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Q. Geraint, thanks for taking time out to have a chat with us after the Tour. How did you find the whole experience the third time around?

A. It was crazy. Last year I was in the thick of the action for the first week and held the white jersey, but once we hit the mountains I didn’t have the legs to stay competitive. From then on I took a domestique role and was out of the cameras. This year was a massive change though and I was in the thick of it all the way through. On the climbs I was a lot stronger and that was the best bit. It was something I hadn’t managed to do before and something I really wanted to achieve in front of the big crowds.

Q. We saw you animating the race on several occasions with breakaways. Was this always the plan for you, or something that happened out of circumstance?

A. It was the plan at the start of a few days, but the overall plan changed when Bradley had to abandon the race with his broken collarbone. If that hadn’t have happened I’d have been in the peloton a lot more looking after him but one he went our gameplan for the race changed and it was all about us being more aggressive from thereon in.

Q. Unfortunately the team lost Bradley Wiggins early in the Tour to a nasty injury. Can you tell us a bit about the atmosphere in the camp at the time?

A. No-one was joking like we normally did at dinner that’s for sure. Everyone was pretty gutted that night but the race went on and we could have either sat back and felt sorry for ourselves or fought for it for each other. We got in the break the very next day and I think that set the scene for the rest of the race. The morale picked up again quickly because of that and gave us all a purpose for the rest of the race.

Q. Edvald Boasson Hagen was part of the dominant Norwegian duet at this years Tour. How much of a lift did his successes give the team?

A. It was a massive lift for all of us and his wins meant that we had really achieved something in the biggest race of them all. I was rooming with Edvald throughout the Tour and those wins really couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

Q. You wore the White Jersey during this years race, and people have been labelling you

as a future GC rider in the Tour. How do you see your career progressing?

A. I’d love to ride for the GC one day but I think for the next few years I need to keep doing what I’m doing and then when the time is right go for it 100%. Before then though I need to keep progressing as I am. I still love racing in the Classics, I was 10^th at the Tour of Flanders this year, and I really want to go back and get on the podium there. I think there’s a real chance to do that in the very near future as well.

Q. You already have an Olympic Team Pursuit gold medal & Great Britain National Road Race Champion jersey in your collection, are you keen to add a London 2012 road race medal to the cabinet?

A. No, I don’t think that’ll happen because my focus will be in the team pursuit  in the Olympics. You can’t really mix the road and the track that close together any more because they are both such specific disciplines these days and you need to spend a lot of time on both to be competitive.

Q. So many of the Team Sky guys are on Twitter, whose the most addicted??

A. I think about half the guys are on Twitter now and the most addicted it definitely Russell Downing. He’s constantly on it and checking what people are saying. He’s the one that got me onto it as well actually!

Q. What’s the weirdest request you have ever had from a fan?

A. I don’t know actually. I’ve had a few people want me to sign arms and stuff but I haven’t had any boobs yet (laughs).

And finally...

Q. If you could have either x-ray vision or the ability to read minds, which would you choose? And why??!!

A. Definitely reading minds because you would be able to tell what your rivals were thinking out on the road. 

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05-Aug-2011: Two new young talents in international cycling will be joining Quick-Step Cycling Team starting next season. 

The two prominent Polish riders Michal Kwiatkowski and Michal Golas will be riding with the team for the next 2 seasons (2012-2013).

The two athletes have already been major players on the pro circuit for a few years, and they’ve proven their abilities in the recent past.

21-year-old Kwiatkowski has been standing out as an all-round rider, with good skills as time trialist. His successes in the junior categories include a memorable Junior World Champion Title in 2008, the European Road Champion Title in 2007 and the Time-trial Title in 2008. In 2011 the Polish rider took third place in the GC Driedaagse Van de Panne-Koksijde and in the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen.

27-year-old Golas, who’s been riding pro since 2007, has shown remarkable skills as an all around rider and team player, contributing to the successes of several of his team mates.

“The arrival of these two young Polish riders contributes to the team’s current project of internationalisation for the near future,” said Patrick Lefevere. “They are two interesting, young guys in whom we want to invest for the future of the team. In addition, Poland is an important country and it’s growing in terms of cycling culture and passion, as shown by the ever improving quality of the Tour de Pologne.

