VN news ticker: Mark Cavendish hails Marianne Vos as ‘GOAT,’ Fabio Jakobsen extends with Deceuninck-Quick-Step
Here's the news making the headlines on Friday, July 9.
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Mark Cavendish hails Marianne Vos as ‘GOAT’
Mark Cavendish has paid tribute to Marianne Vos after she recorded her 30th victory at the Giro d’Italia Donne on Thursday. Vos has won more than any other rider at the Italian grand tour, with second-placed Petra Rossner on 18 total victories.
Cavendish, who is closing in on the Tour de France stage-win record, described Vos as an inspiration and dubbed her the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time, -ed).
“Until we finally have the privilege of Le Tour de France Femmes next year, the Giro d’Italia Donne is the greatest stage race for our female colleagues. And Marianne Vos has just won her 30th stage of the race,” Cavendish wrote on his Instagram account.
“This needs to be big news. 30 is such a milestone. She’s been my inspiration on so many levels, for so many years. The absolute GOAT.”
The Giro d’Italia Donne is currently the only grand tour on the women’s calendar but it will be joined by the Tour de France Femmes when the race launches in 2022.
Fabio Jakobsen extends with Deceuninck-Quick-Step
Fabio Jakobsen has renewed his contract with Deceuninck-Quick-Step through 2023.
“I’m so satisfied to continue with the Wolfpack. I’m looking forward to the upcoming two years, to get back to winning races with my teammates, step by step,” he said.
Jakobsen returned to racing this season after completing the rehab that followed his career-threatening crash at last year’s Tour of Poland. Jakobsen started three consecutive stage races through spring and summer and is slated to race the Tour of Belgium later this month.
“Right now, I’m in Livigno, preparing for my next goals,” he said. “I’m grateful for where I am now and for having such an amazing team around me, a team that supported and helped me develop since turning pro in 2018, and I’ll continue to work hard to achieve my goals.”
The Dutchman is likely to take on an ever-important role at the team when Sam Bennett leaves at the close of the season. It is currently unknown whether returning star Mark Cavendish will ride through 2022.
“To see where Fabio comes from, it’s just a miracle. Step by step he’s making progress and we’re super happy to have him with us for two more years. Fabio has a lot of talent, has skills and ambition, and we’ll continue to work towards the next races together,” team boss Patrick Lefevere said.
“He’s been through a lot, but he always had the team behind him and that will never change. In the past, he beat some of the fastest sprinters in the world in some of the biggest races, and we are confident that one day he’ll be able to raise his hands again.”
Bizkaia-Durango leaves Giro d’Italia Donne after COVID-19 positive
Basque squad Bizkaia-Durango has pulled out of the Giro d’Italia Donne after a member of the team tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday evening.
The team had already been severely diminished after losing four riders to the time cut following the stage 4 time trial. Émilie Fortin then left the race after crashing during stage 6, leaving Lucia Gonzalez Blanco the team’s only remaining rider.
“In the last hours a positive case of covid-19 has been detected within the Bizkaia-Durango team that has been present at the Giro d’Italia Donne,” a team statement said.
“As a preventive measure, the withdrawal of the Giro team has been decided and it will no longer take the start on Thursday’s stage.”