Updated! Hallelujah, they're racing in Qatar, and I just got back from celebrating with every other New Orleanian on Bourbon Street. There's news to report though, work to be done. I'll put the celebrations aside for just a moment to take a closer look at the news that's keeping the bike world ticking as we start the second week of February. Keep checking back for much more.
A Note On Lateness
First off, I must apologize for the lateness of today's Trash. You must forgive me this one transgression, because, see, I'm in a special place at the moment. I'm in New Orleans. For anyone that loves or hates or doesn't care one bit about American Football, it became the center of the happy universe last night when the Saints won the Super Bowl and an entire city opened its doors and led out a giant hallelujah and hugged each other in pure, simple joy,
I'm not the biggest football fan, not a die-hard Saints fan either, but when an entire city converges on 80 square blocks of real estate for one of the mightiest celebrations ever celebrated...I'll be there to take pictures.
It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. I've never encountered such a heaving mass of happiness. People talk about good vibes and how they can affect a situation...this was whatever they were talking about times a million. People were laughing, hugging, chanting, just existing at peak happiness.
I'm proud to say that I was in New Orleans when the Saints won the Super Bowl...and it has nothing to do with football and everything to do with a city that survived and endured and grew to a far better city than it ever was after Katrina.
In short, the morning/afternoon is starting off a wee bit slowly.
The Opposite Side Of The Coin: RIP Franco Ballerini
A big ocean away and the news is not at all happy or smile-inducing. Two-time Paris-Roubaix champion and Italian national selector/coach/manager Franco Ballerini died this weekend following injuries sustained in a rally car race accident near Florence.
I can't add much to that that Matt Conn didn't already say in his well-said story from this morning.
Our condolences go out to those affected by this tragedy, most of all his family and friends.
Qatar Update
At long last, they're racing in Qatar. Nothing signifies the start of the year more, for me that is, than Qatar. The course is terrible, but the racing is righteously wild and only the strongest, baddest, weather beaten flahutes need apply for wins on the windiest days.
The racing started Sunday with the typical short team time trial, and in not so typical fashion, it was Team Sky posting the fastest time by a significant margin: 8 seconds. Edvald Boasson Hagen was first across the line and took the first leader's jersey.
It wouldn't be a long stay in the lead for Boasson Hagen, as Stage 2 showed the desert winds at their finest. A two up break went nearly wire to wire: it went 2k into the stage and made it home safely 145k later. Wouter Mol (Vacansoleil) and Geert Steurs (Topsport) were the day's early aggressors. A headwind of mammoth proportions defined the early going allowing the duo to amass nearly 23 minutes of a lead only 36k into the stage.
Behind, when the turn into the crosswinds came, the fun started. Cervelo and QuickStep, predictably, took the reins and unleashed their collective power on the poor, suffering field. Team Sky was unfortunately left out of the fun, so spent the next 40k chasing in vain.
The aggressive racing behind wasn't enough to reel in the escapees, but it was more than enough to tear the field to bits and pieces and shreds.
Stage 2 Results
1 Geert Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator 3:31:00
2 Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
3 Roger Kluge (Ger) Team Milram 0:01:51
4 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervélo TestTeam 0:01:54
5 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma - Lotto 0:01:55
6 Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervélo TestTeam
7 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step
8 Jérémy Hunt (GBr) Cervélo TestTeam
9 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Katusha
10 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team
GC After Two Days
1 Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 3:40:51
2 Geert Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator 0:00:09
3 Roger Kluge (Ger) Team Milram 0:02:02
4 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 0:02:05
5 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 0:02:06
6 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma - Lotto 0:02:18
7 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Katusha
8 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:40
9 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions 0:02:41
10 Marco Velo (Ita) Quick Step 0:02:47
But Wait: Where's Cervelo In The GC?
Take a look back at the Top 10 overall at the Tour of Qatar, then look at the results from the day above. Heinrich Haussler was 4th in Stage 2, yet he's only 13th overall? Say what? Cervelo TestTeam were the victims of a harsh call in the TTT in Stage 1. The team was docked the UCI maximum of one minute (plus fines!) for what the commissaires ruled as Haussler pushing his teammate during the TTT.
"I touched Rasch but I didn't push him. He didn't gain any advantage...I'd just done a turn on the front and was moving back, when the wind blew us together, I put my hand out to avoid crashing. It's a crazy decision, but the commissaires are the boss of the race."
Team DS, Jens Zemke, was understandably livid over the decision and briefly contemplated withdrawing from the race. It's a shame that this kind of protest is completely impossible, considering Qatar's role as an essential cog en route to Holy Week. Or do we call it Holy Two Weeks now?
We'll never know what really happened, but it would appear to be kind of hard to argue with Haussler's defense that he was trying to keep Rasch from running into him.
I'm sure the Cervelo team are comforting themselves with such thoughts as, well, better now and not in April.
The Woes Of Broken Bones In Qatar
One road stage done and there are already two broken collarbones. The two poor victims of crap luck are Garmin's Steven Cozza and Sky's Kurt-Asle Arvesen.
Cozza's injury is particularly painful considering that Ed just got done interviewing Cozza, who said just a few days ago, that he's finally back to his normal self following a 2009 beset by injury. Best of luck to Cozza in a quick recovery.
Arvesen's collarbone break puts a huge dent in Sky's hopes for the Spring Classics. Arvesen has shown himself capable on all terrains and was set to be one of the big guns for Sky when they headed north to Belgium. It's not out of the question that Arvesen can make a solid comeback, but he will not be at 100% when Easter Sunday rolls around in April.
Let's hope for some better fortunes for the riders still standing.
Mallorca Update
Two stages done in Mallorca and two bunch sprints - both going to some speedy oldies. Well, that might be a bit harsh to call Robbie McEwen and Oscar Freire oldies, but considering the age of the world's best sprinter at 24 and well, mid 30's seems a bit old.
I digress.
After a long seven months on the comeback trail following a terrible knee injury from a crash at the Tour of Belgium last year, Robbie McEwen is back to his old ways. The wiley speedster went from way out and held it to the line to take his first win in a long while in the first stage of the Tour of Mallorca.
Stage 2 saw another rider returning from the depths: Oscar Freire. The three-time World Champion had a less than spectacular go of it in 2009, and finished with retirement rumours swirling rather than talks of a possible fourth World title in Australia. Freire took a mighty scalp in Andre Greipel in Stage 2 and one has to wonder: is it possible for Freire to take that record-setting #4 at the end of 2010?
Trofeo Palma De Mallorca (Stage 1)
1 Robbie Mcewen (Aus) Team Katusha 2:21:16
2 Koldo Fernández (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
3 Óscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
4 André Schulze (Ger) PSK Whirlpool-Author
5 Manuel Cardoso (Por) Footon-Servetto
Trofeo Calla Millor (Stage 2)
1 Óscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 4:14:21
2 André Greipel (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia
3 Manuel Cardoso (Por) Footon-Servetto
4 Robert Förster (Ger) Team Milram
5 Koldo Fernández (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
Lots more to come from Mallorca this week including the first real climbing of 2010. I can't wait.
Etoile De Besseges Wrap
After five pleasant February days of racing in the south of France, Samuel Dumoulin was crowned the overall champion at the 2010 Etoile de Besseges. The victory was not without its interesting tales however, namely arising from the final two stages.
The race belonged to Vacansoleil's Slovenian sprinter extraordinaire, Borut Bozic, for the first two stages, but Stage 3 saw Samuel Dumoulin on top in joyous celebration. A quick look at the pictures from Stage 4 appeared to give Dumoulin his second straight stage by a gigantic margin. He looked to be 100 meters in front of everyone else. Apparently, there was more to this story, though not terribly clear in the MORE part: officials relegated Dumoulin for cutting the course in the waning moments of the race. My question is this - where did he cut the course? Did no one else cut the course? What was the magic shortcut that gave him such a huge gap? Alas, such truths are not meant for me.
Heading into the final day, it was Stage 4's 'winner', Arnaud Molmy on top of the GC heap, and I mean heap: over 10 riders were within ten seconds of the overall lead.
But then disaster struck a huge chunk of the field: a stomach bug rolled through the race overnight in true tsunami fashion. Molmy wasn't even able to start the final stage, and it was the hardest of the hard men, Niko Eeckhout that showed he has legs of steel as well as a gastrointestinal tract to match.
The overall subsequently passed to question mark man, Samuel Dumoulin.
Final Overall Classification
1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 17:10:27
2 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:00:03
3 Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) An Post - Sean Kelly Team 0:00:04
4 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator
5 Julien Loubet (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale 0:00:05
6 Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:00:06
7 Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 0:00:07
8 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
9 Biel Kadri (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale 0:00:08
10 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
Copenhagen Six Update
After four nights of racing and two still to go, the best of the Six Days are clumped atop the leaderboard with local favorites, World Champion duo Alex Rasmussen and Michael Morkov, on top...at least for now.
Three pairings are on the lead lap: Rasmussen/Morkov, Risi/Marvulli, and Bartko/Keisse. All three are close on points as well, with only 12 points separating first from third. The next closest team is nearly 50 points off of third place and two laps back. The race has come to three teams and two stories: Rasmussen and Morkov at home in Copenhagen flying upwards into the stratosphere of superstardom and Bruno Risi looking to finish his career with one last win. It's going to be a fantastic final two nights of racing.
Lucky for us, Ed Hood is on hand and working hard. You can be sure that we'll get the inside view of what could turn out to be one of the better Sixes in memory.
1 Alex Rasmussen / Michael Mørkøv (Den) 173 pts
2 Bruno Risi / Franco Marvulli (Swi) 169
3 Robert Bartko / Iljo Keisse (Ger/Bel) 161
4 -1lap Leif Lampater / Christian Grasmann (Ger) 111
5 Danny Stam / Peter Schep (Ned) 86
6 -2laps Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 112
Pozzato Has His Priorities Straight
Filippo Pozzato has eyes for one race in 2010. Sure, there are some others that he'd like a win, but his #1 choice is the Tour of Flanders.
"I aim for victory at the Tour of Flanders. A win in Flanders remains a dream. It could also be Paris-Roubaix though. These two monuments fit me like a glove, but I take the Tour of Flanders first. If I must choose, I go with Flanders because it is raced first. Then, I can arrive a week later at the start of Paris-Roubaix calmer."
You didn't think that he chose De Ronde for sentimental reasons, did you? Woops.
As for Tom Boonen? "He is the greatest of our generation for the Flemish races. Due to circumstances, he couldn't win Flanders last year. In Roubaix, he was just the strongest, but he is not unbeatable. I want to prove that."
Pippo, never a scrooge with his comments, continues: "Philippe Gilbert is a good cycling, but I do not know whether he has sufficient experience for Flanders. I see him winning Milano-Sanremo first."
And one last bit from Pippo that now rings poignant: "I will have two peaks this year: one in the Spring and the other in the period of the World Championship. Ballerini told me that the course in Australia fits me like a glove."
Cross Compote
After another disappointing showing at the World Championships, some would expect Sven Nys to have a little downtime to wallow in the one race that frustrates him to no end. Well, I guess that shouldn't be expected, but it wouldn't be surprising. Anyhow, the opposite was true this weekend: Nys took both races in glorious fashion and showed that you just can't ever forget about Sven Nys. He's still the best, if only arguably and sometimes now. Wait...what?
Nys took the first race of the weekend, the GVA round in Lille in a two-up sprint over World Champ Zdenek Stybar. The pair dusted the rest of the field with third place coming in nearly a minute back.
On Sunday, Nys won again, but this time in clever fashion when he unleashed a perfect attack on the final lap to get a gap on the leading group to take the win in the Supeprestige round in Zonhoven.
For Nys, it appears that the GVA Trofee is his, and the Superprestige is still a possibility if everything goes just right. He has to be kicking himself for pulling out of the Diegem round following a mechanical though - that zero point showing is the only reason he won't win the Superprestige overall if, and most likely when, he doesn't.
What Of Niels Albert?
Poor Niels Albert's season is going downhill rapidly. The former leader of all three of cyclocross's season-long classifications, now looks threatened to keep but one: the Superprestige. Nys has the GVA, Stybar the World Cup, and Albert is now tied for the lead in the Superprestige with Stybar with Nys only a bike throw off of that, 9 points back.
Albert's chances at overall glory in the Superprestige aren't gone yet though. He won this round of the Superprestige last year, so it could be surmised that he isn't done just yet.
It might look a bit dismal for Albert right now, but it was made apparent early on this year, that when Albert is on, there are few if any who can rival him. It'll be better next year, just watch.
Kirsten On Top In Ladies Tour Of Qatar
Cervelo Press Release: Cervélo TestTeam sprinter Kirsten Wild won the last stage of the Tour of Qatar today and with that stage win was also victorious in the general classification. As well as successfully defending her championship from last year, Wild also provided Cervélo TestTeam with their first victory in 2010.
"It was an exciting race today, early in the stage there was a break from Lisa Brennauer (German National Team)," said Egon van Kessel, Sports Director. "She achieved a maximum gap of three and half minutes and then the other teams forced us to close the gap. After we took her back Emilia Fahlin (HTC - Columbia) attacked and because she was still dangerous in the General Classification, leader Giorgia Bronzini's team (Italian National Team) was forced to close the gap, That took a lot of effort on their part and in the final we took over the lead and brought Kirsten into a perfect position where she was able to win both the stage and the GC."
"It was a pretty exciting day today," said Kirsten Wild. "We started with 4 seconds behind leader Bronzini and I was able to close that gap in the intermediate sprints. Then I knew that it all depended on the last sprint. My teammates did an incredible good job in the final. They brought me into the perfect position and I was able to win the sprint."
"This was a great team effort and a perfect start for the 2010 season. I came through the winter well and with this team we are really confident about the season ahead. Tomorrow we travel to Portugal to prepare ourselves for the classics season that begin on February 28 with the Omloop het Nieuwsblad."
SpiderTech Presented In Toronto
(Toronto, Ontario): Perhaps the only thing missing from last week’s (January 28) SpiderTech team presentation and Steve Bauer tribute was a red carpet. Otherwise, the glitzy event held at Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum could easily have passed for a Hollywood movie premiere. Approximately 150 affluent and powerful movers and shakers from Toronto and Montreal gathered to launch the country’s only UCI continental cycling team at a press conference, cocktail party, fundraising dinner and salute hosted by SpiderTech founder Ray Arbesman, along with wife Karen.
Starting with a press conference, Bauer, one of North America’s greatest cyclists and Canada’s acknowledged best who now directs and manages Team SpiderTech presented by Planet Energy for his Cycle Sport Management, audaciously disclosed the team’s lofty goals: to become the nation’s first ProTour team, to compete in the Tour de France, and to place a Canadian on the final podium at Le Tour. In 1988, Bauer won the opening stage of the Tour de France and wore the race leader’s yellow jersey in 1988 for five days before finishing a step from the podium in 4th place. Two years later, he led the Tour for nine days. A video montage of the team’s highlights from last season was screened, which spotlighted the dazzling sprint victory by Martin Gilbert in the final stage of the Tour of Missouri against some of the swiftest sprinters and professional teams in the sport. The fifteen athletes, featuring thirteen Canadians, were introduced to the media in their new white and green Team SpiderTech team kits.
It was Arbesman’s idea to turn the team presentation into a fundraising dinner and a salute to Bauer. During the tribute, video messages from Bauer’s former teammate Lance Armstrong and the voice of cycling Phil Liggett were played. The highlight reel from Bauer’s stellar career included Tour de France footage, an attacking Bauer riding to win the silver medal in the Los Angeles Olympic Games road race (1984), and a heartbreaking 2nd place finish at the 1990 Paris-Roubaix, which he lost at the line by one-thousandth of a second. Bauer somewhat bashfully took the microphone to thank those who supported him during his career, but humbly refocused the attention on the Team SpiderTech riders now charged with carrying the mantle for an entire country. Amongst the big ticket items auctioned to support the squad, the final yellow jersey Bauer wore during the 1990 Tour de France sold for a winning bid of $23,500.
During the press conference, SpiderTech vice president of marketing Bill Payne enthusiastically confirmed the company’s support of the team and stressed that Bauer is the perfect person to lead the ambitious effort for the nation. At dinner, SpiderTech president Michael Greenberg said, “I had never been to a bike race prior to seeing the team compete in Philadelphia last June. When we saw the heart, raw guts and determination with which they rode, we fell in love. We’re a young company supporting a young team. We are proud to rise from sponsor to title sponsor this year. And although we’re expecting to see a lot of SpiderTech product in the peloton of every race this year, Team SpiderTech is our team.”
Team Sprocket And Magnus Maximus Coffee Announce...
Magnus Backstedt, Team Sprocket and their own brand of Magnus Maximus Coffee have announced the first charity to be supported by its coffee sales for 2010. As well as helping to fund the professional racing team, a percentage of the sale of each bag of coffee is donated to cancer charities.
*/Christophers Smile/* is a UK based charity set up to fund research into developing new treatments for childhood cancer. The charity was set up in the memory of Christopher Capel, who passed away in 2008 after battling Medulloblastoma, a violent form of brain tumour. The first thing you do when you reach for any medicine to give to a child, is check it suitable for the age of child you are giving it to. It is shocking then to learn that there are currently /NO/ specific drugs or treatments for children with cancer.
"As a cancer survivor myself and with my sister still battling breast cancer, I want to do everything I can help beat this beast! As a father of two daughters I can't even begin to imagine the agony parents of children diagnosed with cancer go through.
Christophers Smile is a great new charity and they have done an incredible job already in a very short time. Their first funded researcher is already in place. If we can help raise awareness and contribute towards funding this essential work with our team and coffee, then I think that is a pretty good cup of coffee people are drinking!" Backstedt told us.
"Our vision is for every child diagnosed with childhood cancer to not only survive, but to reach adulthood enjoying a good quality of life. Every day in the UK, 4 children are diagnosed with childhood cancer and 1 child dies from the disease. The children who do survive are left with a legacy of health issues – due mainly to the current chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. We aim to change this by funding research to develop new targeted drugs which will be an effective cure for all children so they may grow up enjoying a good quality of life.” Says Karen Capel from Christophers Smile.
Magnus Maximus Coffee was set up 6 years ago by Magnus Backstedt and Business partner Martin McCrossan. The goal was to put something back into the sport of cycling with the profits going to help young riders. In 2009 the coffee company funded Sprocket Promotions UCI Continental team. Magnus Maximus will also continue to work with Team Forza-G and the Pan Mass Challenge in the USA. Forza-G raised $150,000 in 2009 from their Pan Mass fund raising for cancer research.
The coffee is available to buy online at www.bigmaggys.com and you can keep track of the monthly sales and the teams results on www.teamsprocketprocycling.com. For more information on Christophers Smile go to www.christopherssmile.org.uk
Nature Valley To Sponsor 2010 Festival
Granola bar maker increases commitment to all forms of cycling. Organizers of the Minnesota Bicycle Festival have announced that Nature Valley is increasing its commitment. After sponsoring the Nature Valley Grand Prix pro stage race for ten years, they will expand their involvement to sponsor the overall festival in 2010. The event, which still includes the Nature Valley Grand Prix, has been renamed the Nature Valley Bicycle Festival and will take place June 11-20, 2010.
“Nature Valley’s growing commitment to cycling stands in sharp contrast to many other sponsors in the sport who are reducing or eliminating their cycling programs,” said Festival Executive Director David LaPorte. “Nature Valley is looking towards the future and recognizes that cycling is one of the most popular activities in the country. While we’re thrilled that their commitment to our event is growing, we’re even more pleased that they are supporting the sport as a whole, which is our mission as well.”
The Nature Valley Bicycle Festival will take place June 11-20, 2010 and will include the Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic and the renowned Nature Valley Grand Prix pro stage race, considered the prime event on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar.
The Nature Valley Grand Prix professional stage race opens June 16 in Saint Paul with a morning time trial and evening criterium held in Downtown Saint Paul adjacent to Rice Park. The Nature Valley Grand Prix continues with a road race in Cannon Falls on June 17. Stage 4 takes place in Minneapolis on Friday evening June 18 in the city’s dynamic Uptown neighborhood.
On Saturday, June 19, the racers travel east to Menomonie, WI for the Menomonie Road Race, marking the first time that the Nature Valley Grand Prix includes a stage outside of Minnesota. Racers will contest Stage 6, the Stillwater Criterium, on Sunday, June 20, with both men and women cyclists completing the short circuit race, which includes riding up Chilikoot Hill 20 times, a grueling 24-percent-grade hill climb, considered the most difficult in North American cycling.
In addition to professional racing, other activities, including the Fan Zone, stunt riders, musical entertainment and bike and fitness expos will be offered at all stages of the five-day race with the exception of the time trial. The Tour de Kids fun races at each site are free and are open to children age 12 and under.
The Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic will take place at the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine the weekend of June 11-13, prior to the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Velodrome track racing is an Olympic sport which features world class cyclists racing at speeds of up to 40 mph. Bikes used in fixed-gear track races have only one gear and do not have brakes, making the races fast and exciting for both spectators and riders.
Now in its 12th year, the Nature Valley Bicycle Festival is a five-day celebration of cycling that includes amateur and professional racing and community events. The Nature Valley Grand Prix has become the premier professional bike race in the U.S., attracting top American racing teams and riders from around the world. Proceeds from the Nature Valley Grand Prix are donated to Children’s Hospital and its Pediatric Hospice program.
The Nature Valley Grand Prix is free and open to the public. It is the only professional sporting event in Minnesota for which no admission ticket is required. The festival is a natural fit for Minnesota and Wisconsin as both states are populated with cycling enthusiasts. Several urban bike trails have opened in the past few years and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area boasts the most commuter bike trips per capita, an honor it shares with Portland, Oregon. For more information and a detailed schedule of events visit www.naturevalleybicyclefestival.com.
Questions? Comments? Happy? Sad? Send me an email.
There are more than a few good things about living in New Orleans for a little while: in this case, getting that once in a lifetime walk down Bourbon Street after the Saints' Super Bowl victory Sunday night. Have a look at the sights through Ashley and my eyes on Flickr. If that's not enough there's always more random drivel on JeredGruber.com.
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