Pembalap sepeda dari Team Columbia High Road Bernhard Eisel menjuari Stage ke-2 Tour de Suisse melalui pertarungan yang dramtis, race yang menempuh jarak 150 km dari davos dan finish kembali di Davos di warnai sprint yang menakjubkan menjelang garis finish. Perlawanan sengit Bernhard Eisel di jawab oleh Gerald Ciolek (Team Milram) dan Oscar Frire (Rabobank). Pimpinan klasemen dari Saxo bank Fabian Cancellara berhasil finish di urutan 11, dengan hasil tersebut Fabian Cancellara masih unggul dari pembalap Liquigas Roman Kreziger dengan jeda waktu 22detik di ikuti oleh pembalap Team astana Andreas Kloden dengan jeda waktu 25detik. for more info click here
Showing posts with label road bike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label road bike. Show all posts
TOUR DE SUISSE STAGE 2
Denis Menchov win giro d'italia 2009
Russian rider Denis Menchov won the Tour of Italy in Rome Sunday, despite suffering a dramatic fall in the last kilometre of the final stage, a 14.4km time-trial.
The Rabobank cyclist, who is the third Russian to win the race, added the title to his two Tour of Spain victories in 2005 and 2007.
Final General classification
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 86:03:11
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:41
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:59
4 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:03:46
5 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:03:59
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:05:28
7 Stefano Garzelli (Ita|Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:08:43
8 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:10:01
9 Tadej Valjavec (Slo|AG2R La Mondiale) 0:11:13
10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:11:28
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Michele Scarponi win giro d'italia stage 18
Michele Scarponi of Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni won the 182km Stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia from Sulmona to Benevento Thursday, as the first grand tour of 2009 winds its way toward Rome Sunday.
Russian Denis Menchov of Rabobank maintained his overall lead after coming home safely in the peloton almost four minutes back.
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Pellizotti Win Giro d'italia stage 17 Chieti - Blockhaus 79KM
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 17 RESULTS
1 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 2.21.06
2 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 0.42
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.43
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.48
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 0.57
6 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 1.54
7 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas 1.55
8 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 1.59
9 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
10 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
General classification GIRO D'ITALIA after stage 17
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 72.28.24
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.26
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 2.00
4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 3.28
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 3.30
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 4.32
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 7.05
8 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 8.04
Franco Pellizotti won the 17th stage of the Tour of Italy on Wednesday, an 83 kilometres ride from Chieti to Blockhaus.
Russia's Denis Menchov retained the overall leader's pink jersey with a 26-second advantage over Italian LPR rider Danilo de Luca.
As the Italian gradually extended his lead, Di Luca elected to up the ante, Menchov, Ivan Basso and Garzelli joining his bid to close the gap.
As Di Luca tried to eat into the Menchov overall lead Pellizotti maintained his rhythm, increasing his lead.
Di Luca's day was bolstered by his picking up eight bonus seconds for taking third place as he tries to wrest the race leadership from Menchov.
Pellizotti stands third overall, two minutes adrift with Basso fourth at 3:28, while Sastre is 3:30 off after an undistinguished ride Wednesday.
It was a third Giro stage win for Pellizotti after Peschici (2006) and a 2008 time-trial at Plan de Corones.
Thursday's 18th stage comprises a 182km ride from Sulmona to Benevento but the key challenge for Di Luca will be Friday's stage to Vesuvius, where Menchov will seek to hold him at bay as best as possible before the Russian looks to cement his status in Sunday's time-trial in Rome itself.
Pellizotti does not rule out making his own challenge for the crown on current form.
"Everything is still possible. Nobody expected to see me on the podium after my difficulties (Monday) at Monte Petrano. But I am in great form and there is still Vesuvius to come."
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Russia's Denis Menchov retained the overall leader's pink jersey with a 26-second advantage over Italian LPR rider Danilo de Luca.
As the Italian gradually extended his lead, Di Luca elected to up the ante, Menchov, Ivan Basso and Garzelli joining his bid to close the gap.
As Di Luca tried to eat into the Menchov overall lead Pellizotti maintained his rhythm, increasing his lead.
Di Luca's day was bolstered by his picking up eight bonus seconds for taking third place as he tries to wrest the race leadership from Menchov.
Pellizotti stands third overall, two minutes adrift with Basso fourth at 3:28, while Sastre is 3:30 off after an undistinguished ride Wednesday.
It was a third Giro stage win for Pellizotti after Peschici (2006) and a 2008 time-trial at Plan de Corones.
Thursday's 18th stage comprises a 182km ride from Sulmona to Benevento but the key challenge for Di Luca will be Friday's stage to Vesuvius, where Menchov will seek to hold him at bay as best as possible before the Russian looks to cement his status in Sunday's time-trial in Rome itself.
Pellizotti does not rule out making his own challenge for the crown on current form.
"Everything is still possible. Nobody expected to see me on the podium after my difficulties (Monday) at Monte Petrano. But I am in great form and there is still Vesuvius to come."
Ivanov win first stage of the Tour of Belgium - Tervuren, 185.4km
Tour Of Belgium Results
1 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha 4.17.35 (42.976 km/h)
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
3 Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil
4 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Silence-Lotto
5 Cristiano Fumigalli (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Bossoni Docce
6 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano
7 David Deroo (Fra) Skil-Shimano
8 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step
9 Ben Hermans (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
10 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini
General classification Tour of Belgium
1 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha 4.17.25
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank 0.04
3 Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil
4 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Silence-Lotto 0.08
5 Cristiano Fumigalli (Ita) Ceramica Flaminia-Bossoni Docce 0.10
6 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano
7 David Deroo (Fra) Skil-Shimano
8 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step
9 Ben Hermans (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator 0.12
10 Alberto Ongarato (Ita) LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini
Katusha's Serguei Ivanov won the first stage of the Tour of Belgium in Tervuren on Wednesday, just barely holding off the sprinters after a last kilometre solo breakaway. The Russian had just enough time to raise his arms in victory as the rush to the line came from behind, just barely edging out Rabobank's Graeme Brown, Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil) and Belgian champion Jurgen Roelandts (Silence-Lotto).
"I felt like I was going to win. I was sure in the last 200m the wind was in my favor," said Ivanov, who last year took third overall. "This year I want to try to better my result from last year. I won the stage, so I am already happy, if I can win the whole race it would be fantastic."
The first attack went just 10 kilometres into the 185.4 out and back circuit. Ivanov's Katusha team worked to control the race as nine riders escaped with some dangerous riders present.
Greg Van Avermaet (Silence-Lotto), Kevin Van Impe (Quick Step), Rick Flange (Rabobank), David Deroo (Skill-Shimano), Johnny High Erland (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling), Martin Kohler (BMC Racing Team), Olivier Pardini (Willems Verandas) and Dieter Cappelle (Palmans Cras) and Sep Vanmarcke (Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht) never gained more than 25 seconds, and were caught 20km later.
The next break was more successful, and after the first intermediate sprint, won by Dutch champion Lars Boom, another move went. This time Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing Team), Sep Vanmarcke (Jong Vlaanderen-Bauknecht) and Federico Canuti (CSF Group-Navigare) gained a maximum of seven minutes with 100km to go.
Vanmarcke took the second sprint as the trio's lead began to shrink rapidly under the pressure of the Katusha, Quick Step and Silence-Lotto teams. But as the gap fell to within a minute on the rugged run-in to the finish, the peloton began to split apart.
"There was a change in tactic because the final 50km are really hard," said Ivanov. "I spoke to Robbie [McEwen], and he said to try to do your own race. 30km before the finish we went faster and faster on the climbs."
Ivanov went with an attack of 14 riders which swallowed up the three men out front. The lead of the race was then Ivanov with three Silence Lotto riders, Jurgen Roelandts, Mickaël Delage and Michael Elijzen, two from Quick Step, Sébastien Rosseler and Maarten Wynants, three from Rabobank (Nick Nuyens, Stef Clement and Graeme Brown) as well as Cristiano Fumagalli (Ceramica Flaminia-Bossoni Docce), David Deroo and Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano), Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil), Jan Bakelants and Ben Hermans (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator), with Bookwalter, Vanmarcke and Canuti.
"The group was good for me," Ivanov said. "Since I was alone for Katusha, I just stayed in the back and did less work than the others because many teams had more than one rider. I waited to see if our sprinters - Napolitano, McEwen and Steegmans - would catch us. 5km before the finish they were very close, and on the last little hill I thought I would go."
The peloton came close, but as the chase touched the tail end of the breakaway, Rosseler launched an attack and was followed by Ivanov. Roelandts, Brown, and one more rider. The Russian then dispatched his companions with one powerful move coming into the final kilometre, and held just enough of an advantage at the line to take the win and the first black leader's jersey of the 2009 Tour of Belgium.
ref[cyclingnews]
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"I felt like I was going to win. I was sure in the last 200m the wind was in my favor," said Ivanov, who last year took third overall. "This year I want to try to better my result from last year. I won the stage, so I am already happy, if I can win the whole race it would be fantastic."
The first attack went just 10 kilometres into the 185.4 out and back circuit. Ivanov's Katusha team worked to control the race as nine riders escaped with some dangerous riders present.
Greg Van Avermaet (Silence-Lotto), Kevin Van Impe (Quick Step), Rick Flange (Rabobank), David Deroo (Skill-Shimano), Johnny High Erland (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling), Martin Kohler (BMC Racing Team), Olivier Pardini (Willems Verandas) and Dieter Cappelle (Palmans Cras) and Sep Vanmarcke (Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht) never gained more than 25 seconds, and were caught 20km later.
