Stage 3 : Antelope Island to North Salt Lake, 138.3km
Hermans doubles up with a second solo win
NORTH SALT LAKE, UT – AUGUST 15: Stage 3 of the Larry H. miller Tour of Utah on August 15, 2019 in North Salt Lake, Utah. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
Israel Cycling Academy’s Ben Herman knew that the first full day in the leader’s jersey was no day to relax. After an epic solo win on Powder Mountain the Belgian could have allowed his opponents to come to him, but instead, after biding his time for most of the day’s 139km, with one kilometre to go Herman launched a ferocious move that saw those rivals outwitted and out-gunned.
The speed of the attack saw him catch and pass the two leaders Kyle Murphy (Rally UHC Cycling) and stage one winner Lawson Craddock (EF Education First) to take the stage by 7″ over Murphy with Niklas Eg ( Trek – Segafredo ) third, closely followed by James Piccoli. The result extended Herman’s lead to 44″ over Piccoli with Eg at 1’06”. Murphy moves up to fourth spot overall, pushing compatriot Peter Stetina (Trek – Segafredo) down into fifth.
Hermans takes over race lead with solo win in the rarefied air of Powder Mountain
Stage 2: Brigham City to Powder Mountain Resort , 135.8km
Hermans takes over race lead with solo win in the rarefied air of Powder Mountain
Israel Cycling Acadamy’s Ben Hermans took a moment to salute compatriot Bjorg Lambrecht as a crossed the line alone atop Utah’s Powder Mountain, finishing solo after a punishing 16km climb to 2700m.
POWDER MOUNTAIN, UT – AUGUST 14: Ben Hermans (Israel Cycling Academy) comes to the line on stage 2 of the Larry H. miller Tour of Utah on August 14, 2019 in Powder Mountain, Utah. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
“I knew I had to be in really good shape on this climb. You can make a lot of time, you can lose a lot of time, on this climb. I hoped for the best legs. I had really good feeling on the climb, so I’m happy I was able to take the win,” said Hermans
Hermans, who finished second overall in 2018, started the climb part of a six-man breakaway that has formed 40km into the stage. Peter Stetina (USA) of Trek-Segafredo made an early break gaining 20 seconds but over the course of the brutal 14km (8.6mi) climb the Hermans, in the company of James Piccoli (Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling) and Trek-Segafredo’s Niklas Eg gradually shed their companions, and finally caught Stetina with four kilometres to go.
From there the Belgian maintained a steady pace despite the gradient rearing up to 16 percent, and managed to drop Eg and Piccoli. eg drifted away leaving the three riders battling along intheir own world of pain amongst the rock and thinning air. Despite the riders being in constant sight of each other thanks to the treeless terrain the gaps proved insurmountable.
Herman finally crossed the line 20 seconds ahead of Piccoli with Eg in third, 35 seconds down. Fourth spot went to Stetina at 58″. The gap to the peloton now became the focus but it was clear that barring a surge of pace the lead would pass to Hermans.
“Peter Stetina attacked quite hard and I knew that I had to set my tempo and look at the other guys. I kept my tempo until five or four K (kilometers) to go. From there, I knew that the chance was big that I could win the stage. It was still hard to get to the finish,” Hermans added.
The race gave the GC a massive shakeout with overnight leader Lawson Craddock (USA) of EF Education First, dropping to ninth on G.C., 2 minutes and 56 seconds off the lead, while Serghei Tvetcov (ROM) of Worthy Pro Cycling dropped from second place to 23rd overall. It left Hermans with a lead of 26″ over Piccoli, wiht Eg at 52″, Stetina at 1’10” and Joseph Dombrowski (EF Education First) fifth at 1’33”.
The Larry H. Miller Dealerships Most Aggressive Rider jersey went to Piccoli who said, “Today we had an extra bit of motivation. I always want to do the best I can here. I think there is lots to play for, and the team is going to do everything we can to continue fighting and to race strong.”
