It’s that time of year when sports people, including cyclists, are picking up awards, left, right and centre. So I thought I would join in by nominating my cycling team of the year. I should stress that there will, alas, be no glittering award ceremony, no trophies and no champagne.  Though if any of them cares to pop around in the off-season, I will be happy to crack open a bottle of my favourite beverage. The awards will, like all these awards, be totally subjective and will involve one, well-known judge – me.

The criteria for selection to Sheree’s Superteam of 15 riders are multitudinous; but being hardworking and having a cute smile will certainly put you in the mix. I had to apply a numerical limit otherwise I’d have found it hard to stop and, before you know it, everyone would be on my team. So in no particular order, here are the winners:-

Alberto ” Big Brown Eyes” Contador: What girl wouldn’t want this year’s Tour winner on her team. Bert makes the cut thanks to his stoicism in the face of relentless provocation. Yes, he let his legs do the talking.

Tom “Bad Boy” Boonen:

Tom with my friend Susi

Not his most glittering season - true - but as the winner of the first cycling race I ever saw (TdF Stage 6, 2004), Tom is guaranteed a place on my team whatever. I should add that Tom is very popular with the ladies, whether or not they’re cycling fans. It’s hard to explain his allure but suffice to say he’s a man who looks damm good in lycra.

Cadel “Cuddles” Evans: For attacking and  proving everyone wrong on his home turf (Mendrisio) and having the “guts” to leave the comfort zone of Silence-Lotto for a team (BMC) which may or may not ride in next year’s Tour.

“Fabulous” Fabian Cancellara: He showed everyone how to win a World Championship time-trial (again) with style, panache, power and with room to spare.

Sammy “Gold Medal” Sanchez: Yes, the Olympic Champion makes the cut too mainly because he’s a joy to watch going downhill and he’s nearly always got a great smile on his face.    

Philippe “Pant on Fire” Gilbert: I just couldn’t leave out the man who singlehandedly hoovered up four wins in a row at the end of the season. Plus, he’s another one with a cute smile.

Barbie Barbie

Heinrich “Barbie Barbie” Haussler: Probably, the best smile in the peloton. That’s right, no other reason.

Alexandre “He’s Back, He’s Attacking” Vinokourov: He’s done his time, he’s back and he’s launching those trademark attacks which make him so popular with cycling fans.  

Johnny “Off the Front Again” Hoogerland: I appreciate that after the Vuelta and World Championships, Johnny’s fans are now legion. Almost single-handedly he justified Vacansoleil’s invitation to the Vuelta. Will this, plus the freres Feuillu, be enough to guarantee a Tour invite next year? We all hope so. 

Mark “Manx Missile” Cavendish: The fastest man on two bicycle wheels for giving me bragging rights down at the cycling club. Long may it continue.

Bradley “So-Skinny” Wiggins: For proving to me incontestably that if I lose weight I too will climb faster, though probably not as fast as Brad.  

Jens “Hardman” Voigt: A huge favourite among cycling fans for his unstinting team work. I still wince at the thought of his face plant in this year’s Tour. I also love the way the French announcers say his name “Jen-sa Voy-te”.

Kenny “Never Say Die” van Hummel: Another one who won over fans with his determination to pretty much daily beat the cut off in this year’s Tour; often after riding most of the parcours on his own. A sight we will probably be denied in next year’s Tour.

Jose Vicente “Really Long Name” Garcia Acosta: He’s finished 25 Grand Tours and he’s Valverde’s faithful and untiring domestique. This man can ride tempo all day and for that he gets on my team.

Bernard ”Faithful” Eisel: The man charged with shepherding the Manx Missile to within sniffing distance of the finish line: yet another upstanding lieutenant for the team. 

David “Dodgy Bike Handler” Moncoutie: You’re probably wondering why he makes my team. It’s partly because of his climbing ability but largely because, like me, his bike handling skills leave a lot to be desired.

Now those of you who can count are possibly wondering why, when I said a team of 15, there are 16 names. Obviously, I have one reserve rider.

My team will be managed by Bob Stapleton, head of the most successful team of the last couple of years, Columbia-HTC, but they’re going to be wearing Cervelo kit; easily the nicest and most flattering, even in white and, like me, riding BMC bikes. That’s, regrettably, where the similarities start and end.

I’ve been away for less than a week but a lot has happened in that time. On the football front, my team, the team that beat Chelsea and Liverpool, drew with Wolves at the week end - unbelievable, but true. More shocking and equally unbelievable, the team that beat Liverpool in the Champions League, Olympique Lyonnais, lost 4-1 away at OGC Nice.

Alberto “Big Brown Eyes” Contador won a 3rd consecutive Velo d’Or – who else were they going to give it to? Many will assume it was for his Tour win but I suspect it was really for standing up to Lance – a real crowd pleaser with the French.  

Tom “Bad Boy” Boonen says his counseling is going well. Glad to hear it Tom particularly as you’re now off the bike, on vacation and again at a bit of a loose end.

A number of Pro-Tour teams, including Astana, didn’t have all their paperwork ready by 20 October. Have you seen the dossier that needs to be completed for the UCI? I have and therefore quite understand. I don’t imagine that the riders on the affected teams (Sky, Euskatel, Caisse d’Epargne, Astana and Saxo Bank) will be looking for new homes anytime soon and I’m sure their paperwork will shortly be in apple pie order.

