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Thursday, September 5, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. - Michael Jordan
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:
- August 17 - Sept 8: Vuelta a España
- September 3 - 8: Tour of Britain
Upcoming racing:
- September 8: Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec
Latest completed racing:
- August 28 - September 1: Renewi Tour
- August 25: Bretagne Classic Ouest-France
- August 20 - 23: Tour du Poitou-Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine
- August 12 - 18: Tour of Poland
- August 14 - 18: PostNord Denmark Rundt
- August 13 - 16: Tour du Limousin
- August 11: La Polynormande
- August 10: Clasica San Sebastian
- August 5 - 9: Vuelta a Burgos
- August 4 - 7: Arctic Race of Norway
- July 27 - August 4: Olympic cycling
We posted the report from the race organizer with the results.
Here's the report from second-place Pavel Bittner's Team dsm-firmenich PostNL:
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL had to work hard during the stage to get the race back together after the day’s early break put up a strong fight at the front of the peloton and then the rain started to fall, making conditions quite tricky out on the road. Helping to drive the pace on the front of the peloton, the guys gradually brought the break back to half a minute with 10 kilometres to race. From here a number of attacks went clear from the peloton, including Poole, establishing a new trio as the race headed into the final few kilometres. This took the pressure off in the chase behind but Poole was caught within sight of the finishing straight, as Bittner came by to take second on the line.
Pavel Bittner (right) is second to Kaden Groves. Sirotti photo
Bittner said of the day: “My teammates did a really good job keeping me in a good position and pulling in the last 40 kilometres. I was suffering even in the wheels so I have no idea how hard it was at the front. Then in the final I tried to stay calm. Max jumped on Mauro’s wheel which was good as he could surf his wheel and sprint if needed at the end. Behind, I found the wheel of Kaden heading into the sketchy last corner. I was waiting and when he started his sprint I tried to go around but I didn’t have the time or the speed. Hats off to him, it was a really hard day today.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Phil West added: “It was a good day. We planned the stage to set up Pavel for the sprint but it was a tricky combination with a couple of difficult climbs in the middle and a very rolling but technical parcours especially with the rain. So in the end it’s been a really tough day but I’m happy with how the boys rode. It got a bit closer in the final than I would have liked but the upside was that it kept the peloton more under control and then we were able to bring Pavel in for a good sprint. Max was really sharp to shut down a late attack from Mauro Schmid so there was no stress there and then it was another strong sprint from Pavel even if he couldn’t quite get there on the line.”
Here's the report from 6th place Victor Campenaerts' Team Lotto Dstny:
'Les jambes en feu,' as Arnaud De Lie would say. My legs were burning," says Victor Campenaerts. 'I felt very good, but unfortunately, the peloton caught up with us. It is what it is. Tomorrow is a new chance.'
Stage 17 of this Vuelta, a transition stage starting in Arnuero and finishing in Santander, was marked by a breakaway of four, including Jonas Gregaard. The Dane from Lotto Dstny stayed in the lead with three others until the final. "I knew this morning that today was a good opportunity,' says Gregaard. 'With a stronger group or two extra riders, we might have stayed ahead. Not everyone was pulling their weight. We got far, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough."
A wet peloton races across northern Spain. Sirotti photo
A bunch sprint ultimately proved unavoidable, although Victor Campenaerts tried to avoid it twice. "Especially when Mauro Schmid went for it, I saw a chance. If the peloton hadn't caught up, I would have owed him a beer in Madrid." Unfortunately, that happened 300 meters from the finish line, so Campenaerts had to settle for sixth place in Santander today. Arjen Livyns sprinted to a ninth place in the bunch.
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Here's the Vuelta report from Team Groupama-FDJ:
Towards Santander, it was not the profile but the weather conditions which proved to be a difficulty for the Vuelta peloton this Wednesday. After 141 rainy kilometres, a sprint nevertheless concluded stage 17 and Kaden Groves won while David Gaudu secured his position within the pack. The Breton is still sixth overall and a breakaway stage is looming tomorrow before three decisive final days for the leader of the Groupama-FDJ cycling team.
The stage finish from above
The day’s scenario seemed quite uncertain this Wednesday on the Vuelta a Espana, with a very hilly route halfway through before a much flatter second part of the race. The breakaway could have its chance, but with the rain coming after about ten kilometres, the fight at the start proved quicker than expected and only four men hit the front. The sprinters’ teams took advantage of this opportunity and led the chase all day to give themselves a last shot in this 2024 edition. Thomas Champion (Cofidis), Jonas Gregaard (Lotto Dstny), Thibault Guernalec (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel-Euskadi) certainly accumulated a lead of up to four minutes, but the pack always kept control. Although it had to work hard until the last kilometres in the streets of Santander, it managed to bring it all back together for the anticipated sprint. The late attempts were also closed down, and Kaden Groves was able to collect a third stage win.
David Gaudu, Stefan Küng, Lorenzo Germani and Quentin Pacher finished in the main peloton, which was barely made up of sixty riders. “It was anything but a transition day,” assured Thierry Bricaud. “It could have been a breakaway day, but it could possibly be a sprint as well and that’s what happened. Above all, the riders suffered from very difficult weather conditions. It was even dangerous at some points, especially on the downhills, and it was a difficult day. Seeing everyone’s faces at the finish, you can be sure that they didn’t enjoy themselves today. On a day like that, we just had to make sure not to get caught out and to stay alongside David. That’s what they did very well, especially Stefan who knows how to do that to perfection.” The French climber therefore kept his sixth place overall, which he will defend from Friday, while a hilly profile is looming tomorrow in the Basque Country. “It should be a day for the breakaway,” concluded Thierry. “We hope that we will have Quentin or Stefan at the front because it is a stage that could suit us.“
Here's the Vuelta report from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike had five riders at the start after Wout van Aert’s unfortunate crash yesterday. After examination in the hospital, Van Aert was found to have suffered no fractures, although he has a deep wound to the knee. The 29-year-old Belgian has returned to Belgium for further rehabilitation.
