Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, October 18, 2018
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2018 Tour de France | 2018 Giro d'Italia
Start every day off with a smile and get it over with. - W. C. Fields
Upcoming racing:
- October 21: Japan Cup
- October 23 - 31: Tour of Hainan
Latest completed racing:
- October 9 - 14: Presidential Tour of Turkey
- October 14: Chrono des Nations
- October 13: Il Lombardia
- October 11: Gran Piemonte
- October 10: Milano-Torino
- October 9: Tre Valli Varesine
- October 7: Paris-Tours
- October 7: GP Bruno Beghelli
- October 6: Giro dell'Emilia
- October 4: Paris-Bourges
- October 3: Sparkassen Munsterland-Giro
Pascal Ackermann defies torrential rain to take stage two at Tour of Guangxi
Ackermann's Bora-hansgrohe team sent me this report:
It took about 15 kilometers before a break of five riders went clear from the bunch, but like yesterday, there was no doubt that the sprinter teams would control also stage two. Half way through the race, it started to rain, and when the riders entered the finishing circuit in Qinzhou, the break felt apart. Also BORA – hansgrohe was active at the head of the pack to take responsibility for Pascal Ackermann. With 4k to go, the last remaining escapee was swallowed up from a flying bunch, with BORA – hansgrohe leading out their sprinter. In the end, Pascal Ackermann took a confident win over Fabio Jacobsen and Dylan Groenewegen today.
Results
01 P. Ackermann 3:18:58
02 F. Jakobsen +0:00
03 D. Groenewegen +0:00
From the Finish Line
“It was not easy today to get the timing right. It was hectic because of the rain, but also because the last 2k were on a big road and totally straight which made it difficult. Yesterday we messed it up a little, but today everything went perfect. There are a lot of really strong sprinters here, so you also need a little bit of luck to get everything right. Today I had the position and also the legs. It was a great team effort and a deserved win.” – Pascal Ackermann
Pascal Ackermann winning the GP Formies earlier this year.
"We talked about our small mistakes from yesterday this morning, and today the boys did a perfect job. The break was really strong and I was a little concerned because Quick-Step had one guy in front. But we started to pull in the right moment with Erik, and on the last two kilometers everybody was on the right spot. It was an impressive win from Pascal in the end. I think he found his rhythm after all the travelling the last days.” – Christian Pömer, Sports Director
Team Sunweb and Edward Theuns part ways
Here's the team's press release:
Team Sunweb and Edward Theuns (BEL) are set to part ways after the current 2018 season. With still one year remaining on the 27-year-old’s contract, both the team and Theuns came to the mutual decision to terminate their commitment from the end of this season due to their visions on the sport differing. Both sides go their separate ways on good terms.
Theuns said: “It has been a tough year for me, both physically and mentally with some crashes and bad luck. I tried to adapt to the team’s way of working, but it didn't really work out for me. We differ in vision so we decided that it would be best to end the contract. I now look forward to a new chapter in my career."
Edward Theuns winning a stage in the 2017 Tour of Turkey
Team Sunweb’s head of coaching Rudi Kemna (NED) said: “Following extensive talks we realised that our visions differ too much and lack the common, strong foundation that is required to continue working together. Giving Edward the opportunity and freedom to continue his career elsewhere is the only right decision, for both the team and Edward himself. We end the contract on mutual terms and we want to thank Edward for his commitment and efforts, wishing him all the best in his future career.”
Moniek Tenniglo joins Mitchelton-Scott women’s squad
The team sent me this:
30-year-old Moniek Tenniglo will join the Mitchelton-SCOTT women’s squad in 2019, motivated to be a super domestique for the team’s established leaders.
The Dutch rider rode for WM3 Energie in 2017, where she rode a support role to assist the team to four Tour victories, before joining FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope in 2018. This commitment to team goals and selfless attitude is set to be a huge asset to Mitchelton-SCOTT for the next season.
Moniek Tenniglo:
“I am really happy and excited to be joining Mitchelton-SCOTT. It’s a team with a great team spirit and that’s why it makes it really exciting for me, because I think I am a rider who works well within a team and I enjoy playing a strong supporting role. That’s where I feel I am most valuable.”
“That’s a big part of why I am looking forward to being part of this team with these riders and so much quality within the squad. It’s a really professional set up throughout the organisation and that’s great for me.”
Sport director, Martin Vestby:
“Moniek is a very strong team player and she is a rider with good versatility and someone we can use in a lot of different races. She is going to be important for us as a support rider and brings a lot of experience with her from a lot of different races whilst also being able to handle a busy race schedule.”
“We’re really happy to have Moniek on board for 2019, she is a trustworthy rider with good physical condition and her strongest value for the team is her ability to sacrifice herself for the team goals without placing too much emphasis on personal objectives.
“I am quite impressed that her biggest goal is to be the strongest possible team player or domestique within the squad and if we can help her achieve that then it’s a win-win situation all round.”
Moniek Tenniglo
Date of Birth: 2 May 1988 (30)
Nationality: Dutch
Place of Birth: Albergen, The Netherlands
Turned Pro: 2014
Mitchelton-SCOTT: 2019
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