Are We Finishing in that Crucial UCI Top 30? | August Madness Ep. 4

August Madness comes to an end! 🔥 In this final episode, we show once more how crucial every single race is in these last months of the season. With the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen (1.1) on the menu, every UCI point counts.

Watch how Lukas Kubis fights for a place on the podium on the iconic Muur, while Tomas sees a big opportunity slip away.

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Welcome to the final episode of our minieries, August Madness. This video is going to be a little different from the previous ones. Yes, we will give you some race insights. So good to follow. [ __ ] But the main question we want to answer is, are we actually going to finish in the top 30 of the UCI ranking? And to be honest, right away, it’s impossible to fully answer that question because the season isn’t over yet. But that’s no reason to skip this video because what I’m about to explain will definitely make sure you will closely follow the final of this cycling season. We have explained a couple of times why the UCI ranking is so important, but just to be clear once more, a spot in the top 30 of the UCI ranking is required if we want to ride a grand tour next year. On our journey towards the tour to France, riding a grand tour next season is a huge milestone. So, finishing outside the top 30 could mean a delay in our plans. Right now, we are still in the 26th place. So, you might think, “Don’t worry, boss. The gap is big enough.” But trust me, our competitors know exactly what they are doing. In third, the rider you just saw finishing third is David Pigzoli, a rider truly in top form. He alone managed to collect 220 points in his last four races. His team PI visit Malta is currently 28 in the UCI ranking. Lucky for them, the last part of the season is packed with Italian one-day races, where plenty of points are up for grabs. Another Italian team scoring a lot of points lately is team Solution Tech Fine Fontini. One of their tactical moves is focusing on big races in Asia. They are currently just outside the top 30, so they will probably focus on scoring more points there. This season, our time and place seem to be the spring classics with strong results in Belgium. That’s good, mate. Come on. [ __ ] it. Wins in France. Lucas Kovich wins the Agro Tour. We build up a solid lead over the teams we are now battling with for that top 30 spot. If we want to stay inside that top 30, we will need that same fighting spirit in the final races of the season. And looking at our calendar, there are still a few races that definitely fall into that classic category. Insert the Mir Classic. A fairly new race on the calendar, but one with real potential. Mainly because it’s all about the Murasa. One of the classic climbs in Belgium and a climb that’s pretty special to us, even before we had a cycling team. Yeah, defined in the past with strong races in the Renewi and of course Lucas amazing envelope this year. So, what’s not to like about a race with climbing the Multiple times? Yeah, I’m looking forward for today cuz how I said it’s always special here. So, I’m really happy to be here. And you’re excited to ride the mirror six times today? Yeah. Yeah, I’m really looking forward because Yeah, I have pretty nice memories from here. So, yeah. Yeah, looking forward. We have mentioned in a previous episode that a good stage result in a stage race isn’t very rewarding in terms of UCI points, but a strong result in a one-day race really is. A good result today could bring us one step closer to finishing in the top third. [Music] The first part of the race has been absolutely brutal. Tomas made it into a very strong breakaway and looks incredibly strong on the mirror climbs. [Music] And we’re now looking at a newly formed leading group [Music] Sunday night. This is a crash in our breakaway. Oh my goodness. Of all the places for it to happen as well. This is Thomas Capeki. Um the Czech rider who’s gone down. What a way to crash out of the break. That was a shame because Unibet Rockets had the perfect move there with him being in there. He looks all right though, Pipper, doesn’t he? Yeah. Swearing away. and um polish. So, they in the boot. [Music] So frustrating, man. So good on the mirror, man. Yeah, I was easy to so good to follow. [ __ ] It’s a shame for Tomas, but the race isn’t over yet. We are in a small group behind the leaders with Hartis and Lucas. Hartis gives everything he has trying to bring back the race leaders and put Lucas in the perfect position. Fantastic work. You [ __ ] legend, mate. Keep it going. Keep it [ __ ] going. I want Donovan has been dropped. I want Don has been dropped. Come on. Come on, Lucas. Come on. But it is going to be Yonas Abramson, fresh from his stage win of the tour to France who takes his fourth professional win. Here comes Donovan. Fantastic ride in second. And we’re going to get a big sprint now for third place here. Come on, Lucas. If you get the [ __ ] dollars going, he’s got Jenna Burkos with him as well. and one of the Total Energies riders. That might be Sandy Djaan still there. Actually, Kubish looking like he’s going to get this from Burgos or is he? It’s going to be a close sprint between these two. Last year’s winner, Jennos takes the third place. Siangan coming in there for [Music] [Music] Top effort, Lucas, mate. Well done. Well done. Fourth place. Well done, boys. I know. I don’t know who everyone can hear me, but I’ll speak to you when you’re there. But [ __ ] What a team effort, boys. What a team effort. Really proud of you today, boys. 20 m. So good, mate. Thank you. This is exactly what we need for the end of the season. With his outstanding performance, Lucas earns us 60 UCI points, but what a team performance throughout this whole race. We haven’t even shown you, but Axel gave his all at the first part of the race. Artis did exactly the same in the final and Lucas of course wanted that podium, but he once again showed his class. First is actually really proud of the laps. Of course, Lucas is really disappointed just missing out on a podium. So, um, uh, I’m really proud actually of them. team effort, team commitment and everything. It would be nice to be on the podium, but they did amazing. With the finish of the Mir Classic, our miniseries August Madness comes to an end. In total, we have scored almost 250 UCI points this month. That increased our gap to the 31st place, bringing us closer to securing that crucial top 30. But as I explained in the first part of this video, our battle is far from over. Looking at the standings in midepptember, we have actually dropped one spot. Luckily, the gap to the 31st place is still around 600 points. The counting of points stops when the final world tour race finishes, the tour of Guangi on October 19th. That’s also the day we will finish our last race of the season, the tour of Holland. Of course, we will update you here on YouTube after that final race. But in the meantime, make sure to follow us on Instagram and check out our newsletter on Substack to stay updated during this last crucial month of racing. Bye-bye.