Daily Cycling Facts 13.08.2013

Pascal Lino
Born in Sartrouville, France on this day in 1966, Pascal Lino became a household name in France when he wore the maillot jaune for eleven days at the Tour in 1992 after finishing Stage 3 in fourth place, having got into a break that managed to finish seven minutes ahead of the pack - and although he wasn't able to take on the big guns as the race began to draw towards its end, he performed sufficiently well to finish up in fifth place overall.

Lino rode for RMO that year and, when the team closed down at the end of the season, he moved on to Festina-Lotus where he remained until the end of 1994; with them, he won Stage 14 at the 1993 Tour, then in 1994 he was eleventh overall at the Tour and fourteenth at the Vuelta a Espana. In 1995 he switched again to Le Groupement, the rather peculiar team that lasted just one year and courted much controversy due to main sponsor Groupement Européen des Professionnels du Marketing's suspicious similarities to a pyramid scheme; when Le Groupemont closed down he went to Roslotto-ZG Mobili and then in 1997 to BigMat-Auber'93, with whom he remained until 1999 when he was sacked after being found to have "attempted to use steroids" without the knowledge of the team's doctors. Nevertheless, he had little difficulty in finding a new contract and lived out the rest of his career back with Festina, which had survived the doping scandal to which it gave its name, and eventually retired when the team came to an end in 2001.

Lino now runs his own company, specialising in the import and distribution of watches.

Jules Buysse leading Stage 1, Tour de France 1926

Born in Wontergem on this day in 1901, Belgian Jules Buysse was the younger brother of Lucien and Marcel. He won the first stage of the 1926 Tour de France and wore the yellow jersey for two days, then it passed first to Gustave van Slembroucke and then Lucien, who won the General Classification. Jules came ninth.

Other cyclists born on this day: Dionisio Galparsoro (Spain, 1978); Michael van Staeyen (Belgium, 1988); Jairo Hernández (Colombia, 1972); José Medina (Chile, 1973); Grega Bole (Slovenia, 1985); José Antonio Díez (Spain, 1982); John Geddes (Great Britain, 1936); Moana Moo-Caille (France, 1988); Kurt Postl (Austria, 1937); Park Se-Ryong (South Korea, 1959); Dashnyamyn Tömör-Ochir (Mongolia, 1964); Tadeusz Mytnik (Poland, 1949); Michael Walker (Great Britain, 1885, died 1971); Tompson Mensah (Togo, 1954); Martin Sæterhaug (Norway, 1882, died 1961); Aleksandr Kirichenko (USSR, 1967); Carlos Galeano (Colombia, 1950); René Abadie (France, 1935, died 1996).

Giro d'Italia 2013

Here's a taster of Chris Davies' excellent photography from the 2013 Giro d'Italia. You can speak to Chris about his work and to request licensing by emailing him at cmjdavies@gmail.com. Please do not reuse his images without his approval.

Chris Davies Photography

Daily Cycling Facts 13.08.12

Pascal Lino, born in Sartrouville, France on this day in 1966, wore the maillot jaune for eleven days after finishing Stage 3 in fourth place, then came fifth overall at the 1992 Tour de France. The following year he won Stage 14, then 1994 he was eleventh at the Tour and fourteenth at the Vuelta a Espana.

Jules Buysse leading Stage 1, Tour de France 1926

Born in Wontergem on this day in 1901, Belgian Jules Buysse was the younger brother of Lucien and Marcel. He won the first stage of the 1926 Tour de France and wore the yellow jersey for two days, then it passed first to Gustave van Slembroucke and then Lucien, who won the General Classification. Jules came ninth.

Other cyclists born on this day: Dionisio Galparsoro (Spain, 1978); Michael van Staeyen (Belgium, 1988); Jairo Hernández (Colombia, 1972); José Medina (Chile, 1973); Grega Bole (Slovenia, 1985); José Antonio Díez (Spain, 1982); John Geddes (Great Britain, 1936); Moana Moo-Caille (France, 1988); Kurt Postl (Austria, 1937); Park Se-Ryong (South Korea, 1959); Dashnyamyn Tömör-Ochir (Mongolia, 1964); Tadeusz Mytnik (Poland, 1949); Michael Walker (Great Britain, 1885, died 1971); Tompson Mensah (Togo, 1954); Martin Sæterhaug (Norway, 1882, died 1961); Aleksandr Kirichenko (USSR, 1967); Carlos Galeano (Colombia, 1950); René Abadie (France, 1935, died 1996).

