We wind up the Tour of Oman with a win for Adam Yates and a double win for Egan Bernal in the Colombian national championships. All the video to go with the reports, results and rider quotes.
TOP STORY:
- Tadej Pogačar rides the Trouée d’Arenberg, but not Roubaix… this year
Rider news:
- Yevgeniy Fedorov is four-time Asian time trial champion
- Mathieu van der Poel enjoys his skiing holiday in Livigno
- Tadej Pogačar gives Belgian juniors the day of their lives
- Mathieu van der Poel to ride Tirreno-Adriatico
- Tom Pidcock’s spring race calendar
Team news:
- CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto dynamic duo to debut in Setmana Valenciana
- UAE Team Emirates-XRG name squad for UAE Tour as Pogačar debuts
- The next races for Team Picnic PostNL
- BEAT Cycling Club strengthens its roster with Martijn Tusveld
- SD Worx-Protime’s Chantal van den Broek-Blaak ends her career after new pregnancy
- Sander Kruis departs after 12 years at Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Jasper Saeijs appointed as Chief Business Officer
- Geert Wellens new sports director at Lotto Ladies Team
Race news:
- Omloop Het Nieuwsblad climb missing cobbles
- Milan-San Remo will not start from Milan in the future
- UCI takes measures against Etoile de Bessèges organisers
Time for coffee and cobbles.
TOP STORY: Tadej Pogačar Rides the Trouée d’Arenberg
Will Tadej Pogačar start Paris-Roubaix soon? Maybe, the Slovenian explored the Trouée d’Arenberg earlier this week after visiting Belgium and the Netherlands. The World champion went to the Roubaix cobbles with Tim Wellens, after which Pogačar shared a video on social media in which he can be seen racing over the Arenberg cobblestones.
Pogačar will ride quite a few spring Classics this year. The UAE Emirates XRG rider will be on the start line of Milano-Sanremo, the E3 Saxo Classic, the Tour of Flanders, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Paris-Roubaix could be added to that list.
In December, Pogačar said that participation in the Hell of the North was not out of the question. “It is not a final decision yet. Maybe I will do that race after all, but I don’t think that Classic suits me that well. There is still enough time to do Roubaix.” This year or next year?
Paris-Roubaix Not on Tadej Pogačar’s Schedule in 2025
Tadej Pogačar set the rumour mill on fire on Monday (see above). The World champion was filmed by teammate Tim Wellens riding the cobbles of the Trouée d’Arenberg, part of the Paris-Roubaix route. According to his team Pogačar will not be riding the ‘Hell of the North’. “I saw that the Belgian media seriously jumped on it. The articles about that video kept coming,” laughed Pogačar’s UAE Emitares-XRG teammate, Florian Vermeersch when WielerFlits spoke to him at the Tour of Oman. “I knew that he was going to reconnaissance the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, that was no surprise to me. But people should not draw any conclusions from that. He will definitely not be riding this year.”
Marco Marcato, team DS with UAE Emirates-XRG in Oman, also confirmed. “Tadej and Tim Wellens went on the road with sports director Fabio Baldato, who managed everything. He initially came to Flanders to reconnoiter the Tour. Paris-Roubaix is not in the plans we have with him at the moment. I can’t say more than that.”
Was Pogačar teasing the media a bit with his video? “I don’t necessarily think so,” said Vermeersch. “I think he just thought it was cool to be there and ride on the cobblestones. There may not have been a specific reason to ‘teasing’ the media and the fans. But it worked. I think it was because he was there for the reconnaissance of the Tour of Flanders. And to look to the future, it is always useful to see the run-up to such sections, even more so than the cobblestones themselves. He was there for two days. Training for one day and doing nothing else is a waste. It would be better to train for two days and go and have a look in between. It was on the schedule anyway.”
According to Vermeersch, the race doesn’t fit into the World champion’s schedule. “If he already wants to perform in the E3 Saxo Classic and Tour of Flanders and also in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, it might be difficult to stay fresh in between. Especially if you want to be good in the big tours afterwards. Then I understand why he chooses to skip Roubaix this year. He has never done it before.”
Pogačar had previously said that he wants to win the five monuments, but is that realistic? “Of course. When he starts somewhere, he always competes to win. In the general class. He can ride a bike so fast that he can win anywhere. And honestly? It looked pretty good on the cobblestones. Arenberg is such a bad cobblestone section that it never really looks ‘smooth’ anyway. But I am sure that he will also make good progress there.” Vermeersch was second in Paris-Roubaix. WielerFlits also asked Servais Knaven, who won the 2021 Paris-Roubaix, he is working for Shimano’s neutral service in Oman. “I would like to see such a champion come and ride in Paris-Roubaix. Normally climbers never come to these kinds of races, because they cannot deliver the power on the flat. Tour winner Bernard Hinault once came to participate and afterwards simply said: ‘I’m never coming back here again’,” laughed Knaven.
According to Knaven, Pogačar is an exception, especially given his versatility. “Does he weigh 66 kilograms? Oh, but that won’t be a problem. I won Paris-Roubaix with 68 kilograms. He can also time trial and is not a pure climber. Be careful, it will be a challenge, right? But it is worth trying. The only question is whether he will have enough left when Mathieu van der Poel attacks on a flat cobblestone strip purely on power. That is difficult to estimate, but it is interesting to follow. Maybe he is planning something. Why else would you ride on the cobblestones on 9 February? You don’t just do that.”
If Pogačar does ride L’Enfer du Nord, Van der Poel, Van Aert and the other cobble Classics specialists will have to contend with a winner, according to Knaven. “He can ride on the cobblestones, because in the Tour of Flanders he also rides away from everyone. He will only start if he is convinced that he can ride for the win, he is not coming for peanuts. And the risks? Don’t worry, in Roubaix they often only fall from position thirty or forty. Almost never at the front, and that is where I expect him to be.”
Roubaix for Pogi? No:
The Tour of Oman Men 2025
David Gaudu won stage 3 of the Tour of Oman. The Groupama-FDJ rider finished first at the top of Eastern Mountain, ahead of Adam Yates (UAE Emirates XRG) and Damien Howson (Jayco AlUla). Gaudu also took the overall lead from Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Stap).
After Louis Vervaeke’s surprising victory on Sunday, it was expected that the GC riders would take over on Monday. Stage 3 was a difficult stage of 180 kilometres, with the finish on Eastern Mountain. The climbers would be the stars.
A group of six riders escaped, including Nicolas Vinokourov and Rayan Boulahoite. Vinokourov and Boulahoite were the strongest of the leading group and eventually they had dropped all the others.. They worked well together, which kept the peloton at a good distance as they had underestimate the two leaders. With 9 kilometres to go, the two still had a 2 minute lead. UAE Emirates XRG, Soudal Quick-Step and Visma Lease a Bike saw the danger and started to chase. At the front, Vinokourov decided to drop his fellow escapee. The Kazakh went solo to the foot of Green Mountain (4.8km at 7.7%).
His lead was still 2 minutes. Vinokourov held out well, but the peloton was now riding flat out up the climb. Vinokourov gave it his all, but had no chance against the chasing peloton and he was caught with 2.5 kilometres to go. It was overall leader Vervaeke who made sure that Vinokourov was caught. Vervaeke then had to let go as he was only concerned with helping his teammates. After the Belgian’s chase work, Groupama-FDJ took over. They lifted the pace for leader David Gaudu. The peloton was getting smaller and smaller and when they started the final kilometre, there was only 10 riders left.
It was then time for Gaudu to attack. Adam Yates and Cian Uijtdebroeks were quickly on his wheel, as were the other climbers. Another attack by Gaudu, only Yates, Uijtdebroeks and Chris Harper were able to follow. The pace then slowed, allowing some riders to come back. It was a chaotic, but exciting final kilometre. Gaudu and Yates were the two men who were able to distance themselves from the rest in the last 500 metres. Gaudu then rode away from Yates, but in the last 200 metres the two fighting for the victory. After a thrilling finale, Gaudu was the first to cross the line, ahead of Yates. Gaudu is also the new overall leader. Third place went to Damien Howson. Uijtdebroeks was in trouble in the last hundred meters and dropped to sixth place. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step) and Marco Brenner (Tudor) finished ahead of him.
Stage winner and overall leader, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ): “I’m already thinking about Wednesday’s stage. It was a great battle with Adam, he was very strong. He came back once in the final meters, but I was also able to overcome him once. I’m very happy with this.”“It was the first test of my season. The team also worked hard today. I was well-positioned and we also helped set the pace on the climb. Tomorrow is for the sprinters, Wednesday is an important day for me (to Green Mountain). I’m already focusing on that.”
2nd on the stage and overall, Adam Yates (UAE Emirates XGR): “I’m actually really happy with today’s performance, like I said at the beginning of the week I’ve had an easier approach to the start of the season as I need to in top shape for a long time later in the year – so to be fighting for the win on an explosive final climb like this is a good sign that the training is working and my shape is coming. We have a sprint stage tomorrow so we’ll try to stay out of trouble, then we have one more chance on stage 5 to see if we can win the tour.”
3rd on the stage and overall, Damien Howson (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team): “I am really happy with my performance. There were two very accomplished bike riders who beat me today so I can’t be unhappy with the result although I always set the bar high. It was a relief to be back at this level after having struggled with injury for quite a while last year. To be back competing for a podium is a real confidence boost. We can use this as a stepping stone going forward. There is Green Mountain to come which I did once before ten years ago in 2015, but I don’t remember much of it and sure wasn’t racing it. First, we get through tomorrow. I really feel the energy of the team and we really race well together.”
6th on the stage and 7th overall, Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike): “Now it was about seconds, on Green Mountain it will be about minutes. I felt really good at the beginning of the climb, but the end was a bit too punchy for me. I tried to limit the damage as much as possible. The end was still quite tough. With the wind in my back it was a fast and explosive effort. It was also half a year ago that I had to go to such an extreme. I feel that the engine still needs to warm up a bit. But this race is good for that. I can’t really draw many conclusions from this stage. My legs are not bad and I’m in good shape. And the guys also set me off well. If you always have to race against Pogačar, you’ll never win. That’s of course the deal for this race. Here it’s about seconds, the differences are limited. On Green Mountain other riders will also come up and minutes will be thrown around.”
The Tour of Oman Men Stage 3 Result
1. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ in 4:16:10
2. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:01
3. Damien Howson (Aus) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team at 0:05
4. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:13
5. Marco Brenner (Ger) Tudor
6. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:16
7. Chris Harper (Aus) Jayco AlUla
8. Diego Ulissi (Ita) XDS Astana at 0:23
9. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Movistar
10. Wout Poels (Ned) XDS Astana.
The Tour of Oman Men Overall After Stage 3:
1. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ in 13:28:26
2. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:06
3. Damien Howson (Aus) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team at 0:12
4. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:18
5. Marco Brenner (Ger) Tudor at 0:24
6. Chris Harper (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 0:27
7. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
8. Diego Ulissi (Ita) XDS Astana at 0:34
9. Wout Poels (Ned) XDS Astana Team
10. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Movistar.
Oman’25 stage 3:
Olav Kooij won the Fourth Stage of the Tour of Oman on Tuesday. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider was the fastest in the bunch sprint to take his second victory of the week. Giacomo Nizzolo (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Orluis Aular (Movistar) finished second and third, but well behind the Dutchman. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) held onto the overall lead.
Stage four of the Tour of Oman started at the Oman Across Ages Museum for a stage of 181.5 kilometres, finishing at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center. The first half of the stage had some climbing, but there wasn’t anything big. The second half of the day was mostly downhill, so a bunch sprint was expected.
Three riders attacked: Muhammed Haizam Mohd Shabri, Kongphob Thimachai and Abdulrahman Alyaqoobi. The peloton wasn’t too bothered and they let the three leaders take 9 minutes. In the peloton Visma | Lease a Bike and Picnic PostNL increased the speed. The last remaining escapee, Thimachai, was caught with 10 kilometres to go. UAE Emirates XRG and Groupama-FDJ also started to work in the finale, but that was to keep their GC contenders, Adam Yates and David Gaudu, safely to the finish.
In the final kilometres, it was up to the sprint teams. Uno-X Mobility were able to drop off their sprinter, Erlend Blikra who started the sprint in a perfect position, but Kooij was on his wheel. The Dutchman waited for the right moment and then shot off the wheel of the Norwegian. No one came close to Kooij, who took his second victory in Oman. Giacomo Nizzolo was second, Orluis Aular took third place.
Stage winner, Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike): “It feels good to win for the second time. We knew it was important to be well positioned in the last kilometre. I chose the right wheel and set up my sprint at the right moment. We took our responsibility and made sure the leaders were caught. The guys rode great. This victory is partly thanks to them.”
Overall leader, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ): “I was quite calm approaching this stage because it was made for the sprinters. The profile wasn’t very hard on paper, and on top of that, three riders went away very early, from kilometre 0. We didn’t even have to pull because the sprinters’ teams did it for us. The team managed the situation very well. The goal was for no rider in the top 5 overall, especially Adam Yates, to take any bonuses. In the final, we did what we had to do until the final three kilometres. The guys were great, then I took as few risks as possible at the very end. Since this morning, I’ve been thinking about the Green Mountain. I know it’s going to be a tough fight; it’s going to be hot, but I know the team is solid. I can’t wait to see how we can manage the day and then it’ll be a man-to-man battle on the last climb. Legs won’t lie.”
2nd on the stage, Giacomo Nizzolo (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team): “The race was quite controlled today and we didn’t ride at a super hard pace. I wanted to conserve energy for the final kilometre because it was slightly uphill. I managed to find the right wheel and sat behind Olav Kooij in the final kilometres. I tried to get around him, but it was not possible today. He was just stronger, but I am happy for my first podium of the year. I have to thank this team, and I am excited for the races to come.”
3rd on the stage, Orluis Aular (Movistar): “I was happy that the team trusted me for this sprint. My teammates worked hard for me in the end and I’m happy with this third place.”
The Tour of Oman Men Stage 4 Result
1. Olav Kooij (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike in 4:31:35
2. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
3. Orluis Alberto Aular Sanabria (Ven) Movistar
4. Erlend Blikra (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
5. Max Kanter (Ger) XDS Astana Team
6. Pavel Bittner (CZ) Team Picnic PostNL
7. Emilien Jeannière (Fra) TotalEnergies
8. Ivan Garcia (Spa) Cortina Movistar
9. Niklas Behrens (Ger) Visma | Lease a Bike
10. Florian Vermeersch (Bel) UAE Emirates XRG.
The Tour of Oman Men Overall After Stage 4:
1. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ in 18:00:01
2. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:06
3. Damien Howson (Aus) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team at 0:12
4. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Fra) Soudal-Quick Step at 0:18
5. Marco Brenner (Ger) Tudor at 0:24
6. Chris Harper (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 0:27
7. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
8. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Movistar at 0:34
9. Wout Poels (Ned) XDS Astana
10. Embret Svestad-Bardseng (Nor) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 0:38.
Oman’25 stage 4:
Adam Yates (UAE Emirates-XRG) won the 2025 Tour of Oman. The final stage finish on the top of Green Mountain was a battle between Yates and Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step). Paret-Peintre won the stage after a strong sprint, but Yates limited the damage and won the race overall. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) crossed the line in third place at 45 seconds and dropped to third in the final overall result.
The climax of the Tour of Oman was on Wednesday, from Imty to Jabal Al Akhdar, a stage of 140 kilometres. The final battle was set on the climb of Green Mountain, the traditional end to the Tour of Oman. The riders were still close on the overall, so there were still many possibilities for the final victory.
There was a large break of the day, with 17 riders off the front, including some strong men: Pepijn Reinderink & Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step), Amaury Capiot (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Anthon Charming (XDS Astana), Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies), Niklas Behrens (Visma | Lease a Bike), Pavel Bittner (Picnic PostNL) and Felix Engelhardt (Jayco AlUla).
The peloton knew it was a strong attack, so David Gaudu and Adam Yates had their Groupama-FDJ and UAE Emirates-XRG men set a solid pace at the front. The lead of the 17 remained limited. The attackers started the final climb with a lead of only 1 minute. Vansevenant put the pressure on as soon as they hit the Green Mountain. The Belgian knows the climb well, because two years ago he won this stage. Vansevenant fought against the peloton with a number of other escapees, but it was a hopeless battle. Three kilometres from the top it all came back together. It was Jay Vine who had done the work for Yates, who was on his wheel. Vine rode very well, because the pace was too fast for almost everyone. Only Yates and Valentin Paret-Peintre were able to follow, Gaudu cracked. After another acceleration by Yates, Gaudu was dropped and he could only watch the duel between Yates and Paret-Peintre.
Paret-Peintre put in a big attack and Yates couldn’t hold him for a while, but managed to come back. The pace dropped and Gaudi managed to fight his way back to the two front riders. The three started the final kilometre together. Yates set the pace to try to drop Gaudu again, as he needed to beat the Frenchman to take the overall victory in the Tour of Oman. With 600 metres to go, Gaudu cracked again due to another acceleration. Paret-Peintre, on the other hand, seemed to be sitting comfortably on Yates’ wheel, he seemed to be mainly concerned with winning the stage. The Soudal Quick-Step youngster rode away from Yates in the final hundred metres to win the final stage on Green Mountain. Yates had to give it everything so he didn’t lose too much time, as Paret-Peintre could still take the final victory. The British rider crossed the finish line just 2 seconds later, wining the 2025 Tour of Oman overall. Gaudu came in 45 seconds later and lost his lead on the final day. Fourth place went to Embret Svestad-Bårdseng. The 22-year-old Norwegian of Arkéa-B&B Hotels rode the climb well and passed Cian Uijtdebroeks, who was fifth. Wout Poels took sixth place.
Stage winner, 2nd overall, Green jersey and White jersey, Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step): “Winning atop of this climb, where some big riders won in the past, means a lot to me. I had a lot of confidence going into the stage and knew that I could be in the mix for victory. I also tried to go for the GC win, but that turned out to be difficult, so instead I decided to wait for the final meters to go full gas. I’m happy that I could win against some really good climbers. We can be proud of what we achieved here. At the same time, it’s important for me to have such a good start with the team. I knew it was possible to get a good result this week and I’m glad I could show the team they can put their trust in me. I’m leaving Oman with a great feeling and with the desire of fighting for more wins in the near future.”
Final overall winner and 2nd on the stage, Adam Yates (UAE Emirates XRG): “I think we knew already from the start of the week that this would be the key stage. There was a hard climb on stage 3, but it was a little bit shorter and more explosive, so it didn’t suit my characteristics quite as well as today. We waited for today, and it turned out to be a good day. Throughout the stage, we pulled basically from the beginning because we knew it would be best for us if we could control the break and get the time bonus at the end of the stage. The team did a really good job and then in the final, Jay and Rafa did a great pace on the climb. I think I said at the beginning of the week that I’m not actually in top shape right now. I need to be good for a long time later in the year, so I’m happy to be at this level and fighting for the win. It’s a good sign for the future and I’m just happy to win!”
3rd overall and 7th on the stage, Damien Howson (Q36.5): “It was nervous at the front and the roads were slippery at that right turn at the roundabout towards the climb. That caused a pile up in the bunch. It was a very hectic moment, but I am grateful for my team who were there for me before and after that crash. I did my best to the finish line, but I wasn’t thinking as clearly as I would have liked. It’s one of the hardest climbs ever with those gradients and after that crash I didn’t pace as well as I could have. It’s a shame to drop off that podium but I managed to hold onto fourth. It was within reach, but I couldn’t have done more than I did today under the circumstances. The way the team supported me gave me the best opportunity to perform today. We now go back to Europe with great motivation and confidence going forward.”
5th on the stage and overall, Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike): “I can go to the limit again. I no longer suffer from the things that I struggled with so much last year. I was happy when I reached the finish. No, it went well today. It is always a question mark where you stand at the first test of the season. But I think I can be happy. There were simply a number of riders stronger than me today and they finished ahead of me. I mainly tried not to go beyond my limit and not to explode. I am satisfied with that result. In advance, I wanted to do better than in 2023 (he finished 9th) and especially to be able to compete at the front again, after all those problems last year. I feel that I still have to take a few steps, but I would have definitely signed for this in advance. That means I can finish with a very happy feeling. Physically, everything is going well. I can go to my limit again. The step to the absolute top is becoming smaller and smaller.”
The Tour of Oman Men Stage 5 Result
1. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step in 3:13:15
2. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:02
3. David Gaudu (GB) Groupama-FDJ at 0:45
4. Embret Svestad-Bardseng (Nor) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 0:51
5. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
6. Wout Poels (Ned) XDS Astana
7. Damien Howson (Aus) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team at 0:57
8. Chris Harper (Aus) Jayco AlUla
9. Jay Vine (Aus) UAE Emirates XRG at 1:15
10. Marco Brenner (Ger) Tudor.
The Tour of Oman Men Final Overall Result.:
1. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Emirates XRG in 21:13:18
2. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:06
3. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 39
4. Damien Howson (Aus) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team at 1:07
5. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike at 1:16
6. Chris Harper (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 1:22
7. Wout Poels (Ned) XDS Astana at 1:23
8. Embret Svestad-Bardseng (Nor) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 1:27
9. Marco Brenner (Ger) Tudor at 1:37
10. Simon Dalby (Den) Uno-X Mobility at 2:05.
Oman’25 stage 5:
Colombian National Road Championships 2025
Egan Bernal won the Colombian national road championship, to go with his national time trial win last Thursday. The INEOS Grenadiers rider soloed to victory, beating Diego Andres Camargo (Team Medellin-EPM) by over 2 minutes and Kevin David Castillo (Team Sistecredito) by nearly 4 minutes.
In Bucaramanga, Colombia, last Thursday, Egan Bernal took his first victory in almost four years. The 28-year-old won the Colombian national time trial. title. On Sunday there was also a battle for the Colombian road title. The race was held in La Cordillera Occidental, a foothill of the Andes at altitude. The race was over seven laps of 25 kilometres, with the Alto Parqueadero (2.3km at 8.1%).
Bernal was looking for the double and he took control of the race. The two-time Grand Tour winner had his teammate Brandon Rivera to make the race hard before he made his move. Bernal attacked with 30 kilometres to go on the climb of the Alto Parqueadero, only one rider was able to follow: Diego Camargo (Team Medellin-EPM). The former EF Education-EasyPost rider was in trouble trying to follow Bernal. On the last time over the Alto Parqueadero, Camargo lost contact. Bernal took more than 2 minutes on Camargo in the last 10 kilometres and so had time to celebrate his victory in Bucaramanga. Camargo held on for second place. The sprint for third place was won by Kevin Castillo (Team Sistecredito), ahead of Einer Rubio of Movistar.
Colombian National Road Championships Result:
1. Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) INEOS Grenadiers in 5:56:12
2. Diego Andres Camargo Pined (Col) Team Medellin-EPM at 2:16
3. Kevin David Castillo Miranda (Col) Team Sistecredito at 3:43
4. Einer Rubio Reyes (Col) Movistar at 3:44
5. Brandon Rivera Col) INEOS Grenadiers at 4:20
6. Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Nu Colombia at 4:22
7. Robinson Fabian Lopez Rivera (Col) GW Erco Shimano at 5:16
8. Wilmar Andres Paredes Zapata (Col) Team Medellin-EPM at 7:38
9. Misael Jose Urian Caro (Col) Team Sistecredito
10. Cristian Camilo Munoz Lancheros (Col) Nu Colombia at 7:41.
Double national champion – Egan Bernal:
Yevgeniy Fedorov is Four-Time Asian Individual Time Trial Champion
XDS Astana Team rider Yevgeniy Fedorov, representing the National Team of Kazakhstan, won the gold medal in the individual time trial at the Asian Road Cycling Championships, currently taking place in Thailand. Fedorov completed the 42.8 km distance in 49 minutes and 12 seconds.
“Honestly, I am very happy to win a gold medal for Kazakhstan. The individual time trial was one of my main goals at the start of the season. I worked hard to reach peak form by early February to represent Kazakhstan at the Asian Championships in the best possible way. Together with my team, XDS Astana Team, we had two very productive training camps in December and January, putting in a huge amount of work to build a solid foundation for the entire season. After that, I competed in the AlUla Tour with my team, where the race profile and weather conditions were ideal for fine-tuning my form ahead of the Asian Championships. I managed to develop good speed, which helped me today – the course was challenging and long, and much depended on speed and proper energy distribution. The XDS Astana Team’s performance group developed an excellent race strategy for me, and I did my best to follow it completely. Everything came together well, and I was able to win. Previously, I had won the time trial at the Asian Championships three times, and I am happy that today I was able to defend my title and bring another gold medal to Kazakhstan,” – said Yevgeniy Fedorov.
For Fedorov, this marks his fourth consecutive Asian Championship title in the individual time trial. He previously won in 2022, 2023, and 2024. It is important to note that he is the first rider in history to become a four-time consecutive Asian champion in the individual time trial.
Before him, four-time but non-consecutive Asian Championship titles in this discipline were won by Kazakhstan’s Andrey Mizurov (1995, 1999, 2006, 2010) and Kyrgyzstan’s Eugen Wacker (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012).
Yevgeniy Fedorov Asian Individual TT champion:
Mathieu van der Poel has Skiing Holiday in Livigno
Mathieu van der Poel will start his road season in a little over a month. The Dutchman will prepare for his favourite spring classics in Spain in the coming weeks, but decided to recharge his batteries last week in a skiing holiday in Livigno, Italy.
The 30-year-old Van der Poel, who became cyclocross World champion for the seventh time last weekend, went on a ski trip in Livigno. Van der Poel shared photos of his holiday on Instagram. Van der Poel enjoyed his cyclocross World title for a week, but now the preparation for the road season really begins. The leader of Alpecin-Deceuninck will start at the beginning of March, he recently confirmed to WielerFlits. He will race in the Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice.
This means it will be another month before Van der Poel races on the road. The French stage race starts on Sunday 9th March, the Italian race on Monday 10th March. Last season, Van der Poel didn’t ride a preparation race for the Classics and started in Milan-San Remo. If Van der Poel chooses to make his debut in Paris-Nice, it will be his first participation in the Race to the Sun. He has already contested Tirreno-Adriatico three times. In the covid year 2020, he won one stage and in 2021 two stages. In his last participation, in 2023, he was important as a lead-out for Jasper Philipsen.
Van der Poel skiing before the road season:
Tadej Pogačar Gives Belgian Juniors the Day of Their Lives
Tadej Pogačar gave two Belgian juniors the day of their lives. The Slovenian was training in Flanders when he was spotted by Maurits Baart and Melvin Maddelein, two local boys. They rode with him for a while and had their picture taken.
Pogačar had previously been in Maarkedal, where he took a picture on the bench dedicated to Allan Peiper, his former team manager. In addition to a short trip to the Netherlands, Pogačar was mainly in Flanders, where he reconnoitred the spring classics, together with his teammate Tim Wellens.
One of the places the two visited was Kluisbergen. There, they were spotted by Baart and Maddelein. “I immediately recognised Tadej by his bike,” Baart told HLN. “Tim Wellens rode next to him and together with Melvin I quickly nestled in their rear wheel. I asked him, laughing, if he shouldn’t be in Spain, to which he replied ‘almost’. It was clear that he was in a good mood. He certainly didn’t find it annoying at all that we were following him.”
Pogačar and Wellens rode for about 20 kilometres with the two juniors on their wheel. “I think they were slowing down a bit, for us it was ‘cleaning our toes’ to follow of course. At one point we reached a speed of 47.6 km/h. And at the hotel we were able to take a few selfies. Really a dream come true. Of all the riders you hope to meet on such a training, Pogačar is of course the ultimate man. The best rider in the peloton.”
Two happy juniors:
Mathieu van der Poel to Ride Tirreno-Adriatico
Mathieu van der Poel has announced his full spring race schedule. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider will start his road season in Tirreno-Adriatico in just under a month. Milan-Sanremo and most of the major cobbled Classics are also on his race list.
Van der Poel had already said he would start his road season in March, but he had to make a decision on whether he would ride Tirreno-Adriatico again or make his debut in Paris-Nice. The choice has now been made in favour of the Italian stage race. Van der Poel has ridden Tirreno-Adriatico three times before. In 2020, he won one stage and in 2021 two stages. In his last participation, in 2023, he was a lead-out man for Jasper Philipsen, but didn’t have and success for himself.
“For me, it is the best preparation for Milan-Sanremo”, Van der Poel said at the team’s media day on Wednesday. “I was good last year, but not good enough to make a difference in Sanremo. A stage race of a week is better, to grow into my best form.” Van der Poel hopes to prepare for Milan-Sanremo in Tirreno-Adriatico, the race he won in 2023. After Sanremo, Van der Poel is planning on starting in the E3 Saxo Classic, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. He may also ride Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen, but that is still to be decided.
Van der Poel announces his spring plans:
Tom Pidcock’s Spring Race Calendar
Tom Pidcock will be riding quite a few spring races in the next months. Pidcock will ride Strade Bianche, Milan-Sanremo, the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Just like last year, he will miss most of the Flemish cobbled Classics.
Pidcock started his first season for his new team, Q36.5, by winning two stages and the final overall in the AlUla Tour. Pidcock will want to continue his form into spring when he rides the Ruta del Sol. After that Spanish race, Pidcock will head towards the Italian races via Flanders for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
After the Italian block with Milan-Sanremo as the final part. For the moment, he will not start in the Tour of Flanders, despite his team receiving a wildcard. Pidcock will not resume his spring until the Brabantse Pijl, after which he will start the Amstel Gold Race, which he won last year, the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Tom Pidock’s Spring Season Race Schedule:
19.02: Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol
01.03: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite
08.03: Strade Bianche
10.03: Tirreno-Adriatico
22.03: Milano-Sanremo
18.04: De Brabantse Pijl – La Flèche Brabançonne
20.04: Amstel Gold Race
23.04: La Flèche Wallonne
27.04: Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
A busy Spring for Tom Pidcock:
Dynamic Duo to Debut in Setmana Valenciana
CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto will line up at the Setmana Ciclista Volta Feminina de la Comunitat Valenciana, led by the powerful pairing of Kasia Niewiadoma and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig. Both riders will make their season debuts and race together for the first time. Joining them is a strong and versatile line-up that includes Justyna Czapla, Nastya Kolesava and Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, all of whom are riding well and ready to tackle the race’s varied terrain. The seven-rider roster is completed by up-and-coming talents of CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation, Awen Roberts and Jule Märkl, who are both entering their second seasons in the elite ranks.
Kasia heads into the race eager to test herself after a solid winter training period, all while also settling into the team’s racing rhythm for 2025. “I’m feeling good – definitely physically ready. Mentally, I can start to feel the nervousness of racing creeping in. There’s always this time when winter preparations are finished and all of a sudden, it’s time to race. That transition is always a bit stressful, but I’m really looking forward to restarting things and getting close to all those big races that we’ve been preparing towards for many months.”
An exciting development for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto this season has been the arrival of Cecilie, adding fresh firepower and versatility to the team. Kasia is particularly enthusiastic about the potential synergy between them. “I am definitely looking forward to racing with Cecilie. We are very similar riders, so I hope to have opportunities where we will be able to play different cards and have situations that always benefit us, especially in the final. I think that with it being the first race, you never know where you’re at and how good your shape is, but I really hope that we can just kind of attack one after another, to create good groups that favour the team.”
“I think our biggest advantage will be the ability to feel each other’s strengths in the moment, always back each other up, and then use the situations that we create. It’s always a work in progress and it’s hard to start racing together for the first time after years as competitors and have it dialled directly, but we’re both committed to finding the right rhythm. It’s really nice to have this stage race to practice, learn and gain some more knowledge about each other before starting the classics. I think that we all take this race as a final form polishing session – we can still get a good result, but it’s also to learn more about each other”.
Cecilie shares her enthusiasm ahead of her first race in the vibrant CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto colours. “I’m filled with excitement and a little bit of nervous energy. This will be my first race with the team, and I feel a real sense of anticipation – not only for my own performance but also to showcase what we can do as a unit. I’m really hoping for some aggressive racing – just to get out there, light it up, and have fun with my teammates.”
“The past few months have been an incredibly positive experience in the new team environment. From day one, I felt welcomed and supported, which made it easy to connect with my teammates right away. I genuinely feel right at home. Overall, I feel very fortunate to be a part of this team. I’m excited to see what the future holds. I believe we’re capable of achieving great things together this season.”
The Race Itself:
Setmana Ciclista Valenciana has been a key early-season race since 2017, with Cecilie winning the inaugural edition. Upgraded to 2.Pro status in 2020, it continues to attract a high-calibre field, with 14 WorldTeams set to line up in 2025. The four stages present a valuable test of early-season form through a balanced mix of terrain – flat coastal stretches, rolling hills, and challenging mountainous roads. The days will be tough but not truly decisive, making opportunistic racing and time bonuses all the more critical for the General Classification.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG Name Squad for UAE Tour as Pogačar Debuts
World Champion starts season on home soil
With five victories on the board already this season, UAE Team Emirates-XRG have named their seven riders for the first major objective of the year: the UAE Tour. The Emirati team go into the race with one of the strong favourites through World Champion Tadej Pogačar. The reigning Tour de France champion returns to the race after a two-year absence, having won the title in both 2021 and 2022.
This year’s race will run from 17-23 February and will feature seven days racing including four flat stages, two mountain stages and an individual time trial. The key stages are set to be the stage 2 time trial at Al Hudayriyat Island (12.2km) followed by the first mountain test on stage 3 to Jebel Jais and the iconic final stage finish at Jebel Hafeet.
The team goes into the race with a balanced squad, with key focus on Tadej Pogačar as leader for the GC and sprinter Sebastian Molano also hoping to take his first win of the year in the sprint stages.
Tadej Pogačar: “I’m really excited and motivated to start the season. Luckily I can say that I had a pretty smooth preparation for this first part of the season and I’m feeling good and ready to go. It’s been a few years now since I’ve raced UAE Tour and I must say I’m looking forward to it. I’m confident to lead the team and I will have strong support around me, both from my teammates and from all the support we get from the fans in UAE whenever we race there. The important thing is we put a good show and really push to win the title in the home race. Usually the key stages will be the time trial and then the two mountain finishes at Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet but if we get wind on the flat days it can also play a factor so we need to be ready for anything. I think from a spectators’ point of view it will be a really nice race and I can’t wait to start.”
Sports Manager Matxin Fernandez (Spa) along with Sports Directors Andrej Hauptman (Slo) and Yousif Mirza (UAE) will lead the following riders:
UAE Tour [2.UWT] – 27-Feb-2025 / 23-Feb-2025:
Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
Rune Herregodts (Bel)
Sebastian Molano (Col)
Domen Novak (Slo)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Florian Vermeersch (Bel)
Matxin Fernandez (Sports Manager): “It’s no secret that this race is one of our key objectives of the year. The aim will be quite clear: to try and take the title which has eluded us the past two years. We’re on home soil and we know that all eyes will be on us but it’s something we’ll use as further motivation in the race. Pogačar will be our clear leader and we hope for a strong team performance in the TT and for Molano in the sprints. Every stage is very important in this race.”
The Next Races for Team Picnic PostNL
Volta Feminina de la Comunitat Valenciana – FEB 13 – FEB 16
Callum Ferguson – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “We are ready to take on the roads of Valencia with seven riders, three of whom are new to the team. Our focus is on targeting stage results while also seeing how Francesca can position herself in the GC. As always, progression is key, and we aim to start our European season in a strong way.”
Line-up:
Francesca Barale (ITA)
Marta Cavalli (ITA)
Eleonora Ciabocco (ITA)
Ella Heremans (BEL)
Juliana Londoño (COL)
Becky Storrie (GBR)
Elise Uijen (NLD).
Figueira Champions Classic – FEB 16
Pim Ligthart – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “We kick off our European season in Portugal at the Figueira Champions Classic with our Men’s program. You could compare the parcours of this tough one-day race to an Ardennes Classic. Frank and Romain will have the chance to test their legs, while the rest of the team will be there to support them for as long as possible.”
Line-up:
Romain Bardet (FRA)
Frank van den Broek (NLD)
Romain Combaud (FRA)
John Degenkolb (DEU)
Casper van Uden (NLD)
Bram Welten (NLD).
UAE Tour – FEB 17 – FEB 23
Roy Curvers – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “The UAE Tour serves up its traditional recipe: a mix of sprint stages, a time trial, and two summit finishes that will shape the GC battle. Oscar will lead our GC ambitions, so it’s up to us to keep him protected throughout the week. He’ll be hunting for stage results on the mountain finishes—opportunities that will naturally place him high in the overall standings. On the sprint stages, our focus will be on guiding Fabio into the perfect position to launch his sprint and fight for victory.”
Line-up:
Tobias Lund Andresen (DNK)
Julius van den Berg (NLD)
Alex Edmondson (AUS)
Fabio Jakobsen (NLD)
Enzo Leijnse (NLD)
Niklas Märkl (DEU)
Oscar Onley (GBR).
Oscar Onley to ride the UAE Tour:
BEAT Cycling Club Strengthens its Roster with Martijn Tusveld
BEAT Cycling Club has signed Martijn Tusveld (31), former rider of Team DSM, Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij, and the Rabobank Development Team. The experienced cyclist, who spent the past seven years in the WorldTour and recently played a standout role in both the Vuelta a España and Il Lombardia, joins the team with immediate effect. Tusveld’s arrival underscores the club’s ambition to continue growing and developing towards the top.
Sportive Director Thijs Zonneveld: “Martijn Tusveld was an opportunity we simply couldn’t pass up. A rider of his caliber and experience rarely becomes available once the season has already begun. After his contract with Team DSM ended and a move to INEOS fell through at the last moment, he was considering focusing on his psychology studies. However, after our discussions, it quickly became clear that a return to the peloton was the perfect solution for both parties and a unique opportunity. Martijn brings valuable experience and race insight, making him not only a sporting asset but also a key contributor to the further growth of the team.”
Martijn Tusveld: “After receiving the news that I wouldn’t be getting a new contract in the WorldTour, I temporarily lost my motivation for the sport. However, my conversations with BEAT quickly made me realise that I’m not done racing yet. The club’s unique approach and the opportunity to combine my studies with my cycling career gave me the confidence and motivation to take this step. I look forward to applying my WorldTour experience within the team and playing an active role both in races and in the development of the squad and my new teammates, while also aiming for my own opportunities in the coming year.”
Martijn Tusveld joins BEAT Cycling Club:
Chantal van den Broek-Blaak Ends her Career after New Pregnancy
Chantal van den Broek-Blaak is happily expecting her second child. The 35-year-old rider of Team SD Worx – Protime had wanted to race at the highest level for another year in 2025. The pregnancy means that the former road world champion has to end her career earlier. ‘It took some switching, but there is no better reason to quit top-level sport,’ Chantal points out.
For no less than 17 years, Van den Broek-Blaak cycled at the highest level. In 2017, in Bergen, Norway, she recorded her finest victory at the World Road Championships. She managed to win classics such as the Tour of Flanders, Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold Race, Gent-Wevelgem and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. From 2015, she competed for Boels – Dolmans, now Team SD Worx – Protime.
After the birth of her daughter Noa in May 2023, Van den Broek-Blaak returned to the highest level last year. ‘That was not an easy year,’ she looks back. ‘Especially mentally, I had to get used to the role of motherhood combined with top-level sport. I rode good races, but the stability was missing. Of course, capturing the Dutch title was a nice highlight, which showed that I could still compete for prizes at the highest level.’
Ambitiously, then, she looked ahead to the 2025 season which would be her farewell year. ‘I am now 35 years old and wanted to flame another year. At the training camp in December, I was already pedalling good values at the tests. I finally had the same feeling on the bike as before my pregnancy and was eager to show the red-white-blue. In early January, we found out that I was pregnant again. It felt strange at first, but I soon realised how lucky I am to have got pregnant again so easily. This is what life is really all about. The farewell year is not coming now. With the 2024 season, in which I again became Dutch champion on the road, I was finally able to say goodbye to active cycling in a very nice way.’
Team manager Erwin Janssen of Team SD Worx – Protime is especially happy for Chantal van den Broek-Blaak: ‘We are very happy for Chantal that she is expecting her second child. We were still looking forward to a great final year for her on the bike, but the happiness of pregnancy is the most wonderful thing for her. We look back with pride at all we have achieved with Chantal in those ten years with the team. She has been one of the best cyclists in the world for many years, with the 2017 world title as the absolute highlight, of course. She also grew to become one of the culture carriers within our team. That she managed to win the red-white-blue again last year after her first pregnancy draws what a special cyclist she has been.’
Chantal van den Broek-Blaak retires:
Sander Kruis Departs after 12 Years at Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Jasper Saeijs Appointed as Chief Business Officer
As part of the continued expansion and professionalisation of Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Business department, Jasper Saeijs has been appointed as Chief Business Officer. From his position within the management team, he will lead the partnerships, events, marketing, and communications departments, which have been strengthened and expanded in recent months. Alongside this development, Commercial Director Sander Kruis will leave the team after 12 years to take on a new challenge in Formula 1.
CEO Richard Plugge: “When Sander indicated he was ready for a new challenge, we immediately set to work on further strengthening our business team in line with our growth ambitions. Over the years, Sander has played a pivotal role in this development. His dedication and vision have significantly contributed to the growth and success of Team Visma | Lease a Bike. While we will certainly miss him, we wholeheartedly support his next step. We are confident that our paths will cross again in the future, and in the meantime, we continue to build.”
Sander Kruis reflects on his time with the team with pride: “This organisation has shaped me not only as a professional but also as a person. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and trust I have received here and look back with great pride on the commercial and sporting milestones we have achieved together. From long-term partnerships with Jumbo, PON, and Visma as title sponsors to the numerous sporting triumphs, with the Grand Tour Trilogy year as an absolute highlight. Now feels like the right time to spread my wings and take on new experiences, knowing that I leave behind a strong and well-prepared business team. I will now embark on an exciting new challenge as Head of Partnership Acquisition at the Audi F1 Project in Switzerland.”
Jasper Saeijs: “In recent years, we have experienced significant growth—not only on the sporting side but also in the business domain. Sander has played a leading role in this process with his passion, knowledge, and expertise, and I am proud to have worked so closely with him. Over the past months, we have set ambitious goals and developed plans to further expand our business operations, which in turn support our equally ambitious sporting objectives. To achieve these ambitions, we have strengthened and expanded our business team, significantly enhancing its quality and capacity. I look forward with confidence to continuing this path alongside Richard and the entire Business team.”
With a reinforced business team, Team Visma | Lease a Bike looks ahead to the future with confidence and remains committed to further growth and success.
Geert Wellens New Sports Director at Lotto Ladies Team
Geert Wellens has been appointed as a new sports director of the Lotto Ladies Team. Wellens, who has already earned his stripes in women’s cycling, will support, among others, fellow sports director Grace Verbeke.
Geert Wellens, a former cyclocross rider himself, has previously gained experience as a sports director. This past winter, he worked alongside Zoe Bäckstedt in cyclocross and had already collaborated with several other teams. Over the past few days, Wellens has been in Altea, Spain, joining the Lotto Ladies on their training camp, where he completed his first days as the newly appointed sports director of the young team.
“I have known Lotto since I was young,” says Geert Wellens. “I was already familiar with many people in the team and even joined them last season as a VIP driver. Through Lotto Cycling Team riders Arne Baers, Sterre Vervloet, and cyclocross, I also had frequent contact with the team. When I was asked to become a sports director, I saw it as a great opportunity. In winter, I will continue my work in cyclocross as before, but in the summer, I will be working with Lotto. Collaborating with young riders, helping Belgian and other talents develop, and guiding them as best as possible is something I truly enjoy.”
“The Lotto Ladies Team is very young this season. The leading riders from last year have moved on, but that doesn’t mean the women and girls should be any less motivated. It is our job, together with the coaches, to raise the level. I’m looking forward to that. Who is already at a high level? Who can improve in certain areas? At the same time, we have to remain realistic. The team has been selected for Paris-Roubaix, and last year they were at the start of the Tour de France Femmes, but it will not be an easy year to compete with the top teams in the WorldTour. We’re starting with a blank slate, and now we can begin building. I am confident that everyone will give their best to stand out individually and as a team. Most importantly, everyone should continue to enjoy what they do. Focus and dedication are essential, but fun and motivation must always remain at the heart of it.”
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Climb Missing Cobbles
The Eikenberg, one of the cobbled climbs of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, is missing quite a few cobblestones. Three weeks before the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad race, there are road works on the hill. Although it had been promised that everything should be fine.
The Eikenberg is on the Omloop route after 140 kilometres this year. The cobbled climb is 1200 metres long, but at the moment there are still some cobbles missing. In total, there is a few hundred metres where there are no cobblestones yet. Alderman for Public Works Frederik Van Nieuwenhuyze explained to Het Nieuasblad: “At the last site meeting, the contractor promised that the race can go over the Eikenberg.”
“I know it looks empty today, but all preparations have been made. It is just a matter of laying cobblestones. They are lying about thirty linear metres per day. Once the stones are in place, they will be poured.” After the Omloop, the riders will also ride on the Eikenberg in the Nokere Koerse and the Tour of Flanders.
Eikenberg under repair:
Milan-Sanremo will Not Start from Milan in the Future
Milan-Sanremo will not start from Milan in the coming years. The first Classic Monument of the season has an alternative starting point for the coming years: Pavia, according to La Provincia.
The Italian Classic will start in Pavia, 35 kilometres south of Milan, until at least 2027. This is not the first time that ‘La Primavera’ has not started in Milan. Pavia was also the starting point last year. Two years ago, the riders started the spring Classic in Abbiategrasso, 20 kilometres west of Milan. For RCS Sport, it will mainly be a choice based on financial considerations. Pavia has to transfer €100,000 annually to the organiser of Milan-San Remo to host the start. According to La Provincia, this is enough to cover the organisation costs.
Milano-Sanremo to start in Pavia:
UCI takes Measures Against Etoile de Bessèges Organisers
The 55th edition of the Etoile de Bessèges will go down in history as a race that was full of incidents. Quite a few teams withdrew from the French race after a car appeared on the course for the second time. According to Het Nieuwsblad, the UCI is reportedly planning measures against the French stage race.
Chaotic, that is how this year’s edition of the Etoile de Bessèges has been described. Last Friday, during the third stage, the riders had had enough. After a car drove onto the race route for the second day in a row, several rider representatives decided to take matters into their own hands. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back, because in the second stage a car also drove onto the course and narrowly avoided a serious collision. Because some riders swerved, there were crashes in the peloton. Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) was one of the riders who had go to hospital. There was also a threat to stop the French stage race, but that didn’t happen.
The race went ahead, but nine teams decided to withdraw for safety reasons. There was a lot of commotion, after which the UCI felt compelled to respond. In concrete terms, the UCI announced that they would investigate the two incidents with cars on the course. “Measures are being taken to prevent a repeat of the problems that occurred during these stages, even though some teams have chosen to withdraw from the race. The UCI will thoroughly investigate the problems with the road closures and take the necessary action. We will do this with the sanctions stated in article 2.12.011 in mind.”
According to Het Nieuwsblad, the Etoile de Bessèges can expect a fine. In addition, the race can be placed under supervision and, for a fee, have to be accompanied by more experienced people.
Car chaos:
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