Latest News in Cycling
Sicilian moves into pink after time trial
Cadel Evans says the "real Giro" began with the stage-8 time trial. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com SALTARA, Italy (VN) — Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) continues to show true grit in his Giro d’Italia fight. After a strong few days, the never-say-die Aussie time-trialed his way to second overall.
“Overall, it’s shaping up pretty well. … Things are finally starting to come together now,” Evans said after warming down and moving to the safety of the team’s car.
“A time trial always shows everyone’s cards. It’s a good point to be at this point of the race. The real Giro is just starting.”
With the “real Giro” starting and two weeks remaining, Evans finds himself second overall by 29 seconds. He arrived there by crafty racing in the last few days, always being present and not suffering bad luck.
Alex Dowsett (Movistar) won the time trial over 54.8km in 1 hour, 16 minutes and 27 seconds. Evans placed seventh at 39 seconds back.
He lost time — 29 seconds to Bradley Wiggins (Sky) and 18 seconds to new race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana). However, he gained on Robert Gesink (Blanco) and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp).
Evans apparently enjoyed the time trial.
“You sort of had, first third, rolling and undulating, and that was a bit like the Amalfi coast sort of thing. And then you had a couple of open sections and then two really steep climbs, that in such a long time trial is really quite taxing,” Evans said.
“Of course, you are always at your limit. … It was over 70km/h on the descent and the steep pitches there were really like the steepest climbs we have had so far.”
BMC Racing fielded Evans at the last minute so that he could build form ahead of the Tour de France. Evans said as much in the pre-Giro press conference, but indicated there could be more.
“If the bookmakers gave me no odds, that’s their mistake, not mine,” Evans said. “I only knew for a short time that I’d race the Giro, but I’ve worked as hard as I could to get ready.”
It appears that Evans maintains that same never-say-die spirit that earned him the 2011 Tour de France title after so many years of trying. The results today point in the direction of a possible second grand-tour win.
“On the classification, I think I am shaping fairly well,” he said. “I think it’s a good position to be in at this point; the Giro changes a bit from here on in.”
The press officer waved off more questions and sports director Fabio Baldato drove the team car towards their next hotel. Evans will look over the results Saturday evening, likely eyeing a Giro d’Italia win.
Puncture costs Sky man stage win as Nibali moves into pink
Alex Dowsett had a long stay in the hot seat — straight through to the end, as it turned out. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com 
The Zero TT saddle was used by most of the Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Banks squad on Saturday. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com SALTARA, Italy (VN) — Italian saddle maker Prologo showed a set of new time-trial and road saddles, as well as some prototype gloves, at the Giro’s long race against the clock on Saturday.
The new gear, first previewed last fall, uses a technology borrowed from motorsport and military applications and licensed for exclusive use within the cycling industry. It is clearly visible as a thin layer of cone-shaped tubes made out of an elastic polymer, designed to enhance grip, comfort, and dexterity.
The technology, dubbed Connect Power Control (CPC) by Prologo, is known as 3D HTX within motorsport, where it adorns Sparco driving gloves and other items. The small cones can be applied in various widths and heights, allowing Prologo to tailor grip characteristics to a specific area’s needs, according to company founder Salvatore Truglio.
CPC will be used on Prologo’s new Zero TT saddle, which most of the Saxo Bank squad used for Saturday’s time trial, as will Alberto Contador later this year, as well as Scratch Pro, Nago Evo and Zero II road saddles. CSF-Bardiani’s young stage winner Enrico Battaglin swapped to the new Zero II with CPC just a day before the Giro.
Prologo has applied CPC to a pair of short-finger gloves, available now, and is working with the Cannondale Factory mountain bike squad to finish development on a long-finger, XC-oriented pair. Availability on the latter is set for later this year.
Saddle makers have a history of adding grippy substances to saddle surfaces in an effort to keep riders from sliding around. It is common to see homemade fixes, too, particularly on time trial saddles; many riders use sandpapery grip tape to help keep them planted. But Prologo claims that these fixes have nowhere near the holding power of the volcano-shaped cones on its CPC material.
“Watch Contador in the next time trial,” Truglio said. “In the past he has moved around a lot [in the saddle]. He’s now planted, and faster.”
Prologo says that in addition to its ability to hold a rider in place, the material has impressive shock-absorption and vibration-damping properties — likely why it’s made its way into motorsport — but is thin enough to maintain dexterity when used on gloves.
TT saddles will be available soon, along with the short-finger gloves. Road saddles and long-finger gloves will follow later this year. Prices are not yet set, but Prologo expect about a 25 percent price increase for its CPC products over a standard saddle.
Vincenzo Nibali celebrates after donning the maglia rosa following stage 8 of the 2013 Giro d'Italia. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com - 1. Alex DOWSETT, Movistar, in 1:16:27
- 2. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at :10
- 3. Tanel KANGERT, Astana, at :14
- 4. Vincenzo NIBALI, Astana, at :21
- 5. Stef CLEMENT, Blanco, at :32
- 6. Luke DURBRIDGE, Orica-GreenEdge, at :35
- 7. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at :39
- 8. Manuele BOARO, Saxo-Tinkoff, at :45
- 9. Sergio Luis HENAO MONTOYA, Sky, at :53
- 10. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-Merida, at :53
- 11. Robert GESINK, Blanco, at 1:22
- 12. Rigoberto URAN URAN, Sky, at 1:48
- 13. Patrick GRETSCH, Argos-Shimano, at 1:48
- 14. Wilco KELDERMAN, Blanco, at 1:57
- 15. Jesse SERGENT, RadioShack-Leopard, at 2:00
- 16. Przemyslaw NIEMIEC, Lampre-Merida, at 2:13
- 17. Nelson Filipe SANTOS SIMOES OLIVEIRA, RadioShack-Leopard, at 2:17
- 18. Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:23
- 19. Juan Manuel GARATE, Blanco, at 2:28
- 20. Domenico POZZOVIVO, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2:34
- 21. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana, at 2:38
- 22. Juan Jose COBO ACEBO, Movistar, at 2:40
- 23. Fabio ARU, Astana, at 2:44
- 24. Pieter WEENING, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:47
- 25. Mauro SANTAMBROGIO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 2:56
- 26. Julien VERMOTE, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 2:59
- 27. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:03
- 28. Maarten TJALLINGII, Blanco, at 3:09
- 29. Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:17
- 30. Dario CATALDO, Sky, at 3:24
- 31. Rafal MAJKA, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 3:27
- 32. Hayden ROULSTON, RadioShack-Leopard, at 3:29
- 33. Tobias LUDVIGSSON, Argos-Shimano, at 3:34
- 34. Svein TUFT, Orica-GreenEdge, at 3:40
- 35. Vladimir GUSEV, Katusha, at 3:44
- 36. Dirk BELLEMAKERS, Lotto-Belisol, at 3:46
- 37. Matteo RABOTTINI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 3:56
- 38. Brett LANCASTER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 3:56
- 39. Rory SUTHERLAND, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 3:57
- 40. Jose Rodolfo SERPA PEREZ, Lampre-Merida, at 4:01
- 41. Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Movistar, at 4:02
- 42. Francis DE GREEF, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:05
- 43. Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp, at 4:05
- 44. Evgeny PETROV, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 4:06
- 45. Anthony ROUX, FDJ, at 4:14
- 46. Franco PELLIZOTTI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 4:18
- 47. Tiago MACHADO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 4:22
- 48. Rafael VALLS FERRI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 4:24
- 49. Alan MARANGONI, Cannondale, at 4:24
- 50. Stefano GARZELLI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 4:27
- 51. Jens KEUKELEIRE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 4:37
- 52. Yury TROFIMOV, Katusha, at 4:41
- 53. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Blanco, at 4:42
- 54. Danilo HONDO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 4:44
- 55. Ivan SANTAROMITA, BMC Racing, at 4:48
- 56. Vladimir KARPETS, Movistar, at 4:50
- 57. Petr IGNATENKO, Katusha, at 4:51
- 58. Michal GOLAS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 4:53
- 59. Martijn KEIZER, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 4:54
- 60. Xabier ZANDIO ECHAIDE, Sky, at 4:56
- 61. Murilo Antonio FISCHER, FDJ, at 5:02
- 62. Marco CANOLA, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 5:03
