Antoine Demoitié in action at E3 Harelbeke.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) raises his arms in victory on the podium at Gent-Wevelgem(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Nairo Quintana (Movistar)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) wins stage 2 time trial at Criterium International(Image credit: ASO)
2016 champion Criterium International Thibaut Pinot (FDJ)(Image credit: ASO)
Gent-Wevelgem
We start with the tragic news of the death of Antoine Demoitié. The 25-year-old Wanty-Groupe Gobert rider was involved in a crash with four other riders with roughly 115km left to race and reports indicate that Demoitié was then struck by a race motorbike. He was taken to hospital but later died of his injuries.
"Antoine Demoitié passed away last night after a terrible accident in Gent-Wevelgem," the team said in a press release on Monday morning. "The entire team is in disbelief, shock, angry and sad because of the loss of Antoine. Our thoughts go out to his wife, family and friends."
Cyclingnews would like to express their sincere condolences to Demoitié’s family, friends, loved ones and teammates.
In the race, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) claimed his first win the season, out-sprinting Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo), Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Katusha) and Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) after the group formed on the final ascent of the Kemmelberg. Etixx-QuickStep led the chase but they were unable to eat into break’s advantage and Sagan was finally able to win in the rainbow jersey.
In the women’s race Chantal Blaak continued Boels-Dolmans’ dominance in the spring classics with another commanding performance. With 10 kilometres remaining, Blaak, already a winner of several races this season, slipped clear of a 20-strong group and held off the chase with Lisa Brennauer (Canyon-SRAM) edging out Lucinda Brand (Rabo-Liv) for second.
Volta a Catalunya
To Spain and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) laid down an impressive marker in front of his Tour de France rivals with overall victory in the Volta a Catalunya.
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One Tour de France contender not at the Volta a Catalunya was Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) and the Frenchman put in a timely reminder of his credentials with two stage wins and the overall at the Critérium International in Corsica.
The Frenchman did more than enough to hold his lead, winning on the Col de l'Ospedale ahead of Pierre-Roger Latour (AG2R La Mondiale) and former teammate Arnold Jeannesson (Cofidis)
Cyclingnews would like to express their sincere condolences to Myngheer’s family, friends, loved ones and teammates.
Heading into the weekend Sergey Firsanov (Gazprom-Rusvelo) held a 7-second lead over Mauro Finetto (Unieuro Wilier) in the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali.
Firsanov finished safely in the peloton on Saturday’s stage 3 – won by young Italian Jakub Mareczko (Southeast) – and on the final stage, despite several attacks, the Gazprom rider secured the overall title.
Stefano Pirazzi (Bardiani CSF) won the final stage with a solo attack, while the overall podium was completed by Mauro Finetto (Unieuro Wilier) and Gianni Moscon (Team Sky).
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