Month: May 2023

London is all about being Kool

Dutch sprinter Charlotte Kool bounced back from a bad crash on the previous stage to win the final stage at the Ford RideLondon Classique on The Mall on Sunday. Kool (Team DSM) also cemented her win of the race overall, 11#” ahead of American Chloe Dygert (Canyon//SRAM Racing) who swapped places on GC with Elizabeth Deignan (Trek – Segafredo) after the Brit after time bonuses were applied.

Charlotte Kool of Team DSM (NED) celebrates winning the Ford RideLondon Classique on The Mall on Sunday 28th May 2023. Photo: Bob Martin © London Marathon Events

While it was odds on on for a bunch sprint the crowds were still treated to a break of three chancing their luck. The trio of Sofie van Rooijen (Parkhotel Valkenburg), Victoire Berteau (Cofidis Women Team) and Grace Lister (DAS-Handsling Bikes) broke away on the fifth of the eight 11.1km laps of the Central London circuit. Within a lap they had built, or been allowed, a lead of more than one minute making Berteau the virtual overall race leader.

Their bid for glory was over by the time the race crossed the finish line on the Mall for the penultimate time. Aussie Sarah Roy (Canyon//SRAM Racing) tried to defy the fates with a late attack but was reeled back in swiftly.

Rounding the corner in front of Buckingham Palace the sprinters batlle reached its climax. UAE Team ADQ lead the peloton onto the Mall with Team DSM on their wheel. Canyon/SRAM Racing took the lead punching for the line a long way out. Chloé Dygert covers the final 100m in the lead but down her right hand side Kool is going faster and overtakes with 20 metres to go to take a narrow victory.

The victory is Kool’ssixth race win of the season but is the first WorldTour stage race general classification success of her career.

“I was in a lot of pain this morning but I think in the race I switched it off and then the team delivered me perfectly, this is really a team win,” she explained, wearing her race winner’s jersey after the podium ceremony.

Explaining the tactics going on in the peloton behind the break she said, “I was quite confident because it was not on us because Canyon needed the seconds to move up in GC. For us it was actually the perfect situation, the bonus seconds were gone, so actually we stayed really calm and they made the chase. Even Trek helped so that was fine for us in the end.” And despite Canyon//SRAM Racing taking the sprint on early on The Mall she remained in control.

“I think I could expect that because she did it before and I just tried to wait as long as possible then I knew I had to go. It was a hard one but I am really happy that I could win the stage also.”

Full results here on procyclingstats.com

Giro d’Italia Final: Roglic Eternally in Pink. Cavendish conquers Rome.

Stage 21 (Final): Roma to Roma (126km)

Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) sealed the overall win in Rome this Sunday, while Mark Cavendish riding his last Giro finally claimed the stage win that eluded him through the Italy campaign.

Cavendish enjoyed a lead out from an unlikely source in his bid for glory, none other than long term friend Geraint Thomas. The Manx man took full advantage of the Welsh gift and powered ahead to beat Alex Kirsch (Trek – Segafredo) and Filippo Fiorelli (Green Project – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè) who finished second and third respectively.

Speaking seconds after the stage finish, the stage winner Mark Cavendish said: “I am super happy, it’s been an incredible day. My team mates have done a great job. My first win was in 2008, to be here again it’s unbelievable. It was very nice to see a lot of colleagues and friends happy for me after the finish like Geraint Thomas.”

Photo credit: Giro d’Italia

Roglič just had to ensure that he finished near the front in Rome to secure his first giro victory so the day was a relaxed affair for most of the peloton which allowed a break of

Giro d’Italia winner Primož Roglič said in the press conference: “There’s so much emotion going on after my time trial win yesterday. This was my first time in Rome. The scenery is incredible. It makes me happy to be part of the history with the position I have and I want to say a big thanks to everyone involved. Every Grand Tour is a challenge. I can’t compare my win at the Giro with the Tour or La Vuelta. The Giro was what I was hunting for this year. I wish it was easier to win but it was a pleasure to fight with Geraint Thomas who is a good friend of mine. Having beaten him here won’t affect our relationship.”

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
2 – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 14″
3 – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) at 1’15”
4 – Damiano Caruso (Bahrain – Victorious) at 4’40”
5 – Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ) at 5’43”

THE OFFICIAL JERSEYS
The leader jerseys of the Giro d’Italia are designed by CASTELLI and produced with SITIP recycled fabrics.

  • Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
  • Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by Agenzia ICE with the brand Madeinitaly.gov.it – Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious)
  • Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Thibaut Pinot (Groupama – FDJ)
  • Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Intimissimi Uomo – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)

Final GC and Stage 21 Results

Full results here on procyclingstats.com

Evenepoel Back in Pink

Remco Evenepoel won Stage 9 ITT to take the Maglia Rosa but Geraint Thomas, Tao Geoghegan Hart and Stefan Küng were within four seconds of the Belgian.

STAGE RESULTS
1 – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – 35 km in 41’24″, average speed 50.725 km/h
2 – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 1″
3 – Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) at 2″. 

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
2 – Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 45″
3 – Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) at 47″
4 – Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) at 50″
5 – João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) at 1’07”

Remco Evenepoel in full flight
May 14, 2023 Savignano sul Rubicone, Italy – Sport – Cycling – Giro d’Italia 2023 – 106th Edi
tion – Stage 9 – From Savignano sul Rubicone to Cesena (Technogym Village Tutor ITT). Photo Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse

Cesena (Technogym Village), 14 May 2023 – Remco Evenepoel claimed his second individual time trial victory of the Giro but the finish could not be much tighter with Geraint Thomas (1’’), Tao Geoghegan Hart (2’’) and Stefan Küng (4’’) breathing down his neck at the end.

The Belgian started strongly but weakened towards the end of the 35km course. He moved back in the Maglia Rosa with an advantage of 45’’ over Thomas, 47’’ over Primoz Roglic and 50’’ over Geoghegan Hart, making it a top 4 of only Grand Tour overall winners before the first rest day. Previous leader Andreas Leknessund now sits in sixth position with a deficit of 1’07’’.

“What made things even more special was that I did it on Mother’s Day and my whole family here. It was nice to get their support and see them at the finish. It wasn’t easy today with the rain and the cold temperatures, but I’m happy I could pull it off”, said Evenepoel, the only rider with two victories so far at this Giro, after retaking the maglia rosa.

“In the first part of the time trial I paced myself a bit too hard, and then, in the headwind, my legs didn’t turn as fast as in those opening kilometers. I could also feel the damage from the crashes of this week, and in the end it was quite tight, but I’m delighted I could prevail and claim this beautiful pink jersey. It’s nice to have an advantage in the GC before the mountains and I will try to enjoy every moment in the maglia rosa, but for the moment I’m looking forward to recovering on the first rest day before seeing what the next stages have in store”, added Remco, the first Belgian rider in 22 years to amass four days as leader of the Corsa Rosa.

THE OFFICIAL JERSEYS
The leader jerseys of the Giro d’Italia are designed by CASTELLI and produced with SITIP recycled fabrics.

  • Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step)
  • Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, sponsored by Agenzia ICE with the brand Madeinitaly.gov.it – Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious)
  • Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Davide Bais (Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team)
  • Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, sponsored by Intimissimi Uomo – Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) – worn by Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM)

Stage Results & GC

Full results here: Stage 9