In today’s road racing news, Movistar gets their first 2020 win, Astana under scrutiny, Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s notches 750th win, Evenepoel takes Vuelta a San Juan and more….
Marc Soler Opens 2020 Win Column for Movistar
Marc Soler took the second win of his pro career and the first victory in 2020 for the Movistar team at the Trofeo Pollença – Port d’Andratx (168km), crowning a long breakaway – one of his signature moves – with a solo victory in his first multi-day competition of the year.
Soler opened his run to with win on the slopes of the Coll d’en Bleda (Cat-2), more than 70km away from the finish with a breakaway of nearly twenty riders which he initiated with Lennard Kämna (BOH).
At the Mon Port area, over the decisive, 2km climb with slopes up to 20%, Soler left Mühlberger behind with a sharp acceleration to take the win.
“I’m so happy with this first victory of the year, both for the team and myself. It was such a hard day, a very chaotic race and one where we all struggled a lot, yet with a great ending for us. At the descent of the Puigmajor, where Buchmann left us behind yesterday, the peloton split and we were ahead with a gap. At the Bleda climb there were some attacks which helped form that twenty-rider group from which we went to chase the victory.
“It was a tough course, with lots of ups and downs, and so the breakaway got selected one rider at a time, rather than real splits. At some point, Mühlberger and I could open that gap ahead of the riders still resisting, and we soon found great cooperation. My team-mates and I came here to train near Andratx a couple of days ago, and so I knew the final climb more or less – I knew where I wanted to attack in case I had the legs to do so, and fortunately, I could finish it off.”
Astana Under Microscope for Possible Ferrari Connections
The Astana cycling team denied any association with Michele Ferrari on Monday following media reports that Danish rider Jakob Fuglsang is being investigated for links with the banned doping doctor who previously worked with Lance Armstrong.
According to Danish media, Fuglsang is suspected by the governing body of cycling of taking part in a doping program designed by Ferrari.
Citing a “secret report” from CADF, the cycling body’s anti-doping unit, the Politiken newspaper also reported that Astana teammate Alexey Lutsenko attended a meeting between Fuglsang and Ferrari.
”The team does not collaborate with any suspicious doctor, such as Dr. Michele Ferrari,” said Astana, the team run by former pro rider Alexandre Vinokourov. ”The riders are not authorized to consult any doctors external to the team in order to perform any activity, or to be prescribed any diet or treatment, related to their performance.”
Dries Devenyns nets Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s 750th win
Dries Devenyns proved that age is just a number as he powered to a memorable win at the sixth edition of the Cadel Evens Great Ocean Road Race, on the back of a majestic ride that showcased his strength and experience. Usually a world-class team player, Dries saw his opportunity and immediately grabbed it, in the process helping Deceuninck – Quick-Step reach a jaw-dropping milestone of 750 UCI victories since the squad’s inception in 2003.
“It is a very special day for me. I like this race a lot, I like racing in Australia and I’ve always felt good here, so to win it after a couple of good results in the past gives me a huge satisfaction. It’s not only the victory that makes me happy, but also the fact that I could write history today for this amazing team”, said Dries, who couldn’t hide his delight after his first win in nearly four years.”
Victory for Benoît Cosnefroy at GP de La Marseillaise
2017 U23 World Champion Benoît Cosnefroy took the first win of the 2020 season for Ag2R La Mondiale at the GP de La Marseillaise. With teammate Clément Venturini controlling the pack, Cosnefroy attacked on the ridge road and bested Tom Devriendt in the final sprint to take the win.
Cosnefroy heads next to the Etoile de Bessèges, from February 5 to 9.
Remco Evenepoel Takes Overall at Vuelta a San Juan
Remco Evenepoel continued to add to his rapidly growing palmares, which before the start of the season counted five victories, including Clasica San Sebastian and the European ITT Championship. Just 20 years of age, Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s prodigy enjoyed a quiet Sunday in the peloton and became the youngest rider in history to seal the win in the general classification of the Vuelta a San Juan, where he captured also a stage and the best young rider’s jersey, one year from his pro debut at the same event.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the entire team, it was a great week and with their help I could have this perfect start to the season, which serves as a big confidence boost. I am proud to win this race and be the youngest rider to sew up the general classification at the Vuelta a San Juan. It’s an amazing place, with superb fans, and it’s always a pleasure to be here, that’s why I hope to return in the future”, a beyond excited Evenepoel said at the press conference.
Fernando Gaviria Makes it 3 Wins in Final San Juan Showdown
UAE Team Emirates finished off a solid week at the Vuelta San Juan with victory for Fernando Gaviria on stage 7. The 25 year old jumped from the wheel of Alvaro Hodeg (Deceuninck Quick Step) in the closing metres and held off Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) to win comfortably on the finish in San Juan.
“Today was a short fast stage,” Gaviria said at the finish. “Bohli controlled the breakaway from the beginning, as he has done all week. Then the lead-out train came together well in the end and I had really good legs for the sprint so it was the perfect way to finish the week. To start the season like this is great for the team motivation and we hope to continue this way.”
Madigan Munro Takes Junior Women’s Cyclocross Bronze
Madigan Munro (Boulder, Colo.; Boulder Junior Cycling) went down in history today after earning a bronze medal behind the Dutch pair of Anrooij and Pieterse at the inaugural UCI Junior Women’s Cyclocross World Championships.
“It’s all still a bit surreal,” said Munro, “I was really excited coming into the race so, I’m proud of my result and excited for more. It was definitely a tough course, it took a lot of attrition and endurance to get through all laps strongly, but it was really challenging and a really fun day.”
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