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Wednesday, October 9, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you. - Langston Hughes
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2019: A Year of New Faces is available in both Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- October 10: Gran Piemonte
- October 12: Il Lombardia
- October 13: Chrono des Nations
Latest completed racing:
- October 8: Tre Valli Varesine
- October 7: Coppa Bernocchi
- Sept 29 - Oct 6: Le Tour de Langkawi
- October 6: Paris-Tours
- October 6: Coppa Agostoni-Giro delle Brianze
- October 5: Giro dell'Emilia
- October 3: Sparkassen Münsterland Giro
- October 1: Binche-Chimay-Binche
- September 22 - 29: World Road Cycling Championships
- September 18 - 22: Tour de Luxembourg
Team Lotto Dstny posted this:
With the Coppa Bernocchi yesterday, Il Lombardia U23 last weekend, and a rain-soaked edition of Tre Valli Varesine today, the final Italian campaign of the season is underway. The highlight will, of course, be Il Lombardia this Saturday, the last monument of the year. "But we can still show great things in the other races as well."
No final showdown under the Italian sun at the moment. After a tough start at Coppa Bernocchi, riders faced a drenched edition of Tre Valli Varesine today. Race or no race? That was the question at the start, but after just 57 kilometers, it became clear that the Italian roads were too unsafe. The race was neutralized and then stopped, with riders quickly returning to their team buses.
A little too wet.
However, there are still opportunities this week. Thursday brings GranPiemonte, with Florian Vermeersch leading the team. Sports director Dirk Demol commented, "Florian has been in good form for a while. Recovering after a bad crash is never easy, but since Denmark, he’s been improving in every race. Plus, we have a strong lineup with Alec Segaert and Harm Vanhoucke, who are both in good shape. I expect a sprint finish in Piemonte. There's a climb at six kilometers from the finish, but it’s not very steep. I believe we’ll be able to fight for a good result on Thursday."
Sunday marks Il Lombardia, the traditional final monument of the season. It seems that the Race of the Falling Leaves, as the historic Italian classic is also known, is likely to face unfavorable weather conditions as well. "We need to stay alert and hope that everyone is healthy for the start," said Demol. "We don’t expect Il Lombardia to be an easy day. Unfortunately, Maxim Van Gils won’t be starting. He got sick after the World Championships in Zürich and still isn’t feeling great. We’re mainly hoping for a great day from Lennert Van Eetvelt. After some health issues in the Vuelta, he’s back. Lennert is known to surprise us, and we have Sylvian Moniquet to support him, with Harm Vanhoucke also capable of going far."
This Italian chapter will officially close in Veneto, with the Giro del Veneto, Serenissima Gravel, and Veneto Classic. "For Giro del Veneto and Veneto Classic, we’re backing Jenno Berckmoes," says sports director Tony Gallopin. "He’s motivated, still in good form, and I think the course suits him. He can compete for the win. For the gravel race, we have Florian Vermeersch, who already won here last year. With his second place at the World Championships last weekend, he’s shown he's in top shape for a race like this. Let’s hope our riders can kick off their holidays with a few more strong results."
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The team posted this news:
Gleb Syritsa will continue riding for the WorldTour team Astana Qazaqstan Team. The new contract extends his commitment for one more year, covering the 2025 season.
The 24-year-old rider joined Astana Qazaqstan Team in the 2023 season after a successful stint as a trainee from August to October 2022, during which he achieved a stage victory at Le Tour de Langkawi and podium finishes at the Arctic Race of Norway and the Tour of Slovakia.
Gleb Syritsa winning stage one of this year's Tour de Langkawi.
Some of Syritsa’s key results during the 2023-2024 seasons include three more stage wins at Le Tour de Langkawi, podium places at stages of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey and the ZLM Tour, a 5th place finish at the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana, and 7th at the Gooikse Pijl.
“I’m really happy to extend my contract with the team. It’s important for me to stay in an environment where I not only feel comfortable but also continue progressing every year. The first two seasons in the WorldTour weren’t easy due to a lack of experience, but now I feel like things are moving in the right direction. Although I’m still missing victories in Europe, my results are starting to show, both in one-day races and stage races. After sprinting at the races like the UAE Tour and Renewi Tour, I’ve gained confidence that I can compete with the top sprinters. I’m grateful to the team’s management for their trust, and I’ll do my best to live up to it, not only in the new season but also in the final part of this year at the Tour of Guangxi”, – said Gleb Syritsa.
