In this morning’s edition of the CyclingTips Daily News Digest: Valverde triumphs on stage two of Volta a Catalunya, Paterski maintains GC lead; Wippert wins again at Tour of Taiwan as Bevin holds on; Tinkoff-Saxo confirms Riis is sidelined, but questions remain as to reason; Citing CIRC report, UCI says allegations against Zorzoli are unsubstantiated and that he can return to work; Contador confirms Catalunya is final race before Giro, pledges to ‘test’ himself and try for GC; Cavendish dismisses CIRC: ‘All the s*** that’s been out there in the last few years in one document’; WADA director general Howman: Armstrong hasn’t done enough to get a ban reduction; Photo gallery: Milan-San Remo 2015; Believe in yourself: Loren Rowney on dreams, fears and failure; The GCN Show episode 115: Milan-San Remo, Volta Catalunya + We’re In California!

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Valverde triumphs on stage two of Volta a Catalunya, Paterski maintains GC lead

Movistar’s GC leader Alejandro Valverde and team-mate JJ Rojas grabbed first and second place at the end of stage two of the Volta a Catalunya in Olot, with the duo beating Martin Elmiger (IAM Cycling), Jonathan Hivert (Bretagne-Séché Environnement) and the rest of the main field in the big sprint to the line.

Day one winner Maciej Paterski (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) maintained his grip on the general classification ahead of Pierre Rolland (Europcar) and Bart De Clercq (Lotto Soudal), with the trio remaining over two and a half minutes clear of Valverde and the other team leaders.

The 191.8 kilometre stage featured a long break by Tom Stamsnijder (Giant-Alpecin), Sam Bewley (Orica-GreenEdge), Luis Mas Bonet (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Tsgabu Grmay (Lampre-Merida). However they were unable to gain significant time and while the latter two pushed ahead approximately 20 kilometres from the end, they were all reeled in before the finish.

“When I saw Elmiger, I profited from a small split on the leadout to follow his wheel and start looking for my sprinting distance,” said Valverde.

“I saw many others on the left side overcoming us and I didn’t hesitate anymore, I attacked. I wasn’t conscious about Rojas coming from behing, either; at the end, we took first and second, a big joy for us.”

Wippert wins again at Tour of Taiwan

Already victorious on stage one of the race, Dutchman Wouter Wippert (Drapac Professional Cycling) clocked up his second win in three days when he blasted home first at the end of stage three of the Tour of Taiwan.

2nd victory of #TourdeTaiwan 2015 for @wouterwippert @DrapacCycling following up last years victory here #cycling pic.twitter.com/39YqT51Vs3

— Marty MacDonald (@MartyMacTV) March 24, 2015

The Dutchman beat Ioannis Tamouridis (Synergy Baku Cycling Project), Mirsamad Pourseyedigolakhour (Tabriz Petrochemical Team) and Patrick Bevin (Avanti Racing Team) to the line in Changua County.

Bevin’s fourth place saw him retain the overall lead he seized when he won stage two. He is 12 seconds clear of Hossein Askari (Pishgaman Giant) and 17 up on Mirsamad Pourseyedigolakhour (Tabriz Petrochemical Team).

“Bernie [Bernard Sulzberger] chased the break down with Darren [Lapthorne] helping him,” said Wippert after the stage. “Our team is working well together and it showed today. Travis brought me in the top 10 as planned in the last corner and I waited patiently and finished the great team work off.”

Directeur sportif Tom Southam said that the team led the GC riders’ teams control things until the final 20 kilometers. From there they swung into action.

“When the break got down to about a minute, we put a few guys out front to close the final gap. At the finish, Wouter used his experience from last year to time his effort perfectly. Today was a solid win for the guys.”

The fourth stage will be a much tougher one. Although it is just 109 kilometres in length, it is far hillier and ends with a climb up to Yushan Tataka.

Tinkoff-Saxo confirms Riis is sidelined, but questions remain as to reason

The Tinkoff-Saxo team of Alberto Contador and Peter Sagan has confirmed reports that Bjarne Riis has been sidelined from his position as general manager of the squad, but has moved to dismiss some of the reasons suggested for his absence from Milan-San Remo.

The Russian squad, which was previously owned by Riis prior to its purchase by Oleg Tinkov in December 2013, issued a statement Tuesday.

“Following the rumors and speculations published by many Danish media first and then by international cycling media later last night, Tinkoff Saxo would like to clarify that Bjarne Riis is not being actively involved in the team’s activities since last Sunday,” it stated.

“However, he was not suspended of his active role because of lack of results nor for financial issues.”

This communication provides some clarification about speculation that the team’s lack of big results this year could be a factor. However it also leaves other questions unanswered, including whether Riis’ absence from the team is connected to the pending publication of the Anti Doping Denmark (ADD) report into cycling.

There are also suggestions that Tinkov and Riis may have had a falling out recently, but this too is not commented on.

Click here to read the full story on CyclingTips.

Citing CIRC report, UCI says allegations against Zorzoli are unsubstantiated and that he can return to work

Slightly over two months after the UCI sidelined Dr. Mario Zorzoli from all matters connected to anti-doping, the governing body has now cleared him to resume his normal duties within the governing body.

In January the American Arbitration Association (AAA) released a report explaining why it had handed a lifetime ban to former Rabobank and Team Sky doctor Geert Leinders. In that report claims were made against Zorzoli, with former pro Michael Rasmussen claiming that the doctor had helped to protect riders and teams.

He said that after the UCI had raised issues in relation to his incriminating blood readings, that Leinders had met Zorzoli to discuss the issue. Rasmussen subsequently said that Leinders had told him that ‘Rabobank was a team that had “butter on its head”…meaning that all the doping related problems the team had would slide off. And he called me now the most protected rider in the race.”

The former Tour de France King of the Mountains also alleged that in either 2004 or 2005, he was told by Leinders that Zoroli had recommended that Leinders give Rabobank riders the banned substance DHEA because ‘all the other teams are doing it as well.’

USADA said that it had passed on the claims to the Cycling Independent Reform Commission, but that commission faulted both Rasmussen’s claims plus their publication in its recent report.

Click here to read the full story on CyclingTips.

Contador confirms Catalunya is final race before Giro, pledges to ‘test’ himself and try for GC

Admitting that the large time deficit he and the other race favourites incurred on the opening stage of the Volta a Catalunya on Monday, Alberto Contador has nevertheless said that he will do his utmost to try to salvage the situation.

Speaking after Tuesday’s second stage, the Spaniard said that he was worried by the two and a half minute-plus buffer that Maciej Paterski (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Pierre Rolland (Europcar) and Bart De Clercq (Lotto-Soudal) opened up on day one.

“With the advantage that they have in the GC it will probably be very difficult and hard to fight for the overall win from behind. In any case, Catalunya is my last race before the Giro so I want to test myself before leaving the race,” he said.

“We will try to use any possibility to take time in the GC, maybe tomorrow or maybe to La Molina on stage four. It is not the best climb but for sure we will try something.”

He said that he had thought about trying to get some time back on stage two but that this ultimately wasn’t possible.

“In the last kilometers on the stage today we had a small climb of about 1.5 kilometres. I went in the front to look for a possibility but today wasn’t the terrain for doing anything in the final.”

Click here to read the full story on CyclingTips.

Cavendish dismisses CIRC: ‘All the s*** that’s been out there in the last few years in one document’

Adding to a list of pro riders who have dismissed the CIRC report rather than applauding it, Mark Cavendish has questioned the validity of the findings.

“To be brutally honest, I don’t really think there’s anything new in there,” he said, according to PA.

“There’s all the s*** that’s been out there the last few years just compiled into the one document.

“People talk about the past of cycling like it’s the present. It’s a little bit frustrating; that would be an understatement.

“As long as cycling’s cleaning up and I’m racing in a fair playing field in a sport I love, then I’ll continue to be happy with that.”

The Cycling Independent Reform Commission report was an exhaustive look into the UCI’s actions in the past plus the Lance Armstrong/US Postal Service affair and other doping-related matters.

It faulted past presidents Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid, saying they were too close to Armstrong and were not impartial in their judgements.

Cavendish also gave his thoughts on Lance Armstrong’s intention to ride part of the route of the Tour de France for Geoff Thomas’ charity.

Click here to read the full Press Association story.

WADA director general Howman: Armstrong hasn’t done enough to get a ban reduction

WADA’s director general David Howman has made clear that any hope Lance Armstrong has of getting a reduction in his lifetime ban from cycling is dependent on the Texan coming good with fresh information. Right now, though, he considers the American has not yet done that.

“If he satisfied the criteria to go forward and ask for suspension of his ban, the criteria will be carefully looked at, but so far he has not,” Howman told AP, speaking at a WADA symposium in Lausanne.

“There is no consideration being given to it.”

Armstrong reportedly met recently with US Anti Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart, with the reduction in his suspension a major incentive for the Texan. They are expected to meet again to further discuss the matter.

However Howman says Armstrong needs to make a significant contribution in order to achieve a ban reduction. “I’m not sure why he has not done anything,” he said.

“He certainly had plenty of opportunities, including talking to us, but he has not come forward with substantial information that might be helpful to the cycling fraternity.”

Click here to read the full story at AP.

Photo gallery: Milan-San Remo 2015

by Matt de Neef

The 2015 Spring Classics season is officially underway. On a rainy afternoon on the Mediterranean coast last Sunday, John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) dashed to victory in Milan-San Remo, taking his first victory in one of the sport’s five Monuments. In this gallery we share a collection of great images from “La Primavera”, captured by husband and wife duo Jered & Ashley Gruber, with additional photos from Cor Vos.

The list of potential winners of this year’s Milan-San Remo was about as long as the race itself. And while John Degenkolb was certainly among the favourites, more attention was being paid to the likes of Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo), Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge), Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) and last year’s winner, Alexander Kristoff (Katusha).

As much as it’s possible for someone of Degenkolb’s ability to go unnoticed, the 26-year-old just about did so until the final few kilometres of the race. His name was barely called by commentators until he was spotted in a lead group of roughly 25 riders that began the flat final 2km together.

Click here to read the full story and see the gallery on CyclingTips.

Believe in yourself: Loren Rowney on dreams, fears and failure

I’m 11 years old. My eyes glued to the TV screen and my palms are sweaty. I’m full of nervous energy, butterflies in my stomach, as I wonder if she can do it.

Cathy Freeman is about to start the women’s 400m at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. I feel like I’m about to start the race next to her. Three months earlier, I had been on that very track racing the Pan Pacific Games, where I had won double bronze in the 800m & 1500m.

The gun sounds the race into action. From the start, it’s clear that Cathy is in it to win it. I watch with bated breath until she crosses the line. First. Cathy is an Olympic champion.

I want that to be me.

Click here to read the full blog entry on CyclingTips.

The GCN Show episode 115: Milan-San Remo, Volta Catalunya + We’re In California!

What You Missed

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

• Roadtripping Thailand
• Degenkolb blasts to biggest career success in Milan-San Remo
• Zipp Firecrest 202 clincher disc wheelset review
• Daily News Digest: Tuesday March 24

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