Pro Log: Track sprinter Matthew Richardson switches from Australia to Great Britain, Julian Alaphilippe signs with Tudor Pro Cycling and Tour de France Femmes

Welcome back to another edition of Pro Log. We’re into the first week of racing at the Vuelta a España with Primož Roglič where he belongs in the red jersey.

Elsewhere, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) won the Tour de Pologne with teammate Olav Kooij taking the win on the final stage. The Tour de l’Avenir is ongoing; Italy’s Ludovico Crescioli broke away for victory on Stage 2 atop the Plateau d’Hauteville.

Now let’s delve into a cracking edition of the Tour de France Femmes and huge track cycling gossip.

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ICYMI: Kasia Niewiadoma wins Tour de France Femmes

Four seconds was the winning margin of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes – the tightest in Tour history across the men’s and women’s races. Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) won the maillot jaune ahead of Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) in a tight finish decided on the summit of Alpe d’Huez.

Vollering had lost the yellow jersey after a chaotic late crash on Stage 5. Despite trying hard on the final day of racing and breaking away with Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck), ten bonus seconds on the line from the stage win would not be enough to top Niewiadoma in the standings. Rooijakkers completed the podium ten seconds behind Niewiadoma.

Niewiadoma was dropped on the Col du Glandon but fought back to win her first Tour de France Femmes – also as the first non-Dutch rider to do so.

After the finish, she said, ‘Throughout my whole career there were so many times I missed out on victories. I feel like this week was perfect for me and my team. To be able to win big races, you need everything on your side.’

• Read more: Tour de France Femmes reflections: Winners, losers and future stars

Matthew Richardson swaps Australia for Great Britain

Track sprinter Matthew Richardson has switched to the Great Britiain Cycling Team from Australia. Born in Maidstone, Kent, Richardson moved to Australia at nine years old, maintaining dual citizenship. He has changed his nationality via the UCI and will be part of GB's sprint squad. The 25-year-old recently won two silvers and one bronze medal at the Paris Olympics for Australia.

Speaking on the move, he said, ‘Switching nationality was a difficult decision, and not one I took lightly. It was a personal choice, made after careful consideration of my career and future. It’s not something I decided on quickly or easily.

‘This decision is about following my passion and pushing myself to new heights. This isn’t about leaving something behind, but about embracing a new chapter in my journey and chasing a dream, a dream that is to race for the country in which I was born.’

Per regulations, Richardson cannot race the 2024 World Championships or 2025 European Championships.

Julian Alaphilippe signs with Tudor Pro Cycling

In the latest cycling transfer news, two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe will join Tudor Pro Cycling in 2025. The Swiss squad is a UCI ProTeam and have riders such as Matteo Trentin, Alberto Dainese and Michael Storer on their roster.

It marks the end of a decade-long partnership between Alaphilippe and Soudal-QuickStep that included Tour de France stage victories, an almost yellow jersey win, a Monument and much more. Things soured in the last few seasons however, with team boss Patrick Lefevere publicly criticising his rider and even hitting out at Alaphilippe's wife, Tour de France Femmes race director Marion Rousse.

On the move, Alaphilippe said, ‘I've got a lot of experience and that can be important for the young people in the team. It's a great motivation to bring what I know and my way of being on and off the bike. It really motivates me to win races and develop at the highest level, both personally and with the team.’

This year has seen a more rejuvenated Alaphilippe. He won Stage 12 of the Giro d’Italia in classic Alaphilippe fashon to complete the set of a victory in each Grand Tour.

He's not the only one on the move. Ethan Hayter takes his spot on Soudal-QuickStep from Ineos Grenadiers,

See you next week.