We have all the excitement of the men’s and ladies Amstel Gold Race and the Brabantse Pijl, with Mattias Skjelmose, Mischa Bredewold and Remco Evenepoel. Videos, results, reports and the rider’s statements.
TOP STORY:
- Bernard Hinault furious about doping questions aimed at Tadej Pogačar: “Why do the French always sow doubt?”
Rider news:
- Remco Evenepoel draws strength from Islam
- Marianne Vos extends contract with Visma | Lease a Bike until the end of her career
- Silvan Dillier escapes serious injuries after hard collision with inattentive mechanic
- Benoît Cosnefroy’s return is still a long way off
- Bernard Hinault knows why many young cyclists struggle with mental problems
- Shari Bossuyt signs with WorldTeam after two-year doping suspension
Team news:
- Bahrain Victorious to the Tour of the Alps
- A tough test awaits Team Polti VisitMalta on the Alps of the Euregio
- Soudal Quick-Step’s Pepijn Reinderink injured in the Amstel Gold Race
- MX3 becomes Movistar team’s new technical partner
Race news:
- Eschborn-Frankfurt: A cult Classic
- Vuelta boss hopes Tadej Pogačar with start in 2025
- Winner of Paris-Camembert doesn’t get his weight in Camembert cheese
Plus:
- Remco Evenepoel’s road to recovery video
- The sad news of the passing of Barry Hoban
TOP STORY: Hinault Furious About Doping Questions Addressed to Pogačar: “Why Do the French Always Sow Doubt?”
Bernard Hinault reacted strongly to Jean-René Bernaudeau on radio station RMC Sport. Bernaudeau, the team manager of TotalEnergies, recently requested World champion, Tadej Pogačar, to provide a full insight into his data. In this way, the cycling public would receive ‘guarantees’ that the Slovenian is not cheating. Hinault believes that cycling is being destroyed by such statements.
Bernaudeau emphasised in the interview that he himself does not doubt Pogačar. “But I would like to ask him to publish his figures, his wattages… everything he does. After all, there is always suspicion. We have experienced the Festina affair. Cycling cannot afford a similar scandal again.”
Hinault found it ‘terrible’ to hear Bernaudeau’s appeal. “They have to stop, they are ruining our sport. They could keep their mouths shut sometimes,” said the Badger, who also took aim at the French cycling public in general. “Why is it always the French who sow doubt? Strange, isn’t it? It’s never the Spanish, Italian or Belgian teams. We are the complainers, I think. Because we don’t win, it’s the others who cheat.”
“What would we say if he were French? When Alaphilippe won the classics and the World Championships, did anyone say there was doubt? No. It breaks my heart to hear that over and over again,” said the five-time winner of the Tour de France. He stressed, as he has done before, that he enjoys Pogačar. “I used to sit in front of the television for the last ten minutes or the last ten kilometres, because I knew nothing would happen. The fact that there is such a battle between the champions now fascinates me. You think to yourself: ‘are these idiots going to start beating each other up already?’ And they do.”
Hinault had his battles too:
Amstel Gold Race 2025
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) stunningly won the 2025 Amstel Gold Race. After a thrilling final in which top favourite Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates XRG) was caught after a long solo, by the Dane and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step). Skjelmose got the better of the two top men in the sprint.
The Amstel Gold Race is in the hilly South Limburg with 34 climbs on the route, including the Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and the Cauberg as the final obstacle before the finish in Berg en Terblijt. Most people were looking at World champion Tadej Pogačar, who was chasing his second victory, but with Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert, Tom Pidcock and Thibau Nys in the peloton, there was a lot of tough competition for the Slovenian.
In the first hours of the race, the focus was on the early escape. Unibet Tietema Rockets were the first to start the action. They had Hartthijs de Vries and Jelle Johannink on the attack and they were joined by six other riders: Michel Hessmann (Movistar), Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ), Robert Stannard (Bahrain Victorious), Jarrad Drizners & Cédric Beullens (Lotto) and Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Despite the presence of strong riders; De Vries, Johannink, Cavagna and Hessmann, the peloton saw no danger and allowed the lead to grow to almost 5 minutes. UAE Emirates XRG and Soudal Quick-Step, the teams of top favourites Pogačar and Evenepoel, kept a tight grip on the race and held the break in check. As the race passed, the difference got smaller and smaller. Before the start of the last 100 kilometres, there was a crash in the peloton. Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert and Thibau Nys were amongst the fallers. The three Belgians were soon able to continue and rejoin the peloton, although Evenepoel did suffer damage to his elbow. Several riders attacked in the pre-final, but Pogačar’s team managed to control them. Due to these accelerations, the lead of the break disappeared. A regrouping seemed imminent, although Johannink, Cavagna and Hessmann struggled on for a while, but were caught one by one.
With the last escapees caught, the big guns prepared themselves for the last 60 kilometres of battle. The pace increased, led by EF Education-EasyPost for Ben Healy. The peloton had already been thinned out on the Loorberg. But it was only on the steep sections of the Gulperberg that the race completely split apart, mostly because of Julian Alaphilippe. The Frenchman hasn’t had a great season so far, but the former double World champion attacked on the Gulperberg in his old style. Only Pogačar was able to react, the other favourites had to pass. Alaphilippe and Pogačar then rode to the Kruisberg, where the current World champion felt it was his time to go. Alaphilippe had nothing and so Pogačar started his solo. The Slovenian increased his lead to over 30 seconds on the road to the Keutenberg. In the chasing group, it was up to Ilan Van Wilder to keep the difference within limits for his leader Remco Evenepoel, but was this the winning move by Pogačar? Evenepoel didn’t give up and pushed hard on the Keutenberg. The Belgian couldn’t shaking off the competition and saw Mattias Skjelmose jump away just after the top. The Dane went in search of Pogačar on his own, but was soon joined by Evenepoel and the two started to hunt down the solo Slovenian. The Belgian and the Dane worked well together and managed to nibble away at the deficit. From over 30 seconds, they pulled back to just 15 seconds at the start of the final lap.
Pogačar looked to manage his efforts well and took some time on the Geulhemmerberg. He managed to extend his lead to over 20 seconds, but he couldn’t count his chickens too soon and be certain of victory. In the next flatter kilometres, Evenepoel and Skjelmose came dangerously close again. When turning onto the Bemelerberg, the difference was only 8 seconds. The two pursuers managed to bridge the last gap after the Bemelerberg. Evenepoel immediately went full gas. Pogačar had to pull out all the stops to catch him, but he managed and so we could prepare for a final fight between Evenepoel, Pogačar and Skjelmose on the Cauberg for the last time. On the final climb of the day, the three held each other and the expected attacks didn’t come. A sprint would decide the winner. Evenepoel was the first to start, but couldn’t maintain his effort and was passed by Pogačar in the last metres, but the Slovenian didn’t have it either. It was Skjelmose who had a little more speed coming off the wheel. The Dane managed to beat the two top riders to take the biggest victory of his career. A disappointed Pogačar was second, the equally unhappy Evenepoel had to settle for third place. The sprint of the chasers was won by Wout van Aert, who came fourth, ahead of Michael Matthews.
# You can see more photos in the full ‘PEZ Race Report’ HERE. #
Race winner, Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek): “I was completely done. I kept telling Remco that I was empty and that he had to ride on the climbs. I was really at my limit and mainly rode for a podium place, because that is already a good result for me. I wanted to keep the group going and sprint for the best result. I actually expected to get cramp or come to a standstill. I tried to get a gap on the right side of the road, because the wind was coming from the left, but Evenepoel and Pogačar also went right, so I had to go left. I really have no idea what happened. This means a lot. I have had a lot of bad luck this season, it was mentally super tough. Just over a month ago I also lost my grandfather. I wanted to give the win to him.”
2nd, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates XRG): “It was a really nice race, it was a really good race from us but in the end, the line was 5m too long and [we accept] second place. When me and [Julian] Alaphilippe went, I was hoping that he would stay longer with me together, and that we could go long. But maybe we were too enthusiastic in that first attack and since then, I tried to commit alone. Once Remco [Evenepoel] joined [Mattias] Skjelmose, they were two and in the last 50km it was a really strong headwind, so I couldn’t make the gap bigger. I decided to wait for them and try to beat them in the sprint, but it was a little bit of a gamble. I knew that on the climbs they would come closer, so I tried to accelerate always on the top and on the bottom, but at 15km to go, it was a little bit downhill and a super strong headwind. This is where I paid the most for all the efforts before and they could roll through with two, and gain some time there. I was expecting [Evenepoel] to be so strong and he showed everybody again that he is in top shape. In the end, Skjelmose was the strongest today in the final sprint.”
3rd, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step): “Overall, it was a good day, although not everything was perfect. Coming back after the crash cost me some important energy today, because at one point I was more than two minutes behind. It’s a pity I had that bad luck, as without it I think the outcome and the result would have been different, especially as I felt really good at the start. On the other hand, I can be happy with the way I fought and came back, this is good for my morale ahead of next week. In the sprint there was some headwind and maybe I should have waited a bit more before launching my effort, but it’s something from which I’ll learn. I’m content with the fact I am on the podium in my first Amstel Gold Race and motivated for the next races.”
4th, Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike): “It was a really tough race. The pace was really high all day. When the race exploded, half the peloton had already been dropped. In the final, the riders were really everywhere. I had a good feeling along the way. I rode a good race again today and got the most out of it. I am satisfied with this result, but it is a shame that I missed Remco’s (Evenepoel) move. He was of course super strong, but I made a mistake in my judgment at that moment. I did not realise enough that we were still riding for the win. In the zone of the Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg and Keutenberg I knew that it was important to survive. I was on the limit a few times. Maybe that is why I didn’t have the overview for a while and didn’t realise that Pogačar was not yet that far ahead of us. I am a bit disappointed about that, but on the other hand I have to be satisfied. I am very happy with how I have been the last few weeks have ridden. A victory is missing, but I am happy with my level. I may put my bike aside for three days, but then I will already be looking ahead to the Giro.”
6th, Louis Barré (Intermarché-Wanty): “I knew the parcours suited me well, however, I didn’t really know what to expect from this Amstel Gold Race as last week I had to leave Itzulia Basque Country because of sickness. But in the end I felt super good and I managed to position well all day. This is what made the difference to follow the best in the final, except for the three riders who were above the rest. I maybe had the legs to follow Remco Evenepoel when he bridged to the front of the race, but it was a tactical phase with a lot of accelerations and it was difficult to know which one would be decisive. With the headwind in the final straight, the sprint for fourth place was launched late. It was an effort of only 20 seconds. I should have started the sprint earlier. But when I read the names in front of me, I can be satisfied with this sixth place. I am very happy to improve my best result in a World Tour classic.”
12th, Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek): “The moment Mattias attacked on the Keutenberg, I could already see that he was incredibly strong. Mattias is an incredibly cool guy who is 100% committed to his profession. I think everyone in the peloton wants him to win this. I was a bit too far when he attacked. I really thought that was a shame at the time, because I still had really good legs. It’s not that I surprised myself. I was a bit drained in the last ten kilometres. I could still ride fast, but the punch was gone. I felt that on the last pass over the Cauberg. I am satisfied with my performance, it was good. I really enjoyed myself. And I think I will be better in the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday.”
Amstel Gold Race Result:
1. Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Lidl-Trek in 5:49:58
2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Emirates XRG
3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
4. Wout van Aert (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:34
5. Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco AlUla
6. Louis Barré (Fra) Intermarché-Wanty
7. Romain Gregoire (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
8. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
9. Tom Pidcock (GB) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
10. Ben Healy (Irl) EF Education-EasyPost.
Amstel’25:
Amstel Gold Race – Ladies 2025
Mischa Bredewold won the Amstel Gold Race for Ladies. The Dutch rider of SD Worx-Protime was with a large leading group that surprised the favourites. Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) were second and third.
After last year’s changed Amstel Gold Race, due to an accident on the route, this year’s Amstel Gold Race for Ladies Edition of 157 kilometres was on a more ‘normal’ route. The women had an early start, just before 10am in Maastricht. Last year’s winner, Marianne Vos, was back again and was one of favourites, as was Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering.
There were a few difficult climbs in the early part of the race. The first serious attack came after around half an hour from Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Fenix-Deceuninck). On the Maasberg, Solbjørk Minke (Uno-X Mobility), Gladys Verhulst-Wild (AG Insurance-Soudal), Marine Allione (Winspace Orange Seal), Manon de Boer (DD Group), Vera Tieleman (DD Group), Maud Rijnbeek (VolkerWessels), Allison Mrugal (Cynisca Cycling) and Nadia Quagliotto (Cofidis) joined the ex World cyclocross champion. Despite a few counter-attacks, the break of the day had already taken off. But that didn’t end the chaos of the opening part of the race. Not long after, top favourite Demi Vollering crashed, but the Dutch rider was able to continue.
The break of eight took a 2 minutes lead, but the peloton never gave up, so the escape was caught after two hours of racing, at the start of the four local laps, with the Cauberg as main difficulty. The peloton split into several bits, but it was only on the second time up the Cauberg, with about 55 kilometres to go, then the differences became bigger. The big favourites; Vollering, Kopecky, Vos and Elisa Longo Borghini had missed the move. Although, they all had teammates off front: FDJ-SUEZ had Juliette Labous and Amber Kraak, SD Worx-Protime had Blanka Vas, Mischa Bredewold and European champion Lorena Wiebes. Visma | Lease a Bike had Marion Brunel and Femke de Vries in the leading group, while Lidl-Trek had Anna Henderson and Ellen van Dijk. The presence of Ashleigh Moolman (AG Insurance-Soudal), Puck Pieterse and Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck), Brodie Chapman and Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) and Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatly) was also interesting. Marianne Vos tried to jump across on her own, but the group of 25 was not waiting for anyone else. Before the favourites could do anything, the gap to the peloton had grown to 1:30. The ‘Big Four’ were trapped by the presence of their teammates up front. FDJ-SUEZ tried for a while, but the initiative in the chase had to come mainly from Movistar for Liane Lippert and EF Education First-Oatly. This was to no avail and at the start of the final lap, the difference was almost 2 minutes.
Juliette Labous saw her moment come on the penultimate time on the Cauberg to thin out the large leading group. The French champion was followed by Puck Pieterse, but they were unable to build up a gap. On the Geulhemmerberg, it was those two who tried again. This time they were successful because top riders were in trouble, only Persico could make the jump to the two. The Dutch pair of Van Dijk and Bredewold kept fighting and came back to the three leaders with 12 kilometres to go. Bredewold took advantage of the situation to catch her breath. Then with 5 kilometres to go, no one could react to an attack from Ellen van Dijk. Bredewold was the only one who could jump and the two previously dropped riders were now ahead going towards the Cauberg. With an 8 second lead, the two reached the important climb, after which Bredewold dropped her escape companion. Behind them, Labous was the strongest on the first steep slopes of the Cauberg, but Pieterse also came through towards the top. Together they did reach Van Dijk, but Bredewold had to keep fighting for a few metres lead to the final kilometre. The pursuers started to doubt in the last 500 metres. Bredewold was able to ride to her first top Classic win without any problems. She was European champion in 2023.
# You can see more photos in the full ‘PEZ Race Report’ HERE. #
Race winner, Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime): “I really didn’t expect this. I was waiting for the moment that everything would fall into place. I’ve had a tough week mentally, but the team really managed to cheer me up and guide me through this difficult period. I’m so incredibly happy for the riders and staff. They know me so well. I have no idea… Top-level sport is not easy. It can be very challenging and tough at times. You put so much time and energy into it and then it just doesn’t work out. That feels unfair, even though it doesn’t work that way. It’s hard to win races. You need a team to win and that was the case today. The focus was on Lotte, but we always race as a team: creating opportunities and then seizing them. I was really struggling in the leading group, but suddenly it clicked. At one point Puck (Pieterse) and Juliette (Labous) took off. I just couldn’t follow, but Ellen (Van Dijk) then went on the counter-attack. I was able to keep up and we were able to close the gap again. I actually hate the Cauberg, but I had to go all out. This victory is so incredibly important to me. Fuck, this is the Amstel. It’s such a big race. This is really a fucking dream!”
2nd, Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek): “I never expected it. I am happy with my way of racing, but when you are riding for the win as a group, you also want to win. It was a great opportunity, because I was disappointed after Paris-Roubaix. I had put everything on it, and my form was good, but that didn’t work out last week. I have had a difficult week behind me, so finishing second is nice. The course doesn’t suit me, I am not good on short steep climbs, but a great situation arose with a large group. I tried to ride away from there a few times, that created a better situation. In the end, I can be happy and satisfied that I was in contentment for the win. Of course you hope for that, but everyone knows how difficult that is. Today I was close, my form was good, but I was unable to convert that into a win. I am going home first, to my son, and then Liège and the Vuelta, so there is still plenty to look forward to.”
3rd, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck):
Break rider, Marine Allione (Winspace Orange Seal): “I felt better than at the Brabantse Pijl. I had lost a bit of confidence, and today really gave me a mental boost. The plan was to get into the breakaway, and I fought for it right from the start. It felt great to be at the front today, it was a big race with a lot of fans along the roads. We knew we would be caught, but it’s always good to be one step ahead.”
Amstel Gold Race – Ladies Result:
1. Mischa Bredewold (Ned) SD Worx-Protime in 4:03:03
2. Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Lidl-Trek at 0:07
3. Puck Pieterse (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck
4. Juliette (Fra) Labous FDJ-SUEZ
5. Silvia Persico (Ita) UAE Team ADQ at 0:09
6. Lorena Wiebes (Ned) SD Worx-Protime at 1:26
7. Alison Jackson (Can) EF Education-Oatly
8. Anna Henderson (GB) Lidl-Trek
9. Quinty Ton (Ned) Liv AlUla Jayco
10. Mara Roldan (Can) Team Picnic PostNL.
Amstel’25:
Brabantse Pijl 2025
Remco Evenepoel has won his first race back in the peloton after his crash early in the year. The Belgian won the Brabantse Pijl on Friday for his Soudal Quick-Step team. He beat Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) in a the final sprint. Antonio Morgado (UAE Emirates XRG) was the best of the peloton to take third place.
Tom Pidcock, Wout van Aert and a recovered Remco Evenepoel were the stars on the start line of Friday’s Brabantse Pijl. The adjustment to the calendar from Wednesday to Friday for the Amstel Gold Race seems to have worked out well. The final of the race over the Moskestraat, Holstheide and S-Bocht in Overijse was the same as in previous years.
A group of six escaped early in the race: Tuur Dens (Flanders-Baloise), Jens Reynders (Wagner-Bazin), Joren Bloem (Unibet Tietema Rockets), Ådne Holter (Uno-X Mobility), Iúri Leitão (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Antonio Jesús Soto (Equipo Kern Pharma), but they never got much of an advantage. There were several counter-attacks from the peloton and the pace was increased considerably the first time up Moskestraat by Van Aert and Visma | Lease a Bike. With 50 kilometres to go, it was Evenepoel who attacked on the Holstheide. That turned out to be more than just a test, the early break was caught and only a handful of riders were able to follow the double Olympic champion. After another acceleration by Evenepoel, it was only Van Aert who could hold him. Joseph Blackmore (IPT) did manage to stay with the two top Belgians.
There was a chasing group including Tom Pidcock, Tibor Del Grosso, Tiesj Benoot and Jonathan Narvaez. The collaboration was not good, which meant that the three at the front soon had 30 seconds. At the start of the penultimate lap, a regrouping occurred behind the leaders, the chasing group was swallowed up by the peloton. This all happened more than 50 seconds behind the leaders. On the penultimate lap, it was Alpecin-Deceuninck who took on the responsibility in the chase. Their high pace on the penultimate passage over the S-bend and the finish line ensured that the lead fluctuated around half a minute when the bell was rang for the last lap.
The lead decreased and Evenepoel attacked on the Hertstraat. He dropped Blackmore, but Van Aert was able to follow. Their lead over the peloton also increased further while Blackmore was caught by the peloton 10 kilometres from the finish. In the peloton, Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost) tried to jump early for third place. The Frenchman had Andreas Leknessund with him, but they were caught before the finish. At the front, Van Aert started to gamble with 2 kilometres to go, but you could see he was struggling in the final lap. The lead went to 1 minute and the Visma | Lease a Bike rider decided not to work. In the last few hundred metres, Evenepoel was the first to jump, although Van Aert was immediately in the wheel of the younger Belgian. Van Aert couldn’t get past him. Antonio Morgado won the sprint from the chasing peloton for the last place on the podium.
Race winner, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step): “It’s incredible! I knew in the last days that my form was pretty good, but to race from so far away and power to victory on a hard course that doesn’t suit me 100%, is something really amazing! It was a hard race, and despite the effort, I trusted my sprint. Opening my season with a victory is fantastic. I really needed this race to find some answers to all the questions I had, and now I feel a big relief. Winning this race, in a sprint against Wout, gives me a lot of confidence for the next appointments. During the race I felt that the legs were pretty good, so I decided to attack and we opened a gap. It made us believe in our chances, and we kept going until it was just me and Wout in the closing kilometre. I felt that I was strong in the finale and gave my best there. It was a perfect day for us and it brought me a lot of satisfaction.”
2nd, Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike): “Of course, I was hoping for more today, but I have to admit that Remco was the strongest rider out there. The situation looked really good, but after such an intense race, I just didn’t have the punch left in my legs for the sprint. In the final hour, Remco really put me under pressure a few times, and I gradually wore down.The race opened up early. After that first acceleration on the Moskesstraat, the peloton was already heavily thinned out. That surprised me. In hindsight, it would have been better for me to go into the final with a larger group. Everyone knows how tough it is to be in the lead with someone like Remco. It’s a shame I couldn’t finish it off, but I’m not too disappointed.”
3rd, Antonio Morgado (UAE Emirates XRG): “I had a good preparation this year and I felt good, but I got the flu after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. In total I was off the bike for nine days, which meant my spring was over. I am therefore very happy with this result and I notice that my form is improving.”
Tom Pidcock (Q36.5): “I think the first lap is the place to make a race. Everyone has enough teammates there to make the race hard and let it break. I just lacked a bit of explosiveness. I felt good, but when it went really hard, I started to have a hard time. It’s often the case that I struggle in my first race. I can’t come back like Remco. But yes, I can be happy. There’s just work to be done.”
Brabantse Pijl Result:
1. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step in 3:35:14
2. Wout van Aert (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
3. Tomás António Morgado (Por) UAE Emirates XRG at 0:27
4. Alex Aranburu Deba (Spa) Cofidis
5. Eduard Prades Reverte (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
6. Fabio Christen (Sui) Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
7. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-EasyPost
8. Guillermo Thomas Silva Coussan (Uru) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
9. Milan Menten (Bel) Lotto
10. Tibor Del Grosso (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck.
Brabantse’25:
Remco Evenepoel Draws Strength from Islam
Remco Evenepoel has had a particularly difficult period. But during his long rehabilitation, the double Olympic champion did find support from the faith. More specifically: with Islam. He told WielerFlits, during a press meeting prior to his comeback in the Brabantse Pijl.
Earlier this week, Evenepoel wrote on Instagram that he had prayed a lot during his rehabilitation. He did so in praise of his wife Oumi Rayane, who unconditionally supported him during rehabilitation. “How to get through difficult periods, how to focus, how to be happy in difficult times. We have prayed a lot together and will continue to do so. That’s also something great that you taught me. It’s great to share that with you.”
Now Evenepoel was asked what exactly faith meant to him. “Last year I discovered the faith. It is something I share with Oumi and of which we are proud,” replied the Belgian. “I think everyone should have their own relationship with faith. It is what gives me a foothold, something that helps me through life. It’s something beautiful. Is it Islam? Yes, it is Islam.”
Evenepoel has faith:
Marianne Vos Extends Contract with Visma | Lease a Bike Until the End of her Career
Marianne Vos has extended her contract with Team Visma | Lease a Bike until the end of her professional career. The multiple world champion and cycling icon will continue her partnership with the team, with whom she has achieved impressive successes over the past few years.
Since the formation of Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women in 2021 – with Vos as one of the team’s leading figures – she has won stages in the Giro Donne, Vuelta, and Tour de France Femmes, where she claimed the green jersey in 2024. She also won the Amstel Gold Race, secured world titles on the road, in cyclocross and gravel, and earned Olympic silver in Paris. In 2024, Vos added her 250th professional victory to her already remarkable career, proving that her hunger for victories remains as strong as ever.
Vos looks ahead to the future with great confidence and excitement: “Team Visma | Lease a Bike feels like home to me – a place where I can be myself and where I can work every day with pleasure and motivation. I am grateful for the trust and support I receive here. Always pushing myself to the limit is still what I love to do the most. And in the coming years, I will do this with great joy in yellow and black. That’s why I’m happy that we are continuing together with a commitment that has no end date.”
Richard Plugge, CEO of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, sees the extension of Vos’ contract as a significant asset to the team: “Marianne is not only an exceptional champion, but also a role model for the entire team. Her drive to improve every day and her desire to continue developing herself perfectly align with who we are as a team. I am incredibly happy that she will remain part of the team until the end of her active career and continue building our story.”
Dillier Escaped Serious Injuries after Hard Crash with Mechanic
Despite the victory of his teammate Mathieu van der Poel, Silvan Dillier will not look back on Paris-Roubaix with much pleasure. The Swiss rider crashed hard on the 26th cobbled section, after a collision with a Visma | Lease a Bike mechanic.
On the Vertain à Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon, the 26th cobblestone section of the day, the mechanic of the Visma | Lease a Bike team had to help Edoardo Affini. The Italian rider had a mechanical problems and had to wait for a new bike. His mechanic gave him his bike, after which Affini was able to continue. The mechanic then went to put Affini’s bike on the roof-rack of the team car, but Silvan Dillier hit him at full speed. There was an unavoidable collision. The mechanic escaped unscathed, but Dillier suffered a serious hand injury and had to abandon the race.
The mechanic has since apologised for the incident. “It is very unfortunate that this happened in the hectic Paris-Roubaix”, HLN quotes the Dutch team. “Safety in the peloton is always a priority for us. We hope that Dillier recovers quickly.”
Silvan Dillier has also spoken via social media. The Swiss rider didn’t sustain any serious injuries from his collision with the mechanic: “Many people have seen the images of my crash. It looked very dramatic and there was speculation about a broken hand and finger. I am happy to tell you that I didn’t break anything. I feel good. In a chaotic race like Paris-Roubaix, I can count myself lucky that it stayed that way. I also appreciate the sincere apologies from the mechanic of Visma | Lease a Bike. I want to thank you all for the support and kind messages.”
No broken bones for Dillier:
Benoît Cosnefroy’s Return is Still a Long Way Off
Benoît Cosnefroy has not yet ridden a race this season. The Frenchman struggled with a knee injury before the start of the season and underwent surgery and had to postpone his first race. Three months later and Cosnefroy doesn’t seem fit in time for the hilly Classics. The 29-year-old puncher is not part of the final selection of his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team for the Limburg Classic. Cosnefroy is normally the leader of the team for the hilly classics.
Three years ago he came close to winning the Amstel Gold Race. Cosnefroy was certain of victory for a while, but the photo finish showed Michal Kwiatkowski as the winner. Last season, the explosive Frenchman was the strongest in the Brabantse Pijl and was fourth in Flèche Wallonne. Cosnefroy will have to pass on these Classics this year. It is still unclear when he will be able to race for the first time this season. Decathlon AG2R was counting on Dorian Godon in the Amstel Gold Race. French champion, Paul Lapeira, fifth last year, is also currently out with a knee injury.
No hilly Classics for Cosnefroy in 2025:
Bernard Hinault Knows Why Many Young Cyclists Struggle with Mental Problems
Bernard Hinault is not surprised by the increasing number of cyclists in the professional peloton who struggle with mental problems. According to the five-time winner of the Tour de France, a great deal of responsibility lies with the team managers, he told l’Equipe.
“Team managers have forgotten one thing and that is that cyclists are only human. They put too much pressure on the cyclists and they are governed by their data. I have never experienced much pressure and yet I have performed, right? Are cyclists allowed to have a life these days, I wonder”, said Hinault. “The race must remain a game, just as life must remain a game. That is the only way to stay happy.”
