Latest News in Cycling
- I just saw on StLToday that Ladue Rd will be closed from Tuesday, May 21st through Sunday May 26th, from Mason Rd to 141.
The closure is related to the US Senior Open golf tournament at Bellerive Country Club.
Steve. - I wasn't able to stay for the whole day, so I've only got shots from a few of the races. Here's a few to start. I'll post more in the next few days as I have time to process. Enjoy!
O'Fallon Cup Criterium 2013
Italian tranquillo at rest day press conference
- 2005 LEMOND BUENOS AIRES OCLV CARBON SPLINED ROAD BIKE. 55CM. IN GREAT SHAPE, LOW MILES AND HAS BEEN IN STORAGE FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. RECENTLY TUNED AND LUBED WITH NEW TIRES AND TUBES. CAMPY CENTAUR AND VELOCE EQUIPPED. BONTRAGER RACE LITE WHEELS, CRANKS, ETC.
EMAIL WITH QUESTIONS OR FOR MORE INFO. THANKS!Attached Thumbnails
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- found a cool photo of my dad (top row second from left) 1961 state champion
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Former Giro d'Italia winner calls its quits
Own your own limited edition short-sleeve 2013 Velo jersey. Graphic: Mike Reisel | VeloNews.com Results are in for the Velo Cyclist of the Year jersey contest and you can own the winning design at a discounted price for a limited time.
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A weary peloton will likely face more snow and rain later this week. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com VALLOIRE, France (VN) — Riders woke up Monday for the final rest day of the Giro d’Italia happy to see sunny skies high in the French Alps.
After horrendous racing conditions over the weekend, marked by rain, cold, wind, and snow on the upper reaches of the Col du Galibier, many were hopeful the worst was behind them. Forecasts, however, seem to indicate that spring’s return on Monday is only a short respite.
More unstable, winter-like weather is expected to hang over northern Italy throughout the week. Forecasts indicate more rain, cold temperatures, and snow at higher elevations across northern Italy this week.
Poor weather could force Giro organizers to reroute Friday’s and Saturday’s climbing stages, and perhaps throw a wrench into the overall battle for the pink jersey.
“We hope the weather improves and we can race unhampered,” said race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). “The cold has been hard on everyone.”
The Giro was lucky Sunday to avoid a major route change, though snowfall high on the Galibier forced organizers to lower the finish line several hundred meters below the summit.
Snow could force cancellation of portions Friday’s and Saturday’s stages. According to race officials, it’s too early to make any decisions, but they are monitoring the weather.
Things look bleak. Friday’s forecast calls for a 70-percent chance of rain and temperatures in the high 40s Fahrenheit at Bormio, the alpine village at 1200 meters, tucked between the Passo Gavia (2618m) and the Passo di Stelvio (2758m). Rain in Bormio means snow on the highest reaches of the climbs, meaning that they could be deemed impassable.
Forecasts are similarly gloomy for Saturday’s 203km queen stage from Silandro to Tre Cime di Lavaredo (2304m), with cool temperatures and rain at Cortina d’Ampezzo at 1225m.
The possibility of more horrendous weather comes as unwelcomed news inside the peloton. Riders have already been suffering with colds and allergy problems since the start of the Giro.
“The weather’s been very hard on the riders,” said BMC Racing director Max Sciandri. “It’s not just this Giro, but the entire spring in Europe. The weather has been awful and many riders are at their limits.”
The 2013 Giro could see a repeat of the epic stage over the Gavia in 1988 when Andy Hampsten rode through a blizzard to secure the pink jersey. The peloton is certainly hoping that is not the case.
With six days remaining in the 96th Giro d'Italia, Vincenzo Nibali met the press to talk about the road to Brescia. Photo: Gregor Brown | VeloNews.com VALLOIRE, France (VN) — With six days remaining in the 96th Giro d’Italia, overall leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) is poised for his second grand tour win and said on Monday that he would go on the attack in the Dolomites.
“And here is your pink jersey, Vincenzo Nibali,” began the Astana press conference on Monday’s rest day in the French Alps. The message could be the same when the Giro wraps up in Brescia in six days, such is the Italian’s lead.
After 15 stages and 2449 kilometers, Nibali leads Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) by 1:24 and has shown no sign of letting up.
“I’m not worried about this or that climb, the whole week is going to be hard,” Nibali said. “Let’s not talk about winning just yet; I’ve got to finish the race.”
Nibali met the press on the second floor of the Pulka hotel in Valloire, France, where Sunday’s stage passed on the way up the Col du Galibier. He wore his Astana team’s turquoise-colored jump suit, which had no pink accents or hints that he was the race leader in the Italian grand tour.
The Astana bus outside, however, gave it away. Eight stuffed pink jersey pillows were in the window, one from the race organizer for each day Nibali has led the corsa rosa.
A matter of time
Nibali took time on Evans in the team time trial (:23), the Saltara ITT (:18), and the stage to Jafferau on Saturday (:33). Evans has gained bonus seconds to trim that advantage, but not as often as Nibali, who has 12 more bonus seconds after two weeks of racing.
With his time trial performances, his climbing exploits in the Alps over the weekend, and his solid riding on wet, technical intermediate stages, Nibali has proven the more complete rider thus far. He leaves many wondering how he can lose the race.
Some have suggested that Evans, the 2011 Tour de France champion and 13-year professional, has more experience. However, even Evans has pointed out that Nibali is no debutant, having already won the Vuelta a España in 2010 and placed third in the Tour de France last year. The Aussie can hope that Nibali will begin to suffer in the final week and pay for the focus and dedication the Giro has taken. Evans, on the other hand, only decided in late March to race the Giro.
The road to Breschia
The mountains above Italy’s Lake Como and Lake Garda hold some answers. The corsa rosa heads east out of France and to Ivrea on Tuesday, sprints into Vicenza Wednesday, and hits the high mountains again starting Thursday. Those three mountain stages hold the key to Nibali’s second grand tour win. Thursday’s climbing time trial to Polsa will give Nibali a third opportunity to best Evans against the clock — or herald a fierce week-ending battle.
“Uphill time trials are always difficult to manage, but I’d be more worried if it was a flat time trial,” said Nibali. “Evans goes much stronger in flat ones than I do.”
Nibali said he may attack again in the mountains when the race hits Val Martello on Friday. He will not ride into Breschia on the defensive.
“In this and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo [on Sunday], you have to stay alert and defend yourself,” he said. “However, if there’s a chance, I’ll even try to attack and gain more time on my rivals.”
The Giro’s final decisive showdown comes on Saturday with the five-climb epic to Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Riders will face the Cat. 1 ascents of the Passo Giau and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo finish climb in a fitting finale to a brutal Giro.
“I raced there in 2007, the last time the Giro visited,” said Nibali. “The final three kilometers are very hard on their own, but you also have to consider before we race Costalunga, San Pellegrino, and Giau. You’ll really feel the pain in your legs.”
Nibali said that, despite losing riders to crashes and illness, his team is ready for the mountains. Paolo Tiralongo has suffered from the flu for half the race. Fabio Aru also had the flu, but is recovering, which he showed on the Galibier. Important rouleur Alessandro Vanotti crashed and abandoned with a fractured collarbone. Nibali must look to the rest and the fit, including mountain domestiques Valerio Agnoli and Tanel Kangert, and his own staying power to secure a final stuffed pink jersey in Brescia on Sunday.
Continental teams impress race organisers
