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Saturday, September 7, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Les Woodland's book Cycling Heroes: The Golden Years is available in the print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
- August 17 - Sept 8: Vuelta a España
- September 3 - 8: Tour of Britain
Upcoming racing:
- September 8: Bemer Cyclassics
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 stage winner and new GC leader Primoz Roglic's Team Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe:
5" behind the leader before the start in Logroño - 1'54" ahead after the finish on the Alto de Moncalvillo. Primož Roglič won the 19th stage of the Vuelta and rode confidently into the red jersey.
Primoz Roglic wins stage 19. Sirotti photo
After winning stages 4 and 8, Primož Roglič celebrates his third stage win in this year's Vuelta with today's success. Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe left no doubt about their ambitions throughout the day. Patrick Gamper and Nico Denz spent much of the day at the front of the peloton, controlling the breakaway. Just in time for the final climb the peloton was complete again and Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe entered the Alto de Moncalvillo with five riders in front. The team dictated the pace from the start of the climb and the group quickly shrank to less than 20 riders.
With six kilometres to go, the race came to a decisive moment: Dani Martinez and Aleks Vlasov accelerated ahead of Roglič - behind Roglič Florian Lipowitz left a gap that the other favourites could not immediately close. The train around Martinez, Vlasov and Roglič pulled away at high speed. In the style of a team time trial, the trio opened up a 30-second gap. By the 5km mark, the team had worked so well that Roglič was able to complete 'Mission Red' solo. Just in time for the final weekend, he took the red leader's jersey - for the 40th time in his career.
Primož Roglič:
“I'm happy, I'm happy with the way I'm working and I'm definitely happy with the guys. It's nice to be leading now, but we're not done yet. Tomorrow is the queen stage and it will definitely be super hard, and the final day in Madrid will also be decisive with the time trial.”
Here's the Vuelta report from second-place David Gaudu's Team Groupama-FDJ:
As the days go by, David Gaudu gets stronger and stronger. This Friday, on stage 19 of the Vuelta a Espana, the French climber made quite an impression at the top of the Alto de Moncalvillo. After an intense climb, he proved to be the second strongest GC rider of the day, behind the “untouchable” and new red jersey Primoz Roglic. After many attacks, the Groupama-FDJ rider was finally able to distance himself in the last kilometre to catch Enric Mas right before the summit and snatch second place. He therefore secured his fifth place overall on the eve of the “queen stage”.
David Gaudu on the final climb, riding to a second place. Sirotti photo
Before the much talked about day featuring 5,000 meters of elevation gain to Picon Blanco on Saturday, the GC contenders, and all the others, had yet another summit finish to deal with on stage 19. One hundred and sixty-five kilometres were to be covered, and the Alto de Moncalvillo (8.5 km at 9%) was set to host a pre-fight between the favourites. Others wanted to try their luck with the breakaway, but the latter was formed with only five men after an hour of racing.
“Today, we had no goal regarding the breakaway because we thought that the GC riders would fight for the victory, and we also noted that Red Bull-Bora hansgrohe wanted to control at the start”, explained Thierry. “So we preferred to stay around David because it was a day that could also be a bit tricky with the wind. In the end, we were never in trouble, he was always well surrounded, and he had a rather quiet day. In the final, we asked Reuben to pull at the front, which allowed the team to stay positioned and take the stress off everyone.” The favourites’ teams also led the chase all day to allow the big names to fight for victory, and the breakaway eventually tackled the final climb with less than twenty seconds of a gap.
Right away, Primoz Roglic’s teammates went full gas, and with six kilometres to go, the Slovenian already went away solo. “I thought they were going to do the same thing as the other time, and nobody followed because everyone was on the limit,” David said. “Everyone realized that Roglic was the strongest, and behind him, we were kind of racing each other a bit for the podium or the top five.” Yet, the 27-year-old Frenchman was the first one to open up the fight among the rest of the favourites, and he even rode a bit of the climb a few seconds ahead of his competitors. “I know I have to make up time on those behind me before the time trial, so I tried quite early, six kilometres from the finish,” said David. “We then went away with Carapaz, and given that O’Connor had dropped, it was up to him to work. He kept riding, then it came back from behind and we looked at each other a bit. Then I thought: I have to go all-in to try to make up time”. Rejoined two kilometres from the summit by his main competitors while Enric Mas was alone in second position, David Gaudu waited a few minutes before making his last, strong effort.
Before the flamme rouge, the Frenchman made a sharp acceleration, was able to drop the rest of the group, and even caught Enric Mas 200 metres from the finish to claim a superb second place at the top, forty-six seconds behind the Slovenian winner. “I gave it my all until the line, I dug quite deep, and it really feels good to finish second behind Roglic, who was untouchable,” added David. “The hierarchy that was established at the end of last week is the same this week,” said Thierry. “We know that David is one of the 4-5 best riders in the Vuelta, but you still have to stay consistent. That’s what he did perfectly today. Roglic is a bit stronger, but we realize that there is room behind him. It’s great to see David back at this level, but it mostly shows who he is. He’s someone who loves fighting and man-to-man battles. That’s what excites him. He would have preferred to win, but this second place confirms his great week. That said, we’re aware that the big day of the week, or even the big day of the Vuelta, is tomorrow.”
