Monday, May 20, 2013

Sunday, May 19, 2013

A Sunday of Riding

Celebrate the bike this long Victoria Day weekend.





I'm celebrating the Victoria Day Long Weekend in two ways.


This morning, our FRFuggitivi group ride added two more riders for a fast ride out near UBC. Enjoyable ride with the boys and a nice stop for an excellent espresso at Cafe Faubourg.




Just one of the many good deals...
Falling Leaves Cycling Cap
photo Red Dots Cycling




And, Red Dots Cycling is having a Sale all weekend long! Celebrate and take a massive 25-40% Off most of our stock of fine handmade cycling caps (ie. Falling, Leaves, La Francaise, Paris-Roubaix, Red Hunting) and our entire selection of recycled inner tube products (wallets, pouches, cases & iPad sleeves) - there's something for everyone!




Visconti on his way to an epic win.



Early this morning, I watched the epic Marco Pantani memorial stage up to the finish of the truncated 145km snow laden alpine stage. Into France, and no passport checks for the riders, and on the climb of the Telegraphe, Giovanni Visconti attacked like a man possessed. He was the same rider that abandoned last year's Giro due to shortness of breath. Last December, he served 3 months for working with Dr. Michele Ferrari which he denied ever taking dope. Leaving it all behind him, the Italian rider scores his finest win of his career ...on the Col du Galibier.



New Italian words I learned after today's stage:

fugaccia: a special break

tappaccia: a special stage




Stage 15, Cesana Torinese-Col du Galibier, 149 km:


1Giovanni VISCONTIITAMOV4:40:48
2Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZCOLALM+42
3Przemyslaw NIEMIECPOLLAM+42
4Rafal MAJKAPOLTST+42
5Fabio Andres DUARTE AREVALOCOLCOL+47
6Michele SCARPONIITALAM+54
7Vincenzo NIBALIITAAST+54
8Cadel EVANSAUSBMC+54
9Mauro SANTAMBROGIOITAVIN+54
10Rigoberto URAN URANCOLSKY+54



GC after Stage 15:


1Vincenzo NIBALIItalyAST62:02:34
2Cadel EVANSAustraliaBMC+1:26
3Rigoberto URAN URANColombiaSKY+2:46
4Mauro SANTAMBROGIOItalyVIN+2:47
5Michele SCARPONIItalyLAM+3:53
6Przemyslaw NIEMIECPolandLAM+4:35
7Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZColombiaALM+5:15
8Rafal MAJKAPolandTST+5:20
9Domenico POZZOVIVOItalyALM+5:57
10Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGASpainMOV+6:21




Forza!
Fans waiting on the Col du Telegraphe.
via Castelli Cycling




Saturday, May 18, 2013

Anything But Normal

A day to forget?
via greenedgecycling




Stage 14 was anything but normal.

The miserable weather knocked out the Sestriere climb and organizers re-routed adding 13 kilometers to the day. Due to the weather, the helicopter was grounded thus unable to broadcast a live feed. RAI did it's best to entertain, by interviewing the fans along the route. Thanks to Twitter I was able to follow the action via Assistant DS Julian Dean of Orica GreenEDGE...



Five months into retirement, this was not one of the days where I missed racing. I was very happy to be in the car and sorry for the boys as they suffered in the cold and wet, looking for ways to stay warm.
We assisted with clothing changes all day long. The riders were constantly swapping jackets, gloves and whatever else they could to stay as dry as possible in the rain. At one point, we had Chinese laundry going in the car, trying to dry out the guys’ clothing that they had been wearing to give them the option to exchange clothes again later in the stage.
As bad as today was, it doesn’t deter professional bike races. The first hour of racing averaged 46 kilometres/hour. Three hours in, and they’re averaging 42.5 kilometres/hour. By this point, the riders had become so cold, they were unable to accomplish basic tasks. They had to drop back to the car so that we could open their PowerBars for them because their hands were no longer functioning properly. God bless electronic shifting on Dura Ace. It’s much easier to push a button than shift a lever.


Towards the end of the stage, my feed was back on with cameras along the finish to capture the neon yellow clad Mauro Santambrogio (of the modest Vini Fantini Team) crossing the line just ahead of the Shark to warm up the finish in Bardonecchia. 
Tomorrow's stage will not finish on top of the Col du Galibier but officially is moved further down at the Marco Pantani memorial. The weather is the deciding factor, and it looks like another epic stage upcoming.
Here's the official statement by the race directors.


Stage 14, Cervere-Bardonecchia, 181km:

1Mauro SANTAMBROGIOITAVIN4:42:55
2Vincenzo NIBALIITAAST+0
3Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZCOLALM+9
4Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZESPEUS+26
5Rigoberto URAN URANCOLSKY+30
6Cadel EVANSAUSBMC+33



GC after Stage 14:

1Vincenzo NIBALIItalyAST57:20:52
2Cadel EVANSAustraliaBMC+1:26
3Rigoberto URAN URANColombiaSKY+2:46
4Mauro SANTAMBROGIOItalyVIN+2:47
5Michele SCARPONIItalyLAM+3:53



Suave DS Gianni Savio on Nibali and Evans.



Climbing High,
Rafal Majka making a statement.




One to watch is 23 year old, Rafal Majka finished 11th and is 7s in front of Betancur in the fight for the young riders competition. The cool story is that the young Pole was invited, in 2011, to the Saxo Bank training camp. Majka dropped Contador on the climbs, impressing Bjarne Riis that he offered him a pro contract on the spot. Of course, Majka signed the contract and the rest is history. I'm sure Riis is smiling!


Friday, May 17, 2013

Friday File: Ryder is Out, Snow on the Galibier, Viva La Corsa Rosa & Evans for the Giro




Friday File time...

The Giro has claimed; Ryder Hesjedal and Bradley Wiggins.  

Wiggo citing illness and Hesjedal, well at this point, is not entirely clear what is causing his decline. 

"We’re working on it, but we’re not sure what’s wrong.  There’s a virus that’s been going around, so it could be that, or severe allergies, or going too deep on the TT combined with both  – whatever it is, I’m only getting worse. Yesterday’s stage was just too much for me,  I fought to get through it and I know everyone suffered but after seeing the medical staff last night, I also know that its time for me to go home, get some tests done and get healthy again. I have tried my best to honor the number one bib number, the race, my team and fans and its devastating to leave this way. Going home now is heartbreaking.  I’m very proud of the team – Ramunas’ win proves that we all came here to race. These guys gave everything to help me. I couldn’t ask for better teammates and I know that they’ll continue to do great things here at the Giro for Garmin–Sharp. Now, I’ll go home, focus on recovering,  and take things day by day, and I’ll be cheering on the team from there."

-Ryder Hesjedal

I wish Ryder Hesjedal a speedy recovery.


Tomorrow is the first dramatic mountain stage of the Giro. Here's a photo of le Galibier, taken today and is there concern for closure?

Oh, oh snow on
le Galibier! 
via Scienceinsport




After reading, 'fallen angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi by William Fotheringham, I was quick to find the image (above) on the campionissimo. Beautiful momentos from his 1950 season; his shoes, pump, bicycle, the Bianchi two-tone blue wool jersey and his goggles. I imagine that he wore those goggles or similar ones to victory in Paris-Roubaix-a great artifact of the time!






Yell for Cadel!

Not to take anything from Vincenzo 'the shark' Nibali, who is leading the Giro. But, now that Ryder Hesjedal has left the race, my focus is on Cadel Evans and his bid to become the first Australian to win the Giro. He is second and only 41 seconds behind the Shark. The battle win begin on stage 14 with climbs to Sestriere and finishing on top of 1908-Bardoneccia.


  
Tejay turning it up with a rear disc wheel!
via Bicycling



Here's an excellent image of Tejay van Garderen winning the stage 6 ITT, Tour of California. He scorched the 31 km course in 48:49. Dutch TT champion, Lieuwe Westra was second (at 23s) and Rohan Dennis (Garmin Sharp) was third at 28s. The killer Mt. Diablo climb is tomorrow and that will be the tell-tale stage!





I'm pleased to introduce, the new Viva La Corsa Rosa cycling cap!
We added hot pink and the Italian tricolore because we love the Giro...


Viva La Corsa Rosa cycling cap.
photo: Red Dots Cycling








Don't let a rhino chase you, enjoy your ride this weekend!




Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Gospel According to Jens & Cav Hits a Century




Jens Voigt fooled the sprinters, took them out of the game, and attacked inside the last 5km to win stage 5.

I've been looking for some famous last words, and I think found it. The gospel according to Jens...

"That move, basically, since many, many, many years. Almost since the last ice age I've been doing the same move. Sometimes, like in Colorado (2012 USA Pro Challenge), I do it with 140 kilometres to go, and today, with five to go. They know what my plan is. They know I cannot win a sprint. They know I have to be alone. You've got to catch them by surprise. They watch each other. Peter Sagan looks at Hushovd; Hushovd looks at Tyler Farrar. And they go, 'yeah, it's just old Jensie, let him go.

It's almost like a voice talking in your head. 'Go now. It's now or never. It's now, it's now'. And then you listen to that voice. And I think maybe they underestimated me and they say, 'Oh, he's going to die out there. He's going to slow down.' And, yeah, it played in my favor. I guess I'm allowed to say, every now and then, I do still have a little bit of go power... And once I'm out there, once I can see and smell this victory, it's hard to get it away from me."

I'm glad we have Jens Voigt still riding. He animates the race with his high spirits - the man is 41 years old. When asked what rider he'd tap to replace him, he said: " I think it would take maybe two persons. One to do the funny part, and one to be the bike rider."


Slick and classy win, and NO it's not time for retirement... Jensie!



Stage 5, Santa Barbara-Avila Beach, 185.7 km:


1Jens VOIGTGERRLT4:41:16
2Tyler FARRARUSAGRS+6
3Thor HUSHOVDNORBMC+6
4Peter SAGANSVKCAN+6
5Michael MATTHEWSAUSOGE+6
6Jay MCCARTHYAUSTST+6
7Alexander CANDELARIOUSAOPM+6
8Michael ROGERSAUSTST+6
9Markel IRIZAR ARANBURUESPRLT+6
10Tejay VAN GARDERENUSABMC+6





GC after Stage 5:

1Tejay VAN GARDERENUnited StatesBMC21:55:32
2Michael ROGERSAustraliaTST+42
3Javier Alexis ACEVEDO COLLEColombiaJSH+50
4Matthew BUSCHEUnited StatesRLT+1:04
5Philip DEIGNANIrelandUHC+1:17
6Cameron MEYERAustraliaOGE+1:29
7Mathias FRANKSwitzerlandBMC+1:35
8Francisco MANCEBO PEREZSpain5HR+1:53
9Chad HAGAUnited StatesOPM+2:03
10Lawson CRADDOCKUnited StatesBLS+2:22








Stage 12, Longarone-Treviso, 134 km:

1Mark CAVENDISHGBROPQ3:01:47
2Nacer BOUHANNIFRAFDJ+0
3Luka MEZGECSLOARG+0
4Giacomo NIZZOLOITARLT+0
5Brett LANCASTERAUSOGE+0
6Manuel BELLETTIITAALM+0
7Roberto FERRARIITALAM+0
8Sacha MODOLOITABAR+0
9Ioannis TAMOURIDISGREEUS+0
10
Francisco José VENTOSO ALBERDI





GC after Stage 12:
ESPMOV
+0








1Vincenzo NIBALIItalyAST46:28:14
2Cadel EVANSAustraliaBMC+41
3Rigoberto URAN URANColombiaSKY+2:04
4Robert GESINKNetherlandsBLA+2:12
5Michele SCARPONIItalyLAM+2:13
6Mauro SANTAMBROGIOItalyVIN+2:55
7Przemyslaw NIEMIECPolandLAM+3:35
8Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGASpainMOV+4:05
9Domenico POZZOVIVOItalyALM+4:17
10Rafal MAJKAPolandTST+4:21




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