Great news for Cycling! Sky's the Limit!

Tour de France triumph on the agenda as Team Sky take to the road

One of the last great challenges still facing British sport got under way in earnest on Monday when Team Sky, formed with the express purpose of producing a British Tour de France winner in the next five years, rolled off the ramps amid much pomp and ceremony.

 

By Brendan Gallagher
Published: 10:18PM GMT 04 Jan 2010

Sky's the limit: Team Sky intend to be big players on tour this season, as shown by their last-ditch signing of the promising Ben Swift Photo: GETTY IMAGES

An early-morning promenade down the Mall, flashing bulbs and cameras everywhere, foreign journalists demanding instant translations, this was Britishcycling moving into new territory – and the madness has only just begun. A new decade, appropriately enough, is starting with an odyssey that could become one of the biggest sports stories of the years ahead.

Not untypically for a team who have already delighted in springing the occasional surprise, Team Sky produced a final rabbit from the hat to mark the occasion, announcing the last ditch signing of outstanding British prospect Ben Swift, 23. He has been racing with Katusha and had another year to go on his contract until the wealthy Russian outfit were made an offer over the weekend that even they could not refuse.

 

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Barring Mark Cavendish, whom Columbia-HTC would not trade for all the tea in China, Sky’s team principal, Dave Brailsford, has managed to assemble just about every British road racer capable of competing competitively, on one form or other, at the highest level.

That is eight in total – in a team of 27 – a percentage he hopes will grow steadily as outstanding youngsters earn their spurs and are fed into the system.

Following on from the high-profile and costly recruitment of Bradley Wiggins as team leader from Garmin last month, Swift’s signing sent out another loud message to opponents across the world. New kids on the block they may be but Team Sky intend to be big players from the off, a team to reckon with from their opening race at the Tour Down Under in Adelaide in less than two weeks time.

And why not? British sport generally has a new found confidence and Britain’s cyclists have been at the forefront of that with their eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing. Brailsford and his backroom team believe that winning culture can be transferred from one branch of the sport to the other.

Sean Yates certainly sees it that way having recently signed on for Sky as adirecteur sportif. “Some people think that we are going to ease our way into racing on the Pro-Tour and in the Grand Tours but they are wrong,” insists Yates, who completed 10 Tours de France, nurtured the young Lance Armstrong, taught him how to ride down mountains and then acted as one of his directuer sportifs during the glory years. “Having now seen the quality of people involved first hand – riders and backroom staff – we will be hitting the ground running.

“Winning the Tour will be a massive and difficult thing but I think we have got as much chance in the first year as the fifth. If you have a strong team leader, prepare right and everybody plays their part you have always got a chance.

“At the moment Alberto Contador is the strongest rider in the world, no question, but he has not got as strong a team as he had last year.

“Lance is a year older and I don’t believe he will get any stronger, he will at best retain the form and fitness of last year. Andy Schleck can get better, Levi Leipheimer will be racing again after injury and he is quality and Bradley Wiggins can definitely improve and we will have a strong team riding for him all the way. I don’t know Brad well yet but I see a Tour winner in him.”

“Knowing Lance so well and Johan Bruyneel who has helped him to all his Tour titles I can tell you this: Team Sky are well and truly on their radar. When I worked with them at Astana last year the rider they were most worried about was Brad Wiggins because they could see his untapped potential.

Wiggins, the three-time Olympic gold medallist who finished fourth in the Tour last year, was playing things down. “It takes a great team to win a big Tour. This time last year there were no expectations on me, I was just worried about losing a few pounds and getting competitive for the Paris-Nice prologue, doing a few decent rides in the Giro [d'Italia]. I wasn’t even the team leader at Garmin. It worked for me, I want to keep thing low key.”

That could be difficult Bradley!

Where to see Team Sky in 2010

Jan 17-24: Tour Down Under. 31: GP Cycliste la Marseillaise.

Feb 3-7: Etoile de Besseges. 7-12: Tour of Qatar. 14-19: Tour of Oman. 20-21: Tour du Haut Var. 21-25: Vuelta a Andalucia. 27: GP dell’Insubria-Lugano. 27: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite. 28: Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne. 28: GP di Lugano.

March 3-7: Tour of Murcia. 6: Strade Bianche Eroica. 7-14: Paris-Nice. 10-16: Tirreno Adriatico. 20: Milan-San Remo. 22-28: Tour of Catalunya. 27-28: Criterium International.

April 4: Tour of Flanders. 5-10: Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco. 7: Scheldeprijs. 11: Paris-Roubaix. 18: Amstel Gold Race. 21: La Flèche Wallonne. 25: Liège-Bastogne-Liège. 27-May 2: Tour de Romandie.

May 8-30: Giro d'Italia.

June 2-6: Tour of Luxembourg. 6-13: Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. 12-20: Tour of Switzerland. 16-20: Ster Elektrotoer.

July 3-25: Tour de France.

Aug 1-7: Tour of Poland. 4-8: Vuelta a Burgos. 18-22: Tour of Ireland. 22: GP Ouest France-Plouay. 28-Sept 19: Vuelta a España.

Sept 10: GP Cycliste de Quebec. 11-18: Tour of Britain. 30: World Championship time trial.

Oct 3: Paris-Bourges. 10: Paris-Tours. 16: Tour of Lombardy.

Team Sky in full

Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Norway) age 34

John-Lee Augustyn (S Africa) 23

Michael Barry (Canada) 33

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway) 22 (world ranked 6)

Sylvain Calzati (France) 30

Kjell Carlstrom (Finland) 33

Dario Cioni (Italy) 34

Steve Cummings (GB) 28

Russell Downing (GB) 31

Juan Antonio Flecha (Spain) 32 (ranked 58)

Chris Froome (GB) 24

Simon Gerrans (Australia) 29 (ranked 25)

Mat Hayman (Australia) 31 (ranked 95)

Greg Henderson (New Zealnd) 33 (ranked 109)

Peter Kennaugh (GB) 20

Thomas Lovkvist (Sweden) 25 (ranked 55)

Lars-Petter Nordhaug (Norway) 25

Serge Pauwels (Belgium) 26 (ranked 178)

Nicolas Portal (France) 30

Morris Possoni (Italy) 25

Ian Stannard (GB) 22

Chris Sutton (Australia) 25 (ranked 207)

Ben Swift (GB) 23

Geraint Thomas (GB) 23

Davide Vigano (Italy) 25 (ranked 113)

Bradley Wiggins (GB) 29 (ranked 39)

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Victoria, Victorious ~ Red White & Blue truimph at World Championships

Victoria is Victorious

Not long now

Tour de France

Vinokourov defends Ferrari link


Tour de France favourite Alexander Vinokourov insists he has nothing to hide about his relationship with trainer Dr Michele Ferrari.
Vinokourov has been training with the Italian, who has been linked with drugs allegations but had a suspended prison sentence reversed.

"Ferrari has never offered me any medicine. He is only in charge of my physical preparation," the Kazakh said.

"I know the way he works and I know I have nothing to be ashamed of."

Vinokourov is considered one of the leading lights for this year's race, which starts with the opening time trial in London on Saturday.

His best finish in Le Tour was third overall in 2003 but several leading names from the last few years, including last year's winner Floyd Landis, are absent because of drug allegations.

Vinokourov, who also came fifth in 2005, was one of last year's favourites but Astana had to withdraw after several of the team were implicated in the Operation Puerto doping scandal.

"Vino", who two months later won the Tour of Spain, was not involved himself but was left without enough team-mates to compete.

Ferrari has worked in the past with seven-times Tour winner Lance Armstrong - who defended the relationship in similar fashion - and Vinokourov's manager Tony Rominger.


Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/6260532.stm

Published: 2007/07/02 08:57:57 GMT

© BBC MMVII

Cycling news

Hammond takes second in Belgium

Hammond held the lead late on before being pippped by Burghardt
Britain's Roger Hammond finished in second place in the Gent-Wevelgem one-day classic in Belgium.
Hammond held off Oscar Freire to finish two seconds behind T-Mobile team-mate Marcus Burghardt of Germany in four hours 53 minutes and six seconds.

The trio had been part of a five-man breakaway group and managed to avoid the danger of the treacherous cobbles which took their toll on the peloton.

Several riders finished with injuries after falling on a downhill section.

"Before the final kilometre Roger took the lead and that allowed me to attack from behind," said Burghardt.

"In any case, with Freire in our group we didn't have any choice but to try and attack."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Markus Burghardt (Germany/T-Mobile) 4 hours 53 min 4 secs
2. Roger Hammond (Britain/T-Mobile) +2 secs
3. Oscar Freire (Spain/Rabobank) +4
4. Francisco Ventoso (Spain/Saunier Duval) same time
5. Christophe Mengin (France/Francaise des Jeux) same time
6. Robbie McEwen (Australia/Predictor-Lotto) +14 secs
7. Max van Heeswijk (Netherlands/Rabobank) same time
8. Baden Cooke (Australia/Unibet.com) same time
9. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain/Caisse d'Epargne) same time
10. Alexandre Usov (Belarus/AG2R)

Tour de France 2007

Tour de France 2007 British Connection Launched

9th of February, 2006; The Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, LondonLarry Hickmott reports for British Cycling


In a gala presentation today at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, London, the route for the start of the Tour de France was unveiled to around 600 invited guests and the media from around the World. In short, the Tour de France will spend three days in Britain and of those, two days will include stages of the race.

The Tour's London visit will begin with a formal ceremony on Friday the 6th of July 2007 where the competing teams will be presented to the public. This will happen in Trafalgar Square, quite a stunning backdrop to such an event. The following day, Saturday 7th of July, the Prologue (an individual time trial) takes place on July 7 where the capital will come to a standstill as the race over 8 kilometres passes such iconic landmarks as Downing Street, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Wellington Arch and Hyde Park.

The time trial to decide who wears the first Yellow jersey is followed on Sunday 8th July by the first road stage of the 2007 Tour de France, starting from London and taking in the roads around Kent. Not surprisingly, the organisers of the Tour's visit to London and Kent are expecting the cycle race to encourage more people to turn to pedal power. With the World's media spotlighting the capital and the nearby county of Kent, The Tour de France 'Grand Depart' is an opportunity to showcase London and Kent as cycling friendly areas.


When British Cycling spoke to the Tour de France's Jean-Marie Leblanc (right) after the presentation, he explained "a lot of people follow the Tour de France around the World and we are very proud to be organising, in 2007, this race between two great prestigious capitals in Europe: London and Paris. We are very happy to be received so warmly by Ken Livingston and the staff of Transport for London. We know it will be successful thanks to the prestige of both London and Paris."

British Cycling and le Tour
A partner with Transport for London and other key stakeholders helping to bring the Tour to London was British Cycling. Prior to the announcement of London being successful in its bid for the Tour start, British Cycling were quietly involved in working with Transport for London and their vision for the Tour start, on a bid to UK Sport whose support has helped to bring the event to the capital.Now it's a reality, British Cycling is now looking ahead by working with Transport for London, Sport England, and UK Sport to capitalise on this major event. This work includes trying to give more opportunities for young people via an expanded Go-Ride programme, so they have access to coaching in schools and community based clubs as well as giving older cyclists and their families the chance to participate in both formal and informal cycling events.To achieve this, British Cycling is working with the key stake holders for the London Tour start, to provide the impetus for a programme of quality events associated with the coming of the Tour de France. Events where people of all ages can turn up and participate and in return get that same feeling of excitement that spread around the cycling world after the announcement the Tour was coming. An excitement that will stay with them long after the Tour has left London.

Transport for London says that cycling in London has doubled in the past five years and they are investing increasing amounts into the cycling infrastructure, and cycling promotion and training. In 2000/1 the investment was £5.5 million and this has grown to £24 million for 2006/7.

As well as the expected promotional opportunities for cycling, the Tour de France's British visit is also expected to have many other benefits, as it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, with more than 2 million spectators expected to watch the event at the road side. In financial terms, the expected return is said to be in the region of £70 million being brought in to the UK economy over the three days.The Tour de France, which began in 1903, is the most famous cycling race of all, and British riders we have spoken to have admitted that one stage win in that race can make an otherwise winless season a success. It is watched by as many as 15 million people on the road side every year with an estimated 2 billion watching on Television over the three weeks.

THE ROUTE IN DETAIL
Riders in the 2007 Tour de France will spend two days racing in Britain beginning with the Prologue on Saturday, 7th of July and then on Sunday, the 8th of July, the first road stage of the 2007 Tour de France, taking in the roads around Kent. Tour de France 2007 Route in Detail >>>>

WHAT THE BRITS THINK OF THE TOUR COMING TO LONDON
With so many former Tour de France riders floating about at the launch, it was indeed a reunion of the riders who have dared to tackle the toughest stage race in the World. Before the presentation, British Cycling spoke to many of the VIPs such as Bradley Wiggins who can't believe his luck to have the prologue in his home town, Barry Hoban who wishes he was still riding, Colin Lewis, Adrian Timmis, David Duffield and a rider who is famous for his Tour de France exploits and victories, Chris Boardman.

Mini 'Tour de France' Interviews
Chris Boardman (three time prologue stage winner) >>>> Go
Bradley Wiggins (Olympic Gold medallist and Prologue specialist) >>>> Go
Adrian Timmis, Colin Lewis, Barry Hoban and David Duffield >>>> Go

THE CEREMONY FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE TOUR COMING TO BRITAIN
The event within the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre kicked off with an introduction from BBC's Simon Brotherton who was followed on stage by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingston. Following a promotional film, there was then rapturous applause for a man well known for his association with the Tour, Jean-Marie Leblanc. More film about the Tour then followed, introduced by Christian Prudhomme, Director of Cycling at ASO, before a symbolic signing of the Grand Depart agreement with the Mayor of London, Jean-Marie Leblanc and Christian Prudhomme. This prompted the setting off of hundreds of camera flashguns as photographers recorded the event for media outlets around the world.

The presentation also made the point of showing footage of some of the British riders who have made their name in the Tour such as Chris Boardman and Sean Yates.

Come question time where Ken Livingstone, Jean-Marie Leblanc, Christian Prudhomme and Sir Robert Worcester (Deputy Lieutenant of Kent) faced questions from the press, the mood from the assembled journalists came across as rather negative with only one brave woman standing up and congratulating on the people on stage for the significance of their achievement.

That said, for all the negative questions Ken Livingstone was given, he gave back as good as he got and in such a lighted hearted manner that he was able to bring a touch of humour to the proceedings. One such quip when asked about the choosing of the route for the prologue, was, with tongue firmly in cheek, with my rich history in professional cycling, we chose the route ...”.

The mayor also touched on how the event would also ensure those who died last July would never be forgotten saying that the best way to commemorate those who died was to promote an event that brought people from around the World to the British capital.



Le Tour Fact: 2007 will be the third time the Tour de France has come to Britain. The first was in 1974 and a stage at Plymouth. Then, 20 years later, it returned for two stages in the south east of the country which saw record crowds lining the route for the race.

Get Involved!
Transport for London in association with British Cycling, are looking for 1,000 route marshals to help out in July 2007. To learn more, go to www.tourdefrancelondon.com