The season is about to start with the Tour Down Under but first there was the Australian #BatChamps as well as some CX action. We also check in with some riders as to how they are preparing for the 2020 season. And Boonen in a bath of beans! plus BREAKING NEWS …
>stop press< Bernie says goodbye!
One of the most popular riders in the peloton and the #LadiesFavourite, Bernie Eisel, is hanging up his wheels. The announcement was done very low key but it does mean that there will be no riding off the front on the Champs to the cheers of the crowd as a farewell.
Of course, VeloVoices will be compiling our own tribute to Bernie in the coming days so #StayAlert
>resume scheduled content< Early #BatChamps
Absolutely love it when riders are anything but nonchalant at the finish line, when they don’t consider it just another day in the office.
I can’t say I ever thought about the Aussie parcours but Fabrizio has a very good point.
Meanwhile, over to the Dutch CX championships
The only surprise would be if someone were surprised by this result. MvdP continues his domination of, well, everything
He might have some stiff competition, however, once these birds get race fit.
Planning for a dream come true
Dreams need actions to come true – so who is dreaming of what this year?
Remco Evenepoel is Italy-bound for his first Grand Tour.
I bet Evenepoel isn’t the only QuickStepper who is going to feel the absence of PhilGil this season.
Jungels!! BOB JUNGELS!!! would make the season just that much more fun for me if he got his mojo back.
With Tom Dumoulin leaving Sunweb for Jumbo-Visma, it’ll be all eyes on Tiesj Benoot in his first Sunweb season. A VeloVoices favourite, it says on his team profile that his favourite race is Ronde van Vlaanderen. If the forecast is for rain this year, I’m going to #BetOnBenoot
Last season’s victories haven’t dulled Annemiek van Vleuten‘s appetite to put in the hard work so she can pick up where she left off …
If it’s January, it’s the usual ‘Richie Porte targetting TDU’ tweets. And the ‘never felt better’, ‘targeting the big races’, etc etc. Like clockwork. It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on once new teammate His Nibs gets racing this season. And of course last year’s Trek Sensation™ Giulio Ciccone who looks poised for superstardom.
Of course, Trek also has the World Champion, who not only is a great rider, but a very good son.
PhilGil looks like he’s definitely up for another season – the evergreen rider.
Vivz has a pretty fabulous-looking race schedule this season. How many times will we see that beautiful European Champs jersey cross the line first?
Vital Concept and Arkea-Samsic join Total Direct Energie as the three wildcards for Tour de France 2020.
There really isn’t anything quite like being at the side of the road at some of your favourite races. I still think about standing in the Forest of Arenberg … So here’s hoping we get some of Lois’s pictures so we can live vicariously!
If I could turn back time …
I just loved these photographs! (What with digital photos the norma now, will future generations have the joy of finding a treasure trove of old photographs?)
The Gruppetto
Stretch and bend and snap
I’ll just leave this here …
Really looking forward to Orla and team at the Grand Tours.
Mathias Norsgaard was hit by a car during training in December and the injuries to his legs sound horrific. All our hopes that his rehabilitation goes well.
One hell of a list …
‘Hello, is that the fashion police?’
Just me or does Michael Gogl look like he’s a gendarme in that kit? I wonder if I’m ever going to remember that NTT is the new name for Dimension Data (the team I kept calling Qhubeka last year …).
Tell us a story …