Doppio: 08

a weekly double-shot of road racing

Wednesday 8th May 2013

issue 08

rapha.cc

the giro so far STAGE 1 e riders looked relieved to leave the Naples streets behind as the tight circuit was, in effect, an inner-city crit. Mark Cavendish was left with a huge gap to close after lead-out man Gert Steegmans had gear trouble. Pushed out wide, the Manxman dug deep, denying Cannondale’s Elia Viviani, whose handlebar-slapping showed his frustration at being pipped at the post.

STAGE 2 In a tough, technical team time trial, Team Sky kept strong to the end when other teams faded, winning the stage and putting Salvatore Puccio in the maglia rosa. A beautiful aspect of stage racing is how it shines a light on people unexpectedly: and the Italian Giro debutant will surely remember this day in the sun for the rest of his life.

STAGE 3 Chapeau to Ryder Hesjedal, who took the race by the horns, signalling that, even if he is not favoured to defend the pink jersey, he’ll go down fighting. He accelerated with 27km to go, then attacked on the descent. Puccio relinquished the maglia rosa but Bradley Wiggins was joined in the top 10 by the other favourites.

STAGE 4 In the end, the peloton broke over Danilo de Luca like a tidal wave. e Vini Fantini rider was caught in the final few hundred metres of a tough stage, won by Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani ValvoliCSF Inox). With 14km to go, Team Sky took up the pacemaking on the Croce Ferrata but Wiggins was not in the final cut and dropped to sixth in the GC.

the giro this week

STAGE 5, 199km Cosenza – Matera A couple of little spikes at the end of this stage may be enough to dislodge some of the sprinters.

STAGE 6, 169km Mola di Bari – Margherita di Savoia e stage to Margherita is as flat as a pizza and this one has ‘bunch sprint finish’ written all over it.

STAGE 7, 177km San Salvo – Pescara A nervous day in store as the constant ups and downs in the Apennini are sure to take their toll.

STAGE 8, 54.8km Gabicce Mare – Saltara A long, long time trial, with a last kilometre averaging 9%, will see Bradley Wiggins try to damage his opponents.

STAGE 9, 170km San Sepolcro – Firenze Two meaty climbs up to 1,000m, plus a sneaky look at the 2013 Worlds circuit, all make for a lively stage before the rest day.

REST DAY Sagan will be heading for the Uffizi, Rodríguez for the Ponte Vecchio, Nibali for a gelato. Who will experience a renaissance on the morrow?

STAGE 10, 167km San Salvo – Pescara Big mountains and a summit finish. Cruel gradients over a short stage will prove decisive.

STAGE 11, 182km Tarvisio – Vajont Another summit finish, in the shadow of the Vajont dam, will suit a punchy rider but today’s main climb is less tough.

watc h out for we st coast # pr ost y le

Wednesday 8th May 2013 tour of california preview

a weekly double-shot of road racing race type: Week-long stage race | distance: 1,173km | region: California

All change in California For 2013, the Tour of California organisers have turned the race on its head, starting in the south of America’s most populous state and heading up north. at means the Pacific Ocean will be on the riders’ left as they roll along that iconic Highway 1 single-lane blacktop; it also means all change as new climbs and roads are introduced, with the parcours potentially providing some of the most open, lively racing we’ve seen in California.

Huge crowds have welcomed the race to Escondido before, so it’s fitting that the first stage both starts and ends there, though the route will take them up to 5,400ft (1,649m) before they can rest. Stage two features an uphill finish, as does the 20-mile (32km) time trial of stage 6, but neither is as exciting as the Mt. Diablo finish of stage 7.

STAGE 8 Just a bart ride across the bay from the Rapha Cycle Club San Francisco, Mt. 130km / 2,314m Diablo will be familiar to Bay Area cyclists and here the peloton take the southern approach but extend the climb all the way up to the parking lot, for a total final ascent of 3,450ft (1,053m) and breathtaking 360-degree views.

As icing on the cake, stage 8 will take the riders across the Golden Gate Bridge and on the coast road to Santa Rosa, whose most famous SANTA ROSA STAGE 7 resident cyclist, Levi Leipheimer, will not be on the start sheet.

147km / 3,165m e race will, unfortunately, also be without Tom Boonen, who has pulled out because he is not sufficiently recovered MT. DIABLO from his Flanders-sustained injuries. Chris Horner, one of the stalwarts of the event since its inception SAN FRANCISCO in 2006, has persistent knee problems that have LIVERMORE ended his prospects of taking part. As for STAGE 6 those who will be there, it will require 32km / 655m SAN JOSE something special from Peter Sagan to defend his yellow jersey over this more lumpy parcours. Gilbert’s rainbow stripes will be gracing STAGE 5 STAGE 4 STAGE 3 California but this may 186km / 2,370m 134km / 1,573m 177km / 2,709m well be Tejay van Garderen’s race.

AVILA BEACH STAGE 2 200km / 2,984m

PALMDALE

SANTA BARBARA

SANTA CLARITA GREATER PALM SPRINGS MURRIETA STAGE 1 165km / 3,393m

jerseys

Yellow Jersey e leader’s jersey was originally gold, in recognition of California’s gold rush era.

ESCONDIDO

Green Jersey is belongs to Sagan – he’s won the points jersey every year since 2010.

Red Jersey Cali’s King of the Mountains leader wears red, not polka dots.

Blue Jersey After each stage the blue jersey is awarded to the most courageous rider.

watc h out for we st coast # pr ost y le