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Meanwhile in the peloton | Beautiful footage of Visma training camp, Cavendish receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Cycling
by Bram van der Ploeg
Tuesday, 17 December 2024 at 08:26
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A lot happens daily in cycling, and the information keeps coming via various channels. But besides the prominent and most important news, little things, rumors, or facts also circulate. That is why IDLProCycling.com has created "Meanwhile in the peloton," so you don't miss anything. We supplement this with fun posts from social media that you don't always need to take seriously.

Read more Meanwhile in the peloton

Visma shares beautiful footage of training camp

December 16 – Visma | Lease a Bike has released a video showcasing stunning footage of their training camp. Under clear blue skies and a bright Spanish sun, the Dutch team is preparing for the new season. Notable: Tiesj Benoot is sporting a new look. Simon Yates is also present — though still wearing his Jayco-AlUla kit.

Mark Cavendish receives Lifetime Achievement Award

December 16 – Mark Cavendish was celebrated at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024 awards, where he received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The British cycling legend, now retired, reflected on the honor in a video shared on X. “Legacy is important,” Cavendish said. “Most people would like to be remembered for something. It’s an honor if you are. I dreamed of being like my heroes when I was young. That give me inspiration to train, to compete, to travel. If you can be that name that inspires, then I think that's an important legacy to leave.”

The 'Manx Missile' has been instrumental in the rise of British cycling, which has seen incredible growth in recent years at both the professional and amateur levels. “That's been the proudest thing of my whole career, for sure,” he added.

No Niels Vandeputte in Namur World Cup 

December 15 - Niels Vandeputte will not participate in the Namur World Cup on Sunday. The Belgian rider felt unwell after the X2O round in Herentals, as reported by his team, Alpecin-Deceuninck. After consulting with the medical staff, it was decided that skipping Sunday’s race would be the best course of ac

Symbolism? Pidcock in old INEOS jersey in the pouring rain

December 14 - It’s already well known that Tom Pidcock is leaving INEOS Grenadiers for Q36.5 Pro Cycling. Yet, it seems the Brit himself hasn’t fully processed the change. In a mountain bike training video, he’s still wearing an INEOS jersey. Meanwhile, rain is pouring down relentlessly, but the Olympic champion remains undeterred. If you look closely, you might find plenty of symbolism in the video…

Maxim Van Gils joins Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe training camp, but in a different kit...

December 14 - This past week, it was finally made official: Maxim Van Gils signed with Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. The Belgian rider was quickly able to join the team’s first training camp. However, when the all-rounder showed up in his cycling gear, it became clear that there was a small issue — the team kit wasn’t ready! As a result, Van Gils was seen riding in the jersey of the Belgian national team, paired with a Red Bull helmet. Not the smoothest start, but the blonde classics specialist didn’t seem too bothered by it.

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Van Gils with a young fan

Tietema-Rocket Pedersen retires from cycling: "Spending more time with my kids"

December 13 - Nicklas Pedersen is stepping away from cycling. This past year, the 31-year-old Dane raced for TDT-Unibet, which will rebrand as Tietema Unibet Rockets next year. However, Pedersen won’t be part of the team. In an open and heartfelt interview, he explained his decision.

Two years ago, Pedersen divorced his wife. "I got custody of my two beautiful children. It's quite easy to make a decision about my future. No race can come close to spending time with my kids. It was pretty natural to call Julia (Soek, team director, ed.) and say: ‘Hey, now I'm a full-time dad. I’m gonna quit cycling.’”

In what was only his second race for the team, Pedersen won the Ster van Zwolle. Shortly after, he sprinted to fourth place in the Tour of Hungary, beating Mark Cavendish. “I really enjoyed every moment with my teammates — the ups and downs, the crashes. In ten years, I’ll look back and be really proud of being a part of this team. Maybe when you are doing the Tour de France, I’ll miss it a little bit, but I’ll also be really happy for all the guys. Then I’ll say to my friends and children, ‘That's my friends from Tietema.’”

Taco van der Hoorn is (for now) the last winner of the BetCity Eleven Cities Tour

December 13 - Organizer Courage Events has announced that the fourth edition of the BetCity Eleven Cities Race, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2025, has been canceled. The event cannot take place due to the absence of a national live broadcast, which was essential for the organization.