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04 August, 2011 - The Tour de Pologne, with its two mountain stages in Zakopane and Bukowina Tatrzanska, has definitely started heating up before  the  grand finale in  Krakow . Tomorrow, August 5, in Bukowina Tatrzanska the Tour de Pologne will double up. Beside the race, there will be  the Tour de Pologne Amatorow stage, sponsored by Bank BGŻ, the race open to cycling tourists and amateurs that will take place on the last stretch of the same route ridden by the pros.

After last year's brilliant experience, the organisers of Tour de Pologne decided to repeat and expand the event dedicated to two wheel enthusiasts. The amateur race covers 56.6 km and is open to everyone, on a spectacular winding route through the Polish hills, with three Mountain Grand Prix. It all starts off from the lovely background offered by  Bukovina Terma Hotel Spa and arrives on the professionals' finish line in Bukowina Tatrzanska. And it's not all just about the race...in the spirit of any “Grand Fondo” worth its weight, the Tour de Pologne amateur stage will also present the perfect occasion to discover the scenery and natural beauty featured in this marvellous corner of Polish territory. It's a don't-miss chance for an experience that blends sport with culture, history and  the local gourmet tradition.

Director of the Tour de Pologne Czeslaw Lang will be on hand to start things off. Many guests have already accepted the invitation to this ride, including the great Tony Romingerand lots of other ex cycling champions, as well as sports and entertainment celebrities. 

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03 August, 2011 – Both the stage and the yellow jersey went to Peter Sagan on the finish line of the fourth stage in the Tour de Pologne. At the arrival in Cieszyn the Slovak rider from Liquigas Cannondale burst ahead of everyone and beat Irishman Daniel Martin (Garmin Cervelo), winner of the 2010 Tour de Pologne, who came in second, and Italian Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil), who took third.

 

After Marcel Kittel laid down the law in the first three spectacular sprinting arrivals, today’s 176.9 - km fourth stage from  Oswiecim  to Cieszyn, with four Mountain Grand Prix (three first class and one third) really heated things up in the Tour de Pologne. It was an arrival recalling the Northern Classics, which wound through the spectacular circuit in Cieszyn (6.3 km repeated 3 times), with the final kilometre uphill on cobblestones. In Cieszyn, a small town divided between  Poland  and The Czech Republic, the Tour de Pologne featured a brief stretch over the border.

 

The stage was animated by a break featuring four riders: Poland’s Bartolomiej Matysiak (CCC Polsat) and Kamil Gradik ( Poland ), Italian Federico Rocchetti (De Rosa Flaminia) and American Chad Beyer (Bmc). It was Beyer who got things going at the 105 km mark, during the first class GPM on Kubalonka, where he set off on his own for an attack. After a few kilometres the champion from Moldova Alexandr Pliuschin (Katuasha) caught up with the American, and the two riders collaborated in the lead to about 25 kilometresfrom the arrival. As they entered the three rounds on the final circuit, the Moldovan broke away and continued on alone. However, the group was not going to let Pliuschin get away so fast. When the pack caught up to the Moldovan, Australian Simon Clarke (Astana) took off. Then when Clarke got caught in the final, the riders from Liquigas Cannondale took the lead in the group and stepped up the pace to prepare an attack by Slovak Peter Sagan, who busted out and gained enough of an advantage to take the last curve in the lead by himself, crossing the finish line with arms raised in triumph.

 

“This arrival was adapted to my skills,” says Sagan. “I’m in good shape so this morning in the team we decided to race for me and to try to win. I have to thank my team mates and especially Nibali; they all did an extraordinary job to make the cut in the final circuit. I’m happy with this victory; it’s a result that boosts my confidence as I look ahead to the Vuelta España, where I’m counting on doing well. Now I’m going to try to defend this yellow jersey, even if there are still two very difficult stages…let’s see how it goes tomorrow.”

 

After the fourth stage the cyclamen "Tauron" jersey for the GPM is still on Poland's Bartolomiej Matysiak (CCC Polsat), the red "Fiat" jersey goes to Pole Adrian Kurek (Poland), who confirms himself as the most active rider in the group, while Frenchman Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil) took the white & green "Plus" jersey for the points' classification.

 

Abandon: Graeme Brown (Rabobank) and Caleb Fairly (Htc).