Incidentally, Hinault does see that game in Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel. The Frenchman is lyrical about them. “Pogačar comes closest to how Eddy Merckx dared to race, how I sometimes did it. With him, it is racing without looking back too much. How beautiful is that? Without that crash, we would have had a brilliant finale in Paris-Roubaix last Sunday, for sure. They would have ridden until one of them had to drop out.”
“For those who love cycling, it is a dream to see those guys compete against each other,” the Frenchman concluded. “How they hugged each other afterwards on the track in Roubaix, that is what sport should be. On the bike you give each other a good beating, once off the bike there has to be respect. They accept that they are beaten, they acknowledge that they cannot always be the best and that sometimes someone is better.”
Hinault understands:
Shari Bossuyt Signs with a WorldTeam After a Two-Year Doping Suspension
There is light at the end of the tunnel for Shari Bossuyt. The 24-year-old Belgian tested positive in March 2023 after winning the third stage of the Tour of Normandy and was suspended for two years after a protracted doping case. Her suspension expires in June and she has already signed a contract with a new team.
AG Insurance-Soudal is giving Bossuyt a second chance in the professional peloton. The road and track cyclist will train with the team again from 15 April, with a view to returning to competition from mid-June.
“After thorough consultation with our performance staff and after several conversations with Shari and her management, the team has decided to support Shari in rebuilding her career,” CEO Jurgen Foré said in a press release. “Shari is determined to show what she is capable of and is extremely motivated to race with the team. We believe that she has a bright future ahead of her and that our team is the right environment to make that future come true.”
Bossuyt agrees and is of course over the moon: “This is a new beginning and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. I have missed the rhythm of racing, the feeling of being part of a team and the challenge. I am ready to give it my all.”
The rider has always maintained her innocence. “I have no idea how the product ended up in my body,” she said in Sportweekend at the end of 2023. “I have often thought: why me? Sometimes I also curse the fact that I won that stage in the Tour of Normandy. Otherwise I would not have had to go to the doping control.”
Shari Bossuyt is back:
Bahrain Victorious to the Tour of the Alps
The 48th edition of the Tour of the Alps (formerly the ‘Giro del Trentino’) gets underway on Monday, and Team Bahrain Victorious head to Italy with high hopes after clinching third overall last year. This year’s route covers 747km and includes over 16,000m of climbing, leading many to declare it as the toughest five days racing on the 2025 calendar.
The peloton will depart from San Lorenzo Dorsino on Monday morning, and arrive in Lienz – the capital of East Tyrol – on Friday afternoon, with each of the five stages having the potential to influence the final standings.
Antonio Tiberi finished third overall in 2024, ahead of winning the Youth Classification at the Giro d’Italia the following month. The Italian returns this year hoping for another good result, before the year’s first ‘Grand Tour’. As well as having ambitions for the race itself, Tiberi will be using the week as part of his final preparations for the upcoming Giro, and will have compatriot Damiano Caruso (returning to the race for the first time since 2017 and himself a former runner up at the 2021 Giro), alongside him for every pedal stroke.
Gorazd Štangelj will be lead Sports Director for both TotA and the Giro. “We will have Antonio as our number 1; he is the clear leader. This race will be like a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the Giro d’Italia, in terms of the riders’ roles. So Antonio is the leader, with Damiano as his shadow, and of course as road captain – one of the best there is with that responsibility. Last year we finished on the podium, and we want to be there again. It would be evidence that we are on the right track ahead of the Giro, and give us confidence looking forward.”
The challenging terrain starts from the opening stage, a loop of 148km starting and finishing in the UNESCO World Biodiversity heritage site of San Lorenzo Dorsino. Along the way the riders will face the first category Campo Carlo Magno (14.4km at 6.2%) before the Passo del Durone (6.3km at 8.0%) and a short but explosive uphill finish.
Tuesday begins with 18km of flat road from Mezzolombardo in Trentino, before the Cat 1 Petersberg/Monte San Pietro (19.1km at 6.1%). At first glance the parcours appears less testing than other days, but in fact there are more uphill metres in the 178km than on any other stage (4337m). Before the flat finish is a local circuit in which the bunch twice go over the Obertelfes/Telves di Sopra, which will drastically reduce the group of potential victors in Sterzing.
With so much ascending on the cards, mountain support for Tiberi is going to be crucial. As well as Caruso there will be a dynamic duo of young talent to help the 23 year old.
Štangelj gives more detail:
“The always-smiling Afonso [Eulálio] will be mountain support and will also have some other jobs too. He is learning fast, getting better all the time, but there is still much to improve so this is another race to form part of the learning process for him He is very happy to be here supporting the team and Antonio. Also with us is Kasper Borremans from the Bahrain Victorious Development Team. He will be very motivated to be in the race, and is a climber, so we will use him a lot. He is with the team for the future so being here will help his development as a rider, and the Tour of the Alps is a great first race to start your professional career.”
Following a tough opening two days, stage 3 provides little respite, although there are only two categorised climbs on the 145.5km between Sterzing and Innichen, with the last coming 10km from the finish line. Unusually the profile does feature some flatter sections, on which the team will have to be on their guard and position Antonio safely. That task will be taken on by two 22 year olds: Croatian Fran Miholjevič and Brit Finlay Pickering, who is returning to the race in which he had a very serious crash last year. Štangelj believes both have important roles to play:
“Then we have Fran, whose shape is improving all the time coming back from injury, and we are very happy he’s back and is here with us. He will be vital support on the flat and on some of the initial climbs. Of course he’s not a climber so we can’t expect him to be there in the high mountains, but he can help protect his teammates deep in the race. Finlay can do the same. If we need to close gaps, if we want men in the breakaway, or if we need to control the break, Finlay will be the guy.”
The hardest stage of the week is expected to be the fourth. On leaving the Austrian town of Sillian, the ascending starts immediately, to Lago di Misurnia, which peaks at 1,755m.
There are then several steep climbs on the way to the finish in Obertilliach, the last of which (Kartitscher Sattel) crests with just seven of the 162km remaining. The conclusion of the ‘Queen Stage’ is a series of ramps (4.6 km at 8.4% and 7.6 km at 5.9%) and a challenging last kilometre at 5%.
A difficult week will conclude with a short but extremely demanding loop around Lienz.
The climbs within the 112km are not long, but all with double digit gradients, and end 10km from the line with the first category Stronach (3.1km at 12.6%).
This year’s Tour of the Alps once again promises a genuine test of form ahead of the year’s first Grand Tour next month. There will be some big names taking to the start, but Štangelj is looking forward to what is always a hard-fought week of racing.
“There are some good riders on the start-list, we should say that. The list of GC contenders is quite strong; probably not quite as strong as it will be at the Giro but still a high level. This race is always very open, and with some of the smaller teams there looking for opportunities, the bigger teams have a lot of responsibility. We will have to work hard to support Antonio and not take any risks regarding the result. We want to come away with good feelings before the Giro d’Italia, and confirmation that we are on course in our preparations for the Giro.”
A Tough Test Awaits Team Polti VisitMalta on the Alps of the Euregio
As Team Polti VisitMalta continues its build-up to the Giro d’Italia, a very demanding race kicks off tomorrow: the Tour of the Alps. For five days, it will lead riders and fans through the heart of the Euregio — the mountain area comprising Trentino, Südtirol and Tyrol — testing some of the best climbers in the world against a backdrop of stunning alpine landscapes.
The opening stage will be relatively soft — though it already includes a climb above 1500 metres — while stage 2 is the longest and features 3750 metres of elevation gain. The following day could favour breakaways, then stage 4 is the queen stage, crossing borders from Italy into Austria: from lake Misurina to the Kartitsch saddle, the peloton will face six climbs and a final uphill kilometre at 5%. The final showdown for the overall win will take place on Friday, with two ascents of the Bannberg and the Stronach wall.
Polti VisitMalta lines up with Davide Piganzoli as leader, supported by the Bais brothers, Alex Martín, Andrea Pietrobon, Fran Muñoz and Samuele Zoccarato.
Martín: “After doing my part in the Giro d’Abruzzo, I’m ready to go again in what will be my second Tour of the Alps. It’s a prestigious event and the level of the start-list reflects that, but I’m feeling really good and ready to give everything for the squad’s plan.”
Sports director Stefano Zanatta: “Last year Piganzoli finished 10th in the GC and Mattia Bais fought for the KOM jersey. This year both of them are coming straight from an altitude camp on Mount Teide, as their teammates have raced competitively in recent weeks. It’s a solid group that can make its mark and get results.”
Polti VisitMalta to the Alps:
Pepijn Reinderink Injured in the Amstel Gold Race
Pepijn Reinderink suffered a broken left collarbone after crashing Sunday afternoon in Amstel Gold Race, the first of the three Ardennes Classics. The 22-year-old Dutchman, who was riding his home race for the second time in his career, was immediately taken to the hospital in Heerlen, where the scans revealed the fracture, which will be operated on this evening.
Everybody at Soudal Quick-Step wishes Pepijn a speedy recovery.
MX3, Market Leader in Saliva Hydration Testing, Becomes Movistar Team’s new Technical Partner
The MX3 hydration testing system uses a single device to perform two different real-time tests, indicating how much fluid you should drink and which type of liquid will best replenish the electrolytes lost during exercise.
Movistar Team’s performance staff will have access to the most advanced and fastest tool for monitoring riders’ hydration levels. By leveraging MX3’s portable and non-invasive laboratory, along with its user-friendly mobile app, this simple device will provide crucial data—not only to prevent dehydration and injuries but also to enhance performance.
MX3’s groundbreaking technology features a handheld portable lab, test strips, and a smart application to seamlessly measure, track, and assess hydration status. This technology allows for a deeper understanding of a cyclist’s physiological needs, ensuring precise monitoring and tracking of hydration levels.
Hydration is essential for athletic performance with even 1-2% losses in bodyweight leading to reduced physical performance. Hydration demands for professional cycling are some of the greatest of any sport.
The MX3 Lab Pro will enable Movistar men’s and women’s teams to track and monitor hydration status through the revolutionary saliva-based hydration testing in addition to providing lab-accurate assessment of sweat sodium profiling to enable coaches to develop personalise electrolyte replacement for the athletes.
As part of our innovation strategy, MX3 will be soon releasing the first ever non-invasive saliva-based lactate test strip for assessment of aerobic capacity with accuracy equivalent to blood-based lactate meters as well as a saliva-based ketone test strip, for use in both dieting as well as endurance sports. These strips will be compatible with the MX3 Lab Pro, helping us to realise the vision of a “Lab in the Palm of your Hand”.
For the first time, truly accurate hydration analysis and monitoring are now possible.
Gursharan Chana (Chief Scientist MX3): “MX3 is changing what’s possible for personalised monitoring of biomarkers related to performance and health and wellbeing by enabling rapid, lab-accurate point-of-care testing that is convenient and affordable.”
Juan Pablo Molinero (CMO Movistar Team): “We are very excited about this partnership. Optimal hydration is essential for our riders’ performance, and thanks to our agreement with MX3, we will be able to regularly monitor hydration levels to ensure the body is always ready to perform at its best.”
Eschborn-Frankfurt: A Cult Classic
A German Victory After Six Years?
This year’s Eschborn-Frankfurt carries the motto “Home Victory” for the German riders. The last German to win was Pascal Ackermann (Israel – Premier Tech), who took the title in 2019. He has been selected again, along with Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) and Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal Quick- Step). While John Degenkolb is sidelined with injury, Jonas Rutsch will be flying the flag for Hesse. He starts with his new team, Intermarché-Wanty, alongside Georg Zimmermann, who benefitted two years ago from the debut of the double Feldberg ascent.
