Merry Christmas to all the EUROTRASH readers around the World, I hope you all had a great time. It maybe holiday time, but there is still lots of news form the peloton. We also have a race report from the Telenet Superprestige Zilvermeercross in Mol with video, results and rider quotes.
TOP STORY:
- Tom Boonen talks about his ex-teammate Lance Armstrong
Rider news:
- Geraint Thomas prepares for final season
- Victor Campenaerts makes debut for Visma | Lease a Bike in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
- Chris Hamilton unfortunately sustains broken collarbone in team camp crash
- Annemarie Worst injury report
- Marianne Vos to have a short cyclocross season
- Annemiek van Vleuten reflects talks about Volleringβs transfer and Van der Breggenβs comeback
- Mick and Tim van Dijke: βParting ways with Visma | Lease a Bike on a good noteβ
- Rider agent David van der Poel: βI feel better now than I did the last two years when I was still racingβ
Team news:
- TelefΓ³nica extends Movistar Team sponsorship until 2029
- The new Movistar Team 2025 jersey unveiled
- Fenix-Deceuninck builds for the future: Arrival of Annemiek van Vleuten, extension of Fenix and new youth structure
- New Shirt Team SD Worx β Protime 2025: βBursting with Energyβ
- Building on solid foundations: Liv AlUla Jayco confirms its 2025 roster
- Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 2025 roster
Race news:
- Giro dβItalia 2025: Albania to host the Grande Partenza
And the sad news of the death of Pascal HervΓ©.
Time for a Christmas EUROTRASH coffee.
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TOP STORY: Tom Boonen Talks About his Ex-Teammate Lance Armstrong
Tom Boonen has opened up about his difficult relationship with ex-teammate Lance Armstrong in StamcafΓ© Koers, the Het Nieuwsblad podcast. Boonen was 21-years-old when he made his debut for US Postal, Armstrongβs team, but by the end of that season he had decided to break his contract to transfer to Quick-Step. This did not go down well with the American.
Boonen joined the then US Postal team as a stagiaire at the end of 2001 and made his professional debut for the American team the next year. In the 2002 Tour of Flanders he rode alongside Lance Armstrong for the first time, the great patron in the peloton in those years. βBut he was not at all intimidating at that timeβ, Boonen looks back on that period more than twenty years later.
βI still remember that Gianpaolo Mondini (the Italian rode for US Postal) suddenly disappeared that year. He was involved in a scandal and just suddenly left. I remember Armstrong saying: βitβs better without men like that, they should send them all home.β A few years later you think: seriouslyβ¦β
A week after first meeting Armstrong in the Tour of Flanders, Boonen finished third in a wet and muddy Paris-Roubaix. Boonen decided to look for a new team at the end of that season and with a year left on his contract with USP, he went to Patrick Lefevereβs Quick-Step team. Boonen informed his teammates at US Postal of his departure by email. βLance told me: good luck, youβll need it. I had to swallow hard then. I was only twenty years old, you know. For a few years he didnβt speak to me when we saw each other in a raceβ, Boonen remembers.
With the knowledge he has now, Boonen is happy with how things turned out. βImagine if I had raced for US Postal for another two years. Then I would have been good enough to be selected for the Tour de France. And then you go along with the system. Itβs that simple,β Boonen points out, referring to the large-scale doping use within the team. βIt wasnβt a choice. It was a system that you ended up in as a young rider. At Quick Step they said: βWeβre not going to do that.β Later came the blood passport and filling in whereabouts. I was one of the first riders to do that. But at US Postal they still had to win the Tour de France. I ended up in a completely different mentality.β
Johan Bruyneel, Boonenβs former team manager at US Postal, has since responded to Boonenβs statements. βTom Boonen should just keep his mouth shut! And thatβs what Iβm going to do.β
Boonen and Armstrong β Not the best of friends:
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Telenet Superprestige β Zilvermeercross in Mol β Men 2024
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) won the Superprestige of Mol, as expected, on Monday. The World champion waited to see what would happen in the first few laps, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) put up a fight, but in the end Van der Poel soloed to victory. Sweeck finished second and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) was third.
Everyone was looking forward to the first duel between six-time World champion Mathieu van der Poel and three-time World champion Wout van Aert on Monday. But unfortunately: Van Aert had to withdraw from the Superprestige cross in Mol at the last minute due to illness. It would be up to the other riders to try to give Van der Poel a hard time, but that was questionable. On Sunday in his return to cyclocross in the World Cup of Zonhoven, Van der Poel dominated from the start.
Van der Poel went from the gun in Zonhoven on Sunday, would he do the same on Monday. The Dutchman had a good start, but left the early attacks to the others. In the first three laps we didnβt see the rainbow jersey, but Michael Vanthourenhout, Laurens Sweeck and Lars van der Haar were at the front of the race. Van der Poel therefore kept his βpowder dryβ for a devastating and decisive attack. After 20 minutes, it was time. The World champion decided to put the pressure on for the first time in the fourth lap, but Laurens Sweeck was able to follow, the sand specialist was on a good day and managed to go with the World champion. Van der Poel increased the pressure even further. Sweeck gritted his teeth and even looked to be stronger at certain moments. Van der Poel still had a lot left in his tank.
on the fifth lap, the rainbow jersey put in another hard effort and now the tired Sweeck had to let go. The Belgian blown up a bit in an attempt to follow Van der Poel, whose victory was now guaranteed. Van der Poel extended his lead in the final laps and took his second win out of two races, after his victory in Zonhoven. Sweeck rode a strong race for second place. Michael Vanthourenhout saved the day for Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal by finishing third. Joran Wyseure was fourth, while Niels Vandeputte finished in fifth place. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider is the leader of the Superprestige and increased his lead by 1 point over second placed Lars van der Haar.
Race winner, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck): βThe intention was to take it a bit easier in the first half. That worked out well. We all know that Laurens can ride really well in the sand. It wasnβt really a surprise, but he put up a good fight. It took a while before I really started riding well in the sand. I only started finding my good lines in the last four laps. Then it got better and better. I was mainly focused on myself. I just didnβt ride so well in the sand in the first part of the race. Itβs also a bit more difficult on the wheels than when youβre riding in front. Then you leave your own tracks and then itβs a bit easier. It wonβt always be plain sailing.β
2nd, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon): βWhen I managed to get back on Mathieu in that sandy section, I had a good passage. That felt good, but I soon realised that it was going too fast. I saw stars in his wheel. I took some sandy sections very well, but on the intermediate sections I had to hang on to his wheel. Last week, when Mathieu wasnβt there yet, this would have been a victory. But now this is a second place. But this was my third cross in three days, I can look back on that positively.β
Telenet Superprestige β Zilvermeercross in Mol β Men Result:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck in 59:41
2. Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Crelan-Corendon at 1:03
3. Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal at 1:35
4. Joran Wyseure (Bel) Crelan-Corendon at 1:41
5. Niels Vandeputte (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team at 1:55
6. Lars van der Haar (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions at 2:08
7. Kevin Kuhn (Sui) Charles LiΓ©geois Roastery CX at 2:14
8. Felipe Orts Lloret (Spa) Ridley Racing Team at 2:29
9. Daan Soete (Bel) Ridley Racing Team at 3:18
10. Lander Loockx (Bel) TDT-Unibet at 3:24.
Zilvermeercrossβ24:
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Telenet Superprestige β Zilvermeercross in Mol β Women 2024
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck) took her ninth victory of the season. The Fenix-Deceuninck rider soloed to victory in the Superprestige Mol on Monday. Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) came second and Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon) was third.
In the busy Christmas and New Year period, the cyclo-cross riders donβt get much rest. After the double World Cup weekend with the races in Hulst and Zonhoven, it was time for the fifth round of the Superprestige on Monday. The course for the Zilvermeercross in Mol is mostly sand, so there could be an upset. The field of participants for the women was not as good as the previous days in the World Cups. Puck Pieterse decided to skip the cross in Mol, as did several other top riders; Blanka Vas, Marie Schreiber and World champion Fem van Empel was also absent. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Lucinda Brand there were there for the battle.
The best start went to Inge van der Heijden, she was the first to go off-road, but Alvarado and Brand were not far away. After her fast start, Van der Heijden put in another attack. With a few strong sand sections, the Crelan-Corendon rider put the others under a lot of pressure. Only Brand and Alvarado were able to keep with Van der Heijden, but not without some difficulty.
After the opening lap, the gap had increased considerably, so there would be a three-way battle for victory. The three Dutch riders were clearly too fast for the competition. The first pursuers were Belgian champion Sanne Cant, Aniek van Alphen and the surprisingly strong Julie Brouwers, they were already at 40 seconds after two laps. At this point the three leaders looked to be very evenly matched. Where Alvarado and Brand were strongest on the power sections, Van der Heijden was better on the sand, until she made a mistake on the fourth lap. Van der Heijden lost 10 seconds and was unable to get back to the front duo. There would now be a duel between Alvarado and Brand in the last 15 minutes between the first and second riders in the Superprestige competition. Alvarado seemed to decide this battle at the end of the fourth lap. The Fenix-Deceuninck rider rode perfectly through the sand, but Brand made two mistakes.
Alvarado took a gap and managed to extend her lead to 10 seconds and never looked back. The tough Brand kept pushing behind, the race was not over yet. The Dutch champion found her second wind in the penultimate lap and managed to halve her loss. The difference at the start of the last lap was 8 seconds and so Alvarado lifted her pace, this was too much for Brand. Alvarado could not be caught in the final lap and soloed to her ninth victory of the season and helped towards the final victory in the Superprestige. Brand, who has been on the podium sixteen times in the past sixteen races, was second again. Inge van der Heijden crossed the finish line in third place after her strong start. Cant and Brouwers completed the top-5.
Race winner, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck): βThatβs just great of course and Iβm very happy. Did I make a difference in the sand? Yes, although I have to say it was difficult. When you arrived first, everything was trampled to pieces and there was no real trail to follow. And on the wheel you had no overview, so it was difficult to make a choice. In the end, halfway through the race I did try to make a difference because I heard that Inge (van der Heijden) had to run. After that there were only two of us, so that makes a difference. I heard that Brand had fallen, but she hadnβt ridden that far at that moment, so I certainly thought she would still be able to catch up. She didnβt, so that was the moment for me to open the throttle.β
2nd, Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions): βWhen I fell, I got stuck in the pedal. Then I seemed to get closer for a while, but then everything had to go well in the last sand section. I wasnβt flawless in the sand and then it was over, Iβm glad the weekend is over. Now itβs going to be a day of bed rest.β
Telenet Superprestige β Zilvermeercross in Mol β Women Result:
1. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck in 43:10
2. Lucinda Brand (Ned) Baloise Trek Lions at 0:34
3. Inge van der Heijden (Ned) Crelan-Corendon at 0:59
4. Sanne Cant (Bel) Crelan-Corendon at 2:09
5. Julie Brouwers (Bel) Charles LiΓ©geois Roastery CX at 2:15
6. Aniek van Alphen (Ned) Cyclocross Reds at 2:24
7. Lauren Molengraaf (Ned) Charles LiΓ©geois Roastery CX at 2:43
8. Rebecca Gariboldi (Ita) at 2:51
9. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck at 3:03
10. Ella Maclean-Howell (GB) Heizomat RadTeam p/b Hermann at 3:09.
Zilvermeercrossβ24:
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Geraint Thomas Prepares for Final Season
Geraint Thomas had been thinking of his future for some time, but now he has announced that 2025 will be his final season. The 38-year-old, 2018 Tour winner will mainly compete in stage races in his last year.
Thomas planned on riding the Classics in the spring in his final year, but has now decided against it. βThe classics are just too hectic at the moment, or you have to be prepared to crash. I donβt have the guts for that anymore,β he said in a INEOS Grenadiers team video, in which he looks ahead to the new season with teammate Michal Kwiatkowski.
For Thomas, this is his final year in the pro peloton. He will start his farewell year in the Tour Down Under (21-26 January). βAfter that I will go to the Volta ao Algarve (19-23 February) and a few more stage races with Tirreno-Adriatico (10-16 March) and the Tour of Catalonia (24-30 March).β
Thomas hopes to work towards his last Tour de France (5-27 July). Then: βMaybe the Tour of Britain (2-7 September) to round it off.β Last season Thomas showed that he still has a lot to offer as a GC rider. In the Giro dβItalia. Thomas finished third in the final classification, although he was more than ten minutes behind Tadej PogaΔar.
