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“Rad Ross” Schnell crushes Downieville
In just his first attempt at California’s Downieville Classic, Colorado’s Ross Schnell marched into the lion’s den of NorCal’s fiercest all-around mountain bikers and came out without a scratch. He also came out toting the trophy for race’s self-coined All Mountain world championships, two new course records and some valuable bragging rights.
Evans relaxed and ready at rest-day get-together
There’s a “down home” quality to Cadel Evans that was emphasized by his rest-day get-together with the media on Tuesday. It was certainly not a rest-day event in the style of a Lance Armstrong, whose Tour de France press conferences were all business, much in the style of Armstrong himself.
Shorts with Panache
Suggested retail: Panache Eleven Bib Short - $240; Panache Eleven Jersey - $120; Panache Arm Screens - $45. Web site: panachecyclewear.com The Eleven Bib Short is a summer short from a new clothing company, Colorado-based Panache Cyclewear Co.[nid:80211]
Andrew Hood’s Tour de France Notebook, Rest Day No. 1
Burning Kohl
Bernhard Kohl is a man on the rise. The 26-year-old Austrian climber surged away at the base of Hautacam and rode straight into contention for the Tour de France. Kohl entered Monday’s stage quietly poised in 13th overall at 2:03 back. Many weren’t paying attention to him, but all that changed on the twisting climb when he bolted away from the Cadel Evans-Denis Menchov group. He crossed the line fourth in the stage at 1:06 back and bounced into fourth overall at 46 seconds behind Evans.17 teams will not seek ProTour licenses for ’09
Seventeen of the world's top cycling teams said on Tuesday they would not be seeking ProTour licenses for 2009, according to a statement released at Pau during the first rest day of the Tour de France. The UCI launched the ProTour in 2004 in a bid to revamp the cycling calendar and have the best teams riding in the best races. However, since then the series has met with resistance on several fronts.
Long list of pre-race Tour de France faves are off the back
Unpredictable. That’s just what the Tour de France wanted when it designed a wild route this year without time bonuses, shorter time trials and no prologue. Ten days into the race, Tour officials must be very happy. The first half of the 2008 Tour has delivered just the kind of sparks and wide-open racing they were hoping for. Five riders have already worn the yellow jersey. Following the first individual time trial and two mountain stages across the Pyrénées, the top 5 is separated by less than one minute, a number almost unconceivable so deep into the race.
Ask the Live Update Guy
Editor’s note:We’ve been doing Live Updates of Tour de France stages for 14 years now, and for many of those years the same cranky old character – Live Update Guy – has kept you abreast of events on the road. When the action hits a lull, the Live Update Guy – or “LUG,” as we like to call him – kills time with limerick and haiku contests, “where are you from" contests and answering readers' questions. Today's a rest day, but we thought we would wake the old LUG up to answer a few of the most common questions we get.
Tour de France Rest Day 1 – A Casey Gibson Gallery
Rest day and Garmin Chipotle treats the press to a "Burritos in France" party. Best rest day ever.
CSC plans to crush foes as Tour hits the Alps
CSC has promised a repeat of the collective power that virtually eliminated Caisse d’Epargne’s Alejandro Valverde from contention once the Tour de France hits the Alps this weekend. But this time, it is Australian Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) and Denis Menchov (Rabobank) who will be in their sights. Evans took the race lead by a second over CSC's Frank Schleck after Monday's thrilling day of racing in the high mountains of the Pyrenees.
Valverde, Pereiro call Evans’ team ‘weak’
Australian rider Cadel Evans' tenuous grip on the yellow jersey is likely to be undone because of the "weakness" of his Silence-Lotto team, according to Spaniard Alejandro Valverde. The Caisse d’Epargne rider virtually dropped out of the running for the overall victory in the Tour de France on the 10th stage from Pau to Hautacam on Monday, when Evans took the race lead by a second from Luxembourg's Frank Schleck of Team CSC.
Inside the Tour, with John Wilcockson – Cadel Evans, the Boxing Kangaroo
When Phil Anderson became the first rider from the Southern Hemisphere to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France back in 1981, the French called him “Le Kangourou” simply because he’s Australian. Almost three decades later, this Tour’s new maillot jaune, Cadel Evans, might well be named the “Boxing Kangaroo” after the courageous way he picked himself off the canvas Sunday and came back Monday to fend off his closest opponents and take the overall lead.
Evans in yellow as Piepoli wins atop Hautacam
Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) seized the yellow jersey atop Hautacam on Monday as Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval-Scott) won the mountainous stage 10 of the Tour de France, while Garmin-Chipotle's Christian Vande Velde solidified his third-place overall standing. "I can't believe it now and I couldn't believe it on the podium," said a tearful Evans, the first Australian to wear the yellow jersey since sprinter Robbie McEwen in 2004. "Yesterday was by far my Tour low and today it's definitely my Tour high. Only 26 hours have passed and it's been a bit of a rollercoaster."
Stage 10 – By the numbers
Stage 10, Pau to Hautacam, 156km
WeatherPartly cloudy, moderate northerly winds, highs in 60s Stage winner
Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval-Scott) surged away with 7km to go up the Hautacam along with teammate Juan Cobo and Frank Schleck (CSC-Saxo Bank). Schleck faded with about 2km to go and Piepoli slipped in ahead of Cobo to win his first career Tour stage to complete his grand tour sweep to go along with Vuelta and Giro stages. It’s the third stage win for Saunier Duval in a week.
Teutenberg finishes Giro Feminine with four stage wins and points jersey
Columbia’s Ina-Yoko Teutenberg won the final stage of the Giro d’Italia Femminile today finishing the ten day tour with four stage wins and the Points Jersey. “I think this week was something that happens once in a lifetime,” said Teutenberg. “I’ve never won four stages in a tour before and I’m pretty sure it won’t happen again. It was a great week and it’s really nice to finish in the Points Jersey.” The final stage started with a climb and went directly into seven relatively flat stages around the city of Desio.
Chris Jongewaard wins his appeal, gets a place on Australia’s Olympic team
Australian mountain biker Chris Jongewaard has won his appeal against Cycling Australia for omitting him from the 2008 Olympic squad. The Cycling Australia High Performance Management Committee (HPMC) has decided to allow the 29-year-old to represent his country at the August 8-24 Olympics in Beijing.
Tokyo Joe’s Henry wins at Snowmass
The 2008 Mountain States Cup headed to Snowmass, Colorado, for the “Blast the Mass” racing weekend, the fifth event of the Colorado-based racing series. With the National Mountain Bike Series not hosting an stop at Snowmass this year, the Blast the Mass race marked the largest off-road racing event to be held at the Colorado venue this season.
The mailbag – Readers sound off
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Horner's passenger
Dear VeloNews.com
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Live Coverage – Stage 10 Tour de France, 2008
- 01:01 PM: Happy Bastille day and welcome
to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of the 10th stage of the Tour de France, a 156-kilometer race from Pau to the summit finish at Hautacam.
Vande Velde frustrated by Evans-Menchov lockdown
Christian Vande Velde had reason to smile following Monday’s summit finish up Hautacam. The Garmin-Chipotle captain remains within striking distance of the yellow jersey in third at just 38 seconds back. Vande Velde, however, believes his day could have turned out even better and quietly cursed a missed opportunity to make more of his great form. The 31-year-old Vande Velde rode impressively up the day’s hors categorie steeps to finish 10th at 2:17 in the five-man group that included new leader Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) and arch-rival Denis Menchov (Rabobank).
2008 North American Cyclocross Trophy series unveiled
Eight established UCI cyclocross races in North America are linking their events to form a new series this fall.
Will Frischkorn’s Tour de France diary, stage 10
That was one of the hardest days I've ever had on a bike. Just straight up suffering from 20 minutes in until crossing the line. I'm back on the bus now, 45 minutes yet 'til the hotel, where thankfully we get to enjoy our rest day (and Tour-special Chipotle burritos!!!) tomorrow.