Right now is a really unhappy EUROTRASH as we are saying goodbye to a really particular buddy – Ed Hood, who handed away on Sunday night. Because the street season will get going we have now the primary three phases of the Santos Tour Down Beneath with movies, reviews and outcomes.
TOP STORY:
Rider information:
- Sven Vanthourenhout and Tom Dumoulin assume Remco Evenepoel’s restoration is “Bullshit”
- Geraint Thomas hopes Caleb Ewan joins INEOS and goals for stage victory in Tour de France
- Tim Merlier takes his first victory of 2025
- Jasper Stuyven has a double function in 2025
- Belgian champion Arnaud De Deceive miss the beginning of his season
- Mattias Skjelmose to be group chief within the Tour de France, however doesn’t really feel prepared but
- Alejandro Valverde is the New Spanish Nationwide Coach
- Francisco Mancebo wins a UCI race at 48
- Thieves steal bikes and different valuables from Juan Sebastián Molano
Workforce information:
- Uno-X Mobility hopes to experience two Grand Excursions
- Unibet Tietema Rockets to experience the Ruta del Sol and French races
- Lotto new yr, new experience: new Orbea bike
- British Biking proclaims stellar line up for 2025 UCI Cyclocross World Championships
Race information:
- Ster van Zwolle shall be a stage in Olympia’s Tour in 2025
- Bardet, Madouas, Lapeira, Mas, Ayuso and Hirschi at the beginning of the Boucles Drôme Ardèche
- Barcelona will host the official begin of La Vuelta Femenina’25 by Carrefour.es
Doug Shapiro dies after falling from a cliff in California.
TOP STORY: Good-Bye Ed Hood
Edmond Hood, our man with all of the biking data and extra, handed away on Sunday night after a two yr wrestle following a stroke. Ed had been in a care residence when he left us. Ed lived for biking and was in his component at a race, interviewing riders, or simply writing about our sport. Everybody who met Ed knew they have been within the presence of a biking sage. From group managers to prime professionals and the ‘Younger Gun’ up coming riders, they have been all as equally essential to Ed. His writing was at all times attention-grabbing and correct. From being a rider himself, a group sponsor and proprietor, he knew the sport via and thru. He labored as a ‘runner’ on the ‘6 Days’, doing these jobs the riders must preserve the leisure going. As a journalist his data and connections encompassed the globe. Enthusiastic and at all times up for searching for that story. As he mentioned:“I’m by no means happier than after I’m writing.”
Ed shall be missed by so many, our sympathies to his household, mates and everybody who was ever fortunate sufficient to have met the one and solely: Ed Hood.
We can have a particular Ed Hood tribute this week.
Relaxation in peace, large man:
Santos Tour Down Beneath 2025
Sam Welsford has delivered what his group promised to assert: the opening stage of the Santos Tour Down Beneath because it celebrates 25 years of racing in South Australia. The Australian powered away from his Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe teammates with good timing to win the Ziptrak Stage 1 bunch dash on the Gumeracha end forward of Nice Britain’s Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease A Bike) and Groupama-FDJ’s Matthew Partitions.
Welsford mirrored his begin to the Santos Tour Down Beneath in 2024 to take the opening stage after the race left from Prospect. He’s additionally the race chief within the normal classification, with a deserved 4 stage wins to his identify since snaring his first in South Australia final yr.
“We had our backs up in opposition to the wall from the beginning,” Welsford mentioned. “No-one wished to assist us on the market right this moment – we form of anticipated it. We simply saved the break in test and ultimately some groups began to place one on within the final 60km after which the gaps began coming down as effectively. The strain was on and I’m actually relieved.”
ARA Australia’s Zac Marriage and Fergus Browning put themselves within the highlight, with the pair staying away from the principle peloton as quickly as the beginning gun was fired at Prospect till about 40km from the Gumeracha end line. The 21-year-olds traded Ziptrak dash and efex King of the Mountain bonuses earlier than they have been caught by a relentless peloton. The pair collectively claimed the celebrated Yamaha Most Aggressive rider jersey after an excellent day on scorching saddles. Browning will put on the efex King of the Mountain jersey throughout Well being Companions Stage 2 Tanunda to Tanunda on Wednesday.
“It was a tough day and an enormous time out in entrance, and we actually must take each alternative we are able to,” Marriage mentioned. “There’s no higher solution to begin than from kilometre zero. It was rewarding… it’s my residence race and I practice right here on daily basis.”
Santos Tour Down Beneath Stage 1 Consequence:
1. Sam Welsford (Aus) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 3:26:38
2. Matthew Brennan (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike
3. Matt Partitions (GB) Groupama-FDJ
4. Tim Torn Teutenberg (Ger) Lidl-Trek
5. Ben Swift (GB) INEOS Grenadiers
6. Simon Dehairs (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
7. Corbin Sturdy (NZ) Israel-Premier Tech
8. Rui Filipe Oliveira Alves (Por) UAE Emirates XRG
9. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious
10. Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Lidl-Trek.
Santos Tour Down Beneath General After Stage 1:
1. Sam Welsford (Aus) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 3:26:28
2. Matthew Brennan (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:04
3. Zachary Marriage (Aus) Australia at 0:05
4. Matt Partitions (GB) Groupama-FDJ at 0:06
5. Bastien Tronchon (Fra) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale at 0:07
6. Fergus Browning (Aus) Australia
7. Jhonnatan Manuel Narváez (Eu) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:09
8. Tim Torn Teutenberg (Ger) Lidl-Trek at 0:10
9. Ben Swift (GB) INEOS Grenadiers
10. Simon Dehairs (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck.
TDU’25 stage 1:
Sam Welsford moved a step nearer to being topped the unofficial king of Tanunda after successful back-to-back Santos Tour Down Beneath phases within the Barossa city on Wednesday. The Well being Companions Stage 2 victory noticed Welsford retain the Santos Ochre Chief’s jersey, which he’ll proudly put on throughout Thursday’s potential normal classification difficult efex Stage 3 from Norwood to Uraidla.
Welsford conquered Tanunda in 2024 to safe his first UCI WorldTour win in his residence race however was made to work a lot tougher to assert his fifth stage win of the Santos Tour Down Beneath after yesterday’s victory at Gumeracha. The West Australian star in deep trouble early within the race. He crashed after a contact of wheels about one kilometre from the Well being Companions Stage 2 begin. The Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe gun bravely closed out the 128.8km experience with gravel rash throughout his buttocks and legs and torn shorts earlier than successful a bunch dash forward of Arne Marit (Intermarché-Wanty) and Bryan Coquard of Cofidis.
“That was bloody robust on the market right this moment, they didn’t make it any simpler for me on that (ultimate Menglers Hill) climb,” Welsford mentioned. “They (rivals) began launching assaults tougher than anticipated however we had an excellent chase to get again on. My group labored laborious. I mentioned to them, ‘Let’s simply get to the road and if I’m in entrance I’m certain I can have an excellent dash.’ The boys did a mega job bringing me again and nonetheless did a lead out which is fairly spectacular right this moment.”
Welsford’s Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe group was controlling the principle peloton on the finish of the primary lap into Tanunda, unfazed by a three-man breakaway that had a 1 min 42 sec hole. The primary peloton seemingly agreed to decelerate with 75.3km earlier than the end line, in a bid to preserve power because it appeared the stage was predictably heading in direction of a bunch dash end in Tanunda. Sensing Welsford was strained following the primary kilometre crash and after the final efex King of the Mountain climb, his group pushed laborious to make sure the large sprinter was in peak situation for an additional quick finale.
Welsford made contact with the again of the peloton about 13km from the Tanunda end line. After right this moment’s win he holds the Ziptrak dash jersey too. ARA Australia’s Fergus Browning retains the efex King of the Mountain jersey he labored laborious for on Tuesday. Browning, 21, sits on 41 KOM factors, 36 forward of teammate Zac Marriage. Nice Britain’s spectacular teenager Matthew Brennan (Workforce Visma-Lease a Bike) held on to the Zwift Younger Rider jersey. The 19-year-old sits third within the normal classification, simply 14 seconds away from Welsford. Georg Zimmerman (Intermarché-Wanty) claimed the Yamaha Most Aggressive title after an outstanding day the place the German wasn’t afraid to repeatedly assault.
Santos Tour Down Beneath Stage 2 Consequence:
1. Sam Welsford (Aus) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 3:01:22
2. Arne Marit (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty
3. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Cofidis
4. Tim Torn Teutenberg (Ger) Lidl-Trek
5. Tobias Lund Andresen (Den) Workforce Picnic PostNL
6. Henri Uhlig (Ger) Alpecin-Deceuninck
7. Samuel Watson (GB) INEOS Grenadiers
8. Corbin Sturdy (NZ) Israel-Premier Tech
9. Alexis Renard (Fra) Cofidis
10. Matt Partitions (GB) Groupama-FDJ.
Santos Tour Down Beneath General After Stage 2:
1. Sam Welsford (Aus) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 6:27:40
2. Arne Marit (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty at 0:14
3. Matthew Brennan (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike
4. Patrick Konrad (Aust) Lidl-Trek at 0:15
5. Georg Zimmermann (Ger) Intermarché-Wanty
6. Zachary Marriage (Aus) Australia
7. Fergus Browning (Aus) Australia
8. Matt Partitions (GB) Groupama-FDJ at 16
9. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Cofidis
10. Bastien Tronchon (Fra) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale at 0:17.
TDU’25 stage 2:
Movistar’s Javier Romo’s maiden WorldTour victory shocked the favourites on the Santos Tour Down Beneath on the Uraidla end line on Thursday’s Stage 3.
The 26-year-old Spaniard conquered the efex males’s stage 3 and powered to victory over the Pound Street, Knotts Hill climb which made its debut and was essentially the most talked about stage of the twenty fifth anniversary of the coveted race. “I’m very completely happy, this morning I can not think about at the present time however I labored from September for this race,” Romo mentioned. “My group had a whole lot of confidence in me, they usually labored very effectively to assist me. The place right this moment was crucial and within the ultimate (to the end line) I had superb legs and every part was good.”
Romo’s solo assault to the end line noticed him wrestle the Santos ochre chief’s jersey from Australian dash king Sam Welsford. The West Australian street and monitor star owned the chief’s jersey for the primary two phases however saved the Ziptrak dash jersey forward of Friday’s Hahn Stage 4, Glenelg to Victor Harbor. UAE Workforce Emirates – XRG’s Jhonatan Narvaez completed third forward of Finn Fisher-Black (Pink Bull – BORA – Hansgrohe) throughout the end line at Uraidla.
ARA Australia’s younger gun Fergus Browning picked up 10 extra factors to make sure the efex King of the Mountain jersey stays on his again for now. Connor Swift (Ineos Grenadiers) earned invaluable factors in second spot forward of UAE Workforce Emirates – QRG Julius Johansen and Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale’s Geoffrey Bouchard. The peloton powered up Norton Summit Street after The Parade, Norwood begin with a median velocity of 40 km/h earlier than the primary KOM at Ashton.
