If a professional cyclist wants to make a statement about his abilities, the epic climb of Mont Ventoux is certainly the place to do it.
Sylvester Szmyd and Alejandro Valverde finished 1st and 2nd on the moonscape mountaintop on Thursday for Stage 5 of the Dauphiné Libéré.
In the process, defending champion Valverde took the overall lead of the race away from Australia's Cadel Evans, who dropped 16 seconds back …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/11/valverde-facing-suspension-takes-dauphine-lead-on-mont-ventoux/
“What I've watched for the past 15 years has been almost robotic racing. I used to gasp for air and had to think about when I could take a sip of water – my sport drink – I'd try and time it for a flat section on the switchback of a climb.
“[Now] I see people talking on the 'phone' [radio] riding a climb at the front of the Tour de France. For me it's surreal – I don't recognise the sport anymore.”
— Three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond giving one example of why thinks there's widespread doping in cycling. He was speaking at the anti-doping Play the Game Conference at Coventry University in the UK. He went on to offer solutions to the problem, according to a report in that uses statistics and analytical data.
Expect to hear more about doping as we head into the Tour de France on July 4. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/11/quote-why-lemond-says-its-obvious-that-cyclists-are-doping/
Google Maps is bringing its Street View technology to bicycle and pedestrian trials.
Using a trike outfitted with an antenna, GPS and camera, Google has put cyclists out on bike paths in California, Italy and the UK (see video on jump).
The Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Path, right, is one of the first bike paths to make it online.
You'd have to agree that it will be fascinating to see the 360-degree views of all the bicycle paths that Google can shoot; that means that the bike paths will be making their way onto Google Maps …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/10/google-maps-filming-bicycle-paths-for-street-view/
Google Maps extends its Street View technology to bicycle paths. Here's an example in Monterey.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/10/google-making-street-views-of-bicycle-paths/
From early reports, it sounds like the new Hood Canal Bridge is a vast improvement for bicyclists.
The mile-long span was a narrow, traffic congested — yet unavoidable — link between the Kitsap and North Olympic peninsulas. The few times I used it, I always had the desire to kiss the ground on reaching the opposite bank.
The replacement floating-bridge, whose installation was completed last Wednesday after about five weeks of work, has 8-foot wide emergency lanes all the way across that bicyclists can use …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/10/hood-canal-bridge-reopens-positive-reviews-from-cyclists/
Cadel Evans will be wearing the leader's jersey at the Dauphiné Libéré on Thursday when the peloton sets out on the 95-mile bicycle race to Mont Ventoux.
The Australian regained the yellow jersey by finishing second in the individual time trial on Wednesday, trailing Bert Grabsch of Columbia-High Road by 7 seconds.
Alberto Contador, Evans' chief rival in the Dauphiné and the upcoming Tour de France in July, finished 5th on Wednesday, 44 seconds behind Grabsch. The Astana cyclist is 2nd in the overall standings, 45 seconds behind Evans …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/10/cadel-evans-scorches-time-trial-back-in-yellow-at-dauphine/
A five-man breakaway that developed early in Stage 3 of the Dauphiné Libéré survived to the finish line in St. Etienne on Tuesday.
The winner of the breakaway sprint, Milram's Niki Terpstra of the Netherlands, also took over the race lead from Silence-Lotto's Cadel Evans.
Evans, one of the favorites to win the Tour de France next month, finished with rival Alberto Contador in the peloton that crossed the line about 1:30 behind the breakaway group …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/09/new-leader-at-dauphine-libere/
Garmin-Slipstream's David Millar couldn't hold a 5-second lead over the peloton in the final kilometer of Stage 2 at the Dauphiné Libéré as Angelo Furlan of Lampre won the sprint.
Millar, who sits in 5th place overall, faded within reach of the finish line in Dijon to end the 141-mile race. He was swarmed by the QuickStep team of Tom Boonen, who finished 3rd. Marcus Zberg of BMC Racing finished in 2nd place.
Australia's Cadel Evans safely finished further back, retaining his 8-second lead over Spain's Alberto Contador of Team Astana. Both are favorites to win the Tour de France, which begins in Monaco on July 4 …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/08/furlan-wins-dauphine-libere-sprint-evans-leads/
Volunteers ensure the success of the hundreds of the bicycling charity events that take place every year in the U.S., and the LiveStrong Challenge bike ride is no exception.
Checking last night, it looked like the LiveStrong Seattle is in dire need of volunteers, with more than 450 volunteer positions open for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check volunteer registration page.
The LiveStrong Challenge in Seattle takes place on Sunday, June 21, with a 5K walk/run and bicycle ride options of 10, 45, 70 and 100 miles. It's preceded by LiveStrong Village at the Seattle Center on Saturday and followed by a post-ride party, also at the Seattle Center from 9 to 5 p.m. Sunday …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/07/livestrong-challenge-seattle-bike-ride-seeking-volunteers/
Two bicycle races of note are on tap this Sunday — one a stage race that's considered a Tour de France prelude and another a one-day championship race in the U.S.
Aussie Cadel Evans won the opening time trial of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré in France. The second-place finisher of the Tour de France the past two years beat 2008 Tour winner Alberto Contador by 8 seconds in the 7.5 mile individual time trial around the streets of Nancy.
Meanwhile, cyclists took to the streets in the city of brotherly love for the TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship. Columbia-High Road's sprinter Andre Greipel beat teammate Greg Henderson at the line. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/06/07/evans-wins-dauphine-libere-opener-columbias-greipel-wins-in-philly/
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