©Dario Belingheri 

Il Lombardia : Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) insatiable

He was the big favorite to win two years in a row. And he did not disappoint his supporters. As in 2021, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar won the Giro di Lombardia on Saturday, the last Monument of the season. He escaped in the final with Enric Mas (Movistar Team), who had beaten him the previous weekend at the Tour of Emilia, and Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious), before making the expected difference in the final thanks to his talent and his burst of speed. “It’s really amazing to come back and repeat the success. The teamwork was extraordinary. The race went very well for us: I tried to attack on the Civiglio, but Mas was clearly on the same level as me on the climb, so we tried to cooperate until the end and that went perfectly for me, ”commented the 24-year-old rider, double winner of the Tour de France (2020 and 2021). “I would say that my season was almost perfect”. With 16 wins this season, it’s hard not to agree with his assessment.

The results: 1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), 2. Enric Mas (Movistar Team), 3. Mickel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious)…

*****

Coppa Bernocchi-GP BPM: Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team rewarded by Ballerini

Davide Ballerini (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) won the 103rd edition of the Coppa Bernocchi – GP BPM in Legnano on Monday. Very active throughout the 190 kilometers of the race, the Quick Step Alpha Vinyl team was rewarded for taking the initiative with the final victory being taken by the Italian Davide Ballerini who outsprinted Corbin Strong (Israel Premier Tech) and Stefano Oldani (Alpecin -Deceuninck).

The results: 1. Davide Ballerini (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), 2. Corbin Strong (Israël-Premier Tech), 3. Stefano Oldani (Alpecin-Deceuninck)… 

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Tre Valli Varesine: That makes it fifteen for Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)!

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) won the 101st edition of the Tre Valli Varesine on Tuesday. The double winner of the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021 sprinted ahead of Colombian Sergio Higuita (BORA-hansgrohe) at the end of a 193-kilometer race between Busto Arsizio and Varrese. The former 2018 world champion, Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), 42, completes the podium. With this new success, the 24-year-old Slovenian posted his fifteenth victory of the season.

The results: 1. Tajed Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), 2. Sergio Higuita (BORA-Hansgrohe), 3. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team)…

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Gran Piemonte: Garcia Cortina (Movistar Team) returns to winning ways

Fifth in the Coppa Bernocchi three days earlier, Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar Team) confirmed his current good form by winning the 106th edition of the Gran Piemonte on Thursday. The 26-year-old Spanish rider sprinted ahead of Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) and Alexis Vuillermoz (Team TotalEnergies): “I was a bit far back in the last corner, but the group was not that big. It hasn’t always been a good time for me. But I’ve kept fighting and now I am rewarded. It’s always nice to win,” explained the winner who posted his third professional victory in Piemonte.

The results: 1. Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar Team), 2. Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious), 3. Alexis Vuillermoz (TotalEnergies)…

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Paris-Bourges : Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at the height of his powers

By winning Thursday in the 71st edition of Paris-Bourges, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) posted his ninth victory of the season. The 24-year-old Belgian rider, the winner on the Champs-Elyseés during the Tour de France 2022, beat Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) and Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), and thus confirmed that he was indeed one of the very best sprinters in the world: “We mainly came here with strong riders but not real lanceurs, my teammates used their strength in the final to put me in a good position on Arnaud Démare’s wheel, who had a full train at his disposal. It was ideal. I took full advantage of it in the last hundred meters to clinch the victory.”

The results: 1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), 2. Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), 3. Brian Coquard (Cofidis)…

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Paris-Tours Elite: Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) repeats

Already the winner in 2021, Arnaud Démare did it again on Sunday by winning the 116th edition of Paris-Tours. He won after 213 kilometers of a particularly lively race. The Groupama-FDJ rider sprinted ahead of Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) and Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe). Out-sprinted by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) on Thursday during Paris-Bourges, Démare managed to cross the line in the lead this time and ensured a satisfactory end to the season.

The results: 1. Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), 2. Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo), 3. Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe)…

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Tour de Romandie féminin: Ashleigh Moolman (Team SD Worx) on top

At 36, South African Ashleigh Moolman (Team SD Worx) won the women’s Tour de Romandie on Sunday. At the end of the third and last stage, the finish of which was in Geneva, she stood first in the general classification ahead of Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar Team), quadruple world champion, and Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), winner of Paris-Roubaix. 2022.

