Archiv der Kategorie: Frühjahrskassiker

Bredene Koksijde Classic – 201 Km

Eintagsrennen, Ergebnisse, Frühjahrskassiker, , , ,

Ein sehr schnelles Rennen endet mit einem überzeugenden Sprintsieg von Pascal Ackermann, sein erster Sieg im Trikot von UAE Team Emirates!!

1 ACKERMANN Pascal GER UAE TEAM EMIRATES 04:29:30
2 HOFSTETTER Hugo FRA TEAMARKEA-SAMSIC 00:00
3 MERLIER Tim BEL ALPECIN FENIX 00:00
4 WELSFORD Sam AUS TEAM DSM 00:00
5 THIJSSEN Gerben BEL INTERMARCHE – WANTY – GOBERT MATERIAUX 00:00
6 DUPONT Timothy BEL BINGOAL PAUWELS SAUCES WB 00:00
7 W/ERENSKJOLD S0ren NOR UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:00
8 MOZZATO Luca ITA B&B HOTELS – KTM 00:00
9 DE LIE Arnaud BEL LOTTO SOUDAL 00:00
10 VAN LERBERGHE Bert BEL QUICK-STEP ALPHA VINYL TEAM 00:00
11 ALLEGAERT Piet BEL COFIDIS 00:00
12 JOYCE Colin USA HUMAN POWERED HEALTH 00:00
13 COTE Pier Andre CAN HUMAN POWERED HEALTH 00:00
14 MANZIN Lorrenzo FRA TOTALENERGIES 00:00
15 GUDMESTAD Tord NOR UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:00
16 BARBIER Rudy FRA ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH 00:00
17 PEÄK Barnabäs HUN INTERMARCHE – WANTY – GOBERT MATERIAUX 00:00
18 VERNON Ethan GBR QUICK-STEP ALPHA VINYL TEAM 00:00
19 GROß Felix GER UAE TEAM EMIRATES 00:00
20 MÄRKL Niklas GER TEAM DSM 00:00

Paris-Roubaix 2022

Eintagsrennen, Frühjahrskassiker, Vorschau, Weltcup und Klassiker, ,

THE RETURN OF SPRING
Key points:
 In 2022, Paris-Roubaix returns to its traditional springtime date, with the start of the 119th edition on Sunday 17 April in Compiègne. The riders will battle on an essentially unchanged course of 257.2 km, including 54.8 km of cobbles. Of the 30 sectors, three will be of particular interest to the future riders of the Tour de France, who will take them on, once again, on stage 5.
 After their maiden race on the cobbles in October 2021, the women’s peloton will kick off the action with edition two of Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift on Saturday, 16 April. The 124.7 km course between Denain and Roubaix will include 29.2km of cobbles

Three years after Philippe Gilbert’s victory, the Paris-Roubaix peloton will return to the cobbles in April, on a slightly unusual date with the Amstel Gold Race having been requested to switch calendar slots due to the impossibility of disrupting road traffic on the day of the first round of the presidential election. Nevertheless, in a return to tradition, the Queen of the Classics will, once again, take place on Easter Sunday. It is also on a course in keeping with the spirit of the event where cycling’s best acrobats will battle, with the first cobbled sector immediately after the village of Troisvilles. The slight changes from the October 2021 route concern the Cambrésis cobbled sectors, but they shouldn’t change their impact on the race. After the peloton thins, the first battle of the contenders for victory begins with the Trouée d’Arenberg, which is a monster, whatever the weather conditions. This year, the immediate aftermath of Arenberg will also serve as a preview of stage 5 of the Tour de France, when it will encounter the sectors of Hornaing-Wandignies (#17), Warlaing-Brillon (#16) and Tilloy-Sars-et-Rosières (#15). From there, nearly 70 kilometres to the Roubaix velodrome, with some cruel portions like the passages through Mons-en-Pévèle and the Carrefour de l’Arbre. There will be no shortage of moments of truth!

After a slippery and muddy version of Paris-Roubaix last October, the women’s peloton will become familiar with its traditional springtime atmosphere on Saturday, 16 April. While the total distance of the cobbled sectors will not change, this year’s race is 8 kilometres longer. This will be felt in the legs during the final push for victory. The 29.2 kilometres of cobbles, over 17 sectors, proved to be very selective in the first-ever women’s race. It will be more of the same for 2022, with the last 85 kilometres of the course being modelled on the men’s race, starting in the town of Hornaing. And the riders must not forget that a breakaway is a bonafide possibility. Geat Britain’s Liz Deignan won the inaugural race with a solo ride of more than 80 kilometres. The element of surprise is no longer.

Paris-Roubaix Challenge

Saturday 16th of April – After Paris-Nice Challenge, it is on the “Hell of the North” and its mythical cobbles that the competitors will offer themselves a new challenge. Amateur cyclists will face this legendary race a few hours before the professional pelotons and compete in one of the three proposed distances (70 km, 145 km and 170 km).
©A.S.O.

Kuurne – Bruxelles – Kuurne – 195 Km

Eintagsrennen, Ergebnisse, Frühjahrskassiker, , ,

1 JAKOBSEN Fabio NED QUICK-STEP ALPHA VINYL TEAM 04:32:13
2 EWAN Caleb AUS LOTTO SOUDAL 00:00
3 HOFSTETTER Hugo FRA TEAM ARKÉA SAMSIC 00:00
4 MCLAY Daniel GBR TEAM ARKÉA SAMSIC 00:00
5 NIZZOLO Giacomo ITA ISRAEL – PREMIER TECH 00:00
6 VAN GESTEL Dries BEL TOTALENERGIES 00:00
7 CAPIOT Amaury BEL TEAM ARKÉA SAMSIC 00:00
8 LAPORTE Christophe FRA JUMBO-VISMA 00:00
9 TRENTIN Matteo ITA UAE TEAM EMIRATES 00:00
10 VAN DER HOORN Taco NED INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX 00:00
11 KRISTOFF Alexander NOR INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX 00:00
12 MERLIER Tim BEL ALPECIN-FENIX 00:00
13 BAUHAUS Phil AUT BAHRAIN – VICTORIOUS 00:00
14 TEUNISSEN Mike NED JUMBO-VISMA 00:00
15 STUYVEN Jasper BEL TREK – SEGAFREDO 00:00
16 EEKHOFF Nils NED TEAM DSM 00:00
17 SMITH Dion NZL TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE – JAYCO 00:00
18 REX Laurenz BEL BINGOAL PAUWELS SAUCES WB 00:00
19 MENTEN Milan BEL BINGOAL PAUWELS SAUCES WB 00:00
20 NAESEN Oliver BEL AG2R CITROËN TEAM 00:00

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Eintagsrennen, Ergebnisse, Frühjahrskassiker, , , , , ,

Frauen Elite – 128km

1 VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek NED MOVISTAR TEAM WOMEN 03:25:54
2 VOLLERING Demi NED TEAM SD WORX 00:00
3 WIEBES Lorena NED TEAM DSM 00:25
4 BALSAMO Elisa ITA TREK-SEGAFREDO 00:25
5 COPPONI Clara FRA FDJ NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE FUTUROSCOPE 00:25
6 BJERG Emma Cecilie DEN MOVISTAR TEAM WOMEN 00:25
7 HENDERSONAnna GBR TEAM JUMBO-VISMA 00:25
8 CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia ITA CERATIZIT – WNT PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:25
9 BASTIANELLI Marta ITA UAE TEAM ADQ 00:25
10 LETH Julie DEN UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:25

Elite – 204 Km

1 VAN AERT Wout BEL JUMBO-VISMA 04:50:46 42,09
2 COLBRELLI Sonny ITA BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 00:22
3 VAN AVERMAET Greg BEL AG2R CITROEN TEAM 00:22
4 NAESEN Oliver BEL AG2R CITROEN TEAM 00:22
5 CAMPENAERTS Victor BEL LOTTO SOUDAL 00:22
6 TILLER Rasmus NOR UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:22
7 TRENTIN Matteo ITA UAE TEAM EMIRATES 00:22
8 PASQUALON Andrea ITA INTERMARCHE – WANTY – GOBERT MATERIAUX 00:22
9 SENECHAL Florian FRA QUICK-STEP ALPHA VINYL TEAM 00:22
10 STUYVEN Jasper BEL TREK-SEGAFREDO 00:22
11 CLARKE Simon AUS ISRAEL – PREMIER TECH 00:25
12 KÜNG Stefan SUI GROUPAMA – FDJ 00:25
13 ARANBURU DEBA Alex ESP MOVISTAR TEAM 00:25
14 LOUVEL Matis FRA TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC 00:25
15 KIRSCH Alex LUX TREK-SEGAFREDO 00:25


Photo by Plomi

Kein glückliches Ende für BORA – hansgrohe beim Omloop het Nieuwsblad

Mit dem Omloop het Nieuwsblad in Belgien wurde heute offiziell die Klassikersaison gestartet. Das Rennen führte über 204,2 Kilometer von Gent nach Ninove, neun Kopfsteinpflasterabschnitte und 13 Anstiege inklusive. Ein großer Crash im Peloton 52 Kilometer vor dem Ziel stellte die entscheidende Situation im Rennen dar. Ab diesem Zeitpunkt war das Feld in kleine Gruppen unterteilt. BORA – hansgrohe war von hier an im Hintertreffen und konnte nicht mehr entscheidend in den Rennverlauf eingreifen. Nach einer Solo-Attacke bei zehn Kilometer vor dem Ziel konnte sich W. van Aert den Sieg sichern.
Reaktionen im Ziel
„Nach meinem krankheitsbedingten Ausstieg bei der Volta ao Algarve bin ich nur zwei Mal auf dem Rad gesessen, daher war es für mich heute schwierig einzuschätzen wo ich stehe. Die Basis scheint aber solide zu sein. Das Rennen heute war ein bisschen ein Schock für meinen Körper, ich bin aber zuversichtlich, dass ich in naher Zukunft wieder zu alter Stärke zurück finden werde. Für die entscheidenden Attacken fehlte mir noch die Power. Insgesamt hätten wir uns für heute natürlich mehr erhofft. “ Nils Politt

„Wir haben uns auf jeden Fall mehr erwartet von dem Rennen heute. Mit Jonas Koch hatten wir etwas Pech, da er durch einen Sturz blockiert war, das Rad wechseln musste und so im entscheidenden Moment keine Körner mehr übrig hatte. Jonas hätte meiner Meinung nach in der Gruppe um Platz zwei dabei sein können. Nils hat nach seiner Erkrankung in Portugal ein solides Rennen gezeigt, hier können wir zufrieden sein. Insgesamt müssen wir den Tag jetzt erstmal analysieren, um zu sehen, was heute nicht gepasst hat. Zum Glück gibt es im Radsport immer wieder eine neue Chance. Für morgen haben wir uns wieder einiges vorgenommen.“ Torsten Schmidt, Sportlicher Leiter

Paris-Roubaix 2021

Eintagsrennen, Ergebnisse, Frühjahrskassiker, Strassenrennen, Teamnews, Weltcup und Klassiker, , , , ,


Photo by Plomi

1 COLBRELLI Sonny ITA BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 06:01:57
2 VERMEERSCH Florian BEL LOTTO SOUDAL 00:00
3 VAN DER POEL Mathieu NED ALPECIN – FENIX 00:00
4 MOSCON Gianni ITA INEOS GRENADIERS 00:44
5 LAMPAERT Yves BEL DECEUNINCK – QUICK – STEP 01:16
6 LAPORTE Christophe FRA COFIDIS 01:16
7 VAN AERT Wout BEL JUMBO – VISMA 01:16
8 VAN ASBROECK Tom BEL ISRAEL START-UP NATION 01:16
9 BOIVIN Guillaume CAN ISRAEL START-UP NATION 01:16
10 HAUSSLER Heinrich AUS BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 01:16
11 RUTSCH Jonas GER EF EDUCATION – NIPPO 01:16
12 WALSCHEID Maximilian Richard GER TEAM QHUBEKA NEXTHASH 03:17
13 TURGIS Anthony FRA TEAM TOTALENERGIES 03:17
14 KRISTOFF Alexander NOR UAE TEAM EMIRATES 04:40
15 VERMEERSCH Gianni BEL ALPECIN – FENIX 04:40
16 LANGEVELD Sebastian NED EF EDUCATION – NIPPO 04:45
17 HALLER Marco AUT BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 06:21
18 CAPIOT Amaury BEL TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC 06:21
19 PLANCKAERT Baptiste BEL INTERMARCHE – WANTY – GOBERT MATERIAUX 06:21
20 MOZZATO Luca ITA B&B HOTELS P/B KTM 06:21

Sonny Colbrelli to Paradise

Riding his first Paris-Roubaix at the age of 31, European champion Sonny Colbrelli of Bahrain Victorious rode to glory on the André-Pétrieux velodrome as he outsprinted his two breakaway companions, Florian Vermeersch and Mathieu van der Poel, two other debutants in the Hell of the North. The race was marked by wet and muddy conditions and the solo breakaway of another Italian, Gianni Moscon, who looked like having his grip on the race but was victim of a puncture and a crash in the money time.

31 riders at the front
174 riders took the start of the 118th Paris-Roubaix at 11.14. Riding his last race ever, Australia’s Mitch Docker (EF Education-Nippo) was involved in the first crash in the first kilometre along with Jonas Van Genechten (B&B-KTM). Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) and Max Kanter (DSM) managed to form a leading trio after 10km of racing but Trentin sat up while the peloton was very active. It was all together again at km 29. A group of 31 riders was formed at km 47: Florian Vermeersch, Harry Sweeny, Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto-Soudal), Daniel Oss (Bora-Hansgrohe), Davide Ballerini, Tim De Clercq (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Edoardo Affini, Timo Roosen, Nathan Van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma), Tom van Asbroek (Israel-Start Up-Nation), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix), Tom Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Marco Haller, Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious), Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R-Citroën), Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Stefan Bisseger (EF Education-Nippo), André Carvalho (Cofidis), Vegard Stake Laengen (UAE Team Emirates), Owain Doull, Gianni Moscon, Luke Rowe (Ineos Grenadiers), Florian Maître (Totalenergies), Luke Durbridge, Robert Stannard (BikeExchange), Edvaldas Siskevicius (Delko), Nils Eekhoff (DSM), Max Walscheid (Qhubeka-NextHash), Imanol Erviti, Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) and Luca Mozzato (B&B Hotels-KTM). Successively, Doull and Küng were swallowed by the pack after a flat tyre and a crash respectively.

Vermeersch and Eekhoff at the front in Arenberg
After Haller sustained a flat tyre, 28 leaders entered the first cobbled sector with an advantage of 1’50’’ over the peloton. At the exit of the sector 27, Walscheid, Rowe, Vermeersch and Eekhoff took the lead with 143km to go. After Rowe got dropped and Walscheid crashed on the sector 24, Vermeersch and Eekhoff formed a leading duo with 127km to go. The Belgian and the Dutchman entered the Trouée d’Arenberg with an advantage of 40’’ over their former breakaway companions 1’40’’ over the favourites’ group. At the exit, van der Poel was accompanied by Guillaume Boivin, Sonny Colbrelli and Jorgenson while van Aert was timed 20’’ behind them. The Belgian national champion came across before the Pont Gibus. 83km before the end, Vermeersch and Eekhoff were reeled in by the 11 first chasers.

Moscon goes solo with 52km to go
Vermeersch, Sweeny, Van der Sande, Roosen, Van Hooydonck, Van Asbroek, Philipsen, Van Avermaet, Bisseger, Moscon, Siskevicius, Eekhoff, and Walscheid formed a front group that split with 75km to go. Van der Poel attacked on the cobbled sector 15 with 70km yet to be covered. Vermeersch, Van Asbroek and Moscon rode away 63km before the end. Moscon went solo on the sector 12 with 52km to go. He had 1’ lead over van der Poel, Boivin and Colbrelli at the 50km to go mark. Moscon was flying on the 5-stars iconic sector of Mons-en-Pévèle despite the mud remaining after the weather conditions became sunny. He had 1’20’’ lead over van der Poel, Vermeersch, Boivin, Van Asbroek and Colbrelli when he sustained a flat tyre with 29km to go. The Italian crashed on the cobbled sector 7. His advantage got reduced to 9’’ but went up again. Moscon got reeled in on the Carrefour de l’Arbre by a trio of neophytes: van der Poel, Colbrelli and Vermeersch who kept going without him. Moscon got caught by the van Aert group within 5km to go while the leading trio was out of reach. Van der Poel entered the velodrome in first position. Vermeersch launched the sprint after the first passage on the line. Colbrelli sprinted in the middle of the road to beat his two companions by a very little margin.