  

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Cadel Evans To Race In Colorado

Tour de France winner Cadel Evans will close out his season with one more criterium in Europe, followed by an appearance with the BMC Racing Team in the inaugural edition of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado.

Wrapping A 'Dream Season'
Evans will compete in a post-Tour criterium Tuesday in Amsterdam after appearances in criteriums in Belgium and Germany last week. His final race of the year will be the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, which runs Aug. 22-28 and includes 833 kilometers of racing through the Rocky Mountains. "I'm looking forward to competing in the U.S. in one more stage race before I close out what has been a dream season," Evans said. "I've heard good things about the race in Colorado and I know it won't be easy. But I'm up for one more challenge." Evans last raced in the United States in the 2006 edition of the Amgen Tour of California, finishing seventh overall.

Colorado Suits Him Well
In addition to winning the Tour de France, Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour de Romandie this year, Evans was also runner-up at the Critérium du Dauphiné and top 10 in the Volta a Catalunya. He is the No. 1 ranked rider on the UCI's WorldTour rankings. "With the worlds in Copenhagen this year being more for sprinters, Cadel wasn't expecting to go to the worlds," BMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said. "Colorado has nice mountains, we are an American team, and it's a good opportunity for him to race in the U.S. He couldn't race in California in May due to his pre-Tour de France training camps."

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Australia's teenage stars have put the team at the top of the elite racing medal table with Melinda McLeod collecting double gold and Darryn Goodwin the time trial crown at the UCI BMX World Championships in Denmark.

 

The BMX Cyclones were the only nation to win more than one gold medal and leave Copenhagen with a total of three gold, one silver and one bronze medal from eight Championship Class events.

Queensland's McLeod, 18, opened her campaign on Friday when she won the elite junior women's time trial Superfinal, the first time this has been a medal event at the championships. A day later she fought back from a bad gate draw to win the race crown rainbow jersey.

 

McLeod launched herself from the gate to hit the front at the first corner (berm). She was challenged at the second corner but a powerful surge over the rhythm section put her back in front. She crossed more than half a second clear of silver medallist Abbie Taylor (GBR) with American Brooke Crain in third place.

 

"It was just a great race out there today," said McLeod after her win. "I knew it was going to be a tough one so I had a plan A, plan B, plan C, just to make sure I had it covered.

 

"My third moto (heat) was not that great so (I had a late) lane draw and had lane six. I knew I'd been fast across the track all day and just had to really stay relaxed," she explained. "I didn't expect I'd come into that first corner in first and just had to race my own race for the rest of it and luckily I led the lap."

 

McLeod's dual success is even more impressive considering the Mackay rider had a run in with moped whilst warming up to race on Friday.

 

"I got hit while out on the road warming up by a moped about ten minutes before my first time trial on Friday so it was not the smoothest weekend but I'm really glad I could overcome that. Big credit to the guys in the high performance team because they really helped me."

 

The win comes after McLeod last year placed third and marks the end of her junior career.

 

"Now elite women and that's no easy class," said McLeod who is eligible for the Olympic Games. " If the Olympics comes up then it comes up but my focus is on trying to make (Supercross) finals and get as fast as I can."

 

Goodwin, 17, won a third gold for the team when he clocked the fastest time in the elite junior men's time trial Superfinal.

 

In the elite time trial competition Brian Kirkham collected a bronze medal and Caroline Buchanan was second in the elite women's event.

 

In Saturday's racing Sam Willoughby and Kirkham both qualified for the elite men's final but narrowly missed out on podium places finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

 

Australia didn't qualify a starter in the elite women's final but in the elite junior men's final Goodwin and Bodi Turner both qualified. Goodwin placed fourth and 16 year old Turner was sixth.

The BMX High Performance team Cyclones for the World Championships is below for reference

with their ranking listed (please note rankings are as at 12 July - prior to championships):

BMX 20" - Elite Men

 

• Joshua CALLAN (Warburton VIC, 08.04.1991| UCI Rank #26)
• Brian KIRKHAM (Clapham SA, 01.01.1986 | UCI rank #4)
• Luke MADILL (Cranebrook NSW, 28.05.1980 | UCI Rank #21, 2008 Olympian)
• Sam WILLOUGHBY (Trott Park SA, 15.08.1991 | UCI Rank #3)
• Khalen YOUNG (Kelmscott WA, 20.11.1984 | UCI Rank #17)

BMX 20" - Elite Women

• Rachel BRACKEN (Mermaid Waters QLD, 30.06.1991 | UCI Rank #11)
• Caroline BUCHANAN (Kambah ACT, 24.10.1990 | UCI Rank #3)
• Lauren REYNOLDS (Bunbury, WA, 25.06.1991 | UCI Rank #5)

BMX 20" - U19 Men

• Darryn GOODWIN (Swan View, WA, 02.08.1993 | UCI Jnr Rank #1)
• Bodi TURNER (Bayswater North, VIC, 18.09.1994 | UCI Jnr Rank #18)

BMX 20" - U19 Women

• Melinda McLEOD (Mackay, QLD, 12.02.1993 | UCI Jnr Rank 
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Canberra university student Nathan Haas virtually parcelled up the Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland today and is poised for the most important victory in his fast-developing professional cycling career.

 

With only one stage remaining in the 520km five-day event, Haas leads Bunbury teenager Bradley Linfield (Plan B) by 24secs, with a further 22secs to Queenslander Michael Cupitt (Budget Forklifts).

 

Haas, a former mountain biker who is studying for an Arts degree at Sydney University, is riding for the powerful Tasmanian-based Genesys Wealth Advisers team which has dominated the tour since it began in Wonthaggi last Wednesday.

 

Team-mates Patrick Shaw and Steele Von Hoff are leading the SP AusNet sprint championship and CreditCollect criterium titles respectively.

 

Haas has also clinched the Hotondo Homes king of the mountain championship. 

 

Haas rode conservatively today, finishing 16^th in the 33km criterium at Bairnsdale before a 14^th placing in the frenetic 69.3km eighth stage from Lakes Entrance to Metung.

 

He luckily escaped time loss on the Lakes Entrance-Metung journey when Canberra’s Benjamin Hill (Suzuki Trek) took a tumble on a hill climb and Haas momentarily ended up in a ditch. He also had a brush with a passing official race car.

 

“It was an awesome course into Metung but I had some scary moments out there,” Haas said after the stage.

 

“It could have been a disaster but my Genesys team-mates are doing a fantastic job for me and hopefully I’ve got this tour sewn up”. 

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Steele Von Hoff claimed his fourth stage victory in the Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland today but, despite his domination, he will not win the five-day road cycling classic.

 

Von Hoff, 23, began the third day’s racing with a punishing win in the 45km criterium at Moe South, then followed with a comfortable triumph in the 85km stage six road race from Morwell to Maffra.

 

The former Melbourne boilermaker, who has been competing seriously for only 12 months, also won the opening criterium in Wonthaggi on Wednesday and followed with another victory in yesterday’s closed circuit street race in San Remo.

 

Von Hoff took off on the 102km mountainous trek from San Remo to Warragul yesterday afternoon wearing the leader’s yellow jersey but, in an incredible mix-up with his Genesys team-mates, he lost 11 minutes and slumped to 17^th overall.

 

The new tour leader was his Genesys partner, Canberra’s Nathan Haas, but even teamboss Andrew Christie-Johnson was bewildered by his contingent’s tactics.

 

“Nathan got away in the break and we thought we had Anthony Giacoppo up there as well,” Christie-Johnson said.

 

“But before we realised what was happening, there was a six-minute gap and our second option dried up. I was a bit puzzled by the lack of initiative from the other teams as well.”

 

Haas leads the tour by 20 seconds from the 17-year-old West Australian Bradley Linfield (Plan B), with the Jayco AIS rider Aaron Donnelly, of NSW, 30 seconds back in third place.

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Damiano Cunego will led Lampre-ISD in Clasica San Sebastian, scheduled on Saturday 30th July.

Cunego just finished Tour de France in 7th position, blue-fucsia captain will rely on Bertagnolli, Bono, Gavazzi, Kostyuk, Mori, Perez Arrieta and Pietropolli.

The team will be directed by Bruno vicino, supported by mechanics Carminati and Gaia, masseurs Borgognoni and Inselvini and doctor Guardascione.

"Cunego is the main athlete, but I think that the whole team will be very competitive - sport director Vicino said - In fact, at the start of the race there will be many our riders that took part in Tour de France and got a top quality level of condition".