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EUROTRASH News Round Up Monday!
By Alastair Hamilton	 On Nov 11, 2019
Another jersey for Mathieu van der Poel as he takes his third Euro cross title – Report, result and video. Team Sky's Dr. Freeman in court – Top Story. Loads of cycling news this EUROTRASH Monday: New route for Gent-Wevelgem and Volta ao Algarve, TDU Night Riders, Amnesty International and the Tour of Saudi Arabia, possible new Jumbo-Visma sponsor, Bernaudeau against UCI points, Chris Froome operation, Wout van Aert on cyclo-cross reforms, more rider and team news, plus Iljo Keisse and Mark Cavendish get ready for the '6 Days' of Gent with Maes 0.0%. Belgian beer for breakfast!
TOP STORY: Former Sky Doctor: "Testosterone was for Team Coach"
Richard Freeman, the former Team Sky and British Cycling Federation doctor, claims that he was forced to prescribe testosterone for the former team coach, Shane Sutton. The controversial Freeman has to answer for more than twenty charges, including an order for testosterone patches at the headquarters of British Cycling.
Freeman may have ordered the testosterone to boost the performance of an athlete, but the medical tribunal was told that the plasters were meant for former coach Sutton. He denies the allegation. "Sutton specifically asked me to prescribe testosterone patches. I was forced to prescribe them for him", was Freeman's statement, which was read out at a hearing last week.
According to the prosecutor, Sutton, who will appear as a witness on Monday and Tuesday, "doctor Freeman has become a scapegoat to hide his previous misconduct," the BBC reports on the hearing. Freeman also claimed in his statement that the testosterone was used to treat Sutton's erectile dysfunction. The case was preceded by a long-running conflict between Freeman and Sutton.
Freeman has been controversial for a long time by ordering testosterone patches while at the British Cycling Federation headquarters in 2011. Research has shown that he had ordered the package. The doctor has always denied that athletes were given forbidden drugs. The British Cycling Federation does not support its former medical supervisor and continues to support the ongoing investigation, in which it is a co-prosecutor.
The investigation of the medical tribunal into the former doctor of Team Sky and the British Federation was due to start in early February, but was postponed because Freeman was struggling with health problems. If he is found guilty of misconduct as a doctor, he will be sanctioned in some way. This can vary from a short suspension to having to end all medical work.
The investigation restarted on October 28th and now the medical trial is taking place. Freeman already admitted that he had ordered testosterone for the team and the British Cycling in 2011, although he said that it was a package that was delivered incorrectly. According to his lawyer, her client had told many lies in the case, but he is now ready to tell the truth. The final hearing should be held on December 20.
Dr. Freeman:
European Cyclo-Cross Championships – Silvelle 2019
Mathieu van der Poel won a third consecutive European title in Silvelle, Italy on Sunday. The World champion dealt with a strong Eli Iserbyt as Laurens Sweeck took the bronze medal.
The Belgian brigade, with eight riders, had the best strength and that was immediately evident from the start. Quinten Hermans started strong as usual, but Van der Poel was able to take second position, but behind them there was almost only Belgians. Van der Poel managed to survive in a Belgian sandwich.
Van der Poel must have thought that we would be able to make short work of the race as at halfway through the first lap, he pressed on the pedals in his familiar style. This was too much for Hermans, who left a gap. Eli Iserbyt was quick to restore the situation and close things down.
Van der Poel took his second shot after 25 minutes of racing, this time it was Vanthourenhout who had to chase him down with Iserbyt on his wheel. Initially Vanthourenhout succeeded, but due to a steering mistake, Van der Poel grabbed 5 second lead. Iserbyt showed strength and closed the gap on the asphalt section through the finish. Vanthourenhout eventually managed to come back. That gave the Belgians a chance to play a little with Van der Poel in the second half of the race. The two Flemish riders put the Dutchman into trouble a number of times, by letting gaps go for each other, but Van der Poel was always on the ball.
With these tactics, the speed went completely from the leaders and a group of Belgians, including Quinten Hermans, Laurens Sweeck and Toon Aerts rejoined the front group. That must have made Van der Poel nervous, and so he went 'full steam ahead' with one and a half laps to go.
Again Iserbyt was there to counter the Van der Poel move. The two of them entered the final lap, and Van der Poel set a blazing pace. Iserbyt was dropped by a few meters a few times, but only at the stairs did a real gap appear. Iserbyt couldn't close the distance he lost there. And so Van der Poel took his third consecutive European title.
2019 European cyclo-cross champion, Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands): "I am very happy with the jersey, but not satisfied with my feeling. It was very difficult to make a break. The atmosphere was very good, it was nice to have the championship here. I also think this country should be more involved in cross. But above all I am happy that I was able to finish it here. It means a lot to me. I have many goals in 2020, but now I am still focusing on the cross, before I start preparing for the spring on the road and for the Olympic Games. It was a difficult course, the track was close to the fences, so you couldn't really make an attack. I was not top and they made it difficult for me. There was a demand for excitement, then they can get it this year. The feeling is not really super yet. I need about five crosses to get that back. It was a very difficult race. I was also not strong enough to race alone for a long time, so I focused on the final and I stayed calm."
2nd, Eli Iserbyt (Belgium): "At the beginning of the last lap he did the acceleration, but I was just not good enough to sit in his wheel. I thought the rest was going very well, so then I felt that Mathieu was not driving full-on. I knew that I had to wait for his acceleration. He is not unbeatable. I think maybe today I am playing a little less with my power at the beginning, so I can stay with him in the final lap. But escaping is more difficult than keeping up. I tried it on the explosive parts, but it just wasn't there. I was happy that I was able to close the gaps, which says that I am in good condition. It was a great race and I am the only one who could really follow."
European Cyclo-Cross Championships – Silvelle Result:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) in 58:22
2. Eli Iserbyt (Bel) at 0:03
3. Laurens Sweeck (Bel) at 0:20
4. Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) at 0:24
5. Lars van der Haar (Ned) at 0:25
6. Quinten Hermans (Bel) at 0:38
7. Toon Aerts (Bel) at 1:01
8. Thomas Pidcock (GB) at 1:10
9. Felipe Orts Lloret (Spa) at 1:22
10. Tim Merlier (Bel) at 1:42.
Euro cross champs'19:
New Route for Gent-Wevelgem
A new route for Gent-Wevelgem has been revealed. With Ypres as the new starting place, the race has a completely different approach to the final. The hill zone with, among others, the Kemmelberg and the plugstreets has remained intact.
Recently it was announced that Gent-Wevelgem will not use Deinze after 17 years as a starting venue. The city has always been the starting point for the Belgian WorldTour classic since the early 2000s, but from next year it will start from the Grote Markt in "Peace City" Ypres. The teams will be introduced on the Grote Markt, after which the riders start under the Menin Gate. From there the course goes eastwards via Zonnebeke, Dadizele, Ledegem and Moorsele to Gullegem.
Then the course crosses almost the entire province of West Flanders to Veurne, a stone's throw from the seaside towns of De Panne and Koksijde. Here the riders pass Moeren. From there, the peloton resumes the old route on its way to the hilly zone with the Catsberg, the Vert Mont, the Côte de Ravel Put, the Côte de La Blanchisserie, the Baneberg, the Kemmelberg, the Monteberg and again the Baneberg and the Kemmelberg.
After 254.5 kilometres, the finish line will be in Wevelgem. The next edition of Gent-Wevelgem will be held on Sunday, March the 29th, 2020.
Gent-Wevelgem new course:
2020 Volta ao Algarve Ends with Individual Time Trial
The Volta ao Algarve, traditionally one of the first form guides for the GC riders, has announced the route of the next edition of the Portuguese race. Just like in recent years, the mountain stages to Fóia and Malhão will be important to the final result. Next year the individual time trial final stage could be the deciding factor.
The race is part of the new UCI Pro Series, and promises to be a battle between the GC riders on the two stages with a summit finish and in the individual chrono over 20 kilometres. The other stages are for the sprinters.
The first stage covers more than 200 kilometres and offered opportunities for the sprinters in the last two editions of the Volta ao Algarve, the Dutch having winners with Fabio Jakobsen and Dylan Groenewegen in Lagos. The second day, the finish line is at the top of Fóia (8km at 6.3%), the highest point on the Algarve. Before the climbers arrive at the finish line, they will have already climbed to Alferce and Pompa (3.9 km at 7.1%). The climb to Pompa is just 7 kilometres from the foot of the climb to Fóia.
