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Eli Iserbyt at Gravel Worlds.
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Daily News: Iserbyt says photographer caused Flandriencross crash

Also, Red Bull picks up Visma's nutritionist.

Eli Iserbyt at Gravel Worlds.

Dane Cash
by Dane Cash 16.11.2024 Photography by
Cor Vos, Kristof Ramon, ASO More from Dane +

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 …

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Iserbyt blames crash on photographer at an intriguing Flandriencross

The Hamme round of the X20 Trofee series, aka Flandriencross, offered intrigue and good racing to boot on Sunday. On the men’s side, up-and-comer Niels Vandeputte took his first ever X20 win after Eli Iserbyt and Thibau Nys crashed in separate incidents, with Iserbyt blaming a photographer for his fall. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado won a close battle in the women’s race.

Vandeputte put in a solid ride from start to finish, while several rivals were derailed by mishaps. Iserbyt crashed out of a strong group midway through the race, and he later said that a photographer leaning into the race course had made contact with his shoulder, pointing out that, “You don’t expect someone to get that far over a wire. Certainly not with a camera that’s half a meter long.” It marks yet another dramatic in-race incident for the Belgian, who stomped on a rival’s bike last month and had beer thrown in his face last week.

Nys also went down in a dramatic solo crash later in the race, and Vandeputte held on to win with Iserbyt recovering to take second. On the women’s side, Alvarado was locked in a tight battle with Lucinda Brand and Sara Casasola throughout the race until she managed to pull away in the last lap, taking a close win over Brand with Casasola in third.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe picks up Visma-Lease a Bike nutritionist

Transfer news and rumors seem to so often involve Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Visma-Lease a Bike, but this weekend brought a different sort of “transfer” story as Wielerflits reports that Visma nutritionist Asker Jeukendrup is heading to Red Bull.

Jeukendrup had previously worked both with the Visma team and with Red Bull’s Athlete Performance Center, but he seems to have ultimately felt the need to pick one allegiance over the other. [Wielerflits]

Martínez hopes for Giro return in 2025

Speaking of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Giro d’Italia runner-up Daniel Martínez told Diario AS that he is hoping to get back to the Italian Grand Tour in 2025 – in addition to potentially racing the Tour de France.

The 28-year-old Colombian said that no decisions have been made yet but that his preference would be to race both of the season’s first two Grand Tours and definitively not the Vuelta. How Red Bull will juggle his ambitions with those of Primož Roglič remains to be seen. (AS)

Evenepoel back to training after dental surgery

Remco Evenepoel had to take some time away from training this month following the removal of his wisdom teeth last week, although he did keep himself busy entertaining fans on TikTok.

He got back on the bike on Saturday, posting his first Strava ride in a week with the title: “Learning to ride a few teeth lighter.”

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Kasia Niewiadoma and Demi Vollering at the Tour de France Femmes.

Niewiadoma reflects on ‘weird vibe’ with Vollering at Tour de France Femmes

Three months after she bested pre-race favorite Demi Vollering (SD Worx-ProTime) to win the Tour de France Femmes, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) reflected on the race – and some tension with Vollering – during her appearance at Rouleur Live this week. Niewiadoma took the leader’s jersey from Vollering on stage 5 when the Dutchwoman lost time in a crash, and she held it through to the end of the race, if only just.

Niewiadoma said on Friday that there was some awkwardness before the podium celebration on the final stage.

“I like barged in there … super happy, ready to celebrate. And there was a funeral vibe in there,” Niewiadoma said, as Cyclingnews reports. “I looked at the faces and I see Demi – no one is talking. And I’m like, ‘Good job, girls. Congratulations on a hard stage’. And then, no response. I was like, ‘OK, I’m leaving’. So, yeah, I got changed outside.”

Niewiadoma attributed the tension to Vollering’s frustration at having lost the lead in a crash, but she pointed out that “crashes happen,” as well as saying: “I also do respect Demi, yet, I definitely got a weird vibe from her, and again, I didn’t crash her. So I think it’s maybe because we’re different. I wasn’t looking for drama. I wasn’t looking for any sort of mental game with her towards the end of the Tour, because to me, all that mattered was, is my team in the yellow jersey?”

Former Giro winner Bernal reportedly plans to return in 2025

According to the weekend edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) will return to the Giro d’Italia in 2025 for the first time since he won the race in 2021.

With Carlos Rodríguez and others in the squad as potential Tour de France leaders, Bernal can instead focus on making his second run at pink. La Gazzetta reports that he may also ride Strade Bianche and other Italian events; the Colombian climbed to an impressive third-place finish at Strade Bianche in 2021.

Cavendish could join Ineos

Now that he has called it a (racing) career, Mark Cavendish is available to take up another challenge. Prior to his retirement, he had said that he wanted to follow up his riding years with a role in team management, and according to Radiocorsa, he may already have an offer: It was reported on the show from RAI that Cavendish could join the Ineos Grenadiers in that capacity.

The team has seen plenty of staff turnover already over the past few months, and Cavendish was once a member of the squad, having ridden for the team then called Sky in 2012.

EF signs Australian prospect MacKellar

Alistair MacKellar, who won the under-23 road and time trial national titles in Australia last year, is headed to EF Education-EasyPost after showing further promise in a handful of U23 races this season as well.

“Alastair has a strong motor,” team boss Jonathan Vaughters said in a press release. “In the under-23 ranks, he has shown that he can make a break stick after a hard, hilly day of racing and he has been doing a lot of work on his time trialing. He is going to be a strong asset for us in mountainous stage races. We think he can develop into the kind of rider who can compete in the finales of the Ardennes classics.”

Friday, November 15, 2024

Tom Pidcock at the Tour de France.

Pidcock reflects on frustrating 2024 campaign and Ineos tensions

Tom Pidcock gave some insight into his mindset and his opinion of how things are going at the Ineos Grenadiers in an on-stage interview at Rouleur Live on Thursday. Although interviewer Matt Stephens opened the conversation by pointing out that they would avoid the thorny topic of tensions between Pidcock and his team, they managed to address the subject anyway – even with multiple Ineos staff members in the audience, as Daniel Benson reports on his Substack.

Stephens at one point asked Pidcock if he was in a “happier place” now after a frustrating 2024 campaign, to which Pidcock responded with a simple “no.” He did, however, go on to express optimism in the future.

“I’m never gonna lie,” Pidcock said. “It’s true, we’ve had a difficult year. I’ve had a difficult year. It’s not what we wanted but I do see a lot of positive changes and, of course, everyone accepts that there are difficulties when you change it and we’re seeing those changes happening. I do hope that it can be turned around.”

Pidcock also said that he had not enjoyed racing the Tour de France the past two seasons, and that he wanted to focus more on Classics racing, where he seems to have more fun – and encouraging results too. He won Strade Bianche in 2023 and the Amstel Gold Race in 2024, but he noted on Thursday that he has yet to add a Monument to his palmares.

Kennaugh, Lapage, and Cataldo join Astana as sports directors

To go with their new riders, new name, and new bikes, several new staff members are joining Astana Qazaqstan for 2025. The team said earlier this week that Alex Dowsett would be coming aboard as a performance engineer, and on Friday, Astana announced that former pros Peter Kennaugh, Lorenzo Lapage, and Dario Cataldo are all joining the organization as sports directors.

“We know Lorenzo Lapage very well; he is an experienced and responsible Sports Director with an excellent vision of the race, as well as a great administrator and team coordinator off the bike,” said team boss Alexandre Vinokourov.

“In addition, we have two young Sports Directors: Peter Kennaugh and Dario Cataldo. Both are former professional riders with a fresh perspective on modern cycling. Peter Kennaugh already has some experience as a Sports Director, while Dario Cataldo is transitioning directly from being a rider to this new role. That said, he knows our team very well, having spent several years with us, so he will be able to contribute not only to Astana Qazaqstan Team but also to our Development Team in his work with the riders.”

Deignan will retire in 2025

Lizzie Deignan will ride on for one more season with Lidl-Trek in 2025, and then she will call it a career. The 35-year-old Brit, a former world champ and the first winner of the women’s Paris-Roubaix, announced her retirement plan on Friday.

