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Saturday, March 8, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Lead us not into temptation. Just tell us where it is; we'll find it. - Sam Levenson
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:
- March 8: Strade Bianche
Upcoming racing:
- March 9 - 16: Paris-Nice
- March 10 - 16: Tirreno-Adriatico
- March 19: Danilith Nokere Koerse
- March 19: Milano-Torino
- March 20: GP de Denain
- March 21: Bredene Koksijde CLassic
- March 22: Milano-Sanremo
Latest completed racing:
- March 5: Trofeo Laigueglia
- March 4: Le Samyn Classic
- February 26 - March 2: O Gran Camiño
- March 2: Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
- March 2: Faun Drôme Classic
- March 1: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
- March 1: Faun Ardèche Classic
- February 17 - 23: UAE Tour
- February 19 - 23: Volta ao Algarve
Team Lotto’s Lennert Van Eetvelt looks ahead to Strade Bianche
Here’s the team’s post:
He finished 11th last year after an impressive race, and that has left him hungry for more. Lennert Van Eetvelt will line up at the start of Strade Bianche in Siena tomorrow with ambition. "It’s going to be a fast race, no matter what," he predicts.
Last year, the iconic white gravel roads of Strade Bianche were wet and gray, but now they are gleaming under the bright Italian sun. The 2025 edition is set to be raced under clear blue skies, and team leader Lennert Van Eetvelt is looking forward to it. "Last year, the wet gravel almost literally sucked our tires into the ground. This year, we can expect not just a dusty race, but also a much faster one," Van Eetvelt says. This morning, he and the Lotto Cycling Team did a final reconnaissance of the closing section, including the steep Le Tolfe climb.
In recent weeks, Van Eetvelt has already raced in the UAE Tour before heading to Tenerife again to prepare for his first one-day race of the season. "I felt myself improving day by day. I feel good now, but a race like Strade is always unpredictable. I hope to play a role in the final. I managed to do that last year, so of course, I want to do even better this time. A top-five finish would be great, and a podium would be even better. Though I think that’s probably the highest achievable result."
Team Lotto being presented on Friday, the 7th of March. Sirotti photo
The course for this year’s Strade Bianche is slightly different from last year, with 16 gravel sectors instead of 15. That means even more gravel, thanks to the addition of the 9.3 km-long Serravalle sector. "It’s the sixth of sixteen gravel sectors, somewhere around the halfway point. I don’t think it will make a huge difference," Van Eetvelt says. "I don’t ride on gravel much, but races like this, and these recons—those are moments I really enjoy."
Here's the Strade Bianche preview from Team Polti-VisitMalta:
Tomorrow marks that moment of the season. The one when the peloton moves to one of the areas most deeply connected to Italy’s ancient tradition, Siena and its surroundings, to stir up the dust and immerse itself in stretches — rather, sectors — of past heroism. Once again, Team Polti VisitMalta has received an invitation to the grand ball — or perhaps we should say the Palio — of Italian and international cycling: Strade Bianche.
The Polti-VisitMalta riders who will ride Strade bianche. Sirotti photo
Of the 213 kilometers of racing, 82 will be on gravel. The central part of the route will already put fatigue into the riders’ legs, featuring the paved climb of Montalcino followed by four long gravel sectors in near-continuous succession, including the brand-new Serravalle and the iconic San Martino in Grania. Then, about 80 kilometers from the finish, comes the race’s toughest section: Monte Sante Marie, packed with relentless ups and downs. In the remaining journey, the most decisive moments will be the two back-to-back ascents of Colle Pinzuto and Le Tolfe — short but steep and punishing.
From 12 km to go the course will be all asphalt, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy. Right at the finish, in the heart of the Tuscan city, the last kilometer rises over cobbled streets leading into Piazza del Campo — the very same place where, in July and August, instead of road cyclists, horses and jockeys race on the tuff…
As for Strade Bianche (literally, White Roads) Polti VisitMalta will once again use 30mm Corsa PRO Control tubeless tires, ensuring the right balance of durability and grip without sacrificing smooth rolling. The lineup remains almost identical to the one that raced the Trofeo Laigueglia two days ago: the only change is Gabriele Raccagni replacing Davide Bais. Other than that, we’ll see Mattia Bais, Davide De Cassan, Javier Serrano, Alex Martín, Samuele Zoccarato and Diego Sevilla in action once again.
The sports director is also the same as in Laigueglia. Here’s what Stefano Zanatta had to say on the eve of the race: “Strade Bianche is our first WorldTour event of the season, a unique opportunity to showcase our identity on the global stage. We know we can’t compete with the very best, but we are equally aware of the experience that young riders will gain, the form of Zoccarato and Bais and the expertise of Martín and Sevilla in supporting them to the fullest.”
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Here's the Strade Bianche preview from Team Q36.5:
Strade Bianche, the white roads of Tuscany lined with cypress trees, are the backdrop of this rather young but already classic race. Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team lines up for the third year in a row but this time we do so with a former winner.
In 2023 Tom Pidcock wowed the world by keeping a chasing peloton at bay to win in Siena. This year he returns and is joined by Gianluca Brambilla, for his tenth participation, Milan Vader, Mark Donovan and three debutants: Fabio Christen, Xabier Mikel Azparren and Nick Zukowsky.
Tom Pidcock wins the 2023 Strade Bianche. Sirotti photo
Head of technical performance Kurt Bogaerts and the team did a long recon on Thursday to finetune the last details. “This was the third time on the course this week which is important to get a good orientation and feel for the roads. You could already see how the course has changed with the dry gravel getting looser every day. There is also no rain predicted so these are the circumstances we will see on Saturday too.
We used the recon on Thursday to check the final 100 kilometers of the new race route with that new sector. That is crucial. This is a race where every detail counts so we spent a lot of time on getting the right tyre pressure, the right Vittoria tyres, the right Zipp wheels, whether or not riders ride with inserts. There are many variables, and we need to get it just right. Our strength is that we have a very experienced and enthusiastic group of riders here. They all really want to ride this very special race and are very motivated to surround Tom to get the best performance.”
Fabio Christen is one of our three debutants. After a busy period with Omloop Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Trofeo Laigueglia he can’t wait to line up for Strade Bianche.
“It was good to race Wednesday in Italy to get used to warmer weather, but I did feel opening weekend in the legs. Laigueglia was also good to get the short efforts done. I feel recovered now and can’t wait to do this iconic race. Strade Bianche is a race that everyone watches, it’s just so special. Inside the peloton it’s action everywhere and literally everything can happen.
I like racing on gravel. Paris-Tours last year was great and although I crashed in Jaèn it is a cool race. You need so many different skills on gravel and it’s unlike anything else. It’s so unpredictable. I hope to finish the race in a good place but the most important is that we can help Tom get in the best position to win this race again!”
And here's the Strade Bianche preview from Pauline Ferrand-Prévot's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Ferrand-Prévot starts the spring classics full of ambition in Strade Bianche Donne
After the Belgian opening weekend, the women of Team Visma | Lease a Bike continue the spring classics in Italy, where the Strade Bianche Donne is on the program this Saturday. The Dutch cycling team hopes to compete for the prizes with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. The Frenchwoman looks ahead to the gravel race together with Femke de Vries.
Ferrand-Prévot winning stage five of the 2015 Giro Rosa.
Just like last year, the women's peloton will be treated to twelve gravel sections in Italy. Combined with the traditional finish in Siena, the one-day race is always guaranteed to provide spectacle and great images. “The finish on the square in Siena makes the race extra special. I love Italy and the Strade Bianche course. The many gravel sections make it even more remarkable”, Ferrand-Prévot says.
Early February, the former world champion made her official comeback on the road in the UAE Tour. The race in the Middle East provided new insights for the rider. “The UAE Tour was a good start to get back in the peloton and pick up the rhythm again. There I was dropped on the Jebel Hafeet climb. That's why I've been working on my climbing ability in Tenerife for the past few weeks.”
“With the altitude training I got ready for the spring classics. That's where I really want to perform. That's why we chose to train at altitude; to get stronger for what's to come. I feel I made good steps in Tenerife. Strade Bianche is a great opportunity to see where I am now”, Ferrand-Prévot explains.
In the eleventh edition of the Tuscan classic, there is also an important role for De Vries. The 30-year-old rider already showed her good climber's legs last month in Valencia. “My season start in Spain was good, that gives confidence. The races last weekend in Belgium were totally different with fewer climbs and shorter accelerations. I prefer it to be continuously heavy. That's why I think the Italian races coming up next suit me better than the Belgian work.”