The next break was more successful, and after the first intermediate sprint, won by Dutch champion Lars Boom, another move went. This time Brent Bookwalter (BMC Racing Team), Sep Vanmarcke (Jong Vlaanderen-Bauknecht) and Federico Canuti (CSF Group-Navigare) gained a maximum of seven minutes with 100km to go.
Vanmarcke took the second sprint as the trio's lead began to shrink rapidly under the pressure of the Katusha, Quick Step and Silence-Lotto teams. But as the gap fell to within a minute on the rugged run-in to the finish, the peloton began to split apart.
"There was a change in tactic because the final 50km are really hard," said Ivanov. "I spoke to Robbie [McEwen], and he said to try to do your own race. 30km before the finish we went faster and faster on the climbs."
Ivanov went with an attack of 14 riders which swallowed up the three men out front. The lead of the race was then Ivanov with three Silence Lotto riders, Jurgen Roelandts, Mickaël Delage and Michael Elijzen, two from Quick Step, Sébastien Rosseler and Maarten Wynants, three from Rabobank (Nick Nuyens, Stef Clement and Graeme Brown) as well as Cristiano Fumagalli (Ceramica Flaminia-Bossoni Docce), David Deroo and Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano), Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil), Jan Bakelants and Ben Hermans (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator), with Bookwalter, Vanmarcke and Canuti.
"The group was good for me," Ivanov said. "Since I was alone for Katusha, I just stayed in the back and did less work than the others because many teams had more than one rider. I waited to see if our sprinters - Napolitano, McEwen and Steegmans - would catch us. 5km before the finish they were very close, and on the last little hill I thought I would go."
The peloton came close, but as the chase touched the tail end of the breakaway, Rosseler launched an attack and was followed by Ivanov. Roelandts, Brown, and one more rider. The Russian then dispatched his companions with one powerful move coming into the final kilometre, and held just enough of an advantage at the line to take the win and the first black leader's jersey of the 2009 Tour of Belgium.
ref[cyclingnews]
Satre Is Back Winner Giro d'italia stage 16 - Pergola - Monte Petrano 237KM
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 16 RESULTS:
1 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 7.11.54
2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.25
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.26
4 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 0.29
5 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 1.19
6 Francesco Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 1.21
7 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
8 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 2.11
9 José Rodolfo Serpa (Col) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni 2.35
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 2.51
11 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
General classification after stage 16
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 70.06.30
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini 0.39
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 2.19
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas 3.08
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas 3.19
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 3.21
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad 5.54
8 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo 8.24
Carlos Sastre of the Cervélo Test Team won the monstrously hilly 237km Stage 16 from Pergola to Monte Petrano Monday, moving up to third overall in the 2009 Giro d'Italia.
Rabobank's Denis Menchov holds onto the leader's pink jersey going into the second rest day, finishing second ahead of LPR's Danilo Di Luca by 1 second, while Astana's Levi Leipheimer slipped back after finishing nearly three minutes behind Sastre. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) was fourth on the day.
Sastre, the 2008 Tour de France winner, sits third overall, 2:19 behind Menchov. Leipheimer is sixth.
Following tomorrow's second and final rest day, there's a brief opportunity for riders to get back into the swing of things, as the 83km Stage 17 from Chieti to Blockhaus heads to and then along the coast. From there, it's up all the way to the top of Blockhaus – to more than 2000m. Ivan Basso took the maglia rosa on this climb in 2006, but that day finished at the Lanciano pass, and that's at 1306m. Wednesday's blast goes right to the summit of the Blockhaus, where the last two kilometres are particularly testing.
ref[BR]
pic[cyclingnews]
Road Bike Muddy Fox Milano
New Road Bike From Muddy FOX called "MILANO"
Manufacturers description
The Milano Road is a spectacular bike for novice and intermediate road riders. It's built around a lightweight alloy frame and features ergonomically shaped drop bars; 8-speed Shimano STI shifters and Rigida wheels.
- Frame and fork: It’s good to see clearance for mudguards or tyres up to 28mm and the long frame provides plenty of toe room. The chromoly fork is a nice touch as well (7/10)
- Handling: The stretched position will suit aggressive riders and would-be racers, but isn’t so comfortable for day-long rides (7/10)
- Equipment: Sora derailleurs are the spec’s high point, although the 52/42 chainset makes hills unnecessarily hard. At 42cm wide and 31.8mm in diameter, the handlebar suits stronger cyclists (7/10)
- Wheels: Well tensioned and true, with acceptable rims and hubs for the price. Fitting decent budget tyres such as Continental’s Ultra Sports would be a big boost (7/10)
The frame is made of 7005 aluminium, which is slightly stronger than 6061 but doesn’t weld quite so well. However, there are big weld areas at the head tube and bottom bracket, courtesy of a flared top tube and a down tube with a deep, teardrop profile.
Bigger tubes are stiffer, by a factor of eight if you double the diameter, so that down tube is very stiff – vertically, at least – and it looks vaguely aero, which is perhaps the point. The straight-bladed fork is chromoly rather than basic high-tensile steel.
The Milano Road has fittings and space for mudguards, and toe overlap shouldn’t be an issue since the front centres’ distance is generous for a road bike. That’s a function of the long top-tube, meaning the Muddyfox has a traditional long riding position. It’s good news for aspirant racers, though it may mean a stem change for casual riders.
Drivetrain wise, Shimano Sora front and rear derailleurs are one rung up the groupset ladder from 2200, which is found on other bikes at this price, which should mean better long-term performance. A 52/42t chainset and 13-26t cassette mean the gears are on the high side. The top gear, at 108 inches, is ample.
When it comes to the wheels, they reflect the savings that are always made on budget bikes. The Rigida Nova double-wall aluminium rims are sturdy enough and have a nice machined braking surface and wear line to tell you when you’ve worn them down beyond the point of safety, but they're shod with Kenda training tyres that are merely adequate.
The Muddyfox saddle, though, is bad. It’s uncomfortable with a convex shape that presses into places you’d really rather it didn’t. Contact points for the hands are better: the 42cm width bar and 10cm stem are a good fit for Mr Average, and slow speed handling is steadier than some because there’s more steering weight on the front wheel.
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ISD Team - Bike S-Works Tarmac SL2 Dura-Ace
ISD Team - Bike S-Works Tarmac SL2 Dura-AceSpecialized is honored to support ISD with bicycles, helmets, and optics through a multi-year agreement. The team's young talent will support former Italian national champion, Giovanni Visconti, who is familiar with Specialized from his days with the Quick Step squad.Features
- The S-Works FACT carbon crankset provides incredible pedaling efficiency, and mates perfectly with the oversized BB of the S-Works Tarmac SL2 frame.
- The S-Works FACT carbon monocoque fork has an oversized race for incredible strength and precision.
- The S-Works Pro-Set stem uses a carbon-wrapped top cap and front cap with Ti front bolts—light, but with no strength penalty.
- Zipp's 404 wheels feature and aerodynamic shape and a dimpled surface for even less air resistance
- The S-Works SL FACT carbon seatpost features an integrated Zertz insert for a seatpost that’s light and stiff, but forgiving.
- The S-Works Tarmac SL2 features our top-of-the-line, superlight and strong 11r carbon, with our FACT IS construction for a super-efficient frame that simply exudes speed.
- The scientifically proven Body Geometry Toupé, with carbon reinforced base and hollow Ti rails, is easy on your soft parts.
- The S-Works SL FACT carbon handlebar is stiff, strong, and light weight.
ref[i'amspecialized]
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Giro d'italia stage 12 Result Sestri Levante - Riomaggiore (ITT) 61KM
GIRO D'ITALIA STAGE 12 RESULTS :
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 1:34:29
2 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:20
3 Stefano Garzelli (Ita|Acqua & Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:01:03
4 Janez Brajkovic (Slo|Astana) 0:01:14
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
6 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:01:57
7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr|Garmin - Slipstream) 0:01:59
8 Gabriele Bosisio (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:02:04
9 Jose Serpa (Col|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 0:02:13
10 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.) 0:02:17
General classification giro d'italia after stage 12 :
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 50:27:17
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:34
3 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:40
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:02:00
5 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:02:52
6 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:02:58
7 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:03:00
8 Gilberto Simoni (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 0:04:38
Russian Rabobank rider Denis Menchov won the 12th stage of the Tour of Italy in Riommaggiore on Thursday, a 60.6km individual time-trial, and took over the race lead from Danilo Di Luca.
Menchov completed the dramatic course overlooking the Ligurian Sea in a time of 1 hour, 34 minutes, 29 seconds, which was 20 seconds quicker than America's Levi Leipheimer in second.
Italy's Stefano Garzelli set the initial pace, eventually finishing third in 1:35:32, while Leipheimer's Astana team-mate Lance Armstrong took 13th place, 2 minutes, 26 seconds behind Menchov, propelling him to 12th in the overall standings.
Ivan Basso of Italy and Spain's Carlos Sastre, the reigning Tour de France champion, finished more than two minutes behind Menchov in 11th and 12th place respectively, while Basso's Liquigas team-mate and compatriot Franco Pellizotti took fifth place behind Slovenia's Janez Brajkovic of Astana.
"In this team, there is no hierarchy between Basso and me," said Pellizotti. "It's the journalists who have declared Basso leader. We're both leaders and the strategy remains the same."
Italy's Di Luca began the day with an advantage of 1 minute, 20 seconds over his pursuers but a sixth-fastest time of 1:36:23 saw him drop to second place overall behind Menchov.
"I'm happy," said Di Luca. "Menchov rode very well but I'm happy. I hope to take back the pink jersey as soon as possible. The Giro is open. Anything can still happen."
Menchov clocked an average speed of 38.4km/h on the steep, undulating course, securing his second stage win of the race after winning the fifth stage at the summit of the Alpe di Siusi.
The 31-year-old won the Tour of Spain in 2005 and 2007 and finished fifth in last year's Tour of Italy. He leads Di Luca by 34 seconds in the overall standings, with Leipheimer 40 seconds off the pace in third and Pellizotti 2 minutes back in fourth.
On this course, 20 seconds behind Menchov is not much," said Leipheimer. "I still think it's possible for me to win the Giro, even if we're missing (injured team-mate Chris) Horner."
ref[BR]
Giro d'italia Race stage 10 Result - Cuneo - Pinerolo 262KM
Giro d'Italia Stage 10 Result :
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 6:30:43
2 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:00:10
3 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank)
4 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team)
5 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:26
6 Mauricio Soler (Col|Barloworld) 0:00:29
7 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas)
8 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana)
9 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne)
10 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad)
Danilo Di Luca tightened his grip on the race leader's pink jersey by winning the 262km 10th stage of the Tour of Italy from Cuneo to Pinerolo on Tuesday.
Italy's 2007 champion, of the LPR team, attacked on the descent of the Pra Martino climb and left all his rivals in his wake to take his eighth Giro stage win in a little over six and a half hours.
Di Luca now holds an overall lead of 1 minute, 20 seconds on Russian Denis Menchov, the two-time Tour of Spain champion who rides for Rabobank.
Australian Michael Rogers of Columbia is third overall while American Levi Leipheimer of Astana is fourth ahead of Italy's 2006 champion Ivan Basso, who rides for Liquigas.
Basso's teammate, Franco Pellizotti, took second on the stage 10 seconds back with Menchov limiting his losses to finish third ahead of reigning Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre of Spain, of the Cervelo team.
Basso, Leipheimer and Rogers, who along with Menchov, Sastre and Di Luca are considered the main contenders for overall victory, finished 29 seconds back in the company of Lance Armstrong.
Sweden's Thomas Lövkvist, who began the day second overall, lost 1:39 to drop down the standings.
The 11th stage is a largely flat course over 214km from Turin to Arenzano, but it is Thursday's 60.6km time trial that will be preoccupying the minds of the pink jersey favourites on Wednesday.
Di Luca now holds an overall lead of 1 minute, 20 seconds on Russian Denis Menchov, the two-time Tour of Spain champion who rides for Rabobank.
Australian Michael Rogers of Columbia is third overall while American Levi Leipheimer of Astana is fourth ahead of Italy's 2006 champion Ivan Basso, who rides for Liquigas.
Basso's teammate, Franco Pellizotti, took second on the stage 10 seconds back with Menchov limiting his losses to finish third ahead of reigning Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre of Spain, of the Cervelo team.
Basso, Leipheimer and Rogers, who along with Menchov, Sastre and Di Luca are considered the main contenders for overall victory, finished 29 seconds back in the company of Lance Armstrong.
Sweden's Thomas Lövkvist, who began the day second overall, lost 1:39 to drop down the standings.
The 11th stage is a largely flat course over 214km from Turin to Arenzano, but it is Thursday's 60.6km time trial that will be preoccupying the minds of the pink jersey favourites on Wednesday.
"The difference came on the downhill. I knew this section as I'd been over it twice," said Di Luca afterwards.
Di Luca then sprung off on a final 1km bump in the road and pulled away to snatch his second victory of this year's Giro and, more importantly, extend his lead in the pink jersey competition.
In so doing he proved to be the most in-form rider at the moment but that form will be severely tested on Thursday when he will have a hard task holding onto his lead.
General classification after stage 10
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 44:00:11
2 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:01:20
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:01:33
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:01:40
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:53
6 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:54
7 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:02:03
8 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:02:12
9 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:02:35
10 Gilberto Simoni (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)0:02:58
Giro d'italia Race stage 7 Result - Chiavenna, 244km
Giro d'italia Race stage 7 Result
STAGE 7 RESULTS
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor|Team Columbia - Highroad) 5:56:53
2 Robert Hunter (RSA|Barloworld)
3 Pavel Brutt (Rus|Team Katusha)
4 Davide Viganò (Ita|Fuji-Servetto)
5 Alessandro Bertolini (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli)
6 Andriy Grivko (Ukr|ISD) 0:00:31
7 Matthew Goss (Aus|Team Saxo Bank) 0:00:40
8 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
9 Robert Forster (Ger|Team Milram)
10 Ben Swift (GBr|Team Katusha)
Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway, riding for Columbia-Highroad, won the seventh stage of the Tour of Italy on Friday at Chiavenna, with LPR's Danilo Di Luca retaining the leader's pink jersey.
Hagen emerged the winner from a five-man late escape over the final 20 kilometres launched coming off the Passo Maloja climb to win the 244km rain-hit stage from Innsbruck as the race came back over the border from Austria.
The win, his first in Italy, was an early birthday present for the Norwegian, who turns 22 on Sunday.
South African Robert Hunter came in second ahead of Russian Pavel Brutt with Italians Davide Viganò and Alessandro Bertolini completing the top five on the day.
Already the winner of the Ghent-Wevelgem Classic this spring at the age of just 21, Hagen said: "Both victories, in Belgium and here in Italy, are very important and you can't really compare them.
"I'm just really happy to be winning. I had great support from the team because I knew they were blocking behind when the break went clear. I didn't start the final sprint too early, I tried waiting for as long as possible for the other guys to go. But I felt strong and it worked out well. It was dangerous on that last descent in the rain. I was lucky that I didn't crash," he added.
Bertolini had made a break going into the final handful of kilometres and established a one-minute lead on the nerve-wracking descent towards Chiavenna - but he was reined in before Hagen just stole it ahead of Brutt.
Four riders made an early move just outside Innsbruck as Mauro Facci, Bartosz Huzarski, Serguei Klimov and Vladimir Isaichev raced nine minutes clear by the 24km mark and they held on until the final climb as the rain made the conditions increasingly slippery.
Bertolini tried in vain to anticipate the sprint as Brutt and jockeyed for supremacy over the final dozen kilometres and made for the line.
Winner of last month's Ghent-Wevelgem race, Hagen scored his first Giro stage success just 24 hours after he placed second behind Michele Scarponi in the sixth stage to Mayrhofen im Zillertal.
Saturday's eighth stage is a 209 kilometre affair from Morbegno to Bergamo.
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong's Astana team admitted on Friday they have been forced into desperate measures in a bid to publicise a never-ending financial dispute with their key sponsors.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong and his Astana teammates started the Tour of Italy's seventh stage with new shirts and the name of key sponsor, Astana, virtually blocked out.
Currently one of the most successful teams in the peloton, Astana face an uncertain future following reports their Kazakh sponsors have failed to pay team wages several times this year.
On Friday, Armstrong finished 58 seconds behind Hagen and now stands 25th overall, 4 minutes, 31 seconds off the lead.
Hagen emerged the winner from a five-man late escape over the final 20 kilometres launched coming off the Passo Maloja climb to win the 244km rain-hit stage from Innsbruck as the race came back over the border from Austria.
The win, his first in Italy, was an early birthday present for the Norwegian, who turns 22 on Sunday.
South African Robert Hunter came in second ahead of Russian Pavel Brutt with Italians Davide Viganò and Alessandro Bertolini completing the top five on the day.
Already the winner of the Ghent-Wevelgem Classic this spring at the age of just 21, Hagen said: "Both victories, in Belgium and here in Italy, are very important and you can't really compare them.
"I'm just really happy to be winning. I had great support from the team because I knew they were blocking behind when the break went clear. I didn't start the final sprint too early, I tried waiting for as long as possible for the other guys to go. But I felt strong and it worked out well. It was dangerous on that last descent in the rain. I was lucky that I didn't crash," he added.
Bertolini had made a break going into the final handful of kilometres and established a one-minute lead on the nerve-wracking descent towards Chiavenna - but he was reined in before Hagen just stole it ahead of Brutt.
Four riders made an early move just outside Innsbruck as Mauro Facci, Bartosz Huzarski, Serguei Klimov and Vladimir Isaichev raced nine minutes clear by the 24km mark and they held on until the final climb as the rain made the conditions increasingly slippery.
Bertolini tried in vain to anticipate the sprint as Brutt and jockeyed for supremacy over the final dozen kilometres and made for the line.
Winner of last month's Ghent-Wevelgem race, Hagen scored his first Giro stage success just 24 hours after he placed second behind Michele Scarponi in the sixth stage to Mayrhofen im Zillertal.
Saturday's eighth stage is a 209 kilometre affair from Morbegno to Bergamo.
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong's Astana team admitted on Friday they have been forced into desperate measures in a bid to publicise a never-ending financial dispute with their key sponsors.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong and his Astana teammates started the Tour of Italy's seventh stage with new shirts and the name of key sponsor, Astana, virtually blocked out.
Currently one of the most successful teams in the peloton, Astana face an uncertain future following reports their Kazakh sponsors have failed to pay team wages several times this year.
On Friday, Armstrong finished 58 seconds behind Hagen and now stands 25th overall, 4 minutes, 31 seconds off the lead.
General classification after stage 6
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 28:08:48
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:16
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:01:41
ref[BR]
Read More..
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 28:08:48
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:16
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:01:41
ref[BR]
History of Giro d'Italia
History Tour d'Italia / Giro d'italia
The Giro was inspired by the Tour de France and, just as the French race was intended to boost circulation of L'Auto, so Emilio Camillo Costamagna, the editor of La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, aimed to increase his circulation. The first Giro d'Italia started on May 13, 1909 at Milan with eight stages totalling 2,448 kilometres (1,521 miles). Luigi Ganna was the first winner.
Along with the Tour de France and the World Cycling Championship, the Giro d'Italia makes up the Triple Crown of Cycling. Along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España it is one of the three Grand Tours.
Jerseys
Whereas the overall leader of the Tour de France is awarded a yellow jersey (originally to correspond with L'Auto 's yellow pages), since 1931 the overall leader in the Giro sports the maglia rosa (pink jersey), which corresponds with newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport 's pink newsprint. The "King of the Mountains" wears the maglia verde (green jersey). The leader of the points classification wears the maglia ciclamino (mauve jersey), the best young rider wears the maglia bianca (white jersey).
King of the mountains (maglia verde)
During mountain stages of the race, points are awarded to the rider who is first to reach the top of each significant climb. Points are also awarded for riders who closely follow the leader up each climb. The number of points awarded varies according to the hill classification, which is determined by the steepness and length of that particular hill. The green jersey is worn by the rider who, at the start of each stage, has the largest amount of climbing points. If a rider holds both the pink and green jerseys, the green jersey is worn by the rider in second place. At the end of the giro, the rider holding the most climbing points wins the climbing competition. In fact, some riders, particularly those who are neither sprinters nor particularly good at time-trialing, may attempt only to win this particular competition within the race. This is the same as the Polka dot jersey of the Tour de France. In 2008 it was won by Emanuele Sella.
7 wins: Gino Bartali
4 wins: José Manuel Fuente
3 wins: Claudio Chiappucci, Claudio Bortolotto, Franco Bitossi, Fausto Coppi
ref [wikipedianews]
13 May Giro d'italia Race stage 6 Result - Bressanone/Brixen - Mayrhofen 248km
Giro d'italia Race stage 6 Result :
STAGE 6 RESULTS
1 Michele Scarponi (Ita|Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) 5:49:55
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:32
3 Allan Davis (Aus|Quick Step)
4 Filippo Pozzato (Ita|Team Katusha)
5 Matthew Goss (Aus|Team Saxo Bank)
6 Philippe Gilbert (Bel|Silence-Lotto)
7 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita|Lampre - N.G.C.)
8 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
9 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini)
10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo|AG2R La Mondiale)
Michele Scarponi of the Diquigiovanni team soloed to victory on the sixth stage of the Tour of Italy to claim his first career win on the race Thursday.
Fellow Italian Danilo Di Luca, of LPR, retained the race leader's pink jersey after a 248 km ride in which a five-man breakaway provided much of the day's drama on what was a transitional stage into nearby Austria.
Di Luca, the 2007 champion, retained his five-second lead over second-placed Swede Thomas Lövkvist with his Columbian teammate Michael Rogers still in third at 36s.
A quartet of arguably more probable Giro winners - Levi Leipheimer, Denis Menchov, Ivan Basso and Carlos Sastre - sit in fourth to seventh places.
Scarponi was part of the earlier five-man escape group which formed around 50km into the stage, but for most of whom the stage's principal climb at Hochkrimml 50km from the finish line was their undoing.
Only Belarussian Vasik Kiryienka managed to stay with Scarponi on the ascent before dropping behind, apparently due to cramp.
Scarponi dug deep, went off on his own and managed to hold off a rapidly closing but tired peloton.
Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen of Columbia attacked the pursuers in the final kilometre to finish second at around 30s on the stage, thus picking up the bonus seconds that may otherwise have been snatched by rivals of his team.
It is Scarponi's first Giro stage win and comes only months after returning to the peloton following an 18-month ban for his implication in the Operation Puerto doping scandal.
America's Lance Armstrong will target a stage win in the Giro d'Italia after falling off the pace in the overall standings, race leader Di Luca claimed after Stage 6 on Thursday.
"You mustn't forget that he stopped competing for three years and fractured his collarbone a month and a half before the race," the Italian said.
"I saw the footage of the Alpe di Siusi stage (on Wednesday) on television and he gave everything," Di Luca added of the seven-time Tour de France winner. "He's doing his best, he's honouring the Giro. I think he'll focus on a stage victory."
Armstrong finished 73rd on Thursday and currently occupies 25th place overall, 4 minutes, 13 seconds behind Di Luca.
General classification after stage 6
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 22:11:15
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:16
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
10 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:01:41
ref[BR]
Giro d'italia Race stage 5 Result - Alpe di Siusi 125KM
Giro d'italia Race stage 5 Result :
STAGE 5 RESULTS
1 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 3:15:24
2 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 0:00:02
3 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
4 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas)
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:09
6 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana)
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:00:19
8 David Arroyo (Spa|Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:22
9 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad)
10 Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe|Fuji-Servetto)
Russian Denis Menchov won an uphill sprint to claim the fifth stage of the Tour of Italy over 125km from San Martino di Castrozza to Alpe di Siusi on Wednesday as second-placed Danilo Di Luca took the leader's pink jersey.
On a relatively short stage, that ended with a punishing 25km climb up to Alpe di Siusi, seven riders arrived at the final kilometre together with favourite Ivan Basso leading them.
Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre attacked first but Rabobank's Menchov surged past him with Di Luca of LPR struggling to keep his wheel.
Di Luca finished two seconds back but crucially three seconds ahead of third-placed Thomas Lövkvist, the pink jersey wearer on the day.
The Italian had only needed to make up two seconds on the Swede and coupled with the time bonus he received for finishing second, he did just enough to claim the leader's jersey by five seconds.
Record seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong suffered on the final climb and finished just under three minutes back.
The 37-year-old Texan admitted he wasn't expecting much more from the day.
"I'm definitely a little tired, it's a hard climb and we knew that we'd be behind," he told Rai TV. "We just said ride tempo and try to limit the losses. I thought it may be two minutes but it's closer to three minutes but I'm ok with that.
"I've always said the first half is not going to be mine, I've still not got my condition back after my accident and I can't expect to be at the front."
Armstrong was not the only one of the favourites to be dropped on the climb as Basso's Liquigas team set a furious pace.
Sylvester Szmyd did the most damage once the race entered the final 10km, the most punishing part of the climb.
Armstrong dropped off but so too did 2000 Tour of Italy winner Stefano Garzelli as well as 2004 champion Damiano Cunego and Maurizio Bruseghin.
When Szmyd dropped off with 4km left Basso took over the pace and he immediately thinned the field, with his own team-mate Franco Pellizotti among the victims.
With 2km to go the leaders were down to a select seven with Lövkvist starting to lose touch but with no-one willing to help Basso with the pace-setting, they slowed allowing Lövkvist to stay in touch.
Four more riders had also got within touching distance by the time the leaders reached the final kilometre. That sparked Sastre's attack but he simply could not match the burst put in by Menchov or Di Luca.
Basso finished fourth with Levi Leipheimer, Armstrong's Astana team-mate in fifth.
"It was hard, Ivan was strong but when Di Luca and Menchov (attacked) they can go so fast, I can't jump with Di Luca, he's very explosive," said Leipheimer, who is now fourth overall.
He also praised team-mate Armstrong, who broke his collar-bone in March at the Tour of Castilla e Leon and had been a doubt for the Giro.
"I think he's doing very well. I saw him two weeks ago and he's much better now, I think he's content."
Australian Michael Rogers finished ninth on the stage and is third overall while Basso is up to sixth on the general classification, one place behind Menchov and one ahead of Sastre.
General classification after stage 5 giro d'italia
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita|LPR Brakes - Farnese Vini) 16:20:44
2 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:05
3 Michael Rogers (Aus|Team Columbia - Highroad) 0:00:36
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA|Astana) 0:00:43
5 Denis Menchov (Rus|Rabobank) 0:00:50
6 Ivan Basso (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:06
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa|Cervelo Test Team) 0:01:16
8 Christopher Horner (USA|Astana) 0:01:17
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita|Liquigas) 0:01:27
Daniele Nardello's Fuji SL1
"Nardello has always been a man for the Classics with a powerful 1.81m and 73kg (5' 11", 161lb) build custom tailored for long, tough days in the saddle. Even so, team sponsor Fuji are confident enough in the strength of their flagship SL-1 to put him on their lightest machine as he attacks the cobbles.
Read More..
world's lightest bike
Everti Titanium Bicycles claim they have created the world's lightest production road bike – the Eagle, which weighs just 11.4lb (5.17kg).
The company, based in British Columbia, Canada, say they have spent a year refining the design and spec, and product testing to ensure everything will stand up to real-world riding.
According to Everti: "The only limitations of this bike are the legs that are going to be pushing the pedals."
However, they add: "Many of the components on this bike are designed for riders under 200lb so we feel it is best to suggest a rider weight limit of around 180lb to keep everything well within the manufacturer's warranties."
The Eagle frame consists of a double butted 3/2.5 front triangle mated to a straight gauge rear triangle. It comes with a 25-year warranty.
Component highlights include SRAM Red shifters and derailleurs, Zipp cranks and bars, Extralite hubs and stem, Edge Composites rims, Tufo S3 215 tyres, KCNC cassette and brakes, Ritchey WCS seatpost and fork, and Selle Italia SLR saddle. RRP is $9,995 (approx £6,865).
ref[bikeradar]