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Giro d'Italia 2013: Ryder Hesjedal exclusive interview

Daniel Benson — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:56:45 GMT

It has taken almost 40 minutes but Ryder Hesjedal finally lets his guard down when he's asked how it would feel to retain his Giro d'Italia crown. It's rare moment in which the typically conservative-talking Canadian gives an indication of his feelings ahead of the race. "It would be amazing," he says before puffing out his cheeks, realising the magnitude of what a second title would mean. "I can't even imagine it right now," he adds. "What needs to still happen for me to ...

Bishop going fast and having fun in early mountain bike season

Sue George — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:14:02 GMT

Jeremiah Bishop has focused the more recent years of his career more on endurance racing, but this spring he's been proving that he is still fast in the cross country and short track distances. The Sho-Air/Cannondale Team rider has gotten the 2013 season off to a strong start and is currently leading the US cross country national mountain bike series, the Pro XCT. "It's been a fantastic early season. It couldn't have gone much better than it has," said Bishop to Cyclingnews . "I'm ...

Interview: Jaimie Fuller, Change Cycling Now

Daniel Benson — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:43:51 GMT

CN: Let’s start with the big headline arising from your London summit, LeMond for president. That’s not as clear as it first seemed. JF: It was never about Greg LeMond for president. That came out of the French newspaper, Le Monde, and it spread from there. If you look at what we said in our press conference, and then subsequent to that when Greg was interviewed, it was only about him serving in an interim president role, if required. Naturally, we want it to be required. The purpose ...

Video Exclusive: Andy Schleck interview

Daniel Benson — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:19:20 GMT

After the most difficult season of his career so far, Andy Schleck ( RadioShack Nissan ) sat down with Cyclingnews to discuss growing up, 'chain-gate', Contador’s positive in 2010, Johan Bruyneel, and his aims for 2013. Cyclingnews: What do you think about when people ask you about the 2010 Tour de France? Andy Schleck: Many riders say that was the Tour that I was the strongest from my past Tours but I don’t agree. In 2011 when Cadel [Evans] won I actually felt a lot better. Some years ...

Exclusive Interview: Chris Horner on his career, Armstrong and pro cycling

Stephen Farrand — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:17:46 GMT

It's early evening in Javea, Spain and by the side of the Radioshack team bus, Chris Horner nestles into a handful of chocolate biscuits and two cans of Coca Cola. While his teammates are in their rooms surfing the internet and lounging around, "Redneck" -as he's affectionately known, is chatting with the team's mechanics. Wrapped in the comfort of the team's December training camp, the veteran American in his element. He loves bike racing, he lives for cycling and at the age of 41 he ...

Video: Wells represents US at his third Olympic Games

Sue George — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:09:01 GMT

American Todd Wells isn't one of those Olympians who was raised eating, breathing and sleeping thoughts of the Olympic Games . Yet he is about to compete in his third Games as a mountain biker in London on Sunday, August 12. "Growing up, I wasn't that into the Olympics. I would watch it, but I never thought I'd compete in it," said the 36-year-old Wells, who races for Specialized . "I raced BMX, but that wasn't in the Olympics at that time. "I didn't grow up dreaming of going to the Olympics like ...

Video: Second Olympic chance for Swiss mountain biker Vogel

Sue George — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:14:05 GMT

Last time around, the Olympic Games did not go so well for mountain biker Florian Vogel , but the Swiss rider is looking forward to a second chance at Olympic glory in London on August 12, 2012. In Beijing in 2008, Vogel abandoned the race. Although he had proved his talent and earned his selection prior to the Games by finishing second behind Christoph Sauser at the world championships, on race day in China he overheated. "Sometimes the heat is a bit of a problem for me if I'm not well adapted," ...

Video: Schultz undertakes final Olympic preparations

Sue George — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 20:59:56 GMT

Making the US Olympic team was by no means a sure bet for Sam Schultz ( Subaru-Trek ). A pro mountain biker from Missoula, Montana, he will represent the United States for the first time at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Ever since he made the US team, announced on June 15, Schultz has been amazed by the response to his selection. "All the sudden, people who don't care about cycling can recognize what it is to be in the Olympics. They are showing their support and doing what they can to help ...

