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Saturday, August 24, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Work is the curse of the drinking classes. - Oscar Wilde
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2019: A Year of New Faces is available in both Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- August 17 - Sept 8: Vuelta a España
Upcoming racing:
- August 25: Bretagne Classic Ouest-France
Latest completed racing:
- August 20 - 23: Tour du Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine
- 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 Wout van Aert's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Wout van Aert has claimed victory for the second time in this Vuelta a España. The Belgian from Team Visma | Lease a Bike proved to be the strongest in the streets of Cordoba, following excellent work from teammates including Sepp Kuss. This is Van Aert’s fourth win of the season, but his first-ever career road victory on Spanish soil.
Wout van Aert after winning Vuelta stage 7. Sirotti photo
On the decisive climb of the day, the Alto del 14%, Van Aert skillfully stayed with all the top riders in the general classification. Alongside teammate Kuss, the green jersey holder was well-represented in the group of favorites. At the summit, Kuss grabbed some bonus seconds behind Primoz Roglic, after which Team Visma | Lease a Bike focused solely on securing the stage win.
The now-escaped Marc Soler had been around twenty seconds ahead of the elite group. Reigning Vuelta champion Kuss did not hesitate and immediately took the lead of the group. The American, one of the lightweights in the peloton at sixty kilograms, gradually reduced the Spaniard’s lead.
With Van Aert in his wheel, Kuss managed to catch Soler about three kilometers from the finish. After several desperate attempts by riders with ambitions came to nothing, Van Aert knew what needed to be done. The Belgian launched his sprint early and, after a long, powerful effort, raised his hands in the air for the second time in this Vuelta. Thus, Van Aert personally secured the 29th victory of the season for Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
“I was thrilled riding in Sepp’s wheel,” Van Aert admitted afterward. “I was determined to finish it off. I have to thank Sepp more than anyone for his incredible work at the front. I don’t think people can appreciate how difficult it is for someone weighing sixty kilograms to close such a gap. At Team Visma | Lease a Bike, it’s not just about winning, but riding as a close-knit team is highly valued. A crucial part of that is everyone sacrificing for each other when needed. The reigning Vuelta champion sacrificing himself for me today is a perfect example of our philosophy. The team was fantastic today.”
Kuss also expressed that the victory feels like a true team win. “We had this stage in mind for a while, but we knew it would be challenging due to the climb in the finale. When I saw that the group was still very small and Wout was still there, I knew he was having a good day. I took the lead and tried to keep everyone together. That wasn’t easy. It was a struggle to catch Soler, but it was more than worth it. I was worried that more attacks might come. I made a small mistake by slowing down a bit and asking others to take over, but in such a small group, there will always be attacks. Fortunately, Wout was smart and sharp enough, and his instincts didn’t fail him. He was particularly strong today and crowned our excellent team effort,” concluded Kuss.
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Here's the Vuelta report from second-place Mathias Vacek's Team Lidl-Trek:
Lidl-Trek once again made its presence felt at La Vuelta a España, with Mathias Vacek delivering a strong performance to secure his second runner-up finish of this year’s race. The Czech rider showed his resilience and sprinting ability after a grueling day in the Spanish heat, finishing just behind Wout van Aert. Stage 7, featuring a tough 14% climb late in the race, was another demanding day for the peloton, made even more difficult by the sweltering conditions. Vacek, in his debut Grand Tour, has continued to impress with his versatility and ability to suffer.
Vacek can be seen just left of van Aert in this photo of the finish. Sirotti photo
Reflecting on the race, Vacek said, “It was super hard, the climb. I was fighting, I knew if I could survive it, I could do a good sprint with a small group coming to the finish.” And survive he did. Positioned perfectly for the finale, thanks to the support of his teammate Mattias Skjelmose, Vacek put in a valiant effort in the sprint to take second place.
