Welcome to Daily News, your roundup of news items from across the world of cycling. We keep this post updated throughout the week so that you can stay informed on all things bike racing, tech, industry, culture, advocacy, and more.
Here is what is making the headlines this week …
Friday, January 17, 2025
- The Ineos Grenadiers want more sponsors
- Tour Down Under stage 1: Hengeveld takes a surprise win from the break
- Jonathan Milan will be Lidl-Trek’s sprint leader at the Tour de France
- UCI suspends team boss and sports director of Velopro-Alphamotorhomes
The Ineos Grenadiers want more sponsors
The Ineos Grenadiers, who had the highest budget in cycling only a few years ago, are apparently looking for more sponsors to boost their finances. As the BBC reports, team CEO John Allert said that the budget required to compete with the likes of UAE Team Emirates is “greater than what we are currently spending,” and that the search is on to find additional partners who can contribute towards that amount.
“We certainly have a commercial strategy that is an evolution of our strategy – we’ve appointed an agency looking at partnership opportunities like most other teams,” Allert said.
“I’ve heard some bonkers rumours in the last couple of weeks about people buying us or investing in us or whatever else – [the] agency [is] out there talking to hopefully as many leading global brands a possible.” [BBC]
Tour Down Under stage 1: Hengeveld takes a surprise win from the break
Dutch up-and-comer Daniek Hengeveld (Ceratizit-WNT) stunned the Tour Down Under field on Friday by winning the opening stage with a solo breakaway move from some 50 km out.
The 22-year-old Dutchwoman held on to take her first ever WorldTour win, with Ally Wollaston (FDJ-Suez) and Kathrin Schweinberger (Human Powered Health) sprinting to second and third 36 seconds later. You can read more about it here at Escape Collective.
Jonathan Milan will be Lidl-Trek’s sprint leader at the Tour
Lidl-Trek has revealed its Grand Tour plans for sprint stars Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan in 2025. Pedersen, who has won stages at all three Grand Tours, will race the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España this year. Milan, who has only ever raced the Giro in his career, will skip the home race and instead make his Tour debut.
“The course of the Tour fits Johnny really well,” Pedersen said at Lidl-Trek’s training camp press conference. “For me, he’s one of the best sprinters in the world, if not the best sprinter and of course, he should go to the Tour with that amount of sprint stages.”
The UCI Ethics Commission suspends team boss and sports director of Velopro-Alphamotorhomes
The UCI Ethics Commission announced on Friday that Velopro-Alphamotorhomes team manager Gert Vervoort and sports director Eddy Van Bunder had both been suspended “after allegations by several riders of inappropriate behavior of a psychological and sexual nature” against Vervoort.
Vervoort has been suspended for five years “for having engaged in inappropriate behavior with riders involving unnecessary physical contact of a sexual nature, taking advantage of his position of authority over them.” Van Bunder has been suspended for three years, with a year and a half of that total being a probationary suspension contingent on his participation in a “safeguarding” training program, “for having failed to take adequate measures in response to complaints about Mr Vervoort’s inappropriate conduct and for failing to report these concerns to the Commission in spite of his role of responsibility which implies a duty to ensure the protection of all members of the team.”
Thursday, January 16, 2025
- Lapierre issues recall on Aircode DRS and Xelius SL3 over fork safety concerns
- Giant Group revenue dips 7 percent in 2024
- Bennett will race the Giro
- UCI report: 35 percent of crashes caused by ‘unprovoked rider errors’
- Pieters and SD Worx-ProTime settle employment lawsuit
- Movistar signs Hessmann
Lapierre issues recall on Aircode DRS and Xelius SL3 over fork safety concerns
French bike brand Lapierre has issued a recall for its Aircode DRS and Xelius SL models due to “issues with their carbon fork.” Owners of these bikes are told to stop using them immediately and contact an authorized dealer for inspection and potential replacement.
The notice issued on the brand’s website specifies that the affected Lapierre Aircode DRS and Lapierre Xelius SL bikes come with an aluminium stem and an aluminium shim (part number 3), while Lapierre Xelius SL3 models with a Lapierre carbon cockpit are not part of the recall.
The models now recalled are the same that the British team Saint Piran reportedly stopped using over safety issues back in 2022. [Lapierre]
Giant Group revenue dips 7 percent in 2024
Giant Group’s operating revenue fell 7.4 percent last year, totaling US$2.3 billion (NT$71.25 billion) – down from US$2.6 billion in 2023. Despite the decline, the figure is still higher than the company’s pre-pandemic sales in 2019 and 2020, according to its latest monthly report.
The 2024 data shows consistent year-on-year revenue declines, with slight upturns in July and August. Giant has not yet published net profit figures for the year, but its Q3 report revealed that pre-tax profit for the first nine months had dropped by 33 percent, or US$105 million.
