Cycling: The 2019 road bike season is largely over. As the pros take their well-deserved break and prepare for the year ahead, let's take a look back. Because: Also in 2019 there were some cycling highlights to marvel at. In our first of three parts, we focus on places #10 to #7.
10) Remco Evenepoel enters the professional cycling stage
With young athletes we have to be careful with superlatives. But at Remco Evenepoel we can't do without them. The 19-year-old Belgian is undoubtedly one of the greatest talents of all time. He was already able to prove this in 2019 – in his first professional season. 24 top 10 results are on the books, including nine wins of the season if we include Hammer Series results. The talent of the century was particularly impressive midway through the season with fourth place overall on the Presidential Tour of Turkey and his overall victory on the Belgium Tour. Even the hour record holder Victor Campenaerts could no longer hold the rear wheel of Remco Evenepoel. On the Deutschland Tour, the exceptional athlete began one of his already notorious solos. Although not crowned with success, the spectators were amazed. Remco Evenepoel finally arrived in the world class in August and September. After he die Classica San Sebastián won, he secured the time trial European champion title and was only a few days later Vice World Champion. As I said: Remco Evenepoel is not without superlatives.
9) Primoz Roglic beats Adam Yates at Tirreno-Adriatico by 0,31 seconds
The spectators were treated to pure excitement this year Tirreno-Adriatico experience - and without a single mountain finish. After seven stages and a total of over 1.000 kilometers, only 0,31 seconds were to decide overall victory. Buttoned in the final time trial of San Benedetto del Tronto Primois Roglic the previous leader Adam Yates the shirt off anyway. This means that the tour can probably be described as the tightest multi-stage race of the season. For Primoz Roglic it was also the start of an extremely impressive season. After winning the Tirreno-Adriatico and the UAE Tour, the Slovenian also won the Tour de Romandie and the Vuelta a Espana. At the end of the year he was rightly number 1 in the world rankings.
8) Mads Pedersen, Matteo Trentin & Stefan Küng characterize the World Championship road race
The rainbow jersey is every professional cyclist's dream. Just being one of the favorites is an accolade for eternity. But at that Road World Championship 2019 shouldn't the favorites decide the title among themselves. Rather, in bad weather conditions, a group was able to break away, keeping the well-known favorites at a distance. Only Mathieu van der Poel managed to catch up and fight for the medals. But shortly before the finish, the top favorite ran out of breath. He had to let his companions go and was eventually even passed by the chasing group. So on the home straight three people fought for gold, which hardly anyone had in mind before the start. The Italian surprisingly lost Matteo Trentin in the sprint to the Dane Mads Pedersen. The Swiss Stefan Kung secured bronze.
7) Wout van Aert demonstrates his versatility at the Critérium du Dauphiné
Definitely a driver of the season Wout van Aert. The 25-year-old Belgian impressed spectators and competitors with his versatility. This was particularly visible with the Critérium du Dauphiné. There he won a time trial and a mass sprint. In addition, he did not let himself be shaken off on hilly terrain. Not bad for someone who comes from the crosser scene and actually focuses on the one-day classics. He crowned his strong season with a Stage win in the Tour de France. Unfortunately, he also experienced the darkest moment of his career at the Grand Boucle. In the individual time trial, he grazed the barriers in a right-hand bend and was seriously injured. He's still on his way back. Once there, it will cause a sensation again in 2020 - no matter what the terrain.