Olympics Time Trials Photos

Every British fan - and a fair few from elsewhere, such is the Olympic spirit and her popularity - wanted to see Emma Pooley take a gold medal, but those who have followed her career knew that she was absolutely right when she said the parcours was not right for her: she's a tiny, lightweight climber able to do well in a hilly TT, while this one was flat. Nevertheless, 6th (+1'02.88") was a very respectable result. Fellow Brit Lizzie Armitstead was 10th (+1'51.42").

Olga Zabelinskaya was tenth from the 24 riders to leave the start ramp, but set a superb time of 37'57.45" to lead the event in its early stages. It would be beaten - but by only two riders, earning the 32-year-old Russian a second bronze medal to add to the one she won in the Road Race. "This is the greatest achievement of my career," she said.

South Africa's Ashleigh Moolman was fourth down the ramp and recorded the slowest time, 4'48.75". The fact that she had to ride at a blisteringly fast pace to do so is indication of the extremely high levels of performance and competition found at the upper levels of women's cycling - easily equal to men's cycling.

Tatiana Antoshina (Russia) was the sixth rider to go and recorded the 12th best time, 2'37.67" behind the winner.

Ellen van Dijk (Netherlands), National TT Champion in 2007, took 8th place with a time 1'18.26" slower than the winner.

Marianne Vos had a most uncharacteristic off-day, coming 16th overall and 3'05" behind overall winner Armstrong. Her immediate reaction after the race was a vow never to ride a time trial ever again, which immediately resulted in countless fans telling that these occasional indications that she is in fact human after all, rather than a cycling cyborg sent from the future to show us all how a race should be ridden, are one of the things that make us all love her so much. And anyway, Vos had already stood on 40 podiums so far this year - so who cares about this one race, in a discipline she freely confesses is far from her speciality?

American 38-year-old defending champion Kristin Armstrong's gold medal-winning time of 37'34.82" is a superb reminder that female athletes remain competitive in endurance sports for longer than their male counterparts - and that, therefore, being 35+ is absolutely no reason whatsoever for a woman not to take up cycling at any level (Armstrong was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 2001, too). Her performance was without doubt the highlight of the race and, many will argue, surpassed that of men's winner Bradley Wiggins: 1.51" ahead at the first time check, she just kept on getting faster and faster - by the second check she was 4.89" ahead and she ended up beating Cyclopunk favourite Judith Arndt by 15.47". She was accompanied on the podium by her son Lucas William, who will be two in September.

The USA's Amber Neben was the 7th from last to go and also finished in 7th place, recording a time 1'10.35" slower than Armstrong.

Shara Gillow (Australia) was 14th to go and finished in 13th place, 2'50.21" behind Armstrong.

Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland), defending champion and, in the opinion of many, the greatest male time trial rider of all time, was something of an unknown quantity in this race. At his best, Cancellara is one of the most impressive sights cycling has to offer, but it's no secret that the quadruple fracture to the collarbone at the Ronde van Vlaanderen earlier this year and a nasty crash in the Road Race on Sunday have not left him with the greatest form of his career. Yet still he rode a tough race and came seventh, 2'14.17" slower than Bradley Wiggins, before collapsing in obvious agony after crossing the finish line.

Tony Martin (Germany) is current World TT Champion, but like Cancellara has struggled to regain his usual form after an accident earlier this year (he was hit by a car whilst on a training ride and sustained numerous injuries). His silver medal and time just 42" slower than Wiggins is proof of just how good he is.

The man himself: Bradley Wiggins. Only a week and a half since his historic Tour de France victory, Wiggo came, saw and conquered with a recorded time of 50'39.54" - another boost for cycling in Britain, where it's now more popular than in France if the crowds that gathered to see him are anything to go on. "[He] was unbeatable today," Tony Martin said after the race. 6.8 million people in Britain watched Wiggo win on TV compared to the "mere" 5.5 million who watched Team GB in the football: cycling is our new national sport.

