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Sunday, August 31, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness. - Thomas Jefferson
Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Tour de France, Vol 2: 1976 - 2018 is available in print, Kindle eBook & Audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.
Current racing:
- August 23 - September 14: Vuelta a España
- August 31: Bretagne Classic-Ouest France
Upcoming racing:
- September 2 - 7: Tour of Britain
Latest completed racing:
- August 26 - 29: Tour Poitou Charentes en Nouvelle Aquitaine
- August 20 - 24: Renewi Tour
- August 19 - 22: Tour du Limousin
- August 17: Hamburg Cyclassics
- August 17: La Polynormande
- August 12 - 16: Tour of Denmark
- August 15: Circuit Franco-Belge
- August 4 - 10: Tour of Poland
- August 7 - 10: Arctic Race of Norway
- August 5 - 9: Vuelta a Burgos
- August 6 - 8: Tour de l'Ain
- August 3: Circuito de Getxo
- August 2: San Sebastian Classic
We posted the report from the race organizer with the results.
Here's the Vuelta report from second-place Ethan Vernon's Team Israel-Premier Tech:
Ethan Vernon outlined his finishing speed once again at the Vuelta a España on Saturday as he placed second in the northern city of Zaragoza on stage 8.
Having come second on stage 1 and fourth in the race’s sole finish in France three days later, Vernon once again challenged for the victory, which once again went to Jasper Philipsen (ADC), in the Aragonese city.
The British rider crossed the line in third, but was promoted one spot following the relegation of Elia Viviani for deviating from his line in the final meters.
Ethan Vernon (on the left) finishing third, but upgraded to second. Sirotti photo
“I’m up there every day for the sprints,” says Vernon. “I felt quite fast today, but it was really chaotic in the last few kilometers. In the end I started too far back. When I went with about four or five hundred to go, I already knew it wasn’t for the win, maybe just top three.
“Then the door opened with a couple hundred to go, but by then I’d already done a 200-meter sprint, so I was at my limit.
“The speed’s definitely there. The issue this year is that I haven’t worked specifically with Jake [Stewart] – we’ve had different programmes. Now we’re starting to work together and learn from each other. I’m hoping it’s a duo we’ll keep building in the future, but the learning has to start somewhere, and I guess it’s here.”
Here's the report from Elia Viviani's Team Lotto:
Stage 8 of La Vuelta a España offered the team again a valuable test against the world’s fastest sprinters. After a strong collective effort, Elia Viviani launched his sprint and initially crossed the line in second place behind Jasper Philipsen. Though later relegated to 105th, the performance highlighted both Viviani’s competitive form and the excellent teamwork. “We have to be positive and look at what the whole team has done because I simply can’t ask for more.”
The stage was widely expected to end in a fast and chaotic finale, and the team worked tirelessly throughout the day to position Elia Viviani for the ultimate sprint in Zaragoza. In the closing kilometers, Viviani was brought into perfect position, launching his sprint with determination. He was only just edged out by Jasper Philipsen.
Unfortunately, Elia was relegated to 105th because of an irregular sprint. Speaking after the stage, Viviani reflects on the result with mixed emotions: “It is painful of course. If you look back at this sprint afterwards, you can see it. But when I see the finish line coming closer and closer, I just go. I heard Jasper (Philipsen) call so I didn’t want to take any risks”, he looks back.
Another shot of the sprint. Sirotti photo
“When someone like Jasper Philipsen is around, you know that it is going to get hard. I have been very happy to be here, but at the same time I have also been struggling a bit. When I get really close to a big goal like this, it means that I am still a serious athlete here at 36 years old, battling against the best sprinters of the world. So that makes me happy of course. But on the other hand it is disappointing as well. Especially seen the work the whole team delivered. As you could see, the team did an amazing job for me. "
While the near miss left Viviani and the team hungry for more, his result showcased both his form and the strength of the squad supporting him. With several opportunities for the fast men still ahead in the race, morale remains high. "Hopefully in the last week we can still sprint and hopefully I will get it right then. We have to be positive and look at what the whole team has done because I simply can’t ask for more. It’s still a good morale boost for all of us. We have once again shown that we are out there.”
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Here's the Vuelta report from GC leader Torstein Træen's Team Bahrain Victorious:
Torstein Træen will spend a third day in the leader’s jersey at the 2025 Vuelta a España after the Bahrain Victorious team successfully navigated the potentially complicated eighth stage of the race. Wind and echelons were predicted this morning, but instead the 163.5 km from Monzón Templario to Zaragoza was more straightforward than had been feared.
The flattest parcours of this year’s edition contained no categorised climbs at all, and a three-man breakaway was kept under control by the peloton, with TBV riders taking the responsibility of protecting the red jersey, reeling back the escapees within the final 20 km.
As expected, Zaragoza delivered a bunch sprint, with Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin–Deceuninck) taking the win ahead of Ethan Vernon (IPT) and Arne Merit (IWA).
With strong support from his teammates, Træen safely retained the overall lead going into stage 9 tomorrow. The 195 km from Alfaro to Estación de Esquí de Valdezcaray, concludes with a demanding summit finish that could reshape the general classification ahead of the first rest day.
Torstein Træen will start stage nine in red. Sirotti photo
Reflecting on the day and looking ahead, Træen said:
“Tomorrow will be a bit like yesterday. The question is, ‘can I hold on to the red jersey or not?’. It’s basically about seeing how I compare against the other GC contenders. If they decide to go full gas, maybe I won’t be able to follow. Today was a relaxing stage, and I enjoyed the jersey a bit. In the final, the team helped me super well, and I’m really grateful for what they did. We arrived safely without any problems. Now we’ll see how it goes tomorrow on the last climb.”
Lead Sports Director Franco Pellizotti praised the team’s collective work while previewing what lies ahead:
“Today we tried to recover as much energy as possible after yesterday’s big effort. On paper it was a day for the sprinters, but we always had to stay vigilant in case of echelons. The boys rode well, always keeping position, and in the final they worked to keep Torstein out of trouble. Tomorrow we will try to defend the leadership as we did yesterday. It won’t be easy, but the guys are motivated and Torstein is in great shape, so we will fight until the last metre to defend the red jersey.”
Here’s the Vuelta report from Team INEOS Grenadiers:
Ben Turner sprinted to a top-10 finish in Zaragoza, while Egan Bernal maintained his GC foothold on stage eight of the Vuelta a Espana.
Turner was moved to the fore after a late arrival heading into the final five kilometres, with Filippo Ganna and Michal Kwiatkowski helping guide the Yorkshireman into position.
As the final sprint unfolded the Grenadier found a clear path to the line blocked, with the result being a 10th place finish. After finishing as runner up to Turner on stage four, it would be Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin – Deceuninck) who claimed the stage win.
Filippo Ganna and Egan bernal before the stage start. Sirotti photo
The bunch sprint allowed Bernal to cross the line safely in the pack, protected by his teammates. The result saw the GC go unchanged heading into the second week, with Bernal holding ninth overall. Torstein Traeen (Bahrain – Victorious) remained in the red jersey following his breakaway exploits.
The GC situation looks set to evolve further on Sunday, with a first-category summit finish at the Ezcaray ski resort.
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Here's the Vuelta stage eight report from Team Soudal Quick-Step:
After three consecutive days for the general classification men, the Spanish Grand Tour returned on some flatter roads which the few fast men in the race were looking forward to. For this reason, the breakaway had no chance, the three men who were bold enough to attack being caught with more than 20 kilometers to go.
Zaragoza was where this eighth stage of La Vuelta concluded. The capital of Aragon is an old acquaintance of the race, having hosted a finish for the first time in 1936, when Alfons Schepers took the victory after 293 kilometers and 9 hours in the saddle. This year, after a hectic bunch sprint that went down to the wire, it was Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who took the victory.
Soudal Quick-Step rider Mikel Landa before the stage start. Sirotti photo
Gianmarco Garofoli was involved again there, just like on the opening stage, and the 22-year-old Italian finished again in the top twenty. The overall standings remained unchanged, which means that Junior Lecerf will start the last stage of the last week – finishing in the Estacion de Esqui de Valdezcaray – continues to be the highest-ranked T-Rex Quick-Step rider.
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Here's the Vuelta report from Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
Stage eight of the Vuelta a España caused no problems for Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Leader Jonas Vingegaard retained the second place in the general classification, while Matteo Jorgenson remains sixth. Jasper Philipsen took the stage victory.
Following the team time trial, the Vuelta returned to entirely Spanish soil for the second time this year. The fast men had already marked stage eight in red on their calendars. A mostly flat stage in northern Spain provided the perfect opportunity for the sprinters’ teams to take control. Immediately after the start in Monzón Templario, three Spaniards took off. The peloton kept the trio within reach, setting the stage for a sprint finish in Zaragoza. In the end, Jasper Philipsen convincingly took the win.
Jonas Vingegaard before the stage start. Sirotti photo
The Dutch formation - aiming for their fifth Vuelta overall victory - didn’t get involved in the sprint and got through the day safely. “We can be very satisfied with that”, sports director Jesper Mørkøv says. “The expected echelons didn’t form, so we were able to save some energy once again.”
“The teamwork within the squad was once again flawless. Jonas was very well positioned at the finish in Zaragoza”, Mørkøv concludes. The Vuelta heads back into the mountains tomorrow. After a flat approach, the stage finishes at Estación de Esquí de Valdezcaray - a first-category climb - the day before the rest day.
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