As we hit the halfway point of la Vuelta a España, we catch up with the Spanish Grand Tour, plus the Classic Lorient Agglomération – Trophée Ceratizit and stage 1 of the Renewi Tour – All with video, results, reports and rider thoughts.
Wout van Aert is on the same KOM points as Adam Yates – TOP STORY.
Rider news: Julian Alaphilippe to miss the Euro champs for the Canadian races, Victor Campenaerts returns to Visma | Lease a Bike and Emma Norsgaard to Lidl-Trek.
Team news: Florian Samuel Kajamini – neo-pro rider for Astana Qazaqstan, Mick and Tim van Dijke join Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, dsm-firmenich PostNL extend contract with Vuelta stage winning Pavel Bittner and dsm-firmenich-PostNL and Soudal Quick-Step to the Tour of Britain.
Race news: Teams announced for the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, Škoda extends its partnership with La Vuelta, Cofidis renews its commitment as a main sponsor of La Vuelta for two more years and Tour Des Stations 2024 – The maturity edition!
Vuelta EUROTRASH coffee time.
TOP STORY: Wout van Aert is On the Same KOM Points as Adam Yates
Wout van Aert has a strong lead in the green jersey competition, but after his third stage win in the Vuelta a España he is also in line for the mountain’s jersey. The Belgian of Visma | Lease a Bike is now on the same points total with king of the mountains, Adam Yates, but Van Aert says he isn’t interested in the mountain classification.
Van Aert sprinted to his third stage win in the Tour of Spain on Tuesday in Baiona. He took a lot of points for the green jersey and at the same time he collected mountain points during the day. The 29-year-old rider was the first to reach the top of the Alto de Mabia and the Alto de Mougás and now has a total of 22 points in the KOM classification.
Before the start of the tenth stage, Van Aert had no KOM points, but he made a huge leap and is now sharing the lead. Adam Yates is wearing the blue and white jersey due to his better placing on first category climbs, but now Van Aert is very close behind him.
Van Aert says he is not interested in the mountain jersey. “It is by accident that I am competing for the mountain jersey. Because I am in the breakaway I have probably won a lot of points, but my first goal remains the green jersey. I am not focused on that mountain jersey at all,” the versatile rider said after his third stage victory.
Wout the climber?
Vuelta a España 2024
Stage winner in Portugal and in Andalusia, Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease Bike) powered to his third victory in La Vuelta’24 on Stage 10, with a dominant performance between Ponteareas and Baiona highlighting his varied set of skills. The Belgian icon had opened his tally in a pure sprint (stage 3), he then dominated a reduced bunch (stage 7) and this time he went on the move over the summits of Galicia to eventually get the better of Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ), his last break companion. Van Aert is now up to 12 victories in Grand Tours (9 in the Tour, 3 in La Vuelta), matching Jasper Philipsen’s tally as the best Belgian scorer presently racing. Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) made it through the day to claim his 5th day in La Roja, a new record for an Australian rider. Bradley McGee led the race for four days in 2005.
The peloton started the second week with a demanding stage in Galicia: Four categorised climbs and more than 3,047 metres of climbing between Ponteareas and Baiona a distance of 159,6km. The race faced emblematic roads, where La Vuelta history has been made since 1936 and where champions such as Delio and Emilio Rodriguez built themselves among the greatest icons of the event.
Such terrain inspires the attackers. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) set off at kilometre 0 and a furious battle ensued. On the slopes of the Cat.2 Alto de Fonfria, Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) unleashed his raw power. Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) and William Junior Lecerf (T-Rex Quick-Step) followed his move. They lead by 14 seconds at the summit (27.4km). The gap hardly increased as attacks kept flying from the peloton. Juri Hollmann (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ) join the front group at 46km. And the pace in the bunch only drops after 80 kilometres of hard battle. Then, the gap increased to 6:15 after 98km, en route to a demanding sequence of climbs: Alto de Vilachan, Alto de Mabia and Alto de Mougas.
The break stuck together until Van Aert attacked just before the intermediate sprint in A Barroca (128.5km). Pacher followed his move. Soler, Lecerf and Hollmann chase but the gap gradually increased, first on the way to the last summit (139.3km), and then on the descent to the finish. Pacher attacked inside the last 2 kilometres but Van Aert gives him no chance of success. The Belgian then powered to his 3rd stage win in La Vuelta’24. Txomin Juaristi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) attacked in the finale and finishes just ahead of the bunch, led by Jhonatan Narvaez (INEOS Grenadiers) with a gap of 5:31.
# You can see more photos in the full ‘PEZ Stage Report’ HERE. #
Stage winner and points leader, Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike): “It was the plan to get into the breakaway today. That certainly didn’t happen easily. I struggled quite a bit on the first climb of the day. I almost thought about letting go, but I wanted to make one last-ditch effort. It then took several dozen kilometres to finally create a decisive gap with the peloton. I think that tough opening phase worked in my favour today. I believe the other breakaway riders didn’t have much strength left in their legs at the end. I’m glad I was able to finish it off. I feel great right now. I have the feeling that I can handle these tough stages again. It’s a pleasure to be riding with these legs. It doesn’t happen often that I win when my family is present. That makes today’s victory extra special. They were also here yesterday on the rest day. They bring me the energy I need and allow me to step away from the world of cycling for a moment. Their presence definitely gives me wings.”
Overall leader, Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale): “In the end, it was the perfect scenario. It was a really hard start, it took a long time for the break to go. A lot of guys in the top 10 were interested in the breakaway so I think we did a good job today to control the start. Other teams were trying to stay in position so we did the descents full gas, the pace was pretty hard onto the second climb and then it pretty much stopped. It was about staying in position. I think tomorrow, the finale will be a little more decisive. The final climb is a hard one so it will be interesting to see.”
2nd on the stage, Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ): “Wout van Aert was simply stronger, but I can be satisfied. It was a really fast start with that second category climb. A leading group of five eventually formed. I was still counting on riders to join from the back, but that didn’t happen. We rode really hard to get as big a lead as possible, until the last three climbs of the day. At the intermediate sprint, Van Aert accelerated and I had to follow. I tried to follow him afterwards. Attacking? That’s not so easy. Van Aert is strong on all terrains. I just had to follow his wheel, do my best and not think too much. I can be satisfied with my performance, because I was beaten by a stronger rider today.”
