Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, December 20, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
A day without laughter is a day wasted. - Charlie Chaplin
Les Woodland's book Cycling's 50 Triumphs and Tragedies: The rise and fall of bicycle racing's champions is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook 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
Here’s the team‘s announcement:
Jarno Widar remains with Lotto Dstny. The first Belgian winner of the Giro Next Gen has signed a three-year contract.
Lotto Dstny is particularly proud to announce that Widar will continue to defend the team's colors in 2025. The young top talent will remain part of the ambitious and prestigious development team for the upcoming season, after which he will step up to the professional peloton, where he will race for the team until at least 2027. With this improved contract, Lotto Dstny continues to highlight its mission of helping to develop young talent.
Jarno Widar. Belga photo
Jarno Widar: "At Lotto, I get all the opportunities I need to further build my career. Over the next three years, we can continue to develop a great project together, the foundation of which was already laid last season. The Giro Next Gen and Tour de l'Avenir, as well as the European and World Championships, will be key objectives for next season. Next to that, I’ll be able to experience some big races at my own pace. I feel that the team is doing everything possible in terms of performance to make this a success and I look forward to the upcoming season."
Stéphane Heulot, CEO of Lotto Dstny: "Jarno Widar proved this past season that he has exceptional potential. Not only did he become the first Belgian ever to win the Giro Next Gen, but he also claimed victory in the tough Alpes Isère Tour and the Giro della Valle d'Aosta. His development within the team is the result of a targeted approach and close guidance from our performance team, where talent, ambition, and science come together. He, along with our other promising riders, is proof that we must continue to promote our core philosophy – supporting young talent."
The fact that Lotto, in a celebratory year marking the team's 40th anniversary thanks to its main sponsor the National Lottery, can retain one of the biggest young talents in Belgian cycling is a promising sign for the future. Over the past three years, about 25 riders from the Lotto Dstny Development team have made the jump to the professional peloton. Some leave after a few years, while others stay with the team until their retirement. The development team alone delivered an impressive 35 victories last season. The pros added 25 more, and the ladies secured 6 wins. Yet there is one constant: the team provides young talent with the environment to grow, seize opportunities and flourish.
Kurt Van de Wouwer, Sports manager Lotto Dstny: "Lotto is more than just a team. It is not only a community, a family, it is also, and above all, a professional project. The team collaborates with the University of Ghent, develops the best equipment together with bike sponsor Orbea, invests in staff training and closely follows new technologies to implement them into the team. With success. The consistent results and ninth place in the UCI ranking prove that the team can compete at the highest level. Everything is done – with the support of our sponsors – with a clear goal in mind: to compete again at the highest level in 2026, in the World Tour."
Yannick Prévost, ISEA Management: "The further development of the performance team, the collaboration with his coach Oliver Delaey and the certainty that he can continue to grow step by step within this Belgian team were the deciding factors for Jarno Widar to sign for at least three more years and also become a professional rider with Lotto. During this period, he will have the time to experience the races he's aiming for and start building toward his first Grand Tour.”
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Here’s the news from Team INEOS Grenadiers:
INEOS Grenadiers are excited to place young talents Peter Øxenberg and Theodor Storm with our development partner, Team Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank, in 2025.
The pair of 19-year-old Danes will join the German UCI Continental squad from 1 January.
They are planned to feature alongside their new teammates in a series of races and camps to continue their development and gain valuable experience, whilst maintaining coaching and support from INEOS Grenadiers performance staff.
Peter Øxenberg and Theodor Storm
Working in tandem with the team’s internal ‘Ascent’ programme, the move reaffirms INEOS Grenadiers’ commitment to working with development partners to nurture young talent before their transition to the WorldTour.
INEOS Grenadiers Performance Director Scott Drawer said: “It’s an exciting moment to see Peter and Theodor joining up with Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank as our development partnership continues apace. We truly believe it’s going to be the perfect environment for both riders to progress and prepare for life in the WorldTour.
“In addition to getting that crucial racing experience, the riders will also receive continual coaching and support from INEOS Grenadiers performance staff throughout the process. They are both superb young talents and we’re looking forward to cheering on Peter and Theodor next season.”
Florian Monreal, Owner, Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank, said: “With Peter and Theo we have two super talents. I've already been able to watch Peter in a few races this year and we had Theo on our radar from the juniors.
“This partnership is off to a great start and we want to prepare the guys for their WorldTour careers in the best possible way.”
Peter Øxenberg said: “To be able to race and gain experience with Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank, while continuing to work with the performance team at the INEOS Grenadiers, is a perfect scenario for a young rider. It’s going to be a valuable step on the road to turning professional and I can’t wait to get started next season and continue my development.”
Theodor Storm said: “I’m really looking forward to 2025 and getting back to racing and the peloton with Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank. It’s a fantastic team, so to be able to compete alongside them, while continuing to work with the INEOS Grenadiers, is a perfect solution. I can’t wait to get started.”
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
Tudor Pro Cycling is proud to announce a brand-new partnership with Red Bull, best known for its energy drinks and influential role in the world of sports. This exciting alliance unites two brands synonymous with performance, innovation, and a relentless drive for excellence, bringing together Tudor Pro Cycling’s daring approach and Red Bull’s unparalleled support of elite sports.
The Tudor Pro Team at the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
This partnership positions Red Bull as Tudor Pro Cycling Team’s official energy drink partner.
Tudor Pro Cycling Team CEO, Raphael Meyer, looks forward to the partnership: “We are very happy to welcome as the official energy drink partner of Tudor Pro Cycling and can’t wait to continue our journey together.”
Red Bull’s integration with Tudor Pro Cycling marks an exciting step in the brand’s commitment to supporting emerging talent and the next generation of cycling champions. By aligning with Tudor Pro Cycling’s young and dedicated roster, Red Bull is reinforcing its dedication to the evolving world of road cycling and endurance sports, where discipline, resilience, and innovation intersect.
Next to Tudor Pro Cycling, the watch brand Tudor and Red Bull have been working together on numerous projects over the past few years including Visa Cash App Racing Bulls in Formula 1 and Alinghi Red Bull Racing in competitive yacht racing.
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Team Visma | Lease a Bike posted this:
For Edoardo Affini, 2024 was a year to remember. The Italian rider for Team Visma | Lease a Bike reflects on a season that, especially in its second half, was marked by personal triumphs.
“I think this was one of my best seasons ever,” Affini begins. “The start of the year was challenging due to crashes involving our team leaders, but even then, we had great moments. Matteo’s victory in Paris-Nice and Olav’s stage win in the Giro are memories I’ll cherish for a long time.”
Affini riding to third place in the 2025 World Time Trial Championship. Sirotti photo
Following an intense Vuelta, where Affini completed his second Grand Tour of the year, the Italian entered a period of glory. In Hasselt, Belgium, the 28-year-old time trial specialist claimed the European time trial title. Just one day later, he and his teammates were crowned European champions in the Mixed Relay. A few weeks after that, Affini earned bronze medals in both disciplines at the World Championships in Zurich.
Affini describes the weeks between the European and World Championships as the pinnacle of his career. “That period was undoubtedly the best of my season and, honestly, of my entire career. Those were special moments I will always remember,” he says.
The European Time Trial Championship posed an additional challenge, coming so soon after the Vuelta. “The Vuelta was really tough, and I had never raced a time trial so soon after finishing a Grand Tour,” Affini explains. “I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t in the hot seat for long, just a few minutes. The most nerve-wracking moment was when Stefan Küng posted his intermediate time. That’s when I started to believe a bit more. In the end, when I saw that he couldn’t match my time, I was able to throw my hands in the air.”
After his victory, Affini’s thoughts turned immediately to his grandfather, who had passed away earlier in the year. “I thought of my grandfather right away. He passed at the beginning of the year, and I know he would have loved to see me win. He always believed I could do it. After that, I couldn’t wait to see my family. They were in Hasselt to cheer me on.”
Affini’s European time trial victory gave him a significant morale boost. “I wouldn’t say I grew wings, but it was certainly a confirmation of my form,” he admits. As for his preparation, he remains grounded. “We didn’t do anything different this year compared to previous ones. I kept working and training on the time trial bike, and together with the team, we optimized the equipment. These performances also set the stage for what’s to come in 2025.”
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