Lorena Wiebes, the domination of the SD Worx team on the Spanish roads by winning the 4th and last stage, after success in the second. Wiebes for her part won in the first and third.

 The results : 1. Vollering (Team SD Worx) ; 2. Van Anrooij (Trek-Segafredo) ; 3. Moolman (AG Insurance – Soudal Quick Step)…

*****

Giro d’Italia: Armirail, la vie en rose

Surprise leader of the Giro d’Italia after two weeks of racing, Bruno Armirail relishes the opportunity. “It’s exceptional for a helper teammate like me,” he said after a 14th stage which was won by Nico Denz at Cassano Magnago. Armirail had gained enough to allow him to take control of the lead in the general classification. “All the work I do during the year, the sacrifices, I still give a lot for my leaders. Friday again, I was helping Thibaut Pinot. It’s a personal reward.”

Armirail is therefore at the top of the general classification ahead of a third week which promises to be daunting with the high mountains. The favorites will finally have to reveal themselves. Geraint Thomas, who wore the pink jersey for four days after Remco Evenepoel abandoned, is still in pole position, second overall, two seconds ahead of Primoz Roglic and 22 ahead of João Almeida.

It should be noted that this second week of racing was once again marked by difficult weather conditions, having forced the organizers to reduce the route of the 13th stage to Crans Montana.

Stages won by : Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) ; Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) ; Denz (Bora-Hansgrohe) ; Rubio (Movistar Team) ; Denz (Bora-Hansgrohe) ; McNulty (UAE Team Emirates).

*****

4 jours de Dunkerque: Grégoire makes a name for himself

At 20, he has already confirmed the hopes placed in him: Romain Grégoire, seen as one of the future big names in French cycling, won the Four Days of Dunkirk. The sixth stage, relatively flat between Avion and Dunkirk, presented little risk for the Groupama-FDJ rider, who had taken the lead at the end of the fifth stage, Saturday in Cassel. His lead of 13 seconds in front of 2nd place was bigger than the bonus seconds up for grabs at the line for the final stage.

Grégoire had a week of great firsts with his first professional victory on Wednesday, raising his arms at the end of the second stage, in Laon (Aisne). Well placed in the general after that success, he held his own perfectly by taking tenth place in the time trial on Thursday, in Saint-Quentin. He had had few reference points to how he would actually perform in a time trial on this level. Then, on Saturday, he blasted the final of the queen stage, on the slopes of Mont-Cassel, to crack the other favorites including the leader Kasper Asgreen (Soudal – Quick-Step) and seize the leader’s jersey.

“The team did their best to protect me and give me confidence. I owe them this victory 100%, the job was enormous and I just want to say a big thank you,” he explained at the finish. “I will enjoy this moment for a while.”

The results: 1. Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) ; 2. Asgreen (Soudal – Quick Step) ; 3. Bol (Astana Qazaqstan Team)… 

Stages won by: Jooij (Jumbo-Visma Development Team) ; Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) ; Thomas (Cofidis) ; Kooij (Jumbo-Visma Development Team) ; Hagenes (Jumbo-Visma Development Team) ; Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step).

***** 

Circuit de Wallonie: Meeus’ triumph

The Circuit de Wallonie ended with a resounding victory for Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe). The event was unusual, since 90km from the finish the riders had to stop due to an accident between two motorcyclists requiring the intervention of the emergency services. After more than an hour of stoppage, the race started again before ending in a sprint.

Launching his sprint from afar, the Belgian managed to outlast all his competitors. The podium was completed by two riders from Alpecin-Deceuninck, Lionel Taminiaux and Timo Kielich.

