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Saturday, April 12, 2025

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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. - Michael Jordan

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Les Woodland's book Paris-Roubaix: The Inside Story - All the bumps of cycling's cobbled classic is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Current racing:

• April 7 - 12: Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
• April 12-13: Paris-Roubaix

Upcoming racing:

• April 18: De Brabantse Pijl

Latest completed racing:

• April 8 - 11: Region Pays de la Loire Tour
• April 9: Scheldeprijs
• April 6: Ronde van Vlaanderen
• April 5: GP Miguel Indurain
• April 5: Volta NXT Classic
• April 4: Route Adélie de Vitre
• April 2: Dwars door Vlaanderen
• April 2: Paris - Camembert Lepetit
• March 24 - 30: Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
• March 30: Gent - Wevelgem
• March 30: La Roue Tourangelle

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Vuelta al Pais Vasco stage five reports

We posted the report from the race organizer with the results.

Here's the report from stage winner Ben Healy's Team EF Education-EasyPost:

Ben and his EF Education-EasyPost teammate Alex Baudin got in the break of the day, working to increase the break’s advantage over the peloton as the race twisted its way across the day’s four categorized climbs. With 55 kilometers to go, Ben knew the moment was right for him to attack.

“It was a strong group,” Ben said at the finish. "We didn’t want to risk it so I went in the tailwind and I really had some good legs today and was just able to keep extending the gap and made it stick to the line.”

The Irish rider quickly opened a gap that soon stretched to two minutes. When he had the finish line in his sight, Ben glanced over his shoulder and confirmed the chasing peloton was nowhere to be found. Satisfied the win would be his, he raised his arms, inviting the crowds to celebrate alongside him.

Ben Healy wins stage five.

“I knew I had good legs today and just glad I could finish it off like I did,” he said.

One stage remains in Itzulia Basque Country before Ben will turn his attention to the punchy climbs of the Ardennes. Today’s win may be a harbinger of what to expect next weekend.

“[My] shape is really good. I came here with the GC ambition but things went wrong for me the past couple of days and a bit of a shock to the system with the heat but it’s cooled down today and the form’s right there so nothing to worry about,” Ben said.

It was clear Ben enjoyed not only taking the win, but the entire stage.

“We had two guys out of six [in the break] so we knew we could play and that’s what we did,” he said.

Here's the report from second-place Axel Laurance's Team INEOS Grenadiers:

Axel Laurance put in a gutsy, attacking performance to seal a hard-earned second place on stage five of Itzulia Basque Country.

Laurance pushed in the closing kilometres to bridge the gap to solo leader Ben Healy (EF Education First), who went on to win the stage, before finally going clear of the peloton to finish second.

The INEOS Grenadiers lined up for the pre-race teams presentation ceremony.

The result is the team’s second podium of the week in the Basque Country, following on from Caleb Ewan’s sprint win on stage two.

Earlier, the Grenadiers had combined well to help keep a dangerous early breakaway in check, with Healy one of seven escapees who amassed an early lead.

The chase was led by UAE Team Emirates but started to dwindle as Healy escaped the  break and went solo, which saw Omar Fraile take to the front to add some urgency into the peloton’s pursuit.

Fraile’s acceleration was the catalyst for an increased tempo, albeit Healy retained a healthy advantage, so Laurance took matters into his own hands with 18 kilometres remaining.

The French rider attacked on an undulating climb which punctuated the hilly stage, only to be caught by the riders behind.

Counter-attacks reigned in, but the 23 year old remained resolute before biding his time to then strike with two kilometres remaining to steal a march on the bunch and secure second place.

And here's the report from third-place Simone Velasco's Team XDS-Astana:

On Stage 5 of the Itzulia Basque Country, which finished in Gernika, XDS Astana Team rider Simone Velasco took third place by winning the sprint from the group of favorites that finished just behind the solo stage winner and another rider who launched a late attack before the finish.

In the General Classification, Velasco moved up to 9th place, while Clément Champoussin, who finished 9th on the stage, now sits 12th overall.

