Ineos Grenadiers put on an early demonstration of intent as the European season got underway in earnest last weekend, with Ivan Sosa winning the GC at the Tour de la Provence, as well as the Mont Ventoux stage.
Sosa called it “a really beautiful way to start the season. It helps with the motivation to work hard for the rest of the year.”
Egan Bernal, the 2019 Tour de France winner, also showed his mettle in the French race, which was the first UCI .Pro event of the season. He was second on the Ventoux behind his team-mate and third on GC despite being forced to concede that his back issues that came to light last year still remain, and that he expects to have to deal with them throughout the season. “My back didn’t hurt very much on Saturday, but I still feel it a bit,” Bernal said after the race. “That will not just go away and I will have to deal with it this season.”
Rainbow chaser
The Ineos pair were separated by the rainbow bands of Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step), who was in typically ebullient form with some spirited riding across the event.
Denne historien er fra February 18, 2021-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 18, 2021-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
"We tore around the Sydney suburbs at 60kph in a terrifying, feral pack"
Fast, furious and furry tales from Australia
RIDDEN AND REVIEWED BROMPTON G LINE £2,499
A Brompton for running riot in both town and country
How do different gravel conditions impact your tyre choice?
There are a myriad of tyres on the market but selecting the right one is easier than you think
FEAST OF SWEDEN
Soon after landing in Gothenburg, I began to realise how little I knew about Sweden.
THE WORLD'S GREATEST GRAVEL EVENTS
Globe-trotting gravel racer Joe Laverick chooses his eight favourite events, from coastal Wales to the wilds of Kenya
THE CALL OF THE WILD
Tempted to embark on a long-distance bike adventure? Let former round-the-world record holder and author Julian Sayarer inspire you to strike out and hit the road
Saint Piran accused of using non-UCI legal bikes
Cornish team also alleged to owe former staff tens of thousands of pounds
JOE LAVERICK GETTING INTO THE FEED ZONE
I've ridden through hundreds of feed zones in my time racing a bike.
Lowden not ready to stop after retirement
Former Hour record holder eyes UK time trial scene
Pogačar makes history (again) at Lombardia
Slovenian makes it four in a row at the late-season Italian Monument
