2013 Cycling Thread

[Smallville22]

Kenny Dehaes wins Halle-Ingooigem

Lotto Belisol’s Kenny Dehaes recorded his third win of the season in the one-day Halle-Ingooigem on Wednesday.
The Belgian, who has previously shown his speed by winning the Trofeo de Palma Mallorca and the Handzame Classic, sealed a fine victory in Ingooigem.
Argos-Shimano’s Luka Mezgec could not quite match Dehaes, with last year’s winner Nacer Bouhanni also outsprinted.
It was the third bouquet of flowers of the season for the 28-year-old from Brussels, in the 66th edition of the race.
The climax of the race followed a 12-rider breakaway after 10km as the group built up a 5:30 advantage, but the early movers could not sustain their advantage.
Omega Pharma-Quickstep’s Tom Boonen could not finish the race and the Belgian, wearing the champion’s colours for the last time, later revealed that he had not fully recovered from the Tour de Suisse.

 

[Smallville22]

Cancellara wins eighth national time-trial title

Fabian Cancellara won his eighth national time-trial championship in Switzerland with victory on the 38.8km course around Satigny near Geneva.
The Radioshack Leopard Trek rider was seven seconds behind after the first split but ended up romping to victory 59 seconds ahead of IAM Cycling's Martin Elmiger,with Reto Hollenstein (also IAN) third, 1:57 back, in hot conditions.
Cancellera has often been seen in time trials wearing the red with white cross colours of the Swiss flag after having also won this race in 2002, 2004-2008 and 2012.
"It was really, really hard. The course was up and down the whole time and with these temperatures, it made for a tough ride," said Cancellara.
"I still felt the Tour de Suisse in my legs, despite the good feelings on the bike yesterday. For me it was also a test to see where my shape is at. I'm certainly satisfied."
"It never gets boring to win your National Championships. For me it's an honour to wear the jersey, so I really went for it!"

 

[Smallville22]

Vacansoleil-DCM name all rounders

Vacansoleil-DCM are bidding for stage victories at the Tour de France after naming a team of all rounders.
Dutchmen Wout Poels, Johnny Hoogerland, Lieuwe Westra and Boy and Danny van Poppel are joined by Belgians Thomas De Gendt and Kris Boeckmans plus former stage winner Juan Antonio Flecha and Sergey Lagutin.
De Gendt, who was third at the 2012 Giro d’Italia, will be the team's main GC hope while Poels has been prominent in major stage races this year after a serious crash in last year’s Tour.
Hoogerland missed the complete spring season after he was knocked off his bike, leaving him with fractured ribs and a bruised liver. But the man, who wore the mountains jersey in the 2011 Tour, returns.
Spaniard Flecha will be appearing in his tenth Tour de France while the van Poppel brothers and multiple Uzbek national champion Lagutin make their debuts.
The 100th Tour de France begins in Corisca on June 29.

 

[Smallville22]

Sky announce Froome's support cast

Team Sky have named four British riders in their line-up for the Tour de France with a strong line-up assembled to support Chris Froome in his bid for the coveted yellow jersey.
Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard and Peter Kennaugh are joined by Richie Porte, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Vasil Kiryienka, David Lopez and Kanstantin Siutsou.
Eight of the team raced at the recent Criterium du Dauphine, where Froome came first and Porte - who will be Froome's chief lieutenant in the mountains - second, with Belarussian Siutsou joining that line-up for the Tour de France challenge.
Only Froome, Boasson Hagen, Porte and Siutsou return from the team that helped Bradley Wiggins win the race last year.
Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “Making the final selection of riders has been especially tough this year but we believe that we've found the right combination for the Tour de France. We have a group of nine riders that are all in great form and ready for the challenge ahead.
“The Tour de France has been the main goal for Chris this season and he goes into the race in great shape. With four stage-race wins this year Chris has not only grown as a rider but also importantly as a leader.
“Around him are eight quality riders who have each earned their place in the team. They will add the climbing ability and the engines to provide the perfect support for Chris, especially in the crucial mountain stages.
“We've seen what this group are capable of at the Dauphine and all have raced with Chris successfully at some stage this year.
“We have got a very strong squad for the Tour and we’re all looking forward to getting underway.”
Froome, who was second last year and is looking to go one better after a stand-out season, was delighted with the balance in the team.
Froome said: “I’m delighted with the balance in this team and every one of these riders is going to play a pivotal role once the racing begins. Most of us were at the Criterium du Dauphine and I was hugely impressed there with the way the team came together in control of the leader’s jersey. It gave me huge faith and I could not be happier with the selection.
“Ian, Vasil and Kosta each possess huge engines that you can’t go into a Tour without. They will be controlling things on the front for long periods of the race and pacing me once the climbing begins. Geraint, David and Pete will then take up the reins. Those guys have really improved their climbing abilities and will be a massive help when the pace really ramps up in the mountains.
“In Richie we simply have one of the strongest climbers in the world. He is another rider who’s more than capable of winning a Grand Tour in his own right. Having him in our ranks gives us a number of different options to play. The same applies with Edvald – he is flying after his victories in Norway and the Dauphine, and he has already proved he can win stages at the Tour.
“We’re ready, excited and can’t wait to get going.”

