Today’s EUROTRASH Thursday TOP STORY has to be the terrible crash of multi-champion, Remco Evenepoel – We have all the injury updates and quotes from his family, Patrick Lefevere, Philippe Gilbert and Remco himself. It’s not all Remco – Loads of other news:
TOP STORY:.
- Remco Evenepoel taken to hospital with multiple injuries after collision with a car, his golden bike was smashed to pieces, Patrick Lefevere is upset, Remco Evenepoel: ‘The comeback starts now’ and Philip Gilbert has a hopeful message for Evenepoel.
Rider news:
- Pogačar on the Poggio: World champion checks out Milan-Sanremo
- INEOS Grenadiers confirms Tom Pidcock will be Leaving the team (Q36.5?)
- A swollen ankle, but Thibau Nys can still go on a training camp in Spain
- Still no news from Visma | Lease a Bike about Van Aert’s winter plans
- Remco Evenepoel was accused of arrogance, but says he has changed
- Will Primoz Roglič attempt the Giro/Tour double for the first time in 2025?
- Magnus Cort is looking forward to the Spring
- Alejandro Valverde could be the new Spanish national coach
Team news:
- Campagnolo and Cofidis: Together for the WorldTour
- Jayco AlUla welcome Steve Cummings as a sport director in 2025
- Movistar team embarks on an exciting new chapter in cyclocross with Cat Ferguson
- Polti Kometa Completes its Roster with Alessandro Tonelli
- Israel – Premier Tech bolsters performance department ahead of 2025 season
Race News:
- La Vuelta 25 to kick off in Piemonte
TOP STORY: Remco Evenepoel Taken to Hospital with Multiple Injuries after Collision with a Car
Remco Evenepoel was involved in an accident during a training ride on Tuesday. The Soudal Quick-Step rider was then taken to hospital. At first, according to Het Nieuwsblad, he broke his collarbone.
The accident took place in Oetingen, in the province of Flemish Brabant. Evenepoel, who was training alone, collided with the door of a Bpost van. When he was taken in an ambulance, the Soudal Quick-Step leader was conscious. In the hospital Evenepoel was diagnosed to have broken his left collarbone. Further examinations were to take place in Herentals hospital.
Patrick Evenepoel, the father of the double Olympic champion, went straight to the hospital in Anderlecht after the accident. “But we don’t remember much ourselves,” he said in an initial discussion with Het Nieuwsblad. “He was taken to the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht under the supervision of an MUG team. He has already sent us a message, so we hope that everything is okay. According to what I hear, he fell after colliding with the swinging door of a Bpost van.”
“We would like to thank everyone for the many messages of support we received yesterday”, Evenepoel senior wrote on Facebook later. “Remco is currently being taken care of and, given the circumstances, is doing well. It is the horror of every parent to hear that your child is involved in a regrettable accident. We want to thank the emergency services and the people who were quick at the accident for the first worries. We have also had contact with the people of Bpost and also want to encourage the postman: no one wants to get involved in such a situation. The coming weeks will be entirely focused on recovery. As a family, we will do everything we can to get Remco recovered in the best conditions and with the best care.”
Evenepoel’s father also pointed out problems at Telenet. Thousands of users of the internet and telecom provider have been struggling with network problems since Tuesday morning. They could not make calls or use mobile internet, and also evenepoel after his crash. “For us as a family, it was a particularly difficult day yesterday. Due to the disruption at Telenet, it was impossible for Remco to reach neither his wife nor us. We couldn’t communicate with each other either. As parents, we had to hear the news that our son was taken to the hospital through a friendly paramedic. In such a situation, not being able to have contact with each other is actually unacceptable. We sincerely hope that Telenet also realises that for us, and perhaps also for many other customers, what happened yesterday is not worth repeating and that they learn the necessary lessons from it.”
One of the people who saw the battered Evenepoel was Bart van Keurslager. He has a shop on the Kerkplein in Oetingen, where the accident took place. “He lay there on the ground for a while,” said the shop owner. “Remco was huddled afterwards, it was clearly a heavy blow. The door of the postal van was also completely twisted. His bike was completely broken, they folded it up like a wheelchair. When I went to look, he looked pale, the emergency services gave him a coke. His wife Oumi was here at about the same time as the emergency services.”
Remco Evenepoel’s Golden Bike was Smashed to Pieces
Remco Evenepoel was taken to hospital, but it was evident from photos of Evenepoel’s golden bike, which had broken in two at the top tube, that it must have been a hard crash. Evenepoel received the golden Specialized S-Works in early August, after he became Olympic champion on both the road and the time trial. He was presented with the bike at his fan day. “After a performance with two gold medals, we thought that a golden bike suits Remco very well,” Bas Giling of Specialized told Sporza at the time.
Patrick Lefevere Shocked by the Accident
The ‘shocked’ Soudal Quick-Step team manager, Patrick Lefevere, spoke to Sporza. “All I know is that someone opened their door and that Remco crashed into it,” said Lefevere about the accident. “Someone who knows our carer David Geeroms saw it all happen. That’s how we found out.” Evenepoel crashed into the open door of a Bpost truck. “Such accidents unfortunately happen five times a day, people who don’t pay attention and open their door,” said an upset Lefevere. “Remco has pain in his shoulder and his hand. Our doctor is working on it. His bike broke in half in that incident. But it’s better to have his bike in half than his arm.”
Soudal Quick-Step: Damage Appears to be Worse than First Thought
Remco Evenepoel has suffered multiple fractures in his training accident this morning, according to his team Soudal Quick-Step. The 24-year-old rider is suffering from a broken rib and fractures in his right shoulder blade and right hand. Earlier, it was reported that ‘only’ a broken collarbone was suffered, but the damage to Evenepoel appears to be greater. “After an incident during training, Remco Evenepoel was taken to hospital, where it turned out that he had suffered fractures to his rib, right shoulder blade and right hand,” Soudal Quick-Step announced on its website. “Remco was transferred to the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht shortly after the incident, where he was initially examined. He will now travel to the hospital in Herentals, where his injuries will be further examined together with the medical staff of Soudal Quick-Step and it will be determined how his recovery will proceed. We wish him a speedy recovery!”
Update
After his accident earlier on Tuesday and following an initial examination at the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Remco Evenepoel was moved to the Herentals hospital for further investigation into his injuries. As reported earlier, Remco has sustained fractures to his rib, right shoulder blade and his hand. Examinations have also revealed contusions on both lungs and a luxation of the clavicle. The clavicle would be operated on Tuesday evening, which if successful, should allow Remco to leave hospital on Wednesday. There will then be a two-week period of immobilisation required following this, after which a plan for his return to training can be made. Soudal Quick-Step would like to thank the staff at the Herentals hospital for their help!
Remco Evenepoel: ‘The comeback starts now’
On Wednesday morning Evenepoel wrote this message on social media: “After a scary accident on training yesterday, I underwent surgery last night and everything went well. With a fracture to my rib, shoulder blade, hand, contusions to my lungs and a dislocation of my right clavicle which has caused all surrounding ligaments to be torn, it’s going to be a long journey but I’m fully focused on my recovery and I’m determined to come back stronger, step by step. I’m very grateful for all the help and support I received the last 24 hours. From the emergency services, the neighbours that helped me in the first moment, the medical teams in Anderlecht and Herentals and our team doctor Phil Jansen. Also a special mention for my wife, my family for standing by me in these difficult moments and to everyone for their supportive messages.
I also want to express my support to the woman who was involved in the accident.
Remco.”
Gilbert has a Hopeful Message for Evenepoel
Remco Evenepoel’s crash will put him out of action with multiple fractures. His compatriot and former teammate Philippe Gilbert sympathises with Evenepoel, but also has a hopeful thought. “Remco Evenepoel on the ground again, after a collision with a postal van!”, Gilbert wrote on social media. “The multiple fractures will cost time and energy. But what if this setback brings extra freshness in the run-up to July next year?” Gilbert is referring to the Tour de France. Remco Evenepoel hopes to make a bid for the final victory in La Grande Boucle, after he finished third this year, in his debut in the French tour, behind overall winner Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard. But first Evenepoel will have to fully recover before he can think about training and racing again. For Evenepoel, this is a major setback in the run-up to next season.
Evenepoel had started his preparation for 2025, but also used the off-season to do other things. Recently he was riding with his teammates on the beach, last Thursday he was watching his favourite football team, Anderlecht and last weekend he was in Qatar for the Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit.
Remco Evenepoel: ‘The comeback starts now’:
Pogačar on the Poggio: World Champion Checks out Milan-Sanremo
Tadej Pogačar would like to win Milan-Sanremo. It is one of the few major races that is not yet on his palmarès. It is not yet certain whether he will start La Primavera in 2025, but he has already explored part of the course.
In a video, that can be seen on social media, Pogačar is descending the Poggio, the last climb of Milan-Sanremo, the place where the difference can be made in the Italian spring Classic. The climb of the Poggio is 50 kilometres from Pogačar’s home in Monaco. The World champion was accompanied on his ride by Matteo Trentin, but also by Michael Matthews and his camera. The Australian has finished third twice and second once in Milan-Sanremo. Last season, ‘Bling’ was only just beaten by Jasper Philipsen in the sprint. He finished one place ahead of Pogačar, who stood on the Sanremo podium for the first time, he finished twelfth in 2020), fifth in 2022 and fourth (2023).
Tadej Pogačar on a Poggio uphill and downhill recon today with Michael Matthews and Matteo Trentin.
Milano Sanremo 2025 here we go pic.twitter.com/GuKm4Wv5kL
— Lukáš Ronald Lukács (@lucasaganronald) December 1, 2024
INEOS Grenadiers confirms Tom Pidcock will leave the team
INEOS Grenadiers has announced that Tom Pidcock will leave the team at the end of this season. The British multi-disciplinary rider has been racing with the INEOS Grenadiers since 2021 and has been a part of some iconic and memorable moments in the sport.
INEOS Grenadiers CEO John Allert said: “We’re really proud of the work we’ve done with Tom to help him achieve some extraordinary and memorable moments. Together we’ve written a powerful chapter and shown how exciting and diverse professional cycling can be. Tom has some big multi-disciplinary goals and we believe this decision enables both of us to pursue our future ambitions with clarity, purpose and determination. We thank Tom for the last four years and wish him the best of luck for the future.”
Where will Pidcock go?
A Swollen Ankle, but Thibau Nys Can Still Go on a Training Camp in Spain
Things looked bad for Thibau Nys on Sunday in the Dublin UCI Cyclocross World Cup. He lay on the ground for a long time and the images that emerged later also looked serious. In the end the damage is not too bad, said father Sven to Belga. The European champion can go to a training camp with the Lidl-Trek road team as planned.
“Thibau will fly from Dublin to Calpe to join the Lidl-Trek team training camp there,” said Sven Nys. “His ankle is swollen, but there is no serious damage that would prevent him from cycling or training. Thibau had to brake hard in Dublin because Boros had fallen on the beams in front of him and was in the way. The blow from behind from the other rider was worse. He hit his back at full speed and then stepped on his ankle.”
Thibau Nys’ cyclo-cross programme does not need to be changed ‘until further notice’, said father. The intention is for him to return to action on 15 December in the Namur World Cup.
“There is now, as planned, the training camp with his road team. Thibau will continue to combine the road and the cyclo-cross. We will maintain the regime of one cyclocross per weekend, especially since he will also be in action on the road early. His team will communicate about his road programme later. It is a pity that the race in Dublin was over so early, but all in all the injury is not too bad and Thibau can start in Spain on the team training camp. That is the positive thing.”
Crash chaos for Thibau Nys:
Still No News from Visma | Lease a Bike about Van Aert’s Winter Plans
We still don’t know if Wout van Aert will race cyclocross this winter. But it seems that Visma | Lease a Bike and Van Aert have already drawn up a plan, but they are not ready to share it, team manager Jan Boven told VTM Nieuws. He also doesn’t want to say whether Van Aert will ride any cyclocross this winter.