It will be the first Strade Bianche Donne for De Vries. “This race was high on my wish list. As a team, we have to make sure that Pauline ends up in the final as well as possible on Saturday. I think we need to race attractively. Last weekend in the Omloop you see what can happen from the breakaway”, De Vries reflects.
“I have a good connection with Pauline”, the Dutch rider says. “We haven't ridden an official race together yet, but we have trained and explored the Strade course. Pauline motivates me enormously and I am learning a lot from her. If Pauline can compete for the win on Saturday, the race will also be a success for me.”
In addition to Ferrand-Prévot and De Vries, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike selection consists of the following four names: Fem van Empel, Eva van Agt, Sophie von Berswordt and Margaux Vigié.
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Here's the Paris-Nice update from Tim Merlier's Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Held annually since 1933, Paris-Nice is one of the most prestigious races of the calendar, one where many riders hope to shine. Known as the “Race to the Sun” despite the fact that in recent years rain has been a constant presence, Paris-Nice is also one of the events where Soudal Quick-Step has tasted success on multiple occasions, winning a total of 19 stages and eight classifications.
Le Perray-en-Yvelines, a small town sitting just 50 kilometers from the capital, is where the peloton will gather on March 9 for the start of the 82nd edition, one that on paper should have a bit of everything for everyone. Three stages for the sprinters – one surprisingly coming just before the weekend – two opportunities for the puncheurs and baroudeurs, and an undulating team time trial in Nevers will set up the fight for the general classification, which should be an explosive one.
Auron, a 7.3km climb averaging 7.2%, promises to reshuffle the overall standings on the penultimate day, just before the short but action-packed final stage around lovely Nice, which will comprise four climbs on whose slopes anything can happen: Col de la Porte, Côte de Peille, Col d’Èze and Col des Quatre Chemines.
The most successful sprinter since the start of the season, with four victories to his name, Tim Merlier will be back at the start of the competition where he picked up a stage win two years ago. The French race will be an important goal also for Maximilian Schachmann – a two-time winner of the GC – who just a few weeks ago finished a solid fifth at the Volta ao Algarve and Ilan Van Wilder. Rounding out Soudal Quick-Step’s roster for Paris-Nice are Ayco Bastiaens, former Belgian Champion Yves Lampaert, Dries Van Gestel, and Bert Van Lerberghe.
Tim Merlier wins 2023 Paris-Nice stage one. Sirotti photo
“It will be a very demanding race. The wind could play an important role in the first couple of days, while the second part of the week will be incredibly challenging. We go there with a balanced team: Tim will be our guy for the sprints, while Max and Ilan will go for a good general classification. We also hope for a strong outing in the team time trial, a discipline which we like a lot”, said sports director Tom Steels.
Here's the Paris-Nice preview from Team Bahrain Victorious:
It’s one of cycling’s most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the early season, and for the ninth consecutive year, Bahrain Victorious will be on the startline of Paris-Nice, often referred to as ‘The Race to the Sun’.
The eight days are always designed to attract the World Tour’s top sprinters, climbers and classics riders, and this 83rd edition is no exception. The opening two stages are mouthwatering prospects for the fast men. Sunday sees a relatively unchallenging 156km loop from and to Le Perray-en-Yvelines. Whilst a bunch sprint is extremely likely, a punchy climb with 9.5km remaining (1km, 6.2%) does leave a small chance that a late attack could be successful.
The following day is even flatter, and provides the most clear-cut occasion of the week for the sprinters. Departing from Montesson, the 187km to Bellegarde has barely any uphill parts, and will almost certainly end in a high-speed contest for the spoils.
Bahrain’s lead Sports Director in France will be Roman Kreuziger, who rode here seven times, winning the Youth Classification in 2010. He believes the route can be divided into several parts:
“The Race is split into 5 phases, starting with the opening 2 stages where there will be some echelons and sprints
Next is the TTT where it’s important to maintain our position. Luckily we have 5 guys in the group who already did Valenciana together so they know each other and know what to expect.”
Setting off from the racetrack at Magny-Cours, the Team Time Trial is 28.6km, and should be fascinating both in terms of strategy and pacing, as it includes some very steep (if not long) ramps before a closing uphill drag in the town of Nevers.
Among those riders who competed at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in early February is Santiago Buitrago, who took both the overall and points jerseys. He is Bahrain’s out-and-out leader for this week, and showed in Spain, Tour des Alpes Maritimes and Classic Var that he is already in great form this year. Kreuziger has no doubt that he merits the responsibility of being the team’s focus for this next leg of the campaign.
Santiago Buitrago in yellow after stage four of the 2025 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
“Santi definitely deserves the support of the team. He showed last year he was there and in shape, and the start of this season he’s going well. We have to keep our feet on the ground but we also have ambitions. It would be nice if he could win a stage and also be placed high on GC.”
With Buitrago for the 1,212 southbound kilometres to the French Riviera will be Lenny Martinez, Fred Wright, Jack Haig, Edoardo Zambanini, Matevž Govekar and Kamil Gradek.
“This will be Lenny’s third race in France with us, and he’s our ‘joker’,” says Kreuziger.. “The main goal for him is to get through the first 3 days without losing time, which is all part of the learning process looking to the future. We’ll see how he is day by day.
Fred will be a leadout guy and support for the climbers, and it’s a race that will help him prepare for the upcoming cobbled classics. He’s in a good mood; his aim is to come out healthy and to help the guys .
Jack is our road captain and he is doing well this season because the guys trust in him. He is really important for the team and the younger riders.
Edoardo is confident riding with Santi; they work well together and I think when it comes to difficult and stressful moments he will be great for Santi.
Kamil is a big guy for protection and a big engine for the team time trial”
After the TTT comes a day of medium mountains, with no fewer than six categorised climbs, the last of which is the explosive summit finish of La Loge des Gardes (6.7k, 7.1%). The attacks are anticipated to come in the latter stages, and could prove to be significant. That is followed by a parcours suited to one-day specialists, measuring over 200km and with five small climbs in the last 40km. It’s a profile where almost anything is possible on race day, whether that be a breakaway win, a solo attack, or a GC tussle. Kreuziger looks closer at this phase of the race:
“Then it’s stage 4 with the long uphill finish, where I hope we will be able to show something, and stage 5 with no flat road. It’s quite long and has a very punchy finale: 1.7km at 11%. It will be a nice one because the last 50kms are all up and down.
After that it’s the last opportunity for the sprinters on stage 6, although depending on the GC it could be that a breakaway to make it. We’ll see how the sprinters handle the situation, with the bonus sprint close to the end. Bonuses are going to play a part for the GC because 6, 4 & 2 seconds close to the finish, and the 10, 6 & 4 on the line.
The last fast finish comes on Friday, which sees the longest stage: a fairly straightforward 210km from Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban to Berre-l’Étang, where we should see another bunch sprint. Bahrain will have a young rider who will be hoping to prove he can hold his own amongst the biggest names in the field. Kreuziger again:
“Our sprinter is Matevž, who crashed recently but seems on track and is very committed to show himself in the ‘Race to the Sun’. His shape was good but of course we won’t know the real impact of the crash until we are racing. We’ll find out soon enough but I think he should be alright.
As always, the final weekend of Paris-Nice will be a showdown to decide the overall winner of the General Classification. Stage 7 may only be 148km, but it’s in the Alps, and has two first category climbs in the closing 53km. the first of those is the Col de la Colmaine (7.5km, 7.1%), where the action will hot up, before a summit finish at Auron (7.3km, 7.2%). There is a long approach to the last ascent which is all uphill, making the true length of the finale 32km at an average of 3.4%.
And so to Nice itself, and the Sunday that never seems to disappoint. Just 120km, but six climbs and plenty of complex descending, mixed roads and the tension of a pivotal contest between the GC contenders.
This year the peloton will have to crest the Col de la Porte, (7km, 6.9%), the Côte de Peille (6.5km, 6.9%) which has seen winning moves in previous editions, and the Col d’Èze (1.6km, 9.1%), before the last test of the Col des Quatre Chemins. It is only 3.6km, but has ramps of up to 18%, and is often where decisive gaps are made. After the summit it is a downhill run to the picturesque finish on the Promenade des Anglais. Kreuziger concludes:
“I’m really looking forward to having this group together again; I think it will be a nice atmosphere, which for sure helps get through the difficulties we’ll face during the week. Of course it’s not always sunshine – there will be clouds as well, but with this group I think we’ll get through it very well. I’m confident that next Sunday we’ll be in a good place and going home satisfied.”
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UAE Team Emirates posted this Paris-Nice/Tirreno-Adriatico preview:
Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico next up for UAE Team Emirates-XRG
Emirati team confirm squads, as the WorldTour stage racing season kicks off in Europe and the likes of Juan Ayuso, Adam Yates and João Almeida are in action
UAE Team Emirates-XRG will tackle the first WorldTour stage races of the European season over the next week, with the Emirati outfit fielding impressive squads for both Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. With 14 victories already on the board for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, both races present another opportunity to continue the team’s fine start to the season.
As is tradition, Paris-Nice will begin proceedings on Sunday 9 March, before Tirreno-Adriatico gets underway on Monday 10 March. Both races will run concurrently and come to an end on Sunday 16 March, but not before some of the world’s best riders have gone head-to-head over a series of challenging stages which promise to deliver exciting racing.
In France, UAE Team Emirates-XRG will be hoping to reclaim the Paris-Nice title last won in 2023 through Tadej Pogačar, with João Almeida, Pavel Sivakov and Brandon McNulty – third-place finisher last season – presenting a trio of options in the mountains. All three riders will like the look of the second half of the race, which tends to decide the winner of the leader’s yellow jersey.
Tadej Pogacar winning stage eight of the 2023 Paris-Nice. Sirotti photo
Before the climbers battle it out for the general classification, however, there are plenty of tests to be overcome within the race’s opening knockings.
Beginning on the outskirts of Paris, the race affectionately known as the Race to the Sun is often prone to crosswinds and ironically, inclement weather. Such hazards can derail a GC push before it has even begun, but in the UAE Team Emirates-XRG stable, there is a cohort of riders who can take to this challenge with tenacity, rather than trepidation.
The UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad for Paris-Nice is as follows:
João Almeida (Por)
Brandon McNulty (USA)
Sebastián Molano (Col)
Jhonatan Narváez (Ecu)
Ivo Oliveira (Por)
Nils Politt (Ger)
Pavel Sivakov (Fra)
Nils Politt and Ivo Oliveira are two masters of the flatlands, both with enough experience and knowhow to pilot the UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad as the peloton winds its way down the spine of France. Their powers of positioning will be crucial as Sebastián Molano and Jhonatan Narváez look to continue the Emirati squad’s winning start to the campaign. Whilst Molano is making his return from a crash that ruled him out of the UAE Tour, Narváez produced a strong showing on Opening Weekend in his recently-retained Ecuadorian national champion’s jersey.
Teamwork will be essential at this year’s Paris-Nice not just on the road bike, but also on Colnago’s time trial units, with stage 3 testing the peloton with a team time trial that will be sure to leave its mark on the fight for the overall win. Here, the time of the first rider across the line will determine the stage standings, but times will be taken individually for the general classification.
Almeida, McNulty and Politt were all part of the UAE Team Emirates-XRG team that won this stage in last year’s race, providing ample encouragement to offer another strong performance this time out.
Stage 1 is ripe for aggressive racing, before stages 2 and 6 offer the sprinters their clear opportunities. As for stages 4, 5 and 7, these are the days that hold a significant amount of climbing and should see the likes of Almeida, McNulty and Sivakov come to the fore. The latter grew up watching this race on television and will recognise the traditional final day that takes in the hills surrounding Nice before heading to the coast for a classic finish on the Promenade des Anglais.
Speaking ahead of the start of the race, Almeida is keen to build on his recent form that has delivered runner-up spots in both the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and the Volta ao Algarve.
Almeida: “It’s been a good start to the season for me and the team. We have found the winning way and been fighting for every race as they come. Here in Paris-Nice, we are going to do our best as a team. I want to be up there with the best guys and fighting for a good result.
“The shape is good after the Volta ao Algarve. I have been recovering and doing some training to stay sharp. Now I am feeling good about this one and we are going to go for it as a team."
Meanwhile, over in Italy, Juan Ayuso will hope to better his runner-up spot from last year’s Tirreno-Adriatico, with Adam Yates also on the start line for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. The pair will continue their build to May with the customary pre-Giro d’Italia stage race from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Adriatic.
As ever, stage 1 takes the form of an out-and-back individual time trial, which will bring back good memories for Ayuso, in particular. The Spaniard won this opening stage last year and heads into the 2025 edition with two wins from just three days of racing. After taking out the Faun Drôme Classic in France, the 22-year-old won the first race of the campaign in Italy, coming out on top in a four-up sprint at Trofeo Laigueglia earlier this week.
For Yates, Tirreno-Adriatico will be his first race on European soil of the season. The recent Tour of Oman winner will have his eyes on the mountains, where he will be surrounded by a strong UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad that consists of:
Juan Ayuso (Spa)
Isaac del Toro (Mex)
Felix Großschartner (AUT)
Rafał Majka (Pol)
Domen Novak (Slo)
Rui Oliveira (Por)
Adam Yates (GB)
Continuing his second season as a professional, Del Toro can take confidence from his weekend performance, which saw the Mexican deliver a pitch-perfect lead-out for Ayuso at the defining moment of the Faun Drôme Classic. Their 1-2 punch was enough to see Ayuso gain a gap which he would defend on his 40km-long solo rout.
Following his breakout stage win at last year’s Tour Down Under, Del Toro placed fourth at Tirreno-Adriatico. In producing such a performance whilst still a neo-pro, the 21-year-old can hold no doubt that he has what it takes to perform at the week-long race in Italy.
With Felix Großschartner, Domen Novak, Rui Oliveira and Rafał Majka – third place in 2020 – in tow, UAE Team Emirates-XRG can be confident of starting Tirreno-Adriatico on the front foot. It has been three years since the team last won the race through Pogačar, champion at Tirreno-Adriatico in both 2021 and 2022.
This time around, the all-important days look set to be stages 3, 4, 5 and 6, the former of which stands at the longest of the race at 239.5km. The latter, meanwhile, is the Queen stage of this year’s edition and will test the riders with 3,497m of climbing to decide the overall winner of the blue leader’s jersey. The final day, of course, will likely produce a sprint finish in San Benedetto del Tronto.
Speaking just days after his Trofeo Laigueglia victory, Ayuso is full of confidence as he and the team shape up for the Race of the Two Seas.
Ayuso: “Since the start of the year I’ve said that Tirreno will be one of my main early season goals, so I am really excited and motivated for it. This year has started really well for the team so far and personally I’m really satisfied to be able to contribute to that with my wins.
“There’s a winning mentality in the team right now that I think motivates everybody a bit extra. For Tirreno, we have a very strong team and between myself and Adam [Yates], I think we are in with a good shout for GC. It’s a race I like a lot and I always love competing in Italy so I’m looking forward to what will hopefully be a great week of racing.”
And here's Team Jayco AlUla's Paris-Nice preview:
Ben O’Connor and Michael Matthews will lead Team Jayco AlUla at Paris-Nice, which starts 9th March, as the Australian squad targets the overall classification and stage victories.
Following his debut for the team in February, O’Connor has been training at altitude recently alongside Matthews, who is a multiple stage and points classification winner at the eight-day race.
Ben O'Connor in red after stage 17 of the 2024 Vuelta a España. Sirotti photo
Joining the Aussie duo will be Swiss champion Mauro Schmid, who delivered the team a stunning win at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race last month.
Among the key stages that the team is targeting is the team time trial on day three, a discipline where they finished second in the 2024 race. With that in mind, there are some big TT engines completing the line-up in the form of Australian road race champion Luke Durbridge, Max Walscheid, Kell O’Brien, and Michael Hepburn.
Team Jayco AlUla:
Luke Durbridge (AUS)
Michael Hepburn (AUS)
Michael Matthews (AUS)
Kell O’Brien (AUS)
Ben O’Connor (AUS)
Mauro Schmid (SWI)
Max Walscheid (GER)
Ben O’Connor:
“Training has gone as well as it can for the last couple weeks. We’ve been working hard at altitude recently so we should be going into the race with expectations every day. Paris-Nice marks the start of the big one-week races in Europe. It’s always a tricky race that covers pretty much every discipline and the TTT, in particular, is a stage in the race we are all excited for.”
Mathew Hayman (Sport Director):
“It’s always an exciting race, the weather can have a big influence on the race and we’re looking forward to hitting the ground running. We have Ben O’Connor starting as our leader there along with Michael Matthews, with Ben focusing on GC and Michael preparing for the Classics that are coming up. It’s an interesting course, a fairly traditional Paris-Nice with a couple of stages around Paris that are more classics style terrain. Then there’s a team time trial, which we’re very excited about because we have a very strong team for the TTT, and then we go into the mountains for the final stages into Nice.”
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