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Tuesday, May 27, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. - Henry Ford
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 1: 1903 - 1975 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- May 9 - June 1: Giro d'Italia
Upcoming racing:
- May 29 - June 1: Tour of Norway
- June 8: Brussels Cycling Classic
- June 8 - 15: Critérium du Dauphiné
Latest completed racing:
- May 14 - 18: 4 Jours de Dunkerque
- May 18: Rund um Köln
- May 13: Classique Dunkerque
- May 11: Tro-Bro Léon
- May 10: GP du Morbihan
- May 9: Tour du Finistère
- April 27 - May 4: Tour of Turkey
- April 29 - May 4: Tour de Romandie
- May 1: Rund um den Finanzplaz Eschborn-Frankfurt
- April 27: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
- April 24 - 27: Vuelta Asturias
Here's the news release from van der Poel's Team Alpecin Deceuninck:
Following his double crash during the WHOOP UCI MTB World Series on Sunday at Nove Mesto, Mathieu van der Poel has been diagnosed with a minor avulsion fractions of the scaphoid bone, indicative of ligament damage to the wrist.
This type of injury requires a cautious and carefully monitored recovery process.
The timeline for resuming training and competition will depend on the evolution of the swelling and pain over the coming days. At this stage, it is therefore premature to provide a definitive prognosis or to outline the trajectory of the coming weeks.
Mathieu van der Poel enjoying his victory in this year's Paris-Roubaix. Sirotti photo
Consequently Mathieu van der Poel will not travel to La Plagne for the first days of the planned altitude training camp.
The injury will be subject to continued and intensive medical evaluation throughout the week. Further assessments, scheduled towards the end of the week, may offer greater clarity regarding his program and the potential for participation in the Critérium du Dauphiné
Here’s the team’s announcement:
With the 2025 Giro d’Italia entering its final week, Bahrain Victorious are delighted to announce the contract extension of Damiano Caruso, our road captain here in Italy.
The 37 year old currently lies 6th on GC after 15 stages, and has been Antonio Tiberi’s ever-reliable right hand man throughout this – & last – year’s ‘Corsa Rosa’.
With 80 podiums in a 20 year career already, including at the Giro in 2021, Caruso has been an integral part of the Bahrain roster since 2019, and will now ride with us for an 8th year.
Damiano Caruso at the 2025 Giro d'Italia teams presentation ceremony. Sirotti photo
“For me this was the easiest decision to make,” the Sicilian commented yesterday. “To continue with this team, where I have had the most beautiful years of my career … I wouldn’t wish to be riding anywhere else.”
Damiano is such an integral part of the team, it is difficult to imagine Bahrain Victorious without his experience, influence and good humour.
Technical Director Vladimir Miholjevič reflected that, “Damiano has shown his quality again and again – including now on the Italian roads. We are extremely happy that he will remain our rider for the 2026 season. Both sides were extremely keen to make this happen despite his age; maybe even more because of that experience and what he brings as a result!
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He still has the character and enthusiasm of a young rider, but is able to transmit so much know-how to the newer guys, and we would like him to help us bring on the younger generation that is coming through’
Managing Director Milan Eržen agrees:
“Damiano’s commitment to the team is unbelievable and he is an amazing example of what you can achieve with hard work. This extra year as a rider means he can continue what he has been doing for us since 2019 – passing on so much knowledge to the young guys”
Miholjevič continues, “As a rider and as a person Damiano deserves our full trust and his place here with us. We love having him here, and we look forward to this relationship continuing.”
A stage winner at the Vuelta a España & Giro d’Italia, and with a total of nearly 30 victories over a glittering career, Damiano Caruso is one of the most respected cyclists in the peloton. We could not be happier that he will remain with us, continuing to bring his talent and personality to everything he does.
“The management, staff, and my teammates have all been so happy for me when they heard this news, that I’m even more motivated now to repay the faith they have all shown in me, even at my age!
I’m super happy that this relationship is going to continue, and I am looking forward to riding in Bahrain colours for another year.”
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Here's the team's post:
The Giro d'Italia is entering the final and decisive week of racing. The "Corsa-Rosa" is heading to the Alps, which means serious GC action and a lot of climbing. Week two started with a TT from Lucca to Pisa, covered hilly terrain while travelling north, and finally arrived in Asiago, Veneto. A town, especially Florian Stork, will keep in good memory as, putting in a strong breakaway effort, he scored his first Grand Tour podium finish on stage 15.
Together with our riders Michael Storer, Florian Stork, Rick Pluimers, Yannis Voisard, Marco Brenner, Maikel Zijlaard and our DS Matteo Tosatto, we're reflecting on the second week of this Giro d'Italia and looking ahead to the final six stages on our way to Rome.
Michael Storer winning stage two of this year's Tour of the Alps.
Michael Storer, currently 12th in the GC, on some bad luck in Slovenia and his expectations for the final week:
“It was a bit unfortunate to lose time on stage 14 when we got stuck behind the crash. But the team did a great job limiting the damage. Yesterday was a good day for us; it was nice to see Florian score a podium finish. The final week will be brutal; I think we’ll see big time gaps opening up and the race being blown to pieces.“
Florian Stork, 2nd place finisher on stage 15, explains why scoring a result on the stage before a rest day is even more enjoyable:
"The podium result yesterday came just in the right moment: with a rest day today, I have time to realise and enjoy this result. Even though I've hit the deck not only once in this Giro and also lost some skin on the Italian roads, I'm enjoying this race. We have a good atmosphere within the team; with Michael Storer, we're still in contention for a nice result in the GC, and I'm looking forward to the mountain stages we're taking on from tomorrow."
