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News - Colin Lewis Cycle Chat July 2010
Cycle Chat 31.07.10
This years TdeF has been the closest Tour with a ding dong battle between Alberto Contador Velasco (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) who after 20 days of racing were separated by just 39 secs. Alberto seemed to have the situation under control against his young challenger but had to keep a very wary eye on Andy all the time just in case. Andy Schleck must surely be a future champion!!
As for the 7 Brits although not challenging for the podium, as Bradley Wiggins did last year, they certainly made a mark on the Tour by contributing to their respective Teams.
For home grown rider Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo Test Team) this is the comments Cervélo Web Site had to say about him:
Jeremy Hunt (GBR), 163rd at 4h02:21: The veteran classics rider had to wait until he was 36 to finally make his Tour de France debut. Hunt was key in the important first week of the Tour to help Hushovd win stage 3 and then worked with Lancaster to help launch Hushovd in the bunch sprints. He shook off a spate of crashes to arrive in Paris.
It was a pleasure to see Jeremy lead out the one time Points Green Jersey Thor Hushovd in the last two stages where Thor needed a win to get his jersey back from Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini). Jeremy was right there with about 400 metres to go handing over to Brett Lancaster and then Thor taking over. Thor was not able to hold his lead not having the speed of Brit Mark Cavendish (Team HTC - Columbia) who eventually won 5 stages overall.
Final Points classification was:-
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 243 pts
2 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 232pts
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 222pts
Final general classification was:-
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 91:58:48
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:39
3 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:01
This is how the Brits finished:-
24 Bradley Wiggins (Sky Professional Cycling Team) 39 mins
67 Geraint Thomas (Sky Professional Cycling Team) 2 hrs
151 Steven Cummings (Sky Professional Cycling Team) 3 hrs 45 mins
158 David Millar (Garmin - Transitions) 3 hrs 56 mins
163 Jeremy Hunt (Cervelo Test Team) 4 hrs 2 mins
164 Daniel Lloyd (Cervelo Test Team) 4 hrs 2 mins
The Paignton Regatta Criteriums return to the seafront course on Friday 13th August starting from 1730 with the youth events and 1900 for the seniors.
The popular events feature a road closure enabling a 1km loop to be created, there's ice cream on tap and even a cheering crowd !
The MDCC provided last years winner with Jake Durrant joining John Peters, Andy Parker and Jon Locke as past club winners.
Until next week,
Bob.
Cycle Chat 24.07.10
I write Cycle Chat on a Friday morning so will not know the results of today's stage in the TdF. Yesterday was the crunch day for the Yellow Jersey and today will be the crunch day for Green between Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) 191 points and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) 187 points. Mark Cavendish will also be a contender on 162 but will need a stage win.
Stage 18 is a flat stage with the first sprint at 29.5 kms. Our friend Jeremy Hunt after slogging through the Pyrenees trying to complete the mountains with the minimum of effort will be up for it on Friday with the rest of the Cervélo team. Thor proved that he was a great all-rounder in stage 16 when he went with the climbers and was able to secure crucial points in the final sprint to gain the Green Jersey from Alessandro. It will be touch and go but I believe Thor is stronger and will pull it off!! Just!!
On Stage 17 when I saw Andy Schleck's (Team Saxo Bank) chain come off I immediately thought in Formula 1 terms that this will open the door for someone else to win and was just a "racing incident" forgetting that the code in cycling was different to motor sport!! Alberto Contador Velasco (Astana) took full advantage gaining the yellow not forgetting that earlier in the Tour he had waited for Andy for 3 minutes after an accident. Alberto proved in Stage 18 that he is more than a match for Andy finally letting Andy win the stage by not contesting the sprint!!
The Eurosport coverage of the Tour gets better and better with not just the cycling. At those times when there is not much action going on the camera men are doing their best to bring places of interest and some wonderful scenery. I do view in HD but switched to the non HD program to see if there was much difference as you get used to seeing the picture in HD. The difference was very noticeable looking blurred particularly the back ground. I soon turned back to 412!!