BORA – hansgrohe glücklos bei epischem Paris-Roubaix

Bei strömenden Regen wurde heute zum 118. Mal Paris-Roubaix im Norden Frankreichs ausgetragen. Es dauerte lange, bevor sich auf dem ersten Teil der Strecke ohne Kopfsteinpflasterpassagen eine 31-Mann-Gruppe vom Feld lösen konnte. Mit Daniel Oss hatte BORA – hansgrohe einen Fahrer in der Spitzengruppe, allerdings musste Daniel leider relativ früh abreißen lassen. Dahinter im Feld arbeitete der Rest des Teams für Peter Sagan. Schon auf den ersten Pavé Sektoren flog das Feld völlig auseinander und es ereigneten sich auf feuchtem Untergrund unzählige Stürze. In dieser Phase musste Nils Politt insgesamt drei Mal das Rad wechseln und verlor damit früh im Rennen alle Chancen. Nachdem Peter Sagan leider in einen Sturz verwickelt war und ebenfalls weit zurückfiel, blieb Max Schachmann der einzige Vertreter von BORA – hansgrohe in der Gruppe der Favoriten. Doch auch Max ging vor dem Wald von Arenberg zu Boden und musste leider auch alle Chance begraben. Am Ende holte sich S. Colbrelli den Sieg aus einer 3-Mann-Spitzengruppe. Für BORA – hansgrohe blieb am Ende nur der Eindruck eines der härtesten Rennen der letzten 20 Jahre.

Von der Ziellinie
„Ich hatte heute eigentlich gute Beine, aber die Verhältnisse waren extrem schwierig. Ich musste früh im Rennen insgesamt drei Mal das Rad wechseln, da war ich einfach zu weit zurück. Das ist sehr bitter, aber ich werde im nächsten Jahr wieder heiß am Start stehen, und vielleicht habe ich dann mehr Glück.“ – Nils Politt

„Paris-Roubaix ist immer ein hartes Rennen, aber heute, unter diesen Bedingungen war es wirklich extrem. Man musste irgendwie heil in Roubaix ankommen und immer versuchen, ganz vorne im Feld zu sein, um Stürzen aus dem Weg zu gehen. Wir haben das auch versucht, aber leider wurden wir immer wieder durch Stürze aufgehalten. Auch ich ging heute einmal hart zu Boden. Ich wollte dennoch das Rennen unbedingt beenden und habe mich durchgekämpft. Das war mein letztes Rennen für BORA – hansgrohe und ich wollte unbedingt ein gutes Ergebnis einfahren, aber heute war nicht unser Tag.“ – Peter Sagan

„Das war ein schwerer Tag für uns. Wir hatten heute einfach kein Glück, waren in vielen Stürzen verwickelt und hatten viele Defekte. Schon bevor das Rennen so richtig losging, waren wir eigentlich in einer aussichtslosen Position. Peter, Max und Juraj haben noch gekämpft, aber heute war für uns nichts mehr zu holen. Das ist hart, aber eigentlich können wir uns nichts vorwerfen.“ – Enrico Poitschke, sportlicher Leiter

Paris-Roubaix Femmes 116km

Eintagsrennen, Frauenradsport, Frühjahrskassiker, Weltcup und Klassiker, , , ,

1 DEIGNAN Lizzie GBR TREK – SEGAFREDO 02:56:07
2 VOS Marianne NED JUMBO – VISMA WOMEN 01:17
3 LONGO BORGHINI Elisa ITA TREK – SEGAFREDO 01:47
4 BRENNAUER Lisa GER CERATIZIT – WNT PRO CYCLING 01:51
5 BASTIANELLI Marta ITA ALÉ BTC LJUBLJANA 02:10
6 NORSGAARD Emma DEN MOVISTAR TEAM WOMEN 02:10
7 KOCH Franziska GER TEAM DSM 02:10
8 CORDON Audrey FRA TREK – SEGAFREDO 02:10
9 CAVALLI Marta ITA FDJ NOUVELLE AQUITAINE FUTUROSCOPE 02:10
10 BLAAK Chantal NED TEAM SD WORX 02:10
11 MAJERUS Christine LUX TEAM SD WORX 03:03
12 THOMAS Leah USA MOVISTAR TEAM WOMEN 03:03
13 GELOOF Marjolein van.. NED DROPS – LE COL S/B TEMPUR. 03:03
14 PIETERS Amy NED TEAM SD WORX 04:26
15 KOPECKY Lotte BEL LIV RACING 04:33
16 LUDWIG Cecilie DEN FDJ NOUVELLE AQUITAINE FUTUROSCOPE 04:33
17 BEEKHUIS Teuntje NED JUMBO – VISMA WOMEN 04:36
18 KASPER Romy GER JUMBO – VISMA WOMEN 04:41
19 MARTINS Maria POR DROPS – LE COL SUPPORTED 05:55

October 2 nd 2021

Deignan writes history with a one-woman-show

Elizabeth Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) delivered a supreme performance on a historic day, soloing to a maiden triumph in the André Pétrieux velodrome in the first edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. The British star went for the very early move and covered the 29.2km of cobbles of the day on her own, alone at the front! Already a winner of Monuments like Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Ronde van Vlaanderen, world champion in 2015, also a winner of major one-day-races like La Course by Le Tour, the Trofeo Alfredo Binda and Strade Bianche Donne, Deignan survived all the traps of a muddy Hell of the North to take victory ahead of the Dutch icon Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) and her Italian teammate Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo).
A star-studded field with 129 participants take to the course in the early afternoon, with the recent world champions Elisa Balsamo (Valcar-Travel & Service) and many other contenders for the first ever edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. It’s not raining at the moment, but a strong wind blows from the South. It will push the riders on the first three sectors before the race turns west around km 50.

Reusser and Niewiadoma go down, Deignan goes early
After a few breakaway attempts on the local circuit in Denain, the early attackers are caught ahead of the first cobbles of the day. An early crash leads to the withdrawal of Marlen Reusser (Ale’ BTC Ljubljana) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//Sram Racing), two of the heroes of the recent world championships in Flanders.
As the field reaches the first cobbles, from Hornaing to Wandignies (km 33.9), Elizabeth Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) goes for the very early move, and nobody follows her. The Brit star, a world champion in 2015 and a winner of most of the greatest races in the women’s calendar, said she came to the Hell of the North “as a fan”, and she makes the most of this maiden participation at the front of the race, opening a gap of 2 minutes on the first sectors of the day.

The race explodes in Mons-en-Pévèle
Movistar, SD Worx and Jumbo-Visma are among the teams most involved in the chase. Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma) attacks on the cobbles leading to Bersée (55km to go), and the bunch explodes in Mons-en-Pévèle, the first 5-star sector of the day.
With the wet and muddy conditions, Elisa Balsamo is among the riders who go down. 13 riders remain in contention behind Deignan, with Lisa Brennauer (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team) and Emma Norsgaard (Movistar) taking long turns at the front.

Deignan resists Vos
The gap is down to 2’15’’ when Deignan hits one of the most demanding sequences of the day: Camphin-en-Pévèle (4 stars) and then Carrefour de l’Arbre (5 stars). The British champ survives a near-miss on the cobbles. Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo), Christine Majerus (SD Worx), Aude Biannic (Movistar) and Sarah Roy (Team BikeExchange) are not so lucky, going down as they try to follow an acceleration by Marianne Vos.

The Dutch icon had a gap of 1’55’’ to bridge in 17km. As she exited the Carrefour de l’Arbre, with 15km to go, she had already cut Deignan’’s lead to 1’15’’. But the Brit had enough energy left in the tank to ride to Roubaix on her own and triumph with a gap of 1’17’’ on Vos. Elisa Longo Borghini put another Trek-Segafredo rider on the podium (1’47’’) as she narrowly fended off Lisa Brennauer (+1’51’’).

Paris – Roubaix 2021 mit Wettervorhersage

Eintagsrennen, Frühjahrskassiker, Strassenrennen, Vorschau, Weltcup und Klassiker, ,

Wettervorhersage von Plomi:

Am Wochenende herrscht unbeständiges Wetter in Roubaix mit Temperaturen um 15°, Niederschläge werden vor allem Samstag Nachmittag und Sonntag Vormittag erwartet, die Strecke wird aufgeweicht und anspruchsvoll sein.
Sonntag Nachmittag besteht die Aussicht auf trockenes Wetter.
Rennentscheidend kann der starke Wind werden, der SA und So mit Windstärke 4 bis 5 (ca. 50km/h) aus Südwest wehen wird.
Bis zum Wald von Arenberg wird das Fahrerfeld den Rückenwind genießen können, mit der Ausfahrt aus dem Wald beginnt eine Gegenwind bzw. anschließend Seitenwindpassage bis zum Abschnitt 17.
Zwischen den Abschnitten 17 und 15 herrscht dann wieder Schiebewind.
Zwischen den Abschnitten 15 und 11 und 5 und 3 kann der böige Seitenwind rennentscheidend werden.

Key points:
 The world’s best cobble-gobblers are returning to Paris–Roubaix, which will start in front of the Château de Compiègne on Sunday 3 October.
 The majority of them already clashed in the World Championships, held in Belgium one week earlier. It will be a chance for Wout van Aert to make amends after finding himself off the pace in his first two experiences in the Queen of Classics (13th in 2018 and 22nd in 2019). He will also be facing his nemesis, Mathieu van der Poel.

When the winner lifts the cobble trophy on the lawn in Roubaix Velodrome next Sunday, will it feel heavier than its predecessors, as if it had been fattened by the 903-day wait since the 2019 edition? One thing is for sure: after seeing their hopes dashed twice, the cobble-gobblers are raring to go and tackle the event that will wrap up the season for many among them. The unusual 2021 calendar makes Paris–Roubaix the ideal race to exact revenge after the World Championships, where several movers and shakers of the peloton came up empty-handed last Sunday. One of them, Wout van Aert, will be wearing the favourite’s tag again, both at the start in Compiègne and, especially, when the peloton hits the Trouée d’Arenberg, where things started to go south for him in the previous edition. The rainy weather forecast for the weekend will make the cobblestones even more slippery. Will this play into the hands of the three-time world cyclo-cross champion or will it inject even more uncertainty into the challenge of an amazing power rider who sometimes seems short on good luck? His opponents, particularly those who already flexed their muscles in Leuven, will be ready to pounce if he runs into trouble or has to throw in the towel. The finale of the fight for the rainbow jersey revealed Dylan van Baarle’s form, which could promote him to top dog in Ineos Grenadiers, as well as an impressive Jasper Stuyven, who already knows what it feels like to finish in the top 5 in Roubaix (fourth in 2017 and fifth in 2018) and is eager to move up the ladder.
Zdeněk Štybar, who also shone on the other side of the border on Sunday, only needs to go one better after finishing second in 2015 and 2017, while his teammate Florian Sénéchal appears to be in the shape of his life… as does Sonny Colbrelli, who followed up his win in the European Championships with victory in the Memorial Marco Pantani. While Mathieu van der Poel faded a bit on the Belgian roads (eighth), his debut on the cobblestones of Paris–Roubaix could turn out to be the performance of the late season. However, it would be unwise to rule out podium regulars such as Peter Sagan and Alexander Kristoff, who are used to pulling rabbits out of their hats. Finally, the memory of their Roubaix glory days could turbocharge the ambitions of riders such as Philippe Gilbert, Greg van Avermaet, John Degenkolb and Niki Terpstra.
25 teams, main contenders

Australia
Team BikeExchange: Durbridge and Stannard (AUS)

Bahrain
Bahrain–Merida: Colbrelli (ITA), Bauhaus (GER) and Haussler (AUS)

Belgium
Deceuninck–Quick-Step: Lampaert (BEL), Štybar (CZE), Asgreen (DEN) and Sénéchal (FRA)
Lotto–Soudal: Gilbert (BEL) and Degenkolb (GER)
Alpecin–Fenix: Van der Poel (NED), Philipsen, Merlier (BEL) and Dillier (SUI)
Intermarché–Wanty Gobert: Planckaert (Bel) and Van der Hoorn (NED)
Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB: Dupont (BEL) and Aniołkowski (POL)

France
AG2R Citroën Team: Van Avermaet, O. Naessen (BEL) and Schär (SUI)
Cofidis: Laporte (Fra) and Drucker (BEL)
Team TotalEnergies: Petit, A. Turgis (FRA), Boasson Hagen (NOR) and Terpstra (NED)
Groupama–FDJ: Démare, Le Gac (FRA) and Küng (SUI)
Delko: Šiškevičius (LTU) and Barbier (FRA)
Arkéa–Samsic: C. Swift, McLay (GBR) and Russo (FRA)
B&B Hotels p/b KTM: De Backer and Debusschere (BEL)

Germany
Bora–Hansgrohe: P. Sagan (SVK), Politt (GER) and Oss (ITA)
Team DSM: Kragh Andersen (DEN), Bol and Eekhoff (NED)

Israel
Israel Start-Up Nation: Vanmarcke (BEL) and Schmidt (DEN)

Kazakhstan
Astana–Premier Tech: Houle (CAN) and Gruzdev (KAZ)

Netherlands
Jumbo–Visma: Van Aert (BEL), Groenewegen and Teunissen (NED)

South Africa
Qhubeka NextHash: Campenaerts (BEL), Nizzolo (ITA) and Walscheid (GER)

Spain
Movistar Team: García Cortina and Erviti (ESP)

United Arab Emirates
UAE Team Emirates: Kristoff (NOR), Gaviria (COL), Bjerg (DEN) and Trentin (ITA)

United Kingdom
Ineos Grenadiers: Van Baarle (NED), Kwiatkowski (POL) and Moscon (ITA)

United States
EF Education First: Bisseger (SUI), Keukeleire (BEL), Langeveld (NED) and Docker (AUS)
Trek–Segafredo: Stuyven (BEL), M. Pedersen (DEN) and Theuns (BEL)

When the „Roubaisiennes“ take the stage

Eintagsrennen, Frauenradsport, Frühjahrskassiker, Vorschau, Weltcup und Klassiker, , ,

Lisa Brennauer: “I’m extra-motivated for this first”


Photo by Plomi

Aware of the magnitude of the occasion, the riders in the women’s peloton are gearing up for the first edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, scheduled for Saturday 2 October, after their debut on the cobblestones of northern France was frustrated in October 2020 and again last spring. The world of cycling is awash with questions about the favourites to win the inaugural edition, wondering what it takes to shine in this race and whether the decisive attributes are exactly the same as in the men’s competition. Five of these favourites, particularly excited about this momentous event, tell us more about their relationship with the Queen of Classics as the countdown to their initiation on the cobblestones ticks away. The powerful Lisa Brennauer hails from Bavaria, like her friend John Degenkolb (winner of Paris-Roubaix in 2015) and the trailblazer Josef Fischer, first winner of the Hell of the North, in 1896. She can only dream of making history!

Lisa Brennauer (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team)
Kempten (Bavaria, Germany), 8 June 1988
Teams: Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung (2009), Team Hitec Products UCK (20110-2011), Specialized-lulumon / Velocio-Sram Pro Cycling (2012-2015), Canyon-Sram (2016-2017), Wiggle High5 (2018), Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team (since 2019)
Major results:
2013: ITT German champion, TTT world champion
2014: ITT and TTT world champion, silver medallist in the road race, German champion
2015: TTT world champion, winner of the Holland Ladies Tour and the Women’s Tour
2017: winner of the Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen
2018: ITT German champion, winner of the Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen
2019: German champion, winner of the Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta, winner of the Festival Elsy Jacobs
2020: German champion, TTT European champion, winner of the Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta
2021: German champion, ITT German champion, TTT World champion
An anecdote: Lisa Brennauer has never ridden in Roubaix but she’ll discover both the outdoor and the covered velodrome this October. After the Hell of the North, she’ll return for the UCI Track World Championships, held in the Jean Stablinski velodrome at the end of the month.

A DREAM IS BORN
Paris-Roubaix is coming, and Lisa Brennauer can already feel “goosebumps” as she thinks of “riding the last cobbles in Roubaix, the ‘nice’ ones, and going into the entrance of the velodrome. Iconic is really a word that fits this race well.” The passionate German champion is already familiar with the Hell of the North and its folklore: “It’s a brutal race that we’ve all followed many many times on television, and now we finally can take on this challenge ourselves. So I think it’s a cool step for women’s cycling and I’m excited to be part of it. I like the style of the race. I think it’s also something that suits me as a rider. So I’m extra motivated for this first edition.”

CUT OUT FOR THE COBBLESTONES?
There are many requirements to do well on the cobbles, especially on the way to Roubaix. “You need a lot of power, first of all, and of course you need to be able to ride over the cobbles”, Brennauer begins with. “But I also think you need a team, and you need to have the ability to never give up.” The German rider relies on her teammates to put her in the best position to show her abilities, and she notably counts on Maria Giulia Confalonieri: “She has been riding super well in last week’s World Championships.” Brennauer’s stellar TT record shows she has the power and resilience. With several podium finishes in cobble classics such as the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Gent-Wevelgem, she’s already proved her abilities perfectly fit hard racing in difficult conditions: “I really think it’s a race that suits me.”

