Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Friday, September 29, 2017
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia
Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it. - Steve Prefontaine
Upcoming racing
- Sept 30: Giro dell'Emilia
- Oct 1: GP Bruno Beghelli
- Oct 1: Tour de l'Eurométropole
Latest completed racing:
- Sept 28: GP Città di Peccioli-Coppa Sabatini
- Sept 26-27: Giro della Toscana
- Sept 24: Elite Men UCI World Road Championships
- Sept 12 - 16: Tour of Denmark
- Sept 16: Memorial Marco Pantani
- Sept 16: Primus Classic Impanis-Van Petegem
Coppa Sabatini team reports
Sonny Colbrelli was second. Here the report from his Bahrain-Merida team:
Editors note: Cobrelli was actually furious after the race and refused to shake hands with winner Andrea Pasqualon, claiming Pasqualon failed to hold his line in the sprint. On Facebook he later apologized for being angry.
“I’ve lost a lot of speed – says Sonny Colbrelli, today second at the finish line in Peccioli – due to my opponent’s change of direction. After was to late to try to overcome him”.
“It’s a shame – continues the strong Italian athlete – I’m demonstrating that I’m really in a good shape but I have to settle for just placement at the moment. I want to thank all my teammates for the great work they did today; Sunday I will run the GP Beghelli and I will try to win also to repay them of their commitment”.
At the top of the Peccioli’s climb the Italian Andrea Pasqualonn won the 65th issue of this classic Tuscan race. It seemed a non-linear sprint and saw Wanty
Groupe Goubert’s sprinter choose a trajectory that affected Sonny’s result.
“Even today – explains SD Alberto Volpi – the team worked well and has been present in the race decisive moments. Another second place after Visconti’s, which confirms the good time of the Team but again with a bitter taste”.
Next appointment for Team Bahrain Merida, Saturday with number 100 edition of the Giro dell’Emilia.
Diego Ullissi's UAE Team Emirates sent me this update:
Diego Ulissi ended up just shy of the podium for the Coppa Sabatini-Gp Peccioli (195.9 km), behind the winner Pasqualon, Colbrelli and Gavazzi.
The final uphill stretch towards the finish line in Peccioli turned out to be decisive, with a crowded group challenging each other in a long climbing sprint.
Andrea Pasqualon wins the Coppa Sabatini
This was the comment by UAE Team Emirates’ Sports Director, Daniele Righi: “Ulissi made it to Peccioli in good shape; we knew that to allow him go for the best result we had to make the race very selective.
"We tried to keep a fast pace; however, we didn’t get much cooperation from the other teams. As a result, the group was still crowded as they headed to the approach for the final climb: at 500 metres Visconti and Cattaneo were breaking out ahead and since no other athletes were making a move, Ulissi tried to set up a long sprint. Diego caught up to the front runners, but Pasqualon, Colbrelli and Gavazzi came up from behind and passed them all.”
BMC Racing Team set to kick off Italian one-day races at Giro dell'Emilia
BMC sent me this release:
28 September, 2017, Santa Rosa, California (USA): Nicolas Roche and Dylan Teuns will lead BMC Racing Team at Giro dell'Emilia this Saturday, 30 September, backed by a strong team of climbing specialists.
Sports Director Fabio Baldato said the demanding course could see a number of situations play out. "Giro dell'Emilia is a hard race, especially the finish on top of the Saint Luca climb. The peloton will do climb Saint Luca five times, including four times on the finish circuit. The first part of the race is not too hard with a couple of climbs to get over before they reach the circuit. I think it will be a good profile for Dylan Teuns and Nicolas Roche. Both riders are coming out of the UCI World Championships road race with good legs so they will be our protected riders," Baldato explained.
"Of course, our Italian riders are always motivated on home soil and riders like Damiano Caruso, Alessandro De Marchi and Ben Hermans are in good condition, so we have multiple options for Saturday's race. All of out riders will be motivated for a good result, especially as it's a good race in the lead up to Il Lombardia."
Nicolas Roche finishing a stage at this year's Vuelta.
Teuns is looking to continue his run of good results in what has been a breakthrough season for the Belgian. "Last year was my first time racing and it was a really hard race. My shape is still good. It's a specific climbing finish and it's a course for the riders in between a puncheur and a pure climber. Last year I think I was probably tired after the Vuelta a Espana but this year I will go there with different feelings, with some good results behind me. I'm relaxed but if the legs are there, I will be ambitious for a good result because the steep climbs really suit me," Teuns explained.
Roche is looking forward to ending the season with a strong performance at the Italian one-day races. "I'm looking forward to Giro dell'Emilia as it's one of the last races of the year. I have maintained my form since the Vuelta a Espana so I'm hoping for a good result. The course suits me and it's a good race to do in preparation for Il Lombardia. I think we have a strong team," Roche said.
Giro dell'Emilia (30 September)
Rider Roster: Damiano Caruso (ITA), Alessandro De Marchi (ITA), Ben Hermans (BEL), Patrick Müller (SUI), Nicolas Roche (IRL), Manuel Senni (ITA), Dylan Teuns (BEL), Loïc Vliegen (Bel).
Sports Director: Fabio Baldato (ITA).
Pierre Latour is happy to be back racing
Latour's Ag2r team sent me this short quote from Latour:
“I am happy to be back in time to race a few events after such a long break! I broke my pelvis in a crash during the Tour de France time trial in Marseille on July 22nd, and I was able to get back training only four weeks later. I have no pain in training, and I feel that my form is good. Nevertheless, I am not imagining crazy scenarios. I expect I’ll be missing the rhythm of racing and out of sync with the other riders. But for me, it will be hugely important just to have the chance to get a few races in before the winter break. The Italian races are defined by a lot of attacking, are often very difficult, and I don’t know exactly what to expect. After the GP Beghelli, I will race the Tre Valli Varesine (October 3rd) and then Milan-Turin (October 5th). I will finish the year with the Chrono des Nations (October 15th), which will give me another chance to wear my tricolor jersey.”
Pierre Latour time-trialing in the first stage of this year's Tour de France.
2018 Tour de Yorkshire host towns announced
The organizer sent me this update:
The eight host locations for 2018 Tour de Yorkshire have been unveiled today.
The stages for the newly expanded fourth edition will begin or end in:
Barnsley (South Yorkshire)
Beverley (East Yorkshire)
Doncaster (South Yorkshire)
Halifax (Calderdale)
Ilkley (Bradford)
Leeds (West Yorkshire)
Richmond (North Yorkshire)
Scarborough (North Yorkshire)
Organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) revealed the locations for the newly expanded four-day men’s race which will take place between 3-6 May. The Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire – which is doubling in size from one to two days - will be held over 3-4 May.
The third edition took place in April and saw the race go from strength to strength once again. A record 2.2 million spectators lined the route and generated £64 million for the Yorkshire economy. The action was also beamed live in 180 countries and attracted 9.7 million global TV viewers on Eurosport and ITV alone.
Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “The Tour de Yorkshire is a true success story and in just three years it has grown to become one of the best attended and most dramatic races on the cycling calendar.
“Of course, with the men’s race being extended to four days and the women’s race now being held over two, it means we can visit more parts of the county and I know our eight start and finish locations will put on a real show.”
Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France at the A.S.O, said: “The Tour de Yorkshire has gone from strength to strength over the last three years and we are delighted to be working in partnership with such a great team at Welcome to Yorkshire.
“The way people get behind the race in Yorkshire is incredible and we are looking forward to another fantastic edition in 2018.”
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary