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Sunday, January 2, 2022
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2021 Tour de France | 2021 Giro d'Italia
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Plato's dialogue Crito is available as an audiobook here. For the Kindle eBook version, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- Jan 16 - 23, 2022: Le Tour de Langkawi
- Jan 22, 2022: Flandriencross
- Jan 26 - 29, 2022: Challenge Illes Balears
- Jan 30 - Feb 6, 2022: Vuelta a San Juan
- Feb 12, 2022: Gavere Cyclocross
Latest completed racing:
- Jan 1, 2022: GP Sven Nys Cross
- Dec 30: Azencross
- Dec 29:
DiegemcrossCancelled - Dec 27: Heusden Zolder Cyclocross
- Dec 19: Namur Cyclocross
- Dec 11: Ethiascross-Essen
- Dec 5:
Scheldecross Antwerp- Cancelled because of Covid-19 - Nov 13: GP Leuven
- Nov 7: Elite Men European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 6: Elite Women European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 1: Koppenberg Cyclocross
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl posted this:
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s CEO shared his thoughts about 2021 and the hopes he has for the team’s 20th season.
Every New Year brings a new beginning and 2022 is no different for Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl.
That is true as much for our team but does not mean that I do not look back at our season with immense pride, because of course I know that my team is special. 65 wins is phenomenal achievement, but it is not only the numbers of wins that pleases me, but the quality of those victories and the consistency over a long period of time, especially while taking on the continuing challenges of Covid-19.
Patrick Lefevre with Mark Cavendish in 2014. Sirotti photo
But things move on, and I would like to welcome all the new riders, staff, sponsors and partners that will join from 2022, as well as taking the opportunity to thank those that will no longer be with us. My time in the business of cycling and in sport has seen me be grateful for the support we receive, and I thank those that have supported us until now and wish them well for the future.
We have tried to build a balanced team the coming season and I am looking forward to seeing them race in the manner to which we have been accustomed. This will be a landmark year, marking 20 years since the team was formed, an achievement of which I am very proud. There are so many people who have been involved along this incredible journey – far too many to name individually, but I hope that they all share in the pride and sense of achievement that I do, while still looking forward to new goals and forging a successful future.
On behalf of everyone at Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, I want to wish you a Happy New Year and all the best to you and your families!
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The team posted this look at the upcoming season:
The longest-standing team in professional cycling continues to fight strong. The Movistar Team will reach 43 years of existence during a 2022 season where the Abarca Sports organisation led by Eusebio Unzué will experience several crucial moments in its history, some with joy and maybe others with tears.
Let’s start off with the most evident thing. It’s Alejandro Valverde’s last season. An absolute reference in the world of cycling for two decades, Alejandro Valverde has promised not to pin any more numbers on his back after December 31st, 2022. We say it in that way because it’s certain he won’t be away from a bike anytime soon. His character, charm and personality will guide the steps the men’s squad will follow for most of the year, while Enric Mas will be the Blues’ main leader for the Grand Tours.
Alejandro Valverde winning the third stage of the 2021 Giro di Sicilia. Sirotti photo
Enric Alongside the man from Mallorca will be a plethora of riders who, like Mas, are still quite young. Alex Aranburu, the Blues’ biggest signing for 2022; Gonzalo Serrano, who left such a good impression last year; Iván García Cortina, seeking for his best performance; and strong foreigners like recent addition Iván Sosa, Matteo Jorgenson, Johan Jacobs, Abner González or Mathias Norsgaard. That, without forgetting other signings like Max Kanter, who will be contesting the sprints, or Brazilian Vinícius Rangel, a big sensation in Spanish amateur cycling last year.
The Tour de France and La Vuelta will be the main reference of a squad which, for the first time ever, will have women’s and men’s rosters at both events. With the Tour Femmes back into the calendar in 2022, the ‘Grande Boucle’ will last the entire month of July for the Blues, starting with the boys in Denmark and finishing atop La Planche des Belles Filles for the female squad in the 31st. A true challenge in both logistical, exposure and sporting ways, which the women’s Movistar Team will also tackle with the utmost enthusiasm.
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Annemiek van Vleuten, the world’s number one rider from 2021, will again be the main reference of a group full of young talents. Emma Norsgaard, the biggest breakthrough in the peloton last year; Sarah Gigante, in her first WorldTour season; Katrine Aalerud, always improving; or Sara Martín, arguably Spain’s biggest hopeful in a generation, lead the ambitions of a group with only two signings, the list completed by expert Cuban allrounder Arlenis Sierra.
Together with those two riders will be, in their first full season (second as part of the organisation), the Movistar eTeam, the first to make their 2022 debut -the winter season of the Zwift Racing League starts on January 10th; the men’s team kicks off their year in Mallorca, on the 26th; the women won’t race until early February in Valencia-. The 10-member roster (5 women, 5 men) features only one change -and a big one: no less than pro rider, and double British ITT champion, Hayley Simmonds– as the Blues aim at making esports cycling bigger and fight for the biggest success.
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