Simon Yates makes a promising start to season in Tirreno-Adriatico
Team BikeExchange leader Simon Yates has hung the race number for the first time in the 2021 season at Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico, the renowned Italian World Tour stage race that fielded arguably one of the most impressive lineups in years. In spite of few racing days in his legs, the Brit showed flashes of brilliancy in several stages, the most remarkable being in the queen stage of the week-long race.
On Saturday, March 13th, 2021, Yates ended in second place in Tirreno-Adriatico stage 4, 148 km from Terni to Prati di Tivo. Exploiting the lightweight of his Specialissima, the Team BikeExchange rider attacked at the chase of Tadej Pogacar, settling for second place.
Simon Yates ended his Tirreno-Adriatico in the GC top-ten, maintaining 10th position in the final time trial stage on Tuesday, March 16th, 2021, supported by the super-aero and fully integrated Aquila frame.
COMBATIVE TEAM BIKEEXCHANGE LIVENS UP PARIS-NICE
Paris-Nice marked the debut of Michael Matthews with the Team BikeExchange colours and his new OltreXR4. During the French stage race, the Australian rider came close to victory in stage 2, on March 8th, 2021, and stage 6, on March 12th, 2021, fighting his way to third place. These two placements were embellished by the yellow jersey worn at the end of the second stage.
After eight solid days of racing, the Team BikeExchange walked away from the 2021 Paris-Nice with many promising signs from GC contender Lucas Hamilton. Riding his Specialissima with a new colour scheme, the 25-year-old rider showed his climbing strength by concluding in fourth place overall.
CHAVES CLOSE TO VICTORY IN VUELTA A CATALUNYA
The TeamBikeExchange climber Esteban Chaves started his 2021 season at Vuelta a Catalunya, immediately showing an excellent shape. In the first climbing test of Valtter 2000 on Wednesday, March 24th, 2021, Chaves attacked to take a solid second place, confirming a good feeling with the Bianchi high-performance all-rounder model Specialissima.
MATTHEWS SPRINTED TO SIXTH PLACE IN MILAN-SANREMO
On Saturday March 20th, 2021, Michael Matthews battled to sixth place in the thrilling Milan-Sanremo finale, confirming his special relationship with the season’s first Monument. After attempting to chase Jasper Stuyven exploiting the aerodynamic skills of OltreXR4, Matthews sprinted to sixth place, delivering his fourth top-ten finish at Milan-Sanremo.
GRACE BROWN RUNNER-UP IN DANILITH NOKERE-KOERSE
On Wednesday, March 17th, 2021, Women’s Team BikeExchange Grace Brown animated the Danilith Noekere-Koerse, 124 km from Deinze to Kruisem, taking second place in a three-way sprint. In rainy and windy race conditions, the Australian rider showed the superbly rigid frame with reactive handling of her Oltre XR4.
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