American cycling fans were denied TV images from the Tour of California yesterday because of the rain. But the Giro d’Italia has seen rain on almost every day but manages to broadcast extensive coverage. How come? Air powerThe Tour of California is relying on helicopters for overhead shots but the same helicopters also “relay” the … Read more
As ever, the Giro isn’t the Giro unless it’s got lots of women on display. The Italian Cycling Journal has already found the Playboy bunnies. But what of the podium girls, le miss del Giro? Well La Gazzetta has interviewed them. You can watch the interview here. Even if you don’t speak Italian, take a … Read more
Go the green and gold! With Matt Goss and Brett Lancaster winning stages in the Giro and Tour of California yesterday, it was a good day for Australian cyclists. It means Australians have taken three stage wins in the Giro so far… compared to zero for the Italians. It was also a day for Aussie … Read more
Not to diminish Matt Goss’s win today but the Giro is losing sprinters at an alarming rate. If the first week allowed them a few chances, the second week is also suited to them but many have gone home. The weekend saw old dog Petacchi and young hope Modolo both exit the race and this … Read more
Waiting, just waiting. I know the local roads well, not just the routes to take but the details along the way. There are the obvious features like climbs, sharp corners and rough sections of roads. But I also I know where almost every dog lives within a 50km radius. Not only that, I know plenty … Read more
Women’s cycling doesn’t get the level of coverage it deserves, it has improved substantially over recent years. If you don’t follow much of it, take a look at the Tour de l’Aude. The Aude is a départment in Southern France that lies between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees. This means it has a supreme choice … Read more
Saturday’s Giro stage was epic and already a highlight of the 2010 season. But what makes for stunning television is not necessarily sport. Penelope Pitsop defending the Maglia Rosa from the Equipo Formicaio To reduce the argument to the absurd, imagine a race organiser spraying oil on hairpin bends and digging large potholes to trap … Read more
You could probably start a blog called “Hardest Sport in the World” and just feature endless cycling reports. But what more do you want, look at the Giro stage yesterday and it was a cocktail of insanity, TV joy and Tuscan mud. Off road, foul conditions and then you through 191 riders in to the … Read more
It wouldn’t be the first time that hundreds of people have been moved out of Dunkirk to Britain, this time it’s the organisers of the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque stage race who are considering a stage in Britain, according to French newspaper La Voix du Nord. With the ferry companies keen to promote their links, … Read more
Today sees the Giro d’Italia resume in Italy. The overall classification is already taking shape with Wiggins, Evans and Vinokourov wearing pink so far and today’s stage could change things once more. It’s a unique event, team time trials are very rare in the calendar. They punish individual talents, a rider can lose valuable time … Read more