VeloBalls

Bike reviews and cycling news that BITES

Vuelta

by on

Froome says ‘yeah, why not’

Chris Froome, the 29 year old champion from Britain, is showing his willingness to compete in Tour de France 2015, though earlier he had hinted that he is more likely to compete in the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. Next years’ tour was described as a “tough test” by this 2013 champion, when the tour route was announced in October.

Froome, the Captain of Team Sky, who is currently training in South Africa, has decided to make this race his number 1 priority. “At this point in my career, I feel the Tour takes priority,” he said.

With a shortfall of individual time-trial kilometres and a problematic first week, Alberto Contador of Spain and the defending champion Vinceso Nibali will be starting as favorites for the tour.

Froome shared his plan of action with the Team sky website, saying “It’s a climbers’ Tour next year so I’m going to have to work extra hard in the mountains and spend less time on practicing time=travelling. I enjoy the challenge and there’s no reason why I would be any worse off than any of the other contenders. It is our responsibility as a team to adapt accordingly so that we can be as competitive as possible there.”

For a prize fund of one million euros, rival team owner – Oleg Tinkov has challenged Froome to compete in all three 2015’s Grand Tours. To which Froome further added: “The concept of doing all three Grand Tours in a season has got appeal, but I know how hard it is to do two Grand Tours while targeting the overall win. There may come a time at some point down the line where other races may take preference, but, for 2015, it’s the Tour”.

by on

Cancellara says ‘do me a lemon’ regarding the World Championships time trial

Swiss professional bicycle racer skips the time trial to put his attention into World’s Championships Road Race on Sunday, which he considers his only major title missing from his achievements collection.

Wednesday’s time trial was also the last race in the 33 year-old’s preparation for Spanish Ponferrada UCI Road World Championships – in a contest that stretches to much earlier before July.

Cancellara has been looking forward towards Sunday’s road race and had pulled out of the Vuelta with his entire focus on the World’s Championships.

Cancellara’s decision to drop time trial fairly represents his priority towards World Championships. After his three gold medals and equal number of bronze medals during last 10 years, it is quite clear to say that Cancellara needs not to prove his consistency in time trials after his decision of skipping the race against the clock. Also no one can come close to beating Cancellara in one-day racing either.

Cancellera has been distinctive in all of the last 12 Classics he has took part, since his victory in Tour of Flanders for first time in 2010. Fourth position in 2011 and fifth position in 2009 are his best Road Worlds results. He took tenth in following Sunday after his bronze medal in last year’s Worlds Road Race.

“I skipped the time trial because I wanted to focus 100 percent on Sunday’s race,” Cancellera said to media. “On this kind of course, it was better for me to try to ease back after the team time trial.”

He also said that his decision to skip intense effort of time trial is fine when his record of achievements is concerned.

When he was asked if it is his last chance to win the UCI Road World Championships at his current age of 33, he rejected the idea quoting that he still have next year and his entire concentration is towards Sunday’s Race.

by on

Don’t Count Millar Out

The sport of Cycling is not easy. It takes courage, determination, perseverance, and a little bit of luck. And the fiery scot David Millar has ample amounts of each. His road has been an interesting one. From his near career change to being an art student, Millar has never taken the conventional route. He has been engrossed in the sport for 18 years, and is now making his final lap amongst the events. But, unlike many veterans of the sport, Millar is leaving on his own terms. He won’t be leaving without a bang. The wiley sportsman has somehow found the exuberance of a rookie trying to make a name for himself. His confidence is high and has the actions to back it up:

“For sure, 100%, I still have something inside me. It doesn’t really matter what you do for the year but if you do well at the Tour then you’ve had a good season. The tour is the race that has meant the most to me during my career so I’d like to guarantee that I can be good there and that meant being on the backburner at the start of the year.”

David Millar career has been a roller coaster. But, he is now the symbol of redemption and change. His fight against doping has been honest and revealing sparking admiration throughout the sport of cycling.

His final year will be a busy one. He looks to make a mark at the Dauphine and perform well at the Tour de France. His final stops will be at the Commonwealth Games and the Vuelta. But, is he ready to take help his team?

“I’m here to get through the race fit and healthy. To help Andrew Talansky, help Ryder Hesjedel who should also be able to do a good ride here and once again be a road captain.”

Looking for the benefit of the team, he speaks the words of a self-less champion. One last year and one last ride into the sunset. But, he will leave a legacy that the sport of cycling will not be able to replace.

 

Photo credit: Ian Joyce