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Tuesday, September 10, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
I have no dress except the one I wear every day. If you are going to be kind enough to give me one, please let it be practical and dark so that I can put it on afterwards to go to the laboratory. - Marie Curie
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Upcoming racing:
- September 11: Giro della Toscana
- September 12: Coppa Sabatini
- September 13: Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
- September 14: Memorial Marco Pantani
- September 15: Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
- October 12: Il Lombardia
Latest completed racing:
- September 8: GP de Formies
- August 17 - Sept 8: Vuelta a España
- September 3 - 8: Tour of Britain
- September 8: Bemer Cyclassics
- September 8: Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec
- 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
On Sunday, September 8 we posted the report from the race organizer with the results. On our news page we posted reports from winner Primoz Roglic's Team Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, Team dsm-firmenich PstNL, Team Visma | Lease a Bike, & Mattias Skjelmose's Team Lidl-Trek.
Here are the rest of the 2024 Vuelta a España final team reports:
Here's the report from Team Lotto Dstny:
Victor Campenaerts was the 25th rider, and the first from his team, to enter the arena in Madrid for this final day of the Vuelta. Averaging just under 54 kilometers per hour over the 24.6-kilometer course, he occupied the hot seat for a while. "I felt much better than during the first time trial of this Vuelta," Campenaerts said afterward. "Of course, I did feel the fatigue after three weeks of racing, but it wasn't a tough track, and I had reasonably good legs."
Unfortunately, that wasn't enough for a podium finish. The Lotto Dstny time trial specialist ultimately had to settle for a respectable 7th place. "An urban course is always tricky. You can never really recon such a time trial, except during the official reconnaissance. There were a few tricky corners where I didn't go through very fast. It's always risky to crash in a city. I rode a good time trial, but it wasn't a stellar day."
Victor Campenaerts at the start of stage 2. Sirotti photo.
With the time trial in Madrid, this Vuelta has come to an end. Campenaerts looks back on it with mixed feelings. "Lennert Van Eetvelt's withdrawal was a big disappointment for us. His general classification was our goal. When that falls through, it’s hard to keep the motivation high. Moreover, I had made winning a stage my personal goal, and that didn’t happen. In Santander, I came close, and this time trial also offered opportunities, but unfortunately, we're returning home empty-handed, which is a shame."
Here's Team Jayco AlUla's Vuelta post:
Team Jayco AlUla have wrapped a successful La Vuelta a España that sees the Australian squad leave Madrid with two stage victories, three second-place finishes and six top-10 results.
The team were ever present during the 21 stages with an aggressive and attacking style of racing that took the peloton from Portugal to Spain and they were rewarded for all of their efforts.
Dunbar’s Double Delight
It was an unforgettable Vuelta for Eddie Dunbar in particular, as the Irishman delivered his maiden Grand Tour victory, firstly in stunning style from a select breakaway on stage 11, before backing up his first triumph with an imperious solo win on a brutal stage 20 mountain-top finish.
Eddie Dunbar wins stage 20. ASO photo
After being allowed up the road alongside Filippo Zana on day 11, the Team Jayco AlUla duo executed a perfect team performance, playing off each other’s strengths in a tricky finale before Dunbar attacked from the group inside 600 metres to go to ride home to a thrilling and memorable win.
The 28-year-old continued to grow into the race during the last two weeks as he climbed amongst the best general classification contenders day after day. Then, with a brutal three weeks of racing already in the legs, he made his move on the penultimate day of action, launching a daring solo attack from the GC group on Picón Blanco to take his second outstanding victory.
The man from Cork was also rewarded for his battling performances and consistency with 11th place overall on the general classification.
Eddie Dunbar:
“I’m still feeling really good, I said jokingly that it’s a shame that the race isn’t a week longer! But I’m really happy, the team rode really well for the full three weeks, the first week was a bit difficult with a few guys being sick and having to leave the race, but I think we came out of it strong in the second and third weeks.
For me to get a stage win and then Mauro and Pippo to get three second places between them I think it shows that the way the whole team rode over the three weeks has been really impressive. It was special to get the hands up again on stage 20 to finish off a successful three weeks for the team.”
Super Schmid
While he may have narrowly missed out on a stage win, Mauro Schmid put on one of the performances of the race. The Swiss champion racked up two impressive second-place finishes and a fourth place with a relentless and daring display over the three weeks.
He bookended the race with two strong time trial efforts, firstly in Portugal on the opening day before powering to fifth on the final day in Madrid. After riding into the breakaway on stage 12, the 24-year-old pushed the pure climbers all the way on the summit, showing his great determination to take a striking fourth place.
