2012 Tour de France Stage 8, 7/08/12

July 8, Stage 8: Belfort - Porrentruy 157.5km

Pinot rides to glory in Porrentruy

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour-de-france/stage-8/results)

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-BigMat) pulled off a famous home victory in stage 8 of the 2012 Tour de France. The Tour’s youngest competitor passed leader Frederik Kessiakoff (Astana) with 17km to race and launched a bold attack that left him with enough of a gap to hold off a host of big name challengers who pursued him intensely, but ultimately in vain, over the final kilometres. There were ecstatic scenes of jubilation from the home fans and from Pinot’s team as he crossed the line with 26 seconds to spare.

Cadel Evans (BMC) took second place ahead of Tony Gallopin (RadioShack-Nissan). Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins kept his GC rival Evans comfortably in his sights and retained the yellow jersey with his fourth placed finish.

"Those were the longest ten kilometers of my life," Pinot said afterward. "When I saw 10km to go and the peloton was coming back, I was really afraid."

Pinot was able to take advantage of having a teammate in the breakaway all day, and he dedicated the victory to Jeremy Roy. "When Jeremy [Roy] was away I wasn't really riding, and then he truly sacrificed himself for me. I'm really happy."

The young Frenchman looked set to take over the white jersey from Cofidis's Rein Taaramae, but the Estonian battled back to come in 2:21 behind the winner to save his best young rider classification.

Pinot was overjoyed with his stage victory, but played down his chances for the overall classification. "Tomorrow my legs will really hurt so I have no real plans for the rest of the Tour, I will take it day by day."

The tone for the 157km stage, which contained a grand total of seven categorised climbs, was set very early on as Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Nissan) led an early break of ten riders. Within a few kilometres Voigt was on his own but a few minutes later he was passed and dropped by Roy.

As Roy ploughed a lone furrow up the road, 60km in there was a major crash involving three Spaniards – Samuel Sanchez, Jorge Azanza (both Euskaltel-Esukadi) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). In the end it was Sanchez who came off worst, with the 2008 Olympic road race champion having to withdraw with injuries that include a broken collarbone and a dislocated shoulder. It will take a miracle for him to be declared fit to defend his Olympic title in London at the end of this month.

Meanwhile, further up the road, Roy was caught by Kessiakoff with just over 80km to go and the two men worked together to build a healthy lead over the rest of the pack. Pinot then made his first significant move of the afternoon, attacking from the main peloton and forming part of a large 22-man group that went off in chase of the two leaders.

Shortly before the fifth categorised climb of the day – the Cote de Saulcy – Pinot launched a successful bid to bridge the gap to the leading duo, joined by Kevin de Weert (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Steven Kruiswijk (Rabobank). Kessiakoff responded immediately and attacked, opening up a lead that peaked at 1:45 and one that he would hold until well inside the final 20km.

Pinot and Tony Gallopin (RadioShack-Nissan) burst clear of the pack and Pinot eventually proved the stronger, passing Kessiakoff with 17km left – just at the top of the final Col de la Croix climb. He then made a daring bid for the winning line on the fast descent into Porrentruy, chased by some of the race’s biggest favourites. Evans, Wiggins, Nibali, Menchov and Frank Schleck were amongst the names that went off in hot pursuit of the youngster.

With these stellar names bearing down on him, it would have been excusable if such a relatively inexperienced rider buckled. But the 22-year-old, who rode through his home town on yesterday’s seventh stage, held his nerve impressively and had time to savour the final 200 metres before celebrating what is easily the biggest win of his highly promising career to date.

As for Wiggins, he find himself in a commanding position - tomorrow's stage is a 41.5km individual time trial that should play to his strengths. But as he revealed on the Team Sky website after the finish, today's stage wasn't as easy as he had anticipated.

"That stage was a lot harder than I expected it to be," he said. "The boys were incredible again today and really marshalled the race. They set us up to be able to go with the others on that last climb.

"Early on we had to wait to let the right break go, and that took a long time and a lot of work. We were racing from the off and that didn’t stop for two hours really. The peloton was decimated and it was a tough day for a lot of people. We’re still in a fantastic position after this first week and that’s two tough days down now. We’ve got a time trial ahead of us now and then a rest day."

Full Results

#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat	3:56:10
2	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:26
3	Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan
4	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
5	Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
6	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
7	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
8	Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team
9	Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan
10	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:30

18 - June - 2012 Daily News

I know I'm late getting out the results from the Tour de Suisse. Last night when I got home from my in-laws I felt sick. I ended up falling asleep around 18:30, and pretty much stayed in bed until I had to go to work this morning. But here is the results before I get into today's news. And no, Frank Schleck wasn't able to make up the 14 seconds, although he looked like he was going to at one point.

June 17, Stage 9: Näfels-Lintharena - Sörenberg 215.8km

Costa wins Tour de Suisse overall

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-suisse-2012/stage-9/results)

Rui Costa (Movistar) secured overall victory at the Tour de Suisse after successfully containing the attacks of his rivals on the final day to Sörenberg, while Estonia’s Tanel Kangert (Astana) took stage honours.

