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Hello everyone
The coronavirus has interrupted the racing schedule in 2020 (with almost everything else). Strade Bianche took position in the summer, Il Lombardia too, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix will take up position in the autumn – it is a bit strange and unsettling. But in the midst of all the chaos and uncertainty, it is smart to know that some traditions have remained in place; like the European national championships held the week before the Tour de France.
In recent days, we have noticed a large number of national champions crowned throughout Europe; some of them won gold for the time or for the third time, while others won the first pass in their country’s colors.
At today’s Daily News Digest, we’ll tell you the most productive effects of the national championship weekend. Be sure to keep an eye on the site for a more complete overview.
Have a week!
| Van der Poel and Van der Breggen win Dutch nationals
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) will wear the colours of the Dutch champion next year after the solo victory this weekend.
Van der Poel attacked in the steepest paved segment of the synthetic ascent “Col du VAM” at 44 km by the end, and rode alone in the line to win his national title en route. Moment by Nils Eekhoff (world-renowned DQ; Sunweb) at 1:31 while Timo Roosen (Jumbo-Visma) finished the podium at 3:08.
– Mihai Simion (O faustocoppi60) 23 August 2020
In the women’s race, Van der Breggen won her first road title, getting rid of the probably unbeatable Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott). Van der Breggen joined what has become a leading organization before winning solo. Van Vleuten tried to cross the bridge, but reached only the second, 1:19. Third third anouska Koster (Parkhotel Valkenburg) at 2:00 a.m.
| Demare and Cordon-Ragot win French titles
Arnaud Demare (FDJ) won his third name on the French road in a three-man race ahead of Bryan Coquard (B-B Hotels-Vital Concept) and Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) after withstanding several attacks by Alaphilippe in the last few kilometres. Demare, the favorite before the race, thanks to a Groupama-FDJ team of 17 people.
In the women’s race, Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo) earned a national first name in the emotional race en route the day after not having the time trial name for five seconds.
Cordon-Ragot attacked only five km from the finish line, moving away from an organization that had helped to decline in previous attacks. The 30-year-old on the line alone, 38 seconds ahead of Gladys Verhulst (Arkea) and Clara Copponi (FDJ).
– B-B HOTELS – VITAL CONCEPT P / B KTM (@BBHotels_VC) August 22, 2020
| Giacomo Nizzolo wins Italian race title
Giacomo Nizzolo (NTT) continued his strong 2020 season with a victory in the Italian road racing championships. The 31-year-old driver was part of an organization of thirteen runners who reorganized behind before running into the race.
Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-McLaren) opened the board, but it was Nizzolo who came first to the line, ahead of Davide Ballerini (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Colbrelli.
| Luis León Sanchez and Mavi García win Spanish titles
At the age of 36, Luis León Sánchez (Astana), despite everything, achieved his first victory en route in the Nationals this weekend. Jesús Herrada (Cofidis) attacked only on the last climb, four kilometers from the finish line, which led Sanchez to cross a bridge a short time later. Sanchez dropped Herrada at the last kilometer, how much Herrada had a mechanic who saw him return 15th that day.
Sanchez took the victory with a 15-second lead over teammate Gorka Izagirre and Vicente García de Mateos (Aviludo-Louletano) third at the same time.
Meanwhile, Mavi García (Ale BTC Ljubljana) joined his victory in the previous day’s time trial, earning a comfortable solo victory in the road race. The 36-year-old coach escaped with Ane Santesteban (Ceratizit-WNT) 40 km from the final, before attacking 6 km from the end and winning by 2:11. Moment kept while Eider Merino (Movistar) finished the podium at 3:50.
| Teams via the CoVID-19 protocol of the Tour de France
In addition, the French newspaper L’Equipe reports that the groups in the next Tour de France are frustrated by the strict COVID-19 protocols of the race.
Late last week, the asO race organizer told the groups that if two other people on a team (including staff) tested positive for coronavirus on the Tour, the entire team and his entourage would be kicked out of the race. Groups don’t seem inspired by the rule.
“Excluding a team if two of its members are positive is a radical decision,” he told L’Equipe Jerome Pineau, director of B-B Hotels-Vital Concept. “If a mechanic or bus engine declares positive, without symptoms, I hope they are quarantined without preventing everything. Otherwise, I don’t think a giant component of the platoon will pass to Paris.
As VeloNews reports, if groups do their best for their “bubble” of runners and staff, it is almost impossible to avoid contact with the general public.
L’Equipe reports that the ASO and he will meet through a video convention on Tuesday to explain the Tour’s fitness protocols.
| Dutch pilot withdraws from nationals after COVID-19 test
Dutchman Inge van der Heijden (team 777) started with the Dutch nationals this weekend after testing positive for COVID-19. Former U23 cyclocross world champion (and current Dutch U23 champion) tested negative for the virus in an upcoming test.
“I tested negative on Friday last week, and although I showed no symptoms of infection, for my disappointment, I suddenly tested positive on Wednesday,” the 21-year-old wrote on Instagram. “In consultation, I made the decision to do a new PCR check and the result was negative again. As I expected, actually.
“However, I will forget about positive control and practice the quarantine measure.”
Two of Van der Heijden’s companions withdrew from the occasion as a precaution.
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| How to a national championship in COVID time
José Been takes us to the scenes of the Dutch road championships to show what it takes to organize a race in These Troubled Times.
| The Tour de France starts next week, still?
We are less than a week from the start of the Rescheduled Tour de France and the expectation is growing. But will the race even take place? Iain Treloar is investigating.
| 2021 Herald Sun Tour cancelled due to coronavirus uncertainty
Many occasions were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. A race scheduled for next February has already been cancelled.
Today’s main symbol comes from Cor Vos and shows Anna van der Breggen celebrating her first national road race title.