Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, December 2, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. - Ernest Hemingway
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 2: 1976 - 2018 is available in print, Kindle eBook & Audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- December 15: Namur Cyclocross-Citadelcross
Latest completed racing:
- November 17: Flandriencross
- November 3: European Cyclocross Championships
- November 1: X20 Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- October 27: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
- October 15 - 20: Tour of Guangxi
- October 20: Japan Cup Road Race
- October 20: Veneto Classic
- October 16: Giro del Veneto
- October 13: Chrono des Nations
Here's the race report from 2nd-place Fem van Empel's Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Fem van Empel finished second in the second World Cup race in Dublin. After a flat tyre and a technical error in the opening phase, the classification leader had to chase. Lucinda Brand took the win in the Irish capital.
Lucinda Brand wins in Dublin. Belga Image.
Van Empel had a difficult opening phase in the second World Cup race. The 22-year-old world champion started alertly, but at the end of the opening lap she suffered a puncture. She quickly managed to rejoin race leader Brand, but the latter took full advantage of a technical mistake by Van Empel in the sand moments later. Van Empel eventually finished half a minute behind her compatriot.
“It certainly wasn't my luckiest race, but Lucinda was also simply the strongest today”, Van Empel reflected. “In the sand passage on the third lap, I rode a little too close behind her, after which I had to run. After the gap was created, I was unfortunately unable to get any closer.”
Van Empel will now start a new training camp in preparation for the important Christmas period. She will return to racing in Herentals, mid-December.
Results:
- Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions) 47min 24sec
- Fem van Empel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) @ 24sec
- Zoe Backstedt (Canyon-SRAM) @ 1min 3sec
- Inge Van Der Heijden (CXrelan-Corendon) s.t.
- Blanka Vas (SD Worx-Protime) @ 1min 17sec
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And here are the results of the men's Dublin Cyclocross race:
Michael Vanthourenhout wins the Dublin World Cup Cross Race.
- Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) 57min 26sec
- Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP) @ 1sec
- Felipe Orts Lloret (Ridley Racing Team) s.t.
- Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) @ 2sec
- Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Corendon) @ 9sec
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The team sent me this:
The athletes of VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizanè will undergo medical examinations on December 2 and 3 at the San Gaetano Polyclinics, the team's partner for the second consecutive year.
Rider being tested.
Shortly before the training camp in Altea, Spain, scheduled from December 9 to 22, the riders of VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizanè will undergo medical examinations on December 2 and 3 at the San Gaetano Polyclinics, a prominent and well-established private healthcare facility with locations in Thiene and Schio in the province of Vicenza. Under the supervision of team doctor Maurizio Vicini, the 23 athletes will undergo competitive sports fitness examinations, including ergometric tests, spirometry, echocardiograms, and hematological assessments, at a nationally renowned center of excellence.
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Roberto Reverberi, team manager, stated: "Last year, we also chose the San Gaetano Medical Centers for our medical check-ups, and we were extremely satisfied with the collaboration established. We hope that this partnership can continue in the years to come. A heartfelt thank you goes to Luca Zancan, CEO of the San Gaetano Medical Centers, for giving us the opportunity to carry out these check-ups, which are essential for starting the 2025 season in the best possible way."
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