PREPARING FOR THE BIG SHAKE
Straight off the world championships, Brennauer went to Roubaix for another recon of the cobbles. “I came pretty early, already last year when we were allowed to travel again. We had perfect Roubaix weather then – it rained”, she describes with a laugh. “I had two days there to ride on the circuit, test the equipment, and I had another two days after the Worlds. I think I know the good way to go, the lines to choose or, at least, the ones not to, to try and make it over the cobbles as smooth as possible.” Hailing from Bavaria, Brennauer has also spoken with John Degenkolb, winner of the 2015 Paris-Roubaix: “We’ve known each other from races since we’re under 15, so his victory is my favourite Roubaix moment. His main advice was to always be in the front and to never give up until you really are at the finish, because everything can happen in this race.”

THE IDEAL SCENARIO
“I think a lot of people see me as a rider who often waits for the finish because I’m quite fast, but I don’t think this is how you will win Roubaix in the end”, Brennauer warns. “Of course, it would be best to arrive alone, or in a very very small breakaway group to be able to win this race, and, yes, it’s a scenario I hope I will be able to create.” To do so, she aims to “save as much energy as possible in this first part of the race, to then be able to be in an attack or launch an attack in the finale. This is where I see myself.” It could lead her to a second victory on French roads, 8 years after she took her first pro win during the Tour Languedoc Roussillon. Raising her arms in Roubaix this Saturday would make for a major landmark in her career and in cycling history.

Paris-Roubaix Femmes

Eintagsrennen, Frauenradsport, Frühjahrskassiker, Vorschau, Weltcup und Klassiker, ,

Key points:
 132 female pioneers are expected at the start of the first edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes on Saturday in Denain (13:35) for a 116.4-kilometre race to the Roubaix velodrome, which they will reach if they can withstand the 29.2 kilometres of cobbles that await them.
 One week after the World Championships, the medallists from Leuven will battle on the formidable sectors of Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre. But Italy’s Elisa Balsamo, The Netherlands‘ Marianne Vos and Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma will have several rivals on these unexplored territories.

It’s all about making history. The first edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes automatically implies the beginning of a winner’s list on which each of the riders’ entered dreams of writing her name. However, this part of the prestige is only possible for select members of the peloton: the champions who know best how to prepare for the big races. The recent World Championships in Flanders provided insight on an elite group of riders that is capable of starring on the neighbouring roads. One week later, the three medallists in Leuven will have their chance to raise a cobblestone on the Roubaix velodrome, starting with world champion Elisa Balsamo, who will debut her beautiful rainbow jersey in the mud or the dust, depending on the weather. To make it shine at the end of the 116.4 km course, she will have to dominate again Marianne Vos, who will use all her talent as seven times cyclo-cross world champion to fly over the cobblestones and to get an umpteenth triumph. Kasia Niewiadomia, who accompanied them on the world podium and has also been in the top three of the Strade Bianche four times, will also be one of the primary contenders for the title.
The list of favourites doesn’t end with last weekend’s heroines. There are several in the Trek-Segafredo squad, which includes time trial world champion Ellen van Dijk, who will wear her star-studded European champion jersey for the first time; Liz Deignan, winner of the 2020 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, 2016 Tour of Flanders and 2016 Strade Bianche and Elisa Longo Borghini, who has won and placed in the biggest races on the calendar. As the Paris-Roubaix course is all-new for the ladies, it will be useful to observe whether the qualities of the rollers will pay off as much as for the men. In this case, Lisa Brennauer (5th) in the world championship time trial), Marlen Reusser (2nd) or the young Dane Emma Norsgaard, should also be watched closely.

22 teams, the leading riders

Australia
Team BikeExchange: Spratt, Roy (Aus)

Belgium
Lotto-Soudal Ladies: Vandenbulcke (Bel)
Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team: K.Schweinberger (Aut)

France
FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope: Uttrup-Ludwig (Den)
Arkéa Pro Cycling Team: Verhulst (Fra)
Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling: Rüegg (Swi)

Germany
Canyon//Sram Racing: Niewiadoma (Pol)
Team DSM: Wiebes (Ned)
Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling: Brennauer, Teutenberg (Ger)

Great Britain
Drops-Le Col s/b Tempur: Van’t Geloof (Ned)

Italy
Alé BTC Ljubljana: Reusser (Swi), Guderzo (Ita), Bujak (Slo)
Bepink: Drummond (Nzl)
Valcar-Travel & Service: Balsamo, Consonni (Ita)

The Netherlands
Liv Racing: Kopecky (Bel), Jackson (Can)
SD Worx: Van den Broeck-Blaak, Pieters (Ned)
Jumbo-Visma Women Cycling Team: Vos, Van den Bos (Ned)
NXTG Racing: Kool (Ned)
Parkhotel Valkenburg: Van der Hulst (Ned)

Norway
Team Coop-Hitec Products: Kröger (Ger)

Spain
Movistar Team Women: Van Vleuten (Ned), Norsgaard (Den)

United States
Trek-Segafredo: Deignan (Gbr), Cordon-Ragot (Fra), Longo Borghini (Ita), Van Dijk (Ned)
Team Tibco-SVB: Stephens (Usa), Kessler (Ned)

