Today's results and the overall standings. Boonen won this stage, no surprise. American Levi Leipheimer stays in second overall. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05032012/2/cycling-paris-nice-second-stage-results-standings.html 1. Tom Boonen (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) 4:22:15" 2. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain / Movistar) same time 3. John Degenkolb (Germany / Project 1t4i) 4. Sep Vanmarcke (Belgium / Garmin) 5. Francesco Gavazzi (Italy / Astana) 6. Angel Vicioso (Spain / Katusha) 7. Maxime Monfort (Belgium / RadioShack) 8. Taylor Phinney (U.S. / BMC Racing) 9. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) 10. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) 11. Bradley Wiggins (Britain / Team Sky) 12. Tejay Van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing) 13. Anthony Ravard (France / AG2R) 14. Sylvain Chavanel (France / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) 15. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) 16. Lieuwe Westra (Netherlands / Vacansoleil) 17. Simon Spilak (Slovenia / Katusha) 18. Nikolas Maes (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) 19. Arnold Jeannesson (France / FDJ) 20. Robert Kiserlovski (Croatia / Astana) 21. Andreas Klier (Germany / Garmin) +9" 22. Michael Morkov (Denmark / Saxo Bank) +2:29" 23. Stijn Vandenbergh (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) 24. Guillaume Levarlet (France / Saur - Sojasun) 25. Vladimir Isaichev (Russia / Katusha) 26. Denis Menchov (Russia / Katusha) 27. Anthony Geslin (France / FDJ) 28. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / AG2R) 29. Julien Simon (France / Saur - Sojasun) 30. Mickael Cherel (France / AG2R) Overall standings 1. Bradley Wiggins (Britain / Team Sky) 4:33:32" 2. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +6" 3. Tom Boonen (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +7" 4. Tejay Van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing) +11" 5. Sylvain Chavanel (France / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +14" 6. Maxime Monfort (Belgium / RadioShack) +18" 7. Taylor Phinney (U.S. / BMC Racing) +21" 8. Lieuwe Westra (Netherlands / Vacansoleil) +22" 9. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) +28" 10. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain / Movistar) +29" 11. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +30" 12. John Degenkolb (Germany / Project 1t4i) 13. Simon Spilak (Slovenia / Katusha) +33" 14. Robert Kiserlovski (Croatia / Astana) +36" 15. Francesco Gavazzi (Italy / Astana) +44" 16. Sep Vanmarcke (Belgium / Garmin) +52" 17. Arnold Jeannesson (France / FDJ) 18. Nikolas Maes (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +53" 19. Angel Vicioso (Spain / Katusha) +54" 20. Andreas Klier (Germany / Garmin) +1:06" 21. Anthony Ravard (France / AG2R) +1:10" 22. Gustav Larsson (Sweden / Vacansoleil) +2:31" 23. Remi Pauriol (France / FDJ) +2:46" 24. Jerome Coppel (France / Saur - Sojasun) 25. Jens Voigt (Germany / RadioShack) +2:48" 26. Patrick Gretsch (Germany / Project 1t4i) 27. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spain / Movistar) +2:49" 28. Gaetan Bille (Belgium / Lotto) +2:53" 29. Brent Bookwalter (U.S. / BMC Racing) +2:54" 30. Gianni Meersman (Belgium / Lotto)
Valverde wins today's stage. Interesting though, Van Garderen, the young American phenom, has moved up to third, just 11 seconds back. American Levi Leipheimer stays in second. Result and overall standings after the 194-km third stage from Vierzon to Lac de Vassiviere in the Paris-Nice race on Tuesday 1. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) 4 hrs 36 mins 19 secs 2. Simon Gerrans (Australia / GreenEdge) same time 3. Gianni Meersman (Belgium / Lotto) 4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Rabobank) 5. Xavier Florencio (Spain / Katusha) 6. Eros Capecchi (Italy / Liquigas) 7. Maxime Monfort (Belgium / RadioShack) 8. Jonathan Hivert (France / Saur - Sojasun) 9. Francesco Gavazzi (Italy / Astana) 10. Lieuwe Westra (Netherlands / Vacansoleil) Overall standings 1. Bradley Wiggins (Britain / Team Sky) 9 hrs 09 mins 51s 2. Levi Leipheimer (U.S. / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +6" 3. Tejay Van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing) +11" 4. Sylvain Chavanel (France / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +14" 5. Maxime Monfort (Belgium / RadioShack) +18" 6. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +20" 7. Lieuwe Westra (Netherlands / Vacansoleil) +22" 8. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain / Movistar) +29" 9. Simon Spilak (Slovenia / Katusha) +33" 10. Robert Kiserlovski (Croatia / Astana) +36"
And Wiggins wins it all! http://www.euronews.com/sport/1431940-wiggins-holds-off-westra-to-win-paris-nice/ COL DEZE, France (Reuters) Bradley Wiggins soared to Britains first overall win in the Paris-Nice in 45 years with an agonisingly close victory in the final uphill time trial to Col DEze on Sunday. The 31-year-old Team Sky rider beat Dutchman Lieuwe Westra by two seconds in the 9.6-kilometre dash from Nice and eight seconds overall to claim his biggest victory since the Criterium du Dauphine last June. Spains Alejandro Valverde finished third on the final podium, one minute and 10 seconds back. Wiggins said he was proud to be one of just two Britons to win the eight-day stage race and the first since his cycling hero Tom Simpson in 1967. I know my cycling history and this is an enormous achievement, he told reporters. Its an honour to be up there with Tom Simpson. To follow in Tom Simpsons footsteps to become the second Brit to win everybody else on the list Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Indurain its a massive thing. Wiggins, who will be among the overall contenders when the Tour de France starts from Liege in Belgium on June 30, had paid tribute to the late British rider in 2009 when the worlds biggest race went up the Mont Ventoux where Simpson died a few months after his Paris-Nice triumph. Two seconds behind Westra half-way up the winding, well-surfaced climb from Nice to Col DEze, the triple Olympic track gold medallist said he had to pull out all the stops to claim the win. It was a very tough final time trial and I knew that Westra was very strong after hed won that stage midweek, said Wiggins. But in terms of pressure it was nothing compared to an Olympic track final. You can enjoy the moment, I was confident of my ability and today I rode it perfect. I grew up watching (seven-times winner Sean) Kelly winning Paris-Nice on that summit, so coming round that final bend to do that today was even more special. Westra set off fast, but I stayed calm and did my thing and at the finish I got more time back off him. It was good.
Bradley Wiggins wins the 2012 Milan-San Remo. One of the earlier , one day spring classics, this race is 298km. Yes, that works out to 185 miles. In a single day. Racing. certainly an impressive physical feat. http://espn.go.com/olympics/cycling...iggins-holds-lieuwe-westra-paris-nice-triumph COL D'EZE, France -- Bradley Wiggins beat Lieuwe Westra by 2 seconds in the decisive mountain time trial to win the Paris-Nice race for the first time Sunday. Wiggins was leading the Dutchman by 6 seconds coming in and maintained his advantage in the 6-mile uphill dash from Nice to Col d'Eze to become the first Briton to win the race since Tom Simpson in 1967. Wiggins beat Westra by 8 seconds overall. Simpson, just months after his Paris-Nice win, died on the '67 Tour de France on a climb up Mont Ventoux. "I know the history of cycling -- it's a massive thing for me," three-time Olympic gold medalist Wiggins said. "It's an historic race, and it's an honor for me to join my idol Tom Simpson on the Paris-Nice list." Alejandro Valverde had 18 seconds to make up on Wiggins, and that proved too much as he slipped 1:10 behind overall, but the Spaniard did enough to finish third. The 31-year-old Wiggins is expected to be among the contenders to win the Tour de France later this year. "I've already finished fourth on the Tour, third on the (Spanish) Vuelta, first at the Criterium du Dauphine (Libere) and Paris-Nice," Wiggins said. "I know I'll be among the best on the Tour. I don't know about the favorite, because there's four months to go, but in the top five."
I don't mind going 'downhill'..but at my age, uphill is a challenge. Biking for me is half cycling and half walking. Followed by a lot of resting and applying ointments.
The challenge is part of the fun. Going up hill, trying to keep up with the youngsters, so hypoxic you are ready to pass out. Awesome.
Yeah, nausea is one of my favorite conditions. Right behind those old leg muscles flat quitting and me dropping to my knees while trying to maintain some sort of dignity.
Honestly, I have never heard of the guy. However, GreenEDGE is certainly making a anime for themselves in their first UCi qualified season, with a bunch of unknowns and a few veterans. http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news/newsid=1229913.html The Team GreenEDGE rider Michael Albasini of Switzerland broke free from the peloton to win the opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya road cycling stage race in Spain. Albasini took the lead and rode solo over the last 18km of the stage, including the final climb. Albasini won in a time of three hours, 20 minutes 4 seconds. Frances Anthony Delaplace remained alone in the final kilometres to cross the finish in second place. Frenchman Nicholas Edet finished third. The late breakaway started after more than an hour of riding. Most of the stronger riders are likely to have used todays stages as a warm up before the bigger mountain stages later in the event. The first stage of the Volta a Catalunya is a loop starting and ending in Calella, North-east along the coast from Barcelona. At 139km long, the riders faced three major climbs. Canadians Christian Meier of GreenEDGE and Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin-Barracuda finished 34 and 35 at the end of the stage, 1:34 back from the leader. The stage win comes two days after Team GreenEDGE a team new to the UCI WorldTour events won the first classic of the year, the MilanSan Remo, with Australian Simon Gerrans. The second stage of the Tour of Catalunya is a second loop, starting and finishing in Girona. Over the 161km distance, riders will face two major climbs, including a crushing category one climb the Alt Dels Angels climb to 480m - inside the final 20km, before a steep descent to the finish.
TFM, just stopping in to mention the ipad Cyclepedia app in case you're interested... so many people seem to be enjoying it... http://www.complex.com/rides/2011/1...-cycling-history-with-the-cyclepedia-ipad-app
And Abasini wins today's stage too. http://www.bikeworldnews.com/2012/03/20/2012-volta-a-catalunya-stage-2-results/ Michael Albasini gave GreenEDGE its second victory at the Volta a Catlunaya in the second day of racing. Wearing the race leaders jersey, Albasini won the field sprint from an elite group of riders that had survived the first category Alt dels Angels climb just before the finish in Girona. It was fantastic to win yesterday and have the leaders jersey today, said Albasini. To win a stage in the jersey is a good feeling. Im happy to pay back my teammates with one more victory after they worked so hard for me the whole day. It was a hard-earned victory for GreenEDGE, who once again started the day with a two-pronged approach. We had two objectives today, explained Sports Director Neil Stephens. Our first objective was a bit out of our hands it involved getting Allan Davis over the final climb so that he could contest the sprint. This was a really high expectation, and it didnt happen. Our second objective was to maintain the race lead. We did that, and amazingly we still managed to take the stage win. Although GreenEDGE has no overall ambitions at the seven-day tour that favors pure climbers, Stephens said the team was eager to have one more day in the leaders jersey. With that goal in mind, when the days early break of three riders gained a near eight minute advantage, Stephens sent the team to the front to bring down the gap. Julian Dean went to the front and set a nice, steady tempo, noted Stephens. This put the team at the front before the windy section of the stage and it also helped reduce the gap. Albasini was the final rider to crest over the Alt dels Angels with the front group. As three riders went up the road, he kept calm on the descent knowing that he was one of the fastest finishers in the bunch should the move come back to the field. I went so hard on the uphill, and I knew there were no pure sprinters left, said Albasini. I thought this made me one of the fastest in the small bunch. I suffered a lot on the last climb, so I wasnt sure if my legs were fresh for the sprint. I thought [Dario] Cataldo [Omega Pharma - Quickstep] would be one of the fastest guys, so I went on his wheel. When he moved up, I followed, and in the end, he gave me the perfect leadout. The sprint could not have gone better for me. The field faces the toughest stage of the race tomorrow. The Queen stage is the longest of the week with two category one climbs and two hors categorie climbs, concluding with a summit finish. I was happy yesterday with the first stage win, noted Albasini. Two stages is even better. The team has really come together well. Tomorrow is a hard day with some really tough climbs. I hope to enjoy one more day in the leaders jersey before I lose it to someone else. Stephens echoed these sentiments. This is a climbers race, and we came here with the goal of winning a stage, he said. Weve already won two. This is our fifth win in a WorldTour event. Our success so far is way beyond our wildest dreams. Well have some dryer periods, so right now were obviously enjoying every moment.
Well, everyone has to start somewhere. I am assuming you are not kitted out on a road bike. The average speed on the TDF , including the climbs, is well north of 25mph. Sprinters can break 40mph for a few seconds. Being a causal rider of 44 years, I average 16 or 17 in the flats, less in the hills. If I am with a group and we can draft off each other, i may average over 20 in the flats. Here are some pros on an 18% local grade, one I can barely make it up, even with a few breaks. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqT_CZjVzMU"]Astana on Pine Flat Road - YouTube[/ame]
Cool info TFM, thanks. I thought as much. I thought perhaps Kranes was speaking of a stationary bike...may rehab or something, but I didn't want to respond and have him think I was being a wise ass.
I saw that after I posted. haha - I think we posted at the same time. Seems a bit on the slower side of things, my friend. Are you sure of the speed?
I see. Well, it's best not to stress yourself in the beginning. Just continue doing it (I assume part of an exercise program)... you can increase your speed. Good luck.
I like cycling, my gf hates bicycles and would like to plow them down. Go figure. I am without my fav bike right now, a Bike Friday since I got tboned on it crossing the street. Hit and run. Got the license but I will bet the owner does not have insurance and I will have to take the owner to small claims.
And Brajkovic, the Astana stalwart, won today's stage. Due to weather, the stage was shortened and two climbs taken out, effectively screwing the climbers. http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11423/Volta-a-Catalunya-Brajkovic-wins-shortened-third-stage.aspx Astana rider Janez Brajkovic won todays third stage of the Volta a Catalunya, coping best with the freezing conditions which led to a large number of riders withdrawing from the race. He beat Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Mickael Cherel (Ag2r La Mondiale), Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team), Thomas Rohregger (RadioShack - Nissan), Christian Vande Velde (Team Garmin - Barracuda) and four others to the line, with the peloton a long way back. Race judges deliberated for some time afterwards, before finally deciding that the general classification would not be affected by the outcome. What was set to be the hardest stage of the race indeed turned out that way, but the difficulty was down to climatic conditions rather than the route itself. Organisers slashed the stage from 210.9 to 155 kilometres due to freezing conditions and snow on the final climb. It meant that the Queen stage lost the two hors categorie ascents and was essentially neutered for the climbers, while the break got to fight for the victory rather than having to worry about being reeled back in. In addition, the conditions led to a substantial number of riders pulling out, including Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan), Sky Procyclings Bradley Wiggins and Richie Porte, and the BMC Racing Teams Tejay Van Garderen. The days move started seventeen kilometres after the start when Chris Anker Sörensen (Saxo Bank) and Johann Tschopp (BMC Racing Team) broke clear on the first category Alto de Coubet. Brajkovic bridged across several kilometres later, then at the 34 kilometre point Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank), Romain Bardet, Mickael Cherel (both Ag2r La Mondiale), Christian Vande Velde (Garmin Barracuda), Michal Golas (Omega Pharma Quick Step), Thomas Rohregger (RadioShack) and Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil) also made it to the front. The peloton was one minute 25 seconds back at this point and, with the weather worsening and the TV helicopters unable to fly because of the conditions, the gap grew. After 53 kilometres the break was four and a half minutes clear. Rohregger, Sorensen and Golas led over the top of the first category Collada de Toses, 74.5 kilometres after the start. The gap was up to eight minutes 40 seconds at the 100 kilometre point, and this increased to ten minutes 50 seconds at kilometre 123.5. The original route would have seen just over 85 kilometres remaining at that point, giving scope for the peloton to chase. However with snow on the final climb, the organisers took the decision to move the finish to a point before it and the preceeding peak, that of the Port del Cantó. There, on the foothills of the latter climb and155 kilometres after the start, Brajkovic triumphed ahead of Golas, Cherel, Sorensen and the others. The peloton came in several minutes back but because of the conditions, the race judges later decided that the general classification would not be changed. Michael Albasini (GreenEdge) therefore maintains his one minute 32 seconds advantage over Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Barracuda), Mickael Cherel (Ag2r La Mondiale), Steve Morabito (BMC Racing Team) and other key riders. Those will all do what they can to try to fight for the race lead. However today was their best opportunity to do so, with less possibilities between now and the race finish on Sunday. Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...wins-shortened-third-stage.aspx#ixzz1poJUAfKp
Impressive. In the breakaway, caught, and still sprints out ahead. No easy feat. http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=19926 Colombian cyclist Rigoberto Urán (Sky Procycling) sprinted to victory at stage four of the 2012 Volta a Catalunya today ahead of Russian Denis Menchov (Katusha) and Sylvester Szmyd (Liquigas-Cannondale). The three men were part all part of an original six man breakaway group that was caught by a chase group of nineteen riders approximately four hundred meters from the finish. Urán clearly still had enough energy to out sprint the others, apparently so did Menchov and Szmyd. The original three man breakaway on todays stage included Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Caja Rural), Romain Zingle (Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne) and Jesus Rosendo Prado (Andalucia). Pimienta and Prado managed to stay ahead of the peloton through the first ascent of the Alt de Les Paumeres, but were snapped up on the descent, while Zingle cracked on the climb and was caught before the summit. A group of twenty-five riders caught the day's break and while the lead group of twenty-five was descending, it was Urán who decided to attack. He was soon joined by the duo of Tomasz Marczynski (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Sandy Casar (FDJ-Big Mat). Due to the fact that Urán was just 1:32 down from Albasini in the overall classification the breakaway got little leeway. The three men were eventually caught by the chase group, and as the peloton once again began to climb the Alt de Les Paumeres, there were many attacks, however none stuck until the American Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)and Polish Sylvester Szmyd (Liquigas-Cannondale attacked together. Soon after Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) bridged across to the duo and was the first rider to cross the summit. On the descent a six man breakaway including Leipheimer, Sanchez, Szmyd, Rigoberto Urán, Denis Menchov and David Moncoutie (Cofidis) formed. Overall race leader Michael Albasini was part of the nineteen man chase group that caught the six escapees just 400 meters from the finish. He finished on the same time as Rigoberto Urán, finishing in 24th place and will once again remain in the overall race leader's jersey. Fuglsang Breaks Hand Jakob Fuglsang did not take the start at stage 4 of the Tour of Catalunya, because of a scaphoid fracture in the left hand. The Dane, who turns 27 today, broke the bone early in yesterday's stage. Fuglsang will be operated tomorrow or Saturday in Basel in order for the bone to heal well and fast. He will be able to train on rollers from Monday on and will return to racing wearing a cast. Stage Rankings
Simon wins today's stage! A little know (I have never heard of him) on a very little known team won the stage. However, a 7 minute lead int he breakaway is huge. Good luck trying to catch that no matter how many riders are trying.I bet there are some sore legs tonight in Spain. http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=19930 In an uphill sprint battle Julien Simon (Saur-Sojasun) claimed victory on stage 5 of the 2012 Volta a Catalunya ahead of yesterday's stage winner Rigoberto Urán (Sky Procycling) and Liquigas Cannondale's Sylvester Szmyd. Overall race leader Michael Albasini (GreenEdge Cycling) finished in the lead group and will begin tomorrow's stage in the race leader's jersey yet again. It wasn't until ninety kilometers into today's 207.1 kilometer stage when the day's breakaway escaped. There were six men in the original group, which included: BMC Racing Team's Mathias Frank, Tomasz Marczynski (Vacansoleil), Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank), Marcos García (Caja Rural), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) and Kristof Vandewalle (Omega Pharma-Quick Step). The group eventually built a maximum gap of seven minutes, thirty seconds. After several teams had come together to chase down the escapees, the gap was down to just two minutes, ten seconds as the breakaway began the ascent up the day's final climb. As the leader's reached the summit of the climb the gap was down to just twenty-three seconds. As the peloton climbed the final ascent of the day, it was the overall race leader Michael Albasini who was suffering. However others were not. Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD) and Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) attack from the peloton, but neither were successful. As other attacks from the peloton, they were all unsuccessful at getting away, until Sammy Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) attacked. The Euskaltel-Euskadi rider attacked the peloton and gained a small advantage as he descended the day's final climb; however the peloton didn't let him get away and caught the Spaniard with approximately eight kilometers remaining. Omega Pharma-QuickStep led the peloton for the final kilometers with Levi Leipheimer and two other teammates leading the peloton through the final kilometer banner. However it was well known that a sprinter would be victorious and Leipheimer had no chance. Dario Cataldo (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) opened up the uphill sprint, but in the end it would be the Frenchman, Julien Simon who claimed the sprint victory.
