Nicolas Roche (Team Sunweb) has led for two days at La Vuelta. The Irishman took over the race lead from Astana’s Miguel Ángel López and holds a slim lead of two seconds over Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team), with Rigoberto Urán (EF Education First) third at eight seconds.
The lead betters 35 year old Roche’s lone stage win back in 2013 on Stage 2 (Pontevedra to Baiona. Alto Do Monte Da Groba, 177.7km).
Stage 1 (Team Time Trial) Salinas de Torrevieja to Torrevieja, 13.4km
Stage winner Astana team finishing
Team Jumbo Visma crashes after water leaks onto the road from a watered garden
Stage 7 : Sint-Pieters-Leeuw to Geraardsbergen 173.1km
Laurens De Plus takes the win at the Binck Bank Tour
Laurens De Plus gave Team Jumbo-Visma it’s 41st win of the season when he finished four seconds behind the winner of the final stage compatriot Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale) on a stage that saw the peloton totally fragmented. The result saw De Plus finish with a 35 seconds gap to Naesen on GC. Leader for the previous three stages Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) stumbled but salvaged third spot one second behind Naesen. Fourth spot went to Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team) giving the Belgians the top four spots.
L-R: Naese, De Plus (Winner), Van Avermaet Photo: Cor Vos/Binck Bank Tour
How it happened
The race didn’t start to take shape until 60 km into the stage when a group of eight went clear. On the Valkenberg another seven riders broke free from the peloton and bridged the gap.
The race faced three ascents of the Muur van Geraardsbergen and Bosberg, and on the final pass While Stybar and Vanmarcke attacked, it was Oliver Naesen who pulled out the definitive advantage over the favorites taking De Plus and Van Avermaet with him. De Plus in the process managed to grab valuable bonus seconds at the Golden Kilometre taking him to five seconds behind Wellens.
The trio worked hard and pulled out 45 seconds over the chasers who seemed to accept their fate much to Wellens despair who could see his lead disappear.
Van Avermaet launched a final attack on the climb to the line but Naesen sensing a massive opportunity kept the wheel and passed the Olympic Champion.
Oliver Naesen beats Greg Van Avermaet on the line while Lauren de Plus takes third and the overall GC Photo Cor Vos/Binck Banck Tour
“It’s the first time I managed to beat Greg in a finish like that,” Naesen said after the finish. “I’m really proud of that. It’s a big relief. I hadn’t managed to win yet this season and that’s painful for a rider like me.
“I had a team-mate pulling at the front of the peloton to keep the gap with the breakaway small. On the last lap I went full on the Muur and Bosberg. Greg, Laurens and I are friends. We didn’t talk about anything in advance, but if you can take ten seconds with three guys on a reduced peloton you know you’re the strongest.”
For de Plus the bonus time proved truly golden as a finished four seconds behind his breakaway companions but 37″ ahead of Wellens to grab the overall.
Dembrowski takes the Finale while Hermans reigns supreme
Stage 6 : Park City to Park City, 125.9km
Dembrowski takes the Finale while Hermans reigns supreme
PARK CITY, UT – AUGUST 18: Ben Hermans (Israel Cycling Academy) takes the overall prize after stage 6 of the Larry H. miller Tour of Utah on August 18, 2019 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
Hermans spent four days resisting the stiffest of challenges from his rivals to seal the overall win at the race dubbed “America’s Toughest Stage Race”. The Belgian, who took over the race lead with a solo win on Stage 2, finished with a 50″ margin over James Piccoli (Elevate – KHS Pro Cycling), with final stage winner Joe Dombrowski (EF Education First) at 1’32”.
“From the first time that I did
this race in 2014, I had a good feeling with this race and I kept getting
better results in the G.C.,” said Hermans, who was fourth overall in 2014 and
runner-up in 2017 at the Tour of Utah. “It’s really amazing. I really enjoy it
here. It’s amazing to ride for these crowds. And to be there on the podium in
the yellow jersey is really, really nice.”
PARK CITY, UT – AUGUST 18: Joseph Dombrowski en route to victory on Stage 6 of the Larry H. miller Tour of Utah on August 18, 2019 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
FINAL
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
HERMANS Ben (BEL) ISRAEL CYCLING ACADEMY 18:46:09
PICCOLI James (CAN) ELEVATE-KHS PRO CYCLING 18:46:59 +0:00:50
DOMBROWSKI Joseph Lloyd (USA) EF EDUCATION FIRST 18:47:41 +0:01:32
ALMEIDA João (POR) HAGENS BERMAN AXEON 18:48:35 +0:02:26
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 ?♂️