Via another sprinter stage, the race reaches the all-deciding final weekend with first the mountain stage to Malhão (2.5 km at 9.9%). Last year this location was the backdrop for the conclusion of the Portuguese race, but this time an individual time trial comes the day after. Around Lagoa, the same route is being as in the past two years, where Geraint Thomas and Stefan Küng took the win. Tadej Pogačar won last year.
Volta ao Algarve 2020 (19-23 February):
Stage 1: Portimão – Lagos
Stage 2: Sagres – Fóia
Stage 3: Faro – Tavira
Stage 4: Albufeira – Malhão
Stage 5: Lagoa – Lagoa (20.3 km, time trial).
Volta ao Algarve 2019 – Stage 2:
Santos Tour Down Under Announces 'Night Riders'
The 2020 Santos Tour Down Under will play host to the final of a three stage National Criterium Series (NCS), sanctioned by Cycling Australia.
The series commences on 8th December in Launceston Tasmania, followed by 15th December in Melbourne and culminates at the 2020 Santos Tour Down Under as Night Riders in the Adelaide CBD on the evening of Saturday 25th January.
The collaboration, a first between Cycling South Australia and the Santos Tour Down Under will see Australia's best domestic elite male and female cyclists battle it out on a 1km street circuit immediately adjacent to the City of Adelaide Tour Village.
The circuit uses part of the track that will host the fourth and final stage of the Santos Women's Tour Down Under, and the Schwalbe Classic which kicks off Men's racing as part of the 2020 event.
A festival atmosphere is expected around the Flinders Street start/finish line with music, food, drinks and fast paced elite criterium racing with Men's and Women's races of up to one hour each.
On track activity will commence at around 5.30pm, with an anticipated Men's race finish at around 8.30pm, before attention shifts back to the City of Adelaide Tour Village for a Village closing free concert by a yet to be announced Australian artist.
New initiatives and events such as these attract some of the Australia's best riders, and add another exciting element to the Santos Festival of Cycling Calendar, as part of Australia's Greatest Cycling Race.
For more information visit www.tourdownunder.com.au
Race Route – Schwalbe Classic – 2020 Santos Tour Down Under:
Amnesty International Appeals to Tour of Saudi Arabia Participants
Amnesty International believes that cyclists should be able to comment on the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. ASO recently presented the new professional race in the Middle East – the Tour of Saudi Arabia. Amnesty International is not calling for a boycott of the race, but that the riders should be free to talk about the problems in Saudi Arabia.
Amnesty International suggests that this new event is the next move for the Saudi authorities to 'sportwash' the country's bad international image on human rights.
The new Tour of Saudi Arabia (2.1) will be organised from 4-8 February 2020. Followed by the Tour of Oman (2.Pro), also organised by the ASO, is scheduled for 11-16 February.
Saudi:
HEMA Possibly New Jumbo-Visma Co-Sponsor
HEMA, a Dutch variety store-chain, may become the new Jumbo-Visma co-sponsor. This imminent collaboration is the result of an agreement in principle that the department store chain concluded with Jumbo Supermarkets for a commercial collaboration.
It was announced that Jumbo Supermarkets and HEMA, which is owned by Dutch billionaire Marcel Boekhoorn, are joining forces and entering into a commercial partnership in the Netherlands and Belgium. With this, both companies want to further improve their market position. "This can be achieved by, among other things, strengthening each other's store network and by selling HEMA articles via Jumbo supermarkets," the two companies explained.
A possible co-sponsorship by HEMA of the Jumbo-Visma team is also the subject of ongoing discussions. The plans are currently being worked out by both parties. Further details should be announced before the end of the year.
HEMA was founded in 1926 and now has more than 700 stores all over Europe, plus Qatar and the UAE:
HEMA in Rotterdam many years ago:
Bernaudeau: "UCI points should not be decisive in a race"
Team manager Jean-René Bernaudeau's Total Direct Energy team can participate in all WorldTour races on the calendar next year. His team was the best ProConti team in the UCI teams ranking. The battle for those points was fierce in the autumn in particular, but that went against Bernaudeau's vision.
"A strategy is determined during a race briefing, but power meters and UCI points should not be decisive in a race," Bernaudeau told L'Équipe. "It's what the fans want to see. In the Tour the spectators were there because Thibaut Pinot and Julian Alaphilippe had the panache. The audience loved it. Nobody can argue with that. I don't think they needed an earpiece in that final in Saint-Etienne, or on the Tourmalet. They chose the moment."
Berneaudeau is therefore a fierce opponent of radios in the peloton. He calls riders who let themselves be driven 'earless'. "A team leader cannot determine the moment at which a race is decided in a tenth of a second. Do not say that the radios are necessary for safety, because that is a fake problem. When William Bonnet fell in the 2015 Tour, it was because everyone was told by radio to move up. The ears there caused the fall," said the team manager of Total Direct Energie.
The French team finished the season as the best ProContinental team, but that required a different way of racing. "I had banned the words 'top 10' and 'UCI points' from my dictionary, because the race became a game of numbers and boring. But I had to use them again now," admits Bernaudeau.
"Riders would rather have a place in the top 10 with the points than to take the risk of winning the race. We have been obsessively racing to score as many points as possible and we were at the top, despite the bad luck that Niki Terpstra had," referring to the injuries to the Dutch leader in the spring.
The advantage for 2020 is that Total Direct Energy can choose from all WorldTour races. The invitations are there, but the team does not have to start everywhere. The Vuelta wildcard will probably be returned. "Lilian Calmejane would like to ride the Giro, so we will see if that is possible. We also want to continue to score points to maintain our first place, but that will not be easy. Arkéa-Samsic has signed Quintana and Bouhanni, so a place in the Tour will become more difficult in the future."
Lilian Calmejane for the Giro?
Metal Removed from Froome
The Team Ineos rider, Chris Froome, has had the metal plates removed from his body, this includes the plate that was to help stabilise his hip and the screws that were put in his elbow. This is the next step in the British's riders recovery.
After his heavy fall during the Critérium du Dauphiné, where Froome broke his hip, elbow, thigh, breastbone and a cervical vertebra, the metal-work was inserted to help the bones to knit back together. The plate at the bottom of the thigh will remain.
The operation took place in the Saint-Étienne hospital. "A little less iron and steel in my hip and elbow," Froome wrote on social media. "I feel a bit dizzy, but everything went well."
With the pins in his body, Froome has ridden a lot on the bike. He rode the time trial of the Saitama Criterium, but didn't want to race in a peloton. His goal is to win the Tour de France for the fifth time next year. He is also looking forward to the Olympic Games in Japan shortly after.
Wout van Aert on Cyclo-Cross Reforms
Wout van Aert has his doubts about the reform plans for cyclo-cross. The triple 'cross World champion thinks among other things that the prize money must be increased. "Actually there is a lot of commotion for nothing. We all know nothing yet," said Van Aert in a podcast by Het Nieuwsblad.
"I think that if the sport wants to go along with it, and that is the case with every sport, it must change to remain liveable," Van Aert said. "The idea of ​​changing something is good, but I have concerns. You can't just go from eight to sixteen crosses without getting the prize money, so the business model must change."
With the current regulations, the World Cup races have been made important for the starting positions, but according to the Jumbo-Visma rider, the prize money must also go up in the World Cup, organised by the UCI and Flanders Classics. "If they stay the same as they are now, it will become more important for me or Mathieu van der Poel to ride everything that is not a World Cup, because you can earn more there. We first have to think about that."
In the World Cup no starting money is paid, and the riders can only win money by finishing high in the result. "In recent years, apart from the prize money of the final ranking, I have never earned anything from the World Cup. While I was always in the top two." Van Aert says that the cost of traveling to World Cups ensure little profit. In addition, part goes to the tax authorities. "The earnings really didn't come from that. The system of starting fees may not be correct, but the intention is that the same amount of money will continue to be used in cyclo-cross. That is only possible by raising prize money."
Van Aert thinks he has a solution to tackle that problem: "You did not get worse as a cyclist from the starting money. But that was also the item that teams used: 'You get starting money, so you earn enough to cover expenses yourself.' So it's good to go to a system where teams are obliged to provide everything, and where you have to race for your prize."
The discussion about the reforms for the 2020-2021 season is running high. The cry for help from the World Cup in Bern was the starting signal for that. "Sven Nys is in collaboration with Golazo (the competitor of Flanders Classics), So that already says a lot why he suddenly gets ready. I think it would be wise to give Flanders Classics the opportunity to make a proposal. They have to hear everyone, but we are not constructively involved in this way."
Wout van Aert:
Fumiyuki Beppu Leaves Trek-Segafredo With a Year to go on His Contract
Fumiyuki Beppu will not ride for the Trek-Segafredo next season, although he still had a contract until the end of 2020. "It is not an easy decision to leave, but it is time to take a new direction for new challenges," says Beppu.
Beppu signed a new two-year contract starting in 2018 with the American team. Beppu wanted the two year contract so that he could participate in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 in his own country. "Those Games will be very special to me because it's in my home country. Of course that will be one of my big goals," said Beppu at the time.
"I am proud to have been part of the Trek family for six years," Beppu said on social media. "This decision was not easy, but it is necessary to continue with a new dream. It was a great experience that I will never forget."
The 36-year-old Japanese rider has had six years with Trek-Segafredo and predecessor Trek Factory Racing. Before that Beppu rode for Orica-GreenEDGE, RadioShack, Skil-Shimano and Discovery.
Fumiyuki Beppu's new adventure will be with the French Delko Marseille Provence team. The 36-year-old Japanese rider joins the French ProContinental team that has had a Japanese co-sponsor, Nippo for 2020.
Beppu is not the first Japanese acquisition for Delko Marseille Provence. Earlier the formation also contracted Atsushi Oka, Ishigami Masahiro and Hideto Nakane. The arrival of Nippo as a sponsor has a major influence on this. The Asian company was a sponsor of Nippo-Vini Fantini until this year, but that Italian team has stopped. Beppu had ridden for a club team from Marseille, so he is not completely unknown.
"I have ridden the WorldTour for 13 years and had the opportunity to participate in the best races," Beppu looks back. "I now want to use my experience for the young riders. My goal is to be selected for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. I have to prove myself for that, because even at my age nothing is certain."
Fumi Beppu:
Astana Pro Team Renews Daniil Fominykh
Astana Pro Team has signed a new one-year agreement with the Kazakh rider Daniil Fominykh, the current Asian ITT Champion and 2018 National ITT Champion.
"I think I've had a good season. One of the main goals was the Asian Championships, where we had to perform as successfully as possible. I managed to come to this event in a good shape, and I'm happy that I managed to bring victory to our country in ITT, and that I was able to help my teammates to succeed in the road race. In general, the second part of the season turned out quite well – I had a good result at the Kazakhstan National Championships, but also in several races I tried to do everything possible to help Alexey Lutsenko: at the Arctic Race of Norway and in the Italian classics. I was happy to perform at the World Championships and represent Kazakhstan there. Well, another season in Astana is lying ahead, I am very happy to extend my contract with the team. I thank our general partner Samruk-Kazyna for supporting. In the upcoming year I will try to improve personal results, but, of course, first of all I am always ready to help the team to achieve important successes," said Daniil Fominykh.
Daniil Fominykh (28 years old) moved to Astana Pro Team in 2014, spending 6 seasons on the UCI WorldTour level. Twice he won the individual time trial of the Kazakhstan National Championships (in 2014 and 2018), also twice Fominykh won the gold medal in the individual time trial at the Asian Cycling Championships (in 2013 and 2019).
"Daniil is a very good helper, a loyal rider, who is always in the corner of team's leader, ready to support him in any moment. He is doing an important amount of work, but having a chance in the race, he is always trying to use it. We had an important Asian Championships this year, where we fought up for an Olympic license and Daniil showed himself really well, not only winning his individual time trial race, but also helping Yevgeniy Gidich to reach an important win for Kazakhstan. It is always nice to have such a good rider in the team and I am happy to renew with Fominykh for one more season," said Alexandr Vinokurov.
Daniil Fominykh:
Sean De Bie to Wallonie Bruxelles
Sean De Bie had almost given up hope. The Roompot-Charles rider, undoubtedly one of the unluckiest riders of 2019, thought that he was in his last year as a professional rider, but it looks like he has some luck in the end.
Sean De Bie told WielerFlits a month ago: "If I don't end up in a decent team, I'd rather have fun in the woods. A long way from the dangers of the road. But we will see. It is certainly not that far yet. I remain motivated and hope for a chance. This is a missed year anyway and it would be nice to show that my results from 2018 were no coincidence. I just have to dare to be realistic…" Various sources report that the 28-year-old cousin of both former coach Rudy and former cyclo-cross World champion Danny De Bie is on his way to Wallonie Bruxelles.
Roompot-Charles in Calpe: Sjoerd Van Ginneken, Oscar Riesebeek, Senne Leysen, Jesper Asselman, Jan-Willem Van Schip and Sean De Bie:
Corendon-Circus Takes Sacha Modolo
Sacha Modolo will be racing alongside Mathieu van der Poel and co. The Italian has agreed a contract with Corendon-Circus, according to dutch website WielerFlits. Previously, La Gazzetta dello Sport noted that the 32-year-old Italian saw the Belgian ProContinental formation as a "great opportunity".
Modolo is known as a strong sprinter, and has achieved 46 victories in his professional career. He recorded his most important victories in the Tours of Beijing, Switzerland and two stage victories in the 2015 Giro d'Italia. From Bardiani-CSF, Lampre-Merida and UAE Emirates, the Italian raced for the American EF Education First for the last two years. How long his contract with Corendon-Circus is unknown at the moment.
Corendon-Circus is gaining an experienced rider who can also ride well in the classics. In the Tour of Flanders he finished 6th in 2017 and in Gent-Wevelgem he finished twice in the top 11, 2017 and 2018. In 2018, Modolo was 7th in Cyclassics Hamburg. In Milan-San Remo he has finished 14th, 8th and 4th.
Team manager Christoph Roodhooft recently said that by 2020, Corendon-Circus may grow to 25 road riders, this season there were 17. Stijn Devolder has retired, Tom Meeusen and Joeri Stallaert have changed team and Maarten van Trijp didn't get a contract extension. Petter Fagerhaug and Loris Rouiller signed a contract for a minimum of two years last year as neopros and will stay next year.
Now there is the arrival of Modolo, Senne Leysen, Oscar Riesebeek and young riders Antoine Benoist (20) and Ben Tulett (18). With a view to possible participation in the Vuelta a España, Floris De Tier, Petr Vakoč and Louis Vervaeke were also recruited. In the meantime, Otto Vergaerde has extended his contract, so that there are now 21 riders in the team for 2020. That means that there is still room for more reinforcements for the team leader Mathieu van der Poel.
Provisional Corendon-Circus team for 2020
Antoine Benoist (Fra), Dries De Bondt (Bel), Floris De Tier (Bel), Petter Fagerhaug (Nor), Lasse Norman Hansen (Den), Roy Jans (Bel), Jimmy Janssens (Bel), Senne Leysen (Bel), Marcel de Meisen (Ger), Tim Merlier (Bel), Sacha Modolo (Ita), David van der Poel (Ned), Mathieu van der Poel (Ned), Jonas Rickaert (Bel), Oscar Riesebeek (Ned), Loris Rouiller (Sui), Petr Vakoč (CZ), Otto Vergaerde (Bel), Gianni Vermeersch (Bel), Louis Vervaeke (Bel), Philipp Walsleben (Ger).
More wins for the Corendon-Circus team in 2020?
Monkey Town-à Bloc Continues as A BLOC CT and has 2020 Roster
Playground chain Monkey Town will disappear in 2020 as the top name of the Continental Monkey Town-à Bloc team. Next year the beer brand is the only named sponsor of the North Holland team, which means it will be called A BLOC CT. Team manager Paul Tabak is pleased with this development.
"All sponsors have concluded an agreement for the next two years with an option for an extension," he confirmed to WielerFlits. "Because of this we have been able to take on various riders for at least two years." Tabak has announced the selection for 2020. Sprinter Bas van der Kooij went to BEAT Cycling Club earlier this week, while it already became clear that Rick Pluimers (Jumbo-Visma Academy) was also leaving. Alex Molenaar in turn makes the switch to the pros with the Spanish ProContinental team Burgos-BH.
At an earlier stage, the team confirmed that it would say goodbye to Italians Nicola Gaffurini and Antonio Santoro. In addition, A BLOC CT will lose Chiel Breukelman and Folkert Oostra. Stijn Appel (West-Frisia), Stijn Daemen (Home Solution-Soenens), Marco Doets (Alecto CT), Bodi del Grosso (Spider King-Soenens U19), the Australian Aden Paterson (NWVG) and Meindert Weulink (WPGA) strengthen the team.
Tabak has chosen to give the 24-year-old André Luijk a chance. He is fast at the finish and this year won the Zuid-Hollandse Eilandentour. Luijk has only been cycling for two years; the former football player came into contact with cycling during the rehabilitation of an injury.
A BLOC CT for 2020
Stijn Appel (Ned) (new), Rick van Breda (Ned), Stijn Daemen (Ned) (new), Marco Doets (Ned) (new), Bodi Del Grosso (Ned) (new), Adriaan Janssen, Jeen de Jong (Ned), Maarten de Jonge (Ned), Wim Kleiman (Ned), André Luijk (Ned) (new), Lars Loohuis (Ned), Aden Paterson (Aus) (new), Martins Pluto (Lat), Ivar Slik (Ned), Mel van der Veekens (Ned), Meindert Weulink (Ned) (new).
Team Monkey Town-à Bloc CT at the start of Veenendaal-Veenendaal 2019:
BEAT Cycling Club Completes 2020 Road Team
Bas van der Kooij joins sprint project led by Theo Bos.
BEAT Cycling Club has completed next season's road team. Last week, the signing of Jan-Willem van Schip was announced. Sprinter Bas van der Kooij and breakaway specialist Marten Kooistra will fill the final two spots in the 2020 roster.
Van der Kooij, 23, has proved to be a strong sprinter, taking third place in the Dutch national championships behind Fabio Jakobsen and Moreno Hofland. In addition, he has celebrated victories in De Kustpijl and the Tour of Antalya.
Kooistra, 22, is a rider to watch in the classics. He finished fourth in the Slag om Norg and won Paris-Tours U23. He also finished second in the U23 national championships. The Frisian was part of Team Sunweb last season as an intern.
With the addition of these two riders, the BEAT road team is now complete. Daniel Abraham, Luuc Bugter, Yves Coolen, Nahom Desale, Adam Lewis, Alex Mengoulas and Guillaume Seye have extended their contracts for another year. Martijn Budding, Piotr Havik and Daan Hoeyberghs will leave the team.
Van der Kooij wants to reach his full potential
"With the knowledge we've gained from the track sprint team, we've been working on a plan to support and train the sprinters in the road team. The plan is an important part of our ambition to grow the road team to the highest level," said Geert Broekhuizen, BEAT Cycling Club co-founder. "In our search for a capable sprinter who fits in the project, we identified Bas van der Kooij, a talented sprinter who has a lot of growth potential."
The sprint project will be led by Theo Bos, who will guide Van der Kooij. Bos said, "Bas has shown great results as a sprinter and has the potential to win high-level races. Together with our performance team, I'll use my knowledge and experience from track and road sprinting to help him take the next step in becoming a world-class sprinter."
Van der Kooij can count on a supporting team that will, as part of the project, be trained to form the perfect sprint train. The race and training program will be adjusted to accelerate Van der Kooij's development. The team will also perform aerodynamic testing on equipment and clothing in the search for further optimisation.
Van der Kooij said, "BEAT offers me the chance to progress as a sprinter, and I'm really looking forward to working with Theo Bos. This will enable me to become better and better and develop my sprint to its full potential. I'm delighted with this move and I'm looking forward to the upcoming sprints."
Kooistra rounds out 2020 BEAT road team
Kooistra joins BEAT from Seg Racing Academy. He has been racing as an intern for Team Sunweb since August. Since his youth, Kooistra has been among the top competitors in the Netherlands within his age group. He has, for example, been crowned Dutch junior national time trial champion. At the Under-23 level, he demonstrated his big engine by winning Paris-Tours U23 in an impressive manner, completing a 50-kilometre solo breakaway. These performances were rewarded with an internship at Team Sunweb.
The 22-year-old talent looks forward to making the move to the BEAT road team. He said, "I'm obviously excited by my move to BEAT. I think the club has a great team, and I'm very motivated to be a part of it. The team enables its riders to push themselves to a higher level by offering great equipment and guidance and a high-level race program. I'll do everything I can next season to take another step in my development."
BEAT road team 2020:
Daniel Abraham (NL), Luuc Bugter (NL), Yves Coolen (BE), Nahom Desale (ER), Marten Kooistra (NL), Adam Lewis (GB), Alex Mengoulas (NL), Guillaume Seye (BE), Bas van der Kooij (NL), Jan-Willem van Schip (NL).
No team for Jan Bakelants
Jan Bakelants still has no employer for next season. The 33-year-old Belgian did not get a contract extension after one year at Sunweb and is still looking. Manager Dries Smets says that people are busy for Bakelants: "There are a number of options, but for the time being without concrete results."
