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April 2015

April 28, 2015




Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi-Polkowice) won stage 3 at the Presidential Tour of Turkey and claimed the overall lead on a summit finish. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi-Polkowice) won stage 3 at the Presidential Tour of Turkey and claimed the overall lead on a summit finish. Photo: Tim De Waele. (velonews.com)

Davide Rebellin laid down a commanding performance to win stage 3 of the Tour of Turkey atop Emali ahead of Kristijan Durasek.

The Italian used his wealth of experience to soak up the accelerations from the Lampre rider in the final stages before launching the winning move with 100 meters to go.

Durasek hung on for second with Eduardo Sepulveda picking up third after a strong finish.

April 28, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Although Davide Rebellin showed off his impressive form with a win at Tour of Turkey on Tuesday, he won't be able to take a run at the Giro d'Italia this year, mostly due to his infamy as an ex-doper. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Photo: Although Davide Rebellin showed off his impressive form with a win at Tour of Turkey on Tuesday, he won't be able to take a run at the Giro d'Italia this year, mostly due to his infamy as an ex-doper. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Italian Davide Rebellin will not be among team CCC Sprandi-Polkowice’s nine men in orange when the Giro d’Italia starts in Liguria Saturday, May 9.

The 43-year-old, who won the third stage and took the overall in the Tour of Turkey on Tuesday, left a sour taste in the mouths of many after he doped his way to an Olympic silver medal in 2008.

Giro organizer RCS Sport explained that he is persona non grata for the 2015 race, despite handing one of five wildcards to his Polish Professional Continental team. Rebellin, who calls Monaco, France home, said as well that he will have to make other plans for the month of May.

April 28, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: The mens field takes to the line for the crit. (Epic Images).
Photo: The mens field takes to the line for the crit. (Epic Images).

Although Tour of the Gila has just barely eked out an existence in the second poorest state in the USA, frequently teetering on the brink of extinction, the race has an undeniably charm and pull on the North American peloton.

Thanks in part to its remote location, the Tour of the Gila has not been choked off by rampant development or relegated to a series of short circuits. It's one of the last events to host both amateur and pro fields on courses that sweep across the countryside, offering relentless climbs, white-knuckle descents, a challenging time trial and a high-speed criterium.

Abbott, Gaimon look to repeat Redlands results.

April 28, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: Julian Alaphilippe and Bernard Hinault at the 2015 Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Watson) .
Photo: Julian Alaphilippe and Bernard Hinault at the 2015 Liege Bastogne Liege (Watson) .

With two second-place finishes, Julian Alaphilippe was one of the standout performers of the Ardennes Classics, but the 22-year-old is playing down his performances.

The Frenchman, the latest prodigy off the Etixx Quick Step production line, was runner-up to Alejandro Valverde at both Flèche Wallonne and Liege Bastogne Liege.

But Alaphilippe admits he still has a lot to learn about racing the one-day Classics and admitted the strongest rider won on both occasions.

“I’m a little frustrated by this second second place,” he told Sporza.

April 28, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)







Photo: Tour of Turkey Stage 4 Profile.
Photo: Tour of Turkey Stage 4 Profile.

Wednesday's
Tour of Turkey Stage 4 departs Fethiye at 12:50pm EEST (local) (11:50am CET or 5:50am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Marmaris at around 4:15pm EEST (local) (3:15pm CET or 9:15am U.S. Eastern).

Tour of Turkey live streaming video should get underway at around 3:00pm EEST (local) (2:00pm CET or 8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 28, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Tour de Romandie - April 28-May 3 (Stages & Results),

Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (Stages & Results),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Liège - Bastogne - Liège - Apr 26 (Results),

Joe Martin Stage Race - Apr 23-26 (Results),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Results),

La Flèche Wallonne - Apr 22 (Results),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

More...

April 28, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





The USA Pro Challenge will make its way from Aspen to Breckenridge in stage 4. Photo: Tim De Waele.
The USA Pro Challenge will make its way from Aspen to Breckenridge in stage 4. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Organizers unveiled details of a mountaintop finish and a high-altitude time trial, plus the rest of the 2015 USA Pro Challenge route, on Tuesday, for the fifth edition of the race, August 17-23.

“Each of our 2015 host cities offers something unique and special to the fifth anniversary of the Pro Challenge,” said Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “We’re confident that this year’s route will provide the most exciting week of racing yet.

We have added new cities and a dramatic mountaintop finish that will prove to be a fierce battleground for riders eager to show they have what it takes to compete on a new climb up Loveland Pass.”

April 28, 2015 (velonews.com)






Photo: Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) (cyclingweekly.co.uk)
Photo: Mark Cavendish wins Stage 1 of the 2015 Tour of Turkey from Nicola Ruffoni and Caleb Ewen (cyclingweekly.co.uk).

Mark Cavendish made it two for two in the Presidential Tour of Turkey, winning the mass sprint of stage two in Alanya. He edged out Sacha Modolo and Nicola Ruffoni, to maintain his overall lead.

The stage, 182km with start and finish in Alanya, was marked by five-man break group. Lluis Mas, Federico Zurlo, Kevin de Mesmaeker, Frederik Veuchelen and Adrien Niyonshuti never had more than about a three minute lead, and were caught again with 12 km to go.

April 27, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






April 27, 2015 (velonews.com)



Tom Meeusen has been acquitted of doping charges by the Belgian Cycling Federation. Photo: Tim De Waele .
Tom Meeusen has been acquitted of doping charges by the Belgian Cycling Federation. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Sporza reports that the Belgian Cycling Federation has acquitted cyclocross star Tom Meeusen of doping allegations. It cited insufficient evidence and only indirect links between Meeusen and illegal, performance enhancing treatments, such as cortisone and vaminolact.

There is a possibility that the UCI would appeal the decision. One outstanding question in the case is whether it would chose to appeal based on concerns over pro cycling’s ‘no-needle’ policy.

This rule was in place in 2011, when Meeusen reportedly took a cortisone injection for a knee injury, but the Belgian Cycling Federation did not implement its no-needle policy until a year later.

April 28, 2015 (velonews.com)






Photo: n a nail-biting finale, Sky beat Orica-GreenEDGE by 0.6 second.
Photo: n a nail-biting finale, Sky beat Orica-GreenEDGE by 0.6 second. (cyclingquotes.com)

Team Sky edged out Orica-GreenEdge by just 0.63 of a second to claim the opening team time trial of the Tour de Romandie at Juraparc.

The teams were locked in the same time at the midway point, but Sky – the final team to take the start – managed to squeeze out GreenEdge by the narrowest of margins.

Geraint Thomas led Sky across the line and will wear the yellow jersey of race leader on Wednesday.

April 28, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








Photo: Tour de Romandie Stage 2 Profile.
Photo: Tour de Romandie Stage 2 Profile.

Wednesday's Tour de Romandie Stage 2 departs Apples at 1:00pm CET (7:00am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Saint-Imier at around 5:17pm CET (11:17am U.S. Eastern). 

Tour de Romandie live video streaming should get underway at around 4:00pm CET (10:00am U.S. Eastern, 7:00am Pacific).

April 28, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Fabio Aru enters the Giro d'Italia with a question mark on his back. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Fabio Aru enters the Giro d'Italia with a question mark on his back. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Italy’s most promising general classification rider Fabio Aru is now in a race simply to be on form for the Giro d’Italia. The Italian grand tour starts in just over a week in Liguria, but Aru, who placed third in 2014, has not pinned a racing number on his back in a month.

Knocked out by a stomach virus , the 24-year-old called off the Giro del Trentino last week and a chance to face rival Richie Porte. He considered racing the Tour de Romandie this week, but is skipping that one too.

The Giro d’Italia will be Aru’s first race since placing sixth behind Porte in Spain’s Volta a Catalunya stage race March 29. His only other race this year was Paris-Nice, in which Porte was on top again and Aru took 39th.

April 28, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) celebrates winning Paris-Roubaix (Getty Images Sport).
Photo: John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) celebrates winning Paris-Roubaix (Getty Images Sport).

Giant-Alpecin will be backing John Degenkolb to make a winning return to racing on home turf at the Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn Frankfurt. Degenkolb is one of three German riders selected for the 1.HC race which he lost to Alexander Kristoff last year.

Degenkolb won the first monument of his career in March at Milan-San Remo and quickly claimed the second at Paris Roubaix with a seventh place at the Tour of Flanders in between the two wins. The 26-year-old won 206.8 km German one-day race in 2011 and has since placed seventh, fourth and second in the following seasons suggesting another high finish is possible in 2015.

April 28, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) in action at Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Bettini Photo).
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) in action at Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Bettini Photo).

Vincenzo Nibali has reiterated that he will not ride the Giro d’Italia despite speculation in the Italian press last week that he might be drafted in to Astana’s line-up following Fabio Aru’s recent bout of illness.

“I’ve already said ‘no’ many times. I won’t be present at the Giro d’Italia, it’s not in my program,” Nibali told Swiss radio station RSI on the eve of the Tour de Romandie, a stance he reiterated in an interview with the race organization.

April 28, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Spoke Fins 2.
Photo: Spoke Fins 2.

US company Null Winds Technology is seeking Kickstarter funding for its swivelling Spoke Fins: nylon plastic fairings that are designed to cut spoke drag in both headwinds and crosswinds.

Fairings for your spokes? Uh-huh!

April 28, 2015 (road.cc)





Andre Greipel (far right) finished eighth in Sunday's Tour of Turkey opener. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Andre Greipel (far right) finished eighth in Sunday's Tour of Turkey opener. Photo: Tim De Waele.

The “Gorilla” has been caged for the first two sprint stages of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey. Not only has Andre Greipel failed to crack the podium, a day after finishing fifth on stage 1, the reigning two-time German national road race champion fell short of the top 20 on stage 2 with heated rival Mark Cavendish claiming both in dominant fashion.

Greipel recorded 16 wins last season — the most of any international male professional cyclist — but has just two in 2015, compared to the six he had at this time last year.

April 27, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 28, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)
















April 28, 2015





Photo: Alejandro Valverde won his third Liège-Bastogne-Liège title over the weekend. Photo: Tim De Waele
Alejandro Valverde won his third Liège-Bastogne-Liège title over the weekend. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Fairly or unfairly, Valverde continues to be dogged by unanswered questions about his role in the Operación Puerto doping scandal that erupted in Spain nearly a decade ago.

In 2006, cycling was brought to its knees after Spain’s Guardia Civil uncovered the international doping ring masterminded by Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes. Fuentes was the Spanish counterpart to Italy’s Michele Ferrari, and served as one-stop shopping for riders such as Ivan Basso, Jorg Jaksche, Tyler Hamilton, and Michele Scarponi, all who served bans.

More than 60 names were linked to Fuentes, but police could only clearly identify a handful, meaning there were dozens of major riders, some who could still be racing today, who got away with it.

April 28, 2015 (velonews.com)





The Movement Pour Cyclisme Crédible is lobbying for change in the peloton. Photo: Tim De Waele .
The Movement Pour Cyclisme Crédible is lobbying for change in the peloton. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Roger Legeay has staunchly defended his organization, insisting the group MPCC (Movement Pour Cyclisme Crédible) remains a legitimate voice for change despite recent hurdles.

The departure of Lampre-Merida from the group earlier this year as well as the continued presence of beleaguered Astana has raised questions about the group’s legitimacy as a voice of change within the peloton.

Legeay, who started the volunteer group eight years ago to bolster ethical conduct within the peloton, said the group remains committed to its principles.

April 28, 2015 (velonews.com)






Liquigas-Cannondale's Ted King works to pull Ivan Basso back into the race at Paris-Nice (Bettini Photo).
Liquigas-Cannondale's Ted King works to pull Ivan Basso back into the race at Paris-Nice (Bettini Photo).

Cannondale-Garmin's Ted King announced today that he will retire from professional cycling following the 2015 season. The 32-year-old raced in the sport’s biggest events, including the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, World Championships and Monuments such as Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.

“I'll forever love this sport and consider myself grateful to have earned such an international career,” King said.

April 28, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Eric Marcotte (Team SmartStop) became the first man to concurrently hold the U.S. road race and criterium national championships titles. Photo: Casey B. Gibson.
Eric Marcotte became the first man to concurrently hold the U.S. road race and criterium national championships titles. Photo: Casey B. Gibson.

The pro criterium championships offer a unique combination of a relatively small field, a short race (by professional road standards) at two hours, and a stars and stripes jersey on the line. This creates an exciting showcase of cycling strategy and tactics with the backdrop of aggressive racing, the essence of the American criterium.

Put simply, every team’s strategy was to create a small split or break with both the numbers in their favor and the fastest finisher. These are fairly simple to qualify but exponentially more difficult when executed at 45kph among a peloton of your peers.

Tactically, Eric Marcotte did a superb job investing his energy early to cover splits and never engaging in any prolonged chases. This enabled him to go on the offensive, instead of chasing back threatening moves.

April 28, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: The first treat offered at #SelectionCamp however only for the winning TTT athletes today! Losers washed bikes.
Photo: The first treat offered at #SelectionCamp however only for the winning TTT athletes today! Losers washed bikes.

"It was freezing cold and drizzling in Canberra as I waited outside the Australian Institute of Sport residence hall. It’s something like a university college but more empty and austere.

I’m waiting for Rochelle Gilmore, the woman behind Wiggle Honda and the High5 Dream Team. She’s in Canberra for her latest project, the Australian women’s European development program.

Gilmore emerges into the mist to greet me, ambassadorial in a suit and heels. I was meeting her to ask about what had revived this development pathway, which had been controversially cut earlier in the year.

Partnering with Gilmore has allowed Cycling Australia to resuscitate the program."

April 28, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: The route tours the scenic Lac de Joux before a climb.
Photo: The route tours the scenic Lac de Joux before a climb.

With the spring classics done it’s time for the stage races. There’s no immediate switch from embrocation to sun screen as this year’s Tour de Romandie offers familiar conditions with rain and cold forecast.

There’s a rare pre-Tour clash between Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali but with wider interest as it’s a Giro tune up for some and a test for others.

April 28, 2015 (inrng.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's (May 1st) Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 28, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)











April 27, 2015



April 27, 2015



Photo: Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) (cyclingweekly.co.uk)
Photo: Mark Cavendish wins Stage 1 of the 2015 Tour of Turkey from Nicola Ruffoni and Caleb Ewen (cyclingweekly.co.uk).

Mark Cavendish made it two for two in the Presidential Tour of Turkey, winning the mass sprint of stage two in Alanya. He edged out Sacha Modolo and Nicola Ruffoni, to maintain his overall lead.

The stage, 182km with start and finish in Alanya, was marked by five-man break group. Lluis Mas, Federico Zurlo, Kevin de Mesmaeker, Frederik Veuchelen and Adrien Niyonshuti never had more than about a three minute lead, and were caught again with 12 km to go.

April 27, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: Tour of Turkey Stage 3 Profile.
Photo: Tour of Turkey Stage 3 Profile.

Tuesday's Tour of Turkey Stage 3 departs Kemer at 11:25am EEST (local) (10:25am CET or 4:25am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Elmali at around 4:13pm EEST (local) (3:13pm CET or 9:13am U.S. Eastern). 

Tour of Turkey live streaming video should get underway at around 3:00pm EEST (local) (2:00pm CET or 8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 26, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: Bradley Wiggins ended his career in a Sky kit at Paris-Roubaix earlier this month. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Photo: Bradley Wiggins ended his career in a Sky kit at Paris-Roubaix earlier this month. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Bradley Wiggins will line up against his former Sky team for the first time in the Tour de Yorkshire on Friday. The Englishman is set to make his debut in the blue and red team Wiggins colors as he transitions from the road to the track with an attempt at breaking the hour record on the horizon.

Wiggins, who celebrates his 35th birthday Tuesday, has never raced against Sky before. He left Garmin after he finished fourth in the 2009 Tour de France and joined Sky for its debut year in 2010. He stayed with the British squad for five and a half years, winning the 2012 Tour de France and the time trial at the 2014 UCI worlds, and left after Paris-Roubaix two weeks ago.

“I would not have had any of the success that I’ve had if I hadn’t been in this team,” Wiggins said during a talk with members of the media during the classics.

April 27, 2015 (velonews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Tour de Romandie - April 28-May 3 (Stages),

Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (Stages & Results),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Liège - Bastogne - Liège - Apr 26 (Results),

Joe Martin Stage Race - Apr 23-26 (Results),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Results),

La Flèche Wallonne - Apr 22 (Results),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

More...

April 27, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The Asia-Pacific market is one of stark contrasts.
Photo: The Asia-Pacific market is one of stark contrasts.

"The women’s market for cycling products is going through a period of evolution.

The commercial opportunity posed by such an underdeveloped market sector is causing companies to invest time and resources into providing female cyclists with the products they want and need.

In part one of our three-part series on the women’s market we looked at Specialized’s take from the United Kingdom and now we turn our attention to the Asia-Pacific region."

April 27, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Leadville’s altitude has always been part of the race’s draw — the low point of the course is 9,200 feet.
Photo: Leadville’s altitude has always been part of the race’s draw — the low point of the course is 9,200 feet.

Owners of the Leadville 100 mountain bike race have announced the addition of a three-day stage race, to take place three weeks prior to the 100-mile event over the same course.

The stage race, slated for July 24-26, will cover the same high-altitude terrain as the Leadville 100, but split the distance over three consecutive stages.

“We are thrilled to offer the new Leadville Stage Race as an opportunity for athletes to come and test their limits on the famed The Leadville 100 MTB course,” said Josh Colley, Leadville race director.

April 27, 2015 (velonews.com)




Photo: Trek’s Isospeed ‘pivot’ lets the seat tube flex for rear end plushness.
Photo: Trek’s Isospeed ‘pivot’ lets the seat tube flex for rear end plushness.

Verdict: 5 out of 5 stars. "Designed for the Classics – and a classic race machine."

April 27, 2015 (bikeradar.com)





Photo: With Shimano Alfine Di2 hub gear system and its Nexus 8 hub, with a shift paddle, the system can operate independently of speed and cadence.
Photo: With Shimano Alfine Di2 hub gear system and its Nexus 8 hub, with a shift paddle, the system can operate independently of speed and cadence.

First appearing on these shores during this month’s Sea Otter Classic bike expo, eBike enthusiasts first got a glimpse at Bosch’s eShift system last fall at venues throughout Europe.  

Although Bosch’s video has been lingering in “cyber space” for a few months now, its the first time its come to our attention.

When used in conjunction with NuVinci’s H|Sync system, Bosch’s Intuvia on-board computer can set the cadence, in relationship with the shifting system to operate, in which case the gear ratio will be automatically adjusted to the rider’s preferred cadence.

April 27, 2015 (capovelo.com)







Alejandro Valverde sprints for the line ahead of Julian Alaphilippe and Joaquim Rodriguez. The Movistar rider won the sprint after controlling the final kilometer and outwitting Katusha’s numerical superiority.

The early breakaway took time to form, a flurry of attacks in the first half hour finally ended with a move that didn’t contain any threats. It still prompted Europcar to lead the chase, strange for the wildcard invitees to feel responsible for controlling events especially as they were doing it before the TV coverage started.

Things heated up on the the Côte de Wanne where Astana’s Andriy Grivko took off, launching the first of a series of moves by the Kazakh team. Were they celebrating their continued presence in the World Tour?

Probably not and the hilly terrain suits a team that’s built for stage racing and Vincenzo Nibali had started 2015 with two targets circled in red: the Tour de France and Liège Bastogne Liège.

April 26, 2015 (inrng.com)



Andre Greipel (far right) finished eighth in Sunday's Tour of Turkey opener. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Andre Greipel (far right) finished eighth in Sunday's Tour of Turkey opener. Photo: Tim De Waele.

The “Gorilla” has been caged for the first two sprint stages of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey. Not only has Andre Greipel failed to crack the podium, a day after finishing fifth on stage 1, the reigning two-time German national road race champion fell short of the top 20 on stage 2 with heated rival Mark Cavendish claiming both in dominant fashion.

Greipel recorded 16 wins last season — the most of any international male professional cyclist — but has just two in 2015, compared to the six he had at this time last year.

April 27, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: Chris Froome leads Nibali on stage three of the 2014 Tour de Romandie Credit: watson.
Photo: Chris Froome leads Nibali on stage three of the 2014 Tour de Romandie Credit: Watson.

Chris Froome returns to the Tour de Romandie as leader of Team Sky, eyeing a possible third consecutive victory in the Swiss WorldTour race, starting on Tuesday (April 28).

Froome is backed up by a strong team featuring four other Britons. Sky has picked a selection of riders to support Froome in the key Tour de France warm-up race that mixes those coming in from the Classics and key mountain domestiques.

April 27, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)










Photo: Tour de Romandie Stage 1 Profile.
Photo: Tour de Romandie Stage 1 Profile.

Tuesday's Tour de Romandie Stage 1, a 19.2 km Team Time Trial from Le Sentier to Juraparc, gets underway at 3:45pm CET (9:45am U.S. Eastern) with the departure of the first team.

Tour de Romandie live video streaming should get underway at around 4:00pm CET (10:00am U.S. Eastern, 7:00am Pacific).

April 27, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The jersey winners, best young rider Dion Smith (Hincapie Racing), overall winner John Murphy (UnitedHealthcare) and Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Jamis Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home) (Tom Ewart).
Photo: The jersey winners, best young rider Dion Smith (Hincapie Racing), overall winner John Murphy (UnitedHealthcare) and Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Jamis Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home)
(Pic: Tom Ewart).

Haedo and Wilborne claim final day criterium wins.

April 27, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) receives the winner's trophy (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) receives the winner's trophy (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

The victories in Liege Bastogne Liege and the Fleche Wallonne have propelled Alejandro Valverde to the top of the UCI WorldTour rankings.

The Movistar rider moved up from second, dropping former leader Richie Porte to the runner-up position. Alexander Kristoff and John Degenkolb remained as third and fourth, respectively. Joaquin Rodriguez jumped from ninth to fifth.

April 27, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Marcel Kittel's only win this year came in January's People's Choice Classic. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Photo: Marcel Kittel's only win this year came in January's People's Choice Classic. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Marcel Kittel (Giant-Alpecin) will return to racing at the Tour de Yorkshire on Friday following an extended period away from racing due to sickness.

The German sprinter’s recovery from a virus was slower than expected, resulting in a quiet, nearly race-free start to his season. Kittel was forced to pull out of Tirreno-Adriatico in early March and has not raced since. He missed the chance to add a fourth Scheldeprijs victory to his palmares as team doctors kept him sidelined during his recovery.

Kittel’s only win this year came at the People’s Choice Classic, a 51-kilometer warmup race for the Santos Tour Down Under. He notched 13 wins in 2014, including four Tour de France stages.

April 27, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Cameron Wurf takes the win @SPY Belgian Waffle Ride.
Photo: Cameron Wurf takes the win @SPY Belgian Waffle Ride.

"Like Sea Otter it was my first visit but I would strongly suggest, 2016 will be your year to attend Sea Otter, recover, and attend BMR.

Events like that are put on by loyal cycling fans. My hats off to Victor and Maddy of Spy Optic. Someone mentioned turning the event to a professional event planner. There is something to be said to family and Maddy, who was my main contact did a fantastic job.  A well deserved Pat On the Back to Maddy and her gang."

April 27, 2015 (cyclingillustrated.com)








Photo: Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) wins Tour of Turkey opener (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) wins Tour of Turkey opener (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Mark Cavendish claimed the opening stage of the 2015 Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey on Sunday.

Cavendish won the bunch sprint after a perfect lead-out from the Etixx squad at the end of the 145-kilometer stage looping around Alanya. Australian prodigy Caleb Ewan placed second, with Italian Nicola Ruffoni in third.

Cavendish’s win means that he wears the leader’s jersey going into Monday’s second stage Alanya to Antalya covering 182 kilometres. It’s the Manxman’s seventh victory of the season – only Alexander Kristoff and Richie Porte have won more, with 11 and nine wins respectively. (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

April 26, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (http://cyclingchicks.tumblr.com/)

April 27, 2015 (cyclingchicks.tumblr.com/)














April 27, 2015





Photo: I have a lot of rest. I think I have a lot more rest than the other riders.
Photo: "I have a lot of rest. I think I have a lot more rest than the other riders"

He’s already completed a staggering run of ten straight Grand Tours, starting with the 2011 Vuelta a España and doing three a year since then.

Adam Hansen has committed to doing the same block of racing again this year and, all going well, by the end of September’s Vuelta the affable Australian will have set a major Grand Tour participation record.

The issue is a somewhat confusing one; as Hansen approached and then equalled the ten consecutive Grand Tours of the Spaniard Marino Lejarreta, that was widely reported as being the record.

However it has since emerged that another rider, Spain’s Bernardo Ruiz, had finished twelve straight three week races, starting with the 1954 Giro d’Italia and concluding with the 1958 Vuelta a España.

April 27, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)






Photo: Ian Stannard’s overwinning against three Etixx-Quick Step riders was impressive.
Photo: Ian Stannard’s overwinning against three Etixx-Quick Step riders was impressive.

Gent Wevelgem was the stand-out race of the 2015 spring classics campaign and a shoe-in for the highlights of 2015 after the storm made a race that was gripping for hours.

Yes it was dangerous but hopefully most enjoyed watching for the long range action where for the tactical scenarios kept changing for over two hours rather than the crashes.

Other races provided plenty of action too and right from the start with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and along the way there have been revelations, confirmations and a fair-share of post-race polemics.

April 27, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: Yukiya Arashiro (Europcar) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Yukiya Arashiro (Europcar) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

The series of crashes and injuries that has marked the 2015 season continued Sunday in Liege Bastogne Liege.

One mass crash with about 40 km to go took out a number of riders, and sent Europcar’s Yukiya Arashiro to the hospital with the most serious injuries.

The Japanese rider lay on the ground a long time and was obviously in pain. It was later reported that he had broken ribs as well as either his humerus or scapula.

LottoNL-Jumbo was the hardest hit team, losing two riders. Bram Tankink tweeted that he was “with concussion and bruises in bed. Nice end to the early season. Can’t remember what happened.”

April 27, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Julian Alaphilippe (left) finished a close second in Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Julian Alaphilippe (left) finished a close second in Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Photo: Tim De Waele.

French revelation Julian Alaphilippe admitted he was frustrated at missing out on a prestigious victory at Liege Bastogne Liege but claimed he was happy with his support role for world champion Michal Kwiatkowski.

The 22-year-old was beaten only by Alejandro Valverde in sprint finishes at Liege on Sunday and four days before that at Fleche Wallonne after Kwiatkowski had cracked in the final kilometers.

And having already finished seventh at Amstel Gold a week before Liege, where 25-year-old Kwiatkowski triumphed, Alaphilippe was arguably his Etixx Quick Step team’s star performer in the Ardennes.

But the humble rider refused to demand an improved status within the team, saying he will bide his time for the chance to lead.

April 27, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: 1954 Alex Singer 700C.
Photo: 1954 Alex Singer 700C.

When bikes are as stunningly beautiful as the machines from René Herse, Alex Singer and other French constructeurs, it is easy to dismiss them as “beauty queens” or “show bikes.” This would be a mistake: The performance of these bikes is as outstanding as their appearance. They confirm the old saying: “What looks right usually is right.”

When I first became interested in the bikes of René Herse and Alex Singer, collectors told me: “Yes, they are beautiful to look at, but they probably aren’t so great to ride.” As a rider, that dampened my interest in these machines.

So imagine my surprise when I read Bernard Déon’s classic book Paris-Brest et Retour about the history of the famous 1200 km PBP randonneur event, and saw that these bikes had not only been ridden for that long distance, but ridden at incredible speeds.

April 27, 2015 (janheine.wordpress.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's (May 1st) Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 27, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)












April 26, 2015











Up and coming climber Louis Meintjes put in an impressive performance at Liège Bastogne Liège, following the attacks in the latter stages of the race to finish in 11th place.

Meintjes was sitting in the wheel of Daniel Moreno with two kilometers to go after the Katusha rider put in a dig, although he was eventually distanced on the final climb into Ans and was beaten to 10th by Moreno when the pair came to the line together.

April 26, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)


April 26, 2015



Photo: a predictable win without too much suspense.
Photo: A predictable win without too much suspense.

Alejandro Valverde sprints for the line ahead of Julian Alaphilippe and Joaquim Rodriguez. The Movistar rider won the sprint after controlling the final kilometer and outwitting Katusha’s numerical superiority.

The early breakaway took time to form, a flurry of attacks in the first half hour finally ended with a move that didn’t contain any threats. It still prompted Europcar to lead the chase, strange for the wildcard invitees to feel responsible for controlling events especially as they were doing it before the TV coverage started.

Things heated up on the the Côte de Wanne where Astana’s Andriy Grivko took off, launching the first of a series of moves by the Kazakh team. Were they celebrating their continued presence in the World Tour?

Probably not and the hilly terrain suits a team that’s built for stage racing and Vincenzo Nibali had started 2015 with two targets circled in red: the Tour de France and Liège Bastogne Liège.

April 26, 2015 (inrng.com)








Photo: Alejandro Valverde celebrates his win. .
Alejandro Valverde celebrates after winning the 101st Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Photo: AFP.

Alejandro Valverde chased down a late breakaway and then prevailed in a rain-soaked dash to the line to win his third Liège Bastogne Liège on Sunday.

Dani Moreno had attacked a small lead group just ahead of the final kilometer, and as the favorites hesitated he opened a significant gap. Finally Valverde took the initiative to drag him back, and despite bringing most of the other hopefuls along with him the 35-year-old Spaniard found the legs to kick to the victory at the end. (velonews.com)

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 6:14:20
2 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - Quick-Step
3 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha
4 Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida
5 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo
6 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
7 Sergio Luis Henao (Col) Team Sky
8 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
9 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team
10 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team Katusha.

April 26, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)




Photo: Elise Delzenne (Velocio-SRAM) parlayed a perfectly-time attack into a race winning move at Dwars door de Westhoek on Sunday.
Photo: Elise Delzenne (Velocio-SRAM) parlayed a perfectly-time attack into a race winning move at Dwars door de Westhoek on Sunday.

Three races this weekend marked the beginning of the end of the one-day spring classics for the women’s peloton. While Belgium and Holland will play host to a handful of single day races in May, we’re on the cusp on stage race season in Europe as the World Cup series visits the further-flung destinations of Chongming Island, China and Philadelphia, USA in the next six weeks.

Familiar faces graced the top step of the podium at Borsele. Ellen van Dijk won her fourth consecutive individual time trial title on Friday evening. The following afternoon Kirsten Wild scored her fifth victory of the season – and her fifth victory at Borsele.

A new winner emerged at Dwars door de Westhoek where Elise Delzenne soloed to her first professional victory.

April 26, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Romain Bardet is looking for an agressive race (Sadhbh O'Shea).
Photo: Romain Bardet is looking for an agressive race (Sadhbh O'Shea).

Romain Bardet mixed it up with some of the most experienced riders in the peloton to secure his best finish yet at Liège Bastogne Liège.

The 24-year-old Frenchman was ever present on the front of the small bunch in the finale, cresting the climb to Ans with just 10 other riders. Bardet was visibly struggling in the sprint but battled home to take sixth, however, he had hoped for more.

“Sixth is a good result but we hoped for a podium and with 30 meters to go I still hoped for the podium but the legs cried and I couldn’t do much in the sprint,” Bardet told Cyclingnews as he warmed down by the team bus.

April 26, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Liège - Bastogne - Liège - Apr 26 (Results),

Joe Martin Stage Race - Apr 23-26 (Results),

Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (Stages & Results),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Results),

La Flèche Wallonne - Apr 22 (Results),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results).

More...

April 25, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)











Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.
Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia wae held April 22-26.

Maciej Paterski wins the finall stage and the overall classification.

April 26, 2015 (youtube.com)





Photo: Dan Holloway won the 2014 Athens Twilight Criterium (USA CRITS Series).
Photo: Dan Holloway won the 2014 Athens Twilight Criterium (USA CRITS Series).

Daniel Holloway defend his title at the Athens Twilight Criterium held on Saturday night in Georgia.

The elite criterium champion lapped the field and out-sprinted his breakaway companion Ruben Companioni to take the win. Frank Travieso was third.

April 26, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Former six time US criterium champion, Tina Pic won the women's race at the 35th Annual Athens Twilight Criterium on Saturday.

The veteran sprinter won the bunch kick to the line ahead of Samantha Schneider and Laura Van Gilder.

April 25, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) wins Tour of Turkey opener (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Mark Cavendish (Etixx-QuickStep) wins Tour of Turkey opener (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Mark Cavendish claimed the opening stage of the 2015 Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey on Sunday.

Cavendish won the bunch sprint after a perfect lead-out from the Etixx squad at the end of the 145-kilometer stage looping around Alanya. Australian prodigy Caleb Ewan placed second, with Italian Nicola Ruffoni in third.

Cavendish’s win means that he wears the leader’s jersey going into Monday’s second stage Alanya to Antalya covering 182 kilometres. It’s the Manxman’s seventh victory of the season – only Alexander Kristoff and Richie Porte have won more, with 11 and nine wins respectively. (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

April 26, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







April 26, 2015






Photo: El ciclista vasco del equipo navarro Caja Rural-Seguros RGA Omar Fraile.
Photo: El ciclista vasco del equipo navarro Caja Rural Omar Fraile (navarrasport.com)

Having made it into an 8-rider group that escaped in the hardest part of the race, Fraile beat his companions in a sprint to win the Giro dell’Appennino; Pirazzi and Cunego completed the podium.

In the first part of his professional career, Fraile has been known as one of the most aggressive riders in the peloton. However, his many escapes have never paid off and he started the 2015 season with no wins on his palmares.

April 26, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: After his FDJ team had brought a late 4-rider break back, Manzin won the bunch sprint in La Roue Tourangelle to take his first pro victory.
Photo: After his FDJ team had brought a late 4-rider break back, Manzin won the bunch sprint in La Roue Tourangelle to take his first pro victory.

Lorrenzo Manzin confirmed that he has a huge potential as a future top sprinter when he won La Roue Tourangelle which is an important part of the Coupe de France race series.

After a wet day in the saddle, his FDJ teammates brought back a dangerous four-rider group in the finale before the young sprinter held off Clement Venturini and Jan Dieteren in the 30-rider sprint to take his first pro win.

Going into the 2015 season, FDJ lost sprinter Nacer Bouhanni to Cofidis but they were intent on finding a replacement to supplement Arnaud Demare in the bunch sprints. Hence, they signed the two promising youngsters Marc Sarreau and Manzin and promised to give them lots of chances in their first pro year.

April 26, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: The Ronde van Gelderland was Vos’ first road race since the 2014 Road World Championships Ponferrada, Spain.
Photo: The Ronde van Gelderland was Vos’ first road race since the 2014 Road World Championships Ponferrada, Spain.

With a 1.2 UCI ranking, the Ronde van Gelderland might be a minor race on the women’s race calendar, but for 12-time world champion Marianne Vos this race was a big one. Sidelined with a hamstring injury since the 2015 Cyclocross World Championships in January, Gelderland marked Vos’ long-awaited return to the peloton.

Prior to Gelderland, Vos pinned on a number for the the Rabobank Bikecenter VANTUYL Paasbike mountain bike race. It was a final test of the hamstring and fitness.

She won race with ease.

April 26, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Boonen took the world road race championships ten years ago in Madri.
Photo: Boonen took the world road race championships ten years ago in Madrid. (Kristoff Ramon)

Making his return to racing after injury on stage one of the Presidential Tour of Turkey, Tom Boonen has ruled out any participation in the Tour de France this year and said instead that he will likely pursue a Giro/Vuelta program in order to be in top shape for the world championships.

“The Tour is out of the question,” the 34 year old told CyclingTips at the stage one start in Alanya. “I go two months now à bloc [flat out – ed.]. Then July I am off, then August September two months à bloc again for the world championships. The Tour just doesn’t fit the program and the team is pretty full as it is.”

April 26, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: This year will have a strong field as usual with Christopher Froome in search of a hat-trick, after victories in 2013, and 2014.
Photo: This year will have a strong field as usual with Christopher Froome in search of a hat-trick, after victories in 2013, and 2014.

Swiss stage racing.  The six day Tour de Romandie starts Tuesday.

It's a Jura mountains focused course this year.  We'll see numerous lakes  and vineyards, we'll climb to ski stations, and, hopefully, we'll see lots and lots of cows. And, of course, conforming to Swiss law, the peloton will cycle past UCI headquarters in Aigle while visiting the Alps.

The Tour de Romandie has been raced since 1947. Romandie refers to the French speaking region of Switzerland - approximately 20% of the population - in the western edge of the country.

A list of former Romandie winners reads like a who's who of cycling: Merckx, Hinault, Bartali, Koblet, Thévenet, Zoetemelk, Roche, Rominger, Evans, etc.

April 26, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)







Photo: Tour of Turkey Stage 2 Profile.
Photo: Tour of Turkey Stage 2 Profile.

Monday's Tour of Turkey Stage 2 departs Alanya at 10:30am EEST (local) (9:30am CET or 3:30am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Antalya at around 2:45pm EEST (local) (1:45pm CET or 7:45am U.S. Eastern). 

Tour of Turkey live streaming video should get underway at around 1:15pm EEST (local) (12:15pm CET or 6:15am U.S. Eastern, 3:15am Pacific).

April 26, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 26, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)










April 26, 2015










Photo: Louis Meintjes (MTN-Qhubeka) (Sadhbh O'Shea).
Photo: Louis Meintjes (MTN-Qhubeka) (Sadhbh O'Shea).

Up and coming climber Louis Meintjes put in an impressive performance at Liège Bastogne Liège, following the attacks in the latter stages of the race to finish in 11th place.

Meintjes was sitting in the wheel of Daniel Moreno with two kilometers to go after the Katusha rider put in a dig, although he was eventually distanced on the final climb into Ans and was beaten to 10th by Moreno when the pair came to the line together.

“A top 10 would have been nice but I’m obviously very happy to be in the front group of a race like Liège,” Meintjes said after the race. “I was thinking if I am there and I am on the wheels I didn’t want to get stuck behind someone else and I thought I’d go to the front and follow the action.

April 26, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Compare that to the 65,135 euro prize money taken home by Luca Paolini of Katusha.
Photo: She wins 270 euro: Compare that to the 65,135 euro prize money taken home by Luca Paolini.

When Australia’s Tiffany Cromwell won the 2013 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad classic she had every right to be delighted – and one reason not to be. She’d just cemented her name on the European scene with what was arguably the biggest win to date in her career, trouncing Megan Gruanier of Rabobank in the sprint to seal a brilliant victory.

The win brought her the spotlight her talent deserved and gained her a reputation for being a no nonsense rider who could mix it with the best in the sport.

Surely, a win like that will have brought in a nice little pot in prize money? Well, not quite.

For her suffering on that cold morning at the tail end of February last year, Cromwell picked up an altogether underwhelming 270 euro. After splitting that among her teammates she might just have had enough for a glass of vino and a plate of pasta down her local trattoria.

April 26, 2015 (crankpunk.com)





Photo: Chaabane, 26, represented Algeria at the 2008 Olympics and has been riding for Vélo Club Sovac since 2012.
Photo: Chaabane, 26, represented Algeria at the 2008 Olympics and has been riding for Vélo Club Sovac since 2012.

News of a positive doping test for Algeria's Hichem Chaabane and two other as yet unidentified cyclists from Africa in the past few days points to a deeper problem with banned substance abuse in one of the UCI's most important growth areas and serves to highlight the fact that the same mistakes made in Europe are being made in other regions where the sport is in a development phase.

Chaabane recently won the Circuit d'Alger, a UCI 2.1 race that finished on March 6th.

"The National Commission for the fight against doping were informed by letter of 22 April as urinary analyzes conducted by the Paris laboratory of Chatenay Malabray on two samples of the same rider revealed the presence of two banned substances," revealed the Algerian Cycling Federation in a statement, but did not specify what the prohibited substances were.

April 26, 2015 (crankpunk.com)





Photo: Steele Von Hoff wins CiCLE Classic 2015.
Photo: Steele Von Hoff wins CiCLE Classic 2015.

Steele Von Hoff raced to victory in the Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic on Sunday – but as he crossed the line he thought he had been sprinting for fifth place.

The Australian had battled back from last place after his chainring had exploded, and was happy to have made it back and be sprinting just for the minor placings – but he took the win.

“It was a real surprise because I thought there were four other riders away up the road,” said Von Hoff as he stepped from the top of the podium. “I thought there was a group that went earlier.

“I thought they were a long way off and we had no chance of catching up so I honestly thought we were sprinting for fifth.”

April 26, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Some of the frauds at the heart of EPO's rise to becoming America's most popular drug.
Some of the frauds at the heart of EPO's rise to becoming America's most popular drug.

A story about some of the frauds at the heart of EPO's rise to becoming America's most popular prescription drug

Sharp takes a complex story and explains it clearly,focusing the story on one of those who blew the whistle on EPO.

April 26, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)





Photo: Tour de Romandie Stage 1 Profile.
Photo: Tour de Romandie Stage 1 Profile.

Tuesday's Tour de Romandie Stage 1, a 19.2 km Team Time Trial from Le Sentier to Juraparc, gets underway at 3:45pm CET (9:45am U.S. Eastern) with the departure of the first team.

Tour de Romandie live video streaming should get underway at around 4:00pm CET (10:00am U.S. Eastern, 7:00am Pacific).

April 26, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's (May 1st) Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 25, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)








March 25, 2015


April 25, 2015



Photo: The men's peloton speed by the Georgia Theatre at Athens Twilight Criterium (USA CRITS Series).
Photo: The men's peloton speed by the Georgia Theatre at Athens Twilight Criterium (USA CRITS Series).

The 35th annual Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium hasl kicked off the USA CRITS Series today (Saturday) in Athens, Georgia, and you can watch the live streaming of the event right now.

The men’s live started at 8:15pm EDT, (5:15pm Pacific).

April 25, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Tina Pic (USA) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling.
Photo: Tina Pic (USA) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling wins.

Former six time US criterium champion, Tina Pic won the women's race at the 35th Annual Athens Twilight Criterium on Saturday.

The veteran sprinter won the bunch kick to the line ahead of Samantha Schneider and Laura Van Gilder.

April 25, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: In Turkey, you should not expect immediate stage victories from Tom, because we are also taking Cavendish.
Photo: In Turkey, you should not expect immediate stage victories from Tom, because we are also taking Cavendish.

Tom Boonen makes his return to racing tomorrow at the Tour of Turkey and Giro d’Italia, but his DS Wilfried Peeters has told fans not to expect wins from the 34 year old Belgian star in any of those races.

"It's all right with Tom. He is ready,” Peeters told sporza.be. “His arm feels good but after a few hours his shoulder of course is painful. But that's normal after the operation."

April 25, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) wins stage 4 (Fotoreporter Sirotti).
Photo: Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) wins stage 4 (Fotoreporter Sirotti).

This year, France has been steadily raising its collective game in the Ardennes Classics, but while Julien Alaphilippe’s second place at Flèche Wallonne has understandably received a lot of attention, Tony Gallopin’s sixth place in Amstel Gold Race and fourth in Brabantsje Pijl sees the 26-year-old Lotto-Soudal rider slowly raising the stakes, too.

Ninth in Milan-San Remo, Gallopin has deliberately switched targets this year, skipping the cobbles to focus more on Ardennes Classics, and so far his change of goal has paid off. The 2014 Tour stage winner and leader also deliberately missed out on Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday in order to be fresher for Liège Bastogne Liège and the final Monument of the spring, he told reporters on Saturday.

April 25, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Liège - Bastogne - Liège - Apr 26 (History),

Joe Martin Stage Race - Apr 23-26 (Stages & Results),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Results),

La Flèche Wallonne - Apr 22 (Results),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results).

More...

April 25, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: I first got to wear—and briefly operate—an Apple Watch during a secret preview in January.
Photo: 'I first got to wear—and briefly operate—an Apple Watch during a secret preview in January."

"One of the four things that for me sets the Watch apart from other wrist-based fitness trackers or performance monitors — and that also makes it preferable to just using your iPhone to run Strava or answer a call, text, or email mid-ride — is the factor that takes longest to appreciate and utilize: Its potential to integrate disparate parts of your life in a more seamless use of technology and communication.

You need to live with the Watch for awhile. And that’s sort of the take-away for me."

April 25, 2015 (bicycling.com)










Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.
Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.

Sunday's Stage 5 starts at 9:10am CET (3:10am U.S. Eastern).

Finish at around 3:58pm CET (9:58am U.S. Eastern).

Live video from 2:30pm CET (8:30am U.S. Eastern, 5:30am Pacific).

April 25, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: Leah Kirchmann (Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) wins the Tour de Delta Women's UCI Race (Greg Descantes).
Photo: Leah Kirchmann (Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) wins the Tour de Delta Women's UCI Race (Greg Descantes).

UnitedHealthcare's John Murphy won stage 2 of the Joe Martin Stage Race in Arkansas on Friday, beating Hincapie Racing's Ty Magner and Dion Smith to the line after the peloton caught a breakaway of six riders in the final kilometers. Stage 1 winner Gregory Brenes maintained his overall lead.

Leah Kirchmann
out-kicked UnitedHealthcare speedster Coryn Rivera Friday to take stage 2 of the Joe Martin Stage Race in Arkansas, while overnight leader Lauren Stephens finished inside the top 10 to preserve her leader's jersey.

April 24, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






April 24, 2015 (velonews.com)




Photo: Coryn Rivera (UnitedHealthcare) takes another stage win. (Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us).
Photo: ...

John Murphy took his second consecutive win at the Joe Martin Stage Race, winning stage 3's 175km road race in Prairie Grove on Saturday. He won the bunch sprint ahead of Sebastian Haedo and Joseph Lewis. Gregory Brenes will keep his leader's jersey into the criterium on Sunday.

Coryn Rivera won the women's 107km race in similar fashion. The former US criterium champion won the bunch sprint, after receiving a solid lead-out from her team, ahead of her own teammate Alexis Ryan and Canadian road champion Leah Kirchmann. Lauren Stephens finished in the main field and held onto the overall leader's jersey heading into stage 4.

April 25, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the last of the classics, is upon us, but it seems many of you are still having some trouble coming to terms with one of the perennial performers of the season.
Photo: Liège Bastogne Liège, the last of the classics, is upon us, but it seems many of you are still having some trouble coming to terms with one of the perennial performers of the season.

This year, just like every year since Alejandro Valverde completed his unrepentant detention for dabbling in some of professional cycling’s darker arts, the response from many fans has been the same, “anybody but Valverde”.

But the “Green Bullet” is always there in the mix, hunting for the win, and if not that, crafting another cheeky place on the podium.

The Ardennes week is his favorite playground, and on the eve of “La Doyenne”, Valverde has already recorded a 2nd at the Amstel Gold Race and 1st at Flèche Wallonne.

As he goes deeper into the season Valverde just gets better and better, and tonight he’s up for another shot at a third victory at Liège after wins in 2006 and 2008.

April 25, 2015 (sbs.com.au)





Photo: Until Sunday he just has to regain strength and energy because he spent ​​four days without eating and drinking.
Photo: Until Sunday he just has to regain strength and energy because he spent ​​four days without eating and drinking.

Despite having been forced to skip the Giro del Trentino - Melinda, Fabio Aru can be pleased with the performance of the teammates that will accompany him in the Giro d'Italia.

Astana was a great protagonist during these four days and capped it with a stage win for Paolo Tiralongo

Due to his illness, Aru has also been forced to skip Liege Bastogne Liege but it had been considered to send him to the Tour de Romandie to make up for the missed racing.

However, Tiralongo confirms that he will stick to the original plan of training at altitude.

April 25, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: Dan Martin won the 2013 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège ahead of Joaquim Rodríguez. A late crash derailed his chances in 2014. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Photo: Dan Martin won the 2013 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège ahead of Joaquim Rodríguez. A late crash derailed his chances in 2014. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Dan Martin said Saturday he hopes his whiplash will have improved enough to allow him to challenge for victory at Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Martin, 28, won the prestigious monument two years ago and looked to have a strong chance of retaining his crown last year before crashing on the final bend as he attempted a break for the finish line.

But his preparations for Sunday’s 253km race hit a stumbling block on Wednesday when he crashed badly during the Flèche Wallonne.

“I’m definitely fit enough, it’s just seeing where this whiplash I’ve got is,” said Martin.

“It’s improving every day [but] I also don’t know what will happen during the race tomorrow.

April 25, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: Liege-Bastogne-Liege Official Poster .
Photo: Liege Bastogne Liege Official Poster.

Sunday's Liege Bastogne Liege departs Liege at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Ans at around 4:49pm CET (10:49am U.S. Eastern). 

Live streaming video should get underway at around *1:50pm CET (*7:50am U.S. Eastern). *Rai Sport 1 coverage starts at this time but Eurosport is not scheduled to start until 2:15pm CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern, 5:15am Pacific).

April 25, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Mark Renshaw has already piloted Mark Cavendish to several victories this season, including one in Spain at the Clasica de Almeria. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Mark Renshaw has already piloted Mark Cavendish to several victories this season, including one in Spain at the Clasica de Almeria. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Leadout specialist Mark Renshaw is no stranger to the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey. A year after taking a stage win in 2012 while riding for Rabobank turned Blanco, the 32-year-old Australian returned the following year with Blanco turned Belkin only to suffer the “worst crash of his career” which resulted in a concussion, fractured collarbone, and broken tooth.

