Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia
There is frequently more to be learned from the unexpected questions of a child than the discourses of men. - John Locke
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2019: A Year of New Faces is available in both Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- March 27: Dwars door Vlaanderen
- March 27: Paris-Camembert Lepetit
Upcoming racing:
- March 29: Route Adélie de Vitré
- March 30: Gran Premio Miguel Indurain
- March 30: Volta Limburg Classic
- March 31: Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders)
Latest completed racing:
- March 18 - 24: Volta a Catalunya
- March 24: Ghent - Wevelgem
- March 24: La Roue Tourangelle
- March 19 - 23: Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali
- March 22: E3 Saxo Bank Classic
- March 20: Classic Brugge - De Panne
- March 16: Milano - Sanremo
- March 16: Classic Loire Atlantique
- March 15: Brendene Koksijde Classic
- March 14: GP de Denain
Matthews’ Team Jayco AlUla posted this:
Michael Matthews will continue his preparation for the Tour of Flanders this weekend at Wednesday’s Dwars door Vlaanderen.
After kickstarting his Belgian campaign last week with the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem, Matthews decided to have another hit out in the Belgian countryside before the season’s second monument.
Michael Matthews winning stage three of the 2023 Giro d'Italia. Sirotti photo
Joining Matthews on the roster will be Max Walscheid, who has ridden an impressive classics campaign so far and was on the attack at the weekend in Gent-Wevelgem. Meanwhile, Amund Grøndahl Jansen returns to the line-up in Belgium after sitting out Sunday’s race.
The rest of the Team Jayco AlUla roster for Dwars door Vlaanderen will be made up of some strong and experienced classics men in Luke Durbridge, Luka Mezgec, Elmar Reinders, and Kell O’Brien.
Departing from Roeselare and finishing in Waregem, the riders will pass over eight cobbled sectors in addition to the 12 climbs – the last of which comes less than 10km from the finish line. The race is often won in a late break, particularly since more ascents were added in recent seasons, but it can also come down to a small group sprint to the line.
Team Jayco AlUla line-up:
Luke Durbridge
Amund Grøndahl Jansen
Michael Matthews
Luka Mezgec
Kell O’Brien
Elmar Reinders
Max Walscheid
Max Walscheid:
“Dwars door Vlaanderen has become harder in recent years since they changed the course so it will definitely be an intense race. It’s not as long as the Tour of Flanders or Gent-Wevelgem, for example, but that doesn’t necessarily make it easier. With the course, it is now more complex and more intense.
“We have some good guys in the line-up, and we need to nail the run into the key section of the race. After that, we will see who is in the front and who has survived. Hopefully, we’ll have several riders able to go deep into the final and able to go for a result. Personally, I have felt good in these last races, and I hope to be able to go as deep as possible into the race.”
Mathew Hayman (Sport Director):
“Dwars door Vlaanderen is a bit shorter than most of the classics. It’s always hotly contested and it’s quite an open race. We’re really fortunate to have Michael Matthews staying on in preparation for Flanders and he’ll be joining us on Wednesday to race. We have a strong team with a lot of experience here so we’re looking forward to getting stuck in at the last preparation before the Tour of Flanders.”
Content continues below the ads
Here's the team's news:
The UAE Team Emirates classics squad returns to Belgium to take on the biggest of the Flanders Classics: the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (31 March) on Sunday.
The experienced duo of Tim Wellens and Nils Politt will spearhead a strong team who will go in search of defending the crown won by Tadej Pogačar in 2023.
Tim Wellens before the start of the 2024 Milano-Sanremo. Sirotti photo
Prior to this there will be another midweek test on the cards for the Emirati squad: Dwars Door Vlaanderen (27 March).
Wellens: "We’re in good spirits and very motivated coming into Flanders this year. These classics have been a big goal of mine for the first part of the season and we want to do as well as possible. It’s been a good classics period for us so far and we have been present in many finales, though we would like to be closer to the podium as always. Our team is strong with a good atmosphere and attitude to give our best on Sunday."
