Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
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2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia
Money doesn't talk, it swears. - Bob Dylan
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2021: The Little Cannibal Dominates is available in both 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
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
Evenepoel’s Team Soudal Quick-Step posted this remembrance:
The Belgian on the day he became the first reigning World Champion to win the prestigious race.
Remco Evenepoel beats Pello Bilbao for the win in 2023. Sirotti photo.
“It’s no secret that Clasica San Sebastian is one of my favourite events on the calendar. It’s not just because it is where I got my first World Tour win back in 2019, but it’s also the hard climbs, the amazing scenery and the incredible fans in the Basque Country that make this one of the best days of the whole season.
"This year the race was even more special, because it marked my final outing in the rainbow jersey before traveling to Glasgow. Coming to the start, we had a plan in mind: to keep everything under control from the start and make the race as hard as possible, and the superb Soudal Quick-Step team I had around me did just that. That’s why, after the huge amount of work the guys put in, I decided to attack from the distance, with 70 kilometers to go, and make it an open race.
"I must be sincere and say that the move wasn’t part of the original plan, but I quickly got a gap, and as soon as this happened, I wanted to see if I could take some guys with me. A strong group formed at the front and we worked well together, increasing our advantage and becoming more confident in our chances of staying away with each kilometer.
"On the last hill I ramped up the tempo and made another selection, and in the end, it was just myself and Pello who arrived together on the Boulevard. I knew he was a fast finisher, but at the same time, I was confident in my sprint, which I knew I had improved a lot, especially after a hard race, and felt I had the power needed to make the difference. Winning San Sebastian for the third time in as many participations and tying the great Marino Lejaretta for the number of victories in the race made me very happy. It was one of my best wins of the year and I’m already looking forward to returning there.”
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
Kazakh rider Yevgeniy Gidich (27) renewed his contract with Astana Qazaqstan Team, where he is going to spend another season of 2024.
Yegeniy Gidich
“I consider another season in Astana Qazaqstan Team, first of all, as an opportunity to prove that I still have ambitions in cycling, I have the desire and motivation to achieve high results. In recent years, not everything worked out, but I tried not to give up, tried again and again. There were moments when something worked out, and this allows me to hope that victories and podiums are only a matter of time and perseverance. Of course, team goals are the main thing, I am ready to help the team in all races, where it will be needed, both for Astana and the National Team. But I would like to pursue me personal results either, because I know that I can prove myself in certain races”, – said Yevgeniy Gidich.
In 2023 Yevgeniy Gidich, representing Kazakhstan National Team, won two stages at the Tour of Van, he was second in the road race of the Asian Cycling Championships and the National Champs of Kazakhstan, finished 4th in a stage of the Vuelta a San Juan and was 8th in the General Classification of the Tour of Istanbul.
“In the second half of the season, Yevgeniy showed himself pretty well; he demonstrated the desire to be useful to the team and, at the same time, the desire to fight for victory. Also, Yevgeniy performed well as a member of the National Team, he won a medal at the Asian Cycling Championships and brought to Kazakhstan important ranking points. Not everything worked out, but we see that the rider is motivated and has a desire to work, and this is the most important thing. For various reasons, the season was difficult for everyone without exception, so let’s hope that next year will be calmer and without force majeure, which will allow each of the riders to prove themselves on 100%”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.
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Here’s the team’s post:
After the 2023 assessment of the WorldTour Team and a complete update on the Juniors program, it is now time to look back at the Conti’s last season. A sports director of a whole new group, Jérôme Gannat sat down to analyse this fifth vintage, which he considers satisfying on many aspects, but mostly promising for 2024.
Jérôme Gannat
Jérôme, with a clear head, what assessment do you make of the 2023 season of “La Conti”?
Generally speaking, the group improved throughout the season, collectively, but also individually. Many came out of the junior ranks and were discovering the elite/u23/Class 2 level. They all reached a milestone and that’s really the year’s positive point. This means that the training was good, that the coaching was efficient, and that everything we put in place worked out. The primary objective of a continental team like ours is the rider’s development. From this point of view, this season confirmed the trend of past years. Every time a rider joined the Conti, he was stronger the following year.
How do you assess the season’s results sheet?
It’s hard to avoid comparisons with past years. 2022 was an exceptional season, but the previous season was also very good since we finished third at continental level. On the other hand, it is difficult to compare one year with another, because the group was more than 90% renewed this season for instance. It was also the youngest continental team ever recorded at the UCI: 18.3 average age. The work was for sure more difficult because it was a group that did not have great experience or huge references. It was a 200% training year. We must also be aware that 2022 was exceptional and that it was not possible to do it again. We knew it. The season ultimately met our expectations. I think we placed a little beyond 100th in the UCI rankings (112th). It’s not extraordinary, but when we look a little deeper into our season, there are some good, promising things. We won five times, and we didn’t always reach that total. It’s not as good as in previous years, but it’s not bad either.
During the season, you said the riders needed to adapt. Physically, mentally, as a team?
All three, but I think the physical adaptation was the most important one. Class 2 races have nothing to do with junior races, whether in terms of distance or competition. We were a bit inferior at the start of the season, we suffered in races. We needed this time of adaptation to pass this little physical milestone which then allows us to play a more important role, to be a protagonist in the race. Thibaud [Gruel] adapted very quickly, with a podium straight away then a victory quite early on, but we felt that the group was a little more fragile than in the past. We paid for the lack of physical maturity at the start of the season. In the second half of the season, on the other hand, we were able to be more up there and influence the race.
