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DAILY RACE COVERAGE: SPRINTERS' HOLY GRAIL
Road Bike Action and AFP
July 10, 2010
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Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) in green.
(Photo:Yuzuru Sunada)
Sprinters' Holy Grail: Tour de France Green Jersey
The competition for the Green sprinter's jersey in the Tour de France began before the race made its way to the Prologue in Rotterdam.
One contender, Heinrich Haussler (AUS/Cervelo TestTeam), was removed from the competition due to injuries sustained in a crash during Stage 4 of the Tour of Switzerland. Mark Cavendish (THC-Columbia) was accused of changing his line and taking out not only himself, but Haussler and several other sprinters on the day.
Once the Tour de France set off on the crash marred Stage 1, the Green Jersey competition would begin to take on even more dramatic twists and turns. Tears and broken bones would create a race as exciting as the race for the overall GC. After Mark Cavendish won Stage 5-his first of the Tour- he was unable to hold back tears of joy and relief.
As the peloton moves towards the first climbing stage in the Alps on Saturday, the Green Jersey competition remains heated and unpredictable. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) remains in Green, but his margin thinned even more on Friday as Cavendish took his second win in a row. Cavendish wrote a new page in
British cycling history when he equalled the feats of three of the Tour de France's top sprint greats with his 12th career victory on Friday. However, it is not Cavendish who threatens Hushovd for the jersey. Cavendish to date remains 30 points behind in 5th place and Alessandro Petacchi lies in second.
Another top contender, currently sitting in third for the Green jersey is Robbie McEwen (Katusha) was injured in a freak accident after the finish of Stage 6. A cameraman ran in to McEwen causing him to hit the ground. McEwen started stage 7 on Saturday, in spite of being badly bruised.
Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) has surprised the cycling world with his two sprint wins in his return to the Tour de France, and is Hushovd's closest threat, with only a 4 point deficit in the competition.
The Green jersey is anybody's jersey as the peloton moves in to the Alps. Cavendish and his lead out man Mark Renshaw may not seem to be in contention, however, they will not stand down until the Champs-Elysees.
 Liquigas-Doimo with a double head badge: Cannondale and Peopleforbikes.org (Photo: Cannondale)
Liquigas-Doimo and Cannondale join forces with People For Bikes
Ivan Basso and his Liquigas-Doimo teammates will be sporting a second head badge- the Peoplefor Bikes.org logo- on their SuperSix bikes starting tomorrow in the Tour de France. Team Liquigas-Doimo and bike sponsor Cannondalejoined forces in supporting Peopleforbikes.org. PeopleForBikes.org is a movement to improve the future of cycling in the United States with more rider friendly communities, bike lanes, and bike paths to ensure safety and fitness for all.
For more information, or to sign the pledge, log on to www.cannondale.com.
Universal Sports Shows Cycling on Tour Rest Day
During the Tour de France's rest day on Monday, cycling fans can watch one of the most exciting races in the US, the Nature Valley Grand Prix.
The hour-long program will air on Universal Sports at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. and 8 p.m. PDT) on Monday, July 12 and will feature highlights of all five days of the men's and women's Nature Valley Grand Prix that took place June 16-20.
With the retirement of four-time Nature Valley Grand Prix champion Kristin Armstrong, the women's race was a see-saw affair, with the yellow leader's jersey changing hands four times. The primary battle was between Armstrong's new team, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12, Team TIBCO/To the Top and HTC-Columbia.
The men's race was a classic duel between two-time defending champion Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis) and Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefit Strategies). The contest was decided in the last two laps of the last stage in Stillwater.
"It was one of the most exciting races that we've held," Nature Valley Grand Prix Director David LaPorte said. "The women's race was aggressive and dynamic while the men's race was a real cliffhanger. Those are the two classic racing scenarios, and we were lucky enough to have had both of them."
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