{"id":76584,"date":"2025-08-19T00:06:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T00:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/76584\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T00:06:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T00:06:19","slug":"eurotrash-mads-ness-in-denmark-vuelta-warm-up-races-and-pogacar-the-superfan-super-fiance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/76584\/","title":{"rendered":"EUROTRASH: Mads-ness in Denmark, Vuelta Warm-up Races \u2014 and Pogacar the Superfan & Super-Fianc\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"

All your pre-Vuelta news in this cycling news roundup, from Pedersen\u2019s mad domination at the Tour of Denmark to a controversy-marred race in Romandie, a breakaway doing what we root for breakaways to do \u2014 and the G.O.A.T. being awfully endearing as he plays fan, fianc\u00e9 and even trash collector.<\/p>\n

TOP STORY:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Madness: Pedersen Dominates Tour of Denmark<\/p>\n

Race News:<\/p>\n

Consonni Sprints to Overall Victory at 3rd Tour de Pologne Women
\nJunior Lecerf Snatches Czech Tour 2025 Victory in Dramatic Final Stage
\nBig Names Headed to Deutschland Tour<\/p>\n

Chabbey Claims Historic Tour de Romandie F\u00e9minin Victory After Final-Day Drama \u2014 and GPS Tracking Controversy<\/p>\n

Townsend Nabs ADAC Cyclassics Crown from De Lie (and the Chasing Peloton)<\/p>\n

Rider and Team News:<\/p>\n

Biniam Girmay Named as United Nations Goodwill Ambassador
\nDries De Bondt Moves to Jayco AlUla
\nSoudal Quick-Step Signs Steff Cras and Fabio Van Den Bossche
\nCharlotte Kool Signs with Fenix-Deceuninck
\nGigante Breaks Femur \u2014 And Is Already Aiming to Return
\nPogi the Fianc\u00e9-Fan<\/p>\n

\"TOP<\/p>\n

Madness: Pedersen Dominates the Tour of Denmark<\/p>\n

It must have been love for his home country that drove Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) to a commanding victory in the rolling five-stage Tour of Denmark.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Opening on the Baltic island of Bornholm, Pedersen launched a breakaway that proved one step beyond the peloton on the Helligpeder climb; Pedersen sprinted expertly to claim Stage 1 and the race leader\u2019s jersey.<\/p>\n

Stage 2 delivered a fast, chaotic sprint finish into Gladsaxe, where S\u00f8ren W\u00e6renskjold of Uno-X Mobility surged to victory. Despite a late-stage crash in the lead-out, Pedersen retained a slender hold on the GC.<\/p>\n

The pivotal Stage 3 was a 14.3 km individual time trial in Kerteminde. Jakob S\u00f6derqvist, another rider from Lidl-Trek, stunned the field with a powerful 15:28 effort to take the win. Pedersen finished third, maintaining a narrow 10-second lead over Niklas Larsen, with S\u00f6derqvist moving into third on GC.<\/p>\n

The queen Stage 4 saw Pedersen launch a long-range solo attack\u2014riding alone for 32 km\u2014to dominate the stage and extend his general classification lead to 58\u2005seconds. So comfortable was Pedersen\u2019s lead at the finish that he was able to celebrate in the middle of the street.<\/p>\n

Finally, in Stage 5 finishing in Silkeborg, Lidl-Trek asserted control in the final circuits. Pedersen mowed down the competition in a reduced sprint, securing his third stage win and sealing overall victory, with S\u00f6derqvist finishing strong and moving up to second, while Niklas Larsen completed the podium.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the week,\u00a0Pedersen\u00a0added: \u201cIt was pretty hard, but with the result, it was nice for sure. And it\u2019s super nice to get Jakob up on the podium as well. Maybe S\u00f8ren also gets onto the podium or he\u2019s really close. That would have been nice to be one, two and three, but let\u2019s say it like this: now Jakob steps up into the big scene where he belongs and, yeah, what a race this Tour of Denmark has been for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heading into the Vuelta, and having missed the Tour de France, Pedersen has sent a message to his strongman rivals, riding like he\u2019s on the wings of a dove.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

RACE NEWS<\/p>\n

Consonni Sprints to Overall Victory at 3rd Tour de Pologne Women<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Italian cyclist Chiara Consonni delivered a dominant performance at the 3rd Tour de Pologne Women, securing overall victory with her sprinting prowess. Throughout the race, Consonni consistently asserted herself at the front; by winning the final stage in Kra\u015bnik, she not only defended her lead but also highlighted her form and determination during the multi-day event.<\/p>\n

\"\"Racing through Poland can evoke riding in France<\/p>\n

Consonni\u2019s triumphs were built on strong teamwork and strategic racing. Her teammates played an essential role in positioning her for sprint finishes, navigating challenging courses, and neutralizing attacks from rivals.<\/p>\n

