Cycling highlights: This month, the professional cyclists will no longer compete in races. Time for us to look back at the highlights from February.
Hinze is crowned Gold Emma in Berlin
Three gold medals at a World Championship speak for themselves. When that happens on home soil, the moments are all the more unforgettable. Emma Hinze achieved this at the 2020 Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin. The 22-year-old won gold in the team sprint, the individual sprint , and the keirin.
EF dominates the Tour Colombia
The number 3 also dominated for Team EF in Colombia. The American team managed to sweep the entire podium of the Tour Colombia overall standings in their own colors. After winning the team time trial at the start of the race, Sergio Higuita, Daniel Felipe Martínez, and Jonathan Klever Caicedo finished in the top three positions. Such an impressive result is a first for Team EF itself – and thus guaranteed to be one of the cycling highlights of February.
Quintana is back to normal
Nairo Quintana is already one of the surprise comeback riders of the season. After three rather bumpy years, the Colombian has already achieved five victories in 2020. His wins in February at the Tour de La Provence up Mont Ventoux and at the Tour du Haut-Var on the Col d'Eze were particularly impressive. There, he dominated the mountain finishes and gained considerable time on his competitors.
Ackermann wins the Sprint Royal
There aren't many clashes between the world's best sprinters in a single season. However, the UAE Tour saw most of these fast men compete against each other. And who won? Pascal Ackermann! The 2018 German champion won the opening stage and immediately took over the leader's jersey. For us, definitely a cycling highlight of February.
Pogacar starts 2020 as he left 2019
Another rider who has had a very strong start to the 2020 season – and thus earned a place in our cycling highlights – is Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian impressed at the Vuelta a España last year and seems determined to continue in the same vein this year. Two stage wins and the overall victory at the Vuelta a Valencia were impressive. We were particularly amazed by his uphill sprint victory against Alejandro Valverde on the second stage. He also had reason to celebrate on the fifth stage of the UAE Tour, climbing the Jebel Hafeet. A new top general classification contender is definitely emerging – and the guy is only 21.
Don't remember the last time I saw Valverde losing an uphill sprint like this after getting it handed to him on a silver platter. It's a new world... pic.twitter.com/t70muQwQuM
— Mikkel Condé v2.0 (@mrconde) February 6, 2020