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Thursday, August 15, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
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Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 1: 1903 - 1975 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- August 12 - 18: Tour of Poland
- August 13 - 16: Tour du Limousin
- August 14 - 18: PostNord Denmark Rundt
Upcoming racing:
- August 17 - Sept 8: Vuelta a España
Latest completed racing:
- August 11: La Polynormande
- August 10: Clasica San Sebastian
- August 5 - 9: Vuelta a Burgos
- August 4 - 7: Arctic Race of Norway
- July 27 - August 4: Olympic cycling
- July 22 - 26: Tour de Wallonie
- July 23: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
- June 29 - July 21: Tour de France
- June 9 - 26: Many National Championships
- June 15 - 18: La Route d'Occitanie Cancelled because security forces busy with Olympics
- June 9 - 16: Tour de Suisse
- June 12 - 16: Baloise Belgium Tour
We posted the race organizer's report with the results.
Here's the report from stage winner Thibau Nys' Team Lidl-Trek:
A second win in three days for Thibau Nys at Tour de Pologne, showing once again his supremecy on punchy finishes
Winning as the favorite, the one that everyone wants to beat, is a factor that might weigh heavy on a 20-year-old rider. But Thibau Nys proved, once again, that this is not the case for him.
Thibau Nys wins stage three of the Tour of Poland.
After defeating the competition in the first stage of the Tour de Pologne, Thibau repeated his feat again today, day three of the race, on the Queen stage from Wałbrzych to Duszniki-Zdrój.
“Today was, on paper, the toughest day” said Thibau. “We knew the finish was perfect for me, but there was also the unknown of how hard the peloton would decide to ride the previous climbs. At the end of the day, I can say it was a super good day, but believe me, it was tough and nervous from the first kilometer to the last. It’s hard to say that I’ve enjoyed it, but I’m super happy that I have finished off, once again, a super teamwork.”
As Thibau once again proved himself to be one of the best puncheurs in the peloton, similarly Lidl-Trek again demonstrated its discipline, purpose and spirit of sacrifice. The best image of this work lies perhaps in the leadout by Pedersen and Bagioli in the key moment of the race, in the last 5km. The teams of the best riders all wanted to be in front, but it was the Lidl-Trek jerseys that shone.
“I think, as a team, we interpreted the stage perfectly. I have to thank all the guys for the work they did, how much they believed in me today. I send a big good luck for a speedy recovery to Ryan [Gibbons, who crashed reporting concussion and significant contusion oh his right shoulder].
"We managed the efforts well on the longer climbs, which were covered with a high speed. That allowed me to save energy as much as possible, exploiting the slipstream from the riders in front of me. Then it was really about positioning and legs. Again, my teammates did a super job. As planned, Mads and Bagio put me in the best position, then I waited for the right moment to give my everything and take this stage” added Nys.
Understanding the limits of young Thibau’s potential is a difficult task. One certainty is that, along with his incredible talent, he possesses a super strong mindset.
It’s always hard to go into the finale and approaching the last kilometers in stages like this. Even if I was in control, I knew it would have to suffer a lot to win. There's just one thing to do, that is, getting over it and being the best to endure the effort and the pain you have in the legs.
Second-place Diego Ulissi's UAE Team Emirates posted this report:
Diego Ulissi took 2nd place on stage 3 of the Tour of Poland in an uphill battle with the young Belgian hotshot Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek).
The veteran Ulissi led into the steepest ramps of the climb, before opening up his sprint in the last 200m. He led into the final bends, but Nys would prove the strongest and came around Ulissi in the final 50m to claim his second stage win of the week.
Ulissi: “It was a good race for us. The teammates did an excellent job to position me well but Nys was more explosive than me on the finish. We’ll focus now on the next days which are mostly flat except the final stage which has some hills and we’ll aim to hold on to the podium place.”
Here's the Team Visma | Lease a Bike report:
Wilco Kelderman finished third in the third stage of the Tour de Pologne. This is the second time the Dutch rider has finished on the podium in this WorldTour race, following his second-place finish in the opening stage. Vingegaard finished ninth and retained his leader's jersey.
Jonas Vingegaard remains the GC leader.
Midway through the stage, Mick van Dijke joined the breakaway group. After tackling several climbs, the group of ten was eventually caught by a reduced peloton in the final twenty kilometers.
Van Dijke dug deep as he led a group that included both Kelderman and Vingegaard. As they approached the steep and narrow final kilometer, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike duo was well-positioned. Kelderman fought for the stage win at the front but once again had to concede to Thibau Nys in this Tour de Pologne.
"I’m satisfied with the fact that I retained the leader’s jersey on this hot day. I managed better than the last time I wore the jersey in this race," Vingegaard said, referring to the 2019 edition, when the Dane lost the jersey after just one day. "With Wilco’s third place and maintaining our lead, we had a good day as a team. The start of tomorrow's stage won’t be easy, but I think it will be a day for the sprinters. Nonetheless, we have to stay alert. Hopefully, I can hold on to the lead in the coming days."
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Here's the Tour of Poland stage three report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Since the Tour of Poland started on Monday, Pepijn Reinderink has been one of the most active riders out there. Soudal Quick-Step’s neo-pro put in a solid attack on the final climb of the opening stage, being reeled in with just two kilometers to go, and concluded the time trial as the highest ranked member of the team.
On Wednesday, when the bunch travelled from Wałbrzych to Duszniki-Zdrój, the Dutchman booked a place in a ten-man breakaway that looked good and had hopes of making it all the way to the finish. Pepijn impressed with this workload and long pulls there, but unfortunately, he crashed with 50 kilometers to go, which spelled the end of his adventure at the front of the race, the peloton reeling him in moments later.
In the end, it all came back together and Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) took the win on the uphill finish of stage three, while Martin Svrcek was our first rider home. The race will now move onto the flat, with the sprinters getting their first of three opportunities scheduled this week in Poland.
And here's the Tour of Poland update from Team dsm-firmenich PostNL:
Oscar Onley continued his consistent performance at the Tour de Pologne this week with 11th place atop the final climb to the finish on stage 3 today from a select group left at the front of the race. The stage featured a small early break which soon swelled to eight before being reeled back in by the peloton on the penultimate climb of the day. It was here that Team dsm-firmenich PostNL took control of the front of the race, positioning Onley into the climb and then maintaining a high pace. A reduced group crested the climb and raced towards the final ramp to the line where the uphill sprint unfolded, with Onley crossed with a three second deficit to the stage winner.
After the stage, Onley said: “The guys really committed to me again today and set a hard pace on the penultimate climb to bring the break back as we hoped to open up the race early. Unfortunately, it came down to a larger group on the final climb and I didn’t get in a good position which cost me a result.”
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We posted the organizer’s report with the results.
Here’s the report from stage winner Alex Baudin’s Team Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale:
Alex Baudin is the new leader of the Tour du Limousin after winning the second stage.
Alex Baudin:
"It was a long day, with all the difficulties concentrated in the final stretch. With the team, our aim was to make the race harder, each in turn and on every bump. Everyone made the race really difficult and I had to wait for the last climb. I was feeling really good, so I waited for the going to get tougher and then put in my effort. When I saw that I'd made the breakthrough, I gave it my all right up to the line to think about the overall classification. I'd like to thank the whole team, because it's thanks to them that I won today. I'm really happy to win my first professional race. It's symbolic, but it's a lot of emotion. Now we're going to do everything we can to bring back the yellow jersey on Friday."
Alex Baudin wins stage two.
The news:
Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale pulls out all the stops
Three riders from the Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale team finished in the top 10 of the second stage of the Tour du Limousin-Périgord - Nouvelle Aquitaine: in addition to Alex Baudin's victory, Andrea Vendrame finished third and Benoît Cosnefroy eighth.