Not content with this, Schmid was once again in the break the following day, this time climbing to a strong second place, despite the steep gradients up to the finish line. After almost catching the bunch napping with a late attack on stage 17, Schmid was back in the breakaway action the following day. Schmid looked to be the strongest of the escapees, but was outnumbered in the end as he fought hard to another second-place.
Rafa Valls (Sports Director):
“The Vuelta didn’t start so great for us, but after the first week the guys started to feel better and better. We had some problems with illness, but in the end we can say it’s a successful Vuelta for us.
We have two victories and we were fighting for many stage win, almost every day, plus Eddie was not far off the top-10 overall in the end, so we can be very happy with that.”
A Constant Threat
Despite losing riders to illness, Team Jayco AlUla proved to be a constant threat throughout the three weeks of racing. With a stage win already in the bag, the squad didn’t relent in their desire for more glory as Italian Filippo Zana battled the elements on Lagos de Covadonga to take a well-fought out second-place from the breakaway on stage 16.
Six further top-10 finishes highlight the consistency and fighting spirit of the team. Despite making it to Madrid with just five riders, the group walk away with their heads held high and proud of their achievements in the final Grand Tour of the 2024 season.
Brent Copeland (General Manager):
“It’s definitely been a successful three weeks, we had some concerns in the first week with the heat and some illness in the team, so we didn’t have fortune on our side the whole time, but this group managed to turn it around with Eddie’s first win and then two second places with Schmid and Zana. That really got the morale going and it switched the switch to get things moving in the right direction.
The cherry on top was the win on the Queen Stage and Eddie’s ride, which was tremendously satisfying because of what he’s been through and how hard he’s worked after the misfortune he had at the Giro, it’s great to see him back at the level he should be.”
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Here's the Vuelta report from stage 21 winner Stefan Küng's Team Groupama-FDJ:
The 79th Vuelta finished in a blaze of glory on Sunday for the Groupama-FDJ cycling team. Always up there but never rewarded on the major events, Stefan Küng finally claimed his first victory in a Grand Tour on the closing time trial in Madrid. Way above the rest of the competition, the former double European champion thus broke the curse, and concluded in the best possible way a very convincing Vuelta a España for the team. David Gaudu eventually took sixth place overall, but most importantly, the Frenchman got back the confidence and the level he had been looking for a long time. The end of an important Grand Tour in all respects.
David Gaudu riding the final time trial. Sirotti photo
On Sunday, there were only 24.6 kilometres left to complete the Vuelta. But these 24.6 kilometres, in the streets of Madrid, were extremely important for Stefan Küng. After having already taken three top-5 finishes during the Spanish Grand Tour, the Swiss rider set off at 18:06 for first place, and nothing else. “For a week, we asked him to go a bit easier on the stages, to save as much energy as possible because we knew that this time suited him perfectly,” Thierry Bricaud explained. “But he therefore needed to have the right legs. In the previous 48 hours, he rode more conservatively with the aim of leaving it all on the road today.” “During the whole Vuelta, I tried to win a road stage, I was very active, and I spent a lot of energy,” Stefan added. “I knew that there were two interesting stages for me in the last week, but for the other ones, I tried to take it as easy as possible, especially the last two days.”
Fully in shape on Sunday, Stefan Küng started like a cannonball, and beat the best mark by twenty seconds at the first intermediate check. “I knew that it was important to start really fast on this course because the second part was very fast and it would be difficult to make the difference”, he said. “I went out hard, and I can tell you that when you go out hard, you have to suffer so much, but I did not want to have any regrets at the finish line. I really wanted that win.”
The Swiss rider’s momentum did not slow down, and he reached the second intermediate check with a forty-second lead, which was approximately also the gap at the finish: “I said to myself: you can’t blow up, you can’t blow up, it’s the end of your Grand Tour, don’t blow up! I just had to push through the pain, that’s what I did”. After outclassing the best time trial specialists, Stefan Küng only had to pay attention to the GC riders, especially Primoz Roglic. Yet, the Slovenian was unable to really come close to his performance.
At around 7:30 p.m., “King Küng” officially became the stage winner; a first time for him in a three-week race. “Finally. It’s amazing,” he said with a big smile. “I’ve been chasing it for so long. I’m so happy to have won my first Grand Tour stage. It’s been a long time coming. I had to fight for it, I came close so many times, so it’s a relief to finally get it. I was struggling all summer. I got sick before the Tour de Suisse, during the Tour, at the Olympics. I just wanted to have a good feeling again in the race, and that’s what happened on this Vuelta. And then, the stronger you are, the less you suffer in the race, and the fresher you are for the time trial on the last day!”