“Gleb has spent his first two years with our team at a solid level. He’s been able to help the team in various races and achieve some individual results. His progress is evident, and we are excited to see how things develop further. Sprinting is a new focus for us, but we’ve already seen significant success, including Mark Cavendish’s historic 35th stage win at the Tour de France. Gleb has integrated well into the team’s sprinting group and is gaining valuable experience in major classic races, so we expect more great results soon”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL are pleased to announce more extensions across both their Men and Women programs today, as Matt Dinham, Eleonora Ciabocco and Becky Storrie all continue their journey with the team. Dinham and Storrie will wear the team’s colours through 2027, while Ciabocco has committed to the two-stripes until 2028.
Eleonora Ciabocco
A fresh face to the team in 2023, Ciabocco joined Team dsm-firmenich PostNL’s Women’s program after a very promising junior career that included back-to-back Italian road race championship wins, podiums at the European championships and several other places of honour throughout the year. Ciabocco’s opening season with the team saw her make the often-daunting step-up from juniors into elite racing, but the young Italian took it head-on and used it as an opportunity to learn and grow from those around her. Taking what she learned in that opening season, 2024 has seen Ciabocco make further steps as a rider, impressing with a seventh place at Brabantse Pijl in April. Supporting the team’s GC finishers to strong results at the Vuelta a España and Giro d’Italia, Ciabocco got the opportunity to test her legs in the Tour de l’Avenir where she climbed superbly to end in eight place overall; finishing every stage in the top ten.
Ciabocco said: “I wanted to continue with Team dsm-firmenich PostNL because I think there is a really good atmosphere, and I appreciate the freedom they give me to grow in the best way possible. I have so many beautiful memories with the team, one which was the Trofeo Binda in Cittiglio. It was the first race with the team in my home country, and that was a truly special day for me, my family and friends. On the bike I think that I am quite good in positioning my teammates in the peloton and I can help support on the climbs, while off the bike I like to think I can bring some happiness to my teammates as I am a joyful and quite chatty person. Over the next years I still want to learn as much as possible from my teammates and everyone around me. As I continue to grow and develop, I hope to be able to help the team achieve more results – whether that be me crossing the line first or my teammates.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Eleonora is a very talented young rider and she has managed the step from juniors into elite racing very well so far. She has a fantastic approach to racing and the sport of cycling in general, and she is clearly someone who is very motivated and has that internal drive to keep making progress. We’ve seen her showcase her talents on the climbs so far, but of course as she is still young we want to continue to help her develop overall as a rider in the next years before we hone in one area. We’re looking forward to the coming seasons.”
Matt Dinham
A talented rider, Dinham has tasted success in cross-country mountain bike events, but he has since proven to be equally adept on the road too. Strong results at the likes of the Tour de l’Avenir, Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc and U23 World Championships ended up with him joining Team dsm-firmenich PostNL in 2023. That opening campaign saw the astute Dinham settle into the team well, proving himself to be very adept on the hills before going on to make his debut at the Tour de France. Coming out of La Grande Boucle with great legs, Dinham produced a sensational performance to take seventh in the road race at the elite World Championships, before top tens overall at the Arctic Race of Norway and CRO Race. Unfortunately, his 2024 season has been completely hampered by injury but with his long-term future secured, Dinham and Team dsm-firmenich PostNL have the time required to return to racing in a good way and without any rush, so they can hopefully continue their upwards trajectory together in the future.
Matt Dinham racing at the 2024 World Road Championships.
Dinham expressed: “I’m thrilled to continue my journey with Team dsm-firmenich PostNL through 2027. The environment at the team is one I really enjoy working in and the support and opportunities I’ve received so far have been incredible. My personal highlight so far has been racing the Tour de France with the team last year, but I believe we still have a lot more to achieve together. It’s been a very tough year for me dealing with my injury, but I appreciate the team’s ongoing support and the longer contract has given me the security to make sure I come back in the best way possible. I’m working hard towards our goals in 2025 and can’t wait to see what’s possible together.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna continued: “Matt really impressed us since he joined the team, both in terms of his ability on the bike but also his attitude off it too; he’s someone who is always willing to learn from those around him, whether that be from our staff or the other riders. In 2023 he showed that he is a very promising rider on the climbs, and he also has some very good positioning skills in the bunch, which seem to come naturally to him. Of course, he’s had a tough season this year with injury but we’re working hard together so that he can come back to the peloton in a good way, and from there we hope to continue to make steps together.”
