Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, January 11, 2021
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2020 Tour de France | 2020 Giro d'Italia
The audiobook version of The Story of the Tour de France, Volume 1 is available.
Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages. - Thomas A. Edison
Upcoming racing:
- Jan 19 - 24, 2021: Santos Festival of Cycling
- Jan 24 - 31, 2021: Vuelta a San Juan
- Jan 28 - 31, 2021:
Challenge Illes Belears(postponed)
Latest completed racing:
- Jan 1: GP Sven Nys Cyclocross
- Dec 26: Heusden-Zolder Cyclocross
- Dec 23: Azencross-Herentals
- Dec 20: Namur Cyclocross
- Dec 13: Gavere Cyclocross
- Dec 12: Scheldecross
- Nov 14: GP Leuven Cyclocross
- Nov 7 - 8: European Cyclocross Championships
Challenge Illes Balears - Volta Ciclista a Mallorca is postponed
The Challenge Illes Balears, a series of four races held on the Balearic Islands in the Western Mediterranean Sea was scheduled to be run in late January. Because of of ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the races have been postponed. The organizers are trying to get the races re-scheduled to mid May.
Emanuel Buchmann winning the fourth race of the 2020 series.
Here is the organizer's announcement of the postponement on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ChallengeMca/status/1347828190249676801
This would have been the thirtieth edition of the race series.
Wout van Aert wins Belgian cyclocross title
An Aert’s Jumbo-Visma team sent me this report:
Wout van Aert has won the Belgian cyclocross championship in West Flemish Meulebeke. The brand new father took off early in the race and soloed to his fourth national title.
Wout van Aert wins again. Cor Vos photo
After a fast start, Van Aert took the initiative. Going into the third round he created a gap to defending champion Laurens Sweeck. The leader of the World Cup classification quickly gathered twenty-five seconds on his pursuers and maintained his lead up to the finish line. Van Aert dedicated the victory to his wife Sarah and their son Georges who was born earlier this week.
“I went pretty deep for it. I did not want to say it before the race, but actually, I barely slept for six nights. I did not have the energy I wanted to have, but I am very happy with this title. I would like to dedicate this victory to my son Georges and my wife Sarah”, Van Aert said.
The Belgian title is Van Aert’s third victory of the cyclocross season.
Clement Venturini is French cyclocross champion
Venturini’s Ag2r Citroen team sent me this:
“It was quite a race, unlike last year there were quite a few twists and turns. I knew Joshua (Dubau) would be a tough customer and he showed it today. When he came back I didn't lose sight of the fact that I was there to win and I changed my racing tactics. I was well aware that technically I was going to be a bit down on him. I managed to make the race very hard in the final and I managed to win. I had nothing to lose today and really wanted to keep my jersey. Ten years after winning a Junior World Cup on this circuit, it means a lot to win here. And this success also has a special flavor, since I am proud to bring the first victory for AG2R CITROËN TEAM. "
Clement Venturini coross the finish line in style. Photo: Fred Machabert
THE NUMBER: 4
After already winning in 2017, 2019, and 2020, Clément Venturini today won his 4th French Cyclocross Champion title in Pontchateau.
THE NEWS:
For his first race with the AG2R CITROËN jersey, Lilian Calmejane took 12th place in the French Cyclocross Championship. "I'm happy to have started and to have experienced Clément Venturini's title from the inside. Personally, I was close to the top ten for a long time but then slipped down a bit towards the end. It was a beautiful day where I was able to put some hard efforts in. Now it’s time to head to Spain for the team’s first training camp."
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