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Thursday, August 21, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle. - Walt Whitman
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2020: The Tour During Covid-19, Better Late Than Never is available in both Kindle eBook and Audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- August 19 - 22: Tour du Limousin
- August 20 - 24: Renewi Tour
Upcoming racing:
- August 23 - September 14: Vuelta a España
Latest completed racing:
- August 17: Hamburg Cyclassics
- August 17: La Polynormande
- August 12 - 16: Tour of Denmark
- August 15: Circuit Franco-Belge
- August 4 - 10: Tour of Poland
- August 7 - 10: Arctic Race of Norway
- August 5 - 9: Vuelta a Burgos
- August 6 - 8: Tour de l'Ain
- August 3: Circuito de Getxo
- August 2: San Sebastian Classic
We posted the report from stage winner Tim Merlier's Team Soudal Quick-Step with the results.
Here's the report from fourth-place Pavel Bittner's Team Picnic-PostNL:
The Renewi Tour got underway with the only stage that takes place in the Netherlands this week, as the peloton were faced with a flat 182 kilometre route from Terneuzen to Breskens. With the threat of wind and potential crosswinds throughout the day, it made for a fast stage. The original break was caught and a 16 rider group, that featured Team Picnic PostNL’s Frank van den Broek, went clear with over 90 kilometres to race. Their advantage was only ever allowed to reach 45 seconds at most and they were brought back with around five kilometres to go.
From there, the team looked to set-up the sprint with finisher Pavel Bittner. A strong lead-out from the team, and in particular last-man Nils Eekhoff, saw the squad navigate the chaos of the closing kilometres, with Eekhoff dropping Bittner off with around 200 metres to go. From there, Bittner could launch his sprint into clean air and eventually crossed the line in a strong fourth place – and something to build on for the coming days.
Tim Merlier was the day's fastest rider.
Bittner expressed: “We went into today knowing that it would be a stressful day with the wind. In the final we wanted to go for a sprint with me but in keep in mind the GC with Nils, and I think we did a pretty good job. At one point it really started racing in teh bunch and a group of 16 went with Frank in there for us which made it a lot safer and better for us. We were then gliding around the front to make sure that nothing happened or went without us. Coming into the final I found my good legs from the Tour, and I was feeling really good. Alex and then Nils did a really good job, and Nils basically placed me on 230 metres to go. I was second wheel and felt confident so I launched, but I had some strong guys on my wheel and they went around so in the end it was a fourth place. On one hand I really wanted to win today but it’s a good sign for the rest of the week and tomorrow we have another chance to go for it, so I think it was a nice day to kick off the racing here.”
Here's the Renewi Tour report from seventh-place Olav Kooij's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Olav Kooij sprinted to seventh place in the opening stage of the Renewi Tour. The Dutch rider crashed in the finale but managed to get back into the bunch just in time to contest the sprint. In the end, however, he was unable to launch his sprint to full effect, making seventh place the maximum achievable result.
From the start in Terneuzen, the pace was high right away. With 100 kilometers remaining, the first echelons formed in the peloton, after which a dangerous group of sixteen riders managed to break clear. The black-and-yellow formation took responsibility in the chase.
In the final local lap, the breakaway was eventually caught by the peloton. What followed was a chaotic finale, in which Kooij and Dan McLay crashed with four kilometers to go. After excellent work from Christophe Laporte, Kooij was still able to join the bunch sprint, finishing seventh.
Olav Kooij earlier this year at the Tour of Poland. Sirotti photo
“The damage is fortunately not too bad,” Kooij reflected. “I was able to continue quickly, but of course I had already wasted quite a bit of energy to come back, which made my chances much smaller today. Luckily, I feel good, and the goal remains to win a stage in the coming days. Tomorrow we will give it our all again to go for the victory.”
Sports director Marc Reef also saw positives despite the crash. “The team rode well together today. It’s a pity that Olav couldn’t do his best sprint because of the crash, but otherwise it looked excellent. Unfortunately, Dan came off worse in the crash and did not make it to the finish.”
