Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, February 5, 2024

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2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia

If it's the Psychic Network why do they need a phone number? - Robin Williams

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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:

• Feb 8 - 11: Tour de la Provence
• February 9: Muscat Classic
• February 10: Vuelta a Murcia
• February 10 - 14: Tour of Oman
• February 11: Clasica de Almeria

Latest completed racing:

• Jan 31 - Feb 4: Etoile de Besseges
• Jan 31 - Feb 4: Volta a La Comunitat Valenciana
• Jan 30-Feb 3: AlUla Tour (formerly Saudi Tour)
• Jan 24-28: Challenge Vuelta Ciclista a Mallorca

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Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage five team reports

We posted the report from GC third-place Aleksandr Vlasov's Team Bora-hansgrohe with the results.

Here's the report from GC winner Brandon McNulty's UAE Team Emirates:

Brandon McNulty finished off a successful week at the Volta Valenciana taking home the yellow jersey after winning the Queen stage just 24 hours before.

The American finished safely in the bunch on stage 5 from Bétera to Valencia (93km) which was won by his compatriot Will Barta (Movistar) from an early breakaway.

Brandon McNulty takes home the yellow jersey. UAE Team Emirates photo

McNulty finished the five-day race 14 seconds ahead of Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) and 17 seconds on Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe). Felix Grossschartner (UAE Team Emirates) put in a good ride to take 7th place on GC, while Jan Christen took 10th place on the final stage into Valencia.

McNulty: “It feels nice. I knew I had good legs last week in Mallorca, so to come here and get the win is nice. It was a bit less chaotic than last year but we knew Bora would try on the long climb. Vlasov attacked and they were racing for the bonus seconds, so it was hard. But once we were on the downhill, it was controlled, and we just had to stay safe. In the end, it was a nice day. My goals are to try to win anything I can. I prefer a start like this than to be suffering off the back all week, so I’m really happy with this.“

Here's the Valenciana report from stage five second-place Jonathan Milan's Team Lidl-Trek:

Jonathan Milan was close to doubling up in the first race with his new Team. Only eight seconds prevented Johnny to make it happen and that was the advantage with which Barta (Movistar) managed to solo across the finish line in Valencia, which hosted the fifth and final stage of the Volta Valenciana. After Barta, Johnny clearly won the sprint of the peloton, which had been reduced to 40 riders by the climb at 40km from the finish, where the Movistar rider built much of his success.

Jonathan Milan winning stage three. Lidl-Trek photo

"We knew it would have been a difficult day to get a sprint today. I did a strong effort to survive on the last climb, then a second one to get back in the main group. I think the guys who survived with me, Oomen, Konrad and Ghebreigzabhier did the maximum to get a sprint finish, they pulled a lot, but Barta today had something more than the rest of the peloton. He was able to build and manage a big enough gap to face the technical last kilometers in the city in the best way. Congrats to him." - Jonathan Milan

Although, as Milan said after the stage, the goal is always the win, the balance of the debut is absolutely positive. In five days of racing came a victory, two top fives and the points classification. Plus, for the Team, a 3rd place from Consonni and a top ten by Konrad in the queen stage – definitely a good start.

"In the end, I can’t complain about today’s second place, it’s a good result, but it’s fair to say that we always look for something more than being second. It was my first race with the Team, the first test among teammates, especially in the sprints, and we passed it with flying colors. It was a very good debut. Personally, I had also good feedback on the level of my condition. That’s definitely a boost of confidence." - Jonathan Milan

Here's the Valenciana report from GC second place Santiago Buitrago's Team Bahrain Victorious:

The 75th edition of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (2.Pro), a challenging 5-day stage race through the three provinces of the Valencian Community, concluded on February 4 with success for Bahrain Victorious.

Santiago Buitrago capped off the week finishing on the podium in Valencia, securing second place overall, just 14 seconds behind the winner, McNulty (UAE), and earning the white jersey for best young rider.

Santiago Buitrago wins 2023 Giro d'Italia stage 19. Sirotti photo

The 24-year-old Colombian cyclist showcased his climbing skills, particularly on the penultimate stage where he clinched second place atop Alto del Miserat. Reflecting on his performance, Buitrago expressed his joy, stating, “I’m very happy about my first race of the season, and also for the team that performed exceptionally well. Starting the new season on such a high note motivates me for the rest of the season.”

During the intense final stage from Bétera to Valencia, spanning 93 km on a mid-mountain course, Bahrain Victorious controlled the race with the goal of defending the General Classification podium. Despite attempts by Mohorič and Bilbao to launch attacks, the day’s breakaway survivor, Will Barta (Movistar), secured a solo victory on the unprecedented finish at the Port of Valencia. In the peloton sprint, Matej Mohorič emerged as the team’s best-placed rider, securing a good 5th place.
Bahrain Victorious concluded the Volta Valenciana with outstanding achievements, including Matej Mohorič’s stage 2 victory, Santiago Buitrago’s remarkable second place on the queen stage, his overall second place in the general classification, and the white jersey for best young rider. Pello Bilbao, securing 6th place in the GC, Rainer Kepplinger in 8th, and also Nicolò Buratti could celebrate on the podium in Valencia, as they contributed to the team’s title as the best team of the race.

Sports Director Roman Kreuziger expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing that the main objectives of winning stages and securing podium position have been achieved. Despite challenges with Gradek and Arashiro forced to abandon the race, the team’s collective effort resulted in victory in the team classification. Kreuziger noted, “What is more important is that we saw the guys are staying well, we know which level we are, and we can go quite confidently to the next races.”

Etoile de Bessèges stage five reports

We posted the report from GC winner Mads Pedersen with the results.

Here's the report from stage five winner Kévin Vauquelin's Team Arkea-B&B Hotels:

Kévin Vauquelin rounded off the Étoile de Bessèges with victory on the final stage, an Alès-Alès time trial that finished at the summit of the Côte de l’Ermitage. His success puts him in 2nd place in the final overall classification, two seconds behind Denmark’s Mads Pedersen.

Kévin Vauquelin on his way to winning the time trial stage. Sirotti photo

Kévin Vauquelin:
“I was aiming for overall success in this Étoile de Bessèges. I knew that to achieve that goal, I had to set a good time in Alès. The time trial is a battle against yourself that I enjoy. I’m delighted to win this final stage, and to give my team, Arkea-B&B Hotels, its first road victory of the year. Mads Pedersen isn’t just any rider, he’s a champion. He beat me by twelve seconds last year in this individual time trial, and tonight the gap between us in the final overall classification is just two seconds! I learned that I’d finished second when I heard Daniel Mangeas’s comments. I’m obviously delighted to win this individual time trial, which validates the work I’ve put in throughout the winter with the Arkea-B&B Hotels team. This Sunday we can see that it has paid off. I hope this is just the beginning. The Arkea-B&B Hotels team has been top notch all week: my team-mates, the staff. We did everything right. We were aiming for the overall classification, and we stuck to that objective with application. Because of our lack of openness on the online stages, we couldn’t do any better. I’d like to thank the whole Arkea-B&B Hotels team for their support”.

Didier Rous, sports manager:
“We suspected that the Mads Pedersen-Kévin Vauquelin head-to-head would come down to the final overall classification of this Étoile de Bessèges. Kévin put in a great performance, showing that he’s in very good shape at the start of the season, and above all that he’s progressing. He’s on the right track, and ahead of last year. Kévin finished this Étoile de Bessèges very strongly, beating some big names in the time trial, including Bettiol and Pedersen. Now he’s got to build on that over the long term.”

Yvon Ledanois, sports director:
“We had some great emotions on this Étoile de Bessèges. I think this first 2024 victory is good for everyone. It’s always important to start a year by scoring fairly quickly. It’s done, the counter is open. Kévin is second in the overall classification of the Étoile de Bessèges, beaten by a rider of the calibre of Mads Pedersen, who I’m not going to introduce to you. But I’m not going to lie, the two seconds missing from our goal leave me with a few regrets. Like my riders, I’m a competitor. I’m in this business to win alongside them. Now we have to look ahead. Kévin had a superb time trial. Not everything is perfect yet, and that’s good, we still have a lot of work to do. And we’re going to keep on working. I’d also like to pay tribute to Laurent Pichon, who made a fine debut alongside me as sports director, and who immediately found his place in his new job.”

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