The Italian trio of Sports Directors Fabio Baldato (Ita), Marco Marcato (Ita) and Marco Marzano (Ita) will guide the team from the car for both races.
Dwars door Vlaanderen – A travers la Flandre [1.UWT] – 27-Mar-2024
Mikkel Bjerg (Dnk)
Marc Hirschi (Swi)
Alvaro Hodeg (Col)
Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
Nils Politt (Ger)
Tim Wellens (Bel)
Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres [1.UWT] – 31-Mar-2024
Mikkel Bjerg (Dnk)
Alessandro Covi (Ita)
Marc Hirschi (Swi)
Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
Antonio Morgado (Por)
Nils Politt (Ger)
Tim Wellens (Bel)
Content continues below the ads
The team sent me this schedule:
Dwars door Vlaanderen Men: MAR 27
Pim Ligthart - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach:
"After some nice rides in the last classics, we will continue in the same way and support Nils and John towards the difficult parts on the parcours at Dwars door Vlaanderen. They will have a good team around them and with some solid teamwork we want to bring them as fresh as possible into the final. When Nils and John can come in a good way towards the key points they can again fight for a good result."
Line-up:
Pavel Bittner (CZE)
John Degenkolb (GER)
Patrick Eddy (AUS)
Nils Eekhoff (NED)
Niklas Märkl (GER)
Casper van Uden (NED)
Bram Welten (NED)
John Degenkolb & Davide Ballerini racing in the 2023 edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen. Sirotti photo
Dwars door Vlaanderen Women: MAR 27
Albert Timmer - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach
"We will be back to racing on the Belgian cobbles for one last time at Dwars door Vlaanderen, before the Ronde van Vlaanderen this weekend. As usual in a Flemish classic, the race will take on some challenging cobbles and punchy hills as the crucial points of the day. We will have a strong group at the start and ride offensively throughout the day. If there is a sprint from a reduced bunch for the victory, we have Rachele as card to play to go for a result."
Line-up:
Francesca Barale (ITA)
Rachele Barbieri (ITA)
Eleonora Ciabocco (ITA)
Daniek Hengeveld (NED)
Anna van der Meiden (NED)
Nienke Vinke (NED)
Volta Limburg Classic: MAR 30
Bennie Lambregts - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach:
"Volta Limburg Classic, also called the mini–Amstel Gold Race will be a nice opportunity for our Development program. We are probably the youngest team at the start and competing against some of the WorldTour teams will be a great experience and test of level for our youngsters. Our goal is to race aggressively as a unit so that we are represented in the early break. In addition, we will aim to get Frank into the final moves with good support from the rest of the team. We are highly motivated to show ourselves, and have been working towards this race with ambition for weeks."
Line-up:
Jacob Bush (GBR)
Robbe Dhondt (BEL)
Oliver Peace (GBR)
Frank van den Broek (NED)
Thom van der Werff (NED)
Vlad van Mechelen (BEL)
Mees Vlot (NED)
Gran Premio Miguel Indurain: MAR 30
Christian Guiberteau - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach:
"The Gran Premio Miguel Indurain is a tough race full of climbs, where the riders usually cross the finish line individually. With Warren we have a former winner in this race, plus Oscar and Gijs – all of whom are strong climbers who can play a good role in the final. They have some good support around them with a team who can keep an eye on the early breakaways and bring them into the final as fresh as possible. If we show some good teamwork throughout the day, we hopefully can be in the final with good numbers to go for a result."
Line-up:
Warren Barguil (FRA)
Vincent Bodet (FRA)
Romain Combaud (FRA)
Gijs Leemreize (NED)
Enzo Leijnse (NED)
Oscar Onley (GBR)
Martijn Tusveld (NED)
Ronde van Vlaanderen Men: MAR 31
Pim Ligthart - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach:
"We take on the second Monument of the year with Ronde van Vlaanderen where we aim to be directly present in the race and look for opportunities from the flag drop. Surrounded by a strong team, John and Nils will be ready to go when the final presents itself. We will race aggressively, playing our cards well to ensure that we don’t miss out on any important moves."
