Macron’s speech, Moolman Pasio storms to Zwift win: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers.
Another week is underway with a little bit of news from France about the status of the 2020 Tour de France, and a lot of news from the virtual cycling world where things really seem to be booming.
As far as outdoor racing goes, an address from French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday seemingly ruled out the possibility of the Tour continuing according to schedule. Macron said that large events will not be held until at least mid-July, making it all the more likely that the Tour will be postponed to a later date as is widely expected at this point.
Racing continues, however, in the virtual world. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio proved on Monday that her elite climbing talent extends to indoor cycling as well with a victory in the Trofeo Bologna of the Zwift Classics series. Speaking of Zwift, the event that Ineos hosted on the platform on Sunday, giving fans a chance to ride with the team before a race, apparently set the record for most participants in a single event.
Here’s to keeping the pedals turning whether you’re outdoors or in.
What’s news
| Macron: No large events until at least mid-July
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a speech on Monday that “major festivals and events with a large audience will not be able to be held at least until mid-July,” making it ever more likely that the Tour de France will be postponed to a later date.
France has been on nationwide lockdown since mid-March, and Macron announced in his speech that the lockdown will continue until at least May 11.
| Moolman Pasio wins Zwift Classics: Trofeo Bologna
The Zwift Classics continued on Monday with the Trofeo Bologna round, which saw some big names take on two laps of Zwift’s Bologna course, finishing on the tough San Luca climb. Star climber Ashleigh Moolman Pasio put her skills on display with an impressive showing on the final ascent to take a convincing victory ahead of a strong field that featured other WorldTour talents as well.
Louise Bates nabbed runner-up honors with Ella Harris in third.
| Ineos Zwift event set participation record
The event hosted by Ineos on Zwift on Sunday, which gave fans a chance to ride with the team before the pros split into six teams to contest an e-race, was a record breaker.
15,530 people joined in to ride with the squad, setting the record for the most participants in a single event on Zwift.
| Orbea announces that is restarting manufacturing activity
Spanish bike brand Orbea says that it will get back to manufacturing on April 14 after having suspended production in March following a Spanish government decree.
“We will resume operations at our production plants, while complying with the maximum health and hygiene measures established by the competent authorities,” read a statement from the company.
“For our cooperative, preventing the propagation of this virus is crucial, so we have drafted some internal guidelines based on the instructions from relevant health authorities.”
| Specialized providing essential workers with bikes
Specialized has announced the launch of an initiative to provide essential workers in the United States with “safe and reliable transportation” via bikes.
According to a statement, the company is giving free bikes to essential workers through a “crowd-sourced community referral program” and has donated bikes to New York bike advocacy organization Transportation Alternatives, which will match bikes with workers who need them.
| Initiative from Brompton and Splinster connects healthcare workers with rented bikes
In a similar vein, Brompton has partnered with Splinster to create a program that will connect healthcare workers with bikes shared by cyclists.
Healthcare workers will be able to rent bikes shared on the Splinster platform in the #WheelsForHeroes initiative for free.
| Editor’s Note
If you saw yesterday’s Daily News Digest email, you may have noticed a bit of inconsistency between the subject line and the subject matter. Rohan Dennis won the Ineos e-race this weekend, but it was instead Geraint Thomas who was named in the subject line.
While musing about the alliterative opportunities that a Thomas victory might have offered, your humble author absent-mindedly wrote “Thomas tops teammates” in the subject line and then missed the glaring mistake when hitting send. Apologies, readers!
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY NEWS DIGEST PODCASTToday’s featured image of the Ashleigh Moolman Pasio pushing up the Mur de Huy at La Flèche Wallonne comes from Cor Vos.
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