2013 Cycling Thread

[Smallville22]

Cavendish 'psyched' to be with new team

Mark Cavendish says he has never felt more at home in a professional cycling team after swapping Team Sky for Omega Pharma-Quick Step.
It was announced that the 27-year-old would be leaving Team Sky after just one year riding for them back in October as he signed a three-year contract with the Belgian outfit.
Cavendish claimed three stage wins in last year’s Tour de France for Team Sky, including the finale on the Champs Elysees, but he says a change was always going to be inevitable.
Team Sky’s priority during the Tour last year was to ensure Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the race – something they achieved.
However, that meant Cavendish’s ambitions had less precedence, and he trained in the official Omega Pharma-Quick Step jersey in Tuscany on New Year’s Day, claiming that he has never been happier.
“When you come to a new group, you never know how it’s going to go or how to behave. Instead, with this group there was immediate synchrony,” said Cavendish.
“Everyone here, staff and athletes, really loves cycling and is psyched to be a part of this group that has such a great history. For me, it’s important to be a part of this and to feel the faith around me.
“2013 already looks like is going to be full of events. I want to do well and give back to this fantastic group that has placed so much faith in me.”
Cavendish will make his debut for the team at the Tour de San Luis in Argentina later this month.

 

[Smallville22]

Rasmussen to return one month early

Alex Rasmussen's suspension has been shortened by one month and the Dane will be free to return to the saddle on March 1.
The former Garmin-Sharp rider is most of the way through an 18-month ban handed out to him by the UC for three whereabouts violations.
“I have a document saying that I can race again as of the first of March, and it is extremely important that I get started as soon as possible,” Rasmussen told Danish website Politiken. “It is in March that the northern European cycling season really starts, so it is important to be ready there.”
Rasmussen hopes to re-sign with Garmin-Sharp, who offloaded him when he received the ban, and get his season under way at the Three Days of West Flanders.
“I will work hard towards that,” he said. “I will certainly be missing some of the rhythm required to succeed, but in a short race like the West Flanders, I think I have very good chances. It would mean a lot to me to prove immediately that I'm back at full strength.”
He added: "I have regular contact with the boss Jonathan Vaughters, and although I have not been promised to come back (to the team), I feel that there is a realistic possibility.
"Vaughters has said that he has a vacancy and that it will not be filled by someone else. On the other hand, he has not given me a clear message that it is mine.”


Olympic track coach appointed by Team Sky as sporting director

Dan Hunt has moved from his position as a track coach for British Cycling to a new role as sporting director for Team Sky.
Hunt, who led Great Britain's med to Olympic team pursuit gold in London last summer, has already worked with Team Sky during their inaugural season in 2010 but will now devote his entire focus to road cycling.
"I want to learn the races and re-learn the job of a sports director," Hunt said. "But maybe also bring different things to the table, because I'm not an ex-pro. I haven't ridden these races, so I've got a bit of homework to do.
"I need to expose myself to as much racing as possible to maximise my learning over the first year. I want to be a good DS (directeur sportif) and it's going to take time to get there."
Hunt will link up with some familiar faces at Sky, namely Geraint Thomas and Pete Kennaugh who were both members of the British men’s team pursuit squad last summer.
“Having done a bit of DSing in 2010 it was actually quite hard to go back to the Olympics, particularly two years out from the Games,” he said. “But I’m really glad I did as I wouldn’t want to have missed out on the experiences that I’ve had. Equally I don’t want to do another four-year cycle as Olympic coach - I want to move into DSing.
"I don't think it gets any better than Olympic gold at a home Olympics, from a coaching point of view," he added.
"It's a great time to bow out and start a new challenge and I'm really excited about the project."
Hunt's new duties commence at the Mallorca Challenge in the first week of February.

 

[Smallville22]

Farrar to return at Tour Down Under

Tyler Farrar will return to the saddle at the Tour Down Under after a lengthy lay-off following a crash at the Tour of Britain last year.
The American will lead Garmin-Sharp's ****** around Adelaide between January 21 and 27 having fully recovered from a severe concussion suffered in September that ruled him out of the rest of last season.
Farrar will be supported at 2013's first World Tour race by Australians Lachlan Morton, Steele von Hoff, Nathan Haas and Rohan Dennis, as well as Jack Bauer of New Zealand and South African Robert Hunter.
The 28-year-old sprinter managed just two wins last season - a pair of stages at the USA Pro Cycling Challenge - while he finished second overall at the Tour of Qatar and the Scheldeprijs.
Farrar returns to the race in Adelaide for the first time since 2011, having skipped last year's event.


Olympic mountain biker ****** by taxi

South African Burry Stander, one of the world's top mountain bike athletes, has been struck by a minibus taxi and ****** while cycling on a coastal road in his home country.
Stander, 25, narrowly missed out on a medal at the London Olympics, coming in fifth in the men's cross country event. He came in 15th at the Beijing Games and has been one of the top cyclists on the World Cup circuit over the past few years.
Police said Stander was ****** on Thursday while cycling alone. He died at the scene of the accident in Shelly Beach, about 120 kms southwest of Durban.
"The taxi driver allegedly stopped after the accident until the arrival of the police. No arrest has been made at this stage," police said in a statement.
Stander was one of the biggest stars in South Africa's cycling community and his death touched off a flood of comments on social media.
"This is a massive tragedy and we are all stunned at the suddenness and impact that this will have on everybody in the world of cycling," KZN Mountain Biking, which represents Stander's home province, wrote on its Facebook page.

Burry Stander R.I.P.

 

[Smallville22]

Hoy and Kenny team up to win Rotterdam

Sir Chris Hoy might not yet know what the future holds for him in terms of cycling, but that doesn't mean Britain's most successful Olympian is slowing down any time soon as he kicked off his Six Days of Rotterdam campaign off in style.
The 36-year-old has stated that he will decide whether or not to retire come the spring of this year but in the meantime he continues to be a ***** to be reckoned.
Hoy and Jason Kenny, who both collected two gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics, won the two-man team sprint together as the latter beat Netherlands' Teun Mulder in the final.
But the pair weren't done there as Hoy went on to claim victory in the keirin with Kenny finishing second.
The results mean Kenny is in first place in the overall Sprint Masters standings, with Hoy in second and Mulder in third.

 

[Smallville22]

Kenny keeps lead in Giant Sprint Masters

Jason Kenny maintained his overall lead in the Giant Sprint Masters after day two of the Six Days of Rotterdam although fellow Brit Sir Chris Hoy is refusing to go away.
Kenny, who earned selection for the individual sprint at the London 2012 Olympics in favour of Hoy before winning gold in it as well as the team sprint with him, dominated day one in the Netherlands.
He won the team sprint with Hoy, the 200m sprint and the sprint finals and was second in the keirin to lead the Giant Sprint Masters with five points, two clear of Hoy.
Day two began the same with Kenny and Hoy, who became Britain’s most successful Olympian with a fifth and sixth gold at London 2012, beating Teun Mulder and Gregory Bauge in the team sprint.
Kenny then won the 200m sprint and Hoy took victory in the sprint finals before the triple Olympic champion crashed in the keirin to delete the race completely.
Despite his crash in the keirin Kenny still leads overall with nine points with Hoy second with 11, Mulder third with 19 and Bauge fourth with 23 with four more days of racing still to go at the Six Days of Rotterdam.
.

 

[Smallville22]

Armstrong 'considering doping admission'

Lance Armstrong is considering admitting publicly to the use of performance enhancing ***** during his cycling career, according to a report in the New York Times.
The report also claims that the American, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after doping officials produced a huge dossier of evidence against him, was in talks with the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
Tim Herman, Armstrong's lawyer, told the paper: "Lance has to speak for himself on that."
The USADA gave Armstrong a life ban after concluding that he was a part of "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen" while at the US Postal team.
Armstrong opted not to appeal the ban, which was later ratified by the UCI, world cycling's governing body.
The New York Times said USADA chief Travis Tygart declined to comment on its report.
Last month the Sunday Times launched a £1m lawsuit against Armstrong, who sued the newspaper for libel in 2004 after it raised questions over his success following his recovery from testicular cancer.

