The last big race of the season was another show of strength by Tadej Pogačar in Il Lombardia. All the latest race news in EUROTRASH Monday: Il Lombardia, the GranPiemonte, the men’s and women’s Chrono des Nations and the Exact Cross Be-Mine Cross in Beringen with video, rider quotes, reports and results.
Evenepoel emotional – Pidcock disappointed in Lombardia – TOP STORY.
Rider news: Eli Iserbyt disqualified in first cross after crash with Ryan Kamp, Domenico Pozzovivo finishes his last race, Rémi Cavagna to leave Movistar for Groupama-FDJ, Patrick Lefevere on Remco Evenepoel: “He protects his teammates too often”, Juan Ayuso to ride the Giro d’Italia in 2025 and Kasper Asgreen benefits from his horse riding background.
Team news: Athletes named to 2024 UCI track World championships Canadian squad, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig joins CANYON//SRAM, two-time Danish champion Alexander Kamp strengthens Intermarché-Wanty, Belgian Leander van Hautegem and Frenchman Henri-François Renard-Haquin join Bingoal-WB for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, trusty domestiques De Marchi, Durbridge and Mezgec set to continue their GreenEDGE Cycling story, Alessandro Romele moves to the Astana WorldTour from Development team, Lorenzo Finn named as the first rider for the new Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe U23 team, Visma | Lease a Bike Women signs Tour de l’Avenir winner Bunel, Henrietta Christie to join EF-Oatly-Cannondale in 2025, Dutch trio Korevaar, Smulders and Ton sign on through to 2026 and Itamar Einhorn continues with Israel-Premier Tech for a seventh season.
Race news: Cav set to take final bow at 2024 Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium and the VCV Féminas GP Tuawa is promoted to the UCI ProSeries category.
A big EUROTRASH Monday coffee.
TOP STORY: Evenepoel Emotional – Pidcock Disappointed in Lombardia
Emotional Evenepoel Dedicates Second Place in Lombardia to Bramati
Remco Evenepoel managed to end his season with a second place in Il Lombardia. The Belgian was very emotional after the finish and spoke to his Italian Soudal Quick-Step DS, Davide Bramati. “Brama, this one is for you. You saved my life four years ago,” Evenepoel shouted through his race radio. “Congratulations mate, chapeau,” the former rider responded from the team car.
Evenepoel finished second in Il Lombardia on Saturday, but he also has bad memories of the Italian Classic. Four years ago, he had a very bad crash during the race. On the descent of the Muro di Sormano in 2020, the Belgian misjudged a bend and flew over the edge of the bridge into a ravine. Evenepoel was eventually carried back up by emergency services on a stretcher. He broke his hip in the fall and then had months of rehabilitation. Evenepoel eventually returned stronger and has been successful, as expected.
Evenepoel returned to the scene of the crash last year. “What feeling do I have now? Nothing special. It’s not too bad,” he responded at the time. “It does feel a bit strange to be back here. I won’t say that I’m really emotional, because I’ve already come to terms with it. But of course it’s not the nicest feeling. It brings back bad memories and pain.”
An emotional Evenepoel at the finish:
Tom Pidcock Not Happy with his ‘deselection’ for Il Lombardia
Tom Pidcock was not at the start of Il Lombardia on Saturday, which was a big surprise, because the British rider was initially announced as the leader of the INEOS Grenadiers team. Pidcock was removed from the start list by the team at the last minute. Pidcock was expected to make his debut in Il Lombardia, but it didn’t happen. On Friday evening, RCS, the race organisers, published the start list and Pidcock’s name was not there. Ethan Hayter had been called up as a replacement for Pidcock.
Pidcock himself responded to his non-selection on social media. He said that it was the team that did not want him to start at the last moment. “Just when everything was going well after a turbulent end to the year, I was not selected for Lombardy. I am just in top form and was really looking forward to it,” said Pidcock, who finished second in the Giro dell’Emilia last week. “I wish the boys much success. Off-season starts early for me this way. Thanks for all the support, even in these difficult times,” Pidcock ended his message. There seems to be a bit of a fall-out between Pidcock and INEOS Grenadiers. A week ago it was rumoured that Pidcock was in talks with Q36.5. The Swiss team would like to sign him this winter, despite Pidcock having a contract with INEOS until 2027. Other teams have also been mentioned.
No Lombardia for Tom Pidcock:
Il Lombardia 2024
Tadej Pogačar won Il Lombardia for the fourth time in a row on Saturday. The World champion rode away from the peloton on the Colma di Sormano and then soloed to the seventh monument victory of his career. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) left the other chasers for second place and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) came from behind to take third, four and a half minutes after Pogačar.
The new Lombardia profile
Due to heavy rains in recent days, which have caused landslides and flooding, the route and the finish in Como have undergone the following changes. At km 37.5 the race, having passed the town of Cene, will turn towards Albino, and not Gazzaniga as per the original route, to tackle the Selvino climb from Nembro, which will replace the Passo di Ganda. The originally planned route will be resumed at km 57, after the climb of Selvino. Due to the risk of flooding of Lake Como, the final part of the race will also be modified. The finish line will not be located on Lungo Lario Trento, but in Viale Felice Cavallotti, where the race will turn inside the last km. The total distance of Il Lombardia presented by Crédit Agricole will be 255km. The starting times remain unchanged, with the start meeting point and signature check from 9.00 to 10.30, lining up and city parade at 10.35, and the race start at 10.40.
Before the start, Tadej Pogačar was the No.1 favourite. The World champion had won the last three Lombardias, the fifth and final monument of the year. A few riders thought that escaping early would be the way to beat the Slovenian and so many riders tried to make the break. The attacks were shut down by the peloton, so there was no ‘break of the day’ even after the Forcellino di Bianzano. On the climb to Selvino, 7 riders managed to escape the clutches of the peloton. The group only managed to make a gap of 20 seconds, but the peloton didn’t want to let them go. Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike) was one of the strong workers in the break, along with Axel Laurance (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious), Rémy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ), Brandon Rivera (INEOS Grenadiers), Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek) and Martijn Tusveld (dsm-firmenich-PostNL) at the front. Some teams had missed the move and were not happy with the race situation. Several riders tried to cross to the leading group: Harold Mártin López (Astana Qazaqstan), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Einer Rubio (Movistar), Daniel Felipe Martínez (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla) and Matteo Fabbro (Polti Kometa) joined managed to join the front group which now had 13 riders. Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale had no riders in the front group, so they sent Bastien Tronchon up the road. The Frenchman took some other riders with him. There was now a group of 11 with Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers), Tiesj Benoot (Visma | Lease a Bike), Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) and Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step). The gaps were still small as they started the Colle di Berbenno.
At the start of the climb to Valpiana, the chase group managed to catch the men at the front. There was now a large group more than 2 minutes ahead of the peloton. UAE Team Emirates now increased the pace to control the gap. In the leading group, they lifted their pace to hold the peloton at around 1:30. This saw off Antonio Tiberi. After the climb to Valpiana, UAE Team Emirates eased off the pace a bit. But 2 minutes didn’t look enough even for a group of this size. On this flat zone, the break managed to extend their lead to a more healthy 4 minutes. Tadej Pogačar put his men to work again. Led by Jan Christen and Rafal Majka, the peloton pulled back a minute. With 85 kilometres to go, the first attacks came in the leading group. The Madonna del Ghisallo inspired Thymen Arensman to ‘give it a go’, but this wasn’t the start of the race finale yet. In the leading group, most riders were holding back, but UAE were powering the peloton towards the action end of the race. At the top of the Madonna del Ghisallo, Majka had taken a minute off the lead. The 20 leaders now only had 2 minutes with 75 kilometres to go. Harold Martín López had been dropped from the leading group on the climb. The race situation wasn’t really changing, so the race was now expected to fire up on the Colma di Sormano (12.8km at 6.7%), the longest climb of the day.
Remco Evenepoel was waiting for Tadej Pogačar to attack on the Sormano and he was right. To the start of the climb, UAE Team Emirates pulled the peloton to within 1 minute of the leaders. In the front group, an acceleration by Rudy Molard split the break completely. Brandon Rivera and Martijn Tusveld had to let go, but Eddie Dunbar, Wilco Kelderman and Einer Rubio managed to hold on. Xandro Meurisse wanted more and put in a big effort and took a gap. The chase was now set by Adam Yates. The other escapees tried to get back to the leader, but they had to give up one-by-one. Thymen Arensman was the strongest behind Meurisse and managed to fight back to the Belgian. In preparation for the move from Pogačar, Adam Yates had been replaced by Pavel Sivakov on the front of the peloton, who had lifted the speed on the Colma di Sormano. Riders from the leading group were being passed as they lost hold on the climb. About 6 kilometres from the summit, UAE had caught Meurisse and Arensman. At 48 kilometres from the finish, Tadej Pogačar put in his well predicted move. The World champion soon had a half minute lead over his closest chasers. This soon built to a minute on the climb. In the pursuit, it was Remco Evenepoel, Enric Mas and Lennert Van Eetvelt who managed to get together. It looked like they would be fighting it out for the podium. Tadej Pogačar had gone and wouldn’t be seen (by them) until the finish in Como.