Pieters and Vivani take the Elite honours in Alkmaar, Netherlands
10 August 2019: Elite Women: Alkmaar to Alkmaar, 115km
Amy Pieters (Netherlands/Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team) gave the host nation a final tally of five gold medals to head up the medal table when she outsprinted Italy’s Elena Cecchini and Germany’s Lisa Klein after long breakaway.
Womens Elite podium: Cecchini , Pieters, Klein
After controlling the situation in the
first stages of the race, approximately 80 kilometres from the finish,
action unfolded which then proved to be decisive in the final with the
breakaway by Lisa Klein (Germany), Amy Pieters (Netherlands) and Elena
Cecchini (Italy). The leading trio quickly gained a lead of more than 2
minutes over the peloton, a lead which they managed to maintain despite a
strong prevailing wind all day.
In the last few kilometres, the gap on
the leading riders’ started to close, but the group did not manage to
catch them up. In the final sprint of three, Amy Pieters, who had
already won the gold medal Wednesday in the Mixed Relay, achieved a
decisive win over Elena Cecchini, and the German Lisa Klein who came
third, following her second place won in the Individual Time-Trial and
Mixed Relay a few days ago.
11 August 2019. Elite Men: Alkmaar to Alkmaar, 172.6km
Elia Viviani outsprints breakaway companions to become European champion
Three days and three gold medals for Deceuninck – Quick-Step riders on the international scene! After Remco Evenepoel’s dominating success in the time trial at the European Championships and Max Richeze’s landmark victory at the Pan American Games, this time Elia Viviani grabbed the headlines, in Alkmaar, where the 30-year-old Italian scored one of the biggest and most memorable wins of his career and made sure of donning the European Champion jersey for the next 12 months.
ALKMAAR, NETHERLANDS – AUGUST 11: Arrival / Elia Viviani of Italy / Celebration / during the 25th UEC Road European Championships 2019 – Elite Men’s Road Race a 172,6km race from Alkmaar to Alkmaar / #EuroRoad19 / on August 11, 2019 in Alkmaar, Netherlands. (Photo by Bas Czerwinski/Getty Images)
“It’s absolutely amazing, I can’t find the words to tell you what this means for me! I came out of the Tour de France with a good condition and was hoping to be in contention for the gold medal, and to finally get it, two years after I finished runner-up, gives me immense joy”, a smiling Elia said moments after the finish.
Sunday’s enthralling 172.6km race was ripped apart by the Italian team, who took advantage of the strong crosswinds to make a huge selection after just 20 kilometers. As a result, five different groups were spread across the road, and things didn’t stop there, as inside the last 70 kilometers the same Squadra Azzurra pushed again, this time on the local circuit, to make another split, with just 13 men surviving.
ALKMAAR, NETHERLANDS – AUGUST 11: Podium / Yves Lampaert of Belgium Silver Medal / Elia Viviani of Italy Gold Medal / Pascal Ackermann of Germany Bronze Medal / Celebration / during the 25th UEC Road European Championships 2019 – Elite Men’s Road Race a 172,6km race from Alkmaar to Alkmaar / #EuroRoad19 / on August 11, 2019 in Alkmaar, Netherlands. (Photo by Bas Czerwinski/Getty Images)
Pavel Sivakov (INEOS) takes the overall at the Tour de Pologne
Stage 7 : Bukovina Resort to Bukowina Tatrzańska : 153.3km
Pavel Sivakov (INEOS) takes the overall at the Tour de Pologne
Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Merida) wrapped up the seven stage Tour of Poland with a solo win on the final stage, 55 seconds ahead of American Neilson Powless (Team Jumbo-Visma) with Gianluca Brambilla (Trek – Segafredo) third at 1’07” with another four breakaway riders further back still.
The gaps mirrored a roller coaster stage that saw the peloton heavily fragmented with finishers stretched out over nearly 20 minutes. The result played into the hands of Sivakov who started the day second overall but moved into top spot after finishing comfortably in the first big group, 2’15” down while overnight leader Jonas Vingegaard (Team Jumbo-Visma) who had rocketed up the GC 58 places after beating Sivakov and Hindley in a three way sprint on Stage 6, plummeted 25 places after finishing 14’30” down on the day’s winner.
