| Daily News Digest

In this morning’s edition of the CyclingTips Daily News Digest: John Degenkolb wins Milan-San Remo; Wouter Wippert wins stage 1 of the Tour of Taiwan; UCI announces extreme weather protocol; Michele Ferrari weighs in on CIRC report, suggests Armstrong test was covered up by UCI; Defending champion Joaquim Rodriguez out of the Vuelta Ciclista a Catalunya with a stomach virus; Thomas Dekker retires from professional cycling; Christoph Strasser sets new 24-hour cycling record; Truck driver allegedly steals a five-year-old’s bike; Roadtripping Thailand; World’s shortest bike lane?; Crashes in Milan-San Remo.

John Degenkolb wins Milan-San Remo

by Shane Stokes

John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) has taken the biggest win of his career, sprinting to victory in Milan-San Remo on Sunday, ahead of defending champion Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge).

Kramon_MSR2015 4231 - Version 2

As is often the case, the Poggio climb played a part in the final outcome, but this time it was the descent that had the most impact. Several key riders crashed on the drop down to San Remo, with 2013 winner Gerald Ciolek (MTN-Qhubeka), Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team), Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quick-Step) and world champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick-Step) all hitting the deck.

Prior to the Poggio, Geraint Thomas (Sky) and Daniel Oss (BMC Racing Team) made an early move on the Cipressa ascent, catching the last remnant of the day’s big break, Matteo Bono (Lampre-Merida).

They led on to the Poggio but only had a 17 second gap at the bottom. Thomas tried to stay clear, attacking Oss, but was caught by the summit and played no part in the sprint.

The day’s breakaway formed less than 10km into the 293km race, with 11 riders building a lead that peaked at more than 10 minutes.

1.	DEGENKOLB John Team Giant - Alpecin	06:46:16
2.	KRISTOFF Alexander Team Katusha	-
3.	MATTHEWS Michael Orica GreenEDGE	-

Click here to read more at CyclingTips.

Wouter Wippert wins stage 1 of the Tour of Taiwan

Drapac’s Wouter Wippert has started the Tour of Taiwan in emphatic fashion, sprinting to a comfortable victory on stage in Taipei City on Sunday.

Primera etapa del #TourdeTaiwan para @wouterwippert del @DrapacCycling por delante de Aldo Ileši? y Keon Woo Park. pic.twitter.com/zDRB0vvrhi

— Revista Alpe d'Huez. (@Alpe__dHuez) March 22, 2015

Drapac did a lot of work to control proceedings during the 52km circuit race, before delivering Wippert into position for the final sprint. The 24-year-old Dutchman delivered a decisive blow, winning by several bike lengths ahead of Aldo Ino Ilešic (Vorarlberg) and Keon Woo Park (Korea).

“We worked together today very nicely. With 5km to go [Adam] Phelan was going full gas, keeping me out of the wind and then 1km to go Meyer took me up on his wheel,” Wippert said. “I am pleased with our efforts and form.”

Wippert will wear the leader’s yellow jersey into today’s second stage of the five-stage race, a 137km jaunt around Taoyuan County which finishes with two climbs.

Stage 1: Taipei City > Taipei City - Stage Result

Sunday 22nd March 2015

1.	WIPPERT Wouter Drapac Professional Cycling	01:04:54
2.	ILEIč Aldo Ino Team Vorarlberg	-
3.	PARK Keon Woo	-

1.	WIPPERT Wouter Drapac Professional Cycling	01:04:44
2.	ILEIč Aldo Ino Team Vorarlberg	0:04
3.	PARK Keon Woo	0:06

1.	ZANOTTI Marco Parkhotel Valkenburg CT	17
2.	WIPPERT Wouter Drapac Professional Cycling	15
3.	ILEIč Aldo Ino Team Vorarlberg	14

1.	Synergy Baku Cycling Project	03:14:42
2.	RTS-Santic Racing Team	-
3.	Parkhotel Valkenburg CT	-

UCI announces extreme weather protocol

In a meeting in Milan on Friday, representatives from the UCI, riders, teams and race organisers have agreed on the need for an action plan in the event of extreme weather during professional bike races.

The meeting comes a week after Tirreno-Adriatico, a race which featured a snow-affected finale to stage 5. Several riders, including Fabian Cancellara (Trek), took to Twitter to complain about the conditions.

A follow-up meeting will occur in the coming weeks to, as the UCI says, “establish a baseline for the weather criteria (rain, snow, wind, temperature, humidity and visibility) that can be used to determine if a modification is required in the running of a race.”

It is expected that a working agreement will be in place by the start of the Giro d’Italia on May 9.

Click here to read more at the UCI website.

Michele Ferrari weighs in on CIRC report, suggests Armstrong test was covered up by UCI

Roughly a fortnight ago, Cycling’s Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) handed down its long-awaited report about the past and present of doping in the sport.

