Lesser known races 2025 edition

[YavorD]

I think Ayuso will fade by then, that's what he normally does. Not sure Scaroni has any challengers for LBL, at least

Well, there's a certain slovenian...

Besides, Ayuso's form should be going upwards, considering he's doing the Giro.

 

[Squire]

This was a very good race!

Besides, Ayuso's form should be going upwards, considering he's doing the Giro.

There's a risk that he's in too good shape too early. But we also don't really have a good sample size from previous seasons for how his form develops when there are no other problems.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Bettiol was never gonna be a points guy. Too inconsistent.

He will win races thoguh

Bettiol is really a bipolar cyclist. High highs and low lows...
Sad that Scaroni lost the sprint to that Spanish frying pan.

 

[RedheadDane]

The Gen Z kids* also got a win today, with Schwarzbacher winning UMAG Classic.





*Yes, I know... technically Ayuso is also Gen Z, but... well... so's Pogacar. Though, I suppose it's still a bit early for the devo team to be renamed "Gen Alpha"...

 

[tobydawq]

Wtf is this Astana team, come on Vino get 27 year old Scaroni off the Hirschi UCI points schedule and have him practicing his TT for Giro GC, they aren't dropping this guy on climbs in a month of Sundays.

I've been thinking the same.

 

[Brullnux]

Well, there's a certain slovenian...

Besides, Ayuso's form should be going upwards, considering he's doing the Giro.

I don't think Roglic is necessarily going to be better than Scaroni

 

[KZD]

Scaroni has been a very pleasant surprise but Ayuso's sprint from the front was just brutal, a bit like Van der Poel yesterday.

 

[Rob5091]

Whilst there is some little ol' race in Italy, the real action is taking place elsewhere -
Saturday 8th it's time for Grand Prix Criquielion (1.1 the only races etc),
200 km from Ath to Lessines, start 12.50 CET, TV from 15.15 CET (note possibly in French! )

startlist at https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/grand-prix-criquielion/2025/startlist

The race for UCI points begins to get serious now with the teams desperate for points taking part. Expect a bunch sprint with no holds barred! On Sunday there's another 1.1 race so lots of points up for grabs this weekend (8th & 9th)
Edit - oops nearly forgot - roadbook at https://ententecyclisteacrenoise.be...25 - Guide Technique DEFINITIF-compressed.pdf

 

[RedheadDane]

It's basically "Dead Belgian Guys Races" week.

First Samyn Tuesday.
Then Criquielion tomorrow. Though, he was still alive when the race got its name.
And finally Monseré Sunday

 

[Rob5091]

It's basically "Dead Belgian Guys Races" week.

First Samyn Tuesday.
Then Criquielion tomorrow. Though, he was still alive when the race got its name.
And finally Monseré Sunday

The racing wil be very much alive and vibrant though (also SB will be as good as over by the time the TV starts from Belgium!)

 

[E_F_]

God I wish the cobbled Wallonian races would go all in and create their own "Wallonia Classics" (with a better name)..! If they really went for the cobbles they could really create a wonderful mix of RvV and P-R.

 

[Rob5091]

https://www.facebook.com/ententecyclisteacrenoise

It's 6 a.m. and the guys are already out doing the work for today's race. Chapeau!

 

[Rob5091]

Kubis is on the startlist and I see that Unibet Tietema have him under contract next year too, although I'm guessing a few guys have been on phone asking about him.

 

[search]

Back to the Tour of Rwanda and the imfamous cancellation of the last stage. It seems the guy in the GC lead, not surprisingly, wanted to stop the race and convinced the organizers to do so!
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...age-there-would-be-no-more-racing-in-flanders


Self appointed spokesman of the peloton!

Bizarre story – seems as if Doubey single handedly went on strike which won him the race? I guess Rubicon had already been crossed re riders randomly deciding not to race, so this was to be expected at some point. Shame it didn't happen in a bigger race as it may have forced a bit more contrition/self-relection from the peloton at large

Milan Menten talked about it in local press today (no paywall, but need to be subscribed). He says that Doubey spread rumors of a mudslide to convince the riders to stop - which didn't exist in the end.

But to be fair, Menten also mentions that 56 guys crashed on slippery roads although the race was neutralized . He doesn't expect similar problems for the World Championships though.

https://www.hbvl.be/sport/wielrennen/milan-menten-hoopt-na-hoogtestage-in-rwanda-dit-weekend-te-scoren-in-belgisch-tweeluik-revanche-nemen-na-crash-tegen-boom-vorig-jaar/47491269.html

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Theodor Storm has quietly debuted in Greece the other week, starting today in Rhodes as well.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

That's a shame, I'd been hoping that the Kleine Häwelmann's debut would be Immensee.

 

[Rob5091]

Grand Prix Criquielion - 4 guys with 2 minutes on the peloton with 88km to go.

 

[Rob5091]

Grand Prix Criquielion - live at
https://www.notele.be/it105-md5-direct-tv.html

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Good day for Q36.5, Moschetti wins and Nizzolo 3rd

 

[Rob5091]

Good day for Q36.5, Moschetti wins and Nizzolo 3rd

and Pidders 2nd at SB, so Ivan will be happy!

The all important race for UCI points today and the winner is Cofidis with 60, Astana with 40 and Arkea with 25. Picnic Post & Wanty losing out too.

 

[Rob5091]

Sunday's race in the "Dead Belgians" series is Grote prijs Jean-Pierre Monseré (1.1 the only races etc), 201.6 km, from Ichtegem to Roeselare, start at 11.35 CET, TV from 15.15 CET
stratlist at https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/grote-prijs-jean-pierre-monsere/2025/startlist (maybe a few late DNS due to the crashes on Saturday)

The desperate race for UCI points goes on!

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Good day for Q36.5, Moschetti wins and Nizzolo 3rd

Any one know what happened to riders like Kubis and Blikra? Tietma and Uno-X pulled in the peloton in the last 10 kilometers and they were nowhere in the sprint it seems.

 

[RedheadDane]

Any one know what happened to riders like Kubis and Blikra? Tietma and Uno-X pulled in the peloton in the last 10 kilometers and they were nowhere in the sprint it seems.

Kubis might not have been there, but Team Rockets still got a top-10 with Huens.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Any one know what happened to riders like Kubis and Blikra? Tietma and Uno-X pulled in the peloton in the last 10 kilometers and they were nowhere in the sprint it seems.

Kubis did a lead-out for Huens

 

[Dazed and Confused]

So Kern Pharma has found their way to Belgium to take the Grote prijs . NIce collection of smaller teams in the mix. Hopefully one of them can get a result.