Rounding out the rest of the GC podium were Aussie Hindley (Team Sunweb) at just 2″ back and Italy’s Diego Ulissi (UAE-Team Emirates) at 12″.
Update: The fourth stage of the Tour of Poland has been neutralised and shortened. It will now be 133.9km and one final lap.
22 year old Belgian rider Bjorg Lambrecht has died following a crash in the Tour of Poland. Riding for Lotto-Soudal Lambrecht crashed during the third stage. He was resuscitated at the roadside before being taken by road to hospital after transport by air ambulance was ruled out as too risky. Unfortunately he succumbed to his injuries at hospital.
The team announced his passing in a tweet this afternoon
The biggest tragedy possible that could happen to the family, friends and teammates of Bjorg has happened… Rest in peace Bjorg… ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9u9LZkp2Rt
Elia Viviani stayed ahead of a big crash with 1.4km to go to take the sprint win on the Mall, beating Sam Bennett (Bora Hansgrohe) with Deceuninck – Quick Step teammate Michael Mørkøv taking third.
Elia Viviani (ITA) of Deceuninck-Quick-Step raises his arms in victory after sprinting to win the Prudential RideLondon Classic. Photo: Bob Martin for Prudential RideLondonElia Viviani (ITA) of Team Deceuninck-Quick-Step sprints to the finish line to win the Prudential RideLondon Classic ahead of Sam Bennett (IRL) of Team Bora-Honsgrohe.
Photo: Ben Queenborough for Prudential RideLondon
The win came shortly before the news that Viviani would be transferring to Team Cofidis for 2020.
Race Video (courtesy of RideLondon)
What a finish!
Elia Viviani wins the #RideLondon Surrey Classic ?♂️
Wiebes wins Classique amid dramatic finishing straight crash and disqualification.
Stage winner Lorena Wiebes (2nd from right) places 2nd ahead of Kirsten Wild before the latter is disqualified for causing the crash in the background. Copyright: Mark Sharon 2019 (Photographer)
20year old Lorena Wiebes (Parkhotel Valkenburg) had launched a long sprint almost as soon as the peloton made the final turn in to the Mall, the sun dipping behind Buckingham Palace, after 68km of racing.
As the line loomed Wiebes could have looked left and right and seen nobody. She would not have seen but would surely have heard the scenes of carnage unfold behind her but her resolve was resolutely. Victory was surely hers until, with a couple of metres to go, WNT-Rotor Pro Cycling’s Kirsten Wild popped into sight on her left to take the win by a wheel rim. The agony of losing by such a tiny margin worse than the pain in her lungs, but wait…
Wild has put in an exhibition of the power sprinting that looked set to claim her third win on the Mall, pulling back Wiebes’ seemingly unassailable advantage, but it had come at great cost. In doing so she had deviated off her race line, clipping the front wheel of Alé Cipollini’s Chloe Hosking and putting a couple of dozen riders on the deck.
While Wild was initially declared the winner her own celebrations were non-existent and it soon dawned on riders and fans that something was amiss. A few minutes later it was confirmed that Wild had been relegated to 37th, the back of the group that had contested the sprint and a delighted Wiebes had been awarded the win and the 25,000 Euro first prize. Second spot went to Elisa Balsamo (Valcar Cylance Cycling) one step higher than her third spot in 2018, with 2017 Champion Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb) in third.
The crash which occurred after Wild deviated from her line and took out Chloe Hoskings Copyright: Mark Sharon 2019 (Photographer)
Post-race interview with Lorena Wiebes
Post race interview with Lorena Wiebes (Parkhotel Valkenburg)
The victory added a significant result to a nicely developing 2019 palmares, that included the GC at Tour of Chongming Island UCI Women’s WorldTour, and the National Championships Netherlands WE – Road Race where she beat Marianne Vos.
Classique August3rd and Classic August 4th, London
Kirsten Wild returns to defend Classique title against Marianne Vos and Coryn Riviera. Tour de France rivals Caleb Ewan and Elia Viviani amongst the stars battling for honours at the Classic.
