Olympics: Medal Table and Changes for Rio?

Gold Silver Bronze
Great Britain 8 2 2
Germany 1 4 1
France 1 3
USA 1 2 1
Australia 1 2 3
Colombia 1 1
Netherlands 1 2
Kazakhstan 1
Denmark 1
Lithuania 1
Czech Republic 1
China 2 1
New Zealand 1 2
Switzerland 1
Russia 2
Norway 1
Hong Kong 1
Canada 1
Italy 1

The 2012 Olympics have come to an end. The medal table is a reductive way to look at things as the count doesn’t include the emotions of the past two weeks nor does it reflect the subtle differences in prestige between different competitions.

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It’s Millar Time – Book Giveaway

David Millar Cofidis

Another chance to win a copy of the new US edition of David Millar’s autobiography “Racing Through the Dark” which I’ve reviewed last year.

The Tour de l’Ain is happening now and from memory this was Millar’s first race with the Cofidis pro team. It’s sadly no longer the case but when Millar turned pro, the French squad was one of the most exciting teams in the sport with a big roster of talent and great ambitions. They even hired Lance Armstrong, although he fell ill and the rest is history. Millar’s book tells the tale of this plus more.

Having asked what was Millar’s first type of bike race last time, this time it’s four wheels

Question
After signing his first pro contract with the Cofidis team what car did David Millar buy:

  • A) Land Rover
  • B) Jaguar
  • C) Aston Martin

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Big Wins and Slow Transfers

Whilst there are several races on right now it still feels like there’s a lull so it provides a moment to look at an updated version of the team victory rankings for this year and also to take stock of the transfer market which looks quieter than usual.

Will teams instead spend money on hiring staff in a bid to mimic Team Sky?

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The UCI vs. President McQuaid

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation into doping practices at the US Postal cycling team continues. Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, originally said it was a matter for USADA but since changed its mind and tried to take control of the matter, sending USADA a poorly-drafted letter. USADA replied, denying the UCI and in fact upping the stakes with requests for more documentation, creating a stand-off.

Now the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has backed USADA and gone public with criticism of the UCI, stating, amongst other things that “the UCI had misinterpreted its own rules“.

Something has gone very wrong at the top of the UCI.

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Tuesday Shorts

Mars Curiosity

We’ve had news this week of the NASA mission to send a vehicle to the red planet. It turns out the frame is a Litespeed, something spotted by Bill Strickland on Twitter. The US company is obviously more famous for its bikes than its exploratory vehicles, Robbie McEwen won the green jersey in the Tour de France on a Litespeed back in 2002. But the company’s expertise in the design and manufacture of tubing seems to be transferable to other domains.

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British Cycling’s Secret Weapon Unveiled

Ed Clancy

The success of the British Cycling team on the track is making many jealous. Today L’Equipe reports the French are wondering just what the secret is, are the British using special ultra-low friction ball bearings in their wheels or perhaps exploiting new theories on energy and power?

If there is a secret technology it is staying hidden. However there’s a special machine which spins and helps give the British team an advantage that other squads don’t have. A lottery draw machine.

Here’s a look at this advantage plus a focus on some of the technological advantages used by the British track cycling team.

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Sunday Shorts

I hope you’re enjoying the track cycling at the Olympics. It’s proving to be a good contest but at the same time a strange one. For example the rule of one athlete per nation in a race means some of the best riders are left at home, indeed the field is of a lower quality compared to the World Championships. Although because only the best get selected by each nation of course we still get worthy winners. It’s just we’re denied the full show.

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It’s Millar Time – Book Giveaway

I enjoy being sent books for review but this time when the publisher called about the new US edition of David Millar’s autobiography “Racing Through the Dark” I said I’d already reviewed the book when it came out in Europe so there was no point getting another review copy.

Instead they offered to send three copies to give away to readers of the blog. This was impossible to refuse so here’s your chance to win a hardback copy of the book. It’s the US version and includes extras that weren’t in the Euro edition.

Question
What was the type of first bike race David Millar rode:

  • A) time trial
  • B) mountain bike
  • C) BMX

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Book Review: Consumed

Consumed by Jonathan Budds

With the illustration of a cycling figure on the cover and the opening pages talking about a bike race I first took this for a cycling book. But the more you get into the story, the more it becomes.

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