Alvarado and Van Aert take victories in Herentals: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers,
The final Daily News Digest of 2020 features ‘cross racing, transfer updates, and WorldTour license confirmations, among other news items.
The DND will be taking a break for the holidays, but we’ll see you again in the new year!
Dane Cash,
News Editor
| What’s News |
Alvarado and Van Aert win in Herentals
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Wout Van Aert rode to X2O Badkamers Trofee series victories on Wednesday in Herentals, Belgium.
Alvarado battled with Lucinda Brand and Denise Betsema over the first few laps on a technical, muddy course before pulling away solo, with Brand then losing ground in pursuit after a crash. Alvarado held on to take a clear win with Brand arriving 19 seconds later for runner-up honors and Betsema in third, 23 seconds down.
On the men’s side, Mathieu van der Poel surged into an early lead before puncturing near the midway point of the race, allowing a chasing Van Aert to catch and pass him. Van Aert built up a solid advantage and held on to take the win with Van der Poel settling for second 35 seconds later. Michael Vanthourenhout rounded out the podium in third 1:32 back.
Women’s race top 3
1 ALVARADO Ceylin del Carmen (Alpecin-Fenix) 0:45:53
2 BRAND Lucinda (Telenet Baloise Lions) 0:19
3 BETSEMA Denise (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) 0:23
Men’s race top 3
1 VAN AERT Wout (Jumbo-Visma) 0:58:13
2 VAN DER POEL Mathieu (Alpecin-Fenix) 0:35
3 VANTOURENHOUT Michael (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) 1:32
UCI confirms WorldTour licenses for 2021
The UCI has announced the teams receiving WorldTour licenses for 2021, confirming that SD Worx and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux will race at the top level next season.
The arrival of SD Worx, the next iteration of the team currently known as Boels-Dolmans, brings the count of women’s teams at the WorldTour level to nine. Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, the next iteration of the team currently known as Circus-Wanty Gobert, will be one of 19 men’s teams at the WorldTour level after acquiring CCC’s WorldTour license.
The UCI also confirmed the 19 teams that will race as ProTeams next year and that Alpecin-Fenix will receive automatic invites to all WorldTour races next year as the highest-ranked squad in the second division, while Arkéa-Samsic will receive automatic invites to all WorldTour one-days as the second highest ranked ProTeam of 2020.
Canyon-SRAM signs Mikayla Harvey
Canyon-SRAM has announced the signing of Mikayla Harvey on a two-year deal.
The 22-year-old New Zealander, who rode for the Équipe Paule Ka organization for the past two years, enjoyed a breakthrough 2020 campaign, riding to fifth overall and the best young rider jersey at the Giro Rosa.
“I have signed for two years which I am super happy about,” Harvey said. “This gives me the opportunity to really develop in the team and grow some new roots! I have big aspirations for the Italian, Spanish and Ardennes races where I believe I can add a lot to the team. I am a strong climber and can do a lot of damage on challenging courses. My favourite race of the season is Strade Bianche. I love gravel races, so this will be a huge goal of mine for next season.”
In addition to adding Harvey to the roster, the team also announced several contract extensions. Alena Amialiusik, Hannah Barnes, Hannah Ludwig, and Omer Shapira will all ride on with the team in 2021.
Bernal: “I can now pedal without pain”
Egan Bernal has given an update on his recovery from the back injury that hindered his 2020 campaign, telling Colombian media that he is no longer experiencing pain during rides, but that his 2020 schedule remains uncertain as he continues to work his way back to his best.
“It depends on how it evolves,” Bernal said. “At the moment, the inflammation is going down and I can now pedal without pain, but everything will depend on how things go in the races, because they are totally different efforts. You just have to be patient.”
Esmée Peperkamp will join DSM next season
The Sunweb team, which will become Team DSM next year, announced on Wednesday that it has signed Esmée Peperkamp for next year. The 23-year-old Dutchwoman made starts in a number of UCI events last season, and two this season, as a member of the Loving Potatoes Ladies DJR Cycling Team.
She rode to seventh overall at the Trophée des Grimpeuses, a one-day race in Belgium, in September.
| In case you missed it |
CyclingTips Podcast: The 2020 CyclingTippies
We look back on the season that was in the latest edition of the CyclingTips podcast.
Today’s featured image of the Wout van Aert in Herentals comes from Cor Vos.