3rd on the stage, Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates): “The positive I take out of today is that the legs I have here at the Vuelta are good. I was caught out a little bit when the move went, and I’m disappointed I couldn’t be with the two leaders at the front in the finish. It was a really really hard day, and it was a hard fight to get in the break. A lot of riders tried to get in the break, but I managed to jump in the right move. I was focused on the last climb but in the end that’s not where the fight was, Van Aert did the damage before that and was the strongest.”
Best young rider and 6th overall, Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): “It was a difficult stage today. I think everyone was… you saw that the rest day did everyone well, so everyone went super fast on the climb at the start. We just tried to keep the breakaway as small as possible, also with no GC riders in there, and I think we did a pretty good job. In the end, we expected the stage like this, without going all out on the climbs, so we are happy with how the stage went. But the start was super difficult to control, and I think quite hard for everyone. Today I felt pretty good again. I also didn’t know how the rest day would affect my body. I really needed a rest yesterday, but now I feel good again and I’m looking forward to the next stages.”
Vuelta a España Stage 10 Result:
1. Wout Van Aert (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike in 3:50:47
2. Quentin Pacher (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 0:03
3. Marc Soler (Spa) UAE Team Emirates at 2:01
4. William Junior Lecerf (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
5. Juri Hollmann (Ger) Alpecin-Deceuninck
6. Txomin Juaristi Arrieta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 5:13
7. Jhonnatan Manuel Narvaez (Ecu) INEOS Grenadiers at 5:31
8. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ
9. George Bennett (NZ) Israel-Premier Tech
10. Harold Alfonso Tejada Canacue (Col) Astana Qazaqstan.
Vuelta a España Overall After Stage 10:
1. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale in 40:05:54
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 3:53
3. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost at 4:32
4. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 4:35
5. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step at 5:17
6. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 5:29
7. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Team Emirates at 5:30
8. Felix Gall (Aust) Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale
9. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 6:00
10. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 6:32.
Vuelta’24 stage 10:
The many ups and downs of Stage 11 led to another eventful stage in Galicia, with Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla) taking victory in Padron while Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Enric Mas (Movistar) gained time on overall leader, Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale). The Irish climber got the better of his 38 break rivals after an intense battle over the four categorised climbs of the day. On the final ascent, the steepest, Roglič put the hammer down and O’Connor faltered, losing almost 40 seconds to his main rivals on the line. The Australian maintains La Roja for a 6th day, with a lead of 3:16 on the Slovenian 3-time winner of La Vuelta.
The peloton tackled the second of four stages held on Galician roads in La Vuelta’24 and it packed in loads of climbing, again, with 4 categorised ascents and more than 3,000m of elevation as the race looped around the Campus Tecnologico Cortizo in Padron (166.4km). Such terrain naturally inspired aggressive riders, again. The battle was on from kilometre 0, but attackers struggled to get away. Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny) led the way over the first climb of the day, Puerto San Xusto (42.4km).
The Belgian strongman was joined by 38 more attackers in the valley towards the 2nd climb of the day, Puerto Aguasantas (81.2km): Steven Kruijswijk, Attila Valter (Visma | Lease a Bike), Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates), Jhonatan Naraez, Brandon Rivera (INEOS Grenadiers), James Know (T-Rex Quick-Step), Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek), Nico Denz, Patrick Gamper, Daniel Felipe Martínez (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Quinten Hermans, Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck), George Bennett, Marco Frigo, Matthew Riccitello, Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech), Arjen Livyns, Eduardo Sepulveda (Lotto Dstny), Sven Erik Bystrom, Lorenzo Germani, Reuben Thompson (Groupama-FDJ), Carlos Canal, Pelayo Sanchez (Movistar), Fran Miholjevic (Bahrain Victorious), Eddie Dunbar, Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla), Mathis Le Berre (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Max Poole, Chris Hamilton, Gijs Leemreize (dsm-firmenich-PostNL), Guillaume Martin, Ion Izagirre, Jesus Herrada (Cofidis), Gianmarco Garofoli (Astana-Qazaqstan), Urko Berrade, Ibon Ruiz (Kern Pharma) and Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel-Euskadi).
Xandro Meurisse attacked the group and opened a gap of 1 minute. Israel-Premier Tech drove the chase group, their kiwi climber George Bennett being the main GC threat (16th in the overall at 9:50). The gap to the bunch went up to 6:15 (115km) with Ben O’Connor’s Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale setting the pace. After 60 kilometres alone at the front, Meurisse was caught with 32km to go. Isasa tried to counter-attack but he was quickly reeled in. The battle would unfold on the final climb of the day, the Puerto Cruxeiras (2.9km, 8.9%), with 7.9km to go. Behind; Movistar up the ante in the bunch.
Verona, Zana and Berrade led the way to the summit. Poole bridged the gap as they start the downhill. But the chasers got back with 1.5km to go. Berrade and Verona try to counter-attack, unsuccessfully. Dunbar flies past everyone inside the last kilometre to take his first Grand Tour stage win. Behind them, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe lift the speed on the ascent and Primoz Roglič attacks. Enric Mas (Movistar) is the only one who can follow. Matthias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) and Mikel Landa (T-Rex Quick-Step) manage to join them. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) lost 15 seconds at the finish and O’Connor finished with a gap of 37 seconds.
# You can see more photos in the full ‘PEZ Stage Report’ HERE. #
Stage winner, Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla): “It’s weird how it goes sometimes. I had a really bad start to the race, and I lost a lot of time. I came here to ride GC and I learned pretty quick that I didn’t have the legs to do it. My preparation was really good coming into here so it was a case of reassessing and going for a stage, and today an opportunity came that I didn’t expect. I tried hard to get into the break and I thought that was my legs gone and then all of a sudden the big group went. I thought me and Pippo rode really well in the break and that we were really smart. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a scenario like this, to be honest. I used my experience. I was suffering a bit on that last climb but then I realised that everybody else was. I had Pippo up the road so that let me take a back seat so I could play my cards. I gambled and backed my finish. I know on a finish like this, after a hard race, I can sprint, but I knew I had to go long. Going at 600m was a bit long for a sprint but I knew that’s what I had to do to win. I can’t believe it.”
Overall leader, Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale): “Yes, you can say that I had a hard time! It was a steep finish and there’s quite a few guys that were super strong today. It’s not the worst case scenario. I’m not naive, there’s plenty of guys who are really dangerous in this race. I’ve had better days and that’s the story of La Vuelta for myself so far, good day, average day, good day, average day… Hopefully I can change that and be good every day!”
Points leader, Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike): “It was not a giveaway, it was just not having the legs. In the first half hour of the stage, I was really suffering. I felt the effort from yesterday. Today, I was counting down the time. It was really nice to see Attila [Valter] and Stevie [Kruijswijk] making the jump to the front group. Obviously, I was hoping for great results for them. I don’t know how it exactly ended, but it was a good try from them.”
KOM, Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates): “Eddie [Dunbar] is a super nice guy and I’m super happy he managed to win. He had some bad luck this year, and also last year I think. He’s a top guy. I’m super happy for him. Today there was a really fast climb in the final, pretty much sprinting for 8 minutes. It was a though day. For us, we also have Pavel [Sivakov] in really good shape, so we’ll see what the next few days bring.”
Best young rider, Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers): “Both things are important. Having the white jersey is an honour for sure, but also moving up on GC was an objective. And also getting time on Ben [O’Connor], so I have to be happy and confident for what’s coming the next days. For sure, the main goal is to be as good as possible in the GC. If it’s the Red jersey it would be incredible, but it’s super difficult with the level of good riders we have here. But yes, if I get the white jersey in Madrid, I would be super happy. I think longer efforts should suit me better, so I’m looking forward to them and I hope I can get a good result.”
Vuelta a España Stage 11 Result:
1. Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Jayco AlUla in 3:44:52
2. Quinten Hermans (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:02
3. Max Poole (GB) dsm-Firmenich-PostNL
4. Jhonnatan Manuel Narvaez (Ecu) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:04
5. Urko Berrade Fernandez (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
6. Filippo Zana (Ita) Jayco AlUla
7. Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Cofidis
8. Carlos Verona Quintanilla (Spa) Lidl-Trek
9. Gianmarco Garofoli (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan
10. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates.
Vuelta a España Overall After Stage 11:
1. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale in 43:54:54
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 3:16
3. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 3:58
4. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost at 4:10
5. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step at 4:40
6. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 5:23
7. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 5:29
8. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Team Emirates at 5:30
9. Felix Gall (Aust) Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale
10. George Bennett (NZ) Israel-Premier Tech at 5:46.
Vuelta’24 stage 11:
Classic Lorient Agglomération – Trophée Ceratizit 2024
Mischa Bredewold won the 23rd edition of the Classic Lorient Agglomération. The Dutch rider of SD Worx-ProTime wins for the second year in a row in Plouay. Bredewold was faster than Chloe Dygert and Liane Lippert in the final kilometre. The trio had broken away from the peloton in the finale.
Just like previous editions, there was a lot of climbing in the French one-day race this year, with many short, sharp climbs. With about 23 kilometres to go, the riders hit the final circuit around Plouay. On this lap, the climb to Rostrevel (1.5km at 4.5%) will be the deciding factor. The race is 160 kilometres long with 2,550 metres of climbing.
With 44 kilometres to go, it was Amber Kraak who opened the race. The Dutch rider of Groupama-FDJ quickly built up a lead of more than 1 minute, while counter-attacks from the peloton of Urška Žigart, Elisa Longo Borghini and Femke Markus were neutralised. Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Human Powered Health) escaped the peloton, but never got close to Kraak. She had now built up a lead of more than 2 minutes. In the peloton, Longo Borghini, winner in 2021, and Elizabeth Deignan worked for their fast-finisher Elisa Balsamo.
With 20 kilometres to go, Kraak slowly saw her lead shrink. The Dutch rider, who finished second in the French one-day race in 2022, started the last local circuit of 12 kilometres with a lead of only 1 minute. In the peloton there were still a number of fast women present with Balsamo and Charlotte Kool. Closing the gap on Kraak proved not to be easy, but with 5 kilometres to go the German Liane Lippers attacked and went past Kraak. Mischa Bredewold and Chloe Dygert responded and joined the Movistar rider. In the peloton Shirin van Anrooij worked Balsamo, while dsm-firmenich PostNL also chased. But the group were too late. Bredewold countered an attack by Dygert in the final kilometre and won for the second year in a row in Plouay.
Race winner, Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime): “When Amber Kraak was caught up, I was already expecting Liane Lippert’s attack. I had a hunch when Movistar came to the front to set pace. I was convinced that Liane would accelerate. The team also told me to focus on her, which I then did. I was nervous for the last hill though, because I know what kind of acceleration she has in her. I was very happy that with Chloe Dygert I had the perfect companion with me to cover the gap. Because I was not sure if I would manage to close the gap alone. But we formed a strong duo. In the last kilometre, it was gambling. I know the finish from last year and know how best to sprint here. I pushed the other riders to be in front and was perfectly launched that way. I have a special bond with GP Plouay. Last year I recorded my first big classic win here. This season it was my last race in the European champion’s jersey. This was such an incredible year. It was special to ride in this jersey. Lorena Wiebes had also sent me a message yesterday that she wanted me to win today. For me to do it then too, that’s incredible. This means a lot to me. Also for the team that was behind me. My teammates gave me wings. There is simply no better way to end this special year. I rode around all day with a lot of emotions. I will come back here next year anyway to defend this win again. But first I want to enjoy this for a while.”
2nd, Chloé Dygert (Canyon//SRAM): “There were some mixed emotions from our team being back at the race after the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, ha, I’m joking. We had good weather towards the finish after heavy rain on our way to the start. All in all, it was a pretty okay day! On the climb where Lippert attacked, I got cut off and almost came to a standstill, so getting back up to speed and getting across was a big effort! Luckily, Bredewold was there to help, and we could catch Lippert with about 3km to go. I heard on the radio how close the peloton was getting with 1km to go, and at that point, we were all looking at each other, so I took a chance on a late attack. I’ve never really been a good gambler; I’ll get it one day. I’m really pleased with my progression from the Paris Olympic Games to now. Everything is coming together nicely, and I’m looking forward to getting stronger for world championships.”
