Archiv der Kategorie: Vorschau

Amstel Gold Race to return on Sunday April 18th

8. März 2021Eintagsrennen, VorschauAmstel Gold Race, PlomiGerhard Plomitzer

Valkenburg, March 8th – This year’s Amstel Gold Race and Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition, part of the UCI WorldTour and the Women’s WorldTour, will take place on Sunday April 18th, on a modified circuit through the municipalities of Valkenburg aan de Geul, Maastricht and Eijsden-Margraten. The circuit, of approximately 17 kilometres, will be hermetically closed to day tourists and public. The organisation asks everyone to watch the race from home and not to travel to Limburg.

Leo van Vliet, Race Director Amstel Gold Race: “We are very happy with the message from the authorities that the Amstel Gold Race and the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition can be held on the April 18th. Since the cancellation in October 2020, we have continued to talk to the authorities and have been able to work out the plans in detail. We are aware that a lot can still happen towards 18th April, but we thank the national and regional authorities for their support in this process.”

Public not allowed

The three mayors of the municipalities have decided that the Amstel Gold Race can take place on April 18th, but they have attached conditions to it. The entire area around the circuit will be hermetically closed to day tourists and cycling public. No spectators are allowed on the circuit either. This will be strictly enforced by the municipalities. The organisation will ensure that the area remains accessible for residents and businesses.
Mayor Jan Schrijen of Valkenburg aan de Geul explains the decision to allow the organization to organize the Amstel Gold Race: „In October there was an emergency order and therefore other rules. With the temporary Covid-19 law the local mayors got authorized for these decisions. The current ministerial regulation makes it possible for the races to go ahead this year. The ministry of Health, Wellbeing and Sports has also granted permission. The Amstel Gold Race is regarded as a top-class sporting event and for that reason it can be organised this year. However, this means that no public is allowed and that all peripheral activities such as the VIP tents and the advertising caravan cannot take place. It is also important to us that the accessibility of all villages in the closed area is guaranteed at all times. The organisation has now had more time to prepare everything carefully. This is why we think it is responsible for the Amstel Gold Race to be held in our region again this year. We are confident that the organization will ensure that everything will run safely and the cycling fans can enjoy a beautiful cycling race in front of their television.“

UCI President David Lappartient also declared: „On behalf of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), I would like to say how pleased we are that the Amstel Gold Race and the Amstel Gold Race Ladies are being maintained this year, after their cancellation in 2020. I would like to thank the competent Dutch authorities for their support and for finding a solution with this 17 km circuit. It is very important that the races on our UCI International Road Calendar, and in particular the UCI WorldTour and the UCI Women’s WorldTour, take place, with of course all the adaptations made necessary by the current pandemic context. This excellent news confirms that our sport knows how to find solutions, thanks to the collaboration of all its stakeholders, despite the difficult circumstances of the health crisis. Congratulations to Leo van Vliet and the entire organization team of the men’s and women’s Amstel Gold Race!“

17-kilometre circuit
On Sunday 18the April, the elite women and men will be riding 7 and 13 laps of 17 kilometres respectively, with each lap climbing the Geulhemmerberg, the Bemelerberg and the Cauberg. The final circuit of the men’s race will omit the Cauberg. The Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition will be held in the morning, with the start at approximately 8.30 a.m. and the finish around noon. The men’s Amstel Gold Race starts at 12.15 pm and is expected to finish at around 5.45 pm. Because of the current Covid-19 measures the start will not take place on the Vrijthof square in Maastricht, but within a closed area at the top of the Cauberg.

Organisation calls on everyone to follow race at home

„In order to close off the area hermetically to the public, we will deploy approximately 350 traffic controllers, security guards and staff. We therefore ask everyone to watch the Amstel Gold Race at home this year. The NOS will be there all day and will broadcast both the men’s and women’s races live, so the cycling fan who stays at home won’t have to miss a thing. I hope that everyone can enjoy an exciting race. Together, we really have to make sure that the race can take place in a safe way”, says Van Vliet.
Residents in the closed off area will be informed further in the coming weeks and will of course be able to access their homes throughout the day.
Tour version Amstel Gold Race
Earlier, the organisation had already decided to move the Tour Version of the Amstel Gold Race with 15,000 participants to Saturday 11th September. Already registered participants have been informed and can postpone their registration to 11 September. There are still a few tickets available. For more information go to www.amstelgoldrace.nl.

La Vuelta 21: teams selection

3. März 2021Etappenrennen, VorschauASO, La Vuelta 21, Plomi, UnipublicGerhard Plomitzer

The organizers of La Vuelta have chosen the teams that will take part in the 76th edition of the Spanish Grand Tour. La Vuelta 21 will start on Saturday the 14th of August and finish on Sunday the 5th of September, from Burgos to Santiago de Compostela.