 

[soneanima]

I looked at the Giro route and looks like it will be impossible to go watch a few stages in a row this year. It's a shame, for that had been a tradition of mine for quite a few years now.
On the plus side they made a really tough short mountain stage like the Alpe d'Huez stage in the 2011 tour, let's hope it will be as exciting.

 

[Smallville22]

Hoy leapfrogs Kenny in Rotterdam

Jason Kenny might be the young pretender to Sir Chris Hoy's throne but the latter is proving there is life in the old dog just yet as he replaced his compatriot at the top of the Six Days of Rotterdam leaderboard.
It was 24-year-old Kenny who was sitting pretty atop the standings in the Netherlands after the first two days of competition.
But all that changed after the third evening of competition and it is Hoy who is the man to beat now as he put on a masterclass on Saturday.
Hoy and Kenny had teamed up on the opening two days of competition to win the team sprint, but Britian's most successful Olympian of all time was paired with Dutchman Teun Mulder on Saturday.
And Hoy put friendship behind as he and Mulder beat Kenny and Gregory Bauge, before returning to the track in the individual sprint to pip Kenny again in the final.
However in the keirin the British dominance was final ended as Mulder claimed victory, Hoy and Kenny having to settle for second and third respectively.
These results mean Hoy is two points ahead of Kenny at the halfway stage, with Mulder third and Bauge fourth.

 

[Smallville22]

I looked at the Giro route and looks like it will be impossible to go watch a few stages in a row this year. It's a shame, for that had been a tradition of mine for quite a few years now.
On the plus side they made a really tough short mountain stage like the Alpe d'Huez stage in the 2011 tour, let's hope it will be as exciting.

I really enjoy watching Giro mountain stages in the last few years, but I know this year race have another profile.

 

[Smallville22]

Hoy remains on top in Rotterdam

Sir Chris Hoy is still the man to beat in the Netherlands as Britain's most successful Olympian stayed on top after day four of the Six Days of Rotterdam event.
After compatriot Jason Kenny had led the way after the first two days of competition Hoy leapt to the top of the leaderboard midway through the competition.
And 24 hours later the 36-year-old showed he is in no mood to relinquish his lead as he recorded two victories to stay at the top of the pile.
Hoy once again teamed up with home cyclist Teun Mulder in the two-man team sprint and the duo got the better of Kenny and Frenchman Gregory Bauge by over half a second.
There was a three-way battle in the individual sprint as Hoy and Mulder could not be separated in their semi-final, even with a photo finish, while Kenny comfortable saw off the challenge of Bauge.
But it was Hoy who reigned supreme again as he edged out Kenny and Mulder in the showdown to extend his lead.
And in the final event of Sunday evening, the kierin, world sprint champion and Olympic silver medallist Bauge finally managed his first victory of the event, with Hoy in second, Kenny third and Mulder finishing fourth.
Heading into the final two days of competition Hoy is now four points clear of Kenny in the Giant Sprint Masters event, with Mulder third and Bauge fourth.

 

[Smallville22]

Hoy edges closer to Rotterdam glory

Jason Kenny reduced Sir Chris Hoy's lead in the Giant Sprint Masters on the penultimate evening of the Six Days of Rotterdam but Britain's greatest ever Olympian still looks on course for victory.
Hoy, who claimed his fifth and sixth Olympic golds at London 2012, took to the track four points ahead of Kenny but was to come off it with his cushion narrowed down to three.
The 36-year-old started the evening with victory in the team sprint, this time with seven world champion Gregory Bauge as the pairings once again rotated and they beat Kenny and Teun Mulder.
However Kenny got the better of Hoy in the individual sprint, qualifying faster, before the triple Olympic champion beat Bauge in the semi-finals and Mulder in the major final.
Hoy lost to Mulder in the semi-finals but recovered to beat Bauge thereafter to claim third before winning from Kenny in the keirin as he edges closer to winning the Giant Sprint Masters title.
He leads the four-strong field with 29 points with Kenny three behind on 32 while Mulder and Bauge are a way off the British pair in third and fourth with 48 and 61 respectively.

 

[Smallville22]

Expecting ****** Storey plans quick comeback

Dame Sarah Storey has announced she plans to return to competitive cycling as soon as physically possible after the arrival of her first ***** later this year.
Storey, who was made a Dame in the New Year Honours list in recognition of her Paralympic career and efforts at London 2012, is expected to give birth in June.
The 35-year-old has, to date, enjoyed a stellar career first in swimming and then cycling, and won all four events she entered at London 2012.
That took her career Paralympic medal tally to 22 including 11 golds to pull her level with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Dave Roberts in terms of career titles.
Storey, who is married to three-time Paralympic gold medallist Barney Storey, rides for the Breast Cancer Care Team which will partner with Scottish Cycling and compete in road races across the UK and Europe in 2013.

 

[Smallville22]

African new boys get Italian berths

New Pro Continental team MTN-Qhubeka have been given a wild card for Italian WorldTour races Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo.
RCS Sport handed the first ever professional team from Africa a place, along with the top 18 teams in the world, in both races.
Team NetApp-Endura, Katusha and Vini Fantini will also contest Tirreno-Adriatico with Androni Giocattoli, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, Iam Cycling and Europcar joining the latter two teams in La Primavera.
MTN-QhubekaTeam principal Douglas Ryder said: "It was a major goal for us this year to get into those two races as they are two of the most prestigious ones on the calendar.
"Tirreno-Adriatico will offer some tough stage racing while Milan-San Remo at almost 300km long will offer our riders a great learning opportunity in tough one-day classic conditions."
Team captain Gerald Ciolek added: "I've been building the early part of my season around these two races. To have them confirmed for our team is great.
"People may have wondered why I signed for a Pro Continental team but I think everyone is starting to believe why this project is so special. I am looking forward to heading to Italy for these races."
Tirreno-Adriatico begins on March 6 while Milan-San Remo, one of the sport's most-prestigious one-day races, takes place on March 17.


Katusha suffer Giro d'Italia snub

Katusha have missed out on a place in the 2013 Giro d’Italia after organisers RCS Sport announced the four wild card teams.
Italian teams Androni Giocattoli, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox and Vini Fantini plus Colombia will join the 18 UCI Pro Teams in the opening Grand Tour of the season.
The UCI rejected Katusha's application to compete in the World Tour because of the team's doping record over the past four years.
Katusha, who finished second in the World Tour standings in 2012, have appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
It means world number one Joaquim Rodriguez, who won two stages in the 2012 race when finishing second overall to Canadian Ryder Hesjedal, will not be able to bid for the Maglia Rosa.
RCS Sport said in a statement: "In order to respect the teams, athletes, media and crucially, the fans, RCS Sport have made the decision to allocate the Wild Card places today, despite the current uncertainty regarding World Tour licences.
"Russian Team Katusha’s position has been judged as it stands today - a Professional Continental Team."
The three-week race begins in Naples on May 4.

UCI Pro Team (invited by right):

AG2R LA MONDIALE (FRA)

ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)

BMC RACING TEAM (USA)

CANNONDALE (ITA)

EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI (SPN)

FDJ – BIG MAT (FRA)

FORMER RABOBANK (NED)

GARMIN – SHARP (USA)

LAMPRE – MERIDA (ITA)

LOTTO BELISOL (BEL)

MOVISTAR TEAM (SPN)

OMEGA PHARMA – QUICKSTEP CYCLING TEAM (BEL)

ORICA - GREENEDGE (AUS)

RADIOSHACK – NISSAN (LUX)

SKY PROCYCLING (GBR)

TEAM ARGOS – SHIMANO (NED)

TEAM SAXO - TINKOFF (DEN)

VACANSOLEIL – DCM PRO CYCLING TEAM (NED)

UCI Professional Team (Wild Card):

ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI (ITA) – Automatic right to participate as winner of the Coppa Italia 2012

BARDIANI VALVOLE – CSF INOX (ITA)

COLOMBIA (COL)

VINI FANTINI (ITA)

 

[Smallville22]

Armstrong 'offered donation to anti-doping agency'

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong once offered to donate nearly $250,000 to anti-doping efforts, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency told 60 Minutes Sports in an interview to be aired on Wednesday.
Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles last year after an investigation by USADA found evidence of wide-spread doping, had a representative offer the agency a large sum of money in 2004, USADA chief Travis Tygart says in the wide-ranging interview.
"I was stunned," Tygart tells interviewer Scott Pelley, according to a statement issued by the program. "It was clear -- it was a clear conflict of interest for USADA.
"We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer."
Asked how much money Armstrong offered the agency, Tygart replied; "in excess of $150,000."
Told by Pelley that 60 Minutes had learned it was $250,000 (£155,697), Tygart answered; "It was around that ballpark."
Tygart also alleges Armstrong provided the International Cycling Union (UCI), a regulatory body for the sport, a gift of $100,000.
During the interview, Tygart describes Armstrong and his team of doctors, coaches and riders as similar to a "Mafia" that kept their secret for years and intimidated riders into silently following their ******* methods.
Some of those riders are considered victims by Tygart and he says they were ****** to choose between following the doping program or being off the team.
Tygart tells Pelley, he was "stunned" when the U.S. Justice Department failed to charge Armstrong at the end of a two-year investigation and failed to share their findings with USADA.
"I don't know (why they failed to charge Armstrong)," says Tygart. "It's a good question and one that if you finally answer, let me know."
Armstrong has denied ever using performance-enhancing ***** but according to a recent New York Times story is considering coming clean about doping in an effort to return to competition.
He declined to be included in the 60 Minutes Sports story and his spokesman did not return calls from Reuters seeking comment.


Armstrong to break silence in Oprah interview

Lance Armstrong will break his silence about his lifetime ban from cycling and the doping charges made against him in a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey next week.
The interview, to be broadcast on the Oprah Winfrey Network on January 17, will be the first the American cyclist has conducted since receiving his ban and being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
"Armstrong will address the alleged doping scandal, years of accusations of cheating, and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing ***** throughout his storied cycling career," the network said.
On Saturday, the New York Times reported that Armstrong, 41, had told associates and anti-doping officials he was considering an admission of using ****** *****.
The Times said Armstrong hoped to persuade anti-doping officials to allow him to resume competition in athletic events that adhere to the World Anti-Doping Code, under which the Texan is currently subject to a lifetime ban.
However, Armstrong's lawyer Tim Herman later told USA Today that there had been no talks with anti-doping bodies about any admission.
Armstrong has always vehemently denied charges of doping and has never been proven to have tested positive.
An Octoberr 10 report from the US anti-doping body USADA cited Armstrong's involvement in what it characterized as the "most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping program that sport has ever seen," involving anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, ***** transfusions and other doping.
Less than two weeks later, Armstrong's seven Tour de France victories were nullified and he was ****** from cycling for life after the International Cycling Union ratified the USADA's sanctions against him.
In November, Armstrong, a survivor of testicular cancer, stepped down as a board member of Livestrong, the cancer-support charity he founded in 1997.

 

[Smallville22]

Durbridge retains Australian road title

Luke Durbridge blasted around Ballarat to win gold in the individual time trial at the Australia Road National Championships.
The defending champion covered the 37-kilometre Lake Wendouree course in 43:26.71 to beat out Rohan Dennis (South Australia) for the title.
Michael Matthews, in his first outing in ORICA-GreenEDGE colours, took the bronze medal.
“Winning the national title was definitely my main objective for January,” said Durbridge. “I worked hard over December to achieve that goal, and I’m happy to come out with the win.”
“It’s an honour to wear national colours,” Durbridge continued. “To have that honour last year and achieve it again this year is a huge thing for me.
“I take a lot of motivation from wearing the championship jersey. I’m glad to do it again this year. My 2013 season has started quite well.”
As defending champion, Durbridge recognized that anything less than the gold medal would be underwhelming.
“It was different this year to go into the race with the win as an expectation,” he said. “It’s a different sort of feeling when anything but the win would be a disappointment.
“I used that pressure to motivate and drive me when I trained and raced. When it got hard out there today, I was able to remind myself that you don’t win when it isn’t hard. The pressure was good motivation for me in the end.”
Sport director Matt Wilson drove behind Durbridge during his race effort.
“Durbo is a level-headed guy,” explained Wilson. “He wanted some specific information over the radio with good time checks and a little encouragement towards the end.
“His radio stopped working during the second half of the course, so it was frustrating for him not have the information he wanted, but he was obviously riding super strong by that point.”
Durbridge crashed yesterday during his pre-ride, and there was some concern that he would deal with stiffness or soreness.
“The crash yesterday didn’t impact me at all today,” said Durbridge. “I didn’t feel it at all.”
Durbridge was full of praise for the new course changes.
“It was great to have full road closures this year,” he noted. “This way traffic didn’t impact anyone.
“It was windy out there today but super fast. We don’t see 51 kilometre/hour averages too often. The course definitely suited me. I hope they keep it the same next year.”
While Durbridge’s win may have been anticipated, the lesser places were more difficult to predict. Matthews beat out time trial specialist Richie Porte (Tasmania) for the final spot on the podium.
“Bling has been preparing for the time trial, and he set the goal to medal here,” said Wilson.
“I knew he’d do a good time trial. He’s done fantastic efforts in the past, so I expected him to be up there. Given the form of both Durbo and Dennis, third place is a fantastic result.”

 

[Smallville22]

Hoy wins Six Days of Rotterdam event

Sir Chris Hoy is eager for Great Britain to get their own six-day sprint cycling event after claiming victory in the Six Days of Rotterdam sprint competition ahead of compatriot Jason Kenny.
The six-time Olympic champion edged out Olympic individual sprint champion Kenny by a single point, having held a slender three-point lead going into the final day of competition.
A win in the team sprint, second in the individual sprint and third in the keirin were enough for Hoy to edge home, and the Scot revealed that he would like to see a similar competition take place on British soil, with the new indoor track in Glasgow, named after Hoy, a prime candidate.
He said: "We have got the support, there's a huge amount of interest. The public is ****** out for it. They want to see this kind of event on home soil.
"We would certainly back it if one came to Scotland, England, Ireland or Wales, wherever.
"It's fantastic for Scottish cycling to have an indoor facility in our country. It's great for cycling."

 

[Smallville22]

British team look to emulate Hoy's success

After Sir Chris Hoy's success at the Six Days of Rotterdam the next generation of British sprinters will get their chance to show what they can do at an equivalent event in Bremen.
Welsh cyclist Lewis Oliva will lead a five-man British team at the Six Days of Bremen track meeting which follows on from the event in the Netherlands where Hoy edged out compatriot and Olympic individual sprint champion Jason Kenny for the overall sprint title.
The 20-year-old Oliva was injured in a crash in October at the Track World Cup in Glasgow, having to pull out of the individual sprint event as a result.
However now back to full fitness, he will be part of the team along with fellow British Cycling Olympic Academy Programme sprinters Callum Skinner and former World Junior Sprint Champion John Paul at the event at the Bremen Arena in Germany.
The trio will be joined by Olympic Development Programme endurance riders Zac May and Chris Lawless.
The 49th edition of the event, which runs from today until January 15, will give the quintet the opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the senior team which was so successful in London last year.
Heading up the team off the track will be Olympic Development Programme endurance coach Matt Winston and Great Britain assistant national sprint coach Jon Norfolk, a former British national keirin champion.

 

[Smallville22]

Meyer wins Australian men's criterium

Cameron Meyer put his time trial skills on display with elite men’s criterium victory at the Australia Road National Championships.
The Western Australian established an early solo lead after countering a move made by his ******* Travis Meyer and managed to hold off the field for 26 laps en route to his third elite national title – his first in the criterium.
“It’s another special win,” said Cameron. “Obviously to win any Australian championship is special.
“I’m a little surprised as the criterium is not my forte. I’m definitely thought of more as a time trialist or road racer, but I went out there today and showed I have good form. We had some good tactics from the start, but we didn’t have to use them today.”
Those tactics included using the Meyer brothers to soften up the field ahead of a potential sprint finish.
“We wanted to make the race as hard as possible,” said Sport Director Matt Wilson.
The Meyers are going really well, and the plan was to have them animate the race to make things as difficult as possible.
“Their attacks would impact the lead-outs for other teams and leave Leigh [Howard] fresh for the sprint. As it turned out, they made it so hard that they destroyed the field and Cam was able to ride away.”
Travis launched the first move and gained a ten second advantage. He was brought back before the first intermediate sprint, and his catch prompted Cameron’s ****** several laps later.
“Travis went in the first couple laps,” explained Cameron.
“Four or five laps after he went, I took my turn. I never thought it was the race winning move. I went out to the front and hoped some other riders might come across.
“It’s hard to stay away for that long. No one came, so I just kept going. Still no one came, and I kept going some more. Eventually, I had to commit myself.”
Cameron admits that he didn’t allow himself to consider the win within reach until the final five laps.
“I’ve been in the situation before,” he noted. “Many times, it comes back and you get caught. It looks good but you get nowhere.
“I thought that’s what would happen today as the gap held around 20 seconds. Further into the race, Matt Wilson was standing on the side and yelling at me to keep going.
“With 10 laps left, he told me the field was cracking. That’s when I started to think I had a chance. Not until four or five laps to go did I think I could win.”
With Cameron up the road, the rest of the ORICA-GreenEDGE team began to think about the lesser places.
“Travis attacked with one lap to go, and it looked like he had a pretty good gap to hold on for second,” said Wilson.
“The bunch swallowed him up just before the line. Leigh went for it in the sprint, but [Steele] Von Hoff managed to pip him on the line. Leigh managed third in the end.”
With two hugely successful days behind them, the team looks forward to Sunday’s road race.
“We’ve won two titles now,” said Cameron. “We’re looking to add the big one on Sunday and make it three for three."

 

[Smallville22]

Katusha application turned down by CAS

Katusha's emergency bid for a WorldTour licence has been turned down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
No reasons for the decision were given, with a further hearing to be held at a future date.
The CAS said that it had “rejected a request for provisional measures filed by Katusha Management SA asking for the temporary registration of its professional team in the 2013 UCI ProTour.
“The CAS will now consider the main appeal of Katusha Management SA which requests that the decision of the Licensing Commission of the UCI of 18 December 2012 concerning Katusha be annulled and that Katusha be admitted to the UCI ProTour for the entire 2013 season.
"A hearing will be scheduled shortly in order for a final decision to be issued as quickly as possible.”
The ruling comes two days after the Giro d'Italia denied Katusha an invitation to the 2013 race. Four wildcards were issued but Katusha were ignored for the season's first Grand Tour.

 

[Smallville22]

De Jongh joins Saxo-Tinkoff

Former Team Sky sports director Steven de Jongh has taken up a role with Saxo-Tinkoff.
Following the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, the British team asked riders and support staff to sign up to a written statement saying they had no past or present involvement with *****.
Dutchman de Jongh and race coach Bobby Julich then left in October after admitting to taking ****** substances earlier in their careers.
But the 39-year-old, who spent his career with the TVM, Rabobank and Quick Step teams, has found a job at Bjarne Riis' outfit.
"I got in touch with Steven, and throughout our conversations I felt he would be a great fit for us. On top of that I have heard a lot of good things about him as a sport director, and he brings a solid amount of experience to our team," Riis said.
And de Jongh is relishing the task.
"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to start working for Team Saxo-Tinkoff and one of the best rider line-ups in the world," he said.
"After I left Team Sky, I simply didn't know what the future would hold for me. But in early January I had some conversations with Bjarne and the team, and this developed into a job offer and a fantastic opportunity for me personally. I'm really looking forward to start this new chapter of my career as a sport director, and I'm grateful for the confidence the team has shown me."
De Jongh joins Philippe Mauduit, Dan Frost, Tristan Hoffman, Fabrizio Guidi and Lars Michaelsen as sport directors.