Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes. - John Wooden
Bill & Carol McGann’s book The Story of the Tour de France, 2022: The Fastest Tour Ever is available in both Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- Sept 29 - Oct 6: Le Tour de Langkawi
- October 1: Binche-Chimay-Binche
Upcoming racing:
- October 3: Sparkassen Münsterland Giro
- October 5: Giro dell'Emilia
- October 6: Paris-Tours
- October 6: Coppa Agostoni-Giro delle Brianze
- October 7: Coppa Bernocchi
- October 8: Tre Valli Varesine
- October 10: Gran Piemonte
- October 12: Il Lombardia
Latest completed racing:
- September 22 - 29: World Road Cycling Championships
- September 18 - 22: Tour de Luxembourg
- September 21: Super 8 Classic
- September 20: Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
- September 18: GP de Wallonie
- September 15: Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
- September 15: Trofeo Matteotti
- September 14: Memorial Marco Pantani
- September 13: Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
- September 12: Coppa Sabatini
We posted the race organizer's report with the results.
Here's the report from second-place Manuel Peñalver's Team Polti Kometa:
Only the photo finish prevented Manuel Peñalver from winning the second stage of the Tour de Langkawi. Courageous, the Alicante rider launched a long sprint and raised his arms as the winner, although the jury determined the victory of Malucelli.
With the bittersweet taste of having felt and celebrated the victory, but finally being second. Manuel Peñalver demonstrated his speed and ability in mass finishes, in a very favourable finish where he led the sprint.
The day, completely flat, had a breakaway protagonist who on this occasion stood out until the last 5 kilometres. The work of the teams with fast men behind allowed the neutralisation, although the lack of order caused a crazy final sprint. The Team Polti Kometa riders supported and guided Manuel Peñalver to the leading positions, who waited for the last 350 metres to launch his volata from a distance and surprise the rest of the sprinters. He raised his arms victoriously as he crossed the finish line, but the photo finish determined Malucelli’s victory. In the general classification, Peñalver remains in fifth position.
The rush for the line at the end of stage two.
Manuel Peñalver: ‘I had a very good feeling for today’s stage, completely flat and where I could really get the victory. But Malucelli won, the truth is that I thought I had won when I crossed the finish line, although sometimes you can be wrong and in this case the photo finish gave me second place. Congratulations to him. You see it so far away and every time so close that it makes you angry, but the team has done a phenomenal job and we have five more chances left and we are going to fight for it’.
The third stage of the Tour de Langkawi will be the queen day of the race, with 170 kilometres between Taiping and Cameron Highlands that includes two first category and special category climbs to decide the race and condition the general classification.
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Here's the team's update:
Tim Merlier will bring his season to a conclusion this Tuesday, when he will lead the team at the 37th edition of Binche-Chimay-Binche, the 198.6km race held in Wallonia, over a course comprising small climbs but also cobblestone stretches that promise to make an impact on the way things will unfold.
Time Merlier after winning stage 2 of the 2024 Tirreno-Adriatico. Sirotti photo
The most successful sprinter of the year, with 16 victories to his name – including three Giro d’Italia stages and the European Championships – Merlier will come at the start having won three races in a row, all on home turf. The 31-year-old will be accompanied by Kasper Asgreen, Ayco Bastiaens, former Belgian Champion Yves Lampaert, Luke Lamperti, Pepijn Reinderink, who recently took home the KOM jersey at the Tour de Luxembourg, and trusted lead-out man Bert Van Lerberghe.
“We have a strong team for what will be a hard race. We should have bad weather – rain, wind and cold – which is quite normal for this time of the year. It’s going to be a very demanding day, not just because of the weather, but also due to the course. The entire race is challenging, including the laps around Binche, featuring narrow roads and some cobbles, but we are confident in our chances and hope to get a good result”, explained Soudal Quick-Step sports director Iljo Keisse.
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
Niklas Behrens (20) will race for Team Visma | Lease a Bike for the next three years. The Dutch WorldTeam sees significant potential in the young German cyclist, who took the world U23 title past week, and will guide him in taking the next step in his career.
Behrens has only been fully focused on cycling for three years. Before that, he was a swimmer and triathlete. During his three years as a cyclist, Behrens has shown impressive development that caught the attention of Team Visma | Lease a Bike even before he became world champion past week. With the Dutch WorldTeam, he will have the opportunity to continue his development for the next three years.
Niklas Behrens
“I’m super happy to join Team Visma | Lease a Bike,” said Behrens. “This is a team I’ve always looked up to due to the high level of professionalism. I’m really looking forward to being part of such a great team.”
The young German excels on classic terrain and in time trials but stands out primarily because of his all-around profile. “I hope to discover my true specialty in the coming years with the help of the team. I believe I can perform well in classics, but I also want to further develop my time-trialing skills. Additionally, I’m not slow in a sprint, which is important for winning races.”
Grischa Niermann, on behalf of the sportive management of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, is pleased with the addition of his young compatriot. “Niklas is a rider with a lot of potential. He caught our attention over the past two years in several races, including the recent Tour de l’Avenir. He hasn’t been racing for long and has a lot of progression margin. We are confident that we can guide him to the next step in his still early career.”