The BetCity Eleven Cities Race, first held in 2022, aimed to put Friesland back on the cycling map with an exciting race. And it succeeded. The organizers are proud of the achievement: a 200-kilometer race through eleven cities without police escorts, made possible with the help of many partners. “This is groundbreaking for the future of cycling in the Netherlands, and despite its relatively short history, the BetCity Eleven Cities Race has already played an important role in Dutch cycling history.”

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Chairman Nathan Lootsma provided further explanation. "With the budget we’ve worked with, and also require, you’d expect a race with a national profile. Unfortunately, Eurosport was unwilling to broadcast the race live, even if we produced the footage ourselves, as we did this year in collaboration with Omrop Fryslân."

Whether the race will return in the future is uncertain. "The contract with the main sponsor expires this summer. There’s little prospect of securing the necessary funding from regional governments and businesses."

This means that, for now, Taco van der Hoorn’s comeback victory remains the final highlight of the race.

A happy Taco van der Hoorn after his victory in the BetCity Eleven Cities Race
A happy Taco van der Hoorn after his victory in the BetCity Eleven Cities Race

New X-Lab bike for XDS Astana Team

December 13 - XDS Astana Team has officially unveiled the new X-Lab bike. It’s a product of Chinese craftsmanship from new title sponsor XDS Carbon-Tech. One thing is certain: its appearance is stunning. What a gem! Hopefully, the riders will be faster on their new bikes, as UCI points are desperately needed. The looming threat of relegation already seems inevitable. Vinokourov has taken note of the situation, bringing in no fewer than thirteen new riders to the team. A thorough shake-up for a squad currently in the midst of a crisis.

Quintana and Pelayo Sánchez take action to help out storm-affected city

December 12 - Valencia and its surrounding areas are still recovering from the severe flooding caused by Storm Dana last month. Numerous efforts have been made to assist those affected, and Movistar has also stepped in to help. Nairo Quintana and Pelayo Sánchez visited Alfafar, one of the hardest-hit regions. There, they distributed clothing and even went for a ride with the local youth cycling community. Heartwarming scenes!

Merckx breaks hip in cycling accident, but already has a new one

December 11 - Bad news for Eddy Merckx: the Belgian "Cannibal" broke his hip on Monday in a cycling accident in Hombeek (Mechelen, Belgium). The 79-year-old former world champion crashed around 1:30 PM local time.

According to his wife, it was an unfortunate fall with no other road users involved. "Eddy slipped and immediately felt a sharp pain. He knew it was serious," she told the Belgian paper Het Nieuwsblad. In the hospital, it was confirmed that his hip was broken.

The cycling legend has since undergone successful surgery and now has a new artificial hip. "I’m in pain, but I was very lucky," he told Het Nieuwsblad. "I wasn’t riding fast. It was slippery. Suddenly, I fell at the railway crossing. I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but I was on the ground in no time. So stupid. I landed right on my right hip and knew immediately that something was broken. I was very lucky. The barrier wasn’t down, and no train was coming. Things could have ended much worse since I was lying there for a while until bystanders came to help."

Merckx will need to stay in the hospital for at least one more night, after which his recovery will begin. While standing and walking should be possible relatively soon, the full recovery process will take several months.

Eddy Merckx and Wout van Aert in the Tour de France
Eddy Merckx and Wout van Aert in the Tour de France

Evenepoel and bpost launch 'Remco Reflex' after accident

December 10 - Remco Evenepoel is recovering after a collision with the door of a delivery van operated by package delivery company bpost, but both parties are not taking it lightly. On Tuesday, they launched the Remco Reflex, a sticker that reminds car drivers to watch out for cyclists before opening the door.

Plugge on skis with Visma | Lease a Bike Development Team

December 10 - It has been a longstanding habit, the Norway trip of Visma | Lease a Bike's training team. Between the 2024 and 2025 cycling seasons, the U23 riders once again traveled to Scandinavia, with Visma | Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge already cross-country skiing at their heels. The latter posted a photo with team manager Sierk-Jan de Haan on Instagram.

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Baloise Trek family together: this is how much cyclo-cross teams travel between World Cup races

December 10 - An hour of competition, or maybe not even because the wind canceled the race in Sardinia on Sunday. It's a lot of traveling back and forth for teams seriously contesting the World Cups. Sven Nysshowcased his team's travel, Baloise Trek Lions, with a telling message on X. 'This family is home after 13 days, 4,700 kilometers of riding and four boat trips. On to Herentals and Namur.' So Nys senior adds the next few cyclo-crosses, which are luckily close to home in Belgium. And somewhere that is understandable. Lucinda Brand, Thibau Nys, and Pim Ronhaar are others in the photo.  

