Welcome to your Daily News Digest. Here’s what’s happening today:
Bernal, Quintana, and Gaviria among stars named to Colombian worlds roster, Elissonde will join Trek-Segafredo next season, Vermeersch and Rochette take Jingle Cross C1 wins. Those stories and more in today’s Daily News Digest.
Story of the Day: Bernal, Quintana, Gaviria among Colombia’s starting eight for worlds
With less than two weeks remaining until the men’s road race at the Yorkshire world championships, it’s high time for national teams to finalize their rosters. Monday saw Colombia confirm some very big names for the road race.
Tour de France champion Egan Bernal is one of several climbing stars on the Colombian roster, which also includes Nairo Quintana, Esteban Chaves, and Daniel Martinez. Even with all that uphill firepower, however, it may be sprint headliner Fernando Gaviria that is most likely to shine in the lumpy circuit race.
Fernando Gaviria at Gent-Wevelgem. Photo: Tim van Wichelen/Cor Vos © 2019
Álvaro Hodeg may not have quite the resume of the aforementioned notables, but his fast finish and Classics prowess will make him a dark horse contender, while Sebastián Henao and Sebastián Molano will round out the roster.
Colombia is still seeking its first ever rainbow jersey in the men’s road race. Santiago Botero won the individual time trial crown in 2002, but the nation has yet to medal in the road race at worlds.
Update: Some hours later, it was reported that Bernal had communicated to the Colombian Cycling Federation his desire to skip the World Championships, ceding his place in the roster to Carlos Betancur.
Moving Pictures
The day after a Grand Tour finishes can be hard. What’s there to watch or talk about with your cycling friends? Hopefully, Velon’s on-board highlights from the final few stages of the Vuelta a España can stave off the withdrawal for at least a little while longer.
Race Radio
Belgium rounds out worlds selection
The Belgian national team announced last week that all three of Greg Van Avermaet, Philippe Gilbert, and Remco Evenepoel would line up at the Yorkshire world championships, and now the full squad has been unveiled.
Greg Van Avermaet wins the GP Montréal. Photo: Oran Kelly/Cor Vos © 2019
Beyond the aforementioned pair of veterans and rising star, Belgium will unsurprisingly have a few more big names that could very well contend for the victory in Oliver Naesen, Yves Lampaert, Dylan Teuns, and Tim Wellens. The reliable Tim Declercq rounds out the squad as perhaps the only rider for whom domestique duties come naturally.
With so many stars to choose from, Belgian selectors inevitably had to leave a few notables out. Jasper Stuyven, who claimed the overall win at the Deutschland Tour earlier this month, and Sep Vanmarcke, who took a WorldTour victory two weeks ago at the GP Ouest-France, were among the big names overlooked for the team despite their recent results.
France finalizes Yorkshire roster
France has also finalized its eight-rider selection for Yorkshire, built around Julian Alaphilippe.
The 27-year-old Frenchman, who has been one of the most successful riders in cycling this year, is currently among the top favorites for Worlds with bookmakers. The punchy Yorkshire circuit should suit the skillset of a rider whose results from this year alone include one-day victories at Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo, not to mention his impressive Tour de France performance.
Julian Alaphilippe on La Planche des Belles Filles at the Tour de France. Photo: ©kramon
French national selector Thomas Voeckler had already settled on Julien Bernard, Tony Gallopin, Christophe Laporte, Rémi Cavagna, Anthony Roux, and Florian Sénéchal to the French support squad for Worlds as of last week. Benoît Cosnefroy, who landed a top 10 at the GP Québec this weekend and tried an ultimately unsuccessful late escape at the GP Montréal alongside Alaphilippe, has received the nod for the eighth and final spot.
Elissonde to join Trek-Segafredo
Kenny Elissonde will head to Trek-Segafredo next season on a two-year deal. The 28-year-old Frenchman has spent the last three years with the Sky/Ineos organization after emerging as an up-and-coming talent with FDJ. He turned pro with the French squad back in 2012 and quickly established himself as a promising young rider with a stage win at the 2013 Vuelta a España at just 22 years old.
“I am really looking forward to coming to Trek-Segafredo and starting to work with new people and learning new things,” Elissonde said. “In the next years, I hope to return to my aggressive way of racing and shine again while doing my utmost for the leaders of the team.”
Ewan to race Six Day London
Caleb Ewan may make the most of his headlines on the road these days, but the former velodrome star is jumping back onto the track in October for his debut start at the Six Day London.
As Mark Cavendish pointed out on Twitter, Ewan will be one of several track-stars-turned-road-stars in attendance next month.
And to answer that question, by our count it’s 64 total Grand Tour stage wins between them (with Cavendish accounting for an incredible 48 of those). Not bad.
Vermeersch and Rochette take Jingle Cross C1 wins
A day after the World Cup opener in Iowa City, Jingle Cross concluded with Sunday’s C1 races.
Belgium’s Gianni Vermeersch took the victory in the men’s event, topping compatriots Vincent Baestaens and Jim Aernouts.
Maghalie Rochette, who won the first round of the World Cup on Saturday, doubled up on Sunday with another win. The 26-year-old Canadian bested Katerina Nash and Evie Richards to round out a strong weekend.
Morton finishes fourth at 3 Peaks Cyclo-cross
The latest chapter of EF Education First’s “alternative racing” calendar was Lachlan Morton’s debut start at the 3 Peaks Cyclo-cross this weekend. Among cycling’s first off-road events, the race traverses Yorkshire’s iconic Three Peaks: Whernside, Ingleborough, and Pen-y-ghent. Participants are required to use a ‘cross bike, and the tough course features several unrideable kilometers where dismounting and shouldering the bike are the only way forward.
Morton rode to a fourth-place finish in his first-ever start. Rob Jebb took the victory for the 12th time in his career, besting fellow multi-time winner Nick Craig.
Tech News
Music publisher group seeks $300 million from Peloton
Exercise bike juggernaut Peloton was already in hot water as of this March when the National Music Publishers’ Association filed a complaint seeking $150 million in damages for the use of unlicensed music in the company’s workout videos. Upon further review, the NMPA says Peloton is using more than 1,000 more unlicensed songs than originally thought.
As such, the group is now seeking $300 million in damages.
The Verge provides a rundown of the situation, with statements from both sides of the case.
In case you missed it …
16 stitches and a life of pain: Willie Smit is cycling’s toughest rider
Lower speeds, faster commutes: Melbourne’s cycling ‘green wave’ now permanent
Feature Image: Egan Bernal on the Col du Galibier at the 2019 Tour de France. Photo: ©kramon
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