“It’ll be my 18th season next year, and it’s a long time to dedicate yourself to cycling,” Deignan said this week. “All good things come to an end, and I feel, personally, very individually, that my time has come.”

Ortlieb offers 40% off repairs next week

Bag and accessory brand Ortlieb will offer a significant, limited-time discount on its repair program next week. From November 18-December 1, Ortlieb’s Repair Week initiative will discount all repairs by 40%, in what the company says is a response to the typical consumer-driven Black Friday sales campaigns.

“This initiative reinforces Ortlieb’s belief that the first and most important part of a sustainable product is its longevity and repairability,” the company said in announcing the program. Repair Week is offered in 13 countries, primarily in the European Union but also the United States and Canada. [Ortlieb]

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Movistar extends Quintana for another season

Two-time Grand Tour winner Nairo Quintana will ride on for another season after signing an extension to stick with Movistar in 2025.

Movistar initially brought the 34-year-old Colombian, who turned pro with the team in 2012, back into the fold last season after he spent 2023 without a pro ride. Quintana had ridden for Arkéa-Samsic for three years but he and the French team parted ways after his 2022 tramadol positive, and contract offers were hard to come by in the aftermath of that split.

Movistar gave Quintana a shot to return to the WorldTour this season on a one-year deal. It was a relatively quiet campaign, hampered by crashes and COVID-19, but Quintana did come close to winning a stage at the Giro d’Italia. After uncertainty around whether he would continue in the pro peloton, the team has re-signed him for next season. In a statement, Quintana pointed to helping “to take Enric [Mas] as high as possible in the three-week races” as a key goal for 2025.

Vollering wanted ‘a quiet place’ says FDJ Suez boss Delcourt

FDJ-Suez boss Stephen Delcourt has shed some light on the team’s signing of Demi Vollering in an interview with Velo, suggesting that she found what was looking for in the team environment. The Dutch star is leaving SD Worx-ProTime after a season in which relationships there seemed fraught at times.

“She has the same values as us – our mission is to inspire the next generation – and she wanted a quiet place, a place where we respect the rules, the contract, and above all the riders.” [Velo]

Lauf has a springy freehub design

The engineers at Icelandic brand Lauf have seemingly extended their concept that “everything is a spring” into a freehub design. The patent-pending design effectively turns the pawls into springs, making for a design that could provide near-instant engagement while offering a more linear feel as an increasing number of pawls engage as a load is applied. Lauf also claims the nature of the design makes it less sensitive to requiring perfect manufacturing tolerances.

Lauf is coy about whether working prototypes exist or when we’ll see the design used, but suggests a more flexible metal such as titanium (likely 3D-printed) would be appropriate for its concept.

Astana Qazaqstan is reportedly set to become ‘XdS (Carbon-Tech)-Astana Qazaqstan’

Ciro Scognamiglio reports that Astana Qazaqstan’s new sponsor will get first billing in the team name next season as the Kazakh squad becomes “XdS (Carbon-Tech)-Astana Qazaqstan.” Those parentheses, if they are indeed part of the name, would certainly make the squad stand out among WorldTour outfits. In any case, the Chinese carbon company owns a bike brand that is expected to become the team’s new bike partner. [X]

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

The Ineos Grenadiers before the start of stage 12 of the Tour de France.

Ineos announces ‘development partnership’ with German Continental team

The Ineos Grenadiers have announced a “development partnership” with Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank that will see the German Continental squad take on the role of devo team for the British WorldTour outfit. The news confirms reports that initially emerged last month.

The Ineos Grenadiers already have an internal program dubbed “Ascent” that is focused on rider development, but with their new partnership, they will have a stronger infrastructure for giving young riders racing experience with an eye towards a future with the WorldTour outfit.

“Key riders will be selected and placed with the Lotto Kern-Haus team while still being coached and supported by Ineos Grenadiers staff,” said Ineos Performance Director Scott Drawer. “We see this as a ‘finishing school’ for young talent before their transition to the WorldTour, akin to that of a loan club in professional football.”

Garmin opens first-ever brick-and-mortar UK store

Garmin has launched its first-ever UK retail store in Southampton’s Westquay Shopping Centre, located just a stone’s throw from its European headquarters in Romsey. The 1,500-square-foot store showcases Garmin’s complete range of electronics, including smartwatches, cycling computers, dashcams, and marine devices – all in one place.

In addition to offering hands-on access to its products, Garmin stated that the store will serve as a hub for community-focused events.

Former pro Pauwels takes over as Belgian national coach

After Sven Vanthourenhout left the role, former pro Serge Pauwels has become the new coach of the Belgian national team. According to various reports, Philippe Gilbert was another candidate for the role, but the Belgian Federation decided to elevate Pauwels, who retired from the pro peloton in 2020, to the job after he had worked closely with Vanthourenhout over the past few years.

UAE Team Emirates extends Matxin

Joxean “Matxin” Fernández, sports manager of UAE Team Emirates and a key member of team brass going back to the season UAE first evolved out of the old Lampre-Merida squad, has signed a contract extension to stay with the organization for a further four years. The Spaniard has worked closely with team boss Mauro Gianetti at various points in his career and has overseen a variety of facets of the current UAE team.

As reported by AS, Matxin will manage the team’s sports directors and will continue to play a central role in developing the race calendars and rosters of both the WorldTour outfit and its “Gen Z” development program. [AS]

MRP releases Cage Guard for SRAM T-Type

In products we didn’t think we needed, MRP has just released the Cage Guard (US$30). It’s a small thermoplastic protector for the exposed-and-low-hanging lower cage of SRAM T-Type Transmission mountain bike derailleurs (fitting all models). Perhaps it is something to consider for those riding in rocky areas. [MRP]

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Wilier Triestina expands in Asia to boost race market growth

Wilier Triestina is pushing forward with its Asian expansion, aiming to strengthen its foothold, especially in China. The Italian company has made its Taiwanese subsidiary, Youn Live – which the brand acquired in 2021 – into a “strategic hub.” It has already launched four flagship stores in China and one in Taipei as well, and further openings are planned in Shanghai and Beijing in the coming months.

Foreign markets account for 80% of Wilier’s sales, and the company says that in addition to Asia, it is seeing growth in Eastern Europe and Scandinavian markets. The brand’s international growth has driven a significant rise in its revenue, which has nearly doubled since 2019, and now reached €80 million also due to contributions from its subsidiaries, including recent acquisitions like Miche, the premium Italian wheel and component brand. With the Asian expansion, Wilier is targeting market share but also increasing its local production capacity.

“The goal now is to consolidate the objectives and results we have achieved and to enter new markets with more vigour, confident that the quality of our products can make a difference,” Michele Gastaldello, CEO and production director, told Bike EU. “During my trips to China over the past two years, I have felt an unparalleled enthusiasm surrounding the world of bicycles.” [Bike EU]

Niermann: Jørgen Nordhagen “has that potential” to reach Vingegaard’s level

Visma-Lease a Bike sports director Grischa Niermann has reflected on the up-and-coming prospects on his team in an interview with Wieler Revue, highlighting 19-year-old Norwegian Jørgen Nordhagen as someone who “has that potential” to match the level of two-time Tour de France champ Jonas Vingegaard – though he tempered expectations for short-term success.

“You only find a Jonas once every hundred years,” Niermann said. “Jørgen has shown some nice things, but it is not yet possible to say whether he is a candidate to win a Grand Tour in the future. He is on the right track, but he is also not the type of Remco Evenepoel who we expect to excel in a San Sebastián in his first year.” [Wieler Revue]

Zwift brings back Jarvis Island with a brand new twist

Zwift has reintroduced Jarvis Island, the original virtual world that started it all, as the latest addition to its virtual Watopia world. Ten years after it first debuted, Jarvis has returned near Watopia’s Volcano Mountain, but not like it used to be. The revamped Jarvis includes nods to Zwift’s beginnings – like the famed Banjo Man’s new café – and six all-new routes. [Zwift]

Giant Group sees slower-than-expected recovery in global sales

Giant Group reported a 7.1% year-on-year sales decline from January to October, reflecting a slower-than-anticipated recovery. Due to the decrease in sales and rising expenses, the company’s Q3 report shows a 33 percent drop in net profit before tax to $93 million. Giant said that “inventory levels in both Europe and North America continue to decline,” and added that “order placement by both retailers and OEM customers remains much more conservative, hence affecting sales recovery.”

Stinner Frameworks launches ‘Stinner Select,’ with handmade framesets starting at $1,695

Stinner Frameworks, a California-based bicycle manufacturer, has launched “Stinner Select,” a new stock program aimed at making its handmade bikes more readily available. The first bike in the program is the all-road and all-US-made Carrizo, featuring Columbus Zona steel tubing, SRAM Apex AXS 12-speed drivetrain, fender mounts, and clearance for 40mm tyres. The ‘Carrizo Select’ pricing starts at $1,695 for the frameset and $3,895 for the complete bike. [Stinner Frameworks]

Thule acquires QuadLock

Swedish brand Thule has acquired QuadLock for AU$500 million. Quadrant Private Equity had owned a majority stake in the Melbourne-based company since 2020, and Thule has bought those shares as well as the shares still held by the company’s founders.

Monday, November 11, 2024

Alex Dowsett at the UAE Tour.

Alex Dowsett joins Astana-Qazaqstan as Performance Engineer

Two years after he retired from the pro peloton, Alex Dowsett is joining Astana Qazaqstan as Performance Engineer, as Daniel Benson reports on his Substack. The role is apparently a new one, created with the former time trial specialist – and former world hour record holder – in mind.

Astana will be hoping that the new aerodynamics-focused member of the team staff can help the team climb up the UCI rankings after a 2024 season that saw them register the fewest UCI points of any WorldTour team.

“I helped Cav [Mark Cavendish] pre-Tour de France. He called me about some aero stuff so I went to the wind tunnel with him and found some gains, which were my bread and butter,” Dowsett said. “After I helped him highlight some areas he could improve, namely with the aero bottles at the Tour, which gave him a two per cent reduction in CDA on the Wilier, he recommended to the team that they take me on. It’s a dream job.” [Substack]

Giro d’Italia presentation reportedly moved to January

Spanish newspaper Diario AS reports that the Giro d’Italia route presentation will take place in January, three months after originally planned, and it remains unclear whether the Grande Partenza will take place in Albania as originally planned as well.

Organizers initially delayed the route reveal amid rumors that the race start in Albania was in doubt. Although race director Paolo Bellini later denied there were issues with the Grande Partenza, AS reports that “last-minute logistical and financial setbacks between the Albanian government and RCS” have led to continued uncertainty. [Diario AS]

China’s nighttime joy ride swells to thousands before authorities shut it down

The ride had no name, no organizers, and no real purpose but, for a brief period recently, a spontaneous night ride in China emerged as one of the largest group rides of any kind in the world. Last June, four college-age friends in Zhengzhou decided, on a lark, to ride bikeshare rides some 40 miles (64 km) overnight jaunt to Kaifeng, as the New York Times reports and as was documented on social media.

By early this month, thousands were making the trip, a Critical-Mass style street ride that could take them up to five hours. After initially encouraging the rides, officials grew uneasy with the mass gathering aspect and reversed course this week; bikeshare companies geolocked their bikes while police blocked entrance to the main highway. While the Zhengzhou-Kaifeng ride may have ended, other youth-driven movements will almost certainly rise to replace it: “These are the only years in my life where I don’t have to worry about other things, so I have to make memories that will last,” Bin Li, a third-year engineering student, told the Times. [New York Times]

Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana uncertain for 2025 after flooding

The EFE news agency reports that the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana is in doubt for 2025 due to the impact of the recent floods in the region. Race director Ángel Casero told EFE that the warehouse containing the organizer’s equipment was flooded and the majority of things inside were unsalvageable.

“We have been removing mud from the warehouse for nine days, with approximately 95 percent of the material lost,” said Casero. “We had planned to make the presentation in December and we will not be able to do so. There are also towns that were going to be stage starts and are affected. We will have to wait throughout the month of November to see what situation the towns are in, what the subsidies are for next year and to see what happens.” [EFE via Ciclo21]

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