Michael Storer, Giulio Pellizzari, Giulio Ciccone, Roger Adrià and Pavel Sivakov were in a third group, it looked like their race was over, except for the top-10 places, but they didn’t give up. With his leader up the road, Sivakov jumped away from this third group. On a descent, Remco Evenepoel showed that he can actually go down hills quite well and rode away from Mas and Eetvelt. Remco Evenepoel soon had 30 seconds on Mas and Van Eetvelt. Without the Belgian they couldn’t hold a good pace, which allowed Pavel Sivakov to catch them. Again it looked like these three would be fighting over the last place on the podium. The World champion and the ex-World champion were having a head-to-head pursuit, but the Slovenian looked much fresher than the Belgian. Pogačar was smiling to the TV cameras as Evenepoel was complaining that he couldn’t hear his earpiece due the noise from the moto. In the final 20 kilometres, the Slovenian’s lead grew to well over 3 minutes. In Como, Pogačar crossed the finish line as winner of Il Lombardia for the fourth consecutive time. This was his second monument of the year and his seventh in his career. Remco Evenepoel was safe for second place. In the battle for the third spot on the podium, Giulio Ciccone was the surprise of the day. On the San Fermo della Battaglia, the Italian came back to the chasers and then on this last climb, he attacked and managed to hold on to the finish line.
# You can see more photos in the full ‘PEZ Il Lombardia Race Report’ HERE. #
2024 Il Lombardia winner, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates): “Every victory is special and today’s one is too, because the team worked so hard as we did for all the year for the successes we achieved. It was a long race and all the work was on UAE Team Emirates: we did a super good job, that’s why I am so happy for this victory. We planned to attack as I did, because we knew the race would have been hard and the final 40 km would have been a man to a man battle, so I knew that if I would have a gap on the top of the Colma di Sormano, I could keep it to the finish. And this is what happened.
After the downhill I pushed hard on the following up and down sector also in order to win the mental game on the chasers. Then, In the last ten kilometres, I enjoyed the crowd.”
“It has been a perfect season, and I have chosen to celebrate in the same way as I did at Strade Bianche, when I won my first race of 2024. Every victory is special, but to win with this jersey on it’s amazing. It was great to feel all the supporters cheering for me along the roads, and I enjoyed every single moment of the race. My team has made a perfect job, they are all great professionals and their support has been amazing all along the season. Remco Evenepoel did also a great race, I know that in the future he can win Il Lombardia. This was the best way of finishing this year, now it’s holidays time and then I will think to the challenges of 2025.”
2nd, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step): “It feels like a personal victory. Everyone knows how it ended the last time we raced from Bergamo to Como. To finish best of the rest, after Tadej Pogačar, makes me proud. I have to be realistic, it feels really good to be second today. We kind of knew and predicted how and where Tadej would go. 3km after the bridge where I crashed four years ago was the hardest part of the climb. That’s where he went. I just did my own pace to the top. I tried to limit the time loss towards Tadej. I knew the descent pretty well. I dropped the others. Then it was kind of a time trial against the others. I was actually dying in the last few kilometres. Everybody saw who is the best rider of the moment. He deserves the win today. This is one of my first good results in Italy. It gives me the morale and confidence to come back to this country with a better shape and win. It’s also a good way to end my season.”
3rd, Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek): “It feels really good to stand on the podium with the world champion and the Olympic champion. It’s a good way to end the season because it’s been a hard season for me. I was feeling very good today on the climbs and I made a little mistake to attack. Bauke Mollema did a great job for me then i attacked on the San Fermo della Battaglia and got a bit of a gap to reach the finish with the podium in mind. I really enjoyed the last kilometres. Il Lombardia is one of my favourite races. It’s my dream to win it one day but to finish third behind those guys is already satisfactory.”
Break rider, Matteo Fabbro (Polti Kometa): “It was intense right from the start, just think that 4800 meters of elevation gain were completed at an average speed of almost 42 km/h! I’m happy with how I rode and how we cooperated before what felt like a whole new race began.”
Il Lombardia Result:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates in 6:04:58
2. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step at 3:16
3. Giulio Ciccone (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 4:31
4. Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Cofidis at 4:34
5. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar
6. Pavel Sivakov (Fra) UAE Team Emirates
7. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto Dstny
8. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-EasyPost at 4:58
9. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
10. Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck.
Il Lombardia’24:
GranPiemonte 2024
Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) won the 2024 GranPiemonte. The American rode away from a thinned out peloton, 43 kilometres from the finish and held off the chasers. Corbin Strong (IPT) won the bunch spring for second place, seven seconds after Powless finished. Alex Aranburu Deba (Movistar) was third.
The GranPiemonte started in Valdengo over 182 kilometres with three categorised climbs to the finish in Borgomanero. The first and toughest climb, the Passo della Colma (8.6km at 5.5%), was 70 kilometres from the finish. After that, there was the Cremosina (4.9km at 2.9%) and Traversagna (3.1km at 4%). The final 25 kilometres were not completely flat, but nothing too steep. The sprinters had a slim chance.
There were four escapees: Nickolas Zukowsky (Q36.5), Francisco Muñoz (Polti Kometa), Andrii Ponomar (Corratec-Vini Fantini) and Luca Colnaghi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), they built up a lead of 6 minutes. At the start of the Passo della Colma, they only had just over 3 minutes, due the work of dsm-firmenich-PostNL on the front of the peloton. They made the race hard, which caused the first section on the long climb. Only Zukowsky and Muñoz could stay off the front, as Kevin Vermaerke attacked from the peloton, which led to splits. Giulio Ciccone rode away from the front group, but he was caught again before the top. There was now a chase group of about 10 riders. Kaden Groves was in trouble on the Passo della Colma, he and other fast men had to join the chase. On the descent, Ponomar caught Zukowsky and Muñoz, but the three early escapees were soon caught by the first chasing group. This group included Tom Pidcock, Neilson Powless and Matej Mohorič, although the Slovenian fell back to a third group, including Corbin Strong. The Slovenian and the New Zealander were trying to return to the Pidcock group together, but Powless had already broken away and quickly gained 40 seconds.
Julien Bernard and Georg Zimmermann tried to cross to Powless, as Israel-Premier Tech set the pace in the peloton. On the Traversagna, there were counter-attacks from the large group, this pulled in Bernard and then Zimmermann, but Powless was still out front. The EF Education-EasyPost rider had 30 seconds at the start of the 11-kilometre final lap. On a small climb, there were several attacks from the peloton, which reduced Powless’ lead to 12 seconds. The American was not finished and managed to gain a few seconds, despite the strong chase behind. Sam Oomen had been one of the chasers, but the Dutchman crashed 15 kilometres from the finish. He was badly injured and couldn’t continue. With 1K to go it was clear that Powless was going to win. The 28-year-old, who hasn’t won a race since February 2023, crossed the finish-line solo. Seven seconds later, Corbin Strong sprinted to second place and Alex Aranburu was third.
Race winner, Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost): “There aren’t many feelings in the world I can compare to this one. Every cyclist, we work so hard all year with the hope to put everything together on a day like this. I’m just so happy I could put it together today. I was racing on instinct from 60km to go. It was very tactical with about twenty riders ahead. We had to try something and I countered when Lidl-Trek attacked. I never knew what the time gap was so I kept looking back. In the end I just gave my best effort. I rode harder on the climbs and slower on the flat, steady. I’ve put all the bad times behind me. I hope I can recover in time for Il Lombardia on Saturday.”
2nd, Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech): “I was very motivated to come to these Italian races and get a win but we did all we could today and Neilson [Powless] had a really impressive ride. My team did everything so we can be really proud of what we did today even though it’s not the win we wanted. I’m not sure what more could have been done to catch Neilson. He deserves the win. Maybe we’ve been unfortunate that two riders committed to the chase had a crash with 20km to go. That could have made a difference. We expected the course to be as hard as it was. DSM split the bunch into pieces on the first climb. I was at the limit, hanging on at the back of the peloton. When I climb well, I’m often one of the fastest guys left.”
