Because the street season will get into full swing, EUROTRASH has all of the information from the AlUla Tour and Surf Coast Basic with video, outcomes, studies and rider quotes.
*** A barely completely different trying EUROTRASH Thursday attributable to technical causes. ***
TOP STORY:
- Wout van Aert now on shorter cranks
Rider information:
- Dispute between Wout van Aert and Nick Nuyens settled
- Nuyens additionally desires €662,000 from Visma | Lease a Bike within the Van Aert case
- Elia Viviani considers quitting
- Marianne Vos has to overlook the cyclocross World championships
- Doubts about Thibau Nys using the cyclocross World championship
- Lennard Kämna seems ahead to his comeback after rehabilitation
- Stefano Oldani suffers a number of fractures in Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana crash
- Postman steals €9,000 from Remco Evenepoel
Group information:
- Biking Canada publicizes 2025 UCI Cyclocross World championships roster
- Q36.5 is companion of the 2025 AlUla Tour for the chief jerseys
- Alejandro Valverde, Movistar Group ambassador
- Intermarché extends its partnership with workforce Intermarché-Wanty till 2028
- Shimano and UCI renew their partnership for the 2025-2028 interval – Celebrating a partnership of over 1 / 4 of a century
Race information:
- Paris-Roubaix 2025 & Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift 2025 workforce choice.
EUROTRASH espresso time!
TOP STORY:
Wout van Aert Now on Shorter Cranks
Wout van Aert has modified his bike set-up for this season. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider has modified his crank size from 172.5mm all the way down to 165mm. It was noticed in pictures of his 2025 bike and was confirmed by his workforce to WielerFlits.
Not too long ago riders have been turning to shorter cranks. Tadej Pogačar was one of many first and clearly probably the most profitable rider to go for the quick cranks, he now races with 165mm cranks. Now Visma | Lease a Bike can also be making an attempt the identical factor. Final yr, the Dutch workforce mentioned they weren’t and wouldn’t be taking place that street. However now Van Aert has fitted shorter cranks. On the Belgian’s social media you’ll be able to see the change has been made. Visma | Lease a Bike’s part supplier, SRAM, makes use of a color code on the within of their cranks for the completely different lengths. From yellow for 175mm to blue for 160mm.
Earlier seasons, Van Aert used 172.5mm cranks. Nevertheless, photographs on his social media present that he has switched to 165mm cranks. On his Instagram, a pink line might be seen on the cranks of his Cervélo R5-CX cross bike. These cranks are 7.5 millimetres shorter, 15mm from prime to backside and a a lot smaller circle for the pedals.
Wout’s Cervelo:
AlUla Tour 2025
Tim Merlier gained the opening Stage 1 of the AlUla Tour. He beat Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Emirates XRG) in a bunch dash. Arvid de Kleijn crashed within the run-up to the dash, however his Tudor teammate Maikel Zijlaard was third.
The AlUla Tour began with a stage to and from Al Manshiyah Practice Station, within the metropolis of AlUla. The street was primarily flat, which made it probably that there could be a bunch dash after 142.7 kilometres. Tim Merlier, Dylan Groenewegen, Fabio Jakobsen and Arvid de Kleijn had been the principle favourites earlier than the beginning.
The ‘break of the day’ was made up of six riders. Alexandre Vinokurov, the 22-year-old son of the London Olympic champion, who rides for the Astana XDS Growth workforce, however was with the WorldTour workforce in AlUla. The Kazakh was joined by Masaki Yamamoto (JCL UKYO), Muhammad Nur Aiman Bin (Terengganu), Kongphob Thimachai (Roojai Insurance coverage) and two riders from the Saudi nationwide workforce: Azzam Alabulmunim and Alhur Alkulaif. The 2 Saudis had been nonetheless there when the lead elevated to a most of two:30. However with 50 kilometres to go, the 2 had been dropped. At that time, the distinction had been diminished to lower than 1 minute. Soudal Fast-Step, Jayco AlUla, Picnic PostNL and Tudor had been working for his or her sprinters.
With 20 kilometres to go, the final of the break was caught. Everybody was now preparing for the dash finis, however Arvid de Kleijn and Alexander Kristoff wouldn’t be within the battle, as a result of they had been concerned in a crash 5 kilometres from the end. Rafal Majka additionally crashed and will overlook a couple of good general. Firstly of the final kilometre, Picnic PostNL had been on the entrance. Jakobsen was in a very good place within the last straight, however then riders got here spherical him. Tim Merlier got here previous on the left and nobody was a match for the European champion, who took the win. Juan Sebastián Molano was capable of maintain his wheel, however couldn’t come previous. Maikel Zijlaard was third after his dash chief, Arvid de Kleijn, crashed.
Stage winner and general chief, Tim Merlier (Soudal Fast-Step): “It’s all the time nice to start out the season with a victory, particularly in your first day of racing. I like this occasion and the climate and I’m comfortable I may win on the primary day right here. I knew I used to be in a fine condition coming to the beginning, however I needed to see precisely the place I used to be after the winter, and I’m delighted with the end result. Getting a victory early within the season is nice as a result of it motivates the workforce much more. The dash was nervous and it wasn’t simple to get every part in place, however we managed it ultimately. The blokes did an amazing quantity of labor controlling the breakaway and Bert offered one other excellent lead-out when it mattered. I misplaced him a bit with two kilometres to go, however got here again in his wheel within the U-turn and he took me in a great place from the place I began my dash on the proper second. I’m pleased with this outcome, it’s a very nice confidence-boost.”
2nd on the stage and general, Sebastian Molano (UAE Emirates XRG): “It was a really quick end. I knew Merlier could be the person the watch and I managed to get on his wheel on the ultimate straight. He was very sturdy at present and I couldn’t get round him. I’m happy with the outcome though I’m keen and hungry to get the primary win of the season on the board. Total I’m pleased with my form and I’ll be in search of extra alternatives this week. We had a few our guys caught up in a crash on the finish however hopefully it’s nothing too severe and we’ll dwell to combat one other day.”
third on the stage and general, Maikel Zijlaard (Tudor): “It was an incredible begin of the season. We felt like we had been in command of the race all day, due to the best way we labored collectively, however with 5 kilometres to go, Arvid crashed. We tried to make the very best of it after that. I went for the dash and that resulted in an incredible third place. It’s good to start out the season like this. We’ll attempt once more within the subsequent dash levels with Arvid.”
fifth, Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla): “A primary dash is all the time hectic. With 5 kilometres to go, I used to be behind the crash. The workforce managed to get me again in place, however on the U-turn I misplaced my teammates a bit. I used to be a bit caught, however within the last straight I virtually rode again to the rear wheel of Max Walscheid. A rider from Picnic PostNL then swerved a bit an excessive amount of to the correct. We had been so caught after which it was too late to appropriate something”“I did have the legs to do even higher within the dash. I hope that it’ll come out within the coming days.”
AlUla Tour Stage 1 Consequence:
1. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step in 3:10:21
2. Sebastian Molano (Col) UAE Emirates XRG
3. Maikel Zijlaard (Ned) Tudor
4. Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Q36.5 Professional Biking Group
5. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla
6. Max Walscheid (Ger) Jayco AlUla
7. Pierre Barbier (Fra) Wagner Bazin WB
8. Alberto Bruttomesso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
9. Sasha Weemaes Wagner (Bel) Bazin WB
10. Andrea D’Amato (Ita) JCL Group Ukyo.
AlUla Tour Total After Stage 1:
1. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step in 3:10:11
2. Sebastian Molano (Col) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:04
3. Maikel Zijlaard (Ned) Tudor at 0:06
4. Fredrik Dversnes (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 0:07
5. Jens Reynders (Bel) Wagner Bazin WB at 0:08
6. Frank Van Den Broek (Ned) Group Picnic PostNL at 0:09
7. Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Q36.5 Professional Biking Group at 0:10
8. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla
9. Max Walscheid (Ger) Jayco AlUla
10. Pierre Barbier (Fra) Wagner Bazin WB.
AlUla’25 stage 1:
Stage 2 of the 2025 AlUla Tour was gained by Tom Pidcock (Q36.5). He was the very best on the uphill end Bir Jaydah Mountain Wirkah. The 25-year-old left Rainer Kepplinger and mountain biker Alan Hatherly behind him. Pidcock additionally took the chief’s jersey from Tim Merlier. The ultimate was complicated, as a result of the race organisers determined to cancel the final native lap within the last attributable to a foul street floor on the final descent.
The opening a part of the stage from AlUla Outdated City turned out to be comparatively simple, however after about 100 kilometres, the riders got here to a troublesome native lap, which they initially needed to full 3 times. The lap included Jaydah Mountain Wirkah (2.9km at 9.2%), a really steep climb with a most gradient of 15%. The end line was on this 923-metre-high climb. Within the early levels of the race, 5 riders escaped: Simone Raccani (JCL Group UKYO), Jens Reynders (Wagner-Bazin-WB), Malaysians Muhammad Shahmir Aiman Abd Halim and Muhammad Nur Aiman Rosli from Terrenganu and Kongphob Thimachai (Roojai Insurance coverage) from Thailand. The final two had been dropped, the opposite three constructed up a most lead of just about 4 minutes. Within the peloton, Picnic PostNL, Jayco AlUla and Q36.5 Professional Biking did a lot of the work.
On the descent after the passage of the ultimate climb and the end, the floor was like gravel. This triggered dialogue within the peloton. The stage was neutralised a short while later. The main group, now solely of Reynders and Raccani, needed to drop again into the peloton, after which the peloton rode the descent collectively. This led to numerous confusion and stress within the peloton. Ultimately, the race was restarted at 5.8 kilometres, however Reynders and Raccani solely had 20 seconds of their lead, which on the time of the neutralisation was 1:30. Picnic PostNL instantly took the lead when the race began once more, after which it turned clear that the break had no likelihood. The race correct began a3.5 kilometres from the end. Jayco-AlUla and Bahrain Victorious did the work, after which the tempo elevated within the final kilometre. Pidcock appeared on the state of affairs from the entrance after which launched his assault 500 metres from the end. That was an excessive amount of for everybody, Hatherly, who was third behind Pidcock within the Olympic Video games mountain bike race) and Kepplinger had been second and third.
Stage winner and general chief, Tom Pidcock (Q36.5): “It is a crucial victory. How does this victory style? I can style the blood proper now. In the present day was crucial to me. I’m now racing for a brand new workforce, with nice folks. I needed to make them proud at present. The workforce rode nice and performed my card fully. I used to be very motivated. I knew that my type was good, however it’s a fully completely different state of affairs. In the event you take a look at it objectively, I’m at the moment in an excellent place. However after a winter with out competitors, you prepare lots by yourself and also you don’t know precisely the place you stand. It is a affirmation and that’s very good. My first assault was extra to check my legs. The objective was actually to win the stage. Not a lot the overall classification, however to win a stage. Due to the wind, I made a decision to attend a bit longer with my assault. With 500 meters to go, I took benefit of a left flip and a barely flatter passage. I began in a short time, however I held on. In the present day was the day to grab energy. It’s simpler to regulate the race to any extent further than to achieve time within the fourth stage. I’ve a buffer now, in a race the place seconds matter. All the things continues to be doable, nevertheless it’s an excellent beginning place.”
2nd on the stage and general, Rainer Kepplinger (Bahrain Victorious): “I’m tremendous comfortable. I felt nice earlier than the race, and ending second confirms that. It’s an enormous confidence increase heading into Friday’s Queen Stage, and now I begin in second place general.”
AlUla Tour Stage 2 Consequence:
1. Tom Pidcock (GB) Q36.5 Professional Biking Group in 3:18:15
2. Rainer Kepplinger (Aust) Bahrain Victorious at 0:04
3. Alan Hatherly (SA) Jayco AlUla at 0:07
4. Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Jayco AlUla at 0:18
5. Stefan De Bod (SA) Terengganu Biking Group at 0:21
6. Fredrik Dversnes (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 0:27
7. Yannis Voisard (Sui) Tudor
8. Rafal Majka (Pol) UAE Emirates XRG
9. Hugo Aznar Vijuesca (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma at 0:30
10. Alessandro Fancellu (Ita) JCL Group Ukyo at 0:34.
AlUla Tour Total After Stage 2:
1. Tom Pidcock (GB) Q36.5 Professional Biking Group in 6:28:26
2. Rainer Kepplinger (Aust) Bahrain Victorious at 0:08
3. Alan Hatherly (SA) Jayco AlUla at 0:13
4. Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Jayco AlUla at 0:28
5. Stefan De Bod (SA) Terengganu Biking Group at 0:31
6. Fredrik Dversnes (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 0:34
7. Yannis Voisard (Sui) Tudor at 0:37
8. Ådne Holter (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 0:44
9. Frank Van Den Broek (Ned) Group Picnic PostNL at 0:48
10. Unai Iribar Jauregi (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma at 0:50.
AlUla’25 stage 2:
Surf Coast Basic – Ladies 2025
Ally Wollaston gained the Surf Coast Basic in Australia on Wednesday. The FDJ-SUEZ rider gained the dash from the peloton within the streets of Torquay after 120 kilometres. She beat Chloe Dygert (Canyon//SRAM Racing zondacrypto) into second place and Georgia Baker (Liv AlUla Jayco) was third.
The Surf Coast Basic (UCI 1.1) is on the ladies’s calendar for the primary time this yr and was created by the organisers of the Cadel Evans Nice Ocean Highway Race to fill the week between the Tour Down Below. The Nice Ocean Highway Race for girls is on Saturday.
The race had virtually 1,300 metres of climbing, most of which had been in the beginning of the race. There have been additionally three small hills within the last, however the distinction couldn’t be made there both. Within the mass dash, the 24-year-old Wollaston was then clearly the quickest, forward of Dygert and Baker.
Race winner, Ally Wollaston (FDJ-SUEZ): “I felt actually, actually sturdy at present. The previous few races I’ve been struggling mentally. I’ve discovered it onerous to be current within the race and keep alert. I additionally didn’t have sufficient confidence that I used to be adequate to be there within the finals. However as quickly as we began climbing at present, I knew I used to be near profitable.”
Surf Coast Basic – Ladies Consequence:
1. Ally Wollaston (NZ) FDJ-SUEZ in 3:02:40
2. Chloe Dygert (USA) Canyon//SRAM Racing zondacrypto
3. Georgia Baker (Aus) Liv AlUla Jayco
4. Clara Copponi (Fra) Lidl-Trek
5. Alexandra Manly (Aus) AG Insurance coverage-Soudal
6. Karlijn Swinkels (Ned) UAE Group ADQ
7. Teuntje Beekhuis (Ned) Uno-X Mobility
8. Lucie Fityus (Aus) St Michel-Choice Dwelling-Auber93
9. Kathrin Schweinberger (Aust) Human Powered Well being
10. Kristýna Burlová (CZ) Ceratizit.
Surf Coast Basic’25:
Tadej Pogačar Talks About his Coaching
Tadej Pogačar had a really profitable 2024. In an interview with CyclingWeekly, the Slovenian opens up about his bodily and psychological coaching for his prime yr.
Pogačar had a brand new coach in 2024. He beforehand labored with Inigo San Milan, however began working with Javier Sola final yr. “He talks to me on daily basis, so I can by no means slack off,” mentioned the World champion. “Not that I ever slacked off, nevertheless it feels good to all the time have somebody with you you can belief and with whom you talk very well. I additionally prepare just a little otherwise: it’s extra particular, extra targeted on the races which can be developing. I’ve some enter for him, he has some enter for me – sure new strategies and new methods of coaching. To this point it’s working nicely.”
What was his new coaching? “We did numerous VO2max work this yr. And in addition numerous Zone 2, the place you’re employed in your fatigue resistance,” the UAE Emirates chief talked about his capacity to carry his energy on the finish of the race. “I believe that’s the place I’ve improved probably the most: after I’m drained, I don’t lose as a lot of my explosiveness anymore. That’s actually an enchancment for me.”
Pogačar additionally did numerous power coaching in 2024, however not with numerous weight, he identified. As well as, he has turn into ‘a bit extra severe’ in terms of diet. And the three-time Tour winner now makes use of ‘psychological methods’ to arrange for races. “I don’t discuss to myself in a mirror, however generally, after I can’t sleep or earlier than a race, I think about a race state of affairs. I think about what may occur. So many issues can occur in biking that it’s a must to be mentally ready.”
New coach and psychological coaching for Pogačar:
Dispute Between Wout van Aert and Nick Nuyens Settled
The dispute between Wout van Aert and Nick Nuyens has been settled. The Court docket of Cassation has confirmed an earlier ruling by the labor court docket in 2021. Nuyens won’t obtain his hoped-for €1.1 million in damages, however should make do with the €662,000 that Van Aert beforehand paid.
On September 17, 2018, Van Aert broke his contract with Sniper Biking BVBA, the workforce Van Aert rode for on the time, to maneuver to Jumbo-Visma. Nuyens didn’t agree with the transfer and took additional motion. The previous rider took Van Aert to the labour court docket in 2018, after Van Aert had terminated his contract with the Veranda’s-Willems workforce and Nuyens ‘attributable to pressing causes and a breach of belief’.
Nuyens demanded compensation of €1.1 million, however Van Aert was acquitted on 26 November 2019 on the labour court docket in Mechelen. The court docket in Mechelen dominated that there have been certainly pressing causes for dismissal for Van Aert, which is why the Lille resident was acquitted. Nevertheless, Nuyens may nonetheless attraction to the Labour Court docket in Antwerp. He did so, efficiently.
The Labour Court docket largely agreed with Nuyens. The termination of the employment contract was declared unfounded. The Labour Court docket dominated that the termination of the employment contract attributable to pressing causes was unjustified and that Van Aert needed to pay his former employer compensation. The sum was set at 662,041.31 euros, whereas Nuyens’ protection claimed 1.2 million euros within the attraction. Van Aert, who has been racing with Visma | Lease a Bike since 2019, then transferred this quantity virtually instantly.
Each events however went to the Court docket of Cassation. Nuyens was of the opinion that the severance fee was too low and hoped for compensation of €1.1 million on this approach. An official ruling has now been made within the case. “On January 13, 2025, the Court docket of Cassation dominated within the case of bicycle owner Wout van Aert in opposition to his former employer/biking workforce. The Court docket of Cassation rejected the cassation appeals of each events in opposition to the judgment of the Antwerp Labor Court docket of 9 June 2021,” the Court docket introduced.
“With that ruling, the labor court docket sentenced Wout Van Aert to pay a severance fee of 662,041.31 euros as a result of he had wrongfully terminated his employment contract for pressing causes.” So, the beforehand transferred compensation of 600 thousand euros stays in place, however Van Aert doesn’t must pay any extra money.
Wout in deep water:
Nuyens Additionally desires €662,000 from Visma | Lease a Bike within the Van Aert Case
The case between Wout van Aert and Nick Nuyens may have an disagreeable aftermath for Visma | Lease a Bike. The Court docket of Cassation confirmed an earlier ruling on Monday, which means that Van Aert won’t get again an quantity of €662,000 that has already been transferred. Now that this determination has been made, Nuyens additionally desires to obtain 662,000 euros from Van Aert’s Visma | Lease a Bike workforce by way of the UCI.
“It’s truly fairly clear,” mentioned Rudi Desmet, the lawyer for Nuyens and Sniper, in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws. “A workforce that provides a rider a contract whereas he’s truly nonetheless certain by a contract with one other employer, should pay that preliminary employer compensation. In keeping with the UCI rules, that quantity is similar because the severance fee for which the Labour Court docket convicted Van Aert.”
Van Aert’s lawyer Walter Van Steenbrugge has spoken to HLN. “That’s purely to destabilise Wout and his workforce. Typical Nuyens,” he says. “I’ve been working with Wout for six years. He doesn’t let this throw him off stability.”
Elia Viviani Considers Quitting
Elia Viviani might have ridden his final race. In keeping with a number of Italian media, the 35-year-old rider is significantly contemplating hanging up his bike for a brand new job in biking.
Viviani has had a protracted and profitable profession, and the Italian initially had no intention of hanging up his bike. The sprinter nonetheless had ambitions and goals, as he mentioned in an interview with Bikechannel in October. Viviani needed to depart INEOS Grenadiers, however was mentioned to be in talks with Q36.5 Professional Biking, however does nothing appeared to return of it.
In keeping with Tuttobiciweb, a farewell as an expert bicycle owner is ‘greater than probably’. If Viviani does certainly announce his retirement, there are two eventualities in keeping with the Italian biking web site: A return to INEOS Grenadiers as a DS, or as coach of the Italian nationwide workforce, notably with the observe squad.
Viviani was one of many quickest sprinters within the peloton, taking 89 skilled wins. He gained 5 stage wins within the Giro, three stage within the Vuelta and a stage within the Tour, gained the Cyclassics Hamburg 3 times and was European champion in Alkmaar in 2019. He was additionally very profitable on the observe: World champion within the elimination race in 2021 and 2022 and gained Olympic silver within the madison final yr and Olympic gold within the omnium in 2016.
Marianne Vos has to Miss the Cyclocross World Championships
Marianne Vos won’t be in France for the Cyclocross World championships on the weekend. After her crash within the Maasmechelen World Cup, she suffered a calf harm. Though progress has been made, her restoration isn’t but ample. Aniek van Alphen has now been referred to as up as her alternative.
Marianne Vos didn’t have a great run-up to the Cyclocross World championships. After the eight-time World champion confirmed that she was coming into cross type with a fourth place within the Benidorm World Cup, she was hit by a calf harm final weekend. This resulted in an early withdrawal from the Hoogerheide World Cup cross final Sunday.
“Marianne has a painful calf after her fall in Maasmechelen. That was already the case throughout the warm-up. Ultimately, we taped her calf and agreed that if she actually didn’t really feel nicely, she would cease as a precaution, with the World Championship subsequent week in thoughts,” workforce DS, Jan Boven instructed WielerFlits after the cross in Hoogerheide.
Vos hoped to have the ability to put together for the Worlds, however the calf harm is at the moment slowing her down an excessive amount of. So as to not take any dangers and since the harm makes operating troublesome, it was determined that the Visma | Lease a Bike rider wouldn’t begin the World Cyclocross championship. “In fact we discover this extremely unlucky,” responded nationwide coach Gerben de Knegt on the KNWU web site.
“As eight-time world champion, we’d have preferred to see Marianne make a bid for a brand new title, though we knew it will be troublesome after her fall. We want Marianne a speedy restoration.” Vos won’t be making a bid for a ninth World title on Saturday. Now that Vos has determined to skip the upcoming Cyclocross World Championships, Aniek van Alpen will likely be in Liévin. The 25-year-old of Seven Racing was eligible for World championship choice, however misplaced out to Denise Betsema. Now Van Alphen will now be within the workforce.
No cross Worlds for Vos:
Doubts about Thibau Nys Using the Cyclocross World championship
Thibau Nys, the European and Belgian champion has been sick since final week and so didn’t begin in Maasmechelen on Saturday and dropped out the subsequent day, in Hoogerheide, after simply two laps. He now has doubts about using the World championship in Liévin on Sunday, in keeping with his workforce.
Nys didn’t sound too optimistic earlier than the beginning in Hoogerheide. “My physique is a bit at its restrict. If I had been to experience twice, I would fully spoil my World championship. Not less than it was not going nicely throughout the reconnaissance”, he instructed Het Laatste Nieuws.
Final Sunday, Nys began off fairly nicely, he rapidly fell away. After two laps he gave up. Nys was too disenchanted to talk to the press afterwards and, in keeping with info from Het Laatste Nieuws, already mentioned along with his coach whether or not it will be helpful to start out on the World championship. “Thibau isn’t going to a World championship to complete seventh at most,” the workforce mentioned. They are going to wait and see within the coming days and solely then will they assess whether or not Nys can nonetheless handle to do one thing in Liévin.
Thibau Nys sick:
Lennard Kämna Appears to be like Ahead to his Comeback after Rehabilitation
Lennard Kämna will race once more. The 28-year-old German, who had a severe coaching crash on Tenerife on 3 April 2024 and subsequently needed to bear months of rehabilitation, will make his comeback within the Tour of Catalonia (24-30 March).
Ten months in the past, Kämna was concerned in a severe accident on the island of Tenerife whereas he was coaching. After a collision with a automotive, the rider spent a number of days in intensive care. He was then transferred to a standard hospital ward. There he was additional handled for his accidents: a number of damaged ribs and a contused lung. The all-rounder, Lidl-Trek rider, confronted a protracted and hard rehabilitation, however there’s now mild on the finish of the tunnel. “My return to the peloton is getting nearer. I’m very comfortable about that. Issues are going very nicely for me. I’m heading in the right direction and I’ve an excellent feeling about it now,” he instructed Ciclo21.
Regardless of all of the troublesome moments in current months, Kämna continued to work on his restoration. “The thought of quitting by no means actually occurred to me, nevertheless it was an in depth name. It took some time, each bodily and mentally, earlier than I may persuade myself that I actually needed to return to skilled biking 100%. With all of the dangers that entails. Nevertheless, I now have a very good feeling about racing once more. I don’t suppose it has fully disappeared. In coaching I really feel like I can get again to my outdated degree. I look ahead to the season with optimism and an excellent feeling.”
Stefano Oldani Suffers A number of Fractures in Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana Crash
Stefano Oldani has had a foul begin to his season. The Italian of the Cofidis workforce suffered a heavy crash final Sunday within the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana, one of many first European races of the 2025 season. The 27-year-old rider is now out of motion with a number of fractures.
Oldani fell very early within the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana. He crashed at 60kph early within the race, after a rider in entrance of him fell. The previous Alpecin-Deceuninck rider suffered a triple fracture of his radius, a sophisticated fracture of his scaphoid, one of many carpal bones, and a fracture of the ulna. “It goes with out saying that I’m demoralised,” Oldani mentioned to Tuttobiciweb. “I’ll use all my vitality to return again stronger than ever earlier than. I wish to thank the workforce for all the time being by my facet. The folks throughout the workforce have already helped me to get well as rapidly as doable.”
Oldani moved from Alpecin-Deceuninck to Cofidis on the finish of 2023. After some good performances with the Belgian workforce, together with a stage win within the Giro d’Italia, the Italian hoped to step up French workforce. Final yr Oldini broke his metacarpal bone in a crash within the GP La Marseillaise in the beginning of 2024, after which he needed to bear surgical procedure, then within the Giro d’Italia he needed to abandon the race attributable to sickness.
Postman Steals €9,000 from Remco Evenepoel
Remco Evenepoel was the sufferer of theft. A postman opened mail for Evenepoel, stole his new bank card and withdrew €9,000 euros. The perpetrator was arrested and was in court docket in Anderlecht.
Evenepoel was not the one sufferer. The postman, who used the cash to finance his playing habit, stole a number of debit playing cards and codes. In whole, he stole €19,500, in keeping with the Belgian justice division. Throughout a home search, the police discovered dozens of stolen playing cards. Amongst them was a bank card that was supposed for Evenepoel. It was a card from an organization by which the double Olympic champion was a shareholder.
The ball began rolling when a lady from Schepdaal didn’t obtain her new debit card within the mail. Within the meantime, nonetheless, cash had been withdrawn from her account. Digital camera footage confirmed the postman in query at an ATM. The Belgian justice system is demanding 18 months in jail for the postman. A big a part of that’s conditional. The decision will likely be given on 27 February.
Misplaced bank card for Remco:
Biking Canada Publicizes 2025 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships Roster
Biking Canada has chosen 22 athletes to characterize the nation on the 2025 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin, FRA, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.
Two-time World Mountain Bike Champion within the Ladies U23 class, Isabella Holmgren, will likely be available so as to add one other jersey to her rising assortment. In 2022, Holmgren gained Junior Ladies’s Cyclo-cross World Championships. She will likely be joined by Canadian Champions Ian Ackert, Émilien Belzile and Rafaëlle Service, who sits atop the UCI Junior Ladies’s Cyclo-cross rankings after a number of World Cup podiums.
“We have now one other sturdy workforce prepared for this yr’s Championships,” mentioned Nationwide Group Coach, Michael Van den Ham. “After Service turned the primary ever Canadian to win a Cyclo-cross World Cup general title final weekend and various different athletes earned private finest World Cup performances, I’m excited to see what everybody is ready to obtain each this weekend and sooner or later.”
Pan-American Champion Sidney McGill, bronze medalist on the Canadian Championships, may even be collaborating, accompanied by Alexander Woodford and Tyler Clark, who additionally stood on the rostrum at Nationals.
Racing begins on Jan. 31 with the Group Relay and continues with particular person races over the weekend. Dwell timing will likely be out there right here.
Group Canada:
Ian Ackert – Severn, ON
Emilien Belzile – Sherbrooke, QC
Christiane Bilodeau – St. Albert, AB
Rafaëlle Service – Lac-Beauport, QC
Tyler Clark – Mono, ON
Mia De Martin – Saint-Colomban, QC
Sagan Goertz – Waterloo, ON
Aislin Hallahan – Peterborough, ON
Ava Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Isabella Holmgren – Orillia, ON
Nico Knoll – Calgary, AB
Farland Lamont – Midland, ON
Lily-Rose Marois – Lac-Beauport, QC
Sidney McGill – Edmonton, AB
Dorothée Perron – Gatineau, QC
Monty Rigby – Vancouver, BC
Cody Scott – Courtenay, BC
Marie-Fay St-Onge – St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
Maxime St Onge – St-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
Tristan Taillefer – Saint-Denis-de-Brompton, QC
Maya Tassé – Mendham, NJ
Katelyn Walcroft – Collingwood, ON
Alexander Woodford – Ottawa, ON.
Q36.5 is Associate of the 2025 AlUla Tour for the Chief Jerseys
The Bolzano-based firm Q36.5 is the official companion of the AlUla Tour 2025: the riders of the circuit compete for the chief jerseys signed by the model.
On the AlUla Tour 2025 Tom Pidcock’s debut within the Q36.5 Professional Biking Group. This yr, Q36.5 can also be a companion of the Tour of Oman.
Bolzano, twenty eighth January 2025 – Q36.5, the Italian model chief in technical biking attire, is the official companion of the 2025 AlUla Tour and Tour of Oman.
Q36.5 is offering the chief jerseys for each races. The general leaders will put on the enduring Gregarius Professional Jersey by the Bolzano-based model.
The 2 stage races will happen in Saudi Arabia from January 28 to February 1, 2025, and in Oman from February 8 to February 12, 2025.
Consistent with Q36.5’s dedication to preserving the bicycle owner’s physique at a temperature of 36.5°C, the Gregarius Professional Jersey options an aerodynamic design, because of its fashionable raglan minimize and the ribbed cloth on the sleeves, which follows the physique’s mapping for a cushty match. The extremely breathable materials of the entrance panels is mixed with a honeycomb-structured cloth on the again to offer optimum thermoregulation, supporting the athlete by way of probably the most intense rides.
Weighing simply 112 grams and appropriate for temperatures above 18°C, the jersey can also be outfitted with Q36.5’s signature three-pocket system, providing house to retailer objects with out including bulk or inflicting aerodynamic drag, because the mesh expands when wanted and hugs the again when not in use.
The AlUla Tour options the Q36.5 Professional Biking Group, with Tom Pidcock making his debut with the workforce.
The chief jerseys of the AlUla Tour, designed by Q36.5, are distinguished by 4 colors:
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• Inexperienced Jersey: Basic particular person time classification Chief
• Pink Jersey: Basic level classification Chief
• White Jersey: Finest Younger Rider
• Orange Jersey: Most Energetic Rider
Luigi Bergamo, CEO and Head of Analysis & Growth at Q36.5 states: “We’re excited to sponsor this race for the primary time! As all the time, it’s an honour to have the chance to equip the very best athletes on the earth, providing them a jersey that, I hope, makes them ‘really feel the distinction’ of Q36.5 from the very first second— a distinction pushed by superior thermoregulation mixed with cutting-edge aerodynamics and Italian craftsmanship.”
Alejandro Valverde, Movistar Group Ambassador
The Spaniard will proceed his function as an envoy for the workforce of his life.
Subsequent Sunday, he’ll participate within the first spherical of the Gravel Spanish Cup in Tres Cantos with the Movistar Group Gravel Squad.
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Murcia, 1980) retired as an expert bicycle owner in 2022 and has remained the identical ever since: passionate concerning the sport that gave him every part and dependable to the workforce he rode for throughout 18 seasons (2005–2022).
Valverde, the face of Movistar Group
The Murcian bicycle owner will proceed as an envoy for the Movistar Group whereas additionally exploring different actions throughout the biking world. Amongst his main roles, he’ll proceed to characterize the workforce and take part in varied Gravel races.
Particularly, subsequent Sunday, Valverde will compete within the first spherical of the Gravel Spanish Cup, held within the Madrid city of Tres Cantos.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Group Ambassador): “I’m very comfortable to proceed as an envoy throughout the Abarca Sports activities construction. Ultimately, it’s my household, my lifelong workforce, and it’s a supply of pleasure for me to proceed for one more season. I’ll take part in Gravel races with the workforce and collaborate in activations offered alongside the workforce’s sponsors.”
Eusebio Unzué (Basic Supervisor, Abarca Sports activities): “Alejandro is a part of the Movistar Group household, and it’s an incredible honour for all of us to have somebody of his human and sporting caliber. It’s been practically 20 years collectively, and we hope for a lot of extra to return.”
Valverde – Group ambassador for all times:
Intermarché Extends its Partnership with Group Intermarché-Wanty Till 2028
Intermarché {and professional} biking workforce Intermarché-Wanty introduced this Monday, January twenty seventh the renewal of their partnership till the tip of 2028. As title companion of the UCI World Group led by Jean-François Bourlart since 2021, Intermarché continues its dedication to the primary Walloon workforce within the World Tour, which has achieved quite a few successes in 2024, very like the Groupement Mousquetaires.
On the eve of Intermarché-Wanty’s first race of 2025 in Europe on the Problem Mallorca, Intermarché and the World Group introduced the continuation of their partnership for 3 extra years in Paris, on the Terrasse des Champs-Élysées. Within the presence of riders Biniam Girmay, Adrien Petit, and Hugo Web page, the President of the Groupement Mousquetaires Thierry Cotillard, the Intermarché firm supervisor in control of sponsorship and partnerships Sébastien Borg, and the Basic Supervisor of Intermarché-Wanty Jean-François Bourlart met to formalise the continuation of this partnership, which has collected historic achievements since its starting in 2021, because of an efficient long-term growth technique and the development of a strong and promising workforce.
Collectively since 2021, Intermarché and its biking workforce have gained greater than 60 victories, together with 9 successes within the three Grand Excursions, together with a triple stage win within the Tour de France, the distinguished inexperienced jersey for finest sprinter, and the Gent-Wevelgem traditional. In every race, the workforce showcases its colors with a lovely racing model, cultivating the values of solidarity, proximity, and professionalism, managing to achieve first place within the UCI rankings in January 2023. Firstly of its fifth season on the highest degree of biking, Intermarché-Wanty offered a brand new Verge Sport package reflecting this strengthened partnership with Intermarché.
Sharing the values of mutual assist and workforce spirit promoted by sport, Intermarché implements a sports activities sponsorship coverage targeted on soccer, rugby, and biking, three main fashionable sports activities. In parallel with the partnership with Intermarché-Wanty in biking, the Intermarché model is proud to be an Official Associate of the French Soccer Federation (FFF) and all of the French nationwide groups, in addition to a serious companion of the lads’s and girls’s Coupe de France. Intermarché honours newbie golf equipment with the “Petit Poucet Intermarché” (Intermarché Little Thumb) and promotes newbie girls’s soccer since 2022 by way of the “Sensationnelles” (Sensational) program. In rugby, Intermarché has been an official companion of the TOP 14 and Professional D2 by way of the Nationwide Rugby League (LNR), the 2 skilled French rugby championships, since 2020.
Intermarché develops sports activities partnerships on the nationwide degree but additionally domestically, because the enterprise leaders are native financial gamers. Proximity, occasion organisation, and the differentiation of the two,100 Intermarché factors of sale by way of sport are greater than ever a part of Intermarché’s DNA.
Thierry Cotillard (Chairman Groupement Mousquetaires): “We’re happy to proceed our partnership with Intermarché-Wanty within the coming seasons and to contribute to their rising worldwide presence. We share the identical values: workforce spirit, perseverance, and solidarity. The workforce made a robust impression on the 2024 Tour de France, sporting the sprinter’s jersey for a number of weeks. This achievement displays the ‘dash yr’ we skilled throughout the Groupement in 2024, in addition to the mixing of just about 300 new shops.”
Christophe Chineau (Chairman Intermarché): “Biking is a well-liked sport that unites folks and conveys values to which we’re connected: self-discipline, teamwork… In our Groupement, as in a biking workforce, success is collective and everybody contributes to it. We have now confronted many challenges in 2024, every on our personal facet, and we’ll proceed our growth.”
Jean-François Bourlart (Basic Supervisor): “We’re extremely happy and proud to proceed our long-standing partnership with Intermarché. This renewed partnership permits us to continue to grow and construct our future collectively. Successful and constructing is our imaginative and prescient for what lies forward. With such a proficient workforce and riders like Biniam Girmay, we’re assured we will attain new heights. Our ambition is to shine within the Grand Excursions, together with the Tour de France, and compete for victory in probably the most prestigious classics, resembling Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. All united, we will obtain it.”
Shimano and UCI Renew Their Partnership for 2025-2028 – Celebrating a Partnership of Over a Quarter of a Century
SHIMANO and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) are proud to announce the continuation of their long-standing partnership. The renewal is made because the organisations rejoice working collectively for greater than 25 years and each the UCI and Shimano look ahead to working intently collectively for one more four-year interval (from 2025 to 2028).
As up to now 4 years, Shimano will proceed to carry the standing of UCI World Biking Associate, along with being the UCI’s official Impartial Service Associate on the UCI World Championships for varied disciplines.
The Shimano Impartial Service mechanics and drivers – simply recognisable because of their iconic blue automobiles – present an necessary service to riders in main worldwide occasions.
The UCI World Biking Associate standing displays Shimano’s shared values with the UCI, its ardour for biking and its sturdy involvement within the majority of UCI World Championship occasions together with street, para-cycling street, observe, para-cycling observe, mountain bike, mountain bike marathon, BMX Racing, city biking (BMX Freestyle and trials), cyclo-cross, gravel and biking esports.
UCI Director Basic, Ms. Amina Lanaya and UCI President, Mr. David Lappartient (proper), stand alongside Shimano Europe President, Marc van Rooij, signalling their shared dedication to the game of biking for the subsequent 4 years
Shimano may even be the principle companion of the 2027 UCI Biking World Championships, which is able to convey collectively some 20 UCI World Championships for various disciplines in Haute-Savoie, France.
Shimano Impartial Service and the UCI World Championships
Shimano can also be the UCI’s official Impartial Service Associate for the UCI World Championships for street, para-cycling street, mountain bike (Olympic cross-country, cross-country quick observe, and downhill), mountain bike marathon, BMX Racing, city biking, cyclo-cross, and gravel, in addition to for the 2027 UCI Biking World Championships.
On this capability, Shimano offers its Impartial Service and Technical Service to riders encountering mechanical difficulties throughout UCI World Championships, particularly to opponents from Nationwide Biking Federations that won’t have the complete sources to assist their riders at such occasions.
UCI President, David Lappartient, mentioned: “We’re delighted to resume the shut and long-standing partnership between the Union Cycliste Internationale and Shimano, world chief in bicycle elements. To have the ability to rely on a companion of such stature represents an enormous asset for our Federation and our sport, not solely in terms of our main occasions, but additionally for the event of biking in nations that need assistance to get extra of their riders to the highest degree.”
Shimano President, Taizo Shimano, mentioned: “The previous 25 years of partnership with the UCI have been a exceptional journey of collaboration, innovation, and mutual development. At Shimano, we’re deeply dedicated to supporting biking throughout all disciplines and ranges. We’re thrilled to resume our partnership to assist form the way forward for sport collectively. It’s a privilege to contribute to biking’s evolution and success on the world stage.”
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