Stefan Küng on his winning time trial. Sirotti photo
Stefan Küng’s professionalism finally paid off, and his happiness was shared by the entire Groupama-FDJ cycling team, in Madrid and elsewhere. “The stars were aligned today for him,” said Thierry Bricaud. “He has often been unlucky, for a few seconds or a few details. Tonight, he has a Grand Tour time trial on his prize list, and that’s not insignificant. Everyone is happy for him, first of all because of the person he is. He is appreciated and loved in the team. We know that he is rarely rewarded at his true worth, because he is someone who puts a lot of commitment into everything he does. Finally, it is also very important to win after three weeks on a time trial with the goals coming up. We feel that he is calm and very motivated.” Stefan Küng added: “It’s always better to win with a half-minute gap, it shows that you really were the best and that it was not a coincidence. It finally rewards all the work we did with the team and with Wilier to develop this new bike. We worked very hard, and I also have always worked hard to try to get the most out of myself. I want to say a big thank you to the team for their support throughout these last years. They have always believed in me, it’s nice to pay them back”.
After three weeks of efforts, this icing on the cake was all the more delicious on Sunday because of the great cake that was David Gaudu’s last month of racing. The Frenchman eventually placed sixth overall after he bravely but unsuccessfully fought to keep his top-5 against Mathias Skjelmose. “He did everything he could to keep his fifth place, but that’s not the most important,” said Thierry. “The most important thing is that David is back, and that’s what we wanted above all else. He’s really back, because he regained a lot of confidence and took his place back in the international peloton. That will boost him for the rest of his career, but also for the great end of the season that’s coming up.” “If I had been told that I would finish sixth before the Vuelta, I think a lot of people would have signed, whether it was me, the team or the fans,” added the Breton. “Whether I’m fifth or sixth, my Vuelta was a success. I got my legs back, I scored results on summit finishes, and I had a lot of fun. I think I’ve rarely had as much fun as I have in the last three weeks. I’d been looking for that feeling of being with the best in the climbs for so long. It’s almost a relief because I’ve been through some very difficult times for a year and a half. This Vuelta will do me a lot of good.”
The Frenchman will now set his sights on the Italian races while his Swiss teammate will line up with ambition for the European and World time trial Championships. In any case, a very successful Vuelta came to an end for the team on Sunday. “The goal was to go for the top 10 with David, and to go for a stage victory,” Thierry said. “We had to wait until the last day, but it doesn’t matter! It’s also amazing to finish like this, and I always had in mind that we could end the Vuelta with a victory. We knew that this time trial could reward the team and Stefan. Above all, a Grand Tour is a real human adventure, and we experienced a month with lots of smiles and professionalism. Then, when it moreover ends with a win, it is all the more beautiful for the staff and the riders.”
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Here's the Vuelta report from Richard Carapaz's Team EF Education-EasyPost:
As the sun set on the 2024 Vuelta a España, Richard Carapaz took off down the start ramp for one last hit out to defend his spot in the overall standings.
At the end of the evening time trial down the city streets of Madrid, Richie remained fourth on GC, just off of the podium. For a champion like Richie, that's the hardest place to end. But, he is proud of the way that he and his teammates raced over the past three weeks, sticking together when the going got tough and never giving up hope.
Richard Carapaz riding to a fourth-place GC finish after the final time trial. Sirotti photo
After a hard start to the race under the intense heat of the first week, they went on the attack and clawed back time in the mountains. On the hardest grand tour race course in decades, with 59,334 vertical meters of climbing in total, Richie, Darren Rafferty, Harry Sweeny, James Shaw, Jefferson Alexander Cepeda, and Owain Doull showed that they´ve got what it takes to contend for three week tours. They missed Rui Costa and Rigoberto Urán, who had to leave the race early after crashes, but will toast them this evening and take everything that they learned over the past three weeks forward and let it fuel their ambitions.
Hear our riders' thoughts from the finish of the Vuelta a España.
Richard Carapaz
The Vuelta has helped me find myself again, working with a team, leading a team. It was wonderful. From the start in Portugal, my teammates have been there for me every moment.
They worked so hard for the whole Vuelta, and I’m super happy with that. This is a solid result for me and for the team. We showed the character that makes the difference and makes the team stronger. It meant a lot to have my team there for me in the front.
Also the staff– they have been there for us for three weeks.
I have a lot of emotions right now, finishing the Vuelta. I´ll approach my goals next season humbly, knowing there will be great moments and also knowing that the team has my back for the grand tours.
I’m happy with this result and happy that we grew every day as a team
Darren Rafferty
It’s been a crazy three weeks. The Vuelta was extremely challenging from start to finish but I’ve really enjoyed the experience and learnt so much from the team along the way. Madrid felt so far away when we were still in Portugal, but I’m proud to have made it to the finish of my first grand tour and happy that I could play my part along the way!
