VN news ticker: Gianni Moscon to Astana on two-year deal, Juan Sebastián Molano scores second win at Giro di Sicilia
Here's the news making the headlines on Wednesday, September 29.
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Gianni Moscon to Astana on two-year deal
Gianni Moscon has signed a two-year contract with Astana set to start in 2022. The 27-year-old Italian known for his time trial and one-day racing abilities will join the Kazakh-based squad after six years with Team Sky/Ineos Grenadiers.
“In my first season in Astana, I hope to be as useful as possible to the team and, of course, I will strive to achieve some personal successes. I hope that I will be able to perform in the best possible way at the races of the highest level,” Moscon said. “I think that this is a kind of challenge for me, motivation to keep on growing, and a new experience that I am sure will be successful.”
Since turning pro in 2016, Moscon has racked up impressive palmares. In 2016, he won the general classification of the Arctic Race of Norway, and finished third at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali. The following year, he won the individual time trial at the Italian national championships, and later went on to take third place at Il Lombardia. In 2018, Moscon defended his national time trial championship, won Giro della Toscana, Coppa Agostoni, and the GC at the Tour de Guanxi. More recently, earned two stage wins at the Tour of the Alps, and victory at the GP Lugano.
Returning to Astana in the coming season are Vincenzo Nibali and Alexandr Vinokurov.
“Together with the new team, general manager Alexandr Vinokurov, the coaches, and sports directors, we still have to discuss and make plans for the new season,” added Moscon.
“We are pleased to welcome Gianni Moscon, a very strong and versatile rider, to our team. As well as being suited to one-day races and individual time trials, Gianni is a reliable team rider who can provide powerful support for the team’s Grand Tour leaders,” Vinokurov said. “The transfer of Gianni Moscon is an unconditional strengthening of the team’s position, both in one-day races and the Grand Tours, for the next two seasons.”
Juan Sebastián Molano scores second win at Giro di Sicilia
https://twitter.com/ilgirodisicilia/status/1443203171938095117?s=20
Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates) doubled up at the 2021 Giro di Sicilia.
The UAE Team Emirates train, with Maximiliano Richeze on the front, brought Molabno to 150 meters to go where he started his winning attack.
“Today the team’s work was spectacular, we controlled the race by maintaining a constant pace which suited me well. Munoz worked hard to bring back the break, then De La Cruz, McNulty, and Covi came into action to take me to the sprint,” said Molano. “Richeze delivered me in the sprint flawlessly and I was able to take a beautiful victory.
Molano won the previous, opening stage with similar help from his team’s leadout train.
“The lead-out was perfect with Brandon McNulty doing a great job and then Maxi Richeze leading me out until 150 meters to go. Yesterday’s win was great but today’s was perfect,” Molano said. “I’ve got to thank the team yet again, not only for the finish but for all the day, in the way they controlled the race.”
Riding off another, well-executed sprint train, the Colombian sprinter got his wheels ahead of Matteo Moschetti (Trek-Segafredo) and Jakub Mareczko (Vini Zabu’ Brado KTM) at the end of a 173km stage that featured a series of three climbs mid-stage.
2021 Giro di Sicilia Stage 2 Results
- Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates), 4:25:41
- Matteo Moschetti (Trek-Segafredo), at s.t.
- Jakub Mareczko (Vini Zabu’ Brado KTM), at s.t.
2021 Giro di Sicilia General Classification
- Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates), 9:02:42
- Matteo Moschetti (Trek-Segafredo), at :14
- Vincenzo Albanese (Eolo-Kometa), at s.t.
Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank to fund US-based development team
After confirming its intention in July to join the Women’s WorldTour for 2022, the Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank squad has announced that it will fund a development squad called Fount Cycling Guild.
Fount is a pre-existing grassroots club based out of Seattle that has more than 90 riders and focuses on rider development. It was founded by former racers David Richter and Jennifer Wheeler, who is a former U.S. national champion on the track.
“As we move Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank up to world tour status, it’s going to leave a void for development level riders in North America. Funding Fount through Silicon Valley Cycling Foundation, (SVCF), a 501c3 [trust] formed to develop promising female athletes into top international competitors, will help fill that void,” team founder Linda Jackson told Voxwomen.
“Jennifer raced for Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank in 2011 and 2012, and we have stayed in touch over the decade since. I think it’s fair to say that Jennifer and I are equal in our passion for helping aspiring female cyclists. We both do have the experience, time, and desire to invest in women. SVCF’s contribution is a start on the funding side, but we are looking for others to step in to help fund the team. There are so many people who are passionate about fixing the discrepancies between men’s and women’s cycling. This is a great way to take action on that issue.”
This is great news for riders who need opportunities to show their strength. @actionlj
Continues her passion by launching the team to WWT and now founding Fount development team. https://t.co/jMYQdzLQgz— Team TIBCO-SVB (@teamTIBCO_SVB) September 28, 2021
Movistar signs Alex Aranburu
Spanish WorldTour team Movistar confirmed that arrival of Alex Aranburu on a three-year deal.
The 26-year-old moves across from Astana-Premier Tech, and gives Movistar additional firepower in the classics, one-day races and reduced bunch sprints in the WorldTour.
“I’m arriving with a lot of motivation to take on the next few seasons,” he said. “I want to grow as a person and as a cyclist, and I hope to improve every year, and between all of us, we can achieve some beautiful things.”
https://twitter.com/Movistar_Team/status/1443123380216123392
World champions Elisa Balsamo and Ellen van Dijk to ride Women’s Tour
Newly crowned world champion Elisa Balsamo is making sure that she gets to show off her new rainbow bands as much as possible before the season comes to a close.
After making her debut in the jersey on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, the Italian will head to the UK for her first stage race as world championships. With plenty of big sprint opportunities, the race could also offer her a first victory in the rainbow bands, too.
Balsamo took the world title in Leuven on Sunday by outsprinting Marianne Vos to the line. The race is likely to be her last for the Valcar-Travel & Service squad as she is set to move to Trek-Segafredo next season.
She will be joined by her soon-to-be teammate and new time trial world champion Ellen van Dijk on the start line on October 4. Van Dijk took victory by 10 seconds to Marlen Reusser on the second day of competition in Flanders.
It was her second TT world title after she took gold in the event in Florence in 2013.