Sebastien Loeb wrapped up a 6th consecutive World Rally Championship while Valentino Rossi won his 7th Moto GP World Championship.

More shocking news: I came home to find the flat relatively clean and tidy. My husband had been using the vacuum. He’d obviously been a bit bored while I was gone. Maybe, that’s the solution to keep Tom out of trouble – housework!

From last week to this, we’ve gone from an Indian summer to autumn. Today I wore my long sleeved club jersey and gilet, teamed with ¾ bib shorts for what might well be my last assault this year on the Col de Vence. It was a chilly descent back home and I was forced to don my windproof.

After my 100km ride I was back home in time to watch the Tour of Lombardy on Rai Tre. I prefer, if at all possible, to watch racing on the host broadcaster’s channel.  Of course, I should have been tackling the Vuelta and post Vuelta ironing mountains, but what the heck!

I see the weather around Como was a little chillier than here and the sky somewhat greyer, but at least it was dry. Obviously the Italian commentators were hoping for and even anticipating a 4^th Cunego victory.

Philippe “Pants on Fire” Gilbert had other ideas. Going for his 4^th consecutive win in 10 days, he took off in the last 6km and only Sammy Sanchez was able to bridge up to him. Vino tried too but dropped back to the chasing group.

Both riders worked together until the final few hundred metres. Sammy gave it his best shot but he was never going to beat Gilbert in a sprint. Let’s not forget this is the man who bested Tom Boonen in a sprint at Paris-Tours last week end. The Italians had to settle for Cunego’s team mate, Santambrogio, winning the “most combative”.

Podium Boys

So, two of my favourite riders finishing 1^st and 2^nd; a highly satisfactory result which could  have been bettered only if Vino, rather than Kolobnev, had also finished on the podium. This wasn’t the only good bit of sporting news. Villa beat Chelsea 2-1 at home. Let’s see if OGCN can make it three in a row tomorrow evening.

Tomorrow we’re off to Beausoleil, followed by a climb up Mont des Mules to La Turbie, weather permitting. Yes, there’s a storm brewing with spectacular flashes of lightening illuminating the shoreline. With any luck it’ll have cleared up by tomorrow morning.

Postscript: Chilly, but sunny and very enjoyable ride today; Vino won the Chrono des Nations (3rd in a row) but OGC Nice failed to give me 4 in a row by losing 4-1 away at Lorient.

My better half was in Paris yesterday morning for a meeting at the Palais des congrès. No, he wasn’t at the 2010 Tour de France Presentation but, if he had been, I’m sure this is what he’d have said.

This is a Tour for climbers and, with no team time-trial, and only one individual time-trial, the main protagonists will be Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck.  The lack of a team time-trial will also have been music to the ears of other podium contenders, such as Evans, Sastre and Menchov.  Given how the Pyrenees completely boss the last week of the Tour, Bert can be excused that big smile punctuating his face. Or was he grinning at the thought that Lance is going to find that last week really, really tough?

The 2009 Podium

However, the skinny climbers will need to be on their guard in the first week when they’ll be well outside their comfort zone as cobbles and windy stretches abound. Classics specialists like Boonen, Cancellara and Hushovd will be hopeful of wearing yellow, or at least green, in those early days. Stages four (Reims), five (Montargis) and six (Gueugnon) look like sprint stages, but thereafter that race for the green jersey is probably going to favour Thor as there are fewer opportunities for the sprinters and they’ve got to get over all those hills.

Next year, the Alps are playing a supporting role to the Pyrenees which are the headline act, marking the 100th anniversary of their first Tour appearance. However, the four days in the northern Alps should not be under-estimated and they are succeeded by some  toughish transition stages which may, or may not, end in bunch sprints.

Clearly the intention on the 2010 Tour is to showcase the Pyrenees, starting with the stage 14 summit finish at Ax-3-Domaines. This acts as an amuse bouche to a grand tasting menu. First course, three difficult cols en route to Luchon: Portet d’Aspet, Ares and Balès. Main course: they cross the Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet, Soulor and Aubisque to finish in Pau. Dessert, and final course in the Pyrenees, is a stage from Pau to the top of the Tourmalet, via the western approach over the Marie-Blanque and Soulor. Climbing the Tourmalet twice, once in each direction, will really celebrate the Tour’s most majestic mountain.

If the mountains don’t prove decisive then there’s the 51km time-trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac before the final day procession into Paris. I expect to see Contador, riding for Astana, in the yellow jersey.

Sadly, there was no mention of any festivities planned for the other Tour fixture also celebrating its centenary next year: the broom wagon!

Broom wagon

Since I heard the news this morning that Frank Vandenbroucke had died the more I think about it the sadder I feel. I know that he took banned substances and may have achieved some of his great results with the help of these, I also feel very strongly about cheats in cycling, especially those who do not admit what they have done (I don’t know whether Frank ever admitted it or whether he apologised for it), but I have always felt sorry for Frank and always hoped that his latest comeback would bring him success and happiness. Unfortunately his story has ended where so many people expected it to end – in his death.

I never saw him at his best when he was young and the great hope of Belgian cycling (I would like to say I was too young but I simply was not into cycling at that time) but what I will always remember, rather than the depressed underachiever, is when I saw him in the 2003 Het Volk. I think this was his first race back after a ban and he worked for his team-mates pulling on the front all day. He ended up coming fourth with his team mate Johann Museeuw winning, and his other team mates Paulo Bettini coming third and Tom Boonen fifth. It was a race completely dominated by QuickStep. When Frank crossed the line he was too exhausted to celebrate with his team mates but it was Frank who made it all possible with his hard work and his team mates knew and appreciated that. RIP.

Image by soepvlees via Flickr

Hemeltjelief, wat een taalgebruik in die sportwereld ook altijd! Gisteren hoorde ik (in het sportgedeelte van het 13u-journaal op één, klik hier), naar aanleiding van het WK wielrennen in Mendrisio, heel wat en heel wat niet. Wielrenner Philippe Gilbert (foto) zei:

Ik denk we eh kunnen eh sterke ploeg. Zeker geen wind pakken. Het is mijn been die beslist.

De sympathieke Waal is al bij al verstaanbaar. Geen wind pakken, sja, dat lijkt me anders wel moeilijk. Kun je dan uit de wind rijden? Het been beslist, eigenlijk is dat de beste samenvatting. Superbenen bij voorkeur.

Dan was er nog Tom Boonen, maar wat hij zei, was onverstaanbaar, dus teken ik maar geen citaten op. Schrijnend hoe een haperende Waal duidelijker Nederlands kan spreken dan een Vlaming uit Balen. Ik eis echt ondertitels voor onverstaanbare mensen uit de Kempen. Het moeten niet alleen de ergste West-Vlamingen zijn.

Nick Nuyens (een andere wielrenner) hoorde ik nog het volgende beweren:

Da’s een beetje eigenlijk altijd het recept op een WK: eerst het bord van een ander leegeten. We hebben allemaal heel groten honger.

Wie het doel van wielrennen nog niet had begrepen (zoals ikzelf), die weet het dan nu: wielrennen is om ter eerst aan het buffet zijn. Blijkbaar hongeren wielrenners zich uit. Logisch dat ze dan als eerste proberen aan te komen, dan is er nog meer keuze bij het eten. Eerst komt, eerst maalt. Omdat de Belgen zouden kunnen winnen, is dat buffet zelfs heel speciaal Belgisch geworden: er is een Belgisch dorp in Mendisio opgericht, een plek vol frieten en bier. Als uitgehongerde Belg kun je toch niet anders dan daar het uiterste voor geven?

Sport: het blijft me verbazen.

Ook interessant:

http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/1294/WK-Wielrennen/article/detail/1004430/2009/09/27/De-grappigste-uitspraken-van-Wuyts-en-Van-Nieuwkerke-tijdens-WK.dhtml

Enormous crash in Liege hands victory to Greipel

In truth, it was turning out to be something of a nondescript stage. The journey to Liege was hampered by continual rain and I found myself wondering when the 2009 Vuelta a Espana was  to going really get started.

The riders were, understandably,  fearful of falling off in the treacherous conditions and it was a very conservative bike race. Indeed there were a few casualties along the way.  Charlie Wegalius was set to be the first British rider to complete all three Grand Tours in a single year only he has had to abandon the Vuelta after crashing out and not being able to rejoin the race.

The fun, if you can call it that, started as the Pelaton passed through a roundabout less than 3km from the finish.  Someone dropped their front wheel and brought down a stack of riders like a set of collapsing dominoes. Casualties included the Gold Jersey holder Fabian Cancellara and one of the favourites for the stage win Tom Boonen who doesn’t seem to have that much luck so far. Only six riders were ahead of the human avalanche and it was Andre Greipel of Team Columbia from that group who won the sprint to the line and bring to a close a pretty rotten stage.

By way of consolation to the fallen, as the accident took place within the final 3 kilometre’s of the stage, they were not penalised and awarded the same time as the winner so at least their has been no impact on the General Classification. Cancellara continues to hold the Gold Jersey.

Tomorrow is a rest day and the riders get to lick their wounds as they travel down to Tarragona in Catalonia for the start of Stage 5.  Let’s hope the Iberian Peninsular brings some good weather and more attacking bike racing.

It’s great to see a rider get their maiden stage win on a Grand Tour and young Gerald Ciolek of the Milram team looked well stoked when he took first place in the flat Stage 2 to Emmen in the 2009 Vuelta a Espana.

Alas I only caught snippets of the action as it is a bank holiday weekend here in the UK and I spent a pleasant afternoon chomping up a lovely roast dinner at some friend’s house on Sunday and missed most of Stage 2.

I did however get to see Stage 3 and enjoyed watching the riders cope with those Dutch roads. I reckon that the Netherlands has more roundabouts per square kilometre than Basingstoke (that’s alot) and the denouement in Venlo proved to be a chaotic affair as the expected contenders Tyler Farrar and Tom Boonen failed to get in position.

Consequently, as the riders raced for the line the Eurosport commentator David Harmon did not recognise the winner. The poor man was clearly embarrassed as the seconds ticked by while we waited for confirmation who had actually won the stage. It transpired that New Zealander Greg Henderson had taken advantage of the confusion and crossed the line first.

Such is life as a commentator when you’re dependant on the live feed for your information. Harmon is a brilliant race caller in my opinion and moments like this only add to the experience of watching the race.

The Gold Jersey belongs to Fabien Cancellara.  Although that will surely change once the Tour Of Spain hits the mountains. First though, the final stage in Holland which finishes in Liege, Belgium. Once again (and not unsurprisingly) this is a mostly flat stage. It will be interesting to see if any of the established sprinters will find more luck after they’ve crossed the border.

In het Noord-Nederlandse Assen is gisteren de Ronde van Spanje gestart. In de proloog van 4,5 km leek Tom Boonen even op weg naar een zege, maar de Zwitsere stoommachine Fabian Cancellara verpulverde alsong de tijd van onze Belgische kampioen. Cancellara mag zo als eerste de gouden leiderstrui aantrekken. Het peloton vertoeft nog drie dagen in het Noorden, nadien mogen de klassementrijders de strijd aangaan op Spaanse bodem.

Fabian Cancellara heeft weer verwoestend uitgehaald in de openigsrit van de Vuelta. Op de circuit van Assen reed hij iedereen van de tabellen. Inclusief Tom Boonen die met een tweede plaatse even droomde van de leiderstrui. Met Tylar Farrar op drie en Daniele Bennati op vijf waren er nog heel wat snelle mannen in de top tien van de uitslag. Met  de afwezigheid van Cavendish kunnen het wel eens spannende massaspurten worden.

Een oppermachtige Cancellara mag als eerste de gouden leiderstrui aantrekken.

Van alle topfavorieten voor de eindzege deden Kreuziger (7), de verrezen Vinokourov (8), Basso (9), Valverde (10) en Evans (12) de beste zaken. Sanchez (29) en Gesink (30) verloren al iets meer terrein. Voor Frank (103) en Andy (123) Schleck  liep het verschil al op boven de dertig seconden.

Toch zijn dertig seconden niet zo veel in de Vuelta. Er wachten nog acht stevige bergetappes en twee opdrachten tegen de chrono. Eentje van dertig kilometer in Valencia en een van 27.8 km op de voorlaatste dag in Toledo.

Valverde start als een van de topfavorieten in de ronde van zijn eigen land.

Een eerste zware opdracht is de aankomst boven op Alto de Aitana (buiten categorie) tijdens de achtste etappe.  Echt lastig wordt het tijdens het weekend van 11, 12 en 13 september. Drie dagen op rij aankomst boven op een col van buiten categorie. Op het menu, respectievelijk: Alto de Velefique, de mythische Sierra Nevada en de Sierra de la Pandera.

Klik voor het volledige parcours van de Ronde van Spanje.

Maar er is ook voer voor de bek van de klassieke courreurs. Op dag vier wacht een lastige rit met aankomst in Luik. Onderweg moeten de renners twee keer over de Cauberg en nadien over de Mont Teux en de Saint Nicolos, bekend van Luik-Bastenaken-Luik.
Een andere mooie etappe is die naar de top van de stad Avila. Een lastige aankomst boven op kasseien waar Frank Vandenbroucke in 1999 de tegenstand in de vernieling reed en solo de rit won. Ongetwijfeld heeft Phillipe Gilbert deze etappes aangestipt. Samen met Ballan, Cunego en anderen wil hij hier graag zijn WK-vorm wat aanscherpen.

Het is nog altijd vroeg, maar ik verwacht een strijd tussen Valverde, Evans, Sanchez en eventueel de Schlecks als ze in de juiste vorm zitten. Voor de Belgen wordt het uitkijken naar Tom Boonen in de spurten, Gilbert in de heuvelachtige etappes en Devolder en De Greef voor een eventueel klassement.

There was I hoping to see a full to the rafters Assen TT Curcuit in full voice cheering on the cream of bike racing as they attacked to famous motor racing track. But then it rained.

Moving the Vuelta beyond the Iberian Peninsular was a bold move by the organisers and it is a shame that their bravado was not rewarded by a gorgeous sunny day and a full house with fans in the grandstand and lining the track beating their fists on the sideboards and urging the riders on.

That’s the North European weather for you. What can you do. The the rain proved a hindrance for many of riders. David Millar would almost certainly have been in contention a podium had he not gone out on to the track when it was wettest. Carlos Barredo came off his bike right at the start when his bike slipped on the wet starting ramp. He didn’t look too impressed and the organisers risked the wrath the sponsors by laying a carpet over the ramp.

Despite this, the top of the Classification has has a familiar look about it with Fabian Cancellara of Team Saxo Bank winning the Stage 1 Time Trial. He took the Golden Jersey amidst the dampness of Assen. Tom Boonen of the Quick Step team came second and Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Slipstream took the final podium place.  Alexander Vinokouro finished in a handy seventh place.

Tomorrow the Vuelta leaves Assen and takes a flat route to Dutch town of Emmen. Definitely one for the sprinters.

A combination of my recurring chest infection, the heat and a whole load of work has meant that I’ve probably spent more time than I would have liked indoors over the past week or so. On the plus side, this has allowed me to watch the Eneco Tour, Tour du Limousin, Tour of Ireland, GP de Plouay and some of the action from the athletics in Berlin.

Specifically, I had to check out how Romain Mesnil fared in the pole vault. You may recall this was the gentleman who ran around Paris naked, with only his pole for company, in order to attract a new sponsor. Apparently, it had the desired effect plus, according to L’Equipe, he now has a large female fan club. There were three Frenchman in the pole vault final, with Mesnil finishing second. This was sufficient for him to get his kit off yet again though his modesty, in the photos I saw, was safeguarded by the French flag.

