Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, February 27, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it. - Steve Prefontaine
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Current racing:
- February 26 - March 2: O Gran Camiño
Upcoming racing:
- March 1: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
- March 1: Faun Ardèche Classic
- March 2: Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
- March 2: Faun Drôme Classic
- March 4: Le Samyn
- March 5: Trofeo Laigueglia
- March 8: Strade Bianche
Latest completed racing:
- February 17 - 23: UAE Tour
- February 19 - 23: Volta ao Algarve
- February 22 - 23: Tour des Alpes-Maritimes
- February 14 - 16: Tour de la Provence
- February 16: Clásica de Almeria
- February 15: Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia
- February 8 - 12: Tour of Oman
We posted the report from fifth-place Jordi Warlop's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.
Here's the report from third-place Giovanni Lonardi's Team Polti-VisitMalta:
The Italian sprinter of Team Polti VisitMalta proved again his quality with the third position in the Portuguese stage of O Gran Camiño. The team worked perfectly to place the sprinter and to protect Davide Piganzoli who keeps his chances for the overall classification intact.
The plan was clear at the opening of O Gran Camiño, and the team rode to perfection looking for the sprint victory in Matosinhos, Portugal. A breakaway of six riders was the protagonist of the day, always under control, and two more riders tried in the final part but without success.
The main group had in Team Polti VisitMalta one of the most involved in the control already in the last 20 kilometres. Tonelli’s work finished neutralising the breakaways and then everything was organised to lead Lonardi to the mass finish.
Magnus Cort (far right) wins the first stage. Photo: Sprint Cycling
With Piganzoli’s chances for the overall saved, and with the certainty of being in the fight for the victory, Mirco Maestri became again the last launcher already in the final kilometre. Everything was going perfectly, until Cort Nielsen (UNO X) took advantage of the work of Team Polti VisitMalta. The victory went to the Dane, while Lonardi made good on his work by taking third place at the finish line, the same result as in the final stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
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Giovanni Lonardi: ‘We were looking for the victory with determination, I think we planned the finish well. But it was a bit long, Mirco started final treno 600 metres from the finish and it was difficult to hold on. Cort Nielsen was ahead of us, but we’re happy with the result, although it’s always better to win. Now it’s time to help Piganzoli to fight for the overall’.
Jesús Hernández, sport director: ‘The team rode very well around Lonardi and Piganzoli. First of all it was a question of saving the day without incidents, to ride together. That was achieved. And in the finish, we fought very well, but we were beaten by a rider who is much better. The team worked well at the end, Mirco made the right decision to launch the sprint to keep Lonardi well placed and we achieved the best result in the situation’.
Tomorrow the second stage of O Gran Camiño will take place, already in Galicia, with a day of hilly mountains from Marín to A Estrada, through 145 kilometres and including three categorized climbs.
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Here’s the team’s news:
It feels like yesterday we started the off-season and here we are at the eve of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. It’s the start of the exciting Classics period in Belgium, France and the Netherlands where we will be present in all major World Tour Classics thanks to the wildcards Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team received.
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad :
Lining up for the iconic race between Gent and Ninove on Saturday is a team with seven nationalities: Rory Townsend (IRL), Jannik Steimle (GER), Frederik Frison (BEL), Nick Zukowsky (CAN), Kamil Małecki (POL), Fabio Christen (SUI) and Tom Pidcock (GBR).
Tom Pidcock finished already has four wins this season. He finished in the top ten of the Omloop in 2023 and 2024 and looks forward to race in Belgium again.
He said: “Omloop Nieuwsblad is always an interesting race. It’s the first one day race where everyone can really gauge how they came out the winter. I’ve never been on the podium in the Omloop. If I could manage that I would be very happy because I don’t think it suits me perfectly. However, I know my shape is good and it’s important to keep building on the momentum I have created with the team.”
Tom Pidcock winning stage two of the AlUla Tour.
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne :
The day after Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team will travel to Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne with a team of fast men: Matteo Mochetti, Giacomo Nizzolo, Nicoló Parisini, Rory Townsend, Frederik Frison, Kamil Małecki and Jannik Steimle.
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Here’s the team's news:
Liv AlUla Jayco roll into Omloop Nieuwsblad armed with a fast finishing and powerful squad ready to do battle in the first Belgian classics encounter of the season.
The Australian outfit will line-up with a trio from down under in the shape of Ruby Roseman-Gannon, Georgia Baker and national criterium champion Amber Pate.
The ever-reliable Jeanne Korevaar will add vital experience to the team as she tackles her 9th Omloop, a race where she has twice finished inside the top-10 at during her career. Another top-10 finisher, Quinty Ton will add further firepower and knowledge to the six-rider team.
After crashing out of the opening stage of the UAE Tour, Letizia Paternsoter returns to the fold with the Italian looking to make up for lost time as she aims to back up her strong showing on the cobbles in 2024.
Amber Pate winning the 2025 Australian Road Championships.
Liv AlUla Jayco at Omloop Nieuwsblad
Georgia Baker (AUS)
Jeanne Korevaar (NED)
Amber Pate (AUS)
Letizia Paternoster (ITA)
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (AUS)
Quinty Ton (NED)
Jeanne Korevaar:
“I’m definitely excited for the Opening Weekend! I feel a bit of a combination of nerves and excitement. Personally, I always really like Omloop because of this. After a long winter period it’s like it’s finally time to go out and play, and we are all waiting for this for a long time. It’s only one time a year you have this feeling.
"The race itself is jam-packed with cobbles and short climbs and needs a lot of focus. It’s something I always like about the cobbled classics. It feels a bit like a shorter version of Flanders and that makes it a bit more open for different scenarios.
"I think we have a really strong squad for this race. We can built on from last year and everyone is capable of racing fierce. I hope we can use this strength and bring numbers into the final. That way either for a bunch sprint or a break away it can work out very well!”
Wim Stroetinga (Sports Director):
“For Omloop we have a really strong team where we want to use our numbers both throughout the race and then also in the final. It’s the ‘Opening Weekend’ of the classics and it’s always nervous in the peloton.
:We will look to ride as a team and with this team we have different ways to have a great result.”
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