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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Saturday, May 6, 2023

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2022 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia

Democracy is the process by which people choose the man who'll get the blame. - Bertrand Russell

Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2019: A Year of New Faces is available in both Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• May 6 - 29: Giro d'Italia
• May 6: GP du Morbihan

Upcoming racing:

• May 16 - 21: 4 Jours du Dunkerque

Latest completed racing:

• May 1: Eschborn-Frankfurt
• April 25 - 30: Tour de Romandie
• April 28 - 30: Vuelta Asturias
• April 23: Liege-Bastogne-Liege
• April 17 - 21: Tour of the Alps
• April 19: La Fleche Wallone

The team Tweeted these updates:

Jan Tratnik has been involved in a training incident. He is now in the hospital for further examinations.

Jan Tratnik won't be able to repeat this 2020, stage 16 perfomance after his traffic accident. Sirotti photo

Unfortunately we have to substitute a fifth rider at the Giro d’Italia due to the traffic accident with Jan Tratnik earlier today. He will be replaced by the talented Tom Gloag.

Here's the team's announcement:

BORA - hansgrohe is pleased to announce that BORA will remain the main sponsor of the Raubling-based team until the end of 2027. The German manufacturer of cooktop extractor systems and flex ovens has been active in cycling as the main sponsor of BORA – hansgrohe since 2015. This joint success story is now being extended ahead of schedule by a further three years.

"When Willi Bruckbauer and his company BORA joined us as our main sponsor in 2015 - after already being represented on our sleeve for three years, we had hoped that it would be a successful project for both parties, but there were no certainties. It was a look into the crystal ball.

Nine years later, a lot has happened, and we are very proud of what we have achieved together so far, which includes several important victories: the World Championship title in Bergen, Norway, a Paris-Roubaix victory and then last year the overall victory at the Giro d’Italia. I am very grateful to Willi for undertaking this journey together and for his trust. After our Giro victory, Willi told me at the celebration that he will remain our main sponsor until at least the end of 2027, which of course makes me incredibly proud. This victory was perhaps the most surprising in recent years, and it may have come a little early, and of course expectations rise with it. But with BORA at our side, we have security for the future and for me it goes without saying that I will continue to put all my energy into the BORA - hansgrohe project. I am looking forward to our joint future. There are still many goals that we have set ourselves to achieve together." - Ralph Denk, Team Manager

Jai Hindley wins the 2022 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo

"The Giro d'Italia victory of Jai Hindley a year ago was a very special experience and made us very proud as a sponsor. The idea of extending the contract was born in Verona at that time and was sealed there with a handshake with Ralph Denk. We want to support the team in its development and in achieving further goals, and we are giving them planning security until 2027.

Cycling and sponsorship are our passion and a perfect platform to bring the brand and our products to life. We have been able to strengthen our relationship with our customers and even gain new and motivated sales partners in new countries. Since the beginning, we have conducted annual monitoring to manage the effectiveness of our sponsorship. The results still show that the advertising value and positive effects on the brand in our focus markets are very good. We can achieve a ROI that would only be possible with other marketing measures by using extremely high budgets. As long as the values increase, we want to continue our partnership and support the team. We look forward to celebrating many more successes together in the years to come." - Willi Bruckbauer, CEO BORA

Pedersen’s Team Trek-Segafredo posted this:

In only a few hours, the Corsa Rosa will officially start with a spectacular time trial along the Adriatic coast of Abruzzo.

For Trek-Segafredo’s captain, Mads Pedersen, it will be his third experience at the Giro d’Italia. This time he comes to the start line with the declared aim of arriving in Rome with (at least) one stage win in his bag. And then, there is the ciclamino jersey in the background. In short, his desire to leave an important mark on the race is strong. Here are his words…

Mads Pedersen at the end of the 2022 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo

"I did a lot of races in Italy in the first years of my career with Trek-Segafredo. I like racing here, even if in the last couple of years, I didn’t do many races here. I still have clear memories of my first two Giros, in 2017 and 2018. They were two exciting experiences. I was there with a different role, different ambitions, responsibilities and, of course, palmarès. So, now, it’s like there’s a new about me and the race can written. Hopefully, a successful one.

"I kept my form at a good level in the Classics season. After Roubaix, I had break, a little one, but it was definitely a good and necessary break. It was a busy spring, but I don’t think I’ll pay for the efforts of the Classics during the Giro. Maybe I’ll my bill will come later in the season, but right now I’m confident that I worked well with my coach to keep the condition good.

"The plan for tomorrow, in ITT, is to go full gas and take as many points as possible for the ciclamino jersey. The competitors for the points jersey are strong and the Giro is such tough race. It’s going to be an exciting and, at the same time, a hard challenge. But I want to go step by step. The priority is clear: win a stage. And I’ll do my best to make it happen. Then, I think the two goals clearly go hand in hand. Winning stages means taking lots of points. Anyway, I think the battle for ciclamino could play out not only among the sprinters. A guy like Evenepoel, for example, can also aim to win many stages and the jersey. It’s going be an interesting competition to watch. 

"I already have some stages in mind as big targets. I’ll have a well-equipped team around to support me. Alex Kirsch will be the rider in front of me and Daan Hoole will be the one in front of him. Basically, two big mountains to protect me. In front of them, Vergaerde will lead. It’s a strong train. Not a normal one, not a traditional one, but we showed we’re able to handle and deliver results pretty well. I strongly believe we can do a great Giro, as a team with Bauke also hunting for a stage to complete his slam. Of course, the loss of Cicco was a hard hit for the mountains, but this won’t change our motivation to do our best.

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