UCI President Brian Cookson published an open letter following the tragic death of Antoine Demoitié, injured during the Gent-Wevelgem Classic. He promised the UCI would work with the relevant authorities to investigate the accident and to continue the UCI’s already ongoing efforts to try to improve safety in road racing.
Reigning UCI World Champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) claimed a spectacular lone victory in the centenary edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, fending off three-time winner Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) to take his first ever Monument victory. Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo) was third. Sagan had already won the Gent-Wevelgem Classic earlier this season and finished second in the E3 Harelbeke.
As of April 4th, Peter Sagan continues as leader of the UCI WorldTour individual ranking. With 329 points, he has increased his advantage over second-placed Richie Porte (BMC Racing Team), who has 222 points. In the UCI WorldTour nations ranking, season-long leaders Australia stay in the top spot with 450 points, whilst Belgium are in second place with 431 points and Slovakia move into third with 329 points. Tinkoff continues to lead in the UCI WorldTour teams ranking.
As of March 27th, Sagan leads the UCI World Ranking with 1,645 points pushing BMC Racing Team’s Greg Van Avermaet (1,338 points) into second place. Richie Porte (1,048 points) remains in third.
The 2016 UCI WorldTour has now completed 5,146 kilometres.
Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco > Monday April 4th - Saturday April 9th Paris-Roubaix > Sunday April 10th
2015 Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) 2. Sergio Henao (COL) 3. Ion Izaguirre (ESP)
2015 Paris-Roubaix
1. John Degenkolb (GER) 2. Zdenek Stybar (CZE) 3. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL)
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Paris-Roubaix
One of cycling’s five Monument Classics, Paris-Roubaix is defined by its sectors of cobbles, known as pavés. Every year there are roughly 50-60 kilometres of pavés throughout the course. This year, the 257.5km race will include 52.8km of pavés, divided into 28 sectors. The longest of these sectors is 3.7 kilometres at Quievy, situated at km 107; the shortest, 300 metres, is the last before the finish at Roubaix.
The winner receives a cobblestone (pavé) as a trophy.
Roger de Vlaeminck and Tom Boonen are the record holders for victories in Paris-Roubaix, with four each.
After finishing in Roubaix velodrome, riders traditionally use the building’s changing rooms and showers, where each stall features a plaque bearing a former winner’s name.
One of the oldest races in cycling, Paris-Roubaix began in 1896 and has only ever been cancelled during the two World Wars.
Since 1968, the start has been in Compiègne, 85 kilometres north of Paris.
Considered one of the toughest one-day races to win, Paris-Roubaix has two nicknames: The Queen of the Classics, and ‘Hell of the North’.
Fabian Cancellara
Born on March 18th, 1981, in Wohlen bei Bern, Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional cyclist who rides for the UCI WorldTour team Trek - Segafredo. Professional since 2001, Cancellara is a gifted Classics and time trial specialist who has won Paris-Roubaix three times and scored as many victories in the Ronde van Vlaanderen. He has also won four UCI World Champion titles in the time trial at Elite level and two as a junior. Other notable one-day victories include Milano-Sanremo in 2008, three wins in the E3 Harelbeke and no less than eleven national titles in the road race and time trial. In stage racing, Cancellara has taken outright wins in both Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour de Suisse as well as seven stages of the Tour de France. He has also led the Tour de France for 29 days - a record for any rider who has not won the Tour outright - and won three stages of the Vuelta a España, which he led in 2009.
Major wins
Stage races:
2016: Tirreno-Adriatico, stage
2015: Tirreno-Adriatico, stage / Tour of Oman, stage
2013: Vuelta a España, stage / Osterreich Rundfahrt, stage
2012: Tour de France, stage / Tirreno-Adriatico, stage
2011: Tour de Suisse, two stages / Tour de Luxembourg, stage / Tirreno-Adriatico, stage
2010: Tour de France, two stages / Tour de Suisse, stage
2009: Vuelta a España, two stages / Tour de France, stage/ Tour de Suisse, overall and two stages / Tour of California, stage
2008: Tour de France, stage / Tour de Suisse, two stages / Tour de Luxembourg, stage / Tirreno-Adriatico, overall and stage / Tour of California, stage
2007: Tour de France, two stages / Tour de Suisse, two stages
2006: Post Danmark Rundt, overall and two stages / Volta a Catalunya, stage / Tirreno-Adriatico, stage
2005: Tour de Luxembourg, stage / Setmana Catalana, stage / Paris-Nice, stage
2004: Tour de France, stage / Tour de Luxembourg, stage
2003: Tour de Suisse, stage / Tour de Romandie, stage
One-day races:
2016: Strade Bianche - Eroica
2014: Swiss National Championships, time trial / Ronde van Vlaanderen
2013: Swiss National Championships, time trial / Paris-Roubaix / Ronde van Vlaanderen / E3 Harelbeke
2012: Swiss National Championships, time trial
2011: Swiss National Championships, road race / E3 Harelbeke
2010: Road World Championships, time trial / Paris-Roubaix / Ronde van Vlaanderen / E3 Harelbeke
2009: Road World Championships, time trial / Swiss National Championships, road race
2008: Olympic Games Time Trial / Swiss National Championships, time trial / Milano-Sanremo
2007: Road World Championships, time trial / Swiss National Championships, time trial
2006: Road World Championships, time trial / Swiss National Championships, time trial / Paris-Roubaix
2005: Swiss National Championships, time trial
2004: Swiss National Championships, time trial
Speciality: One day races, time trials
On the 4th of April we are 124 days from the Olympic Games in Rio.
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