Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, August 2, 2021
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2020 Tour de France | 2021 Giro d'Italia
The audiobook version of The Story of the Tour de France, Volume 1 is available.
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. - Marcel Proust
Upcoming racing:
- August 3 - 7: Vuelta a Burgos
- August 14 - Sept 5: Vuelta a España
Cancelled & postponed races:
- July 25:
GP Pino Cerami - June 16:
Halle-Ingooigem - June 16 - July 1:
Tour of Austria/Osterreich Rundfahrt - July 18:
Volta Limburg Classic
Latest completed racing:
- August 1: Circuito de Getxo
- July 29 - 31:Tour de l'Ain
- July 31: Clasica de San Sebastian
- July 29: Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
- July 24 - 28: Olympic road events
- July 20 - 24: Tour de Wallonie
- June 26 - July 18: Tour de France
- July 14 - 18: Settimana Ciclistica Italiana
Circuito de Getxo team reports
We posted the report from winner Giacomo Nizzolo's Qhubeka-NextHash team with the results.
Here's the report from second-place Giovanni Aleotti's Bora-hansgrohe team:
One day after the Classica San Sebastian with the Circuito de Getxo another one-day race was on the program for BORA-hansgrohe. The hilly parcours around Bilbao led the riders over 193,5 kilometers with several short but steep ascents and a total elevation of about 2500 meters.
After a fast start, it was Cesare Benedetti and Patrick Gamper, who made it up the road with a breakaway group of 14 riders. With 50 kilometers to the finish line, Wilco Kelderman attacked out of the peloton and split the main group. Nearly the whole team was part of that first split so the BORA-hansgrohe riders took on the race and chased the remaining 4 leaders.
After the final and decisive climb is was Giovanni Aleotti and later also Ide Schelling who could make their way up to the front group of five riders to fight for the win. Ide first attacked alone but could not really get rid of the other riders so he gave everything to lead out Giovanni into the final ascent to the finish line.
Giovanni Aleotti can be seen just behind winner Giacomo Nizzolo. Gomez Sport photo
With perfect teamwork and a strong sprint Aleotti was only beaten by Giacomo Nizzolo and came away with a second place, while Schelling finished fifth and also secured the win in the team classification for BORA-hansgrohe.
From the Finish Line:
"We had a pretty good race today as we all worked together the whole time and the team did a next to perfect job. With 50k's to go we were able to chase down the break, split the bunch and go full gas into the final climb. The team supported Ide and me and kept us safe till that point so we could save a lot of energy for the finale. On the last kilometers, the two of us were able to share the work and make it a hard race for the others. As Ide got caught he gave everything for me to lead me into the final ascent. Unfortunately, Nizzolo was just too strong but I am still very happy with my second place and I am super thankful for the support of the whole team." - Giovanni Aleotti
"Our goal was to take on the race today and to make it difficult, in order not to take the sprinters and faster riders into the final. The team did a great job right from the start as we had two riders with Patrick and Cesare in the breakaway. Unfortunately Patrick was held back after a short time by a defect, which of course meant we had a little fewer options for the final. Nevertheless, the team worked perfectly together over the last 50 kilometers and put their stamp on the race. With Ide and Giovanni we gave everything and tried all we could on the last few kilometers. We didn't make any mistakes and if someone is simply better there is nothing to be done. Therefore, we are very satisfied with our teamwork and the strong placements of our riders. " - Andre Schulze, Sports Director
Team Movistar posted this report:
The young talents from the Movistar Team offered a satisfactory performance at Sunday’s Circuito de Getxo, with good attitude and notable results over the 193km hilly course in the Basque Country. They were part of the early moves, with Johan Jacobs; spent most of the day into the main breakaway, with Mathias Norsgaard alongside Lluís Mas -KOM classification winner-; and did great in the finale with another nice performance from Abner González.
The peloton races by the Gugenheim Museum in Bilbao. Bettini photo
It was another good day from Mathias, who kept up with the breakaway as the group thinned out, with Mohoric (TBV) and Trentin (UAD) picking up the pace, and was caught only 23km before the end by a counter move created into the final lap, with Norsgaard soon getting into ‘domestique mode’ for Abner. The ‘boricua’ attacked at the tough climb of Pike Bidea alongside Buitrago (TBV), an effort which helped him join the final split of seven riders, together with Aleotti, Schelling (BOH), Covi (UAD), Ciccone (TFS) and eventual winner Nizzolo (TQA).
Despite getting dropped by the final attacks in the front group, Abner never stopped fighting until the final slope of Txomintxu, made it back and only the fierce sprint took him off the podium, 4th over the line at 12″. Both Abner, Mathias and most of the Getxo roster will be part of the Movistar Team lineup for a promising Volta a Portugal, which starts Wednesday.
Team BikeExchange to ride Vuelta a Burgos
The team posted this announcement:
The racing continues in Northern Spain as Team BikeExchange return to stage racing action at the five-day Vuelta a Burgos on Tuesday.
The squad sees a variety of riders with veteran Mikel Nieve lining up in support of team leader Simon Yates. Tour of Hungary winner Damien Howson and the experienced Andrey Zeits will add further climbing support throughout the five stages
Simon Yates wins stage 19 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
Youngster Robert Stannard and Sam Bewley give the team strength on the flat roads with the former also looking to take opportunities in the sprint finishes. Singapore stagiaire Donaben Goh completes the line-up as he makes his Team BikeExchange debut.
Team BikeExchange at Vuelta de Burgos:
Sam Bewley (NZL)
Donaben Goh (SIN)
Damien Howson (NZL)
Mikel Nieve (ESP)
Robert Stannard (AUS)
Simon Yates (GBR)
Andrey Zeits (KAZ)
Mikel Nieve:
“I am extremely happy to be able to race Vuelta a Burgos this year. I hope I can contribute to the team in order to achieve some good results. It’s only my sixth time here and I am really looking forward to being back racing again.
“Stage three and five should be decisive for the final general classification, so it will be important to work as a team and to put Simon in a good position for the overall. We also have good chances for stage victories with Rob in the flatter stages.
“I think we have a strong group of riders here, and we will do our best to deliver some solid performances.”
Julian Dean – Sport Director:
“With Simon lining up here we will be aiming for the overall podium. He was keen to come here to finish up this part of his season and we will try our best as a team to give him the opportunity to make the most out of the race.
"We have also brought some riders who will be looking to test their legs ahead of the upcoming races, with the Vuelta a Espana coming up in just a few weeks.
"For Rob it will be important for him to do well here, and he will have the opportunity to go for some results, especially on day one. In addition, we are happy to welcome Donaben Goh to the team and he will look to make the most out of this opportunity ahead of the second part of the season.”
2021 Vuelta a Burgos:
Tuesday, 3rd August : Burgos (Catedral) – Burgos (El Castillo) 161km
Wednesday, 4th August : Tardajos – Briviesca 175km
Thursday, 5th August : Busto de Bureba – Espinosa de los Monteros 173km
Friday, 6th August : Roa – Aranda de Duero 149km
Saturday, 7th August : Comunero de Revenga – Lagunas de Neila 146km
Clément Berthet to race with the AG2R CITROËN TEAM starting on August 1st
The team sent me this news release:
Clément Berthet, 24, under contract with Delko since the beginning of the season, joins the AG2R CITROËN TEAM starting on August 1st through the 2024 season, following a tripartite agreement with the rider, the Delko team, and the AG2R CITROËN TEAM.
CLÉMENT BERTHET:
Born 2 August 1997
Lives in Montfaucon (Doubs)
5th in the general classification for the U23 Mountain Bike World Cup in 2019
13th in the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenges 2021
14th in the French National Time Trial Championships 2021
Clément Berthet:
“If you had told me at the start of the year that I would end up on a WorldTour team, especially at AG2R CITROËN, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s a legendary team, a big name in the peloton, and I’m really very happy. I am grateful to the Delko team for giving me my chance and allowing me to join AG2R CITROËN in the middle of the season.
“I am a mountain biker and this is my first professional year on the road. I consider myself a climber who packs a punch. I also like time trialing. I will be able to rely on very experienced riders and staff. It will allow me to improve very quickly. I can’t wait to wear my new colors.”
Vincent Lavenu:
“We worked closely with the rider, his agent, and his team to make this transfer in the middle of the season. Clément Berthet is a very versatile, young, and talented climber-rouleur. He doesn’t have a long history on the road but has already shown great things. He’s a big talent to work with, and we’re happy to welcome him.”
THE NUMBER: 3
Clément Berthet is the third recruit that the AG2R CITROËN TEAM has announced following the two AG2R CITROËN TEAM U23 riders Paul Lapeira and Valentin Paret Peintre who have signed for two and three seasons, respectively, beginning on January 1, 2022.
THE NEWS:
Clément Berthet will make his debut for the AG2R CITROËN TEAM at the Tour de Pologne (August 9-15).
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