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Saturday, July 8, 2023
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2022 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia
Good artists copy, great artists steal. - Pablo Picasso
Les Woodland's book Dirty Feet: How the Great Unwashed Created the Tour de France is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- July 1 - 24: Tour de France
Upcoming racing:
- July 22 - 26: Tour de Wallonie
Latest completed racing:
- July 2 - 6: Österreich Rundfahrt-Tour of Austria
- January - June 26: National Championships
- June 11 - 18: Tour de Suisse
- June 14 - 18: Baloise Belgium Tour
- June 15 - 18: Route d'Occitanie
- June 4 - 11: Critérium du Dauphiné
- June 7 - 11: ZLM Tour
- June 4: Brussels Cycling Classic
We posted the race organizer's report with the results.
Here's the report from Jordi Meeus' Team Bora-hansgrohe:
After the Pyrenees, the seventh stage of the Tour de France offered another chance for the sprinters in Bordeaux. A solo escapee was in front for most of the day before two riders bridged across to the front after the intermediate sprint. The two dropped the early leader little later, but the bunch had everything under control and with 4km remaining all was set for another bunch sprint. Danny Van Poppel moved to the front at the right moment with Jordi Meeus on his wheel. Unfortunately, Jordi was boxed in over the last 500m, and Jasper Philipsen took his third stage win at this year’s race.
Jasper Philipsen took the stage. Sirotti photo
“I think our timing was really good today and Danny did a brilliant job to hit the front on the last kilometre. Unfortunately, I had to change my line when he dropped back, and had to brake. I lost the momentum there and had to accelerate again, which is very difficult in a sprint like this. I am a little disappointed because there was a chance today for a better result.” – Jordi Meeus
“After the two hard mountain stages, everybody tried to save energy today. We protected Jai very well and from that perspective, it all went fine. In the sprint Danny moved up with Jordi in the right moment, but it was a very hectic last kilometre. Jordi was in a very good position, but he was pushed aside in the absolute wrong moment. I think it would have been very hard to beat Philipsen, but a top three was possible today.” – Rolf Aldag, Sports Director
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Here's the Tour de France upate from Sam Welsford's Team dsm-firmenich:
A sprint finale as hot and fierce as the sun beating down over the peloton saw Sam Welsford get up for a 13th place finish in Bordeaux after a committed job by the team in the finale.
With two tough mountain stages behind them, the sprinters would have their chance to go for a result once again over the flatter terrain on offer for stage seven. It was a fairly straightforward stage to begin with with a lone breakaway rider going clear, but with around 50 kilometres to go two more riders bridged across and then pushed on. The increase in gap, alongside the slight potential danger of crosswinds, saw a more nervous peloton with the team taking up a good position at the front; to protect GC finisher Romain Bardet and sprint finisher Sam Welsford.
Kevin Vermaerke lent his legs to the chase, with the gap still roughly one minute at around 18 kilometres to go, and the break was eventually caught on the run-in. It was fast amongst the front of the peloton with the “washing machine effect” in full force as riders and teams battle to be at the front. John Degenkolb did a good job to position Welsford near the front, before Eekhoff and Edmondson helped bring him back towards the front once more with around one kilometre to go. Welsford gave it his best but he was bumped into the wind a bit and had to fight back into the wheels spending energy, and combined with a tough couple of days and the searing heat, he couldn’t fully contest for a top result – taking 13th on the day.
Sam Welsford winning the sixth stage of the Vuelta a San Juan.
Welsford said: “Another sprint day here at the Tour. It was a pretty controlled day to start with the break going early. Things kicked off at about 50 kilometres to go where the teams started fighting for positions. The guys did a really good job with holding the right side and keeping me out of the washing machine; I can’t fault their commitment today. Into the deep final we were present and always moving forward, we did a good job into the last couple of kilometres. Unfortunately, I got a bit bumped out into the wind and had to work pretty hard for the sprint. It was a tough day for the sprint but a pretty positive day for how we worked as a team.”
Team dsm-firmenich coach Matt Winston added: “The first part of the stage was quite steady. It was important in the heat to stay cool and hydrated. We did a good job in the final, we were together on the side. It came to a point where Kevin came to the front to help in the chase to make sure it came down to a sprint. It got a bit messy then but the guys always had that will to find each other and kept coming back to each other. In the last few kilometres we didn’t have all of us together, so we need to keep working on that, but it’s good we had the real intention there to do that. We came together in the end and brought Sam into the sprint, but I think with the heat and long finish straight he was a little bit cooked by the time he came to the line.”
