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Monday, June 22, 2020
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2019 Tour de France | 2019 Giro d'Italia
Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for. - Socrates
Important upcoming racing, according to UCI revised calendar:
- August 1: Strade Bianche
- August 5-9: Tour of Poland
- August 8: Milano-San Remo
- August 12-16: Critérium du Dauphiné
Latest completed racing:
- May 1-3:
Vuelta Asturias - May 1:
Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt - April 22-26: Digital Swiss 5
Primoz Roglic takes Slovenian national road title
Roglic's Jumbo-Visma team sent me this news:
Primoz Roglic is the new Slovenian National road champion. The number one of the world directly made his mark in his first race of the season. In a direct battle, the leader of Team Jumbo-Visma defeated Tadej Pogacar on the steep final climb. The Slovenian championship was the first major UCI race since the coronavirus had shut down the sports world in March.
Primoz Roglic wins the 2019 Giro dell'Emilia. Sirotti photo
For Team Jumbo-Visma, it is the fourth victory of the season as Dylan Groenewegen already raised his hands three times earlier this year. It is Roglic’s first national road title in his career.
The 146-kilometre championship was decided on the final climb. After the early breakaway was caught, Roglic attacked. Pogacar managed to return, but was unable to counter a second attack by his compatriot and good friend in the final kilometre.
“It is really wonderful that the situation allows us to finally race again and to do what we do best, racing our bikes. I am therefore very happy that I was able to take the national title in my first race of the season”, said Roglic, who will also contest the national time trial championship next week.
“It was a tough race with a very tough final climb. Given the results in the spring, Tadej was the favourite and it was certainly not easy to beat him. I had reckoned the climb well in the past few days, so I knew where I had to attack. The fact that I take the victory here in my first race of the season feels very good. I am definitely not in top form yet, but I am already looking forward to the upcoming races. I also want to thank the team for making the effort to support me in Slovenia. That means a lot to me.”
Chris Froome to stay with Team Ineos for Tour de France, claims team-mate
The Guardian posted this news:
Chris Froome intends to ride the Tour de France with Team Ineos despite failing to agree a contract extension for next season, according to team-mate Dylan van Baarle.
Chris Froome in 2019
Froome’s deal with Ineos expires at the end of the year and the four-time Tour winner has been linked with a move to Israeli team Start-Up Nation, with some reports that he could make the move before the start of the race on 29 August to avoid a leadership battle with reigning champion Egan Bernal and 2018 winner Geraint Thomas.
But Van Baarle, who is preparing for the Tour at a training camp with Froome and the rest of Team Ineos squad, told Dutch newspaper AD that the 35-year-old had told him he has no intention of leaving until his contract expires.
You can read the entire story here.
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