Fränk Schleck will lead RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK Giro d'Italia team

Fränk Schleck will start next Saturday in the Tour of Italy (May 5-27). The number three finisher in last year’s Tour de France will lead the nine-man squad during the three weeks through Denmark and Italy. Schleck, initially not slated to ride the race, replaces Jakob Fuglsang, suffering from an inflammation of the articular capsule and ligament of the left knee.

“My season was directed at peaking in the Tour”, said Fränk Schleck. “but when you think about it, this situation creates opportunities. For sure, I will come to the start with a different preparation than the other GC riders, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. My condition is not so bad and it can only grow the coming weeks. The Tour of Italy is one of the big monuments of cycling as well, so it is at least a big challenge for me.”

See more at www.radioshacknissantrek.com

Bradley Wiggins wins Tour de Romandie 2012

April 29, Stage 5: Crans-Montana (ITT) 16.5km

Rank	Rider	Nat. + Birthdate	Team (Code)	Result
1	WIGGINS Bradley	GBR19800428	SKY PROCYCLING (SKY)	28:56
2	TALANSKY Andrew	USA19881123	GARMIN - BARRACUDA (GRM)	+1
3	PORTE Richie	AUS19850130	SKY PROCYCLING (SKY)	+17
4	FARIA DA COSTA Rui Alberto	POR19861005	MOVISTAR TEAM (MOV)	+23
5	KREUZIGER Roman	CZE19860506	ASTANA PRO TEAM (AST)	+40
6	SZMYD Sylvester	POL19780302	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE (LIQ)	+42
7	ROGERS Michael	AUS19791220	SKY PROCYCLING (SKY)	+43
8	PINOT Thibaut	FRA19900529	FDJ-BIG MAT (FDJ)	+52
9	DE GENDT Thomas	BEL19861106	VACANSOLEIL-DCM PRO CYCLING TEAM (VCD)	+54
10	BRAJKOVIC Janez	SLO19831218	ASTANA PRO TEAM (AST)	+55

...

124

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+0:04:40.20

Final general classification

Rank	Rider	Nat. + Birthdate	Team (Code)	Result
1	WIGGINS Bradley	GBR19800428	SKY PROCYCLING (SKY)	18:05:40
2	TALANSKY Andrew	USA19881123	GARMIN - BARRACUDA (GRM)	+12
3	FARIA DA COSTA Rui Alberto	POR19861005	MOVISTAR TEAM (MOV)	+36
4	PORTE Richie	AUS19850130	SKY PROCYCLING (SKY)	+45
5	ROGERS Michael	AUS19791220	SKY PROCYCLING (SKY)	+50
6	KREUZIGER Roman	CZE19860506	ASTANA PRO TEAM (AST)	+59
7	SZMYD Sylvester	POL19780302	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE (LIQ)	+1:03
8	SPILAK Simon	SLO19860623	KATUSHA TEAM (KAT)	+1:13
9	BRAJKOVIC Janez	SLO19831218	ASTANA PRO TEAM (AST)	+1:14
10	SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon	ESP19831124	RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM (RAB)	+1:15

Grabovski wins 2012 Tour of Turkey

April 29, Stage 8: Istanbul 121km

Theo Bos wins final stage of Tour of Turkey in Istanbul. He took the final sprint in Istanbul, ahead of Andrew Fenn (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Stefan Van Dijk (Accent Jobs-Willems Veranda's).

Ivalio Gabrovski claimed the overall title in the race for Team Kornu-Torku Seker Spor, a stunning win for the local Turkish team.

