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Going to Belgium to win

Laura Weislo — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:40:28 GMT

I really should get packing. My flight from my home in Germany is in a few hours and there’s a lot to do. And this is going to be a big weekend for me and the boys at Garmin-Barracuda. It’s the start of the Belgium road season with Omloop on Saturday and Kuurne on Sunday. I’ll be racing Omloop and I’m really looking forward to it. First off I’m going there to win. And secondly it’s my birthday so there’s a real incentive to head to the race and kick some ...

Positioning is everything

Jane Aubrey — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:28:07 GMT

I now have two stage races under my belt now so it's time for another blog – I'm also back in Europe. It's still a bit fresh over here but it's about 10 degrees warmer than when they had the cold snap which is lucky for me. With the Tour Down Under and Qatar out of the way, I'm personally disappointed not to have walked away with a victory. I was happy with the Tour Down Under but when it comes to Qatar, I think I had better legs than what I showed but for one or two reasons I didn't manage ...

Myth versus fact

Alex Hinds — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:52:44 GMT

There is a lot more to being a good cyclist than just training and racing. One way to ensure you are getting the most out of the hours you are putting in is to ensure you are using the facts of nutrition and sport science and not believing the many myths associated with nutrition and performance. This article will address a few of the common facts and myths circulating, and hopefully provide you with a better understanding of physiology for optimal performance. Myth versus fact: 1) Too much water ...

Becoming Mrs Van Garderen

Daniel Benson — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:33:00 GMT

A fantastic year in review! I realize that February is already well into 2012, and most people are finished refecting on the past year, but I say "better late than never." 2011 was an exciting, overwhelming, and all-around fantastic year! I have to admit that I welcomed 2012 with a little sadness as I did not want 2011 to end. I am honored to share some of the highlights with you and tell my story of the best year ever! July Ok, this really begins at the end of June, but let's just file ...

The Contador case and the Giro d'Italia

Barry Ryan — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:10:59 GMT

First of all, I would like to use this blog to clarify some aspects regarding recent events. RCS Sport is proud to work alongside WADA, the IOC and the UCI, and is proud of having contributed to making cycling the most active sport in the fight against doping through innovative prevention programmes and controls such as the biological passport. RCS Sport is proud to work alongside national institutions like CONI and the FCI, which have made Italy one of the countries most emblematic of the fight ...

The Contador case and the Giro d'Italia

Barry Ryan — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:10:59 GMT

Stages 2-6: Getting dropped is like bankruptcy

Sue George — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:47:17 GMT

Getting dropped is a lot like bankruptcy. It happens gradually, then suddenly. The first couple of days of the Trans Andes Challenge (TAC) had been pretty heavy on the legs and just as importantly (and expensively), heavy on the mind. We'd traveled to Chile to race as much as train, but going full gas at a mid-summer fitness level wasn't something my winter brain or body really were too excited for, much less prepared to do. Each day started with the duo team of Javier Püschel and Luciano Caraccioli ...

The off season and laying the foundations for 2012

Alex Hinds — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:01:01 GMT

January in Utah would normally lend itself to stories of great backcountry skiing, snowboarding, and cross country skiing. This year has been dry and mild, with a relative lack of snow, and the riding has been a lot better than the snow sports. Since we did finally get snow a week ago, the avalanche danger has been through the roof. It has been better to try out the snow biking. I made it down to St. George, Utah for New Year’s weekend and got out for some good mountain bike rides. Before ...

Stage 2 - From suffering to a stage win

Sue George — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:08:33 GMT

On the back foot, I was struggling and riding with what felt like the parking brake on. Through hike-a-bike and granny gear climbs, bush whacking, gravel and cow-print downhill trails, nothing would permanently and with concise closure keep that five-second gap from opening back up. I eventually attributed this to (duh!) bad legs but more importantly, I was the anvil, not the hammer, in this situation. It feels like stage 4 already, with the Osorno race, a travel day, and two days of the Trans Andes ...

Stage 1 - A shock to the system

Sue George — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:03:16 GMT

Every year races get bigger, and thusly, faster. The 2012 Trans Andes proved this self evident truth today with stage 1's victory going to Bulls team rider Stefan Sahm. I knew going into the race that a rider like Sahm would bring the level of competition up several notches, as would the history and legacy of the event, now in its fourth year. I have a personal history of poorly adjusting to the heat of mid-winter racing in the southern hemisphere (coming from Utah), so my teammate Blake Harlan ...

An introduction to China

Laura Weislo — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:57:14 GMT

As I entered my eighth year as a professional cyclist, I began 2012 like so many of the other years by spending my birthday and most of January in a foreign country. This time, however, the first get-together with Champion System has been taking place in various cities and regions across China versus the more common spots in the US and Europe. I’m still not sure how to classify the trip other than to say it’s been quite an experience. The Champion System Team has the ambitious goal of ...

Wrapping up a NorCal winter

Sue George — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:18:18 GMT

Our pre-season training locale has been a great opportunity for Mary and I to stay put for a couple of months and take advantage of the benefits of being in one place. After some time spent re-learning how to relax, we have been able to re-learn how effective it can be to have the opportunity to train from a stationary standpoint. We have come upon a rhythm in Northern California that seems only possible when living in a special community and around like minded and positive people. Mary and I have ...

