I think it’s fair to say the biggest news in cycling this week was the awful crash for Wout van Aert, and the news that trickled out after is none too good about his condition. A real shame for us as fans.
Beyond that it’s a lot of pro cycling news this week, racing, race results, upcoming races, there’s a ton happening at this time of year.
As always, you can read last week’s news round up by clicking here.
Otherwise, let’s jump into all the big stories from this week.
Pedersen vs Van der Poel in Gent-Wevelgem Sprint
Kicking off the week, former world champion Mads Pedersen defeated current rainbow-jersey-wearer Mathieu van der Poel in a thrilling two-up sprint at Gent-Wevelgem, claiming his second career victory at the event.
The Danish rider outmuscled Van der Poel over the final climb, leading to a close finish at the line where Pedersen emerged victorious.
This win marked Pedersen’s seventh victory of the year, showing off his strong form early in the 2024 season.
Pedersen’s strategic sprint move and control over the race led to his success, as he now looks ahead confidently to the Tour of Flanders.
The intense race saw the duo hold off the chasing peloton, with Pedersen’s dominance on the climbs proving crucial to his win in the end.
Cycling Weekly brought us this one.
Giro’s New Stage 1 Leg Snapper
The organisers of the Giro d’Italia have made a significant change to Stage 1 of the 2024 race, throwing in an extra climb in the last 5km.
Bookies favourite Tadej Pogačar is now strongly tipped to grab the pink jersey, given the route alteration.
It’s a short update, but quite lot to digest from CyclingUpToDate.
Wout van Out
Wout van Aert will miss the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix after a horrible crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen left him with a broken collarbone and ribs.
The high-speed crash (show in the highlights around 1:40 in) also involved Mads Pedersen and Jasper Stuyven from Team Lidl-Trek, and Biniam Girmay from Team Intermarché-Wanty, all taken out of the race.
Van Aert’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, but he will definitely miss upcoming races, ending his spring campaign prematurely.
The crash occurred with 67km to go at the Kanarieberg climb, forcing several riders out of contention and marking an unfortunate end to Van Aert’s short term racing calendar. The team have already confirmed he will definitely miss the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race.
Teammate Matteo Jorgenson won the race, but the focus now shifts to the injured riders’ recoveries and their future race participation.
This one was everywhere, but the first write up I saw was at GCN.
GCN then later followed up things are bad enough that his Giro d’Italia is in doubt.
Vollering to Leave SD Worx-Protime
Among other’s, GCN reported that Demi Vollering, the reigning Tour de France Femmes champion, is set to leave Team SD Worx-Protime at the end of the season, confirmed by team boss Danny Stam.
This decision follows the extension of world champion Lotte Kopecky’s contract with the team until 2028.
Stam expressed that the team could not accommodate two riders of such high calibre due to budgetary limitations.
Vollering’s departure is certain, though her next team remains undisclosed.
Since joining the Dutch team in 2021, Vollering quickly rose to stardom, securing victories in prestigious races including Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Women’s Tour GC.
Was the writing always on the wall with SD Worx going all in on Kopecky, and Vollering apparently asking for 1 million euros to stick around?
Later in the week, SD Worx followed up with a very widely criticised tweet:
🤦
Arnaud De Lie’s Lyme Disease Diagnosis
Belgian Arnaud De Lie has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, forcing him to miss the remainder of the Spring Classics. If memory serves, he also had an injury prone start to the 2023 season, so this must feel like déjà vu.
The 22-year-old Lotto Dstny rider had been struggling with form and was found to have Lyme disease antibodies in his blood.
Doctors suspect a recent tick bite as the cause of his illness, leading to treatment with antibiotics.
De Lie fell ill at an altitude camp in Tenerife, then crashed at Le Samyn, eventually abandoning Paris-Nice.
Team manager Stéphane Heulot has told De Lie to rest and rebuild for future races, ruling out Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix participation.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Professor Meijering Extends Movistar Contract
Mareille Meijering, the Dutch cycling sensation, has renewed her contract with Movistar Team until 2027.
At just 29, Meijering has left her mark on the cycling world, transitioning from academia to peloton with noteworthy achievements early in 2024.
Her accolades include a victory in the Vuelta a Extremadura and a commendable 9th place at Jebel Hafeet in the UAE Tour Women, among other competitions.
Bernal’s Comeback Hope for Tour de France Glory
Egan Bernal, former Tour de France victor, hints at a potential return to the iconic race following a remarkable recovery from a near-fatal crash two years ago, showcasing his best performance since the incident at the Volta a Catalunya.
Despite his severe injuries from a collision in Colombia, Bernal’s unwavering spirit saw him back on the racing scene in just eight months, participating in the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in 2023.
His recent achievements include a third-place finish at Catalunya, raising prospects of a Tour de France selection, as his physical condition and race results continue to improve.
With the Tour de Romandie on the horizon and the Tour de France now a tangible goal, word is that Bernal remains optimistic about his progress.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Franck Bonnamour’s Contract Axed
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale has terminated the contract of Franck Bonnamour following a suspension by the UCI due to anomalies in his Biological Passport.
Bonnamour’s contract was set to last until the end of 2024, but with this suspension in place since the beginning of last season, he hasn’t had a ride in a long time by this point.
Bonnamour is the first French rider to fail the Biological Passport, which is a tool used to detect potential doping by tracking biological markers over time.
The UCI’s investigation into Bonnamour began in 2020, and the decision to terminate was based on the findings of this investigation and a previous suspension in January 2023.
Bonnamour has denied any wrongdoing and is focusing on his defence, maintaining that he has always been an honest, straight and clean racer.
AG2R La Mondiale confirmed the termination of his contract, which was made public after the UCI’s official release.
Pogačar’s Pledge To Be Cycling’s Greatest
Slovenian cycling sensation Tadej Pogačar has set his sights on becoming the best cyclist the world has ever seen.
Having already bagged two Tour de France stage victories, Pogačar is hungry for more, aiming to eclipse the records of cycling legends.
At just 24 years old, he’s on a quest to secure more Grand Tour wins, with the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España in his crosshairs.
His ambitions are sky-high, but Pogačar is well aware of the challenges ahead, including fierce competition from nemesis Jonas Vingegaard.
I think it’s fair to say Pogačar is firmly on course to be one of the all time greats, and for fans, we are extremely fortunate to witness both Pogačar and Vingegaard competing at the same time.
6,000 Calories You Say?
Just how many calories do the pros need to tackle races like the gruelling Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix?
In this article from Velo, Jayco AlUla’s nutritionist unveils the necessity of a high-carb intake, focusing on its critical role in sustaining riders through these intense races, with daily caloric burn reaching sky-high figures of up to 6,000 calories.
The article sheds light on the meticulously planned “carb load” regimen that riders like Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen follow, maximising muscle glycogen stores to endure the arduous efforts required.
There are the race-day rituals and in-race strategies, showing a shift towards easily digestible carbs like rice and the increasing reliance on advanced energy gels to meet soaring carbohydrate needs.
Post-race recovery continues to cover carbohydrates, ensuring riders’ swift bounce back.
It’s an interesting read for anyone into their nutrition.
A Star Among Locals at the Isle of Man Race
Mark Cavendish, the 34-time Tour de France stage winner, recently participated in the Nick Corkill Memorial Handicap road race on the Isle of Man, finishing in 29th place.
The race’s organiser, Richard Fletcher, expressed delight at Cavendish’s down-to-earth approach, highlighting his enjoyment of being treated as a local and reconnecting with his club cycling roots.
Cavendish’s appearance was part of his regular practice of participating in local races or sportives whenever he visits his birthplace, contributing to the close-knit cycling community on the island.
The local racing scene, accustomed to having professional riders like Cavendish join in without any special treatment, values these opportunities for young and aspiring cyclists.
Besides Cavendish, the Isle of Man boasts several other talented cyclists competing at Continental and WorldTour levels, who often train together and participate in local races.
Cavendish kept it real, riding to the event and back home, covering an extra 20 miles, and paying his entry fee like any other participant. I wonder if he can claim that back on expenses?
RideLondon Classique Hits Pothole
Cycling Weekly report that the planned expansion of the Ford RideLondon Classique in 2024 has been halted due to uncertainties surrounding the women’s Tour of Britain.
The demise of SweetSpot, the former promoters of the Tour of Britain, and indecision about the future scheduling of the women’s race, have impacted these plans.
Kevin Nash, technical director of Ford RideLondon Classique, mentioned the need for clarity in the race calendar to add an extra day to the event.
Scott Sunderland, race director, expressed the desire to extend the event but spoke of the challenges faced in coordination with British Cycling.
The lack of a clear future for the women’s Tour of Britain by late 2023 prevented the addition of further stages to the Classique.
Despite all of this, this year’s Ford RideLondon Classique boasts an impressive lineup including world champion Lotte Kopecky and former champions Charlotte Kool and Lizzie Deignan.
Deignan has already expressed her excitement for racing in London, recalling her silver medal win at the 2012 Olympics and the patriotic feelings it evokes.
Rouler also had an article on this one.
From Grocery Shelves to Grand Tour Glory
Lidl-Trek aims to become the top men’s and women’s UCI team and clinch a men’s Grand Tour win by 2028, backed by a hefty investment from title sponsor European supermarket giant Lidl.
With an increased budget of around €40m, the team now ranks among the wealthiest in cycling. Who knew simplicity and low, low pricing could make so much cash?
Despite the formidable competition, the team has kicked off 2024 with 19 victories across both squads, which goes some way to show off their potential.
To me it sounds awfully generic, but the team say their key changes include signing talented riders, investing in a specialised support team comprising coaches, data analysts, and nutritionists, and focusing on aerodynamic improvements.
This one made up a a nice, easy read via Cycling Weekly. Gotta kill them toilet breaks somehow.
UCI’s Wheel Deal
Everyone’s favourite governing body, UCI, has geared up to address safety concerns by commissioning a report to evaluate potential new regulations for hookless rims and tubeless tyres.
This move follows various incidents reported by riders, sparking a detailed analysis of the safety and use of hookless rims and tubeless tyres in the peloton.
A thrilling sounding Safety Working Group has been created to steer the investigation, with the aim to roll out findings and recommendations for the 2023 season.
Their review will include an in-depth analysis of the current equipment regulations and may lead to the introduction of new measures to ensure rider safety.
The UCI is working in tandem with manufacturers and teams to ensure that any new standards will harmonise with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines for wheel systems.
Van der Poel’s Canyon Aeroad
Lots of news about Mathieu van der Poel last week, led by how he clinched his first win of the season at the E3 Saxo Classic.
Velo then ran a piece about his Canyon Aeroad, which is light on pictures but includes a nice 5 minute video.
The gist of it is the bike is fairly stock, which just goes to show it’s the rider that makes the most difference. I mean, giving me his bike won’t make me any less useless.
Ride Like an Olympian (For €28,750)
Italy’s Olympic team will use Filippo Ganna’s Hour Record-breaking Pinarello Bolide bike, now available for a hefty €28,750.
The 3D printed Bolide F HR 3D, developed since Ganna’s 56.792km record in Switzerland, retains the original’s features and geometry.
Its design includes a unique humpback whale-inspired Aeronode pattern, alongside a slimline bottom bracket and hubs.
A women’s version, the Bolide HR C, offers a standard carbon-fibre construction for ‘much cheaper’ €12,000.
Both bikes, already tested at the 2023 Track World Championships, are part of Italy’s gear for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
Pinarello aims for Olympic gold, supporting the Italian track team with six men’s and six women’s bikes.
These bikes are part of the Olympic rule requiring competition bikes to be available for purchase, alongside other nations’ expensive offerings.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
PEZ Celebrates 22 Years
PEZ Cycling News celebrated its 22nd anniversary this week, reflecting on its journey from a startup to a respected source in road cycling media.
Launched in 2002 by Richard Pestes, the site aimed to cover the fan experience of pro cycling races, a niche previously overlooked by mainstream cycling media.
From its early days of roadside reporting at the Tour de France to covering a wide range of cycling topics, PEZ has aimed to pioneer fan-focused cycling journalism.
Despite all the current challenges in the cycling industry, PEZ remains one of the few independent road cycling websites in North America.
The site has welcomed contributions from numerous cycling enthusiasts and professionals, creating a rich tapestry of stories and reviews.
I regularly link to Pez articles here as it’s on my daily read list, and it should be on yours too. Here’s to another 22 years!
Wiggle Returns
Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles have made a return online after being acquired by Frasers Group, sporting a refreshed yet slightly altered branding.
Both websites, beloved by cyclists across the UK and Europe, resumed operation with a notable absence of many product images, and Wiggle reverting to its classic orange logo.
This revival follows a brief hiatus, precipitated by the parent company WiggleCRC’s slide into administration and subsequent liquidation last year.
Frasers Group’s acquisition, valued at less than £10 million, has seen a drastic reduction in staff but promises to bolster its position as a leading sporting goods retailer in Europe.
The group aims to leverage the strong reputations of Wiggle and Chain Reaction, along with their award-winning product lines, to forge new partnerships and expand their market footprint.
This one via Bicycle Retailer.
Tredz In Profit Amid Industry Downturn
Cycling Weekly reported that major online cycling retailer Tredz has defied the industry downturn by recording a £1.4m profit for the year ending April 2023, according to its latest financial report.
Makes a change, doesn’t it, amidst all the rest of the retail doom and gloom.
Owned by the UK’s leading bike retailer Halfords, Tredz profits exceeded pre-pandemic levels, despite a drop in revenue post-Covid.
Director Jo Hartley attributes the revenue decline to ‘softened’ consumer demand influenced by the cost of living crisis and necessitated increased promotional activities.
No kidding. We’re all broke here Jo.
The wider cycling market faces high inventories and price slashing, with brands and retailers offering significant discounts in response to decreased consumer spending.
Acquired by Halfords in 2016, Tredz’s financial success story includes a record pre-tax profit of nearly £8m in 2021, which kinda feel like small numbers to me, as I thought Tredz was a much bigger outfit. Still, I wouldn’t say no to 8 millys.
Scott Sports Drops The Beat
Bicycle Retailer let us know that Scott Sports, the Switzerland-based company, announced a CEO change this week, in a bid to ‘refresh’ the brand.
Juwon Kim, previously a member of the Scott Sports Board of Directors and with a rich background in investment banking and start-up ventures, takes over from Beat Zaugg.
The transition is supported by Youngone Corp, Scott Sports’ majority shareholder since 2015, which recently injected 150 million Swiss francs to bolster the company’s finances.
Youngone’s chairman, Kihak Sung, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Scott, saying nice things about its innovative products and the quality of its workforce.
Scott Sports reported a profit of $35.8 million in 2022, which makes it one of the more resilient brands amidst the industry’s challenges.
I guess if you go cap in hand to your boss for 150 million quid, people are going to start asking questions.
Holy Spokes
Road.cc followed up on the Pinarello Dogma F10 bike, once owned by Pope Francis, that sold at a charity auction last week for a heavenly sum of £12,000.
The auction, held at the 25th anniversary celebration for the Gran Fondo Nove Colli, attracted fervent bidders with deep pockets.
The holy ride, bestowed upon the Pope by Team Sky (now Ineos Grenadiers), was initially expected to fetch around £30,000 but fell far short of expectations.
The crazy part about this, for me, is that £12,000 is practically retail. And this is a one of a kind.
Proceeds from the sale will go towards the renovation of a hostel for disadvantaged youth, ensuring that the Pope’s former wheels will continue to support good causes on Earth.
So much for it being last week’s Bike of the Week doing anything to help the price.
Bike of the Week
This week’s Bike of the Week is a Bianchi Oltre XR4, provided by Redditor pupen_hunden.
Not much detail given here.
It’s a rental bike, given the comment.
A pretty fine rental though, and whilst I’m not entirely sure of the exact spec, I’m fairly sure this was the same bike user by LottoNL-Jumbo back in 2019. Maybe I’m mistaken.
Lovely shot though.
OK peeps, that’s it from me. Not sure if there will be an update next week – stay tuned. Definitely one the week after.