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Thursday, August 22, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
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Current racing:
- August 17 - Sept 8: Vuelta a España
- August 20 - 23: Tour du Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine
Upcoming racing:
- August 25: Bretagne Classic Ouest-France
Latest completed racing:
- August 12 - 18: Tour of Poland
- August 14 - 18: PostNord Denmark Rundt
- August 13 - 16: Tour du Limousin
- 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
We posted the race organizer's report with the results.
Here's the report from stage winner Pavel Bittner's Team dsm-Firmenich PostNL:
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL continued their brilliant August this afternoon, powering to a sensational sprint win in Sevilla with Pavel Bittner at the Vuelta a España; their Men’s program’s 19th win of the season so far.
Pavel Bittner wins Vuelta stage 5. Sirotti photo
Full of confidence after good showings and teamwork in the previous sprint opportunities where fast finisher Bittner claimed sixth and fifth, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL were motivated to go all-in for the sprint once again. A relatively controlled stage followed with a two rider break allowed to escape from the roll-out without any big fight, before the sprint teams took over in reeling them back in throughout the afternoon. Coming into Sevilla the action was as hot as the temperature, but Team dsm-firmenich PostNL kept their cool, bringing Bittner into a great position in the final kilometre. Opening up a savagely strong sprint effort, Bittner kicked hard and held on to take an epic and well-deserved victory; and his first ever Grand Tour stage success. The win with Bittner also marks a special occasion for Team dsm-firmenich PostNL, who have now taken 15 wins with riders promoted from their Development program in the 2024 campaign alone.
Pavel Bittner said: “It’s really unbelievable to be able to do this for the team. Coming into the final we stayed really calm with the guys and they did an amazing job, everyone left everything out there. I really saved my energy for the final and the guys dropped me on Wout’s wheel at the perfect moment. I just thought I would go full and give everything until the line and see what happened. It was a photo finish, it’s unbelievable. I believed in it but to do it is just crazy.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Phil West said: “We wanted to sprint with Pavel today. After the first two opportunities we wanted to put everything together and give him the best chance possible. The guys did a tremendous job of staying calm and finding each other in what was quite a tricky final 30 kilometres. In the end we were there to put him in a place where he could really do a sprint. It’s a fantastic finish for him and the team. With what we were able to do today, we can all be really happy and proud of this win.”
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Here's the Vuelta report from second-place Wout van Aert's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Wout van Aert narrowly missed his second stage win in the fifth stage of the Vuelta a España. The Belgian rider from Team Visma | Lease a Bike fell just centimeters short in the long finishing straight in the heat of Seville, with the victory going to Czech sprinter Pavel Bittner.
The peloton set off towards Seville under the blazing sun, a day after the first mountain stage. Two Spaniards broke away early in the race, but thanks in part to the efforts of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the duo never had a chance of winning the stage.
A few dozen kilometers from the finish, Van Aert contested a sprint for points in the green jersey competition. The Belgian narrowly lost to rival Kaden Groves, but sharpened his focus for the inevitable sprint in Seville.
In the long, wide finishing straight, Van Aert launched his sprint early. He appeared to be heading for his second stage victory in this Vuelta a España, but Bittner had other plans, pushing his bike just slightly ahead at the line.
Wout van Aert remain the points classification leader. Sirotti photo
Afterward, Van Aert analyzed his sprint: "It was a high-speed sprint. To be honest, I expected a bit more of a headwind. I did what I had planned, which was to start my sprint from the wheel of my competitors. I began my sprint early and then felt someone coming alongside. I threw my bike forward a bit too soon because I got confused by the shadows on the road. It's an easy mistake to make in the heat of the moment, but I think it decided the stage. A costly error," Van Aert admitted.
"Unfortunately, I can’t change it now," Van Aert realized. He was quick to congratulate stage winner Bittner after the finish. "He did an excellent job today. Pavel came alongside fairly quickly, and then it was a real battle to the line. It’s clear he deserved this victory. It’s disappointing in many ways that I missed out on the stage win, as I could have made great progress in the fight for the green jersey. I’m really frustrated by this missed opportunity, but Bittner truly deserved the win today."
And here's the Vuelta report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:
La Vuelta returned on the flat for the fifth stage, which travelled from Fuente del Mestre to Sevilla. The Andalusian city, which thrived five centuries ago due to its status as the port of entry and exit for all the Indies trade, controlling the wealth transported to the New World, made its return at the race 14 years from the previous time it hosted a stage, a team time trial which kicked off the 65th edition.
The stage concluded around ten kilometers from Mairena del Aljarafe, where Zdenek Stybar – clad in the Czech National Champion jersey – fooled the sprinters in 2013, winning a two-man sprint. This time, the peloton kept things together and the day came down to a mass gallop, won by Pavel Bittner (DSM-Firmenich) after a tight finish.
The peloton racing across Spain on a hot August day. Sirotti photo
T-Rex Quick-Step’s leader Mikel Landa punctured on the long finishing straight, but as this happened in the last three kilometers, he got the same time as the rest of the peloton, meaning he retained his place in the general classification top ten ahead of Thursday’s uphill finish in Yunquera.
