Daily News Digest | CyclingTips

In this morning’s edition of the CyclingTips Daily News Digest: Zakarin takes stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia, Contador stretches legs with late attack; Kristoff bests Ewan to take Tour of Norway opener; Tatiana Guderzo wins stage 1 at the Tour of Zhoushan Island; MPCC says Bardiani-CSF team is under scrutiny after squad breaks its regulations; Cycling shoots itself in the foot, again; Sir Dave Brailsford - Cycling needs F1-style TV revamp; The Snob by Ritte Cycles; Orbea’s 175th anniversary; An inside view of the Tour of California stage 8 sprint.

Zakarin takes stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia, Contador stretches legs with late attack

by Shane Stokes

Russian rider Ilnur Zakarin has followed up his overall win at the Tour de Romandie with victory on stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia, soloing to success on the motor racing circuit in Imola.

The Katusha rider was involved in the day’s big break and knuckled down with the other riders to open up what would be a stage-winning advantage. He attacked the lead group in the final half hour of racing, getting a gap on the penultimate climb and then further extending that on the final lap of the Imola finishing circuit.

Zakarin reached the line 53 seconds ahead of a six-man group led in by Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Franco Pellizotti (Androni Giocattoli).

Race leader Alberto Contador finished in a group one minute and two second back. He animated the finale with an attack on the final climb, but this was contained. While he didn’t get a chance to pad his three second lead over Fabio Aru (Astana), the aggression may be a signal to his rivals that he is recovering from his shoulder injury and will take a more active approach in the days ahead.

The race continues today with a 190km stage from Imola to Vicenza. While the stage lacks big climbs, the finale is both undulating and tricky, creating further opportunity for time gaps.

Stage 11: Forlì > Imola - Stage Result

Wednesday 20th May 2015

1.	ZAKARIN Ilnur Team Katusha	03:55:08
2.	BETANCUR Carlos AG2R La Mondiale	0:53
3.	PELLIZOTTI Franco Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec	-
4.	INTXAUSTI Beñat Movistar Team	-
5.	ROSA Diego Astana Pro Team	-
6.	KRUIJSWIJK Steven Team LottoNL-Jumbo	-
7.	HESJEDAL Ryder Team Cannondale - Garmin	-
8.	PATERSKI Maciej CCC Sprandi Polkowice	0:58
9.	GILBERT Philippe BMC Racing Team	-
10.	LOBATO Juan José Movistar Team	1:02
11.	BOLE Grega CCC Sprandi Polkowice	-
12.	GAVAZZI Francesco Southeast	-
13.	MORI Manuele Lampre - Merida	-
14.	GESCHKE Simon Team Giant - Alpecin	-
15.	GERRANS Simon Orica GreenEDGE	-
16.	MATTHEWS Michael Orica GreenEDGE	-
17.	KOCHETKOV Pavel Team Katusha	-
18.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen Lotto Soudal	-
19.	AMADOR Andrey Movistar Team	-
20.	CONTADOR Alberto Tinkoff - Saxo	-
21.	ARU Fabio Astana Pro Team	-
22.	KöNIG Leopold Team Sky	-
23.	LANDA Mikel Astana Pro Team	-
24.	IZAGIRRE Ion Movistar Team	-
25.	BURGHARDT Marcus BMC Racing Team	-

1.	CONTADOR Alberto Tinkoff - Saxo	46:54:19
2.	ARU Fabio Astana Pro Team	0:03
3.	LANDA Mikel Astana Pro Team	0:46
4.	CATALDO Dario Astana Pro Team	1:16
5.	KREUZIGER Roman Tinkoff - Saxo	1:46
6.	URAN Rigoberto Etixx - Quick Step	2:10
7.	VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team	2:12
8.	CARUSO Damiano BMC Racing Team	2:20
9.	AMADOR Andrey Movistar Team	2:24
10.	KöNIG Leopold Team Sky	2:30
11.	FORMOLO Davide Team Cannondale - Garmin	3:01
12.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	3:09
13.	CUNEGO Damiano Nippo - Vini Fantini	3:10
14.	ATAPUMA HURTADO John Darwin BMC Racing Team	-
15.	TROFIMOV Yuri Team Katusha	3:18
16.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen Lotto Soudal	3:33
17.	MONFORT Maxime Lotto Soudal	4:00
18.	MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team	4:19
19.	GENIEZ Alexandre FDJ	4:41
20.	IZAGIRRE Ion Movistar Team	5:47
21.	HESJEDAL Ryder Team Cannondale - Garmin	6:07
22.	NIEVE Mikel Team Sky	7:49
23.	KRUIJSWIJK Steven Team LottoNL-Jumbo	10:30
24.	ROSA Diego Astana Pro Team	13:25
25.	TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team	13:36

