July 2011 archive

Stage 12, 2011 Tour de France

Tour de France profile

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/14/stage-12-2011-tour-de-france/

Former teammates – now rivals – face off in sprint sequel

Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel went at it again in the final sprint in Stage 11 of the Tour de France on Wednesday, but this time Cavendish's lead-out companions were with him to clear the way to victory.

The “Manx Missile's” 18th career stage win at the Tour de France (his third this year) followed a narrow defeat in Stage 10 at the hands of former teammate and rival Greipel (Omega Pharma).

After the race, Cavendish said he had “redeemed” himself.

Meanwhile, France's Thomas Voeckler …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/13/former-teammates-now-rivals-face-off-in-sprint-sequel/

Former teammate settles score at Tour de France

Mark Cavendish met his match on Tuesday when he was overtaken by former teammate Andre Greipel by less than a wheel length at the end of Stage 10 of the Tour de France.

The sprint followed a lumpy 99-mile stage from Aurillac to Carmaux that saw the sprinters struggle to stay with the peloton as Phillippe Gilbert set a torrid pace in the closing kilometers.

France's Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) survived easily in the yellow jersey …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/12/former-teammate-settles-score-at-tour-de-france/

Andre Greipel

Andre Greipel wins for Omega Pharma

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/12/andre-greipel-3/

Long-distance bicycle tour resumes after 25-year interruption

Three friends whose bicycle tour around the U.S. ended 25 years ago in a life-threatening crash will return to the road this month to complete their 8,141-mile journey.

The western New York trio plan to resume their bike tour from the scene of the crash in Seguin, Texas, on July 29 and finish the final 2,500 miles to Buffalo, N.Y., by the end of August.

It reminds me of Dutch bicyclist Frank van Dijk who returned to the U.S. last fall to complete his TransAmerica bicycle tour 34 years after it was interrupted by a collision with a car in Eureka, Kansas.

Having a bicycle-trip-of-a-lifetime cut short by a car crash must leave people with a severe sense of unfinished business ….

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/11/long-distance-bicycle-tour-resumes-after-25-year-interruption/

Lead changes at Tour de France as crash carnage continues;
Zabriskie, Vinokourov, Van den Broeck among victims

Update: Frenchman Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), left, earned the yellow jersey of the Tour de France on Sunday after surviving in a long breakaway that itself was not immune from a series of crashes that injured cyclists, causing at least five to abandon the race.

The Stage 9 victory went to Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank), another member of the 3-man breakaway.

That break comprised 5 cyclists — Voeckler, Sanchez, Sandy Casar (FDJ), Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoliel) — when the most bizarre crash of the race occurred …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/10/lead-changes-at-tour-de-france-as-crash-carnage-continueszabriskie-vinokourov-van-den-broeck-among-victims/

Thomas Voeckler

Takes yellow jersey in breakaway on Stage 9

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/10/thomas-voeckler-2/

Tejay van Garderen

Native of Tacoma wins most aggressive award at Tour de France, Stage 8

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/09/tejay-van-garderen-2/

Rui Costa

Movistar cyclist wins first Tour de France victory

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/09/rui-costa/

Clear skies for 200-mile Seattle to Portland (STP) bike ride

Some 10,000 cyclists of all ages and sizes took off under sunny skies for the 32nd Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic on Saturday.

It's only fitting these cyclists were blessed with good weather after so many trained for this day through spring weather that's been wetter and colder than normal.

Last year the oldest cyclist was 87 and the youngest was 1 year, 22 months. Although the official stats for 2011 haven't been posted, I'm betting that Coal, at left, might be the only dog making the trip.

His owners, first-time STPers, built a comfy, carpeted platform for him inside the Burley trailer, but Coal didn't like being cooped up. He left Seward Park on foot. I hope he chooses to hop in for ride …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/09/clear-skies-for-200-mile-seattle-to-portland-stp-bike-ride/