Classic Lorient Agglomération – Trophée Ceratizit Result:
1. Mischa Bredewold (Ned) SD Worx-Protime in 4:15:46
2. Chloe Dygert (USA) Canyon//SRAM
3. Liane Lippert (Ger) Movistar at 0:04
4. Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Lidl-Trek at 0:09
5. Karlijn Swinkels (Ned) UAE Team ADQ
6. Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita) UAE Team ADQ
7. Iurani Blanco Calbet (Spa) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi
8. Letizia Borghesi (Ita) EF-Oatly-Cannondale
9. Cedrine Kerbaol (Fra) Ceratizit-WNT
10. Nadia Quagliotto (Ita) Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi.
Classic Lorient’24:
Renewi Tour 2024
Jonathan Milan won the First Stage of the 2024 Renewi Tour in Bilzen. After more than 163 kilometres, the stage ended in a bunch sprint where the Lidl-Trek leader beat Jasper Philipsen and Axel Zingle. Behind them, Dylan Groenewegen and Tim Merlier crashed as they crossed the finish line, sprinting for fourth place. Olav Kooij crashed earlier in the final and missed the sprint.
The first stage of the Renewi Tour took place in the northeast of Belgium, in the province of Limburg, from Riemst to Bilzen. The first hills were the Côte de Hallembaye (1.2km at 5.2%) and Côte Sur les Coteaux (1.7km at 4.1%). The final included two circuits of 60 kilometres in Bilzen, with the Slingerberg (1.2km at 5.6%) and the Côte de Hallembaye and Côte Sur les Coteaux. The local circuit had three climbs, a Green Kilometre and a slightly uphill finish.
Five riders made up the break and it was the ProTeams who were at the front. Tour de Tietema-Unibet made their debut here in a WorldTour race and had Jordy Bouts and Axel Huens in the break, with Ceriel Desal, Loïc Vliegen (both Bingoal WB) and Lars Craps (Flanders-Baloise). They were allowed to go by the peloton, where the sprinter teams were at the front. Bouts gave TDT-Unibet a leader’s jersey by winning the SUPER 8 intermediate sprints. Alpecin-Deceuninck, Visma | Lease a Bike, Soudal Quick-Step and Lidl-Trek were among those at the front, working for their sprinters; Jasper Philipsen, Olav Kooij, Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan. Those teams let the difference to the leading group fluctuate between 1:30 and 2 minutes for a long time. In the peloton there was no interest in the Green Kilometre in the final, with three bonus sprints in a row. The leaders could go for the sprints, with Huens as the big winner with 6 seconds gained, ahead of Desal (5 seconds) and Craps (4 seconds).
The five leaders were caught 16 kilometres from the finish. There was a big crash with Olav Kooij as the biggest victim and so Visma | Lease a Bike lost its leader. Jasper Philipsen also didn’t have an ideal preparation, because he had to be brought back to the peloton due to a problem in the finale. The nervousness was very high in the last kilometres, because each team wanted to put their fast man at the front. Philipsen found the wheel of Mathieu van der Poel in the penultimate kilometre, while Arnaud De Lie, Dylan Groenewegen, Biniam Girmay, Milan and Merlier also came forward. It was too fast for Fabio Jakobsen. Van der Poel started the sprint early for Philipsen, but it was Milan who jumped onto the wheel of the World champion. The Italian then went for a long sprint, which looked good for Philipsen. Milan was able to keep his sprint going and Philipsen couldn’t come past and came second, ahead of Axel Zingle. In the sprint for fourth place, Merlier took down Groenewegen on the finish line. In the GC, Milan leads with a 4 second lead over Philipsen and early escapee Huens.
Tim Merlier Declassed
Tim Merlier lost his fourth place in the results of the opening stage of the Renewi Tour. The Belgian sprinter was downgraded after he changed his line in the final metres of the sprint, in which he not only brought down himself, but also Dylan Groenewegen.
In his sprint for fourth place, Merlier made a small swerve to the right, colliding with Groenewegen and taking him down. Both fell shortly after the finish and in pain. Medical assistance was quickly on the scene, after which Groenewegen was taken to hospital. The race jury decided to punish the manoeuvre of the former Belgian champion with a declassing. Merlier has been relegated to last place in the peloton, but will start the time trial on Thursday from Tessenderlo in Limburg. The physical damage to Merlier is not too bad. According to his team, Merlier only suffered abrasions in the fall. Dylan Groenewegen wasn’t so luck as he suffered a broken collarbone.
Stage winner and overall leader, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek): “It was really tough and the final was very tricky”“It was difficult to stay together in this final and the sprint was also different than usual. It was a bit uphill, I don’t know how far from the finish I started sprinting, but it was really tough and I was tired. But I’m also very happy to start the Renewi Tour like this, in a good way. Now I want to go for a good time trial tomorrow. I was well positioned myself, also because the final was tricky. It was constantly up and down, but I came out well and was able to do my best sprint. I don’t know how close Philipsen got, but I did see a shadow coming up. Luckily the finish was fast there.”
6th on the stage and 9th overall, Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty): “I’m satisfied to finish sixth in such a high-level sprint, in this heat, knowing that of the three potential sprints this week, today’s was the least suited to me. The team did a great job to put me on the wheel of the two fastest riders in the last corner, Milan and Philipsen. We’re starting the Renewi Tour on a positive note, looking ahead to Friday and Saturday for my next sprint opportunities. I hope that I’ll be able to demonstrate my speed and continue on this momentum after my podium at the Tour de Pologne. I’m very happy with my level, after a Tour de France that served as a learning experience. I came out of it stronger because I wasn’t afraid to participate in a difficult finish today. I’ve especially gained courage and fighting spirit, which I showed today by mixing it up with the best sprinters in the world. Also, I’m also happy to be racing with Biniam again, after our unforgettable experience on the Tour. Seeing him lead me out today is gratifying and a great sign of confidence from the whole team.”
Renewi Tour Stage 1 Result:
1. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek in 3:41:01
2. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
3. Axel Zingle (Fra) Cofidis
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla
5. Paul Penhoet (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
6. Gerben Thijssen (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty
7. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Tudor
8. Elia Viviani (Ita) INEOS Grenadiers
9. Davide Bomboi (Bel) TDT-Unibet
10. Iván García Cortina (Movistar).
Renewi Tour Overall After Stage 1:
1. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek in 3:40:51
2. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) AlpecinDeceuninck at 0:04
3. Axel Huens (Fra) TDT-Unibet
4. Cériel Desal (Bel) Bingoal WB at 0:05
5. Axel Zingle (Fra) Cofidis at 0:06
6. Jordy Bouts (Bel) TDT-Unibet at 0:07
7. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla
8. Paul Penhoet (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
9. Gerben Thijssen (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty
10. Elia Viviani (Ita) INEOS Grenadiers.
Renewi’24:
Julian Alaphilippe to Miss the Euro Champs for the Canadian Races
Julian Alaphilippe is on the start list of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec (13 September) and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (15 September), meaning that he will not ride the European Road Championships (15 September). Many other French riders are following his example and are also travelling to Canada.
The organisers of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal will have very good fields. Arnaud De Lie and Tadej Pogačar are going to Canada, as La Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier. Now it turns out that Julian Alaphilippe will also be at the start, as will his compatriots Paul Lapeira, Valentin Madouas, Romain Bardet, Benoît Cosnefroy and Kévin Vauquelin. All will not be in Flemish Limburg for the European Championships.
Tom Pidcock will also in Canada and the Great Britain will not be participating in the European Championships in any events, British Cycling recently confirmed to Sporza. Matej Mohorič and Alberto Bettiol have also been announced for the Canadian races. Other top riders on the provisional starting list of the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal are Biniam Girmay, Matteo Jorgenson and Michael Matthews.
Alaphilippe going to Canada:
Victor Campenaerts Returns to Team Visma | Lease a Bike
Team Visma | Lease a Bike welcomes Victor Campenaerts back to the team. The Belgian, who won a stage in this year’s Tour de France, has signed a three-year contract.
Campenaerts was already part of the team, known then as Team LottoNL-Jumbo, in 2016 and 2017. During that period, the Belgian developed himself as a time trial specialist, winning the European title in that discipline. Since then, both the team and Campenaerts have made impressive strides. Team Visma | Lease a Bike has won the Tour de France twice and, in 2023, managed to win all three Grand Tours in one single season. Campenaerts, on his part, became the world hour record holder and won stages in the Giro d’Italia and, this summer, in the Tour de France.
“We still know Victor well from his previous time with the team and have kept in good contact since then,” says team director Grischa Niermann, who will be part of the sports management of Team Visma | Lease a Bike starting next season. “He is a very strong rider, with a good time trial, as he proved again in this Tour de France. By now, he is also a very experienced rider known for his pursuit of innovations. We can really use that experience.”
Whereas Campenaerts left the team after his first stint to pursue more personal opportunities, he returns with the clear ambition to contribute to the performances of the team leaders in the Grand Tours. “We see him as a very valuable asset for the team in that regard,” says Niermann. “Due to his experience and physical capabilities.”
The 32-year-old Belgian is looking forward to it: “Throughout my career, I have always set ambitious but realistic goals. I have often achieved them, like in this past Tour de France. My ultimate goal is to one day win the Tour de France. I am not capable of doing so myself, but I can be a successful part of the team that achieves that victory. And with that goal, you naturally look to Team Visma | Lease a Bike. I hope I can make the Tour squad next year. This team is the benchmark when it comes to stage racing, so I’m very happy to return.”
Campenaerts to Visma | Lease a Bike:
Emma Norsgaard to Leave Movistar to go to Lidl-Trek
Emma Norsgaard will not ride for Movistar next year. The 25-year-old Danish rider, who has been riding for the Spanish team since 2021, is making the switch to Lidl-Trek. She has signed a contract with the American team until the end of 2027.
Norsgaard has a total of fifteen professional victories to her name. She was Danish road and time trial champion several times, but also won stages in the Giro d’Italia Women (2021) and Tour de France Femmes (2023). This year she was fifth in the Omloop van het Hageland, seventh in both Nokere Koerse and the Classic Brugge-De Panne and fifth in the Tour stage to Amnéville.
“This team has always been a dream team for me,” says Norsgaard on the Lidl-Trek website about her future team. “I really feel that they trust me and believe in me. I am so proud to be joining one of the best teams in the world.”
Luca Guercilena, Lidl-Trek’s team manager, is excited about Norsgaard’s arrival. “Emma is a phenomenal talent with a wide range of qualities. Our team is known for its aggressive racing style and I believe Emma will fit in perfectly. Although Emma has been racing at the highest level for a long time, she is still a young rider. We believe she has the potential to become one of the top riders in the Classics and we look forward to supporting her in her development in the coming years.”
Emma Norsgaard to Lidl-Trek:
Florian Samuel Kajamini – Neo-Pro Rider for Astana Qazaqstan Team
21-year-old Italian rider Florian Samuel Kajamini will join the Astana Qazaqstan Team project as a neo-professional for the upcoming 2025 and 2026 seasons.
A few days ago, Kajamini achieved a brilliant victory on one of the stages of the most prestigious youth stage race, the Tour de l’Avenir, where he also placed 5th in the overall General Classification. In addition, Kajamini’s current season boasts victories in the one-day races Giro della Provincia di Biella and Trofeo Città di San Vendemiano. In the overall standings of the youth version of the Giro d’Italia Florian Kajamini finished 7th.
“This season has been full of remarkable events and victories, and my recent success at the Tour de l’Avenir has been a significant milestone, highlighting a successful year. I would like to thank my current team, MBH bank-Colpack-Ballan-CSB, with whom I spent three amazing years, achieving high results and proving myself at a high level. I believe this is one of the best teams in Italy on a national level, and together with them, I was able to achieve results that allowed me to take this big step in my career – joining the renowned Astana Qazaqstan Team. I am truly excited to join this team; it’s a special moment for me. I had a dream of joining the WorldTour, and now that dream is coming true. Next season, the team is undergoing changes, and I know that big goals are being set ahead, and I am 100% ready to work hard and give my best effort. I know it will be tough, but I will do everything possible to achieve success in the end. Next year, I am ready to give my all for the team, its leaders, and the team’s goals, while also gaining experience to achieve high results for myself,” said Florian Samuel Kajamini.
“Florian is having an outstanding season at the youth level. He performed very well in both the Giro and the Tour de l’Avenir, where he showed himself as a strong attacking rider. His results this year speak for themselves, and his move to the WorldTour is well-deserved. I am glad that Florian will take his first steps as a professional in our team. I believe that in Astana Qazaqstan Team he has every chance to fully realise his potential,” said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.
