Cycling news

Four Days of Dunkirk Live Coverage


2003 4 Jours de Dunkerque: The peloton rolls through Boulogne-sur-mer during Stage 4.
Copyright © 2003 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

The season's first pink leader jersey won't be awarded at the Giro on Saturday but, rather, at the Four Days of Dunkirk/Tour du Nord-Pas de Calais which starts tomorrow (Tuesday) and runs through May 10.  Yes, the "Four Days" is actually six days of racing.  2008 winner Stephane Auge (Cofidis) is back to defend.  Among the other riders expected on the start line: Dumoulin, Fedrigo, Bouyer, De Weert, Pineau, Hoste, Casper, Engoulvent, Guesdon, Grabsch, Hansen, Henderson, Feillu, Lelay, Dessel, Bodrogi, Steegmans, Cooke, Lhotellerie.

There will be live video streaming of the final three days of racing, Friday through Sunday.  We'll of course be heavily into covering the Giro d'Italia but we will also include links for watching the Four Days of Dunkirk.  Details Thursday night.

Four Days of Dunkirk Official Website
Start List (.pdf)
LIVE ticker - Stage 1
(Google-translated to English)

Tour de Cycling - Sunday

- Trophee des Grimpeurs LIVE now on Eurosport France.  More Trophee des Grimpeurs info and links here.

Tour de Cycling - Monday

- On Tuesday through May 3:  6 straight days of live cycling double-headers:  Tour de Romandie and Vuelta Ciclista a Asturias.  What more could a cycling fan want.....ahead of the Giro d'Italia which is fast approaching.  Info and links below.  -Pete (Paris) and Bernie S. (UK)  Also coming Tuesday:  2009 Liege-Bastogne-Liege photos


Rock Racing's Rahsaan Bahati has time to celebrate his victory at
Sunday's Dana Point Grand Prix.
photo courtesy Vero Image
 


Andreas Kloden (Astana) won the 2008 Tour de Romandie
Copyright © 2008 Fotoreporter Sirotti for cyclingfans.com

2009 Tour de Romandie starts tomorrow

The 2009 Tour de Romandie starts tomorrow, Tuesday, and runs through May 3.  Once again there will be Tour de Romandie live video streaming, notably on cycling.tv for cycling fans in North America.  The action gets underway with an evening 3.1km prologue in the streets of Lausanne, Switzerland.  You can watch an aerial view animation of the prologue course here.  The prologue will be the only individual effort against the clock this year as organizers are introducing, for the first time in the event's history, a Team Time Trial for Stage 3.  This will be appreciated by teams hoping to gain an edge in a couple of other big TTT opportunities this season, at the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France which sees the event return after a four-year absence.  The Tour de Romandie TTT will be short, though - just 14.8km.  The winner of the 2009 Tour de Romandie will be a rider capable of making winning moves in the hills and/or mountains of Switzerland.  Beautiful race ahead of the Giro.  We'll post our full Tour of Romandy Live Coverage Guide in the morning.

Tour de Romandie Official Website
Teams/Start List
Prologue starts at:  17:05 CET
(11:05am U.S. Eastern)
Live webcast on CTV:  19:00 CET
(1pm U.S. Eastern)
(North America only)
Live video from other sources:  Please check back tomorrow

 

2009 Vuelta Ciclista Asturias Live Coverage

The 2009 Vuelta Ciclista Asturias (Spain) starts tomorrow, Tuesday, and runs through May 3.  There will be Vuelta Asturias live video streamingRock Racing will be among the teams on the start line, bringing Francisco Mancebo, Aaron Kemps, Victor Hugo Pena, Fred Rodriguez, Oscar Sevilla, David Martin, Glenn Chawick and David Tanner.  We'll have more info and all the links in the morning.

Vuelta Ciclista Asturias Official Website
Teams/Start List
Race starts at:  12:25 CET (6:25am U.S. Eastern)
Live video streaming:  15:15 CET (9:15am U.S. Eastern)
 

Tour de Cycling - Saturday

 

- Coming up later today: Our first look at tomorrow's Liege-Bastogne-Liege live coverage options.

- Giro del Trentino highlights on RAI TRE are over but RAI Sport is scheduled to have 30 minutes of highlights later today at 20:30 CET (2:30pm U.S. Eastern).

- Giro del Trentino final stage ticker is live.  More Tour de Cycling - Saturday to come.

Giro del Trentino Official Website

Giro del Trentino video clips

Giro del Trentino photos

Live ticker

Watch Giro del Trentino video stream on Rai Sport Piu

- Program has ended.

- On now: Giro del Trentino Stage 3 Italian TV video stream.  Plays worldwide.  (see below)

- Coverage of today's Stage 3 of the Giro del Trentino is scheduled to be broadcast at 20:40 CET (2:40pm U.S. Eastern) on Italy's Rai Sport Piu channel.  There should be about 30 minutes of coverage.  The race should follow the rugby match which is currently playing.  This feed is viewable worldwide.  Once on that page, scroll down and click on Rai Sport Piu in the left margin.  The video stream should start up.

Giro del Trentino, April 22-25

Giro del Trentino Official Website
Giro del Trentino photos
Giro del Trentino video clips

AFLD/Armstrong: "No penalty, all samples clean."

Update:  The AFLD has confirmed that the case is closed with a statement on its website here. (French, .pdf)  In short, they met on the matter yesterday, took Armstrong's version of events into consideration, and closed the case without proceeding with testing of the hair sample.  (Blood and urine tests were clean.)

7-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has just reported via Twitter that he has heard from the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) regarding the testing of blood, urine and hair samples he gave while in France in March.  "Case closed, no penalty, all samples clean," wrote Armstrong.

Tour de Cycling - Friday

You've heard of the Giro d'Italia. The Giretto d'Italia, or "Little Giro," is a charity ride created by an American father and daughter team, Gene Nacey and Nina Wilczek. They need sponsors to help them reach their goal of raising $10,000 for LIVESTRONG. They are riding the first 5 stages of the Giro next month ahead of the peloton.  Want to consider sponsoring a rider?  "Whatever you can do is great - 10 cents per mile, $1 per mile, $10 per mile - it's up to you! Your funds will go towards cancer research through the Lance Armstrong Foundation and benefit cancer survivors worldwide."  Click here for more info.

 

- Giro del Trentino LIVE ticker here.  More links below.  More Tour de Cycling - Friday to come.

- 2009 Jelajah Malaysia: With two stages left to go, Mehdi Sohrabi (Iran, Tabriz Petrochemical Team) leads the race, with Taiji Nishitani (Japan, Aisan Racing Team) second at 4 seconds, James Spragg (Great Britain, Trek Marco Polo Cycling Team) third at 5 seconds and Will Routley (Canada, Jelly Belly) in 4th at 7 seconds.


2009 Jelajah Malaysia:  The colors of the peloton during today's Stage 6.
Copyright © 2009 Jelajah Malaysia


2009 Jelajah Malaysia:  Taiji Nishitani (Japan, Aisan Racing Team), far right, wins today's
Stage 6 sprint ahead of Joel Pearson (Australia, Savings & Loan Cycling Team) and
Shaun McCarthy (Australia, Ride Sport Racing).  Will Routley (middle rear, Canada, Jelly Belly) finished 4th.
Copyright © 2009 Jelajah Malaysia


2009 Jelajah Malaysia:  Suhardi Hassan (top Malaysian rider, white jersey), Abbas Saeiditanha (King of the Mountains, polka-dot jersey), Mehdi Sohrabi (race leader, yellow jersey) and Anuar Manan (second to Sohrabi in points, green jersey) on the podium after Stage 6.
Copyright © 2009 Jelajah Malaysia
Official Website - Teams/Start List - Photos

 

Giro del Trentino, April 22-25

Giro del Trentino Official Website

Giro del Trentino photos
Giro del Trentino video clips

Live ticker

Tour de Cycling - Thursday

- Had a good chat with the Jelajah Malaysia media officer during yesterday's Fleche Wallonne.  They're doing some really impressive work, great communication and website.  It seems the newer races, and that includes the Tour of California, are leading the way in embracing technology and new forms of communication.  Good to see.  TDF organizer A.S.O. use string and paper cups...they need to get with it.  Pics below are from today's Jelajah Malaysia Stage 5.  More pics on their website, links below.  -Pete


2009 Jelajah Malaysia:  The peloton rides along the beach during today's Stage 5.
Copyright © 2009 Jelajah Malaysia


2009 Jelajah Malaysia:  The peloton at Kuala Dungun Bridge.
Copyright © 2009 Jelajah Malaysia


2009 Jelajah Malaysia:  Anuar Manan (Azad University) wins his second consecutive stage.
Copyright © 2009 Jelajah Malaysia
Official Website - Teams/Start List - Photos

- Exciting stage of the Giro del Trentino.  It's a crime there isn't any live video.

- More Tour de Cycling - Thursday to come.

Giro del Trentino, April 22-25

Giro del Trentino Official Website

Giro del Trentino photos
Giro del Trentino video clips

Live ticker

Tour de Cycling - Tuesday

 

Giro del Trentino, April 22-25


2009 Giro del Trentino: Ivan Basso (Liquigas) at today's pre-race press conference
Copyright © girodeltrentino.com

The 33rd Giro del Trentino (Italy) starts tomorrow and runs to April 25.  Ivan Basso (Liquigas) heads a field that includes Franco Pellizotti, Janez Brajkovic, Marzio Bruseghin, Danilo Di Luca, Stefano Garzelli, and Gilberto Simoni to name a few.

The official site promises a Giro del Trentino live ticker but television coverage will be delayed on RAI Sport Piu.  Organizers are also inviting spectators to submit video clips and photos and are providing free WIFI access for this purpose.  Video and photos from today's pre-race press conference are already available online.

Giro del Trentino Official Website
Start List
Giro del Trentino photos
Giro del Trentino video clips

 

UCI Asia Tour:  2009 Jelajah Malaysia


2009 Jelajah Malaysia: Mohd. Razif Mohd. Salleh (Malaysia, Letua Cycling Team) and
Matthew Crane (USA, Jelly Belly) in the peloton during yesterday's Stage 2.
Copyright © 2009 Jelajah Malaysia

We have been receiving some beautiful photos from Jelajah Malaysia media officials and are only too happy to help promote this race.  They have an excellent website (link below) where you can read about the history of the race, see all the race news and results and plenty of superb photos from this year's race as well as from past years.

The Jelajah Malaysia is part of the UCI Asia Tour (2.2).  The race began April 19 and runs through April 26.  The U.S. team Jelly Belly is in the race with Matthew Rice (Australia), Will Routley (Canada) and Americans Bernard Van Ulden, Kel Reijnen, Charles Huff, and Matthew Crane (photo above).  Among other countries represented include teams from Iran, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and of course Malaysia with several teams.

Jelajah Malaysia Official Website
Teams/Start List
Photo Gallery

Tour de Cycling - Monday

 - France TV:  Agreement "likely" that will allow Lance Armstrong to start the Tour de France

On yesterday's Stade2 program on France 2 television, there was a discussion of the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) case vs. Lance Armstrong with regard to sample collection protocol in mid-March.  Stade2 reporters talked to AFLD president Pierre Bordry, two-time Tour champion and TV consultant Laurent Fignon, a couple of French riders and other French athletes about the case.  The UCI and Tour organizer A.S.O. did not respond to requests for interviews for the program.  Armstrong continues to enjoy very wide support among his peers in the sports world, including in France, with everyone expressing surprise at how many times he has been tested in recent months.  Fignon commented that the situation "is not good for cycling, not good for Armstrong, not good for anyone."  A Stade2 reporter commented that though the AFLD, as previously reported, will announce its decision on what to do in early May, it now appears likely that all sides will come to an agreement permitting Armstrong to be at the start line of the Tour.  The program also briefly covers the recent Tyler Hamilton positive and retirement announcement.  

- The Bos/Impey crash poll has been closed due to evidence of several hundred votes coming from the same IP address this afternoon.  (not difficult to do)  The poll was never going to be scientific anyway but did we forget to ask people not to vote 300 times?

2009 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
route unveiled

Organizers of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré today officially unveiled the route for the 2009 edition of the race, June 7-14.  The race will include a 12.1km opening time trial in the city of Nancy, a 42.4km time trial around the city of Valence, and a stage to Mont Ventoux.  The race thus shares with the 2009 Tour de France an opening time trial instead of a prologue (prologues are limited to 8km), a 40km+ long time trial and a stage finish on Ventoux (the penultimate stage in the case of the TDF), making the Dauphiné a good preparation race for the Tour, as it typically is.

Stages:

June 7, Stage 1: Nancy, 12.1 km Individual TT

June 8, Stage 2: Nancy - Dijon, 228 km

June 9, Stage 3: Tournus - Saint-Etienne, 182 km

June 10, Stage 4: Bourg-lès-Valence - Valence, 42,4 km Individual Time Trial

June 11, Stage 5: Valence-Mont Ventoux, 154 km

June 12, Stage 6: Gap - Briançon, 106 km

June 13, Stage 7: Briançon - Saint-François-Longchamp, 157 km

June 14, Stage 8: Faverges - Grenoble, 146 km

19 teams will be competing this year, with the BMC team added to the automatically qualified 18 UCI ProTeams.  Riders that might be expected on the start line include Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans, Sylvain Chavanel, David Millar, Cyril Dessel, David Moncoutié, Sandy Casar, and Robert Gesink.

For more: Dauphine Libere Official Website

 

- Regarding yesterday's crash at the Tour of Turkey (links to video and our poll below), race winner Daryl Impey (Barloworld) has given his version of events:

"I got taken down deliberately by Bos from Rabobank, you can even see it on youtube, only one word for him and that is a true chophead. He doesn't deserve to race anymore and I am thinking about going to the UCI about his dangerous riding. He tried to pass me 700m to go in the bunch sprint but there was no-where to go and all of a sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder pulling me into the barriers. We both crashed."  More here.

Syndicate content