Rider Profiles:

Chris Froome - Great Britain – age 28

He heads into the Tour as team leader, with a string of stage-race wins in 2013 at the Tour of Oman, Criterium International, Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine. Previously on the podium in two Grand Tours; last year’s Tour de France and the 2011 Vuelta a Espana.

Richie Porte - Australia – age 28

An integral part of Team Sky’s successful Tour de France team in 2012, he is currently in his most impressive season to date. The Tasmanian climber captured his biggest win to date at Paris-Nice in February and was second at both Vuelta al Pais Vasco and Criterium du Dauphine.

Edvald Boasson Hagen - Norway – age 26

The Norwegian all-rounder has lined-up at each of Team Sky’s three Tour de France appearances – the only ever-present – winning two stages, including the team’s first Tour stage win in 2011. He can contest sprints and turn into a powerful climbing domestique.

Peter Kennaugh MBE - Great Britain – age 24

He makes his Tour de France debut this year after impressing at the Tour du Dauphine joining. Born on the Isle of Man, he won Olympic Gold for Britain in the team pursuit at London 2012, alongside team-mate Geraint Thomas.

Vasil Kiryienka - Belarus – age 31

New to Team Sky this year, the Belarusian has gained wide recognition for tireless stints on the front of the peloton and is a key asset on the climbs. He will mark his 32nd birthday on the eve of this year’s Grand Depart in Corsica.

David López - Spain – age 32

Joined Team Sky this season and has played a key part in Chris Froome’s victories at the Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine. This will be his third Tour de France but his first in Team Sky colours. He brings invaluable experience and a relaxed demeanour.

Kanstantsin Siutsou - Belarus – age 30

One of two Belarusians in the line-up, he brings both power and climbing prowess in equal measure. ‘Kosta’ has made four previous appearances in the Tour de France but his last, in 2012, ended early after he broke his leg in a first-week crash.

Ian Stannard - Great Britain – age 26

A second rider making his Tour debut, the 2012 British national road champion has earned legions of fans due to his unwavering work ethic and dedication to the cause. One of the most powerful men in the peloton, Stannard is a huge asset over three weeks.

Geraint Thomas MBE - Great Britain – age 27

After making his Tour debut in 2007 he wore the white jersey for Team Sky during both 2010 and 2011. The Welsh-born rider has won two Olympic Golds in the team pursuit, in Beijing and London, and returns to the Tour after a year spent focused on the track.

 

[Smallville22]

Cannondale make Sagan focal point of squad

Cannondale have built their squad for this year’s Tour de France around Peter Sagan, who looks to claim a second green jersey in succession.
Sagan’s three stage wins and points classification supremacy at the 2012 Tour came despite Cannondale’s focus being primarily on getting Vincenzo Nibali onto the podium.
Now Nibali has moved to Astana and Ivan Basso remains out of contention as he recovers from a perineal cyst, Sagan will be the focal point of their 2013 campaign.
Ted King, Alessandro De Marchi, Alan Marangoni and Moreno Moser are the four Grande Boucle debutants in the nine-man squad, with 22-year-old Moreno making his first Grand Tour appearance of any kind.
“This team is the ideal one to target our goals at the Tour,” directeur sportif Stefano Zanatta said.
“A talented rider such as Sagan deserves to be supported in the best way. He has prepared this event with great commitment and accuracy.
“His wish to win the green jersey is our wish. Being competitive in the stages suited to us is another of our aims.”

Cannondale squad for the Tour de France: Peter Sagan (Slovakia), Maciej Bodnar (Poland), Kristijan Koren (Slovenia), Alessandro De Marchi, Alan Marangoni, Fabio Sabatini, Moreno Moser (all Italy), Ted King (USA), Brian Vandborg (Denmark).

