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- Top contenders and key partners related to the Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Road andamp; Time Trial National Championships gathered for a press conference Friday afternoon in the Volkswagen Chattanooga plant.
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Amber Neben crashed hard into the embankment on the outside of a corner during the Amgen Tour women's time trial. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com Former time trial world champion Amber Neben (Pasta Zara) said on Friday that she did not have a timeline for her return to racing following a hard crash in the women’s TT at the Amgen Tour of California last week.
Neben appeared to be riding toward a podium place in San Jose when she overcooked a corner and crashed into a road embankment on the course’s technical descent. She suffered a broken hip and two broken ribs in the crash and will miss her title defense at the Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial National Championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Saturday.
“Considering how bad the crash was, I am doing very well,” said Neben in a team press release. “I was going very well. I think that I would have won the race. I know I was already very fast to the point where I crashed, and I felt very good. Bike racing is hard sometimes! I don’t have yet a timetable for a return but I am doing little things to fire muscles in my legs isometrically. Thanks everyone for the support and prayers.”
Neben, 38, won her first TT national title in 2012 in Augusta, Georgia. She was part of the world champion Specialized-lululemon squad for the team time trial in Limburg, Netherlands, in September and was fourth in the road race days later.
Editor’s Note: This video is courtesy of Global Cycling Network. The opinions expressed in this video do not necessarily represent the opinions of VeloNews.com, Velo magazine or the editors and staff of Competitor Group, Inc.
Ted King is looking lean and it's not by accident. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.com It was hard not to notice, and everyone did: Ted King is lean. At the Amgen Tour of California last week, it was apparent, his lime green Cannondale jersey flapping in the breeze.
He said it was something he heard 10 times a day during the race, no joke.
“So yes, I don’t think it’s just appearance,” he said. “Yes, I am leaner for sure. I came here after a really good spring. I came here after really good, focused training in Colorado. And it’s all about discipline. I like food too much to make this just a mistake, if that makes any sense.”
It does make sense. King was one of Peter Sagan’s reliable domestiques during the classics, where he was lean, but a bit bigger than he is now. Now he hopes to make the Tour de France team, and also for a strong performance at the Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial National Championships this weekend in Chattanooga, Tennessee. King was third in 2011 in the road race.
“I got to be big and strong at the classics. And I was pretty lean there. Then coming [to California], you’re going uphill considerably more. And basically, it’s all progression, going toward the Tour. And you’ve got to be lean for the Tour,” he said.
King, who’s never ridden the Tour de France, thinks he’s got a good shot to make the Sagan-supporting roster, but knows that nothing is guaranteed.
“Until you’re on the start line, you really don’t know. The captains know, and until you’re there, at the start line, you’re really just — fingers crossed, hope for the best,” King said.
As far as nationals goes, King will be riding for himself of course, but by himself also.
“And I’m optimistic about that. It’s still, well, I don’t know if it’s underdog, but you’re one against a lot. And there’s a handful of us doing it like that. And then the following week, I’m headed to the Tour of Swiss,” he said.
As far as quantifying the difference in his weight, King had no specific idea. He doesn’t really get on scales.
“I don’t get on a scale enough,” he said. “I know I’m lean. I just truly don’t get on a scale often … You can see it. You look at yourself in the mirror and you say I’m either leaner or I’m not. And so, like I said, I like food too much to make this a mistake.”
Robert Gesink withdrew from the Giro d'Italia on Friday, citying illness. Photo: Neal Rogers | VeloNews.com SILANDRO, Italy (AFP) — Dutchman Robert Gesink, who began the Giro d’Italia hoping for a podium finish, dropped out of the race on Friday after consulting doctors, his Blanco team announced.
Blanco said Gesink, a climbing specialist, had felt unwell since completing a tough, 20.6-kilometer uphill time trial on Thursday, which had left him in 12th place overall at more than 10 minutes behind leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).
“Robert Gesink didn’t feel well during and after the time trial on Thursday. After consulting with the team’s medical staff he has pulled out,” said the Dutch team.
The news will come as a blow to the team, which had been counting on stage wins and a top finish for Gesink to help boost its bid to attract a major sponsor. Currently, Blanco has no title sponsor.
Gesink’s early retirement follows those of Britain’s Bradley Wiggins (Sky), considered the pre-race favorite, and Canada’s defending champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp). Both pulled out due to illness last week.
The race ends Sunday in Brescia, but is set for a chaotic finish. Friday’s 19th stage was canceled due to freezing temperatures in the Dolomites and major changes also had to be made to Saturday’s 20th stage for the same reason.
Gesink’s best finish in a grand tour was fifth at the Tour de France in 2010.