A humungous EUROTRASH Monday with so much news. We start with Belgian coach, Sven Vanthourenhout clearing up the mess between Van Aert and Evenepoel after the World Championships in Leuven. Plus the videos, reports, results and rider quotes from the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Namur and the XΒ²O Badkamers Trofee in Herentals.
TOP STORY:
- Sven Vanthourenhout had to βclear up the messβ with Van Aert and Evenepoel after the World Championships in Leuven
Rider news:
- UAE team manager explains why Tadej PogaΔar makes his debut in Gent-Wevelgem
- Mathieu van der Poel outlines winter program with focus on world title
- Eddy Merckx canβt bear the thought of quitting cycling: βItβs my lifeβ
- PrimoΕΎ RogliΔ celebrates comeback at the Giro dβItalia
- Maxim Van Gils focuses on the one-day races in 2025: βNo plans to ride a Grand Tourβ
- Jhonatan NarvΓ‘ez to Be in the UAE Team Emirates Tour Squad
- MotoGP rider, Aleix EspargarΓ³, to race for Lidl-Trek development team
- No cyclocross for a tired Quinten Hermans
- No job for Mark Cavendish with XDS Astana
- Puck Pieterse hopes to compete for victory
- Afghan National Champion, Fariba Hashimi joins the Womenβs WorldTour with CERATIZIT Pro Cycling
- Damiano Caruso sees the end of his cycling career
- Tom Pidcock to remain part of the Pinarello family
- Patrick Lefevere will continue to write his column
- Red Bull team manager admits to talks with Remco Evenepoel
- Nicklas Pedersen to be a full-time father
Team news:
- Soudal Quick-Step reveal the 2025 Castelli race kit
- Fresh look for 2025: Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rides from head to toe with Specialized
- XDS announces major investment of Astana Team
- PISSEI x UAE Team Emirates 2025 kit release
- Picnic becomes first title partner of Team Picnic PostNL
- FDJ-SUEZ and Gobik Extend Partnership Until 2026
- Axel Merckx officially joins Jayco AlUla with talent team
Race news:
- Washington, D.C. named 2025 & 2026 Pan American cyclo-cross championship host
- Loenhout cross organisers expects a Mathieu van der Poel/Wout van Aert duel
- Start of Tour de France Femmes in Rotterdam a resounding success in many ways
- The 60th Tirreno-Adriatico route presented
- 2025 Tour of the Algarve has a surprising final stage
- Equinor to power the Arctic Race of Norway until 2030
- No BetCity Elfstedenrace in 2025
You need a very big EUROTRASH coffee this morning.
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TOP STORY: Sven Vanthourenhout had to βClear Up the Messβ with Van Aert and Evenepoel after the World Championships in Leuven
Sven Vanthourenhout spoke about one of his most difficult moments as Belgian national coach in the podcast StamcafΓ© Koers: The World Championships in Leuven three years ago. After the race Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel clashed and it was Vanthourenhout who had to βclear up the messβ.
In Leuven, Van Aert was determined to become World champion after a second place in Imola the previous year. Bit on race day Evenepoel attacked early, against all expectations. βThat was not planned,β said Vanthourenhout. βOn the contrary, because we wanted to reach the final with as many people as possible.β At the finish, Julian Alaphilippe took the win. In the final, Evenepoel couldnβt help Van Aert to pull the Frenchman back. Jasper Stuyven eventually finished fourth in his home town, but that was not the plan for the Belgian team, they wanted success in their own back yard.
In the podcast, Vanthourenhout said that he wanted to discuss the World championship in an online meeting, but that Evenepoel didnβt like that. In an email, which he accidentally sent to everyone, the Belgian explained why he didnβt feel comfortable in the group. βThat happened, yes. As a national coach, you have to deal with that. At that moment, you know that there is work to be done, but also where you want to go. I was aware that the group wanted to continue together, but at that moment you have to clear up the mess,β said the ex-national coach.
Vanthourenhout also spoke about Van Aertβs role in the conflict. The rider was so disappointed after the World championship that he didnβt join the team for dinner. βLooking back on that, Woutβs absence was at least as important to avoid division.β Things have been fine between Van Aert and Evenepoel since.
Will they clash again in the Belgian team?
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UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup β Namur Men 2024
Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) won his third cross in a row. After his victories in Dublin and Herentals, he won on Sunday in the World Cup cross of Namur. After a three-way battle and a thrilling final lap, he beat Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-Maes) and Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team). Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) was fourth, Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team) fifth.
Michael Vanthourenhout was the top favourite for the World Cup Namur after his victories in Dublin and Herentals, but there was also some tough competition as Thibau Nys, Eli Iserbyt, Toon Aerts and Pim Ronhaar were all on the start line.
Toon Aerts had the best start, while Kevin Kuhn and Gerben Kuypers also had a good start.Kuypers took the initiative in the first minutes of the cross. He briefly created a gap, but after a few mistakes he saw Kuhn, Kuypers and Laurens Sweeck caught. Thibau Nys and Eli Iserbyt were not far behind after the opening lap, but Michael Vanthourenhout, Pim Ronhaar and Lars van der Haar already had ground to make up. In the second lap Iserbyt also fell further back. Kuhn had taken the lead, with Aerts was on his wheel, until he slipped on the adverse camber section. He went under the canvas into the crowd and was back in a group with Vanthourenhout, Ronhaar and Tibor Del Grosso, who had picked up quite a few riders. First Iserbyt, who eventually abandoned with a painful thigh, dropped back, later also Nys. The European champion looked to have a puncture. The leading group was now: Kuhn, Sweeck, Kuypers and Emiel Verstrynge.
In lap three Vanthourenhout crossed to the front. The World Cup leader didnβt wait and immediately attacked. Verstrynge and Kuypers were able to follow, Kuhn and Sweeck fell through. We thus got three leaders, but Aerts tried to close the gap and kept the leaders in sight. Kuypers had been on the stretcher for a while. The Charles LiΓ©geois Roastery rider was caught in the fifth lap and dropped by Aerts, who was 7 seconds behind Verstrynge and Vanthourenhout at the finish line. In the sixth lap it became a man-to-man fight. Vanthourenhout lost a few meters to Verstrynge after a slip, Aerts came very close to Vanthourenhout and Ronhaar moved up to fourth place, just behind Aerts. Kuypers cracked, then crashed and had to leave the race. Four riders still had a chance of victory with three laps to go. Verstrynge and Vanthourenhout came together again in the seventh lap and looked like they were the best men of the day.
Two laps from the finish, there were still three contenders with a chance. Ronhaar was too far back at 20 seconds. Aerts got a bit closer and in the penultimate lap he caught the leading duo. He immediately took the lead to put the rest under pressure. This didnβt cause any gaps, so the trio started the final lap. Verstrynge put in an early attack, but Aerts chased him down and went past on the next sloping section. Vanthourenhout also had to pass Verstrynge and stayed a few meters back for a long time. This remained the case until the sloping section, where Aerts made a mistake. He slid down again, as Vanthourenhout passed. Vanthourenhout calmly rode to victory without any problems. This was his fourth win of the season and his third win in a row.
Race winner, Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal): βI have had luck on my side these last few weeks. Maybe it means that you are in good shape, when luck is on your side. For me this weekend gives an incredible feeling. We will see how it goes in the coming weeks. I thought the cross was done, but I also knew: when you are completely Γ blocβ¦ And there was still a very difficult sloping side, where I took a very good line. Toon fell in front of me, so after that I went full throttle to the finish. The (World Cup) classification is very important to me. There are still a few World Cups to come and the coming weeks Hulst and Zonhoven are very difficult for me, so we will see.β
2nd, Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-Maes): βIt was a stupid mistake. You know on this lap that this is the decisive point, but that part didnβt suit me today. In the beginning I fell there during the running part. And in the last lap I was completely Γ bloc, which made me make a big mistake. At the moment Iβm a bit disappointed. But I watched this cross on television two years in a row. They were two beautiful, wet editions. It hurt to watch that, but now Iβm back here and Iβm fighting for the win again. I think I have to think about that.β
3rd, Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team): βWow, proud anyway. I donβt think I left much behind today. I made a mistake here and there, but I donβt think anyone here in Namur rides without mistakes. I canβt blame myself. If there was an opportunity in the race, I took it. Iβm going home with a good feeling. In recent years, I havenβt often been in that situation, but if there was one at the beginning of the race, I sometimes hesitated. But today I thought: Iβll just take that opportunity, Iβll try to do something with it. I did that, but in the final there were simply two men stronger. Then I just have to live with that. In Beringen I actually started quite well, but the week before the Koppenbergcross I didnβt feel so fresh. I skipped the Koppenbergcross. Afterwards I resumed in Niel, but unfortunately I got a tear there. It didnβt feel very serious, but the consequences were a bit bigger than expected. During that period I couldnβt do any running training and I had to leave the explosive stuff behind. But I could continue training. I did have confirmation of my condition, so I was confident at the start today. That was also my strength in the summer. I like to come up from those difficult courses where you have to ride at a fast pace for an hour. So yes, I like to come here. Not much is clear about my road program yet, but that type of races (with climbing) suit me better and Iβm interested in them. I hear from the team that there is a nice program ready, but first Iβm focusing on the cross.β
UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup β Namur Men Result:
1. Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal in 1:03:23
2. Toon Aerts (Bel) Deschacht-Hens-Maes at 0:11
3. Emiel Verstrynge (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 0:30
4. Pim Ronhaar (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions at 0:45
5. Tibor Del Grosso (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 0:58
6. Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 0:59
7. Kevin Kuhn (Sui) Charles LiΓ©geois Roastery CX at 1:05
8. Jente Michels (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 1:08
9. Joran Wyseure (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 1:20
10. Lars van der Haar (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions at 1:39.
Namurβ24:
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UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup β Namur Women 2024
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) won the Namur World Cup cyclocross on Sunday. She looked to be on her way to a convincing victory, but had to do everything she could in the final lap to hold off Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions). Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) took third place on her return race. World champion, Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike) had a bad day to finished 7th.
The Citadelcross in Namen is a true cross Classic with its steep climbs, technical passages, steep descents and the dreaded adverse camber. All the big names were on the start line of the womenβs race for the first time, including Puck Pieterse who returned to cyclocross today.
Pieterse was joined by World champion Fem van Empel, Dutch champion and World Cup leader Lucinda Brand and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. As usual, the best start went to Marie Schreiber. The young Luxembourger of SD Worx-Protime took the first climbs, but the big contenders for victory were not far away. Pieterse also got off to a very good start and was in third position. Van Empel followed, with Alvarado right behind her. Brand, the leader of the World Cup had a poor start and after a slip on the treacherous descent to the cobblestone climb, had to chase. The Dutch champion was not the only rider to make a mistake, as Van Empel was also in trouble. Due to two slips, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider was far behind. After one lap, the differences had already increased. After the opening lap, Van Empel was 20 seconds behind and had to chase with Brand. At the front, the SD Worx-Protime riders were in charge. Schreiber and Kata Blanka Vas managed to get away from the others.
The differences were still manageable. This was the signal for Alvarado to cross. The Fenix-Deceuninck rider went to the front of the chase group and rode back to Schreiber, who had to let go of a strong Vas. Behind, Brand tried her hardest, while Van Empel wasnβt. The world champion, who seemed to be riding with little confidence, made one technical error after another and, to make matters worse, she twisted her knee, this ended her hopes of victory. Only three women were still in the hunt for victory: Vas, Alvarado and Pieterse. Vas had ridden hard in the opening laps, while Alvarado waited patiently for her moment. Alvarado, who was the strongest on the Citadel last year, managed to slowly but surely ride away from her two competitors with her power and technical ability. With two laps to go, her lead over Vas and Pieterse was 20 seconds.
The two pursuers had Brand on their heels, who had found her second wind. The tough Dutchwoman made a big effort on the sloping section, passed Vas and Pieterse and went on the hunt for Alvarado. The difference between the two was, at the start of the last lap, a good 20 seconds. Alvaradoβs lead looked big enough, but Brand was flying and closing in on Alvarado. The leader also slipped, which made an exciting finale. Brand got closer after a very strong last passage of the slope, but Alvarado managed to hold on for the victory for the second year in a row. Brand had to settle for second place, but this was good for her World Cup. Van Empel managed to make up some places in the final laps, but didnβt get further than seventh place and lost valuable points. Third place went to Pieterse in her first cross of the season.
Race winner, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck): βI donβt know how I did it. In the first part of the race I felt really good, but then the fatigue started to kick in. I started making mistakes. Also because of my sunglasses, they got a bit smeared with mud, so I couldnβt see anything. But I didnβt want to throw them away because then the mud would get in my eyes. So I made a few mistakes, but in the end I managed to keep her (Brand) behind me. She was really strong today. Sometimes catching up is easier than when youβre being chased. But she did really well. She came really close because of my mistakes on the last lap. Without those mistakes I could have had a bigger gap. Thatβs how it is. Iβm really happy that I was able to keep her behind me.β
2nd, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions): βWhat went wrong at the start? The legs. No, I was off to a good start for the first few metres. But when I was trying to push uphill, I just couldnβt go any faster. It could have been a bit better if I hadnβt fallen towards the cobblestones. Of course, thatβs because you want to overtake people quickly. Then a small mistake is easily made. Then I had to start over again. Then it takes a long time before you can really ride your own lines, especially if youβve made a few mistakes. Itβs then difficult to focus on the basics again and not get stuck in those mistakes. Somewhere this morning I already felt that it was something I had to focus on today, so I also told the coaches and in the post that they had to coach me to keep focusing on myself, to not stray. So yes, that did help me. I donβt necessarily know if it has to do with the best technique. It certainly has to do with guts, but I think everyone has that. Once youβve experienced the right flow, you try to keep it. You have to mentally prepare yourself to go up that slope again. If you make a big mistake once, it is harder to do it right the next lap. So I am glad that I did not encounter that hard once. That certainly helped me. I understood that Fem had a hard time today, so in that respect it was a good day today.β
3rd, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck): βIt was tough and took some getting used to again. Of course not everything went perfectly, but Iβm glad I didnβt have any big crashes or make any really stupid mistakes. I think third place was the maximum. I think Ceylin was simply superior today. At one point I was riding together with Blanka. I tried to drop her on the longer climb, but when I noticed that that wasnβt working, I let her take the lead. Eventually Lucinda came back, which encouraged me to chase as well. Because Lucinda could have come even closer, but Ceylin was simply superior today. Just like Lucinda, because she came from very far back to the front. So Iβm happy with my third place.β
7th, World champion Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike): βMaybe I was a bit too enthusiastic in the beginning. That cost me a lot of time. I kept fighting. Thatβs the good thing about today. I lost a lot of time. But I never gave up, so in the end it was still good.β
UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup β Namur Women Result:
1. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck in 48:17
2. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions at 0:09
3. Puck Pieterse (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 0:34
4. Kata Blanka Vas (Hun) SD Worx-Protime at 0:57
5. Marie Schreiber (Lux) SD Worx-Protime at 1:13
6. Annemarie Worst (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 1:23
7. Fem van Empel (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike at 1:37
8. Inge van der Heijden (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 1:51
9. Zoe Backstedt (GB) Canyon//SRAM at 1:54
10. Leonie Bentveld (Lux) Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal at 2:12.
Namurβ24:
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XΒ²O Badkamers Trofee β Herentals Cross Men 2024
Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) won the X2O Trophy Herentals on Saturday. Vanthourenhout started the final together with Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) and Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon), but beat his opponents in the last lap. Ronhaar was second, Sweeck third.
Thibau Nys wasnβt in Herentals, but the other big names of the season were there. Toon Aerts had the best start. CornΓ© van Kessel also had a good start, so there were two men from Deschacht-Hens-Maes in the lead at the beginning of the first lap. Eli Iserbyt was also at the front, but his teammate Michael Vanthourenhout was further back, although he moved up during the opening lap.
Toon Aerts had already gone by that point. He crossed the finish line with a lead of 10 seconds on Iserbyt, who took 10 bonus seconds in the X2O Trophy. The Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal rider (virtually) passed Lars van der Haar in the overall ranking. In the second lap, a large group formed behind Aerts, but Michael Vanthourenhout went in pursuit alone. He got closer to Aerts, who had to deal with a puncture. Aerts saw Vanthourenhout, Laurens Sweeck, Pim Ronhaar and eventually a larger group with Iserbyt and Van der Haar pass. He looked to be able to join that group, but was never again at the front. Vanthourenhout and Sweeck went away and on lap three, Ronhaar joined them. One lap later, Niels Vandeputte also crossed to make four. This situation was short-lived. Ronhaar accelerated on the most difficult climb of the circuit and immediately had a big gap. Halfway through the race, after four laps, he had a lead of 7 seconds on Vanthourenhout. The Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal rider joined them again in the fifth lap, while Sweeck was also still on the trail. Vandeputte followed a bit further back, while Iserbyt and Van der Haar seemed to be mainly concerned with the trophy. They came through together 19 seconds behind Ronhaar and Vanthourenhout.
At the front, Sweeck was still able to catch Vanthourenhout and Ronhaar, who had the upper hand, because they both worked well together. However, they were unable to finally get rid of Sweeck, so three men started the final lap together at the front. Early in the lap, Vanthourenhout tried an attack. He gained a few metres on Ronhaar, who in turn gained a small advantage over Sweeck. On the Skiberg, Vanthourenhout extended his lead. It turned out to be enough to secure the victory. The former European champion crossed the line with a 3 second lead on Ronhaar. Sweeck followed 21 seconds later. Niels Vandeputte took fourth place and Eli Iserbyt completed the top five, but did well in the X2O Trophy. He took more than half a minute on Lars van der Haar and passed the Dutchman by 41 seconds in the XΒ²O Badkamers Trofee rankings.
Race winner, Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal): βItβs always nice to win a race. It was also a very exciting race. I think Pim (Ronhaar) and I were the strongest. I had put everything on the last lap, but I really had to go all the way, right up to the finish line actually. If you then come out on top, thatβs always nice. We know that Toon has a very big engine. If you give him twenty, twenty-five seconds, it becomes very difficult to catch him. I rode hard for one lap and immediately got back on the wheel. So I felt that I had a very good day. But then finishing it off is never easy. I just made it a very long final. In the end I just came out on top. What does this say about tomorrowβs race in Namur? Iβm first going to try to recover from today. And enjoy it. Tomorrow will also be nice in that white jersey as leader of the World Cup. Iβm going to enjoy that too.β
2nd, Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions): βI havenβt won yet. Itβs getting better and better, but I donβt think I could have won today. When Michael launched an attack, I was struggling to get my pedals in. He got twenty, thirty metres there. Iβm stuck on that a bit. When I go into the last lap with Michael, I think heβll beat me. Heβs a bit better, but weβre slowly getting there. You can only be congratulated after a win. I lost today, but Iβm very happy with the feeling and Iβm still happy to be on the podium. I think this also gives me courage for the coming weeks. It might still be a bit inconsistent because my base is a bit less. But weβll keep training hard. A great period is coming, with only great races. Zonhoven, Baal, Koksijdeβ¦ Those are all races that suit me. So yes, Iβm curious. Iβm just happy that Iβm competing for the win for an hour today. My knee is a bit swollen, but all in all it wasnβt too bad. I arrived with speed, after which Toon Vandebosch closed the door. But hey, that can happen. As a result, I had to ride full throttle for two laps to close the gap to the front. Maybe that makes a difference in the end, but Michael certainly deserved to win today.β
3rd, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon): βGoing into the last lap I thought it was still possible, but Michael started very early. I hoped they would wait until the athletics track. Then I could have caught my breath for another minute, but that wasnβt really possible. In the end I think the strongest wins. In any case, I didnβt have an answer to it. What went through my body during that last time on Skiberg? βOne more time, then Iβm doneβ, I thought, haha. Because it was a tough job at the end. It was the highest I could do today, I think. I didnβt have any acceleration in the last laps. I could ride fast and come back, but I didnβt have any acceleration, unlike the others. Thatβs why Iβm happy with my third place. It was a pretty tough cross. The first lap was also tough, because of Toon Aerts. I think everyone was on their limit. The second lap was much better. It was a bit of a yo-yo at the end, but Iβm happy with my third place.β
XΒ²O Badkamers Trofee β Herentals Cross Men Result:
1. Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal in 1:01:18
2. Pim Ronhaar (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions at 0:03
3. Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Crelan-Corendon at 0:21
4. Niels Vandeputte (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 0:31
5. Eli Iserbyt (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal at 0:34
6. Lars van der Haar (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions at 1:07
7. Jens Adams (Bel) Lotto β X-Oats Athletes For Hope at 1:15
8. Ryan Kamp (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 1:32
9. Toon Aerts (Bel) Deschacht-Hens-FSP
10. Jente Michels (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 1:59.
Herentalsβ24:
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XΒ²O Badkamers Trofee β Herentals Cross Women 2024
Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike) won the X2O Trophy in Herentals on Saturday. The World champion took a gap in the penultimate lap and soloed to the finish. In a three-way battle between Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek), Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds) for second place, Brand came out on top. Alvarado was third, Worst fourth.
The womenβs cross in Herentals promised to be an exciting battle. Fem van Empel, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Lucinda Brand were all there. They all had a good start, with Van Empel taking the lead. The World champion put the pressure on in the first lap and made a small gap on the descent of the Skiberg. Alvarado quickly got back and just before the end of the opening lap, Brand also rejoined. Annemarie Worst came through at a few seconds and hooked up again a little later. There was a leading group of four in the second lap. On the toughest climb on the course, Van Empel pulled hard. Alvarado was quick to follow, Brand had a bit more trouble and Worst had to give up at that point. In the second part of the lap, the first four came together again, with three laps to go. On the next descent of the Skiberg, Brand took the initiative. She gained a few metres on Alvarado, who was riding in second position. Van Empel saw the danger and tried to close the gap on the uphill section. She needed a while to get back, but she was back before the end of the third lap. Worst came through in third place 12 seconds after the leading two, Alvarado followed almost 30 seconds later. The Fenix-Deceuninck rider had crashed in the pits when she wanted a clean bike. She would have a hard chase to get on the podium.
On the penultimate lap, Van Empel and Brand slowed the pace a bit, which allowed Worst to come back. Van Empel had settled into the lead. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider led on the Skiberg, but only launched her attack on the steep slope after it. Brand had a hard time and came to a standstill and slid down. Because the Dutch champion fell back to Alvarado, Worst became Van Empelβs closest pursuer. The World champion had a 9 second lead at the start of the final lap, but Worst was able to stay close to Van Empel for a long time. Only on the Skiberg and the next climb did the 777 rider lose her place. At this point, Brand and Alvarado came back to Worst. There was going to be a three-way battle for second place, because Van Empel had gone. The World champion won for the sixth time this season. It was a sprint behind Van Empel. Alvarado was the first to start, but saw Brand pass. The Dutch champion was second and strengthened her lead in the X2O Trophy, because her closest competitor Sara Casasola was not in Herentals. Alvarado finished in third place, ahead of Worst. In fifth place was Sanne Cant, who raced for the last time in her home race of Herentals.
Race winner, Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike): βI am very happy, I have worked very hard the past few weeks. It actually went quite well. I canβt complain, but there is always work to be done. Technically it is very different on a cyclo-cross bike than on the road. But I am certainly very happy with today. I think it was just a matter of putting some pressure on the whole race. You can see at the end that they are coming back a bit. That was not entirely to my advantage, so I thought: if I just go all out on those climbs, I will keep them at a gap. If you were the first to ride towards that descent, you could ride your own lines. But as soon as you are behind someone, you usually follow and you cannot choose your own path. It was slippery and slippery today. Then a small mistake is easily made.β
2nd, Lucinda Brand Lidl-Trek): βWhether I would have won is another matter. But then it would have been a battle until the last lap. I thought: Iβm going to go straight ahead for once. I knew it was a more difficult route, but it was also shorter. Fem had just accelerated. I lost traction and wanted to unclip, but because of all the mud underneath, I got stuck. Then you have a classic βfalling overβ. Was I one gear too big, haha? Then I should have put in a different gear, because I couldnβt go any lighter. For the classification it was a good day. Sara wasnβt there, but I think it was also a good day compared to the other riders.β
3rd, Ceylin del Carmen (Fenix-Deceuninck): βThat may have cost me one or two places (when she had a bad bike change), but in the end I finished third and I think I can be happy with that. I think that the approach and handover didnβt go as smoothly as usual. My bike bounced, I tried to jump up, but it went completely wrong. I should have waited a bit before jumping up, but it was completely unexpected. I didnβt see it coming at all. When I wanted to jump up, I jumped half next to and behind. And I didnβt have my bike secured properly. All sorts of things went wrong, but that can happen. It actually went better than expected. Iβve had some tough weeks in terms of training. I started this weekend with the idea that it might not go very smoothly. But the feeling was better than expected. I was right there from the start and had a good feeling. Iβll take that with me.β
XΒ²O Badkamers Trofee β Herentals Cross Women Result:
1. Fem van Empel (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike in 43:42
2. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Lidl-Trek at 0:19
3. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 0:20
4. Annemarie Worst (Ned) Cyclocross Reds at 0:25
5. Sanne Cant (Bel) Crelan-Corendon at 2:15
6. Marion Norbert Riberolle (Bel) Crelan-Corendon at 2:24
7. Laura Verdonschot (Bel) De Ceuster-Bonache at 2:27
8. Manon Bakker (Ned) Crelan-Corendon at 2:56
9. Jamie de Beer (Ned) Heizomat Radteam p/b Herrmann at 3:17
10. Denise Betsema (Ned) Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal at 3:34.
Herentalsβ24:
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UAE Team Manager Explains Why Tadej PogaΔar is Riding Gent-Wevelgem
Tadej PogaΔarβs 2025 race schedule includes a race that he has never ridden before: Gent-Wevelgem. Why did he choose to make his debut in this spring classic? UAE Team Emirates manager Joxean βMatxinβ FernΓ‘ndez explained to Sporza.
βWith Tadej, we have to look for new stimuli and different races every season,β Matxin said. βWe want to avoid staying too much in our comfort zone with Tadej. That way, he stays motivated enough to prepare himself for a new cycling year.β So there is a new race on PogaΔarβs programme every year. In 2023, he participated in Paris-Nice and the E3 Saxo Classic for the first time, and in 2024 he made his debut in the Giro dβItalia. Of those three races, he only failed to win the E3. That race will be on his programme again next season, as will Gent-Wevelgem. These are two races that the World champion could possibly add to his palmarΓ¨s.
βIt is a special race with echelons and unpaved sectionsβ, Matxin spoke of the Plugstreets. βA race that is difficult to win. That also applies to Milan-Sanremo. But with PogaΔar, a difficult race is slightly less difficult to win.β The team manager of UAE Emirates, like PogaΔar himself, also kept the door open for participation in Paris-Roubaix. βGent-Wevelgem will not be the only new race on Tadejβs racing calendarβ, he added.
Some cobbles for PogaΔar:
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Mathieu van der Poel outlines winter program with focus on world title
It took a while for Mathieu van der Poelβs winter program to take shape. βI reflected on it for a while,β explained Mathieu. βAfter careful consideration and discussions with the team management and performance staff, I decided on a solid schedule of races. A more compact program of, say, two World Cup races combined with the World Championships was another option, but I think it makes more sense to do a more extensive package of races.β
βOnce that decision was made, I quickly mapped out the races I wanted to include. And yes, Iβm fortunate to have the freedom to choose the races I enjoy most. It is no coincidence that with Zonhoven, Mol and Koksijde there are a few typical sand races on the menu.β
One notable difference from the last two seasons is that Mathieu van der Poel will not be in Benidorm this time. He will be out of competition for two weekends in January. βWe are taking a slightly different approach this winter. Last year, I started the season in top form, but the World Championships were not my very best race of the season in terms of feeling. Now we are really trying to peak at the Worlds by focusing on specific preparations during a training camp. For optimal efficiency, itβs better not to interrupt it.β
Van der Poel is clear about his ambitions. βThe seventh world title, of course. It is the only thing I still have to achieve in CX: this unique record of Erik De Vlaeminck. This aspiration has been a driving force in shaping my commitment to this winterβs cyclocross season. The world championship in LiΓ©vin is the only real goal, although I hope to fight for victory in all the other races I take part in. But weβll see how I do in the first weeks. As I said, the peak will be a bit later this year.β
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Eddy Merckx Canβt Bear the Thought of Quitting Cycling: βItβs My Lifeβ
Eddy Merckx has now left the hospital in Herentals after his successful hip operation. The five-time Tour winner fell off his bike on Monday and needed to have an artificial hip. The 79-year-old cycling legend can now start his rehabilitation. And then? βCycling is my life and Iβll keep doing it.β
In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Merckx spoke about the the last days. βI only had surgery yesterday (Tuesday) and today (Wednesday) I can go again. Thatβs exceptional. I still have to be a bit careful when Iβm walking of course. Itβs not easy after the fitting of my artificial hip on the right side.β
Merckx suffered a fracture of the femoral neck as a result of his crash, a common fracture of the thighbone. A total hip prosthesis was thought to be the best treatment. The operation went smoothly and the Belgian is already looking forward. βIt is still a bit difficult to walk for the time being, but that will improve quickly. The doctor said that I should not feel anything within six months.β
Cycling is an excellent rehabilitation activity, but Merckx will have to wait a while before he can ride his bike again, but he will get back on the bike. βI hope you see me back on the bike soon. Cycling is my life and I like to keep doing it. Why would I stop?β
βThe operation went very smoothly and a full recovery is expected,β the hospital in Herentals told Sporza last week. βA full recovery usually takes a few months, but fortunately for Eddy Merckx, cycling is an excellent rehabilitation activity, something he can do after a few weeks.β
Merckx on the mend:
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PrimoΕΎ RogliΔ celebrates comeback at the Giro dβItalia
Red Bull β BORA β hansgrohe won the last Grand Tour of the 2024 season, setting the benchmark for 2025. Next year, winning a Grand Tour is back on the wish list.
To achieve this ambitious goal and win the third Grand Tour title in the teamβs history, the team is relying on the full strength of its ranked riders.
After a year off, PrimoΕΎ RogliΔ will return to the Giro dβItalia. In 2016, the Giro was the first Grand Tour he ever raced. He finished third in his second appearance and took home the maglia rosa in 2023. Now a comeback is planned. The road to the Grande Partenza includes the Volta ao Algarve in February and the Volta a Catalunya in March.
Jai Hindley, the 2022 winner, and Dani MartΓnez, the 2024 runner-up, also have the Giro in their plans. Hindley will use Tirreno-Adriatico to prepare for it, while MartΓnez will race Paris-Nice.
Tour de France next highlight
The second Grand Tour highlight on the calendar is the Tour de France, where PrimoΕΎ RogliΔ will compete. He will be joined in his GC ambitions by Aleks Vlasov and Dani MartΓnez. For the Vuelta a EspaΓ±a, the team plans to have two leaders: Jai Hindley and Aleks Vlasov will race together in the race that Red Bull β BORA β hansgrohe won this year.
Ralph Denk, CEO Red Bull β BORA β hansgrohe: βWe had a successful season. But of course we are ambitious and want to achieve more. We finished second in the Giro and won the Vuelta, so winning a Grand Tour again is the logical goal for 2025. That is what drives us and with our strong squad it is absolutely within our reach.β
One-day races back in focus
With a transfer offensive, the team has also repositioned itself for the one-day races. Red Bull β BORA β hansgrohe will tackle the cobbled classics with the new depth of the team. In the demanding one-day races, such as the Ardennes, newcomer Maxim Van Gils will play an important role.
Ralph Denk: βIn the long term, we want to establish ourselves as the most attractive brand in cycling. In addition to the Grand Tours, there are many highlights on the calendar that we can influence with our style. These include the week-long tours, where our GC talents can take responsibility and make the next step. Or the one-day races, for which we have specifically strengthened our team with new riders and on which we are also focusing.β
Giro for RogliΔ:
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Maxim Van Gils Focuses on the One-Day Races in 2025: βNo Plans to Ride a Grand Tourβ
Maxim Van Gils is already at a training camp with his new Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team. The Belgian, who left Lotto Dstny after a long transfer battle, will be told his program for 2025 in Mallorca. He already knows that he will not participate in the Tour de France, he told Sporza. He also does not expect to ride the other Grand Tours.
βLast season was very good. If I can do even better, I can speak of a perfect season,β said Van Gils, who came third in both Strade Bianche and the FlΓ¨che Wallonne in 2024. βIf I can exchange one of those two podium places for a victory, I would be very satisfied.β
Van Gils wants to focus on the Ardennes Classics again, but what about the Flemish Classics? βI did think about it during the Tour of Flanders, but those races are too close to the Walloon classics and they suit me better. That is my main goal, that is what I am best at. I find it a bit too dangerous to take risks before that period. If they were to place De Ronde two weeks after LiΓ¨ge, I would really like to start there.β
Van Gils will also not start the Tour de France. βNormally I wonβt be in the Tour. Iβm going to focus on the one-day work. They have enough Tour riders here. Do I think thatβs a shame? No, a Grand Tour is nice, but not exactly a must. If you look at Hirschi this year, he didnβt ride a Grand Tour either but still had a good season. I donβt plan on riding a Grand Tour for the time being. I donβt think there will be a Grand Tour for me next year.β
Van Gils also spoke of his decision to leave Lotto Dstny with Het Laatste Nieuws. βThe story is less interesting than everyone thinks. At the beginning of this year I had signed a new contract and everything looked good. But a few things changed and then I started thinking. Thatβs how I ended up here.β Was his departure from Lotto Dstny related to money? βOf course I have to think about it, because my career wonβt last very long. But I donβt think money was a problem with the Lotto team, with the National Lottery as sponsor. You can tell that the budget is bigger here, everything happens faster and there is less discussion about it.β
The Walloon Classics for Maxim Van Gils:
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Jhonatan NarvΓ‘ez to be in the UAE Team Emirates Tour Squad
Jhonatan NarvΓ‘ez will make his debut in the Tour de France next year. The Ecuadorian, who is moving from INEOS Grenadiers to UAE Team Emirates, confirmed his Tour ride in an interview with Relevo.
This UAE Tour de France selection is built around three-time winner Tadej PogaΔar. The Slovenian will probably be supported by JoΓ£o Almeida and Adam Yates, this was announced last week at the UAE Team Emirates press day. Tim Wellens also thinks that he will be in Lille in July.
NarvΓ‘ez can also prepare for the Tour. It will be the first participation of the 27-year-old, who has ridden the Giro dβItalia five times and the Vuelta a EspaΓ±a twice. Last year, he won the opening stage of the Giro after a sprint against Tadej PogaΔar. NarvΓ‘ez then wore the pink jersey for a day, before PogaΔar took over the leaderβs jersey.
UAE Team Emirates has not yet revealed its selection for the 2025 Tour de France. However, team manager Joxean βMatxinβ FernΓ‘ndez did say at the press conference that the eight would be very similar to the team that started the Tour last year, which was: Nils Politt, Pavel Sivakov, Marc Soler and Juan Ayuso in addition to PogaΔar, Almeida, Yates and Wellens.
Ayuso will not participate in the Tour next year as the Giro dβItalia will be his only Grand Tour. It is possible that NarvΓ‘ez will be his replacement and that nothing else will change in the selection, but the official announcement of UAE Tour Emiratesβ Tour roster has yet to be made. Last year, the WorldTeam announced their Tour selection in December.
Jhonatan NarvΓ‘ez to be in the UAE Team Emirates 2025 Tour squad:
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MotoGP Rider to Race for Lidl-Trek Development Team
Aleix EspargarΓ³ looks to be making a career switch. The Spaniard, who is currently still racing in MotoGP for Aprilia Racing, will be in the cycling peloton next year. According to AS, the 35-year-old motorcycle racer will race for the Lidl-Trek development team.
EspargarΓ³, for a long time, has had a passion for cycling. He is still a MotoGP rider, but he spends a lot of time on his bike. He has competed in various MTB races, including the Cape Epic in South Africa, and amateur races in Spain. EspargarΓ³, a good friend of Juan Pedro LΓ³pez, has also trained with Lidl-Trek riders several times. In the past, he is also said to have had discussions with Movistar, but a switch to cycling did not materialise at the time.
Now that is changing, according to AS. In 2025, EspargarΓ³ will still be part of MotoGP, as a test rider for Honda, but also race for Lidl-Trek. The news will be revealed in the next few days. AS reports that the motorcyclist will mainly ride gravel races at first, before he could also race for the main Lidl-Trek team on the road. The Vuelta a Burgos (5-9 August) is mentioned as a possible debut race for the WorldTeam.
Aleix EspargarΓ³ to race for Lidl-Trek:
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No Cyclocross for a Tired Quinten Hermans
For the first time, Quinten Hermans will not ride any cyclocross races this winter. The 29-year-old rider from Tessenderlo has had a long road season with seventy racing days, which only ended at the beginning of October at the Gravel World championships in Leuven. It was after the Gravel World championship, Hermans spoke of his winter plans for the first time. βI might skip this winter. It has been a very busy summer, with a lot of racing days. That also weighs on me. Iβll let my body recover for a while and then weβll see,β he said at the time.
Hermans confirmed to Het Nieuwsblad that he will not be riding any cyclocross this winter. It is time for Hermans to save himself and put everything into his road campaign in 2025. He is currently on a training camp in Spain with Alpecin-Deceuninck. Cyclocross has lost a little bit of importance every year for Hermans, who has blossomed late on the road. Last winter he competed in only eight cyclocross races, but in the following road season he took his biggest victory so far: a stage win in the Tour of the Basque Country.
Quinten Hermans to miss cross this winter:
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No Job for Mark Cavendish with XDS Astana
After his 35th stage victory in the Tour de France, Mark Cavendish decided to stop at the end of 2024. It was thought that the British sprinter would remain involved with the Kazakh team after his career, although it was unclear in what role. It seems now that Cavendish will not have a place in the management of XDS Astana in 2025. It appears that Cavendish was on a sponsorship trip to partners of the team in Taiwan, but he has not had any connections with the team for over a month and it seems that wonβt change. Cavendish has not said anything about it.
There was talk of Cavendish taking on a team ambassador role, or work on a sprint project within the team with close friend and DS, Mark Renshaw. Cavendish was also briefly linked with INEOS Grenadiers, but nothing more has been heard. Astana Qazaqstan announced this week that it will be teaming up with the Chinese bike brand XDS from 2025. The team will ride XDS bikes and the new sponsor will also bring much needed funding. The team will be called XDS Astana from the start of next year.
No job for βCavβ with Astana:
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Puck Pieterse Hopes to Compete for Victory
Puck Pieterse returned to cyclocross last Sunday in Namur. The Dutch all-rounder hoped to compete for victory right away, but realises that it would be difficult on a difficult course like Namur.
βIβm starting to get the itch nowβ, Pieterse told Het Nieuwsblad before the race. βIβve followed a lot of competitions on television in recent weeks and now I feel like starting myself. I didnβt touch the bike for the first two weeks of my vacation, after that I only cycled for two weeks when I felt like it. Iβve been training in a structured way again since November. Thatβs not very long, but I still hope to reach my level of the past winters.β
Pieterse has been watching the cross a lot in recent weeks and sees that the difference between Fem van Empel and the rest has become smaller. βLast year the differences were really bigger, so I actually want to compete for the win right away. I hope to be on the highest step as often as possible. But at the same time I also have to wait and see how my condition is. The World championship in LiΓ©vin is and remains my main goal.β Due to mountain biking and road cycling, the Fenix-Deceuninck rider will start her cyclocross campaign later this year. However, with thirteen cyclo-crosses, Pieterse will only ride two cyclo-cross races less than last year. This is because she will ride double weekends for the first time this season.
Pieterse only expects to have problems combining sports when she prepares for the long tours on the road. βThe tour work requires a different approach, with more training camps and more training on long climbs. That could have an impact on the explosiveness you need for the mountain bike. And for the cross.β
Puck Pieterse looking forward to the cross season and next year:
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Afghan National Champion, Fariba Hashimi Joins the Womenβs WorldTour with CERATIZIT Pro Cycling
CERATIZIT Pro Cycling is excited to announce that Afghan National Champion Fariba Hashimi joins the squad for 2025, becoming the first rider from Afghanistan to reach the Womenβs WorldTour.
After a breakthrough season in 2024, in which she took her first professional victory on stage 5 of Tour Cycliste FΓ©minin International de lβArdΓ¨che and represented Afghanistan at the Paris Olympics, 21-year-old Hashimiβs inspiring journey and talent exemplifies resilience and determination, aligning perfectly with the teamβs values and commitment to developing the talents of young riders on the international stage.
βIt is a great opportunity and Iβm very proud to be riding for CERATIZIT next season.β Fariba Hashimi explained, βIβm excited not only to take the next step in my career but to represent Afghan women and my country as the National Champion in the Womenβs WorldTour. I canβt wait and look forward to enjoying every moment.β
βWe are proud to welcome Fariba to the CERATIZIT family,β said CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Manager, Claude Sun, βwhen we were looking at riders for the next season, she ticked all the boxes in terms of potential, and her competitive spirit makes her an outstanding addition to our international team. We look forward to supporting her development as she competes at the sportβs highest level.β
βI am really proud of Fariba.β Road to Equality President, Alessandra Cappellotto said, βSince August 2021, when I helped her and other Afghan cyclists to come to Italy, her growth has been constant and I am happy that her career can continue with CERATIZIT. I really believe that this is the right team to help her realise her cycling dreams.β
Fariba Hashimi to the WorldTour:
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Damiano Caruso Sees the End of his Cycling Career
2025 looks like it could be Damiano Carusoβs last in the pro peloton. βI am ninety percent sure that 2025 will be my last year as a professional cyclist,β the 37-year-old Italian climber told OA Sport.