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And here's the Tour report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Bordeaux, the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitanie region and a city whose history can be traced all the way to the fifth century BC, when the Celts established there, welcomed the peloton of the Tour de France for the 80th time in history and for the first time since 2010, making it the place which the race visited the most, after Paris.
It was a day for the sprinters, who got their third opportunity of the week, and they were all there in what was another hectic finale. Unfortunately for Soudal Quick-Step, the last few hard days of racing and the crash in the beginning of the week took their toll on Fabio Jakobsen, who despite his best efforts couldn’t fight for the win, concluding in 15th place the stage won by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck).
Fabio Jakobsen racing in stage five, before he crashed.
“It’s a bit disappointing. Normally, I should be able to compete and go for the victory on a good day, but because of the crash and those tough stages in the mountains I just didn’t have the legs today. When the sprint started I had to stay on the saddle and let them go. I hope I will recover and be there when we get another opportunity, but the wounds are healing at this point and that takes a lot of energy. I just hope I will feel better and capable of fighting for a stage win here”, Fabio explained after the stage.
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Vanmarcke’s Team Israel-Premier Tech posted this bad news:
Sep Vanmarcke has announced his retirement from professional cycling effective immediately due to medical reasons.
The 34-year-old will call time on his 14-year career, of which the past two and a half years were spent at Israel – Premier Tech, during which time he won the likes of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Bretagne Classic, the inaugural Maryland Classic, and graced the podium of Paris-Roubaix and Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Sep Vanmarcke wins the 2012 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Photo: Peter Malaise
Following an abnormally high heart rate detected while on the bike, Vanmarcke underwent testing including a cardiac MRI which confirmed the presence of scar tissue. The high risk of further cardiac complications posed by the scar tissue means that Vanmarcke will no longer be able to continue racing as a professional cyclist.
A crowd favorite on home soil in Belgium and beyond, Sep quickly made a name for himself as a Classics rider, showing the skills and true grit needed to conquer the cobbles. Yet his impressive palmarès doesn’t illustrate the many times Sep was at the front of the race battling for the win, never giving up no matter what the race threw at him.
Understandably disappointed to end his career in this way, Sep thanks his family, friends, fans, and team members for their support over the last 14 years:
“When I pinned a number for the first time back in 2003, I never dared to dream about having a professional career. I ended up living that dream for 14 years, with highs and lows. I wasn’t the super talent, but with dedication and hard work I was able to compete with the best riders in the biggest races for years. I got to know many people and cultures all over the world and have been to places I never heard of before.
“I would have liked to have raced at the highest level for a few more years and achieve more great performances together with IPT in the biggest races. It is very sad and painful to announce the end of my career in this way. At the same time, I am grateful that the problems with my heart were discovered in time. I’m going to take the time now to be with my family, to accept the situation and think about what I want to do in the future. My whole life has been all about cycling. Cycling will always be my passion.”
IPT owner Sylvan Adams and General Manager Kjell Carlström speak on behalf of the whole team in praising Sep and his invaluable contribution to IPT:
“We were all shocked to hear the news that Sep had a cardiac issue that will prevent him from racing again. At the same time, we are relieved that the issue was discovered, as Sep’s health and wellbeing are the priorities, for Sep, his family, and his IPT family. Sep expressed to me that he loves this team, where he is one of our leaders. We had spoken recently, wherein I gave him my personal commitment that he would retire a member of IPT when he decided to hang up his boots. We both didn’t realize that this would happen so suddenly. I wish Sep the very best, and a long life such that he will enjoy his future grandchildren,” says Adams.
“In the three years Sep has raced for Israel – Premier Tech, he has become an integral member of our family and we are sad to see him retire in this way. Our absolute priority is Sep’s health and we are grateful that this complication was detected now. We will continue to support Sep in this period of transition as he determines what he would like to do next. I want to thank Sep for everything he has done for the team. We are incredibly grateful for the passion and leadership skills he has demonstrated in his time with us, and it has been an absolute pleasure to have had Sep race in IPT colors. Despite the tough times, Sep didn’t give up and his win in Maryland last year and third place at Gent – Wevelgem this year were a testament to his attitude. I have no doubt he will excel in whatever he chooses to do next,” adds Carlström.
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