Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, October 24, 2024
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true. - J. Robert Oppenheimer
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Upcoming racing:
- October 27: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
Latest completed racing:
- 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
- October 12: Il Lombardia
- October 10: Gran Piemonte
- October 8: Tre Valli Varesine
- October 7: Coppa Bernocchi
- Sept 29 - Oct 6: Le Tour de Langkawi
- October 6: Paris-Tours
- October 6: Coppa Agostoni-Giro delle Brianze
- October 5: Giro dell'Emilia
The team posted this news:
Italian rider Matteo Malucelli (31) will join Astana Qazaqstan Team for the 2025 season.
Malucelli had a strong 2024 season at the continental level, securing 10 victories, including three stages at the recently concluded Le Tour de Langkawi, two stages at the Tour of Japan and the overall classification of the Tour of Bulgaria.
Mateo Malucelli wins stage one of the 2022 Tour of Sicily.
“It’s an honor for me to join such a great team as Astana Qazaqstan Team, which has made history in cycling. I am 100% ready to show everything I’m capable of at the WorldTour level after a successful season rich for victories. I’m incredibly motivated to start this new chapter of my career and can’t wait to wear the Astana Qazaqstan Team jersey”, – said Matteo Malucelli.
“Matteo Malucelli is a well-known rider with serious potential. The fact that he’s currently racing at the continental level is more of a coincidence than a reflection of his abilities, so it’s only logical that after such a successful season, he’s earned his place at the WorldTour. Malucelli was impressive in Le Tour de Langkawi, as well as in several other races, and I believe he can be a great asset to our team next year as a powerful sprinter”, – said Alexandr Vinokurov, General Manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.
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Here’s the team’s news release:
Arjen Livyns just finished his season in China, where the Lotto Dstny Team took home the GC win with Lennert Van Eetvelt. After a difficult beginning of his season with an unfortunate crash in Strade Bianche, Livyns made some strong outings later this year. Three top ten results at the Vuelta, a second spot in Ruddervoorde Koerse and Textielprijs Vichte to name some of them. After two seasons with Lotto Dstny, the Belgian rider now adds another year to it.
Arjen Livyns
“I’m super happy about the last two years I had with the team. I love being part of this squad, everything is on a high level and I have a good bond with the riders and staff. Staying here another year was a natural decision for me. I want to develop further and keep showing my value in the team”, Livyns said about his contract extension.
“Here I mostly ride for our leaders, we start with a clear goal in the races. I know my own capabilities and I’m very glad with this helping role I have. When the race has been hard already and the shifting has been done, I know I’m capable of still being up there to help our leader. My first part of the season fell apart due to a crash in the Strade Bianche, I couldn’t ride the classics because of that. But I found my good level back in the second part and finished my first grand tour with the Vuelta. I took some top ten results there, which gives confidence for the future.”
CEO Stéphane Heulot: “Arjen is a great guy both on and off the bike. He’s always up there to help the leaders in the team, but when there’s an opportunity he can also go for some nice results himself, as we saw in some of the bunch sprints this Vuelta. We are very happy having him in the team another year.”
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Here's the team's post:
“Looking back, I can say it has been an amazing debut season. I am delighted with my five wins for the World Tour team and couldn’t have dreamed of a better season. I am happy and proud to be part of such a great squad. Equally important for me is that I have learned a lot this year, and this gives me more confidence for next season.
Paul Magnier winning stage 4 of the 2024 Tour of Britain
“I knew I had had two good training camps in Spain, but to raise my hands in the air at my first appearance in a Soudal Quick-Step jersey was incredible. The team believed in me that day and after a fantastic effort of the whole guys, I could finish it off in the sprint. It was also my most emotional victory of 2024 because it came so fast, I wasn’t even ready for it. The victories I got at the Tour of Britain have also made for some beautiful memories, because it was truly unbelievable to ride together with Remco and Julian, and have the latter as my lead-out man.