'Merckx fractures hip in cycling accident

December 9 - Sad news for Eddy Merckx, 'The Cannibal' fractured his hip in a cycling accident in Hombeek (Belgium). The now 79-year-old former world champion crashed in the Bankstraat around 1:30 AM. Bystanders immediately rushed to help and called an ambulance.

According to his wife, it was an unfortunate fall without the involvement of other road users. "Eddy slipped and immediately felt intense pain. He knew it was serious," she told Het Nieuwsblad. At the hospital, it was confirmed that his hip was fractured. Merckx will soon undergo surgery in Herentals.  

KNWU cancels Top Competition

December 9 - The Top Competition will not be held in 2025. Because the Omloop van Valkenswaard will not be organized in 2025 and the Alfa Bier Limburg Trofee has decided to become a free classic, only three races remained. Therefore, the KNWU has decided to cancel the Top Competition in 2025. The remaining three races will now each choose their own path by joining the Club Competition or the Holland Cup, for example, reports Wielerflits

'Cappuccinos to go' for Nys and Lidl-Trek in Spain

December 9 - Most teams are in full swing preparing for next season, and that includes Lidl-Trek, which is holding its first training camp in Spain. After a well-deserved vacation, the riders have to get back on their bikes. A cup of coffee is a good way to start. Thibau Nys has a brilliant way of providing a 'cappuccino to go' for his teammates.

'Weather girl' Brand gives updates on the weather in Italy

November 8 - The World Cup cyclo-cross in Sardinia has been canceled due to stormy weather. According to 'weather girl' Lucinda Brand, that's not surprising. The Dutch rider is taking a playful approach to the situation.

Dutch National Headwind Cycling Championships 2024 were held

December 7 - The eighth edition of the Dutch National Headwind Cycling Championship took place Saturday at the Oosterscheldekering in Zeeland. Three hundred participants, including some well-known riders, went out against the wind. For example, Laurens ten Dam joined podcast buddy Stefan Bolt on the Tan Dem, while Hugo de Jonge was also among the participants. Jurjun van de Velde won among the men by covering the 8.5 kilometers in just under twenty minutes; Ingrid van de Wijngaard was the best among the women.  

Pogacar encourages injured Evenepoel

December 7 - Remco Evenepoel's hard crash unexpectedly startled the cycling world during a training session. The Belgian sustained multiple fractures and will face a long recovery. Tadej Pogacar sympathizes with his competitor. '" have sent him a message wishing him a speedy recovery," he said at the presentation of the Vélo d'Or, which he won, of course. "He doesn't need to stress, although everyone knows you establish the groundwork during the winter. I hope Remco doesn't take that crash with him on the bike."

SD Worx-Protime signs former junior queen Stigger

December 6 - SD Worx-Protime has secured a very talented rider for the new season with Laura Stigger. The 24-year-old Austrian particularly impressed among juniors and U23: in 2018, she became world champion in road and mountain biking in the youngest category. She will continue this combination with the Dutch team. On the road, the main focus will be spring work, but she will also be useful when the hills get longer.

Toneatti rides for Astana in 2025

December 6 - A few days ago, Astana announced that Santiago Umba and Daniil Marukhin will be returned to the development team. It was a remarkable move since 22-year-old Umba and 25-year-old Kazakh Marukhin were still part of the World Formation in 2024. The Colombian even competed in the Vuelta a España for Alexander Vinokourov's team. Why this decision? Both riders simply needed some extra time; the step to the WorldTour came too soon for them.

Or was it related to Maxim van Gils after all? And did the two riders need to get out to make room in the selection? Heading into 2024, a spot was also cleared at the last minute, at that time for the arrival of Mark Cavendish. Astana's interest in Van Gils can no longer be called a secret.

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One of the two spots is not for the Belgian, as Davide Toneatti is being transferred to the main squad. The 23-year-old Italian signed for two years, having already spent three years in the development team. "I'm thrilled to sign my first pro contract and step up to the WorldTour with Astana Qazaqstan Team. The trust and support I've felt in the Development team over the past three years have been key. I've gained valuable experience, and this new challenge motivates me to work harder and achieve my full potential," the Italian told the press release.

Vinokurov also contributes. "Over three years, we've seen Davide grow steadily as a rider, showing dedication in training and races. This season, he competed in several races with our WorldTeam without a single withdrawal, delivering a victory and podiums for the Development team. The timing of this move is perfect for his progression, and I'm delighted he's joining our main team," said the general manager of Astana Qazaqstan Team.

