Cold bikes, warm hearts

Greetings cycling fans, welcome to the latest edition of the writebikerepeat newsletter in which this week we will enjoy a whistlestop tour around the latest cycling news stories, get really excited about cyclocross, and mourn the imminent departure of another legend of our sport.

First off I want to say a big HELLO to my new subscribers, thanks for jumping on board, I really hope you enjoy the newsletter – it will be in your inboxes twice monthly, so hopefully not too often to be overwhelmed, but often enough to keep you well informed all the way through the year – even in off-season!

We’re still achingly far away from the beginning of the new road cycling season, and with the cold snap biting here in the UK it would easy to be despondent, but the cyclocross season – already well underway – steps up a gear this weekend with the first round of the UCI World Cup. With that, and the Christmas decorations starting to go up around my neighbourhood, I’m feeling quite buoyant truth be told. Though I could really use some sparkly bikes to hang on my tree this year. Can you even get those? I should probably just Google it (other search engines are available).

Let’s find out what’s been going on in the world on two wheels, shall we?

ON THE WEBSITE

I have posts to share with you! Two pieces this week for your reading pleasure.

First up, my ‘Monday Musings’ began with some extended discussion about the off-season blues, and I work out in a thoroughly non-scientific way, it must be said, which date is the pro cycling fan’s equivalent of ‘Blue Monday’ – don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense, all will be explained as you read the article.

The second piece this week is a mega review of the top riders of the early cyclocross season. This guide aims to bring any latecomers up to speed with who’s on a hot streak, and who’s still warming up, ahead of the first World Cup race this weekend.

ON THE POD

There’s a new episode of the podcast too, which covers some of the topics in last week’s news and plenty more, after a month away for Sanny and I – check out the On Yer Bike Cycling Podcast, wherever you get your podcasts.

NEWS! HERE IS SOME NEWS!

Top story: More contract wrangles ahead, as Maxim van Gils departs Lotto-Dstny

Yes, another acrimonious separation is currently underway as young star rider Maxim van Gils has been reported this week as being set to leave his team, Lotto-Dstny, with whom he turned pro in 2021, after coming through their development system – a rigorous U23 set-up that has produced a number of big talents in the sport in recent seasons.

Top of the list in terms of Van Gils’ destination appears to be Red Bull-BORA hansgrohe, who are accruing a wealth of new talent. The team would add depth to both their Classics and Grand Tour squads with the acquisition of Van Gils.

The 24-year-old is contracted to the team for another two years, so legal wrangles are likely to ensue, with the agent involved releasing a joint statement with the team, who were said to be shocked at the news of his departure. The statement read as follows:

"At this moment, Lotto Dstny Team is in discussion with Maxim Van Gils and his management to decide about their future together. Ongoing talks regarding a potential departure are part of this process.’ (source: CyclingNews). More on this as it unfolds!

Top story: Lizzie Deignan announces her retirement

What the universe gives with one hand, it takes with the other. Yes, last week, Lidl-Trek announced that they had extended the contract of British racing legend Lizzie Deignan through to the end of 2025 – hurray! But with that news, came the unwelcome addition that this would be her final year in the pro peloton – sob.

Citing a lack of desire to continue in the sport, and the unsustainability of continuing her 18-year career having moved back to Yorkshire with her young family, the 35-year-old will ride one more season before hanging up her cleats. She will be remembered for some legendary performances over the years, particularly in the Classics, as well as her 2015 World Championship road race victory, four national titles, and becoming the first woman to win Paris-Roubaix, in 2021. In addition to this, her work championing the women’s side of the sport has been fundamental to its growth over the years, particularly in the UK. She will be a huge miss to the sport, though I hope we’ll see her in some capacity on the other side of the fence, post-retirement.

The best of the rest

Marta Cavalli to Team dsm

Perhaps the final piece in the puzzle of where all of the key players in the women’s peloton would end up for 2025, Marta Cavalli was this week announced as a new rider for Team dsm-firmenich PostNL. The Italian climber, who has suffered a series of setbacks in recent seasons following a horrific crash at the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, recently parted ways with her previous team, FDJ-SUEZ. She will ride in the Dutch team’s colours for 2025, in what she has stated will be ‘a chance to start again.’

INEOS development team

The long-awaited confirmation of INEOS Grenadiers’ partnership with an U23 development team came last week, when they officially announced they would team up with German pro continental team, Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank. The link should foster positive connections for INEOS with a wealth of young talent, though frustration was aired on social media over the fact that it was not a British team that INEOS chose to take under their wing. The obvious choice would have seemed to be Trinity Racing, however it appeared a conflict of interests prevented such a partnership from being forged.

Trinity withdraw from road racing in 2025

Remaining with the British team, who were recently reported as struggling financially, the news broke last week that they would close the road racing arm of their operations as of 2025, operating only as a mountain-biking team. There are hopes that they will resurrect their road racing squad in 2026, but it appears this hinges on finding a new bike sponsor. Trinity has proved to be a rich breeding ground for young talent over the years, with the likes of Tom Pidcock, Ben Turner, Paul Magnier and Luke Lamperti just some of the names to have come through the system in recent seasons.

Nairo Quintana extends contract

Fans of the stalwart Colombian celebrated last week as Movistar confirmed they had extended Quintana’s contract for another season, taking him to the end of 2025 with the Spanish side where he has enjoyed the majority of his success. The team have also renewed the contracts of five homegrown riders until 2028, it was reported today, including Giro stage winner Pelayo Sánchez, alongside U23 ITT World Champion Iván Romeo, Javier Romo, Carlos Canal, and Jon Barrenetxea.

New Aussie one-day race

The organisers of the Tour Down Under have announced a new women’s one-day event, which will take place directly following the Women’s Tour Down Under. It will offer the riders who opt to travel the long distance to Australia an extra opportunity to race and pick up valuable UCI points. The Schwalbe Women’s One-Day Classic will be a Pro Series event, 90 kilometres in length, and will be raced over 20 laps in Adelaide.

OH HAPPY DAY

Celebrating the lighter side of the sport…

This week’s fun post comes courtesy of the Lotte Kopecky fanclub, AKA three of Team SD Worx Protime, cheering on their teammate at the track in Belgium – from left to right, Lonneke Uneken, Femke Gerritse, and Lorena Wiebes.

I posted about Mads Pedersen’s eagerness to return to training in the last newsletter. Well since then, he’s been back on the bike, fully focused on Paris-Roubaix, and additionally, he’s been riding recon of the Milano-Sanremo course. It’s become commonplace to anticipate early attacks from Tadej Pogacar, but if this sign is anything to go by, the Slovenian may have competition if he chooses to go on the offensive in 2025.

CYCLOCROSS DISPATCH 9-22 NOVEMBER

Yes it’s heating up nicely in the land of ‘cross, and the past two weeks has seen some brilliant battles unfold – don’t forget you can catch up on an overall summary of the top contenders of the season so far with my overview article, but here are your results and a few deep dives on some of the races from the past weekend.

The Internationale Cyclo-Cross Rupchen (9 Nov) was a one-off event not linked to any series, and as such wasn’t televised. Sadly for fans of Felipe Orts who weren’t able to see their man make good on the excellent form he showed at the European championships to take his first win of the season, though it would be fair to say, in a somewhat depleted field. The same was true for the women’s field where Laura Verdonschot took the win.

The following day the X2O Trofee visited Lokeren (10 Nov), and this time it was Lucinda Brand who was able to get the better of her major rival of the season so far, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. In the men’s race, Thibau Nys followed his Euopean championship victory with a win. And on Monday, of all days, the Niel leg of the Superprestige series saw Laurens Sweeck step up his form to take the win, with Alvarado overturning Brand in the women’s race by exactly the same margin as Brand won on the previous day – 21 seconds.

FOCUS ON: Superprestige Merksplas (16 Nov)

Last Saturday saw two hard-fought battles on a fast, tricky course. The women’s race exploded into action with fast-starter Marie Schreiber taking the initiative and leading out a big group, which gradually thinned as the laps wore on. The lead was made and broken on a short uphill kicker in the woods more than once – Lucinda Brand stealing a march on lap four after second placed Inge van der Heijden and third placed Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado came together, holding up the rest of the field briefly, but after Alvarado worked to close the gap, she was able to open up an advantage on the following lap. Schreiber fought her way back to Brand to form a chasing pair, before Brand attacked in the sand on the final lap to try and bridge back to Alvarado but it was not enough – Alvarado proving she is the current dominant force in women’s cross. Schreiber racked up her first podium of the season - a positive step up for her.

