Cycling: The EF Education – Nippo team has won the prize for the most extravagant jersey on the WorldTour for years. In 2021, however, they proved that the professionals in this team can also race very successfully.
EF Education - Nippo 2021: Many drivers with good development
A few years ago, the management of EF Education – Nippo said what many wouldn't dare: "We don't want to be the best team, but the coolest." With numerous appearances both on and off the road, the team has indeed managed to win a special place in the hearts of the fans. But the strong results of the 2021 season give hope that they can be just as successful as they are cool. This is particularly evident year after year with Rigoberto Uran. The Colombian was so strong at the Tour de Suisse that he was immediately declared a favorite for the Tour de France. He won the time trial in Switzerland and finished second overall, then went on to finish tenth overall at the Tour de France.
Magnus Cort Nielsen had his best year to date . The Dane won a stage at Paris-Nice and three at the Vuelta a España. There, he once again proved that he's not only a sprinter but also a more than capable climber. Neilson Powless developed into a serious Grand Prix contender. The American finished fifth in the UAE Tour, fourteenth in the Tour de Suisse, and won the one-day Clásica San Sebastián, a result that speaks volumes about his strong recovery after the Tour de France. He then almost caused a sensation at the World Championships, finishing fifth in the road race.
Hugh Carthy was already considered a strong general classification rider before the start of this season, a fact he underlined with an eighth-place finish at the Giro d'Italia. However, the Briton failed to take a step forward this year. Stefan Bissegger, on the other hand, made that leap. The Swiss rider won time trials at Paris-Nice and the Benelux Tour, establishing himself as one of the strongest time trialists in the world. Amidst all the team's successes, we mustn't forget that the Italian Alberto Bettiol also won a stage at the Giro d'Italia – in impressive fashion.
EF Education – Nippo 2022: 4 men fewer but stronger
As things stand, 14 riders are leaving Team EF Education – Nippo. In return, 10 new riders have been signed. The most prominent departures are Sergio Higuita, Sebastian Langeveld, Tejay van Garderen , and Jens Keukeleire. Although these names are familiar to many cycling fans, they were not responsible for the team's success in recent months. Therefore, despite the high number of departures, they are manageable, and the team's character will remain unchanged. The new signings fit perfectly into the team's concept and are arguably even stronger in terms of quality. Moreover, the roster already includes riders with considerable potential, such as the German Jonas Rutsch, who has already made a positive impression in several one-day races.
Esteban Chaves, with his good humor and broad grin, is sure to infect the entire team. At the same time, the Colombian hopes to rediscover his former strength in the mountains. Merhawi Kudus and Odd Christian Eiking have also become respected climbers and are ideally suited to be support riders in the mountains or for long breakaway attempts. Owain Doull and Łukasz Wiśniowski will bolster the sprinters and classics specialists. With Marijn van den Berg, Sean Quinn, Ben Healy, and the German Georg Steinhauser , the team management is significantly rejuvenating the squad. The future looks bright for EF Education – Nippo – both in terms of its cool factor and its potential for success.