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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, November 14, 2022

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2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia

To feel much for others and little for ourselves; to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections, constitute the perfection of human nature. - Adam Smith

James Witherell's book Bicycle History: A Chronological History of People, Races and Technology is available in both print and Kindle eBook formats. To get your copy just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Upcoming racing

• Nov 20: Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse Cross
• Dec 4: Scheldecross Antwerp
• Dec 10: Exact Cross Essen
• Dec 26: Gavere Cyclocross
• Dec 27: Heusden-Zolder Cyclocross
• Dec 29: Diegem Cyclocross
• Dec 30: Azencross-Loenhout
• Jan 1: GP Sven Nys Cyclocross
• Jan 14 - 22: Schwalbe Classic & Tour Down Under
• Jan 22 - 29: Vuelta a San Juan
• Jan 25 - 29: Challenge Illes Balears-Volta Ciclista a Mallorca
• Jan 28 & 29: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Latest completed racing:

• Nov 5 & 6: European Cyclocross Championships
• Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
• Oct 29: Superprestige Ruddervoorde Cyclocross
• Oct 11 - 18: Tour de Langkawi
• Oct 16: Japan Cup
• Oct 16: Veneto Classic
• Oct 16: Chrono des Nations
• Oct 12: Giro del Veneto

Women's race winner Marianne Vos' Jumbo-Visma team posted this report:

Marianne Vos has finished fifth in the GP Beekse Bergen. The world champion spent some time with an elite group of five during her fourth cross of the year. Vos fought her way up to fifth place after the front three had gained an advantage and the podium spots were distributed.

Marianne Vos winning the Rucphen Cross in 2021

This year's cyclocross calendar features the GP Beekse Bergen for the first time. The course largely consisted of turns and twists. Vos kept in touch with the front of the race for a long time. As the race progressed, the balance of power became clear and Vos eventually crossed the line in fifth place. The win went to Shirin van Anrooij.

"The course is beautiful”, Vos said. "It's a valuable addition to the calendar. There were a lot of people along the side. I heard them, but hardly saw them as I was focused on the race. I constantly had to be on guard. After the race began, I wasn't in a good spot, but I was still able to advance to the front. It was full speed the whole race. This race went well for me."

Men's race winner Laurens Sweeck's Crelan-Fristads team posted this short note and photo:

Laurens for the win! 3rd victory of the season for Laurens Sweeck, second World Cup Beekse Bergen.

This is a machine-translation of BiciSport's interview

Here's a link to the original story in Italian.

Thanks to Larry Theobald for passing this on to me.

Road safety, Garzelli says: "In Spain it's a whole different world!"

By Giorgia Fraiegari

We had a nice chat with Stefano Garzelli, one of the best Italian climbers and winner of the Giro d'Italia in 2000. He has been living in Spain for several years now with his wife and children and we contacted him to let us tell you how to ride there. The first words that came out of his mouth were: "In Spain it's a whole other world!". Perhaps because wearing a helmet was already mandatory fifteen years ago or perhaps because the 1.5 meter law has already existed for years, the fact is that there it is important to protect the most vulnerable users and that there is certainly much more respect there for those who ride.

Stefano Garzelli in pink with the late Marco Pantani after winning the 2000 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo

"Since last year they have also renewed the law by passing to two meters of distance, in addition to the fact that a car cannot overtake cyclists at more than 20 kilometers per hour of difference with respect to their speed". Certainly in Italy the tolerance towards those who ride a bicycle is very low. Stefano, on the other hand, told us how respectful Spanish motorists are: "It's very simple, here people don't overtake if there's not enough space, they stay in the queue and wait for the right moment to overtake in total safety".

Does the lifestyle of the Spaniards influence? Garzelli answers:

Will their lifestyle make the difference or will it be the severe consequences reserved for those who do not respect the rules? Perhaps Italians are more subjected to daily stress that affects their actions and makes them annoyed in the face of a wait. "For the Spaniards it is not a problem to wait an extra minute," Stefano told us.

It is true that in Italy there are not many stretches of road along which a purple line delimits numerous cycle paths, indeed, in many areas of our country there are no cycle paths at all. In Spain you can safely ride side by side because it is required by law. In addition to being a Rai technical commentator, Garzelli also follows a Spanish youth cycling team. He told us that "the little ones train in an area closed to traffic but we let the students run around on the road, here I feel much calmer". In Italy he would certainly be more afraid ...

Girmay’s Intermarché-Wanty Gobert team posted this:

"This day changed my life forever. Gent-Wevelgem is my first big victory & many memories will remain engraved. I was proud to win a prestigious classic for my Belgian team. This victory is also strongly symbolic, exactly six years after the death of Antoine Demoitié on this same race. We celebrated our success with the whole team later that day, and from this moment I realized what I had accomplished.

Biniam Girmay wins a big one. Sirotti photo

"Dozens of journalists were waiting for me at the hotel the next day to say goodbye. A big party was held in Asmara, where I was welcomed like a hero. I never thought this victory would have such an impact. Since then, I feel a lot of respect in the peloton and it's probably the best thing that could have happened to me. There is no better compliment than the congratulations from champions such as Wout Van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel or Remco Evenepoel. Thank you to everyone who helped me to write History for Eritrea and African cycling." - Biniam Girmay

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