The men’s race saw another aggressive display by Felipe Orts, who led as the race moved into its central phase, though the field remained relatively large at the front of the race. By lap six there was a peloton of around 14 riders challenging. Michael Vantourenhout found a gap towards the end of the lap and despite Eli Iserbyt’s best efforts to hinder the chasers as his teammate opened his advantage, Thibau Nys was able to pull Vantourenhout back. Next to take the race by storm was Toon Aerts, his best showing since his return to racing in February, and a true sign of the old Toon Aerts. There were still nine riders all together on the final lap. It was down to Laurens Sweeck, who had laid in wait and kept his powder dry, to launch an attack on a long flat straight section to pull clear, taking his second win in as many races.

FOCUS ON: X2O Trofee Hamme (17 Nov)

From a selfish perspective, as I’m a great fan of her, it was great to see Zoe Backstedt storming off the start line into the early lead in the women’s race. She has only just begun her campaign and after two races back she was very much in the mix; as the top riders pulled away she was able to stay with them, until a mistake on the third lap saw her drop back. She had to expend a great deal of energy to get back in contact with the leading trio of Brand, Alvarado and Sara Casasola.

She never made it in the end as the three leaders pressured one another, Casasola continuing to improve and really pressuring Brand who took the front of the race. Brand looked to be struggling with a technical issue after that (and confirmed after the race her gears were sticking), leaving Alvarado free to attack. The Dutchwoman couldn’t drop Casasola, and with Brand fighting to get back on after a bike change, it looked for a while as if it would come to a three-up sprint. It was a nail-biting finish, with Brand gritting her teeth trying to catch Alvarado, finally reaching her wheel in time for the sprint finish, but Alvarado was once again strong enough to hold her off. Casasola came through just four seconds down.

Another close battle in the men’s race once again saw a large group of riders stay together deep into the race. While the bigger teams took turns to launch attacks and try to break up the field, it was Alpecin-Deceuninck’s sole representative, and consistent podium finisher so far in 2024, Niels Vandeputte, who rode the most patient race and saved his energy for a decisive move on the final lap, which saw him raise his arms for the first time in a major race this season. A well-deserved victory for hands down the most consistent rider in the men’s field this year.

FINAL THOUGHT – All fun and games in the mud

One of my favourite things about cyclocross is how it doesn’t take itself too seriously. How can a sport that awards giant fluffy ducks as prizes (and has even bigger ones looming around on course); forces riders to go up and down over man-made humps and round and round silly carousels, and sees the kind of scene playing out below week in week out, ever take itself too seriously?

It’s one of the joys of the sport for me, that in addition to being every man or woman for themselves, there’s no hiding place when you’re slipping and sliding in the mud, or falling on your face over the bunny hops. It is a great leveller – there’s no souplesse involved (though Thibau Nys is probably the most stylish rider I’ve ever seen on a ‘cross bike), no dancing on pedals, simply stamping on them, dismounting, running up some stairs, and if you’re lucky, not sliding around on your butt.

There is camaraderie among the riders, but it’s also fiercely competitive. But the various mish-mash of hazards on course and the silliness of the whole endeavour combine to keep everyone humble. It’s brilliant and though I pine for the stunning scenery of France and Italy, and the beauty of watching the peloton flash past at a Grand Tour at the close of each season, there always comes a point in winter when the fizz of excitement for cyclocross really hits me. If you’re still on the fence, here’s a reminder of why it’s really worth investing just a couple of hours of your time each week into throwing yourself headlong into the madness. I promise you won’t regret it.

THE LAST WORD

And just like that, we’ve reached the end of another newsletter. It’s been a busy one, and there will plenty more where that came from in two weeks’ time (it’ll be December then – insert screaming emoji here).

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Until next time,

Cheers,

Katy