After seeing his overall lead slashed to a slender 14-second margin over Fränk Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) on Saturday, Rui Costa’s grip on the yellow jersey had appeared somewhat tenuous as the stage began, but the Portuguese rider showed considerable tactical acumen and resolve to defend his lead on a day that saw the peloton tackle two hors categorie climbs and the tricky haul to the finish at Sörenberg.

The biggest challenge to Costa’s lead came from Schleck himself, who launched a bold attack on the penultimate climb, the Glaubenberg. Crossing the summit, the Luxembourger had almost a minute in hand on the fragmented yellow jersey group and although there were still 40 kilometres to go, Schleck appeared on course to move up to top spot on the podium.

The long, open descent took its toll on his chances, however, and when there was a general regrouping behind, Schleck opted to sit up and play his hand on the final climb rather than continue alone. With Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel-Euskadi) all alongside Schleck and Rui Costa in the yellow jersey group, the stage appeared set for a battle royale on the final climb.

Instead, Rui Costa’s overall lead never came under the kind of threat he might have anticipated in the closing kilometres, thanks in no small part to the work of his teammate Alejandro Valverde, who returned from suspension for his part in Operacion Puerto at the beginning of his season.

When Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) powered off the front at the base of the final climb in a dangerous move that included Robert Kiserlovski (Astana), Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank) and Mathias Frank (BMC), it was Valverde who hit the front to set the tempo for Rui Costa and ensure that the Dutch talent’s lead never stretched much beyond 30 seconds and never seriously threatened the overall lead.

Valverde’s pace-setting then had another, equally important residual effect – it kept an even pace in the yellow jersey group and discouraged attacks from the likes of Schleck and Nieve, much to the relief of Rui Costa, who had floundered in the face of their accelerations the previous day.

The attack from Nieve finally came when Valverde finally swung over in the closing kilometres, but with the road flattening out, it was too little, too late from the Euskaltel rider. Rui Costa proved equal to the task of following the pace in the group of favourites, and he came across the finish line alongside Schleck, Leipheimer and Gesink to confirm his overall victory.

How it unfolded

With 218 kilometres and three major climbs on the agenda, it was perhaps not surprising that no fewer than 52 riders opted to withdraw from the race on what was a long and arduous final stage. The fast opening to affairs can hardly have helped their morale, either – it took almost an hour of attacking before the day’s break was finally rubber-stamped and Jeremy Roy (FDJ-BigMat), Brent Bookwalter (BMC), Kris Boeckmans (Vacansoleil-DCM), Tanel Kangert (Astana) and Matteo Montaguti (Ag2r-La Mondiale) went clear.

They soon built up a lead of over 12 minutes – enough to put Kangert briefly into the virtual overall lead – but with RadioShack-Nissan springing into life as the roads climbed in the second half of the stage, that advantage steadily began to tumble.

Gregory Rast and Linus Gerdemann’s work on the Glaubenbielen significantly reduced the size of the peloton, and on the following climb, it was their leader Fränk Schleck who put the hammer down. The Luxembourger responded to an attack from Nieve with 45 kilometres to go, and opted to continue alone when he saw the carnage that had been caused behind.

Climbing seated, Schleck tapped out a fine rhythm en route to the summit, while Tom Danielson (Garmin-Barracuda), Nieve, Gesink and Rui Costa scrambled behind. By the top, Schleck had a minute and it momentarily appeared as though he might carry that lead all the way to the finish, but once the chase organised itself on the descent, it soon became clear that he would be swallowed up sooner or later.

And so to a final ascent high on tension, but ultimately low on aggression from those closest to Rui Costa’s lead, thanks in no small part to his teammate Valverde’s efforts.

Up the road, meanwhile, the group of early leaders had fragmented as the climbing took its toll. Only Roy, Kangert and Montaguti remained on the final ascent, and Roy’ looked to go clear alone with two kilometres to go. Kangert matched him pedal stroke for pedal stroke, however, and when another Roy acceleration 800 metres from home failed to rid him of the Estonian, there was an air of inevitability about the two-up sprint.

Stage Results

#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Tanel Kangert (Est) Pro Team Astana	5:54:22
2	Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat	0:00:02
3	Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale	0:00:31
4	Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Pro Team Astana	0:01:46
5	Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
6	Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team
7	Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
8	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:01:48
9	Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
10	Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team

Final general classification

#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar Team	35:54:49
2	Frank Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan	0:00:14
3	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma - QuickStep	0:00:21
4	Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:00:25
5	Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi	0:00:40
6	Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team Astana	0:00:47
7	Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Barracuda	0:00:48
8	Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team	0:00:59
9	Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team	0:01:42
10	Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale	0:01:52

There was another stage race that ended yesterday, that I haven't posted about. However I'd like to mention it now, as it was surprising who took the win. Will he become a future Yellow Jersey contender? I doubt it, although it is nice to see that he is becoming more of an all-rounder cyclist.

Cavendish claims his first GC victory

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cavendish-claims-his-first-gc-victory)

Team Sky's Mark Cavendish claimed the first general classification victory of his career by winning the Ster ZLM Toer on Sunday by eight seconds ahead of Lars Boom (Rabobank).

"I've been second a couple of times in the past but this is my first GC win and I'm really, really happy with it," said Cavendish.

Top three places on the opening two stages in Holland had put him joint top of the standings but the race-defining performance came in Saturday's queen stage as the world champion stayed in the mix throughout on the hilly route in the Ardennes.

"The team rode so well yesterday, setting such a high tempo on the front that guys were going out the back all day," said Cavendish. "We were down to just 25 at the finish - it was incredible and I'm really proud of what we did."

While some of his fellow sprinters lost upwards of 13 minutes, Cavendish was in contention right to the finish as he chased home stage winner Boom on the climb to the line.

And he then closed out the overall win on the pan-flat final stage from Schijndel to Boxtel, with Team Sky and Rabobank dictating matters on the 163.5-kilometres route to make sure it ended with a bunch sprint.

"In today's final stage there was a dangerous guy up the road in the break at just one minute back on the GC but we managed to bring it all back together.

Looking ahead to the Tour de France and Olympic road race, Cavendish said, "I'm training really well. I wanted to be in my best form and definitely am so I'm looking forward to France now and hopefully Team Sky getting the green and yellow jerseys."

"It's pretty much about relaxing now and really looking after myself these next two weeks. You've got to start the Tour de France as fresh as possible - especially so this year with the Olympics so soon after."

Johnny Hoogerland has now stated that the Polka-Dot Jersey is an objective in the upcoming Tour. After his crash on Stage 9 of last years's Tour, I would love to see him wearing it as he rides into Paris.

Hoogerland aiming for mountains jersey at Tour de France

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hoogerland-aiming-for-mountains-jersey-at-tour-de-france)

Johnny Hoogerland didn't rack up a single mountain point at the Tour de Suisse, but he is planning to take the polka-dot jersey at the upcoming Tour de France. The Vacansoleil-DCM rider wore that jersey for five stages at last year's Tour.

“More than last year, I have put my mind to the mountain jersey, although I know that it is not easy,” he told De Telegraaf. “You need luck and a couple of times a good offense. There are a few stages where you can pick up a lot of points.”

Hoogerland finished 56th in Switzerland. “I got the kilometers that I needed to improve. That was successful. Now a few days rest and then with the team to try and make something good at the national road championships.”

The Dutchman had worn the King of the Mountains jersey for several stages earlier in the 2011 Tour, and regained it on the dramatic ninth stage – which also nearly saw the end of his Tour. As part of an escape group, Hoogerland had won points on all six climbs of the day to regain the jersey.

But with only 36 km to go, a media car hit breakaway companion Juan Antonio Flecha of Team Sky. Hoogerland subsequently crashed into the Spaniard and was himself catapulted onto a barbed wire fence. 

Both riders finished the stage, and Hoogerland accepted the polka dot jersey with extensive bandages on his legs and tears in his eyes.

Although he rode the Tour to the end, the injuries were too severe to allow him to continue to climb well, and he lost the jersey again only two stages later.

“In 2011 it wasn't really a goal, but it happened. It was a shame I never got the chance to finally go for it,” Hoogerland said. He hopes to make up for it this year.

And now to the daily RadioShack Nissan Trek news. I'm thinking about making this into a daily column. It would make a good soap opera...or maybe more of a reality TV show.

First up, let's hear from Frank Schleck. Although I'm not really surprised at this article, I knew he couldn't do much without his brother around. Yes, this does mean I am surprised by his 2nd place results in the Tour de Suisse.

Schleck doesn't want captain's role at Tour de France

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-doesnt-want-captains-role-at-tour-de-france)

Fränk Schleck has answered his critics by finishing second in the Tour de Suisse, after dropping out of the Giro d'Italia. But the RadioShack-Nissan rider doesn't necessarily expect his good form to hold out for the Tour de France, which starts in less than two weeks – and neither does his sport director.

At the Tour, “I don't want to be captain. I can't continue to perform at top level,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.

Sport Director Kim Andersen echoed those thoughts. “I've obviously heard predictions that Fränk with his current form has a good chance to be in the showdown for the win, but to pin your hopes on it seems to me crazy,” he told politiken.dk

“It should be remembered that Fränk has competed at a high level ever since the start of Giro d'Italia in early May, so it's completely unrealistic to believe that he can compete among the best in the Tour over three weeks in July.”

Schleck said that he did not see Suisse as a preparation for the Tour. “No, absolutely not,” he told Het Nieuwsblad.  “I did the preparation for the Ardennes classics, then I went unexpectedly to the Giro.”  He noted, “I'm not a machine. You should be realistic. I am already very lean and in great shape, I can not continue to maintain this level.”

He even cited Alberto Contador as “the best proof” of the difficulty. “Last year he won the Giro and for that he paid a price in the Tour. He was not strong enough and he has not even raced between the Giro and the Tour, as I now do.”

In addition, “I don't want to be named as the leader, because if I put in a disappointing performance, then everyone can afterwards complain that I was not good enough. "

This is the shocker of the day: RSNT released the names of the riders for the Tour de France this morning, and what do you know...American Chris Horner is named as one of the riders. Now is this because he is healed up? Or because Andy Schleck is out and Frank Schleck doesn't want to lead? Or is it because Johan Bruyneel has stepped back and someone else chose the Tour team? I would bet that it is the middle question I posed, but whatever the reason I hope Horner KICKS SOME ASS at the Tour!!! I'm just mad that Jakob Fuglsang didn't get picked.

Horner chosen for RadioShack-Nissan Tour de France team

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horner-chosen-for-radioshack-nissan-tour-de-france-team)

American Chris Horner will be a part of the RadioShack-Nissan team for the Tour de France after all. The squad announced its nine riders for the race, which begins on June 30 in Liège, Belgium today.

Horner was initially left off the RadioShack-Nissan long team for the Tour after he decided to skip both the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de Suisse, two important preparation races for the Grand Tour, because he was lacking form after taking time to rehabilitate a back injury.

Last week he told Cyclingnews that his back was fully healed and he was sending his training files to the team directors as proof that he is ready for the Tour.

In addition to Horner, the team will be represented by Fabian Cancellara, Tony Gallopin, Andreas Klöden, Maxime Monfort, Yaroslav Popovych, Fränk Schleck, Jens Voigt and Haimar Zubeldia.

Since newly declared 2010 Tour de France champion Andy Schleck is out of the race with a fractured sacrum, sustained during the Critérium du Dauphiné, and his brother Fränk is declining the role as leader citing fatigue after his second place in the Tour de Suisse, Horner could be one of the team's GC leaders for the Tour de France.

After being left off the drama-filled RSNT's team, I completely understand and support Joost Posthuma's decision to find a new team.

Posthuma ready to return to a Dutch team in 2013

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/posthuma-ready-to-return-to-a-dutch-team-in-2013)

Joost Posthuma is ready to come home. After two years away, he wants to ride for a Dutch team again in 2013. He previously rode for Rabobank, on both the Continental and WorldTour teams, from 2002 to 2010.

In 2011, he transferred to Leopard Trek, and is with RadioShack-Nissan this year, which he counts as “foreign” teams. “I've now had two years experience abroad,” he told broadcaster rtvoost.nl. "But the Dutch mentality appeals to me more. You can get your own opportunities there.I am now 31 years old and want to have some good results for myself.”

Posthuma had a virus that kept him out of the Criterium du Dauphine. He has not ridden much this season, but his most recent outing was an eighth place overall in the Bayern Rundfahrt. His plans for the rest of the season include the Tour of Poland, the Eneco Tour and the Vuelta a Espana.

Tour de Suisse, Preparations for July, & Hincapie's News

June 11, Stage 3: Martigny - Aarberg 194.7km

Sagan wins stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-suisse-2012/stage-3/results)

Liquigas-Cannondale's Peter Sagan continued his excellent run of form in recent months by sprinting to victory in stage three of the Tour de Suisse in Aarberg this afternoon.

It was Sagan's second victory in three days after he secured the individual time trial win on Saturday. He pipped Australia's Baden Cooke (Orica-GreenEdge) into second place, with Sky's Ben Swift coming home in third. There were no big changes to the overall general classification, with Movistar’s Rui Costa retaining his eight second advantage over Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan).

In addition to his two wins already in this race, Sagan scored an amazing five wins at last month’s Amgen Tour of California, tearing up the record books in the process. In a superbly consistent season, he has also enjoyed top five finishes at Gent-Wevlegem, Milan-San Remo, the Amstel Gold Race and the Tour of Flanders. He’s certainly elevated himself to become one of the most talked-about road cyclists on the planet as we approach the twin totems that are the Tour de France and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Today’s stage measured just under 195km, from the town of Martigny in the south west of the country to Aarberg. The stage’s fairly flat opening half lent itself to a sizeable breakaway and after 100km a trio of riders had opened up a gap of ten minutes on the rest of the peloton. Guillaume Bonnafond (AG2R-LaMondiale), Michael Morkov (Saxo Bank) and Jonas Van Genechten (Lotto-Belisol) were the three men to break free, and they would stay there for the majority of the afternoon.

There was very little drama and very little change in proceedings until the riders started up the first real climb of significance, the category 3 Frienisberg. By this stage the roads were coated in a smattering of rainwater, making the descent on the other side of he climb a lot trickier than it had looked on paper at the start line this morning.

With none of the leading trio realistic threats to those at the top of the general classification, the chasing peloton appeared relaxed and were happy to claw back the three leaders at their own pace. If there was any donkey work being done, and it a phrase used in the loosest sense, it was being mainly done by Team Sky and by Liquigas – clearly mindful that in Swift and Sagan respectively, they each possessed a weapon for the predicted sprint finish.

As the leaders started to climb, the writing on the wall became apparent very quickly for Van Genechten and he was dropped by Bonnafond and Morkov.

The gap between the two leaders and those in behind began to tumble rapidly, but the escapees managed to consolidate it as they descended down the other side. They maintained it in unlikely fashion all the way up and over the category four climb that came just a few kilometres from the finish, before eventually being swallowed by the main peloton with less than 1km left to race.

