Schleck's team is beginning to shape up

It became apparent in August that Saxo Bank directeur sportif Bjarne Riis had lost his battle to keep Frank and Andy Schleck at the team when he announced the signing of Alberto Contador.

The Schleck’s new team is now beginning to take shape in preparation for the 2011 team, but who will be donning the jerseys in the currently named The Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project?

Riders Flee Saxo Bank
First to follow the Luxemburgish pair was the Australian Stuart O’Grady who worked hard for Andy during the 2010 Tour de France. It became obvious that there was no love lost between the two and their Danish director when they were thrown out of the Vuelta a Espana for drinking alcohol. The Australian won gold in the Madison in the 2004 Olympic Games his is also twice world team pursuit champion.

Sean Yates: Tour de France Contenders Will Miss Giro d'Italia

Team Sky sports director Sean Yates has said that top Tour de France favourites will miss out on the 2011 Giro d’Italia due to the toughness of both.

Yates didn’t name any riders from his squad that might miss the event next May but it is unlikely that Bradley Wiggins will be on the line in Turin. This year Wiggins used the Giro as a warm up for the French event even winning the opening prologue. Race director Angelo Zomegnan announced that Alberto Contador would race in Italy in 2011 last April. This is unlikely, however, after the events of this year and moving to Sunguard Saxo Bank for the new season.

Visit to Etna
RSC sport announced the Giro d’Italia route only four days after the Tour de France route was revealed to the world and both are set to be some of the toughest in years. Yates called, Vuelta a Espana winner, Vincenzo Nibali as the favourite as the Italian finished third in this year’s even behind teammate Ivan Basso. The event will start May 7th in Turin and do an entire loop of the country back up to Milan.

Franco Pellizotti Claims Damages from UCI after he is Cleared in Investigation

Franco Pellizotti has asked the UCI for damages after cycling’s governing body launched an investigation in to abnormal readings in his biological passport.

Pellizotti was clear to race on October 21st after months of legal battles after the UCI announced on May 3rd that they would investigate irregularities in his biological passport. He was represented in front of the TNA (Italian national anti-doping court) by team doctor Roberto Corsetti. The TNA has also asked the UCI to pay up €5000 for the investigation.

According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport the UCI based its findings on 22 separate controlled tests. The first came back in December 2008 at Pellizotti’s house and the other two in 2009 at a training camp in April and three months later in Monaco just before the Tour de France.

Italian Cycling in Disarray

Two other Italian riders Francesco De Bonis and Pietro Caucchioli were suspended around the same time for suspicious findings in their passport, but it was decided Pellizotti’s case was different. The UCI is expected to bring an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

2011 Tour de France route revealed

The 2011 route will start out in the sea and ride along a tidal causeway linking the mainland to the Isle of Noirmoutier in Vendée. It will be much tougher for some with many more mountains including the Alpe d'Huez and venture in to Italy. To mark the 100th anniversary of the Col du Galibier, first climbed in 1911, the peak will be ridden twice. The profile should favour riders like Alberto Contador if he is allowed to race after his positive clenbuterol test.. Added to the route reveal was the news that stages will now only contain one intermediate sprint to allow riders like Mark Cavendish, who mostly go for stage victories, win the green jersey.






Also included for 2011 will be 15 new Tour de France towns; Blaye-les-Mines, Cap Fréhel, Carhaix, Carmaux, Cugnaux, Galibier Serre-Chevalier, Limoux, Modane, Mont des Alouettes Les Herbiers, Mûr-de-Bretagne,Olonne-sur-Mer, Passage du Gois La Barre-de-Monts, Pinerolo (Italy),Redon andSaint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux.

The stage summary will look like this

• 10 flat stages
• 3 medium mountain stages
• 6 mountain stages with 4 summit finishes
• 1 individual time-trial stage
• 1 team time-trial stage
• 2 rest days

Age Means Nothing, Jeannie Longo Rider Profile

Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli was the oldest rider during the 2010 World Championships and during those five days I became intrigued by the woman where age didn’t seem to matter.

Longo has the most impressive CV of almost any cyclist around (male or female) notching up a record breaking 1124 victories and is the current French time-trial champion which she has held it nine times. She once held the record for the most victories in a year and her career has spanned a total of 30 years.

Thor Hushovd Wins Norway's First Senior Gold in Men's Elite World Championship Road Race

Thor Hushovd edged out Matti Breschel in a thrilling sprint finish in Sunday’s Elite Men’s Road Race in Geelong, Australia.