"The disappearance of Katusha and Roompot does not make the market wider and the mission no easier," Smets told HLN. "On the other hand, that way quite a few people of level are released. If you have a few places left, you can count on the available quality and wait."
Bakelants was hired by Sunweb to support the leaders in difficult races. He eventually rode the Giro, but after Tom Dumoulin and Sam Oomen dropped out, the team was without a leader. Bakelants finished fifth in the ZLM Tour.
Jan Bakelants:
Michel Kreder Retires
Michel Kreder has announced the end of his professional career. The 32-year-old Dutchman rode for a Chinese continental team last season, after his employer, Aqua Blue Sport quit at the end of 2018.
"After ten years as a professional, it's time to announce my goodbyes in this wonderful sport," Kreder wrote. "I enjoyed every day, from the day I started cycling to the last kick. I am blessed that I have been able to ride almost all the major races and that I have been able to win six as a pro. Now I look forward to 'a normal life' without a bike."
Kreder will remain involved in cycling with his company Kreder Coaching, with which the Kreder family supervises training and gives clinics, among other things.
In 2006 Michel Kreder, brother of Raymond Kreder (UKYO) and nephew of Wesley Kreder (Wanty-Gobert), made his appearance in the peloton. Via Unibet and DAVO he ended up with the Rabobank development team. From there he made the move to the WorldTour, when Garmin picked him up. Until 2013, Kreder rode for Jonathan Vaughters.
In 2014, Kreder stepped down to Wanty-Groupe Gobert. He stayed there for a year, because in 2015 he became the leader of the new Roompot-Oranje Peloton. After two years he switched to another ambitious project, namely Aqua Blue Sport, but that too quickly stopped. Last season, Ningxia Sports Lottery-Livall from China offered him another contract.
Kreder won all his six victories in France: the Circuit de Lorraine, Circuit Cycliste Sarthe (twice), Tour Méditerranéen (twice) and the Dunkirk Four Days. In total he rode the Vuelta a España four times.
Michel Kreder:
Maes 0.0% – The Wolfpack ready for the Six Days of Gent
The prestigious event runs this year its 79th edition, with a new name joining for 2019: Maes 0.0% – The Wolfpack.
Maes 0.0% are proud to sponsor the team that is made up of Iljo Keisse and Mark Cavendish, who have been long mates since the pair rode together from 2013 to 2015, with the bond between them still going strong several years later. The pair's friendship and understanding, along with their strong track pedigree and experience, are sure to make Maes 0.0% – The Wolfpack amongst the strongest teams competing at the Six Days of Gent, between 12-17 November.
The link between Maes 0.0% and the Wolfpack is a natural one, with their shared value of friendship, teamwork and togetherness. With Maes 0.0%'s support, the Wolfpack again showed its true spirit in 2019, taking 68 wins on the road and being crowned UCI World Team Classification winners. Keisse will be hoping to take this fine form and the Maes spirit of teamwork and togetherness into his partnership with Cavendish at the Six Days of Gent, where he has a deeply impressive record, having notched up seven victories in the past.
Speaking of his pairing with Cavendish, defending champion Iljo Keisse said: "To be able to ride with my good friend Mark again at an event as prestigious at the Six Days of Gent is very special for me. Myself and Cav have always remained close, even now that we ride on different teams on the road, but it is great that we can come together for The Maes 0.0% Team, and show that we still have that chemistry. I am looking forward to racing hard and hopefully being able to bring home some good results."
Further to this, Jan Bosselaers, Marketing Director of Maes added: "This year, beer brewer Maes is the official and proud shirt sponsor of the duo Iljo Keisse – Mark Cavendish with Maes 0.0%. Maes prides itself with the fact that the bond between real mates makes them stronger as a group, a philosophy that perfectly matches that of The Wolfpack. That's why Keisse and Cavendish both have the Maes 0.0% logo and the Wolfpack logo on their jersey. A perfect combo!"
Six Days of Gent: Six Days of Partying:
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Alastair Hamilton
Alastair Hamilton has been a pro team mechanic on the road, track and mountain bike and worked for the Great Britain team at the World championships in all disciplines. Since moving to Spain and finding out how to use a computer, he has gone from contributor of Daily Distractions at the 2002 Vuelta a España to editor at PezCyclingNews.
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