It was no shock as Browning continued to place himself within the WorldTour store window by incomes most bonuses at Echunga. Bouchard additionally claimed bonuses for a second intermediate dash putting alongside veteran Australian Simon Clarke, 38, (Israel-Premier Tech) in what seemed to be a ploy to check the peloton’s persistence with final yr’s champion Stephen Williams lurking within the shadows.
Browning created historical past by being the primary ever Santos Tour Down Beneath rider up Pound Street on the best way to beat Knott’s Hill. Bouchard was on his wheel. Jayco AlUla’s Chris Harper was third forward of Finn Fisher-Black (Pink Bull – BORA – Hansgrohe) and Jayco AlUla’s Plapp.
It began getting critical as Bouchard claimed most bonuses, adopted by Browning and Finn Fisher-Black. The race began splitting after the dash earlier than the peloton got here again collectively. Groupama-FDJ’s French star Remy Rochas powered first over the KOM adopted by Narvaez, Romo, Finn Fisher-Black and Oscar Onley from Workforce Picnic PostNL.
Santos Tour Down Beneath Stage 3 Consequence:
1. Javier Romo Oliver (Spa) Movistar in 3:46:01
2. Jhonnatan Manuel Narváez (Eu) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:05
3. Finn Fisher-Black (NZ) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
4. Withen Albert Philipsen (Den) Lidl-Trek
5. Thomas Gloag (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike
6. Patrick Konrad (Aust) Lidl-Trek
7. Andrea Bagioli (Ita) Lidl-Trek
8. Bastien Tronchon (Fra) Decathlon – AG2R La Mondiale
9. Remy Rochas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
10. Magnus Sheffield (USA) INEOS Grenadiers.
Santos Tour Down Beneath General After Stage 3:
1. Javier Romo Oliver (Spa) Movistar in 10:13:51
2. Jhonnatan Manuel Narváez (Eu) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:08
3. Patrick Konrad (Aust) Lidl-Trek at 0:10
4. Finn Fisher-Black (NZ) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
5. Bastien Tronchon (Fra) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale at 0:12
6. Magnus Sheffield (USA) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:15
7. Withen Albert Philipsen (Den) Lidl-Trek
8. Jay Vine (Aus) UAE Emirates XRG
9. Chris Harper (Aus) Jayco AlUla
10. Andrea Bagioli (Ita) Lidl-Trek.
TDU’25 stage 3:
Sven Vanthourenhout and Tom Dumoulin Suppose Remco Evenepoel’s Restoration is “Bullshit”
Whereas the 2025 street season is kicking off in Australia, Remco Evenepoel nonetheless can’t practice outdoors on account of his crash in September. A nerve in his shoulder has been injured and that should get better. Sporza requested Sven Vanthourenhout and Tom Dumoulin their views on his restoration.
Ex Belgian nationwide coach Vanthourenhout just lately spoke to Evenepoel. “It is going to be tremendous once more, proper? Remco will shock us once more eventually and blow us away. However I make the comparability with Wout van Aert. They’re in an identical place: it’s a matter of trial and error. You hear these clichés that athletes come out stronger from this, however that’s, if I could say so, bullshit. Remco and Wout might each have been a lot additional alongside of their careers in the event that they hadn’t skilled all this. You keep off the bike for 2 to 3 months and you place your power into different issues. That doesn’t make you any higher,” he continues. “It’s that straightforward. In fact they’ve a way of perspective. Issues can go unsuitable in life, however as an athlete you possibly can higher miss one thing like that. Now you’re calculating once more when it comes to your restoration. There shall be one other spotlight, however the months earlier than which were cancelled and his palmarès might have been extra in depth. Take a look at Van Aert, who has already missed Flanders and Roubaix a number of instances.”
Tom Dumoulin additionally spoke about Evenepoel. “I learn that Remco has been out of motion for ten weeks: that’s lots, however it’s actually not insurmountable,” explains the Giro d’Italia 2017 winner. “That doesn’t need to have any penalties for the Tour de France, and possibly not for the Classics both.”
Dumoulin dis have some recommendation for the younger Belgian. “Remco is now lacking part of his base. He could be smart to construct that base first earlier than he actually begins racing lots. In case you try this with too little base, you may shock and pull out all of the stops. Somebody nearly as good as Evenepoel might win Liège. However should you make it a busy racing interval, you are taking that lack of base with you to the Tour. I might say: work in direction of the Tour de France in all calmness. He’ll begin there because the freshest in any case.”
‘Evenepoel ought to intention on the Tour’:
Geraint Thomas Hopes That Caleb Ewan Joins INEOS and Goals for Stage Victory in Tour de France
It seems like Caleb Ewan is not with the Jayco AlUla group, however it’s unclear what he’s going to do. The newest hearsay is that INEOS Grenadiers might signal him. Geraint Thomas wish to see him be part of the group, he mentioned in an interview with Cyclingnews.
Thomas couldn’t affirm that INEOS is certainly concerned with Ewan, however would welcome the sprinter into the group. “I do know him effectively, he is an efficient buddy of mine. If he have been to return right here, that may be nice. Additionally it is clear that we’re lacking a sprinter, whereas forty % of the races finish in a dash, proper? It might be helpful to have him there. Hopefully it is going to occur, however I’ve solely heard rumours, so we’ll see.”
INEOS Grenadiers has 27 riders, to this point this season, whereas the utmost for a WorldTeam is 30. So, there may be nonetheless sufficient room for Ewan, who was faraway from the Jayco AlUla group web site initially of the yr. It seem like the Australian has left the group and it’s uncertain whether or not he would finish his profession, though his supervisor mentioned ‘definitely not’ to retirement.
Thomas will kick off his personal season within the Santos Tour Down Beneath, which began on Tuesday, the place he primarily needs to assist Magnus Sheffield and Michał Kwiatkowski within the com. The Welshman nonetheless has private ambitions for the remainder of the season, which shall be his final as an expert bicycle owner. “I wish to win a race once more. Any race, to be trustworthy. I might additionally prefer to go to the Tour de France once more and possibly attempt to hunt for a stage win, not a lot intention for a GC. I additionally simply wish to be an excellent, strong teammate for the blokes. Take a number of possibilities and simply take pleasure in it.”
Thomas needs to see Caleb Ewan in an INEOS jersey:
Tim Merlier Takes his First Victory of 2025
Tim Merlier has taken his first victory in 2025. The European street champion gained the Coastrace of Middelkerke on Sunday. He beat Xandro Meurisse, Aaron Verwilst and his youthful brother Braam Merlier.
The Coastrace of Middelkerke is a seaside race of over 40 kilometres. A number one group of 4 riders escaped, together with Tim Merlier. The Soudal Fast-Step rider, who had simply completed a coaching camp in Spain, rode away from the others within the finale and crossed the end line solo. It was his first victory in a seaside race this winter.
Ten seconds after Merlier, Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Xandro Meurisse was second. Aaron Verwilst, who rode for Flanders-Baloise till 2023 and is now a gravel rider, completed third simply behind him. Tim Merlier’s youthful brother Braam Merlier, who was a cyclo-cross rider with Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice, completed fourth. Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Fast-Step) was fifth.
Tim Merlier’s 2025 race programme:
28.01: AlUla Tour
02.03: Kuurne – Brussels – Kuurne
26.03: Basic Brugge-De Panne
30.03: Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields
06.04: Tour of Flanders
09.04: Scheldeprijs
13.04: Paris-Roubaix
05.07: Tour de France
23.08: Vuelta a España.
Tim Merlier takes his first win of 2025 – On sand:
Jasper Stuyven has a double function in 2025
Jasper Stuyven will begin his twelfth professional season in a couple of month. The 32-year-old Belgian hopes to shine once more within the spring Classics, however he additionally has one other essential function with the Lidl-Trek group.
Stuyven shall be an essential hyperlink in Jonathan Milan’s dash practice. The Italian has developed into among the best sprinters within the peloton in recent times and this yr he’ll get the prospect to show himself on the highest stage within the Tour de France. As a dash lead-out man, Stuyven is definite of a Tour place.
“Final yr in Italy (the Giro) we confirmed that our practice can work very effectively”, Stuyven instructed Sporza on the Lidl-Trek group media day. “I will be of added worth to his sprints. I believe it is rather good to go to the Tour with such a prime sprinter. That could be a very clear objective.” He hopes he’ll have the ability to do his personal factor within the transition phases. However earlier than that, there are the spring Classics. Stuyven had an excellent spring final yr and was prepared for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, however a crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen put an finish to that. “It wasn’t simple for me then. Too unhealthy that occurred, particularly with that type, however it was additionally good to see that affirmation of my type once more in 2024. That’s the place I wish to go once more now. As a result of if I attain that stage once more, then I also can experience the finals once more. And that implies that I can compete for that victory or a podium place once more.”
Stuyven – Classics and lead-out man:
Belgian Champion Arnaud De Deceive Miss the Begin of his Season
Arnaud De Lie was supposed to start out his season in Spain this weekend, however crashed whereas coaching earlier this week and must miss the GP Castellón and the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana. “Arnaud De Lie will sadly not be at the beginning of the GP Castellón (25/01) and the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana (26/01) this weekend”, his Lotto group introduced through social media. “He crashed throughout coaching earlier this week. He’s presently nonetheless affected by ache in his knee. As a precaution, he’ll postpone the beginning of his season. We want him a speedy restoration!”
De Lie revealed his race program for the primary months of 2025 initially of January. The sprinter is engaged on an in depth programme within the run-up to his main objectives, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. De Lie will most likely now begin his season in France with the Étoile de Bessèges (5-9 February), if he can get better from his knee harm.
This can then experience the Volta ao Algarve. This yr De Lie won’t go on an altitude coaching camp in Tenerife within the spring. De Lie will begin the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, adopted by Le Samyn later that week. After Le Samyn, there are the Flemish WorldTour races: the E3 Saxo Basic, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. After the Classics he shall be coaching for the Tour de France.
Arnaud De Lie’s 2025 race programme:
05.02: Etoile de Bessèges – Tour du Gard
19.02: Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta
01.03: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite
04.03: Ename Samyn Basic
28.03: E3 Saxo Basic
30.03: Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields
02.04: Dwars door Vlaanderen
06.04: Tour of Flanders
13.04: Paris-Roubaix.
Mattias Skjelmose to be Workforce Chief within the Tour de France, however Doesn’t Really feel Prepared But
Mads Pedersen wished to go to the Tour de France, however his Lidl-Trek group need him to experience the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. Mattias Skjelmose wished to go to the Giro, however would be the total chief within the Tour. “The group insisted,” he instructed TV2.
In response to Skjelmose, he had an odd dialog with the group administration. The 24-year-old Dane wished to go to the Giro, however he can perceive the group’s choice. “After the final Vuelta a España (Skjelmose was fifth) I noticed the Giro as the following pure step in my growth as a classification rider. Personally, I don’t assume I’m actually able to experience an excellent classification within the Tour. That’s why I believed the Giro could be a greater choice than what we’ve determined now. I’ll go to the Tour with sprinter Jonathan Milan, so we are able to share the strain.”
Skjelmose will begin his season in France, the identical as final yr, after which the Ardennes Classics would be the first fundamental objective of his season. After that, he’ll work in direction of the Tour, his second fundamental objective, through altitude coaching within the Critérium du Dauphiné. On the finish of the yr, a 3rd objective would be the World Championships in Rwanda. “A participation within the Vuelta can also be nonetheless on the desk,” he mentioned. “We are going to make that call after the Tour, to see how I’m doing bodily and mentally. The group additionally doesn’t know but whether or not the Vuelta is the optimum preparation for me in direction of the World championships.” Skjelmose ought to be the Danish chief in Rwanda with Jonas Vingegaard.
Skjelmose to the 2025 Tour:
Alejandro Valverde is the New Spanish Nationwide Coach
Valverde was one of many candidates to succeed Pascual Momparler, however in accordance with the Spanish newspaper El País, the negotiations have now been accomplished. It now seems like Alejandro Valverde shall be on the head of the Spanish biking group for the following 4 years as nationwide coach.
The 44-year-old Valverde has labored extra behind the scenes since his retirement as a rider in 2022, however will now be the nationwide coach from this yr onwards. El Imbatido was concerned with the Movistar group for the previous two seasons, as an advisor. The previous a number of winner will proceed to work with Eusebio Unzué, the Movistar supervisor, as a result of Valverde will mix the nationwide coach job together with his work as ambassador for Unzué’s Abarca Sports activities organisation, the corporate behind the Movistar group.
With Valverde as the brand new nationwide coach, the Spanish biking federation (RFEC) hopes to once more obtain successes within the championships. The brand new coach has sufficient expertise relating to performing on the highest stage. Valverde stood on the rostrum on the World Championship seven instances. In 2003 he gained his first medal (silver) in Hamilton, Canada, adopted by one other silver medal in Madrid (2005) and bronze medals in Salzburg (2006), Valkenburg (2012), Florence (2013) and Ponferrada (2014). However in 2018 Valverde managed to win the rainbow jersey. In Innsbruck, on the age of 38 and after a tough race, he beat Romain Bardet, Michael Woods and Tom Dumoulin.
Can Valverde encourage one other Spanish World champion?
Francisco Mancebo Wins a UCI Race at 48
Francisco Mancebo, the 48-year-old Spaniard has been racing for a few years and remains to be profitable in his previous age. Mancebo gained a UCI race on Wednesday. He was the primary to cross the end line within the 109 kilometre opening stage of the Tour du Sahel, a UCI 2.2 race in Mauritania, in Africa. Mancebo additionally took the primary chief’s jersey within the fifth version of the Tour du Sahel.
This yr, the race has 5 phases earlier than it finishes on Sunday with 4 primarily flat phases. Mancebo, who rides for Al-Raed Saudi Membership in Mauritania is in an excellent place to take the ultimate total victory. For Mancebo, it might be one other milestone in a really lengthy and memorable profession. The Spaniard made his skilled debut 27 years in the past in 1998 with Banesto. Mancebo turned an excellent stage race rider
His breakthrough got here in 2000 with a ninth place total within the Tour de France and in addition took the white younger riders jersey. He completed within the prime ten within the Tour de France in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2005 he was fourth. Mancebo has solely been on the rostrum of a Grand Tour as soon as. In 2004 he completed third within the Vuelta a España. Within the 2005 Vuelta he gained a stage and completed fourth total.
Mancebo moved to AG2R Prévoyance on the finish of 2005, however he left after six months after being linked to Operación Puerto, the doping case involving physician Eufemiano Fuentes. Mancebo was by no means signed once more by a prime group and rode for a number of Continental groups.
A UCI win for 48-year-old Paco Mancebo:
Thieves Steal Bikes and Different Valuables from Juan Sebastián Molano
Juan Sebastián Molano, the UAE Emirates-XRG sprinter, has been the sufferer of a theft at his residence in La Trinidad, Colombia. He and his brother Juan, with whom he shares the home, weren’t at residence on the time of the housebreaking.
The 2 brothers are presently in Dubai, the place Juan Sebastián Molano is making ready for the 2025 street season. This was the proper time for thieves to interrupt into his residence in La Trinidad and take many costly objects. The Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reviews that the thieves had chosen that specific home. They broke in when nobody was residence. Relations of the Molano brothers instructed the newspaper {that a} Colnago street bike and two Specialised mountain bikes have been taken. The robbers additionally took family home equipment, biking clothes and different equipment. The household hopes, on account of their significance, that the Colnago and Specialised bikes shall be recovered.
Molano’s bikes stolen:
Uno-X Mobility Hopes to Experience Two Grand Excursions
Uno-X Mobility has acquired a ‘wildcard’ for the Tour de France for the final two editions. The Norwegian group additionally hopes to start out La Grande Boucle in 2025, however there may be a whole lot of groups who need an invitation this yr. Christian Andersen, group supervisor of Uno-X Mobility, is aware of the issue.
Andersen is ready for the telephone name from ASO. “It might occur at any second. It should actually imply lots to us, since we have now come to this point. The Tour de France is the largest and most essential race of the yr. There is no such thing as a different race that comes shut, so after all it is very important get a wildcard,” he instructed Danish TV2.
Uno-X Mobility was invited for the primary time by the Tour de France in 2023 and in addition acquired a wildcard for the Tour final yr. The group didn’t win a stage in its first two participations, however did a lot better. Alexander Kristoff took good placings within the sprints, Tobias Halland Johannessen additionally rode effectively in hilly and mountain phases and Jonas Abrahamsen wore the KOM jersey for greater than every week. Whether or not that is sufficient for a 3rd ‘wildcard’ stays to be seen. Attributable to their place within the 2024 UCI Rating, ProTeams Lotto and Israel-Premier Tech are sure of participation and so there are nonetheless two locations left. Uno-X is within the race for a ‘wildcard’, however TotalEnergies, Tudor Professional Biking, group of Julian Alaphilippe and Q36.5 Professional Biking are additionally hoping for choice.
Will Uno-X Mobility be again within the Tour this yr? Participation within the two different main excursions already appears out of the query. “We wish to experience two Grand Excursions this yr. However within the Giro d’Italia we have now to compete with the various Italian groups, Tudor and Q36.5”, Andersen thinks. “And for the Vuelta a España we have now to take care of the Spanish groups. So it will likely be very tough.” So the group won’t have the ability to experience any Grand Excursions this yr. “That might be very unhealthy for our group in precept. That might be shit, roughly talking. However it’s not just like the world will finish then.”
Will Uno-X experience the 2025 Tour?
Unibet Tietema Rockets to Experience the Ruta del Sol and French Races
Unibet Tietema Rockets has introduced its program for the beginning of 2025. The now French registered, Dutch group will experience the Ruta del Sol in Spain, adopted by principally French races.
The season begins for the Rockets in Spain, in Mallorca Problem. The group will take part in all 5 one-day races on the Island on the finish of January; the Trofeo Calvià (29 January) to the Trofeo Palma (2 February). When a part of the group is lining up within the final race, one other a part of the group shall be in France for the Grand Prix La Marseillaise.
In France, the group can even experience the Étoile de Bessèges (5-9 February), Tour de la Provence (14-16 February), Basic Var (21 February) and Tour des Alpes-Maritimes (22-23 February). They can even be in Spain on January 19, Unibet Tietema Rockets shall be at the beginning of the Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta del Sol, a 2.Professional race, which runs till February 23. Unibet Tietema Rockets can even begin the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on March 1, as they acquired one of many ‘wildcards’ for the Belgian WorldTour one-day race.
Unibet Tietema Rockets aiming for the WorldTour:
New Yr, New Experience: That is our New Orbea Bike
The Lotto Biking Workforce proudly presents its new bike for the upcoming season. The shimmering Orbea is able to drive the group in direction of success within the upcoming yr.
In current weeks, Lotto Biking Workforce has been making ready for the brand new biking season below the radiant Spanish solar, following custom by coaching on a brand-new bike. The deep pink, gleaming Orbea not solely completely matches Lotto’s retro pink jersey for the brand new season, however the bike—expertly crafted by the Basque bike producers at Orbea—can even be essential in attaining the group’s objectives for this yr.
As within the earlier yr, the Lotto Biking Workforce will use two Orbea fashions. The Orca Aero is the perfect aerodynamic companion for sprints and quick phases, whereas the Orca is designed to help Lotto’s climbers throughout essentially the most demanding mountain phases. Finishing the setup are Orbea’s OQUO wheels, the RP45 and RP57, together with the brand new disc brakes from Galfer.
Final season, the group partnered with the Basque bike producer Orbea, a model that, just like the Belgian group, boasts a wealthy historical past. Simply as biking is deeply embedded in Belgium’s tradition, it’s equally ingrained within the Basque Nation, maybe extra so than wherever else on this planet. With Orbea’s 180 years of experience and Lotto’s 40 years of expertise, this partnership brings many years of data collectively within the peloton. Over the following 5 years, it goals to assist elevate the younger abilities of the Lotto Biking Workforce to the following stage.
British Biking Pronounces Stellar Line Up for 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
British Biking can right this moment announce the 11-strong squad that has been chosen to symbolize Nice Britain on the 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, in Liévin, France from Friday thirty first January to Sunday 2nd February.
Taking over a difficult and assorted course, three-time nationwide champion Cameron Mason will spearhead the elite males’s race. Mason, who has had three top-10 world cup finishes to this point this season, shall be joined by Thomas Mein, who delivered a world cup greatest place of sixth place in Besançon in December, alongside three Nationwide Trophy Sequence wins to this point this season.
Zoe Backstedt shall be donning a Nice Britain jersey and pulling out all of the stops in an try to defend her under-23 ladies’s title. The 20-year-old has had a whirlwind season to this point, claiming prime 10 finishes in each world cup she’s entered, together with three podiums. She’s going to face some stiff competitors within the type of Luxembourg’s Marie Schrieber, in addition to a powerful exhibiting from her personal nation.
Having missed a piece of the cyclo-cross season on account of harm, Cat Ferguson shall be seeking to make her mark in her first yr at under-23 stage, after securing the junior ladies’s silver medal in 2024. Nationwide bronze medallist Imogen Wolff can even be pushing for a podium place, alongside Ella Maclean-Howell.
Again-to-back nationwide champion Oscar Amey will compete within the junior males’s class, having had a promising season to this point with three prime 10 performances within the junior world cups. Making his world championship debut alongside him shall be nationwide championship silver medallist Milo Willis.
All three of Nice Britain’s junior ladies shall be making their world championship debut in Liévin, with Arabella Blackburn, Zoe Roche and Ellie Mitchinson seeking to earn their stripes on the world stage.
After successful a silver medal final yr within the group relay occasion, Nice Britian shall be competing on this occasion with the road as much as be confirmed nearer to competitors.
Matt Ellis, Nice Britain Biking Workforce Cyclo-cross Co-ordinator, mentioned: “We’ve got a incredible squad of promising riders heading to the world championships this yr, able to tackle an attention-grabbing course and present their expertise on the world stage. We’ve got a incredible vary of expertise from cyclo-cross veterans to debutants seeking to acquire expertise on the largest stage, all supporting one another and able to symbolize Nice Britian with pleasure and willpower. Having this stage of energy and depth throughout the programme to take 11 riders to a world championships is a credit score to the expertise groups and training workers that help these riders to turn out to be the most effective of their sport and I’m wanting ahead to seeing what they’ll ship in competitors.”
Nice Britain Biking Workforce Squad for the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships:
Elite males
Cam Mason
Thomas Mein
Beneath-23 ladies
Zoe Backstedt
Cat Ferguson
Ella Maclean-Howell
Imogen Wolff
Junior males
Oscar Amey
Milo Wills
Junior ladies
Arabella Blackburn
Ellie Mitchinson
Zoe Roche.
Cameron Mason shall be searching for a prime outcome:
Ster van Zwolle Might be a Stage in Olympia’s Tour in 2025
The Salverda Ster van Zwolle will proceed, however not as a person race. The standard opening traditional of the Dutch biking season shall be a part of the Metec Olympia’s Tour. On this manner, the race has discovered a solution to the shortage of a police escort.
The Ster was initially deliberate for Saturday 8 March, however now the route of the race would be the fourth stage of Olympia’s Tour, which begins on 26 March. Which means that the race won’t happen in and round Zwolle till 29 March. The explanation that the Ster van Zwolle needs to be a part of the Olympia’s Tour is the shortage of police escort. Within the run-up to the NATO summit in The Hague in June, the Dutch authorities is considerably tightening the safety of the nation. The result’s that from 1 January to 31 August 2025, no police deployment shall be potential at bike races. The Ster van Zwolle was threatened to be one of many victims. A potential resolution was to have the race happen on a circuit, however the organisers of the Ster van Zwolle didn’t like the thought. “We’re positively not going to make it a circuit, we have now already appeared into that. We don’t see any closed course within the area that’s UCI-worthy,” chairman Gerrit Knol instructed WielerFlits in December. “Both the Ster will go forward fully, or in no way.”
Ultimately, the Ster van Zwolle joined forces with Olympia’s Tour, one of many few races that might rely on police escort. They have been completely happy to assist the Ster with the oldest Dutch stage race. “Now that the continuation of main one-day monuments is below strain because of the lack of police deployment due to the NATO summit, we really feel a fantastic accountability to make as a lot impression as potential for Dutch biking with the police deployment that Olympia’s Tour has,” mentioned Thijs Rondhuis, who organises Olympia’s Tour with Braveness Occasions. “That’s the reason we contacted the organisation of the Ster van Zwolle to debate the chances. It’s nice that we have now managed to make this competitors happen on this manner. On this manner, the organisation of the Ster van Zwolle and all its volunteers stay energetic and we don’t run the chance that this excellent competitors will ultimately disappear.”
Knol can also be delighted. “We will not be the opening of the biking season for a yr, however we’ll nonetheless be using!”, he acknowledged enthusiastically. “Because of the collaboration with Olympia’s Tour, we are able to organise the actual Ster at a time when biking is below nice strain. We’re completely happy and pleased with this distinctive collaboration.”
The organisation of the Ster van Zwolle additionally introduced on the similar time that it might additionally organise two different competitions. “In Might of this yr, we’ll organise the Omloop van Zwartewaterland as Ster van Zwolle. A form of sister of the Ster. There we’ll organise a contest for the Prime Competitors Elite Girls and Membership Competitors Elite Males on a 19 kilometre circuit over dikes and thru polders. The boys who usually are not presently using the Ster can indulge their biking coronary heart there once more.”
The 2025 Ster van Zwolle saved:
Bardet, Madouas, Lapeira, Mas, Ayuso and Hirschi on the Begin, the European Street Championships are Coming
The twenty fifth version of the Boucles Drôme Ardèche (France) is simply across the nook!
Just a little over a month from race day, the organising committee has formally unveiled the lineup, routes, and key highlights of its anniversary occasion.
13 UCI WorldTeams have already confirmed their participation within the Faun Ardèche Basic (Saturday, March 1st) and/or the Faun Drôme Basic (Sunday, March 2nd).
Amongst them are the celebrated UAE Workforce Emirates, Visma – Lease a Bike, Workforce Pic-Nic Publish NL, Lidl – Trek, Soudal Fast-Step, and the French groups Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Workforce, Arkéa B&B Inns, Cofidis, and Groupama – FDJ, which have confirmed the participation of a few of their greatest riders.
Romain Bardet (France, Workforce Pic-Nic Publish NL), 2nd in Le Tour de France 2016, third in 2017, stage winner and yellow jersey in Le Tour de France 2024, 2018 UCI Street World Championships silver medalist, winner of the Ardèche Basic in 2018 and the Drôme Basic in 2014,
Valentin Madouas (France, Groupama – FDJ), 2024 Olympic silver medalist in street biking, 2nd within the 2023 Strade Bianche, and winner of the 2023 Bretagne Basic Ouest-France,
Paul Lapeira (France, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Workforce), 2024 French street race champion, winner of the Polynormande in 2024, Cholet Agglo Tour in 2024, Basic Loire Atlantique in 2024 and fifth in 2024 Amstel Gold Race,
Juan Ayuso (Spain, UAE Workforce Emirates), winner of the 2024 Itzulia Basque Nation, stage winner within the 2024 Tirreno-Adriatico, stage winner within the 2023 Tour de Suisse, and winner of the 2024 Faun Ardèche Basic,
Marc Hirschi (Switzerland, Tudor Professional Biking Workforce), stage winner in Le Tour de France, winner of the 2020 Flèche Wallonne, 2nd within the 2020 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and winner of the 2024 Faun Drôme Basic,
Enric Mas (Spain, Movistar), stage winner and four-time podium finisher within the normal classification of La Vuelta a España, and winner of the 2022 Giro dell’Emilia, will attempt to add or re-add their names to the winners’ checklist.
Becoming a member of them are Warren Barguil (Workforce Pic-Nic Publish NL), Victor Lafay (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Workforce), Guillaume Martin (Groupama – FDJ), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal – Fast-Step), Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl – Trek), Cian Uijtdebroek (Workforce Visma – Lease a Bike), and Axel Zingle (Workforce Visma – Lease a Bike), finishing a stellar lineup.
For the ninth consecutive yr, the Faun Ardèche Basic and Faun Drôme Basic shall be broadcasted stay on La Chaine L’Équipe.
With seven months to go till the UEC European Street Championships in Drôme Ardèche (October 1-5), organised by the identical group, many riders will use the races to familiarise themselves with the area’s roads.
Guillaume Delpech, Founding President of the Boucles Drôme Ardèche: “Twenty-five years is a really particular anniversary. With only a month to go, the whole organising committee fondly recollects the very first version in 2001 in Ruoms, after we have been only a small regional race run by a gaggle of mates. For this 2025 version, we’ve centered on our core values. A high-caliber lineup, that includes world-class groups and riders we deeply recognize and thank for his or her belief. Difficult routes tailor-made for punchers, reflecting the character of a area all of us love. Stay broadcast on La Chaine L’Équipe, enabling us to interact a large viewers of biking lovers and showcase Drôme-Ardèche. Hardly ever has the races been so aggressive, with French prime riders like Romain Bardet and Valentin Madouas, alongside main worldwide cyclists resembling Mas, Hirschi, Ayuso, and Uijtdebroek. Lastly, this twenty fifth anniversary can have a European flavour, with the UEC European Street Championships on the horizon. It’s the proper alternative to refine our preparations for October.”
Barcelona Will Host the Official Begin of La Vuelta Femenina’25 by Carrefour.es
Barcelona will host the official begin of La Vuelta Femenina 25 by Carrefour.es on Sunday, Might 4. Following Torrevieja in 2023 and Valencia in 2024, the Catalan capital would be the place to begin of the third version of the race, as soon as once more providing a Mediterranean-flavoured starting.
The streets of Barcelona will as soon as extra turn out to be the epicentre of world biking, simply two years after internet hosting the kickoff of La Vuelta 23. On this manner, Barcelona reaffirms its dedication to being a reference level for organising sporting occasions. After internet hosting the 2024 America’s Cup, town can also be making ready to welcome the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2026 for the primary time in its historical past.
La Vuelta Femenina 25 by Carrefour.es will happen from Might 4 to Might 10, 2025. All the small print of the route shall be revealed within the coming weeks.
Doug Shapiro Dies after Falling from a Cliff in California
Former bicycle owner Doug Shapiro has died on the age of 65. The American raced for Kwantum Hallen-Decosol and the 7 Eleven group, died after falling from a steep cliff in Mendocino, California.
Final Tuesday, Shapiro’s physique was discovered by a passer-by on a seaside within the Mendocino Headlands State Park, on the backside of a cliff the place there have been additionally climbing trails. After an examination on the emergency room, he was declared useless on January 14. What occurred and when he fell isn’t identified.
His accidents have been according to a critical fall and against the law was dominated out by the deputy sheriff. A forensic pathologist will decide the precise explanation for dying, in accordance with an announcement from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Doug Shapiro rode the Tour de France 3 times and was the third American ever to experience the French GT when he made his Tour debut. In 1984 he competed within the Olympic Video games in Los Angeles and that yr he additionally gained the 1984 Coors Basic, which was the largest American race on the time. A yr later he additionally had robust performances within the GP Midi-Libre 1985 (second on a stage) and in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 1985 (fifth). He ended his profession in 1989.
Doug Shapiro RIP:
Watch the PEZ YOUTUBE Channel right here
Comply with PEZ INSTAGRAM right here
The PEZ NEWSWIRE!
Don’t overlook to test the “NEWSWIRE” part, you could find it on the homepage, simply above the PEZ Store part. The bits of stories that missed the EuroTrash deadline are in there, plus any information as-it-happens shall be added there too.
Any feedback, drop me a line, at: [email protected] or Twitter. And test the PezCyclingNews Twitter and Fb Web page. And say hello on Zwift if you move me.
Like PEZ? Why not subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter to obtain updates and reminders on what’s cool in street biking?
