Bicycle Racing News and Opinion
Saturday, September 27, 2014

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Today at the World Road Cycling Championships

Today there two World Championship Road Races, Junior Men and Elite Women. As I write this, Germany's Jonas Bokeloh is the new Junior Men's World Road Champion and the Women's Elite road race is just beginning.

Jonas Bokeloh wins the Junior Men's Road Race. Photo ©Sirotti

More on Johan Van Summeren Transfer

Yesterday I noted that there were reports that Johan Van Summeren would be moving from Garmin-sharp to Ag2r-La Mondiale. Here's the press release from Ag2r making it official:

Johan Vansummeren has signed a two-year contract with the Pro Cycling Team Ag2r-La Mondiale. The winner of Paris-Roubaix 2011 is 33 years old and there’s no doubt he will contribute his experience to the group, in particular on the Classics.

Vincent Lavenu said: “Johan is a rider known for his qualities as a teammate. Hard worker, he is able to shine on all kind of races, both on cobbles than on hilly races. His “warrior” character will be invaluable to the team on many occasions.”

JOHAN VANSUMMEREN

Belgian – Classics specialist

Date and place of birth : February 4th, 1981 in Lommel (Belgium)

Height : 1m97 / Weight : 79kg

Turned pro in 2003 – AG2R LA MONDIALE since 2015

Former teams : Quick Step-Davitamon – Latexco (2003), Bodysol-Relax-Fuenladrada (2004), Davitamon-Lotto (2005-2006), Predictor-Lotto (2007), Silence-Lotto (2008-2009), Garmin-Transitions (2010), Team Garmin-Cervelo (2011), Garmin-Sharp (2012-2014)

Professional teams : 3

HIGHLIGHTS

2003 (Quick Step-Davitamon-Latexco)

• 3rd Beverbeek Classic
• 7th overall, G.P. Erik Breukink / 5th in a stage

2004 (Bodysol-Relax-Fuenladrada)

• 8th G.P. Rudy Dhaenens

2005 (Davitamon-Lotto)

• 2nd in a stage, Tour Down Under / 4th overall
• 3rd in two stages, Vuelta a Andalucia

2006 (Davitamon-Lotto)

• 4th in a stage, Tour Down Under
• 5th Belgian National Road Race Championship
• 9th G.P. d’Isbergues

2007 (Predictor-Lotto)

• Overall and stage winner, Tour of Poland
• 3rd in a stage, Eneco Tour

2008 (Silence-Lotto)

• 8th Paris-Roubaix
• 17th Amstel Gold Race

2009 (Silence-Lotto)

• 5th Paris-Roubaix
• 11th Clasica San Sebastian

2010 (Garmin-Transitions)

• 7th in a stage, Tour de France
• 8th Belgian National Road Race Championship

2011 (Team Garmin-Cervélo)

• Winner Paris-Roubaix

2012 (Garmin-Sharp)

• 9th Paris-Roubaix
• 10th Strade Bianche
• 11th Gent-Wevelgem

2013 (Garmin-Sharp)

• 20th Ronde Van Vlaanderen

2014 (Garmin-Sharp)

• 10th Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne

Johan Van Summeren in the 2013 Amstel Gold Race. Phjoto ©Sirotti

Frederik Willems to Be Lotto-Belisol Sports Director

This news release just came from the Belgian team:

The 2015 season will be the début of Frederik Willems as sports director. In August the 35-year-old Belgian decided to put an end to his career as pro cyclist, after he had incurred several severe injuries due to a nasty crash.

As of next year Willems will further pass on his thirteen years of experience as pro, the last three seasons he rode for Lotto Belisol, a role he already played on the bike. He will take the place of Jean-Pierre Heynderickx, with whom the cooperation won’t be extended.

Frederik Willems at the 2014 Dauphiné. Photo ©Sirotti

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