Search our site:

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, September 22, 2022

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2021 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia

You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say. - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Les Woodland's book Sticky Buns Across America: Back-roads biking from sea to shining sea is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• Sept 18 - 25: World Road Championships

Upcoming racing:

• Sept 29: Coppa Agostoni

Latest completed racing:

• Sept 13 - 17: Tour de Luxembourg
• Sept 17: Primus Classic
• Sept 17: Memorial Marco Pantani (cancelled)
• Sept 16: Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
• Sept 15: Coppa Sabatini
• Sept 14: GP de Wallonie
• Sept 14: Giro della Toscana

Van Vleuten posted this note on Twitter:

"Back from hospital Wollongong (super support there!). Stable fracture elbow, no surgery needed. I am allowed to ride my bike, but depends on pain and needs to be sensible. Hope I can sleep. At least I can already laugh about this picture."

It remains to be seen if she can ride the road race on Saturday.

Team Jumbo-Visma sent me this:

Wout van Aert and Team Jumbo-Visma have opened up their remaining two-year commitment and extended it by two years. The deal puts the successful Fleming under contract with the Dutch World Tour team of CEO Richard Plugge until the end of 2026.

Van Aert (28) says he is "obviously happy" with his contract extension. "I feel very good with this team. We have already shown that I can perform at my best here. That is also thanks to the facilities I get there. It surprised me the team wanted to negotiate my contract again, but it's a nice recognition. We quickly agreed. I don't think a longer partnership poses any risks because we've been able to get better for the past four years. One of the team's slogans is 'better every day', which is not coming out of thin air. We keep improving in performance, the team's facilities, everything. Because of this, I'm confident I won't have to worry about being on this squad for the next four years. We constantly strive for the best, which made the decision simple. I give the team that assurance, and it gives me the peace of mind I need to succeed in the upcoming years."

The van Aert family in green at the end of the 2020 Tour de France. Sirotti photo

Those words are music to the ears of Team Jumbo-Visma sportive director Merijn Zeeman. "Both as a rider and as a person, Wout enhances our team. He is a rider who makes a difference by achieving top performances and by the team player he is. He propels us to great heights. We are delighted that he will be part of our team for the next four years", Zeeman says.

The contract extension allows Van Aert to pursue his sporting goals in a sophisticated way. "I am always looking for new challenges and still have plenty to accomplish. I occasionally hear the criticism that the team gives me too few opportunities. But I think the opposite is the case. I've already been given many more possibilities than I would have otherwise due to the growth I've been able to experience with this team. I might be the sole leader in a grand tour in another team, but I would not have had the same legs", Van Aert claims. "I have the best teammates at Jumbo-Visma, and I am as well-prepared as possible. I have already taken a lot of pleasure from my and the team's successes. It's amazing to be part of it. I believe it to be the ideal image. I'm happy to have found my home here."

Groenewegen's Team BikeExchange-Jayco sent me this report.

Dylan Groenewegen took a third podium finish in the space of 10 days, with a third-placed finish at Omloop van het Houtland today, as he put on another strong performance in a busy period of racing.

The Dutchman and his Team BikeExchange-Jayco teammates kept a close eye on a five-rider breakaway all day in Belgium, and as the pace in the peloton upped inside the final 40km, the Australian team was right there in the mix.

The break was caught on the final lap of Lichtervelde, and when it came to the business end of the race Groenewegen was launched by his team into the final sprint.

Groenewegen took his fight for victory to the line, where a tight finish saw him take third, adding to his recent podium finishes at Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen and GP de Fourmies.

Dylan Greonewegen on the podium after 2022 Tour de France stage three. Sirotti photo

Dylan Groenewegen:
"I was really happy with how the guys rode for me today. They brought me into the position where I needed to be to be able to contest the sprint.

"In the end you need to have the legs to finish the race off, and I ran out of legs right at the finish, and third was the maximum I could get today."

Tristan Hofmann (Sport Director):
"It was a controlled day. Five guys went up the road, and a lot of sprinters' teams were controlling the race. The break was caught in the last kilometre, and they did well to stay away for so long.

"Our guys did a good job by keeping Dylan in position and bringing him into the finish, where he just ran out of legs in the sprint."

Omloop van het Houtland, Race Result:
1. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deeuninck) 4:24:36
2. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Soudal) @ s.t
3. Dylan Groenewegen (Team BikeExchange-Jayco) @ s.t.

.

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary