Junior racing - The stars of the future

[Lequack]

Jakob Omrzel and Jacopo Sasso hit the marshaller in a scary crash. Thankfully, Omrzel is now reported to be in stable condition : https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=UalRPS&v=502519199154330&rdid=JUMpCxLiYF3Wgpnk

Horrible news, but thankfully he seems to be in good condition now. I remember watching the Junior's Paris Roubaix where he won.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Jakob Omrzel and Jacopo Sasso hit the marshaller in a scary crash. Thankfully, Omrzel is now reported to be in stable condition : https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=UalRPS&v=502519199154330&rdid=JUMpCxLiYF3Wgpnk

Those marshals need much bigger flags!

 

[Coffeeplanter]

In the light of flying Spaniards, I am very intrigued by Benjamin Noval, the son of, well, Benjamin Noval, who will be a first year junior next season. He has been ridiculously dominant on just about every terrain, including wins in Aragon and Besaya, which is almost a stamp of approval for a good career. He hails from MMR, the school of Samuel Sanchez.

He beat Kristian Haugetun by more than a minute in a half in the former. Haugetun is a Norwegian, and is the winner of the Peace Race this year. Aside from flying on the bike, he is allegedly a monster in the triathlon as well.

Definitely two major players to follow next year.

This Haugetun has just been announced by JEGG-DJR, thus continuing the monopoly Visma hold over Norway.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, errr... slight Danish domination in Rüebliland...

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Why is there not a singular Danish male to be found on the junior RR and ITT for the European Championships? It was mentioned the EC, specifically the ITT, would be next for Albert Withen Philipsen, but the entire country it MIA, whilst they have this great team at their disposal.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Why is there not a singular Danish male to be found on the junior RR and ITT for the European Championships? It was mentioned the EC, specifically the ITT, would be next for Albert Withen Philipsen, but the entire country it MIA, whilst they have this great team at their disposal.

It appears the Danish federation has decided to only bring elite and U23 riders to the championships, which I assume is due to financial reasons.

 

[RedheadDane]

It appears the Danish federation has decided to only bring elite and U23 riders to the championships, which I assume is due to financial reasons.

Or to give the other countries a chance.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Or to give the other countries a chance.

I don't think that explains the absence of female juniors though.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

With the lack of Albert Withen Philipsen, the ITT tomorrow is absolutely wide open. 31 kilometers in length too, that's thrice the size of a regular junior time trial. Impossible to predict, but I'll give it a shot: Pavel Sumpik, Aldo Taillieau, Jasper Schoofs. Hector Alvarez, Felix Orn-Kristoff and Michiel Mouris not far off.

 

[LongtimeLurker]

With the lack of Albert Withen Philipsen, the ITT tomorrow is absolutely wide open. 31 kilometers in length too, that's thrice the size of a regular junior time trial. Impossible to predict, but I'll give it a shot: Pavel Sumpik, Aldo Taillieau, Jasper Schoofs. Hector Alvarez, Felix Orn-Kristoff and Michiel Mouris not far off.

Lorenzo Finn

 

[Wyndbrook]

Lorenzo Finn

Well they are certainly all win machines, keep that up as seniors and more than a few big names will making frequent trips to the loo.

 

[hayneplane]

It appears the Danish federation has decided to only bring elite and U23 riders to the championships, which I assume is due to financial reasons.

Seems like cost cutting is a factor for a few nations with a crowded calendar this year of 3 major championships and the Euros is the one that will get sacrificed such as no GB teams in any categories here.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Seems like cost cutting is a factor for a few nations with a crowded calendar this year of 3 major championships and the Euros is the one that will get sacrificed such as no GB teams in any categories here.

I'm sure you are right, personally if nations are short of cash I would prefer that they at least brought juniors and u23's.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Lorenzo Finn

He is good, but while he won the Italian MJ ITT he didn't dominate, the 5th placed rider was only 13 sec behind him (it was a +18km ITT, so decent length for junior riders).
Imo it's a bit of a joke that they are sending the guy who finished 15(!) at the NC to the EC alongside him instead of Donati, who is supposed to race the RR and finished 2nd in the ITT, only 3sec behind Finn, but whatever.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

So in the end it was Mouris, Schoofs and Fietzke. I think Taillieau crashed, took him 28 minutes to reach the first intermediate. Had hoped for Sumpik and Alvarez to both win a jersey this week for their great seasons, before Albert Withen Philipsen comes down to play cannibal once again in Zurich, but that evidently can't happen anymore.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Hard to say how exactly the race was won by Lomme Van den Meerssche today, because just as they were about to hit the final 500m in Keizer der Juniores the stream went PowerPoint mode, averaging about 1 fps.

Normally this is the main attraction when it comes to preparation for the Worlds, but that evidently went down the drain as it coincides with the Euros. Ashlin Barry was on the startlist, but for some reason didn't make it after all (not registered as DNS). Might still be covid hangover, because he hasn't raced much at all since July.

As for Zurich, Seixas very much confirmed his status as main favourite not named Albert Withen Philipsen. Looked very strong on a course far from his, but never stood a chance against Orn-Kristoff and Alvarez in a sprint.

 

[elguapo]

Spanish pundits claim that Hector Alvarez is an all rounder and better packaged than CRod, Ayuso and Pablo Torres. That remains to be seen though since he is still a 17 years old, limited to pushing a the 52-teeth chainring for juniors.

 

[janraaskalt]

limited to pushing a the 52-teeth chainring for juniors.

I thought the UCI removed the gear restrictions this year, but I could be wrong.

 

[RedheadDane]

I thought the UCI removed the gear restrictions this year, but I could be wrong.

Could be that it's still in place for 1st year juniors.

 

[janraaskalt]

Could be that it's still in place for 1st year juniors.

Nope, it's free since previous season: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-scraps-junior-gearing-restrictions-for-2023/

 

[RedheadDane]

Just Pedersen won the ITT in Keizer der Juniores.

 

[SafeBet]

Not the top JR race you will find but Simoni and Basso are back against each other!

2024 Orsago Col Alt

The 2024 Orsago Col Alt was won by Giacomo Rosato.

firstcycling.com

 

[Lequack]

Just Pedersen won the ITT in Keizer der Juniores.

Just him?

 

[Coffeeplanter]

What about Seixas? Is he negotiating something more juicy than Ag2r? They must surely seem somewhat attractive now that they've gotten their act together a bit. Would love to see him go there and not to one of the real big money teams.

It's been confirmed he'll remain in the AG2R structure. Unlike his peers, however, he'll make the jump to the pro peloton immediately. Which I don't think he's ready for just yet, but he can always ride U23 races if need be.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Probably the only time we'll see the rainbow for the coming 12 months. This was in Olgiate Molgora, and the tower in the background is of course on the mythical Madonna del Ghisallo. Finn won this race last year as well, but looking ahead I'd rather focus on the guy in 3rd: Roberto Capello. Recent winner of Léman. He is on the CPS program and will step up to Auto Eder next year. A familiar path, as Finn himself did the exact same this year. 2nd was Giacomo Rosato, another first year who has been lights out this season.