News Round-up: A host of transfers are announced as Mathieu van der Poel considers a schedule change

We also bring you the racing results from the Coppa Sabatini, the Tour of Slovakia and the Vuelta a España

Updated 17:00, Thursday 14th September 2023. Published 20:00, Thursday 14th September 2023

George Poole

Junior Writer

Share

Mathieu van der Poel finished fourth at the GP de Wallonie on Wednesday

Mathieu van der Poel may cut road season short after struggling for form

In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Alpecin-Deceuninck's Mathieu van der Poel has admitted that he may end his road racing calendar early, in order to prepare for the cyclocross campaign. The recently crowned world champion revealed that he never expected to regain top form so late in the season, but to continue with his original schedule may do more harm than good.

"Maybe it would be better to rest and prepare for the cross-season. A longer period without racing will be good for me," Van der Poel was at pains to acknowledge.

"Don't forget that the Mountain Bike World Championship would normally be my last race of the season. I have just added everything I've ridden since then. But I notice that I will no longer be in top shape, both physically and mentally."

Indeed, after Van der Poel crashed out of the Mountain Bike World Championships in Scotland, he would go onto show off his rainbow stripes from the road race at the Bretagne Classic, GP de Fourmies and on Wednesday afternoon, at the GP de Wallonie.

Van der Poel told Het Nieuwsblad that he "never expected to win" in Belgium, but question marks now surround the rest of his road calendar. The Dutchman is currently slated to ride the Super 8 Classic - his final matchup with Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) - the Circuit FrancoBelge, and finally, Paris-Tours on October 10.

"I think Paris-Tours is one of the more beautiful races of the season, that's why I wanted to race it. But if it doesn't get better, I don't know. Just riding around for the sake of riding around isn't much use either," surmised Van der Poel.

Should Van der Poel alter his upcoming schedule, we may not see the rainbow bands on display again until he begins his cyclocross season, in which he is also the world champion. However, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider is explicit in his commitment to riding the test event for the Paris Olympics Mountain Bike race, which will take place on 24 September.

"I definitely want to do the Olympic mountain bike test event. Just to have the feeling on that bike again and because I definitely want to know the route ahead of the Olympic Games."

"That's why I continued to race here all day," he noted after Wednesday's GP de Wallonie. "I hope I can get a little better. But I already know that I won't get my best form there."

Jayco AlUla swoop to sign more four riders as part of Liv Racing TeqFind merger

Currently sporting a squad of 15 riders, Jayco AlUla have room to manoeuvre - with the maximum squad size standing at 22 (with two neo-pros) for the 2023 campaign - and as such, they are making the most of their impending merger with Liv Racing TeqFind.

Read more:

After announcing the signing of Mavi García as their first acquisition from Liv Racing Teqfind - who will cease to exist as part of the merger - the Australian outfit have now added a further four riders to their roster for 2024 and beyond. Joining García in making the move are the quartet of Jeanne Korevaar, Quincy Ton, Silke Smulders and Caroline Andersson.

“Our women’s team is significantly expanding in size for 2024 as we continue to welcome new names into the team roster," commented Jayco AlUla general manager, Brent Copeland.

"Our merger with Liv Racing TeqFind has enabled us to really strengthen and evolve in all areas and it has given us so much pleasure and satisfaction to see it all come together and with everybody’s real passion and motivation."

Andersson, Smulders, Ton and Korevaar, aged 22, 22, 25 and 26, respectively, are shining examples of the hard work done by Liv Racing TeqFind to nurture young talent. In turn, current team manager Eric van den Boom will continue to be involved beyond the merger, acting as the manager 'in the women's cycling development pyramid of Team Jayco AlUla.'

Jeanne Korevaar: 'I would really like to set a strong series of spring classics; I feel there is a potential for that'

Of all the signings, it was Korevaar's comments upon signing which were the most insightful, both into the benefits of the merger from a sporting success, and also the grander ambitions of Jayco AlUla to form a new development pathway for young female cyclists.

"Two cycling cultures are coming together: Australian and Dutch. Both have their own distinctive characteristics and many strong aspects. Combining them can create new impulses. Hopefully I can improve further that way," reflected the Dutchwoman.

"I am in favour of everything related to the development of our sport, and this thoughtful, comprehensive plan with a Continental Team for talent development alongside the World Team certainly contributes to that. Women’s cycling has grown considerably in recent years. The top has become stronger, making it harder for talents to move up to the highest level. With the cycling plan, Team Jayco AlUla fills a gap.”

Jake Stewart, Stefano Oldani and Jannik Steimle on the move, as Mauri Vansevenant stays put

A month and a half into cycling's transfer window, the shop window is showing no signs of shutting down, as the peloton's wheeler dealers continue to have their fun. Three more major transfers were announced on Thursday, with Israel-Premier Tech, Cofidis and Q36.5 Pro Cycling all looking to improve their squads.

Stefano Oldani won stage 12 of last year's Giro d'Italia ahead of Lorenzo Rota

Stefano Oldani has been acquired by Cofidis, with the Alpecin-Deceuninck climber seeking a new challenge after two years with the Belgian team. At just 25 years of age, Oldani still has plenty of room to grow and has already proven himself at WorldTour level, winning stage 12 of the 2022 Giro d'Italia after having spent 141km in the breakaway. With oldani's signature, Cofidis have a rider who can challenge for Grand Tour stages and compete for victories in one-day races such as the Ardennes Classics.

"I've known Roberto (Damiani, directeur sportif) since I was a kid and I'm very happy to be working with him," Oldani said. "I want to set myself high goals right from the start. I can't wait for the training camp and the start of the season."

Oldani's was not the only departure from a Belgian team on Thursday, with Jannie Steimle bidding adieu to Soudal Quick-Step for pastures new. At the end for the season, the 27-year-old will move down to ProConti level with Q36.5 Pro Cycling. The German has been with Quick-Step since August 2019 and enjoyed his best season the following year, winning the Tour of Slovakia and riding the Vuelta a España.

“I also want to invest in my time-trials as well," said the specialist. "The classics are always a big dream of mine but I also feel I can be competitive in stage races that feature a decisive ITT."

Elsewhere, Israel-Premier Tech have signed British sprinter Jake Stewart from Groupama-FDJ, both to improve their Classics lineup and their lead-out train for fellow incoming signing, Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates).

The Israeli team are putting together a very handy lead-out for the German five-time Grand Tour stage winner, with Stewart just the latest of a lengthy number of new signings, including Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis) and Ethan Vernon (Soudal Quick-Step).

Jake Stewart announced his potential as a Classics man at the 2021 Omloop Het Nieuwsblas

Although giving their best wishes to Vernon and Steimle, it is not a fire sale at Soudal Quick-Step, who have revealed a contract extension for Mauri Vansevenant until the end of 2026. The Belgian climber had been rumoured to be leaving the team, but his instantly recognisable climbing style will be seen in Quick-Step colours once again next season.

“In the three years with the team, Mauri has grown a lot. He has delivered some beautiful victories, but he impressed also with the effort he put in for the team whenever needed," noted team CEO, Patrick Lefevere. "Mauri is always working hard, his style on the bike being one of his most known features. We are delighted that he will stay with us for the next three years.”

Tim Merlier continues fine season with victory on stage 2 of the Tour of Slovakia

After Rémi Cavagna's remarkable opening day raid to take an almost two-minute lead in the general classification, stage 2 of the Tour of Slovakia was a quieter affair, but another enjoyable one for Soudal Quick-Step, who managed to make it two wins in as many days, this time it was their sprinter Tim Merlier.

An 11th win of the season for Tim Merlier

The Belgian beat Cees Bol (Astana Qazaqstan) and Colby Simmons (Jumbo-Visma) in a bunch sprint in Poprad after a relatively uneventful 143.9km from Prešov.

That being said, there were fears of an upset in the closing kilometres when Jaka Primožič took his leave from the peloton late in the day. The Hrinkow Advarics rider saw an opportunity to attack alone and made a good fist at clinching a surprise win, but was ultimately caught by the Soudal Quick-Step-led peloton with 3km remaining.

Heading into the third stage, Cavagna retains a 1:55 lead over second-placed Mulu Kinfe Hailemichael (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), with teammate Kasper Asgreen rounding out the top three at a 2:16 deficit. The Frenchman also holds the points jersey, but it will be worn on his behalf by Asgreen, whilst Milan Vader (Jumbo-Visma) dons the KoM jersey and Simmons leads the young rider classification.

Remco Evenepoel wins stage 18 of the Vuelta a España

By Patrick Fletcher

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) claimed his third stage win of this Vuelta a España, and the 50th of his career, with a devastating display on the double ascent of the Cruz de Linares in the Asturias mountains. Meanwhile, the controversies surrounding Jumbo-Visma simmered down as Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič rode defensively in support of their teammate, the race leader, Sepp Kuss.

It was another long-range solo to add to his collection as he kicked away from his last remaining companions 4km from the top of the first ascent of the steep category-1 climb, and almost 30km from the finish.

By the time he’d come back around and scaled it for a second time, he was nearly five minutes clear, with Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) placing runner-up before Andreas Kron (Lotto Dstny) snatched the final podium spot from Max Poole (dsm-firmenich), who had been the last rider to be dropped by the Belgian.

Nearly 10 minutes after Evenepoel had crossed the line, the reduced group of general classification contenders came to the top of the climb, and Kuss took a giant step towards winning this Vuelta a España as he marked multiple moves as well as the final sprint.

Unlike 24 hours ago, he didn’t have to do it alone, and the image of Roglic and Vingegaard dropping their leader on the Angliru was replaced by a rather more harmonious version in which the team’s two stars committed to the cause of their erstwhile domestique.

UAE Team Emirates have their fun at Coppa Sabatini with first, third and a future teammate in second

Marc Hirschi of UAE Team Emirates was able to triumph at the second race of the Italian autumn Classics, beating the winner of yesterday's Giro della Toscana, Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers) in a two-up sprint. With Sivakov a soon-to-be teammate of the pair, Tadej Pogačar rounded off a perfect day for UAE Team Emirates by coming home in third.

Hirschi and Sivakov broke away from the leading group with 37km to go, after the UAE Team Emirates man had attacked. The pair were never caught, and on the line, Hirschi dispatched of a tired Sivakov for the win.

Pogačar was left to contest the sprint for third against Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) and Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan). The trio came over the line just 18 seconds after the winners, and it was Pogačar who won the sprint for third.

"The race always starts really early, and it was good that we had four riders there, and also at the end there with Tadej [Pogačar] behind," reflected Hirschi at the finish. "So I could just sit on when I rode in front with Pavel [Sivakov], so it was perfect team tactics for us and it's super nice to win here."