Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, December 21, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. - Charles Spurgeon
Les Woodland's book Tour de France: The Inside Story - Making the World's Greatest Bicycle Race is available in print, Kindle eBook and 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 route:
The 2025 Vuelta will start in Italy.
From August 23 to September 14, 2025, La Vuelta 25 will consist of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,151 km.
Distribution of the Stages:
4 flat stages (one with a high-altitude finish)
6 medium-mountain stages
5 mountain stages
1 individual time trial
3 hilly stages with high-altitude finishes
2 rest days
Lots more Vuelta info here.
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Here’s the team’s post:
Soudal Quick-Step’s sports director shared his thoughts after the team’s get-together in Calpe.
“The training part is one of the most important moments of the pre-season. And that’s why because the riders, old and new, are together for the first time, and they get things underway at the Suitopia Sol y Mar Hotel where we are staying with three busy days, during which they all take part in various photoshoots, for both the team and the sponsors.
"It’s a packed schedule, but it’s quite fine, they like and have fun during the sessions. In the evenings, we have meetings with our technical partners, who talk about their products, so that they know every detail of the equipment we use. Then it’s all about training and testing, a key part of the winter camp. We get a better idea of where each rider is and what we have to do in order for them to step up a bit.
"Besides the sports directors, our nutritionists and psychologists are also in Calpe, which is important, because they get to discuss with the riders and make a plan going forward. The guys also know their program for the upcoming season, and work hard for this new year and the main goals. A strong bond is created, the newcomers get a warm welcome from the riders already on the team, they get to know each other, spend time together, and this helps them, because they see that the Wolfpack is more than just a word, it’s a winning mentality and a fighting spirit.
"We usually have some of the devo team riders present in Calpe and they can see how things work in a World Tour squad on a day-to-day basis. We discuss with them, they are integrating themselves in the group, and this is another good aspect of the training camp, because this way they are better prepared for the season. The members of the AG Insurance Soudal team were also there, which was nice, because we are part of the same family and share the same hunger of victories and mentality. We could meet, we could talk, so this too made for a nice training camp.
Now, after more than ten days, the time has come to go home, and looking back on the time spent on the Costa Blanca, we can be optimistic ahead of our 23rd consecutive season. The motivation and the determination are there, and we hope we’ll have another strong year.”
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Velasco’s Team Qazaqstan-Astana posted this:
Simone Velasco:
"2024 was a year to remember. To start the season with the Italian national champion jersey was unbelievable. I raced the whole Giro d’Italia wearing it, and it was fantastic to showcase it along my home roads in Italy. Despite there were some good results, podiums, unfortunately something was missing to claim a victory this season. However, it was a memorable season for me that I will cherish forever."
Simone Velasco racing in the Italian Champion's jersey. Sirotti photo
About training camp in December and changes in the team
"During the training camp in December, I put in a lot of kilometers, effort and worked in the right way. We as a team built a really strong group, and I believe we have set good foundations for the upcoming 2025 season. Many changes and reinforcements happened in the team for the next year, so it will be a season of discovery for all of us. For sure, fresh energy always helps in changing things for better. I’m confident in our new project and would like to play an important role in it."
Personal goals for road season 2025
In 2025, I obviously would like to win as much as possible. Year after year, performing well in big races becomes more challenging because many riders right now are incredibly strong, and the level of competition keeps growing. That said, I feel I’m reaching my peak performance age, so I’m focused and ready to fight in every race.
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Venturini’s Team Arkea B&B Hotels posted this:
The sixth round of the 2024-2025 Cyclo-cross World Cup takes place on the legendary Zonhoven circuit in Belgium this Sunday 22 December. Clément Venturini talks in detail about his experience and his approach to this event, which is as eagerly awaited as it is feared by all the world's crosswomen and crossmen.
Clement Venturini playing in the dirt.
Clément Venturini:
"
It's a World Cup that on paper doesn't really suit me, because we're riding in sand, and as a French I am not used to that. But for me, Zonhoven is a bit like a legendary Grand Tour stage, with 5,000 metres of ascent and descent. You know it's going to be tough at the start, but once you've crossed the finish line, you're proud to have finished.
"This World Cup round is unique in that it takes place in a quarry, and all you do is go up and down in a sort of pit. And each side of the course is filled with a huge crowd. You go back and forth and it's impressive from the outside, but also from the inside. Because when you're at the top and you have to launch yourself into the pit, you squeeze your buttocks a bit, and the crowd around you pushes you, or shouts when a competitor falls. The descent is a sheer drop, and you can't see anything. You throw yourself into it and try to keep a trace and make it to the bottom. You feel like you're riding in a football stadium for an hour, there's so much noise from the crowd."
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