1.	INTXAUSTI Beñat Movistar Team	52
2.	GESCHKE Simon Team Giant - Alpecin	50
3.	KRUIJSWIJK Steven Team LottoNL-Jumbo	43
4.	BETANCUR Carlos AG2R La Mondiale	41
5.	TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team	23
6.	LANDA Mikel Astana Pro Team	19
7.	POLANC Jan Lampre - Merida	15
8.	SLAGTER Tom-Jelte Team Cannondale - Garmin	15
9.	KOCHETKOV Pavel Team Katusha	15
10.	ARU Fabio Astana Pro Team	15
11.	FORMOLO Davide Team Cannondale - Garmin	14
12.	ZARDINI Edoardo Bardiani - CSF Pro Team	14
13.	PELLIZOTTI Franco Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec	13
14.	HESJEDAL Ryder Team Cannondale - Garmin	12
15.	REICHENBACH Sebastien IAM Cycling	12
16.	ULISSI Diego Lampre - Merida	12
17.	CONTADOR Alberto Tinkoff - Saxo	10
18.	CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM Cycling	10
19.	HERRADA Jesús Movistar Team	10
20.	DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale	7
21.	MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team	7
22.	MALAGUTI Alessandro Nippo - Vini Fantini	6
23.	VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team	6
24.	PORTE Richie Team Sky	6
25.	CHAVES RUBIO Johan Esteban Orica GreenEDGE	6

1.	BOEM Nicola Bardiani - CSF Pro Team	101
2.	GREIPEL André Lotto Soudal	85
3.	VIVIANI Elia Team Sky	84
4.	NIZZOLO Giacomo Trek Factory Racing	71
5.	BANDIERA Marco Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec	60
6.	ULISSI Diego Lampre - Merida	50
7.	BUSATO Matteo Southeast	47
8.	MALAGUTI Alessandro Nippo - Vini Fantini	47
9.	LOBATO Juan José Movistar Team	41
10.	MODOLO Sacha Lampre - Merida	41
11.	FRAPPORTI Marco Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec	40
12.	GATTO Oscar Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec	40
13.	HOFLAND Moreno Team LottoNL-Jumbo	40
14.	TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team	37
15.	GROSU Eduard Michael Nippo - Vini Fantini	37
16.	BELLETTI Manuel Southeast	37
17.	POLANC Jan Lampre - Merida	34
18.	MARANGONI Alan Team Cannondale - Garmin	34
19.	MEZGEC Luka Team Giant - Alpecin	34
20.	GILBERT Philippe BMC Racing Team	31
21.	MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team	31
22.	KRUIJSWIJK Steven Team LottoNL-Jumbo	31
23.	ARU Fabio Astana Pro Team	29
24.	FORMOLO Davide Team Cannondale - Garmin	27
25.	RUTKIEWICZ Marek CCC Sprandi Polkowice	27