After his two years with the Dutch team, Renshaw joined Omega Pharma Quick-Step (now Etixx Quick-Step) in 2014, reuniting with Mark Cavendish to reform a duo that had been one of cycling’s most successful partnerships a few years prior.

Renshaw piloted “Cav” to 14 Tour de France stage wins and a green jersey during an ultra successful three-year stint with the British sprinter at HTC-Highroad from 2009 to 2011, and has led Cavendish to 11 wins with Quick-Step, including four stage wins and a points classification at the Tour of Turkey alone.
April 25, 2015 (velonews.com)








Photo: Tour of Turkey Stage 1 Profile.
Photo: Tour of Turkey Stage 1 Profile.

Sunday's Tour of Turkey Stage 1 departs Alanya at 11:30am EEST (local) (10:30am CET or 4:30am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Alanya at around 2:48pm EEST (local) (1:48pm CET or 7:48am U.S. Eastern).

Tour of Turkey live streaming video should get underway at around 11:45am EEST (local) (10:45am CET or 4:45am U.S. Eastern, 1:45am Pacific).

April 25, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 25, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)











March 25, 2015







Photo: I won’t do a rain dance but for sure the rain can give me something more. But it’s annoying for everyone, there’s less tactics and many riders hate riding in the rain.
Photo: "I won’t do a rain dance but for sure the rain can give me something more. But it’s annoying for everyone, there’s less tactics and many riders hate riding in the rain."

After the news that the UCI would allow the Astana team to keep their WorldTour license, star man Vincenzo Nibali said there was no celebration, just focus ahead of Sunday’s Liege Bastogne Liege.

“There was no party,” Nibali said during a press conference at the team’s hotel. “We heard the news at lunchtime yesterday, I’m happy and now we can continue as normal. It hasn’t taken any pressure off my shoulders because there never was any pressure.

It’s only the media that made this up.”

30 year old Nibali, Liege runner-up in 2012, knows he and Jakob Fuglsang need to make the race as tough as possible in order to win, and the pair have been on the attack in both Amstel Gold and Fleche, when Fuglsang rode to eight in the latter.

April 25, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: A smiling Sammy Sánchez (BMC) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: A smiling Sammy Sánchez (BMC) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Samuel Sanchez will be a key player for the BMC team this Sunday as he looks to deliver Philippe Gilbert to his second victory at Liège Bastogne-Liège. Gilbert’s participation is still under question following a knee injury he sustained at Flèche Wallonne.

Sanchez
has faith in his team leader, however, and believes that he can be a factor in the race if he does take the start.

“Philippe is one of the favorites, he’s won the race before,” Sanchez told Cyclingnews at the team hotel on Friday. “I think he is more or less good, and on Sunday I hope he will be near 100 per cent.

He is the captain and I think he’ll be there in the final. Cycling is a different sport to others and it’s impossible to write down on paper what you think will happen in the race.

It’s a surprise and that’s the beauty of cycling.”

April 25, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)




Photo: Like all of the Monuments or any race worth doing, there’s a ton of teeth gritting going on..
Photo: Like all of the Monuments or any race worth doing, there’s a ton of teeth gritting going on.

His stats for Liege read like this: 1979, 20th: 1981, 11th: 1982, 10th: 1984, 1st: 1985, 4th: 1986, 12th: 1987, 20th; 1988, 5th: 1989, 1st – good enough to tell us a little about La Doyenne?

Yeah, we thought so too: PEZ talked to Sean Kelly about the oldest, and many would say the hardest of the ‘monuments’.

April 25, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's (May 1st) Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 25, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The basic inner soles should suit the masses .
Photo: The basic inner soles should suit the masses .

BikeRadar verdict: 3 out of 5 stars. "At first glance these look like Giro’s Prolight SLX shoe, and at under half the price, they’re a solid starter option."

April 25, 2015 (bikeradar.com)





Photo: Brooks unveil J.B. Small Leather Goods Collection.
Photo: Brooks unveils J.B. Small Leather Goods Collection.

Brooks don't just make saddles these days, the company has gradually expanded its range to include things like bar tape, bars and now, they also now make wallets, card and passport holders, glasses cases and other small items designed for travel.

As you would expect, they’re made using the same materials and handcraft process as goes into the Brooks leather saddles.

April 25, 2015 (road.cc)














April 24, 2015





Photo: Fabio Aru (Astana) (Bettini Photo).
Photo: Fabio Aru (Astana) (Bettini Photo).

Fabio Aru is considering legal action against Lotto Soudal rider Greg Henderson after he accused the Astana rider of being caught up in a UCI Biological Passport case.

The Italian, who is set to ride the Giro d’Italia next month, pulled out of the Giro del Trentino citing illness for his non-participation in the four-day Italian stage race.

April 24, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)


April 24, 2015


Photo: Leah Kirchmann (Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) wins the Tour de Delta Women's UCI Race (Greg Descantes).
Photo: Leah Kirchmann (Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) wins the Tour de Delta Women's UCI Race (Greg Descantes).

Leah Kirchmann out-kicked UnitedHealthcare speedster Coryn Rivera Friday to take stage 2 of the Joe Martin Stage Race in Arkansas, while overnight leader Lauren Stephens finished inside the top 10 to preserve her leader's jersey.

April 24, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Shelley Olds is motivated for the 2015 season with her new team Bigla. Photo: Gregor Brown | VeloNews.com (file).
Shelley Olds is motivated for the 2015 season with her new team Bigla. Photo: Gregor Brown | VeloNews.com (file).

Shelley Olds will return to racing at Omloop van Borsele on Saturday, following her recovery from a rib injury sustained at Ronde van Drenthe on March 14.

“From the first day that I knew I had a broken rib, I have focused on staying positive and moving forward,” Olds said. “As soon as I could start working, I did. The first days were difficult, but every day I saw progress and I felt better with each week that passed.”

Olds was forced to take time off the bike following the crash, which occurred on one of the cobbled sectors in Ronde van Drenthe and resulted in broken ribs for the American sprinter.

April 24, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: Neutral Service is there to get riders going when team cars are not nearby .
Photo: Neutral Service is there to get riders going when team cars are not nearby. (caovelo.com).

Shimano has concluded its investigation of the two incidents in the Tour of Flanders involving their neutral service cars, and again apologized to the riders and teams involved. It said that the crash involving Trek Factory’s Jesse Sergent was the result of “a split-second error of judgment”.

In separate incidents, a neutral service car hit Sergent, who suffered a broken collarbone, and another Shimano car hit the FDJ team car in the same race, pushing it into FDJ rider Sebastien Chavanel.

April 24, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Joe Martin Stage Race - Apr 23-26 (Stages & Results),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Results),

La Flèche Wallonne - Apr 22 (Results),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results).

More...

April 24, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Is it me or is it just plain old bad luck?
Photo: "Is it me or is it just plain old bad luck?"

"Six weeks ago today I was lying in Hamburg hospital. I found myself repeatedly thinking: “What the hell just happened?” as I began to come to terms with with an injury far more painful than my broken elbow four years ago.

I fractured my collarbone in what has been described as “one of the most spectacular crashes of the season” by the cycling media.

A spectator reached his arm across the barriers as I sprinted past him. He hit my handlebars, and the next thing I knew, I was tumbling toward the ground. Crashes happen in cycling. We all know that.

My crash? It shouldn’t have happened."

April 24, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Anna van der Breggen jumped clear as the race approached the final lap and she quickly built a lead of over 40 seconds.
Photo: Anna van der Breggen jumped clear as the race approached the final lap and she quickly built a lead of over 40 seconds.

The day after Omloop van Borsele the women’s peloton head south for the second class one race of the weekend, Dwars door de Westhoek.

Raced across the West Flanders countryside Dwars door de Westhoek marks the mid-point of the Lotto Cycling Cup competition currently lead by Sofie de Vuyst ahead of her Lensworld Zannata teammate, Kaat van der Meulen.

April 24, 2015 (velofocus.com)






Photo: Boels Dolmans.
Photo: Boels Dolmans.

Omloop van Borsele is the first of back-to-back UCI 1.1 races this weekend.

Check out the start list packed with many of women’s cycling’s top riders. Want to know more about the race? We’ve got that covered to in the race preview.

April 24, 2015 (velofocus.com)









Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.
Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.

Saturday's Stage 4 starts at 9:10am CET (3:10am U.S. Eastern).

Finish at around 3:58pm CET (9:58am U.S. Eastern).

Live video from 2:30pm CET (8:30am U.S. Eastern, 5:30am Pacific).

April 24, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's (May 1st) Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 24, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: Gregory Brenes (Jamis) had a good ride for fifth place. (Epic Images).
Photo: Gregory Brenes (Jamis) had a good ride for fifth place. (Epic Images).

Colombian riders nearly swept the podium during the opening time trial at the Joe Martin Stage Race in Arkansas on Wednesday until Jamis-Hagens Berman's Costa Rican climber Gregory Brenes set the fastest time with just two riders remaining.

Brenes covered the 4.3km uphill time trial in 8:36 to break the stranglehold that Orgullo Antioqueno had on the race, placing Robinson Chaplaud in second and Christian Montoya in third.

Brenes beat the Colombian riders by one second and seven seconds, respectively. Orgullo Antioqueno's Juan David Montoya finished fourth, followed by Stephen Bassett of Jamis-Hagens Berman.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The final Giro del Trentino stage (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: The final Giro del Trentino stage (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Paolo Tiralongo won the final stage of the 2015 Giro del Trentino from a three-man break on Friday. The Astana rider finished ahead of David Arroyo and Fabio Duarte (Colombia) in the 161.5km stage from Malè to Cles.

Richie Porte (Team Sky) finished safely in the main field to claim the overall title ahead of Mikel Landa and Sky teammate Leopold König.

April 24, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: I still have faith that he is going to have a good ride on Sunday.
Photo: Despite a hard crash at the mid-week Flèche Wallonne, BMC’s Philippe Gilbert will line up for the 253km Liège-Bastogne-Liège but Tejay van Garderen will shoulder the expectations of the team.

"When everything is right, you don't see so much of the work they are doing," Gilbert said. "But now you really appreciate the help and the support you get.

“Every hard day it is getting better because we work well together. I know I will not be on my best on Sunday because I don't think it is possible. But at least I will be at the start and then we will see."

Sport Director Valerio Piva said van Garderen will enjoy protected status in his first appearance in Liège since 2012.

"I feel good, I feel prepared and motivated," van Garderen said. "It was a bit of a blow to see so many crashes on Wednesday from a lot of our stronger guys, especially Philippe.

April 24, 2015 (sbs.com.au)





Photo: The Vivax assist motor is rated at 200 watts, the unit provides somewhere in the vicinity of 110W to the driveshaft.
Photo: The Vivax assist motor is rated at 200 watts..., the unit provides somewhere in the vicinity of 110W to the driveshaft.

The basic vivax Assist package costs in the vicinity of AUD $4,300 and comes with a battery pack, a saddle bag for housing the battery, a charger, a seatpost for housing an electronic control unit, the motor itself and the adapters necessary to connect the motor to the crankshaft of the bike.

The motor, which measures 22cm in length, is fed into the seat tube and connects with the crankshaft via an interlocking gear — the gear on the bottom of the motor locks in to a gear ring which is placed over the crankshaft.

April 24, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)







Photo: Alejandro Valverde, Michal Kwiatkowski, and Philippe Gilbert are three of several riders who could win Sunday. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Alejandro Valverde, Michal Kwiatkowski, and Philippe Gilbert are three of several riders who could win Sunday. Photo: Tim De Waele.

The 2015 spring classics season wraps up Sunday with what should be a dramatic exclamation point on a campaign full of aging warhorses and emerging stars.

Alexander Kristoff and John Degenkolb emerged as major forces in the northern cobbles, with huge wins at Flanders and Roubaix, respectively, while world champion Michal Kwiatkowski scored a major coup at the Amstel Gold Race. All are young, talented, and poised to become the riders of reference across the spring classics.

Some aging veterans still had something to say, with Luca Paolini taking a win at Gent-Wevelgem and Alejandro Valverde at Flèche Wallonne, to prove that experience and guile still have a place in the peloton.

April 24, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Racing green: Ireland's Dan Martin leads the Cannondale-Garmin assault on the Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Photo: Racing green: Ireland's Dan Martin leads the Cannondale-Garmin assault on the Liège Bastogne Liège.

Belgium’s Liège Bastogne Liège is one of the five “Monuments” on the calendar, a title given to the oldest and most prestigious one-day Classics – and the ones every cyclist aspires to win.

Sean Kelly, the Irish legend and two-time winner in Liège, describes it as the hardest race to win. Its steep hills and constantly changing terrain make it a truly demanding and intense experience.

Kelly’s Irish compatriot Dan Martin, who competes this year for Cannondale Garmin, has an impressive record in the race. In 2013 he topped the podium and a year later was in a winning position only to crash 200 meters from the finish line.

April 24, 2015 (telegraph.co.uk)




Photo: according to Tripe Bottom Line, the DFM01 can be customized for each individual rider.
Photo: According to Tripe Bottom Line, the DFM01 can be customized for each individual rider.

Japanese firm, Triple Bottom Line, claims to have designed the world’s first viable 3D printed road bike.

Called the DFM01 Ouisa, several aspects of the bike’s titanium main frame were created using a technology called, selective laser sintering (SLS), wherein a laser is used to form a metal structure from powdered material.

“As you can see DFM01 consists of  several parts,” says Triple Bottom Line’s Satoshi Yanagisawa. “The head, seat cluster (we called junction) and entire bottom section (bottom bracket, chainstay, and lower seatstay bracket) are made from SLS titanium. Other parts (top, bottom tube and both seatstays) are market available conventional carbon tube.”

April 24, 2015 (capovelo.com)






Photo: Liege-Bastogne-Liege Official Poster .
Photo: Liege Bastogne Liege Official Poster.

Sunday's Liege Bastogne Liege departs Liege at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Ans at around 4:49pm CET (10:49am U.S. Eastern). 

Live streaming video should get underway at around *1:50pm CET (*7:50am U.S. Eastern). *Rai Sport 1 coverage starts at this time but Eurosport is not scheduled to start until 2:15pm CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern, 5:15am Pacific).

April 23, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights. .
Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights.

TUR 2015 Eurosport Broadcast Schedule (CET*)

Stage 1, Sun 26/04/2015, 11:15-14:00,

Stage 2, Mon 27/04/2015, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 3, Tue 28/04/2015, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 4, Wed 29/04/2015, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 5, Thu 30/04/2015, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 6, Fri 01/05/2015, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 7, Sat 02/05/2015, 11:15-12:45, 

Stage 8, Sun 03/05/2015, 10:00-12:00.

April 24, 2015 (steephill.tv)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (wednesdaylegs.com)

April 24, 2015 (wednesdaylegs.com)














April 24, 2015





Photo: Fabio Aru (Astana) (Bettini Photo).
Photo: Fabio Aru (Astana) (Bettini Photo).

Fabio Aru is considering legal action against Lotto Soudal rider Greg Henderson after he accused the Astana rider of being caught up in a UCI Biological Passport case.

The Italian, who is set to ride the Giro d’Italia next month, pulled out of the Giro del Trentino citing illness for his non-participation in the four-day Italian stage race.

April 24, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Alexander Kristoff has a lot to celebrate after signing a new deal with Katusha. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Alexander Kristoff has a lot to celebrate after signing a new deal with Katusha. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.

Alexander Kristoff and Katusha will continue their relationship past 2015. The winner of the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) on April 5 and much more re-signed with the Russian WorldTeam Friday.

Katusha announced the news via a press release. Kristoff has emerged as one of the top sprinters and one-day riders in the peloton.

In addition to Flanders this month, Kristoff won three stages and the overall of the Three Days of De Panne and Scheldeprijs. The results backed up 2014, when the 27-year-old made a significant step forward by winning Milano-Sanremo and two stages in the Tour de France.

“It is unbelievable how the team was going the last months. They all worked so hard for me. The teammates trust me and I trust them,” Kristoff said.

April 24, 2015 (velonews.com)




Photo: Ian Crane (Jamis) and teammate JJ Haedo take one and two tonight in Saint Paul. (Jon Devich).
Photo: Ian Crane (Jamis) and teammate JJ Haedo take one and two tonight in Saint Paul. (Jon Devich).

Ian Crane wasn't able to make it to the Joe Martin Stage Race on Thursday to defend his 2014 overall title, but his Jamis-Hagens Berman team picked up where he left off when Gregory Brenes withstood a Colombian onslaught to win this year's opening time trial and take the race lead.

Following along from his home in the Pacific Northwest, Crane, who continues to recover from a harrowing, life-threatening crash last August at the USA Pro Challenge, experienced conflicting emotions as the results began to pour in over social media.

April 24, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: For the first 20 miles, there was a fierce struggle between the bike and I, as I attempted to learn the art of finding gears.
Photo: For the first 20 miles, there was a fierce struggle between the bike and I, as I attempted to learn the art of finding gears.

Nate King has raced professionally around the world but he’d never ridden on classic steel, strapped on some toeclips and got those downtube shifters moving on a machine from the past.

Eroica California was the perfect place to do it and it’s where Nate rediscovered just how beautiful riding can be.

April 24, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)





Photo: A Focus bike with SRAM gears on stage two of the 2015 Tour Down Under .
Photo: A Focus bike with SRAM gears on stage two of the 2015 Tour Down Under

When we received an invitation to a SRAM product launch in California a few weeks ago, we thought the day had finally arrived that the new SRAM wireless groupset, possibly the worst kept secret in cycling, was finally going to be unveiled to the public.

Instead SRAM announced its new single ring 1x Road groupset which, although quite possibly a game-changer in the long term, was not what much of the cycling world had been waiting for.

Despite having already chalked up victory courtesy of Domenico Pozzovivo at the Giro del Trentino, SRAM still isn’t giving an exact date for the unveiling of the groupset, although UCI regualtions state that prototype equipment used in races, as SRAM Wireless was at the Tour Down Under in January, must be available on the market within nine months.

April 24, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: The Story of Tommy Godwin, the World's Greatest Distance Cyclist.
Photo: The Story of Tommy Godwin, the World's Greatest Distance Cyclist.

The story of Tommy Godwin who throughout 1939 rode a total of 75,065 miles (120,805 kilometers) and then continued on riding into 1940 until he'd racked up 100,000 miles (160,934 kilometers) in 500 days

With multiple different attempts to beat Godwin's record ongoing or planned, it's worth knowing the story of the man who put the Year record on the map and left behind a story up there with the best rival record the Hour can throw at it.

April 24, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)





Photo: Trek 920 Disc.
Photo: Trek 920 Disc.

Is it a road bike? A 29er? A (shudder) gravel grinder? No one knows, but the Trek 920 is clearly built for the rough, and with front and rear racks as standard it’s meant for load-lugging.

Braking comes courtesy of TRP’s rather excellent Hylex hydraulic brakes, and shifting via bar-ends that will warm the cockles of bearded touring types everywhere. It’s geared properly too, with 42/28 cranks and a 36t big sprocket on the cassette.

April 24, 2015 (bikeradar.com)





















April 23, 2015


April 23, 2015


Photo: Gregory Brenes (Jamis) had a good ride for fifth place. (Epic Images).
Photo: Gregory Brenes (Jamis) had a good ride for fifth place. (Epic Images).

Colombian riders nearly swept the podium during the opening time trial at the Joe Martin Stage Race in Arkansas on Wednesday until Jamis-Hagens Berman's Costa Rican climber Gregory Brenes set the fastest time with just two riders remaining.

Brenes covered the 4.3km uphill time trial in 8:36 to break the stranglehold that Orgullo Antioqueno had on the race, placing Robinson Chaplaud in second and Christian Montoya in third.

Brenes beat the Colombian riders by one second and seven seconds, respectively. Orgullo Antioqueno's Juan David Montoya finished fourth, followed by Stephen Bassett of Jamis-Hagens Berman.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Alejandro Valverde’s win puts him in rare company.
Photo: Alejandro Valverde’s win puts him in rare company. (Cor Vos)

The dust has now settled on La Fleche Wallonne, the mid-week WorldTour race that makes up one third of the so-called Ardennes Classics. Alejandro Valverde won yesterday’s edition, his second consecutive victory in the race and his third overall.

Fleche Wallonne is best known for the Mur de Huy (“the wall of Huy”) a 1.2km-long climb of 10% average gradient which the riders tackle no fewer than three times.

Unlike last weekend’s Amstel Gold Race, which ended 1.8km beyond the top of Cauberg climb, Fleche Wallonne finishes at the top of the Mur, making it the only Classic with a summit finish.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Dan Martin rode to victory in the 2013 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Dan Martin rode to victory in the 2013 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Photo: Tim De Waele.

It has been quiet, but that is no reason to forget about Dan Martin ahead of Sunday’s Liège Bastogne Liège one-day race in Belgium. The Cannondale-Garmin leader’s run in the biggest Ardennes classic stands strong: fifth in 2012, a victory in 2013 and, had it not been for a crash in the final corner, perhaps another victory in 2014.

A crash in La Flèche Wallonne Wednesday should do little to derail a determined Martin as he races for another “dream win” in Liège Bastogne Liège on Sunday.

“This is the race of my dreams,” Martin said after his 2013 win. “It’s one of the big ones, and one of the places where I can win.”

April 23, 2015 (velonews.com)








Photo: Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) wins Liège - Bastogne - Liège
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) wins Liège Bastogne Liège (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Yet more changes in the race route of Liege Bastogne Liege this year seem certain to cause a much smaller peloton to reach the decisive final climbs of San Nicolas and up to the finish at Ans on Sunday.

Most of the important alterations come between what is traditionally considered the first key group of Liege Bastogne Liege’s ten climbs, the trio of the Wanne, Stockeu and Haut Levee, and the race’s second crucial ascent, the Cote de La Redoute.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.
Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.

Thursday's Stage 2 starts at 10:40am CET (4:40am U.S. Eastern).

Finish at around 4:05pm CET (10:05am U.S. Eastern).

Live video from 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 23, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Stages & Results),

Joe Martin Stage Race - Apr 23-26 (Stages & Results),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

La Flèche Wallonne - Apr 22 (Results),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results).

More...

April 23, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Robert Gesink returns to racing at Fleche
(Sadhbh O'Shea).
Photo: Robert Gesink returns to racing at Fleche (Sadhbh O'Shea).

Robert Gesink was nervous about returning to racing at the Flèche Wallonne this week.

With only two days of racing since last September, it felt “a bit like it was my first race,” the LottoNL-Jumbo rider said, but added, “cycling is fun again.”

He is now looking to the Tour de France, which is his “main goal” for the year.

His next race will be the Tour de Romandie. “I've had no spring but later Romandie and the Tour of Switzerland or the Dauphiné, there are plenty of opportunities to work towards the Tour,” he told telesport.nl.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights. .
Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights.

TUR 2015 Eurosport Broadcast Schedule (CET*)

Stage 1, Sun 26/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 11:15-14:00,

Stage 2, Mon 27/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 3, Tue 28/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 4, Wed 29/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 5, Thu 30/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 6, Fri 01/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 7, Sat 02/05/2015, EUROSPORT , 11:15-12:45, 

Stage 8, Sun 03/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 10:00-12:00.

April 23, 2015 (steephill.tv)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 23, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)








Alejandro Valverde defended his La Flèche Wallonne title with a gutsy performance on the Mur de Huy. The Spaniard led from the front on the final climb and held off the challenges from Julian Alaphilippe and Michael Albasini to win by a clear margin.

The win marked the Spaniard’s third win the race and came after Movistar reeled in a late attack from Tim Wellens, who broke clear on the penultimate climb of the Côte de Cherave, and survived into the final 500 meters.

April 22, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






April 22, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)




Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R - La Mondiale) takes solo win
(Bettini Photo).
Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R - La Mondiale) takes solo win (Bettini Photo).

Domenico Pozzovivo nabbed his second victory of the 2015 season, jumping away on the final climb to Fierozzo Val Dei Mocheni to win stage 3 of the Giro del Trentino by five seconds over Mikel Landa and Richie Porte.

The win followed excellent teamwork by AG2R, who placed Hubert Dupont and Hugo Houle in a 15-rider day-long breakaway of the mountainous 183.8km stage from Ala that featured three major climbs in the last 65km - the category 2 Montagnaga, category 1 Passo Redebus and the final ascent to Fierozzo Val Die Mocheni.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale)
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Domenico Pozzovivo and his AG2R-La Mondiale teammates bounced back at the Giro del Trentino on Thursday, with the French team taking on Team Sky and the Italian climber going on to win the third stage to Fierozzo.

Pozzovivo lost 1:26 on Wednesday’s stage when Porte attacked after seeing him in difficulty. No longer an overall contender or a threat to Porte’s race lead, Pozzovivo focused on winning the stage, attacking alone with two kilometers to go.

He was able to stay away and celebrated with his now familiar gesture of highlighting his lack of stature with his hand on his head.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Julian Alaphilippe climbed onto the podium in Wednesday's La Flèche Wallonne. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Julian Alaphilippe climbed onto the podium in Wednesday's La Flèche Wallonne. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Julian Alaphilippe came to La Flèche Wallonne with a job to do, but it wasn’t to win, or even try.

That’s why, as a sharply diminished peloton hit the lower slopes of the Mur de Huy and the riders around him honed in on the climb, the young Frenchman’s head seemed on a swivel, searching in vain for his Etixx-Quick-Step team leader, world champion Michal Kwiatkowski.

He looked back once, twice, checking over his right shoulder and then his left. The rainbow stripes were nowhere to be seen. Kwiatkowski was too far back, with 600 meters to go, to contest for victory.

Sitting in ninth wheel as the gradient pitched up with 500 meters to go — 10 percent, 12 percent, 15 percent — Alaphilippe took a hand off his bars and called over race radio. What should he do?..

April 23, 2015 (velonews.com)





The 2015 Tour of Utah will roll through the rural Heber Valley. Photo: Casey B. Gibson.
The 2015 Tour of Utah will roll through the rural Heber Valley. Photo: Casey B. Gibson.

Organizers of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah have revealed a race route for the 2015 edition of the event that will cover over 712 miles in total and make the race’s first visit to the state of Idaho.

The Tour of Utah will make the jump from a 2.1 ranking on the UCI America Tour to a 2.HC ranking this year, putting it on the same UCI race level as the Amgen Tour of California and the USA Pro Challenge, and the newly promoted race will greet riders with 51,442 feet of elevation gain from start to finish.

The race will take place from August 3-9, starting with a stage in Logan, Utah.

The “queen stage,” stage 6 on Saturday, August 8, will take the peloton over nearly 13,000 feet of elevation gain en route to a finish at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort before the final stage of the race on the following day in Park City.

April 23, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: We love the focus on safety; the coverage at the back of the head, on the temples and around the ears feels far more significant than some of the other helmets we’ve tried.
Photo: "We love the focus on safety; the coverage at the back of the head, on the temples and around the ears feels far more significant than some of the other helmets we’ve tried."

The POC Octal helmet is reportedly designed with one thing in mind — safety — whilst also offering good ventilation, comfort and a weight of less than 200 grams (for size M).

To increase safety, the Octal has been designed to provide more coverage and additional protection for the temples and back of the head and the expanded polystyrene liner is reportedly thicker in the most exposed areas.

Rather than many small vents, Octal has fewer, but larger, ventilation slots. This ventilation design allows more air to flow through the helmet, which is said to aid aerodynamic performance.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: The new Giant Rivet already has two monuments to its name.
Photo: The new Giant Rivet already has two monuments to its name.

After launching the Rev helmet last year, Giant has unveiled its first full line-up of road helmets.

Alongside an updated Rev, there are two completely new models: the Rivet TT helmet, and the Rivet aero road helmet that we first spotted on the head of John Degenkolb at the Tour Down Under.

The Rivet is probably the most exciting project from the new range, and already has two monuments under its belt with Degenkolb’s victories in Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Photo: Nothing but time-trialing and mountains for this four day stage race featuring the dramatic, picturesque Dolomites.
Photo: Nothing but time-trialing and mountains for this four day stage race featuring the dramatic, picturesque Dolomites.

Stage 3 start time: Thursday 10:30 CET (1:30 AM PST).

Earliest live video: No live video - text updates only.

Approximate finish: 15:20 CET (6:20 AM PST)

April 23, 2015 (steephill.tv)





Photo: The new saddle ushers in an updated appearance but the fundamental shape of the saddle remains exactly the same.
Photo: The new saddle ushers in an updated appearance but the fundamental shape of the saddle remains exactly the same.

Fizik has launched a collection of team edition Aliante saddles, available in AG2R La Mondial, BMC Racing Team, Cannondale-Garmin, FDJ, Movistar, Orica - GreenEDGE and Team Sky colors.

The Italian saddle manufacturer sponsors a lot of the WorldTour teams, and has in the past celebrated this fact with limited edition saddles, most recently in the 2013 Giro d’Italia with the Arione R3.

April 23, 2015 (road.cc)







April 22, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 23, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)




















April 23, 2015







Alexander Vinokourov and Vincenzo Nibali at the Tour de France
(Bettini Photo).
Alexander Vinokourov and Vincenzo Nibali at the Tour de France (Bettini Photo).

The UCI today confirmed that its License Commission has opted not to revoke the WorldTour license from the Astana team, but will instead keep its existing registration as long as it complies with "special measures."

The announcement did not include any specifics about what Astana must do, but stated the measures were suggested by the representatives from the Institute of Sport Sciences of the University of Lausanne (ISSUL), the same organization that carried out the independent audit that precipitated the license hearing.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: L’Equipe broke the story that the team’s licence was in jeopardy following the ISSUL audit.
Photo: L’Equipe broke the story that the team’s license was in jeopardy following the ISSUL audit.

The Astana team meets the UCI’s License Commission again today for a second hearing following the UCI’s very public call to remove strip the team’s World Tour license. La Gazzetta Dello Sport says no decision is imminent either.

A second round suggests this is not a slam dunk case. If it was then a review of the files and an obligatory hearing would have been enough to remove the team from the sport.

What happens next has been a regular question by email in recent weeks but the rules aren’t clear and the outcome is more uncertain. Here’s a look at the case and some potential outcomes...

April 23, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: David Howman, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
David Howman, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Lance Armstrong said Wednesday that the World Anti-Doping Agency and others are "owed an apology" from him for cheating during his cycling career, but noted that the agency's chief rebuffed efforts to meet back in 2013.

David Howman, director general of WADA, told The Associated Press this week that he is disappointed Armstrong had not apologized for costly and time-consuming lawsuits before the former cycling champion admitted using performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong initially declined comment on Howman's remark, but on Wednesday provided the AP with a May 2013 email exchange with Howman, who initially indicted he could meet with Armstrong, then backed off under advice from WADA lawyers..

April 23, 2015 (news.yahoo.com)





Tiernan Locke (Team Sky)
(Bettini Photo).
Tiernan Locke (Team Sky) (Bettini Photo).

Jonathan Tiernan-Locke admits that a place within a WorldTour team could be out of his reach but the banned rider has confirmed that he aims to compete in the sport once his doping ban ends in December of this year.

Tiernan-Locke was dismissed by Team Sky last year when the UCI announced that he had shown irregular biological passport values dating back to 2012.

The values were before his time at Team Sky and he was handed a two-year suspension. He resolutely defended himself throughout the proceedings, stating that he had never doped, but with his ban ending this year the suspended athlete has already been approached by domestic teams in the United Kingdom.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: they get your money regardless of whether or not they reach their funding goal.
Photo: They get your money regardless of whether or not they reach their funding goal.

"Ok, I wasn’t planning on doing a post on the LIMITS power meter until I actually had some first-hand time with the unit. 

For those not familiar, LIMITS kicked off a round of publicity this past weekend ahead of their crowd-funding launch this past Monday. 

Their product is a $250USD power meter that attaches in between the pedal and the crank arm.  This will measure your power on your left side (ala Stages Power), and then double that power.  It will transmit ANT+ initially, and then Bluetooth Smart support down the road. 

Also down the road are plans for releasing a dual capable left and right version."

April 23, 2015 (dcrainmaker.com)





Photo: Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey Credit: Larry Hickmott .
Photo: Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey Credit: Larry Hickmott.

Sarah Storey and Joanna Rowsell are just two of over 100 of the UK’s best female riders to be taking part in the Tour de Yorkshire’s women’s race on May 2 in York.

The pair, who both race for Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International, are joined by fellow Great Britain track rider Katie Archibald.

With the race open to Elite down to Cat. 3 riders, the mix of participants will give some younger riders the chance to race alongside Olympians and Paralympians like Storey and Rowsell.

April 23, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Photo: Liege-Bastogne-Liege Official Poster .
Photo: Liege Bastogne Liege Official Poster.

Sunday's Liege Bastogne Liege departs Liege at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Ans at around 4:49pm CET (10:49am U.S. Eastern). 

Live streaming video should get underway at around *1:50pm CET (*7:50am U.S. Eastern). *Rai Sport 1 coverage starts at this time but Eurosport is not scheduled to start until 2:15pm CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern, 5:15am Pacific).

April 23, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






April 22, 2015


April 22, 2015




Photo: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 79th La Fleche Wallonne.
(Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 79th La Fleche Wallonne. (Getty Images Sport).

Alejandro Valverde defended his La Flèche Wallonne title with a gutsy performance on the Mur de Huy. The Spaniard led from the front on the final climb and held off the challenges from Julian Alaphilippe and Michael Albasini to win by a clear margin.

The win marked the Spaniard’s third win the race and came after Movistar reeled in a late attack from Tim Wellens, who broke clear on the penultimate climb of the Côte de Cherave, and survived into the final 500 meters.

April 22, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) (Bettini Photo).
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) (Bettini Photo).

Fabio Aru’s illness and the pending UCI License Commission decision on Astana’s WorldTour status has prompted renewed speculation from Gazzetta dello Sport that Vincenzo Nibali could yet line up at the Giro d’Italia, which gets underway in San Remo on May 9.

Nibali rides Flèche Wallonne and Liège Bastogne Liège this week before tackling the Tour de Romandie, and is then expected to take a break from racing before returning to ride the Critérium du Dauphiné ahead of the Tour de France.

With Astana’s Giro leader Aru stricken by an intestinal complaint and forced to miss this week’s Giro del Trentino, however, manager Giuseppe Martinelli is reportedly keen that Nibali attempts the Giro-Tour de France double.

April 22, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Stages & Results),

La Flèche Wallonne - Apr 22 (Results),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results).

More...

April 22, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights. .
Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights.

TUR 2015 Eurosport Broadcast Schedule (CET*)

Stage 1, Sun 26/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 11:15-14:00,

Stage 2, Mon 27/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 3, Tue 28/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 4, Wed 29/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 5, Thu 30/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 6, Fri 01/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 7, Sat 02/05/2015, EUROSPORT , 11:15-12:45, 

Stage 8, Sun 03/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 10:00-12:00.

April 20, 2215 (steephill.tv)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 22, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






April 21, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)




Photo: Richie Porte (Sky)
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Richie Porte (Sky) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Richie Porte won stage 2 of the Giro del Trentino and took the overall race lead after distancing all his overall rivals with a devastating attack two kilometers from the line at Brentonico-Parco Del Baldo.

The Australian reached the finish 16 seconds ahead of Mikel Landa and a resurgent Damiano Cunego, who finished third on the stage at 32 seconds.

Thanks to Team Sky's strong ride in the opening team time trial stage on Tuesday, the Tasmanian now leads the general classification and pulled on the race leader’s fuchsia-colored jersey.

Landa is second overall at 24 seconds, with his Team Sky teammate Leopold Konig third at 42 seconds.

April 22, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The Astana team has said that any decision to strip the team of its licence would be immediately appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Photo: The Astana team has said that any decision to strip the team of its licence would be immediately appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (Cor Vos)

Although the season is already in its fourth month and the Giro d’Italia is drawing ever-closer, there are suggestions that a final resolution in the Astana case may still be some time away.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the expected hearing scheduled for Friday has been moved to Thursday and will take place in Geneva. However rather than a quick decision being made, the Italian newspaper states that a further wait is likely to happen.

La Gazzetta presents two scenarios. The first is that the UCI’s License Commission will decide to have a new discovery phase in order to allow more information to be brought forward.

Alternatively, it envisages the announcement of a definitive date for the final decision.

April 22, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Mondory Update – UCI tribunal – Verbruggen on Mars – Disc brakes – Nibali to Giro? – Lost.
Photo: Mondory Update – UCI tribunal – Verbruggen on Mars – Disc brakes – Nibali to Giro? – Lost.

The 1980 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège is infamous for the snow. Reports say half the field abandoned within the first hour, some so desperate they entered roadside houses for shelter.

Bernard Hinault ploughed on to win, cementing his reputation as a hard man and ensuring the day entered the sport’s mythology.

But there’s the untold tale of Rayban sunglasses.

April 22, 2015 (inrng.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.
Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.

Thursday's Stage 2 starts at 10:40am CET (4:40am U.S. Eastern).

Finish at around 4:05pm CET (10:05am U.S. Eastern).

Live video from 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 22, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: The Synapse is Cannondale’s endurance-oriented road bike. The frameset was redesigned for 2014. (Credit:Matt Wikstrom).
Photo: The Synapse is Cannondale’s endurance-oriented road bike. The frameset was redesigned for 2014. (Credit:Matt Wikstrom)

The design of the carbon Synapse frameset was recently overhauled.

A wider bottom bracket was introduced, braced by a seat tube that splits into a fork to create a “power pyramid”. The bike’s micro-suspension was also refined and the diameter of the seatpost was reduced to introduce more flex.

Finally, the weight of the frameset was reduced by utilising “Ballistec” carbon fibre, which apparently also offers greater impact resistance.

April 22, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 22, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)













April 22, 2015





Photo: Valverde was the prime pick in the preview to win the race but he’s never a first choice winner for many.
Photo: Valverde was the prime pick in the preview to win the race but he’s never a first choice winner for many.

Alejandro Valverde sprints clear in the final straight to win the Flèche Wallonne. An obvious scenario but plenty happened before with numerous crashes. It promises a very nervous Stage 3 of the Tour de France.

As usual an early breakaway but no riders of serious consequence. It took a while to reel them all in even while they were bickering and attacking each other. The race behind was on with crashes as riders fought for position.

Tejay van Garderen
tried a move over the Côte d’Ereffe and why not? He’s a steady rider rather than the springy type for the finish and was one of the few BMC riders to stay upright.

April 22, 2015 (inrng.com)






Photo: Anna van der Breggen (Rabo-Liv)
(Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Anna van der Breggen (Rabo-Liv) (Getty Images Sport).

Anna van der Breggen came out on top after an exciting finale to La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. The Rabo Liv rider beat Annemiek van Vleuten from an unexpected two-rider breakaway, while Megan Guarnier  was the best of the rest on the Mur de Huy.

Van der Breggen took advantage of a strong performance by her Rabo-Liv team to bridge across to Van Vleuten and teammate Roxane Knetemann at the foot of the final climb. Knetemann sacrificed her chances for her teammate, and Van der Breggen jumped away to win by a 12-second margin.

April 22, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Lance Armstrong is slated to ride the Tour de France route this summer for charity. Photo: Tim De Waele .
Lance Armstrong is slated to ride the Tour de France route this summer for charity. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Lance Armstrong will be risking an angry reception if he carries out his own Tour de France charity ride this year, the head of cycling’s governing body has warned.

The American, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping, plans to go over this year’s “Grande Boucle” route one day before the main race with former England soccer player Geoff Thomas. The pair say they will raise money for cancer sufferers.

But Armstrong has been widely criticized.

“I think he needs to bear in mind that he may not get quite the welcome he would like in France riding around the route of the Tour the day before,” Brian Cookson told AFP at the SportAccord convention in Sochi, Russia.

April 22, 2015 (velonews.com)






Photo: Nothing but time-trialing and mountains for this four day stage race featuring the dramatic, picturesque Dolomites.
Photo: Nothing but time-trialing and mountains for this four day stage race featuring the dramatic, picturesque Dolomites.

Stage 3 start time: Thursday 10:30 CET (1:30 AM PST).

Earliest live video: No live video - text updates only.

Approximate finish: 15:20 CET (6:20 AM PST)

April 22, 2015 (steephill.tv)


April 21, 2015



Photo: Sky beaten in to second, Cannondale-Garmin struck by crash.
Photo: Sky beaten in to second, Cannondale-Garmin struck by crash.

Bora-Argon 18 sprang something of a surprise in the opening team time trial of the Giro del Trentino when they beat Team Sky by just 0.18 of a second to take the honors and place Italian rider Cesare Benedetti in the leader’s jersey.

The German-registered squad scorched around the fast, 13.3-kilometer course on the shore of Lake Garda at an average speed of some 56.643kph, but despite that impressive showing, the expectation was that the Sky team of pre-race favorite Richie Porte would have enough quality in their ranks to land the win.

April 21, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Robin Carpenter attacks the final climb. (Brian Hodes / VeloImages).
Photo: Robin Carpenter attacks the final climb. (Brian Hodes / VeloImages).

The organizers of the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic have announced 24 teams will contest the 173km race on June 7.

The race, which finishes at the top of The Wall and features the infamous 17% Manayunk Wall has been won by Kiel Reijnen for the last two years.

In 2015, the women's edition of the race has been elevated to World Cup status with the men's race retaining a 1.2 ranking.

They will race over 110-miles (173 km) and complete 9 laps of the course with a spectacular finish at the top of The Wall. The one-day competition is a dynamic and selective course best known for the intense elevation on the 17% Manayunk Wall, the most historical climb in U.S. cycling history.

April 21, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Evelyn Stevens won the 2012 women's Flèche Wallonne. She's always loved the Ardennes classic and is aiming for more success in this year's edition with her new team, Boels Dolmans. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Photo: Evelyn Stevens won the 2012 women's Flèche Wallonne. She's always loved the Ardennes classic and is aiming for more success in this year's edition with her new team, Boels Dolmans. Photo: Tim De Waele.

"I love racing Flèche; I loved it even before I won it.

I have some great male and female training partners. One of the benefits of training with strong men (and women) is that you can hop on their wheel, and it is like motorpacing. The best thing is when you find some solid training partners who push you on your rides and also who you have a fun time with on the bike.

As professional cyclists we spend so many hours on the bike, so having good company makes your training better!

The riding in Nice is wonderful. There is a plethora of great training loops, wonderful climbs, and the views are incredible. The nice Mediterranean weather is a big plus as well.

I am very fortunate and have found some wonderful people to train with, a great motorpacer, and a great person for sports massage. Any time you can train hard and recover just as hard, it is always a good recipe for racing."

April 21, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Romain Bardet gives his thoughts on what's to come before the stage (ASO).
Photo: ...

Romain Bardet impressed last year when he went on to claim sixth overall at the Tour de France. His 2015 season hasn’t gone to plan so far with a crash during the Volta a Catalunya preventing him from contesting the overall classification and eventually out of the race.

Bardet has picked himself up though and begins a busy two weeks of racing with the Giro del Trentino.

Cyclingnews caught up with the Frenchman to discuss his first appearance at the Italian race, targeting success at Liège Bastogne Liège and his preparation for the Tour de France.

April 21, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: The 2015 Fleche Wallonne is being held Wednesday, April 22..
Photo: The 2015 Fleche Wallonne is being held Wednesday, April 22.

Wednesday's Fleche Wallonne departs Waremme at 11:30am CET (5:30am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Huy at around 4:51pm CET (10:51am U.S. Eastern). 

Fleche Wallonne live streaming video is scheduled to get underway from around 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 21, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: Nothing but time-trialing and mountains for this four day stage race featuring the dramatic, picturesque Dolomites.
Photo: Nothing but time-trialing and mountains for this four day stage race featuring the dramatic, picturesque Dolomites.

Stage 1 start time: Tuesday 15:15 CET (6:15 AM PST).

Earliest live video: No live video; Text updates only.

Approximate finish: 16:20 CET (7:20 AM PST).

April 21, 2015 (steephill.tv)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Stages & Results),

La Flèche Wallonne - Apr 22 (History),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results).

More...

April 21, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: There’s a lot that can go wrong with a push bike, and the chances are they’ll go wrong when you’re at your farthest point from home..
Photo: There’s a lot that can go wrong, and the chances are they’ll go wrong when you’re at your farthest point from home.

"There’s no point risking it, because that’s the point when you’ll definitely need your tools with you on your ride."

April 21, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 21, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






An International Cycling Union (UCI) commission is expected to rule this week on whether the doping-tainted Astana team should be stripped of its license, Brian Cookson said Monday.

If Astana loses, star rider Vincenzo Nibali could forfeit the right to defend his Tour de France title.

“I am expecting a decision this week, I am hoping so. I don’t have a final date, but the sooner the better,” Cookson told AFP on the sidelines of the SportAccord convention in Sochi, Russia.

Astana could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but legal officials have said Astana would not automatically have the right to carry on racing while the tribunal comes to a decision..

April 20, 2015 (velonews.com)




Photo: Quick release lever being replaced. CPSC photo..
Photo: Quick release lever being replaced. CPSC photo.

Trek is working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall bikes spec'd with quick releases that have a lever that opens greater than 180 degrees and can be caught in a front disc brake if left in the open position.

The company said that the issue is not a manufacturing defect on the QR but due to improper use or adjustment.

Riders who leave the QR in the open position can potentially have the lever caught in the front disc brake while riding.

April 21, 2015 (bicycleretailer.com)





Photo: Vincenzo Nibali before the 2015 Tour of Oman .
Photo: Vincenzo Nibali before the 2015 Tour of Oman .

Tour de France champion, Vincenzo Nibali wasn’t short of words for Brian Cookson when asked about team Astana’s license situation recently. With a decision on the team’s license by the License Commission expected as early as this week Nibali’s Tour defense hangs in the balance.

Cycling’s governing body requested that its license commission strip the Kazakh team of its WorldTour status following the 2014 doping cases and an independent audit by the University of Lausanne.

Following Nibali’s Tour win, two riders from the team failed a test for EPO while three from the continental team with the same Astana name were caught using steroids.

April 21, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)







Photo: The Route: it’s all about that finish but there’s plenty of climbing before..
Photo: It’s all about that finish but there’s plenty of climbing before. (Cor Vos).

For 364 days of the year the Chemin des Chapelles climbs up the side of Mont Mosan but on Wednesday the road its renamed the Mur de Huy, the “wall of Huy”.

The climb is so steep it deserves mural adjective and few races see riders cross the finish line in such obvious agony. But can the race deliver more than a three minute climax?

This year’s route includes a new climb right before the end to split up the field and the presence of several star names indicates that this mid-week race matters because because the finish is identical to Stage 3 of the Tour de France.

April 21, 2015 (inrng.com)






Etixx-Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere said Michal Kwiatkowski doesn't have the climbing legs to win a grand tour. Photo: Tim De Waele .
Etixx-Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere said Michal Kwiatkowski doesn't have the climbing legs to win a grand tour. Photo: Tim De Waele .

Reigning world champion Michal Kwiatkowski won’t be wearing yellow on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. According to Etixx-Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere, he has the capacity to win all the classics, but not the Tour de France.

The Pole won his first race in the rainbow jersey on Sunday, the Amstel Gold Race in Valkenburg, the Netherlands. He is now taking aim at the remaining Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday and Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.

In 2014, Kwiatkowski placed fifth in Amstel and was third in both Flèche and Liège.

“With his legs, he can win them all. I just don’t think he is my Tour winner,” Lefevere told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

“I think the overall in the Tour de France is too much. [Nairo] Quintana will always be better at climbing.

April 21, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: A book about cycling climbs that transforms into a collection of art prints.
Photo: A book about cycling climbs that transforms into a collection of art prints.

A collection of twenty art prints inspired by iconic climbs, with some of the story of those climbs.

Once you've read the details, you can frame the prints and hang them on your wall.
April 21, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)





Photo: This Santa Cruz Stigmata (the new, just-released model) got a twist on the standard color palette with this coffee-colored scheme. The Santa Cruz logo is masked and stenciled, not a decal.
Photo: This Santa Cruz Stigmata (the new, just-released model) got a twist on the standard color palette with this coffee-colored scheme. The Santa Cruz logo is masked and stenciled, not a decal.

Sometimes the most interesting product isn’t a product at all, but a service. Walking the Sea Otter Expo, we spied several eye-catching frame paint jobs at an exhibitor and walked over to inspect.

Joe’s Carbon Solutions does carbon frame repair, but also has a solid business in custom frame painting. The company started out painting for Kestrel and Calfee 25 years ago, and several years back hung out their own shingle.

They paint new or used frames, metal and carbon. You can have a new, custom-made frame sent to them for finishing or send them a restoration job. Simple, single color paint jobs start at $400, although customs can reach much more.

April 21, 2015 (bicycling.com)





Photo: The Velocio Superfly's rear zipper and stretchy fabric make peeing while wearing bib shorts a breeze.
Photo: The Velocio Superfly's rear zipper and stretchy fabric make peeing while wearing bib shorts a breeze.

"I’m not really a tech-head, but there’s one development I’ve been watching closely for the last couple of years: the pee-break-friendly bib short.

In case you haven’t been following this game-changing apparel revolution, I’m talking about bib shorts that are specifically designed to make nature breaks easier for women. So instead of maneuvering out of your sweaty jersey, vest, jacket, or whatever else you’re wearing up top, you can drop trou and go.

As an apparel category, they don’t seem to have a name. Around the office we’ve nicknamed them dropper bibs, potty bibs, pee-friendly bibs, squatter shorts.

For women who like the comfort and smooth lines of bib shorts, dropper bibs solve a legit problem."