The event itself was a showcase of international talent and solid racing, further elevating the profile of women\u2019s cycling in Poland and beyond. With live coverage and substantial local support, the race attracted fans and highlighted new talents alongside established names.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Czech\"<\/p>\n

Junior Lecerf Snatches Czech Tour 2025 Victory in Dramatic Final Stage<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Belgium\u2019s Junior Lecerf is the overall winner of the Czech Tour 2025. The 22-year-old Soudal Quick-Step rider produced a\u00a0stunning finale on the fourth and final stage, clawing back time on his main rival Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a\u00a0Bike) to seal overall victory by a\u00a0razor-thin margin of just seven seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so happy. The finale was brutally hard. I\u00a0had to ease up when Cian attacked, otherwise I\u00a0would have blown up. But we managed to come back, and at the end I\u00a0just went all in, like in poker,\u201d laughed Lecerf after his dramatic triumph.<\/p>\n

His decisive moment in the race came with victory on Stage 2 at Dlouh\u00e9 str\u00e1n\u011b, where he capitalized on his experience from the Peace Race to launch a\u00a0perfectly timed attack. Heading into the final stage, he held a\u00a0four-second advantage over Alessandro Fancellu (Team Ukyo) and a\u00a0nine-second buffer over pre-race favourite Uijtdebroeks.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

The 179 km queen stage from Prost\u011bjov featured 2,975 meters of climbing, highlighted by a\u00a0double ascent of the Pustevny climb, where hundreds of fans lined the road. On the final climb, Visma | Lease a\u00a0Bike set a\u00a0fierce tempo for Uijtdebroeks, who launched a\u00a0powerful attack midway through the six-kilometer ascent. He quickly gained a\u00a0gap that, combined with bonus seconds, would have secured him the yellow jersey.<\/p>\n

But in the final meters, Lecerf and Fancellu closed the gap, catching sight of the fading leader. As Uijtdebroeks struggled on the approach to the finish line, the chasers accelerated. Germany\u2019s Jannis Peter (Team Vorarlberg) claimed the stage win, Uijtdebroeks salvaged second place, but the overall victory slipped away \u2014 snatched by his compatriot Lecerf.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u00a0did everything according to plan. As a\u00a0team we worked perfectly. Maybe I\u00a0needed a\u00a0longer climb to gain the time I\u00a0needed. Still, I\u00a0wanted to race aggressively, and I\u00a0did. Hats off to my rival\u2019s performance,\u201d said Uijtdebroeks, who took consolation in winning the Best Young Rider classification.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Lecerf not only claimed the yellow jersey but also secured the green jersey as winner of the points classification. The polka-dot mountains jersey went to Italy\u2019s Nicolo Garibbo (Team Ukyo), while Tom\u00e1\u0161 P\u0159idal (Elkov-Kasper) was the best Czech rider. The team classification was won by Red Bull \u2013 BORA \u2013 Hansgrohe Rookies.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven when I\u00a0had to ease off, I\u00a0tried to keep the gap manageable. When I\u00a0saw Cian ahead of me, I\u00a0gave absolutely everything and sprinted to cut the deficit. This is incredible,\u201d said the jubilant Lecerf, who capped a\u00a0career-defining week in the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chabbey Claims Historic Tour de Romandie F\u00e9minin Victory After Final-Day Drama \u2014 and GPS Tracking Controversy<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

The inaugural three-day 2025 Tour de Romandie F\u00e9minin unfolded from August 15 to 17 across Switzerland\u2019s Romandie region as part of the UCI Women\u2019s WorldTour<\/p>\n

The race began with a dramatic and unfortunate twist: five top squads\u2014including Canyon-SRAM, Lidl-Trek, Visma-Lease a Bike, EF Education-Oatly, and Team Picnic PostNL\u2014were disqualified for refusing to comply with a UCI trial requiring riders to carry GPS safety trackers.\u00a0Their absence reshaped the competition from the outset.<\/p>\n

In Stage 1, Swiss neo-pro Paula Blasi stunned the field with a commanding 4.4 km uphill time trial victory in Villars-sur-Ollon, clocking 11:17 and earning the first yellow jersey.<\/p>\n

Stage 2 tipped the scales. Local favorite Elise Chabbey sprinted clear on the summit finish to win the stage and narrow the overall lead, coming within three seconds of rival Ur\u0161ka \u017digart, who assumed the GC lead heading to the final day.<\/p>\n

On the decisive Stage 3 into Aigle, Chabbey executed a daring descent and perfectly timed attack to steal the overall victory from \u017digart in dramatic fashion\u2014claiming the crown as the first Swiss woman ever to win the race. \u017digart\u2019s ambitions were derailed by a costly cornering error on the descent.<\/p>\n

\"Deutschland<\/p>\n

Big Names Headed to Deutschland Tour\u00a0<\/p>\n

Following last week\u2019s news that Wout van Aert will start the Lidl Deutschland Tour, several other top riders will put their wheels on the prologue start ramp as well, including Tour de France third-place finisher Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) has chosen the Lidl Deutschland Tour for his comeback to racing.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor every German rider, races in Germany are something special. And for me, it\u2019s even more special this year. At the Tour de France, there were so many German fans along the route \u2013 I\u2019m really curious to see what the atmosphere will be like next week,\u201d said Lipowitz.<\/p>\n

Also lining up for the very short first-stage time trial are 2025 revelation Matthew Brennan (Visma Lease a Bike), Tour de France Green Jersey winner Jonathan Milan (Lidl \u2013 Trek), and rival sprinter Kaden Groves (Alpecin \u2013 Deceuninck).<\/p>\n

Fresh from his Tour de Pologne win, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) will contest the general classification, supported by two former Deutschland Tour champions: Nils Politt (2021) and Adam Yates (2022).<\/p>\n

The Lidl Deutschland Tour\u2019s 735 kilometers include time trials, sprints, and many significant climbs, though without high-mountain stages, the overall competition is open to a wide range of riders.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Townsend Nabs ADAC Cyclassics Crown from De Lie (and the Chasing Peloton) \"\" <\/p>\n

In the run-up to ADAC Cyclassics, fans wondered whether a sprinter or a classics specialist would take the win in Hamburg \u2013 but few had a breakaway on their radar, not even the peloton.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, the winner came from the leading group that escaped just a few kilometers into the 207-kilometer race: Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team). The Irish national champion had broken away with Dries De Pooter (Intermarch\u00e9-Wanty), Johan Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ), and Nelson Oliveira (Movistar Team), building a lead of more than five minutes at one point.<\/p>\n

As the race approached the third ascent of the Waseberg, the peloton began to increase the pace significantly, and the gap began to shrink steadily. By the final climb, the breakaway\u2019s lead had been reduced to just 20 seconds with 16 kilometers to go; as the peloton reached M\u00f6nckebergstra\u00dfe, it was just 100 meters behind, but this thin lead proved only enough to catch some of the breakaway.<\/p>\n

Townsend sprinted as if his life depended on it, and managed to hold off Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) and Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) by the narrowest of margins. The crowd of an estimated 150,000 lining the course were treated to a true classic.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

RIDER & TEAM NEWS<\/p>\n

Biniam Girmay Named as United Nations Goodwill Ambassador\"Girmay<\/p>\n

Biniam Girmay has been named the newest National Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This prestigious appointment, Girmay\u2019s status as a global sports icon and his commitment to advocating for climate action and youth empowerment.<\/p>\n

Since the start of his professional cycling career in 2020, the 25-year-old Eritrean has consistently demonstrated the power of sport to inspire and create positive change. His historic achievements on the world stage, including winning Ghent-Wevelgem 2022, a stage in the Giro d\u2019Italia 2022 and three stages and the green jersey in the Tour de France 2024, have brought international attention to Eritrea and the African continent.<\/p>\n

Said Girmay, \u201cI am deeply honored to accept this appointment as UNDP Eritrea\u2019s Goodwill Ambassador. This is not just a personal honor, but a profound responsibility. As UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, I will strive to use my influence for the greater good, advocating for climate action and supporting Eritrea\u2019s sustainable development on the African continent and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Jayco\"<\/p>\n

Dries De Bondt Moves to Jayco AlUla<\/p>\n

Team Jayco AlUla have added experience to their ranks with the addition of former Belgian national champion Dries De Bondt on a two-year deal from 2026.<\/p>\n

The man from Bornem will be the first Belgian rider in nine years to race for the GreenEDGE Cycling men\u2019s setup, and the 34-year-old brings with him a wealth of knowledge after almost a decade of racing in the pro ranks.<\/p>\n

Said De Bondt, \u201cI\u2019ve always seen this team as one of the most outstanding and inspiring teams in the WorldTour \u2014 a team that rides with heart, ambition, and a clear identity. That\u2019s why I\u2019m incredibly proud and excited to be joining them. From next season, I\u2019ll be wearing the beautiful Team Jayco AlUla jersey with pride, ready to give my all and attack the Classics with full commitment and determination.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Header<\/p>\n

Soudal Quick-Step Signs Steff Cras and Fabio Van Den Bossche<\/p>\n

More Soudal Quick-Step transfer news!<\/p>\n

The team remains very much in flux, following the headline-making announcement that Remco Evenepoel would depart for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. The Wolfpack most recently announced the signing of 29-year-old Steff Cras, including this summer\u2019s Tour de France, as well as 24-year old Fabio Van Den Bossche.<\/p>\n

Cras showcased his climbing prowess in earning his first pro victory at this season\u2019s Vuelta a Asturias, and at the Route d\u2019Occitanie, where he finished a solid third overall. Cras also cracked the top ten at the Vuelta a Andalucia, Arctic Race of Norway, and the Tour of Slovenia.<\/p>\n

A professional since 2020, Van Den Bossche is also looking forward to racing for Soudal Quick-Step next season. In his six years as a pro, Fabio has competed in two Grand Tours and three Monuments, helping his leaders achieve their goals while also making a name for himself on the track. His track palmares includes bronze in the Omnium at the 2024 Olympic Games and a total of four medals at the World Championships.<\/p>\n

eTrash Mike sez: The Wolfpack is obviously hoping to return to its heyday of dominance in one-day races, particularly the Northern European classics. But this quantity-over-quality approach likely won\u2019t get the job done: fewer riders are winning more races, with sub-Galacticos only infrequently sneaking in, a la Skjelmose at this year\u2019s Amstel Gold. Seems like the plan is to mass the troops around Tim Merlier \u2014 perhaps while grooming Luke Lamperti as a future leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Charlotte Kool Signs with Fenix-Deceuninck<\/p>\n

Picnic PostNL announced on Friday, August 15, that Charlotte Kool will leave the team with immediate effect. The Dutch sprinter\u2019s departure was confirmed via a press release, and just minutes later her new team, Belgian outfit Fenix\u2013Deceuninck, officially announced her signing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn nearly four seasons together, Charlotte has grown from a reliable lead-out into one of the most impressive sprinters in the peloton,\u201d Picnic PostNL stated. The rider and team parted ways by mutual agreement.<\/p>\n

Speaking about her move, Charlotte Kool said: \u201cI\u2019ve always been very happy at Picnic PostNL and had no reason to leave. However, the interest from my new team presented an appealing challenge that I\u2019m eager to take on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fenix\u2013Deceuninck confirmed the transfer with Kool\u2019s contract running through the end of 2028. \u201cI\u2019m ready for a new chapter in my career,\u201d Kool said. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to race in my new colors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gigante Breaks Femur \u2014 And Is Already Aiming to Return<\/p>\n

Climbing phenom Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal) broke her femur on a training ride, her latest incident in a string of bad luck.<\/p>\n

Gigante had targeted the hilly World Championships Road Race in Rwanda, but will now miss the season-ending race.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

2025 had been Gigante\u2019s first mishap-free year in some time, marked by a second-place finish at the Giro d\u2019Italia Women and a strong sixth-place showing at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Last December Gigante underwent iliac artery surgery \u2014 yet mustered a positive outlook, saying on Instagram, \u201cI\u2019m super disappointed to have broken my femur in training on Thursday (ouch ), but the operation went very well and I\u2019m already counting down until I can eventually ride again\u2026At least the four races I did this year were all great ones\u2026and I sure know how to nail a comeback! For now, it\u2019s time for some R & R and working on my mental resilience even more.<\/p>\n

eTrashMike sez: Nooooo! Such a brutal sport\u2026You have to admire her optimism, but I worry that she\u2019ll descend even more tentatively after this tumble; a broken femur is no joke! Here\u2019s hoping we see Gigante at full strength in the not-too-distant future.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pogi the Fianc\u00e9-Fan<\/p>\n

Who among us hasn\u2019t ridden out to watch a pro race whiz by? PEZ-Fans have pedaled to check out stages of the Tours of California, France and Italy, not to mention one-day races from local crits to Paris-Roubaix.<\/p>\n

So who can have blamed one Tadej Poga\u00e7ar for combining training with fandom (not to mention a fianc\u00e9\u2019s loyalty) by riding to the route of the Tour de Romandie F\u00e9minin? No word if he actually shouted in support of Ur\u0161ka \u017digart \u2014 but he does seem to have collected a\u00a0bidon from rival team Visma | Lease a Bike -? Hmm\u2026<\/p>\n

Urska Zigart (AG Insurance -Soudal Team) actuellement 2\u00e8me du CG. Avec un beau palmar\u00e8s: 5\u00e8me au Giro, 5\u00e8me au Tour de Suisse\u2728\ufe0f
Est encourag\u00e9e par @TamauPogi<\/a> sur les routes du Tour de Romandie!
Venez vous aussi les encourager!\ud83d\udeb2\u2728\ufe0f#tdr<\/a> #tdrf<\/a> #tdrnonstop<\/a> #tdrf2025<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Um9PeoHcce<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tour de Romandie (@TourDeRomandie) August 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The PEZ NEWSWIRE!
Don\u2019t forget to check the \u201cNEWSWIRE\u201d<\/a> section, you can find it on the homepage, just above the PEZ Shop section<\/a>. The bits of news that missed the EuroTrash deadline are in there, plus any news as-it-happens will be added there too.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n


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