Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
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2020 Tour de France | 2020 Giro d'Italia
The audiobook version of The Story of the Tour de France, Volume 1 is available.
We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. - Carl Sagan
Current racing:
- May 5 - 9: Volta ao Algarve
Upcoming races:
- May 8 - 30: Giro d'Italia
Cancelled & postponed races:
- April 30 - May 5:
Tour de Yorkshire - May 1:
Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt - May 4 - 9:
4 Jours de Dunkerque
Latest completed racing:
- April 27 - May 2: Tour de Romandie
- April 30 - May 2: Vuelta Asturias
- April 25: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
- April 19 - 23: Tour of the Alps
- April 21: La Flèche Wallone
Emanuel Buchmann re-ups with Bora-hansgrohe until 2024
The team sent me this release:
The German climbing specialist from Ravensburg will stay with Ralph Denk's team until at least the end of 2024. This opens the way for another attempt to make the Tour de France podium.
Emanuel Buchmann wins the 2020 Trofeo Tramuntana.
"I'm happy that we'll be able to make it to at least 10 years together. But seriously, for me BORA - hansgrohe is still the perfect team. Last year was quite difficult for me, and it’s in difficult times, and not necessarily in the good times, that it becomes noticeable whether a partnership still harmonises. The support that I received showed me that I am in the right team. What Ralph Denk and Dan Lorang made possible ahead of the Tour was great, even if it didn't ultimately lead to success. I feel very comfortable and we still have a big common goal, the Tour de France podium, which we will now continue to work towards. I would also like to thank Willi Bruckbauer (the owner of BORA) for his commitment and the passion he brings to the team. He and Ralph Denk have supported me for years and it's great that we’re able to continue to work together towards our goals." - Emanuel Buchmann
"Emanuel has been a fixture in our team since 2015. He has improved year on year, as he is an incredibly meticulous worker. Last year we experienced a setback, but that only serves to make us stronger. I think Emu’s best years are still ahead of him and I'm confident that he can prove this with a strong Giro. I hope that next year's Tour course will suit his abilities a little better, then we'll set our sights on the Tour podium again." - Ralph Denk, Team Manager
Team INEOS Grenadiers announces Giro d’Italia team
Here’s the team’s announcement:
It’s that time of year again, the first Grand Tour of the season is just around the corner, and although it was only just seven months ago that Italy turned pink for the last edition, we can’t wait to descend upon Turin and start another three-week adventure, embracing the ‘Joy of the Giro’.
Egan Bernal earlier this year at the Tour of Provence. Sirotti photo
Egan Bernal will make his debut at la Corsa Rosa, and is excited to be heading to a race that he’s dreamed of racing since a child. Pavel Sivakov will line up alongside his Colombian teammate as joint leader, and they will be supported by a flurry of talented climbers and rouleurs. Bookended by two individual time trials, there will be the opportunity for our current world time trial champion, Filippo Ganna, to shine in those rainbow colours.
Our full race roster can be found below:
Egan Bernal
Jonathan Castroviejo
Filippo Ganna
Daniel Martínez
Gianni Moscon
Jhonatan Narváez
Salvatore Puccio
Pavel Sivakov
Giacomo Nizzolo and Domenico Pozzovivo to lead Qhubeka-Assos at Giro d’Italia
Here’s the team’s announcement:
The 104th edition of the iconic event (8-30 May) will see the Italian duo of Giacomo Nizzolo and Domenico Pozzovivo spearhead our efforts in our 6th appearance at the race.
Giacomo Nizzolo winning this year's Claisca Almeria.
Nizzolo, the current European and Italian champion, returns to his home race having last ridden in 2019, and will be looking to add another chapter to his own history with the event.
Twice the winner of the points jersey – in 2015 and 2016 – the 31-year-old will be aiming for a first-ever stage victory in his ninth appearance.
2021 has seen the man from Milan in strong, fighting form with ten top-10 finishes, punctuated by victory at Clasica de Almeria along with a strong Classics campaign. The highlight of that being placed second at Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields.
Pozzovivo takes to the start line of the Giro for the 15th time, his 21st Grand Tour, and will be looking to build on the incredibly strong performance he displayed in 2020. After initially fighting it out in the opening two weeks of the race inside the top-10, he faltered slightly in the final week finishing 11th overall on the general classification.
A former stage-winner here nearly 10 years ago, and having finished five times inside the top-10 overall, the 38-year-old will be looking to proudly fly the Qhubeka colours in his favourite race.
By contrast, there will be two Giro d’Italia debutants in our selection in Germany’s Max Walscheid and exciting young Swiss rider Mauro Schmid. The German makes his bow following on from his first start of the Tour de France in 2020, and will be a crucial support to Nizzolo in the sprint opportunities on offer.
Schmid, who has impressed during the course of 2021, will be tasked with using his rapidly improving racing nous in delivering on team’s daily objectives, a role he will be relishing.