Boven previously said that Van Aert would not race again until after December 19 at the earliest, after the end of the first Visma winter training camp. It later emerged that Van Aert may have to postpone his comeback due to his lack of running training. “Because Wout’s knee was more sensitive during running than we had hoped, we initially put his running training a bit behind the cycling training,” said Boven. “We also had to come back from a long way in that respect, but the steps Wout is taking are good.”
“After his personal training camp in Spain, he had some obligations with the team last week, such as media and equipment meetings, plus the team day. The next step is the first major training camp with the team in Spain. Afterwards, we will see what will happen, but the signals I heard from Wout last week are positive. We have made a plan with Wout. It is clear what we will do this winter, but it is up to the team’s media department to make a statement about that.”
Boven doesn’t rule out that Van Aert will skip cyclocross this winter, although according to him that would be a ‘surprise’. “I can only say that Wout’s winter can be with or without cyclo-cross. It would be a surprise if Wout did not race this winter, but the same would apply if Van der Poel did not race.”
Will Wout cross this winter?
Evenepoel was Accused of Arrogance, but Says he has Changed
Remco Evenepoel has become a different person after his successes of 2022. He said this in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, given on the occasion of the biography Full Gas. Striving for perfection that will be published about him on Friday. “I can now admit that I was not good enough to beat Tadej, for example.”
Evenepoel had fifteen victories in 2022. The most important: Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Vuelta a España and the World road championships in Wollongong. “Everything went perfectly, I had shown what I could do, the pressure was gone: I had now really been able to deliver what was expected of me,” said the 24-year-old Soudal Quick-Step rider. “A different Remco really emerged then. More mature? Maybe.”
“Yes, I have changed over the years,” says Evenepoel. “It was a process that I went through. I could be quite busy at the beginning of my career, a tough guy. And I know that people sometimes found me hard to understand, I dared to assert myself, also in the media. People thought I was arrogant, I heard. Maybe I provoked those reactions myself, I realise now.”
“But people have now realised that I also realise what I say. And my ego no longer takes over. I can now admit that I was not good enough to beat Tadej, for example,” said the double Olympic champion, who then emphasises once again that he has changed. “And many opponents from the beginning have now also become allies.”
At the end of 2022, Evenepoel also married Oumi. That has also changed him. “Since I married Oumi, I have a different mindset,” he says. “It has to do with the Arab culture that she introduced me to. I learned from Oumi that I should only control what can be controlled. That was difficult in the beginning, the years before my marriage I was different. After my fall in Lombardy I wanted too much, too fast. I was rushed. When I realised that I can also look at things more calmly, I started to perform better, I pushed through to the highest level.”
Evenepoel was arrogant, not any more:
Will Primoz Roglič Attempt the Giro/Tour Double for the First Time in 2025?
Primoz Roglič is toying with the idea of competing in the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France next year. According to Daniel Benson, who reports on social media. The 35-year-old Roglič has not attempted the Giro/Tour double before.
What Tadej Pogačar can do, can Primoz Roglič can do too? It remains to be seen whether the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe leader will ride the first two Grand Tours next year, but he is said to be thinking about the combination. Pogačar showed last year that winning the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in one season is possible.
Roglič to copy Pogačar in 2025?
Magnus Cort is Looking Forward to the Spring
Magnus Cort has a good palmarès in his career so far. The 31-year-old Dane has been successful in stage races in recent seasons, but he has not yet made it to the Classics. Cort wants to change that in 2025.
Cort won five times last season. The Uno-X Mobility rider was mainly successful in the multi-day stage races, but also won the Veneto Classic at the end of the season. This was an important victory for Cort, especially on a mental level. “As a cyclist, you are only as good as your last result. So now I am really a winner,” he said in an interview with the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. “My triumph in the Veneto Classic has given me some confidence that I can compete in the big one-day races.”
