Mathieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert? News ahead of the World cyclocross championships. Races canceled and postponed – TOP STORY. Race news from the Colombian championships, the French spring races, UAE Tour route, E3 Saxo Bank Classic without fans, GP de Denain postponed and Four Days of Dunkirk stages. Rider news: Robert Gesink season, Romain Bardet not the only leader, Alexander Konychev recovers and Wilco Kelderman training. Team news from AG2R-Citröen, SD Worx, BikeExchange, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, Qhubeka ASSOS and EuroCyclingTrips-CMI. Plus Quick-Step coffee on wheels video and behind the scenes at UAE Team Emirates training camp. Big EUROTRASH Thursday read.
TOP STORY: The List of Canceled and Postponed Races Gets Longer
The corona virus is still causing the cancelation and postponement of races. The 2020 cycling calendar was decimated by covid-19 and the season was squeezed into the final part of the year. It’s looking like the 2021 season will also be affected by the virus and the safety measures. Here is a list of the canceled and postponed races (so far):
January 2021
Tour Down Under 2021 (Aus)
Women’s Tour Down Under 2021 (Aus)
Vuelta a San Juan 2021 (Arg)
Race Torquay 2021 (Aus)
Race Torquay WE 2021 (Aus)
Tour de Langkawi 2021 (Mal)
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race 2021 (Aus)
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Women’s Race 2021 (Aus)
Postponed:
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo 2021 (Gab)
Challenge Mallorca 2021 (Spa)
February 2021
Herald Sun Tour 2021 (Aus)
Women’s Herald Sun Tour 2021 (Aus)
Saudi Tour 2021 (Saud)
Tour of Oman 2021 (Oma)
Tour Colombia 2.1 2021 (Col)
Tour of Antalya 2021 (Turk)
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne for juniors 2021 (Bel)
Postponed:
Volta ao Algarve 2021 (Por)
Vuelta a Murcia 2021 (Spa)
Ruta del Sol 2021 (Spa)
Colombian National road championships 2021 (Col)
March 2021
Postponed:
Ster van Zwolle 2021 (Ned)
Tour of Drenthe 2021 (Ned)
Tour of Drenthe Women’s World Tour 2021 (Ned)
Dorpenomloop Rucphen 2021 (Ned)
Volta ao Alentejo 2021 (Por)
Grand Prix de Denain 2021 (Fra)
April 2021
Circuit de la Sarthe 2021 (Fra)
Tour de Yorkshire 2021 (GB)
Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race 2021 (GB)
Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic 2021 (GB)
May 2021
Eschborn-Frankfurt U23 2021 (Ger)
Eschborn-Frankfurt 2021 (Ger)
June 2021
Tacx Pro Classic 2021 (Ned).
No season start in Mallorca:
2021 World Cyclocross Championships in Ostend will Definitely Run
The cyclocross World championships will take place in Ostend this weekend, all parties involved agree. Although the World championships will take place without an audience and under strict corona measures.
Last Sunday Bart Tommelein, the mayor of Ostend, expressed his doubts in the media about the continuation of the World cyclocross championship next week. He hinted that the event was under discussion following a local corona outbreak. He has now changed his mind: “I am reassured,” and so the World cyclocross championships can continue.
The turnaround did not come out of the blue. After several consultations with, among others, the Minister of Sports, Ben Weyts, the mayor is now a lot more optimistic. “We have discussed everything well and we will in any case propose new, stricter measures to the team. But I am reassured because there is no outbreak of the South African variant of the corona virus in Ostend,” Tommelein said in conversation with Sporza.
“In addition, I am also convinced that the circuit is well protected, where no one needs to be there who has not been tested. We also insist that the people who are there are also only the people who are really needed there. I am confident that it will end well.”
It means that the mayor himself cannot be found at the race on Sunday either. “The mayor and the Alderman of Sport will therefore not go to the cyclocross World championships. We do not take any risks. Anyone who does not necessarily need to be there will stay out of there. That is a condition that the city has set. I urge anyone who wants to get a glimpse to stay away from the course. It makes no sense, because we will close it hermetically to the public.”
Mayor Tommelein emphasises once again not to come to Ostend. “Don’t come here, watch TV.”
On Tuesday, all parties involved issued a joint press release, in which additional measures were announced to allow the World championship to continue in a safe manner. For example, no joint meals are allowed and the number of attendees is severely limited. In addition, an adapted test strategy will also be applied. “After a preparation with a lot of corona obstacles, the organisation of the World championships has already managed to finish the course prematurely. Everything is currently ready to receive the international top of cyclocross next weekend.”
“To ensure that everything runs smoothly and above all safely, a lot of measures were taken on and around the course. All attendees are subjected to corona tests. The test strategy consists of a mix of regular PCR tests and rapid tests. This strategy was discussed in consultation with the virologists and checked in terms of content.”
“In addition to the classic measures, functional bubbles are used: media, organisation and riders and carers. The contact between these bubbles will be reduced to an absolute minimum using specific flows and signposted walking directions. In this way the organisers want to make the possible spread of the virus impossible within the boundaries of the course.”
On Saturday the U23 men and elite women compete for the world title, on Sunday it is the turn of the U23 women and the elite men.
No fans in Ostend:
Fabio Aru Not Riding the World Cyclocross Champs
Fabio Aru will not be at the start of the cyclocross world championships in Ostend this weekend. The rider previously hinted that he wanted to start and also received permission from his team Qhubeka Assos, but is now not doing so.
The 30-year-old Italian rode a few cyclocross races in Italy this winter with varying success. During a national cyclocross race in Ancona, Aru finished in fourth place, while finishing in tenth place in the national championship. Aru is now preparing for the new road season. In February he hopes to make his debut for Qhubeka Assos in the Tour de la Provence.
Fabio Aru:
Stybar to Ride the World Cyclo-cross Championships
Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s rider has revealed that he will be at the start of the event held in Oostende, Belgium, on Sunday 31st.
The 35-year-old Czech rider has added the World Cyclo-cross Championships to his early season plans, following changes to his program caused by the evolving Covid-19 pandemic. And with this year’s edition being held in Belgium, it was an easy choice for the three-time winner (2010, 2011, 2014).
Speaking of the change in program, Zdenek said: “It was not expected that I would ride the Worlds this year, but things have evolved. As we know this discipline is my passion, so after watching some races on television I felt in my stomach that I really wanted to race. It would not have normally fit in to my schedule, but things have changed and having done a lot of training my condition feels good. I weighed up my options and discussed it with Patrick Lefevere, as well the team’s management, and I am very grateful to have received the team’s support. So, from there I started the process of preparing the materials and decided that I will go for it.”
“The World Championships will always have a special feeling, as it is where I have started my career and I have my special victories at the event. I am not going there with the expectation of winning this time, but I will go flat out to push myself and try to get the best result possible. There are two outstanding favourites in Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, but then after that it is a quite open race for third place. The parcours will be nice and not too technical and will suit powerful riders. This is good for me, and as my last block of training went really well, it means that I can try to push hard,” added Zdenek.
Zdenek Stybar:
Colombian Road Championship Temporarily Postponed
Race cancellations are not only in Europe, but also in South America. On top of the Vuelta a San Juan and the Tour of Colombia 2.1, now the Colombian road championship has now also been side-lined, the national federation announced.
The Colombian cycling association had planned the national title races from 4 to 7 February in Pereira. However, the mayor of the capital of the Risaralda region has pulled the plug due to an increasing number of corona cases. The union has not yet revealed what date it is aiming for now. In addition, it is assumed that the reigning champions can continue to wear their champion jersey for the time being, although the association has not made any announcements about this either.
Colombian champ – Sergio Higuita:
French Spring Races Await Approval from Authorities
Several French spring races are awaiting approval from the authorities to proceed. This Sunday, January 31, the GP La Marseillaise is the first French race on the calendar, which looks like it will go ahead. “But organising has become incredibly difficult,” Pierre Guille told Le Parisien.
“But organisers mutually support each other and give each other advice,” Guille continued. “There is a solidarity in cycling that does not exist in other sports. The hardest part is getting funding for the TV broadcast. This is important because the race takes place without an audience. We have said to ourselves that it is better to have this edition take place behind closed doors than not at all.”
The Etoile de Bessèges (3-7 February) is also still awaiting approval. “Our file was sent to the authorities on Monday. We are now waiting for permission from the department,” said Corinne Fangille, organiser of the stage race. “According to our reports, professional sports can continue in the event of a lockdown. But we are waiting for the decision to be made on Wednesday or Thursday. It causes some stress, but we just have to pretend everything is going on.”
Pierre Maurice Courtade of the Tour de la Provence (11-14 February) is in a special situation. “Our race will cross four departments, so I have to submit four applications instead of one,” he laughs. “But I do feel a desire that we continue. If the tour is canceled, there would be 41 hotels that no longer need to operate.”
GP La Marseillaise’20 podium:
2021 UAE Tour Route
Four stages dedicated to sprinters, two for the climbers and one individual time trial make up the 2021 UAE Tour. All 19 UCI WorldTeams are set to start, with big names competing including Pogačar, A. Yates, Froome, Van der Poel, Ganna, Bennett and Ewan to name just a few. The Red, Green, White and Black jerseys are sponsored by ADNOC, Etisalat, Nakheel and Abu Dhabi Aviation. The official race jerseys and official car will be provided by Alé and Audi Al Nabooda respectively with luxury Swiss watch maker Breitling, as Official Timekeeper. As the Official Timekeeper, Breitling will be awarding the winners of each stage and the overall winner with the new Breitling Endurance Pro.
The official route, jerseys and sponsors for the 3rd edition of the UAE Tour have been announced. The UAE Tour race organisers, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Dubai Sports Council and RCS Sport are pleased to confirm that this year’s edition of the race will feature four sprinters’ stages, two stages best suited to the peloton’s climbers and a 13km long, high-speed individual time trial.
The one and only WorldTour race in the Middle East, the UAE Tour, will take place from 21st to 27th February and cover a total of 1045km, with a significant elevation gain of around 3500m metres, mostly concentrated into Stages 3 and 5. The route will cross five of the seven independent city-states that form the United Arab Emirates, with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Umm al-Quwain, Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah all playing host to the race.
Stage 1 (177km), will begin in the town of Al Ruwais, then make its way through the Abu Dhabi region before reaching the coastal city of Al Mirfa where an exciting bunch sprint finish is expected. The following day, the riders will compete over a short and fast-paced individual time trial on Stage 2 (13km) that starts and finishes on the beautiful Al Hudyriat Island. Though brief, the time trial will no doubt provide an opportunity for early time gains in the closely-fought General Classification. Stage 3 (162km) remains in Abu Dhabi and begins from the headquarters of Strata Manufacturing, located in Al Ain international airport, before tackling Jebel Hafeet to finish – a 10km long ascent that peaks over 1000m above sea level. Cycling fans can expect to witness a battle for the Red Jersey on the mountain pass as the race’s strongest climbers will look to press home their advantage.
Stage 4 (204km) starts and finishes on Al Marjan Island and takes place within Ras al-Khaimah, visiting its neighbouring emirate Umm Al-Quwain along the way. The longest day in the saddle by quite some margin, the race’s fourth stage will be best suited to the fast wheels of the peloton thanks to its flat finish. The next day is the tour’s most challenging: Stage 5 (170km) begins in Fujairah city and makes its way north before finishing with the punishing Jebel Jais climb that tops out at 1491m above sea level. The time won and lost on the long and relentless 20km-plus ascent will most likely prove to be decisive in the General Classification.
Stage 6 (168 km) will see the riders race on a mostly flat route from the Deira Islands, Dubai, and finish at the iconic Palm Jumeirah. Around 60km into the route, the peloton will join the Al-Qudra Cycle Track – an 86km long pristine tarmac path that traverses the Dubai desert – before heading back to the city. Stage 7 (147 km) starts at Yas Mall and follows a flat route that takes in the sights of the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, before a final sprint along the city’s breakwater – where the winner of the 3rd edition of the UAE Tour will be crowned.
Cycling fans can look forward to watching an exceptionally strong field of riders compete this year, with a series of big names already announced that includes 2020 Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar, last year’s UAE Tour Red Jersey Adam Yates and multiple Grand Tour victor Chris Froome. ITT World Champion Filippo Ganna and Mathieu van der Poel have also confirmed their attendance, alongside a host of world-class sprinters made up of Tour de France Green Jersey winner Sam Bennett, Caleb Ewan, Pascal Ackermann and Fernando Gaviria among others.
Tadej Pogačar, who attended the UAE Tour route presentation said: “I’m very pleased to be kicking-off my season at the UAE Tour. We just had our pre-season camp in the UAE and got to do some excellent training, especially on the Jebel Hafeet, which was great. I’m feeling good and motivated to race. After the stage win last year I’m coming back hungry for more. This is a huge event for myself and all the team and we will be here to fight for victories at our home race.”
Caleb Ewan winning UAE Tour’20 stage 2:
E3 Saxo Bank Classic Without Audience
The E3 Saxo Bank Classic will be held in 2021, PR manager Jacques Coussens told Belga. The organisers hoped for a small number of fans or VIP guests, but has given up on that plan. “We cannot wait. We are going to organise, at least if the government allows it on March 26,” said Coussens.
The E3 Prize will thus take place ‘behind closed doors’. “We don’t take any risks. The corona figures still make a yo-yo effect,” Coussens continued. “That is why it is advisable to take the plunge now and take the decision to organise without spectators. That is unique in our existence. We who always made a real party of our race, now have to do with a lot less. But there was no other solution.”
“There will be a podium and team presentation with a ceremony after the race. Everything will be corona proof. We want to make something special out of it on 26 March, which is unique to the house, but I don’t want to say much about that yet,” said the race organiser.
Last year, the E3 BinckBank Classic was canceled due to the corona crisis. The last winner of the spring classic was Zdeněk Štybar in 2019.
2019 E3 winner – Stybar:
Grand Prix de Denain Postponed
The Grand Prix de Denain has been canceled on the scheduled date of Thursday March 18. As a result of the developments surrounding the corona virus, that date turned out not to be feasible for the French one-day race.
The organisers of the GP Denain (1.Pro) had to conclude yesterday that it is impossible to organise the race in a responsible manner on March 18. Last year, the competition was canceled due to the corona pandemic, but now there is still hope to organise the race at a later date. The Grand Prix de Denain is not the first postponed European race this season. Many organisers in Southern Europe are also looking for an alternative date. The Challenge Mallorca, the Vuelta a Murcia and the Ruta del Sol have been postponed until further notice, as has the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal.
The last edition of the GP Denain was in 2019. The victory went to Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman won after a successful solo attack. Marc Sarreau and Timothy Dupont were second and third.
Solo win for Van der Poel in 2019:
Six Stages for the Four Days of Dunkirk in 2021
The organisers of the Four Days of Dunkirk (2.Pro) has unveiled the stage schedule for the 2021 edition. The 66th edition of the French stage race starts on May 4 and ends five days later.
The organisers have announced the start and finish towns, but due to the Corona virus they have not revealed too many course details. What is certain is that the penultimate stage from Roubaix to Cassel is particularly difficult. Cassel, located in the French Westhoek, is traditionally the finish place of the ‘Queen Stage’ of the Four Days of Dunkirk. The final overall winner will be crowned in the city of Dunkirk.
In 2020, the Four Days of Dunkirk was canceled due to covid-19. In 2020, Mike Teunissen took the final overall general classification, after two stage victories. The race was then dominated by Jumbo-Visma, as Dylan Groenewegen won three stages.
Four Days of Dunkirk 2021 stage details (4-9 May):
Stage 1: Dunkirk-Aniche (171 km)
Stage 2: Béthune-Maubeuge (182 km)
Stage 3: Péronne-Mont Saint Eloi (165 km)
Stage 4: Mazingarbe-Aire-sur-la-Lys (174 km)
Stage 5: Roubaix-Cassel (183 km)
Stage 6: Ardres-Dunkirk (182 km).
