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Michele Scarponi wins stage in a long breakaway, Di Luca retains the maglia rosa.
Michele Scarponi (Diquigiovanni) soloed home an impressive victory Thursday to leave the chasing peloton in his rear-view mirror in the 2009 Giro d’Italia’s first successful breakaway. Despite a frenetic chase by Quick Step and Katusha, the sprightly Italian held out after 198km in a five-man move in the 248km sixth stage over two rated climbs to the posh Austrian ski town of Mayrhofen. He won by 32 seconds clear of an impressive Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad).
Belgian federation chief furious at the UCI for pursuing penalties against Tom Boonen
Belgian cycling federation president Laurent De Backer has hit out at the president of world cycling, Pat McQuaid, following the International Cycling Union's (UCI) decision to sanction Tom Boonen. Belgian star Boonen, who recently claimed a third victory in the prestigious Paris-Roubaix one-day classic, tested positive for cocaine in April — less than a year after he first tested positive for the drug, in May 2008.
Armstrong relaxed and philosophical
Lance Armstrong just wants everyone to calm down. Some over-eager fans and media accustomed to watching Armstrong crush the climbs were dismayed Wednesday at the sight of him being dropped on the 24.9km summit finish to Alpe di Suisi, but on the day after, Armstrong was keen to put things in context.
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Fired by Rock Racing last month, Michael Creed lands a new spot with Team Type 1
Team Type 1 announced Wednesday that it has hired Michael Creed, the domestic all-rounder who was fired by Rock Racing last month. “It’s nice to be in a position to help out a deserving American rider like Mike Creed,” Team Type 1 Director Sportif Vassili Davidenko said. “He will definitely be an asset for us in some of the biggest races in the United States this year.”
I Am Ted King: For the love
To start, it might be worth pointing out that these entries are being written via BlackBerry, so I apologize for their sometimes-rambling nature.
Explainer: Can Astana change its kit mid-race?
Under a strict interpretation of UCI rules, teams are only allowed to ride with “a single design for clothing (colours and layout) which may not be altered for the duration of the calendar year.” However, teams have made changes in the past, with the prior approval of the UCI. The UCI approved, for example, the Discovery team’s switch to a green-themed team kit for the 2007 Tour de France, a change designed to highlight an initiative undertaken by its title sponsor.
Leah Vande Velde’s low gluten recipes
Roasted Gingered Salmon with Mango Salsa and more
Astana will wear new kit at the Giro this week to signal upcoming changes at the team
Team Astana will wear a new kit in either Thursday or Friday's stage of the Giro d'Italia to signal upcoming changes at the team, sources told VeloNews. The team's special kit will include the names of all of the current sponsors, but the design itself will be changed. "There is no sponsor change, just changes to how the jersey looks to represent the significant changes that are ahead for the team," said a source who is in close contact with the team.
Report names Klöden in doping investigation
Investigators reviewing the records of two Freiburg University Clinic doctors who worked for cycling team T-Mobile allege German rider Andreas Klöden doped during the 2006 Tour de France. Kloeden, who finished second in the Tour three years ago and is currently under contract with the Astana team, is quoted in the 63-page report published by a three-man commission after a two-year investigation. Most of the allegations were outlined in a lengthy story, published in the German magazine Der Spiegel late last month.
Menchov wins stage 5; Di Luca in pink
Wednesday’s short but explosive climbing stage across the heart of the Dolomiti lived up to its dramatic backdrop at the Giro d’Italia. The serpentine 24.9km climb up the snow-choked Alpi di Suisi summit at the end of the 125km fifth stage played executioner for some big names and culled the list of would-be winners down to a baker’s dozen.
Giro Tech: Tools of the ProTour Mechanics
Race vehicles are critical for team success at a grand tour. Astana, for example, has in its stable 15 cars, two fully-rigged race-service trucks, one big bus, one medium bus, one small bus, one camionette, and one camper. Not all of them are used in a single race, but the garage the team uses is huge, in order to accommodate the entire fleet.
Cinelli introduces its Columbus XCr stainless steel road frame
Cinelli’s XCr frame is an interesting experiment that mashes together classic steel bicycle frame craftsmanship with new world technology. From the classy side, the XCr features its choice of steel for a material, exquisite Italian welding and craftsmanship, not to mention, a classy design — including the seatstay-integrated seat post clamp. These features are juxtaposed by the incorporation of, arguably, the industry’s most advanced steel alloy, a progressive BB30 bottom bracket design and an integrated headset.
Michael Barry’s Diary – We will surely fight until the end
While the Tour de France is formulaic in its structure, the Giro is a mishmash of stages. Four days into the race and there have been three different leaders, challenging finishes and varied terrain. The Tour doesn’t reach the mountains until the end of the first week whereas here, in Italy, we rode into the sharp white-faced Dolomites today. And from here on, the race will not relent.