© 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