There are four riders team members in the top 10 overall: Alex Baudin is the leader, 29 seconds ahead of runner-up Orluis Aular, Andrea Vendrame is eighth at 35 seconds, Dorian Godon ninth in the same time and Jordan Labrosse tenth at 38 seconds.
The number: 10
Like Aurelien Paret-Peintre's place on stage 3 of the Tour of Poland, in the same group as winner Thibau Nys and just behind leader Jonas Vingegaard. The Haut-Savoyard moved up nine places in the overall classification, where he is now seventeenth.
Here's the team's post:
Israel – Premier Tech returns to La Vuelta a España for the first time since 2022 with a strong roster targeting multiple objectives at the third Grand Tour of the season.
With this year’s edition featuring a heavy climbing focus, IPT has assembled a versatile team with the perfect balance of youth and experience with Mike Woods, George Bennett, and Dylan Teuns bringing a wealth of Grand Tour expertise to the team. Matthew Riccitello is set to line up at his second Grand Tour off the back of a top-five at the Tour de Suisse, meanwhile Marco Frigo, Nadav Raisberg, and Grand Tour debutant Riley Sheehan complement the team as rouleurs, while Corbin Strong gives IPT a sprint card to play.
Dylan Teuns winning the 2022 Fleche Wallonne. Photo: ASO/G. Demouveaux
“We are approaching the Vuelta a España almost as two races,” explains Sports Director Oscar Guerrero. “In the first nine days, we will protect Mike Woods, George Bennett, and Matthew Riccitello in the General Classification and see where things stand, especially after the first mountain finish on stage 4 and then after stage 9, which will be very hard. We also have multiple sprint opportunities for Corbin Strong in the first week so we will help him as much as possible to put him in the position to win because after the first rest day there are no more sprints.
“After the first rest day we will have the real picture and can assess our strategy and objectives. We know that the last two weeks present many breakaway opportunities for all our riders, especially Dylan Teuns, Marco Frigo, Riley Sheehan, and Nadav Raisberg, as well as our GC trio so we will have many cards to play in the second half of the race.”
Racing will get underway with three stages in Portugal, with a fast and flat 12-kilometer time trial in Lisbon on stage one, before entering Spanish terrain on stage four for the first of nine summit finishes on offer.
After crashing out of the Giro d’Italia on stage five, alongside Nadav Raisberg who will hit reset on his Grand Tour debut, Mike Woods is motivated to return to the race where he has previously won two stages, in 2018 and 2020.
“I’m really excited to be doing the Vuelta a España especially given all of the health issues I’ve had this season,” adds Woods. “I went into the Giro d’Italia with a lot of uncertainty, poor fitness, and ultimately, a stomach infection I didn’t know I had. Now, having had some nice performances in winning the Canadian national championships and riding well in San Sebastián and even being in the mix at one point in the Olympics, I have some confidence going into this race. With that confidence, it’s made me a lot more excited and having been so sick, I’m not taking this good form for granted. I’m also really excited to be riding with the crew that we have, it’s a really strong team and a great group of guys. We’re going to have a fun time.”
While George Bennett is set to line up at his first Grand Tour in IPT colors, he’s no stranger to the Vuelta a España with seven participations to his name.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to racing a Grand Tour,” Bennett says. “I don’t love the short steep finishes but there a few stages with longer climbs I’m looking forward to. I don’t really know how the form will be after sitting out most of the summer but I’m optimistic that with the team we have going that we can really make an impact on the race. We have a nice mix of young and more experienced riders and with a few Vueltas under my belt, I know what we are in for in the next three weeks.”
2023 Paris – Tours winner Riley Sheehan is set to make his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España and the 24-year-old American couldn’t be more excited.