Geraint Thomasβ early 2025 race programme:
21.01: Santos Tour Down Under
19.02: Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta
Geraint Thomasβ final season:
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Victor Campenaerts Makes Debut for Visma | Lease a Bike in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
Victor Campenaerts will start his first race for Visma | Lease a Bike in the Flemish Opening Weekend. The Belgian, who moved from Lotto Dstny, said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad.
When Campenaerts was asked about his plans for the holidays, he spoke of his plans. βThe Christmas parties are in Antwerp and we celebrate New Yearβs Eve with the other family. The holidays are cheat days, so I donβt have to pay attention to what I eat. The first race will be Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on 2 March, so there is still enough time to get back to weight.β
The preparation for next season took βVocSnorβ to Oliva in Spain, where he was on a training camp with the team. He is enjoyed it, said Campenaerts. βEverything is very organised and I already know quite a few riders. Wout van Aert, and Tiesj Benoot who moved to live near me, have also been good friends for a long time.β
Campenaerts had already stated his goal for 2025 when he transferred. βFirst get into the Tour de France selection and then win the Tour with Jonas Vingegaard as leader. That wonβt be easy, Tadej PogaΔar is also riding very well, but I strongly believe in it,β he has confidence in his leader. But first the spring, starting with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Victor Campenaerts to start 2025 in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne:
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Chris Hamilton Unfortunately Sustains Broken Collarbone in Team Camp Crash
During a training ride on the teamβs final day at GC and Sprint camp on Sunday 22nd of December, Chris Hamilton, Oscar Onley and Tim Naberman were unfortunately involved in a crash on their approach back to the hotel. Chris was most heavily impacted, and a broken collarbone was immediately suspected and later confirmed by local medical services. He returned home immediately that afternoon and will undergo surgery on the collarbone today.
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL doctor Camiel Aldershof explained: βUnfortunately Chris sustained a crash in training and has fractured his left collarbone. The fracture will require surgery which is planned for today. With the break, it will likely be around four weeks until he can return to racing, which means that his preparation for the Tour Down Under is impacted and there is a chance that he doesnβt take part in the race. These things are really on a case-by-case basis so we will continue to assess Chris during the recovery process so that he can return to training and racing in a good way. Oscar and Tim also both came down during the crash, but both appear to be ok today.β
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna continued: βItβs of course very disappointing for Chris to have this injury happen at this time of year. We were coming to the end of a nice GC camp in Spain, where Chris was showing off his qualities on and off the bike as a road captain. Alongside that, he was performing really well on the bike and at a high level already with a view to the upcoming races in Australia in January. Unfortunately, this injury means that Chrisβs participation for the Tour Down Under, where he was set to play a crucial role in supporting Oscar as our finisher in the deep finals of the harder climbing stages, is in the balance with a decision on his participation made closer to the event. We hope that Chrisβ recovery goes smoothly, and we look forward to welcoming him back to training and racing when it is clear for him to do so.β
Broken collarbone for Chris Hamilton:
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Annemarie Worst Injury Report
Update on Annemarie Worst (Cyclocross Reds) following her crash in Zonhoven (UCI Cyclocross World Cup race) on Sunday. Annemarie Worst suffered a heavy crash in Zonhovenβs iconic Kuil. Examination at the AZ Herentals emergency department revealed fractures in two metacarpal bones (left hand). Tomorrow (Tuesday, December 24), the bones will be surgically repaired and stabilised through osteosynthesis.
At this moment, it is too early to estimate how long Annemarie will be sidelined. This is a major setback for Annemarie, who was in excellent form during this crucial part of the cyclocross season.
Annemarie Worst out of cross over Christmas:
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Marianne Vos to Have a Short Cyclocross Season
Eight-time World champion Marianne Vos will return to cyclocross next week after almost two years. The 37-year-old Dutch womanβs intention is not to just ride cyclocross, even though she will only compete a handful of times (possibly the World Championships), but with ambition. WielerFlits spoke to Visma | Lease a Bike team manager Jan Boven about her comeback.
βDespite the fact that she was not in the cyclocross last winter, we have always kept talking to Marianne about cyclocross,β Boven explained. βMarianne really likes to cross. She did not like skipping a winter last year, so it makes sense that she is back. The main reason is simply because she finds it incredibly beautiful to do.β Nevertheless, the team didnβt plan an extensive program. According to a press release from Visma | Lease a Bike lists the National Championships in Oisterwijk (12/01) and the World Cups in Benidorm (19/01) and Hoogerheide (26/01), but Boven hints at another important event. βHer winter will be limited, but we do have a big main goal. We really looked towards the World Championships in LiΓ©vin, and her goal is to start there in good shape.β
For Vos, the winter is not just about having fun. βThe goal is to go for performances anyway. Marianne does nothing without aspiring to victories. Good training blocks, sufficient volume and longer periods in the sun are important for a successful road season. That is why we have set up Marianneβs cross program in such a way that it fits in perfectly with her road preparation, without making concessions to her ambition in cross.β It is also difficult for her entourage to say where Vos currently stands. βWe donβt really know that eitherβ, Boven adds. βIn the winter that she last raced, she also simply said goodbye to the rainbow jersey. After that, she had surgery on her leg. But we have already seen on the road that she has reached her very best level of the past and perhaps even better. We will take that with us into this winter.β
Vos was impressive throughout the road season, with highlights such as victories in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Amstel Gold Race and the World Gravel Championships, but a silver medal in the Olympic road race should not be forgotten either. And that while she had surgery on the femoral artery in August 2023. Not everyone returns to their level after that. βThat was also the question in Marianneβs case, whether that would work. That is always exciting after such a serious injury. Ultimately, last year around this time was the most exciting time there has been for her in her career. Fortunately, she has performed quite reasonably since then (laughs). We will see how difficult it is to return to cross. What is her specialty on the road? Her explosiveness. That is also very important in cyclocross, so it should still work out a bit.β
In addition, it will be fun for Vos to race with her teammate and World champion Fem van Empel, her successor. βThey are very good together. Fem can learn a lot from Marianne, especially in the direction of the road, and also to combine those disciplines. They are both winners, who know what each other can do. They can definitely help each other in that,β Boven concluded.