The four-time South African champion won the second stage, taking the leader’s jersey of the event in the process. On Sunday, she was content to finish in 24th place, in a peloton from which the Polish Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling) sprinted for the win.

The results: 1. Ashleigh Moolman (Team SD Worx), 2. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar Team), 3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo)…

Stages won by: Arlenis Sierra (Movistar Team), Ashleigh Moolman (Team SD Worx), Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling).

*****

Races to come:

Chrono des nations 16/10 www.chronodesnations.com/

©Cro Race 

Cro Race: Mohoric overhauls Vingegaard 

We thought that by winning the queen stage of the Cro Race the day before, the Dane Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) had done the hardest part. But that was without counting on the part bonus seconds could still place, which at the end of the last stage on Sunday, secured the final victory for Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious). The Slovenian won the overall with a one-second lead in the general classification over the winner of the most recent Tour de France. His second place on the stage behind Viviani (Ineos-Grenadiers) assured him victory by the narrowest of time gaps. Winner of Milan-San Remo this year, Mohoric had chosen to skip the Worlds to refine his form and make a success of his end of the season: “At the start, I was eight seconds behind, on paper it seemed almost impossible to win. But we tried, we gave everything for the first intermediate sprint and I had to be second in the stage. The team did all the work, I just stayed on the wheels, stayed with Jonathan Milan in the final, and then I just had to follow Elia Viviani. I managed to finish second, even though I’m not a sprinter. I am very proud of this victory.”

Results: 1. Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious), 2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), 3. Oscar Onley (Team DSM)…

Stages won by: Jonathan Milan (Bahrain-Victorious), Jonathan Milan (Bahrain-Victorious), Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), Axel Laurance (B&B Hotels-KTM), Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), Elia Viviani (Ineos-Grenadiers).

*****

Giro dell’Emilia: A good move by Mas

Enric Mas (Movistar Team) won on Saturday at the top of San Luca and won the Giro dell’Emilia. Second in the last two editions of the Vuelta a España, the 27-year-old Spaniard made a decisive attack from the foot of the last climb to win easily alone ahead of Tajed Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), second at 11 seconds: “The whole world knows who is Tadej Pogacar, so for me it is a great satisfaction to be able to win from an attack in which he was also present. It was a complicated year, because at the start of the season I had a lot of crashes and I lost confidence little by little.”

On the women’s side, Italian Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), 30, won the event for the third time in her career after her successes in 2015 and 2016.

Results: 

Men: 1. Enric Mas (Movistar Team), 2. Tajed Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), 3. Domenico Pozzovivo (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux)…

Women: 1. Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), Veronica Ewers (EF Education-Tribco-Svb), 3. Sofia Bertizzolo (UAE Team ADQ)… 

*****

Tour de Vendée: Coquard’s punch (Cofidis)

Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) returned to victory on Sunday at the Tour de Vendée, to take the last round of the Coupe de France. The 30-year-old native of Saint-Nazaire was the strongest against Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) and Luca Mozzato (B&B Hotels-KTM), respectively second and third: “I am really super happy! My teammates did a great job and in the end, I knew I had to be on the wheel of Arnaud (Démare) in order to have the best possible chance of winning. I saw that he was reluctant to launch with 250 meters and I told myself that I had to go. I wanted to show that the legs were good and the head too.”

Results: 1. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), 2. Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), 3. Luca Mozzato (B&B Hotels-KTM)…

*****

Races to come:

Coppa Bernocchi-GP BPM 3/10 www.uslegnanese.it/

Tre Valli Varesine 4/10 www.trevallivaresine.it/fr/home-2/

Gran Piemonte 6/10 www.ilgranpiemonte.it/

Paris-Bourges 6/10 www.parisbourges.fr/

Tour de Romandie féminin 7-9/10

Il Lombardia 8/10 www.ilombardia.it/

Paris-Tour Elite 9/10 www.letour.fr/fr/

©Martin Patz / Škoda Tour LuXembourg 2022 

Skoda-Tour de Luxembourg: Skjelmose Jensen (Trek-Segafredo) well prepared

The Skoda-Tour of Luxembourg ended on Saturday as it had started: with a victory for Valentin Madouas (Groupama FDJ). But it was Mattias Skjelmose Jensen who won the race thanks to his success in the previous day’s time trial and a perfect management of his three-second lead in the general classification over Kevin Vauquelin (Team Arkéa-Samsic). Third in the PostNord Danmark Rundt last month, the Dane could be satisfied: “When the last climb is so steep, everything revolves around the legs, and luckily mine were good,” said Mattias Skjelmose Jensen, who will turn 22 on September 26. “I don’t think you can have better preparation for the world championships than this, so yeah, I’m super happy.”

