Pro Log: Rohan Dennis case update; Mark Cavendish to receive SPOTY gong; Patrick Lefevere to step down as QuickStep boss

Welcome back to another edition of Pro Log. Here’s a rundown of the latest cyclocross results before we get started:

• Namur, Men’s World Cup, Sun 15th Dec: 1st Michael Vanthourenhout, Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, 1hr 03min 23sec; 2nd Toon Aerts, Deschacht-Hens–FSP, +11sec; 3rd Emiel Verstrynge, Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team, +30sec. 
• Namur, Women’s World Cup, Sun 15th Dec: 1st Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Fenix-Deceuninck, 48min 17sec; 2nd Lucinda Brand, Baloise Trek Lions, +09sec; 3rd Puck Pieterse, Fenix-Deceuninck, +34sec. 

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Rohan Dennis pleads guilty to lesser charge

Rohan Dennis could face up to seven years in jail after pleading guilty to the charge of creating likelihood of harm in relation to his wife Melissa Hoskins’ death. Dennis, who retired at the end of 2023, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and driving without due care after Hoskins was struck by a vehicle on 30th December 2023 and died a day later in hospital.

Hoskins was a two-time Olympian, she won a gold medal at the 2015 World Championships in the team pursuit on the track and she also raced on the road for GreenEDGE-AIS. She retired in 2017 and the pair married in 2018. They have two children.

Mark Cavendish to receive Lifetime Achievement award

Mark Cavendish will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024. The Manxman retired from racing at the end of this season after winning his record-breaking 35th stage at the Tour de France. His professional career spanned almost two decades during which he won 58 Grand Tour stages and notched multiple one-day victories including Milan-San Remo in 2009, the World Championship Road Race in 2011 and the ‘sprinter’s classic’ Scheldeprijs three times..

In a video, Cavendish said, ‘I’d say legacy is important. Most people would like to be remembered for something. It’s an honour if you are.

‘If you can be that name that inspires, then I think that’s an important legacy to leave.’

Patrick Lefevere to step down as CEO of Soudal-QuickStep

Soudal-QuickStep CEO Patrick Lefevere will step down at the end of the year, with current COO Jurgen Foré taking on his role. He isn't leaving the team completely, instead taking up a position as an honorary member of an ‘executive board’ that will focus on team strategy.

Lefevere founded the QuickStep-Davitamon team in 2003. It has since grown to being one of the most successful teams that remains in the current peloton, with almost 1,000 victories across Monuments, Grand Tour stages and a Vuelta a España title with Remco Evenepoel in 2022.

He said, ‘I felt that it was the right moment for this change. When I started to work with Jurgen [Foré] one year ago, it was with a view to smoothing out the transition for when I would eventually leave.

‘I have seen how his relationships with our sponsors and partners, as well as the team’s internal stakeholders, has grown over the last 12 months, and I know that with Jurgen taking over as CEO, and with the board’s backing, that this team has a bright future.’

Jayco-AlUla to partner with Hagens Berman-Jayco

US Continental team Hagens Berman-Jayco will become the official development team for WorldTour squad Jayco-AlUla from 2025. It means Jayco-AlUla now has feeder teams for both the men and women’s sides with Liv-AlUla-Jayco already having a Continental team for rider development.

Hagens Berman-Jayco was founded in 2009 as a feeder for RadioShack by former pro Axel Merckx, son of Eddy. It has been a vital pathway for many big name riders including Alex Dowsett, Taylor Phinney, Jasper Stuyven, George Bennett, Eddie Dunbar, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Jhonatan Narváez, João Almeida and Jasper Philipsen.

Changing team identities for 2025

DSM-Firmenich-PostNL will become Picnic-PostNL in 2025. Picnic is an online supermarket and is sponsoring a sports team for the first time.

They also released a new kit for the upcoming claimed to be purple (it’s blue).

Similarly, UAE Team Emirates will become UAE Emirates-XRG and have unveiled a slightly new kit.

And here's Ineos Grenadiers new look, let's hope their form changes more than their jerseys.

See you in the new year.