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LATEST NEWS: LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE: A TWO'FER FOR CAVENDISH
Road Bike Action and AFP
February 16, 2012
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Will the Manx Missile be able to do the double?
Photo: Bettini
World champion Mark Cavendish is facing a tough juggling act thus summer as he targets the Tour de France and the Olympic road-race gold medal at the London Olympics. The Isle of Man rider is opening his season under the Gulf sun at the Tour of Qatar, following a winter of intensive training by his own account.
It will be, he said a massive year with the Tour de France in July and the London Olympics starting shortly after the race finishes placing a premium on fitness and durability.
"I want to have a great season," he said. "That starts with the Tour de France which remains for any cyclist the prime objective. I have now won twenty stages and I want to win some more. But I would be telling a lie if I said I was not dreaming of the Olympic race also. I have strong patriotic feelings and the games in London is for me the chance of a lifetime. July is going to be hectic and I have to be careful that I don't get to London being totally exhausted."
The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Begins European Adventure
The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team will kick off its 2012 European
racing calendar this Wednesday, February 15, in Portugal, as the boys in
blue and white take to the start line for the 38th edition of the Volta
ao Algarve. 2012 marks the second consecutive year the Pro Continental
Team will open its European calendar with Algarve.
Team UnitedHealthcare’s roster for this year’s Volta includes new
arrivals Philip Deignan (IRE), Marc de Maar (CUR), Jeff Louder (USA),
Jason McCartney (USA), and Kai Reus (NED); along with returning veterans
Chris Jones (USA), Rory Sutherland (AUS), and Brad White (USA).
General Manager and Director, Mike Tamayo, said, “We are looking forward
to this year’s Volta. Last year’s race lived up to expectations and
we’re expecting the same for this 38th edition. We experienced some good
success in Argentina last month at the Tour de San Luis, and as always,
we’re looking to build on that. It’s still early in the season, but
we’re excited about being here for the Volta and will be looking to make
an impact.”
The five-stage 2012 Volta ao Algarve begins Wednesday, February 15 with a
151km jaunt from Dunas Douradas (Almancil) to Albufeira. Stage 2 will
take the riders 187.5km from Faro to Lagoa, while Stage 3 will see the
peloton race 194.6km from Castro Marim - Malhão (Loulé). The Volta’s 4th
Stage from Vilamoura to Tavira will cover 186.3km, before wrapping up
on February 19 with Stage 5’s Individual Time Trial, a 25.8km “fastest
time wins” effort from Lagoa to Portimão.
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team roster for the 2012 Volta ao Algarve:
Philip Deignan (IRE)
Marc de Maar (CUR)
Chris Jones (USA)
Jeff Louder (USA)
Jason McCartney (USA)
Kai Reus (NED)
Rory Sutherland (AUS)
Brad White (USA)
Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team to the next races
"After our lucky transfer in Qatar we’re going to try to do well in
Oman, too,” said Sports Director Wilfried Peeters. “As for the arrivals
adapted to sprinters, we’re going to call on Steegmans. Gert was a
fundamental pillar for Boonen’s victory in Qatar; now it will be his
turn to try and win a stage. For the general classification we can count
on Sylvain Chavanel, who was already a major player in Argentina and on
Peter Velits, although he hasn’t raced as much as Sylvain. After the
success in Qatar it would be exceptional to grab at least one stage
success in nearby Oman."
From the 15th to the 19th, the Portuguese roads of the Algarve will host
the 38th edition of the Volta ao Algarve. At the starting line the team
will be lining up reigning champion Tony Martin.
"The Algarve will be Tony Martin’s first stage race in 2012,” said
Sports Director Rik Van Slycke. "It will be important to understand to
which point Tony is ready for the next races. The race features an
uphill arrival that shouldn’t make a difference for the men who are
jostling for the general classification and a 25,8 km time trial on the
last day on a flat circuit that will favour a time trial man with
Martin’s skills. On the team we can also count on the young Kwiatkowski
and on Ciolek, who is pedalling well and who still has some more room to
grow. The team is motivated and ready to take to battle on the road.”
Tour of Oman
Riders
Tom Boonen (BEL)
Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
Bert Grabsch (GER)
Frantisek Rabon (CZE)
Gert Steegmans (BEL)
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL)
Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL)
Peter Velits (SVK)
Stages
Stage 1 Al Alam Palace - Wadi Al Huwqayn 159.0 km
Stage 2 Sur - Wadi Dayqah Dam 140.5 km
Stage 3 Al Awabi (Al Alya) - Bank Muscat HQ 144.5 km
Stage 4 Bidbid (Nafa'a) - Al Wadi Al Kabir 142.5 km
Stage 5 Royal Opera House - Jabal Al Akhdhar (Green Mountain) 158.0 km
Stage 6 Al Khawd - Matrah Corniche 130.5 km
Volta ao Algarve (POR) 2.1
Gerald Ciolek (GER)
Dries Devenyns (BEL)
Michal Kwiatkowski (POL)
Nikolas Maes (BEL)
Tony Martin (GER)
Niki Terpstra (NED)
Matteo Trentin (ITA)
Martin Velits (SVK)
Stages
Stage 1 Dunas Douradas (Almancil) - Albufeira 151.0 km (ITT)
Stage 2 Faro - Lagoa 187.5 km
Stage 3 Castro Marim - Malhão 194.6 km
Stage 4 Vilamoura - Tavira 186.3 km
Stage 5 Lagoa - Portimão 25.8 km (ITT) |
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