Entries Tagged 'procycling' ↓
September 9th, 2008 — procycling
Lance Armstrong has announced that he intends to make a comeback to procycling and would like to win one more Tour de France. At 37, he still has the physical capacity. (Raymond Poulidor came second aged 40 in the 1970s) However, it would also be interesting to see how he copes after 3 seasons off the bike. I’m sure he would struggle to dominate like he did during his 7 victories.
If Lance did return to the tour it would certainly make an interesting race. Whatever your opinion of the confident Texan, you can’t deny he is still the biggest name in world cycling.
Apparently he has signed up for out of competition drugs testing.
Lance Armstrong’s Motivation for Making a Comeback
On his website, Lance Armstrong says:
“…I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden,”
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Lance Armstrong said:
“I’m going back to professional cycling. I’m going to try and win an eighth Tour de France.”
Lance hinted he was inspired by seeing some of the older athletes, such as 41-year-old American swimmer Dara Torres do well at the Olympics.
He would also like to clear his name regarding doping allegations. He is aware that doping tests have become more stringent in the past 3 years. Since Lance’s departure, there have been a long line of high profile cyclists implicated in doping - often these were Lance’s main competitors - Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Rasmusen, Flloyd Landis, Vinokourov (see: doping scandals in cycling)
Photo: Lance Armstrong on virage 5 of the climb to l’Alpe d’Huez, during stage 10 of the 2001 Tour de France. Public domain
September 9th, 2008 — procycling
The tour of Britain is in the UK this week. In fact, yesterday it passed through my local training roads. Including Streatley Hill a category 2 King of the Mountains - a hill I have often raced on myself.
British cycling is definitely on the up, after a great Olympics performance. Local velodromes are saying that they are sold out. Many people are wanting to have a taste of the track, emulating the Olympic medallists. I hope that the enthusiasm and interest doesn’t prove short lived, but, becomes a permanent increase.
Just maybe, the better image of cycling may even translate into better attitudes to cyclists on the road. We can only hope… 
Image by John Spooner, Flickr
August 19th, 2008 — Olympics
The track cycling is nearly over, but Victoria Pendleton managed to claim another Gold for the British Team, beating Australia’s Anna Meares in the final. China’s Guo Shuang beat Willy Kanis for bronze.
Bradley Wiggins missed out on a third gold in the madison. But, Chris Hoy has reached the final against fellow British rider Kenny.
August 19th, 2008 — Olympics
GB pursuit team won Gold in 4km Pursuit in a time of 3 minutes 53 seconds, beating Denmark by over 6 seconds. It beat their old world record by 2 seconds. A very impressive ride.
- Bradley Wiggins
- Paul Manning
- Gerraint Thomas
- Ed Clancy
August 18th, 2008 — Olympics
Bos and Hoy in Track Sprint
This morning was the start of the 500 metre track sprint for men and women. After the qualifying time trial, riders go through to the quarters, semi and then final. The sprint takes place over 3 days.
Victoria Pendleton, is a strong favourite for the women’s title. I hope she stands up well to the pressure of the Olympics. The women have only 1 sprint event, unlike the men who have 3. Victoria looked very impressive qualifying from her quarter final. She set a new Olympic record in qualifying time trial
Chris Hoy currently looks unbeatable on the track (he also set Olympic record in qualifying time trial) and will be going for a third gold medal. That would make 4 Golds in 4 separate events, (he won 1km time trial in 2004)
Jason Kenney is another young British athlete with tremendous potential. He could make a medal
Tactics of 500m Olympic Sprint.
In the knockout stages, it’s simply a case of beating your own opponent. There is a lot of cat and mouse. Sometimes the riders may come to a complete stop to try and force the rival to the front. A rule has been added to limit this to 30seconds. (In one race, there was a 1 hour standoff with riders stopping on the bend of the track) - not ideal for tv schedules. Riders don’t sprint from the start because their opponent would be able to ride in the wheels for a while before sprinting around.
Speed in Last 200 metres
An example of the speed in last 200 metres
- In the quarter final Jason Kenny sprinted last 200 metres in 10.5 seconds - 68Kmph.
- Victoria Pendleton sprinted last 200 metres in 11.6 seconds.
Photo by John the Scone flickr
Other Track News
Rebecca Romero won Gold in 4km pursuit. Wendy Houvenghal took silver.
New World Record - 4Km Team Pursuit
British 4km Time trial team set a new world record of three minutes 44.205 seconds. British Pursuit Team:
- Bradley Wiggins, Paul Manning, Geraint Thomas and Ed Clancy
August 17th, 2008 — Olympics
A reader left a comment asking me what I thought about Chris Boardman’s choice of greatest Olympians of all time at the Independent
Boardman’s Choice was
- Steve Redgrace
- Michael Phelps
- Carl Lewis
- Mark Spitz
- A British cyclist (in a few years time)
Choosing the best Olympian or best Cyclist of all time, is the surest way to have an on going debate. There are so many different criteria to choose not least:
- Number of medals
- Type of event, Individual / Team, Short distance / long distance
- Prestige of event
- Amount of competition.