Now, one of the sport’s most infamous personalities, Dr Michele Ferarri, has weighed in, calling the report “disappointing” and “historically lacking”, and suggesting that it provides “a sort of encouragement (and source of information) for those who want to continue doping”.

More specifically, Ferrari alleges that the UCI was involved in a cover-up of Lance Armstrong’s suspicious tests from the 2001 Tour de Suisse, contrary to the CIRC report. Here’s the relevant section of Ferrari’s post:

“

“On page 161, the Commission addressed … the Armstrong “positive” in the Tour de Suisse edition of 2001, dismissing the case with a simple “strong suspicion of the presence of rEPO” bringing the % of basic band below 80%, [the] limit then needed to consider a test as positive.

In 2001 the limit was precisely 80%, but this limit was moved to 85% by 2002 in order to avoid the risk of false positives (the laboratory of Paris had already raised the limit to 85% back in 2001… confirming doubts about a limit too hastily accepted by the laboratory in Lausanne).

Well, I remember the subject of a phone call I received from [Johan] Bruyneel back then: he mentioned the reading to be 82%, which, with the rules of that time, had to be considered (rightly or wrongly) as a positive test.

Evidently, whether to save Armstrong, or whether to protect the newborn EPO test, the UCI decided to dismiss and shelve away, just as the CIRC did on page 165: ‘Armstrong did not test positive for EPO during the 2001 Tour de Suisse’…”

Click here to read more at 53×12.com.

Defending champion Joaquim Rodriguez out of the Vuelta Ciclista a Catalunya with a stomach virus

The week-long Volta Ciclista a Catalunya begins in Calella today and it will do so without last year’s champion, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha). Rodriguez, who won last year off the back of victory on the stage 3 summit finish to La Molina, has a stomach virus and will be replaced by Alberto Losada.

Headlining this year’s race will be Chris Froome and Richie Porte (Sky), Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), Fabio Aru (Astana) and Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-Quick-Step). The seven-stage race features plenty of climbing but just the one summit finish — stage 4 which ends at La Molina, just like last year.

Click here to read more at CyclingNews and here for a preview of the race. And click through for the 2015 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya startlist.

Thomas Dekker retires from professional cycling

After an attempt to revive his career with a recent shot at the hour record, Thomas Dekker has officially announced his retirement from professional cycling.

I end my career as professional cyclist, read my statement on http://t.co/4YO1leACMG pic.twitter.com/6iFa5NfMnl

— Thomas Dekker (@thomasdekker) March 20, 2015

Dekker wrote on his personal website that he’d been considering retirement for some time but made the plunge late last week.

Here’s an excerpt from Dekker’s statement:

“

“In recent years I have come to realize more and more that there is more in life than winning bike races. I raced for the love for the sport, not because I wanted to win every race on earth. And I have been open about my own past to warn young riders not to make the same mistakes I did.

I do not want to depend on my form, my equipment, my team, anyone or anything any longer. My cycling career was beautiful, ugly, intense and edifying. I’m ready for a new step. Without my bike.”

Click here to read Thomas Dekker’s full statement.

Christoph Strasser sets new 24-hour cycling record

Austrian cyclist Christoph Strasser has set a new benchmark for the distance ridden in 24 hours on an upright (i.e. not recumbent) bicycle, a staggering 896.173km.

Christoph Strasser knackt 24-Stunden Weltrekord - via @Velomotion_App http://t.co/lLKB8NK9Lu Am Ende waren es 896km! pic.twitter.com/zRY6Vn0CPE

— Berlin Bicycle Week (@bicycleweek) March 22, 2015

Strasser completed the ride at the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, beating the previous record of 840.037km set in 2004. Strasser’s average speed was more than 37km/h for the 24 hours.

Strasser reportedly prepared for the attempt by consuming only liquid food for three days, “to prepare the body and digestive tract for the upcoming ordeal”.

Strasser will now focus on becoming the first man ever to win RAAM three years in a row.

Click here to read more at Velomotion.

Truck driver allegedly steals a five-year-old’s bike

Here’s a strange story out of Sacramento, California. Local police report that a driver of a pick-up truck stole a five-year-old’s bicycle last week for reasons that are still unclear.

“[He] pushed the child off the bicycle, grabbed the bike and threw it in the truck,” Officer Tracy Trapini told Fox40. “It’s absolutely ridiculous that somebody, an adult, would get out of their vehicle to steal a bike from a child. This is just the top-of-the-line bully and we want to catch him.”

A collaboration between a local Christian centre and the local police saw the young boy’s bike replaced. Sacramento police are still looking for the offender.

Click here to read more at Fox40.

Roadtripping Thailand

In case you missed it on Friday, we strongly recommend you set aside some time and lose yourself in Luke Pegrum and Oscar Thompson’s incredible journey through Northern Thailand.

As you’ll see, there’s was a journey of true ups and downs, not just because they amassed 13,000m of climbing in less than a week of riding …

Click here to see the full piece.