Marianne Vosβ cross program:
29.12 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup β BesanΓ§on
12.01 Dutch National Championships CX
19.01 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup β Benidorm
26.01 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup β Hoogerheide.
A short cross season for Vos:
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Annemiek van Vleuten Talks about Volleringβs Transfer and Van der Breggenβs Comeback
The next season for the womenβs WorldTour, should be very interesting as Demi Vollering has moved to FDJ-SUEZ and the return of Anna van der Breggen. WielerFlits spoke to Annemiek van Vleuten about 2025.
Van Vleuten is the best judge of what could happen, as the retired Dutch rider has fought many a duel with Van der Breggen and Vollering. βIβm really looking forward to it. Itβs a very good development for womenβs cycling,β said the 42-year-old Van Vleuten, who will be a performance mentor for the Belgian WorldTour Fenix-Deceuninck womenβs team next year.
βIt also touches my heart,β continued the multiple World and 2021 Olympic champion. βIt was one of the motivations why I once signed with Movistar. I felt: we have to keep it interesting. It is more fun if we spread the quality over several teams. Then you have several teams with a plan.β
βThat is really the case with this development, it is fantastic,β the former rider is very enthusiastic. βAlso with Pauline Ferrand-PrΓ©vot, who is returning as a road cyclist at Visma | Lease a Bike. She is also going to be a real classification rider. It is also fantastic that Anna van der Breggen is returning. They will raise the level. As a bench sitter, we are in luck,β concluded Van Vleuten.
Van Vleuten talks 2025:
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Mick and Tim van Dijke: βParting Ways with Visma | Lease a Bike on a Good Noteβ
For Mick and Tim van Dijke it was difficult to say goodbye to Visma | Lease a Bike. The twin brothers, who will race for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe from 1 January, told Sporza. βItβs great that we parted ways on a good note.β
βWe learned a lot from Visma | Lease a Bike for five years. The team was like a family to us. The farewell was emotional,β said the Van Dijkes, who both progressed to the WorldTeam via the development team. They showed themselves well there last spring. Timβs eighth place in Paris-Roubaix was terrific, although he was demoted in the results because he went bellow the blue lineon the track. βIβm still disappointed that I didnβt get my first top 10 in a Monument on paper, but I showed what I can do in that race and Iβm coming back to do better,β said Tim. It was after Roubaix that the twins wanted to take a step and also wanted a more protected role: βTo explore what possibilities we have in the Classics.β
At Visma | Lease a Bike that wasnβt an option with Wout van Aert, Dylan van Baarle and Christophe Laporte as leaders. βWe had an honest conversation about that with sporting director Merijn Zeeman. Merijn and the team wanted the best for us and thatβs why they let us go. After that beautiful Classic spring, we think that this transfer is the right step for our development. Our new team believes in us enormously and will support us in our ambitions.β
The Van Dijke brothers move to Red Bull:
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Rider Agent David van der Poel: βI Feel Better Now than I Did the Last Two Years when I was Still Racingβ
Last year, David van der Poel ended his career after finishing second in the Sluitingsprijs Putte-Kapellen. The 32-year-old Dutchman didnβt just walk away from cycling. The older brother of Mathieu van der Poel doesnβt miss life as a professional cyclist, as he said in an interview with the em>Brabants Dagblad.
Yet he still rides regularly. βFor fun. Alone, with dad or with friends. I like it this way. I feel better now than I did the last two years when I was still racingβ, Van der Poel said. βI am glad I made this decision. With an office job I might already be looking for something else, but as a rider agent I have found my place in my new life.β After retiring as a cyclist, Van der Poel applied for a job in the corporate world, but at the beginning of 2024 he was given a helping hand to stay in cycling. Earlier this year he obtained his diploma from the UCI to start working as a rider agent. Together with three partners, he founded the company Sportsflow. Six athletes are now part of the company, including Mathieu van der Poel and Arnaud De Lie.
In an extensive interview with WielerFlits, he talked at length about his new job. βThe word we like to use ourselves is unburdening. That is as broad and as deep as the athlete wants it to be. In principle, they can come to us with everything they need. That can be very diverse. The most obvious is contract negotiations with the teams. But it can also be, for example, that an athlete wants to buy a house, but does not understand it. Then we will find out for that person. In principle, athletes can come to us with all their questions. Also outside contracts, outside cycling, outside sports. Complete unburdening. We like to work behind the scenes. We believe that the athlete comes first and that we ourselves are actually not important at all.β
βIt is not our intention to contact just anyone,β Van der Poel continues. βThe character of the athletes must also match ours. And they should especially not see us as a boss or paymaster, to name but a few. We aim for friendly relationships with athletes. We are going to try to build a good relationship with team managers. We are currently busy with that, to inform them about our project. People must also get to know us.β
David van der Poel now a rider agent:
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TelefΓ³nica Extends Movistar Team Sponsorship Until 2029
The βtelefΓ³nicoβ team kicked off its 46th season in the elite category this Wednesday at the revamped Espacio Movistar on Madridβs Gran VΓa, featuring nine new signings and the jersey it will sport in 2025.
TelefΓ³nica reaffirms its commitment to the Movistar Team, extending its main sponsorship agreement for an additional five years. By 2029, this partnership will mark 19 seasons of unwavering support for the cycling team.
The menβs team features 28 riders. New additions include Venezuelan Orluis Aular, Spaniard Pablo Castrillo, Ecuadorian Jefferson Cepeda, Eritrean Natnael Tesfatsion, and Colombian Diego Pescador.
The womenβs team expands its roster to 18 riders. Making their debut with the Movistar Team in 2025 will be Swiss rider Marlen Reusser, Briton Carys Lloyd, Brazilian Tota Magalhares, and, starting in August, Spaniard Paula Ostiz.
Madrid, December 18, 2024 β The revamped Espacio Movistar, located in TelefΓ³nicaβs flagship building on Madridβs Gran VΓa 28, served today as the venue for the official presentation of the Movistar Team cycling squad for the 2025 season. The event was inaugurated by TelefΓ³nicaβs Chairman, JosΓ© MarΓa Γlvarez-Pallete, and featured the menβs and womenβs teams as the main stars of the day.