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The team sent me this schedule:
Elfstedenrace: OCT 2
Joey van Rhee - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach:
"Elfstedenrace takes place over the historic areas of Friesland, where the parcours passes all the cities from the famous Elfstedentocht ice-skating event. It’s a race where the weather will have a big influence on the day, and last year we missed out in the echelons. Therefore, we need to be sharp from the beginning and with good motivation and commitment, we want to put ourselves in the position to go for the best possible result. If the weather doesn’t play too much of an effect and it comes to a sprint, then we will support Fabio as our finisher.”
Line-up:
Alex Edmondson (AUS)
Nils Eekhoff (NED)
Fabio Jakobsen (NED)
Emils Liepins (LAT)
Tim Naberman (NED)
Timo Roosen (NED)
Bram Welten (NED)
Münsterland Giro: OCT 3
Roy Curvers - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach:
"Münsterland Giro is a classic end of season race in Germany, where we will start with a line-up that can compete for a top result in multiple scenarios. In previous years we have seen the race often end in a bunch sprint, so if that is the case this year then we will aim to set-up Fabio as finisher for that. However, if the race unfolds in a more aggressive, classics-style race then we have cards to play in the attacks too, who can rely on fast legs when they are in a strong move."
Line-up:
Patrick Eddy (AUS)
Nils Eekhoff (NED)
Fabio Jakobsen (NED)
Tim Naberman (NED)
Timo Roosen (NED)
Julius van den Berg (NED)
Bram Welten (NED)
Giro dell'Emilia: OCT 5
Kelvin Dekker - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach:
"Our Italian double-header gets underway with Giro dell’Emilia, which is a nice race that includes the beautiful San Luca finish climb. Last year Juliette proved that she could compete here for the win, when we took third, and that is what we’ll be trying to do again this year. Next to setting up Juliette as our finisher for the last climb, we have multiple strong riders who can play a meaningful role in short but very hard final if things open before the last climb."
Line-up:
Francesca Barale (ITA)
Eleonora Ciabocco (ITA)
Juliette Labous (FRA)
Josie Nelson (GBR)
Becky Storrie (GBR)
Nienke Vinke (NED)
Paris – Tours: OCT 6
Christian Guiberteau - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach
"Paris-Tours is always a tricky and tough race with the gravel sections and climbs in the final part of the day. The weather can also have an impact on the race as echelons are possible along the open and exposed route. We want to ride aggressively from the start of the day and begin the race in a good way so that we are not behind the facts; meaning we will look for the right moves early on with the team. Through good teamwork we hope to come into the final in a position where we have options and chances depending on how the race then unfolds."
Line-up:
Patrick Eddy (AUS)
Alex Edmondson (AUS)
Nils Eekhoff (NED)
Emils Liepins (LAT)
Tim Naberman (NED)
Timo Roosen (NED)
Julius van den Berg (NED)
Paris - Tours Espoirs: OCT 6:
Joey van Rhee - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach
"This will be the last race of the season for our Development program, so we’re all really motivated to end the year well. It is a nice and interesting parcours, with some altitude meters and some spectacular gravel sections alongside that. In our previous race as a team, we made good improvements with our Development program riders and that is what we want to continue here. We want to create opportunities for ourselves to do the basics, such as positioning, in a good way and by doing that and working as a team, we hope to then make the next steps."
Line-up:
Vincent Bodet (FRA)
Ryan Gal (NED)
Axel Källberg (FIN)
Oliver Peace (GBR)
Frank Aron Ragilo (EST)
Simac Ladies Tour: OCT 8 - 13:
Albert Timmer - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach
"Simac Ladies Tour is the last stage-race of the season for our Women’s program. It’s a race where we have some nice memories of with stage wins and good results in the past. This year has a similar route to previous years, with a time trial, several sprint opportunities then the finishing day in Arnhem. We have a strong sprint group at the race so we will aim for those fast finishes with Charlotte. We will also keep an eye on the overall GC with Franziska, but that also depends on the weather conditions because if there is no wind, then the days might not be too selective."
Line-up:
Silje Bader (NED)
Rachele Barbieri (ITA)
Daniek Hengeveld (NED)
Megan Jastrab (USA)
Franziska Koch (GER)
Charlotte Kool (NED)
Elise Uijen (NED)
Tre Valli Varesine: OCT 8:
Pim Ligthart - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach
"The first race of our autumn campaign in Italy will be held on a slightly changed parcours this year. The finish line is in the same location but the run to the line is via a different climb, and the second ascent on the course is also slightly different. Nevertheless, we expect a similar race as last year where a reduced bunch fought for the victory. We line-up with a strong climbing group and have multiple cards to play in the final. With Romain [Bardet] and Warren we have two guys who can follow late attacks and with the likes of Kevin we have a fast finisher if it comes up to a reduced sprint towards the line.”
Line-up:
Romain Bardet (FRA)
Warren Barguil (FRA)
Romain Combaud (FRA)
Chris Hamilton (AUS)
Gijs Leemreize (NED)
Martijn Tusveld (NED)
Kevin Vermaerke (USA)
Tre Valli Varesine: OCT 8:
Kelvin Dekker - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach
"Tre Valli Varesine is the last race of the season for our climbing squad within our Women’s program. We take the same strong line-up from Emilia into this race, and we want to utilise that strength from the flag drop until the finish line. We want to ride an attacking race where we will try to create opportunities that give us the upper hand through some good teamwork."
Line-up:
Francesca Barale (ITA)
Eleonora Ciabocco (ITA)
Juliette Labous (FRA)
Josie Nelson (GBR)
Becky Storrie (GBR)
Nienke Vinke (NED)
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