Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, March 29, 2024
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2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia
There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2020: The Tour During Covid-19, Better Late Than Never is available in both Kindle eBook and Audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- March 29: Route Adélie de Vitré
Upcoming racing:
- March 30: Gran Premio Miguel Indurain
- March 30: Volta Limburg Classic
- March 31: Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders)
- April 1 - 6: Tour of the Basque Country/Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
- April 2 - 5: Region Pays de la Loire Tour
- April 3: Scheldeprijs
- April 7: Paris-Roubaix
Latest completed racing:
- March 27: Dwars door Vlaanderen
- March 27: Paris-Camembert Lepetit
- March 18 - 24: Volta a Catalunya
- March 24: Ghent - Wevelgem
- March 24: La Roue Tourangelle
- March 19 - 23: Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali
- March 22: E3 Saxo Bank Classic
- March 20: Classic Brugge - De Panne
- March 16: Milano - Sanremo
- March 16: Classic Loire Atlantique
- March 15: Brendene Koksijde Classic
- March 14: GP de Denain
Van Aert’s Visma | Lease a Bike team posted this short update:
Wout van Aert had a successful operation today. Examination revealed that he suffered a broken sternum, broken collarbone and several broken ribs.
It is unclear when Wout will be able to get back on his bike. The next few weeks will be all about his recovery. He will, therefore, miss the spring classics. His participation in the Giro d'Italia is still uncertain. We will make a decision in the coming weeks based on his recovery.
Before his crash: Wout van Aert wins the December 2023 Heusden-Zolder cyclocross race.
On behalf of Wout, we thank everyone for their support. He now hopes to continue his recovery in peace.
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Here’s the team’s update:
One of the most prestigious and sought after races in the world, first raced in 1913 and an event that has always produced heroes on the road and created unforgettable stories, Ronde van Vlaanderen runs its 108th edition this Sunday, over a hard course favouring long-range attacks.
Starting in Antwerp and finishing in Oudenaarde after more than 270 kilometers, Ronde van Vlaanderen will take in a total of 17 climbs and seven cobblestone sectors. The Monument comes with some changes, such as the addition of major roads and a different approach to the infernal Koppenberg, the steepest hill on the course, but the focal point of the route promises to be once again the Oude Kwaremont – Paterberg combo, which the riders will tackle twice in the final 75 kilometers.
From the last climb only 13 kilometers remain, making a regrouping possible, but only in case of a headwind or a large and organised chasing group. Otherwise, the rider or riders who will carry a small gap over the top have all the chances of going all the way to the line.
Of all of cycling’s five Monuments, Flanders is the one that has witnessed the most Wolfpack wins, our team triumphing there on eight occasions. Most recent of these successes came in 2021, when at the end of an incredible race, Kasper Asgreen prevailed in a two-man sprint. The powerful Dane will be again at the start, together with a strong and incredibly determined Soudal Quick-Step squad that is set to feature also Julian Alaphilippe – who played an important role in the victory of three years ago – Yves Lampaert, two-time Belgian Champion Tim Merlier, Gianni Moscon, Casper Pedersen, and Bert Van Lerberghe.
Kasper Asgreen wins the 2021 Tour of Flanders ahead of Mathieu van der Poel. Sirotti photo
“De Ronde is a race that never lies, a race where only the strong riders have prevailed. We have a good team for Sunday, featuring a Flanders winner, and we are going to the start with a lot of confidence. It’s true that we have suffered a bit in the previous races, but things can change quite quickly and we hope for a strong race”, said sports director Tom Steels.
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Here’s the team’s news:
Mads Pedersen:
The winner of Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday was the luckiest of our riders in the crash and escaped with just abrasions and contusions. The plan remains that Pedersen will race on Sunday but he will continue to be monitored by the team.
Mads Pedersen wins 2024 Gent-Wevelgem. Sirotti photo
Jasper Stuyven:
The Belgian came into the 2024 Classics season in strong form, and has a second-place finish E3 Saxo Classic to prove it, but unfortunately Jasper Stuyven fractured his collarbone in the crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen but he underwent successful surgery on the same day as the race (Wednesday 27 March).
Alex Kirsch:
The Luxembourg national champion was also taken to hospital after the crash for further examinations where scans revealed a fractured 4th metacarpal on his right hand with surgery being performed at the same hospital as Stuyven in Belgium.
Poignant words from Toms Skujins: “It's crazy how much of a rollercoaster this bike racing thing is. You can be on the top of the world and the next second feel like in a free fall. Feel heartbroken for all the guys that hit the deck today.”
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Here’s the team’s update:
After a spectacular performance in the first cycling monument of the season, Milano Sanremo, where he picked up second place, Australian all-rounder Michael Matthews will lead Team Jayco AlUla into the second monument of the season, the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, 31st March.
Michael Matthews finishes a very close second to to Jasper Philipsen at this year's Milano-Sanremo. Sirotti photo
With a stacked start list, the squad knows it isn’t going to be an easy task but head in to the one-day iconic classic with confidence, with Matthews bringing good legs to go all-in.
With a squad that has enjoyed the past few weeks working together throughout the various cobbled classics races, it’s a well gelled formation consisting of Australian duo Kelland O’Brien and Luke Durbridge, tactful lead-out men Luka Mezgec and Elmar Reinders, plus two powerhouses in the shape of Amund Grøndahl Jansen and Max Walscheid.
This year’s edition will begin in Antwerp and cover a staggering 270.8km, taking in the Oude-Kwaremont and Paterberg once again, often serving as the final decisive section of the gruelling spectacular race.
Team Jayco AlUla line-up:
Luke Durbridge
Amund Grøndahl Jansen
Michael Matthews
Luka Mezgec
Kelland O’Brien
Elmar Reinders
Max Walscheid
Michael Matthews:
“It’s been fun here in Belgium these past weeks during the classics. The racing is so tough, but the team is feeling good and ready for Sunday. My shape is good, we just need some luck at the weekend and hopefully everything will fall into place to challenge for a result. After MSR I have been feeling good, and it would be incredible and special if I could back that up with another Monument podium placing at the Tour of Flanders. We know it won’t be easy but we’re ready to fight for it.”
Mathew Hayman – Sport Director:
“We’re coming towards the end of the cobble classics with the big one, Flanders on Sunday. The guys have been riding well together, we’ve had some top-10s here and we know that Flanders will be really tough, but we’re going into the race with a health team and with Matthews motivated and in good condition.
"We’ve learnt a lot throughout the past weeks racing here, everyone is fit and it’s all about putting it together and executing the plan well on Sunday. We will need a bit of luck. Then in the end, in the final, the legs will do the talking.”
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