Cort hopes to show this again next year in the spring, and in particular in the first Monument of 2025. “Milan-Sanremo is the race that I can possibly win of all the Classics. I have really ticked that for next year.” He has ridden La Primavera six times before, but his best place was 8th in 2018. In 2017 he was 11th, 15th in 2019 and 14th in 2023.
Magnus Cort looking to Sanremo:
Alejandro Valverde Could be the New Spanish National Coach
Alejandro Valverde has been working behind the scenes with the Movistar team since his retirement as a cyclist in 2022, but the now 44-year-old Valverde could well become the new national coach of Spain. According to the Spanish sports newspaper AS, he is one of the candidates to succeed Pascual Momparler.
Valverde hung up his race bike at the end of 2022 after a professional career of almost twenty years. ‘El Imbatido’ remained involved with Movistar in the following seasons, as an advisor and riding gravel. “I will go to a few more races in the role of consultant. I will be present and offer help where necessary,” he said in an interview with El Pais last year.
The Murcian was also asked about his further ambitions in the sport. “A role as team DS? At the moment I am only responsible for the national level. As for the UCI level, I still have to see what I am going to do. Maybe in a year.”
Valverde, whose contract with Movistar expires after this year, is now reportedly a possible replacement for Pascual Momparler with the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC). According to AS, the 42-year-old Momparler doesn’t have to leave, because he can continue in another position with the Spanish cycling federation. The federation will make a decision before Christmas and present a new national coach.
Valverde certainly has enough experience when it comes to performing at championships. The Spaniard stood on the podium at the World championship seven times. In 2003 he won his first silver medal in Hamilton, Canada, followed by another silver medal in Madrid in 2005 and bronze medals in Salzburg 2006, Valkenburg 2012, Florence 2013 and Ponferrada 2014.
After coming so close, he won the World title in 2018 Valverde. In Innsbruck, at the age of 38 and after a tough race, he won in a sprint from four riders, beating Romain Bardet, Michael Woods and Tom Dumoulin.
Coach Valverde?
Campagnolo and Cofidis: Together for the WorldTour
From January 2025, the bikes ridden by the French team will be propelled by Campagnolo components: from the Super Record Wireless groupset to the Bora ULTRA WTO wheels.
The sporting year comes to a close with news that many in the cycling world had been expecting and hoped for. In 2025, Campagnolo will be back at cycling’s “top table” thanks to a partnership it has recently confirmed with one of the World Tour’s biggest teams: Team Cofidis.
Indeed, the company from Vicenza in Italy has just signed an agreement to completely equip the LOOK Cycle bikes that both the men’s and women’s teams will ride, from the groupset to the wheels. An agreement that will start on 1 January 2025 and run for 4 years.
A decision taken by Team Cofidis after the French outfit’s technicians and mechanics spent a protracted period putting Campagnolo’s components through their paces and then choosing them for its LOOK bikes, the team’s partner company. Indeed, the collaboration has seen the Italian company’s technicians work hand in hand with LOOK’s product managers who, with guidance from the team’s mechanics, have identified the ideal configuration for the bikes.
The Campagnolo components to feature on the LOOK bikes.
So, the LOOK bicycles will be fitted with the Super Record Wireless groupset, offering fast, accurate gear changing together with powerful, modular braking, essential for dealing with a range of typical race situations. Strengths that have also been remarked upon by the riders. All this is complemented by multiple combinations of cassettes, cranksets and crank arm lengths, all configured to meet the specific needs of each rider. Also supporting the team is the MyCampy 3.0 app, the bike’s “control centre” that makes it possible to customise the settings, from the screen selection to the gear shifting modes, including the management of the cyclocomputer.
Furthermore, the set-up of the team’s bikes will be completed by the new Bora ULTRA WTO wheels, chosen by the team’s technicians for their superior rigidity obtained from the G3 spoke system, which minimises the dissipation of any of the power being transferred from the cyclist to the bike. Depending on the race conditions, the riders will be able to choose either a 45mm or a 60mm rim height, both of which, thanks to the 23mm 2-WAY FIT internal bed, offer excellent aerodynamic performance when paired with the 28mm or 30mm tubeless tyres. Additionally, the wheel’s CULT bearings provide unparalleled smoothness, as revealed by numerous laboratory tests. In time trials, the Team Cofidis bikes will feature the Bora Ultra WTO TT disc wheel , loved by riders for its superior stiffness and lightness – just 930 grams – and, of course, it’ll be equipped with CULT bearings.
Campagnolo has been producing top quality cycling components for 90 years, and the brand’s strength is reflected in its achievements at the very top of bicycle racing, with a trophy case that boasts 43 Tour de France victories, 30 Giro d’Italia titles, and 30 World Championships, to name but a few. An extraordinary array of achievements which is also thanks to the top riders who’ve enjoyed the production excellence of an Italian company which, across a history spanning almost a century, has developed and registered over 1,600 international patents.
And so it is, Campagnolo is back on the World Tour, the natural environment of a company that’s driven by a desire to play a leading role in supporting the cycling world’s very best athletes: a commitment that requires significant investment in terms of in-depth research and meticulous testing, experimenting and investing to develop and produce components that push every single performance boundary.
Team Jayco AlUla Welcome Steve Cummings as a Sport Director in 2025
GreenEDGE Cycling is pleased to welcome Briton Steve Cummings as a sport director for Team Jayco AlUla men’s WorldTeam in 2025.
After a remarkable professional racing career that spanned over 15 years and boasts an impressive palmarés ranging from an Olympic silver medal to Tour de France and Vuelta a España stage wins, the squad is delighted to add Cummings’ abundance of knowledge and first-hand experience to the performance group.
Following his retirement from professional racing in 2019, the 43-year-old has been in the team car for four years, guiding riders to the highest-level results and is looking forward to a new chapter in his career with the Australian outfit.
“I’m really excited to be joining Team Jayco AlUla. This team has a strong reputation for its professionalism, and commitment to success, which aligns with my own values and experiences in sport,” Cummings said. “I’m looking forward to contributing to its ongoing success, helping all my teammates reach their full potential.”
“For me, this is more than just joining a team – it’s an opportunity to be part of a culture that celebrates growth, resilience, and meaningful results. Naturally through having a long career within cycling, on and off the bike, I already know a lot of team members and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get started with them.”
With a roster fortified with new and exciting talent for 2025, plus a change to the squad’s overall general classification leader following the welcome addition of Australian Ben O’Connor, Team Jayco AlUla is preparing for a standout season.
General Manager Brent Copeland is confident that Cummings’ presence in the team car will be a huge asset in the new year. “We are delighted to be welcoming Steve onto the team in 2025. His personality and professionalism is something that we believe will fit very well within our culture,” Copeland explained.
“Steve has such a wide skill set and is a very experienced sport director having of course experienced first-hand what it means to be a rider himself, having won at the highest level during his time as a pro rider. I was truly impressed by Steve’s attention to detail and visionary approach during our first conversation about the team. I immediately felt that he would bring a dynamic energy that we would all benefit from.”
Steve Cummings to Jayco AlUla:
Movistar Team Embarks on an Exciting New Chapter in Cyclocross with Cat Ferguson
On the weekend of December 15th, Cat Ferguson will kick off the cyclocross season at the XCO Trophy in Herentals and the World Cup in Namur.
Movistar Team is proud to announce its international debut in the cyclocross season alongside UK rider Cat Ferguson. The U19 Cyclocross World Championship runner-up will debut in the Elite/U23 category and face a calendar including 8 World Cup events, such as the home race for Movistar Team in Benidorm, and a total of 14 cyclocross races.
Cat Ferguson: “I feel very fortunate to have the support of Movistar Team for this cyclocross season. The trust the team has in me and the backing they provide is evident in their willingness to try something new this winter and take on the muddy fields of Belgium. Being my first year in Elite/U23, I’m excited to start competing and learning as much as possible, with no pressure for results just yet. I can’t wait for my first race on December 14th in Herentals. ¡Nos vemos pronto, Bélgica!”