So top Brit in 24th is Bradley Wiggins (Sky Professional Cycling Team) minus 41 mins. Bradley just didn't have the form to get anywhere near his 4th of last year but will have his eye on Saturday's Time Trial.
In 68th is Geraint Thomas (Sky Professional Cycling Team) at 2hrs 2 mins having lost time in the mountains but has stuck to his task.
153rd is Steven Cummings (Sky Professional Cycling Team) at 3hrs 44mins.
155th is Mark Cavendish Team HTC - Columbia) at 3hrs 49mins and looking ready for another stage win.
161st David Millar (Garmin - Transitions) at 3hrs 58mins looking at Saturdays Time Trial.
164th Daniel Lloyd (Cervelo Test Team) at 3hrs 58mins who has done well with his support of his team.
165th Jeremy Hunt (Cervelo Test Team) at 4hrs. Has earned his pay!!
Don't know what happened to Charlie Wegelius??
Until next week,
Bob.
Cycle Chat 17.07.10
At Colin Cycles we always have a dilemma on who to support for the Green Jersey in the Points Competition in the TdF!! As our friends and regular readers know that Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo Test team) is an ex member of our local club Mid Devon CC and a good friend in to CLCycles but is also a team mate of Thor Hushovd who until yesterday was in the Green. All eyes have been on Jeremy in his first TdF as one of the lead out men for Thor.
Our problem comes when we have a Brit in the shape of Mark Cavendish (Team HTC - Columbia) who on Thursday won his 3rd stage and has beaten the record held by his mentor, Erik Zabel, who previously held the record whilst a professional, with 12 stage wins in la grande boucle. Mark did it in the style to which we've become accustomed, the HTC-Columbia sprinter continuing to gain confidence in this year's race after a shaky start.
So after stage 11 the Points Competition looks like this with all to fight for right up until Paris:-
1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 161 pts
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 157
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 138
4 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 132
So take your pick!! Mark is definitely the fastest sprinter but Thor is better on the mountains and can take points there. Then Alessandro Petacchi-------!!
Back to the Brits. Charlie Wegelius (Omega Pharma-Lotto) has had to drop out through illness.
Bradley Wiggins (Sky Professional Cycling Team) is 15th some 7 mins down going well but not quite the same form as last year.
Geraint Thomas (Sky Professional Cycling Team) is 65th 51 mins down having lost time in the Alps but still looking strong.
Steven Cummings (Sky Professional Cycling Team) is 139th 1hr 32 mins down.
David Millar (Garmin - Transitions) is 143rd 1hr 34mins down and always working hard for his team.
Mark Cavendish (Team HTC - Columbia) is 145th 1hr 35 down.
Daniel Lloyd (Cervelo Test Team) is 153rd 1hr 41mins down.
Jeremy Hunt (Cervelo Test Team) is 153rd 1hr 43 mins down and what a worker!!
Off to the Pyrenees!!
We have just got an order in for the Cervélo's ultralight R5ca (as ridden by Carlos Sastre in the Alps) their lightest, stiffest and most expensive bike yet. Just one a week is made.
The new bike had a target weight of 700g, but in production Cervélo claim 675-680g for a 54cm frame including all of its hardware - paint, derailleur mounts, seat collar and even bottle cage bolts. This weight shaving does not come at the expense of stiffness, however, and the chassis meets all of the brand's internal test standards, most of which exceed industry standards.
When Carlos rides it in order to meet UCI regulations weights have to be put into the frame to meet the weight limit. We will sell the bike without the weights!! We are expecting delivery next December so watch this space!!
Until next week,
Bob.
Cycle Chat 10.07.10
After the football I was proud to be a Brit this week to see all of our 7 cyclists in the TdF putting 100% effort into the race and also getting the results.
Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo Test Team) was doing a sterling job for Thor Hushovd often at the front leading the whole Peleton and noticeably not having anything left at the end but just to finish. Result Thor is now in the lead in the Green Jersey. Jeremy is presently 134th 25 mins down.
After becoming British Road Race Champion 2 weeks ago Geraint Thomas (Sky Professional Cycling Team) is showing that he is the best. He is currently 2nd in the General Classification 23secs down after 5 stages and best leading the Young Rider Competition..
Mark Cavendish (Team HTC - Columbia) after having a disappointing few stages and looked to be well out of form went on to win stage 5 and was so overwhelmed that he could at last win had a very tearful experience at the presentation.
David Millar (Garmin - Transitions) is currently 15th 2 mins down after a good time trial. He is working hard and gets plenty of TV exposure as he leads his team out.
Bradley Wiggins (Sky Professional Cycling Team) is currently 14th after not too good a time trial at 1.49 mins down. But watch out for him; he looks strong!!
Steven Cummings (Sky Professional Cycling Team) is 67th 4 mins down and was well up on stage 2 in a break for most of the stage being pipped at the finish.
Daniel Lloyd (Cervelo Test Team) has been working hard with Jeremy with the Cervélo Team and is currently 152nd 19 mins down.
Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) is at present in Yellow but knows his days are numbered.
Fabian has held the yellow every day except in stage 3, only to gain it back by the day's end, but realizes his run in yellow is winding down with the Alps looming on the horizon.
He might survive Saturday's push into the Jura Mountains, but the Cat. 1 summit finish at Morzine on Sunday will see the first major shakeup in the overall standings.
That sums up the first 5 days. Much more to come!!
Jon Locke (Rapha Condor) competed in the Stafford Grand Prix (Round 3 Elite Circuit Series) on Thursday night with competent 12th. Not Jon's favourite facet of cycling around the city centres; prefers the hills!!
The Rapha Team were again taking the honours with a 3rd, 4th, 7th and 11th.
Until next week,
Bob.
Cycle Chat 03.07.10
Now its 7 Brits in this Saturday's 8km Prologue Time Trial the first stage of this year's Tour de France. Added to the 6 this week is Daniel Lloyd (Cervélo Test team) who is in for the injured Heinrich Haussler, stage winner in the Tour de France 2009.
Jeremy Hunt had a great warm up for the Tour last Sunday in the British Road Race Championships with a 4th on a course that was not really his cup of tea. This week he has been over the key parts of the course with his team, a training session and course inspection today around Arenberg (FRA) which will be part of the last 50 km of Tuesday's third stage. The famous cobblestones are well known to the classic cyclist as part of the Paris-Roubaix course. (See photo)
Watching the Race LIVE on Eurosport was a pleasure to see Jeremy racing to the lead on the first lap to be later caught by 3 Sky riders. Jeremy stayed with them for the next 12 laps in what the commentator described as an equivalent to an Alpine stage with a huge climb every lap. On lap 12 Jeremy chased down 1 attempt to lose him but when the hill got steeper he was left but kept that position for a 4th. A great gutsy performance!!
There is as usual full coverage on Eurosport and on ITV4 at 1900hrs each evening.
New British Champ is Geraint Thomas (Sky Pro Cycling). Second was Peter Kennaugh and third Ian Stannard. Jon Locke had an off day and could not stay with the pace and all the other riders were well behind mostly lapped!!
I called into CLCycles this week to fit an analogue satellite box for the TdF. Customers in the shop during the next 3 weeks can now watch the Tdf LIVE with a British commentary and more coverage than Sky!! Yes Eurosport is still available free of charge on the old Astra satellite. Boxes are getting a bit short now but there must be plenty in lofts all over the country. I got this one from EBay though it was the only one available at a reasonable price. Apparently the analogue signal is remaining for another 2 years before it changes to digital although that date keeps being lengthened year by year. All you need then is a dish and a bit of cycle maintenance know how and you are away!!
Had a good look round whilst in the shop and wanted to see the new Condor frames. Three gone already!! I rather liked the titanium frame which was left unpainted with a glorious bare titanium finish. Problem was it was already sold!!
Until next week,
Bob.
Colin Lewis Cycles Limited, 17 Dartmouth Road, Paignton, TQ4 5AD. Telephone: 01803 553095. Registered company number: 4095543.