The Norwegian had too much power as he shot towards the finish line and it was left to the others to figure out the minor placings. He had shown during the Tour de France that he could survive the hills better than any other sprinter and he hung on to the peloton. He stuck himself behind the wheel of Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet before flying around the entire group and winning by over a bikes length.

Breschel had initially led the sprint from the 100 metre mark, but he wasn’t able to hang on to the front. The Dan was visibly angry with himself as he crossed the line; he had been inches away from claiming the rainbow jersey when he was passed by the Norwegian. Allan Davis of Australia rounded off the podium position pipping Filippo Pozzato in to third who left it just a bit too late to attack.

Elite Men's Road Race Results

1 HUSHOVD Thor NOR 6:21:49 40.417
2 BRESCHEL Matti DEN " "
3 DAVIS Allan AUS " "
4 POZZATO Filippo ITA " "
5 VAN AVERMAET Greg BEL " "
6 FREIRE GOMEZ Oscar ESP " "
7 KOLOBNEV Alexandr RUS " "
8 BAZAYEV Assan KAZ " "
9 ARASHIRO Yukiya JPN " "
10 FEILLU Romain FRA " "
11 BOLE Grega SLO " "
12 FOFONOV Dmitriy KAZ " "
13 MOERENHOUT Koos NED " "
14 WEGMANN Fabian GER " "
15 CARDOSO Andre Fernando S. Martins POR " "
16 SCHLECK Frank LUX " "
17 EVANS Cadel AUS " "
18 GILBERT Philippe BEL " "
19 TERPSTRA Niki NED 6:21:56 +0:07
20 LEUKEMANS Björn BEL " "

Bronzini takes the gold in the Elite Women's Road Race as Vos has to settle for silver again

Giorgia Bronzini took Italy’s second consecutive gold in the elite women’s road race as Marianne Vos had to settle for second place the fourth year in a row.

Bronzini came from behind in five way sprint to win the rainbow jersey by inching out Vos, who has come second every year since winning in Austria 2006. The Italian dedicated her victory to Franco Ballerini who was manager of the team until he was killed in a rally accident earlier in the year.

Elite Women's Road Race Results

1 BRONZINI Giorgia ITA 3:32:01 35.997
2 VOS Marianne NED " "
3 JOHANSSON Emma SWE " "
4 COOKE Nicole GBR " "
5 ARNDT Judith GER 3:32:02 +0:01
6 VERBEKE Grace BEL 3:32:04 +0:03
7 WORRACK Trixi GER " "
8 LELEIVYTE Rasa LTU " "
9 ARMITSTEAD Elizabeth GBR " "
10 SWART Carla RSA " "
11 CHEATLEY Catherine NZL " "
12 LONGO-CIPRELLI Jeannie FRA " "
13 ZABELINSKAYA Olga RUS " "
14 GRAUS Andrea AUT " "
15 WHITTEN Tara CAN " "
16 LAWS Sharon GBR " "
17 NEBEN Amber USA " "
18 PITEL Edwige FRA " "
19 VILLUMSEN Linda NZL " "
20 POOLEY Emma GBR " "

Elite Men's Road Race - Preview

Cadel Evans will take to the roads on Sunday in an attempt to defend his World Championship on home soil.

Evans will not want to give up the rainbow jersey easily and certainly not in front of his own people. He has had an up and down year, but the home crowd could be just what he needs to give him a boost.

Fabian Cancellara is also looking to put on a good show after winning a record fourth time. The Swiss rider announced his intentions before the championship to go for the road race. His compatriot Michael Albasini has also been on good form recently winning the Tour of Britain despite having dysentery during the race.

Elite Men's Road Race Start list

1 EVANS Cadel  AUSTRALIA
2 COOKE Baden  AUSTRALIA
3 DAVIS Allan  AUSTRALIA
4 GERRANS Simon  AUSTRALIA
5 GOSS Matthew Harley  AUSTRALIA
6 HAYMAN Mathew  AUSTRALIA
7 O'GRADY Stuart  AUSTRALIA
8 ROGERS Michael  AUSTRALIA
9 SULZBERGER Wesley  AUSTRALIA
10 BARREDO LLAMAZALES Carlos  SPAIN
11 ERVITI OLLO Imanol  SPAIN
12 FREIRE GOMEZ Oscar  SPAIN
13 GARATE Juan Manuel  SPAIN
14 PLAZA MOLINA Ruben  SPAIN
15 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon  SPAIN
16 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel  SPAIN
17 VENTOSO ALBERDI Francisco José  SPAIN
18 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar  SPAIN
19 BRUSEGHIN Marzio  ITALY
20 GAVAZZI Francesco  ITALY