Dauphinated
Torstein Træen before Stage 1 of Critérium du Dauphiné, June 4, 2023
Uno-X has completed the Critérium du Dauphiné twice. Both times, we managed to secure a top-10 position, with Torstein achieving a historic 8th place this week. This is the best Norwegian placement ever in this race.
Take Torstein. He is a highly dedicated guy, loyal to the team and committed to the long-term belief that it's possible to improve a little every day. He has been with Uno-X for seven years and has been there since the beginning of the team. It's an adventure story that we are very proud of. At this time last year, he was at home battling cancer. That says a lot... We may not be able to keep Torstein; it would be expected that others take notice of him now. Regardless of what happens, he has our full support. Torstein deserves the best.
Moving on to Belgium
Søren Wærenskjold is breaking watt barriers while assisting Erlend Blikra. Erlend achieved a fantastic fourth place in the Elfstedenronde yesterday. On Saturday, Søren punctured in the leading group, where Rasmus sat. He received a wheel from our mechanic, Ranjit, once he was out of the gravel. He rode his way back up to group 2, demolished it in the final, and finished in seventh place. Please, Søren, stay healthy now!
Meet the Bull Ferdinand. Often his monstrous powers are locked away. He might come across as a bit cautious and overly kind. But when he finds his groove, he turns brutal. Rasmus Tiller's victory yesterday was incredibly impressive. He has actually been riding around with those powerful legs for a long time. Now everyone can see his abilities - again.
We have a team in form
We're accumulating over 500 UCI points this week and are now ranked as the 3rd best UCI ProTeam. We have no plans to look back. At the same time, not everything is straightforward. We're in the final week before selecting the team for the Tour de France. We will choose riders who are on the rise and hitting their peak at the right time. We will select riders who contribute to the team's dynamics. We will choose riders who are right for the team in the short term, but also in the long run. We will focus on development while also performing here and now.
What do you think we should aim for?
I celebrated the week with my good friend, Pol Roger, and pondered how we should put this together. This year, just like last year, we were "Dauphinated." The only difference is that this year, the Tour awaits us as well.
Talk to you soon,
Jens