World’s shortest bike lane?

We’ve seen some short bike lanes in our time but this one, reportedly from Exeter in the UK, takes the cake. You have to wonder if it was worth the effort of painting it on the road.

Shortest bike lane ever. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/nTUusAiBzr

— Justin S (@urban_future) December 9, 2014

Crashes in Milan-San Remo

Last week we saw Sky’s Richie Porte crash on stage 6 of Paris-Nice in an incident the eventual winner attributed to tyres that were pumped up too hard. A Sky rider was again in the spotlight in Milan-San Remo for this crash, which brought down several riders.

And then there was a crash on the descent off the Poggio which ruined the day of many of the big-name favourites: world champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick-Step), 2013 winner Gerald Ciolek (MTN-Qhubeka), Philippe Gilbert (BMC) and Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep).

It would have been interesting to see if the outcome of the race had been altered had those riders stayed upright. It’s certainly a frustrating way to end your day — within 4km of the finish of a 293km race — as Gerald Ciolek demonstrated with this impressive helmet toss.

What You Missed

And finally this morning, here are a few things you might have missed at CyclingTips:

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Don’t get dropped — keep up to date with regular CyclingTips content, updates, special offers and events, just by signing up to our newsletter.

Today’s feature image comes from Kristof Ramon and was shot at Milan-San Remo.

Baz

Ciolek’s helmet toss / I’ll take my bike and ride with no rear wheel was a highlight
CD

Isn’t just common sense needed when it comes to extreme weather? Or is the average pro commissionaire not that bright, so another chapter in tech regs is required?
- sps12321
  
  Hopefully they come up with guidelines with how to approach what could be seen as extreme weather (eg: how to communicate with teams/riders and who makes the decisions) and not absolute rules about min and max temperature etc.
- Gordon
  
  You know the problem with common sense….it’s not that common….
Mark

“You have to wonder if it was worth the effort of painting it on the road” If you look at the solid and dashed lines the markings are to indicate that the bike lane goes up onto the footpath.
- sps12321
  
  those were my thoughts. But why bother having the painted road portion and not just started from the side walk
- geoff.tewierik
  
  Is there an upcoming pinch point that this lane and entry to the footpath provides for a cyclist to avoid getting squished?
  - Simon
    
    From the Daily Mail 8 May 2012…” a spokesman for Highways Authority Devon County Council insisted town planners had properly thought the lane through. He said: ‘It’s the start of a cycle path which continues off the road to join the dedicated cycle paths along the flood relief channel and across the Exe Bridges. ‘The stretch of green highlights to cyclists travelling along Okehampton Road that they can join the dedicated off road cycle path safely at the drop kerb.
    ‘The drop kerb entrance to the cycle path would be easily missed by cyclists if there was nothing on the road to indicate where it started.’
    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2141163/Cycle-lane-painted-MIDDLE-busy-road.html#ixzz3VA4SdBxF
Sean

Real shame bling boxed himself in.
sph

I’m pretty sure I tweeted you guys this photo ages ago!!! Even smaller bike lane in Randwick (NSW) near Centennial Park. Feel free to post this as a follow up tomorrow ;)
- Chris
  
  That just looks like a well-intentioned right turning bay for a cyclist, complete with a curb and bars to protect a stopped bike. I’d take it.
  - Abdu
    
    Yep, but notice the tyre marks showing cars are unable to miss that big plonk of concrete painted white…? I am constantly amazed at how unskilled drivers are in Melbourne, so I can see Sydney has similarly unskilled ones.
    Pretty good effort from the Council though.
- A
  
  ??? Looks fantastic actually.
- sph
  
  Ha yeah the skid marks are a tad worrying. I think you’re right about being a turning bay (I’ve used it). Still, I find it amusing and thus the post.
  - A
    
    Although I was assuming cars are not allowed to turn right, if not it could actually be dangerous having to cross the lane twice?
Rusty

Interesting that the 24hr record looks to be on a non-UCI legal tri bike (Specialized Shiv). Still, bloody good effort though!
- Nitro
  
  The man’s an absolute beast… 7 days to go coast-to-coast across the US…. http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/raam2.php?N_webcat_id=51 Work out the average speed, including stops (or lack thereof) for sleep…
- Dave
  
  The UCI does not have a 24 hour record, this is unsanctioned cowboy territory - just like RAAM, actually.
  
  I wonder how Strasser would go in a proper race with commissaires and anti-doping controls?
velocite

That looks like very substantial commentary on the CIRC report by Michele Ferrari. The UCI should definitely consider hiring him to advise on anti-doping.
- velocite
  
  Come to think of it, was that a job application by Ferrari?
- Dave
  
  It certainly wouldn’t be the first instance of “can’t beat him, buy him” in cycling. Those five words make up the entire recruitment policy for Etixx-Quickstep.