Assan Basayev (Kazakhstan) was 7th off the ramp and finished 7th from last with a time 6'01.23" slower than Wiggins. It was notable that all riders, regardless of the nation they represent, were treated to enormous cheers around the entire parcours; Britain is in love with cycling, not just Wiggo.

The enormously popular Fumiyuki Beppu was the only Japanese rider in the TT and one of only two in the Road Race - and, of course, one of the very few to have made a name for himself in cycling's European heartlands. He recorded the 24th fastest time, 5'01.10" slower than Wiggins.

All photos are copyright of Chris Davies Photography and used here with permission. For Davies' extremely generous reuse terms and more photos from the Women's TT click here, for the men click here.

Team GB prepare for the Games

For more photographs by Chris Davies, click here

Tour de France 2012 - Prologue photos

Photos by Chris Davies Photography

Final adjustments

Your steed awaits

All photography in this article is © 2012 Chris Davies Photography and used here with very kind permission. They are NOT public domain nor "copyleft," please do not reuse without seeking permission from the owner.


Chris Davies Photography on Twitter

Van Vleuten Victorious in Valkenburg, Vos injured

Sharon Laws led the race for a long time
today - if it has been a little cooler, she
could very easily have been the winner

In addition to Stage 1 at the Exergy Tour, Friday brought us the Parkhotel Valkenburg Classic, the 86.7km race that starts and ends in the Limburg city and takes the riders up and over some of the toughest climbs in the area - none of which are very high, but many of which enter double-digit gradients.

Marianne Vos (Rabobank) and Sharon Laws (AA Drink-Leontien.nl) had gained a 55" lead just 15km into the race - a familiar sight to the rest of the field, who have become well-used to the 25-year-old  Rabobank star's tendency to get away early on and then dominate the remainder of the race just like she did here in 2007, 2009 and last year. Laws, however, is an opponent even a rider as talented as Marianne cannot take likely, especially after her stunning performances in Flanders earlier this season; if she could keep up, another Vos victory was far from guaranteed should the race prove destined to end in a test of physical strength. Then, a few kilometres further on, Vos had a  a crash - one of the official motorbikes on the parcours turned out to be slower than the Flying Dutchwoman and failed to get out of the way quickly enough.

She was rapidly back in action, but not before Laws opened a 45" gap between them. Seeing Vos in trouble spurred several hopefuls into action and before long the Dutch rider was trying to make up the gap and hold off a sixteen-strong chase group. She made it back as Laws was slowed by the first ascent of Cauberg, but was visibly suffering and apparently hoping the 2'45" lead they now had would see her through.

By the time they got around to the third ascent, Vos was looking somewhat recovered and the two riders played cat-and-mouse, taking it in turns to put one another to the test and gauge their strength. Annemiek van Vleuten (Rabobank) and Lucinda Brand (AA Drink) had now escaped the chase group and were attempting to bridge to their team mates. Unfortunately for AA Drink, the heat had taken its toll on Laws and she was beginning to lose pace; meaning that even with Brand to help her they stood little chance when their rivals turned up the gas.

Annemiek van Vleuten

Van Vleuten neither intended nor expected to win, but made the most of the opportunity that fate had given her. "Our team manager Jeroen Blijlevens called me in the last couple of kilometres to say I was very close to the leaders," she explained after the race. "So I went for it, without consulting Marianne because there was insufficient time." Chances are, Marianne will be among the first to congratulate her.

Laws was third and recorded the same time as van Vleuten,  followed 15" by Emma Pooley who crossed the line alone ahead of her team mates Chantal Blaak and Lucinda Brand (+1'47") and, in eighth, Shelley Olds - an incredible five AA Drink riders in the top ten.

Vos seemed orifinally to have escaped anything serious: "I've grazed my shoulder and arm, an my right arm is giving me some trouble. I'll have it checked out," she told reporters. However, by 16:00BST rumours had begun to circulate online that she'd suffered a broken collarbone; the news being confirmed by Rabobank's press officer a short while later (and she rode Cauberg FOUR times...?!). She'll now need to concentrate on making a full recovery in time for the Olympics and, if she's taking part this year, the Giro Donne. Very best of wishes for a speedy recovery, Marianne.

Top Ten
  1.  Annemiek Van Vleuten Rabobank 2h31'18"
  2.  Marianne Vos Rabobank ST
  3.  Sharon Laws AA Drink-Leontien.nl ST
  4.  Emma Pooley AA Drink-Leontien.nl +15"
  5.  Chantal Blaak AA Drink-Leontien.nl +1'47"
  6.  Lucinda Brand AA Drink-Leontien.nl ST
  7.  Adrie Visser Skil-Argos +2'22" 4
  8.  Shelley Olds AA Drink-Leontien.nl ST
  9.  Annelies Van Doorslaer Kleo ST
  10.  Pauline Ferrand Prevot Rabobank ST

Full results when available

Photos by Bart Hazen: Sanne Cant guesting for Matrix-Prendas / Vos treats her shoulder with an icepack / van Vleuten crosses the line (follow Bart for photos from the major women's races and as-it-happens race coverage)

Other photos: Eric Boosten - Roxane Knetemann - Chantal Blaak - Emma Pooley / Amstel Gold Race XP - Podium

Tour of Britain Stage 7

For full-size YouTube loveliness, click here

LeopardTrek's Madones look good on
television. In the flesh, they're beautiful
almost beyond words.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have seen the saddle that supports the posterior of Posthuma. We nearly got run over by the LeopardTrek bus. We have breathed air that mere seconds before was wafting through the main triangle of Geraint Thomas' Pinarello - and yea, it was sweetly-scented. We even nearly saw Mark Cavendish, but did not for fear that our mortal eyes might burn up, such is his radiance - and anyway, the crowds round the HTC-Highroad bus were about two hundred deep.

"Impressive! I haven't seen so many spectators for a bike race in UK since TourDeFrance2007. So much support! Thanks everyone for turning out" (@MarkCavendish, Twitter, 15:45 17.08.11) 

The first riders round the corner and head out into the neutral zone

Being based in Cambridge, it was the work of mere seconds for the Cyclopunk office to be shoved in a rucksack and prepared for a quick train jouney (approximately 35 minutes for the sum of £9.20 - honestly, how exactly are the government encouraging people to use public transport? Occasional Cyclopunk contributor Simon's Nissan Micra can do the same journey for half that cost) as we got ourselves down to Bury St. Edmunds for a look at the start of Stage 7 of this year's Tour of Britain.

Angel Hill, between the town's attractive centre and Abbeygate, all that remains of the once vast and enormously wealthy abbey which dominated west Suffolk in the middle ages, was packed with literally thousands of people. Many were cyclists but the majority were not, just people out to see the show. Children were all over the place, one looking absolutely made up to meet Ned Boulting, waving little Tour flags and apparently having a great time - hopefully, that's another generation of fans confirmed.

In black: Rapha-Condor-Sharp's Kristian House

One of the finest things about professional cycling is that fans can mingle with their heroes - there's none of the VIP area nonsense and burly security guards separating stars from proles as is normal in any other sporting event at this sort of level; this being very much the case here as we were freely able to wonder around the buses and team cars, getting up close to bikes worth more than the combined value of our internal organs (obviously not including our livers which are of virtually no value at all, except perhaps as replacements for Paris-Roubaix pavé).

Towards the left in the rainbow jersey: World Champion Thor Hushovd

Team Sky's amazing Pinarello Dogma 60.1 bikes

Pervading throughout was a certain sense of excitement based on the knowledge that this was going to be good, a sense that - as a veteran of countless Glastonburies and similar events - was instantly recognisable as Festival Atmosphere. That's something I've never felt at a British race before: SweetSpot have performed an absolutely excellent job of combining racing with entertainment, finding and applying the magic formula that the French have known for so long.

Chapeau!

Later in the day, we observed a Leopard(Trek tour bus) attempt
to crush a (Team Sky) Jaguar. Fortunately, a brave policeman
was on hand to prevent carnage.

The full album (80 images of the race, associated stuff and Bury St. Edmunds)

All photographs are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

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