In accordance with UCI rules, the following 19 UCI WorldTeams are automatically invited to the race:

AG2R Citroen Team (FRA)
Astana – Premier Tech (KAZ)
Bahrain Victorius (BHR)
Bora – Hansgrohe (GER)
Cofidis (FRA)
Deceuninck – Quick – Step (BEL)
EF Education-Nippo (USA)
Groupama – FDJ (FRA)
Ineos Grenadiers (GBR)
Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux (BEL)
Israel Start-Up Nation (ISR)
Jumbo-Visma (NED)
Lotto Soudal (BEL)
Movistar Team (ESP)
Team BikeExchange (AUS)
Team DSM (GER)
Team Qhubeka Assos (RSA)
Trek – Segafredo (USA)
UAE Team Emirates (UAE)

Furthermore, Alpecin-Fenix (BEL), leader in the 2020 classification of UCI ProTeams will take part by right in La Vuelta 21.

In addition to these 20 teams, the organizers have awarded the following wildcards:

Burgos – BH (ESP)
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA (ESP)
Euskaltel – Euskadi (ESP)

More information about La Vuelta : www.lavuelta.com
@ASO

Paris-Nice 2021 / Richie Porte : „keen to race ‘at home’ again“

3. März 2021Etappenrennen, Vorschau79. Paris-Nizza, ASO, Richie Porte, Team INEOSGerhard Plomitzer

Richie Porte and Paris-Nice in figures
. Winner in 2013 and 2015
. 8 participations between 2010 and 2020 (Saxo Bank x 2 / Team Sky x 3 / BMC x 2 / Trek x 1)
. 5 stage victories: the leading collector of Paris-Nice stage wins still racing
. Winner of the two highest finishes in the event’s history, at 1,678 metres on the Col de la Couillole (in 2017) and at 1,600 metres on the Montagne de Lure (in 2013)
. 19’16’’: the 2nd best time in history achieved on the climb up the Col d’Eze in 2013, one year after the record (19’12’’) was set by his team-mate at the time, Bradley Wiggins.

Foto: Gerhard Plomitzer

36-year-old Richie Porte is uncontestably a Paris-Nice expert. He will be the only two-time winner of the race taking starter’s orders for the 79th edition in the Yvelines department on Sunday 7th March. He is also the only rider to have triumphed twice since Alberto Contador in 2010. His successes in 2013 and 2015, when riding for Team Sky, chiefly as a super domestique for Chris Froome on the Tour de France, shaped his career, until he experienced a second youth last September to finish third on the Tour de France!

He is only the second Australian to have climbed onto the final podium of the Tour de France (after Cadel Evans, second in 2007 and 2008, before winning in 2011), finishing behind Slovenians Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic. This allowed him a triumphant return home in spite of the travel restrictions in force during the off-season. With his wife and two children, including little Eloise, born during the Tour de France 2020, they touched down on 5th December in Perth to start the required fourteen days of isolation down under before moving onto to his native Tasmania.

In January, he was victorious like almost every year at the summit of Willunga Hill (for the seventh time!) during the Santos Festival of Cycling, which replaced the Tour Down Under, bringing together a field exclusively made up of antipodean riders this year. A member of the national team, he won the queen stage ahead of his young team-mate Luke Plapp, 20 years old, while apologising for not being on his usual level of form for January.

But what sort of shape will he be in as he tackles his first European test of 2021? “I can’t really say what my ambitions are for this edition of Paris-Nice,” he replies. “I’ve just arrived from Australia and even in normal conditions it’s already an extremely complicated race to win. This time, I just don’t know what sort of form I’ll be in. I’ve only raced in January in Australia, whereas my rivals have already taken part in very competitive races in Europe”.

However, he knows all about the nature of the Race to the Sun. “Paris-Nice is not an easy race to win, so to have won it twice is gratifying,” he adds. “It’s a special race for me. Because I live in Monaco, I mainly train on the roads around Nice. So, I’ll have the feeling of racing at home towards the end of the week. It’s also a tricky race, with sidewinds on the first days and the mountains on the second weekend. It’s a difficult race for everybody”.

His 9th participation on the Race to the Sun will also witness another return ‘home’, re-joining the British team that is now known as Ineos Grenadiers and whose leader, for the occasion, is likely to be Tao Geoghegan Hart. The winner of the Giro d’Italia 2020 has already proved to be at ease on the steep roads of Southern France, with 10th position (and a 2nd place finish on the last stage) on the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var. “We have a very strong team for this edition of Paris-Nice,” concludes Richie Porte. “First and foremost, I want to play a role as part of group and help the team to win, whoever it is with. Most importantly, I can’t wait to get started!”
@ASO

79. Paris-Nice 2021

3. März 2021Etappenrennen, Vorschau79. Paris-Nizza, ASO, PlomiGerhard Plomitzer

Key points:
 The 2021 edition of Paris-Nice, which will start on Sunday 7th March in the Yvelines department, will give a number of insights into the form of some of the main players in elite cycling pack, at a stage of the season when the indicators are still vague.
 For all that, the battle has already commenced between Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers: for the first time on the Race to the Sun, the Dutch team will be lining up Primoz Roglic, who has not raced competitively since his triumph on the Vuelta, while the British squad will be placing their hopes in the winner of the Giro d’Italia, Tao Geoghegan Hart.
 Title holder Max Schachmann and his Bora-Hansgrohe colleagues as well as the DSM Team of Jai Hindley will be looking to join in the contest for victory, while David Gaudu, among others, will be defending French hopes of success.
 Beyond the stakes of the general classification, stage wins on the sprint finishes will be especially sought after. Arnaud Démare will be up against tough rivals such as Sam Bennett, Michael Matthews, John Degenkolb, Giacomo Nizzolo, Nacer Bouhanni and Bryan Coquard.