Bennett will race the Giro
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale will look to Sam Bennett to lead the way in the sprints at the upcoming Giro d’Italia. The 34-year-old Irishman is a three-time Giro stage winner. Bennett raced the Tour de France with the French squad last year, but it is not yet clear whether he will return to that race later in the season.
UCI report: 35 percent of crashes caused by ‘unprovoked rider errors’
The UCI and its “SafeR” program have published findings from the database set up in conjunction with Ghent University that tracks crash incidents, of which there were apparently 497 reported at major UCI-registered races in 2024.
Of those 497 crashes, 35 percent were deemed to have been caused by “unprovoked rider errors,” while “situations of tension generated by the approach of tactically important points of interest in the race such as climbs, cobbled sectors or sprints” led to 13 percent of incidents and “hazardous road conditions, in particular wet and slippery roads,” caused another 11 percent. [UCI]
Pieters and SD Worx-ProTime settle employment lawsuit
Amy Pieters and SD Worx-ProTime have settled the lawsuit initially raised in an effort to have her employment characterized as an “indefinite contract.” Pieters suffered a significant brain injury in a training crash in 2021, spending time an a coma, and she and her representatives sought to have her contract with the team recognized by Dutch law as one that would make her eligible for unpaid wages.
The details of the settlement are unlikely to become public knowledge as “neither party will make any further substantive statements about the details of the agreement.”
Movistar signs Hessmann
23-year-old German Michel Hessmann is joining Movistar and will begin racing in March, when the 21-month suspension he received after a positive test for chlorthalidone ends.
Hessman was riding for Visma-Lease a Bike at the time of the positive test in June of 2023. German anti-doping authorities gave him a shortened suspension of just four months in light of the potential for having taken a contaminated medicine, but WADA appealed that decision and the ban was ultimately extended to 21 months.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
- Ferrand-Prévot eyes Strade Bianche as first major goal
- Tudor’s Giro wildcard chances reportedly depend on the presence of Hirschi or Alaphilippe
- An Olympic-style circuit in Tour finale?
- Realini breaks elbow in training crash
Ferrand-Prévot eyes Strade Bianche as first major goal
After focusing her efforts almost exclusively on mountain biking for several years, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is returning to road racing this year with Visma-Lease a Bike, with an eye towards winning the Tour de France Femmes. First, however, she has other objectives in mind.
“My first major personal goal will be Strade Bianche,” she said in a Visma press release. “I think it’s a beautiful race, and the course suits me well. I love challenges, and I want to win races and create great memories with the team, alongside riders like Marianne [Vos].”
Ferrand-Prévot reaffirmed her aim of winning the Tour, but also said that she is taking a longer-term approach there.
“My ultimate goal is to compete for victory in the Tour de France Femmes over the next three years,” she said. “But I’ll need some time to settle in, so for now, realism is my guiding principle. In 2025, I mainly want to learn and identify areas for improvement. The most important thing is to give it our all and be able to say we left nothing on the table.”
Tudor’s Giro wildcard chances reportedly depend on sending Hirschi or Alaphilippe
Cyclingnews reports that Tudor is in line for a wildcard invitation to the Giro d’Italia if – and only if – the ProTeam brings at least one of its two new stars: Julian Alaphilippe or Marc Hirschi.
Giro organizers are expected to announce the invites next week, with three spots up for grabs after Lotto told organizers that the team would skip the race. [Cyclingnews]
An Olympic-style circuit in Tour finale?
Le Parisien reports that the ASO has taken the initial steps with municipal officials to prepare for a Tour de France stage that would climb Montmartre to the Basilica of Sacré Coeur as part of a circuit in what would be a Tour finale with echoes of the Paris Olympic course.
The reimagined final stage of the Tour would still be expected to conclude on the Champs-Élysées, but with a potentially reduced field after repeated trips up the punchy climb. [Le Parisien]
Realini breaks elbow in training crash
Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) is recovering from a broken elbow. The 23-year-old Italian climber posted to Instagram that she had suffered the “small fracture” in a training crash, but also noted that “everything will be fine.”
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
- The NCL is no more
- The 2025 Giro routes have been revealed
- Stinner Frameworks expands Select line with Refugio adventure bike
- Orbea Fox Factory team unveils 2025 lineup
- Vingegaard confirms Vuelta ambitions
The NCL is no more
The National Cycling League is no more, as CEO Andrea Pagnanelli announced on LinkedIn this week, saying, “We had to wind down operations for the National Cycling League (NCL) at the end of 2024.”
The organization, first launched with substantial financial backing in 2023, gave some recognizable names the opportunity to race criterium-style events with unconventional team-based competitions in the United States, but was beset by financial and logistical woes throughout its existence. After laying off many riders contracted with the league’s two in-house teams late in the 2023 season, the NCL announced in 2024 that it would not have any races that year but would instead focus on returning in 2025.
