Tour de Wallonie 2.Pro
Belgium is widely regarded as the heartland of international cycling. Being invited to race there is a mark of recognition in itself. With its first-ever invitation to the Tour de Wallonie, BIKE AID reached another important milestone in its development. Racing alongside the world's biggest WorldTour teams in front of thousands of passionate Belgian cycling fans, the Saarland-based professional team once again demonstrated how firmly it has established itself on the international professional cycling stage.
Four demanding stages across the legendary roads of the Ardennes challenged the riders with rain, wind and numerous crashes. Throughout the race, BIKE AID performed as a united team and repeatedly put its riders in strong positions. On several occasions, a top result seemed within reach before mass crashes in the final kilometers dramatically changed the outcome of the stages. In particular, Nahom Efriem and Victor Vidal lost realistic chances of top placings on stages three and four due to these incidents.
Nevertheless, the team takes many positives away from Belgium. Competing against some of the best teams in the world, BIKE AID demonstrated that it can be competitive even at this level.
Mercan'Tour Classic 1.1
At the same time, a second squad represented BIKE AID at the Mercan'Tour Classic in the French Maritime Alps. There, the riders faced significantly longer climbs and an extremely selective race. Lennard Sternsdorff animated the race early on as part of a breakaway group before the event turned into a brutal elimination race for the climbers in the final.
One rider in particular stood out: Saarland native Máté Balázs. In one of the toughest races of his career so far, he showcased his climbing abilities and held his own for a long time against far more experienced mountain specialists.
Next Stops: Switzerland and the Pyrenees
There is little time to recover for BIKE AID. This weekend the team heads to Switzerland for the Grand Prix Gippingen, followed by the Route d'Occitanie in the French Pyrenees. Once again, BIKE AID has received an invitation and will line up against numerous Tour de France teams.
