Information editor at Biking Weekly, Adam brings his weekly opinion on the goings on on the higher echelons of our sport. This piece is a part of The Leadout, a e-newsletter sequence from Biking Weekly and Cyclingnews. To get this in your inbox, subscribe right here. As ever, e mail adam.becket@futurenet.com – must you want to add something, or recommend a subject.
With the Excursions of Guangxi and Chongming Island underway, we actually are within the endgame of the 2024 highway biking season. It has been a hell of a experience right through, even when one particular person particularly (extra on that in a bit) has stored profitable, and so it’s time to have a look again. In fact, issues may nonetheless occur, however listed below are some key awards for 2024. Let’s name them The Beckets.
The Tadej Pogačar award for the unarguable greatest male rider on this planet
After a few years through which his standing as one of the best rider on this planet was below risk as a result of he stored lacking out on the most important prize of all of them – the Tour de France – Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates) determined to nail his standing as one of the best rider on this planet this 12 months, by profitable just about all the things. The Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, World Championships, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia, plus a bunch of others, has the texture of “is that this sufficient?” about it. Nicely achieved Tadej, you’re one of the best.
The Marianne Vos award for doing all of it
Clearly, Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) remains to be driving, and nonetheless form of doing all of it, profitable stage races, Grand Tour levels, and one-day Classics, however the Dutch rider they name the GOAT has a worthy successor. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) can seemingly do all of it, and was simply 21 seconds away from profitable the Giro d’Italia earlier this 12 months. The Belgian defended her world title, gained Paris-Roubaix, and 14 different races. Don’t sleep on her as a Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift contender.
(Picture credit score: SWPix.com/Zac Williams)
Greatest stage begin
Biking has a behavior of being very odd at occasions, and this was clearer greater than ever this season when stage six of the Vuelta a España started from inside a grocery store. Sadly, there have been no spills or motion from throughout the aisles, nevertheless it was nonetheless a little bit of enjoyable. Good photographs, too.
Most improved crew/most grateful advertising and marketing crew
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale had a rebrand and a motorbike change over the low season, switching from BMC to the brand new Van Rysel RCR Professional. How a lot of their surge in kind is right down to the bike is feasible to quantify, however the French crew have gone from 9 wins to 30, permitting their advertising and marketing crew to say it’s all due to Decathlon and Van Rysel, and show that biking is value investing in.
The Cian Uijtdebroeks award for non-racing drama
Bear in mind final December, when Visma-Lease a Bike determined to brighten up the low season by attempting to signal Cian Uijtdebroeks from Bora-Hansgrohe? It looks like a very long time in the past now. One other crew has taken up the mantle of off-the-bike drama this 12 months – Ineos Grenadiers. The British crew are at the moment dogged by the switch hypothesis round Tom Pidcock, their star rider, who was “deselected” from their squad for Il Lombardia on the weekend. It’s entertaining, however when will it finish?
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Greatest ultimate season
As ever, there are some notable retirees on the finish of this 12 months – Christine Majerus, Thomas De Gendt, Mark Cavendish, Luke Rowe, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio. However there’s one rider hanging up their wheels who has had among the best years – Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez). The Aussie introduced her shock retirement throughout a season through which she gained Liège, the time trial on the Olympics, and the time trial on the World Championships. All the time go away them wanting extra.
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Silliest disqualification
The ‘super-tuck’ has been banned from professional biking since 2021, however that didn’t cease Davide Formolo (Movistar) from using it on the Tour de Luxembourg final month. The 31-year-old has been round for some time, so ought to have identified, however let’s assume that he merely forgot. These items occur.
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Greatest celebration
Who may neglect Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) profitable her first race in 5 years again at La Flèche Wallonne in April? The Pole has been the runner-up in so many races through the years, however lastly achieved a victory in Belgium. Cue some extent to the sky, a collapse to the ground, completely satisfied tears, unbelieving teammates, and thanks from all of the peloton. A deserved one.
Worst celebration
The earlier week to Niewiadoma’s win, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) sat up and celebrated on the finish of the Amstel Gold Race, however earlier than crossing the road… Marianne Vos duly gained, and proved once more that there’s no level celebrating early. She nonetheless gained 22 occasions this 12 months, it must be famous.
The ‘who wants an under-23 class’ award
Cat Ferguson, the British 18-year-old who didn’t end decrease than second in a junior race this 12 months, and gained the junior highway race and time trial on the World Championships final month, has already gained two senior races, beating some seasoned execs within the course of. Foolish.
Greatest switch
It’s exhausting to look previous Matteo Jorgenson, who moved to Visma-Lease a Bike from Movistar for this 12 months. The American gained Paris-Good and Dwars door Vlaanderen, and went on to win end second on the Critérium du Dauphiné and eighth on the Tour de France. Not unhealthy.
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures / Tim De Waele)
Unluckiest rider
It’s a may very well be Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek), who had a promising season reduce quick by a crash on the Vuelta a Burgos, or any of the riders caught up within the horror crash on the males’s Itzulia Basque Nation again in April, like Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) or Jay Vine (UAE Crew Emirates). However none of those had their seasons stopped twice, like Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), whose Classics marketing campaign was stopped in its tracks, earlier than he crashed badly once more on the Vuelta a España, taking him out of the Worlds. Higher luck for 2025, Wout.
The Remco Evenepoel award for having an amazing season however being overshadowed
In another 12 months, profitable each the highway race and time trial on the Olympics, profitable the time trial on the World Championships, and ending third on the Tour de France and second at Il Lombardia would herald countless plaudits. Sadly for Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Fast-Step), this occurred in the identical season Tadej Pogačar determined to win all the things. Nonetheless, among the best. Honourable mentions to Demi Vollering, Mathieu van der Poel, and Elisa Longo Borghini.
This piece is a part of The Leadout, the providing of newsletters from Biking Weekly and Cyclingnews. To get this in your inbox, subscribe right here.
If you wish to get in contact with Adam, e mail adam.becket@futurenet.com.
