Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2018 Tour de France | 2018 Giro d'Italia
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. - Aesop
Upcoming racing:
- Oct 3: Sparkassen Münsterland Giro
- Oct 5: Tour de l'Eurométropole
- Oct 5: Giro d'Emilia
- Oct 7: GP Bruno Beghelli
- Oct 8: Binche-Chimay-Binche
- Oct 9: Tre Valli Vareseine
- Oct 10: Milano-Torino
- Oct 10: Paris-Bourges
- Oct 11: Gran Piemonte
- Oct 12: Il Lombardia
Latest completed racing:
- Sept 22 - 29: UCI World Road Championships, Yorkshire
- Sept 22: Trofeo Matteotti
- Sept 21: Primus Classic Impanis-Van Petegem
- Sept 21: Memorial Marco Pantani
- Sept 20: Championship of Flanders
- Sept 19: Coppa Sabatini
- Sept 18: Giro della Toscana
- Sept 18: GP de Wallonie
- Aug 24 - Sept 15: Vuelta a España
- Sept 15: GP de Montreal
André Greipel and Team Arkéa-Samsic mutually agree to dissolve racing contract
Here's the team's new release:
André Greipel and the team Arkéa Samsic confirm the dissolution of the contract on 31.12.2019.
André Greipel: "About 4 weeks ago I asked the management of the team to terminate the contract towards the end of the year. Emmanuel Hubert and the team management have agreed to this request. I am very grateful for the cooperation we had in 2019.
"I would have liked to have extended the season statistics, but I was not optimally prepared for my season highlights. In the first half of the season I had to fight several months with a bacterial disease and once 100% healed, unfortunately, this was only two weeks before the Tour de France.
"The Sparkassen Münsterland Giro on 03.10.2019 will be my last race in the 2019 season and also my last race for the Team Arkéa Samsic. Being at the start in Germany is always a special event for a German rider. Of course, we will prepare very well and work towards a top result in this final race. After this, I will start my recovery and a family vacation.
"Until the beginning of November, I will leave my social media accounts silent and am not available for requests from the media. In the week of 4.-10. November I will inform you about the 2020 cycling season. Dear cycling friends, dear fans : I cannot thank you enough for your understanding and your ongoing support."
André Greipel earlier this year at the start of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Sirotti photo
Emmanuel Hubert – manager: "I am obviously disappointed by Andre’s performances this season even if I know he is the first affected. Our results together are far from satisfying. Getting out to the contract was an option, we are not opposed. It doesn’t take away anything from his human qualities which were greatly appreciated within the team or from the experience he brought to the squad. Personally, I met a great champion and a good person. I wish him good luck in his future endeavors."
Lotto Soudal's line-ups for Münsterland, Eurométropole and Famenne Ardenne Classic
Lotto-Soudal sent me this release:
This week, Lotto Soudal will be at the start of three one-day races. Thursday 3 October, the 14th edition of the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro (1.HC) takes place. Between the start in Emsdetten and the finish in Münster, the riders are facing over 190 kilometres of racing. Despite a hilly first part, the race is mostly suited to sprinters and also this year, a lot of riders will be eager to show their fast legs.
On Saturday 5 October, Lotto Soudal takes part in the Tour de L’Eurométropole, ridden between La Louvière and Tournai. Several hills are on the menu along the way and the four local laps in Tournai will definitely make for an interesting race and a thrilling finale.
Maxime Monfort will be riding his final race as a professional cyclist on Sunday 6 October. At the Famenne Ardenne Classic (1.1), 180 kilometres of racing awaits, with three local laps in and around Marche-en-Famenne, in which the Côte de Roy (2.3 kilometres à 4.8%) will most likely act as a crucial point.
Maxime Monfort leading in the 2018 Brabantse Pijl. Sirotti photo
Below are the line-ups for the upcoming three one-day races.
Line-up Münsterland Giro: Victor Campenaerts, Frederik Frison, Jens Keukeleire, Lawrence Naesen, Brent Van Moer, Brian Van Goethem and Enzo Wouters.
Sports director: Herman Frison.
Line-up Tour de L’Eurométropole: Stan Dewulf, Frederik Frison, Jens Keukeleire, Nikolas Maes, Brian Van Goethem, Jelle Wallays and Enzo Wouters.
Sports director: Marc Wauters.
Line-up Famenne Ardenne Classic: Stan Dewulf, Jens Keukeleire, Rémy Mertz, Maxime Monfort, Lawrence Naesen, Brian Van Goethem and Jelle Wallays.
Sports director: Frederik Willems.
UAE Team Emirates gear up for Germany and Italy
The team sent me this racing update:
The Emirati squad set to participate in the Sparkassen Münsterland, Giro dell'Emilia and GP Beghelli
UAE Team Emirates are set to return to racing post World Championships with a block of races races in Germany and Italy.
Beginning with the Sparkassen Münsterland (1.HC) which will be held on Thursday 3 October over a distance of 193.3 km, sports director Simone Pedrazzini (Sui) will bring six riders:
– Tom Bohli (Sui)
– Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor)
– Nicolas Dalla Valle (Ita)
– Fernando Gaviria (Col)
– Ivo Oliveira (Por)
– Rui Oliveira (Por)
Tom Bolhi riding the prologue of the 2018 Tour de Romandie. Sirotti photo
Simone Pedrazzini: “Firstly, we’re delighted to be able to have Ivo Oliveira back with us, after a long layoff due to injury. The outcome of the race will probably be a sprint, where we can count on Gaviria.
The whole team will be crucial in setting up the sprint, but our guys are well equipped to deliver“.
Two classics for the Emirati squad in Italy, with Giro dell’Emilia and the GP Beghelli (1.HC, Sunday 6 October). Team to be directed by sports director Marco Marzano (Ita):
Giro dell’Emilia (1.HC, Saturday 5 October, 207.4 km)
– Valerio Conti (Ita)
– Marco Marcato (Ita)
– Daniel Martin (Irl)
– Manuele Mori (Ita)
– Jan Polanc (Slo)
– Aleksandr Riabushenko (Blr)
– Diego Ulissi (Ita)
GP Beghelli (1.HC, Sunday 6 October, 199.3 km)
– Nicolas Dalla Valle (Ita)
– Roberto Ferrari (Ita)
– Fernando Gaviria (Col)
– Marco Marcato (Ita)
– Manuele Mori (Ita)
– Rui Oliveira (Por)
– Oliviero Troia (Ita)
Sports director Marco Marzano speaking ahead of the Italian races: “For the Giro dell’Emilia we will field four riders coming from what was a very tough World Championship, namely Martin, Polanc, Riabushenko and Ulissi. The San Luca climb will be a great test to see if their condition will still be there to get a good result.
In the GP Beghelli we expect a sprint, but undoubtedly we will see attacks also, as has been the case in previous editions“.
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary