Search our site:

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, December 11, 2023

Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia

There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves. - Will Rogers

Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Giro d'Italia, A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Vol 1: 1909 - 1970 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Upcoming racing:

• Dec 17: World Cup Namur Cyclocross
• Dec 26: World Cup Gaver Cyclocross
• Dec 27: Superprestige Heusden Zolder
• Dec 28: Superprestige Diegem
• Dec 29: Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross
• Jan 12-21: Santos Tour Down Under
• Jan 20: Clasica Comunitat Valenciana
• Jan 24-28: Challenge Illes Balears-Volta Ciclista a Mallorca
• Jan 28: GP d'Ouverture-La Marseillaise
• Jan 28: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
• Jan 30 - Feb 3: Saudi Tour

Latest completed racing:

• Nov 5: European Cyclocross Championships
• Nov 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
• Oct 28: Superprestige Ruddervoorde
• Oct 22: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaanse Druivencross
• Oct 12 - 17: Tour of Guangxi
• Oct 15: Japan Cup
• Oct 15: Veneto Classic

Men | Women

Men's race results:

Joris Nieuwenhuis alone and off the front. UCI photo

The race. Here's the UCI's race report.

There was little in the way of excitement in Val di Sole during the men's race. Joris Nieuwenhuis rode in the lead from start to finish and took his first World Cup race win with an impressive solo.

Joris Nieuwenhuis (Baloise Trek Lions) shot out of the start in Val di Sole like a rocket. Only Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin - Deceuninck) was able to parry the Dutchman's fast start. Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal), Sweeck (Crelan - Corendon), Wyseure (Crelan - Corendon) and Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal) had to correct a lopsided situation.

Riding all the way to the head of the race, that would not happen again. Indeed, Nieuwenhuis rode clear and found a course that suited him on the wintry course in Val di Sole. Vandeputte had, as a result, to let the Dutchman go. He in turn managed to hold off the chasers. In the battle for third place, it was Joran Wyseure who was able to ride away from World Cup leader Iserbyt and co at the end of the third lap.

Wyseure had found the rhythm, as his fastest time on lap four brought him closer to Vandeputte second by second. But he could not close the gap. Vandeputte managed to secure his second place. All that was far behind the day's winner, Joris Nieuwenhuis. The Dutchman took his first victory in the World Cup and put the seventh round of the 2023-2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup completely to his satisfaction. Eli Iserbyt remains in the lead in the standings.

Women's race results:

Manon Bakker wins in Val di Sol. UCI photo

The race. Here's the UCI's race report.

For the first time in her career, Manon Bakker has won a World Cup race. The Dutchwoman made it in Val di Sole ahead of Alvarado and Pieterse. After seven rounds, Alvarado remains in the lead in the standings.

World Cup leader Ceylin Alvarado (Alpecin - Deceuninck) was back in action after last week's absence. She immediately dived into the field first in the Italian snow, but she went down in the second turn. Puck Pieterse (Fenis - Deceuninck) was also held up at the same point and had to chase.

Even after her slide, Alvarado was able to set the pace at the front. Czech Zemanová (Brilon Racing Team MB) managed to pick up her wagon and crossed the line in Alvarado's wake at the end of the first lap. Pieterse, meanwhile, was on a catch-up race and did everything he could to get closer, but the podium, with Bakker in third position (Crelan - Corendon) seemed to be racing away.

Alvarado was able to gradually make up the difference at the front. Even when the chasers rejoined after a slide, Alvarado managed to get away from Bakker and Zemanová quite quickly. Halfway through the race, Zemanová gradually started to slip. As a result, Bakker rode alone in second position and Pieterse was able to pass the Czech, heading for third.

Just before entering the fourth and final lap, Bakker got closer and closer to Alvarado. A duel would decide wins and losses in the seventh round of the 2023 - 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. Bakker moved decisively to the lead and put Alvarado under pressure. Bakker made few mistakes and cycled away from Alvarado second after second.

Bakker, third in Val di Sole last year, put the final lap completely to her will. She took her very first win in the UCI World Cup Cyclocross in Vermiglio. Alvarado eventually finished in second place at 23 seconds. Pieterse finished third at 1 minute 35.

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