It was Cooke who got first run on the twisty last few hundred metres to the line, and for a few months it looked as if the Australian had stolen a big enough march on acrh-sprinters Sagan and Swift. Cooke’s move had indeed been decisive enough to repel the finishing burst of the latter, but Sagan had too much power allied to a sense of instinctive timing and he did enough to pass Cooke by the narrowest of margins just as the winning line came. 

Full Results

#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale	4:35:32
2	Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
3	Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Procycling
4	Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Pro Team Astana	0:00:03
5	Allan Davis (Aus) Orica GreenEdge Cycling Team
6	Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ-Big Mat
7	Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
8	Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Barracuda
9	Daniele Colli (Ita) Team Type 1 - Sanofi
10	Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team

 

Even the professionals worry about their form...

Cancellara was unsure of his form before Tour de Suisse time trial

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-was-unsure-of-his-form-before-tour-de-suisse-time-trial)

Even four-time World Champions can still get butterflies in their stomach before starting a time trial. Fabian Cancellara tweeted before Saturday's Tour de Suisse opener that he “was really nervos today. Even me can still have that.”

The RadioShack-Nissan rider also said that it was a “strange feeling when you dont no how good you are.” He covered the 7.3km course throughout Lugano in 9: 47, but ended up second behind Peter Sagan of Liquigas-Cannondale, who was four seconds faster.

The Swiss rider missed nearly two months of racing after suffering a quadruple collarbone fracture in the Tour of Flanders on April 1. His recovery took longer than anticipated, and he had to abandon his first race back, the Bayern Rundfahrt, due to illness.

“Just because I’ve won a lot of things in the time trial doesn’t mean I will automatically win. You have to have power. I tried to do my best, especially here in my home tour.

“The expectations are always high and I tried to stay focused on the race and my performance. This is what counts. Maybe I lost just a little bit because of that pressure.”

He tried to look for the positive aspects of the situation. “But I am still getting better and I am feeling better. I will continue to concentrate and focus on what is coming.  On the top of the climb I had gone so deep today. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m coming back from injury and so what I did today makes me happy. That’s my little victory.”

There were still the negative aspects, though. “But of course from a sporting point of view, I am sad. That’s how life goes for a cyclist. I am still learning to handle the pressure as I know that’s my responsibility and today I think I put up a good battle so I will be satisfied.”

He can still look forward to the Tour de France. Team manager Johan Bruyneel said earlier that Cancellara was the only RadioShack-Nissan rider assured of a place on the squad.

Some cyclists continue to work where they know they need improvement...

Martin: Sky are the Bayern München of cycling

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/martin-sky-are-the-bayern-munchen-of-cycling)

Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider Tony Martin will be staying in the French Alps for a few more days after having finished the Critérium du Dauphiné on Sunday. The World time trial champion will be reconnoitering the Tour de France stages located in the Alps as well as the course of the first long time trial from Arc-et-Senans to Besançon (41.5 km).

"Until Thursday, we will inspect the Alps and the first long time trial. After that, I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend at home," the 27-year-old told German Radsport-News.

Martin, who suffered a training setback in April due to a heavy crash, was "very satisfied" with his form at this stage. He placed second behind overall winner Bradley Wiggins (Sky) in the Dauphiné's 53km race against the clock last week, and continued to work on his climbing during the difficult mountain stages.

"I'm on schedule. It was important to me to make sure that my form is where it should be. My aim at the Dauphiné was not on the general classification, anyway," he added.

Martin will be one of his team's leaders at the upcoming Tour de France, where his main goals will certainly be to win one or even two of the race's long time trials, as well as to pursue a top GC placing. However, the German was very impressed with British outfit Team Sky, who dominated the race in the mountains and practically escorted its leader Wiggins to the overall win just like US Postal used to do with seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong.

"They had the race in their hands. Wiggins has very strong domestiques, who could all be captains in other teams. Sky is like the Bayern München of cycling," he commented.

And some just start dieting, so that their form is better...

Cavendish on a diet for Olympics

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cavendish-on-a-diet-for-olympics)

The Olympic road race in London being a major goal for British sprinter Mark Cavendish, the Sky rider has started dieting early for the event. With a parcours not necessarily suited to the pure fast men, Cavendish has decided to lose weight by banning all sugars, according to Sporza.

"I'm already four kilos lighter than my normal race weight," the world champion told the Belgian media. "I've stopped candy, soft drinks and ready meals. That's not easy: in the beginning I got tired very fast and I found it difficult. It was hard to adapt to it."

But the prospect of Box Hill, a short but sharp climb featured in the Olympic race course, made the Manxman continue his new diet. "The route is not bad, but it's not tailor-made to me either. That's why I'm dieting now. I'm adapting my life to it."

Losing some of his body fat will also help Cavendish in his quest to defend his green jersey at the Tour de France.

RadioShack Nissan Trek narrowed down their Tour de France team to 14 riders. Five still have to be cut, as the teams can only have 9 riders. Its sad to see that Chris Horner isn't in the preliminary selection however, especially after his unfortunate crash last year...

RadioShack-Nissan selects preliminary Tour de France team

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/radioshack-nissan-selects-preliminary-tour-de-france-team)

The Radioshack Nissan Trek team management made a pre-selection of 14 riders for the 2012 Tour de France, which is scheduled to start June 30 and end on July 22.

