CW Live: Marianne Vos to miss cyclocross World Championships; Full list of teams for Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix Femmes confirmed; David Gaudu issues apology for Demare remarks; Liège–Bastogne–Liège route adjusted

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,”

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! 

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, Scottish-themed map.

The full Great Britain Cycling Team squad is as follows:

Women

Mary Wilkinson

Hayley Simmonds

Lou Bates

Zoe Langham

Lucy Harris

Lizi Brooke

Charlotte Colclough

Alice Lethbridge

Rachel Brown

Natalie Stevenson

Adele Battersby

Ruth Shier

Men

Andy Nichols

Ben Russell

Jimmy Kershaw

Ed Laverack

Joseph Rees

James Knox included in Soudal Quick-Step squad for Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

Soudal Quick-Step has shared details of its team selection for Australia's only one-day WorldTour race, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, which takes place on Sunday.

Defending champion Dries Devenyns heads up the squad after taking victory in its previous edition. Italian Mattia Cattaneo along with Mauro Schmid and James Knox are also included in the Soudal Quick-Step line up.

“We have the reigning champion in our ranks, part of a very motivated team. We had a good Tour Down Under and we are ready for Sunday. The peloton isn’t very big, so we need to pay attention to the breakaway, but also to the wind, which could play a part in the outcome. On the local laps everything will be decided.

"We have several cards to play and we’ll try to get the best possible result”, said team sports director Geert Van Bondt.

The full Soudal Quick-Step team for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road race is:

Mattia Cattaneo (ITA)
Dries Devenyns (BEL)
James Knox (GBR)
Mauro Schmid (SUI)
Jannik Steimle (GER)
Martin Svrcek (SVK)
Stan Van Tricht (BEL)

Teams announced for Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift

Race organiser ASO has shared details of the full list of teams due to race both Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix Femme  in April.

Taking place over the weekend of 8-9 April, both races are set to provide plenty of action with a plethora of WorldTour talent confirmed to be on the start line.

Uno-X as well as Q36.5 are two of the ProTeam's invited to take part alongside the 18 WorldTour teams selected for the men's race. Last year's winner Dylan van Baarle is likely to be on the start line but in the colours of his new team, Jumbo-Visma, where he will likely line up alongside Wout van Aert.

In the women's race, AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step have received an invite to the race as well as Cofidis women's team and Parkhotel Valkenburg amongst others.

The full lists of teams for both races are as follows:
Paris-Roubaix

WorldTour teams:

AG2R Citroën Team (FRA)
Alpecin Deceuninck (BEL)
Astana QazaQstan Team (KAZ)
Bora-Hansgrohe (GER)
EF Education-Easypost (USA)
Groupama-FDJ (FRA)
Ineos Grenadiers (GBR)
Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (BEL)
Jumbo-Visma (NED)
Movistar Team (ESP)
Soudal Quick-Step (BEl)
Team Arkea-Samsic (FRA)
Team Bahrain Victorious (BRN)
Team Cofidis (FRA)
Team DSM (NED)
Team Jayco AlUla (AUS)
Trek-Segafredo (USA)
UAE Team Emirates (UAE)

ProTeams

TotalEnergies (FRA)
Lotto Dstny (BEL)
Israel Premier Tech (ISR)

WildCard invites

Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB (BEL)
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team (SUI)
Team Flanders-Baloise (BEL)
Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (NOR)

Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift

WorldTour:

Canyon / / SRAM Racing (GER)
EF Education – Tibco - SVB (USA)
FDJ - Suez (FRA)
Fenix – Deceuninck (BEL)
Human Powered Health (USA)
Israel Premier Tech Roland (SUI)
Liv Racing TeqFind (NED)
Movistar Team Women (ESP)
Team DSM (NEd)
Team Jayco Alula (AUS)
Team Jumbo – Visma (NED)
Team SD Worx (NED)
Trek – Segafredo (USA)
UAE Team ADQ (UAE)
Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (NOR)

Other:

Ceratizit – WNT Pro Cycling Team (GER)
Lifeplus Wahoo (GBR)

Invites from organisers:

AG Insurance – Soudal Quick-Step Team (BEL)
Arkéa Pro Cycling Team (FRA)
Cofidis Women Team (FRA)
Parkhotel Valkenburg (NED)
St Michel - Mavic - Auber 93 (FRA)
Stade Rochelais Charente Maritime (FRA)
ZAAF Cycling Team (ESP)

Cyclist says none of his trousers fit anymore after epic ride

Mark Wedgwood, a cyclist from Hathersage, Derbyshire, says that none of his trousers fit anymore after completing an epic ride which involved riding 7,000 miles (11,250km) across every Ordnance Survey map in Britain.

According to a report from The Guardian, Wedgwood's adventure took him across every one of the Landranger series' 204 maps in numerical order, from Shetland to Cornwall, which took more than six months to complete.

Wedgwood said that after completing his colossal ride, he had "never felt better". 

"It’s done me an enormous amount of good in every sense, and I have the happy problem that none of my trousers fit me any more," he said. "The next challenge is to keep it that way.”

"I've never felt better."

After cycling round the entirety of Britain, Wedgwood explained to The Guardian that some of the most memorable riding came in Shetland and the far north of Scotland.

“There were times in midsummer, where I was out on my bike, at maybe 10 or 11 at night and it was still sunny,” he said. “I was all alone in this phenomenal scenery with eagles and red deer and nothing else. They were such elemental experiences and I’d happily repeat them at the drop of a hat.”

Simon Parker, a critically acclaimed author and travel journalist, previously told Cycling Weekly that Shetland provided some of the best moments in his similar round the UK journey. 

TEAM CORRATEC LAUNCH ' A CYCLIST'S DIARY' SERIES

British rider Charlie Quarterman headlines a new YouTube series launched by Team Corratec.

Corratec are currently in action at the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina, although Quarterman was forced to abandon the race due to issues with dehydration.

The Italian team plan on running the new series throughout the 2023 season. 

20km to go in Trofeo Ses Salines – Alcúdia

There's about 20km to go in the second day of the Challenge Mallorca, the Trofeo Ses Salines – Alcúdia.

It's a finalé that favours sprinters, but there are a few lumps in the way to the finish; at the moment Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) is currently pushing on in the front, while riders like Ethan Vernon (Soudal Quick-Step) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) are behind in the group.

We'll update you on anything dramatic happening, and the winner when it happens!

Marijn van den Berg wins Trofeo Ses Salines – Alcúdia

EF Education-EasyPost's Marijn van den Berg sprinted to his first ever professional win at the Trofeo Ses Salines – Alcúdia on Thursday afternoon, beating Ethan Vernon (Soudal Quick-Step) and last year's winner Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) in the final 200m.

It was set up for a sprint finish from about 10km to go, once Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) had been caught by the bunch. The setup to the sprint finish included the rare sight of EF's Hugh Carthy on the front of the bunch.

The final corners proved decisive, with Van den Berg taking the right line in both of the last twists of the course to cross the line first. In fact, the finish line appeared to almost surprise the riders waiting for the bunch finish.

Biniam Girmay and Ethan Vernon unhappy at final corners in Challenge Mallorca

Both Ethan Vernon (Soudal Quick-Step) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) criticised the finish of the Trofeo Ses Salines – Alcúdia, in which they finished second and third respectively.

The final corners to the finish meant neither could probably unleash the power, meaning the win went to the man who was in the right position in the lead, Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost).

"In the end we didn't sprint, for the future, we don't need to see this corner, especially with the wet road," Girmay said. "For myself, I didn't sprint"

"I think it's a bit dangerous having this kind of course in the wet, with 50m to go it's not a proper sprint," Vernon added. "2nd is good, but for sure if the line was further I had the legs to win the sprint. The race was won by the person who had the most grip round the last corner. It's not the best for sprinting."

Rayner Foundation continues with gateway project after successful 2022

The Rayner Foundation is continuing its successful Gateway Project after its successful inception in 2022. This is in addition to the regular scheme in which the foundation provides support to under 23 riders to go and live and race across Europe.

In 2022 alone, the Rayner Foundation was able to support almost 200 individual opportunities to race across Europe, this involved ten different teams in 33 separate races.

Keith Lambert, founder member and Trustee of the Rayner Foundation welcomed the opportunity to support more young British talent in 2023.

He said:  “ The experience of racing in Europe is seen as a necessity in the development of ever-younger riders. This project will assist more British riders who can hopefully progress to become future professionals”.

Liège–Bastogne–Liège route adjusted for 2023

Remco Evenepoel will have to come up with a new plan of attack if he is to win a second Liège–Bastogne–Liège title in 2023.

Evenepoel launched what would be the race winning move at the summit of the iconic Cote de La Redoute climb. Although in this year's route, La Redoute will not be climbed to its summit.

According to a report from Het Nieuwsblad, 300 metres before the summit of the La Redoute, the riders will instead face a sharp righthand turn before a short descent takes them to a new climb, the Côte de Cornémont.

Race director Christian Prudhomme said that the slight adjustment to the route will enable riders to let "their imaginations run wild".

“The Liège-Bastogne-Liège route is always evolving, year after year, with minor changes,” Prudhomme said. “If you watch Remco Evenepoel's breakaway in 2022 at La Redoute, you will remain amazed by its intensity, while at the same time it was perfectly masked.”

“Today's great champions are able to attack anywhere, even from very far. You have two types of favorites: Evenepoel and Pogacar, but a third dog can also walk with the leg. That's what this new finale is made for: for riders who let their imagination run wild. We are fortunately blessed with a generation of riders who have guts.”

SD Worx and Uno-X opt to not replace riders in roster who are out on maternity leave

Both Uno-X and SD Worx won't replace Joscelin Lowden and Chantal van den Broek-Blaak in their rosters despite new rules enabling them to have the opportunity to do so.

Lowden and Van den Broek-Blaak both announced their pregnancies in January and the UCI has also introduced a new maternity clause which would enable teams to recruit replacements as cover.

However both SD Worx and Uno-X have told Cyclingnews that they will not be making use of the new rule. Both teams will race with 15 riders in 2023.

After taking time out for the birth of her child, Van den Broek-Blaak is tentatively drawing up plans to return to racing in 2024.

She said: "Of course, everything needs to go well, and I think it's a realistic goal. I hope to race well next year (2024), but the way back will be long," 

SD Worx manager Danny Stam confirmed that Van den Broek-Blaak's team would not be making use of the new UCI rules.

"No, we are not going to utilize this clause," the team stated, while team manager Danny Stam said he was pleased that Van den Broek-Blaak would continue to work with the team in a coaching capacity. "We are going to miss her in the peloton and the team, but it is always good that we can count on her knowledge."

Marianne Vos to skip upcoming UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships

Marianne Vos will not defend her title at the fast-approaching cyclo-cross world championships due to recent "physical problems" including a "constriction of her pelvic artery".

Vos' team Jumbo-Visma confirmed her absence from the race in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands and explained that after consultation between Vos and her team, she's decided to skip the competition.

"It's very unfortunate that things have turned out this way", Vos said. "I would have really liked it to be different, but the treatment and recovery are a priority to hopefully start the road season without any complaints. Of course, I'm hoping the rainbow jersey will remain with the team and be worn by Fem van Empel the next season."

In the elite men's category reigning champion Tom Pidcock is also sitting out the event in order to prepare for the Spring Classics on the road.