Simone Velasco racing in the 2023 Amstel Gold Race. Sirotti photo

“Three hard stages in a row here at the Itzulia Basque Country — again lots of climbing, constant fights for position in the bunch, and you need to stay fully focused the whole time. The team really supported me well today, the guys did a great job, and both Clément and I were in a good position before the final climb. The pace was high, the group split, but my legs responded well, so I was able to stay with the favorites. It was impossible to catch the rider who had gone up the road, so I focused on fighting for the podium and ended up in third place. Overall, I feel in good shape. Tomorrow we’ll fight again and see what’s possible. In any case, this race is excellent preparation for the Ardennes Classics”, – said Simone Velasco.

Team Groupama-FDJ posted this Vuelta al Pais Vasco stage five report:

Groupama-FDJ and Romain Grégoire had high expectations for the fifth stage of the Tour of the Basque Country on Friday. Unfortunately, the Frenchman was unable to compete for the stage victory, as Ben Healy, a member of the early breakaway, managed to win solo two minutes ahead of the bunch. Within this group, the young puncher took fifth, while Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet and Brieuc Rolland also finished in this group on the eve of the queen stage around Eibar.

One last opportunity was on the table this Friday for the punchers on the roads of the Basque Country. Several climbs marked the 172-kilometre course between Urduña and Gernika-Lumo, with a final difficulty located some twenty kilometers from the finish, and the Groupama-FDJ squad had real ambitions. “It’s a day we had in mind for the stage victory, but we also knew that it wasn’t going to be easy,” explained Benoît Vaugrenard. “We knew that a breakaway could be dangerous, and that it would be made up of strong guys if the start was fast. With the tailwind, that’s what happened.”

Romain Grégoire (shown finishing stage three) finished fifth on stage five.

After about fifteen kilometres, six men, and not just anybody, took the lead: Pello Bilbao, Julian Alaphilippe, Warren Barguil, Alex Baudin, Ben Healy and Bruno Armirail. In the first hour of racing, the group built itself a lead of two and a half minutes. “Given who was in the breakaway, we asked Clément [Davy] to pull in the pack to maintain the gap,” added Benoît. “He did a great job, so well done to him.”

With the help of other teams, the gap reduced to two minutes with 60 kilometres to go, but then Ben Healy broke away from the breakaway and the chase became less intense within the bunch. “Unfortunately for us, there was a stronger rider today,” said Benoît. “Healy put on a great ride by going with 50 kilometres to go, and with the headwind. In the back, we did what we had to do, but everyone in the peloton was exhausted and there was no one to close the two-minute gap.” On the final climb, the Irishman lost almost nothing to the best in the peloton, who still engaged in a small battle. Romain Grégoire and Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet followed without problem, while Brieuc Rolland came back in the final three kilometres. In a thirty-man sprint, Romain Grégoire then took fifth place on the stage.

“The only regret is that other teams didn’t come to chase earlier, but we can’t do anything about it,” concluded Benoît. “The team worked very well again, and that’s the positive thing of today. Now, it’s time for the queen stage tomorrow. We’ll be supporting Guillaume 100%, and the goal is to get into the top 10. Everyone is very tired; we know that endurance is Guillaume’s strength, so I think he’ll be fine.”

Overall, the Frenchman is in thirteenth place on Friday evening while Brieuc Rolland, now twenty-first, has retained his blue jersey as best young rider.

Here's the report from GC second-place Max Schachmann's Team Soudal Quick-Step:

The peloton started from Urduña on Friday and travelled to the city of Gernika – the spiritual, the sentimental capital of Euskadi – immortalized by the great Pablo Picasso in his 1937 masterpiece – a timeless anti-war allegory dominated by its symbols and references to different mythologies and historical events.

Situated in the valley of the Oca river, Gernika welcomed the bunch 56 years after its first presence on the route of Itzulia Basque Country, this time coming at the end of a 172.3km stage that featured seven climbs, four of which were classified. It was a day for a breakaway, Ben Healy EF Education-Easy Post) emerging victorious after attacking from the small group that had a maximum advantage of three minutes on the peloton.

Max Schachmann won the yellow jersey in stage one and kept it until stage four.

