On trial: Contador lost the yellow jersey in the Dauphiné Everyone is saying that Andy Schleck’s 31 second lead over Alberto Contador is not enough, given the 52km time trial through the Bordeaux vineywards. I tend to agree but want to give two examples to suggest nothing’s certain.Final Time TrialsFirst, let’s go back to 2008. … Read more
Cofidis tried a publicity coup on last Wednesday’s Bastille Day stage only it backfired massively. The team were given new Look frames in the Piet Mondrian colours, reminiscent of the manufacturer’s early sponsorship of the Toshiba and ONCE teams. Only the modern art was undone by a very basic mistake. The bikes were built up … Read more
The hard work paid off The Frenchman’s win on the Plateau de Bonascre was impressive. Having been in the breakaway all day, he only gave up about a minute of his headstart up the final climb. In other words he rode the final climb faster than Leipheimer, Basso or Kloeden. He’s long been a talented … Read more
Welcome to all the new readers. I realise many people come here for information and updates but if you’re interested in past ramblings from this year, here are seven of the most popular items: Is Bradley Wiggins’s changing position on the bike as important as weight loss? Cancellara’s electric bike rumours were covered on here … Read more
Cofidis’s Damien Monier is a rider who you probably hadn’t heard of until the Giro when he won Stage 17, claiming the mountain stage into Peio Terme. From Clermont-Ferrand, the city bang in the centre of France famous for Michelin and its extinct volcanoes, he’d been a pro for six years but had only showed … Read more
Skull-duggery? Take a look at the Washington Post and the article on the US Federal investigation into alleged doping practices and fraud. What stands out is not that Armstrong and Co. face questions and potential trouble, for me it was the following. Novitzky immersed himself in his new job by spearheading efforts to crack down … Read more
Whilst the dust settles over Renshaw’s exclusion*, it’s worth noting Cavendish’s win as a historic moment. Whilst he racks up win after sprint win, Thursday’s sprint was special. Why? Well because he surpassed the tally of 12 stage wins that the trio of Erik Zabel, Mario Cipollini and Robbie McEwen have landed. In other words … Read more
What’s Nicolas Roche doing inside this inflatable paddling pool? It’s all part of his recovery technique. For more on the post-race rituals, see the video online here.
Here’s the relevant UCI rule on safe sprinting: 2.3.036 SprintsRiders shall be strictly forbidden to deviate from the lane they selected when launching into the sprint and, in so doing, endangering others. Also there’s a general rule on conduct: 1.2.079 Conduct of participants in cycling racesAll licence holders… …shall refrain from any acts of violence, … Read more
Ok, this is not a revelation but it’s worth reflecting on. During the latest edition of the cyclingnews.com / Pro Cycling magazine podcast, Anthony Tan says: “advertising, to our detriment, gets precedence over often editorial“. Tan was quickly muted by his journalist colleagues. But let’s not extrapolate from one remark over a dinner conversation. Instead … Read more