©Giro d’Italia

Giro d’Italia: Hindley makes history

Australian Jai Hindley (Bora-hansgrohe) showed patience to win the Giro on Sunday. It was only the day before that he dispossessed Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) of the pink jersey, after a masterstroke in the ascent of Fedaia. On Sunday, with a lead of 1’25” over the Ecuadorian, he managed his efforts perfectly in the final time trial won by Matteo Sobrero (BikeExchange), currently the Italian time trial champion. At 26, Hindley, who had not been able to wear the leader’s jersey for more than a day in the 2020 Giro, has now posted the most beautiful victory of his career: “It’s an incredible feeling, such a great emotion today (Sunday) at this time trial,” he explained on arrival in Verona. “I remembered the one in 2020, it had been very hard to live with but I felt good this time. I didn’t think of my competitors, I first tried to keep my pace, and to keep this gap until the finish where I gave everything. I’m proud to be the first Australian to win the Giro.”

The final results: 1. Jai Hindley (Bora-hansgrohe), 2. Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), 3. Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious)…

Stages won by: Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Lennard Kamna (Bora-hansgrohe), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Koen Bouwnan (Jumbo-Visma), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), Jai Hindley (Bora-hansgrohe), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Alberto Dainese (Team DSM), Stefano Oldani (Alpecin-Fenix), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo), Jan Hirt (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious), Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma), Dries De Bondt (Alpecin-Fenix), Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates), Matteo Sobrero (Team BikeExchange-Jayco).

*****

Tour of Norway: Evenepoel is back

Winner of three of the six stages, Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) was also the logical winner of the Tour of Norway on Sunday. Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix) and Luke Plapp (Ineos Grenadiers), who were hot on his heels in the general classification, were unable to challenge him for victory on Sunday: “Overall, it’s a very good week for the team,” commented the 22-year-old Belgian. “It was my first race after Liège-Bastogne-Liège (he won on April 24), so I didn’t really know how I was going to start out feeling, but I’m back at a high level. It’s encouraging for the future, as I head towards the second part of my season and towards my goal which is the Vuelta a España”.

The results: 1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), 2. Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), 3. Luke Plapp (Ineos Grenadiers)…

Stages won by: Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenados), Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Marco Haller (Bora-hansgrohe), Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux).

*****

Circuit de Wallonie: Pasqualon makes experience speak

The Italian from the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux team Andrea Pasqualon beat Axel Zingle (Cofidis) by a whisker to win the Circuit de Wallonie on Thursday. The Frenchman thought he had the victory when he launched his attack in the last kilometer but was joined by Pasqualon a few meters from the finish line. At 34, the man who took 8th place in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad at the end of February has shown that he still has his best legs.

The results: 1. Andrea Pasqualon (Intermarché-Wanty- Gobert Matériaux), 2. Axel Zingle (Cofidis), 3. Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal)…

*****

Races to come: 

Course de la Paix Grand Prix Jeseniky 2-5/06 www.jesenickacyklisticka.cz

Giro dell’Appennin 2/05 www.uspontedecimo.it

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 5-12/06 www.criterium-du-dauphine.fr/fr/

Brussels Cycling Classic 5-06 www.brusselscyclingclassic.be/fr/

©Team DSM

Vuelta a Burgos Feminas: Labous takes her biggest victory

Juliette Labous (Team DSM) won the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas on Sunday after finishing second in the fourth and final stage, the finish of which was at Lagunas de Neila (125 km). Aged 23, she consequently posted the best victory of her career. Twelfth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège in April, she perfectly managed her race to overtake her compatriot Evita Muzic (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) in the overall standings. “It was a very tough race, my teammates worked very well. The breakaway got away without any of us being represented, but my teammates did what was necessary to bring it back. I followed Demi Vollering and Niamh Fisher-Black (Team SD Worx), and they tried one by one to drop me. I didn’t manage to follow Vollering at the end but I fought for the general classification, I’m very happy. I thank the whole team, we deserve it,” commented Labous. 

The results: 1. Juliette Labous (Team DSM), 2. Evita Muzic (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), 3. Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx)… 

Stages won by: Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx), Matilde Vitillo (Bepink), Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ), Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx).