The selected riders include Fabian Cancellara, Jakob Fuglsang, Tony Gallopin, Linus Gerdemann, Markel Irizar, Andreas Klöden, Maxime Monfort, Yaroslav Popovych, Gregory Rast, Hayden Roulston, Andy Schleck, Fränk Schleck, Jens Voigt and Haimar Zubeldia.

Andy Schleck was recently named the 2010 Tour de France champion after Alberto Contador was disqualified per his doping ban. Cadel Evans is the defending Tour de France champion.

American Chris Horner, who had been hoping to make the team, was not selected.
The final roster of nine riders will be announced in the week of June 18.

And finally, in the sad news today, George Hincapie has announced his retirement...

Hincapie announces retirement

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hincapie-announces-retirement)

George Hincapie (BMC Racing) announced on Monday that this will be his final season of professional cycling. The three-time US national road champion said the Tour de France and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in August will be the last two races of his 19-year career.

Hincapie said his decision came after much thought and discussion with people closest to him - particularly his wife, Melanie, whom he met while competing in the Tour de France.

"This is definitely not a decision that has been easy," Hincapie said. "I came to the conclusion that I want to go out while I can still contribute and make a difference. To be able to compete for 19 years as a professional cyclist has been something I would have never dreamed of doing. But at the same time, it's also going to be good to spend more time with my kids, who are getting to be the age where they miss me when I'm gone."

The soon-to-be 39-year-old has played an integral role in helping teammates like Cadel Evans, who was third at the Critérium du Dauphiné, and Alessandro Ballan, who was third at Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, to success. The Greenville, South Carolina resident said he hopes to stay involved in the BMC Racing Team and the sport in some capacity.

"I don't want to get completely out of cycling," he said. "My company, Hincapie Sportswear, obviously revolves around cycling. So I want to see it grow while putting in more time with the people I love. But also know that I'm still feeling strong and healthy and ready to make a contribution to the team these last two months. I'm 100 percent motivated to help Cadel win another Tour."

Evans, the defending Tour de France champion, said he was saddened to hear one of his most trusted teammates will only be at his side one for one more edition of the world's greatest race.

"I'm hoping that he'll change his mind, probably like many other cycling fans around the world will do when they hear the news," Evans said. "George is incredible. He's the core of the BMC Racing Team and not just on the road as a captain, but also in the structure of the team. He's a part of so many aspects of everything we do because of his tremendous leadership." Evans said he would like nothing more than to have Hincapie lead him onto the Champs-Élysées for a repeat Tour victory. "It's a dream at this point, but it's a dream that I'd like to deliver to George to thank him for all the sacrifices he's made for me over the past few years."

BMC Racing Team President Jim Ochowicz said Hincapie has cemented his legacy in the sport with unselfish teamwork and a tireless work ethic. "George was the first big rider to believe in the BMC Racing Team," Ochowicz said. "He's led us through the past three years of the Classics and Grand Tour seasons as both a leader and a teammate. I am very proud that he was able to start as a professional with me on the Motorola team in 1994 and that I'm still with him at the end of his career. It's been an honor to bookend the career of one of the nicest people and one of the greatest cyclists America has ever produced."

BMC Racing Team Sponsor Andy Rihs said he was disappointed to hear the news, but respected Hincapie's decision to go out while still being a crucial component of the team's success.

"We'll really miss him," Rihs said. "He's a great champion and while I'm saddened, I understand everything must come to an end. We wish him well and hope he stays involved in the sport because he's always been the guy I call the champion's champion."

Hincapie is a five-time Olympian (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008) and past Tour de France stage winner, who has been bettering longevity records this year in races like Paris-Roubaix (17 finishes) and the Tour of Flanders (17 finishes).

A start at this year's Tour de France later this month would bring another: 17 participations in cycling's greatest race. He shares the record of 16 Tour starts (to go along with 15 finishes) with Dutchman Joop Zoetemelk and a record nine times, he has helped a teammate win the three-week race.

2012 Criterium du Dauphine Stage 6

The Queen's stage of the Criterium du Dauphine was not a good stage for the more known RadioShack Nissan Trek riders. Although this should come as no surprise, but Andy Schleck abandoned the stage. Also, with his 2nd place finish, Cadel Evans was able to take the Points Jersey from Tony Gallopin. But, on the plus side, a RSNT rider, Haimar Zubeldia, crossed the finish line in 10th place today and Tiago Machado crossed the line 14th. Machado was also part of a 19-man breakaway today.

In the Dauphine today, Brice Feillu managed to get a good lead on the peleton, but he was caught before the end. I was hoping he would win because I randomly chose him on my Road.cc fantasy cycling team when I changed up my roster last night. He had a good run, I'm just sad he couldn't hold off to win. However, the Sky Team is doing an amazing job keeping Bradley Wiggins in the lead.

Andy Schleck abandons Criterium du Dauphine

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-abandons-criterium-du-dauphine)

Andy Schleck's Criterium du Dauphine has gone from bad to worse, and the RadioShack-Nissan captain threw in the towel on Saturday's sixth stage, abandoning the race. He had come into the penultimate stage in 129th place, over 29 minutes behind race leader Bradley Wiggins.