Stage results

1	Theo Bos (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team	2:32:35
2	Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
3	Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
4	Andrea Guardini (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
5	Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Team Europcar
6	Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre - ISD
7	Robert Förster (Ger) Unitedhealthcare Pro Cycling Team
8	Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
9	Daniele Colli (Ita) Team Type 1 - Sanofi
10	Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team

General classification after stage 8 / Final results

1	Ivaïlo Gabrovski (Bul) Konya Torku Seker Spor	28:48:10
2	Alexandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team	0:01:33
3	Danail Andonov Petrov (Bul) Caja Rural	0:01:38
4	Adrian Palomares Villaplana (Spa) Andalucia	0:01:44
5	Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale	0:02:01
6	Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Team Type 1 - Sanofi	0:02:23
7	Florian Guillou (Fra) Bretagne - Schuller	0:02:29
8	Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Colnago - Csf Inox	0:02:58
9	Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quickstep	0:03:02
10	William Routley (Can) Spidertech Powered By C10	0:03:14

Luis Leon Sanchez Wins Stage 3 of Tour de Romandie 2012

April 27, Stage 3: La Neuveville - Charmey 157.6 km

Team Rabobank's Luis Leon Sanchez won a close sprint to the finish line in Charmey ahead of Belgian Gianni Meersman of Team Lotto-Belisol and Paolo Tiralongo of Team Astana. 

Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) managed to hold onto the race lead by just one second, now closely tailed by today's stage winner Sanchez.

Jussi Veikkanen was 89th. He finished 3:33 behind Sanchez.

Stage ranking

1	Sanchez Luis Leon	Rabobank	3:58:29
2	Meersman Gianni	Lotto-Belisol	0
3	Tiralongo Paolo	Astana Pro Team	0
4	Talansky Andrew	Garmin-Barracuda	0
5	Mollema Bauke	Rabobank	0
6	Nocentini Rinaldo	AG2R La Mondiale	0
7	Maciej Paterski	Liquigas-Cannondale	0
8	Caruso Giampaolo	Katusha Team	0
9	Verdugo Gorka	Euskaltel-Euskadi	0
10	Jeandesboz Fabrice	Saur-Sojasun	0

...

89

Veikkanen Jussi

Française des Jeux

3:33

General classification

1	Wiggins Bradley	Sky Pro Cycling	12:40:31
2	Sanchez Luis Leon	Rabobank	1
3	Rogers Michael	Sky Pro Cycling	7
4	Mollema Bauke	Rabobank	9
5	Clement Stef	Rabobank	9
6	Talansky Andrew	Garmin-Barracuda	11
7	Kelderman Wilco	Rabobank	11
8	Zabriskie David	Garmin-Barracuda	12
9	Spilak Simon	Katusha Team	12
10	Plaza Molina Ruben	Movistar Team	12

...

111

Veikkanen Jussi

Française des Jeux

11:56

Presidential Tour of Turkey 2012 stage 6 results

April 27, Stage 6: Bodrum - Kusadasi 179 km

Team Colnago-CSF Inox sprinter Sacha Modolo won yeterday's stage at the Tour of Turkey.

Stage 6 results

1	Sacha Modolo (Ita) Colnago - Csf Inox	4:34:00
2	Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Greenedge Cycling Team
3	Mark Renshaw (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team
4	Lucas Sebastien Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
5	Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) Katusha Team
6	Rafael Andriato (Bra) Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
7	Daniele Colli (Ita) Team Type 1 - Sanofi
8	Davide Vigano (Ita) Lampre - ISD
9	Marco Coledan (Ita) Colnago - Csf Inox
10	Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team Netapp

General classification

1	Ivaïlo Gabrovski (Bul) Konya Torku Seker Spor	23:22:57
2	Alexandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team	0:01:33
3	Danail Andonov Petrov (Bul) Caja Rural	0:01:38
4	Adrian Palomares Villaplana (Spa) Andalucia	0:01:44
5	Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale	0:02:01
6	Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Team Type 1 - Sanofi	0:02:23
7	Florian Guillou (Fra) Bretagne - Schuller	0:02:29
8	Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Colnago - Csf Inox	0:02:58
9	Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quickstep	0:03:02
10	William Routley (Can) Spidertech Powered By C10	0:03:14

27.4.2012 Tour de Turkey and Tour de Romandie LIVE coverage

2012 Tour de Romandie Stage 3 Live Online Coverage

Jussi Veikkanen live again today!!!