Florian Samuel Kajamini to join Astana:
Two brothers for the Band of Brothers: Mick and Tim van Dijke join Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe is expecting twins next year. Mick van Dijke and his brother Tim will join the German WorldTeam from 2025. The two 24-year-old talents will primarily strengthen the team’s Classics group.
Mick is already in his fourth WorldTour season, having won the Flanders Tomorrow Tour in 2021 and turned pro the following day. This year, he was runner-up in the Dutch ITT championships and recently placed at the front in the sprints of the Tour de Wallonie.
Tim made a name for himself at Paris-Roubaix in the spring and reached the velodrome in the group sprinting for a top 10 place. He also proved his speed in the Romandie, where he wore the white jersey, and at the Giro d’Italia, which was his Grand Tour debut.
Mick van Dijke: “I’m very excited to be part of Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe for the next years. I believe that together with the team I can make the next step in my career.”
Tim van Dijke: “I’m very happy to start this new adventure with Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe. I can’t wait to work together and become part of the team!”
Ralph Denk, CEO Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe: “With Mick and Tim we are continuing with our transfer strategy and bringing more youngsters into the team. Both are powerful and quick. Combined with their physical presence, this is a combination that will help us in the spring and give us even more options in our sprint preparation.”
Tim and brother Mick van Dijke to join Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe:
dsm-firmenich-PostNL Extend Contract with Vuelta Stage Winning Pavel Bittner
Fresh off the back of a brilliant sprint win on stage five last week at the Vuelta a España, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL are delighted to reveal that Pavel Bittner has extended his contract with the team. Bittner will continue to adorn the two-striped jersey that he has worn since 2021, contracted with the team through the 2026 campaign.
After a strong junior career, Bittner joined Team dsm-firmenich PostNL’s Development program in 2021. Finding his feet quickly at U23 level and proving to be a hard-working and loyal teammate, he progressed through the ranks and in the middle of 2022 made the jump up to the WorldTour with the Men’s program. A year of mostly learning from those around him as he adjusted to the next step, Bittner showed glimpses of what the team knew he was capable of with very respectable results in the likes of Tour de Suisse and CRO Race. In 2024 Bittner has continued his trajectory, where he’s ridden as an early support or lead-out rider for his teammates but has also shone when he’s been the team’s finisher. After a handful of close results earlier in the year, Bittner’s breakthrough performance came at the Vuelta a Burgos where he powered to a very impressive win on the opening stage, before going on to round out the race by showing it wasn’t a one-time result with another win. Currently at his first Grand Tour, Bittner came close in the opening sprints, but he and the team knew more was possible, and that all came to fruition on stage five. Producing a devastatingly long sprint, Bittner won the stage in a photo finish, taking a truly memorable win for him and the team.
Bittner said: “I believe there is still a lot to learn together with the team. We made a lot of progress since the start of 2021 and now it feels like home here, spending time with everybody. Since my time in the Development program I think I have made really good progress. I had all the good people around me making sure we don’t miss any steps in my development and although sometimes it was taking longer than I maybe had wished for, it was all worth it to trust the process. I really like the friendly atmosphere, it’s always fun with my teammates and the staff we have in the team. Personally, I am trying my best to be a supportive guy on and off the bike towards all the members of the team. I believe one day I can maybe be a captain myself but that will take some time and learning from the most experienced guys we have here. I am not sure what the future is going to bring, but I believe if we all try our best, we can never lose. There are a lot of very talented and strong guys in the team, so if we put in the work together, then I think we can achieve whatever we want.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna expressed: “Pavel has really impressed us since he joined the team back in 2021. He’s not only strong on the bike, but he also brings a really good atmosphere to the team with his energy. He’s always open to new ideas and learning, but also to helping those around him, and us too. On the bike we have seen him take steps each season as he has progressed from the Development program to the Men’s program. This year he has continued to take those steps and with a really good foundation laid due to his committed and hard work in the Development program, we’re starting to see him take some top results, with the sprints wins in Burgos and the Vuelta incredibly special. I think everyone at the team has enjoyed working with Pavel so far, so we’re really excited to continue with him for the next few years and continue to push each other to be better.”
Bittner resigns with dsm-firmenich-PostNL:
dsm-firmenich-PostNL Team to the Tour of Britain – SEP 02 – 08
Pim Ligthart – Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach: “We take high motivation to the Tour of Britain and want to continue with the momentum that the team has at the moment after some great performances in the last weeks. With Oscar we will look to the GC after his promising ride at the Tour of Poland, and for the sprints we have a fast guy in Casper. Oliver Peace joins us from our Development program which is a fantastic opportunity for his progression, together with our trainee Bjoern who joins us at this race.”
Line-up:
Sean Flynn (GBR)
Bjoern Koerdt (GBR)
Emils Liepins (LAT)
Oscar Onley (GBR)
Oliver Peace (GBR)
Casper van Uden (NED).
Sean Flynn to ride the Tour of Britain:
Soudal Quick-Step to the Tour of Britain
Julian Alaphilippe and Remco Evenepoel will team up for our squad’s first stage race of September
One of the most successful teams in the modern history of the Tour of Britain, with 23 stage victories and two overall wins, Soudal Quick-Step returns at the start of the race, which this year consists of six stages, between 3-8 September. The route puts on the table plenty of hard climbs – especially in the first three days – whose steep gradients will shape the general classification of this 20th edition.
Our six-man squad will be spearheaded by Julian Alaphilippe and Remco Evenepoel. The two-time World Champion came out on top of the general classification at the 2018 edition and will return at the start for the first time since 2021, when he concluded third overall, just two weeks before powering to a second consecutive rainbow jersey. On the other hand, the double Olympic Champion is slated to make his Tour of Britain debut, in what will be his first outing since taking gold in Paris.
“I am looking forward to returning to racing at the Tour of Britain, after my post-Olympics break. My last period of racing was very special for me and it was great that I could recharge a little afterwards, but it’s time to pin on a number again as I look forward to the big races of this autumn. It is especially nice that I can start in Scotland, where I have the memories of winning the Worlds ITT race last summer,” Remco Evenepoel said ahead of traveling to the race.
The duo will be joined by neo-pro Gil Gelders, who recently finished top ten at the Deutschland Tour, Bretagne Classic runner-up and GiroNextGen points jersey winner Paul Magnier, Gianni Moscon and Martin Svrcek.
