EuroTrash TTT Monday!

The World Champs are well under way with TTT’s, of course we have all the latest news & video from Ponferrada. Lots of other races at the weekend, plus all the team news, transfers, race news, Contador and the Jens Voigt Hour. Big coffee time!

TOP STORY: Jens Voigt New World Hour Record?
Not taking anything away from Jens Voigt hour ride on Thursday (see story below), as he did put up a great ride, especially for a man of 43, but we have to question the ‘new’ World Hour Record when compared to the previous efforts.

Yes, Voigts’ ride of 51.11kilometres beat the record of Ondrej Sosenka who covered 49.7 kilometers, but the Russian rode on a normal bike with spoked wheels and drop handle bars, where as Voigt used TT bars and disk wheels. There are eight Hour Record rides that are faster than Jens Voigt’s, most of which we can discount as they were done using the ‘Superman’ position, which gave quite an advantage to those riders. Also they used very aero bikes, but if you look at the bike and position of the second fastest of the Hour Records, which was set by Tony Rominger in November 1994 in the Bordeaux track, there isn’t much difference. Except the Colnago that Rominger is riding has a smaller front wheel and that he covered 4.176 kilometers more. Compare the two bike frames and you will see the Colnago apart from a small section at the head tube, has no aero add-ons, those look like round tubes. The Trek on the other hand has all the styling of a modern bike…chalk and cheese.

In no way can you blame Jens or his team, they have used the rules as they have been laid down by the UCI and what a better way to hang your wheels up for the hard German.

It looks like the UCI have shot themselves in the foot again, like last week with the Colombian IDRD-Bogota Humana-San Mateo-Solgar women’s team kit; they hadn’t looked at the clothing ‘in the flesh’ as it isn’t skin colored, but gold. They (like many) jumped on a very badly reproduced photo and shouted; “the Queen(s) is in the altogether!” One thing is for sure; they can’t blame Pat McQuaid and Hien Verbruggen for this.

That’s a fairly normal bike:

World Road Championships 2014

Men’s Team Time Trial
The BMC team of Rohan Dennis, Silvan Dillier, Daniel Oss, Manuel Quinziato, Tejay van Garderen and Peter Velits were just too fast for all the other teams, taking 31 seconds out of Orica-GreenEDGE and 35 from Omega Pharma –Quick-Step. The top teams were very close, apart from BMC; the next six were all within 30 seconds of each other. The top three teams were close at all the check points, but where BMC made the difference was in the final part of the race where they lifted the pace when the others were losing riders. Sky lost two riders and Bradley Wiggins wasn’t the power-house he was expected to be and the team finished 4th.

BMC’s Tejay van Garderen: “It feels incredible. The team was confident but nervous coming into this. A couple of years ago we were a few seconds off the win and we had that in the back of our minds. We knew we had a strong team and that everything had to just fall into place. We just stayed calm and did our thing.”

BMC Racing Team President/General Manager Jim Ochowicz: “This was special because it was everybody on the team – not just the six riders. It is really all the riders and all the staff and (sponsor) Andy Rihs and all of us who have thought about this since they started this world championship three years ago. It has always been high on our priority list, it has been a goal of the team every year and now we have done it. So it is a great moment in our organization.”

Tony Martin (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step): “We all gave 100 percent so it’s no concern about our effort today,” Martin said. “I think we lost the race at the last 15 kilometers. We have to analyze what went wrong, what went missing. It’s always hard to say what went wrong so close after the race, but without question we lost the race in the final kilometers. I think there were a few things that worked against us, but it’s hard to say for sure what really made the biggest difference. In the up and down section it was really hard to find a good rhythm but we all did a good job and took care of each other. I’m proud of all six guys as we all went full gas today. In the end it’s still a medal, we’re still in the top three of the world. I think we can be disappointed but also proud of what we did today. Now I must look to this Wednesday as I try to defend my status as three-time World TT Champion. I have to prepare and be focused immediately.”

Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step): “I think technically we did a good time trial. Everyone did their best. The part that we planned to make a difference, I thought before that we were still in the lead, it seemed we were a bit behind instead. We tried to make a difference there, but you felt the wind change completely straight away, despite our plan in that section. We lost a lot of time there. That, combined with the rain in the final, I think we have to be happy with the circumstances. We still have a medal, but I think with this team and the effort we did, in a little better conditions we’d be fighting for a better place. You could see it with our time at the second intermediate point when the conditions were more as planned. But OK, we did our best with what we could control.”

Astana’s Daniil Fominykh: “The course was considerably more difficult than last year, and I think we were all surprised by the speed and the climbing – after the first 15km it was up,down, up, down almost completely to the finish.”

Read the full race report here.

World’14 Men’s Team Time Trial Result:
1. BMC in 1:03:29.85
2. Orica-GreenEDGE at 0:31.84
3. Omega Pharma – Quick-Step at 0:35.22
4. Sky at 0:37.29
5. Tinkoff-Saxo at 0:46.59
6. Movistar at 0:51.37
7. Trek at 1:01.47
8. Giant-Shimano at 1:26.60
9. Cannondale at 1:28.56
10. Garmin-Sharp at 1:44.80.

Men’s TTT:

Women’s Team Time Trial
The Specialized-lululemon team dominated the women’s team time trial from the minute they rolled down the starting ramp in Ponferrada. At the first time check (12 kilometers) they were 16 seconds up on Rabo-Liv and 20 on Orica-AIS. They put even more time into all the other teams by the second time check (23 kilometers); 40 seconds on Rabo-Liv and 56 on Orica-AIS. From then on it all went wrong for Rabo-Liv as first they lost multi-champion Marianne Vos and started to lose time to Orica-AIS and then in the last kilometer Annemiek van Vleuten hit the barriers and took three other riders with her. Anna van der Breggen was so badly injured (broken pelvis) she could not remount and the team was to finish last.

Meanwhile Astana-BePink had put in the fastest time at the finish, but first Orica-AIS came in 1:02 faster and then the flying Specialized-lululimon team consisting of Evelyn Stevens, Carmen Small, Chantal Blaak, Lisa Brennauer, Karol-Ann Canuel and Trixi Worrack came in with their winning time of 43:33.35 to beat Orica-AIS by 1:17.56 and Astana-BePink by 2:19.64 for their third win in a row.

Women’s Team Time Trial Result:
1. Specialized-lululemon in 43:33.35
2. Orica-AIS at 1:17.56
3. Astana BePink at 2:19.64
4. Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies at 2:25.75
5. Boels Dolmans at 2:26.33
6. UnitedHealthcare at 2:43.80
7. Bigla at 2:55.54
8. Giant Shimano at 3:45.05
9. Hitec Products at 4:01.38
10. RusVelo at 4:07.66.

Woman’s TTT:

Memorial Marco Pantani 2014
Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF) won the Pantani Memorial in Cesenatico in a 39-up bunch sprint on Saturday. The race split early with 20 riders keeping a gap of around 1 minute until the last 15 kilometers when 31 riders managed to cross to them. Colbrelli was led out by team mate Bongiorno in a fast finish that thinned the lead group down to a 39 sprint.

Race winner Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF): “After the second place in Tre Valli Varesine, I was really focused to win. Zardini, Pirazzi and Bongiorno did stunning work for me. In the last kilometre, I waited for someone to launch the sprint and when Selvaggi (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) moved I took his wheel. With 200 to go, I went out and got the win.”

Memorial Marco Pantani Result:
1. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani-CSF in 4:34:49
2. Grega Bole (Slo) Vini Fantini-Nippo
3. Fabio Chinello (Ita) Area Zero D’Amico
4. Rafael Andriato De Mattas (Bra) Neri Sottoli
5. Davide Vigano (Ita) Caja Rural-Seguros Rga
6. Simone Ponzi (Ita) Neri Sottoli
7. Federico Zurlo (Ita) Nazionale Italiana
8. Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice
9. Antonio Parrinello (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela
10. Manuel Belletti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela.

Memorial Marco Pantani:

GP Industria e Commercio di Prato 2014
Sonny Colbrelli (Italy) won on Sunday in the GP Industria e Commercio di Prato after winning Saturday’s Memorial Marco Pantani. Colbrelli was riding for the Italian National team and not for his Pro Team Bardiani-CSF. On the hilly first of two circuits a break of 11 riders slipped of the front, but the Italian squad of Nibali, Visconti, Aru chased them down. This left a bunch of around 40 riders to contest the sprint. Corbrelli beat MTN-Qhubeka’s Kristian Sbaragli and Danielo Napolitano of Wanty-Groupe-Goubert for his second win in two days.

GP Industria e Commercio di Prato Result:
1. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Italy
2. Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN-Qhubeka
3. Danielo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert
4. Simone Ponzi (Ita) Neri Sottoli
5. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha
6. Davide Viganò (Ita) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
7. Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Area Zero D’Amico
8. Davide Mucelli (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team
9. Mauro Finetto (Ita) Neri Sottoli
10. Maciej Paterski (Pol) Poland.

Primus Classic Impanis-Van Petegem 2014
BMC Racing Team’s Greg Van Avermaet won Primus Classic Impanis-Van Petegem Saturday as teammate and former world road champion Thor Hushovd competed in his final race to close a 15-year professional career.

Van Avermaet earned his second win in four days by surviving from what was a 10-man breakaway that formed 20 kilometers into the 196.6-km race in Belgium. The escapees enjoyed a nearly six-minute advantage before a small chase group threatened to make the catch inside the final kilometers. Van Avermaet out-sprinted four other survivors from the original breakaway to win ahead of Tosh van der Sande (Lotto-Belisol) and Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quick Step). The chase group arrived 11 seconds later and the peloton, with Hushovd, was 57 seconds back. Van Avermaet said he was only looking for a good day of training following his victory Wednesday at Grand Prix de Wallonie. “We just gave it all to stay in front to the finish and that is what happened,” Van Avermaet said. “It was a goal to do some good preparation for the worlds, so for me it went perfectly.” The victory was Van Avermaet’s third of the year and the BMC Racing Team’s 27th on the season. Sport Director Max Sciandri said the BMC Racing Team was ready for every scenario. “We knew we could finish it off well with Thor if it came to a sprint, but we wanted the other guys to be focused on breakaways,” he said. “And Greg finished it off in a great way.”

Hushovd placed 48th in his last race and received congratulatory hugs from his teammates. “It is a strange feeling and it is kind of sad in one way,” he said. “There is a lot of emotion. But I am really in a good place and proud of my career. It has been a great 15 years.” Hushovd’s first win as a professional came on April 29, 2000, when he won the first of three straight stages of the Ringerike Grand Prix in his home country of Norway. His last win came on Aug. 11, 2013 when he took the overall title (as well as the final stage) of the Arctic Race of Norway for two of his BMC Racing Team-high nine wins on the year. In between, he won nearly 100 races, including a world title on the road (2010), stages of all three grand tours, two points classification titles at the Tour de France (2005 and 2009) and three Norwegian national road (2004, 2010 and 2013) and time trial (2002, 2004 and 2005) titles. “Thor will be a great inspiration for younger generations and it is great he finished with the BMC Racing Team,” Sciandri said. “We hope all the best for him.”
Thanks to Sean at BMC.

Primus Classic Impanis-Van Petegem Result:
1. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC in 4:20:04
2. Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Belisol
3. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
4. Albert Timmer (Ned) Giant-Shimano
5. Ramain Cardis (Fra) Europcar
6. Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Giant-Shimano at 0:11
7. Gianni Meersman (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
8. Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise
9. Bjorn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty-Groupe Gobert
10. Vincent Jerome (Fra) Europcar.

Tre Valli Varesine 2014
Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEDGE) sprinted to victory in Varese ahead of Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF) and Filippo Pozzato (Lampre-Merida). In very wet conditions the race was marred by many crashes, one including Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). Earlier in the race; a break of Alexsandr Dyachenko (Astana), Marcos Garcia (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Nikolay Mihaylov (CCC Polsat Polkowice) and David De La Cruz (NetApp-Endura), but they were caught on the finishing circuit. Six more riders went clear, but Astana and Cannondale pulled them back with one and half laps of the circuit. The heavy rain caused as many to be dropped much as the pace, so that in the end six riders fought for the win.

Winner Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEDGE): “It was very dangerous on the finishing circuit. Gasparotto crashed and so we were all afraid of going down. There were a lot of attacks in the finale and I saw Pozzato on my wheel, so I was worried. But we caught the attacks at the finish and I managed to pass Colbrelli. I’m on form and rarely make mistakes in races, so it went my way.”

Tre Valli Varesine Result:
1. Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-GreenEDGE at 5:14:39
2. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani-CSF
3. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre-Merida
4. Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Polsat Polkowice
5. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale
6. Mauro Finetto (Ita) Neri Sottoli
7. Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-Merida at 0:04
8. Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Bardiani-CSF at 0:07
9. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana at 0:22
10. Antonio Parrinello (Ita) Androni Giocattoli at 1:23.

Tre Valli Varesine:

Jens Voigt sets new Hour Record
Jens Voigt has put the Hour Record back into the headlines Thursday evening in Grenchen, Switzerland in front of over 1600 fans at the Velodrome Suisse, setting a new record distance of 51.110 kms to break the 2005 benchmark of 49.700 kms set in 2005 set by Ondrej Sosenka.

Jens Voigt was ahead of his set timetable from the first lap, and he slowly built on his lead as the seconds ticked off the clock. He never appeared in trouble and was able to increase his pace in the final 10 minutes to bring his speed over the 51km/h mark for the first time.

Jens Voigt: “I started as usual too fast, but that is just me I can’t control myself, and I realized that I was a second faster on the first lap than on the timetable so I tried to pace myself a little. But I was in good shape, just right. I am perfectly fit for this moment, I am in very good shape, and after 20 minutes I had gained one lap but I was still feeling in control. Then from 20-40 minutes I had a comfortable lead and I paced myself and was still gaining a little time. Then in the last 20 I sped up a little and gained another lap. The last 10 minutes were flat out – all-in. My only thoughts were to not over pace, to focus on holding the black line and to stay aero – no side thoughts. 51.1- yah I am pretty happy.”

After it was over he was able to take in what he had just accomplished in front of a packed house in the Velodrome Suisse, and also televised live throughout the world. He admitted, even through the suffering, he was able to enjoy the moment:

Jens Voigt: “The first 10 minutes I could not feel the pedals and thought, ‘oh this is easy!’ Then I went, ‘oooooh, maybe you’d better pace yourself a little bit here.’ Then I went on cruising speed from 20-40 mins. But I could feel at that speed I was good, I could hold on to this speed, I am not going to break down or slow down. So I felt in control, and yes indeed I had a little bit of time to enjoy it.”

“In the final 30 minutes Jens Voigt began standing at interspersed moments, the first show of the strain and pain from the tremendous effort. “Having this cramped up position to hold for an hour is pretty tough. Basically the place where I sit on the saddle was really beginning to hurt and giving me a lot of pain, so every 10 laps I got out of the seat to stretch and release some pressure of my behind so to speak. I am happy that I don’t have to sit on the saddle for the next days now! I remember how Chris Boardman was walking after his effort and I am not far off from that. I am basically limping. It hurts in my glutes! Boardman was my first roommate in 1997 and I can’t ask for a better good-bye than this.”

Alberto Contador to ride 2015 Giro d’Italia
Vuelta a España winner Alberto Contador arrived in Bormio to take part in the RHxDue, a popular ride that climbs the Gavia and Mortirolo, announced during the presentation of this event his intention to ride the next Giro d’Italia. All depending on the race details, especiallythe route which will be presented after the Tour of Lombardy.