 

[Smallville22]

Van den Broeck and Greipel headline Lotto team

Jurgen Van den Broeck and Andre Greipel will lead Lotto Belisol at the Tour de France.
Van den Broeck was fourth on GC last year for the second time in his career and will aim for a podium finish after those near misses.
In the mountains he will be assisted by Bart De Clercq, who makes his debut.
German sprinter Greipel won three stages in 2012 and will be Mark Cavendish’s big rival in bunch finishes.
Lars Bak, Adam Hansen, Greg Henderson, Jurgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg, who all were in the 2012 team, return and Frederik Willems completes the line-up.
Van den Broeck blamed illness for his poor performances in the fourth and fifth stages of the Critérium du Dauphine and manager Marc Sergeant said his morale has not been affected.
“Jurgen Van den Broeck has only made some small changes to his Tour preparation, it was a meticulous preparation just like the previous years,” he said.
“We know the cause of the two difficult days in the Dauphiné, but I think it was clear immediately that this hasn’t affected his focus. It’s still his ultimate goal to make a bid for the Tour podium.”

 

[Smallville22]

Cofidis leave one spot open on Tour team

Cofidis have left one spot open after naming eight of their nine riders for the Tour de France.
Jerome Coppel, Dani Navarro and Rein Taaramae have been named as team leaders for the French outfit who, without a realistic GC contender, will hunt stage wins.
Their ninth rider will not be named until after the French National Cycling Championships this weekend.
The Tour de France gets under way in Corsica on June 29 and concludes in Paris on July 21.
Team: Yoann Bagot (FRA), Jérôme Coppel (FRA), Egoitz Garcia (ESP), Christophe Le Mével (FRA), Luis Angel Maté (ESP), Rudy Molard (FRA), Dani Navarro (ESP), Rein Taaramae (EST).

 

[Smallville22]

National ITT round-up: Dowsett retains British crown

Alex Dowsett won his third consecutive British time trial championship in East Ayrshire.
A tyre malfunction saw the 24-year-old rider fly off his bike early on the first lap but his time of 1:02.30 hours was enough for victory, with Matt Bottrill and Ben Swift second and third respectively.
"It was my first crash in a time trial, I was racing without any information on power or speed and only had my gears as reference," Dowsett said.
"But I knew that as long as I could get settled I could still do a good job. Once I knew I was five seconds up half way round I knew I could do it.
"I was up quick after the crash. My hands were suffering the most, I couldn't grip the bars. I just had to grin and bear it.
"When I first took this jersey, I think it was Wiggins who said 'whoever takes this is only looking after this for me.' But I'm going to have this for three years now and I'm becoming quite attached to it."
Sam Harrison successfully defended his Under-23 title as he finished in 44:47.965 minutes.

National Time Trial Results:

Britain (Men)

1 Alex Dowsett (Movistar Team) 1:02:30

2 Matthew Bottrill (www.drag2zero.com) 0:00:20

3 Ben Swift (Sky Procycling)

4 Douglas Dewey (Hennebont Cyclisme) 0:00:33

5 Luke Rowe (Sky Procycling) 0:00:49

Britain (Women)

1 Joanna Rowsell (Wiggle Honda) 0:49:26

2 Lizzy Armitstead (Dolmans Boels) 0:00:32

3 Katie Colclough (Specialized-lululemon) 0:01:37

4 Emma Trott (Dolmans Boels) 0:01:56

5 Laura Trott (Wiggle Honda) 0:02:01

France

1 Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma - Quickstep) 0:56:48

2 Jérémy Roy (FDJ) 0:02:01

3 Johan Le Bon (FDJ) 0:02:20

4 Jérôme Coppel (Cofidis, Solutions Credits) 0:02:31

5 Sandy Casar (FDJ) 0:02:34

Denmark

1 Brian Vandborg (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team) 0:48:44

2 Rasmus Christian Quaade (Team Tre-For) 0:00:06

3 Rasmus Sterobo (Team CULT Energy) 0:00:49

4 Alex Rasmussen (Team Garrmin-Sharp) 0:00:51

5 Lasse Norman Hansen (Blue Water Cycling) 0:00:55

Norway

1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Procycling) 0:36:04

2 Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing Team) 0:00:27

3 Reidar Bohlin Borgersen (Joker Merida) 0:00:42

4 Truls Engen Korsæth (Lillehammer CK) 0:01:03

5 Kjetil Johansen Amundrud (Asker CK) 0:01:18

Netherlands (Wednesday)

1 Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) 1:03:59.10

2 Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) 0:00:04.51

3 Tom Dumoulin (Argos-Shimano) 0:00:40.86

4 Lars Boom (Blanco Pro Cycling) 0:01:03.08

5 Stef Clement (Blanco Pro Cycling) 0:01:20.08

Switzerland (Wednesday)

1 Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack Leopard) 0:50:35.391

2 Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling) 0:00:59.228

3 Reto Hollenstein (IAM Cycling) 0:01:57.177

4 Marcel Wyss (IAM Cycling) 0:02:28.282

5 Claudio Imhof (Atlas Personal-Jakroo) 0:05:47.319

 

[Smallville22]

Rowsell claims British Championships time trial victory

Olympic track cycling champion Joanna Rowsell admitted she felt at home in the outdoors as she claimed her first road crown with victory in the women's time trial at the British Championships in Ayrshire.
Rowsell claimed London 2012 gold alongside Dani King and Laura Trott in the team pursuit but swapped the track for the road and demonstrated her talents for both as she claimed victory.
The 24-year-old posted a time of 49 minutes 25 seconds for the win, with Olympic road race silver medallist Lizzie Armistead having to settle for runner-up 32 seconds behind.
Rowsell posted a time that was 16 seconds faster than Armistead on the opening lap and nearly doubled that gap by the finish – insisting it was a great way to kickstart her season.
"I was quoted in the media that I was focussing on the road this year, but actually I just wanted a break over the winter, just a normal winter rather than trying to peak for the track worlds in February," she said.
"But to be honest I felt a bit lost at the start of the season, I didn't know if I'd be out of the back or what.
"So I set this as a target quite early in the season just because it was something I knew I could come and do. Initially I was quite worried about the distance being 22 miles, but now I think they suit me actually.
"It was tough being 22 miles. I've done three 25s this year and I've learned I can go hard from the start, but not really, really hard, you can't pace it too much but this course was a bit hilly.
"From the start you're up a hill and I think a few of the boys found that and were suffering for the whole race.
"I tried to pace it to begin with but I felt pretty bad to begin with, on the first lap, but felt better on the second lap, which is a good way round I suppose."

 

[Smallville22]

Wiggins: I might never ride Tour again

Sir Bradley Wiggins has strongly hinted that he will not consider competing in the Tour de France again.
"For me it was always about winning the Tour," he told the Guardian. "I've done that.
"If I'm honest I don't think I'm prepared to make those sacrifices again that I made last year, with my ****** and so on. I've achieved what I've achieved. I'm incredibly happy with that."
Wiggins accepted that Sky team mate Chris Froome, a favourite to win in his absence this year, could be the team's Tour leader for some time to come.
"Chris has really stepped up, he's delivered now and he looks like he's really going to be there for a few years to win a few Tours maybe," said the four times Olympic champion.
"There has been a natural selection this year through Chris's performances and my performances that he warrants being the team leader; and if he wins the Tour, that continues through to next year. I can live with that."
The 33-year-old said his ******** were growing up, he wanted to spend more time with his ****** and he had other goals to achieve.
"If I do anything else after this it will be stuff I want to do, stuff that I'm willing to train hard and sacrifice for really," he said.
"I've always had other goals and there are other things I'd like to try and do."
Wiggins expected to return to racing at the Tour of Poland in July before an event in Colorado and then September's Tour of Britain and the world time trial championships in Italy.
"That's a race I've always wanted to do well in," he said of the British race. "It's getting bigger every year and in terms of profile in this country it's a nice thing to do well in."

 

[Smallville22]

Castroviejo claims Spanish ITT

Jonathan Castroviejo won the Spanish national time-trial championship in Bembibre.
The Movistar rider finally claimed the 'rojigualda' jersey after finishing sixth in 2009, fifth in 2010 and second in the past two years.
The Basque showing beat favourite Luis Leon Sánchez by 45 seconds over the 44km course with Ruben Plaza third.
Alejandro Valverde finished in fifth place, 17 seconds off the podium.
Castroviejo said: "I was really strong all day. I had finished twice second in the last two years but I came in better physical condition to this year's race, with the only goal of winning the race.
"It was a beautiful course and a technical one - you had to distribute your energy well over it. There was a steady climb in the beginning and you couldn't give everything there. Then, there was wind halfway through the course and it made it harder - it was the crucial point to win or lose, because the final part was almost downhill, and a matter of keeping the gaps.
"After my TT in Dauphiné, I was quite confident, and I proved today my condition was good. I'm feeling well these days and I hope to do well in the Tour."
In Germany, there was no surprise as Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) won for the fourth time – finishing over a minute and a half ahead of Patrick Gretsch (Argos-Shimano)
In Russia, Ilnur Zakarin (RusVelo) won the title for the first time as he upset three-time champion Vladimir Gusev.
In Belarus, Kanstantsin Siutsou (Team Sky), who will back up Chris Froome at the Tour de France, took victory.
Movistar's Rui Costa won in Portugal, MTN Qhubeka's Ignatas Konovalovas claimed his fifth Lithuanian title and Team NetApp-Endura's Jan Barta defended his Czech title.