April 21, 2015 (bicycling.com)





Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.
Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.

Wednesday's Stage 1 starts at -- CET (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- CET (-- U.S. Eastern)

Live video from -- CET (-- U.S. Eastern)...

April 21, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






The Partnership for Clean Competition (PCC) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced a multi-year anti-doping research partnership on Tuesday.

The partnership will involve the creation of two collaborative research funds totaling $6 million to be administered by both organizations; $1.5 million of the funds will be matched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as part of the special IOC-WADA Anti-Doping Research Fund.

“This partnership will enable us to support the highest quality international anti-doping research and to implement the results of that research in WADA-accredited labs.

This is a great win for anti-doping, PCC members, and for our researchers,” said PCC executive director Michael Pearlmutter.

April 21, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 21, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)





















April 21, 2015





Photo: Medical check done and greenlight is on for training. Happy about my first ride today without pain.
Photo: Medical check done and greenlight is on for training. Happy about my first ride today without pain. (Credit: Cor Vos)

Having been forced to miss the spring Classics due to the transverse process fractures he suffered to two vertebrae bones of the lower back at the end of March, Fabian Cancellara has been able to resume training.

The Trek Factory Racing rider fell heavily in the E3 Harelbeke race on March 27, being forced to retire from the event. X-rays and CT scans subsequently confirmed the damage and made participation in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix impossible.

“There is nothing you can do with this injury – no cast, no surgery – but just biting the pain,” said Cancellara at the time.

There was better news for the Swiss rider on Tuesday.

April 21, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





The peloton will climb the Mur de Huy three times in Wednesday's Flèche Wallonne. Photo: Tim De Waele.
The peloton will climb the Mur de Huy three times in Wednesday's Flèche Wallonne. Photo: Tim De Waele.

The Amaury Sports Organisation is often accused of being stodgy, out of touch, arrogant, and, if you believe the complaints of team owners trying to get a piece of their TV revenues, the main impediment holding back the evolution of cycling.

But the owner of the Tour de France and a mix of one-day and week-long stage races has done more than its fair share to prop up cycling, saving such races as Paris-Nice and the Critérium du Dauphiné from oblivion.

For 2015, ASO is tweaking the formula at Flèche Wallonne in a bid to add another layer of surprise, the Cote de Cherave with 5km to go, into what’s become a predictable road map to the approach to the decisive Mur de Huy.

April 21, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Finished!! The @brabantsepijlofficial was our last spring classic! Ready for some time off! ✌🏼️❤️@liencrapoen #bpl #bpijl #flandersclassics #springclassics #organisation #exhausted.
Photo: "Finished!! The @brabantsepijlofficial was our last spring classic! Ready for some time off! ✌🏼️❤️@liencrapoen #bpl #bpijl #flandersclassics #springclassics #organisation #exhausted."

By 8am on the morning of the Tour of Flanders, the Grote Markt in Bruges is already filled to bursting point. The sun slowly emerges above the medieval belfry, though most have already been warmed by heated discussion over who will win De Ronde.

Lien Crapoen and Maja Leye survey the Markt with pride. In just over nine hours, they will do their duty as podium hosts to present that winner with a bouquet and an oversized bottle of champagne.

Millions will witness the moment Alexander Kristoff accepts kisses from them, but few will realize that 12 months of hard work from these two women have played a major role in the very running of the race itself.

April 21, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: What the Zeeland region lacks in hills it makes up for with wind.
Photo: What the Zeeland region lacks in hills it makes up for with wind.

Omloop van Borsele is the main event in a weekend-long celebration of all things cycling in the Zeeland town of ‘s-Heerenhoek. As well as the women’s road race there There are junior stage races for boys and girls plus an elite women’s time trial.

The women’s road race has taken a step up in classification for 2015 and is now a class one event, putting it on a par with the likes of Strade Bianche and Boels Rental Hills Classics when it comes to those precious UCI points.

April 21, 2015 (velofocus.com)





Photo: Richie Porte and Chris Froome rode in the Sky train. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Richie Porte and Chris Froome rode in the Sky train. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Team sources have confirmed that Chris Froome will be on the startline of Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday, but that he will not, as had been rumored possible, be taking part in Liege Bastogne Liege on Sunday.

His next race will instead be the Tour of Romandie, which Froome won in 2013 and 2014.

The Briton last raced this season in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, losing more than 27 minutes on one stage, before heading to Tenerife for almost two weeks of training.

Prior to Catalunya, Froome missed out on Tirreno-Adriatico because of a chest infection, but in February he won his first race of the season, the Tour of Andalucia, ahead of arch-Tour rival Alberto Contador.

Froome’s previous participation in Flèche Wallonne, meanwhile, was back in 2010, finishing 119th, eleven minutes down.

April 21, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Time is money Get $1.00 For Every Hour You Ride.
Photo: Time is money. Get $1.00 For Every Hour You Ride.

Just three weeks after its launch, online retailer Competitive Cyclist has put the brakes on its Strava partnership, stating that the program, which rewards cyclists with one US dollar in store credit for each hour spent riding, must be put on hold in order to restructure the program to address unexpectedly high demand.

“When we came up with the idea to pay you a dollar an hour to ride your bike through our partnership with Strava, it was pure, it was simple and it represented everything we stand for. Apparently you liked it too, because you signed up by the tens of thousands and told everyone you knew. We had expectations and you blew them out of the water,” stated Competitive Cyclist in a press release issued on Monday.

April 21, 2015 (bikeradar.com)





Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights. .
Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights.

TUR 2015 Eurosport Broadcast Schedule (CET*)

Stage 1, Sun 26/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 11:15-14:00,

Stage 2, Mon 27/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 3, Tue 28/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 4, Wed 29/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 5, Thu 30/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 6, Fri 01/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 7, Sat 02/05/2015, EUROSPORT , 11:15-12:45, 

Stage 8, Sun 03/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 10:00-12:00.

April 20, 2015 (steephill.tv)












April 20, 2015


April 20, 2015


Vincenzo Nibali's defense of his 2014 Tour de France win could end before it begins if Astana loses its racing license. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Vincenzo Nibali's defense of his 2014 Tour de France win could end before it begins if Astana loses its racing license. Photo: Tim De Waele.

An International Cycling Union (UCI) commission is expected to rule this week on whether the doping-tainted Astana team should be stripped of its license, Brian Cookson said Monday.

If Astana loses, star rider Vincenzo Nibali could forfeit the right to defend his Tour de France title.

“I am expecting a decision this week, I am hoping so. I don’t have a final date, but the sooner the better,” Cookson told AFP on the sidelines of the SportAccord convention in Sochi, Russia.

Astana could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but legal officials have said Astana would not automatically have the right to carry on racing while the tribunal comes to a decision..

April 20, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Nothing but time-trialing and mountains for this four day stage race featuring the dramatic, picturesque Dolomites.
Photo: Nothing but time-trialing and mountains for this four day stage race featuring the dramatic, picturesque Dolomites.

Stage 1 start time: Tuesday 15:15 CET (6:15 AM PST).

Earliest live video: No live video; Text updates only.

Approximate finish: 16:20 CET (7:20 AM PST).

April 20, 2015 (steephill.tv)





Photography by Kristof Ramon, Shane Stokes, Cor Vos.
"He rides whatever bike he is given, he is the least fussy of all the riders. He’s good to deal with." (Photography by Kristof Ramon, Shane Stokes, Cor Vos.)

Some reacted like he had just burst forth onto the scene with his three stages plus the overall in the Three Days of De Panne, the Tour of Flanders and Scheldeprijs, but in truth Alexander Kristoff has been a pot slowly coming to the boil for several seasons.

Now 27 years old and with an impressive eleven victories thus far this year, the Norwegian is someone who has made steady progress since turning pro with the BMC Racing Team in 2010.

While his time at that squad was relatively quiet, he did show early promise with results such as third in the 2010 Philadelphia International Championship and victory in the 2011 national road race championships ahead of Vegard Laengen plus Thor Hushovd.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Alejandro Valverde rode to second place in Sunday's Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Tim De Waele .
Alejandro Valverde rode to second place in Sunday's Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Perhaps Alejandro Valverde will never win the Amstel Gold Race. It’s not for trying. And for the third time in his career, he was on the final podium Sunday, behind a superb Michal Kwiatkowski, who relegated Spain’s “Green Bullet” to second in the Dutch classic.

“I couldn’t ask for a better result than second,” Valverde said Sunday after the second Amstel Gold Race runner-up finish of his career. “It’s a more open finish than right at the top of the Cauberg, with a field sprint like today. We did everything we could.”

The 34-year-old Spaniard confirmed yet again he is one of the most consistent performers across the hilly classics in Belgium and the Netherlands. Sunday’s podium was his 11th top-3 in the Ardennes of his career.

April 20, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Phil Gaimon (Optum) and teammate Michael Woods happy after taking the top two places (Jonathan Devich epicimages.us).
Photo: Phil Gaimon and teammate Michael Woods happy after taking the top two places (Jonathan Devich epicimages.us).

"Dude, calm down," said my team director, Jonas Carney, as I hobbled into the pit of the Redlands Bicycle Classic Criterium. I was angry.

Only minutes earlier I had consumed a Clif caffeinated gel, and its effects were kicking in right when I had originally hoped. This shot of caffeine, combined with the onset of adrenaline from racing an NRC level crit was supposed to propel me to a strong finish.

However, the concoction of caffeine and adrenaline, when mixed with the nausea brought on from slamming into a steel barrier at 30km/h, instead resulted in all my rational thoughts crawling into the most remote spaces of my brain.

"Where the f_*!k is Phil" I yelled, as I held my left side and grimaced from what felt like I had just been Shorykened by Ryu from Street Fighter. "Dude, you need to calm down," Jonas said.

"Ok," I said, and looked down at my pinky finger, which had a piece of skin dangling from its side, and then said, "I think I am going to puke."

April 20, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: La Flèche Wallonne Femmes Profile 2015.
Photo: La Flèche Wallonne Femmes Profile 2015.

La Fléche Wallonne Femmes is round four of the UCI Women’s Road World Cup and the last round in Europe for a few months as the competition heads to China and the USA.

Held on the same day as the men’s edition of the race, La Fléche Wallone Femmes is one of the biggest one day races on the women’s cycling calendar, attracting huge crowds, cheering on the riders on the two ascents of the infamous Mur de Huy.

To spice things up, the race organizers have added a punchy climb just five kilometers from the finish which could change the approach of those who don’t want to leave it to the final meters up the Mur de Huy.

April 20, 2015 (velofocus.com)





Photo: Greg LeMond, Tour de France 1989 Credit: Graham Watson .
Photo: Greg LeMond, Tour de France 1989 Credit: Graham Watson .

Greg LeMond’s favorite career moment is probably one that few people actually witnessed. Aged 18, LeMond stormed onto the world scene at the Junior World Championships in Argentina, medalling in three disciplines on both road and track.

“I got three medals in Argentina,” said LeMond. “I got a bronze medal in the team time trial and a silver on the track, despite having not ridden a pursuit for years! Then I won the road race.”

The win marked the American’s readiness to enter the professional ranks and, courted by Bernard Hinault and coach Cyrille Guimard, he joined the Renault team in 1981.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Start List),

La Flèche Wallonne - Apr 22 (History),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results).

More...

April 20, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Cobbles, gravel, wind and a piglet: why we love Brittany's very own classic, the Tro Bro Léon.
Photo: Cobbles, gravel, wind and a piglet: why we love Brittany's very own classic, the Tro Bro Léon.

Here is a professional bike race that feels a little bit like it doesn’t belong in this world.

The 200km route zooms up hills, along windswept coasts, through the grounds of deserted castles and into dark passages that tunnel under motorways like rabbit burrows.

It takes place the weekend after Paris-Roubaix and is run over off-road sectors through farmland in the far west of France.

There are farm animals aplenty – although these are reserved for the podium – and the publicity poster features a cartoon of the previous year’s winner, drawn by the organizer.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)







Photo: The 2015 Fleche Wallonne is being held Wednesday, April 22..
Photo: The 2015 Fleche Wallonne is being held Wednesday, April 22.

Wednesday's Fleche Wallonne departs Waremme at 11:30am CET (5:30am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Huy at around 4:51pm CET (10:51am U.S. Eastern). 

Fleche Wallonne live streaming video is scheduled to get underway from around 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 20, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.
Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.

Wednesday's Stage 1 starts at -- CET (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- CET (-- U.S. Eastern)

Live video from -- CET (-- U.S. Eastern)...

April 20, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 20, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)









Michał Kwiatkowski claimed his first road race win as World champion with a perfectly executed sprint at Amstel Gold Race.

The Pole was briefly distanced on the final ascent of the Cauberg by defending champion Philippe Gilbert and sprinter Michael Matthews but the Etixx-QuickStep rider latched back with several other riders, including Alejandro Valverde as the group crested the climb.

BMC led out, then Sky made a move on the right and Matthews was in a good position but Kwiatkowski came from a long way back, and took the win by over a bike length. It looks like Valverde was second.

April 19, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






At the 2015 Sea Otter Classic, we got a first look at the brand-new 2016 cyclocross bikes unveiled by Felt Bicycles.

April 19, 2015 (cxmagazine.com)



Photo: Brian Cookson (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Following publication of the CIRC report, Cookson wrote to Verbruggen formally requesting that he step down.

Brian Cookson said that he will not enter into public debate with former incumbent Hein Verbruggen, who wrote a 3,350-word letter to the UCI Management Committee in which he dismissed Cookson’s request for him to step down from his position as honorary president.

“I think Mr Verbruggen's letter speaks for itself. Those who have read the CIRC report will understand where the UCI went wrong in the past, including the conflicts it needlessly got into and which seriously damaged its credibility.

I was elected to change the way the UCI conducts itself and I won't be drawn into this kind of public conflict.”

April 20, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: BMC Racing team compete in the men's team time trial at the 2014 UCI Road World Championships (AFP).
Photo: UCI changes selection qualifications to allow US teams in. (AFP)

All US Continental teams and women's pro teams will receive an automatic invitation to the Team Time Trial World Championships this September in Richmond, Virginia, rather than having to qualify via UCI rankings, organizers of the race confirmed to Cyclingnews this week.

Although all 17 WorldTour trade teams are compelled to compete in the team time trial, previously only the top 20 teams in the UCI Europe Tour rankings, the top five from the America and Asia tours, and the leaders of the Africa and Oceana tours would have qualified for the event.

The team time trial is the only world championship event that is contested by trade teams rather than national teams.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Pete Stetina (BMC) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Pete Stetina (BMC) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

After a marathon journey from Bilbao, Spain to Salt Lake City, Utah, Peter Stetina is back on US soil and ready to start the process of recovering from a shattered kneecap, broken tibia and four cracked ribs sustained in a crash in the opening stage of the Volta al Pais Vasco earlier this month.

The BMC rider spent 11 nights in the hospital after the crash, including surgery to repair the breaks, and will now be evaluated by the team's medical staff in Utah before launching into rehab.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Last year saw Cadel Evans putting in an impressive performance that perhaps was indicating a slightly early arrived form.
Photo: Last year saw Cadel Evans putting in an impressive performance that perhaps was indicating a slightly early arrived form.

The Giro d'Italia is three weeks away and for the contenders the true sharpening of the form starts now. Before we get on the startline in Sanremo May 9 there are two major stageraces that will give us an idea of what kind of Giro to expect.

The Tour of Romandy and first of all the Giro del Trentino that is emerging as a true warmup for the climbers about to tackle the first Grand Tour of the year.

With a short but challenging course in the mountainous Trentino region of northern Italy this is the perfect place to get race ready.

For the Italians it's more than that of course, it's a solid win in itself ,but to the many forign GC contenders lining up it is primarily a way to gauge your form and try yourself against some of the opposition you will be facing in a month.

April 20, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)





Photo: Tony Martin in the team hotel (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Tony Martin in the team hotel (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

When Tony Martin rolls down the start ramp of the Tour de France’s stage one time trial in Utrecht this summer, cycling’s top time triallist of his generation will look to continue the recent run of German success on the opening day of the race.

Marcel Kittel has donned the first yellow jersey at the past two Tours, and Martin aims to match his fellow countryman on July 4.

Martin’s best result in an opening Tour time trial was second in Rotterdam in 2010, and in 2012 he set the fastest time in the opening prologue in Liege at the mid-race checkpoint but then was forced to change bikes because of a mechanical problem, slumping to 45th.

Up to this point in his career, when the Etixx-QuickStep rider has been asked if the Worlds Time Trial is his biggest goal of the season, it’s pretty much been a rhetorical question. But this time Martin replies “maybe, but also the yellow jersey this summer in Utrecht is very important.”

April 20, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Fabio Aru (Astana) celebrates his second Vuelta stage win (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Fabio Aru (Astana) celebrates his second Vuelta stage win (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Fabio Aru has withdrawn from the Giro del Trentino, citing illness. The Astana rider will not participate in the four-day race, which gets underway on Tuesday, as he is reportedly suffering from a stomach virus.

Aru had spent almost three weeks training at altitude on Mount Teide in Tenerife prior to the Giro del Trentino, which was due to be his final race before the Giro d’Italia, where he lines up as Astana’s leader following his third place finish a year ago.

Fabio completed a solid training block with his teammates at altitude in Tenerife this month and has very good physical condition at the moment, but unfortunately he caught something after he returned home and was very ill over the weekend,” Astana trainer Paolo Slongo said in a statement on the team's website.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: The World's Smartest Cycling Power Meter is here!
Photo: The World's Smartest Cycling Power Meter is here!

"Introducing a cycling training tool designed to maximize your training efforts and performance and revolutionize cycling power meters. LIMITS is a truly unique cycling power meter. LIMITS power meter is inspired by our cycling passion and our goal to remove all existing limitations in the marketplace.

Affordable – to make power meters accessible to cyclists at every level.

Interchangeable – compatible with all bikes, no need to replace any parts.

Simple to use - the easiest ever to install and use."

April 20, 2015 (indiegogo.com)





Photo: Instead of a long helmet that runs partway down your back, helmets like the Wing57 barely make it past your neck.
Photo: The Wing57 follows the trend of “shorter is better” aero helmets.

"When a company like Rudy Project launches a new aero helmet, everyone in transition takes notice. And that’s not just because they have the highest helmet count in Kona year after year.

Rudy Project is also smart in that they consult with experts to make their products better, like John Cobb for example. So when Rudy Project first announced the Wing57, we all wanted to know more.

We started seeing examples show up in the pro peloton, as well as among the ranks of pro athletes in transition, almost immediately.

Unfortunately, it took a little while longer for the helmet to make it to the age groupers—and even longer for it to get into our hands. But finally in late fall of last year we received ours.

Fortunately the helmet arrived with enough time to not only put it through its paces via our usual testing process, but we were also able to wear it for a couple races as well. Before we jump into our full review, lets recap what makes the Wing57 so special."

April 20, 2015 (aerogeeks.com)





Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights. .
Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights.

TUR 2015 Eurosport Broadcast Schedule (CET*)

Stage 1, Sun 26/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 11:15-14:00,

Stage 2, Mon 27/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 3, Tue 28/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 4, Wed 29/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 5, Thu 30/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 6, Fri 01/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 7, Sat 02/05/2015, EUROSPORT , 11:15-12:45, 

Stage 8, Sun 03/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 10:00-12:00.

April 20, 2015 (steephill.tv)





Photo: Essax Shark saddle .
Photo: Essax Shark saddle.

"Believe it or not, but one of the most popular pages on the Cycling Weekly website has been a saddle review. However this is not just any old saddle, it’s the legendary Essax Shark saddle.

The “innovative design” claims to evenly distribute weight between the rider’s sit bones, with the fin helping to achieve better alignment of the knees and prevent rocking and rolling.

We tested the saddle back in January and found it to be surprisingly comfortable, while also being impressively lightweight for the price, although we had doubts over its durability."

April 20, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)








Michał Kwiatkowski wins the sprint to take the Amstel Gold Race, checking he’s got the better of Michael Matthews while Cauberg attacker Philippe Gilbert has already been tamed and beaten.

The early break was notable for two things. First the presence of Lotto-Jumbo’s Timo Roosen, because if the team had missed the move you sense they’d have been forced to bring it back in order to try again; second Mike Tepstra was there, the Roompot rider isn’t Niki’s twin but they’re look-a-likes.

Despite no obvious threats the move was never allowed to get much time with BMC Racing and Movistar doing a lot of the tempo-setting, with BMC’s Marcus Burghardt notable for a lot of work.

As ever on the small roads crashes took their toll, notably Lieuwe Westra. While if a rider punctured they could often get back to the bunch ok, it was moving back to the front of the peloton that was the hard part.

April 19, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 20, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)

















April 20, 2015







Photo: Hein Verbruggen.
Photo: Dutchman "proud" of legal cases against Kimmage, Landis and Pound.

Hein Verbruggen has dismissed UCI President Brian Cookson’s call for him to resign his title of honorary president in a long letter to members of the UCI’s Management Committee and said that he is “proud” of the legal action he took against Floyd Landis, Paul Kimmage and others who have spoken on the issue of doping in cycling.

Following the publication of the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) report last month, which highlighted “numerous examples that prove Lance Armstrong benefited from a preferential status” during Verbruggen’s time at the head of the UCI, Cookson wrote to Verbruggen to ask him to step down from his role as honorary president.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: As always, the race is anticipated to come down to the iconic Mur de Huy. Photo: BrakeThrough Media.
As always, the race is anticipated to come down to the iconic Mur de Huy. Photo: BrakeThrough Media.

Five riders have won Flèche Wallonne on multiple occasions since the race first began finishing on the Mur de Huy in 1983, and thoughts will turn to two of them, in particular, when the leaders clamber up the Mur for the third and decisive time on Wednesday.

Second in Amstel Gold on Sunday, the defending champion and 2006 winner, Alejandro Valverde will be a marked man. A third victory this week would take the Spaniard level with Moreno Argentin, Eddy Merckx, Marcel Kint, and Davide Rebellin, the only riders to have scored a hat-trick of Flèche wins.

The other two-time conqueror of the Mur in hearts and minds — particularly hearts — on Wednesday will be Claude Criquielion. The winner of Flèche in 1985 and 1989, Criquielion died this February, somewhat prematurely, at the age of 58.

April 20, 2015 (velonews.com)






Mario Aerts winning the Flèche Wallonne. Photo: Graham Watson.
Mario Aerts winning the Flèche Wallonne. Photo: Graham Watson.

The Mur de Huy is one of the steepest and most spectacular finishing climbs in cycling. With its continued presence in the Flèche-Wallonne and its inclusion in this year's Tour de France, we have a look at this famous climb.

“The last climb of the Mur is everything. It’s just 1,300 metres of road, but when I won, that road went on for ever, especially the last few meters. I never felt such pain and ecstasy at the same time,” Mario Aerts, Flèche Wallonne winner in 2002.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Vincenzo Nibali spent some time at the front of the Amstel Gold Race Sunday. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Vincenzo Nibali spent some time at the front of the Amstel Gold Race Sunday. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Vincenzo Nibali fired his guns in the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday and ended feeling surprised at his strength after a break and a training camp.

The Sicilian is aiming to defend his 2014 title at this summer’s Tour de France. He just returned from an altitude training camp on the Spanish island of Tenerife for the Ardennes classics and the Tour de Romandie.

During Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands, he attacked with 36 kilometers remaining and stayed ahead of the field for 18km.

“I’m pretty happy with myself because to be going so strongly after returning means that I’m good. In fact, it’s a confirmation that in training I worked well,” Nibali told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

“Maybe I wasn’t even expecting to be so ahead. But, I was sure that I worked well in Tiede [Tenerife], so I knew that more or less my legs would be good.”.

April 20, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: The curse of the rainbow bands is over … for now.
Photo: The curse of the rainbow bands is over … for now.

After more than six and a half hours of racing in the Dutch province of Limburg yesterday, world champion Michal Kwiatkowski emerged as the winner of the 2015 Amstel Gold Race.

The 24-year-old Pole had the strongest sprint from a group of 18 riders that came together after the decisive final ascent of the famous Cauberg climb.

The race featured no fewer than 34 climbs in its 258km but none of them more decisive than the fourth time up the Cauberg, a 700m rise that averages 8% but peaks at 12%.

This climb has been a happy hunting ground for Philippe Gilbert who has won the Amstel Gold Race three times and also the 2012 World Championships which featured the Cauberg no fewer than 10 times.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) made it into a promising late-race move at Amstel Gold Race, but got tangled up in a crash on a sharp corner. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) made it into a promising late-race move at Amstel Gold Race, but got tangled up in a crash on a sharp corner. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Pro cyclists — they’re just like us. Well, not exactly, but many riders in the WorldTour peloton are uploading their rides and races to Strava, giving us a window into what it takes to be a factor in Europe’s hardest races.

On Sunday, Wilco Kelderman rode his way into a late-race attack that had some serious firepower, including such riders as Vincenzo Nibali and Tony Martin.

Unfortunately for Kelderman, a crash on one of the course’s characteristically narrow and twisty roads knocked him out of the group, although he did manage to keep it upright as he rode off-course into a field.

He ended up finishing 62nd, but he certainly worked hard for it.

April 20, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: SRAM’s Rival1 long cage rear derailleur can handle the large 10-42t cassette. © Clifford Lee/Cyclocross Magazine.
Photo: SRAM’s Rival1 long cage rear derailleur can handle the large 10-42t cassette. © Clifford Lee/Cyclocross Magazine.

Originally, mountain biking utilized three chainrings to gain a wide gear spread, but with front shifting already less than perfect for two rings, the third ring was prone to more shifting problems, not to mention ‘chain suck’ as a result of less than stellar drivetrain maintenance.

When rear suspension became more popular, non-traditional frame geometry and shapes sometimes made front derailleur mounting a challenge.

Though mountain bikers addressed the problem with cobbled together single chainring setups, there were problems of chain derailment due to chain tension issues, exacerbated by the bouncing of the bike over rough terrain.

SRAM seized the opportunity to improve conditions for the mountain bike by introducing XX1, a component group dedicated to the single ring setup for mountain bikes.

Riding on the success of XX1 came CX1, a component group aimed directly at the cyclocross rider.

April 20, 2015 (cxmagazine.com)





Photo: A glass prism, which attaches to your handlebars, could be all it takes for you to see what's in front of you when you're looking down.
Photo: A glass prism, which attaches to your handlebars, could be all it takes for you to see what's in front of you when you're looking down.

It may sound ridiculous, but American inventor Mike Lane has come up with a design that allows cyclists to see the road ahead while looking down at their handlebars.

Normally periscopes are reserved for submarines and wannabe spies, but now Lane has used the device’s prism based design and applied it to a bike.

The position required for riding a bike can often cause neck or back pains for the rider, with the need to crane the neck upwards accentuating the problem.

Now, the answer to that problem clearly isn’t to not look where you’re going, and we’re sure the Pediscope wasn’t designed so that riders would just stare at their bars the whole time.

But a moments respite from looking up could alleviate a few problems, and the Pediscope could increase safety on the road.

April 20, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com.
Photo: A 31mm tire in a race bike? Absolutely. That makes the Emonda versatile. (Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com)

"Bike design today seeks to separate a rider from the road. Dampers, pivots, slack geometry, and ultra-stable handling all conspire to eliminate surprise and improve predictability. And that’s wonderful — sometimes.

The Trek Emonda looks in the opposite direction, and that’s why we love it.

It’s stiff — incredibly stiff — a near perfect translator of action into reaction. A flick of the wrists sends it into flawless, arcing turns; a kick of the heels into immediate forward motion. It’s not comfortable, nor is it aerodynamic.

It is light, and it is rigid. It takes everything you can give it and asks for more, and doesn’t inhibit its rider from feeling an intimate familiarity with the surface below."

April 20, 2015 (velonews.com)













April 19, 2015






April 19, 2015 (velonews.com)


April 19, 2015





Photo: Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)..
Photo: Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Michał Kwiatkowski claimed his first road race win as World champion with a perfectly executed sprint at Amstel Gold Race.

The Pole was briefly distanced on the final ascent of the Cauberg by defending champion Philippe Gilbert and sprinter Michael Matthews but the Etixx-QuickStep rider latched back with several other riders, including Alejandro Valverde as the group crested the climb.

BMC led out, then Sky made a move on the right and Matthews was in a good position but Kwiatkowski came from a long way back, and took the win by over a bike length. It looks like Valverde was second.

April 19, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (Start List),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (Results),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results).

More...

April 19, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The 2015 Fleche Wallonne is being held Wednesday, April 22..
Photo: The 2015 Fleche Wallonne is being held Wednesday, April 22.

Wednesday's Fleche Wallonne departs Waremme at 11:30am CET (5:30am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Huy at around 4:51pm CET (10:51am U.S. Eastern). 

Fleche Wallonne live streaming video is scheduled to get underway from around 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 19, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.
Photo: The 2015 Tour of Croatia is being held April 22-26.

Wednesday's Stage 1 starts at -- CET (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- CET (-- U.S. Eastern)

Live video from -- CET (-- U.S. Eastern)...

April 19, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

Friday's Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 19, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: The 2016 Felt Bicycles cyclocross bike line features two top-end F1x models, one for $6999 with Dura-Ace Di2, another at $5499 with a mix of SRAM Red and Force 1.
Photo: The 2016 Felt Bicycles cyclocross bike line features two top-end F1x models, one for $6999 with Dura-Ace Di2, another at $5499 with a mix of SRAM Red and Force 1.

At the 2015 Sea Otter Classic, we got a first look at the brand-new 2016 cyclocross bikes unveiled by Felt Bicycles.

Each change may seem subtle, but as an entire package, the new carbon cyclocross bikes (F1x, F3x, F4x) have hopped the barrier to become completely modern machines.

The aluminum models keep the same frames, but adopt the latest components.

Felt Bicycles already had an Editors’ Award-winning carbon platform for its cyclocross bikes.

April 19, 2015 (cxmagazine.com)








April 18, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: A worthy winner who not only proved the fastest in the sprint, he was one of the strongest on the Cauberg too.
Photo: A worthy winner who not only proved the fastest in the sprint, he was one of the strongest on the Cauberg too.

Michał Kwiatkowski wins the sprint to take the Amstel Gold Race, checking he’s got the better of Michael Matthews while Cauberg attacker Philippe Gilbert has already been tamed and beaten.

The early break was notable for two things. First the presence of Lotto-Jumbo’s Timo Roosen, because if the team had missed the move you sense they’d have been forced to bring it back in order to try again; second Mike Tepstra was there, the Roompot rider isn’t Niki’s twin but they’re look-a-likes.

Despite no obvious threats the move was never allowed to get much time with BMC Racing and Movistar doing a lot of the tempo-setting, with BMC’s Marcus Burghardt notable for a lot of work.

As ever on the small roads crashes took their toll, notably Lieuwe Westra. While if a rider punctured they could often get back to the bunch ok, it was moving back to the front of the peloton that was the hard part.

April 19, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: Caroline Mani managed to stay ahead of Maximenko for the 2015 Sea Otter win. © Matthew Lasala / Cyclocross Magazine.
Photo: Caroline Mani managed to stay ahead of Maximenko for the 2015 Sea Otter win. © Matthew Lasala / Cyclocross Magazine.

With shortened races for the Elite Riders, 30 minutes for the Elite Women and 45 for the Elite Men, riders had to step out of their longer-spaced comfort zones and push hard right from contesting the holeshot.

Caroline Mani, winner of the Pro CX series in 2014-15, continued her winning ways at Sea Otter, with a fiercely close finish in front of Cassie Maximenko of Rare Vos/Van Dessel.

Mani nearly finished in the top ten at Tabor, taking an 11th in one of the most thrilling cyclocross races at a World Championship.

Mani and Maximenko finished within five seconds of each other at the head of the field, shortening the race to a brutally fast 23 minutes.

Caitlyn Vestal was 12 seconds back in third, while Caroline Dezendorf finished fourth, over a minute ahead of the rest of the field that included names like Emily Kachorek and Nicole Duke.

April 19, 2015 (cxmagazine.com)






Photo: Rolland soloed clear to win the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon queen stage and take the overall victory.
Photo: Rolland soloed clear to win the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon queen stage and take the overall victory.

After a number of near-misses, Pierre Rolland finally took his first victory of the 2015 season when he emerged as the strongest in the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon queen stage.

On the final climb of the Alto de Lubian, he found himself with Rodolfo Torres and the Movistar pair of Benat Inxausti and Igor Anton in a strong quartet and with 1km to go, he accelerated clear to win both the stage and the overall in the three-day race.

Rolland is usually a slow starter but by the time we get to the month of April, his legs have often started to come around. The 2015 season seems to be no exception and today he confirmed his steady progression by finally taking his first win of the year in the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon queen stage.

April 19, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Winning the Amstel Gold Race in the rainbow jersey is a dream come true.
Photo: Winning the Amstel Gold Race in the rainbow jersey is a dream come true.

Kwiatkowski scored 80 UCI WorldTour ranking points for his victory and jumped from 13th place to fourth place in the individual ranking. He now has a total of 195 points after also finishing second overall at Paris-Nice and eighth at the recent Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco.

Kwiatkowski’s success lifted Etixx-Quick Step from second place to first in the team rankings. The Belgian team was consistent and often dominated the spring Classics in recent weeks but had failed to land a big UCI WorldTour win.

Now they have the victory they needed and lead the UCI WorldTour team rankings with a total of 670 points. Team Sky slipped to second place with 629 points, with the Team Katusha holding onto third place with 527 points.

April 19, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights. .
Photo: In the United States of America, cycling.tv will broadcast the race live, while NBC / Universal Sports will carry race highlights.

TUR 2015 Eurosport Broadcast Schedule (CET*)

Stage 1, Sun 26/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 11:15-14:00,

Stage 2, Mon 27/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 3, Tue 28/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 4, Wed 29/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 5, Thu 30/04/2015, EUROSPORT, 12:30-14:00,

Stage 6, Fri 01/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 14:00-15:30,

Stage 7, Sat 02/05/2015, EUROSPORT , 11:15-12:45, 

Stage 8, Sun 03/05/2015, EUROSPORT, 10:00-12:00.

April 19, 2015 (steephill.tv)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 19, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)












April 19, 2015







Photo: The Hincapie Racing Team won the 2015 men's team time trial national championship in Greenville, South Carolina. Photo: Casey B. Gibson.
The Hincapie Racing Team won the 2015 men's team time trial national championship in Greenville, South Carolina. Photo: Casey B. Gibson.

The Hincapie Racing Team took the victory in the men’s race and Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies won the women’s event at the 2015 American team time trial national championships in Greenville, South Carolina.

Hincapie Racing put in a time of 37:24.97 on the course to finish ahead of the men’s Optum squad, whose time was just seven seconds slower.

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team finished in third. Optum’s women’s team put in a winning time of 42:35.31, with UnitedHealthcare’s women’s squad and Team TIBCO-SVB nabbing second- and third-place honors, respectively.

April 19, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products – UCK) took her third straight victory in Apledoorn. The Dutchwomen out-sprinted Lucy Garner (Liv Plantur) and Barbara Guarischi (Velocio-SRAM) to the top step of the podium. .
Photo: Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products – UCK) took her third straight victory in Apledoorn.  She beat Lucy Garner (Liv Plantur) and Barbara Guarischi (Velocio-SRAM) to the top step of the podium. .

A familiar face was first across the line at Ronde van Gelderland as Kirsten Wild took her third straight victory in Apledoorn. The Dutchwomen out-sprinted Lucy Garner and Barbara Guarischi to the top step of the podium.

The peloton split over the early climbs but reformed over the winding, narrow roads on the return to Apledoorn. The second half of the race saw a number of breakaways go clear, but all lacked the staying power to gain any real traction. The most dangerous move of the lot was an eight-rider escape.

April 19, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)






Photo: After several attacks, Geniez emerged as the fastest from a five-rider group that sprinted for the win in Tro Bro Leon.
Photo: After several attacks, Geniez emerged as the fastest from a five-rider group that sprinted for the win in Tro Bro Leon.

Alexandre Geniez shone in unusual terrain when he took a surprise win in Tro Bro Leon whose many gravel roads have made it known as the mini Paris-Roubaix. The Frenchman made it into a 5-rider group that sprinted for the win and he managed to relegate Benoit Jarrier and Florian Senechal into the minor positions to take his first win since his stage victory in the 2013 Vuelta a Espana.

Geniez is known as a climber and his major achievements have all been acheived on the steep ascents. His career highlight came in 2013 when he won the Vuelta a Espana queen stage to Peyragudes in the Pyrenees and he has long been expected to become a great GC rider.

April 19, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: Tao Geoghegan Hart, Tour of Britain 2014 team presentation .
Photo: Tao Geoghegan Hart, Tour of Britain 2014 team presentation.

British youngster Tao Geoghegan Hart raced to a podium finish at the U23 Liege Bastogne Liege as several of the favorites were sent in the wrong direction by police towards the finish.

As Australian Jack Haig led the group to the top of the route’s penultimate climb at Saint Nicolas a police officer reportedly directed them to go turn left, when, in fact, they needed to turn right.

French website DirectVelo.com reports that some riders travelled up to 3km in the wrong direction before turning back, with BMC Development Team rider Loïc Vliegen among them.

April 19, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Robbie McEwen does a wheelie to celebrate his green jersey victory (Bettini Photo).
Robbie McEwen does a wheelie to celebrate his green jersey victory (Bettini Photo).

Robbie McEwen has travelled to the United States only three times in the past 20 years but his current trek with his son Ewan is the first time the three-time Tour de France green jersey winner hasn't visited in order to compete.

The journey, an extended "boys' trip" to California, has taken the duo sightseeing to several Los Angeles landmarks, and it still has plenty to do with cycling.

April 19, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)


April 18, 2015




Photo: Having joined a strong 8-rider lead group with less than 1km to go, De Troyer managed to distance his companions to win the Tour du Finistere. (cyclingnews.com)
Photo: Having joined a strong 8-rider lead group with less than 1km to go, De Troyer managed to distance his companions to win the Tour du Finistere.
(Fotoreporter Sirotti) (cyclingnews.com)

Tim De Troyer took the first victory of his short career when he emerged as a surprise winner of the hilly French one-day race Tour du Finistere.

The Belgian joined a strong 8-rider front group with less than 1km to go in a very uncontrollable finale and managed to escape to take a solo win before his teammate Jerome Baugnies beat Julien Simon in the sprint for second.

April 18, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: Arno Wallaarde Memorial Live Coverage.
Photo: Arno Wallaarde Memorial.

Wouter Mol second and  Twan Castelijns third.

April 18, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: The cobbles are done with, the Ardennes are upon us. fotoreporte sirotti
Photo: The cobbles are done with, the Ardennes are upon us.
fotoreporte sirotti

"The cobbles are done with, the Ardennes are upon us, but who will challenge? Here's 20 to watch.

I sat down to have a look at the people likely to take glory in the forthcoming classics of the paved hills, and I wanted to make up a list of names before writing up any of them.

I originally came up with twenty-two, shaved off the heretofore invisible Tom-Jelte Slagter, and prayed that a obvious candidate won Brabantse Pijl, to narrow my list to my preferred twenty.

Well done Ben Hermans, the place on the list is yours, leaving me with twenty-one, before I realized that for some unknown reason, Bardet would be riding Trentino instead of the Ardennes. To the challengers!"

April 18, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (History),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (History),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results).

More...

April 18, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)








Photo: Amstel Gold Race LIVE
The Cauberg is the ideal berg for Philippe Gilbert.
Amstel Gold Race LIVE: The Cauberg is the ideal berg for Philippe Gilbert. (cyclingupdates.com)

Sunday's Amstel Gold Race ("the race to the beer") departs Maastricht at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Valkenburg at around 4:36pm CET (10:36am U.S. Eastern). 

Amstel Gold Race live streaming video should get underway at around 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 18, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

 2015 Tour de Yorkshire LIVE May 1-3, Great Britain.

Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 18, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Finishing the team's job on Oak Glen. Photo by Nate King.
Finishing the team's job on Oak Glen. Photo by Nate King.

"I had a rough few weeks when I got back from Portugal at the beginning of March.

Between jet lag and fatigue from a month of racing in Europe, I wasn’t able to put together a good block of training, so I signed up for the San Dimas Stage Race to see where my fitness was. The stage 1 uphill time trial suits me perfectly, and I’ve won it twice, but I finished fourth this year. Not what I’d hoped for, but not bad.

I was tempted to continue the stage race and try to improve on my GC, but I nearly died crashing myself in that race in 2013. I thought I’d conquered my fear last fall when I returned to the scene of the crash."

April 17, 2015 (velonews.com)






Photo: Eric Marcotte (Team SmartStop) wins the US criterium nationals in Greenville (Jon Devich).
Photo: Eric Marcotte (Team SmartStop) wins the US criterium nationals in Greenville (Jon Devich).

Eric Marcotte secured his second national title, after winning the road race last year, when he won the USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championships on Saturday in Greenville, South Carolina. He made his winning attack through the last corner, upsetting the United Healthcare blue train, and crossing the finish line first ahead of Ty Magner and Luke Keough.

United Healthcare led through the last lap with Keough ready for the sprint, Hincapie’s Magner on his wheel.

The surprise attack came from Marcotte, who jumped into the last corner and came out of it with a fierce sprint toward the finish line. It was a bold move that paid off with the victory.

April 18, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Team Tibco on the front. (Danny Munson / DMunsonPhoto.com).
Photo: Team Tibco on the front. (Danny Munson / DMunsonPhoto.com). (cyclingnews.com)

Kendall Ryan escaped a last-lap pileup to win the women’s USA Cycling Pro Criterium National Championship on Saturday.

The 90-minute race was run in warm conditions in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, on a narrow, rectangular 1-mile course with a downhill dash to the line.

There were a couple of crashes early on as the 55-rider field settled down to work, with UnitedHealthcare patrolling the front on behalf of defending champion Coryn Rivera.

With a field sprint in the offing UHC had three riders on the sharp end of the bunch — and then boom, the Blue Train derailed in the final corner, the leadout rider sliding out and Erica Allar, Rivera, and Ruth Winder all hitting the deck.

Ryan stayed upright and took the win ahead of Tina Pic with Brianna Waller third.

April 18, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) celebrates his Fleche Wallonne victory (AFP Photo).
Photo: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) celebrates his Fleche Wallonne victory (AFP Photo).

The familiar scenario of 100-odd riders battling for position at the foot of the Mur de Huy in next Wednesday’s La Fleche Wallonne may change this year with the addition of a climb, the Cote de Cherave, in the last six kilometers of the mid-week Ardennes Classics.

Whilst the traditional and highly popular three ascents of the Mur de Huy remain, in recent years La Fleche Wallonne has been criticized for a tedious lack of variety in how the WorldTour’s only Classic ending with a summit finish has been won and lost.

Only three breakways have culminated in a triumph this side of the millennium, in fact, all of them over a decade ago - for Rik Verbrugghe in 2001, Mario Aerts in 2002, and Igor Astarloa in 2003.

April 18, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The final selection came down to Cassani and Gianetti.
Photo: The final selection came down to Cassani and Gianetti. Pic: Cor Vos

The Amstel Gold Race signals the start of the Ardennes Classics, and the first signs of who’s looking good for the Giro. Raced over the hills, dales, and forests of south eastern Holland, the course selects its own worthy winner.

Twenty years ago it was Mauro Gianetti who was making the news.

Gianetti rode for Polti back then and had just pulled-off the biggest win of his career, in the 1995 Liege-Bastogne-Liege – LBL was the week before the Amstel in those days.

Some said that his win owed more to craftiness and luck than talent; Gianetti would soon dispel that notion.

April 18, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)





Photo: Like most power meters, it’s a strain gauge.
Photo: Like most power meters, it’s a strain gauge.

The world of power meters will be shaken up this week when an inventor seeks crowdfunding for a novel system called Limits, which promises breakthroughs in price, simplicity and technology.

Inventor Ken Norton, technologist and keen cyclist, says the first models will cost just £260 (US$385), which would make this one of the cheapest power meters available.

It’s the first meter that calculates the rider’s power at the pedal spindle. The small cylinder fits between the crank and the pedal; it screws into the crank and has a threaded hole to accept the spindle.

April 18, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 18, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)







April 18, 2015






Photo: Tayler Wiles was all smiles after winning this year's race (Mark Gunter).
Photo: Tayler Wiles was all smiles after winning this year's race (Mark Gunter).

USA Cycling has announced the revised selection for the 2015 Pan Am Championships to include Tayler Wiles, who will take the place of double Olympic gold medallist Kristin Armstrong in the individual time trial.

USA Cycling announced on Tuesday that Armstrong was nominated to the four-woman roster, however, the Selection Committee reconvened two days later to discuss the selection process and determined that recent modifications to the Principles of Athlete Selection (last published in 2008) were not published in a timely manner.

April 18, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








Photo: Anton, Intxausti and Moreno still in contention after another aggressive showing by Movistar.
Photo: Anton, Intxausti and Moreno still in contention after another aggressive showing by Movistar.

Almost seven-and-a-half hours were needed to cover the 208km stage two of the Vuelta a Castilla y León, almost completely ridden on Portuguese soil with two hard climbs, Penhas Douradas and the Alto da Torre (Cat-1), close to the start in Guarda.

Mist and cold menacing the peloton from the botton of the first climb turned into snow halfway through the second, a situation which forced the jury to neutralize the descent towards Manteigas - the section between 84 and 102km into the stage - as Bravo and Rubio held almost three minutes of advantage in the early break.

April 18, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)






Photo: Reigning champion Philippe Gilbert faces stiff competition as he bids for a fourth victory in the Amstel Gold race on Sunday..
Photo: Reigning champion Philippe Gilbert faces stiff competition as he bids for a fourth victory in the Amstel Gold race on Sunday.

The biggest and longest one-day classic in the Netherlands will see riders complete 258km and tackle 34 climbs – amounting to more than four vertical kilometers of climbing – on their way from Maastricht to Valkenburg.

Alongside three-time winner Gilbert, there will be six other former victors in the field, as well as a new breed of hungry, talented potential champions. Most notably amongst those is current road race world champion Michal Kwiatkowski from Poland.

He had a fantastic Ardennes Classics campaign in 2014, earning top five finishes in all three events – the other two being Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. The finish in Valkenburg, 1.8km beyond the final, tough Cauberg climb, is ideally suited to a rider like Kwiatkowski.

April 18, 2015 (pelotonmagazine.com)





Photo: Nibali stands a good chance of doing well on these difficult stages.
Photo: Nibali stands a good chance of doing well on these difficult stages.

"If you were totally new to the world of professional cycling then at this time of year you’d be forgiven for thinking everyone who rides, watches or has even a passing interest in road cycling is obsessed with cobbles.  And you’d be correct.

Just days after the brutal Paris-Roubaix astonished spectators and punished riders, reports are filtering through that last year’s Tour de France winner is studying some well known French cobbles.

Vincenzo Nibali and his Astana team mates are spending time in Northern France preparing for the tough pavé littered stages they’ll need to dominate in order to do well during this year’s Tour."

April 18, 2015 (veloballs.com)





Photo: Giro del Trentino Melinda is a beautiful race, that suits our characteristics and brings back several good moments, such as our first success in 2012 with Darwin Atapuma on the Pordoi Pass.
Photo: "Giro del Trentino Melinda is a beautiful race, that suits our characteristics and brings back several good moments, such as our first success in 2012 with Darwin Atapuma on the Pordoi Pass."

Like every year, Giro del Trentino Melinda (April 21-24) will stage the challenge among some of the best climbers of the moment in one of the most mountainous regions of Italy, and after Fabio Duarte’s overall fourth place last year, Team Colombia-Coldeportes will be at the start of the 2.HC race with the ambition of equaling, or possibly improving, that performance.

The race will feature four stages: after the opening team time trial, the queen stage will be on the agenda for the riders on April 22nd, with the uphill finish to Brentonico after the dreadful climb to Monte Velo. The third stage, Ala-Fierozzo, will offer another uphill finish, while a medium-mountain stage from Malè to Cles will wrap things up.

April 18, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)















April 17, 2015


April 17, 2015


Finishing the team's job on Oak Glen. Photo by Nate King.
Finishing the team's job on Oak Glen. Photo by Nate King.

"I had a rough few weeks when I got back from Portugal at the beginning of March.

Between jet lag and fatigue from a month of racing in Europe, I wasn’t able to put together a good block of training, so I signed up for the San Dimas Stage Race to see where my fitness was. The stage 1 uphill time trial suits me perfectly, and I’ve won it twice, but I finished fourth this year. Not what I’d hoped for, but not bad.

I was tempted to continue the stage race and try to improve on my GC, but I nearly died crashing myself in that race in 2013. I thought I’d conquered my fear last fall when I returned to the scene of the crash.

I found the spot where my body was helicoptered from a puddle of blood to the hospital where they sewed my face back on.

I stood on that spot, and I danced. Then I peed on it. I probably won’t get to dance or pee on my own grave, but this was pretty close.

The ultimate conquering of fear is to get back on the horse, but I decided to head to Big Bear instead, to do some long rides with teammate Mike Woods, and get a little altitude into my system. As much as I wanted to conquer the San Dimas circuit race fear, I had bigger fish to fry.

The Tour of California is a fish."

April 17, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Arno Wallaarde Memorial Live Coverage.
Photo: Arno Wallaarde Memorial Live Coverage.

Saturday's Arno Wallaard Memorial departs Meerkerk at *2:30pm CET (*8:30am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Meerkerk at around 6:47pm CET (12:47pm U.S. Eastern). 

Arno Wallaard Memorial live video streaming should get underway at *2:30pm CET (*8:30am U.S. Eastern, 5:30am Pacific).

April 17, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) knows just what to do, he won here last year and took the World Championship title on the same finish in 2012.
Photo: Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) knows just what to do, he won here last year and took the World Championship title on the same finish in 2012.

Huge crowds, free-flowing beer, grand tour winners taking on one day classics specialists and a very tricky course make the Amstel a special race. The 50th edition looks like it’s made for Philippe Gilbert.

Who can stop him from a fourth win?

The route is 251km, the spiky profile says plenty, apparently more than 4,000m of vertical gain, impressive for the Netherlands.

It’s all packed into a narrow area and having the route loaded on a GPS device can help racers know which way to turn as the race twists and turns across the Limburg province.

In total there are 34 climbs, some repeated. Individually each of the climbs are not hard, typically a gradient of 5% for a kilometer although a few do have double-digit slopes and the Keutenberg, the nation’s steepest road.

April 17, 2015 (inrng.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (History),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (History),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results).

More...

April 17, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Italy’s northern Adriatic coast has long been a popular cycling destination for tourists from Europe.
Photo: Italy’s northern Adriatic coast has long been a popular cycling destination for tourists from Europe.

"Like so many things in Italy – the best access is reserved for those who ‘know someone’.

Italians are guarded by nature, but are naturally welcoming hosts – all you need is the right introduction.

Most of my best friends in Italia I’ve met through other friends. Several years ago my friends at NonStop Ciclsimo in Ventura CA introduced me to Nicola Verdolin, who along with his brother Alberto runs the GardaBikeHotel on Lake Garda (which I highly recommend).

They’ve been in the hotel business for years, and run one of the best bike hotels in Italy. Nicola in turn introduced me to Silvia Pasolini, proprietress of the Hotel Lungomare in Cesenatico on the Adriatic coast."

April 17, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)






Photo: companies are putting more effort and technology into ensuring units operate properly in all conditions by time they get to market..
Photo: Companies are putting more effort and technology into ensuring units operate properly in all conditions by time they get to market.

Over the past few weeks there have been a number of notable price drops by power meters companies.  While some of these price drops may seem reactionary to news from PowerTap’s new products, or that 4iiii is now shipping Precision units – the reality is that most of these were planned months ago. 

Still, like when some gives you a candy bar – it’s best not to focus on the reason, but focus on the gift.  And in this case, it’s savings.

Of course, price drops aren’t the only power meter news hitting the interwebs these days.

If you look at what’s happened in the last 30-45 days, there’s plenty of reasons for companies to begin jockeying around for consumers money this spring.

April 17, 2015 (dcrainmaker.com)








Photo: Amstel Gold Race LIVE
The Cauberg is the ideal berg for Philippe Gilbert.
Amstel Gold Race LIVE: The Cauberg is the ideal berg for Philippe Gilbert. (cyclingupdates.com)

Sunday's Amstel Gold Race ("the race to the beer") departs Maastricht at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Valkenburg at around 4:36pm CET (10:36am U.S. Eastern). 

Amstel Gold Race live streaming video should get underway at around 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 17, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

 2015 Tour de Yorkshire LIVE May 1-3, Great Britain.

Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 17, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: Peter Stetina's 2015 season has been thrown into disarray after a catastrophic crash in Vuelta al Pais Vasco. He had planned to be BMC's protected rider for GC in the Amgen Tour of California, but now he is simply focused on rehabbing from multiple injuries. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Peter Stetina's 2015 season has been thrown into disarray after a catastrophic crash in Vuelta al Pais Vasco. He had planned to be BMC's protected rider for GC in the Amgen Tour of California, but now he is simply focused on rehabbing from multiple injuries. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Peter Stetina prides himself on being a safe racer. You never see him taking risks in the sprints or doing anything crazy on the downhills. Probably that’s why he’s never been in the hospital in his 10-year pro racing career. Until now.

On April 6, in the final sprint to the finish line in the opening stage of the Vuelta al País Vasco (Tour of the Basque Country), it didn’t matter how careful Stetina — or anyone else — was in the peloton that day.

Nearly two weeks later, Stetina remains in a Spanish hospital. He’s undergone surgery to repair a broken tibia and patella. Gone in an instant are his primary season goals of the Amgen Tour of California podium and a return to the Tour de France.

Instead, he’s facing months of rehabilitation and painful recovery. With luck, he’s hoping to be on a flight back to the United States in the coming days.

April 16, 2015 (velonews.com)



Photo: The Astana squad has been under scrutiny since last autumn when it emerged that the brothers Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy had both tested positive for EPO.
Photo: The Astana squad has been under scrutiny since last autumn when it emerged that the brothers Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy had both tested positive for EPO.
 (Credit: Cor Vos)

Commenting as the ongoing Astana scenario rumbles on, one of the team’s top riders Jakob Fuglsang has said that he and other riders on the team are prepared to go to the courts if the UCI strips the team of its license and the team ultimately stops.

“I have not done anything wrong, so if UCI take my job away from me, so I think it ends up in a lawsuit,” Fuglsang told Ekstra Bladet.

“If the team loses its license, it is likely that our sponsors withdraw, as they probably will not sponsor a team without access to the big races.

“Then us riders will suddenly be in a situation where we are from one day to the other without work.

“If that happens, then I expect a lawsuit from all the riders’ side against UCI, as is the UCI which has taken away our work, and it’s up to the UCI to cover our losses.”

April 17, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)






Photo: The peloton climb during Amstel Gold Race (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: The peloton climb during Amstel Gold Race (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

The Amstel Gold Race kicks off the Ardennes week of WorldTour Classics, with defending champion Philippe Gilbert leading the list of big-name rider in action as he looks for a fourth victory on the roads near his home and where he became world champion in 2012.

This year's Amstel Gold Race is the 50th edition of the Dutch race, and the third since the finish was moved away from the top of the Cauberg and nearly two kilometers down the road.

At 258 kilometers long, the Netherlands' biggest one-day race packs a punch with 34 climbs – or bergs – crammed in, making for more than 4,000 metres of climbing. The Cauberg is covered four times and is always important but any winner needs to have excellent form and the right team tactics.

April 17, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Tom Dumoulin won the final stage (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Tom Dumoulin won the final stage (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

The Giant-Alpecin team is hoping to continue its successful spring Classics campaign, with local rider Tom Dumoulin and France’s Warren Barguil leading the team in Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race.

John Degenkolb won Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, giving Giant-Alpecin a hugely successful start to the season despite health problems for team sprinter Marcel Kittel.

April 17, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Eroica California is a celebration of the golden age of cycling, an event in which the beauty of fatigue and the taste of accomplishment can be acutely experienced. It is modeled after L'Eroica, the original vintage cycling event held among the rolling hills and white gravel roads of the Chianti region of Italy since 1997. Here, the author stands beside a 1969 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300 TI, with his borrowed orange De Rosa mounted to the roof rack, near the top of Cypress Mountain, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Photo: Chris Case | VeloNews.com.
Eroica California is a celebration of the golden age of cycling, an event in which the beauty of fatigue and the taste of accomplishment can be acutely experienced. It is modeled after L'Eroica, the original vintage cycling event held among the rolling hills and white gravel roads of the Chianti region of Italy since 1997. 
Photo: Chris Case | VeloNews.com.

"The light was flickering like an antique cinema projector, hazy shafts of sun casting down upon the dirt double track, through the thick canopy of a hollow, secluded canyon.

Light. Shadow. Light. Shadow. Flick, flick, flick.

This was my vision, out of focus in the noontime light, but there nonetheless: Coppi, climbing, crouched into a coil of potential energy, his long nose guiding him like an unstoppable ship.

This was what flashed before my eyes and through my mind while climbing Cypress Canyon — far from Gaiole in Chianti, or the Strade Bianche, the birthplace of the original L’Eroica — inside this perforated tunnel of trees near the Central Coast of California.

This was Eroica California. Part Italy. Part America. A Civil War reenactment for cycling, brought to the shores of the Pacific Ocean."

April 17, 2015 (velonews.com)






A happy Lauren Hall post-win (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: A happy Lauren Hall post-win (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

USA Cycling announced on Thursday that its Selection Committee will reconsider the athletes nominated for the 2015 Pan Am Continental Championships, which included retired double Olympic gold medallist Kristin Armstrong.

According to a press release from USA Cycling, it has reconvened its Selection Committee to reconsider the nominations because it was determined that modifications to the Principles of Athlete Selection (last published in 2008) were not published in a timely manner.

April 17, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: aluminium as a frame material never actually went away...
Photo: Alloy could be set for a road bike renaissance after being pushed out of the limelight by carbon-fiber.

Cast an eye over a list of top-end road bikes and you may notice an oddity: Specialized’s S-Works Allez.

This suave-looking silver machine comes equipped with a mouth-watering spec list that includes a full Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and Roval Rapide carbon wheels for £7,500. So far, so what?

The frame is not made from carbon-fibre — the ubiquitous material of choice for high-end bikes — but aluminium alloy.

Could this be the start of a return to the glory days for metal frames?

April 17, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: The Trek Émonda ALR 6 gets a Shimano Ultegra groupset.
Photo: The Trek Émonda ALR 6 gets a Shimano Ultegra groupset.

Trek has expanded the Émonda family with the addition of the ‘ultra-lightweight aluminium’ Émonda ALR.

The Émonda was first unveiled ahead of the 2014 Tour de France as Trek’s new featherweight, carbon fibre frame, with the flagship SLR chassis weighing just 690g and the top-of-the-range machine, the Émonda SLR, tipping the scales at a paltry 4.65kg.

Now Trek has applied the same weight-stripping philosophy to an aluminium version of the Émonda.

“The all-new Émonda ALR is built with unmatched attention to balance and handling, offering elegance on a new level and far surpassing the lightness, performance, and ride quality of many of its carbon competitors,” says the Wisconsin-based firm.

April 17, 2015 (roadcyclinguk.com)





Photo: More impressively this insignificantly wonderful road isn’t even on the itinerary, it’s on a day-off mid-morning pootle with a friend.
Photo: More impressively this insignificantly wonderful road isn’t even on the itinerary, it’s on a day-off mid-morning pootle with a friend.

"Surely the ultimate accolade you can bestow any nice stretch of road is that you immediately want all of your cycling friends alongside you to share the experience and swoop and smile with you?

Maybe it’s just me but I’m on one such length of tarmac.

A small country road that starts nowhere in particular and goes nowhere in particular (some would say those are the best kinds of roads) but weaves and ducks and twists and bobs through the trees, with glimpses of the wooded hills we’re headed further into on the left, it ripples across the contours, through spattered collections of houses that could be considered abandoned but for the washing hanging up outside.

It seemingly goes on forever on its way to nowhere, curving into the folds and swelling around the spurs of the hill, we have to brake for goats, not cars."

April 17, 2015 (road.cc)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 17, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)













April 17, 2015





Photo: Michal Kwiatkowski takes the rainbow jersey to the Ardennes classics starting Sunday. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Michal Kwiatkowski takes the rainbow jersey to the Ardennes classics starting Sunday. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Pole Michal Kwiatkowski is going to the Ardennes classics this week to win and to win big, and he wants to take his first victory in the world champion rainbow jersey.

He will line up in all three classics: the Amstel Gold Race this Sunday, the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday, and the most famous one, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, on Sunday, April 26.

“You always must have big ambitions to progress. Hopefully my condition is good enough to be competitive with the other favorites. It is difficult, especially with the rainbow jersey, but I never give up,” Kwiatkowski said in a press release.

“It’s tricky to win a race with the rainbow jersey, it’s not easy. But to be clear, I’m going for the win, not for a second place.”

April 17, 2015 (velonews.com)






Pauline Ferrand-Prevot delivered the goods atop the Mur de Huy at the 2014 women's Flèche Wallonne. Photo: BrakeThrough Media.
Pauline Ferrand-Prevot delivered the goods atop the Mur de Huy at the 2014 women's Flèche Wallonne. Photo: BrakeThrough Media.

With the absence of five-time Flèche Wallonne winner, Marianne Vos (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013), the race could be wide open when the best of the women’s peloton gathers in Huy, Belgium next Wednesday. Without her prolific Rabo-Liv teammate, world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will have to defend her 2014 title with one less arrow in the quiver.

Wearing the rainbow jersey, the 23-year old Frenchwomen will be marked from the start. And her rivals may be more dangerous than ever.

April 17, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: Kirsten Wild beat off the competition in the final sprint for the line to defend her 2013 title.
Photo: Kirsten Wild beat off the competition in the final sprint for the line to defend her 2013 title.

As the men race the roads around Maastrict in the Amstel Gold Race around two hours further north the women’s peloton are descending on Apeldoorn for the Ronde van Gelderland.

A course that typifies Dutch racing: narrow, exposed roads and tight turns across a largely flat landscape. It’s a race that home nation has dominated.

The only non-dutch riders to take the top step on the podium so far are Ina Yoko Teutenberg from Germany and Canada’s Anne Samplonius.

April 17, 2015 (velofocus.com)






Photo: Marianne Vos will race in the Netehrlands this weekend, but will miss next week's Flèche Wallonne as she returns from injury.
Photo: Marianne Vos will race in the Netehrlands this weekend, but will miss next week's Flèche Wallonne as she returns from injury.

Multiple World Champion, Marianne Vos will return to road racing this weekend in the Netherlands. Vos will start the Ronde van Gelderland this Sunday, her first road race since last year’s world championships in Spain, where she finished 10th, her lowest ever placing.

The 27 year old Dutch woman has recovered from a hamstring injury which saw her miss the start of the road season, including the first three rounds of the World Cup.

The injury initially manifested itself during the cyclo-cross season, bringing a premature end to her season and doubtless influenced the loss of the rainbow jersey she held since 2009.

That transferred to trade team mate, and road world champion, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.

April 17, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Photo: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle Honda) wins the Tour of Flanders (Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle Honda) wins the Tour of Flanders (Getty Images Sport).

Elisa Longo Borghini has called for better television coverage and better prize money for women races, revealing that she won just 1218 Euro for winning the recent Tour of Flanders, the amount awarded to the 20th place rider in the men’s Tour of Flanders.

The Italian won the women’s Tour of Flanders with an aggressive solo attack but the race was given little live coverage on television because the men’s race was also underway.

Longo Borghini attacked alone with 36km to go and soloed to victory.

Her Wiggle-Honda teammate Jolien d’Hoore finished second, winning the sprint from a small group that finished 43 seconds behind Longo Borghini.

April 17, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





The final climb up the Cauberg to the finish of the 2014 Amstel Gold Race showcased the decisive move by eventual race winner Philippe Gilbert. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com.
The final climb up the Cauberg to the finish of the 2014 Amstel Gold Race showcased the decisive move by eventual race winner Philippe Gilbert. Photo: BrakeThrough Media.

The Netherlands’ most important one-day race is named after a beer, and with a course packed with so many turns, climbs, and curves, at the end of the 258km test of nerves and legs, most riders might need a drink.

Anyone who thinks the Netherlands is flat has never been to the Limburg region, tucked in the southeast corner of the country. The Amstel Gold Race loops over a seemingly endless string of short but steep climbs around Valkenburg, with no less than 33 numbered climbs, totaling more than 13,100 vertical feet in climbing.

Held over a mix of narrow farm tracks and urban roads loaded with traffic furniture, Amstel Gold Race is one of the most tense, nerve-wracking days of racing.

Avoiding trouble and having strong team support are key for any of the aspirants to reach the last of three ascents up the decisive Cauberg climb.

April 17, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Fabio Aru (Astana) celebrates his second Vuelta stage win (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Fabio Aru (Astana) celebrates his second Vuelta stage win (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Two of the favorites for this year's Giro d’Italia and many of the riders who will be in action during the first Grand Tour of the season, will ride next week’s four-day Giro del Trentino in the mountains between Lake Garda and the Val di Non, east of Trento and Bolzano.

While many of the Tour de France contenders will be in action in the Ardennes, Richie Porte and Fabio Aru will fight for the fuchsia-coloured leader’s jersey and test their form just two weeks before the Giro d’Italia starts in San Remo on May 9.

April 17, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Numerous examples have been identified showing that UCI leadership 'defended' or 'protected' Lance Armstrong and took decisions because they were favourable to him.
Photo: Numerous examples have been identified showing that UCI leadership “defended” or “protected” Lance Armstrong and took decisions because they were favorable to him. (Pic: Cor Vos)

Following interviews given by both Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid in which both former UCI presidents have suggested that the CIRC report absolves them of any wrongdoing, current president Brian Cookson has questioned those reactions and reiterated that he wants Verbruggen to resign his title of honorary president.

Speaking recently to CyclingTips, Cookson said that he had not personally received a reaction from either of the two to the CIRC report, which was released in March.

It was a year long investigation carried out by the Cycling Independent Reform Commission, and raised serious questions about several areas of governance.

April 16, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)


April 16, 2015


Photo: Peter Stetina's 2015 season has been thrown into disarray after a catastrophic crash in Vuelta al Pais Vasco. He had planned to be BMC's protected rider for GC in the Amgen Tour of California, but now he is simply focused on rehabbing from multiple injuries. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Peter Stetina's 2015 season has been thrown into disarray after a catastrophic crash in Vuelta al Pais Vasco. He had planned to be BMC's protected rider for GC in the Amgen Tour of California, but now he is simply focused on rehabbing from multiple injuries. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Peter Stetina prides himself on being a safe racer. You never see him taking risks in the sprints or doing anything crazy on the downhills. Probably that’s why he’s never been in the hospital in his 10-year pro racing career. Until now.

On April 6, in the final sprint to the finish line in the opening stage of the Vuelta al País Vasco (Tour of the Basque Country), it didn’t matter how careful Stetina — or anyone else — was in the peloton that day.

Nearly two weeks later, Stetina remains in a Spanish hospital. He’s undergone surgery to repair a broken tibia and patella. Gone in an instant are his primary season goals of the Amgen Tour of California podium and a return to the Tour de France.

Instead, he’s facing months of rehabilitation and painful recovery. With luck, he’s hoping to be on a flight back to the United States in the coming days.

April 16, 2015 (velonews.com)







Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) made it into the top ten in Milan-San Remo (Bettini Photo).
Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) made it into the top ten in Milan-San Remo (Bettini Photo).

Nacer Bouhanni continued his run of success at the Gran Prix de Denain, winning the hectic, high-speed sprint that decided the French race.

Bouhanni got a perfect lead out from his Cofidis teammates and then accelerated from his rivals to win a bike length clear with his arms in the air.

Boris Vallee was second and Ruby Barbier finished third.

It was Bouhanni’s second consecutive win at the Gran Prix de Denain.

April 16, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Philippe Gilbert (BMC) enjoying the Amstel Gold Race (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Philippe Gilbert (BMC) enjoying the Amstel Gold Race (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

The finale of Paris Roubaix brings a change of focus in the Spring Classics. After five weeks of pavé and bergs that are largely the preserve of the peloton’s most potent pedal-pounders, mid-April brings out much slighter figures tempted by the longer climbs of the Limburg region in southern Holland and the Belgian Ardennes.

So it’s goodbye to Alexander Kristoff and John Degenkolb, and welcome to Alejandro Valverde, Dan Martin and, for one race at least, Chris Froome.

The Ardennes Classics comprise three big events: the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

First up is Amstel Gold, which is branded an Ardennes Classic because of its location just across the border from that region and the amount of climbing that features on the route.

The Dutch race starts in Maastricht and has as its focus the Cauberg, which climbs for a kilometre out of the town of Valkenburg and is tackled three times.

April 16, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Start List),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (History),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (History),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results).

More...

April 16, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: starting this week, Recon Instruments will begin shipping the Recon Jet.
Photo: Starting this week, Recon Instruments will begin shipping the Recon Jet.

"We’ve been very excited about the Recon Jet for a while now.

The concept of a wearable multisport (intended for running and cycling) display that you see regardless of your head position really intrigued us.

When Recon Instruments first showcased the Recon Jet back in June of 2013, we thought we had only a few months to go before we would start seeing them on LBS shelves. Then at Interbike 2013 we got to experience a prototype pair hands-on.

And while the December date was still officially on the table, we knew that, at best, the first batch would be limited. It would take a while to see full production."

April 16, 2015 (aerogeeks.com)








Photo: Amstel Gold Race LIVE
The Cauberg is the ideal berg for Philippe Gilbert.
Amstel Gold Race LIVE: The Cauberg is the ideal berg for Philippe Gilbert. (cyclingupdates.com)

Sunday's Amstel Gold Race ("the race to the beer") departs Maastricht at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Valkenburg at around 4:36pm CET (10:36am U.S. Eastern). 

Amstel Gold Race live streaming video should get underway at around 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 16, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

 2015 Tour de Yorkshire LIVE May 1-3, Great Britain.

Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 16, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)








Photo: Hermans collects his trophies. .
With the peloton bearing down on him, Ben Hermans (BMC) rode alone to win Brabantse Pijl. Photo: Tim De Waele.  (velonews.com)

Ben Hermans held off the chasers with a huge effort on the final climb to win De Brabantse Pijl- La Flèche Brabançonne.

The Belgian race traditionally marks the switch from the cobbled Classics to the Ardennes Classics and the tough, twisting final circuits usually inspire some aggressive racing.

Hermans was in a late attack with David Tanner that seemed doomed to be caught but he dug deep and managed to win alone, as the chasers scrambled for the placings. Michael Matthews tried to lead out the sprint in pursuit of Hermans but could only finish second.

2014 winner and perhaps the BMC team leader for the race, finished third. Tony Gallopin was fourth and Davide Rebellin was fifth.

April 15, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: The peloton climbs the Gulpenerberg in the 2014 Amstel Gold Race .
Photo: The peloton climbs the Gulpenerberg in the 2014 Amstel Gold Race.

The first of the three Ardennes Classics takes place this weekend, with the peloton heading to the Netherlands for the 50th edition of the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, April 19.

This is one of the biggest races of the spring, and, as the only exclusively Dutch race in the WorldTour, is the leading Netherlands race in the calendar.

April 15, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)




Photo: We can see how the success of a rider might draw the media in. But actively arguing their case in a direct meeting with broadcasters? That’s extra..
Photo: We can see how the success of a rider might draw the media in. But actively arguing their case in a direct meeting with broadcasters? That’s extra.

Lifting the cobbled trophy last Sunday was a triumph for John Degenkolb and the culmination of a lot of team work. But behind the scenes it’s also the remarkable story of riders as ambassadors who’ve managed to convince German TV to give the sport a second chance.

“I’ve often said that if there was won race to interest the Germans, it’s got to be Paris Roubaix. It’s so crazy, it’s unlike anything else. It can only appeal to the people in my country.”  – John Degenkolb, L’Equipe, 13 April 2015.

Now Degenkolb didn’t win Paris Roubaix out of patriotic duty but he’s concious of the media impact his win can have. He’s not alone. Earlier this week L’Equipe told the tale of how Marcel Kittel was supposed to share a coffee with German television executives at home but the meeting went on for five hours.

It happened a year ago and the newspaper says he helped play a significant role in getting the ARD channel to return to the Tour de France.

April 16, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: We began the ride at the base of New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki.
Photo: "We began the ride at the base of New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki." Photography by Tim Bardsley-Smith

It's no secret that New Zealand is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty.

Anyone that's visited the country's South Island will tell you about the diversity of terrain, from soaring peaks to alpine lakes and from lush rainforest to open plains.

April 16, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: The peloton on stage four of the 2015 Tour of Oman .
Photo: The peloton on stage four of the 2015 Tour of Oman.

Heading the world governing body for professional cycling has to be one of the most thankless tasks in the sport.

Faced with a long history of rider doping and allegations of corruption, as well as the everyday running and promotion of cycle sport, the president of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is not a position to be taken lightly.

April 16, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Wout Poels was caught in a crash on stage six of the 2012 Tour de France.
Photo: Wout Poels was caught in a crash on stage six of the 2012 Tour de France. (Watson)

It came to be referred to as the Metz Massacre. David Millar said it was the worst crash he had ever been involved in.

With 25km to go of stage six of the 2012 Tour de France, as the riders sped along with the wind on their backs at close to 70kph, the Italian Davide Viganò touched a wheel and went down near the front.

The overhead shots made it look as though an enormous bite had been taken out of the peloton. There was carnage and devastation. Riders were spread across the road and the grass verge, many of them badly hurt.

Millar’s Garmin team seemed to be worse hit — all but one, David Zabriskie, came off — when they arrived at the finish in Metz with their clothing ripped and limbs bleeding.

In fact they were lucky. Viganò damaged his shoulder, Mikel Astarloza dislocated his elbow and Oscar Freire and Maarten Wynants both had broken ribs and punctured lungs.

Poels had a ruptured spleen and kidney as well as three broken ribs and bruised lungs.

April 16, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





In 1939, Tommy Godwin set the world record for highest annual mileage ridden by bike: 75,065 miles.
Photo: In 1939, Tommy Godwin set the world record for highest annual mileage ridden by bike: 75,065 miles.

Few individuals are able to ride 75,065 miles on a bike in their lifetime, let alone in 365 days. But this year, two men are trying to do just that.

The Ultra Marathon Cycling Association has decided to bring back a record with a long history — the Highest Annual Mileage Record (HAM’R). The number to beat: 75,065 miles in 365 days, an average of about 205 miles per day.

Two men have been battling toward the record since January, but just recently the race became a bit more interesting. The contenders are 41-year-old Englishman Steven Abraham, who set out to beat the record on January 1, and 52-year-old American Kurt Searvogel — better known as “Tarzan” — who started his attempt shortly after, on January 10.

Unfortunately, on March 29, Abraham was involved in a collision with a suspected drunk moped driver and broke two bones in his ankle, forcing him to have surgery.

For him, quitting the race three months and 17,000 miles in was not an option. Steven and his team have decided to keep going with his current record attempt — on a recumbent tricycle — and possibly run a concurrent record after he makes a full recovery in August.

April 16, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: The ROTOR INpower measures torque utilizing strain gauges and an accelerometer within the axle at 200hz, thus covering the entire pedal stroke.
Photo: The ROTOR INpower measures torque utilizing strain gauges and an accelerometer within the axle at 200hz, thus covering the entire pedal stroke.

"ROTOR has as of today somehow managed to accomplish the near-impossible in this day and age: Putting a brand new unseen power meter on pro rider’s bikes in major events for months…and have nobody notice. 

Stepping that up: Having their athletes even tweet and Instagram about it, and still nobody notice.

But, I’m pretty sure after today, people will definitely notice.  That’s because ROTOR has come out with a completely new line of power meters, the INpower line, which is a series of axle based systems that measure left-leg power from within the bottom bracket. 

It then transmits this power over ANT+ to any compatible ANT+ power meter capable unit (i.e. your Garmin)."

April 16, 2015 (dcrainmaker.com)





Photo: he smallest unit, the Mini, goes for just $139.99. Yeah, it’s like that. The middle unit, the Power, goes for $169.99, while the top-of-the-line Super goes for just $199.99.
Photo: The smallest unit, the Mini, goes for just $139.99. The middle unit, the Power, goes for $169.99, while the top-of-the-line Super goes for just $199.99.

When you think of the many components and accessories on the market, there aren’t many near monopolies.

There’s the Greenfield kickstand and … the Garmin’s GPS units. PowerTap’s Joule hasn’t made a dent in Garmin’s grip on the market.

This isn’t just a stranglehold, we’re talking tazed, zip-tied and sitting in the back of the cruiser.

But that is about to change.

April 16, 2015 (redkiteprayer.com)





Photo: A new fabric called Artico is designed to dissipate body heat and wick moisture from the body as well as block UV rays.
Photo: A new fabric called Artico is designed to dissipate body heat and wick moisture from the body as well as block UV rays.

It’s no secret pro cycling is mainly used as a marketing tool for cycling brands, but occasionally the much ballyhooed ‘developed with our pro riders’ refrain is actually true.

When Lotto-Jumbo riders rolled up to recent spring races in a 3/4 sleeve jersey from Santini we got a glimpse of some actual product develop by pro team riders and now that jersey has officially been announced.

Called the Photon 3/4 sleeve, it’s the latest aero jersey from Santini and is the result of lengthy collaboration with riders from Lotto-Jumbo.

The signature 3/4 length sleeve hits mid-forearm and is held in place for clean air flow by anti-slip fabric grippers. Following on the heels of last year’s aero Interactive kit Santini has been looking for aero performance in some novel ways.

The Photon 3/4 has more up its very long sleeves than just aerodynamics. Despite the long sleeve the jersey is designed for hot weather, 65 to 95 degrees.

April 16, 2015 (pelotonmagazine.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 16, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)



Photo: Numerous examples have been identified showing that UCI leadership 'defended' or 'protected' Lance Armstrong and took decisions because they were favourable to him.
Photo: Numerous examples have been identified showing that UCI leadership “defended” or “protected” Lance Armstrong and took decisions because they were favorable to him. (Pic: Cor Vos)

Following interviews given by both Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid in which both former UCI presidents have suggested that the CIRC report absolves them of any wrongdoing, current president Brian Cookson has questioned those reactions and reiterated that he wants Verbruggen to resign his title of honorary president.

Speaking recently to CyclingTips, Cookson said that he had not personally received a reaction from either of the two to the CIRC report, which was released in March.

It was a year long investigation carried out by the Cycling Independent Reform Commission, and raised serious questions about several areas of governance.

“I am only aware of the reaction which has been in the media, which I found very surprising from those two gentlemen,” he said.

April 16, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)

























April 16, 2015








Photo: A dejected Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) after missing out at Paris-Roubaix (Getty Images Sport).
Photo: A dejected Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) after missing out at Paris-Roubaix (Getty Images Sport).

The Belgian Cycling anti-doping prosecutor has officially requested a two-year ban for Greg Van Avermaet following an investigation into his links with Dr. Chris Mertens and suspected anti-doping offenses.

During a hearing, attended by Van Avermaet, Jaak Fransen of the Royale Ligue Vélocipédique Belge (RLVB) also formally requested that the BMC rider was disqualified from all the results of races for the 2012 season and fined 262.500 Euro.

A final verdict in the case is expected on May 7.

April 16, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





John Murphy won the 2014 U.S. criterium national championships after lapping the field alongside teammate Brad White and a group of 13. Photo: UnitedHealthcare.
John Murphy won the 2014 U.S. criterium national championships after lapping the field alongside teammate Brad White and a group of 13. Photo: UnitedHealthcare.

The blue and white UnitedHealthcare kit might as well have a target on the back this weekend at USA Cycling pro criterium national championships because the team heads into Saturday’s race with defending champs in both the men’s and women’s races in Greenville, South Carolina.

Coryn Rivera, 22, has proven herself as one of the top sprinters on the U.S. criterium circuit, and she’ll look to keep her stars-and-stripes jersey for another year.

John Murphy is Rivera’s counterpart in the UHC men’s squad, and he also cited his team as a major component in his plans to double-up as criterium national champion.

April 16, 2015 (velonews.com)





Simon Gerrans hopes to get his season back on track at the Giro d'Italia next month. Photo: Tim De Waele .
Simon Gerrans hopes to get his season back on track at the Giro d'Italia next month. Photo: Tim De Waele .

Australian Simon Gerrans will head to Italy next month as part of his comeback from early-season injuries. After the Ardennes classics and the Tour de Romandie, he will return to the Giro d’Italia for the first time since 2009.

Gerrans broke his collarbone in a training crash in January ahead of the Santos Tour Down Under and in his first race back, Italy’s Strade Bianche, he fell and fractured his elbow.

It has been a hard start after a successful 2014 run. Gerrans won a stage and the overall victory in the Tour Down Under, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and both Canadian one-day races — the GP Quebec and GP Montreal.

He returned to Europe from Canada to take the silver medal at the world championship road race in Ponferrada, Spain, behind Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski.

The Giro d’Italia, which starts May 9 in Liguria on Italy’s northwest coast, could suit Gerrans as he searches to reach the top again.

April 16, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: Vector 2 and Vector 2S will be available in the second quarter this year.
Photo: Vector 2 and Vector 2S will be available in the second quarter this year.

Garmin has announced updates to its Vector power meter pedals, with a redesigned pedal pod that is more easily setup and transferred between bikes.

The new Vector 2 and Vector 2S pods now have LED lights that display setup and maintenance information. The pods also no longer require washers on recessed crank faces.

April 16, 2015 (bicycleretailer.com)





Photo: lowest crank-region power meter actively shipping on the market. It also makes for the cheapest full-power capturing device on the market today.
Photo: Cheapest full-power capturing device on the market today.

Today Power2Max announced price drops of about 21% off of their existing units, dropping the base price to a mind-boggling $599. 

This is ahead of the bike industry event this weekend, Sea Otter, where we’ve seen a growing number of announcements being timed to. 

In fact, Sea Otter has become a bit of the SXSW of the bike world – slowly starting to replace Interbike as the ‘cool’ place to announce things.

April 16, 2015 (dcrainmaker.com)





Photo: Panasonic will offer a number of mounts such as handlebars and helmet.
Photo: Panasonic will offer a number of mounts such as handlebars and helmet.

Countering Garmin’s move with the launch of its new VIRB action cameras this week, Panasonic unveiled its new HX-A1 compact action camera today.

Not only will road cyclists and mountain bikers alike, embrace the compact and streamline shape of the new HX-A1, but its both rugged, waterproof and freeze-proof to 1.5m and -10°C.

According to Panasonic, the HX shoots video at 1080p at 30fps, with 720p resolution at 60fps, as well as 480p at 120fps – with the last mode allowing users the ability to do super slow motion video.

April 16, 2015 (capovelo.com)









April 15, 2015


April 15, 2015





Photo: Hermans collects his trophies. .
With the peloton bearing down on him, Ben Hermans (BMC) rode alone to win Brabantse Pijl. Photo: Tim De Waele.  (velonews.com)

Ben Hermans held off the chasers with a huge effort on the final climb to win De Brabantse Pijl- La Flèche Brabançonne.

The Belgian race traditionally marks the switch from the cobbled Classics to the Ardennes Classics and the tough, twisting final circuits usually inspire some aggressive racing.

Hermans was in a late attack with David Tanner that seemed doomed to be caught but he dug deep and managed to win alone, as the chasers scrambled for the placings. Michael Matthews tried to lead out the sprint in pursuit of Hermans but could only finish second.

2014 winner and perhaps the BMC team leader for the race, finished third. Tony Gallopin was fourth and Davide Rebellin was fifth.

April 15, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) won the 2014 Grand Prix de Denain.
Photo: Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) won the 2014 Grand Prix de Denain.

Thursday's GP de Denain departs Denain at 11:30am CET (5:30am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Denain at around 3:57pm CET (9:57am U.S. Eastern). 

GP de Denain live streaming video should get underway at around 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 15, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: The peloton climbs the Gulpenerberg in the 2014 Amstel Gold Race .
Photo: The peloton climbs the Gulpenerberg in the 2014 Amstel Gold Race.

The first of the three Ardennes Classics takes place this weekend, with the peloton heading to the Netherlands for the 50th edition of the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, April 19.

This is one of the biggest races of the spring, and, as the only exclusively Dutch race in the WorldTour, is the leading Netherlands race in the calendar.

April 15, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Michael Matthews won the opening stage at the Tour of the Basque Country last week. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Michael Matthews won the opening stage at the Tour of the Basque Country last week. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Hot off its best-ever cobblestoned classics result, with Jens Keukeleire’s sixth-place finish at Paris-Roubaix, Aussie outfit Orica-GreenEdge rolls into the Ardennes classics with renewed confidence.

The team will carry momentum from the Roubaix performance into the Ardennes, where it has traditionally done very well. Simon Gerrans, who is back from an injury, is the defending champion at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Gerrans, however, is still riding into form, and Orica will be backing Michael Matthews for Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race.

April 15, 2015 (velonews.com)





Peter Sagan before the 2015 Tour of Oman .
Peter Sagan before the 2015 Tour of Oman. Photos by Graham Watson

Three-time Tour de France green jersey winner Peter Sagan opens up about travel, Twitter, tricks and meeting his girlfriend.

We sat down with Tinkoff-Saxo's Sagan during the Tour of Qatar in February, to find out more about the man behind three Tour de France green jersey victories.

April 15, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





2014-15 Races & Results.

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Start List),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (History),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (History),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results).

More...

April 15, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Gage Hecht (Alpha Bicycle Co – Vista Subaru) tore through the Junior field but did not impact the trees, says USA Cycling’s report. © Brian Nelson.
Photo: Gage Hecht (Alpha Bicycle Co – Vista Subaru) tore through the Junior field but did not impact the trees, says USA Cycling’s report. © Brian Nelson.

USA Cycling hired Patrick Wentworth as a consulting arborist to study the impact the 2015 Cyclocross National Championships had at Zilker Park in Austin. The report is now complete, and has been released to the public.

Wentworth’s report largely disputes the city’s assertion that more than 50 trees were negatively impacted, and questions the city’s recommended approaches to restoring the soil and assisting the trees.

The main testing method to verify the impact of the race was a soil probe to measure soil compaction, with measurements under 200 psi considered acceptable. Most measurements were between 100 and 150 psi.

April 15, 2015 (cxmagazine.com)






Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.
Photo: The 2015 Tour de Yorkshire is being held May 1-3.

 2015 Tour de Yorkshire LIVE May 1-3, Great Britain.

Stage 1 starts at -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern). Finish at around -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

Live video from -- BST (-- U.S. Eastern).

April 15, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)







Photo: Riders try and squeeze under the barriers before the 320km/h SNCF train flies past (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: ...

Italy’s Luca Paolini has spoken out about the level crossing incident during Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, insisting that rider safety should always be a priority and that trains should be stopped for such an important race.

The 38-year-old Katusha rider and recent Gent-Wevelgem winner took to Twitter late on Monday night to give his opinion. Paolini has often taken a stand for rider safety.

He is not an official rider representative but is respected for his experience and consideration for rider and race safety.

April 14, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







With John Degenkolb and the rest of the cobble-bashers cooling their jets following two weeks of hard racing across the pavé, a different profile of rider steps to center stage — leaner, lighter, and faster for when the grade pitches upward. It’s time to switch gears into the Ardennes classics.

April 14, 2015 (velonews.com)



Photo: The Flèche-Wallonne is the best example, numerous course changes never seem to change the scenario..
Photo: The Flèche-Wallonne is the best example, numerous course changes never seem to change the scenario.

The Brabantse Pijl happens today. La Flèche Brabançonne to francophones, this is a hilly race and the start of the “Ardennes” spring classics and a transition race from the cobbles to the climbs as it features both.

It’s good to change format but the upcoming races seem to be stuck in a rut with repetitive scenarios.

It’s always good to change and after weeks of cobbled classics and flat routes, now the big one day races start to climb and we’ll see plenty of new names in action like Philippe Gilbert, Michael Matthews, Michał Kwiatkowski in action against Vincenzo Nibali, Nairo Quintana and Chris Froome, especially as the revised route of the Flèche-Wallonne will mimic the route of the Tour de France’s third stage.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège is the hilliest with enough vertical gain to rival a stage of the Tour de France.

April 15, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: Peter Stetina (BMC) drives the bunch (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Peter Stetina (BMC) drives the bunch (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

After 10 days of being bed-ridden in a Spanish hospital, American Peter Stetina is itching to get home and get started on recovering from his dramatic crash on the first stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.

On Friday, he will get his wish, getting the dubious honor of flying business class because his broken leg and shattered kneecap prevent him from being able to bend his knee.

He is due to arrive in Salt Lake City on Saturday, where he will begin the process of rebuilding his strength and re-starting his career as a professional cyclist.

"I'm finally past the point of the intense pain, and now every day is exponentially better," Stetina told Cyclingnews from his hospital bed in Bilbao, the same town in which his last race day came to a sudden halt when the bunch sprint plowed into two unobstructed waist-high posts in what appears to be an egregious lack of precautions by the race organizers.

April 15, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








Photo: Bradley Wiggins won the time trial two weeks ago at Three Days of De Panne. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Bradley Wiggins won the time trial two weeks ago at Three Days of De Panne. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Bradley Wiggins has scheduled his next target, the hour record. After racing Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, the Englishman will attempt to break the 52.491-kilometer mark June 7 in London’s Olympic velodrome.

Team Wiggins, the new Continental team the 34-year-old cyclist formed, announced the date on Twitter Wednesday. It did not give a time, but said that tickets will be available for purchase starting Friday.

The message also showed Wiggins for the first time in his team’s blue and red kit with the roundel crest. Alongside the photograph, a message read “#MYHOUR, SEE HOW FAR I CAN GO.”

April 15, 2015 (velonews.com)





The Tour of Utah should again offer a stacked field, tough racing, and stunning scenery in 2015. Photo: Casey B. Gibson.
The Tour of Utah should again offer a stacked field, tough racing, and stunning scenery in 2015. Photo: Casey B. Gibson.

The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah announced most of its line-up for the men’s race on Wednesday, releasing the names of 13 invited teams for the race, August 3-9. Three additional teams will be added later this spring for a total of 16 teams in the UCI 2.HC men’s stage race.

Four teams will have just completed the Tour de France the month prior: BMC Racing, Cannondale-Garmin, Trek Factory Racing, and South Africa-based MTN-Qhubeka.

This year will be the second appearance for MTN-Qhubeka and Trek Factory Racing at the Tour of Utah. BMC, which captured three stage wins at last year’s race, will make its seventh appearance.

Cannondale-Garmin, which is expected to bring two-time defending champion Tom Danielson, will race its sixth Tour of Utah.

April 15, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Are disc brakes on the verge of taking over?
Photo: Are disc brakes on the verge of taking over?

The ‘disc brakes on road bikes’ debate is something that’s stirred up quite a passionate argument between those who want them and those that don’t.

Now the UCI are going to allow pro teams to trial disc brakes in August and September, before a full trial next year and possible legalisation in 2017, does that mean the disc brake is on the verge of taking over?

Personally, I find it hard to fall on either side of the proverbial fence. While I agree that disc brakes aren’t desperately needed on road bikes, it doesn’t mean they’re not better than rim brakes.

Because they are. That doesn’t mean that rim brakes aren’t adequate or, in most cases, more than adequate, it just means disc brakes are even better.

April 15, 2015 (roadcyclinguk.com)





Photo: Like all power meters, the Stages and Vector S bring compatibility issues.
Photo: Like all power meters, the Stages and Vector S bring compatibility issues.

"Two years ago Stages created a niche within the power meter category with a left-side-only power meter. Last year, Garmin joined the party with its left-pedal Vector S power meter.

So which is better? I put the two head-to-head, with a month of simultaneous ride recording using an SRM as the control and a PowerTap for context.

Speaking of context, I’ve had a Stages meter on a personal bike for two years now, and have ridden the dual-sided Vector system quite a bit, too.

Beyond that, I’ve trained with power meters for 14 years. In that time, I’ve come to value long-term durability and consistency; I just want a reliable tool, as I suspect you do."

April 15, 2015 (bikeradar.com)





Photo: Depending on the choice of lens, prices for the Radar EV range between $170 – $220..
Photo: Depending on the choice of lens, prices for the Radar EV range between $170 – $220.

Fast on the heels of its radical new JawBreaker sunglasses, Oakley announces the launch of their Radar EV. 

At first glance, the new Radar EV looks quite similar to the Jawbreaker. However, the absence of the SwitchLock lower rim, is what differentiates the two models.

In addition, the lens on the Radar appears to be slightly taller than the standard one found on the JawBreaker.

In any case, Oakley’s three-point fit has been carried over to the new EV, which means the frame only comes in contact with the bridge of the nose.

April 15, 2015 (capovelo.com)






BMC Racing scored a podium at Paris-Roubaix with Greg Van Avermaet, but the team was missing the rider whom many believe could win a cobblestoned classic one day: Taylor Phinney.

Far away from the drama of the pavé, Phinney continues his rehab in the wake of his career-threatening crash at last year’s U.S. national championship road race. It’s a slow road, but Phinney is back on the bike, making steady progress.

He’s been riding for hours in the mountains around Boulder, Colorado. BMC officials told VeloNews they are cautiously optimistic the two-time Olympian can return to racing before the end of the 2015 season.

“We’re not putting a date or a number on [a comeback], but he continues to make progress,” BMC general manager Jim Ochowicz told VeloNews. “According to the trainers, he’s able to put out more watts, more hours on the bike.

He’s on the road, not on the turbo-trainer. We’re hopeful if he continues the way he’s going, we’ll see him racing before the end of summer.”

April 14, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 15, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)













April 15, 2015





Photo: Hamilton says he’s proud of telling the truth, and coming clean about his past.
Photo: Hamilton says he’s proud of telling the truth, and coming clean about his past. Photo credit @ NPR

According to an article in the New Zealand Herald, the once close friends, and now arch enemies, Tyler Hamilton and Lance Armstrong met face to face at a conference in New Zealand this week.

In a word, Hamilton described his encounter with the disgraced cyclist as – “strange”.

“It was strange, strange. We spoke. Small talk. He laughed at my hair, I laughed at his beard, like all mates would do. There were a lot of lawyers around and officials but, yeah, we shook hands a couple of times,” the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported Hamilton as saying.

“It was not easy for me to answer direct questions about him, what we went through. There’s a lot at stake. I’ve read in the papers that it could be up to US$120 million [damages].”

“I don’t know what he thinks but I know what I need to do. You answer questions that could affect that and that is mind-blowing but I went in there and told the truth. But it [also] sucked [as] there were some questions about his character, with him sitting right there, some of the bullying and stuff.”

April 15, 2015 (capovelo.com)





Photo: The 2013 Amstel Gold Race winner came under scrutiny when it emerged last June that his biological passport showed indications of possible doping.
Photo: The 2013 Amstel Gold Race winner came under scrutiny when it emerged last June that his biological passport showed indications of possible doping. (Pic: Cor Vos)

One day after a date was announced for Roman Kreuziger’s hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, his Tinkoff Saxo team has confirmed that he will continue racing in the meantime and will next compete in the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday.

The Czech rider will be joined by Michael Valgren as leaders on the squad for the Dutch event.

“We are going to Amstel with a good lineup,” said directeur sportif Sean Yates. “We aim to be active, show the team colours and initiate our race strategy and then we’ll see how it materializes during the race, where you constantly have to be on your toes.

April 15, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Alexander Kristoff wins in the 2015 Tour of Flanders .
Photo: Alexander Kristoff wins in the 2015 Tour of Flanders.

With Alexander Kristoff’s contract at Katusha up at the end of the season, rumours are already circulating as to where he will ride in 2016.

The Norwegian’s incredible start to 2015, which has seen him notch up 10 wins already, has surely added a few extra dollars to his wage demands, and if the Russian team baulk at the price, Team Sky’s Gabriel Rasch indicated he would love to have Kristoff on his side.

As reported by Procycling.no, Sky’s sporting director Rasch says it would ‘be insanely cool’ if his countryman was to join Sky, something that was music to the ears of Kristoff’s long-term trainer Stein Orn.

April 15, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) (Bettini Photo).
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) (Bettini Photo).

The Astana team is awaiting a decision from the UCI License Commission about its future but Grand Tour team leaders Vincenzo Nibali and Fabio Aru have continued to focus on their preparation for the upcoming Ardennes Classics, the Giro del Trentino and the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.

Both Nibali and Aru have recently spent time training at altitude at Teide on the Spanish island of Tenerife, clocking up several blocks of quality training under the eye of Astana team coach Paolo Slongo and his assistant Maurizio Mazzoleni.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Nibali and Aru crossed paths on the roads of Teide with Alberto Contador and Ivan Basso and Chris Froome and Richie Porte as they trained for the Giro d’Italia and Ardennes Classics.

April 15, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Evie’s teammates had a fantastic reaction to her 'taco talk'...
Photo: Evie’s teammates had a fantastic reaction to her “taco talk." (Pics by Balint Hamvas and Cor Vos)”

Evelyn Stevens: "There are saddles that are comfortable, and you have to be picky about your saddle. If the first saddle you get doesn’t make your taco happy, it’s ok.

You want your taco to be happy, not angry.

Personally, I have gone through a bunch of saddles. I’m currently riding the Specialized Power saddle, and I don’t even need to ride with chamois cream because it’s that good."

April 15, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Mara Abbott and brother Nate with the Colorado flag (Mara Abbott).
Photo: Mara Abbott and brother Nate with the Colorado flag (Mara Abbott).

"Roots are important. Athletes do not compete just for themselves or for glory - at the very least I would have trouble believing that type of autonomously predicated career could be terribly long-lived in its success.

Competition, I think, is a tribute to the people we love, the causes that matter to us, and the places we are proud to represent. Ironically, that same devotion is what makes it so challenging on the road to live apart from them. Sometimes, we all need a small touch of homeland to remember what we are fighting for.

When he read the Wiggle-Honda roster for 2015, my big brother swore that Elisa Longo Borghini must have been a former teammate because he knew her name. As it so happens, we traced the recollection to the fact that he dropped in from a Swiss mountain biking vacation to catch the San Domenico stage of the 2014 Giro - that one that finishes on Elisa's home climb.

As her competitor, I too remember the constant cheering refrain of her name. When I was formally introduced to her "fan club" this year in Cittiglio, I discovered that I had failed to notice the t-shirts and songs they had also prepared."

April 15, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The 3T Eye retails for $130..
Photo: The 3T Eye retails for $130.

Similar in concept to Wahoo's RFLKT device, the 3T Eye wirelessly links to the user's smart phone and displays information from fitness tracking apps including 3T's own new app, called 3T Cycling. The free app is available now in the Apple App Store and will be available soon for Android devices.

The 3T Eye can also receive data directly from hardware including power meters and heart rate monitors. The 3T Eye can be mounted with a Barfly 2.0 mount or with a special faceplate adapter that works with 3T's ARX II stem.

April 15, 2015 (bicycleretailer.com)




















April 14, 2015


April 14, 2015




Photo: Riders try and squeeze under the barriers before the 320km/h SNCF train flies past (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: ...

Italy’s Luca Paolini has spoken out about the level crossing incident during Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, insisting that rider safety should always be a priority and that trains should be stopped for such an important race.

The 38-year-old Katusha rider and recent Gent-Wevelgem winner took to Twitter late on Monday night to give his opinion. Paolini has often taken a stand for rider safety.

He is not an official rider representative but is respected for his experience and consideration for rider and race safety.

April 14, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Philippe Gilbert (BMC) is aiming for his third win in a row at Brabantse Pijl on Wednesday. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Philippe Gilbert (BMC) is aiming for his third win in a row at Brabantse Pijl on Wednesday. Photo: Tim De Waele.

With John Degenkolb and the rest of the cobble-bashers cooling their jets following two weeks of hard racing across the pavé, a different profile of rider steps to center stage — leaner, lighter, and faster for when the grade pitches upward. It’s time to switch gears into the Ardennes classics.

Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race is backed up by Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the “doyenne” of the hilly spring classics, the following weekend.

To ease the transition from cobbles to the hills is Wednesday’s Brabantse Pijl, a one-day battle geographically located, appropriately enough, between Flanders and Wallonia.

Two-time winner and defending champion Philippe Gilbert headlines a solid start list that blends WorldTour and second-tier teams.

April 14, 2015 (velonews.com)





Mark Cavendish and Tom Boonen will race together at the Presidential Tour of Turkey at the end of April. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Mark Cavendish and Tom Boonen will race together at the Presidential Tour of Turkey at the end of April. Photo: Tim De Waele.

A little over one month ago, Tom Boonen found himself out of Paris-Nice, in a hospital in Blois, France, with a dislocated shoulder joint.

Etixx Quick Step’s aging classics star had to scratch his plans to race his beloved spring races, notably Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) and Paris-Roubaix.

From that disappointment has sprung a new opportunity: He’ll race the Giro d’Italia for the first time in his 16-year career.

“I haven’t ridden much in Italy during my career because it didn’t fit in with my main goals,” said Boonen.

April 14, 2015 (velonews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

De Brabantse Pijl - Apr 15 (Start List),

Amstel Gold Race - Apr 19 (History),

Giro del Trentino - Apr 21-24 (History),

Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey - Apr 26-May 3 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results).

More...

April 14, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: Philippe Gilbert (BMC) won the 2014 De Brabantse Pijl..
Photo: Philippe Gilbert (BMC) won the 2014 De Brabantse Pijl.

Wednesday's La Flèche Brabançonne departs Leuven at 12:36pm CET (6:36am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Overijse at around 5:36pm CET (11:36am U.S. Eastern). 

La Flèche Brabançonne live streaming video should get underway at around 3:10pm CET (9:10am U.S. Eastern, 6:10am Pacific).

April 14, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: Chris Horner (Airgas) got to blow off the TT cobwebs for todays stage (Jonathan Devich epicimages.us).
Photo: Chris Horner (Airgas) got to blow off the TT cobwebs for todays stage (Jonathan Devich epicimages.us).

Chris Horner may own the Redlands Bicycle Classic, as he told Cyclingnews before the season started, but the four-time winner had to lease it out to Phil Gaimon last week as the Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies rider took his second overall win at the Southern California race.

Horner, who won here in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004, finished seventh overall this year, 1:01 behind Gaimon's winning time.

Despite failing to come away with his record fifth win, Horner said there were no surprises with his performance this week at the opening event of USA Cyclng's National Racing Calendar.

April 13, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








Mara Abbott and Phil Gaimon collected the overall titles at the Redlands Bicycle Classic as Coryn Rivera and Sebastian Haedo closed out the National Racing Calendar kickoff with victories in Sunday’s Sunset Road Race.

For Rivera, who pronounced herself “super stoked,” it was a second consecutive sprint win, this time ahead of Brianna Walle and Katherine Hall in the 61.8-mile women’s finale.

It was likewise a second stage win for Haedo, who out-kicked Travis McCabe and Dion Smith at the end of the men’s 94.1-mile race.

April 13, 2015 (velonews.com)




Taylor Phinney has been on the mend since a career-threatening crash last May. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Taylor Phinney has been on the mend since a career-threatening crash last May. Photo: Tim De Waele.

BMC Racing scored a podium at Paris-Roubaix with Greg Van Avermaet, but the team was missing the rider whom many believe could win a cobblestoned classic one day: Taylor Phinney.

Far away from the drama of the pavé, Phinney continues his rehab in the wake of his career-threatening crash at last year’s U.S. national championship road race. It’s a slow road, but Phinney is back on the bike, making steady progress.

He’s been riding for hours in the mountains around Boulder, Colorado. BMC officials told VeloNews they are cautiously optimistic the two-time Olympian can return to racing before the end of the 2015 season.

“We’re not putting a date or a number on [a comeback], but he continues to make progress,” BMC general manager Jim Ochowicz told VeloNews. “According to the trainers, he’s able to put out more watts, more hours on the bike.

He’s on the road, not on the turbo-trainer. We’re hopeful if he continues the way he’s going, we’ll see him racing before the end of summer.”

April 14, 2015 (velonews.com)






Armstrong rode to her second career Olympic gold in London. Photo: Stefano Rellandini | AFP.
Armstrong rode to her second career Olympic gold in London. Photo: Stefano Rellandini | AFP.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong will come out of retirement, starting her 2015 season at the Pan Am Continental Championships individual time trial in early May, marking a return to the American national team after a three-year hiatus.

“I am honored to have been selected as a member of the U.S. Pan American Championship team and am thrilled to be representing team USA in my first race back,” she said in a USA Cycling press statement. “Let the journey begin!”

Armstrong, 41, ended her professional career on a high note, successfully defending her Olympic time trial title in London. However, last fall, at the Interbike trade show, she hinted that she may pin on a number again, and the news of her inclusion on the Pan Am team confirms those intentions.

April 14, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photography by Simone Guiliani, Fondo and @gillogical.
Photography by Simone Guiliani, Fondo and @gillogical.

Normally on a Sunday morning in Melbourne the roads, bike paths and single track are teaming with male cyclists. Female cyclists are overwhelmingly outnumbered. However, last Sunday in Victoria was not a normal day.

It was a day for female cyclists to make their presence felt as the first ever women’s specific mass-riding event in Victoria saw an influx of women joining large welcoming female bunches, meeting new riding buddies and exploring different ways of enjoying time on the bike.

Around 2000 women joined The Women’s Ride, taking part in the 53 rides and 13 events around the state put on by a wide range of clubs, bike shops and riding groups.

April 14, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Back to winning ways in 2015.
Photo: Back to winning ways in 2015.

When he turns 30 in May, Mark Cavendish will already be, by most estimates, the finest sprinter that professional cycling has ever seen.

The question on the eve of the 2015 season was whether the Manxman was also nearing the end of the road.

Even in a career that Mark Cavendish conducts like a religious crusade, there have been moments when both the Manxman and the cycling Gods have seemed to bow before the enormity of their undertaking.

April 14, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Richie Porte (AUS) Team Sky 303 pts. photo credit @ Team Sky
Richie Porte (AUS) Team Sky 303 pts. photo credit @ Team Sky

With ten WorldTour races already finished this season, Ritchie Porte remains at top of the individual rankings as the only rider to have accumulated more than 300 points.

Meanwhile, John Degenkolb’s recent Paris-Roubaix victory, moved the German rider up into third place, while this month’s Tour of Flanders winner, Alexander Kristoff, holds onto second place.

In the meantime, last week’s Vuelta al Pais Vasco winner, Joaquim Rodriguez, gave his Katusha team a boost in the overall standings, which now occupies third spot.

April 14, 2015 (capovelo.com)





Photo: This design allows the unit to be easily installed by basically anyone..
Photo: This design allows the unit to be easily installed by basically anyone.

The power meter is pretty much unlike anything else currently on the market. 

Though, there are elements of it that can be seen in products long since passed (i.e. Ergomo).  The nameless unit (seen above) slides into your bottom bracket.

In this case, it simply screws in by slightly expanding the cap when you tighten the bolt.

They are targeting consumer delivery early 2016 with a sub-$500 price point.  Of course, they were also aware that power meter pricing continues to drop, so they may need to re-adjust plans there depending on the market.

April 14, 2015





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 14, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)


















April 14, 2015





Photo: Roman Kreuziger claims he passed a lie-detector test (roman kreuziger).
Photo: Roman Kreuziger claims he passed a lie-detector test (roman kreuziger).

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has confirmed in an announcement on its website that Roman Kreuziger’s appeal hearing will take place on June 10.

The Tinkoff-Saxo rider was cleared by the Czech Federation of a Biological Passport violation last September after a 15-month case but the UCI decided to appeal the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, convinced that a clear violation exists.

He has always maintained he is innocent, with his explanation for his unusual blood values centred around a claim that he used the substitute hormone L-Thyroxine as treatment for an under-active thyroid.

L-Thyroxine is not on the WADA banned list and does not require a therapeutic use exemption.

April 14, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Disc brakes are coming to the road in a big way. Photo: Eric Wynn | Shimano.
Disc brakes are coming to the road in a big way. Photo: Eric Wynn | Shimano.

The UCI’s long-time ban on disc brakes in professional racing will be partially lifted in August and September of this year, when all professional teams will be allowed to test discs in two events of their choice.

Testing will continue through 2016, when teams will be allowed to test discs in all professional road events. If testing goes well, discs will be formally introduced to the pro peloton in 2017, with the goal of eventually bringing the technology to all levels of road racing.

The decision comes after years of deliberation between the UCI and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), a group that represents cycling industry interests, which was seeking to bring discs to road racing.

April 14, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: he Giro remains the toughest race in the world’s most beautiful place.
Photo: "The Giro remains the toughest race in the world’s most beautiful place."

With just under a month to go until the 98th edition of the “Fight for Pink” gets underway, the official 2015 Giro d’Italia program has become available online.

April 14, 2015 (capovelo.com)





Photo: Alex Edmondson made his WorldTour debut at the Tour Down Under with the UniSA wildcard team in 2015 (Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Alex Edmondson made his WorldTour debut at the Tour Down Under with the UniSA wildcard team in 2015 (Getty Images Sport).

As Alex Edmondson prepared to watch Paris Roubaix on Sunday, the Australian had reason to feel a special buzz that was different to what anyone else probably shared.

Why? On Saturday, the track endurance turned road racer, who is less than a month into his road season on the Australian Jayco-AIS World Tour Academy team, became the first Australian to win the under-23 Tour of Flanders by outsprinting Italian Gianni Moscon from Italy, while in third place at seven seconds was Norway’s Truls Korsaeth.

April 14, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: At their new facility in San Luis Obispo, California, SRAM unveiled a genre spanning ‘1x Road’ groupset system available this summer.
Photo: At their new facility in San Luis Obispo, California, SRAM unveiled a genre spanning ‘1x Road’ groupset system available this summer.

SRAM, the American groupset manufacturer, has unveiled a new single ring groupset system, which it’s calling 1x Road.

The 1x Road system (pronounced ‘one-by’) is essentially an expansion of two of its original groupsets, the second tier Force and third tier Rival, and so now offers a single ring setup option for both, with either mechanical or hydraulic disc braking.

The Force 1 option replaces last year’s successful CX1, cyclocross specific groupset, and now, with a large expansion of ratios, will cover a vast range of riding styles from criterium racing to adventure touring. The Rival 1 option is all-new however, and offers many of the benefits at a more competitive price.

April 14, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)


















April 13, 2015




April 13, 2015


Photo: Chris Horner (Airgas) got to blow off the TT cobwebs for todays stage (Jonathan Devich epicimages.us).
Photo: Chris Horner (Airgas) got to blow off the TT cobwebs for todays stage (Jonathan Devich epicimages.us).

Chris Horner may own the Redlands Bicycle Classic, as he told Cyclingnews before the season started, but the four-time winner had to lease it out to Phil Gaimon last week as the Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies rider took his second overall win at the Southern California race.

Horner, who won here in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004, finished seventh overall this year, 1:01 behind Gaimon's winning time.

Despite failing to come away with his record fifth win, Horner said there were no surprises with his performance this week at the opening event of USA Cyclng's National Racing Calendar.

April 13, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: Sebastian Haedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman) with another stage win in Redlands. (Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us).
Photo: Sebastian Haedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman) with another stage win in Redlands. (Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us). (cyclingnews.com)

Mara Abbott and Phil Gaimon collected the overall titles at the Redlands Bicycle Classic as Coryn Rivera and Sebastian Haedo closed out the National Racing Calendar kickoff with victories in Sunday’s Sunset Road Race.

For Rivera, who pronounced herself “super stoked,” it was a second consecutive sprint win, this time ahead of Brianna Walle and Katherine Hall in the 61.8-mile women’s finale.

It was likewise a second stage win for Haedo, who out-kicked Travis McCabe and Dion Smith at the end of the men’s 94.1-mile race.

In the women’s overall, Abbott took the flowers by 24 seconds over Amber Neben with Allie Dragoo third at 42 seconds.

Gaimon topped the men’s final standings by 24 seconds over Gavin Mannion with Adrien Costa third at 38 seconds.

“It’s great to come back here,” Gaimon said. “I still got it.”

April 13, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: I don’t think I’m a hero.
Photo: "I don’t think I’m a hero." (Cor Vos)

What was likely the vital moment in Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix came close to the end when John Degenkolb made an important gamble. Greg Van Avermaet and Yves Lampaert had pushed clear and Degenkolb faced the choice of waiting to see if those in his group would chase, or risking all, digging deep and possibly riding the sprint out of his legs.

He chose the latter and attacked hard, bridging across to the two leaders and then pushing through to work with Van Avermaet to try to keep them clear.

April 13, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Philippe Gilbert (BMC) won the 2014 De Brabantse Pijl..
Photo: Philippe Gilbert (BMC) won the 2014 De Brabantse Pijl.

Wednesday's La Flèche Brabançonne departs Leuven at 12:36pm CET (6:36am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Overijse at around 5:36pm CET (11:36am U.S. Eastern). 

La Flèche Brabançonne live streaming video should get underway at around 3:10pm CET (9:10am U.S. Eastern, 6:10am Pacific).
April 13, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results).

More...

April 13, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: He won the Amstel Gold Race in 1992, as well as a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics Road Race.
Photo: He won the Amstel Gold Race in 1992, as well as a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics Road Race.

Happy birthday to Olaf Ludvig, who was born on this day in 1960.

The German rider is best known for winning the Points Jersey in the Tour de France, and top finishes in the World Championship Road Race championships and the Paris-Roubaix Classic, as well as winning one of the prestigious one-day classics.

Indeed, Ludwig won the Points Jersey in the 1990 Tour de France, while he also finished 3rd in the 1993 World Championship Road Race behind American Lance Armstrong and Miguel Indurain of Spain.

April 13, 2015 (capovelo.com)





Photo: Belgian inventor Jan Deckx's ingenious invention, the D-Fix freehub.
Photo: Belgian inventor Jan Deckx's ingenious invention, the D-Fix freehub.

"We previously reported on D-Fix, a revolutionary new freehub design. Responses to our article were very warm, with many people expressing keen interest to buy the product and use it on their own bikes.

The D-Fix rear hub attaches the cassette to the wheel in a different way.

This means that the wheel can be removed separately, leaving the cassette behind. This could be useful for cleaning, maintenance and putting your bike in a car, as it doesn’t leave the chain dragging against the frame. It is also very quick."

April 13, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)








Photo: Giant-Alpecin rider out-sprints Stybar and Van Avermaet in Roubaix velodrome.
Photo: Giant-Alpecin rider out-sprints Stybar and Van Avermaet in Roubaix velodrome.

John Degenkolb rode the perfect race to take the 2015 edition of Paris Roubaix in a sprint finish ahead of Zdeněk Štybar and Greg Van Avermaet.

The German sprinter latched onto a dangerous move initiated by Van Avermaet and Yves Lampaert and even after the lead group swelled to eight riders he had more than enough to take his second Monument of the season after winning Milan-San Remo last month.

April 12, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








April 12, 2015 (velonews.com)




John Degenkolb (right) and Alexander Kristoff finished 1-2 at Milano-Sanremo last month. Photo: Tim De Waele .
Photo: John Degenkolb (right) and Alexander Kristoff finished 1-2 at Milano-Sanremo last month. Photo: Tim De Waele.

John Degenkolb’s victory at Paris-Roubaix was perhaps more significant than just his historic monument double.

The 26-year-old German rider from Giant-Alpecin added on Sunday the Roubaix title to his Milano-Sanremo success last month, becoming only the third man to win those two prestigious monuments in the same year.

Coming a week after Norwegian Alexander Kristoff’s success at the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), there was a definite feeling of the passing of a baton over the cobbles.

For the last decade, the two major cobbled classics — Roubaix and Flanders — had been dominated by two men: Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara.

Prior to this year, when both missed the two races due to injury, they had won 13 of the last 20 editions of the two one-day classics.

April 13, 2015 (velonews.com)





Peter Sagan suffered some bad luck late in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix and finished 23rd. Photo: Tim De Waele .
Peter Sagan suffered some bad luck late in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix and finished 23rd. Photo: Tim De Waele.

They both came into the spring classics as top favorites. Two weeks later, they’ve both left with nothing.

Peter Sagan and Sep Vanmarcke each lined up in Compiègne with hopes of salvaging their spring campaigns at Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix. Both rode into the velodrome hoping for more and wondering what had gone wrong.

Sagan looked to be in good position in the final decisive throes of Roubaix. With about 6 kilometers to go, however, Sagan suddenly pulled off the road, threw his bike into a ditch, and was forced to change bikes.

He eventually regained contact with the chase group but was in no position to counter the race-making attacks so deep into the race.

Sagan crossed the line dusty and frustrated, 23rd at 31 seconds back. He was overheard at the velodrome infield speaking to a soigneur, cursing his luck, saying he could not change gears.

April 13, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: BMC had no real change to its GF bike, just a new red paint scheme and the word Roubaix added to it..
Photo: BMC had no real change to its GF bike, just a new red paint scheme and the word Roubaix added to it. (Dave Everett)

Thanks to the UCI’s very strict rules with regards to custom, prototype and once-off equipment, it’s becoming less and less likely that you’ll see crazy and unusual bike set-ups at the start area of Paris-Roubaix.

Now, with the explosion of comfort/sportive road bikes, we are seeing these sorts of frames being piloted by the professionals more and more.

The carbon layups may be different or the wheel bases of the “sportive” bikes may be longer for special team issue frames. But all this is impossible to spot just by looking at bikes with the naked eye.

Tape measures and scales are needed.

April 13, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)






Photo: John Degenkolb wins Paris-Roubaix from Van Avermaet and Stybar..!
Photo: John Degenkolb wins Paris-Roubaix from Van Avermaet and Stybar..!

"The cobbled Classics are over for another year and while many teams will be able to sit back, content with their performances, many other will be going back to the drawing board.

A win over the cobbles is a remarkable achievement on its own, but several teams have been there and thereabouts in these races without experiencing a visit to the top step of the podium.

Now that all is said and done, we have compiled a school-style report card for each team, based on their performances and some other arbitrary criteria, giving them all a grade between A+ to D."

April 13, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: The IsoSpeed decoupler system uses a sealed bearing to allow the seat tube to pivot independently of the top tube.
Photo: The IsoSpeed decoupler system uses a sealed bearing to allow the seat tube to pivot independently of the top tube.

Trek Factory Racing mountain bike racers were spotted on a new bike this weekend at round three of the USA Cycling US Cup. They were racing a new hardtail from Trek equipped with the brand’s IsoSpeed decoupler system.

Male team riders as well as Rebecca Henderson, winner of Sunday’s short track were spotted aboard the frame.

Not much is known about the new frame, besides that it’s using a version of Trek’s IsoSpeed decoupler, a system that was first unveiled on Trek’s endurance road bike, the Domane, and then on its carbon cyclocross frame, the Boone.

Based on the photos, it’s hard to tell if the new system is using a Boost 148 rear hub, but with Trek spearheading the new standard, it would be easy to assume as much.

April 13, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: BikeRadar received more than 69,000 votes for the Most Wanted Awards.
Photo: BikeRadar received more than 69,000 votes for the Most Wanted Awards.

The website's readers voted on their most wanted products in several road and mountain bike categories, choosing from a six nominees chosen by the site's editors in each category.

The editors chose the nominees based on their experience with the products and measured reader interest.

“The great thing about the Most Wanted Awards is how it reflects global demand for product,” said BikeRadar's U.S. editor in chief, Ben Delaney. “In the past month alone we’ve had more than 2.6 million readers on BikeRadar, from the U.K. and the U.S. to Germany and France to Singapore and Japan.”

April 13, 2015 (bicycleretailer.com)





Photo: Amanda DelCore, Annie Monjar, Liz Compitello, Shannon Murray, Elizabeth Pinney, Carolyn Auwaerter, and me, Anjali Chainani.
Photo: "Amanda DelCore, Annie Monjar, Liz Compitello, Shannon Murray, Elizabeth Pinney, Carolyn Auwaerter, and me, Anjali Chainani." (Pic: Michelle Lee)

"This winter, we started a club of rookie women. We called it Women Bike PHL Devo. The objective of the program was to turn bike riders into bike racers in eight weeks.

Women’s bike commuting was exploding in Philadelphia thanks to a new bicycle coalition program, but road riding and racing weren’t seeing the same gains.

Last summer, a dozen local women took turns leading a six-week, 100-person road skills clinic and were blown away by the talent and spirit of the women who attended.

It left everyone hungry for more. Forty percent of the women at the skills clinic said they were interested in racing — but few were making the jump."

April 13, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 13, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)



















April 13, 2015









Several riders got through a closing gate seconds before a train raced through during Paris-Roubaix. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Several riders got through a closing gate seconds before a train raced through during Paris-Roubaix. Photo: Tim De Waele.

The French state railway company on Monday demanded police action against “irresponsible” Paris-Roubaix riders who breached a safety barrier seconds before a high-speed train hurtled by.

The SNCF company made an official complaint to French prosecutors, saying the action in Sunday’s prestigious race had risked a deadly tragedy.

The last of the riders went through the barrier in northern France about eight seconds before the TGV train arrived at the Waller crossing, 87 kilometers from the end of the race dubbed “Hell of the North.”

One rider from Lotto-Soudal was clipped by a barrier as it came down.

John Degenkolb, winner of the race made famous for its 27 sections of bone-jarring cobbled roads, was among the group of riders who went through the barrier as it closed. Race organizers said it had not been possible for the leaders to stop in time.

April 13, 2015





Photo: Richie Porte (Team Sky) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Richie Porte (Team Sky) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Cadel Evans believes Richie Porte has earned his role as Team Sky's leader for Giro d’Italia and that the fellow Australian deserves to start as one of the favorites.

The one concern that the retired 2011 Tour de France champion has of what 30-year-old Porte can do in the Giro is if he will have enough in the tank after a solid five months racing block, preceded by a long and hard pre-season of training.

Speaking to Cyclingnews after he attended the Tour of Flanders for the first time – as a spectator and rider – Evans otherwise had nothing but praise for Porte.

April 13, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: When you are exhausted after a big day on the bike. Used like: I rode 100kms today into a headwind, I’m cooked..
Photo: 'When you are exhausted after a big day on the bike. Used like: I rode 100kms today into a headwind, I’m cooked." (Pics: Beardy McBeard, Jered Gruber, Balint Hamvas)

"There I was, wide-eyed and eager, riding with a bunch of mates out to the Dandenongs when my riding partner said to me: “Will you quit half-wheeling?” And I had absolutely no idea what it was I needed to stop doing.

And thus begun was my introduction to what can seem like the ever-so-mysterious cycling lingo to the uninitiated.

I asked for the definition of “half-wheeling” and learned that this very, very annoying action is riding about a half-wheel ahead of the person next you. It’s a bunch riding faux-pas of which I’m still guilty of on occasion."

April 13, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)






Photo: Both models now have WiFi, GPS, accelerometer, and full ANT+ sensor capabilities.
Photo: Both models now have WiFi, GPS, accelerometer, and full ANT+ sensor capabilities.

Today, Garmin announced two new action cameras – the next in their VIRB action cam lineup.  These two cameras continue in the footsteps of the Garmin’s first generation cameras by focusing heavily on sensor data and internal metrics that can be added to your videos.

"Let’s cut right to the chase and get straight into the new and notable features within the VIRB X & XE series.  I should note that the two versions are $299 (VIRB X) and $399 (VIRB XE). 

The main difference between the two models is the recording resolution/frame rates, but I’ll get into that later in the comparison tables. 

I asked what the ‘X’ stood for, and essentially it’s being used as the environment variable (as in: You’ll get “x” data).  The ‘E’ in XE stands for Elite."

April 13, 2015 (dcrainmaker.com)





Photo: a well-engineered frame with technology capable of keeping you moving.
Photo: "A well-engineered frame with technology capable of keeping you moving." (ninerbikes.com/rlt9steel)

"If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase “steel is real”, someone from the Fortune 500 would be doing my cat sitting.

But, surely there must be some truth to it, because, despite the fact that the “magic cloth” called carbon fiber has dominated the cycling market, not only has steel endured –  it’s still the material of choice for many riders.

Niner certainly thinks so, with the launch of its new Reynolds 853 RLT steel frameset."

April 13, 2015 (capovelo.com)





Photo: The app also has a “News & Info” section with a list of the most popular bike-related websites.
Photo: The app also has a “News & Info” section with a list of the most popular bike-related websites.

The New Zealand developer, BikeAid, is a new app that helps cyclists find bike stores – globally.

The app acts as a locator that contains information for literally thousands of bike stores across the world.

According to BikeAid, it helps cyclists find the closest stores based on their current location, complete with directions.

The app already has store listings from Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., Canada, U.K. and South Africa, with more stores and locations being added weekly.

April 13, 2015 (capovelo.com)













April 12, 2015






The guests of Senator John F. Kerry arrived at the upscale restaurant in Nantucket on an August evening in 2008, joined together for a private dinner after the Pan-Mass Challenge, a bike-a-thon benefiting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

An avid cyclist who had beaten prostate cancer, Kerry welcomed friends and the sport’s elite, including Greg LeMond and his wife, Kathy, along with Frankie Andreu and his wife, Betsy.

The restaurant staff set up the party of 10 on the beach at a table covered in linens. It was sunset, a breeze tuned a perfect temperature and the conversation flowed. But inside any cycling circle, you can make a parlor game out of betting on a person to raise the name of Lance Armstrong. Betsy, even odds.

April 12, 2015 (roopstigo.com)


April 12, 2015





Photo: Giant-Alpecin rider out-sprints Stybar and Van Avermaet in Roubaix velodrome.
Photo: Giant-Alpecin rider out-sprints Stybar and Van Avermaet in Roubaix velodrome.

John Degenkolb rode the perfect race to take the 2015 edition of Paris Roubaix in a sprint finish ahead of Zdeněk Štybar and Greg Van Avermaet.

The German sprinter latched onto a dangerous move initiated by Van Avermaet and Yves Lampaert and even after the lead group swelled to eight riders he had more than enough to take his second Monument of the season after winning Milan-San Remo last month.

April 12, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) spent much of 2014 rueing his second place at that year's Paris-Roubaix. In 2015, he moved up to the top step on the podium, earning himself a cobblestone trophy. Photo: Tim De Waele.
John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) spent much of 2014 rueing his second place at that year's Paris-Roubaix. In 2015, he moved up to the top step on the podium, earning himself a cobblestone trophy. Photo: Tim De Waele.

John Degenkolb spent the winter reliving last year’s Paris-Roubaix.

His 2014 second-place haunted him as he trained at altitude and spent evenings watching the highlight reel over and over to see how he might have come out on top.

A year later, he found the answer: attack and make the race unfold on his terms.

April 12, 2015 (velonews.com)









Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (File).
Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (File).

Several riders had a near-miss after crossing a railway line after the barriers had come down during Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix one-day classic race.

A TGV (high speed train) passed a few seconds later, although by that point, a police motorcycle was controlling the pass and had stopped the remnants of the peloton.

One rider from the Belgian Lotto-Soudal team was clipped by a barrier which came down as the peloton was passing.

Several riders decided to cross anyway before the train came, against race rules, before a policeman stopped the rest.

April 12, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: British amateurs made up over one third of the 4,500 entries for the Paris-Roubaix Challenge, but why would anyone want to ride it at all?
Photo: British amateurs made up over one third of the 4,500 entries for the Paris-Roubaix Challenge, but why would anyone want to ride it at all?

"It’s raining, there’s a block headwind, the road sneaks uphill at a shallow gradient, and you’re managing just 12mph. Your bike and body are being shaken together like a can of baked beans on top of a spin dryer; your bruised hands are getting hot from the friction of rubbing the bars.

You’re approaching a rider. Just as you plot out the best line to get around him, he somersaults into a ditch.

This is the Paris-Roubaix Challenge sportive, which takes place the day before the elite race, and it’s the infamous Carrefour de l’Arbre sector of cobbles.

And this isn’t even the worst bit."

April 12, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results).

More...

April 12, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)









April 11, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Erick Rowsell and Dani King emerged victorious in the respective men’s and women’s opening stages of the Tour of the Reservoir in Northumberland on Saturday.

Strong winds played a part in shaping both races, with many riders struggling to maintain any sort of momentum and the peloton splintering into pieces.

April 11, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






April 11, 2015 (bicycling.com)






Photo: John Degenkolb won in style, this wasn’t the story of sprinter who sat tight.
Photo: John Degenkolb won in style, this wasn’t the story of sprinter who sat tight.

John Degenkolb wins the sprint in the Roubaix velodrome.

As captions go “Degenkolb wins sprint” is predictable,  he won Milan-Sanremo three weeks ago in this manner.

But this time it was the art and the manner of Degenkolb’s win that was so different and impressive.

He rode across to the breakaway of Yves Lampaert and Greg Van Avermaet, helped tow them to Roubaix and then saw off others who’d joined this group to win by a several bike lengths.

April 12, 2015 (inrng.com)







Photo: Velocio-SRAM Lisa Brennauer moves into the race lead (Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl).
Photo: Velocio-SRAM Lisa Brennauer moves into the race lead (Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl).

Lisa Brennauer won the overall title at the Energiewacht Tour following the stage 4 finale on Sunday. She ended up taking the overall win by nine seconds ahead of her teammate Trixi Worrack and Christine Majerus in third.

Anna van der Breggen won the finale after a solo move in Borkum. She crossed the finish line with over a minute ahead of runner-up Jolien D'hoore and Kirsten Wild.

April 12, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Jose Herrada is known as one of the most loyal domestiques in the Movistar camp.
Photo: Jose Herrada is known as one of the most loyal domestiques in the Movistar camp.

Jose Herrada benefited greatly from a rare chance to chase personal success when he took a beautiful solo victory in the hilly one-day race Klasika Primavera de Amorebieta.

Originally part of an 18-rider front group, he attacked with teammate Marc Soler and Evgeny Shalunov whom he dropped on the final climb to take the win, with Shalonov and Carlos Barbero completing the podium.

April 12, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)







Photo: Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) after Paris-Roubaix (Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) after Paris-Roubaix (Getty Images Sport).

He’ll always have Paris, but Roubaix was not to be. Bradley Wiggins has spent much of the past two years espousing his veneration for Paris Roubaix, to the point of declaring that he would swap his 2012 Tour de France win for victory in the hallowed velodrome.

“Just google ‘Bradley’s love for Paris Roubaix,” he had told a reporter with mock exasperation on Friday when asked to revisit the topic once again.

After placing 18th on Sunday afternoon, however, Wiggins ruled out the prospect of reneging on his departure from Team Sky and continuing at WorldTour level for one final tilt at the race next year.

April 12, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The cherry trees are in full bloom.
Photo: The cherry trees are in full bloom.

"The road starts climbing right in front of I’s Bicycles shop. I have more than 1600 m (5500 ft) to climb before I get to Miyama.

The cherry trees are in full bloom in Kyoto and amazingly beautiful.

I soon reached Kurama with its beautiful temple. I didn’t have much time – dinner in Miyama was in 4 hours, and even though that seems like ample time for 80 km, once I had bought food and made it through Kyoto’s rush-hour traffic, my schedule was getting tight.

But I couldn’t pass the temple without at least a brief visit. It is just one of the many temple buildings that dot the entire slope of Mount Kurama."

April 12, 2015 (janheine.wordpress.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 12, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)











April 12, 2015





Photo: Armstrong’s relationship with French president Nicolas Sarkozy may have been his most valuable power tie.
Photo: Armstrong’s relationship with French president Nicolas Sarkozy may have been his most valuable power tie.

The guests of Senator John F. Kerry arrived at the upscale restaurant in Nantucket on an August evening in 2008, joined together for a private dinner after the Pan-Mass Challenge, a bike-a-thon benefiting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

An avid cyclist who had beaten prostate cancer, Kerry welcomed friends and the sport’s elite, including Greg LeMond and his wife, Kathy, along with Frankie Andreu and his wife, Betsy.

The restaurant staff set up the party of 10 on the beach at a table covered in linens. It was sunset, a breeze tuned a perfect temperature and the conversation flowed. But inside any cycling circle, you can make a parlor game out of betting on a person to raise the name of Lance Armstrong. Betsy, even odds.

There are disturbing tales of Armstrong’s bully tactics.  “I have to admit I was sickened by what I read in the USADA report,” said UCI President Pat McQuaid on Oct. 22, when the international cycling union accepted USADA’s voluminous evidence on an Armstrong-led doping conspiracy and officially stripped the blue-eyed Texan of his seven Tour de France titles, wiping the disgraced American legend from the books.

“The story of how (teammate David) Zabriskie was coerced, and in some ways forced into doping is mind-boggling.”

April 12, 2015 (roopstigo.com)






Photo: But here an unknown issue with his shifters meant that he couldn’t move up to the big chainring to make a move.
Photo: But here an unknown issue with his shifters meant that he couldn’t move up to the big chainring to make a move.

Paris Roubaix concluded the cobblestone season Sunday afternoon in a dusty and fast affair, where the favorites waited relatively long to open up the race.

Tinkoff-Saxo fell short of the team ambitions, as a bike change and stomach issues for team captain Peter Sagan made for a tough day at the office. Sagan finished 23rd, part of the big second group coming in behind race winner John Degenkolb.
 
After the race conclusion in the famed velodrome of Roubaix, Tinkoff-Saxo sports director Lars Michaelsen notes that despite a dedicated effort, the team ended up with a minor result.

April 12, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: Stephen Hodge was the host for Cycling Australia's night of nights. (John Veage).
Photo: Stephen Hodge was the host for Cycling Australia's night of nights. (John Veage).

When Stephen Hodge recalls his first of eight starts in Paris Roubaix, of which he finished four, the memory is not a fond one, but it is ever-lasting: he “hated” the race.

“Everyone said, ‘It should be your kind of race, you should be really good at this,’” Hodge tells Cyclingnews.

“But I never quite nailed it. Part of the reason was probably because I just hated it. I really don’t like this race, unlike Flanders which I loved…”

But with 19 years having passed his retirement in 1996, the 53-year-old Australian can find some reason to laugh some aspects of the ‘Hell of the North.’

April 12, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The v650 is Polar’s first cycling computer in a long while.
Photo: The v650 is Polar’s first cycling computer in a long while.

The v650 is supposed to be the product that gets the Finns back in the game where bike technology is concerned.

They’ve taken a serious hiding from Garmin in the last few years on all fronts and have gone away and developed a few new products to give them a real shot at taking back some of the market share from their American counterparts.

Size-wise it’s quite big. Not massive, but large enough that fitting it on a 110mm stem is a close call. it’s shorter than Garmin’s Edge 1000, but a little wider.

April 12, 2015 (roadcyclinguk.com)












April 11, 2015






Who can take on Alexander Kristoff? The Norwegian has been invincible and his biggest opponent could be misfortune, his chances were ruined last year by punctures and mechanicals.

This is a race of last chances, the final cobbled classic of the season and just like last year time’s running out for Etixx Quickstep to get that big win, the same for Sep Vanmarcke.

Meanwhile Bradley Wiggins longs to end his road career in the Roubaix velodrome.

April 11, 2015 (inrng.com)


April 11, 2015





Photo: Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Dumoulin wins stage 6 time trial finale in Aia.

April 11, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Given the conditions on eight laps of the Derwent Reservoir, Rowsell’s solo move at the end of the race was even more remarkable.
Given the conditions on eight laps of the Derwent Reservoir, Rowsell’s solo move at the end of the race was even more remarkable. Photo by Andy Jones

Erick Rowsell and Dani King emerged victorious in the respective men’s and women’s opening stages of the Tour of the Reservoir in Northumberland on Saturday.

Strong winds played a part in shaping both races, with many riders struggling to maintain any sort of momentum and the peloton splintering into pieces.

April 11, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Stages & Results),

Paris Roubaix - Apr 12 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results).

More...

April 11, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Ceramic edges on the Zero Pavé help prevent water and grit from locking up your pedals.(Photo by Jonathan Pushnik).
Ceramic edges on the Zero Pavé help prevent water and grit from locking up your pedals.(Photo by Jonathan Pushnik).

"I like Speedplay Zero pedals—the nearly frictionless float, the low stack, and dual-sided entry. But I live in the mountains, and for several months out of the year, I encounter ice and mud on the roads.

One day, while out riding after a storm, I stepped off the road for a nature break. I managed to clip in to my Zeros again afterward, but because of the dirt and ice I'd picked up in my cleats, I couldn't clip out. To stop without tipping, I needed to peel off my shoe cover, open my shoe, and pull out my foot (while rolling). From then on, my Zeros were my summer pedals.

Apparently Speedplay-sponsored pros had similar problems, because in 2006, the company started making a pro-only pedal better suited for foul conditions.

Late last year, a version of the Zero Pavé became widely available."

April 11, 2015 (bicycling.com)








Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.
Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.

Sunday's Paris Roubaix departs Compiegne at 10:20am CET (4:20am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Roubaix at around 4:50pm CET (10:50am U.S. Eastern). 

Paris Roubaix live streaming video should get underway at around *12:45pm CET (*6:45am U.S. Eastern, 3:45am Pacific). *Eurosport's coverage is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 11, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)







Mikel Landa (Astana) celebrates the win. (Bettini Photo).
Mikel Landa (Astana) celebrates the win. (Bettini Photo).

Mikel Landa won stage 5 of the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco from Eibar to Aia with a well-timed and powerful attack on the final climb.

The Spaniard helped form a 30-rider break in the opening hour of the stage and broke free with Tim Wellens, Tom Danielson and teammate Rein Taaramae on the final of three ascents of the Aia but dropped his companions inside the final kilometer.

Wellens held on for second with Danielson in third.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








April 10, 2015 (velonews.com)






April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






April 9, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Brendan Rhim (California Giant).
Photo: Brendan Rhim (California Giant) (cyclingillustrated.com).

Brendan Rhim won the fourth stage of the Redlands Bicycle Classic on Saturday as race leader Phil Gaimon hit the deck in a huge crash with five laps remaining.

With 30 minutes left in the 90-minute race, a six-man break was off the front with a half minute’s advantage over a peloton led by Optum for race leader Gaimon. The escapees included Rhim; Alexander Ray; Ulises Castillo; Chris Riekert; Luis Amaran; and Peter Disera.

A crash, a big one, took out race leader Gaimon and a number of other top-10 contenders outside of the free-lap zone, inside five laps to go. The mishap derailed the pursuit, the officials would have their hands full sorting out the GC, and it seemed the stage-winner would come from the break.

April 11, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products) wins (Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl).
Photo: Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products) wins (Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl).

Brennauer takes the overall race lead.

April 11, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Number of sectors from Sunday’s race that will be featured in stage 4 of the 2015 Tour de France..
Photo: Most wins: Roger De Vlaeminck (1972, ’74-’75, ’77) and Tom Boonen (2005, ’08-09, ’12).

Cycling’s most spectacular and brutal one-day race clicks into gear Sunday. Paris Roubaix has been called many things: the “Hell of the North,” the “Queen of the Classics,” and the “Longest Sunday.”

No matter its moniker, Paris Roubaix is a spectacle unequaled on the cycling calendar.

Its winners become idols, yet even the last-place rider has an heroic tale to tell by the end of the day. Any race is a tale of the tape.

April 11, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: Zdenek Stybar (Ettix-QuickStep) looks on during a press conference. (Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Zdenek Stybar (Ettix QuickStep) looks on during a press conference. (Getty Images Sport).

Zdenek Stybar can smile about it now but at the time it was terrible. As the Czech rider posed for photographers ahead of Etixx QuickStep’s pre Paris Roubaix press conference on Friday afternoon, he flashed a grin that showed the success of his mid-week dental work.

Stybar’s false teeth – he lost the originals in a crash at the Eneco Tour last year – rattled loose on the cobbles at the Tour of Flanders last Sunday, and he spent the final 70km of the race unable to eat solid food, subsisting on a diet of liquids and gels, though he managed to finish the race in ninth place.

April 11, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Koen de Kort hopes to be worthy of a shower in the historic Paris-Roubaix change rooms (Sirotti Images).
Photo: Koen de Kort hopes to be worthy of a shower in the historic Paris Roubaix change rooms (Sirotti Images).

“I think it’s got to do with how tired you are after,” says Giant Alpecin stayer Koen de Kort.

“It’s a lot of kilometers but so much more painful than anything else. You can do three weeks of the Tour de France and be tired at the end but, for me, it’s nothing compared to just doing that one race all out.

It’s hard to even walk the next day, everything is sore and it’s quite a long process to get up the stairs.

“A lot of guys just see it as an achievement to get to the finish and that’s not really much of an achievement in other races,” he continues.

“Maybe in the Tour de France, where everyone wants to get to Paris, but that’s the only other race. That makes it a bit emotional as well I guess.”

April 11, 2015 (sbs.com.au)






Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition..
Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition.

Saturday's Energiewacht Tour Stage 3 gets underway at 12:00pm CET (6:00am U.S. Eastern) and is expected to finish at around 2:57pm CET (8:57am U.S. Eastern). 

Energiewacht Tour live video streaming should get underway at 12:00pm CET (6:00am U.S. Eastern, 3:00am Pacific).

April 11, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)







April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 11, 2015 (drunkcyclist)











April 11, 2015






Photo: The four and five star sections really are unlike anything else.
Photo: The four and five star sections really are unlike anything else.

Who can take on Alexander Kristoff? The Norwegian has been invincible and his biggest opponent could be misfortune, his chances were ruined last year by punctures and mechanicals.

This is a race of last chances, the final cobbled classic of the season and just like last year time’s running out for Etixx Quickstep to get that big win, the same for Sep Vanmarcke.

Meanwhile Bradley Wiggins longs to end his road career in the Roubaix velodrome.

April 11, 2015 (inrng.com)










Photo: Second last year in the famous velodrome, John Degenkolb will be one of the top favourites for Paris-Roubaix.
Photo: Second last year in the famous velodrome, John Degenkolb will be one of the top favorites for Paris Roubaix.

Alexander Kristoff may be on a storming run of form, notching up six wins in nine days and elevating his season count to 11 victories, but the rider who beat him in Milan San Remo, John Degenkolb, said on Friday that he didn’t fear him in Paris Roubaix.

Degenkolb spoke to a small group of journalists at the Giant Alpecin team hotel in Selcek, France.

Asked by CyclingTips if he was confident that he could beat Kristoff if things came down to a sprint in the Roubaix velodrome, he was bullish about his chances in such a situation.

April 11, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Geraint Thomas (Sky) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Geraint Thomas (Sky) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

For many, Paris Roubaix is the Queen of the Classics. For Geraint Thomas, at least at this remove, it has the feel of a consolation prize.

The Welshman has had his heart set on the Tour of Flanders since his first visits to Belgium as a teenager, and he entered last week’s race as one of the principal favorites after a stylish victory at E3 Harelbeke.

The Ronde turned out to be a disappointment for Thomas, however.

After his Sky team policed the peloton for much of the opening 200 kilometers of racing, he was unable to follow the winning move of Alexander Kristoff and Niki Terpstra in the finale, and had to settle for 14th place in Oudenaarde.

April 11, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





It will be a good long while before Peter Stetina is ready to race the road again. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (file).
It will be a good long while before Peter Stetina is ready to race the road again. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (file).

Peter Stetina will be sidelined for “months” following surgery in the aftermath of his harrowing crash at the Vuelta a País Vasco (Tour of the Basque Country) this week.

The American climber underwent surgery Thursday in a Spanish hospital to repair injuries sustained in the crash, when he and others hit two metal poles that were in the final stretch of Monday’s opening stage. Riders protested in the wake of the accident, and the UCI has promised to investigate the incident.

Stetina broke his right leg in two places and four ribs. Teammate Darwin Atapuma cut his left knee, but was able to start the next day. BMC doctor Max Testa said Stetina is recovering well after undergoing surgery to repair his broken tibia and patella.

“The surgery was successful,” Testa said. “The knee specialist who performed the surgery was very happy with the result.

April 11, 2015 (velonews.com)



















April 10, 2015






April 10, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)







April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)


April 10, 2015




Mikel Landa (Astana) celebrates the win. (Bettini Photo).
Mikel Landa (Astana) celebrates the win. (Bettini Photo).

Mikel Landa won stage 5 of the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco from Eibar to Aia with a well-timed and powerful attack on the final climb.

The Spaniard helped form a 30-rider break in the opening hour of the stage and broke free with Tim Wellens, Tom Danielson and teammate Rein Taaramae on the final of three ascents of the Aia but dropped his companions inside the final kilometer.

Wellens held on for second with Danielson in third.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








Photo: Stage 6 Profile.
Photo: Stage 6 Profile.

Stage 6 start time: Saturday 14:55 CET (5:55 AM PST).

Earliest live video: 15:00 CET (6:00 AM PST).

Approximate finish: 16:44 CET (7:44 AM PST).

April 10, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)







Ryan Roth (Silber) took over the GC lead on Thursday in the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Photo courtesy of Silber..
Ryan Roth (Silber) took over the GC lead on Thursday in the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Photo courtesy of Silber..

Rhea Shaw and Tom Zirbel won the Redlands Bicycle Classic stage 2 time trial at Big Bear Lake, California on Thursday.

Starting about two-thirds of the way through the elite women’s line-up, Shaw set a mark that withstood challenges from the race’s top riders.

Optum’s orange and black jerseys were a common sight on the TT podium, as Glaesser’s teammate, Tom Zirbel, won the men’s race.

Chris Barton set a best mark very early in the race, but Zirbel quickly eclipsed his time by 9.45 seconds.

It was not until over 20 minutes later that another rider would challenge Zirbel. Silber’s Ryan Roth came close, but slotted into second place, 7.74 seconds behind the tall Optum rider.

April 10, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Tom Zirbel (Optum) comes through with the fastest time (Jonathan Devich epicimages.us).
Photo: Tom Zirbel (Optum) comes through with the fastest time (Jonathan Devich epicimages.us).

When the Tour of California comes to Big Bear Lake in May for the stage 5 time trial, US domestic riders will be in familiar territory. For the past three years, half of the 24.2km course for the California stage has been used in the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

The Tour of California time trial starts in the heart of Big Bear Village – which sits at about 2,050 metres of elevation – on the south shore of the lake, then travels 5km through a winding residential neighbourhood before crossing over to the lake’s north shore and onto the 12.5 km out-and-back Redlands route.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Stages & Results),

Paris-Roubaix - Apr 12 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results).

More...

April 10, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)










Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.
Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.

Sunday's Paris Roubaix departs Compiegne at 10:20am CET (4:20am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Roubaix at around 4:50pm CET (10:50am U.S. Eastern). 

Paris Roubaix live streaming video should get underway at around *12:45pm CET (*6:45am U.S. Eastern, 3:45am Pacific). *Eurosport's coverage is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)








Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez took his second consecutive stage win during stage 4 at the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco on Thursday.

The Spaniard was a part of a select group of climbers that formed on the steep slopes of the late-race climb over the Usartza, and following a fast two-kilometer descent into Arrate, he out-sprinted his rivals at the finish line.

Bauke Mollema was second in the sprint and Simon Yates was third.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Rolland, Hivert topped by Tinkoff-Saxo Italian.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Few one-day bike races capture the imagination quite like Paris-Roubaix. The cobbles, the dirt, the mud, the crashes; it truly is one of the hardest races on the calendar.
Photo: Few one-day bike races capture the imagination quite like Paris-Roubaix. The cobbles, the dirt, the mud, the crashes; it truly is one of the hardest races on the calendar. (Cor Vos)

The 2015 edition of Paris-Roubaix is 253km long and takes the riders from Compiègne to Roubaix. Along the way they’ll face 27 cobbled sectors of varying degrees of brutality, for a total of 52.7 cobbled kilometers.

Alexander Kristoff goes into the race as one of the big favorites, not least because of an incredible run of form in recent times.

In nine days, Kristoff managed no fewer than six wins, including Scheldeprijs on Wednesday and last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: It took more than a year to complete the project.
Photo: It took more than a year to complete the project.

Originally designed by Lodovico Falconi in 1984, this magnificently restored Alan Super Record CX, found a second life rather serendipitously. 

In a moment of luck, the Netherlands-based framebuilder, Junior Hoefsloot, found the Alan in all places – a metal scrap yard.

From there, Hoefsloot brought it back to his workplace, and began the process of bringing it back to life.

Both a philanthropic foundation and a workshop, Hoesfsloot’s Villa Boerebont MOER, trains underprivileged youth in the life-long skills of woodworking, bike mechanics, farming, and baking.

April 9, 2015 (capovelo.com)






April 9, 2015 (bicycleretailer.com)




Photo: Phil Gaimon (right) and Brad Huff show off their
Photo: Phil Gaimon (right) and Brad Huff show off their "clean" tattoos while Scott Zwizanski clowns in the background. (Pat Malach).

Phil Gaimon and Mara Abbott won stage 3 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic, and with that, each took over the yellow jersey in their respective races on Friday.

Gaimon won out of a 10-man group that came into the final three kilometers together after the larger field was peeled apart by the last trip up the Oak Glen Road hill, a major feature on the 15-mile Yucaipa circuit.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Tiffany Crowmell and Tayler Wiles (Sean Robinson).
Photo: Tiffany Crowmell and Tayler Wiles (Sean Robinson).

In the stage 2a, Velocio-SRAM won the TTT of the Energiewacht Tour. The reigning world champions unsurprisingly won the 14.7 kilometer team time trial. Boels Dolman was second at 14 seconds, with RaboLiv Women in third.

In stage 2b, Lucinda Brand used superior positioning and cornering skills to claim the win, topping Kirsten Wild and Christine Majerus in the bunch sprint.

These tough corners are Brand’s speciality, and coming into the final corner at the front with the top sprinters scrambling behind her, she sailed through, and won with plenty of distance.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition..
Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition.

Saturday's Energiewacht Tour Stage 3 gets underway at 12:00pm CET (6:00am U.S. Eastern) and is expected to finish at around 2:57pm CET (8:57am U.S. Eastern). 

Energiewacht Tour live video streaming should get underway at 12:00pm CET (6:00am U.S. Eastern, 3:00am Pacific).

April 10, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)








Photo: The difficulty of the cobbles makes the race a shop window for the cycle trade where the most extreme race of the year is used to sell goods for everyday use.
Photo: The difficulty of the cobbles makes the race a shop window for the cycle trade where the most extreme race of the year is used to sell goods for everyday use.

This Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix has to be the unique race on the calendar. Its cobbles are enough to make the Oude Kwaremont look new.

The velodrome finish is unusual but the exceptions don’t end there, this is a race where reaching the showers has become part of the ritual.

Even the name stands out, Roubaix is celebrated as a strong brand by the cycle-trade when in the reality it’s France’s poorest town and rarely something to celebrate.

April 10, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: To Hell On A Bike - Riding Paris-Roubaix: The Toughest Race In Cycling. Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Photo: To Hell On A Bike - Riding Paris-Roubaix: The Toughest Race In Cycling.
Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

As well as the story of his own preparation for and participation in the Paris-Roubaix Challenge, MacGregor weaves in the history of the race the sportive celebrates and talks to a few interesting people along the way.

April 10, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)






Photo: Tom Boonen is likely to make his comeback from injury at the Tour of Turkey but could then make his first ever appearance at the Giro d'Italia.
Tom Boonen is likely to make his comeback from injury at the Tour of Turkey but could then make his first ever appearance at the Giro d'Italia. (Photo: Watson)

Tom Boonen may race the Giro d’Italia in May for the first time in hist 14-year career, according to Etixx-Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere, but Mark Cavendish will not ride the year’s first Grand Tour.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Lefevere confirmed ahead of Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix that Cavendish will head across the Atlantic to take part in the Amgen Tour of California.

The Manxman won two stages in California last season in a race won by Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins, and claimed the sprinter’s jersey in 2009 when racing for Columbia-High Road.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Photo: Niki Terpstra (Etixx-Quickstep) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Niki Terpstra (Etixx-Quickstep) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Call it the Wiggins effect, the Kristoff effect or a combination of the two, but Niki Terpstra has enjoyed a pleasantly low-key build-up to Paris Roubaix for a defending champion, particularly given that neither one of the traditional favorites, Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen, is on hand this year.

Alexander Kristoff’s recent run of success has shades of Philippe Gilbert’s startling 2011 about it, in that he has seemingly forgotten how to lose, and despite an underwhelming track record at Paris Roubaix, he has been anointed by many as the likely winner on Sunday afternoon.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: olien D'hoore (Wiggle Honda) celebrates winning the sprint for second.
Photo: Jolien d'Hoore (Wiggle Honda) wins (Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl).

Jolien D'hoore claimed the first stage of the Energiewacht Tour in a sprint finish ahead of Barbara Guarischi and Trixi Worrack.

Anna van der Breggen finished fifth, and retained her overall lead in the race.

On a calm, sunny day with the wind that usually characterizes the Energiewacht Tour absent, all the teams were predicting a bunch sprint, though two breakaway riders nearly rewrote the script.

Just 14 kilometers into the race, Winanda Spoor attacked, taking Marijn de Vries with her, and with the bunch hesitant to chase, they stayed away through the run-in from Wedde to Ter Apel, and into the first of four 13.9km laps.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)










April 9, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 10, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)


















April 10, 2015





Photo: Fabio Aru escapes on stage fifteen of the 2014 Giro d'Italia.
Photo: Fabio Aru escapes on stage fifteen of the 2014 Giro d'Italia.

The Giro d’Italia organizer, RCS Sport has said it is prepared to ask the UCI for damages should the ongoing Astana license case have an adverse effect on its 2015 race.

The Kazakh team, with 2014 Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali, could lose its WorldTour license over doping offences, but currently remains free to participate in races including the Giro, which begins on May 9.

Race Director Mauro Vegni wants to avoid a repeat of 2011, when Spaniard Alberto Contador won the overall title only to have it stripped due to an ongoing doping case stemming from the 2010 Tour de France. That case, with its appeals process, took 18 months to resolve.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Photo: Ramunas Navardauskas (Cannondale-Garmin) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Ramunas Navardauskas (Cannondale-Garmin) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Nacer Bouhanni of Cofidis won the last stage of Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire in Le Lude as well as he opened his record book of the 2015 season with stage 1 in Varades.

A change of leader occurred on the last day as Ramunas Navardauskas of Cannondale-Garmin repeated his overall victory and became the fourth rider to win the race back to back since the event became a professional affair, following the path of Bernard Hinault (1975-76), Jean-François Bernard (1992-93) and Melchior Mauri (1997-98).

April 10, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Peter Stetina's surgery performed in Bilbao, Spain.
Photo: Peter Stetina's surgery performed in Bilbao, Spain.

Peter Stetina and teammate Darwin Atapuma were two of more than half a dozen riders who were hurt in the pile-up that happened Monday in the last 400 meters of the opening stage of the Spanish race.

Stetina broke his right leg in two places and broke four ribs. Atapuma cut his left knee but was able to start the next day.

The crash happened when several riders struck meter-high metal poles near the curb lane. The incident - and concerns over rider safety - led the peloton to stage a five-minute protest before Stage 2.

Dr. Testa said Stetina is recovering well after undergoing surgery to repair his broken tibia and patella.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Alexander Kristoff and his teammates previewed the Paris-Roubaix course Thursday. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Alexander Kristoff and his teammates previewed the Paris-Roubaix course Thursday. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Will the Alexander Kristoff express keep on rolling?

After a tremendous run that includes victories at the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), Scheldeprijs, and three stages and the overall at the Three Days of De Panne, the 27-year-old Kristoff enters Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix as a five-star favorite.

Despite his obvious strength, Kristoff is downplaying his chances in Sunday’s “Hell of the North.”

“I’ve always gone better in Flanders. I’ve never gone that good in Roubaix. I think I was ninth two years ago, but I hope to improve it. I should be fine for Sunday,” Kristoff said.

“Of course, I dream of winning, who doesn’t? If I get podium, I would be very happy. We will try, of course, but the whole team is in good form. We will give it a try, of course.”

April 10, 2015 (velonews.com)





Niki Terpstra will set out to defend his Paris-Roubaix title on Sunday after finishing second at the Tour of Flanders last weekend (Pic: Sirotti).
Niki Terpstra will set out to defend his Paris-Roubaix title on Sunday after finishing second at the Tour of Flanders last weekend (Pic: Sirotti).

Niki Terpstra will return to Paris-Roubaix on Sunday as defending champion, after soloing to victory off the front of a star-studded group 12 months ago.

Now, on the back of second place at the Tour of Flanders, Terpstra will bid to replicate legendary team-mate Tom Boonen – the last man to secure back-to-back wins, in 2008 and 2009.

The Dutchman heads an Etixx-QuickStep line-up not short on options, but with Alexander Kristoff in the form of his life and Bradley Wiggins bidding to leave Team Sky with victory, there is plenty of competition in a race which is often a lottery.

April 10, 2015 (roadcyclinguk.com)





Photo: Last year I made a step forward but this year I think I made a bigger step forward.
"Last year I made a step forward but this year I think I made a bigger step forward." Photo: Cor Vos

There were many impressive performances in last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders but perhaps the most eye-opening was the performance of the Lotto Soudal rider Tiesj Benoot.

A first year professional who just turned 21 years of age last month and who is a student in university, the Belgian rider stunned many when he finished a superb fifth in Oudenaarde.

He rubbed shoulders with far more seasoned riders, each of whom who had the advantage of several years on him, and crossed the line in fifth place, just 36 seconds behind the winner Alexander Kristoff.

April 10, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)






Much is at stake for the U.S. government in the case against Lance Armstrong. The ferocious legal wrangling behind the scenes indicates as much. Photo: Tim De Waele
Much is at stake for the U.S. government in the case against Lance Armstrong. The ferocious legal wrangling behind the scenes indicates as much. Photo: Tim De Waele.

The U.S. government has successfully blocked Floyd Landis’ proposed settlement with associates of feuding former teammate Lance Armstrong; a federal judge nixed the $600,000 deal on Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper acknowledged that it “might seem unfair” for the government to force Landis to continue litigation against William Stapleton, Armstrong’s former agent and president of Capital Sports and Entertainment Holdings, Inc., and CSE vice president Barton Knaggs, since the government was not part of the court action against them.

April 9, 2015 (velonews.com)

















April 9, 2015


April 9, 2015





Photo: Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) takes the win (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) takes the win (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez took his second consecutive stage win during stage 4 at the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco on Thursday.

The Spaniard was a part of a select group of climbers that formed on the steep slopes of the late-race climb over the Usartza, and following a fast two-kilometer descent into Arrate, he out-sprinted his rivals at the finish line.

Bauke Mollema was second in the sprint and Simon Yates was third.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Manuele Boaro (Tinkoff-Saxo) takes a bow, winning stage 3 after mistakenly saluting on the previous stage for second place (Bettini Photo).
Manuele Boaro (Tinkoff-Saxo) takes a bow, winning stage 3 after mistakenly saluting on the previous stage for second place (Bettini Photo).

Rolland, Hivert topped by Tinkoff-Saxo Italian.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








Photo: Stage 5 Profile.
Photo: Stage 4 Profile.

Friday's Tour of the Basque Country Stage 5 departs Eibar at 1:15pm CET (7:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Aia at around 5:13pm CET (11:13am U.S. Eastern). 

Tour of the Basque Country live streaming video should get underway at around *3:30pm CET (*9:30am U.S. Eastern, 6:30am Pacific). *Eurosport is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Stages & Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Stages & Results),

Paris-Roubaix - Apr 12 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More...

April 9, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Few one-day bike races capture the imagination quite like Paris-Roubaix. The cobbles, the dirt, the mud, the crashes; it truly is one of the hardest races on the calendar.
Photo: Few one-day bike races capture the imagination quite like Paris-Roubaix. The cobbles, the dirt, the mud, the crashes; it truly is one of the hardest races on the calendar. (Cor Vos)

The 2015 edition of Paris-Roubaix is 253km long and takes the riders from Compiègne to Roubaix. Along the way they’ll face 27 cobbled sectors of varying degrees of brutality, for a total of 52.7 cobbled kilometers.

Alexander Kristoff goes into the race as one of the big favorites, not least because of an incredible run of form in recent times.

In nine days, Kristoff managed no fewer than six wins, including Scheldeprijs on Wednesday and last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: It took more than a year to complete the project.
Photo: It took more than a year to complete the project.

Originally designed by Lodovico Falconi in 1984, this magnificently restored Alan Super Record CX, found a second life rather serendipitously. 

In a moment of luck, the Netherlands-based framebuilder, Junior Hoefsloot, found the Alan in all places – a metal scrap yard.

From there, Hoefsloot brought it back to his workplace, and began the process of bringing it back to life.

Both a philanthropic foundation and a workshop, Hoesfsloot’s Villa Boerebont MOER, trains underprivileged youth in the life-long skills of woodworking, bike mechanics, farming, and baking.

Together, he and his students, turned the Alan into this glorious fixed-gear bike.

April 9, 2015 (capovelo.com)





Photo: The new Ultralight uses a different carbon layup schedule than the EVO but shares the same molds and geometry as its lighter-weight sibling.
Photo: The new Ultralight uses a different carbon layup schedule than the EVO but shares the same molds and geometry as its lighter-weight sibling.

Building on its 695-gram Ultralight EVO high-end road frameset (MSRP: $3,999), Spain's BH Bikes has added two midseason complete bikes to the Ultralight line.

The 2015.5 Ultralight climbing frame drops the EVO name, weighs 840 grams, and is available in Shimano Ultegra and Dura-Ace builds.

"Our new (non-EVO) Ultralight offers similar category-topping performance and weight, but at a more modest price," said Gene DiMenna, BH's national sales and brand manager in the U.S. "We borrowed liberally from design, engineering and manufacturing advancements gained during the EVO project, but back in Vitoria (BH's headquarters in Spain's Basque region) and here in the U.S., there's an immense amount of pride in delivering near-EVO level performance in a more affordable package."

April 9, 2015 (bicycleretailer.com)









Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.
Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.

Sunday's Paris Roubaix departs Compiegne at 10:20am CET (4:20am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Roubaix at around 4:50pm CET (10:50am U.S. Eastern). 

Paris Roubaix live streaming video should get underway at around *12:45pm CET (*6:45am U.S. Eastern, 3:45am Pacific). *Eurosport's coverage is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: Joaquin Rodriguez (Team Katusha) (velonews.com).
Photo: Joaquin Rodriguez (Team Katusha) (velonews.com).

Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez won the third stage of the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco on Wednesday. The Spaniard won a three-man sprint to the line ahead of Sergio Henao and Nairo Quintana.

The three riders broke away from the small main field on the steep slopes of the Antigua, with three kilometers to go, and descended together into the finishing area on the streets of Zumarraga. Henao started the sprint but was overtaken by Rodriguez at the line, while Quintana rolled across in third.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Adriano Malori (Movistar Team) stays in the blue leader's jersey (Fotoreporter Sirotti).
Photo: Adriano Malori (Movistar Team) stays in the blue leader's jersey (Fotoreporter Sirotti).

Adriano Malori led a Movistar one-two in the Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire afternoon time trial, beating teammate Alex Dowsett in the 6.8km test in Angers.

The Italian covered the course in a time of 7:58 at over 51km/h. Dowsett was nine seconds slower, with Ramunas Navardauskas third in a time of 8:13. It was Malori’s third win of the 2015 season after also winning time trials at the Tour de San Luis and the more recent Tirreno-Adriatico.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)



Photo: olien D'hoore (Wiggle Honda) celebrates winning the sprint for second.
Photo: Jolien d'Hoore (Wiggle Honda) wins (Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl).

Jolien D'hoore claimed the first stage of the Energiewacht Tour in a sprint finish ahead of Barbara Guarischi and Trixi Worrack.

Anna van der Breggen finished fifth, and retained her overall lead in the race.

On a calm, sunny day with the wind that usually characterizes the Energiewacht Tour absent, all the teams were predicting a bunch sprint, though two breakaway riders nearly rewrote the script.

Just 14 kilometers into the race, Winanda Spoor attacked, taking Marijn de Vries with her, and with the bunch hesitant to chase, they stayed away through the run-in from Wedde to Ter Apel, and into the first of four 13.9km laps.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)









Sebastian Haedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman) won the first stage of Redlands ahead of Travis McCabe (SmartStop) and Dion Smith (Hincapie Racing).
Photo: Sebastian Haedo (Jamis-Hagens Berman) takes the win over Travis McCabe (SmartStop). (Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us). (cyclingnews.com).

Alison Jackson and Sebastian Haedo claimed wins in the first stage of the Redlands Bicycle Classic, the Highland circuit race, held Wednesday.

Jackson won a sprint from a small group, coming across the line ahead of former national champion Mara Abbott at the finish of the 41.3-mile race, a hilly affair in the foothills outside San Bernardino, California. Brianna Walle was third.

The men’s race saw action from the start with a number of different groups attempting to get away from the peloton on each three-mile lap.

About halfway through the 58.1-mile stage, a rider from Jelly Belly Pro Cycling and Astellas Cycling finally managed to escape from the peloton, creating a gap of 40 seconds quickly. Brendan Rhim bridged the gap across and then rode away from duo.

April 9, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition..
Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition.

Friday's Stage 2 is divided into a morning Stage 2a Team Time Trial and an afternoon Stage 2b.  There is a live feed for Stage 2b only.

Friday's Energiewacht Tour Stage 2b gets underway at 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern) and is expected to finish at around 4:48pm CET (10:48am U.S. Eastern). 

Energiewacht Tour live video streaming should get underway at 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 9, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





On Thursday, Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo) was out training on the Paris-Roubaix cobblestones, eager to put the disappointment of Ronde van Vlaanderen behind him. Photo: Tim De Waele.
On Thursday, Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo) was out training on the Paris-Roubaix cobblestones, eager to put the disappointment of Ronde van Vlaanderen behind him. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Belgian Sep Vanmarcke says that bad moments come and go in cycling and that Sunday’s Ronde van Vlaanderen performance was one that already went. He now looks ahead to Paris-Roubaix.

In northern France this Sunday, he wants to do something similar to 2013 when he placed second to Swiss Fabian Cancellara — or better. The result would help wash clean the dirty spot that was ‘De Ronde,’ four days ago in Belgium.

In front of a home crowd and one of the pre-race favorites, Vanmarcke failed. His yellow LottoNL-Jumbo jersey was noticeable not because it was in the group of favorites with eventual winner Alexander Kristoff, but because the television cameras kept showing the home star chasing desperately to make up ground.

April 9, 2015 (velonews.com)






Photo: THE COBBLESTONES OF WALLERS-ARENBERG Credit: Graham Watson.
Photo: THE COBBLESTONES OF WALLERS-ARENBERG Credit: Graham Watson.

Niki Terpstra is the king of Strava when it comes to the pavé sections of Paris-Roubaix, holding 12 of the 28 sectors, but there's plenty of amateurs on the list too

The Etixx-Quick-Step rider holds the record on 12 of the 28 sectors on the route, four of which were set in the 2012 race, the rest were picked up in 2013 when he raced to third place.

But those stats get you down; 10 of the other sectors are currently led by amateurs, including the treacherous Arenberg section, which Frederic Gronier dominated in a 44km ride last June.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Troisvilles is the first cobbled sector of this year's Paris-Roubaix, measuring 2.2km. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Troisvilles is the first cobbled sector of this year's Paris-Roubaix, measuring 2.2km. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Each pavé sector is a chapter in the 113-year tale of Paris-Roubaix. There are no easy cobbles, which exist on a scale from merely difficult to hellish, and on race day there is no escape — barriers and crowds line the route and cut off access to the dirt paths and concrete gutters that one can glide onto any other day of the year.

Each stone tells a story of tires flattened, races ruined; tales of rearing up and, with the slightest touch, ripping a sidewall or sending a wheel skittering sideways like a frightened cat. None should be underestimated. Any sector, any stone, can alter the history of the day.

This year, Paris-Roubaix will tackle 27 sectors, totaling 52.7 kilometers. The entire race is 253.5km long, and all the pavé comes in its latter two-thirds — the first 98km are smooth, rolling pavement.

April 9, 2015 (velonews.com)








Photo: Niki Terpstra wins the 2014 Paris-Roubaix.
Photo: Niki Terpstra wins the 2014 Paris-Roubaix.

The 2015 northern classics draw to a close on Sunday with Paris-Roubaix, arguably the toughest and most prestigious one-day race on the calendar.

With former winners Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen out of the race with injury, could we see Niki Terpstra successfully defend last year’s victory? Or will man-of-the-season Alexander Kristoff make it a Tour of Flanders/Paris-Roubaix double?

April 9, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: I tend to do most of my hard training sessions solo because it means I can focus on what I have to do and make sure I get it done.
Photo: "I tend to do most of my hard training sessions solo because it means I can focus on what I have to do and make sure I get it done."

"Quite a bit has happened since my last post. We have had our first couple of races in Europe, as well as quite a bit of good training in preparation for some heavy race blocks coming up. We also enjoyed some great Italian coffee and food of course, but more on that in a moment.

The little town we live in, Gavirate, is quite nice but there isn’t a whole lot going on. There’s a gelato shop just down the road from the team apartments as well as two coffee shops we go to quite often. We call one the ‘Cobbled Street’ and the other the ‘Courtyard’."

April 9, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)






Redlands Bicycle Classic Grieves Loss of Racer.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingillustrated.com)









April 8, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








April 8, 2015 (stickybottle.com)






Monday’s crash in the finish of the Tour of the Basque Country was horrific, the bunch was speeding inside the final kilometer, rounded a bend into the finishing straight to find two narrow iron bollards topped with traffic cones in the way.

The first riders came around the corner just tight enough to avoid trouble, behind others could not see the obstacle. Some swerved at the last minute prompting the first falls before others hit the metal poles at full speed.

Racing is dangerous enough and there are safety rules and guidelines to protect riders. Only they’re vague because it’s too hard to set down firm rules for events that exploit open roads.

April 8, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 9, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)




Much is at stake for the U.S. government in the case against Lance Armstrong. The ferocious legal wrangling behind the scenes indicates as much. Photo: Tim De Waele
Much is at stake for the U.S. government in the case against Lance Armstrong. The ferocious legal wrangling behind the scenes indicates as much. Photo: Tim De Waele.

The U.S. government has successfully blocked Floyd Landis’ proposed settlement with associates of feuding former teammate Lance Armstrong; a federal judge nixed the $600,000 deal on Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper acknowledged that it “might seem unfair” for the government to force Landis to continue litigation against William Stapleton, Armstrong’s former agent and president of Capital Sports and Entertainment Holdings, Inc., and CSE vice president Barton Knaggs, since the government was not part of the court action against them.

April 9, 2015 (velonews.com)
























April 9, 2015





Photo: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle Honda) gets emotional as she approaches the line (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle Honda) gets emotional as she approaches the line (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Last month, after the inaugural Strade Bianche, the UCI sat down with a number of the top female cyclists to outline their plans for a women’s WorldTour – a series that would try to mirror the already established men’s WorldTour. After making several breakthroughs in the past two seasons, in terms of their calendar, the inception of a WorldTour for the women would be the first major structural step forward for the female peloton in some time.

Recent Tour of Flanders victor Elisa Longo Borghini was one of the riders who stayed in Siena to attend the seminar, along with her team manager Rochelle Gilmore. Despite her young years – she’s still only 23 – Longo Borghini already has a wealth of experience at the top level, and she sat down with Cyclingnews to discuss what the UCI’s plans mean for her and the rest of women’s cycling.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






In his first year in the big leagues, Joey Rosskopf is taking his European experience to heart and looking forward to the Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Andrew Hood | VeloNews.com.
In his first year in the big leagues, Joey Rosskopf is taking his European experience to heart and looking forward to the Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Andrew Hood | VeloNews.com.

Getting thrown into the deep end. It’s part of the story of every young professional. Sink or swim.

Through his first two months in the treacherous European waters, BMC Racing’s Joey Rosskopf is doing more than keeping his head above water. And he hopes to make his own waves later this season.

“Until three weeks ago, I had never raced in Belgium, except as a junior. It’s been an adventure,” Rosskopf told VeloNews last week. “I’ve been trying to figure out [how] to save energy. I am trying to do something helpful in the race. When it gets hard, I get spit out the back, but I can help earlier in the race.”

April 9, 2015 (velonews.com)






Photo: Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins in the 2014 Paris-Roubaix .
Photo: Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins in the 2014 Paris-Roubaix.

Team Sky are not favorites for victory in Paris-Roubaix, says sports director Servais Knaven, while he also insists that the team have yet to formally select a designated leader.

Bradley Wiggins is widely expected to lead the team in his last race in Sky’s colours before switching to the track for the Hour Record and 2016 Olympics, but Sky are set to meet today in Kortrijk, Belgium, to discuss strategy for Sunday’s monument.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Niki Terpstra with his 2014 winner's trophy. Photo: Graham Watson.
Niki Terpstra with his 2014 winner's trophy. Photo: Graham Watson.

Is there a rock more prized than this? Since 1977 the winner of Paris-Roubaix has been awarded a rough, granite cube on a polished stone plinth.

It’s a granite sett, a cobblestone, the sort of stone used to pave roads before concrete and tarmac. Roads like those preserved in Northern France, and used for the annual battle across the infamous ‘Hell of the North’.

Cobbled roads were part of the first Paris-Roubaix in 1896 because almost every road in Europe was cobbled then. But as time passed, the cobbled roads remained in Northern France. This was largely due to coal mining in the area — the cobbled roads may be rough, but they are very tough and hard-wearing, so suited to the heavy transport used.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





The Giro d'Italia will again kick off with a team time trial, this time along the Ligurian coast. Tim De Waele.
The Giro d'Italia will again kick off with a team time trial, this time along the Ligurian coast. Tim De Waele.

The start of the 98th Giro d’Italia is one month away, and on Thursday, race organizer RCS Sport announced that it has finalized the details of the race’s 21 stages.

The grand tour, held from May 9 to 31, begins with a team time trial stage that will be held, for the first time in grand tour history, on a cycling path, which traces the Italian Riviera dei Fiori from San Lorenzo a Mare to Sanremo.

The race finishes in Milan during Expo 2015.

April 9, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Gravel and dirt roads reward riders with dramatically reduced car traffic and access to remote areas otherwise unreachable.
Photo: Gravel and dirt roads reward riders with dramatically reduced car traffic and access to remote areas otherwise unreachable.

Gorge Roubaix returned for its third running at the end of March, 2015, as racers and gravel grinders alike amassed in The Dalles, Oregon – a small, 15,000-person city nestled in the Columbia River Gorge at the end of the Oregon Trail, 85 miles due east of Portland and 36 miles north of Mt Hood.

Gorge Roubaix features two big-ass races with plenty of climbing and copious dirt/gravel, as well as a new non-competitive “gravel grinder” event on Sunday.

Day 1 ranges between 32 miles long with 2,500 feet of elevation gain for beginners and 62 miles and 5,400 feet for Elites, while Day 2 offers 50- and 75-mile courses with 3,400 and 6,120 feet of elevation, respectively.

April 9, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)





Photo: New Mavic wheel section on a Cannondale team bike. Photo: Gruber Images.
Photo: New Mavic wheel section on a Cannondale team bike. Photo: Gruber Images.

Alexander Kristoff’s and Luca Paolini’s recent Belgian winning streak has been on a new U-profiled front rim supplied by Mavic.

The new front wheel has been spotted being used by the Mavic-sponsored Katusha and Cannondale pro teams in a number of recent races. Unlike previous V-shaped Cosmic Carbone Ultimate wheels this new wheel has a U-shaped section, suggesting that Mavic has warmed to the aero benefits of this profile.

April 9, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)













April 8, 2015


April 8, 2015




Photo: Joaquin Rodriguez (Team Katusha) (velonews.com).
Photo: Joaquin Rodriguez (Team Katusha) (velonews.com).

Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez won the third stage of the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco on Wednesday. The Spaniard won a three-man sprint to the line ahead of Sergio Henao and Nairo Quintana.

The three riders broke away from the small main field on the steep slopes of the Antigua, with three kilometers to go, and descended together into the finishing area on the streets of Zumarraga. Henao started the sprint but was overtaken by Rodriguez at the line, while Quintana rolled across in third.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Adriano Malori (Movistar Team) stays in the blue leader's jersey (Fotoreporter Sirotti).
Photo: Adriano Malori (Movistar Team) stays in the blue leader's jersey (Fotoreporter Sirotti).

Adriano Malori led a Movistar one-two in the Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire afternoon time trial, beating teammate Alex Dowsett in the 6.8km test in Angers.

The Italian covered the course in a time of 7:58 at over 51km/h. Dowsett was nine seconds slower, with Ramunas Navardauskas third in a time of 8:13. It was Malori’s third win of the 2015 season after also winning time trials at the Tour de San Luis and the more recent Tirreno-Adriatico.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: I wasn’t sure to win the sprint even though I knew I was the fastest of us three.
Photo: I wasn’t sure to win the sprint even though I knew I was the fastest of us three.

Following Nacer Bouhanni’s relief as he claimed his first victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire, his former team FDJ experienced the same feeling as Anthony Roux delivered in Angers a long-awaited success for Marc Madiot’s outfit.

The Frenchman, a former overall winner of the event in 2011, outsprinted Quentin Jaurégui of AG2R-La Mondiale and Europcar’s superstar Thomas Voeckler, who led the trio to avoiding the highly expected mass sprint finish.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Women are flooding the sport and they are excited about it, retailers are excited about it and it has this tremendous momentum.
Women are flooding the sport and they are excited about it, retailers are excited about it and it has this tremendous momentum.
Photography by Drew Dunlop and Chas Mackinnon

Cycling is one of those well-established industries where growth is hard to come by. Product innovation, savvy marketing and most importantly the identification of untapped market segments are crucial to keeping sales and profitability rolling along. As far as underdeveloped market segments go, it’s hard to go past women’s cycling.

The recognition of the potential of this market as one of the key opportunities for growth in the industry and the sport has led to a growing sophistication in the offering for women, taking it beyond the days of shrink it and pink it where a women’s product was just smaller and prettier than the version made for their male counterparts.

So what are cycling companies doing now to deliver women’s products that cater to the specific needs of the gender, to deliver their marketing in a way that makes women embrace the sport and to make sure this opportunity turns into a reality?

April 8, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Stages & Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Stages & Results),

Paris-Roubaix - Apr 12 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More...

April 8, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: But there’s no other race like Paris-Roubaix; organisers in Denmark, England, Brittany and even the USA seek to imitate it but that’s not possible.
Photo: But there’s no other race like Paris-Roubaix; organisers in Denmark, England, Brittany and even the USA seek to imitate it but that’s not possible.

The ‘Hell of the North’ hits the cobbles of Northern France on Sunday.

Sure, there are older races – Paris Roubaix was first held in 1896 when Josef Fischer of Germany won but Liege-Bastogne-Liege (La Doyenne and the fourth Monument) predates that by four years. There are longer races; it’s a mere 257 kilometers from the Paris satellite of Compiegne to the Roubaix velodrome; Milan-Sanremo adds 40 kilometers to that.

And there are hillier races; the aforementioned Liege-Bastogne-Liege has 10 classified climbs and hardly one hundred metres of flat road – whilst the Tour of Lombardy (the fifth and final Monument) includes bona fide mountain passes in its parcours.

Paris-Roubaix remains steadfastly pan flat.

April 8, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)








Photo: Stage 4 Profile.
Photo: Stage 4 Profile.

Thursday's Tour of the Basque Country Stage 4 departs Zumarraga at 1:05pm CET (7:05am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Arrate (Eibar) at around 5:13pm CET (11:13am U.S. Eastern). 

Tour of the Basque Country live streaming video should get underway at around *3:30pm CET (*9:30am U.S. Eastern, 6:30am Pacific). *Eurosport is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: The basics of Roubaix are pretty straightforward. It's a 253 km trek north from what used to be Paris but is now Compiegne. Bryn Lennon/Getty Image
Photo: The basics of Roubaix are pretty straightforward. It's a 253 km trek north from what used to be Paris but is now Compiegne. Bryn Lennon/Getty Image

For those worried after the discussions about Flanders, there is no new Roubaix course, no laps, no three passages of VIP sections in the Forest of Arenberg, the Carrefour de'l Arbre hasn't been taken out and there's no finish on a freeway outside Roubaix.

Just the same(-ish) long meander through the fields of northern France to find the gnarliest possible cobble roads on the way to the velodrome in Roubaix.

Just the way we like it.

April 8, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)







Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.
Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.

Sunday's Paris Roubaix departs Compiegne at 10:20am CET (4:20am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Roubaix at around 4:50pm CET (10:50am U.S. Eastern). 

Paris Roubaix live streaming video should get underway at around *12:45pm CET (*6:45am U.S. Eastern, 3:45am Pacific). *Eurosport's coverage is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)








April 7, 2015 (velonews.com)




Photo: She was a student at the University of Nevada-Reno, majoring in nutrition and dietetics, set to graduate this spring, and was recently engaged to cyclist Nick Schaffner. ©Kristy Morrow
Photo: She was a student at the University of Nevada-Reno, majoring in nutrition and dietetics, set to graduate this spring, and was recently engaged to cyclist Nick Schaffner.
©Kristy Morrow

The staff of the Redlands Bicycle Classic and the cycling community are grieving the tragic loss of Erica Greif, a 24-year-old cyclist en route to race in the Redlands Bicycle Classic who was killed in an auto accident on Tuesday night.

Redlands Bicycle Classic President Bob Peppler had consoling remarks for the ZOCA-Halo Sports Hedrick racing team cyclist, who called the tragedy heartbreaking.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingillustrated.com)








Photo: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) (Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) (Getty Images Sport).

Scheldeprijs followed the recent form guide with Alexander Kristoff winning ahead of Edward Theuns and Yauheni Hutarovich.

The race was marred by a huge crash inside the final two kilometers with the majority of the field caught out. However, that mattered little to Kirstoff who opened a commanding sprint inside the final 150 meters to follow up on his Tour of Flanders success.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: The first batch of fallers, pictured from above as those behind plough into them.
Photo: ...

The gaping empty road behind the 12 riders who survived to sprint for the win in today’s Scheldeprijs pro race tells the tale of the huge crash on the home straight.

Thevideo shows Irish rider Sam Bennett in 4th place with around 1km remaining.

A little further up the road, an Astana rider leans on Bennett and that movement appears to cause the crash.

Bennett was one of the first victim’s of the Astana rider’s move, falling hard.

April 8, 2015 (stickybottle.com)





Photo: the organiser shall ensure that the race course or the competition grounds include no places or situations that could constitute a particular safety risk to anyone.
Photo: "The organizer shall ensure that the race course or the competition grounds include no places or situations that could constitute a particular safety risk to anyone." (www.thetop7.com)

Monday’s crash in the finish of the Tour of the Basque Country was horrific, the bunch was speeding inside the final kilometer, rounded a bend into the finishing straight to find two narrow iron bollards topped with traffic cones in the way.

The first riders came around the corner just tight enough to avoid trouble, behind others could not see the obstacle. Some swerved at the last minute prompting the first falls before others hit the metal poles at full speed.

Racing is dangerous enough and there are safety rules and guidelines to protect riders. Only they’re vague because it’s too hard to set down firm rules for events that exploit open roads.

April 8, 2015 (inrng.com)





Marcel Kittel (Giant-Alpecin) has had a tough run in the first few months of 2015. The German sprinter hopes to overcome a virus that has sidelined him to be ready to race full-gas at the Tour de France. Photo: AFP PHOTO | MARK GUNTER .
Marcel Kittel (Giant-Alpecin) has had a tough run in the first few months of 2015. The German sprinter hopes to overcome a virus that has sidelined him to be ready to race full-gas at the Tour de France. Photo: AFP PHOTO | MARK GUNTER.

German Marcel Kittel dominated the sprints in the 2014 Tour de France, but has struggled to even race in the 2015 season due to a virus and a slower than expected recovery.

Team Giant-Alpecin’s top sprinter had to pull out of the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race and skip his title defense in Wednesday’s Scheldeprijs. His hope now is to be recovered in time for the Tour de France, which begins July 4 in Utrecht, Netherlands, but it is a “slow” process.

“May 1 in the Tour of Yorkshire? It’s very difficult to say when he can return,” team doctor, Anko Boelens told VeloNews.

April 8, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Alexander Kristoff (r) and Katusha team-mate Luca Paolini at the start of the 2015 Scheldeprijs in Antwerp.
Alexander Kristoff (r) and Katusha team-mate Luca Paolini at the start of the 2015 Scheldeprijs in Antwerp. Photography by Cor Vos and Shane Stokes.

Tour of Flanders winner Alexander Kristoff has made clear it is business as usual in today’s Scheldeprijs race and Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, saying that he is determined to move on after his big success last Sunday.

Some riders bask in the glow of success but he wants to keep his momentum going. While he took three stages plus the overall in the Three Days of De Panne plus the Tour of Flanders in the past week, he is looking forward rather than gazing back.

“I feel it [Flanders] was the best win of my career, especially in the way we won, the way I won,” he told CyclingTips at the Scheldeprijs start in Antwerp on Wednesday morning.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Shimano's handlebar-mounted satellite shifters are popular with riders at the Classics who like to attack the cobbles with their hands on the tops, they're design to be thumb sized...because you use your thumb to shift.
Photo: Shimano's handlebar-mounted satellite shifters are popular with riders at the Classics who like to attack the cobbles with their hands on the tops, they're design to be thumb sized...because you use your thumb to shift.

SRAM’s wireless electronic groupset is seemingly edging closer to production and, while they’re remaining tight-lipped on official details surrounding the gruppo, we spotted it being put to the test at the women’s Tour of Flanders.

The wireless setup first broke cover at the 2014 Tour of California, where it was used by the Axeon Cycling team and, having been continually refined since then, Velocio-SRAM’s Lisa Brennauer, a silver medallist at the 2014 World Road Race Championships, was the rider tasked with testing the groupset over the cobbles of Flanders.

April 8, 2015 (roadcyclinguk.com)





Photo: yxation is now shipping its Six Fyx kit, which converts fixed gear bikes with 120mm rear spacing to a six-speed derailleur drivetrain.
Photo: Fyxation is now shipping its Six Fyx kit, which converts fixed gear bikes with 120mm rear spacing to a six-speed derailleur drivetrain.

The Six Fyx consists of a proprietary bolt-on 120mm rear hub with a 12-26 cassette, a removable derailleur hanger designed for horizontal dropouts, rear derailleur, indexed bar-end shifter, cables, housing and a 46-tooth chainring (130 BCD). The kit requires a 9-speed chain that is not included.

The kit is available with the above parts for $250 retail for customers who want to have a wheel built around the kit's hub. It's also available with a complete rear wheel built with the Six Fyx hub and a black 40mm Fyzation wheel for $300.

April 8, 2015 (bicycleretailer.com)





Photo: Is your bike mechanic a Hopeful Pro, True Believer, Kid, or Retrogrouch?(Illustration by Jason Raish).
Photo: Is your bike mechanic a Hopeful Pro, True Believer, Kid, or Retrogrouch?(Illustration by Jason Raish).

How to get the most from these four bike-shop archetypes.

April 8, 2015 (bicycling.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 8, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)











April 8, 2015





Photo: Anna van der Breggen (Rabo Liv) wins (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Anna van der Breggen (Rabo Liv) wins (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Brennauer, Worrack bested by Dutch rider.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The Trek Factory Racing rider was left with a broken collarbone in the crash as he was sent flying across the road.
Photo: The Trek Factory Racing rider was left with a broken collarbone in the crash as he was sent flying across the road.

Former Lotto and CSC rider Paul Van Hyfte was the driver who crashed into the back of the FDJ car at the Tour of Flanders, while a policeman caused Jesse Sergent to crash.

Sergent, who was part of a seven-man breakaway, collided with a Shimano car as he turned a corner around the halfway mark of the race.

According to Ciclo21.com, the driver of the car was a police officer, who reportedly cannot remember anything about the incident or what caused him to try and pass the New Zealander in such a narrow place.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Tejay van Garderen (BMC) waits to sign in for stage 1 at Pais Vasco. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Tejay van Garderen (BMC) waits to sign in for stage 1 at Pais Vasco. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

American Tejay van Garderen has had a rollercoaster beginning to his 2015 season as he prepares for his top target, the Tour de France in July. Van Garderen has twice finished fifth overall in the race – in 2012 and again last year – and as a reward was given reins to the team as Cadel Evans made his exit.

But the 26-year-old's tenure as the BMC leader has been a mixed bag. His result in the 2012 Tour signalled his potential for the Grand Tours, and he started 2013 with his first major win at the 2.HC Tour of California. Van Garderen faltered at the Tour de France that year, however, and despite finishing second on an epic stage to Alpe d'Heuz, he came in 45th in the general classification.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Most of the Defy models employ the D-Fuse seatpost as a proper seatpost.
Photo: Most of the Defy models employ the D-Fuse seatpost as a proper seatpost.

"You’ve probably seen my review on the TCX SLR 1. It was the first bike in Giant’s line to use the new D-Fuse seatpost design. A refresher: D-Fuse is a seatpost that instead of being tubular in shape, has a D-shape (viewed from the top). The shape is oriented so that the middle of the flat side of the D sits at 6 o’clock—the rear of the post—and perpendicular to the plane of the frame.

Jon Swanson, the engineer behind the design walked me through how the shape allows the post to flex rearward while discouraging forward flex. The upshot is that the post moves little, if at all, under pedaling forces but allows some spring when the rider hits bumps.

And a ‘cross bike is the natural place to give a post like this a try. Feedback from internal testing was positive enough to make it into production with the Defy, and I can understand why.

You’ll pardon me if I was concerned that a aluminum-framed ‘cross bike on rough fire roads might beat me past senselessness and straight into learned helplessness."

April 8, 2015 (redkiteprayer.com)





Photo: Tyres that never puncture.
Photo: Tires that never puncture.

Bicycles in one form or another have been around for nearly 200 years. That’s plenty of time, you would have thought, for all the niggles and annoyances to have been ironed out of the road cycling experience.

Of course, over the past two centuries there have been countless cycling innovations and inventions that we now take for granted. Many of them are the work of genius.

Yet as technology marches on, new problems present themselves and we’re left wanting for things to be that little bit better.

April 8, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Tanner Putt jumped into the breakaway at Scheldeprijs at will try to do the same at his first Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com.
Tanner Putt jumped into the breakaway at Scheldeprijs at will try to do the same at his first Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com.

There is no fear in the eyes of Tanner Putt as he stands on the precipice of Paris-Roubaix, peering at 51 kilometers of pavé and the biggest race of his career.

“Not scared. More … excited,” Putt said with a brief pause and a grin, standing outside his UHC team bus at the start of Scheldeprijs Wednesday morning.

An hour later, he showed just how excited he is, battling his way into the day’s long breakaway.

April 8, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Berthoud handlebar bags are available in three sizes, depending on how much room you have between your stem/decaleur and your front rack.
Photo: Berthoud handlebar bags are available in three sizes, depending on how much room you have between your stem/decaleur and your front rack.

"Berthoud handlebar bags are wonderful, I even wrote once that they were “unimprovable”. It turns out that they can be improved after all!

The model most riders prefer is the “standard” version, which uses elastic loops to close the pocket flaps. The “luxury” version uses leather straps and buckles, which sounds nice until you try to open them one-handed while riding, or with cold hands while stopped – it’s fiddly and can be frustrating.

However, the “luxury” version also has rings and a removable shoulder strap, so you can more conveniently carry your bag."
.
April 8, 2015 (janheine.wordpress.com)





Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition..
Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition.

Thursday's Energiewacht Tour Stage 1 gets underway at 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern) and is expected to finish at around 4:45pm CET (10:45am U.S. Eastern). 

Energiewacht Tour live video streaming should get underway at 2:00pm CET (8:00am U.S. Eastern, 5:00am Pacific).

April 8, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)
























April 7, 2015


April 7, 2015





Fabio Felline (Trek Factory Racing) surprised race leader Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) with an early sprint in the finale to win stage 2 of Vuelta al Pais Vasco. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Fabio Felline (Trek Factory Racing) surprised race leader Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) with an early sprint in the finale to win stage 2 of Vuelta al Pais Vasco. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Despite a lumpy course that offered six categorized climbs, the sprinters had their day again at Vuelta al Pais Vasco, and Fabio Felline proved the fastest of the bunch on Tuesday.

At the end of stage 2, Etixx-Quick-Step was eager to set up its sprinter, Gianni Meersman, but Orica-GreenEdge had other plans, infiltrating the lead-out with Daryl Impey.

Although Impey laced up an excellent lead-out for race leader, and his teammate, Michael Matthews, Felline caught the Australian off-guard with an early jump and held it to the line.

April 7, 2015 (velonews.com)






Photo: Boels Dolmans.
Photo: Boels Dolmans.

Now in it’s fifth year the Energiewacht Tour is one of the younger races on the calendar but is showing the ‘old guard’ how it’s done, with an excellent presence on social media, daily highlights and for the first time ever this year, the entire race will be broadcast live on a local TV channel.

Plus, for those fans from a little further afield there will be an unrestricted live stream on the race website.  

Based mostly in the Dutch northern province of Groningen the racing is pan-flat and characterized by the infamous winds whipping across the exposed landscape. Throw in an evening prologue and the first team time trial of the year and it has all the makings for an action-packed five days of racing.

April 7, 2015 (velofocus.com)





Photo: Today's scene on Lemon Hill (Jonathan Devich/CN).
Photo: Today's scene on Lemon Hill (Jonathan Devich/CN).

US domestic racing rolls out of hybernation this week with the Redlands Bicycle Classic and the start of USA Cycling's 2015 National Racing Calendar.

The men's and women's NRC individual and team classifications will be decided over seven events throughout the season, beginning with the five-stage California race that starts on Wednesday.

April 7, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Stages & Results),

Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Apr 7-10 (Stages & Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (Start List),

Paris-Roubaix - Apr 12 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More...

April 7, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: We look ahead to this weekend's race, and at the secteurs pavé that could define its outcome .
Photo: We look ahead to this weekend's race, and at the secteurs pavé that could define its outcome. (Graham Watson)

If there’s one race that epitomizes racing on the cobblestones, it’s Paris-Roubaix.

When organizers made their first tentative course reconnaissance in the immediate aftermath of the First World War, so devastated by four years of industrial warfare was the landscape along the route from the capital to the Belgian border that they gave the 1919 race the name ‘The Hell of the North’.

It stuck, thanks both to the apocalyptic conditions of almost every edition of the race since, and to Jørgen Leth’s iconic film of the 1976 race: A Sunday in Hell.

April 7, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)








Photo: Stage 2 Profile.
Photo: Stage 2 Profile.

Tuesday's Tour of the Basque Country Stage 2 departs Bilbao at 12:45pm CET (6:45am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Vitoria-Gasteiz at around 5:13pm CET (11:13am U.S. Eastern). 

Tour of the Basque Country live streaming video should get underway at around *3:30pm CET (*9:30am U.S. Eastern, 6:30am Pacific). *Eurosport is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 7, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)







Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.
Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.

Sunday's Paris Roubaix departs Compiegne at 10:20am CET (4:20am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Roubaix at around 4:50pm CET (10:50am U.S. Eastern). 

Paris Roubaix live streaming video should get underway at around *12:45pm CET (*6:45am U.S. Eastern, 3:45am Pacific). *Eurosport's coverage is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 7, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





The WattBike comes at a steep price, but it offers a wealth of data measurements to those who ride indoors often. Photo: Wattbike.
The WattBike comes at a steep price, but it offers a wealth of data measurements to those who ride indoors often. Photo: Wattbike.

Let’s face it; most of us have a love-hate relationship with indoor training. Generally, we’ll use work, illness, prior commitments, or any other excuse under the sun to avoid it. But sometimes, when the weather is bad and friends aren’t around, we just have to ride vicariously as Contador or Froome indoors.

Fortunately, WattBike, a UK-based company has developed an indoor trainer, in conjunction with British Cycling, that it hopes will have you scrambling to get inside to get your training fix.

The WattBike comes in two models — the Trainer and the Pro. This review covers the Pro, which only differs in its resistance range, providing what WattBike calls medium to hard resistance, ideal for Cat. 3 or better men, Cat. 2 or better women, and sprinters.

April 7, 2015 (velonews.com)







Photo: Michael Matthews beats Michal Kwiatkowski to the line. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Michael Matthews beats Michal Kwiatkowski to the line. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Michael Matthews won the opening stage at the Pais Vasco from a small group sprint on the streets of Bilbao.

The Australian sprinter made it through the hilly stage with a front group of roughly 50 riders to take the sprint ahead of world champion Michal Kwiatkowski and Ilnur Zakarin.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Bauke Mollema closed in on Nairo Quintana's lead (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Bauke Mollema closed in on Nairo Quintana's lead (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

"The Ardennes Classics are right around the corner! They are my next big targets, after Tirreno-Adriatico, and I’m looking forward to taking on the three days of racing at the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège."

April 6, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)




Photo: Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) made it into the top ten in Milan-San Remo (Bettini Photo).
Photo: Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) made it into the top ten in Milan-San Remo (Bettini Photo).

Nacer Bouhanni finally whipped his Cofidis lead-out train into shape and claimed a long-awaited first victory of 2015 in the opening stage of Circuit Cycliste Sarthe in Varades. The Frenchman denied the remaining two early breakaway riders a shot at the first leader's jersey, his train catching them in the final kilometer and delivering their star to the win.

"We didn't know if we'd be able to bridge the gap or not," the Frenchman told Cyclingnews after the race. "So we used Dominique Rollin to chase with three kilometers to go although he was scheduled for leading me out. It's a relief to finally pull up a win."

April 7, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








Photo: The metal poles in the finishing straight of stage one of the Tour of the Basque Country (Twitter).
Photo: The metal poles in the finishing straight of stage one of the Tour of the Basque Country (Twitter).

As the full list of riders injured in the crash at the Tour of the Basque Country emerges, the anger of the riders in the race and around the world has swelled, with the UCI, the race organizer and the riders’ Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA) under pressure to take a stance and improve rider safety.

According to the El Diario Vasco newspaper in the Basque Country, four riders were taken to hospital after riders hit a series of metal poles as they entered the finishing straight at high speed and began sprinting to the line.

April 7, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)








Alexander Kristoff enters Wednesday's Scheldeprijs as the top favorite. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Alexander Kristoff enters Wednesday's Scheldeprijs as the top favorite. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Though it’s the oldest of the Flemish classics, dating back to 1907, Scheldeprijs certainly isn’t the most prestigious or challenging. But it is fast, very fast. Held over the flats around Belgium’s diamond capital of Antwerp, the 200-kilometer race is an unofficial sprinter’s championship.

The route, consisting of one large loop and three finishing circuits, does include seven cobblestone sectors, but it stays well north of the “hellingen” featured in the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), and almost always ends in a mass gallop.

April 7, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Best of British: Sir Dave Brailsford (left) and Sir Bradley Wiggins talk shop Photo: GETTY IMAGES.
Photo: Best of British: Dave Brailsford (left) and Bradley Wiggins talk shop Photo: GETTY IMAGES.

Ahead of Paris-Roubaix this weekend, Tom Cary chats with Bradley Wiggins and Dave Brailsford to discuss how these two unlikely lads have transformed British cycling.

April 7, 2015 (telegraph.co.uk)






Photo: Swift medical attention improves survival after a cardiac arrest at sporting events (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Christiana Care:Flickr).
Photo: Swift medical attention improves survival after a cardiac arrest at sporting events (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Christiana Care:Flickr).

When a participant in a major event like a sportive or marathon suffers a heart attack, it makes headlines. But there's no need for MAMILs and MAWILs to panic: a new study shows middle-aged athletes are at low risk for having a sudden cardiac arrest while playing sports, and those who do have a greater chance of surviving.

"Because there is so much media attention when someone has a sudden cardiac arrest while playing sports, we want to make sure people know that the benefits of exercise far outweigh the risk of having a cardiac arrest," says Sumeet S. Chugh, MD, an expert in heart rhythm abnormalities.

April 7, 2015 (road.cc)





Photo: the unit weighs in at 38g. I believe that’s the lightest GPS watch on the market. Or at least the lightest made by any mainstream sports focused company.
Photo: The unit weighs in at 38g. The lightest GPS watch on the market. Or at least the lightest made by any mainstream sports focused company.

Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Garmin announced a slew of wearable devices including the new Vivoactive.  The Vivoactive was designed as a merger between Garmin’s mid-range fitness watches (i.e. the FR220) and the activity tracking of the Vivofit line. 

Yet at the same time it adopted the 3rd party app functionality of Connect IQ and even managed to get golf support.  In many ways, the watch outperforms some units that Garmin sells for nearly twice as much.  But, does it live up to the hype?

April 7, 2015 (dcrainmaker.com)





Photo: The current Madone already uses nominally aero tube profiles but we'd like to see the more aggressive shapes of the Speed Concept carried over to the road.
Photo: The current Madone already uses nominally aero tube profiles but we'd like to see the more aggressive shapes of the Speed Concept carried over to the road.

Trek launched its current-generation Madone three years ago with the idea that it could be a true all-in-one road racing platform: light enough for the biggest mountain stages, aero enough to spend all day out front in the wind, and comfortable enough to ride all day.

Trek itself has since muddied that philosophy with the ultralight Emonda and the remarkably comfortable Domane family, however, so with a new Madone presumably on the horizon, the most logical pathway at this point is to transform the storied nameplate into a more relevant dedicated aero road bike.

April 7, 2015 (bikeradar.com)





these shoes are well worth the $350 price of admission. Photo courtesy ofGiro.
These shoes are well worth the $350 price of admission. Photo courtesy of Giro.

Giro hit one out of the park with its lace-up Empire SLX. Not only are these shoes feathery light—and the lightest in this test—but the fit is also second-to-none when the lace tension is perfect. Plus, the vintage look is uniquely cool.

Laces may seem like a step backward to some but the contoured fit and even tension across the foot compared to all other closures currently on the market is unbelievably supportive, yet at the same time comfortable. The seamless microfiber upper conforms to the foot like a glove. “They provide the best pressure distribution and most complete fit I’ve ever experienced,” said one tester.

“I can wear them tighter than any other shoe for a feeling of efficiency, but my feet are still comfortable.” Giro’s unidirectional carbon sole is stiff but not quite as rigid-feeling as the Specialized’s. And an adjustable arch height via variable thickness arch spacers makes these footbeds best-in-class, and increases the already-comfortable shoe’s ability to feel like an extension of your body.

April 7, 2015 (bicycling.com)







Photo: Wednesday is the sprinter's midweek classic Scheldeprijs (1.HC BEL).
Photo: Wednesday is the sprinter's midweek classic Scheldeprijs (1.HC BEL).

Start time: Wednesday April 8th at 12:15 CET (3:15 AM PST);

Earliest live video: 14:45 CET (5:45 AM PST);

Approximate finish: 17:03 CET (8:03 AM PST).

April 7, 2015 (steephill.tv)







In Norway on Sunday evening, in the first hours after Alexander Kristoff won Belgium’s Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), the locals already crowned their next king of cycling.

April 6, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 7, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)






















April 7, 2015






Photo: It’s this force that’s ominous for next Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix.
Photo: It’s this force that’s ominous for next Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix.

He’ll go in the breakaways, he’ll win bunch sprints, he’ll take 300km classics or morning split stages. Alexander Kristoff is a problem for everyone else how to beat him in Paris-Roubaix is the question worrying many team managers keen to salvage something from the final cobbled classic.

What a week for Kristoff: three stage wins in the three days of De Panne, there were two bunch sprint wins but he also won from a breakaway move too, a confidence booster ahead of his triumph last Sunday.

His third place in the time trial stage was impressive, beaten but what if this was the real clue to his performance in De Ronde? He had the power to beat everyone over 20 minutes and when Niki Terpstra went clear over the Hotond only Kristoff could follow, hardly the mark of a sprinter trying to hang on for the win.

April 7, 2015 (inrng.com)






Photo: Wiggins said he was completely satisfied with the thoughts of bidding farewell to his WorldTour road career on Sunday.
Photo: Wiggins said he was completely satisfied with the thoughts of bidding farewell to his WorldTour road career on Sunday. (Cor Vos)

Although he will continue on with the new self-titled Continental squad, focussing mainly on the track plus the world hour record, Bradley Wiggins’ road career is essentially winding down and may have just days left to run.

The former Tour de France winner will don a Team Sky jersey for the final time for Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix. Then, wherever he finishes, he will call it a day with the team, ending a chapter with the squad which began a little over five years ago in January 2010.

April 7, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Richie Porte wins stage four of the 2015 Paris-Nice.
Photo: Richie Porte wins stage four of the 2015 Paris-Nice.

Australian Richie Porte has maintained his top spot in the latest UCI WorldTour ranking, although Tour of Flanders winner Alexander Kristoff is threatening Porte’s position after enjoying his best season yet.

Norwegian Kristoff has moved up to second place in the WorldTour table after Sunday’s Belgian success, bumping British rider Geraint Thomas down to third.

Thomas missed out on points in Flanders after finishing outside the top 10.

April 7, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Every team was using the latest Shimano cameras except Cannondale-Garmin which was using the Garmin Virb.
Photo: Every team was using the latest Shimano cameras except Cannondale-Garmin which was using the Garmin Virb.

One item that has quickly been adopted by many of the teams in the pro peloton is on-board cameras. Velon is pushing for the use of cameras in the sport and eight of the 11 Velon group teams at Flanders were using cameras. Lotto Soudal, Lampre-Merida, Giant-Alpecin, Trek, Tinkoff-Saxo, Cannondale-Garmin, Sky and Orica-GreenEdge are all able to showcase on-bike footage they’ve captured from the race. See, for example, Orica-GreenEdge’s Backstage Pass video from the Tour of Flanders.

On top of this they have shared the footage with race organizers and TV broadcasters for use in the post-race highlights packages.

April 7, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: The Defy Advanced SL 0 (and from here on out I’m just going to reduce that mouthful to Defy) is a handsome bike.
Photo: The Defy Advanced SL 0 is a handsome bike.

Bike manufacturers working in carbon fiber more or less have come to agree what the standard road bike is. Those race bikes we see in the big pro races fall within a pretty narrowly defined range; that’s true from sizing to stiffness.

They can be, similarly, all bold and no nuance. The differences between these bikes are, increasingly, a matter of degrees, though those degrees can still be significant.

However, (cue the dissonant string music), when it comes to grand touring bikes (I’m sorry, but “endurance bike” is a wicked-lame term), it’s still the Wild West. While there’s nominal agreement about handling and what the fit should be, there’s zero agreement about what the ride quality ought to be or if they even deserve top-shelf spec. Which is to say, every now and then you can come across a bike that will really surprise you.

April 7, 2015 (redkiteprayer.com)





Photo: Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclo sportive with disc brakes and 28mm Contis.
Photo: Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclo sportive with disc brakes and 28mm Contis.

"Held on and around the course of the Tour of Flanders, the Ronde van Vlaanderen Cyclo sportive boasts more than 16,000 participants.

Having done the event three times, this year I tackled the wet and muddy cobbles around Oudenaarde, Belgium on a BMC GranFondo GF01 105, with hydraulic disc brakes, plush 28mm Continental Ultra Sport clinchers and crazy-low gearing of 50/34 and 11-32.

As with many gran fondos, the Ronde offers three distances: the full 239km from Bruge to Oudenaare, the short 71km loop that still tackles famed cobbled climbs such as Koppenberg, Kwaremont and Paterberg, and the Goldilocks middle distance of 123km that I’ve done in years past."

April 7, 2015 (bikeradar.com)





Fitness guru Kym Perfetto created this routine for days when she can't get on a bike or to the gym.(Photo by Christina Gandolfo).
Fitness guru Kym Perfetto created this routine for days when she can't get on a bike or to the gym.(Photo by Christina Gandolfo).

Bike messenger turned Hollywood stuntwoman, personal trainer, and SoulCycle instructor Kym Perfetto has an attitude that's as fierce as her physique. Her intense, no-nonsense workouts attract A-list celebrities, including Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Jake Gyllenhaal. But as a contestant on last season's Amazing Race, the 30-year-old Perfetto rarely had time to hit the gym.

Instead, she relied on this 10-minute, do-anywhere workout that focuses on core and leg strength. "It improves speed and endurance on the bike," says Perfetto, who is also a North American Cycle Courier Champion and Cat 2 track racer.

April 7, 2015 (bicycling.com)





Photo: A partial telling of the story of the East German doping programme.
Photo: A partial telling of the story of the East German doping programme.

For the forty-one years between 1949 and 1990 that the Deutsche Demokratische Republik existed, sport was used as a tool to demonstrate the superiority of the communist system of the eastern bloc countries over the capitalist system of the west.

The Olympics became part of the Cold War, where east battled west. The USA and the USSR went to toe-to-toe. Behind them marched their satellite states, with East Germany one of the best among them when it came to bagging the bangles and baubles at the quadrennial five-ring circus that is the Games.

April 7, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)





Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition..
Photo: The 2015 Energiewacht Tour, an Elite Women's race, is being held April 8-12. There is also a junior edition.

Wednesday's Energiewacht Tour Prologue, a 2.5km Individual Time Trial at Winsum, gets underway at 7:00pm CET (1:00pm U.S. Eastern) with the departure of the first rider. 

Energiewacht Tour live video streaming should get underway at 7:00pm CET (1:00pm U.S. Eastern, 10:00am Pacific).

April 7, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






"Recently the oncologist Larry Einhorn sent a letter to each of the hundreds of patients who had once been in his care.

April 6, 2015 (si.com)



April 6, 2015





Photo: Michael Matthews beats Michal Kwiatkowski to the line. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Michael Matthews beats Michal Kwiatkowski to the line. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Michael Matthews won the opening stage at the Pais Vasco from a small group sprint on the streets of Bilbao.

The Australian sprinter made it through the hilly stage with a front group of roughly 50 riders to take the sprint ahead of world champion Michal Kwiatkowski and Ilnur Zakarin.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Bauke Mollema closed in on Nairo Quintana's lead (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Bauke Mollema closed in on Nairo Quintana's lead (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

"The Ardennes Classics are right around the corner! They are my next big targets, after Tirreno-Adriatico, and I’m looking forward to taking on the three days of racing at the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

I’m feeling good about my form after finishing well in Tirreno-Adriatico. It was seven days of racing at the WorldTour level and I think that it went really well. Nairo Quintana was strong on the uphill finish of the fifth stage in Terminillo but I finished second and I think that’s a good result for being so early in the season. I don’t think I’ve ever been in better shape in March, so that was good and I was happy with that."

April 6, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The favorites didn’t go full gas on the final category two climb, but he came to the fore, which, at least for the moment, bodes well for the upcoming harder stages.
Photo: "The favorites didn’t go full gas on the final category two climb, but he came to the fore, which, at least for the moment, bodes well for the upcoming harder stages."

Tinkoff-Saxo and the rest of the pack in Vuelta al País Vasco were thrown right into the mix with an undulating stage typical for the terrain of the Basque Country. Four Tinkoff-Saxo riders, including Rafal Majka, crossed the finish line in Bilbao in the decimated main bunch, where Michael Matthews took first place in the sprint.
 
Tinkoff-Saxo’s sports director Sean Yates notes after the race that Majka’s presence at the front was an uplifting sign after the talented climber had suffered from sickness during the recent Volta a Catalunya.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)






Photo: One of the most consistent riders in the women’s peloton.
Photo: One of the most consistent riders in the women’s peloton.

There was one top rider at the women’s Tour of Flanders yesterday who was just happy to start, despite eventually finishing way below her potential.

Swedish Champion Emma Johansson finished the race in 13th place, 3-30 behind winner Elisa Longo-Borghini, though only three weeks after breaking her collarbone.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Stages & Results),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (History),

Paris-Roubaix - Apr 12 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Results),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More...

April 6, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)








Photo: Stage 2 Profile.
Photo: Stage 2 Profile.

Tuesday's Tour of the Basque Country Stage 2 departs Bilbao at 12:45pm CET (6:45am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Vitoria-Gasteiz at around 5:13pm CET (11:13am U.S. Eastern). 

Tour of the Basque Country live streaming video should get underway at around *3:30pm CET (*9:30am U.S. Eastern, 6:30am Pacific). *Eurosport is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.
Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.

Sunday's Paris-Roubaix departs Compiegne at 10:20am CET (4:20am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Roubaix at around 4:50pm CET (10:50am U.S. Eastern). 

Paris-Roubaix live streaming video should get underway at around *12:45pm CET (*6:45am U.S. Eastern, 3:45am Pacific). *Eurosport's coverage is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: Tubulars this wide were once reserved for Paris-Roubaix. Today they are commonplace.
Photo: Tubulars this wide were once reserved for Paris-Roubaix. Today they are commonplace.

Years ago pros would have scoffed at it, but low gears were the norm at the 2015 Tour de Flanders, with most bikes using 11-28t cassettes and Bora-Argon 18 opting for the huge 11-32t range at the back.

Similarly, tubular widths once reserved only for Paris-Roubaix came out in spades, with 26, 27 and 28mm carcasses in widespread use.

Held in Belgium from Bruge to Oudenaarde, the Tour of Flanders tackles 19 short but steep climbs, many of them paved with rough cobbles.

April 6, 2015 (bikeradar.com)






Photo: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) (Bettini).
Photo: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) (Bettini).

Alexander Kristoff took a convincing sprint finish to win the 2015 Tour of Flanders ahead of breakaway companion Niki Terpstra while Greg Van Avermaet led home the remnants of the chasers and was forced to settle for third.

Kristoff and Terpstra jumped clear after the ascent of the Kruisberg, with the Dutch rider first to open up a gap on the rest of the race favorites.

Despite never holding more than a thirty second lead and a late counter attack from Van Avermaet and Peter Sagan, the leading duo survived until the finish. Coming into the final kilometer Terpstra sat back and forced Kristoff to the front but the 2014 Milan-San Remo winner held his nerve and comprehensively took the sprint to secure the second Monument of his career.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)




Alexander Kristoff capped
Alexander Kristoff capped "maybe the best week in my career" with a Tour of Flanders win Sunday. Photo: Tim De Waele.

In Norway on Sunday evening, in the first hours after Alexander Kristoff won Belgium’s Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), the locals already crowned their next king of cycling.

Kristoff had just won his second monument after winning last year’s edition of Milano-Sanremo in a sprint ahead of Swiss Fabian Cancellara and Brit Ben Swift, which was followed by two stage wins at the Tour de France last summer. This surely would merit a crown Norwegians believed.

His win did merit such accolades, but the 27-year-old’s career is still in its early phases and must be compared to the country’s other big cycling star, Thor Hushovd.

Hushovd, who retired at the end of 2014, won the 2010 road world championship, the 2006 Gent-Wevelgem, and 10 individual Tour de France stages.

April 6, 2015 (velonews.com)





Again, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) did not figure into the finale, this time at Ronde van Vlaanderen. He was dropped in the final kilometer by a hard-charging Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) who nearly bridged to the two leaders. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Again, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) did not figure into the finale, this time at Ronde van Vlaanderen. He was dropped in the final kilometer by a hard-charging Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) who nearly bridged to the two leaders. Photo: Tim De Waele.

For the second week in a row, Peter Sagan’s legs went missing in the late, decisive moments of the race, but that was better than Sep Vanmarcke, who was MIA in the final throes of a wild, wide-open Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders).

In an eerie reprise of E3 Harelbeke, when he was popped out of the winning, four-man move within 5km of the finish, Sagan didn’t have the horsepower to help Greg Van Avermaet shut down the winning attack from Niki Terpstra and winner Alexander Kristoff.

Van Avermaet dropped the stalling Sagan in the final 500m to round out the podium in third, but told Sporza on the finish line that if another, stronger rider had joined him in the chase, he believed he could have bridged across to the leading pair.

April 6, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quickstep) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quickstep) (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Zdenek Stybar once again suffered from problems with his temporary front teeth, this time in the Tour of Flanders. The Czech rider had similar issues before Strade Bianche, but had a quick fix the day before seizing the victory in Siena.

On Sunday, the bridge was rattled loose on the cobbles of Flanders, and he was unsure of how much his gap-toothed grill affected his race.

Stybar was one of the pre-race favorites, sharing the team leadership with Niki Terpstra who set up the decisive breakaway move with eventual winner Alexander Kristoff.

Stybar covered the reactions in the chase group, struggled on the final climb and eventually finished ninth.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The course has been up for rather intense debate since radical changes in 2012. What do we say now?
Photo: The course has been up for rather intense debate since radical changes in 2012. What do we say now?

"Every year since 2012 we have reached this point in the season, as surely as the race itself has arrived, and gone: the point where we debate whether the Ronde van Vlaanderen needs to change the course.

With some rumors afloat I thought this year it was time for something of a thorough review, followed by you guys weighing in. I'm not going to make my own pronouncements. It's time for the people to speak."

April 6, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)





Photo: Etixx-Quick Step mechanics got crafty with Di2 wiring at the Tour of Flanders (Ben Delaney / Immediate Media).
Photo: Etixx-Quick Step mechanics got crafty with Di2 wiring at the Tour of Flanders (Ben Delaney / Immediate Media).

With Shimano Di2 electric shifting, you can shift wherever you can put a button. Stock, satellite options, however, have thus far been limited to so-called sprint shifters with a short wire length, and the climber switch, which Shimano designed to be operated with the thumb.

At the Tour of Flanders, Etixx-Quick Step riders rolled out with four different satellite configurations — plus the standard lever shifters, of course — thanks to some ingenuity from team mechanics.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Connie Carpenter-Phinney, first woman to win an Olympic medal in cycling, joined us for the ride to the famous Luckenbach..
Photo: Connie Carpenter-Phinney, first woman to win an Olympic medal in cycling, joined us for the ride to the famous Luckenbach.

"'Welcome to Texas, y’all,' one of the flight attendants drawls as the plane touches Austin ground. It’s just past 4 p.m. and I started my travels 10 hours and two time zones ago, at 4 a.m. Seattle time. The last three hours were spent trying to block out the crying twin toddlers behind me, and I’m so excited to be done flying for the day.

Inside the airport, live music and a shuttle await me. Just one final leg to go: a two-hour shuttle ride to Fredericksburg in Texas Hill Country.

Cowboys. Stars. Steak. Longhorns. Lance. Bush. Botched CX Nationals. —  I’ll admit that I didn’t know much about Texas and certainly not a lot of positive things. But when Rapha asked me to come along to Texas Hill Country to ride bikes with their ambassadors, it was easy to say yes. I had never been to Texas and always enjoy new places and new people to ride with.

As it turns out, Texas Hill Country is absolutely lovely, and well worth a visit for riding, sight-seeing, vacationing or a spring training camp."

April 6, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Contribution levels start at $199, which buys a first edition of the saddle, which will eventually retail for $300-$400..
Photo: Contribution levels start at $199, which buys a first edition of the saddle, which will eventually retail for $300-$400.

California-based leather saddle company Selle Anatomica is working with UC San Diego to develop a carbon fiber road saddle that mimics the comfort of its leather saddles at considerably less weight. Selle Anatomic is trying to raise $30,000 through crowd funding to get the saddle into production.

The saddle would have a carbon fiber top attached to a carbon leaf spring, which in turn is attached to a titanium rail for use with standard seatposts. The design is projected to weigh under 200 grams, which is 300 grams lighter than Selle Anatomica’s comparable leather saddles.

April 6, 2015 (bicycleretailer.com)






What do give you a billionaire for his birthday? Katusha team owner Igor Makarov has private jets, two luxury yachts and all the trappings you’d expect of a Russian oligarch.

Fortunately there are things money can’t buy no matter how many Roubles you might have.

Niki Terpstra tried to spoil things up the Paterberg, forcing the pace on the vicious 20% slope but there’s no cracking Kristoff and the sprint finish in Oudenaarde was a formality for Kristoff.

April 5, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 6, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)



Photo: It had not been a good month for Armstrong.
Photo: It had not been a good month for Armstrong.

"Recently the oncologist Larry Einhorn sent a letter to each of the hundreds of patients who had once been in his care.

As "a personal favor," he asked, would we be willing to return to Indianapolis for a follow-up exam? In an act that nicely capped his life’s work, he wanted to collect information about the long-term consequences of a brutal but effective chemotherapy regimen he had long ago devised.

If you received one of these letters, you had likely once been a young man unaccountably struck with testicular cancer.

I was one of those patients. And Lance Armstrong was another."

April 6, 2015 (si.com)



















April 6, 2015







Photo: BMC’s chief medical officer Dr. Max Testa said the normal recovery time from an injury of this type is several months.
Photo: BMC’s chief medical officer Dr. Max Testa said the normal recovery time from an injury of this type is several months. (Tim De Waele, TDWsport.com (File)).

BMC’s Peter Stetina broke his right tibia, patella, and four ribs in a crash near the finish line of Monday’s opening stage of Vuelta al Pais Vasco.

His teammate, Darwin Atapuma, was also among the half-dozen or so riders who were involved in the pile-up about 400 meters from the finish line of the 162.7km race. The crash happened when the middle part of a reduced peloton was passing three-foot-high metal poles topped with orange traffic cones near the curb lane of the finishing straight.

“Some guys barely missed the poles and some clipped them,” Stetina said. “I didn’t even have time to react or pull the brakes. You don’t expect to have fixed obstacles in the middle of a field sprint.”

April 6, 2015 (velonews.com)








Photo: Alexander Kristoff escape in the 2015 Tour of Flanders .
Photo: Alexander Kristoff escape in the 2015 Tour of Flanders.

Yesterday’s Tour of Flanders was the fourth edition of the race in its new look, Muur van Geraardsbergen less format, and we are still learning new things every year about how the race is best ridden.

The consensus seems to be that this is a more attritional Tour of Flanders than it is tactical, and therefore the best approach is to conserve energy for much of the race before making your move on the final ascents of the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg, respectively the penultimate and last climbs of the race.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Luca Guercilena manager of the Trek Factory Racing team (Photopress.be).
Photo: Luca Guercilena manager of the Trek Factory Racing team (Photopress.be).

The Tour of Flanders will be remembered for Alexander Kristoff’s victory and a great day of racing but also for the accidents that saw two nasty accidents involving Shimano neutral service vehicles.

Jesse Sergent and Sébastien Chavanel were both taken down by a neutral service car, in two separate incidents, within around 20 kilometers of each other.

Both riders subsequently abandoned the race and while Chavanel escaped with some hefty bruising, an x-ray revealed that Sergent had broken his left collarbone.

April 6, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





The pressure has been on Etixx-Quick-Step's Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra to fill the big shoes left by Tom Boonen, but so far this spring, only Stybar has delivered a major win, in Strade Bianche. Photo: Tim De Waele.
The pressure has been on Etixx-Quick-Step's Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra to fill the big shoes left by Tom Boonen, but so far this spring, only Stybar has delivered a major win, in Strade Bianche. Photo: Tim De Waele.

The cobbled classics season is drawing to a close, and Belgium’s biggest team has little to cheer about. Etixx-Quick-Step has yet to find the top step on the podium in this spring’s one-day WorldTour action. Niki Terpstra came close twice, but settled for silver medals, one at Sunday’s Ronde van Vlaanderen, the other at Gent-Wevelgem.

The 30-year-old Dutchman rode with Norwegian Alexander Kristoff  in the final of yesterday’s Belgian monument. They covered three climbs and 28 kilometers together, but Etixx’s leader could not shake Kristoff.

It could have been worse. Stijn Vandenbergh crashed twice, once hitting a tree and fracturing his nose. Etixx’s co-leader, Zdenek Stybar had to take out his false teeth and could not eat for the final 70 kilometers.

Tom Boonen, the team’s star and Belgian’s cycling hero, could not even start. He crashed in the Paris-Nice stage race in March, dislocated his shoulder and required surgery.

April 6, 2015 (velonews.com)





The 2014 Tour of Utah Women's Edition podium. From left: Mandy Heintz (Guru Cycles), Coryn Rivera (UnitedHealthcare), and Meredith Miller (Pepper Palace). Photo by Chris Case.
The 2014 Tour of Utah Women's Edition podium. From left: Mandy Heintz (Guru Cycles), Coryn Rivera (UnitedHealthcare), and Meredith Miller (Pepper Palace). Photo by Chris Case.

Organizers of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah have confirmed that 11 women’s professional and domestic elite cycling teams have accepted invitations to race at the Tour of Utah Women’s Edition: Criterium Classic on August 3 and 4. The Criterium Classic is a part of the National Criterium Calendar (NCC), sanctioned by USA Cycling.

“The Tour of Utah is very proud to provide a national spotlight for the best women’s cycling athletes again this year. The Women’s Edition: Criterium Classic is one of 17 events on the National Criterium Calendar, so it provides valuable points for the NCC standings,” said Alex Kim, race director for the Tour of Utah Women’s Edition.

April 6, 2015 (velonews.com)










April 5, 2015







Jesse Sergent) was forced to abandon Sunday’s Tour of Flanders after being hit by a neutral service car. Sergent was in the break along with six other riders when a Shimano neutral service car swerved to avoid a curb as it was overtaking the group, and sideswiped the New Zealand rider, who was thrown from his bike.

Sergent could be seen sitting in the back of a race ambulance following the incident supporting what looked like a broken collarbone as he was attended to by medics.

The Trek Factory Racing team quickly confirmed that his race would end there.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







April 5, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)


April 5, 2015




Photo: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
(Bettini).
Photo: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) (Bettini).

Alexander Kristoff took a convincing sprint finish to win the 2015 Tour of Flanders ahead of breakaway companion Niki Terpstra while Greg Van Avermaet led home the remnants of the chasers and was forced to settle for third.

Kristoff and Terpstra jumped clear after the ascent of the Kruisberg, with the Dutch rider first to open up a gap on the rest of the race favorites.

Despite never holding more than a thirty second lead and a late counter attack from Van Avermaet and Peter Sagan, the leading duo survived until the finish. Coming into the final kilometer Terpstra sat back and forced Kristoff to the front but the 2014 Milan-San Remo winner held his nerve and comprehensively took the sprint to secure the second Monument of his career.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Elisa Longo Borghini celebrates after winning the 12th women's Tour of Flanders. Photo: AFP.
Elisa Longo Borghini celebrates after winning the 12th women's Tour of Flanders. Photo: AFP.

Wiggle-Honda went one-two in the women’s Tour of Flanders on Sunday.

Elisa Longo Borghini took a solo victory in the 145km third round of the women’s UCI World Cup ahead of teammate and Belgian road champion Jolien D’hoore, winner of the first round of the series.

Anna van der Breggen rounded out the podium in third.

The 23-year-old Longo Borghini has twice finished just off the podium at Flanders, crossing fourth the past two years.

April 5, 2015 (velonews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Start List),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Start List),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (History),

Paris-Roubaix - Apr 12 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More...

April 5, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: Stage 1 Profile.
Photo: Stage 1 Profile.

Monday's Tour of the Basque Country Stage 1 departs Bilbao at 1:15pm CET (7:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Bilbao at around 5:24pm CET (11:24am U.S. Eastern). 

Tour of the Basque Country live streaming video should get underway at around *3:30pm CET (*9:30am U.S. Eastern, 6:30am Pacific). *Eurosport is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.
Photo: 2015 Paris-Roubaix Profile and Cobblestone Sectors.

Sunday's Paris-Roubaix departs Compiegne at 10:20am CET (4:20am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Roubaix at around 4:50pm CET (10:50am U.S. Eastern). 

Paris-Roubaix live streaming video should get underway at around *12:45pm CET (*6:45am U.S. Eastern, 3:45am Pacific). *Eurosport's coverage is scheduled to begin at this time.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Photo: Angel Vicioso (Katusha) lights it up on the climb
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Angel Vicioso (Katusha) lights it up on the climb (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Velonews: Angel Vicioso won the GP Miguel Indurain on Saturday in Estella, Spain.

The victory in the 192.7km race was the third for the 37-year-old Vicioso, who won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002.

Vicioso took the flowers ahead of Movistar teammates Ion Izagirre and Beñat Intxausti. Movistar also slipped Alejandro Valverde into the top five, behind Janier Acevedo.

April 4, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)



Photo: A good race with a worthy winner. Kristoff was the top pick before and seeing him set about it was good.
Photo: A good race with a worthy winner. Kristoff was the top pick before and seeing him set about it was good.

What do give you a billionaire for his birthday? Katusha team owner Igor Makarov has private jets, two luxury yachts and all the trappings you’d expect of a Russian oligarch.

Fortunately there are things money can’t buy no matter how many Roubles you might have.

Niki Terpstra tried to spoil things up the Paterberg, forcing the pace on the vicious 20% slope but there’s no cracking Kristoff and the sprint finish in Oudenaarde was a formality for Kristoff.

April 5, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: First of all you have to be that style of rider, which means you have to be powerful. Cor Vos
Photo: First of all you have to be that style of rider, which means you have to be powerful. Cor Vos

He’s one of the most successful riders of all time with numerous wins to his credit, including two editions each of Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo and Liège-Bastogne-Liège and three of the Tour of Lombardy.

Sean Kelly has huge experience of taking the top one day races, and CyclingTips spoke to him about what is needed to challenge for the Classics, his views on Geraint Thomas’ and Bradley Wiggins’ prospects in Flanders and Roubaix and also his opinions on the other challengers for the cobblestone races.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: Caleb Ewan (Orica GreenEdge) comes out on top
(Mark Gunter/Cyclingnews.com).
Photo: Caleb Ewan (Orica GreenEdge) comes out on top (Mark Gunter/Cyclingnews.com).

Orica-GreenEdge doubles with Impey second.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Europeans like Martin Bina and Sven Nys hit the road and trails during the summer. © Jo Croonenberghs.
Photo: Europeans like Martin Bina and Sven Nys hit the road and trails during the summer. © Jo Croonenberghs.

Historically, almost all of the top cyclocross racers in North America have balanced a road or mountain bike season with their muddy exploits later in the fall. However, this trend seems to be changing.

Just this past year, National Champion Jeremy Powers and Pro CX Series Champion Jamey Driscoll stepped back from their professional road contracts to focus on their respective cyclocross careers. Similarly, at the top end of the Women’s field Meredith Miller and Katie Compton have both opted to focus almost exclusively on ’cross over the past number of seasons.

While the luxury of racing only cyclocross evades most other professional athletes in the Elite field, the amateur cyclist usually doesn’t face this same challenge.

Thus my question: If you are solely focused on cyclocross in the fall, should you spend time racing a road or mountain bike in the summer?

April 5, 2015 (cxmagazine.com)






Photo: Matt Brammeier in the 2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad .
Photo: Matt Brammeier in the 2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Matt Brammeier won his weight in beer at an intermediate sprint today when the Tour of Flanders passed through Sint-Eloois-Winkel, Belgium.

The Liverpool-born Irishman of team MTN-Qhubeka heard about the sprint for Stene Molen beer from former cyclist Nico Mattan. The Belgian wrote on Twitter about the prize that he arranged 33.6 kilometers after the start in Bruges.

Another former professional, Brit Daniel Lloyd read the message on Mattan’s Twitter on Saturday night and told Brammeier about the beer on offer.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






UCI president Brian Cookson says he is looking to tighten regulations to prevent the misuse of a number of substances within the peloton. Referring to cortisone and tramadol in particular, Cookson said he was keen to ‘de-medicalize’ the practices of professional cycling.

The Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) report made reference to a number of grey area products which are not currently banned but which may be being misused by cyclists to gain improvements in performance.

Cookson told CyclingTips that the way some substances are used raises ethical questions.

April 4, 2015 (road.cc)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 5, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)








April 5, 2015






Photo: Jesse Sergent (Trek Factory Racing)
(Trek Bicycle Corporation).
Photo: Jesse Sergent (Trek Factory Racing) (Trek Bicycle Corporation).

Jesse Sergent) was forced to abandon Sunday’s Tour of Flanders after being hit by a neutral service car. Sergent was in the break along with six other riders when a Shimano neutral service car swerved to avoid a curb as it was overtaking the group, and sideswiped the New Zealand rider, who was thrown from his bike.

Sergent could be seen sitting in the back of a race ambulance following the incident supporting what looked like a broken collarbone as he was attended to by medics.

The Trek Factory Racing team quickly confirmed that his race would end there.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Geraint Thomas in the 2015 Tour of Flanders .
Photo: Geraint Thomas in the 2015 Tour of Flanders.

Sky’s Geraint Thomas said that he “hoped for more” from the Tour of Flanders on Sunday in Belgium, but was left with only 14th place.

The Welshman – winner of E3 Harelbeke and third in Ghent-Wevelgem – fell short due to tactics and strength. He was marked by a rival team and lacked energy when he reached the final Paterberg climb.

“It’s mainly tiredness, but obviously I’m gutted, as well,” Thomas explained after a shower at the team bus.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






Photo: Loubet and Fedrigo managed to escape on the final climb.
Photo: Loubet and Fedrigo managed to escape on the final climb.

Former pro Julien Loubet proved that he still has the skills to mix it up with the best when he took a hugely impressive win in the old French one-day race Paris-Camembert.

Having attacked with the in-form Pierrick Fedrigo on the final climb, he managed to hold off the peloton before beating his companion on the two-rider sprint before Samuel Dumoulin led the bunch across the line just seconds later.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: Phil Anderson with his wife in 1983 at the Clarence Street Cup in Sydney
(Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Phil Anderson with his wife in 1983 at the Clarence Street Cup in Sydney (Getty Images Sport).

Today, the team to beat in the classics is Etixx-Quick Step. Thirty years ago, it was Panasonic. The team run by Peter Post, himself a Paris-Roubaix winner, was created following the fall out he had with Jan Raas in 1983 which saw the end of the TI-Raleigh squad.

Raas took six riders and created the Kwantum-Decosol team, today its known as LottoNL-Jumbo, while seven riders followed Post to the new Panasonic team.

Phil Anderson had ridden for the Peugeot team since the 1980 season where he become the first non-European rider to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France in 1981, won a Tour stage the next year and followed that with 1983 victory at the Amstel Gold Race.

Anderson also finished ninth at Flanders and fourth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the first time he would finish inside the top ten of a monument.

April 5, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)












April 4, 2015






There often comes a moment in any wordy or indeed worthy interview when the subject suddenly shifts uneasily in his seat and points towards the small recording device in front of him. “And this is off the record,” he says.

April 4, 2015 (irishtimes.com)


April 4, 2015



Photo: Fabian Cancellara won the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Due to injury, however, he will not be able to defend his title..
Photo: Fabian Cancellara won the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Due to injury,however, he will not be able to defend his title.

Sunday's Tour of Flanders departs Brugge at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and isexpected at the finish at Oudenaarde at around 4:47pm CET (10:47am U.S.Eastern, 7:47am Pacific). 

Tour of Flanders live streaming video should get underway at around *12:00pm CET (*6:00am U.S. Eastern, 3:00am Pacific).

*Sporza will be LIVE in Brugge from 9:30am CET through the race start.  Other feeds, notably Eurosport, are expected to go live at around 12:30pm CET (6:30am U.S. Eastern, 3:30am Pacific), and still others a bit later.

April 4, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)








Photo: Angel Vicioso (Katusha) lights it up on the climb
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Angel Vicioso (Katusha) lights it up on the climb (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Velonews: Angel Vicioso won the GP Miguel Indurain on Saturday in Estella, Spain.

The victory in the 192.7km race was the third for the 37-year-old Vicioso, who won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002.

Vicioso took the flowers ahead of Movistar teammates Ion Izagirre and Beñat Intxausti. Movistar also slipped Alejandro Valverde into the top five, behind Janier Acevedo.

April 4, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Stefan Kung (BMC Racing). cyclingupdates.com
Photo: Stefan Kung (BMC Racing). (cyclingupdates.com)

BMC's Stefan Küng parlayed his time trialing prowess to his first professional victory in the Volta Limburg Classic.

The Swiss rider shrugged off suggestions that he could be "the next Fabian Cancellara", but was undeniably impressive after soloing away with 16km to go from a three-man breakaway.

The win comes days after taking second to Bradley Wiggins in the time trial at Driedaagse De Panne, and bodes well for the 21-year-old's future.

April 4, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: It is a race I grew up watching as a kid, just dreaming to be a part of it, let alone going into it on the team as the strongest guy and one of the favourites.
Photo: "It is a race I grew up watching as a kid, just dreaming to be a part of it, let alone going into it on the team as the strongest guy and one of the favorites."

Victorious in the recent E3 Harekbeke race and third in Gent-Wevelgem, Geraint Thomas is regarded by some as perhaps the biggest favorite for Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

The 28 year old Welshman is aware of that status, but appeared quite relaxed at the Team Sky pre-race press meeting held at the team hotel in Kortrijk, Belgium, on Friday.

Indeed, rather than coming across as a rider with a lot of weight on his shoulders, Thomas gave the impression that he found things slightly surreal.

April 4, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Nairo Quintana had a solid spring season in 2013,, highlighted by his overall victory at the Tour of the Basque Country. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com.
Photo: ...

Far from the cobblestones of the northern classics, the GC riders and mountain climbers converge in Spain next week for what many consider the most difficult weeklong stage race on the European calendar, the Vuelta a País Vasco (Tour of the Basque Country).

Topping the favorites list is none other than Nairo Quintana. Hot off his impressive victory at Tirreno-Adriatico, the defending Giro d’Italia champion will line up for Monday’s start with every intention of winning his second title in three years.

“I have good memories of the Basque Country tour. With the team I have around me, I should have no problem,” Quintana told the Spanish daily MARCA. “I have good condition. There are some challenging rivals, so it will not be easy.”

April 4, 2015 (velonews.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Start List),

Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - Apr 6-11 (Start List),

Scheldeprijs - Apr 8 (History),

Paris-Roubaix - Apr 12 (History),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Results),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More...

April 4, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)






Speaking about a misuse of cortisone which was highlighted in the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) report, Brian Cookson has said that the UCI is concerned by the use of this and other grey area products and will try to eliminate any abuses.

The CIRC report looked into historic and current doping practices and while it concluded that there was evidence that the widespread use of hard substances were reduced nowadays due to elements such as the biological passport, it highlighted various concerns.

April 3, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)






Romain Feillu confirmed that he still has the speed to win big bunch sprints when he emerged as the strongest in the uphill sprint in the Route Adelie Vitré. The Frenchman denied Nacer Bouhanni his first win for his new team by beating him into second while Timothy Dupont completed the podium.

April 3, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)



Photo: Brian Cookson at the site in Paris where the UCI was founded (source Brian Cookson Images, Flickr).
Photo: Brian Cookson at the site in Paris where the UCI was founded (source Brian Cookson Images, Flickr).

UCI president Brian Cookson says he is looking to tighten regulations to prevent the misuse of a number of substances within the peloton. Referring to cortisone and tramadol in particular, Cookson said he was keen to ‘de-medicalize’ the practices of professional cycling.

The Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) report made reference to a number of grey area products which are not currently banned but which may be being misused by cyclists to gain improvements in performance.

Cookson told CyclingTips that the way some substances are used raises ethical questions.

April 4, 2015 (road.cc)





Photo: Saxo Bank CEO Lars Seier Christensen with Alberto Contador and Bjarne Riis in 2013
(Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Saxo Bank CEO Lars Seier Christensen with Alberto Contador and Bjarne Riis in 2013 (Getty Images Sport).

Lars Seier Christensen has reiterated that Saxo Bank will honor their current deal with Tinkoff as a co-sponsor of Oleg Tinkov’s team but the Danish bank’s CEO has insisted that no negotiations over a contract extension will take place at this time.

Seier Christensen was set to visit the riders and staff Sunday morning, ahead of the Tour of Flanders but he will find a very different squad to the one he first helped build eight years ago, with former boss Bjarne Riis dismissed from his duties and a new management structure in place courtesy of Tinkov’s recent restructure.

April 4, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Thomas gets ready to attack Sagan and Stybar.
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Thomas gets ready to attack Sagan and Stybar. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Peter Sagan can never quite fly under the radar, but his build-up to the Tour of Flanders has been decidedly quieter than it was twelve months ago, when he was widely tipped as the man most likely to break up the longstanding Fabian Cancellara - Tom Boonen duopoly.

On that occasion, Sagan’s pre-race press conference on the Friday evening before the race was a heavily-attended but decidedly terse affair, as he looked to downplay those lofty expectations.

“It’s a race like another one, no?" he said, jadedly.

April 4, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The only former winner in the field will be Belgian Stijn Devolder, who earnt back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2009.
Photo: The only former winner in the field will be Belgian Stijn Devolder, who earnt back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2009.

Welshman Geraint Thomas will line up as an unlikely favorite when the usually Belgian-dominated Tour de Flanders begins on Sunday. Of the 98 editions of the second of five ‘Monument’ races, 68 have been won by Belgians.

The first ever winner was Belgian Paul Deman in 1913 and four of the six riders to have won it a record three times are also from the host country. Yet this year, a plucky Welshman, a Slovak, a Czech, a German and a Norwegian will be among the front-runners trying to succeed Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara as champion.

And one of the reasons they will be feeling confident is that Cancellara – one of the riders on three wins — is injured, along with Tom Boonen, another of the most successful Flanders competitors. Between them, that pair have won this race in six of the last 10 years but with Cancellara nursing two broken vertebrae in his back and Boonen recovering from a dislocated shoulder, the race is wide open.

April 4, 2015 (pelotonmagazine.com)





Photo: Value-minded alloy chassis with Invisible Weld Technology.
Photo: Value-minded alloy chassis with Invisible Weld Technology.

Trek recently previewed to some of its dealers the new Emonda ALR road bike family – the expected alloy framed analogue to its popular Emonda carbon platform that will supposedly be "the lightest line of production [aluminum] road bikes ever offered."

Details are scant at the moment but one thing is essentially certain: the Emonda ALR will likely pack plenty of performance into what we expect will be a reasonably priced package.

April 4, 2015 (bikeradar.com)





Photo: Power-to-weight ratio matters because it’s a great predictor of performance - Russ Ellis ...
Photo: Power-to-weight ratio matters because it’s a great predictor of performance.
(Russ Ellis).

Power-to-weight ratio is something that many Grand Tour contenders will concern themselves with, but it’s not just the pros who can benefit from being lean when the road goes upwards. Andrew Hamilton explains just why power-to-weight is important and how you can improve yours.

"One of my friends is an avid motor-head who builds and races cars for a living. He often jokes: “Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy you more horsepower — and that’s the same kind of thing.”

As cyclists, we can’t buy more power, of course — we have to train our muscles and bodies to produce it, and that’s not easy."

April 4, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)






The inclusion of Lance Armstrong in a pre-Tour de France charity cycle ride in July has cost the event its sole female participant.

Nicki Aitken, the 36-year-old long distance athlete from Reading, felt she had no option but to withdraw after the organizer, ex footballer and cancer survivor Geoff Thomas, revealed that Armstrong would be riding beside her in France.

“I realized I didn’t want to be in something that’s associated with the most tainted man in sport,” she said.

April 3, 2015 (sport.bt.com)








April 3, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 4, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)










April 4, 2015





Maxim Iglinskiy of Astana, who tested positive for EPO. Photoraph: Michel Krakowski/AFP/Getty Images.
Maxim Iglinskiy of Astana, who tested positive for EPO. Photoraph: Michel Krakowski/AFP/Getty Images.

There often comes a moment in any wordy or indeed worthy interview when the subject suddenly shifts uneasily in his seat and points towards the small recording device in front of him. “And this is off the record,” he says.

There were several such moments in the interview Pat McQuaid gave this newspaper this week – and not all of them had to do with the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC), which looked into allegations of corruption and anti-doping cover-ups during McQuaid’s term as president of Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body of world cycling.

April 4, 2015 (irishtimes.com)





Photo: Marcel Kittel of Germany receives the leaders yellow jersey after winning stage one of the Tour of Britain in Liverpool City Centre.
(Getty Images Sport).
Photo: Marcel Kittel of Germany receives the leaders yellow jersey after winning stage one of the Tour of Britain in Liverpool City Centre. (Getty Images Sport).

With just one victory under his belt so far this season, Marcel Kittel has decided to take a break to fully recover from a virus rather than try for a fourth consecutive victory in the Scheldeprijs on Wednesday or race Paris-Roubaix next week.

Kittel and the team's trainers decided he needs more time to get back to top speed before jumping into races.

"Getting back to his normal performance level is the first priority. For now, Kittel will work closely with the team’s medical and performance staff to ensure a gradual build in the intensity of his training."

April 4, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Bradley Wiggins is prouder than ever to sport the British flag on his sleeve. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Bradley Wiggins is prouder than ever to sport the British flag on his sleeve. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Bradley Wiggins has never appeared so proud of his nation as he does in the lead-up to the Tour of Flanders on Sunday in Belgium, where Great Britain could produce its second winner in the form of Sky teammate Geraint Thomas.

The only other time he showed such pride on the road was in July 2012, months before Queen Elizabeth knighted him.

On the way to capturing his Tour de France, he led out then-world champion Mark Cavendish to a sprint win on the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris.

April 4, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Specialized Trigger 38c tire, with an actual width below 35c. © Cyclocross Magazine.
Photo: Specialized Trigger 38c tire, with an actual width below 35c. © Cyclocross Magazine.

Last year we had a first look at the Specialized Trigger Pro 700x38c 2Bliss Tire during the Lost and Found gravel ride. The tire offers riders a higher volume option for long days on gravel roads, and early prototypes of the Trigger 38c tires helped former Masters Cyclocross National Champion James Alan Coats power through the 100-mile event.

After the race, although Coats, like most participants, looked fatigued, the tires still looked ready to go again—which made sense because they were originally developed for Rebecca Rusch’s Dirty Kanza 200 Gravel Race.

Much like the smooth tread Specialized’s All Condition Armadillo Elite that Cody Kaiser was using in his race at Barry-Roubaix last weekend, the Specialized Trigger Pro 38c tire is produced with the company’s GRIPTON tire compound for traction in both dry and wet conditions.

April 4, 2015 (cxmagazine.com)





Photo: Alex Wetmore’s Travel Gifford, a road bike that is designed for wide tires.
Photo: Alex Wetmore’s “Travel Gifford”, a road bike that is designed for wide tires.

"Last year’s Oregon Outback was a great test for the ultimate gravel bike. The course consisted of 1/3 rough and soft gravel, 1/3 smooth gravel and 1/3 pavement. The situation is similar to our favorite local rides: We leave from our backdoor on pavement and ride up to the mountains, where we explore gravel passes far off the beaten path.

What is the ideal bike for this type of riding? We approached the subject by evaluating the real-world performance of different bikes, without regard to tradition and established practice."

April 4, 2015 (janheine.wordpress.com)



















April 3, 2015






April 3, 2015 (velonews.com)


April 3, 2015


Photo: riders use corticoids to lose weight quickly, and keep it off, without losing power.
Photo: Riders use corticoids to “lean out” i.e. to lose weight quickly, and keep it off, without losing power.

Speaking about a misuse of cortisone which was highlighted in the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) report, Brian Cookson has said that the UCI is concerned by the use of this and other grey area products and will try to eliminate any abuses.

The CIRC report looked into historic and current doping practices and while it concluded that there was evidence that the widespread use of hard substances were reduced nowadays due to elements such as the biological passport, it highlighted various concerns.

April 3, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: 2015 Volta Limburg Classic (Hel van het Mergelland).
Photo: 2015 Volta Limburg Classic (Hel van het Mergelland).

Saturday's Volta Limburg Classic departs Eijsden at 12:00pm CET (6:00am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at Eijsden at around 5:00pm CET (11:00am U.S. Eastern). 

Volta Limburg Classic live video streaming should get underway at *2:45pm CET (*8:45am U.S. Eastern, 5:45am Pacific). 

*Like last year, they will be live with a preview/teams presentation at 11:15am CET and through the race start.  Then live with the race for the final 2 hours or so.

April 3, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: After a strong 10-rider break had been caught inside the final kilometre, Feillu bested Bouhanni and Dupont .
Photo: After a strong 10-rider break had been caught inside the final kilometre, Feillu bested Bouhanni and Dupont.

Romain Feillu confirmed that he still has the speed to win big bunch sprints when he emerged as the strongest in the uphill sprint in the Route Adelie Vitré. The Frenchman denied Nacer Bouhanni his first win for his new team by beating him into second while Timothy Dupont completed the podium.

In a magical 2011 season, Feillu seemed destined for a big future as he achieved several top results, including a very solid performance in the Tour de France. Since then, however, the fast Frenchman has been unable to get back to the same level and he has been forced to drop down from the WorldTour level.

April 3, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Evelyn Stevens (left) and Megan Guarnier joined Boels-Dolmans for this season. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Evelyn Stevens (left) and Megan Guarnier joined Boels-Dolmans for this season. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.

When round three of the Women’s Road World Cup begins at the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) Sunday, this year’s top performing team, Boels-Dolmans, will be marked women. The Dutch squad has dominated this season, taking six victories and the general classification at the Ladies Tour of Qatar. Those wins have been achieved by four of the 10 riders on the roster.

One of the athletes to win is American Megan Guarnier. Born in upstate New York but now living the European dream with her husband in France, the 29-year-old won the first edition of the women’s Strade Bianche last month. She has been joined on the team this year by three-time U.S. time trial champion Evelyn Stevens, further strengthening the Dutch outfit.

April 3, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Geraint Thomas on his way to winning E3 Harelbeke.
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Geraint Thomas on his way to winning E3 Harelbeke. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Five years after they launched, Team Sky have finally come of age on the cobbles and are enjoying their best classics season to date. Ian Stannard kicked off their successful spring in early March, with a second consecutive victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and Geraint Thomas ramped it up last week, triumphing at E3 Harelbeke and finishing on the podium in Wevelgem two days later.

Thomas was Team Sky’s best finisher at the Tour of Flanders last season in eighth place – his best result at the Flemish monument.

Following his blistering start on the cobbles, the Welshman has jumped up to second favorite for victory this weekend with the Belgian bookmakers behind Sep Vanmarcke.

April 3, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: The Cobbles and the Climbs: it’s all about positioning and everyone wants to be at the front.
Photo: The Cobbles and the Climbs: it’s all about positioning and everyone wants to be at the front.

The greatest one day race in the world takes place on Sunday. Giant crowds, fierce climbs and await. This year’s race promises an open edition with no particularly rivalries, instead a long list of contenders and pretenders.

Similar to last year the route heads south across Flanders to Kortrijk and then the Tiegemberg starts the first of the hellingen, the climbs and the route then resembles a bowl of spaghetti as it loops back and forth across the area in order to pack in as many climbs as possible. This matters twice over, the obvious point is the concentration of climbs but the secondary factor is the twisting route where being well-place for the right corner matters.

April 3, 2015 (inrng.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

GP Miguel Indurain - Apr 4 (Start List),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Start List),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem Women - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Tour de Taiwan - Mar 21-25 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Nokere Koerse - Mar 18 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More...

April 3, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Fabian Cancellara won the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Due to injury, however, he will not be able to defend his title..
Photo: Fabian Cancellara won the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Due to injury,however, he will not be able to defend his title.

Sunday's Tour of Flanders departs Brugge at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and isexpected at the finish at Oudenaarde at around 4:47pm CET (10:47am U.S.Eastern, 7:47am Pacific). 

Tour of Flanders live streaming video should get underway at around *9:30am CET (*3:30am U.S. Eastern, 12:30am Pacific).

April 3, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)






Tinkoff-Saxo are heading into Sunday's Tour of Flanders all-in behind leader Peter Sagan, who the team says is benefiting from continually improving form as the Classics season hits full stride.

Sagan took his first win for Tinkoff-Saxo during the penultimate stage of Tirreno-Adriatico in March, but he has failed to crack a podium since in the traditional build-up to the Classics. He was fourth in the bunch kick at Milan-San Remo, and then he mysteriously dropped from the lead trio of E3Harelbeke in the final kilometers, eventually fading to 30th.

Most recently he was 10th at Gent-Wevelgem.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Bradley Wiggins won his last ever time trial in Team Sky colors, with an aggressive, powerful ride during the 14.2km final stage at the Three Days of De Panne.

Triple stage winner Alexander Kristoff  won overall, after favorite Stijn Devolder failed to snatch victory from the Norwegian. Kristoff was 18 seconds slower than Wiggins but one second faster than the Belgian and so Devolder finished 23 seconds down in the final overall classification. Wiggins storming up the classification to take third place at 42 seconds.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)



Photo: I enjoy sport. I just don’t understand the win at all costs mentally at all.
Photo: "I enjoy sport. I just don’t understand the win at all costs mentally at all."

The inclusion of Lance Armstrong in a pre-Tour de France charity cycle ride in July has cost the event its sole female participant.

Nicki Aitken, the 36-year-old long distance athlete from Reading, felt she had no option but to withdraw after the organizer, ex footballer and cancer survivor Geoff Thomas, revealed that Armstrong would be riding beside her in France.

“I realized I didn’t want to be in something that’s associated with the most tainted man in sport,” she said.

April 3, 2015 (sport.bt.com)







Steven de Jongh will manage the group of sport directors at Tinkoff-Saxo. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Steven de Jongh will manage the group of sport directors at Tinkoff-Saxo. Photo: Tim De Waele.

The Tinkoff-Saxo team of two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has added Dutchman Steven de Jongh to its management team after the sacking of manager Bjarne Riis.

The team owned by Russian millionaire Oleg Tinkov officially fired Riis last weekend.

De Jongh was named as head of the group of sport directors, charged with the strategic, long-term planning of the team and its race program.

Riis’ workload will be shared between de Jongh and general manager Stefano Feltrin, who “will assume a more active role in the team’s sports operations,” the team said in a statement.

“We will not rush and turn everything upside down right now. That would not be wise at this stage,” added de Jongh.

April 3, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Wilfried Peeters, Zdenek Stybar, Niki Terpstra and Patrick Lefevere.
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Wilfried Peeters, Zdenek Stybar, Niki Terpstra and Patrick Lefevere. (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

In the absence of spring classics specialist Tom Boonen the Etixx-QuickStep team from Patrick Lefevre will be riding in support of Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra at the Tour of Flanders.

At the press conference in the Unilin flooring headquarters in Wielsbeke, Boonen played down the high expectations and ruled out his participation for the Ronde and Paris-Roubaix, aiming to come back instead at the Tour of Turkey in May.

April 3, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: Tour of Flanders for Women for those of you that have not adopted Flemish as your language for the weekend.
Photo: "Tour of Flanders for Women" for those of you that have not adopted Flemish as your language for the weekend

We may not see it on TV (yet?) but this is the biggest day on the women's cycling calendar. Hopefully in a not too distant future this will be the first weekend in a massive double header as we get to watch first the womens Tour of Flanders and then a week later the women's Paris-Roubaix.

The way things are moving right now it's not that far fetched an idea. Roubaix is the number one race on the top women riders' wishlists and I'm guessing in a few years it will be a reality, nay-sayers or not. For now the women's Ronde van Vlaanderen will mainly be a party for the ones lucky enough to see it from the roadside.

The morning start in Oudenaarde is a huge party as the town is the center of all the events on Sunday and out on the big viewing spots at the Kwaremont and Paterberg the riders will be cheered on by thousands and thousands of fans already assembled there. The atmosphere there is magic and the fans this year may be in for a cracking race.

April 3, 2015 (podiumcafe.com)





Photo: Andy Jones .
After an accident that nearly ended her career, the Brit is back in the game... and she’s on a mission. Photo: Andy Jones.

Dani King has been busy lately: a training camp in Belgium, dressing up as a sumo wrestler to cheer on her team-mates, and she has now ridden her first race of the season — claiming victory with boyfriend Matt Rowe in the Port Talbot Wheelers two-up 25-mile time trial.

“Physically I’m in really good shape, and it’s nice to be out here with the team,” said King during a recent interview at the Wiggle-Honda team launch.

April 3, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)







Without its two perennial favorites, Sunday's Tour of Flanders is anyone's race to win. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Without its two perennial favorites, Sunday's Tour of Flanders is anyone's race to win. Photo: Tim De Waele.

It’s rare that an entire nation embraces the sport of cycling as fervently and passionately as Belgium. In the Flanders region, cycling is nothing short of an obsession. The sport thrives, the fans line the roads, and the winners are lionized as gods. The Belgians hoist a beer to what they call “cycling’s cultural heritage.”

Add in some mud, wind, cold, and rain, not to mention miles of bumpy cobblestones and spirit-busting bergs, and the ingredients set the stage for one of cycling’s most compelling and intriguing races. The Tour of Flanders, called the Ronde van Vlaanderen by the locals, is the best of what competitive cycling has to offer.

April 3, 2015 (velonews.com)






Giro’s Empire ACC has an old-school vibe and a modern Easton EC90 ACC carbon fiber sole.
(Photo courtesy of Giro).
Giro’s Empire ACC has an old-school vibe and a modern Easton EC90 ACC carbon fiber sole. (Photo courtesy of Giro).

Long before Velcro, buckles, and dials, laces were it because, well, laces were it.

Tie-up cycling shoes are currently back in vogue partly because they look cool—and also because they offer unparalleled comfort. "With eyelets down the whole shoe, laces offer the best customized foot fit - snug without any unwanted pressure points," says Chris Hutchens, design and development director at Lake Cycling.

But comfort is only part of the equation.

April 3, 2015 (bicycling.com)






Photo: FUSO stainless steel custom. KVA hourglass stays, Reynolds 853 seat tube
Groupset: Dura ace 9000 derailleurs and downtube shifters, TPR mag brakes and drilled levers.
Photo: FUSO stainless steel custom. KVA hourglass stays, Reynolds 853 seat tube, Dura ace 9000 derailleurs and downtube shifters, TPR mag brakes and drilled levers.

A custom painted stainless steel bike with retro style downtube shifters and drilled out brake levers.

It’s made by RE Bikes in Seattle of KVA stainless with design by Dave Lieberman of FUSO. It’s a painted Stainless Steel bike that features hourglass stays, BB30 for the Rotor cranks, tapered headtube with Liebo cups and ENVE fork.

Legendary builder Dave Moulton’s company, carried on by Russ Denny, are builders who designed the Ritte Snob and agreed to the build of stainless steel with ISP, BB30 and tapered headtube.

April 3, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)







April 2, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 3, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)

















April 3, 2015







Vincenzo Nibali wrote to the UCI, asking the governing body not to pull Astana's racing license. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Vincenzo Nibali wrote to the UCI, asking the governing body not to pull Astana's racing license. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.

With Astana facing possible expulsion from cycling, 2014 Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali wrote to the UCI’s license commission in support of his team.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport published a letter the Italian grand tour star wrote via his lawyer, Fausto Malucchi. He sent the letter to the commission, which met with the Kazakh team Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland, to decide the team’s fate.

“The team, winner of the 2013 Giro d’Italia and 2014 Tour de France, is a symbol of clean and honest sport,” the letter reads, according to the newspaper.

April 3, 2015 (velonews.com)





Peter Sagan hopes to be in the winning move at Flanders. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Peter Sagan hopes to be in the winning move at Flanders. Photo: Tim De Waele.

Oleg Tinkov doesn’t settle for anything less than success; just ask Bjarne Riis, who was shown the door last week.

Sunday is crunch time for Peter Sagan, who will be under huge pressure from the media and his team owner to live up to his superstar salary and deliver victory at the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders). Anything less will be viewed as a disappointment.

Yet coming into the 2015 classics, it’s been hard to read Sagan.

After a tepid run across the opening northern classics, Sagan will enter Sunday’s monumental bash across the bergs of Flanders as a favorite with something to prove.

Unlike most of the other protagonists, Sagan and Tinkoff did not hold a pre-Flanders press conference. Instead, they released a few comments via press releases. Otherwise, it’s hard to gauge the mood inside the team bus.

April 3, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: In 2013, the Swiss-Italian won the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Last year Cancellara won the Tour of Flanders once more.
Photo: In 2013, the Swiss-Italian won the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Last year Cancellara won the Tour of Flanders once more.

Swiss bicycle racer Fabian Cancellara has made a promise to return to competing after he crashed at the E3 Harelbeke.

Cancellara, a member of Trek Factory Racing, crashed last Friday during the early part of the race which was held in Belgium. He was brought to a local hospital where it was discovered that two minor fractures in his lower vertebrae resulted from the fall.

The 34-year-old was instructed his injuries would take weeks to recover, taking him out of the Classics season.

A day after the fall, Cancellara discussed the incident with a press corp, as well as his plans for the near future. The multiple world time-trial champion and one-day specialist was evidently experiencing pain and refused to specify a comeback date.

April 3, 2015 (veloballs.com)





Photo: Starting at 14.30 CEST you can follow the hilly Dutch race on CyclingQuotes.com/live.
Photo: Starting at 14.30 CEST you can follow the hilly Dutch race on CyclingQuotes.com/live.

The entire cycling world is focused on Flanders where the heavy guys prepare themselves for one of the biggest battes on the cobbles.

Meanwhile, the lighter riders are preparing themselves for the next part of the classics season in the Ardennes and some of them will test their conditon in Saturday's Volta Limburg Classic.

Starting at 14.30 CEST, you can follow the race on CyclingQuotes.com/live.

April 3, 2015 (cyclingquotes.com)





Photo: Canyon’s Ultimate is a great package, but its Mavic rims are noisy.
Photo: Canyon’s Ultimate is a great package, but its Mavic rims are noisy.

BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "The Ultimate is light, superb value, and extraordinarily quick."
..
April 3, 2015 (bikeradar.com)





Bixby crosses the state line into Arkansas.
(Photo by Mike Minnick).
Bixby crosses the state line into Arkansas. (Photo by Mike Minnick).

When Bixby was adopted from a kill shelter in Austin, Texas, she had no idea what kind of adventures lay in store. Now, at the ripe age of five, the border collie mix is on the cycling trip of a lifetime on a Yuba Mundo cargo bike with her human, Mike Minnick.

The two have already pedaled over 8,400 miles through 31 states, starting from Lubec, Maine, heading toward Key West, Florida, and then crisscrossing the country to their current location in San Luis Obispo.

Prior to hitting the road with his best canine friend, Minnick, a 39-year-old former bartender, says he was the last person you’d expect to undertake such an epic journey.

April 3, 2015 (bicycling.com)
















April 2, 2015






April 2, 2015 (velonews.com)


April 2, 2015


Photo: Peter Sagan Tinkoff Saxo)
(Sadhbh O'Shea).
Photo: Peter Sagan Tinkoff Saxo) (Sadhbh O'Shea).

Tinkoff-Saxo are heading into Sunday's Tour of Flanders all-in behind leader Peter Sagan, who the team says is benefiting from continually improving form as the Classics season hits full stride.

Sagan took his first win for Tinkoff-Saxo during the penultimate stage of Tirreno-Adriatico in March, but he has failed to crack a podium since in the traditional build-up to the Classics. He was fourth in the bunch kick at Milan-San Remo, and then he mysteriously dropped from the lead trio of E3Harelbeke in the final kilometers, eventually fading to 30th.

Most recently he was 10th at Gent-Wevelgem.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
(Bettini Photo).
Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) (Bettini Photo).

Bradley Wiggins won his last ever time trial in Team Sky colors, with an aggressive, powerful ride during the 14.2km final stage at the Three Days of De Panne.

Triple stage winner Alexander Kristoff  won overall, after favorite Stijn Devolder failed to snatch victory from the Norwegian. Kristoff was 18 seconds slower than Wiggins but one second faster than the Belgian and so Devolder finished 23 seconds down in the final overall classification. Wiggins storming up the classification to take third place at 42 seconds.

Kristoff struggled to understand he had won overall immediately after finishing his time trial but was all smiles on the podium, knowing his form is excellent as Sunday’s Tour of Flanders approaches.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Who won? It was a close call
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Who won? It was a close call (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Alexander Kristoff took his third sprint win and strengthened his overall lead in the morning road race at the Three Days of De Panne in a very close sprint with Andre Greipel.

The Norwegian duelled with Andrea Guardini before accelerating to the line but Greipel was on his wheel and had the acceleration to come up along side him. Both riders threw their bikes at the line and seemed to hit the line at the same time. However the race officials ruled that Kristoff won the stage. Greipel was second, with Sacha Modolo third and Guardini fourth.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Photo: Stage 5 is the copy of Stage 17 in the Tour de France.
Photo: Stage 5 is the copy of Stage 17 in the Tour de France.

More than the race resembles a mini-Tour de France, this race as an Alpine dress-rehearsal for the Tour, complete with an identical mountain stage and a comparable team time trial. Here’s a look at the stages and what to expect along the way.

April 2, 2015 (inrng.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Stages & Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Start List),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem Women - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Tour de Taiwan - Mar 21-25 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Nokere Koerse - Mar 18 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More...

April 2, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: George climbs the iconic Koppenberg – a key climb in the Tour of Flanders (Pic: Daniel Loots).
Photo: George climbs the iconic Koppenberg – a key climb in the Tour of Flanders (Pic: Daniel Loots).

This Sunday, the Koppenberg will transform from a non-descript cobbled farm track in rural Flanders into the center of the cycling universe, when the 99th edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen rolls out and tackles the 22 per cent cobbled wall on a 264.2km route with 19 Hellingen from Bruges to Oudenaarde, the Flemish town within a short ride of the majority of cobbled climbs.

he Tour of Flanders and, on the following Sunday, Paris-Roubaix, form the most exciting eight days on the cycling calendar. Two of the greatest one-day prizes in the sport and the climax of the cobbled Classics campaign.

April 2, 2015 (roadcyclinguk.com)








Photo: Fabian Cancellara won the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Due to injury, however, he will not be able to defend his title..
Photo: Fabian Cancellara won the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Due to injury,however, he will not be able to defend his title.

Sunday's Tour of Flanders departs Brugge at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and isexpected at the finish at Oudenaarde at around 4:47pm CET (10:47am U.S.Eastern, 7:47am Pacific). 

Tour of Flanders live streaming video should get underway at around *9:30am CET (*3:30am U.S. Eastern, 12:30am Pacific).

April 2, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





Photo: Jivr
Image Credit: Paul Sawers/VentureBeat.
Photo: Jivr Image Credit: Paul Sawers/VentureBeat.

Commuters the world over face the perennial problem of how to optimize their journey to work: What time should I leave? Is the connection running on time? Will bad weather mean the train’s too full? Am I better off just taking the car?

One solution for many workers is to travel by bike — it’s easier to create a consistent travel time for starters, with traffic, weather, and other unforseen delays having minimal impact for nimble two-wheeled travelers.

It’s estimated that at least 200,000 people cycle through New York alone each and every day, a figure similar to London, which is testament to the practicalities of bikes when traversing large conurbations.

April 2, 2015 (venturebeat.com)








Alexander Kristoff won stage two of the Driedaagse De Panne after a high-speed sprint in Koksijde. The Norwegian extend his overall race lead after also winning the opening stage.

The final kilometers of the 217km stage was a battle between the sprinters’ lead-out trains, with Team Sky, Lampre-Merida and Katusha fighting for position in the narrow roads and final turns. Kristoff launched his sprint early in the long finishing straight but had the speed and power to hold off his rivals.

April 1, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)







Easter Sunday, the one day of the year that the ‘n+1 rule’ of bike ownership can be applied to the consumption of chocolate eggs and it’s time for the big one, Ronde van Vlaanderen.

April 1, 2015 (velofocus.com)




Photo: The Pinarello Dogma K8-S frame has rear suspension that relies on the bike's flexing seat stays and an elastomer rear shock. Photo: Team Sky.
The Pinarello Dogma K8-S frame has rear suspension that relies on the bike's flexing seat stays and an elastomer rear shock. Photo: Team Sky.

This Sunday, at Ronde van Vlaanderen, Team Sky will be aboard a new Pinarello Dogma, the K8-S, which team leader Bradley Wiggins says is “game-changing,” thanks to its rear suspension.

In partnership with the team’s car sponsor, Jaguar, Pinarello developed the new model with flat, flexible seat stays to allow the carbon fiber frame to flex and compress the small shock located on the seat stays. It is said to have 10mm of travel with the elastomer-based shock. Pinarello claims the frame will weigh 990 grams. The Dogma F8 weighs 860g.

Pinarello claims the new frame reduces vibration by 50 percent, although its unclear how, exactly, that data was measured.

April 2, 2015 (velonews.com)






Photo: Horner leads the Airgas-Safeway team on a training ride. And perhaps sharing some knowledge.
(Marco Quezada).
Photo: Horner leads the Airgas-Safeway team on a training ride. And perhaps sharing some knowledge. (Marco Quezada).

A recent invitation to the Tour d'Azerbaïdjan in May will fill the hole left in Airgas-Safeway's race calendar that opened when the US Continental team missed out on an invitation to the Tour of California.

Team principle Chris Johnson told Cyclingnews this week that team leader Chris Horner will target the general classification at the five-day UCI 2.1 race scheduled for May 6-10.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Photo: The cobbles and climbs in the early kilometres really shouldn’t trouble any of those looking to win.
Photo: The cobbles and climbs in the early kilometres really shouldn’t trouble any of those looking to win.

As much of Flanders wakes weary from overdoing it at the Ronde van Vlaanderen, there’s no chance of spending the day lounging about on the sofa for the women’s peloton, it’s race day again! This time for Grand Prix Dottignies.

Nestled on the border between Walloon-Flanders border just outside of Roubaix, the town of Dottignies plays host to the third round of the Lotto Cycling Cup. There’s cobbles and climbs but this is really a day for the sprinters to shine.
6th April
125 km
Dottignies, Belgium.

April 2, 2015 (velofocus.com)





Tejay van Garderen hopes luck will be on his side this season. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Tejay van Garderen hopes luck will be on his side this season. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.

When Tejay van Garderen crossed the La Molina finish line in stage 4 of the Volta a Catalunya last week, he threw up both hands in a victory celebration, understandably elated.

The result came on the heels of a very difficult stage 3; unfortunately for van Garderen, the impressive display ahead of every other top climber in the race on La Molina would not help him much in the general classification, as he had crashed and went sailing over a guardrail and into the bushes on the previous stage, ultimately finishing the day nearly 16 minutes behind the leaders.

April 2, 2015 (velonews.com)





Renaat Schotte speaking to Tom Boonen in Compiegne before Paris-Roubaix. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com (File).
Photo: Renaat Schotte speaking to Tom Boonen in Compiegne before Paris-Roubaix. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com (File).

It was a cold, blustery morning before the start of stage 2 at the Three Days of De Panne, and Renaat Schotte was dressed as you would expect him to be.

As Sporza’s in-race reporter during the spring classics, Schotte was decked out in motorcycle gear, with his helmet in hand, ready for the day’s battle across the wind and the cobblestones that accent the territory of west Flanders. As he did every morning, he was interviewing key riders before the start of the stage, getting a feel for the action, and updating on any breaking news.

A long fixture on the racing circuit, the 46-year-old is well-liked by riders. Bradley Wiggins stopped by for a chat before the riders clipped into their pedals. And then it was off to the races.

April 2, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: how you can improve your climbing and, ultimately, use your climbing skills to great effect while racing..
Photo: How you can improve your climbing and, ultimately, use your climbing skills to great effect while racing..

Climbing. Some love it, some hate it. More often than not a rider’s attitude towards climbing correlates with their bodyweight. The bottom line is that climbing is generally dictated by watts per kilo. Simply put: to climb faster, you need to put out more power, or weigh less. Or both.

There are a myriad of strategies that can be enacted with coaches, physiologists and nutritionists until you’re light and strong enough to leave all your mates behind. But bike races are not raced in a lab.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Photo: The team standings podium at Barry-Roubaix. Looks like the team will have to find an inventive way to part that beautiful trophy up. © Rachel Reitz.
Photo: The team standings podium at Barry-Roubaix. Looks like the team will have to find an inventive way to part that beautiful trophy up. © Rachel Reitz.

"Hastings, Michigan once again played host to 3000+ racers on a cold but clear seventh edition of Barry-Roubaix on Saturday.

There were fears a few weeks ago that snow or ice might be the norm, but instead racers were greeted with 18-degree temperatures and gravels roads that were nearly as smooth and concrete.

Having put a few riders in the top 10 last year, my fellow WASlab teammates and I were sure to be marked men, but all the region’s fastest, along with some national talent had made the trip for the early season test.

The gun went off and we proceeded through town in a nearly neutral fashion before tackling the first dirt section on Yeckley Rd, a mere 2-miles into the race."

April 2, 2015 (cxmagazine.com)





Photo: Matt Brammeier (MTN-Qhubeka) goes solo
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Matt Brammeier (MTN-Qhubeka) goes solo
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)..


Matt Brammeier
is hopeful that MTN–Qhubeka can turn their spring Classics campaign around in the final few cobbled races.

The Professional Continental squad has struggled for results in the cobbled classics and lost Edvald Boasson Hagen to a broken collarbone in a fall at Gent-Wevelgem.

However the South African team have at least tried to animate several races in the past few weeks with Brammeier himself on the attack at several stages in the Three Days of De Panne.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






April 1, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






April 1, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 2, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)














April 2, 2015





The fate of Astana's WorldTour license is still undecided, as the team met with the UCI License Commission on Thursday. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (File).
The fate of Astana's WorldTour license is still undecided, as the team met with the UCI License Commission on Thursday. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (File).

Under-fire cycling outfit Astana met with International Cycling Union (UCI) officials on Thursday to plead its case for a WorldTour racing license.

The UCI called for Astana’s license to be revoked over concerns about the Kazakh team’s practices regarding doping.

Should Astana lose its license, reigning Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali might lose the chance to defend his title in July.

Last year, five riders with either the professional WorldTour squad or the Kazakh team’s Continental affiliate failed doping tests.

April 2, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: My first bike race was a Revolution. It was in front of 6000 people on a velodrome. I was 15. .
Photo: My first bike race was a Revolution. It was in front of 6000 people on a velodrome. I was 15.

"The first time I pinned on a number was for a cyclocross race in 2007 when I was 26. I was visiting my sister in San Francisco, and she was like “Awww, this is great. I signed you up for a cyclocross race. Buy these clipless pedals.” So I did. It was my first time in clipless pedals, my first time doing cyclocross and my first race.

The best part was that when the race started and everyone just jumped off the line, I was like: “Whoa! Why are we starting so fast? What’s the hurry?”

It was great. I was awful. I crashed numerous times. When I was done, I was like “Oh. That was fun. I should go buy a bike.”

April 2, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Lars Boom won the cobbled stage 5 at the Tour de France last summer. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Lars Boom won the cobbled stage 5 at the Tour de France last summer.
Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.

Ask Lars Boom about his victory at the Tour de France last summer over the cobblestones, and a big Dutch grin creases across his face.

“That was a great moment, one of the best of my career,” Boom told VeloNews. “Can I repeat that on Paris-Roubaix? I hope so, I hope so, that would be nice!”

The 29-year-old Dutchman enters the northern classics as a favorite with an asterisk. His dramatic victory in stage 5 of last year’s Tour confirmed Boom in the big leagues.

After winning the world cyclocross title in 2008, the wins haven’t come as fast and often as many had hoped when he switched to the road with Rabobank in 2009. He notched a few victories, including the overall titles at the 2009 Tour of Belgium, the 2011 Tour of Britain, and the 2012 Eneco Tour, but his stage win under extreme conditions over the cobblestones in what’s fast becoming a mythical stage shot him back into the stratosphere.

And it helped him sign a big-money, two-year transfer from Belkin to Astana.

April 2, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: John Degenkolb reacts after winning the 2015 Milan-San Remo.
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: John Degenkolb reacts after winning the 2015 Milan-San Remo.
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Amid the elation of his Milan-San Remo victory, John Degenkolb appeared in something of a dream-like state when asked to describe his winning sprint on the Via Roma, admitting that he could scarcely recall the final two kilometers of the race. On beginning his cobbled classics campaign at E3 Harelbeke a week later, however, he was brought – rather too literally – back down to earth. Welcome to Belgium.

The German was among the fallers in the early crash that ended Fabian Cancellara’s spring prematurely and he was still feeling the effects of the incident when he lined out at the windswept Gent-Wevelgem two days later.

Speaking to Cyclingnews as he travelled from his home in Frankfurt back to Belgium on Wednesday evening, Degenkolb was confident that his injuries will not affect him this weekend at the Tour of Flanders.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: Bradley Wiggins praises Geraint Thomas's versatility.
Photo: Bradley Wiggins praises Geraint Thomas's versatility, "he can do anything", but says he needs to specialize.

Bradley Wiggins has selected Geraint Thomas to lead Team Sky’s next wave. Thomas is preparing to win the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, while Wiggins has only four race days left with Sky before he leaves the team for good.

Wiggins will support Thomas for the Tour of Flanders and will see the favor returned in his last race for Sky, next Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix (April 12).

Welshman Thomas, 28, has already won the Volta ao Algarve stage race this year and netted a big one, Belgium’s E3 Harelbeke one-day classic on Friday.

April 2, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Contemplating The Meaning of Bike.
Photo: Contemplating The Meaning of Bike.

"I am turning 45 this year. While I wouldn’t say that number, in and of itself, is intimidating or particularly important, it comes during a period of upheaval that I couldn’t have anticipated.

I have changed jobs and sold my home. I have exchanged a forever marriage for an unknown quantity of new experiences. I am asking questions about topics I thought I understood and as anyone who has done this knows, the Still Strong voice, the Buddha Nature reminds me there is no reason to look for answers beyond my tiny, formidable consciousness.

The jaded me always wondered if perhaps supermarket kind-smilers and sweet, oddball hippy ladies were sniffing around the truth but the bad-ass me knew that there was another path that didn’t require me to feel concerned about uncomfortable things."

April 2, 2015 (redkiteprayer.com)



















April 1, 2015






April 1, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)


April 1, 2015




Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
(Bettini Photo).
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) (Bettini Photo).

Alexander Kristoff won stage two of the Driedaagse De Panne after a high-speed sprint in Koksijde. The Norwegian extend his overall race lead after also winning the opening stage.

The final kilometers of the 217km stage was a battle between the sprinters’ lead-out trains, with Team Sky, Lampre-Merida and Katusha fighting for position in the narrow roads and final turns. Kristoff launched his sprint early in the long finishing straight but had the speed and power to hold off his rivals.

April 1, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






Photo: With Van Dijk’s teammate, Lizzie Armitstead sitting on Johansson’s wheel there was no stopping Van Dijk.
Photo: With Van Dijk’s teammate, Lizzie Armitstead sitting on Johansson’s wheel there was no stopping Van Dijk.

Easter Sunday, the one day of the year that the ‘n+1 rule’ of bike ownership can be applied to the consumption of chocolate eggs and it’s time for the big one, Ronde van Vlaanderen.

Omloop het Nieuwsblad, Gent-Wevelgem, all these and more are great races to win but they’re all a dress rehearsal for the Ronde van Vlaanderen.

April 1, 2015 (velofocus.com)





Photo: After the first rehearsal, he was pumped. The next day, he insisted on new costumes for the trainers so he could go at it with David Walsh, Floyd Landis … and of course Greg LeMond.
Photo: "After the first rehearsal, he was pumped. The next day, he insisted on new costumes for the trainers so he could go at it with David Walsh, Floyd Landis … and of course Greg LeMond."

Sources close to Lance Armstrong have revealed that the defrocked champion is considering becoming a competitor in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Armstrong’s lifetime suspension from all sports that are signatories to World Anti- Doping Association code has left the Texan unable to enter virtually any sanctioned athletic competition, including mass-participation events such as marathons.

WWF, however, does not follow the WADA code, which would enable Armstrong to take part in their events.

Lance has some bottled-up energy for sure”, the source told us, on condition of anonymity. “He’s been golfing, but that’s requires concentration and restraint. He’s looking for something more aggressive.”

April 1, 2015 (redkiteprayer.com)





2014-15 Races & Results.

Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde - Mar 31-Apr 2 (Stages & Results),

Tour of Flanders - Apr 5 (Start List),

Giro d'Italia 2015 - May 9-31 (Stages),

Tour de France 2015 - July 4-26 (Stages),

Vuelta a España 2015 - Aug 22-Sept 13 (Stages),

UCI Road World Championship 2015 - Sept 20-27 (Stages),

Gent - Wevelgem - Mar 29 (Results),

Gent - Wevelgem Women - Mar 29 (Results),

Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Mar 23-29 (Results),

E3 Harelbeke - Mar 27 (Results),

Tour de Taiwan - Mar 21-25 (Results),

Milan San Remo - Mar 22 (Results),

Nokere Koerse - Mar 18 (Results),

Tirreno-Adriatico - Mar 11-17 (Results),

UCI Track World Championships - Feb 18-22 (Results),

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships - Jan 31-Feb 1 (Results).

More...

April 1, 2015  (cyclingnews.com)






Luca Paolini and Alexander Kristoff have been Katusha's dynamic duo this spring, and they'll line up as podium threats in Ronde van Vlaanderen on Sunday. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (File).
Luca Paolini and Alexander Kristoff have been Katusha's dynamic duo this spring, and they'll line up as podium threats in Ronde van Vlaanderen on Sunday. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (File).

Winning a sprint is never easy, but Alexander Kristoff made it look that way when he snatched a four-up sprint to claim the opening stage of the Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde on Tuesday. And a day later, he muscled his way out of a larger bunch to win stage 2.

The 27-year-old Norwegian is oozing confidence as he rides toward a possible date with destiny at the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) this weekend. Without Tom Boonen or Fabian Cancellara, many are tipping Kristoff as the man to fill the void.

April 1, 2015 (velonews.com)








Photo: Fabian Cancellara won the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Due to injury, however, he will not be able to defend his title..
Photo: Fabian Cancellara won the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen. Due to injury,however, he will not be able to defend his title.

Sunday's Tour of Flanders departs Brugge at 10:15am CET (4:15am U.S. Eastern) and isexpected at the finish at Oudenaarde at around 4:47pm CET (10:47am U.S.Eastern, 7:47am Pacific). 

Tour of Flanders live streaming video should get underway at around *9:30am CET (*3:30am U.S. Eastern, 12:30am Pacific).

April 1, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)







Photo: Guillaume van Keirsbulck (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) won the 2014 Three Days of De Panne and he is back to defend..
Photo: Guillaume van Keirsbulck (Omega Pharma Quickstep) won the 2014 Three Days of De Panne and he is back to defend..

Thursday's final day of Three Days of De Panne is divided into morning and afternoon stages. The afternoon stage is an Individual Time Trial.

Thursday's Three Days of De Panne Stage 3a departs De Panne at 9:25am CET (3:25am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the finish at De Panne at around 12:09pm CET (6:09am U.S. Eastern).

Three Days of De Panne live streaming video should get underway at around 10:30am CET (4:30am U.S. Eastern, 1:30am Pacific).

Thursday's Three Days of De Panne Stage 3b, a 14.2 km Individual Time Trial at De Panne, gets underway at 2:30pm CET (8:30am U.S. Eastern).

Three Days of De Panne live streaming video should get underway at around 2:40pm CET (8:40am U.S. Eastern, 5:40am Pacific).

April 1, 2015 (cyclingfans.com)





It is the type of racing where they give a beer hand-up on the side. How can you not love that? Photography by Kurt Vanhout
"It is the type of racing where they give a beer hand-up on the side. How can you not love that?" Photography by Kurt Vanhout

Ask any rider about her first cyclocross race, and you’ll probably hear something like this: “It was tricky and I got filthy, but afterwards I just had this big silly grin on my face and I couldn’t wait to do it again.”

It is a cycling discipline that is designed for the wet and chilly months of the year so the muddy fun is over in Europe and the United States for the 2014/2015 season, but it’s just about to get going in Australia, where the once scant racing options look set to step up again this year.

Cyclocross has grown from almost nothing in Australia five years ago to the point where there is now an established National Series, a National Championships, a crop of new clubs putting on races. There’s even a state series starting in Victoria.

April 1, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)






Photo: Alexander Kristoff celebrates his win.
(Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).
Photo: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) wins the opening stage in De Panne (Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com).

Alexander Kristoff got back to winning ways on the opening stage of the Driedaagse de Panne. The Norwegian powered home to his fifth victory of the season after a perfect delivery from his compatriot and teammate Sven Erik Bystrom.

Jens Debusschere faded after launching his sprint early but held on for second while Stijn Devolder took third.

March 31, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)






March 31, 2015 (cyclingtips.com.au)





Alexander Vinokourov presents the 2015 Astana team in Dubai
(Bettini Photo).
Alexander Vinokourov presents the 2015 Astana team in Dubai
(Bettini Photo).

Representatives, lawyers and even riders from the Astana team are expected to attend the UCI License Commission hearing in Lausanne on Thursday as the Kazakhstani teams fights to save its reputation and place in the 2015 WorldTour.

In recent days the team has cranked up its public defense, with the Kazakhstani Cycling Federation president Darkhan Kaletaev insisting it has done everything possible to fight the problem of doping.

He claimed in a message published on the team’s website that Astana and the Kazakhstani Federation can play an active role in the fight against doping alongside the UCI and WADA.

April 1, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)





Vladimir Putin has already been spotted training with the Tinkoff-Saxo team, much like former owner Oleg Tinkov was wont to do. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Vladimir Putin has already been spotted training with the Tinkoff-Saxo team, much like former owner Oleg Tinkov was wont to do.
Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.

Russian President and known cycling fan Vladimir Putin has quietly nationalized the Tinkoff-Saxo team of Alberto Contador and Peter Sagan, disturbed by the lack of results it has garnered this spring.

“Tinkoff-Saxo has always been Russian,” the president said in speech to the Russian Duma, scoffing at the team’s Danish roots. “That means it has always been mine.”

Putin removed team owner Oleg Tinkov just days after Tinkov fired former owner and general manager Bjarne Riis. In a statement, Putin claimed that new management is “clearly required” to turn the team’s fortunes around.

April 1, 2015 (velonews.com)






Speaking to journalists in Italy this week, Valentino Campagnolo was unequivocal: His company will never, ever produce a disc brake..
Speaking to journalists in Italy this week, Valentino Campagnolo was unequivocal: His company will never, ever produce a disc brake.

Amid rumors that the UCI may experiment with disc brakes in select professional races as early as this year, the CEO of the storied Campagnolo brand, Valentino Campagnolo, told tech press at a wine tasting near the Campagnolo factory, “I’d sooner drink a Pinot Grigio from California than have disc brakes on my road bikes.”

One of the greatest hurdles to allowing disc brakes in the WorldTour peloton is the braking discrepancies between disc-brake bikes and rim-brake bikes.

Without all three of the current WorldTour drivetrain sponsors on board, the UCI’s decision has been at a standstill.

Campagnolo is the last hold-out, years behind Shimano and SRAM, which both offer disc brakes for road bikes.

April 1, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: After collecting seed capital via a Paypal appeal AVRI have hired a chief executive in Pat McQuaid.
After collecting seed capital via a Paypal appeal AVRI have hired a chief executive in Pat McQuaid.

Cycling fans are grouping together to form a lobby group called Association de Vélo de Route Internationale.

AVRI will campaign on behalf of fans to ensure their voices are heard and stake a claim to share in the spoils of professional cycling and lobby for improvements to help fans such as better race websites and sharper TV production.

April 1, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: It’s habitual, traditional. Once upon a time it was called the Mapei team.
Photo: It’s habitual, traditional. Once upon a time it was called the Mapei team.

Cycling’s imagery means that thoughts of spring don’t always turn to blooming flowers and warmer weather but instead generate dark images of leaden skies and muddy fields, Belgium at its most dismal.

Another theme is the omnipresence of the Etixx-Quickstep team. The name has changed over the years but story remains the same, a team expected to deliver big results ahead of every other team.

While some squads are delighted with a podium placing this one risk being blasted for “losing” the race should a rider come second.

April 1, 2015 (inrng.com)





Photo: Tom Boonen at the Etixx training camp in 2015.
Photo: Tom Boonen at the Etixx training camp in 2015.

Etixx-Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere says there is no chance of injured Tom Boonen returning in time for Paris-Roubaix on April 12, despite the CEO of team sponsor Etixx giving the Belgian a one per cent chance of returning.

The Classics specialist crashed in the first stage of the Pairs-Nice stage race and dislocated his shoulder. He had surgery, but still needs time to recover.

The incident was thought to have wiped him out for the 2015 classics campaign, but messages on Twitter, particularly from Etixx boss Marc Coucke,  caused a small storm in Flanders.

April 1, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Photo: Oakley and Wonka have teamed up with Mark Cavendish to produce a ground-breaking new way to stay fueled on your rides. Photo: Rogan LeBonker |VeloNews.com.
Oakley and Wonka have teamed up with Mark Cavendish to produce a ground-breaking new way to stay fueled on your rides.
Photo: Rogan LeBonker |VeloNews.com.

When someone as picky as Mark Cavendish puts his head together with designers from a brand like Oakley and the food scientists at Nestle, the results are sure to be attention-grabbing. The Wonka Jawbreaker Energy Balls are just that.

Wonka Candy, a division of confectionary behemoth Nestle Global, announced today — only one day after Cavendish’s signature Oakley Jawbreaker sunglasses were officially revealed — that it would launch a new line of sports nutrition products inspired by the Manx sprinter.

The new Jawbreakers Energy Balls were co-developed with Cavendish and Oakley, maker of Cav’s new sprint-optimized sunglasses.

April 1, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: We are so confident in our new tires that we back them with a lifetime warranty – a first in the tire industry.
Photo: We are so confident in our new tires that we back them with a lifetime warranty – a first in the tire industry.

Compass proudly announces a new line of 100% puncture-proof tires. The first one is the Compass Lark Pass 650B x 42 mm. Why start with a wide tire? Simple: You get much more wear out of it. This is probably the last set of tires you’ll ever buy! Since there is no air inside, you can wear them down to the rim!

This is especially useful since the trend toward wider tires probably has run its course. Over the next few decades, experts predict that tires will become narrower again. Rather than having to buy new tires every time cycling fashion changes, the new Compass Lark Pass tires will get narrower as you ride them. If you ride 6000 miles a year, your Lark Pass will be just 19 mm wide in 2050.

April 1, 2015 (janheine.wordpress.com)





Photo: First JV, now JB. At this rate I'm gonna have to get a secretary to deal with all the messages of goodwill heading my way.
Photo: First JV, now JB. At this rate I'm gonna have to get a secretary to deal with all the messages of goodwill heading my way.

"JV got the ball rolling by coughing up a furball when I asked him on Twitter if he was going to attend the conference about how to get dopers out of management when he was in London.

He replied with a salvo across my well-buttered bow."

April 1, 2015 (crankpunk.com)





Photo: Daily Distraction... © (pezcyclingnews.com)

April 1, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)

















April 1, 2015





Photo: No, you won’t smell like slightly damp and muddy cycling clothes if you buy Fabian Cancellara‘s new scent ‘Monument’, you’ll smell like a winner.
Photo: No, you won’t smell like slightly damp and muddy cycling clothes if you buy Fabian Cancellara‘s new scent ‘Monument’, you’ll smell like a winner.

April 1 is a time for hilarity to ensue around the world, but only before 12pm.

Cyclists, teams and owners took time out of their busy schedules to fill our mornings with a little mirth.

Here are a few that caught our eye, but definitely did not have us fooled for a second…well, maybe one second.

April 1, 2015 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)





Dreamworks has already begun work on an as-of-yet unnamed account of the CIRC doping report, and Pat McQuaid is said to be one of the stars, playing himself. Photo: AFP PHOTO | FABRICE COFFRINI.
Dreamworks has already begun work on an as-of-yet unnamed account of the CIRC doping report, and Pat McQuaid is said to be one of the stars, playing himself.
Photo: AFP PHOTO | FABRICE COFFRINI.

The Cycling Independent Reform Commission’s (CIRC) report will become a major motion picture as soon as 2016, according to sources close to the blossoming project.

Dreamworks has bought film rights to the report, and has hired screenwriter Mo Viemeker, whose list of writing credits includes “Breaking Bad” and “The Hunger Games.” Viemeker will make his directorial debut with the as-of-yet unnamed CIRC film, according to Dreamworks.

“It’s cycling noir, an irresistible tale of deception and intrigue,” said Phil Misbad, a spokesperson for Dreamworks.

April 1, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo: Fortunately for us armchair sadists, professional bicyclers don’t have the luxury of refusing to ride in inclement weather.
Photo: Fortunately for us armchair sadists, professional bicyclers don’t have the luxury of refusing to ride in inclement weather.

Last Sunday Gent-Wevelgem was a sufferfest of the highest order; wind, rain, crashes and hard riding whittled the peloton down to meager 39 finishers.

Lee Rodgers gives us his lowdown on the chaos that turned out to be a great race, the sort of race that inspires you to ride your bike… even in the rain?

"Whenever I look out the window and see the rain coming down in sheets and the wind blowing poodles along the thoroughfare, I do my best to fight my natural inclination to get back under the covers, and instead I ask myself:

What would a Belgian do?"

April 1, 2015 (pezcyclingnews.com)





The Tour de France held its first ever La Course last summer. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
The Tour de France held its first ever La Course last summer. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.

Nowhere is the desire and need for positive reform more immediate than in women’s professional cycling.

A major priority of the UCI under President Brian Cookson has been to raise the profile of women in the sport, but a meaningful long-term strategy which will improve the opportunities and treatment of women has yet to materialize, and this is especially distressing for the current athletes who are attempting to make a living as professional cyclists.

Their careers have a very short lifespan and critical changes cannot come soon enough.

April 1, 2015 (velonews.com)





Bradley Wiggins (Sky) is hoping his hard work and attention to detail pay off on April 12 when he takes on Paris-Roubaix. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com (File).
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) is hoping his hard work and attention to detail pay off on April 12 when he takes on Paris-Roubaix. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com (File).

Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins will race Paris-Roubaix next Sunday according to feel, but also with a big bag of scientific research at their disposal.

This winter, Wiggins timed some of the key cobble sectors that make up the 253-kilometer French monument. In training, he is riding certain times and watts to replicate what could happen in the race.

The same sort of efforts helped him win four Olympic gold medals and the 2012 Tour de France.

“It’s different training, but you can do things to replicate what you’ll find in Paris-Roubaix,” Sky’s head of performance operations, Rod Ellingworth told VeloNews.

April 1, 2015 (velonews.com)





Photo Credit: Sportif Images .
Photo Credit: Sportif Images.

These days it can feel like it's hard to find a hero. Someone you can believe in, look up to and root for.

And usually I'm not one to build pedestals but Katie Compton fits the bill.

She's smart, funny, insanely talented on the bike and she's works very hard at getting results. Like 11 National Cyclocross Championships. And there have been other podiums and we could talk about tire pressure and tires and brake preferences but I thought it would be more fun to get personal.

April 1, 2015 (303cycling.com)





Photo: Without doubt, an absolute masterpiece of a mountain..
Photo: Without doubt, an absolute masterpiece of a mountain.

As one of the oldest climbs in the Tour de France, first featuring in 1910, starting from the spa town of Bagnères-de-Luchon the Col de Peyresourde is a deceptively tough ascent. 14.5km in length and although only climbing at an average gradient of 6.5% up to 1,569 metres above sea level don’t be fooled by the numbers.

The road ramps up straight out of Luchon, continually tickling the legs and edging you ever closer towards the red. It was on this very road that during the 2007 L’Etape du Tour the furnace-like summer sun did everything in its powers to melt the tarmac and make it feel like I was wading through quicksand.

The Peyresourde’s a cunning little fox, regularly applying the pressure and threatening to turn you around and send you packing back to Luchon for an early shower.

April 1, 2015 (capovelo.com)
























March 31, 2015








Bjarne Riis has said he plans to spend time with his family after parting ways with the Tinkoff-Saxo team, saying he will take time “to think through and explore what I want to achieve in life professionally going forward.”

Perhaps as part of his settlement with the Tinkoff-Saxo team, and team management company Tinkoff Sport, Riis said he will refrain from giving interviews but tried to encourage his former riders in a brief message issued via his son’s Twitter account.

March 31, 2015 (cyclingnews.com)


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