- Number of Olympics
- Personality of athlete.
If the question was “Who is most successful Olympian?”, I would give less weight to personal aspects counting number of medals would suffice. But, since it is ‘Greatest Olympian’ I think it means you can go less on statistics and more on personal favourites.
These are my 10 greatest Olympians of all time, and I’m sure most people will disagree with them.
10 Greatest Olympians of all Time
1. Carl Lewis
9 Gold medals over 4 Olympics, in a diversity of events rarely matched.
- 100m the blue ribband of athletics
- Long Jump
- Sprint Relay
Mixing both track and field the most prestigous events, Lewis also embodied, grace, speed and technique.
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August 14th, 2008 — Olympics
A review of the opening days of the Olympics:
Beijing Olympics - The Good so Far
- Spectacular Opening Ceremony.
- Michael Phelps becoming most successful Olympic athlete of all time.
- The procession of World Records set in the Swimming pool. (Of course, If it was cycling people wouldn’t be explaining these fast times on a new lycra swimsuit)
- Britain’s cycling squad. (forgive blatant patriotism) Gold to Nicole Cooke in women’s road race in treacherous conditions
- Russian and Georgian athlete offering goodwill to each other on the medal podium, despite outbreak of war in Russia. [link]
- Spirit of the Games- “I was just happy to be involved in the Olympics, now I can look forward to two weeks of shopping…” - First athlete to be knocked out of the Olympics (after 38 mins)- Amazingly the athlete was Australian. article at Guardian
- Track cycling and athletics still to come
Beijing Olympics - The Bad
Athletes village perimeter
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August 14th, 2008 — Olympics
As much as I have loved watching the Olympics, I’ve come to dread the post race interviews.
I guess when you’ve just finished a race, the last thing you want to do is to have to give a coherent, well thought out interview. At the end of a race, all the emotions come to the fore, especially when the stakes are as high as the Olympics. For most athletes, it is either agony or ecstasy. The fulfilment of 4-8 years work, or the bitter disappointment of narrowly missing out. In an ideal world, maybe athletes would be full of yogic detachment concentrating on the the old clichés like. “Well it’s not the winning which is important, it’s the taking part. ”
Anyway, you don’t expect much from athletes after a race, which is why the interviewer usually asks a question and then answers it themselves.
“You’ve won the Olympic gold. How do you feel? You must be very happy and proud.”
“Yes!”
“So what was going through your mind, as you crossed the finishing line? You must have been thinking - I’ve just won the Olympic Gold”
“Yes!..”
But, because the question has already been answered anyway, the athlete is obliged to think of something else to say. Usually some old cliché like thanking his mother, trainer, friends, cat, postman and all the support back home. - ‘Never thought dream would come true’. “I’ll never forget this moment” “Proudest moment of life…”
I’ve heard some pretty torturous post race intereviews in my time, but, yesterday was a new low.
A British swimmer had just finished 7th (or second to last) in the qualifying heats (she had won a silver medal at last world championships)
This is not an exact transcript, but, it conveys the general tone of the interview, I will keep the names anonymous:
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August 13th, 2008 — Olympics
A recent reader to this blog, shared a great comment:
‘Riding a time trial is a bit like banging your head against a brick wall - you’re really happy when it ends’
The Olympics is a far cry from the domestic time trial scene I compete in. But, it’s still a thrill to see your sport in the Olympics. I know timetrialling is not exactly the most exciting spectator sport, but, it’s still a great test - ‘the race of truth’
Women’s Olympic Time Trial
The women’s Olympic Time trial was won by Kristin Armstrong of US.
Emma Pooley of Great Britain came second. It is a very well deserved medal after working hard for Nicole Cooke in the road race.
Evergreen, 50 year old, Jeannie Longo just missed out on a medal by 2 seconds. (she has competed in every Olympics since 1984 - an achievement in itself)
The Men’s Olympic time trial is today, with Stefan Schumacher starting as one of the favourite’s
Photo by JimmyHarris
August 11th, 2008 — cycling, procycling
A real aficionado of cycling may say that the Olympic Road race is less important than any number of classics, World Championships and stage races like the Tour de France. In part this is because of the great tradition surrounding classic races like Paris Roubaix and Milan San Remo. The Olympic road race by contrast was devalued when, for many years, it wasn’t open to professional cyclists.
Classics such as, Paris Roubaix and Tour of Flanders have been won by all the greats of cycling - Merckx, Lemond, Coppi, Anquetil, Hinault e.t.c. The Olympic road race by contrast has been won by relatively few big names in pro cycling. (although in recent years it has been won by Ullrich 2000, and Paulo Bettini 2004)
The Importance of the Olympics
However, although the classics have a greater tradition and history, procycling aficionados underplay the significance of the Olympics to the general public. The non cycling public just don’t appreciate one day classics like Paris Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders; but, the Olympics are seen as the pinnacle of sport. People who usually have no interest in cycling, can become captivated by cycling in the Olympics, especially if their home nation has a chance of winning.
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