3rd, Alex Aranburu (Movistar): “It’s been a nice race. We have climbed very fast. We were not many left. Neilson Powless took his chance. He was so strong that he made it to the finish, therefore my third place is a nice way to finish the season. I really thought we would have caught the escapee! I’ve tried to go and catch him myself, we also have combined forces with a few teams to bring him back. We started for winning. We were going well, even on this hard climb. We came with the intention to win with the national champion jersey. I’m happy with what I’ve done for my last race with Movistar.”
Break rider and 26th, Fran Muñoz (Polti Kometa): “I wanted to give it a try with an early move to honour the memory of the one who made me a cyclist, Paco Galvez, who was my sports director in the Cadets of Unió Ciclista Vilanova and passed away the day before yesterday. He taught me to ride with the so-called cojones to value both my talent and the squad. The same attributes that I put on the bike today; when I realised that the race had exploded behind us and that they would catch us, I didn’t give up and managed myself until the finish line.”
GranPiemonte Result:
1. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-EasyPost in 3:57:36
2. Corbin Strong (NZ) Israel-Premier Tech at 0:07
3. Alex Aranburu Deba (Spa) Movistar
4. Filippo Magli (Ita) VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè
5. Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
6. Tobias Halland (Ned) Johannessen Uno-X Mobility
7. Natnael Tesfatsion Ocbit (Eri) Lidl-Trek
8. Francesco Busatto (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty
9. Edoardo Zambanini (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
10. Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain Victorious.
GranPiemonte’24:
Men’s Chrono des Nations 2024
Stefan Küng took the victory in the 2024 Chrono des Nations. The Swiss rider of Groupama-FDJ was the top favourite, but had to deal with stiff competition. The time trial of over 45 kilometres turned into a battle of seconds, in which Küng came out on top ahead of Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) and Johan Price-Pejtersen (Bahrain Victorious). They finished within 5 seconds of the winner.
This year, like the last editions, the Chrono des Nations was a time trial over 45.4 kilometres with start and finish in Les Herbiers. There were two intermediate points: one after 10.5 kilometres in Saint-Paul-en-Pareds and the second after 34.5 kilometres in Mouchamps. The route was mostly flat.
Stefan Küng started with number 1, because last year’s winner, Joshua Tarling wasn’t there and World time trial champion, Remco Evenepoel was recovering for the previous day’s Il Lombardia, unlike last year. In the Vendée department, Küng’s main opposition came from Jay Vine, Mikkel Bjerg (both UAE Team Emirates), European U23 champion Alec Segaert (Lotto Dstny) and Johan Price-Pejtersen (Bahrain Victorious).
At the first intermediate point, Bjerg was the fastest, but Vine, Küng, Price-Pejtersen and Segaert were all within 5 seconds after 10 kilometres. At the second intermediate point after 35 kilometres, Küng led Vine by 7 seconds and Price-Pejtersen by 9 seconds. Bjerg dropped to 20 seconds on Küng. In the last 10 kilometres Küng lost some of his power, but his lead at the finish was big enough for the win. Vine eventually finished just over 4 seconds behind and Price-Pejtersen was at just over 5 seconds.
Men’s Chrono des Nations Result:
1. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ in 51:53
2. Jay Vine (Aus) UAE Team Emirates at 0:04
3. Johan Price-Pejtersen (Den) Bahrain Victorious at 0:05
4. Mikkel Bjerg (Den) UAE Team Emirates at 0:28
5. Alec Segaert (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 1:08
6. Thibault Guernalec (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 1:27
7. Pierre-Roger Latour (Fra) TotalEnergies at 1:39
8. Miguel Heidemann (Ger) Team Felt-Felbermayr at 2:21
9. Eddy Le Huitouze (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 2:23
10. Julian Borresch (Ger) Rembe Pro Cycling Team Sauerland at 2:59.
All the Chrono des Nations’24 races:
Women’s Chrono des Nations 2024
Grace Brown won her last race as a professional cyclist. In the Chrono des Nations, the World and Olympic time trial champion left the sport with a great victory. In her only time trial in the rainbow jersey, Brown beat her FDJ-SUZ teammate, Vittoria Guazzini and Austrian Anna Kiesenhofer, who both finished at just less than 1 minute.
In Les Herbiers, the elite women had the same course as the youth categories: a flat route of just over 27 kilometres, with an intermediate point in Saint-Paul-en-Pereds after 10 kilometres. This edition of Chrono des Nations was the farewell of World champion Grace Brown, who was riding her first and only time trial in the rainbow jersey.
The winner of the World time trial championship in Zurich, and the Olympic champion of Paris, had already announced her retirement, but she was going to show off her rainbow jersey for this one time. Last year’s winner, Anna Kiesenhofer was also there, as was her FDJ-SUEZ teammates Loes Adegeest and Amber Kraak. Katrine Aalerud and Mie Bjørndal Ottestad of Uno-X Mobility were also on the start line.
There appeared to be no real competition for Brown. At the intermediate point, the Australian had a 28-second lead on Adegeest and more than 30 seconds on Kiesenhofer and Guazzini. Only a mechanical or a crash could stop Brown from winning. She rode wearing the rainbow jersey and a gold helmet. Brown took her final victory to add to her Australian time trial championship, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and two stages and the final overall in the Bretagne Ladies Tour, and of course Olympic and World time trial champion. Her victory in Chrono des Nations was the icing on the cake. Guazzini and Kiesenhofer were second and third, Adegeest and Anneke Dijkstra came fifth and sixth.
Race winner, Grace Brown (FDJ-SUEZ): “It couldn’t have been a better ending.”
Women’s Chrono des Nations Result:
1. Grace Brown (Aus) FDJ-SUEZ in 35:26
2. Vittoria Guazzini (Ita) FDJ-SUEZ at 0:51
3. Anna Kiesenhofer (Aust) Austria at 0:54
4. Katrine Aalerud (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 1:01
5. Loes Adegeest (Ned) FDJ-SUEZ at 1:17
6. Anneke Dijkstra (Ned) VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team at 1:22
7. Mie Ottestad (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 1:22
8. Julia Biryukova (Ukr) Human Powered Health at 1:42
9. Maeva Squiban (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 1:50
10. Dana Rozlapa (Aust) Keukens Redant Cycling Team at 1:53.
Grace Brown at the finish:
Exact Cross Be-Mine Cross Beringen 2024
Lars van der Haar won the Exact Cross Beringen 2024. The Dutchman of Baloise Trek Lions was too fast for Michael Vanthourenhout and Niels Vandeputte. Van der Haar is also the leader of the Exact Cross series.
The Belgian cyclocross season has finally started. The Beringen course had been changed a little from last year, a descent has been made less steep. Thibaut Nys, Eli Iserbyt and Toon Aerts were the big names on the start line. Niels Vandeputte was the first off the grass, but it was Aerts who made the biggest impression, as the Belgian was among the top five after he had to start in one of the back rows. Only Toon Vandebosch separated himself from the rest of the field, but Felipe Ortz didn’t let the gap get too big. The Spanish champion of the new Ridley Racing Team started strongly. The race could go either way after four laps. The first 13 riders were within 12 seconds of each other. Nys, Iserbyt and Lars van der Haar were there, but the men of Crelan-Corendon made the race hard.
Aerts didn’t think it was hard enough. The Belgian, who will ride a full cross season this year, accelerated on the longest climb on the course on the fourth lap. The acceleration ensured that a group of five split from the rest, but a lap later the pursuers with Van der Haar and Iserbyt, returned. But Iserbyt crashed with Ryan Kamp on a descent on the fifth lap. According to the Belgian, it was not his fault and Iserbyt stamped on Kamp’s rear wheel out of frustration, this led to the disqualification of national champion. Aerts accelerated again. This time he managed to drop his competitors. The race was far from decided, because half a lap later it was Michael Vanthourenhout who went past Aerts. Aerts seemed to have blown up, because he was also overtaken by Van der Haar. At the bell, it was between Van der Haar and Vanthourenhout. The Dutchman of Baloise Trek Lions put Vanthourenhout under a lot of pressure in the final lap. Vandeputte followed the two at a meantime gap. Van der Haar then lifted the speed to distance Vanthourenhout before the finish.
Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions): “I was a bit breathless at the beginning. I was waiting for the race to get harder, but I didn’t want to do that myself. It was quiet on the intermediate sections every time, so I chose not to take too many risks on the descents. During the last three laps, the pace increased and I was able to get into my rhythm. But I had never expected a win. I knew I had trained well, but you don’t know what to expect from your opponents. After all these years, I am still proud to have won the first race.”
