German president congratulates Ullrich

German president Johannes Rau gave a message of congratulations to Jan Ullrich for his second place in the Tour of France, stating that Ullrich has made "millions of cycling enthusiasts happy" in Germany and beyond.  The president remarked on Ullrich's achievement after so many difficulties and criticisms of the rider, "some of which were not without malice." Rau also said to Ullrich that he has achieved something that he surely considered impossible months ago. (Todociclismo)

UCI Rankings 27 July

Notable changes: Jan Ullrich has jumped from 159th to 26th, Haimar Zubeldia jumped 70 places to 32nd, Joseba Beloki lost his 8th place ranking after sustaining critical injuries in the Tour de France, Alexandre Vinokourov climbed from 13th to 6th after his fine Tour showing. Full UCI rankings can be found here.

Key: Ranking as of 27 July, ranking as of 29 June, name, team, nationality, age, points.

1   1   BETTINI Paolo   QSD   ITA   29   2,191.75
2   3   SIMONI Gilberto   SAE   ITA   32   2,082.00
3   2   ZABEL Erik   TEL   GER   33   1,941.75
4   4   REBELLIN Davide   GST   ITA   32   1,887.00
5   11   MAYO DIEZ Iban   EUS   ESP   26   1,724.00
6   13   VINOKOUROV Alexandre   TEL   KAZ   30   1,701.00
7   9   PETACCHI Alessandro   FAS   ITA   29   1,682.00
8   5   ARMSTRONG Lance   USP   USA   32   1,679.00
9   6   FRIGO Dario   FAS   ITA   30   1,541.00
10   18   HAMILTON Tyler   CSC   USA   32   1,474.20
11   7   MCEWEN Robbie   LOT   AUS   31   1,364.00
12   14   CASAGRANDE Francesco   LAM   ITA   33   1,286.00
13   12   DI LUCA Danilo   SAE   ITA   27   1,270.00
14   15   GONZALEZ JIMENEZ Aitor   FAS   ESP   28   1,171.00
15   10   HERAS HERNANDEZ Roberto   USP   ESP   29   1,153.25
16   25   COOKE Baden   FDJ   AUS   25   1,113.00
17   20   CIPOLLINI Mario   DVE   ITA   36   1,103.20
18   17   MANCEBO PEREZ Francisco   BAN   ESP   27   1,059.00
19   23   BARTOLI Michele   FAS   ITA   33   1,057.50
20   21   BROCHARD Laurent   A2R   FRA   35   1,048.40
21   22   KIRSIPUU Jaan   A2R   EST   34   1,022.40
22   16   BOOGERD Michael   RAB   NED   31   989.00
23   19   ASTARLOA Igor   SAE   ESP   27   984.00
24   32   DUFAUX Laurent   ALS   SUI   34   960.00
25   26   GARZELLI Stefano   VIN   ITA   30   957.00
...
26   159   ULLRICH Jan   TBI   GER   30   940.00
27   8   BELOKI DORRONSORO Joseba   ONE   ESP   30   922.00
32 102 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar EUS ESP 26 802.00

Tour de France Photo Highlights

Here are some great photo galleries of the Tour de France.

Le Tour
Gazzetta dello Sport
Team Telekom
USPS-Berry Floor
Cyclingpictures.de
Cor Vos
Hennes Roth
Graham Watson
PictureSport
Yahoo Sports

Brixia Tour (2.3) Results

Final Overall
1 Martin Derganc (Slo-Dve) 12.22.02
2 Francesco Casagrande (Ita-Lam) 0.07
3 Mirko Celestino (Ita-Sae) 1.24
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita-Sae) 1.31
5 Andrea Masciarelli (Ita-Vin) 1.35
6 Paolo Valoti (Ita-Dve) 1.38
7 Luca Mazzanti (Ita-Pan) 1.54
8 Denis Lunghi (Ita-Als) 2.30
9 Leonardo Giordani (Ita-Dnc) 2.39
10 Gianluca Tonetti (Ita-Ten) 4.15

Stage 3
1. Ruslan Ivanov (Mda-Als) 4.17.13
2. Igor Astarloa Askasibar (Spa-Sae)  s.t.
3. Francesco Casagrande (Ita-Lam) 0.01
4. Mauro Zinetti (Ita-Amo) 0.07
5. Damiano Cunego (Ita-Sae)  s.t.

Stage 2
1. Martin Derganc (Slo-Dve) 4.06.14
2. Francesco Casagrande (Ita-Lam)  0.13
3. Mirko Celestino (Ita-Sae) 1.24
4. Damiano Cunego (Ita-Sae) 1.31
5. Andrea Masciarelli (Ita-Vin)  1.35

Stage 1
1. Ivan Quaranta (Ita-Sae) 3.58.28
2. Daniele Bennati (Ita-Dve) s.t.
3. Luciano Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra-Lam) s.t.
4. Simone Cadamuro (Ita-Dnc) s.t.
5. Jochen Summer (Aut-Vol)  s.t.
(Thanks to cycling4all)

Mayo and Zubeldia may not compete in Vuelta

Euskaltel-Euskadi manager Julián Gorospe said today that Iban Mayo and Haimar Zubeldia, who just finished the Tour de France, may not compete in the Vuelta a Espana in September. Mayo for sure will not compete, and Gorospe will speak to Zubeldia to decide on that rider's participation. Gorospe wants to make sure he has riders who are fresh for the Spanish Grand Tour, and depends on the recovery of these two Tour riders. Iban Mayo is now fifth in the UCI rankings, behind Bettini (1st), Simoni (2nd), Zabel (3rd) and Rebellin (4th).  (Marca)

T-Mobile will become Telekom team main sponsor

Mobile telephone service provide T-Mobile will become the main sponsor of Team Telekom starting in 2004. As part of the sponsoring arrangement, Telekom manager Walter Godefroot's contract has been extended an additional year, to 2006. T-Mobile is an internationally recognized brand, one of four subsidiaries of Deutsche Telekom, is known well in Germany and the United States, and this sponsorship will benefit the company's brand awareness. T-Mobile sponsors a women's team and a BMX team in the United States.

René Obermann, Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile International AG & Co. KG said yesterday, during a reception after the Tour de France, "In recent years both cycling sport and our company have changed greatly. Cycling sport is booming throughout the world and T-Mobile has become a really international company. It is only logical that we want to use this team for our international communication."

Walter Godefroot: "This means we are continuing with the same sponsor. We are very pleased with this development, because it enables us to securely plan for the next three years." The team's key players - Erik Zabel as well as the Alexandre Vinokourov, Cadel Evans, Paolo Savoldelli and Santiago Botero  - are secured long-term. "Our aim in the coming years is to continue competing for victory in the Tour de France," said Godefroot

T-Mobile also announced the addition of several riders for next year: Tomas Konecny (eD'system), Bram Schmitz (Bankgiroloterij) and Sergej Ivanov (Fassa Bortolo).

RONA sets sights on Women's Tour de Toona

July 27, 2003--Team RONA/Esker has regrouped about 125 kilometres east of Pittsburgh, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where they will start tomorrow in The International – Tour de ‘Toona, arguably the toughest women’s stage race in North America this year: Almost 720 kilometres in seven days of racing, including two gruelling, 150 km + stages with several challenging climbs, a strong peloton… Nothing more is needed for a very exciting week of racing!

After splitting for their respective national championships in late June, in July the RONA/Esker riders entered races in reduced teams or raced with their national teams, like did French Magali Le Floc’h who last week finished second overall of the Tour de Bretagne. But for The International – Tour de ‘Toona, RONA/Esker entered a full, six-woman squad, with Karen Bockel (GER), Meshy Holt (NZL), Geneviève Jeanson (CAN), Magali Le Floc’h (FRA), Catherine Marsal (FRA) and Erinne Willock (CAN), all ready for action.

The RONA/Esker women are impatient to challenge the Saturns, T Mobiles and a field that this year is back to its traditional strength. Last year, due to a calendar conflict with the Commonwealth Games, several top cyclists from Canada, Australia and New Zealand could not compete in Altoona. It is expected they will be back this year.

Among all races with men’s and women’s events, The International – Tour de ‘Toona stands out by its gender equity. The course and distances are the same for men and women. In fact, the women’s race is longer by one stage – so the total prize purse is actually larger for women – a unique case in cycling.

Past winners:
2002 : Heather Albert (USA, Team Goldy’s)
2001 : Geneviève Jeanson (CAN, RONA/Esker)
2000 : Lyne Bessette (CAN, Saturn)

The 2003 women’s race:
Date Stage Distance Start time (EDT)
Monday, July 28 Individual time trial 5.6 km 7:00 PM
Tuesday, July 29 Johnstown Circuit Road Race 119 km 1:00 PM
Wednesday, July 30 Johnstown – Altoona 161 km 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 31 Hollidaysburg Circuit Road Race 96.5 km 1:00 PM
Friday, August 1 Martinsburg Circuit Road Race 129 km 10:20 AM
Saturday, August 2 Altoona/Blair County Road Race 151 km 8:10 AM
Sunday, August 3 Altoona Criterium 56 km 3:00 PM

Race web site is at www.tourdetoona.com/international (Courtesy RONA)

UK's New U23 Road Race Champ!

Dave O'Nyons sends us these photos of the new U23 Road Race Champion for the UK, Kierin Page. See related information about the U23 RR Championships at the British Cycling Federation here.

Navigator News - Prepping for NYC; Nothstein and Davidenko to open NASDAQ!

Navigators' Siro Camponogara put the finishing touches on his preparations for the upcoming BMC New York City Cycling Championship, to be held on August 3rd in downtown Manhattan, with a victory in yesterday's 40-mile Tour of Long Hill Township, NJ. As his second victory in as many weeks, Siro is showing the form he needs to win the 2nd Annual edition of the New York City Championship next Sunday, August 3, 2003. In addition, also showing good form is Navigators' Olympic Gold Medalist Marty Nothstein. In addition to 3rd place in yesterday's event, Marty has earned five (5) victories in the past two weeks, including four wins at the USA Track Cup held in Portland (Oregon), where he won the 10-Mile Scratch Race and the 1-Kilometer Time Trial. Vassili Davidenko, the 2nd place finisher in the inaugural NYC event in 2002, will join Siro and Marty in New York City for the 100-Km (62-Miles) race through the Financial District near the South Street Seaport.

In addition to the preparations being made for the racing event, Marty and Vassili will be joining Navigators' Chairman, Terence N. Deeks, to preside over the opening ceremony of the NASDAQ stock market on Tuesday, July 29, 2003. Mr. Deeks commented, "Navigators has been listed on NASDAQ for 16 years, and it is an honor to be invited to participate in Tuesday's "Market Open". Navigators' Professional Cycling Team is built on specialization, teamwork, strength and results. These are the very same values that have made Navigators so successful as a global insurer." The ceremony will be held at the NASDAQ MarketSite.

Serving as the epicenter for NASDAQ news and events, MarketSite is located in the heart of New York's Times Square. Each day, MarketSite hosts some of the world's most prestigious business leaders to preside over the Market Open. The MarketSite houses a state-of-the-art digital broadcast studio that transmits 175 live market updates by a host of networks including CNBC, CNN Headline News, CNNfn, Bloomberg, BBC, Reuters and other financial networks to reach millions of viewers around the world with up-to-the-second market news. The Market Open is broadcast live at 9:30 AM (EST) and can also be viewed on the World Wide Web at www.nasdaq.com.

Wobble-naught success at the Boise, Idaho, Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium

The past two weeks the Daily Peloton gave away 170 Wobble-naught Bike Fits - read about the bike fit system and additional custom components here. Well, we heard from Wobble-naught founder Tom Coleman this weekend about some recent fitting successes.

