Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. - Margaret Mead
Les Woodland's book Cycling's World Championships: The Inside Story is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- September 11: Giro della Toscana
Upcoming racing:
- 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
Here’s the team’s post:
Two-time World Champion Julian Alaphilippe headlines our seven-man squad for the two World Tour races held in North America.
From Great Britain, where he played an important part in the team’s three stage victories, Julian Alaphilippe will now go to Canada, to lead Soudal Quick-Step at the two one-day races scheduled in the weekend. The first of these events will be the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, which will see the peloton cover 16 laps of a 12.6km circuit that includes four demanding climbs: Côte de la Montagne (375 m, 10%), Côte de la Potasse (420 m, 9%), Montée de la Fabrique (190 m, 7%) and Montée du Fort (1000 m, 4%).
Julian Alaphilippe racing in this year's Clasica San Sebastian. Sirotti photo
Just two days later, the bunch will take on the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal (209.1 kilometers), another race run on a local circuit, this time 12.3 kilometers in length, similar to the one used at the World Championships won by Eddy Merckx exactly five decades ago. Côte Camillien-Houde (1800 m, 8%), Côte de Polytechnique (780 m, 6%) and Avenue du Parc (560 m, 4%) will be the day’s three difficulties, which should fragment the peloton and advantage the attackers, especially in the closing laps.
Joining the double World Champion on the Soudal Quick-Step seven-man squad will be three neo-pros – Gil Gelders, Antoine Huby and Luke Lamperti – Fausto Masnada, Pieter Serry and Ilan Van Wilder.
“Quebec and Montreal are two of the most beautiful one-day races in this second part of the season, and the parcours there can make for some spectacular racing. The riders are motivated for these next World Tour appointments, and knowing we can play several cards in the weekend makes us confident in our chances of scoring some good results before returning to Europe”, explained sports director Davide Bramati.
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Here’s the update from Benoot’s Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
While Flanders is the backdrop for the European Championships, another part of the peloton will make an appearance at the Quebec and Montreal Grand Prix. Team Visma | Lease a Bike will cross the Atlantic with a strong squad and hopes to fight for victory in both races. Tiesj Benoot and Frans Maassen are looking forward to the Canadian races.
Benoot has fond memories of racing in Canada. In his first appearance at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (2015) as a neo-pro, he finished fifth. "It was one of the toughest races I have ever ridden", he recalls. "It was raining all the time and much of the peloton didn't make it to the finish. My teammate Tim Wellens won and I finished fifth. As a neo-pro it was a very good result."
Tiesj Benoot after finishing the 2024 Amstel Gold Race. Sirotti photo
This will be Benoot's fifth appearance in North America, having raced in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2023. The 30-year-old Belgian is looking forward to preparing for the final part of the season in Canada. "These races suit me and I've been working towards them. The races in Canada are always special and remind me of the World Championships because of the circuit laps. There are also many riders here who will be in Zurich."
Benoot isn't just going to Canada to prepare for the World Championships. He also wants to perform. "We're aiming for the best possible result. With Matteo Jorgenson, Wilco Kelderman, Per Strand Hagenes and myself, we have several riders who should be able to play a significant role in the final. Quebec is perhaps a bit more suited to the explosive riders, but Montreal is really a race for the climbers. Looking at our team, I think it suits us better."
Sports director Frans Maassen agrees with Benoot. "We may not have the overwhelming favourite in our team, but we have a very strong squad. Matteo is our leader, although I think the Quebec race could be something for Per. Quebec usually ends in a sprint with a reduced group. Montreal is more challenging because of the longer climbs. I think both races will be a good test ahead of the World Championships."
Benoot says he is in good form. After the Bretagne Classic and the Renewi Tour, he trained in the Ardennes for a few days to prepare for the Canadian races. "The condition is good. Both in Plouay and at the Renewi Tour I achieved an acceptable level, even if it didn't lead to a high classification. I'm very motivated to get a solid result in Canada."
In addition to Benoot, Jorgenson, Kelderman and Hagenes, the Visma | Lease a Bike squad also includes Milan Vader, Jan Tratnik and Bart Lemmen.
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Here's the post from UAE Team Emirates:
UAE return to defend title in Montreal [Ed: Adam Yates won in 2023]
UAE Team Emirates will head to North America this week for two important races in Canada in the shape of the GP Cycliste de Quebec (13 Sept) and GP Montreal (15 Sept).
Tadej Pogačar will spearhead a very strong team in Canada, with former GP Montreal winner Tim Wellens and the returning Juan Ayuso re-enforcing the squad.
Adam Yates winning in Montreal in 2023.
Pogačar: “ I’ve had a good break from racing and am eager to get back to it now starting in Canada. It’s a beautiful part of the world to ride a bike in and I have great memories here from two years ago. The level will be high there as always and we will need to be at our best. Whatever happens for the rest of the season I can be happy with what I’ve achieved this year. Anything else will be a bonus.
My condition is good and I’m focused on enjoying and doing well in this last part of the season.”
The seven-man squad will be led by Sports Director Simone Pedrazzini (Swi).
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec [1.UWT] – 13-Sep-2024 & Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal [1.UWT] – 15-Sep-2024
- Igor Arrieta (Spa)
- Juan Ayuso (Spa)
- Finn Fisher-Black (NZ)
- Rafal Majka (Pol)
- Domen Novak (Slo)
- Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
- Tim Wellens (Bel)
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The team posted this:
The UCI Continental team Astana Qazaqstan Development Team has been informed of a possible anti-doping rule violation by Kazakh rider Ilkhan Dostiyev. According to the information received, in sample A, taken out of competition on July 30, 2024, a substance listed by WADA has been found.
Upon being notified of an Adverse Analytical Finding, the rider admitted to using the banned substance, providing explanations to the team and the UCI. Ilkhan Dostiyev was immediately suspended, and his contract was terminated.
“This news came as a shock and disappointment to us. We trusted Ilkhan Dostiyev as one of the team’s leaders and we had great expectations for him, which are now completely shattered. After receiving the information, we promptly contacted the rider and demanded an explanation, which Dostiyev provided, also expressing full willingness to cooperate with the UCI and anti-doping authorities. I can state with absolute certainty that Astana Qazaqstan Development Team has no connection to this incident. Our team adheres to a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy, we work continuously with the riders and do our best to ensure that athletes understand not only the consequences of using doping but also the absurdity of attempting to violate anti-doping rules. Given that Dostiyev has admitted to the anti-doping violation, the rider has been suspended from racing, and his contract has been immediately terminated. We are now cooperating fully and openly with all organizations involved to clarify all the details of what happened”, – commented Alexandr Shushemoin, Head Sports Director of Astana Qazaqstan Development Team.
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