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cyclingnews.com

29 March 2024

  • Nathan Haas signs for Cofidis

    Nathan Haas will leave a Katusha-Alpecin team mired in uncertainty and ride for Cofidis next year, signing a two-year contract with the WorldTour-hopeful French team.

    Haas joined Katusha in 2018 after spending two seasons with Dimension Data and three with what’s now EF Education First, but has struggled for results. His only victory came on stage 2 of the 2018 Tour of Oman, and he has been unable to build on his fourth place finish at the 2017 Amstel Gold Race.

    The team are yet to assure the funds to continue in 2020 but Haas was already looking to move on, and liked the sound of the project developing at Cofidis under Cedric Vasseur, who took over as manager in 2018.

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    The French team, created in 1997, are aiming to return to the top tier of the sport and have already stated their intent in the transfer market with the acquisitions of Elia Viviani and Guillaume Martin.

    "I’ve always liked being in teams that have a strong drive to progress, to get better and take a next step. That’s exactly the spirit with Cofidis and Cedric Vasseur and that’s what attracted me," Haas said.

    "What I like about this team is the opportunity to take chances in each race, to give everything so as not to have any regrets. At the Tour de France, they were pretty much in every breakaway. Naturally, I really want to ride Amstel Gold Race and the Ardennes Classics, but I also and above all want to put myself at the service of the team, notably Elia, to help them achieve new successes."

    You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

Howard Heighton has kindly agreed to organise a training weekend, details as follows;

Date 16/17th March

Day 1.

Gretna Newton Aycliffe to Bellingham - approx 100 miles

Overnight stay in Bellingham bunkhouse. There is a nearby pub for evening meals and drinks.

£22 pppn. We can can have full occupancy for £300. It sleeps maximum 15, but if we get less than that, we could divide the cost evenly if all agree.

Day 2. 

Self catering is available for breakfast, but a nearby cafe have agreed to open early if we want to eat there instead.

Bellingham - The Gretna - approx 100 miles. 

Baggage will be taken there and back.

Please contact Howard direct to book your place. 

 

Route

Saturday March 16th.

Gretna, Rushyford, Ferryhill, Kirk Merrington, Whitworth, Billy Row, Cornsay Colliery, Muggleswick, Edmundbyres, Minsteracres, Hindley, Bywell, Corbidge   51.64 Miles

Lunch at Spokes Kitchen.

Aydon Castle, Wall House, Matfen, Ryal, Chollerton, Chollerford, Nunwick       

 (- Turn to Bellingham for the 70.52 mile route.)

Stonehaugh, Hetherington, Hesleyside, Lane Head, Charlton, Bellingham

Stop at Demesne Bunkhouse 45.38 Miles Total 97.02 Miles

1 room for 8 people, 1 for 4 and 1 for 3. Cost �22 each.

Sun March 17th
Breakfast at local cafe (Bunkhouse owner will arrange for it to be
open.)

Bellingham, Otterburn, Elsdon, Thropton, Rothbury, Forestburn Gate, Scotts Gap, Blackheddon, Stamfordham

Plough Inn for Lunch (49.52 Miles)

Rudchester, Wylam, Coalburns, Hedley on the hill, Newlands, Allensford, Rowley, High Stoop, Wolsingham, Hamsterley, Toft Hill, Low Etherly, South Church. Old Eldon, Gretna

50 Miles total 99.52 Miles.

 

Van will be available to carry and collect luggage.

If required he can do a 70ish mile route for day two as well.