2nd, Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal): “I did have Lars in the back of my mind for a long time. You know that he can still accelerate on climbs at the end of a race and that he can ride the same lap times as at the beginning of the race.”“The first feeling is good, you never know what the shape of the competitors is. This went well, so I hope it stays like this for the rest of the season.”
Exact Cross Be-Mine Cross Beringen Result:
1. Lars van der Haar (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions in 1:00:46
2. Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal at 0:10
3. Niels Vandeputte (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 0:18
4. Toon Aerts (Bel) Deschacht-Hens-FSP at 0:30
5. Joran Wyseure (Bel) Crelan-Corendon at 0:32
6. Emiel Verstrynge (Bel) Crelan-Corendon at 0:39
7. Toon Vandebosch (Bel) Crelan-Corendon at 0:43
8. Felipe Orts Lloret (Spa) Ridley Racing Team at 0:48
9. Jente Michels (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 55
10. David Haverdings (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions at 1:26.
Beringen’24:
Eli Iserbyt Disqualified in First Cross after Crash with Ryan Kamp
On the 5th lap of the Exact Cross Beringen on Saturday, a chase group including Eli Iserbyt and Ryan Kamp were about to catch the front group, but the two riders fell together on a steep descent. According to the Belgian champion, the fault was the Dutchman’s, but then Iserbyt deliberately stood on Kamp’s rear wheel. Kamp didn’t let the Belgian champion from getting away and held him back, a short discussion followed. Both riders changed bikes, but Iserbyt was disqualified on the 6th lap.
after Iserbyt was disqualified and taken out of the race, he immediately expressed regret to Sporza: “My response was not necessary. It happens in the heat of battle,” the Belgian said. “It’s something that’s been playing from previous seasons. He cuts off more often, now too. I realised afterwards that it was not wise. That stomping was more of a reaction to a verbal response from Ryan himself. But my action was not necessary.” The two have been teammates in the past.
Iserbyt later wrote on X (Twitter). “I understand the decision of the jury to dsq me today in Beringen. My acts after the hard crash were made in a rage of anger and don’t belong in this sport. For this I want to apologise to everyone involved. Now I’ll focus on the positive things and look forward to the next races!”
UCI Imposes Additional 100 Swiss Francs Fine on Eli Iserbyt
The UCI has imposed an additional fine of 100 Swiss francs on Eli Iserbyt after his disqualification, following his altercation with former teammate Ryan Kamp during the Exact Cross in Beringen, according to Het Nieuwsblad The two riders were heard by the UCI jury after the race. Iserbyt would have to pay a fine of 100 Swiss francs, a relatively light sentence. The apologies would have played an important role in determining the penalty. Compared to throwing rubbish during a race, which for a first violation the fine can be up to 250 Swiss franks, it is quite light.
Not good:
Domenico Pozzovivo Finishes his Last Race
Domenico Pozzovivo rode the last race of his cycling career on Saturday, Il Lombardia. The almost 42-year-old Italian climber also finished his sixteenth and last Lombardia.
Pozzovivo crossed the finish line in 38th place in Como, in a group more than 11 minutes behind world champion and winner Tadej Pogačar. This was his last day as a professional cyclist, because the Italian has decided to hang up his racing bike after a professional career of 20 seasons. The little climber can look back on a long and successful career. He turned professional back in 2005 with Ceramica Panaria-Navigare and he became one of the better Italian climbers in the peloton. His breakthrough came in 2008. That year, he finished 9th in the Giro d’Italia and competed in the mountains alongside Alberto Contador, Denis Menchov and Gilberto Simoni.
Pozzovivo was a very consistently climber in the Grand Tours. After his time with Ceramica Panaria-Navigare/Colnago-CSF Inox, he rode for AG2R La Mondiale (2013-2017), Bahrain Merida (2018-2019), NTT Pro Cycling/Team Qhubeka (2020-2021), Intermarché-Wanty (2022), Israel-Premier Tech (2023) and this year with VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè (2024). His list of achievements includes 13 professional victories. His biggest win came in 2012 when he won a stage in the Giro d’Italia. Pozzovivo also won stages in the Tour of Catalonia, Giro del Trentino and the Tour of Switzerland, and quite a few smaller races in Italy.
Pozzovivo rode the Giro d’Italia eighteen times in his career, the Tour de France three times and the Vuelta a España four times. In the Giri of 2008, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2022 he finished in the top 10. In the 2014 and 2018 editions he finished 5th. In the 2013 Vuelta he was 6th.
Goodbye Pozzovivo:
Rémi Cavagna to Leave Movistar after Only One Season
Rémi Cavagna has a contract with Movistar until the end of 2026, but according to AS, the French rider is leaving the Telefonica team after one season due to a language barrier. Cavagna will go to Groupama-FDJ.
Cavagna moved from Soudal Quick-Step to Movistar last winter. The 29-year-old Frenchman hoped to kick start his career, but he was unable to make an impact this season. In an interview with L’Équipe, he said he had problems adjusting to his new team. The language barrier with his Spanish colleagues in particular was a big barrier.
“I didn’t expect it to be so difficult,” Cavagna said in June about the team change. “I was at Quick-Step for seven years, it was all easy, but I got to an age where I wanted to try something different. My Spanish has improved. I have taken some courses, I have invested in it and now understand almost everything. But when I want to express myself a little, it becomes difficult.”
“That is annoying when you try to integrate. The Spaniards form a block within the team. On the radio everything is in Spanish, which is complicated at the important moments in a race. I have changed teams for a change, but I feel like I am still at the beginning,” he smiles. “I did not sign up for this. At the moment I am not giving anything and I am not getting anything back. It is complicated.”
However, Cavagna also said that he ‘does not regret’ his decision, but he has now changed his mind. According to Spanish sportspaper AS, he is leaving Movistar early and will be racing with Groupama-FDJ next year. Riding for a French team for the first time in his professional career.
Rémi Cavagna to Groupama-FDJ:
Patrick Lefevere on Remco Evenepoel: “He Protects his Teammates Too Often”
Patrick Lefevere thinks that Remco Evenepoel protects his teammates too often, the Soudal Quick-Step manager wrote in Het Nieuwsblad column. Lefevere thinks that Evenepoel should state what was good after the race, but also what was not good. “We need to make more time for feedback.”
Lefevere started his column by discussing Evenepoel’s limited ambitions in the Tour of Lombardy. “Remco also doesn’t sound combative when he says that only reaching the finish in Lombardy is a success, but I understand that. Let me list it again: Paris-Nice, rehabilitation after the crash in the Tour of the Basque Country, Dauphiné, Tour, Olympic Games, World Championships… Always and everywhere with press conferences before and after”, Lefevere adds. “It makes sense that he’s now out of it. Add the Giro and the Vuelta from last season and the conclusion is that Remco has been on a rollercoaster for two years that hardly stops.”
Lefevere doesn’t think it’s abnormal that Evenepoel is slowly running out of steam. The manager is already working on next season, together with his right-hand man. “On Thursday, Jurgen Foré and I sat down with him to evaluate the season and see where we can do even better next year. It fits in with our intention to make more time for feedback. Within our Flemish culture, we tend to leave things unsaid in the middle, to sweep the dust under the carpet until it really doesn’t work anymore. Remco is quite direct, but still protects his teammates too often. One of the intentions that emerged from the meeting is to clearly state after the races what was good, but certainly also what was not good,” said Lefevere.
Evenepoel needs to say more to his team:
Juan Ayuso Wants a New Challenge in 2025
It is not yet definite, but there is a good chance that Juan Ayuso will make his debut in the Giro d’Italia next year. The 22-year-old Spaniard told Spanish sportspaper Marca: “The most likely thing is that I will contest the Giro.”
The young rider is keeping his options open. “In 2025, I will in principle be at the start of the Giro. That is the starting point for now, although the plans can still change. I am waiting until all the routes are known. You never know what will come of it and maybe the Vuelta suits me better than the Giro. But a Giro participation is the most likely.”
Ayuso made his first appearance in the Tour de France this year. The Spaniard started the French Tour well and was still in a good position in the general classification after ten stages, but Ayuso eventually had to step down due to a covid infection. This turned out to be the start of a period of health problems, which meant that he was unable to reach his usual level at the end of 2024.
