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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
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We posted the race organizer's report with the results.
Here's the report from Gleb Syritsa's Team Astana Qazaqstan:
Astana Qazaqstan Team rider Gleb Syritsa secured third place in the bunch sprint at the finish of the fifth stage of Le Tour de Langkawi. Syritsa was the first to launch his sprint with 200 meters to go, but was eventually overtaken by two riders, winner Arvid De Kleijn and Matteo Malucelli.
The Tour de Langkawi stage five close finish.
“It was a very tough stage, with two climbs early on, which triggered a lot of attacks, so the pace was really high during the first two hours. Anthon Charmig and Harold Martín López tried to get into the breakaway to fight for bonus seconds, but it didn’t work out. At some point, the peloton split into several groups, but our team worked really well, the guys first caught up with the leading group and then chased down the breakaway. In the sprint, I had good support again, but maybe I started the sprint too early. Nevertheless, I got a podium place and there are three stages ahead – I’m eager to fight for victory, so we’ll keep trying”, – said Gleb Syritsa.
And here’s the Tour de Langkawi report from fifth-place Manuel Peñalver’s Team Polti Kometa:
Another sprint finish in the Tour de Langkawi, with an exceptional work of Team Polti Kometa in the last two kilometres looking to place Manuel Peñalver who was fifth at the finish line. Fernando Tercero keeps the fourth position in the general classification.
Long day and many alternatives today in the Tour de Langkawi, with the presence of rain, with crashes and punctures of the favourites and also movements of the race leader himself. At all times, Team Polti Kometa knew how to control the situation to maintain its interests until the end.
With 2 kilometres to go, with the lack of teams leading the peloton, up to three Polti Kometa riders occupied the first positions. The work towards the mass finish with Manuel Peñalver was damaged by the fall of Andrea Pietrobon, which prevented them from having an extra rider to launch the sprint. Nevertheless, Peñalver was again in the fight and finished fifth.
Manuel Peñalver
Manuel Peñalver: “Today I finish the stage with anger at not being able to give the team a better result after the great work of everyone. I thank them for trusting me and working like that, in the end not all the sprints go as we want and I thought that after the roundabout sprint would be launched immediately and I anticipated and it was long. You learn from your mistakes and we have 3 more opportunities, it’s a pity about Pietro’s crash but it’s nothing serious”.
Jesús Hernández, sporting director: ‘Pietro’s crash at the end of the race threw our work out of kilter, although we did well and again achieved a noteworthy result with Peñalver. Some days fortune makes crashes happen behind you and other days just in front of you, so we just have to keep trying’.
A short and nervous day waits tomorrow, with 123 kilometres between Batu Pahat and Kulai with a constant up and down in the final part, and where the general classification may undergo some changes with the movements of the favourites. The equality in the top-10 will encourage the ambitious to try to storm the podium of the Tour de Langkawi.
We posted the report from second-place Jordi Meeus' Team Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe with the results.
Here's the report from eighth-place Nils Eekhoff's Team dsm-firmenich PostNL:
One-day racing continues for Team dsm-firmenich PostNL this afternoon at Münsterland Giro. With some hills in the middle portion of the day, a strong pace was set by some teams to put the hurt on the bunch, before the pace then increased once more as they caught the breakaway and headed towards Münster. Unfortunately, Fabio Jakobsen had to let go of the wheels on the last climb of the day. The team rallied around each other well, with Julius van den Berg following and making some late attacks, before Pat Eddy and Tim Naberman helped position Nils Eekhoff for the gallop to the line. It was hectic and chaotic in the bunch as everyone battled for the front, with a crash impacting Eekhoff around the last corner. Nonetheless, he kicked out of the saddle and powered back to the group, pushing all the way to the line for a solid eighth place on the day.
Jasper Philipsen winning the race.
Eekhoff said: “We rode well together today, took control in the beginning of the day. When the climbs started I struggled with the pace but we had Pat, Julius and Tim in front to keep an overview. I gave it my all in the final to start the sprint from a good position to try and get a result and we could get a solid top ten finish.”
Here's the Münsterland Giro report from Luke Lamperti's Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Luke Lamperti became the first US rider to finish top ten at the Münsterland Giro, one of Germany’s most important one-day races, after delivering another strong sprint, just two days after he took sixth place in Binche-Chimay-Binche.
The 21-year-old from California, one of the nine different Soudal Quick-Step to have won a race this season, was well-positioned going into the final kilometer, but a crash that took place just as things were becoming hectic slowed him down. Lamperti managed to make his way back to the first group and even produce a solid turn of speed, finishing ninth behind winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), although he acknowledged after the race that the effort ended up costing him.
The 2024 Münsterland Giro gets ready to start.
“It was another nervous bunch sprint and then that crash happened. I was able to avoid id, but still had to close a small gap to the first guys, which wasn’t easy. I felt good and came with confidence into the race, and I know I could have achieved more, but it is as it is. Top ten here is still a good result, which makes me look forward to the next races with the team”, Luke said after his sixth top-ten of the season in a one-day race.
And here's the race report from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike did not play a major role in the final of the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro. The race ended in a bunch sprint, in which Jasper Philipsen proved to be the fastest. Tosh Van der Sande showed himself in the breakaway of the day.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike managed to win the previous two editions of the German one-day race. In 2022, Olav Kooij was the fastest in the sprint. Last year Per Strand Hagenes won after an impressive solo. Strand Hagenes was at the start again. Sprinter Kooij did not travel to Germany due to a knee injury.
Per Strand Hagenes winning in 2023.
After the start in Haltern Am See, Van der Sande battled for a place in the day's breakaway. The 33-year-old Belgian was joined by six other riders. The seven never got a large lead from the peloton, which had clearly set its sights on a bunch sprint. The breakaway attempt of Van der Sande and his companions stranded at more than twenty kilometers from the finish line. In the hectic finale, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike riders did not play a prominent role. Strand Hagenes was the team’s first finisher in 25th place.
DS Maarten Wynants:
“Without Olav at the start it was difficult for us to avoid the bunch sprint,” sports director Maarten Wynants said afterwards. “Our goal today was to make the race as tough as possible to put pressure on the sprinters. The plan was to have someone in the early breakaway, where Tosh did an excellent job. Per also accelerated a few times in the bunch, but the pace was just too high. We tried, but the sprinters' teams controlled the race flawlessly.”
Here’s the team’s update:
The three-time World Champion stays with the Team she calls home
It’s difficult to fully capture the impact of Ellen van Dijk’s illustrious 19-year career. A three-time time trial world champion, a winner of 68 professional races, including the Tour of Flanders and 40 individual time trials, van Dijk has solidified herself as one of the sport’s greatest. However, despite her legendary status, she’s not ready to call it a day just yet.
Since giving birth to her son, Faas, one year ago, van Dijk has worked tirelessly on her comeback, refusing to let even a broken ankle slow down her goal of competing at the Paris Olympics. Her resilience and drive remain as strong as ever, and now, Lidl-Trek is proud to announce that van Dijk has extended her contract for another year, keeping her with the Team through 2025.
Van Dijk, who has been part of Lidl-Trek since its inception in 2019, is enthusiastic about what lies ahead, both for herself and for the Team’s future.
Ellen van Dijk racing at the 2022 World Championships. Sirotti photo
“I am super happy to extend my contract with Lidl-Trek for one more year,” said van Dijk. “I have been part of the Team since the very beginning and, honestly, I cannot imagine riding for another team. So, for me, it was more a question of if I wanted to continue racing after my comeback from having Faas and becoming a mum, because I didn’t know what it would be like. However, I have received the best support from the Team, not only after pregnancy but more recently after my broken ankle, and this Team really feels like my home, it’s where I belong.”
“It’s been nice to see the Team grow from the very beginning and to have been part of that journey over the last five years. The Team is much bigger, we have younger talent coming through the program now which is really positive for the future and so, I am really happy to be part of it. I have put a lot energy into coming back this year and, in the end, I thought it was a shame to only use that for one year. I feel like I want to continue, I still have the motivation, and I know I have more to give Lidl-Trek.”
“Ellen is not only a phenomenal athlete but also an invaluable presence within the Team,” commented Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, Lidl-Trek Sports Director. “Her work ethic, leadership, and wealth of experience have played a huge role in our successes over the years. What makes Ellen special is her ability to balance personal ambition with the dedication to help others. She passes on an incredible amount of knowledge to our younger riders, showing them what it takes to compete at the highest level. Having her on board for another year is a huge boost for the entire team.”
Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates posted this:
UAE Team Emirates enter the final chapter of the season with a packed calendar of racing in Europe: continuing in Italy with the Giro Dell’Emilia (5 Oct), Coppa Agostoni (6 Oct), Coppa Bernocchi (7 Oct) and Tre Valli Varesine (8 Oct) with another block of riders taking on Paris-Tours (6 Oct) in France.
Tadej Pogacar winning the 2024 World Road Championship
Fresh from his recent success at the World Championships in Zurich, Tadej Pogačar leads the line at the Giro Dell’Emilia and Tre Valli Varesine in a squad which features an ensemble of climbing talent warming-up ahead of Il Lombardia where the Slovenian will hope to defend his title from 2023 where he claimed a memorable victory into Bergamo.
Pogačar: “This period of the year is always one of my favourites for racing and it will be even more special now with the World Champions jersey on my back. What happened in Zurich was a dream for me. Whatever happens from here on is a plus but given the amazing season we’ve had as a team we want to push right until the last race and end on a high note. These end of year classics in Italy are beautiful, exciting races and we’re ready to give them a good shot.”
The teams in Italy will be overseen by Sports Directors Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) and Marco Marzano (Ita), while Fabio Baldato (Ita) will guide the squad in France.
Giro dell’Emilia [1.Pro] – 05-Oct-2024
Coppa Agostoni – Giro delle Brianze [1.1] – 06-Oct-2024
Paris – Tours Elite [1.Pro] – 06-Oct-2024
Coppa Bernocchi – GP Banco BPM [1.Pro] – 07-Oct-2024
Tre Valli Varesine [1.Pro] – 08-Oct-2024
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