Mike Teunissen leading in Dunkirk:
Gesink to Ride Tour and Vuelta
Robert Gesink has revealed his race schedule for the 2021 season. Just like last year, the Jumbo-Visma rider, who will turn 35 in the spring, will start in both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
Gesink kicks off his season on March 6 with Strade Bianche, after which he also starts in Tirreno-Adriatico. Then he goes via the Tour of Catalonia to the hilly Classics, including the Amstel Gold Race. Then he rides the Critérium du Dauphiné on the run-up to the Tour, where he will work for leaders Primož Roglič and Steven Kruijswijk. Whether Tom Dumoulin is also there is still unknown now that he has put his career on hold indefinitely.
After the Tour, Gesink also rides the Vuelta a España again, where Steven Kruijswijk and Sepp Kuss are the intended leaders for Jumbo-Visma. The Dutchman closes the year in Italy with the Tour of Emilia, the GP Bruno Beghelli and the Tour of Lombardy.
Robert Gesink race schedule for 2021:
Strade Bianche
Tirreno-Adriatico
Volta a Catalonia
Amstel Gold Race
Flèche Wallonne
Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Critérium du Dauphiné
Tour de France
Vuelta a España
Giro dell’Emilia
GP Bruno Beghelli
Il Lombardia.
Robert Gesink leading Pogačar:
Bardet Not the Only Leader at Team DSM
Romain Bardet is pleased to be able to start a new chapter in his career with Team DSM. The 30-year-old Frenchman came from AG2R-La Mondiale during the winter. It is not yet known in which races Bardet will be at the start, but he may be racing in some spring classics this year.
According to L’Équipe, Bardet will race fewer race days than normal in 2021. Cobbled classics may be added to his program, where he will be a helper. Last autumn, the Frenchman finished 25th in his debut in the Tour of Flanders. Bardet is especially happy that he will not always be a leader at Team DSM. “At AG2R-La Mondiale I was pushed into the role of leader from my second professional year,” he pointed out. “I could therefore never develop myself in the shade. At Team DSM I cannot only work more calmly and more precisely, but I will also race in events in which I help the team. Without even a little ambition for myself. That ensures that some of the pressure is gone. The team is counting on me and my experience. That is for sure, but I am no longer the only leader in the team. It is then up to me to confirm that I have earned that status at AG2R,” said Bardet.
The climber’s choice to move to the German WorldTour team came as a surprise to many. Bardet himself thought it was a logical decision. “Between 2013 and 2018 I spent almost six years on an unbroken line upwards. That was quite special. But I ended up in a routine that no longer suited me. I had to take a risk, with a fresh start and a boost for my career.”
Romain Bardet:
Konychev Recovering from Corona
Alexander Konychev is on the eve of his second season at WorldTour level, but the Italian rider’s preparation took a serious blow, because he was infected with the corona virus, the Team BikeExchange rider told Tuttobiciweb. In the meantime, he has resumed training, but the illness has had its affects. “A two-hour ride feels like I did a five-hour ride.”
In April last year, the son of Dimitri Konyshev had to deal with the virus for the first time. “If the team hadn’t checked me then, I wouldn’t have noticed that I was carrying the virus. I had no problems with anything and just kept training on the rollers.”
The second time was different: “On December 26, I spent four hours on the bike. When I got home I got some chills and back pain, but I thought it was fatigue. The next day I went to work out for two hours and then I realised something was wrong. I felt very weak and in pain all over. I got sick at night. On January 4, I received the answer I expected: a positive corona test. It was not an easy situation, especially mentally, but I had to accept it and just wait for it to pass.” Konychev continues: “The worst is now behind me: I finally got a negative test on January 20th.” This was followed by a medical check-up with team doctor Matteo Beltemacchi, where fortunately no long-term consequences were observed. “I’m glad about that, because I was quite afraid of heart problems as a result of corona.”
Konychev is now back on the bike, but he is not happy yet. “I slowly resumed training, but I feel that I am not in shape. A two-hour ride feels like I did a five-hour ride. I will soon be meeting with my trainer to set up a good training program in the run-up to the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. I hope to be able to make my first race kilometres there.”
Alexander Konychev in Strade Bianche’20:
Kelderman Trains Without a Neck Brace
The recovery of Wilco Kelderman is slowly improving. He can now train without a neck brace again, he said on Instagram.
The third placed in last year’s Giro d’Italia was involved in a training accident with a car in Italy. The driver ran into a group of BORA-hansgrohe riders. Kelderman was then taken to hospital together with Rüdiger Selig and Andreas Schillinger. The Dutchman was diagnosed with a concussion and a vertebral fracture.
A week ago, Kelderman started training on Zwift. On his Instagram you can see that the 29-year-old rider is still dependent on the home bike, but that he has taken off his neck brace. “The first days I have to take it easy,” wrote Kelderman, who thanks his sponsors for “support in difficult times.”
It is still uncertain when Kelderman can make his return. Team manager Ralph Denk recently said he expects Kelderman to be out for about four to six weeks. “If he can then start his season without any problems, we will get off well. Of course he will miss the race kilometres in February, but we hope that Wilco can get on the bike again in March. Then he still has enough time to prepare for the Tour.”
Wilco Kelderman:
Grand Prix Cycliste La Marseillaise (January 31)
Nicolas Prodhomme (23 years old) is the first neo-professional from our team to start in a race this year: “After a good training camp in Spain, I am happy to start my career at this opening race of the French calendar. I hope that I will be able to help the team.” For his part, Andrea Vendrame (professional since 2017) will also race the Bouches-du-Rhône event for the first time.
Aurélien Paret-Peintre: “After two months of training during which my condition has improved over the weeks, I can’t wait to pin on a number. The camp in Spain went perfectly. We had very good weather conditions for two weeks. It was also a great opportunity to meet all the new teammates. This coming Sunday, for my second participation in the Grand Prix de la Marseillaise, we will have a homogeneous group mixed with climbers and puncheurs. Last year, Benoît Cosnefroy won, and I hope that we will now get the opportunity to take control of the final and decide the race, with hopefully a good result at the finish.”
At 33, Ben Gastauer from Luxembourg is about to start his thirteenth professional season in the jersey of our team. Of all the riders on our team, he is currently the one who has been a member longest.
Boels and Dolmans Continue to Sponsor SD Worx
Boels Rental and Dolmans Landscaping Group have decided to continue sponsoring the SD Worx women’s team for the coming season. In the autumn of 2019, the two companies announced that they would stop working with the team after 2020, after which a new sponsor was found in SD Worx.
Under the name Boels Dolmans, the team of Anna van der Breggen, Chantal van den Broek-Blaak and Jolien D’hoore has grown into the best team in the world in recent years. In the past six years, the world road title has been won five times with Van der Breggen, Lizzie Armitstead, Amalie Dideriksen and Van den Broek-Blaak. In the autumn of 2019 Boels and Dolmans announced that they will stop sponsoring after 2020. SD Worx was subsequently presented as a new sponsor in February 2020.
It now appears that Boels and Dolmans will work with SD Worx in 2021. “Over the past ten years, we have put together a very good team. We have built up the team and have brought women’s cycling to a higher level. We don’t want to let this go just like that,” Marcel Goes explained on behalf of Boels. “We are committed to the team again this year, because the ambitions of the team are completely in line with Boels Rental. We also want to remain involved in the great success we have achieved in recent years.”
The team has been an ideal showcase for Dolmans for many years. In 2010, director and owner Erwin Janssen took the initiative to set up the team. He will also remain active with the new SD Worx as team manager. “We are proud that we can still link our name to the team,” said Janssen. “Because we will also continue to manage the team, the connection remains strong. It is great that Boels Rental and Dolmans Landscaping Group remain loyal to the team now that SD Worx has taken over the baton.”
The Boels and Dolmans logos return to the Team SD Worx shirts on the sleeve and front respectively.
SD Worx for 2021:
BikeExchange Future Insured Until the End of 2022
Team BikeExchange will be in the peloton at least until the end of 2022. VeloNews reports that team owner Gerry Ryan will support the team financially for the next two seasons.
It is manager Brent Copeland who told the news to the American magazine. “Gerry is committed to the end of 2022. The 2022 world championships in Wollongong, Australia, are also related to this. Until then we will be stable. Like all teams, we are always looking for partners. That is part of our job. Gerry has supported us tremendously, we can only be grateful there. Without him, we wouldn’t even be able to look to the future.”
Ryan personally pulled the plug on the controversial deal with Manuela Fundación last year when it became clear that the Spanish charity also wanted to become the owner of the team. Ryan put a stop to that. The online retailer BikeExchange, of which Ryan is co-owner, has been on the clothing of the Australian WorldTour team since January 1.
Safe for two years:
DMT is a New Technical Partner of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux welcomes a new technical partner in 2021. From now on, the riders from the World Tour team ride with shoes, socks and shoe covers from the Italian brand DMT. DMT is manufacturing its footwear in Italy for almost 40 years, redefining what is standard and creating something completely new. In collaboration with the most demanding cyclists, they focus their efforts and knowledge on overcoming the limits of existing technologies and on developing new ones.
The whole DMT collection is in 3D Engineered Knit, an innovative material made of thousands of ultra thin threads creating a mesh-like fabric. DMT was the first company to create a full 3D Knit shoe, which combines both the advantages of the material and the specific technical features of every shoe. It makes the shoe so comfortable, breathable and lightweight you can barely feel it on your feet. DMT listens to the needs of the riders to create great shoes with an unparalleled fit for everyone. The competitive vocation of the KR1 model with BOA Fit System will bring the riders from Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux onto the highest step of the podium.
Glen McKibben (DMT Brand Director): “DMT is proud to be partnering with the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux team and riders as they step up to the next level and enter the World Tour. We recognise the professionalism and dedication of the entire group of riders and staff and we look forward to supporting them with the best footwear. Our first contacts with the riders have provided great feedback that will be vital for the future. For DMT, this partnership not only will increase the visibility of our brand but it will also give us access to a diverse group of elite riders to test our new concepts and help us to finetune new products. DMT has a long history of working with some of the strongest riders in the pro peloton and we are sure that with the many talented riders on the team we will see even more DMT shoes on the podium.”
Andrea Pasqualon: “Winter is often the period when we renew the equipment. This applies to bicycles, saddles and in this case, racing shoes. Every change takes some adjustment and despite the unique construction of the DMT shoes, the switch to this new pair went smoothly. The KR1 model is remarkably comfortable. Moreover, thanks to the knit engineering, they are also very light. The Italian brand is known for its innovative high performance racing shoes and from our first encounter the engineers at DMT have been working on our feedback. I like how DMT customises the shoes, so I’m wondering whether they have anything in store for the Giro d’Italia, who knows…”
Supersapiens and Team Qhubeka ASSOS Announce Partnership
Supersapiens and Team Qhubeka ASSOS, Africa’s only UCI-registered WorldTour cycling team, are proud to announce they will be partnering for the 2021 race season.
Supersapiens, the first direct-to-consumer energy management ecosystem, utilises the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, the first glucose sport biosensor designed specifically for athletic performance, to help the team manage their fuelling strategies in training, racing, and recovery.
“Beyond the team’s incredible success over the last decade, we are inspired by their core mission — the Qhubeka organisation’s vision to change lives through bicycles is in line with our own purpose,” said Phil Southerland, CEO and Founder of Supersapiens. “We’re thrilled to work with this team to incorporate feedback from these incredibly talented riders who will be utilising our product at the highest level of the sport.”
For any athlete, energy management is key to success. With the Supersapiens app paired to the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, Team Qhubeka ASSOS riders and staff will learn and train with real-time fuelling data and powerful retrospective analysis tools. Continuous glucose monitoring will allow team riders to better understand their body’s individual fuelling requirements, discover stable and sustainable fuel sources, dial in their pre-race glucose loading strategy, and maintain their optimal fuel ranges during races — allowing their body to put out it’s maximum effort without concern for running out of energy.