During the ceremony, TelefΓ³nica announced the renewal of its sponsorship agreement with the professional Movistar Team through 2029, ensuring the continuity of Spainβs only WorldTour team.
Movistar has been the teamβs main sponsor for the past 14 seasons, supporting Spainβs premier cycling squad, which boasts a 45-year history and over 1,100 victories across its professional teams.
Throughout its 14-season partnership with TelefΓ³nica, the Movistar Team has covered more than 4,500,000 kilometres across approximately 4,000 competition days around the globe.
Movistar is the brand most closely associated with cycling in Spain and Latin America, promoting the sportβs global growth as a professional discipline, a sustainable mode of transportation, and a symbol of a healthy lifestyle.
JosΓ© MΒͺ Γlvarez-Pallete, Chairman of TelefΓ³nica, began his speech with heartfelt words in memory of Javier Echenique, TelefΓ³nicaβs Vice Chairman, who passed away last Sunday. Γlvarez-Pallete described him as a noble man and an extraordinary professional. Speaking about the cycling team, he highlighted: βTelefΓ³nica identifies with the values of perseverance, hard work, and sacrifice embodied by sports. This is why we are proud to announce the extension of our partnership with Movistar Team and cycling until 2029βa discipline with countless fans worldwide. Over the years we have worked together, Movistar Team has achieved numerous victories, and we are confident it will continue enriching its record in the seasons to come.β
Eusebio UnzuΓ©, General Manager of Abarca Sports, expressed: βWe are very grateful for TelefΓ³nicaβs trust in us, and we aim to repay it by achieving the goals weβve set. Weβre building a very strong roster and are confident weβll be able to deliver great results. In times like these, maintaining a long-term sponsorship is a testament to determination and gives us the peace of mind to plan for the future, making our team even more attractive to everyone.β
During the presentation, the new jersey that riders will wear in 2025 was unveiled: a new GOBIK kit that breaks away from the bluish designs of recent years. Inspired by digital brutalism, the Yecla (Murcia)-based brand created a bold, modern design featuring a unique typographic collage and vibrant colours that reinvent the teamβs identity, ensuring it stands out in every race.
Thanks to its experience in the World Tour in recent years, GOBIK has developed garments that deliver cutting-edge aerodynamics, ultra-lightweight construction, and optimal compression. Every detail, from 4-Way Stretch fabrics to Graphene chamois pads, has been designed to enhance performance and meet the demands of professional cycling at the highest level.
The menβs Movistar Team will begin its road season on Saturday, January 18, at the menβs criterium ahead of the Tour Down Under, the first UCI WorldTour event, in Adelaide (Australia). The womenβs team will kick off its campaign on Saturday, January 25, at the Challenge de Mallorca.
Movistar Team β 2025 Rosters
*New signings are marked in bold
Menβs Team:
Jorge ARCAS, Orluis AULAR, Jon BARRENETXEA, Will BARTA, Carlos CANAL, Pablo CASTRILLO, Jefferson CEPEDA, Davide CIMOLAI, IvΓ‘n G. CORTINA, Davide FORMOLO, Fernando GAVIRIA, RubΓ©n GUERREIRO, Enric MAS, Lorenzo MILESI, Manlio MORO, Gregor MΓHLBERGER, Mathias NORSGAARD, Nelson OLIVEIRA, Antonio PEDRERO, Diego PESCADOR, Nairo QUINTANA, IvΓ‘n ROMEO, Javier ROMO, Einer RUBIO, Pelayo SΓNCHEZ, Gonzalo SERRANO, Natnael TESFATSION, Albert TORRES.
Womenβs Team:
Olivia BARIL, Aude BIANNIC, Jelena ERIC, Cat FERGUSON, Sheyla GUTIΓRREZ, Liane LIPPERT, Carys LLOYD, Floortje MACKAIJ, Tota MAGALHARES, Sara MARTΓN, Mareille MEIJERING, Paula OSTIZ (from August 2025), Paula PATIΓO, Marlen REUSSER, Laura RUIZ, LucΓa RUIZ, Arlenis SIERRA, Claire STEELS.
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The New Movistar Team 2025 Jersey Unveiled
The revamped Movistar Space, located in the TelefΓ³nica Building at Gran VΓa 28 in Madrid, hosted the official presentation of the Movistar Team for the 2025 season.
During the event, TelefΓ³nica announced the renewal of its sponsorship agreement with the Movistar Team until 2029, ensuring the continuity of Spainβs only WorldTour team.
The presentation also revealed the new kit for 2025: a bold Gobik jersey that breaks away from the familiar blue tones of recent years. Inspired by digital brutalism, the Yecla-based brand has created a striking, modern design featuring a unique typographic collage and vibrant colours, redefining the teamβs identity and ensuring they stand out in every race.
Gobikβs experience in the WorldTour has enabled them to craft garments with advanced aerodynamics, ultra-lightweight materials, and optimal compression. From 4-Way Stretch fabrics to Graphene chamois pads, every detail is designed to elevate performance and meet the highest demands of professional cycling.
The Movistar menβs team will begin their road season on Saturday, January 18, at the menβs criterium preceding the Tour Down Under, the first UCI WorldTour event, in Adelaide, Australia. The womenβs team will kick off their campaign on Saturday, January 25, at the Mallorca Challenge.
Movistar kit for 2025:
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Fenix-Deceuninck Builds for the Future: Arrival of Annemiek van Vleuten, Extension of Fenix and New Youth Structure
At a press event in Milan, Fenix-Deceuninck unveiled ambitious plans for the coming years, focusing on sustainable growth, talent development, and innovation. Annemiek van Vleuten will join as performance mentor, the team will collaborate with NXTG Racing, and Fenix-Deceuninck is strengthening its long-term vision with an extended partnership with title sponsor FENIX and a new clothing collaboration with AlΓ©.
Annemiek van Vleuten joins as performance mentor
Great news: Fenix-Deceuninck is excited to welcome Annemiek van Vleuten as performance mentor. Known for her unmatched mindset and professional approach, the former World Champion will guide riders to achieve their full potential. Her expertise and leadership will be pivotal in refining both individual and collective performances, as Fenix-Deceuninck continues to compete at the highest level.