Each season’s beginning brings with it a number of questions and uncertainties. This is even more true as the start to Paris-Nice 2021 approaches, with postponements and cancellations of races in the first weeks of the year added to significant changes in team compositions and jerseys during the winter. In an already shaky cycling world in March 2020, Germany’s Max Schachmann won authoritatively after taking control on the very first stage of the race. There is no guarantee of a repeat on the route into Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole, but then again nothing prevents him from believing in a second success if he can prove to be better than his rivals on the time-trial at Gien, then in Chiroubles or also on La Colmiane. His plans could come up against a major obstacle in the form of Primoz Roglic, who will be making the first appearance of his career on the Race to the Sun, supported in the ranks of Jumbo-Visma by George Bennett and Steven Kruijswijk. The title to be won in Nice may seem to be reaching out to him, but the Slovenian world number 1 also does not always win! Indeed, he could be challenged by Team DSM, formerly Sunweb, who began the 2020 vintage of Paris-Nice in lively fashion, thanks to Kragh Andersen (who won the time-trial at Saint-Amand-Montrond) and Tiesj Benoot (2nd in the general classification). The two men will be accompanied this year by Australian Jai Hindley, who finished 2nd on the Giro 2020 and who will be keen to have his word to say in the outcome.

Paris-Nice 2021 is also an invitation for the Ineos Grenadiers team to show a new face after an underwhelming year in 2020. Indeed, the British team will be counting on its rider who stood out the most, by shining on the roads of Italy. For the occasion, Tao Geoghegan Hart will be supported by Richie Porte, 3rd on the Tour de France and two-time winner of the Race to the Sun (in 2013 and 2015), who has returned to the squad where he enjoyed his best successes. The French riders could spoil the party for the favourites, and, during their first outings of the year, have displayed form that allows them to aim for the leading positions. Such is the case for David Gaudu, who was victorious last weekend in the Ardèche, while Warren Barguil and Guillaume Martin also looked dynamic.

When looking through the list of participants, it becomes evident that there will be fierce battle for all the winners’ bouquets handed out during the week. Classics specialists such as Bob Jungels, Philippe Gilbert, Matteo Trentin, Mads Pedersen and Dylan Teuns will, for example, have their eyes on the stages at Chiroubles or Biot, while top level sprint finishes are to be expected in Saint-Cyr, Amilly or Bollène. The most prolific winner of 2020, Arnaud Démare, has already won three stages on Paris-Nice, but will have to tackle an enormous field of speedsters this year: Sam Bennett, Pascal Ackermann, Alexander Kristoff, Michael Matthews, Sonny Colbrelli, John Degenkolb, Giacomo Nizzolo, Jasper Philipsen, Nacer Bouhanni, Bryan Coquard, Christophe Laporte and Hugo Hofstetter are unlikely to be content with playing supporting roles, but there will not be room for everyone at the top of the pile.
23 TEAMS – THE MAIN PARTICIPANTS:

Australia
Team BikeExchange: Matthews (Aus)

Bahrain
Bahrain Victorious: Colbrelli (Ita), Poels (Ned), Teuns (Bel)

Belgium
Deceuninck-Quick Step: Cavagna (Fra), Bennett (Irl)
Lotto Soudal: Degenkolb (Ger), Gilbert, De Gendt (Bel)
Intermarché-Wanty Gobert Matériaux: Eiking (Nor), Meintjes (Saf)
Alpecin-Fenix: Philipsen (Bel)

France
AG2R Citroën Team: Jungels (Lux), Naesen (Bel), Paret-Peintre (Fra)
Cofidis: Martin, Laporte (Fra)
Groupama-FDJ: Démare, Gaudu (Fra)
Total Direct Energie: Boasson Hagen (Nor), Latour, Vuillermoz (Fra)
Team Arkea-Samsic: Barguil, Bouhanni (Fra)
B&B Hotels p/b KTM: Coquard, Hivert (Fra)

Germany
Bora-Hansgrohe: Schachmann, Ackermann (Ger), Grossschartner (Aut)
Team DSM: Kragh Andersen (Den), Benoot (Bel), Hindley (Aus)

Israel
Israel Start-Up Nation: Hofstetter (Fra)

Kazakhstan
Astana–Premier Tech: Lutsenko (Ukr), Vlasov (Rus), Fraile, L.L. Sanchez (Spa)

Netherlands
Jumbo-Visma: Roglic (Slo), Bennett (NZ), Kruijswijk (Ned)

South Africa
Team Qhubeka Assos: Walscheid (Ger), Aru, Nizzolo (Ita), Henao (Col)
Spain
Movistar Team: Mühlberger (Aut), Rojas (Spa)

United Arab Emirates
UAE Team Emirates: Kristoff (Nor), Trentin (Ita), De la Cruz (Spa)

United Kingdom
Ineos Grenadiers: Geoghegan Hart (UK), Porte, Dennis (Aus)

USA
EF Education Nippo: Powless (USA), Nielsen (Den)
Trek-Segafredo: Elissonde (Fra), M.Pedersen (Den)

@ASO

Critérium du Dauphiné 2021

27. Februar 2021Etappenrennen, VorschauASO, Critérium du Dauphiné, PlomiGerhard Plomitzer

Key points:
 The course of the 2021 Critérium du Dauphiné, consisting of eight stages and running from 30 May to 6 June, was unveiled at the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council building in Lyon this morning.
 Following the start in Issoire with a loop stage on a dynamic circuit, the organisers have cooked up a tough yet balanced course and brought back the Wednesday time trial to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
 A gruelling Alpine trilogy with finishes in Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse and the ski resorts of La Plagne and Les Gets will decide the showdown among the stars of the peloton, who will be hunting for a victory in the Dauphiné to boost their confidence ahead of the Tour de France.
 Antargaz also becomes an official partner of the Critérium du Dauphiné as the sponsor of the most aggressive rider classification for the first time.

Even in recent years, the various theories on how to interpret the Critérium du Dauphiné to predict how the Tour de France will unfold a month later have been tried and found lacking. Whereas Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas got a taste of success here ahead of the greatest victories of their careers, Alberto Contador would often struggle in the Critérium du Dauphiné, even at his peak, while the winners of the last two editions, Jakob Fuglsang and Dani Martínez, proved unable to follow up their promising results in June with a similar performance in July. However, one thing always remains the same: even as the Tour looms on the horizon, the stars of the peloton take the challenge seriously, put on a spectacular show and attach a great deal of importance to the Alpine duels that take place here. The 2021 course has been designed to gradually turn up the heat on the peloton in a trek from the Central Massif to the Alps. The rubber will hit the road in the inaugural stage starting and ending in Issoire, where sprinters will have their work cut out for them to stay in contention until the finish. It will be more of the same two days later in Saint-Haon-le-Vieux, where the 800 m home straight bends towards the sky. At 16.5 kilometres, the time trial from Firminy to Roche-la-Molière will be just long enough to shake things up a bit but, at the same time, short enough to keep the race wide open.

After four stages run mostly in Auvergne and a plunge to the Rhône Valley that could force a selection among the punchers for the showdown in Saint-Vallier, the peloton will head to the Alpine peaks, where the mountain warriors will hog the limelight from the stage to Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse, featuring the Col de Porte. This will be just an appetiser, as the next day will see the Dauphiné discover the La Plagne ski resort, coming after a 17 kilometre ascent with an average gradient of 7.5% and with the riders‘ legs already softened up by the Col de Pré and the Cormet de Roselend. On Sunday, the 145 km grand finale will serve up a succession of climbs ready for use as a launch pad for an epic adventure: the roads up the Col des Aravis, Col de la Colombière, Côte de Châtillon and, especially, Col de Joux Plane, are the perfect terrain to go on the offensive, as is the plunge to Morzine, where the top descenders in the peloton will come out to play. The ascent to Les Gets will wrap up this climbing-fest. On clear days, it is said you can see Brest from the top of the mountain…

Critérium du Dauphiné 2021 stages :
Sunday, May 30th – Stage 1 – Issoire > Issoire, 182 km
Monday, May 31st – Stage 2 – Brioude > Saugues, 173 km
Tuesday, June 1st – Stage 3 – Langeac > Saint-Haon-Le-Vieux, 172 km
Wednesday, June 2nd – Stage 4 – Firminy > Roche-La-Molière, 16,5 km (individual time trial)
Thursday, June 3rd – Stage 5 – Saint-Chamond > Saint-Vallier, 175,5 km
Friday, June 4th – Stage 6 – Loriol-sur-Drôme > Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse, 168 km
Saturday, June 5th – Stage 7 – Saint-Martin-Le-Vinoux > La Plagne, 171,5 km
Sunday, June 6th – Stage 8 – La Léchère-les-Bains > Les Gets 147 km

Team selection
In accordance with Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) rules, the following nineteen UCI WorldTeams are automatically invited to the race:

AG2R Citroën Team (Fra)
Astana – Premier Tech (Kaz)
Bahrain Victorious (Brn)
Bora – Hansgrohe (Ger)
Cofidis (Fra)
Deceuninck – Quick-Step (Bel)
EF Education – NIPPO (Usa)
Groupama – FDJ (Fra)
Ineos Grenadiers (Gbr)
Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux (Bel)
Israel Start-Up Nation (Isr)
Jumbo – Visma (Ned)
Lotto Soudal (Bel)
Movistar Team (Esp)
Team BikeExchange (Aus)
Team DSM (Ger)
Team Qhubeka Assos (Rsa)
Trek – Segafredo (Usa)
UAE Team Emirates (Uae)

The organizers invite the following teams:

B&B Hotels P/B KTM (Fra)
Team Arkéa – Samsic (Fra)

Paris-Roubaix 2021 team selection

24. Februar 2021Eintagsrennen, Frühjahrskassiker, VorschauASO, Paris-Roubaix, PlomiGerhard Plomitzer

The organisers of Paris-Roubaix have chosen the teams for the first edition, Sunday, April 11th.
In accordance with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) regulations, the nine UCI Women’s WorldTeams automatically entered are:

Alé BTC Ljubljana (Ita)
Canyon / /SRAM Racing (Ger)
FDJ Nouvelle – Aquitaine Futuroscope (Fra)
Liv Racing (Ned)
Movistar Team Women (Esp)
Team BikeExchange (Aus)
Team DSM (Ger)
Team SD Worx (Ned)
Trek – Segafredo (Usa)

Furthermore, the six following UCI Women’s Continental teams will participate by right in Paris-Roubaix Femmes:

A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team (Ita)
Ceratizit – WTN Pro Cycling Team (Ger)
Lotto Soudal Ladies (Bel)
Parkhotel Valkenburg (Ned)
Team Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank (Usa)
Valcar – Travel & Service (Ita)

The organisers have invited the following teams:

Arkéa Pro Cycling Team (Fra)
Ciclismo Mundial (Bel)
Cogeas Mettler Look Pro Cycling Team (Rus)
Doltcini – Van Eyck Sport – Proximus Continental Team (Bel)
Drops – Le Col supported by Tempur (Gbr)
Hitec Products (Nor)
Jumbo – Visma Women Team (Ned)
NXTG Racing (Ned)
Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling (Fra)

2021 PARIS-ROUBAIX: TEAM SELECTION

The organisers of Paris-Roubaix have chosen the teams for the 118th edition, Sunday, April 11th.
In accordance with Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) rules, the nineteen UCI WorldTeams are invited:

Furthermore, the two highest ranked UCI ProTeams in 2020, Alpecin – Fenix (Bel) and Team Arkéa – Samsic (Fra), will participate by right in Paris-Roubaix.

The organisers have invited the following teams:

B&B Hotels p/b KTM (Fra)
Bingoal WB (Bel)
Delko (Fra)
Total Direct Energie (Fra)

©A.S.O.

More information about Paris-Roubaix Femmes on www.paris-roubaix-femmes.fr/en/
More information about Paris-Rouaix on www.paris-roubaix.fr/en/

Nizzolo & Pozzovivo lead Team Qhubeka ASSOS at UAE Tour

19. Februar 2021Etappenrennen, Teamnews, VorschauPlomi, Qhubeka Assos, UAE TourGerhard Plomitzer

The UCI World Tour gets underway this weekend with the UAE Tour taking place between 21-27 February. The Italian duo of Giacomo Nizzolo and Domenico Pozzovivo will lead Team Qhubeka ASSOS at the middle-east’s premier cycling race.

The UAE Tour will consist of 7 stages; four of which suit the sprinters, two summit finishes and an individual time trial. With something for every type of rider, and as the debut UCI World Tour race of the season, the 2021 UAE Tour has attracted arguably its strongest peloton ever.
Team Qhubeka ASSOS will have one of the race’s headline sprinters at the start, European and Italian Champion Giacomo Nizzolo, fresh off his victory at Clasica de Almeria this past weekend. Veteran climber, Domenico Pozzovivo will be taking aim at the two climbing stages and a strong overall GC result for Team Qhubeka ASSOS.

Support for our co-leaders will come in the form of Max Walscheid, Lasse Norman Hansen, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Harry Tanfield and Matteo Pelucchi.

Aart Vierhouten – Sport Director
At our first WT race in 2021 the UAE Tour, Team Qhubeka ASSOS has two goals;
To learn from each sprint stage, working on the right setup of our lead-out train for the benefit of our leader and sprinter Giacomo Nizzolo.

Besides the sprint stages we have also two stages which finish up a mountain, therefore we have our climber Domenico Pozzovivo. We will protect him during the flat stages and help him on his way towards the climbs to achieve a good result on the GC as well.

Giacomo Nizzolo
I am really looking forward to the UAE Tour, where the complete World Tour peloton will line up for the first time this year. It is an important race for our team, Team Qhubeka ASSOS, and a great opportunity for us to show our colours and our purpose to a global cycling audience.
We have some good feelings from the first races of the season already and I am feeling confident with the team around me here, so we look forward to some fast and exciting sprints in the desert.