Friday 27th April | Stage 3 | La Neuveville-Charmey, 157,6 km

http://www.tourderomandie.ch/en/parcours-41

(4:15pm CET)

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2012 Tour of Turkey Stage 6 Live Online Coverage

Thursday 26th April | Stage 6 |Stage 6: Bodrum – Kusadasi 179 km

http://www.tourofturkey.org/2012/stage/bodrum_kusadasi

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Greatest cycling climbs #9 Großglockner

Grossglockner has appeared 2 times in the Giro d'Italia:

 - 17th stage of the 1971 Giro d'Italia.
 - 13th stage of the 2011 Giro d'Italia.

To cyclists, the Grossglockner is better known as the biggest challenge in the Tour of Austria.  It's history in sport goes back many years. The road up was built in 1930, following a centuries-old foot path track that had long been trodden by pack mules as well as Celt and Roman warriors.

The first race up was held in 1935.  The climb has been used for auto and motorbike hillclimbs, as well as for bicycle road races ever since.

See a great story about the history of Großglockner at Flandriacafe 

Großglockner with Kasereck at 2011 Giro (www.gazzetta.it)

Last year Großglockner Hochalpenstraße AG (responsible for the maintenance of the road) was planning to make money from the masses of cyclotourists who ride up every year. The company announced a fee of five euro per rider, between the times of nine in the morning to three in the afternoon. The announcement escalated immediately protests against the planned fee. In just a few days over 2000 signatures were gathered online by people quite angry about the toll fee. Therefore, the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße AG decided to reverse its decision to charge bicyclists.

Around 20,000 people ride their bikes up the Großglockner each year.

Read more at Velonation

Großglockner was a special place also to Charly Gaul "The Angel of the Mountains". He won a stage up the climb of Grossglockner during the Tour of Austria when he was 17, setting a stage record. It was his first race outside Luxembourg. The writer Charlie Woods said:

"The Grossglockner is slightly higher than Mont Ventoux and just as formidable. One can imagine the youngster engaging rather sheepishly with such a monster. He knew that he could climb well on ordinary hills, but this was no man's land. At half-distance, however, despite his manager's exhortations to caution, his class told and he found himself alone in the lead. A few moments of giddy pleasure were soon dispatched by the ever-present need to keep the pedals turning; he was, after all, still in no man's land. This show of force was greeted by another, a thunderstorm and the first squalls of rain probably cooled the fever of his labours and brought with it a lighter, freer atmosphere. He had always been at ease in rainfall [and] beginning to pedal now with an edge of fierce affirmation, he perhaps completely forgot himself for a long series of ramps and bends... To such an extent that not only did he win the stage but broke the existing record for the climb."

Alchin, Richard and Bell, Adrian (eds), Golden Stages of the Tour de France, Mousehold Press, UK, p. 46

In 1971 (7 June) Giro d'Italia Großglockner appeared in Stage 17: Tarvisio - Grossglockner, 206.00 km

Vianelli Pierfranco won the stage:
   
1. Franco Vianelli 6h08'45"
2. Primo Mori à 1'09"
3. Giancarlo Polidori à 1'37"
4. Andre Poppe à 2'30"
5. Gösta Pettersson à 4'31"    
       
Overall classification
   
Winner: Petterson, Gösta (Sweden) 97hr 24min 3sec
   
2nd Place: Herman Van Springel @ 2min 4sec
   
3rd Place: Ugo Colombo @ 2min 35sec
   
Total distance 3,567 km
   
Average speed km/hr 36.597

First ever and only Grand Tour victory to Nordic countries. Read more about Gösta Petterson at Cyclingnews.

2011 Giro d'Italia: Stage 13 - Spilimbergo to Grossglockner, Friday, May 20, 167 km

2011 Giro - Profile of Stage 13 (www.gazzetta.it)

Stage results

Posn.	Name	Country	Team	Time	d	Time bonus
1	RUJANO GUILLEN Jose'	VEN	AND	4:45:54	0:00	20"
2	CONTADOR Alberto	ESP	SBS	4:45:54	0:00	12"
3	GADRET John	FRA	ALM	4:47:21	1:27	8"
4	DUPONT Hubert	FRA	ALM	4:47:23	1:29
5	ANTON Igor	ESP	EUS	4:47:23	1:29
6	KREUZIGER Roman	CZE	AST	4:47:30	1:36
7	SCARPONI Michele	ITA	LAM	4:47:30	1:36
8	NIBALI Vincenzo	ITA	LIQ	4:47:30	1:36
9	KIRYIENKA Vasili	BLR	MOV	4:47:30	1:36
10	MENCHOV Denis	RUS	GEO	4:47:30	1:36

General classification

Posn.	Name	Country	Team	Time	d
1	CONTADOR Alberto	ESP	SBS	49:40:58	0:00
2	NIBALI Vincenzo	ITA	LIQ	49:44:07	3:09
3	SCARPONI Michele	ITA	LAM	49:44:14	3:16
4	ARROYO DURAN David	ESP	MOV	49:44:23	3:25
5	KREUZIGER Roman	CZE	AST	49:44:27	3:29
6	SIVTSOV Kanstantsin	BLR	THR	49:44:51	3:53
7	ANTON Igor	ESP	EUS	49:45:00	4:02
8	GADRET John	FRA	ALM	49:45:04	4:06
9	CARRARA Matteo	ITA	VCD	49:45:33	4:35
10	DUPONT Hubert	FRA	ALM	49:45:36	4:38

Jonathan Hivert won stage 2 of the Tour de Romandie 2012

April 26, Stage 2: Montb - Moutier 149.1 km

Jonathan Hivert (Saur – Sojasun) surprises by winning stage 2 of the Tour de Romandie from Montbéliard to Moutier.

 Hivert beat Rui Costa (Movistar) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank Cycling Team) in an uphill finish.

Stage results

1	Hivert Jonathan	Saur-Sojasun	3:48:11
2	Costa Rui	Movistar Team	0
3	Sanchez Luis Leon	Rabobank	0
4	Meersman Gianni	Lotto-Belisol	0
5	Hesjedal Ryder	Garmin-Barracuda	0
6	Nizzolo Giacomo	Radioshack-Nissan	0
7	Pietropolli Daniele	Team Lampre-ISD	0
8	Vorganov Eduard	Katusha Team	0
9	Davis Allan	GreenEdge Cycling Team	0
10	Kreuziger Roman	Astana Pro Team	0

...

102

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Française des Jeux

41

Total ranking

1	Wiggins Bradley	Sky Pro Cycling	8:42:02
2	Rogers Michael	Sky Pro Cycling	7
3	Mollema Bauke	Rabobank	9
4	Clement Stef	Rabobank	9
5	Talansky Andrew	Garmin-Barracuda	11
6	Sanchez Luis Leon	Rabobank	11
7	Kelderman Wilco	Rabobank	11
8	Zabriskie David	Garmin-Barracuda	12
9	Spilak Simon	Katusha Team	12
10	Plaza Molina Ruben	Movistar Team	12

...

116

Veikkanen Jussi

Française des Jeux

8:23

Andrea Di Corrado (Colnago-CSF Inox) soloed to victory in the 5th stage of the Presidential Tour of Turkey

 April 26, Stage 5: Marmaris - Turgutreis 178km

Andrea Di Corrado (Colnago-CSF Inox) attacked out of a six-man escape group and soloed to victory in the 5th stage of the Presidential Tour of Turkey. It was the first professional win for the first-year pro Di Corrado.

