The Monday after the opening weekend of a Grand Tour at all times makes for an thrilling EuroTrash — particularly when that Grand Tour coincides with different races pitting large names in opposition to each other. Vingegaard, Philipsen van der Poel, Van Aert — virtually everybody however Pogaçar was at it this week, and fireworks ensued. Take pleasure in!
TOP STORY:
- Philipsen and Vingegaard Outgun Vuelta Fields in Opening Phases
Race Information:
- Norwegian Expertise Shines in Deutschland Tour
- De Lie, van der Poel Battle at Renewi Tour
- Stateside: Boswell, Gardner Take Powerful Mt. Washington HC Titles
- Canada Nicely Represented at Tour de l’Avenir and Tour de l’Avenir Femmes
- Fangeat Takes Bronze at Junior Monitor World Championships
Rider and Group Information:
- Zingle’s Loopy Day on the Vuelta: Two Dislocations and a Stolen Bike
- Visma Provides Triathlete Schiffer
- Kenyan Bicycle owner Sule Kangangi Dies after Crashing in Vermont Gravel Race
Philipsen and Vingegaard Outgun Vuelta Fields in Opening Phases
The eightieth version of the Vuelta a España made historical past with its first-ever Italian begin, starting in Turin and delivering fast pleasure throughout two contrasting levels.
Stage 1: Why the Torino Fixation?
The Vuelta opened with a spectacular Gran Salida from Turin’s Reggia di Venaria to Novara, marking a historic first Italian departure for La Vuelta, and the third time a Grand Tour has began within the Italian metropolis in recent times. Flat as a shroud, the 180-kilometer parcours was completely suited to the sprinters to showcase their velocity.
Doubts abounded as as to if Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck would rebound from accidents suffered early within the Tour de France, the place he received the opening stage — doubts that the Belgian addressed by commandingly successful the Vuelta’s opening stage. The Belgian sprinter was delivered completely by his leadout practice, securing not solely the stage win but in addition the primary crimson chief’s jersey of the race. This victory continued Philipsen’s glorious type in Grand Excursions, demonstrating why he stays one among biking’s premier sprinters, even when dealt a collarbone-breaking blow.
Stage 2: A Signal of Issues to Come?
The second stage offered a dramatic distinction, taking riders from Alba to the summit end at Limone Piemonte over 160 kilometers by way of what’s turn out to be a traditional Vuelta stage form, the “hockey stick” — or maybe the “crow bar,” as from such levels we will pry some perspective on the GC. 
In an exhilarating, gutty finale, Jonas Vingegaard of Group Visma-Lease a Bike narrowly edged out Giulio Ciccone in a photograph end on the mountaintop. Regardless of being caught up in a crash on moist roads earlier within the day, the Danish star confirmed outstanding resilience not simply in claiming victory and transferring into the crimson jersey as the general chief, however in returning to the peloton post-crash, flashing a thumbs-up signal and blowing a kiss to the trailing digicam.
This early mountain stage instantly established the hierarchy among the many GC favorites, with just about all the pre-race protagonists ending inside two seconds of the main 4 — Vingegaard, Ciccone, David Gaudu(!) and Egan Bernal — and with a number of, together with Tom Pidcock and Marc Soler, attacking boldly within the steep, closing 500 meters.
eTrashMike asks: Have been these cracks we noticed within the UAE armor worn by Ayuso and Almeida, seemingly shedding the wheels of the entrance 4 when the race got here to a head? Or had been these Iberians enjoying it cool, realizing that even 10 bonus seconds weren’t price the additional effort required to hold with Vingegaard, Ciccone, Gaudu and Bernal, all of whom are out to show one thing? My guess…the previous — as a result of Ayuso and Almeida have one thing to show right here as effectively.
RACE NEWS
Norwegian Expertise Shines in Deutschland Tour
With respect to Thor Hushovd, 2025 is shaping as much as be the yr that riders from Norway broke via: The 2025 Lidl Deutschland Tour delivered thrilling racing throughout 5 levels in early August, showcasing world-class biking expertise on German roads. Norwegian rider Søren Wærenskjold of Uno-X Mobility made a formidable begin by successful the prologue in Essen, and went on to win Stage 3 — and the Normal, Factors and Younger Rider Classifications.
The race featured a aggressive subject with notable stars together with Wout van Aert, Florian Lipowitz, and Jonathan Milan among the many high rivals. Quickly rising phenom Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease A Bike) was the race’s different double-stage winner, taking levels 1 and 4.
Wærenskjold’s stage three victory got here after the preliminary winner, Danny van Poppel, was relegated for irregular sprinting (eTrashMike sez: very irregular sprinting — completely deserved).
Brennan impressed by taking stage wins on each the primary highway stage and the finale in Magdeburg, including pleasure to the dash finishes and contesting fiercely for the factors classification. Jhonatan Narváez from UAE Group Emirates additionally made a big affect, successful stage 2 and ending second total.
The ultimate day’s 163.7-kilometer route from Halle to Magdeburg was marked by crashes and aggressive sprints, however Wærenskjold managed to guard his lead and cross the end line safely to assert the general title by a 25-second margin.
Last Outcomes (from procyclingstats.com)
DeLie, van der Poel Battle at Renewi Tour
…with De Lie edging out the 2023 World Champion in what formed as much as be a summertime traditional.
De Lie (Lotto) clinched the general victory after a dramatic closing day in Leuven, after 5 days of back-and-forth with van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck). De Lie, who has endured a troublesome yr stuffed with accidents and sickness, shocked many by holding off MVDP’s. The proficient Belgian rider secured the win by a mere three seconds, because of a robust dash end on the ultimate uphill stretch — and a few considerate techniques.
The race spanned a number of levels with intense competitors throughout a mixture of dash finishes and hilly terrain. Tim Merlier from Soudal Fast-Step dominated the true dash levels, successful two levels. In the meantime, the queen stage in Geraardsbergen examined the contenders on the enduring cobbled Vesten climb, the place van der Poel demonstrated his climbing prowess.
On the decisive closing stage, De Lie showcased sensible race techniques by patiently marking assaults and unleashing a robust acceleration within the closing meters to win the stage and the final classification. Dries De Bondt of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale took third on the ultimate day, after mustering an audacious late assault, including to the joy of the finale.
Tim Wellens rounded out the rostrum, ending third total, 31 seconds behind the winner. De Lie celebrated his first WorldTour stage race victory as a significant comeback achievement, highlighting the emotional significance of the win after a difficult season. Van der Poel, in the meantime, said that his efficiency advised that he was returning to full power after leaving the Tour de France with pneumonia, and that he was thus feeling optimistic heading into the World Championships (the World Mountain Bike Championships, that’s).
Last Outcomes (from procyclingstats.com)
Stateside: Boswell, Gardner Take Powerful Mt. Washington HC Titles
The 52nd Mount Washington Hillclimb noticed record-breaking performances from Ian Boswell and Illi Gardner on one among North America’s hardest climbs. Boswell, a former WorldTour rider turned gravel racer, accomplished the 7.6-mile, 6,288-foot ascent in 50:15, beating Phil Gaimon’s 2022 report by 23 seconds. Peter Stetina and Jack Kuenzle adopted in second and third. Within the ladies’s race, British Nationwide Hill Climb Champion Illi Gardner set a shocking new report of 58:01, shattering the earlier mark by 11 minutes. Lydia MacKenzie and Aimee Vasse accomplished the rostrum. Each Boswell and Gardner praised the problem and electrifying ambiance of the enduring climb.
Canada Nicely Represented at Tour de l’Avenir and Tour de l’Avenir Femmes
Biking Canada will subject sturdy rosters on the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes and the Tour de l’Avenir, referred to as the Tour de France for U23 riders. Operating August 23–29 throughout the French Alps, the competitors will characteristic among the world’s greatest younger expertise, testing athletes with punishing mountain levels and tactical dash finishes.
Group Canada’s rosters embody:
Ladies
Alexandra Volstad (Calgary, AB)
Anabelle Thomas (Calgary, AB)
Ava Holmgren (Oro-Medonte, ON)
Isabella Holmgren (Oro-Medonte, ON)
Mairen Lawson (Grande Prairie, AB)
Kiara Lylyk (Guelph, ON)
Males
Carson Mattern (Ancaster, ON)
Jérôme Gauthier (Amos, QC)
Jonas Walton (Vancouver, BC)
Leonard Peloquin (Montréal, QC)
Luke Valenti (Orangeville, ON)
Samuel Couture (Rosemère, QC)
The Tour de l’Avenir Femmes and the Tour de l’Avenir constantly provide difficult routes and stiff competitors. With consecutive days of racing via the Alps, together with summit finishes and unpredictable climate, the occasion calls for health, techniques, resilience and teamwork of up-and-coming riders.
Fangeat Takes Bronze at Junior Monitor World Championships
Extra for our Canadian followers: Alexandra Fangeat of St. Thomas, Ontario, captured the bronze medal within the Ladies’s Junior Factors Race on the 2025 UCI Junior Monitor World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
Competing in opposition to a deep subject of world expertise, Fangeat scored factors in a number of sprints and held her place via a quick and tactical closing. Her efficiency earned her third total, securing Canada’s first endurance medal of the championships. Fangeat completed behind Anna Dubier of Australia and Polina Danshina of the Particular person Impartial Athletes workforce.
This end result follows a standout yr for the 17-year-old, who claimed eight medals on the Canadian U17/Junior Monitor Championships earlier this season.
Zingle’s Loopy Day on the Vuelta: Two Dislocations and a Stolen Bike
Visma | Lease A Bike’s Axel Zingle was most likely beforehand recognized for his deft bunny hop over Mads Pedersen within the 2024 Tour de France. Whereas his escapades final weekend may not have been fairly as fulfilling to observe, they’re no much less story-worthy.
The French sprinter suffered the worst penalties within the Stage 2 crash that additionally took down teammate Jonas Vingegaard, Q36.5’s Tom Pidcock and others: Zingle dislocated his shoulder, an damage that he deemed “Nothing critical.” With medical assist, the shoulder relocated, and Zingle continued driving.
Subsequent comes a second principally recognized simply to masters riders who battle to retrieve something from a jersey pocket: As he pulled out a gel, Zingle’s shoulder once more dislocated. He once more stopped and went to the ambulance, asking a bystander to carry his bike.
After changing the shoulder, Zingle emerged from the ambulance, solely to seek out the bystander — and his bicycle — lacking. After mounting a brand new bicycle, he struggled on, and completed the stage 24 minutes behind his teammate — crushed, however not bowed, and in reality most likely with a brand new sense of confidence and delight.
eTrashMike sez: I’m such a sucker for the rallying-cyclists-vs.-crying-footballers memes…And now we now have extra fodder. Onward, Axel Zingle!
Visma Provides Triathlete Schiffer
Within the newest instance of WorldTour groups mining cycling-adjacent sports activities for cardio anomalies, Visma | Lease A Bike has signed former triathlete Anton Schiffer. The 25-year-old German rider will make his debut for the Dutch WorldTeam in October.
Schiffer turned his focus to biking comparatively late: in 2022, he transitioned from triathlon to biking, and by mid-2023 he had joined the continental-level Bike Help workforce.
“This step might come as a shock to the skin world, however given how this season has progressed, it doesn’t shock me as a lot,” mentioned a delighted Schiffer about his transfer to the WorldTour. “Having the ability to totally give attention to my sport, mixed with the help from inner consultants, the usage of the Athlete’s FoodCoach, the gear, and the workforce’s expertise are all issues I hope will assist me develop as a rider.”
eTrashMike sez: Hmmm…Have we seen this work but? Attention-grabbing that this signing comes simply as runner-turned-cyclist Mike Woods departs the peloton for worry of crashing. But when any workforce can take this danger, it’s Visma, with their assets and really stable workforce: Schiffer seemingly doesn’t command a high wage, and if he pans out as a bike owner…excessive reward for not such a excessive danger.
Kenyan Bicycle owner Sule Kangangi Dies after Crashing in Vermont Gravel Race
Kenyan bike owner Suleiman “Sule” Waithuweka Kangangi, 33, tragically died after a high-speed crash in the course of the Vermont Overland gravel race in West Windsor, Vermont, on August 27, 2022. The 59-mile dirt-road race, that includes almost 7,000 toes of climbing, drew round 900 rivals. Kangangi was Group Amani’s captain, representing rising East African expertise, and had just lately participated in gravel occasions similar to Leadville 100, SBT GRVL, and Gravel Worlds within the U.S.
Born in Eldoret in December 1988, Kangangi had a notable highway profession, together with a third-place total on the 2017 Tour du Rwanda whereas driving for Bike Help.. In Kenya, he spearheaded the Migration Gravel Race and Evolution Gravel occasions—each pivotal in fostering off-road biking alternatives throughout East Africa. His management and pioneering spirit left a profound legacy within the African biking neighborhood.
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