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Sunday, February 16, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. - Thomas Paine
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Current racing:
- February 14 - 16: Tour de la Provence
- February 16: Clásica de Almeria
Upcoming racing:
- February 17 - 23: UAE Tour
- February 17 - 18: Tour des Alpes-Maritimes
- February 26 - March 2: O Gran Camiño
- March 1: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Latest completed racing:
- February 15: Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia
- 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 stage winner Mads Pedersen's Team Lidl-Trek with the results.
Here's the Tour de la Provence report from Team Groupama-FDJ:
As expected, stage 2 of the Tour de la Provence created some changes on GC. The race really opened up in the last hour towards Manosque, and Mads Pedersen proved victorious. Both present in a chasing group, Paul Penhoët and Thibaud Gruel battled for the remaining places about fifteen seconds behind the Dane, taking sixth and eighth places on the line respectively. The young man from Tours also kept his seventh place overall before a final stage suiting the sprinters.
Mads Pedersen takes the second stage. Photo: Billy Lebelge
The elevation gain to cover on Saturday, in stage 2 of the Tour de la Provence, was quite similar to that of the day before. On the other hand, the fight was expected later in the day as the main difficulty, the Col de l’Aire dei Masco (6.5 km at 5%), was located thirty kilometres from the finish. The stage indeed proved quite calm until approaching this climb, as the peloton first let a four-man breakaway lead the race with a maximum gap of four minutes. This gap was actually reduced to just one minute entering the last hour of racing.
“We knew that the speed was going to increase a lot with fifty kilometres to go, before the sequence of climbs,” explained Paul Penhoët. “We had a good position with the boys, which was important since the roads were quite narrow.” “At the strategic point, Lidl-Trek made a big push and Pedersen showed he was the strongest approaching the summit,” said Yvon. “We tried to hold on as much as possible. Thibaud told us that he was around twentieth place, but some riders cracked in front of him, and he had to make a big effort to close the gaps. That’s why he missed a little something to follow the best. He could have done better by being higher in the peloton, but there were two teams in position and it’s not always easy. I think he had the legs to be in the counterattack. He is improving on this type of effort, and it’s promising.”
At the top, three men broke away with six others chasing, and Thibaud Gruel found himself in a small bunch of about twenty riders together with Paul Penhoët, back in business. “I fell ill after the Étoile de Bessèges and I suffered a big backlash yesterday”, said Paul. “I couldn’t push the pedals, I was empty, and I was a bit down last night. We had no idea what my body would be capable of doing today. William [Green] told me to take it easy if I didn’t feel it, while giving me free role if I felt good. I wasn’t feeling great at the start of the stage, but it was better at the end. It’s reassuring after what I experienced yesterday.”
Also, the group including the two men from Groupama-FDJ caught part of the breakaway ten kilometres from the finish, yet not Mads Pedersen and Matej Mohoric, who went on to fight for victory in Manosque. After a twisty final, and a last kilometre at 4%, the Dane grabbed the victory while Paul Penhoët and Thibaud Gruel sprinted to sixth and eighth sixteen seconds later. “I wasn’t confident at all after yesterday’s stage, so I didn’t push too hard to position for the sprint,” said Paul. “I even told Thibaud to do his own sprint. In the end, I was among those who had the most energy in the group. I could have finished third or fourth with better positioning but given the conditions I was in 24 hours ago, I’m just satisfied that yesterday was an “off day” and that we can start again with a clean slate”.
While taking stock of the day, Yvon Caër agreed with his sprinter. “We were in the mix,” he commented. “It’s a pretty satisfying day, and the good news is that Paul is back in shape and has proven that he wasn’t at his true level yesterday. For his confidence, it’s a good thing that he was able to sprint today. We know that he’ll be up there tomorrow. As for Thibaud, given that there were no splits in the sprint, his bonus second taken yesterday allows him to keep his seventh position in the general classification. However, it is quite fragile because there is a large group of riders who are just one second behind him.” On Sunday, the Tour de la Provence will conclude in Arles after 190 mostly flat kilometres.
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We posted the report from third-place Cristian Scaroni's XDS Astana Team with the results.
Here's the report from winner Fabio Christen's Q36.5 Cycling team:
In a spectacular sprint and with radar focus all the way to the finish line, Fabio Christen achieved his first professional win in the Vuelta a la Región de Murcia.
It was against the odds where many WorldTour teams had multiple riders present in the first group of eleven, but Fabio was not deterred. The 22-year-old from Gippingen, Switzerland kept his head cool and launched his sprint at exactly the right moment to give Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team its fifth win of the season.
