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Dec 31



December 2014

December 31, 2014


Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot has been named France’s champion of champions for 2014 by L’Équipe at the end of an incredible season in which she won the world road title and the French road, time trial, cyclo-cross and MTB cross-country titles.

Speaking to the sports daily, the 22-year-old Frenchwoman, who shares the cover of L’Équipe’s final edition of the year with world champion of champions, American swimmer Katie Ledecky, reflects on her career and hints at an intriguing rivalry with team-mate and former world champion Marianne Vos, who lost her crown to Ferrand-Prévot in Ponferrada last September.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014





Vincenzo Nibali
Photo: © blank.
Vincenzo Nibali has said that he is eager to start the new campaign on a sounder footing than he did 2014 and while the Tour de France is the centrepiece of his season, the Italian noted that the door is not yet fully closed on a return to the Giro d’Italia.

Nibali won the Giro in 2013 but skipped the corsa rosa this year in order to focus on the Tour. His Astana team has intimated that Fabio Aru will lead the line at the Giro in 2015 while Nibali again targets Tour victory.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014




Photo: Giant-Shimano becomes Team Giant-Alpecin, Germany's first World Tour team in a while, and a strong one at that. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images.
I suppose every team has a unique story to tell, and Giant-Alpecin is no exception. They came up the ranks as Skil-Shimano, riding in kits that hearkened back to the French Skil-Sem teams of the mid-80s featuring Sean Kelly and Eric Caritoux, and managed by Le Vicomte, Jean de Gribaldy, an ex-pro who helped modernize the sport during Kelly's time. That part was mostly nostalgia (as opposed to a more tangible cycling connection) on the part of sponsor Skil; in reality the new team had its roots in the Shimano Memory Corp development squad based (like Skil Corp) in the Netherlands.

To outgrow the development ranks, Skil came aboard with Shimano in 2006, creating a Pro-Conti team which enjoyed a single Tour de France invitation in 2009. But little else was going on until Skil disappeared, briefly replaced by the philosophical name 1t4i, representing a single T (team) and four I's (Inspiration, Integrity, Improvement and Innovation).

Manager Iwan Spekenbrink eventually replaced Skil (and the 1t4i thing) with Argos, an oil company, and moved the team's base to southern France, marking the transition to an international squad. Things really got interesting when, in 2012, John Degenkolb joined Marcel Kittel, the team's flashy 2011 recruit, to set a course for the team involving actual race wins. The victory totals went from 15 in 2010 to a very healthy 30 the next two seasons and a high of 41 in 2014.

 (podiumcafe.com)

December 31, 2014






Liam Earl hitting the drop in Namur world cup
Photo: © Dan Seaton/gearratios.org.
"Today marks the 12th day of my USA Cycling Cyclocross Development Program experience. I have had many great experiences and with four days left there will be many more to come.

Today was a very valuable rest day in between the legendary races of Diegem and Loenhout. For me, today's rest day consisted of sleeping in to the late hour of 8:30 while going to bed the previous night at 9:30. The valuable 11 hours sleep is vital for your body to recover from racing the best in the world. After having a hardy breakfast of oatmeal mixed with dates and banana, I went out with two other US teammates on what turned out to be an adventurous and cold ride in the Belgium countryside. The ride was an easy hour to get the muscles relaxed and the blood flowing once again."

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014




Photo: Excepting Van Aert and Van der Poel, by lap two there was a regular race taking place behind them. Tim De Waele/TDW Sport.
"If the Kerstperiode in Belgium is, in effect, a cyclo-cross stage race with races nearly every day from December 26th through January 6th, the Azencross in Loehhout is the queen stage. The Cross of the Aces is normally a fast race, often frozen, and was one of the first races to introduce things like a lighting system for the start and man-made features like their series of BMX style whoop-de-dos. When it’s muddy it’s often still fast, though this year was somewhat of an exception.

A blanket of snow over ground that hadn’t quite frozen and temperatures just over freezing meant the water-logged course was also ice cold, slower, and more treacherous than typical."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014




Photo: According to Google search trends, most resolutions involve diet and fitness... Photography by Kristof Ramon
"There are hundreds of experiments, involving thousands of participants from continents and countries spanning most of the world pointing to one clear finding: compared to vague, easy goals such as “Do your best”, specific, and aspirational goals improve performance. The goal ‘gurus’, Locke and Latham reviewed over 40 years of research to state: “So long as a person is committed to the goal, has the requisite ability to attain it, and does not have conflicting goals, there is a positive, linear relationship between goal difficulty and task performance.”

In other words, if you really want it, set it hard and work for it and you’ll achieve it."

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 31, 2014




How many more star riders will Oleg Tinkov sign this summer?
Photo: © Stephen Farrand.
"If Quintana, Froome, Nibali and Contador all agree to ride all three Grand Tours, I'll get Tinkoff Bank to put up €1 million. They can have €250,000 each as an extra incentive. I think it's a good idea." - Tinkoff-Saxo team owner Oleg Tinkov tries to entice riders to go for the Giro-Tour-Vuelta triple in 2015.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014





December 30, 2014





December 30, 2014


Igor Makarov, Katusha team owner and president of the Russian Cycling Federation, flanked by Spaniard Joaquim Rodríguez, and German Roman Arnold, president of Canyon Bikes, at the 2014 team presentation. Photo by Tim de Waele.
Katusha officials say the team’s 2015 budget is “guaranteed” despite a growing crisis in Russia that’s threatening to engulf its economy.

Recent comments from Tinkoff-Saxo owner Oleg Tinkov, suggesting that the worsening economic situation could torpedo his team, raised questions about Katusha, Russia’s other major World Tour team.

Katusha officials, however, say the team’s budget is secure going into the 2015 season.

“Of course, the ruble crisis affects all Russian companies and citizens, but the team [received] the signal from the sponsors that the budget and future of the team are guaranteed,” a team official told VeloNews, via email, Wednesday.

 (velonews.com)

December 31, 2014




Photo: I’d say for the sport overall … Froome leaving the Tour.
"Instead of giving you our take on the year that was, we decided to ask some pros what they thought were the most standout moments.

Here’s what they told us."

Phil Gaimon

“For me, that Cannondale merger [with Garmin] was a doozy..."

“I’d say for the sport overall … Froome leaving the Tour.”

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 31, 2014




Photo: Channel Nine/Foxtel to broadcast Bay Crits, Road Nationals and Jayco Herald Sun Tour. Photography by Tim Bardsley-Smith
The new year will be just two days old when many of Australia’s best riders line up in Geelong for the first of the four Bay Crits (officially the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic). Unlike in previous years though, it will be Channel Nine and Fox Sports that have the opportunity to broadcast highlights of the Bay Crits, not SBS.

The Bay Crits are just one part of a new broadcast rights deal between Cycling Australia and Channel Nine/Fox Sports which also includes the Road Nationals and the Jayco Herald Sun Tour. For Channel Nine, these new acquisitions will sit alongside the network’s coverage of the Santos Tour Down Under, a race Nine has covered since 2012.

Meanwhile Channel Seven has also thrown its hat in the ring, securing live broadcast rights to the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race — the final race in the distinguished career of the 2011 Tour de France winner.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 31, 2014




Ferrand-Prévot's worlds win was likely her sweetest victory of the season, but she's also won major cyclocross and mountain bike races — the mark of a truly versatile rider. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot recently won an award in her native France. “The cycling star of tomorrow,” they called her.

Perhaps the French meant to award her the cycling star of today. In 2014, she was transcendent in a way no cyclist before her has been. “PFP,” as the dynamic, slight 22-year-old is known, put together a dream season. On three different types of bikes.

The obvious high point came in Ponferrada, Spain, where she rode a masterful final three kilometers in the women’s world road championships. A group of favorites had ridden clear on the final climb and held a paper-thin advantage over the fleet-finishing pursuers. The Dutch master, Marianne Vos, was among the leaders, and it all seemed signed-sealed-and-delivered that she’d win yet again. But instead of pressing on, the leaders sat up and waited for the peloton, setting the world championship race up for a sprint.

On the far right side, the lithe Ferrand-Prévot emerged, and her sprint was timed to the inch. She’d saved just enough, hitching a ride behind the German national team as it chased in the waning moments.

 (velonews.com)

December 31, 2014




Photo: Lizzie Armitstead holds up her Commonwealth Games gold medal after the women’s road race.
For Lizzie Armitstead, 2014 was the year she cemented her place at the very top of women’s cycling. The just-turned 26-year-old won the Commonwealth Games road race, the season-long women’s road World Cup and finished in the top 10 of a remarkable 38 of her 47 UCI level races. Despite this success, the one title she coveted was that of world champion.

The Olympic silver medallist finished seventh in Ponferrada, after being part of a four-strong escape which couldn’t work together and was caught 500 meters from the line. Those that watched her post-race TV interview saw a forlorn expression which told the story of a frustrating race.

 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 31, 2014




Photo: Imagine a bike that accepts extra power during the down stroke, rather than pushing back against your pedal stroke. Imagine that the frame stores the energy, and releases it at the end of your power stroke.
"We discussed “planing” in a recent post by looking at power data from a double-blind test of two different bikes. The data showed that the same rider’s power output was consistently higher on a bike with a more flexible frame than on a stiffer one.

On a bike with optimized frame flex characteristics, the rider can put out more power with less fatigue. We named this phenomenon “planing”. How does it work?"

 (janheine.wordpress.com)

December 31, 2014




Johnny Hoogerland (Androni Giocattoli)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Porte to start season at nationals, Androni threatens Hoogerland with lawsuit.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014




Photo: Park Tool Dial Adjust
Cycling Plus / Immediate Media.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Maxi-mini that makes its extra size and weight count."

 (bikeradar.com)

December 31, 2014





December 30, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014











December 31, 2014




Photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images. You were an odd year, despite what my math teacher says.
"2014 will not be a forgettable turn of the calendar. Some years go by in a blur, others stick with you a bit longer. In all cases, it's hard to know what to think, and that remains true, but I can think this about the year that's about to end: you kept us interested.

We sat on the edge of our seats in races of all magnitudes."

(podiumcafe.com)

December 31, 2014




The Giro di Lombardia passes by the Ghisallo church. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
There is a cemetery at the top of the Ghisallo climb. It’s on the right-hand side of the road, if you’re climbing from the north, the way Il Lombardia climbs the twisting 8.6 kilometers from where the town of Bellagio cleaves the southern waters of Lago di Como. Behind the stonewall and iron gate are graves and mausoleums brightened with fresh flowers, each marker lit with a round, red electric light the size of a coat button. These are a nod to modernity, a replacement for dripping candles with their vulnerability to wind and rain. Eternal flame, without the hassle.

For cyclists, the cemetery is easy to miss, because on the opposite side of the Via Adua lies the Santuario del Ghisallo, the little church where the bells will ring out as the racers pass on the Sunday of Il Lombardia. Here, too, is an eternal flame, also electric, but more grand in scale.

(velonews.com)

December 31, 2014




National time trial champion Carmen Small has more than the clock to contend with this season. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
In a week, eight women will suit up, clip in, and roll out onto the curved wooden banks of the Los Angeles velodrome. Only four will walk out into the warm LA sun with tickets to Cali, Colombia, host of the final track World Cup event of the season.

Carmen Small wants one of those tickets.

The plan was hatched with USA Cycling late last summer when her Specialized-Lululemon team appeared to be headed for collapse: Use Small’s time trial ability at the 2016 Olympics in the team pursuit. On the road to Rio, the first stop is Colombia.

And if she doesn’t make the squad?

“I’m not quite sure where that leaves me,” Small said.

(velonews.com)

December 31, 2014




Photo: Flying in April?
"World and National champion, Classics winner, Grand Tour stage winner and always a man to watch in just about any race. Our man in Spain, Alastair Hamilton, caught up with Philippe Gilbert at BMC’s pre-Christmas training camp to get his opinions on many subjects.

At this time of year Gilbert will be found in the hotel La Sella golf resort in Denia, Spain. The BMC team have been taking over this rather nice hotel complex for a few years now and it’s always a pleasure to receive an invitation to their media days. The team members have changed over the years, but the hotel and Philippe’s openness and sense of humor is always the same."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014




Luis Leon Sanchez won the race overall in 2005
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
The Astana team for the 2015 Tour Down Under will feature several new recruits including a previous winner of the race in Luis León Sánchez. Of the seven riders selected for the first WorldTour race of 2015, five will make their debuts for the team in Australia.

Sanchez, who last rode the Tour Down Under in 2012 finishing in 26th place overall, also has two second places to him name alongside overall victory in 2005 and will lead the team at the race.

"Sanchez has a good history with our event," said race director Mike Turtur. "As well as taking the overall victory in 2005, he also claimed the Young Rider Classification that same year.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 31, 2014




Photo: Membership of the £200-a-year Rapha cycling club will be limited and be by application only.
Rapha, the luxury cycling clothing brand and kit supplier to Team Sky, will in January launch its most ambitious project — a global cycling club with an annual membership fee.

But in a style more befitting an exclusive golf club than the traditionally egalitarian spirit of cycling, those applying for membership are warned: “In order to maintain the very highest levels of service, membership is limited. We regret that not all applications will be successful.”

The final question on the application form appears to be the deal-breaker, asking would-be members to define ‘the perfect ride’ in fewer than 100 words.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 31, 2014




Race leader Serghei Tsvetkov won the criterium at the 2014 Cascade Cycling Classic. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
Tejay, TomTsvetkov?

While Tejay van Garderen comfortably defended his title at the 2014 USA Pro Challenge, and Tom Danielson put in a valiant effort to come second in his beloved home race, Sergey Tsvetkov, of the comparatively minuscule Jelly Belly-Maxxis team, took the third step on the podium, an impressive result against a truly world-class crop of riders and teams.

It was all in a day’s riding for the soft-spoken Moldovan who races with Romanian citizenship.

“I try to race everyday like it’s another day; I don’t think about the GC and that’s probably how I get to be third now.”

 (velonews.com)

December 31, 2014













December 30, 2014

December 30, 2014




Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace Cycling Team) was unstoppable in the Loenhout mud on Tuesday. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com. (velonews.com)
Wout Van Aert won the muddy sixth round of the Bpost Bank Trophy cyclo-cross series on Tuesday afternoon. The 20-year-old Belgian won the Azencross in snow covered Loenhout, Belgium ahead of fellow youngster Mathieu van der Poel. On an unforgiving course with snow, mud and ice water, Van Aert profited from a small mistake from Van der Poel to ride away and take his fourth win in five of the series' rounds. It’s Van Aert's eighth win among the pro ranks this season.

“The victory and an improved classification, it was a fantastic day,” Van Aert told Sporza.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014





Katerina Nash won the unfortunately untelevised women's race, after a long struggle with Marianne Vos in the thick mud. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot pulled out of the race due to the conditions, and Sanne Cant had a tough time in the mud, crashing and finishing fifth. (podiumcafe.com)
Katerina Nash won a tough edition of the Azencross, sixth round of the Bpost Bank Trophy cyclo-cross series in Loenhout on Tuesday afternoon. The Czech Champion and US-resident held off World Champion Marianne Vos in a true mudder. Ellen Van Loy finished third at 50 seconds from Nash and moves back to 1:01 minutes from series leader Sophie de Boer in the general classification.

De Boer finished ninth at 2:32 from winner Nash in Loenhout. Road World Champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot abandoned the race in the second of four laps, while riding in sixth place.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014





Photo: Gage Hecht, shown here in his great rides in Holy Week, continues his success. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine.
With tough, muddy conditions today in Europe, an American Junior soared to the podium. Gage Hecht, who has had a stellar run late in the season abroad, took second place today behind Dutch Junior Roel Van Der Stegen. He was 40 seconds back on the leader, and came in 15 seconds ahead of Belgian Lander Loockx.

American Lance Haidet had an impressive showing, taking eighth, Cooper Willsey just made it into the top 10, Brannan Fix crossed the line in 16th, Spencer Petrov took 20th, Cameron Beard got 28th, Liam Dunn followed in 44th, and Jerry Dufour took 46th. Lapped riders included Cormac Dunn at 53rd and Adin Baird in 57th.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 30, 2014




Photo: As always on New Year's Day, the cyclocross peloton heads to Baal, hometown of the great Sven Nys. © Patrick Verhoest
I doubt that any cyclocross enthusiast would disagree with me when I say that Sven Nys is a legend of the sport. He has won two world titles, nine BPost Bank Trofees, and two World Cups. He has also won one hundred and forty-three individual series races. It's only fair he can call one race his own. This race is Baal, which always takes place on New Year's Day. There's something about races that are always on a certain day that just makes them better. Think Koppenbergcross.

(podiumcafe.com)

December 30, 2014




Andrew Talansky was overcome with emotion when he realized he'd won the 2014 Critérium du Dauphiné. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com.
After the grand tours, the Critérium du Dauphiné is about as big as it gets. Many of the top names in the history of cycling boast the title on their palmarés: Indurain, Hinault, LeMond, Wiggins.

In 2014, the Dauphiné started as a thrilling battle between defending champion Chris Froome and the resurgent Alberto Contador. But something magical and thrilling happened in the closing days of the race, proving yet again that anything can happen in cycling.

Froome won the opening prologue and first road stage to claim the leader’s jersey, and looked to be in control, defending a 12-second lead over Contador. Then things began to unwind. Froome crashed heavily on a descent in stage 6, and couldn’t hold on during the mountaintop finale the following day; Contador nudged into the leader’s jersey, taking the lead by eight seconds with just one stage to go, a short, four-climb stage ending atop Courchevel. Contador looked to have things under control.

Instead, things quickly unraveled for the “Pistolero del Pinto,” who was outgunned by Andrew Talansky and the Garmin-Sharp crew in the biggest tactical coup of 2014.

 (velonews.com)

December 30, 2014




Look KeO Power pedals being assembled and tested in France. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com (File).
In the latest issue of the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, Look Keo Power pedals were tested for their validity and reliability.

The test, performed on 10 males familiar with laboratory performance tests, used Look’s Keo Power pedals mounted to a stationary SRM ergometer, which is regarded as the most precise power meter on the market. Each of the 10 subjects performed two tests on the Ergometer with Keo Power pedals. The tests used a gradual increase in power, until exhaustion was reached, like a VO2 max step test, followed by 10 minutes of easy spinning. Then, the riders did three 10-second sprints, separated by three minutes of spinning at 100 watts.

The results were not flattering for the Look Keo Power system. “Power data from the Keo Power pedals should be treated with some caution,” read the study.

(velonews.com)

December 30, 2014




Photo: Lee Waldman, a well-respected cyclocross organizer, was struck Christmas morning. © Annette Hayden.
“Now go ride your bike.” This is the perennial phrase Lee Waldman, Colorado race organizer and Cyclocross Magazine contributor, uses to sign off from his articles to the cyclocross community.

On Christmas morning, Waldman was one of just a handful of cycling tragedies over the holiday period noted in a somber article by Velo News.

According to the Bike Racing Association of Colorado: “Lee Waldman was struck in a car v. cyclist hit and run on Christmas morning. Fractures of C1 and C6, a concussion and broken ribs were some of the injuries he sustained. Your prayers and healing thoughts for him and Caren are much appreciated.  While his life is not in imminent danger and thankfully there are no signs of paralysis now, he remains at St. Anthony’s North ICU and is unable to take visitors or receive calls/texts. If you’d like to reach out to Lee, please communicate through Caren, or send him a card at St. Anthony’s North, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster, CO 80031.”

(cxmagazine.com)

December 30, 2014




Robert Gesink (Belkin) celebrates victory
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Robert Gesink will target Tirreno-Adriatico, the Ardennes Classics and the Tour de France in 2015, as he looks to get his career back on track after heart surgery in 2015.

Gesink will head to Tenerife for a three-week altitude training camp before starting his 2015 season at the Volta ao Algarve. His first big goal of the year will be Tirreno-Adriactico, which he was forced to abandon on stage four this season. His best performance at the race is his second place in 2011. Gesink will ride the Vuelta al País Vasco before returning to the Ardennes Classics for the first time since 2012. He has taken one podium at the Belgian trio of races with third place at Amstel Gold in 2009. After the Ardennes, he will take part in another altitude camp before riding the Tour de Suisse and then the Tour de France.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014





The USAC CX Devo squad in Diegem
Photo: © USAC Cx Devo.
"The one cyclo-cross race that is through city streets, through soccer fields, and is part of the historic Kersteperiod, is Diegem.

The first time I set eyes on this track was four years ago, in a Bend Endurance Academy van. My role model at the time, Colin Dunlap, showed me Sven Nys rip through the streets and mud at amazing speeds. I remember this so well because it was my first time ever seeing European cyclo-cross. It was incredible, I had seen the American pros, but I was used to watching the local pros thinking that was top level skill. Watching this made me realize how great one truly has to become to be the best."

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014





December 29, 2014





December 29, 2014





December 29, 2014


Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli manager Luca Scinto with Giro della Romagna winner Oscar Gatto.
Photo: © Sirotti.
Luca Scinto has confirmed he has stepped down from his role of senior directeur sportif at the troubled Neri Sottoli team after a series of doping scandals have rocked the Professional Continental team.

The Tuscan was not listed as a directeur sportif on the UCI website, sparking questions by the Italian media. Scinto then confirmed his decision to step back when speaking to the Tuttobici website.

In the last 18 months the Neri Sottoli team has been rocked by three EPO doping cases, casting a long shadow over their bright fluorescent yellow colours. Danilo Di Luca and Mauro Santambrogio were caught during the Giro d'Italia, while former Giro d'Italia stage winner Matteo Rabottini tested positive for EPO during the summer of 2014. The team was recently suspended by the MPCC after their members voted against the team.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014




Lawson Craddock (Giant-Shimano) was third overall and best young rider
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Giant-Alpecin's Lawson Craddock will be looking for more consistency in 2015 as he targets the Tour of California, another shot at the Vuelta a Espana and a spot on the US team for Worlds.

Craddock, who will turn 23 in February, logged 67 race days during his neo-pro season with the Dutch WorldTour squad, finishing third overall in California and placing sixth in the individual time trial at the Tour de Suisse. He started his first Grand Tour at the Vuelta, where he played a part in three stage wins for Giant before abandoning on stage 14. The Vuelta result started a string of six DNFs that carried through to the end of his season at Sluitingprijs-Putte-Kapellen in October.

“There were definitely some good times, but also some bad times,” Craddock told Cyclingnews from Houston, Texas, where he was visiting family over the Christmas holiday.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014




Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing Team) wins stage 1 of the Tour of Qatar
Photo: © ASO.
Brent Bookwalter has been with the BMC Racing Team ever since he turned professional in 2008. He has seen the team go from underdogs to Tour de France champions. Now heading into his eighth professional season, the 30-year-old hopes that he can play a bigger role in the American squad.

“I’m a little bit older now but I’m still getting better every year and I’m excited to show that to the team and give it all I’ve got,” said Bookwalter. “I’d like to think I have ambitions to grow into a more prominent role within the team. I’ve done six Grand Tours, I’ve been through a lot with this team and I think they know that they can count on me.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014




Kiel Reijnen (UnitedHealthcare) in yellow
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
After having a bit of a breakthrough season this year UnitedHealthcare's Kiel Reijnen is hoping to improve upon his success, and aims to show himself in the European races in 2015 - the Giro d'Italia in particular if his team is selected - and make the US selection for Worlds in Richmond. While his aims might be common in the American peloton, what sets Reijnen apart is his devotion to the team ethos - the "one for all, all for one" mentality that allows the underdogs to prevail over the more powerful riders, as he and UnitedHealthcare did in the USA Pro Challenge.

Speaking to Cyclingnews at the UnitedHealthcare camp in Asheville, North Carolina earlier this month, Reijnen recalled the success of the season and the respect it earned him in the peloton with bittersweet satisfaction. "You put a lot of time and work into those types of results, and they don't come overnight. By the time you get there, it's not a surprise," Reijnen said. Yet his last result in Colorado was one which will fade from the memory of the cycling public long before the narrow loss in the final USA Pro Challenge stage to Alex Howes loses its impact in Reijnen's mind.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014




Photo: His experience and tactical expertise can add value and then he can create peace within the group.
Last Sunday Sven Nys was unable to be in contention for the win in his comeback race in Diegem. He finished 16th, 2.20 behind winner Mathieu van der Poel. Is that enough to be selected for the World Championships in the Czech Republic?

For national coach Rudy De Bie, Nys has a guaranteed spot. "First of all because he is... Nys. A classy rider with an impressive palmares who has had a huge impact on Belgian cyclo-cross. There is no way around the fact that he deserves respect," he told Het Laatste Nieuws.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 30, 2014




Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) had time for a few different celebrations
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Katusha general manager Viatcheslav Ekimov has admitted that Alexander Kristoff's breakthrough season saved the team’s blushes in 2014. The Norwegian won 14 of the team’s 22 victories in 2014 including the rain-swept Milan-San Remo and two stages of the Tour de France.

Kristoff saved the situation, the big picture and the visibility of the team. We all thank Alex for that, he gave us a chance to manage the damage.”

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014





Photo: Richie Porte will hope to win his first road national title in January (Getty).
Porte is also determined to feature at the Giro d'Italia in May, despite a sub-par season cruelled by poor health.

With 2014 behind him, the 29-year-old Tasmanian is aiming for a fast start to 2015 by winning the 11 January Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships title at Buninyong, near Ballarat.

His main targets  next year will be to lead the powerful Sky team at the Giro and then support Chris Froome in July at the Tour de France.

"I'd love to compete in the Giro as the new Australian champion," said Porte. "My health is back where it needs to be and I want to lead in a grand tour and the Giro is the target for me."

(sbs.com.au)

December 30, 2014




Photo: Vincenzo Nibali on stage five of the 2014 Tour de France.
Alex Dowsett in the Tour of Britain, Peter Sagan in the Tour de Suisse or Andrew Talansky in the Critérium du Dauphiné – there were many brave rides in 2014. Cycling Weekly selected and highlighted five of the ones that marked out the season.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 30, 2014




Photo: My second bike fit this year came about in early July when I had the opportunity to test the new Aquila Equipe-R from the Toronto-area shop Racer Sportif.
"There are many reasons to go for a bike fit, from an unusual body shape, fixing aches and pains, through to optimizing power output. Regardless of what technology is used or reason for going, a good bike fit by a fitter with a sharp eye and a collaborative approach can be one of the best investments you make in your cycling. Let’s explore with a data-driven case study."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014




Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) flanked by Lars van der Haar and Philipp Walsleben on the podium in Namur.
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Dutch-owned tour operator Sunweb has joined Giant-Alpecin as a major sponsor for two years the team has announced. The online travel company have signed a deal that keeps them with the team until the end of 2016 but have hopes to continue beyond that. Sunweb already sponsor the Sunweb-Napoleon Games cyclo-cross team of Kevin Pauwels.

“It needs no explanation how excited we are about this partnership with Sunweb,” team manager Iwan Spekenbrink said in a press release. “We are extremely thrilled that cycling in a broad sense and our elite sports team in particular are amongst the driving forces of the international marketing strategy of such an absolute first class brand, Sunweb.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014





December 29, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014











December 30, 2014




Photo: Nobody has ever done it, and only nine riders have won two, with Tinkov's star employee Alberto Contador being the last to do so in 2008.
"The problem with continental Europeans is they are stuck with their old paradigms. They do it because their fathers did it, and their grandfathers did it. They don't want to change."

"We have been chatting for 15 minutes and I have asked Oleg Tinkov four questions, five if you include the ice-breaker about his journey to Gran Canaria (he came by private jet).

But Tinkov, the "serial entrepreneur" whose career has seen him go from bike racing, to importing electronics, flogging frozen food, brewing beer, issuing credit cards and then back to bike racing - this time as the owner of cycling's Galacticos  , Tinkoff-Saxo - is just warming up."

(bbc.com)

December 30, 2014




Photo: Says those negotiating riders’ contracts are not being treated as important stakeholders. Photography by Kristof Ramon
The UCI’s planned restructuring of pro cycling has led to considerable uncertainty in relation to how it will affect the pro peloton, with talk of a reduction in WorldTour team sizes to just 22 riders provoking concerns about how this will impact upon the professional peloton.

Rider agent Paul De Geyter has called for clarification from the UCI as to what those plans are.

According to the Belgian, who represents clients including Tom Boonen, Tejay Van Garderen, Jan Bakelants, Greg Van Avermaet, Maxime Bouet, Matt Goss and Luke Durbridge, rider agents have not been included in discussions thus far. Because of this, he says there is a scarcity of information being made available to them.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 30, 2014




Photo: According to Mollema, Astana should be sanctioned a lot harder...
Last week Mollema raged against Mauro Santambrogio on Twitter after the Italian had tested positive for testosterone. The Trek rider finds it unbelievable that the Italian has again broken the rules. "For me, he should be happy that he even has a chance to return to the peloton because I believe that the use of EPO, blood doping and testosterone should automatically lead to a lifetime suspension. Then he does the same again. How stupid can you be? I don't understand why an Italian team had already offered him a contract for 2015. Give that place to a young rider or someone who practices his sport in a clean way."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 30, 2014




Always a threat, whether in the Ardennes classics or a stage race, Alejandro Valverde had arguably his best season ever in 2014. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Has Alejandro Valverde become the Rodney Dangerfield of the international peloton? It seems the veteran Spaniard just can’t get any respect.

In Spain, Alberto Contador is lauded as the rider of reference. Even at his Movistar team, Valverde is being passed over in favor of Nairo Quintana, who will be starting as the outright captain in the 2015 Tour de France. Many critics blast Valverde for never coming clean about his involvement in Operación Puerto, for which he was handed down a two-year racing ban.

Inside the peloton, however, he generates the respect he deserves. Everyone knows that if Valverde is at the start line, he has a very good chance of being on the final podium.

(velonews.com)

December 30, 2014




Photo: What next for Tejay van Garderen?
Here’s a selection of ten established riders to watch for 2015. Some stand on the cusp of a big win, others face challenges on the road, some have other struggles.

 (inrng.com)

December 30, 2014




Photo: Condor’s Claire Beaumont told Cycling Weekly how one of the film’s props buyers came to the shop to buy some retro team racing caps and ended up ordering 25 bikes..
In its 64-year history, Condor Cycles has made bikes not only for top pros but also for rock musicians, fashion designers, soap stars and TV chefs. Last year, the London firm received its biggest showbiz order to date: to recreate the bikes of the 1990s professional peloton for Working Title’s forthcoming Lance Armstrong biopic.

With shooting now finished and the film, which is based on Sunday Times journalist David Walsh’s book Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong, in post-production, most of the replica bikes — minus their decals — have just gone on sale via UK bike shop Ultimate Cycles.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 30, 2014




Photo: Smiling Shark Vincenzo Nibali © Simon MacMichael.
Nearly 1,000 hours in the saddle, more than 32,000 kilometres ridden, the equivalent of 1,400 chicken breasts consumed – and one Tour de France victory. Those are some of the key numbers of Vincenzo Nibali’s 2014, according to Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.

They come at the end of a year in which the Sicilian became just the sixth cyclist ever to have won all three Grand Tours, but he already has his eyes on something no Tour de France winner has ever achieved – becoming Olympic road race champion, saying the course at Rio 2016 suits him.

 (road.cc)

December 30, 2014




Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff - Saxo)
Photo: © Roberto Bettini.
Daniele Bennati faces a huge workload at Tinkoff-Saxo in 2015 after accepting the role of road captain for both Peter Sagan and Alberto Contador.

The 34-year-old Italian has been a professional since 2001, switching from a sprinter and Classics rider to the role of road captain and domestique in the last two seasons. He has won 50 races during his career but his last was a stage victory at the Vuelta a España back in 2012.

“I'm happy and proud to be considered a road captain, I don't see it as a step down in my career."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014




Are rim brakes' days numbered? The industry agrees that it's only a matter of time before discs become standard on road bikes. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com.
It’s misting in Belfast; it’s wet everywhere, but not quite raining. Water oozes out of the air and condenses on Garmin-Sharp’s boxy mechanic truck, on the bikes leaned against it, on the tools, and on the broad shoulders and black and blue Park Tool apron of the team’s head mechanic, Geoff Brown. He is poking and prodding at one of the team’s Cervélo time trial bikes, bleeding a hydraulic rim brake.

His team is about to set off on three days of wet racing through Northern Ireland and Ireland, the first stages of the Giro d’Italia. The conditions are, and will be for much of the first week of the race, ideal for disc brakes: wet, cold, and hilly.

But Brown doesn’t want discs in the pro peloton, not now, and maybe not ever.

(velonews.com)

December 30, 2014





Photo: The Nerina valley.
"The 2014 Giro d’Italia passes through countless towns from start to finish each year, most of them just a blur as we speed ahead of the race. But a few hours spent in one place can turn up people, lives, and memories that stick in our minds far longer than the few hours it takes to chase the stage.

The life at Giro starts early and finishes very late: it was night when yesterday I finished my job and moved to my room and was earlier than 7am when I started to watch the “Garibaldi” (the official book of the race) and plan today. Giro d’Italia means great cycling action and top riders fighting for one of the most ambitious races, but it means also a very long trip with long waits in new places. Today was one of those – I love to take a long time for myself while waiting the action."

 (pezcyclingnews.com)

December 30, 2014









December 29, 2014

December 29, 2014


Photo: Like Zolder last week, the weather can play a huge part, turning difficult sections into hellish sections.
Loenhout is situated right in the North of Belgium, not a place known for it's great weather. It is also the last chance for a CX victory in 2014, and many will be gunning for victory.

There is a bit of everything in the Azencross course. There's a bridge, which at the moment is very icy, and a section through the woods, but also the unique washboards. However, there are also a lot of long straights which should certainly play to the strengths of riders with a strong finish if the weather is dry. Icy and snowy conditions are prevailing at the minute however!

(podiumcafe.com)

December 29, 2014




Lars Van Der Haar (Giant-Shimano Development Team) muscles over the steep run-up
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Giant-Shimano’s Lars van der Haar will not participate in the upcoming Bpost Bank Trofee event held on Tuesday in Loenhout, Belgium, in order to recover from a head cold. The Dutch champion is scheduled to compete next at the series’ GP Sven Nys in Baal on January 1.

Van der Haar placed fourth at the Superprestige Diegem on Sunday behind winner Mathieu van der Poel from the BCKP-Powerplus team, Tom Meeusen in second and Kevin Pauwels in third. The race was held at twilight and in cold temperatures.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: Doug Report...
LIVE Tuesday: BPost Bank Trophy Cyclocross - Azencross Loenhout.  Live coverage gets underway at 2:45pm CET (8:45am U.S. Eastern) with the Elite Men race beginning at 3:00pm CET (9:00am U.S. Eastern).

(cyclingfans.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: Peter Sagan wins Stage 3 of the 2014 Tirreno Adriatico from Michal Kwiatkowski and Simon Clarke..
Peter Sagan won the Tour de France‘s green jersey in 2014 and also led the way in off-season transfers with a reported £3million move.

The Slovak Champion may have suffered an off-year – which still included six wins and the Tour de France’s green jersey – but made the biggest transfer ahead of 2015. He signed for a reported €4m (£3.15m).

After maturing at Cannondale for five years, he could become a classics star in the hands of Bjarne Riis at Tinkoff-Saxo. Riis and directors like Sean Yates and Steven De Jongh will help the 24-year-old aim at wins in Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 29, 2014





Photo: It is a well-planned schedule that is focused on the Tour...
Nairo Quintana will be one of the major contenders at the Tour de France in July but before he goes up against Alberto Contador, Chris Froome and Vincenzo Nibali, he will prepare for La Grande Boucle by riding the Vuelta a Andalucía and Tirreno-Adriatico. The Colombian will also return to the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.

Quintana has confirmed the first part of his schedule: Tour de San Luis (January 19-25), Vuelta a Andalucía (February 18-22), Tirreno-Adriatico (March 11-17) and Vuelta al Pais Vasco (April 6-11). His intention is to do some of the Ardennes classics, Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, before he turns his full focus to the Tour de France. At the moment, the plan is to finalize the preparations at the Tour de Suisse. "It is a well-planned schedule that is focused on the Tour. This is the first part. The second half will be based on what is going to happen in France," Quintana told El Tiempo.

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 29, 2014




Ksenia Lepikhins in Diegem
Photo: © Dan Seaton/gearratios.org.
"The day started off like any other race day. Well, perhaps not like any other race day. We didn’t have an early wake up call and we had plenty of leisure time in the morning to pack and prepare to leave. The drive to the course in Diegem was quiet and focused. Once we arrived and were registering for the race in a nearby mini castle, I had the shocking realization that I had forgotten my warmup pants as well as pins. That was the beginning of my mental struggle of the day."

December 29, 2014




Photo: Riders relax with head coach Mark Fenner between testing.
Avanti, known for much of its history as Praties after its Tasmanian restaurant chain sponsor, is regarded as having been Australia's best Continental team (it moved to its New Zealand base for 2015) and as one of the best development teams in the world.

Its list of graduates includes WorldTour riders Richie Porte (Sky), Nathan Haas (Garmin-Cervelo), Nathan Earle (Sky), Jack Haig (Orica-GreenEdge) and Campbell Flakemore (BMC).

Getting together in small coastal town of Nowra, New South Wales, Australia, members of the recently expanded team were meeting their official coaching partner FTP Training, at their coaches' local business – The Watts Factory – to be fitted with new bikes, to establish baseline fitness and to get to know each other. This was particularly important given the large number of fresh New Zealand signings, including U23 New Zealand national TT champion Fraser Gough, 2014 Tour of Tasmania winner Patrick Bevin and U19 Madison World Champions Luke Mudgway and Regan Gough.

 (bikeradar.com)

December 29, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 29, 2014


Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) delivered an emphatic victory atop Monarch Mountain in the 2014 USA Pro Challenge. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
Ask Tejay van Garderen about the best singular moment of his 2014 season, and he may give you a different answer, depending on the day.

Over a one-week span in late October, van Garderen provided two VeloNews editors with two different answers, first citing his mountaintop stage win at Vallter during the Volta a Catalunya, and later citing his mountaintop stage win at Monarch Mountain in Colorado during the USA Pro Challenge.

At Catalunya, in March, van Garderen beat the best GC riders in the sport — Nairo Quintana, Chris Froome, and Alberto Contador — on a day marked by rain and snow, and 20km of climbing.

(velonews.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: Cycling is different from other sports in so many ways and one further example is the racing calendar.
One of the best stories in sport is seeing the underdog triumph. Enrico Battaglin’s stage win at the Giro was one example, the conclusion to a thrilling stage with two riders from wildcard teams sprinting for the stage win against Sky’s Dario Cataldo. It took plenty but started with a wildcard invitation, the modest Bardian-CSF team isn’t guaranteed a start in any race.

Europcar’s ejection from the World Tour and the merger of Cannondale and Garmin means only 17 teams have guaranteed entry to the top races. The other places can be given on an invitational basis. For the second division teams, officially labelled “UCI Pro Continental” teams, there’s no bigger prize than an invite to the Tour de France. Here’s a look at the candidates for an invite and the system as a whole. Decisions for an invite are due next month.

(inrng.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: Why does public perception of different confessed dopers vary? Matthew Beaudin looks into the inconsistencies of the post-USADA report era. .
That guy’s a doper. A cheater. A liar. Can’t stand him.

That guy seems all right. Yeah, he used to dope, but so did everyone else.

The conventional definition of the word “perception” pertains to the inexact and shifting merger of action and reaction that is constantly calibrating itself, given the context. Perception is both impermeable and porous. Judgments are formed unconsciously. We like or loathe, often before we’ve had a chance to think why.

During July, millions of people heard Christian Vande Velde’s voice commentating on the Tour de France for NBC Sports. If confessing to past use of PEDs ever hurt the former rider, he was certainly able to recover.

Also during July, hardly anyone saw Dave Zabriskie or Levi Leipheimer. Perhaps the riders chose to keep it that way, or perhaps they didn’t have such an option as Vande Velde. It’s hard to know.

(velonews.com)

December 29, 2014




Vincenzo Nibali (Italy) at Worlds
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali still has designs on competing in the Spring Classics, and particularly to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where he narrowly missed out on victory in 2012.

Nibali has won the overall titles at the Vuelta a España in 2010, Giro d'Italia in 2013 and the Tour de France in 2014, and while his Grand Tour ambitions remain intact, he is aiming to hit an early peak in late April for the Ardennes Classics.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: Riding the same roads in your area can get a little dull, especially when you’ve conquered all of the local Strava segments.
"It’s nearly that time of year when we make a host of wild comments about eating and drinking less in the coming year, losing that Christmas paunch by doing more exercise or cutting out the cigarette you have with your coffee.

Come New Year’s Day, however, such assertions are soon forgotten as you reach for that extra chocolate from the tub while sipping on your third glass of wine.

But if you want to set yourself some targets without giving up too much of the good stuff then set yourself some cycling-based resolutions."

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 29, 2014




Location: Santa Barbara, California. Photo by
Jeff Clark
When someone like Caleb Fairly of Team Garmin-Sharp calls a ride "long and hard," you know it's a doozy. It's also quintessential SoCal: Gibraltar's 12 miles of narrow blacktop rise from the Pacific to the summit of 4,000-foot La Cumbre Peak with hairpin turns, ghostly burn areas, patchwork asphalt, sandstone cliffs, manzanita trees, expansive views of the Santa Ynez mountains—and more-than-occasional 15 percent grades.

(bicycling.com)

December 29, 2014




BMC TeamMachine SLR03 105
Robert Smith.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "An immensely rewarding ride that's worth upgrading down the line."

(bikeradar.com)

December 29, 2014





December 28, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 29, 2014










December 29, 2014





Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov is concerned about the plummeting value of the ruble. Photo: Tim de Waele..
Tinkoff-Saxo is in solid financial footing — at least through the 2015 season.

That’s what team CEO Stefano Feltrin told VeloNews following comments from Tinkoff-Saxo owner Oleg Tinkov, which went viral over the weekend,  raising doubts about the squad’s financial stability.

Tinkov told Bloomberg TV that sanctions against Russia, coupled with plummeting oil prices and a beleaguered ruble, could spell trouble for the team’s future.

When contacted by VeloNews, Feltrin countered that Tinkov’s comments were in the context of a worst-case scenario, and said the team’s finances are in order, despite worsening economic conditions in Russia.

(velonews.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: The overhead shot of Scheldeprijs would make a great background... Photography by Tim Bardsley - Smith, Kristof Ramon, Cor Vos, BrakeThrough Media, RCS Sport
"We flounder with short attention spans through the buzz of viral content and modern culture, but with one instant captured in 1/1000th of a second you sometimes need to stop, drown in the image and absorb the moment.

With so many of these moments in 2014 captured by our talented and dedicated photographers, we can look back at the pro cycling season and tumble into its most significant and pure events and see them as one, or as a whole.

For all of its elation, suffering, disappointment, scandal and magnificence that the summation of these moments depict, this is what “the beauty of cycling” means to me."

 (cyclingtips.com.au)

December 29, 2014




Ivan Basso meets with his 2015 team Tinkoff-Saxo at a pre-season camp
Photo: © BreakThrough Media.
Ivan Basso has put aside any talk of retirement and told Cyclingnews that he can be Alberto Contador’s super domestique in the Spaniard’s quest to win the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double.

Basso, 37, moved to Contador’s Tinkoff-Saxo squad at the end of the season and has enjoyed two training camps with the team in recent months. After seven years within the Cannondale Liquigas set up, the move also sees him return to Bjarne Riis, for whom he rode for between 2004 and 2006.

“There was no real talk of retirement because I had another few possibilities and I wasn’t ready to really stop.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: Paolo Longo Borghini has decided to leave professional cycling.
Paolo Longo Borghini has decided to leave professional cycling. The 34-year-old now former Cannondale Pro Cycling rider, brother of Elisa Longo Borghini, announced his decision during a ceremony organized to celebrate the two samples of Ornavasso, his city.

His adventure in professional cycling, which began in 2004 with the Vini Caldirola and continued with Barloworld, Flaminia, ISD and Liquigas, lasted eleven seasons, in which he had the opportunity to race alongside great champions like Ivan Basso, Vincenzo Nibali and Peter Sagan, in addition to have the satisfaction of winning the GP Nobili Rubinetterie in 2006.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 29, 2014




Joel Dyke was one of the co-creators of the Dirty Kanza 200. He died Saturday night in an accident at his home in Kansas City. Photo: Eric Benjamin.
The American cycling community was rocked by a spate of tragedies over the Christmas holiday weekend.

Two riders were killed on the road in incidents involving motor vehicles — one a hit-and-run in Baltimore, and the other a head-on collision during a group ride in the Bay Area — while a third cyclist was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident on Christmas morning in Colorado.

A fourth tragedy struck the Kansas cycling community with the death of Joel Dyke, one of the co-creators of the Dirty Kanza 200; his death was not cycling-related.

All four occurrences happened over the span of three days — between Thursday, December 25, and Saturday, December 27.

(velonews.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: The concept we've been pursuing most aggressively is developing an X Factor–type contest for identifying new talent. (Photo courtesy of Zwift)
New virtual training platform Zwift has popped up in the news several times in the past few weeks, in outlets ranging from cycling-specific media to papers like The Telegraph. Not only has Zwift started competitions rumored to help UCI teams sniff out new talent, but it also brought in legendary racer Jens Voigt for a promotional race and made a deal with Pinarello to make its Dogma F8 road and Il Bolide time-trial frames available as options for riders on the Zwift platform.

"But what is the Zwift platform, you ask? For those of you who shun sites like Strava and prefer adventure touring to sweaty trainer sessions, Zwift may be completely unheard of. The company is focused on “fitness entertainment,” and is essentially an interactive video game played with participants from around the world. It describes the experience as "massive, multiplayer video-game technology meets the indoor cycling community.” (Let’s admit that the description reads as "regular nerds meet cycling nerds.”)."

(bicycling.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: Zefal Air Profil LL Mini pump
Cycling Plus / Immediate Media.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "A little extra size and weight reaps considerable in-use benefits."

(bikeradar.com)

December 29, 2014






December 28, 2014





December 28, 2014

December 28, 2014




Mathieu van der Poel (BKCP Powerplus)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport
Mathieu van der Poel wheelied across the finish line in celebration of his victory in the elite men's race at the Superprestige Diegem on Sunday. The young Dutchman won the race solo by a few second ahead of Tom Meeusen and Kevin Pauwels.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 28, 2014






Photo: Both Vos and Ferrand-Prévot raced aboard Giant’s TCX Disc models.
World cyclocross champion Marianne Vos continued her winning ways Sunday in Diegem, Belgium, taking the sixth round of the Superprestige series, four seconds ahead of teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.

As it was at the World Cup event in Zolder on Friday, where U.S. national champion Katie Compton withdrew to asthma, the race in Diegem was a three-woman battle for supremacy between Vos, Czech national champion Katerina Nash, and Ferrand-Prévot, the French national champion.

(velonews.com)

December 28, 2014




Photo: After setting up his team leader, Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld) holds onto second place
Photo: © Marco Quezada/nyvelocity.com.
"The 16 racers here for the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross Development Program's third block of racing take on a schedule unlike anything they’ve seen in the US. Today was the day after the World Cup in Zolder, and also the day before the Diegem Superprestige.

Days like today share equal importance with paying attention to details when recovering from the previous day’s effort, as well as preparing for the next day. That is the reality of racing in Belgium during the Kerstperiode - the time around Christmas and the New Year when there are races almost every day."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 28, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 29, 2014




Photo: Now I hope to be physically and mentally ready for the race on Sunday in Diegem. I don't expect a good result but in Diegem I want to have the feeling that I have an extra gear.
Last week Sven Nys decided to take a mental and physical rest to prepare for his comeback. "I don't want to be trapped in my own body anymore. If the feeling is bad, it will be hard to get back on track this season."

