World Champs, Goulburn etc etc

Better mention a few things.. like Olympic champ Bettini now World champ as well. And Jongewaard wins the Goulburn in awful conditions. It was 34degrees with winds gusting around 100kmh - from in front and to the side. It wasn't pretty. Reports from Cyclingnews.

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.