Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
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2021 Tour de France | 2021 Giro d'Italia
To be happy, make other people happy. - W. Clement Stone
Upcoming racing:
- Dec 5: Scheldecross Antwerp
- Dec 11: Ethiascross-Essen
- Dec 19: Namur Cyclocross
- Dec 27: Heusden Zolder Cyclocross
- Dec 29: Diegemcross
- Dec 30: Azencross
- Jan 1, 2022: GP Sven Nys Cross
- Jan 16 - 23, 2022: Le Tour de Langkawi
- Jan 22, 2022: Flandriencross
- Jan 26 - 29, 2022: Challenge Illes Balears
- Feb 12, 2022: Gavere Cyclocross
Latest completed racing:
- Nov 13: GP Leuven
- Nov 7: Elite Men European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 6: Elite Women European Cyclocross Championships
- Nov 1: Koppenberg Cyclocross
- Oct 31: Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse Cross
- Oct 24: Ronde van Drenthe
- Oct 23: Ruddervoorde Cyclocross
Les Woodland's book Cycling's World Championships: The Inside Story is available as an audiobook here.
Here’s the team’s announcement:
In the two years since he joined Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s ranks, Mattia Cattaneo has impressed with the dedication and hard work that he has put in for his teammates, as well as the consistent progress of his own personal performances. Such has been that progress that the likeable 31-year-old has been awarded a new two-year contract with the UCI World Team Ranking winner, meaning he will stay with the team through to the end of 2023.
Mattia Cattaneo time-trialing at the 2021 Tour of Luxembourg
Speaking of the agreement, Mattia said: “I am super happy and proud to continue with the team. The Wolfpack is a unique squad in cycling, and it is a pleasure to ride with them and work for the team. I give my support to the leader in the race, and they have been good in giving me my own opportunities.
"I think that it is hard for people to understand the team and how it works. You can see from outside that everybody has a close relationship and what the Wolfpack means, but when you are inside it is even better than you would expect. It is why I am happy to help the captain for the hard days in the Grand Tours and in certain races, but I know they will work for me in some specific races and help me try to get results.
"To be able to ride this race was a super big goal for me. It was a great race where I was able to take 12th on the GC, and to help Cav and Julian get stage wins – it went better than could be expected. I hope that in the next two years I can ride it at least one more time and maybe I could try to take a top 10.
"I am proud of how my TT has progressed. I love the discipline and my next goal will be to improve as a specialist, and I have been doing some work with the team and with Specialized to look at how I can improve. Hopefully in the next two years I can progress even more and look to score some more TT victories – I dream of being one of the best TT riders in the world. It will be super hard, but I took 5th and 8th in the time trials at the Tour de France and I think it is possible to improve, to be one of the top 5 riders in the world. I would love to wear the jersey of the Italian National Champion, but it is a bit difficult because the number 1 is the best in the world! But I will for sure try to close the gap on Ganna.”
The delight at Cattaneo’s new deal was shared with Deceuninck – Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere, who said: “It is a big thing for us to have Mattia stay with us for the next two years. He is an incredibly talented yet humble guy, who will work all day for his teammates. We have also seen his individual qualities, with some strong climbing performances, especially at the Tour de France, and that he is improving all the time as a time trial rider. So, on several fronts, we are really looking forward to working with him for two more years.”
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The team sent me this release:
Team BikeExchange is pleased to confirm that Ane Santesteban will continue for two more seasons, feeling at home with the squad, having found her feet within the Australian outfit, performing consistently throughout her debut season.
The 30-year-old climber has been a key support rider for Team BikeExchange leader’s, particularly in the hilly, mountainous races but has also stepped up a level herself physically and tactically, with a stand-out performance at the recent Tour Cycliste Feminin de l’Ardeche.
With changes to the women’s team roster for the 2022 season, the squad believes that Santesteban will be an important role model, guiding the new additions.
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Brent Copeland, General Manager on Santesteban:
“We are very pleased to keep working with Ane for the upcoming two seasons. Ane only joined GreenEDGE Cycling last year, but she adjusted to our team spirit straight away. We have really high expectations of her and believe that her experience and characteristics make her one of the riders in the team that can really help us to achieve important results in many races throughout the year.”
Ane Santesteban:
“I am really happy to be staying for two more years with the GreenEDGE family. I found a really good group in which everyone can give their best and I feel at home now with the team. I think my season went well and I improved a lot towards the end of the year, so I am looking forward to continuing to develop with the team and see what we can achieve together and how I can personally develop further.”
Ane Santesteban
Date of birth: 12th December 1990 (30)
Nationality: Spanish
Joined Team BikeExchange: 2021
New Contract: 2022 & 2023
Top Results:
1st 2020 Setmana Ciclista Valenciana – Mountains Classification
2nd 2021 & 2020 Spanish Road Race Championships
3rd 2021 Tour Cycliste Feminin de l’Ardeche GC
7th 2020 Giro Rosa GC
9th 2018 Giro Rosa GC
1st 2013 Spanish Road Race Championships
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