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Saturday, August 9, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. - Albert Einstein
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:
- August 4 - 10: Tour of Poland
- August 5 - 9: Vuelta a Burgos
- August 7 - 10: Arctic Race of Norway
Upcoming racing:
- August 12 - 16: Tour of Denmark
- August 17: Hamburg Cyclassics
Latest completed racing:
- August 6 - 8: Tour de l'Ain
- August 3: Circuito de Getxo
- August 2: San Sebastian Classic
- July 26 - July 30: Tour de Wallonie
- July 27: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
- July 5 - 27: Tour de France
- June 21 - 29: Most national road championships
- June 24: Giro dell'Appennino
- June 15 - 22: Tour de Suisse
- June 18 - 22: Baloise Belgium Tour
We posted the report from stage winner Matthew Brennan's Team Visma | Lease a Bike with the results.
Here's the report from second-place Ben Turner's Team INEOS Grenadiers:
Ben Turner made it three top-two finishes in a row at the Tour de Pologne with a closely fought second place on stage five.
Once again the Brit latched on to a strong leadout from Michal Kwiatkowski in the final metres, and despite coming back at stage winner Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike), he was just unable to overhaul his compatriot at the line.
Ben Turner finishes just behind Matthew Brennan
The runner-up finish continued Turner’s momentum and extended his grip on the white points jersey heading into the final weekend. The bunch sprint, despite some tough climbs on the day, was also a benefit to Victor Langellotti, who finished 11th to remain well placed in second overall. The Grenadier is just eight seconds off the overall lead with two days to go.
The team committed early on to help control the stage and ensure the day’s break were held in check. Michael Leonard got through a lot of kilometres on the front throughout the 206.1km test.
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Third-place Andrea Bagioli's Team Lidl-Trek posted this Tour of Poland report:
After Mathias Vacek took second on stage 2, Bagioli third on stage 3 and our fast-man Teutenberg taking third on yesterday’s stage 4, Andrea once again crossed the line on today’s fifth stage in third place in a fast finish in Zakopane. Despite a climb in the final 20km, the stage came down to a reduced bunch sprint on the uphill drag to the line.
A four-man breakaway had been up the road almost all day but the Lidl-Trek men made sure they were reeled back in just outside 10km from the finish as the peloton battled it out for the win, with several attacks in the finale but ultimately everything coming together for the sprint.
Andrea Bagioli winning stage 7 of the 2022 Tour of Catalonia. Sirotti photo
With a strong lead-out from Sam Oomen and Jacopo Mosca inside the final kilometre, it looked like Andrea could be set to take the top step on the podium but a very early sprint from stage winner Brennan of Visma Lease a Bike and runner up Ben Turner of Ineos Grenadiers meant our punchy Italian had to settle for third.
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Fourth-place Andrea Raccagni's Team Soudal Quick-Step posted this Tour of Poland report:
Andrea Raccagni finished an impressive fourth from a select group on the longest stage of the Tour de Pologne, picking up his best result of the year in Zakopane, one of the traditional finishes of the race. On a day with four climbs and more than 2700 meters of climbing, the 21-year-old Italian produced a strong effort to make it over all these ascents and remain with the small peloton, despite the pace becoming a relentless one in the final 20 kilometers.
On top of that, Raccagni still found some extra energy to sprint at the end and conclude just outside the podium the stage won by Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike), racking up his fourth top ten of the season.
Andrea Raccagni
“I thought the climb would be really hard, but surprisingly, I felt good there and remained with the main group, taking the best wheels. I was hoping Paul would come back so I could help him, but then we changed the plan and I played my chance in the finale. I tried to go as soon as Brennan launched his sprint, but I just couldn’t match his speed after a day with 3000 meters of climbing. Nevertheless, I am content with my result, it’s really good for the confidence to see that I could be there after such a day”, Andrea said at the finish.
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Before Raccagni hit the spotlight at the finish, it was another T-Rex Quick-Step rider who animated the day. Martin Svrcek was part of the four-man breakaway that took off moments after the start and stayed at the front for almost 180 kilometers, putting in a solid effort there with each pedal turn and showing encouraging signs for the next races.
“At one point, we had six minutes and we were working well together, but we knew it wasn’t enough for a stage as long as this. I felt good at the front, did my best in the group and kept believing in our chances, but it wasn’t meant to be. Still, it was a good effort and I’m glad to see that my form is on an upward trajectory”, Martin explained.
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