Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
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2017 Tour de France | 2017 Giro d'Italia
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
Current racing:
- Sept 12 - 16: Tour of Denmark
- Sept 13: Coppa Agostoni
- Sept 13: GP de Wallonie
Latest completed racing:
- August 19 - Sept 10: Vuelta a España
- Sept 3 - 10: Tour of Britain
- Sept 10: Grand Prix de Montreal
- Sept 10: Tour du Doubs
- Sept 8: GP Cycliste de Quebec
- Sept 1 - 4: Tour of Alberta
- Sept 3: GP de Fourmies
Team BMC headed to Belgium
The squad sent me this update:
12 September 2017, Santa Rosa, California (USA): One-day racing continues for BMC Racing Team in Belgium with a well-rounded team lining up at Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen on Friday (15 September) and Primus Classic on Saturday (16 September).
Sports Directors Klaas Lodewyck and Valerio Piva said that BMC Racing Team will be on the lookout for opportunities at both one-day races.
"Overall, I think we have a strong team, and we will have multiple cards to play going into Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen. Everyone will be able to look for opportunities to jump in the right moves. This is a typical Belgian kermesse race, and if it comes down to bunch sprint we know that Jempy Drucker can be competitive, plus we have our young sprinter, Bram Welten, so hopefully we can do something in the final," Lodewyck explained.
"The parcours of Primus Classic is pretty flat through Flanders with a few cobbled sections, and I think the main factor will be the weather. I think for us Drucker will again be a protected rider and while he might not be the favorite going into a potential bunch sprint, we know that he is strong and that he can be up there. We also have young guys like Floris Gerts and Bram Welten plus the experience of Francisco Ventoso and everyone will have the opportunity to try something and to go in any breakaways. Why not try to finish out in front and make a good result," Piva added.
Jempy Drucker is looking forward to lining up at both one-day races in Belgium. "I know these races very well. They are typical Belgian races, and I really like the style of them. I'm feeling good right now, and I am definitely motivated to go into these races and compete for a good result," Drucker explained.
Jempy Drucker having a good day at this year's Tour of Luxembourg
Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen (15 September)
Rider Roster: Jempy Drucker (LUX), Martin Elmiger (SUI), Floris Gerts (NED), Patrick Müller (SUI), Francisco Ventoso (ESP), Loïc Vliegen (BEL), Bram Welten (NED)
Sports Director: Klaas Lodewyck (BEL)
Primus Classic (16 September)
Rider Roster: Jempy Drucker (LUX), Martin Elmiger (SUI), Floris Gerts (NED), Ben Hermans (BEL), Patrick Müller (SUI), Francisco Ventoso (ESP), Loïc Vliegen (BEL), Bram Welten (NED)
Sports Director: Valerio Piva (ITA)
Tour of Denmark stage one report from Team Sunweb
Team Sunweb lined up at the Tour of Denmark today for the race's opening stage of action. Starting in Frederiksberg riders were tasked with 176.6 kilometres before the finish Kalundborg.
The day opened with a six-rider breakaway going clear after 11 kilometres. Extending their lead up to five minutes, the group stayed away for 130 kilometres before being swept up by the bunch. As soon as the catch was made there was a fierce tempo in the peloton and Team Sunweb fought to maintain position at the front. Almost immediately a number of counter attacks were launched, with Team Sunweb’s Ramon Sinkeldam involved in a four-man move that enjoyed a short lead. As they were brought back to the bunch another group went clear. Team Sunweb were involved in the chase but one rider managed to stay clear of the pursuit to take the stage victory. Phil Bauhaus went on to contest podium places and took a respectable 3rd place, a strong opening to the race’s five stages.
Casper Pedersen wins the Denmark Tour's first stage.
REACTIONS :
After the stage Phil said: “Today was a tough day with the rain and wind. With the climbs and the wind there where some echelons towards the end and the bunch split. Roy was super strong and positioned me perfectly so I could follow the favourites wheel. Lennard was also really good following GC attacks in the final. Unfortunately Max punctured at a bad moment and plans changed but we managed the situation well.”
Team Sunweb coach Morten Bennekou said: “It was a pretty hectic final today on the circuit with a lot of attacks and counterattacks. Our plan was to prepare the sprint for Max but since he had a puncture on a very bad moment with 10 kilometres to go we changed plans and went for Phil. The team did a good job positioning him out of the last corner with 300 metres to go. Phil was then only out-sprinted by one rider finishing 3rd on the stage since a solo attack made it to the finish line alone just six seconds in front of the peloton.”
Owner Gerry Ryan commits to women and youth with GreenEDGE Cycling
The team sent sent me this good news:
GreenEDGE Cycling (the overarching arm of men’s UCI WorldTour team ORICA-SCOTT) owner Gerry Ryan has guaranteed the continued development of women’s and youth cycling after a commitment to continue the organisation’s women’s and under 23 Continental teams for 2018.
The decision comes with an increased investment requirement from Ryan after GreenEDGE Cycling, riders and staff were notified by Cycling Australia that their contribution to the two programs would no longer continue after the conclusion of this season.
The current 2017 season has been ORICA-SCOTT’s most successful yet in the women’s competition. The Australian outfit currently boasts the world number one rider and the outfit and Australia rank as the third top team and nation in the world. The team has 18 wins for the season, including seven Women’s WorldTour victories, plus a number of impressive podiums, including second place at the Tour of Flanders and third overall at the women’s Giro.
In its debut season, GreenEDGE Cycling’s Continental team Mitchelton-SCOTT is the top ranked Oceania Tour team and boasts six wins as a outfit plus its riders have recorded countless other podiums in Nations Cup events for the national team throughout the year. Two of the five Australian riders have received contracts to WorldTour teams in 2018, with more expected.
“Our women’s team are one of our shining lights this year,” Ryan said. “They are delivering top results in the biggest races, Annemiek van Vleuten currently ranks number one in the world and riders like Sarah Roy have really stepped up this season.”
“The same can be said for our young Continental team. In the first year of operation, they are really stepping up to the plate and showing us their potential for not only now, but in the future. The decision of others is out of our hands but we believe they deserve our support, and a lot more.
“It’s a thrill to see these riders thrive as athletes and as people in our environment and not only that, we see their contribution to our value offering to potential sponsors as important. We have managed to secure some major talent for next season already and we are looking forward to sharing those with you in the near future.”
GreenEDGE Cycling general manager Shayne Bannan praised Ryan’s ongoing commitment which allows the team to continue planning for yet another stand out season. “We have a lot of be thankful for with Gerry,” Bannan expressed. “It’s no secret that ORICA, who have served us so well as the biggest Australian sporting team sponsorship over the past five years, leave us this year.”
“We are still on the hunt for a replacement naming rights sponsor across all three teams, and without that, the guarantee Gerry has made to these women and young men is a direct commitment from him personally.
“For riders, it has provided security for another season, and for us as an organisation, it has allowed us to plan ahead whilst we continue to search for a new corporate sponsor. It means we can continue to deliver results and a product that is a desirable and beneficial investment.”
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