Pedal Dancer®: Pro Riders

Showing posts with label Pro Riders. Show all posts

12 May 2016

List of Riders Amgen Tour of California 2016

The Riders - a complete list of competitors

The rider startlist and bib numbers have been finalized and made available by ProCyclingStats.com, a day after quite a different startlist was released by Amgen Tour of California media personnel. Whomever starts on Sunday morning is now committed to ride their way to Sacramento (no more changing the roster!).

~~The official 2016 startlist of riders (rider roster, squads) has not yet been released by organizers of the Amgen Tour of California, but~~ I got impatient because I am headed to the race tomorrow. However on the ProCyclingStats.com startlist of riders you can click on each name and see a photo of the rider and their palmares (the career race history), a great way to get familiar with who will be racing at the Tour of California.

Through reading news reports and rider twitter accounts (some are already in California training pre race), I can add to the list of riders who will be racing in California at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California this week. ATOC typically leaves the announcement of the startlists until just before the start as teams formalize their squads having recovered from recent illnesses or races.

Team rider startlists

There will be a thrilling list of riders to compete in California this week. Tom Boonen is coming to California!! Julian Allaphilippe will be returning in 2016, he won the best young rider jersey in 2015 and won the stage to Mt Baldy. Peter Sagan is coming back with his teammate and brother Juraj Sagan. Mark Cavendish and Bradely Wiggins will both return in 2016. Team BMC has an action packed team, their red jerseys should be a frequent sight on the podium.

I am super excited to see Tom Boonen and Mark Renshaw race again and am looking forward to watching the other powerful sprinters including Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin), Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data), Ben Swift (SKY), John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin), Niccolo Bonifazio (Trek-Segafredo), Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie), Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo), Brad Huff (Rally), Rob Britton (Rally), Robin Carpenter (Holowesko-Citadel), Wouter Wippert (Cannondale), Travis McCabe (Holowesko-Citadel), and John Murphy (UHC).

Because I am a huge fan of the Spring Classics I will be like a giddy fan to see Greg van Avermaet, John Degenkolb, Alexander Kristoff, Zdenek Stybar and Tom Boonen in California. I wouldn't be able to get anywhere near them in Belgium; which also stands true for Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins. I also look forward to watching the young Axeon Hagens Berman team and observing the French riders on Team Direct Energie enjoy their time in California. Although 'enjoy' is a loose term once they experience the tough level of competition in this tour.

Recommended Read: Preview: What you need to know about the 2016 Amgen Tour of California, by Neal Rogers. Who writes, "Sagan returns to the race that he’s done every year since 2010, along the way compiling a total of 13 stage wins (a record),five points jerseys (a record), one best young rider’s competition (2010), and one overall victory." "Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), a nine-time California stage winner and two-time points classification winner."

Pedal Dancer Race Preview for 2016 Tour of California on TourChaser.com: tourchaser.com/race-preview-atoc

FULL STARTLIST - 2016 Amgen Tour of California, 144 riders to compete:* to be updated with bib numbers after the official announcement of the ATOC startlist.

Tinkoff
1 Sagan, Peter
2 Baška, Erik
3 Blythe, Adam
4 Gatto, Oscar
5 Gogl, Michael
6 Kolar, Michael
7 Sagan, Juraj
8 Trusov, Nikolay

Etixx - Quick Step
11 Allaphilippe, Julian
12 Boonen, Tom
13 Bouet, Maxime
14 Maes, Nikolas
15 Richeze, Ariel Maximilliano
16 Stybar, Zdenek
17 Vakoc, Petr
18 Velitz, Martin

Team Sky
21 Kennaugh, Peter
22 Fenn, Andrew
23 Kiyrienka, Vasil
24 Moscon, Gianni
25 Nordhaug, Lars Petter
26 Peters, Alex
27 van Poppel, Danny
28 Zandio, Xabier

Dimension Data
31 Cavendish, Mark
32 Brammeier, Matthew
33 Eisel, Bernhard
34 Farrar, Tyler
35 Nathan Haas
36 Janse van Rensburg, Jacques
37 Renshaw, Mark
38 Teklehaimanot, Daniel

Team Katusha
41 Kristoff, Alexander
42 Guarnieri, Jacopo
43 Haller, Marco
44 Isaychev, Vladimir
45 Machado, Tiago
46 Mørkøv, Michael
47 Restrepo, Jhonatan
48 van den Broeck, Jurgen

BMC Racing Team
51 Bookwalter, Brent
52 Dennis, Rohan
53 Drucker,Jean-Pierre
54 Phinney, Taylor
55 Sánchez, Samuel
56 Schar, Michael
57 Van Avermaet, Greg
58 Wyss, Danilo

Team Wiggins
61 Wiggins, Bradley
62 Christian, Mark
63 Doull, Owain
64 Kelly, Jake
65 Latham, Christopher
66 Patten, Daniel
67 Tennant, Andrew
68 Thompson, Michael

Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
71 Talansky, Andrew
72 Bevin, Patrick
73 Craddock, Lawson
74 Gaimon, Phillip
75 King, Benjamin
76 Marangoni, Alan
77 Skujiņš, Toms
78 Wippert, Wouter

Trek - Segafredo
81 Stetina, Peter
82 Arredondo, Julián David
83 Bernard, Julien
84 Bonifazio, Niccolo
85 Irizar, Markel
86 Reijnen, Kiel
87 Stuyven, Jasper
88 Zubeldia, Haimar

Direct Energie
91 Coquard, Bryan
92 Anderson, Ryan
93 Duchesne, Antoine
95 Nauleau, Bryan
96 Petit, Adrien
97 Sicard, Romain
98 Tulik, Angelo

Team Giant - Alpecin
101 Degenkolb, John
102 Kragh Andersen, Søren
103 Curvers, Roy
104 de Kort, Koen
105 Sinkeldam, Ramon
106 Fairly, Caleb
107 Skjøstad Lunke, Sindre
108 ten Dam, Laurens

Team LottoNL - Jumbo
111 Groenewegen, Dylan
112 Bennett, George
113 Roosen, Timo
114 Teunissen, Mike
115 van Widen, Dennis
116 Vermeulen, Alexey
117 Wagner, Robert
118 Wynants, Maarten

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
121 Brajkovic, Janez
122 Canolo, Mario
123 Clarke, Jonathan
124 Eaton, Daniel
125 Jaramillo, Daniel Alexander
126 Jones, Christopher
127 Murphy, John,
128 Putt, Tanner

Axeon Hagens Berman (U23 team)
131 Geoghegan Hart, Tao
132 Barta, Will
133 Curran, Geoffrey
134 Daniel, Greg
135 Guerreiro, Ruben
136 Neilands, Krists
137 Owen, Logan
138 Powless, Nielson

Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
141 Morton, Lachlan David
142 Cheyne, Jordan
143 Morton, Angus
144 Putt, Chris
145 Rathe, Jacob
146 Sheehan, Michael
147 Sheldon, Taylor
148 Wolfe, Ben

Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
151 Carpenter, Robin
152 Clark, Oscar
153 Flaksis, Andzs
154 Hornbeck, Jonathan
155 Krasilnikau, Andrei
156 Lewis, Joe
157 Squire, Rob
158 McCabe, Travis

Team Novo Nordisk
161 Clancy, Stephen
162 Henttala, Joonas
163 Lozano, David
164 Megias Leal, Javier
165 Peron, Andrea
166 Planet, Charles
167 Verschoor, Martijn
168 Williams, Christopher

Rally Cycling
171 Anthony, Jesse
172 Britton, Rob
173 De Vos, Adam
174 Huffman, Evan
175 Nalo, Patrick
176 Oronte, Emerson
177 Pate, Danny
178 Routley, Will

All of these riders will be racing again in 2016: (All Photos ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®)

American Brent Bookwalter (BMC).

Latvian Tom Skujins (Cannondale).

From the U.K. (Isle of Man) Mark Cavendish (now with Dimension Data).

Australian Rohan Dennis (BMC).

American Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data).

Slovakian Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).

American Taylor Phinney (BMC).

American Lawson Craddock (now with Cannondale).

American Logan Owen (Axeon Hagens Berman).

Mark Renshaw (now with Dimension Data).

Julian Allaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep).

Laurens ten Dam (now with Giant-Alpecin).

WHO WILL WEAR BIB #1 IN 2016?

It is tradition that the previous year's overall stage winner, if returning to the race in the current year, wear the #1 jersey. His team being recognized as the first team, thus wear #1-8. The other teams are ordered according to race organizers preference, eighteen teams total with eight riders each. At the Tour of California, as is usual, you will see the ProTour teams listed on the roster before the Pro Continental or Continental teams.

Peter Sagan will wear #1 on his jersey at the Tour of California. He will be racing hard in 2016 to wear #1 again in 2017.

More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016:

14 August 2015

List of pro racers for USA Pro Challenge 2015

Startlists announced today (Friday)

Big news this morning: three days before the stage race begins, we know who will be racing in Colorado. This race has started out exciting from the get-go as rider rosters were released just this morning. I am informed by Heather Krug, of the USA Pro Challenge that these very international lists of riders are preliminary and might change prior to Monday's start in Steamboats Springs.

Final roster list: print it out 2015 Mens Roster

Taylor Phinney is back! I am so excited for him, and for us. Peter Stetina is back as well. Both Stetina and Phinney raced last week at Tour of Utah. Michael Schär returns once again and is guaranteed to light up the race as he has done in past years along with his teammate Brent Bookwalter, another racer often seen on podiums in Colorado.

I have my favorites that I like to see at the race every year, always wishing them well during the race: Matthew Busche (current USA National Champion Road), Eric Marcotte (former USA National Champion Road), Lachlan Norris, Lachlan David Morton, Kiel Reijnen, Danny Summerhill, Tanner Putt, Ted King, Phil Gaimon, Tom Zirbel, James Oram, Logan Owen, Robin Carpenter and many more

There are some teams that both deserve, and will get, much attention at the race this year, they are: The Cycling Academy out of Israel; Team SmartStop, for their smart racing and animated team directors; BMC racing for their attempt to win a third year in a row; United Healthcare, a team name we will hear very often in the coming week; Axeon, with it's squad of pure talent and it's Team Director Axel Merckx and of course the talented crew at Hincapie Racing.

The press release this morning announcing the teams, reported, Both Hincapie and Axeon teams are predominantly 19 to 23 year-olds and have become feeders to the big World Tour teams like BMC, Trek, Cannondale-Garmin and Tinkoff-Saxo, which are all in the race. “We have a lot of good up and coming guys, for sure,” said Axeon General Manager Axel Merckx, a master at recruiting young talent. “These guys aren’t afraid of anyone.”

Here is my tip - keep your eye on:

Kiel Reijnen of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team.
Brent Bookwalter of BMC
Lachlan Norris of Drapac Pro Cycling
Lachlan David Morton of Jelly Belly
Tao Geoghegan Hart of Axeon
Robbie Squire of Hincapie, riding in support of his team leader Dion Smith
Janez Brajkovic of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team

Local Colorado announcer Larry Grossman is on his way to Steamboat Springs this morning - more good news for spectators. You will enjoy Larry's smooth tone and informed commentary very much. He knows many of these racers very well and should add much to race events. I know I will be listening for his inside scoop.

More from Pedal Dancer®: Men's Teams Announced | Women's Teams & Riders | General Guide Page: USA PRO CHALLENGE

Off to the races. See you in Steamboat Springs COLORADO! Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

WorldTeams

BMC Racing
1 – Rohan Dennis (Aus)
2 – Brent Bookwalter (USA)
3 – Damiano Caruso (I)
4 – Kilian Frankiny (Swi)
5 – Taylor Phinney (USA)
6 – Michael Schär (Swi)
7 – Manuel Senni (I)
8 – Peter Stetina (USA)
Directors: Jackson Stewart, Fabio Baldato

Tinkoff-Saxo
11 – Roman Kreuziger (Cz)
12 – Eduard Beltran Suarez (Col)
13 – Felix Grossscharther (A)
14 – Jesús Hernández Blazquez (Sp)
15 – Bruno Pires (P)
16 – Ivan Rovny (Rus)
17 – Chris Anker Sørensen (Dk)
Directors: Lars Michaelsen, Toni Gluseppe

Trek Factory Racing
21 – Matthew Busche (USA)
22 – Julian Arredondo (Col)
23 – Leonardo Basso (I)
24 – Julian Bernard (F)
25 – Laurent Didier (Lux)
26 – Jesse Sergent (NZ)
27 – Fabio Silvestre (P)
28 – Calvin Watson (Aus)
Directors: Kim Andersen

Cannondale-Garmin
31 – Davide Formolo (I)
32 – Janier Alexis Acevedo Colle (Col)
33 – Jasper Bovenhuis (Nl)
34 – Nathan Brown (USA)
35 – Edward King (USA)
36 – Kristoffer Skjerping (N)
37 – Ruben Zepuntke (G)
Directors: Charly Wegelius, Eric Vanlancker

Pro Continental teams

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
41 – Heiner Parra Bustamante (Col)
42 – Hugh Carthy (GB)
43 – Fabricio Ferrari Barceló (Ur)
44 – Ángel Madrazo Ruiz (Sp)
45 – Antonio Molina (Sp)
46 – Kyle Murphy (USA)
47 – Jaime Rosón García (Sp)
Directors: Jose Miguel Fernandez Reviejo

UnitedHealthcare
51 – Janez Brajkovic (Slo)
52 – Marco Canola (I)
53 – Jonathan Clarke (Aus)
54 – Christopher Jones (USA)
55 – John Murphy (USA)
56 – Tanner Putt (USA)
57 – Kiel Reijnen (USA)
58 – Daniel Summerhill (USA)
Directors: Mike Tamayo, Hendrik Redant

Drapac
61 – Lachlan Norris (Aus)
62 – William Clarke (Aus)
63 – Dylan Girdlestone (SA)
64 – Jordan Kerby (Aus)
65 – Martin Kohler (Swi)
66 – Adam Phelan (Aus)
67 – Timothy Roe (Aus)
68 – Samuel Spokes (Aus)
Directors: Tom Southam, Jon Breekveldt

Novo Nordisk
71 – Javier Megias Leal (Sp)
72 – Corentin Cherhal (F)
73 – Kevin De Mesmaeker (B)
74 – Benjamin Dilley (USA)
75 – Nicolas Lefrancois (F)
76 – David Lozano Riba (Sp)
77 – Charles Planet (F)
78 – Martijn Verschoor (Nl)
Directors: Vassili Davidenko, P. Cherkasov

Continental teams

Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies
81 – Phillip Gaimon (USA)
82 – Ryan Anderson (Can)
83 – Guillaume Boivin (Can)
84 – Charles Bradley Huff (USA)
85 – Pierrick Naud (Can)
86 – Will Routley (Can)
87 – Eric Young (USA)
88 – Tom Zirbel (USA)
Directors: Jonas Carney, Eric Wohlberg

Hincapie Racing
91 – Dion Smith (NZ)
92 – Andzs Flaksis (Lat)
93 – Robin Carpenter (USA)
94 – Oscar Clark (USA)
95 – Joseph Lewis (Aus)
96 – Toms Skujins (Lat)
97 – Joseph Schmalz (USA)
98 – Robbie Squire (USA)
Directors: Thomas Craven, Chris Wherry

Team SmartStop
101 – Rob Britton (USA)
102 – Flavio De Luna (Mex)
103 – Evan Huffman (USA)
104 – Jure Kocjan (Slo)
105 – Julian Kyer (USA)
106 – Eric Marcotte (USA)
107 – Travis McCabe (USA)
108 – Emerson Oronte (USA)
Directors: Michael Creed, Nick Traggis

Jamis-Hagens Berman
111 – Daniel Jaramillo Diez (Col)
112 – Gregory Brenes Obando (CR)
113 – Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg)
114 – Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA)
115 – Stephen Leece (USA)
116 – Carson Miller (USA)
117 – Luis Romero Amaran (Cub)
118 –David Williams USA
Directors: Sebastian Alexandre, Hugo Pratissoli

Jelly Belly-Maxxis
121 – Lachlan David Morton (Aus)
122 – Alexandr Braico (Mol)
123 – Steve Fisher (USA)
124 – Gavin Mannion (USA)
125 – Angus Morton (Aus)
126 – Taylor Sheldon (USA)
127 – Erik Slack (USA)
128 – Nicolae Tanovitchii (Mol)
Directors: Danny Van Haute, Matthew Rice

Axeon
131 – Gregory Daniel (USA)
132 – Daniel Eaton (USA)
133 – Tao Geoghegan Hart (GB)
134 – Ruben Guerreiro (P)
135 – James Oram (NZ)
136 – Logan Owen (USA)
137 – Chris Putt (USA)
138 – Keegan Swirbul (USA)
Director: Axel Merckx

Budget Forklifts
141 – Jack Bobridge (Aus)
142 – Jack Anderson (Aus)
143 – Daniel Barry (NZ)
144 – Josh Berry (Aus)
145 – Brendan Canty (Aus)
146 – Tommy Nankervis (Aus)
147 – Brodie Talbot (Aus)
148 – Michael Torckler (NZ)
Directors: Cameron Watt, Shaun McCarthy

Cycling Academy
151 – Yoav Bar (Isr)
152 – Antonio Angulo Sampedro (Sp)
153 – Guy Gabay (Isr)
154 – Lubos Malovec (Svk)
155 – Wojciech Migdal (Pl)
156 – Emanuel Piaskowy (Pl)
157 – Daniel Turek (Cz)
158 – Bartosz Warchol (Pl)
Directors: Ran Margaliot, Jan Valach

13 November 2014

The growing force of womens cycling

What do I think of women's bike racing?

It seems I ask this question of myself every other week; the answer, I find, is often different.

One thing is for certain - womens cycling is again growing and I better adjust to changing times. With brutal honesty I admit I was fearful of the change and uncertain of how I would cover the newly added women's stage races to the Tour of California and the USA Pro Challenge. Was it social pressure to suddenly know everything there was to know about womens cycling or was it recognition of my own ignorance about the sport of womens cycling.

I followed the generation who created the womens movement, I was schooled through Title 9, I have witnessed the unequal status of women's sport for decades. And yet I have never been on the forefront of making the change happen. I honestly have never been into all women's sports, only a select few. I enjoy watching women tennis, swimming, skiing, track and field; all exciting sports in their own right. But womens hockey, baseball, or soccer? No.

I reasoned that just because I like men's football, basketball, golf and cycling, that was no reason why I must also follow women's football, basketball, golf or cycling. In my mind they were separate sports and one did not piggy back upon the other. I had no obligation to a professional sport simply because women did it, or simply because I was a woman.

Now that researchers have been trying to lay to rest the myth that sex sells sport, most fans admit they mostly look for ability on the field from top athletes (except for those nude women's kits that got far too much press in 2014). This revelation means we can focus on the excitement of pure athleticism and good competition. Perhaps the reason I have never really been into women's cycling is simply because I have not been exposed to the highest level.

My point is - maybe it is time that I give some attention to learn about professional women's cycling. Maybe I will enjoy the sport. I don't get that excited watching a local amateur race, but expose me to the best men in the world racing a WorldTour race and I get plenty thrilled. I know all the teams and the riders, I have my favorites and I know the history. I unabashedly celebrate the outcomes of individual effort in sport as if the athletes were my best friends.

It took me years to learn about professional men's cycling.

Maybe if I start learning now about women's cycling, I can catch up to the point where I can truly appreciate the athletes and their performance. This is exactly the opportunity we are being given by way of the Amgen Tour of California and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge having added multiple day women's races to their 2015 calendars.

Even if we are not fans of womens cycling today - we might be tomorrow, or better yet - next year. Our daughters, nieces and neighbors might be the next great stars of the sport. We grow our interest, we grow our support, and the athletes benefit now. It takes a willingness to say yes, I am going to watch and encourage more women's bike races.

For now if these races have to piggy-back onto the men's races, so be it. Soon they will stand on their own and maybe one day we will hear that a mens race has been added to a womens stage race. The best form of equality is when the athlete becomes known as a professional bike racer of outstanding ability, without gender attached.

I better step up and be part of this change, I know I have a lot to learn. Womens bike racing is in no way new and the sport has waxed and waned over the years. Growth has not been a constant upward curve, races have been eliminated, diminished, reborn again. But I hope the movement now gathering steam sticks and womens cycling continues to earn respect, admiration and sponsorship.

The Amgen Tour of California included a womens criterium as early as 2008, adding a time trial in 2011. Finally 2015 will see a three-day stage race, followed by a separate ITT for the women five days later. The men's and women's races will overlap, spreading viewership, I worry. More info: amgentourofcalifornia.com/competition/womens-races.

The USA Pro Challenge had previously featured a womens circuit race run in conjunction with the pro race on the streets of Aspen, but in 2015 race organizers will present an official USA Pro Challenge womens stage race. Full details have yet to be released for the 2015 mens or womens parcours in Colorado.

The Giro-Rosa in Italy is the most prestigious women's stage race. We have only four opportunities in America to see the best of the best in womens racing. If you live in Utah, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Arkansas - you are the lucky ones. I won't make it to any of these races in 2015, but I will make a point of watching online, if possible (How to follow women's road cycle races live).

It is clear that change is in the air worldwide for womens bike racing. “We’re going to have a much stronger world cup calendar and international calendar,” UCI president Brian Cookson recently told CyclingNews. Listen to Cookson address women's minimum wage and calendar and developments on this CyclingNews video: UCI President Brian Cookson on the progress of women’s international cycling. Cookson states "women's events don't always need to be secondary or subsidiary to men's events, they can stand on their own and be really successful."

Having women's cycling stand on it's own is my hope and vision for the future. When we achieve a mixture of men and women leadership and sponsorship throughout both men's and women's bike racing, the result benefits everyone and signals an appreciation of the truly able athlete. That is when we know we have equality.

I believe building a solid following might have more to do with the quality of the business and operation then in the quantity on the calendar.

Womens top level pro races in the USA for 2015 - Full Calendar Women 2015

23-26 April 2015: Joe Martin Stage Race
29 Arp-3 May 2015: Silver City Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM
31 May 2015: Winston Salem Cycling Classic
7 June 2015: Parx Casino Philly Classic

Total UCI Womens Races over the year (signs of adjustment):

2006 - 57
2011 - 70
2013 - 65
2014 - 76
2015 - 78

Learn more:

What happened in 2014: Women's cycling: races and riders to watch in 2014 By BBC Sport
A good read on the current state of womens cycling: Women’s Cycling Association: A Vision for Change By Peter Easton, ROAD Magazine
A good news source to learn about women's cycling: podiumcafe.com/womens-cycling
Follow the Unofficial Unsanctioned Womens UCI Cycling Blog at prowomenscycling.com
Read the personal accounts of women pros at Chloe Hosking's list of women cyclists who blog
Womens race results and news: women.cyclingfever.com
Get to know names like Marianne Vos, Lizzie Armitstead, Emma Johansson, Ellen van Dijk, Pauline Ferrand-Prevo, Emma Pooley, Rossella Ratto, Kirsten Wild, Lucy Garner, Hannah Barnes, and Amy Pieters. And I am informed "not to forget Leah Kirchmann (OPM) triple Canadian Champ Rd, TT & Crit. Also 3rd in this year's Women's TDF!"
For a history lesson that women's cycling has been around for a long time and received far too little attention, read about British cyclist Bertyl Burton - one of the best female athletes of all time.

Update 11/14/14: Exclusive Q&A: Nicole Cooke By CyclingNews An honest interview about the current state of women's cycling.

20 August 2014

16 July 2014

An Indomitable Will

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
Mahatma Gandhi

Today Tony Gallopin and Andrew Talanski demonstrated what determination, stubborness and dependence only upon the self can achieve in sport. They did not let themselves down.

Two of the more memorable scenes in the Tour de France occurred today on Stage 11. The first was when Tony Gallopin crossed the line just ahead of a stampeding sprint. The second was when Andrew Talansky, refusing to give up the fight, crossed the finish line with the grim reaper of the voiture balai on his tail. These triumphant moments helped erase the melancholy of the past days when it seemed quite unfair to witness good men being removed unwillingly from competition.

What a stark contrast to see Tony and Andrew give their all, compared to Fabian Cancellara's quitting the race yesterday to prepare for the future. Nothing about Tony and Andrew's effort today was safe or meek, they each won in their own way by not giving up. One happened to be first in the race, one happened to be last.

Tony Gallopin, after attacking 4.5km from the finish line, was reeled back in by three other riders attacking off the front of the peloton. Gallopin tried again at 2.5km, this time he released their grip, daringly descending and cornering through town to fight for the final meters and reach the finish line just ahead of a sprinting pack of 35 riders.

Andrew Talanksy lost contact with the peloton at 80km out. He sat on the road for over 4-minutes trying to make a tough decision. In the end (and I do mean the end) he decided to carry on to finish the stage alone with a team car as a companion and the voiture balai (broom wagon) looming close behind. He crossed the line at 32'05", just making the official time cut-off of 34'33".

Never, never, never give up.
Winston Churchill

The wolves were at the gate. Tony Gallopin wins a dramatic Stage 11

Andrew Talansky makes the cut-off time into Oyonnax, 32'05" behind Tony Gallopin.

This was exactly the sort of suffering triumphant drama that the French love so much about the Tour de France. Don't we all, Stage 11 was memorable and rejuvenating.

A post worth reading again, by Pedal Dancer: Word of the day at the TDF: voiture balai

Full Stage 11 results at LeTour.com

Tomorrow, Stage 12: Bourg-en-Bresse / Saint-Étienne

Stage 12 profile. It won't get any easier for Andrew Talansky

05 July 2014

Marcel Kittel

Here he is ... Marcel

Any tine Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) does anything great, which is often when it comes to a sprint stage, people flood my site for this one simple photo of Marcel. So here it is, my photo of Marcel Kittel taken at the 2013 Tour of California.. I swung around and quicjky snapped this photo simply because a friend said "He is the next big thing." I'd say that was an understatement!

He is big, really big.

I think it's those quads we all admire, and quads certainly are at their best descending stairs. The uniform is now Giant-Shimano and the young rider has become the best power sprinter of the day, but what I like best about Marcel Kittel is he loves bike racing.

Maybe it is time again to revisit Jens Voigt's comment made about Kittel ...

Jens Voigt Quote of the Day - TDF 2013:

“ I know him a bit since he is also German. I remember the first time I spoke with him I said, Gee, when God made you I think he decided to make one big one instead of two little ones!” He is just huge and powerful and he looks like Ivan Drago in Rocky 4! He is a pure sprinter. I mean getting over a bridge is a hard climb for him. But for pure speed he is one of the best!" ~ Jens Voigt, referring to Marcel Kittel.

And congrats Jensie on a great stage today! It was thrilling to watch him race hard through the enormous crowds and spectacular scenery of Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France.

Related reading: Big #17 for Jens Voigt

29 June 2014

Big #17 for Jens Voigt

Jens is going to the Tour de France

A few days ago it was announced by the Trek Factory Racing team that one of their most popular riders - Jens Voigt - earned his way onto the nine man team for the 2014 Tour de France. The Grand Tour begins on Saturday, July 5th and will mark Jens Voigt's 17th participation. A tremendous accomplishment when you consider that the Trek Factory team has 28 riders and only nine get to go to Le Tour every year, let alone every year for seventeen years!