The live racing I watched was notable for a couple of things: Boonen back to winning ways as the Eneco Tour went through his home turf; Cavendish notching up his 21st win of the season in Ireland; Russell Downing holding off a stellar bunch of names to clinch the overall in the Tour of Ireland and Simon Gerrans coming nicely into form with a win at GP de Plouay.

I am of course now looking forward to seeing Messrs Valverde, Sanchez and Vinokourov duking it out in the Vuelta. I already have an hors category mountain of ironing to keep me occupied during the first few days, while the Vuelta is in N Europe.

Cycling, even at a gentle pace, in this heat is tiring: doubly so with my cough. Last Friday, I rode up to Tourrettes-sur-Loup and had there been no one around I could have quite happily dived fully clothed into the village fountain. Instead, I had to be content with dousing myself with several bidons worth of cooling water.

It’s also been very humid which has a disastrous effect on my hair, when it’s not confined under my helmet. Do you remember that episode in Friends where Monica plays table tennis in the Bahamas and her hair looks as if she’d stuck her finger in an electric socket. Yes, well mine’s not quite that bad but you get the general idea.

A girlfriend has likened the effect of the current weather conditions as one big, long, hot flush. Since I’ve never had one of those, nor do I want one, I’m prepared to take her word for it.

Esta tercera, y última, entrada sobre el Tour tiene como fin hablar de los nombres propios de esta edición. Como hilo conductor, la clasificación general.

Alberto Contador (1º): Superior. Este chico está destinado a marcar una época, dominando insultantemente en la montaña y al nivel de Cancellara en  las cronos. Segundo de muchos Tours que ganará.

Andy Schleck (2º): Creciente. Poco a poco va dando pasos y va creciendo; muy bien en la montaña y con bastante a mejorar en la crono. Se ha mostrado comativo en la montaña, y siempre es una buena noticia.Mucho han de cambiar las cosas para no ser otro de esos grandes deportistas con una carrera eclipsada por uno de los que a buen seguro pasará a la historia con letras mayúsculas.

Lance Amstrong (3º): Chapeau. Toda mi admiración para el tejano, que tras caída en la Vuelta a Castilla y León y su discreto Giro, durante el mes de Julio ha demostrado su grandeza. Aunque no volverá a ser el de antaño, el año que viene y con un equipo a su medida estará bien verle.

Bradley Wiggins (4º): Sorpresón. Muy fuerte en la montaña y en la crono, habrá que ver la forma en la que sigue su progresión, y pese a que no optará a la victoria final, en los próximos año puede dar mucho juego.

Fränk Schleck (5º): Correcto. Ha perdido su gran oportunidad para colarse en el podio de París, y a partir de ahora deberá centrar sus esfuerzos en ayudar a su hermano pequeño; mientras sus cualidades en la crono estén a la altura de las del sprint nada tiene que hacer en la general.

Andreas Klöden (6º): Segundón. Mucho talento desaprovechado en un equipo sumido en una guerra de guerrillas; muy buen Tour en su papel de gregario.

Vincenzo Nibali (7º): Creciente. Poco a poco se va haciendo un nombre en el Tour, y en los próximos años será un nombre a tener en cuenta de cara al podio de París.

Roman Kreuziger (9º): Agotado. Tras su buen inicio de temporada todo presagiaba que en el Tour daría guerra en forma de ataques en la montaña, que a la postre no se han dado. Tiene tiempo para mejorar su llegada al Tour.

Mikel Astarloza (11º): Positivo. Un análisis ensombrecerá su Tour para el gran público; ha dado a Euskaltel la vidilla que hacía tanto tiempo que los naranjas buscaban.

Carlos Sastre (17º): Decepción (I). Tras su victoria el año pasado tocó techo, y su participación en el Giro no ha servido más que para hacerle llegar demasiado desgastado. De haber llegado en plena forma, no hubiera tenido nada que hacer frente a los primeros de la general.

Sylvain Chavanel (20º): Quemado. Una primera mitad de la temporada exhuberante le ha condicionado en su carrera predilecta, no ha hecho ni de lejos el Tour de otros años, y le salva la excusa del cambio de equipo. Aún así entrega no ha faltado. Espero que el año próximo sea el de antaño. Allez Sylvain!

Brice Feillu (25º): Bienvenido. Su victoria en Ordino-Arcalís le dio la confianza necesaria para hacer un muy buen Tour; nunca en condiciones normales podrá optar a un Top10 pero sí a dejarse ver en la carrera.

Luis León Sánchez (26º): Discreto. Su victoria en Pirineos le sirve para arreglar el Tour; al igual que Chavanel, una buena primera mitad de la temporada le ha condicionado mucho, al igual que la ausencia de Valverde ha condicionado su rol en el equipo.

Haimar Zubeldia (27º): Gregario. Siempre dispuesto a ayudar al equipo; ha pasado de ser el jefe de filas de Euskaltel a trabajar para sus líderes. En su tiempo como jefe de filas fue bueno, ahora como gregario es de los que ningún líder rechazaría.

Cristophe Moreau (29º): Renacido. Ha vivido durante este Tour una segunda juventud que le ha servido para firmar con Caisse d’Epargne para el año próximo.

Cadel Evans (30º): Decepción (II).Tuvo su oportunidad de ganar el Tour el año pasado y la echó a perder por su conservadurismo. Se le ha pasado el arroz.

Tony Martin (36º): Chico-para-todo. Mucho potencial en sus piernas, y lo ha demostrado siendo pieza clave en los sprints de Cavendish, en la ascensión al Mont Ventoux y en una muy buena primera semana.

Franco Pellizotti (37º): Renovado. Durante el Giro se le pudo llegar a odiar, odio que ha desaparecido de un plumazo a base de lucha, grandes ascensiones y un poco de lástima por chutar tanto al palo. El maillot de puntos y el premio de la combatividad en un mismo Tour sólo puede significar una cosa: corredor con buenas piernas y mejor mentalidad. Bravo!

Denis Menchov (51º): Decepción (III). Tras su victoria en el Giro se podía esperar mucho de él, y más llevando el equipo que llevaba. Sin embargo su cabeza durante el mes de Julio no ha estado en territorio francés.

Rigoberto Urán (52º): Esperanza. Tras un mal inicio de Tour, en los Alpes demostró su potencial yendo a más a medida que avanzaban las etapas. Es pronto para saber la manera en la que tendrá que afrontar las grandes vueltas, pero no para saber que es un nombre a seguir.

Kim Kirchen (57º): Menguado. Sus lesiones de este año y su falta de preparación le han impedida dar guerra como hiciera el año pasado.

Thomas Voeckler (67º): Teatrero. Como siempre. Fuese cual fuese su actuación habría que calificarlo así; es un sujeto digno de estudio que este año ha conseguido su primera victoria en el Tour. Puede gustar más o menos, pero merecía esta victoria.

Stijn Devolder (83º): Iluminado. Por fin le ha entrado la razón y se ha dado cuenta que las clasificaciones generales de las grandes vueltas no son para él; el problema es que en ningún momento ha dado guerra por ninguna etapa.

Fabian Cancellara (91º): Cumplidor. Se le exigían las dos cronos, la de Mónaco y la de Annecy; la primera la consiguió sobrado, y la segunda sólo fue superado por un genial Contador; a parte de eso poco más.

Alessandro Ballan (95º): Desapercibido. La maldición del maillot arco-iris le sacudió en forma de mononucleosis a principio de temporada y le impidió llegar bien al Tour; camino de Aubenas intentó dar la campanada pero su aventura duró poco.

Heinrich Haussler (97º): Etapón. Tras sus segundos puestos en Milán-San Remo y el Tour de Flandes se apuntó una etapa de media montaña en un día de perros con final en Colmar mostrando mucha fuerza; poco más se le vio, pero ya hubieran querido otros haberse mostrado tan poco con ese resultado.

Óscar Freire (99º): Frustrado. Nunca ha tenido opción en el sprint y no ha sido, ni de largo, el de otros años.

Filippo Pozzato (100º): Camaleónico. Lo máximo que se le puede destacar del Tour es el conflicto entre la Federación Italiana y Kathusa sobre el maillot que tuvo como consecuencia que vistiese tres equipaciones diferentes durante el Tour. Sobre su carrera, bastante parecida a la de Freire, no ha encontrado su lugar.

Joan Antoni Flecha (101º): Apagado. No ha sido como años atrás un animador de la carrera mediante las largas fugas a las que nos tenía acostumbrados, sólo pilló un par en tres semanas, con poco futuro y sin demasiada determinación.

Thor Hushovd (106º): Regular. Y su maillot verde así lo demuestra; de todos modos, sólo una etapa es poco bagaje para el noruego, que se ha visto superado una y otra vez por Cavendish.

Stuart O’Grady (124º): Oxidado. Ya no es una baza para su equipo en el sprint ni ha rendido como en ediciones anteriores en las subidas.

Mark Cavendish (131º): Dominador. En mis pocos años de seguimiento del ciclismo nunca he visto a alguien dominar ninguna especialidad como el de la Isla de Man lo hace en  el sprint… y con 23 años! Como Contador este chico marcará una época en este deporte.

Robert Gesink (retirado): Camino de Perpinyà sufrió una fuerte caída que le hizo tener que retirarse. Hasta entonces no había tenido tiempo a demostrar nada, pero tenía muchas esperanzas en él de cara a los bloques de montaña.

Tom Boonen (retirado): Se le cruzó el Tour de principio a fin, empezando por la duda de su presencia por el positivo de cocaína, siguiendo por sus problemas intestinales y viendo las puertas de los sprints cerradas por caídas que nada tenían que ver con él o por mala colocación. La retirada su mejor opción, con la trayectoria que llevaba en el Tour podía haber acabado muy mal.

Amets Txurruka (retirado): Una lástima que el bizcaino no haya podido terminar el Tour, siempre guerrero y batallador, una caída mientras se encontraba en fuga le pesó demasiado en días posteriores, acabando la 19ª etapa fuera de control.

Thank goodness for rest days: a whole day to catch up with everything I haven’t done over the past week while watching the Tour. And what an interesting week it has been. I’ll just touch on what have been my highlights.

 Tom Boonen concluded the only way he might beat Cav was to get into a break which stayed away. Heinrich Haussler decided to follow Tom’s advice and, in the cold pouring rain, threw caution to the wind to drop his fellow escapees and solo to an impressive victory. Meanwhile, Tom’s gone home with a virus – get well soon.

Christophe Le Mevel, who moved this season to the Cote D’Azur, has delighted the French press by catapulting himself up the GC into the top 10.

Alberto finally showed Lance who was the “Boss” on the road. Pretty impressive when it’s clear the rest of the team are under orders to help Lance who would have lost much more time yesterday if it hadn’t been for Kloeden.  Klodi – what were you thinking? Bert’s now got the yellow jersey and a St Bernard dog – it was the stage prize, non?

However, for me, the performance of Bradley Wiggins has been just superlative. Of course, losing 7kg is not, unlike Wiggo, going to increase my VO2 by 30watts. But it’s a pretty good incentive. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if he made it onto the podium?

Finally, a word for Kenny van Hummel who, having been dropped by the peloton after only 10km, riding all on his own, narrowly avoided the cut off to incontestably cement his position as The Lanterne Rouge – chapeau!

De Tour de France nadert zijn tweede weekeinde, maar wegens de doorgedreven emancipatie van ons vrouwelijk lezerspubliekgedeelte zullen we het daar nagenoeg niet over hebben. Frappant is het echter dat een peloton van 180 paar getrainde coureursbenen het vrouwelijk publiek nauwelijks kan bekoren. Het lijkt immers onlogisch dat een man zou kunnen weerstaan aan de lokroep van 180 welgevormde deernen. Doch, Zwaffelijzer laat deze weg links liggen en kiest resoluut voor het komkommerpad. Want dat deze periode weer is aangebroken, dat staat buiten kijf. Er zijn immers weinig spectaculaire nieuwsberichten te bespeuren. De zwaartekracht dolt een beetje met passagiersvliegtuigen en her en der ontstaat er in verschillende dierenparken nieuw leven. Maar het is vooral opmerkelijk dat het niveau van televisie nog lager zakt dan het dramatische peil waarop het reeds stond.

Spijtig, want het medium televisie zou, mits enige creatieve inspanning kunnen uitgroeien tot één der tijdloze kunsten. Helaas nemen de programmamakers hun vak even luchtig op als een Philadelphia tussendoortje. Mocht u ons omtrent deze materie niet geloven, raden wij u aan om het bijgevoegde filmpje aandachtig te bekijken. Zwaffelijzer nam de proef op de som en verzon een fictieve aflevering van een niet nader bepaald commercieel kookprogramma.

Met dit filmpje vragen we ook aandacht voor de kunst van het barbecueën. Deze vorm van maaltijdbereiding gaat vaak gepaard met overmatig gevloek en ongewenste verwondingen. Dit mag echter niet al te verrassend overkomen, aangezien geduld en voorzichtigheid de voornaamste instrumenten zijn om de barbecue aan te krijgen. En, zo blijkt ook uit onze test, veel mensen hebben minstens één van deze twee kenmerken niet. Geniet ervan, en het wonderbaarlijke gerecht verschijnt weldra ook in de betere dagbladen. Zo heeft Tom Boonen ook eens een rustige dag.

Dode bosbrand Spanje–Lijk op straat gevonden–Buitenlanders ontvoerd in Kenia–Vrouw maanden dood in woning–Man valt van terras drie hoog!–drukte door vakantieverkeer–Ontvoerde Fransen voor rechter–Bezwaar tegen boete zinloos–Onderzoek overlijden baby–Uitslagen 14 e tour rit hier–Verdasco geeft op (sport-tennis)–Betere beveiliging liften–20 jaar cel voor Maffialeden–Susan Boyle wil aandacht krijgen

Boonen stapt uit de tour!! Gerard Joling naar eerste hulp–Moorddrama in Sydney-Agenten opgepakt voor agenten moord

Non verliest rijbewijs-Strandbezoek eindigt in drama –Politie zoekt NL-duiker in Aken–Rebellen laten gevangen vrij–Oorlog om zondag opening in Nederland–Helicopter crash 15 doden–Huidarts van Michael Jackson eist zijn kinderen op–Barak Anne Frank afgebrand–Mandela 91–Gewonden treincrash Vs-Janet Jackson weer single

Dode in rally Bulgarije –Twee gewonden bij steekpartijen–Vondeling in babyschuif–Carla Bruni eert Nelson Mandela (video)

↑Populairste bericht op dit moment : Buitenseks →Nieuwste poll:Verhuis jij voor je vakantieliefde

Belgen nog niet naar Tilburgse cellen–dode door bliksem–Leerlingen uit quarantaine-doden optocht schutters-Taxichauffeur mishandeld–Visser verdronken in kanaal–

Rebecca Loos bevallen

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Website in de kijker:Vakantie land (Oostenrijk WIl en Petri)

The rain in Spain doesn’t always fall in the plain. Today it fell on the riders as they rode along the coast to Barcelona. Rain is only an issue in an urban environment when moisture on the roads, combined with diesel deposits, makes them very slippery. Add plenty of white road paint and you know that there’s going to be a number of falls in the peloton. Easily, my least favourite sight; it makes me feel sick to my stomach whenever I see anyone fall off their bike. It’s bad enough having to ride all those kilometres in fine fettle, without while suffering from aches, contusions and road rash. Those boys have little enough body fat; they don’t want to leave even a small part of it on the tarmac.

How about one of the medical companies sponsoring a number plate dripping blood for the rider sporting the most bandages: a rather different type of combativity prize. There are already a few worthy candidates still in the race.

The pundits today reckoned that the uphill finish would suit Freire (kiss of death), and it so nearly did, but the Gods of Thunder smiled on Thor as he raised his arms in his once white kit heavenwards to come within 1 point of the green jersey. Cavendish, alert to the danger, finished 16^th. Tom Boonen fell off his bike, and even more out of contention; as did Rogers, Astarloza and Menchov.

A number of questions,  posed a few days ago, have now been answered. Valverde’s a “no show”. Tom had a last minute reprieve, however, as he’s been missing in action so far, it’s hard to justify his sponsor’s calculations of Euros 25 million in lost “advertising” if he’d not been allowed to participate. The Tour is still young but he’s most unlikely to dislodge Cav from the firm grip he has on the green jersey. He’s 91 points ahead of Tom after only 3 sprint stages.

At the team presentation last Thursday, Lance said,  as a 7-times Tour winner, he had nothing to prove and was just looking forward to taking part. Methinks he doth protest too much. I, for one, didn’t believe a word of it and neither should Alberto, who’s wearing the Astana leader’s jersey, something which has obviously riled Lance.

By chance, I spent yesterday evening in the same hotel as Astana who have twice as many motorised vehicles as the other teams, giving credence to the two clans, one team theory propounded by journalists, and confirmed by Benjamin Noval. I’m now wondering, after Lance showed his hand on Monday by putting time into all his rivals, including Contador, whether we’re going to see scenes reminiscent of 2005 where Vino was chased down by his T-Mobile team mates.

Prudhomme assured us that the Tour course would prolong the suspense until the penultimate stage. However, the only outstanding question is which Astana riders, and in what order, will they top the podium. Everyone else seems down and out. Does this mean that the Spaniards will be helping out Bert or has Lance already bought them off, after all his pockets are deeper? Though it couldn’t buy him 22 hundredths of a second yesterday to snatch yellow from Spartacus.

Stage Winner: Thomas Voeckler

General Classification Leader: Fabian Cancellara (15:07:49)

Lance Armstrong: 2nd (+00:00:00)

A bit of interesting information, when you hear about cyclists doping, cocaine is usually not the dope. Belgian sprinter Tom Boonen tested positive for cocaine just one week prior to the tour beginning. Because the substance is only banned during competition, Boonen was cleared to start on July 4th. Relatedly, Lance Armstrong said he would post all blood test results but later scrapped the initiative because it was too expenseive (at least one blood test result is online). It is common practice for the stage winners, and the GC leader to get tested after riding each day.

Another flat finish today, Cavendish will be the man to watch, unless he and his team are tired after the TTT. It would be imprudent to discount other sprinters like Boonen, Hushovd, and the American Farrar though. Unless, there is break away that includes Armstrong and not Cancellara, the GC will stay mostly the same, namely Cancellara in the Maillot Jaune.

A nasty crosswind split the peloton into several groups, the eschelons were out in full force. There was a nice bit of racing between the cyclists in the lead-out group, including Thomas Voeckler, a former TDF GC leader. Several attacks in the last 5km but Voeckler’s final attack couldn’t be matched. First stage where a lone-man crossed the finish line.

Cyclingnews införartikel med karta och profil

Kort om banan: Det är småkuperat med fyra bergspris och 187 km långt. Den sista milen är enkel och det blir svårt för utbrytare att hålla undan. Slutdelen börjar med en vänsterböj för att sedan vara rakt in mot mål. Det bör inte vara några problem vid en klungspurt.

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Mark Cavendish - Det är sådana här småkuperade etapper som han måste ta poäng på, kanske även vinna, för att han ska ha chans på poängtröjan. Jag tror han fixar det med god hjälp från sina lagkamrater.

Tom Boonen – Fick klartecken i sista stund och säger själv att han inte vet var han står. Han vann dock belgiska mästerskapen för en vecka sedan så formen är nog god.

Oscar Freire – Han vinner sällan etapper men är ofta med långt framme. Freire vann poängtröjan förra året genom att bara vinna en etapp. Formen är mycket diffus.

Thor Hushovd – Norrmannen kommer att vara långt framme på de flesta spurtetapper. Hans form lär vara god och han har god hjälp från sina lagkamrater om han skulle komma fel till i klungan.

Tyler Farrar – Stjärnskottet av spurtarna den här säsongen. Han har gjort det jättebra och slog faktiskt Cavendish i en spurt på Tirreno-Adriatico. Farrar kommer att ta många topp 5-placeringar men jag tror inte han räcker för vinst.

Det är nu kampen om poängtröjan börjar. Med fyra bergspris på spel kommer utbrytarna tampas om bergströjan. Räkna med att Thomas Voeckler kommer att vara med där. Den enkla slutdelen gör det svårt att hålla undan från klungan och storspurt är att räkna med. Nu ska vi se vilken form de är i. Cavendish är världens bästa spurtare och vinner om han själv inte gör något misstag. Ingen kan slå honom om han gör det rätt.

TV:
Eurosport från 13.15.
TV2 Danmark från 12.10

/Henrik