Welcome to the Garden State! We're in New Jersey for 15th edition of the Bada Bing International. That’s right, this thing of ours has been on the calendar since 2010, when Samuel "Samu" Sanchez won the first edition. In 2011 we had Frank “Franki” Schleck win, after which the race disappeared for a year, whatever happened there.
But the race returned in 2013 when Don Cunego took the win. Franki won a second time in 2014, making him the only rider to achieve this. In 2015 the race was won by Yuri “The Russian” Trofimov, the guy was an interior decorator. But in 2016, we saw another made guy win the race with Francesco Ginanni.
In 2017 it was Peter Sagan’s turn to win here and in 2018 we had Caio Godoy. Then 2019 was the year Eddy “The Boss” Hagen upset things, after which wiseguy Simone Ponzi finally had his big win in 2020. Then, after a failed sitdown, the race got demoted to C2 and Elia Favilli took the win in 2021.
Then, cooler heads prevailed and the race got bumped to the PCT again, where it remains to this day. The last three races were won by Jay McCarthy, Xandro Meurisse and Emanuel Buchmann. The Buchmann win led to promotion for his team, just to show how important this race is.
Only one former winner returns, but it’s been a very long time. I wouldn’t rule him out completely though. More on him in the startlist section.
The route
Obviously we’re starting at the Bada Bing nightclub, after which we take a shortcut through the New Jersey Turnpike to end up in the Pine Barrens where we have our first climbs of the day. After that we go hiking the Appalachian Trail, where we have two big hills to get rid of the weaker climbers. While there is an opportunity to come back in the descent, the uphill finish will make sure only the strongest can win here.
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The startlist
Let’s go over the teams one by one. Assa Abloy immediately brings a favourite with Elie Gesbert and excellent support including an aging Boswell. Bianchi hope an Italian with an attitude problem will find himself at home in New Jersey. Can Gianni Moscon finally win a big race? Bolt does not seem to be a contender here unless Errazkin delivers a big surprise.
Bralirwa hope Amezawa and Tesfatsion can combine for a good result. DeNa completely flipped and are not going to win this one. DK have Alexey Lutsenko, who should be considered the main favourite here despite his age. He should also have enough support from his team. Duvel goes for the strength in numbers tactic, no real contender but going for those medium points.
Ekoi has APP and Boileau, they won’t win but can get a nice result. Ethiopian Airlines has former winner Peter Sagan, though his best years are far behind him. One more moment to shine or not? Everesting has a decent team behind Robert Stannard, definitely podium material. Gjensidige brings the Eiking, but I have my doubts on how he handles those longer hills.
IESE has Domen Novak, a great climber but he doesn’t have the best history in this race. JEWA also has one of those former PT stars in Sean De Bie, on a good day he can still get a podium. The Minions have Aidan Van Niekerk, the best rider ever and he should win this race. Peugeot doesn’t bring much to the table here.
Sauber has Marc Hirschi, was he always this good? His stat combination makes him a big contender and his support isn’t too bad. Specialized has Quita, but he’s top 10 material at best. The same can be said for the Looney Tunes with Govekar, although they have some more depth.
Tryg brings the better Johannessen, but like Novak I wonder if this is the right race for him. Zara has Storer, who should compete for a top 10. Finaly Zwift bring Matteo Jorgenson, who simply is a favourite in every race he starts in nowadays.
If I were a betting man and we weren’t rigging this race, I’d put my money on Lutsenko, Hirschi or Stannard.
Startlist
Spoiler
Last name
First name
2025 Team
Gesbert
Gesbert
Elie
Assa Abloy
Johannessen
Johannessen
Anders Halland
Assa Abloy
Boswell
Boswell
Ian
Assa Abloy
Hänninen
Hänninen
Jaako
Assa Abloy
O'Connor
O'Connor
Ben
Assa Abloy
Kvist
Kvist
Linus
Assa Abloy
Penasa
Penasa
Pierre Paolo
Assa Abloy
Morris Berroa
Morris Berroa
James
Assa Abloy
Moscon
Moscon
Gianni
Bianchi Enel
Korosec
Korosec
Rok
Bianchi Enel
Conti
Conti
Valerio
Bianchi Enel
Rota
Rota
Lorenzo
Bianchi Enel
Langellotti
Langellotti
Victor
Bianchi Enel
Basso
Basso
Leonardo
Bianchi Enel
Fortunato
Fortunato
Lorenzo
Bianchi Enel
Romele
Romele
Alessandro
Bianchi Enel
Errazkin
Errazkin
Xuban
Bolt - Eesti
Burke
Burke
Jack
Bolt - Eesti
Mansouri
Mansouri
Hamza
Bolt - Eesti
Pithie
Pithie
Laurence
Bolt - Eesti
Hamilton
Hamilton
Chris
Bolt - Eesti
Mulubrhan
Mulubrhan
Henok
Bolt - Eesti
Parashchak
Parashchak
Yaroslav
Bolt - Eesti
Kunkumpai
Kunkumpai
Kantaphon
Bolt - Eesti
Amezawa
Amezawa
Takeaki
Bralirwa - Cegeka
Tesfatsion
Tesfatsion
Natnael
Bralirwa - Cegeka
Van Eetvelt
Van Eetvelt
Lennert
Bralirwa - Cegeka
Ndayisenga
Ndayisenga
Valens
Bralirwa - Cegeka
Arvanitou
Arvanitou
Nikiforos
Bralirwa - Cegeka
Pellizzari
Pellizzari
Giulio
Bralirwa - Cegeka
Niyonkuru
Niyonkuru
Samuel
Bralirwa - Cegeka
Arenas Rodriguez
Arenas Rodriguez
Jeremias
Bralirwa - Cegeka
Lipowitz
Lipowitz
Florian
DeNA Roadstars
Glivar
Glivar
Gal
DeNA RoadStars
Gregoire
Gregoire
Romain
DeNA Roadstars
Minami
Minami
Kazuto
DeNA Roadstars
Lopes
Lopes
Lucas
DeNA Roadstars
Hayashibara
Hayashibara
Shoma
DeNA Roadstars
Hashikawa
Hashikawa
Jo
DeNA Roadstars
Graat
Graat
Tijmen
DeNA Roadstars
Lutsenko
Lutsenko
Alexey
DK Zalgiris
Januskevicius
Januskevicius
Mantas
DK Zalgiris
Roman
Roman
Aleksandar
DK Zalgiris
Robov
Robov
Momchil
DK Zalgiris
Olesen
Olesen
Patrick
DK Zalgiris
Mikutis
Mikutis
Aivaras
DK Zalgiris
Bilyi
Bilyi
Maksym
DK Zalgiris
Raugala
Raugala
Gustas
DK Zalgiris
Bettiol
Bettiol
Alberto
Duvel-Tsingtao
Lyu
Lyu
Xianjing
Duvel-Tsingtao
Blouwe
Blouwe
Louis
Duvel-Tsingtao
Chen
Chen
Mingrun
Duvel-Tsingtao
Hermans
Hermans
Quinten
Duvel-Tsingtao
Niu
Niu
Yikui
Duvel-Tsingtao
Del Grosso
Del Grosso
Tibor
Duvel-Tsingtao
Ju
Ju
Jinyang
Duvel-Tsingtao
Paret-Peintre
Paret-Peintre
Aurelien
Ekoi - Le Creuset
Boileau
Boileau
Alan
Ekoi - Le Creuset
Akhmaevi
Akhmaevi
Sulkhan
Ekoi - Le Creuset
Quispe
Quispe
Alain
Ekoi - Le Creuset
Pinot
Pinot
Thibaut
Ekoi - Le Creuset
Martinez
Martinez
Lenny
Ekoi - Le Creuset
Kess
Kess
Alexandre
Ekoi - Le Creuset
Pringle
Pringle
Nate
Ekoi - Le Creuset
Gladysh
Gladysh
Roman
Ethiopian Airlines
Sagan
Sagan
Peter
Ethiopian Airlines
Laas
Laas
Martin
Ethiopian Airlines
Svab
Svab
Jernej
Ethiopian Airlines
Vendrame
Vendrame
Andrea
Ethiopian Airlines
Van Heerden
Van Heerden
Eddie
Ethiopian Airlines
Kipruto
Kipruto
Ivan
Ethiopian Airlines
Nunes
Nunes
Hugo
Ethiopian Airlines
Stannard
Stannard
Robert
Everesting
Henao
Henao
Sebastian
Everesting
Gavars
Gavars
Eriks Toms
Everesting
Sunderland
Sunderland
Dylan
Everesting
Ponce
Ponce
Joel
Everesting
Riccitello
Riccitello
Matthew
Everesting
Gelders
Gelders
Gil
Everesting
Mwiguru
Mwiguru
Malaika
Everesting
Eiking
Eiking
Odd Christian
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
Bystrom
Bystrom
Sven Erik
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
Andersen
Andersen
Idar
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
Skjerping
Skjerping
Kristoffer
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
Fjellheim
Fjellheim
Henrik Teslo
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
Della Lunga
Della Lunga
Francesco
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
Hagenes
Hagenes
Per Strand
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
Madsen
Madsen
Erik Nygaard
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
Novak
Novak
Domen
IESE ProCycling Team
Neuman
Neuman
Dominik
IESE ProCycling Team
Jensen
Jensen
Kristian Haugaard
IESE ProCycling Team
Kwiatkowski
Kwiatkowski
Michal
IESE ProCycling Team
Ahlstrand
Ahlstrand
Jonas
IESE ProCycling Team
Segaert
Segaert
Alec
IESE ProCycling Team
Sillankorva
Sillankorva
Jaakko
IESE ProCycling Team
Malmberg
Malmberg
Matias
IESE ProCycling Team
De Bie
De Bie
Sean
JEWA TIROL
Grossschartner
Grossschartner
Felix
JEWA TIROL
Nys
Nys
Thibau
JEWA TIROL
Iturria
Iturria
Mikel
JEWA TIROL
Laurance
Laurance
Axel
JEWA TIROL
Heymes
Heymes
Gilles
JEWA TIROL
Bayer
Bayer
Tobias
JEWA TIROL
Hofer
Hofer
Andreas
JEWA TIROL
Van Niekerk
Van Niekerk
Aidan
Minions
Cepeda Hernandez
Cepeda Hernandez
Jefferson
Minions
Kipkemboi
Kipkemboi
Salim
Minions
Rubio
Rubio
Einer Augusto
Minions
Vosekalns
Vosekalns
Andris
Minions
Quintana
Quintana
Dayer
Minions
Dressler
Dressler
Luca
Minions
Gomez
Gomez
Fausto Agustin
Minions
Schultz
Schultz
Nicholas
Peugeot - Bancolombia
Vincent
Vincent
Leo
Peugeot - Bancolombia
Holmes
Holmes
Matthew
Peugeot - Bancolombia
Groselj
Groselj
Ziga
Peugeot - Bancolombia
Wallenborn
Wallenborn
Arno
Peugeot - Bancolombia
Watts
Watts
Kiaan
Peugeot - Bancolombia
Bevort
Bevort
Carl-Frederik
Peugeot - Bancolombia
Gomez
Gomez
Camilo Andres
Peugeot - Bancolombia
Hirschi
Hirschi
Marc
Sauber Petronas Racing
Scaroni
Scaroni
Cristian
Sauber Petronas Racing
Lazkano
Lazkano
Oier
Sauber Petronas Racing
Putti
Putti
Riccardo
Sauber Petronas Racing
Ghani
Ghani
Muhammad Suhaimi
Sauber Petronas Racing
Garofoli
Garofoli
Gianmarco
Sauber Petronas Racing
Tsen
Tsen
Ren Bao
Sauber Petronas Racing
Al Mutaiwei
Al Mutaiwei
Mohammad
Sauber Petronas Racing
Quita
Quita
Ronnilan
Specialized
De Vos
De Vos
Adam
Specialized
Medvedev
Medvedev
Sergey
Specialized
Ballerstedt
Ballerstedt
Maurice
Specialized
Brenner
Brenner
Marco
Specialized
Kloppenborg
Kloppenborg
Lukas Sulaj
Specialized
Marsman
Marsman
Tim
Specialized
Soderqvist
Soderqvist
Jakob
Specialized
Govekar
Govekar
Matevz
Trans Looney Tunes
Mavrikakis
Mavrikakis
Michail
Trans Looney Tunes
Primozic
Primozic
Jaka
Trans Looney Tunes
Debesay
Debesay
Yacob
Trans Looney Tunes
Rucigaj
Rucigaj
Ziga
Trans Looney Tunes
Pibernik
Pibernik
Luka
Trans Looney Tunes
Tulett
Tulett
Ben
Trans Looney Tunes
Murn
Murn
Bostjan
Trans Looney Tunes
Johannessen
Johannessen
Tobias Halland
Tryg - Eni
Polanc
Polanc
Jan
Tryg - Eni
Sheehan
Sheehan
Riley
Tryg - Eni
Seibeb
Seibeb
Costa
Tryg - Eni
Sepulveda
Sepulveda
Eduardo
Tryg - Eni
Per
Per
Gorazd
Tryg - Eni
Enggaard
Enggaard
Victor Grue
Tryg - Eni
Van De Paar
Van De Paar
Jarne
Tryg - Eni
Storer
Storer
Michael
ZARA - Irizar
Gaday
Gaday
Lucas Manuel
ZARA - Irizar
Miquel
Miquel
Pau
ZARA - Irizar
Castrillo
Castrillo
Jaime
ZARA - Irizar
Blanca Pareja
Blanca Pareja
Nichol
ZARA - Irizar
Marriage
Marriage
Zac
ZARA - Irizar
Browning
Browning
Fergus
ZARA - Irizar
Crause
Crause
Pedri
ZARA - Irizar
Jorgenson
Jorgenson
Matteo
Zwift - Newton Foundation
Elosegui
Elosegui
Inigo
Zwift - Newton Foundation
Pronskiy
Pronskiy
Vadim
Zwift - Newton Foundation
Kozhatayev
Kozhatayev
Bakhtiyar
Zwift - Newton Foundation
Craddock
Craddock
Lawson
Zwift - Newton Foundation
Ludvigsson
Ludvigsson
Fredrik
Zwift - Newton Foundation
White
White
Connor
Zwift - Newton Foundation
Fretin
Fretin
Milan
Zwift - Newton Foundation
Report will be done by Abhishek. You're going to read it and you are going to enjoy it.
Ayyyyyyy there’s a lotta jabroni’s riding in New Jersey, wishing I’d send Bettiol to his spiritual home here.
Seconding the preview, I’ll be hate reading the race report to make sure I know if any of our rivals need to be taken down to the docks and introduced to “swimming with the fishes.”
Hoping for a top 10 from Errazkin here, and hoping for some medium mountain influence to benefit him. However, slightly concerned this will end in a 15-20 rider uphill sprint, which isn't the ideal scenario for his skillset.
Was in New Jersey a few weeks ago, no mobster interactions to report. My state. Maryland, was once considered among the most corrupt states along with New Jersey and Louisiana. Not the company you want to keep. Been a while since a Maryland governor has gone to jail, so maybe we have cleaned up.
Narvaez was 5th last year so I wanted to be here but the bands didn't work out. But maybe in the new version it will be harder and I will feel better about missing it. The PCT puncheur field this year really is scary.
Well that went well 3 in top 30 (what more is there to say on Basso btw scoring points in a hilly classic now) I count 41pts there another strong RD and a good performance from Moscon kept himself in the main group throughout ideal
Fantastic result for Mansouri, and not bad from Errazkin and Burke as well! Over 100 points here covers off the likely no score in Faso later in the month from a PPRD perspective, and keeps us well on track for hitting the 2000 point mark for safety.