“Having the opportunity to start the Vuelta a España as a first-year pro is hard to believe but I couldn’t be more excited for the challenge,” says Sheehan. “The team that we’ll have is an awesome group and it will be a pleasure to race and learn with everyone. Personally, I have my eye on a few stages but, ultimately, I really want to get a Grand Tour in the legs and show my versatility as a rider.”
IPT at La Vuelta a España (17 August – 8 September):
Riders: George Bennett (NZL), Marco Frigo (ITA), Nadav Raisberg (ISR), Matthew Riccitello (USA), Riley Sheehan (USA), Corbin Strong (NZL), Dylan Teuns (BEL), Mike Woods (CAN)
Sports Directors: Oscar Guerrero (ESP), Sep Vanmarcke (BEL), Patrick McCarty (USA)
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Here’s the team's preview:
Richard Carapaz wants to swap his Tour de France polka dots for the red jersey at the Vuelta a España.
After winning the King of the Mountains competition and an Alpine stage at the Tour de France, Richie is going for the win at the Spanish grand tour.
With James Shaw, Jefferson Alexander Cepeda, Rui Costa, Owain Doull, Harry Sweeny, Darren Rafferty, and Rigoberto Urán to back him up, we’ve got a team to support Richie on all terrain, from Lisbon to Madrid.
Rigoberto Urán is especially motivated. He would love to end his grand-tour career on a Vuelta winning team.
This year’s race is going to be a brutal contest. There are nine summit finishes on the 3,304-kilometer course, which includes 52,729 meters of vert. After the opening time trial in Lisbon, there is only one flat stage before the final time trial in Madrid. The rest of the race is super mountainous. With iconic climbs like the Lagos de Covadonga and Cuitu Negru on course, as well as dozens of lesser known cols where the race could explode, Richie is excited to race for the GC.
The best defense is going to be a good offense at this Vuelta and attacking is what Richard Carapaz does best.
Richard Carapaz in polka dots after the final stage of the 2024 Tour de france. Sirotti photo
Before the race kicks off, hear from our riders.
Richard Carapaz:
La Vuelta a España is a super special race for me. I’ve already worn the red jersey. I’ve been on the podium and won a couple of stages. The aim for me is clear: This year we want to go for the GC win and get the best possible result for the team.
It’s also a special race because it reminds me of my first years as a pro cyclist. Being in Spain is like racing at home for me. I will be this year’s leader for the team. I want to win the race.
After the Tour de France, I had some days at home to recover and recharge my batteries. I then started training again as usual in altitude in Andorra, climbing a lot of cols and acclimatizing my body to the heat.
Now, I feel prepared and ready to be at the start of La Vuelta a España 2024.
Rui Costa:
The start in Lisbon is super important for me. This means a lot. To be at the start of La Vuelta in front of my family, the people I love, and my people from Portugal makes me feel very proud. Being in the national champions jersey is even more incredible and it will be unforgettable. I am here to work for the team, for Richie. He is our man to get it done. I want to help the team so we can get the best possible result. I would love to try and win a stage as well. The Tour and Olympics were the best preparation for another grand tour. I’m prepared to give my best for my teammates.
Jefferson Alexander Cepeda:
I am motivated and my legs feel good. This is my first Vuelta a España. It gives me a lot of motivation. It is always special to ride a grand tour. I’m super happy to be on the start list, and also because I feel so good. The team will bet everything on Richie. We can win the whole thing with him. This is the main objective. I want to help the team. I think that I can be very strong and helpful in the mountains. I want to be a good domestique and be there for him when he needs me. My road to this race has been great. I prepared well at the Andorra camp with the team. I’m confident and motivated for this grand tour. I’m looking forward to it. We will have fun.
James Shaw:
The Vuelta is always a challenging race. Nine times out of ten, it's the hottest of the grand tours. I'm looking forward to it. I don't mind the heat. We've got a really good team this year. The goal is to put Richie in the best position to do the best result he can. It would be nice to roll the dice on a few stages and see where we end up, but I’m here to ride for Richie.
It’s a really nice position to be in. With Richie, you know that he's always going to empty the tank, because he's such an aggressive rider. You're not wasting your own time because he'd never waste anyone else's efforts. His level of professionality is something to learn from.
Obviously, he has had these setbacks. It'd be too easy to be like, ‘Screw it, this is too hard; I’m just going to eat biscuits and sit on the sofa’. But you see Richie and you convince yourself, ‘Let's get on the KICKR and find alternate training methods. Let’s do other things to make a gain.’
It’s the same with Rui. I thought his career was over in February. I thought that was it – poor guy. Now he is racing in the stripes of his nation.
It’s like what Rocky said: “It's not about how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit.”
Richie and Rui are good examples of guys that can get knocked back and just seem to come back just as strong, if not stronger.
Owain Doull:
I’m super excited. I just finished Burgos and that was a really good five days of getting back into the race rhythm after a long break from racing. I'm just excited. I think we have a really, really strong team.
Obviously, Richard's in top shape coming out of the Tour and he has big ambitions. So, I'm excited and proud to be part of the team. I will support him to the best of my abilities and really aim high there.
My role will be to be road captain and try to keep everyone calm and make the decisions which need to be made in the moment and then be a bodyguard for Richard.
All grand tours are special. They're all different in their own way. With this team having such strong links to Spain, with the service course being in Spain, and so many riders and staff living nearby, the Vuelta kind of feels like the team's home grand tour.
It’s even more special when you have a big champion in your team, someone who can really perform at the highest level in the race. That's exciting and motivating for everyone on the team, not just the riders, but the staff as well.
One thing that I really like racing with Carapaz is the fact that whether he's in good shape or bad shape – it doesn't matter where his form is – he always wants to race to win. And he's willing to take risks. As a rider, and as a teammate, it's really motivating to have someone who's like, ‘I can win today. This is how I want to race. And we're going to risk it.’ That’s probably my favorite aspect of racing with Richie. He always, always wants to take the race on.
Harry Sweeny:
I'm really excited. It’s been a hot minute since I've done a grand tour. The Vuelta is a fun race towards the end of the year with a nice atmosphere. I always love racing in Spain. The crowds are really special.
Ever since I started my career, something that I really wanted to do was to go to a big race with a rider like Richie and try not just to win stages, but actually go and to try to do our best in GC. I think it will bring the best out of me, which is the whole reason why I'm a pro in the first place, because I love that part of the sport. I'm really looking forward to supporting Richie. By the sound of it, he's moving.
My job will be to guide him in the peloton and go a little bit further into the mountains as well, which I'm really excited about. I want to see where my limit lies there. It’s going to be a Mr. Dependable role. I think that we'll get on quite well.
Darren Rafferty:
I am excited and a bit nervous. It’s going to be my first grand tour. I’m going in with a nice role of helping the team and seeing how far Carapaz can go. Hopefully we can go all the way for him. It’s an honor to ride for Richie.
Just to be on the team with such high level riders is impressive. I will do the best I can and try to be as useful as possible. If I've done my job well and I make it to Madrid, I'll be pretty pleased. It’s hard to go in with a massive personal goal, but I think the team goal is definitely a big one. Hope that I can play a small part in making it go all the way.
I see myself becoming a GC rider in the future, so it's an unbelievable experience to get the opportunity to be here to ride for Richie in my first year as a pro in the Irish national champion jersey.
Rigoberto Urán:
This year we have a super strong team. I want to give my best to help the team. That’s the ambition. I also want to win a stage again here at La Vuelta.
There are a lot of emotions going around me right now. I feel happy. La Vuelta is a beautiful race. It will be my last big one. That gives me an extra push to do it well.
My role here is the same for everyone else: the role of working, to get the most out of each other and to get the best result possible for the team.
We have a very important rider here, Richie, who arrives in superb form, so let’s see what we can do for him. Our ambitions are very high.
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