Being selected for the Tour de France is a highlight and yearly goal for many riders. Something they work hard to achieve. It is a dream, an honor, but every man knows he is expected to give his all for three-weeks. The payoff is big. Within this one race riders and teams stand to earn more than most races on the calendar for the year (besides paid personal appearance fees from other races and endorsements).

The news that Jens will be racing in the 2014 Tour de France means guaranteed entertainment. There should be the unveiling of the celebratory 17th year Trek bike, perhaps a few good interviews with a new quotable phrase, the expected break away or memorable moments out on course, the final solute into Paris, and plenty of fans opportunities to get that one last Jens Voigt signature during big #17.

Read: One Last Summer Vacation in France! Jens gets selected to start his 17th Tour de France, by Jens Voigt for Bicycling Magazine. "You know I calculated it the other day. I will have done nearly 340 days of racing in the Tour de France."

Jens Voigt has raced in every Tour de France since 1998, he won two stages in 2001 and 2006. He won one stage of the Giro d'Italia in 2008. He is a rouleur and break away specialist, German, age 42, 6'3', 170 lbs, a husband, and father of six!

I am personally not expecting a GC miracle from the Trek team, but their riders will be interesting to watch, especially Cancellara, Van Poppel, Busche, Voigt and the hard-working domestiques.

Trek Factory Team roster for 2014 Tour de France
SCHLECK Andy
SCHLECK Fränk
VOIGT Jens
CANCELLARA Fabian
ZUBELDIA Haimar
BUSCHE Matthew
IRIZAR Markel
RAST Gregory
VAN POPPEL Danny

Now it is time to share my latest Jens Voigt story from the Tour of California in May

It was the final stage of the Amgen Tour of California in Westlake Village, I had just left the sign-in stage area and walked closer to the media car I planned to board for transport out to the KOM climb on course. The media cars typically depart ahead of the peloton to place photographers along the route. I was having fun using my final minutes pre-race by directing the riders back to their buses after sign-in. Many had ridden in from their hotels and were unsure of the start village layout.

Directing the riders at ATOC, Hi Bradley, Hi Mark!

Honestly it was pinch-me is this real exciting and yet felt so comfortable. "Bradley, you'll want to go this way," "Mark take a left up the hill, then right." All smiles and in my element, suddenly Jens Voigt rolls up on his bike. By now the race start is within ten minutes and the start line about 20 meters away. "Hey Jens, what are you doing, are you looking for another cookie?" I say sort of jokingly, but suddenly Jens stops his bike and says in his thick German accent, "Um ya I am looking for Kim, she said to meet her at the VIP area, she has a special sweet for me."

I laughed along with Pez Photographer Darrell Parks who was standing nearby. Are you kidding me, I thought, minutes from race start and Jens is once again tooling around satisfying his sweet tooth! Shortly there after, out pops Kim from a nearby VIP car, holding a packaged caramel apple covered in nuts, and hands it to Jens. He grins from ear to ear. I am telling you, if you could see the joy this man gets from sweets.

Jens holds the apple in his hands as if it is gold. "Ooooooh, maybe I should save this for later when I can enjoy it," he says. This was not a question, this was Jens planning out loud. Which means I could not reply, "Ya, cuz' that race thing is approaching fast." Off he rode showing tremendous bike handling skills while holding his trademark pre-race coffee in one hand and the caramel apple in the other.

Jens Voigt has been a professional cyclist since 1997, if there is anyone who knows how to make his way around a bike race - it is Jens Voigt. I am confident Jens found a team car before heading to the start line just in the nick of time, because later at the KOM marker no caramel apple was seen tucked inside Jensie's jersey pocket for the circuit laps of Stage 8, Tour of California 2014. This disciplined rider saved his prize for after the race.

All photos below by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

A relaxed Jens on the sign-in stage before the stage start

Jens with his prized coffee and caramel apple

Jens all smiles minutes before the start

No evidence of an apple in his jersey pocket on the first lap

But he was working hard on the climb (Jens left next to Niki Terpstra center)

The apple that powers The Jensie

My other sweet story of Jens Voigt from August 2013: Jens Voigt p/b Cookies and Coffee

Jens talking time to collect a Rapha espresso next to an unsuspecting fan minutes before yet another race start in 2013

Jens Voigt and his Pepperidge Farm cookies in May 2012

Fans have learned that Jens likes sweets and this package of cookies was a gift from a fan in California, 2012.

