Mitchelton-Scott’s Giro team, Van Aert defends Roglic: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers.
The Tour de France and the World Championships are now both in the rearview mirror and it’s nearly October … but there’s oh-so-much bike racing still to come. As a new week begins, the cycling world is turning its attention towards Giro d’Italia, some big one-day races, and more.
In addition to roster announcements for the upcoming races, however, Monday also brought tough news for the NTT squad. The team has confirmed that it is hunting for a new sponsor with NTT set to leave the role at the end of the year.
Read on for more …
Dane Cash
News Editor
What’s news
| NTT confirms search for new title sponsor with NTT leaving the role at the end of 2020
NTT Pro Cycling is looking for a new sponsor as telecommunications company NTT will be departing from its role as title sponsor at the end of the season. The team confirmed the news, which has been rumored for some time, in a statement on Monday.
“NTT Pro Cycling, formerly Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, is looking for a new title sponsor following the confirmation that NTT has now opted not to renew their contract beyond 2020,” the statement read.
“On Monday evening team principal Douglas Ryder informed all members of our organization – the UCI WorldTour outfit and UCI Continental team – that NTT will not continue with the team, ending our six-year association.”
| Mitchelton-Scott announces Giro squad supporting Simon Yates
Mitchelton-Scott has unveiled the squad that will take on the upcoming Giro d’Italia with Simon Yates leading the way.
The 28-year-old Briton, coming off a victorious Tirreno-Adriatico campaign and among the top pre-race favorites, will be joined by Edoardo Affini, Brent Bookwalter, Jack Haig, Lucas Hamilton, Michael Hepburn, Damien Howson, and Cameron Meyer in Italy this October.
| No Flèche Wallonne for Alaphilippe
Defending champion Julian Alaphilippe will not race La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday, preferring to take a break after his Worlds win to get ready for other big Classics goals to come.
“It would be a good choice to skip the Flèche Wallonne, knowing that I have already finished second twice and won it twice. It would be great to take the start with the [rainbow] jersey but we know that if I take the start, it is to try to win,” Alaphilippe told RMC Sport.
“I prefer to savor the jersey, recover, come down a bit from this incredible day, and focus on Liège-Bastogne-Liège and all that will happen after.”
| US cyclocross nationals cancelled
USA Cycling has announced that the 2020 Cyclocross National Championships have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Although there has been a return to some local racing, the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States have made running large scale national-level events too risky for participants, volunteers, staff, and our host communities,” read a statement from the USA Cycling. “As previously stated, if the safety of all involved could not be ensured, we have no choice but to cancel.”
| Van Aert defends Roglic
Some members of the Belgian media have criticized Primoz Roglic for not working enough to bring back Julian Alaphilippe so that his Jumbo-Visma teammate Wout van Aert (who was, of course, riding for a different country at Worlds) might have a chance to win a rainbow jersey on Sunday, but the Belgian defended Roglic in a post-race interview.
“Primoz rode on the limit. He couldn’t be better. After seven hours of racing, it is not always a question of wanting, but also of being able to. I certainly think Primoz wanted to help me, but he was just as devastated as the rest of the group,” Van Aert told Sporza.
“I think it’s a shame that there is so much commotion around it. Primoz really did his best. I saw that myself in the front row and I can therefore judge it best.”
In case you missed it
| Lapierre unveils faster, stiffer, and comfier Aircode DRS aero road bike
As James Huang writes, Lapierre’s new Aircode is claimed to be more aerodynamic, stiffer, and lighter, but also more comfortable.
| The beaming smile of a world championships rookie
José Been tells the story of the first rider off the ramp in the elite women’s time trial at Worlds, Amber Joseph.
| Gallery: Superstar solos at the last-minute Road Worlds
Photos from Kristof Ramon and Cor Vos and words from Matt de Neef offer a closer look at the action-packed World Championships.
Today’s featured image of the lead group on the final climb of the elite men’s road race at Imola Worlds comes from Cor Vos.
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