Ayuso did take the final victory in the Tour of the Basque Country and a second place in Tirreno-Adriatico. The UAE Team Emirates rider has done well in the Grand Tours. In his GT debut; the 2022 Vuelta a España, he finished third overall and this year he just missed out on the Vuelta podium with a fourth place.
Ayuso to ride the Giro in 2025?
Kasper Asgreen Benefits from his Horse Riding Background
Before Kasper Asgreen started cycling, he was a horse rider. The Dane says that this experience from his youth still helps him in his current profession. It gives him the discipline to always get on his bike, even when he doesn’t feel like it.
“When you have to take care of an animal, you can’t leave it in the stable for two or three days because you don’t feel like training,” Asgreen told the website of his new team, EF Education-EasyPost, the he will move to in 2025 from Soudal Quick-Step. “You are responsible for a living creature, so you have to go and train with it every day. Maybe you don’t want to do a full training session or a heavy training session, but you have to practice with the horse. I think that taught me a lot of discipline very early on. When I started cycling, a lot of my friends would only go training with the group on Tuesdays or Thursdays. I would also go on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And then I also raced, because I was used to doing my sport every day. The discipline of going out every day, which I had when I was five, six or seven years old, made the transition to cycling much easier.”
Asgreen competed in dressage as a child, but eventually stopped riding. He then tried several other sports, until he saw the Tour de France on television and started cycling. “I knew from the beginning that cycling was for me,” he said. “It’s a tough sport, but it’s tougher if you don’t enjoy it. That’s something I always try to remember: you don’t have to do this. If I want to do something else, I have all the possibilities in the world. But right now, this is what I want to do.”
Kasper Asgreen used to ride horses:
Athletes Named to 2024 UCI Track Cycling World Championships Canadian Squad
Cycling Canada is pleased to announce the team that will represent Canada at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships to be held in Ballerup, Denmark, from Oct. 16-20.
All named on the Paris 2024 Olympic team, riders Ariane Bonhomme, Dylan Bibic, Ryan Dodyk, Mathias Guillemette, James Hedgcock, Fiona Majendie, Sarah Orban, Tyler Rorke and Sean Richardson will be starters in their respective events, while Santiago 2023 Pan American Games team pursuit gold medallists Campbell Parrish, Chris Ersnt and Kiara Lylyk will once again join the pursuit quartets.
World scratch race champion in 2022, Bibic, from Mississauga, Ontario, will be attempting to repeat his feat, as he takes part in five different events.
Competition for Canadian riders begin on Oct. 16 with men and women’s team pursuit qualifying and continues all through the weekend. Full schedule, start lists and important information can be found here.
Team Canada
Dylan Bibic – Mississauga, ON
Ariane Bonhomme – Gatineau, QC
Ryan Dodyk – Edmonton, AB
Chris Ernst – Kitchener, ON
Mathias Guillemette – Trois-Rivières, QC
James Hedgcock – Ancaster, ON
Kiara Lylyk – Guelph, ON
Fiona Majendie – Vancouver, BC
Sarah Orban – Calgary, AB
Lily Plante – Sutton, QC
Campbell Parrish – Vancouver, BC
Sean Richardson – Vancouver, BC
Tyler Rorke – Baden, ON.
Dylan Bibic and Mathias Guillemette to the track Worlds:
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig Joins CANYON//SRAM Racing in 2025
CANYON//SRAM Racing is thrilled to announce that Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig will join the team for the 2025 season after signing a two-year contract. The talented Danish rider, renowned for her versatility and determination, will boost CANYON//SRAM Racing’s strengths in one-day classics and stage races.
In 2022, Uttrup Ludwig took a superb stage win at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and an overall victory at the Tour of Scandinavia. In 2023, she won two stages of the Tour of Scandinavia and added a second Giro dell’Emilia and a bronze medal at the UCI Road World Championships to her palmarés. She has achieved World Tour podiums at one-day races like Strade Bianche or in the Ardennes at Flèche Wallonne. Uttrup Ludwig’s 2024 season began with a stage win at the Tour Down Under in Australia before several setbacks prevented her from reaching her top form. CANYON//SRAM Racing welcomes her never-give-up attitude and lively personality to its 2025 roster.
Reflecting on the move, Uttrup Ludwig shared her excitement: “I am immensely looking forward to joining CANYON//SRAM Racing for 2025 and onward. I love the team’s aggressive racing style and not being afraid to lose. I am sure I will fit right in with this kind of racing. That is exactly the type of rider I aim and want to be.”
After a tough 2024 season marked by crashes and illness, Uttrup Ludwig is focused on putting the past behind her and returning to her best form: “2024 has been a tough season for me. Lots of crashes and sickness. I really want to put all this behind me and get back to my old form. In this way, I can contribute to a super dynamic team and reach our goals together.”
Known for her determination, Uttrup Ludwig is no stranger to bouncing back from adversity. She recalls a pivotal moment from the 2022 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift: “Sometimes you gain strength through hard times. For example, in the first Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, most of the team crashed on stage 2, and we lost a lot of time in the general classification. But the day after, we managed to bounce back and win the stage. That’s one of the proudest moments of my career. Never give up.”
The move to CANYON//SRAM Racing presents an exciting new chapter in her career. Uttrup Ludwig is confident the team’s support will help her develop further as a rider: “It’s clear from my talks with the team that the support from the team and its staff is very professional, and I feel confident that they will help me in my further development as a rider. Bring on 2025.”
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig joins CANYON//SRAM:
Two-Time Danish Champion Alexander Kamp Strengthens Intermarché-Wanty
Intermarché-Wanty is bolstering its classics core with the arrival of 30-year-old, two-time Danish champion Alexander Kamp. He has signed a two-year deal with Jean-François Bourlart’s team.
With a profile as a fast puncheur, Alexander Kamp narrowly missed out on the U23 world champion title in Richmond, finishing fifth in the road race before signing his first professional contract in 2016. With the German team Stölting, he became national champion at 22 and emerged as a leader of the Pro Continental team alongside Mads Pedersen, whom he later joined at Trek at the World Tour level from 2020 to 2022.
On the toughest classics, Kamp has distinguished himself against the best punchers in the World Tour peloton with podium finishes at the Bretagne Classic (3rd in 2022), Amstel Gold Race (5th in 2022 and 9th in 2023), the GP de Québec (7th in 2023) and La Flèche Brabançonne (6th in 2023). He claimed his second national champion title in 2022 before joining Team Tudor.
In addition to his qualities for the classics, Alexander Kamp has enjoyed success in several stage races with stage wins at the Tour of Norway 2018 and the Tour of Yorkshire 2019, but he is also the overall winner of the Tour du Loir-et-Cher (2017), the Circuit des Ardennes (2019) and most recently the Région Pays de la Loire Tour (2023).
Alexander Kamp: “Intermarché-Wanty has a reputation for being a very well-organised structure, with a great team spirit and a family atmosphere, where young riders and older riders alike thrive. That’s what made me want to be a part of it. I am convinced that it is the ideal environment to return to the top of the rankings. With my qualities as an explosive rider in races for punchers, my goal is to fight for victory as often as possible. I love races like Amstel Gold Race or Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I look forward to participating in the extraordinary history of Intermarché-Wanty. I want to bring success in the coming seasons. I will bring my qualities as a cyclist but also my old-school personality, I prefer the classics in cycling, but also in culture. I love classical music and I am a fan of Marlon Brando, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen.”
Aike Visbeek (Performance Manager): “Alexander Kamp brings his punchy qualities to our World Team. He has demonstrated that he can achieve results in many one day races at the highest level. With his experience, he will be able to strengthen our classics core built around Biniam Girmay. We are convinced that he has room for improvement and that he will be able to flourish in a World Tour program, with races like the Amstel Gold Race, the Canadian classics or even Milano – Sanremo. He represents added value to our squad and we will be able to make good use of his qualities.”
Belgian Leander van Hautegem and Frenchman Henri-François Renard-Haquin Join Bingoal-WB for the 2025 and 2026 Seasons
Leander van Hautegem (21) is making his return to our ranks, which he met in 2022 within our Development team. He raced in 2023 and 2024 in the Soudal-Quick Step Devo Team. In 2024, he ranked, among others, 4th in the Tour Alsace, 9th in the Ronde de l’Oise and 18th in Paris-Tours espoirs.
Christophe Brandt: “We had already detected Leander’s potential when he was a junior. He had a great 2022 season with our Development team and he is returning to us after a stint with Soudal-Quick Step Devo Team. He is a young rider with a great temperament and a very offensive spirit. He has progressed well in 2024 and we are very happy to have him back in the team. We are counting on him to join the professional level in 2025. Leander is not afraid of anything and he perfectly displays the character that we find in the new generation of riders.”