Video: Schurter on track for Olympic mountain bike race

Sue George — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:38:26 GMT

As he prepares for the London Olympic Games , Nino Schurter ( Scott-Swisspower ) has had an excellent 2012 season thus far. What would make it perfect would be a gold medal in the elite men's cross country mountain bike race on Sunday, August 12. It won't be easy, as the Swiss racer will have to beat favorite and two-time defending Olympic Champion Julien Absalon (Orbea), riding for France. "Julien Absalon is still the man to beat. He is very strong this season again," said Schurter to ...

Video: Gould chases Olympic gold in London

Sue George — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 21:08:08 GMT

Luna's Georgia Gould is on her way to competing in her second Olympic Games . The American will race the elite women's cross country mountain bike race on August 11. "I'm excited and honored to be able to represent my country at the Olympics again. I feel like I'm in a better position this year, knowing what to expect the second time around and having four more years of training under my belt," Gould told Cyclingnews . "I'm coming into this next Olympics much more prepared than I was last time." ...

Davison's Olympic dreams fueled by maple bacon cupcakes

Sue George — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:03:27 GMT

What's the perfect recipe toward becoming a professional athlete? If you were to ask Team Specialized professional mountain bike racer and 2012 US Olympian Lea Davison it would most likely include something with maple syrup. Actually, this is a topic that many aspiring athletes and seasoned coaches often ponder. However, it depends on a number of factors, and is not a black or white answer. There are many shades of grey and various identities through which athletes transition on their journey towards ...

GreenEdge founder lauds Orica's investment in cycling

Jane Aubrey — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:04:47 GMT

Cyclingnews: Has the GreenEdge sell been tougher or easier than what you had thought? Gerry Ryan: We always believed it was going to take time. We didn't have a track record and it was only November, or early December that we got a UCI licence and it's pretty hard. It's like going out and selling insurance, trying to know when you're going to collect. From the outset I said it was going to take three years to get the team up and running and financially viable. This partnership with Orica is certainly ...

Fontana targets 2012 London Olympic Games

Sue George — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:59:18 GMT

Italian cross country national champion Marco Fontana ( Cannondale Factory Racing ) has his sights set on the 2012 London Olympic Games in August. "The Olympic season is always special. It's the most important race that we have in mountain biking. Not just because it's every four years, but because it's a chance to show our sport all over the world," said Fontana to Cyclingnews . "There are journalists from everywhere, and there is more space in magazines and on TV for us. I feel ...

Meet NICA student athletes Brian Duke & Hannah Rae Finchamp

Sue George — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:14:16 GMT

Cyclingnews profiles two National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) athletes each month during the Spring and Fall high school league seasons. This month, meet Brian Duke and Hannah Rae Finchamp, both from California. Brian Duke "NorCal was really the start of mountain biking for me. I started riding with the Salinas High team as a guest when I was in junior high. Once I saw how the team operated and the size of each NorCal event, I was hooked." Those are the words of Salina ...

BMC's Bookwalter continues upward career trajectory

Laura Weislo — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:39:07 GMT

After a breakthrough 2010 season in which he almost defeated Bradley Wiggins for the win at the prologue of the Giro d'Italia and then backed that up with an 11th place finish at the Tour de France prologue, some might say that Brent Bookwalter 's 2011 season was a bit of a letdown. But, looks can be deceiving. Bookwalter played a key supporting role in Cadel Evans ' and Team BMC 's first-ever Tour de France victory. Riding to keep your team leader in yellow all the way to Paris is an opportunity, ...

Koerber Rockwell begins comeback after having her baby

Sue George — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:45:47 GMT

It's been quite a year for Willow Koerber Rockwell . A little less than a year ago, she showed up at the opening UCI Mountain Bike World Cup round in South Africa ready to start her season. Yet on the eve of the race, she faced an abrupt change of plans: she was pregnant . The American, who has twice medalled at the cross country world championships, sat out the season, got married in the fall and then gave birth to her daughter Raven Starr Rockwell on December 31. Now she is trying to make the ...

Dream come true for world champion Kulhavy

Sue George — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:32:43 GMT

World champion Jaroslav Kulhavy is the kind of elite athlete who lets his legs do the talking. Even after a stellar 2011 World Cup season, the Czech pro mountain biker is relatively unknown in English-speaking media. Cyclingnews ' Sue George checked in with Kulhavy to find out more about the mysterious man who dominated the last cross country World Cup season just a few weeks before he will begin his 2012 season. Kulhavy won his first World Cup in Windham, New York, at the end of 2010 . Soon thereafter, ...

Catharine Pendrel: Getting used to rainbow stripes

Sue George — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:47:08 GMT

Becoming world champion will change your life. Or so that's what people say. But cross country mountain bike world champion Catharine Pendrel , 31, says she is up to business as usual during this pre-season training period. "It's easy to feel satisfied with my last season, but life is the same. A lot of people think it must be crazy different, but it's pretty much the same. Life is good," she said. As reigning world champion and runner-up in the 2011 UCI World Cup, the blonde Canadian ...

Tour Down Under: Robbie McEwen's top 5 moments

Jane Aubrey — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:26:45 GMT

5... 2010 It's not a win, but for me it was a pretty massive achievement. Coming back to the race in 2010 when I was riding with Katusha. It was my first race in seven months after I broke my leg in 2009. While I didn't win a stage I managed to finish fourth overall and take some good WorldTour rankings points so for me that was huge. I really didn't know how I was going to go after breaking my leg. I'd been training, but I didn't know where I stood. Realistically that should have been a career-ending ...

Matt Goss: In his own words

Jane Aubrey — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:54:44 GMT

Matt Goss and GreenEdge. The WorldTour neophytes and their number one signing are intrinsically linked – the team's main goals for 2012 are also his and with that, the 25-year-old is shouldering a lot of responsibility and the expectation that comes with it in his sixth season in the professional ranks. Sharing a trait with many of the peloton's elite fast men, Goss is not afraid to name his race targets, but his is an ego that is not misplaced or by any means brash. Following a season where ...

Mark Renshaw's year of living dangerously

Jane Aubrey — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:27:45 GMT

Rabobank recruit Mark Renshaw knows how to get results. In his three seasons under the Highroad banner, the Australian maximised his position leaving little doubt that he is the world's best lead out man. In 2012, Renshaw is facing a new challenge as he takes on the role as the Dutch team's number one sprinter, ready to be first across the finish line instead of dragging a teammate to the prize. Prior to embarking on the most pivotal season of his career to date, the 29-year-old spoke candidly to ...

Emily Batty climbs the ranks

Sue George — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:46:28 GMT

What do Alison Sydor, Marie Helen Premont and Catharine Pendrel have in common? All are fast Canadian cross country racers that were or are at the top of their sport. The 23-year-old Emily Batty is well on her way to adding her name to that list. "I was fortunate and had a super on season all year long," Batty told Cyclingnews . "It was my most successful season yet." Batty had a fantastic 2011, during which the first-year elite category rider just seemed to get stronger and ...

NUE Series Champion Tanguy reflects on a successful year

Sue George — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:05:57 GMT

Christian Tanguy won the 2011 Kenda National Ultra Endurance (NUE) Series , but he might not be back to defend his title in 2012. The 36-year-old from Worcester, Michigan raced to his first-ever series win in an exciting finale at the Shenandoah Mountain 100 . Going into the race, Tanguy and rival Jeff Schalk (Trek) were tied in points due to each having won four rounds, but Tanguy took the top honors after beating Schalk in Virginia. The final round win gave Tanguy an impressive five total NUE ...

Amanda Carey reigns over National Ultra Endurance (NUE) Series

Sue George — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:07:42 GMT

Amanda Carey was the queen of the National Ultra Endurance (NUE) Series in 2012. She won six of its endurance mountain bike races throughout the season including the Cohutta 100 , Syllamo's Revenge , Lumberjack 100 , High Cascades 100 , Pierre's Hole 100 and the Park City Point 2 Point . In a series in which the best four performances count, Carey won with a perfect score. "Having a season where everything went right was great," said Carey to Cyclingnews . "I put a lot of hard work ...

Interview: Morton eyes Garmin-Cervelo upgrade in the future

Alex Hinds — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:37:31 GMT

Australia’s Lachlan Morton, 19, turned heads after winning Canada’s prestigious Junior race, the Tour de l’Abitibi last year and riding into a seventh place overall at the Tour of Utah. This year, he took his young career one step further and rode into a sixth place overall at the UCI 2.HC Le Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia. He also made a distinct impact on the US domestic racing scene for his climbing prowess during many of the National Racing Calendar (NRC) stage races including ...