The results: 1. Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) ; 2. Taminiaux (Alpecin-Deceunick) ; 3. Kielich (Alpecin-Deceuninck)…

***** 

Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic: Groenewegen gets his fifth

There is Dylan Groenewegen and then all the others at the Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic. The 29-year-old sprinter, defending champion, won the 36th edition of the Dutch classic and put his name on the record at the top of the Batavian event for the fifth time (including 2015, 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2023). As expected, the 175.8km route around the town of Veenendaal was not difficult enough to prevent a bunch sprint. Perfectly supported by his team Jayco AlUla, Groenewegen had no trouble getting his speed up and finishing ahead of his compatriot Arvid De Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) and the Australian Sam Welsford (Team DSM) on the line.

“I didn’t really have great legs, but I was perfectly positioned for the sprint,” he explained. “It’s a very good victory. This period is always hectic, we spend a lot of time away from home with the races, so it’s nice to be able to race in your country. I don’t live that far from here, it’s only 70 kilometers away, and it’s good that my wife and child were able to come. It makes winning really special. It’s my fifth success here in Veenendaal and I hope I can get a sixth next year.”

The results: 1. Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) ; 2. De Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) ; 3. Welsford (Team DSM)…

***** 

Rund um Köln: van Poppel in a photo-finish!

Dutchman Danny van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe) won the sprint in the 105th edition of Rund um Köln.

The first attack, fueled by three riders, Ewen Costiou (Fra), Jakub Otruba (Tch) and Ben Zwiehoff (Ger), was neutralized by the peloton after 50 kilometers of racing. Several attacks then were attempted, and just over 70 kilometers from the finish, a group of 25 riders formed a breakaway, including the active German talent Nils Politt, the Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen, the German Maximilian Schachmann and the Belgians Jordi Meeus, Robbe Ghys, Gerben Kuypers, Jasper De Buyst and Milan Menten.

Schachmann attacked the leading group 67 kilometers from the finish, taking around thirty seconds from his pursuers. The German was joined 18 kilometers from the line by a group including Politt, O’Brien, De Buyst, Ghys, Schachmann, Mozzato, Kuypers, Van Poppel, Menten, Paasschens, Keup, Eriksson.

A group of 14 riders passed under the flamme rouge to battle it out in the final sprint. Dany Van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe) emerged victorious in a photo-finish, ahead of the Belgians Milan Menten and Jasper De Buyst (Lotto-Dstny).

The results: 1. Van Poppel (Bora – Hansgrohe) ; 2. Menten (Lotto Dstny) ; 3. De Buyst (Lotto Dstny)…

***** 

Upcoming races:

Until 28/05 : Giro d’Italia 

24-29 May: Tour of Norway

Giro d’Italia: Evenepoel, the twist of fate

Giro d’Italia: Evenepoel, the twist of fate

©Giro d’Italia

Giro d’Italia: Evenepoel, the twist of fate

 Remco Evenepoel was forced to say goodbye to the first Grand Tour of the season after a routine test carried out before the first rest day came back positive for Covid-19. His Soudal-Quick Step team made the announcement on Sunday evening, a few hours after Evenepoel’s victory in the stage 9 time trial, retaking the pink jersey as a bonus.

“I am really sorry to leave the race,” Evenepoel, the current world champion said in a press release. “As part of team protocol, I had a routine test, which unfortunately came back positive. My experience here has been really special and I was looking forward to competing over the next two weeks. I cannot thank the staff and the riders enough who have sacrificed so much to prepare for the Giro. I will cheer for them over the next two weeks.”

Evenepoel had had a thunderous start to the Giro, winning the inaugural time trial, before crashing twice on Wednesday during the fifth stage and being dropped by Roglic on Saturday. In the meantime, the native of Herentals had relinquished his pink jersey to Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM), who escaped in the successful breakaway towards Lago Laceno during the 4th stage where Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën) won the day.

In the general classification, the Belgian was 45 seconds ahead of Geraint Thomas, who will be the virtual leader of the race this Tuesday after the first rest day of this 106th edition, and 47 seconds ahead of Roglic. Enough to redistribute the cards when the high mountains arrive this week, with in particular finish at Crans Montana.

 Stages won by:  Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) ; Milan (Bahrain-Victorious) ; Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla) ; Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën) ; Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) ; Bais (EOLO-Kometa) ; Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) ; Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step).

******


Bretagne Ladies Tour Ceratizit: Brown calm as a bomb

After winning the Tour Down Under at the start of the season, Grace Brown added a new race to her prize list by winning the Bratagne Ladies Tour Ceratizit. At the top of the general classification after her victory in the time trial, the Australian from FDJ-Suez did not hesitate to succeed her teammate Vittoria Guazzini who was the winner in 2022. Despite the attempts of 2nd place rider Coralie Demay (St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93) during the last stage, Brown did not waver before winning the 17th victory of her career. “Winning a stage race is great,” Brown said. “It is a team effort, something you can never do alone. Even if there were not many of us here, we controlled well. We wanted to take charge of the race once we had the leader’s jersey and make sure that no one who was a threat in the general classification got too much time. We worked very well even though there were only three of us. This situation was not a handicap. Frankly, it gave the impression that there were more than three of us.” 

The results: 1. Brown (FDJ-Suez) ; 2. Demay (St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93) ; 3. Vigilia (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo)…

Stages won by: Lach (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling) ; Fortin (Cofidis Women Team) ; Brown (FDJ-Suez) ; Pikulik (Human Powered Health) ; Fortin (Cofidis Women Team). 

******


Grand Prix Herning: Nosgaard’s huge performance

 Fifty-five kilometers alone. This is what Mathias Norsgaard faced in order to win his second victory in the professional peloton. The Dane from Movistar beat his compatriots Rasmus Bogh Wallin (Restaurant Suri-Carl Ras) and Michael Valgren (Danish selection). “I had good legs. I just had to take advantage of it,” the 26-year-old Norsgaard explained. “I’m really relieved finally to get my first victory in a road race. This is another important step in my long journey to build my professional career.”

 

The results: 1. Mathias Norsgaard (Movistar) ; 2. Rasmus Bogh Wallin (Restaurant Suri-Carl Ras) ; 3. Michael Valgren (sélection danoise)…

******


Upcoming races: 

Until 28 May: Giro d’Italia, https://www.giroditalia.it/fr/
16-21 May: 4 jours de Dunkerque, https://www.4joursdedunkerque.com/
18-21
 May: Vuelta a Burgos Feminas, https://www.vueltaburgos.com/feminas/
18 May: Circuit de Wallonie, https://lecircuitdewallonie.be/
20 May: Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic, https://veenendaal-veenendaal.nl/
21 May: Rund um Köln, https://www.rundumkoeln.de/

Pogacar makes history

Pogacar makes history

@ Ronde van Vlaanderen

Ronde van Vlaanderen : Pogacar makes history

Tadej Pogacar won his first Tour of Flanders, the fourth Monument of his career, by launching himself on the last ascent of Old Kwaremont to cross the finish line alone. On the attack all day, the Slovenian made the difference on the penultimate climb of the race to beat Mathieu van der Poel by 17 seconds. The other big favourite, Belgian Wout Van Aert, finished fourth more than a minute behind, beaten by Dane Mads Pedersen, who won the sprint in the small chasing group.

At 24, Pogacar becomes only the third rider in the history of more than a century of cycling, along with the French Louison Bobet and the Belgian Eddy Merckx, to have won both the Tour de France and the “Ronde”.

“It’s amazing, it’s a day I will never forget. I could almost retire after this day,” he smiled.

Note that Pogacar won at the end of a very lively day, marked by many crashes and raced at a crazy speed, the fastest in history (44.1 km / h)!

The results : 1. Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) ; 2. Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; 3. Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo)…

***** 

Dwars door Vlaanderen : Laporte does it again with style

After his victory at Ghent-Wevelgem two days earlier thanks to a gift from Wout van Aert, Christophe Laporte did it again by winning Dwars door Vlaanderen. The Jumbo-Visma rider won fifteen seconds ahead of Spaniard Oier Lazkano and American Neilson Powless after escaping from a group of attackers four kilometers from the finish line. Laporte thus became the second Frenchman to win at Waregem, fifteen years after Sylvain Chavanel.

“Such a double is difficult to achieve,” said the very happy 30-year-old from Var. “This is proof that my condition is good. I trained well after falling ill (before Paris-Nice in early March, editor’s note). I have a lot of freshness.” 

Jumbo-Visma also confirmed its hold on the Flanders spring before the Tour of Flanders by winning the five preparatory cobblestone races ahead of the Tour of Flanders: Het Nieuswlad (with Dylan van Baarle), Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (Tiesj Benoot), the E3 Classic (Wout Van Aert) and then Ghent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen.

The results : 1. Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) ; 2. Lazkano (Movistar) ; 3. Powless (EF Education – Easy Post)…

***** 

La Route Adélie de Vitré: Dversnes an opportunistic victory

Fredrik Dversnes (Uno-X) won the 27th edition of the Route Adélie de Vitré. The Uno-X rider, very active in the final, won by five seconds ahead of Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-Samsic) and 43 seconds over Louis Barré (Arkéa-Samsic) who took top honors from the chasing group.

The 26-year-old Norwegian made the difference in the last passage in the côte de la Chênelière, five kilometers from the finish, to earn himself the biggest victory of his career, two years after winning at the International Tour of Rhodes . “We agreed in the middle of the race that we were going to try to drive the echelons, and we had a guy up front (Adne Holter). From there, it was a very selective race, the selection was done from the back,” Dversnes explained. “In the last laps, there were attacks on the most difficult sections and I managed to follow. My best chance was to attack. I’m glad I managed to hold on.”

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

*****

Gran Premio Miguel Indurain: Izagirre doubles up

Seven years after first winning the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain, Ion Izagirre did it again in Navarre. Attacking the peloton with Sergio Higuita just over 10 kilometers from the finish, the Spaniard from the Cofidis team cracked the Colombian on the last steep ramp of the course to win by a few bike lengths. The podium was completed by Dane Mattias Skjelmose Jensen. “Today was a really great day. I had very good feelings throughout the race. I hope that this success will give us the motivation to do well in the general classification at the Tour du Pays Basque,” he said. “I really thank my teammates because this race was one of my goals for the season.”

The results: 1. I. Izagirre (Cofidis) ; 2. Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe) ; 3. Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo)…

***** 

Volta Limburg Classic: Groves braves the deluge to win

After 193 kilometers and 26 climbs in difficult weather conditions, Kaden Groves took his third victory this season, this time ahead of Maxim van Gils.

The Australian attacked more than 80 kilometers from the finish with four favorites for the final victory. After bridging up to the breakaway, only Pascal Eenkhoorn and Maxim Van Gils managed to accompany him before the Dutchman was unclamped on the final climb 20 kilometers from the finish.

Though the Belgian then never worked with the rider from Alpecin-Deceuninck, Groves was the strongest in the home stretch to win in Eijsden and succeed defending champion Arnaud De Lie. “This victory makes me very happy. I had a good week in Catalonia, and I knew that I was coming to this race in great shape,” Groves explained. “The hard work I did during the winter is now being rewarded. I really have to thank the team. They have been patient with me because the results took a long time to start coming.”

The results: 1. Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) ; 2. Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) ; 3. Eenkhoorn (Lotto-Dstny)…

***** 

Races to come:

April 3-8 : Itzulia Basque Country, https://itzulia.eus/

April 4-7 : Région Pays de la Loire Tour, https://www.regionpaysdelaloire-tour.fr/ 

5 april : Scheldeprijs, https://www.scheldeprijs.be/fr/

8 April : Paris-Roubaix femmes, https://www.paris-roubaix.fr/fr

9 April : Paris-Roubaix, https://www.paris-roubaix.fr/fr 

Van der Poel wins the first Monument of the season!

Van der Poel wins the first Monument of the season!

© 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 HainautMolano 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: Pogacar, the art and the style

Paris-Nice: Pogacar, the art and the style

@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/