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Thursday, April 25, 2024
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2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia
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Les Woodland's book Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Story - All the bumps of cycling's cobbled classic is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- April 21 - 28: Tour of Turkey
- April 23 - 28: Tour de Romandie
Upcoming racing:
- April 26 - 28: Vuelta Asturias
- May 1: Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt
- May 4: GP du Morbihan
- May 4 - 26: Giro d'Italia
Latest completed racing:
- April 21: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
- April 15 - 19: Tour of the Alps
- April 17: La Flèche Wallone
- April 14: Amstel Gold Race
- April 14: Tour du Doubs
- April 10: De Brabantse Pijl
- April 7: Paris-Roubaix
We posted the report from fourth-place Milan Menten's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.
Here's the report from Clément Venturini's Team Arkea-B&B Hotels:
The first stage of the Tour Romandie ended on Wednesday with a sprint in the streets of Fribourg. Clément Venturini finished 8th. Raúl García Pierna was part of the day’s breakaway.
Clément Venturini
‘The overriding feeling is frustration. I fought hard throughout the stage to be in a position to challenge for victory in the final. In the last 200 metres of the sprint, I was locked in. There’s the disappointment of not having had the right opening, but that’s the ups and downs of a sprint. On Sunday, on the final stage, there’ll be another chance. Over the next few days, I’m going to put myself at the service of the Arkea B&B Hotels team and help Cristián Rodríguez in the general classification, especially on Thursday with a summit finish’.
Dorian Godon wins stage one. Sirotti photo
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Raúl García Pierna
‘It was a beautiful day but also a very hard effort to manage. There was a good breakaway. We rode hard up front to keep the peloton at bay. We were caught less than 9km from the finish line, at the top of the last climb. After that there was nothing left but the descent. With a bit of a lead at the top of the climb, things could have turned in our favour. Over the next few days, with the Arkea B&B Hotels team, we’re going to help Cristián with the overall classification’.
Yvon Ledanois, sports director
‘I’m pleased with how the Arkea B&B Hotels team performed on this first stage of the Tour de Romandie. Raúl García Pierna was in a good breakaway. When I saw the composition of the group, I said to myself that it could really go all the way. There was quality there. The gap grew to 4 minutes and it almost did. There’s not much missing. In the final, a sprint is always indecisive. It’s a shame because Clément Venturini is a bit locked in on the right. If he’d had an opening, we could have had a top 5 finish’.
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Here's the Tour of Romandie report from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike was unable to get a good result in the first stage in line of the Tour de Romandie. The Dutch team aimed for success in the sprint with Tim van Dijke, but the young Dutchman never got into an ideal position in the finish line. However, Van Dijke did move up to fourth place in the overall ranking.
The first stage in line took the peloton in the cold from Château d'Oex to Fribourg. With seven climbs and a lot of altimeters, it was certainly not an easy stage.
The peloton was dressed warmly in stage one. Sirotti photo
After Jan Tratnik showed himself along the way, Robert Gesink got himself to the front of the peloton to catch six early escapees. That finally succeeded on the final climb of the day, after which a depleted peloton could prepare for a sprint. The victory was for Frenchman Dorian Godon. Van Dijke crossed the line in seventeenth place.
“Our plan today was to aim for Tim's sprint,” explained team leader Grischa Niermann afterwards. “Partly due to interference from the team, that sprint eventually came. Unfortunately Tim was a bit hemmed in in the last kilometer. As a result, he didn't get to sprint at all. That is unfortunate. Nevertheless, he rode very strongly for the second day in a row, which now puts him in fourth place in the general classification and the leading position in the youth classification.”
The sports director is also already looking forward to tomorrow. “Then it's climbing again. We will see what we can do. Realistically we are not among the favorites, but we will certainly sell our skin dearly. Jan Tratnik, for example, is riding very strongly and is feeling good. Perhaps he can do something nice,” Niermann concluded.
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Here’s the team’s news:
Jai Hindley and Florian Lipowitz - two riders who have much in common but are at different stages of their careers. Both are climbers and GC riders currently racing for BORA – hansgrohe at the Tour de Romandie. While one already has major Grand Tour trophies at home, the other is just about to make his Grand Tour debut.
The winner of the 2022 Giro d'Italia, as well as stage winner and wearer of the yellow jersey at the 2023 Tour de France, Jai Hindley, has extended his contract with BORA – hansgrohe in time for the 2024 Grand Tours. The 27-year-old's early decision is one for his 'second family'.
Jai Hindley after winning the 2022 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
Jai Hindley:
“I’m very happy to extend with BORA – hansgrohe. I really appreciate the trust and opportunities that the team has given me so far, and everything the team has done for me. They’ve been a huge part of my career and development. It’s really become like a second family for me, and I feel at home here.”
“I can’t wait to keep growing and developing, and targeting big goals in the future, which is something that’s always been important for me. We have the same vision, and I’m grateful for the trust they’ve put in me to fulfill this. I can’t wait to continue my journey here.”
Florian Lipowitz has made important steps in his career at a rapid pace, even though his journey in cycling is still in its infancy. The former biathlete impressed in his first full professional year with BORA – hansgrohe. Top results in shorter stage races like the Czech Tour and the Tour of Turkey underline his great talent. The 23-year-old is now taking the next step, extending his contract ahead of his Grand Tour debut.
Florian Lipowitz:
“I am more than happy to continue being part of BORA – hansgrohe. I was able to make a big step forward last year. That showed me that this is the right team for me. The trust I receive motivates me even more to continue working on myself.”
“BORA – hansgrohe was almost my first contact with cycling when I made the change from biathlon. Since the beginning and also now continuing together, it just feels right. I hope that I can play a big part in making the team even more successful.”
Ralph Denk, Team Manager BORA - hansgrohe:
"I am delighted that we have been able to retain Jai and Florian early on. Both are great talents, and both play an important role in our long-term stage race plans. With Jai we celebrated the biggest Grand Tour success in the team - his abilities are obvious. We know Florian's potential and we want to develop it together step by step."
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