Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of. - Confucius
Bill McGann’s book Why Your Bike Is Made in Asia: My career in bicycles as I watched two continents squander an industry is available in print & Kindle eBook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- December 26: Gavere Cyclocross
- December 27: Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross
- December 30: Diegem Cyclocross
- January 1: GP Sven Nys Cross
- January 18 - 26: Tour Down Under
Latest completed racing:
- December 15: Namur Cyclocross-Citadelcross
- November 17: Flandriencross
- November 3: European Cyclocross Championships
- November 1: X20 Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- October 27: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
- October 15 - 20: Tour of Guangxi
- October 20: Japan Cup Road Race
- October 20: Veneto Classic
Kuypers’ Team Intermarché-Wanty posted this bad news:
This Sunday 15th of December, Gerben Kuypers sustained a collarbone fracture in his crash during the fourth race of the cyclocross World Cup in Namur. The cyclocross specialist of Charles Liégeois Roastery CX was successfully operated in AZ Herentals in the evening and is forced to end his cyclocross season. He will start the recovery process and prepare a comeback on the road with World Team Intermarché-Wanty.
Gerben Kuypers after his crash.
“Gerben Kuypers sustained a fracture of his left collarbone in his crash during the cyclocross World Cup in Namur and was treated via surgery in the evening. After a succesful operation he is feeling good and was released from the hospital in Herentals this Monday. He will observe one week of rest and should be able to gradually build up training on the rollers next week. Consequently, he is forced to put an end to his cyclocross season with Charles Liégeois Roastery CX, but we expect him to be recover well ahead of the next collective training camp in Alicante with the World Team in January.” - Gerald Ackerl (Team Doctor)
"After a collective training camp with Intermarché-Wanty in Alicante, I was feeling well to start the World Cup in Namur, an important race for our Walloon sponsor Charles Liégeois Roastery. And I managed to confirm this with an excellent start. Together with Kevin Kuhn, we battled in the lead of the race for the podium, until my crash halfway through the race. With my sports director Bart Wellens we immediately went to the AZ Herentals, where I could undergo surgery four hours after my crash thanks to the excellent follow-up of the medical staff of Intermarché-Wanty. Everything went well, I had a good night, which is a first step towards the start of my rehabilitation. It is another major setback after my disturbed winter last year. But I want to relativize, I will shift my focus towards my road season with the World Team, for which I also cherish nice ambitions." - Gerben Kuypers
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Here’s the team’s news:
On the back of celebrating the team’s 10th and best season to date in 2024, Israel – Premier Tech today revealed the racing kit and the team’s ambitious objectives for the upcoming season.
The 2025 Israel-Premier Tech kit.
Having spent the last nine days together in Girona, Spain, for the first pre-season training camp, General Manager Kjell Carlström praised the team’s cohesion and motivation ahead of the first race of the season.
“Our 2025 roster is our most exciting to date and having recorded our best season ever this year, we are more motivated than ever,” explains Carlström. “That begins in January when Stevie Williams will look to defend his Santos Tour Down Under title, which is the race that was the catalyst for our success this year, and Corbin Strong targeting the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
“When the European racing season kicks off, we have an ambitious target list including our first Monument podium, which we are yet to achieve, as well as repeating our success in the Ardennes Classics, and adding more WorldTour stage race GC success to the team’s palmarès with races such as Tirreno Adriatico a key objective for us.
“On the Grand Tour front, Derek Gee will focus on the Giro d’Italia so we are excited to see him return to the race that really kickstarted his career last year. Having raced to a top-10 result in his maiden Tour de France this year, he will once again target the General Classification as he continues his development as a GC rider. This means our Tour de France will be more stage-hunting focused as we look to add to our three previous stage wins.”
Gee was the undisputed hero of the Giro last year, racing into the hearts of cycling fans around the world with his tenacious performance which saw him finish in second place on four occasions. Unsurprisingly, Gee is looking forward to returning to the race under the guidance of newly promoted Head Sports Director Sam Bewley.
“It’s incredibly special to return to the Giro d’Italia,” says the Canadian. “That’s where I got my first taste of Grand Tours and I remember how passionate the crowds were. Although I’m coming back in a different capacity than what I raced it in 2023, I’m looking forward to it just as much.
“I think there is definitely a little more pressure and I’ve set my own expectations higher than I have going into Grand Tours in the past but, at the same time, that’s incredibly motivating. Having the process goals of doing a full build up for the General Classification with all eyes on finishing as high as possible in Rome is really special.”