Henri-François Renard-Haquin (21) raced for the French club CC Etupes in 2022, 2023 and 2024 before joining the ranks of the continental team St Michel-Mavic-Auber93 as a trainee. In 2024, the Dijon native ranked, among other things, 4th in the French U23 championship, he won the 4th stage of the Tour Alsace and finished 26th in Paris-Tours espoirs.
Philippe Wagner: “Henri-François Haquin is one of the young French riders that we have been following very closely, especially after his stage success at the Tour Alsace. He arrives as a neighbour from a club that has served as a launching pad for many champions and we can only hope that Henri-François will follow in their footsteps.”
Trusty Domestiques De Marchi, Durbridge and Mezgec Set to Continue their GreenEDGE Cycling Story
Italian breakaway hero Alessandro De Marchi, Australian powerhouse Luke Durbridge and Slovenian lead-out man Luka Mezgec are set to stay at Team Jayco AlUla after signing new contracts, seeing them through to the end of 2025 (De Marchi) and 2026 (Durbridge & Mezgec)
De Marchi, one of the oldest, most experienced riders in the team will see his new contract take him to three years with the squad having joined back in January 2023.
Durbridge’s new contract will take the rider from Perth’s time with the GreenEDGE Cycling family to an incredible 15 years, as one of the remaining original team members having joined the set up back in 2012 – the squad’s inaugural season.
Mezgec, who joined the team in 2016, will see his new contract take him through to 10 years with the Slovenian having established his role as an important part of the sprint group.
Daring De Marchi
With a wealth of experienced under his belt after racing as a professional for 12 years at the highest level, ‘Dema’ knows how to read a race. Often seen in successful breakaways, the 38-year-old is not afraid of putting it all on the line for himself in a daring breakaway or selflessly pushing his boundaries to help his teammates.
“I am happy to stay and continue this story because I feel that I am valued as a cyclist and as a person in this group. I know that my qualities are appreciated and considered useful to the team, outside and inside the races. The chapter that started here in 2022 is a sort of new chapter and is progressing in a positive way for me. I’m aware that athletically you can’t hide your age, but I feel like I have the soul and mind of a boy, I still always dream a perfect breakaway and a victory. I also know, however, that the team needs me as an expert athlete, gregarious and ready to support our leaders. I would be happy to continue in 2025 on this double track.”
Alessandro De Marchi
Age: 38
Nationality: Italian
Joined GreenEDGE Cycling: 2023
New Contract: 2025
Top Results:
1st Tre Valli Varesine (2021)
1st Giro dell’Emilia (2018)
1st Criterium du Dauphine Stage (2013)
1st 3x Vuelta a España Stages (2018, 2015, 2014)
2nd 2x Giro d’Italia Stages (2021, 2012)
3rd Giro d’Italia Stage (2012)
3rd 3x Vuelta a España Stages (2018, 2015, 2014)
Durbridge delivers
Often found on the front of the peloton, Durbridge has made a reputation of sacrificing himself for his teammates, a loyal and trusted support rider that delivers time and time again. This year Durbridge made it to double-figure Tour de France appearances, proving the Australian’s worth on the biggest stage by assisting the team’s leaders over three weeks and across varied terrains.
“I am really excited to continue the journey with the team since turning professional 13 years ago – time flies when you’re having fun! I couldn’t imagine going to another team, it is part of my family being here for so long. The team is constantly evolving but I feel like I am evolving as a rider as well. I have to thank Gerry Ryan, Brent Copeland and Matt White for continuing to have faith in me. It was great this year, getting a win with Dylan at the TDF. I want to continue in this role, working with our leaders. We have some really great exciting prospects coming through, and with my experience I hope help these guys develop, the likes of Ben O’Connor. Also riders we have now with big futures ahead of them such as Luke Plapp, Chris Harper and our other younger non-Australian riders too like Foldager, De Pretto, Engelhardt who have all taken wins this season in their early 20s. Next year the nationals are in Perth, my home city, so I really want to go for that and hopefully I can continue to grow. I think there’s some results left to go and I am definitely not too old. As I said, I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else. It has been a great journey so far.”
Luke Durbridge
Date of Birth: 9th April 1991
Nationality: Australian
Joined GreenEDGE Cycling: 2012
New Contract: 2025 & 2026
Top Results:
4x 1st Australian time trial championships (2012, 13, 19, 20)
1st Criterium du Dauphine stage (2012)
2nd Driedaagse De Panne Overall (2014)
2nd Giro d’Italia stage (2015)
4th Dwaars Door Vlaanderen (2017)
Mezgec making space
When you turn on the TV for a Tour de France bunch sprint finish, 36-year-old Mezgec can often be seen driving towards the front of the peloton with sprinter Dylan Groenewegen tight on his wheel. Mezgec has had the pleasure of working closely with the team’s lead sprinter over the past seasons, delivering the Dutchman to two TDF stage wins amongst many other sprint finishes.
“Joining this team 9 years ago felt like getting my second family straight away. There are great people in the organisation, and they made sure I was developing as rider but also as a person. So, to continue this journey for two more years feels like privileged to me. I am excited to closely work with a Dylan for sprints but also to share my experience with new upcoming talents. For 2025/2026 I hope I can contribute to some more wins of the team. I am looking forward to enjoying the process in order to get myself in top shape for the season’s biggest goals.”
Brent Copeland – General Manager: “Durbridge has developed into one of the more experienced riders on the team, having been in the team from the start in 2012. Himself and De Marchi know the organisation very well and have developed into their roles as very well trusted domestiques. Durbridge’s 10th appearance this year at the Tour de France is testament to his loyalty to the team and as a team player and we are pleased to keep him and De Marchi onboard.
We’re very happy to see that Mezgec will continue with us for two more seasons. He is an important member of the team’s sprint train and has been a valuable teammate in assisting Dylan Groenewegen to multiple sprint wins. With a lot of knowledge and experience, Mezgec is rider that our younger generation can learn from and be guided by.”
Luka Mezgec
Date of Birth: 27th June 1988
Nationality: Slovenia
Joined GreenEDGE Cycling: 2016
New Contract: 2025 & 2026
Top Results:
1st Giro d’Italia stage win (2014)
1st 3x Volta Catalunya stage win (2014)
2x 1st Tour of Slovenia Stage (2017 & 19)
2x 1st Tour of Poland Stage (2019)
2x 2nd Tour de France Stage (2020)
2nd Bretagne Classic Ouest-France
Alessandro Romele Moves to the WorldTour from Development Team
21-year-old Italian rider Alessandro Romele, who has achieved two victories and secured six podium finishes (including 2nd place in the overall standings of the Tour of Istanbul and Tour of Rhodes) with Astana Qazaqstan Development Team, next season will move up to the UCI WorldTour with Astana Qazaqstan Team. The agreement with the WorldTour team includes the following two years (2025 and 2026).
“The 2024 season was amazing. I was fortunate to combine racing with the continental team and Astana Qazaqstan Team. This allowed me to gain significant experience, which I am confident will aid my transition to the professional level. I believe I achieved good results despite some health issues that forced me to miss the entire month of May, preventing me from approaching several important races in top shape. Nevertheless, I am very satisfied with my progress and grateful to the team for providing me the opportunity to work productively with a coach and nutritionist. I eagerly await the start of the 2025 season with the entire Astana Qazaqstan Team,” said Alessandro Romele.
“Alessandro had a very productive season with our development team, achieving victories and podium finishes. He also performed well in the races where he raced with our main team. Even the last race, Paris-Tours, alongside Astana Qazaqstan Team, which took place in tough weather conditions, revealed a lot about the potential of this rider. I think now is the right moment for Alessandro to transition to the WorldTour, and the experience he gained this year will help him adapt more quickly,” said Alexandr Vinokurov, general manager of the Astana Qazaqstan Team.
Alessandro Romele to the WorldTour team:
Lorenzo Finn Named as the First Rider for the New Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe U23 Team
The freshly crowned U19 World Champion will continue with Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe in the U23 category. The Italian will join the new Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies, a U23 squad registered as a Continental Team.
With his solo victory in the junior road race at the World Championships in Zurich, Italy’s Lorenzo Finn capped off an outstanding season. Earlier in the summer, the 17-year-old had already demonstrated his immense talent with victories in the Italian time trial and road championships, a third-place finish at the Ain Bugey Valromey Tour, an overall victory at the stage race Aubel-Thimister-Stavelot, and a second place at the Giro della Lunigiana. Finn hopes to build on this success in the U23 category.