Domenico Pozzovivo
I am looking forward to starting my season with Team Qhubeka Assos at the UAE Tour, where it will be a nice change to ride in a warm climate once again. The first race is always interesting to see how the legs will respond after a long period of training but for sure we will give 100% every day.
@Qhubeka Assos

Team selection for 2021 Tour de France

4. Februar 2021Etappenrennen, Tour de France, Vorschau108. Tour de France, ASO, PlomiGerhard Plomitzer

The organisers of the Tour de France have chosen the teams that will take part in the 108th edition (June 26- July 18).

In accordance with Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) rules, the following nineteen UCI WorldTeams are automatically invited to the race:

Furthermore, the Alpecin – Fenix, the leader in the 2020 classification of UCI ProTeams will take part by right in Tour de France 2021.

Following the decision of the Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) directors’ committee to increase the maximum number of riders allowed at the start of Grand Tours from 176 to 184, the organisers of the Tour de France extend invitations to the following three teams:

B&B Hotels P/B KTM (Fra)
Team Arkéa – Samsic (Fra)
Total Direct Energie (Fra)

Tour of the Alps 22 Teams

26. Januar 2021Etappenrennen, VorschauÖRV, Plomi, „Tour of the Alps“Gerhard Plomitzer

DIE 22 MANNSCHAFTEN DER TOUR OF THE ALPS 2021

UCI WORLD TEAMS
Astana-Premier Tech (Kasachstan)
Bahrain-Victorious (Bahrain)
Bora-Hansgrohe (Deutschland)
EF-Education Nippo (USA)
Groupama-FDJ (Frankreich)
INEOS Grenadiers (Großbritannien)
Israel Start-Up Nation (Israel)
Movistar Team (Spanien)
Team BikeExchange (Australien)
Team Qhubeka-Assos (Südafrika)
Trek-Segafredo (USA)
UAE-Team Emirates (Vereinigte Arabische Emirate)

UCI PRO TEAMS
Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec (Italien)
Bardiani-CSF-Faizané (Italien)
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA (Spanien)
Eolo-Kometa (Italien)
Gazprom-Rusvelo (Russland)
Team Arkéa-Samsic (Frankreich)
Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (Norwegen)
Vini Zabù-Brado-KTM (Italien)

CONTINENTAL TEAMS
Tirol KTM Cycling Team (Österreich)

NATIONAALMANNSCHAFT
Italien

Christoph Strasser startet mit Premiere ins neue Jahr

26. Januar 2021Allgemein, Radmarathon, VorschauChristoph Strasser, ÖRV, PlomiGerhard Plomitzer

Die Corona-Krise macht erfinderisch, so auch den besten Ultra-Radfahrer der Welt Christoph Strasser. Da nicht absehbar ist, wann Veranstaltungsstätten wieder aufsperren können, haben er und sein Team ein Online-Event auf die Beine gestellt: Am 4. Februar steigt um 20:00 Uhr der erste Livestream seines Vortrages „Der Weg ist weiter als das Ziel“ auf Youtube.
Am 4. Februar um 20:00 Uhr gibt es den ersten Livestream-Vortrag von Christoph Strasser auf Youtube in diesem Jahr. Unter dem Motto „Der Weg ist weiter als das Ziel“ erzählt der Steirer über seine bisherigen Erfolge und Niederlagen und welches große Ziel 2021 auf ihn wartet. Fix dabei ist, dass das Race Across America, wo er mit sechs Triumphen und unzähligen Bestmarken Rekordhalter ist, heuer nicht auf dem Programm stehen wird. „Das RAAM ist aufgrund der Corona-Situation in den USA noch zu unsicher. Die Planungen und Buchungen für das gesamte Team hätten schon durchgeführt werden müssen. Dafür werde ich das gleiche Ziel verfolgen, das ich schon im Vorjahr angepeilt hatte, ehe wir es absagen mussten: Ich will als erster Mensch 1.000 Kilometer in 24 Stunden schaffen. Dafür bräuchte ich eine Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeit von 41,7 km/h innerhalb eines Tages“, beschreibt Strasser. Die Austragungsstätte ist noch nicht 100%ig geklärt, aber Gespräche mit möglichen Partnern laufen auf Hochtouren.
Auch an der körperlichen Fitness wird schon fleißig gearbeitet. Christoph hat die Intensität der Trainingseinheiten erhöht, die Umfänge und die langen Trainings etwas reduziert. Mit dieser Strategie sollte noch ein kleiner Anstieg der Leistungsfähigkeit möglich sein.
Strassers Online-Premiere
Strasser ist der erfolgreichste Ultra-Radsportler der Gegenwart, unter anderem mehrfacher Gewinner des Race Across America und weiterer Nonstop-Rennen sowie 24-Stunden-Weltrekordhalter. Doch er kennt nicht nur die Höhen. In den letzten Jahren musste er auch einige Rückschläge bewältigen. Die Herausforderung RAAM lockte Christoph bis 2019 immer wieder nach Amerika, nach insgesamt sechs Triumphen gab es 2020 eine RAAM-Pause.