The question is whether the last spot will be filled and by whom. A name change is still on the horizon, though, with the upcoming addition of Xds as a sponsor. Accordingly, the team name in 2025 will be XdS Carbon Tech Astana Qazakhstan.

Forty-year-old Arashiro continues another year, now in Italian service

December 6 - He just can't seem to stop. Sixteen years after his Tour de France debut in 2009, forty-year-old Yukiya Arashiro still has no intention of hanging up his bike. 'A new chapter begins for the Toscana Factory Team - Vini Fantini (Team Corratec - Vini Fantini last year, ed.), which proudly announces the arrival of Yukiya Arashiro to the team for the upcoming season,' reads the team's message.

"Born in 1984, the Japanese rider has an impressive record, with eight wins in his career, including three national titles in road racing, a stage win in the Tour of Japan, and numerous striking results in some of the most prestigious international races. With a career spanning more than a decade, Arashiro has competed in 16 grand tours and 14 Monuments, showing athletic and tactical qualities that make him one of the most experienced and respected riders on the world stage. His presence will be key, not only for achieving the team's sporting goals but also for mentoring and guiding the young talents within the team."

With the arrival of Arashiro, the Italian team now has nine confirmed riders, so either there are still many riders to be confirmed, or the team has busy weeks ahead. The team is also facing other challenges, as they cannot expect a wildcard for next year's Giro d'Italia. They did not finish in the top 40 of the UCI ranking.

Dutch National Time Trial Championships in Laren in 2025

December 4 - The successors of Daan Hoole and Riejanne Markus will be determined in Laren. The village in the municipality of Lochum will host the Dutch National Time Trial Championships on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The organization collaborates with the KNWU, Wielergroep Laren, and LWC de Paaschberg. The press release says the course will be about twenty kilometers long. In addition to the National Time Trial Championship, several side events will be organized, such as a fat tire race for children.

"We are very proud to bring this national event to Laren," says Henk Oudenampsen, chairman of Wielergroep Laren. Together with everyone involved, we will turn it into a celebration that will long be remembered." Pascal Kamperman of Achterhoek in Beweging also looks forward to it: "It's Great to see how two clubs and a very enthusiastic group of volunteers embrace this and have the guts to organize it."

Alderman Lex de Goede of the Lochem municipality considers the organization an honor. "It is an event that connects our residents and gets them moving and puts our municipality on the map. As a municipality, we gladly support this and have every confidence in the organization that has made this possible."

Next year, two Vollerings in the peloton: "She has always continued"

December 2 - The next Vollering appears on the scene. Bodine Vollering will soon make her professional debut. The 21-year-old rider is the sister of Demi Vollering and has signed with VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team for two years. According to her new team, Bodine excels, especially when it goes uphill.

"I am proud to be part of the VolkerWessels Cycling Team next year. I feel a lot is changing in women's cycling at the moment. I am delighted with my choice for the VolkerWessels Cycling Team. The team has the ambition to develop simultaneously as women's cycling, and they have also shown the ability to produce great champions. I will be working hard towards my dreams and goals, and I am looking forward to the process, riding with the girls and learning a lot from the whole team," reveals the youngest Vollering.

Her older sister is also making herself heard. "Proud of you Bob," the 28-year-old rider writes under the Instagram post. On her Instagram story, she explains a little more. "Proud of Bodine! Worked so hard for this step, and although giving up looked sometimes like the easiest thing to do, she always continued. This is your journey!!!"

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Israel-Premier Tech strengthens staff, Bauer appointed new sports director

December 2—Steve Bauer will take the job as sports director at Israel-Premier Tech. This makes the Canadian the successor to Rik Verbrugghe, who moved to the new Ridley Racing Team early last month. In fact, Bauer is not the only name to be announced, as Alexander Cataford and Francesco Frassi will join as team managers. Canadian Cataford was previously a rider with the Israeli team.

'We are excited to announce our recruits for the 2025 season,' said team director Kjell Carlström. "After three years at IPT, Steve Bauer was the natural decision to advance to the role of Sporting Manager, having previously held this position at CCC Team. Steve's experience and skills will be important in molding our Sporting and Performance departments, which continue to grow as we work our way back to the WorldTour."

<i>Verbrugghe left Israel-Premier Tech last month, now they found a replacement</i>
Verbrugghe left Israel-Premier Tech last month, now they found a replacement

Froome and Cavendish continue 'honeymoon' in Thailand

December 1 - The bromance between Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome continues. The two British cycling legends are traveling the world together to ride a few criteriums and raise money. After a trip to Miami (where they took a romantic cruise), they are now in Thailand, immersing themselves in the culture. Tell me, who looks best in the traditional clothing?  

Evenepoel visits Formula 1 team in Qatar

December 1 - It is well-known that Remco Evenepoel loves fast cars: earlier this week, the two-time Olympic champion was already spotted with a brand-new BMW. On Sunday, the Belgian was seen in the paddock during the Formula 1 race in Qatar. He was a guest on Alpine's race team, where he conversed with Australian reserve driver Jack Doohan. Moments later, he met Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, the French team's lead drivers.  

Wout van Aert showcases his singing skills once again

November 30 - Wout van Aert was 'The Unicorn' featured on The Masked Singer in Belgium. And he had fun doing so, according to the second slide of an Instagram post by rider Riejanne Markus. Van Aert repeated his performance at a Visma | Lease a Bike party.

Evenepoel 🤝Jan Vertonghen; Kuss and Jorgenson in the stands at AZ

November 30 - It's vacation time for most riders, but they are still sports fans. Earlier, for example, we saw Mathieu van der Poel playing golf. Remco Evenepoel visited a game of Anderlecht, where he was a top soccer player in his youth. Afterward, he visited Jan Vertonghen, captain of the Belgian club. Meanwhile, Americans Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss were in Alkmaar for the AZ- Galatasaray match. They seemed to be having a great time in the stands!

Evenepoel drives away with pride in brand new BMW

November 29 - Remco Evenepoel has a new toy! The Belgian of Soudal-Quick Step picked up his new BMW M5 at the dealer on Thursday, the successor to his X5. He immediately drove it in the evening to 'his' soccer club, Anderlecht, which was playing against FC Porto. "Picking up a car like that is always great fun," he said of his new car during halftime to Play6.

HLN claims Evenepoel's new toy will cost "at least 144,000 euros." Thanks to the partnership of Le Couter & Lemmens in Desselgem with Soudal-Quick Step, he gets the chance to ride in a BMW every year.

"Taco van der Hoorn extends contract at Intermarché-Wanty"

November 28 - There was still uncertainty about it, and we have not yet received confirmation from the team either, but it seems that Taco van der Hoorn can stay with Intermarché-Wanty. The usually well-informed cycling journalist Daniel Benson revealed that via his X-account. It would be a nice boost for Van der Hoorn, who returned in the second part of this season and immediately won the Elfstedenrace. That performance would mean the team does not want to deprive him of the chance to stay. Great news!  

Burke once again 'beats' the best GC riders in the world

November 27 – He’s done it again! Last week, we reported on Canadian amateur cyclist Jack Burke shattering Strava KOMs on iconic Italian climbs. First, he took down the Stelvio, then he clocked a faster time than Vincenzo Nibali on the infamous Mortirolo. And he’s not doing this just for fun — Burke is using these feats to chase his dream of landing a pro contract. "Let’s hope this leads to some kind of opportunity," he wrote in his post.

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&nbsp; Jack Burke
  Jack Burke

To add to his growing list of achievements, Burke has now claimed the KOM on Alpe d’Huez. "Blood, sweat and 16 years. I’m still trying to chase my dream," he shared alongside a stunning video of his attempt on Instagram. "Two years ago I was hit by a car and that ended my career. I was crushed to feel like I never lived up to my potential as an athlete. You can’t imagine how good it feels to feel like the old Jack again & that maybe I can still do this. I don’t know what I’m training for, but I’ll be ready when it shows up."

Burke also showed admiration for the GC riders whose times he surpassed. "This climb hurt the most and to think Sepp Kuss, Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar and Geraint Thomas did it at the end of a stage. Bonkers. I’m even more of a fan now."

Ferrand-Prévot offers a glimpse into Visma | Lease a Bike team event

November 27, 2024 - Pauline Ferrand-Prévot shared a behind-the-scenes look at her first official day with Visma | Lease a Bike on social media. The French rider showcased highlights from the team event, which included (optional) morning runs, a team activity with horses, and a pizza-making session.  

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Geraint Thomas kicks off 2025 at the Tour Down Under

November 27, 2024 - In less than a month or two, the WorldTour season will kick off in Australia. First up: the Tour Down Under. The six-day stage race has announced Geraint Thomas as its first confirmed participant. This will mark Thomas’s tenth — and likely final — appearance in the race, as the rider is expected to retire after the 2025 season.  

Plugge and Lappartient agree on (almost) everything

November 26, 2024 - Richard Plugge and UCI President David Lappartient met today during the UCI Congress to discuss key topics, including the use of carbon monoxide among riders and race safety. Their meeting follows a heated clash between the two in August over communication systems in races.

The disagreement stemmed from an incident during the Tour of Poland, where the UCI experimented with removing race radio communication. A Cofidis rider was overlooked after a crash. Plugge criticized the lack of communication, calling it a major safety issue. "The UCI cannot continue with this radio ban. It turns the race into a complete farce like we saw in the Olympics where riders cannot call the car for basic assistance (in case of a mechanical). Hopefully no one was too badly hurt today," he wrote on X.

Lappartient responded sharply, accusing Plugge of spreading misinformation. "You are caught in the act of fake news! Today's crashes at the Tour of Poland have nothing to do with the absence of radios and you know it. The riders were taken care of according to standards. Our priority at the UCI is safety. You want to keep the radios on to give instructions, not for safety. Take responsibility for it! Let’s continue working together," he countered on X.

Despite the intense exchange, the tensions now appear to have eased. At the UCI Congress, the two discussed safety and other topics extensively. Plugge expressed satisfaction afterward: "Good and constructive conversations with Lappartient at the UCI Cycling WorldTour seminar. We agree on (almost) everything," he wrote.

Former Vuelta top-10 finisher Hagen retires as a pro

November 26, 2024 - Carl Fredrik Hagen has announced his retirement from professional cycling. The 33-year-old Norwegian, who spent his final season with Q36.5 Pro Cycling, shared the news on Instagram. In a heartfelt post, Hagen explained that he had been waiting for an offer that felt right, but it never came. "And so, with a mix of horror and joy, I say goodbye to the sport and look forward to new challenges."

Hagen achieved his career-best result in the 2019 Vuelta a España, finishing eighth in the general classification of a race won by Primoz Roglic while riding for Lotto-Soudal.

INEOS Grenadiers shares entertaining footage of team outing

November 22, 2024 - While the first training camps of cycling teams follow in mid/late December, several WorldTour teams gather even in the first weeks of the off-season. This allows recruits to get to know their new team informally. INEOS Grenadiers shared a behind-the-scenes look at their November camp. During the annual outing, the riders and staff visit Manchester United soccer club (also sponsored by INEOS) and enjoy a game of bowling, among other things. Geraint Thomas shows he knows how to kick a ball.  

Unibet Tietema Rockets signs experienced climber Carboni

November 21, 2024 - Italian climber Giovanni Carboni has joined TDT-Unibet, which will compete under the name Unibet Tietema Rockets, starting from next year. As expected, the team announced the 29-year-old rider's arrival with a playful video. Carboni is transfering in from the continental JCL Team Ukyo, where he showcased his talents in races such as the Settimana Coppi e Bartali (ninth place) and the Giro della Romagna (fourth place). The Italian brings considerable experience to the team, having competed in the Giro d’Italia three times, where he stood out for his aggressive racing style.  

Canadian amateur cyclist takes KOM on Mortirolo

November 20, 2024 - Canadian amateur cyclist Jack Burke has been making waves by claiming Strava KOMs on legendary Italian climbs from professional riders. After previously seizing the KOM on the Stelvio, Burke has now snatched Vincenzo Nibali’s KOM on the notorious Mortirolo, beating the former Tour de France winner’s time by over a minute. "Let’s hope some kind of opportunity comes from this," he wrote alongside his post. Burke hopes his achievements will catch the attention of a pro team willing to give him a shot at turning professional.  

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On average, Burke climbed the Mortirolo at nearly 16 kilometers per hour. "It’s just one of those days when you have the best legs, you see the power numbers, and you think, ‘Yeah, today is my day,’" Burke said. "Whoever, wherever, whenever — I’ll do whatever it takes. I just want a chance to race against the best," he wrote on Strava. And he already has his next target: "Pogi, I’m coming for your Madone!"

Burke is not entirely unknown in the cycling world. The Canadian climber spent several years on the continental circuit. For example, in 2018, he competed in the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, won by Sepp Kuss, where Burke finished 11th overall. Over the years, he has posted solid GC results in smaller stage races. Perhaps these recent performances will give the 29-year-old the final push to achieve his dream of turning professional.

Tadej Pogacar raises funds to fight cancer

November 18, 2024 - Tadej Pogacar is already considered a hero by many for his dominance on the bike, but yesterday, the Slovenian showed that he also has a heart of gold off it. A charity in his home country raised funds to fight cancer, and one-third of the total amount, €85,000, was contributed by the Tadej Pogacar Foundation, the world champion’s charitable organization. Through his foundation, Pogi helps sick children and people affected by natural disasters. Beautiful work, Tadej!  

Lampaert family expecting second child

November 15, 2024 – Happy times in the Lampaert household. Soudal Quick-Step rider Yves Lampaert and his wife Astrid Demeulemeester are expecting their second child, following the birth of their son Aloïs in 2021. The couple shared the good news on Instagram with the caption: "Guess who becomes a big brother in April next year?" while their son, proudly dressed in a Soudal Quick-Step jersey, poses on a blue bike.

Jorgenson also knows how to handle a surfboard

November 14, 2024 – There are few riders in the professional peloton as versatile as Matteo Jorgenson. Riding over cobblestones, keeping up with the best in the high mountains, and performing well in time trials — the Visma-American can do it all. His versatility even extends beyond cycling. Jorgenson also knows his way around a surfboard, as shown in photos of him posing with his board. These photos also reveal that the surfboard brings some extra sponsorship for the cycling team.

Evenepoel temporarily out after wisdom tooth extraction

November 14, 2024 – No updates from Remco Evenepoel on Strava over the past four days, and the reason why has now become clear. The Belgian had his wisdom teeth removed. The Soudal-Quick Step rider shared this on TikTok. In the video, Evenepoel is seen entertaining himself with a game after the procedure. The timing of the extraction coincides well with the off-season, giving him plenty of time to recover as it will be months before he needs to pin on a race number again.

Chamberlain attacked by "Australian Magpie"

November 13 - There is no place to be safe as a cyclist. Oscar Chamberlain, a pro of Decathlon AG2R next year, faced an additional challenge during his training. The Australian is training again in his home country this winter, but gets bothered by an "Australian Magpie". "Come back to Aus, they said...," Chamberlain captioned his video on Instagram.

Thibau Nys celebrates 22nd birthday

November 12 - Thibau Nys is celebrating his 22nd birthday this Tuesday. The Belgian received a big congratulations on Instagram from his team Lidl-Trek, father Sven and his Dutch girlfriend Anna Eikendal. "Happy birthday Champ," Nys wrote alongside a photo of Thibau in his brand-new European jersey.

Lander Loockx crashes in Niel, sidelined for several weeks

November 12 - Bad news for Lander Loockx and his team TDT-Unibet. The cyclo-cross rider crashed on Monday in Niel, and the injuries are worse than expected. He shared the news through the team’s channels on X. "A small crash, but one with big consequences… I badly damaged my finger with a dislocation and a damaged joint. After the surgery in the hospital, the verdict was that I will be out for several weeks. When I will be back in the field is still a question mark for me, but it will be a few weeks anyway. Hope to see you all at the cross again soon!" Stay strong, Lander!

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Tour de Tietema
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Small crash, big consequences… 🤕 After my fifth place in Rucphen last Saturday, I was determined to fight again for a good result in Niel today. I was moving up during the race and was fighting for a spot in the top 10, but unfortunately I had a small crash in one of the last…

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Óscar Freire's son, Marcos, signs with UAE Team Emirates Gen Z

November. 11, 2024 - The next son of a former top rider debuted in the peloton. More and more former Spanish riders have appeared on the scene in recent years. Think of Igor Arrieta, son of José Luis Arrieta, and Markel Beloki, son of Joseba Beloki. Now Marcos Freire, son of former world champion Óscar Freire, also joins that list. The 18-year-old rider has committed to UAE Team Emirates Gen Z for two seasons, according to El Diario Montañés. Last year, Freire already trained once during preseason, as shown in the photo below.  

Freire stands out for his versatility: like his father, he excels at sprinting, but he also performs well in mountain stages and time trials, giving him a reasonably complete profile. "A high mountain pass will be difficult for me to overcome, but if it is a four- or five-kilometer climb and after it a sprint finish, that suits me well," Freire told El Diario Montañés in an interview. Looking ahead to 2025, he is "pleased because I'm joining a great team."

Alex Dowsett joins Astana Qazaqstan on Cavendish's terms

November 11, 2024 - Cavendish still has some leverage at Astana Qazaqstan, according to Daniel Benson. The cycling journalist reports that Alex Dowsett will join manager Alexander Vinokourov's team on the sprinter's condition. The 36-year-old Dowsett is a former Movistar and Israel-Premier Tech pro and will become a Performance Engineer. Dowsett, who has been heavily involved in aerodynamics and marginal gains during his career, was already engaged with Astana Qazaqstan this year. That proved satisfactory, so the Kazakhs have created a new role for him.  

Alex Dowsett as British time trail champion
Alex Dowsett as British time trail champion

Valgren and Costa extend contract at EF Education-EasyPost

November 9, 2024 - Michael Valgren and Rui Costa have extended their expiring contracts at EF Education-EasyPost. This is what their management agency, Corso, reports on social media. Whereas Costa remains with the American WorldTour team through 2025, Valgren extended for two additional seasons. The Dane has been riding for EF Education-EasyPost since 2021. Costa came over from Intermarché-Wanty last season.

Van der Poel on the golf course

November 9, 2024 - Mathieu van der Poel is enjoying his vacation. The Dutchman from Alpecin-Deceuninck shared some photos of a day on the golf course on Friday. They showed him in good shape ("Mathieu on fire!") and with a light blond haircut.

Vollering welcomes new national coach Ten Dam

7 November 2024 - Laurens ten Dam announced Thursday that he will be the national coach of the Dutch women's team starting next year. Demi Vollering, the expected frontwoman for next year's tough World Championships in Rwanda, welcomed the new coach of choice on Instagram.

Sprinter Gaviria extends at Movistar

November 7, 2024 - Fernando Gaviria has signed with Movistar. As announced in a press release. "Especially after the renewals of Davide Cimolai and Albert Torres, the sprint train remains intact. I look forward to pursuing new success," Gaviria said. Unkind was not his season in 2024. He finished second once and third in a sprint at the Tour de France.

November 6, 2024 - Lotto Dstny says goodbye to their departing athletes with an excellent video. 'Riders come and go - that's cycling. As the season ends, we say goodbye to some dear riders. Thank you for every moment, every kilometer, every sacrifice," the Belgian team captioned accordingly.

Lotto is saying goodbye to as many as a third of the team. The reasons are now known. Two riders are quitting: Thomas De Gendt and Jacopo Guarnieri. In addition, essential names such as Victor Campenaerts (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Andreas Kron (Uno-X Mobility), and Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates) are leaving. The two Dutchmen within the team also choose a new challenge: Pascal Eenkhoorn goes to Soudal Quick-Step, while Mathijs Paasschens makes an excellent transfer to Bahrain-Victorious. Furthermore, Harm Vanhoucke moved to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, and Sylvian Moniquet moved to Cofidis. Where Johannes Adamietz will go is not yet clear.

British rider completes cyclo-cross with (even) bigger Visma | Lease a Bike helmet

November 5, 2024 - A remarkable sight at last weekend's cyclo-cross race in London. Honor Elliot rode the 'Muddy Hell Cyclo-cross' - with a Halloween twist - wearing a larger version of the Visma | Lease a Bike time trial helmet that became famous last season. And she didn't do so badly, as she finished second. 'It wasn't very aerodynamic,' she laughed afterward.

FDJ and Suez extend until 2028

November 4, 2024 - Good news from the women's peloton, as FDJ-Suez - Demi Vollering's new team - will be in the peloton until 2028 anyway. The French women's team also has a large Dutch clan within the selection, as Lauren Molengraaf, Loes Adegeest, Nina Buijsman, and Amber Kraak will also be part of the squad next year. Watch the video of the announcement below:

Bart Lemmen next cyclist with running legs

November 4, 2024 - Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Tom Dumoulin, and the list goes on.... Cyclists who are excellent runners, Bart Lemmen is one of them. On Sunday, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider showed off on his Instagram story with a third place finish in the StartbaanRun in Soesterberg, a ten-kilometer marathon. It took him 33 minutes and 38 seconds, as demonstrated by his Strava file.

Puck Pieterse deployed as mechanic

November 4, 2024 - Puck Pieterse is still enjoying a well-deserved rest after a crazy year on the road and mountain bike, but the Dutchwoman prefers not to sit still. And so she headed to Rhenen in the Netherlands on Sunday during the European cyclo-cross championships in Pontevedra for the tenth Rhenen National Cyclo-cross Race. Sister Isa was there at the start and was enthusiastically helped and cheered on by sister Puck.

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