Friday, June 29, 2012

TDF rides of victory

Great article from Bike Radar on the winning bikes of the TDF.

No carbon in '93. Check Indurain's steel Pina from that year.

Good read


TDF 2012

I cannot believe we are at the start of another Tour de France, a year has travelled very fast.

In terms of following the race, I will attempt to bring you some highlights that you might not see on SBS or cycling news. Specifically I will trawl the French cycling media for interesting stories for your reading pleasure. Of course they will make little sense once translated but that should only increase your reading pleasure. Additionally, I am also very close to securing an interview with a member of the french cycling family. His story is a sad but one that must be told. Hopefully we can grasp another view of the race through his scarred eyes and deeply unstable mind.

If you haven't already, download SBS tour tracker and get ready.

We start today with an interview with Thomas Voeckler of Europcar, his chances and role this years race and what he thinks about the doping investigation into the teams solid performance in 2011.




Thomas Voeckler, a problem with your knee, do you still have ambitions for the overall standings?

I did not already. I do not preach and I did not in my heart. I'm not saying that I would spoil opportunities or give up at the first hurdle but then I could not even bend his leg ten days ago.

A good start to the Tour can help you to hope again do as well as last year?

It was not already obvious to try to remake both the course and because of the flexibility that I would not necessarily benefit. Here I am under no illusions. It should not be an expert in high performance sport to understand that if we made twelve days without activity on the twenty-two before the Tour, it takes time to recover. After, there is not always logical in cycling. When I won the Grand Prix of Quebec (2010), I had just spent three weeks doing barbecues and an hour of cycling per day ... There are at least one silver lining: it takes away some pressure. I initially it will only be a bonus. I'm already surprised to arrive at the same time as the winner in Seraing (after the first stage). I rather see myself taking a break because the finish is hard


This is precisely one that suits you arrive ...

Oh ... Last year, the Mont des Alouettes, it was also a finish for me and if I finished in front, I was not in the first (14th). If I was 100%, I would have taken such risks to place myself at the foot of the Kwaremont (mythical mountain of the Tour of Flanders) to follow the offensive. Here, there will be no miracle. I'll try to finish far at all, and hoping to hang back a little fitness and cross your fingers to continue to have no physical pain, as from the beginning of the week.

You will be the teammate Pierre Rolland?

Sure, but even if I was 100%, I would be his teammate if he was better than me. While there, annoyed with my preparation, so I'm just, of course, Pierrot can count on me, even outside the mountain stages. In the extra-sporting in strategic locations, weather, tactics ... I think being able to give a helping hand. You know, there is no rider, except Lance Armstrong, who happens to be 100% in consecutive years. So if, luckily, we manage to have the same physical condition as last year and to be there in the end, there will not necessarily strategy that will fall into place.

How do you react to the revelations of The Team?

In such situations, there are two solutions. Either you move your arms trying to move heaven and earth, to round up everyone saying it is a scandal, or that you spent a little above and you try to move on in order not to lose any energy. I think I will adopt the second strategy. Frankly, I'm not in a position where I have to justify myself. I'm here to take the start of the Tour de France, while I almost did not belong there. I am very happy to be there and they are not a few lines that will somehow change that.

Do you think your success last year was caused jealousy?

This is my twelfth year pro and I do not think it dates from last year, where I still have been criticized. We must make do. You know, when I see a rider who crashed racing - which has never been our case either - even I wonder if it does not take me for a fool. So why the others did not say the same things as us? "

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

sang dans l'eau


Lance Armstrong Responds to USADA Allegation

AUSTIN, TX -- June 13, 2012 -- I have been notified that USADA, an organization largely funded by taxpayer dollars but governed only by self-written rules, intends to again dredge up discredited allegations dating back more than 16 years to prevent me from competing as a triathlete and try and strip me of the seven Tour de France victories I earned. These are the very same charges and the same witnesses that the Justice Department chose not to pursue after a two-year investigation. These charges are baseless, motivated by spite and advanced through testimony bought and paid for by promises of anonymity and immunity. Although USADA alleges a wide-ranging conspiracy extended over more than 16 years, I am the only athlete it has chosen to charge. USADA’s malice, its methods, its star-chamber practices, and its decision to punish first and adjudicate later all are at odds with our ideals of fairness and fair play.
I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one. That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence.

and then there were two

Andy out due to injury, although previous form and the tone of his press conference tells me he is running scared. Johan wasn't there to back it up, just some surgeons. Talk about being ready for the Olympics etc tells me that he knows he was going to get destroyed and maybe the team is better to focus on Kloden for GC. I see this as the defeat of the schlecks, neither will win a tdf and RSN will start rebuilding sooner rather than later.

Cadel and Bradley, over to you.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Criterium Du Dauphine 2012 after stage 6 - tdf form guide

The Tour is shaping up to be an epic battle between Evans and Wiggins and their two very strong teams. In good signs for his form and confidence, Cadel has been brave and attacked Wiggins when ever he can to claw back some time from the TT. This include a descent attack on stage 5 coming down Grand Colombier and another on stage 6. Bring on July!!!



1 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling               23:40:59
2 Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling                 0:01:20
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team                 0:01:36
4 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling         0:01:48
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 0:02:22
6 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team                 0:02:58
7 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team                 0:03:07
8 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:03:26
9 Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling                         0:03:44
10 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:03:51

Andy Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan                 DNF (Abandoned) 

Friday, June 8, 2012

Criterium Du Dauphine 2012 stage 4 - TDF form guide

Stage 4: ITT 53km Results:


1 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling                    1:03:12
2 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep    0:00:34
3 Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling                    0:01:11
4 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team    0:01:26
5 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep    0:01:33
6 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
7 Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenEdge            0:01:38
8 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team                    0:01:43  
9 David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Barracuda                    0:01:51
10 Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team  0:01:54


164 Andy Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan                  0:10:47



Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Criterium Du Dauphine 2012 - tdf form guide

So, with July closing in, where are the contenders at? Who are the men and who are the girls?

Wiggins vs Evans vs Schleck.

Results of note so far:

June 3. Prologue - Grenoble 5.7km


1Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:06:38
2Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling0:00:01
3Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team0:00:03
4Carlos Barredo (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team
5Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep0:00:05
6Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
7Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank Cycling Team
8Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep0:00:06
9Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
10Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team0:00:07
11Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
12Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team
13Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling0:00:08
14Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team0:00:09
15Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
16Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
17Markel Irizar (Spa) Radioshack-Nissan
18David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Barracuda0:00:10
19Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team
20Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Saur - Sojasun
21Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
22Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
23Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
24Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling
25Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun0:00:11






100Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
101Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team
102Andy Schleck (Lux) Radioshack-Nissan0:00:29
103Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - ISD





June 4. Stage 1: Seyssins - Saint-Vallier 187km


1Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team4:36:21 
2Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun  
3Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Pro Team  
4Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat0:00:04 
5Tony Gallopin (Fra) Radioshack-Nissan  
6Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro Team  
7Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep  
8Julien Simon (Fra) Saur - Sojasun  
9Daniele Ratto (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale  
10Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling  
11Dominik Nerz (Ger) Liquigas-Cannondale  
12Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team  
13Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team  
14Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank Cycling Team  
15David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Barracuda  
16Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale  
17Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team  
18Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team  
19Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team  
20Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team  
21Bruno Pires (Por) Team Saxo Bank  
22Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana Pro Team  
23Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne  
24Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team  
25Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  
26Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep  
27George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team  
28Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Sky Procycling  
29Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur - Sojasun  
30Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Katusha Team  
31Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar  
32Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - Barracuda  
33Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi  
34Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team  
35Alexandre Geniez (Fra) Argos-Shimano  
36Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar Team  
37Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Saur - Sojasun  
38Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team  
39Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar  
40Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team  
41Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne  
42Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep  
43Murilo Antoniobil Fischer (Bra) Garmin - Barracuda  
44Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Radioshack-Nissan  
45Stephan Denifl (Aut) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team  
46Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  
47Carlos Barredo (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team  
48Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne  
49Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat  
50Daniel Navarro (Spa) Team Saxo Bank  
51Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi  
52Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team  
53Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale  
54Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Radioshack-Nissan  
55Richie Porte (Aus) Sky Procycling  
56Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team  
57Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  
58Kristjan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-Cannondale  
59Simone Stortoni (Ita) Lampre - ISD  
60Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar  
61Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling  
62Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep  
63Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi  
64Brice Feillu (Fra) Saur - Sojasun  
65Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling  
66Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Saur - Sojasun  
67Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdge  
68Markel Irizar (Spa) Radioshack-Nissan  
69Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne  
70Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha Team  
71Christian Knees (Ger) Sky Procycling  
72Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team  
73Arnaud Gerard (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat  
74Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Movistar Team  
75Tiago Machado (Por) Radioshack-Nissan  
76Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Saur - Sojasun  
77Rémi Pauriol (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat  
78Maxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  
79Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep  
80Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling  
81Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne  
82Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team  
83Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank  
84Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team  
85Egor Silin (Rus) Astana Pro Team  
86Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat  
87Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha Team  
88Maxime Mederel (Fra) Saur - Sojasun  
89Anthony Charteau (Fra) Team Europcar  
90Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:00:27 
91David Tanner (Aus) Team Saxo Bank  
92Christophe Kern (Fra) Team Europcar  
93Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team  
94Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale  
95Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team  
96Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenEdge  
97Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar Team  
98Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat  
99Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team  
100Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team  
101David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne  
102Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team  
103Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale  
104Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team  
105Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha Team  
106Petr Ignatenko (Rus) Katusha Team  
107David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Movistar Team  
108Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar  
109Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep  
110Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Team Saxo Bank  
111Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne  
112Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - ISD0:00:42 
113Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  
114Yury Trofimov (Rus) Katusha Team  
115Cayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Liquigas-Cannondale  
116Federico Canuti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale  
117Davide Malacarne (Ita) Team Europcar  
118Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team  
119Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre - ISD  
120Simon Geschke (Ger) Argos-Shimano  
121Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - ISD  
122Jorge Azanza Soto (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi  
123Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat0:00:58 
124Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne0:01:45 
125Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Lampre - ISD  
126Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:02:46 
127Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team  
128Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Garmin - Barracuda  
129Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos-Shimano0:03:10 
130John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano  
131Thierry Hupond (Fra) Argos-Shimano  
132Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Argos-Shimano  
133Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Lampre - ISD  
134Oleksandr Kvachuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISD  
135Denys Kostyuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISD  
136Hayden Roulston (NZl) Radioshack-Nissan  
137Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana Pro Team  
138Andy Schleck (Lux) Radioshack-Nissan  
139Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - Barracuda  
140Bert Jan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team  
141Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - Barracuda  
142Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank  
143Jonathan Cantwell (Aus) Team Saxo Bank  
144Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) Orica GreenEdge  
145Kasper Klostergaard-Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank  
146Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  
147Stijn Devolder (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team  
148David Arroyo (Spa) Movistar Team  
149Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team  
150Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team  
151Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team  
152Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team  
153Sylvain Georges (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale  
154Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Orica GreenEdge  
155Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge  
156Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:04:24 
157Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team  
158Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team Europcar  
159Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team  
160Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep0:06:14 
161Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Garmin - Barracuda  
162Kenny De Haes (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team  
163Maarten Neyens (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team  
164Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team  
165Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat  
166Bert Grabsch (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quickstep  
167Danny Pate (USA) Sky Procycling  
168Roger Kluge (Ger) Argos-Shimano  
169Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdge  
170Yukihiro Doi (Jpn) Argos-Shimano0:07:03 
171Travis Meyer (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:08:27 
172Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin - Barracuda0:16:39 
173Ricardo Garcia Ambroa (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:23:54 
174Peio Bilbao (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi  
175Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi