Latest News in Cycling
Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard) won the Swiss time trial championship on Wednesday. The former Olympic and world champion topped Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling) to secure his eighth professional national TT title.
Elmiger finished 59 seconds off the pace for silver. Reto Hollenstein (IAM Cycling) was third, at 1:57.
Also on Wednesday, Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Ellen Van Dijk (Specialized-lululemon) won the Dutch TT titles for men and women, respectively.
Westra bested defending champion Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) by four seconds. Tom Domoulin (Argos-Shimano) was third, at 40 seconds.
Loes Gunnewijk (GreenEdge-AIS) was second in the women’s tilt, trailing Van Dijk by 40 seconds. Annemiek Van Vleuten (Rabobank) was third, at 1:01.
The European road national championships continue throughout the week, with the major road races taking place Sunday, June 23.
- For sale is a medium 2011 Argon 18 Krypton frame, fork and headset. It's Canadian. Not a whole lot of ride time, as I could never quite get the fit right. Asking $600. steve at stl-appraisals.com or 3-616-9526. Check out reviews and sizing here: http://www.argon18bi...on_2011_eng.pdf http://road.cc/conte...rgon-18-krypton
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The new Mavic Crossmax Enduro is a purpose-built wheel/tire set with enduro mountain bike racers in mind. Photo: Mavic What do you get when a distinctly European style of racing crosses paths with a competition-oriented French company? It seemed inevitable that Mavic would go full-bore into the world of enduro mountain bike racing. With contributions from notable racers Anne-Caroline Chausson and Fabien Barel, Mavic has developed what it claims to be the first enduro racing-specific wheel/tire system.
Crossmax Enduro
Mavic’s Crossmax has long been a lodestar among race wheels, combining minimal weight, durability, and out-of-the-box convenience. Although the new enduro model barely resembles its XC predecessors, it appears to blend those characteristics to approach a different challenge.
Riders will have UST-compatible options in both the 26-inch and 27.5-inch wheel standards, as well as axle choices for 9mm QR, 15mm, and 20mm forks. The rear wheel also covers the range of 9x135mm, 12x135mm, and 12x142mm axle sizes. The pair clocks in at 1,660 grams for the 26-inch wheelset (1,710g for 27.5-inch wheelset).
Notably, the rim width differs between front and rear wheels. The front sports a 21c width, while the rear is a mere 19c wide. Mavic claims that this difference gives the front better handling grip, while the rear is more “responsive” — which is perhaps a French way of saying acceleration.
Different spokes
Additionally, the front wheel is laced with 24 spokes, while the rear is built with 20. Both employ the bladed, straight-pull, Zircal aluminum variety found on many Mavic wheels. The lower spoke count and narrower rim on the rear Crossmax Enduro have us wondering about durability. We can imagine ourselves charging blindly through a rock garden, gassed at the end of a 30-minute enduro and perhaps not riding as precisely as Chausson or Barel. Hopefully we’ll test a pair this summer and let you know if these concerns have merit.
Crossmax Charge and Roam tires
Clearly, Mavic’s engineers were all sitting in the same room when they designed the wheels and tires. Here too, we find designs made specific for front and rear use. The Charge is a 2.4-inch front tire, and the Roam is a lower-profile, 2.3-inch rear tire (2.2-inch on the 27.5-inch model).
Out front, the Charge looks a lot like a Maxxis High Roller with a similarly meaty, blocky tread pattern and generous side knobs. The Roam also has prominent cornering knobs, but most of its tread is low-profile ramped chevron knobs, intended to roll quickly. We’ve found lower profile rear tires to be in short supply and are looking forward to having a good option for rides that include smooth dirt roads and even pavement.
Front and rear tires share the same dual-ply UST casing and weigh 950g and 850g, respectively, in the 26-inch size. Clearly, durability was top priority when Mavic designed the Charge and Roam, as the tires alone are roughly the same weight as the accompanying Crossmax Enduro wheelset.
The combined wheel/tire system is priced at $1,000, with replacement tires retailing between $75 and $80.
Enduro: Headed towards specialization?
Once heralded as a discipline that could be raced on nearly any type of mountain bike, enduro may be crossing the Rubicon. Not surprisingly, Mavic is guided by its racing heritage to push the limits and provide athletes with every imaginable advantage.
Who can blame Mavic when it has former world champions on their roster? Hopefully, what’s good for the enduro racer is good for the everyday ripper. If that means stronger, lighter wheels and grippier tires, perhaps mountain bikers will come around to that bright yellow color.
- I have a customer that continues to send me these drives as a barter for advertising. They work great, but I literally have 2 drives for every machine in my office already.
I might as well share the wealth with some folks.
Iosafe Solo 2 TB Drives (Quantity 3)
http://iosafe.com/pr...s-solo-overview
Iosafe G3 3 TB Drive (Quantity 1)
https://iosafe.com/p...soloG3-overview
Iosafe Rugged Portable 1 TB (Quantity 2)
https://iosafe.com/p...rtable-overview
Iosafe NAS 4 TB (Quantity 1)
https://iosafe.com/p...cts-n2-overview
Anyone interested in any of these? I will let them go for 1/2 or more of what they are worth.
Bob - If anyone knows how Chubb looks today, please let me know.
Thanks - With a new checkpoint-friendly design, the medium Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 computer bag is equipped with intelligent storage options to protect your laptop and high-tech gear.
Padded, zippered rear compartment is corduroy-lined to protect laptop; compartment is hinged to main bag at bottom, securing with zippers
When approaching a security checkpoint, simply "open" the bag as you would a book, separating and laying flat both the main bag and the laptop compartment
Front flap has rip-and-stick?/buckle closure and opens to reveal organizer panel with key tether, 9 sleeve pockets and 2 zippered pockets for all your on-the-go necessities
Removable padded shoulder strap allows comfortable over-the-shoulder carrying; back panel sleeve slides over luggage handles for convenient transportation
External pocket stows a water bottle or compact umbrella
Rear bike light attachment loop (flasher sold separately) and reflector tails increase visibility
Exterior made of abrasion-resistant ballistic nylon for long-lasting use
$70 matt dot grummer at g mailAttached Thumbnails
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- With a new checkpoint-friendly design, the medium Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 computer bag is equipped with intelligent storage options to protect your laptop and high-tech gear.
Padded, zippered rear compartment is corduroy-lined to protect laptop; compartment is hinged to main bag at bottom, securing with zippers
When approaching a security checkpoint, simply "open" the bag as you would a book, separating and laying flat both the main bag and the laptop compartment
Front flap has rip-and-stick?/buckle closure and opens to reveal organizer panel with key tether, 9 sleeve pockets and 2 zippered pockets for all your on-the-go necessities
Removable padded shoulder strap allows comfortable over-the-shoulder carrying; back panel sleeve slides over luggage handles for convenient transportation
External pocket stows a water bottle or compact umbrella
Rear bike light attachment loop (flasher sold separately) and reflector tails increase visibility
Exterior made of abrasion-resistant ballistic nylon for long-lasting use
$70 matt dot grummer at g mail
Rogers, Kreuziger and Spanish climbers line up with former champion
Alberto Contador will attempt to win his third Tour de France title this year. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com PARIS (AFP) — Two-time champion Alberto Contador of Spain will headline Saxo-Tinkoff at the Tour de France, which starts on June 29, the squad announced on Wednesday.
The Spaniard won the three-week grand tour in 2007 and 2009, but was stripped of a third victory (2010) for doping.
Sky’s Chris Froome, the runner-up behind teammate Bradley Wiggins last year and one of the favorites this time around, said on Tuesday that he viewed Contador as his biggest threat.
“We enter this year’s Tour de France with the objective to win the race with Alberto,” Saxo’s sports director Philippe Mauduit said.
“So obviously we’ve tried to pick the riders that fit the best to our overall goal, and we’ve tried to identify and bring together the competencies needed in the team to give Alberto the best possible support and protection over the three weeks on both flat roads and hectic finals, the hilly terrain, the mountains and the time trials.”
Mauduit added: “We believe we have come up with a really strong lineup, a great all-round team with a lot of valuable grand tour experience.”
Saxo-Tinkoff for the 2013 Tour de France
Michael Rogers (AUS)
Roman Kreuziger (CZE)
Nicolas Roche (IRL)
Matteo Tosatto (ITA)
Daniele Bennati (ITA)
Sergio Paulinho (POR)
Alberto Contador (ESP)
Jesus Hernandez (ESP)
Benjamin Noval (ESP)
Cannondale's Ted King will make his Tour de France debut next week and will ride in support of Peter Sagan. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com Ted King’s Tour de France debut comes thanks to putting in the miles for Cannondale’s star, Peter Sagan. After a successful run in the classics and years of domestique duties, the 30-year-old American will line up for cycling’s biggest event on June 29.
“I wouldn’t register it as giddy, but it’s something I’ve been striving for for a long time,” King told VeloNews in a telephone interview Wednesday morning. “The crux of my 2013 season has been to make the Tour team — I’m absolutely thrilled. And it’s still almost two weeks before the race starts, still plenty of time to absorb this and get ready for the race.”
King trains at altitude this week in La Molina, a ski resort high up in the Pyrenees and a one- or two-hour drive from his base in Girona, Spain. It is a just setting for him to reflect on his accomplishments this season and what is in store at the Tour de France.
Sagan, a 23-year-old from Slovakia, was strong from start of the year through the classics. Though he failed to win any of the Monuments, he was near the bull’s eye throughout. King assisted Sagan each time, helping him place second in Milano-Sanremo, second in E3 Harelbeke, first in Ghent-Wevelgem, second in Ronde van Vlaanderen, and first in Brabantse Pijl.
The Italian team wants that same support for its star in the Tour de France, where Sagan won three stages and the green jersey in his debut last year.
“You look at the roster we’re sending and it’s heavy on supporting Peter, almost exclusively. He’s calling it the perfect team for him,” King said. “He has huge aspirations to go for a second green jersey and, absolutely, the goal is to be working for him. That’s most likely where I punch my ticket.”
King said that with Sagan, the pressure is minimized.
“Peter is such a trust-worthy captain. He knows his job, handles the pressure exceptionally well for someone in his position and for someone as talented and proven as he is,” King said.
“The short answer is no, we don’t feel any undo pressure, we know the job at hand, to be racing for Peter. If you look at the season he’s having, the career he’s having, at a young age, I’m not concerned at tackling any bullet points: whether it’s one win, three wins or five wins, whatever.”
First timers
Garmin-Sharp has yet to announce its team, but Andrew Talansky is expected to help lead it. Out of the Americans due to start, he and King will be Tour first-timers.
King, who raced the Giro d’Italia, says the Tour checks another box on his list.
“It’s been a goal. I got a late start in the sport, I started in college when I was 18-19 years old, it wasn’t the aspiration when I was eight to nine years old like a lot of typical cyclists,” he said. “To find myself at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Giro or Paris-Roubaix, they have all been phenomenal and exciting, but you race them for what they are. The Tour is a similar one. It’s definitely sort of the last big check mark on the races I’ve wanted to do.”
Besides Sagan, King will race with Maciej Bodnar, Alessandro De Marchi, Kristjan Koren, Alan Marangoni, Moreno Moser, Fabio Sabatini, and Brian Vandborg.