Caruso has been a professional since 2009. Fifteen years ago, he made started his professional career with LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini. In his first professional year, he rode alongside Alessandro Petacchi, Danilo Di Luca and Roberto Ferrari. After two seasons at ProContinental level, Caruso moved up to the WorldTour level. He first rode for Liquigas and its successor Cannondale from 2011 to 2014, he then went to BMC for 2015 to 2018. In 2019 he signed a contract with his current team, Bahrain Victorious.
During his career, the Italian was a domestique for top riders; Ivan Basso, Vincenzo Nibali, Richie Porte and Mikel Landa, but also rode for himself on occasions. He won stages in the Giro dβItalia and Tour de France. His most important result was probably his second final overall place in the Giro dβItalia, behind the winner Egan Bernal. Caruso also finished fourth and eighth in the Giro, ninth in the Vuelta and tenth in the Tour. He was also second in Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour de Suisse.
Caruso hopes to say goodbye in a good way in what will probably be his last year as a professional cyclist. βLast season was definitely not good. It made me realise how lucky I have been throughout my career. I have never fallen as much as this year.β
Damiano Carusoβs last year as a pro?
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Tom Pidcock to Remain Part of the Pinarello Family
Multiple world and Olympic champion to continue riding Pinarelloβs flagship off-road bikes for the next three years
Pinarello is pleased to confirm Tom Pidcock will continue riding and helping to develop its flagship off-road bikes for the next three years following his move from INEOS Grenadiers to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.
Pidcock has enjoyed huge success on Pinarelloβs off-road range over the last four years, winning world and Olympic cross country mountain bike titles on the Dogma XC. That bike was developed in both hard and softail models in the space of six months, specifically for him and Pauline Ferrand-PrΓ©vot, who also went on to achieve world and Olympic success.
The 25-year-old British athlete also triumphed on the Crossista F at the 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, and will have that bike at his disposal again moving forwards, along with the Grevil F if he chooses to compete in any gravel competitions. The only occasions he will not compete on a Pinarello will be during road events.
Pinarello President Fausto Pinarello said: βWeβre thrilled to confirm Tom will continue racing on our cyclo-cross, cross country mountain bike and gravel bikes. He is an amazing rider with phenomenal technical skills and itβs been a pleasure working with him on the Crossista and Dogma XC, both models in segments where we hadnβt had bikes for a long time. Tom is a rider who knows what he wants. His unwavering pursuit of excellence has challenged us a lot and enabled us to produce three incredible frames which heβs ridden to success on the grandest stages in the sport. We are delighted to keep this successful collaboration alive.β
Tom Pidcock said: βWorking with Fausto and the team at Pinarello over the past four years has been a privilege, and a really enjoyable experience. I am so happy I get to stay working with them on everything off-road moving forwards. So far, we have developed three cyclo-cross and XC MTB frames together and all of them exceeded expectations from the moment I sat on them, I could not have asked for more. I felt so confident on them that I was able to race and win after the first couple of rides. To me, our relationship feels more like a partnership than a sponsorship. Iβm looking forward to the next three years of racing and developing more great bikes with Pinarello.β
Tom Pidcock off-road on Pinarello:
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Patrick Lefevere Will Continue to Write his Column
Patrick Lefevere is ending his time as CEO of Soudal Quick-Step. The team boss will continue to write columns for Het Nieuwsblad, which can be read weekly in the newspaper from the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad onwards.
βAnd they are getting even better,β Lefevere told the newspaper. The 69-year-old team manager is not leaving cycling completely. In recent years, the columns have been controversial several times, especially when they were about his riders, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe, or about the latest developments in cycling. Recently, Lefevere had a go at the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team. Evenepoel could laugh at Lefevereβs columns, which he reads regularly. βYes, every Saturday. Always an exciting moment. I hope every time that itβs not about me,β he said at the Flandrien awards gala.
Lefevere decided last week to leave Soudal Quick-Step after more than 20 years. βI felt it was the right time for this change. When I started working with Jurgen ForΓ© a year ago, it was to make the transition smooth for when I would eventually leave. I have seen how his relationships with our sponsors and partners, but also with the teamβs internal stakeholders, have grown over the past 12 months and I know that with Jurgen as CEO and with the support of the board, this team has a bright future ahead of it.β
Lefevere will still write his column:
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Red Bull Team Manager Admits to Talks with Remco Evenepoel
It has been clear for some time that Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe was fishing for Remco Evenepoel. However, Ralph Denk, the CEO of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, has never confirmed this himself. Until now. In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, the German admits that his team had talks with Evenepoel.
So there were talks, but nothing came of them. Evenepoel confirmed just before the World championships in Zurich last September that he would stay with Soudal Quick-Step. He still has a contract with Soudal Quick-Step until the end of 2026. βRemco has indicated that he wanted to keep to his contract and stay with his team. He would fit in well here, but he has made it clear where he sees his future,β Denk said.
Patrick Lefevere, who will soon be stepping down as team manager of Soudal Quick-Step, said in November that he was not happy with Denkβs attempts to buy Evenepoel away. βDo you know my friend Ralph Denk? He has done the same thing twice: he offers a contract with very high bonuses, which is not done with riders under contract,β Lefevere said at the time in Het Nieuwsblad. βHe had already done that four years ago and now again. Last week I heard that he also visited Tom Pidcock. Denk, I donβt like him.β
Evenepoel wasnβt going to Red Bullβ¦ yet:
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Ster van Zwolle Winner Leaves Unibet Tietema Rockets to be a βFull-Time Fatherβ
Nicklas Pedersen has chosen to end his contract with Unibet Tietema Rockets. The 31-year-old Dane had extened his contract with the ProTeam until 2027, last August, but has now decided to end his career as a cyclist for personal reasons.
βA lot has happened recently,β the Dane said on the YouTube channel of Tour de Tietema-Unibet. βThe most important thing is that I have been given custody of my two beautiful children. I got divorced a few years ago, after which I didnβt get to see my children as much as I wanted.β
βIn addition to my full-time job, I had a lot of free time. That was the reason to delve deeper into the βcycling gameβ, to take my mind off things. I quickly climbed to the elite level. I wasnβt really dreaming about a professional career at that time, but when Bas wrote to me, the dream came back.β
Pedersen immediately reached a high point in his first year at the highest level with a victory in the Ster van Zwolle (UCI 1.2). His 44 racing days also included the WorldTour race Renewi Tour. βI have been honest about my private situation from the start. The entire management has done everything they could to make my racing schedule work with my private life. I am very grateful for that support. The team was happy with me and Julia (Soek, team manager, ed.) offered to extend my contract. That was a big surprise. I am not the youngest anymore, but I was still allowed to stay until 2027.β
However, Pedersen now has to reconsider that. βI have to make a decision about my future. That is actually very easy, because no race comes close to spending more time with my children. It was not a choice, it was automatic to call Julia and say: from now on I am a full-time father and I am stopping racing.β
Nicklas Pedersen leaves the peloton:
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Soudal Quick-Step Reveal the 2025 Castelli Race Kit
The attire we will use in our 23rd season is inspired by the dynamic movement of cycling
Designed by Castelli graphic designer Luisa Menini, the new kit predominantly comprises the traditional dark blue that is synonymous with our team, while incorporating the red of our sponsor Soudal. Mixed into this is a lighter blue shade, which is a nod to the teamβs history and our domination of the northern classics. This is all integrated into a moving fusion pattern that has been designed to imitate the movement of a passing cyclist.
As announced earlier in the year, our team will continue their relationship with the famous cycling apparel outfitter Castelli, for the next two seasons. They will kit our team out with not only this beautiful new jersey and shorts, but with an extensive range of clothing, including their industry leading Gabba R jacket, and other garments that will help our riders to perform in the worldβs biggest and hardest races, whatever the conditions.
Menini said: βI was honoured to be asked to help with the design of the Soudal Quick-Step 2025 kit. I wanted to add in a fresh feel and experimented with a lighter blue fade and when this was presented to the team, we formulated a pattern that would allow us to give a nod to the great history of this famous team. I then looked to integrate the red of Soudal in a natural way, such as that seen for the T-Rex outfit used at last yearβs Vuelta, which also gave the perfect canvas on which to place the teamβs sponsorsβ logos.β
Castelliβs Brand Manager, Steve Smith, said: βWe always seek opportunities to elevate performance. Working with such a motivated team allows us to refine products that excel in aerodynamics, comfort, and protection against the elements. The graphic elements of the 2025 kit showcase a young, dynamic design that reflects the teamβs energy, motivation, and the strong synergy between Soudal Quick-Step and Castelliβs Race Performance Division. This partnership embodies how innovation thrives in the pro peloton, and weβre proud to ensure these advancements benefit not only Soudal Quick-Step riders but cyclists everywhere.β
βI love the new design, and I will be proud to wear it in 2025. Castelli makes some wonderful cycling garments that can help keep us warm at the colder races earlier in February and March and then help to battle the heat of the Tour de France or La Vuelta, while having quality and comfort that means we can ride all day. The new design is very eye-catching, and I am sure everybody will love it. Next season could be an historic one for the team, as weβre inching in on our 1000th victory, and it would be really great to achieve this incredible milestone in this beautiful kitβ, added Soudal Quick-Stepβs Mikel Landa.
The new kit will be available for pre-order from January 2nd on the teamβs webshop.
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Fresh Look for 2025: Red Bull β BORA β hansgrohe Rides from Head to Toe with Specialized
For the first time, Specialized will be the race apparel partner of a team on the menβs UCI WorldTour. From 2025 onward, Red Bull β BORA β hansgrohe will be fully decked out in Specialized gear, from helmets to shoes.
Specialized is known as the most innovative brand in cycling β from the Tarmac SL8 and Body Geometry equipment to the fastest wheels, tires, and helmets in the world. They have now brought that same obsession for performance to Red Bull β BORA β hansgroheβs race day apparel. Utilising kinetic paneling, ultra-low weight, and exclusive aero fabrics, no material has tested faster in their famous WinTunnel. The two-tone blocked style follows the kinetic pattern cut of the jersey. A fresh white has been added, extending across the jersey from the back to the aero fabrics of the shoulders and arms. In the front, the white contrasts with the teamβs familiar dark blue, where the three name sponsors, Red Bull, BORA, and hansgrohe, are displayed. The new light-coloured back ensures more cooling in hot weather, making this a classic clear design with unparalleled performance.