"The "Wells Fargo Twilight" went down last night and Wobble-naught had success by taking the first race in Cat 4. Then a gal that I fit, who rides for ICO won the first in history women's twilight. It was very cool, because I just put new SOLE custom footbeds in her shoes only hours before the race and told her to try them! I explained to her that they would make her faster! She won $1000 against a very strong field!

"Remi McManus, a guy from Boise that I have been fitting for a few years, took 2nd behind Jittery Joe's Jeff Hopkins (from Down Under) at the $10,000 race. Remi was Nat champ 2001 and was out for the last few months sick, so we are very pleased about him taking 2nd over some of the biggest names in the land."

Read a related story about the Wells Fargo Twilight Crit at the Boise Statesman here.

Book Excerpt: Swim, Bike, Run

The Race, From Chapter 17: Race Day - Sprint Distance
SWIM BIKE RUN, by Wes Hobson, Clark Campbell, and Mike Vickers

THE RACE
You're now warmed up and ready to race. Before the start, position yourself where you want to be within the heat. Remember that mass-start swims are a mad dash at best, especially in sprint races. If you're a fast starter, get to the shortest point between you and the first course buoy. If you start a bit more conservatively, start at the sides or back. Save yourself a lot of grief by getting in the right area.

Once you have assumed starting position, try to relax, give yourself a few words of encouragement, and get ready to hammer down.

THE SWIM
The gun firing can create a maddening scene: arms and legs fly everywhere, some athletes start in a dead sprint to get away from the pack, while other swimmers almost immediately go off course. Try to start the race with a calm mind and a race-ready body. The more you can disassociate from the pandemonium of the mass start, the better. Get into your race rhythm as quickly as possible. A sprint triathlon swim should feel like aerobic power (AP) high intensity. Keep your strokes long, avoid applying too much force to the water while pulling (attempting to overpower the water), and swing your arms comfortably. Let your stroke carry you. Sight breathe as conditions warrant, and swim in a straight line from turn buoy to turn buoy.

Breathing plays a major role in race-day success. It's very easy to start hyperventilating at the start (especially if the water is cold), and taking in air feels like you're sucking eggs. It is very important that you get your breathing relaxed and under control. If you experience the sucking eggs feeling, slow your breathing and focus on taking full breaths. Concentrate on exhaling completely through your mouth and nose while underwater. When you take a breath, let the air "fall" into your lungs - don't force it or gasp for air. Feel like you're breathing deep, from your belly, not your throat. Keeping your breathing in check significantly helps your stroke stay together and conserves precious energy.

As you near the end of the swim, slightly increase your kick tempo to help bring blood to your lower extremities. But don't overkick and use more energy than needed. Also, visualize your bike location and mentally rehearse the first transition.

TRANSITION #1
Once you complete the swim, make your way to the bike, swiftly but in control. Usually there's some form of running between the water and the transition. If you used a wetsuit, begin to remove the top portion as you jog to the bike. Don't make the mistake of sprinting full-bore from the swim to the bike. Your legs still don't have their usual supply of blood and oxygen, and a hurried sprint to the bike will spike lactic acid production and leave you hurting later in the race. If you gradually increase your running tempo as you progress toward the bike, the run from the water to the bike can help your legs get ready to bike.

Once you arrive at your bike, remove your wetsuit (if used) and get your bike stuff on quickly. In a sprint, a swimsuit is all you need for the body - don't even think about putting on shorts. Don your helmet and sunglasses (to keep debris out of your eyes while flying down the racecourse and to keep your face, and thus your body, relaxed). If you need to wear a race number during the bike, make sure you have that as well. Learn to put on your cycling shoes while they are attached to the pedals. It's a simple trick to learn and makes your transitions much faster. Just pedal with your feet on top of your shoes until you reach a good cruising speed and then put your feet into your shoes while coasting for a short period of time. Secure your shoes with the Velcro strap. Practice this before race day. Make your transition as seamless and streamlined as possible.

