Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary | Our YouTube page
2021 Tour de France | 2022 Giro d'Italia
If a tree falls in a forest and there’s no one there to see it, a Chihuahua 500 miles away will bark at it.
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, 2021: The Little Cannibal Dominates is available in both Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
Upcoming racing:
Latest completed racing:
The team sent me this update about the Team DSM rider.
The INEOS Grenadiers are delighted to announce that Thymen Arensman will take the next step in his exciting career with our team - which he describes as a ‘dream’.
The 22-year-old Dutchman, fresh from a stage win and sixth overall at the Vuelta a Espana, has signed a two-year contract.
Following an impressive time trial victory earlier this season at the Tour of Poland, where he finished second on the general classification, he went a step further by impressively winning the queen stage of Vuelta a Espana atop the Sierra Nevada in September.
Thymen Arensman wins Vuelta stage 15. Sirotti photo
2022 has seen Arensman’s star rapidly rise; he’s secured excellent results at the Vuelta, Giro d’Italia, Tour de Romandie, Tour of the Alps and Tirreno-Adriatico.
The 22-year-old sees himself as a versatile rider and he will now look to take the next big step in his career as a Grenadier: “I decided to join the INEOS Grenadiers because the team really feels like the best step for me at this point of my career. It’s really my dream team and when I was younger I was always really impressed by watching the team ride on the front and take races on. To get the opportunity to ride for the same team is a dream come true.
“My ambition is to develop myself more as a rider and human. I feel I can still make steps in the crucial disciplines for riding a GC: time trial and climbing and there is no better place to improve those skills than this team. It would also be great for me to join this team and meet a lot of cycling’s biggest stars. It will be a great learning experience for me.”
Following what he describes as an incredible experience winning at La Vuelta, Arensman said: “I would describe myself as a powerful rider. I like long efforts on a high power, time trials and long ascents. I am not the most explosive or punchy rider but am also really improving in that aspect. I do also like Classics, having come third in Paris-Roubaix U23 as a first year, perhaps because of my cyclocross background. I hope to become a more versatile rider while improving my strengths!
“One of the biggest reasons for me joining this team is a question that my parents asked me: ‘What team did you look up to as a little kid and dreamed about riding for?’ The INEOS Grenadiers is the answer. Together with all the knowledge, resources and people in the team my choice was made and it really feels like the correct step in my career.”
In welcoming Arensman, Deputy Team Principal Rod Ellingworth said: “Thymen’s such an exciting rider and, as we’ve just seen at the Vuelta, joins a host of young GC riders that promise to be the foundation of our sport for years to come.
“He will bring a style of riding which fits completely into what we are looking to achieve going forward, and having already tasted success at the very top ensures that we have a rider who will add significant depth to the INEOS Grenadiers of the future.”
Here’s the team’s news:
The season may be inching closer to a conclusion, but doesn’t mean there’s time to rest for the Wolfpack. Over the next three days, our team will be in action at three races which we won for a combined total of eight times in the last twelve years: Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen (195.3km), Primus Classic (203.5km) and Gooikse Pijl (199km).
Victorious in five races this season, including a stage at the Giro d’Italia, Mark Cavendish will make his first outing with Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl since the Tour de Pologne. The Manxman will be present at the start of all three races, where also European Champion Fabio Jakobsen – who so far this year has racked up a dozen victories – will be in action.
Mark Cavendish at the 2022 Tour of Poland. Sirotti photo
Dries Devenyns, Ilan Van Wilder and Louis Vervaeke, who helped Remco Evenepoel take an historic triumph at La Vuelta, together with Iljo Keisse, Bert Van Lerberghe and neo-pro Stan Van Tricht, will also be at the start.
“Normally, Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen and Gooikse Pijl are for the fast men, but with rain predicted on both days, the outcome of these races could be influenced by the weather. We have Fabio for these two events that come with a parcours suiting him, but also Mark, so we start with a lot of motivation and confidence.”
“Concerning Primus Classic, the peloton will ride a bit around the climbs of Brabantse Pijl, so the route can make an important selection, especially as there will also be some cobblestones involved. We always enjoy racing in Belgium, we want good results this weekend and we’ll do our best to get them”, said sports directors Geert Van Bondt and Wilfried Peeters, who will guide the team from the car.
Here’s the team’s post:
After yesterday’s impressive victory, Matteo Trentin finished at the head of the peloton again to finish 4th at the Tour of Luxembourg on the third stage, from Rosport to Diekirch (188.4km).
Aaron Gate (Black Spoke) surprised the peloton to jump away in the final kilometre to steal victory from the sprinters behind in what was a technical finish.
Aaron Gate wins stage three.
Tomorrow will see a decisive stage for the General Classification with an individual time trial at Remich (26km).
Meanwhile at the Coppa Sabatini, Marc Hirschi underlined his good form after yesterday’s victory with a 9th place in Italy.
The Swiss talent formed part of the elite 12-man group on the hilly course which would then split-up in the final 15km, with Hirschi in the second part as Dani Martinez (Ineos-Grenadiers) took the win.
The action in Italy will continue on Saturday for the Memorial Marco Pantani.
The team sent me this news:
At the beginning, it was an experiment with a certain element of risk, but since then, Anton Palzer's move from ski mountaineering to professional cycling at BORA - hansgrohe can be considered a success. For Toni himself, it has been a lifelong dream that will now continue.
"For almost two years now, I have been allowed to live my dream as a professional cyclist with Team BORA - hansgrohe and I am enjoying it immensely. It was important for all of us to see how I would develop during this time and it is amazing where I am now compared to last year. That's why, of course, I'm overjoyed that our journey together will continue. I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to the whole team for their amazing support, especially to Ralph Denk for the trust that he placed in me. I appreciate that immensely and am definitely very motivated to learn more, give my best and continue with “Goschnpoliern” - Anton Palzer
"Transferring from an individual sport with loads of perhaps two hours in duration, to a team sport where one must perform for four to six hours over several days is huge. Toni has become an important part of BORA - hansgrohe over the last two years and his learning curve, also in terms of his role and tasks, is simply remarkable. However, he is also a good guy who enriches the team with his positive nature and attitude. You can tell that he is living his dream. Progress in results may not yet be visible, but when one sees him racing, it's obvious what he has already learned and internalised. I think Toni is now at the point where he can be seen, treated and evaluated as a fully-fledged professional cyclist. I mean that in the most positive sense, he has truly arrived in the world of cycling, so to speak. We still have a lot of things planned together and that is why we have extended his contract. I am very excited to see how his development will continue and where our journey together will take us." - Ralph Denk
Back to news and opinion index page for links to archived stories | Commentary