Fabio Christen wins in Murcia. Photo: Sprint Cycling
The Vuelta a la Región de Murcia is a race of around 200 kilometers with two big climbs: Collado Bermejo at the halfway mark and the Alto Cresta del Gallo at 13 kilometers – a final the team had reconned on Friday. It was on that last climb that the race exploded. Milan Vader, Sjoerd Bax, in his first race back after breaking his hip, and David González were there to help Fabio Christen in the run-up to the climb. He joined a group of eleven riders who went clear on the climb. Fabio was outnumbered but followed the right moves. He launched his attack over the bridge and kept that lead until the finish line.
“First, I have to thank the team for getting me in the right position before the climb. They were amazing,” Fabio said. “From then it was about the legs. It was not easy with three guys of UAE and three from Astana in the group, but I know I have a strong sprint. I also knew I had to be in every move because I was alone. I was confident and I had the legs, so I didn’t want to wait. I went for the surprise by going early. It was a long sprint, and the finish line came just in time. The first win is always the most difficult one to get. I was already close on Mallorca but lacked a bit of luck, so I am really happy to have it now.”
We continue racing in Spain on Sunday with the Clásica Almeria: a race where we got our first win as Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in 2023 with Matteo Moschetti. He will be lining up alongside Frederik Frison, Kamil Małecki, Emīls Liepiņš, Giacomo Nizzolo, Nicoló Parisini and Nick Zukowsky.
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Here's the Vuelta a Murcia report from Team Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale:
Aurélien Paret-Peintre:
"It was a great race. There was a lot of pace and adversity on the final climb. Clément (Berthet) rode very well in the breakaway and the team placed me well on the final climb. After that, I knew I was one of the fastest in the sprint and Jordan (Labrosse) did a superb job in the final to allow me to contest it, but I didn't manage to get going at the right time and finished in second place. Victory was very close and it's only my first race of the season, so it's encouraging."
The 2025 podium, from left: Aurélien Paret-Peintre (2nd), Fabio Christen (1st), & Cristian Scaroni (3rd). Photo: Sprint Cycling
The news: Tour de la Provence - Dorian Godon 4th on today's stage
On the second stage of the Tour de la Provence, Dorian Godon contested the bunch sprint and took fourth place. With this result, he moves up to 9th place in the overall classification, while Sander de Pestel ranks 5th. On the eve of the final stage, two of the team's riders are in the top 10 of the Tour de la Provence.
The number: 2
Aurélien Paret-Peintre finishes second in the Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia after a fine team race. Following Sam Bennett's victory on the first stage of the Tour de la Provence on Friday, this is the team's second podium finish in two days.
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Here’s the team’s update:
Israel – Premier Tech is heading to the Emirates for the sixth time, bringing a highly motivated squad ready to take on the seven-stage challenge in the desert. The team has a clear goal: to fight for top results in both the General Classification (GC) and stage victories.
Leading the charge in the sprints will be Israeli National Champion Oded Kogut, who will take on the world’s best sprinters in three high-speed battle stages. Meanwhile, Alexey Lutsenko and Matthew Riccitello will spearhead the GC ambitions, as IPT aims to leave a mark on this early-season WorldTour race. The competition will be fierce, with the world’s top teams bringing their A-game, including defending champion and reigning World Champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates).
Alexey Lutsenko riding stage 14 of the 2024 Tour de france. Sirotti photo
Despite the strong competition, IPT’s Head Sports Director for the UAE Tour, Dror Pekatch, is confident in his team’s ability to rise to the challenge. Backing Kogut, Lutsenko, and Riccitello will be a solid supporting cast, including four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome, climbing specialist Jan Hirt (making his IPT race debut), as well as Israeli rising star Nadav Raisberg and Canadian powerhouse Pier-André Côté.
Pekatch says: “This will be my fourth UAE Tour and IPT’s sixth overall, but I believe that for this 2025 edition, we are bringing a squad that is best suited to the race’s specific challenges. A top-five GC finish and a podium result in one of the sprint stages with Oded would be fantastic goals. Is it ambitious? Yes. Is it within reach? I believe it is.”
For Kogut, the challenge will be immense as he faces world-class sprinters, including Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin – Deceuninck), Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), and Jonathan Milan (Lidl – Trek). However, after securing his first professional victory at Cro Race last season, Kogut is ready to take the next step.
Pekatch adds: “He has the potential to grow into a top-level sprinter, and this race will be a key opportunity for him to prove himself at the highest level.”
Kogut’s best chances will come in stages 4, 5, and 6, while stages 1, 3, and 7 will be crucial in the GC battle. A last-minute route change has added a hard climb to the opening stage — a challenging start for Lutsenko and Riccitello. The climbers will also have to conquer two additional summit finishes, including the decisive Jebel Hafeet climb that is expected to determine the overall winner.
For IPT owner Sylvan Adams, as well as Israeli riders and supporters around the world, the team’s participation in the UAE Tour carries significance beyond sport.
Adams explains: “We first raced here five years ago, just six months before Israel and the UAE signed the Abraham Accords. Even then, we were met with warmth — not hostility. I still remember Emirati children lining up to receive a souvenir water bottle with the name ‘Israel’ on it.
“When the Abraham Accords were signed at the White House, I was honored to be among the few Israelis invited by our American hosts. U.S. peace negotiators told me that IPT’s reception in Dubai gave them hope that the agreement would lead to a warm peace — and that’s exactly what has happened.
“Our presence here, racing in blue and white jerseys carrying the name of Israel in an Arab country, is a powerful symbol of friendship, unity, and the ability of sport to bring people together. I hope to see this peace extend to other Muslim and Arab nations in the future.”
This year, the symbolism runs even deeper, as Israeli champion Kogut will lead the team’s sprint ambitions, proudly wearing his blue-and-white national champion’s jersey on the big stage. He says: “I feel the responsibility and the weight of this moment, but I embrace it with great pride.”
IPT at UAE Tour (Monday February 17 – Sunday February 23)
Riders: Oded Kogut (ISR), Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ), Matthew Riccitello (USA), Chris Froome (GBR), Jan Hirt (CZE), Nadav Raisberg (ISR), Pier-André Côté (CAN)
Sports Directors: Dror Pekatch (ISR), Alex Cataford (CAN)
Here’s the team’s news:
The 2025 cycling season is already underway. From February 17 to 23, the UAE Tour marks the next chapter. Team Visma | Lease a Bike is ready to compete at WorldTour level for the second time this season. After a successful campaign in the Tour of Oman, where Olav Kooij claimed two stage wins, the team travels to the United Arab Emirates with a mix of ambitions and process goals.
Newly appointed sports director Jesper Mørkøv, who had a successful debut in Oman, sees plenty of opportunities but also emphasizes the importance of development. According to Mørkøv, the main focus is on refining the sprint train around Kooij. “Our primary goal is to maintain the good momentum with the sprint train. We are aiming for stage wins with Olav, but we also want to further optimize the collaboration between him, Daniel McLay, and Niklas Behrens during the race. Additionally, we have Thomas Gloag and Bart Lemmen, who will get the chance to ride for their own results in the two mountain stages. They will also be keeping an eye on the overall classification.”
Olav Kooij winning the first stage of the 2025 Tour of Oman
Kooij looks forward to the UAE Tour with confidence, boosted by his strong performance in Oman. “The Tour of Oman was definitely a success. With two sprint opportunities and two stage wins, I think we performed well as a team. The first test with our new sprint setup was a success. In the UAE Tour, we will be competing at a higher level. It’s up to us to prove that we are ready for that challenge.”
The UAE Tour offers a varied course with plenty of opportunities for sprinters, as well as demanding mountain stages to Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet. On the second day, the riders will face a time trial of over twelve kilometers. The desert wind could also play a decisive role. Mørkøv sees this as a perfect test for his team. “We already saw great things from our sprint train in the Tour of Oman. Daniel has a lot of experience, while Olav has the talent and instinct to finish the job. Olav already trusts Daniel blindly, despite them not having raced together much yet. That’s a good sign. The level in the UAE Tour will undoubtedly be very high, with top sprinters at the start. We’re looking forward to testing ourselves against the best.”
For Kooij, who won a stage in the UAE Tour last year, the upcoming week is not just about victories but also about growing as a sprint team. “The two wins in Oman showed that we are in good shape,” says the 23-year-old sprinter. “It’s always great to start the season that way. In the UAE Tour, we hope to deliver again. A stage win would be fantastic, but it’s also about fine-tuning the connection within the sprint train. We need to be able to anticipate each other’s moves without too many words during the race. That already worked well in Oman. In the UAE, we hope to perfect it even further.”
With Kooij as the main sprinter and Gloag and Lemmen targeting the mountain stages, Team Visma | Lease a Bike heads to the UAE Tour with ambitions and a clear mission. Competing against the world’s best will be a valuable benchmark for the Dutch team. For Mørkøv, it is above all an opportunity to continue building. “The foundation has been laid. Now it’s about carrying that momentum forward.”
Line-up UAE Tour:
- Olav Kooij
- Niklas Behrens
- Daniel McLay
- Bart Lemmen
- Thomas Gloag
- Tosh Van der Sande
- Julien Vermote
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