Directing the crew at the Giro

Barry Ryan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:13:30 GMT

If the legendary race director Vincenzo Torriani compared the Giro d’Italia to a big banquet made up of a series of tasty dishes (the route) and pleasant dining companions (the riders), in our era, it’s perhaps more fitting to compare the Giro to a big cinematic production. To be successful, a film needs above all a good script (the route), a cast of talented actors (the great champions), good distribution and a good promotional launch. I’ve left the director until last, because ...

Directing the crew at the Giro

Barry Ryan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:13:30 GMT

DO NOT POST UNTIL 12 NOON UK TIME: Directing the crew at the Giro

Barry Ryan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:14:36 GMT

A rolling stone gathers no moss

Sue George — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:50:51 GMT

A rolling stone gathers no moss. I've heard it from several of the elders and godfathers of our sport - it's easier to stay in shape than get in shape. Tinker, Ned, Tilly, Distefano... all of these guys have been around the block long enough to know how it works, and I myself have done my own share of laps here in life to know there's no reason to recreate the wheel. Listen to your elders, though now it seems I'm somehow joining those elders, at least as far as grey hairs in my beard go. As I sit ...

Top 10 qualities for a training partner

Laura Weislo — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:47:23 GMT

‘Tis the season for training, which means instead of searching for that perfect holiday gift, you are seeking an ideal training partner to join you on countless base miles in less than ideal conditions: A companion for the road, an accountability partner, an opportune therapist. A good training partner is hard to come by, and may be one of the bigger decisions that you ever make. I assume it is comparable to a reliable babysitter or a compatible life partner. I have been able to ride with ...

Faster and stronger for 2012

Jane Aubrey — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:06:36 GMT

Here we are at the Tour Down Under and everything is shaping up really well - and I'm back writing for Cyclingnews ! I think I’m about 95 per cent. What’s left is the racing that will bring you up. With my trainer, we came up with a program that would give me the best shot at getting good results in the Tour Down Under. I’ve done a really good strength block, and a good speed block with the scooter and when it comes to the sprints, I definitely have the form to be there for the ...

Looking ahead to racing in 2012

Daniel Benson — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:00:09 GMT

Happy New Year and hello from the Spanish island of Mallorca! The off-season is officially over, and we are back at it at the first of two training camps for RadioShack-Nissan-Trek. Camp actually started in Luxembourg with the team presentation to launch us into 2012. It was a great event with really good crowds. It was fun to see all the excitement for the team. I don't know if it was majority Luxembourgers there or a mix of people/countries, but either way, we are going to have a great following ...

Happy Bicycling New Year!

Sue George — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:15:59 GMT

Happy Bicycling New Year! We've started writing 2012 now, and a whole New Year lies ahead, filled with challenges and numerous possibilities. What excites me most is the thought that if I work hard enough, it is actually possible to reach the goals I've set for 2012. Our Christmas celebrations at home at Smeaheia and Bjørheimsbygd (Norway) passed as we had hoped and expected, with lots of food, enjoyment and happiness together with our families. Father Christmas also put in an appearance, ...

Wildcards: how we made our decision

Barry Ryan — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:09 GMT

January 10 arrived and, as promised, RCS Sport assigned the wild cards for its own races on the UCI WorldTour. I'd like to make two points to start: 1. I’m very proud to have arrived at a decision in double quick time so that all of the teams involved are now able to plan their own seasons in the best possible way. 2. In theory, there should be a WorldTour calendar for the WorldTour teams and a continental calendar for the second-tier teams. The WorldTour wildcards should be an extra bonus ...

Wildcards: how we made our decision

Barry Ryan — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:09 GMT

Over the rainbow and into the great unknown

Alex Hinds — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:22:10 GMT

After a good break over Christmas with my family down at the famed Margaret River, I’m heading into 2012 as reigning Under 23 World Time Trial Champion , Team Pursuit World Champion, and as a GreenEdge neo pro – not bad at all. With the weather so good, I’ve been able to get plenty of training in along with Cameron and Travis Meyer and I think we’re all coming up really well – but I’m really looking forward to actually getting into some racing. I’ve had ...

Belgium: the land of enlightenment?

Mark Robinson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:45:25 GMT

I came into this trip not knowing what to expect. I wanted to take away as much as possible from this experience. I am in my early thirties and and have a family, so it is safe to say that I am not the typical demographic for Euro Cross Camp. However, this camp is not only beneficial to someone that wants to experience cyclocross at the highest level but it is also helpful in learning life lessons. Cycling is a tough sport, and it is as much about perseverance as personal fitness. If you are looking ...

Finding my feet in the Belgian 'Cross scene

Alex Hinds — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:25:05 GMT

My European start position was a metaphor for my European racing experience. At the beginning of camp, I would wait around disoriented before the start, until I was called up with a few others lacking UCI points or Belgian citizenship to the very back of the pack. When the gun went off, I would chase as hard as I could for forty minutes. I’m looking forward to seeing the front row at nationals. Even outside of racing, it took me a while to get used to things. The level of support confused ...