Chain Links: Groenewegen threatened, van der Poel confident & more, January 27, 2021

TÊTE DE LA COURSE

Welcome to Chain Links here at The Podium Cafe, a selection of cycling news links from across the internet. I do the work so that you don’t have to.

Today we’ve news of Cyclocross and more race cancellations, of a rider whose family was threatened because of him causing a wreck, and a report of a retired female rider who states she’s being blackballed because she modeled for Playboy, plus much more.

A note about Chain Links: The descriptions of the links are pulled directly from the meta information provided by the sources. The ones in italics are from translated pages.

GRUPPO COMPATTO

E3 Harelbeke is organized without an audience and VIPs: “We can’t wait” Sporza - The corona virus should not completely thwart the plans of the E3 Harelbeke - henceforth E3 Saxo Bank Classic - this year. The race will be organized on March 26, but strict corona measures apply. “We do not take any risks”, the organization says.

The GP Denain and Tour of Murcia are also (temporarily?) Removed from the calendar - Sporza - The corona virus continues to affect the peloton. In recent days, one preparatory race after another has been canceled, in France the GP Denain (1.Pro) is already throwing the towel. Remarkable: the race was normally only driven in less than 2 months. Bad news also came from Spain.

OFFICIAL: World Championship cyclocross in Ostend continues with stricter measures - Sporza - Good news for cyclists, cyclists and the many cyclocross fans. After intensive consultation between the city, Flemish Minister of Sport Ben Weyts, the UCI and Belgian Cycling, Ostend will be the scene of the Cyclocross World Championships on 30 and 31 January. Extra measures will apply on and around the course, so that the World Cup will take place in the safest conditions.

Mathieu van der Poel is not afraid of the sand: “The strongest will soon be in the front” - Sporza - In a video message from his Alpecin-Fenix ​​team, Mathieu van der Poel (26) previewed the cyclocross World Championships in Ostend next weekend. The Dutchman expects an exciting battle. “But mistakes are made more quickly in the sand.”

Mathieu van der Poel sees advantages of the World Cup course: ‘Easier to drive at the front’ - Telegraaf.nl - That is what the 25-year-old Alpecin-Fenix ​​rider wants to do on the sand course, where he feels in his element. “I have trained a lot in the sand, but I do that even when there is no competition on that surface. I think it’s a nice way to train ”, says Van der Poel in a video message on the official Alpecin-Fenix ​​twitter account.

Van der Poel and Alvarado can ‘just’ defend their world title in Ostend - Telegraaf.nl - The world title battle cyclocross in Ostend will continue next weekend. The Belgian coastal city reports this on the website. However, stricter measures have been announced. Doubts had arisen about the continuation of the World Cup after an outbreak of the South African variant of the corona virus was detected in Ostend.

Groenewegen: ‘Death threats for me and our son’ - La Gazzetta dello Sport - The Dutch sprinter in the Tour of Poland caused Jakobsen’s very serious fall: “The police had put me under guard”

Simon Yates: “Seeing two brothers as rivals will be an incentive” - ​​AS.com - The winner of the 2018 La Vuelta will be measured in 2021 with Adam, his twin, who went to Ineos. The Briton aspires to the Olympic gold in Tokyo.

Surprising! Giro d’Italia champion made an unexpected decision - El Tiempo - He is one of the most important cyclists in the current peloton.

Dylan Groenewegen was sent a noose after a horror crash with Fabio Jakobsen - Telegraaf.nl - Groenewegen ended up in the dangerous fast mass sprint in Katowice in Poland in a duel with fellow countryman Fabio Jakobsen, who then crashed hard and even ended up in an artificial coma with numerous injuries.

Cycling: she had to be a sports director, she was fired for a report on Playboy ... - La Gazzetta dello Sport - Former pro Tara Gins: “I want to be valued for my qualities, not photos. The president of the Under 23 team told me that ... “

Aru will not compete in the cyclocross World Championship: ‘But I lived a special month’ - La Gazzetta dello Sport - The Sardinian gave up after talking to coach Scotti: “I was very well received, I did six races, but the blue would be too much: it would be right to give way to those who invest all year in this discipline. I’ll be back for sure “

Bardet: “I am no longer the only leader at team DSM” = WielerFlits - Romain Bardet is pleased to be able to start a new chapter in his career at Team DSM with a clean slate. The 30-year-old Frenchman came over from AG2R La Mondiale last winter. It is not yet known in which races Bardet will be at the start. He may be driving some spring classics again.

HORS CATÉGORIE

Retired Belgian pro refused DS work on men's team because of 'inappropriate' photos - Cycling Weekly - Tara Gins says an unnamed men's team revoked a verbal agreement for work in light of 'inappropriate' photos taken during a paid modelling shoot

Zdeněk Štybar to race UCI World Cyclocross Championships – VeloNews.com - Three-time cyclocross worlds winner is given leave from Deceuninck-Quick-Step camp to race in championship event this weekend.

Zwift launches Black Celebration Series to commemorate ‘Black history, athletes, heritage and joy’ - Cyclingnews - The year-long series of events kicks off in February and includes special guests and social rides

Amateur rider banned for four years after positive doping test for salbutamol - Cycling Weekly - The rider has now sought legal advice and has been comparing the case to Chris Froome’s 2017 Adverse Analytical Finding

Grand (Tour) Plans: Who’s racing where in 2021 - Cyclingnews - Pogačar aims for Tour de France and Vuelta, Pinot and Nibali target the Giro d’Italia, Froome could ride both

Here are the first major races of the 2021 season (still scheduled to go ahead) - Cycling Weekly - With some early-season races being cancelled, here are the first races featuring big-name riders.