We catch up with all the ‘other’ World time trial championship title races: Mixed team relay, men’s U19 and U23 and the women’s U19. Plus the Omloop van het Houtland – All with video, reports, results and what the riders say.
Tadej Pogačar believes in nutrition balance – TOP STORY.
Rider news: Tadej Pogačar believes in nutrition balance, Jay Vine lost time trial podium due to stupid crash, Richard Carapaz will not start the World’s road race, Patrick Lefevere: “Giro-Tour double realistic for Remco Evenepoel in 2025”, Movistar and Astana both want Maxim Van Gils and Thomas De Gendt has ridden his last race as a pro.
Team news: Govekar victorious on the Girona gravel, Soudal Quick-Step signs Valentin Paret-Peintre, Orluis Aular to Movistar, talented puncheur Luca Van Boven signs with Intermarché-Wanty, Reuben Thompson signs a two-year deal with Lotto Dstny, Darren Van Bekkum – Newcomer in Astana Qazaqstan, Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team extends with Swiss Riders Badilatti and Christen and Hodei Muñoz joins Soudal Quick-Step Devo team.
EUROTRASH Thursday coffee time.
TOP STORY: Tadej Pogačar Believes in Nutrition Balance
Nutrition plays a very important role in cycling. Riders weigh all their food and watch every gramme, but Tadej Pogačar says that balance is also very important. “Otherwise there comes a point where you break,” he said in the podcast of the doctor and researcher Peter Attia.
In an interview of almost 50 minutes, training and nutrition are discussed. “My diet is actually the same all year round,” Pogačar gave an insight. “I never impose too many restrictions on myself. I also never say to myself: I can’t eat cake or chocolate. Because if you do, you will break down at some point and go completely crazy.”
“I believe that you don’t have a good relationship with food,” the Slovenian continued. “You need balance in your life. Even with unhealthy food. For example, when I go on holiday, I just enjoy good meals. But that is quality food. I don’t eat crazy amounts and so I never gain much weight.”
The three-time Tour winner weighs 69 kilos in the winter months, when he enjoys his off-season. “After a party I might weigh seventy kilos, but that is mainly water haha. But my maximum weight is 69 kilograms.”
And what about his nutrition during the cycling season? “For tough stages, it is important to consume about 120 grams of carbohydrates per hour. For easier rides, that is about 60 to 90 grams.”
During a stage, the leader of UAE Team Emirates can choose between bottles with 30 or 60 grams of carbohydrates. “I prefer a bottle with 30 grams, because then I can eat more. During a tough stage, it is better to take the bottle with sixty grams, so that you have to eat less. You often hardly have time to eat anything during the ride.”
“Five years ago it seemed impossible, 120 grams of carbohydrates per hour,” Pogačar reflects on the rapid developments in the field of nutrition. “But now it is possible, thanks to our sponsor and nutritionist. The latter has succeeded in designing very good gels and drinks that are very easy on the stomach. I actually no longer have any stomach problems.”
“Five years ago I would have shit my pants after long stages or stage races,” laughed Pogačar, who will be trying to win his first World title on Sunday. “Now I don’t even have any problems with 120 grams of carbohydrates in one hour. I think it’s all about a good ratio between glucose, fructose and other things. The quality has to be good, but in the end it’s also a matter of getting used to it.”
But no smoking:
World Time Trial Championships – Mixed Team Relay 2024
The Mixed Team Relay at the World Championships in Zurich was won by the Australians. After an hour and twelve minutes, Brodie Chapman, Ruby Roseman-Gannon and the retiring Grace Brown, after the work of Michael Matthews, Ben O’Connor and Jay Vine for the men were just 85 hundredths faster than the German team. The Italians were also close, finishing at 8 seconds.
Three men and three women ride a team time trial for the Mixed relay team time trial. With 948 meters of climbing on a course of 53.7 kilometres, the Mixed team relay was not easy. There were two laps of 26.85 kilometres around Zurich with four climbs, where three men had to ride first and after the finish of the second man, the three women were allowed to start their team time trial. Quite a few countries didn’t have a team on the start list (probably because it is a stupid race). Nineteen countries had a team in the race.
Mongolia was the first team to start with Burgos-BH rider Jambaljamts Sainbayar as their best known rider, but they didn’t achieve much. Due to the tough start with two difficult climbs right from the start, many male teams had trouble staying together. Things didn’t go smoothly for the teams in the first wave of ten teams. The Afghans were soon in trouble, one of the riders had chain problems and one of the rider also went onto the grass at the side of the road. There was also chaos at the transition point. When the men from Algeria crossed the finish line, the women were not on the ramp and started a few minutes late.
The men’s finishing times were also confused. The World Cycling Centre was initially given the lead position, but after recalculations, Estonia were in top spot. After Ukraine had finished they were in the lead. The Danes had strong riders in their ranks with Magnus Cort, Mikkel Bjerg and Mikkel Honoré. Germany had Maximilian Schachmann, Miguel Heidemann and Marco Brenner, they were a few seconds faster than the Italians. The Australians and French followed at 6 and 9 seconds. The German men may have burnt all their matches a bit too early, because in part two of their ride they lost quite a bit of time. It was now mainly the three strong Australians who started to accelerate and only the Italians, with Filippo Ganna, Edoardo Affini and Mattia Cattaneo, were at 8 seconds. Germany came in at 22 seconds, along with the French.
Then it was the turn of the women’s teams of the top countries. Olympic and World time trial champion Grace Brown didn’t make it easy for her teammates. Brown put up an impressive pace, but dropped Ruby Rosemann-Gannon early on. Brodie Chapman had a hard time, but managed to hang on. As a result, the Australian lost some time at the third intermediate point. The Italians and Germans came within 2 and 6 seconds. The final battle would be between those three countries, the rest had already been counted out of the medals. The German duo Liane Lippert and Antonia Niedermaier were the first of the three remaining medal candidates to finish, taking more than 2 minutes off the time of Denmark. Next it was Grace Brown with Brodie Chapman came in 85 hundredths of a second faster than Germany. The Italians with Elisa Longo Borghini and Gaia Realini were next to finish. They were 8 seconds down on Australia, who are now World Mixed team relay champions for the first time.
Australia wins gold in Mixed Team Relay champions, Australia. Grace Brown: “We are still in shock. I’m a bit greedy, I want a few more rainbow jerseys. It’s great to win with the entire Aussie crew. When it’s so close, there are so many moments on the course where you can gain and lose a bit of time. So it’s hard to say what made the difference.”
Michael Matthews: “It was a hard one! I think Jay [Vine] put me to the sword straight away on that first climb, I think we average 650 watts from bottom to top, so it was a hard day. There wasn’t much recovery out there, so we really had to try and stick together as a team as much as possible and just keep that speed as high as possible. I think we came through with the fastest time and we were quite confident from there, we knew we had a really good and strong women’s team to finish it off. I won this event when it was trade teams, but this is the first time I’ve had this experience to win this event now. We came in confident, let’s say, but you never know until you cross the finish line. To win this, here now, I think we’re still in a bit of shock at the moment, but once it sinks in that we’re world champions in the mixed relay we can enjoy it much more.”
World Time Trial Championships – Mixed Team Relay Result:
1. Australia in 1:12:52
2. Germany at 0:01
3. Italy at 0:08
4. France at 0:24
5. Denmark at 2:06
6. USA at 2:17
7. Canada at 2:42
8. Switzerland at 2:52
9. Spain at 3:50
10. Austria at 4:51.
Worlds Mixed Team Relay’24:
World Time Trial Championships – U23 Men 2024
Iván Romeo is the U23 World time trial champion. The 21-year-old Spaniard beat all the top favourites with a very strong finale. Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden) was second, home rider, Jan Christen took the bronze medal. Top favourite, Alec Segaert (Belgium), was fourth at nearly a minute.
Alec Segaert was the obvious favourite for the world title. The U23 World time trial championship is a gap in the palmarès of the young Lotto Dstny pro. Segaert has been second in the last two championships. The route was just under 30 kilometres from Gossau to the centre of Zurich. After a flat start of 5 kilometres, there were the climbs of Leerütistrasse (1.1km at 4.6%), Oetwil am See (2.6 km at 4.5%). After a steep descent to Lake Zurich, there were 12 flat kilometres to the finish at the Sechseläutenplatz.
The first rider to start was Davaajargal Altangerel from Mongolia, but it was Isaac del Toro who set a good time at the first intermediate point. The Mexican had a final time of 38:07 at an average of 47.1 kph, he was the fastest of the first riders. The Pole Mateusz Gajdulewicz lost more than 1 minute on Del Toro in the hot seat. António Morgado was the next big name to finish, but the Portuguese rider didn’t come close to the time of his UAE teammate Del Toro. Two riders were riding well out on the course. Darren Rafferty and Jan Christen were faster than Del Toro at the first intermediate point. The 20-year-old Christen, who has taken wins this season for UAE Team Emirates, passed the first intermediate point after 10.4 kilometres with a time of 14:49. He was more than half a minute under Del Toro’s time. His final time of 37:23 set a new top time, he was 37 seconds faster than Adam Rafferty, who was 6 seconds faster than Del Toro. Christen didn’t enjoy his lead for long as his time was soon beaten. Iván Romeo was slower than Christen at the first intermediate point (20 seconds), but was much faster on the flat roads of the last part of the race. The Spaniard, who rides for Movistar, was 41 seconds under Christen’s time and was the first rider under 37 minutes, with 36:42.
Romeo’s ride put him in the hot seat, but the favourites were still to ride. Romeo’s time did look very good as Belgium’s Robin Orin was only 10 seconds slower than the Spaniard at the second intermediate point, but lost 48 seconds to Romeo in the last 9.4 kilometres. Artem Schmidt, Niklas Behrens and Wessel Mouris were all slower than Romeo’s time. The first rider to come close to Romeo was Jakob Söderqvist. The Swede started the last 9 flat kilometres just 6 seconds down. Segaert set a new fastest intermediate time. The difference between Romeo and Segaert after 20.5 kilometres was 6 seconds, in favour of the Belgian, but he was in trouble in the finale. Segaert lost 54 seconds at the line for fourth place. Romeo is the first Spanish World U23 time trial champion. Söderqvist took silver, Christen won the bronze medal.
2024 World time trial champion, Iván Romeo (Spain): “For some people this might be a surprise, but for me… This is the best day of my life. I worked so hard for this. Only the people around me knew this. I’ve been here for ten days now, with my father. He took a week off to be here and help me with everything. I don’t know what to say. I have no words for it. I love the climbs and descents, but you’re never sure. At the beginning of the day there was some rain and that made the course a bit slippery. I actually thought they would still go under my time. My pacing plan was also to accelerate in the last ten kilometres, but I didn’t expect to have the strength to actually do it. I knew that Alec Segaert would be the last man to come in. I expected him to beat me, but my last part was fantastic. I thought about many things in those last ten kilometres, but it was important to just keep pushing, for my family, friends and other people around me. This is the happiest day of my life”
World Time Trial Championships – U23 Men Result:
1. Ivan Romeo Abad (Spain) in 36:42
2. Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden) at 0:32
3. Jan Christen (Switzerland) at 0:40
4. Alec Segaert (Belgium) at 0:54
5. Robin Orins (Belgium) at 0:57
6. Darren Rafferty (Ireland) at 1:01
7. Niklas Behrens (Germany) at 1:08
8. Artem Shmidt (USA) at 1:10
9. Wessel Mouris (The Netherlands) at 1:11
10. Adam Rafferty (Ireland) at 1:17.
Worlds U23 Men’s TT:
World Time Trial Championships – U19 Men 2024
Paul Seixas is the Men’s junior time trial World champion. The Frenchman, who will ride for the Decathlon-AG2R WorldTeam next year, beat the Belgians Jasper Schoofs and Matisse Van Kerckhove.
The junior men had a 24.9 kilometre time trial course in Zurich. The route was flat and practically straight. Matisse Van Kerckhove was the first to put up a solid time. The Belgian, who will be riding for the Visma | Lease a Bike devo team next year, set a time of 28:15 at an average speed of 52.9 kph.
No one came close to Van Kerckhove for a long time. Louis Chaleil, Conor Murphy and Carl Emil Pedersen were all within a minute. Paul Seixas was slower than Van Kerckhove at the intermediate time points, but the Frenchman had a very strong final part. At the finish he was 7 seconds faster. Seth Duwnwoody and Albert Withen Philipsen finished, but neither of them came close to Seixas’s time, or Van Kerckhove’s. Finlay Tarling, Paul Fietzke and Michiel Mouris would also fall short at all the intermediate points. The Australian William Holmes was putting up a good ride, but he finish fourth. Jasper Schoofs was the only rider left who could win the rainbow jersey. He lost 6 seconds to Seixas for the silver medal and the bronze went to Van Kerckhove.
2024 World time trial champion, Paul Seixas (France): “This is a bit of a surprise. My goal was to do the best time trial of my life, but becoming world champion is a fucking dream. I didn’t even dream about this when I came here. Well, maybe a little bit. But it was just a dream. Today it became reality. It’s fucking insane. At first I thought it would be worse in the last part. After five kilometres I was already suffering. I thought: it’s going to be long and hard. But the final was insane. I thought: maybe I’m doing something great. When I crossed the line, I realised that something really big was happening. It’s unbelievable. Today was a surprise. The real big battle is on Thursday, but the World championships are already good for me. The road race will be an extra.”
World Time Trial Championships – U19 Men Result:
1. Paul Seixas (France) in 28:08
2. Jasper Schoofs (Belgium) at 0:06
3. Matisse Van Kerckhove (Belgium) at 0:07
4. Wil Holmes (Australia) at 0:15
5. Seth Dunwoody (Ireland) at 0:23
6. Withen Albert Philipsen (Denmark) at 0:24
7. Lorenzo Mark Finn (Italy) at 0:25
8. Carl Emil Pedersen (Denmark) at 0:35
9. Ashlin Barry (USA) at 0:41
10. Conor Murphy (Ireland) at 0:42.
Worlds U19 Men’s TT:
World Time Trial Championships – U19 Women 2024
Cat Ferguson won the Worlds junior women’s time trial. The British rider was faster than Viktória Chladoňová (Slovakia) and her country-woman Imogen Wolff.
The route of the time trial for junior women was 18.8 flat kilometres with almost no bends, except for one turning point. Viktória Chladoňová, who was third in the European time trial championships two weeks ago and will ride for Visma | Lease a Bike next year, was one of the early riders. She was the fastest for a long time.
Megan Arens (The Netherlands) was 35 seconds slower than Chladoňová. Imogen Wolff (GB) clocked the same time as Chladoňová at the intermediate timing point, but lost 2 seconds in the second part. She settled into second place. Fee Knaven (The Netherlands) was 6 seconds faster than Wolff and Chladoňová after the first point. Knaven held the leading position, but Cat Ferguson went 9 seconds under her time. The British rider, the last starter of the day, was on her way to the World title. Knaven couldn’t make up for her time loss in the second part. Ferguson went faster to take the rainbow jersey. The 18-year-old rides for Movistar and recently won the opening stage of the Tour de la Semois. She has a contract with the Spanish team until the end of 2027.
Knaven looked to be on her way to the silver medal, but also lost time to Chladoňová and Wolff and had to settle for fourth place. The silver went to Chladoňová, while Wolff took the bronze.
2024 World time trial champion, Cat Ferguson (GB): “It’s unbelievable. The disappointments I’ve had before make this rainbow jersey even more special. The process leading up to this time trial was also very special. I have to thank so many people. I can’t find the words at the moment, but I’m very grateful to all of them. It’s the best team there is (Movistar). I’ve done some professional races with them, so I’ve met some girls. I’ve been really well taken care of. To have them with me (her family were in Zurich) is very special. My mom and dad have been with me from the start of my cycling career until now. To have them with me now is so special.”
World Time Trial Championships – U19 Women Result:
1. Cat Ferguson (GB) in 23:49
2. Viktória Chladoňová (Slovakia) at 0:34
3. Imogen Wolff (GB) at 0:36
4. Fairy Boys (The Netherlands) at 0:47
5: Kamilla Aasebø (Norway) at 0:54
6. Lauren Bates (Australia) at 0:58
7: Paula Ostiz Taco (Spain) at 1:03
8. Messane Bräutigam (Germany) at 1:09
9. Megan Arens (The Netherlands) at 1:09
10. Sidney Swierenga (Canada) at 1:09.
Worlds U19 Women’s TT:
Omloop van het Houtland-Eernegem – Lichtervelde 2024
Max Walscheid won the Omloop van het Houtland for the second time. The German was the fastest in 2019 and won again in a bunch sprint. His Jayco AlUla teammate, Dylan Groenewegen was second and Pierre Barbier of Philippe Wagner/Bazin was third.
The Omloop van het Houtland is a Belgian 1.1 race. Many top sprinters such as Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla), Gerben Thijssen and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) were at the start. The start of the Omloop van het Houtland was in Eernegem, a municipality of Ichtegem, from there the race went through Eernegem, Oudenburg and Aartrijke three times on a flat circuit of 15 kilometres. There were also a few climbs in the second part of the race. The finish was on a 12.1 kilometre circuit around Lichtervelde, to be ridden 9 times. A race for the fast finishers.
Michiel Lambrecht (Bingoal WB), Bogdan Zabelinskiy (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team), Tijmen Eising (BEAT), Gianni Marchand and Alex Vandenbulcke A (Tarteletto-Isorex), Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) and Max Kroonen (VolkerWessels) made up the early break, they struggled off the front for a long time. Lambrecht was the last rider to be caught and that was in the last 5 kilometres. It was a chaotic sprint build up where Jayco AlUla and dsm-firmenich-PostNL took control. Lead-out man Max Walscheid started the sprint first, but his leader, Dutch champion Dylan Groenewegen, came from way too far back. Walscheid was the fastest for the win.
Race winner, Max Walscheid (Jayco AlUla): “Unfortunately, we lost each other. At 800 meters from the finish I was on the wheel of Elmar Reinders, who positioned us very well. At 300 meters from the finish line was the last bend and I was still behind Elmar. I could not see Dylan anymore when I looked back, so I started myself. With the finish in sight, Dylan came up on my right. But this was the perfect outcome for us. I want to keep tasting that taste every now and then. My role in the team is clear, I want to keep doing a lot of lead-outs. But sometimes it is good to get into this position. Next year we still have good goals together, where we want to deliver big victories to Dylan. But today is nice for the team in general.”
2nd, Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla): “It was hectic all day anyway, lots of crashes. There were many sprinters who wanted a sprint. Just before the U-turn at the train tracks at the end, I was on Max’s wheel. Another rider slid under, but then he slid away again, which meant I had to brake. That put me around 15th place. The team did the perfect job and Max did the perfect sprint. Only I was a bit stuck behind him. I said in the earpiece that I was not on his wheel. He did the perfect lead-out, but I was just too late to get out. We are testing some new things with the lead-out, and that is only good. I am really a team person and as a team we did well. I am not 100% myself, but Max indicated that he felt his best legs ever and we saw that.”
Omloop van het Houtland-Eernegem – Lichtervelde Result:
1. Max Walscheid (Ger) Jayco AlUla in 4:21:23
2. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla
3. Pierre Barbier (Fra) Philippe Wagner/Bazin
4. Gerben Thijssen (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty
5. Sente Sentjens (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team
6. Clement Russo (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) dsm-firmenich-PostNL
8. Lars Vanden Heede (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team
9. Sebastian Nielsen (Den) TDT-Unibet
10. Jason Tesson (Fra) TotalEnergies.
Houtland’24:
Vine Lost a Time Trial Podium Due to Stupid Crash
Jay Vine was in contention for a medal at the World time trial championships in Zurich, but the Australian crashed. He managed to ride to the finish for fifth place. “It’s heartbreaking to think about how it could have been,” Vine wrote on Instagram.
“A stupid mistake on a non-technical part of the course could cost me the bronze medal,” the 28-year-old rider continued. Vine eventually finished 30 seconds behind Edoardo Affini, who was third behind Filippo Ganna and winner Remco Evenepoel. “I just went faster through a corner I did during the recon and went off the road. It’s that simple. I’m going to regret this for a while. Heartbreaking. Fifth place is still good, but for now I am devastated. Sorry team, I really tried,” he concludes.
Jay Vine was not too badly injured. Adrian Rotunno, UAE team doctor, said in a team press release: “Unfortunately, Jay Vine fell on the last descent of the World time trial championship yesterday. Fortunately, he has no concussion or fractures,” he said. “He had a cut on the left side of his forehead. Three stitches were applied there at the local hospital. He also had superficial abrasions on his shoulder. He should be able to participate in the road race next weekend.”