“Since we’re here in Bormio, at the foot of legendary mountain passes like the Gavia, Mortirolo and Stelvio, that I have enjoyed and suffered in the Tour of Italy, and awaiting for some details such as the route of the race, I have already spoken to Bjarne Riis and my coach and we have decided that my first goal of 2015 will be the Giro d’Italia,” said Alberto Contador at the press conference organized by Zero RH +, the provider of competition sunglasses both for Tinkoff-Saxo and teams of Alberto Contador Foundation.

Alberto Contador also said that his 2015 plan passes first by the Giro d’Italia, but also, “since it is the most important race on the calendar, by the Tour de France if everything goes smoothly throughout the season”. Alberto explained that he has taken this decision to “take on a new challenge and have a new motivation.”

The leader of Tinkoff-Saxo finished explaining that this challenge raises “more like a Giro-Tour double that an attempt to make the big three in the same year, which is not in my plans at the moment”, he concluded.

Alberto Contador in the Press Conference in Italy with members of his Foundation’s Cycling Teams:

Critérium International to Stay in Porto-Vecchio in 2015 & 2016
Christian Prudhomme travelled to Porto-Vecchio this morning to meet with mayor Georges Mela and renew the vows between the Critérium International and the Corsican town for the next two editions of the race. The Grand Start of the 100th Tour in Porto-Vecchio left an indelible mark there. The peloton will again race on the island on March 28 and 29, 2015.

A new page of history has been written on the roads of South Corsica every March for the last five years, slowly but steadily laying the groundwork for the Tour de France’s inaugural visit to the Island of Beauty. In 2010, the elite peloton and cycling-crazed TV viewers discovered Corsica’s wide variety of jaw-dropping landscapes, the perfect backdrop to a race like the Critérium International. With three stages held over two days, the route makes the most of the island’s topography, especially for the now traditional finish atop the Col de l’Ospedale and the sprint showdown on the coast, while Porto-Vecchio’s rugged terrain throws some unpredictability into the urban course of the final time trial. Corsica’s geography has been explored in different ways over the years, but it has never disappointed in the last five editions of the Critérium International. Two Tour de France winners, Chris Froome and Cadel Evans, have prevailed on Corsican roads, while defending champion Jean-Christophe Péraud followed up on his triumph here by finishing a brilliant second at the Grande Boucle in July. The race’s auspicious record has caught the attention of the champions, who have a soft spot for the Critérium International on Corsica. Everything is ready for 2015 and 2016.

Chris Froome attacks in the Criterium International ’13:

Swift Signs 2 year Contract with Sky
British rider Ben Swift has signed a new two-year contract with Team Sky, keeping him with the team until the end of 2016. The 26-year-old Yorkshireman has been a valued member of Team Sky since they began in 2010, achieving 11 victories and racing in five Grand Tours over that period.

Swift made history when he secured the team’s first-ever stage race win at the 2010 Tour de Picardie, and WorldTour successes at the Tours of Romandie, Poland, Basque Country and Down Under have marked him out as one of the best sprinters in the sport. His third-placed finish at the 2014 Milan-San Remo also showcased his ability as a one-day rider and he will now look to continue that upward trajectory over the next two years. Last month, team-mate and fellow Brit Geraint Thomas also signed a new two-year deal, committing the Olympic gold medallist and Tour de France winning team member to Team Sky until the end of the 2016 season.

Speaking about signing his new two-year deal, Ben Swift said: “I’ve been with Team Sky since the start and five years on it really does feel like home to me. To keep that relationship going was really important so I’m delighted to be staying for another two years. I already have one eye on next season and with this team I know I can deliver some good results.

“I really do feel part of the foundations of this team having grown up with so many of the riders and staff. I’ve known many of them since the start of my career and have been guided by the likes of Sir Dave Brailsford and Rod Ellingworth for years, which has made me the rider I am today. With the team’s support I’ve been able to grow and develop as a rider and by staying here I know that will continue.”

