2012 Giro d'Italia Swaps Mountains for Sprints

Reigning champion Alberto Contador has given to 2012 Giro d’Italia his seal of approval, after calling it ‘more human’.

New Giro boss, Michele Acquarone, has gone for a completely different approach, to his predecessor Angelo Zomegnan. Compared with this year, which contained only four flat stages, 2012 will have a massive seven flat stages. With so many flat stages, there are sure to be plenty of sprinters hopeful of the red sprinter’s jersey. Mark Cavendish might look for the triple in 2012, with the Giro, Tour and Olympics. It could be possible, with the flatter nature of all of the events.

RadioShack's Chris Horner is diagnosed with blood clot, after Tour fall

Chris Horner is adding to his, already long, list of injuries, after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung,

Horner was one of a series of riders who had to pull out of the tour, after suffering heavy crashes. The American hit the deck on stage seven; he got back on his bike and continued to the end, despite suffering from severe concussion, a fractured rib, a broken nose and injuries to his leg. By the time he got to the finish line, he barely knew who or where he was.

He has since returned to Colorado and had begun training, for the Tour of Utah, but started complaining of pains in his side. Horner went to hospital and was diagnosed with a blood clot; he will begin blood thinning treatment, to remove the clot.

Tyler Farrar wins on Independence Day

Tyler Farrar made it a second stage victory for Garmin-Cervelo and rode in to the history books, as the first American to win on Independence Day.

Farrar’s first tour victory came after help from his teammate, and former green jersey winner, Thor Hushovd and Julian Dean. The American edged out Romain Feillu of Vacansoleil, by half a bike, Jose Joaquin Rojas. Farrar dedicated his victory to his best friend Wouter Weylandt, who was killed in a freak accident during the Giro D’Italia, by putting his hands in a W sign.

Riders pay tribute to Wouter Weylandt on Stage 4 of the Giro D'Italia

Tyler Farrar lead the Leopard-Trek riders and the rest of the peloton across the line, as cycling paid tribute to Wouter Weylandt during stage four of the Giro D’Italia.

Weylandt lost his life during stage three, after a crash on the final decent on the Passo del Bocco. It is believed that the Belgian’s pedal clipped a wall, as he turned to look back up the hill. Riders paid tribute, along with viewers around the world, to Weylandt with one minutes silence before the stage.

Wouter Weylandt: A career cut short

For Wouter Weylandt cycling was in the blood, hailing from Ghent in Belgium it was little surprise that he turned professional.

Weylandt showed early promise and at the age of 20, only his second year as an U23, by winning three world cups. Probably his toughest challenge that year was the Paris-Roubaix Espoir where he finished third, despite suffering two punctures. He was signed up in the same year as a stagiaire, by the Quick-Step Davitamon team.

Wouter Weylandt Dies after Giro Crash

Cycling is in mourning today after the sad news of Wouter Weylandt’s death, during the third stage of the Giro D’Italia.

The Leopard-Trek rider fell on the decent of the Passo del Bocco, just 25 km from the finish in Rapallo. It is unsure what caused the accident, but early reports indicate one of his pedals jammed and stopped him from releasing himself. Medical staff tried to resuscitate Weylandt, who was lying motionless on the ground, for 40 minutes, but were not able to. The few television pictures showed blood coming from the Belgian’s head, while he received cardiac massage.