“Our team name Qhubeka means ‘to progress’ or ‘to move forward’ in Nguni,” said Doug Ryder, team founder and principal. “Not only will our team be focused on raising funds to purchase bicycles that will be used to improve lives, our partnership with Supersapiens also gives us new insight to better glucose management. This information and what we learn, will be shared with the company and improve performance for athletes around the world. All of this is true progression.”
Team Qhubeka ASSOS will also kick off an affiliate program with Supersapiens. Using this link, athletes in the eight countries where Supersapiens is available can purchase the ecosystems and a portion of the sales will support the team and their mission to improve lives via bicycles.
“We all know the consequences of poor fuelling. Low or unstable glucose levels can cause an array of physiological and performance degradations, ranging from impaired judgment, to loss of power or speed, all the way down to completely depleted energy stores,” said Team Qhubeka ASSOS team sport scientist Elliot Lipski. “Working with Supersapiens will help us to train and race better as well as empower more athletes around the world to do the same.”
The Supersapiens ecosystem includes the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, the Supersapiens app, and a wrist wearable device in the final stages of development that displays data from the biosensor in real time. The app continuously tracks glucose data and allows athletes to create Events — workouts or races, meals, and rest — so they can correlate specific glucose levels with their body’s physiological performance during racing, training, and recovery. And the Education Hub offers deep and insightful information to help athletes better understand glucose and the impact it has on performance, so anyone can learn how to optimise fuelling for sustained performance.
The Supersapiens ecosystem powered by Abbott Libre Sense is now available in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Learn more about the full line of Superaspiens products and purchase the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor at www.supersapiens.com.
About Supersapiens
Supersapiens is an Atlanta-based sports technology company focused on energy management systems to support sustained peak performance. Supersapiens empowers athletes to show up to the starting line optimally fuelled, manage in-race fuelling to sustain peak performance, and adequately refuel and recover.
The Supersapiens ecosystem, including the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, is not available for sale in the U.S. at this time.
Dutch Riders Bart Buijk and Rick Nobel to Ride for American Continental Team
Bart Buijk (27) and Rick Nobel (26) will race for the continental team EuroCyclingTrips-CMI, which is based in Guam, from 1 March 2021.
The team announces the arrival of the Dutch pair on Twitter. “Both riders have international experience and share our team values of a love for travel, diversity and adventure.”
Nobel and Buijk have ridden quite a few UCI multi-day races in Asia, Africa and America for many years. Nobel finished third in the Tour of Senegal in 2018, while Buijk finished tenth in the Tour of Banjuwangi Ijen that same year.
The Quick-Step Bar Vélo: Creating a Homely Feeling Away from Home
Every year the training camp is the perfect way for the riders to start the preps for the new season and to enjoy some nice group training rides. And what would a group ride be without a coffee stop? Not just a normal coffee stop, the Quick-Step Bar Vélo was there again to treat The Wolfpack with a nice cup of Wolfpack coffee, under the Spanish sun. What could a rider wish more for?
The Quick-Step Bar Vélo really represents the coffee hype, which is an important part of the day of our riders. It got refurbished with a new and trendy interior and let the wolves feel home when they are away for a race or training camp. That’s why this beautiful Bar on “wheels” is so popular!
Kasper Asgreen and Zdenek Stybar, both big coffee lovers, helped the barista out and showed some skills themselves. Talking about the perfect cappuccino or making their own favourite coffee, you see it’s really a passion. All the riders enjoyed some coffee, made pictures and had a relaxing chat in the sun.
“Being a big coffee lover myself, the Quick-Step Floors Bar Velo is really the perfect treat after or during a training ride. A perfect break with a cup of Wolfpack coffee”, said Danish Champion Kasper Asgreen.
And this nice experience doesn’t stop in Altea. If everything goes well, the Quick-Step Bar Vélo will follow our riders during a couple of other training rides, recons and other occasions. A match made in heaven!
Behind the Scenes at UAE Team Emirates Training Camp
Find out more about what our riders have been doing in the UAE & get a taste of the action out on the road over the past week.
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