Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, April 2, 2024

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2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia

The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true. - J. Robert Oppenheimer

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Les Woodland's book Cycling Heroes: The Golden Years is available in the print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• April 1 - 6: Tour of the Basque Country/Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
• April 2 - 5: Region Pays de la Loire Tour

Upcoming racing:

• April 3: Scheldeprijs
• April 7: Paris-Roubaix

Latest completed racing:

• March 31: Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders)
• March 30: Gran Premio Miguel Indurain
• March 30: Volta Limburg Classic
• March 29: Route Adélie de Vitré
• March 27: Dwars door Vlaanderen
• March 27: Paris-Camembert Lepetit
• March 18 - 24: Volta a Catalunya
• March 24: Ghent - Wevelgem
• March 24: La Roue Tourangelle

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Vuelta al País Vasco stage 1 reports

We posted the report from the race organizer with the results.

Here's the report from stage winner Primoz Roglic's Team Bora-hansgrohe:

The individual time trial made a return to this year's edition of the race through the Basque Country. In the first part of the 10km long stage, the riders had to take on a steep cobblestone section of almost 10 per cent, followed by an ascent to Olaberria (1.7 km at 5 percent). The parcours then concluded with a short yet steep ramp. BORA - hansgrohe's leader Primož Roglič already posted the best time by the first checkpoint after 4km and managed to extend his lead even further in the second half of the race, despite taking a wrong turn shortly before the finsh. He eventually crossed the finish line in 12:34 minutes, which was enough to secure him the stage victory and the first yellow jersey of the race.

Primoz Roglic on his way to winning the stage.

"I'm really happy with this victory. It's always great to race the Tour of the Basque Country. I really like the atmosphere and the enthusiastic spectators here. My legs are good and I felt strong today. I took a wrong turn just before the finish line, but that thankfully didn't cost me the victory in the end. However, there are certainly many tough days ahead of us and we will do our best to build upon today's performance." - Primož Roglič

"We started the Tour of the Basque Country in the best possible way, with a great victory from Primož. Paris-Nice didn't go completely as we had expected, but we worked hard and it looks as though that effort has paid off. Primož put in a great performance, but I'd like to underline that it was also a team effort. I'm very proud of Primož's win and the hard work of the entire team. This gives us a lot of confidence heading into the upcoming stages." - Patxi Vila, Sports Director

Here's the report from third-place Mattias Skjelmose's Team Lidl-Trek:

A good first outing for Mattias Skjelmose at Itzulia Basque Country. In the opening ITT of the race, which took place today in the town of Irun over a distance of 10km, the young Dane took third place behind the winner Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe), +10”, and Vine (UAE Emirates), +3”, delivering a convincing performance.

"Overall I’m happy with my result and with what I did. The gap of 10” to Roglic, considering he also lost some seconds on the finish line, is actually not that small considering the expectations I had at the start, but a third place with those contenders it’s definitely not bad. For my ambition in this race, that is to fight for a podium place in the GC, it’s a good start. In such a hectic race, when you go all-in for the GC the chances to fight for the win come naturally. I really look forward to racing in the next days."

Mattias Skjelmose before the start of 2023 Tour de France stage 11. Sirotti photo

Seeing Skjelmose performing well in a race against the clock is actually an established fact. Numbers in hand, with today’s result Mattias brings his total of consecutive top ten result in ITT races (prologue excluded) to 10. A significant piece of data that also says a lot about his ability to prepare, approach and manage these brutal efforts, as happened today.

"It was a hectic time trial and I really followed my feelings. In the end, it was all about instinct. I did a recon three weeks ago and it helped a lot to approach it in the best way, especially the part downwards, after the intermediate point. I faced it with lots of confidence and that made the difference to avoid risk and keep the speed fast."

Here's the report from fourth-place Remco Evenepoel's Team Soudal Quick-Step:

For just the second time this century, Irun hosted the opening stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, but unlike 2006 – when the day belonged to the puncheurs – this time the specialists against the clock took center stage. The 10km course included some technical sections, cobbled streets and the Olaberria climb, averaging 5% over 1.7 kilometers and coming in the first part of the day.

The weather prediction hinted to some rain in the afternoon and this prompted all the general classification favourites to start early. Fourth overall last year at his debut in the race, Remco Evenepoel didn’t have the best of luck on Monday, crashing in the second corner of the race. Fortunately, there were no consequences, and the World Champion quickly got back on his bike and continued the ITT.

Remco Evenepoel riding the 2024 Volta ao Algarve time trial.

Victorious this year at the Volta ao Algarve, Evenepoel could still produce a solid effort which at the end of the day resulted in a fourth place, only eleven seconds behind Primoz Roglic (Bora-hansgrohe), who took the win in Irun.

“Everything went well today, except for the mistake I made 200 meters into the race. It was slippery there, but it was my fault.  I was hoping to be ahead of the others, but now I am a bit behind. On the other hand, the gaps are small, I am confident in myself and my team, and the real race starts tomorrow, and with it, quite the battle between the yellow jersey contenders”, said Remco after the stage.

And here's the report from fifth-place Jonas Vingegaard's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:

Jonas Vingegaard finished fifth in the opening time trial of Itzulia Basque Country. In the short race against the clock, the defending champion eventually conceded 15 seconds to former teammate Primoz Roglic.

The 66th Itzulia Basque Country started with a 10-kilometre individual time trial in the streets of Irun. Vingegaard, who won the Spanish stage race in 2023, was the first Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider to leave the start ramp. On the technical course, the 27-year-old team leader immediately managed to set a solid race. With a time of 12'59", the Dane secured fifth place, 15 seconds behind stage winner Roglic.

"An explosive start to the week," is how Vingegaard described the opening time trial afterwards. "I'm satisfied with my performance today. The legs and overall feeling were good. I'm not concerned about the gap to Roglic yet. A lot can happen in the following five stages."

Jonas Vingegaard winning stage two of this year's O Gran Camiño

Vingegaard managed to win O Gran Camiño and Tirreno-Adriatico earlier this season. With Izulia Basque Country, he is riding his third stage race of the season. "After Tirreno-Adriatico, I had a good training period. The shape is there, so I am looking forward to the upcoming stages. On paper, this edition of Itzulia Basque Country seems slightly less demanding than previous years. Nevertheless, I expect a fight until the decisive final stage," he concludes.

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