News Round-up: The Muur van Geraardsbergen and Col de la Loze pack their punch

| Isaac del Toro picks up his first victory in fantastic style at the Tour de l’Avenir

Mexico’s Isaac del Toro came of age at the Tour de l’Avenir, batting away competition from the United States’ Matthew Riccitello to win stage 6 atop the fearsome Col de la Loze. A month after Felix Gall won the Tour de France stage featuring this steep mountain, Del Toro climbed the final 7km of the Col de la Loze only 32 seconds slower than the WorldTour pro.

In doing so, Del Toro became the first Mexican to win a stage of the Tour de l’Avenir since Augustin Alcantara in 1969. The 19-year-old has been in Europe for two years and also rides cyclo-cross and mountain biking, and whilst a first win would be an achievement in its own right, the calibre of opponent here made the victory all that more notable.

Del Toro powered away from Riccitello in the closing metres after a barnstorming battle, a rider who finished the Giro d’Italia in May and even came 11th in the penultimate day individual time trial. To beat the Israel-Premier Tech rider on a mountain that is quickly becoming a modern-day legend is mighty impressive, indeed.

For his dues, Riccitello’s ride moves him into the race lead as he goes in search of becoming the first American to win the Tour de l’Avenir since Greg LeMond in 1982. He holds a 25-second buffer over Davide Piganzoli (Italy), with Del Toro slotting in third place at 26 seconds.

| Gregor Mühlberger wins stage 2 of the Deutschland Tour

The recently-crowned Austrian national champion Gregor Mühlberger soloed to victory on the second stage of the Deutschland Tour, with his Movistar teammate Alex Aranburu sprinting to second place behind to round off a fantastic day for the Spanish team. In third place, it was Kevin Vermaerke of dsm-firmenich who pushed Aranburu the closest.

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

Gregor Mühlberger had time to sit up and celebrate his achievement

On the day, however, it was Mühlberger who put his opponents to the sword on an undulating route between Kassel and Winterberg. The 29-year-old attacked alone with 6km to ride and was not to be caught, as the 20-man group behind him scrambled to pick up the scraps he had left in his wake. The victory was Mühlberger’s second for the season on behalf of Movistar.

The top three on GC remained the same heading into the final two stages, with Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) retaining an 11 and 13-second lead over Felix Großschartner (UAE Team Emirates) and Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers), respectively.

| Mike Teunissen wins stage as Tim Wellens takes the lead of the Renewi Tour

By Logan Jones-Wilkins

In the shadow of the famous chapel on the Muur van Geraardsbergen, Mike Teunissen (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) took the win on the crucial hilly day of the Renewi Tour.

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

It is Mike Teunissen’s first WorldTour victory since sprinting into the yellow jersey on the opening day of the 2019 Tour de France

While Teunissen won the stage, it was Tim Wellens who was the man of the match. On the last time up the critical Muur van Geraardsbergen, Wellens drove the pace and splintered the peloton in the process. While he was able to push on solo to get maximum time bonuses in the green kilometre, he suffered a front flat tire.

Instead of changing it for a new wheel, however, Wellens soldiered on with the lead group and had enough energy to come in second and take the overall lead at the finish.

Read more: Renewi Tour stage 3 race report

| The unstoppable Lorena Wiebes continues her dominance at the Tour of Scandinavia

By Matilda Price

Despite a steep ramp in the final 1,500m into Larvik, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) destroyed any doubts that stage 3 of the Tour of Scandinavia was too hard for her by sprinting to an emphatic victory.

The Dutchwoman survived the difficult finish in the front group, and despite not having any teammates she was able to surf the wheels in the finale before launching her unmatchable sprint in the final 200m before the line.

“It was more of a one-minute effort than a sprint today,” Wiebes said at the finish. “Ashleigh [Moolman Pasio] made it really hard from the beginning of the climb. Then it slowed down a little bit but then we started sprinting already at 300m to go, so I had to start almost at 300. It was a hard one.

“The team did a good job to bring the lone leader back. Niamh [Fisher-Black] did a good job of chasing, and I still had Christine [Majerus] to position me well, so everything was under control.”

Read more: Tour of Scandinavia stage 3 report

| Movistar hint at compensation should Carlos Rodríguez remain with Ineos Grenadiers

By Daniel Benson

Movistar Team have confirmed that Carlos Rodríguez signed a letter of intent to join the Spanish team for 2024 but they are in the dark as to whether the rider will honour that agreement, with Ineos Grenadiers fighting to retain their GC asset. Speaking exclusively to GCN on Friday morning, Movistar boss Sebastián Unzué spelt out the latest on Rodríguez's on/off transfer situation and remained incredibly calm over the possible outcome of losing the high-flying 22-year-old.

“He still has a pre-contract with us and that’s the reality of the situation. That’s all I can tell you. Ineos’ interest has been there for quite a few months and they’ve been trying to convince him to stay but nothing has been finalised in terms of being with Ineos,” Unzué told GCN.

Part of Unzué’s relaxed attitude could stem from the reports that Ineos will need to pay Movistar 1 million Euros in compensation if they wish to retain the rider's services. Unzué would not comment on this but hinted that the team had protected themselves within the pre-contract agreement.

“All of the things I can’t comment on because it’s private but there’s a proper pre-contract signed and anyone in the sports business knows that if you sign one then you have a release clause to protect yourself. That would be the most logical thing and we usually tend to do the most logical thing,” Unzué said.

Read more: Carlos Rodríguez signed a pre-contract with us, says Movistar team boss

| Lotto Dstny youngster Tijl De Decker dies after collision with motorist

By Matilda Price

Lotto Dstny development rider Tijl De Decker has died following a crash involving a vehicle during a training ride on Wednesday, his team has confirmed. The Belgian was 22.

© Lotto Dstny/Brecht Steenhouwer

Tijl De Decker won Paris-Roubaix Espoirs earlier this season

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tijl De Decker, following a training accident past Wednesday,” a team statement read.

“The team is heartbroken by this news and sends all of its love and thoughts to Tijl’s family and loved ones in this incredibly difficult time.”

Everyone at GCN would like to extend their deepest condolences to Tijl De Decker's family, friends, and Lotto Dstny teammates.

Read more: Tijl De Decker dies after training crash

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