*****

Giro d’Italia: Carapaz dethrones Lopez

Juan Pedro Lopez‘s (Trek-Segafredo) pink jersey did not survive the hotly contested 14th stage on Saturday. After ten days of racing the Italian roads with the leader’s jersey on his shoulders, the Spaniard relinquished his property to Colombian Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), who took third in the stage won by Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco). Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) injured an eye during the post-stage podium presentation on Tuesday after his first stage victory in a Grand Tour and was forced to retire the next day. And Frenchman Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) already has three stage wins to date.

Provisional classification: 1. Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers), 2. Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), 3. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)… 

Stages won by: Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Koen Bouwnan (Jumbo-Visma), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), Alberto Dainese (Team DSM), Stefano Oldani (Alpecin-Fenix), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo)

*****

Grand Prix Herning: Stokbro the strongest

Danish rider Andreas Stokbro, who was racing in the colors of his national team, won the sprint in the Grand Prix Herning on Saturday. Aged 25, he also won a stage of the Tour du Loir-et-Cher in April. He finished ahead of his compatriot Mads Rahbek (BHS-PL Beton Bornholm) and the 2019 world champion, Mads Pedersen (Denmark).

The results: 1. Andreas Stokbro (Denmark), 2. Mads Rahbek (BHS-PL Beton Bornholm), 3. Mads Pedersen (Denmark)…

*****

Veenndaal-Veenndaal Classic: Groenewegen at home

Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen (Team BikeExchange-Jayco) won his fourth Veenndaal-Veenndaal Classic on Saturday after his successes in 2015, 2016 and 2018. “I am delighted with this result, the team is also happy, everything went as planned. We are on the right track,” said the winner.

The results: 1. Dylan Groenewegen (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), 2. Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), 3. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Soudal)…  

*****

Rund um Köln: Politt in control

Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) emerged victorious in the three-way battle fought out on Sunday during the Rund um Köln. He had slipped away from the rest of the peloton 50 kilometers from the finish in the company of Danny Van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Nikias Arndt (Team DSM). The 28-year-old German, a native of Cologne and winner of a stage at the Tour de France in 2021, made a decisive effort four kilometers from the flamme rouge to win by 13 seconds ahead of Danny Van Poppel for a double podium from Bora-Hansgrohe.

The results: 1. Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe), 2. Danny Van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe), 3. Nikias Arndt (Team DSM)…

*****

The races to come: 

Giro d’Italia du 6-29/05 http://www.giroditalia.it

Tour of Norway 24-29/05 https://www.tourofnorway.no/gb/

Circuit de Wallonie 26/05 https://lecircuitdewallonie.be

©Giro d’Italia

Giro d’Italia: Lopez likes the taste

Even though Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) won Sunday’s 9th stage of the Giro, the Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek-Segafredo) still succeeded in retaining the pink jersey as the leader of the race. Eight riders are within thirty seconds of each other helping the Italian event remain full of suspense after the first week. Aged 24, Lopez took advantage of his second place in the fourth stage at the top of Etna to ensconce himself at the top of the general classification, and he does not seem in a hurry to give up his property: “The team’s plan has not changed: we have a leader for the general classification to protect, and that is Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo), and at the same time we will try to keep the jersey as long as possible,” he explained at the end of last week.

Provisional GC: 1. Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek-Segafredo), 2. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), 3. Romain Bardet (Team DSM)…

Stages won by: Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team), Lennard Kamna (Bora-hansgrohe), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe).

*****

Grand Prix du Morbihan: Simon triples up

Julien Simon (Team TotalEnergies) won the Grand Prix du Morbihan on Saturday for the third time in his career. The 36-year-old rider had already won in 2012 and 2014. Although he has now become the most successful cyclist ever in this event, Julien Simon nevertheless had gone more than three years without winning a race: “It feels good. Since I arrived at TotalEnergies, I have not necessarily been successful. I felt my form had been coming back since the Four Days of Dunkirk (May 3 to 8, 8th). I felt good in the final; I sensed a moment of hesitation as the finish approached. It’s great to win in front of my family, I’m really very happy,” said the native of Rennes. 

The results: 1. Julien Simon (TotalEnergies), 2. Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux), 3. Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ)…

*****

Tro-Bro Léon: Happy and optimistic Hofstetter

Hugo Hofstetter (Arkéa-Samsic) won the 38th edition of the Tro Bro Léon on Sunday. The Frenchman hadn’t raised his arms in victory for two years since his success at Le Samyn. “It’s so good! I knew I was capable of it. You know, I really wasn’t thinking about that. If I was 60th in all the races, people would ask me why I’m not working. But really, I’m on the podium every weekend, and people ask me why I don’t win. So here it is, now it’s done, I’m really happy for the team especially. I was sure of my strength; I knew it was only a matter of time. Sometimes there are things that just happen or not, it’s that simple.”