“We have a strong line-up for this race, which we are happy to do again. The selection will be made in the first three days, when we’ll see what Julian and Remco can do on that hilly terrain. Then, in the next three stages, we should have a bunch sprint, so we’ll support Paul, who comes here after an excellent result in Plouay. Bottom line, we are really looking forward to a week of great racing,” said sports director Klaas Lodewyck.
03.09–08.09 Tour of Britain (GBR) 2.Pro
Riders:
Julian Alaphilippe (FRA)
Remco Evenepoel (BEL)
Gil Gelders (BEL)
Paul Magnier (FRA)
Gianni Moscon (ITA)
Martin Svrcek (SVK).
Sports Director: Dries Devenyns (BEL) and Klaas Lodewyck (BEL).
Double Olympic gold medalist Remco Evenepoel to the Tour of Britain:
Teams Announced for the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men
Six teams that participated in this summer’s Tour de France, including home favourites INEOS Grenadiers, headline the field for the 20th edition of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men this September.
18 teams from 12 countries will line-up in Scotland for stage one on Tuesday 3 September for a field of 108 riders.
Four UCI WorldTour teams will head to Britain, with regular participants INEOS Grenadiers and Team dsm-firmenich PostNL joined by race debutants Bahrain Victorious, and the return of one of the race’s most successful teams, Soudal Quick-Step, who will race in Britain for the first time since 2021 when they took the last of their 23 stage wins in the Tour.
Three teams will showcase the next generation of WorldTour riders, as three UCI WorldTour teams support their race with their development teams, as the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, Groupama-FDJ, and Lidl – Trek Future Racing all ride for the first time.
Among the UCI ProTeams scheduled to ride are two former stage winners in the race, Norway’s Uno-X Mobility, who won in Gloucester in 2023 with Ramus Tiller, and the Israel – Premier Tech team, who last raced in Britain in 2022 when they won the opening stage of the race with Kiwi rider Corbin Strong.
The final UCI ProTeam is Q36.5 Pro Cycling, who enjoyed a spectacular debut in 2023, as Damien Howson came third overall, Mark Donovan took the Best British Rider honours, and the squad took the team classification award.
Home fans will have the chance to cheer on a Great Britain national team, plus British leading British teams and fan favourites Saint Piran and TRINITY Racing, both of whom have impressed with attacking performances in past editions of the Tour, and can be expected to take the fight to the higher ranked UCI WorldTour and ProTeams.
The Global 6 United team return for their fourth Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, being joined by four debutant UCI Continental teams, including the German REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland squad, who have fan favourite and double Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men King of the Mountains winner Jacob Scott (2019 & 2021) in their roster.
The French Van Rysel – Roubaix team, who have a history of one of the sport’s leading developers of talent; the Portugese Sabgal / Anicolor team; and the American Project Echeleon Racing squad, who have taken several victories in UCI stage races in North America this season round out the line-up of teams.
Commenting on the announcement, Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Race Director Rod Ellingworth said; “We are excited by the line-up of teams for this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain, and the combination of squads that will be lining up on 3 September. Many of the teams have enjoyed previous success with stage wins and overall victories in the race, while others making their debut will be keen to add their names to the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men roll of honour this year. We are sure that fans can look forward to six thrilling days of action, and we can’t wait to see all of the teams in action next month.”
Commenting on the team’s return to their home Tour, in which they have won 20 stages, INEOS Grenadiers CEO John Allert said; “We’re delighted to be lining up at this year’s Tour of Britain, and excited to get out there and thank our amazing home fans for their support. We’ll be racing through some of British cycling’s heartlands, through areas that have produced some of our greatest champions. With a number of British riders in our team, I’m sure we’ll give the home crowd plenty to cheer about.”
Richard Pascoe, owner of Saint Piran Pro Cycling, added: “The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men is deep in our psyche as a cycling nation. It shows how we can deal with adversity and success in equal measure. For Saint Piran, as a family we are aware we have less resources than other teams but it is a chance for us to show the millions of people watching what we can do and what we are about. The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men is also about journeys – for the riders, the organisers and most importantly the fans. Last year we met thousands of people who had travelled to see their favourite rider or team. Given the teams that are riding this year, it looks to be a fantastic race for us all.”
More details on participating riders will be announced during the second half of August in the build up to the publication of the provisional rider list for the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men.
The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men begins in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday 3 September followed by stages in the Tees Valley, South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and West Northamptonshire, before concluding in Suffolk on Sunday 8 September after six stages of action-packed racing.
Fans wanting to enjoy the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men with premium experiences, can get closer to the action with hospitality, in-car places, and exclusive helicopter packages, now available via Sportive Breaks here.
Teams
UCI WorldTeams:
Bahrain Victorious (Bahrain)
INEOS Grenadiers (Great Britain)
Soudal Quick-Step (Belgium)
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL (Netherlands).
UCI ProTeams:
Israel – Premier Tech (Israel)
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team (Switzerland)
Uno-X Mobility (Norway).
UCI Continental Teams:
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Development Team (France)
Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ (France)
Global 6 United (Luxembourg)
Lidl – Trek Future Racing (USA)
Project Echelon Racing (USA)
REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland (Germany)
Sabgal / Anicolor (Portugal)
Saint Piran (Great Britain)
TRINITY Racing (Great Britain)
Van Rysel – Roubaix (France).
National Teams:
Great Britain Cycling Team.
Tour of Britain starts on September the 3rd:
Škoda extends its partnership with La Vuelta and strengthens its commitment to electromobility as the official vehicle of the race
Škoda, one of the four oldest car companies in the world, started nearly 130 years ago by manufacturing bicycles. Naturally, its history has been closely linked to cycling and top-level competition, participating in the world’s best races.
Since 2011, Škoda has been one of the main partners of La Vuelta as the main sponsor and official vehicle of the race. Since 2015, and continuing to the present, it has also been the sponsor of the green jersey, the coveted garment for the leader of the points classification.
This year, Škoda has renewed its commitment as the main sponsor of La Vuelta, La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es, Tour de France, and 19 other events on the international calendar organised by the A.S.O. group until 2028. In this way, Škoda and the quality of its vehicles will once again accompany the peloton from August 17th in Lisbon to September 8th in Madrid during the 21 stages.