Calendar:
14.12.2024 – X2O Trofee (Herentals, Belgium)
15.12.2024 – UCI World Cup (Namur, Belgium)
21.12.2024 – UCI World Cup (Hulst, Netherlands)
22.12.2024 – UCI World Cup (Zonhoven, Belgium)
23.12.2024 – Superprestige Zilvermeer Cross (Mol, Belgium)
26.12.2024 – UCI World Cup (Gavere, Belgium)
27.12.2024 – Exact Cross – Azencross (Loenhout, Belgium)
29.12.2024 – UCI World Cup (Besançon, France)
30.12.2024 – Superprestige Diegem (Diegem, Belgium)
12.01.2025 – British National Championships (Gravesend, Great Britain)
19.01.2025 – UCI World Cup (Benidorm, Spain)
25.01.2025 – UCI World Cup (Maasmechelen, Belgium)
26.01.2025 – UCI World Cup (Hoogerheide, Netherlands)
02.02.2025 – World Championships (Liévin, France)
This new step highlights Movistar Team’s commitment to exploring new disciplines within cycling while promoting the growth of emerging talent. It reflects the team’s pioneering spirit and their willingness to embrace challenges that drive growth and excitement in the world of cycling.
Team Polti Kometa Completes its Roster with Alessandro Tonelli
Team Polti Kometa finalises its lineup for the upcoming season with another experienced rider from VF Group Bardiani CSF Faizanè: following Samuele Zoccarato, here comes Alessandro Tonelli. The 32-year-old from Bornato (Brescia province) has competed in 5 Giro d’Italia, 8 Milan-San Remo, and 6 Il Lombardia during his career. He also boasts two stage wins: at the Cro Race in 2018 and in the Volta Valenciana earlier this year. Known for his attacking style, Tonelli has signed a contract with the Fundación Contador’s ProTeam for 2025.
Tonelli: “First of all, I want to thank Polti Kometa for giving me the opportunity to keep racing. After a decade with the same team, starting my eleventh year in a new environment will almost feel like turning pro all over again. I intend to bring all my cycling and personal experience to this squad, aiming to improve further as I’ve always done.”
Sports Director Stefano Zanatta: “Alessandro is another excellent addition that perfectly fits our racing philosophy, he’s experienced and breakaways are his hallmark. I also know him personally, he’s a true professional and I’m delighted he’s joining us. He’ll be an asset in every respect, including supporting Piganzoli in the mountains.”
With Tonelli’s signing, the 20-men roster for 2025 is now complete. New signings Tonelli and Zoccarato join four neo-professionals: two coming from the Continental category (Ludovico Crescioli and Aidan Buttigieg) and two promoted from the U23 ranks (Pablo García and Gabriele Raccagni). The 14 riders confirmed from 2024 are Davide Piganzoli, Mirco Maestri, Giovanni Lonardi, Andrea Pietrobon, Davide De Cassan, brothers Davide and Mattia Bais, Diego Sevilla, Fernando Tercero, Manuel Peñalver, Fran Muñoz, Javier Serrano, Alex Martín and Germán Gómez.
Israel – Premier Tech Bolsters Performance Department Ahead of 2025 Season
Israel – Premier Tech welcomes three new additions to its performance department from 2025; Sports Directors Alexander Cataford and Francesco Frassi, and Performance Optimisation Coordinator Marc Quod, in addition to the promotion of Steve Bauer to the role of Sporting Manager.
Bauer will oversee the team’s Sports Directors and race calendar, while the three new team members add experience and depth across the board says IPT General Manager Kjell Carlström.
“We are pleased to announce our new appointments ahead of the 2025 season,” says Carlström. “Of course, Alex Cataford is no stranger to IPT having raced for us for four years and now we are looking forward to seeing him make his Sports Director debut. On the other hand, Francesco Frassi joins us with ten years of experience as a DS for various Italian teams. Following the departure of Sep Vanmarcke, we wanted to prioritise the recruitment of young Sports Directors who can learn from their colleagues, and we think Alex and Francesco will be a great fit.”
“After three years with IPT, Steve Bauer was the natural choice to step up to the Sporting Manager role having previously held the position at CCC Team. Steve’s experience and skills will be important in shaping our Sporting and Performance departments, which continue to grow as we work our way back to the WorldTour. This growth includes the appointment of sports scientist Marc Quod in the newly created role of Performance Optimization Coordinator. Marc has spent his career working at the forefront of cycling performance and will take on an important role in optimising our equipment to achieve performance gains.”
31-year-old Cataford is excited to start the next chapter in his career as a Sports Director, in the familiar environment at IPT.
“I am happy to come back to IPT next season,” Cataford explains. “The team has been on a constant upward trajectory, and when I was presented with the opportunity to join as a DS I did not hesitate for a second. Personally, I am looking forward to the new role and challenges that come with it. Instead of being on the bike with the guys, this time around I will be supporting them from the team car.”
Frassi joins IPT from Team Corretec – Vini Fantini, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge, particularly when it comes to the Italian races.
“I am very proud to join IPT’s technical staff,” adds Frassi. “Being able to work in a high-level team is a dream that I have always carried inside me. I have always admired the way IPT works from the outside and I feel lucky to have the chance to work closely with the experienced Sports Directors and staff and continue my growth as a DS. I would like to thank Kjell Carlstrom and Steve Bauer for their trust and a special thanks to my former teams – Monte Pisano team, Amore e Vita, Neri Sottoli and Team Corratec – where I was able to learn everything that has allowed me to reach this position. I am ready to give the best of myself every day and I can’t wait to get into the IPT team car.”
La Vuelta 25 to Kick Off in Piemonte
La Vuelta 25 will begin from Piemonte, at the foot of the mountains and with the Alps as a stunning backdrop, in a very special edition that celebrates the 90th anniversary of the race. The Italian region will host the first three stages in their entirety, starting on August 23, before the peloton returns to Spain.
The announcement was made official this morning at an event held in Turin, attended by Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin; Alberto Cirio, President of the Piemonte Region; Marina Chiarelli, Councillor for Tourism, Culture, and Sport in the Piemonte Region; and Javier Guillén, General Director of La Vuelta.
The opening stage of La Vuelta 25 will depart from Torino – Reggia di Venaria and head to Novara on a 183-kilometre route featuring a climb over the Bienca-Tomalino Pass. The second stage will begin in Alba and, 157 kilometres later, finish in Limone Piemonte, marking the race’s first summit finish. The third stage in Italian territory will cover 139 kilometres between San Maurizio Canavese and Ceres, including a climb over the Issiglio Pass. The fourth stage will start in Susa.
La Vuelta’s start in Piemonte—a region rich in mountains, history, and natural beauty—adds to the list of international destinations visited by the Spanish Grand Tour a new country. It also strengthens the ties between Europe’s leading cycling nations. Over its nine decades of history, La Vuelta has crossed into countries with strong cycling traditions, such as France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Italy is undoubtedly a country that has left its mark on the history of La Vuelta. Italian riders have secured 187 stage wins in the Spanish tour, making Italy the third nation with the most stage victories, after Spain and Belgium. As for the general classification, six Italian cyclists have claimed overall victory: Fabio Aru (2015), Vincenzo Nibali (2010), Marco Giovannetti (1990), Giovanni Battaglin (1981), Felice Gimondi (1968), and Angelo Conterno (1956).
In recent years, the region of Piemonte has also been closely linked to world-class cycling. Most notably, its capital, Turin, hosted the finish of the third stage of the 2024 Tour de France, which saw Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay take the victory.
The 2025 edition of La Vuelta will mark the sixth time the race starts abroad and the first time it departs from Italy, following Lisbon (1997), Assen (2009), Nîmes (2017), Utrecht (2022), and Lisbon-Oeiras-Cascais (2024). Added to this is the already announced official departure from Monaco in 2026.
- More information about La Vuelta: www.lavuelta.es
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