Colin Lewis Cycle Chat May 2011

Cycle Chat 28.05.11

Jon Locke's team Rapha Condor took the honours in the Tour Series with Zak Dempster taking Durham.

A shrewd tactical line-up change saw Rapha Condor Sharp take their second Tour series clean sweep in two rounds, with National Criterium Champion Ed Clancy taking his first win of this year's series in Aberystwyth.

After the challenge of the cobbled climb at Durham in round one, many had expected the Tour Series' first ever visit to Wales to be a much easier affair, however cold and windy conditions in the Welsh seaside town proved for a tough night of racing.

Jon crashed in Durham and not sure about Aberystwyth. Jon would have put heart and soul into the race but it is not really his scene preferring the more traditional approach to cycling!!

This puts Rapha 2 points ahead of Endura in the Team Competition.

Jeremy Hunt has returned from the USA after the Tour of California and is at his home in Verona, Spain. His next race will be the Tour of Switzerland with yet more mountains!!

Russell Downing helped animate the 18th stage of the Giro d'Italia and claimed a top-10 finish for Team Sky after Eros Capecchi had outsprinted his two breakaway rivals for victory.
Russell worked his way into a 15-man group in the last 60km, but it was Capecchi (Liquigas), Marco Pinotti (HTC-Highroad) and Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quick-Step) who pressed ahead on the climb of the Passo di Ganda and stayed clear to sprint it out for the win in San Pellegrino Terme.

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) continues to build up his lead in the Pink of 5 mins over Michele Scarponi (Lampre - ISD) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale). There is no stopping Alberto!!

Top Brit is Peter Kennaugh (Sky Procycling) 81st 2 hours down with David Millar (Team Garmin-Cervélo) 97th. Russell is 139th 3 hours down.

Until next week,

Bob.

Cycle Chat 21.05.11

Jeremy Hunt (Sky Pro Cycling)) wrote his ticket this week in the Tour of California for a place in the Sky Tour de France selection coming shortly. Sky won the first 2 stages (Sunday's was cancelled because of snow!!) with Ben Swift and Greg Henderson.

Jeremy's job was to marshal and lead the Sky Bus into shape and lead them to the wins just like he did with Thor Hushovd in last year's TdF.

The Sky web site gave him a good write up!!

"Jeremy Hunt was among those who were instrumental in kick-starting the action as he marshalled the troops into an attack in strong crosswinds with 22km remaining.

As Team Sky put the hammer down on the front, the peloton splintered into echelons behind, with the likes of Hushovd and Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) among the big names relegated into the second of three distinct groups.

"We had a good look at the map beforehand and talked about it - we wanted to give it a go and we did," revealed Team Sky Sports Director Marcus Ljungqvist. "They'd been riding hard all day defending the jersey so to do that was all the more impressive.""

We're right in the middle of a Giro d'Italia that has been anticipated as the hardest grand tour ever. Mark Cavendish gained another great win on Thursday and his comments afterwards said that there was no competition!! Davide Appollonio (Sky) came a good second and was gaining though!!

He has now signed off with NO stages left for the sprinters to recuperate for the Tour de France.

Alberto Contador retained the pink jersey of the overall leader with a 59 sec lead over Kanstantsin Sivtsov (HTC-Highroad)

These are 2 of the stages remaining and they look like good viewing on Eurosport.

Stage 13 on Friday is a 104m (167km) leg from Spilimbergo to Grossglockner, Austria, featuring four climbs, including an uphill finish.

Saturday's Stage 14 is perhaps the toughest of the race, a 130m (210km) leg from Lienz, Austria, to Monte Zoncolan. It features five climbs, plus the Crostis descent, and ends with one of the toughest climbs in Europe, Monte Zoncolan.

Just taken delivery of a Blue Cycle Frame. This is a frame designed mainly for triathlons with the following specs:-

o Aerus Conquest T700 high modulus carbon fiber
o Aerus Conquest C4TT aero fork with alloy steer tube 425g
o Aerus Conquest 2 position seatpost, 76° and 80° 300g
o Cane Creek S2 1" integrated headset
o Internal cable routing with alloy housing stops
o Power-Arc curved chain stays create a wind shadow for rear cassette & derailleur
o Tektro R725 Rear brake included
o BB30 bottom bracket shell

Now available at £1600. Give us a ring on 01803 553095 or call in and goggle!!

Until next week,

Bob.

Cycle Chat 14.05.11

Both Yanto Barker (Pendragon) and Jon Locke(Rapha) rode in the Lincoln GP this last weekend and were probably both disappointed with their results. They both worked hard in their teams with Yanto finishing 9th and Jon 17th.

The race was won by Scott Thwaites (Endura) who is just 21. A name to follow for the future.

After the sad happenings in the Tour of Italy with the death of Wouter Weylandt (Leopard Trek) the Tour is back on track. It started with a pink for Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) who immediately lost it to another Brit David Millar (Team Garmin-Cervélo).

David quickly lost the Pink on Stage 4 after a spill put him out of touch with the peloton. A gutsy ride put him back in but then ahead was the "White Roads" which are made of chalk, stony and steep where David just faded after all the work he had put in.

Never mind. Great to see TWO Brits in the lead!!

Jeremy Hunt is OFF in the Tour of California this coming Sunday which is vying for the position of the third biggest stage race in the world. It is an eight-day Tour and has grown exponentially with each running, and the 2011 edition promises to be the toughest yet!!

A move from February to May in 2010 has allowed the race organisers to benefit from a warmer climate and seek out the toughest roads the state has to offer, ensuring spectacular backdrops will not be in short supply.

The fight for the golden leader's jersey will be intense with passionate American fans lining the roadside as the race criss-crosses the Sunshine State.

Team Sky will rock up in California with a strong squad of climbers, rouleurs and stage hunters. In-form Chris Froome joins sprinters Ben Swift and Greg Henderson, with Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Alex Dowsett, Mathew Hayman, Jeremy Hunt and Ian Stannard rounding out the squad. What a Great British squad!!

My local Council (Somerset County Council) has ended its sponsorship of the Tour of Britain as from next year. (Shame!!).

The county has hosted two stages of the race each year in a five-year contract worth £775,000.

But, despite attracting up to £10m in revenue, the council said it would not be appropriate to fund the race while it was £350m in debt.

Race organisers said they hoped to find new sponsors so the race could return to Somerset next year.

The council is in the final year of the contract and Somerset will host stage six of the race, a 145km (90 mile) route between Taunton and Wells that includes the King of the Mountains climb of Cheddar Gorge.

Until next week,

Bob.

Cycle Chat 07.05.11

It was the Mid Devon CC's Totnes Vire 2 day event last weekend with a win for Yanto Barker's Pendragon Le Col Colnago Team with James McLaughlin taking the overall.

James looked very smart in his Yanto Barker's designed Le Col clothing for who we are a dealer. If you want to see Yanto's full range of clothing either call in the shop or look at the clothing section on this website.

With Yanto still being in the area it was a ride for the boys on Wednesday for Simon Aske and retired shop owner Colin Lewis who can still put his foot down when required to get to terms with Yanto. They all came back soaking wet with the only rain for weeks!!

Jon Locke (Rapha Condor was also in the shop this week and he will be off to Lincoln this weekend along with Yanto for the Lincoln GP.

The 86-mile race will be graced by the biggest names on the domestic circuit, with Jon Locke's teamate Zak Dempster hoping that his mercurial form from April will continue into May.

Both Jon and Yanto have had good results at Lincoln and will be aiming for the same this year. The course is rather like the Belgium Classics with a cobble hill.

Jeremy Hunt (Sky Procycling) is at present in the USA with altitude training which he will want to see culminate with selection for the TdF. But before then he has the largest cycling event in America, the Tour of California which will travel nearly 800 miles throughout California from May 15 - 22, 2011.

The Tour of Italy starts this Saturday for 3 weeks with an expected clash between Denis Menchov and Alberto Contador. May the best man win!!

Great!! The Tour of Britain is coming to the West Country again!! Route as follows:-

Stage 1Sunday, September 11 2011
Peebles - Dumfries170 km

Stage 2Monday, September 12 2011
Kendal - Blackpool130 km

Stage 3Tuesday, September 13 2011
Stoke-on-Trent - Trentham Gardens150 km

Stage 4Wednesday, September 14 2011
Welshpool - Caerphilly180 km

Stage 5Thursday, September 15 2011
Exeter - Exmouth180 km

Stage 6Friday, September 16 2011
Taunton - Wells150 km

Stage 7Saturday, September 17 2011
Bury St Edmunds - Sandringham200 km

Stage 8aSunday, September 18 201
London10 km

Stage 8bSunday, September 18 2011
London80 km

Until next week,
Bob.

Colin Lewis Cycles Limited, 17 Dartmouth Road, Paignton, TQ4 5AD. Telephone: 01803 553095. Registered company number: 4095543.