Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk. - Seneca
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 1: 1903 - 1975 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- September 18 - 22: Tour de Luxembourg
- September 18: GP de Wallonie
Upcoming racing:
- September 20: Kampioenschap van Vlaamnderen
- September 21: Super 8 Classic
- September 22 - 29: World Road Cycling Championships
- October 12: Il Lombardia
Latest completed racing:
- September 15: Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
- September 15: Trofeo Matteotti
- September 14: Memorial Marco Pantani
- September 13: Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
- 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
Heere's the team's announcement:
After Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has strengthened itself with many young talents for the coming seasons, now experience enters the team. Jan Tratnik will join the German WorldTeam from 2025 onwards.
The 34-year-old Slovenian is currently riding his most successful season and proves his great experience. Especially the start of the year was perfect: second in Murcia, third at the Clásica Jaén, which his future teammate Lazkano won, and third overall at the Volta ao Algarve behind Dani Martinez. He crowned his first two weeks of the season by winning the WorldTour classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Jan Tratnik descends stage 11 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
Jan Tratnik already raced all the monuments, all the Grand Tours, the World Championships and the Olympic Games. An eighth place in the Olympic road race in Paris rounds out his strong year.
Jan Tratnik:
“Maybe I'm not the youngest, but I'm really happy to join a team with so many ambitions. I still have a lot of personal goals, but I also want to share my experience with the young guys and help the team push the limits in all areas.”
Ralph Denk:
“Talent needs experience. That's why it was important for us to sign someone who has been in the peloton for several seasons. Jan is a prime example of a rider who is both a team player and has the hunger and strength to succeed on his own.”
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Here’s the team’s update:
Our final stage race of the season on European soil and an event we won three years ago, the Tour de Luxembourg takes place between 18-22 September, when the riders will take on a hilly course perfect for the puncheurs and attackers to try to make the difference. A short but undulating individual time trial held in Differdange, on the penultimate day, promises to spice up the fight for the overall victory, which will once again come to a conclusion in the country’s capital.
Soudal Quick-Step, who sits on 30 UCI victories since the beginning of the season, comes to the start of this 84th edition with a team capable of fighting for a good result: Fausto Masnada, Gianni Moscon, Pepijn Reinderink – the young neo-pro who has put in some solid outings this year – Gullegem Koerse winner Martin Svrcek, Mauri Vansevenant and Louis Vervaeke.
Gianni Moscon on the cobbles of the 2024 Paris-Roubaix. Sirotti photo
“Luxembourg is one of our last stage races of the year and we go to the start with the desire of getting some good results on what will be a challenging week. The guys are confident, so we will try to be in the mix each day and look for opportunities, create chances if possible, and hopefully, come out of the race with some nice results”, said sports director Dries Devenyns.
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Here's the team's update:
UAE Team Emirates continue their Autumn calendar of racing with the Tour of Luxembourg (18-22 Sept) and two one-day appointments in Belgium with the GP Wallonie (18 Sept) and the Super 8 Classic (21 Sept).
The in-form Marc Hirschi goes into Luxembourg as reigning champion from 2023 and will aim to be competitive over terrain he knows well. Juan Ayuso will also seek out opportunities and he finds his groove following a long break.
Marc Hirschi time trialing in the 2023 Tour de Luxembourg.
In Belgium Tim Wellens will captain the squad close to his home roads at the GP Wallonie and the Super 8 Classic.
Hirschi: “I’m really enjoying my racing in this period and the good results have been coming which makes everything flow a bit more. Obviously the big goal will be the World Championships at home in Switzerland but I see Luxembourg as a key race in the build-up. It’s a place I have great memories from previous seasons and especially last year where I managed to win it.”
The team for Luxembourg will be led by the Sports Director duo of Andrej Hauptman (Slo) and Jan Polanc (Slo) with Fabio Baldato (Ita) in charge of affairs in Belgium.
Skoda Tour de Luxembourg [2.Pro] – 18-Sep-2024 / 22-Sep-2024
- Juan Ayuso (Spa)
- Finn Fisher Black (NZ)
- Felix Grossschartner (Aus)
- Marc Hirschi (Swi)
- Ivo Oliveira (Por)
- Nils Politt (Ger)
Grand Prix de Wallonie [1.Pro] – 18-Sep-2024
- Filippo Baroncini (Ita)
- Alvaro Hodeg (Col)
- Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
- Sebastian Molano (Col)
- Antonio Morgado (Por)
- Rui Oliveira (Por)
- Tim Wellens (Bel)
SUPER 8 Classic [1.Pro] – 21-Sep-2024
- Filippo Baroncini (Ita)
- Alvaro Hodeg (Col)
- Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
- Sebastian Molano (Col)
- Rui Oliveira (Por)
- Tim Wellens (Bel)
- Anze Ravbar (Slo) (Gen Z)
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