POLSA, Italy, May 23, 2013 - Giro d'Italia organisers have made plans to start the race's 19th stage on an alternative route as wintry weather conditions continue to play havoc with the course. On the first of two consecutive days in the Dolomite mountains Friday, the peloton was due to tackle two major mountain passes - the Gavia and the Stelvio, the latter, at 2,758 metres, being the … [Read more...]
Daryl Impey of Orica-GreenEdge Wins Bayern Rundfahrt Stage Two
May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Daryl Impey put his stamp on stage two of Bayern Rundfahrt, taking his third win of the season in commanding fashion. The stage victory now puts him in the overall leader’s jersey with three stages to go in the tour. Two wins in the early part of the season, stage two Pais Vasco and the South African Time Trial Championship, demonstrated that Impey is very capable of winning races over varied … [Read more...]
‘Nothing To Hide’ Over Lance Armstrong Says Pat McQuaid
May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
GENEVA, May 23, 2013 (AFP) - Cycling's governing body has "nothing to hide" in relation to the Lance Armstrong doping affair, International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid told AFP on Thursday. McQuaid also announced that the UCI planned to allow an external inquiry into the role played by those in charge during the Armstrong years. The Irishman, who is set to stand for a … [Read more...]
Spanish Politician Miguel Cardenal Criticizes Operation Puerto Ruling
May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
MADRID, May 23, 2013 (AFP) - The president of the Spanish sports council, Miguel Cardenal, has become the latest senior figure to criticise the judge's decision in the Operation Puerto trial to deny anti-doping authorities access to over 200 blood bags seized from Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. Despite finding Fuentes guilty of endangering public health by carrying out blood extractions … [Read more...]
I’ve Paid My Dues, Says An Emotional Giovanni Visconti
May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
VICENZA, Italy, May 22, 2013 - Former three-time Italian champion Giovanni Visconti said he had paid his dues for past doping misdemeanours after notching his second stage win inside a week on the Giro d'Italia Wednesday. Visconti launched an ambitious attack 17 km from the finish of the 214 km stage between Caravaggio and Vicenza to finish 19sec ahead of the chasing peloton. … [Read more...]
Giovanni Visconti Wins Giro d’Italia Stage 17, Nibali Still In Pink
May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
VICENZA, Italy, May 22, 2013 (AFP) - Italian Giovanni Visconti soloed to victory in the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday to hand his Movistar team their fourth win of the race. Overall race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) retained the pink jersey with a 1min 26sec lead on Australian rival Cadel Evans (BMC) intact after the 214 km ride from Caravaggio to Vicenza. Nibali … [Read more...]
Wintry Weather May Force More Giro d’Italia Changes
May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
VICENZA, Italy, May 22, 2013 (AFP) - Wintry weather in the Italian Dolomites could force changes to the route of the final two mountain stages of the Giro d'Italia, according to organizers on Wednesday. Concerns over the conditions expected on Friday's 19th stage from Ponte di Legno to Val Martello, which will take in the Gavia and Stelvio mountain passes, were raised last week due to … [Read more...]
Tom Boonen Turns His Back On Tour de France
May 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
BRUSSELS, May 21, 2013 (AFP) - Belgian champion Tom Boonen hinted on Tuesday that his days of competing on the Tour de France were behind him. "Will I be at the start of the Tour again? The chance is very low," said the 32-year-old, who has taken part in six editions of cycling's greatest race. Patrick Lefevere, manager of Boonen's team, Omega Pharma, said he would not try and … [Read more...]
Vincenzo Nibali Still In Pink, Intxausti Wins Stage 16 At Giro d’Italia
May 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
IVREA, Italy, May 21, 2013 (AFP) - Astana's Vincenzo Nibali kept possession of the Giro d'Italia race leader's pink jersey for another night after a strong showing in Tuesday's 16th stage. Benat Intxausti of Spain, riding for the Movistar team, won the stage, a 238km ride from the French resort of Valloire, in 5hr 52.48min. Intxausti beat Estonian Tanel Kangert into second in a … [Read more...]
Sylvain Georges Faces Drugs Hearing Over Giro Positive
May 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
IVREA, Italy, May 21, 2013 (AFP) - French rider Sylvain Georges is facing a disciplinary hearing after confirmation Tuesday of the presence of a banned substance in a sample taken after last week's Giro d'Italia seventh stage. The stimulant heptaminol was detected in the AG2R cyclist's urine after the May 10th seventh stage, with the B sample released by cycling's governing body the … [Read more...]