Talking about the team launch in January 2010, Swift said: “I remember it clearly; it was a really exciting day and there was a feeling that it was the start of something big. It was the first high-profile British team, with a great backing from Sky, and it felt like we were going to go far. To be stood there on the stage with riders that I grew up with like Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard and Peter Kennaugh was a great feeling. We had big, bold ambitions from the start – to win the Tour de France in five years and inspire more people to start cycling – so to be a part of that select group of riders was special.”

He continued: “For the team to go on to achieve those goals and win back-to-back Tour de France titles was an incredible feat. As well as that, I’m always staggered to see just how many people are out on their bikes these days, which is great for the sport I love. The recent growth of cycling in the UK has been unbelievable and we’re all proud to have played a part in that.

“From a personal point of view, winning stage five of the Tour de Romandie in 2011 was a special moment and one I’ll always look back on with fond memories. That day I had a lead-out train of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas to help me win that stage, so I had pretty impressive support around me and I was proud to deliver for them. Next year I’m really looking forward to getting a solid winter behind me with no injuries, which unfortunately is something I lacked this year. I’m really focussed on getting a good block of training in place which will give me the platform to get good results in 2015.”

Giro d’Italia’15 stage 3 in Dublin, so close for Swift

Tiago Machado to join Team Katusha
The Russian WorldTour Team Katusha announces the signing of an agreement with the Portuguese rider Tiago Machado, 28. Rider and Team reached an agreement for the seasons 2015 and 2016.

For Machado it means a return to WorldTour level. In the current season, for Team NetApp, Machado won the Overall Classification in the Tour de Slovénie, finished 2nd in Tour of Murcia, 3rd in Critérium International, 4th in Tour of California and 6th in Giro del Trentino. Moreover, he was one of the revelations in the Tour de France.

“Machado charmed us a lot not only in the Tour de France but in his complete last campaign. To reinforce our team for the stage races he is the perfect rider. Tiago can climb and he is a very good time trialist. We know that Tiago is very keen on coming to our team. Team director José Azevedo and I worked with him already in the past in the Giro and the Vuelta. Tiago is a real pro, not an individualist, a real team player and the kind of rider we welcome with pleasure in our team,” said Team Katusha General Manager Viacheslav Ekimov.

Tinkoff-Saxo extends contract with Evgeny Petrov
Tinkoff-Saxo is pleased to announce that the team has extended the contract with Evgeny Petrov. The 36-year old Russian has inked a one-year deal keeping him on the team ahead of the ambitious 2015 season. Team Owner Oleg Tinkov looks forward to having Petrov in the squad again next year.

“It’s a special pleasure for me to hear that Bjarne has decided to extend the contract with Evgeny. We both come from the same little Siberian city and we had the same coach when we were juniors. I believe Evgeny will continue to be strong next year, he’s very experienced and professional in his approach to training and racing and his victory on the queen stage of Tour of Austria this year illustrated it”, commented Oleg Tinkov.

Evgeny Petrov turned pro in 2001 for Mapei and had two seasons on Oleg Tinkov’s Tinkoff Credit Systems in 2007 and 2008. Petrov has been a part of Tinkoff-Saxo since 2013 and has offered great support to the captains in several Grand Tours as well as achieved personal results – the most noticeable being a solo win on the tough 6th stage of this year’s Tour of Austria. “I’m very happy about staying with Tinkoff-Saxo. It’s like a family and we have a very strong camaraderie in the team. For me it has been a good year with personal success and a lot of hard work for the captains. We’re a team with big goals and that motivates me a lot”, said Evgeny Petrov after signing the new contract.” Tinkoff-Saxo has announced that the team will further increase the level of ambitions for 2015 by signing several big riders, including Peter Sagan. Petrov says that he looks forward to next season and riding with his new teammates. “For me, it’s great to get one more year with Oleg and Bjarne. They want this team to be the best in the world and next year I will support captains like Contador, Majka and Sagan the best I can. We will have a team that is capable of going for the win in both Grand Tours and Classics and I look forward to being part of that”, added Petrov.