Van Vleuten: βIn the final years of my active career, I knew I wanted to work with cyclists and athletes, helping them unlock their potential while maintaining balance. When Philip Roodhooft approached me about joining Fenix-Deceuninck, I was surprised but quickly impressed by the professionalism and their commitment to both performance and the human side of the sport. Iβm excited to contribute to the growth of this talented team. Throughout my career, I learned the value of reflection and improving through trial and error, and I hope to help accelerate this process for the athletes here. This new role is a fantastic challenge that perfectly aligns with my ambition to grow as a coach.β
Focus on womenβs cycling growth: partnership NXTG Racing & support Omloop van het Hageland
For the past two years, we have been running a womenβs development team, where we have encountered stagnant growth in the talent pool. To address this and strengthen the foundation of womenβs cycling, Fenix-Deceuninck is entering into a partnership with NXTG Racing. This collaboration aims to inspire more young women to take up cycling and break down barriers to entry. Through this investment, the team reaffirms its commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent and expanding the sportβs reach.
NXTG founder Natascha Knaven-den Ouden: βWe are happy that Fenix-Deceuninck supports us in this renewed start. Our project is entirely focused on the foundation: providing opportunities for young talents, guiding them, and preparing them for the elite. In our discussions, it quickly became clear that we share the same vision. If you truly want to grow womenβs cycling, you must invest in the foundation. We canβt wait to inspire and help develop the next generation together.β
Additional, Fenix-Deceuninck team continues to back womenβs cycling development by providing financial support to the Omloop van het Hageland. This initiative secures the future of the race and paves the way for U17 and U19 events alongside the womenβs race in the coming years.
Long-term vision with FENIX
A key milestone for the team is the extension of its partnership with title sponsor FENIX through at least the end of 2027. This long-term commitment provides a strong foundation for continued investment in the teamβs growth and organisational development. The team remains dedicated to process improvement and fostering an environment that enables consistent top performances. This vision aligns seamlessly with FENIXβs philosophy, a brand renowned for its focus on innovation, technology, and excellence.
Stefano Mion, CEO of Arpa Industriale: βWe are proud to extend our partnership with the team, supporting their growth and success. Their commitment to excellence and innovation reflects FENIXβs values, making this collaboration a perfect match for shared aspirations.β
FENIX is also a βcolour of brands,β representing a wide spectrum of creativity and identity. Together with new kit sponsor AlΓ©, the team will bring this concept to life through striking designs. In addition to the iconic βverde commodoroβ and the established team blue, the 2025 season will introduce a new colour: βrosso namib.β
Thanks to the UCIβs allowance to switch outfits up to three times per year, all three colours will appear at different moments throughout the season, both in and around the peloton.
New kit sponsor AlΓ©
Starting in 2025, AlΓ© will be the official kit supplier for Fenix-Deceuninck. βWomenβs cycling has always been a top priority for AlΓ©,β said Alessia Piccolo, CEO of APG, the company behind AlΓ©. βWe are proud to collaborate with a world-class team and look forward to supporting them with high-quality products.β
Ceylin Alvarado, Sara Casasola and Marthe Truyen:
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New Shirt Team SD Worx β Protime 2025: βBursting with Energyβ
Team SD Worx-Protime is proud to reveal its 2025 team jersey, a design that celebrates both the teamβs history and its dynamic future. Drawing inspiration from the printed pages that have documented the teamβs journey, the new jersey features a newspaper-print motif, symbolising the teamβs stories of triumph, resilience, and passion. This is combined with modern colours reflecting the energy and determination of Team SD Worx-Protime.
One of the teamβs newest members, Skylar Schneider, expressed her excitement about the new design: βThe 2025 Team SD Worx-Protime jersey is one of the best designs Iβve ever seen, and I am thrilled to be able to wear it all season!β
Teammate Mischa Bredewold added: βSleek but colourful, it bursts with energy. Itβs a very cool and professional jersey full of life. Its character fits the team perfectly.β
Beyond its symbolic design, the 2025 jersey is built for performance. Developed in collaboration with Specialized, the jersey incorporates advanced materials and technology to ensure optimal comfort, aerodynamics, and durability.
Since 2021, the shirt of Team SD Worx β Protime has been voted several times by readers of various media as the most beautiful shirt in the peloton.
Video about the new shirt of Team SD Worx β Protime:
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Building on Solid Foundations: Liv AlUla Jayco Confirms its 2025 Roster
Liv AlUla Jayco is pleased to confirm its final line-up for the 2025 season, which aims to build on the strong foundations set in 2024. After a year of big change and growth, the Australian squad has solidified its roster with some important additions that will help the team in targeting both one-day events and stage races.
Climbing power
The three Grand Tours will be a big focus for the squad in 2025 with experienced racer Mavi GarcΓa heading up the teamβs crop of climbers. She will have some very promising young talent beside her in Silke Smulders and Ella Wyllie, who both showed their class and developing talents with wins in their debut season with Liv AlUla Jayco. Monica Trinca Colonel will bring some Italian flare in the climbing group for next season after joining the squad for 2025 following an impressive breakthrough campaign in 2024.
Head Sport Director and Liv AlUla Jayco Team Manager Gene Bates stated: βWith our climbing group weβll really be targeting the three main Grand Tours, the Vuelta Femenina, Giro dβItalia and the Tour de France Femmes. Weβve got some great opportunities there and there were some real standout performances in 2024 from the likes of Silke. We know the class of Mavi, and I know sheβs very motivated for the 2025 season. It will be great to see Ella back to her best again and the signing of Monica Trinca Colonel is something weβre all really excited about. Even though she has a lack of background in the sport, the results sheβs been able to achieve is something weβre looking forward to leveraging during the season.β
Classics strength
Sprint finishes and the one-day Classics remain another major aim for the team after some big progression in that area over the last year. Letizia Paternoster mixed it with the best throughout the spring Classics in 2024 before taking her first win in team colours later in the season. Despite an injury that disrupted the opening months of the year in Europe, Australian champion Ruby Roseman-Gannon hit her stride in the summer with her first WorldTour win at the Tour of Britain plus a gold medal (mixed TTT) and sixth place in the road world championships.
