"I am happy that I have finally won a stage race" - Alberto Bettiol in good shape at Boucles de la Mayenne
Cycling
Alberto Bettiol won the general classification of the four-day Boucles de la Mayenne last weekend. The Italian from EF Education-EasyPost is of course pleased with this victory, as this shows his preparation for his Tour de France appearance in just a month is going in the right direction.
"I am now going home in good spirits," he said after the final stage in conversation with Ciclo 21. "I can look back on a wonderful week. This is a really good win."
The 30-year-old Italian seized power in the decisive stage to Villaines-la-Juhel amplifying his great time in the opening prologue to take the overall lead. The relatively easy final stage didn't pose much of a threat for Bettiol, who thus claimed his biggest GC victory. "I am happy that I have finally won a stage race, and that too on French soil. I was already close to it twice in the Etoile de Bessèges," Bettiol refers to his second places from 2020 and 2022.
The all-rounder is now preparing for his last 'preparatory race' for the Tour de France. "In two weeks I will start the Tour de Suisse, to continue my preparation for the Tour."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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