Rapha adds Sturm and Wilcox to alternative-racing roster: Daily News
Hello again, CyclingTips readers,
The race calendar continues to take hits, Rapha adds two women to their alternative-racing roster, Kelderman remains focused on his initial 2021 goals, and CPA president Gianni Bugno responds to news of the death threats against Dylan Groenewegen.
Read on for the latest from the cycling world.
Abby Mickey
Associate Editor
What’s news?
RideLondon Classique cancelled
RideLondon Classique, the Women’s World Tour one day event scheduled to take place on May 30th, announced the cancellation of their 2021 event. Organisers will keep the name alive with a virtual event this year and hope to bring back the real-life thing in 2022.
Unfortunately, Prudential RideLondon Classique was also not able to take place in 2020. Lorena Wiebes was the most recent winner of the event in 2019.
Domingos Goncalves receives a four-year suspension for use of a prohibited substance
Two-time Portuguese national time trial champion Domingos Goncalves has been banned from competition until 2023. Provisionally suspended since December of 2019, Goncalves has officially received a ban from the UCI for “use of prohibited substance” in 2016 and 2018.
The ban has been backdated to when Goncalves was originally suspended in 2019. Additionally, any results Goncalves achieved from July of 2018 to December 2019 will be expunged.
Rapha adds Sarah Sturm and Lael Wilcox to their roster of alternative-racing riders
Rapha has added Sarah Sturm and Lael Wilcox to their alternative-racing roster. The signings of Sturm and Wilcox are part of Rapha’s commitment to promote women in cycling. Sturm and Wilcox join Magghalie Rochette, Canyon-SRAM, and Legion of LA’s elite domestic team in Rapha’s mission to grow the female side of cycling.
Lael Wilcox specializes in ultra-endurance and has won the Trans America bike race in 2016 as well as set the record for the Tour Divide in 2015. “The more women riding, the more individual role-models of possibility exist,” Wilcox said in a press release. “Cycling is a tool I’ve used to build confidence, feel good in my own skin, see the world, work through my thoughts, realize dreams, make new ones and see a hopeful future.”
Sarah Sturm is a two-time cyclocross single-speed US national champion and has been on the podium of a number of key gravel races across the United States. What sets Sturm apart is her work as a mentor within her community.
“The things that are important to me, environmental consciousness, equality, design and process are all pages from the Rapha book,” said Sturm. “I look forward to the year ahead, new designs, projects and adventures, it’s both comforting and motivating to know that I have the support of Rapha right next to me!”
In addition to supporting Sturm and Wilcox Rapha will continue to fund grassroots organizations through their Rapha Foundation.
Wilco Kelderman remains focused on the Tour de France despite team camp car collision
Wilco Kelderman is on the road to recovery following the training crash that took place at Bora-Hansgrohe’s team camp in Italy. Out for their final ride of camp, Kelderman and six of his teammates were hit by the driver of an SUV. Three riders, including Kelderman, were sent to the hospital.
Kelderman suffered a concussion and fractured vertebrae in his neck and spent the first week at home in a neck brace. Almost a month after the incident Kelderman spoke with Cyclingnews about his recovery, stating that, “It will take more time to heal the fracture and for sure I don’t want to take any risks. It’s another four to six weeks until I go back into competition.”
New to Bora-Hansgrohe, Kelderman is hoping to build on his success of last season where he placed third in the general classification at the Giro d’Italia. In 2021 he has his sights set on the Tour de France, “I want to go for GC at the Tour and I think it’s a nice opportunity. I think that I’m ready for it.”
“The aim is to be as good as possible but I can only look to myself and try and get the best out of my training and work with the team so that I’m ready,” said Kelderman. “I’m going to try and go for the top five or top-10. Whatever is possible.”
CPA president Gianni Bugno calls for UCI to sanction Tour de Pologne
Following reports of death threats made against not only Dylan Groenewegen but also his partner and newborn baby, the CPA President Gianni Bugno is calling for the UCI to sanction Tour de Pologne for their part in the unfortunate stage one crash that took place last season.
“The CPA has urged the UCI over and over again for exemplary sanctions for organizers who have demonstrated an obvious deficiency, but so far Groenewegen remains the only one to have received a disqualification,” Bugno said in a statement.
Bugno also stated that “the finger must be pointed at the dangerous barriers that determined the severity of the fall in which Fabio Jakobsen suffered the most serious consequences.”
Greg van Avermaet and Oliver Naesen shuffle season opener schedule
AG2R Citroën will debut their classics duo of Greg van Avermaet and Oliver Naesen at the Etoile des Besseges on February 3-7th, following the cancellations of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and potential postponement of the Ruta del Sol.
“Greg and Olivier are now starting their season in the Etoile des Besseges,” the team announced. “Then they go to the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var to get ready for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.”
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