COMMUNIQUÉ
Shortly after coming back to Europe from the Tour Down Under, Peter Sagan met Pope Francis at the Ponti f’s weekly Wednesday audience at the Vatican. Standing with his parents, wife and baby son, the three-time world champion presented the Pope with a bike in the colours of the Holy See and a signed rainbow jersey.
49 km The distance neo-pro Kristo fer Halvorsen completed on his debut for Team Sky at the People’s Choice Classic criterium. He crashed and fractured his hand in the inal kilometre.
Quick-Step Floors riders Laurens de Plus and Petr Vakoc were rear-ended by a truck while altitude training in South Africa. Bob Jungels was also training with them but escaped injury. De Plus, who cartwheeled over a precipice at Il Lombardia, suffered cuts and bruises. Vakoc also suffered fractured vertebrae, jeopardising his build-up to the hilly Classics.
“The glimpse I allow you through social media is something I do freely but leaves me seriously concerned for the safety of our haven we call home” Katusha’s Alex Dowsett writing online, after his home was burgled and his one- of-a-kind Canyon Speedmax time trial bike was stolen
47 °C The soaring temperature recorded during stage three of the Tour Down Under. In anticipation of the searing heat, the organisers shortened the stage to Victor Harbor by 26km.
Durable sprinter Bryan Coquard said he was “very disappointed” ASO overlooked his brand new Vital Concept squad for a Tour wildcard spot before they had even had a chance to pin a number on. French ProContinental teams Co idis, FortuneoSamsic and Direct-Energie and the Belgian WantyGroupe Gobert squad got the nod.
80 % Amount of Orica-Scott’s annual budget that’s spent on wages for riders and team sta f, according to team manager, Shayne Bannan.
WHY SO SERIOUS Peter Sagan’s new tattoo, which is a selfportrait depicted as Heath Ledger’s Joker character in Batman, got its grand unveiling at the Tour Down Under. Sagan’s manager, Gabriele Uboldi has a similar tattoo… on the inside of his thigh.
“I THINK I’M READY” Wout Poels threw his hat into ring as one of Sky’s grand tour leaders if Froome is barred from the Giro and Tour. He said a quick resolution to Froome’s salbutamol case would be “best for everyone,” so the peloton “know where they stand”. He also said he was at the age – 30 – to lead the line. “Last season I finished sixth in the general standings of the Vuelta, which gave me a lot of confidence.”
Classics man John Degenkolb won on his season debut at the Trofeo Campos, Porreres, Felanitx, Ses Salines in late January. The victory marked better fortunes for the German. He was hospitalised with breathing problems in September, forcing him to miss the Worlds. “It’s a fantastic feeling. After all that has happened at the end of last year, this is a big relief.”
1 cm The amount shorter in height Jan Bakelants is since his crash at Il Lombardia last year. The Belgian rider, who broke four ribs and fractured his vertebrae when he fell over a barrier and down a ravine during the race, realised the di ference when he went for a bike itting.
7 The number of South African time trial titles Daryl Impey now has after winning the 2018 race
Despite being tipped as a future American star, Adrien Costa has con irmed he won’t race in 2018 with Hagens Berman Axeon and will continue his hiatus from the sport. The 20-year- old, who rode as a stagiaire with Etixx- Quick Step in 2016, announced he was taking a break from racing in July last year, citing fatigue and a desire to ind a balance in his life. “I’m just not ready to come back yet,” Costa said.
Video referees have been given the goahead in grand tours, monuments and the World Championships, to help commissaires on the course deal with major incidents that occur during the race. The extra o icials will watch the race live via television, looking for rule infringements. They can assist with decisions such as that which saw Peter Sagan disquali ied from the Tour de France last year.
12 The number of riders who returned Adverse Analytical Findings at the Vuelta Ciclista International a Costa Rica in December 2017, including the race winner.
The incident in which Gianni Moscon is alleged to have deliberately caused FDJ rider Sebastian Reichenbach to crash in Tre Valli Varesine on 3 October has been referred to the UCI’s Disciplinary Commission for judgement. Reichenbach su fered a fractured elbow and pelvis and the Italian could face a suspension if found guilty.