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Saturday June 7, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
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Upcoming racing:
- June 8: Brussels Cycling Classic
- June 8 - 15: Critérium du Dauphiné
- June 13: GP Kanton Aargau
- June 15 - 22: Tour de Suisse
- July 5 - 27: Tour de France
Latest completed racing:
- May 9 - June 1: Giro d'Italia
- May 29 - June 1: Tour of Norway
- May 14 - 18: 4 Jours de Dunkerque
- May 18: Rund um Köln
- May 13: Classique Dunkerque
- May 11: Tro-Bro Léon
- May 10: GP du Morbihan
- May 9: Tour du Finistère
Their Team Picnic-PostNL sent me this news
Team Picnic-PostNL are set to miss two of their valuable riders for their Tour de France campaign, as both John Degenkolb and Fabio Jakobsen remain sidelined due to their current health condition.
John Degenkolb’s cobbled campaign came to an end after a very hard crash in the Tour of Flanders where he fractured his collarbone, elbow and wrist. The seriousness of the injuries became more apparent on further investigations, and Degenkolb underwent a successful surgery, but his recovery period was pushed backwards compared to what was initially predicted immediately after the Tour of Flanders.
John Degenkolb checking out the 2025 Tour of Flanders course a couple of days before the race. Sirotti photo.
For Jakobsen, he was diagnosed with flow limitation in the iliac artery in both of his legs and had surgery at the start of April. Since then, he has continued his recovery journey in a good way, starting with indoor training and recently returning to some steady and easier rides outdoors again.
However, for both riders, the upcoming Tour de France comes too early in their rehabilitation process.
Team Picnic PostNL doctor Camiel Aldershof explains further: “The injuries John sustained were more serious than we thought from those very first scans and analysis after Flanders. He has had extensive surgery and has been able to ride indoors on the trainer in a controlled environment. However, he still needs follow-up surgery to remove some of the material that is in place to speed up his recovery, but the timing of this means that he will not be ready to race at the beginning of July. From there, he can ride indoors again and once things are healed, we can then focus on riding outside and building up his training level and intensities.”
“On the other hand, Fabio had a successful operation and good rehabilitation so far. Firstly, after the needed time off the bike to fully recover from the operation, he was able to start riding indoors at low intensity for 30 minutes per day and we’ve steadily built that up. Recently, he’s been able to return to training outside a bit which is great, but still at a lower intensity than is required to build up the base again for a three-week Grand Tour.”
Team Picnic PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: “At the start of the year both John and Fabio were on our long list for the Tour de France, but for both the race comes too early. Now our priority is to get them both back to full health and have a good training block where they can return to their high level, before we then look to a race program for the second half of the season.”
Team Picnic PostNL will announce their final selection for the Tour de France in the week before the race.
Here’s the team’s news:
With the Tour de France drawing closer, the Critérium du Dauphiné traditionally serves as a crucial measuring stick. But for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the eight-day stage race – taking place from 8 to 15 June – is much more than just a warm-up. Jonas Vingegaard will make his long-awaited return to racing.
“The riders are in good shape,” says Head of Racing Grischa Niermann, who will also act as sports director during the race. “Most of them are coming back after a long altitude camp and are eager to return to racing. The Dauphiné is of course a preparation race, but it’s also a proper competition. We’ll try to win it – simply because we always line up with the ambition to win.”
The route of this 77th edition of the Dauphiné is both varied and demanding. Set in the southeastern region of France, the race provides a full week to sharpen form. The opening stages are hilly and unpredictable, but from the stage four time trial onwards, the general classification contenders will need to step up. The real climbing begins in the final weekend. “The route is very tough,” Niermann notes. “The time trial on day four is a good test of strength, and the final mountain stages are really challenging. That’s when we’ll see where we currently stand.”
Jonas Vingegaard before the start of 2025 Paris-Nice stage four.
For Vingegaard, it’s his first race since his crash in Paris–Nice over three months ago. His return in the Dauphiné is no coincidence: the Dane won here in 2023 and knows the terrain well. Matteo Jorgenson also has fond memories – the American finished second overall last year after several strong performances. “Jonas won here two years ago, while Matteo was on the podium last year,” Niermann says. “Those are things that give us confidence heading into this week.”
Three leaders, one goal
Alongside Vingegaard and Jorgenson, the team also brings Sepp Kuss, who is building towards top form after a relatively quiet first half of the season. Together, the trio forms a strong GC block, not just aiming for the overall but also versatile enough to control the race. “Jonas is of course our leader. The competition is strong – with Tadej Pogačar and also Remco Evenepoel – but we always focus on ourselves,” says Niermann. “It’s a great opportunity to see where we stand. We’re well prepared. Everything is on track.”
The original line-up saw one last-minute change: Axel Zingle had to withdraw due to injury and will be replaced by young Norwegian Per Strand Hagenes.
Dauphiné as the final piece in the Tour puzzle
For Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the Dauphiné is part of a carefully mapped-out path to the Tour. The race’s timing is ideal for fitting in one final altitude camp in Tignes before the Grand Départ in Lille on Saturday 5 July. “The Dauphiné is ideal because it combines well with a final training block before the Tour,” Niermann explains. “It has worked well for us in recent years – not just in terms of logistics, but also because the Dauphiné is a top-level race that never lies.”
There’s no absolute pressure to win, but the ambition is always there. “If we don’t win the Dauphiné, it’s not the end of the world,” Niermann concludes. “Obviously, the bigger goal is the Tour de France. But we’ll do everything we can to win the Dauphiné as well. Wherever we race, we race to win. That’s the ambition we all share.”
Critérium du Dauphiné (8/6 - 15/6)
- Jonas Vingegaard
- Sepp Kuss
- Matteo Jorgenson
- Ben Tulett
- Attila Valter
- Victor Campenaerts
- Per Strand Hagenes
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Here’s the teams news:
With the Tour de France less than one month away, the eight-stage Critérium du Dauphiné will serve as final preparation for Pascal Ackermann and the IPT sprint train when racing gets underway on Sunday.
Ackermann will be joined by trusted lead out riders Jake Stewart, Guillaume Boivin, and Matîs Louvel. Meanwhile, Alexey Lutsenko will give the team a card to play in the General Classification, with Krists Neilands and Nadav Raisbeg set to support both leaders.
Pascal Ackermann wins the first edition of the Classique Dunkerque. Photo: JL Burnod
“The Critérium du Dauphiné’s first three stages are long and hilly so the punchy riders will have the terrain to attack in the finals, but there is a big chance that they will finish in a sprint and we will target a stage win with Pascal Ackermann as we are bringing a solid sprint support to the race,” explains Sports Director René Mandri.
“The real GC game starts on stage 4 with the time trial ahead of three really hard stages in the mountains over the final three days which will decide the GC. We are aiming for the best possible result with Alexey Lutsenko, who comes in after a good block at altitude. The race is an important test for the whole team ahead of the Tour de France so we hope to come out of it with good results.”
For Ackermann, confidence is high after his win at Classique Dunkerque in May and a solid block of training with the sprint team in Mallorca.
“Critérium du Dauphiné is a really important race for us to see where we are and what to improve in the final preparation,” says Ackermann. “We are all in good shape and looking forward to see what is possible in the sprint stages. There are some good chances for me and we are motivated to come away with a win.”
Critérium du Dauphiné (8-15 June)
Rider roster: Pascal Ackermann (GER), Guillaume Boivin (CAN), Krists Neilands (LAT), Matîs Louvel (FRA), Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ), Nadav Raisberg (ISR), Jake Stewart (GBR)
Sports Directors: Rene Mandri (EST), Alex Cataford (CAN), Oscar Guerrero (ESP)
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Here’s the team’s news:
Team Bahrain Victorious is set to take on the 77th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné, the eight-day race seen as the ultimate Tour de France dress rehearsal. Starting on June 8th in Domérat and concluding on June 15th atop the Plateau du Mont-Cenis, the race covers 1,198.7 km with over 22,000 metres of climbing.
The defining showdown is expected during the final weekend, with Stage 7 delivering the Queen Stage: 4,801 metres of elevation across just 131 kilometres. The peloton will take on the legendary Col de la Madeleine (24 km at 6.2%), Col de la Croix de Fer (22 km at 7%), and finish on Valmeinier 1800 (16.4 km at 6.8%). The race wraps up on Sunday, June 15th with a 133.2 km finale to the Plateau du Mont-Cenis, featuring over 3,500 metres of climbing.
This year’s edition carries even greater significance with the full podium from the 2024 Tour de France—Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel—all lining up, making the Dauphiné a genuine Tour-level test.
With a stacked field of the best GC contenders and proven time trial capabilities, the ITT on Stage 4 will be important to limit time losses before the mountains.
Lenny Martinez leads the team’s general classification ambitions, as the French climber continues his build-up to the Tour de France. Racing on home soil and suited to the high-altitude climbs, Martinez is aiming to deliver a strong showing against the biggest GC contenders in the world.
2025 Tour de Romandie stage four: Lennie Martinez beats Joao Almeida for the stage win. Sirotti photo
“This is a great race in the preparation for the Tour and I will go into the race fighting for the GC. The team will also be looking for a stage. I’ve got a great team around me, and that gives me confidence. I did this race previously and I really enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to coming back and testing myself.”
Supporting Martinez is a well-rounded and experienced line-up. Jack Haig brings leadership and road-captain duties to navigate the complexities of the mountainous terrain. Santiago Buitrago, Bahrain Victorious’ punchy Colombian climber, comes into the race with the potential to target a mountain stage win. Torstein Træen will offer crucial support in the high mountains, while Fred Wright adds versatility and the ability to deliver a fast finish in the early stages, with the capacity to contest reduced bunch sprints. Kamil Gradek and Robert Stannard round out the team, ensuring protection and positioning throughout the varied parcours.
Sports Director Roman Kreuziger commented:
“We are really looking forward to this test ahead of the Tour de France. I was at altitude camp with some of the riders and they are in great shape. We’ve got really good support around Lenny. Lenny has already done a great job in Romandie, finishing on the podium in GC. For Dauphiné, we are looking for a top ten. The contenders are really strong, but we know Lenny is capable.
"We expect reduced sprints on the first three stages, and then we have a nice ITT on Stage 4 with a climb, and it’s good to see where we are before the Tour with the contenders. Stage 5 will give another chance for the sprinters before the three hilly days from Friday to Sunday. It’s going to be a really big test for the guys, but we are confident that we can fight against the best.”
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Here’s the team’s preview:
The riders in the Excalibur jersey from the Arkea-B&B Hotels team will be aiming to go on the offensive in this Critérium du Dauphiné, Yvon Ledanois explains.
Victor Guernalec
"The Critérium du Dauphiné is a benchmark event for all cycling fans and riders alike. I have childhood memories of this magnificent race, which is a sort of ‘mini-tour de France’ that already has a hint of July about it. The 2025 edition will be marked by the presence at the start of all the Tour de France favourites. It promises to be a great race.
Victor Guernalec wins stage two of the Région Pays de la Loire Tour. Getty photo
"We at Arkea-B&B Hotels will be on the offensive, and our aim will be to seize every opportunity that comes our way. In any case, the route is very appealing. I know quite a few of the Alpine passes that are on the race route, as I've been living in Aix-les-Bains for a few years now. The start in Valserhône, in the Ain, won't be unfamiliar to me either, as it's close to where my girlfriend's parents live. So I know the roads there well. And above all, personally, I appreciate the Alpine passes, as I'm now a ‘Breton’ resident of Savoie."
Yvon Ledanois, Sports Director:
"For the Critérium du Dauphiné, given the start-list and the number of riders we have, our aim will be to be there from the very first stage, which looks simple on paper. But in reality it can quickly become complicated because of the course and its characteristics. Our trump card on this first stage will be Clément Venturini, who will be competing virtually on home soil.
"For the rest of the event, with Laurent Pichon, we're going to ask all the riders in the Arkea-B&B Hotels team to play a role on a daily basis so that they can make their mark on this event, which will bring together virtually the best riders in the world. It's only by taking risks, by being offensive, by being ‘warriors in attitude’ that we'll be able to make our mark on this Critérium du Dauphiné 2025, and above all hope to achieve great things."
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