Guillaume Boivin (Israel-Premier Tech) mentioned Monday that he was happy to be healthy to do his job as a teammate. This is once again what he was able to do in the second stage of the Cycling Tour of Catalonia on Tuesday.

Positioned at the front of the peloton with teammates, the Montrealer gritted his teeth for about 2 kilometers to give it his all at the foot of the final 15-kilometre climb, which allowed him to set the table for Ontarian Michael Woods, the protected rider of his team, in this 165 kilometer stage.

Woods finished the work undertaken by his teammates by remaining in the group of favorites to finish the stage in eighth place, 15 seconds behind the winner, the Italian Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo). The latter is ahead of the Slovenian and leader in the standings, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), as well as the Belgian and world champion, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step).

“It’s a good day for the team! commented Boivin, who reached the finish at his own pace, in 139^e place (+17 minutes 34 seconds) in a group of 15 riders.

“We rode well and Mike [Woods] did a nice climb. He is sixth overall, so we will continue in this vein for the rest of the week. We hope it will continue to go well like this for the next steps. »

It was a heartbreaking day for Colombian champion Esteban Chaves (EF Education-Easy Post). Pulling out of the leading group with 6.5 kilometers to go after his group caught up with the last survivor of the day’s breakaway, his team-mate Simon Carr, Chaves appeared to be heading for the stage victory, but he was picked up by the leading trio 500 meters from the line.

Roglic retains the white striped green leader’s jersey 6 seconds ahead of Evenepoel. Woods passes from the 13^e in sixth place, 31 seconds behind the Slovenian.

The peloton will remain in the Pyrenees where the third stage will be presented on Wednesday: 180 kilometers between Olost and the resort of La Molina. Two first category passes and one out of category will punctuate the day.

“It’s the stage with the most elevation gain with a finish in La Molina, so we’re going to rest tonight [mardi], because it will be a difficult stage! concluded Boivin.

It was in good health that Guillaume Boivin (Israel – Premier Tech) was able to play his role as a teammate alongside Michael Woods as the curtain-raiser for the Catalonia Cycling Tour. On Monday, on the 165 kilometer loop on the outskirts of Sant Feliu de Guixols, Boivin supported his compatriot who finished 13^e in the group of favorites.

On the strength of his recent victory at Tirreno-Adriatico, Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) won the sprint in this uphill final ahead of world champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quick Step).

Boivin was proud to have been able to survive the four passes of the day and above all, to have avoided the high-speed crash that occurred just over 5 kilometers from the finish line when the last survivors of the breakaway morning have been caught up.

“It went well! The level of the race is quite high and almost all the best climbers in the world are here,” noted the 2021 Canadian champion.

“It’s not easy in the bumps, but I got through them and took care of Mike (Woods) at the end. We were at the front of the fall and it’s a shame that our teammate Corbin Strong got caught behind. I’m happy to have been able to do my job in the final, so it’s a good start to the lap, “continued the one who was 118^e (+1 min 34 s) to reach the finish.

If the Quebecer was able to stay with Woods until the last ascent, it is mainly because he has regained his health. His last race before Monday was on February 26, so he was unable to finish Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Boivin then found himself on the sidelines after contracting COVID-19 and having back problems.

“It feels good to feel normal and to be at my level (in form) and do my job. »

There will be plenty of work in the peloton for Tuesday’s stage. If the 165 kilometers which will separate Mataro and Vallter are a reasonable distance, the last 15 kilometers of the stage, the Vallter pass, promise to be difficult with a finish at the top of this exceptional pass at an average slope of 6, 7%.

The career of a professional cyclist is like the roads he travels: anything but a long straight line. Turns, climbs, descents, falls and headwinds. After three seasons at Israel-Premier Tech, James Piccoli did not see his contract renewed at the end of last year.

By his own admission, 2022 has been tough for him, despite thinning out his marriage to his longtime girlfriend. The squad’s points race to remain in the fold of the World Tour teams was at the heart of the team’s decisions, as Piccoli recalls.

“The history of UCI points was stressful for a lot of people. I think some handled it well and some didn’t,” says the man who completed the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Tour of Spain, but only competed in a limited number of World Tour level races. last year.

“I had difficulties there. [dans l’équipe], but I have no interest in speaking ill of anyone. I’m happy to change my environment and I’m going to say the same,” agrees Piccoli, without wanting to go into detail.

This departure left him bitter, but the 31-year-old athlete has now moved on: “I want to prove to myself again that the last three years were not my real qualities. [que l’on a pu voir|. Je veux prouver que j’ai encore plus à donner. »

C’est au sein de l’équipe continentale China Glory qu’il compte refaire ses preuves de différentes façons.

Direction la Chine

Après Bahreïn, les Émirats arabes unis, le Kazakhstan, Israël et le Pays basque, c’est au tour de la Chine d’entrer dans le peloton international pour montrer ses couleurs, cette fois sur le maillot de China Glory, une formation qui existe depuis deux ans. L’objectif de l’équipe est clair : faire en sorte qu’au moins un cycliste chinois soit à l’épreuve de la course sur route des Jeux olympiques de Paris, l’an prochain.

Comme c’est souvent le cas dans les sports où elle ne compte pas une expertise interne, la Chine a fait appel à du personnel étranger pour diriger cette structure. L’équipe compte à sa tête le directeur sportif français Lionel Marie, qui a côtoyé Piccoli en 2020 et 2021 chez Israel Start-Up Nation et qui lui a tendu la main.

« Je me suis toujours bien entendu avec lui. Il voulait me donner des chances d’aller chercher de bons résultats, mais aussi que je partage mes expériences de course, d’entraînement et de nutrition avec les coureurs chinois. […] The environment is super positive and I’m happy! continues the one who trains in Andorra, in the Pyrenees.

In addition to Piccoli, China Glory has in its ranks eight Chinese riders, two from France and one from South Africa. The team has already taken part in the Tour du Rwanda, in February, and Piccoli finished 15^e. A result that could have been better according to him, had it not been for mechanical problems that occurred at key moments.

In 2021, the Quebecer was delighted with his first participation in the Tour of Rwanda where he finished second in the general classification.

To ride and see the country

The possibilities of discovery will be even more present for the athlete given that a portion of his racing calendar will take place mainly in Asia, including China, after an enforced three-year break due to the pandemic.

“I’ve always enjoyed shopping abroad to learn about new cultures. There, I learn Chinese in order to communicate with my teammates. It’s something I could never have done without the bike. It’s shaping up to be a super rewarding and interesting year and I’m looking forward to it. »

He should be in the Tour of Turkey in April, if the event can be presented despite the earthquake last month. Piccoli will then be on the Old Continent in May before possibly returning home in June for the Tour de Beauce with the Canadian team and then the Canadian Championships.

James Piccoli has a one-year contract with his new formation and he keeps the door open to a return to a World Tour or Pro Tour team.

“I had negotiations with a few teams last year and depending on my results this year, we will see what will happen at the end of the year. I still have a passion for cycling and the fire is burning, so we’ll see where it takes me. […] I see it as an opportunity to fall in love with racing again, to have new experiences and to give back to the sport to runners who want to learn. »