No Tour for Kruijswijk, van Aert and Kopecky defend titles: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers.
The weekend is approaching but the busy week for cycling headlines is not slowing down with the Tour de France only nine days away.
Thursday’s news includes a tough update for Steven Kruijswijk fans. The 33-year-old Dutchman, who rode to third at last year’s Tour, will miss the race this year due to injuries he suffered in a crash at the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Also in the headlines are Mitchelton-Scott’s confirmed Tour roster, Wout van Aert and Lotte Kopecky defending national titles, and Elena Cecchini and Roxane Fournier signing with the Boels-Dolmans team that will become SDWorx next year, to name only some of the day’s news items.
Read on for more …
Dane Cash
News Editor
What’s news
| Kruijswijk out of the Tour
Steven Kruijswijk will miss the 2020 Tour de France, where he had initially been expected to line up as part of a strong featured trio for Jumbo-Visma alongside Primoz Roglic and Tom Dumoulin.
Last year’s third place finisher at the Tour suffered a broken shoulder and abrasions in a crash on stage 4 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, and the injuries will prevent him from making the start at the Tour later this month.
“I am now going to work on my recovery first and then I will focus on the Giro d’Italia as a new goal,” Kruijswijk said via a statement his team posted on Twitter. “I wish the team the best of luck in the Tour. I am very disappointed I cannot be part of it.”
| Mitchelton-Scott announces Tour lineup focused on hunting stage wins
Mitchelton-Scott has unveiled its Tour de France roster, which will focus on targeting stages.
Climbers Adam Yates and Esteban Chaves headline a team that also includes Daryl Impey, Mikel Nieve, Chris Juul-Jensen, Jack Bauer, Sam Bewley, and Luka Mezgec.
“This year has not been a normal one by any stretch of the imagination but the team is focused and ready for the challenge,” sports director Matt White said. “We are very happy with the mix of experience and talent we have available for this year’s race. This is a very complete group across all terrains.”
| Van Aert and Kopecky defend Belgian time trial titles
Wout van Aert and Lotte Kopecky successfully defended their Belgian national time trial titles on Thursday in Koksijde.
Kopecky was more than a minute faster than anyone else in the field, riding 27.7 kilometers 1:02 faster than runner-up Sara Van de Vel. Julie Van De Velde rounded out the podium in third.
Van Aert proved 30 seconds faster than Victor Campenaerts to secure his national champ’s jersey for another year as well, with Frederik Frison in third on the day.
| Cecchini and Fournier will join SD Worx next year
Elena Cecchini and Roxane Fournier will join the SD Worx team (currently Boels-Dolmans) next season, the squad announced on Thursday.
Cecchini is a three-time Italian national road champion with a strong Classics skill set. She will join the team on two-year deal after five years with Canyon-Sram.
Fournier will come aboard on a one-year from the Chevalmeire Cycling Team, with Boels hoping she can play a lead-out role for Jolien d’Hoore while also going for her own results in other races.
| Philipsen wins stage 3 of the Tour du Limousin
Jasper Philipsen sprinted to victory on stage 3 of the Tour du Limousin.
The 22-year-old Belgian topped Jake Stewart and Benjamin Declercq in Chamberet to nab his first win of the season. Luca Wackermann moved into the race lead on the day with one stage left to race.
| Novo Nordisk extends sponsorship agreement
Healthcare company Novo Nordisk has extended its commitment with Team Novo Nordisk to run through 2023, the team announced on Thursday. The ProTeam has been known as Novo Nordisk since 2013.
“As the world knows, this year has seen one of the biggest crises in recent times, so we feel extra fortunate that they committed to an incredible three-year extension,” said team co-founder and CEO Phil Southerland.
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY NEWS DIGEST PODCASTToday’s feature image of Lotte Kopecky en route to a second consecutive time trial title at Belgian nationals comes from Cor Vos.
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