News Round-up: Fortune favours the bold in aggressive racing across Europe

We bring you the racing results from the Renewi Tour and Tours of Scandinavia and the Deutschland, and so much more

17:29, Thursday 24th August 2023

George Poole

Junior Writer

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Cecile Uttrup Ludwig was understandably delighted with her victory

| Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig earns herself a late birthday present in the Tour of Scandinavia

By Pete Trifunovic

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ - SUEZ) powered to an impressive victory on stage 2 of the Tour of Scandinavia, beating her main rival for the stage, Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team), in the final sprint to the line. The Dane was equal to van Vleuten all the way up the Djupsjøen climb and had the legs left to finish off the job in the final 100m and move into the GC lead.

The result means Uttrup Ludwig - who celebrated her 28th birthday yesterday - takes the leader’s jersey by a margin of 8 seconds to Van Vleuten. Never disappointing in interviews, Uttrup Ludwig admitted: “It's just not been the greatest season, but what a turnaround. This victory means so much to me and I'm super happy and proud.”

Only Kim Cadzow (Jumbo-Visma) and Greta Marturano (Fenix-Deceuninck) were able to eventually bridge across to Van Vleuten and Uttrup Ludwig, with a gap of 45 seconds developing to those behind as the final 3.5km plateau was reached. The quartet marked each other out as the line came into view, with Uttrup Ludwig strongest in the final 100m, edging out her probable rival for the overall title to pick up a second win at the ski resort.

| Josh Tarling takes big victory in Renewi Tour time trial

By Matilda Price

Nineteen-year-old Brit Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) took an impressive victory on the stage 2 time trial of the Renewi Tour, putting in a big 14 second margin over his closest competitors on the 13.6km course.After finishing in the bunch on stage 1, his stage win was enough to put the British national time trial champion into the race lead with three stages remaining.

Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) came closest to Tarling to take second on the stage, whilst Yves Lampaert came third.

“It’s crazy, I’m so happy,” Tarling said at the finish. “I think we did super good in the team, they’ve been super supportive with it. I’m super happy.”

“I thought I started fast and then I heard the splits and I started panicking so I just tried to get out everything I could. I think it worked well with the win at stuff, it ended up working really good.”

| Soudal Quick-Step double up at the Deutschland Tour

After Ethan Vernon won the prologue on Wednesday, Soudal Quick-Step emerged victorious once more on Thursday afternoon as young Ilan van Wilder won stage 1. The Belgian beat Felix Großschartner (UAE Team Emirates) and Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers) to the line in Merzig, with the three-rider move succeeding over a hilly first road stage race.

The lung-busting action within the finale was sparked by Bora-Hansgrohe’s Marco Haller making the first move on the finishing circuit, which drew the peloton into a high speed as they made the final ascent of the Ellerberg (1.8km at 6.2%). On the punchy slopes, Van Wilder drew himself, Großschartner and Sivakov clear from the group, and it was the 23-year-old who won the eventual race for the line.

In coming across the line 1-2-3, the trio would move themselves into the accompanying position on GC at the end of the stage, with Vernon passing over the baton of race leader to his teammate. Vernon drops to fourth with Danny van Poppel closing out the top five.

| Lotto Dstny youngster Tijl De Decker in hospital after crash

Belgium’s Tijl De Decker has been hospitalised in Antwerp after suffering a hard crash in training involving a vehicle on Wednesday. The 22-year-old rides for the Lotto Dstny Development Team and has racked up several promising results thus far in 2023, but the Belgian team confirmed the news of his crash on Wednesday evening.

“The rider crashed hard into the backside of a car and was brought to the hospital in Lier where he underwent surgery,” revealed a team statement. “Later today he was transported to the UZA (Antwerp University Hospital). More news about the consequences of the accident will follow after Tijl will undergo further examinations over there.”

Tijl De Decker won Paris-Roubaix Espoirs earlier this season

Het Nieuwsblad reports that having spoken to those close to the rider, De Decker is currently in a coma after having suffered serious injuries. The biggest win of his fledgling career came at Paris-Roubaix Espoirs in May, where he attacked on the Camphin-en-Pévèle and rode to victory in the Roubaix Velodrome after more than 20km alone.

| Carlos Rodríguez expected to stay at Ineos Grenadiers as multiple transfers called off

*by Daniel Benson

Ineos Grenadiers have iced two rider transfers in the last few weeks with both Carlos Verona and Tobias Foss back on the market and being floated to several WorldTour teams. Both riders were reportedly on their way to Ineos Grenadiers for 2024 but those moves were reversed by the British team according to several sources who have spoken to GCN.

Ineos Grenadiers’ squad for 2024 remains unclear

It’s unclear yet as to whether Carlos Rodríguez will stay with the British team either, with interest from Movistar and Bora-Hansgrohe. The Spaniard is out of contract this season and GCN has been told a four-year contract extension has been tabled by Ineos. It had previously been reported that the Grand Tour rider had agreed terms with Movistar but that position has softened since the Tour concluded, and Ineos are apparently keen to keep the Spaniard.

| Iván Romeo claims stunning solo victory on stage 5 of the Tour de l’Avenir

There was a surprise victor at the Tour de l’Avenir on early Thursday afternoon, as Spain’s Ivan Romeo charged his way to a solo win after being part of the day’s breakaway. As he sat up and raised his fingers to the sky in Lac d’Aiguebelette, Romeo celebrated his first victory as an U23 rider.

Continuing the trend that has sadly plagued this year’s Tour de l’Avenir, extreme heat was a factor once more on stage 5. After Wednesday’s route was shortened by a lap, the start of the stage on Thursday was brought forward by two hours to avoid the excess heat of the mid-afternoon. Similarly, The Guardian reports that ahead of the Vuelta a España beginning on Saturday in the city, Barcelona is also experiencing a record heatwave and ‘climate refuges’ have been set up to aid civilians.

In the Tour de l’Avenir, the earlier start did not dissuade Romeo - whose trade team is Movistar - from getting himself in the early breakaway of the day. In attacking his breakaway companions, the 20-year-old was able to hold off the peloton and cross the finish line alone, with Jan Christen (Switzerland) and Francesco Busatto (Italy) mopping up second and third behind. Christen’s ride moved him up to third in GC, just 36 seconds down on race leader, Simon Dalby (Denmark).

From an octopus’ garden in the shade, it is time to bid adieu. Until the next time.