Škoda provides 90 cars for La Vuelta and emphasises electromobility with a mix of full electric and plug in hybrid vehicles. Leading the world’s best cyclists, in the race director’s car, is always the Škoda Superb Combi iV that offers comfortable driving and excellent efficiency for such a demanding event as La Vuelta. In this way, Škoda consolidates its strategy for reducing carbon footprint at one of the world’s largest sporting events.
Škoda is also a sponsor of the official mobile apps for La Vuelta and the Tour de France, as well as a series of digital activations based on the “We Love Cycling” brand, aiming to engage cycling fans. With this growing support for cycling events for professionals and fans, Škoda reinforces its commitment to inspiring people to pursue their highest standards of individual performance, teamwork, fairness, and the importance of the ecological transition.
The 22 races organised with the support of Škoda:
Paris-Nice; Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Itzulia Basque Country, Paris-Roubaix y Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift; Flèche Wallonne masculina y femenina; Liège-Bastogne-Liège masculina y femenina; Eschborn-Frankfurt y Škoda Velotour; La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es; La Vuelta; Tro Bro Leon; Critérium du Dauphiné; Tour de France y Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift; Donostia Klasikoa – Classica San Sebastian; L’Etape du Tour de France; Deutschland Tour and Paris-Tours.
More information about La Vuelta: www.lavuelta.es.
Cofidis Renews its Commitment as a Main Sponsor of La Vuelta for Two More Years
Cofidis and La Vuelta will continue to ride together for another two years, in one of the longest-standing sponsorships in the history of Spanish sports. The agreement was signed on the 25th of August, during the ninth stage of La Vuelta 24, in a meeting between Luc-Bertrand Salus, General Director of Cofidis Spain, and Javier Guillén, General Director of La Vuelta. The French financial institution and the Spanish tour thus consolidate a relationship that began in 2010 with the shared values of hard work, commitment and self-improvement.
Cofidis is a main sponsor of La Vuelta and, as such, awards the stage winner each day with a prestigious trophy won by the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Sepp Kuss, Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard in 2023. Besides, the prize for the stage winner and the brand’s presence on numerous race visibility structures, Cofidis will also have a greater digital presence as a result of this renewed agreement.
Greater Digital Presence
The Cofidis brand will be visible along the race as well as digitally. Cofidis sponsors the stage winner celebration videos that are published daily on La Vuelta’s social media. Fans of the race will also be able to participate in a daily competition to predict who will be that day’s winner. At the end of La Vuelta, a web page will feature a mosaic made up of all the stage winners of this year’s edition. And, finally, Cofidis sponsors the stage winner bonus by Cofidis in the La Vuelta fantasy game, which allows players to double the points obtained by one of their team’s riders.
“For us, our connection to La Vuelta, one of the most important sporting events in the world, is a great source of pride, because Cofidis has historically been closely linked to cycling, as we share many of the same values,” explains Luc-Bertrand Salus.
“The stage winner prize can only be sponsored by a winning brand, like Cofidis. We continue to make history with a brand that is so inextricably linked to cycling, and with whom we share such values as commitment, sacrifice, self-improvement and teamwork,” added Javier Guillén.
Cofidis and Sports
Cofidis is not only closely linked to La Vuelta as one of its longest-standing sponsors, but also gives its name to one of the oldest teams in the international peloton since 1996. The French financial institution also continues to collaborate with the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation and promotes the Equipo Cofidis de Promesas Paralímpicas del Ciclismo (Cofidis Paralympic Cycling Rising Star Team) along with the Spanish Paralympic Committee.
More information about La Vuelta: www.lavuelta.es.
Tour Des Stations 2024 – The Maturity Edition!
After a number of changes in the first few years, this seventh edition is set to be a consolidation, with the course identical to that of 2023. The only major change is the date, with the race taking place at the end of August instead of the beginning of August. The gamble paid off, with nearly 3,000 people still taking part.
From now on, the Tour des Stations will be held on the last weekend in August; with the exception of 2025, when the races will take place on Saturday 23 August due to the Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais from 30 August. This choice is the result of careful consideration by the Organising Committee. On the one hand, it stems from a certain logic of coordination with the other events in Verbier and the Valais in general. With its traditional date, the Tour des Stations would have been held on the same day as Sierre-Zinal. With the excellent relations between the organisations, it seemed unthinkable that two of the biggest popular sporting events of the summer would be held on the same day. On the other hand, it was a strategic choice to attract a new audience, particularly from the German-speaking part of Switzerland (+50% in two editions).
Reference’ courses
With its four courses renowned for their unique characteristics, the Tour des Stations seems to have found the right formula for satisfying participants and building loyalty. Each participant can measure themselves against their best time year after year, or try out another route depending on their fitness and their objectives for the season. The 1000km, 555km and 333km Ultimates courses have already been successfully completed in a separate event at the end of July, starting and finishing in Aigle (www.theultimates.ch).
Promoting women’s cycling
Women’s participation has been growing steadily since the first edition, and the organisers are paying particular attention to this. So, from this year onwards, the categories will be completely identical for men and women. What’s more, in order to maximise media coverage of the Ultrafondo’s female participants and see their performances on live TV, they will all be starting at 2.30am. Finally, a start dedicated to women will be offered on the Medifondo. This 100% women’s start, called Women’s Wave, has been developed in partnership with the PSWCC women’s community and the national programme Fast & Female to provide an environment of support and camaraderie.
A fan zone in the legendary “Forêt verte”
Tested for the first time in 2023, the “Forêt verte” fan zone, organised by the Isérables development association, has been renewed thanks to the success of last year’s event in this emblematic part of the race. Between 10.30 am and 6.30 pm, spectators will be treated to musical entertainment and food and drink stands. The fan zone can be reached by bus from the Place du téléphérique d’Isréables between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm, or by feet from Isérables (50-60min) or la Tzoumaz (25-35min).
The Tour des Stations special live will be broadcasted on Canal 9 and on the R&D Events Youtube channel between 12.00 pm and 3.00 pm.
Registration for all the races is still open until midnight on Wednesday 28 August at www.tourdesstations.ch, then on Friday 30 August at the TDS Village in Verbier between 10.00 am and 20.00pm.
More info HERE.
Web Sites:
www.tourdesstations.ch
www.rd-cycling.com
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