Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, November 17, 2023
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2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia
Compassion is the basis of morality. - Arthur Schopenhauer
Plato's dialogue Crito is available both in audiobook and Kindle eBook 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
Here is a machine-translation of the organizer's announcement:
The CIC Mont Ventoux will not take place in 2024 due to the passing of the Olympic torch relay in the Vaucluse department on June 19, which mobilizes energies and resources at this period and does not allow the optimal organization of our event.
The race will be organized in 2025.
Nicolas Garcera, general director of CIC Mont Ventoux:
“Thank you to our partners for their trust. In 2024, we are passing the baton to the Olympic flame which will cross Vaucluse and climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux in June.
“I would like to thank our title partner, the CIC, which maintains its commitments to our side for the next editions and will be present during our general public events in 2024 which, for their part, are not impacted by the activities around the Games Olympics organized in Vaucluse.
“We are proud of the renewed confidence of the International Cycling Union and the National Cycling League which allows us to retain the UCI Pro Series label, the second level of the professional circuit, in 2025.”
The CIC Mont Ventoux has been run 5 times since its creation in 2019. Last year, Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) won ahead of Michaël Woods (Israel Premier Tech).
The Lapierre GF Mont Ventoux, a traditional cyclo-sport event which climbs the slopes of the giant of Provence, will take place on June 9, 2024 with two distances (100 km via Sault and 122 km via Bedoin).
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The team sent me this
Team dsm-firmenich are proud to welcome PostNL on board as a new co-title partner and starting from the 2024 season, the team will be known as Team dsm-firmenich PostNL. PostNL pledges to support the team’s Women, Men and Development programs for a period of at least three years.
The new team jersey.
PostNL CEO, Herna Verhagen, said: “We are very excited about this new partnership. We always work with others to contribute to society: through the PostNL Bijzondere Momenten Fonds – a charitable endeavor which works together with social organisations on projects that matter – and from the upcoming season onwards, also as co-title partner in sports with Team dsm-firmenich PostNL. Cycling is a perfect example of a sport that connects people and gets society moving. This youthful, driven team is continually growing and taking on new challenges. They strive to be sustainable, creative, and inclusive. That creates a bond – whether you are a deliverer or a professional cyclist, every day we hit the road for the best outcome. Together with the team, we would like to deliver special moments, from sportive success on the bike to cheering for them beside the road.”
Team dsm-firmenich CEO, Iwan Spekenbrink: “With PostNL we connect a wonderful brand to our team. Together we are committed to success and building a healthy future, both on and off the bike. PostNL strengthens our team as an expert partner of sustainable logistics solutions. PostNL and dsm-firmenich provide the team – together with our other premium partners – a solid foundation for sporting growth and opportunities in the coming years. The fact that the team now has two prestigious businesses as partners is fantastic.”
dsm-firmenich CEO, Dimitri de Vreeze: “I am proud that we welcome a beautiful co-title partner to the team with PostNL. A collaboration in which we feel at home because – just like dsm-firmenich – PostNL is a leading company in the Netherlands, and we feel responsible for the impact we have on the world and our society. I look forward to joining forces and to be part of many more successes of Team dsm-firmenich PostNL.”
Distinctive stripes turn orange
The team is characterised by two Keep Challenging stripes, which symbolise the DNA of the team. The left stripe represents the continuous development of each individual person, and the right stripe visualises their ever-improving innovative environment. To mark the start of this great partnership with PostNL, the two Keep Challenging stripes will turn orange from 2024. The team’s SCOTT bikes, equipped with Shimano parts, also get a new look. The full reveal of the team kit will be on Monday 8th January.
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The race organizer sent me this news release:
Two of Australia’s greatest cycling talents have confirmed their places on the start line at the Santos Tour Down Under in 2024.
Reigning champion Grace Brown of French team FDJ-SUEZ will look to go back-to-back on home soil, after outsprinting three-time overall race winner Amanda Spratt on the finish line in 2023.
Grace Brown wins 2023 WTDU stage three.
National time trial champion Grace Brown had another successful 2023 campaign, taking the individual time trial silver medal at the World Championships in Glasgow.
Likewise, Amanda Spratt will look to kick-start her 2024 season after placing in the top 10 at the latest Tour De France Femmes and securing her position as leader of the Lidl-Trek team, which she joined this year.
Santos Tour Down Under Race Director Stuart O’Grady OAM said securing the likes of Brown and Spratt to contest next year’s race was a major coup.
“We are thrilled to announce that so many UCI Women’s WorldTour teams have so far made the commitment to travel to Adelaide in January and compete at the Santos Tour Down Under,” Mr O’Grady said.
“To have so many world-class riders is a testament to our event and the continued growth and popularity of women’s cycling.”
The Santos Tour Down Under women’s race was elevated to Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Women’s WorldTour status last year – the highest level of international racing.
Reigning champion Brown said she was excited about returning to Adelaide and tackling the iconic Willunga Hill on Sunday 14 January for the first time at Women’s WorldTour level.
“The 2023 Tour Down Under was a perfect season start for me and my FDJ SUEZ team. It was really special and exciting for me to take the lead of the race on the final day surrounded by Aussie fans and my family,” Brown said.
“We are hoping for similar success in the upcoming addition and will bring another strong team to challenge for the victory. The three stages look well rounded, with opportunities for sprinters, puncheurs, and climbers.”
Amanda Spratt is the most successful female rider in the history of the Santos Tour Down Under, securing three successive general classification victories between 2017 and 2019.
“It’s always exciting to start a new season at the Santos Tour Down Under and in 2024, there’s a little more to look forward to with the addition of Willunga Hill to the women’s WorldTour race for the first time. I can’t deny that I have my eyes set on a good performance there, it’s a big goal of mine,” Spratt said.
“Overall, I have great memories of this race having won it three times and I am eager to try to replicate that success this time. I was close last year, agonisingly close you could say, so I am really motivated to come back to race for the victory all over again.
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“This is a special week for Australian cycling, the atmosphere is really incredible, and you can really feel the energy from the fans on every stage. It’s also so important to me because it’s a race where I have so much personal roadside support as well and my parents who make the trip, along with many people from where I come from in the Blue Mountains.”
Brown and Spratt will take to the start line on Friday 12 January alongside fellow Santos Tour Down Under winner, 2020 champion Ruth Edwards (nee Winder), who is coming out of retirement to compete with Human Powered Health, alongside teammate Henrietta Christie – last year’s overall Young Rider jersey winner.
They will be joined by French national champion Audrey Cordon-Ragot and USA Olympic track teammates and medallists, Lily Williams and Megan Jastrab.
Fellow Australians in the peloton also include this year’s Australian Road National Champion, Brodie Chapman and Adelaide local veteran Tiffany Cromwell from Canyon-SRAM Racing.
Women’s WorldTour teams confirmed for the 2024 Santos Tour Down Under to date are:
Team Jayco Alula
FDJ Suez
UAE Team ADQ
Team Jumbo-Visma
Team DSM-Firmenich
Human Powered Health Cycling
Lidl-Trek
Canyon-SRAM
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