EUROTRASH News Round Up Monday!

The pro peloton’s top men were racing in Shanghai at the weekend and Chris Froome took the honors, but is it the way forward for cycling – Top Story. All the results and video from Shanghai and the weekend’s cyclo-cross races. In other cycling news: Vincenzo Nibali goes under the knife, Amgen Tour of California 2018 host cities, Ruta del Sol news, Ty Magner joins Rally and video of Chris Froome’s big 2017 season.

TOP STORY: More Races in China and Japan!
Yes, we know the UCI and ASO want to bring the Asian countries in to the cycling family and of course it is from a sporting point of view and nothing to do with new money. OK, professional cycling is a business and has to look for new revenue where it can and if the Chinese, Japanese and Arab countries want to throw money at some early and late season races, so be it. But what about the races in the homelands of cycling; Italy, France and Belgium? The smaller races that have been the backbone of cycling are disappearing and for that matter the teams are in trouble and less sponsors are coming through.

If it wasn’t for the long term sponsors, the likes of Movistar, Sky, Cofidis, Quick-Step and AG2R, where would we be. Is the television money that ASO and the UCI receive helping the teams or the small races? No. If we don’t have teams, what then? And if there are only the big races left, what then?

Alberto said goodbye (again) to the peloton in Shanghai:

Tour de France Skoda Shanghai Criterium 2017
Winner of the Dauphiné, winner of the Vuelta, winner of the Tour de France, Chris Froome’s season is matchless. Yet for the first time, he left the Tour without any success on a stage. Things got back to normal in front of the Chinese Pavilion when the 4-times winner took the Shanghai Skoda Criterium, the 22nd stage of the Tour, earlier today. A victory that tastes more like a gift to the Chinese fans who gathered massively to celebrate the first Tour de France winner to come to China. Marcel Kittel got the green, Barguil the polka dot and Contador the most aggressive rider award for his last appearance as a pro. Like a symbol.

Race winner, Chris Froome (Sky): “It wasn’t easy, there were a lot of great sprinters here so the only option was to attack. We had great support from the public here in Shanghai. It’s a great way to end the season.”

Tour de France Skoda Shanghai Criterium Result:
1. Christopher Froome (GB) Sky in 1:21:56
2. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac
3. Warren Barguil (Fra) Sunweb at 0:02
4. Alberto Contador (Spa) Trek-Segafredo at 0:12
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data at 0:15
6. Petr Vakoc (Cze) Quick-Step Floors
7. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC
8. Hiu Fung Choy (Chn) Cycling Team of Hong Kong China at 1:04
9. Juntao Meng (Chn) Yunnan Lvshan Landscape
10. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Sky.

Shanghai Crit 2017:

Telenet Superprestige – Ruddervoorde 2017
Mathieu van der Poel (Beobank-Correndon) did the double again this weekend winning both his cyclo-cross races. Saturday in Bradant and on Sunday the Superprestige in Ruddervoorde, beating World champion Wout van Aert (Crelan-Charles) and Lars van der Haar (Telenet-Fidea Lions).

Van der Poel put the pressure on from the start, at first he was joined by Van Aert and Quinten Hermans (Telenet-Fidea Lions), but it wasn’t long before the Dutchman was off on his own with an attack through the section sand and had around 5 seconds on the World champion at the start of lap 2. By the end of the second lap he had 12 seconds.

Van der Poel had the race in his back pocket from then on and even being accidentally hit by a spectator didn’t slow him down. Van Aert held the Dutch champion at 12 seconds to the finish and must have thought the rain might have helped him, but made no difference to the final result.

Van der Haar had been between Van Aert and the chase group of Laurens Sweeck (Era-Circus), Michael Vanthourenhout (Marlux-Napoleon Games) and Toon Aerts (Telenet-Fidea Lions), but by the middle of the race they caught Van Haar. Sweeck and Vanthourenhout were eventually dropped and on the final lap Van Haar rode away for third place, 50 seconds down on Van der Poel.

Mathieu Van der Poel and Wout Van Aert both have 57 points in the Supeprestige competition with Van der Haar in third with 51.

Telenet Superprestige – Ruddervoorde Result:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Beobank-Corendon in 1:00:50
2. Wout Van Aert (Bel) Crelan-Charles at 0:10
3. Lars van der Haar (Ned) Telenet-Fidea at 0:50
4. Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet-Fidea at 1:01
5. Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Era-Circus at 1:24
6. Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Marlux-Napoleon Games at 1:27
7. Eli Iserbyt (Bel) Marlux-Napoleon Games at 1:28
8. Tim Merlier (Bel) Crelan-Charles at 1:31
9. David van der Poel (Ned) Beobank-Corendon at 1:32
10. Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Marlux-Napoleon Games at 1:33.

Ruddervoorde’17:

Grote Prijs van Brabant Cyclocross – ‘s-Hertogenbosch 2017
On Saturday Mathieu van der Poel showed his cyclo-cross class again by winning the GP van Brabant in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The Dutchman dominated the race in his usual fashion and had time for a bit of show-boating at the top of the ramp. Belgian Toon Aerts was second at 14 seconds and Corne Van Kessel (Ned) was third at 21. Van der poel’s closest adversaries this season, World champion Wout Van Aert and Lars van Haar were missing from Brabant, but will line-up in Sunday’s Telenet Superprestige in Ruddervoorde.

Grote Prijs van Brabant Result:
1. Mathieu Van Der Poel (Ned) in 1:01:46
2. Toon Aerts (Bel) at 0:14
3. Corne Van Kessel (Ned) at 0:21
4. Daan Soete (Bel) at 0:24
5. Stan Godrie (Ned) at 0:49
6. Daan Hoeyberghs (Bel) at 0:59
7. Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) at 1:25
8. Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) at 1:31
9. Nicolas Cleppe (Bel) at 1:44
10. Maik Van Der Heijden (Ned) at 1:56.

GP Brabant:

Nibali has Collarbone Plate Removed
Team BAHRAIN MERIDA rider Vincenzo Nibali checked into “Papa Giovanni XXIII” Hospital in Bergamo (Italy) this morning to have his left collarbone plate removed.

The metal plate was installed after Rio Olympic Games crash in 2016, where Nibali suffered a double fracture of his left collarbone.

Dr. Carlo Guardascione Head of the Medical Staff of Team BAHRAIN MERIDA: “Nibali has successfully undergone the surgery carried out by Prof. Claudio Castelli (Director of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology) and by Antonino Cassisi (Responsible of the Department of Maxillofacial surgery) regarding the aesthetic reconstructive part. The rider will follow a period of 8-10 days of absolute rest to allow the perfect healing of the surgical wound.”

Vincenzo Nibali after surgery:

Amgen Tour of California Announces 2018 Host Cities and Race Schedule for Men and Women’s Races in May
AEG, owner and presenter of the Amgen Tour of California, welcomes 11 Host Cities across the state for the 13th edition of America’s premier cycling stage race May 13-19. Throughout seven stages over seven days, the world’s best cyclists will contest 600+ miles of roadways, highways and coastlines from Long Beach to Sacramento. The 2018 edition will mark the third time in race history that the peloton will travel the Golden State from south to north.

The Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race empowered with SRAM, showcasing the world’s best women cyclists, will run concurrently May 17-19, covering upward of 150 miles over three stages.

The annual professional cycling events carry the distinction of being the only U.S. races on the UCI WorldTour calendar and attract some of the most renowned cyclists and teams in the world. With seven new courses between them, this is the 11th consecutive year the event has featured an international platform for both men’s and women’s racing.

The Amgen Tour of California is designed to cover a variety of terrain, allowing different types of specialists among the field of the world’s greatest cyclists to shine throughout the week. Highlights of the men’s race will include the Queen Stage from Ventura to the summit of Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara County; a challenging mountain stage with an uphill finish at 6,500 feet elevation in South Lake Tahoe on day six; and the highly anticipated sprinter showdowns the race has become known for on many stages.
Similar to 2017, the women’s overall will be contested on the high-altitude Queen Stage in South Lake Tahoe which features one of the biggest climbs in the UCI Women’s WorldTour, while the speedy sprinters will find their opportunities on the first and last stages of the race.

Key points:
· California’s largest sporting event will travel from Long Beach to Sacramento
· With same day finishes for men’s and women’s races

2018 RACE SCHEDULE
Amgen Tour of California
Sunday, May 13, Stage 1 – Long Beach
Monday, May 14, Stage 2 – Ventura to Santa Barbara County (Gibraltar Road)
Tuesday, May 15, Stage 3 – King City to Monterey County (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca)
Wednesday, May 16, Stage 4 – San Jose (Time Trial)
Thursday, May 17, Stage 5 – Stockton to Elk Grove
Friday, May 18, Stage 6 – Folsom to South Lake Tahoe
Saturday, May 19, Stage 7 – Sacramento

Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race empowered with SRAM
Thursday, May 17, Stage 1 – Elk Grove
Friday, May 18, Stage 2 – South Lake Tahoe
Saturday, May 19, Stage 3 – Sacramento

Introducing the 2018 Host Cities | Amgen Tour of California:

The Ruta del Sol is Prepared for its 64th Edition
The next Vuelta Ciclista Andalucía will be held from 14 to 18 February 2018.