Israel – Premier Tech’s 2025 racing kit, produced by Ekoï and designed by Élie Desgreniers of Premier Tech, sees the team retain its core 2024 look while introducing changes to the pattern and color blocks at the bottom of the jersey.
“We wanted to retain our 2024 look moving forward so instead of a radical change, we have opted to introduce more light blue to the bottom of the jersey, as well as a change to the pattern,” adds Carlström.
“Blue and white have long been our core colors, representing the Israeli flag and Premier Tech’s signature color so our two-tone sleeves and a now fully white monogram on the back of the jersey will help us to stand out in the peloton, especially in the sea of blue that we often see.”
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Here’s the team’s announcement
UAE Team Emirates to Become UAE Team Emirates XRG
UAE Team Emirates, the UCI World Tour’s No. 1 ranked cycling team, is delighted to announce an ambitious new 6-year partnership with XRG, an international energy and chemicals investment company committed to accelerating the transformation of global energy systems.
From the 2025 season onwards, the name of the team will evolve to become UAE Team Emirates XRG, with XRG confirmed as Team Emirates’ Co-Title Partner and Official Energy Partner.
Tadej Pogacar in his 2025 jersey.
XRG is investing across the energy value chain to meet growing global demand for smarter, cleaner energy, making it the ideal partner to advance UAE Team Emirates XRG’s commitment to achieving Net-Zero by the end of 2030. The team’s Road to Net Zero initiative will include optimization of the team’s travel logistics and the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and solutions.
His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, XRG Executive Chairman, said: “XRG is excited and proud to partner with the No.1 ranked team in the UCI World Tour. This collaboration reflects our commitment to pioneering disruptive and sustainable solutions that help meet the world’s growing energy needs and drive long-term value, while creating positive, lasting socio-economic impact. We look forward to supporting UAE Team Emirates XRG in continuing their dominance of global competitive cycling and in achieving their ambitious Net Zero goals, while inspiring healthier communities through the power of cycling.”
This collaboration further strengthens UAE Team Emirates XRG’s leadership in professional cycling, setting a new benchmark for sustainability and demonstrating the powerful synergy between innovation in energy systems and excellence in sports.
Mauro Gianetti, Team Principal and CEO, said: “We are delighted to unveil our new identity as UAE Team Emirates XRG. This partnership reflects our commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2030, while continuing to inspire future generations to embrace a healthy and active lifestyle.”
UAE Team Emirates XRG will debut its refreshed branding at the start of the 2025 season, prominently featured on team jerseys and equipment. The team will begin the new campaign as the No.1 ranked cycling team in the UCI World Tour, continuing its strong legacy of youth development, community engagement, and sustainable practices.
UAE Team Emirates XRG has achieved over 250 international wins, including three Tour de France titles, a Giro d’Italia victory, and a UCI World Championship gold medal by star rider Tadej Pogačar.
About UAE Team Emirates XRG:
UAE Team Emirates entered the highest level of professional cycling, the World Tour, in early 2017. The team has the aim of representing an entire nation, the UAE, and promoting a healthy lifestyle linked to the use of the bicycle. Season after season, the Emirati team has attracted a growing number of world-class riders and quality sponsors, taking them to new heights and successes in the biggest races in the world. The culmination of this growth and success has come with victories of Tadej Pogačar in the Tour de France in 2020, 2021 and 2024, and becoming the number 1 ranked team in the UCI World Tour in 2023 and 2024.
About XRG:
XRG is a transformative international energy investment company, focused on lower-carbon energy and chemicals, and headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Wholly owned by ADNOC, XRG has an enterprise value of over $80 billion. Its portfolio includes interests in industry-leading companies that are meeting rapidly increasing global demand for lower carbon energy and the chemicals that are essential building blocks for products central to modern life.
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Here’s the team’s news release:
The growth path of Team Polti Kometa (to be renamed Team Polti VisitMalta as of January 1, 2025) continues gradually and steadily.
This time, the focus is not on an athlete but on a managerial figure who will lead the Partnerships & Communication department: Matteo Cavazzuti, a marketing professional with significant experience in sports communication on both national and international levels. His background includes roles at RCS MediaGroup, Astana Pro Team, Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Brescia Calcio and KTM.
Matteo Cavazzuti
Cavazzuti will be the key person for external relations (both partner and media) reporting directly to the team’s general management.
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