Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, February 15, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings. - Victor Hugo
Les Woodland's book Tour de France: The Inside Story - Making the World's Greatest Bicycle Race is available in print, Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- February 14 - 16: Tour de la Provence
- February 15: Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia
Upcoming racing:
- February 16: Clásica de Almeria
- February 17 - 23: UAE Tour
Latest completed racing:
- February 8 - 12: Tour of Oman
- February 5 - 9 Etoile de Bessèges/Tour du Gard
- February 5 - 9: Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
- February 7: Muscat Classic
- February 1 & 2: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
- February 2: GP La Marseillaise
- January 29 - February 2: Challenge Vuelta a Mallorca
We posted the report from fourth-place Clément Russo's Team Groupama-FDJ with the results.
Here's the report from stage winner Sam Bennett's Team Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale:
Tour de la Provence: Sam Bennett wins the first stage in a sprint
Sam Bennett: "I'm happy to share this victory with my teammates ".
"We came here to score our first win of the season, and we've done just that. We knew it was going to be a battle, and the team did a fantastic job, enabling us to get through the first difficulty in good time. The race was complicated but the wind, mainly headwind on the climbs, worked in our favor. My team-mates were exceptional and I'd like to thank them for their support. I'm delighted to be able to offer them this victory.
Sam Bennett wins the first stage.
The news: Sam Bennett overall leader
By winning the first stage of the Tour de la Provence, Sam Bennett took not only victory but also the overall lead. He will wear the leader's jersey on stage 2, between Forcalquier and Manosque.
The number: 5
Sam Bennett's number of victories for Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale. This victory also marks the team's first success of the 2025 season.
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Team Visma | Lease a Bike posted this update:
The Clásica Jaén and the Volta ao Algarve mark the first races on European soil for Team Visma | Lease a Bike. All eyes will be on the return of Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard to the peloton. We look ahead with our two leaders.
After a successful start to the season in Australia and Oman, Team Visma | Lease a Bike heads to the Spanish-Portuguese doubleheader with a strong lineup. Just like last year, Van Aert will take part in the Clásica Jaén on February 17, a race known for its many gravel sections. A few days later, the Belgian will line up for the Portuguese stage race Volta ao Algarve, where Vingegaard will join him.
Wout van Aert (shown after stage three of the 2024 Vuelta a España). Sirotti photo
Wout van Aert:
Van Aert is opting for a similar approach to last season. The 30-year-old Belgian, who had his share of bad luck in Jaén in 2024, sees these two races as the perfect preparation for his bigger goals in the spring. “Last year was my first time riding these races,” says Van Aert, who won a stage in the Algarve in 2024. “It turned out to be the perfect preparation for the Flemish opening weekend. I finished third in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and won Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. We thought it would be a good idea to include the Clásica Jaén and the Volta ao Algarve in my program again. I think they are two beautiful, varied races where I can immediately test myself. A gravel race always makes my heart beat a little faster.” In Jaén, Van Aert will be joined by teammates Sepp Kuss, Tiesj Benoot, Loe van Belle, Menno Huising, and Tijmen Graat.
The Volta ao Algarve kicks off on February 19 with an opening stage between Portimão and Lagos. After several traditional stages, the five-day Portuguese race will culminate in a mountain time trial. “The Volta ao Algarve has a bit of everything,” Van Aert adds. “There are a few stages where I see opportunities to go for the win, but the main goal is to take another step in my preparation for the big spring classics. Of course, we’ll also aim for the overall victory with Jonas. I’m looking forward to racing my first road races of the season."
Jonas Vingegaard:
Vingegaard will make his debut in the Portuguese stage race. The 28-year-old Dane will be racing for the first time since August last year. “This will be my first participation in the Volta ao Algarve, which definitely adds extra motivation,” Vingegaard says. “I hope I can immediately compete for the overall win, although I primarily see the race as preparation for my bigger goals later in the season. It’s great to be surrounded by such a strong team right from the start, with Wout, Sepp Kuss, Tiesj Benoot, Wilco Kelderman, and Loe van Belle. I’m excited to pin on a race number again.”
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Here's the team's update:
Dylan Groenewegen and Chris Harper will lead a two-pronged approach for Team Jayco AlUla at the UAE Tour, which starts 17th February.
Harper arrives at the seven-day race hot off the heals of a strong Australian summer and a recent top-10 performance at the Tour of Oman. Meanwhile, Groenewegen kick-started his 2025 season with a brace of podium stage placings at the AlUla Tour.