Max Schachmann started the day sitting in third on the general classification, and despite being distanced on the last ascent when an injection of pace at the front of the peloton split the yellow jersey group, the German fought admirably again and clawed back time, making it back just before the top of the climb. As a result, Schachmann remained second on the general classification podium, 19 seconds ahead of Soudal Quick-Step teammate Ilan Van Wilder, who sits fourth going into the complicated stage six around Eibar.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike posted this report:

It was far from an ideal day for Team Visma | Lease a Bike in the Basque Country. The team lost Ben Tulett even before the stage got underway, while Axel Zingle was forced to abandon mid-race. There was some good news too: Wilco Kelderman held his ground with the favourites without any issues.

Tulett, winner of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, decided in consultation with the team to take some rest ahead of the upcoming Ardennes classics. As a result, he did not take to the start.

Ben Tulettt winning this year's Coppi-Bartali race. Sirotti photo

Zingle did start the stage but crashed after only a few kilometres. The Frenchman, currently in his first season with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, was unable to continue and opted to step into the team car.

Kelderman later comfortably maintained his place in the group of favourites, which finished just under two minutes behind Irish stage winner Ben Healy. With one stage remaining, Kelderman still holds sixth place in the general classification.

Sports director Jesper Mørkøv offered some context regarding the withdrawals of Tulett and Zingle. “Together with Ben, we decided it was best for him to step out of the race. He’s had a very strong spring so far, and we now want to give him some rest to ensure he’s in top shape for the Ardennes. That’s an important period for him”, the Dane explained.

“As for Axel, we don’t have any updates at the moment”, Mørkøv added. “He crashed early in the stage and couldn’t continue. We’ll have to wait and see how he’s doing. It’s too soon to say anything more definitive.”

And here's the Tour of the Basque Country report from Team Picnic-PostNL:

Hard racing at Itzulia Basque Country continued on Friday for the fifth day of action. With a rolling parcours, it looked like a potentially good day for the breakaway so as a result it was a fast and aggressive start. Team Picnic PostNL rode well and infiltrated the move of six with Warren Barguil. However, with only five teams represented, those that missed the move kept the group close and the gap never really extended further than three minutes. With around 40 kilometres to go Healy launched from the break, on what would ultimately be a stage winning move. Barguil and the remnants of the break were caught, so the team fully focused on positioning Oscar Onley ahead of the last steep climb. Coming over the top of it in the reduced yellow jersey group, Onley stayed in that group until the line where he finished the day in 13th place; and holding onto a spot just outside the top ten on GC ahead of the final stage.

Oscar Onley at the 2024 Tour of Switzerland. Sirotti photo

Onley said: “Warren made it in a really strong break today but unfortunately the peloton was aware of their strength and rode hard all day. Gijs did a really good job guiding me throughout the stage and positioning me into the final climb. I rode within myself aware that it would be difficult to make a difference today. I’m keen to go for it tomorrow and try and make something from the week.”

Paris-Roubaix team updates

Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG sent me this:

After a hugely successful start to the year for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the team slowly makes the transition from the Flanders Classics to the Ardennes in Belgium with a brief but important stop in France for the legendary Paris-Roubaix on Sunday (April 13).

With 24 victories on the board already this season, the team are on a roll with the latest of those wins coming last weekend at the Tour of Flanders through the flying World Champion, Tadej Pogačar.

Pogačar will make his long-awaited debut on the gruelling 260km course from Compiegne to the velodrome in Roubaix and will go into the race as one of the firm favourites given his victory last weekend in Flanders.

Tadej Pogacar wins the 2025 Tour of Flanders. Sirotti photo

The Slovenian will be supported this weekend by an ensemble cast of talent, including two former podium finishers at Paris-Roubaix through Florian Vermeersch (2nd, 2021) and Nils Politt (2nd, 2019)

Pogačar: “Paris-Roubaix is a completely different race, it’s new territory, but I fully accept the challenge. I’ll try to do my best. We have a very strong team for this race, with guys who have lots of experience and we can use this to our advantage. It will be a very hard race but I think with the shape I have now that this is the right moment to give it a try at least. We had a great battle last weekend at Flanders and I hope we can put on a good show again this Sunday.”

Sports Directors Fabio Baldato (Ita) and Marco Marcato (Ita) will take charge for the race.