1.	ARU Fabio Astana Pro Team	46:54:22
2.	FORMOLO Davide Team Cannondale - Garmin	2:58
3.	CHAVES RUBIO Johan Esteban Orica GreenEDGE	27:27
4.	POLANC Jan Lampre - Merida	38:28
5.	BONGIORNO Francesco Manuel Bardiani - CSF Pro Team	40:57
6.	ELISSONDE Kenny FDJ	49:21
7.	FELLINE Fabio Trek Factory Racing	58:57
8.	MATTHEWS Michael Orica GreenEDGE	1:03:44
9.	HERRADA Jesús Movistar Team	1:04:06
10.	HENAO GOMEZ Sebastián Team Sky	48:49
11.	DILLIER Silvan BMC Racing Team	1:06:55
12.	GRMAY Tsgabu Lampre - Merida	1:07:18
13.	KüNG Stefan BMC Racing Team	1:12:22
14.	CHEVRIER Clément IAM Cycling	1:14:53
15.	VILLELLA Davide Team Cannondale - Garmin	1:19:07
16.	DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale	1:19:47
17.	ZILIOLI Gianfranco Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec	1:21:34
18.	FERNáNDEZ Rubén Movistar Team	1:22:49
19.	BROWN Nathan Team Cannondale - Garmin	1:27:11
20.	COLBRELLI Sonny Bardiani - CSF Pro Team	1:29:37
21.	BARBIN Enrico Bardiani - CSF Pro Team	1:34:26
22.	LUDVIGSSON Tobias Team Giant - Alpecin	1:35:11
23.	CHIRICO Luca Bardiani - CSF Pro Team	1:39:29
24.	BERLATO Giacomo Nippo - Vini Fantini	1:48:46
25.	HOULE Hugo AG2R La Mondiale	1:50:04

1.	Astana Pro Team	140:04:02
2.	BMC Racing Team	6:17
3.	Team Sky	6:31
4.	Movistar Team	7:11
5.	Team Cannondale - Garmin	23:28
6.	Tinkoff - Saxo	25:16
7.	Team Katusha	52:56
8.	Lotto Soudal	59:12
9.	Bardiani - CSF Pro Team	1:27:41
10.	Lampre - Merida	1:33:03
11.	FDJ	1:33:28
12.	Orica GreenEDGE	1:36:14
13.	Etixx - Quick Step	1:43:58
14.	AG2R La Mondiale	1:44:25
15.	IAM Cycling	1:51:20
16.	Southeast	2:05:22
17.	Team LottoNL-Jumbo	2:13:56
18.	CCC Sprandi Polkowice	2:15:44
19.	Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec	2:29:11
20.	Nippo - Vini Fantini	2:44:24
21.	Team Giant - Alpecin	3:54:08
22.	Trek Factory Racing	3:56:00

Click here to read more at CyclingTips.

Kristoff bests Ewan to take Tour of Norway opener

In his first race since Paris-Roubaix, Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) has won the bunch sprint on the opening stage of the Tour of Norway, edging out Australian young gun Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEdge) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka).

Kristoff knuste Boasson Hagen i Tour of Norway #nrksport #sykkel foto: NTB/SCANPIX http://t.co/ya0BtwC0dJ pic.twitter.com/3Vdh4FgdtP

— NRK Sport (@NRK_Sport) May 20, 2015

The 182km stage saw a group of five riders get clear of the peloton after 25km of racing: Antonio Molina (Caja Rural), Nikola Aistrup (Riwal), Sebastian Balck (Tre Berg-Bianchi), Oscar Landa (Coop-Øster Hus) and Vegard Stake Laengen (Joker). The quintet forged a lead that peaked at 7:30 and despite having the escapees under control, the peloton nearly misjudged the catch, the last of the riders being caught with just 400m to go.

But with the race back together Kristoff did what he has been doing all season, taking a convincing victory.

The five-stage, 2.HC race continues today with a 199km stage that features two categorised climbs.

Stage 1: Årnes > Sarpsborg - Stage Result

Wednesday 20th May 2015

1.	KRISTOFF Alexander Team Katusha	04:42:05
2.	EWAN Caleb Orica GreenEDGE	-
3.	BOASSON HAGEN Edvald MTN - Qhubeka	-

1.	KRISTOFF Alexander Team Katusha	04:41:55
2.	EWAN Caleb Orica GreenEDGE	0:04
3.	LAENGEN Vegard Stake Team Joker	-

1.	LANDA Oscar Team Coop - ØsterHus	4
2.	LAENGEN Vegard Stake Team Joker	3
3.	MOLINA CANET Antonio Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	2

1.	KRISTOFF Alexander Team Katusha	15
2.	EWAN Caleb Orica GreenEDGE	14
3.	BOASSON HAGEN Edvald MTN - Qhubeka	13

1.	EWAN Caleb Orica GreenEDGE	04:41:59
2.	LANDA Oscar Team Coop - ØsterHus	0:01
3.	VALLéE Boris Lotto Soudal	0:06

1.	Team Sky	14:06:15
2.	Lotto Soudal	-
3.	Tinkoff - Saxo	-

Click here to read more at Cyclingnews.