Dylan Gronewegen after stage six of the 2024 Tour de freance. Sirotti photo
Supporting Groenewegen as he targets stage victories will be three of his trusty leadout men in Luka Mezgec, Elmar Reinders, and Max Walscheid.
Australian champion Luke Durbridge will be showing off the green and gold in the UAE desert, providing firepower in the engine room of the squad. Neo-pro Bob Donaldson rounds out the line-up after making his Team Jayco AlUla debut at the start of February.
The 2025 UAE Tour follows a familiar format, mixing tough summit finishes with rapid sprint finales. The overall classification will come down to the traditional mountain contest on Jebel Hafeet.
Team Jayco AlUla:
Bob Donaldson (GBR)
Luke Durbridge (AUS)
Dylan Groenewegen (NED)
Chris Harper (AUS)
Luka Mezgec (SLO)
Elmar Reinders (NED)
Max Walscheid (GER)
Dylan Groenewegen:
“I am feeling in good form for the UAE Tour, and I have a strong team around me for the sprints. I was really close to the win two times at the AlUla Tour, and we can carry that momentum into this race. I know how it is to win at the UAE Tour and would like to add another victory this year.”
David McPartland (Sport Director):
“We have a strong team heading to UAE. We have our sprinter in Groenewegen and his lead out train all coming here for what are likely to be 4 sprints. On the GC side of things, we have Chris Harper to get us a result with the two mountain top finishes featuring mid-week and on the last stage. The ITT will also be crucial for GC.
"Our goal with Dylan is obviously to get a stage win. Walscheid, Mezgec, Reinders are all here with the task to deliver him to be able to sprint for the win. Durbridge and our new neo-pro Donaldson will be support across both fronts. The wind can tear this race apart. Some years it happens and some years it doesn’t. Who knows what this year’s race will bring but we will be prepared.”
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Huby’s Team Soudal Quick-Step posted this:
The Frenchman will be out of action for several weeks.
Following a collision with a motor vehicle during training Thursday, Soudal Quick-Step’s Antoine Huby underwent examinations at the Herentals Hospital today.
A CT scan revealed that Antoine has broken his shoulder blade which will require him to be immobile for three weeks, followed by a period of rehabilitation and physiotherapy, and he is scheduled to return on his bike in around six weeks.
His team sent me this:
With five victories on the board already this season, UAE Team Emirates-XRG have named their seven riders for the first major objective of the year: the UAE Tour. The Emirati team go into the race with one of the strong favourites through World Champion Tadej Pogačar. The reigning Tour de France champion returns to the race after a two-year absence, having won the title in both 2021 and 2022.
Tadej Pogacar wins stage seven of the 2022 UAE Tour.
This years race will run from 17-23 February and will feature seven days racing including four flat stages, two mountain stages and an individual time trial. The key stages are set to be the stage 2 time trial at Al Hudayriyat Island (12.2km) followed by the first mountain test on stage 3 to Jebel Jais and the iconic final stage finish at Jebel Hafeet.
Pogačar: “I’m really excited and motivated to start the season. Luckily I can say that I had a pretty smooth preparation for this first part of the season and I’m feeling good and ready to go. It’s been a few years now since I’ve raced UAE Tour and I must say I’m looking forward to it.
"I’m confident to lead the team and I will have strong support around me, both from my teammates and from all the support we get from the fans in UAE whenever we race there. The important thing is we put a good show and really push to win the title in the home race.”
The team sent me this:
Two summit finishes and a time trial define the route of the 2025 UAE Tour. The short Emirati stage race, scheduled from February 17 to 23, features seven stages that will see both sprinters and general classification contenders in action. A key highlight is the 12.2 km individual time trial on stage two, while four flat stages will provide opportunities for sprinters on a course that winds through cities and the desert landscapes of the United Arab Emirates.
VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizanè has finalized its lineup for the race. The team’s most experienced rider, Filippo Fiorelli, will be joined by sprinters Enrico Zanoncello, Mattia Pinazzi, and young talent Lorenzo Conforti. Manuele Tarozzi and Federico Biagini have been selected for breakaway attempts, while Alessandro Pinarello, who has already secured several strong results this season, will lead the team’s GC ambitions.
Directing the team from the support car will be sports directors Alessandro Donati and Roberto Reverberi.
The first stage of the UAE Tour will be broadcast live on Eurosport 2 from 17:30 on Monday, February 17 (Italian Time).
LINEUP:
- Federico Biagini
- Filippo Fiorelli
- Manuele Tarozzi
- Lorenzo Conforti
- Enrico Zanoncello
- Mattia Pinazzi
- Alessandro Pinarello
- Sport directors: Alessandro Donati e Roberto Reverberi
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