Great Shot! Bring on the Weather!

Great shot!

via brakethrough Media

Bad Weather = Great Cycling Photography!

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:

1	Giovanni VISCONTI	ITA	MOV	4:40:48
2	Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ	COL	ALM	+42
3	Przemyslaw NIEMIEC	POL	LAM	+42
4	Rafal MAJKA	POL	TST	+42
5	Fabio Andres DUARTE AREVALO	COL	COL	+47
6	Michele SCARPONI	ITA	LAM	+54
7	Vincenzo NIBALI	ITA	AST	+54
8	Cadel EVANS	AUS	BMC	+54
9	Mauro SANTAMBROGIO	ITA	VIN	+54
10	Rigoberto URAN URAN	COL	SKY	+54

GC after Stage 15:

1	Vincenzo NIBALI	Italy	AST	62:02:34
2	Cadel EVANS	Australia	BMC	+1:26
3	Rigoberto URAN URAN	Colombia	SKY	+2:46
4	Mauro SANTAMBROGIO	Italy	VIN	+2:47
5	Michele SCARPONI	Italy	LAM	+3:53
6	Przemyslaw NIEMIEC	Poland	LAM	+4:35
7	Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ	Colombia	ALM	+5:15
8	Rafal MAJKA	Poland	TST	+5:20
9	Domenico POZZOVIVO	Italy	ALM	+5:57
10	Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA	Spain	MOV	+6:21

Forza!

Fans waiting on the Col du Telegraphe.

via Castelli Cycling

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:

1	Mauro SANTAMBROGIO	ITA	VIN	4:42:55
2	Vincenzo NIBALI	ITA	AST	+0
3	Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ	COL	ALM	+9
4	Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ	ESP	EUS	+26
5	Rigoberto URAN URAN	COL	SKY	+30
6	Cadel EVANS	AUS	BMC	+33

GC after Stage 14:

1	Vincenzo NIBALI	Italy	AST	57:20:52
2	Cadel EVANS	Australia	BMC	+1:26
3	Rigoberto URAN URAN	Colombia	SKY	+2:46
4	Mauro SANTAMBROGIO	Italy	VIN	+2:47
5	Michele SCARPONI	Italy	LAM	+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 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.

Now Available here.

photo: Red Dots Cycling

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

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:

1	Jens VOIGT	GER	RLT	4:41:16
2	Tyler FARRAR	USA	GRS	+6
3	Thor HUSHOVD	NOR	BMC	+6
4	Peter SAGAN	SVK	CAN	+6
5	Michael MATTHEWS	AUS	OGE	+6
6	Jay MCCARTHY	AUS	TST	+6
7	Alexander CANDELARIO	USA	OPM	+6
8	Michael ROGERS	AUS	TST	+6
9	Markel IRIZAR ARANBURU	ESP	RLT	+6
10	Tejay VAN GARDEREN	USA	BMC	+6

GC after Stage 5:

1	Tejay VAN GARDEREN	United States	BMC	21:55:32
2	Michael ROGERS	Australia	TST	+42
3	Javier Alexis ACEVEDO COLLE	Colombia	JSH	+50
4	Matthew BUSCHE	United States	RLT	+1:04
5	Philip DEIGNAN	Ireland	UHC	+1:17
6	Cameron MEYER	Australia	OGE	+1:29
7	Mathias FRANK	Switzerland	BMC	+1:35
8	Francisco MANCEBO PEREZ	Spain	5HR	+1:53
9	Chad HAGA	United States	OPM	+2:03
10	Lawson CRADDOCK	United States	BLS	+2:22

Stage 12, Longarone-Treviso, 134 km:

1	Mark CAVENDISH	GBR	OPQ	3:01:47
2	Nacer BOUHANNI	FRA	FDJ	+0
3	Luka MEZGEC	SLO	ARG	+0
4	Giacomo NIZZOLO	ITA	RLT	+0
5	Brett LANCASTER	AUS	OGE	+0
6	Manuel BELLETTI	ITA	ALM	+0
7	Roberto FERRARI	ITA	LAM	+0
8	Sacha MODOLO	ITA	BAR	+0
9	Ioannis TAMOURIDIS	GRE	EUS	+0
10	Francisco José VENTOSO ALBERDI GC after Stage 12:	ESP	MOV	+0

1	Vincenzo NIBALI	Italy	AST	46:28:14
2	Cadel EVANS	Australia	BMC	+41
3	Rigoberto URAN URAN	Colombia	SKY	+2:04
4	Robert GESINK	Netherlands	BLA	+2:12
5	Michele SCARPONI	Italy	LAM	+2:13
6	Mauro SANTAMBROGIO	Italy	VIN	+2:55
7	Przemyslaw NIEMIEC	Poland	LAM	+3:35
8	Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA	Spain	MOV	+4:05
9	Domenico POZZOVIVO	Italy	ALM	+4:17
10	Rafal MAJKA	Poland	TST	+4:21