Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, November 16, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
On the whole, human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time. - George Orwell
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Upcoming racing:
- November 17: Flandriencross
- December 15: Namur
Latest completed racing:
- 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
- October 16: Giro del Veneto
- October 13: Chrono des Nations
Here’s the team’s news:
Lizzie Deignan, one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, has agreed a one-year contract extension with Lidl-Trek, and will subsequently retire from professional cycling at the end of the 2025 season. After nearly two decades of professional racing, Deignan leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond her numerous victories and defines her as a leader who has reshaped the landscape of women’s cycling.
Deignan’s palmarès include 43 professional road victories, covering all of cycling’s most prestigious one-day races. She won a rainbow jersey at the World Championships in Richmond, USA in 2015, a Commonwealth title in 2014, and holds multiple National Champion titles. Notably, she captured a silver medal on home soil at the 2012 Olympics, a feat that cemented her place among Britain’s cycling greats. In 2018, Deignan paused her career to welcome her first child, Orla, a choice which at the time was a rarity in the women’s professional peloton. She returned to racing at her best, topping the UCI Women’s WorldTour rankings within just 18 months of her comeback. This remarkable feat served as an inspiration to her fellow competitors, and to even more women outside of the sport.
Lizzie Deignan
Initially planning to retire sooner, Deignan was encouraged by Lidl-Trek management to extend her career for one final season, with a new purpose: to guide and mentor the next generation of cycling talent. “The reason I initially wanted to retire was because I no longer have the motivation for my own results,” admitted Deignan. However, a discussion with Lidl-Trek sparked a new motivation. “They spoke to me and offered me a contract in the vein of being a road captain and somebody that can mentor the younger riders coming through. That kind of sparked a bit of motivation in me and I thought, yeah, actually that’s something that I am really motivated by. I really enjoy bringing out the best in the people around me. I still love cycling.”
As a mentor, Deignan’s focus will shift to fostering Lidl-Trek’s emerging talent, where her depth of experience will be invaluable in high-pressure races. “The Team going forwards is full of young potential. The signings that the Team have made, I think, are really smart. I’ll be using my experience to help them understand how to deal with pressure in the big races. I think more and more in cycling it’s all about marginal gains and sometimes the basics are forgotten. I’ll be there to remind them of the basics, the feelings, the instincts and all the human side of it.”
“Cycling is totally underestimated as a team sport, right? I grew up in cycling and I’ve seen this massive shift that I’m so proud to be a part of, but the basics are the same. You start as a domestique, you work your way up, you become a leader. Often people say, ‘Retire on the top.’ But I have no ego or necessity to retire at the top. I’m really happy to go full circle and be somebody that helps other people win bike races again.” As she reflects on her storied career, Deignan looks back with satisfaction and a deep appreciation for the support she received on her journey. “I’m proud of every sponsor that I’ve ever been associated with. I think that’s something that not every athlete can say, but I really represented sponsors that I feel proud to have represented.”
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Here’s a machine-translation of the team’s announcement:
The Cóndor from Cómbita renews with Movistar Team with the aim of continuing to fight in each competition, contributing all his experience and adding the maximum number of points for the team.
In 2024, Nairo Quintana (Cómbita, COL; 1990) thrilled us again on his return to competition. He shined in the Giro d'Italia, after the 10th anniversary of his victory, with a superb performance in the queen stage with a finish in Livigno-Mottolino.
Nairo Quintana takes a solo win in stage 17 of the 2018 Tour de France.
This season, the boyacense was not spared from a series of falls that diminished his performance, but he was able to close the year with 69 days of competition. For 2025, Nairoman hopes to make a leap in quality with greater continuity.
“2024 has been a beautiful year. Personally, I had a few setbacks throughout the season, starting with COVID, followed by a broken sternum and then a fractured metacarpal in my right hand. These mishaps, along with a few more falls, meant that I wasn't 100% at the important moments, but we were able to get up and do a quick rehabilitation to help the team.
The renewal for 2025 aims to achieve better continuity, to fight head-to-head in each competition and to get Enric [Mas] as high as possible in the three-week races. Throughout the season we will also focus on getting the highest possible score, being the last year of this qualifying cycle and being able to keep the team in the best position.”
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The team posted this:
Following a successful career as a cyclist and an impressive debut as a Sports Director with Israel – Premier Tech, Sep Vanmarcke has made the decision to step back from his role ahead of the 2025 season.
Having been forced to end his cycling career abruptly due to heart problems during the 2023 season, Vanmarcke quickly transitioned to a staff role in the team and excelled in the role of Sports Director in 2024.
Vanmarcke’s decision to step away from his role stems from a desire to spend more time with his family and pursue other endeavors.
Sep Vanmarcke racing in the 2022 Tour of Provence. Sirotti photo
“The past one and a half years have been a roller coaster,” explains Vanmarcke. “I jumped from being a pro rider to a Sports Director after I was diagnosed with heart problems and having to stop in this way had always been something difficult to accept. I tried to be the best DS I could be but, in my head, I need space so I feel the need to slow down for a while, spend some time with my family and find new goals in life.
“I have therefore made the difficult decision to leave my current position at Israel – Premier Tech. I am very thankful for the chances the team gave me, and even more, I appreciate the understanding they have with my current situation and decision. I will always support the team and wish everyone the best for the 2025 season. Cycling will always be a big part of my life so I look forward to cheering from the sidelines for now.”
IPT General Manager Kjell Carlström says the door is always open for Sep to return.
“Sep was a great rider and a brilliant Sports Director so we are sad to see him go but we have the utmost of respect for his decision, knowing that it takes a lot of courage to step away from the world that has been his life for the last decades,” adds Carlström. “I can say with certainty that the door will always be open for Sep to return to IPT as a Sports Director should he decide this is the right move for him. We wish Sep all the best with his future endeavours and have no doubt that Sep will remain close with his IPT family.”
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Here's the team's announcement:
In the 2025 season, three new specialists will join Astana Qazaqstan Team as Sports Directors: Belgian Lorenzo Lapage, Briton Peter Kennaugh, and Italian Dario Cataldo, who competed as a rider for the Kazakh team from 2015 to 2019.
“Alongside the Performance Group, which we have significantly strengthened, changes will also affect the Sports Directors in the 2025 season. Our team will welcome three new directors. We know Lorenzo Lapage very well; he is an experienced and responsible Sports Director with an excellent vision of the race, as well as a great administrator and team coordinator off the bike.
Dario Cataldo at the start of stage 3 of the 2015 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo
“In addition, we have two young Sports Directors: Peter Kennaugh and Dario Cataldo. Both are former professional riders with a fresh perspective on modern cycling. Peter Kennaugh already has some experience as a Sports Director, while Dario Cataldo is transitioning directly from being a rider to this new role. That said, he knows our team very well, having spent several years with us, so he will be able to contribute not only to Astana Qazaqstan Team but also to our Development Team in his work with the riders”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov.
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