I feel like a bit of a party-pooper but for all that the Giro promises, what if it doesn’t deliver? There are two main concerns for me: first that 2010 was so good it’ll be hard to beat. The random, ever changing race was thrilling. Second, and maybe it’s my problem and not yours, is the presence of Alberto Contador. He could dominate the race… and there’s also the possibility of the results being rewritten by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
No this isn’t retail, this is corporate deal making. In more business news UK online retailer Wiggle could be up for sale with a price tag of 200 million pounds (€225m / $325m) according to one business blogger. That’s one very big shopping basket.
A bit of a technical item coming up, that involves legal intricacies. Read the full piece for all the information or just skip to the summary below if you’re in a hurry or not to excited by legal details.
…and will Hein Verbruggen sue Google next?
Remember Floyd Landis? Chances are many cycling fans have almost forgotten about him, except for a few on Twitter who follow the exploits of his lawyers, his dog and various other online alter egos.
For non-cyclists he became famous a Tour de France winner, became infamous after testing positive during that Tour de France and then saw his prospects flushed down the great pan of life. He’s lost big time.
If you’ve got a good invention in the cycle trade, don’t be surprised to get a call from someone at SRAM to meet up one day. Whether it’s over lunch or dinner a takeover deal might be on the menu. That’s what’s happened to Quarq, SRAM have just announced a deal to buy the US power meter company. It’s the latest in a line of deals by SRAM, from Sachs to Zipp.
The UCI can move swiftly. Yesterday it was announced that any form of injection is now effectively banned and punishable. Up to know, infusions, from pouches with a drip for example, were banned but there was nothing to stop the use of injections, where obviously several injections can amount to the same volume as a drip.
Several teams put the idea to the UCI, it was reviewed and within two months the ban has appeared. Who says teams and the UCI can’t co-operate?
A message of thanks to Strada Wheels for supporting the blog. The British wheel builder is advertising during May. If you wonder what they’re up to, they build bespoke wheels with alloy and carbon rims, what ever you want from clinchers and tubs to spoke count or hub choice. They’ve just started working with US … Read more
There’s a new racing concept coming to the sport: the elimination sprint. It sees two riders go head to head over a 1,000 metre course, usually the final kilometre of a well known race.
Tested last year alongside the Grand Prix de Quebec, it will be back again used in the sister World Tour race in Montreal that’s also run by race organiser and local mini media magnate Serge Arsenault. But there are plans to take it to many more races.
There are four jerseys in the race, plus several prizes on offer each day. Here’s a primer…
La paura. It means fear in Italian and I’m detecting a few riders expressing the feeling right now. Normally riders sound confident, at least in public, with statements like “I’m ready” or the Italian line about being “calm” or “serene”. Only with the Giro ways things are sounding different.