It looked worse than it was:
Richard Carapaz Will Not Start the World’s Road Race
Richard Carapaz will not ride the men’s World championship road race in Zurich on Sunday. The 31-year-old rider was already in Switzerland, but has had to traveled back to Ecuador. His daughter had to undergo emergency surgery and will need care. Carapaz wrote on social media.
“I was forced to fly back to Ecuador in a hurry to be with my daughter, because she had to undergo emergency surgery,” Carapaz said. “Fortunately, the surgery went well. However, she still needs care. Due to this emergency within the family, I have not been able to train for a few days. My condition is also not what Ecuador deserves, neither physically nor mentally. For this reason, I have made the decision not to participate in the 2024 World championships in Zurich. Representing Ecuador is one of the biggest responsibilities I have as an athlete. However, we are all human. In our sporting careers, there are circumstances that transcend sport and the health of my family is my priority.”
With Carapaz not riding, Ecuador has lost its second leader. Jhonathan Narváez will also not be riding. The INEOS Grenadiers rider is suffering from a covid infection. The Ecuador team now consists of Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), his cousin Jefferson Alexander Cepeda (EF Education-EasyPost) and Jonathan Klever Caicedo (Petrolike).
Carapaz had to go home to Ecuador:
Patrick Lefevere: “Giro-Tour Double Realistic for Remco Evenepoel in 2025”
This year Tadej Pogačar won the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. Next year Remco Evenepoel may try the same thing. Patrick Lefevere, Evenepoel’s team manager at Soudal Quick-Step, said in an interview with La Dernière Heure that it is ‘realistic’ for Evenepoel to ride the Giro and the Tour in 2025.
Lefevere previously said that he wanted Evenepoel to ‘discover’ races such as Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders in 2025, although Evenepoel didn’t agree. “While we actually wanted him to start the Primavera this year,” said Lefevere. “A 300-kilometre race could be useful. But cycling has changed. The big guns no longer need Milano-Sanremo as preparation. They train differently now.”
“Remco will undoubtedly do Sanremo and the Ronde one day, but not now. Maybe only after he has achieved his big goal: winning the three major tours. After that, we will see. The main thing will be to keep an eye on Remco to keep enjoying himself.”
Evenepoel is thinking about the Giro-Tour double for next year, said Lefevere. He actually wanted to do that in 2024. “Remco wanted that, but his trainer changed those plans. But it is realistic for 2025. Pogačar has shown that it is possible to win both in a row. Anyone who knows Remco knows that he gets motivation from that. Of course that entails a completely different preparation. Then he has to peak for the first time in mid-April, because his season will start later. He might still be able to start in Milano-Sanremo before the Giro,” said Lefevere.
Giro/Tour double for Evenepoel in 2025?
Movistar and Astana Both Want Maxim Van Gils
Maxim Van Gils is still under contract with Lotto Dstny until the end of 2026, but according to Het Laatste Nieuws he maybe in a different team next year. Movistar and Astana Qazaqstan both want to sign him, but Lotto Dstny doesn’t want Van Gils to leave. The team also want’s to hold on to Jarno Widar, Bull-BORA-hansgrohe want to sign his for 2025.
Van Gils renewed his contract with Lotto Dstny last spring, just after the Ruta del Sol, which Van Gils won after it was shortened to a time trial. The 24-year-old then took third in Strade Bianche, seventh in Milano-Sanremo, third in the Flèche Wallonne and fourth in Liège-Bastonak-Liège. There were also victories in Eschborn-Frankfurt and the GP des Kantons Aargau in early May. Van Gils now feels he is worth more, but Lotto, who will be without Dstny next year, won’t have the money. Van Gils’ agent started talking to other teams, including Movistar and Astana Qazaqstan, they both have the budget. Astana Qazaqstan seems to be the most serious.
According to HLN, Lotto Dstny is not interested in breaking Van Gils’ contract. For that to happen there would have to be an agreement between all three parties: the rider, his current team and the new team. Although Van Gils can use the 1978 Belgian law, which allows a paid sportsman to terminate his contract if he pays his former employer a fee equal to the salary for the remaining duration of his contract, to a maximum of 36 months.
The relationship between Jarno Widar and Lotto Dstny is also on the rocks. The 18-year-old is with the Lotto Dstny devo team, but will move up to the top team in 2026, where he has a contract to the end of 2027. WielerFlits say that Widar has been seen at Red Bull’s Athlete Performance Center (APC) near Salzburg. The APC building has been shared by Red Bull and the German BORA-hansgrohe team for years. Red Bull are now the owner of the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team. The team tests new riders in the building and WielerFlits has heard that Widar has been seen there. This confirms that the German team is interested in the young Belgian, who has been subjected to tests with a view to joining the team.
Maxim Van Gils might leave Lotto (Dstny):
Thomas De Gendt has Ridden his Last Race as a Pro
Thomas De Gendt’s professional career is over. The 37-year-old Belgian rode his last race as a professional cyclist on Sunday, Paris-Chauny, he announced on X.
“And so a career of 16 years suddenly comes to an end,” De Gendt wrote. “Everything I have worked for since I was ten is now only a memory. Paris-Chauny was my last race as a pro. But as always, the end of one thing is also the beginning of something new. I look forward to discovering new challenges.”
De Gendt will not be racing at WorldTour level, but may still be in the peloton at a lower level. In November 2023, the Belgian hinted that he would like to race in Asia. “Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea… Purely for fun. For a pair of pants and a jersey. About forty racing days a year. There are enough continental teams there that want to sign a European rider for a few stage races in that part of the world,” he said at the time in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad.
“Raymond Kreder, a former teammate of mine, rode for the Japanese Team Ukyo this year. They leave him alone for half the year. Every now and then he comes over for the Tour of Japan, Thailand, Taiwan. That is an experience that I want to gain too. It broadens your horizon. There is always a different, relaxed atmosphere in Asia. I think it would be nice to relax like that for two or three years.”
Thomas De Gendt ends one career to start another:
Govekar Victorious On the Girona Gravel
Matevz Govekar delivered an outstanding performance on Sunday at the UCI Gravel World Series event held during Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava Girona, taking a hard-fought victory on the challenging 107.22 km course.
The Slovenian rider was part of a leading trio that came to the finish line after a day through the rugged terrain of the picturesque Les Gavarres Massif. The route had included a punishing 1,828 meters of elevation gain, to increase the overall difficulty. Govekar’s win was a remarkable achievement, particularly given the absence of reigning Gravel World Champion Matej Mohorič, who was unable to start due to a crash during a course recon ride on Thursday.
Matevz Govekar reflected on his surprise win: “This success was unexpected. We were a bit unfortunate with Matej crashing, but I knew I was in good shape, and we came here with the goal to win. I was really focused on delivering a strong performance. It was a tough race right from the start, but having done a recon, I was able to take advantage in the technical sections. I raced very aggressively, which helped me survive the hard climbs. In the end, I felt confident in my sprint. I really enjoyed today, and winning was the cherry on top!”
Matevz Govekar won in Girona:
Soudal Quick-Step Signs Valentin Paret-Peintre
The Frenchman will become a member of the Wolfpack in 2025
Valentin Paret-Peintre will join Soudal Quick-Step at the beginning of next season after agreeing on a two-year contract with our team. A strong climber, the 23-year-old from Annemasse has turned pro in 2022, and has since racked up a series of noteworthy results.
Most recently, Valentin impressed at this year’s Giro d’Italia, taking a remarkable solo victory from a large breakaway group on the summit finish of Bocca della Selva, in the southern Apennines. It was his maiden pro win, and it came after some solid outings in the first months of the season, such as an eighth place at the Tour Down Under and fourth overall in the Tour of the Alps.
“I’m very happy to join the team for the next two years. I’ve always admired this team and watched it write history in some of the biggest races in the world. I remember Tom Boonen winning Paris-Roubaix numerous times in this jersey or Philippe Gilbert taking those memorable victories in Roubaix and De Ronde. It’s a legendary team with a lot of history and tradition and I’m proud that I will be part of it in the next two seasons.”
“My goal is to continue to develop and gain experience in stage races, especially from someone like Mikel Landa. I’m also ready to help whenever I will be needed on the climbs. I would like to be one of the strongest guys in the mountains for my team in a race like the Tour de France, which I would like to discover, but I’m also aiming for a top ten in week-long stage races”, an excited Valentin said.
Soudal Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere was equally delighted with this move: “We’ve been following Valentin for some time and we were impressed by his work ethic, continuous improvement and results, such as his spectacular Giro d’Italia stage victory. We are happy he has decided to join us. Valentin is a strong addition to our climbers’ contingent and we are confident he will fit right in and grow in our team.”
Valentin Paret-Peintre to Soudal Quick-Step for two years:
Orluis Aular: Venezuela back to the WorldTour with Movistar Team in 2025
Nirgua native joins Telefónica-backed squad after resounding success with Caja Rural-RGA over last two seasons
The Movistar Team, the top-tier squad that has trusted the most talents from Latin America over the last two decades, will continue to bet on riders from the area next year. Orluis Aular (Nirgua, VEN; 1996), a current member of the Caja Rural – Seguros RGA outfit, will make the leap towards the WorldTour via a two-season contract (2025-26) with the organisation led by Eusebio Unzué.
Aular joins the Telefónica-backed squad after two brilliant final years in green, a true breakthrough for the six-time national champion, two road race titles; four individual time trial jerseys, the last one in 2024.
Victories in the Trofeo Matteotti, a stage of the Tour du Limousin, the overall classification of the CRO Race and GC success in Portuguese stage races Volta ao Alentejo and GP Torres Vedras were added to his Central American Games’ road race success in 2023. His palmarès also includes two second-place finishes in WT events: stage five of the 2024 Itzulia in Amorebieta and stage seven of the 2023 La Vuelta, with only Frenchman Geoffrey Soupe faster than him at Oliva’s bunch sprint.
Orluis becomes the second rider from Venezuela, after José Rujano, member of the Abarca Sports roster in 2008, to be part of the Movistar Team.
Orluis Aular: “To be honest, I never imagined I could make it to the WorldTour. I always sought to progress one step at a time. I first tried to make it to the European peloton, and I achieved it thanks to Jesús Rodríguez Magro, note: a late ex-Banesto rider and later owner of an amateur squad, competing in Spain with EC Cartucho. Then, I went on to race in Belgium for two years, where I learned a lot; I jumped towards Japan; and finally made it to my first goal, which was riding for a ProConti squad. I cannot thank Caja Rural enough for the chance they gave me back them. I knew that it would only get harder from there, and it’s been many years of hard work and dedication to get this beautiful opportunity with the Movistar Team. It makes me happy and also so emotional – it’s never been easy.”
“2024 has been my best season yet. Year by year I’ve improved a lot, and I was able to keep consistency in both my performance and results this season, with the aim of getting to the WorldTour. That desire has propelled me to work harder than I’ve ever done. I’ve been able to get over some mountains in better form than ever, and having the ‘plus’ of knowing I could stand that chance of joining the Movistar Team gave me hope to continue improving in many aspects.”
“I’m at the team’s full disposal for whatever they might need. I will keep chasing goals, as I’ve done over my entire career, trying to be a good allrounder and showing I’ve still got room to improve. I’m a bit anxious to get going, know the team-mates and staff, some of them I’ve already shared time with in the past, and I want to support the team and give it my all.”
Orluis Aular to Movistar:
Talented Puncher Luca Van Boven Signs with Intermarché-Wanty
Promising Belgian puncher Luca Van Boven has signed a two-year contract with Intermarché-Wanty, where he will make his WorldTour debut after two seasons at the Pro Continental level.
Hailing from Zottegem, the 24-year-old rider has shown his potential this season on selective courses within the professional peloton, notably finishing fourth overall in the Four Days of Dunkirk thanks to his remarkable performance on the challenging Mont Cassel, just six seconds behind winner Sam Bennett, and a 28th place finish in the exceptionally difficult edition of the Flèche Wallonne.
Trained alongside Arnaud De Lie and his future teammate Vito Braet, Luca Van Boven is about to join the WorldTour from Bingoal-Wallonie Bruxelles, following in the footsteps of his compatriots Tom Paquot and Laurenz Rex, who have become key members of the WorldTeam.
His profile as a fast puncher with an offensive temperament has led him to numerous placings in French Cup events such as the Grand Prix du Morbihan (6th) or Boucles de l’Aulne (8th), the Tour du Finistère (12th) but also in stages of the Tour de Wallonie and the Région Pays de la Loire Tour.
As a junior, Luca Van Boven had distinguished himself among the best riders in the U23 category by winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and finishing second in the prestigious Trofeo Alcide Degasperi.
Luca Van Boven: “From the outside, I have observed with admiration how many young talents have progressed by joining Intermarché-Wanty. I wanted to follow this trajectory and join this team which has the reputation of having a family atmosphere. For me, continuing my development in a Belgian team was also an important factor. In the races, I noticed the quality of the material used by Intermarché-Wanty and I can’t wait to ride my Cube Litening. I grew up with a passion for the Flemish Classics, they are the races that I love most and where I hope to shine in my new colours. In the long term, I would like to be an integral part of the Classics core. To do this, I will have to prove myself and show that I can be an added value. I like races with hilly courses, short and steep climbs, but also the ones with more elevation gain.”
Aike Visbeek (Performance Manager): “We have identified a solid margin of progression in Luca Van Boven. He has similar characteristics to riders like Vito Braet and Laurenz Rex, with whom we have managed to take the step up to the highest level. We are convinced that Luca can follow in their footsteps. He is a versatile rider who we are particularly eager to see in action in the Flemish and Ardennes Classics. His results in the Flèche Wallonne and the Four Days of Dunkirk testify to his qualities in demanding events. Luca is professional in his approach and dedicated to the team’s objectives, so we are delighted to have him as a new asset to our WorldTeam.”
Reuben Thompson Signs a Two-Year Deal with Lotto Dstny
Another new reinforcement for the 2025 Lotto Dstny Team: Reuben Thompson. The 23-year old rider from New Zealand joins the squad for the next two seasons.
Reuben Thompson, who has been a pro rider since 2023 and became second in the fourth stage of the Itzulia Basque Country this year, will join the Lotto Dstny Team next season. “I’m excited for a fresh start. I’ve been with Groupama – FDJ for four years now, I’m looking forward joining Lotto Dstny next season, to improve and to discover a new environment. My focus is on the longer efforts and becoming a really good support in the mountains, step by step. In my first pro seasons I made a lot of mistakes, but I’m excited to keep on growing with my new team.”
“I’m sure I’ll like it to be in a Belgian team, I like the attitude of Belgian riders and I’ve raced a lot with Belgian guys. In my free time I like to watch other sports. When I’m back in New Zealand I like to watch some rugby, motocross and a bit of surfing.” Thompson finished his first grand tour in the beginning of the month at the Vuelta. “It was a positive experience, I just had a little stomach bug around the second rest day.” Being from New Zealand, Thompson lives in France during the season and will move to Andorra soon.
Stéphane Heulot, CEO of Lotto Dstny, is very pleased to see Thompson joining the team. “In the U23 category, Reuben showed his mountain qualities on several occasions. With our long term strategy in mind, we want to have diverse strong riders and Reuben is an important new signing for that. He is still very young, so there is definitely margin to grow and gain experience.”
Reuben Thompson to Lotto:
Darren Van Bekkum – Newcomer in Astana Qazaqstan Team
The 22-year-old Dutch rider Darren Van Bekkum will begin his professional career with the WorldTour team Astana Qazaqstan. Van Bekkum has signed a two-year contract with the team, where he will compete in the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
This season, Darren Van Bekkum won the prestigious French stage race Ronde de l’Isard and also finished second overall in the Istrian Spring Trophy. During one of the stages of the Tour de l’Avenir Darren came close to a victory, finishing in second place.
“I’m truly excited and proud to make my WorldTour debut with Astana Qazaqstan Team. After four great years with my current team, Visma-Lease a Bike Development Team, I’m ready for a change, a new environment, and a new approach to working and racing. I always give 100% in both training and racing, and next year I will continue to show everything I’m capable of, day by day, to become stronger and more successful. I hope to become a valuable part of the team on its path to new achievements,” said Darren Van Bekkum.
“Darren is a young rider with serious potential and notable experience not only in youth races but also in professional events. His strong season and solid results speak for themselves, but beyond that, I would also highlight his strong work enthusiasm and determination. His move to the WorldTour is happening at the right time. Darren has every opportunity to thrive in our team, gain experience, help others succeed, and showcase his own abilities. Two exciting seasons lie ahead, and I hope that he will fully realise his potential within our project.” said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.
Darren Van Bekkum to Astana:
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team Extends with Swiss Riders Badilatti and Christen
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is pleased to announce contract renewals for Swiss cyclists Fabio Christen and Matteo Badilatti, ensuring their continued presence in the squad for the coming seasons.
At 22, Christen has made impressive strides in his career over the past two years. Consistently securing top-10 finishes in both classics and stage races, he demonstrated his potential with a standout victory at the prestigious Tour de l’Avenir in 2023, while representing the Swiss National Team. This season, he’s come tantalisingly close to more wins, including a podium finish at Muur Classic Geraardsbergen, where he placed 3rd.
Looking ahead, Christen sees Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team as the ideal environment for his ongoing growth as a professional rider. “I’m really looking forward to continue my development as well as take a lead role in the classics as well as in the short, hill stage races that suit me quite well. I’m confident that I’ll make another step forward and will achieve good results with the team. For next season my main focus will be on the big classics, like the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Those will be some of my personal highlights next year and I hope to get the opportunity to start in Tour de Suisse, my home race.”
Joining Christen in extending his contract, 32-year-old Matteo Badilatti brings experience and resilience to the team. As one of the team’s most seasoned riders, Badilatti has already contributed to the squad’s success, notably with a stage victory at the Tour du Rwanda during the team’s debut season. Known for his climbing skills, Badilatti is eager to continue competing at the highest level:
“I’m really happy to continue with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and build up on what we achieved this season. I hope to continue to develop and step up, particularly in climbing stages. At this year’s Tour de Suisse I performed at a good level and was the best Suisse rider on the GC but unfortunately I was unable to build up on that performance because of sickness. I really believe in this project, and despite getting a fair share of bad luck this season we’re giving our best to finish on a positive note,” said Badilatti.
Team Manager Doug Ryder expressed his enthusiasm for the extensions, praising both riders for their contributions to our Swiss-registered team: “We’re excited to have Matteo and Fabio with us through 2025 and beyond. Over the past two seasons, Fabio has truly stepped up, demonstrating his versatility across a range of races. He’s young, driven, and we’re confident the victories will come. Matteo’s leadership, especially in stage races and demanding conditions, has been invaluable. We look forward to seeing how both will continue to drive the team’s success in the years ahead.”
Fabio Christen will next compete in the UCI Road World Championships, while Matteo Badilatti is set to return to action at next week’s CroRace.
Hodei Muñoz joins Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team
The promising Basque will ride for our feeder squad next season
Winner of five road races this year – his last in the junior ranks – Hodei Muñoz will make the transition to the U23 scene in 2025, as part of the strong Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team, which in the last two seasons has racked up over 40 victories while sending several riders to the World Tour squad, such as Gil Gelders, William Junior Lecerf, Pepijn Reinderink or Warre Vangheluwe.
Just 18 years of age, Hodei hails from the village of Luiaondo in the Basque Country, a region with a deep love for cycling which has produced many great riders, including Mikel Landa, who Hodei admires from a young age. This season alone, Muñoz impressed in a number of races, like the Klasika Primavera, Tour du Pays de Vaud and Bizkaiko Itzulia, and these results – together with his strong mindset and ambition to improve – have landed him a spot Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team’s roster for 2025.
“The first sport I did as a kid was football, but around the age of ten, my uncle taught me how to ride a bike and then took me to some races, where I was instantly hooked by the atmosphere. I fell in love with the sport and today I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
“I like hilly and medium-mountain races with an explosive finale, but I also dream of racing Paris-Roubaix, especially as I’ve done some cyclo-cross in the past”, explained Hodei, who last year won Spain’s inaugural Gravel National Championships, as well as the cyclo-cross junior title and the Copa España. “I’m happy to join this team, it’s a dream come true and I can’t wait to sport its jersey next year. I want to find my place there, learn and show what I’m capable of if there will be any opportunities.”
“We are delighted that Hodei will be part of our squad next year. He’s shown many promising things this season in both one-day and stage races, and we are confident we will provide him with the right environment to continue his development”, added team manager Bart Roosens.
Hodei Muñoz to join Soudal Quick-Step:
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