Schleck had not performed well in any stage, but his worst stage was the fifth, when he lost nearly 14 minutes. He explained his early poor performance was due to knee problems which cost him a week's training in May.

He then crashed heavily in Thursday's windy time trial, and suffered a heavy blow to his right aide and ribcage, as well as severe road rash. After Friday's stage, he declared his intentions to continue in the race, saying, “I’ve abandoned too many times this year already.”

June 9, Stage 6: Saint-Alban-Leysse - Morzine 166.5km

Dauhpine: Wiggins and Sky dominate the Joux Plane

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/criterium-du-dauphine-2012/stage-6/results)

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) won the sixth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine, holding off not only Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) but also Team Sky. Evans broke from the small group of favourites to finish second, 16 seconds down, with Daniel Moreno of Katusha leading the group across the finish line another eight seconds later.

Bradley Wiggins easily defended his lead, but there were changes behind him. Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) had fallen back on the brutal final climb, and also fell off the podium. Evans attacked near the end but it was not enough to bring him a significant gain, but with Martin gone Michael Rogers moved up to second and Evans to third.

A large escape group had broken away early and stayed away much of the stage. Brice Feillu (Saur-Sojasun) broke from the group on the penultimate ascent, and was able to stay away until near the top of the final climb. The rest of the break group had been caught earlier on the climb.

The day saw a number of riders abandon, but the most significant was Andy Schleck. The RadioShack-Nissan rider was suffering from injuries caused by a crash in the stage four time trial, and had to drop out after 65 kilometres.

However, the stage was a masterful piece of work by Team Sky, with three riders staying with Wiggins until the end, and never showing any signs of weakness. Christopher Froome climbed in to fourth place, giving the British team first, second and fourth places overall. Still, the stage also showed that their competition was weak. Evans was left to fend for himself on the final climb, and top names like Martin and Vincenzo Nibali were unable to conquer the final climb.

Six climbs on the race's queen stage

The race started with the ascent of the category one-ranked Col de Plainpalais, and almost immediately Andy Schleck had difficulties. He only made it to the third ascent of the day before leaving the race.

Others were luckier, and a large escape group formed on that first climb. Petr Ignatenko, Alberto Losada and Yuriy Trofimov (Katusha), Thomas Voeckler and Pierre Rolland (Europcar), Blel Kadri and Christophe Riblon (AG2R), Tiago Machado (RadioShack), Maciej Paterski and Cayetano Sarmiento (Liquigas), Rémy Di Gregorio and David Moncoutié (Cofidis), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel), Mario Marzano (Lampre), Jesus Hernandez (Saxo Bank), Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma), Brice Feillu (Saur - Sojasun), Alexandre Geniez (Argos) and Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil) formed the large group which had a lead of up to three and a half minutes on the early part of the stage.
The day's course was not an easy one, as it featured six ranked climbs, including the opening Col de Plainpalais. the category one Col de Colombiere and closing with the Col de Joux Plane (hors categorie), although there was no mountaintop finish.

At around the feeding zone, Andrey Grivko of Astana attacked out of the peloton. It took a long time, but he was able to meet up with the escape group on the descent of the Colombiere.

The category 3 Cote de Chatillon popped up between the two final larger climbs, and Feillu took advantage of it to break from the group.

The expected – or at least, hoped-for – fireworks for the GC never happened. Team Sky had the peloton in full control, with race leader Bradley Wiggins well protected. He kept a close eye on second-placed Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep).

The gap between the peloton and the large escape group remained fairly constant, but Feillu built up his lead over the group. His lead got to be too much for Lotto Belisol, who moved up to help Sky with the lead work. The chase soon showed effect, as the gap fell by about a minute.

Feillu started up the final climb with a three minute lead. And the start of the climb was the cue for Evans' BMC team to move to the head of the field. The pace was high enough that many rides started dropping off the back of the field, as Lotto Belisol and Sky reclaimed the head of the peloton.

The field splintered entirely, with Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), Philippe Gilbert (BMC) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) all dropped.

Feillu clung doggedly to his shrinking lead, and the one-time break group shattered as well. They were finally caught by the Sky-led group, just as Tony Martin had to drop back.

Richie Porte and Edvald Boasson Hagen were the main locomotives for Sky on the climb, putting in monstrous efforts.
Quintana made his move with some 15km to go, trying to bridge up to Feillu. Wiggins still had three teammates with him, including Michael Rogers who looked to move up to second after Martin’s capitulation. Evans had only one teammate at his side, but was soon alone in the small group.

Feillu didn't make it alone to the top of the climb. Quintana caught and passed him and Feillu quickly fell back through the Wiggins group. The Movistar rider took a 22 second gap into the descent.

Evans finally jumped on the descent, with 12km to go. He never had more than a few metres, and Sky quickly and calmly gathered him back in.

It was a fast and dangerous descent. Quintano went all out and wobbled a few times on the tricky curves, but was able to add a few seconds to his narrow lead.