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We posted the report from second-place Arnaud Démare's Team Arkea-B&B Hotels with the results.
Here's the report from Team Groupama-FDJ:
Paul Penhoët and the Groupama-FDJ missed an opportunity on Wednesday in the second stage of the Tour Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine. In Niort, the young French rider was not really able to join the bunch sprint as he was too far back starting the final straight. He therefore finished just outside the top 10 (12th) and will have to wait until Friday for another chance. In the meantime, a decisive time trial is coming up on Thursday.
Milan Fretin wins the stage.
After a very eventful first stage on Tuesday, a more classic scenario was expected this Wednesday on the Tour Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine, from Gensac-la-Pallue to Niort over 181 kilometres. Expectations were met, as a five-man breakaway, including Baptiste Veistroffer (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Filippo Turconi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane’), Maël Guégan (CIC U Nantes Atlantique), Jean-Louis Le Ny (Nice Métropole Côte d’Azur) and Charles Paige (TdT-Unibet), was established after just a few minutes. The peloton then slowly got going behind the five riders, which were down to four after only thirty kilometres of racing.
“There was no one dangerous for the overall so UnoX-Mobility was not very committed in the chase,” explained Frédéric Guesdon. “Since we wanted a sprint, we asked Eddy to pull a little with other teams. He didn’t use too much energy, but we still had to get involved.”
The bunch managed the day with no trouble at all, and finally caught the last fugitive, namely Filippo Turconi, about five kilometres from the line. “There were two roundabouts in the last three kilometers”, explained Frédéric. “That was the only difficulty in the final. Otherwise, the roads were quite wide. There was a bend 300 metres from the line, but the finish was not very technical”. Three kilometers from the finish, a crash caused a split in the peloton, but the Groupama-FDJ train was able to stay at the front. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case a few moments later. “We couldn’t make our way out with Marc before the last turn, and the finishing straight was much shorter than what the roadbook said”, explained Paul. “We got caught out, it’s a real shame”. Too far behind his competitors in the last 200 metres, Paul Penhoët had to settle for twelfth place in the sprint. “He was very disappointed,” said Frédéric. “Some guys were happy with their work, but unfortunately the result isn’t there. We were hoping for better, and it’s not about the legs.”
Milan Fretin took the victory, Frederik Dversnes kept the lead in the general classification, with Enzo Paleni still in fifth place, nine seconds behind the Norwegian. “The overall should be decided tomorrow, especially since the time trial is longer than usual,” Frédéric added. “There will be big gaps over thirty kilometres. Enzo, Eddy and Thibaud are the best specialists in the squad, and they will do it full gas.”
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
The French superstar has signed a three-year agreement with Tudor Pro Cycling, opening a new chapter for the Team and for himself.
Tudor Pro Cycling confirms the arrival of two-time World Champion Julian Alaphilippe. After more than a decade racing for the same team, the Frenchman is looking forward to a new challenge.
Julian Alaphilippe wins 2024 Giro d'Italia stage 12. RCS photo
“After more than ten years with the same team, it was time for a change,” he explains. “I liked the Tudor Pro Cycling project from the beginning. I saw the team arrive and develop, and I also know a few of the riders and staff members. What better way to mark a turning point in my career than with a new and ambitious project?”
It is the biggest change since the start of my career. It is the first time I will be riding in another team, and I think it's good to have a change of scenery after so many years. The team makes me want to be part of it. I want to play my part as a leader, to guide the youngsters, even though I'm not very old yet (laughs). But I've got a lot of experience and that can be important for the young people in the team. It's a great motivation to bring what I know and my way of being on and off the bike. It really motivates me to win races and develop at the highest level, both personally and with the team.”
The enthusiasm is shared by the Team. “We are super happy to have Julian joining the Team,” said Fabian Cancellara. “He is a great rider who perfectly embodies our #BornToDare attitude. He still has the fire needed to perform at the highest level and he will bring stability and experience to the team. He is a smart rider but also a good guy, with a good sense of humor, professionalism and a daring attitude.”
“It is an honor to catch the interest of a rider like Julian,” continues Raphael Meyer, CEO of the Team. “He is a human being who understands and appreciates the values we stand for and want to have in our team. So, we quickly understood that it could be a match.”
A shared leadership role
Strong of six Tour de France stage wins, three Flèche Wallonne victories, and wins in races such as Milano-Sanremo, Strade Bianche and Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa, the 32 year-old will be one of the team leaders. “But I won’t be the only one and I think it is a good thing."
“Having Julian and Marc Hirschi as two leaders is an opportunity,” explains Fabian Cancellara. “They will take pressure off of each other but also make each other stronger. Julian brings panache, Marc brings coolness. Both can win at the highest level and will embody our racing spirit, which will have us taking on responsibility in some of the biggest races.”
Julian is already looking forward to his new challenge: “I want to perform at the highest level and see the group develop. I dream of returning to the roads of the Tour de France with the team one day, but important races like the Classics come first. It's a big change but getting back on the winning path with the team will be a great satisfaction and I hope it is the beginning of great things.”
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