Aussies elsewhere

Best we note that Aussies Sam Hill and Tracey Hannah have each had a win in their respective World Cup MTB Downhill events.. and remarkably that Drapac-Porsche development squad rider Stuart Shaw (10th) was best placed Aussie in a wet and wild Stage 2 of the Tour of Austria. Bravo! Plenty of good riders dropped on this stage, and local Point Clare rider and CCCC member Phil Thuaux is either suffering from supporting Stuart during the stage, the bad weather, illness, or perhaps the sheer effort of the stage itself, coming in 17 minutes behind the leader. Did he make the time limit? He's Lantern Rouge at the moment.

Le Tour de France 2007 - Stage 2 - And they all fell down

I forgot to mention that Aussie Brett Lancaster fell on stage 1 as well... and now just about everyone managed to fall or be blocked by the pile-up at the finish in Gent. No real surprise that home-town-boy Steegmans won, he looked like a future winner last year with his awesome, rocketing leadouts for McEwen and here he was arriving centre stage in front of his home crowd. It was just a matter of timing - let him go late enough and no-one's going to get past - not even Tom Boonen.

McEwen looked sore after his Stage 1 prang, and that uphill finish can't have been good for the wrist or the knee. What he didn't need was to lose his lead out man, Fast Freddy, who appeared to get tangled up in the big smash. McEwen himself was hit by a flying bike and only just escaped - at first I thought he went down when Zabel pulled his foot and caused the following rider to veer hard right. But it was the green Liquigas jersey of Quinziato instead. In comparison Quickstep seemed to escape damage, clearly a help to Steegmans and Boonen in in the end. That's bike racing.

We'll have to see who wakes up fresh and who wakes up sore to judge the full impact. Cancellara looked OK but he may have lost some domestiques - but then again, which team hasn't? Some will be battered and bruised but will hang in there at less than 100%, which will open up possibilities for the riders who are unscathed and can ride without (additional) pain. It's a long, long 236km stage so having a rest could be on some riders' minds. So expect breakaway action and another chase - but how complete and motivated to chase will the sprinters' teams be? Hey, it's their job - of course they'll chase.

Le Tour de France 2007 - Stage 1 - Rockin' Robbie

The Aussies keep bouncing back. First O'Grady falls in the prologue, now it's McEwen's turn. At least Robbie had the team support to get him back to the front, and the extra endorphins from the wrist and knee injury to supercharge him... yet it was still amazing to see him rocket past the other sprinters and take the win. With that one under his belt he notches up 12 stage wins, equalling the mighty Zabel.

McEwen's noted for pushing on with injuries, even broken bones, so I suspect he'll lay low for a few days, keep out of trouble and look for another win when the nervousness of the peloton has settled down a bit. Which leaves some room for Boonen and Hushovd to make amends. Or he may wake up stiff and sore, perhaps get an x-ray and just call it quits. I hope not, but it's hard to ride around France with a badly swollen wrist...

Tomorrow must be Boonen's day in Belgium, but Hushovd will be looking to change that. Breaks may happen but will get closed down by the sprinters' teams, unless an almighty crash splinters the field. It's happened before, and we can only hope it doesn't happen tomorrow (or today, really, given time differences).

So we now have... Fabian Cancellara holding onto yellow with Kloden 13 secs behind. By breaking away and chasing intermediate points David Millar has moved up to 3rd overall. Which moves George Hincapie down to 4th. Then Wiggins, Gusev, Karpets and the first of the sprinters,Thor Hushovd. Hushovd needs a win to get him within shot of the yellow jersey, so expect some fire tomorrow.

Next is Vinokourov, still well-placed to fight it out overall with Kloden over weeks 2 and 3, with Thomas Dekker an interesting wild card at 31secs off the lead. He could give it a go in the Alps. Of the other contenders we have Cadel Evans at 36secs, and Michael Rogers and Oscar Pereiro at 37secs. Levi Leipheimer, Denis Menchov and Alejandro Valverde remain comfortably under the minute but will be looking to gain time in week 2.

If everything remained as it is, no-one crashed or got sick, no-one rode out of their skin and amazed us (like Millar or Hincapie, or Dekker), and if no-one took a flyer and got away then we'd have Kloden winning the tour overall, followed by Vino 2nd, Evans 3rd and Rogers 4th. Pereiro would be 5th, then Leipheimer and Valverde. It actually sounds believable... but will Pereiro team up with Valverde and one-two the rest in the mountains? Will Vino settle for 2nd or will Kloden hand the lead to his captain? Will T-Mobile finally get it together and use their strength to boost Rogers up the order, and does Evans have what it takes to match the mountain goats and take a big lead out of the Pyrenees? Ahh, so much to watch during this beautiful race...

Tour de France - Prologue - Interview

Cancellara talks French for us, in glorious yellow...

Le Tour de France 2007 - the prologue

OK, it's finally on. Le Tour 2007. I'm sure there are some jokers in the pack that will remain hidden until weeks 2 and 3 but for now who's looking good on day one, the prologue?

The winner was prologue and TT specialist and current World TT champ Fabian Cancellara with a 13 second gap on overall contender Andreas Kloden. It's hard to imagine Kloden making that time up when the first week is pretty much dominated by the sprinters. He may nibble away at the lead with time bonuses, however. George Hincapie was next and will have the same problem as Kloden. Converted trackie Bradley Wiggins has some hope of chasing yellow but is also largely out of it now - just too far back. After Wiggins we have Gusev, Karpets and, back 30 seconds, Kloden's team-mate and contender Alexandre Vinokourov.

Vino is well placed to grab yellow in the Alps during week 2, if he wants it, but may sit back and wait for the Pyrenees. He will rise up the GC as the TT specialists fall back during weeks 1 and 2, so there's no panic. Dekker, Quinziato and first Frenchman Benoît Vaugrenard may have some hope if an escape takes them away in week 2. Vaugrenard may have July 14th in mind...

Zabriskie disappointed, and will have to hang on grimly from here. Then comes Gutierrez, a similarly disappointing David Millar (to be fair the prologue doesn't suit him as much as a longer TT), a surprising Mikel Astarloza - well positioned to climb up the GC in weeks 2 and 3 - and Alberto Contador. Similarly, Contador has a good platform for a GC assault when we get to the pointy bits. Then comes Velasco, Kashechkin and finally first Aussie and noted climber and longer-TT specialist Cadel Evans, back just 36 seconds. Evans is also well poised to climb up the GC in week 2 and perhaps make a play for the lead in the Pyrenees. He likes the HC climbs - the tougher the better - and may well give the likes of Vino and Kloden some hurry-up in week 3.

Also within a minute of the lead are Bonnet and Chavanel, so expect some July 14th fireworks from those two Frenchmen. Next is multiple World TT Champ and 2nd Aussie, Michael Rogers, followed by last year's 2nd place getter, maybe even 1st if Landis loses his title, Oscar Pereiro. Oscar won't be given the gift he got last year but it's good to see him so high up and ahead of several contenders. He has a point to prove. Both he and Rogers will rise up GC in week 2.

Notably we have climber and rapid descender Paolo Savoldelli at 39 secs, and contender Levi Leipheimer uncomfortably well behind the likes of Kloden and Vino, and with a smaller gap to Evans, Rogers and Pereiro. He'd like to be closer, I'm sure, but it's a long race and anything can happen. He looks top 10 at this stage.

Denis Menchov will be looking to improve as well at 40 secs back. After whom comes the first sprinter and former Green-jersey winner, Thor Hushovd at 41 secs. Too far back to take yellow, surely? If he wins every sprint in Week 1 he'll do it, but that's a big ask. He'll stand a great chance fo taking green again if he's consistent. Pozzato is close behind and interestingly placed, then Markus Fothen and contender Alejandro Valverde. Surely Valverde will need wings to make it past Kloden, Evans et al? He is supported by Pereiro, of course, or is he supporting Oscar?

Sprinter Daniele Bennati will have the same issues as Hushovd but is better placed than the electrifying Tom Boonen. Tom has something to prove, though, and will be looking to seize the day - or days - in the coming week. He'll be fired up. Petacchi's lead-out man and next Aussie Brett Lancaster was slightly disappointing in 42nd place - but presumably will be leading Zabel out in Petacchi's absence.

There are climbers and escape artists galore within a minute of the lead, of which any of them could mount a raid in weeks 2 or 3 and take yellow. Schleck, Popovych, Mayo and Zubeldia stand out but Merckx and Vasseur will have a go for sure. Chris Horner had a good ride too and can be expected to support Cadel Evans strongly in the mountains.

McEwen is just over the minute mark and really couldn't expect to grab yellow, but will look to get wins and be consistently placed in the green jersey comp. Freire is slightly ahead of him on GC and will be chasing the same goal, as will Hushovd and Boonen.

So a few surprises, but no suprise in Cancellara taking out the day's prize. He will be looking to keep yellow during week 1 by staying on the sprinters' collective wheel... before Kloden, Vino, Evans, Rogers, Leipheimer and Valverde take it up on the climbs.. with Pereiro looking to prove himself a worthy "winner" too it should be an interesting and wide-open race with some intriguing tactics developing in week 2.

Tour of ... Austria?

Previously won by the likes of Tom Danielson (2006) and Cadel Evans (2004) this race is definitely one to watch - the Tour of Austria starts on the 8th and has a stellar cast of riders lining up, including Matt White, Scott Davis, Adam Hansen (returning after injury) and this bunch:

Drapac Porsche Development Program

101 Mitchell Docker (Aus)
102 Darren Lapthorne (Aus)
103 Robert McLachlan (Aus)
104 Stuart Shaw (Aus)
105 Casey Munro (Aus)
106 Phillip Thuaux (Aus)
107 Robbie Williams (Aus)
108 Dean Windsor (Aus)

Worth a look, eh? Even with that 'other' race on at the same time...

It's a wrap, or a rap?

OK, a wrap-up then. A pre-Tour wrap. Or a drug-bust-rap?

Anyway, Jorg Jaksche appears to have given in and put his hand up as an offender, too. It's becoming a long list, although there are plenty of big names missing, surely? Jorg goes on in detail with allegations about - well, everyone, really. And he promises more. It must be the week before Le Tour, mustn't it?

In the god news department CyclingResults reports that Rogers is in good form for Le Tour and shows photos of him climbing mountains and having a massage. Is that what it takes to reach good form? I must try that myself.

Drop by and take some 'training'

Everyone needs to drop by a doctor like this one. You just drop in (presumably no waiting, which in itself is remarkable) and receive some 'training'. Excellent. Must go 'training' more often.

Meanwhile Petacchi sits and waits, hoping that CONI can deal with his asthma medication issue before the start of Le Tour. It would be a shame to lose a key sprinter from Le Tour just because of poor timing, presuming he has the required doctor's certificates in place for an ongoing asthma issue, of course.

The men in black

It's almost tour time so we can expect a few things to happen. These may include...

• Confident assertions of innocence: "This result is for me inexplicable and I will immediately require a second assessment," said Kessler according to his team (from Cyclingnews)
• Bizarre accusations: "Gripper said that "We have information that they train in strange places." The controllers refer to the riders as the "Men in Black", because they wear neutral clothing on their training rides, rather than their team kit, which helps them avoid attention by the UCI controllers", again from a CN report
• More confident assertions: "More importantly, Team CSC is making genuine efforts to change its team culture so that riders no longer feel the need or pressure to dope. The combination of CSC's strong antidoping programme with their equally strong culture of hard, clean riding is certainly an example for other pro teams to follow," said McQuaid. And "The Astana Cycling Team does not wish to enter this game and wants to clarify the following: If during the present season, it was tolerated very occasionally that certain riders train in an anonymous way, this is so that the professionals of Astana are not continuously disturbed by the many cyclotourists - in particular on the Côte d'Azur – and not in wishing to hide something." Both here.

Hopefully that's the end of it, that Kessler's B-sample is negative, that Astana are not the MIB and that we can all enjoy the racing. Alternatively a few riders, maybe even a complete team, could be excluded from the start of Le Tour and we can play the 2006 sudden exclusion game again. Let's hope not, and better still let's hope we don't see major players (or anyone, really) cop mid-race positives, either. Unless they deserve it, of course.

U21 Aussies Training In Europe

Interesting vid of U21 Aussies training on some scenic roads...

6 out of 20 ain't bad

Not when it's 6 riders from Oz in the top 20 of the stage 1 crit, anyway. Alas, it's not Le Tour. It's the Nature Valley, umm, Grand Prix. Vogels the best of the Aussies. It's a bit of a boilover in Switzerland, with Dekker taking a storm-shortened stage. Rogers remains best Aussie, but back quite a bit.

FNWTR - Velocraft Wheelrace

Catch this great chase... it's the latest Wheelrace vid from the Friday Night Winter track racing at Dunc Gray velodrome, Bass Hill, Sydney... 15 June 2007.

McEwen takes a stage, Schleck leads overall

Phew. In the lead up to Le Tour it's always good to see Robbie McEwen taking a long, hard and slightly uphill sprint in the Tour de Suisse. Kind of warms the heart to see McEwen, Bennati and Zabel up there, battling it out. Notable also that Frank Schleck has kept his leader's jersey - his first as a pro.

Oh for the want of 14 seconds...

Dramatic, exciting, close and maybe even a touch dangerous.... what more could you want? The Dauphine Libere pulled some surprises this year. Moreau on Ventoux. Haussler's sprint. Astana's broad strength. And not only did Moreau get the GC, we had a dramatic final stage where Leipheimer got away, only to crash, leaving Vino alone to win the stage. And overall it was Cadel Evans just 14 secs back from the winner.

Meanwhile in Switzerland Zabel is flying! Another stage win, with a Cat 3 col taking the sting out of McEwen's legs. Bring on Le Tour!

And Ben Day won Beauce on GC in what was an impressive defensive action by the Navigators squad.

Tour de Beauce, Basso and more

Aussie Ben Day has stamped his authority all over the TT in Canada's Tour de Beauce, taking the lead on GC as well. That's the good news. Meanwhile Italian star Ivan Basso has copped the maximum fine for his doping offence - the one he did but didn't do, if you'll recall. That's probably also good news. And plenty of Aussies doing well in Spain's Circuito Montanes. What can I say? It's all good, surely?

And in other news there's no word on Ullrich admitting anything. Just letting you know.

Heinrich Haussler: almost an Aussie

Born in Inverell, NSW but raised on a diet of German cycling from age 14, Heinrich Haussler is clearly representing Germany these days, but... it's still nice to see him beat Boonen and Co at the Dauphine Libere. I've nothing against German-Australians, after all. Boonen was 2nd, Brown 3rd. Hushovd had excuses based on Boonen's lack of punch - but Boonen was still ahead at the finish. Wiggins leads Leipheimer overall.

Meanwhile Olivia Gollan is doing well overall in the Tour de Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Tours of Luxembourg, Montreal

Aussies Mark Renshaw and Aaron Kemps are doing OK at the Tour of Luxembourg. Rabo's Flecha leads on GC but Renshaw is just a second back and Kemps 10secs.

And Aussie Oenone Wood leads the pack in Montreal with the T-Mobile team again looking strong.

Good results in China

Good result for Belinda Goss here in China... Final GC in the Tour of Chong Ming, although she was leading so it wasn't exactly what she would've wanted (Katie Brown did well, too, it must be said). It looks like a 23 second break for Meifang on the last stage, coupled with Van Dijk's spint bonus points made the difference:

1 Li Meifang (Chn) Giant Pro Cycling Team
2 Ellen Van Dijk (Ned) Vrienden Van Het Platteland
3 Belinda Goss (Aus) Australian National Team
4 Chrissie Viljoen (RSA) South African National Team

Petacchi, DiLuca romp home in Milano

It was a big sprint win by Alessandro Petacchi who stormed into Milano, launched by his team to victory. And Danilo DiLuca did everything right to take the overall Giro win. It was a fascinating contest with some memorable wins by not just these 2 riders but the Saunier Duval team as well. All up, a great Giro. But no pointer to Le Tour, really. Petacchi will have to back up after a big effort of finishing a Grand Tour, whilst Boonen (injured, but back with a win in the Tour of Belgium) and McEwen (having retired before the Giro's big mountain stages) have been taking it relatively easy in the last week or so and will inevitably be a little fresher. And the big TdeF GC guns are still hidden away...

Did I mention...

• Hilton Clarke's win at Somerville?
• Or that it was Karpets first, then Rogers 2nd overall at Catalunya?
• Or that the most honest and perhaps briefest of EPO-users, Erik Zabel, has both won a stage and taken the lead at the Bayern Rundfahrt?
• Or that DiLuca is still out in front on GC at the Giro?
  

I should have mentioned all of that, anyway.