Grand Tour rookie Rick Pluimers enters new territories:
“Two weeks into this Giro, I’m entering new territories regarding race length, as it’s my first Grand Tour. My legs are still turning well, and I can fulfil my daily tasks. So far, it has been a beautiful experience to race this Giro, but it is also very intense and hard. In the last week, it’s all about climbing, GC action and one more chance for the sprinters in Rome.“
Swiss climber Yannis Voisard is looking forward to the big days in the Alps:
“It’s my first Grand Tour, and I was curious to see how I’m dealing with the fatigue. Right now, I have to say I’m feeling much better than expected, and I guess that’s a good sign for the last week. It’s a steep learning curve for me here, and I also appreciate this experience. Preparing for this race, we tried to put the focus and also the peak of my shape towards the last week - I’m looking forward to the big days of climbing and to support Michael Storer in the battle for the GC positions.“
Current German Champion Marco Brenner shares his personal highlight of the Giro's second week:
“I think the second week was harder than expected, with intense race action on every stage. I gained some valuable experience in the sprint train for Maikel Zijlaard. I’ve also had two breakaway attempts and hope to get another chance in this Giro. My personal highlight was yesterday. Crossing the finish line and realising that Florian finished in 2nd was awesome - more than well deserved! I hope I can have a good recovery today, and then it’s all in for the final week.“
For Maikel Zijlaard it's all about making it through the Alps and the chance of another podium finish in Rome:
“I’m feeling tired after the second week, but I’m not the only rider who feels like that today. I tried to make the time cut on the hilly days and focus on the sprint stages. Generally, we’re still in a good position on the GC with Michael Storer, and it’s the decisive week coming up now, so I’ll try to support where I can and hope to survive the big mountains. From my perspective, I’m then focusing on the last stage in Rome, where the sprinters should get one final shot.“
Tudor Pro Cycling Sports Director Matteo Tosatto concludes:
“Two long weeks done, and it’s good to have this rest day today. With the upcoming stages, I think this is a crucial rest day. For us, it has been very solid in terms of GC, where Michael is still in a promising position to achieve a top 10 in this Giro d’Italia. Yesterday, we saw the first real mountain stage. With Florian, very well deserved, on the podium and Michael and Yannis in full contention with the GC group, I think we’ve shown that our riders are strong and ready to tackle a very hard and mountainous week in the Alps.“
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Here’s the post from Nordhagen’s Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike is heading to Scandinavia this week. From May 29 to June 1, the yellow-black brigade will compete in the Tour of Norway. Jørgen Nordhagen is part of the team in his home country. We spoke with the young Norwegian to look ahead to the upcoming four-day stage race.
The 20-year-old Nordhagen has had a challenging start to his first year in the WorldTeam of Team Visma | Lease a Bike. After illness during his season opener in Oman, the young Norwegian bounced back and delivered his best stage race to date a few weeks ago in the Tour de Romandie. "I can see that I am making progress. In recent months, I have gained some nice experiences. Things are improving step by step and I’m taking that positive feeling with me to Norway”, the rider says.
Jørgen Nordhagen
It will be Nordhagen’s first time racing for Team Visma | Lease a Bike on home soil. "That's going to be very special. “Cycling in Norway is very different from racing in the Netherlands or Belgium - there’s nowhere near as much of a crowd. In Scandinavia, the focus is more on winter sports. However, many family members and friends will be along the roadside and I’ll also meet some of my former teammates in the peloton. I'm really looking forward to that."
In the Tour of Norway, Nordhagen will be accompanied by Matthew Brennan, the 19-year-old Briton who has already claimed seven victories in 2025. “I think that's really brilliant”, Nordhagen says. "Just last year, I was on the Development Team with him and now he's beating some of the best riders in the peloton in pure sprints. It’s inspiring to see what is possible. His victories a huge motivation for the rest of us in the same age group."
At Team Visma | Lease a Bike, this age group is referred to as the so-called White Jersey group, consisting of riders under the age of 23. This season, there has been a shift in approach, with young talents like Nordhagen and Brennan being given the freedom and opportunities to pursue their own results in races. “That approach is very similar to how we did things with the Development Team”, Nordhagen explains. “Only now, we’re learning to race at the highest level.”
“It’s great to see that the team has built a race calendar completely tailored to me. That approach is working, you can see that in my development. I'm learning how to ride finales with the pros. That should pay off into some good results in the coming months”, the Norwegian says. At the end of June, the talent hopes to make a bid for the overall victory in the Giro Next Gen.
“There are definitely some stages that suit him. At the same time, a few stages include quite a bit of climbing. Together with Attila, we also have the chance to go for a good result in the general classification. I hope I can carry my form from the past few weeks into the race and that we can achieve some strong results.”
Alongside Nordhagen and Brennan, Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s six-man lineup is completed by Attila Valter, Thomas Gloag, Per Strand Hagenes, and Tosh van der Sande.
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