Daily News Digest - April 13, 2021

Cavendish wins in Turkey, Gilbert will return at La Flèche Wallonne: Daily News

Hello again, CyclingTips readers,

As we get into the new week, Mark Cavendish has nabbed his first victory in over three years, while Philippe Gilbert has decided he will race La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège after not making the start at the Tour of Flanders.

Read on for the latest from the world of cycling.

Dane Cash
News Editor

What’s news?

Cavendish wins stage 2 of the Tour of Turkey

Mark Cavendish took his first victory since 2018 on Monday’s stage 2 of the Tour of Turkey.

The second stage of the UCI ProSeries race, which started and finished in Konya, came down to a bunch kick after the last survivors of the early break were swept up inside the last 10 km. Alpecin-Fenix led the way into the last kilometer, putting Jasper Philipsen in a strong position for the final sprint, and the Belgian jumped out to a healthy lead with around 200 meters to go. Cavendish, however, kicked with an impressive turn of speed, and managed to surge past Philipsen inside the last 50 meters.

The 35-year-old Manxman nabbed the victory with Philipsen settling for second and André Greipel in third. Having finished fourth on stage 1, Cavendish moved into the overall lead with his stage 2 win.

The victory is Cavendish’s first in more than three years; he last took a pro win on stage 3 of the 2018 Dubai Tour.

“It’s incredible, it’s really nice to be a winner again,” Cavendish said. “I’ll never get tired of that feeling.”

Gilbert set to return for La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Philippe Gilbert, who opted to “take a period of necessary rest, both physically and mentally” instead of racing the Tour of Flanders, is set to return to racing next week. The 38-year-old Belgian is slated to race La Flèche Wallonne and then Liège-Bastogne-Liège, both events he has won in the past.

“Hello everyone. I’m happy to announce that I’ll be back racing at La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège,” Gilbert said in a video posted to social media. “It will be a chance to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of those two beautiful victories on my palmarès.”

Pidcock and Carapaz headline the Ineos Grenadiers for Brabantse Pijl

The Ineos Grenadiers have unveiled their roster for Wednesday’s Brabantse Pijl, confirming that Tom Pidcock and Richard Carapaz will make the start.

Also set to race Brabantse Pijl for the Ineos Grenadiers are Leonardo Basso, Eddie Dunbar, Michal Golas, Luke Rowe, and Cameron Wurf.

Pellaud does not start Tour of Turkey after COVID-19 positive

Simon Pellaud did not start the Tour of Turkey after testing positive for COVID-19.

The 28-year-old Italian said on social media on Monday that he tested negative twice before arriving in Turkey, but then registered a positive test upon arrival. He said that he is asymptomatic and did not have close contact with any of his Androni-Giocattoli teammates.

Former French junior national champ Theo Nonnez retires at age 21

Theo Nonnez, who won a French junior national road title in 2016, has called it a career. The 21-year-old had ridden with the Groupama-FDJ Continental squad since 2019, and the team announced the news on Monday in a post on its website in which Nonnez explained that he had decided to retire from racing “after a long period of reflection.”

“I think we can call it a burnout, even though it’s rather an addition of many things that got me to this point,” he said. “I am not sad to make this decision. On the opposite, it gives me hope again. I had entered a vicious cycle and I didn’t dare talking about how I felt. I realize that I did the right thing with coming out of my silence, because I don’t know what would have happened if I had remained quiet any longer.”