Here’s the cycling news highlights for February 10, 2021.
Valverde Opens 2021 Season at Clasica de Almería
Former World Champion Alejandro Valverde will make his 2021 debut at Sunday’s Clásica de Almería.
Movistar will look to its two main sprinters, Briton Gabriel Cullaigh and Iván García Cortina for race success. The two are joined by a lineup that features many classics specialists: Johan Jacobs, Mathias Norsgaard, Juri Hollmann and another addition to the Movistar Team roster this year, Spaniard Gonzalo Serrano.
Mark Cavendish Returns to Almería, Again in Quick Step Colors
Six years ago, Mark Cavendish claimed a convincing win at the Spanish one-day race, one of the 44 victories he scored during his first spell with the Quick-Step. Now, the 2011 World Champion will be back at the start, part of a strong Deceuninck – Quick-Step line-up which will include also “El Tractor” Tim Declercq, Alvaro Hodeg, Florian Sénéchal, Stijn Steels, Jannik Steimle, and Bert Van Lerberghe.
“Like every rider in these times I am excited to get the season underway. We are fortunate that the races can go ahead and I’m even more excited to pull on the jersey of the Wolfpack once again and race with the boys. The fact it will happen at an event which brings back a lot of beautiful memories makes it even more special”, said Cavendish
Aru, Dlamini spearhead Team Qhubeka ASSOS at Tour de la Provence
Team Qhubeka ASSOS is excited to announce that Fabio Aru will be one of six debutants in our seven rider line-up for Tour de la Provence, starting on Thursday.
The four-day stage race opens up with an undulating 173km from Aubagne to Six-Fours-les-Plages, but all eyes will likely already be cast to stage three and the mountain-top finish at Mont Ventoux.
Aru, the 2015 Vuelta a España champion, expressed his anticipation in finally getting his road-racing season underway for his new team, and he’ll be joined by an exciting selection, of varying experience, out on the roads of southern France.
“I’m really happy and I can’t wait now to start my road season with my new team. For sure I’ve worked really hard over the winter including participating in some cyclocross – which I thoroughly enjoyed,” said Aru. “I’m very happy overall (with my condition) and I now just want to start my road season. I will do my best for my team and teammates, and we will see how the race unfolds.”
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