Paris-Roubaix [1.UWT] – 13-Apr-2025

• Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
• Sebastian Molano (Col)
• Antonio Morgado (Por)
• Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
• Nils Politt (Ger)
• Florian Vermeersch (Bel)
• Tim Wellens (Bel)

Here's the Paris-Roubaix update from Team Lotto:

This weekend, one of the most iconic races is on the schedule: Paris-Roubaix, also known as "the Hell of the North." A race where character and luck collide in a relentless setting of cobblestones, dust, and perhaps even some mud. "A lot will depend on the weather. I’ve already raced in the rain in two editions of the youth race, so I know what it’s like," says Alec Segaert as he looks ahead.

Alec Segaert, for whom Roubaix is not too far from home, remains calm and realistic. He knows better than anyone that nothing in Paris-Roubaix is ever guaranteed. "A lot will depend on the weather," he shares. "If it does rain, the race will become much more dangerous, nervous, and, of course, a lot harder. I have already raced in the rain in two junior editions, so I know what it’s like. It does not really matter to me."

Alec Segaert racing in the 2024 Renewi Tour.

He has made a strong impression in previous editions, but unfortunately, bad luck has often held him back. "Last year I had three punctures, which made it hard to achieve a good result, so I hope to avoid that this year. If I do, I believe I can get far into the finale. My condition is good, and I have been enjoying racing in the last few weeks. Paris-Roubaix is one of the classics that suits me best."

Such experience is priceless on a course that forgives nothing. Alec knows the pitfalls and understands that positioning, timing, and a bit of luck are just as important as physical strength. "Most of the cobbled sectors are familiar to me by now," he continues. "I am hoping for a similar scenario to last year. With the wind, it is advantageous for the team to take the initiative, and I hope to be in the right position when it matters. With the teammates we have at the start, something should definitely be possible," he says, looking determined ahead to Sunday.

Cedric Beullens is also excited to finally complete his spring classics campaign. "I am really happy that I will be able to race Paris-Roubaix right after my illness. Iam really looking forward to it because It is such a beautiful race. Last year, things were looking great for a good result until my crash. So, I am determined to make it right this time. It will not be easy, but my feeling on the cobbles during the recon was good, so I am really looking forward to being at the start line on Sunday," he shares.

Here's the Paris-Roubaix news from Team Israel-Premier Tech:

“I know this is going to be the craziest race I’ve ever done — by far,” says Israeli champion Oded Kogut, who is set to make his debut in the legendary Paris-Roubaix this Sunday, racing in the colors of Israel – Premier Tech.

“But honestly, I can’t even begin to imagine just how crazy it will be.”

The 24-year-old sprinter from Haifa wasn’t originally slated to start in this year’s edition, but a last-minute illness of a teammate opened up a spot — and Kogut jumped at the opportunity. He’ll be tackling the 259 kilometers and 30 brutal cobblestone sectors with a bruised hand from a recent crash.

Team Israel-Premier Tech riders training on the Paris-Roubaix course. Sirotti photo

He says: “Even before the season began, I asked the team for a shot at this race, and I was included in the wider squad. It’s a dream for me to take part in a race I grew up watching.”

On Thursday, Kogut got his first taste of just how tough the challenge will be, as the team reconned some of the race’s cobbled sectors — including the infamous 2.3 km stretch through the Arenberg Forest, arguably the most feared sector of them all.

“I saw black,” he says with a half-smile. “It was hard just holding the handlebars. I felt like I was entering some wild and unforgiving territory — but it’s also thrilling and magnetic.”

This will be the 125th edition of the “Hell of the North” — first held way back in 1896 — and IPT is coming in with a well-rounded lineup, though without a clear-cut leader. The squad includes previous top-10 finishers Tom Van Asbroeck (Belgium) and Güillaume Boivin (Canada), as well as in-form Hugo Hofstetter (France), who finished fifth at Gent – Wevelgem at the end of March.

Kogut’s role will be to help position the team’s leaders near the front of the peloton — or what’s left of it — ahead of the first major cobblestone sector, which comes after nearly 100 kilometers of racing. His personal goal is clear: to survive the chaos and finish the race.

Last season, his good friend Nadav Raisberg managed to finish Paris-Roubaix, and Itamar Einhorn also delivered a strong performance in a past edition. So while Paris-Roubaix is far from a sprinter’s paradise, Kogut believes the mission is possible.

“I’m a strong, technical rider who knows how to position well,” he adds. ”I’ve already done plenty of hard races in Belgium — though none quite like this. Am I nervous? Of course. But I’m also incredibly excited for the chance to push myself to the absolute limit.”

Behind the peloton, in the team car, Steve Bauer will be calling the shots. Bauer knows Paris – Roubaix, and to this day has the title of the rider who lost the race by the smallest of margins, coming just millimeters short of the win in 1990.

“Paris – Roubaix is one of the most demanding, yet exciting, races to line up for,” adds Bauer. “We have a very motivated group of riders who are ready for the challenge to race at the front, which is the only place to fight for once the cobble sectors begin. Oded Kogut, Riley Pickrell, and Michael Schwarzmann will play key roles in supporting their teammates while we are expecting Tom Van Asbroeck, Hugo Hofstetter, Riley Sheehan, and Guillaume Boivin to race aggressively when leading teams begin attacking.

“Without bad luck and with confidence, these men will make key selections as the race evolves toward Arenberg and beyond. Wwe look forward to a strong race from our IPT team.”

Israel – Premier Tech for Paris-Roubaix (Sunday April 13):
Riders: Guillaume Boivin (Canada), Hugo Hofstetter (France), Oded Kogut (Israel), Riley Pickrell (Canada), Michael Schwarzmann (Germany), Riley Sheehan (USA), Tom Van Asbroeck (Belgium)

Sports Directors: Steve Bauer (Canada), Pat McCarty (USA), Rene Andrle (Czechia)

And here's the Paris-Roubaix news from Team Q36.5 Pro Cycling:

Frederik Frison sadly had to miss most of the classics, just like he did last year but he is back in time for Paris-Roubaix. He looks back at the past weeks watching cycling on his couch and looks forward to Sunday’s race.

“I think I caught the flu in Ruta del Sol,” he reflects. “But it was only after my crash in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad that it really started to break through. The body was weakened by that crash and then it hit me. It had been twelve years since I had flu and this time it was followed by a bacterial lung infection keeping me off the bike for weeks and out of my favourite races for the second year. I watched the team from the couch which wasn’t easy, but it was great to see how hard everyone worked. Now I get to be part of the team again and that feels good. I can’t wait.”

Frison already started Scheldeprijs on Wednesday contributing to the third place of Matteo Moschetti. It was his first race day in over a month.

Matto Moschetti winning stage 5 of the 2025 AlUla Tour

“It took some getting used to the racing,” he explains. “I did feel those first real efforts in the race, but I felt better towards the end of the race. That’s where the engine started kicking in. It’s a good sign you feel better towards the end of the race. It means this period of illness is now behind me. It wasn’t easy to miss out, but I was happy with the support of the sports directors and my trainer Théo Ouvrard. They already knew my level was really good in Alula Tour and Ruta del Sol and that I would come back strong.”

Scheldeprijs and especially Paris-Roubaix were always on his mind in those hard days of recovery. It’s his sixth participation. The first time in the Hell of the North was in 2016, nine years ago, when he was just 23. Paradoxically, he holds the best memories of a year where he suffered the most himself.

“It was the wet edition of 2021,” Frederik looks back. “I had two flat tyres and was far behind the actual race, but Paris-Roubaix is a race you want to finish. Entering that velodrome is something magical. When I did arrive there in 2021, with about a minute to spare before the time cut, I saw that my good friend Florian Vermeersch finished in second place. That truly made my day.”

This Sunday the weather predictions show some rain and quite a strong tailwind. The race will be fast and hard, Frison thinks.

“It will be another edition to remember, like Roubaix always is. It’s the most special of the monuments. It’s such an honest race. The race is always man against man. Bad luck plays a role, but I would like to think I had my share of that by now,” he smiles.

“It’s also a race that suits me well and that is a bonus. I hope to have a good day on Sunday and to be part of the race. One thing is for sure: the rider winning Roubaix never stole it. The winner of this race always truly earned the big prize.”

Next up for Frison is the Ronde van Limburg, not far from his home in Geel. He is also on the long list for the Giro d’Italia.

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team line-up: Frederik Frison, Marcel Camprubí, Jannik Steimle, Rory Townsend, Joey Pidcock, Matteo Moschetti and Giacomo Nizzolo.

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