Skjelmose, our general classification contender, played a crucial role in helping Vacek prepare for the final sprint. The Danish rider has has managed the first seven stages well and was feeling particularly strong during today’s stage. “For sure, it’s the best legs I’ve had all Vuelta, so I’m happy,” Skjelmose said, reflecting on his own performance on the punishing climb. His effort to position Vacek perfectly in the lead-up to the sprint was a testament to his character. “After all the work Mathias did the other days, it’s a small thing to give back.”
As the peloton crested the climb, Vacek managed to hold the peloton at a small gap over the top. “We came back just after the downhill and I relaxed a bit. Then Mattias Skjelmose brought me in the perfect position behind Van Aert.”
Vacek’s two podium results in the first week of his debut Grand Tour, combined with Skjelmose’s solid form, bodes well for us as we look ahead to the coming stages. “It’s been a long preparation for the Vuelta, and so far so good. There are a lot more stages coming up,” Vacek said, remaining optimistic and focused on the remainder of the race.
With two podium finishes in the bag, we turn our attention to the next two hilly stages, which are prime opportunities to hunt for a stage win and make gains in the general classification.
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Here's the report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:
The final Grand Tour of the season returned after three years to Cordoba, once the largest and most sophisticated city in the world, which during the ninth century emerged as the intellectual capital of Europe, a position it would hold for more than 200 years.
The home of the famous Mezquita, one of the most remarkable buildings in the world, and of the stunning Medina Azahara, the Andalusian city featured at the end of the 180.5km stage seven, which featured only one classified climb, Alto del 14%, where an important selection was made after a forcing of the GC favourites’ teams that left some 25-odd riders in the front group. T-Rex Quick-Step was represented there by Mikel Landa, who responded with ease to the accelerations on the steep kilometer to the top.
Mikel Landa before the start of stage 2. Sirotti photo
The group finished as one, despite the attacks that came on the descent, and Wout Van Aert took the victory in Cordoba. Mikel came in the same time and will now switch his focus to Saturday’s stage to Cazorla, which brings the third of the ten uphill finishes scheduled at this 79th edition of La Vuelta.
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We posted the report from second-place Paul Penhoët's Team Groupama-FDJ with the results.
Here's the report from stage 4 winner Arnaud Démare's Team Arkea-B&B Hotels:
Arnaud Démare won the 4th and final stage of the Tour Poitou-Charentes, contested between Fontaine-le-Comté and Poitiers, in a sprint on Friday. A victory that gives him a 96th career success.
Arnaud Démare wins stage 4.
Arnaud Démare:
I am really happy. I came to Poitou-Charentes to win. Achieving this goal feels good. It is a relief. This victory gives me confidence for the end of the season. I have a great race schedule to come with great opportunities to seize.
The finale in Poitiers was intense today. In the last climb, we had a crosswind and it stretched out a lot. We had to stay calm and sheltered. In the finale, I was well led by my teammates from the Arkea-B&B Hotels team. We were patient and we decided not to necessarily launch the sprint but to get in the wheel of Groupama-FDJ. I waited for the right moment, 150 m from the finish line, before making my effort. There was a headwind but I still had energy and it worked. Today, there was some very good work from the Arkea-B&B Hotels collective, which was very young here and could have lacked experience, but the youngest learned a lot this week.
Yvon Ledanois, Sports Director:
I am satisfied, happy and content all at once... simply because this week in Poitou-Charentes we have experienced many emotions. On the first day, we were, as they say in sport, "beaten up". We were able to find the words to help the riders, comfort them and give them back their confidence by reminding them that we had the ability to win here and that we would end this week of racing with a victory. They were able to react and that is a satisfaction. Seeing Arnaud raise his arms is also a moment that we all savor. I know what he has been through and where he comes from so I am really happy for him and for the Arkea-B&B Hotels team. He now has 96 career victories. I have no doubt that he will reach the 100 mark with our team. He will not end his career without crossing this barrier. He is a champion and a champion never dies.
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