Schmid’s joined by compatriot Kilian Frankiny who rode his first Giro d’Italia in 2018 and then followed that up with an excellent ride in 2020. His top result last year was finishing 4th on stage nine, and then placing 5th on stage 17, the day in which former rider Ben O’Connor was victorious.
In the support of Nizzolo and Walscheid, in particular, there will be crucial roles played by the experienced duo of Bert-Jan Lindeman, who has twice previously ridden the race, as well as Poland’s Lukasz Wisniowski who lines up for the second time.
Our selection is completed by Belgium’s Victor Campenaerts. The time trial specialist will be focused on the opening stage 8.6km route in Torino as well as the traditional closing stage in Milan. In 2020, he was second on the final day, as well as placing second on stage 19.
2020 has seen Campenaerts show his versatility following a strong performance during a debut Classics campaign, and he’ll be a man to pay close attention to over the course of the race.
Throughout 2021 Team Qhubeka ASSOS has had fans announcing our team line-ups via a video submission in whatever way they chose fit. This has been hugely well received and the unique nature of this engagement has brought them, both old and new, right into the heart of our team.
For the 104th Giro d’Italia we called upon an extra special set of supporters to make the announcement: step forward Team Qhubeka ASSOS staff members!
These are some of the most important members of our organisation, the people working behind the scenes to enable our team to compete on the world’s biggest stage; who embody the purpose of our team in changing lives through bicycles, in the true spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are.
104th Giro d’Italia line-up
Giacomo Nizzolo
Max Walscheid
Mauro Schmid
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Victor Campenaerts
Lukasz Wisniowski
Domenico Pozzovivo
Kilian Frankiny
QUOTES:
Gabriele Missaglia – Sports Director
I can’t wait for our team to tackle the 104th Giro d’Italia. Going through our final preparations sees me really motivated and we will have some exciting plans in the works for the race.
We’ve selected a very interesting team, and quite rightly there will be focus and attention on the selection of the European and Italian champion. Speaking with Giacomo, I know he is very motivated and can’t wait to get racing.
The racing experience we have through the likes of Lukasz and Bert-Jan will be invaluable, while Kilian showed himself really well last year and this year he will ride in support of Domenico Pozzovivo.
For Pozzo, well he’s certainly not getting any younger but we know that he is an incredible fighter, and will show himself and the team to the best of his ability. While in Max and Victor we have guys who not only time trial well but also can play multiple roles across the stages, so I’m excited and optimistic as to what they will offer us.
One thing is for certain, our team will be ready to fight. We know the incredible role we play in changing lives and will proudly live up to that in this fantastic event.
Douglas Ryder – Team Principal
Despite the challenges that the world continues to face I know that we’ve prepared well for the Giro and that we’ll travel with hopes and dreams looking towards stage wins and a fairly high placing on the general classification.
This is an incredibly special event, one that has deep meaning to our team. I was exceptionally proud of our performance here last year in which we won a stage and had Domenico showing true grit in fighting the way he did all the way to Milan.
Giacomo Nizzolo
The Giro is one of the most important races of the year for me and especially this year because of the jerseys that I wear; racing on the Italian roads is really special. I’ve been watching this race since I was a kid so it’s always a privilege to be a part of the show.
Twice winning the points jersey has been very special and on reflection makes me really happy and proud. This year the goal is to win a stage and then see how I feel over the course of the race.
I feel good ahead of the race, ready, and I’ve been training well. I had a good first part of the season where I’ve felt good and had some solid performances so I’m confident that I can perform well. First of all I want to fight and do my best and then we will see what the road will bring.
We race for Qhubeka – every single day – and even when not racing this is top of mind. We know how important this is for people that we continue to live the message that bicycles change lives. I’m super proud to wear the European jersey and being the Italian champion with this message on my shoulders.
I really hope that the Italian people will appreciate our efforts on the road, these are hugely important reasons for us to be proud ahead of the start of the Giro.
Domenico Pozzovivo
Starting a Giro for the 15th time is something I never imagined I could achieve when I started racing. My goal for the race remains a place in the top 10 of the general classification, even if after my most recent surgery I’m still looking to find my best shape. That said, I’ve seen some encouraging good signs from my last races.
The Giro is the race I dreamed to race when I was child, and the race where I have achieved my best performances. It’s always a race that gives me incredible motivation.
Racing at home for a team with a special purpose means to convey a very important message to people that know and appreciate you, and therefore are very receptive to it.
Max Walscheid
I am very happy to complete my selection of Grand Tours after doing the Vuelta and the Tour.
I’ll be a key part in the lead-out for Giacomo and am very motivated to also take results myself if the opportunity pops up, starting with the time trial on the first day but also during the following weeks of racing, when possible.
Kilian Frankiny
I’m really looking forward to the Giro d’Italia this year in what will be my third appearance and I have very good memories of the race. I really love it because in Italy cycling is not just a sport, it’s so much more and the Italians just love it.
