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LATEST NEWS: READ THE LATEST NEWS AND WIN SOME SCHWAG
Road Bike Action & AFP
January 21, 2011
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CZECH OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF RBA
Not only does Neil make the cover aboard the all-new Cannondale CAAD-10, but the rest of the issue is so mightily chock-full of good stuff to read that you will simply be amazed. No, really! Besides climbing tips from Cadel Evans and a guide to indoor trainers, you'll also find an in-depth look at the people who make up the Specialized ProTour effort. RBA was granted an exclusive inside tour of Specialized to meet the people who make it all happen and they have some surprising things to say. There's also a cool feature looking at the Media Behind the Madness - what the true Tour insiders have to say about the spectacle in July. Want to know how Sram's new Apex drivetrain works? We sent Kansas Bob out to give the new climbing gears a thorough workout. Another new feature in the mag is "RBA Q&A" where our own former-Pro Neil Shirley will answer all of your most curious tech and fitness/training questions. All you need to do send your query to RBA Q and A.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BIKE CONTEST
Just the other day all activity in the palatial RBA office literally came to a halt when a new test bike was pulled from its box. It literally took our breath away and made us realize A. Just how exquisitely beautiful a bicycle could be be made and B. How fabulous it is that the artisan nature of the industry still thrives. In celebration of both those things, we decided to run a quick contest. Answer the two questions below, mail them to Road Bike Action "Beauty Contest" and we will pick a random winner to send off an over-flowing RBA schwag bag as a prize. Heck, even if you don't know the answer to question #1, we'll consider you a potential winner if you just answer question # 2 and include a photo of your most beautiful bike. We know, the giving never stops!
1. What is the bike pictured?
2. What do you think is the most beautiful bike - and why?
Leopard-Trek Team Rides Schwalbe
The Schwalbe equipped Leopard/Trek
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada
Schwalbe is the tire sponsor of Luxembourg’s newest race team, Leopard-Trek. The tire firm, from Reichtshof-Wehnrath, near Cologne, will provide the team with its Ultremo HT tubular. The team, that world governing body UCI has straightway ranked number one, has ambitious goals: "We want to win the 2011 tour", said two-time Tour runner-up Andy Schleck.
Before the team was officially announced on 6 January 2011, there had been six, long months of careful rider and material selection. Luxemburg brothers Fränk and Andy Schleck as well as World Time–Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara will lead the team joined by German professional riders Linus Gerdemann, Fabian Wegmann, Jens Voigt, Dominik Klemme and Robert Wagner. Co-sponsor is bicycle manufacturer Trek, USA. The tire choice is Schwalbe. "We are very pleased to be associated as suppliers with such a strong, international team from the very outset“, said Doris Klytta, responsible for Schwalbe’s PR and sponsoring.
"The tires provide excellent protection against road hazards while feeling super fast on the road", d Ricardo Scheidecker, Leopard-Trek technical manager, and he added: "With Schwalbe Ultremo, we believe our riders will have the ideal mix of fast, durable tires that will give them confidence even when cornering down a difficult descent in the Alps or in the sharp corners leading into a sprint."
The team will ride its first race, the ‘Tour Down Under’ in Australia, on Schwalbe Ultremo HT ("Handmade Tubular“). The strength of these tubular tires lies in bringing together classical, Italian manufacturing methods with latex tubes and combining this with high-end materials like the new RaceStar triple compound. „This compound is at present the benchmark in the tire technology! No other bicycle tire manufacturer can combine rubber mixtures in a tire so purposefully in flow production“, stressed Doris Klytta. “Schwalbe has become renowned for such triple compounding, where only the combination of
mixtures can ensure the best performance.” For More info: Schwalbe Ultremo
McGee Has Patience For Porte
With each race Saxo's Richie Porte will get smarter and stronger.
Photo: Yuzuru Sunada
Saxo Bank team manager Brad McGee called for patience from Richie Porte Thursday after a failed attack late on the Tour Down Under's third stage blew his protege's chances.
Tasmanian sensation Porte is making his debut in Australia's premier cycling event in the wake of a storming first season among the European elite.
Saxo Bank gave the 25-year-old former triathlete, who turned exclusively to cycling only in 2006, a chance to showcase his skills early in 2010, when he promptly raced into the leader's pink jersey at the Giro d'Italia.
Although considered a big hope for the Tour de France, the Tasmanian had to be brought back down to Earth Thursday when an attack 4km from the finish on the hilly third stage resulted in a loss of 40secs.
"In hindsight it probably wasn't the smartest move," said Porte, who finished as the best placed rider aged under the age of 25 and seventh overall at the Giro d'Italia.
But McGee, a former Olympic champion with Australia's track team who enjoyed a successful road career, had harsh words for Porte.
"We had some more specific stuff to do today and I think Richie just forgot the original, overall view," McGee said. "There was absolutely no reason for him to lose any time today."
Porte was countered easily as several teams worked hard to get their sprinters to the front for the dash to the finish line, where Australian Michael Matthews of Rabobank prevailed.
Porte admitted he had misjudged his effort after finishing 46secs adrift, to drop to one minute behind compatriot Matthew Goss of HTC-Highroad.
"I felt good in the climb, so I attacked and it didn't quite work out. I thought I'd have a little more in the tank than I did, but I (blew up). I went from too far," said Porte. "The GC (general classification) is gone, but you learn from your mistakes."
Despite Porte's stunning 2010 season, McGee believes Porte and the team staff cannot forget that the youngster still has plenty to learn.
"We just have to work with that now and use it as a good lesson because these are the kinds of mistakes we can't make when it comes to the big races in Europe," said McGee. "It's up to me and the management, and himself, to remember that he still is a neo-pro and there's a big learning curve."
Quick Step Announces 2011 Team
Tom Boonen (BEL), Dario Cataldo (ITA), Sylvain Chavanel (FRA), Dries Devenyns (BEL), Kevin De Weert (BEL), Addy Engels (NED), Iljo Keisse (BEL), Nikolas Maes (BEL), Davide Malacarne (ITA), Jerome Pineau (FRA), Fancesco Reda (ITA), Kevin Seeldrayers (BEL), Andreas Stauff (GER), Kevin Van Impe (BEL), Marco Bandiera (ITA), Andy Capelle (BEL), Francesco Chichi (ITA), Gerald Ciolek (GER), Marc De Maar (NED), Robert Frederique (BEL), Gert Steegmans (BEL), Niki Terpstra (NED), Jan Tratnik (SLO), Kristof Vandewalle (BEL), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL), Julien Vermote (BEL).
PRESENTING LE VUELTA A ESPAÑA 2011
The start in Benidorm and the come back to the Pais Vasco, beginning and
end of a 3295 kilometers race in 21 stages, 2 of them time trial and 6
mountain finishes.
Today, at the new Auditorium of Alicante, the Official Route of La
Vuelta 2011 has been disclosed. It will take place from August 20th to
September 11th. The 66th edition of the Spanish race will have 21 stages
with an average length of 175 kilometers.
Six mountain finishes, 2 of them unpublished, will gather thousands of
fans along the road to watch the peloton pass. With the classic end of
Sierra Nevada, it will be the twelfth time that a stage ends in the
Province of Granada mountains.
Also, after several years, La Vuelta will arrive again to La Covatilla
and the impressive Alto de L’Angliru. Other stage finals like Peña
Cabarga, where last year Igor Anton was involved in an accident and
forced to withdraw, will be part of a spectacular route.
Together with these well known arrivals, 2 new finishes will thrill the
spectators, the “Estacion de Montaña Manzaneda” in Galicia and La
Farrapona in Asturias.
Like last edition, La Vuelta will include exciting arrivals like
Valdepeñas de Jaen, again in 2011, and San Lorenzo del Escorial that
promises to be a show with 23% ramps in the last mile. As for the time
trial stages, there will be only one individual time trial and will be
held in Salamanca just before the first rest day and transfer Galicia.
La Vuelta 2011 will also feature the return of the race to the Pais
Vasco 33 years later. The last part of La Vuelta 2011, with the stages
in Bilbao and Vitoria, promises to not leave anyone indifferent and
provide a great show for fans. For more info head to La Vuelta
2011 Tour of Spain Stages
Stages in the 2011 Tour of Spain which starts in Benidorm on August 20 and finishes in Madrid on September 11, covering a total distance of 3,295 kilometres:
Saturday, Aug 20 - stage 1 Benidorm, team time-trial, 16km
Sunday, Aug 21 - stage 2, La Nucia to Playas de Orihuela, 171.5km
Monday, Aug 22 - stage 3, Petrer to Totana, 164km
Tuesday, Aug 23 - stage 4, Baza to Sierra Nevada, 172km
Wednesday, Aug 24 - stage 5, Sierra Nevada to Valdepenas de Jaen, 200km
Thursday, Aug 25 - stage 6, Ubeda to Cordoba, 185.7km
Friday, Aug 26 - stage 7, Almaden to Talavera de la Reina, 185km
Saturday, Aug 27 - stage 8, Talavera de la Reina to San Lorenzo del Escorial, 182km
Sunday, Aug 28 - stage 9, Villacastin to Sierra de Bejar La Covatilla, 179.5km
Monday, Aug 29 - stage 10, Salamanca, individual time trial, 40km
Tuesday, Aug 30 - rest day
Wednesday, Aug 31 - stage 11, Verin to Estacion de Montana Manzaneda, 171km
Thursday, Sept 1 - stage 12, Ponteareas to Pontevedra, 160km
Friday, Sept 2 - stage 13, Sarria to Ponferrada, 150 km
Saturday, Sept 3 - stage 14, Astorga to La Farrapona Lagos de Somiedo, 173.2km
Sunday, Sept 4 - stage 15, Aviles to Alto de l'Angliru, 144km
Monday, Sept 5 - rest day
Tuesday, Sept 6 - stage 16, Villa Romana La Olmeda to Haro, 180km
Wednesday, Sept 7 - stage 17, Faustino V to Pena Cabarga, 212.5km
Thursday, Sept 8 - stage 18, Solares to Noja, 169.7km
Friday, Sept 9 - stage 19, Noja to Bilbao, 157.9km
Saturday, Sept 10 - stage 20, Bilbao to Vitoria, 187km
Sunday, Sept 11 - stage 21, Circuito del Jarama to Madrid, 94km
High Road And Skoda Join Forces For 2011
Zap hangs with the Skoda Yeti at the 2010 Tour.
Skoda Germany and High Road Sports have joined forces in 2011 with Skoda providing the HTC-Highroad men's and women's teams with a fleet of vehicles for the season. The team will drive the Octavia Combi Sport Edition and the Yeti. The Skoda Logo appears on the 2011 team jersey.
"Skoda is a very big supporter of cycling around the world, partnering with teams and major races, " says Team Manager Rolf Aldag. "We are very pleased to welcome another innovative brand to our family of partners and we look forward to representing them at our first race of the season, the Santos Tour Down Under. "
It all started with the bicycle. In 1895 Václav Laurin and Václav Klement founded a bicycle factory in the bohemian town Mladá Boleslav. Ten years later the Voiturette A, the first automobile of the young company, rolled out of the workshops. In 1925 Laurin & Klement merged with Skoda.
"On the basis of our traditional roots, our brand feels a strong affiliation with cycling. We are happy to be the official vehicle sponsor of HTC-Highroad and we are looking forward to a successful relationship," said Uwe Ungeheuer, Head of marketing for Skoda Germany.
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Officially Names 2011 European and U.S. Team Directors
In continuing its preparation toward its first season as a Pro Continental squad, the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team officially announced today that it has named Eric Greene as its U.S. Team Director and Vittorio Algeri as its European Team Director. Both individuals will report to Mike Tamayo, the Team's General Manager and Directeur Sportiff.
When asked about the decision to tap Algeri and Greene, Tamayo stated, "Our team owners at Momentum Sports Group [Thierry Attias, President and Greg Raifman, CEO] have done an outstanding job putting us in a position to build on MSG's eight years of successful programs by signing some of cycling's top riders and assembling an A-list staff. With our expanded international race calendar this year, leadership will become even more critical to our future success." Tamayo continued, "In this regard, we are confident that Vittorio and Eric are the right individuals to guide our racing efforts both at home in the U.S. and internationally."
Algeri, who is currently en route from Italy to Spain, will represent the Team at this week's 2011 Vuelta a Espana Route Presentation as part of his first major task in his new capacity. "I am excited about this opportunity and eager for the season to get underway," Algeri said. "Europe will challenge us, but this is a great team to work with and I expect this year to be most successful."
Greene will face his first test on the road later this month in Malaysia as he directs the Team's six-man roster, which is headed to the 16th Annual Tour de Langkawi. "I have enjoyed working with MSG for the past five (5) years and I am honored to serve as the U.S. Team Director of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team," he said. "Mike has a great racing vision for us and Vittorio and I are looking forward to executing against that vision this season."
Enthusiastic about the direction his team is headed, MSG President Thierry Attias, said of the Team's two newest appointments, "Our 2011 race calendar covers four continents and we have put many of the elements in place to give us the best chance to be successful. Combined with the strength, depth and capacity this team possesses, we firmly expect Vittorio and Eric will work with Mike to ensure we are very competitive in Europe and victorious domestically."
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