National Time Trial Results:

Spain

1 Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) 0:54:52

2 Luis Leon Sanchez (Blanco) 0:00:45

3 Ruben Plaza (Movistar) 0:01:46

4 Jon Izaguirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 0:02:03

5 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Movistar) 0:02:03

Germany

1 Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) 1:00:58

2 Patrick Gretsch (Team Argos-Shimano) 0:01:33

3 Stefan Schumacher (Christina Watches-Onfone) 0:01:53

4 Lars Teutenberg (FC Lexxi Speedbike) 0:02:48

5 Dominik Nerz (BMC Racing Team) 0:03:18

Russia

1 Ilnur Zakarin (RusVelo) 1:01:12

2 Vladimir Gusev (Katusha) 0:00:30

3 Artem Ovechkin (RusVelo) 0:00:49

4 Alexander Serov (RusVelo) 0:00:57

5 Timofey Kritsky (Katusha) 0:01:10

Britain (Men)

1 Alex Dowsett (Movistar Team) 1:02:30

2 Matthew Bottrill (www.drag2zero.com) 0:00:20

3 Ben Swift (Sky Procycling)

4 Douglas Dewey (Hennebont Cyclisme) 0:00:33

5 Luke Rowe (Sky Procycling) 0:00:49

Britain (Women)

1 Joanna Rowsell (Wiggle Honda) 0:49:26

2 Lizzy Armitstead (Dolmans Boels) 0:00:32

3 Katie Colclough (Specialized-lululemon) 0:01:37

4 Emma Trott (Dolmans Boels) 0:01:56

5 Laura Trott (Wiggle Honda) 0:02:01

France

1 Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma - Quickstep) 0:56:48

2 Jérémy Roy (FDJ) 0:02:01

3 Johan Le Bon (FDJ) 0:02:20

4 Jérôme Coppel (Cofidis, Solutions Credits) 0:02:31

5 Sandy Casar (FDJ) 0:02:34

Denmark

1 Brian Vandborg (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team) 0:48:44

2 Rasmus Christian Quaade (Team Tre-For) 0:00:06

3 Rasmus Sterobo (Team CULT Energy) 0:00:49

4 Alex Rasmussen (Team Garrmin-Sharp) 0:00:51

5 Lasse Norman Hansen (Blue Water Cycling) 0:00:55

Norway

1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Procycling) 0:36:04

2 Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing Team) 0:00:27

3 Reidar Bohlin Borgersen (Joker Merida) 0:00:42

4 Truls Engen Korsæth (Lillehammer CK) 0:01:03

5 Kjetil Johansen Amundrud (Asker CK) 0:01:18

Netherlands (Wednesday)

1 Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) 1:03:59.10

2 Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) 0:00:04.51

3 Tom Dumoulin (Argos-Shimano) 0:00:40.86

4 Lars Boom (Blanco Pro Cycling) 0:01:03.08

5 Stef Clement (Blanco Pro Cycling) 0:01:20.08

Switzerland (Wednesday)

1 Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack Leopard) 0:50:35.391

2 Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling) 0:00:59.228

3 Reto Hollenstein (IAM Cycling) 0:01:57.177

4 Marcel Wyss (IAM Cycling) 0:02:28.282

5 Claudio Imhof (Atlas Personal-Jakroo) 0:05:47.319

 

[Smallville22]

Katusha pack team with climbers to aide Rodriguez

Katusha believe they have named a Tour de France team that can help Joaquim Rodriguez claim overall victory.
Rodriguez finished seventh in his only previous Tour de France tilt in 2010 but showed his Grand Tour pedigree last season with a second in the Giro and third place finish in the Vuelta.
Katusha have packed their team with climbers which they believe can help Rodriguez do damage during a mountainous course.
Rodriguez will need to gain time on the climbs as he is a significantly weaker time-trial performer than race favourites Chris Froome and Alberto Contador.
"I think we will have the best and strongest roster we could choose," said chief directeur sportif Valerio Piva.
"We will have Joaquim Rodriguez as a leader, and our main goal is to fight for general classification with him.
"For this aim, we have strong climbers such as Losada, Trofimov and, of course, Moreno, that will be our second in command. Moreover, we have also riders for protecting our leader in the first part of the competition, like Brutt, Smukulis, Kuchynski and Vorganov: I expect their work to be crucial, especially in the team time trial and in the breakaways."
Sprinter Alexandre Kristoff has also been named in the team but may struggle due to a lack of a support cast.