The results: 1. Hugo Hofstetter (Team Arkéa Samsic), 2. Luca Mozzato (B&B Hotels-KTM), Connor Swift (Team Arkéa Samsic)…

*****

Races to come:

Giro d’Italia 6-29/05 www.giroditalia.it

Vuelta a Burgos Feminas 19-22/05 www.vueltaburgos.com/feminas/

Grand Prix Herning 21/05

Veenndaal- Veenndaal classic 21/05 www.veenendaal-veenendaal.nl

Run um Köln 22/05 www.rundumkoeln.de

©YP Médias

Giro d’Italia: Van der Poel starts on the right foot

Winner of the first stage on Friday, Mathieu Van der Poel will start the fourth stage with the leader’s pink jersey on his shoulders this Tuesday in Avola, Sicily. He is currently 11 seconds ahead of Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco) and 16 in front of Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma).

Stages won by: Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team).

*****

Carpathian Couriers Race in Memory of Waclaw Felczak: Miholjevic, a precocious talent

Fourth in the time trial won by the Italian Martinelli on Tuesday, the Croatian Fran Miholjevic won the overall of the Slovakian event, reserved for U23 riders. At 19, the rider of the Cycling Team Friuli ASD has already shown excellent potential.

The results: 1. Fran Miholjevic (Cycling Team Friuli ASD), 2. Francis Juneau (Premier Tech U23 Cycling), 3. Alexander Hajek (Austria)…

Stages won by: Nicolo Buratti (Cycling Team Friuli ASD), Fran Miholjevic (Cycling Team Friuli ASD), Mika Heming (ATT Investments), Alessio Martinelli (Bardiani-Faizanè)

*****

Quatre jours de Dunkerque Grand Prix des Hauts de France: Gilbert returns to winning ways

Belgian Philippe Gilbert won the Four Days of Dunkirk Grand Prix des Hauts de France on Sunday. Having won the third stage, the Lotto-Soudal rider waited until the fifth day of the race to take the overall leader’s jersey. On Sunday, he was content to manage the last stage won by his compatriot Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux): “I had not won a stage race since the Trois Jours de la Panne in 2017. The joy is different, because you never really know if you won with the bonuses. No victory is to be denigrated, they are all beautiful, there is a story behind each victory,” declared the winner.

The results: 1. Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal), 2. Oliver Naesen (AG2R Citroën Team), 3. Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ)…

Stages won by: Arvid De Kleijn (Human Powered Health), Jason Tesson (Saint-Michel-Auber 93), Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal), Lionel Taminiaux (Alpecin-Fenix), Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Fenix), Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux).

*****

Bretagne Ladies Tour Ceratizit: Guazzini the strongest

Seventh in the fifth and final stage on Saturday, Italian Vittoria Guazzini (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) won the general classification of the Tour de Bretagne. Aged 21, she took the leader’s jersey on Thursday in the time trial, where she finished second behind the young Alena Ivanchenko (UAE Team ADQ). Winner of the first two stages, Marta Bastianelli demonstrated her qualities as a sprinter.

The results: 1. Vittoria Guazzini (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope), 2. Cedrine Kerbaol (Cofidis Women Team), 3. Ally Wollaston (AG Insurance-NXTG Team)… 

Stages won by: Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), Alena Ivanchenko (UAE Team ADQ), Martina Alzini (Cofidis Women Team), Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling).

*****

Vuelta ciclista andalucia « ruta del sol »: Sierra above the rest

Winner of the first two stages, the Cuban Arlenis Sierra (Movistar Team) perfectly managed the third and last stage (taking 2nd behind her teammate Jelena Eric) to win the first edition of the Tour of Andalusia at the age of 29.

The results: 1. Arlenis Sierra (Movistar Team), 2. Mavi Garcia (UAE Team ADQ), 3. Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon//SRAM Generation)…

Stages won by : Arlenis Sierra (Movistar Team), Arlenis Sierra (Movistar Team), Jelena Eric (Movistar Team). 

*****

Races to come: 

Giro d’Italia 6-29/05 www.giroditalia.it

Grand Prix du Morbihan 56 14/05 www.gpmo.bzh

Tro-Bro Léon 15/06 www.trobroleon.com

©Tour de Romandie

Tour de Romandie : Vlasov does the double

By winning the time trial on Sunday, the final stage of the 75th Tour de Romandie, Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) won the general classification and thus succeeded Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) on the roll call of winners. “Now I know I’m a very strong rider, my next big goal is the Tour de France. So now I’m going to have a little rest and then I’m going to start my preparation for the Grand Tours. Winning now is perfect for your confidence,” confided the Russian, winner of his first WorldTour race.

Sixth in the time trial, Frenchman Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) further confirmed his return to form.

The results: 1. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe), 2. Gino Mäder (Bahrain Victorious), 3. Simon Geschke (Cofidis)…

Stages won by: Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers), Dylan Teuns (Bahrain Victorious), Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers), Patrick Bevin (Israël Premier Tech), Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe), Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe).

*****

Tour de Bretagne: Le Bon at a good moment

Is there anyone happier than a Breton rider who wins the Tour de Bretagne? By winning on Sunday, at his home in Lannion, Johan Le Bon (Dinan Sport Cycling) posted one of the greatest victories of his career: “My house is 200 meters from here, so there is nothing better than winning. The night before my first win, my kids saw the big stuffed animal and my little girl said she wanted one too. I told her I was going to try, so I’m happy because I now have two stuffed animals to take home and a beautiful green jersey […] Having taken the overall and two stages, this is my best Tour de Bretagne, you can’t ask for anything more.”

The results: 1. Johan Le Bon (Dinan Sport Cycling), 2. Alex Baudin (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), 3. Mathis Le Berre (Côtes d’Armor-Marie Morin-U)…

Stages won by: Mickaël Guichard (WB Fybiola Morbihan), Johan Le Bon (Dinan Sport Cycling), Alex Baudin (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Casper Van Uder (Development Team DSM), Ewen Gastiou (Côtes d’Armor-Marie Morin U), Johan Le Bon (Dinan Sport Cycling).  

*****

Vuelta Asturias Julio Alvarez Mendo: Sosa takes over from Quintana

Despite two stage wins in the event, the Briton Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco) handed victory to Ivan Sosa (Movistar Team) in the 65th edition of the Vuelta Asturias. Winner of the queen stage the day before, the Colombian succeeds his compatriot Nairo Quintana (Team Arkéa-Samsic): “The team has helped me a lot over the past three days, especially today (ed: meaning Sunday). It’s a victory that fills us with joy and confidence for the Giro d’Italia, where we hope to shine,” concluded the winner. 

The results: 1. Ivan Ramiro Sosa (Movistar Team), 2. Lorenzo Fortunato (EOLO-Kometa), 3. Nicolas Edet (Team Arkéa Samsic)…

Stages won by: Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco), Ivan Ramiro Sosa (Movistar Team), Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange-Jayco).

*****

Carpathian Couriers Race in Memory of Waclaw Felczak: Miholjevic takes the reins

Fran Miholjevic (CTF Friuli ASD), won the first stage of the Carpathian Race on Sunday. At 19, the Croatian won in the sprint ahead of Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) and Francis Juneau (Premier Tech U23 Cycling Project). Winner of the prologue on Saturday, the Italian Nicolo Buratti (Cycling Team Friuli ASD) lost the leader’s jersey to Miholjevic. The race continues until Tuesday.

Stages won by: Nicolo Buratti (Cycling Team Friuli ASD), Fran Miholjevic (Cycling Team Friuli ASD).

*****

Eschborn-Frankfurt: Bennett back to winning ways

Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) won Eschborn-Frankfurt on Sunday after a bunch sprint. The Irishman posted his first victory of the season and returned to his winning ways after a series of difficult months.

The results: 1. Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe), 2. Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates), 3. Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux)…

*****

Races to come: 

Carpathian Couriers Race in Memory of Waclaw Felczak 29/04-3/05 

Quatre jours de Dunkerque Grand Prix des Hauts de France 3-8/05  www.4joursdedunkerque.org

Bretagne ladies Tour Ceratizit 3-7/05 www.tbf.bzh

Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia « ruta del sol » elite women 3/5-05 www.vueltaandaluciawomen.es

Giro d’Italia 6-29/05 www.giroditalia.it

©ASO / Gautier Demouveaux

Liège-Bastogne-Liège: Evenepoel takes his first Monument

Eleven years after Philippe Gilbert, a Belgian won Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday. Remco Evenepoel has indeed realized a dream by winning his first Monument. It was a victory built by increasing his advantage after his vicious attack on the Côte de la Redoute. No one was able to follow the 22-year-old rider, who ended as the winner of the Doyenne with a little less than a minute’s lead: “It’s my favorite race, it’s a dream come true,” he explained. “I am coming out of a difficult year and with this victory, I show that I have returned to the level of the very best.”