This revised course profile presents a real challenge for pure sprinters. In addition to Ackermann, only a few classic sprinters are on the provisional list, including Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl-Trek) and Max Kanter (XDS Astana). Yet the race profile could play into the hands of classics specialists such as Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), Tobias Lund Andresen (Team Picnic PostNL), and Michael Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla), all of whom prefer a tougher lead-up to the finish. Riders known for their finishing speed from smaller groups also include Marius Mayrhofer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility), and Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), who already demonstrated his affinity for Frankfurt by finishing second last year.
“In the second year of the double Feldberg ascent, teams are adjusting and bringing fewer pure sprinters,” says Fabian Wegmann, Eschborn-Frankfurt’s Race Director. “The strength of this event points more toward an Ardennes Classic style of race.”
International Climbing Champions Take on the Taunus Hills
The Ardennes Classics will have just wrapped up by May 1st, and many riders will bring top form from the Belgian hills into the Taunus. Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), a former world champion, brings his star power to the start line — it will be the Frenchman’s debut at Eschborn-Frankfurt. Other big names like Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates – XRG), Ben Healy (EF Education – EasyPost), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious), and Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) — who recently opened his season with a win — promise an aggressive and animated edition of the race.
Nys’ team also has another ace up its sleeve with Sören Kragh Andersen, the 2023 winner. UAE’s line-up includes Antonio Morgado, while Uno-X brings Andreas Leknessund and Tobias Halland Johannessen — all potential contenders on race day.
Eschborn-Frankfurt will be contested over 198.7 kilometres. At the heart of the race is a challenging climbing section that features two ascents of the Großer Feldberg and three passes over the steep Mammolshainer Stich — a key battleground for the top classics specialists to make their move toward victory.
Key points:
- Two weeks ahead of May 1st, the teams have announced their preliminary rider selections. A total of 14 UCI WorldTour teams and four of the top ProTeams are expected to line up for the German classic. Some of the biggest international names in the sport will clash with German sprinters and classics specialists.
- Leading the peloton is last year’s winner Maxim Van Gils. After a team transfer, the 25-year-old Belgian now rides for the only German team in the WorldTour, Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. Wearing race number 1, the team is aiming to secure a home victory in front of Frankfurt’s Alte Oper.
Vuelta Boss Hopes Tadej Pogačar with Start in 2025
Tadej Pogačar’s sights are currently set on the spring Classics, but after that the World champion will shift his focus to the Tour. The Slovenian is aiming for a fourth Tour victory in the summer, but might he start the 2025 Vuelta a España? According to Vuelta boss Javier Guillén, there is hope for this year. “Pogačar has not ruled out participation in the Vuelta a España yet,” Guillén said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo. “He has indicated that he will contest the Tour de France and the World championship, but has not said that the Vuelta is not an option.”
Guillén remains optimistic. “We continue to believe in him, given his ambition to fight and his will to achieve things. He wants to win the three Grand Tours, but I’m not going to rush him. Hopefully he’ll bite, otherwise we’ll wait another year. Cycling can be happy with a rider like Tadej.”
According to Pogačar’s team manager, Mauro Gianetti, it will depend on the rest of his season, recovery after the Tour and preparation for the World Championships in Rwanda. Pogačar himself indicated at the end of last year that he plans to ride two Grand Tours in 2025. The Tour de France was already a certainty at the time, but the Slovenian was still in doubt whether he would start in the Giro d’Italia or Vuelta a España. It has now become clear that the World champion will pass on the Italian Tour.
Pogačar at la Vuelta 2019:
Winner of Paris-Camembert Doesn’t get his Weight in Camembert Cheese
It was always believed that the winner of Paris-Camembert would get his weight in camembert. Now it turns out to be a big myth in the cycling world: The winner doesn’t get his weight in cheese. The organisers have no idea where the myth comes from. “That is also a mystery to us,” chairman Laurent Aubry told Sporza. “In the past, the winner did get a large box of camembert on the podium. But it was not filled with kilos of that cheese. It was filled with cider and two cubes of camembert.” Aubry can laugh about the fact that the entire cycling world has believed in the myth for decades. “To be honest, it also seems quite complex to me to pay the winner his weight in camembert. You really need a lot of cheese for that, and that wouldn’t be good for your figure either,” laughed the Frenchman.
Two weeks ago, Lander Loockx considered himself rich with his 70 kilos after his victory in the French semi-classic, but in the end had to make do with five boxes of camembert. “My mobile phone exploded after my victory. Not only with congratulations, but also with messages from people who wanted to reserve a piece of camembert. For days, people had been joking about it within the group, but it turns out to be a fable,” says Loockx.
A small consolation for the winner of the French race: Last Wednesday, Belgian radio organised a camembert party for Loockx before the Tour of Limburg.
Alejandro Valverde won in 2008:
Remco Evenepoel’s Road to Recovery
The Olympic Champion – fresh off an altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada – talked about the injury that has sidelined him since last December, his rehabilitation, and the excitement he has ahead of Brabantse Pijl, where he’ll pin on a number for the first time this season.
Watch the video now!
Barry Hoban Passed Away at the Age of 85
Former cyclist Barry Hoban died on Saturday evening at the age of 85. The Briton from Wakefield, who was living in Wales, was a successful professional cyclist between 1964 and 1980.
Hoban built up a solid record of achievements during that period, including eight stage wins in the Tour de France and two in the Vuelta. He started the Tour twelve times, but his greatest achievement was probably his win in Gent-Wevelgem in 1974, beating Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck. He is still the only British winner of the Classic.
Hoban married Tom Simpson’s widow Helen Sherburn two years after his death, and was the stepfather of Joanna Simpson.
RIP Barry:
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