βThe full product range, consisting of 50 new items, has been built from the ground up in collaboration with Red Bull β BORA β hansgrohe. This has allowed us to focus in on very specific requirements for both racing and training needs of the riders. We have built a full, holistic performance apparel package for all weather racing conditions utilising Kinetic pattern cutting to build new product blocks, chamois development with the Body Geometry Team, brand new material and trim development, and validating and testing all of our kit in the WinTunnel. These product combinations are optimised to perform at the highest standards for any eventuality, incorporating aerodynamics, thermal regulation and moisture management. The final look of the design is intended to pull focus to some of these product design and development highlights, whilst also allowing the three name sponsors, Red Bull β BORA β hansgrohe to stand highlighted on the kit.β Thomas Perren, Apparel Design Leader
From 2025 onwards, the team will be riding in full Specialized kit, from the distinctive design of the Red Bull athletesβ helmets to the white S-Works Torch shoes. Koo will be added as eyewear partner and Roeckl Sports supplying the gloves. In addition to the UCI WorldTeam, the Red Bull β BORA β hansgrohe Rookies will also be sporting the new look. The riders could not be happier to wear the new apparel and receive more benefit from Specialized innovation.
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XDS Announces Major Investment of Astana Team β Paving the Way for Global Expansion
XDS, a leading bicycle brand in the Chinese market, is excited to announce its major investment in the prestigious UCI WorldTeam Astana. This historic move makes XDS solidifying the brandβs ambitions to expand its footprint in the global cycling community. As part of this agreement, the team will be rebranded as the XDS Astana Team, marking a new era for both the team and the brand.
XDSβ Investment in the Astana Team
In a landmark investment, XDS has secured major strategic partner of the Astana team, one of the most storied names in professional cycling. Founded in 2006, the Astana team has achieved remarkable success, including multiple Grand Tour victories, podium finishes in iconic races such as the Tour de France, Giro dβItalia, and Vuelta a EspaΓ±a, and nurturing some of cyclingβs most celebrated athletes, such as Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Mark Cavendish. The team has a legacy of excellence in world-class cycling competitions.
Now under XDSβs investment, the Astana team will benefit from the brandβs advanced engineering capabilities, cutting-edge bicycle technology, and strong financial backing. This investment represents a significant step for XDS as it positions itself as a key player in the international cycling arena, helping propel the team to even greater success in the years ahead.
Rebranding to XDS Astana Team
Following the investment, the Astana team will officially be rebranded as the XDS Astana Team. This strategic name change signals a new chapter in the teamβs history, with XDS becoming a general partner in the teamβs operations and ambitions. The new XDS Astana Team will continue to compete at the highest level of professional cycling, representing the Chinese innovation and manufacture in the international cycling community.
XDS, a leader in high-performance bicycles, has already made significant strides in China and will leverage its strong presence in Asia and Europe and growing global recognition to boost the visibility of the newly rebranded XDS Astana Team.
XDSβs Premium brand X-LAB to Equip the Team
In line with the rebranding, the XDS Astana Team will now race with bicycles and equipment from XDSβs premium brand, X-LAB. X-LAB is known for its precision engineering and cutting-edge technology, offering products that blend performance with innovation. From lightweight carbon frames to highly responsive components, X-LAB products are designed for the highest levels of competition, enabling athletes to reach their full potential.
XDSβs commitment to excellence in bike design and engineering will undoubtedly enhance the performance of the XDS Astana Team, ensuring that the riders have every possible advantage in their pursuit of victory on the worldβs biggest stages.
Global Expansion Strategy
The major investment of the Astana team is not only a major step for XDS in the world of professional cycling but also an integral part of the companyβs broader strategy to expand into international markets. XDS has long been a leader in Chinaβs bicycle market, and now, with the XDS Astana Team, the company is ready to take its next big leap.
This investment will also help the brand expand its reach into Europe and other key markets, strengthening its presence in the competitive cycling world and creating new opportunities for growth. The partnership with the XDS Astana Team is a powerful statement of XDSβs ambition to become a global leader in the cycling industry.
About XDS and X-LAB
XDS is a premier Chinese brand specialising in the design, manufacture, and development of high-performance bicycles. Founded in 1995, the company has become one of Chinaβs most recognised bicycle manufacturers, known for its innovative designs and commitment to quality. XDS has made a name for itself in both the road and mountain bike segments, offering a wide range of products that cater to competitive cyclists, enthusiasts, and everyday riders.
X-LAB, the premium brand from XDS, represents XDSβs commitment to top-tier performance, offering state-of-the-art technology and design for elite athletes and cycling professionals. By the investment in the Astana team, XDS is taking the next step in its evolution as a global player in the cycling world.
A rebrand for Astana:
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PISSEI x UAE Team Emirates 2025 Kit Release
Someone called it leak β we call it your preview. The new Team Kit is here.
PISSEI is pleased to present UAE Team Emirates 2025 team kit, third chapter of our Team sponsorship.
On the Spanish roads already in the preview we gave you, the most eagerly awaited kit presented now as we imagine it, with Adam Yates portrayed in front of a canvas made from one of the many cuts of fabric that have been invading our Italian Custom Lab for months in the graphic research process that led to the final texture of the 2025 UAE Team Emirates kit, World Tour Best Team 2023 and 2024.
Once again handmade in Italy at our own Custom Lab, the texture of Tim Wellens and team matesβ new kit is composed of a shading that starts from white and gradually fades into deep black through a sophisticated and elegant transition effect in different shades of grey.
What happened over 2024 season has been incredible β and even more incredible is to dress the World Champion, Tadej PogaΔar, who will restart the new season in his new white hybrid skinsuit.
The Team will once again count on a full selection of items from our Magistrale collection, part of our Custom Lab offering.
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Picnic Becomes First Title Partner of Team Picnic PostNL
Online supermarket Picnic will become the first title partner of the cycling team, Team Picnic PostNL. With this partnership, Picnic will support a sports team for the first time in its history. Team Picnic PostNL competes at the highest level of international cycling in the UCI WorldTour. Through this partnership, Picnic is also expanding its brand recognition beyond the Netherlands.
The Dutch based and internationally present cycling team, Team Picnic PostNL, operates with three programs under one umbrella β Men, Women and Development. All programs use the same Keep Challenging approach whilst wearing the same distinctive two-striped kit, which in 2025 will proudly display the colours of both Picnic and PostNL in competition across the world. The new title partnership with Picnic will continue for at least four years, until and including 2028.
The online supermarket is attracting a growing number of customers in the Netherlands, France, and Germany. Michiel Muller, co-founder of Picnic, is excited about the new partnership that allows the online supermarket to reach French, German, and Dutch consumers as well as increase its brand awareness: βStarting next season, we will be a proud partner of Team Picnic PostNL. Cycling promotes health and connection, just as we do by delivering fresh, healthy products every day. Like professional cyclists, our employees brave all weather conditions and always strive for the best results. This partnership demonstrates how innovation and teamwork drive success, whether youβre a professional cyclist or part of our team that packs and delivers groceries every day. Together, we aim for the best results every day and look forward to the moments we will experience together.β
Team Picnic PostNL CEO Iwan Spekenbrink: βThe arrival of Picnic is incredibly exciting for multiple reasons. Picnicβs key values β innovation, quality and promoting a healthy lifestyle β are naturally very close to ours. Both Picnic and the team are organisations which display a lot of enthusiasm, ambition and a great drive to progress and make things happen; we both consider a challenge first and foremost as an opportunity rather than a limitation. With Picnic joining us, we will further strengthen the teamβs performance and contribute to a future where we continue to innovate and bring out the best in ourselves and in each other and so keep progressing the team as a whole. At the same time, we are motivated to join Picnic in their journey to grow and expand across Europe, with their current focus on France, Germany and The Netherlands. We want to take the opportunity to thank dsm-firmenich for the many years of invaluable partnership and we look forward to continuing working closely alongside them and their amazing spirit as very driven, leading innovators, in particular. With Picnic and the great combination of prestigious partners by our side, we will continue to build a sustainable and successful team.β
PostNL CFO, Pim Berendsen: βCycling is a strong symbol of innovation, collaboration and progress β values that PostNL, Picnic and the team share together. At PostNL, we not only utilise the bike to deliver millions of letters and parcels sustainably, but we also see it as an inspiration for our shared commitment to innovation. With this partnership, we support a team that is uniquely developing talent, where women and men work together to achieve top performances. It is this shared ambition β to push boundaries and achieve successes as one team β that inspires and motivates us. Together, we are building a future full of movement, innovation and impact. We look forward to continuing this partnership with Picnic as a joint title partner.β
dsm-firmenich CEO Dimitri de Vreeze: βTodayβs arrival of Picnic as new title partner marks a great milestone for the team. As a longtime partner, dating back from 2015, the focus has been on accelerating the innovations around nutrition and health to optimise the ridersβ performance. Together we have built an outstanding and promising foundation for the years to come for all riders. The arrival of two new title partners to the team over the last two years is a testament of that strong foundation. We will continue to support the team and remain their innovation partner in nutrition and health.β
Picnic is an innovative online supermarket that provides customers with fresh produce and daily groceries, delivered to their front door. Before its launch in 2015, Picnic worked quietly for three years with a team of 30 specialists to deliver groceries at home without unnecessary middlemen. Customers choose which ride is most convenient and, via Picnicβs grocery radar, know up to the minute exactly what time delivery will take place. The costs of this new way of distribution are so low that delivery is free of charge and the groceries can be delivered at any time. In 2018, Picnic expanded to Germany, followed by France in 2021. Picnic is the co-founded by entrepreneurs Joris Beckers, Frederik Nieuwenhuys, Michiel Muller and Daniel Gebler.
New name and new jersey:
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FDJ-SUEZ and Gobik Extend Partnership Until 2026
This renewal marks a significant milestone for the team as it enters a new era of development, with ambitions to achieve new heights both in sporting and technological terms. The Spanish brand will continue as the official supplier of on-bike apparel for the team.
Since the beginning of their collaboration in 2022, Gobik has become much more than just an equipment supplier β it has evolved into a true partner in the teamβs progress. Together, FDJ-SUEZ and Gobik have built a strong foundation, combining innovation and high standards to reach the pinnacle of womenβs professional cycling.