Becky Storrie
A former triathlete, Storrie made the switch full time to cycling in 2019 on her way to recovery from a diagnosis of chronic fatigue. Taking part in her first proper road race that year she has since risen through the British domestic scene and combined her riding on the road with E-sports, before joining Team dsm-firmenich PostNL for the 2023 season. Making the transition from Continental level, Storrie has continued to improve as a rider with the team in the last two years; playing an important role in several successes, such as the team’s first ever Grand Tour podium with their Women’s program at the Giro d’Italia. 2024 has seen Storrie have her fair share of bad luck with injuries but she has shown great character and commitment, bouncing back to ride her first Tour de France Femmes where she helped the team to two famous victories on Dutch soil. However, the peloton wouldn’t be able to see her talents on the climbs as she would have to abandon the race early due to a crash. Nonetheless, the determined Storrie is looking forward to coming back and proving herself in the future.
Storrie said: “At the end of 2022, the team took a chance on me and offered me an opportunity at a time I needed it the most. Without it, it is likely that I would not be in the sport today. For that, I will always be grateful. You need a lot of luck in cycling and a good team around you. This one pushes me outside of my comfort zone consistently, in all of the best ways. I believe I need that to become the best version of myself, both on and off the bike. To spend three more years together is a real privilege and a commitment I take very seriously. My goal is to climb with the best and ultimately develop into the GC rider I know I’m capable of becoming.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna continued: “Becky has a fantastic attitude, and she has really trusted us with how we work as a team, and she believes in our approach. Coming to the sport later she misses the years of bunch racing experience that a lot of the peloton has, but she is always willing to learn and by working together we’ve helped her progress in that area. We believe that if she continues to further develop, then her natural abilities on the bike will begin to shine through further and Becky will become an even more valuable member of our team.”
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Here’s the team’s news:
Pier-André Côté will step up from the IPT Academy team to IPT’s ProTeam in 2025 on a two-year contract as the sixth Canadian rider on the team next year.
“As soon as I joined the IPT Academy team for this season, I immediately felt at home,” he says. “It has been quite incredible really. The whole set-up is so professional, and I told myself that I simply could not miss this opportunity. I had to make sure it would happen and I’m super excited to be joining the IPT ProTeam next year!”
Pier-André Côté
After securing fifth place on the General Classification at CRO Race at the weekend, Côté proved yet again that he deserves a place in the ProTeam, says IPT General Manager Kjell Carlström.
“Pier-André has been an exceptional teammate all season and has stepped up to the ProTeam from the Academy on many occasions,” adds Carlström. “His result at CRO Race was just another example of Pier-André stepping up and making the most of an opportunity given to him. There will be many more opportunities to come in the next two years and I have no doubt Pier-André will excel in our ProTeam.”
Prior to CRO Race, the 27-year-old Canadian had multiple chances to show his abilities with the IPT Pro Team this season and he has done so producing several strong performances, including his 10th place overall in Baloise Belgium Tour and his fifth place in Druivenkoers – Overijse.
“The racing this year has been great,” Côté adds. “I have done a good amount with the pros and it’s so motivating to be working towards a victory or a team performance with such great athletes. To be surrounded with top level and all-around great guys is empowering and it has allowed me to get the best out of myself.”
At the Canadian Road Race Championships this year, Côté started out winning the time trial with a near two-minute margin before going on to help teammate Michael Woods win the road race, while taking second place himself. Now, he’s looking forward to developing as a rider and finding place within the team.
“I have been surprising myself in all sorts of terrain lately, so I’m hoping I can keep going down this road and just become a better allrounder,” he says. “I’m hoping I can bring my versatility into the classics and find success there.
“As far as a main goal for the next years is concerned, if I had to narrow it down to just the one, I would like to keep heading towards becoming the best bike racer I can possibly be. I’m confident this team has everything I could ever hope for to reach this goal. In a more specific manner, I would love to have an impact on a top performance in a big Classic and start my first Grand Tour.”
IPT team owner, Sylvan Adams, is delighted to see Côté join the team’s pro ranks. Adams says: “It gives me great satisfaction to have promoted Pier-André to IPT, after a productive year in our Continental development team, IPT Academy. All the more-so since PAC’s original team, Human Powered Health, discontinued their men’s program late in 2023, potentially leaving him without a ride in 2024. Pier-André is yet another worthy and valuable rider given a second chance at IPT, a legacy and reputation that gives me great pride. Welcome to the show, Pier-André, looking forward to exciting things from you in 2025!”
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