Down for Doha TTT
Qatar so far has been interesting. Along the highways we ride out and back that are part of the road courses, we’ve seen some “free range” camels, a lot of sand and an unreal amount of construction. Three-fourths of the buildings are being built; those that are completed are true works of art (see Ricardo’s [...]
Cyclingweekly: Three-way fight for first Qatar gold
Previewing the 8th Tour of Qatar, kicking off tomorrow in Doha with a 6 km team time trial, Cyclingweekly throws out a prediction for the opening event: “The race starts with a six-kilometre team time trial on the corniche road in Doha. Time trial bikes are not allowed, so the effect is rather like a [...]
Cyclingnews: Wiggins among Qatar fast men
In a preview of the Tour of Qatar, which kicks of tomorrow with a team time trial, Cyclingnews taps Garmin-Slipstream and Bradley Wiggins.
“…the Garmin-Slipstream team will field a powerful squad including Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins, who has been educating his new teammates on just how fast one can ride a flat six-kilometre race.”
Sleepless in Qatar
I’ve arrived in Qatar. For the most part, getting here went smoothly. No real hiccups with the flights, well except for the lack of luggage and bike upon arrival. So all I have is the one set of riding clothes I carried on just in case my stuff didn’t arrive. At least I can [...]
Qatar preview: Eyes on team time trial & GC
Special race preview from DS Johnny Weltz
We’re back in Qatar, where there’s been no change in the landscape really. Just skyscrapers all around. The course for the Tour of Qatar also hasn’t changed much either. Flat with strong chance of regular crosswinds.
We’re going for broke in the opening team time trial. We worked quite a [...]
Officially back in the peloton
I’m excited to say I’ve erased the little bit of doubt left in my mind about my comeback to the highest level of cycling with my completion of the Tour Down Under. Just a few short months ago, a few hard days of training would plunge me into a week of depression and fatigue. [...]
Wiggins faster than a Spanish thunderstorm?
After our first rest day here in Girona, things really changed. The riders did not sleep well because of a ferocious thunderstorm. During the night, doors were banging, chairs were shifting to and fro and windows were slamming. We found out later it was the strongest storm to hit Spain in 12 years! The wind [...]
All things considered from diet to wedding rings
While the other two-thirds of Garmin-Slipstream were either racing in the Tour of Down Under or at training camp in Silver City, twenty of us were in Girona getting ready for the Tour of Qatar.
One morning, Bradley, Magnus, Will and I discussed how so many things are done in cycling because ‘that’s the way it’s [...]
VeloNews: A conversation with Timmy Duggan
During last week’s Tour Down Under, VeloNews “caught up with the diminutive Duggan from Garmin-Slipstream before the start of the queen stage of the TDU, and discovered the 26-year-old Coloradan’s been waging something of a comeback himself.”
From the interview: “…this race is a little tough to tell. I mean, every day hasn’t been a [...]
Finding the Silver Lining
It’s that time of the year again. Training camps, new bikes, new clothes and, if you ride for Garmin-Slipstream and are American, it means Silver City. Silver City has everything you would ever want: Bowling Alley, Movie Theatre, the biggest mine you have every seen, altitude, gelato, mexican food, internet…ummm, and of course a [...]
Tour Down Under stage 6: Adelaide City Council Circuit
The final stage of the 2009 Tour Down Under is a flat and super fast 4.5 km circuit through Adelaide and along the River Torrens. The 90 km stage includes the miniscule Montefiore Hill sprint and two intermediate sprint lines, so the action will be high to the very end.
Today’s final stage is scheduled to [...]
Down Under Finale: Sutton 11th in sprint; Hesjedal 11th overall
Today’s last day was always going to be a nail-biter with so many guys in striking distance of the podium. After an aggressive start, the race splintered immediately. A strong break of about 13 formed, quickly working up a gap. We weren’t in the break, so when Quick Step brought the break down to 30 [...]
Getting in the Girona Groove
After what feels like a long but great winter break, it’s been fun getting back into the groove here with the guys. The pleasure of nothingness that team camp brings is unique. At home, even with a 100% focus on training, there are still things that need addressed. At the very least, you need [...]
Tour Down Under stage 5: Snapper Point to Willunga
The penultimate stage of the 2009 Tour Down Under, stage 5 includes a series of challenging circuits. The first circuit takes the race north along the coast by Aldinga Beach before moving inland. There, the finishing circuit includes the Old Willunga Hill climb.
Stage 5 is scheduled to start at 11:00 and finish at [...]
PezCycling News: Christian gets PEZ’d
PezCycling News talks to Christian Vande Velde about his transformation in to a Tour de France contender, the team’s goals for 2009 and surviving a snowy Chicago winter.
“There’s a lot of guys who are going to step up and starting winning,” Christian said. “Tyler Farrar for sure will do that; Dave Zabriskie, who didn’t [...]
Tour Down Under stage 4: Burnside Village to Angaston
Stage 4 is 143 km long and mostly rolling. Though the sprinters will be tested as the day’s only climb up Menglers Hill kicks up just before the finish in Angaston.
Stage 4 is scheduled to start at 11:00 and finish at 15:00.
LA Times: Looking past Lance and finding Timmy
The Los Angeles Times chronicles Timmy Duggan’s amazing return to racing less than nine months after his high-speed crash during the 2008 Tour de Georgia.
“Duggan is riding the Tour Down Under with the blessing of his family, of Vaughters, of team manager Matt White. He has found so far that he processes the feel of [...]
Down Under stage 4: Calm before Old Willunga
Not too much to report today. Ryder (above) went on the attack on the final climb and went away in a group of six. But in the end, the finish was controlled by the sprinters’ teams.
Tomorrow is crunch time though. If the wind stays strong, then the bunch will split before we hit the [...]
HeraldSun.com: Blood, guts, wind mark massive day
The Australian Herald Sun recaps the epic and windy stage 3 at the Tour Down Under, highlighting Cameron Meyer’s heroic attack.
“The guts, as in courage, were prolific in the wild conditions. Rising Australian star Cameron Meyer launched an unsuccessful solo attack near the end of the stage. On Wednesday, the 21-year-old West Australian had suffered [...]
Girona Camp: Getting race ready
So the final preparations for the European race season are under way here in Girona, Spain. Since the Boulder training camp in mid-November, the riders have been working on coordination, muscle strength, core stability and building endurance. For the last three weeks, they’ve been putting in longer high intensity workouts on the road. And now, [...]
Tour Down Under stage 3: Unley to Victor Harbor
Stage 3 is 136 km long and kicks off with the Wickhams Hill Road climb. After rolling south to the shore, the course will climb Crows Nest Road before finishing at Victor Harbor.
Stage 3 is scheduled to start at 11:00 and finish at 14:45.
Amazing Meyer Most Aggressive Down Under
Today was the nastiest day in the eleven year history of the Tour Down Under! With 70 kph cross-tailwind for the majority of the day, it was go from the gun.
The action started very early when last year’s winner André Greipel hit a motorbike in the crosswind in the first 20 km. The [...]
What was I thinking when I went off the front?
I said to Trent with 30 km to go that I thought I should go on the attack. There was a climb coming up and I didn’t think I would be able to make it over with the group. So I thought I should try and get a gap and get over it before the [...]
VeloNews TV: Trent Lowe talks Down Under
VeloNews TV interviews Australian Trent Lowe about his pre-season preparations, his goals Down Under and his season schedule.
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