The results: 1. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Trek-Segafredo), 2. Kévin Vauquelin (Team Arkéa Samsic), 3. Valentin Madouas (Groupama FDJ)…

Stages won by: Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates), Aaron Gate (Bolton Equities Black Spoke Pro Cycling), Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Trek-Segafredo), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ).

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Tour cycliste féminin international de l’Ardèche: Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM Generation) able to conquer

Winner of the 4th and 5th stages, the German Antonia Niedermaier won the Tour cycliste féminin international de l’Ardèche on Monday. Fifth in the last stage to Privas, which was won by Frenchwoman Coralie Demay, the 19-year-old Canyon / SRAM Generation rider perfectly managed her lead over Adegeest (IBCT) and Patino (Movistar Team), second and third, respectively, in the general classification.

The results: 1. Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM Generation), 2. Loes Adegeest (IBCT), 3. Paula Andrea Patino (Movistar Team)…   

Stages won by: Sheyla Gutierrez (Movistar Team), Sheyla Gutierrez (Movistar Team), Loes Adegeest (IBCT), Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM Generation), Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM Generation), Silvia Zanardi (Bepink), Coralie Demay (Saint-Michel-Auber93 WE).

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Grand Prix de Wallonie: Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), a timely victory

Mathieu Van der Poel won the 62nd edition of the Grand Prix de Wallonie on Wednesday. The double champion of the Netherlands 2018 and 2020 had not won since last May, at the Giro (1st stage). During the final sprint, he beat Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) and Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar Team): “I love these finishes. The team worked hard, so I’m happy to take the win. It was really a tough race,” commented the 27-year-old rider. “At the end, after a climb like this, the strongest in the race really wins, and I’m glad it’s me.” This success comes at the right time a few days before the world championships in Wollongong on September 25th.

The results: 1. Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), 2. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché- Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), 3. Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar Team)

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Grand Prix d’Isbergues-Pas de Calais: Démare (Groupama-FDJ) gets the hat-trick

After his victories in 2013 and 2014, Arnaud Démare won the Grand Prix d’Isbergues-Pas de Calais on Sunday for the third time in his career. For this 76th edition of the northern event, the rider from the Groupama-FDJ team sprinted ahead of Marc Sarreau (AG2R Citroën Team) and Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo). The native of Beauvais (31) finished second the day before the Primus Classic in Belgium behind Jordi Meeus (Bora-hansgrohe).

Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal), who was one of the serious contenders for victory, withdrew before the start due to illness.

The results

Men: 1. Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), 2. Marc Sarreau (AG2R Citroën Team), 3. Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo)… 

Women: 1. Chiara Consonni (Valcar-Travel&Service), 2. Clara Copponi (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope), 3. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ceratizit-WNT-Pro Cycling)… 

******

Races to come: 

Cro Race 27/09-2/10 www.crorace.com/

Giro dell’Emilia 1/10 www.gsemilia.it/

Tour de Vendée 2/10 https://www.tourdevendee.fr 

©La Vuelta / Charly Lopez

La Vuelta ciclista a Espana : Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) wins his first Grand Tour

After Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) crashed which forced him to abandon the Vuelta on Wednesday while sitting in 2nd place on the general classification, Remco Evenepoel saw a boulevard wide open towards his final victory. The Spaniard Enric Mas tried to plant a few banderillas, but the Belgian perfectly contained the attempts of Mas, who had become the only real credible threat in the last week of the race. But since he took the red jersey at the end of the sixth stage in Pico Jano, Evenepoel has earned everyone’s respect as the real boss of the event (15 days wearing the leader’s jersey). Winner of two stages and solid in the mountains, Remco Evenepoel showed a mastery that we had not seen from him at an event of this scale. The 22-year-old Belgian succeeded in winning his first Grand Tour and thus earned himself a new status: “The Vuelta was a goal I had set myself and I managed to win despite the many criticisms I received after abandoning the Giro last year,” commented the Belgian. “It’s historic for my team, for my country, for me. I think we can be really proud of what we have done in the last three weeks.”

Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) succeeded in winning the green jersey thanks to his three stage successes.

The results: 1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), 2. Enric Mas (Movistar Team), 3. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates)…

Stages won by: Jumbo-Visma, Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Jesus Herrada (Cofidis), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Louis Mentjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Kaden Groves (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Sofredo), Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), Thymen Arensman (Team DSM), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-EasyPost), Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), Richard Carapaz (Inoes Grenadiers), Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates).

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Tour cycliste féminin international de l’Ardèche: Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM Generation) has it all in hand

At the top of the general classification after her victories at Sarras and Mont-Lozère (4th and 5th stage), the German Antonia Niedermaier will try this Monday to keep her leader’s jersey at the end of the last stage. With a 1’24 lead over Adegeest and 1’53 over Zanardi, winner on Sunday, it’s hard to see how Niedermaier could let the final victory slip away when the last stage which will finish in Privas presents few difficulties.

The GC after six stages: 1. Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM Generation), 2. Loes Adegeest (IBCT), 3. Silvia Zanardi (Bepink)…

Stages won by: Sheyla Gutierrez (Movistar Team), Sheyla Gutierrez (Movistar Team), Loes Adegeest (IBCT), Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM Generation), Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon/SRAM Generation), Silvia Zanardi (Bepink)

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Ceratizit Challenge by la Vuelta : Van Vleuten (Movistar Team) takes a historic triple

After the Giro d’Italia Donne and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, Annemiek van Vleuten succeeded in winning the Ceratizit Challenge by la Vuelta on Sunday. These are the three biggest stage races on the calendar! In Madrid this Sunday, the 39-year-old Dutchwoman won the Spanish event for the second time in a row. She stamped her mark on women’s cycling a little more: “When you spend five weeks without competition and without being able to test your physical condition against that of your rivals, you always arrive at a race with some doubts, but I will be able to reach the World Championships serene and convinced that I am capable of maintaining the level with which I approached the Tour,” she commented.

The results: 1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team), 2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), 3. Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx)…

Stages won by: Trek-Sofredo, Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team), Grace Brown (FDJ-SUEZ-Futuroscope), Silvia Persico (Valcar-Travel &Service), Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo)

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Grand Prix cycliste de Québec: Cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën Team) seizes his chance

The AG2R Citroën Team’s Benoît Cosnefroy, took his second World Tour victory in Quebec on Friday, a year after his first in the Grand Prix de Plouay. His attack on the Côte des Glacis two kilometers from the finish line was decisive.

“I came very close to winning the Amstel Gold Race, it was really very close, and that victory would have changed my whole season. Now winning in Quebec changes my season, taking it from average to exceptional. It’s so difficult to go for a win in the WorldTour… It’s fantastic to win a classic here, in Canada,” concludes Cosnefroy who comes from Normandy and rides for the team based in Savoy. He won ahead of Matthews and Girmay by four seconds.

The results: 1. Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën Team), 2. Michaël Matthews (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), 3. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux)…

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Grand Prix cycliste de Montréal : Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) ahead of Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)

They were among the favorites for the 11th edition of the Grand Prix de Montréal, and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) and Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) read their lines perfectly. Showing his power, the Slovenian beat the former Belgian champion in the sprint while Andrea Bagioli (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) took the third step of the podium.

Pogacar, double winner of the Tour de France, perfectly mastered his efforts during the 18 laps of a 221.4 km circuit. As a result, he posted his 14th victory of the season.

The results: 1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), 2. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), 3. Andrea Bagioli (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team)…

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Grand Prix de Fourmies la Voix du Nord : Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) finds his legs

For the past few months, Caleb Ewan had been missing success and certainly a little form. But the Australian set the record straight on Sunday by winning the Grand Prix de Fourmies la Voix du Nord. He posted his seventh success of the season by sprinting ahead of the Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen (Team BikeExchange-Jayco) and the Belgian Amaury Capiot (Arkéa-Samsic): “It’s no secret that we’re chasing these points at this moment. I don’t know how many there are here (200, editor’s note), but for one-day races, it’s a lot. I’m happy to score them, but I’m even happier with the win. The team did a great job and controlled everything for me,” said the Australian.

In the women’s race, the Frenchwoman Clara Copponi (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope) won after a race of 118 kilometers.

The results: 

Men: 1. Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal), 2. Dylan Groenewegen (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), 3. Amaury Capiot (Team Arké-Samsic)… 

Women: 1. Clara Copponi (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope), 2. Valentina Basilico (Bepink), 3. Maria Martins (Le Col-Wahoo)…

******

Races to come: 

Tour cycliste féminin international de l’Ardèche 6-12/09 www.tcfia.com/

Skoda-Tour de Luxembourg 13-17/09 www.skodatour.lu/

Grand Prix de Wallonie 14/09 www.trworg.be/

Grand prix d’Isbergues-Pas de Calais 18/09 www.gpisbergues.com/

©teamDSM

Simac Ladies Tour : Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM) passes the test

Winner of the first two stages, the 2022 European champion dominated the Simac Ladies Tour. The 23-year-old Dutchwoman then managed the end of the race perfectly by finishing second on the 3rd and 4th stages, and then 5th and 3rd on the last two: “I am really proud to take the victory in the general classification after all the incredible work that the girls did this week,” declared the winner.

She won by 10 seconds over the double champion of France Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo), winner of the penultimate stage on Saturday.

The results: 1. Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM), 2. Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo), 3. Karlijn Swinkels (Team Jumbo-Visma)…

Stages won by: Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM), Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM), Charlotte Kool (Team DSM), Riejanne Markus (Team Jumbo-Visma), Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo), Mischa Bredewold (Parkhotel Valkenburg). 

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La Vuelta ciclista a Espana : Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) holds off the pack

Often attacked, sometimes distanced, Remco Evenepoel still clings ferociously to his red leader’s jersey. The 14th and 15th stages saw the Belgian champion waver and his rivals took the opportunity to snatch up precious seconds. After successive finishes at the top of the Sierra de la Pandera on Saturday, then the Sierra Nevada on Sunday, Evenepoel had his lead cut to 1’34 over Roglic, three-time winner of the event, and 2’01 over Mas (against 2’41 and 3’03 respectively on Friday evening). However, the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team rider hopes to be able to contain the onslaught of his opponents during the coming last week of racing, notably with a less mountainous profile: “I felt better today (Sunday). It’s the first time I’ve raced at such a high altitude, so I think I passed this test quite well,” commented the young Belgian. “In the last kilometers, Primoz Roglic attacked me; it was to be expected. I lost almost no time today, I’m happy about that. It was not easy to manage. I am happy that tomorrow (Monday) is a rest day.”

The general classification after 15 stages: 1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), 2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), 3. Enric Mas (Movistar Team)…

Stages won by: Jumbo-Visma, Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Jesus Herrada (Cofidis), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Kaden Groves (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Sofredo), Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), Thymen Arensman (Team DSM).

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Tour du Doubs : Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) posts a third success

After Paris-Bourges in 2018 and Polynormande in 2021, Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) won the 37th edition of the Tour du Doubs on Sunday, which was the fourteenth round of the Coupe de France. At the end of 204 kilometers, the 26-year-old rider from Brest,who took second in the 16th stage of the Tour de France this year, took the victory in a sprint in Pontarlier out of a group of 15 riders. He was ahead of Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) and Matis Level (Team Arkéa Samsic) in the sprint.

The results: 1. Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), 2. Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), 3. Matis Level (Team Arkéa Samsic)…

******

Races to come:

La Vuelta ciclista a Espana 19/08-11/09 www.lavuelta.com/

Tour cycliste féminin international de l’Ardèche 6-12/09 www.tcfia.com/

Ceratizit Challenge by la Vuelta 8-11/09 www.aiocc.ch/event/ceratizit-challenge-by-la-vuelta/

Grand Prix cycliste de Québec 9/09 www.aiocc.ch/event/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec/

Grand Prix de Fourmies la Voix du Nord 11/09 www.grandprixdefourmies.com/

Grand Prix cycliste de Montréal 11/09 www.gpcqm.ca/

©La Vuelta / Charly Lopez

La Vuelta ciclista a España : Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) off to a good start

We had to wait for the Vuelta a España to start climbing to see the Belgian Remco Evenepoel get his stranglehold on the event. On Thursday, by taking second place behind Jay Vine on the first mountain stage, the Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team rider left his mark on the Vuelta. On Sunday, he took fourth in the stage won by Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux). In the process, he broke all his rivals on the last climb and consolidated his lead in the red jersey. Mas is 1’12 behind the leader, Roglic, three-time defending champion, is at 1’53.

General classification after 9 stages : 1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), 2. Enric Mas (Movistar), 3. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma)…

Stages won by : Jumbo-Visma, Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Jesus Herrada (Cofidis), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux).

