Welcome back to another edition of Pro Log. Here's a rundown of the World Championship results before we get started:
As expected, UAE Team Emirates XRG's Tadej Pogačar won his fifth consecutive Il Lombardia this weekend. The World Champion broke away from the leading group with 38km to go on the ascent of the Passo di Ganda.
He ties the record for most wins in the Monument with Fausto Coppi and is the first man in history to finish on the podium of all five Monuments in one season. He won both the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège earlier in the year with a second place at Paris-Roubaix and third place at Milan-San Remo.
Shirin van Anrooij has admitted to feeling like the gravel world title was 'taken away from her' following a confusing display of Dutch tactics in the women's race. Van Anrooij attacked in the final 12km and had the rainbow jersey in sight. However, a chasing group of four - three of whom were her compatriots in Lorena Wiebes, Marianne Vos and Yara Kastelijn - overtook her in the final straight.
Van Anrooij maintained an advantage of around 20 seconds until the closing 2km when a trio clad in orange were working on the front of the chasing group, alongside Czech rider Julia Kopecky - Wiebes's SD Worx teammate - to close the gap. Italy's Silvia Persico meanwhile enjoyed a free ride sitting on the back of the group.
In the final straight, Kastelijn was powering on the front to close the gap as Persico, the only non-Dutch rider left, continued to sit on. Wiebes launched her sprint for glory easing past Van Anrooij as Vos finished second and Persico third. Van Anrooij ended up in fifth.
Things were less dramatic in the men's race as Belgium's Florian Vermeersch broke away to take the victory after two silver medals in the previous editions. His teammates did not chase him down.
Derek Gee terminated his contract with Israel-Premier Tech in August and has issued a further statement to clarify speculation after the news that the team would be rebranding. He said, 'I terminated my contract with just cause, as is every person's right when they are unable to continue performing their work under the existing circumstances. The decision was not taken lightly - it followed an irreparable relationship with the team principal, as well as serious concerns related to racing for the team, both from a safety and personal-belief standpoint that weighed heavily on my conscience.'
The 28-year-old also revealed he believes he is facing a damages claim of over €30 million 'for doing nothing more than exercising my fundamental rights as a professional and a person'.
Gee's contract termination came during a hectic period for Israel-Premier Tech, who faced multiple protests during the Vuelta a España over their participation. The squad decided to remove 'Israel' from their team kit as multiple stages were affected by pro-Palestine protests, including the final day in Madrid.
Last week, Israel-Premier Tech released a statement saying they would undergo a rebrand to move away from its Israel identity, with team owner Sylvan Adams stepping back from day-to-day involvement and no longer speaking on behalf of the team.
24-year-old Kévin Vauquelin has signed for Ineos Grenadiers from Arkéa-B&B Hotels on a three-year deal. The Frenchman has had a breakthrough season that included finishing second at La Flèche Wallonne and the Tour de Suisse and racing to seventh overall at the Tour de France.
Ineos Grenadiers have also been making headlines this week after a The Times investigation revealed the team had encouraged its riders to undergo controversial - and since banned - carbon monoxide rebreathing tests earlier this year, despite previously denying they'd used it.
With the close of another season comes the latest wave of retirements in the professional peloton. Sprinter Arnaud Démare bowed out with the culmination of his last race at Paris-Tours, a race he won in 2021 and 2022. The 34-year-old Frenchman scored almost 100 wins throughout his career including stages at both the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia in addition to Milan-San Remo.
His fellow sprinter Elia Viviani is also hanging up his cleats. The Italian spread his talents across the road and the track, winning stages at all three Grand Tours as well as and Olympic and World Championship medals on the track.