As it turns out, that won’t be happening. Escape Collective will have more on the story in the coming weeks. [LinkedIn]
The 2025 Giro routes have been revealed
In case you missed the news from Monday, Giro d’Italia organizers have (finally) unveiled the routes for both the women’s and men’s events. Both races will feature some time trialing and some tough climbs.
The eight-stage women’s race will start in Bergamo with a TT and will not stray particularly far from that corner of northeastern Italy, finishing with some challenging mountain stages culminating in a summit finish at Monte Nerone. The men’s race will start with three stages in Albania and will include two individual time trials and some gravel too. All told, riders will tackle more than 52,000 vertical meters, including trips up the Passo di Mortirolo and the Colle de Finestre.
You can read more about it here at Escape Collective.
Stinner Frameworks expands Select line with Refugio adventure bike
US-based Stinner Frameworks has added Refugio Select to its stock-sized Select range, which already includes the all-road Carrizo. Designed and built in Santa Barbara, California, the gravel-focused Refugio Select is crafted from Columbus Zona/Life steel tubing and promises versatility with 700x50c tyre clearance, UDH compatibility, dynamo light routing, and mounts for mudguards and lights.
The Refugio Select is available in six stock sizes, with pricing starting at US$1,695 for a frameset or US$3,995 for a complete build featuring SRAM Apex/GX Eagle Transmission AXS drivetrain, Easton cockpit, and DT Swiss wheels. [Stinner Frameworks]
Orbea Fox Factory team unveils 2025 lineup
The Orbea Fox Factory team is adding Simon Andreassen, Rebecca Henderson and Jennifer Jackson to its lineup. That trio will join Pierre de Froidmont in the mountain bike squad, which also announced the creation of a new service course at its Basque Country headquarters.
Vingegaard confirms Vuelta ambitions
Jonas Vingegaard has said that he will race the Vuelta a España after taking on the 2025 Tour de France. The 28-year-old Dane rode to runner-up honors behind Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Sepp Kuss in his last appearance at the Spanish Grand Tour in 2023.
Vingegaard also outlined his early race calendar, which will start with the Volta ao Algarve ahead of a planned start at Paris-Nice. The Vuelta announcement all but rules out any chance of him starting the Giro d’Italia.
Monday, January 13, 2025
- Nerve issue complicates Evenepoel’s recovery
- Pidcock reflects on transfer away from ‘second family’
- Landa wants to race all three Grand Tours
- Van Garderen doesn’t expect gear limits to help safety
Nerve issue complicates Evenepoel’s recovery
A nerve issue in Remco Evenepoel’s injured shoulder has created some uncertainty for the Soudal-Quick Step rider as he aims to recover in time for various 2025 season goals. Evenepoel had already mentioned the nerve problem in an interview late last week, but he seemed more concerned in an interview with Sporza on Sunday, noting that he is no longer as confident in being able to return to racing for the Ardennes Classics.
“I started more intensive physiotherapy two days ago. Normally I would have trained on the rollers this weekend, but I’m aiming for [Monday],” Evenepoel said.
“There is bad news: a nerve has been hit. The outer muscles – I am not a physiotherapist – are a bit inactive. We have to work very hard to stimulate those muscles and keep them alive. So it will take a bit longer than hoped.” [Sporza]
Pidcock reflects on transfer away from ‘second family’
Tom Pidcock has reflected on his transfer from the Ineos Grenadiers in a press conference at Q36.5’s training camp in Calpe, Spain.
“That team was my second family. I have great memories there, but it was time to change, and I accepted that a long time ago,” Pidcock said, as Cycling Weekly reports. “That’s not a scripted answer – I’m just very good at putting things behind me and moving on.” [Cycling Weekly]
Landa wants to race all three Grand Tours
After Soudal-Quick Step said last week that Mikel Landa would be racing this year’s Giro, the Basque climber has said that he still hopes to race all three Grand Tours in one year at some point.
Asked by Marca whether he had any unfinished business in his career, Landa said, “I would have liked to have competed in the three Grand Tours one year. That struggle will remain with me, although I still have time. But with the demands that the major races have taken on, it is complicated. It will be something that I will stick to.” [Marca]
Van Garderen doesn’t expect gear limits to help safety
Former pro and current broadcaster Tejay van Garderen weighed in on the subject of limiting gear sizes to reduce speeds in the Behind the Podium podcast.
“Now that they are racing the way they’re racing, the way we were racing at the end of our careers, that’s what made racing quite a bit more dangerous and I’m glad to be out of it now,” he said. “These gimmicky things like reducing a peloton from nine-rider teams to eight-rider teams hasn’t made a single difference. Reducing the gears would not make a difference.” [Behind the Podium]
Did we do a good job with this story?