Sports director Grischa Niermann regrets Van Aert's abandonment, but he keeps the spririt high. “It's a big [disappointment] for the team to lose Wout. At least they won't take the three stage wins away from us. Unfortunately, the goal of standing in green and in polka dots on the podium in Madrid is gone. Our Vuelta partly revolved around Wout, who was in top shape. It is now up to us to keep going, because there are still opportunities this Vuelta. Sepp Kuss is close to a place in the top ten of the general classification. A stage win is still possible as well, although that wasn't on the cards today.”
The peloton set off in Arnuero for 141 kilometres with two climbs along the way. The final part of the stage was mostly flat. Early in the stage, four riders formed the early breakaway. Only in the final kilometres the four were caught by the peloton, which prepared for a bunch sprint in a rained-out Santander. The win was for Groves. Edoardo Affini was the best-placed Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider in 20th place.
“The rain made the stage tricky”, Niermann reflected. “The teams that still had a sprinter aboard were eager for a bunch sprint. It was a treacherous stage with some steep climbs and difficult descents. The roundabouts and many turns, combined with a wet road surface, also made it hard. For us it was important to get through this day unscathed. On to tomorrow.”
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
After three seasons with Israel – Premier Tech, Hugo Houle has signed a two-year contract extension to see him in IPT colours until 2026.
The 33-year-old has achieved career-best results with IPT, including his memorable Tour de France stage win in 2022, making it an easy decision to put pen to paper says the Canadian.
Hugo Houle on the podium of the 2022 Tour de France after stage 15. Sirotti photo
“It was natural to sign for another two years with Israel – Premier Tech,” explains Houle. “I feel at home in the team, it’s like a family, and I’m also really happy with the progress we have made in the team in the last two years. I’ve had the best results of my career to date with this team and I think we have achieved quite a lot. I’m excited for the next two years especially as it will bring me to the World Championships in Montreal in 2026 and that’s a big objective for me.”
While just three years of his 12-year career have been spent in IPT colors, his relationship with co-title sponsor Premier Tech and Jean Bélanger is longstanding, which Houle says is one of the big reasons he feels at home in the team.
“It’s a privilege to race and work with the riders, staff, and management we have and, of course, Premier Tech and our partners, which helps to bring out the best in me. I think we have a great future together and we will keep improving, so I’m really happy to extend.”
While Houle has the World Championships on home soil in his mind, he doesn’t need to wait that long to race in front of friends and family with next week’s Grand Prix Cyclistes de Quebec and Montreal providing the next opportunity to race in Canada.
Houle will play a key role for IPT at the one-day races with his consistency and reliability proving crucial for the team, explains IPT General Manager Kjell Carlström.
“When I think of Hugo Houle, the first thing that comes to mind is his reliability,” says Carlström. “Whether it’s as a teammate or battling for his own result, Hugo is incredibly reliable and will always give it absolutely everything. We all remember his Tour de France stage win, an emotional and well-deserved moment in his career, but in addition to this, he has delivered consistent results such as third place at last year’s Maryland Cycling Classic, and some solid General Classification results at stage races. Hugo brings a wealth of experience to the team and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do in the coming two years.”
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
The 27-year-old Colombian rider Sergio Higuita has signed a contract with Astana Qazaqstan Team, where he will race for the next two seasons (2025 and 2026).
Sergio Higuita is well-known as a strong climber, capable of competing both in individual stages and in the General Classification of week-long stage races. Additionally, Sergio has repeatedly proven himself in hilly races, possessing a powerful acceleration on climbs and at the finish.
Higuita’s achievements include overall victories in the Tour Colombia 2.1 (2020) and the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (2022), as well as podiums in the UCI WorldTour stage races such as the Tour of California (2nd place, 2019), Paris-Nice (3rd place, 2020), and the Tour de Suisse (2nd place, 2022).
In 2020 and 2022 Sergio Higuita won the Colombian National Road Race Championships.
Higuita wins 2023 Tour of the Basque Country stage 5. Sirotti photo
“I am very happy that we found common ground and that this agreement has become a reality. Astana is a team with a great legacy in cycling, with a rich history in the WorldTour, and victories in practically all the major races in the world. Moreover, right now, the team is transforming into a new exciting project aimed at the future, with new signings and new sponsors coming in. Overall, I think this is the place where I can continue to grow as a professional rider. Alexandr Vinokurov showed great interest and confidence in me. Together, we set goals for the next two years, and our visions aligned. I am convinced that I will do everything possible to achieve all the desired goals together”, – said Sergio Higuita.
“Sergio is a rider who is very well known in the peloton. He is a very versatile athlete, capable of delivering strong results in almost any race. He can win on hilly terrains, in the mountains, in classic races and stage races. The team will be ready to support Sergio wherever his chances of success are highest. For us, this is a very good reinforcement, especially in week-long stage races, and I am pleased that we found common ground, and that Higuita will be part of our project for the next two seasons”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.
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