With Finn as the first official signing, the new Red Bull – BORA hansgrohe Rookies are set to launch. The U23 team, registered as a Continental Team, will start in 2025, complementing the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe development program and bridging the gap between the GRENKE – Auto Eder U19 team and the WorldTour line-up. More information on the Red Bull – BORA hansgrohe Rookies will be released in the coming weeks.
Lorenzo Finn: “Staying with the team is the best possible way to continue my development journey. This year, I really enjoyed the environment of the whole team and staff, so I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings.“
John Wakefield, Director of Development at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe: “We’re excited and honoured to have Lorenzo staying with the team and progressing into our new U23 Development structure. Not only is he a gifted climber and stage racer, but he’s also incredibly humble and grounded, which is evident in his calculated approach to racing. His progression over the season has been impressive, and his dedication to continuous improvement shows a lot of maturity for a rider his age. Having such a talented and hard-working rider in our U23 project not only strengthens the team and makes us excited for what’s to come ahead, it shows our focus in our development pathways.”
World champion to stay with the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe U23 team:
Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women signs Tour de l’Avenir winner Bunel
Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women has signed the talented young cyclist Marion Bunel. The 19-year-old French rider joins the team from St Michel-Mavic-Auber93 on a three-year contract. Bunel, who recently won the Tour de l’Avenir, will join experienced teammates such as Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot to further develop her skills.
Bunel is regarded as one of cycling’s greatest talents. As well as winning the Tour de l’Avenir, she took two stage wins and finished third in the youth classification of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. She’s thrilled to be joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women in 2025.
“It’s a dream come true”, Bunel said. “Team Visma | Lease a Bike is one of the best teams in the world and I’m honoured to join them next season. I believe this is the perfect next step for my career. I couldn’t ask for better facilities or teammates. I’ve always been trained by my father, so I’m looking forward to a different approach to training.”
Bunel is looking forward to working with Vos and Ferrand-Prévot. The latter recently announced her return to road cycling. “I have been following Pauline for a long time. She’s a great role model for me and many others. I’m thrilled to be on the same team as her for the next few years. I’ll try to learn as much as possible.”
Team manager Rutger Tijssen is delighted with the new signing. “Marion is a great talent, especially in the mountains. We approached her last year after the Tour de l’Avenir, impressed by her riding style. We’re very happy that she chose us and I think she is happy to take her next step with our team.”
Tijssen emphasises that Bunel’s development will be carefully managed. “We’re not going to hold her back, but we’re not going to throw her in at the deep end either. These things take time.” Bunel hopes to continue to improve over the next few years. “My first Tour de France has really motivated me for the future. Of course it would be great to win a stage or even the Tour one day, but for now I want to learn and gain as much experience as possible.”
Marion Bunel to Visma | Lease a Bike:
Henrietta Christie to join EF-Oatly-Cannondale in 2025
New Zealander is a developing climbing talent
EF-Oatly-Cannondale is proud to welcome Henrietta Christie to our 2025 roster. The New Zealander adds depth to our climbing talent.
At just 22 years old, Henrietta was third at the Gran Premio Ciudad de Eibar this year. She is a former junior and under-23 time trial national champion. She has won the best young rider competition at the Tour Down Under and the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l’Ardèche. Her top ten GC results include the Tour Down Under, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the Vuelta Ciclista Andalucía, and the Clasica de Almeria.
Henrietta exudes a playful spirit. When she told her parents she wanted to start cycling, they didn’t blink an eye. They had always encouraged Henrietta and her two younger sisters to try different sports and Henrietta had done just about all of them, from field hockey to swimming. But what Henrietta intentionally omitted was why she wanted to start riding.
“It was the sound of the cycling shoes on concrete. Click, clack. I grew up in a small country town and so the sound these shoes made was something I’d never heard before! And I immediately wanted to start riding,” she said.
“Henrietta is a young and talented climber,” said EF-Oatly-Cannondale General Manager Esra Tromp. “She isn’t afraid of a challenge: living on the other side of the world didn’t stop her from finding out what she can do on the bike. She moved to Europe as a teenager to discover her talents, learn racing strategies, and pursue her dream. Our team is super happy to have Henrietta on board to strengthen our climbing squad. She is an amazing teammate on and off the bike, which we always appreciate!”
Henrietta expects the transition to EF-Oatly-Cannondale to be a smooth one, in part because she already knows so many of the riders and staff. “Emma Trott used to coach me when I was a junior and we have a really good relationship,” she said of the team’s performance manager. “Last year, I used to go to Alison Jackson’s house to bake because I didn’t have air conditioning. I love to bake but the oven made my apartment too hot, so Alison said I could go over and use her oven but there was a cookie tax which was pretty fair.”
Baking has played an important role in Henrietta’s cycling career. “I used to sell home-baked cakes before I came to Europe,” she said. “That’s how I saved up to join my first team here. The money I earned paid for the flights and spending money. I was typically making two cakes a week and that was enough because I also needed time to train. I would never rush the cakes. I always wanted them to turn out perfectly.”
The same preparation and focus she gives to baking also applies to how she approaches racing. “I love the feeling of being competitive, but what motivates me is that I want to do well. Equally, I want my team and my teammates to do well. I love working for other people and I love having opportunities as well. And I absolutely love the feeling of knowing I did absolutely everything I could have done at the end of the day. That satisfaction is so motivating.”
Looking ahead to next season, Henrietta knows where she will direct her energy. “Kim Cadzow and I both plan to race the New Zealand national championships so it would be really special if we can bring that jersey to the team. I don’t know my program yet but I’d love to race well at the Tour Down Under and of course the spring classics, especially the Ardennes. I love the Ardennes. I love the craziness of them, where so much can happen. That kind of racing, plus the punchy climbs, is so much fun.”
We think you and the squad will have a lot of fun in 2025. Welcome to the team!
Henrietta Christie to EF-Oatly-Cannondale:
Dutch Trio Korevaar, Smulders and Ton sign on Through to 2026
Dutch trio Jeanne Korevaar, Silke Smulders and Quinty Ton have all put pen to paper, inking new two-year contracts with Liv AlUla Jayco after all finding their place within the GreenEDGE Cycling family.
The three talents came over to Liv AlUla Jayco in January 2024 following the merger with their former team Liv Racing TeqFind, and the trio quickly found their feet, proving to be crucial team members, each in their own right.
Experienced Korevaar
After racing as a pro for the past 10 seasons, Korevaar has a wealth of experience and has used it throughout her first year with Liv AlUla Jayco as a determined and loyal teammate. Ready to challenge for more in 2025, the 28-year-old ‘Dutchie’ is looking to grow with the squad over the next two years.
“I’ve really enjoyed this year, which is important for me to be able to perform well. I’ve seen myself and the team grow during the races from the beginning until now. The progress is really important. I often start as the road captain, and I’m developing myself in that role. This team is special because of its culture. We race with a plan, and everyone is committed to that plan. Alongside the hard work, there is also room for fun. I think this combination is important. In the coming years, I want to improve and achieve results together with the team. My specialty lies in the spring season, and I’m already looking forward to it. I hope to showcase myself and the team there and be valuable for sprint finishes and aggressive racing.”
Jeanne Korevaar
Age: 28
Nationality: Netherlands
Joined GreenEDGE Cycling: 2024
New Contract: 2025 & 2026
Smulders stays
Young Silke Smulders has enjoyed a standout season, most notably after her late call up to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, where she consistently placed highly on the stages whilst also racing in a support role. Her victory at the Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia and 13th place overall at the Giro d’Italia demonstrated her ability and talent and brings a lot of motivation heading into the new season.
“This year I made huge steps as a rider, thanks to the support of the team in all different areas. I just feel in my place here at Liv AlUla Jayco surrounded by hard working, positive people. What I found special is that we are there for each other and want to improve together and can push each other. I feel very lucky to be a part of this team. I want to keep building over the next two years like I did this year and be a key asset to the team and dare to take opportunities to win.”
Silke Smulders
Age: 23
Nationality: Netherlands
Joined GreenEDGE Cycling: 2024
New Contract: 2025 & 2026
Tenacious Ton
After a hampered start to the 2024 racing season following an injury, Ton managed to fight her way back and begin racing again with the team in May. She quickly found her race rhythm with a superb second-place finish at Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia. Over the remainder of the season, Ton has proven herself to be a trusty teammate, helping Liv AlUla Jayco in a wide range of race situations with still a lot more inside of the gutsy 26-year-old.
