Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, September 13, 2024
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. - Marcus Aurelius
Les Woodland's book Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Story - All the bumps of cycling's cobbled classic is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- September 13: Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
Upcoming racing:
- September 14: Memorial Marco Pantani
- September 15: Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
- October 12: Il Lombardia
Latest completed racing:
- September 12: Coppa Sabatini
- September 11: Giro della Toscana
- September 8: GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano
- 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
We posted the report from third-place Anders Foldager's Team Jayco AlUla with the results.
Here's the Coppa Sabatini report from winner Marc Hircschi's UAE Team Emirates:
An in-form Marc Hirschi took yet another victory at the Gp Peccioli-Coppa Sabatini (197.6 km) adding to the success in the 2023 edition, the Swiss rider took the victory in 2024 too, preceding Gregor Muhlberger (Movistar) and Anders Foldager (Jayco-Alula).
Hirschi sealed the 71st seasonal success for UAE Team Emirates on the steep hill of Peccioli, at 37 km to go, when he attacked from the main group, overtaking the former members of the breakaway that had led the race until then.
The Swiss cyclist’s advantage was immediately solid, 40”, that he managed to maintain on four chasing riders until the arrival with a perfect solo ride in the last lap of the final circuit.
Marc Hirschi wins Coppa Sabatini.
Hirschi has now won his four latest races in which he participated (Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa, Gran Bretagne Classic, Gp Industria & Artigianato and Gp Peccioli-Coppa Sabatini).
Hirschi: “I knew the race, I knew it was demanding and I wanted to try this move from afar. I found myself alone in front and I pushed full throttle to prevent them from coming back from behind, I immediately managed to gain about 40 seconds and I managed to win. This is a victory that added to last Sunday’s in Larciano confirms my positive condition on the road to the World Championship in Zürich, at my home, in Switzerland.”
Content continues below the ads
Here’s the team’s news:
Following race-packed Sunday, with the team competing on three fronts and adding a victory to our 2024 tally, this week sees a 7-man strong squad flying to Canada to compete in the only two events on the UCI WorldTour calendar to be held in North America: the Grands Prix Cyclistes de Québec et de Montréal (GPCQM), known for their challenging city circuits and high spectator engagement.
The 13th edition of the GPCQM promises intense competition with top contenders, among whom will be Bahrain Victorious champions Matej Mohorič and Santiago Buitrago. The Slovenian classics rider and Colombian climber will lead the team respectively in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec on Friday 13th September, and in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, two days later.
Matej Mohorič before the start of stage 18 of the 2024 Tour de France. Sirotti photo
The Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec features 16 laps of a 12.6 kilometer course, totaling 201.6 kilometers and nearly 3,000 meters of elevation gain.
TBV Sports Director Michal Golas highlighted the race’s demanding nature, stating, “The GP Québec is usually decided in the final kilometers, often with a late attack or sprint finish. The punchy course suits punchers like Mohorič, who already showed his talent in past editions of the race. Alongside him, as co-leader, Edoardo Zambanini will have his chance, making the most of the good shape he demonstrated in the last months.”
“As the race requires a constant fight for every corner, we need to keep focus all day to prevent crashes, and to ride saving energy. The role of the helpers will be to protect the leaders until the final lap to save energy. It will be the task of Matevž Govekar, fresh from winning the final stage of the Tour of Britain, and Nicolò Buratti.
Nikias Arndt will be our road captain and we have two extraordinary supporters like Pello Bilbao, and a debutant in Canada, Santiago Buitrago.”
The team will also compete in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal on Sunday, September 15. This race features 17 laps of a 12.3-kilometer course with over 4,573 metres of climbing, making it the more challenging of the two events. Buitrago will be the primary leader, with the race profile favouring climbers. Bahrain Victorious aim to adopt an aggressive strategy, getting riders in breakaways and following significant moves.
Golas says, “The GP Montréal is more demanding with its multiple climbs. Pello Bilbao will be our co-leader, while the rest of the team will focus on supporting and making breakaways.”
With a strategic approach and top-class talent, the team is poised to make a strong impression in both Canadian WorldTour events.
Content continues below the ads
Here’s the team’s announcement:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women strengthens its roster with Martina Fidanza. The Italian, coming from a true cycling family, is transferring from CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling Team and signs a two-year contract with the yellow-black squad.
Fidanza, who won two stages in this year's Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour, is proud to be making the move to Team Visma | Lease a Bike. “This is a dream come true. I am super proud to be part of Team Visma | Lease a Bike next season because I consider it one of the best teams in the world. In addition, I greatly admire the team’s approach.”
Martina Fidanza
“I expect to make great strides in the coming years,” the Italian sprinter continues. “With Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, I will be racing with two great champions. I expect to learn a lot from them and I want to give them the best possible support in races. Furthermore, I want to show over the next two seasons that I deserve to be part of this team."
Content continues below the ads
With multiple podium finishes and three victories, Fidanza has proven that she can compete with the best this year. She hopes to contend for wins in the coming seasons even more frequently. “I hope I get to celebrate many more wins in the coming seasons, but my ultimate goal is to win a WorldTour race.”
Team manager Rutger Tijssen is looking forward to the Italian rider's arrival. “Martina has already achieved some good results. We believe that we can develop her into a sprinter capable of competing with the best in the WorldTour. We carefully analyzed where we needed reinforcements within the team in the short term, and Martina was the perfect fit. The plan is for her to form our sprinting duo with Nienke (Veenhoven) next season.”
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary