Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, October 2, 2017
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2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia
People understand me so poorly that they don't even understand my complaint about them not understanding me. - Soren Kierkegaard
Upcoming racing:
- October 3: Tre Valli Varesine
- October 3: Binche-Chimay-Binche
- October 3: Sparkassen Munsterland Giro
- October 5: Milano-Torino
- October 5: Paris-Bourges
- October 7: Il Lombardia
- October 8: Paris-Tours
Latest completed racing:
- Oct 1: GP Bruno Beghelli
- Oct 1: Tour de l'Eurométropole
- Sept 30: Giro dell'Emilia
- Sept 28: GP Città di Peccioli-Coppa Sabatini
- Sept 26-27: Giro della Toscana
- Sept 24: Elite Men UCI World Road Championships
- Sept 12 - 16: Tour of Denmark
Bahrain-Merida reports on the GP Bruno Beghelli
"We did the race for Sonny [Colbrelli] – tells Manuele Boaro at the finish line in Monteveglio – but in the end we have harvested less than we hoped for. The second place is, however, another good result that closes a week in which we have been protagonists”.
“I went on the break with two laps to go – continues the Italian rider – to force the other teams to work. They got us back at the beginning of the last climb, but Sanchez surprised us by attacking 5km from the finish line”.
Colbrelli won the bunch sprint for the secondo place. “The condition is always good – he says – and I’m doing a good end of the season. Another placement that encourages me to do better1”.
Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez has won solo the 22nd edition of GP Bruno Beghelli ahead of our sprinter and Italian Elia Viviani.
“Even today the team has been united and has worked well – explains SD Paolo Slongo – the race winner, is a very experienced rider and smelled the right occasion. That’s fine, now we are going to Tre Valli Varesine; it’s a race where we can obtain a good result”.
Luis Leon Sanchez wins the GP Bruno Beghelli
Next Team race, in fact, next Tuesday at the Three Valli Varesine. A classic international calendar with arrival at Varese after 192 kilometers. The last two editions were won by our athletes: Nibali in 2015 and Colbrelli last year.
Here's Team Wanty-Groupe Gobert's report on Tour de l'Eurométropole
Kenny Dehaes sprinted to second place in a reduced group in Eurométropole (1.HC, 01/10) on Sunday. Dehaes thus strengthens his lead in the Belgian Cycling Cup with only one race, Binche-Chimay-Binche, remaining. A breakaway of eight riders received the freedom of the peloton, but was caught 20 kilometers from the finish. In the six local laps the riders had to climb the Col de la Croix Jubaru. In the last lap the attacks kept coming and the peloton was strung out. Wanty-Groupe Gobert believed in the chances of Kenny Dehaes and his teammates offered themselves completely.
A strong Dehaes slipped into a reduced group of about 20 riders. In the final kilometer Anthony Turgis jumped away, the Frenchman seemed to be on his way to victory but was overhauled in the last 10 meters. Kenny Dehaes had started his sprint next to De Buyst and McLay. McLay was a sigh faster than Kenny, who finished second. In the Belgian Cycling Cup Dehaes is expanding his lead to 7 points on De Buyst. Tuesday the final race Binche-Chimay-Binche is on the program. Binche is the home base of our main sponsor Wanty
Daniel McLay grabs the win.
Kenny Dehaes:
"A double feeling prevails. On the one hand I am disappointed because I was so close to the victory, but on the other hand I am happy because my lead in the Belgian Cycling Cup grows. Seven points on De Buyst is better than four. I was a bit scared of the race because it was my first participation. The wind made it difficult, but Van Keirsbulck kept me in front all day. On the local lap luckily the wind was more in my advantage. "
"In the last lap I was ideally placed at the foot of the climb. On the climb itself, it broke without I realised. We came up with fifteen riders with De Buyst, but McLay and some others returned in the descent. Because Turgis had a good lead in the final kilometer, we had to go from far. At the end I just fell short of victory. "
"Now the main goal is to win the final classification in Binche-Chimay-Binche. De Buyst is the only one that can beat me, so I'll have to stay close to him. My performance today certainly gives confidence for the tough race on Tuesday. "
UAE Team Emirates in Italy for the Tre Valli Varesine and the Milano-Torino
The squad sent me this news release:
UAE Team Emirates will continue racing in the month of October with two Italian events: the Tre Valli Varesine (October 3rd) and the Milano-Torino (October 4th).
These are the riders who will be lining up under Sports Director Marco Marzano for the two Italian competitions:
Tre Valli Varesine (Saronno-Varese, 192.89 km)
Valerio Conti (Italy)
Rui Costa (Portugal)
Kristijan Durasek (Croatia)
Simone Petilli (Italy)
Jan Polanc (Slovenia)
Edward Ravasi (Italy)
Oliviero Troia (Italy)
Diego Ulissi (Italy)
Milano-Torino (San Giuliano Milanese-Torino, 186 km)
Darwin Atapuma (Colombia)
Matteo Bono (Italy)
Simone Consonni (Italy)
Filippo Ganna (Italy)
Vegard Stake Laengen (Norway)
Manuele Mori (Italy)
Jan Polanc (Slovenia)
Oliviero Troia (Italy)
This is what SD Marzano expects from the two races: “In this final part of the season, Rui Costa and Ulissi are among the riders who can count on being in good shape. If the final in the Tre Valli Varesine is ridden intensely, they will have the chance to vie for a significant result.
The route for the Milano-Torino could offer Atapuma and Polanc the chance to leave their mark.”
Jan Polanc will ride both races.
Rui Costa: “I will be participating in the Tre Valli Varesine for the first time; it’s a race that has seen victories by top class cyclists. The final can be selective; we’ll have to see how intense the final circuit in Varese will be.”
Polanc: “The double climb on the Colle di Superga in the final part of the route makes the Milano-Torino very exciting. I’ve had a very busy season, but I hope my legs still have enough strength to push me towards a good performance.”
Slipstream Sports re-signs road captain Simon Clarke through 2020
The team sent me this report:
Slipstream Sports is proud to confirm the contract renewal of road captain Simon Clarke. The Australian has been a key player in the team’s biggest successes during his sophomore season in #GreenArgyle. Most notably, Clarke served as road captain at the 2017 Tour de France, where Rigobero Uran finished second overall, and at the 2017 Vuelta a España where Mike Woods managed seventh overall and Davide Villella won the mountains classification.
“I re-signed with this team because I’ve really found my niche here in Slipstream,” said Clarke. “I think it’s really important to find your spot in a WorldTour team, and knowing that I’ve carved out a place for myself here, there was always motivation to stay.”
Simon Clarke racing in the 2016 Giro d'Italia
Clarke’s newly inked deal spans the next three seasons, through 2020.
“With a great new sponsor in EF Education First coming in and offering a long-term commitment to Slipstream, I really wanted to lock-in a longer contract that showed my dedication to the team and its vision for the future alongside my own,” said Clarke. “A longer-term agreement allows me to put a real effort into helping the younger guys that are coming into this team next year.”
"Simon is tactically astute with a well-developed ability to share his experience and knowledge with his teammates," said Slipstream Sports CEO Jonathan Vaughters. "This makes him a very valuable member of this team. I’m happy we could secure his services for another three years, and I expect Simon to continue to play a part in our most important results.”
The 31-year-old has won four professional races, including stage four of the 2012 Vuelta a España. He won the Vuelta’s mountain classification that same season. He has worn the Giro’s maglia rosa and been a part of several team time trial victories with his former squads. While he continues to harbor personal ambitions, Clarke is equally motivated by captaining his teammates to success out on the road.
“When I look at this team, I see so much potential,” said Clarke. “I truly believe that if I can make the guys more united, if I can help the group ride more cohesively as a team, I can help us all fulfill our potential. I’m really motivated when I see young guys going well or guys like Mike Woods, with huge talent and little experience, make massive improvements.
“This is a group that is extremely responsive out on the road,” Clarke added. “That has converted into some great results. With the right guidance, this group can do great things, and I’m really excited to be a part of that for another three years.”
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