World Champion Julian Alaphilippe’s race ended when he was involved in a mass pile up 62 kilometers from the finish and suffered from pains in his back and shoulder blade.

The results: 1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick Step Alpha Vinyl Team), 2. Quinten Hermans (Intermarché Wanty Gobert Matériaux), 3. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)…

*****

Tour of the Alps: Bardet and Pinot, back to the fore

He had not won a stage race since the Tour de l’Ain in 2013. By winning the 45th edition of the Tour des Alpes on Friday, Romain Bardet (Team DSM) put an end to nearly nine years of scarcity. “It’s a very good week. It’s true that it was my return to competition, it went very well,” commented the 31-year-old rider, second in the 2016 Tour de France. “My sensations are good and there is a victory at the end, it’s magnificent!”

Second on Thursday, Thibaut Pinot won the last stage by taking the stage into Lienz in Austria. He also signals his return to form.

The results: 1. Romain Bardet (Team DSM), 2. Michaël Storer (Groupama-FDJ), 3. Thymen Arensman (Team DSM)…

Stages won by: Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R Citroën Team), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Lennard Kamna (Bora-hansgrohe), Angel Miguel Lopez (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama FDJ). 

*****

La Flèche Wallonne féminine : Cavalli wanted more

Winner of the Amstel Gold Race ten days earlier, the Italian Marta Cavalli won the 25th edition of the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday. A member of the FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope team, she beat Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) to the top of the mur de Huy. The 24-year-old Italian savored this new success: “It was not easy because it is very steep. The first part, I stayed in the wheel of Annemiek. I waited for the last few meters, because that’s where you can make a difference.”

The results: 1. Marta Cavalli (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar Team), 3. Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx)…

*****

La Flèche Wallonne: Teuns deprives Valverde of a sixth success

Alejandro Valverde thought that he may well, at almost 42 years old, have a sixth success at Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday. But Dylan Teuns deprived him of this happiness by winning for the first time in a major one-day race. The 30-year-old Belgian overtook the Spaniard some 200 meters from the top of the mur de Huy. “It’s incredible. I have always dreamed of a victory in a classic and it finally happens. I have always believed in my abilities,” commented the 30-year-old Belgian. “I was in the perfect position at the foot of the Mur. I knew more or less where Valverde planned to accelerate, he always does it in the same place. It was also a perfect place for me and I attacked there.”

Winner in 2021, World Champion Julian Alaphilippe took fourth.

The results: 1. Dylan Teuns (Bahrain Victorious), 2. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), 3. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-hansgrohe)…

*****

Rutlan Melton Cicle Classic : Crockett opens his tally this season

English rider Finn Crockett (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) won the 16th edition of the Rutland-Melton Cicle Classic on Sunday. In Melton, at the end of a 180 kilometer race, the 22-year-old rider won the sprint ahead of the Czech Tomas Kopecky (ABLOC CT) and his compatriot Jacob Scott (WiV SunGod).

The results: 1. Finn Crockett (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling), 2. Tomas Kopecky (ABLOC CT), 3. Jacob Scott (WiV SunGod)…

*****

Liège-Bastogne-Liège féminine: Van Vleuten does it again in Liège

Three years after her first victory, Annemiek van Vleuten (Team Movistar) won her second Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday. Her attack on the côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons proved decisive. It is the fifth Dutch victory in six editions of the Belgian race. The Italian Marta Cavalli (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), in search of a hat-trick, finished in sixth place.

The results: 1. Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team), 2. Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), 3. Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx)…

*****

Races to come:

Tour de Bretagne 25/04-1/05

Tour de Romandie 26/04-1/05 www.tourderomandie.ch

Vuelta Asturias Julio Alvarez Mendo 29/04-1/05 www.lavueltaasturias.com

Carpathian Couriers Race in Memory of Waclaw Felczak 29/04-3/05 

Eschborn Frankfurt 1/05 www.eschborn-frankfurt.de/en/home/