Evgeny Petrov winning stage 6 of the Tour of Austria:

Phil Bauhaus, Emanuel Buchmann, and Patrick Konrad change to German Pro Team
The German professional cycling team built around the new name sponsor BORA has signed the sprinter Phil Bauhaus (20, GER) and the talented climbers Emanuel Buchmann (21, GER) and Patrick Konrad (22, AUT). These three neo-professionals will each receive two-year contracts with the German team.

Team manager Ralph Denk on the new signings: “BORA will provide us with financial security for the next five years. That is the basis for building up the team’s next generation without pressure and fulfilling their dreams of a professional career. I am happy that we are able to provide some of the biggest talents from the German-speaking countries with this opportunity. Phil brings an incredible boost to our sprinting power and a powerful alternative for the finale. Emanuel’s and Patrick’s climbing abilities are extremely valuable to the success of our stage race riders. I am looking forward to having the guys on the team.”

Phil Bauhaus (Stölting) is one of Germany’s most successful young sprinters this season. With five wins in UCI races this season, including two stages at the Tour of Portugal, as well as a podium placing at the German elite championships, the 20-year-old highly recommended for a professional contract. At his new team, Bauhaus will join the successful sprinter team based around Irishman Sam Bennett.

Emanuel Buchmann (Rad-Net Rose) was the best-placed German rider at this year’s Tour de l’Avenir. Finishing seventh overall, he crowned a season with consistent Top 10 results at international stage races in the U23 category. Buchmann is one of Germany’s biggest U23 talents for demanding stage races. Since joining his team, which was created on the initiative of the German cycling federation (BDR), he has developed into an expert mountain stage rider. Buchmann was selected to represent Germany in this year’s U23 world championships.

Patrick Konrad, currently riding as a stagiaire for NetApp – Endura, comes from the Austrian team Gourmetfein-Simplon Wels. He finished on the podium of one of the most prestigious U23 stage races as third in last year’s Tour de l’Avenir. This year he won the Oberösterreich-Rundfahrt. Konrad placed fourth overall in the higher-class Tour of Austria against riders from the WorldTour. Like his future teammate Buchmann, Konrad is an expert climbing specialist.

Phil Bauhaus with John Degenkolb and André Greipel on the German National champs podium:

Serge Pauwels Joins Team MTN-Qhubeka
Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung are happy to announce that Serge Pauwels will join our African Pro-Continental team next season. Pauwels joins Team MTN-Qhubeka after having spent the past 5 years racing at the World Tour level. Pauwels is a super strong domestique who has ridden in support of a number of grand tour contenders and also has an impressive team time trial record.

Having ridden all 3 grand tours, Pauwels experience is a resource that will be extremely important to our team as we look to develop our young African climbers into real GC contenders. The support Pauwels will be able to give our young Africans in the mountains and in stage races will be instrumental to their success. Coming from Belgium, Pauwels addition to our squad is also really important in terms of globalising our team for increased support to the Qhubeka foundation.

Serge Pauwels: “Over the last couple of years I have had the luck to ride for some of the biggest teams in the world. Having been in a supportive role for some of the best riders on the planet, I have gained a lot of experience, especially in Grand Tours. At Team MTN-Qhubeka I will get the unique opportunity to share this experience with young, promising African riders like Louis Meintjes and Merhawi Kudus. Team MTN-Qhubeka is for me a team with a soul, and that’s why I am very excited to take on this new challenge, which comes at a perfect time in my career.”

Learn more about the team at www.teammtnqhubeka.com​

Top 10 Things The UCI Have Banned
From frames to footwear, here is a list of some of the many things banned by cycling’s governing body the UCI. Some may surprise you!
Developments in technology and knowledge regarding sport science and aerodynamics mean that cycling is constantly looking for ways to improve performance. However, sometimes the UCI needs to step in to make sure such advancements aren’t giving some riders an unfair advantage. While we agree with most things on this list, we will miss the days of Spinergys and Spinacis. And we may be a little cheeky and don some mittens at our local velodrome…


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