Still fifth overall, David Gaudu is now a bit over two minutes behind the podium, and a few seconds ahead of his chasers. At Picon Blanco, things should become much clearer. “In terms of confidence and morale, this Vuelta has been very successful so far”, David added. “We’ll take stock tomorrow evening because the stage is looking extremely difficult and a lot could change, for everyone. I think the podium is going to be hard to get, but I want to finish tomorrow’s stage on a very good note and then we’ll see what happens”. “It’s not going to come down to the last climb”, concluded Thierry. “Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe will control part of the day but considering the riders who want to go for the podium, those who want to make up time before the time trial, and the possible physical failings, we can expect anything. Tomorrow is the ultimate tricky day where we have no other choice but to be up there.”
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Here's the Vuelta report from Mikel Landa's Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Mikel Landa overcame Thursday’s setback as he put in an admirable fight on one of the race’s toughest ascents en route to his 21st top-ten result of the season, one which brought a major boost of confidence ahead of the last mountain stage.
Alto de Moncalvillo (8.6km, 8.9%) was the ninth and penultimate uphill finish of this year’s Vuelta, and the peloton rode into the first ramps of this beast of a climb at full speed, this tempo quickly whittling down the group and leaving only two dozen riders at the front. A selection continued to be made with each meter, until eventually Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) rode clear and took a solo victory, moving into the red jersey.
Mikel Landa before the start of stage 18. Sirotti photo
At one point, for a brief moment, Landa got distanced on a brutal double-digit section, but as he has shown countless times this race, he kept his composure and continued unfazed at his own pace, making a cohesive effort that helped him rejoin the main favourite’s group ahead of the flamme rouge. Determined to make the most of this situation, Mikel decided to accelerate shortly after, opening a nice gap on his opponents which he then carried to the finish, where he concluded a remarkable fifth.
This superb effort helped the 34-year-old from Murgia leap to ninth on the overall standings ahead of Saturday’s ferocious stage to Picon Blanco, which will comprise a total of seven classified climbs.
Carlos Rodriguez's Team INEOS Grenadiers posted this Vuelta report:
Carlos Rodriguez climbed to sixth on stage 19 of La Vuelta, a result that saw him slip to seventh overall with two pivotal days in the fight for the GC still remaining.
A relatively easy day was defined by the summit finish of Alto de Moncalvillo, where the action would commence. A huge acceleration by eventual stage winner Primoz Roglic (Red Bull - Bora-Hansgrohe) saw the GC group splinter about halfway up the climb.
Carlos measured his effort well to come home sixth on the day, but other results saw Carlos slip to seventh overall.
Carlos Rodriguez after stage 17. Sirotti photo
The Grenadiers were also in action on stage four of the Tour of Britain. Despite animating the race in the finale, the team were unable to drag a group away on the flat stage to Newark.
Ethan Hayter would sprint to seventh, with Tom Pidcock close behind in 10th.
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Here's the Vuelta report from Sepp Kuss' Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Sepp Kuss finished eighth in the 19th stage of the Vuelta a España. The defending champion of the Spanish race fought hard on the final climb, resulting in a top-ten finish. Primož Roglič achieved a double victory.
A group of five breakaway riders was given little space by the peloton, as it was clear that the general classification contenders wanted to make their move on the slopes of the Alto de Moncalvillo. Roglič's team took the initiative, quickly turning the final climb into a battlefield.
Kuss managed to follow the chasing group but had to briefly drop back. With sheer determination, the American fought his way back to the wheel of some of his competitors. Kuss eventually crossed the finish line in eighth place and now finds himself in eleventh place in the general classification, with one mountain stage and a time trial remaining.
Sepp Kuss finishes stage 19. Sirotti photo
“I felt much better today than earlier in this Vuelta,” Kuss said after the stage. “That really boosts my mental state. In the position I’m in now, I have nothing to lose. I hope I can carry this good feeling into tomorrow. I’ll leave it all out on the road to achieve something great tomorrow. It’s the queen stage of this Vuelta, so it would be the perfect moment to do something special. It would be a great way to end this race. I’ve felt a lot of support from the fans along the roadside, and I want to give it my all for them in these last two days.”
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We posted the report from stage winner Paul Magnier's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.
Here's the report from second-place Ethan Vernon's Team Israel-Premier Tech:
Ethan Vernon’s strong return to road racing continued on Friday, as the Olympic medalist placed second in Newark-on-Trent on stage 4 of the Tour of Britain.
This matched Vernon’s result in Tuesday’s opening stage in Scotland; both were won by Frenchman Paul Magnier (SOQ).
Paul Magnier wins Tour of Britain stage 4.
Behind, Stevie Williams finished safely in the peloton to move one day closer to being crowned this year’s overall winner.
”It was another good day for the team,” says Vernon. ”The boys pulled together brilliantly just like they have in the other three stages to defend GC for Stevie and help me for the stage.
”I had to launch my sprint early and paid the price in the final 50 meters, but it was another day of learning. We still have two more chances to get a sprint victory.”
IPT worked with the sprinters’ teams all day to keep a three-rider breakaway in check. Simon Clarke, in particular, deserves a mention for contributing to the chase for nearly 120 kilometers.
Despite the flat parcours, the changing wind direction in the final 50 kilometers added a little tension to proceedings, but race leader Williams was never under pressure. His lead on GC stays at 16 seconds.
He says: ”It was a pretty straightforward day. There weren’t many open sections but enough to keep us on our toes. We had to stay in position at the front of the peloton, and Simon did a brilliant job for us.
”It was all hands on deck in the final trying to get Ethan the victory. I feel like we did a good job for him; he opened it up but unfortunately he got pipped on the line.”
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