Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2018 Tour de France | 2018 Giro d'Italia
Every year is the direct descendant, isn't it, of a long line of proven criminals? - Ogden Nash
Latest completed racing:
- January 7: GP Leuven Cross
- January 1: GP Sven Nys
- December 30: Diegem Cyclocross
- December 28: Azencross Loenhout
- December 26: Heusden-Zolder Cross
- December 17: Namur Cyclocross (Citadelcross)
- December 16: Scheldecross
- December 10: Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Cross
- December 9: Essen Cyclocross
- December 2: GP Hasselt Cross
ASO announces teams selection for the 2018 Tour de France, Paris-Nice and the Critérium du Dauphiné
Here's the organizer's release:
The organisers of the Tour de France have chosen the teams that will take part in the 76th edition of Paris-Nice (March 4-11), the 70th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné (June 3-10) and the 105th edition of the Tour de France (July 7-29).
In accordance with Union Cycliste Internationale rules, the following eighteen UCI WorldTeams are automatically invited to the race:
- AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)
- Astana Pro Team (KAZ)
- Bahrain - Merida (BRN)
- BMC Racing Team (USA)
- Bora – Hansgrohe (GER)
- FDJ (FRA)
- Lotto Soudal (BEL)
- Mitchelton- Scott (AUS)
- Movistar Team (ESP)
- Quick-Step Floors (BEL)
- Team Dimension Data (ZAF)
- Team EF Education First – Drapac P/B Cannondale (USA)
- Team Katusha - Alpecin (CHE)
- Team Lotto NL - Jumbo (NER)
- Team Sky (GBR)
- Team Sunweb (GER)
- Trek – Segafredo (USA)
- UAE Team Emirates (UAE)
In addition to these eighteen teams, the organisers have awarded the following wildcards:
TOUR DE FRANCE 2018
- Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (FRA)
- Direct Energie (FRA)
- Team Fortuneo – Samsic (FRA)
- Wanty – Groupe Gobert (BEL)
Direct Energie will be at the 2018 Tour de France
PARIS-NICE 2018
- Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (FRA)
- Delko Marseille Provence KTM (FRA)
- Direct Energie (FRA)
- Team Fortuneo – Samsic (FRA)
CRITERIUM DU DAUPHINE 2018
- Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (FRA)
- Team Fortuneo – Samsic (FRA)
- Vital Concept Cycling Club (FRA)
- Wanty – Groupe Gobert (BEL)
Team Sky sending young squad to Tour Down Under
Here's the team's press release:
8th JANUARY 2018: Team Sky will line up with a ‘young and exciting’ squad as the 2018 season gets under way at the Tour Down Under.
Neo-pros Kristoffer Halvorsen and Chris Lawless make their first appearances as Team Sky riders alongside Egan Bernal, who will target the general classification across the six-day WorldTour event (January 16-21).
Halvorsen will have strong leadout support from Brits Jon Dibben and Owain Doull, with the seven-man squad completed by Salvatore Puccio and Lukasz Wisniowski.
Salvatore Puccio will be the Team Sky road captain at the Tour Down Under
The racing takes place on the roads around Adelaide, with the action kicking off with the now traditional pre-race People’s Choice Classic criterium (January 14).
On the lineup, Team Sky Sport Director Brett Lancaster explained: “It’s a really young and exciting team and we’re keen to see how these guys develop. We’ll be gunning to try and take a stage win. We’ve got Kristoffer as our lead sprinter. His form is a bit unknown coming straight from Norway and stepping off the plane into temperatures of close to 40 degrees.
“Puccio is our road captain and the most experienced rider in the team. He’s been pro since 2012 but he’s only 28 years old, which tells you how young the team is. Egan has already raced in a lot of big races. He’s no longer a neo-pro but he’s very young still. It’s going to be a really good chance to see where he is at, especially against the Australian riders who are in a home race and adapted already. We’ll see what happens come Willunga Hill and we’ll look to put him in a good position.
“It’s Willunga again where the race should be decided. Stage four has a good climb too but it’s similar to what we’ve seen in recent years. That Willunga day will be interesting for sure.”
On the challenge ahead Kristoffer Halvorsen added: “I’ve never been in Australia before so I think it will be really nice. The weather is really good and the stages are not too long, so it suits me well as a first ever World Tour race. Hopefully it will be really good.”
Fellow neo-pro Chris Lawless is understandably itching to get the race under way: “I’m really looking forward to starting the season at the Tour Down Under. Going over there with a young team should be pretty fun. It should be good seeing how we all bounce off each other and I’m sure we’ll all be really enthusiastic to get up there and get stuck in.”
UCI suspends Da Silva and Matzka for doping
Here's the UCI'S press release:
08 January 2018: The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal has rendered its decisions in the cases involving Ralf Matzka and Kleber Da Silva Ramos. Both cases were heard separately before the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal.
The Anti-Doping Tribunal found Ralf Matzka guilty of an anti-doping rule violation (presence of a metabolite of Tamoxifen)* and imposed 2-year period of ineligibility on the rider.
The Anti-Doping Tribunal found Kleber Da Silva Ramos guilty of an anti-doping rule violation (presence of CERA)** and imposed a 4-year period of ineligibility on the rider.
In accordance with the Procedural Rules of the Anti-Doping Tribunal, both decisions will be published on the UCI website in due course.
(*)Tamoxifen is classified as “Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)”.
(**) CERA is classified as “Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics”.
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary