Tadej Pogačar has finally decided to ride Paris-Roubaix, but at the expense of Gent-Wevelgem and the E3 Classic. Loads of race news from the Volta a Catalunya, Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali and the Classic Brugge-De Panne – Video, race reports, results and rider quotes.
TOP STORY:
-
- Michele Bartoli critical of Wout van Aert:
“He is training, but he has to measure himself against his rivals”
Rider news:
- Tadej Pogačar to ride Paris-Roubaix
- Filippo Ganna might also ride the E3 Saxo Classic
- Jonas Vingegaard suffered a concussion in Paris-Nice
- New problem for Tao Geoghegan Hart
- Jan Bakelants: “Seeing Van der Poel and Pogačar is not good for Wout van Aert”
- Niklas Behrens makes his comeback four weeks after crash in the UAE Tour
- If Remco Evenepoel had doubts about Milan-Sanremo, he will now be more convinced than ever
- Christophe Laporte to miss the spring classics due to cytomegalovirus
- Wilco Kelderman likes his current role
Team news:
- UAE Team Emirates-XRG announce teams for E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem and Tadej Pogačar to ride Paris-Roubaix
- Next races for Team Picnic PostNL
- Kasper Asgreen to miss spring classics after illness
- New signing: Nate Pringle strengthens the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Rookies
Race news:
- Lidl Deutschland Tour Germany’s most important cycling race connects West and East
Plus:
- Milano-Sanremo 2025 | Behind the scenes video with UAE Team Emirates
EUROTRASH coffee time!
TOP STORY: Michele Bartoli Critical of Wout van Aert: “He is Training, But he has to Measure Himself Against his Rivals”
Wout van Aert has set his sights on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix again this year. The leader of Visma | Lease a Bike missed out Milan-San Remo, so that he could prepare for the cobbled classics with an altitude training camp. Multi-race winner, Michele Bartoli doesn’t understand the Belgian’s plan and has publicly criticised him.
Bartoli sees two favourites for the 2025 Monuments: Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel. He only sees Filippo Ganna and Wout van Aert among the other contenders. “Apart from Filippo Ganna, Wout van Aert is the only one who could still win. I still hope so,” the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Bartoli is critical of Van Aert. “When you expect something from him, he doesn’t show up. What’s the point of him not taking part in Milan-San Remo? He says he’s training, but he has to measure himself against his rivals,” said the 54-year-old, who won five Monuments during his career: the Tour of Flanders (1996), Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1997 and 1998) and the Tour of Lombardy (2002 and 2003).
Bartoli is full of praise for Ganna. “He’s in top form and certainly a serious candidate to win Paris-Roubaix, for example. However, Mathieu Van der Poel and especially Tadej Pogačar, when he starts, remain the top favourites. When Pogačar is involved somewhere, he’s always the top favourite.”
‘Van Aert should be racing’:
Tadej Pogačar to Ride Paris-Roubaix
It has been talked about for a long time, but now it is final: Tadej Pogačar will be at the start of Paris-Roubaix for the first time in his career. His UAE Emirates XRG team made the announcement in a press release. The World champion will now not ride the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem.
Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert were going to clash on Friday in the E3 Saxo Classic, but Pogačar was removed from the provisional start-list. Then it was announced that he would ride Paris-Roubaix. “Originally, Tadej Pogačar was intended to participate in the E3 Saxo Classic and Ghent-Wevelgem. However, after consultation with the team, it was decided that he will adjust his calendar and instead focus on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. He wants to be in top shape in these iconic races.”
In the absence of the World champion, UAE Emirates XRG now mainly counts on Tim Wellens in the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday. Nils Politt, Antonio Morgado and Florian Vermeersch (Pogačar’s replacement) may also play a significant role. Filippo Baroncini, Mikkel Bjerg and Sebastian Molano complete the selection.
Two days later in Gent-Wevelgem, the team hardly changes. After all, Rui Oliveira takes the place of Morgado. Striking: Jhonatan Narváez is – for unclear reasons – not in the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem.
Roubaix for Tadej:
Volta a Catalunya 2025
Matthew Brennan has won another top race. The 19-year-old British rider of the Visma | Lease a Bike team took his first professional victory last week in the GP de Denain and then won a WorldTour race on Monday. In Stage 1 of the Tour of Catalalunya, he caught and passed Tibor Del Grosso in the final metres. Del Grosso’s Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate, Kaden Groves, was on Brennan’s wheel and finished second.
The first stage of the Tour of Catalunya started and finished in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, the same as last year, but the route was slightly different. The two categorised climbs of the day: the Coll de Begur (4.3km at 4.1%) and the Alt de Santa Pellaia (5.9km at 3.9%), were in the first part of the 177-kilometre stage. But there was a lot of climbing, with 2,765 metres on the route: Up and down all day, with an uphill finish.
The break of the day formed quickly and was largely made up of Spanish riders: Jan Castellon, José Luis Faura and Nicolás Alustiza. They were joined by Danny van der Tuuk. The peloton was in no hurry and the lead increased to 4 minutes. This was the maximum advantage, because Alpecin-Deceuninck and Picnic PostNL chased for Kaden Groves and Pavel Bittner, the advantage was slowly pulled back. The four leaders were able to compete for the first mountain jersey. On the Cat.1 climb, the Coll de Begur, Van der Tuuk was the first to reach the top. He was second at the top of the Alt de Santa Pellaia, to secure the KOM jersey.
Van der Tuuk then dropped back to the peloton with 70 kilometres to go. The other escapees held out a bit longer, but were caught 10 kilometres later, as they crossed the finish line for the first time. The peloton, now led by INEOS Grenadiers, started the wet finale. There was still a lot of climbing, so there was opportunities for attackers, but due to the terrible weather conditions, there was little enthusiasm to actually do anything. The peloton thinned out, but a sprint from a large group still seemed the most likely scenario. UAE Emirates XRG and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe gave it their all in the last 15 kilometres. The severely decimated peloton was pulled into a line by Giulio Pellizzari, it was too fast for Axel Laurance, one of the contenders for the stage victory and Sepp Kuss. Due to Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in particular, what was left of the peloton consisted of only about 50 riders.
Alpecin-Deceuninck had confidence in Groves, so Tibor del Grosso kept the pace high in the last downhill kilometres to Sant Feliu de Guíxols. The Dutchman went so hard that he had a gap. His teammates let the gap go, allowing Del Grosso to increase his lead. The Dutch neo-pro looked to be on his way to his first victory as a professional, but Del Grosso lost all his speed in the last uphill metres. Brennan had a last jump in his legs. With an impressive show of power he caught the tired Del Grosso, for his first WorldTour victory. Groves was on Brennan’s wheel in the last few hundred meters, but was not able to overtake the young rider. The Australian had to settle for second place. His teammate Del Grosso was third. Brennan also leads on GC.
Stage winner and overall leader, Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike): “I’m absolutely thrilled with this win. The weather conditions made it really tricky today. As a team, we did everything we could to maintain a front-row position. After my teammates put me in a good spot heading into the finale, I managed to stay near the front in the final kilometers. At that point, all I could do was go all out. I switched off my mind and gave it everything I had. The result speaks for itself. Last night, I watched the finish of this stage from 2024. I knew today would likely play out in a similar way. I think we played it just right as a team. This was the perfect scenario for us. Winning at this level means a lot.”
2nd on the stage and overall, Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “It wasn’t the plan, but Tibor rode so well down that we had to use that to our advantage. However, he was out of his strength in the last meters and I started to feel it too. Matthew was just super strong. He just rode me out of his wheel. I didn’t have the best legs along the way, but there are no excuses. I was just beaten on value today.”
3rd on the stage and overall, Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “It was really close, that makes it sour”“My attack wasn’t planned. I didn’t feel that good at all. I didn’t even feel like I was going down that hard, but my teammates were yelling at me to push through. I tried, but yeah… I did start the last kilometre with a nice lead, but I had really shitty legs. This was really one of the longest kilometres I’ve ever ridden. I just couldn’t go any faster. I should have maybe gone down a bit earlier, then I might have won.
4th on the stage and 6th overall, Dorian Godon (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale): “The final descent was quite technical and made very slippery by the rain. I was in Primoz Roglic’s wheel when we started the descent, but a gap opened up, and I couldn’t close it. In the finale, I thought we could catch up, so I launched my sprint quite early, but we were too far back. It’s a shame because I know these roads very well. I could have followed Matthew Brennan in the descent if I hadn’t been blocked. I was here to win, so it’s hard to be satisfied with fourth place, but I know I have what it takes to win at the WorldTour level, and there will be other opportunities this week, starting tomorrow.”
Volta a Catalunya Stage 1 Result:
1. Matthew Brennan (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike in 4:25:17
2. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck
3. Tibor Del Grosso (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck
4. Dorian Godon (Fra) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
5. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
6. Corbin Strong (NZ) Israel-Premier Tech
7. Edward Planckaert (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
8. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step
9. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto
10. Laurens De Plus (Bel) INEOS Grenadiers.
Volta a Catalunya Overall After Stage 1:
1. Matthew Brennan (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike in 4:25:07
2. Kaden Groves (Aut) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:04
3. Tibor Del Grosso (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:06
4. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 0:07
5. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 0:09
6. Dorian Godon (Fra) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale at 0.10
7. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
8. Corbin Strong (NZ) Israel-Premier Tech
9. Edward Planckaert (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
10. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step.
Catalunya’25 stage 1:
Ethan Vernon won the Second Stage of the Tour of Catalunya. The British rider of Israel-Premier Tech was too fast for overall leader, Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in a bunch sprint. Brennan, who won the opening stage on Monday, remains the overall leader.
Stage two of the Tour of Catalonia was relatively easy. There were two climbs in the middle of the stage, but after the Coll de Sante Pere de Rodes (7.7km at 6.4%) it was still 80 kilometres to the finish, with hardly any climbing. A sprint finish seemed most likely. The last kilometre in Figueres climbs at around 2%.
The break of the day consisted of three riders. Danny van der Tuuk (Euskaltel-Euskadi) again, who took the KOM jersey in the first stage, was accompanied by his former teammate Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Calum Johnston (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA). The trio had a lead of more than 4 minutes, making Van der Tuuk the virtual leader for a while. Van der Tuuk was also the first at the top of the Coll Puig del Pení, a Cat.3 climb, giving his 8 points. He also wanted the points on the Coll de Sante Pere de Rodes. The peloton was closing in quickly on the climb, due to Visma | Lease a Bike. On the first sections, overall leader Matthew Brennan increased the pace, then Mario Aparicio counter-attacked.
The Burgos Burpellet BH climber joined Van der Tuuk and Uriarte before the top, Johnston had been dropped. Aparicio then attacked the leading group and was the first to the top. Van der Tuuk was second, so he kept the KOM jersey. The break ended shortly after that. They were caught one by one on the descent. The thinned peloton headed towards the intermediate sprint. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe tried to pull the sprint for Primoz Roglič, but Juan Ayuso, was there. The Spaniard was first and took 3 bonus seconds. There was some wind, which meant there was a chance of echelons. While the teams tried to hold on to their positions at the front, a group of dropped riders tried to come back. Among them were many riders from Picnic PostNL, including Pavel Bittner and Nils Eekhoff. After a long chase, they rejoined.
With 30 kilometers to go, Brieuc Rolland (Groupama-FDJ) attacked and was joined by Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck). INEOS Grenadiers, who had one of the favourites for the stage victory, Axel Laurance, didn’t let the three get away. The gap was quickly closed, after which the peloton pushed on to the finish in Figueres. Visma | Lease a Bike’s Steven Kruijswijk, kept the pace high. In the final kilometres, Geraint Thomas took the lead of the peloton. The 2018 Tour winner gave it his all, until Tibor Del Grosso took over just before the 1K flag. The young Dutchman tried to lead-out Groves as best he could. Decathlon AG2R led for a while, but Alpecin-Deceuninck then hit the front. Groves was able to start the sprint in an excellent position. The Australian sprinted on the inside of the bend, which gave him an extra advantage, but Ethan Vernon passed on his left. The Israel-Premier Tech rider sprinted to victory. Overall leader Matthew Brennan finished in second place, Groves was third. Axel Laurance was fourth and Pavel Bittner fifth.
Stage winner, Ethan Vernon (Israel-Premier Tech): “It wasn’t an easy day. Some of the other teams made it hard on the climb, so I suffered a bit. I rode quite hard though, and, in the end, I came back thanks to Itamar’s great work, who brought me back in good condition. George, Nick, and Corbin were really good in the last few kilometers, they timed it to perfection. Corbin launched the sprint and left a gap open for me, so he was crucial. Sometimes when I sprint, I know I don’t have good legs before, but when I launched this one with a tailwind, I knew the legs were quite strong. I was quite confident of holding on to the line, but in the end, I had to go a bit earlier. So I wasn’t sure if I’d gone too early, but it was just at the right time. I’m really grateful for all the work the team did for me today. I think everybody chipped in, and this win is for the whole team.”
Overall leader and 2nd on the stage, Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike): “Gives a huge mental boost. It was a chaotic end today. But we still managed to choose a good position. I had the right wheel towards the last few hundred meters. I then found myself in trouble for a while, but I managed to find a gap. Unfortunately, I arrived at absolute top speed just a little too late to grab the win. It was great to ride around in the leader’s jersey. I am super grateful to the team for all the work they have done. I had a hard time on the climb during the stage, but it gives such a huge mental boost when a great champion like Sepp Kuss takes you in tow. We almost managed to grab the win for the second day in a row. We will take the good things from today with us into the coming days.”
Volta a Catalunya Stage 2 Result:
1. Ethan Vernon (GB) Israel-Premier Tech in 4:16:16
2. Matthew Brennan (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike
3. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck
4. Axel Laurance (Fra) INEOS Grenadiers
5. Pavel Bittner (CZ) Picnic PostNL
6. Dorian Godon (Fra) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
7. Marijn van den Berg (Ned) EF Education-EasyPost
8. Stanislaw Aniolkowski (Pol) Cofidis
9. Dion Smith (NZ) Intermarché-Wanty
10. Anders Foldager (Den) Jayco AlUla.
Volta a Catalunya Overall After Stage 2:
1. Matthew Brennan (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike in 8:41:17
2. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:06
3. Tibor Del Grosso (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:12
4. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 0:13
5. Juan Ayuso Pesquera (Spa) UAE Emirates XRG
6. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 0:15
7. Dorian Godon (Fra) DecathlonAG2R La Mondiale at 0:16
8. Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
9. William Junior Lecerf (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
10. Pavel Bittner (CZ) Picnic PostNL.
Catalunya’25 stage 2:
Juan Ayuso (UAE Emirates XRG) beat Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrhe) in the first uphill finish of the 2025 Tour of Catalonia on Stage 3. The Spanish rider finished just ahead of Roglič in a two-man sprint. The finish on La Molina needed the camera to separate Ayuso and Roglič for the win. Ayuso also took the leader’s jersey from Visma | Lease a Bike’s Matthew Brennan.
On the third day of the Tour of Catalonia it was the turn of the climbers. It was a major mountain stage of 218.6 kilometres, four categorised climbs and more than 5,000 metres of climbing. The Coll d’Estenalles (13.3km at 3.9%) and the Coll de la Batallola (7km at 3.4%) came before for the final, which started with the Coll de la Creueta (20.3km at 5.1%) and after the descent continued into the last climb to La Molina (first 9km at 6%, after a descent another 2km at 4%).
After a fast start, four riders escaped from the peloton: Alex Molenaar (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ) and Mats Wenzel (Equipo Kern Pharma). The four had a maximum lead of 7 minute over the peloton, where UAE Emirates-XRG and Lotto were on the front. On the long Coll de la Creueta, the leading group split. It was Armirail who left the other escapees behind . The Frenchman was given some space by the peloton and his lead grew to 3 minutes. On the snowy summit of the Creueta, he still had 2 minutes. The Molenaar group was eventually caught by the peloton 20 kilometres from the finish. Armirail held out on the final climb, but the men from UAE caught him with almost 10 kilometres to go. In the final, it was between the big favourites. The first attack came from Nairo Quintana (Movistar), but he didn’t get anywhere. The next was from Sepp Kuss, which was countered by Ben O’Connor, but they were also caught. George Bennett, Lorenzo Fortunato and Marc Soler also tried. Soler stayed ahead and was joined by Fortunato and Kuss.
The hit the short descent with a lead, but they still had a steep 1.5K to the finish. The teams of Primož Roglič, Lennert Van Eetvelt and Richard Carapaz then came to the front. Only in the last 600 meters did what was left of the peloton close in on the Kuss group, which meant that a sprint was set up for the stage win and the leader’s jersey. Juan Ayuso was in a perfect position, but it was Roglič who was the first to turn into the last bend. In a two-man sprint, Ayuso looked to have the win, but Roglič put in a final jump. The Slovenian was too late, as Ayuso pushed his wheel over the finish line on La Molina. Mikel Landa was third, Lenny Martinez and Lennert Van Eetvelt were fourth and fifth.
Stage winner and overall leader, Juan Ayuso Pesquera (UAE Emirates XRG): “I managed to win against a great rival. I felt I had to after the team did such an amazing job. My aunt passed away last week so I’d like to dedicate this victory to her. I was only thinking of her in the last kilometre. The final here is very tricky because you really need to be in front in the last turn and I wasn’t. Primoz showed himself as a true champion as he didn’t close me off and behaved himself and it was a fair sprint, so chapeau to him for that. I’m glad I could manage to come around him.”
2nd on the stage and overall, Primož Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): “How did it go? Well, we don’t know the result yet. But in the end, regardless of the result, whether I was first or second, I felt good. The guys were strong. There’s also a ski jump somewhere behind us, which is always nice. For sure there are so many very strong riders. So it wasn’t easy and was never going to be easy, but it’s going well.”
4th on the stage and 6th overall, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious): “I’m happy with this result after such a long and demanding stage. You never know how the body will react after six hours of racing, but in the final, I was feeling pretty good.”
Volta a Catalunya Stage 3 Result:
1. Juan Ayuso Pesquera (Spa) UAE Emirates XRG in 5:49:29
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
3. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:02
4. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Bahrain Victorious at 0:04
5. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto
6. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar
7. Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) INEOS Grenadiers
8. Harold Martin Lopez Granizo (Ecu) XDS Astana Team
9. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost
10. Adam Yates (GB) UAE Emirates XRG.
Volta a Catalunya Overall After Stage 3:
1. Juan Ayuso Pesquera (Spa) UAE Emirates XRG in 14:30:49
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 0:06
3. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:11
4. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 0:14
5. William Junior Lecerf (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:17
6. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Bahrain Victorious
7. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost
8. Laurens De Plus (Bel) INEOS Grenadiers
9. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto
10. Egan Arley Bernal Gomez (Col) INEOS Grenadiers.
Catalunya’25 stage 3:
Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali 2025
There was a successful debut for Caleb Ewan with INEOS Grenadiers. The Australian sprinted to victory on his first day of racing for the British team in the First Stage of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali. He easily beat Oded Kogut (Israel-Premier Tech) and Jason Tesson (TotalEnergies).
The 2025 Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali started this year with a flat stage. There were no climbs in the 174 kilometres from Ferrara to Bondeno, a stage for the sprinters. Caleb Ewan was probably the fastest finisher in the peloton.
Ewan’s new teammates had confidence in him. INEOS Grenadiers controlled a leading group of five, including Baptiste Huyet. The 24-year-old Frenchman of Unibet Tietema Rockets was joined at the front by Carlos Samudio (Solution Tech-Vini Fantini), Kevin Pezzo Rosola (General Store-Essegibi-F.Lli Curia), Matteo Zurlo (S.C. Padovani Polo Cherry Bank) and Dominik Amann (Team Vorarlberg). The maximum lead was 5 minutes.
The break stood no chance against the peloton, where INEOS Grenadiers, Israel-Premier Tech, Jayco AlUla and later TotalEnergies were controlling. Huyet, Samudio and Zurlo were the last to be caught, 12 kilometres from the finish. It was then full speed to the finish for the bunch sprint. In the final kilometres, INEOS Grenadiers took the lead. Ewan was the last in the lead-out train and was perfectly placed for the sprint. When he started his sprint, he immediately gained several metres on the others and extended that lead to the finish line. Oded Kogut (Israel-Premier Tech) came in second, Jason Tesson (TotalEnergies) third.
Stage winner and overall leader, Caleb Ewan (INEOS Grenadiers): “Obviously no better way to start with the team. I think I came in knowing my form was pretty good but you know when you haven’t raced for so long, you don’t really have any gage of where you’re at. I was a bit nervous this morning but the boys did an amazing job. I think it was honestly one of the best lead outs I’ve ever had so they did a great job. Everyone committed 100% and I’m just happy I could finish the job.”
Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali Stage 1 Result:
1. Caleb Ewan (Aus) INEOS Grenadiers in 3:47:29
2. Oded Kogut (Isr) Israel-Premier Tech
3. Jason Tesson (Fra) TotalEnergies
4. Davide Donati (Ita) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Rookies
5. Ben Swift (GB) INEOS Grenadiers
6. Alessio Menghini (Ita) General Store-Essegibi-F.Lli Curia
7. Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Ita) Soudal Quick-Step
8. Emils Liepins (Lat) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
9. Colby Simmons (USA) EF Education-EasyPost
10. Alexander Konychev (Ita) Team Vorarlberg.
Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali Overall After Stage 1:
1. Caleb Ewan (Aus) INEOS Grenadiers in 3:47:19
2. Oded Kogut (Isr) Israel-Premier Tech at 0:04
3. Jason Tesson (Fra) TotalEnergies at 0:06
4. Davide Donati (Ita) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Rookies at 0:10
5. Ben Swift (GB) INEOS Grenadiers
6. Alessio Menghini (Ita) General Store-Essegibi-F.Lli Curia
7. Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Ita) Soudal Quick-Step
8. Emils Liepins (Lat) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
9. Colby Simmons (USA) EF Education-EasyPost
10. Alexander Konychev (Ita) Team Vorarlberg.
Coppi e Bartali’25 stage 1:
The Second Stage of the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali was won by Paul Double of Jayco AlUla. A hilly stage to Sogliano al Rubicone had a tough finale, where the British climber escaped and held off the chasers. Jarno Widar (Lotto) was too late to catch Double and missed out on his first professional victory; Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana) finished third and Ben TulettVisma | Lease a Bike) was fourth.
After Caleb Ewan’s sprint victory on Tuesday, it was the turn of the climbers on Wednesday. The second stage was 164 kilometres and had over 3,000 metres of climbing. The final was on a circuit of almost 25 kilometres with the finish on a climb of 3.2 kilometres at 6.5%, with sections of up to 9% in the final kilometre. The circuit was ridden four times.
Four riders were off the front for most of the stage. The most famous was Matthieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies). They had a lead of more than 4 minutes, but due to UAE Emirates XRG and INEOS Grenadiers, their lead was shut down. When they started the final circuit, the gap was less than 1 minute. With three climbs to go, the break was over and there were several attacks. Pascal Eenkhoorn and Rafal Majka were with a group for a while, but that attempt was short-lived. Soudal Quick-Step then lifted the speed in the peloton on the penultimate climb, after which a group escaped on the last descent, but the co-operation wasn’t good.
A large peloton started the final climb to Sogliano al Rubicone, but Lennart Jasch had already escaped. The German of Red Bull-BORA development team had over 40 seconds and defended his lead well, but was caught by Paul Double (Jayco AlUla) 2 kilometres from the finish. It was up to UAE Emirates XRG to close that gap, but that was not easy. Double started the final kilometre solo and that was enough for the win. The sprint from the chase group came just too late. It was the young Jarno Widar who came close to his first professional victory, but the Lotto talent couldn’t catch Double. He did hold off Diego Ulissi and Ben Tulett. Double also took the lead in the general classification.
Stage winner and overall leader, Paul Double (Jayco AlUla): “I am quite emotional to be honestly, lots of feelings after the race and a bit teary. The truth is I was actually a bit teary in the race because I am new to the WorldTour and was kind of doubting myself throughout the race and then I got myself motivated for the finale. It was a nice finish and to be honest that’s the way I like to win. The team were keeping me motivated all day and I think it’s a hard race to ride well as a compact group, but I think we really did the best we could. It was nice everyone coming up to me after the finish line and giving me congrats, it means a lot.”
Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali Stage 2 Result:
1. Paul Double (GB) Jayco AlUla in 4:18:23
2. Jarno Widar (Bel) Lotto Development Team
3. Diego Ulissi (Ita) XDS Astana
4. Ben Tulett (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike
5. Magnus Sheffield (USA) INEOS Grenadiers at 0:03
6. Davide De Pretto (Ita) Jayco AlUla
7. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Israel-Premier Tech at 0:05
8. Alessandro Covi (Ita) UAE Emirates XRG
9. Simone Velasco (Ita) XDS Astana
10. Brandon Rivera (Col) INEOS Grenadiers.
Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali Overall After Stage 2:
1. Paul Double (GB) Jayco AlUla in 8:05:42
2. Jarno Widar (Bel) Lotto Development Team at 0:04
3. Diego Ulissi (Ita) XDS Astana at 0:06
4. Ben Tulett (GB) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:10
5. Davide De Pretto (Ita) Jayco AlUla at 0:13
6. Magnus Sheffield (USA) INEOS Grenadiers
7. Brandon Rivera INEOS Grenadiers at 0:15
8. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Israel-Premier Tech
9. Mark Donovan (GB) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
10. Alessandro Covi (Ita) UAE Emirates XRG.
Coppi e Bartali’25 stage 2:
Classic Brugge-De Panne 2025
Juan Sebastián Molano won a crash riddled edition of the Classic Brugge-De Panne on Wednesday. He was the first to cross the finish line in the sprint after 195 kilometres between Bruges and De Panne. The final had a series of crashes that eliminated many of the favourites. Molano started the sprint early and surprised the other sprinters. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) was a very close second and Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost) was third.
Early in the race, five riders got away. Unibet Tietema Rockets had Harttijs de Vries and Joren Bloem, they were joined by António Morgado (UAE Emirates XRG), Victor Vercouillie (Flanders-Baloise) and Michiel Lambrecht (Wagner Bazin WB). Their lead fluctuated around 2 to 3 minutes for a long time. Fabio Jakobsen (Picnic PostNL) and Victor Campenaerts (Visma | Lease a Bike) both abandoned early in the race. Without Campenaerts, Visma | Lease a Bike rode on front for Olav Kooij, together with the teams of other favourites, Tim Merlier and Jonathan Milan. Jasper Philipsen was another possible winner, who was still recovering from his crash in Nokere Koerse a week ago. The race hit the final laps in the area of De Panne. The circuit was identical to last year’s with its 42.9 kilometres, to be completed 3.5 times. The circuit passed Koksijde, Veurne and the feared Moeren at 11.9 kilometres from the finish, Plopsaland, Adinkerke and De Panne again.
De Vries, Bloem, Morgado, Vercouillie and Lambrecht saw their lead shrink. At the start of the last lap, the gap was just over 1 minute. The wind in De Moeren was not good for echelons, but there was still some action 20 kilometres from the finish. In the leading group, there was an attack 15 kilometres from the finish. Unibet Tietema Rockets sent De Vries on the attack. Morgado couldn’t follow and had to drop back into the group where Bloem was doing the blocking work. De Vries’ lead continued to fluctuate around 30 seconds, even after the last passage through De Moeren. He held on well, also because the organisation in the peloton was not good.
In the last 6 kilometres, the pace was increased by the sprinter’s teams, who all wanted to position their leader well in the technical final. The nervousness also led to several crashes, including Tudor leader Alberto Dainese and Intermarché-Wanty sprinter Gerben Thijssen. The peloton broke into pieces. Hartthijs de Vries’ solo lasted until 2.5 kilometres from the finish, where the trains pulled him in. In the chaos, there were more high-speed crashes, which took out Arnaud De Lie, Arnaud Démare and Milan Fretin, and others. A small peloton hammered into the last kilometre, after which there were more crashes. This time Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij were among the victims, while Jasper Philipsen was held up. The group that remained was surprised in the finishing straight by Juan Sebastián Molano, who jumped 300 metres out. He started to lose his momentum and Jonathan Milan came up just too late and had to make do with second place. Third place went to Madis Mihkels.
Race winner, Sebastian Molano (UAE Emirates XRG): “I’m very happy. This finale is really really dangerous and fast. After the last corner I was in a good position after the small road. I tried, I looked at 500m, took the corner fast, and made a long sprint. I looked back and nobody was following, so I went full gas to the final. I had to dig very deep and just managed to hold on. It’s my first win of the season and also my biggest victory in a one day race so it’s really special. There were many crashes today and I hope everyone is okay, it was really crazy out there today.”
2nd, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek): “We had a lot of crashes. One with 900 meters to go, before the final corner, was a big fall. I hope no one is feeling bad after that accident. That also made it a difficult finish, one of the most dangerous I’ve done.”
4th, Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious): “At the end, the outcome for us, I think, is pretty good. The priority is to be that everybody is healthy and I didn’t crash. I hope Nikias is also okay. The last crash, I was also super close to go down — they almost crashed into me on the left side, and I was actually thinking I would also go down, but I don’t know, I could brake and go to the right and avoid it. And then I was a bit dropped from the first group, and I knew no one is coming from behind because of the crash. And then I lost a bit of energy to close it, and actually I was behind Molano, who started early, and I was really thinking to go with him. But because I lost energy, I was more trying to make sure I could get a top 5 result for the team. But yes, afterwards, maybe I should have a bit more confidence and follow him, and maybe I could have sprinted for the top places. But after my harder time being sick and missing Tirreno, I think it’s a good start for me to be 4th here.”
Classic Brugge-De Panne Result:
1. Sebastian Molano (Col) UAE Emirates XRG in 4:07:23
2. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek
3. Madis Mihkels (Est) EF Education-EasyPost
4. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious
5. Erlend Blikra (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
6. Max Kanter (Ger) XDS Astana
7. Alexis Renard (Fra) Cofidis
8. Laurenz Rex (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty
9. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla
10. Sam Welsford (Aus) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.
Brugge-De Panne’25:
Filippo Ganna Might Also Ride the E3 Saxo Classic
The E3 Saxo Classic is on Friday. Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are to be on the start-line, but according to Het Nieuwsblad, Filippo Ganna is also expected to be there.
The 28-year-old Italian was initially not on the provisional list of participants, but inquiries in Italy have revealed to Het Nieuwsblad that Ganna will make an appearance in the cobbled Classic ‘as things stand now’. If Ganna does participate in the E3 Saxo Classic, he looks to be in the form of his life at the moment.
In Tirreno-Adriatico, Ganna had a time trial victory and second place overall. In Milan-San Remo he also played a leading role. He was the only one able to follow Pogačar and Van der Poel on the Cipressa, he also returned to the top two after the descent of the Poggio and in the sprint, he was only beaten by Van der Poel.
Ganna to E3?
Jonas Vingegaard Suffered a Concussion in Paris-Nice
Jonas Vingegaard suffered additional injuries in his Paris-Nice crash. The two-time Tour winner also suffered a concussion, although this wasn’t announced at the time.
Vingegaard suffered a hard crash during Thursday’s stage of Paris-Nice, after which he lost a lot of time on the final climb and the leader’s jersey to his teammate Matteo Jorgenson. The American said afterwards that Vingegaard thought he had broken his hand. He also reportedly suffered from facial pain and dizziness. Later in the evening, the team said that the Dane had bruised his hand. He didn’t start the next day.
“After the fall I was dizzy and after the stage I was very nauseous and incredibly tired, which lasted for many days,” Vingegaard said this week in an interview with the Danish B.T. “I am very disappointed that I had to give up, because I really felt that I could have kept the leader’s jersey until Nice. The fact that this also means that I have to miss the Tour of Catalonia is even more annoying, because I was really looking forward to riding that race.” Vingegaard’s recovery took quite some time. And what his program will look like now is still a question mark. The Critérium du Dauphiné in June was the next race on his program after Catalonia, but now that he is missing the Catalan race, the period without competition will be very long.
“We will take it day by day and let the recovery decide whether we need to make any changes or additions to my program,” he confirms. “I was on the bike for the first time on Thursday (20 March) and I am still taking it very easy. I am happy that I can ride again, although it took a bit longer than hoped because of my concussion, which required a lot of rest.”
Paris-Nice crash worse than first thought:
New Problem for Tao Geoghegan Hart
Tao Geoghegan Hart has not had much luck in recent years. The climber didn’t the second stage of the Tour of Catalonia. The 2020 Giro winner is struggling with digestive problems, his team Lidl-Trek reported.
Hart started the 104th edition of the Tour of Catalunya on Monday with GC ambitions, but saw his aspirations disappear in the first stage. On the road to Sant Feliu de Guíxols, the British rider was unable to keep up with the thinned out peloton and crossed the line in 105th place, more than 8 minutes behind stage winner Matthew Brennan.
This is another setback for Hart in a relatively short period. He broke his hip in 2023, which meant he started the season in 2024 short of fitness. He was unable to meet the expectations of his new Lidl-Trek team. This year he planned to take a different approach. “First and foremost, I want to focus on the first part of the season. At this time of year, you read everywhere that riders announce their big goals, but the reality for me is that I don’t have them,” he looked ahead at an online press conference in January. “I think it’s pointless for me to look at those big goals now.”
“It would be great to get a few victories. But it’s easier said than done. I think it would also be great to fight for the classification. To feel that it’s possible. I think that’s the most important thing. (…) I would like the team to see me as someone who contributes to races, who leads the team, who does that both off the bike and on it. That’s important to me.”
Another set back for Tao Geoghegan Hart:
Jan Bakelants: “Seeing Van der Poel and Pogačar is Not Good for Wout van Aert”
The unprecedented dominance of Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Filippo Ganna in the final of Milan-Sanremo must have scared off the other riders, says analyst and former rider Jan Bakelants on HLN. Especially for the riders who will have to compete against them in the upcoming Flemish Classics, such as Wout van Aert.
“He can’t have been happy about this at all”, said Bakelants, who is a close friend of Van Aert. The former winner of Milan-Sanremo didn’t ride this year, in order to prepare in Spain for the E3 Saxo Classic, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. So he had to watch the races on television.
“I wouldn’t like to be in his shoes right now. The registered mail landed hard on the mat, there in Tenerife. And he had to take note of it. Okay, if you don’t ride, you can’t change anything. But after this performance I can imagine that a return to competition against these riders, Friday in the E3 Saxo Classic, is not a nice idea.”
A mental blow for Van Aert? “Of course, the counters go back to zero every race. And Wout is also mentally strong enough to deal with this. I don’t think he is that sensitive to all the reading material on social media and in the newspapers, he doesn’t let it get to his head. But he will realise very well what Van der Poel has achieved: not only winning a Monument, but also in the most blazing, iconic way possible. By muzzling the best rider in the world,” said Bakelants.
Should Van Aert be worried?
Niklas Behrens Makes his Comeback Four Weeks after Crash in the UAE Tour
Niklas Behrens will race for the first time in over a month. The current U23 World champion crashed out of the UAE Tour with a broken collarbone and then had to undergo rehabilitation, but has now recovered and raced in the Classic Brugge-De Panne on Wednesday.
The Visma | Lease a Bike rider crashed after just a few kilometres in the final stage of the UAE Tour at the end of February. The 21-year-old neo-pro was not the only one, because Arvid de Kleijn, Gijs Van Hoecke, Joshua Tarling, Chris Froome, Rainer Kepplinger and Jack Rootkin-Gray also hit the ground. The German had to abandon, after which a broken collarbone was diagnosed in hospital. The past few weeks have been all about rehabilitation and preparing for a comeback. In the Classic Brugge-De Panne we saw the promising rider back in the race. In this Flemish semi-classic Behrens rode in the service of leader Olav Kooij.
Niklas Behrens is back:
If Remco Evenepoel had Doubts about Milan-Sanremo, He Will now be More Convinced than Ever
Milan-Sanremo took on a different face last Saturday, when Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel broke away on the Cipressa with more than 20 kilometres to go. According to analyst and former rider Jan Bakelants, that must have inspired Remco Evenepoel, who has never started La Primavera.
“A landslide took place,” Bakelants told HLN. “A trend break that should not be underestimated, which we have not seen for a long time in the opening monument of the season. And which could well continue in the coming years. Suddenly, the entire physiology of this race has changed. It has evolved from a sprinters’ race into a semi-climbing race. In that sense, I can imagine that Remco Evenepoel would have been sitting in his armchair at home, gritting his teeth. And would have been even more eager to give it a go. An Evenepoel at his very best would certainly have had his place in the leading trio. Which could have given the final, with four podium places to three, a different dynamic.”
According to Bakelants, Evenepoel should no longer despair and ‘simply’ start the following years. “Because let’s be honest: this is a way in which Remco can always win La Primavera. Where he may have doubted whether he could make a difference somewhere until last Saturday, he will now be more convinced than ever that it is indeed possible. This must have been a huge boost for him.”
Evenepoel to win in Sanremo in the future?
Christophe Laporte to Miss the Spring Classics Due to Cytomegalovirus
Christophe Laporte will definitely not be in action during the spring Classics. The Frenchman confirmed this in an interview on the Visma | Lease a Bike website. He is struggling with the cytomegalovirus.
Laporte was supposed to start his season with the Opening Weekend, but had to cancel the Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Later, he also had to cancel his planned comeback in Milan-Sanremo. At the moment, things are still ‘not going well’ for the 32-year-old rider, he says. “It hurts to have to sit at home in front of the TV during my favourite races. Things are going in the right direction, but I am still tired and have to take it easy.”
It was not yet clear what exactly is wrong with Laporte. “I am not allowed to elaborate on medical matters based on privacy legislation,” team manager Maarten Wynants recently told WielerFlits. But now Laporte himself is revealing what he is suffering from.
“I was not feeling well just before I was due to go on an altitude training camp at the end of January. Tests showed that I had the cytomegalovirus,” said the former European champion. The cytomegalovirus belongs to the group of herpes viruses and usually does not cause any symptoms. However, people with reduced resistance may experience symptoms. Possible symptoms include fever, sore throat, sometimes slightly swollen glands and fatigue.
Laporte has been recovering since the tests. “And I have to take it day by day. The annoying thing is that you can’t say how long it will take. With a broken bone, you know approximately how long it will take to be able to train again. With this virus, you can’t say that in advance and that makes it mentally difficult.”
It is even more difficult for the Frenchman mentally because his illness falls in the spring Classics. “This is the second year in a row that I have been sidelined during this period and I am very disappointed about it. It feels bizarre. At the same time, I have also come to terms with the situation: the only thing I can do now is rest and wait until things get better.”
While he rests, Laporte continues to follow the racing. “As much as it hurts me to have to watch the races on TV, I am really looking forward to seeing the team perform something great during the classics. I will be the biggest supporter of my teammates. I also realise that the season is still long and that there are still many great races after the spring classics. Last year, I also missed most of the spring, but then I won an Olympic medal and won Paris-Tours. I am holding on to that.”
No spring for Laporte:
Wilco Kelderman Likes his Current Role
Wilco Kelderman had to deal with the pressure of being a leader, but is now especially important in a domestique role. However, this does not mean that the now 34-year-old Dutchman no longer has any personal ambitions. In conversation with WielerFlits, he looks ahead to the coming race months.
The rider of Visma | Lease a Bike already raced in the Volta ao Algarve in February. How does the experienced tour rider look back on his season debut in Portugal? “It went well, although I actually expected a little more from it. I had a very good winter. I stayed fit and was able to train well. I felt very good in training, but then you see that a race is something different. The intensity that is there, that is different. So I had hoped for a little more, but I had a good week. I was able to take a step and that is the most important thing towards the other races. I hope to be a step better in the Tour of Catalonia.”
In the Spanish race, Kelderman was supposed to ride for leader, Jonas Vingegaard, but the Dane crashed in Paris-Nice and couldn’t ride the seven-day race. What approach does Kelderman take to the next races in the run up to the Giro d’Italia? “In the Tour of the Basque Country I do have a free role. There I will see what is possible and what level I reach. I hope to show something beautiful. In the Giro I hope to support Olav, Wout and Simon”, Kooij, Van Aert and Yates. “Who knows, there may also be something beautiful for me, but that is more of a second plan.”
Where Kelderman used to start a race as a leader, there is now no longer the pressure of the leadership. Has a burden fallen off his shoulders? “I don’t mind the pressure, but of course you have to be able to deliver. If you’re just not good enough, it’s hard to hiccup against it over and over again. Then it’s nice to support a good leader, but I don’t hesitate to occasionally go for a nice result myself.”
Kelderman happy not to be a leader:
UAE Team Emirates-XRG Announce Teams for E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem
Experienced line-up to tackle two key cobbled races
Some of the main fixtures of the Belgian Classics calendar begin to get underway this week, with two key World Tour appointments: the E3 Saxo Classic (28 March) and Gent-Wevelgem (30 March).
The E3 Harelbeke, now known as the E3 Saxo Classic, is one of the key races leading up to the Tour of Flanders and has traditionally attracted some of the best one-day riders in the world.
The experienced pairing of Tim Wellens and Nils Politt both delivered top-10 results at E3 in the 2024 edition and the duo will captain the rosters over the weekend in line-ups layered full of Classics pedigree and depth.
Gent-Wevelgem is often considered one of the more sprinter-friendly cobbled races with UAE having won through the mighty Alexander Kristoff back in 2019. The likes of Sebastian Molano will be hoping to survive to the line to dispute the win.
The teams will be led by the Sports Director pairing of Fabio Baldato (Ita) and Marco Marcato (Ita).
Tim Wellens: “ We’re really coming into the heart of the Belgian calendar now and you can feel the special atmosphere around. As a team I think we have made a super start to the season and our group of riders here can make a difference in these races. Myself and Politt were both in the top-10 in E3 last year so we know it’s a race that can suit us if things go our way on the day. As a team we’re really motivated and excited for the next few weeks racing here in Belgium.”
It was initially planned for Tadej Pogačar to participate in both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem. However, after discussions with the team, it has been decided that he will adjust his calendar to focus on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix instead, aiming for peak form in those iconic races.
E3 Saxo Classic [1.UWT] – 28-Mar-2025
Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields [1.UWT] – 30-Mar-2025
Next Races for Team Picnic PostNL
E3 Saxo Classic – MAR 28
Rudi Kemna – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “The E3 Saxo Classic is one of the key early-season Flemish Classics, offering a true test on the iconic cobbled climbs of Flanders. It’s a race where positioning, race instinct, and teamwork make all the difference. We’re not here to wait and react—we want to be part of the action throughout the day. The key will be racing smart and making the right moves at the right time. By staying active in the crucial phases and anticipating the decisive moments, we aim to make an impact on the race.”
Line-up:
Julius van den Berg (NLD)
Alex Edmondson (AUS)
Enzo Leijnse (NLD)
Niklas Märkl (DEU)
Tim Naberman (NLD)
Kevin Vermaerke (USA)
Bram Welten (NLD).
Gent-Wevelgem – MAR 30
Rudi Kemna – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “Gent-Wevelgem is a race that balances endurance, race craft, and tactical execution. With its mix of flat roads, cobbled sectors, and the crucial climbs of the Kemmelberg, it often creates a selective final where only the strongest remain in contention. Our goal is clear: we want to be in the final with multiple riders. With John, Tobias, Casper, and Sean, we have strong riders that can make an impact deep into the final—if we execute our teamwork effectively. Positioning, smart decision-making, and racing proactively will be key to maximising our chances.”
Line-up:
Tobias Lund Andresen (DNK)
John Degenkolb (DEU)
Alex Edmondson (AUS)
Casper van Uden (NLD)
Sean Flynn (GBR)
Enzo Leijnse (NLD)
Niklas Märkl (DEU).
Gent-Wevelgem – MAR 30
Albert Timmer – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “Gent-Wevelgem is a race that blends the unpredictable nature of the Flemish classics with the potential for a sprint finish. While the wind can play a role early on, the real test comes with the Kemmelberg, a climb that often reshapes the race and forces key selections. We have multiple cards to play in this edition. With Pfeiffer, Charlotte, Megan, and Franziska, we have different options to adapt to how the race unfolds. Whether it’s an aggressive race over the climbs or a reduced sprint in Wevelgem, we’ll be ready to make the most of our opportunities.”
Line-up:
Silje Bader (NLD)
Rachele Barbieri (ITA)
Pfeiffer Georgi (GBR)
Megan Jastrab (USA)
Franziska Koch (DEU)
Charlotte Kool (NLD).
John Degenkolb to Wevelgem:
Kasper Asgreen to Miss Spring Classics after Illness
Kasper working on his return to race fitness after spring disrupted by illness
Kasper Asgreen is rebuilding his form after a viral infection and will miss the classics, so he can return to racing in full health.
“Kasper had a very good winter of training, but at Paris-Nice he started to complain of fatigue. His recovery markers that we monitor on a daily basis also reflected this,” says EF Pro Cycling Head Doctor Jon Greenwell. “We monitor the resting heart rate, HRV and recovery score using Whoop each morning, and we saw that Kasper´s numbers were moving away from his normal range. Concerned about this, and the feedback we were getting from Kasper, the team decided to withdraw him from Paris-Nice, so we could investigate further and try to find a cause, and also make sure that we did not risk any longer term heart problems. The extensive investigations that were performed all came back as normal, and the conclusion was that Kasper had been exposed to a virus at some stage earlier in the year that had caused the fatigue.”
Kasper is disappointed to miss his favorite races of the season. He’ll be cheering on his teammates this spring. Watching them race over the Belgian cobbles after completing his own training sessions will inspire him to come back stronger than ever. Kasper is thankful that he can build his form without rushing into races before he is ready.
“It’s going to hurt to miss the races I love the most, but I’m very, very grateful that I’m in a team where they see my best value as being the best version of myself,” Kasper says. “All winter, I’ve been on track towards a great classics campaign. Together with my team, we’ve built an incredible group of riders to tackle the best races of the season, and feeling their support and belief in me has been incredible. A couple of weeks back, I got an infection and after some rest, I thought we were back on track without losing too much. However in Paris-Nice, it started to worsen again and I had to take more rest. These breaks have come at the worst possible time, ruining all that hard work that everyone has done throughout the winter. Although I would be healthy enough to do the races, the shape is no longer what it has to be to be competitive. Therefore the team and I have decided that I should start refocusing on being the best possible version of myself and only then return to racing.”
Doctor Greenwell is optimistic that Kasper will be back in the peloton soon. Kasper is back training on the bike, but our medical staff still want to make sure that he takes a cautious approach to his recovery.
“After a period of rest we started some low intensity training earlier this week,” says Doctor Greenwell. “We will continue to monitor his progress closely and we want to make sure he is 100 percent recovered and fully healthy again before he returns to racing.”
We look forward to seeing you back on the roads, champ.
Asgreen out due to illness:
New signing: Nate Pringle strengthens the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Rookies
The reigning New Zealand U23 time trial champion is joining the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Continental Team with immediate effect. The “Rookies” squad now consists of twelve riders. “We’re excited to bring Nate Pringle into the team. He’s a rider who embodies a smart and instinctive racing style we value. Nate has shown he’s not afraid to take opportunities, commit to the race, and make things happen—qualities that fit perfectly with our philosophy,” says John Wakefield, Director of Development at Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe.
In fact, the 21-year-old New Zealander has already achieved several impressive results despite his young age. In early February, he became the New Zealand national time trial champion in the U23 category, leaving his competition far behind. In 2024, he showcased his talent with strong performances at the stage race New Zealand Cycle Classic and in several one-day races in Belgium.
“His progression over the past seasons has been steady, and we believe he has the potential to take another step forward in the right environment. He adds depth, energy, and a strong racing instinct to the squad, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do with us this season as our 12th rider,” Wakefield continues.
Pringle is excited about the chance to prove himself on the European racing circuit: “This move is a dream come true for me. Riding for the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies is a fantastic opportunity to grow, learn from a strong environment, and compete at the highest level in European cycling,” says the New Zealander. Pringle’s first race in his new team colours has yet to be confirmed. However, the New Zealander is already in Europe, getting ready for his debut with the Rookies.
Lidl Deutschland Tour Germany’s most important cycling race connects West and East
From August 20 to 24, 2025, the Lidl Deutschland Tour will roll through the heart of Germany. Over the course of five days, the country’s most prestigious cycling race will take the world’s best riders from Essen, the Ruhr metropolis, to Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt. Covering a total of 741 kilometers, the route will traverse North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and the cycling-friendly region of Saxony-Anhalt.
Once again, the Lidl Deutschland Tour remains true to its sporting character. The varied course presents challenges for different types of riders. The race kicks off with an explosive prologue, favouring time trial specialists and high-speed sprinters. As the race progresses, the level of difficulty increases daily—each stage adding 1,000 meters of elevation gain. By Saturday’s penultimate stage, a decisive battle is expected, setting the stage for the grand finale in Saxony-Anhalt, where sprinters will once again have the opportunity to shine. A thrilling fight for seconds is guaranteed!
“The Lidl Deutschland Tour offers the perfect mix of sprint stages and routes that suit aggressive classics specialists. I’m sure we are in for an exciting race,” says Fabian Wegmann, Sports Director of the Lidl Deutschland Tour.
Six Host Cities: Familiar names and new destinations
In 2025, the Lidl Deutschland Tour will visit six host cities. While Essen, Arnsberg, and Kassel have already welcomed the race two years ago, the tour introduces Herford as a stage finish and start location and includes Halle (Saale) and Magdeburg, the two largest cities in Saxony-Anhalt, as new additions. Magdeburg continues the tradition of hosting the final stage in a German state capital.
“I am delighted that we will return to familiar locations while also welcoming new hosts in August. Our stage cities and regions are the backbone of the Lidl Deutschland Tour—they provide the perfect setting for top-class racing. One great advantage this year: with our carefully planned route, we have created a tour of short distances, minimising transfers and allowing us to spend even more time in the regions,” explains Maren Hopf, Head of Lidl Deutschland Tour at A.S.O. Germany.
Lidl Deutschland Tour: A cycling festival with healthy snacks for everyone
From August 20 to 24, the Lidl Deutschland Tour will bring world-class cycling to its stage cities. As the title sponsor, “Official Freshness Partner,” and name-giver of the race, Lidl will be present along the entire route. With engaging activities and healthy snack offerings, the retailer aims to inspire fans to embrace cycling and active lifestyles while making healthy nutrition accessible to everyone.
On the final day, amateur cyclists will also have the chance to experience the thrilling race atmosphere firsthand: The ADAC Cycling Tour in Magdeburg offers two route options, and participants can secure their starting places now at deutschland-tour.com.
Fans in the host cities can also look forward to a diverse supporting program. The “kinder Joy of Moving mini tour” will entertain the youngest cycling fans while the LichtBlick Newcomer Tour will showcase rising talents in the sport. The daily Expo Tour will provide entertainment with stage programs and interactive activities. All race days will be broadcast live on TV and via streaming.
The Route of the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2025 in Detail
Prologue (August 20): A spectacular opening in Essen
The race kicks off with a 3-kilometre prologue set against the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein. Riders will launch from the iconic Schacht 1/2/8 shaft, tackling a flat yet technically demanding course that promises a high-speed spectacle with razor-thin margins. In recent years, a single second has determined the start of the Tour.
Stage 1 (August 21): From Essen to Herford – Pure cycling in North Rhine-Westphalia
The Zollverein complex in Essen also marks the start of Stage 1, leading the peloton to Herford. Cycling fans in Germany’s most populous state are in for a treat, as the Lidl Deutschland Tour stays within North Rhine-Westphalia for another day. Passing through Recklinghausen, Hamm, Gütersloh, and Bielefeld, riders will cover 197 kilometers en route to Herford. Just before Bielefeld, they must navigate the Teutoburg Forest, with a steep climb setting the stage for an intense final hour. In Herford, the Stuckenberg provides one last opportunity for attacks before the peloton reaches the city centre finish line.
Stage 2 (August 22): The Queen Stage to the Sauerland
Friday’s 189-kilometre stage takes the peloton from Herford to Arnsberg, delivering another challenging day in North Rhine-Westphalia. After departing Herford and passing through Bad Salzuflen, the Teutoburg Forest dominates the early part of the stage. The first climb is the Hermannsdenkmal near Detmold, followed just 10 kilometers later by the Gauseköte ascent. Past Paderborn and the Wewelsburg, the route remains undulating on the way into the Sauerland. After crossing the Möhnesee, Arnsberg comes into sight. In the Seufzertal, the next steep climb awaits, and shortly after, the race passes through the finish area in Neheim. A final 20-kilometre loop must still be completed before the stage winner is decided.
Stage 3 (August 23): A classics Stage to Kassel
With 3,000 meters of elevation gain over 184 kilometers, Saturday’s stage has all the hallmarks of a classic. The route leads from Arnsberg back to the Möhnesee, where from this point on, not a single flat kilometre is in sight. The relentless ups and downs of the Sauerland, including ramps with double-digit gradients, define the day. Among them are the infamous Hirschberger Wand—just under 200 meters long but with a punishing gradient of over 20%! Midway through the stage, riders will tackle the Buttenberg, the highest point of this year’s Tour. Shortly after, the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2025 will leave North Rhine-Westphalia for the first time, entering the state of Hesse. The route continues along the Diemelsee, winding through northern Hesse towards Kassel. After a final circuit featuring two more climbs, a key showdown in the battle for overall victory at the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2025 will take place in Kassel.
Stage 4 (August 24): The Grand Finale in Saxony-Anhalt
The 168-kilometre final stage from Halle (Saale) to Magdeburg offers one last chance for the sprinters. From the town hall of the Saale city, the race heads into its grand showdown through the state of Saxony-Anhalt. After just 20 kilometers, a road sign warns of an 18% incline. However, the steep climb up the spoil heap of the former Johannashall potash mine is the only real obstacle on the way to the state capital. Shortly before reaching Aschersleben, the terrain levels out. Passing north of Königsauer See and Concordiasee, the Magdeburg Börde and Oschersleben come into view. It’s just 40 kilometers to go until the first passage of the finish line. After two final laps along the Schleinufer, the winner of the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2025 will be crowned.
Stages of the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2025
Prologue (Wednesday, 20. August): Essen 3 km
Stage 1 (Thursday, 21. August): Essen – Herford 197 km
Stage 2 (Friday, 22. August): Herford – Arnsberg 189 km
Stage 3 (Saturday, 23. August): Arnsberg – Kassel 184 km
Stage 4 (Sunday, 24. August): Halle (Saale) – Magdeburg 168 km
Milano-Sanremo 2025 | Behind the Scenes with UAE Team Emirates
The curtain has closed on a dramatic Milano-Sanremo 2025, and we gave it our all, leaving no regrets. World champion Tadej Pogačar, hunting for his maiden Milano-Sanremo victory, launched a bold attack on the Cipressa climb.
Go behind the scenes and relive one of the most thrilling Classics of the year:
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