Katusha team for Tour de France:

Pavel Brutt (RUS), Alexander Kristoff (NOR), Aliaksandr Kuchynski (BLR), Alberto Losada(ESP), Daniel Moreno (ESP), Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP), Gatis Smukulis (LAT), Yuriy Trofimov (RUS), Eduard Vorganov (RUS).

 

[Smallville22]

Ullrich finally admits doping, says it wasn't cheating

Disgraced former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich has admitted that he underwent ***** doping procedures under the guidance of a Spanish doctor at the heart of a major ***** scandal.
The 39-year-old German, who was ****** for two years in 2012 for a doping offence, had previously confessed to having contact with Eufemiano Fuentes but consistently denied being illegally assisted by the doctor.
On Saturday, however, Ullrich was quoted in German weekly news magazine Focus as saying he had been helped by Fuentes.
"Yes I did undergo Fuentes treatments," the 1997 Tour de France champion said. "Almost everyone took performance-enhancing substances back then.
"I did not take anything that the others did not take. Cheating starts for me when I gain an advantage. That was not the case. I wanted to have equal chances.
"The victories still came down to talent, performance, team spirit and will to win."
Ullrich added that he used his own ***** for the treatment said he was "no better or worse" than Lance Armstrong.
"I always knew Lance Armstrong would not get away with it, even if he was probably for years protected by one or the other institutions and the world governing body,
"Neither of us thought we were guilty of anything. I'm not better than Armstrong but no worse. The great heroes of the past are today people with flaws with which we must cope. "
Fuentes, at the centre of a much-publicised trial in Spain earlier this year, had told the court that as well as cyclists, his clients included soccer players, athletes, tennis players and boxers.
The Operation Puerto scandal broke in 2006, when Spanish police launched raids that uncovered more than 200 code-named ***** bags, some of which were linked to cyclists.
Ullrich, who retired in 2007 after also winning gold and silver medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, remains the only German to win the Tour de France.
In February 2012, Ullrich was found guilty of a doping offence by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and retroactively ****** for two years from August 22, 2011.
In addition to the ban, all results after May 2005 were removed from his list of achievements.

 

[Smallville22]

Santaromita wins Italian road title

Ivan Santaromita edged out Michele Scarponi and Davide Rebellin to win the Italian road race championship on Saturday.
All three had been part of a five-man break on the hilly 229km course from Male along with Alessandro De Marchi and Simon Stortoni.
But BMC Racing’s Santaromita went on to cross the line after an uphill finish at Fondo ahead of Lampre-Merida’s Scarponi and CCC-Polsat’s Rebellin.
For the second time in history – the previous instance being Massimo Podenzana’s win in 1994 – the Italian championships were combined with the Trofeo Melinda.
“It’s been years that I’ve dreamed of this tricolor jersey,” Santaromita said after claiming the flowers.
“Two hundred meters from the line I gave everything I had.”

Results

1 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team 6:14:48

2 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida

3 Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Polsat Polkowice

4 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:00:20

5 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Ag2R La Mondiale 0:00:26

6 Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia 0:00:30

7 Simone Stortoni (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:00:39

8 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:42

9 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:00:48

10 Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 0:00:51

 

[Smallville22]

Armitstead retains National Road Race title ahead of Trott and King

Lizzie Armitstead beat off the challenge of Olympic team pursuit champions Laura Trott and Dani King to retain the Women's National Road Race Championship title she first won in 2011 in Glasgow.
Armitstead, Trott and King were the leading three going into the final 14km lap of eight, but the Olympic road race silver medallist from London 2012 was not to be denied again.
Having had to settle for second place behind Sharon Laws last year, Armitstead, riding for Dolmans-Boels, attacked at the back of the course to build a 10-second lead in Glasgow.
Armitstead was all alone heading into the park for the final time, well ahead of Trott and King, and rode home for her second senior career Women's National Road Race Championship title.
And, while Armitstead was an assured winner, the battle for second went down to the wire between Olympic team pursuit champions from London 2012 Trott and King.
Trott, who also claimed omnium gold on the track at London 2012, edged out team-mate King in a sprint finish while another Wiggle Honda rider Jo Rowsell came home fourth.

 

[Smallville22]

Cavendish wins British title for first time

Mark Cavendish produced his trademark sprint to claim the first Men's National Road Race Championship title of his career with the top four all set to ride the Tour de France later this month.
Cavendish, riding for Omega Pharma-Quickstep, hit the final straight with Ian Stannard, David Millar and Peter Kennaugh but was not to be denied his maiden victory after 13 14.2km laps in Glasgow.
The 28-year-old broke away from the peloton on the second of the 13 laps, catching early leaders Stannard, from Team Sky, and his own teammate Andy Fenn and never looking back.
Cavendish and Stannard, along with another Team Sky rider in Kennaugh and Garmin-Sharp's Millar, came together four laps later and worked with each other until the final circuit.
Stannard initially attacked before being brought back with Cavendish suffering a similar fate with 3km however he proved uncatchable on the final straight as he took the victory.
Second went to Stannard, who also recovered from a puncture, third to Millar and fourth to Kennaugh with all four set to line up for their respective teams at the Tour de France.

 

[Smallville22]

National Titles: Greipel wins in Germany, Herrada surprises in Spain

Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) won his first German national title after a sprint finish in Wangen.
Greipel defeated Gerald Ciolek (MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung) and John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) in *******ial rain to final win a race that has long denied him.
"I have tried so often but never won it. Going to the Tour de France with the national champion's jersey makes me very happy,” said Greipel.

In Spain, Movistar youngster Jesús Herrada was the surprise winner as he edged out Jon Izagirre (Euskaltel) for the title.
The two men were the sole survivors of a breakaway at the end of the race that had previously contained Angel Madrazo (Movistar), David Arroyo (Caja Rural), Tino Zaballa (Christina Watches) and Mikel Iturria (Euskaltel-Euskadi).
"If you told me yesterday I would be winning today, I wouldn't believe you, but I can't believe it now either," said Herrada. "I came here with the intention of doing a good race in the TT, but it didn't go well.
"This victory is for my ******, for the team, for an old team-mate from my under-23 age, Rubén Cuesta, who is going through a hard time in his life, and for Rufino Murgia, who ****** away today.
"This gives me confidence for the future, because 2012 wasn't a good season for me - despite the win in Asturias."

In France, Arthur Vichot (FDJ) took victory with a late ****** at the end of the race.
Vichot burst clear of Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Tony Gallopin (Radioshack-Leopard) in the final kilometre to secure the blue, white and red jersey for the next 12 months.

In Belgium, RadioShack's Stijn Devolder claimed the third Belgian title of his career at the ripe old age of 33.
Devolder had time to celebrate before the finish with Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and his team-mate Jan Bakelants coming in next.

In Holland, Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) will wear the Dutch national jersey for the first time after beating out Tom Dumoulin (Argos-Shimano) and Sebastian Langeveld (Orica-Green Edge.)

In Denmark, Michael Mørkøv (Saxo-Tinkoff ) made up for his Tour de France snub by claiming his first national victory

In Switzerland, Michael Schär (BMC) won a battle with Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling) to win the Swiss title for the first time.

In Italy, Sunday saw the time trial take place, and there was no surprise as Marco Pinotti (BMC) won the race for the sixth time in his career.

In Britain, Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) became British road racing champion for the first time with victory in Glasgow.

Other winners

Czech Republic: Jan Barta (NetApp-Endura)

Estonia: Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis)

Greece: Ioannis Tamouridis (Euskaltel)

Kazakhstan: Alexsandr Dyachenko (Astana)

Ireland: Matthew Brammeier (Champion System)

Japan: Yukiya Arashiro (Europcar)

Lithuania: Tomas Vaitkus (Orica-GreenEdge)

Luxembourg: Bob Jungels (RadioShack-Leopard)

Norway: Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing)

Poland: Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)

Russia: Vladimir Isaichev (Katusha)

Slovakia: Peter Sagan (Cannondale)

 

[Smallville22]

Cookson to outsource UCI anti-doping if elected

Britain's Brian Cookson on Monday pledged to establish an independent body to manage anti-doping if he is elected president of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Cookson, who has been president of British Cycling since 1996, also promised a thorough investigation into allegations the UCI helped cover up doping would be completed within the first six months of his presidency.
The 62-year-old has based his candidacy on restoring trust and credibility in the UCI as the Swiss-based organisation struggles to deal with the aftermath of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal and allegations it did not do enough to catch the American, stripped of his seven Tour de France titles last year.
"The most important challenge for the next president is to address the way cycling deals with doping," Cookson told a news conference in Paris on Monday.
"The reality is that the UCI is not trusted, our anti-doping is not seen to be independent and we don't have the trust of the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and the other key anti-doping agencies.
"At the moment, the anti-doping service within the UCI headquarters is just down the corridor of the president's office so that can't be right," Cookson added.
"If elected president, I would rapidly establish a completely independent anti-doping unit, in cooperation with WADA. It will be managed and governed outside of the UCI so people can have absolute confidence in our sport."
While saying that several international federations have already set up "outsourced" anti-doping units, Cookson did not elaborate further on his plan.
Cookson also said he would try and improve the UCI's rocky relationship with WADA.
"It's absurd that a sport that has suffered so much from doping has been in open conflict with the very people it should be working with," he said.
In January, the UCI disbanded its own independent commission set up to look into the accusations made against the governing body concerning the Armstrong scandal in favour of a "truth and reconciliation process" with WADA that has still to be launched.
The move stirred another row between the two institutions, with WADA saying they had not been consulted.
Cookson, who has been a member of the UCI's management committee for four years, is challenging incumbent Pat McQuaid, running for a third term as president, in the September elections.

 

[Smallville22]

Europcar favour youth for Tour

Three Tour de France debutants will start alongside team leaders Pierre Rolland and Thomas Voeckler in the 100th edition of the race, which starts this Saturday in Porto-Vecchio, Corsica.
Team Europcar manager Jean-Rene Bernaudeau has handed maiden Tour selections to Canadian David Veilleux and Frenchmen Kevin Reza and Jerome ******.
The trio will be joined by new Japanese national champion Yukiya Arashiro, Italy's Davide Malacarne and Frenchmen Cyril Gautier and Yohann Gene to ride in support of team leaders Rolland and Voeckler in the Grande Boucle – the Pro Continental team's major target of the season.
"They have all reached maturity having made regular progression within the team," said Directeur sportif Sebastien Joly.
"We're keen to help them continue to progress by testing them with a three-week stage race of this calibre. Besides, they're not exactly novices – each one of them has already taken part in big races."
The newcomers will be entrusted with protecting their leaders and may have their own chances to break away – much like Veilleux did so brilliantly in the first stage of the Dauphine.
Gautier, the 25-year-old all-rounder who was part of a break in stage eight in last year's race, rides his fourth consecutive Tour de France and is already an old hand at such a tender age.
Another 25 year old, Malacarne returns for his second Tour after finishing 59th in his debut last year. 28-year-old Arashiro is a veteran of three Tours while 31-year-old Gene returns for a third Grande Boucle.
In 2011, Gene became the first black rider to take part in the Tour de France; this year Reza becomes the second – and Europcar will be the first team to select two black riders in the 110-year history of the race.
All eyes will be on Rolland and Voeckler, who between themselves have won four stages in the past two Tours.
Voeckler, 34, wore the yellow jersey for 10 days in 2011 and won two stages in 2012 en route to securing the polka dot jersey in Paris. The in-form Voeckler will be given a "free role" during the race, which he enters in fine fettle following victories in the Dauphine and Route du Sud.
Rolland, 26, won on Alpe d'Huez in 2011 en route to taking the white jersey, and followed that up last year with victory in stage 11 and a top 10 finish in Paris.
Rolland is Europcar's designated "leader for the general classification" – and will rely on the likes of Voeckler, Gautier and Malacarne to support him in the mountains as he aims to break into the top five and retain his place as the best Frenchman in the peloton.

 

[Smallville22]

Jalabert 'surprised' by doping allegations

Former Vuelta champion Laurent Jalabert expressed surprise on Monday at a French newspaper report which said he used the ****** **** erythropoietin in 1998.
"It's a surprise. Obviously I rode in the 1990s," Jalabert told French radio RTL, a station he is a pundit for. "As I said during my hearing at the Senate, I always trusted my three teams.
"I'm taking a blow. I don't know whether there will be other names, if there will be evidence. I cannot challenge this because I don't have evidence," the 1997 time trial world champion added.
"I have not been informed. I wonder how it is that journalists can be aware of that while I am not?"
French sports daily L'Equipe said a 1998 Tour de France sample from Jalabert, which was re-tested in 2004, showed traces of the *****-booster EPO.
"I cannot say for sure say that I have never taken anything ******," Jalabert told a French Senate investigation committee into doping last month.
"I have effectively used products when necessary, in case of lesions or other injuries. At ONCE, in the evening after the stages, the doctor took care of us for our recovery, but we didn't really know what it was.
"A relationship with doctors based on mutual trust was established, so we did not ask any questions. We were treated, I have never said otherwise. Were we doped? I believe we were not."
Jalabert, who quit as France road racing coach earlier this year, withdrew with his ONCE team from the 1998 Tour after protesting all riders were being labelled as cheats in the **** of the Festina doping scandal.
Jalabert, 44, is a leading commentator for French national TV on the Tour de France, which starts on Saturday.