This weekend sees the first “VDB Forever Classic”, a ride in memorial of Frank Vandenbroucke, aka VDB. Just over 100km long, the route goes from Steenhuize-Wijnhuize to Ploegsteert, VDB’s home town and now his place of rest. I hope readers don’t find his memorial too morbid, nor mawkish but it’s worth noting that the Belgian … Read more
It’s obviously very satisfying. Three years ago I lost the leader’s jersey on the first stage. This time I hope I won’t get caught out. Saur-Sojasun’s Jimmy Engoulvent, speaking after his prologue win in the Tour of Luxembourg, a repeat of his prologue victory in 2007. Only history repeated itself on the first stage, Engoulvent … Read more
Bjarne Riis has been playing his cards close to his chest. Rumours persist that US IT services firm Sungard are set to replace Danish brokerage Saxo Bank as the top sponsor to his team but the deal has yet to be announced. But look online and www.team-sungard.com is registered to a Danish name, Kasper Soerensen. … Read more
Rouleur or ronin? Likeable BBox-Bouygues Télécom rider Yukiya Arashiro is increasingly popular in Japan. Having just finished the Giro, with a third place on one stage, he is now available as a plastic toy in Japan. Photo: cyclismag.com
A soigneur is a team helper, whose job ranges from general dogsbody and factotum to masseur and nutritionist. Soigner means “to care for” or “to treat (an illness)” in French and a soigneur is carer, although someone who works helping the sick or the elderly is usually called an “aide soignante“, the term soigneur is … Read more
The Critérium du Dauphiné starts this Sunday. Officially it has been known as “Le Critérium du Dauphiné” but most people called it the Dauphiné Libéré, this being the name of the regional newspaper that organised and sponsored the race. But this has changed, Tour de France organisers ASO have bought the race. Le Dauphine Libéré … Read more
The story is now doing the rounds in the mainstream media in France. It’s been debated on several radio stations and establishment newspaper Le Monde is even asking about it. Cancellara has openly denied it now. Indeed there have been many new readers here thanks to this story, a welcome to all of you. But … Read more
Following Iván Gutiérrez’s letter, printed in many places, I feel like having a word with the Spaniard. So here’s a letter addressed to him. Dear Ivan, I read your letter in defence of Alejandro Valverde and have to say I’m quite surprised. You seem trapped in a bubble, unaware of the world outside cycling. Alejandro … Read more
One of the smaller sponsors of Garmin-Transitions is a small hedge fund, Holowesko Partners. Run by cycling enthusiast Mark Holowesko, the business also backs the youth/feeder team for Garmin-Transitions. Kerr-ching: Vaughters hit the jackpot If Holowesko are stuck for investment ideas, they’d do well to get Jonathan Vaughters on board. For he might well have … Read more
It took time but as expected, the Court for Arbitration has ruled against Alejandro Valverde and the Spanish Federation, the RFEC: On 29 August 2007, the UCI requested the RFEC to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Alejandro Valverde on the basis of the evidence gathered within the Operación Puerto proceedings, including the blood bag blood from … Read more