Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, December 28, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
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Upcoming racing:
- December 30: Diegem Cyclocross
- January 1: GP Sven Nys Cross
- January 18 - 26: Tour Down Under
Latest completed racing:
- December 26: Gavere Cyclocross
- December 27: Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross
- 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
The team sent me this:
Jenno Berckmoes extends his contract with Lotto Cycling Team. [Ed. Dstny will not be a sponsor of the team in 2025] The winner of the Muur Classic will remain with the team until 2027.
It was already certain that Jenno Berckmoes (23) would race in Lotto red next season. However, after an impressive year—including victory at the Muur Classic in Geraardsbergen—the Belgian rider has signed an improved and extended contract. Berckmoes will stay with Lotto Cycling Team until 2027.
Jenno Berckmoes wins the Muur Classic.
Jenno Berckmoes: “I didn’t hesitate long to extend my contract. It may sound like a cliché, but I feel at home with this team. Since joining Lotto last season, my teammates, the staff and everyone in the organization have become like family to me. Moreover, I’m convinced that in terms of performance and support, we are among the best in the peloton. The fact that I could add two extra years to my contract allows me to continue my growth calmly. I’m ready for the next step.”
Stéphane Heulot, CEO: “Jenno Berckmoes proved this past season that he has immense potential. It was therefore a logical decision for us to offer him a new contract. Jenno is a rider who can hold his own in both Flemish and Ardennes classics, as well as deliver strong results in shorter stage races. We are very pleased to keep him on board.”
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Van Aert’s Visma Lease a Bike team posted this:
Wout van Aert finished fourth in his return to cyclocross. The Belgian rider of Team Visma | Lease a Bike had a strong start at the Exact Cross in Loenhout but missed out on a podium finish due to a small crash in the final lap.
Van Aert started very strong and entered the field in first position. “That was unexpected”, the former world champion explained afterward. “Of course, I wanted a good start, but I struggled to clip into my pedal. I thought I had a poor start because of that, but I managed to find a gap on the left side.”
Wout van Aert racing in the dirt.
As the race progressed, Van Aert enjoyed the support of the crowd. “In the opening lap, I led the race for quite some time. The noise was incredible. It was amazing to experience that again. I’ve really missed that feeling. I absolutely enjoyed my return”, Van Aert said.
After a strong opening lap, Van Aert couldn’t keep up with a surge from Mathieu van der Poel. “I tried to follow, but it was just a bit too much for me at that moment. Mathieu and Laurens Sweeck were stronger at that point. Luckily, I had a good partner in Thibau Nys. We worked well together and managed to catch Laurens again”, Van Aert analyzed.
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“A podium finish was definitely possible today”, Van Aert said with a hint of frustration. “In the final lap, I gave it my all to secure second or third place. Unfortunately, I crashed in one of the corners, and after that, I had no chance of making the podium. That’s disappointing, but I’m still happy with my first race of the season and how my legs felt. It’s a positive sign for what’s to come.”
Third Place for Wolff
Earlier in the day, Imogen Wolff secured an impressive third place in the women’s race. “The start wasn’t flawless, but I managed to stay calm. I then put in a strong performance, which resulted in a third place. It feels great to see all the hard work pay off with a podium finish, especially in a big race during such an important part of the season. This gives me a lot of confidence heading into the upcoming races”, said the British rider.
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Here’s the team’s post:
The Belgian wrote history at the Olympic Games and World Championships this year.
“I came with an immense motivation at the start of the Olympics in Paris and with my confidence buoyed by the excellent Tour de France that I had with the team. Finishing third in Nice was a great result, although I wasn’t too sure of what I could do at the Olympics as Le Tour was incredibly demanding and I was tired after those three weeks, while some of the guys in the time trial race were fresh, having made this their main goal of the summer.
"I didn’t lack confidence, but I had no idea where I stood compared to my rivals. The fact that it rained that day made everything even more challenging, as I had to pay extra attention on those wet and slick roads, where any small mistake could make the difference between gold and not getting a medal. But I was in my own bubble and managed to remain calm, doing a perfect race and clinching the win for 12 seconds, which was fantastic.
Remco Evenepoel racing the Olympic time trial race.
"A couple of days later, the road race came, and with it, new expectations and pressure. Actually, I wasn’t under that much pressure, as I already had a gold medal around my neck, but I wanted to give it my all once again and get the best possible result. The atmosphere was electrifying out there and the many fans that packed the course around Montmartre made you feel like you were in a stadium, I have goosebumps just remembering that day.
"When I took off, I felt that it was the right moment to do so, and had the power and rhythm to catch my opponents and then drop them one by one. The final kilometers looked to be calm, but that puncture made things really stressful, which was amplified by the fact that the motorbike showed me the gap to the chasers wasn’t that big. I quickly got another bike and fortunately the drama was short-lived, and I could solo to my second gold of the week. Those Olympics are the ones that will forever be the closest to my home during my time as a rider, and to be able to share this with the Belgians and all my friends and family was pretty special. Two golds in the space of just a few days was really something I couldn’t have imagined.
"Then, just a couple of months later, successfully defending my ITT World Title was another result that made me incredibly happy. Retaining the iconic rainbow jersey for another year was just amazing, especially as it came after what was arguably the hardest time trial of my career. It was extremely demanding and wearing, but I was motivated to do my best and went all-out on the key sections of the course in and around Zurich. To have a total of three gold medals in major competitions is something I would have never dreamed of, and it certainly made 2024 a year to remember.”
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