Evans pulled away again with just over 5km to go. But he had left it too late to put in enough time to take the overall lead, and Sky was more concerned with coming down the mountain in one piece.

The Australian was hoping to catch and pass Quintana for the stage win, but the Colombian was in fact increasing his lead on the Wiggins group with every corner. Quintana took the win with a comfortable gap over Evans, with the Wiggins group coming in a few seconds later.

Full Results

1	Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team	4:46:12
2	Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team	0:00:16
3	Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team	0:00:24
4	Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling
5	Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdge
6	Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
7	Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar Team
8	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
9	Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling
10	Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan



More RSNT News...

There has been so much Johan Bruyneel vs. the Schleck Brothers in the news, along with the RadioShack Nissan Trek team...today wasn't an exception:

First the improvement of the RSNT team:

The story improves for RadioShack-Nissan at the Dauphiné

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/the-story-improves-for-radioshack-nissan-at-the-dauphine)

Tony Gallopin (RadioShack-Nissan) continued his run of solid form on Stage 2 of the Critérium du Dauphiné, sprinting to third behind winner Daniel Moreno (Katusha) and Julien Simon (Saur-Sojasun).

Gallopin finished in the top 10 of each of the five stages of the Bayern Rundfahrt, and sixth overall in the lead up to the French event, and then fifth on Monday’s Stage 1.

"When there isn’t a victory it is always disappointing," he said on the team’s website, frustrated that he had come close yet again.

"The team did such a good job for me, especially Popo. Popo stayed with me until the last 500 meters when some riders attacked and it was time for me to go. I tried to keep the wheel of Moreno when he went and I couldn’t, but third place is not so bad. Tomorrow is the flattest stage of the week so it will be for the super fast sprinters which is not me, but that’s ok because on Friday and Sunday I will have more chances."

The performance netted the 24-year-old the white jersey for the best young rider.

Meantime, team talking-point Andy Schleck finished the 160km stage 1:47 behind Moreno, 100th man across the finish line with RadioShack-Nissan manager Johan Bruyneel encouraged by the effort.

"I saw something special today from Andy, something that makes me hope," Bruyneel is quoted as saying on Nieuwsblad.be. "In a second category climb of the Montivernoux, he started at the back and drove ahead as everybody went over the climb.

"He literally told me: 'do not panic, I'll be ready for the Tour'. I believe him. He’s been there in the past. I just hope that he is not on the back foot heading into the Tour."

Schleck himself say there was no need for concern.

"I understand that there are people panicking about my performance, but they shouldn’t," he said. "I expect that by the final weekend, you will see signs of progression."

Then we found out exacly why Andy Schleck has been struggling:

Andy Schleck reveals he was treated for knee problems in May

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-reveals-he-was-treated-for-knee-problems-in-may)Andy Schleck has disclosed that knee problems have affected his form, and that he was in fact treated at a clinic in Switzerland for three days last month. So it is “not surprising” that he is behind in the Critérium du Dauphiné, he said.

While checking out the Alpine stages of the Tour de France last month, the younger Schleck developed knee problems. Team RadioShack-Nissan decided not to take any chances and sent him to a clinic in Basel, run by one of the team doctors. He was there for three days for treatment and rest.

In all, he lost a week of training. “Therefore it is not surprising that I am behind the competition in the Dauphiné,” he told De Telegraaf. “Of course I would prefer to show a better condition, but if you look at the preparations, it makes sense.

“I think that I have gotten better over the past three days. I don't feel the panic which some other people feel because I was dropped in the first stage. I'm not panicking.”

Neither is his boss, Johan Bruyneel. "He literally told me: 'do not panic, I'll be ready for the Tour'. I believe him. He’s been there in the past. I just hope that he is not on the back foot heading into the Tour,” he told Nieuwsblad.be.

Schleck lost over three minutes on the first stage of the Dauphiné and just under two minutes in Tuesday's second stage.  His main rivals for the Tour de France title, Bradley Wiggins (Sky) and Cadel Evans (BMC) are currently first and second overall, with only one second dividing them.

 

Then we learn of the possible future of the Schlecks:

Schlecks to Riis, Contador to Bruyneel?

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schlecks-to-riis-contador-to-bruyneel)

Will Andy and Fränk Schleck return to Saxo Bank and Bjarne Riis, with Alberto Contador then going to Johan Bruyneel and Team RadioShack-Nissan? Tuttobiciweb.it indicated that such a deal may be in motion.

Officially, however, teams and riders are not allowed to start negotiating new contracts or have official contact until after August 1. Despite this, the Italian website said the deal “is at a very advanced stage...”

The swap of riders would serve both teams, the report says. Riis needs riders who can bring in UCI points and possibly sponsors, which the Schlecks are capable of doing.

RadioShack-Nissan and Bruyneel has the sponsors and the points but want a rider who can win the Tour de France. “A perfect portrait of Alberto Contador,” the website pointed out.

The Schlecks and Riis did not have a good relationship after they left Saxo Bank in 2010, and the same is said to be true of Contador and Bruyneel after their time together at Astana.

But now, tuttobiciweb.it reports, all are ready to forgive and forget. “Riis is ready to embrace the brothers, and Contador prepares to land in America.”