Meanwhile, Georgia Baker showed off her development as a sprinter with some impressive performances, including close podium finishes on stages of the Vuelta Femenina and Tour of Britain despite balancing a busy track and road programme. All three will be aiming to build on those performances and take another big step up in 2025.
βWe have a lot of strength across the board. There were some big and inspiring performances in 2024 in our Classics groups and Iβm excited to see where that can go in 2025. Letiziaβs results last year were very promising, as is the ability that Ruby is showing, and I think the world championships highlighted that. Then thereβs Georgia, who will have her full focus on the road, and sheβs going to be exciting in some of those flatter classics.β β Bates continued.
Safe hands
Completing the team is a strong core of support riders that are adaptable to all kinds of terrains. Dutch rider Jeanne Korevaar has shown herself to be a hugely reliable road captain, while Swede Caroline Andersson is a key addition to the climbing group. Australian Amber Pate, Dutchwoman Quinty Ton and Italian Anna Trevisi add all-round strength to the team, particularly on the flat and rolling roads. Rounding out the roster are two new additions in Australian Josie Talbot and Dutch rider Amber van der Hulst.
βWeβve got a great department of leaders and some very quality support riders, so we are in a safe set of hands when we go into these bigger races. Iβm excited, I think everyone else is too and hopefully we can come up with some great results that will do the talent we have in the team justice.β β Bates
Liv AlUla Jayco 2025 roster (14)
Caroline Andersson (SWE)
Georgia Baker (AUS)
Mavi GarcΓa (ESP)
Jeanne Korevaar (NED)
Amber Pate (AUS)
Letizia Paternoster (ITA)
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (AUS)
Silke Smulders (NED)
Josie Talbot (AUS) *New rider
Quinty Ton (NED)
Anna Trevisi (ITA)
Monica Trinca Colonel (ITA) *New rider
Amber van der Hulst (NED) *New rider
Ella Wyllie (NZL).
Liv AlUla Jayco stats
No. of riders: 14
No. of Australians: 4
No. of internationals: 10 (4x NED, 3x ITA, 1x SWE, 1x NZL, 1x ESP)
Youngest rider: Ella Wyllie (22)
Oldest rider: Mavi GarcΓa (40)
Average age: 27.
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Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 2025 Roster
We are proud to share Q36.5 Pro Cyclingβs Team final roster for the 2025 season. Joe Pidcock is our 25th and final rider. Kurt Bogaerts joins the team as Head of Technical Performance and Xenia de Roose as carer and member of the nutrition and performance team.
Bogaerts met the team in Spain in December and remarked: βFirst impressions are always important and in the case of the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team those impressions were positive. Itβs very special to continue working with Tom. Xenia and I have been part of his career since 2018, and we achieved great results together. In this new team environment, I am looking forward to continuing that journey. With the technical partners we have, we want to play an important role in the future of cycling. We ride the future as the teamβs motto states. This is a project with a lot of possibilities for growth. Together with the riders and staff we are going to make 2025 lit.β
There are no less than 12 nationalities represented: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Enekoitz Azparren is the youngest while Gianluca Brambilla the oldest rider.
Team principal Doug Ryder remarked: βAt the end of a year you always look back and reflect but I am looking ahead. How could I not? The Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team will embark on a great, new adventure with the addition of our new riders and staff. Last week we came together in Spain for a first team camp. It was great that we could finally start the preparations for the new season in earnest. This camp was more of an integration camp, getting to know each other, and about season planning. With the addition of Tom Pidcock, the teamβs ambitions change undoubtedly but the team philosophy of Ubuntu β I am because we are β is more alive than ever. I am very proud of this team and very enthusiastic about the future we have together. For now, I would like to wish you happy holidays.β
Team Roster 2025:
Enekoitz Azparren (ESP)
Xabier Mikel Azparren (ESP)
Matteo Badilatti (SUI)
Sjoerd Bax (NED)
Gianluca Brambilla (ITA)
Walter Calzoni (ITA)
Marcel CamprubΓ (ESP)
Fabio Christen (SUI)
David de la Cruz (ESP)
Mark Donovan (GBR)
Frederik Frison (BEL)
David GonzΓ‘lez (ESP)
Damien Howson (AUS)
Emils LiepiΕΕ‘ (LAT)
Kamil MaΕecki (POL)
Matteo Moschetti (ITA)
Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA)
NicolΓ³ Parisini (ITA)
Joe Pidcock (GBR)
Tom Pidcock (GBR)
Jannik Steimle (GER)
Rory Townsend (IRL)
Milan Vader (NED)
Harm Vanhoucke (BEL)
Nickolas Zukowsky (CAN).
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Giro dβItalia 2025: Albania to Host the Grande Partenza
The 108th edition of the Corsa Rosa will welcome Albania as the host nation for its Grande Partenza, which will take place in three stages. The race will begin in DurrΓ«s on Friday, May 9. Monday, May 12, will be a rest day in Puglia.
Watch the video of the presentation here:
The 108th edition of the Giro dβItalia will start from Albania, which will host the Grande Partenza of the Corsa Rosa for the first time in its history. The event will kick off on Friday, May 9, with a medium-mountain stage starting in DurrΓ«s and finishing in TiranΓ«, a remake of the βmountain stage in the cityβ featuring a total of 1,800 meters of elevation gain over 164 km. On Saturday, May 10, the streets of the Albanian capital will host a 13.7-km individual time trial, an important test for the ambitions of the GC riders. The trio of stages on Albanian soil will conclude with another medium-mountain stage on Sunday, starting and finishing in VlorΓ«, covering 160 km and over 2,700 meters of elevation gain. The Corsa Rosa, whose final route will be unveiled in Rome on January 13, will then resume from Puglia on May 13.
The presentation event for the Grande Partenza, held in the Prime Ministerβs Office in TiranΓ«, was attended by Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Director of RCS Sports & Events, Ogerta Manastirliu, Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth of Albania, Mauro Vegni, Director of the Giro dβItalia, Vincenzo Nibali and many other guests.
Giro dβItalia, Grande Partenza from Abroad
1965 San Marino (REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO)
1966 Monte Carlo (PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO)
1973 Verviers (BELGIUM)
1974 Vatican City
1996 Athens (GREECE)
1998 Nice (FRANCE)
2002 Groningen (NETHERLANDS)
2006 Seraing (BELGIUM)
2010 Amsterdam (NETHERLANDS)
2012 Herning (DENMARK)
2014 Belfast (NORTHERN IRELAND)
2016 Apeldoorn (NETHERLANDS)
2018 Jerusalem (ISRAEL)
2022 Budapest (HUNGARY)
The Trofeo Senza Fine in SkΓ«nderbej Square
The Stages
Stage 1, DurrΓ«s-TiranΓ«, 164km
A rolling stage with a challenging finish that will bring team leaders to the front right from the start. The stage starts in DurrΓ«s with a slightly undulating first section heading inland. All the elevation gain is concentrated in the final 90 km. Riders will first tackle the Gracen climb, over 13 km, before reaching TiranΓ«, where they will complete a 22-km circuit featuring the short but steep Surrel KOM (up to 12%) halfway through the loop. A wide, fast descent leads to the centre of the capital.
Stage 2, TiranΓ«-TiranΓ« Tudor ITT, 13.7km
An individual time trial around a circuit in central Tirana. It follows mostly wide, straight avenues, interrupted by a climb of about 1.5 km at 6% with short, steeper sections. The second half is downhill and flat until the finish.
Stage 3, VlorΓ«-VlorΓ«, 160km
Another challenging stage, with only the final 30 km truly flat. The first part undulates through the inland and crosses the short Q. ShakellΓ«s pass, leading to the coast (max gradient 14%). Then comes the long Qafa e LlogarasΓ« climb, nearly 11 km with gradients exceeding 7%. A long, fast descent follows, with a coastal finish on the final straight in VlorΓ«.
Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania: βThis is a significant moment in the world of sports and we are privileged to share with all of you. This is an exceptional opportunity to showcase our beautiful country to 800 million viewers all around the world. I am truly delighted that for three days, in Tirana, DurrΓ«s, and VlorΓ«, we will host so many champions who will be our guests, and who will be talked about all over the world, along with Albania. We are going to host an event that is not just a sports event but a great popular celebration where everyone gets involved. For us, this is the first time, and I hope not the lastβ.
Paolo Bellino, Managing Director and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events: βIn the long history of the Giro dβItalia, this will be the fifteenth start from abroadβa source of pride as it celebrates the international scope of the Corsa Rosa and marks an important step in solidifying the Giroβs position as a global event capable of embracing different cultures and territories. This choice allows us to promote cycling in a nation with which we share strong historical, sporting, and cultural ties. Moreover, thanks to the global attention that an event like ours can attract, the Grande Partenza will be an opportunity to showcase a region that is growing and full of potential. We are thrilled to take the Giro across the Adriatic, further reinforcing its message of internationality, and we are confident that this start will remain etched in the memories of everyoneβfrom the riders to the fansβ.
Ogerta Manastirliu, Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth of Albania: βA prestigious international sporting event followed by over 800 million spectators. The three starting stages will be held in three municipalities of the country: Tirana, DurrΓ«s, and VlorΓ«. This is an excellent opportunity for Albania to showcase its natural beauty and landscapes, as the event will be broadcast live to 200 countries worldwide. International media will be attending it as well. This event is a key driver for tourism, with both short-term and long-term benefits, and provides a golden opportunity to promote the sport of cycling. From an economic perspective, we also see it as a significant opportunity. Sport, as a development engine, brings real value, and we are thrilled to have been chosen by Giro DβItaliaβ.
Mauro Vegni, Director of the Giro dβItalia: βThe route for the Grande Partenza of the Giro dβItalia 2025 in Albania has been designed to deliver a spectacular show from the very first pedal strokes, combining the beauty of the region with a technical layout that will highlight the ridersβ skills, following the model we successfully adopted last year. Cycling has evolved, and we are seeing how todayβs top riders are unafraid to take risks. We believe these opening stages will challenge the general classification contenders and that, thanks to the time trial in Tiranaβa technical and scenic route through the heart of the Albanian capitalβwe might see the first time gaps among the big names. We will offer a thrilling start to the Giro, both for the local audience and for those following the race from homeβ.
Vincenzo Nibali: βEvery Grande Partenza from abroad is an extraordinary opportunity to bring cycling to new territories, connecting fans and communities with this wonderful sport. Iβve experienced several first-hand, but the most special one, without a doubt, was in 2016, when I achieved my second victory. That year, the race started in the Netherlands, where we rode through incredible crowds. This experience made me realise the unique international value of the Giro. The 2025 route seems challenging from the very beginning and promises great spectacleβnot just because of the nature of the stages but also because the big contenders will have to stay at the front from the outset to avoid losing precious timeβ.
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Pascal HervΓ© Taken Too Young
Former French cyclist Pascal HervΓ© died on Tuesday night at the age of 60, according to the French Professional Cyclistsβ Union (UNCP).
The French Professional Cyclistsβ Union announced the death of former professional cyclist Pascal HervΓ©: βThe UNCP, the great cycling family is in mourning. It is with deep sadness that we learn of the death of Pascal HervΓ©. Pascal was an emblematic figure and an essential voice of our sport. Our thoughts are with his family. Sincere condolences to his loved ones.β
The cause of his death is unknown, but last September it was reported that the retired French cyclist had undergone surgery in the middle of the year for a stomach tumour and in the operation they had to remove the entire stomach.
Pascal HervΓ© made his professional debut in 1994 with Festina-Lotus, where he remained until 1999, before moving to the Polti team in 2000 and Alexia Alluminio in 2001, and working as a sports director at Garneau-QuΓ©bec in Canada, where he moved to live for a few years.
He retired in 2001 after a ninth place in the Giro dellβAppennino, three years after having been sanctioned for his involvement in the Festina case, along with Richard Virenque. Throughout his professional career he had seven victories: A stage of the CritΓ©rium du DauphinΓ© in 1994, stage of the Tour of Switzerland in 2000, the third stage of the Tour of the Basque Country in 1998 and the sixth stage of the Giro dβItalia in 1996, where he took the pink leaderβs jersey.
Rest in peace:
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