A perfect yet bittersweet ending to Alpecin-FENIX’s 2021 road season
It was the road season ending episode that we imagined for the Alpecin-FENIX team: a thrilling victory for one of our riders.
Xandro Meurisse won the Giro del Veneto with an impressive sprint ahead of Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates). The Italian race was held after a 9-year-hiatus in the cycling classic scene. It was a very exciting competition, undefined till the very end when the Belgian rider arrived first after 03:54’:11’’.
Meurisse’s victory closes an outstanding 2021 road season for Alpecin-FENIX. It also sets the tone of the team for the recently started cyclo-cross season.
Celebrations were a bit bittersweet given the fact that Giro del Veneto was Petr Vakoc’s last professional cycling race. After a seven-year-old career, the former Czech champion decided to retire from the professional competitions to focus on new challenges. It’s been a pleasure for all of us to watch Vakoc rise and come back stronger. A huge “In bocca il lupo” on your future endeavors Petr.
Walsleben’s last professional race
The Sparkassen Münsterland Giro, 188.5 kms from Enschede (DE) to Munster (DE), was the last race of Philipp Walsleben as a professional cyclist. He crossed the finish line in 21st position in 4 hours, 14 minutes and 5 seconds, after a thrilling race won by the British Mark Cavendish.
On August 5th, during the stage four of the Tour of Norway, the German rider announced his retirement from professional cycling. He went on winning that race, his second victory of the season after the great success in the opening stage of the Boucles de la Mayenne in France.
Born in Potsdam in 1987, Walseben started his career as professional cyclist in 2002 and has been a part of Alpecin-FENIX team since the 2009 (formerly named BKCP–Powerplus). He competed professionally in road racing but it was cyclo-cross the specialty where he won Under-23 World Championship title in 2009 and the German national title on six occasions. After almost 20 years of professional races he announced his retirement.
Thanks for all the energy and the commitment to the Alpecin-FENIX team Philipp. We wish you good luck in all your new challenges!
