Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

The rise in gas prices and the fattening of many waistlines have lead to increased bike sales througout the US. A certain Mr. Armstrong may have helped spur along the visibility of the bike too.

Now, where do you park your bike? The Cool Hunter shows a very modern designed bike rack that also sends a message. Shaped like a car, the Car Bike Rack can fit in any parking spot. The humorous and witty use of space is cool, but I wouldn’t want to park my bike in the street where someone will clip my back wheel.

Cool Hunter

Bernard Eisel broke the Quick-Step domination of the Tour of Qatar as he took the win ahead of Erik Zabel.

Velonews report

McDonalds joins the professional peloton as a major sponsor of Ivano Fannini’s Amore e Vita Cycling team. The longtime sponsor Beretta Salumifico (Salami company) is now gone, replaced by another fatty meat company. “I am very happy and honored to begin McDonalds involvement in professional cycling, thanks to Amore e Vita for helping to make this possible” says Ivano Fannini.

The new sponsor with much larger pockets may mean good things for the small Italian team that helps foster new champion riders for the peloton for 25 years. Since that time over 4,000 athletes have ridden in an A e V jersey with 12 world titles, 45 national titles, 15 stages of the Giro D’Italia and various classics wins. Some of the riders who acheived these goals either while on A e V or after include Michele Bartoli, Franco Chioccioli, Rolf Sorensen, Francesco Moser, Andrea Tafi, Glenn Magnusson, Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart

In 2005 A e V acheived 19 international victories and have been very outspoken about doping in the peloton.

The A e V team is current in Libo di Camaiore at a training camp until February 3rd. They will then show off their colors in the GP Costa degli Etruschi and the Trofeo Laigueglia.

One interesting note is that Fannini has been talking with Mario Cipollini about a possible return to cycling. Fanini says that all that is left is to sign a contract. Could we see a return of Cipo in the next few weeks?
Stay tuned….

Tutto Bici

Early season racing hits the Middle East with racing in Doha and the Tour of Qatar. The Doha International GP will take place on Jan 27th and will feature the debut of Erik “Zoom Zoom” Zabel with his new Milram team. Petacchi will not be present, so Zabel gets to test out the leadout train for himself.

Tom Boonen will lead his QuickStep Team and show off the new “Maglia Iridata”. Other teams include Davitamon-Lotto, Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim and Unibet.com, Rabobank, Skill-Shimano, Phonak, Team CSC, le Gerolsteiner, Team Wiesenhof-Akud, Cofidis, Française des Jeux, Agritubel, Team Milram, Ceramica Panaria-Navigare, Naturino-Sapore di Mare and Kazak team CT Capec.

Tour of Qatar Stages:
Friday, January, 27th – Doha International Grand Prix
Doha Al Corniche: 108 km

Monday, January, 30th – 1st stage
Khalifa Stadium – Al Khor Corniche: 131,5 km

Tuesday, January, 31st – 2nd stage
Camel Race Track – Al Khor Corniche: 138 km

Wednesday, February, 1st – 3rd stage
Sealine Beach Resort – Khalifa Stadium : 160 km

Thursday, February, 2nd – 4th stage
Al Zubarah – Qatar Olympic Committee: 144 km

Friday, February, 3rd – 5th stage
Al Thakhira – Doha Corniche: 151,5 km (11 laps on the finish line))

Tuttobici web

Allan Davis, the Aussie sprinter of Liberty Seguros took stage 2 of the Tour Down Under. The stage did not end in a sprint as Davis was in a two man break with Paul Crake of UniSA-Australia. Davis was able to outsprint his breakwaway companion to take the second stage win.
Stage 2 Results:

1 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team in 3.27.21 (42.2 km/h)
2 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia
3 Eladio Sanchez Prado (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team a 38”
4 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team a 54”
5 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
6 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole a 2’00”
7 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
8 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram
9 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
10 Jens Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
Read the rest of this entry »

The T-Mobile Giro team is begining to take shape as Jan Ullrich and now Michael Rogers are looking to the Corsa Rosa as part of their agenda.

(Ulle:Hey Mick, you going to Italy with me?…Rogers: sure Jan, I am not going to push you up the climbs though…. Kloden:Yeah, Jan needs a push up climbs in May)

Mick Rogers now of T-Mobile is planning on riding the Giro D’Italia with an aim to winning the time trials. The prologue TT in Seraing and the Pontedera Time Trial will be Roger’s main objectives, but not the race for the Maglia Rosa. Rogers simply thinks that the mountainous final week will be too difficult for his abilities, so he will ride for stage wins.

TodoCiclismo