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Thursday, April 17, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
Let us not listen to those who think we ought to be angry with our enemies, and who believe this to be great and manly. Nothing is so praiseworthy, nothing so clearly shows a great and noble soul, as clemency and readiness to forgive. - Cicero
Bill & Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 1: 1903 - 1975 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- April 15 - 18: Giro d'Abruzzo
Upcoming racing:
- April 18: De Brabantse Pijl
- April 20: Amstel Gold Race
- April 20: Tour du Doubs
- April 21 - 25: Tour of the Alps
- April 23: La Flèche Wallonne
Latest completed racing:
- April 12-13: Paris-Roubaix
- April 7 - 12: Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
- April 8 - 11: Region Pays de la Loire Tour
- April 9: Scheldeprijs
- April 6: Ronde van Vlaanderen
- April 5: GP Miguel Indurain
- April 5: Volta NXT Classic
- April 4: Route Adélie de Vitre
- April 2: Dwars door Vlaanderen
- April 2: Paris - Camembert Lepetit
- March 24 - 30: Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
- March 30: Gent - Wevelgem
- March 30: La Roue Tourangelle
We posted the report from stage winner Ivo Oliveira's UAE Team Emriates-XRG with the results.
Here's the report from new GC leader Filippo Fiorelli's Team VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè:
Another second place for the Sicilian Filippo Fiorelli, who claims the leader's jersey in both the general classification and the points classification.
Second consecutive podium for Filippo Fiorelli. The Sicilian rider from VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizanè took another second place in the second stage of the Giro d'Abruzzo, from Tocco di Casauria to Penne, covering 138 km. Fiorelli won the bunch sprint behind Ivo Oliveira, a result that earned him the lead in both the general and points classifications of the Abruzzo race.
New GC leader Filippo Fiorelli.
These were his words:"Today hurts more than yesterday. I was really aiming for the win because I’m in good shape, I felt strong, and I truly believed it was the right day. Yesterday I had a bit of regret, but on that kind of course, my legs just didn’t let me do more, so in the end I accepted the result for what it was. But today is different—today really stings, because I knew I could fight for it until the very end. It’s one of those days that sticks in your head, that you keep going over a thousand times when the evening comes.
"Friday in San Gabriele? Yes, it could be a stage that suits me. It will also depend on how my teammates are feeling, especially the sprinters, and then we’ll decide how to approach it. In any case, the team is doing well, it’s clear—we’re always present, always attacking. We really planned this Giro d’Abruzzo to be like this, with an aggressive mindset, and we’re executing it in the best way. At Tirreno I proved I could stay with the best, and that’s also why I came here determined to achieve a great result."
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Here the report from Team Polti-VisitMalta:
Great stage for Team Polti VisitMalta on the second day of the Giro d’Abruzzo. The shortest day was at the same time explosive and had the constant protagonist of the Italian team, Samuele Zoccarato, who climbed the podium as KOM leader.
It was difficult to form the breakaway of the day, but after 30 kilometres Samuele Zoccarato managed to take the lead with Petilli (IWA). Both of them faced the climb to Forcella di Acciano, where the Polti VisitMalta rider was the first to cross the climb.
The gap of around 2 minutes left no margin, and Zoccarato set a superior pace on Forca di Penne to hold on to the lead and secure his KOM jersey. Even his team-mate Crescioli behind him kept a watchful eye on the counter-attacks to defend the team’s interests, in the fight to form a new breakaway.
The peloton with 90 kilometers to go.
With less than 30 seconds and the main group pressing behind, the Italian rider was neutralised with 15 kilometres to go, at which point Team VisitMalta took the lead of the main bunch. The finish to Penne promised a battle, with the team’s riders tightening the group. However, they were unable to finish with a good result at the finish. Fernando Tercero (11th) is the best placed rider in the general classification.
Samuele Zoccarato: “It was a short, explosive stage, with the hardest climb in the middle part. I tried to be in the breakaway, I was in the break that was the protagonist and I fought for the KOM jersey. Afterwards, the team has shown a solidity as a block, with several riders still in the fight for the overall. I’m happy and we’ll keep fighting to defend the jersey we won today”.
Stefano Zanatta, sport director: “The attitude of the team was fantastic, with Zoccarato in the fight for the breakaway and winning the mountains classification, as well as the team setting the pace on the approach to the finish. We worked well, but we couldn’t contest the finish. Tercero is still ahead in the overall without losing time and with that situation, we have options to do well tomorrow”.
Tomorrow the Giro d’Abruzzo faces the third stage and the queen day. There will be 160 kilometres with a summit finish in Roccaraso (Aremogna), a climb of 16 kilometres at 5% but with several sections with ramps above 7.5%.
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The team sent me this schedule:
De Brabantse Pijl -APR 18
Albert Timmer - Team Picnic PostNL coach:
“Brabantse Pijl is a demanding race that bridges the gap between the cobbled classics and the Ardennes. It’s a course that rewards sharp positioning and consistent focus throughout the day. For us, it’s a valuable opportunity to keep building our foundations as a group, especially in terms of race positioning and reading the race. With Francesca and Josie, we have two riders who can be up there in the final. They’ll have the freedom to race on instinct and take their opportunities.”
Line-up:
Francesca Barale (ITA)
Ella Heremans (BEL)
Juliana Londoño (COL)
Josie Nelson (GBR)
Esmée Peperkamp (NLD)
Becky Storrie (GBR)
Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 - APR 19
Bennie Lambregts - Team Picnic PostNL coach:
"Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 is a key race on the calendar for our Development program, and a great test against some of the best young climbers in the world. It’s a long, selective race, full of tough climbs. Our riders know what to expect after a good recon earlier this week, and the motivation within the group is high. We’re looking forward to showing strong teamwork and racing with purpose. It’s a great opportunity to gain experience, and we’re ready to fight for our plan."
Line-up:
Vincent Bodet (FRA)
Jacob Bush (GBR)
Ko Molenaar (NLD)
Oliver Peace (GBR)
Pavel Sumpik (CZE)
Thom van der Werff (NLD)
Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition - APR 20
Callum Ferguson - Team Picnic PostNL coach:
"Amstel Gold Race is always unpredictable, but we’re lining up with a really strong squad. Marta knows what it takes to win here, and Pfeiffer has been showing solid form week after week. We’ll be aggressive in the pre-final with riders like Francesca, but ultimately we’re aiming to deliver our two finishers Marta and Pfeiffer in the best position for the final. The team is confident and committed and we’re ready for a big day on home roads near our Keep Challenging Center.”
Line-up:
Francesca Barale (ITA)
Marta Cavalli (ITA)
Pfeiffer Georgi (GBR)
Megan Jastrab (USA)
Josie Nelson (GBR)
Mara Roldan (CAN)
Pfeiffer Georgi winning the British Road Champioship in 2023.
Amstel Gold Race - APR 20
Roy Curvers - Team Picnic PostNL coach:
"Amstel Gold Race is the only Dutch race on the WorldTour calendar, and that makes it a special one for us. We’ll be proud to wear our Team Picnic PostNL colors on home soil, and we’re motivated to race aggressively and make our presence felt. It’s a great chance to show who we are as a team: ambitious, attacking, and ready to animate the race.”
Line-up:
Warren Barguil (FRA)
Frank van den Broek (NLD)
Romain Combaud
Sean Flynn (GBR)
Enzo Leijnse (NLD)
Kevin Vermaerke (USA)
Timo Roosen (NLD)
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Monts et Château Classic - APR 20
Rudi Kemna - Team Picnic PostNL coach:
“Monts et Château Classic is a great opportunity for our Development program, and we’re proud to be lining up alongside Dutch Food Valley Cycling Team. It’s a dynamic race over rolling terrain, where early moves can stick and the finale is often unpredictable. We want to race attentively, take initiative where we can, and show our jersey in the right moments. It’s an important experience for our young riders, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Line-up:
Xander Scheldeman (BEL)
Angus Stoneham (GBR)
Thom van der Werff (NLD)
Tour of the Alps - APR 21 - APR 25
Matt Winston - Team Picnic PostNL coach:
"We head into Tour of the Alps with a strong and motivated team, blending youth and experience. It’s a great opportunity for three riders from our Development program to support our Men's program, as we take the final steps toward the Giro with some of the riders here. Coming off a productive altitude camp, we’re aiming to be competitive in the GC over five demanding days. Romain and Max will be our two finishers, looking for chances to fight for stage results and a strong GC come the end of the week.”
Line-up:
Romain Bardet (FRA)
Robbe Dhondt (BEL)
Ryan Gal (NLD)
Chris Hamilton (AUS)
Max Poole (GBR)
Matteo Vanhuffel (BEL)
Jurgen Zomermaand (NLD)
Romain Bardet before the start of the 2024 Tour of Piedmont. Sirotti photo
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