First Edition Cycling News, Friday, July 10, 2009

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Date published:

July 10, 17:43

• Gerdemann still a Tour contender

  

  Article published:

  July 10, 14:30

  By:

  Richard Moore

  German to capitalise on stealthy start

  Two years ago, as the Tour’s seventh stage saw the race enter the mountains, Linus Gerdemann of T-Mobile claimed the stage with a stylish attack that also saw him take over the yellow jersey. The German couldn’t build on that last year, missing the Tour as he recovered from a broken leg, but he is back this year with a new team, Milram, and renewed optimism, even if he has so far slipped under the radar of most.

  As this year’s Tour enters the mountains on Friday, the 26-year old says he is confident. And the omens are good – the first day of climbing once again comes on the seventh stage.

  “I’m feeling quite confident at the moment but it’s always difficult to say before the mountain stages start,” said Gerdemann. “But I am better than two years ago, that’s for sure. I’m feeling good.”

  An example of Gerdemann slipping beneath the radar came on Monday’s stage, when it was widely reported that the only team leader and overall contender to make the 27-man selection was Lance Armstrong (Astana).

  But Gerdemann, who also placed a solid 19th in the opening time trial, was there too, moving him handily up the general classification until, 24 hours later, a disastrous team time trial, in which Milram lost 2.48 to finish 15th, saw him slide back down. It leaves him placed 30th place, 3.12 down, as this year’s race enters the mountains.

  On stages five and six Gerdemann was visible near the front of the bunch, alert to the wind on Wednesday and the rain on Thursday, and so remains well-placed to challenge for a place in the top ten in Paris. “I’m happy with the first week,” said Gerdemann. “We had bad luck in the team time trial with the crashes but we have to forget that and move forward.

  “Yes, I made time in the crosswinds, through a mixture of luck and experience, but it was only 40 seconds – the gaps will be far bigger in the mountains,” he added.

• Astana's big day

  

  Article published:

  July 10, 11:35

  By:

  Hedwig Kröner

  Kazakh team to take yellow in Arcalis?

  The Tour's first big day of showdown has come, and looking at the general classification after stage six to Barcelona, it seems like team Astana has the sole monopoly over the top of the overall ranking. With only 'Spartacus' Fabian Cancellara separating Lance Armstrong from the yellow jersey, and his teammates Alberto Contador, Andreas Klöden and Levi Leipheimer waiting in line on the next places, Astana looks to be in perfect position to take the lead in the ski station of Arcalis tomorrow.

  But Armstrong, a perfect diplomat, didn't answer the question of whether or not we would see him or one of his teammates wearing the maillot jaune in the Principality of Andorra on Friday evening. "If I had to try and guess, I think the others will attack before we do," said Armstrong in Barcelona. "I expect Carlos [Sastre] to make some accelerations. I think we're in a position where we can wait and watch the others: Carlos, Evans, the Schleck brothers..."

  Still, with Astana's many aces, it's difficult to imagine a different scenario than one of them taking the overall lead tomorrow. Coming back on the well-publicised match between him and Alberto Contador, the American hinted that he might not be able to follow the young Spaniard if the latter decided to get out of the saddle permanently.

  "I know Alberto wants to assert himself in the race, and I don't need a team meeting to know that he's ready to go. If he goes, and nobody can hang onto him, then I'll just stay with the other leaders. That's the way to be. But I'll still do my best and get to the top as quick as I can, so we'll see..." Armstrong said, always preserving an element of doubt.

  Contador himself did not comment on his personal plans, merely saying that the first summit finish of this year's Tour was going to be "interesting. There are many riders that need to try something from afar, because they already lost a fair amount of time.

  "Everybody asks me if I'm going to attack, but those who really need to attack are the other riders. We'll see how the stage will unfold."

  Still, the Spaniard did not feel that Astana dominated the race. "Even though we are well-placed on the overall, after the mountains we might see that others may be stronger than some of our team. The stages on the weekend might be less dangerous than the one in Andorra, but all will be important."

  Contador may have one advantage over Armstrong: he is on home turf, and has reconnoitred the upcoming stages in depth. "I didn't see the Pyrennees this year," said the American. "I have more recent knowledge of the Alps than of the Pyrennees, so I'm a little uneducated about them this year."

• Realistic Pereiro weary of crashes

  

  Article published:

  July 10, 11:10

  By:

  Hedwig Kröner

  Caisse leader hopes for climbing legs

  As the Tour de France approaches its first high mountains stages beginning on Friday with the summit finish in Andorra-Arcalis, Spanish riders are especially motivated to make the most of their chances. Caisse d'Epargne leader Oscar Pereiro is one of them. The 2006 Tour de France winner is eager to see the race move into the Pyrennees, and thankful that he has reached Spanish territory without crashing.

  Ever since his bad fall during last year's Tour stage 15, where he broke his leg, Pereiro has been weary of crashing. "I just want to get to the mountains without crashing," the Spaniard told Cyclingnews at the start of stage six in Gerona. "It's true that since my crash last year, I'm much more respectful. Yesterday, for example, it was a really nervous race, and I just got really scared, so the most important thing for me is to reach the mountains safe and sound."

  The mountains: a territory where he hopes to shine, even though he is already more than three minutes behind Lance Armstrong on general classification. Pereiro knows his chances to beat the Astana contingent - or even other favourites - are slim, so the Spaniard has focused on a stage victory. "I know I won't win the Tour," he said. "I feel much better than at the Dauphiné, but I'm not overly well, either. I don't know. Tomorrow, the mountains start, and it will be time to try and win a stage. I will do my very best."

  Asked if he thought Astana's Armstrong would win the Tour, or possibly wear the yellow jersey in Arcalis on Friday evening, Pereiro said, "We all know Lance since he started winning the Tour, and we all know that when he sets himself a goal, he achieves it. I'm convinced that his form is good enough to finish the Tour with the best."

• Riders ready for mountains as Tour’s overall race heats up

  

  Article published:

  July 10, 10:40

  By:

  Cyclingnews

  Pyrénées to shake out general classification

  The Tour de France’s general classification will heat up today, with the race reaching the Pyrénées for its first mountain top finish of 2009 in Andorre Arcalis. Today’s stage is the first of three in the Pyrénées, with the following two stages incorporating Tourmalet and Aspin, but today will be the only mountain-top finish.

  Defending champion Carlos Sastre (Cervélo TestTeam) is hoping to start drawing back time on Astana’s men, as he sits 2:44 minutes down. “We’ve done many climbs in the Pyrénées during the Tour de France, including one that I won,” said Sastre, referring to his stage victory in the 2003 Tour. “I also know Arcalis. I was second there once in a time trial. I think I’ve raced it four or five times. It’s hard, but not as steep as some other climbs.”

  Former race winner Alberto Contador believes the time he and Astana teammate Lance Armstrong have on the other general classification contenders will see attacks begin from early in the stage. "[It will be a] very interesting day because there are going to be a great quantity of riders that have to risk from early in the stage because they have lost so much time," said Contador.

  Bjarne Riis, the head of Saxo Bank, believes his mean have conserved enough energy over the opening week to be active on today’s stage. Saxo Bank rider Fabian Cancellara holds the race’s yellow jersey by just fractions of a second from seven time Tour winner Armstrong.

  "I'm looking forward to see who really has something to show tomorrow, when we reach the mountains,” he said. “We have not spent undue energy today, and we're looking forward to tomorrow's stage."

  Silence-Lotto’s team manager Hendrik Redant believes normally rival teams will seek an alliance today in order to topple Astana. Redant’s squad includes Australian overall contender Cadel Evans, but the Belgian team has a comparatively weak roster to Astana and could look to align with Saxo Bank or Cervélo TestTeam.

  "I think Astana will control the race for most of the day so the only chances could come in the final seven or eight kilometres (to Arcalis)," he told SMH.com.au. "That's when you could see some collaboration between some guys who have got the same goal, and that could leave Astana isolated.

  "No one, I think, is going to collaborate with Astana,” he added. "The riders have to watch what is happening during the race for themselves and then decide whether to collaborate or not."

  For most of today’s 224 kilometres the roads will be uphill - save for the descent of the first of the two climbs, the Port d'Oliana, a 7.7km-mountain averaging 7.1 percent gradient. Afterwards, it will be a long drag up to the tiny Principality of Andorra and its ski station, the first of three mountain top finishes of this year's Tour.

  The last time the Tour came to Arcalis, in 1997, Jan Ullrich broke away solo on the final stretch to the summit (10.6km at 7.1 percent) and lay the foundations for his later overall win.

  Cervélo sport director Jean-Paul Van Poppel seemed excited heading into today’s stage. Van Poppel is confidence that Sastre will be ready to make a move if required.

  “Everyone thinks the Tour is over,” said Van Poppel. “The real racing begins now and we will start to take some time back. The Tour is just starting.

  “If Carlos has the legs, he will make a move. He knows what he has to do,” Van Poppel said.

• State cutbacks leave Missouri in question

  

  Article published:

  July 10, 10:18

  By:

  Kirsten Robbins

  Financial axe could bring misery to Missouri

  The Tour of Missouri might be hit by a substantial freeze on state funding that would likely lead to the cancellation of the seven-day stage race set to begin on September 7. Governor Jay Nixon proposed on Monday that Missouri’s Department of Economic Development cut back 1.5 million dollars for the event, a move that would bring the event to a permanent end if the budget is cut.

  According to Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of the race’s management company Medalist Sports, there is no turning back.

  “Right now the funds will be frozen until the Governor makes a decision on the matter,” said Aronhalt. He expects to receive a decision as early as Wednesday next week. “But, there is no turning back. Operationally we are trying to stay positive that politically this will be resolved soon.”

  The race costs US$3.3 million dollars to run and just weeks away from the events start date in St. Louis, Medallist Sports has already signed contracts for hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenses relating to the race’s operation. Furthermore the Missouri State would lose tens of thousands of dollars in lost revenue.

  “We were informed this morning by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office,” said Aronhalt. “This is devastating from our perspective because we have a contract with the state of Missouri, they have made a commitment to us that the funding was in the State’s budget and that it was approved by the Governor.

  “Some of the other half of the funding has already been spent on operational costs and planning since last year,” Aronhalt continued. “There has been money spent against the project already and the funds from sponsors would have to be refunded. It would also mean a breach of several contracts.

  “From a political side there have been very heavy conversations happening but at the grass roots level we have received some overwhelming support to release the funds,” he said.

  According to Aronhalt, should the Governor decide to pull the funding from the Tour of Missouri, the event would not likely return in the following years. “Events of this magnitude and the momentum that it gains over the consecutive years is so important to the building from year to year,” he said. “We were planning to have seven Tour de France teams participate. A hiatus would mean that unfortunately this tour would end.”

  A letter sent to the State’s budget and planning office, outlined a spread of cutbacks totaling 10 million dollars. The 1.5 million dollars portion frozen for the Tour of Missouri is nearly half of the total cost of running the event.

  "In order to meet the Department of Economic Development's goals of reducing Personal Services and reducing E/E in order to meet the overall goal to reduce our Department's expenditures by $9,980,762, below is an update on the FY2010 budget expenditure restriction plan," read the statement. "We would also propose to reduce the E/E line of the Division of Tourism Budget by not expending $1.5M for expenses related to the Tour of Missouri."

• Rider reactions after Tour's sixth stage

  

  Article published:

  July 10, 10:11

  By:

  Cyclingnews

  Wet causes wild day in the peloton

  Alessandro Ballan (Lampre - NGC) - seventh on stage, 55th overall @ 4:35

  "The arrival was suited to me and I wanted to try to get a result. The rain made the race very insidious; I didn't want to take too many risks before the start of the climb because I felt the bike slip on the slimy asphalt and I had seen many riders who had already fallen.

  “I had to come to the finale with less punch than fast men such as Hushovd and Freire. Despite the bruises, my condition is improving and I will support [the team] in the next few attempts to get a win."

  Carlos Sastre (Cervélo Test Team) - 30th on stage, 23rd overall @ 2:44

  “The sixth stage of the Tour was very fast and dangerous. It was the first day that there was lots of rain and it was really technical. The Astana team had an impressive capacity to control the race. The final part became insane and it was very difficult to concentrate due to the large number of falls. The road was very dangerous, although this was balanced out with the impressive number of people watching throughout the race - I think having this time on Spanish roads has been very nice.

  “The team did a lot of work from the start of the stage in order to keep the breakaway in check for Thor. I think it was great that in the end - even though the team suffered several falls to two important riders like Hayden Roulston and Heinrich Haussler, who then weren't able to help Thor - he had all the help of Brett Lancaster on the final climb against the other sprinters.

  “Thor has finally achieved that first stage victory for the Cervélo team in this Tour de France, which is a great motivation for all. We finish the week with the reassurance of having achieved a stage victory. During this sixth stage I had a fall, which fortunately was not more than some bumps and scratches, but nothing that could be of importance. Additionally, we have spent another day in this Tour and we finally reach the mountains tomorrow.”

  Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) - 112th on stage, 98th overall @ 6:44

  "It was a pity that between the breakaway riders we couldn't win the stage. [David] Millar was more attentive to the Chavanel's condition and when he attacked Millar surprised me.

  “I went solo and I knew that it was difficult to catch because he's a great rider, but I had to try. It was approaching the Pyrenees and we are increasingly close to our territory. These stages are very complicated due to the great stress that the wind and rain brings... They are days where the most important thing is to have no serious mishap that may harm you for the rest of the Tour."

  Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha) - sixth on stage, 36th overall @ 3:18

  "I tried to anticipate the sprint because I saw my rivals were faster than me in the finale. The speed of the group slowed down with 350 metres to go so I started my attack. If they didn't follow me immediately I think I could have done better. They only passed me in the last 40 metres."

  Alberto Contador (Astana) - 23rd on stage, third overall @ 0:19

  "To meet your people... it's very good for everybody and it's fantastic that this huge number of people have welcomed us."

  "[Tomorrow] will be an very interesting day because there is going to be a great quantity of riders that have to risk a lot from far a long way [from the finish] because they have lost a lot of time. Everybody wonders if one or other of us [Contador or Armstrong] will be under attack, but they also have to attack other riders."

  "[The other Pyrenean stages are] less dangerous than Andorra, which finishes up hill, but they are all going to be important because it will be necessary to take advantage of any stage with mountains."

  "Sastre, who attacks from far away, and Evans will be the most dangerous [tomorrow]. They will be the two riders who will make the race, although the Schleck brothers are also obliged to move and play their cards."

• Menchov, teammates questioned in Austrian blood clinic case

  Article published:

  July 7, 20:32

  By:

  Susan Westemeyer

  Rabobank riders testified voluntarily

  Rabobank’s Denis Menchov, Joost Posthuma and Pieter Weening have testified under oath before the Austrian Budndeskriminalamt (BKA, federal police) in its investigation of the Human Plasma blood centre. The three riders all declared that they were “in no way involved in this doping affair”, the team announced.

  In a press announcement issued Tuesday evening, the Dutch ProTour team said that the BKA approached it this April concerning the investigation. “[Rabobank] announced its immediate and pledged full cooperation with the BKA, clearly indicating that the evidence would take place on a voluntary basis,” it read.

  After hearing from those three riders, the BKA told the team that it would not at this time need to question them again.

  Team general manager Harold Knebel said: "We have every confidence in our riders, but it is clear that the team has a strict anti-doping policy and we will act uncompromisingly and immediate if we are faced with incriminating facts.”

  Human Plasma is a blood clinic in Vienna, Austria, and has been named by Bernhard Kohl as part of his doping confession. However, it first came to attention in January 2008, with Rabobank riders being rumoured to have been customers, as well as many other world-class athletes from various summer and winter sports.