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And here's the Renew Tour report from Team Groupama-FDJ:
The Renewi Tour got off to a flying start this Wednesday in the Netherlands. Despite a first stage made for the sprinters, the race proved quite intense in the second half after the formation of a large and strong breakaway. Thanks, in particular, to the work of the Groupama-FDJ cycling team, it all came back together towards the finish, but Paul Penhoët was unable to find his way through in the final sprint (20th). The young Frenchman will have another opportunity on Thursday.
Paul Penhoët winning the 2023 Tour du Finistère
Not far from Belgium, southeast of the Netherlands, the Renewi Tour peloton faced a very flat course on Wednesday for the first stage. The day’s insignificant elevation gain suggested nothing other than a bunch sprint in Breskens, after 182 kilometres, and the day began in a very usual way with the formation of an unthreatening, seven-man breakaway. Their lead never exceeded two minutes, but as the halfway point approached, everything changed. “About 100 kilometres from the finish, fourteen riders broke away, and that was much more serious,” said Thierry Bricaud. “It was tense, there was a split, but it wasn’t really about echelons. It was more of a race circumstance. In any case, we weren’t represented in that breakaway, like other teams, and from then on, it was a long chase to try and catch the leading group. There were also some minor echelons that disrupted the peloton’s chase, and the gap always fluctuated between thirty seconds and one minute.”
The battle seemed to turn in the peloton’s favor when, forty-five kilometers from the finish, the gap was reduced to barely twenty seconds. “Valentin pulled first, so as not to get caught in the echelons, and Johan rode afterward as well,” Thierry added. The work of the French team and a few other squads allowed the bunch to keep the gap under thirty seconds in the final hour of racing. Despite the constant pressure, everything seemed to be leading to a sprint.
“However, with ten kilometers to go, the peloton eased off, it got very tricky, and we put more guys to work because we had no choice,” Thierry emphasized. “We had to give Paul a chance to sprint and not jeopardize our chances for the general classification. We had to bridge across, no matter what. Clément [Russo] was forced to ride while he shouldn’t have done so that early, but if he hadn’t, I’m not sure the peloton would have come back.” Thanks to this effort, everything came back together five kilometres from the finish, after almost two hours of fighting.
The final then turned out to be extremely hectic. “Paul was therefore a bit isolated,” Thierry concluded. “He looked for a gap but never found it; the door closed in front of him every time, and he couldn’t make his sprint. There’s no convincing result today, but we’re still in the running for the rest of the race, that’s the most important thing. Tomorrow, we’ll probably have another bunch finish if the wind isn’t that strong, and we’ll try to pull off the great sprint we weren’t able to pull off today.”
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On Saturday, August 23, Intermarché-Wanty will begin its fifth participation in La Vuelta in the Italian city of Turin, with the goal of reaching Madrid on September 14 after brief stints in France and Andorra. Under the direction of Pieter Vanspeybrouck and Steven De Neef, the team will tackle a course with no fewer than ten summit finishes, including the iconic Angliru and Bola del Mundo, a handful of opportunities for sprinters, a team time trial, and an individual time trial.
Starting from Turin, the beginning of this Vuelta holds a special meaning for the Walloon team, as it returns to the city where Biniam Girmay won his first stage in the 2024 Tour de France. The opening stage offers sprinters the opportunity to claim the first red leader’s jersey in the streets of Novara.
From day two, a high-altitude finish looms at Limone Piemonte. On day four, riders will cover the Col du Lautaret, climbing at an altitude of over 2,000 meters for the first time, crossing the Italian border and the Alps towards Voiron, France.
The following day, the peloton will fly to Spain for a 20-kilometer team time trial around Figueres. The center of gravity of the first week will take place in Andorra, before a flat eighth stage to Zaragoza and another uphill finish at the Valdezcaray ski resort.