Stephen Delcourt, General Manager of FDJ-SUEZ: βWe are entering this new chapter in our history with great ambition, and we are thrilled to have Gobik by our side. From the very first days of our evolution toward the World Tour level, this brand believed in our project and helped shape it. This special bond weβve forged is a tremendous asset as we continue to write our future.β
Alberto Garcia, CEO and Co-Founder of Gobik: βRenewing our collaboration with FDJ-SUEZ through 2026 represents a mutual commitment to excellence and innovation. Dressing one of the most prominent and forward-thinking womenβs teams is a privilege that strengthens our dedication to leading the future of womenβs cycling.β
JosΓ© RamΓ³n, CEO and Co-Founder of Gobik: βThe kit for this new chapter is full of meaning and creativity. We drew inspiration from a fluid design that reflects the idea of constant evolutionβthe very philosophy we share with the team. Seeing Demi Vollering, the worldβs best cyclist, wear this design is a symbol of the goals we can achieve together.β
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Axel Merckx Officially Joins Jayco AlUla with Talent Team
The Hagens Berman Jayco team of manager Axel Merckx will officially be the training team of Jayco AlUla from 2025. The WorldTeam already had ties with the continental team, but by formally designating Hagens Berman Jayco as a training team with the UCI, riders can be exchanged between both teams.
In 2009, Axel Merckx was the founder of the team that now goes by the name Hagens Berman Jayco. Since 2024, Jayco has been the name sponsor of the American team, after which several talents were able to work as stagiaires with the pros of Jayco AlUla. From next season, Hagens Berman Jayco will officially join, which will further strengthen the ties. For the women, Liv AlUla Jayco has a similar structure, with a Womenβs WorldTeam and a continental training team.
Team manager Brent Copeland emphasised his enthusiasm about the partnership with Hagens Berman Jayco. βAxel has done a fantastic job over the past ten years, building a team that has produced many riders who have gone on to become stars in the WorldTour peloton. Growth and talent development have always been important to us and owner Gerry Ryan. With this partnership, we are creating a clear path for young talent to make the step up to the WorldTour,β he said.
Axel Merckx, team principal of Hagens Berman Jayco, is also looking forward to this step. βWe are grateful to Jayco AlUla and Gerry Ryan for their trust and dedication to the future of cycling. Together, we will build a stronger foundation for success and continue to develop the next generation of talent,β Merckx said.
2025 Hagens Berman Jayco Riders:
Evan Boyle
Matthew Cole
William Eaves
Will Holmes
Jesse Kramer
Hamish McKenzie
Daniel Eduardo Moreira
Darren Parham
Carl Emil Pedersen
Samuele Privitera
Adam Rafferty
Mattia Sambinello
Ruben Sanchez Cordoba
Rodrigues Goncalo Tavares
Ben Wiggins.
The Merckx Continental team joins Jayco:
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Washington, D.C. Named 2025 & 2026 Pan American Cyclo-cross Championship Host
The Pan American Cycling Confederation is pleased to announce that Washington, D.C., USA, has been selected as the host city for the 2025 & 2026 Pan American Cyclo-cross Championships.
βWe are thrilled to announce Washington, D.C. and the well-known host-event DCCX as the site of the 2025 & 2026 editions of the Pan American Cyclo-cross Championships,β said Josh Peacock, President of the Pan American Cyclo-cross Commission. βWe are confident that the host organising committee in Americaβs capital has what it takes to continue to elevate the profile of the Pan American Continental Championships for cyclo-cross, building on strong momentum from Missoula in 2023 & 2024.β
βCXD Trek Bikes and our partners DCMTB and Crosshairs Cycling are excited to bring the Pan American Cyclocross Championships to the Mid-Atlantic and Washington, DC. DCCX is historically one of North Americaβs largest cyclocross events, and we canβt wait to host COPACI member racers at the iconic Armed Forces Retirement Home,β Bill Schieken, CXD Trek Bikes.
The 2025 Pan American Championships will take place on Saturday, November 8th, at the historic grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, the site of President Lincolnβs Summer Cottage and a residential community for United States veterans since 1851. Complementing the Pan American Championship event will be a UCI C2 event scheduled on Sunday, November 9th. Pan American Champion titles will once again be awarded in Masters categories 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and 65+, alongside titles in UCI categories Junior, U23 and Elite. New for 2025 will be the hosting of a UCI Team Relay Continental Championship event, a recent addition to the Championship programme, first launched at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in 2023.
- For more information on the event, visit www.panamcxdc.com.
Maddie Munro (Trek) won the U23 Pan-Am CX champs in 2021:
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Loenhout Cyclo-cross Organisers Expects a Mathieu van der Poel/Wout van Aert Duel
Will we see some cyclo-cross duels between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel this winter? Van Aert recently revealed his cyclo-cross plans, but we are still waiting for Van der Poelβs cyclo-cross programme (now released). However, at the Azencross in Loenhout, they expect both of them to come and compete, according to Cafe Koers, a podcast by Het Nieuwsblad.
Podcast host MichaΓ«l Van Damme discussed Van der Poelβs possible programme with his guests Jonas Withouck and cyclo-cross specialist Guy Van Den Langenbergh. An acquaintance of Van Den Langenbergh, who had gone to look at the course in Loenhout, discovered that they expect Van der Poel to also compete at the Azencross (27 December). Van Aert has already announced that the cyclo-cross in Loenhout is on his programme.
βThey were already building the course there, so he had a chat there,β says Van Den Langenbergh. βHe started talking about Van Aertβs participation, but the course builders said: βMathieu is coming tooβ. We are still waiting for confirmation of course, but this would mean that Loenhout would have a Wout-Mathieu duel.β
The course builders in Loenhout think that Van der Poel will start their race, concluded Van Damme. βJust like the organisers in Koksijde thinks that Mathieu will start,β adds Van Den Langenbergh.
Van der Poel in 2023:
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Start of Tour de France Femmes in Rotterdam was a Resounding Success
The start of the Tour de France Femmes 2024 in Rotterdam, has given an unprecedented boost to womenβs cycling and bicycle mobility in Rotterdam. These are the most important conclusions of Rotterdam Topsport.
Rotterdam Topsport acquires and organises top sporting events for Rotterdam and the surrounding area. βWe facilitate and support TeamNL top sporting programs, top sporting clubs, talent centres and (newly built) top sporting accommodationsβ. Rotterdam Topsport has conducted research into the impact of the start of the Tour de France Femmes on the port city. The Grand DΓ©part of the French tour has brought Rotterdam a great deal. It was previously announced that visitors rated the event with an 8.9. This is an exceptionally high score for a public event. The social program has also had a lasting impact: 80% of the participants in the Rotterdam Peloton, for example, still cycle every week.
The Tour de France Femmes managed to βset new standards for womenβs cyclingβ, is one of the conclusions. With no fewer than 415,000 spectators along the routes, a record was set and the most important womenβs cycling race of the year received maximum visibility. The event also broke records on television. The Tour de France Femmes 2024 was not only well attended, but also enjoyed broad support among the residents of Rotterdam. The Gemeentepeiler survey shows that more than three quarters of Rotterdam residents are positive about the organisation and hospitality of the city during this international cycling event.
The Tour de France Femmes inspired new cycling enthusiasts. Data from the KNWU shows that the Grand DΓ©part resulted in a 111% increase in the number of new members at cycling clubs in Rotterdam in the four weeks after the Tour de France Femmes took place. The event contributed to bicycle mobility, with a focus on young people and women. Research showed that 74% of visitors cycle regularly and that 26% felt motivated to cycle more often after the Tour de France Femmes. The Rotterdam Peloton project taught 154 Rotterdam women, mostly with a migration background, to cycle. 80% of the participants in the Rotterdam Peloton now cycle at least once a week and the majority even three times a week.
Tourβ24 in Rotterdam:
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The 60th Tirreno-Adriatico Route Presented
A major anniversary for the βRace of the Two Seasβ which will take place from 10 to 16 March. A time trial in Lido di Camaiore will kick off the race, which will finish in San Benedetto del Tronto. Featuring 14,610 meters of total elevation gain β the highest figure in the last decade β the race includes three stages for sprinters, two undulating stages, and the unprecedented uphill finish in Frontignano, which could be decisive for the Maglia Azzurra. The message of Jonas Vingegaard
Seven stages, 1,130 km, and 14,610 meters of elevation gain. These are the key figures of the Tirreno-Adriatico CrΓ©dit Agricole, presented today at the Teatro della Concordia in San Benedetto del Tronto. The 2025 edition will mark the 60th anniversary of the βRace of the Two Seas,β with all editions taking place consecutively, a significant milestone for an event that has evolved continuously, becoming a cornerstone of the cycling season.
This is confirmed by recent winners since 2019, including Grand Tour champions such as Simon Yates, PrimoΕΎ RogliΔ, Tadej PogaΔar, and Jonas Vingegaard. The long journey through central Italy, touching five regions, will begin on March 10 in Lido di Camaiore with an individual time trial and conclude, as per tradition, on March 16 in San Benedetto del Tronto.
In between, the usual combination of stages for sprinters and opportunities for puncheurs will culminate in the Cartoceto-Frontignano stage, a climbersβ test with a finish on an ascent never used before.
Jonas Vingegaardβs second stage win in the 2024 edition
Two Seas, 60 Editions of Legends
From Dino ZandegΓΉ to Jonas Vingegaard, the Tirreno-Adriatico CrΓ©dit Agricole has told countless stories of champions during its journey, which began in 1966 and has never stopped. The early editions of the βRace of the Two Seasβ were dominated by Italy and Belgium, with Roger De Vlaeminck claiming six consecutive overall victories from 1972 to 1977. βMonsieur Roubaixβ holds the record for overall and stage wins: 15, compared to the 11 of Γscar Freire.
Behind the Belgian legend, a small group of riders has won the race twice: Giuseppe Saronni (1978, 1982); Francesco Moser (1980, 1981); Rolf SΓΈrensen (1987, 1992); Tony Rominger (1989, 1990); Vincenzo Nibali (2012, 2013); Nairo Quintana (2015, 2017); PrimoΕΎ RogliΔ (2019, 2023); and Tadej PogaΔar (2021, 2022).