Line-up:
Pavel Bittner (CZE)
John Degenkolb (GER)
Patrick Eddy (AUS)
Alex Edmondson (AUS)
Nils Eekhoff (NED)
Niklas Märkl (GER)
Tim Naberman (NED)
Ronde van Vlaanderen Women: MAR 31
Kelvin Dekker - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach:
“Ronde van Vlaanderen is one of the biggest races of the year and as a team we will do everything to bring Pfeiffer into the final with good legs. We know the course and where all the key points are because of good preparation, and we have a great plan for what to do at exactly which moment. We’ll aim to use our strengths as a team in the best way possible so we can provide her with the best support throughout the whole day."
Line-up:
Francesca Barale (ITA)
Pfeiffer Georgi (GBR)
Franziska Koch (GER)
Josie Nelson (GBR)
Abi Smith (GBR)
Elise Uijen (NED)
Itzulia Basque Country: APR 01 - 06
Phil West - Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach:
"The Basque country is a great location for bike racing and so we look forward to Itzulia this year and the motivated fans that go hand in hand with races in the Basque country. For Itzulia we have a strong group of climbers in Warren Barguil, Oscar Onley, and Gijs Leemrieze, so we come with the ambition towards GC here, but of course, we will also race hard for day results on the hilly stages throughout."
Line-up:
Warren Barguil (FRA)
Romain Combaud (FRA)
Gijs Leemreize (NED)
Enzo Leijnse (NED)
Emils Liepins (LAT)
Oscar Onley (GBR)
Martijn Tusveld (NED)
Content continues below the ads
Here’s the team’s post:
Florian Sénéchal and Amaury Capiot will both be making their return to the Arkea-B&B Hotels squad for Wednesday’s Dwars door Vlaanderen classics.
Florian Sénéchal:
“At last, I’m back on the Flandriennes! And it’s doing my morale a world of good. I made my comeback last week at the Coppi-Bartali. It was a tough race every day, which helped me to make progress. I was able to get back into the rhythm of racing and work hard. There were a lot of gradients. I feel good today. Now I want to take part in these races. And if I don’t get a result, I’ll know why. If the opposite happens, that will just be a bonus. Why not also think about trying things I wouldn’t have thought of a few weeks ago. I’m motivated without having too many reference points, of course. The watchword will be to enjoy these races, which are close to my heart, and to try to get as much pleasure as possible out of them. I’m really pleased to be at the start of the Flandriennes…”.
Florian Senechal racing in the 2021 Tour of Flanders. Sirotti photo
Amaury Capiot:
“Dwars door Vlaanderen will be my comeback. It’s a beautiful race with lots of bumps one after the other. The finish is flatter, and may favour sprinters who have managed to get through the difficulties. This race is hilly without being too hilly. So there are several possible scenarios. For my part, I haven’t lost too much of my physical condition, after two or three days following my crash at the Bredene Koksijde Classic, I was already doing the home-trainer and then I started riding on the road again. Now the question will be how I feel in the race and over the cobbled bumps.
Sébastien Hinault, sports director:
“I’m going to have a great Arkea-B&B Hotels team for Dwars door Vlaandren. Florian Sénéchal and Amaury Capiot are returning to the classics group. So we’ll have a good collective with Arnaud Démare and Luca Mozzato as bonuses. Not forgetting Dan McLay, Donavan Grondin and David Dekker. Dwars door Vlaanderen is a tough race with cobbled hills, but it can also be a sprint, with a small group of riders. The weather conditions forecast are good. We have riders capable of going fast in the final, but also cards that can go with the punches if there are big moves in the race”.
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary