Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, October 6, 2023
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2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia
We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. - Epictetus
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Upcoming racing:
- Oct 7: Il Lombardia
- Oct 8: Paris-Tours
- Oct 11: Giro del Veneto
Latest completed racing:
- Oct 5: Gran Piemonte
- Oct 5: Paris-Gien-Bourges
- Oct 3: Tre Valli Varesine
- Oct 3: Binche-Chimay-Binche
- Oct 3: Múnsterland Giro
- Oct 2: Coppa Bernocchi
- Sept 23 - Sept 30: Tour de Langkawi
- Sept 30: Giro dell'Emilia
- Sept 30: GP Cerami
- Sept 28: Coppa Agostoni
- Sept 20 - 24: Tour of Luxembourg
We posted the report from winner Andrea Bagioli's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.
Here's the report from second-place Marc Hirschi's UAE Team Emirates:
Marc Hirschi once again proved his consistency as one of the top one-day racers of the moment – taking 2nd place at Gran Piemonte in Italy.
The Swiss sensation broke away on the final climb and formed a group of four riders along with eventual race winner Andrea Bagioli (Soudal-Quickstep). Davide Formolo had been active earlier in the stage, infiltrating a break of 30 riders which was swept up inside the final -20km.
Andrea Bagioli is first across the line.
Hirschi, who has seven victories to his name and numerous podiums will now take aim at Il Lombardia on Saturday before returning to the Veneto Classics to conclude his season.
Hirschi: “Obviously I wanted to take the win today but in the end Bagioli was just a little bit faster. I came into the final metres at speed from the back of the group and actually came up to pass him but he was just that bit stronger.
"It was a hard start and eventually Formolo got away in a group of 30 which was perfect for us, to force the other teams to chase. On the last kicker I tried and got away in a group of four and we made it to the finish. I’ll focus now on Saturday for Il Lombardia where I’ll be supporting Pogačar and Yates.”
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Here’s the Gran Piemonte report from Team Jumbo-Visma:
Team Jumbo-Visma leaves Gran Piemonte empty-handed.
The 107th edition of the Italian autumn classic started at a high pace. There was little chance of a breakaway. Once the peloton reached the climbs in the second part, the race got tough. Gijs Leemreize crashed, broke his collarbone and had to give up. The Dutch team gradually lost control of the race. The team's ambitions came to an end on the Alpette. Andreas Bagioli was the fastest of the remaining group in the sprint..
"We wanted to try and control the race for Wout today, but it was tough at the front. The penultimate climb with thirty kilometres to go was very hard", Wilco Kelderman said.
Leader Wout van Aert, who won the Coppa Bernocchi on Monday, agreed. "The climb got too hard very quickly. I know that I am capable of such an effort, but it was not ideal that the climbs before it were also really hard. Because a solid lead group had formed, we had to go fast on the first climbs. As a result, we were playing catch-up all day."
Wout van Aert winning the Coppa Bernocchi on Monday. Sirotti photo.
It was the Belgian's first time at Gran Piemonte. "It was a race I was really looking forward to. I certainly didn't see it as a preparation for Sunday. Otherwise, I wouldn't have put the whole team to work. It's a shame we couldn't get a top result today."
The semi-classic was his final road race of the season. On Sunday, Van Aert will compete in the World Championships Gravel in the Veneto region of Italy. "I'm really looking forward to this race as well. It's a special, completely new challenge. It's going to be very different from today."
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Here’s the report from their Team Astana Qazaqstan:
Astana Qazaqstan Team riders Yevgeniy Fedorov and Alexey Lutsenko, representing Kazakhstan National Team, triumphed today at the Asian Summer Games in Hangzhou, China, taking gold and silver medals in Elite Men Road Race (207.7 km).
Alexey Lutsenko finishing seventh in stage nine of this year's Tour de France. Sirotti photo.
Firstly, Lutsenko and then Fedorov escaped from the group of leaders with some 80 km to go, immediately taking a good gap and keeping it to the finish line, bringing to Kazakhstan a sweet double success.
“I am super happy and proud with this gold medal. It was an important competition for us, and we knew we had to do all possible to fight for the victory. This win means a lot to me, it is so nice to bring this gold medal to my country, Kazakhstan. I want to thank all our team for a huge support during preparation to the race and during the race itself. And, of course, a big thank to Alexey Lutsenko, he spent a fantastic day on the road and made a phenomenal race. It was so beautiful to finish together side by side with Alexey and to share this success with him”, – said Yevgeniy Fedorov.
This is the first medal in the Asian Summer Games for Yevgeniy Fedorov, while Alexey Lutsenko became the most successful road rider in Asia with 4 gold and 1 silver medals.
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“We were expecting a tough race and we were ready for it. After success in the individual time trial, I was really motivated to do my best in the road race. But also, the whole team was super motivated and focused on this start, an important one for Kazakhstan. I could say that the route was impressively hard, and I liked a lot. It was nice to race it.
"The guys did an incredible job, controlling the race in its first part, while later me and Yevgeniy Fedorov we broke away in a small group. It was clear we have to go on, to continue pushing hard, using this chance, and in a moment, I launched an attack in the first hard climb. A bit later Yevgeniy could join me after another climb and with 80 km to go we remained just two in the lead. Well, we were able to keep it to the final and to bring to Kazakhstan two medals, gold and silver. It is a perfect ending of our road cycling program here at the Asian Games”, – said Alexey Lutsenko.
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