The fans really come to the roads to cheer, and love it. It’s just a beautiful country with amazing food, stunning scenery, with the ocean and mountains. I really love it. Last year I had two top-five finishes in Roccaraso and then on the Madonna di Campiglio, so I’m really excited to race there again.
In Giacomo in the sprints and with Pozzo we have a guy who can feature strongly in the GC ,so I’m looking forward to support them when they need me and I hope that I can fulfill this job.
Of course I also hope that perhaps one day I can go in a breakaway (why not?) getting to the finish and hope to be on the top step, not just outside of a podium place. That would really be a dream come true, to win a nice mountain stage at the Giro d’Italia.
It’s very special to have the chance to ride this Giro in a purpose-driven, high-performance team. I think it’s really nice that we have in Qhubeka a purpose behind the team, to assist people to develop, and gives us added motivation enabling us to achieve great things together.
Mauro Schmid
I am incredibly excited as the Giro is one of the races I watched along the side of the road when I was a kid, and now I will actually be racing in it.
This was always a dream of mine and now it is coming true and so I look forward to my first grand tour.
Victor Campenaerts
The Giro is coming soon after the Classics which is great. With Pozzo in the GC and Giacomo for the sprints we have great objectives within the team!
I had two podium finishes last year and will have an important job for the team this year but perhaps I will have the opportunity to show a bit of myself too depending on how the race goes – who knows!
Lukasz Wisniowski
I’m incredibly happy to be back at the Giro, this was the first Grand Tour of my career so I’m excited and cannot wait to race on Italian roads.
Unfortunately it will be without fans along the roads but we know how important it is to respect the current situation the world finds itself in and we know that the fans are supporting not only ourselves but all of the teams, and we can’t wait to see them all again in the future.
I’m heading to the Giro after a small camp in Tenerife and looking forward to help Giacomo and Domenico achieved good results.
Baptiste Planckaert to start season at Volta ao Algarve
Here's the release from Planckaert's Intermarché-Wanty Gobert team:
Initially scheduled in February, the Volta ao Algarve (2.Pro, 05-09/05) was moved to the early May due to the pandemic. The traditional opening competition of the Portuguese racing calendar may start later this year, but its parcours and its startlist are no less attractive than usual.
This Wednesday, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux will be one of the seven World Tour teams to start in the southern region of Portugal for the fifth consecutive season. The route is well known and rarely undergoes drastic changes. Two uphill finishes: atop the Alto da Foia on stage 2 and the Alto do Malhao in the fifth and closing stage. The first and third stages will undoubtedly lead to a sprint finish, while the fourth stage around Lagoa is a 20-kilometer long individual time trial. For this 47th edition, the peloton will race under nearly 25 degrees on the shores of the Atlantic.
Baptiste Planckaert winning the Tour of Cologne in 2019.
This event will be the opportunity to see the debut in competition for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux of Belgian Baptiste Planckaert, whose start of the season was thwarted by a right knee injury. He will be accompanied by the Dutchman Maurits Lammertink, alongside whom he participated in the Lusitanian race in 2017. Also with them are the Germans Jonas Koch, who will be making his 3rd participation, and Georg Zimmermann, also back in competition after his crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. The Norwegian Odd Christian Eiking will appear for the first time in south Portugal, while the brothers Boy and Danny Van Poppel return in this stage race after taking part last year for us.
Baptiste Planckaert:
"I'm thrilled to finally make my debut with the team. My knee problem no longer affects me when I'm on the bike. I have to thank the doctors of the team who monitored me closely, and ensured my rehabilitation in the best possible way. I pinched early May as the target date for my comeback, and tomorrow time will finally come. I can't wait, because I was tired of watching the races on TV without being able to be there. Now I'm ready to race for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux and fight alongside my teammates. I have received a warm welcome since I arrived, and although I have only been able to attend one team training camp, I already feel at home. This event will be important for me in order to acquire racing rhythm, and then regain the regularity which had allowed me to earn many top 10s."
Hilaire Van der Schueren (sports director):
"
Volta ao Algarve is a nice stage race so we always like to ride here. We have a selection to fight on several fronts. We don’t have a real time trial specialist, but in the other four stages we have what it takes to be up there. For the flat stages, we are fully committed to Danny Van Poppel. If he can continue his excellent spring campaign, he will definitely perform here. He is supported by his brother Boy and Jonas Koch. I consider Odd Christian Eiking and Maurits Lammertink capable of doing a good general classification. Georg Zimmermann has recovered from his crash in Itzulia Basque Country and then there is also Baptiste Planckaert. He will be competing in his first race of the season so we don't put any pressure on him. At first we will see how his knee holds up and then we will see how his week goes. We are highly charged in motivation for a week of racing under the sun!"
The selection:
Odd Christian Eiking
Jonas Koch
Maurits Lammertink
Baptiste Planckaert
Boy Van Poppel
Danny Van Poppel
Georg Zimmermann
Sports directors:
Hilaire Van der Schueren
Aike Visbeek
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