Aussies in top 6, Tour of Hokkaido

Check out the CN report here. McConnell (3rd) and Sulzberger (6th) do well overall for SouthAustralia.com in a tough stage race.

Luke Roberts

Must mention this win by Luke Roberts for CSC at the 3-Lander tour in Germany. Link to CN.

Vinokourov takes it!

The Vuelta has been run and won with Vinokourov taking his first Grand Tour. Thankfully it was a race, not a drug fiasco...
Most links to Cyclingnews unless stated (usually Pez).

Stage 1. The TTT. CSC win, Sastre takes the jersey.
Stage 2. First road stage and McEwen launches too early. Bettini takes it, Hushovd leads overall.
Stage 3. Ventoso suprises in the sprint. No change to the lead.
Stage 4. More amazement as Zabel takes his first big win in 3 years.
Stage 5. We hit the mountains and Di Luca takes it and leads on GC! Pez report here. McEwen, tired after a long season, went outside the time limit on stage 5.
Stage 6. A win for Hushovd.
Stage 7. Valverde wins the stage but Discovery take the lead. Valverde and Sastre within 10 secs of the lead. For how long will Brajkovic last?
Stage 8. Vinokourov (Astana) gets it right this time. Brajkovic leads - tough stage in the mountains to come.
Stage 9. Vino again! Valverde close and nabs the maillot oro. Pez report here.
Stage 10. Paulinho for Astana, again! Valverde leads.
Stage 11. Valverde leads, Martinez gets a win for Disco.
Stage 12. Valverde has it under control. Paolini gets a win for Liquigas.
Stage 13. Sanchez for Euskaltel wins, Valverde on top.
Stage 14. Millar wins a comeback TT, Valverde defends the lead.
Stage 15. Forster wins, O'Grady 2nd. Valverde leads.
Stage 16. Igor Anton wins, Valverde strengthens lead.
Stage 17. Boilover. Danielson discovers some climbing form and Vinokourov takes the GC lead.
Stage 18. Astana Day. Kashechkin wins, Vino consolidates.
Stage 19. Arietta from Ag2r takes the win. Vino in control.
Stage 20. Vino takes the TT and takes control. Valverde close but no cigar.
Stage 21. Zabel takes his 2nd win, Vino wins his first Grand Tour. Valverde 2nd overall. Sastre impressive having ridden all 3 grand tours this year. He must be tired...

Bizarre but true - Miss Ciclismo

Well I find it bizarre anyway. I don't think there's an equivalent male cyclist's site, although there are several where you can post your favourite bike photos... anyway, I stumbled over Miss Ciclismo and thought I'd share.

The Vuelta again

Most links to Cyclingnews unless stated (usually Pez).

Stage 1. The TTT. CSC win, Sastre takes the jersey.
Stage 2. First road stage and McEwen launches too early. Bettini takes it, Hushovd leads overall.
Stage 3. Ventoso suprises in the sprint. No change to the lead.
Stage 4. More amazement as Zabel takes his first big win in 3 years.
Stage 5. We hit the mountains and Di Luca takes it and leads on GC! Pez report here. McEwen, tired after a long season, went outside the time limit on stage 5.
Stage 6. A win for Hushovd.
Stage 7. Valverde wins the stage but Discovery take the lead. Valverde and Sastre within 10 secs of the lead. For how long will Brajkovic last?
Stage 8. Vinokourov (Astana) gets it right this time. Brajkovic leads - tough stage in the mountains to come.
Stage 9. Vino again! Valverde close and nabs the maillot oro. Pez report here.
Stage 10. Paulinho for Astana, again! Valverde leads.
Stage 11. Valverde leads, Martinez gets a win for Disco.
Stage 12. Valverde has it under control. Paolini gets a win for Liquigas.
Stage 13. Sanchez for Euskaltel wins, Valverde on top.
Stage 14. Millar wins a comeback TT, Valverde defends the lead.
Stage 15. Forster wins, O'Grady 2nd. Valverde leads.
Stage 16. Igor Anton wins, Valverde strengthens lead.
Stage 17. Boilover. Danielson discovers some climbing form and Vinokourov takes the GC lead.
Stage 18. Astana Day. Kashechkin wins, Vino consolidates.

Tour of Poland

Cadel Evans finished up 2nd to Schumacher in the Tour of Poland, lifting him to 2nd overall in the ProTour standings. From Cyclingnews: Final general classification 1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 31.09.41 2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 0.18

Plenty of Aussies in action

Don't miss the Tour of Poland this year... currently up to the 4th stage, there are plenty of top-ranked Aussies in action, including McGee, Vogels, White, Lowe, Gates, Gerrans and Evans. Evans is just 26 secs of the lead... with about 60 others. Stage 5 has a couple of climbs, which should get rid of the sprinters and open up the GC; and stage 6 has about 7 climbs, which will shake up the order again, probably significantly. Expect Evans to have a go on the last climb, if he's still in contact. Stage 8 is slightly easier but nevertheless tough with a series of uphills to sort everyone out again, including the climb to the finish. Overall it could suit (maybe, if the back is OK) McGee, Garzelli, Evans and even Mayo.

Wheels with an engine

OK, can't resist mentioning this video of an Alfa GTV6 on the track at Spa...

The Vuelta so far

Most links to Cyclingnews unless stated (usually Pez).

Stage 1. The TTT. CSC win, Sastre takes the jersey.
Stage 2. First road stage and McEwen launches too early. Bettini takes it, Hushovd leads overall.
Stage 3. Ventoso suprises in the sprint. No change to the lead.
Stage 4. More amazement as Zabel takes his first big win in 3 years.
Stage 5. We hit the mountains and Di Luca takes it and leads on GC! Pez report here. McEwen, tired after a long season, went outside the time limit on stage 5.
Stage 6. A win for Hushovd.
Stage 7. Valverde wins the stage but Discovery take the lead. Valverde and Sastre within 10 secs of the lead. For how long will Brajkovic last?
Stage 8. Vinokourov (Astana) gets it right this time. Brajkovic leads - tough stage in the mountains to come.
Stage 9. Vino again! Valverde close and nabs the maillot oro. Pez report here.
Stage 10. Paulinho for Astana, again! Valverde leads.
Stage 11. Valverde leads, Martinez gets a win for Disco.
Stage 12. Valverde has it under control. Paolini gets a win for Liquigas.
Stage 13. Sanchez for Euskaltel wins, Valverde on top.
Stage 14. Millar wins a comeback TT, Valverde defends the lead.
Stage 15. Forster wins, O'Grady 2nd. Valverde leads.

Nice opinionated piece on US Pro Champ RR

No so much a report (from Pez) as a rave on one bike fan's feelings about 'collusion' in a major bike race... still a fascinating read on how to ride a race. It shows you the tactics that can - and do - go on... and yes, even in a club race. Puts F1 motor racing in the shade ;-)

Catching up with the Vuelta

So let's catch up. Most links to CN unless stated.

Stage 1. The TTT. CSC win, Sastre takes the jersey.
Stage 2. First road stage and McEwen launches too early. Bettini takes it, Hushovd leads overall.
Stage 3. Ventoso suprises in the sprint. No change to the lead.
Stage 4. More amazement as Zabel takes his first big win in 3 years.
Stage 5. We hit the mountains and Di Luca takes it and leads on GC! Pez report here. McEwen, tired after a long season, went outside the time limit on stage 5.
Stage 6. A win for Hushovd.
Stage 7. Valverde wins the stage but Discovery take the lead. Valverde and Sastre within 10 secs of the lead. For how long will Brajkovic last?
Stage 8. Vinokourov (Astana) gets it right this time. Brajkovic leads - tough stage in the mountains to come.
Stage 9. Vino again! Valverde close and nabs the maillot oro. Pez report here.
Stage 10. Paulinho for Astana, again! Valverde leads.
Stage 11. Valverde leads, Martinez gets a win for Disco.

Eurobike

First photos from Eurobike reveal some cool toys indeed... worth a look via RoadCyclingUK.

Tour of Britain boilover.

It was Pozzato's day, but Boonen started it with an early attack - and away they went with gaps everywhere by the end. Goss was a DNF - not sure why, but he had suffered after a long chase. Rogers was 2nd to Pozzato.

Tour of Britain is GO

Matthew Goss was off to a great start in the Tour of Britain, as CyclingNews points out: Stage 1 - August 29: Glasgow to Castle Douglas, 162km Pedersen takes the Tour of Britain opening stage Martin Pedersen Photo ©: Gerry McManus (Click for larger image) Denmark’s Martin Pedersen (CSC) won the opening stage of the Tour of Britain in Castle Douglas on Tuesday 29th August. Pedersen out sprinted his breakaway companions Luis Passamontes (Unibet.com) and Mathew Goss (South Australia.com-AIS)

Goss and his fellow escapees gained over 2 minutes on the peleton. Which made it possible for him to take the lead on GC after the 2nd stage.

Subsequently, also in CN: Goss signs with CSC South Australia.com-AIS rider, Matt Goss, has signed a three-year contract to ride with Team CSC, the world's top-ranked professional team, from 2007

I've been neglecting the Vuelta.

So let's catch up. Most links to CN unless stated.

Stage 1. The TTT. CSC win, Sastre takes the jersey.
Stage 2. First road stage and McEwen launches too early. Bettini takes it, Hushovd leads overall.
Stage 3. Ventoso suprises in the sprint. No change to the lead.
Stage 4. More amazement as Zabel takes his first big win in 3 years.
Stage 5. We hit the mountains and Di Luca takes it and leads on GC! Pez report here.
Stage 6. A win for Hushovd.

McEwen, tired after a long season, is outside the timelimit.

TdF 2006 images

Some images of the 2006 Tour de France... not just of the racing but the colour and action of the event... images copyright Brett Lyons.

Rogers and T-Mobile on the charge

Good to see Mick Rogers attacking in style, taking his team leader to the
top of the GC of the Regio Tour (result via Cyclingnews):
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2006/aug06/regio06/regio063

Next up is a 23km TT. Should be interesting...

Another alternative to SRM

Fo power data freaks we have SRM (perhaps the ultimate bike accessory,
using force transducer-equipped cranks), PowerTap (using a
transducer-equipped re hub), Polar (least invasive, using optical sensing
of chain deflection) and now... Ergomo. It's optical, but it's inside the
BB! Check it out at http://www.cbike.com/ergomo_powertraining.htm

OK, you can also use 'manual' calculations based on effort over time, like
the HAC4 does. That's the cheapest, lightest and probably least accurate
way to do it.

Lance vs Jan - high spin or low spin?

In considering the causes of cramping, one possibility is fatigue brought about by too-high (ie harder to push) gearing. The authors of this article examined "patterns of leg muscle recruitment and co-activation, and the relationship between muscle recruitment and cadence, in highly trained cyclists". They tested at "individual preferred cadence, 57.5, 77.5 and 92.5 revs min" using (one hopes) carefully placed electrodes. Sounds cool as well. And the findings? Well the authors say that "muscle recruitment patterns varied from those previously reported, but there was little variation in muscle recruitment between these highly trained cyclists". Specifically the "tibialis posterior, peroneus longus and soleus were recruited in a single, short burst of activity during the downstroke" and that "the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius lateralis were recruited in a biphasic and alternating manner". They found that "contrary to existing hypotheses, our results indicate little co-activation between the tibialis posterior and peroneus longus".

So far so good. Muscle recruitment is important from many angles, not simply as an academic pursuit but as an aid to understanding how it is we can generate the power that we do and applying that understanding in coaching athletes in optimal patterns of training. Such understanding would also help avoid injury as well as assist in faster healing after injury.

Anyway, the authors found that "peak EMG amplitude increased linearly with cadence and did not decrease at individual preferred cadence. There was little variation in patterns of muscle recruitment or co-activation with changes in cadence". I take this to mean that most elite cyclists use the same muscles and that varying cadence does not significantly change the pattern of recruitment. In other words you are still using the same muscles, irrespective of the tested cadences.

Reference: Leg muscle recruitment in highly trained cyclists.
Authors: Chapman, Vicenzino, Blanch, Knox and Hodges from the Division of Physiotherapy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia and the Department of Physical Therapies, Australian Institute of Sport, Bruce, ACT, Australia.
Source: Journal of Sports Sciences; Feb2006, Vol. 24 Issue 2, p115-124

My view: For me this means that Lance Armstrong spinning at 110 revs/minute is probably using the same muscles as Jan Ullrich at 90 revs/minute. It's important to pin that down. Higher cadences do not necessarily mean a different arrangement of muscles doing the work.
Beyond that important point, there are neuromuscular factors involved as well as the lower per-rev power output at higher revs, so a comparison and conclusion Lance vs Jan isn't going to happen here. However I think it's interesting to note that seating position could affect the outcome. To me Jan looks cramped on the bike. Highly effective but a little less comfy than Lance. Perhaps (this is me postulating, not the authors above!) position will be a defining factor and possibly cadence is less important to the ultimate outcome than we have imagined. Any professional opinions on this out there?

Creatine Supplementation Reduces Muscle Inosine Monophosphate during Endurance Exercise in Humans

Thinking about cramping and supplements, Creatine is sometimes implicated in some cramping events. If it's possibly going to cause cramps we should ask, does Creatine supplementation actually work?

Firstly it has been shown in past studies that Creatine supplementation will attenuate increases in plasma ammonia and hypoxanthine during intense endurance exercise lasting 1 hour. So it seems reasonable to suggest that Creatine supplementation may indeed improve muscle energy balance during such exercise - it's worth testing.

The authors report that Creatine supplementation significantly increased muscle total Creatine, however no difference was seen between treatments after the first 45 min of exercise. They conclude that "raising muscle
total Creatine content before exercise appears to improve the ability of the muscle to maintain energy balance during intense aerobic exercise, but not during more moderate exercise intensities".

Title:Creatine Supplementation Reduces Muscle Inosine Monophosphate during Endurance Exercise in Humans.
Authors: McConell, Shinewell, Stephens, Stathis, Canny and Snow
From: Department of Physiology, Monash University; Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne;
Exercise Metabolism Unit, Centre for Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sport Science, Victoria University of Technology; School of Health Sciences, Deakin University.
Source: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise; Dec2005, Vol. 37
Issue 12, p2054-2061

My take on this is that Creatine supplementation appears to work in maintaining a balance in the ATP cycle during the intense 1 hour efforts that have been tested. This sounds like an A or B grader may benefit in a 1 hour criterium, for example. They may have more energy freely available at the end of the race and secondly (my guess!) may recharge quicker afterwards. However there's no benefit below one hour or at moderate rather than intense efforts. As always, tread carefully if you try any supplementation - and seek a wide range of advice beforehand.

posted by gtveloce at 1/25/2006 04:23:00 AM | links to this post