Good morning, Tom Thewlis here ready and waiting to bring you all the essential news you need from the world of cycling.
It's Thursday! That means this week's magazine is out now! Head down to your local newsagent to pick up a copy. It's packed full of great content as always.
If you want to reach out to me today then you can get me on Twitter via @thewlistt or email me at: tom.thewlis@futurenet.com
Remco Evenepoel gets ready for stage four at the Vuelta a San Juan
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
- 09:19 - Fernando Gaviria wins stage four of the Vuelta a San Juan
- 11:12- David Gaudu apologises for remarks about teammate Arnaud Demare
- 11:18- Happy birthday to Peter Sagan who turns 33 today!
- 11:59 - Popular Exeter-based cycling charity facing eviction from its current home
- 12:13- British Cycling shares details on 2023 National Four Cross calendar
- 12:36- Two races axed from women's WorldTour
- 12:55- British Cycling announces 2023 UCI Cycling E-Sports World Championships squad
- 13:14- James Knox included in Soudal Quick-Step line up for Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
- 13:55 - Full list of teams for Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix Femmes confirmed
- 14:13- Cyclist says none of his trousers fit him after epic ride
- 14:23- Charlie Quarterman headlines new YouTube series launched by Team Corratec
- 15:00 - Marijn van den Berg wins Trofeo Ses Salines – Alcúdia
- 15:39- Rayner Foundation continues Gateway Project in 2023
- 15:52- Liège–Bastogne–Liège route adjusted for 2023
- 16:44 - Marianne Vos to miss cyclocross Worlds
Fernando Gaviria grabs first Movistar win in Argentina
Fernando Gaviria took his first win in Movistar colours as he sprinted to victory in stage four of the Vuelta a San Juan.
His stage win was also the 50th victory of his professional career.
The stage was set for Gaviria's victory more than 90 km from the finish, on the Gruta Virgen de Andacollo climb, where a number of other sprinters were distanced including Soudal- Quick Step's Fabio Jakobsen and Sam Bennett of Bora-Hansgrohe.
Once the reduced main field were off the climb, Movistar were able to wrestle for control of the bunch with TotalEnergies, the team of Peter Sagan, and prepared to lead out their man man as they swept up the remnants of an early breakaway which included Egan Bernal.
Bernal's Ineos Grenadiers teammate Filippo Ganna along with World Champion Remco Evenepoel both launched last-gasp attacks hoping to upset the sprinters, but they were in vain as Gaviria simply had too much speed in the closing metres, beating Peter Sagan in the final sprint.
“This team is like a big family and the way they have welcomed me is incredible, from the first camp in Pamplona in October,” said Gaviria, who joined after four years of diminishing returns at UAE Team Emirates. “That makes me very happy and makes me give a little more of myself.”
Going into today's rest day, Gaviria inherits the white jersey of the race leader from Bennett and now has a lead of ten seconds over Sagan in second place in the overall standings.
David Gaudu apologies for Demare criticism
David Gaudu has apologised for the unkind remarks he made about his Groupama-FDJ teammate, Arnaud Demare, which were leaked on Twitter.
Last week on the Discord app, Gaudu said he had a strained relationship with Demare, and the 26-year-old accused his older teammate of refusing to get into a lift with him and attempting to deliberately push him to the ground during some recent filming.
Gaudu also said that both him and Demare "hardly spoke" and that he did not want his teammate involved at this summers Tour de France and had told him that in person.
Gaudu said: “If he wants me to tell him to his face, I can very well. I’m not afraid of him. He knows that I don’t want him at the Tour, I already told him.”
Screenshots of Gaudu's comments were shared on Twitter on Wednesday evening and are likely to get the 26-year-old into hot water with Groupama-FDJ management.
Gaudu's subsequent apology after the comments were leaked read: “My remarks should never have been made in a public setting. I apologized to the team and to Arnaud,”
Mes propos n'auraient jamais dus être tenus dans un cadre public. J'ai pésenté mes excuses à l'équipe et a ArnaudJanuary 26, 2023
OOF #Gaudu #Demare #GroupamaFDJ pic.twitter.com/BITp1BXN5JJanuary 25, 2023
Happy Birthday Peter Sagan!
Happy birthday to Peter Sagan who turns 33 today.
The Slovakian currently rides for Team TotalEnergies and is currently in action at the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina. Sagan finished second to Fernando Gaviria in yesterdays stage four.
What's your favourite moment from Sagan's illustrious career? Get in touch with us on Twitter and let us know!
Toms Skujiņš attracts praise for his choice of bike bag
Toms Skujiņš of Trek-Segafredo has attracted praise on Twitter for his choice of bike bag for a recent training ride.
Do you take a saddle bag or another form of bike bag if you're heading out on a long ride? If not, then you might want to check out one of the best bikepacking bags from our list and get yourself hooked up!
Recreational cyclists from pandemic era doesn't want to put any bag like frame bag or saddle bag on their bike because it's not aero and doesn't look cool on Instagram. Meanwhile World Tour level cyclists: https://t.co/I86fdOfKp7January 26, 2023
Cycling charity facing eviction in Exeter
A popular cycling charity based in Exeter is facing possible eviction from it's current base by Exeter City Council.
Ride on Cycling for All are currently based in council-owned premises in Haven Road by Exeter Quayside. However, due to plans to build 37 new waterside homes they will now potentially be forced to re-locate.
Ride on Cycling for All, which has been established for more than 10 years, has been based at its current home since 2014. The charity recycles freely donated bikes to give affordable access to reconditioned bikes to local children and adults.
According to a report from Devon Live, the charity remains "positive" about its future even if the re-location is forced through.
Will Page, head of charity for Ride On Cycling for All, said: "We have just been told we might need to be out by the end of 2023. It's a 'might' if planning is approved and everything happens. We are working with ECC and Exeter City Living to come up with alternative arrangements.
"We are very positive. It's just something we have to get on with and I'm confident that with the help of ECC and Exeter City Living we will find a home."
British Cycling shares details on 2023 national four cross calendar
British Cycling has shared details on the dates and venues for the 2023 National Four Cross Series and the National Four Cross championships, as well as the first ever Dual Slalom National Championships.
The series will get started at Chicksands BikePark in Luton on 9 April before later rounds in Falmouth, Cornwall in late-May.
Eastnor Castle Deer Park will then play host to the first-ever Dual Slalom National Championships on 25 August, followed by the National Four Cross Championships on 27 August.
Josie McFall and Connor Hudson will both be looking to defend their national titles over the course of that weekend.
Series organiser, Chris Roberts, said:
“2023 will be a great year of Four Cross racing. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary and want to make this season the best yet. With nine rounds in 2023, there will also be more chances for riders to get involved in Four Cross and discover just how great this sport is. From the gateway to gravity for rippers, to the head-to-head racing fix for older riders, Four Cross always delivers.
“I would also like to say a huge thanks for the continued support from Schwalbe tires. Schwalbe have been a partner with our series for the majority of our 20 years and we can’t thank them enough for their belief and support of our sport.”
You can view full details of the Four Cross series on the British Cycling website.
Women's WorldTour shrinks as Swedish races axed
Two races have been axed from the women's WorldTour making the calendar two days shorter in 2023.
The organiser behind the Vårgårda West Sweden road race and team time trial has announced that they are ceasing organisation of the event with immediate effect. Both events have featured on the women's cycling calendar since 2006 and 2008 respectively.
According to a report from Cyclingnews, the race organisers explained that due to a variety of reasons, including the slow economy, meant that it was no longer possible to continue.
"After 25 years of organising elite races at the highest level, the club is now forced to turn down the opportunity to continue as Sweden's only World Tour organiser," they said. "The reason is financial and increasing demands for a different type of organisation."
"Despite considerable financial support from our long-standing partners, and in particular the Vårgårda Municipality, the Savings Bank Foundation and Sparbanken Alingsås, the club is unable to finance the event responsibly without risking the future of the association.
"The club also sees increased demands from the UCI, both organisationally and financially in the coming years and beyond. In 2023, the Swedish Transport Administration will apply regulations for road races that will have a significant impact on costs."
The races would have taken place after the UCI road World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
Helen Henriksson, chairperson of the organisation club, said that carrying on was no longer possible on a "non-profit" basis.
"The economy is a big part of the decision, but also an increasing demand on our organisation. We have in many ways helped develop women's cycling in the world," she added, citing TV broadcasts and better conditions for the racers since the inception," she said.
"Women's cycling is certainly on the right track, but we don't see any possibility of shouldering the increased demands, and on a non-profit basis, to run races at the absolute highest level."
Audrey Cordon-Ragot was named the winner of last year's road race after Marianne Vos was disqualified for an illegal riding position.
British Cycling announces squad for 2023 UCI Cycling E-sports World Championships
British Cycling has announced its 17-strong squad that will represent Great Britain at the upcoming 2023 UCI Cycling E-Sports World Championships on Saturday 18 February.
Seven of the Great Britain squad will be heading to Glasgow to take part in the championships at the first ever ‘In Real Life’ (IRL) final too.
Heading up the Great Britain Cycling Team will be Zoe Langham, who returns to the world championships after her landmark third place finish at last year’s championships to battle for the coveted rainbow jersey.
Eight British riders qualified automatically for the championships via the Zwift European Continental Qualifier in November, including Langham, Mary Wilkinson, Hayley Simmonds, Lou Bates, Alice Lethbridge and Charlotte Colclough who along with Natalie Stevenson and world championships debutants Lucy Harris and Lizi Brooke, will compete in the IRL Final in Glasgow. Completing the women’s team are Rachel Brown, Adele Battersby and Ruth Shier.
Representing Great Britain in the men’s race will be Andy Nichols, Ed Laverack and Joseph Rees, alongside debutants Ben Russell and Jimmy Kershaw, with Nichols, Rees and Kershaw all taking part in the IRL Final.
The event will see 200 of the best e-racers in the world face off against one-another in three courses- the punch, the climb and the podium on a specially designed, <