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Was it also harder to “build” a whole new group?
It actually often is. Every year, we have to rebuild, recreate a team spirit. There were eleven new riders, all coming from slightly different backgrounds, from the junior ranks. I think some were also worried of not being at the required level, and that had a little impact on the team. We had to build over the races and explain that it was no longer about individual performance as it can be in Juniors. The goal was also to make them understand that they would find an interest in working in this way. To receive, you also need to give. They always rode as a group because that is one of the main goals we have, but from the summer onwards, we witnessed some noteworthy team performances. It especially happened for the sprints, and it was really interesting. That being said, if everyone improved individually, there were obviously more possibilities to perform as a team. And if they worked as a team, they were going to achieve results, even individually. It was important to get this message across. The team spirit is even more important when you have a young team, developing, and without any big leader that stands out.
Did not having a big leader offer greater freedom for the riders?
Last year, we were the main protagonists. It was completely different this year. We had less pressure for results because we approached the races as outsiders. It was important that the riders took advantage of this situation to join breakaways and go on the attack. In the second half of the season, it really worked out. They had to seize this opportunity, and it was very important for next year especially. For example, the turning point for Lewis [Bower] was joining a breakaway in the Arctic Race of Norway. He then achieved a good end to the season. Even if the possibility of winning through the break is very reduced, it remains a good way of developing. Mentally, you play the leading roles, you influence the race. They all realized this. Few riders in the group could say: I’m going to stay in the bunch, use my card in the final and win. Noah [Hobbs] was up there in the sprints, Thibaud in the races a little harder, but there was more room and freedom than in the past to seek individual results. However, it couldn’t be done at the cost of the team. When strategies were put in place, they obviously had to be respected. Yet, in the end, everyone got their own results. It also allowed the riders to gain confidence in themselves and in their capacities.
Was there a specific lack this season?
I often said it, but we were much less in the mix in the hard races. Unlike last year, where we had a real impact as soon as the race got tough, we suffered more this season. Of course, Joshua [Golliker] produced great performances on the Giro della Valle d’Aosta, Brieuc [Rolland] was consistent, but overall we were a step below. This is also why we sometimes had to find solutions to aim for something and have a goal for the day.
What are the 2023 highlights for you?
We’ll remember the strong start of the season of Thibaud, then the fifth place of Noah on Ghent-Wevelgem. It was important to put the group on the right track. We’ll also highlight the Giro della Valle d’Aosta with Joshua’s two victories, but I believe that the most striking and important race was the Arctic Race of Norway. It was our first experience at the ProSeries level, and I told the guys that it was an honour to be invited, and that we had to be up there in different ways, through the sprint or breakaways. In the end, we got noticed every day. On TV, we gave the impression of being a ProTeam in the way we were riding, and how solid we were in the finals. One evening, Marc left me a message in which he said: “I’m watching what you’re doing on TV, it’s beautiful.” I think it was a bit of a turning point. There were a few more results at the end of the season, and everyone scored his own performance. That’s what makes me say that it’s promising for next year. If the group keeps on improving, we’ll be able to do very nice things.
From the team’s point of view, was it frustrating to no longer play the top roles, or was it just a different challenge?
We knew it was a new chapter. We started from scratch like in 2019, but with the experience of four years. It’s a bit frustrating when you dominated like we did last year, because I think we are all racers, and we always imagine the scenario to win, not to suffer. However, you need to put things into perspective. It was a different approach. With the management, we didn’t lie to each other at the start of the season. We weren’t entering the season to do as well as the previous one. I think that the quality of a staff is also to assess the potential of a team and to know how far we can bring it. We were not mistaken. I think we got the best out of the group we had. We can consider it a success because they have improved. It is now up to us to find another mission for this group next year.
Eddy Le Huitouze will join the WorldTeam over the winter, which proves that the connection between the two teams is still active.
Among the riders who join the WorldTour team, there are not just leaders. There may be teammates, lead-out men, etc… In our current group, some riders may have the possibility of joining the WorldTeam next year or the following year because they have qualities that may match specific position and needs. This is what we are asked. Eddy, for example, has his place in the WorldTour in a defined role. Nearly 50% of the WorldTour squad for 2024 comes from the Conti team. This proves that the bridge has worked well over the past five years. We also don’t forget all the other riders who have passed through the Conti and who are riding elsewhere. We’ve established a successful development towards the high level and the WorldTour. When we try to sign riders, I think it is very important to highlight this point, even if there are other issues today, financial in particular, which did not exist 3-4 years ago.
In 2024, the squad will be quite similar, as only three new riders come along. How will you approach this new season?
We have to pursue this developing cycle, and don’t think that it is over. We can still bring them more. We have to look ahead, the group still has to improve, grow, and we have to give ourselves the means to do so. As long as the group improves, it will be rewarding for us, the staff, and for the team. Training must continue. The first goal is for all riders to progress individually and for some to join the WorldTour team. This is the reason we exist. It is also important to always seek victories and results. We hope to get more than this year because this group will grow, even if it is hard to know the margin for progress. What makes you move forward, individually and collectively, is racing and performing. The race is what makes you want to improve. You also must never forget that if you love what you do, you will accept constraints more easily and you will inevitably progress. Keeping this fun for riding is something that we regularly remind all the youngsters
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