In seinem Livestream-Vortrag am 4. Februar plaudert er über die körperliche und mentale Vorbereitung auf das Race Across America und die Höhen und Tiefen während des Rennens. Darüber hinaus gibt es viele authentische Einblicke hinter die Kulissen, Funksprüche zwischen Fahrer und Crew und lustige Videobotschaften von Fans. All das wird durch Lesestellen aus seinem Buch aufgelockert.
Er spricht in seinem Vortrag auch über einfache Techniken zur Steigerung der Motivation, über die Wichtigkeit eines eingespielten Teams, sowie über Rückschläge. Das „Wieder-Aufstehen“ nach Misserfolgen hat ihm persönlich die größten Lernerfahrungen am Weg zu seinen Erfolgen ermöglicht. Aber schlussendlich zählt nicht der Erfolg, sondern das zu tun, was man gerne tut und was einen glücklich macht.

„Der Online Multimedia-Vortrag, ein abwechslungsreicher Mix aus Bildern und Filmsequenzen, ist nicht nur für sportlich Aktive und Radfahrer interessant, sondern auch für jene, die mit Sport nichts am Hut haben und sich einfach für menschliche Erlebnisse, Abenteuer und Erlebnisvorträge interessieren und sich gerne von speziellen Erfahrungen inspirieren lassen“, erläutert der gebürtige Kraubather.

Alle Infos zum Vortrag:
Ort und Datum: 4. Februar 2021
Beginn: 20.00 Uhr
Eintritt: es gibt keine fixen Ticketpreise, wir freuen uns über freiwillige Spenden
Dauer: ca. 2 mal 1 Stunde mit 10min Pause, anschließend Fragerunde aus dem Feedback der Zuseher
Link zum Vortrag: https://youtu.be/8vAm3-n0mKg
Link zum Event auf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/331855194525086

Homepage: www.christophstrasser.at
Honorarfreie Fotos: www.christophstrasser.at/pressefotos_pressearchiv/pressefotos
Facebook: www.facebook.com/christophstrasser.at

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Pressekontakt:
MR PR – Martin Roseneder
Tel.: +43 664 913 76 77
eMail: martin@mr-pr.at
Homepage: www.mr-pr.at

Die 22 Mannschaften der TOUR of the ALPS 2021

22. Januar 2021Etappenrennen, VorschauÖRV, Plomi, „Tour of the Alps“Gerhard Plomitzer

Nach der Corona-bedingten Absage der Tour of the Alps 2020 startet die grenzüberschreitende Etappenrundfahrt in den drei Euregio-Regionen in diesem Jahr neu durch – und das wie! Nachdem bereits vor einiger Zeit bekannt wurde, dass sowohl Streckenprofil als auch Etappenstandorte aus dem Vorjahr bestehen bleiben, steht nun auch das hochklassige Teilnehmerfeld der bevorstehenden Ausgabe der Rundfahrt fest.
Enthüllt wurde das 22 Teams umfassende Teilnehmerfeld im Rahmen der Mannschaftspräsentation am Freitag, 22. Januar, die via Live Streaming über die Bühne ging. Die digitale Veranstaltung wurde auf der Website und den sozialen Kanälen der Tour of the Alps, den Plattformen von PMG Sport sowie Sport Tirol, RadMarathon, RadSport News, Rennrad, K19 Web TV, Tuttobiciweb, La Repubblica übertragen.
An der Präsentation nahmen Vertreter der drei territorialen Partner, unter deren Schirmherrschaft die Tour of the Alps ausgetragen wird, teil: Wolfgang Töchterle (Marketingleiter von IDM Südtirol) und Florian Phleps (Managing Director von Tirol Werbung) waren ebenso dabei wie Maurizio Rossini (CEO von Trentino Marketing). Außerdem kamen der zweifache Straßenrad-Weltmeister Paolo Bettini, der Cheftrainer des italienischen Radnationalteams, Davide Cassani, der Team Manager der Mannschaft Eolo-Kometa, Ivan Basso, der sportliche Leiter von Astana Premier Tech, Giuseppe Martinelli, die beiden Ineos-Grenadiers-Fahrer Tao Geoghegan Hart und Filippo Ganna, Simon Yates vom Team Bike Exchange, sowie die Verantwortliche für Marketing und Medienrechte von PMG Sport, Ginevra Cividini, zu Wort. Auch Giacomo Santini, Präsident des GS Alto Garda, und Maurizio Evangelista, General Manager der Tour of the Alps, waren beim Online-Event anwesend.
Alle Radsport-Liebhaber dürfen sich auf eine Tour of the Alps der Superlative freuen, die vom 19. bis 23. April die Euregio-Gebiete Tirol-Südtirol-Trentino durchquert. Unter den 22 Mannschaften, die bei der Rundfahrt mit Start in Brixen dabei sein werden, befinden sich nicht weniger als zwölf UCI World Tour Teams. Noch nie zuvor war die Anzahl an World Tour Teams beim vom G.S. Alto Garda organisierten Etappenrennen so hoch wie heuer. Es verwundert daher kaum, dass der Veranstalter die Zahl der Mannschaften, welche sich in der Alpenregion in Schuss für den kurz darauf stattfindenden Giro d’Italia bringen wollen, erstmals von 20 auf 22 erhöht hat.

Ebenso wie in den vergangenen Jahren ist das Team INEOS-Grenadiers auch 2021 mit von der Partie. Die Mannschaft des letztjährigen Giro-Triumphators Tao Geoghegan Hart gehört zu den stärksten Teams der Welt – ob der junge Brite bei der Tour of the Alps tatsächlich am Start sein wird, steht allerdings noch nicht fest. Vieles deutet jedoch darauf hin, dass er sich im Rahmen der grenzüberschreitenden Rundfahrt den Feinschliff für den Giro d’Italia holen wird.

Der Stern des amtierenden Giro-Siegers ging ausgerechnet bei der letzten Ausgabe der Tour of the Alps im Jahr 2019 auf, als er in der Gesamtwertung hinter seinem Teamkollegen Pavel Sivakov den zweiten Platz belegte. „Ich habe bei der TotA schon zwei Etappen gewonnen und hoffe, wieder in die Alpenregion zurückkommen zu können – auch, um einen persönlichen Kreis für mich zu schließen“, ließ Geoghegan Hart via Videobotschaft aus dem Trainingslager in Gran Canaria verlauten. In den Reihen des Team INEOS sicher vertreten sein wird Zeitfahrweltmeister Filippo Ganna, der die grenzüberschreitende Rundfahrt zum ersten Mal in Angriff nimmt.

Für die Mannschaft Trek-Segafredo steigt Vincenzo Nibali in den Sattel. Der routinierte Italiener nutzt die Tour of the Alps auch in diesem Jahr, um sich bestmöglich auf den Giro d’Italia einzustimmen.
Für die TotA 2021 haben sich auch die Mannschaft Groupama-FDJ mit dem Sieger der 2018er-Ausgabe, Thibaut Pinot, Bora-Hansgrohe mit Emanuel Buchmann, das neue Team von Chris Froome, Israel Start-Up Nation, Qhubeka-ASSOS mit Fabio Aru, Bahrain-Victorious mit Mikel Landa, sowie das Team Astana-Premier Tech mit Aleksandr Vlasov angekündigt.
Im Rahmen der diesjährigen Tour of the Alps kehren das bärenstarke UAE Team Emirates sowie EF Education Nippo auf die Straßen der Euregio-Gebiete zurück. Zusätzlich dazu feiern mit dem Team BikeExchange und dem Team Movistar zwei namhafte Mannschaften bei der grenzüberschreitenden Rundfahrt ihr Debüt: Während das Team Bike Exchange bei der TotA vom Kletterspezialisten und Vuelta-Sieger von 2018, Simon Yates, angeführt wird, reist das Team Movistar mit dem neuen Kapitän Miguel Angel Lopez in die Alpenregion.
Neben den 12 World Tour Teams stellen sich acht renommierte Profi-Mannschaften der anspruchsvollen Tour of the Alps 2021. Vier davon, nämlich Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, Bardiani-CSF-Faizané, Vini Zabù-Brado-KTM und Eolo-Kometa, kommen aus Italien. Besonders gespannt sein darf man auf das junge Team Eolo-Kometa von Ivan Basso und Alberto Contador, das erst seit kurzem auf Pro-Continental-Niveau fährt und zum ersten Mal bei der TotA dabei ist.
Bei den ausländischen Profi-Mannschaften stechen das Team Gazprom-Rusvelo mit dem starken Bergfahrer Ilnur Zakarin und das Team Arkéa-Samsic mit Nairo Quintana besonders ins Auge. Sollte Quintana heuer beim Giro d’Italia Jagd auf das Rosa Trikot machen, steigt er wohl auch bei der Tour of the Alps in den Sattel und gehört dann selbstverständlich zu den heißesten Eisen im Kampf um den Gesamtsieg. Auch das spanische Team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA und die junge norwegische Mannschaft Uno-X Pro Cycling Team haben ihre Teilnahme an der TotA bestätigt.

Vervollständigt wird das Teilnehmerfeld von der österreichischen Continental-Mannschaft Tirol KTM Cycling Team sowie der italienischen Nationalmannschaft von Cheftrainer Davide Cassani. „Die Tour of the Alps zeichnet sich durch ihre wunderschönen und spektakulären Etappen aus: Diese sind einerseits anspruchsvoll, andererseits aber nicht übermäßig lang. Sicherlich werden einige Top-Athleten, welche die Rundfahrt bestreiten, mit einem Auge auf den Giro d’Italia schielen – dennoch hat die TotA in den letzten Jahren stetig an Bedeutung dazugewonnen, sodass der Gesamtsieg als prestigereicher Erfolg mit entsprechender Relevanz verstanden werden kann“, so Cassani.