The 64th edition of the Ruta del Sol already has dates. It will be from February 14 to 18, 2018, with five stages to be held from Wednesday to Sunday. Deporinter, the organizing company, once again puts “all the meat on the grill” to offer a great tourist-sporting spectacle for the enjoyment of all cycling fans. In fact, the entity is immersed in full negotiations with the cities and towns that will host the departure and arrival of each of its stages and in the design of a very attractive and balanced route, in which there are expected to be some surprises in the historic Andalusian Vuelta.

In terms of sports participation, Vuelta Andalucía is also in talks with the main national and international teams to bring together the best cycling figures for another year. A showcase that serves as prescriber of Andalusia, with a multiplying effect in the promotion of our territory and which attracts a strategic segment of great interest to our Community.

He recently upped his level to Hors Categorie in 2017, a step before the World Tour. This step is a recognition of the UCI to the Andalusian race, a decision based on the upward trajectory of the race, its identity as a historical test, the quality it offers in the organization and its routes, its media coverage and internationalization to more than 100 countries and the high level of sports participation.

The live television broadcasting will continue to be one of the most important points of the event and guarantee the repercussion and diffusion of the image of Andalusia abroad. The contract has been renewed with the Eurosport Group, so we will again have the daily coverage reaching more than 100 countries.

The last edition of the Vuelta Ciclista Andalucia had a luxury podium, with Alejandro Valverde as the final winner. The Murcian extended its legend, to a second advantage on Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) followed by Frenchman Thibaut Pinot (FDJ). Valverde achieved his 5th Vuelta Andalucia (he had already won in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 – did not race in 2015, which was won by the Briton Chris Froome) triumph that coincided with his 100th victory of his sports career.

Ruta del Sol 2017 Stage 2:

Ty Magner Joins Rally Cycling
Rally Cycling is proud to announce the signing of Ty Magner, one of North America’s top sprinters. After spending the majority of his professional cycling career with Holowesko-Citadel, Magner joins Rally Cycling on a two year contract. He is a former champion of the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour and won the first stage at this year’s Tour of Utah, donning yellow in the process.

The addition of the 26 year old from Griffin, GA further strengthens the team’s sprint train and one-day race ambitions. Magner is a versatile sprinter, as comfortable leading a teammate safely through the closing meters of a race as he is chasing a win for himself.

Magner’s win at the Tour of Utah, one of the biggest and hardest races in North America, speaks to his versatility – with its relentless elevation gain and mountainous stage profiles, field sprinters know that they won’t get many opportunities to challenge for a stage win.

“Winning in Utah and having the yellow jersey was definitely a career highlight,” said Magner. “It gave me a ton of confidence moving forward. I showed that I can get over the high mountains and still have the legs to finish. I already can’t wait to mix it up in the sprints next season.”

The 2016 season was a breakout year for Magner. With more than ten victories, he won the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour by a comfortable margin. He carried this momentum into 2017, winning both the time trial and the criterium at March’s Tour of the Southern Highlands before eventually winning the Armed Forces Crystal Cup and the Winston-Salem criterium, both with solo attacks. It was this consistency that caught the attention of Performance Director Jonas Carney.

“I’ve had my eye on Magner for a number of years now,” said Carney. “But when he proved that he could sprint against the best in Utah, we really started the process of trying to hire him. Ty will fit in immediately with our sprinters. He has shown that he can get over the power climbs and when needed, he can take care of business in a breakaway.”

With the team planning the move to the Professional Continental level, signing Magner was an important addition. The higher caliber races require an ability to race aggressively across all types of terrain. When a race gets out of hand you can throw Magner into the mix – a valuable trait that not all sprinters have.

“Rally Cycling is super dialed and they showed a ton of confidence in me throughout the hiring process,” said Magner. “Each year the program has grown and had a ton of success. I’m looking forward to racing with the guys and getting my feet wet in Europe.”

Known for riding wheelies across the finish line and putting on a good show for the fans, Magner spoke about his mental approach to cycling.

“I’ve been riding bikes my whole life, mountain and road,” said Magner. “It’s a lifestyle that I love to live, I see it as more than just my job. I’ve been able to see the world and create some incredible lifelong relationships thanks to this sport.”

The team will continue to finalize its men’s and women’s rosters over the coming weeks, and is planning a 2018 race schedule which will include more international racing than ever before.

Ty Magner on the Utah podium:

2017 – Froome’s Best Year
Chris Froome won the Tour de France Skoda Shanghai Criterium at the weekend topping off his best season to date. Critérium du Dauphiné, Tour de France and the Vuelta a España, not too shabby. Here are some of the best points.

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