Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
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2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia
Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince's part to pardon. - Francis Bacon
Current racing:
- June 4 - 11: Critérium du Dauphiné
Upcoming Racing:
- June 8: GP Kanton Aargau
Latest completed racing:
- May 31 - June 4: Skoda Tour de Luxembourg
- May 5 - 28: Giro d'Italia
- May 24 - 28: Baloise Belgium Tour
- May 24 - 28: Tour des Fjords
- May 17 - 21: Tour of Norway
- May 19 - 21: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
- May 14 - 20: Tour of California
LottoNL-Jumbo's Critérium du Dauphiné report
LottoNL-Jumbo must have enjoyed writing & sending this release:
Koen Bouwman escaped to win the third stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné today in Tullins. The Dutchman from Ulft was part of a six-man group together with team-mate American Alexey Vermeulen. He topped Evaldas Siskevicius and Frederick Backaert in a sprint, Vermeulen took fifth place.
“I can't believe that I got my first pro win at the Dauphiné," Bouwman said. "This is a big race. I came here with the goal of going in a breakaway like yesterday, but this was a strong breakaway. Alexey Vermeulen pushed hard in the front.
"We're a team of very young guys here. Everyone gets his own chance. Everyone wants to break away. Two of us did today and it was perfect for winning.”
Bouwman’s victory is the 13th for team LottoNL-Jumbo this season. That talent development and success in shorter WorldTour stage races was also shown by Primoz Roglic and George Bennett.
“Fantastic," Sports Director Grischa Niermann said after Bouwman’s win. “We need stages and breakaways like this because we cannot really contend in the GC here. You have to show courage and be in the breakaway. Often that will not be rewarded, but today, it was rewarded with a beautiful win. Our Dauphiné is already a success with this win.”
Niermann expected that the stage would end in a bunch sprint. “The first time we thought they could make it, was with 20 kilometres to go. From then on, we coached them to make sure the bunch would not get them. But most of all to ride for the win. Koen was the strongest man in the breakaway today and finished it off in style.”
Koen Bouwman wins a big one
The team faces a time trail of 23.5 kilometres to Bourgoin-Jallieu tomorrow.
“First, we are going to celebrate the victory tonight. Tomorrow, both Koen and Alexey Vermeulen can ride a good time trail, but they have already consumed a lot of energy today. We must see how much they've consumed. Stef Clement is our man for the GC and he can also ride a strong time trail. Hopefully, he can make up some spots in the GC.”
After a successful internship, 23-year-old Bouwman joined the professional team in 2016. In the 2015 Giro della Valle d'Aosta, he soloed to win the Colle del Gran San Bernardo summit finish stage.
Tom Dumoulin extends contract with Team Sunweb
Here's the release the team sent me:
Team Sunweb are proud to announce the renewal of 26-year-old Tom Dumoulin's (NED) contract through to 2022.
The winner of the general classification at the 100th anniversary edition of the Giro d'Italia is still under contract with the team until 2019, but over the previous months both Team Sunweb and Dumoulin have decided to extend the contract even further. Dumoulin has shown over the previous six years with Team Sunweb that his personal beliefs align with the teams Keep Challenging philosophy, and that both rider and team compliment each other well. This provides the perfect foundation to continue building and strengthening the relationship in the future.
Tom Dumoulin with the Giro Trophy
Speaking of his contract extension Dumoulin said: "I am really happy in the team so renewing my contract comes as a natural decision to me. The philosophy of the team suits me really well, although demanding I know it continues to develop me as a rider and together we make each other stronger. Every year we've made huge progression and continue to make steps to find ways to improve as a result of the teams expertise. I have grown alongside the team for the past six years and I am confident that we will continue this upwards process for the coming years."
Team Sunweb CEO Iwan Spekenbrink (NED) added: "Tom has been with the team for six years and belongs to our group of core riders. As a person he directly reflects our Keep Challenging philosophy, a crucial aspect to a strong relationship between Team Sunweb and our riders. Together we have already had many successes and we are extremely pleased to extend his contract so that we may continue to have many more together."
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