Nys has described the last week in his column in the Gazet van Antwerpen. "During the last week, I have barely been on the bike for a few hourse. On Friday morning, I rode for two hours and that was the longest workout of the week. In the first half, I was never on the bike.

He could not avoid to comment on the speculation that his poor performances have been caused by his divorce. "Does it bother me? Not really. It is not a pleasure but it is part of the game. However, there must be certain limits I think."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 27, 2014




Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Cycling Team)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Young Wout Van Aert won the Versluys cyclo-cross race in Bredene, Belgium on a cold, wet and windy Saturday afternoon.

The 20-year-old Belgian rider was much stronger than the rest of the field on the muddy course through the dunes at the North Sea coast. Fellow youngsters Gianni Vermeersch and Tim Merlier – both 22 years old and riding for Sunweb-Napoleon Games – joined Van Aert on the podium. It's the eighth victory for Van Aert at the elite men's level this season. He also won six races in the men's under-23 category.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014


Photo: Nothing but country and western in these parts.
In recent years race radios have been a key part of team tactics in the big races, many times we’ve seen riders cup their ears to better hear a message relayed from the team car. Now in-race communications will be banned for all road races in 2015 according to a new UCI rule.

All change? Or just a new round of protest between the teams and the UCI and a test of authority for President Brian Cookson?

(inrng.com)

December 28, 2014




The final 2014 Vuelta podium (l-to-r): Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Chris Froome (Team Sky)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
The final route of the 2015 Vuelta a España will be officially announced in just under two weeks’ time on in Torremolinos, Málaga but the parcours is already taking shape. Details have been leaking out for the past few months and Spanish daily newspaper Marca has brought together these reports, which paints yet another tough, mountainous route punctuated by a long, flat time trial. There could be as many as 10 summit finishes over the three weeks

Race director Javier Guillén announced at the end of October that the Vuelta would start in the Costa del Sol in Puerto Banús, Marbella on August 22.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 28, 2014




Photo: I could say: 'When Froome won the Tour, Contador was not at his usual level and I didn't even ride. Who did he have to beat`? No one!'
For Vincenzo Nibali, 2014 was a fruitful year as he added the Tour de France to his impressive palmares. In Sport/Voetbal magazine, the Italian looks back at his season with satisfaction even though he can't hide his frustration that he always has to defend his position as the deserved winner of the race.

Nibali may have won the Tour de France in commanding fashion but many fans are still not convined that he was the strongest rider in the race. Many claim that he would have been unable to beat Alberto Contador and Chris Froome if the two pre-race favorites hadn't crashed out of the race.

However, Nibali is frustrated that he always has to justity his win.

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 28, 2014





Photo: From the cobbles to California, Bradley Wiggins reinvented himself in 2014. But a return to the Tour de France in July is unlikely, which could well mean the beginning of something new, all over again.
It was the moment Bradley Wiggins dreaded most. Lights, camera, questions.

Over the past two years, “Sir Wiggo” — seven-time Olympic medalist, Britain’s first Tour de France champion, a knight of the British Empire — has become something much bigger than an athlete: A celebrity. A reluctant celebrity, never more under the microscope than at a press conference, a hostage under bright lights, where a row of cameras and a room full of journalists scrutinize his every word, his every facial expression, his every exhalation.

For someone like Wiggins, a self-proclaimed introvert, a press conference might as well be an interrogation; the primary difference being that the questions are often either more banal, or more accusatory. It’s a part of the job, a necessary evil.

(velonews.com)

December 28, 2014






December 27, 2014





December 27, 2014





December 27, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 28, 2014





December 28, 2014




Photo: Should the appeal be successful, the team may lose their newly regained Pro Continental license.
There is another twist in the case against Neri-Sottoli getting a Pro Continental license. This time, the prpblem are riders who race for the team, but are not from Italy. They have believed to be using illegal licenses. One such rider is Rafael Andriato.

The federal prosecutor Giovanni Grauso has appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal with respect to the decision of the Disciplinary Committee.

"On December 15 we filed the written judgment”- Attorney Grauso explained to Tuttiobici - “in which the Commission declared itself "not competent" to rule on this case, entering the field of labor law, as regards to contracts for foreign athletes who perform their activities in Italy and an Italian team."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 28, 2014





The UnitedHealthcare team had a strong showing at the USA Pro Challenge, winning stage 1 and the green jersey competition on the shoulders of Kiel Reijnen. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
UnitedHealthcare is heading to the 2nd Dubai Tour, set for February 4-7 in the United Arab Emirates.

The U.S. team is among 16 teams invited to the second edition of the race backed by Giro d’Italia organizers RCS Sport, which could indicate the squad is on the short list to earn a wildcard bid to the 2015 Giro.

Now rated as 2.HC, the Dubai Tour is attracting 10 WorldTour teams what will be among the field for the race as the United Arab Emirates continues its big push into cycling. Earlier this month, officials announced that a new race will be held in Abu Dhabi in October.

(velonews.com)

December 28, 2014




The peloton climbs the Stelvio on stage 16 of the 2014 Giro d'Italia. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
The peloton hesitantly took a rest day at the Giro d’Italia before it tackled the Alps. Riders looked out their hotel window wondering what the following day would haul in. The climbs over the Gavia and Stelvio loomed. The rain came the day before, and then snowflakes fell up high.

The sun shone the next morning, however briefly. The race was on. Great for fans of racing. Great for spectacle. Brutal for the peloton. Riders froze once on the Gavia in the rain and wet. They barreled down the one-lane descent and hit the Stelvio in a thick, wet snow.

Up the Stelvio they climbed, one at a time, solitary figures of black, afloat in a sea of white. The road cut an artery through snow banks six-feet tall, and through it all coursed a bike race, however inhumane riders found it.

(velonews.com)

December 28, 2014




Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) rode alone, off the front, for much of stage 4 of the 2014 Eneco Tour. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Belgian-based Wanty-Groupe Gobert is placing a grand tour invite front and center for its top priorities going into 2015.

After signing three high-profile Italians, the Professional Continental team is hoping to earn its first grand tour bid, ideally the Giro d’Italia. Going into 2015, the team brings on Enrico Gasparotto, Marco Marcato, and Simone Antonini.

“We have signed strong riders for next season, including three new Italians,” said team manager Jean-Francois Bourlart in a press release. “We have strengthened the Italian part of our team significantly. We would therefore like to receive a wildcard for the Giro d’Italia, and other RCS races, such as Milano-Sanremo, Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Lombardia.”

 (velonews.com)

December 28, 2014




Sven Erik Bystrom (Norway)
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
Quality over quantity was how 2014 played out for under 23 world champion Sven Erik Bystrøm and he is hoping for more of the same as he embarks on his debut professional season with Katusha. Bystrøm road as a stagiaire for the Russian team at the Arctic Race of Norway but will get his first full taste of professional racing at the Tour of Qatar before turning to the Belgian classics.

The 22-year-old hopes to be able to balance his team responsibilities earlier in the season with his own ambitions. “I think it is possible to show myself and that I am a good neo-pro. Last year there were some neo-pros who put in some good results.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 28, 2014











December 27, 2014





December 27, 2014





December 27, 2014

December 27, 2014


Photo: Now I hope to be physically and mentally ready for the race on Sunday in Diegem. I don't expect a good result but in Diegem I want to have the feeling that I have an extra gear.
Last week Sven Nys decided to take a mental and physical rest to prepare for his comeback. "I don't want to be trapped in my own body anymore. If the feeling is bad, it will be hard to get back on track this season."

Nys has described the last week in his column in the Gazet van Antwerpen. "During the last week, I have barely been on the bike for a few hourse. On Friday morning, I rode for two hours and that was the longest workout of the week. In the first half, I was never on the bike.

He could not avoid to comment on the speculation that his poor performances have been caused by his divorce. "Does it bother me? Not really. It is not a pleasure but it is part of the game. However, there must be certain limits I think."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 27, 2014




Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Cycling Team)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Young Wout Van Aert won the Versluys cyclo-cross race in Bredene, Belgium on a cold, wet and windy Saturday afternoon.

The 20-year-old Belgian rider was much stronger than the rest of the field on the muddy course through the dunes at the North Sea coast. Fellow youngsters Gianni Vermeersch and Tim Merlier – both 22 years old and riding for Sunweb-Napoleon Games – joined Van Aert on the podium. It's the eighth victory for Van Aert at the elite men's level this season. He also won six races in the men's under-23 category.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014




Van der Poel and Vanthourenhout bide their time a little too long in the race as Sweeny increased his lead. © Bart Hazen/Cyclocross Magazine.
As the leaders crossed the line for the third time, Laurens Sweeck decided it would be the perfect time to launch an attack  at the Heusden-Zolder World Cup.

Apparently, no one agreed with him.

Michael Vanthourenhout, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert took turns at the front of the chase group, but they were more playing off each other rather than hunting down Sweeck, who would eventually go on and take his first World Cup win. World Cup U23 series leader Van Aert would follow behind 24 seconds later, and Van der Poel finished third over a half-minute behind second.

 (cxmagazine.com)

December 27, 2014




Fabio Aru (Astana) rode his way into the hearts of Italian fans, winning stage 3 and placing third overall at the 2014 Giro d'Italia. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Che grinta!

It’s an Italian phrase for “what grit!” It’s reserved for those with guts, those like Fabio Aru. When he attacked, gritted his teeth, and grimaced as he churned up the mountains of Italy and Spain, the tifosi yelled, “Che grinta!” At both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España, there was plenty of teeth-gnashing, pedal-smashing grit from the wide-mouthed Sardinian.

If you’ve been following the career of Joe Dombrowski, the talented American climber from Team Sky, you may have been familiar with Aru years before he exploded onto the scene in 2014.

That’s because it was Aru who pushed the Virginian, then racing for the U.S. national team, all the way to the top of the Passo Gavia summit finish during the 2012 GiroBio, affectionately known as the Baby Giro. Back then, Dombrowski walked away with the title.

(velonews.com)

December 27, 2014




Photo: Cyclocross LIVE stream... Copyright © Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com
Coming up Sunday: Superprestige Cyclocross at Diegem LIVE online.  Live coverage begins at 4:45pm CET (10:45am U.S. Eastern) with the Elite Men race beginning at 5:30pm CET (11:30am U.S. Eastern).

(cyclingfans.com)

December 27, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014




Photo: Our editors pick their best gear from throughout 2014
BikeRadar / Immediate Media.
"It’s just days until we roll into 2015, so today we’re looking back at some of the most significant, gorgeous, weird and interesting cycling gear stories of 2014."

 (bikeradar.com)

December 27, 2014




Photo: That’s a light shoe, indeed it’s one of the lightest cycling shoes on the market.
"Giro surprised a lot of people when they first released their lace-up Empire ACC shoes, which stood out in a cycling shoe market largely dominated by velcro straps and ratcheting buckles. This year the US company have released the updated and lighter Empire SLX, which have a claimed weight of 175g for a size 42.5, so 350g for a pair - our size 45 test shoes actually weigh 408g for the pair.

That's a whopping 200g lighter than the previous same size shoes we tested last year."

(road.cc)

December 27, 2014



Photo: Someone like him is subjected almost daily to doping control and there was never a change in his values.
With Vincenzo Nibali’s victory in the Tour de France this year, he cemented his place as one of the greats of Italian Sport. Now, one of the men who's job it is to sentence dopers, has claimed he thiks Nibali is a clean rider for fans to believe in.

In an interview with Sky Italia, Giovanni Malago, head of CONI (The Italian Olympic Committee), reiterated his personal belief that despite Italy’s doping problems, he thinks Nibali is 100% clean.

"Someone like him is subjected almost daily to doping control and there was never a change in his values, and those who understand the subject know that Vincenzo Nibali has proven to be a serious person and above all healthy and clean," Malago said.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 27, 2014




Vincenzo Nibali (Team Astana)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Vincenzo Nibali has said that he would like to lead Italy at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The hilly course for the Olympic road race - which will take place on August 6, the opening day of competition - was announced earlier this month.

“I’ve had a look and it seems to be a tough course, difficult and suitable to my characteristics,” Nibali said according to Gazzetta dello Sport. “We will see, there is still a year and a half but I’d like to be a leader.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014




Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv) nabs her first win of the 2014-2015 'cross season
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
In modern cyclo-cross, there are fewer and fewer two-season athletes competing at the top level of the sport. The road season is almost year-round now, mountain bike pros mostly dabble in 'cross, and 'cross pros use road or mountain bike racing only to complement 'cross, but not as a focus.

Adri van der Poel was probably the last pro to successfully win road classics, Tour stages, the cyclo-cross World Championships, and the Superprestige series. After becoming 'cross world champion, Pascal Richard mostly abandoned the field for the road.

For Vos, to compete at a World Championship-winning level in road, track, mountain bike and cyclo-cross is absolutely unprecedented. She is not only the best road cyclist in the history of the sport, man or woman, she's also the best cyclist, period. The remarkability of what she does across four sports can't be exaggerated. It's superlative.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014




Marianne Vos (Rabo-Liv)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Marianne Vos has won the vote for female rider of the year in the Cyclingnews Reader Poll for the fourth year running, beating Lizzie Armitstead and teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. It was yet another commanding performance from Vos, who took a whopping 60 per cent of the vote.

Vos endured much more competition from her rivals this season but she still ended the year with some 30 victories including her seventh world cyclo-cross title. Vos led a Rabo Liv 1-2-3-4 at the Giro Rosa, claiming four stage wins along the way, and won the inaugural La Course by Le Tour de France and The Women’s Tour. There were some struggles for Vos as she finished off the podium for the first time at the World Championships.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014




Photo: Relive the Yorkshire Grand Depart.
This is the time of year when cyclists make plans, Chris Sidwells comes up with 20 things you might want to do in your 2015 cycling year.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 27, 2014




Photo: Roquebrun, just one of the gorgeous villages that we encountered on this magical first spin in the region.
The South of France’s Languedoc region is a beautiful place to visit with its spectacular scenery, history, food and wine but it’s also one of the best places in the world to ride a bike. Small roads through tiny, historic villages, vineyards, forests and a good collection of medium mountains, make it as amazing as the tourist guides promised as Chris Selden recently found out.

"Ok, I’ll admit it – I’m spoiled. I’m lucky enough to live in one of the best regions in the world for bike riding – hands down, no questions about it, the South of France is just a great place to ride a bike. I’ve previously written a little about my spot of paradise in the Herault Valley but upon meeting Steve ‘Veloroo’ Prokop I’ve been encouraged to leave my little corner of the world and see some more spectacular roads just a bit further south but still in the gorgeous Languedoc region."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014





December 26, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014









December 27, 2014




Photo: Russian says Contador can achieve history in 2015, take all three Grand Tours. Photography by Cor Vos
Commenting after international sanctions against Russia have seen the value of the rouble plummet and made things difficult for his Tinkoff banks, Oleg Tinkov has said that there is a possibility that the pressure put on the country could have a knock-on effect and cause his cycling team to stop.

“If the sanctions will deteriorate the Russian economy and share prices decline even more – there is no room to decline, but let’s assume there is – and then the Tinkoff bank starts to suffer, then I will stop my sponsorship,” he said in a video interview with Bloomberg.

If that happens he expressed pessimism about his chances of getting alternative backing.

“I don’t know as owner of the team if I will be able to find a substitution sponsor in Europe,” he continued. “Most likely I will not, and I will have to shut down to the team."

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 27, 2014




Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing) closed out his career at the 2014 USA Pro Challenge in grand fashion, attacking all the way home. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
Not long after he had finished his time trial on stage 9 of the 2012 Tour de France, his 15th appearance in the grand tour, Jens Voigt walked over to a shady spot of lush green grass, plunked down in a camping chair near the team van, and began eating a sandwich and chatting with teammate Yaroslav Popovych.

Fans strolled past, a few chatting with him, others snapping casual photos of the affable, articulate German in his RadioShack team wear. French. English. German. Fluently flipping back and forth to cater to the needs of the fans.

It was hard to believe that this regular guy was one of the most popular cyclists of his generation.

 (velonews.com)

December 27, 2014




Natnael Berhane got his 2014 season off to a perfect start at the Tropicale Amissa Bongo.
Photo: © AFP.
Tour of Turkey victory Natnael Berhane says that it would be a dream come true if he were to become the first Eritrean cyclist to ride the Tour de France in 2015 with his new team MTN-Qhubeka. The South African-based team are looking to become the first African registered team to make it to the Grand Boucle and Berhane hopes to be one of the luck nine selected if they earn a wildcard.

“I have been dreaming about that. I hope that I will be able to be part of the team and that I can be in good shape,” Berhane told Cyclingnews. “This year I wasn’t able to but next year it is a big goal for me to ride the Tour de France.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014




Cooper Willsey competes in Zolder World Cup.
Photo: © USAC CX Devo.
"December 26, where many are sleeping in and relaxing after celebrating Christmas. For those of us staying in Vorselaar, Belgium, with the USAC Cx Devo Block #3, there is no sleeping in or relaxing today.

Cameron, Lance, Spencer, Gage and I woke up at 5:30 to begin our race day for World Cup Zolder. We ate, gathered our bags and departed at 6:30 in a Team USA Sprinter bus filled with bikes, gear and droopy-eyed juniors. After a quick 40-minute drive we arrived at the venue – an F1 track. This is a very special track in itself. With a good mix of climbs, drops, pavement, mud and sand, this track has a little bit of everything. Along with a World Cup for cyclo-cross, the venue will be hosting the 2015 BMX World Championships in July."

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 27, 2014




Photo: Bring back some of the best designs of René Herse, so that today’s cyclists could enjoy their excellent function and aesthetic.
"We like these bikes so much, and we couldn’t stand the thought that someone might exploit the name, logo and designs without respect for the heritage – with only an 80-year-old lady trying to protect her family’s life work. So we suggested to Lyli Desbois, née Herse, that we buy the rights to the name, designs, tool, etc., and take over the custodianship of the René Herse name and heritage.

A big step happened a few weeks ago, when our registration of the René Herse trademark was approved by the U.S. Patent Office. While the trademark and designs were protected as soon as we bought the company from Lyli Desbois and started using them again, now nobody can claim that they didn’t know the trademarks were protected. There is no risk of the René Herse logo showing up on budget frames or cheap knock-off components."

(janheine.wordpress.com)

December 27, 2014




Photo: Raleigh Militis Comp
Robert Smith.
BikeRadar verdict: 3 out of 5 stars. "An uncompromising racer that suits heavier, more powerful riders."

 (bikeradar.com)
December 27, 2014






December 26, 2014

December 26, 2014




Lars van der Haar (Giant-Shimano)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Dutch champion Lars van der Haar claimed a solo victory in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup round in Zolder, riding away from the bunch containing World Cup leader Kevin Pauwels mid-way through the race, and holding his lead through to the finish.

Pauwels extended his lead in the World Cup after Corné van Kessel took third and his Telenet-Fidea teammate and World Cup challenger Tom Meeusen finished well outside the points in 17th, one spot ahead of US champion Jeremy Powers.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014






Marianne Vos (Rabo Liv)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Marianne Vos sprinted to victory in the Heusden-Zolder women’s World Cup race. The reigning world champion held off a chase by Katerina Nash and teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prévot to win.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014




Photo: I simply can not believe that Stybar won’t show up for a world championship in front of his own people.
Leading up to the world cup cross in Heusden-Zolder today, Niels Albert spoke with Belgium newspaper Het Nieuwsblad. The 28-year old two-time world champion cyclocross made a surprising prediction.

When asked whether he sees Kevin Pauwels, the leader in the world cup this season, as the big favorite to become world champion next month, he decisively said no.

“No. Zdenek Stybar will be world champion.”

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 26, 2014




Photo: Carla Ryan riding for Queensland at the 2013 Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships (Mark Gunter).
Former Australian road and time trial champion Carla Ryan is calling time on her almost decade long career.

Ryan was a dual national champion in 2009, winning both the road race and time trial. She also finished second in the road race in 2011 and third in 2013.

“It’s been immensely challenging and I’ve fought many physical and mental battles along the way. But I’m extremely proud of my achievements, both in personal successes and as a domestic to some of the worlds best female cyclists. I’ll especially remember becoming dual national champion in 2009 and carrying the national colors on my back during that season in Europe,” she wrote on her website.

(sbs.com.au)

December 26, 2014




Arthur Garcia (KINO Tachira) and Juan Carlos Rojas (Boyaca) vie for stage honours.
Photo: © José Orlando Cañas Torres.
Oregon woman sues MTB race after crash, Stan's No Tubes announces 2015 roster.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014




Photo: A gravel-specific bike should have: (a) a relaxed head-tube angle, (b) a long wheelbase, and (c) a low bottom bracket.
(Photo courtesy of Breadwinner).
Everything you need to know to head off the pavement and glide over gravel.

(bicycling.com)

December 26, 2014




Photo: Cyclocross LIVE stream... Copyright © Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com
Coming up LIVE Sunday: Superprestige Cyclocross at Diegem LIVE online.  Details to come.

(cyclingfans.com)

December 26, 2014




Alberto Contador won the 2014 Vuelta a España, after recovering quickly from a broken leg suffered in the Tour de France. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com.
It’s been a long road back to the top for Alberto Contador. The Spanish superstar ruled the roads in 2014, winning or finishing second in every stage race he completed. The season started off promising enough, with second places at Volta ao Algarve and the Volta a Catalunya, and victories at Tirreno-Adriatico and the Vuelta al País Vasco, two of the hardest and most prestigious one-week stage races on the calendar.

Despite being pick-pocketed by Andrew Talansky at Critérium du Dauphiné, Contador roared into the Tour de France looking very much like a winner.

(velonews.com)

December 25, 2014




Photo: We have some agreements in place with broadcasters but there’s always a situation when you’re starting a new race or re-launching an old one, because the brands are asking what television we have in place and vice-versa.
Talks are being held just now that could see a return of the Tour of Ireland as early as 2016 on the UCI Calendar. The last time the race was held was 2009 and the race was finished following cuts in the sponsorship provided by the Irish tourism board, Fàilte Ireland.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 25, 2014





December 25, 2014





December 25, 2014


Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) was fearless on the Tour's stage 5 cobblestones. He extended his overall lead while rivals faltered. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com.
It was the stuff of legend. Rain. Mud. Gloom. And a streak of turquoise and yellow Lycra ripping the legs off of an entire battalion of mud-caked riders, suffering in the trenches of northern France.

Sure, Vincenzo Nibali had won grand tours before, had battled for Monument wins on multiple occasions, and had an intimidating nickname — the Shark of Messina — but he became nothing short of a mythical beast on stage 5 of the Tour de France when he rode away from his GC rivals, then past classics specialists Fabian Cancellara and Peter Sagan, on the precarious rounded granite slabs leading toward Roubaix.

By the time Nibali barnstormed into Paris with four stage victories and more than a seven-minute winning margin, there was no question about who deserved to win the 2014 Tour de France.

(velonews.com)

December 26, 2014




Mauro Vegni at the Dubai Tour
Photo: © Roberto Bettini.
Mauro Vegni, the director of the Giro d'Italia, has told Cyclingnews that Italian teams will again be given precedence for wild card invitations to the Corsa Rosa but revealed that at least one international team will be at the start in San Remo on Saturday May 9.

With only 17 WorldTour teams in the peloton in 2015, Vegni confirmed that RCS Sport will offer five wild card places to Professional Continental teams for the Giro d'Italia and Tirreno-Adriatico, with a total of 25 teams invited to the one-day Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Lombardy.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014




Photo: Tom Peterson rides during stage 2 of the 2012 Tour de Suisse.
American Tom Peterson, an eight-year veteran of the European peloton, confirmed his retirement as a professional racer at the end of this season.

Peterson, who turned 28 this week, will return to his studies and work as a coach after deciding not to continue racing.

“I’m retiring from racing next year,” Peterson wrote on the coaching site, Tête de la Course. “I just can’t do it. Too much time in Europe, too much time training. … I had a good run for a few years, but it’s been hard the last couple of years to get into it.”

(velonews.com)

December 26, 2014




Marcel Kittel relaxes in the team van before the stage
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
The continued presence in pro cycling of individuals with doping pasts in team management positions does not help the sport, according to Marcel Kittel. "People like Vinokourov and Riis have this very obvious history and especially in Germany, pull the attention towards doping," he said.

"People like this contribute to the fact that to this day, cycling is permanently seen as suspicious," he told FAZ.net.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014




Photo: In future WorldTour teams will have to improve on its management and processes (AAP).
The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced the day before Christmas a preview of a new management rules to be tested during the 2015/16 seasons by several WorldTour teams before a full implementation in 2017.

The new ‘Operational Guide’, produced by the Institute of Sports Science at the University of Lausanne (ISSUL) for the UCI, is designed to improve the professionalism of teams in order to combat institutional and organized doping.

(sbs.com.au)

December 26, 2014




Lizzy Armitstead (Boels Dolmans) grabbed the race lead
Photo: © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl.
After closing what has to be the biggest season of her career to date, Lizzie Armitstead has even bigger dreams for the coming years. Along with putting the disappointment of Ponferrada behind her by earning at least one gold at the next World Championships in Richmond, Armitstead is consumed by winning her first Olympic title in 2016.

“I think about it all the time. It’s ultimately the biggest goal of my career,” Armistead told Cyclingnews.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014




Michael Owens takes in some of the local architecture.
Photo: © Michael Owens.
“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose...”

"With these two simple sections of his song, Nat King Cole paints a perfect mental picture on the stereotypical American Christmas that I myself have become accustomed to. Having spent this holiday season in the beautiful land of Belgium, this year's Christmas was definitely far from the norm. Replacing chestnuts with Belgian chocolate and waffles, and Jack Frost being far more of a Jack Rainy, my first Christmas in Belgium was one I will never forget."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014









December 26, 2014




Photo: Andy Hampsten of the 7-Eleven team in the 1998 Giro.
He’s dressed in red and makes his way through the snow but it’s not Santa. Can you name the rider pictured above?

Andy Hampsten of the 7-Eleven team in the 1998 Giro. The American won the race outright. Among other things today he runs a successful travel company in Italy. The after-dinner tales must be good.

 (inrng.com)

December 26, 2014




Alberto Contador after stage two of the 2014 Criterium du Dauphine .
With the 2015 pro cycling season on the immediate horizon, 2014 can be easily summarized, quantified and analyzed.

Spain’s Alberto Contador – who rebounded with the Vuelta a España win and earned the prestigious Velo d’Or trophy from France’s Velo magazine – leads the way, but there were others with stats and achievements.

 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 26, 2014





Cadel Evans wore the leader's jersey at the 2014 Tour Down Under, finishing second overall to Simon Gerrans by just one second. Photo: Tim De Waele.
Cadel Evans and his farewell professional race will be the primary focus of the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under, held January 20-25 in Adelaide.

The 37-year-old Evans will put an end to his career on home roads. He’ll race the Tour Down Under, and then the Great Ocean Road Race on February 1 to conclude his career, which was historic as became the first Australian to win the Tour de France, in 2011.

“The team will be working hard for Cadel to support him to do his best,” said BMC sport director Fabio Baldato in a release. “The course will be challenging, but I think he can perform well just one more time.”

 (velonews.com)

December 26, 2014




Rigoberto Uran took it easy on the Stelvio descent and eventually lost the pink jersey after stage 16. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
"The Giro d’Italia peloton struggled to come to grips with the fallout of the Stelvio descent controversy that cast a pall over the fight for the pink jersey.

Sunny skies in the morning were in sharp contrast to the snow and confusion that engulfed the Giro on the Stelvio less than 24 hours before.

Sport directors and team managers huddled in a pre-race meeting ahead of stage 17 to try to reach a consensus on a brewing controversy that revealed deep fractures within the peloton. Tempers flared, but there was no clear compromise."

(velonews.com)

December 26, 2014




Vuelta leader Igor Anton (Euskaltel - Euskadi)
Photo: © Sirotti.
Igor Antón is hoping to return to his winning form during his second year with the Movistar team. The 31-year-old basque rider, whose last win came during the Vuelta a Espana in 2011, told Biciclismo that he has recharged his batteries with two weeks of training before Christmas in an effort to start the season well next month at the Tour de San Luis.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 26, 2014




Photo: The new bike gear that's landed in Colorado this week
BikeRadar.
"It might have been Christmas this week, but that doesn't mean we've swapped our bike geek hats for Santa hats. Here, in this Boxing Day edition of Friday Five-a-side, are some of the most interesting bits and pieces of road cycling and mountain biking gear to have landed at BikeRadar's US headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, this week."

 (bikeradar.com)

December 26, 2014




Photo: This electronic trainer and virtual-training software will keep you fit all winter and make indoor training a lot more fun.
"I like riding, and I love racing, but I’ll admit I am not really a fan of training. Especially when it’s cold, and I’m alone, and in a basement. I’ve tried a lot of different trainers and rollers, but riding indoors is a necessary evil at best.

I was hopeful when I saw CycleOps’ electronic PowerSync trainer coupled with their VirtualTraining Program, an online catalogue of courses and workouts that control the trainer through ANT+ or Bluetooth to change resistance and keep indoor riding interesting. The PowerSync is $900, and the VirtualTraining Program is $6 a month. It is a splurge, but it's still significantly less than a CompuTrainer at $1,600, and the benefit of staying fit through the winter may be worth it."

(bicycling.com)

December 26, 2014







December 25, 2014




Brian Cookson
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
The UCI this week announced the criteria for the organization of WorldTour teams which are due to become official in 2017. The Teams' Operational Guide will be tested voluntarily by eight teams in 2015 as well as Astana, who were required to adopt the guidelines after a re-examination of its license after a string of doping positives.

The UCI's criteria for a WorldTour license already covered sporting, ethical, financial and administrative areas, but in 2017 they must also meet the new organizational requirements, which will be put into place to "combat factors which may lead to doping", the UCI said in a statement.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 25, 2014




Photo: Cadel Evans will ride his last WorldTour race at the Santos Tour Down Under (AAP).
Two talented Australians, three Swiss and one American will ride alongside the 2011 Tour de France winner as he says his WorldTour goodbye from professional cycling.

Evans will be joined by fellow Australians Rohan Dennis and newly signed world under 23 time trial champion, Campbell Flakemore.

Dennis, who will make an attempt at the UCI world hour record in February, will take to the start line for the fourth time in his Adelaide hometown.

 (sbs.com.au)

December 25, 2014

December 25, 2014


Alberto Contador won the 2014 Vuelta a España, after recovering quickly from a broken leg suffered in the Tour de France. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com.
It’s been a long road back to the top for Alberto Contador. The Spanish superstar ruled the roads in 2014, winning or finishing second in every stage race he completed. The season started off promising enough, with second places at Volta ao Algarve and the Volta a Catalunya, and victories at Tirreno-Adriatico and the Vuelta al País Vasco, two of the hardest and most prestigious one-week stage races on the calendar.

Despite being pick-pocketed by Andrew Talansky at Critérium du Dauphiné, Contador roared into the Tour de France looking very much like a winner.

(velonews.com)

December 25, 2015




Photo: We have some agreements in place with broadcasters but there’s always a situation when you’re starting a new race or re-launching an old one, because the brands are asking what television we have in place and vice-versa.
Talks are being held just now that could see a return of the Tour of Ireland as early as 2016 on the UCI Calendar. The last time the race was held was 2009 and the race was finished following cuts in the sponsorship provided by the Irish tourism board, Fàilte Ireland.

Organizer Darach McQuaid of Shadetree Sports said that he has held talks with potential backers from the private sector in the wake of the Giro start, as well as with television partners.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 25, 2015




Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands)
Photo: © Fotoreporter Sirotti.
When Niki Terpstra was beaten to the title of Dutch rider of the year by Tom Dumoulin last month, he didn’t exactly stifle his disappointment in the manner of an overlooked Oscar nominee. Asked for his thoughts, he opted for frankness rather than diplomacy. “I’m surprised,” Terpstra said at the ceremony. “I thought I’d shown enough this year.” As soon as the lights went up, Algemeen Dagblad reported, the Paris-Roubaix winner “won the sprint for the cloakroom” by a handsome margin and promptly left.

The Netherlands, of course, is a country where plain-speaking is often the lingua franca on the sporting scene – witness the forthright exchanges over the years between football coach Louis van Gaal and the press for instance – and the debate over the rights and wrongs of the jury’s decision rumbled on deep into December.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 25, 2015




Photo: Cyclocross LIVE stream... Copyright © Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com
Coming up LIVE Friday: UCI Cyclocross World Cup at Heusden-Zolder LIVE online.  Details to come.

Coming up LIVE Sunday: Superprestige Cyclocross at Diegem LIVE online.  Details to come.

(cyclingfans.com)

December 25, 2015




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 25, 2014




Photo: Katusha will look to Tiago Machado for a top-ten performance at the Santos Tour Down Under (AAP).
After three seasons with the WorldTour’s RadioShack RadioShack Nissan formation, Machado took a step back in 2014 to ride with the ProContinental NetApp-Endura team.

Though he did ride with NetApp-Endura at the Tour de France, finishing 72nd overall and three hours behind race winner Vincenzo Nibali, the high quality journeyman has now landed back in the WorldTour full-time after he was picked up by Katusha for the next two seasons.

 (sbs.com.au)

December 25, 2015


Photo: At the moment I’m just focussing on the road and hopefully I’ll be lucky enough to get a place in the road race and the time trial. The track is definitely on the back burner for a while.
While many of former track riders currently trying to prove themselves on the road are seriously considering returning to a velodrome as their best chance to excel in the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio, Geraint Thomas presents entirely different approach. Despite winning gold two years ago in London along with Bradley Wiggins, the 28-year old Welshman refuses to follow paths of his older compatriot and team-mate, aiming to strengthen the British squad in the road race instead.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 25, 2015




Robert Kiserlovski couldn't keep up with the competition today
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
Robert Kiserlovski believes that his transfer from Trek Factory Racing to Tinkoff Saxo will give him the springboard to improve as a GC rider in major races.

The 28-year-old climber was primarily signed as a super domestique for Alberto Contador and Rafal Majka but the former Trek rider has notched up his own impressive GC results in the Giro d’Italia, with two top-tens in the overall.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 25, 2015





Photo: Laura Trott has continued to impress on the track and on the road in 2014.
What can be said about Laura Trott that hasn’t already been said? Whenever she steps onto the track there’s a buzz, and she’s been described as the beating heart of the Great Britaåin track squad.

Trott is one of the most charismatic riders to watch, never more so than in the omnium elimination race, where she sometimes seems to toy with the rest of the field, ducking and diving and picking riders off one by one.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 25, 2015




Shimano hopes to make as big an impact in the mountain bike world with its new XTR Di2 electronic transmission as it did for roadies with Dura-Ace Di2 and Ultegra Di2
Photo: © James Huang/BikeRadar.
Skeptics decried electronic transmissions on road bikes are unnecessarily complicated and an assault on tradition. However, it turns out that they do actually offer plenty of tangible benefits and have now been widely adopted. Now, the technology is coming to the off-road side with the release of Shimano's groundbreaking XTR Di2 group – and you've voted it the best new product of 2014.

XTR Di2 promises the same appealing features as with Shimano's Dura-Ace and Ultegra Di2 groups: the prospect of robotically perfect and ultra-quick shifting mile after mile with no maintenance required aside from the occasional recharging of the on-board battery.

Shimano has upped the ante with XTR Di2, however, with a slick sequential-shift function that lets riders enjoy the range of a two-chainring system but with just one shifter that does all the thinking for you.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 25, 2015




Flattened tubes on the GT Grade's carbon frame make for a smoother ride.
(Photo by Jonathan Pushnik).
"All I could see was bright blue Utah sky and a bit of dust swirling in the air. I felt alive—really alive. I lay on my back with GT's new Grade carbon Ultegra adventure bike on the ground beside me, and just laughed. I had been aggressively carving my way down a serpentine, paved descent like I was on a motorcycle. The bike's fat, 28mm Continental tires (which really measure 30.5mm thanks to the Stan's NoTubes wide, 24mm Grail rims) put a lot of rubber on the ground—and combined with Shimano's stellar hydraulic disc brakes, I was able to lean way over and drive ridiculously hard through turns with complete control and confidence."

 (bicycling.com)

December 25, 2015





December 24, 2015





December 24, 2015




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 25, 2015






December 25, 2015




Brian Cookson
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
The UCI this week announced the criteria for the organization of WorldTour teams which are due to become official in 2017. The Teams' Operational Guide will be tested voluntarily by eight teams in 2015 as well as Astana, who were required to adopt the guidelines after a re-examination of its license after a string of doping positives.

The UCI's criteria for a WorldTour license already covered sporting, ethical, financial and administrative areas, but in 2017 they must also meet the new organizational requirements, which will be put into place to "combat factors which may lead to doping", the UCI said in a statement.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 25, 2015




Photo: Cadel Evans will ride his last WorldTour race at the Santos Tour Down Under (AAP).
Two talented Australians, three Swiss and one American will ride alongside the 2011 Tour de France winner as he says his WorldTour goodbye from professional cycling.

Evans will be joined by fellow Australians Rohan Dennis and newly signed world under 23 time trial champion, Campbell Flakemore.

Dennis, who will make an attempt at the UCI world hour record in February, will take to the start line for the fourth time in his Adelaide hometown.

“I am fortunate to be racing alongside Cadel, working for him and the team as well as learning from him how he handles the pressure both on and off the bike before he hangs up the bike from WorldTour racing,” said Dennis.

 (sbs.com.au)

December 25, 2015





Photo: If I win Roubaix, the season will be perfect.
One of the big transfers of this season was the Lars Boom’s move from Belkin Pro Cycling to Astana Pro Team. The Dutch rider will be the leader on classic races. According to Biciciclismo, he hopes to shine during his first season with the Kazakh team :

“For me it was time to sign a new contract after 11 years on the same team. I was ready for something new and different to Team Belkin. My mind needed this, new people, new coaches, new directors, new people around me, new challenges“, he told the Spanish website.

He thinks that he is not in a “ideal situation“ because Astana is in a controversy situation with doping cases. “The positives of the Iglinsky brothers is something stupid, like the other guys,” he said. “I have always been and will be a clean rider, and it is not a problem for me to be on Astana. I'm happy to be able begin a normal year that I hope is very good.”

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 25, 2015




Omega Pharma-Quick Step was dominant in the spring classics, in large part because they had so many riders capable of winning any given day. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com.
Pro cycling has several big-budget “super teams” — Astana, BMC Racing, Katusha, Tinkoff-Saxo, and Sky among them — but in terms of depth, none came close to Omega Pharma-Quick Step in 2014.

The honor roll of OPQS victories is far too long to list here in its entirety, but among the team’s highlights: Niki Terpstra’s wins at Paris-Roubaix, Dwars door Vlaanderen, and the Tour of Qatar; Mark Cavendish’s 11 sprint wins; Tony Martin’s 10 victories, including time trial and stage wins; and Michal Kwiatkowski’s wins at Volta ao Algarve, Strade Bianche, and the world road championship. In all, 18 of 30 Omega riders won a total of 62 races in 2014.

Given that two of the brightest stars of the 2014 women’s peloton ride for Rabo-Liv, it should come as no surprise that the Dutch squad is our Women’s Team of the Year. Both Marianne Vos (our Women’s Stage Racer of the Year) and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (our International Cyclist of the Year) call the squad home. But there is more to this team than just its outright stars. Lucinda Brand won the overall at the Energiewacht Tour. Anna van der Breggen won Dwars door de Westhoek and the overall at Festival Luxembourgeois du cyclisme féminin Elsy Jacobs. Vos started her road season later than normal, but still won the first edition of the Women’s Tour, and won the women’s Giro d’Italia, thanks in large part to the strength of her team. She also won on the Champs in the inaugural La Course by Le Tour de France. All in all, the team staked its claim as the squad of reference across the entirety of the calendar.

December 25, 2015




Photo: Superbike gets a budget makeover...
BikeRadar verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars. "SuperSix Evo DNA in a super-affordable package."

(bikeradar.com)

December 25, 2015

December 24, 2014


Photo: Cyclocross LIVE stream... Copyright © Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com
Coming up LIVE Friday: UCI Cyclocross World Cup at Heusden-Zolder LIVE online.  Details to come.

Coming up LIVE Sunday: Superprestige Cyclocross at Diegem LIVE online.  Details to come.

(cyclingfans.com)

December 24, 2015




Moser in action on his aero bike
Photo: © Enervit.
Francesco Moser thinks Bradley Wiggins is capable of setting a new Hour Record close to 56km, far beyond the current record of 51.852km set by Matthias Brändle.

Moser used disc wheels and aero bars, combined with the benefits of altitude and reported (then-legal) blood doping to beat Eddy Merckx's Hour Record in 1984. He set a distance of 51.151km, which went untouched until Graeme Obree used his innovative aero position to set 51.596 in 1993.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 24, 2015




Photo: He’s dressed in red and makes his way through the snow but it’s not Santa. Can you name the rider pictured above?
"Here’s a selection of questions to test your memory and knowledge of pro cycling, ranging from geography to history, family to money, tech to trivia.

Some are easy, some just can’t be googled and for one or two maybe there’s just no correct answer. "

(inrng.com)

December 24, 2015




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 24, 2014




Photo: Dowsett’s preparation for the hour record will follow a similar pattern to the way in which he approaches a time trial as he looks to improve his ‘critical power’ (pic: Sirotti).
Alex has got a very good attitude and it’s a cliché but he has the passion for it. He’s a time triallist through and through. It’s the perfect test for him.”

Alex Dowsett could, in February next year, become the first Brit to break the hour record since Chris Boardman in 2000 and Mark Walker at least is in little doubt as to whether the man he coaches can do just that.

Walker combines his role as course manager for Writtle College’s foundation degree in cycling performance with work as Dowsett’s one-to-one coach – as well as working with the likes of British cyclo-cross champion Helen Wyman.

(roadcyclinguk.com)

December 24, 2015




World champion Marianne Vos won the 2014 Sparkassen Giro. Photo: AFP.
A look at Marianne Vos’ results from her 2014 campaign can’t be done quickly. Though she didn’t win the world road championship, her results throughout the season were incredibly consistent. In what could be characterized as a slightly off year for the undisputed star of the women’s peloton, she still remained nearly unbeatable at stage races.

Vos won the Women’s Tour overall while taking three stages of the British race. She finished second in Emakumeen Euskal Bira and won three stages there, too. Vos won the women’s Giro d’Italia, along with four stages at the most prestigious women’s stage race on the calendar. It marked her third overall win at the event.

(velonews.com)

December 24, 2015




Photo: Chris Froome and Fabio Aru on stage eighteen of the 2014 Tour of Spain .
Everyone expected Chris Froome and Alberto Contador to go head-to-head in this year’s Tour de France. Froome’s crash the day the Tour returned to France after the three-day Grand Départ in England meant that the showdown was postponed until the Vuelta a España.

It could be argued that neither rider was at 100 per cent in Spain — after Contador crashed out of the Tour with a fractured tibia — but it was nevertheless an intriguing battle as both riders sought to squeeze as much as they could out of their recovering bodies.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 24, 2015




Riding your bike can have impressive benefits for both your physical and mental health.
(Photo by Richard Masoner/Flickr).
"You already know cycling is great for your physical fitness. But did you know it also has profound effects on your brain? We did some digging and chatted with experts to find out exactly how."

(bicycling.com)

December 24, 2015





December 23, 2015





December 23, 2015


Fabian Cancellara won the Tour of Flanders this year for the third time. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Fabian Cancellara is tanned, rested, and ready. After what he described as a season full of “ups and downs,” the veteran Swiss star is already thinking ahead.

Cancellara is home for the holidays, but a busy team training camp along the Spanish coast earlier this month left him eager and motivated for the season ahead.

“My batteries are charged,” he said in an interview on the team’s website. “Everything is on schedule.”

Cancellara, 33, was once again a force to be reckoned with in the classics this year, winning Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) and notching podiums at Milano-Sanremo (second) and Paris-Roubaix (third). But the rest of the season, by his own admission, was less than expected, especially without a stage win at the Tour de France or a rainbow jersey in the UCI Road World Championships, where he was 11th.

 (velonews.com)

December 24, 2015




Anna Solovey (Ukraine)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Katusha names Tour Down Under team, Guimiard quits role at French Federation.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 24, 2015




Photo: You constantly criticise other riders’ saddle heights, even when you’re driving the car, and your other half has to hide her razors from you..
"What marks you out as part of the cycling fraternity? We suggest 75 qualifying criteria. Which apply to you?

The rituals, foibles, opinions and general peculiarities of the cyclist might seem outlandish — or just downright weird — to the casual observer. But these are the things that unite us. Who hasn’t absent-mindedly nodded at a fellow rider while driving their car? And who among us can honestly claim they’ve never been caught checking their tanlines in the mirror?

Yes, we’re a bit strange, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Cycling Weekly presents a celebration of our collective idiosyncrasies, with invaluable input from both readers and pro cyclists on what it is that make us uniquely, well, similar."

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 24, 2015




Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) has ridden the winning edge for years in the time trial discipline. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (File).
Tony Martin doesn’t want to be known only as a time trial specialist. But that’s just what he is. He’s the most successful modern time trialist since Fabian Cancellara, having eclipsed the Swiss time machine in 2011, when he won his first of three consecutive world time trial titles.

In 2014, Martin was all but untouchable against the clock. After a slow start in the spring, he won nearly every major time trial he started, from the Vuelta al País Vasco in April through the Vuelta a España in September. Chris Froome nipped him by less than one second at the Tour de Romandie, but otherwise, Martin ruled with an iron fist.

There’s another German powerhouse against the clock, and her name is Lisa Brennauer. In a breakout 2014 season with Specialized-lululemon, the 26-year-old won every time trial she started.

Unfortunately for women’s cycling, there are simply not that many time trials across the calendar. Most stage races last a week, and many do not feature races against the clock. But when there were, Brennauer was without rival in 2014.

(velonews.com)

December 24, 2015




Photo: The peloton on stage fifteen at the 2013 Giro d'Italia .
Marianne Vos: "My first cyclo-cross race this season is on Boxing Day in Zolder, Belgium, so on Christmas Day I will go and see the venue, which is near my home in the south of Holland. The next day, I’ll be racing, so my Christmas meal will be pasta, for sure. There will be no Christmas cake but I will be with my family, so we can enjoy Christmas together and have a relaxing time."

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 24, 2015




Photo: 2014 BMC SLR03
(Photo by Michael Darter).
"We like the $12,000 BMC teammachine SLR01—but we love the $2,300 SLR03 version.

By any of the standards I typically use to evaluate a bike, the $12,000 SLR01, equipped with Dura-Ace Di2, was excellent. It did everything right and nothing wrong. Yet I couldn't pinpoint any standout traits. So when the time came to review BMC's less-expensive Teammachine SLR03 105, I expected a similarly uninspring ride.

Happily, I was wrong. Even as a gear snob who loves superlight bikes, I find the SLR03105 to be far more entertaining than its pro-team predecessor. And, it's $9,700 cheaper."

 (bicycling.com)

December 24, 2015




Sven Nys (Crelan-AA Drink) wins the Bpost bank trofee - Ronse 2014
Photo: © Tim de Waele.
Although his recent string of race results may not show his true abilities, our readers still think he's the best: Belgian Sven Nys has claimed the title of Best Cyclo-cross Racer of the Year for the 13th time in the history of the Cyclingnews Reader Poll.

Nys, twice the UCI Cyclo-cross World Champion, and with 285 victories next to his name has been the undisputed best 'cross racer for more than a decade, and although he is now 38 years old, he still manages to contend for the win on a regular basis.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 24, 2015




Photo: Daily Distraction...© http://cyclingpigs.tumblr.com/

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 24, 2015










December 24, 2015




Photo: The Vaughters franchise continues to evolve. - David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports.
With a new name and a host of new riders for 2015, change is in the air for Jonathan Vaughter's venerable Slipstream franchise. For the most part, though, new additions should only further his master plan.

From its beginnings in 2007 the Garmin franchise's identity has been almost indistinguishable from its founder and director's mission. After a professional career, during which he used performance enhancing drugs occasionally and with public regret, Jonathan Vaughters sought to prove that cycling could be cleanly competed at the highest levels.

Beginning as a junior development team in Colorado in 2003, the organization became a Professional Continental level team in 2007 and immediately began making its name as an unusually vocal proponent of a new approach to racing. The team was among the first to have stricter internal testing protocols than the governing bodies of the sport applied to the sport writ large and Vaughters has been a leading voice in the call for reform of both testing and sanctioning of doping offenses. Garmin has been a second chance home for repentant dopers, most vocally David Miller but also including Thomas Dekker for the past two seasons.

 (podiumcafe.com)

December 24, 2015




Roger Lapébie summits the Col d'Allos in the 1937 Tour de France. Power meters? Heart rate monitors? Nutrition plans? Riders in that era relied heavily on grit and determination to complete the grueling races. Photo: The Horton Collection.
Used to be, guys had to fix their own forks with a hammer and forge, and those riders later drank beers stolen from cafes along the way, passing a church key and bottles among themselves.

Used to be, guys would ride two stages in one day, punch striking railroad workers in their screaming faces, then drink wine. And then attack. While wearing wool shirts.

The Tourmalet was included in the Tour de France in 1910 after the man who went to scout it got lost in the snow, fell into a stream, was rescued, and eventually made it down (with help). The telegram he sent out afterward read: “Crossed Tourmalet stop. Very good road stop. Perfectly feasible.”

Perfectly feasible!

(velonews.com)

December 24, 2015




Photo: The usual chaos...
"The pre-Christmas training camp/team presentation/media day in Spain is getting very popular. This will be my third in a couple of weeks. BMC know how to look after you though, top hotel, top food and top riders to interview. An all-round top day on the road.

I know I’ve said it before, but it’s always a pleasure to receive an invite to spend the day with a ProTour team. This time it was from BMC, they always take over the Marriott La Sella Golf Resort near the coastal town of Denia. To say it’s a nice hotel would be doing it a big disservice; the added bonus was the lunch invite."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 24, 2015




Photo: Louis Garneau Cargo Jersey.Team Dream Rizzle Dizzle Jersey.Cadence Pro Motion Kit.
"Today we bring you three jerseys a bit off the beaten path. You won’t see these on the World Tour, but chances are you’ll find plenty of features, style and quality those of us that pay retail for our gear can get behind. This is Day 11 of the 12 Days of Dig. Enjoy."

 (pelotonmagazine.com)

December 24, 2015




Photo: Max Iglinskiy on stage three of the 2014 Tour of Oman.
"The 2014 Cycling Weekly Reader Poll is our biggest yet, with the highest number of votes of any we’ve run so far. We’ve painstakingly sifted through the results, analysed the data and can report that there are several major surprises and a few upsets.

For a start, there’s a new name at the top of the Villain of the Year leaderboard for the first time since we started running our annual poll…"

 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 24, 2015




Photo: Canyon gave its aero road platform a thorough overall for this year
James Huang / Immediate Media.
Canyon designed its original Aeroad aero road bike with the primary goal of minimising frontal area, but has now thrown the full gamut of tech R&D tools at the wholly revamped second-generation Aeroad CF SLX.

The German consumer-direct outfit says this new version is considerably faster over a wider range of conditions, and also lighter. And now we've taken delivery of the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2-equipped Aeroad CF SLX 9.0 SL model, we can confirm that it looks fantastic too.

 (bikeradar.com)

December 24, 2015













December 23, 2015

December 23, 2014


Photo: we talk about how his injury and recovery have changed not just his career as a bike racer, but also his very outlook on life.
"Most of the top U.S. riders are here for a two-day affair—part media event, part Team USA course recon—for next September’s UCI world road championships, a.k.a. Richmond 2015. Earlier today, I got to ride the road course with the team, an offer I couldn’t accept quickly enough. The highlight of the hour-long ride, pedaled at a mostly conversational pace, was seeing Phinney sprint ahead of the group and solo up a spectacular section of the course: the climb of Libby Hill. As I watched him hammer up the narrow, cobbled road, he had his tongue stuck out just like Michael Jordan used to in his prime. I wondered, was this the return of Taylor Phinney?

The man handling interviews for USA Cycling tells me I’ll have just 20 minutes with the 24-year-old Boulder, Colorado, native and Team BMC standout. On my mind, of course, is Phinney’s horrific season-ending crash at U.S. road nationals last May in which he broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg. He looked good out on the bike today, so I’m curious how well his recovery has gone."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: We mustn't simply show the jersey in some races, but above all get podium places […] I don't want to hear any more excuses in this moment but rather see nice victories.
In an interview with Tuttobici, Vincenzo Nibali has revealed what was included in the letter sent by Astana manager Alexandre Vinkourov to the whole team.

"It was an email sent to the whole team. I never deleted it. Some things you never delete," Nibali said.

When La Gazzetta dello Sport broke the story in June, it was initially believed that the letter was addressed solely to Nibali for his poor performance in the opening half of the season.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 23, 2014




Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) won the 2014 Tour de France's final stage in Paris. Photo: AFP PHOTO | KENZO TRIBOUILLARD.
Like most of the sprints Marcel Kittel won this season, our award for Best Sprinter of the Year was never in doubt.

Kittel was show stopping in 2014, snagging 13 wins in all, including four stages at the Tour de France and two at the Giro d’Italia. His win total isn’t staggering —André Greipel won 16 times — but the venues in which he performed flawlessly are at the apex of the sport. If you can win at the Tour, you can win anywhere.

Giant-Shimano’s Kirsten Wild is, without a doubt, one of the purest sprinters in the women’s peloton. With years of experience racing on the track, the Dutch sprinting ace has been, and continues to be, the most powerful closer in the sport.

(velonews.com)

December 23, 2014




Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) claimed his third Ronde van Vlaanderen win in 2014. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
When it comes to the spring classics, Fabian Cancellara remains in a league of his own. Though 2014 wasn’t his best classics season ever — he’s won the Flanders-Roubiax double on two occasions, in 2010 and 2013 — Cancellara was without question the most consistent performer at the monuments, the sport’s biggest one-day races. With his second-place at Milano-Sanremo behind Alexander Kristoff, his win at the Tour of Flanders, and his third-place finish at Paris-Roubaix behind Niki Terpstra and John Degenkolb, Cancellara kept an impressive streak alive — he’s finished on the podium of the last 12 monuments he’s finished, dating back to the 2010 Tour of Flanders, interrupted only by a race-ending crash at the 2012 Tour of Flanders.

When it came to one-day racing in 2014, no woman could boast the results of British rider Lizzie Armitstead. The Boels-Dolmans rider won the opening World Cup event, the Ronde van Drenthe in March and followed up with three successive second-place finishes at Trofeo Alfredo Binda, the Tour of Flanders, and La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. In early March, Armitstead also won the Omloop van het Hageland and finished third at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, a pair of difficult Belgian semi-classics that are not part of the World Cup series; she also placed third at the March 13 Drentse 8, in the Netherlands.

(velonews.com)

December 23, 2014




Chris Froome (Team Sky) trying to drop Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
The Vuelta a Andalucia, where Alberto Contador and Chris Froome will first cross swords next season, has released its route, which combines a short time trial challenge and two difficult summit finishes.

Unusually for so early in the season, the five-day Spanish race will feature an extremely tough mountain-top finish, at the Alto de Hazallanas in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Last used in the 2013 Vuelta a España, Hazallanas was where Chris Horner took a key step towards outright victory.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 23, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: Time to check out the ever-evolving Belkins...
The identity of Dutch cycling has been perhaps the most entertaining such subject of any nation's collective efforts at the top level of road cycling, over the last decade or so. The "identity" of Italian and French cycling is always spread over a few top teams. American cycling even more so, despite our relatively small contributions to the sport. Belgium is forever a two-team blood feud. The Spanish? Project Unzue has taken full control, so much so that "interesting" doesn't describe matters.

The Netherlands has sported one flagship project, Rabobank (nee Kwantum), with only the rare challenge from a second top-flite team in the new millennium. Kwantum began as half of the remainders from Ti-Raleigh, the other half forming the powerful Panasonic team of Peter Post and co. After Panasonic disbanded in 1993 and Kwantum evolved into Rabobank, the Oranje had their quasi-national team, orange kit and all. There were others, like the nearly unpronounceable Bankgiroloterij, but nothing much, even when the iconic 80s cycling brand Skil-Shimano revived itself in 2005.

(podiumcafe.com)

December 23, 2014




Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)
Photo: © Team Sky.
After winning gold on the track at the 2012 Olympic Games, Geraint Thomas has set his sights on the road for 2016. Thomas believes that the Great Britain team is in the best position yet to bring home their first gold medal in the men’s road race.

“As a country, we’re the strongest we’ve ever been,” he told Cyclingnews. “I’m really looking forward to racing the Olympics. They’re a massive global event and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The road race and time trial courses for the Rio Olympics were revealed by the UCI at the beginning of December. The 256.4 kilometer road race course contains two circuits with two climbs a piece, including the 13 per cent average Gumari ascent. The route should favor the strong climbers with a fast kick something Thomas believes suits the British team.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 23, 2014





December 22, 2014






December 22, 2014





December 22, 2014





December 22, 2014


Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) was 26th today
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Wilco Kelderman has become the latest rider to suffer a setback ahead of the 2015 season after breaking his collarbone during training in Spain. The team confirmed on Twitter that he had undergone surgery but didn’t elaborate on how the accident occurred.

“@W1lcokelderman broke his right collarbone. The medical staff operated him yesterday, expected recovery is 3 weeks. Get well soon!” the team wrote on Twitter.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: After a hearing that lasted 3.5 hours, the ruling in the Ulissi case has been postponed until January.
Diego Ulissi will have to wait until next year to know more about his future in the professional peloton. Today the 25-year-old Italian attended a hearing in Switzerland but La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the decision has been postponed to January.

The Tuscan tested positive for salbutamol after the eleventh stage of the Giro d'Italia positive for the drug salbutamol. As he suffers from asthma, he has a therapeutic use exemption but the amount was above the limit. Earlier in the race Ulissi had won two stages in the race.

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: I did not expect to reach such a good level at that point of the season.
A piece of history will be made in January when, for the first time ever, the world road race champion will line out in the Tour de San Luis. Michal Kwiatkowski has confirmed that he will take part, with the Polish rider getting his season underway in the south American event.

Kwiatkowski has previous knowledge of the race, having competed there as part of the Omega Pharma QuickStep team in 2013. He impressed then and will try to do the same again, even if his off-season was likely packed with engagements due to the rainbow bands encircling his chest.

 (cyclingtips.com.au)

December 23, 2014




Photo: Mark McConnell, making sure to have as much fun while racing as he can. © Bart Hazen.
"I first met with Mark McConnell at the Canadian National Championships in Winnipeg. He was currently getting set for his travels to Belgium, where he was going to live in Mechelen, using it as a springboard to participate in the big races such as Milton Keynes and Namur. He told us the latter course  was “incomparable to any beast I’ve ever raced, long and punchy climbs with intimidating mudslide descents atop a castle mountainside.”

His nickname in the cyclocross community is Hot Sauce, a well-earned name considering that he sells his distinctive Hot Sauce Cycling BioRacer cycling caps in order to fund his travels abroad. He recently reached out to us to share his story, and the following is McConnell’s own words."

 (cxmagazine.com)

December 23, 2014




Philippe Gilbert will focus on the Ardennes classics in the early part of the 2015 season. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Philippe Gilbert is sticking to what he knows best, and will steer clear of the cobblestones in 2015.

Despite rumors that the former world champion was poised to tackle the northern classics again next season, Gilbert instead is returning to his roots, and aims to shine where he will start with a higher chance of success. That means the Ardennes, and some unsettled business with Milano-Sanremo. The cobbles can wait.

“I said I would like to go back to the pavé before I retire, but not in 2015. I am not finishing my career next year,” Gilbert said at a team camp in Spain. “My best choices now are doing the explosive races, like Lombardia, Sanremo, and Liège. When I start losing that, then I go to the northern classics. It’s impossible to do both. If you go hard in those races on the cobbles, I don’t know if you can be at the top for the Ardennes the next week.”

(velonews.com)

December 23, 2014




Luke Durbridge in white
Photo: © Bettini.
The 2014 season was a first for Luke Durbridge since turning professional in 2012 with Orica-GreenEdge. The 23-year-old spent the whole year racing in his normal trade team kit. In his neo-pro season of 2012, Durbridge was the national time trial champion but then went one better in 2013 as he became a double national champion in the road race and time trial, wearing the green and gold national champions jersey in every race bar team time trials.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: We highlight some of AngryAsian's most popular 2014 columns...
Tech editor James Huang has a satisfyingly nerdy eye for detail when it comes to bikes and never pulls punches in his AngryAsian columns.

This AngryAsian’s penned some greats – investigating the high cost of power meters, demystifying tubeless tyres and cracking open carbon clincher standards – but it was his comparison of road and aero gear that garnered the most reader attention.

(bikeradar.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: Paul Kimmage is dipping his toe into the Spanish cycling holiday market and will accompany Irish cyclists who want to join him..
For those who have admired Paul Kimmage’s work down the years and would like to spend a week cycling in sun with him comes good news.

The former professional rider turned journalist and author will lead a week-long cycling holiday in Spain next year.

The trip will be based in the Andalusian village of Velez de Benaudalla on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Kimmage will go on bike rides with the group each day. And there is also a strong social dimension with the holiday.

(stickybottle.com)

December 23, 2014




USA Cycling Cyclo-cross Development Program's Gage Hecht
Photo: © Ksenia Lepikhina.
"The UCI World Cup in Namur, Belgium takes place around the Citadel that sits above the town. The Citadel is one of the largest in Europe and has influenced much of its history. Because of its location, the course holds a challenge for all of the competitors. The circuit in Namur is like no other circuit of racing I have seen before. A combination of the large elevation difference, the difficulties of the tough terrain, and the mud all played huge roles in making this course one of my favorites and one that I will not forget."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...Cyclepassion 2015 Calendar

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 23, 2015















December 23, 2014




Photo: The company also announced the German has won the race to become starting pitcher in the softball team.
Earlier this month it was reported that Jens Voigt is to take up a coaching role at Trek Factory Racing, and now the bike manufacturers have released details of his job description, designed to ease him into retirement.

As Trek’s ‘Ambassador of Awesome’ the 43-year-old is responsible for ‘a variety of diverse objectives including crushing the field on the daily lunch ride, yelling motivational catch phrases at staff members, and increasing worker productivity’.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 23, 2014




Photo: One explanation: There are more cyclists in Los Angeles. And the data indicates that 20 percent of all hit-and-runs are happening in areas where cyclists are most concentrated.
Do you know why there’s an epidemic of hit-and-runs on cyclists?

According to some people, it’s because cyclists break the law.

On Thanksgiving weekend this past November, the Los Angeles Times ran a sobering article about hit-and-runs on Los Angeles cyclists. Among the findings: Between 2002 and 2012, more than 5,600 cyclists were injured in hit-and-runs, and at least 36 were killed—a 42 percent increase in hit-and-runs on cyclists in Los Angeles alone. And this surge in hit-and-runs on cyclists occurred against a backdrop of a 30 percent overall drop in hit-and-runs. In plain terms, hit-and-runs have been dropping dramatically overall, while at the same time, hit-and-runs on cyclists have been skyrocketing.

(bicycling.com)

December 23, 2014




Sep Vanmarcke and Fabian Cancellara congratulate each other
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Trek Factory Racing's Fabian Cancellara has said that his lone WorldTour win in 2014 at the Tour of Flanders is not enough to keep him satisfied. In an interview released this week by his team, the 33-year-old Swiss champion says he has closed the book on 2014 and is already looking ahead to next season.

"The highlight was Flanders, of course, and also my pretty strong 10-day ride in the Tour de France was also memorable," Cancellara said. "There were ups and downs, and I was not so consistent, maybe. You can say that 2011-2014 is maybe one big book. Twenty-fourteen had a lot of the previous years in it, in a way. It's hard to explain.

"Flanders is not enough. I am not satisfied."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: Nouveau Cycle by Pierre Carrey.
"How was last summer’s Tour de France for you? Chances are the response varies by nationality. It was supreme for many Italians and fantastique for the French with successes, drama and the crowning triumph of two compatriots on the podium of the Champs Elysées.

This book uses the Tour de France’s summer limelight as means to profile Jean-Christophe Péraud, Romain Bardet and Thibaut Pinot. It’s not the story of their race but a fuller biography where at times the Tour is almost forgotten. It’s in French but worth sharing with readers of this blog for the insights."

(inrng.com)

December 23, 2014




Felt’s aero seatposts clamp better than any aero posts I know of; instead of being wedged into the frame, they are slotted on each side and have a pair of threaded plates inside. A bolt comes in from each side at the top of the seat tube to pinch each wall of the seatpost between an aluminum plate and the wall of the seat tube. Photo: Lennard Zinn | VeloNews.com.
"If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been told, “We’re a small company, and the only way we can compete with the big companies is to make a better product,” I’d be a very rich man. Given the engineering budgets of companies like Trek, Specialized, Giant, and Cannondale, it’s hard to make a bike better than they make. But Felt Bicycles is a small company that surpasses them in some areas.

Just the fact that you most likely hear very little about Felt, especially now that its bikes are no longer being ridden by UCI WorldTour teams, may indicate that it’s not a marketing-driven company. Rather, it is a product-driven company, and has been ever since Jim Felt started making custom aluminum bikes with his name on them decades ago. Felt employs a small team of talented engineers, and the company and its product line are too small for them to be dedicated to single categories. Instead, ideas that work on road bikes rapidly cross-pollinate to mountain, cyclocross, and track bikes, and vice versa."

(velonews.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: On the attack in this years Eneco Tour .
Andrei has been a pro since 2005 when he joined the Domina Vacanze team where he rode the Tour de France in his first year. Three years with Milram were followed by one season with ISD before teaming up with Astana in 2010. Ten Grand Tour finishes, a Vuelta stage in the team time trial and a handful of National titles.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: Smith Pivlock Asana.Shimano Sport Camera.Cateye Rapid X.
"Day 10 of Dig features four items that have become fast-favorites around the peloton offices. Each of them brings simplicity and quality to a new take on common products and is sure to please anyone of your ‘nice’ list this season."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 23, 2014




Photo: A very decent pump at a bargain price.
BikeRadar verdict: 3 out of 5 stars. "This is a very small pump by any standards – just 87g in weight and, at 24.5cm long, small enough for a jersey pocket. And it was surprisingly decent to use, too."

(bikeradar.com)

December 23, 2014














December 22, 2014





December 22, 2014





December 22, 2014

December 22, 2014


Three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond with one of his yellow jerseys
Photo: © Marco Quezada/nyvelocity.com.
WorldTour teams for Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Australian track titles decided.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2015





The final stage of the Giro d'Italia took place in Trieste
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
The 2015 men's professional season will end with a new big-budget stage race in Abu Dhabi, with the four-day race expected to attract some of the biggest riders and teams in the peloton.

The race will be held between Thursday October 8 and Sunday October 11, starting four days after Il Lombardia in Italy. It will be organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Giro d'Italia organiser RCS Sport. In many ways the Abu Dhabi Tour will replace the now defunct Tour of Beijing but it will not initially be part of the UCI WorldTour calendar. For the 2015 season, the race has a 2.1 status.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2015




Sven Nys (Crelan - AA Drink Team)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Sven Nys will return to racing at the Superprestige race in Diegem on Sunday, December 28, it was announced on Monday. The Belgian national champion, who has been performing unexpectedly poorly this season, skipped Sunday’s World Cup race in Namur. He decided to take a break after finishing nearly three minutes down at the Bpost Bank Trofee in Essen on Saturday.

His Crelan-AA Drink Team announced the new racing schedule after consultations between Nys, his manager Paul van den Bosch and team manager Jan Verstraeten. He may skip Friday’s World Cup race in Heusden-Zolder.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2015




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2014




Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) all smiles after his stage 1 victory
Photo: © Rob Lampard.
Following 10 days of training with Giant-Alpecin in Cambril, Spain, Marcel Kittel told Cyclingnews that he and his team are still working out whether he will target the green points jersey in next year's Tour de France, but a shot at another yellow jersey in the first week is definitely on the radar.

The 26-year-old German sprinter, who has eight Tour stage wins to his credit over the past two years, wore the first maillot jaunes of the 2013 and 2014 Tours after consecutive opening-day wins. Next year's stage 1 time trial in Utrecht, the Netherlands, makes a repeat performance unlikely, but he wouldn't rule out the possibility of wearing yellow during the first week.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2015





Stage 6 of the 2015 USA Pro Challenge will go from Loveland to Fort Collins, as it did in 2013. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Stage 6 of the 2015 USA Pro Challenge will start in Loveland and end in Fort Collins, Colorado, locations that were determined by a fan vote. All of the host cities for the August 17-23 race have now been announced.

Earlier in December, the race unveiled the host cities for stages 1-5 and 7. A circuit race in Steamboat Springs will kick things off, while the race will conclude with a stage from Golden to Denver.

Fans provided more than 20 start and finish options for the sixth stage before Loveland and Fort Collins were chosen, race organizers said.

(velonews.com)

December 22, 2015




Photo: We are not aware of any injuries related to chinstrap performance on the Cannondale Teramo.
The buckle on the chinstrap of the Cannondale Teramo helmet ($120) snapped off or broke into pieces with four out of the five samples we evaluated during one of our routine bike helmet tests. The Cannondale Teramo was the only one helmet that failed out of the 14 helmets that we put through the same test. We’ve rated the Cannondale Teramo a Don’t Buy: Safety Risk.

(consumerreports.org)

December 22, 2015




Sebastián Henao (Team Sky)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
New US Continental team announces 2015 roster.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2015




Photo: Shinola Runwell.
"It’s Day 9 of Dig and we bring you two pairings – one for the high-end, style-hound commuter and one for anyone looking for a little bit of two-wheel fun with the significant other."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 22, 2015





December 21, 2015






December 21, 2015






December 21, 2015



Simon Gerrans won't be able to defend his 2014 Tour Down Under title after breaking his collarbone. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
It’s hardly the Christmas present 2014 Liège–Bastogne–Liège champion Simon Gerrans for.

Gerrans snapped his collarbone while mountain biking over the weekend, and will miss the chance to defend his titles at the Australian national championship and at the Santos Tour Down Under next month.

Gerrans, 34, was scheduled to undergo surgery on his left shoulder Monday, and admitted he will not be at a top level to race in January.

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how well the recovery goes from here, I don’t think I am going to be in any condition to be racing at a high level in January,” Gerrans said in a team release. “With that in mind I think it is better to take my time, make sure the recovery goes well and get all the rehab done so I don’t have any ongoing issues.

(velonews.com)

December 22, 2015




Photo: I’m excited to return to Adelaide for my eleventh Santos Tour Down Under. I’m bringing an enthusiastic and committed Tinkoff-Saxo team, with the aim of getting the season off to a good start.
Following on from a season where he gathered two stage wins in the Giro d’Italia, one in the Tour de France and also third overall in the Route du Sud, Michael Rogers has set his sights on hitting the ground running in 2015 and notching up a high overall finish in the Santos Tour Down Under.

Rogers was confirmed Monday as leading the team in the WorldTour event, which will take place in his home country of Australia.

 (cyclingtips.com.au)

December 22, 2015




Photo: the French army cycling team. They’ve been an amateur squad but now turn pro for 2015..
Forget Tinkoff-Saxo’s temporary training kit, here’s the real deal on camouflage cycle clothing: the French army cycling team. They’ve been an amateur squad but now turn pro for 2015.

The Armée de Terre team has been one of the strongest outfits on the French amateur circuit and well-supported too with the trappings of a pro team like a fleet of vehicles. Now the whole squad is moving up a level and they will ride at UCI Continental level in 2015. But it’s not been easy because to have a pro team you need riders on pro contracts. Only the Armée de Terre team have soldiers and all the riders have signed the standard three year military engagement contract meaning they’re soldiers, not cyclists. Now they’ll ride their bikes all the time but in the eyes of the law they’re military first.

(inrng.com)

December 22, 2015




Photo: Uncommon matchups are set to define the next two weeks of racing.Balint Hamvas.
"Two days ago on the muddy tracks through the woods of Essen, Belgium, the Kerstperiode began. From now until January 1, cross races pepper the calendar with unheard of frequency, a gift from the cycling gods to those of us at home for the holidays or dealing with the throes of last-minute Christmas shoppers.

Today's stop on the advent calendar of crossmas was the World Cup event held at Namur, whose steep climbs and even steeper drop-offs are often coated in deep, rutted mud. Next up is the World Cup at Heusdon-Zolder on Thursday. Following that, we return to Diegem (Superprestige) on the 28th, Azencross Loenhout (BPost Bank) on the 30th, and finally slow down a touch late on New Year's Day after the GP Sven Nys (BPost Bank) finishes. If you're counting, that's six races in 13 days."

(podiumcafe.com)

December 22, 2015




Lea Davison claimed the bronze medal in the cross-country at 2014 world mountain bike championships in Norway. Photo: AFP PHOTO | NTB SCANPIX | GEIR OLSEN | NORWAY OUT.
In January, she was unconscious, lying on a table in Vermont, a labrum tear to her right hip being surgically repaired. In September she was overjoyed, standing on a podium in Hafjell, Norway, a bronze medalist at the world cross-country championship.

For Lea Davison, the 2014 season didn’t just deliver the best result of her career — it was a glimpse into the realm of what is possible, a test of the mental as much as the physical.

Following surgery, Davison had to first learn how to walk correctly again, before thinking about pedaling a bike. Exercise amounted to crutching around her house, or range-of-motion exercises in a local pool. Her first ride back was in Santa Barbara, at a USA Cycling women’s mountain-bike skills camp in early March, where she pedaled the granny gear for 30 minutes. Increased pain in April forced her to take a week completely off the bike, missing the Sea Otter Classic. She didn’t truly begin training until late May.

(velonews.com)

December 22, 2015




Compatriots Markel Irizar (left) and Juan Manuel Garate
Photo: © Bosco Martin.
As 2014 draws to a close, Spain’s Juan Manuel Garate is probably one of the very last riders this year to confirm his retirement from the peloton - an announcement he made official in a press conference on Monday in San Sebastian. The Spaniard touched on some of the highlights of his career; stage wins in all three Grand Tours, including the toughest mountain stages of both the 2009 Tour de France and 2006 Giro d’Italia, however, he also noted some of the regrets that he has as his career comes to an end.

“Winning on the Ventoux in the 2009 Tour de France will remain my most special victory,” Garate, 38, told Cyclingnews. “My team at the time hadn’t had a good Tour, even though we had had a great line-up but it had all gone awry from day one. So that stage was the last chance we had to do something before the race got to Paris the next day, and that made it even more special.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2015




Fans came out in force for the 2014 Tour de France's swing through Yorkshire. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com.
Tour de France organizer Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) announced the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, to be held in Northern England, May 1-3, 2015.

On Monday, ASO named Bridlington, Leeds, Scarborough, Selby, Wakefield, and York as host cities for the UCI 2.1-category race.

The full route details will be revealed on January 21, 100 days prior to the race.

 (velonews.com)

December 22, 2015




Photo: Clockwise from top left: Axiom Blastair HPS, Crank Brothers Sterling Short, B'Twin MNP 500, Lifeline Carbon Mini.
Every cyclist’s home workshop should include a track pump – but there’s no way you’re going to be carrying one of these huge and heavy metal constructions whenever you’re out on a bike ride.

Not too long ago, roadies carried frame pumps strapped to their frames, usually right underneath the top tube. But the change in frame shapes and the rise of CO2 inflators have seen those largely vanish. Enter their miniature cousins come into play: the mini pump.

 (bikeradar.com)

December 22, 2015




Photo: Daily Distraction...Cyclepassion 2015 Calendar

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2015













December 22, 2015





Nairo Quintana is focused on winning a second grand tour in 2014
Photo: © Bettini.
Eusebio Unzúe has confirmed Nairo Quintana’s early 2015 race program and called the Colombian the best climbing talent he has ever worked with.

Quintana, who finished second at the 2013 Tour de France and won this year’s Giro d’Italia, will target the Tour in 2015 and with a climber-friendly parcours, will start as one of the leading favorites.

The Colombian’s entire race plan leading up to the start in Utrecht has not been finalized, with some questions over his final preparation race but Movistar team boss Unzúe told Cyclingnews that a number of short stage races would form part of the rider’s preparation.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2015




Photo: the very top domestiques can even make 300,000-400,000 euros (AUD$450,000 to AUD$600,000)...Photography by Cor Vos
Three-week Grand Tours, week-long stage races, gruelling Classics and perhaps over 10,000 kilometres of racing per year. Professional cycling is undoubtedly one of the toughest sports around, if not the most difficult, but how much do riders earn for all that hardship?

CyclingTips spoke to two rider agents about this topic, Paul de Geyter and Ken Sommer. De Geyter manages a wide range of riders including Tom Boonen, Tejay Van Garderen, Jan Bakelants, Greg Van Avermaet, Maxime Bouet, Matt Goss and Luke Durbridge.

Sommer works alongside former Cervélo Test Team pro Joao Correia at the Corso agency and represents competitors such as Gerald Ciolek, Laurens ten Dam, Linus Gerdemann, Ted King and Evelyn Stevens.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 22, 2015




This spring, tech writer Logan VonBokel had the opportunity to ride on a star-studded group ride with some of the legends of Belgian cycling. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com.
"After three days in Belgium, the Visit Flanders tourism board laid out the following day’s agenda. Our group of American journalists would be going for a bike ride through the hallowed lands of the spring classics. While on much tamer roads than the previous day’s ride, which took us over various parts of the Ronde van Vlaanderen course, today we would be riding with a local cyclist, and a dozen or so of his friends.

The local was Eddy Merckx, and many of his friends were also his former teammates.

I found myself struggling to speak for much of the ride; the cumulative palmares of the group would rival that of a Tour de France peloton and, yes, I was a bit gun shy. The other five journalists and I stayed at the back of the two lines of friends. We stood out like sore thumbs."

 (velonews.com)

December 22, 2015




Michal Kwiatkowski is ready to disprove the age-old
Michal Kwiatkowski can aim high since he has already reached big goals, including becoming World Champion at 24 years old. For 2015, his target is a classic: Milano-Sanremo or one of the three Ardennes races.

“That’s the plan,” Omega Pharma-Quick Step sports director, Davide Bramati told VeloNews.

“We are waiting to finalize his schedule, but he will race Milano-Sanremo and return for the Ardennes classics, where he was already on the podium in two of them this spring.”

The Polish cyclist begins his season in Argentina at the Tour of San Luis, January 19. He will use the Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice stage race as a build-up to Milano-Sanremo on March 23 and of course, return to the three Ardennes races, April 20 to 27.

(velonews.com)

December 22, 2015




Gavin Haley suited up for a training ride in some rare December sunshine in Belgium.
Photo: © Dennis Crane/www.dbcphoto.com.
After 11 seasons of running EuroCrossCamp, Geoff Proctor’s long-term goal of working directly with USA Cycling on a national cyclo-cross development program came to fruition when the sport governing body offered him a position as head coach of the junior and under-23 cyclo-cross team this year. The members of the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross Development Program are part way through their third block of racing overseas and so far it has been a big success.

“Inevitably, the transition included the absorbing of EuroCrossCamp by the new program, USAC Cx Devo,” Proctor told Cyclingnews. “To me, this was a natural evolution and achieves the aims of both programs.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 22, 2015





Photo: Buttertubs, Tour de France 2014, stage one .
"The 2014 Cycling Weekly Reader Poll is our biggest yet, with the highest number of votes of any we’ve run so far. We’ve painstakingly sifted through the results, analyzed the data and can report that there are several major surprises and a few upsets.

Here’s how you voted for your favorite riders, team and performance of 2014. We will be publishing more poll results tomorrow."

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 22, 2015




Photo: BMC SLR02 Ultegra – $3799.
"Our last Gift Guide of 2014 is packed full of great last minute gift ideas for you or the cyclist in your life including an ultimate cycling holiday from DuVine, a Cancer Charity ride in Canada along with products from Saris, Castelli, Giro, BMC, Salsa, Clément, De Marchi, Campagnolo, Endura and more."

 (pezcyclingnews.com)

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December 21, 2014


Katie Compton overcame allergies and asthma for a third place finish that helped to keep the World Cup overall close. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com.
American cyclocross champion Katie Compton said she was content with her third-place finish at Sunday’s World Cup race in Namur, Belgium, after breathing issues nearly ended her race early.

The threat of an asthma attack, combined with a missed pedal at the start, forced Compton to stay within herself over the muddy, hilly course at Namur. The Trek Factory Racing rider, who has been crowned World Cup series champion the past two seasons, never saw the front of the race, where world champion Marianne Vos and Katerina Nash battled for the victory.

(velonews.com)

December 21, 2015





Photo: Kevin Pauwels on the run up
(tdwsport).
The challenging course had turned to thick, nearly unrideable mud in some sections by the time the elite men started the final race of the day in Namur.

Tom Meeusen led the race up the opening climb, a challenging and muddy ascent that forced riders off their bikes from the start. The German rider Sascha Weber was followed by Swiss rider Marcel Wildhaber, along with Rob Peeters, Pauwels, Walsleben, van der Haar, and Francis Mourey, Corné Van Kessel and Fabien Canal.

Pauwels rode flawlessly along the thick mud stretch and gained the few seconds that he needed to take the win ahead of van der Haar, who was left behind and forced to settle for second place.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 21, 2015





Photo: Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) celebrates her solo victory
(David McElwaine).
Vos takes second on return to cyclo-cross action.

Nash fell behind on the early laps of the race but recovered to catch and pass Vos. The Czech went on to win by 34 seconds, while Vos, in her first outing of the cyclo-cross season, took second place.

Katie Compton finished in third place, while Sanne Cant’s sixth place finish was enough for her to retain the overall lead in the World Cup standings, although her advantage has been slashed to just a single point. Compton lies in second place, while Ellen Van Loy is in third, 32 points off Cant.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 21, 2015




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

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December 19, 2015


At the end of the 2014 cyclocross World Cup, Compton claimed the top step on the podium for a second consecutive year. She made history one year earlier, as the first American to win the series. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Katie Compton has been winning international cyclocross races so consistently, and for so long, it’s sometimes easy to overlook her world-class caliber.

It’s not accurate to say that Compton is without peer — Marianne Vos has proven a formidable opponent, particularly at the world championships — but in the context of an award that acknowledges consistent performances across the calendar, Compton has proven to be the most dominant rider in women’s cyclocross, and the most impressive North American woman in pro cycling across all disciplines.

 (velonews.com)

December 21, 2015




Photo: We are approaching the end of the year and for the second year in a row, Samuel Sanchez' future career is shrouded in uncertainty. © www.sikids.com
After 13 years at Euskaltel-Euskadi, Sanchez signed with the BMC team for 2014 but the parties failed to reach an agreement to renew the contract despite the desire from both to continue the collaboration.

LCManagement, the agency that is led by Michel Gros and Joona Laukka, told L'Equipe about the current situation for Sanchez. "Samuel has always been willing to make financial sacrifices. But he was not willing to sign at any price," they said about the offer from BMC. "The chances are dwindling and his future in the bunch is uncertain."

Meanwhile, Sanchez is registered to compete today in the Memorial Justo Rebollar-Ismael Parajón, a ciclocross race in Vega de Sariego which is part of the Copa de Asturias. He already did his first cyclocross race on December 1.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 21, 2015




Photo: There was a top 20 in the GP Industria & Artigianato, a top six in the National Road Race and a Vuelta ride that year.
Judged on the results he achieved at the end of 2010, it looked as if 27 year-old Texan, Caleb Fairly was headed straight for the top. Riding for Holowesko Partners/Felt, the Garmin U23 ‘feeder’ team, at the start of the year Fairly won the Tour of the Bahamas, the Tour of the Battenkill and then rode a strong Tour de Beauce. The previous year had seen him in the US U23 team and a strong showing in the super fast Olympia Tour in The Netherlands had marked him down as ‘one to watch.’ Moving up to the Garmin Pro Tour team as a stagiaire at the end of the 2010 season, his debut was straight from the top drawer.

He took 12th in his first race, the Memorial Pantani and followed that up with third in the Giro della Toscana. It was expected that Fairly would join Garmin for 2011.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 21, 2015




Photo: Very light with a sublime ride.
BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "A phenomenal lightweight frame, excellent components and a rich riding experience make this as good as any race rig we’re tried."

 (bikeradar.com)

December 21, 2015




Photo: Jacks.Loudness.44Magnum.Sex Machineguns.Show-Ya.
"If you follow our Instagram feed you know we have a hard time sticking to just bike stuff, but some of the more off-beat posts are the music updates of our Creative Director as he works his magic during the final lay-out of the magazine. Ranging from folky to ear-bleeding metal the notes that keep his creative muse happy are eclectic to say the least. During our ‘East’ themed issue in 2014 he discovered some Asian rock that has become classic ‘Dig’."

 (pelotonmagazine.com)

December 21, 2015




Photo: Daily Distraction...Cyclepassion 2015 Calendar

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 21, 2015



December 21, 2015




The UCI is taking a big step forward with its review commission, but is it enough? Photo: AFP.
Brian Cookson, president of cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, deserves commendation for following through on his 2013 pre-election manifesto to convene an “independent commission” to investigate pro cycling. From all appearances, this Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) will be overseen by a very strong and experienced staff, and will operate independently of the UCI, as it looks into the history of doping and corruption in the sport.

As stated in its “Terms of Reference,” or charter, dated February 11, 2014, the CIRC proclaims that its priorities will be focused on “understanding and learning from the past to improve the future of the sport by eliminating undesirable practices and procedures as well as understanding the roots and mechanisms of the endemic problem of doping in cycling.”

(velonews.com)

December 21, 2015




Photo: A who’s who of the world’s top cycling teams have been confirmed to ride in the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
Six of the world’s top ProTour teams are confirmed, with IAM Cycling, Trek Factory Racing, Etixx – Quick-Step and Team Katusha joining BMC Racing Team and Orica GreenEDGE in the race, promising a thrilling weekend for cycling fans.

“I am delighted with the news that some of the world’s best cycling teams are set to ride in the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race,” said Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events,  John Eren.

“These teams are the cream of the crop, competing in prestigious events such as the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix. It will be a great honor to see them ride against Australia’s best in our own beautiful backyard – Geelong and the Surf Coast region.”

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 21, 2015




Photo: There's no jewel in the crown. I mean if you look at our team we don’t have one single superstar..
“I don’t think either us or Cannodale would have been able to run a WorldTour team if there hadn’t been a deal,” Vaughter said.

“We, us and Cannondale I mean, basically became friends because we were discussing how hard it had become to run teams in this environment. People might not realize this but when we got our UCI report back a couple of weeks ago – and our budget is a little under 20 million USD – the report showed us where we were on the spectrum and we were way below average, which is around 26 to 27 million USD. That reality is hard to sustain and so as we got talking Cannondale, they told us that they’d tried to do a couple of deals, one with Tinkoff, but each time they were afraid of losing control of the brand image and not having input into the team.”

It was a tough deal to make, but Cannondale became part of the Garmin team, brining over their green livery, their bikes and eight of their riders.

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 21, 2015




Photo: November saw a few cyclocross races, as well as wonderful rides closer to home.
"As the year draws to a close, it’s fun to look back at the memorable rides we’ve done this year. And what a year it’s been! We’ve discovered new roads and enjoyed new adventures. The links in the text lead to posts that talk more about individual rides.

And just when it seemed like the cycling season was finally over, a sudden snowfall provided a unique opportunity to test a bike with a 2-day bikepacking trip to the Olympic Mountains. Who could stay home when roads like these beckoned?

Looking back over all these wonderful memories, I am glad that bicycles are able to provide us with these incredible experiences. What were your favorite rides this year?"

(janheine.wordpress.com)

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December 20, 2014



Photo: UCI Cyclocross World Cup at Namur. Copyright © Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com
Sunday: UCI Cyclocross World Cup at Namur, Belgium.  Live coverage for the elite women race gets underway at 1:25pm CET (7:25am U.S. Eastern).  Live coverage for the elite men race gets underway at 2:45pm CET (8:45am U.S. Eastern).

(cyclingfans.com)

December 20, 2015





Sven Nys' (Crelan-AA Drink) string of bad form and bad luck has left the Belgian champion and his team searching for answers. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com.
Sven Nys has opted to withdraw from Sunday’s fourth round of the cyclo-cross World Cup in Namur following a lacklustre showing at the Bpost Bank Trofee in Essen on Saturday.

Nys lost his lead at the top of the overall standings of the Bpost Bank Trofee when he could only manage 13th place on Saturday, over three minutes down on Wout Van Aert. Van Aert has now moved into the overall lead in the standings, and holds an advantage of 1:50 over Nys.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 20, 2015








Photo: A picture from Hasselt - I call that 'home'. - Balint Hamvas.
20 December - GP Rouwmoer Essen (bpost).

It's called GP Rouwmoer, but they should really consider changing that name to GP Zdenek Stybar. If Nys can have his own race, then why can't Stybs? He lives in Essen with his - I'm sorry Albertina - wife. Tom Meeusen and Bart Aernouts also live in Essen, but neither have a rainbow jersey, so Stybar gets dibs on the racename for now (even though it isn't known yet if he'll shown up for this race). The funnest bits of GP Rouwmoer are swooping turns in the forest, and then that one corner where they have steps right at the end of a U-turn. Cruel. Lovely.

(podiumcafe.com)

December 20, 2015





Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck enjoying a post-race party
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Andy Schleck, who walked away from cycling at the end of the season after permanently damaging his knee, has admitted in an interview with Luxembourg newspaper Le Quotidien that he already misses cycling.

“The doctors told me that I would need a new knee by the time I was 35,” Schleck told Le Quotidien during an interview at his home in Mondorf. “It all scared me. That's what I said in my press conference to announce the end of my career. But now I miss it.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 20, 2015




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 20, 2014




ulips line the roadside of the Giro's second stage to Belfast
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
Although the Tour of Ireland will not take place next season, talks are still ongoing for the race to return to the international calendar as soon as 2016. Plans for the revival of the race were announced during the Giro d’Italia’s visit to Ireland in May.

The most recent iteration of the Tour of Ireland last took place in 2009 but was discontinued following cuts in the sponsorship provided by the Irish tourism board, Fàilte Ireland. Organizer Darach McQuaid of Shadetree Sports said that he has held talks with potential backers from the private sector in the wake of the Giro start, as well as with television partners.

(cyclingnews.com)

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Photo: Prosecutors are reviewing new documents concerning the death of Marco Pantani. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Matt Rendell, the English journalist who wrote the definitive biography on Marco Pantani, has watched with a mix of bemusement and disgust as the media has tried to outdo itself to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of the Italian cyclist.

“I am not enjoying the spectacle of the media today,” Rendell told VeloNews on Friday. “All of this so-called commentary, it feels so self-indulgent and profit-oriented, and not entirely honest. The media itself are often times doped.”

 (velonews.com)

December 20, 2015




Photo: Andrew Talansky wins the 2014 Criterium du Dauphine.
The big stars and races draw the most attention ahead of 2015, but some pro cyclists should be noted for their 2014 season and what they could accomplish in 2015.

The five listed here are ear-marked by their teams. They often help other riders, but will have their chance to gain experience and win. The best example, and the oldest at 26 of our riders to watch for 2015, is Andrew Talansky. Garmin took him to the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de France, and got plenty in return.

These riders have already showed promise, so it should come as no surprise at all to see them listed, but more result should follow in 2015.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 20, 2015




Photo: There is a danger of having too much youth, but to give them time to develop, we might have to sacrifice some results in some races.
BMC Racing Team has undergone a huge change this offseason. Gone are old heads like Cadel Evans and Thor Hushovd, replaced with younger men like Jempy Drucker and Damiano Caruso. Sporting Director Allan Peiper discussed the 2015 team.

"I think losing Cadel is a void that we can’t fill up overnight," Peiper said during the team’s training camp this week. "There is a danger of having too much youth. While you’re waiting for them to develop in the appropriate time that they need, you need to heal a void where you might have to sacrifice some results."

Evans hasn’t retired yet, but will do so after riding the Tour Down Under and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, meaning he will be out of the team by February and someone else will need to lead at the Giro d’Italia. Hishovd has retired and leaves gap in the Classics roster. Samuel Sanchez has also left the team, meaning there is an Ardennes spot and a GC leadership at a Grand Tour up for grabs. But BMC has brought in some great young riders to fill these gaps

. (cyclingquotes.com).

December 20, 2015




Photo: you can buy our window stickers to proclaim that fact to the world here.
"Cyclists are a “hazard,” “untrustworthy,” a “nuisance” and “idiots.” That at least is the impression given by users of the search engine Google.co.uk, with its autocomplete feature adding those words, in that order, to any search beginning “cyclists are … “

After seeing a post on Facebook from Peloton Magazine that flagged up the most common autocomplete phrases for “Cyclists are …" on Google.com, we decided to conduct our own research."

 (road.cc)

December 20, 2015




Photo: 2015 Austin Cyclocross National Championships course map.
While speaking with famed course designer Pete Webber, Carmichael Training Systems Coach Josh Whitmore examined the features and nuances of Zilker Park, host site of the 2015 Cyclocross National Championship. While there will always be beneficial mainstays of training for cyclocross, including group Wednesday Night Worlds practice, as well as threshold and VO2 Max intervals, riders looking for an extra edge can tailor a training plan that matches the conditions they will face come the second week in January.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 20, 2015




Photo: The relatively shallow rims likely don't offer much of an aero benefit, but that also means they're very easy to manage in windy conditions
James Huang / Immediate Media.
BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "Great everyday road wheels - reasonably fast and light but also fantastically tough and durable "

(bikeradar.com)

December 20, 2015





December 19, 2015




Photo: Daily Distraction...Cyclepassion 2015 Calendar

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 20, 2015






December 20, 2015




UCI President Brian Cookson in January
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Brian Cookson has said that he will take action on Astana’s WorldTour license if evidence compromising the team emerges from the Padova-based doping investigation, warning that “the game isn’t over.”

Despite a recent run of positive tests, Astana’s 2015 WorldTour registration was ratified ten days ago, pending an audit of their practices by the University of Lausanne. The UCI is also awaiting receipt of a 550-page dossier from the Padova investigation, which is centred on the activities of the banned Dr. Michele Ferrari. Reports in the Italian press earlier this month claimed that the Astana team was implicated in the inquiry.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 20, 2015




Photo: In 2014 Sanchez played a key support role for Philippe Gilbert in the Ardennes .
Sports manager of the BMC racing team Allan Peiper has admitted that the American team had wished to keep Samuel Sanchez in its ranks in 2015 but failed to reach a financial agreement.

The Australian coach regrets being unable to retain the Spaniard but neither wanted to do it at any price. "We could not find a common ground. The team wanted to keep him and Samu wanted to stay with the team, but the proposals we made ​​earlier in the season were not accepted," Peiper told Velonews. "So we found other riders to sign. Sometimes that's the game you have to play with the managers."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 20, 2015




Photo: But, after careful consideration of the documentation and especially after listening attentively to his explanations, we realized that Santambrogio did not commit any type of sporting fraud.
Mauro Santambrogio receives the full backing from his new employer which believes that his human rights may have been violated. 

This afternoon Amore & Vita - Selle SMP have finally responded to the fact that their new signing Mauro Santambrogio has tested positive for testosterone. The continental team has issued a press release with statements from Ivano and Christian Fanini who want to express their solidarity with the rider while also underlining that they will pursue the matter. (cyclingquotes.com)

December 20, 2015




Photo: It’s hard to believe that just a short train, car or even ride away from the center of Paris you could be riding in this perfect country setting.
Paris, France – the city of love, the Eiffel Tower, le Louvre and… traffic jams. Could Paris really be a destination for a ‘Top Ride’? Well, yes as just 35km South-West of the capital is the gorgeous Vallée de Chevreuse where the cows, sheep and forest replace the hustle and bustle of the big city making it an ideal playground for cyclists.

 (pezcyclingnews.com)

December 20, 2015




Photo: Dromarti Race Classic.Q36.5 Termica Jacket.MYN SNOBY Jersey.
"Yesterday it was casual style on and off the bike, today it’s all about raising your game on the club ride. Toss out last year’s team kit, leave your ‘Everest Challenge’ finisher’s jersey in the drawer. Pour on the style and the watts with these items from Day 7 of Dig."

(pelotonmagazine.com).

December 20, 2015




Photo: Rather than talking about tweaking things it’s more of a belt and braces, blank sheet of paper, let’s start again way of thinking.
After a disappointing 2014 season, the brains behind the Team Sky operation, Dave Brailsford, is going back to the drawing board for his team’s tactics for 2015.

“Rather than talking about tweaking things it’s more of a belt and braces, blank sheet of paper, let’s start again way of thinking,” he enthusiastically tells Cyclingnews as he navigates through Palma airport on route to Monaco.

“We’re going into our sixth season and at certain points we’ve evolved during that time but every now and then you have to look at it with a fresh pair of eyes. That’s what I’ve tried to do in terms of looking at what we do, how we do it and there’s been a lot of analysis. Then it’s a case of putting it all together for the start of the new season,” he explains.

(cyclingquotes.com)

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December 19, 2015

December 19, 2014


Most agressive Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing)
Photo: © Fotoreporter Sirotti
Previous .
With Jens Voigt now retired, he looks back on the highs and lows of his Tour de France career with the help of some iconic photos to jog his memory.

On the first rest day of the Tour, Procycling caught up with Trek Factory Racing’s Voigt to accompany the 43-year-old on a journey down memory lane. The German has been a fixture at the Tour since he first took part in 1998: he made it to every Grand Départ since and completed all but three Tours.

And in those 17 years, he tasted plenty of success: stints in the yellow jersey and a brace of stage wins, not to mention the consummate CSC team performance of 2008, when all nine riders made it all the way to Paris and the team won both the yellow and white jerseys.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 19, 2015




Mary Maroon (Twenty 16)
Photo: © Danny Munson / DMunsonPhoto.com.
The professional men and women will have a new race in 2015, the Tour of Montana, which will run from July 16 to 19 in Missoula next summer. The Women's Cycling Association (WCA)-branded event will include one mass-start ride and three days of professional racing that includes equal prize money, equal sponsored media coverage and racing on the same courses for men and women.

The multi-day event started through the collaboration of WCA President Robin Farina, Race Director Kurt Stockton, and Executive Director Nicole Adamson. The event includes four separate days of racing registered through USA Cycling, however, none of the races will be a part of the National Racing Calendar or the National Criterium Calendar, and they are not sanctioned UCI events.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 19, 2015





Marianne Vos won the inaugural edition of La Course in 2014. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com.
Too many women’s events on the same weekend could torpedo plans by the Vuelta a España to hold a one-day race to coincide with the finale of the 2015 Spanish grand tour.

The Spanish daily AS reported that the UCI has put the kibosh on plans to hold the so-called “La Course by the Vuelta” on September 13 due to a conflict with three other women’s events across Europe on the same weekend.

There was no official confirmation by the UCI, and Vuelta officials could not be reached Friday, but the Spanish daily reported that the UCI has told the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) that it would not approve the planned event on the streets of Madrid to coincide with the finale of the men’s Vuelta a España.

(velonews.com)

December 19, 2015




Photo: A familiar pose by Sanne Cant, here winning Scheldecross in 2014. © Start-Box/Wouter Toelen.
What does it take to lift women’s cyclocross to the next level? According to three-time cyclocross World Champion Erwin Vervecken, “If you can get a Belgian to compete with the top girls to win big races then it would change a lot. If she would win five races a year then people would be more interested in women because they know someone who lives close. Then people will come very early for women’s races.”

At only 24 years of age, Sanne Cant not only stepped up to the challenge but nailed it with style. Halfway into her season, she already racked up 16 UCI victories out of the 22 times she took the start.

 (cxmagazine.com)

December 19, 2015




Photo: Two weeks ago, Sven Nys had a complete off-day and abandoned the race in Overijse.
During the past two weeks, Sven Nys has recharged his batteries in Mallorca. "He has laid the foundation to handle the holiday season well," coach Paul van den Bosch told Sporza. "This is definitely not a good year. In several races he has performed below expectations."

"It remains to be seen how he will perform this weekend, but I have every confidence that it is going in the right direction. In Mallorca, he could leave everything behind. I have the impression that his training went very well."

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 19, 2015





Alex Dowsett will bring his time trial skills to a velodrome in London next year in an hour record attempt. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Alex Dowsett has joined a growing list of riders that will take on the hour record next year.

The 26-year-old Briton will attempt to break the mark on February 27 at London’s Lee Valley VeloPark velodrome, according to a Movistar press release.

“Everyone understands a world record, so I wanted my next target to be the hour record,” Dowsett said in the release. “The Hour is something I’ve always been interested in; the simplicity of it, mostly: no tactics, no hiding, just you and the bike.”

(velonews.com)

December 19, 2015




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 19, 2014




Lightweight Urgestalt
Jonny Ashelford.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Poetry in motion when you're in the saddle, but easily marred paintjob is annoying and second-string SRAM seems a mite ungenerous."

 (bikeradar.com)

December 19, 2015




Photo: Campagnolo overhauled their top of the line mechanical shifting group for 2015 with new cranks, derailleurs and front derailleur shift pattern.
(Photo by Matt Phillips).
"At a total of 2004 grams on my scale, this is a very light group, but at $3,680, it’s also very expensive. I have not weighed a SRAM Red 22 group on my scale, but SRAM claims that Red 22 totals to about 1,879 grams for a group that’s similarly spec’d to the Super Record. That said, claimed weights almost always skew light, so I’d guess the actual difference between the two groups would be around 100 grams.

That’s a lot in weight-weenie land, especially when SRAM’s Red 22 group is about $1,000 cheaper. Based on my weights and calculations, the same Shimano Dura Ace 9000 mechanical group weight is around 2,055 grams, but it’s priced at about $2,400."

(bicycling.com)

December 19, 2015





December 18, 2015






December 18, 2015


Photo: Tanel Kangert has told PEZ Cycling that he wants to be a part of the Astana Giro d’Italia squad and he spoke about what it was like helping Vincenzo Nibali win the Tour de France.
He isn’t happy that the whole team has been branded as dopers because of the mistakes of others, such as the Iglinskiy brothers.

“I read yesterday in somewhere (a cycling website) there was a long interview, nobody would even dare to put their name on it, and the way the questions were written like already, automatically, whatever the question was; “all the Astana guys are positive,” but what about the other guys? OK someone in the team made a mistake and you have to pay and we are paying now, but sometimes the price is too high. Definitely that website has something against someone in the team. But it’s not fair for the smaller riders like me, now automatically we are all bad riders for the fact that we wear these colors.”

“It’s made to look like it is only Astana, all about the money laundering and dozens of names, ten different names or maybe more. The only one that they pointed at is us. I don’t want to blame others, but it’s not only the problem of one team."

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 19, 2015




Cheat: Lance Armstrong confesses to Oprah Winfrey Photo: AFP.
He admitted to cheating during all seven of his Tour de France victories and is currently serving a lifetime ban from cycling. But Lance Armstrong says he would be “heartbroken forever” if he was caught moving his ball the rough during a round of golf.

In an eyebrow-raising interview with Golf Digest, the Texan, apparently speaking without irony, said the sport adhered to a code of honor that simply did not exist in cycling, at least during his era.

(telegraph.co.uk)

December 19, 2015




BMC Racing's Michael Schär (left) saw a more than four-minute lead over the top of the last climb – 38km from the finish – reduced to seconds inside the final kilometer of the 210km race. Hincapie rider Joey Rosskopf (right) was caught 3km from the finish. Photo by Casey B. Gibson.
First he was going to do it; it was a sure thing. A well-deserved win was virtually in the bag for BMC Racing’s Michael Schär as he crested Boulder Mountain with nearly a five-minute lead after dropping his break mate, Hincapie rider Joey Rosskopf.

“On top of the climb I felt very good,” Schär said.

Then, the sure thing — it wasn’t. What was this? He wasn’t pedaling. He’s cramping; he’s definitely struggling. He’s on the descent, but he isn’t pedaling. He’s losing huge chunks of time."

(velonews.com)

December 19, 2015





Alberto Contador has dropped Chris Froome and with that seals the 2014 Vuelta
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Alberto Contador has revealed he plans to finish his professional racing career at the top of his game, “winning my last ever race. I don’t refer to a small stage race, either, but winning a big one. To be specific, the Tour de France.”

Contador celebrated his 32nd birthday on December 6 and admitted that he will not ace beyond the age of 35.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 19, 2015




Oscar Freire won on Via Roma in the 2007 Milano-Sanremo. The race will return to the iconic finish straight after a seven-year absence. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Milano-Sanremo will return to its roots and open itself to attackers on March 22, 2015, when it concludes between the beige- and grey-colored buildings of Via Roma in Sanremo, Italy.

“The Milano-Sanremo race in its 105 years had only two classic finishes: Corso Cavallotti and Via Roma,” RCS Sport cycling director Mauro Vegni told VeloNews.

“Via Roma is a part of cycling’s story with wins like Eddy Merckx’s. It gives a different style and charm to the race than the seaside finish.”

(velonews.com)

December 19, 2015




The men's pursuit podium
Photo: © Joby Sessions.
On Thursday, Australian Jack Bobridge announced that on January 31 and at the Darebin International Sports Centre velodrome in Melbourne, he will make an attempt on the world hour record of Austrian Matthias Brandle (51.852km set in October this year). After the announcement before the clock at Flinders Street Railway Station in downtown Melbourne, Bobridge spoke to Cyclingnews.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 19, 2015




Photo: E-Motion Rollers are made by Inside Ride, an Oregon USA based company.
"The gift ideas just keep coming in from around the cycling world and today we’ve rounded up some of the best with everything from a luxury cycling holiday with VeloClassic Tours to some Finish Line Pedal & Cleat Lubricant.

We’ve also got everything in between covered with products from Easton, Topeak, Velox, State Bicycle Co., CycleOps, Essor USA, E-Motion, CyclePassion and Louis Garneau."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 19, 2015




Photo: Friday Five-a-side: this week's new bike gear
Oliver Woodman/Immediate Media.
Every week here at BikeRadar we receive a barrage of droolworthy kit and, once Friday comes around, we round up the finest items and introduce them.

Here are the best road cycling and mountain biking bits and pieces we've been landed with this week.

 (bikeradar.com)

December 19, 2015




December 18, 2015





December 18, 2015




Photo: Daily Distraction...Cyclepassion 2015 Calendar

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 19, 2015













December 19, 2015





Photo: With an sponsorship payment of more than $30 million, it means that Armstrong and others could potentially have to pay out $100 million. Photography by Cor Vos
Two of those fighting their corner in the combined Department of Justice/ Floyd Landis case against Lance Armstrong and his former associates have sought to bring their involvement to an end by offering payoffs to the United States government and Landis’ lawyer.

USA Today has today reported that Armstrong’s longtime agent Bill Stapleton and the former pro’s business partner Bart Knaggs, both of the Capital Sports and Entertainment agency, have offered a combined payment of half a million dollars to the government plus $100,000 to Landis’ attorney, Paul Scott.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 19, 2015




Jeremy Powers won the first day of the 2013 Providence Cyclocross Festival. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com.
Pick a number between one and three. That’s where Jeremy Powers finished 99 percent of the races he contested in the U.S. in the 2013-14 season.

Drop a chain in the first corner? No problem. Patiently slice through the entire field on the dusty track of Boulder’s reservoir course at the Colorado Cross Classic and finish up with a tidy second place.

Win New England worlds? Sure thing. Then win again, then again. He took all three races he started during “Holy Week” in New England, winning both days at the Gran Prix of Gloucester, then hitting day 2 at the Providence Cyclocross Festival and stamping his authority.

 (velonews.com)

December 19, 2015




Damiano Caruso will step into a GC role on BMC Racing next season. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
BMC Racing will lean on Italian talent Damiano Caruso next season to fill a grand tour gap while the team waits for a promising crop of young riders to develop.

BMC remains committed to Tejay van Garderen as its all-out GC man for the Tour de France, but the looming retirement of Cadel Evans and the exit of Spanish veteran Samuel Sánchez means the U.S.-registered team needs warm bodies for the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.

BMC sporting manager Allan Peiper believes Caruso, who joins from Cannondale for 2015, is just the man for the job, and has tapped him to lead possibly both the Giro and Vuelta.

(velonews.com)

December 19, 2015




The Willunga Hill
Photo: © Sirotti.
It's less than one month until the first WorldTour race of 2015 gets underway in Adelaide, Australia. The 17th edition of the Tour Down Under will a features a familiar parcours for the peloton with the inclusion of the uphill finishes in Stirling and Willunga Hill and a final day criterium around the streets of Adelaide.

The Corkscrew climb gets a rest in 2015 with race director Mike Turtur introducing a new stage finish in Paracombe which should see the first serious time gaps on the overall classification open up.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 19, 2015




Wiggins, the first Brit to win the Tour de France in 2012 and a seven-time Olympic cycling medalist, initially finished fourth in the 2009 Tour © Getty Images.
Bradley Wiggins looked back at going toe to toe with Lance Armstrong at the 2009 Tour de France, likening Armstrong’s ability to hide his suffering on tough climbs to befriending you and then slipping “the knife in your back.”

(nbcsports.com)

December 19, 2015




Photo: I was really strong in those races - like Cancellara, of course. We probably were the strongest two in the field, although Van Avermaet was also really strong.
In 2013, Vanmarcke showed his class, finishing second behind Fabian Cancellara in Roubaix, finally coming through on the promise he showed when he won the 2012 Het Nieuwsblad. In 2014, he was constantly there in the finale of the cobbled races: 4th at Omloop, 3rd at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, 5th at E3 Harelbeke, 4th at Gent-Wevelgem, 3rd at De Ronde and 4th at Paris-Roubaix. No one was as consistent as Vanmarcke, and only Fabian Cancellara was arguably stronger.

“I don’t think about it a lot but, yeah, if I think back, I was really strong in those races – like Cancellara, of course,” Vanmarcke tells Cyclingnews. “And if you count those races together, then we probably were the strongest two in the field, although if you look separately at the Tour of Flanders, then Van Avermaet was also really strong.”

It is a mark of Vanmarcke’s quality and high standards that despite his strong performance, he wasn’t entirely happy with his campaign, as he failed to take a cobbled win.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 19, 2015




Photo: A full set of Beta 951s doesn't come cheap. If you're on a budget and considerning these, it's best to stick with the sizes you actually need
David Rome / Immediate Media.
BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "The price alone will rule these out for most home mechanics, but if you make (or save) money from using your tools, you’re likely to appreciate their quality."

(bikeradar.com)

December 19, 2015





December 19, 2015
















December 18, 2015





December 18, 2015

December 18, 2014


Riccardo Ricco, who is serving a 12-year doping ban, said he wasn't the only doper in the peloton. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Italian Riccardo Riccò, who is serving a 12-year doping ban, attacked cycling’s credibility at the launch his book, “A Funeral in Yellow — The Confessions of The Cobra.” Riccò called cycling’s reform commission “a joke” and said it is impossible to win a grand tour clean.

“It’s cleaner now but not completely clean,” the 31-year-old told Tutto Bici.

“You can [race a grand tour clean]. I did in 2006 at the Tour de France. Winning it clean? A one-day classic, yes. A grand tour, no.”

 (velonews.com)

December 18, 2015





Maxim Iglinskiy and his brother Valentin tested positive for EPO in late 2014, resulting in Astana's decision to temporarily self-suspend, per MPCC rules. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
The Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC), which represents 78 percent of UCI WorldTour and Pro Continental teams, issued a statement Thursday that summarized the standing of seven teams. Six of the listed teams will face voluntary suspension, according to MPCC rules, if one or more of their respective riders fail an anti-doping test.

Androni Giocattoli will have to suspend itself for a week if one of its riders violates anti-doping rules before May 30, 2015.

Astana WorldTour will have to suspend itself for four weeks if one of its riders violates anti-doping rules before August 1, 2016.

(velonews.com)

December 18, 2015





 (cyclingnews.com)

December 18, 2015






Photo: Rigoberto Uran wins stage twelve of the 2014 Giro d'Italia Credit: watson .
Etixx-Quick-Step has confirmed that Rigoberto Uran will make an attempt at the Giro d’Italia title in 2015, before riding for stage wins at the Tour de France shortly afterwards.

The Colombian finished second in the 2014 edition of the Giro behind compatriot Nairo Quintana, but will come up against the likes of Alberto Contador in 2015 as he challenges for the pink jersey.

Uran held the maglia rosa for five days in this year’s race and took a stage win, but will not be looking to challenge for the yellow jersey at the Tour de France almost two months later.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 18, 2015




Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team) wins stage 2 at the Tour of Beijing
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Philippe Gilbert will begin his 2015 campaign with a his debut at the Dubai Tour before heading over to the Tour of Qatar a day after racing closes. However, he will make Milan-San Remo his first big target of the 2015 season. San Remo is one of the few early season races that Gilbert is yet to win but he believes that the 2015 course will give him a chance.

"I would like to do well in San Remo now they've fixed the parcours," he said during a meeting with the media at the team's training camp in Dénia, Spain. "It's back on the old one, the one I like the most."

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 18, 2015





Photo: Alberto Contador wins the 2014 Tirreno Adriatico .
Organizers RCS Sport revealed on Thursday the course for the 2015 edition of the prestigious week-long stage race, Tirreno-Adriatico, including a tough mountain top finish on Monte Terminillo on stage five.

The race will run its 50th edition between March 11 and 17 next year, and is likely to continue to attact many of the best riders as it acts as a prelude to the classics season and those looking towards the first grand tour of the year, the Giro d’Italia.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 18, 2015





Photo: Mobius Camera (Beta version!) now to a GoPro4 -> Analogue out -> Transmitter -> over-the-air back to base station -> analogue out into TV capture USB device -> UStream streaming software.
"Last Sunday, CyclingTips live-streamed the elite men's race at the St. Kilda Cycling Club Shimano SuperCrit including live footage from on-board cameras. As far as we're aware, it's the first time on-board vision has been used for a live race broadcast anywhere in the world.

It wasn't perfect by any stretch, and we weren't expecting it to be. Rather it was a chance to test the technology and show that it is possible. After all, you have to start somewhere."

(cyclingtips.com.au).

December 18, 2015




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 18, 2014




Jure Kocjan (SmartStop) goes into stage 4 holding onto yellow
Photo: © Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us.
Next September's UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia, will be the first in the US in nearly 30 years, and as the queue of domestic teams that hope to participate grows, so do the opportunities to earn the UCI points that can get them there.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: Sir Bradley Wiggins on the podium after winning the Elite Mens TT at the 2014 World Championships .
An 86-mile ride on Christmas Day – that’s just one of sacrifices a young Bradley Wiggins made to chase his dream of becoming a professional cyclist.

As part of a BBC Radio 5 live documentary called Mind of a Cyclist, which will broadcast tonight, Wiggins sits down with fellow Olympic gold medalist Victoria Pendleton to examine the mental demands of the sport at the highest level.

“I love the mundane part of the sport,” Wiggins says. “I love the romance of doing the training, which is the bit that no-one sees. That might be a 5am gym session or an 8am session in the velodrome before anyone else comes in."

 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 18, 2015




Photo: Our Sterling pump weighed in at 169g
Steve Behr.
BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "Solid, user friendly and pleasingly versatile mini pump."

(bikeradar.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: One minor quibble with their geo chart is that while both bikes have 6.7cm of drop, both bikes are listed as having a BB height of 27.2cm.
"The Addict is a pretty typical road racing bike, while the Solace is part of the now established class of grand touring or endurance bikes, typified by the Specialized Roubaix. It’s easiest to demonstrate their differences with their stack and reach figures.

Both my review bikes were size large, ostensibly a 56cm frame. For the Addict, the stack and reach are 56.8 and 39.4cm respectively. For the Solace, the stack and reach are 59.2 and 38.4cm respectively. That difference in position for the headset top cap—1cm less reach and 2.4cm higher stack—means Scott is serious about the Solace being not just a different ride, but also a different fit."

 (redkiteprayer.com)

December 18, 2015





December 17, 2015





December 17, 2015





December 17, 2015


Photo: Tejay Van Garderen on stage eightteen of the 2014 Tour de France .
Tejay van Garderen admits he expected the backlash that came his way after the news emerged that he has been motorpaced by Lance Armstrong.

The American racer, who finished fifth in the 2014 Tour de France, insists he wasn’t trying to court controversy by working with the Texan, simply making use of a local resource.

But the 26-year-old, who is replacing Cadel Evans as the BMC team leader in 2015, feels Armstrong is being overly persecuted for his role in the US Postal doping scandal.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 18, 2015




A set of ethical guidelines could help cycling improve its image, writes Steve Maxwell and Joe Harris. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Professional cycling has never adopted a formal set of ethical standards for its riders, teams or governing officials. There has been no clear standard for responsible and ethical behavior — no training or guidelines, no expectation that people should do the right thing, even when “no one is looking.” Cycling has instead always relied on the strength of its rules and regulations — and prescribed punishments for violating them — to guide the behavior of its participants, to maintain order, and to keep the sport from breaking down.

But after more than a century of continuous cheating, a thoroughly entrenched culture of doping, and too many scandals to count, one could argue that the UCI’s rules and regulations have devolved into nothing more than strongly worded suggestions. Individuals with the right finances, advisers, and influence in cycling have basically been able to chart their own path. Worse, there have been examples where the governance structure itself has apparently fallen into that gray area where “turning a blind-eye” and actual collusion with the doping culture start to converge.

(velonews.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: Aside from Greipel's sprinting prowess, the team hasn't had a lot of excitement. © www.be-celt.com
Life can be rough for Lotto-Belisol, or *that other Belgian team*. Living in the shadows of the Quickstep franchise has never been easy, and the country's other World Tour squad has been struggling to define itself in recent years. But, with a host of promising younger riders developing within the team, that may be changing.

 (podiumcafe.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: I was in Ag2r for 2008 and 9 and then I rode as an amateur for one year in 2010.
"Tanel Kangert is starting his fifth year with the team and so he is in the perfect position to give us his thoughts on the team’s present situation. There are two sides to every story, but Tanel is one of the people caught in the crossfire.

Kangert rode as a stagiere for Ag2r in 2007 before joining as a full pro the following year, but in 2010 he had to step down to race again with the amateurs due to a near career ending knee injury. The Astana team took him back to the WorldTour for the 2011 season and since then he has been a dedicated helper with a pretty strong palamés behind him. We chatted about Estonia, his career and the 2014 Tour, but in the end we had to tackle the elephant in the corner; how did he feel about Astana’s satiation?"

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: Fresh tape on a fresh course at Riverpoint, Rhode Island. © Riverpoint Cyclocross.
If you’re like us, cyclocross is on the brain more often than you’d like to admit. Perhaps the obsession even permeates into your daily schedule, and on your daily commute, you often see a field on the side of the road, and wonder how you could turn that into a cyclocross course.

Cory and Melissa Lafleur, two passionate cyclocrossers who spent much of their season racing in New England, have made these type of daydreams a reality. In relative proximity to the NBX Gran Prix in Warwick, Rhode Island, the couple has transformed a long stretch of land into a permanent cyclocross park called Riverpoint.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: illegal copies are potentially dangerous and bear no relation to the firm's original frames which are made in Tunisia.
French bicycle manufacturer Look has issued a press release warning buyers to steer clear of counterfeit versions of its road frames.

The news comes after fake versions of the company's 695 Light and 695 models in different ranges and colors have surfaced in Asia and more recently in Europe.

(bikeradar.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: To close out the year, we are counting down the top 14 stories of 2014. VeloNews and Velo magazine’s editorial staff voted this piece as one of our favorite articles of the year.
She was beautiful in a way that bolted a man’s feet to the floor. When a long look is the only reaction and the blood in your cheeks feels like cans of hot oil.

“What can I get you?” she said.

The whole world, I wanted to say. All of it.

Instead I ordered two coffees and a beer. It was noon in the Dolomites, on the Passo Duran, and there was nothing else to do but sit, erase the salt lines from my face, and point at the map, deciding where to go next. I am now certain I sat there too long.

It is possible to fall in love 50 times a day in northern Italy. With the ups, with the downs, with the sideways rain, and the washing of a bike. With the barista.

This is a love story. A love story like Proust said, in that the “remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were.”

(velonews.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: it comes with a variety of cords in different materials of differing lengths too, which allows for fastening either as a necklace or as a tag on say a bag, shoes, or the bike itself i guess..
Simple.

Which is the idea behind The Crashtag, far as i can see. On one side of the rounded piece of Al6V4 titanium you have a pattern of your choosing from 10 patterns (they have a club special too, whereby you can get your club name and logo on the front – in fasct, I think anyone can get whatever they want put on there), on the other you have space for 159 characters that should include your name, an emergency number and whatever else you want, laser-engraved on there.

(crankpunk.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: Cycling In The South Bay.
"We’ve been following Seth Davidson’s writing for a long time, and thankfully he has created a book with some of his popular musings on the riding life. We like his writing so much, in fact, that you will now see the Wankmeister on the brand-new www.pelotonmagazine.com. To get you ready for weekly posts you should pick up his book. It’s worth it."

 (pelotonmagazine.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: Looking festive does not necessarily mean looking good.
Christmas is just a week away, and what better way to show your holiday spirit than with garish holiday attire? Ugly Christmas jumpers are a time-honoured tradition, but they’re not the best choice for logging some miles to burn off the excess calories that accompany the holiday season.

(bikeradar.com)

December 18, 2015





December 17, 2015





December 17, 2015




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 18, 2015














December 18, 2015




Garmin-Sharp manager Jonathan Vaughters was present in Milan for the unveiling of the new leaders' jerseys for the 2013 Giro d'Italia.
Photo: © Bettini.
We are constantly told that cycling is a sport both undervalued and undersold, that sponsors should be lining up to back teams and that the sport is an excellent marketing opportunity when compared to soccer and other mainstream sports. While that may all be true, unless you’re backed by Kazakh oil or have the deep pockets of an Andy Rhis or Rupert Murdoch at your disposal, running a WorldTour team can be a draining and ultimately fruitless endeavor.

Take Cannondale and Garmin-Sharp, for example. Both have credible footings in the sport, impressive rosters and sound management structures, but had it not been for their merger for the 2015 season both teams would have probably vanished from the top tier of the sport.

“I don’t think either us or Cannodale would have been able to run a WorldTour team if there hadn’t been a deal,” Garmin’s Jonathan Vaughters says in rather blunt fashion.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 18, 2015






Mauro Santambrogio returned another failed anti-doping test in late 2014, on the heels of an 18-month suspension for EPO doping in the Giro d'Italia. Photo: AFP PHOTO | LUK BENIES (File). (velonews.com)
Italian Mauro Santambrogio is in more hot water with the anti-doping authorities after returning an Adverse Analytical Finding for testosterone during his ban for EPO.

Santambrogio was in the midst of a doping suspension, a result of the EPO positive from the 2013 Giro d'Italia, which was due to expire on November 2, 2014 when he tested positive on October 22 for testosterone, the UCI announced today.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: The first rider union was started in 1898.
The picture shows Luca Paolini and Manuel Quinziato in discussion with officials from the Giro d’Italia following the treacherous circuit around Bari where riders were sliding over the road. Others took part in the discussions and it’s always difficult to work out who should speak for the riders. There are regular calls for a rider union, a collective body to protect and strengthen the rights of professional cyclists.

As the sport reorganizes there’s an alphabet soup of acronyms, each fighting for competing interests. There’s the UCI itself then race organizers like ASO and RCS who themselves are part of the AIOCC, a lobby group for race promoters. There are the teams, the employers, who form several groups for example their collective lobby is the AIGCP and many also subscribe to the MPCC and there’s the newly created Velon too.

But what of the riders? Actually there is a union, it’s called the CPA and every pro is compelled to pay for it. Only few seem to know about it.

(inrng.com)

December 18, 2015





 (cyclingnews.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: Oleg Tinkov on stage fifteen of the 2014 Giro d'Italia .
Oleg Tinkov is never one to mince his words, so it’s no surprise to hear him talking about his rivalry with Dave Brailsford – the man he feels he is replacing as the “king” of cycling.

Speaking to the Telegraph’s Tom Cary at Tinkoff Saxo’s training camp in Gran Canaria, the Russian claims he is building a “superteam” which will surpass Team Sky in 2015, but with a smaller budget than Brailsford’s team.

“Obviously, he is afraid of us,” said Tinkov. “Because Dave was the king, he was alone, he dominated the scene."

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 18, 2015





Photo: Tim Decker (Australian track coach) and Jack Bobridge underneath Flinders Street Clocks in Melbourne after announcing the details of Bobridge’s hour record attempt..
Reigning individual pursuit world record-holder Jack Bobridge announced yesterday that he will be attempting the world hour record. Today he announced further details about that attempt to better Matthias Brandle’s mark of 51.852km, set in October.

Bobridge’s attempt will come on January 31, 2015 at the DISC Velodrome in Melbourne — the final night of the Australian National Track Championships.

Bobridge’s coach, Tim Decker, explained why they chose DISC.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 18, 2015




Photo: World time trial champion Lisa Brennauer at team camp in Lanzarote, Spain, December 2014.
(Photo by Leah Flickinger).
Lisa Brennauer clearly knows how to focus her training so that she dominates when it counts.

After winning the German National Championships in the road race and time trial this past June, she snagged the rainbow jersey in the time trial at World Championships in late September (plus gold in the team time trial and silver in the road race) with a busy three months of racing in between.

“Wearing the national jersey made me proud,” Brennauer said at a recent Velocio-SRAM team camp in Lanzarote, Spain. “It was very motivating for the end of the season.”

(bicycling.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: Lens options: Polycarbonate 8Cd lens - Antifog effect inside.
LIMAR is offering a wide range of eyewear for American customers: Eight different frame styles and four types of lens, including Photochromic NXT, Polarized, Photochromic+Polarized, and Polycarbonate. MSRP of LIMAR eyewear range from $49.95-$149.95

LIMAR's photochromic lens (models OF10-PH, OF8-PH, F70-PH) automatically adjust to sun light intensity and are the ideal solution for outdoors in any light condition, adjusting to the quantity of light that reaches the eye. The LIMAR lens also utilizes sophisticated NXT technology that allows the lens to adapt quickly to changes in the sun's UV radiation intensity.

(albabici.com)

December 18, 2015




With the vents closed, the Bell Star Pro is just as quick as other minimally vented helmets on the market. With the vents open, it is slightly cooler and slightly less aerodynamic, though the large section at the front with no venting gets pretty toasty on hot days. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com.
The latest generation of road helmets walks the line between aero helmets, like the Giro Air Attack, and the ventilation-heavy helmets of years past. These helmets, like the Giro Synthe and Kask Protone, offer ventilation that comes close to the featherweight helmets of the mid-2000s but with a consideration for aerodynamics.

Many would be quick to include the Bell Star Pro in this in-betweener family. But the Star Pro is first and foremost an aero road helmet. You won’t be seeing riders in the UCI WorldTour wearing the Star Pro to mountaintop finishes in the heat of July, though you would see the UnitedHealthcare team wearing it to countless criterium podiums. And we saw Lars Boom, who switches from Belkin to Astana for 2015, ride one to victory in the cold, wet weather in this year’s Tour de France stage on cobblestones.

(velonews.com)

December 18, 2015




Photo: Cyclepassion calendar 2015
Cyclepassion.
The new year is fast approaching, and with it returns a classic – the Cyclepassion calendar. Known for its images of female cycling stars in seductive poses, this year's edition marks 10 years of the calendar and features athletes from various riding disciplines and locations around the world.

The theme for Cyclepassion 2015 revolves around fitness or “train hard and race hard” as its creators put it. The double-sided format means two different styles of image for each month's athlete – one showing them training in a gym environment and the other being an action packed riding shot.

 (bikeradar.com)

December 18, 2015
















December 17, 2015


December 17, 2014


Even in retirement, Jens won't be far away from the peloton. This season, he will serve as a team consultant for Trek Factory Racing, where he will focus on the coaching and motivation of younger riders.
(Photo by James Startt).
"I’ve been officially retired for three months, and it’s been interesting to say the least—but also challenging! Some things came easier than expected. Some things were harder to get used to.

When I knew—a full year ago—that I was going to stop racing after 2014, I agreed to do many of the charity rides, fondos, and other events people were setting up the off-season. When my career came to an end, I sat down and looked at the list of all the appointments I’d made. I had charity rides in England and Luxembourg, Trek Travel in California, gran fondos in Germany, a trip to Australia, a team camp in Spain, and more. Things were full gas!"

 (bicycling.com)

December 17, 2015





Young American talent Taylor Phinney won stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
The comeback trail for Taylor Phinney is longer and more complicated than expected. The BMC Racing star admitted Wednesday it’s still too early to talk about a firm date to return to racing.

The 24-year-old is champing at the bit to get back in the races, but recovery and rehabilitation from his devastating crash at the USA Cycling road national championships last summer is forcing Phinney to be more patient than he’d like to be.

“I need a few more months of general strengthening to get to where I am pain-free,” Phinney said. “I need the leg to get back to 90-, 95-percent strength before I can start talking about other things.”

(velonews.com)

December 17, 2015





Photo: Cant, shown here in Koksijde, has a face that is becoming familiar at the top of the podium. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine.
The phrase “yet another win” doesn’t do Sanne Cant’s result enough justice. The 24-year-old has not only established herself as the rider to beat this year, but she has won races with such consistency and versatility, it leaves us wondering if we are watching something magical play out in Europe right now.

In Waasland on Wednesday, Cant crossed the line 13 seconds ahead of Sophie de Boer, adding yet another feather in her cap, which must look like a venerable peacock at this stage of the season. The Belgian rider has left many of us waiting for the eventual epic battle that should take place between her and Marianne Vos by the end of the season. Already, Cant and Katie Compton has given us a good rivalry showing at Milton Keynes, with Cant edging Compton at the line despite being second at the final turn for the sprint.

 (cxmagazine.com)

December 17, 2015







Rohan Dennis (Australia)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Rohan Dennis has announced that he will attempt the Hour Record in 2015.

The Australian rider made the surprise announcement during the BMC media day at a training camp in Denia, Spain. The attempt will take place at the velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland on February 8.

“When I look at my experience on the track and the numbers I have been doing on the track and road, it’s within reach,” Dennis said.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Fabio Aru emerged in 2014 as one of the rising stars of professional cycling (AAP).
Italian sensation Fabio Aru is hoping to round off his raw talent in 2015 with the goal a first career Grand Tour victory at the Giro d'Italia.

Aru is targeting his home race, the Giro, in 2015, after pocketing a stage win and finishing third this year behind Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran.

To do that the 24 year old has spent time fine-tuning his time trial position in anticipation of the Stage 14 59.2km ride against the clock in Trevesio.

"Improvement in the time trial is very important to me," Aru told Biciciclismo.com. "So I've been in the Specialized wind tunnel in California."

 (sbs.com.au)

December 17, 2015




Photo: is first and only professional victory came at the Criterium du Dauphine.
After two disappointing years with the Movistar team, Sylwester Szmyd feared that his career had come to a premature end. Now he has signed a contract with the CCC Polsat team where he will be one of the leaders.

One of the most experienced Polish riders, Szmyd joins the Professional Cycling Team CCC. He has spent most of his professional career in the WorldTour and has finished all three Grand Tours.

"As a CCC rider I will have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders. I have a lot of fire and motivation and I still enjoy cycling greatly. It’s not time for me to end this great adventure."

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 17, 2015




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 17, 2014




Photo: Pauwels is currently leading the Superprestige and the World Cup.
This season Kevin Pauwels has already won four races. The Sunweb rider now has set his sights on a fifth win. "My Sunweb jersey is nice but the rainbow jersey is even more beautiful," he says, revealing his main goal for the rest of the season.

"If I have to choose the fifth victory, it would be the Worlds in Tabor. I want to be world champion. The course suits me and I really want to also wear that jersey among the pros."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Due to the good weather, it is a perfect race to start to build a solid base.
Defending champion Nairo Quintana has been confirmed as starting the 2015 Tour de San Luis, with the Movistar rider deciding to once again begin his season in the Argentinean event.

Although the Colombian’s main goal of the Tour de France will take place over five months later, team manager Eusebio Unzue isn’t ruling out the possibility that his rider could win the race.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 17, 2015




Photo: While the tips and tricks of the pro mechanics are usually a great guide, you must consider that they seek ultimate performance and speed without a focus on cost or durability
David Rome / Immediate Media.
"This isn’t a ‘how to’ guide – those can be found elsewhere – but a series of reflections on our love of the items that help keep our treasured rides running sweetly.

In this edition, I'm covering the most common maintenance misconceptions that I see and hear riders – and some mechanics – doing all the time. While none of these are a cycle crime on a par with wearing socks with SPD sandals, they are easy enough to stop doing."

(bikeradar.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Elite Turbo Muin
http://www.elite-it.com/en.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "A superbly silent and simple route to efficient direct-drive training."

(bikeradar.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Kappius Components' new Digital Pressure Gauge offers finer resolution and better accuracy than the normal to better fine tune your tire setup
Kappius Components.
Fat bike riders and cyclocross racers are often fanatical about tire pressure – and for good reason, as it's arguably the single most important determinant in how those bikes perform in their respective fields. Handheld gauges often offer better accuracy than the ones usually found on floor pumps but Kappius Components has just launched a new hyper-accurate gauge that should get the tech-heads all hot and bothered.

 (bikeradar.com)

December 17, 2015





December 16, 2015





December 16, 2015




December 16, 2015





December 16, 2015





December 16, 2015


Photo: These positives prompted the UCI to ask its Licence Commission to rule on the matter.
One week after the UCI announced that its License Commission had decided to give a probational WorldTour license to the Astana team but that it might yet be stripped away if further evidence emerged against the team, the governing body has said that it is still awaiting what could be crucial information in the matter.

Astana came under scrutiny when five riders across two teams tested positive in recent months. In August the brothers Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy of the WorldTour team were nabbed for EPO, while since then three riders from the Continental team were snared for anabolic androgenic steroids.

They are Kazakhstan’s national champion Ilya Davidenok, Artur Fedosseyev and Victor Okishev. Davidenok had become a stagiaire with the WorldTour team in August.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 17, 2015




Tejay van Garderen (BMC)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Despite the lack of a "proper" time trial in next year's Tour de France, BMC Racing's Tejay van Garderen said Wednesday that he believes he can equal or improve his two previous fifth-place finishes in 2015.

"Last year I really felt like I was on the cusp of a real breakthrough of being one of the main riders," the 26-year-old American said from the team's training camp in Denia, Spain.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 17, 2015





Team Sky had in many eyes taken the drama out of the Tour de France by guiding Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome to dominant victories in 2012 and 2013 respectively. But the British outfit’s inability to maintain that level of performance in 2014 helped to make it a thrilling year in cycling.

Vincenzo Nibali was the main beneficiary as he emerged from the chaos of crashes during the Grand Boucle — that saw three former winners in Froome, Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck hit the deck and leave the race during the first 10 days — to streak away to victory.

 (pelotonmagazine.com)

December 17, 2015




Julien Absalon (France)
Photo: © Rob Jones.
World MTB cross-country champion Julien Absalon has won every title on offer in his sport, but the two-time Olympic champion revealed he has never given a thought to following his former off-road rival Jean-Christophe Péraud into the road scene when the French stars’ paths crossed at the Alpine resort of La Plagne on Tuesday.

Asked if he had ever been tempted to switch disciplines, Absalon told L’Équipe, “Many have done it, but it will never be the case for me. I would lose some of my pleasure if I did.” The five-time world champion added: “In road racing you often have to be patient for six hours before the big guns start to fire. Mountain biking is explosive, it lasts an hour and a half. There’s no dead time.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Within just a few days, my legs were churning out the miles as if I had never quit running in the first place.
"This past year I made my debut as a professional road cyclist racing for Team TIBCO. It was a whirlwind year full of new experiences, places, and people and more often than not it still seems totally surreal. I feel as though I have packed 10 years of living into the last 12 months, which gives me a difficult to describe sense of overwhelming gratitude and barely surmountable exhaustion.

While I would not trade the past year for anything, it does feel larger than life. It was time for a break and so, after World Championships in Ponferrada, I packed up my bike and put it away for the first time since I started training in January of 2013.

Aside from a few days here and there that were rest or travel days, and a week of recovery after getting hit by a car, I had not had a day without a bike in 21 months. For almost two years my life had been 100% devoted to racing bikes. There was no balance; just bikes. That was all about to change: six weeks completely free – no bike, no fixed address, no responsibility. Six weeks to reflect, regroup, reconnect and relax."

(anikatodd.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Bradley Wiggins is set to launch the new Sky-backed pro squad Team Wiggins with Irishman and rider agent Andrew McQuaid among the management.
Irish cycling agent Andrew McQuaid is set for a management role with the new development team being launched by Bradley Wiggins.

McQuaid, from Co Wicklow, will be a member of a small group that makes up the management of the UCI Continental-ranked team.

Wiggins will be another member of the management set-up as will Robert Dodds, president of the XIX Entertainment company that handles Wiggins affairs.

 (stickybottle.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Bone density is strongest in the areas you use most. Guess all that banging my head against a desk has helped...
"A few years back I was in Colorado at Dr. Allen Lim’s Human Cardio Research Laboratory undergoing a battery of tests salient to me as a cyclist. We did Wingates, V02 max, lactate threshold, and pedal-stroke analysis before he had me hop up onto the big white table for what he called “one of the most important tests of all," a bone-density scan.

As the glowing white image of my skeleton flashed up on the monitor, Lim exclaimed, “Man, you have a really thick skull!” It’s an obvious joke, but he wasn’t kidding. My skull is ridiculously thick. Thankfully, so were the rest of my bones, especially my femurs, which glowed white like my skull. Everything but my ribs and collarbone were above average for my age. Those were average. “Keep doing whatever it is that you’re doing,” he said as he handed me a printout of my results. “Many cyclists' bones don’t look this good.”'

(bicycling.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Philippe will aim at Milano-Sanremo and then he will focus on the Walloon classics. After the spring he wants to ride the Giro but his participation will depend on what will happen in the spring.
A month ago, the message of Philippe Gilbert was clear: "I want to go back to the Flemish classics. I would also like to do the Omloop and Kuurne again. I missed those races. When you are not there, you think: "Shit! I am not there."" he said back then.
 
Gilbert's teammate Greg Van Avermaet was not excited by the Gilbert's plans. "It's not nice to hear that he wants to be back in Flanders. We will have to find a good solution but I think that the first training camp with the team in December will make things clear," Van Avermaet said earlier this month.

Van Avermaet can make a sigh of relief. At the camp in Spain, Philippe Gilbert has announced that he will again skip the Flemish spring season.

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Series winner Moak (l) with Santa Cross winner Probert-Turner. © Philip Beckman/PB Creative.
Despite a late-week pummelling from a hand-wringing Pacific storm that spawned drama throughout California (and caused at least one CX event to be postponed), the final round of the SoCalCross Prestige Series went off as planned. Sort of. Santa Cross was intended to be a doubleheader race weekend, but a sunny Saturday was instead spent draining puddles and rerouting sections of the course to avoid the stickiest situations.

When participants arrived the next day, many wondered what the fuss was all about. The SoCalCross crew had done a yeoman’s job of cleaning things up and keeping it real. Very little mud was to be found, in fact, and after the first couple of races the surface was more akin to Velcro.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: While Litespeed’s expertise lies in titanium, the Ci2 is an aero carbon machine
David Rome / Immediate Media.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Like a tumbler of fine Tennessee whiskey, the Ci2 offers a strong kick and a smooth finish."

 (bikeradar.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: fter years of making a name in the road market as one of the stiffest frames out there, Swiss-based Scott Bicycles launched a new bike for 2014.
The Scott Solace 10 road bike offers in impressive mix of performance and comfort – two traits that used to be impossible to find together in one bike.   But mix in some technology and smart thinking, and they’re no longer mutually exclusive.  The Solace 10 is a distinct addition to the brand’s line-up alongside its FOIL, Addict, and CR-1.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 17, 2015





December 16, 2015




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 17, 2015















December 17, 2015




Photo: Perks of the job: Oleg Tinkov (left), the Tinkoff-Saxo owner, is a keen cyclist and often rides with his squad at training camps Photo: LUCA BETTINI.
Oleg Tinkov has been having rather a tough time of late. What with the Russian rouble crisis, shares in the colourful Tinkoff-Saxo owner’s bank have, he admits candidly, “gone down the toilet”. Fortunately for cycling’s most redoubtable tycoon, he can still find solace in one of his favorite pastimes; goading Dave Brailsford.

Over the course of the hour or so that we are together, Tinkov variously refers to Team Sky’s general manager as a “hypocrite”, “shallow” and “not the best sport director”, although he is quick to add that he also has huge respect for Brailsford and what he has achieved. What is clear is that Tinkov sees Team Sky as the benchmark by which his own team will be judged. And the conclusion is that they are vulnerable, there for the taking by what he calls his “superteam”.

 (telegraph.co.uk)

December 17, 2015




Riccardo Ricco
Photo: © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl.
Riccardo Riccò has described the UCI-funded Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) as a joke after speaking to the doping investigators for seven hours but failing to get a reduction to his 12-year ban.

Riccò revealed that he spoke to the CIRC investigators during the presentation of the Italian version of his biography called Funerale in Giallo – Le Confessioni del Cobra (A Funeral in Yellow - the Confessions of the Cobra) in Milan on Tuesday afternoon.

“I got in touch with the CIRC and went to Lausanne to speak to them early this year. I paid my own way to go there. I told them everything I knew; I gave them names of doctors, directeur sportif and riders who are still involved in the sport. I was led to believe I'd get a 50% cut in my ban because I want to make a comeback as a professional rider. But any reduction was stopped by the Italians. The whole thing was a joke. It seems the rules are applied and interpreted depending on who you are.”

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: The tenure of Steve Johnson, U.S.A. Cycling’s president and chief executive, was tainted by doping in the Lance Armstrong .
An early holiday gift landed on the doorstep of the sport of cycling last week. It didn’t come wrapped in shiny paper, or decorated with a bow. But a note said it was from Bob Stapleton, the new chairman of U.S.A. Cycling, and now every single clean American cyclist has reason to celebrate.

That gift was the news that Steve Johnson, the president and chief executive of U.S.A. Cycling, will leave his job after the world road cycling championships next fall, concluding nearly a decade as the leader of cycling in the United States. It means that, finally, the man who has been entrenched in the top level of the sport since joining U.S.A. Cycling in 1999 will hop on his bike and ride off into the sunset.

I say finally — and hooray — because it is high time for Johnson to exit the national federation, stage left. Really, he missed his cue a few years ago.

(nytimes.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: he talks about team bonding, his feelings about Astana, the shortening of Grand Tours, and other idle chit chat.
"The season hasn’t officially started yet but all the riders are attending their team training camps across the globe. Our team has been doing the same and we’ve already spent time getting in big training miles, though we’ve managed to squeeze in a few sneaky beers too.

The days at pre-season training camp are crammed pretty full. We’ll get up and start with core training, then breakfast, followed by cranking out four, five and six hour rides. We’ll get back, have a late lunch and a massage, then do core and stretching work."

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 17, 2015




Photo: This kit may make you feel better about your own fashion choices.
"At Cycling Central we cover all sorts of stories throughout the year. In 2014 we’ve been experimenting with an even greater variety, straying further from professional road cycling than we have in previous years, and we’ve been pleased with the overall results. It’s proved that the interest of our audience is broad.

Professional road cycling still rates, undeniably it’s our bread and butter, but issues closer to your day to day lives; things like cycling safety, helmets, registration, and community have significantly out-performed any of our coverage outside of the Tour de France.

This is what you read in 2014."

 (sbs.com.au)

December 17, 2015




Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) was 26th today
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
For riders from northern Europe, there is perhaps just one drawback to training in southern Spain in the depths of mid-December. No matter how clear the blue skies above them, their knowledge of the local roads will inevitably be a little hazy.

Wilco Kelderman is one of 11 LottoNL-Jumbo riders who have opted to stay on near Alicante for an extra week after the team’s formal training camp ended at the weekend, and on Tuesday afternoon, he and his cohorts ended up seeing a little more of the Costa Blanca than they had anticipated.

"I meant to do six hours but it ended up being nearer seven, We thought the road was going to be a little bit shorter but it was longer to the last climb than we expected.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: This excerpt is chapter 13 from Fat Tire Flyer, by Charlie Kelly. Read an interview with Kelly, or find out more about this new VeloPress book..
"A few weeks after we returned to San Francisco from the race in Crested Butte, Gary Fisher called me up and asked me to come over to his cottage in Fairfax. He told me that Tom Ritchey had made some more frames like the one he was riding, and he wanted to show them to me. When I got there, Gary opened the trunk of his battered BMW and showed me the frames. There were nine of them nestled in there and they were as beautifully made as my Colnago. Gary explained that Tom had become very interested in this new kind of bike and had made a few more."

(velonews.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Best bike GPS devices
BikeRadar / Immediate Media.
"GPS-equipped cycle computers are becoming increasingly popular, with both road cyclists and mountain bikers using them for social media applications as much as for navigation and training purposes.

Brands such as Garmin, Magellan (Mio in the UK), Cateye and Bryton offer a wide range of bike GPS units, across a range of price points. BikeRadar has tested many units from these brands and more, but we've collated the best of the bunch."

 (bikeradar.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Ten years ago Scott Bicycles introduced the CR1, the first bicycle with a frame that broke the kilogram threshold.
"Carbon fiber has re-ordered our expectations for bicycle frames and forks. Today we have frames that weigh what some steel forks used to weigh. It has given brands a palette from which to create visually striking bikes, bikes that trumpet their brand even at a distance. And we’ve learned that what we used to think was stiff for a steel bicycle frame wouldn’t be considered acceptable in carbon.

Many of these changes in our idea about what’s possible, what is achievable, what we as consumers have even come to expect can be traced back to a significant engineering milestone."

(redkiteprayer.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale (Kiuchi Brewery, Ibaraki, Japan).
"And you thought the only good beer was from Belgium? Think again. Go East for a change with your beer choices. We sampled a compact Nissan truckload of Asian beer and picked our favorite six. Broaden some holiday horizons this season and mix some of these beauties in with the Duvel, Palm and egg nog."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 17, 2015




Photo: Men's Giordana Fusion.
Because of its impeccable tailoring, Giordana is among those apparel companies sought by cyclists willing to pay top dollar for the best. With the Fusion bibs, the Italian brand delivers its usual quality in a package that more of us can afford. Our testers praised the snug-but-not-restrictive fit, comfortable chamois, and lightweight fabric.

"These shorts were tight and compressive," said one. "Everything is in the right place when you're riding." Aiding the fit are the excellent leg grippers, which kept the shorts glued to our quads without pinching—just one of many details that made it harder to distinguish the Fusion from Giordana's pricier models. (bicycling.com)

December 17, 2015








December 16, 2015

December 16, 2014


Molly Shaffer Van Houweling set a new U.S. hour record on the track, riding 44.173 kilometers in Los Angeles on December 14. Photo: Christopher Jennings.
She didn’t start the 2014 season with her eye on the hour record. But that didn’t stop Molly Shaffer Van Houweling from diving into an accelerated track program to take on the U.S. women’s hour record at the end of her summer road season.

Facing a 24-year-old record set in Colorado Springs by Carolyn Donnelly — 44.028 kilometers — Van Houweling rode 44.173km on Sunday at the Velo Sports Center track in Carson, California (formerly the ADT Event Center).

 (velonews.com)

December 16, 2015




Photo: Donnons des Elle au vélo - cyclingfans.com Sponsors Women's Cycling Team.
Cyclingfans.com announced today a two-year agreement to sponsor Club Omnisport de Courcouronnes Cyclisme Féminin (COCCF), a Paris-area French women's amateur cycling team pushing for equal opportunity.  The team will compete at the regional and national levels, including on the road and track.

"Women's competitive cycling has been neglected for too long, by international and national governing bodies, by race organizers and by the media, among others.  That has to change, not only for the good of women's cycling but for cycling generally.  And it will change, far beyond the changes already in progress," said Pete Geyer, cyclingfans.com publisher and cycling photographer.  "The first thing I saw when I discovered this team project was their slogan, 'Donnons des Elle au vélo'*.  I knew immediately what they are about and decided to help them reach their goals as a team and as a movement.  To me this is not about men's vs. women's cycling.  Giving wings to women's cycling will lift everyone up.  A lot of race organizers and others have not yet figured this out.  But they will."

 (cyclingfans.com)

December 16, 2015




Nicolas Roche (Ireland)
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
After two seasons at Tinkoff-Saxo, Nicolas Roche has moved to pastures new at Team Sky and the Irish rider is looking to cement his position as one of Chris Froome’s leading lieutenants.

Roche is currently training with his new temmates in Mallorca, Spain, where he has slotted into the team’s Grand Tour squad. Although race programs have yet to be finalized and announced, it’s expected that the 30-year-old Irishman will race two three-week races next season.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 16, 2015




Photo: Mr. Burrows.
"Can’t kick Astana out cos apparently it’s not in *the rules*.

Well, what great and auspicious rules we have. brilliant. have to kick out Europcar cos they are something like 5% short on the finances required for World Tour status, but a team that has a 500% increase in dopers over 3 months can stay.

Well lah-de-dah."

(crankpunk.com)

December 16, 2015




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 16, 2014




Marc Madiot discusses FDJ's aims for the Tour de France
Photo: © Fotoreporter Sirotti.
Health.com.au apply for Continental license, Mexican cyclist arrested at Spanish airport with EPO.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 16, 2015






(various sources)

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December 15, 2014


Photo: Radio silence.
Europcar haas a training camp in Spain. Only you’d never know, while other teams broadcast the news, the green team is keeping a low profile. Amid all the fuss about Astana’s license Europcar’s ejection from the World Tour has been a smaller story. It might hope to win wildcard invitations to the top races but that requires a UCI licence and it’s yet to get one of any kind for 2015. This won’t be easy.

The team are in Calpe, Spain but there’s no news.

The last news on the website about new signings Guillaume Thévenot and Julien Morice dates from November. The last tweet was a retweet of the Tour de France account and was exactly a week ago. The last Facebook update is also a week old.

 (inrng.com)

December 16, 2015




FSA has produced drivetrain components under the Vision Metron brand (pictured), but now there are rumors of the Taiwanese company releasing a full 11-speed electronic drivetrain. Photo: Aaron Hersh (File).
FSA has confirmed the development of a complete drivetrain, but insisted that it would not sponsor a team with shifting components in 2015. Nonetheless, rumors that Etixx-Quick-Step has a drivetrain contract with Full Speed Ahead (FSA) continue to swirl. Three separate industry sources, all of whom requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, relayed these rumors.

According to these sources, the team will buy Shimano groups until FSA’s 11-speed electronic group is ready. Omega Pharma-Quickstep, which turns into Etixx-Quick-Step for 2015, was a SRAM-sponsored team during the 2014 season.

 (velonews.com)

December 16, 2015




Movistar will stay with Campagnolo components for 2015. Photo: Luis Barbosa | VeloNews.com.
Changes to sponsorship are formally announced on January 1, when old contracts expire and new ones take effect. But a bit of digging unearths plenty of 2015 sponsor information.

VeloNews has confirmed that Ag2r-La Mondiale, formerly a Campagnolo-sponsored squad, will move to SRAM drivetrains for 2015. Ag2r will be SRAM’s only UCI ProTeam in 2015, down from a peak of eight teams in 2012. The team will also use wheels from SRAM subsidiary Zipp.

(velonews.com).

December 16, 2015




Photo: Zul Awab, left, and Eric Khoo.
"I was not alone in reacting with disbelief when i first read the news from Singapore that the organizer of the Holy Crit race, Eric Khoo, and volunteer Zul Awab were facing hefty fines and up to 6 months in prison after traffic police shut down their event due to a complaint from a local.

Singapore is certainly an intriguing city but it is not one in which bike racing thrives, despite there being a substantial number of road, track, fixie and MTB riders.

Each year the cycling federation struggles to put on a national road race and time trial championships, having to wrangle with the government to get a permit to close roads."

 (crankpunk.com)

December 16, 2015




Mark Christian and Owain Doull won the Men's Madison
Photo: © Guy Swarbrick.
Eight riders have reportedly signed on for Team Wiggins, the track-centric UCI Continental development squad to be captained by Bradley Wiggins following his spring road campaign with Team Sky. The team is being built around developing a squad for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, where Wiggins is expected to lead the British pursuit team in their quest for gold.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 16, 2015




Alberto Contador's Tour-ending stage 10 crash was the last of many setbacks that plagued his 2014 Tour de France ambitions. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Talking to BBC Sport at a training camp in Gran Canaria, Alberto Contador said he is not bitter about crashing out of this year’s Tour de France because he knows it could have been worse: he might have died.

The Spanish star broke his right tibia, or shinbone, during the Tour’s 10th stage, and after riding on for nearly 20km, he eventually gave up.

“When I think I was going 77kph at the time and I only broke my tibia, well, on balance, that’s good,” he said.

“Maybe I lost the Tour, but I didn’t lose my life.”

(velonews.com)

December 16, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

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December 16, 2015




Photo: 2011 Vuelta a España stage win.
For the 2015 season Estonian rider Rein Taaramäe has left his first pro team; Cofidis after nearly eight years to join Astana.

Seven full years plus half a season as a stagiere with one team is nearly unheard of in modern cycling, but Rein Taaramäe has moved on to Astana for the 2015 season. He’s joining the team with the Astana WorldTour debacle behind him and is ready to please the team. He was more than happy to tell us all about Cofidis, Estonia and his future plans with Astana.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 16, 2015




Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin) on the Koppenberg
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Over the years, it’s become something of an informal tradition. On the final Saturday of February, Tom Boonen has almost invariably heralded the end of the long, Belgian winter by lining out the peloton on the climb of the Taaienberg during Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Regardless of the result – and it’s the one big cobbled race he has never won, after all – Boonen’s cameo sends his legions of fans home content, satisfied that their man will be fit for purpose by the Tour of Flanders five weeks later.

This past season, however, there was an alteration to the script. After injury and illness ruined his 2013 campaign, Boonen was expected to lay down a marker on his favorite test site, but instead it was Sep Vanmarcke who commandeered the smooth gutter on the right-hand side of the road and, hands perched on the tops of his handlebars, steadily stretched the bunch to breaking point on the Taaienberg.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 16, 2015




Photo: 2014 world road champion Micha%u0142 Kwiatkowski (Supplied).
In pre-season training for 2015, new road world champion Michał Kwiatkowski took a tumble which left its mark.

The Polish Etixx-QuickStep rider shrugged off the injuries and quickly posted the result of the fall to Instagram.

The curse of the rainbow jersey refers to the phenomenon where a new world champion suffers from poor results, injury or illness the following year.

 (sbs.com.au)

December 16, 2015




Photo: We Want Cipo Down Under.
Mario Cipollini, a.k.a. The Lion King is set to roar when he visits Australia for the first time at the Tour Down Under next month.

Glen Matulich, Director of Bespoke Imports, confirmed today that Cipollini will be in Adelaide to showcase his range of Italian made racing bicycles at the Adelaide City Council Tour Village as part of the Santos Tour Down Under 17 – 25 January 2015. Bespoke Imports has organized Cipollini’s visit and will be hosting his stay with various events planned throughout the week.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 16, 2015




Photo: U-Boat Classico AS Watch, Amarelli Liquorice.
"Welcome to Day 3 of our 12 Days of Dig. These three gift ideas come from our Italian issue, typically our most popular issue of the year. We cover the gamut from stocking stuffer to family heirloom with some classic Italian flavor in between. Enjoy Day 3!"

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 16, 2014




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(mulitple sources)

December 15, 2014

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(various sources)

December 15, 2014




Lawson Craddock finished third overall at the Amgen Tour of California this year. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Lawson Craddock and Chad Haga will make their sophomore season debuts alongside sprint ace Marcel Kittel at the Santos Tour Down Under next month.

The two Americans will be part of a solid formation for the 2015 UCI WorldTour season opener January 17-25 in Australia for the new-look Giant-Alpecin squad.

Both made solid debuts with Giant in 2014, with Craddock riding to third overall at the Amgen Tour of California, and Haga gaining confidence throughout the season to complete his first grand tour at the Vuelta a España.

(velonews.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: After the World Cup Cross in Namur, Vos will start in the World Cup cross at Heusden-Zolder.
Marianne Vos will return to action next Sunday at the World Cup cross of Namur. The seven-time world champion cyclocross was expected to begin her new campaign in Heusden-Zolder, but her return will now be a week earlier.

Last year, Vos also returned to action at the World Cup cross in Namur, she finished second behind her American rival Katie Compton. Besides Vos and Compton, Sanne Cant, Helen Wyman and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot will all start Sunday. Which makes this the first time this season that all the stars of women cyclocross  participate in the same race.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: Noble, shown here racing in Canada in her JAM Fund kit, has taken a row of breakthrough wins recently. Before, during and after the race, Noble is usually wearing a smile. © Andrew Reimann.
Almost a month ago, Ellen Noble passed the pits one final time at Day One of the Supercross Cup. She was zipping up her kit and passing a few words of excitement to cyclocross legend Edwin Bull. Noble had just had one of the most impressive rides of her life, taking a commanding lead and putting in enough digs to leave the rest of the field behind.

150 meters later, as Noble raised her hands in a salute of victory, Arley Kemmerer put in a final push and took the race at the line. It was an impressive effort by Kemmerer, but it was also heartbreaking to see Noble understandably crushed. (cxmagazine.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: Werner, shown here at Baystate, edged Livermon to make it two for two in North Carolina. © Todd Prekaski.
Saturday’s results at the North Carolina Grand Prix can hardly be called flash-in-the-pan wins as Kerry Werner and Beth Ann Orton were able to make it to the top of the podium today, although both of their victories were narrower than the first day.

Orton, taking her first UCI win of her career on Day One, had to contend with the rising force of Ellen Noble, winner of both days at Baystate and Sunday’s race at NBX, who put up a the best fight in the women’s elite field, and Orton crossed the finish line a little over ten seconds ahead. It appears that Orton was able to fix her derailleur issues that happened after she won on Saturday.

 (cxmagazine.com)

December 15, 2014




Cannondale's Ryan Trebon had an off-day in Nommay
Photo: © Photopress.be.
Ryan Trebon is close to a complete recovery after fracturing three ribs and two vertebrae in a crash at the start of the cyclo-cross season in September. The Cannondale Cyclocrossworld.com rider is working on building his strength back with the hopes of salvaging his season with a good performance at the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross Championships held in January in Austin, Texas.

“Physically I am doing pretty well,” Trebon said. “I don’t have any complications or pain in my back. My ribs are occasionally a little sore but manageable. The main issue I have is strengthening the muscles in my back that atrophied from almost six weeks of no use and limited movement.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 15, 2014




BMC-Hincapie teammates Tanner Putt and Lawrence Warbasse after coming in second and seventh
Photo: © Jonathan Devich.
Although many of his former teammates went directly to the WorldTour from Axel Merckx's successful development team, Tanner Putt, twice the US U23 national champion, signed with UnitedHealthcare and is aiming to learn from the squad of talented riders in his first season in the senior ranks.

Putt, 22, hails from Park City, Utah, where he grew up with the ambition of being a ski racer, but success on the bike during the summer and a late-teen injury sculpted his path in life toward cycling and now he wouldn't change a thing.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 15, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


 (cyclingnews.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: I told Ben Farver my perfect ride included being chased by goats—so he made me an Argonaut Spacebike. The geometry of each Argonaut Spacebike is designed from a series of open-ended questions about the rider's preferences.
(Photo by Kent Pell)
"Lest you imagine that ordering a custom bike is a fantasy come true, understand this: If you're the kind of person who hems and haws over whether to order home fries or hashbrowns with your eggs, the process can feel like one of those free-fall trust exercises.

Choosing paint can send you down a multi-hued rabbit hole. A conversation about toe overlap ("What?! Isn't that bad??") almost made me reconsider my order. And when Ben encouraged me to go with an integrated seat mast, I agonized over the decision, worried I would cut the mast too short and the frame would never fit me right. I had to rely on his reassurances that there would be more than a centimeter of adjustability."

(bicycling.com)





Photo: Prendas Ciclismo Retro Jerseys.
I"t's that time again when we pull together a whole bunch of the new and interesting products that have arrived at the CyclingTips office in the past month or so, giving you our initial thoughts. In this edition of Product Picks we feature everything from books to shoes to kit to tires and a whole lot more besides."

December 15, 2014






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Alexander Vinokourov and Vincenzo Nibali at the Tour de France
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
Alexandre Vinokourov has accused the European press of seeking to “destroy” the Astana team in the weeks leading up to the UCI License Commission’s decision on its WorldTour status for the 2015 season.

Astana was ultimately awarded a license on Wednesday despite the recent series of positive tests on the team, although reports in the Italian press last week claimed that there was also evidence from the Padova doping inquiry linking the team to the banned doctor Michele Ferrari. When contacted last week, the Astana squad had declined to comment on the allegations.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 15, 2014




A concentrated Jakob Fuglsang (Astana)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Jakob Fuglsang has said that he considered cutting short his three-year contract with Astana, after the recent scandals that surrounded the team. Astana have been marred by a number of recent scandals including the latest reports in the Italian press linking as many as 17 Astana members with the banned doctor Michele Ferrari.

“Of course it is something that crossed my mind, but I quickly decided to forget it,” he said. “In the end it was important to wait to find out about the license. With the case coming so late it would have been difficult to find a new team, maybe even impossible, if it had to be a team of the same level.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: Rohan Dennis escapes on stage nineteen of the 2014 Tour of Spain .
A rare mid-season move may pay further dividends for BMC recruit Rohan Dennis at the Australian national time trial championships next month.

Dennis, under a typical October transfer arrangement, would have had just seven days to familiarize himself with new team equipment prior to the 40.9km title event he has identified as an objective.

Instead, the 24-year-old has had months to race and train on BMC apparatus due to an August transfer that saw him leave Garmin-Sharp, in an amicable agreement agent Andrew McQuaid oversaw, and begin racing for his new squad at the Eneco Tour.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 15, 2014




Geraint Thomas won the men's road race at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Photo: AFP.
Team Sky recently asked Geraint Thomas to talk a little bit about what he’s like off the bike. Here are 20 not-so-serious questions posed to the 28-year-old who recently won the BBC’s Wales Sports Personality of the Year award.

(velonews.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: Neri Sottoli put their negotiations with Alessandro Petacchi on hold while they waited for a pro continental license.
While the pro continental license was still uncertain, Neri Sottoli decided to put the negotiations with Alessandro Petacchi on hold. After the team has been granted a spot at the pro continental level, they have resumed talks with the Italian sprinter.

Neri Sottoli's roster for the 2015 season has almost been finalized. However, La Gazzetta dello Sport there is still an open question regarding Alessandro Petacchi. While there was uncertainty about the team's pro continental license, the team had put the negotatiations with the eperienced sprinter on hold.

Since the license for next season has now arrived, the parties have again resumed their discussions and both are reported to be very interested in a future collaboration. However, they still haven't agreed about the financial details.

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 15, 2014




(Photo by Chris Sembrot): MAMIL—Middle Aged Man In Lycra.
Last week, the Oxford Dictionary announced the largest addition of new words to its online edition in years. Among the esteemed new inductees were ‘lolcat,’ ‘duck face,’ ‘man crush,’ and - in exciting news for cyclists—MAMIL.

That’s right, MAMIL - Middle Aged Man In Lycra for those of you who haven’t been paying attention - is now an acceptable word for your middle schoolers to use in their English essays.

(bicycling.com)

December 15, 2014 




Michal Kwiatkowski shows off his new rainbow stripes
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Omega Pharma-QuickStep have been voted best team of 2014 in the Cyclingnews Reader Poll. The Belgian team took more than a quarter of the votes, nearly 10 per cent more than their closest rivals BMC Racing and Movistar.

The team, which will be known as Etixx-QuickStep in 2015, claimed an astonishing 63 victories this season, the most of any team in the pro peloton. They may have lost two of their world titles this year but they added two more to replace them. Zdenek Stybar kicked off the team’s year with a win at the cyclo-cross World Championships, while Michal Kwiatkowski made it two rainbow jerseys with a victory in the road race in Ponferrada.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: There will be no mistaking the brand of bike that you’re riding…
Robert Smith.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "There's room for some future upgrading, but this Merckx is an addictive – and not uncomfortable – ride."

(bikeradar.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: $900 shinola.com.
"Shinola Runwell Sport Chronograph: This watch will soon become a classic. The Runwell Sport features a stainless bracelet with orange dial and black sub eyes in a 47mm case. Shinola offers a variety of designs and price points, but this is our favorite."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 15, 2014





December 14, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

(pezcyclingnews.com)

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(mulitple sources)

December 15, 2014




Photo: Astana acquired a 2015 racing license last week despite a series of doping positives. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Cycling’s governing body is being careful to avoid a wasteful legal fight with team Astana. UCI President Brian Cookson explained that he would only want the UCI to refuse the team’s 2015 racing license if it felt that its reasoning would stand up in court.

“I know that whatever happens,” Cookson said, “that those with resources will challenge whatever decision we make.”

“To be honest, taking the fight to the CAS is not really the issue,” Cookson said.

“I’m not prepared to put our organization and sport at risk by taking a decision that would be challenged legally.

“We have to make sure that when we take decisions that they are ones that can stand up to those challenges.”

 (velonews.com)

December 15, 2014




The rules specify that the transgressors [in the case of a doping positive – ed.] will have to pay a fine of €100,000, plus compensation for additional damages. Photography by Fabio Ferrari - LaPresse
The Androni-Venezuela team has announced that it has required its riders to sign a substantial anti-doping pledge, under which anyone testing positive would have to pay a large fine and also cover the cost of damages incurred by the team.

The Professional Continental team announced that the agreement has been drawn up by the notary Marco Marvaso, the team’s lawyer Giuseppe Napoleone and the team manager Gianni Savio, and has been signed by all of the riders and also the team’s technical staff.

It said that the proposal had been recommended by the team management in order to reinforce what it says is a zero tolerance policy on the squad.

 (cyclingtips.com.au)

December 15, 2014




BMC won the team time trial by over 30 seconds
Photo: © BMC Racing Team.
BMC’s Daniel Oss has chosen to commemorate the team’s first victory in the World Team Time Trial Championships in a special way. The Italian gave each of his five teammates a handmade ring at the BMC training camp in Dénia this week.

“A few days after we won the race, I wanted to do something for the guys. It was important for me to have something to remember it by. I wanted to remember this part of the season, to remember the great result we had and to have something that was just for the six of us,” explained Oss. “So I was talking to some of my friends about it and they knew these guys who made the rings. I thought it was the perfect present."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: It's normal for him to have the ambition to win both. He wants to create history and that is not always to do the same.
Alberto Contador has set himself a big goal for the 2015 season as he wants to win the Giro-Tour double. According to Bjarne Riis, he is inspired by the chance to make history.

In December, the Canary Islands is not only a refuge for people seeking the cheapest alcohol. The place is also the perfect place for riders to train in springlike conditions. These days several riders are heading out on long rides in big groups, surrounded by coaches , biomechanical experts, nutritionists and directors. In one of the hotels, Bjarne Riis has gathered what he calls "the dream team" of cycling. "We are 80 people of whom 30 are riders," the Dane tells El Pais. "We have six coaches and a host of staff that do their maximum to take care of the riders."

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: There are two downsides to it all the price, €13 for an adult (€15 at weekends) makes this more than you’d pay to visit, say, the Royal Fine Arts Museum to see masterpieces in a grander setting.
An exhibition depicting the sporting careers of Eddy Merckx and Jacky Ickx, a motorsport champion. Much more than a celebration of two men with -ckx in their name, the pair are friends and approaching their 70th birthdays and this show is tribute to the two and features a lot of material from their private collections.

If you’re in Brussels you must visit, if you’re not in Brussels you should visit.

(inrng.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: at the time of the KOM classification win he laughed about having been given the nickname Rambo by his teammates.
"Last year, when I was looking for KOM winners of the Grand Tours of recent years to invite to ride the Taiwan KOM Challenge, i received a mail suggesting i get in touch with Matteo Rabottini of Neri Sottoli.

Rabottini had shot to fame with a victory Rabottini on the stage to Piani dei Resinelli at the 2012 Giro d’Italia, taking the KOM classification. the following year he was 17th on the GC. he was young (25 when he won the KOM at the Giro) and charismatic, and looked perfect for the KOM."

(crankpunk.com)

December 15, 2014




Photo: Your indoor cycling experience will never be the same with the Wahoo KICKR Power Trainer.
"In today’s Gift Guide we’ve got you covered with lots of great gift ideas for yourself or another cyclist in your life with gear from R&A Cycles, Lynskey, PowerTap, Scapin, Primal, Velopress, MET, Xentis, BicycleAge, Scott and Assos."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 15, 2014




Whenever we can put the pump in people's hands, they instantly get it. Photo by Jonathan Pushnick
Silca's owner Josh Poertner defends - and exalts - his $450 SuperPista Ultimate.

(bicycling.com)

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December 14, 2014






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December 14, 2014



Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Cycling Team) gives a victory salute after winning Koppenbergcross
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Wout Van Aert took a solo victory at the UCI C2 Zilvermeercross held in Belgium on Sunday. Laurens Sweeck rode in alone for second place, leaving third place to Tom Meeusen.

Dutchwoman Sabrina Stultiens took a victory of at the Zilvermeercross women's race in Belgium on Sunday.

Stultiens won the race ahead of Ellen Van Loy, forcing Cant to settle for third place.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: Beth Ann Orton, known for being a power rider and shown here in a muddier race, got her first UCI win in North Carolina. © Pat Malach.
Beth Ann Orton added her name to an impressive list of riders, including Ellen Noble and Cassie Maximenko, who are American riders that took their first UCI win during the 2014-15 cyclocross season. She went on to take a solo victory by nearly a half-minute, beating second-place finisher, and 18-year-old cyclist Laurel Rathbun, another rider who knows how to push a lot of watts.

Allison Arensman, a southern rider who had a few great rides at the end of last year’s American cyclocross calender, rounded out the podium.

Kerry Werner, winner of a day at the Supercross Cup and the last ever Baystate race, took Day One at the North Carolina Grand Prix, and is certainly making a case to be a rider to look out for come Nationals.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: Sunderland wins by a few bike-lengths over Steele Von Hoff and Brenton Jones. Image: Anne Fedorowytsch, twitter.
Kimberley Wells and Scott Sunderland have taken top honors in the women's and men's events of the Shimano Super Criterium series, in front of a healthy crowd in St Kilda, Melbourne.

Having only recently returned to Australia from the Track World Cup in London, Scott Sunderland, bucked any sign of traveller's fatigue with an emphatic win in the elite men's event.

Garmin-Sharp professional Steele Von Hoff salvaged second, a few bike-lengths back, while Drapac-bound Brenton Jones scooped up third. The 80-lap race saw the field competing for a handy swag of $8500 and boasted an impressive field; Tour de France stage winners Simon Gerrans and Michael Rogers both in attendance.

 (sbs.com.au)

December 14, 2014




Photo: Thanks to his many years an an employee of Patrick Lefevere, he can provide his new leader Cancellara with a few extra tips.
2014 was an annus horribilis for Gert Steegmans who achieved virtually no results and had to leave Omega Pharma-Quick Step in a painful way. Having signed a contract with Trek, the 34-year-old Belgian wants to get back on track as a domestique for Fabian Cancellara.

At his new team Trek Factory Racing, Steegmans has a clearly defined role: "In the classics, I will be riding in support of Fabian, and then I will be with the young sprinters: Stuyven, the Van Poppel brothers and Nizzolo. And when I feel good, I will definitely get my own chance," he tells Het Nieuwsblad.

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: Boom will focus on the Tour de France and the classics in 2015.
In his first year at Astana, Lars Boom will focus on the spring classics, mainly Paris-Roubaix, and the Tour de France which starts in his home country.

After 11 seasons with the same structure - Rabobank Continental, the Rabobank WorldTour team and Belkin - Boom begins a new part of his career with Vincenzo Nibali's Astana team. He expects to accompany the Italian at the 2015 Tour de France which has the special feature of starting with a 14km time trial in Utrecht. The goal is two-fold: to support Nibali in his quest to defend his title and to win a stage like he did in 2014 when he won the stage to Arenberg where Nibali laid the foundations for his victory.

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 14, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 14, 2014






December 13, 2014







December 13, 2014





December 13, 2014


Photo: Tiralongo is accused of freuqenting the doctor by another rider who does not claim that he has made use of blood transfusions.
Paolo Tiralongo has asked his lawyer to take legal action against the Italian daily La Repubblica due to a story published last Sunday.

Tiralongo claims that the story damages his image and reputation as it links him to doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.

In a press release issued by his representatives, Tiralongo categorically denies that he has had any relationship or contact with Dr. Fuentes or used blood transfusions.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 14, 2014





Brian Coquard (Europcar) winner of the Route Adélie
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
The news that the Europcar team failed to secure a WorldTour license for 2015 has rocked the French set-up, with the riders now unsure of their race programs and long term future.

Europcar team manager Jean-Rene Bernaudeau has already revealed that Europcar will end its sponsorship after the 2015 season and he must find a major sponsor to keep the team alive and hold onto his best riders.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: Fuglsang refuses that he has been involved in any kind of doping.
The drama about the Astana team with its doping positives, the uncertainly about the WorldTour license and the possible links with Dr. Ferrari raised several questions about the future of the squad. Jakob Fuglsang finds the situation serious and hopes that the new accusations are not true. During the 2015 season, he will consider whether to continue at the Kazakh team when his contract expires.

"Obviously, I have to consider things carefully and that's is what I do. Then we'll see when my contract expires. But it is evident that I will have to take it into account what has happened in the time before this season. There's no doubt about that," he tells TV2 Sporten from the Astana training camp in Calpe.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: I don’t have that much time left to find a team. I would like to have it solved in the next couple of days. But maybe a new life will start for me. There is a 50 % chance for me being a rider next season.
Former winner of Ronde Van Vlaanderen Nick Nuyens says there is a 50 % chance that he will continue in the peloton next season. In an interview with Sporza, he talks about his chances and his plan B in case of him ending up without a contract.

Nuyens himself has no doubts at all. He still thinks he has the level to ride at the pro level.

"I think I still can have a place in a squad, but if it ends up with nothing, I will not fall into a black hole" said Nuyens.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: the book was conceived for iPad iBooks and is available in that way as well as via Kindle and an ePub version.
Roads Were Not Built for Cars by Carlton Reid, is an exceptionally well-researched book whose very title is "fightin’ words." This might be ammunition against those motorists (we have all experienced them) who loudly proclaim that cyclists have no right to use public roads but the author unrolls a fascinating story whose details occasionally surface but the greater history has certainly been lost, or buried.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 14, 2014




Richie Porte (Sky) is now his team's GC man after Froome's abandon
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
After a successful campaign in 2013, Australia’s Richie Porte started 2014 eager to impress as one of Sky’s lead riders. But as he tells Procycling, this year turned out to be a season littered with pitfalls.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 14, 2014







December 14, 2014





Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) being chased by the devil
Photo: © Roberto Bettini.
According to a brief report published by Gazzetta dello Sport, a counter-analysis carried out in the Cologne anti-doping laboratory has confirmed Matteo Rabottini has tested positive for EPO.

The Neri Sottoli rider was caught in an out of competition control carried out on August 8, with the UCI confirming his A sample was positive for EPO on September 12, just hours after Rabottini was named in the Italian squad for the World Road Championships..

(cyclingnews.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: In the second half of the season, Zoidl was considerably quieter but with a third place in a stage of the Tour of Utah.
Riccardo Zoidl is a rather reserved person. On the bike, however, the Austrian is a lot more offensive and put that approach on show in the past year. In his first pro season, the 26-year-old mixed it up with the best in the world and achieved several top results, including a win at the Austrian road race championships.

Nonetheless, Zoidl does not draw an entirely positive balance. "The first year was okay but it could have been better. But you also have to remember that the races were at a much higher level than they were last year," he tells radsport-news.com.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: Please find alternate route - licensed on Geograph.org.uk by Martin Addison under CC BY-SA 2.0.
"I bet you only have around 6 training routes that you use regularly.

Most of us do, and the other likelihood is that you always ride them in the same direction.

If you think I may not have got that right here’s a useful exercise. Go to the quirky website Sisu (https://www.madewithsisu.com) allow it to link to your strava profile and look at the pattern of the numerous rides it produces. You’ll see lots of the same shapes showing up as it takes all your rides off the map onto a blank sheet. It’s a useful way to see if you’ve allowed your training to get stuck in the rut of predictable routes (you can get to that stage for free). Even the sample posters on their homepage show that others are no different in favoring certain routes."

(road.cc)

December 14, 2014




Photo: They eat less on and off the bike. They eat very, very well.
Aside from the enormous physiological differences that exist between the world’s top cyclists and the rest of us, professional riders do a number of things both on and off the bike that sets them apart.

Granted they’re bound to the strict conditions stipulated in their contracts but you will never, ever see a professional rider not wearing his current team’s kit while he’s out training. Jobs are hard to come by in this industry and no one would be foolish enough to jeopardise a life of sacrifice for something as silly as not wearing the items issued to them to advertise the products and services of the sponsors who pay their salaries.

(stickybottle.com)

December 14, 2014




Photo: Retro Teams Cycling Espresso Set.
It’s time to add some cycling history to your morning espresso. The perfect gift for any cyclist, this espresso set comes in four different retro designs from the ’70s and ’90s classic Italian style and features a kiln-fired , high-gloss finish. Each set is €45 and they ship worldwide.

 (pelotonmagazine.com)

December 14, 2014









December 13, 2014





December 13, 2014

December 13, 2014



Photo: Sanne Cant, shown here at Superprestige Gavere 2013, added yet another win to her resume today. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine.
Sanne Cant accumulated another win at the 2014 Scheldecross Antwerp to add to this season’s stellar performance, making it her fifth top podium placing in a row.

Cant dominated nearly the entire race, passing the early leader Ellen Van Loy after she became hung up in the course barrier in a tight right-hand turn.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 13, 2014






Mathieu van der Poel (BKCP Powerplus)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Mathieu Van der Poel confirmed his prodigious talent yet again at the Scheldecross in Antwerpen on Saturday, winning alone after a controlled performance on the sandy course overlooking the Schlede river.

Van der Poel carved out his lead during the 55 minutes of racing to beat Laurens Sweeck by 40 seconds. Tom Meeusen was third at 53 seconds.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 13, 2014




Sven Nys (Crelan-AA Drink)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Sven Nys will not race in Belgium this weekend, preferring to spend time in Mallorca, licking his wounds and training hard after a slump in his cyclo-cross form and results.

The 38 year-old is considered one of the greats of cyclo-cross but has struggled to compete against the emerging new generation of young and talented cross riders. He was only fourth in the Bpost race in Hasselt last Saturday and then he abandoned the Druivencross race in Overijse. He has since undergone a string of medical checks to check for any physical problems but is struggling to understand why he is no longer the king of Belgian cyclo-cross.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 13, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 13, 2014






December 12, 2014





December 12, 2014




Photo: Am I relieved? No, not really. I did not expect so many problems and have never lost any sleep.
Astana has secured themselves a WorldTour license for 2015. Lieuwe Westra is delighted with the news. "I am glad that the UCI has only looked at the doping cases of the Iglinsky brothers. In principle, the rest of our team has nothing to do with the other cases", the Dutchman tells WielerFlits.

Two days ago, the UCI License Commission made a decision about a number of licenses. Team Europcar will drop out of the elite division as they did not live up to the financial requirements.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: It didn’t help at all to think that I was lucky. I wasn’t lucky..
"Over a two-day period in late April I nearly died, nearly killed someone, and saw another perhaps die. I’m not embellishing for the sake of a story here - it was the most messed-up 48 hours I’ve ever had."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 13, 2014




The Kenyan Riders have made a tribute to their team leader John Njoroge, who died in an accident in August. Photograph: Sven Torfinn/for the Guardian .
"The only time I saw John Njoroge in the flesh he was shuffling towards the start of the Commonwealth Games cycling road race, his Kenya jersey absorbing water like a towel. As the rain pogoed off the Glasgow streets, and an icy northerly scythed through the peloton, I swear I saw him gaze towards the heavens.

Njoroge was the star of the Kenyan Riders, whose dizzying mission statement is to become the first black African team in the Tour de France. His personal story deserved telling too. Until four years ago he had been a courier, riding 30-50km a day on a rickety bike to deliver 50kg of milk to shops. Having been successful in African races, he desperately wanted to show his talent alongside Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas and Peter Kennaugh.

Two months later Njoroge was dead."

(theguardian.com)

December 13, 2014




Photo: These riders have not tested positive for insignificant products but for EPO. And it is also about young riders. That concerns me the most.
The decision of the International Cycling Union (UCI) to grant Astana a WorldTour license is still being discussed in the cycling world. Lotto-Soudal manager Marc Sergeant is among the ones to have reservations about the UCI decision. "Bigger issues than just the fact must have played a role at the UCI," he tells Sporza.

In recent weeks, Astana has been in the negative spotlight for doping. "Therefore I had expected the UCI to deny them a license on the basis of what has happened," Sergeant says. "Then Astana could have gone to CAS to receive a license."

"It is difficult to judge another team, but there are simply facts. These riders have not tested positive for insignificant products but for EPO. And it is also about young riders. That concerns me the most. There is something wrong with the education and culture of these people. They should do something about it urgently."

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 13, 2014




The 2104 l'Armée de Terre team show off its unique kit
Photo: © Hervé Dancerelle - www.directVelo.com.
The Tinkoff-Saxo team hit the headlines when they revealed a new camouflage training kit but they won't be the only team to wear camo next season. The French army team will race in a camouflage kit in 2015 after obtaining a special Continental license from the French Cycling Federation.

According to a report in the Parisien newspaper, the l'Armée de Terre team will step up a level next season and be registered as a “Continental non professional” team. Their riders remain members of the French army but are allowed to ride in professional races alongside the other French professional teams.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 13, 2014




Photo: mavic 125th seven side.
New Rapha Pro Team Softshell jacket, Pinarello's F8 wins design award, special Mavic 125th Seven bicycle up for auction and lots more.

(road.cc)

December 13, 2014






December 12, 2014





December 12, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 13, 2014







December 13, 2014




Photo: Hinault thinks cycling should comprise of a first, second and third division, like they have in football and allow the organisers themselves more freedom in deciding on who participates in their races.
After Astana were granted a WorldTour license for 2015, one of cycling’s greats, Bernard Hinault, has spoken out against cycling’s top division.

ASO, Tour de France race organizer, can no longer prevent Astana from attending their races, as they did in 2000 when Astana was excluded from the ProTour.

“I’m against the WorldTour, quite simply because it’s money that’s prioritized over everything else and there’s no opportunity for the race organizers to punish cheats,” Hinault said. “If organizers had that possibility, there would be a lot fewer people out there doing stupid things. That’s what they need to change because in my opinion it’s not good at all for cycling.”

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 13, 2014





Photo: I hadn’t ridden my bike for a long time and Lachlan was questioning his place in the pro peloton.
Taking part in his first UCI race since the 2010 Halle-Ingooigem, Australia’s Angus Morton showed off some impressive form to finish third the in opening stage of Jelajah Malaysia.

Tunisian national champion Rafaâ Chtioui and Moroccan national champion Adil Jelloul, both from Skydive Dubai and fresh from competing in the Tour of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, made a one-two on the finishing line.

Morton’s unexpected result under the colors of St-George Merida Cycling Club followed the news that he’d return to international racing with Jelly Belly in the US next year alongside his younger brother Lachlan, who's decided to step down from the WorldTour next year after two seasons with Garmin-Sharp.

(sbs.com.au)

December 13, 2014




Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) on his way to winning stage 18 atop Hautacam
Photo: © Tim de Waele.
Vincenzo Nibali's dominant victory at the 2014 Tour de France, including his dramatic ride over the cobbles on stage five, drove the three-week French race to the top of the 2014 Cyclingnews Reader Poll as the best stage race of the year. The Grand Tours ruled the day in the poll, with only the UCI 2.HC Tour of California slipping onto the podium in third place.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 13, 2014




Photo: This Zero has modest kit, but the 950g frame is excellent and eminently upgradable
Robert Smith.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Superb frameset, adequately kitted but with mouthwatering upgrade potential."

 (bikeradar.com)

December 13, 2014




Photo: Win a KHS CX300 cyclocross bike, complete with Shimano RS785 hydraulic disc brakes..
Yesterday, Southern California racer Jason Quan won the KHS Contest, landing him a CX300, complete with Shimano R685 hydraulic STI 11-speed levers and RS785 hydraulic disc brakes.

This was his first season racing cyclocross, although he’s wanted to try it for longer. He spent the year racing in the SoCal Series, and can be seen weekend after weekend in the shots by one of our race contributors and famed SoCal cyclocross photographer, Phil Beckman at PBCreative.com.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 13, 2014








December 12, 2014


December 12, 2014



Photo: the True Cheat or Champion course was being mocked by riders.
What’s the good news of this week? One improvement is the new audit of the Astana team by the Institute of Sport Sciences of the University of Lausanne (ISSUL) imposed by the UCI as a condition of its license. As well as the investigation audit which will be finished by February, the team has to sign up for a wide-ranging set of “operational requirements” for the whole year.

The ISSUL guidelines imposed on Astana aren’t just a mechanism to save the team’s license. Instead they’re set to become a core part of the proposed UCI cycling reforms, compulsory for all teams in a few years. They cover a lot of territory from job insecurity to coaching with the twin themes of doping and money.

(inrng.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: The newspaper La Repubblica told about the Padua case. In this edition, we read that there are many athletes who have links with Dr. Michele Ferrari.
The coach Paolo Slongo defends the Italian rider Vincenzo Nibali. He called the alleged links between the Tour de France winner and Michele Ferrari “nonsense”. He says that journalists are not telling the truth and that their claims are based on nothing.

"I saw the articles, the one in La Repubblica. It’s not a serious thing, but something that someone has invented. It ruins my image. If you don’t know someone, you can be misled to thinking it’s true. La Repubblica‘s journalists have been sued, so we’ll see how they respond."

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: Am I relieved? No, not really. I did not expect so many problems and have never lost any sleep.
Astana has secured themselves a WorldTour license for 2015. Lieuwe Westra is delighted with the news. "I am glad that the UCI has only looked at the doping cases of the Iglinsky brothers. In principle, the rest of our team has nothing to do with the other cases", the Dutchman tells WielerFlits.

Two days ago, the UCI License Commission made a decision about a number of licenses. Team Europcar will drop out of the elite division as they did not live up to the financial requirements.

The big drama was about Astana and their chance to keep the license. Recently, the team of Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali has been in the spotlight due to five doping cases within the team, including three from the continental squad. In addition, a large number of (former) Astana riders were on the list of 38 names from the Padova investigaton that was published by La Gazzetta dello Sport two days ago.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 12, 2014





Photo: Roche junior’s finest moment with Tinkoff-Saxo, winning stage 2 of the Vuelta last year. He would also pull on the race leader’s jersey a few days later.
Stephen Roche has said Team Sky will bring about further improvement in his son Nicolas’s career.

Roche junior is currently in Majorca with the Dave Brailsford-led team on their first official training camp which runs until next Thursday.

“They had a team meeting last month in London and now they’re all back together training, the serious stuff starts now,” said Roche Sr.

“There was a lot of politics going on there with Tinkoff and he wasn’t 100 per at ease with Tinkoff decisions. I think he was at the end of his journey there."

(stickybottle.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: The helmets have a model number inside the helmet under the fitting pad on the top right side.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a broken chinstrap can cause the helmets to slide off the head, posing a head injury hazard. The helmets also do not comply with the impact requirements of the CPSC's safety standards for bicycle helmets. According to the CPSC, there have been no reports of injuries or incidents because of the problem.

The recall involves seven models of UVEX helmets. The helmets come in a variety of colors with different colored chin straps.

(bicycleretailer.com)

December 12, 2014




Lachlan Morton (Garmin Sharp) takes home another best young rider jersey.
Photo: © Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us.
At first glance, the news that Lachlan Morton and his older brother Angus signed for 2015 with the US Continental team Jelly Belly-Maxxis may be surprising.

Lachlan, 22, rode for Garmin-Sharp the past two seasons and has long been viewed as one of the most promising young riders in cycling, while Angus, 25, hasn't raced professionally in four years. The seemingly unorthodox move to Jelly Belly is just the latest leg of a journey the Australian brothers began last winter with a 2,500km bike trip across the Australian outback.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 12, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 12, 2014




Photo: The lively crowd “had moar fun” as they watched Cat 4/5 riders “navigate” the sand. © SnowyMountian Photography.
The final stop of The Chicago Cyclocross Cup is Montrose Harbor on the frozen shore of Lake Michigan. Ten27 Cycling Club and Spidermonkey Cycling co-host this series finale which also doubles as the Illinois State CX Championship race. While some racers are ramping up towards regionals and nationals others line-up at Montrose to leave everything out on the course and call it a season. Either way, everyone is racing hungry on this wide open power course that conjures up correlations of Koksijde with it’s vast sandy dunes.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: Pavla Havlikova in Superprestige Zonhoven 2014. © Kurt van Hout.
A mainstay in the Belgium cyclocross scene, 31 year old Pavla Havlikova, heads back to Czech Republic to battle for the national title to be held this Saturday in Milovice.  With USA-based Katerina Nash not taking the start, Havlikova enters at pre-race favorite, only with 21 year old Martina Mikulaskova nipping at her heels.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 12, 2014




Enve's SES Aero handlebar flares from the hoods to the drops, so the position on the hoods is narrow and aero, and the position on the drops is wider and more stable. The flat tops improve aerodynamics as well. Cables can be routed internally (though the shift cables have been left external here for ease of maintenance). Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com.
Narrow is aero. But a wide handlebar is sometimes preferable for control and comfort. The SES Aero has both covered.

A clever 25-mm flair built into Enve’s carbon fiber SES Aero handlebar allows racers to get narrow up top while retaining the control afforded by a wider bar while riding the drops during sprints or descents.

The SES Aero is available in three widths: 44cm, 42cm, and 40cm. Those widths are measured at the flared-out drops, and correspond to 39cm, 37cm, and 35cm hood widths, respectively. At 251 grams for a 42cm bar (which has a hood width of 37cm), the SES Aero is not particularly light. And at $400, it’s also one of the most expensive bars available today. But the essential design could easily be translated into cheaper options, and it should be. Even those who will never toe a start line, and don’t give a hoot about aerodynamics, will love the ergonomics of the flared drop.

(velonews.com)

December 12, 2014






December 11, 2014






December 11, 2014





December 11, 2014





December 11, 2014





December 11, 2014



Alexandre Vinokourov’s Astana team was given a 2015 racing license despite five doping positives this year. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Brian Cookson sent team Astana a warning: speak up or else. He explained that general manager Alexandre Vinokourov needs to meet with the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) about his doping past, a move that could help with Astana’s WorldTour license.

“Do I think ‘Vino’ deserves a place in cycling? Alexandre Vinokourov needs to speak to the reform commission, he needs to make sure that he demonstrates that the team he manages is fully living up to its responsibilities,” Cookson told VeloNews.

“There are seriously questions marks over that situation. He and the rest of those connected with the team need to bear that in mind that they are in a very, very serious situation right now.”

(velonews.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: CW sits down with Emma O'Reilly in London to discuss doping, lawsuits and just how she managed to forgive Lance Armstrong.
Forgiveness plays a large role in Emma O’Reilly’s story, but not just from Lance Armstrong’s side.

For the disgraced cyclist’s former soigneur it was just as important that Armstrong forgave her for breaking cycling’s code of secrecy around doping, Omertà, as it was for her to forgive Armstrong’s lies.

O’Reilly worked as a masseuse on Armstrong’s US Postal team at the start of his dominant reign over the Tour de France, before leaving the team in 2000 after his second win.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 12, 2014




Evelyn Stevens (Specialized-lululemon) won the Tour of California women's time trial in 2014. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
As the Amgen Tour of California continues to expand its annual women’s race, it has secured a UCI 1.1 ranking for its women’s time trial, race promoter AEG Sports announced Friday.

The 1.1 ranking is the highest classification for a non-World Cup single-day race on the UCI’s calendar. This makes the California event the highest-ranked UCI women’s race in the U.S., behind the World Cup scheduled for July 6 at the Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic.

(velonews.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: Adam Blythe on stage three of the 2012 Tour of Oman .
While the shoes of runners, footballers, tennis players and a whole host of other sports get pounded in the mud and dirt, the same can’t really be said of cyclists’ footwear. That’s not to say that cycling shoes aren’t important – as a contact point between rider and bike, they serve a vital function. But there’s a new function that pro cyclists’ shoes have grown to serve in the past few years: self expression.

Most of a pro rider’s kit is strictly dictated by the team, but shoes are one area where it seems pretty much anything goes. Riders can use their shoes to exclaim their nationality, celebrate past success, send a message, be individual or just have a bit of fun.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 12, 2014




Marino Lejarreta is the only rider in cycling history to start and finish all three grand tours in one season no less than four times.
There’s been a lot of media attention given to Adam Hansen and his remarkable grand tour streak, now at 10.

The Australian has tied a historical mark of starting and finishing 10 consecutive grand tours, an impressive run that is a testament to his durability and tenacity. Two stage victories during that run are his just reward.

Should Hansen start and finish the 2015 Giro d’Italia, he will make cycling history. And who is the man he would beat? Marino Lejarreta, a spindly Basque climber who raced during the 1980s and 1990s.

(velonews.com)

December 12, 2014




Danilo Hondo (Trek)
Photo: © Fotoreporter Sirotti.
Ag2r-La Mondiale name Tour Down Under and Tour de San Luis teams, Bardiani riders train in Fiuggi.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: Pirated race feeds aren't exactly well-polished in presentation or delivery
Fred Dreier / Immediate Media.
A quick show of hands: how many North American readers out there are cycling broadcast pirates?

While our European counterparts enjoy regular televized cycling coverage, many American fans scour sites like Steephill.tv or Cyclingfans.com for sketchy, illegal feeds.

But as we all know, the pirate’s life sucks. The illegal feeds fill our computers with ads for porn and blackjack sites. The video quality is grainy and regularly craps out when the action heats up. How many times have you frantically clicked on a Flemish feed because the English one died?

 (bikeradar.com)

December 12, 2014




Tyler Wren (Jamis) got todays fan favorite jersey.
Photo: © Jonathan Devich.
Jamis-Hagens Berman’s long-time rider Tyler Wren plans to transition from a decade-long career in professional bike racing at the end of his contract in December. Although he is stepping away from the competitive side of the sport, he will remain a staple in the American cycling scene by focusing on building community-driven cycling events through his business, Wrenegade Sports.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: Have you been suffering from sore feet the morning after a big ride, or worse still during a ride? Physio Lewis Smith explains that it might be your plantar fascia, and we show you ways to combat it
Every useful watt of power you generate while cycling is transferred to your bike through the bottom of your feet. Foot pain, in particular arch pain, is common, and heel soreness can be caused by ill-fitting footwear or incorrect cleat position; equally, it may be the result of an underlying foot condition such as plantar fasciitis or a biomechanical issue.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 12, 2014




Photo: Bikes, MTB wheels, pumps, Christmas gifts and more.
Friday in the BikeRadar office means one thing: new stuff! This week we've taken delivery of a couple of two-wheeled stunners, more SRAM kit than you can shake a dropper post at, some last minute handy last-minute stocking fillers, Bikes, MTB wheels, pumps, gifts and more.

 (bikeradar.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: I learned that both Ettore Bugatti and René Herse worked at the Breguet aircraft factory during the 1920s.
To North Americans, it may seem odd that the most advanced classic bikes – the ones that have inspired our “real-world” bikes – came from France. When I was growing up, Italian bikes ruled. British bikes came second. A tier or two below these dream machines were French bikes.

If you wanted the best, you chose an Italian bike: Cinelli, Masi, Colnago, Bianchi were names that cyclist revered. You bought a Peugeot, Gitane and Motobecane if your budget was limited: You got a bike with a full Reynolds 531 frame for half the price of a Cinelli.

 (janheine.wordpress.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 12, 2014









December 12, 2014




Brian Cookson was elected president of the UCI in 2013, and he promised to bring significant changes to the sport. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (File).
By the end of Pat McQuaid’s presidency at the UCI, there was a thick malaise hanging over the governance of professional cycling.

Trust was low. The incumbent president had to run on the dubious, perhaps illegal, backing of two countries not his own in order to even stand for a vote.

At 2013 UCI world road championships in Florence, Italy, the UCI Congress could hardly decide if a vote could even take place. It crystalized the dysfunction and favoritism many had long accused the UCI of, notably after the Lance Armstrong scandal.

Enter candidate Brian Cookson.

Cookson called for a vote then and there in Italy, even though he had everything to gain from McQuaid being shot down before a single ballot was cast. Was this — this bold candidate who demanded a vote with everything to lose — the president the sport would get?

One year later, the short answer is: maybe.

(velonews.com)

December 12, 2014




Bernard Hinault also greets riders on the podium in the Dauphiné
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Following the confirmation of Astana’s WorldTour registration for 2015 – and, by extension, their place in the Tour de France – Bernard Hinault has called for organizers to be given greater say over which teams are allowed to participate in their races.

Astana has received a license despite a recent glut of positive doping tests and while Brian Cookson has warned that their status is provisional and pending an early-season audit, the reality is that it would be extremely difficult from a legal standpoint to withdraw the team’s WorldTour berth at this juncture.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 12, 2014






Pierre Rolland (Europcar)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Although there was widespread indignation that Europcar and not Astana failed to secure a renewal of its WorldTour licene, team manager Jean-René Bernaudeau was not among those roused to anger. Speaking to L’Équipe following the UCI’s announcement that the French team will no longer be part of the sport’s elite hierarchy, Bernaudeau admitted he’d been left “very tired” by the application process and confirmed that any of his riders could leave if they were able to.

“Yes, if any of them have got offers, what do you want me to tell them?” said the Europcar boss when asked if the team’s relegation from the WorldTour to likely Pro Continental status had left his riders free to pursue other options that would guarantee them a start in all of the biggest races. However, with the new season just weeks away, it seems unlikely any of Europcar’s stars will depart.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: There can't be any tolerance for a doping system especially like the one from the Padova investigation. It also shows how important an Anti-Doping law in every country is.
The revelations in La Gazzetta dello Sport about the Padova investigation and the controversial decision of the UCI to give Astana  a WorldTour license, has provoked many reactions in the peloton. Marcel Kittel made ​​his position clear in a series of tweets.

"I hope that the recent changes to the UCI and the new trust in Brian Cookson pay off after all the bad doping news of the last days," he writes.

"I also hope that they will show strength with a decision that protects clean riders & underlines our call for a credible antidoping fight."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 12, 2014




Rory Sutherland spent the last two seasons riding for Tinkoff-Saxo. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Rory Sutherland is ready to buckle up and go for the ride of his lifetime.

In fact, the adventure has already started as the 32-year-old Australian is settling in with his new team Movistar in what should be a season packed with thrills every minute.

“On this team, we’re thinking on the same lines. I’ve put my personal aspirations aside to do a specific job,” Sutherland said. “The expectation is not to win races. If I come 100th in every race, that’s fine, because [Alejandro] Valverde is on the team to win races. Nairo [Quintana] is here to win stage races. My job is to support Nairo and Valverde, and it’s something I am good at.”

(velonews.com)

December 12, 2014




Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) sailed over the cobbles like a Paris-Roubaix champion
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
For once, the reality outstripped the hype. In the months leading up to the Tour de France, speculation mounted as to the impact stage 5 across the cobbles might have on the general classification picture but nobody could have anticipated just how pivotal it would prove to be.

Received wisdom said that the stage wasn’t going to tell us who would win the Tour, but it might very well tell us who wouldn’t. In the end, it did both, as Chris Froome’s defense ground to an abrupt halt and Vincenzo Nibali gained what ultimately proved to be a decisive advantage in the race for overall honours.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 12, 2014




Julian Kyer (Team SmartStop) finished ninth overall in the 2014 Cascade Cycling Classic. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
"I know what you’re thinking. It’s 10 a.m. on a warm, sunny day. A handful of us are lounging outside the coffee shop. You see us here a lot, $10,000 bikes leaned neatly against each other, their owners laughing and joking.

What a bunch of privileged 20-somethings, who get to spend their days sleeping in, sipping coffee, and playing outside.

That moment you see is our golden hour, the ritual filling of a motivation well. It is what keeps us chasing the scooter for hours on end and stomping up thousands of meters of climbing. It bonds us together, and like your shot of espresso, it is more than just an indulgence; it is the small reward of immense heat, pressure, and the careful handling of simple ingredients."

(velonews.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: ANT+ electronic trainer with 3D training and multiplayer online racing.
BikeRadar verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars. "Not best in class, but decent value for the money; resistance isn't perfectly accurate, but ramps up smoothly."

(bikeradar.com)

December 12, 2014




Photo: Chris Froome will never have an excuse for staring at his stem again if he adopts this exciting new product from Vancouver based company Recon Instruments.
At the cutting edge of wearable cycling tech is the Recon Jet glasses with their heads up display. If you like gadgets, Top Gun and cycling, this is going to be the product for you.

ANT+ will allow you to connect power meters, cadence sensors and heart rate monitors so that you can view your training data right before you eyes. The Canadian makers claim that it is like watching a 30in plasma screen at 7ft away, just below your right eye.

 (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 12, 2014




Premium carbon tubular wheels that are disc-compatible. (Photo by Colin McSherry)
"More and more bikes these days are coming equipped with disc brakes. That's not a big deal for new riders who are just starting to build their wheel collections, but for the hard-core 'cross racers who have made the switch to discs, there's no getting around the fact that they have to update their quiver of wheels to accommodate them. And let’s face it, even with the inroads that tubeless systems are making, tubulars still rule the roost when it comes to reliability, ride feel, and the ability to ride to the pit if you do flat. We’ve been testing the Rolf Ares 4CX carbon tubular wheels since September, and we’re impressed."

(bicycling.com)

December 12, 2014













December 11, 2014





December 11, 2014


December 11, 2014



Viatcheslav Ekimov and Denis Menchov have seen it all.
Photo: © Bettini.
The Padova police used the historically effective investigative technique of following the money to uncover details of Dr. Michele Ferrari's links to riders, team managers and agents, and their use of image rights contracts to create secret funds to avoid paying tax and secretly pay their doctors.

According to further revelations and extracts published by Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday, Ferrari was often paid for his coaching and suspected doping advice via a network of bank accounts and experts in Switzerland and Monaco, which helped riders avoid paying tax in their home countries. The 550 Padova document suggests the group's activities generated a turnover of close to €30 million in 2010 and 2011.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 11, 2014





Photo: Dr Michele Ferrari Credit: Graham Watson .
Doctor Michele Ferrari has hit back following leaks from an inquiry in Padua, northern Italy, that alleges that he helped 38 cyclists dope in 2010 and 2011.

“Up until now, I was convinced that the most appropriate location to answer charges was a courtroom, and for this I have never commented on the various media reports,” wrote Ferrari on his website 53×12.com.

“The latest press campaign … forced me to change my behavior, and express some simple considerations.”

Ferrari said of the many cyclists listed, “I simply do not know them: Marco Marcato, Dimitri Kozontchuk, Ivan Rovny, Egor Silin…”

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 11, 2014




A soaked Robin Carpenter (Hincapie Sportswear Development) celebrated the biggest win of his career in stage 2 of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
The Hincapie Racing Team — known in 2014 as Hincapie Sportswear Development — announced its 2015 roster on Thursday.

Returning riders include, two-time U23 national criterium champion Ty Magner, Robin Carpenter, Oscar Clark, Joe Lewis, Joe Schmaltz, Dion Smith, Tom Skujins, Miguel Bryon, and Charlie Hough.

Hincapie will welcome new riders Jon Hornbeck, Rob Squire, Andzs Flaksis, and Mac Brennan. Darren Fuller and Chris Wherry are coming aboard as assistant directors in 2015.

(velonews.com)

December 11, 2014




Photo: Eleven new signings will help it cope with an expanded race programme and also with the higher ambitions and goals the team will have next season.
Recently promoted to the WorldTour by the UCI and set for its biggest season yet in 2015, the IAM Cycling team unveiled its complete roster and tweaked kit in Saanen, Switzerland, on Thursday.

The Swiss squad competed in its first Grand Tour in 2014, riding the Tour de France, and then went on to compete in the Vuelta a España. Holding a WorldTour licence will mean that it will compete in all three Grand Tours in 2015 and will also compete in all the other races of that level.

 (cyclingtips.com.au)

December 11, 2014




Simon Gerrans capped off a brilliant 2014 season with wins at the GP Montreal and GP Quebec. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
Orica-GreenEdge rider Simon Gerrans has been on fire the past three seasons dating back to his Milano-Sanremo win in 2012. In 2013, the 34-year-old Victorian went on to become just the sixth Australian to wear the maillot jaune at the Tour de France before the reigning two-time national champion blistered the field in 2014.

Gerrans started the year by winning his third Tour Down Under before taking third at the Amstel Gold Race and then recording the “biggest win of his career” at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Gerrans also became the first rider in history to do the double at the Canadian WorldTour races, winning both the GP Cycliste de Québec and GP Cycliste de Montréal, before capping the year with a silver medal in the men’s road race at the UCI world championships in Spain.

(velonews.com)

December 11, 2014




The start in Burgos was sunny, contrary to the finish in Suances.
Photo: © Unipublic.
New kits for Cofidis and Wanty. Tamouridis signing completes 2015 Synergy Baku roster.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 11, 2014




Photo: Despite arriving outside the time control, the commissaries allowed Machado to continue in the race due to the extraordinary effort made by the Portuguese rider.
Tiago Machado was one of the heroes of the 2014 Tour de France, fighting his way to the finish of stage 10 after a horrific crash. We caught up with the brave Portuguese rider with his new Katusha team at their training camp in Spain.

Machado turned Pro in 2008 in Portugal riding for the Boavista team before moving up to RadioShack for four seasons. In 2014, riding for NetApp-Endura, he had a successful start to the season, winning the overall classification of Tour of Slovenia and a string of podium places.

 (pezcyclingnews.com)

December 11, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 11, 2014




Photo: The tapered carbon fork and smoothly tapered and butted E5 Premium alloy frame transfer precise handling geometry and power.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Impressive, fast yet forgiving speed whether you're on road or off – but performance trumps everyday practicality features." (bikeradar.com)

December 11, 2014






December 10, 2014





December 10, 2014


Photo: I have always held the view that doping was not a practice solely restricted to the sport of cycling. Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport (cyclingnews.com)
The decision to award Astana a World Tour license for 2015 has elicited widespread anger from the cycling world and is a decision that even the most hardened doping apologists will have trouble defending.

Surely, went the thinking, there’s no way that a UCI run by Brian Cookson – the man who knocked Pat MacQuaid off his perch as president of the world governing body, the man who had promised to get tough on cheats – surely there’d be no way he’d allow Astana to keep its license?

Well… yes, actually. There was a way. He just said yes.

(crankpunk.com)

December 11, 2014






Team boss Alexander Vinokourov gives Nibali a kiss
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Vincenzo Nibali described it as a day like any other but the Tour de France winner must have felt a palpable sense of relief on Thursday morning following the confirmation that his Astana team will remain in the WorldTour for 2015.

Speaking ahead of a ride at the team training camp in Calpe, Nibali welcomed the news that the UCI License Commission had rubber-stamped Astana’s registration for next season despite the recent spate of positive cases and the serious allegations regarding the team which have emanated from the Padova-based doping inquiry in recent days.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 11, 2014




Newly elected WADA president Australian John Fahey (left) shakes hands with outgoing president Dick Pound
Photo: © AFP.
Changes to the World Anti-Doping Code coming into effect on January 1 will add a four-year ban to the sanctions possible for a first-time offense, according to a summary of the changes on the US Anti-Doping Agency website. Riders will also be prohibited from associating with sanctioned or convicted coaches, trainers, physicians or other athlete support personnel. The changes were approved last year.

“The 2015 code is designed to even better protect the rights of clean athletes and the integrity of competition,” according to the USADA summary. “With a focus on targeting current issues in the fight against doping, the 2015 code is simultaneously tougher for those who intentionally cheat and easier for those who follow the rules and compete clean.”

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 11, 2014




Luca Benedetti (Amore Vita-Selle SMP) leader after Stage 1
Photo: © Rob Jones.
When news broke this fall that Amore & Vita-Selle SMP rider Luca Benedetti had tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, some of his competitors were surprised, but at least one teammate had harbored suspicions about Benedetti since the Italian's first week on the team.

The UCI recently issued a lifetime ban to Benedetti, who tested positive for a form of EPO called Darbepoetin on June 6 at this year's Grand Prix Saguenay in Canada. He was provisionally suspended in September and then banned for life last week.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 11, 2014




Netherland's Niki Terpstra reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the 112th edition of the Paris-Roubaix
Photo: © AFP.
Cyclingnews Reader Poll: For the second year running, Paris-Roubaix has been voted the best one-day race of the year having received over half of the votes. The cobbled classic was a cle ar  favorite in 2014 as it attracted almost four times as many votes as Tour of Flanders in second place with 15.63%. The 100th edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege was voted as the third best race of the year by just over 7% of readers.

Michał Kwiatkowski's World Championships win in Ponferrada was next on the list with Milan San-Remo rounding out the top five one-day races.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 11, 2014




Matthew Goss (Orica - GreenEdge)
Photo: © Bettini.
After three seasons at Orica-GreenEdge, Matt Goss will go back to sharing the role of sprinter in 2015 with his new teammates at MTN-Qhubeka. Goss may have fewer chances at success next season but he believes that the reduced responsibility can actually help him win more.

"Being in that shared role is a good environment in the races, because if someone isn't having a good day then you have someone else who can finish it off," he said. "In 2010 and 2011 I wasn't the main sprinter there [at HTC-Colombia], I was probably third in line because I was racing with Cavendish and Greipel in the team. I took my opportunities when they arose and I managed to make the most of them."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 11, 2014




Photo: The SuperPista Ultimate LP retails for $450, same as the regular SuperPista Ultimate. .
Silca is now offering a version of its SuperPista Ultimate floor pump, tailored for low pressure applications, including cyclocross, mountain bike and gravel bike use.

The pump's gauge reads from 0-60 psi with a claimed accuracy to within 1 percent. The company said the pump is capable of 0.5 psi repeatability at pressures down to 4psi.

(bicycleretailer.com)

December 11, 2014





December 10, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 11, 2014













December 11, 2014






Photo: Astana will remain in the WorldTour in 2015 (Getty Images).
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced that the License Commission (1) has released its decisions with regards to the teams Astana Pro Team, Team Europcar and Yellow Fluo.

Concerning Astana Pro Team, last October, the UCI asked the License Commission to undertake a full review of the management and anti-doping policies of the Astana Pro Team. This request followed positive tests on two of its riders, Maxim and Valentin Iglinskiy (EPO), and on Ilya Davidenok (anabolic steroids), a trainee with the UCI ProTeam Astana since August 1st this year.

In accordance with the UCI Regulations, the team appeared before the License Commission in Geneva on November 6th. After an in-depth examination of the situation, the License Commission reached several findings...

 (sbs.com.au)

December 11, 2014





Vincenzo Nibali's coach Paolo Slongo (right) denies having any ties to Dr. Michele Ferrari. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
The shockwaves continued to bounce across the peloton Thursday following the leaking of Italian court documents that revealed more than three dozen riders were linked to controversial Michele Ferrari.

Some were quick to deny any involvement at all with the banned Italian prepatore, including Italian coach Paolo Slongo and Italian rider Marco Marcato. On Wednesday, Marcato said via his new team, Wanty Groupe, he never knew or met Ferrari.

“I never had any sort of connection with Dr. Ferrari. I never knew this man,” Marcato said via a team release.

(velonews.com)

December 11, 2014




Janez Brajkovic is welcomed to the team for 2015
Photo: © Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us.
The biggest victory of Janez Brajkovic's career came at the 2010 Critérium du Dauphiné, where he won the overall ahead of Alberto Contador, but since then he has run up against bad luck and injuries and has not been able to capitalize on that promise. After spending three unsatisfying seasons on a fractured Astana squad, the Slovenian signed for 2015 with UnitedHealthcare. After only a few days with the American team in Asheville, North Carolina he already feels at home and more optimistic about the future.

"I've had three tough years," Brajkovic said at his first camp with UnitedHealthcare, contrasting the new team against his soon-to-be former Astana squad.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 11, 2014





Jurgen Van den Broeck will take a respite from the Tour de France in 2015, after up-and-down performances over the last six years. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
After six consecutive years of racing the Tour de France with mixed results, Jurgen Van den Broeck has elected to skip the French grand tour in 2015.

“I have a love-hate relationship with the Tour,” Van den Broeck said in a team press release. “I got into [the] top five two times, but there are the several crashes I had as well. I was criticized by the media and others. I can put that in perspective, but it’s no fun.”

 (velonews.com)

December 11, 2014





Photo: very year the NBX G.P. of Cross weekend, which is part of the Verge New England Championship Series, proves to be one of highs and lows.
"It’s my favorite course, so I look forward to it. I love it so much that I constantly tell my friends about it, and even though it’s in December, I try to talk them into going. Many courses are created with stakes and tape than anything else. NBX feels natural. We’re racing on existing trails and through the woods. It just feels right.

Despite all this, I haven’t had a top-10 there since 2010. I’ve been close, with an 11th and a 13th. But last year’s total failure on Sunday was fresh in mind. Both Dan Timmerman, my teammate, and I got pulled with a lap or two to go. It was a pathetic showing."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 11, 2014





Photo: Cannondale’s prototype SuperX spotted at NBX in Warwick. © Andrew Reimann / Cyclocross Magazine.
"I was able to get a closer look at the Cannondale SuperX with a Lefty fork that Tim Johnson was riding around in Providence during the KMC Cyclo-cross Festival. The bigger news, however, was the brief spotting of a prototype bike Johnson was riding for only a few laps during the Men’s Elite Race on Sunday.

Although no details were confirmed, the bike was clearly not the current production model. It appears as if Cannondale has decided to move in the direction of thru-axles, and what better course to text the rigidity of the design than the root-filled paths of the NBX Gran Prix. I was not able to get a closer look at the model, although I did notice that the seatstays looked more akin to those on the current CAADX, with a horizontal, tubular bridge connecting the stays."

 (cxmagazine.com)

December 11, 2014





You’ll ride more, get faster, lose weight, and maybe accomplish. Photo by Jonathan Pushnik
Power meters spit out a lot of numbers: current power, average power, max power, and all manner of derivatives. But what matters more, says Joe Friel, longtime coach and author of The Power Meter Handbook, are the metrics that are based on these data points. Here are five of the most important ways to use your power meter.

(bicycling.com)

December 11, 2014




Photo: Boulder roadie perspective: five things I loved this year.
"Some great products solve problems, like ice-cold, please-don't-be-frostbitten genitalia on sub-freezing rides. Others create new options we never thought about, but now lust after. Hydro-Di2? Yes, please."

(bikeradar.com)

December 11, 2014

December 10, 2014



Proposed calendar reforms could have a drastic effect on the pro peloton. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Cycling’s makeover is still very much a work in progress.

That’s according to Brian Cookson, who said it’s still too early to reveal a detailed roadmap on how elite men’s road cycling will look in the coming years.

Many were expecting more specifics to come out of a two-day WorldTour seminar last week in Switzerland, but Cookson said there is still no consensus among the major players about a planned reconstruction of the elite men’s racing calendar set for the 2017 racing season.

(velonews.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: It’s a hard thing to put your finger on, it’s not saying its better to do things this way or that way. At Tinkoff-Saxo we had twelve or thirteen nationalities run together. Here there are six or seven foreigners.
Rory Sutherland has made the jump from supporting Alberto Contador at Tinkoff-Saxo in 2014 to supporting Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana at Movistar for 2015 this offseason.

“This opportunity popped up, the conversations started earlier in the year, as they do, and as things progressed and I think Eusebio (Unzué, Movistar team manager), the sports directors and some of the riders saw what my job was and I think what I do and what I bring to a team would fit in here a little better because it’s a different structure of riders. There is no full Classics team, but there are a lot of climbers, whereas I’m not a full climber, I consider myself to be in that middle area and can look after people in a different way and I think and I hope and they hope as well that the place I will have here is going to be one that will be incredibly fruitful to the organization.”

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: Von Hoff has been with the Garmin-Sharp/Slipstream structure since 2012. Photography by AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO and Wessel van Keuk/Cor Vos
Australian sprinter Steele Von Hoff has spoken of his frustration with having to drop down from the WorldTour, saying that he was left waiting for a long time before finding out he would not be retained by Garmin-Sharp and ultimately had to settle for a Continental ride.

However the 26 year old national criterium champion has said he is determined to seize opportunities with his new NFTO team and to try to follow the example set by Adam Blythe, who returned to the top level after a successful period with that squad.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 10, 2014




Photo: Aside from training, I enjoy being home with family and friends during the winter.
Having ridden impressively in his first two years at the Continental level, Joe Dombrowski joined Team Sky. But health issues prevented him from performing in line with such expectations. He said that his left leg feels just "as strong as the right now" and "it gives me a lot of confidence heading into 2015". For the next season, he will ride for Cannondale-Garmin Sharp after two seasons with Team Sky.

The American rider has just returned from a ten day team camp with his new team. "We spent the first three days at the Cannondale headquarters in Connecticut. Then we went sailing in the Carribean. While it was definitely a bit of a vacation, it was also a great exercise in team building."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 10, 2014





Of course Jens Voigt got a farewell photo with a joey
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Jens Voigt will continue his association with the Trek Factory Racing team, initially as a consultant and then as a directeur sportif. The 43-year-old German retired as a rider this fall after a 17-year career.

He is currently attending the team training camp in Alfas del Pi, Spain, and his first racing assignment with the team will be at the Tour Down Under.

“I’ll take on an active role in the team staff and my new role involves a lot of things: coaching and motivating the riders, helping out the youngsters, and directing at a few select races, once I have obtained my director certificate,” Voigt said in a team press release.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 10, 2014




Happy days as Nairo Quintana (Movistar) gives his best Fonzie impression
Photo: © Bettini.
For the second year running, Nairo Quintana has been named the Colombian Sportsman of the Year of the year at a ceremony held in the JW Marriott hotel in Bogotá and sponsored by Movistar in conjunction with the El Espectado newspaper. Quintana made history in May when he became the first Colombian to win the Giro d'Italia and first Colombian in 27 years to win a grand tour.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 10, 2014




Alex Howes (Garmin-Sharp) has steadily climbed the ranks as a young professional. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com (File)..
Trevor Connor talks to Garmin-Sharp’s Alex Howes and Frank Overton of FasCat Coaching about how to improve without moving too quickly. Connor is a long-time cycling coach and researches both exercise physiology and nutrition at Colorado State University.

 (velonews.com)

December 10, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 10, 2014




Photo: I'm going with 3: Not bad. I wouldn't reject a gift of this jersey... BrakeThrough Media, used with permission
"Team Tinkoff-Saxo, quite possibly the most energetic team of the moribund pre-holiday season (if their media presence is to be believed). have gone out and done it now. It being "third jerseys," conceptually speaking. Calling it their "training kit" to be used at official team training camps (of which there typically aren't many), Tinkoff-Saxo are now riding around Gran Canaria in a kit full of various shades and hues of green, in camouflage style. Let me guess what comes next: like our extra kit? You can buy that one too! Get the whole set for the low low (not very low) price of all the moneys!" (podiumcafe.com)

December 10, 2014





December 9, 2014





December 9, 2014





Photo: In order to get a licence a team must meet four criteria: sporting, financial, administrative and ethical.
Astana have got their World Tour licence for 2015 following a late review from the UCI. A shock? Not really because the rules don’t give the License Commission much room to exclude a team. It takes a smoking gun, or in the case of Team Europcar, denied a World Tour place, cold arithmetic.

It’s worth remembering a license is primarily an administrative exercise. The team can exist on paper but it’s going to face headwinds in the coming weeks and months. In fact you wonder whether the sponsors will want to continue?

(inrng.com)

December 10, 2014





While there is no suggestion that Vincenzo Nibali, the Tour de France winner, has acted improperly, five riders under the Astana umbrella have tested positive Photo: GETTY IMAGES.
Last weekend, after a two-day seminar in Montreux involving key stakeholders, which we are told took place in a spirit of openness and transparency, the International Cycling Union (UCI) sent out a press release welcoming "the return of credibility to the sport”. If it wants those words to be taken seriously today, cycling's world governing body needs to act tough on Astana.

Forget the argument, proffered in recent weeks by general manager Alexandre Vinokourov and others (including, worryingly, the Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali, who should be distancing himself from, rather than defending his team), that Astana and Astana Continental are separate entities.

Even if that were true, which it is not, two positive tests for EPO by senior Astana riders, one of them just one week after helping Nibali to claim his yellow jersey, are scandalous enough.  

(telegraph.co.uk)

December 10, 2014






Alexander Vinokourov (Astana)
Photo: © Bettini.
Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has revealed many of the riders implicated in the Padova police investigation as clients of banned doctor Michele Ferrari. The newspaper lists 38 professional and Under 23 riders, going onto suggest that 17 Astana riders have links with Dr. Ferrari.

The full 550-page Padova investigation documents the results of phone taps, house searches and the seizure of bank records, which were apparently handed over to the Italian Olympic Committee's doping investigators before the weekend. The Padova investigators called the inquiry Operation "Mito" (Legend), one of several nicknames used by riders to identify Dr. Ferrari. The investigation covers 2010 and 2011, and includes 230 pages of phone tap conversations.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: He is a stage winner in the Volta a Catalunya and the Vuelta al Pais Vasco and was the 2011 Spanish road race champion.
José Joaquín Rojas has reacted to the information that linked him to doctor Michele Ferrari in the investigation by the Padova inquiry and has been published by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The reports claim that there have been phone calls and email exchanges with Stefano Ferrari, Michele's son, in November 2010. Rojas does not deny those contacts but rejects that there are any stronger links. "Regarding the imformation published today, I exchanged several mails with Stefano Ferrari about my workouts Everything else are baseless rumors," he said in a Twitter message.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: Amira Mellor discusses her breakout season with Cyclocross Magazine. Photo still from Philip Ingham.
Seventeen year old British rider Amira Mellor’s battling ride into 26th place at the Milton Keynes World Cup was just the latest in a string of rides which have marked the 2014-15 cyclocross season as a breakthrough for her.

Back in September, the average UK cyclocross fan could have been forgiven for not recognizing her name as, apart from a bronze medal in the National Junior Women’s Championships last January, she has not been a regular visitor to the podium, despite steady progress through the age categories.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 10, 2014





André Greipel won stage 6 of the 2014 Tour de France. He plans to start the Giro d'Italia in 2015 Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
André Greipel may have claimed more wins than any other pro in the men’s peloton last season, but that isn’t stopping the German sprinter from taking a new approach to spring racing in 2015.

In a press release filed from its Benicàssim, Spain training camp, Lotto-Belisol announced that its sprinter will forgo the Tour Down Under, where he’s won 16 stages over the years. He also won the overall classification at the Australian race in 2008 and 2010.

(velonews.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: CNC Floor Drive and the Travel Floor Drive.
"this is the best stuff out there bar none.

i’ve tried other stuff but nothing works as good as Lezyne stuff.

‘engineered design’ is the motto and that is what you get, intelligent engineering married to design that is cool as.

the real slick thing about this whole love affair is that i can go to the factory, like i did today, and pick my gear up personally.

how slick is that?

yes, quite slick."

 (crankpunk.com)

December 10, 2014






December 9, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 10, 2014















December 10, 2014






Brian Cookson said cycling is doing more about doping than other sports. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
The UCI president has protested that cycling is doing more than many of its rivals to tackle doping as it confronts a new dark chapter over the Tour de France winning Astana team.

The UCI licensing commission was slated to announce on Wednesday its recommendation on whether Astana, whose top rider Vincenzo Nibali won this year’s Tour de France, should get a racing license for 2015 after a series of doping failures.

UCI president Brian Cookson said the federation, in making a final decision, will also study new allegations that members of Astana met with banned doping doctor Michele Ferrari last year.

(velonews.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: So I want to defend my image in a statement. I have been strongly affected by this article and am available immediately to answer questions in the right places to prove my innocence.
Marco Marcato denies that he has had any relationship with doctor Michele Ferrari and rejects the information published today in the Gazzetta dello Sport about the list of riders who worked with the Italian physician who is banned for life.

Marcato rode for Cannondale this year, will join Wanty-Groupe Gobert for the next two seasons. "I've never had any relationship with Dr. Michele Ferrari. I have never met this person, I have never seen and never talked to him. Again, nothing has ever linked me to him," said the Italian rider.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 10, 2014




Portland, Oregon, one of the most cycling-friendly cities in the United States, may be hosting a one-day UCI road race in August 2015.
Found on the 2015 UCI America Tour calendar, between well-established events such as the USA Pro Challenge and the Tour of Alberta, is the August 29 GP of Portland, a proposed 112-mile UCI 1.2 race through the city.

As first reported by The Oregonian in August, the event has made its way on to the UCI calendar, however sponsorship is still the factor that will determine whether or not it takes place.

Jack Toland, the event’s co-founder and operations manager, was involved with the launch of the renowned CoreStates US PRO Road Race Championship in Philadelphia, alongside Jerry Casale and Dave Chauner in 1984.

(velonews.com)

December 10, 2014




Tinkoff-Saxo gets Specialized Body Geometry Fit
Photo: © Brakethrough Media.
Getting properly positioned on the bike through Specialized's Body Geometry Fit was one of the priorities on the agenda for the new riders on Tinkoff-Saxo at their training camp held on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. Dr. Andy Pruitt developed the bike fit process over the past 30 years and believes that it can significantly improve a rider’s comfort and performance, and that we should expect to see big changes to the bike position of Peter Sagan, the team’s sprinter.

"We first saw Peter Sagan in the fall, when he first signed with Tinkoff-Saxo, and made changes to his position that included the bike, saddle and shoes, and we made huge changes," Dr. Pruitt told Cyclingnews. "He rode with those changes and then we followed up with those changes at this camp. He is absolutely in love with what we are doing."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: Astana and Katusha share the hotel carpark.
"Our man in Spain, Alastair Hamilton, was lucky enough to receive an invitation to the presentation of the Katusha team and new clothing for 2015. He didn’t just go for the free food and drink, but spent the day with the team for a ride (in the car) and some interviews. Here is his day with the Russians."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: French cyclist Pierre Rolland drank a soda while riding in the 2013 Tour de France. Getty Images .
Ted King, a member of the Cannondale Pro Cycling team, estimates that 90% of the riders on the Tour de France drink Coke at some point during the race.

“A really cold soda on a hot day is that blast of energy you need,” King says. “There’s something about the quick caffeine and simple sugar that helps fuel the final bit of a race.”

Pro cyclists can burn 800 to 1,000 calories per hour and ride for five or six hours on a race day, King says. Riders also eat energy bars and gels and drink sports drinks. “Your palate can only take so many sports-specific things,” he says. Drinking a Coke has become a tradition among riders.

 (wsj.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: Cannondale's Si chainset is now available to all
Cycling Plus / Immediate Media.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Light, stiff and well priced – and it’s pleasingly easy to install." (bikeradar.com)

December 10, 2014




Photo: It was Joe Roth of CipolliniUSA. I smiled to myself. He was calling to see if I wanted to put the new Bond through its paces, and I did.
Launched with one of the coolest videos in cycling, the Cipollini Bond at first smacked cycling’s establishment as more of the flash and hype the Super Mario is known for. But he’s also known as a prolific race winner, and as this bike proved – both offer enough performance to warrant a place in cycling’s upper echelon.

The instruction manual for the Cipollini Bond runs ninety eight pages, the last fourteen offering a broadly “Italian” treatise on how to pack a bicycle for transport.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 10, 2014





December 9, 2014

December 9, 2014



Photo: There is agreement that changes need to be made, but there’s not yet consensus on what will happen. Things are still a long way from being finalized.
Some were expecting to see a roadmap, but the UCI has yet to reveal specifics about sweeping reforms poised to be introduced as soon as 2017.

It appears there is not yet consensus among the major players as teams, race organizations, and the UCI continue to try to reach a common ground on what elite men’s road racing will look like in the near future.

Following a two-day conference at the end of last week, the UCI came out with a press release that was long on breezy comments and very short on details about restructuring efforts that could greatly reshape team structures, race calendars, and how the racing season looks and feels.

 (velonews.com)

December 9, 2014




Taylor Phinney (BMC) puts on his new National Championship jersey
Photo: © Jonathan Devich/CN.
After recovering from a broken leg in a season-ending crash at the USA Professional Road Race Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee in May, Taylor Phinney will be aiming to get back to his best in 2015, in what will be his fifth year as a professional on the WorldTour with BMC Racing.

In the second part of a two-part interview, Phinney relives the penultimate stage 6 of the 2013 Tirreno-Adriatico. The 206km stage from Porto Sant'Elpidio back to Porto Sant'Elpidio was held on a parcours known as one of the toughest in the history of the sport, and it was made even more difficult because of treacherous weather conditions.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 9, 2014





Jelly Belly Candy Company will sponsor its pro cycling team for a 16th straight season. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
Jelly Belly, the longest-running pro cycling team in the American peloton, will return for its 16th season, having re-signed with its title sponsor for 2015.

Former U.S. national champion Freddie Rodriguez will conclude his career with Jelly Belly in 2015, while the team will add a number of new, young riders to its roster as well.

 (velonews.com)

December 9, 2014




Pierre Rolland (Europcar) tries to cool off on a blistering hot day in the Alps
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Pierre Rolland has confirmed that he will focus on the Tour de France in 2015 and skip the Giro d’Italia, where he finished fourth overall this season.

The Frenchman went on to finish 11th overall at the Tour and felt that his exertions in Italy had extracted a significant toll and compromised his performance in July. With the route of the 2015 Tour weighted heavily in favor of climbers, Rolland has decided to concentrate exclusively on La Grande Boucle.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 9, 2014




Marianne Vos won the 2012 Olympic women's road race in London. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com .
The UCI and Rio 2016 organizing committee confirmed the 2016 Olympic road race and time trial courses on Tuesday. The men’s road race will be 256.4km long, and the women will race 130.3km, on August 6 and 7, 2016, respectively.

“The road race mixes some of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic backdrops such as Copacabana and Ipanema with some really testing sections such as the Grumari Circuit and the climb up to Canoas/Vista Chinesa,” said UCI president Brian Cookson at an IOC meeting in Monaco. While the time trial course also includes the challenging topography of the area. The steep climb up Grumari Road is sure to provide a unique test for time trial riders.”

(velonews.com)

December 9, 2014




Brent Prenzlow at the front of Sunday’s lead group. © Philip Beckman/PB Creative.
Racing has its ups and downs. That tireless proverb/cliche was elegantly illustrated the first weekend of December at Hart Memorial Park near Bakersfield, Calif., during the SPYclocross Series finals. This new six-event, USA Cycling-sanctioned, SPY Optic-backed series concluded on arguably the most challenging course on the SoCal cyclocross circuit. The highs and lows of the layout, along with a 1.5 point factor awarded on the final day, brought out the highs and lows of the human race experience.

The weather and course conditions could not have been better, following several showers during the week preceding the event. But that did little to tame the numerous steep pitches that force even the strongest to shoulder their bikes and grunt up the sod staircases.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 9, 2014




Photo: non-cycling Singaporeans have been known to hit the forums to celebrate when a cyclist is killed.
News came in today that two guys have been arrested for organizing a night race, known as HolyCrit.

The Straits Times reports that the two men, “aged 28 and 39, for their suspected involvement in promoting and organizing the illegal racing event under Section 116 of the Road Traffic Act, Chapter 276.

“If convicted, the two men would be liable to a mandatory jail term of up to six months and a fine of between $1,000 and $2,000. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, they could be jailed up to 12 months and fined between $2,000 and $3,000. The vehicles used in the illegal race would also be forfeited.”

 (crankpunk.com)

December 9, 2014




André Greipel with a joey
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
André Greipel won't be adding to his record number of stage wins at the Tour Down Under in 2015. The Lotto-Belisol rider will skip his traditional season opener in favor of something closer to home. He will begin his year with the Mallorca Challenge, as he looks to ensure his form for the Classics in March and April.

"I've decided together with the team, my race schedule switch and enter something later in the season," Greipel wrote on his personal website. "The planned start of the season for me is currently the Mallorca Challenge."

(cyclingnews.com)

December 9, 2014




Photo: n 2014, Mancebo added to his excellent palmares by taking two wins... © pt.wikipedia.org
Francisco Mancebo will continue to ride for the SkyDive Dubai Pro Cycling Team in 2015. A source close to the continental team from the United Arab Amirates has told Biciciclismo that the Spaniard has signed a contract for another season. For 38-year-old Mancebo, it will be his 18th season in the professional peloton after he turned pro in 1998 with Banesto.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 9, 2014




Which three-way wrench is right for you? Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com.
It lives in your pocket, in a shop apron, or lies in wait on the top of the workbench, never squirreled away in a drawer. Save for the floor pump, the 3-way (4, 5, and 6mm) Allen wrench is the most used tool in a mechanic’s arsenal. Brands don’t even bother marketing their respective 3-way wrenches. They’re too simple. Yet every pro mechanic has his favorite. Like pro riders, many pro wrenches aren’t given a choice, due to sponsor obligations. Other mechanics are outspoken about which is best.

Here, I break down five 3-way wrenches I’ve been using over recent months and years. Price, weight, feel, and function are the variables. Of course, like anything, people will be drawn to one more than others. All five here have proven to have tough bits, so no tool here is a bad choice.

(velonews.com)

December 9, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 9, 2014



USA Cycling president Steve Johnson speaks at the press conference announcing the new European training base in the Limburg province of the Netherlands.
Photo: © USA Cycling.
Steve Johnson will step down as CEO of USA Cycling following the World Championships in Richmond next year, the organization announced today.

A statement released by USA Cycling on Tuesday afternoon said that Johnson had decided “to pursue new challenges and opportunities.” Johnson has held the position of CEO and president since 2006, having first joined USA Cycling as high performance consultant in 1999.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 9, 2014







Photo: The latest reports about Michele Ferrari will, if proven accurate, add even more wood to the fire and further increase the likelihood of the team losing its WorldTour licence. Photography by Cor Vos
Speaking after reports in recent days stating that a number of Astana riders have been linked to the banned doping doctor Michele Ferrari as well as claims that he attended a team training camp in Italy in November of last year, UCI president Brian Cookson has confirmed that these new factors will also be taken into consideration.

The UCI’s License Commission is currently studying the Astana team’s candidature for a WorldTour place in 2015. Cookson said that the decision about the team would arrive “today or tomorrow.”

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 9, 2014





Photo: Astana brought Vino with them, he is dodgy as a 47 pound note, we all know that. he’s like the thinking man’s Ricardo Ricco. GETTY IMAGES
"I remember watching Nibali win the Tour and thinking ‘man, please be clean’. and now you tell me how we are supposed to believe not the wild notion that he is above suspicion but that he shouldn’t be – and deserves not to be – questioned about what is going on?

The Italian media broke the story that Astana met Ferrari then went on to categorically state that their Tour winner was not implicated in doping and that indeed he never met the Doc, a claim Nibali has stated more than once in the past, but this whole palava brought back the memory to me of this article on the venerable Cycling Weekly, which said that Nibali did in fact meet Ferrari, and trained with him, wearing all black kit."

(crankpunk.com)

December 9, 2014




Frederik Kessiakoff (Astana) in the polka dot jersey on stage 14
Photo: © Sirotti.
Former Swedish mountain bike champion Fredrik Kessiakoff has announced his retirement from cycling after failing to secure a new contract for next season. The 34-year-old also cited health problems as a contributory factor in his decision.

“It is today with no regrets that I am announcing my retirement from professional cycling,” he wrote on his personal website. “After two years filled with injuries and health problems I have failed to find a team for 2015 on a level that I find inspiring and I therefore think it is the right time for me to move on.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 9, 2014




Photo: 101 Damnations – Dispatches from the 101st Tour de France by Ned Boulting.
The Tour de France is more than a bike race. It’s a theater with many plays, plots and stories. Spectators enjoy the countryside, business deals are done and a lot of people work hard to make the show happen. British broadcaster Ned Boulting is among the workers as he travels around France to put the race on television. In the wake of Leeds grand départ Boulting has written up his experiences of this year’s Tour along with other anecdotes and more.

Boulting seems to play the outsider role in broadcasts and writing, he’s the non-cyclist dispatched to cover the Tour de France and this status places him onside with much of the audience who need gentle education to explain the overall classification or the points competition.

 (inrng.com)

December 9, 2014




Photo: The main reason is primordial and lies with the herd and the tribe. Seth Davidson/Kare Dehlie Thorstad
"I used to think it was a function of cowardice, because everyone gets dropped, and people who avoid rides because they’re afraid of droppage, well, come on. Eddy got dropped. Lance got dropped. The fastest guy on your group ride got dropped. And of course you got dropped — repeatedly. It’s the nature of the beast.

Since droppage is inherent in cycling, i.e. there is always a point where, when people are going hard enough, you will get shelled, I’ve never understood why people avoid hard rides or hilly races because of their FOG’d. On reflection, though, it’s not about cowardice."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 9, 2014




A new study on the European cycling industry shows that bikes have serious economic power.
(Photo by Beardy McBeard).
We’ve always known that cycling is a popular part of European culture, but a new study suggests that it’s also a major part of the economy. In fact, cycling in Europe creates more jobs than the American automotive industry.

In a recent study on the benefits of cycling in the European Union, commissioned by the European Cyclists’ Federation, researchers concluded that not only is cycling good for a population’s health, it’s good for its wallets as well.

At the time of the study, 655,000 people were employed in some aspect of the cycling industry, from retail to tourism to manufacturing.

(bicycling.com)





Photo: Sanchez was originally due to continue with the Euskaltel team until the end of 2015. Photography by By Kristof Ramon
Several weeks after the BMC Racing Team confirmed that Samuel Sanchez wouldn’t be with the team in 2015, the former Olympic champion is hovering on the brink of retirement.

The rider, who will turn 37 years of age in February, has one possibility to continue, but is uncertain if he will take up that option.

“I’m wondering whether or not I continue one more season,” he told El Comercio. “I’m thinking. “I don’t know. I have an offer, but I do not know. To continue it needs to be a motivating project.”

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 9, 2014




Photo: Fast and versatile rim shape with a clever new hub design.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Fast, light, and versatile but with unproven hub longevity and irritating internal spoke nipples "

(bikeradar.com)

December 9, 2014




Photo: Team Sky rider Geraint Thomas was voted BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the year after a standout season in the saddle.
Geraint Thomas was voted BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year last night, becoming the first cyclist to win the award since Nicole Cooke in 2003.

The rider was presented the award by Bradley Wiggins at the Team Sky training camp in Mallorca after a year in which he won gold and bronze at the Commonwealth Games.

Thomas also had a standout year at the cobbled classics, finishing seventh and eighth in Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders respectively, as well as a third-place finish at E3 Harelbeke.

“I don’t know what to say,” Thomas said after receiving his award.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 9, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 9, 2014











December 9, 2014





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 | TDWsport.com (File)..
The Department of Justice leaned hard on Lance Armstrong’s attorneys during the latest round in court, asking for email correspondences between Lance Armstrong and previous associates, such as investment banker and USPS team backer Thom Weisel and former coach Michele Ferrari.

As reported by USA Today, the two sides are now quarreling over what documents are relevant and how best to sift through the correspondences.

 (velonews.com)

December 9, 2014





Alexander Vinokourov (Astana)
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
As the UCI License Commission considers Astana’s future in the WorldTour, it is not entirely clear whether its focus will be solely on the recent spate of positive tests on the team or whether its deliberations will cover the team’s entire eight and a half year history.

Certainly, the events of the here and now alone make a compelling argument for Astana’s exclusion from the 2015 WorldTour. Forget the semantics: the WorldTour and Continental teams are part of the same entity, and five positive tests in three months would be more than enough, one imagines, for most other WorldTour sponsors to pull the plug on their commitment.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 9, 2014




Tom Danielson won stage 4 of the 2014 Tour of Utah atop the Powder Mountain Climb and went on to win the race overall. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com.
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah announced its 2015 route on Tuesday, one that will include five new host cities. The race will run August 3-9, exclusively in the northern half of Utah. For the first time, the event will also include a two-day competition for women.

Logan will host the overall start for the weeklong competition, in the northernmost section of the Wasatch Mountain Range. Tremonton and Bountiful join Logan as first-time host cities for the tour. Two additional inaugural stops are state parks — Antelope Island State Park in Davis County and Soldier Hollow, which is part of Wasatch Mountain State Park in the Heber Valley.

 (velonews.com)

December 9, 2014




Photo: This season I brought two bikes, two mud tubular wheelsets, one all-rounder tubular set, one sand tubular set and one training set with the wheels largely supplied by Cafe Roubaix.
"Beards are the fashion statement of the moment in the Pro peloton, but the first big beard in cyclo-cross was spotted by Ed Hood on a recent visit to Belgium. The facial plumage belonged to Canadian Mark McConnell, so Ed had to find out all about the cross man with the beard.

“Who’s the dude with the Grizzly Adams beard?” we said to ourselves at the Koksijde ‘cross. Mark McConnell our one Euro start sheet told us – we just had to have a word."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 9, 2014




Photo: Both Ilyumzhinov and Cookson lost the battle.
The cyclo-cross rider will have to shelve their dreams about attending the Winter Olympics. At the meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Monte-Carlo yesterday, it was decided not to change the rule that the Games are only for sports that take place on either ice or snow.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 9, 2014




Photo: February's Revolution Series meeting in the capital could see attempts at both the outright and women's benchmarks.
There could be an Hour Record bonanza at February’s Revolution Series round in London, as Alex Dowsett and Sarah Storey are reportedly both planning attempts at the meeting.

Dowsett has made no secret of his desire to tackle the Hour, and has been riding the Full Gas Winter League at the Lee Valley Velodrome (where the Revolution meeting will take place on February 27-28) in preparation for his attempt.

Storey looks set to become the first woman to attempt to break Leontien van Moorsel’s 11-year-old benchmark of 46.065km since the UCI modified the Record’s rules.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 9, 2014




The official poster of the 2016 Tour de France Grand Depart
Photo: © ASO.
The 2016 Tour de France will start at the foot of the spectacular Mont-Saint-Michel monastery in Normandy on the northern coast of France.

Race organizer ASO announced that Mont-Saint-Michel and the surrounding Manche department will host the Grand Départ of the 103rd edition of the Tour de France during a press conference in Mont-Saint-Michel attended by race director Christian Prudhomme.

The opening stage will be held on Saturday July 2. There will be no prologue time time. The 2016 Tour de France begins with be a 188km road race stage that follows the Normandy coast and finishes on Utah Beach in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, the site of the D-Day landings of World War II.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 9, 2014




The Black Series RCC-42 wheels use Xentis rims on Tune hubs for a weight of just 1,337g
Oli Woodman / BikeRadar.
"Black Series is a new range of high-end bike components designed for a balance of low weight, durability, quality and price, to offer cyclists the “ultimate” upgrade range.

Produced by some of the world’s leading component manufacturers such as Xentis and Tune, Black Series' wheels are hand built in Germany. Black Series claims its wheel designs have been proven at World Championship, World Cup and Olympic events."

 (bikeradar.com)

December 9, 2014




Nearly all tubeless tires work better with a bit of tire sealant. Lennard Zinn answers questions about how to get the most out of your goop. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com.
“Inflate and repair cartridges commonly contain liquid sealant and propane (or methane-propane mixes), a gas that turns to liquid at lower pressures (5 bar @ 0°C) compared to CO2 (around 35 bar @ 0°C). That’s why inflate and repair cartridges come in aluminum cans and CO2 comes in little steel cylinders; the internal stress the container has to endure is much less for propane. That’s also the reason why you get more inflating power from a small 16g CO2 cartridge than from a big 75ml inflate and repair cartridge, but I digress."

(velonews.com)

December 9, 2014

December 8, 2014


Bobby Lea stood on the podium at the end of the second round of the track World Cup. Photo: Guy Swarbrick.
Bobby Lea finished with a bronze medal in the omnium competition at the UCI track cycling World Cup in London on Sunday.

After Saturday’s action, Lea sat third on the omnium. Solidifying his bronze on Sunday, he finished off the weekend with a third-place finish in the 1km time trial, followed by a seventh-place flying lap, and a 13-place effort in the points race.

Colombia’s Fernando Gaviria Rendon won the omnium gold with 197 points, Australian Scott Law earned silver with 171 points, and Lea took bronze with 164 points.

Lea, 31, currently leads the men’s omnium World Cup rankings after the first two events with 240 points, followed by Casper Phillip Pedersen of Denmark with 179 points and Rendon with 150 points.

(velonews.com)

December 8, 2014




Photo: His win in Hasselt is arguably Pauwels' most convincing. Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
With his victory in Hasselt Saturday, Kevin Pauwels caused a slight rift in the cyclocross atmosphere, a nearly imperceptible blip picked up mostly by elderly fans, the same ones who've been waiting for the feeling that a storm is approaching, to signal the real cyclocross season. The first half of the season is officially over, with today's Druivencross representing a quasi-official midseason marker, and alone at the top of the sport is a guy who, well, might not be keeping the spot warm for Sven Nys.

(podiumcafe.com)

December 8, 2014





Curtis White jumped over the logs and rode to victory in Sunday's New England Cyclocross Series finale in Warwick, Rhode Island. Photo: Todd Prekaski.
Strong winds blew off the bay for the final day of racing in the 2014 Verge New England Cyclocross Series presented by Stan’s NoTubes and Cycle-Smart. The NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross in Warwick, Rhode Island was the stage for the grand finale of the 2014 Series. The race’s signature beach runs numbered two in Sunday’s race, and a soaking rain overnight left sections of rooty trail mud-covered and slick. In addition to dismounts for the stretches of bayside sand, riders faced both log barriers and traditional cyclocross barriers, making this a challenging course deserving of hosting the series finale.

(velonews.com)

December 8, 2014





 Ben Berden (Raleigh-Clement) crossed the line just a couple bike lengths ahead of Logan Owen (California Giant-Specialized) to win the MFG Cyclocross Waves For Water Cross Collaboration for Project Nigeria at Ft. Steilacoom, WA. Photo: ©Matthew J. Clark | StraightEIGHTFilms.com
Rachel Lloyd (California Giant-Specialized) was glad to let the other riders work as she bided her time for an attack. Photo: ©Matthew J. Clark | StraightEIGHTFilms.com .
Rachel Lloyd took her second win of the weekend, while Ben Berden followed up his Raleigh-Clement teammate’s Saturday victory with a win of his own on Sunday at at Ft Steliacoom State Park in Lakewood, Washington.

The fast, tacky course featured one big climb, and a gravel descent. Both the men’s and women’s race saw large groups racing together into the final moments, tactics proved to be critical on Sunday.

(velonews.com)

December 8, 2014





Juan Pablo Villegas Cardona (472 Colombia)
Photo: © Luis Barbosa. (cyclingnews.com)
Team SmartStop announced Monday that it has signed Juan Pablo Villegas to the team’s 2015 roster.

Villegas, 27, will be the 14th rider on the SmartStop team, after two years with the 4-72 Colombia team.

SmartStop director, Michael Creed, first noticed Villegas at the Vuelta Mexico in March where he won three stages and claimed the overall in the six-day stage race.

(velonews.com)

December 8, 2014




Photo: Sarah Roy will be in the colours of Orica-AIS to defend her national criterium title (Mark Gunter).
Sarah Roy will return to defend her national criterium title at January’s Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships, this time with the backing of the Orica-AIS team.

(sbs.com.au)

December 8, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 8, 2014





December 7, 2014





December 7, 2014





USADA issued a lifetime ban against the doctor in 2012... Photography by Cor Vos
Vincenzo Nibali made repeated denials during this year’s Tour de France that he had ever met Michele Ferrari, but that insistence is under the microscope today after La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the banned doctor had attended a team training camp in November 2013.

According to the Italian paper, Ferrari attended the team hotel in Montecatini Terme thirteen months ago. Unbeknownst to the team, so too did anti-doping investigators, who reportedly have photographs of the doctor talking to various members of the team.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 8, 2014




Photo: With the IOC lifting its 28-sport cap, UCI president Brian Cookson is keen to explore ways to safeguard track cycling's future.
UCI president Brian Cookson has already started thinking of ways to make cycling more attractive following the International Olympic Committee’s vote in favour of scrapping the Games’ 28-sport cap.

From the 2020 Games in Tokyo there will be a cap on the number of athletes, at 10,500, and events, at 310, rather than limiting the number of sports.

With the reforms designed to reduce the cost of staging the Olympics and increase interest in the events on offer, there is a worry that track cycling could be one of the events to feel the brunt of cuts in future Olympiads.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 8, 2014





Photo: Sven Nys' (Crelan-AA Drink) string of bad form and bad luck has left the Belgian champion and his team searching for answers. Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com.
Sporza reports that former world cyclocross champion Sven Nys’  recent string of bad races may signal a more serious problem for the Belgian.

“We don’t know what is going on,” Jan Verstraeten, Nys’ team’s sport director told Sporza after the Belgian champion withdrew halfway through the Vlaamse Druivencross race in Overijse, Belgium on Sunday.

“There is something up with him the last weeks, as the maximum just does not want to come for Nys. And that has never been as clear as it is today.

 (velonews.com)

December 8, 2014




Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) points to the sky
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
After suffering an almost career ending crash in February last year, the performances of Esteban Chaves in 2014 provided Orica-GreenEdge team manager Shayne Bannan with enough evidence to suggest that he can become a future grand tour contender. The 24-year-old started his year with fourth place overall at the Tour de Langkawi and continued to repay Orica-GreenEdge's faith in signing him throughout the season, culminating in third place overall and the best young rider jersey at the final Tour of Beijing.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 8, 2014




Photo: Dan Seaton | VeloNews.com.
By the time the women made their first pass over the slippery forest trails on the lower half of the course, Belgian Ellen Van Loy had seized the lead. But as soon as they entered the woods, Van Loy’s countrywoman, Sanne Cant, surged to the front of the race, where she would remain, more or less, for the remainder.

(velonews.com)

December 8, 2014




Photo: Norco’s goal was to not only create a ripping ‘cross bike, but give the bike the performance it needs for real adventure riding.
"The Norco Threshold, may have been the most eagerly anticipated ‘cross bike of the season. It was due to a combination of the previous bike’s well-respected performance, the vibrant colors and the sneak peeks Norco trickled out prior to ‘cross season. It was the Threshold 105, the entry-level carbon bike that passed our UPS driver’s tailgate. Other than a lower modulus carbon recipe it comes from the exact same mold as its higher priced siblings and with its new Shimano 105 11speed group and nuclear-fallout green paint job it looks a lot more expensive than its $2115 price tag."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 8, 2014




Photo: This is a value-packed setup given that you get so much for $159.
"A suggestion for Smith Optics. The PivLock line of optics should be called Periphery. I know, PivLock describes how the arms are removed to swap lenses. No offense to your marketing department, your product development department or any other person or team involved in naming these shades but the periphery is what I noticed when I first put on the Smith Periphery V2s. They rock.

I am not talking peripheral vision here. Even the worst sunglasses make us aware of our peripheral vision. In researching this suggestion I looked up periphery, online. Yeah, I know, pretty high tech."

(redkiteprayer.com)

December 8, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 8, 2014















December 8, 2014







Michele Ferrari is shown in 2004. A report claims he met with Astana riders before the 2014 season. Photo: NICO CASAMASSIMA | AFP.
Italy’s most notorious doctor, Michele Ferrari, visited team Astana prior to the 2014 season in which it won the Tour de France with Vincenzo Nibali, according to a new report.

“In November 2013, one year ago, at the team’s first meeting for the 2014 season … a truly special guest arrived in the evening: Michele Ferrari,” reported Italy’s sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport Monday. “That evening, stationed outside the hotel, investigators photographed Ferrari speaking with some members of the team.”

 (velonews.com)

December 8, 2014




Each year under the UCI’s comprehensive Medical Monitoring Programme every ProTeam and Pro Continental team must provide, at its own expense, a battery of obligatory examinations... Photography by Daniel Simms
In preparation for their 2015 season, Orica-GreenEdge last week held a training camp that saw much of the team ride from Central Victoria up to Canberra. As part of that training camp, the riders visited the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra to undertake the UCI's mandatory annual health checks.

Aaron S. Lee went along to the AIS to learn what the UCI requires of WorldTour teams when it comes to health checks, and to learn more about the elite cyclist's most important asset: a big, healthy heart.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 8, 2014




Photo: Four smart, cramp-preventing tricks from cyclist and nutritionist Lindsay Langford . (Photo by Jeff Clark)
Will Sherman was 10 minutes from his best result as an amateur mountain bike racer when his quads seized, causing him to crash hard on a flat section of Indiana singletrack. As his muscles cramped into what felt like knots the size of golf balls, Sherman watched competitors pass him on their way to the finish line.

Nearly every athlete is familiar with the telltale signs of cramping—fatigue and a searing twinge that's a precursor to painful muscle contractions. They can be triggered by overstressing muscles or, more commonly, during intense activity when your body sweats out too many electrolytes like sodium and potassium.

(bicycling.com)

December 8, 2014




Photo: The sports video camera market has becoming increasingly competitive in recent years with market leader GoPro now facing challenges from the Shimano Sports Camera and Garmin Virb among others.
If you consider the Sony Action Cam in the context of cameras like GoPro’s Hero range, or the Shimano Sports Camera, the Sony Action Cam’s long and narrow form factor seems a little strange. But when you consider that Sony is coming to the Action Cam having designed more traditional camcorders in the past, the size and shape makes sense.

The unit itself weighs 90g (with battery and SD card installed) and has an IPX4 rating making it “splashproof”. Placing the unit inside the supplied case makes the Action Cam waterproof up to 3m underwater, while increasing the unit’s weight to 147g. The unit feels compact and sturdy; doubly so when housed inside the waterproof case.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 8, 2014




Photo: The Overtake is the most comprehensive road bike helmet on the market.
The Holidays are fast approaching so what better time to look at some cool gift ideas for friends/family/loved ones, or the kind of thing you leave open on your computer to make sure that a certain somebody knows what makes your heart sing. Check out wheels from Ritchey, bikes from Boardman & Fondriest, shoes from Lake, Club Ride Apparel’s jersey, decals from Zipp, computer mount from Sram, sunglasses from BBB and headwear from Rapha and Smith.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 8, 2014




2015 Trek Factory Racing's Domane 6 Series in viper red
Photo: © Trek Factory Racing.
US-based WorldTour team Trek Factory Racing have unveiled the Domane 6 Series road bike that their Spring Classics’ team will race on during the upcoming 2015 season. The team has moved away from this year’s primarily black paint job and will sport a much more standout viper red.

The Spring Classics team is led by Fabian Cancellara, who is currently riding the viper red Domane 6 Series at Trek Factory Racing's pre-season training camp. However, Cancellara's bike will come with a new design to follow.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 8, 2014







December 7, 2014





December 7, 2014




December 7, 2014



Photo: Mark Cavendish and Iljo Keisse in the 2014 Six-days of Ghent .
Mark Cavendish needs to return to international track racing as soon as possible if he wants to make the British team for Rio 2016, admits GB technical director Shane Sutton.

Cavendish has to amass qualification points to have any chance of competing on the track at the Olympics – for the second time in his career – in just two years’ time.

The Quick Step sprinter earned some during at the low-key International Belgian Open in Ghent last September, but Sutton said the Manxman needs to pick more up before this summer if his Olympic dream is to continue.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 7, 2014





Time to celebrate fro Van der Ploeg.
Photo: © Mark Gunter.
Neil van der Ploeg recovered from two falls to take a spectacular win in slippery Tasmanian conditions, powering ahead of Steele Von Hoff to claim the Stan Siejka Launceston Cycling Classic crown.

With Team Sky duo Richie Porte and Chris Froome withdrawing from the race, all eyes turned Caleb Ewan, winner of last year’s race and U23 silver medallist at the World Championships. Yet the Orica-GreenEDGE sprinter crashed in the latter stages of the race, opening up the field for van der Ploeg to surge home after two-man breakaway was caught on the final lap.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 7, 2014





Jamey Driscoll wins round one of the Waves for Water Cyclocross Collaboration. Photo: Matthew J. Clark | StraightEightFilms.com .
Jamey Driscoll and Rachel Lloyd took the flowers on Saturday during day one of the Waves for Water Cyclocross Collaboration near Tacoma, Washington.

Lloyd took the hole shot at the Marymount Event Center and got away with Amanda Miller and Courtenay McFadden.

The trio stayed together for three laps, and then Lloyd went it alone to win by eight seconds over Miller with McFadden third.

(velonews.com)

December 7, 2014




Photo: Noble, Bruno Roy, Anthony, and White led for most of the race. © Meg McMahon.
Rain fell on bayside Goddard Park in Warwick, RI today as racers took to the course for the first day of the NBX Gran Prix, the seventh round of the Verge New England Cyclocross Series presented by Stan’s NoTubes and Cycle-Smart. As the penultimate round of the 2014 Verge NECX Series, races in each of the fourteen Series categories were especially hard-fought. New England is the premier region for American cyclocross, with top-notch races nearly every weekend; however, NBX is an adored favorite for racers and fans alike. Challenging, rooty trails through wooded sections lead into long beach runs and fast, sandy turns, giving the race character that makes it as fun to race as to spectate.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 7, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 7, 2014




Photo: The injury should have limited impact on Absalon's preparation for the 2015 international seaso.
Olympic mountain bike champion Julien Absalon has broken his collarbone after a crashing during a cyclo-cross race.

The five time world champion took a nasty fall during a regional cyclo-cross championship and suffered a broken collarbone and a rib hematoma.

The Frenchman was using cyclo-cross as a means of off-season training, with Sunday's race to be the final one of his season. Last month he competed in the inaugural Red Bull Velodux cyclo-cross race in Switzerland where he and partner Ralf Naf finished third overall.

(sbs.com.au)

December 7, 2014





December 6, 2014







December 6, 2014





December 6, 2014



Photo: Brian Cookson, the UCI's president, said: 'I understand the licence commission will be in touch in the next few days.' Photograph: Giampiero Sposito/Reuters .
The UCI president, Brian Cookson, has said that he is unhappy with the spate of five positive drugs tests for the two teams within the Astana structure, but stressed that a decision is expected this coming week on whether the Astana team of Vincenzo Nibali, the Tour de France winner, will receive a WorldTour license for 2015.

“We’re waiting for the license commission to make their report, then we’ll decide, based on what they recommend, what action will be taken,” Cookson told the Observer of the Kazakhstan-based team, adding: “I think you will appreciate my view is extremely dim of that situation and I know that the Kaz fed [Kazakh federation] are extremely disappointed.”

(theguardian.com)

December 7, 2014






Photo: Beating Vantornout, van der Poel and Walsleben in a four-rider sprint, Meeusen won the Druivenkoers Overijse in a real mud cross.
After his third place in yesterday’s race in Hasselt, Tom Meeusen returned to the top step of the podium when he won today’s Druivenkoers Overijse. While Sven Nys abandoned the race and saw his streak of four wins in a row come to an end, the Telenet-Fidea rider beat Klaas Vantornout, Mathieu van der Poel and Philipp Walsleben in a four-rider sprint.

Tom Meeusen broke the dominance of Sven Nys in the Druivenkoers Overijse when he won one of the first real muddy races of the year. Having shown good form in yesterday’s race in Hasselt, he excelled in the difficult conditions to take a hugely deserved victory in the race which is not part of one of the major race series.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 7, 2014




Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP) victory salute in Koksijde
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Road world champion Ferrand-Prévot second and De Boer third.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 7, 2014




Photo: Pantani on Plateau de Beille....
"A recent autopsy review has indicated that the death of Marco Pantani was due to a heart attack brought on by a lethal overdose of cocaine mixed with anti-depressant medication. In 1998, Il Pirata was at the top – winning a Giro/Tour double. Ale Federico headed off on his new moto from Genoa to see the Tour for himself, this is his personal diary."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 7, 2014




Matti Breschel (Tinkoff - Saxo)
Photo: © Roberto Bettini.
Matti Breschel believes that Peter Sagan can inspire Tinkoff-Saxo to ride at another level in the 2015 Spring Classics. Sagan has joined the Russian registered team after several years at Cannondale and will spearhead the team from January onwards. The most significant signing of the season joins a team that has lacked an out-and-out Classics star since Fabian Cancellara.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 7, 2014







Photo: Golden girl...Amy Cure gives the thumbs up to her points race result (AAP Images).
Reigning points race world champion Amy Cure claimed the first gold of the London World Cup for Australia on Saturday.

While Cure was victorious in the points race, Alexander Edmondson and Callum Scotson narrowly missed a medal in the Madison finishing fourth, with Anna Meares finishing sixth in the sprint.

(sbs.com.au)

December 7, 2014





December 6, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 7, 2014





December 7, 2014




Photo: American lawyer Michael Garcia has criticised FIFA's refusal to publish the report which he wrote.
World Cycling will show FIFA the way when it comes to transparency around a major inquiry when their doping investigation reports in February.

FIFA continues to prevaricate on how much of Michael Garcia’s probe into World Cup bid corruption will ever be made public because of confidentiality issues despite a global demand that it is seen in full.

But Brian Cookson, British president of UCI — cycling’s ruling body — has promised their own investigation into cycling’s chronic drug problem will be published in full.

(dailymail.co.uk)

December 7, 2014




Photo: Having been hit badly by his Giro crash, Dan Martin bounced back well towards the end of the season and can go a lot further with his new team next year.
With one glance at the composition of Dan Martin’s new Cannondale-Garmin team for next season it becomes apparent the Irishman is the stand out rider in the squad.

And aside from Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal, he is the most successful.

The 27-rider roster is thin on the ground in terms of established names, though there are a number in the squad perhaps just a season or two away from real greatness.

And a focus on development has always been a central theme for team principal Jonathan Vaughters, hence the myriad new faces.

(stickybottle.com)

December 7, 2014




Photo: Only Sunday's final day (December 7) will be streamed live on the UCI channel.
There will be live streaming for the final day, Sunday, December 7, starting at 4:50pm CET (10:50am U.S. Eastern).

(cyclingfans.com)

December 7, 2014




Photo: there are three routes to the top..
The Col de la Madone is the climb used by many Monaco-based pros to test their form. If the top of the climb can be a finish line, it’s also a gateway, once over the pass a range of riding options open up. When riders want a longer and more Alpine style climb the Col de Turini is often the default choice.

Made famous by motorsport and picked by TV pundits Top Gear as one of the top-10 roads in the world it is also a superb place for cyclists.

(inrng.com)

December 7, 2014




the 2015 FDJ team jersey
Photo: © FDJ.
Keep informed about all information related to professional cycling team training camps as teams prepare for the 2015 road season. Check back often for the latest feature articles, news, interviews, tech, video and photographs related to teams' pre-season activities.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 7, 2014




Photo: Lard on a bike...
"A couple of weeks ago I’d have worn out the batteries in my Face Palmer if I had one. Another online article that on face value appeared to make perfect sense, referencing a research paper no less, related to ‘fat-burning’ rides. The reality however was that the interpretation was erroneous, condemning numerous cyclists to riding along at 14 mph to ‘burn fat’.

The only think that grates with me more than the use or even consideration of the use of the term ‘anaerobic threshold’, is the utter confusion that surrounds the term ‘fat-burning zone’."

(road.cc)

December 7, 2014




The Defy strikes a superb balance between comfort and agility
Robert Smith.
BikeRadar verdict: 4.5 out of 5 stars. "Some of the 2015 tweaks make little difference, but knocking down the price of a bike this good is only going to make us like it even more."

(bikeradar.com)

December 7, 2014





December 6, 2014





December 6, 2014





December 6, 2014

December 6, 2014


Photo: Ready for action! Richie Porte and Chris Froome will star in the Stan Siejka Launceston Criterium (All images Mark Gunter).
Tour de France champion Chris Froome may have been on the start line but it was Charter Mason's Shannon Johnson who claimed the honors in the Launceston Kermesse, a warm-up to the Stan Siejka Launceston Criterium to be broadcast live on SBS on Sunday.

SBS will broadcast the Stan Siejka Launceston Cycling Classic, Sunday 7 December: 1530-1800 AEDT (7:30pm Pacific, December 6th) (Live Eastern States, also streamed online).

(sbs.com.au)

December 6, 2014






Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Van Aert and Meeusen round out podium.

 (cyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014






Sanne Cant (Enertherm-BKCP) victory salute in Koksijde
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Sanne Cant grabbed her 13th victory of the season at a sunny edition of the GP Hasselt, fourth round of the Bpost Bank Trophy cyclo-cross series. Road world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot ended her first cyclo-cross race of the season on a fast and technical course in second place, holding off Sophie de Boer in the sprint at 13 seconds back from Cant. De Boer remains in the lead of the Bpost Bank Trophy cyclo-cross series.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014




Photo: Bradley Wiggins, Stage 6 of the 2014 Amgen Tour of California, Santa Clarita to Mountain High .
Ahead of the team’s anticipated pre-Christmas launch, more details of Bradley Wiggins‘s new development squad emerged today, as GB technical director Shane Sutton confirmed it will be heavily backed by Sky.

“Team Wiggins”, which aims to support the Tour de France champion’s return to the track in preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympics, is expected to be official unveiled in the next two weeks.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 6, 2014







Team GB in pursuit action
Photo: © Guy Swarbrick.
Great Britain kicked off the Track World Cup in London with two gold medals in the team pursuit on Friday. The men’s team, comprising of Mark Christian, Steven Burke, Owain Doull and Andy Tennant picked up their first win in the event in over a year, edging out New Zealand in the final.

Ed Clancy had helped the team to qualify second fastest and the squad beat Demark to ensure their place in the final, where they won with a time of 4:01.151, with New Zealand clocking 4:05.463.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 6, 2014


Michele Ferrari leaves a tribunal in Bologna, Italy in 2004
Photo: © AFP.
The four-year-long Padua investigation into an alleged doping scandal centered around Italian doctor Michele Ferrari, and implicates athletes in cycling, triathlon and biathlon, has been handed over to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), according to a report in La Repubblica. The file is reported to include links to individuals within the Astana team.

Public prosecutor Benedetto Roberti headed the investigation, which points to Italian and Swiss police uncovering a system of money laundering and tax fraud linked to a doping ring involving 20 professional riders, and that Dr. Ferrari helped organize the system. It was reported that some 70 people have been investigated.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014





UCI headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland
Photo: © AFP.
The UCI and various stakeholders including teams and race organizers have agreed to a number of broad proposals aimed at improving the credibility and profitability within men’s professional road cycling.

At the 2014 UCI WorldTour seminar in Montreux, Switzerland a new standard of operational guidelines for teams was approved. Eight of the 18 existing WorldTour teams will work within the new framework starting in 2015. A full program will be implemented for the start of the 2017 season and will affect the way in which teams are approved WorldTour licenses.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014





Team manager Viatcheslav Ekimov and Roman Arnold President Canyon Bikes
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Katusha team manager Viatcheslav Ekimov believes that it would be wrong of the UCI’ s License Commission to strip the Astana team of their WorldTour license for 2015. The Kazakh outfit must wait until December 10 to find out their fate after a series of doping infractions. If the decision goes against them then it could see them and reigning Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali consigned to fighting for wildcards at major races.

“For me it is not right,” Ekimov said. “I’ve been thinking whether or not it is the right measure to sanction and suspend the licenses for the whole team.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014




Photo: For size comparison, from left to right, here's the iPhone 5, Magellan Cyclo505, Garmin Edge 500 and Magellan Cyclo 105
David Rome / Immediate Media.
GPS technology has found its way into many things over the past few years and is now commonplace in cars, phones, cameras and, yes, bike computers. Where GPS computers of the past were overly expensive and offered poor battery life, the current generation are far more affordable, reliable and offer a host of features previously only dreamed of in traditional cycle computers.

In the past, cycling GPS devices were primarily for riders who wanted navigation and trail guidance. Their usage has changed greatly however, and they now devices combine heart rate monitors, bike computers and navigation into one unit. The GPS is now just as much a dedicated training tool and ride tracker as it once was a navigation unit.

(bikeradar.com)

December 6, 2014




Stage 12 winner Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Go big or go home. That seems to be Alexander Kristoff’s mantra for 2015. The Katusha rider is setting himself big goals for next year, as he targets a second Milan-San Remo victory, the green jersey at the Tour de France and the rainbow jersey of the World Championships.

“I will try to win and it would be a dream come true to win the World Championships. You can’t win everything though. We will try to win everything, but we will see,” Kristoff said at the team’s training camp in Calpe.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014









Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 6, 2014



December 6, 2014




Photo: WADA and the UCI have until around December 8 to file their appeal.
"I don’t think I can get a four year ban. I think that’s bullshit because I’ve not had a ban before and I’ve not organized doping. I think I could get two years but that depends when it starts."

 (cyclingquotes.com)

December 6, 2014




Photo: Col Collective shows you how to successfully summit cycling’s greatest climbs.
Generations of cyclists have made pilgrimages across Europe to conquer the tough gradients and switchbacks of the sport’s most famous ascents. Now, Col Collective is making that task a little easier.

Col Collective has produced a series of free videos that aim to give cyclists the inspiration and education needed to emulate their heroes and conquer the world’s most iconic climbs.

(bikeradar.com)

December 6, 2014




Photo: The book opens with an excellent 20 page summary of the importance of sports and particularly bicycle racing and particularly the Peace Race in the so-called German Democratic Republic (GDR).
Today’s book review is a tale of sporting glory, love, espionage, politics and more as Herbie Sykes recounts the fascinating life of East german cyclist Dieter Wiedemann in ‘The Race Against the Stasi’. A cycling hero in the East, Dieter defected to the west in the name of love as detailed in this truly unique book.

Bike racing is hard, very hard if you add up everything from the hours of training to the exhaustion of sprinting and climbing to the anxieties of actual competition to the too-real risk of crashing Now imagine that cycling could give you everything you wanted—fame, money, the unbridled admiration and affection of fellow-citizens, the chance to meet the girl of your dreams. But if things go wrong you will be deemed a traitor, not only to your sport but also to your nation.

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014




Tao Geoghegan Hart at the start of stage 3 of the Tour of Britain
Photo: © Rob Lampard.
Fifteenth overall at the Tour of Britain against professionals and 10th in Tour de l’Avenir is pretty good going for a 19-year-old but Tao Geoghegan Hart isn’t just any teenager. He chooses his words carefully as he assesses the season with the experience of someone beyond his years.

He says the Tour of Britain was probably his favorite race of the season but he’s already focused on next year and looking to make a real impact.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014




Bradley Wiggins puts Tony Martin to the sword
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Shane Sutton believes that the Giro d’Italia could prove the ideal preparation for Bradley Wiggins’ assault on the Hour Record and a return to the track as he builds towards the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

Wiggins is currently training for the Spring Classics and spent last week riding reconnaissance on the cobbles. Paris-Roubaix is his major objective for next spring, with a tilt at the Hour Record pencilled in for June. A Giro d’Italia ride remains a possibility before he signs off at Team Sky and moves to his yet to be named development team.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 6, 2014





December 5, 2014

December 5, 2014


Gage Hecht looks ahead to December national team camp in Belgium following his win at Koksijde. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com (File).
At only 16 years old, Gage Hecht’s palmares are already something to envy. Splitting his time between road and cyclocross, the Coloradan is one of the most promising talents within America’s junior ranks.

Dominating much of the junior cyclocross calendar in the States throughout the year, Hecht has also posted top results in American elite races and enjoyed success in Europe. At the start of November, he won the first-ever cyclocross junior Pan American Championships.

(velonews.com)

December 5, 2014





The women's scratch race podium (l-r): Lauren Stephens (USA), Jannie Milena Salcedo Zambrano (Colombia), Katarzyna Pawlowska (Poland)
Photo: © Guy Swarbrick.
Colombia's Jannie Salcedo Zambrano secured the first gold medal at the UCI Track World Cup round two in the women's scratch race on Friday at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London. She won the race in a sprint ahead of American rider Lauren Stephens, who earned the silver medal. Poland's Katarzyna Pawlowska, who was a lap down, took the bronze medal.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 5, 2014





Reigning cyclocross world champion Zdenek Stybar of the Czech Republic said Friday he would skip next year’s world championships in his homeland because of a shoulder injury.

“I feel like crying saying this, but I’m not going,” the Czech news agency CTK quoted Stybar as saying.

The 28-year-old Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider, who won world cyclocross titles in 2010, 2011, and 2014, tore the ligaments in his right shoulder in a fall during a cyclocross race in Belgium in October.

(velonews.com)

December 5, 2014





Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans) won the World Cup before the race started
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
The women's road World Cup will return to the United States in 2015 for the first time in fourteen years following the addition of the Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic to the calendar. The Philadelphia race, formerly known as the Liberty Classic, was part of the first four World Cup series but has not been on the schedule since 2001.

The inclusion of the Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic, which takes place June 7, means that the women’s World Cup expands to ten races for the first time since 2009. The series gets underway on March 14 with the Ronde van Drenthe and concludes on August 29 with the GP de Plouay-Bretagne after rounds in Italy, Belgium, China, Germany and Sweden.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 5, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 5, 2014





Caleb Fairly rode for Garmin-Sharp the last two seasons. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Caleb Fairly will ride for Giant-Alpecin next season, joining three other Americans on the WorldTour team.

Giant already has Americans Lawson Craddock, Chad Haga, and Carter Jones in its 2015 lineup. Craddock and Haga both joined Giant for 2014, while Jones arrives from Continental outfit Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies.

Fairly, 27, rode for Garmin-Sharp the last two years. In 2014, he primarily rode short stage races, like the Amgen Tour of California, Tour of Poland, Tour of Alberta, and the USA Pro Challenge. Fairly is a strong climber who will continue to serve as a domestique.

(velonews.com)

December 5, 2014




The white jersey of Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) with the yellow jersey of Vincenzo Nibali (Astana)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Sea Otter turns 25, Impey nominated for African Cyclist of the Year, Cunego heads to Vini Fantini camp.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 5, 2014




Photo: Physio and osteopath Lewis Wood helps cyclists to assess their aches and nip niggles in the bud.
After a long ride, many cyclists suffer from pain and tenderness across the outer part of the thigh.

If these symptoms last longer than a couple of days, ie longer than usual post-ride muscle soreness (a day or two), the problem may be excessive friction of the connective tissue across the outer quadriceps muscle, known as iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 5, 2014





December 4, 2014





December 4, 2014


2014 Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali will have few alternatives if his Astana team is not granted a WorldTour license in 2015. Photo: BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com (File)..
Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali would be in a bind if the UCI refused his Astana team a racing license for the 2015 season. Other teams have already allocated their budgets for the year ahead, meaning the Italian would have very few options available.

“Where would I go this late in the season?” Nibali said last week. “It’s absurd. I’m not even going to think about it happening.”

(velonews.com)

December 5, 2014




Photo: Taylor Phinney talks to the media after riding the 2015 world time trial championship course in Richmond
Photo: © Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor.
Taylor Phinney looked set to make 2014 his biggest year yet with victory in the Dubai Tour and the American national time trial championships, before he broke his leg during the road race and was forced to miss out on the remainder of the season, including a debut at the Tour de France.

The American will be aiming to get back to his best in 2015, in what will be his fifth year as a professional after making the step up to the WorldTour with BMC in 2011. By that time he was already a two-time world champion on the track and had beaten Levi Leipheimer to become national time trial champion for the first time.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 5, 2014




Christopher Froome (Sky)
Photo: © Roberto Bettini.
Baker to ride with Wiggle-Honda, GoPro cameras in 2015 races? Five WorldTour teams for the 2015 Volta ao Algarve.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 5, 2014




All else equal, decreasing rolling resistance (rr) increases speed. Shorter curves indicate faster, lower rr tires. The two colors on each curve show rr for each tire at different tire pressures, 84 and 112 psi.
"Whether on tarmac or singletrack, a tire with lower rolling resistance reduces the power required to move forward while also providing a better quality ride. The tire absorbs small bumps by not transferring them into the bicycle and rider, resulting in a smoother ride, faster speeds, and better cornering. How could you pass that up?

During a February, 2012 visit to Wheel Energy, an independent tire-testing lab in Finland, I was fascinated by the tests the lab was doing for tire brands like Vittoria, Specialized, Bontrager, and many others."

(velonews.com)

December 5, 2014




Photo: The SportCrafters Omnium Trainer is the only full-size bike trainer on the planet that folds up small enough to fit in a carry-on bag and weighs 13.7 pounds.
Now’s the time to treat yourself or your loved ones to some great new gear and the PEZCycling Gift Guide #2 has got all bases covered with some tubeless wheels from American Classic, clothing from Bellwether, unique gift ideas from The Handmade Cyclist and Reynolds, a training camp from CCSD, shoes from Giro, XQISIT Portable Speakers, CRAFT Gloves, Sportcrafters Trainer, Nalini Winter jersey, Campagnolo gear and a Selle SMP saddle – the gift guide runneth over!

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 5, 2014




The Mio Velo is ANT+ compatible and can take data from speed, cadence and power sensors and send it to your phone. Photo: Mio.
"Here’s your Week in Tech — all the gear news, tips, and announcements you need and none of the marketing gibberish you don’t."

(velonews.com)

December 5, 2014




We've got a lot of quirky gadgets in this week's round-up
Josh Patterson / Immediate Media.
Oval MTB chainrings, water-hose scrub brushes, lateral-float pedals, electric muscle stimulators and more.

(bikeradar.com)

December 5, 2014




Photo: Tom's picks include Quarq, Whyte, Time, Mavic and Cobb
Tom Ballard / Immedite Media.
Quarq, Mavic, Whyte, Time and Cobb feature on our list of favorites.

(bikeradar.com)

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Photo: Daily Distraction...

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December 5, 2014




Photo: RUSADA whistleblower Stepanov says cycling was amongst sports being protected by Russian doping system.
German anti-doping journalist Hajo Seppelt has been in the headlines this week after he and his colleagues at ARD were involved in uncovering what appears to be a massive doping scandal involving Russian athletics.

According to a documentary broadcast on ARD station MDR on Wednesday night, up to 99% of the Russian Olympic team used doping. They were allegedly facilitated and protected by what was described as an East German-style doping system, which included the administration of doping substances and also cover-ups to try to limit positive tests.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 5, 2014




Marco Pantani in the maglia rosa at the 1999 Giro d'Italia, which he would leave in disgrace after a failed haematocrit test
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
A cocaine and anti-depressive cocktail the likely cause of death.

The police investigation sparked by suspicions that Marco Pantani was murdered is expected to end in the next two months after a key autopsy review indicated that Pantani died due to a heart attack sparked by a lethal overdose of cocaine and anti-depressant medication.

In recent months, reports in the Italian media based largely on one-sided information from the Pantani family lawyer Antonio De Rensis, had suggested that Pantani could have been forced to drink diluted cocaine from a bottle after being attacked in his hotel room in Rimini.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 5, 2014





Photo: I sometimes see people saying Brian Cookson needs to act on Astana’s licenc.
Astana have been made to wait a week in order to get their license for 2015. You suspect Alexander Vinokourov wouldn’t sweat if you put him in a banya but even the granite-faced Astana team boss must be feeling embarrassed.

Yesterday’s news from the UCI tells us all that’s missing for Astana’s license is a piece of paper or something else that can be fixed in the coming week rather than something drastic. The Kazakh team are likely to get their license.

(inrng.com)

December 5, 2014




Photo: He has still no concrete plans about making an attempt in 2015.
As he is no longer able to test himself against Eddy Merckx, Fabian Cancellara is no longer motivated by the Hour Record.

"That is still on my mind, to be honest. But now I have to ride against new record holder Matthias Brändle. That is another kind of motivation than to ride against a legend like Mercx."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 5, 2014




Photo: More cyclocross! Hurrah! - Balint Hamvas.
And so the season continues. We've had madness, mayhem and many a winner. And as the end of the year gets nearer, so the most important weeks of cyclocross season approach.

(podiumcafe.com)

December 5, 2014




The 920XT is a big step in the direction of convergence: one gadget to do it all.
(Photo courtesy of Garmin).
Garmin’s premier multisport GPS watch, the Forerunner 920XT, is now available to the public. We’ve had the chance to test the early samples for the past 8 weeks. It’s a big improvement over previous Garmin wearable multisport GPS devices, and sets the bar higher for all other brands of wearable GPS units.

The 920XT is a big step in the direction of convergence: one gadget to do it all. It incorporates the best features of Garmin’s dedicated devices for swimming, cycling, and running, and also includes an activity tracker for counting daily steps taken, calories burned, and hours of sleep.

(bicycling.com)

December 5, 2014




Photo: Cervelo’s time trial bike is built for speed and comfort
Robert Smith.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "A raceable package straight from the box, but crying out for a wheel upgrade – slot in some faster hoops and say goodbye to your PBs." (bikeradar.com)

December 5, 2014











December 4, 2014


December 4, 2014


Now retired, Denis Menchov is one of the most prominent Russian cyclists in recent years. He was retroactively suspended for doping, and now Russian authorities are under scrutiny due to allegations of systematic cheating. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
The Guardian reports that a German TV documentary, aired on MDR network Wednesday alleges not only that up to “99 percent” of the Russian Olympic team used doping but also that a network of corruption had been put in place to cover up positive tests, involving officials at the Russian anti-doping agency, the doping control laboratory in Moscow, as well as the International Association of Athletics Federations.

One retired Russian runner, Yuliya Stepanova, says she was frequently encouraged by her coaches to keep “clean” urine samples in a freezer for tests during training. At the Russian athletics championships she was instructed to text the number of her urine sample to an official, after which she would be able to “sleep in peace.” One covert recording shows her coach handing her pills said to be Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid banned by the International Olympic Committee.

(velonews.com)

December 4, 2014




Chris Horner transferred from Saturn to Webcor Builders in 2004.
Photo: © Rob Karman.
The recent announcement that 2013 Vuelta a España champion Chris Horner had signed with Airgas-Safeway, a second-year UCI Continental team, ended months of speculation over his future while simultaneously sending mild tremors through the US peloton.

Immediate talk centered on how the upstart team could have landed the 43-year-old Grand Tour veteran, then riders and directors from the US domestic teams quickly came to grips with the fact that one of the most prolific winners the US domestic peloton has ever known could soon be back in his old stomping grounds.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 4, 2014




A pensive Roman Kreuziger (Astana) at the finish
Photo: © Sirotti.
Roman Kreuziger has reiterated his innocence and offered further explanation as to his blood values at the center of a UCI Biological Passport case.

The Czech rider and his legal team are awaiting the final documentation from the UCI and WADA before a hearing is scheduled at the Court of Arbitration of Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. Kreuziger was cleared of doping by the Czech Olympic Committee in October but if found guilty by CAS, he could be banned for up to four years.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 4, 2014




Photo: Chris Froome will win the Tour de France.
Well that didn’t work out.
"Just before 2014 started I made 14 predictions for 2014. The point wasn’t to forecast precise events, it was more a means to look at stories that could unfold in the year. Now it’s time to review them.

Prediction: Chris Froome will win the Tour de France
Well that didn’t work out. The prediction was actually more nuanced, an answer to the big question in the sport that people were asking all through the winter. All was going to plan and Froome did start the Tour as the bookies pick. “One slip, one injury and it all changes” I wrote and this proved quite true."

(inrng.com)

December 4, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 4, 2014




Photo: Vardaros taking the muddy uphill turn at Flandriencross. © Danny Zelck.
"Only five days before the UK Milton Keynes World Cup, I got the email that I should be able to race.  This meant that everything had to be planned well beyond the 11th hour.  A major snag was that my husband Jonas had to work that weekend which meant I also had to seek out transport as I do not drive.  Luckily help came at the last moment. I was able to hitch a ride with another team’s mobile home and my longtime friend Jessica Conner and her husband Tim booked me a hotel 7km from the race so I was set."

(cxmagazine.com)

December 4, 2014




Photo: There are things I still want to achieve, such as a national title, the Tour of Flanders, a world championship, a World Cup series and, of course, Olympic gold. Photography by Daniel Simms
South Australia's Tiffany Cromwell was recently crowned Cycling Australia's Elite Women's Road Cyclist of the Year after a season that included a fifth in the World Championships road race and fourth in the Commonwealth Games road race. In 2015 and beyond, Cromwell is aiming higher.

Cromwell spoke with Aaron S. Lee about how her first season with Specialized-Lululemon unfolded, her goals for the coming season (including the Australian Road Nationals) and how cycling is only one of the many pursuits vying for her attention.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 4, 2014




GoPro cameras can be mounted in multiple positions on a racer's bike. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com.
GoPro is in talks with professional road teams to place its sports cameras on team bikes during major races next season, according to Bloomberg News.

Company spokeswoman Isabel Pakowski confirmed the talks to Bloomberg but declined to discuss the possible terms, or possible teams, involved.

The UCI first approved the use of on-bike cameras at this year’s Amgen Tour of California, and president Brian Cookson has made it clear that the future of cycling’s TV coverage should feature on-bike footage.

(velonews.com)

December 4, 2014




Photo: Not a bad looking bike..
Utah based direct-to-consumer bike seller Fezzari has upped the ante of its cyclocross offerings with a new frame platform and multiple build options.

While specs vary from model to model, all the new bikes are built around the same full carbon frame, which features a 15mm thru axle up front, a 142x12mm rear thru axle, disc brakes, a tapered headtube, and stealth internal routing that’s compatible with mechanical and electronic shifting drivetrains.

(roadbikereview.com)

December 4, 2014





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December 3, 2014


A consistent and defensible anti-doping system could unify the peloton, write Steve Maxwell and Joe Harris. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
There is no greater threat to the future of pro cycling than the continued lack of a consistent and defensible anti-doping system. Athlete testing and punishment is often inequitable or inconsistently applied, the testing methods themselves are sometimes analytically inconclusive, and the responsibility and coordination between different governing agencies is often absent or unclear.

The shortcomings of this system have been felt across the entire sport — from its shaky financial situation to the growing demand for fundamental structural and governance reform. Real progress and a more effective solution to the doping dilemma would allow the sport to attract more sponsors, generate more revenue and flourish in the future.

(velonews.com)

December 4, 2014





Photo: The circumstances were favorable and to have had to tell my riders that they would not be going to the Giro again through a lack of an invitation would have pained me.
Today the UCI announced that IAM have been granted a WorldTour license. The team celebrate the news and admit that they have changed their mind.

The WorldTour ceased to be a distant dream for IAM Cycling.  The Licensing Board responsible for allotting the sought after tickets to the top league, gave the green light to the Swiss Pro Continental team after examining its case for promotion.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 4, 2014





Photo: Tour de France runner-up Peraud driven by cheating jibes.
French rider Jean-Christophe Péraud, runner-up behind Vincenzo Nibali in this year’s Tour de France, has admitted that accusations of cheating early in his career had helped power his later success.

Péraud’s story is recounted in Pierre Carrey’s book New cycle, confidences of three modern racers, which follows the career of three French heroes of the 2014 Tour — Péraud, Thibaut Pinot, and Romain Bardet.

Péraud, 37, and Pinot, 24, became the first Frenchmen to make the podium of the Tour de France since 1997 while Bardet finished sixth.

(velonews.com)

December 4, 2014




Tejay van Garderen (BMC) happy to be leading the race
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
The USA Pro Challenge has published the host cities for the 2015 event on its website. The race takes place in Colorado from August 17-23 and the full route will be confirmed early next year.

After starting in Aspen in recent years, the USA Pro Challenge will begin in Steamboat Springs this time around, most likely with a circuit race. Stage two will bring the peloton from Steamboat Springs to a new finish at the Arapahoe Basin ski resort, at an altitude of some 3,288 metres (10,789 feet).

(cyclingnews.com)

December 4, 2014





Photo: Nibali finished second overall in that race and subsequently returned in 2013 and 2014. Photography by Cor Vos
It remains to be seen if his Astana team will be given a WorldTour license for 2015 and, with it, invites to the WT events. However Tour de France organizer ASO has confirmed that Vincenzo Nibali will compete in next season’s Tour of Oman, heading there as the headline rider.

“The Tour of Oman holds a special place in Nibali’s cycling memories,” it said in a statement. “He ended a 17-month drought following his first overall victory in a Grand Tour [the 2010 Vuelta a España] when he claimed stage 5 to Jabal Al Akhdhar/Green Mountain and carried on to his successful campaigns of the past three years at the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.”

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 4, 2014




Luke Durbridge helped carry his Orica-GreenEdge team to victory in the Giro's team time trial. He was later forced to abandon the grand tour, but rallied to finish the Tour de France later in the 2014 season. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
While compatriots and fellow track world champions Jack Bobridge, Luke Davison, Glenn O’Shea have all opted to step down from road racing to focus on the track and Rio 2016, Orica-GreenEdge’s Luke Durbridge is confident that his future lies on in the WorldTour and has no intention of returning to the velodrome.

“In terms of results, [2014] probably wasn’t my best season on the road,” Durbridge said. “But you won’t ever see me back on the track. I can guarantee that. No ‘hour record’ — nothing.

(velonews.com)

December 4, 2014




Photo: Racers on the famous beach run of NBX. Photo: Todd Prekaski, 2013.
New England’s 2014 UCI cyclocross season concludes this weekend at the NBX Gran Prix of Cyclocross, also the exciting finale of the 2014 Verge New England Cyclocross Series presented by Stan’s NoTubes and Cycle-Smart. This groundbreaking season has been the stuff of legend; the races this weekend at Warwick, Rhode Island’s Gran Prix of NBX will be no different.

(cxmagazine.com)

December 4, 2014




Photo: Moving into a new business area is always challenging but more than anything else, it's extremely energizing,.
POC has been awarded a prestigious Swedish design award for AVIP, the concept behind the brand's road cycling gear, introduced in 2013. The Design S award has been presented every second year since 2006; this year's winners were announced Nov. 26 at a prize ceremony at the Architecture and Design Centre in Stockholm. POC's award was in the Fashion and Textiles category.

AVIP stands for Attention, Visibility, Interaction and Protection. The AVIP line was POC's first road bike gear, building on the brand's product lines for snow sports and mountain biking.

(bicycleretailer.com)

December 4, 2014





Photo: Consumers are being told to immediately stop using bicycles equipped with the recalled Salsa Bearpaw forks.
QBP's Salsa Cycles is recalling about 2,500 aluminum Salsa Bearpaw forks sold separately and on Mukluk bicycles.

According to Salsa, the fork steerers can bend or break.

The recall involves all aluminum Salsa Bearpaw forks sold separately and on Mukluk bicycles. The forks have date code 20130524, 20130710 or 20130826 stamped on the steerer, followed by "CWI2201BAN2" and a Salsa compass graphic on the bend of the fork blades (Consumers or the dealer will need to remove the fork from the frame to see the date code and model information).

(bicycleretailer.com)

December 4, 2014




Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Stybar in doubt for cyclo-cross Worlds, Pro Conti license for Drapac. Three days for BeNe Ladies Tour. Five WorldTour teams named for Volta ao Algarve.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 4, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

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December 4, 2014







Photo: Vincenzo Nibali in action during Stage 21 of the 2014 Tour de France .
Astana will not be awarded a WorldTour licence for 2015 after two high profile doping cases of the Iglinskiy brothers and three other cases in its Continental team, according to reports in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The UCI have yet to confirm whether the team will lose its license, with the Licence Commission tasked with reviewing the team not due to make a final announcement until next week.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 4, 2014




Thom Weisel rides alongside Lance Armstrong after his Tour de France victory
Photo: © Graham Watson.
The federal whistleblower lawsuit initiated by Floyd Landis in 2010 against Lance Armstrong and the US Postal Service team management has hit a road block with attorneys from Armstrong and the government disagreeing over disclosing information.

Armstrong's attorneys are attempting to block the government's request to gain access to emails between Armstrong and former team owner, Thom Weisel, which could prove that Weisel knew about the doping. They simultaneously accused the government of withholding information that could show the US Postal Service itself was not damaged by the doping to which Armstrong confessed happened during the time they sponsored the team.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 4, 2014




Photo: Agency turns over “boxes of material” to CIRC, working on improving tests. Photography by CyclingTips and Cor Vos
World Anti Doping Agency Director General David Howman has confirmed a new weapon in the fight against doping, namely a rule due to come into existence on January 1 under which penalties will apply to anyone working with banned personnel, with those who have otherwise been found to have engaged in doping-related activities and even with intermediaries who are acting as a go-between between these and athletes.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 4, 2014




Photo: Glasgow study indicates that merely thinking that you have doped may speed you up.
To what extent is cycling performance influenced by the mind? Researchers at the University of Glasgow have found that race times can be improved purely by the belief that one has used performance enhancing drugs.

(road.cc)

December 4, 2014




Photo: Another win in Colorado...
"Rory Sutherland is a ‘Resident of the World’ as he has raced and lived in most parts of the globe. His list of team’s has just got longer as Movistar has signed the roving Australian for 2015. We caught up with Rory at the Movistar’s pre-season get together in Pamplona to get the full story."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 4, 2014




The crowds in Yorkshire were insane.
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
This year’s Tour de France Grand Départ saw 3.5 million people lining the roadside to watch the race and brought in £128 million for the UK, according to a report issued by Welcome Yorkshire.

The 64-page report, written by the company eventIMPACTS, detailed the economic benefits felt by Yorkshire and the rest of the UK during the three-day opener to the Tour de France, which was deemed a huge success for the region.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 4, 2014




Photo: Lezyne RAP 21 LED...
"Winter time is a good time for the enthusiast road cyclist to upgrade or tune-up their favorite ride. Cold, rainy days offer the chance to stay inside, sip some warm cocoa and wrench. With that in mind, here are a few gift suggestions for the DIY cyclist and a few gift suggestions to help them when they are out on the road as well."

(roadbikereview.com)

December 4, 2014




Photo: The Rapha Climber's shoes borrow plenty of technology from the Giro Prolight SLX II
David Rome / Immediate Media.
The Rapha Climber's shoes have arrived just in time for Christmas, having been teased and rumored for some time now.

These fancy kicks are based on the super light Giro Prolight SLX II shoes, but feature a slightly weightier perforated synthetic leather upper instead of the Giro’s Evofiber microfiber.

(bikeradar.com)

December 4, 2014




Richard Sachs is selling his collection of Campagnolo shifters and derailleurs—which have never even been put on a bike.
(Photo courtesy of Richard Sachs).
Wondering what to get that cyclist in your life who has everything? Chances are he or she doesn’t have this: a collection of derailleurs from Campagnolo, spanning some 30 years of the Italian component giant’s most memorable products.

The seller is none other than the dean of American frame building, Richard Sachs. The collection includes one of every date-stamped Campagnolo Nuovo Record rear derailleurs from 1970 to 1984, plus a series of older derailleurs from other lines. In total, the collection includes 33 derailleurs and 16 shift lever assemblies. What’s more, they’ve never been used or even put on a bike.

(bicycling.com)

December 4, 2014
















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December 3, 2014

December 3, 2014


file photo of Russia's Maria Savinova as she celebrates as she crosses the finish line ahead of South Africa's Caster Semenya to win the women's 800-meters final the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Russia faced explosive allegations of corruption and systematic doping on Wednesday, including the reported admission of drug use by an Olympic champion runner and cover-up and extortion involving a three-time Chicago Marathon winner.

Both German television channel ARD and French sports daily L'Equipe reported that Liliya Shobukhova, who won the Chicago Marathon from 2009-11 and the London race in 2010, paid the Russian athletics federation 450,000 euros ($550,000) to cover up a positive doping case.

ARD also appeared to show reigning Olympic 800-meter champion Maria Savinova admitting to using the banned steroid oxandrolone in an undercover video that has the woman's face out of focus. The video was dubbed into German with the original audio track absent, but ARD said it possessed an unedited version.

(usnews.com)

December 3, 2014




Photo: What is the premise of the Avignon Group [Velon]?
"Speaking from his century-old, Craftsman-style home in Denver, Slipstream Sports CEO Jonathan Vaughters covered a lot of ground in the first part of this interview last week. He talked about the reasons for the merger between his Garmin-Sharp team and Team Cannondale; the out-of-balance $40 million-a-year budgets of several rival squads; the persisting shadow of doping hanging over the sport; how his earning an MBA has affected his views on the business side of team sustainability; the backstory to David Millar’s omission from the 2014 Tour de France; and the reasons why the top dozen pro teams got together to form the Avignon Group, now incorporated as Velon. In this second and final part of the interview, I first asked Vaughters about this new alliance among leading UCI WorldTour teams."

(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 3, 2014





Photo: Despite experiencing a season with more downs than ups, just another of his career marred by crashes, injuries and illness, Horner had hoped that Lampre-Merida would give him another chance.
“No. I never thought I wouldn’t get a contract. That wasn’t the problem. It was a matter of, do I want to wait for it? How much energy do I want to put into it."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 3, 2014




Graeme Brown has ridden for Dutch-based Belkin, formerly known as Rabobank, since 2006. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Australian Graeme Brown is going home, leaving the European peloton behind for next season in favor of Drapac Professional Cycling.

The Pro Continental squad competes in Australian races and some international events, and Brown’s first race in his new kit will be the Australian national championships, scheduled for Jan. 7-11.

Brown won two track cycling gold medals at the 2004 Olympics, in the team pursuit and the Madison.

(velonews.com)

December 3, 2014




US champion Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Haley wins junior race in Milton Keynes, Fontana to defend Italian title. Nys and De Boer lead the Bpost Bank Trofee standings after Flandriencross. Lack of funding and increased UCI fees end Baystate Cyclocross Weekend.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 3, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 3, 2014




Photo: With the rumours lately that Vincenzo Nibali would ride the Giro-Tour double, creating an argument with teammate Fabio Aru.
“He's a smart guy and that's why were able to talk and get on. We know that we have to talk and clear things up if there are problems. We get on well and have a laugh together. We've got a good group of people around us."

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 3, 2014




Photo: Wiggins famously fell in love with the Hell of the North last season.
Wiggins won't participate in the upcoming track World Cup held at the Lee Valley Velodrome in London, preferring to kick off early preparations for Flemish classics in Northern France instead.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 3, 2014





Photo: button can wirelessly control bike computers or other devices ...
Since the introduction of Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 9070 levers in 2012, some have puzzled over the purpose of a little button on the top of the lever, under the rubber hood.

Now Shimano said the button can wirelessly control bike computers or other devices from third-party suppliers via its D-Fly accessory, introduced last winter.

"This allows riders to keep their hands on top of the hoods while scrolling through the screens of compatible computers. This development fits within Shimano’s stress-free riding concept. It is up to the developers of the external devices, such as cycle computers, to design the exact features that the buttons control," the company said.

(bicycleretailer.com)

December 3, 2014




Photo: High value aero bike with surprisingly good road manners.
BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "Aerodynamic but well-mannered frame, immaculately dressed in full Dura-Ace 9000 – though house wheels and cockpit are less special."

(bikeradar.com)

December 3, 2014







December 2, 2014


The 2013 5-Hour Energy/Kenda team
Photo: © Brian Hodes.
The 5-hour Energy team will not return next season after five years of competing in the US domestic peloton. Team owner Jason Kriel cited loss of the title sponsor as the reason for the team's demise when he confirmed the news earlier this week.

"We had some things that were cooking, but they kind of all fell through," Kriel said of his attempts to replace the energy drink company that has sponsored the team since 2011. "It didn't make any sense for us to try and force something. It's hard enough when you barely have enough money to run a team, to try and do it without enough money, you can get yourself in trouble.".

(cyclingnews.com)

December 3, 2014




Shara Gillow at the 2013 world championships
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Having spent the last three seasons with Orica-AIS, Shara Gillow is "excited" for the next chapter in her cycling career at Rabo-Liv in 2015. The 26-year-old time trial specialist won several races against the clock including two national titles and the Oceania championships.

Gillow explained that the genesis of the deal with the number one women's cycling team came about through almost by chance.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 3, 2014




The jerseys at the Giro Rosa after stage 4
Photo: © Giro Rosa.
2015 Giro Rosa to start in Slovenia, Moolman Pasio awarded. Vuelta Asturias returns. Doull eschews Europcar for track focus.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 3, 2014




Photo: Fabian Cancellara poses before the 2014 Tour de France .
Fabian Cancellara has admitted that the well-documented changes in his team in the past four years have played their part in his fluctuating fortunes.

Having left Saxo Bank in 2011 with the Schleck Brothers and several other stars to ride for Leopard Trek, the team have had three rebrandings in four seasons.

But Cancellara is positive that the new stability at Trek Factory Racing could play an important role in the team’s results.

(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 3, 2014




Team SmartStop's riders share their tips on how to stay fit and happy through the winter months. Photo: Jonathan Devich | epicimages.us .
After a long year in the saddle, it is important for riders to take a break from road riding and indulge a little during the first part of the off-season.

“The off-season is all about some beers, burgers, pizza, and pretty much everything else you don’t get to enjoy (or at least less often) in the racing season,” said Rob Britton. “I love good food, and I live downtown, so after Alberta I hang up the skinny tires and probably spend two or three weeks walking to all the different restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner maybe four or five times a week. It’s awesome.”

 (velonews.com)

December 3, 2014




During the 2013 Milano–Sanremo, Pablo Lastras of the Movistar squad finds himself with a puncture. Photo: Taz Darling.
"The wheel change is the one time that a mechanic can really help his riders during a race. Good changes take a few seconds. Rear wheels and time trial bikes create another set of problems but the essential aim is always the same: to get the change done as quickly as possible.

Calmness is required to achieve this aim — not just from the mechanic, but from the affected rider. Riders know to wave for attention to the commissaire’s car before they stop. They hope that their team car also immediately sees the problem although either way the commissaire will radio to let the squad know that one of its riders has an issue. The rider will stop on the right-hand side of the road, allowing all the team cars, motorcycles, press, TV, and race cars to pass safely to the left."

(velonews.com)

December 3, 2014




Photo: You quit as a pro in 2008, Trent – why, you were still winning?
"'Aussie Trent Wilson used to chat ‘back in the day’ when he rode with US team Jittery Joe’s – but there was a lot more to the man than a US domestic program. He rode stagier with Fakta; spent time with ill fated iTeam Nova; rode with Frans Assez at Flanders and there were two Giro rides with Colombia-Selle Italia before he crossed the Atlantic. He was only 30 when he headed back to Australia and moved into team management. But now he’s heading back to the Giro – with his Gruppetto bike tour company.

The man doesn’t let the grass grow, we caught up with him recently."

(pezcyclingnews.com)

December 3, 2014




Photo: His career started in 2006 at Team Heinz von Heiden...
After Jens Voigt, Danilo Hondo and Julian Kern, Dominic Klemme will be the fourth German rider to announce his retirement.

"After the last three years were very poor resultswise, I've decided to quit professional cycling," he tells radsport-news.com.

The 28-year-old also has concrete plans. During the coming year, Klemme wants to finish high school. However, he will continue in cycling as an amateur. "Futhermore, I want to pursue my passion, mountain biking," he says.

(cyclingquotes.com)

December 3, 2014





December 2, 2014






December 2, 2014





December 2, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 3, 2014














December 3, 2014




Photo: Any new medicines in Pfizer’s pipeline found to have performance-enhancing characteristics will be voluntarily highlighted by Pfizer to WADA. Photography by Cor Vos
The current lag between the use of some doping substances and the development of tests for their detection could be shortened or even eliminated due to the signing of a long-term global agreement between the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and the World Anti Doping Agency.

WADA today announced details of the agreement, which will see Pfizer and WADA exchange information. The agency will inform the company about substances that are being abused by athletes, enabling the latter to work with its own scientists and determine which new pipeline products may have similar effects.

 (cyclingtips.com.au)

December 3, 2014




Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
Alberto Contador is well aware that his Giro d’Italia and Tour de France ambitions are a risk but the 2014 Vuelta a España winner is spurred on by the twin challenges of proving doubters wrong and cementing his legacy in the annals of cycling history.

If the Spaniard succeeds in his target of winning the Giro in May before recovering and then claiming the Tour de France, he would hold all three Grand Tour titles at the same time, a feat that would arguably place him among the very best riders the sport has ever seen.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 3, 2014






Photo: the team had two positive tests for EPO in 2013. These involved the riders Mauro Santambrogio and Danilo di Luca. Photography by Cor Vos
Following a number of positive tests involving the Neri Sottoli team, the MPCC anti-doping movement has announced that the squad’s membership has been suspended until at least next October.

“At the last MPCC general meeting, all of the team members have required further explanations from Neri Sottoli’s manager Angelo Citracca in order to confirm, or not, the membership of the team,” it said in a statement issued today.

(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 3, 2014




Photo: definitely not TvG and LA...
i read about LA motorpacing Tejay and i realized that, although nothing should surprise me anymore when it comes to this kind of thing, these guys were born not only with very good ‘rider DNA’ but also with the capacity to be as thick as two short planks at times, and that this means that there will always be surprises.

Opening up CyclingSnooze is like Xmas every day. presents abound. if it ain’t some Kazakh being dumb enough to get busted by a system that is three steps behind the dopers – they call these guys ‘dopey dopers’, cute huh – it’s something like this.

(crankpunk.com)

December 3, 2014




The 14 riders of the Bissell Development team with directors Omer Kem and Axel Merckx.
Photo: © Casey B. Gibson.
Axel Merckx announced today that his U23 development program will re-brand itself as the Axeon Cycling Team for the 2015 season.

Pronounced like the world “action,” the new name is part of an effort to re-brand the six-year-old program that began in 2009 as Trek-Livestrong. The team changed title sponsors to Bontrager in 2012, and it raced this season as the Bissell Development Team. Merckx said earlier this year that he wanted to create a brand that would hold up through the inevitable sponsor changes.

(cyclingnews.com)

December 3, 2014




The Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 Pro isn't just the best road bike I've ridden this year, it's possibly the best one I've ridden ever
James Huang / Immediate Media.
"An awful lot of gear passes through our hands at BikeRadar over the course of a year: some good, some fantastic, and some… not so much.

The best bits, however, are the ones that somehow manage to carve out a spot in our minds even long after they've left us or, better yet, give us little choice but to crack out our own wallets so that they never have to.

Here are a few of my favorites from 2014."

(bikeradar.com)

December 3, 2014




Photo: at its base is a collection of skill-based exercises for young riders, often under 10 years old.
Math, history, chemistry: how was school for you? What if you could have learned about pedalling, speed and balance? Well this is exactly what kids do in many of cycling’s heartlands. Right from the earliest age children learn cycling skills, start racing and join a club all thanks to a scuola di ciclismo, école de cyclisme or “cycling school”.

This is an essential part of the sport for many and the nursery for many a champion.

(inrng.com)

December 3, 2014




Astana's Enrico Gasparotto enjoys a winning beer after the 2012 Amstel Gold
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
As he sat on a beach in the Cook Islands in October, Enrico Gasparotto must have felt that his career was, well, all at sea. The Italian had left on his honeymoon midway through the month with no contract on the horizon for 2015. By the time he returned to his home in Lugano, he had braced himself for the likelihood that he might simply be cast adrift at the age of 32.

“The honeymoon wasn’t as relaxing as it should have been because I hadn’t had any response from anybody before I left, When I came home, I was 99 percent certain that instead of celebrating an end of year party with my fan club I’d be marking the end of my career.”

(cyclingnews.com)

December 3, 2014









December 2, 2014

December 2, 2014





Chris Froome changed his tune and will race the Tour de France next summer. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Sky’s Chris Froome will attempt a repeat of his 2013 win at the 2015 Tour de France in July instead of focusing on the other two grand tours.

“The concept of doing all three grand tours in a season has got appeal but having said that, I know how hard it is to do two grand tours while targeting the overall win,” Froome said Tuesday on Sky’s website.

“At this point in my career I feel that the Tour takes priority. There may come a time at some point down the line where other races may take preference, but for 2015, it’s the Tour.”
(velonews.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: Jeremy Powers struggled after a long run on the off-camber in the first lap, and stuck with Sven Nys for the first half of the race. © Bart Hazen.
After the astonishing top ten finish in the Valkenburg World Cup this year, everyone had high expectations for Jeremy Powers at the first World Cup event outside Continental Europe. No one had higher expectations than Powers himself, however, and at the end of the day, you couldn’t help but feel that he didn’t want to walk away with a top-25. Still, the crowd was set fully behind him. Especially as he was one of the few riders able to take on the massive steps.
(cxmagazine.com)

December 2, 2014





Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) will return to Qatar in February, along with an all-star cast of sprinters and classics specialists. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
The Tour of Qatar is again shaping up to be a sprinter’s showcase. The February race is set to attract Marcel Kittel, who won four stages of the 2014 Tour de France, Alexander Kristoff, who claimed two Tour stages last year, as well as Milano-Sanremo, and the Tour’s green jersey champion, Peter Sagan.

French cycling fans will have an eye on national champion Arnaud Démare and his soon-to-be former teammate Nacer Bouhanni, who won the points competition in the Giro d’Italia, and will ride for Cofidis in 2015. Démare claimed 15 victories in 2014, and Bouhanni is a five-time stage winner at the grand tours (Giro and Vuelta)
(velonews.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: Tyler Farrar is yet another fast finisher who lost his momentum in last few seasons signed by MTN-Qhubeka for 2015.
"After seven years, you kind of slide into a role with a team and it's very easy to stay within your boundaries," Farrar said. "It is a bit of a challenge to step out of your comfort zone but I think that it is really good."
(cyclingquotes.com)

December 2, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 2, 2014




Photo: California, Utah, and Colorado, those will be the main objectives... Words by Daniel McMahon // Images by Yuzuru Sunada
On Monday, US continental team Airgas-Safeway announced that it had signed veteran American rider Chris Horner for 2015.

That news brought to an end lots of speculation as to whether Horner, the winner of the Vuelta a España in 2013, would even be racing again next year.

Having turned 43 in October, he’d had a tricky season with UCI World Tour team Lampre-Merida in 2014.
(pelotonmagazine.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: Campagnolo definitely caused a stir after photos first surfaced of its new four-arm crankset design but it does look much better in person
James Huang / Immediate Media.
While the brake calipers, chain, and cassette are unchanged (save for a new wide-range 11-29T option on the cassette), the rest of the group has undergone a rather massive transformation – and nowhere is that more evident than in the new four-arm crankset. The more modern aesthetic is undoubtedly more polarising than its predecessor's more classic lines but it truthfully does look better in person than pictures might otherwise suggest.

More importantly, the new (and truly massive) spider now allows for compact, semi-compact, and standard chainrings to all fit on the same crankarm, plus each ring now bolts directly to the arm for reduced flex, which bodes well for shift performance under load. Meanwhile, a titanium axle and hollow carbon fibre arms keep the actual weight of our 170mm-long, compact setup to just 606g, plus another 76g for the matching PF86 press-fit bottom bracket cups.
(bikeradar.com)

December 2, 2014




Team Europcar at Tour of Beijing
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Teunissen breaks collarbone, Julien Antomarchi to Roubaix Lille Metropole.
(cyclingnews.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: There are lots of things you can control while riding on the road but unfortunately, the behavior of the drivers around you is not one of them
James Huang / Immediate Media.
My wife was nearly taken out the other day by a driver who saw her but still buzzed her at speed. She was visible, she was in the bike lane, she was well within the speed limit – basically doing everything she should have been doing. This was a sad reminder that what happens out on the open road isn't always in our hands – but damn it, that still isn't going to keep me from riding.

All sorts of emotions went through my head when she recounted the story upon arriving back home, still visible shaken. At first, I was mostly relieved that while she almost got hit, she didn't actually get hit. But the more I thought about it, that sense of relief was wholly replaced by anger – rage, even.
(bikeradar.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: The Aerfast 20th Anni bike. ..
Founded in Germany by Markus Storck in 1995, Storck Bicycle is now celebrating its 20th anniversary with limited-edition framesets and accesories.

Selected Storck frame models such as Aernario, Aerfast, Visioner CSL, Scenero, Rebel Nine and Rebel Seven will be available with the special 20th Anni paint and featuring special 20th Anni accessories.
(bicycleretailer.com)

December 2, 2014








December 1, 2014





December 1, 2014





December 1, 2014






December 1, 2014





December 1, 2014





December 1, 2014


Photo: Performance approach: When we feel that we can perform at or above a certain standard of competence, we have an approach goal. We go after it.. Photography by Cor Vos
For any given bike race there can only be one winner. For many of us, a win may come only once in a season and that one fleeting moment is what makes it so highly addictive. Some of us will even never get experienced that indescribable feeling. We're all competitive for different reasons and in this article Justin Coulson takes a look at the motivations behind the desire to race and to win.
(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 2, 2014





After an up-and-down 2014 season, Peter Sagan has a new team, new coach, but the same old ambition to win one of cycling's monuments. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Peter Sagan begins a new chapter of his career in 2015 when he will suit up in a different jersey for the first time since turning pro in 2010 with Liquigas/Cannondale.

For the coming season, Sagan has clearly stated that a “big win” is the top priority in his move to Tinkoff-Saxo in a high-profile, three-year deal. In an interview with the Spanish daily MARCA, Sagan confirmed he will be working with Bobby Julich as his primary coach and trainer.

“I only know that from now on, my trainer will be Bobby Julich,” Sagan told MARCA. “He will be my third trainer of my career, after Paolo Slongo and, this year, Sebastian Weber.”
(velonews.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: In recent months, Niels Albert secretky dreamed of a comeback despite his heart problems.
In May, Niels Albert created a shock in the cyclo-cross scene: he announced his retirement due to serious heart problems. He has stayed in the cycling world as sports director of the Vastgoestservice team where he has been successful with Wout van Aert. But apparently he was making comeback plans until last week. He reveals his secrets in his column in Het Laatste Nieuws.

"It's final: I will never ride again," Albert makes clear right from the beginning. "I have known that for a week, after a long chat with Professor Marc Willing, an authority in pediatric cardiology."

"Only now - six months later - I fully understand how serious my problem, and here I will confess: until last Monday, I still believed in a comeback.
(cyclingquotes.com)

December 2, 2014




The Australian team
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
The Cycling Australia road service course centre in Italy has become the latest target of bicycle thieves in Italy with the national federation losing "significant" amounts of equipment ahead of the 2015 season.

Professional bicycle theft in Europe has become an unwanted feature on the cycling calendar with Team Sky, Europcar, RadioShack, Cannondale and the Russian national team all victims of theft in recent years. This week, thieves successfully broke into the Cycling Australia base in Varese as Cycling Australia's National Performance Director Kevin Tabotta explained.
(cyclingnews.com)

December 2, 2014




Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) won the 2014 Worlds ITT
Photo: © Bettini Photo.
Great Britain team director Shane Sutton confirmed today that Bradley Wiggins will not race in the upcoming UCI Track World Cup in London.

Sutton also cast doubts on reports that Wiggins is considering racing the Giro d'Italia in 2015. The plans of the former Tour de France champion have been the subject of great speculation in recent weeks. Wiggins has made it clear he aims to target the track events at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and will attempt to break the Hour Record in June, but also said he intends to race Paris-Roubaix.
(cyclingnews.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: Helen Wyman in the Womens world championships in 2014 .
Eight-time British Cyclocross champion Helen Wyman has urged budding CX riders to stick with the sport, despite its lack of Olympic status.

In an open letter posted on her website, Wyman insists that riders can make a successful and lucrative career in CX, a career which opens up opportunities to travel the world and compete in televized races in front of 10,000 fans.

“I want you all to know that cyclocross is a good career path as a cyclist,” she said in the letter. “You don’t have to be an MTB rider, or a track rider.
(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 2, 2014




Friends don't let friends ride without a chain watcher. Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) has ridden CX1 all season without a dropped chain, but the SRAM CX1 drivetrain is not fool-proof. Photo: Logan VonBokel | VeloNews.com.
Days spent stretching, prepping, and gluing tubulars. More time each week washing and tuning bikes than actually training on them. Seeking, always seeking, that perfect, mechanical-free race. Then, on race day, the chain drops. Seconds and places flood past.

You’re not alone.

Sven Nys dropped his chain at the Milton Keynes World Cup, and based on how he rode the rest of the race, from last to eighth place, it may have cost him the win.
(velonews.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: The final lap of Men’s Elite was a nailbiter between Bourdevaire and Rathkamp. © Philip Beckman/PB Creative.
The legend of the Turkey Trot ‘Cross grew wings in 2014, as an already engaging course was made even more rousing with the arrival of the region’s first significant rain event in, oh, forever. Turkey Trot presented by Montrose Bike shop has been taking place at Glendale’s Verdugo Park for nine years now, making it the longest-running CX race in SoCal. There are numerous compelling reasons for this.
(cxmagazine.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: Clean the chain with a chain cleaning tool and degreaser to remove old oil
BikeRadar / Immediate Media.
Washing your road or mountain bike after riding can be a pain, but giving it a quick clean can help to keep it in good working order, make components last longer and save you money.

Cleaning your bike regularly helps prevent build-up of dirt and grease that would otherwise chew through your moving mechanical parts – especially your drive train. Washing your bike after riding in muddy or wet conditions is even more important.
(bikeradar.com)

December 2, 2014





Photo: Be safe: The 2015 Felt Bicycles F65X bikes are recalled. Spread the word to alert any potential owners.
The CPSC announced today that Felt Bicycles is recalling two 2015 aluminum cyclocross models, the F65X and F85X. The recall is constrained to the 2015 models and impacts approximately 150 units. See the recall details from the CPSC.

If you know owners of these bikes, please spread the word.
(cxmagazine.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 2, 2014















December 2, 2014




Stricter anti-doping controls have boosted cycling's credibility in recent years. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
As the 2014 racing campaign fades into memory, by any measure, it was a firecracker of a season.

There was absolutely fantastic racing from start to finish, across the classics, the stage races, and the grand tours. From the Santos Tour Down Under to the Giro di Lombardia, every race was competitive, fraught with tension, and all but impossible to predict the winner.

Who would have tapped 24-year-old Michal Kwiatkowski as world champion? Or forecasted Chris Froome would not have made it out of the first week of the Tour de France?
(velonews.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: Nibali sounds clean, he does, but he’s been going to work every day in a crack den for the past 2 years..
What message does the sport and, critically, the UCI want to convey – and never mind to the fans, the TV companies, the sponsors or anyone else – to the teams? That even this is acceptable? No, they have to be turfed out.

We need regulations in place for this very scenario – multiple positives from a single team. Indeed, we need serious and enforceable penalties in place for a single positive on a given team. A fine and a reduction of UCI points perhaps, as well as maybe a ‘strike’ against the team that could be cancelled after say 3 years, unless the number of strikes increase. Three in three years and you’re out? Maybe.

But five in three months? It’s mind-numbingly negligent at very best.
(crankpunk.com)

December 2, 2014




The gloss of a Tour de France victory has worn off the Astana team in the wake of multiple anti-doping violations. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com.
Team Astana, after five doping cases, will know its fate in the coming week as the UCI is set to announce which teams will receive WorldTour licenses for 2015.

Cycling’s governing body told VeloNews that it will confirm a possible 18 teams for its WorldTour series next week, Wednesday at the latest, one week later than originally planned. Astana already has a license for 2015, but the body asked its license committee to review it due to “serious concerns” stemming from the doping positives.
 (velonews.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: In Kreuziger’s case, you are going from a normal value to a very elevated one. A persistently elevated one...
The denial had echoes of another rider who also previously worked with Michele Ferrari: Lance Armstrong.

On Saturday Roman Kreuziger released a statement, which began with these words.

“My name is Roman Kreuziger. I am a professional cyclist. I have never tested positive for doping.”

The statement went on to proclaim his innocence of the biological passport manipulations he is accused of by the UCI, but that opening section was redflagged by many on Twitter.

They wanted to know why Kreuziger had used the ‘never tested positive’ line oft quoted by Armstrong and other doping riders, rather than a clear statement that he had never used performance enhancing drugs.
(cyclingtips.com.au)

December 2, 2014




Lennard Zinn takes notes while talking with Steve Hed. Photo: Tim Mulrooney.
Last week, we lost Steve Hed, one of cycling’s greatest innovators. I lost a good friend whose constant, selfless generosity I could never reciprocate. And perhaps most shocking is that a man my age, with seemingly many productive years ahead of him and with so much to live for, could just walk out of the door of the business he had built over three decades, fall, and never wake up. It leaves such a sudden and gaping hole — in his family, in the cycling community, and in the huge number of friendships he forged over the years through his caring ways.

I feel fortunate to have been friends with Steve Hed for almost 30 years. During that time, he was very generous with his time and expertise with me, and I know I was merely one of thousands that he assisted this way.
(velonews.com)

December 2, 2014




Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) takes stage 8 of the Vuelta a Espana
Photo: © Roberto Bettini.
Nacer Bouhanni has expressed his wish to try his hand as a professional boxer when his cycling career comes to an end. The French sprinter was a competitive fighter in his youth before switching to cycling and each year, he incorporates boxing into his winter training regimen.

“I’ll stop cycling around 32 years of age and that will leave me at least two years to go as high as I can in boxing,” Bouhanni told L’Équipe. “Just like as a cyclist, I’ll be 100 percent invested in it.”
(cyclingnews.com)

December 2, 2014




The Paris-Nice podium: Rui Costa, Carlos Betancur and Arthur Vichot
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
2015 Giro Rosa to start in Slovenia, Moolman Pasio awarded.
(cyclingnews.com)

December 2, 2014




Photo: Boardman Performance Comp...
One of the great strengths of the bike trade is the idea of ‘trickle down’ technology: the idea that what might be currently found on only premium products will one day be available on even entry-level bikes in years to come. History has proven this idea again and again — relatively low-cost road bikes today include technology that would have been unthinkable in that price range even a few years ago.

Component brands are particularly adept at passing down the innovations of higher model ranges to its cheap road bikes range in following seasons. Take Shimano, for example. Whenever the Japanese giant brings out a new version of the Tiagra groupset it tends to bear an uncanny likeness to the older version of the higher-end 105 groupset.
(cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 2, 2014




Photo: Fizik – or fi’zi:k, if you prefer, pronounced ‘physique’ – are offering shoes in a Boa closure option.
Check out new shoes, saddles, helmets and caps, plus glow-in-the-dark components.
(road.cc)

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December 1, 2014

December 1, 2014





Chris Horner will race for Airgas-Safeway in 2015, a U.S.-based Continental team. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com.
After an autumn of uncertainty, Vuelta a España champion Chris Horner has signed with the Airgas-Safeway team for 2015.
“I am very excited to be joining Airgas-Safeway for 2015,” said Horner. “I have achieved a huge amount of success in my career and I’m incredibly proud of that. For me, the next chapter isn’t just about what I can do as an individual, but what I can give back to cycling as a sport. I had a number of options for this year and what really struck me about Airgas-Safeway was their utter commitment to giving the next generation of young riders the opportunity for success.” (velonews.com)

December 1, 2014




Photo: Compton, shown here in the World Cup, was able to assert herself in the C2 race for the win. © Bart Hazen.
Yesterday, the grand celebration of Milton Keynes was followed up by the National Trophy Series #4, a C2 race taking place at the same venue. Marcel Wildhaber, a 29-year-old from Switzerland, took first in the Men’s Elite Race, beating David van der Poel at the line.
Katie Compton lost Saturday’s World Cup at the line against Sanne Cant, but she was motivated for a follow up win on Sunday: she beat the rest of the field by well over a minute at Milton Keynes. (cxmagazine.com)

December 1, 2014




Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) spent four days in the maglia rosa
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Rigoberto Uran has been near the very top of pro cycling for several years, and in 2015 he wants to take the final step, telling elcolombiano.com, “It’s time to win something big in these important tests.”
The Colombian, who moved to Omega Pharma – QuickStep this year, has finished second at the Giro d’Italia for the last two years, and was also second in the 2012 London Olympics road race. He won the mountain time trial at this years Giro, and wore the leader’s jersey for four stages. (cyclingnews.com)

December 1, 2014





Photo: BRADLEY WIGGINS WINS STAGE ONE OF THE GIRO D'ITALIA .
Bradley Wiggins could race his last Grand Tour at the Giro d’Italia in May as he prepares for the Hour record, according to Team Sky’s bike sponsor Fausto Pinarello
“I would not exclude Wiggins from the Giro. It’s useless to hide it, the Treviso/Valdobbiadene stage is our goal. We want to win it. And on this course, he’s untouchable,” Pinarello told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.
“In June, Wiggins will attempt the Hour record. I know that the team is evaluating the idea of being at the Giro because it would be a perfect base preparation and the time trial is the best test [for the hour record].” (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 1, 2014




2014-15 Races & Results.

Santos Tour Down Under 2015 - Jan 18-25 (Stages),

Dubai Tour 2015 - Feb 4-7 (Stages),

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

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

UCI Road World Championship 2014 - Sept 20-27 (Results),

Vuelta a España 2014 - Aug 23-Sept 14 (Results),

Tour de France 2014  - July 5-27 (Results),

Giro d'Italia 2014 - May 9 - June 1 (Results),


December 1, 2014




Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) wins the 2014 Liège-Bastogne-Liège over Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
Photo: © AFP Photo.
Orica-GreenEdge's third season as a WorldTour team was undoubtedly another successful year but one punctuated by a disappointing Tour de France. The opening stage crash that brought down Simon Gerrans in Harrogate left the team on its back foot for the remaining three weeks, and while Simon Clarke picked up a most combative prize award, it was far removed from the stage wins and yellow jerseys of 2013. Losing Michael Matthews to a training accident before the race even began was another disappointment, but across the season, the team showed its depth and character with a spread of winners once again. (cyclingnews.com)

December 1, 2014




Photo: Alice Maria Arzuffi leads Ayako Toyooka on Day 2 of the 2014 Nobeyama Cyclocross race.
On Day 2 of the 2014 Nobeyama Cyclocross race, the sun came out and dried up some of the soup from Day 1. The giant puddles and streams were gone, but there was still plenty of mud. Only today it was a lot stickier.
Sticky or not, it didn’t matter. The two Italian Cyclocross National Champions Alice Maria Arzuffi and Gioele Bertolini reigned supreme in the Far East again at Day 2 of the UCI C2 race weekend. (cxmagazine.com)

December 1, 2014




Photo: Swiss Side wheels follow a customer direct business model to keep prices down
Colin Levitch / Immediate Media.
BikeRadar verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars. "Swiss Side comes tantalisingly close to making good on its claim of offering the same quality wheels as the big brands at half the cost." (bikeradar.com)

December 1, 2014




Photo: 1×11 is officially here for cross racers and it’s the best thing to happen to cyclocross since the cowbell. It’s two brake levers, a single rear shifter, a rear derailleur, a single ring crankset, a chain and an 11-speed cassette. © peloton/Balint Hamvas Cyclephotos/SRAM
"The single track has been broken up by hooves and loose, softball size sandstone rocks are everywhere. I’m riding hard, letting the bars dance in my hands as the front tire thumps through the rocks, not really choosing a line, just using the wheels and speed to suck up the impacts. It suddenly occurs to me I can hear the front wheel, the tire itself, hitting the stones. I can hear the rubber of the rear as it hooks up, fighting for traction. That’s weird. My bike is making no noise. That’s the magic of SRAM’s new CX1 Force." (pelotonmagazine.com)

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November 30, 2014



Kerry Werner (Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies) leads Saturday's winner, Curtis White (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) through the barriers. Photo by Todd Prekaski.
Kerry Werner and Ellen Noble took muddy wins in Sterling, Massachusetts, for day two of Baystate Cyclocross Weekend, which doubled as Round 6 of the Verge New England Cyclocross Series (NECXS) presented by Stan’s NoTubes and Cycle-Smart.
Conditions were perfect for a legendary sendoff for the Baystate event with melting snow, slush, and mud covering the tricky course. (It was announced Sunday that the Sterling event will not be returning in 2015.). (velonews.com)

December 1, 2014




Photo: Doug Report...
"If we were slightly too scathing about the Tinkoff-Saxo flourescent 2014 Tour de France kit last week when the team partially revealed its new racing kit, then apologies.
Because the WorldTour team have managed to top it – it’s maybe even topped the new MTN-Qhubeka kit – as Tinkoff-Saxo has revealed its new ‘innovative training kit’ (as the team and Sportful put it)…and it’s camouflage." (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 1, 2014




Photo: pro contracts should run from November to November rather than 1 January-31 December.
It’s a big week for pro cycling with the exposition of sweeping reforms by the UCI expected in the coming days. We will see what emerges but there’s talk of redesigning the calendar and revising the league system of the World Tour. If half of this appears it could amount to the most significant changes for a quarter of a century.
But ahead of radical reform, what about some quick fixes, administrative equivalents of a roadside repair? Here are ten tidy tips that could be done in days. (inrng.com)

December 1, 2014




Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Cycling Team)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
"With sprint finishes in both of the European races last weekend there was no lack of drama for ‘cross fans, even if the two races couldn’t have been more different in style and tactics. The first ever World Cup in the UK, in Milton Keynes on Saturday, was everything it promised.
UK fans continued to impress the world as they did for the Tour and the Olympics, showing up in huge numbers to watch a heavy, hilly, off-camber race that was an instant classic. Sunday’s BPost Bank Trofee in Hamme was more like a criterium in contrast; just wet enough to pack the track down and provide a little extra grip, with almost 20 riders still connected to the front group as late as 1 lap to go." (cyclingnews.com)

December 1, 2014






Photo: Greg van Avermaet in the 2014 Tour of Flanders Credit: Watson .
Greg van Avermaet has said that it is “not nice to hear” that Philippe Gilbert is aiming for victory in the cobbled Classics in 2015, with the former world champion having declared in November that he has unfinished business with the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
Gilbert said that he would be looking to kick-off the classics season with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, a race in which van Avermaet narrowly missed out on victory to Ian Stannard in 2014. (cyclingweekly.co.uk)

December 1, 2014




Photo: With only seven wins, Andoni-Venezuela didn't have the 2014 season that they had hoped for.
"And I begin with Franco Pellizotti, our captain, a great example of professionalism, a rider who played his role to perfection and who has managed to get on podiums throughout the season." (cyclingquotes.com)

December 1, 2014




Photo: Manifattura Valcismon acquired Castelli back in the late 1990s, rescuing the company in a period that nearly spelled the end for the Italian brand... Photography by Dave Everett
Manifattura Valcismon might not be a name you're familiar with. The two cycling clothing brands that are owned and operated by this company, however, might a little more familiar. Castelli and Sportful both sit under this parent company and both share the same large industrial building in the town of Fonzaso in the Italian region of Veneto. (cyclingtips.com.au)

December 1, 2014




Photo: Kelly’s hero? It’s razor sharp
Jonny Ashelford.
The Razor might not make you ride like Sean Kelly*, Vitus poster-boy and Irish winner of the Vuelta and numerous Classics in the 80s – mainly on Vitus bikes – but it definitely represents good value for money.
    Highs: Kit, handling and versatility
    Lows: The ride is slightly on the firm side
The Sora kit and double-butted 6061 alloy frame are pretty much the equal of pricier bikes than Vitus’s entry-level offering, and its 9.5kg weight also compares pretty well. (bikeradar.com)

December 1, 2014




Photo: Daily Distraction...

December 1, 2014


















December 1, 2014







A pensive Marco Pantani
Photo: © Fotoreporter Sirotti.
A new book by Italian journalist Andrea Rossini has debunked theories that Marco Pantani could have been murdered.
Following a private investigation funded by Marco Pantani's family and a consequent decision by Italian police to reopen the investigation into his death, the Italian media, and especially Gazzetta dello Sport, has published a long series of speculative articles, suggesting that Pantani was somehow murdered by being forced to ingest a large quantity of cocaine. (cyclingnews.com)

December 1, 2014




European Champion Helen Wyman (Kona)
Photo: © Dave McElwaine.
"Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Christmas. If you don't know me then imagine a small child, who still believes in Santa, on Christmas eve, trying to get to sleep but cant because it's just too damn exciting. It has to be the best time of year with lots of sparkly things and twinkly lights and shininess. Now imagine that level of child's giddiness and that is exactly how excited I am to race the first EVER world cup in my own country in Milton Keynes. (Yes that's MK not London #justsaying)." (cyclingnews.com)

December 1, 2014




Photo: Cavendish and Omega Pharma-QuickStep team mate Iljo Keisse claimed the spoils in Vienna.
By any measure except against his own Mark Cavendish has had a great season, but the career standard is set so highly for the Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider that anything less than a July victory in Paris is seen as a let down.
Though nobbled by injury mid-year Cavendish managed to notch up 12 victories in 2014, a result that would make any sprinter, with the exception of Giant-Shimano nemesis Marcel Kittel, look back on the season with immense satisfaction. (sbs.com.au)

December 1, 2014




Photo: I told him directly about all thought as it is normal for me to do. I was a frank and hard. When I told L'Equipe Magazine that I fought with a gun against some who had a bazooka.
After a turbulent season where he fought just as much against teammate Arnaud Demare as he did against his rivals, Nacer Bouhanni has left FDJ to join Cofidis. The Frenchman criticizes former manager Marc Madiot who didn't bring much clarity to his race schedule.
At Cofidis, Nacer Bouhanni has found what he wanted for the next three years. It was during the Giro d'Italia - where he won three stages and won the red points jersey - that he decided to join the French team by accepting their offer. "[Cofidis manager] Yvon Sanquer's proposal convinced me from the beginning because they have the desire to build something new at Cofidis." (cyclingquotes.com)

December 1, 2014





Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Photo: © Tim de Waele/TDW Sport.
Belletti to Neri Sottoli, Brown returns home to Australia. (cyclingnews.com)

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