@A.S.O. 2021 Paris-Roubaix Femmes map

2022 PARIS–ROUBAIX AND 2022 AMSTEL GOLD RACE RESCHEDULED

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The organisers of Paris–Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race have decided to switch the slots of their races on the calendar to deal with the fact that the first round of the French presidential election is due to take place on Sunday 10 April 2022. Paris–Roubaix will be held on Sunday 17 April and the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday 10 April 2022. „This solution was made possible by the cooperation and willingness to compromise of Amstel Gold Race director Leo van Vliet and the Union Cycliste Internationale. In the name of the thousands of fans who love the Queen of Classics, ASO wishes to thank them warmly for agreeing to this change in the calendar“, said Christian Prudhomme, head of the ASO Cycling Division.
Amstel Gold Race director Leo van Vliet added: „When Christian Prudhomme told me that Paris–Roubaix, originally scheduled for 10 April 2022, would no longer be able to go ahead on that date because the French presidential election is due to be held that same day, and he asked me to switch places with the Amstel Gold Race, which was pencilled in for 17 April, I understood his problem straight away. Who am I to look the other way when the biggest cycling organisation asks me to lend it a hand? Of course, I first had to check whether it could be done from the organisational point of view. After the competent authorities, including our partner municipalities, Maastricht and Valkenburg, also pledged their support, I came to an agreement with Christian Prudhomme at the World Championships in Leuven last weekend. We also reached a deal with the UCI. As a result, the Amstel Gold Race will be held a week earlier next year, on 10 April, followed by Paris–Roubaix on 17 April, which falls on Easter Sunday.“

Paris-Roubaix cobblestones: general inspection

Eintagsrennen, Frühjahrskassiker, Vorschau, Weltcup und Klassiker, ,

Key points:

 The riders of edition 118 will battle on the cobblestones for 55 km, over the total distance of 257.7km, with 30 sectors to be tackled on the final 160 km.
 The first edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, which takes place the day before, on Saturday 2 October, features 29.2 km of cobblestones, with the last 85 km being the same for both races. With just a few days to go before the big showdown, everything is in place.
Based on the latest inspection of the course, carried out on 28 September by Paris-Roubaix race director Thierry Gouvenou and race director of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Franck Perque, the organisers have assigned a difficulty rating to each of the cobbled sectors of the race, assessed according to their length, the irregularity of the cobbles, the general condition of the section and its location. The sectors rated five stars remain the Trouée d’Arenberg, Mons-en-Pévèle and the Carrefour de l’Arbre.

This year, the minor modifications concern the attack phase of the cobbles, with the Troisvilles sector retaining its entire length (2200 m). A little further on, the peloton will regroup at the hamlet of Buat sector (# 24), where the difficulty of the slope is added to that of the cobbles. In total, the cobbled kilometres for the men’s race is exactly 55 kilometres.

For their baptism of the cobbled roads, the female riders take on a more manageable 29,2 kilometres, with 17 sectors on the programme. The two courses converge with 85 kilometres to go, while the women will have started from Denain and ridden 33.9 kilometres. They will begin with the four-star 3,7 km long sector from Hornaing to Wandignies. For them too, the demanding route to the velodrome passes through the sectors of Mons-en-Pévèle and the Carrefour de l’Arbre!

The 30 cobbled sectors of Paris–Roubaix

30 : Troisvilles to Inchy (km 96,3 – 2,2 km) ***
29 : Viesly to Quiévy (km 102,8 – 1,8 km) ***
28 : Quiévy to Saint-Python (km 105,4 – 3,7 km) ****
27 : Saint-Python (km 110,1 – 1,5 km) **
26 : Haussy to Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon (km 116,6 – 0,8 km) **
25 : Saint-Martin-sur-Ecaillon to Vertain (km 120,9 – 2,3 km) ***
24 : Capelle to Ruesnes (km 127,3 – 1,7 km) ***
23 : Artres to Quérénaing (km 136,3 – 1,3 km) **
22 : Quérénaing to Maing (km 138,1 – 2,5 km) ***
21 : Maing to Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 141,2 – 1,6 km) ***
20 : Haveluy to Wallers (km 154,2 – 2,5 km) ****
19 : Trouée d’Arenberg (km 162,4 – 2,3 km) *****
18 : Wallers to Hélesmes (km 168,4 – 1,6 km) ***
17 : Hornaing to Wandignies (km 175,2 – 3,7 km) ****
16 : Warlaing to Brillon (km 182,7 – 2,4 km) ***
15 : Tilloy to Sars-et-Rosières (km 186,2 – 2,4 km) ****
14 : Beuvry-la-Forêt to Orchies (km 192,5 – 1,4 km) ***
13 : Orchies (km 197,5 – 1,7 km) ***
12 : Auchy-lez-Orchies to Bersée (km 203,6 – 2,7 km) ****
11 : Mons-en-Pévèle (km 209,1 – 3 km) *****
10 : Mérignies to Avelin (km 215,1 – 0,7 km) **
9 : Pont-Thibault to Ennevelin (km 218,5 – 1,4 km) ***
8 : Templeuve – L’Epinette (km 223,9 – 0,2 km) *
8 : Templeuve – Moulin-de-Vertain (km 224,4 – 0,5 km) **
7 : Cysoing to Bourghelles (km 230,8 – 1,3 km) ***
6 : Bourghelles to Wannehain (km 233,3 – 1,1 km) ***
5 : Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 237,8 – 1,8 km) ****
4 : Carrefour de l’Arbre (km 240,5 – 2,1 km) *****
3 : Gruson (km 242,8 – 1,1 km) **
2 : Willems to Hem (km 249,5 – 1,4 km) ***
1 : Roubaix – Espace Charles Crupelandt (km 256,3 – 0,3 km) *

Paris-Roubaix Challenge
Saturday 2nd of October – 24 hours before the elite race and a few hours before Paris-Roubaix Femmes, a peloton of amateur riders will measure themselves on this legendary spring classic and its fabled cobblestone sectors. Three distances are on offer to cyclists, in order to accommodate all the preparation levels: 70, 107 and 145 kms. Every rider will find an appropriate legend.
Information and registration on: parisroubaixchallenge.com and timeto.com

@A.S.O.