31/07/2012
London 2012 Olympics - Road Race - BONUS!
Big thanks to my friend, Rosie, who was present on Box Hill on Saturday and took the following film - the crowd go bonkers when Team GB cycles past!
29/07/2012
London 2012 Olympics - Road Race
Team GB seemed to concentrate on the science (aero bikes, helmets, skinsuits etc), but the team was limited in being able to improvise on the day. Ultimately, the limiting factor was Mark Cavendish's speed on the 9 ascents of Box Hill, this meant that Team GB was unable to chase any attacks. A breakaway of 30 riders (i.e. a peloton in its own right), was too powerful for Team GB to reel in on the way back to London, and, additionally, Team GB's cause was hindered by the reticence of other teams to help set the pace at the front.
Mark Cavendish seemed dejected when interviewed by the BBC afterwards, and the failure to "medal" was the headline on the BBC evening news. Perhaps, there was too much hype and expectation, after all, a 251K road race is inevitably difficult to control, but the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Tour de France (Team Sky) seemed to suggest that Team GB could deliver Mark for a sprint finish on The Mall.
Mark praised his teammates after the event, but I wonder whether Cav is going to fall into the category of great athletes not to win an Olympic medal. He will be 31 by the time of the Rio olympics, and much will depend on the route, conditions and, just as importantly, his form.
It is not a case of comparing like with like, the 100M will be the same all around the world, barring altitude and weather conditions on the day, whereas a single day road race will have so many other variables in the mix, i.e. it can be a bit of a lottery - unfortunately Team GB did not have a winning ticket.
More to read here:
Guardian
Velo News
23/07/2012
Tour de France 2012 - Stage 20 - Four in a Row!
Well, what a day for british cycling, can things get any better than this. Another stage victory, a british 1-2 and a british team winning the Tour de France, in simple terms, the british have dominated this year's Tour - 7 out of 20 stages were won by british riders!
There was no relaxation for Bradley Wiggins who helped deliver Mark Cavendish to the finish line - Cav dominated the sprint yet again to take his third stage victory, No. 23 overall, and fourth in a row on the Champs Elysees. On any other year, Cav would be the headline maker!
Here is a flavour of the media's stories:
BBC News
ITV
Guardian
Daily Mail
Telegraph
The Sun
22/07/2012
Tour de France 2012 - Stage 19
Mark Cavendish finished the 53.5km time trial in 82nd place, some 6:58 on stage winner and TDF winner elect, Bradley Wiggins.
To think that a british team, with 2 british riders could finish 1-2 in the Tour would have been considered somewhat ambitious three years ago when Dave Brailsford announced the formation of Team Sky, to take on the best of the pro teams, yet, here we are in mid July 2012, with this proposition a reality, barring any last minute mishaps. Brailsford's aim was to win the Tour within 5 years and he has exceeded expectations...
So, where does that leave Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish and british cycling?
Bradley Wiggins is 32 so will have at least a couple more decent Tour efforts in him... However, Chris Froome, the younger rider at 27, looked a stronger rider than Wiggo in the mountains, albeit Wiggo is the stronger time trialist. It will be interesting to see how Team Sky can manage these two riders, will Froome need to leave the team to fulfil his ambition or will he wait until he becomes the dominant rider on the team?
Mark Cavendish has scored two stage wins this year and is favourite for a third stage win (and fourth in a row) on the Champs Elysees. This is an unusual year in that the Olympic road race is next Saturday and Cav is a clear favourite for that event, and hence has been held back somewhat in the Tour. However, Cavendish has not been the centre of attention at Team Sky, like he was at Highroad (HTC, Columbia etc...) and will never be at the Tour de France whilst Team Sky concentrate on the yellow jersey. Will he want to stay at Team Sky long term? Team Sky offers that seamless integration with the Great Britain road team (be this the Olympics or the World Championships), that, perhaps, a rival continental team wouldn't... However, a Highroad type team with Mark as team leader, will maximise opportunities for stage wins...
As for british cycling in terms of the organisation and in a wider perspective, as a member of BC myself, I can see membership increasing dramatically, the number of "Sky rides" increasing and the number of sportives increasing around the country. More importantly, the use of a bicycle as a form of transport may be taken more seriously and less associated with poverty - i.e. a lifestyle choice rather than economic necessity. Cycling is a cheap hobby and is a great form of exercise, of course, it can be an expensive hobby if you want it to be....
We stand on the precipice of history - the first british winner of the Tour!
To think that a british team, with 2 british riders could finish 1-2 in the Tour would have been considered somewhat ambitious three years ago when Dave Brailsford announced the formation of Team Sky, to take on the best of the pro teams, yet, here we are in mid July 2012, with this proposition a reality, barring any last minute mishaps. Brailsford's aim was to win the Tour within 5 years and he has exceeded expectations...
So, where does that leave Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish and british cycling?
Bradley Wiggins is 32 so will have at least a couple more decent Tour efforts in him... However, Chris Froome, the younger rider at 27, looked a stronger rider than Wiggo in the mountains, albeit Wiggo is the stronger time trialist. It will be interesting to see how Team Sky can manage these two riders, will Froome need to leave the team to fulfil his ambition or will he wait until he becomes the dominant rider on the team?
Mark Cavendish has scored two stage wins this year and is favourite for a third stage win (and fourth in a row) on the Champs Elysees. This is an unusual year in that the Olympic road race is next Saturday and Cav is a clear favourite for that event, and hence has been held back somewhat in the Tour. However, Cavendish has not been the centre of attention at Team Sky, like he was at Highroad (HTC, Columbia etc...) and will never be at the Tour de France whilst Team Sky concentrate on the yellow jersey. Will he want to stay at Team Sky long term? Team Sky offers that seamless integration with the Great Britain road team (be this the Olympics or the World Championships), that, perhaps, a rival continental team wouldn't... However, a Highroad type team with Mark as team leader, will maximise opportunities for stage wins...
As for british cycling in terms of the organisation and in a wider perspective, as a member of BC myself, I can see membership increasing dramatically, the number of "Sky rides" increasing and the number of sportives increasing around the country. More importantly, the use of a bicycle as a form of transport may be taken more seriously and less associated with poverty - i.e. a lifestyle choice rather than economic necessity. Cycling is a cheap hobby and is a great form of exercise, of course, it can be an expensive hobby if you want it to be....
We stand on the precipice of history - the first british winner of the Tour!
20/07/2012
Tour de France 2012 - Stage 18 - Win No. 22!
Bloody hell, Mark Cavendish's tour de force at the end of Stage 18, showed the entire race that he is back!
Nicolas Roche, interviewed by ITV4, and was sprinting for the stage win himself, was simply in a state of shock when asked about Cav's sprint to the finish line!
Win No. 2 at this year's TDF and No. 22 overall saw Cav lay down a marker for Sunday - any doubts that Cav was not the favourite for Sunday were dispelled...
Read all about it here:
Cycling Weekly
Velo News
The Guardian - with highlights
The Isle of Man
19/07/2012
Tour de France 2012 - Stage 17
Yet another day of survival for Mark Cavendish, as again he finished safely within the time limit, behind the ever faithful Bernhard Eisel, albeit after a crash early on, Cav's handlebars being caught up with a spectator's flag. It really doesn't matter that he finished 152nd out of 153.
Oh, by the way, Team Sky are simply dominating the Tour - Wiggins and Froome are about to make it a Belgian/Kenyan 1-2!!!
Just three stages left, including the coronation of Bradley Wiggins as the first ever British TDF winner and hopefully a "four-in-a-row" victory for Mark Cavendish on the streets of Paris.
In fact, Stage 18, on Friday, may provide Cav with an opportunity to remind everyone that he is the main man... We shall see.
Oh, by the way, Team Sky are simply dominating the Tour - Wiggins and Froome are about to make it a Belgian/Kenyan 1-2!!!
Just three stages left, including the coronation of Bradley Wiggins as the first ever British TDF winner and hopefully a "four-in-a-row" victory for Mark Cavendish on the streets of Paris.
In fact, Stage 18, on Friday, may provide Cav with an opportunity to remind everyone that he is the main man... We shall see.
Tour de France 2012 - Stage 16
Nothing to see here, everybody move on.... Mark finished safely within the time limit in the Pyrenees where he finished 134th out of 152 finishers, some 33 minutes down on stage winner, and all round entertainer, Thomas Voeckler.
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