Classique 68km – 20 laps of a 3.4km Central London Circuit
Two-time champion Kirsten Wild (WNT-Rotor Pro Cycling) heads a star-studded list of entries for the 2019 Prudential RideLondon Classique – the world’s richest one-day women’s bike race – on Saturday 3 August.
Kirsten Wild winning the 2018 edition of the Classique Copyright: Mark Sharon (Photographer)
Wild will be up against previous champion Coryn Rivera (Sunweb) and Le Course Marianne Vos (CCC – Liv) who is fresh from winning La Course by Le Tour de France (1.WWT).
Coryn Rivera (Sunweb) Copyright: Mark Sharon (Photographer)2018 Classique Podium L-R Marianne Vos, Kirsten Wild, Elisa Balsamo Copyright: Mark Sharon (photographer)
Classic 1.UWT 169km
Fresh from a hat-trick of stage wins at the Tour de France Lotto-Soudal’s Caleb Ewan is looking to extend his palmares with a win in London on Sunday at the Prudential Ride London Classic. His rivals include fellow stage winners Elia Viviani (Deceuninck- Quick Step), Mike Teunissen (Team Jumbo-Visma) and Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott).
The line up also includes four former winners of the race, Arnaud Demare (Groupama – FDJ) – who returns for the first time since winning the very first edition of the race in 2013 – Jempy Drucker (BORA-Hansgrohe), Adam Blythe (Lotto Soudal) and Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates).
Other fast men include Sam Bennett (BORA-Hansgrohe), Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb), and the reigning Paris-Roubaix champion Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck – Quick Step)
Team Ineos rider Michel Kwiatowski has announced he will skip the upcoming Tour of Poland.
” Hopefully soon I will be able to find a joy from riding my bike and I’m sure that from there on I will win again some big races. “, Kwiatowski on Instagram
The 29 year old, who finished 83rd at this year’s Tour de France stated in an Instagram post:
“I’m not a guy who likes to change his plans but unfortunately this is one of those moments. As much as I love Tour de Pologne and cherish memories from last year, I will not participate in this year’s edition. I know now, straight after finishing Tour de France, that recovery, is what my body was suggesting me probably since very long time. So far it wasn’t the season I was dreaming of and this is a good time for reflection and thinking about my preparation, combining heavy racing in 2018 and trying to step up from that in particular. Hopefully soon I will be able to find a joy from riding my bike and I’m sure that from there on I will win again some big races.
“Have a great Tour de Pologne everyone! It’s a very difficult decision to miss that amazing feeling of racing in front of Polish fans. I will be watching and hoping my teammates put on a great show. “
While his early season form seemed very solid with a 3rd spot at both the Milan San-Remo and the Paris-Nice in March Kwiatowski and even a second place on the Stage 2 Individual Time Trial at the Tour his form was notably below par as the race progressed. He was being conistently dopped on the climbs and slumped to 135th spot in the second ITT on Stage 13.
Fans will be hoping he will finds a return to form that will see him competing at the World Championships in Yorkshire taking place from 22 – 29 September.
Bernal seals the overall as Ewan reigns on the Champs Elyees
Egan Bernal became the first Colombian winner of the Tour de France. The 22 year old finished the 106th edition of the race 1’11” ahead of INEOS teammate, and defending champion, Geraint Thomas, with Steven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo-Visma) third at 1’31”.
Julian Alaphillipe (Deceuninck – Quick Step) who held the race lead for fourteen days, including 11 consecutively, finished fifth overall behind Emanuel Buchmann (BORA – hansgrohe).
Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) wins on the Champs Elyees, ahead of Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jumbo-Vista) Niccolò Bonifazio (Team Total Direct Energie) Copyright: ASo/Alex Broadway
Bernal at 22 years and 196 days became the youngest rider to win in the last 100 years and third youngest winner in the race history, after Henri Cornet (19 years and 352 days) in 1904 and François Faber (22 years 187 days) in 1909.
