Latest News in Cycling
Editor’s Note: This video is courtesy of Global Cycling Network. The opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily represent the opinions of VeloNews.com, Velo magazine or the editors and staff of Competitor Group, Inc.- I had a great opportunity down at Syllamos Revenge this past Wednesday. I went out on the trails and got interviewed/video taped on some of the coolest and toughest trails in the Nation. We spoke about prep for the race including tire choice, nutrition, bike choice, along with a few other suggestions for that race.
Hope you find this video helpful in your prep for your next long race or for Syllamos if you are headed there this weekend. Here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F66369357&h=VAQHayBmS
Astana rider ready to attack
World Cup visits Germany for the 16th time
Omega Pharma-Quick Step sprinter goes deep
- The Granada cyclery training ride series starts tomorrow Saturday May 18th. Registration starts @ 8 the ride rolls at 9.
23 and 53 mile routes in the low traffic areas of St. Paul Mo. in St. Charles county. These are no drop rides with sag support and post ride food provide by Qdoba. For more information check out www.granadabicycle.net under the calender section or call 636 936 2453.
Let the good times roll!!
Australian 41 seconds off maglia rosa
Vincenzo Nibali could benefit from cold, wet weather in the Alps, but hopes the Giro d'Italia doesn't face snow. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com CHERASCO, Italy (VN) — Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) is preparing for his next big test as Giro d’Italia race leader. Weather permitting, the corsa rosa faces two major mountains stages this weekend to Bardonecchia and Galibier.
“I cannot dictate the weather,” Nibali said Friday. “With rain, these stages become much more difficult to deal with, like we already saw earlier in the race to Pescara and Florence.”
Snow may force race organizer RCS Sport to re-route this weekend’s stages (http://goo.gl/3mxuf). The race travels to Bardonecchia to climb the Jafferau tomorrow. It’s not so much the Jafferau at 1,908 meters that presents problems, but the 2,642m Col du Galibier and 2,094m Mont Cenis on Sunday.
After their fair share of bad weather over the race’s opening two weeks, the riders, including maglia rosa Nibali, do not want to see a repeat of the snow-shortened Milano-Sanremo.
“We’ll see what happens to Galibier,” he said. “I don’t want the extreme like we faced in Milano-Sanremo, even if it could be better for me and allow me to take more time.”
Astana manager Guiseppe Martinelli told VeloNews it has been a hard spring on everyone.
“We have a lot of sick riders; the whole group seems to be sick at times,” Martinelli explained as rain fell hard on Thursday morning. “Even if someone’s on the way up, he has to deal with this rain and bad weather. I hope the weather gets better because the last week is already going to be plenty hard.”
Nibali is down domestiques because of the rough racing. Paolo Tiralongo suffered due to a crash early on. He is better, but both he and Fabio Aru are getting over the flu. Martinelli said that they both should recover for the last week, which includes the Val Martello and Tre Cime di Lavaredo stages.
Nibali holds a narrow, 41-second lead over Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and around two minutes to the rest of his rivals. Val Martello and Tre Cime di Lavaredo may provide the next major shake-up if bad weather spoils this weekend.
“Bardonecchia is more adapted to Nibali, whereas the Galibier suits the climbers who can defend themselves well on the climb. The [Col du] Télégraphe is harder than the Galibier, which comes afterwards. The Galibier is a good 25km, but consistent, with the last seven to eight kilometers being a little harder.
“Unfortunately, considering the altitude and recent weather, I don’t think Vincenzo will have a chance to race those climbs. If we do it, it’s better for us, but it depends on the weather. I wouldn’t want the organizers insist with it and then we have troubles.”
Astana’s party could be spoiled, at least on Sunday. The latest reports indicate the corsa rosa will race to Jafferau on Saturday, but cut short its visit to France, finishing 18.1km down the road from the Galibier in Valloire on Sunday.
Rigoberto Urán has the full backing of his Sky team as he heads into the Alps at the Giro d'Italia. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com CHERASCO, Italy (VN) — The departure of Bradley Wiggins from the Giro d’Italia on Friday eliminates any chance of crisis within the ranks at Sky.
Now it’s obvious for whom the British powerhouse will be riding: Rigoberto Urán.
The Colombian is poised in third overall, at 2:04, and will now have the green light to go for it without having to look over his shoulder.
With two decisive climbing stages looming in the Alps, Urán arrived at the finish line in Cherasco at the end of the Giro’s longest stage looking ready for what lies ahead.
“It was too bad that Bradley is gone, now we have to think about a different way of making the race,” Urán said. “We will take it day by day. We have a very strong team for the climbs. We will see happens and take aim for the final podium.”
Urán knows he has to attack to gain time not only on Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), who are both ahead of him on GC, but also to take time on riders nipping on his heels for the podium.
Urán needs to watch the GC from both sides. Three riders — Robert Gesink (Blanco), Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida), and Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) — are within one minute of the podium.
“Nibali and Evans are looking very strong. There are others, too” Urán continued. “If I have the legs now, I will attack. It’s always important to take gains when you can.”
Sky also has Sergio Henao lurking near the top 10, sitting quietly in 11th, 5:06 back. Though Henao struggled up the finish climb at Montasio, where Urán won on Tuesday, he could rebound to hunt for a stage and play the wildcard, something Urán and Sky can use to their advantage.
Danny Pate told VeloNews that the rest of the team has already put the disappointment of losing Wiggins behind them. Pate said the squad is ready to rally around Urán in his bid for the podium.
“’Rigo’s’ riding really strong. He’s in third place and we still have Sergio. As a whole, we have a very strong climbing squad, and we’re looking forward to the mountain stages, so long as the snow doesn’t cancel them,” Pate told VeloNews. “As a whole, we’re happy with the position we’re in with those guys. We’re ready to support them just as we would if Brad were still here. It’s too bad about Brad, but he was sick. Now we have other goals. We are just as excited about [Urán] as well.”
Pate said the team believes that Urán is in ideal position to challenge for the podium.
The Colombian said he’s in the best form of his career. And now that Wiggins is out of the picture, he can enjoy unfettered support from the entire team.
Sky brings one of the best climbing squads to the Giro and has engines like Pate and Christian Knees to work on the flats and transition stages. Riders such as Xavier Zandio and Davide Cataldo, who were struggling through the rain and cold, are on the mend just in time to help Urán over a rough menu of mountain stages in the race’s final week.
“The podium is realistic. The guys in front have to watch out or more than the podium is realistic,” Pate continued. “’Rigo’ can almost do anything. He can climb with the best. We saw the other day he rode away from everyone. They know he’s dangerous, but he’s a real threat.”
When asked who looked stronger, Nibali or Evans, Pate laughed, “I don’t ride next to them very often, so I am not sure.”
Czech rider okayed by Saxo-Tinkoff and national federation