For all the talk of suffering, pain, and old age, Jens Voigt certainly takes time for the sweet things in life. But first, he earns it. I think this is why Jens Voigt will forever be a fan fovorite - because he is real.

24 January 2014

Photo for the Day - Jens Voigt

Got to love that Jensie!

Is he a man, or is he machine? Or should the caption read: Jens Voigt heading into his last year of racing wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. Actually Jens stood like this for maybe two minutes in the middle of a team presentation. Until someone must have hit his restart button. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

Jens Voigt is back to racing this week at the Tour Down Under and once again making us all proud by earning the most aggressive (called the Most Competitive) jersey after Stage 3. I'd say Jens is sending a loud and clear signal that this, his last, year of bike racing will certainly not be a glory tour; Jens intends to race to the end.

I agree no rider is a bigger crowd favorite, no rider is so recognizable no matter what country he steps foot inside, and no rider has become such a legend among the old and young. He is endearing, enduring and deserving. And he is ours. I find comfort in watching Jens race his last year, because I believe he will always be involved in the world of cycling. This is not goodbye for Jens Voigt.

Way to go Jensie!

Jens Voigt, well-known for his grit and wisdom, continues to delight. Cameron Wurf, a Tasmanian former Olympic rower on the Cannondale team, has been blogging from the race, his writings include side stories about his chats and time spent with The Jens.

"My conversations with jensie are becoming a highlight of my day in the bunch. Each day there is somthing different for us to have a yarn about and today was no different."
"A few minutes later I saw a black flash rip passed in my peripheral vision which could only mean one thing, jensie was on the attack. He went so hard that he was half a km up the road before anyone could think about following let alone chasing him. What a LEGEND!"
"Anyways back to fun with jensie. Later in the day I waited until we had a good little audience around of people I felt we could have a little fun with. My cannondale boys were there of course, the lotto boys, the sky boys and a few of jensie's team mates. At this point I said "hey jensie, why does your jersey look like a T shirt? Which got a good laugh out of all the boys as I had hoped. Then as things calmed down a bit Bernie Eisel, another absolute legend and gentleman of the bunch said "jensie ordered them a few sizes to big as he is planning for his retirement! Knows its his last year of getting free cycling kit!" That response had us in stitches, nice to have a bit of fun in the bunch, it is the first race of a long season afterall and we have to ensure we enjoy as much jensie moments as possible!"

Read Cameron Wurf blogspot or follow him on Twitter @cameronwurf (Cameron Wurf himself won the Most Competitive award at the TDU on Friday, January 24th!)

Cameron's blog is a good read for the inside scoop of what it is like for a racer at the Tour Down Under. There are just 2 more stages remaining in the Santos Tour Down Under after today's stage, and Cadel Evans is in the lead in General Classification, his team BMC leads the Team Classification. Adam Hansen leads the Mountain Classification, and Simon Gerrans leads Sprinter Classification. But on January 23rd Jens Voigt was again known as the most aggressive rider!

2014 Santos Tour Down Under Stage Results:
Stage 1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
Stage 2 Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida
Stage 3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
Stage 4 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol
Stage 5
Stage 6

If you'd like more flattering photos of Jens, here are a couple: All Photos on this page by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

Jens Voigt and his legs that will shut up.

Can you imagine if you saw this guy riding toward you? - you'd smile too!

I wrote this fun story last summer about Jens Voigt searching for a cookie and coffee at a bike race, still one of my favorite memories at a bike race: Jens Voigt p/b Cookies and Coffee

Learn more about the most aggressive jersey and all its names in the various tours: Aggressively Courageous and Combative

Of course Jens is now wearing this jersey of the Trek Factory Racing team, read more about the TREK jersey design and make.

Photo from www.trekfactoryracing.com

Some previous Pedal Dancer blog posts about Jens Voigt (there are many more):
Jens Voigt - Hero of Stage 20 (2013 TDF)
Amgen Tour of California - Stage 5 results (2013 ATOC)
Jens and Stuey (2012 TDU)
Jens Voigt on the Podium (2012 ATOC)
Fan Frenzy: Jens Voigt - Stage 16 (2011 TDF)
Image of the day: Cover boy Jens (2011)
Recommended Reading: Jens Voigt (2011)
Upsetting the Apple Cart (2010)
What would Jens Do? - Jen's letter to the fans

41	BASSO Ivan	ITA
42	WURF Cameron	AUS
43	KING Edward	USA
44	KOCH Michel	GER
45	MARANGONI Alan	ITA
46	MOHORIC Matej	SLO
47	SALERNO Cristiano	ITA
48	VIVIANI Elia	ITA

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