Jonas Vingegaard: βI have fond memories of the 2024 Tirreno. The Tridente is, of course, an iconic prize to win. The Tirreno is a historic race, one that I really wanted to add to my list of achievements, and Iβm very happy I succeeded.β
Mauro Vegni, Cycling Area Director at RCS Sport: βThe Tirreno-Adriatico is a pillar of the international cycling calendar, and celebrating its 60th edition makes us really proud. Since 1966, the race has been able to evolve and adapt, while keeping its prestige and appeal intact, attracting some of the worldβs best cyclists every year. The 2025 edition will not only be an anniversary, but also an opportunity to continue writing the history of a race whose level is always very high, as demonstrated by the recent accomplishments of PrimoΕΎ RogliΔ, Tadej PogaΔar and Jonas Vingegaard.β
Stefano Allocchio, RCS Sport Race Director: βWe wanted to maintain some traditions and, at the same time, also open up to important new features. The race starts with the classic opening time trial in Lido di Camaiore, which again this year will kick off the race in a spectacular way. From there, the route unfolds with a perfect balance: three stages suitable for fast wheels and two stages for puncheurs that could also shake up the classification. The new element is the uphill finish in Frontignano, an unprecedented finale that could be decisive for the Maglia Azzurra, before the classic finish in San Benedetto del Tronto.β
Antonio Spazzafumo, Mayor of San Benedetto del Tronto: βThe finish in San Benedetto del Tronto is part of the history of the Tirreno-Adriatico. This year marks the 59th edition concluded here, and the tradition continues because, for us, the Race of the Two Seas is an important driver for promoting our territoryβa celebration not only for cycling enthusiasts but for all citizens.β
Race director Stefano Allocchio with representatives of the stage committees of the Tirreno-Adriatico Crèdit Agricole
The Route of the 60th Tirreno-Adriatico CrΓ©dit Agricole
10.03.2025 Stage1 Lido di Camaiore-Lido di Camaiore Tudor ITT, 9.9km
11.03.2025 Stage2 Camaiore-Follonica, 189km
12.03.2025 Stage3 Follonica-Colfiorito (Foligno), 239km
13.03.2025 Stage4 Norcia-Trasacco, 184km
14.03.2025 Stage5 Ascoli Piceno-Pergola, 196km
15.03.2025 Stage6 Cartoceto-Frontignano, 166km
16.03.2025 Stage7 Porto Potenza Picena-San Benedetto del Tronto, 147km.
Stage1: Lido di Camaiore-Lido di Camaiore Tudor ITT, 9.9km
The route
A perfectly flat individual time trial consisting of two nearly straight sectors running out and back along the seafronts of Camaiore and Viareggio, with only a few connecting bends and a U-turn at the halfway point. The U-turn is located at km 5.4 in Viareggio, where split time is taken. Riders will then return straight to Lido di Camaiore, where an S-turn leads into the final kilometre.
Final Kilometres
The last 3 kilometres are flat and head north along a continuous straight stretch. The finish is on a 7-metre wide asphalt road.
Stage2: Camaiore-Follonica, 189km
The route
A dynamic and intricate stage, especially in its second half. Starting in Camaiore, the route passes through Montemagno to reach Pisa and then the Livorno area. Leaving the coast near Cecina, it heads inland towards Canneto. After completing a long section that is mostly downhill, the riders will enter a final circuit of approximately 20 km, which will be repeated once.
Final Kilometres
The final circuit is almost entirely on urban roads, featuring several turns. The last kilometres are mostly straight, on 8-meter-wide tarmac.
Stage3: Follonica-Colfiorito (Foligno), 239km
The route
A very long stage with a fairly undulating first part. Starting from Follonica, the route crosses the northern part of the Grosseto province, skirting Monte Amiata and passing into the Siena area, climbing Passo del Lume Spento and La Foce before reaching Montalcino and Chiusi. The terrain then becomes gentler, crossing the plains around Lake Trasimeno to Foligno via mostly straight roads, at times with narrow sections. After Foligno, the stage concludes with the final climb to the Valico di Colfiorito, located about 4 km from the finish.
Final Kilometres
The last kilometres are uphill. The steepest section comes early, with gradients exceeding 10%, followed by a long, uphill false flat leading to the Valico. A short descent follows, and after passing through the village of Colfiorito, a short ascent leads to the finish.
Stage4: Norcia-Trasacco, 184km
The route
A very undulating stage with an absolutely flat finish. The riders will tackle several long Apennine climbs (around 15 km each), which are not particularly steep, before descending into the Fucino plain. Upon reaching Trasacco, the route includes a circuit of approximately 14 km to be completed twice.
Final Kilometres
The last kilometres take place within a completely flat circuit, repeated twice. The circuit features perfectly straight roads connected by right-angle turns. The finish is on asphalt, with a road width of 8 metres.
Stage5: Ascoli Piceno-Pergola, 196km
The route
A very undulating stage dotted with numerous climbs, some of which are classified as KOMs. The route features at least nine climbs, starting in Ascoli Piceno and passing through Croce di Casale, Amandola, Sarnano, and Tolentino. Heading consistently northward, the route crosses the slopes of Monte San Vicino before entering the challenging final segment. After Castelleone di Suasa, riders will tackle the steep ascents of Monte Santa Croce and Monte della Serra, both of which feature long, very steep sections. The latter climb is followed by a descent into the centre of Pergola, leading to the finish.
Final Kilometres
The last kilometres begin partly downhill before flattening out in the city. In the final kilometre, the road rises slightly. The finishing straight is on asphalt, 7 metres wide, with a gentle uphill gradient.
Stage6: Cartoceto-Frontignano, 166km
The route
This is the toughest stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico, featuring an uphill finish. The route winds through the valleys of inland Marche, rising and falling continuously in the first part, and alternating with significant climbs such as Crispiero and the Valico delle Arette, after the ascent to the Santuario di Macereto. In the final part, the race passes through Ussita, Visso, and Castelsantangelo sul Nera before tackling the decisive final climb.
Final Kilometres
The last kilometres consist of the climb to Frontignano, approximately 8 km long, with long stretches exceeding 10%, particularly in the initial part. The climb is wide and has numerous switchbacks in quick succession. When approaching the final kilometre, the gradient eases slightly. The finishing straight is 6 meters wide, on asphalt.
Stage7: Porto Potenza Picena-San Benedetto del Tronto, 147km
The route
A relatively flat stage in the first part and completely flat for the last 80 km. The race begins along the Adriatic coast before entering the Aso Valley from Pedaso. There is a short climb to Santa Maria della Fede, followed by a final easy ascent to Ripatransone. A long descent leads to Grottammare before entering a 15 km circuit, which will be repeated five times. The circuit consists mostly of wide, straight, paved roads.
Final Kilometres
The last 3 kilometres are on wide, mostly straight roads, with some gentle curves on moderately wide roads in the first section. There is one final double bend about 1 km from the finish. The road is 8 metres wide, and the surface is asphalt.
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2025 Tour of the Algarve has a Surprising Final Stage
The route of the Tour of the Algarve was announced last week. The Portuguese spring race has few surprises, except for the final stage, which is a mountain time trial to the top of MalhΓ£o.
The race will start in 2025 with a flat stage from PortimΓ£o to Lagos, after which well-known stages to Faro, FΓ³ia and Tavira will follow. The organisers are sticking to the tried and tested recipe. The final stage will go to the Alto do MalhΓ£o, just like in previous years. The only difference is that the riders will ride the 2.5 kilometre climb individually. The last stage is a time trial of almost 20 kilometres, which is otherwise almost flat.
The Tour of the Algarve is scheduled from 19 to 23 February 2025. Remco Evenepoel was the winner in 2024, but he will not be at the start.
Daniel Felipe Martinez won on the Alto do Malhao in 2024:
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Equinor to Power the Arctic Race of Norway Until 2030
Equinor sees the Arctic Race of Norway as a means of energising the development of a region where people want to work and live. Equinor has been active in Northern Norway for about half a century, investing massive amounts of resources in industrial projects that make the region more dynamic and attractive. The engagement of the company follows its business approach, which is perfectly in line with the values of the race: popular support, youth and social and environmental responsibility. The event has gained the Eco-Lighthouse eco-certification and became the first bicycle race to have a fully electric organisation vehicle fleet.
This makes the northernmost race on Earth the perfect venue for Equinor to beat the drum for this region. According to a survey on the impact of the event on Norway, 87% of respondents believe that the Arctic Race of Norway raises the profile of Northern Norway, while 89% have a positive view of the event. The reason for this interest lies in the landscapes that provide the backdrop for this race, which serve as enthralling postcards from this part of Norway, as well as the activities organised around the event, such as the publicity caravan, which draws Norwegian fans to the roadsides and keeps them pumped. It all goes to show that the Arctic Race of Norway is much more than a bicycle race.
Grete Brigitte Haaland, Director for Exploration and Production North, Equinor: βThe Arctic Race of Norway is a far-ranging platform for cooperation that forges ties between regions, businesses, municipalities and citizens. It also generates a substantial economic windfall and boosts the appeal of northern municipalities, indirectly encouraging young people to put down roots there and, therefore, guaranteeing that we will continue to find capable and skilled workers for our future activities in the region.β
Thea Moen, Head of Sponsorship, Equinor: βThe Arctic Race of Norway pursues excellence and has a positive impact on Northern Norway year after year while making the event more sustainable in key areas through its environmental and social initiatives. The same goes for Equinor: we pursue excellence and also believe in the power of teamwork to achieve results.β
Knut-Eirik Dybdal, Managing Director, Arctic Race of Norway: βThe renewal of the partnership between the Arctic Race of Norway and Equinor opens up new perspectives for the development of the race and the activities organised on its fringes, which make the Arctic Race of Norway much more than a bicycle race. We reached 53 million people on Instagram during the 2024 edition, 70% of which were young people from 18 to 24. Equinor is determined to promote the northern region, especially among young people. Our presence across various territories, local communities big and small, and the digital sphere shows young Norwegians that there is a treasure trove of incredible opportunities waiting for them in one of the leading businesses in its area.β
Key points
- Equinor, a major partner of the Arctic Race of Norway since 2013, will continue to fuel the growth of the event until 2030.
- The support from Equinor underscores the key role of the event in highlighting the appeal of Northern Norway.
- This long-haul commitment will guarantee the development of the event in the long term.
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No BetCity Elfstedenrace in 2025
Race organiser Courage Events has decided that the BetCity Elfstedenrace will not take place on March 15, 2025. A lack of national exposure is mentioned as the reason a the press release.
βBecause national exposure is important for this event and a live broadcast on a national channel turned out to be unfeasible, the organisation and main sponsor have decided that showing the beauty of Friesland to a national and international audience was not sufficiently realised and therefore an important objective is not being achieved,β the organisers explained.
In recent years, the Elfstedenrace was shown on Eurosport, but that turned out to be impossible in 2025. Not even if the organisers produced the coverage themself. βFor the budget we use and also require, you can expect a race with national appeal,β said chairman Nathan Lootsma.
The press release does not mention anything about 2026. It is already clear that the Elfstedenrace will have to look for a new main sponsor. The contract with BetCity expires this summer. The BetCity Elfstedenrace was due for its fourth edition in 2025. Elmar Reinders, Jasper Philipsen and Taco van der Hoorn remain the only winners of the race in the Frisian eleven cities.
Taco van der Hoorn was the last winner of the Elfstedenrace:
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