“It’s a tough one. Two crashes in two days” – Standout week ends in disappointment for INEOS prodigy Andrew August in Valencia
Cycling
Andrew August’s breakthrough week at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana ended in frustration rather than celebration, as a late crash in the decisive breakaway group brought his final stage hopes to an abrupt halt in Valencia.
August had been part of the large, aggressive move that shaped the closing kilometres of the shortened final stage, with the break holding a meaningful advantage deep into the finale. Even as the gap began to shrink under pressure from the peloton, the American remained committed to the move.
“It’s a bit of a pity,” August said after the finish to Cycling Pro Net. “We knew the gap was coming down, and I was just trying to keep the pace high, but I overcooked the corner. So yeah, it’s a tough one. Two crashes in two days. But that’s cycling.”
The fall removed August from contention and further destabilised a breakaway that was already under strain, with the peloton closing rapidly behind.
Belief in the move until the end
Despite the growing pressure, August said the group had continued to believe in its chances, particularly with teammate Kim Heiduk still present as a fast finisher. “There was still a breakaway with a little gap, but enough to believe in it,” he said. “I was still believing a lot, especially with Kim. We know he’s super fast, so we were fully believing in him. But yeah, I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”
That hope evaporated when Heiduk also crashed in the final kilometres, leaving the move fatally weakened. “Just bad luck, to be honest,” August said. “I really felt for him, because these opportunities don’t come often, and today was a good one. But yeah, it is what it is.”
A week of progress despite the ending
The disappointment of the finale stood in sharp contrast to the rest of August’s race, which included a landmark stage victory earlier in the week and marked a significant step forward in his early professional career.
Asked to reflect on the broader picture, August was clear that the week still carried positives. “I think it was a big step for me this week,” he said. “So overall, a lot of ups and downs, but I have to go home happy.”
While the final stage ended on the asphalt rather than the podium, August leaves Valencia with his first stage win at this level and a growing sense of belief, even if the closing chapter of the race did not unfold as hoped.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- Good Point, I wonder if he's been testedmhfrvz03-11-2026
- A busy boy!Lozza03-11-2026
- I hope 2027 is his year.mij03-11-2026
- why does he have to? many GT riders from Froome to Contador to Indurain didn't do them.mij03-11-2026
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026
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