Jefferson Alexander Cepeda
It was a very hard Vuelta. We started going south and it was horribly hot. We then went north, which brought a big change in the weather conditions. It was hard for me to handle so much change in temperatures. I helped Richard as much as I could.
I am very happy with the role I had at this Vuelta. Richie did a superb job, even if it didn’t work out in the end. We know he is such a great rider and he has shown again how good he is and that he can contest the big races like the Vuelta, Giro and Tour.
I loved this Vuelta. I enjoyed it as much as I could. The experience was something very special for me.
Harry Sweeny
The Vuelta has been super special this year. It was the first time that I was riding for the GC, not personally, but helping a GC leader and a true contender for the overall. That has been really special. I've thoroughly enjoyed working with Richie. I´ve enjoyed the challenge of having to go really deep day after day to protect him and bring him into the right position. I'm really happy with how my performance has been. I don't think I missed a beat helping Richie, which I'm really proud about. I was able to really execute my job well for Richie. The podium would have been nice.
You can look back and look at all the different things that you could have done better. That's important for next year, but also at the same time, I think we can be content with fourth place and know that we did everything we could with Richie. It's been really special and I am happy to have been here along the ride.
James Shaw
It has been the hardest grand tour I've done. The climbing has just been brutal. I picked up a slight illness in the second week and I was pedaling squares from that point on. There was not much I could do. I just committed myself solely to the big RC and did what I could. I´m proud of myself for what I've done, but even prouder of Richie for what he's achieved, not from a result point of view, but more from where he's come from and the storm he has gone through over the past few years. I think he's got the belief back that he's going to be a grand tour winner again. With any luck, I will be in the race with him the day that he does it.
Owain Doull
It's been a really enjoyable three weeks. Like any grand tour, it's had its ups and downs, but I'm really proud of being a part of this team and what we've achieved. Obviously the goal was to come here with Richie and strive for the best GC performance possible. I think there's not much else we could have done.
We raced all in and we raced cleverly and aggressively. I'm really proud to be part of this team and of how we race and how we showed ourselves. After the opening stages where we lost Rui and Rigo unfortunately, I feel like we bounced back and we did ourselves proud.
Now, I'm looking forward to being in Madrid and being reunited with my partner and especially my daughter, whom I haven't seen in almost a month. I am super excited about that!
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Here's the Vuelta final report from UAE Team Emirates:
UAE Team Emirates end another year of Grand Tour racing with a colourful three week journey at the Vuelta España which saw a fair share of glory for the Emirati squad.
Brandon McNulty opened the race in the best way possible by storming to victory in the TT and pulling on the red leader’s jersey in Lisbon.
Though the red jersey would be relinquished and GC hopes would be dashed through the DNF of Joao Almeida through illness, the team would reinvent itself to take three stage wins through McNulty, Adam Yates and Marc Soler.
Marc Soler riding in stage 14. Sirotti photo
Soler would be the chief animator of the race and went home with the Grand-Combative prize which was awarded to the most aggressive rider over the three weeks.
Jay Vine confirmed his successful comeback to racing after injury by climbing the podium in Madrid as leader of the mountains classification.
In the absence of Almeida Pavel Sivakov took the mantle as the GC-man, battling to 9th place overall at 10’04’’ behind overall winner Primoz Roglic (Red Bull Bora).
Isaac del Toro and Filippo Baroncini made a significant step in their careers by completing their first Grand Tours, with Baroncini even securing 4th on the closing TT around the streets of Madrid.
Marco Marcato (Sports Director): “All things considered we have to be very happy with this Vuelta. We set-out to be active in the race every day and I think it was the right strategy for us. Unfortunately we lost our leader Almeida at the beginning of the race but we adapted our plans and we can say it worked out well. We can be proud of our riders.”
And here's the final Vuelta report from Carlos Rodriguez's Team INEOS Grenadiers:
Carlos Rodriguez rode to 17th in the final day time trial at La Vuelta, to secure 10th in the overall standings.
The ride marked another consistent performance from the Spaniard, who completes his fourth successive Grand Tour inside the top 10.
Carlos Rodriguez signs autographs before the start of stage 18. Sirotti photo
Brandon Rivera also completed his first ever Grand Tour, crossing the line safely in Madrid to mark another milestone in his career.
Oscar Rodriguez provided valuable support in the mountains, and still had enough left to place 24th overall.
Kim Heiduk was crucial in keeping Carlos and the team safe in the flatter stages, using his impressive experience at a tender age to guide the Grenadiers through the twists and turns of Spanish racing.
Jhontan Narvaez was combative from day one, often in the mix during medium mountain stages, and placing himself in many a day's breakaway.
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