- 63. Damiano CARUSO, Cannondale, at 5:05
- 64. Maxim BELKOV, Katusha, at 5:05
- 65. Fabio Andres DUARTE AREVALO, Colombia, at 5:16
- 66. Diego ROSA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 5:16
- 67. Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 5:19
- 68. Salvatore PUCCIO, Sky, at 5:20
- 69. Robert KISERLOVSKI, RadioShack-Leopard, at 5:21
- 70. Serge PAUWELS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 5:23
- 71. José HERRADA LOPEZ, Movistar, at 5:26
- 72. Taylor PHINNEY, BMC Racing, at 5:28
- 73. Pavel BRUTT, Katusha, at 5:29
- 74. Jarlinson PANTANO, Colombia, at 5:34
- 75. Stefano PIRAZZI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 5:35
- 76. Valerio AGNOLI, Astana, at 5:39
- 77. Stephen CUMMINGS, BMC Racing, at 5:41
- 78. Simone STORTONI, Lampre-Merida, at 5:42
- 79. Paul MARTENS, Blanco, at 5:42
- 80. Francesco Manuel BONGIORNO, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 5:44
- 81. Giovanni VISCONTI, Movistar, at 5:56
- 82. Robert VRECER, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 5:58
- 83. Eros CAPECCHI, Movistar, at 5:59
- 84. Jorge AZANZA SOTO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 6:01
- 85. Paolo LONGO BORGHINI, Cannondale, at 6:02
- 86. Iljo KEISSE, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 6:05
- 87. Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 6:07
- 88. Steve MORABITO, BMC Racing, at 6:10
- 89. Cameron WURF, Cannondale, at 6:11
- 90. Danilo DI LUCA, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 6:14
- 91. Christian KNEES, Sky, at 6:16
- 92. Maarten WYNANTS, Blanco, at 6:19
- 93. Darwin ATAPUMA HURTADO, Colombia, at 6:21
- 94. Stefano LOCATELLI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 6:23
- 95. Bruno PIRES, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 6:24
- 96. Ben GASTAUER, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 6:31
- 97. Giacomo NIZZOLO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 6:32
- 98. Andrey ZEITS, Astana, at 6:34
- 99. Sacha MODOLO, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 6:37
- 100. Peter STETINA, Garmin-Sharp, at 6:39
- 101. Arnold JEANNESSON, FDJ, at 6:40
- 102. Ramunas NAVARDAUSKAS, Garmin-Sharp, at 6:49
- 103. Enrico BATTAGLIN, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 6:50
- 104. Giampaolo CARUSO, Katusha, at 6:52
- 105. Miguel Angel RUBIANO CHAVEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 6:55
- 106. Jens MOURIS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 6:56
- 107. Jérôme PINEAU, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 6:56
- 108. Guillaume BONNAFOND, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 6:57
- 109. Maurits LAMMERTINK, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 6:58
- 110. Gert STEEGMANS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 6:59
- 111. Christian MEIER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 7:00
- 112. Brian BULGAC, Lotto-Belisol, at 7:00
- 113. Mads CHRISTENSEN, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 7:04
- 114. Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 7:04
- 115. Francis MOUREY, FDJ, at 7:05
- 116. Fabio SABATINI, Cannondale, at 7:09
- 117. Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 7:11
- 118. Carlos Julian QUINTERO, Colombia, at 7:15
- 119. Fabio FELLINE, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 7:16
- 120. Alessandro VANOTTI, Astana, at 7:17
- 121. Frederik VEUCHELEN, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 7:18
- 122. Ricardo MESTRE, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 7:18
- 123. Emanuele SELLA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 7:20
- 124. Dmitriy GRUZDEV, Astana, at 7:20
- 125. Filippo POZZATO, Lampre-Merida, at 7:22
- 126. Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp, at 7:24
- 127. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 7:26
- 128. Oscar GATTO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 7:30
- 129. Dalivier OSPINA NAVARRO, Colombia, at 7:36
- 130. Danny PATE, Sky, at 7:37
- 131. Marco MARCATO, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 7:40
- 132. Vicente REYNES MIMO, Lotto-Belisol, at 7:45
- 133. Gianluca BRAMBILLA, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 7:48
- 134. Robinson Eduardo CHALAPUD GOMEZ, Colombia, at 7:48
- 135. Paolo TIRALONGO, Astana, at 7:51
- 136. Thomas DEKKER, Garmin-Sharp, at 7:54
- 137. Kanstantsin SIUTSOU, Sky, at 7:55
- 138. Edwin Alcibiades AVILA VANEGAS, Colombia, at 8:00
- 139. Nicola BOEM, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 8:02
- 140. Albert TIMMER, Argos-Shimano, at 8:08
- 141. Francisco José VENTOSO ALBERDI, Movistar, at 8:10
- 142. Koen DE KORT, Argos-Shimano, at 8:15
- 143. Tiziano DALL’ANTONIA, Cannondale, at 8:22
- 144. Angel VICIOSO ARCOS, Katusha, at 8:22
- 145. Dmitry KOZONTCHUK, Katusha, at 8:27
- 146. Sonny COLBRELLI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 8:28
- 147. Luca PAOLINI, Katusha, at 8:31
- 148. Matti BRESCHEL, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 8:32
- 149. Yaroslav POPOVYCH, RadioShack-Leopard, at 8:32
- 150. Danilo WYSS, BMC Racing, at 8:33
- 151. Lars Ytting BAK, Lotto-Belisol, at 8:34
- 152. Matteo TRENTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 8:34
- 153. Dominique ROLLIN, FDJ, at 8:35
- 154. Kristijan DURASEK, Lampre-Merida, at 8:36
- 155. Alessandro PRONI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 8:39
- 156. Leonardo Fabio DUQUE, Colombia, at 8:44
- 157. Daniele BENNATI, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 8:46
- 158. Daniel OSS, BMC Racing, at 8:47
- 159. Adam HANSEN, Lotto-Belisol, at 8:48
- 160. Nathan HAAS, Garmin-Sharp, at 8:50
- 161. Cristiano SALERNO, Cannondale, at 8:52
- 162. Roberto FERRARI, Lampre-Merida, at 8:54
- 163. Luka MEZGEC, Argos-Shimano, at 8:56
- 164. Frederik WILLEMS, Lotto-Belisol, at 9:06
- 165. Thomas DAMUSEAU, Argos-Shimano, at 9:06
- 166. Ioannis TAMOURIDIS, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 9:12
- 167. Elia VIVIANI, Cannondale, at 9:13
- 168. Daniele PIETROPOLLI, Lampre-Merida, at 9:18
- 169. Bert DE BACKER, Argos-Shimano, at 9:31
- 170. Mark CAVENDISH, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 9:38
- 171. Pablo LASTRAS GARCIA, Movistar, at 9:40
- 172. Jackson RODRIGUEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 9:43
- 173. John DEGENKOLB, Argos-Shimano, at 9:44
- 174. Giairo ERMETI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 9:48
- 175. Sylvain GEORGES, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 9:55
- 176. Cayetano José SARMIENTO TUNARROSA, Cannondale, at 10:01
- 177. Karsten KROON, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 10:13
- 178. Laurent PICHON, FDJ, at 10:19
- 179. Gert DOCKX, Lotto-Belisol, at 10:30
- 180. Wilson Alexander MARENTES TORRES, Colombia, at 10:39
- 181. Miguel MINGUEZ AYALA, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 10:42
- 182. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 10:45
- 183. Edoardo ZARDINI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 10:47
- 184. Johan LE BON, FDJ, at 10:54
- 185. Manuel BELLETTI, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 10:54
- 186. Willem WAUTERS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 10:57
- 187. George BENNETT, RadioShack-Leopard, at 11:10
- 188. Grega BOLE, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 11:23
- 189. Jack BOBRIDGE, Blanco, at 11:30
- 190. Fabio TABORRE, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 12:57
- 191. Nacer BOUHANNI, FDJ, at 13:01
- 192. Pim LIGTHART, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 13:10
- 193. Tomas Aurelio GIL MARTINEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 13:42
- 194. Kenny DE HAES, Lotto-Belisol, at 14:09
- 195. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 14:10
- 196. Davide APPOLLONIO, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 14:25
- 197. Rafael ANDRIATO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 14:28
- 198. Francesco CHICCHI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 14:44
- 199. Adam BLYTHE, BMC Racing, at 15:17
- 200. Mattia GAVAZZI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 16:42
- DNS Julien BERARD, Ag2r La Mondiale
- Nothing over the top, but a work friend joined me on his first road ride. He usually ride a Maverick by Ironhorse up and down the street or Katy Trail. He used my "extra" bike today and joined me on a short jaunt, 23.7 miles according to STRAVA. Nice morning for a ride...Just thought I'd share...Have a blessed a great weekend!!!
- Just a few from Midtown (then I had to go play at Artcrank).
http://bit.ly/11sXeHH
Should get lots more at the Grove.
Best wishes to all racing this weekend!
velo~ 
Vincenzo Nibali rides to the overall lead at the Giro d'Italia. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com SALTARA, Italy (VN) — Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) took over the maglia rosa at the Giro d’Italia on Saturday as Alex Dowsett (Movistar) won the stage-8 individual time trial.
“It will take a bit of time before I realized what I have done,” said Dowsett. “I still can’t believe myself.
“For me, the race was about doing what I do. I was catching a lot of riders: it was like a carrot on a stick for me, although I knew a lot of them were taking it easy.
“There were three standout moments: one, when [Tanel] Kangert came in very close to my time. Two, when I was up on [Bradley] Wiggins at the split, although I knew he’d improve. And three, with Nibali, when I knew the reverse would happen: I knew he’d be good in the twisty start, but I’d be better on the later, power sections, and that was how it went.”
Wiggins (Sky) had been expected to dominate the hilly, 54.8km leg-breaker from Gabicce Mare to Saltara, which concluded with a quad-shredding climb to the finish that boasted a maximum grade of 13 percent.
But after crashing on a rain-slick corner in Friday’s stage and switching bikes after a puncture on Saturday the Sky captain was only seventh at the first time check and had to settle for second at the finish, 10 seconds behind early leader Dowsett, who covered the course in 1:16:27. Kangert (Astana) rode to third on the day at 14 seconds down.
Neither could Nibali, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) nor defending champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) evict Dowsett from the hot seat. Nibali finished fourth at 21 seconds, Evans seventh at 39 seconds, and Hesjedal 18th at 2:23.
And Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Movistar), who started the day in pink? He finished 41st, 4:02 down on Dowsett, and saw Nibali move into the overall lead, 29 seconds ahead of Evans with Robert Gesink (Blanco) third at 1:15.
Nibali said he did not expect to take the maglia rosa but intends to defend it.
“I’m quite happy but the road is still long,” he said. “The first part [of the time trial] was in my favor, with lots of turns and climbs, descents. I suffered a little more in the second part than pure specialists … but I managed well and I kept enough strength for the final climb.”
Evans said he had been preparing diligently for the stage “because it was a time trial that tested every aspect of time trialing.”
“The weather wasn’t favorable for us, with the winds,” he said. “I think the earlier riders might have had a slight advantage with the wind conditions. But we did everything we could. The important thing was the classification and it was a very good day for us.”
Wiggins now sits fourth overall at 1:16, eight seconds better than fifth-placed Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida).
“It’s been a challenging few days, with the crash yesterday and then to come back up,” Wiggins told Agence France Presse. “It wasn’t an easy course. I’ve said all along that it wasn’t one of those ones where you could take three or four minutes out of people, because it was so technical at the start.
“Then obviously to have a puncture and have to change bikes and disrupt the rhythm is never going to help. But then the second part of the course was really suited to me and I took back a lot of time on people there. It is what it is and it’s put us right back up there now.
“It’s going to be a hell of a race for the next two weeks.”
Hesjedal, meanwhile, sits sixth overall at 2:05.
Asked if he was satisfied with his ride, Hesjedal told VeloNews: “Yes. I am. We still have a lot of racing to go.
“I felt good, I felt like I executed well, I was consistent, I finished strong. It was a tough end of the race. It was my first individual time trial of the year, that’s just the way this season has gone, and to race an hour and 20 minutes on the bike after the week we’ve had, I’m happy with the way I felt.
“I know I get better as these long races go on, so I’m looking forward to the last half of the race.”
- For sale is a gently used 56cm Felt TK2. I believe it is a 2010 model. It is completely stock, except for the original tires (very soft compound, 0 miles) which are also included.
$750