Archiv für den Tag: 1. Juni 2018

2018 CRITÉRIUM DU DAUPHINÉ VINCENZO NIBALI : «THE DAUPHINÉ WILL BE HARD TO WIN»

Allgemein


Key points:
 Since his first Critérium du Dauphiné in 2006, Vincenzo Nibali has returned to the French race every year that he hasn’t competed in the Tour of Italy, and placed 7th in 2014, which was also the year he won the Tour de France. He briefly took the overall lead following a legendary stage that finished at Villard-de-Lans in 2015 before ceding the leader’s jersey to Tejay van Garderen the next day. The Italian superstar has never won a stage in five appearances.
 In early May, he and his Bahrain-Merida team mates began specific training for the team time trial between Pont-de-Vaux and Louhans on June 6. However, it will most likely be in the mountains that he could find himself in a first duel with Romain Bardet. Before leaving the Canary Islands at the end of a fortnight of high-altitude training on the Teide volcano, he briefly answered a few questions.

Vincenzo Nibali, what did you do during the month of May?
“I have spent the last two weeks at the Teide volcano to lay the groundwork of my mountain training for the Tour de France. I am heading to Italy before returning, with pleasure, to the Dauphiné.”
Why have you chosen to return to the Dauphiné after a two-year absence to go to the Giro (winner in 2016, 2nd in 2017)?
“I am convinced that the Dauphiné is the race best suited to gradually get ready for the Tour de France, which I have made my main objective this year. I especially remember that it is always a difficult race with a lot of mountains and very good riders.”
Are you coming to win it this time?
“I am coming to ride a good race, but to win it will be very hard. I would like to get a good result on a few of the stages, but my main objective is to prepare for the Tour.”
What importance do you attach to the reconnaissance of the Rosière stage, in anticipation of the Tour?
“It is very important. In today’s cycling, we don’t overlook anything when preparing for a race as prestigious as the Tour de France. In April, I rode the Roubaix stage. To see it and know it provides a certain advantage.”

@ASO

2018 La Course by le Tour de France with FDJ : From the lake to the mountains

Eintagsrennen, Frauenradsport, Strassenrennen, ,

Key points:
 La Course by le Tour de France will this year be a one stage race between Annecy and Le Grand-Bornand. The first 28 kilometres and final 50 kilometres will be the same used on stage 10 of the men’s race.
 In addition to the race win, a prize for the best climber and most combative rider will be awarded at the arrival. Like in years past, the best riders will battle for the win just a few hours before the Tour de France peloton arrives.
 Twenty teams have been chosen by the organiser, representing the best female cyclists in the world.

Today’s best female riders will race on a stage tailor-made for champions, Tuesday July 17, in edition 5 of La Course by Le Tour de France. As was the case last year with the col d’Izoard serving as the finish line, this will be a mountain race between Annecy and Le Grand-Bornand. However, this year there will be just one stage. The 112.5 kilometres will be anything but a Sunday morning stroll. The Bluffy, Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, Romme and the Colombière climbs will count for the best climber category.

La Course by Le Tour de France will be contested on 78 kilometres of the men’s stage, which will be run the same day, with 28 kilometres between Annecy and Thônes then the final 50 kilometres between Bonneville and Le Grand-Bornand. While the opening kilometres will be picturesque as the peloton riders along the shore of Europe’s purest river, the road will rise in the first 20 kilometres with the col de Bluffy (1.5 km at 5.5%). This could be the first opportunity for a breakaway. Something new this year is the award for the most combative rider of the day that will be rewarded after the race. After passing through Thônes, a category 2 climb will be the next challenge for the peloton with the côte de Saint-Jean-de-Sixt (5.5 km à 4.9 %). La Course by le Tour will then use the same road as the men that heads to the col des Glières, but will continue straight towards Bonneville to arrive in the Arve valley. At this point the peloton will be back on the Tour de France route and will head to the Romme and Colombière climbs, where no doubt, the top climbers will try to attack on the steep slopes of these climbs in the Haute-Savoie. From there it will be a fast downhill run to Le Grand-Bornand, where La Course by Le Tour de France will be decided.

The organisers of La Course by Le Tour de France have selected 20 teams to participate in edition 5:

Ale Cipollini
Astana Women’s Team
Bepink
Boels Dolmans Cycling Team
BTC City Ljubjana
Canyon // SRAM Racing
Cervelo – Bigla Pro Cycling Team
Cylance Pro Cycling
FDJ Nouvelle – Aquitaine Futuroscope
Lotto Soudal Ladies
Mitchelton Scott
Movistar Team Women
Team Sunweb
Team Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank
Team Virtu Cycling
Trek – Drops
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
Valcar PBM
Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team
Wiggle High5

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