“For me and my progression, it was important to ride also with the Devo team, where I was a bit the leader of the squad. I am happy I could take two stage wins and the red jersey at the GiroNextGen, which was such an amazing week for us. I had a great lead-out man there in Andrea Raccagni; it was the first time we raced together, but we had a perfect connection from the beginning in the bunch sprints, where he brought me every time in a great position and I delivered. I’m really happy that we will be teammates next year.
“The only downside of the whole season was the crash in Britain that forced me to end my campaign. It’s a pity, because I was in good form and was feeling confident I could bring some more good results for the team. The recovery was long, but now I feel better. I trained a lot on the rollers, did some BKOOL rides and went to the gym to gain muscle in my leg again, and the plan is to continue working on that so that I can be in a good condition at the start of next season.
These are very hard races, due to the fight for positioning before the climbs and the harsh weather at times – rain, wind and cold temperatures. At the same time, these classics are incredibly beautiful, and I like them a lot. We’ll see if I can also do a Grand Tour, but my main goal is to continue to grow in this team and learn from the more experienced riders.”
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Here’s the team’s news:
The INEOS Grenadiers have announced structure and staff changes following a thorough review of the team’s performance operations. The changes will build on the strong foundations and team already in place and support the objective to win the biggest races in cycling.
Dr. Scott Drawer, the Grenadiers’ Performance Director, who joined the team in the spring of 2024, has spent six months reviewing the performance environment both on and off race.
The new structure will focus on three distinct performance streams – Grand Tours and Stage Racing, Classics and One Day Racing, and Future Talent. There will be a renewed focus on specialist coaching in time trials, sprint and power development, endurance training science, race strategy, aerodynamics and technology development.
The approach has been informed and influenced by other disciplines including track cycling and endurance sports including cross country skiing, triathlon and endurance running to apply emerging practices in training and competition science.
New staff for the 2025 season will include:
Kurt Asle Arvesen - The Norwegian former pro, who raced and started his coaching career with Team Sky, is returning to the team as a lead Sport Director.
Kurt Asle Arvesen at the 2005 HEW Cyclassics bike race.
Leonardo Basso - The Italian pro cyclist retired in 2023 having ridden for the team between 2018 and 2021. After spending time with the team this season as a Sport Director in a freelance capacity, he will now join in a permanent role.
Tom Helleman - The highly regarded sports scientist and coach who has been working with Team DSM-firmenich for the 2024 season will join the team as Lead Performance Coach.
Dr. Mehdi Kordi - The British track and sprint specialist led the Dutch national team to multiple Gold medal success in the Paris Olympics and helped them become a leading nation on the track. He will be joining the Grenadiers as Head of Performance Support and Innovation.
Dr. Luca Oggiano, a world-leading expert on aerodynamics, who has been working with the team for the past decade including Filippo Ganna’s successful hour record, takes on the role of Director of Research and Development and will continue to work closely with the team’s technical partners.
The team will also be appointing a new Head of Engineering and Technology, along with further additional staff that will be announced before the start of the 2025 season.
Scott Drawer, Performance Director, said: “I’ve spent six months listening, observing, and working with the team to determine what's needed to set ourselves up for excellence for 2025 and beyond. I’ve been looking at every element of how we race, how we train and how we support our riders in the changing landscape of professional cycling.
“We have a highly motivated, hungry and ambitious team of coaches, sport directors and performance specialists who want to create an environment that allows our riders to fulfil their potential. That collective energy and desire will set us up for the challenges and opportunities that await in 2025.
“We are going to spend the rest of this year making further positive changes: setting the team’s performance plans and goals, executing some key training camps and getting the whole team ready to race hard in January. We want to set the right tone from the start and will be working closely with our riders to establish the culture which will facilitate success and be fundamental to our future.”
John Allert, CEO, said: “Scott has conducted a thorough review of every element of performance with his trademark energy and focus. He has come up with a clear plan and the decisive changes needed to set us up for success in the coming years.
“This is a team with a proud legacy of success, and we are all determined to get back to the top step of the podium. Our new performance structure and approach are key to building the next chapter for the team.”
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