After the first rest day on September 1, the course will return to the Pyrenees for a final time with a finish at El Ferial Larra Belagua. On day eleven, the Vuelta heads to the Basque Country for a demanding stage around Bilbao, followed by three difficult days in Cantabria with challenging finishes at L’Angliru (12.3 km at 10.1%) and La Farrapona (7 km at 8.5%).
The final week includes a finish at Alto de El Morradero on day seventeen and a flat 26-kilometer individual time trial around Valladolid on day eighteen. The demanding Bola del Mundo (12.5 km at 8.5%), peaking at 2250 meters, will host the queen stage on the penultimate day, before the traditional final criterium in the streets of Madrid.
The team:
South African climber Louis Meintjes, who won a stage with Intermarché-Wanty on Les Praeres in 2022, is preparing for his tenth Vuelta and his twentieth Grand Tour participation, a record for an African cyclist.
Louis Meintjes wins stage 2022 Vuelta a España stage nine. Sirotti photo
Besides Meintjes, who finished eighteenth in this year’s Giro d’Italia, his loyal teammates Dion Smith and Simone Petilli are also doing the Giro-Vuelta double. The New Zealander, who won the Volta NXT Classic, and the Italian climber are taking part in their eighth and tenth Grand Tours, respectively.
Young Huub Artz, a talent from the Wanty-NIPPO-ReUz Development team and the current U23 European champion, is one of three rookies in this selection. He’s had an impressive season as a new professional sp far, with multiple top-10 finishes in time trials to his name.
Finally, a Belgian quartet completes the Intermarché-Wanty selection. Sprinter Arne Marit returns to La Vuelta after finishing just off the podium last year, while Dries De Pooter is making his debut in the race after his first Giro in 2024. Kamiel Bonneu and Luca Van Boven, who joined the team this season, are riding their first Grand Tour.
"True to its reputation, La Vuelta offers a route that will delight climbers. With Louis Meintjes, we have ambitions for the general classification, and given the many summit finishes, we also see several opportunities for him to repeat his feat from the 2022 edition when he won. With Kamiel Bonneu and Simone Petilli, he will have two climbers to support him in the mountains."
"We are well-weaponed for bunch sprints with Arne Marit, and for the more difficult stages with Huub Artz, who can surprise both in a breakaway and in a sprint with a reduced peloton. With Dries De Pooter, Dion Smith, and Luca Van Boven, we can form a good lead out no matter the scenario. The composition of the field of sprinters should determine the dynamic of the stages and, therefore, our tactical approach."
"This selection is a perfect balance between experience and young talent. With riders like Meintjes, Petilli, and Smith, we have created the ideal environment to support our three Grand Tour rookies and two other young Belgians. For Kamiel Bonneu and Luca Van Boven, their first participation in a Grand Tour was part of their development plan when they moved to the World Tour last winter. The same goes for Huub Artz, who has demonstrated his versatile qualities and is ready to take the next step." - Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Sports Director)
And here's the Vuelta a España team announcement from Team Israel-Premier Tech:
Off the back of a successful run of form that includes seven wins since the start of July, Israel – Premier Tech will start its fifth Vuelta a España full of confidence and with a renewed sense of optimism.
As was the case in last year’s Vuelta, IPT will be targeting stage victories in the season’s final Grand Tour, which begins nearly 750 kilometers away from its homeland in Torino, Italy, on Saturday (August 23).
The eight riders tasked with replicating Mike Woods’ victory at Puerto de Ancares in last year’s race include Marco Frigo, who narrowly missed out on a stage win in the 2024 edition, Critérium du Dauphiné stage winner Jake Stewart, and recent Sibiu Cycling Tour winner Matthew Riccitello.
Marco Frigo winning stage three of the 2025 Tour of the Alps.
“I think the theme of the race will be to take and make opportunities,” says Sports Director Daryl Impey. “We’ve got an attacking team, with riders like Marco and Jake who can make the race exciting, and knowing that we don’t have a GC rider, we want to present ourselves on those days where we see that a stage win is possible.”
Also featuring in the team’s line-up are recent seven-time Vuelta finisher George Bennett, Czech climber Jan Hirt, and Israeli rider Nadav Raisberg. British sprinter Ethan Vernon is set to make his debut in the Spanish race, and former Canadian TT champion Pier-André Côte will start the first Grand Tour of his career.
Impey adds: “I think we’ve got a well-balanced team. With Matthew, George, and Jan, we’ve got guys for the high mountains. The sprint days are also super important for us, as we have Ethan to lead us, backed by his trusted lead-out man Jake, and Nadav and Pier-André can also play a role there.”
After coming close to a stage victory in Yunquera on stage 6 in last year’s race, Frigo was already enamoured with the Vuelta. His love for the race will grow even more in 2025, in part because of the start in his native Italy.
“Grand Tours are the races I like to do the most, and I really enjoy the atmosphere, the adventure, and even the fatigue over the three weeks that the Vuelta creates,” says the 25-year-old from Bassano del Grappa.
“To start this year’s race in Italy is something really special. When I saw the Grand Départ being unveiled in Italy, and knowing the passion of the fans in my country, I knew immediately I wanted to be there. My family and friends will be coming to the first stages, so that will make it even more special for me.”
He adds: “The legs were really good in Poland and my preparation has gone really well. It’s always a hard parcours at the Vuelta, but there are a lot of opportunities for hunting stages. I think it is suitable for us to approach nearly every stage with different scenarios.
“There will be some hard climbs, some tricky descents, and, of course, the weather can have an impact. We have to be ready for everything.”
Vernon has already enjoyed success in Spain this season – he won stage 2 of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in March – and is looking at Saturday’s opening stage into Novara as another great opportunity.
He says: “I’m super excited to be starting my first Vuelta. It’s going to be a tough edition for sprinters, but four stages have caught my eye.
“The race starts with a potential sprint and jerseys up for grabs, so I’m motivated to start strong. To have Jake with me for the sprints will be great, too. The build-up has all gone well with a good altitude camp into the Tour of Poland, followed by some recovery. I’m super excited to see what I can achieve at a Grand Tour.”
Raisberg, the 24-year-old from Kibbutz Dafna in northern Israel, will start his second Vuelta in Torino on Saturday and the third Grand Tour of his young professional career.
“It’s a huge honor to represent Israel in one of cycling’s biggest races, and I’m determined to make it count,” he says. “I’m coming into my second Grand Tour far better prepared than last year, after a strong altitude camp in Livigno and the Tour of Poland, where I sharpened my form.
“We have a powerful squad aiming for stage wins, and my main role will be to help leaders and our sprinters achieve that. I also hope to get my own chance later in the race, most likely from a breakaway.”
IPT at the Vuelta a España (Saturday August 23 – Sunday September 14)
Riders: George Bennett (NZL), Pier-André Côté (CAN), Marco Frigo (ITA), Jan Hirt (CZE), Nadav Raisberg (ISR), Matthew Riccitello (USA), Jake Stewart (GBR), Ethan Vernon (GBR)
Sports Directors: Daryl Impey (RSA), Oscar Guerrero (ESP), Rene Mandri (EST)
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
Lidl-Trek is pleased to announce that Belgian rouleur Edward Theuns has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him with Lidl-Trek through 2027.
Theuns has been a mainstay in the squad for nine seasons, playing key roles in the classics, leadouts, and on occasion as a sprinter. Over the course of his career, he has claimed 10 victories, ranging from stage races to one-day semi-classics. This spring, four years after his last triumph, Theuns returned to the top step with an emotional victory at the Bredene Koksijde Classic—celebrated with his son Scott in a moment that captured the hearts of cycling fans.
Edward Theuns at the start of the 2024 Scheldeprijs
Since Jonathan Milan joined the Team in 2024, Theuns has been a cornerstone of the Italian’s lead-out train. Their cooperation has been a major success, helping Milan to more than 10 victories in the past two years.
Theuns has also proven himself on cycling’s biggest stage, racing the Tour de France five times. In a story of career-long progression, he went from wearing the White Jersey for best young rider after his first-ever Tour stage, to helping Milan secure the Green Jersey nine years later. With two more years ahead, Theuns is set to add more memories to an already rich journey.
“My best memories over the last years have been celebrating victories together with the Team—those moments are always special,” said Edward Theuns. “Winning the Bredene Classic this year was particularly meaningful. I don’t often get many chances for myself, but that rare opportunity made the victory even more special.
“Another highlight has been working with Simone and Jonny in the leadouts. It feels like the second part of my career, where all the experience I’ve built is now coming together in this role. Racing with them is a joy—they’re not only great riders but also great people, and the fun we share on the road makes those moments unforgettable.
“I’m motivated by the unique atmosphere in this Team and the support from everyone—from management to sponsors. Over the years you build real relationships, and the partnership between Lidl and Trek has already taken us to another level. I believe the Team has huge potential to keep progressing, and I want to play my part in that.
“I’m very grateful to Luca and the management for their confidence in me. It’s been a long and special journey with Lidl-Trek, and I’m proud to continue it.”
“Eddie has been an integral part of the Team for nearly a decade, and his transition into a leadout rider has been impressive,” said Luca Guercilena, Lidl-Trek General Manager. “It’s a role that fits him perfectly—combining his speed, race craft and positioning skills—and together with Simone and Jonny he has become a key piece of our sprint success. His own victory this year at Bredene was the perfect reward for his commitment and showed that when he has his own chance he can still be a race winner. Eddie brings experience, loyalty, and energy, and we are delighted to continue this journey with him.”
Here’s the team’s news:
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is proud to announce the signing of 30-year-old Australian climber Chris Harper on a two-year contract starting next season.
“From the outside it’s clear this is a team on the up, with lots of ambition to perform at the World Tour level. I am a late starter to the sport and feel like every year I am still progressing so being on a team where I am surrounded by passionate riders and staff who aim to improve on every level, appealed to me. For example, returning to the HEXIS-platform founded by David Dunn who helped me a lot in my career, and to be supported by top nutritionists will help me progress as a rider every day.”
Chris Harper winning stage 20 of the 2025 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
Harper came to the sport at 17 through a local bike shop in his hometown of Adelaide. After battling through domestic races, he showcased his climbing prowess racing in Malaysia and winning on Mount Fuji at the 2019 Tour of Japan. Harper’s stage win at this year’s infamous Giro d’Italia stage over the Colle delle Finestre remains his career highlight.
“I consider that victory my highlight because it had been a challenging few weeks. I had gone into the Giro feeling strong but fell ill and lost the belief. I remember saying that morning that the stage would be for the GC guys but went in the break nonetheless. Throughout the day I felt better. Finishing off a Grand Tour like that is amazing.”
Harper recognises the unique opportunity with our team and how riders can develop a direct relationship with the product team at Q36.5 to input on kit development, ensuring riders and ultimately consumers, get the best gear for all conditions.
“It’s exciting to be able to work so closely with Q36.5 especially given the local conditions we ride in. We can speak directly to the brand, allowing us to be prepare for the most extreme weather. This helps us perform to our best but it also benefits the consumer who in the end gets the best product.”
General Manager Doug Ryder adds:
“Chris is a rider who progressed through the ranks at a steady pace, still improving every year even if he is not 20 anymore. He is an intelligent guy who feels he can benefit from all the professional expertise we have on the team. He based his choice on joining us on that and I am happy he did. Chris is a rider who races aggressively, senses the stages and races he has a chance in and goes all in. His win in the Giro is testament to his racing style. He has a lot of Grand Tour experience and fits right into our plans for the future.”
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