THE BIKE
Some triathletes find biking after the swim challenging, mainly because of the lack of blood flow to the legs. It's important to start the bike portion in a reasonable gear and allow for adjustment. But don't waste too much time, as the bike portion will be over before you know it.

You should already be familiar with the racecourse. Save time by effectively cornering and climbing any hills in the optimal position for you. While in the flats, use the biggest gear you can while maintaining 80 to 100 rpm. Try not to under- or overgear, as both are a severe waste of time and energy.

The pace and tempo of a sprint bike leg should feel at AP high. In your aerobars, assume the most aerodynamic position possible, and stay in that position. Anytime you open up your chest and expose a large frontal area, you'll slow down immensely or cause unnecessary energy expenditure. When you need to shift gears, do it quickly, smoothly, and accurately. Be familiar with the course - anticipate your gear changes or, better yet, completely rehearse them in advance.

Keep your breathing in check on the bike, just as you did during the swim. Exhale completely and fully. Inhalation should be natural and feel as if you're breathing deeply, using your stomach muscles. Focusing on breathing helps maintain concentration and increases your body awareness of the effort you're exerting. If you have a cylcocomputer, keep tabs on your mph or rpm; don't let either get too low.

During a sprint, avoid aid stations on the bike, unless it's impossible. One water bottle will be plenty. Getting a drink or a new bottle slows you down and takes you out of your rhythm. But be sure to drink along the way during the bike; hydrating will pay off later in the run, especially if the weather is warm.

As you near the end of the bike, gear down slightly and stretch your legs briefly. This will help you in the run. Let your heel drop below your pedal to stretch your lower leg, open your knees to stretch your groin, stand up and arch your back to stretch the lumbar region. Just as you did in the swim, visualize a perfect transition from bike to run.

TRANSITION #2
Safety is a big concern now, as you have athletes flying off the bike course into the transition area. Slow down, and pay attention to race officials, who are looking out for your safety. Reckless behavior can lead to disqualification or injury. Any loss in time is negligible if you simply must slow down to play it safe.

Once you reach your transition area, rack your bike and quickly put on your running shoes. Some triathletes struggle with the switch in shoes, but elastic laces and quick-ties help a lot. Also, if you did brick intervals in training, this transition should be a snap. Take off your helmet, and be sure your race number is clearly visible. Now let's get going and finish this!

THE RUN
The first few steps after the bike can be very awkward, but if you practiced bike-run transitions in training, you should be okay. One tendency sprint triathletes must avoid is taking out too fast on the run. After spending a good deal of time on the bike zipping down the road at 20 to 30 mph, running at 6- to 8-minute-mile pace seems really slow. This is due simply to the kinesthetic "feel" your body adopted while cycling - you became accustomed to what it's like to move fast on the bike. To keep yourself from falling into this trap, pay attention to your stride length and frequency, and again, check your breathing. Keep your stride short and quick. Many triathletes overstride at the start of the run and waste precious energy. Starting too fast will come back to haunt you later. Feel like you're building your tempo the first quarter to half mile.

Settle into a pace that again feels like AP high (a recurring theme during a race of this length). If there are corners to negotiate, be sure to run the shortest distance possible and pick up your pace in and out of them. Keep your effort even up hills, and aggressively attack downhill portions. If people are in front of you, go after them. As you get close to the finish line, start building your speed. Instead of sprinting the last 100 meters in world-record time, use that energy more evenly over the last 400 to 800 meters. Reserve a full, dead-on finishing kick for a potential victory (or for beating your training buddy).

To order your copy of SWIM BIKE RUN click on this link.

SWIM BIKE RUN
Wes Hobson, Clark Campbell, and Mike Vickers
Paperback • 264 pages
ISBN 0-7360-3288-6
$17.95 ($29.95 Cdn)
Excerpt courtesy Human Kinetics.