VN ticker: Giro d’Italia confirms start in Hungary for 2022, Geraint Thomas close to re-upping with Ineos

Giro d’Italia confirms ‘big start’ in Hungary for 2022

Giro d’Italia officials confirmed the 2022 edition will begin in Hungary.

The 2020 edition was supposed to start with three stages in Budapest and nearby areas, but COVID-19 forced organizers’ hands. The last two editions of the Giro remained within Italian borders.

On Wednesday, Giro officials will unveil course details for the “Grande Partenza” stages, with Budapest serving as the backdrop for the opening stage of the 2022 edition set for May 6-29. The remainder of the route will be revealed at a later date.

Ex-pro Nicolas Roche and Hungarian rider Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), who rode in the pink jersey for three stages in this year’s Giro, will both be present at the official ceremony. Hungary will mark the 14th edition of the Giro starting beyond Italy, and the first foreign start since the Giro began in Israel in 2018.

Geraint Thomas close to deal to stay with Ineos Grenadiers

Geraint Thomas is poised to sign a contract extension to stay with Ineos Grenadiers after what he described as “tough” negotiations.

The 2018 Tour de France champion told BBC Wales he is close to agreeing on a two-year deal with Ineos, the UK outfit he joined in 2010.

“It’s pretty much done but it’s still not signed, so I don’t want to curse it,” Thomas told BBC Sport Wales.

“It’s hard. I’ve had to separate the emotional and the business side of things. I’ve known Dave [Brailsford, Ineos team boss] since 2003 and that relationship is obviously a good one, but he has his bosses and his agenda, and there’s me and what my family want.

“So it’s been tough. It’s been the worst one [contract] to redo because there’s been a lot going on, but I’m happy that it’s finally almost done,” he said. “Once it’s announced, we can move on and I can concentrate on getting fit and riding my bike.”

Łukasz Wiśniowski joins EF Education-Nippo

Łukasz Wiśniowski is the latest rider to join the EF Education-Nippo roster for 2022, the team confirmed.

“I’m still hungry for more,” said Wiśniowski, who joins from Qhubeka-NextHash. “When I was a kid, I always watched Omloop, Paris-Roubaix, and the Tour of Flanders. It was those three races I was dreaming about. The biggest goal is to win Paris-Roubaix. You always have to look at the highest goal and focus on it. That would be my dream from childhood. You feel it straight away. The cobbles suit me.”

Jonathan Vaughters, team CEO, notes Wiśniowski’s experience as an asset.

“Łukasz sort of balances out the influx of young talent into the team in 2022,” Vaughters said. “We needed a couple of hard core, stalwart guys that know the job, that know how to get the work done in the classics. Łukasz has actually produced some great results on his own in the classics as well. He’s the foundation of the team, the guy you’re bringing in to steady the ship. An experienced rider, he’s been around, knows the races, knows how to work for a leader, knows how to race for himself. The foundation of a team is having guys like him who can get the grunt work done.”

Egan Bernal and Peter Sagan to race Giro d’Italia criterium in Dubai on November 6

2021 Giro d’Italia overall champion Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) and points classification winner Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) will be on the starting line of the Giro d’Italia Criterium, on November 6, in Dubai.

“We are delighted to be hosting the first-ever Giro d’Italia Criterium with the Italian pavilion [at the Expo 2020] and RCS Sport,” said vice president of events and entertainment at Expo 2020 Dubai Kevin Brown. “Our partnership with RCS Sport unites a shared purpose of international cooperation towards a healthier, happier, and safer planet, and is a fantastic addition to Expo 2020’s full sports, fitness, and wellbeing program.”

Taking on 30 laps of a 2.1-kilometer course at the Expo 2020 Dubai at the Dubai Exhibition Center, they will also be joined by Elia Viviani (Cofidis), Giro KOM winner Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R-Citroën), and Olympic team pursuit gold medalist and world time trial champion Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), who also won two stages at the 2021 Giro.

The route is shaped like the iconic Giro d’Italia “Amore Infinito” trophy, which will be on display at the expo.

“We are very, very happy to officially announce this today. Everyone is happy about this. This is a very important event for us especially. It has been planned for a long time ago between the government of Italy, the Italy Pavilion, with Expo 2020, to do a special thing and bring Giro d’Italia to Dubai,” said Dubai Sports Council secretary general Saeed Hareb.

David Lipscomb to consult for USA Cycling on DEI and organizational development initiatives

David Lipscomb, the CEO and head coach at CIS Training Systems, LLC, will serve at least a one-year term as USAC’s DEI and organizational development consultant.

“David has both a deep understanding of our sport and extensive leadership development skills. The fact that he’s an outsider with this knowledge gives him the kind of objectivity and independence we need as an organization to drive staff and leadership performance and commitment to DEI initiatives. He’s also frank and cuts to the chase, and that’s exactly what we need,” said USA Cycling CEO Rob DeMartini.

While Lipscomb will act as an independent contractor, he will serve as a member of the leadership team reporting to DeMartini.

Having previously served as vice president of diversity and inclusion at Sovereign Bank where he created the banking institution’s diversity playbook, Lipscomb brings 10 years of leadership and organizational development expertise to USAC.

He recently conducted the first in a series of Cycling Inclusion Conference talks with USAC with the support of SRAM, Strava, Allied Cycle Works, Trek, Canyon, Vittoria, Hyperice, People for Bikes, Goodr, ZWIFT, and others