Biking Bis - Bicycle Touring

Two choices for citizen cyclists at 2012 l'Etape du Tour

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:27:00 -0700

Although the 2012 Tour de France includes a prologue and two individual time trials, the 10,000 cycling enthusiasts who take to the l'Etape du Tour will be challenged by two standard road routes.

The two bicycle rides will let citizen cyclists test themselves against the pros on actual routes from that year's Tour de France, albeit on different days.

Tour de France organizers historically chose the mountainous "queen stage" for each year's l'Etape. Last year, they broadened the participation base by announcing a second, less debilitating route.

Unfortunately, the Tour didn't produce route profiles ....

2012 Tour de France route; aka Tour de Time Trial

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:23:00 -0700

In the immediate slipstream of the 2012 Tour de France route announcement came speculation that the route favors Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador.

Why? They're good all around cyclists who excel in the time trial events, and the 2012 Tour just happens to have three such races-against-the-clock events.

The Tour de France, which rolls out from June 30 to July 22, will open with a prologue and tack on an individual time trial for Stage 9 and another on Stage 19, the penultimate stage. That's 96.1km of time trials, about double ...

Cavendish and Evans celebrate Tour de France in Paris

Gene Bisbee — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 09:14:00 -0700

Mark Cavendish rocketed to the front of the peloton on Champs-Élysées in Paris to win his fifth stage of the 2011 Tour de France on Sunday.

Somewhere behind him, Cadel Evans was mobbed by his teammates as he crossed the finish line to become the first Australian ever to win the Tour.

He'd been protected throughout the 95km (58.9 mile) stage by his BMC Racing teammates to ensure he retained the yellow jersey after winning it in the individual time trial on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Cavendish became the first Briton to win the green points jersey at the Tour. His Paris win marked his 5th in this Tour and 20th in his career. ....

New bloke emerges as Tour de France leader in rip snorter

Gene Bisbee — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 08:32:00 -0700

Cadel Evans finally achieved success in his seven-year battle to win the Tour de France on Saturday as his main rivals fell off his pace in the individual time trial in Grenoble.

The 34-year-old BMC Racing cyclist overcame a 57-second deficit to pass the Brothers Schleck - Andy and Frank - to become the first Australian to win the Tour.

Although there is still the race into Paris on the Champs Elysees on Sunday, that's mainly ceremonial for the top riders. The sprinters take control in the final circuits ...

Yellow jersey changes hands on Tour de France's last Alpine stage

Gene Bisbee — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:50:00 -0700

After 19 stages of the Tour de France, Andy Schleck finally grabbed the yellow jersey from Thomas Voeckler in the bike race's final day in the Alps on Friday.

The big question now is whether the cyclist from Luxembourg can hold the lead for more than a day. Accomplished time trialist Cadel Evans (BMC), trailing by 57 seconds, must be licking his chops for the chance to overtake him in the penultimate stage in Grenoble on Saturday.

Asked about his chances against Evans in the time trial, Schleck (Leopard-Trek) said:

"Many riders say the yellow jersey gives you wings, and I hope that's the case tomorrow."

Tour de France Stage 18 -- The Alps never disappoint

Gene Bisbee — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:42:00 -0700

Biking Bis is out on the road, biking. See previous post. This is Mrs. Biking Bis filling in for all you TdF fans who need your morning fix.

Today's stage, the second day in the Alps, separated the men from the boys, as my father would say. Andy Schleck stole the show but could not take the yellow jersey from Thomas Voeckler, who finished 2:21 minutes after the No. 1 Schleck rider, who needed to gain at least 2:37 on the race leader.

Lots of dancing in the pedals today. Biking Bis would never say this, but I rather enjoyed watching Alberto Contador crack in what is his strong suit -- mountain stages. Contador, a three-time winner of the tour, finished 15th on the day, 3:50 back.

Please come back later tonight/tomorrow for the authoritative take of Biking Bis.

It will be very interesting to is see who has anything left Friday when the tour tackles the historic L'Alpe d'Huez.

Tough celebration for 100th anniversary of first Alpine stage

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:00:00 -0700

The cyclists in the peloton are likely to feel a little light-headed on Thursday, and it won't be from the exhilaration of riding in the Tour de France.

The Stage 18 route visits two "beyond category" and a mountain top finish that is at 2,645 meters -- about 8,600 feet where the air is starting to get a little thin.

This is a great way to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Tour's first visit to the Alps, although the cyclists will be too winded to blow out the candles.

There's only one more Alpine stage ...

Tour leader survives final climb but challenged on downhill

Gene Bisbee — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:50:00 -0700

Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen won his second stage at this year's Tour de France on Wednesday after attacking a breakaway on the final climb of the day.

The Sky cyclist has been beaten at the line on Tuesday by fellow countryman and breakaway companion Thor Hushovd, but on Stage 17 he crossed the line solo, 40 seconds ahead of the closest chaser.

Meanwhile, the contenders for the yellow jersey gained nearly half-a-minute on Frenchman Thomas Voeckler, who survived for his ninth day in the lead. He didn't show any weakness on the final climb, but he lost time as he ran off the road into a driveway on the way down.

Defending champion Alberto Contador showed some life again by attacking on the final climb ...

Alpine climbing at the Tour; a bird's eye view of Sestrieres

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:10:00 -0700

Stage 17 boasts five major climbs on Wednesday -- two Category 3s, two Category 2s, and a Category 1.

With Alberto Contador more than 3:30 behind the yellow jersey and still trailing the Schlecks, it's possible he'll choose one of the mountains late in the 179km (111 miles) bike race from Gap to Pinerolo (Italy) to make his move.

The Category 1 Sestrieres is the penultimate climb, cresting about 37 miles (60km) from the finish. The final climb ....

Contador issues challenge, but Evans dominates Stage 16

Gene Bisbee — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:51:00 -0700

Defending champion Alberto Contador finally attacked his rivals at the Tour de France on Tuesday, but it was Cadel Evans, left, who gained the most as the Brothers Schleck fell off the pace.

Meanwhile, Norway's Thor Hushovd (right, Garmin Cervelo) took the final sprint in a three-man breakaway on Stage 16, winning his second stage of the Tour de France this year with the help of Canadian teammate Ryder Hesjedahl.

In spite of the fireworks on the rain-slicked Category 2 Col du Manse on Tuesday, overall leader Thomas Voeckler valiantly held onto the yellow jersey, losing a few seconds to Evans and Contador but gaining time over Andy Schleck ...