“Despite a nasty start to the season, which left me out of action for the first half, the team has given me a lot of confidence and support. It feels like we have just started and I am happy that I can continue to work on my rehabilitation in this environment and come all the way back to my level next year (and hopefully a bit better).
It is a very professional environment, but at the same time it feels familiar. The Australian vibe that prevails in the team also matches well with the Dutch culture brought by the Dutch girls and staff. Next year I hope to continue this and have a good spring, in which I can show myself. Next to that, I hope to be of value for both the GC riders and the sprinters in their hunt for victories.”
Quinty Ton
Age: 26
Nationality: Netherlands
Joined GreenEDGE Cycling: 2024
New Contract: 2025 & 2026
Brent Copeland – General Manager: “Renewing the contracts of these three riders was very pleasing for us. They have all, in their own right, given a lot to the team this year and as Liv AlUla Jayco continues to grow, these riders make up the foundations of a solid group of riders. We’re hoping for big things in 2025 and we’re very happy to keep these three talented riders onboard.”
Itamar Einhorn continues with Israel – Premier Tech for a seventh season
The rider who achieved historic victories aims to “continue breaking glass ceilings”.
Itamar Einhorn, the Israeli rider who delivered the first six victories by an Israeli cyclist in the professional ranks, will continue in Israel – Premier Tech colours next season.
Einhorn has signed a contract for his seventh season as a professional rider with the team, which aims in 2025 to build on its momentum from this year, its best season in its history, and secure its return to the WorldTour.
The 27-year-old sprinter from Modi’in has undoubtedly played a role in the team’s impressive success this season, with four victories – two at the Tour of Rwanda and two at the Tour of Taiwan. Einhorn is also the rider who made headlines back in 2021 with a huge victory over former World Champion Peter Sagan at the Tour of Slovakia, marking the first-ever win by an Israeli rider in professional cycling.
Einhorn has also achieved numerous victories while representing Israel’s national team, and this year became the first Israeli in 64 years to finish the Olympic road race at the Paris Olympics. Now, Einhorn is looking forward to the next opportunity to take his career to even greater heights.
“This will be my seventh year as a pro, and my ninth within the team’s structure, and I’m looking forward to continuing to break glass ceilings, as I have done so far,” explains Einhorm. “I still have many goals to achieve, including racing another Grand Tour and winning in Pro and WorldTour races. My personal progression is continuing, and I believe this is all within reach.”
Einhorn expressed gratitude to the team for their trust and said he hopes to get more opportunities to lead the team as a sprinter in key races: “I am very eager to succeed, and I hope the team continues to give me opportunities so I can achieve things we once thought were far from possible,” he says.
IPT General Manager, Kjell Carlström, adds: “Itamar has proven that he can win consistently at the professional level, and he gains more experience with each year. I expect to see him continue on this path, and I am confident he will be a valuable member of the team in 2025.”
For IPT owner Sylvan Adams, Einhorn’s success is a testament to the the pathway the team provides for young Israeli talent. “I am very proud of the progress of our Israeli riders,” says Adams. “Just this week, Oded Kogut secured a great victory for us at the Cro Tour marking the team’s 150th win in its history. Young Israeli talents are rising and developing within our ‘Academy’ team, and they will make their way to the top squad. Itamar was the one who achieved the first Israeli victory, and since then, he has continued to win. Best of luck, Itamar, in the upcoming season. I am confident this is just the beginning for you and the entire team!”
Cav Set to Take Final Bow at 2024 Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium
There it is – his final challenge! After 18 seasons in the professional ranks, Mark Cavendish managed to beat Eddy Merckx’s record as the most prolific Tour de France stage hunter ever, claiming his 35th career victory in the finale at Saint-Vulbas. His 2024 racing calendar concludes with the Singapore event, which will also be the final race of his career. A born winner, the British rider will hold nothing in reserve, but he faces serious rivals in this climactic sprint. In the mad dash to the line, Cav will have to contend with the raw power of the 2024 green jersey, Biniam Girmay, as well as the Eritrean’s predecessor, Jasper Philipsen, who happens to be the reigning champion in Singapore.
Cavendish’s record-breaking feat, one of the highlights of the last Tour de France, was followed by other standout performances, such as Anthony Turgis’s victory at the end of the spectacular gravel road stage to Troyes, where the Team TotalEnergies rider put his tactical nous to good use to secure his maiden win in the Grande Boucle. Another shrewd tactician and powerful rider stormed to victory in Barcelonnette, where Victor Campenaerts, earning the 2023 combativity award, was rewarded for his persistence, clinching his first Tour stage win in 2024. Other riders did not achieve the desired result but won over the audience with their panache. Uno-X Mobility’s Jonas Abrahamsen and Tobias Johannessen unleashed a rolling barrage of attacks, as did the Belgian champion, Arnaud De Lie. They will all get another chance to shine on the circuit in Singapore. The TdF Legends team brings together riders with 15 Grand Tour victories between them. Chris Froome, the most decorated, with seven triumphs to his name, will team up in this special event with Primoz Roglič, winner of four Vueltas and one Giro, while Vincenzo Nibali, with four Grand Tours to his credit, will return to action for a reunion with his former rivals.
Main contenders:
Anthony Turgis and Matteo Vercher (Team TotalEnergies); Jonas Abrahamsen, Tobias Johannessen and Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility); Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek); Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty); Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team); Arnaud De Lie, Victor Campenaerts and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Dstny); Jasper Philipsen and Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck); Chris Froome, Primoz Roglič, Vincenzo Nibali and Yukiya Arashiro (TdF Legends)
Key points:
The third edition of the Singapore Criterium, scheduled for 10 November, will go down in history as the final professional race to feature Mark Cavendish. The record holder for the most Tour de France stage wins will line up alongside his rivals from last July, including Biniam Girmay and Jasper Philipsen.
A special guest, the Italian Vincenzo Nibali, will pin on a race number once again in Singapore, joining the peloton a decade after his Tour de France triumph, as he lines up alongside Chris Froome and Primoz Roglič in the TdF Legends team.
The VCV Féminas GP Tuawa is Promoted to the UCI ProSeries Category
The women’s race that takes place in parallel to the last stage of the VCV – Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana receives the recognition of the International Cycling Union after six editions of continuous growth.
Good news for the VCV Féminas Gran Premio Tuawa. The women’s race, which will be held in parallel on Sunday of the last stage of the VCV – Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, has been promoted. This has been communicated by the International Cycling Union (UCI) this week to the team captained by the cyclist Angel Casero, who is in charge of the organisation of both events. Undoubtedly, a recognition by the UCI to the good work done in a race that was a pioneer in 2019 in terms of equality and now takes a big leap to consolidate itself as a reference in the international calendar.
The new category to which the VCV Féminas Gran Premio Tuawa belongs is the 1.Pro – Proseries, leaving behind the 1.1. – Class 1. In this way, it ascends to the same echelon as the men’s race, with the difference that the latter is held over five stages while the former remains a one-day race.
This promotion will bring important benefits for the race, but especially for cycling fans in the Comunitat Valenciana. The most important change will be the points awarded for the UCI Ranking. Until now, the winner of the VCV Féminas was awarded 125 points, now 200 points with the new category. In addition, 30 and not 25 riders will receive some points for the UCI Ranking based on their performance in the race.
These two circumstances will make the VCV Féminas much more attractive for the best riders and the best teams in the international peloton, as they will now be able to add a good handful of points to their rankings right at the start of the season. “It’s certainly great news for us as an organisation. We made a strong bet in 2019 to give women’s cycling the space and loudspeaker they deserve, and this promotion reinforces our commitment to a race that we hope will continue to grow and consolidate year after year,” says Ángel Casero, director of the race.
A must-attend event on February 9th
Along with the announcement of the upgrade, the UCI has also confirmed that the 7th VCV Féminas Gran Premio Tuawa will be contested Sunday, February 9, 2025. It will do so, as since its creation in 2019, sharing the route with the last stage of the VCV – Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. A route that will be unveiled to the general public in the coming weeks, but that will have the finish line located in the city of Valencia as is tradition.
This promotion of category within the UCI is another step in the commitment of the organisation led by Ángel Casero for women’s cycling. A bet that started in 2019 with the creation of this VCV Féminas, the first race in Spain to equalise the route and economic prizes in a male and female race. Thanks to the constant growth of the race, in 2024 the first ‘naming sponsor’ was achieved by the hand of Tuawa; and now comes this promotion that only confirms the Valencian Community as a benchmark in the organisation of high-level sporting events, regardless of whether they are male or female.
VCV Féminas moves up:
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