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Tour de l’Avenir : Cian Uijtdebroeks (Belgium) dreams in yellow

Cian Uijtdebroeks won the 58th edition of the Tour de l’Avenir on Sunday. The Norwegian Johannes Staune-Mittet and the German Michel Hessmann completed the podium. The 19-year-old Belgian showed his strength during the two mountain stages (7 and 8) which finished at Saint-François-Longchamp and la Toussuire. By winning two days in a row, he secured the leader’s jersey before managing his lead during the final stage won by the Italian Milesi: “Since I was a little boy, I’ve dreamed of wearing the yellow jersey, maybe even one day wearing the yellow jersey at the Tour. Wearing it now after winning is a dream come true. We will see what happens in the future,” commented Uijtdebroek

The results: 1. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Belgium), 2. Johannes Staune-Mittet (Norway), 3. Michel Hessmann (Germany)…

Stage won by: Netherlands,  Søren Wærenskjold (Norway), Casper Van Uden (Netherlands), Adam Holm Jorgensen (Denmark), Thomas Gloac (Great Britain), Germany, Romain Grégoire (France), Cian Uijtdeboreks (Belgium), Cian Uijtdeboreks (Belgium), Lorenzo Milesi (Italy).

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Tour du Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine : Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) consoles himself

Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) won the 36th Tour du Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine on Friday. The 28-year-old Swiss rider waited for the fourth and penultimate stage to dispossess Marc Sarreau, winner of the first three stages, of the leader’s jersey. Winner of the Tour de la Communauté de Valence last year, Küng enjoyed this success a few days after losing his title of European champion (2nd). “The objective is Australia with the time trial at Worlds (from September 18 to 25 in Wollongong),” he commented.

The results: 1. Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), 2. Kévin Vauquelin (Team Arkéa Samsic), 3. Pierre Latour (TotalEnergies)…

Stages won by: Marc Sarreau (AG2R Citroën Team), Marc Sarreau (AG2R Citroën Team), Marc Sarreau (AG2R Citroën Team), Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Lorrenzo Manzin (TotalEnergies).

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Deutschland Tour : Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) always at the front

Just days after celebrating his 30th birthday, Briton Adam Yates won the 37th Deutschland Tour on Sunday. He had done the hardest part by winning the day before in the Freiburg-Schauinsland stage. The final stage won by Pello Bilbao did not change anything at the top of the general classification.

The results: 1. Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers), 2. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious), 3. Ruben Guerreiro (EF Education EasyPost)…

Stages won by: Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal), Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious).

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Grand Prix Lorient Agglomération Trophée Ceratizit : Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ) wins again

Third in the Giro d’Italia, Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ), 38, won the 21st edition of the Grand Prix Lorient Agglomération Trophée Ceratizit on Saturday. She won the sprint in Plouay ahead of Amber Kraak (Jumbo-Visma). The Spaniard posted her 4th victory of the year, and the most important in this one-day race. “I’m almost in disbelief, but happy. I know I have very good form and I hope to continue like that in the next races,” said the four-time Spanish champion.

The results: 1. Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ), 2. Amber Kraak (Team Jumbo-Visma), 3. Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez-Futuroscope)…

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Bretagne Classic Ouest-France : Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) as expected

He was the big favorite of the 91st edition of the Bretagne Classic Ouest-France and he did not disappoint his supporters. Belgian Wout Van Aert won the sprint in Plouay on Sunday after a lively 255 kilometer race. This is Van Aert’s ninth victory this year. “In the end, it was the legs that spoke. I felt good in the final, it was of course difficult because the other teams were attacking one after the other and I had to control on my own, but I managed so I’m very happy,” commented the winner of the green jersey at the Tour de France 2022. “After the Tour, I was really sick for a week. I took the time to recover, and I’m happy with the legs now. I have four weeks left now before the world championships. It’s a long time but it’s important to stay focused.” Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën Team), winner in 2021, took 20th, while Tadej Pogacar was 89th, more than three minutes from the winner.

The results: 1. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), 2. Axel Laurance (B&B Hotels-KTM), 3. Alexander Kamp (Trek-Segafredo)…

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Races to come:

La Vuelta ciclista a Espana 19/08-11/09 www.lavuelta.com/

Simac Ladies Tour 30/08-4/09 https://simacladiestour.nl

Tour du Doubs 4/09