Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, August 22, 2019
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2018 Tour de France | 2018 Giro d'Italia
Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire. - Epictetus
Current racing:
- Aug 21 - 24: Tour du Limousin
- Aug 21 - 25: Tour of Denmark
Upcoming racing:
- Aug 24 - Sept 15: Vuelta a España
Latest completed racing:
- August 21: Veenendaal - Veenendaal
- August 12 - 18: BinckBank Tour
- August 12 - 18: Tour of Utah
- Aug 15 - 18: Arctic Race of Norway
- August 18: La Polynormande
- August 13 - 17: Vuelta a Burgos
- July 31 - August 11: Volta a Portugal
- August 3 - 9: Tour de Pologne
UAE Team Emirates in Germany for EuroEyes Cyclassics Hamburg and Deutschland Tour
The team sent me this:
Double bill of German races for UAE Team Emirates – first competing in the one-day World Tour race, the EuroEyes Cyclassics Hamburg (25 August) followed by the Deutschland Tour (2.HC, from 29 August to 1 September).
Hamburg is typically an affair for the sprinters, which is why UAE Team Emirates will focus on a group of very fast riders, under the management duo of Allan Peiper (Aus) and Neil Stephens (Aus):
– Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor)
– Roberto Ferrari (Ita)
– Alexander Kristoff (Nor)
– Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
– Rui Oliveira (Por)
– Jasper Philipsen (Bel)
– Rory Sutherland (Aus)
Sports director Allan Peiper has outlined the ambitions of the team: “We will be at the start of the EuroEyes Vattenfall Cyclassics Hamburg focusing on Alexander Kristoff, who has won this race in the past. The team has been put together to give Kristoff adequate support and to be at the heart of the action during the race and in the final“.
Alexander Kristoff (shown winning stage five of this year's Tour of Norway) will ride both the Hamburg Classic and the Deutschland Tour.
The Deutschland Tour will see the Emirati squad opt for a mix of climbers and fastmen with six riders, under the guidance of DS team Simone Pedrazzini (Sui) and Bruno Vicino (Ita):
– Simone Consonni (Ita)
– Alexander Kristoff (Nor)
– Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
– Daniel Martin (Irl)
– Aleksandr Riabushenko (Blr)
– Diego Ulissi (Ita)
“With Kristoff we will try to be up in the mix in the sprints on stages three and four – explained DS Simone Pedrazzini – Martin and Ulissi will aim for the general classification, with Consonni, Laengen and Riabushenko working in support“.
BORA – hansgrohe signs Lennard Kämna
The sent me this:
Already from a young age, Kämna proved himself to be a great talent within German cycling. After his first years as a professional with Team Sunweb, where, amongst other achievements, he became a world champion in the team time trial discipline, the young rider from Fischerhude is now making the move to BORA – hansgrohe. He will wear the colours of the WorldTeam from Raubling until at least the end of 2021.
Lennard Kämna riding in the Under-23 Time Trial World Championships in 2015. Sirotti photo
“I think it was time for me to take the next step. I’m very happy with my decision to move to BORA – hansgrohe. The team has an extremely professional environment and will no doubt offer me optimal opportunities to further develop. When one considers how BORA – hansgrohe has advanced to the highest level with young riders, one can only come to the conclusion that the team is doing a lot right. My years with Team Sunweb were incredibly valuable, and I’m grateful to them for bringing me to the WorldTour. That was the first step for me as a professional rider, and now the next one follows with BORA – hansgrohe.” – Lennard Kämna
“Lennard is undeniably a great talent and was certainly on the wish list of a number of teams. So, I’m all the more pleased that he decided to sign with us. It was particularly impressive to see how he performed in the last week of the Tour. Always active, always at the forefront, every day. From that, one can deduce that he can navigate challenges well and has a big motor. As a strong time triallist, he’s also very versatile. We will see where his journey will take him during the next few years. However, we will develop him just as carefully as we have already done with Emanuel and Pascal. He will receive his chances, but we will also proceed at a sustainable pace.” – Ralph Denk, Team Manager
Movistar announces its Vuelta team
Here's the squad's announcement:
The Movistar Team confirmed on Monday its eight-man lineup for the 74th edition of the Vuelta a España (Saturday 24th August – Sunday 15th September). The squad managed by Eusebio Unzué will take the start in the Alicante province with a lineup composed by Alejandro Valverde, Nairo Quintana, Richard Carapaz, Marc Soler, Imanol Erviti, Nelson Oliveira, Jorge Arcas and Antonio Pedrero.
Nairo Quintana rode the Tour in July (here he's climbing in stage 18) and now he's going to compete in the Vuelta. Sirotti photo
José Luis Arrieta and Pablo Lastras will be the sports directors of the Blue squad, which will fulfil in 2019 its 40th consecutive appearance in the Vuelta since 1980. In all this time since their debut under Reynolds’ sponsorship, the Abarca Sports organisation has notched up four overall victories, 12 podium finishes, 61 stage wins and 10 team GC triumphs.
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