The remains of the break crossed the finish line 40 seconds later. Second place went to Jonas Jorgensen (Saxo Bank) and Jerome Cousin of Europcar was third.

The peloton cut the gap of nearly 15 minutes to a mere 1:27. Matteo Pelluchi of Europcar winning the sprint of the peloton.

Ivaïlo Gabrovski of Konya Torku Seker Spor easily defended his overall lead.

Stage results

1.	DI CORRADO Andrea		COG	04:50:25
2.	AAEN JORGENSEN Jonas		SAX	00:00:40
3.	COUSIN Jerome		EUC	00:00:40
4.	BALLONI Alfredo		FAR	00:00:42
5.	DURET Sébastien		BSC	00:00:42
6.	GRUZDEV Dmitriy		AST	00:00:42
7.	PELUCCHI Matteo		EUC	00:01:27
8.	TSATEVITCH Alexey		KAT	00:01:27
9.	CHTIOUI Rafai		EUC	00:01:27
10.	GUARDINI Andrea		FAR	00:01:27

General classification

1.	GABROVSKI Ivaïlo		KTS
2.	DYACHENKO Alexsandr		AST	00:01:33
3.	ANDONOV PETROV Danail		CJR	00:01:38
4.	PALOMARES VILLAPLANA Adrian		ACG	00:01:44
5.	BARDET Romain		ALM	00:02:01
6.	EFIMKIN Alexander		TT1	00:02:23
7.	GUILLOU Florian		BSC	00:02:29
8.	BATTAGLIN Enrico		COG	00:02:58
9.	GOLAS Michal		OPQ	00:03:02
10.	ROUTLEY Will		SPI	00:03:05

Tour de Turkey and Tour de Romandie LIVE coverage

Just in case you don't have nothing to do this afternoon ;-)

First Tour de Turkey and then Tour de Romandie. Enjoy!

The Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey

Thursday 26th April | Stage 5 | Marmaris–Turgutreis, 170 km. 

Stage 5 starts at 10:15am EEST (9:15am CET)

Finish at around 2:49pm EEST (1:49pm CET)


Live video from 1:00pm EEST (12:00pm CET)


 
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(12:45pm EEST) (11:45am CET)
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Tour de Romandie

Thursday 26th April | Stage 2 | Montbéliard (Fr) - Moutier, 149,1 km.

 
 

(4:15pm CET)
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Renshaw wins 2012 Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey stage 4

April 25, Stage 4: Fethiye - Marmaris 132km

Mark Renshaw and Matt Goss at finish line

Stage results

1.	RENSHAW Mark		RAB	03:14:01
2.	GOSS Matthew Harley		GEC	00:00:00
3.	COLLI Daniele		TT1	00:00:00
4.	VAN POPPEL Boy		UHC	00:00:00
5.	VIGANO Davide		LAM	00:00:00
6.	TSATEVITCH Alexey		KAT	00:00:00
7.	VACHON Florian		BSC	00:00:00
8.	VANLANDSCHOOT James		ACC	00:00:00
9.	HAEDO Lucas Sebastian		SAX	00:00:00
10.	TURGOT Sébastien		EUC	00:00:00

General classificaition

1.	GABROVSKI Ivaïlo		KTS
2.	DYACHENKO Alexsandr		AST	00:01:33
3.	ANDONOV PETROV Danail		CJR	00:01:38
4.	PALOMARES VILLAPLANA Adrian		ACG	00:01:44
5.	BARDET Romain		ALM	00:02:01
6.	EFIMKIN Alexander		TT1	00:02:23
7.	GUILLOU Florian		BSC	00:02:29
8.	BATTAGLIN Enrico		COG	00:02:48
9.	GOLAS Michal		OPQ	00:03:02
10.	ROUTLEY Will		SPI	00:03:05

See more at: www.tourofturkey.org