Tatiana Guderzo wins Tour of Zhoushan Island opener

Tatiana Guderzo (Hitec Products) has taken her first victory since September 2013, winning the opening stage of the Tour of Zhoushan Island in China. The 2009 world champion won the bunch sprint ahead of Ting Ying Huang (Taiwan) and Qianyu Yang (Hong Kong) while Guderzo’s Australian teammate, Lauren Kitchen, was fourth.

The Tour of Zhoushan Island is the second of two Chinese stage races held on either side of the Tour of Chongming Island World Cup. The three-stage Tour of Zhoushan Island tends not to attract as strong a line-up as the Tour of Chonming Island. The race is contested over three stages.

Stage 1: Shanghai > Shanghai - Stage Result

Wednesday 20th May 2015

1.	GUDERZO Tatiana Hitec Products	02:26:10
2.	HUANG Ting Ying	-
3.	YANG Qianyu	-

1.	GUDERZO Tatiana Hitec Products	02:26:00
2.	HUANG Ting Ying	0:04
3.	KITCHEN Lauren Hitec Products	-

1.	KUCHINSKAYA Elena Servetto Footon	10
2.	GUDERZO Tatiana Hitec Products	6
3.	KITCHEN Lauren Hitec Products	6

1.	KITCHEN Lauren Hitec Products	18
2.	GUDERZO Tatiana Hitec Products	14
3.	HUANG Ting Ying	12

1.	Hitec Products	07:18:30
2.	Russia	-
3.	China Chongming-Liv-Champion System Pro Cycling	-

Click here to read more at Pedal Rose.

MPCC says Bardiani-CSF team is under scrutiny after squad breaks its regulations

by Shane Stokes

One day after the Bardiani-CSF team won stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia via Nicola Boem, the anti-doping MPCC group has indicated that the squad broke its rules in the run up to the race.

The voluntary anti-doping movement comprises most of the WorldTour and Pro Continental teams in the sport. By joining they achieve a boost in their image due to their affiliation with the group, which imposes stricter anti-doping rules than the standard WADA Code. Amongst its regulations are that teams rest any riders who have low cortisol levels. These are detected in health checks, and a substandard measurement can indicate health issues. They can also arise from the use of cortisone and corticoids.

According to the MPCC, a rider on the team’s lineup in the Giro should not have taken part in the event due to the team’s acceptance of the latter rule.

“Following reports in today’s press regarding team Bardiani-CSF currently racing in the Giro d’Italia, MPCC expressly points out that on Friday, May 9, the movement was informed by team Bardiani-CSF that one of its riders showed an abnormally low cortisol level.”

The MPCC reportedly requested via the team’s president that it did not enter the rider into the race however the team ignored this and entered the rider in the race. It is unclear who the rider concerned is, but the release of the news one day after Boem’s stage wins will – correctly or not – lead some to wonder if he is the rider concerned.

Click here to read the full article at CyclingTips.

Cycling shoots itself in the foot, again

Much has been written and said about #wheelgate, the incident which cost Richie Porte two minutes and, in all likelihood, his chance of winning the 2015 Giro d’Italia. But this piece from Andrew Hood over at VeloNews is well worth a read. Here’s an excerpt:

“

Cycling could use a boost. It needs heroic moments. It’s crying out for guys like Richie Porte and Simon Clarke. It’s aching for a narrative that reaches beyond the bleak discussion of biological passports, a dirty past, and an uncertain future. A bloke passing off his wheel to a comrade is a story that encapsulates all that’s good about cycling.

Instead, Porte was clobbered over the head with an additional 2-minute handicap in the Giro’s second week. It’s not the UCI’s fault, nor the jury’s. More than anyone’s, it’s Porte’s and Clarke’s fault. They’re professionals, and they should know the rules. Sky should have had riders right with Porte from the very first instant. But the jury and the court should also have room to interpret. Life is rarely black and white. And in cycling, even less so.

Click here to read the full article at VeloNews.

Sir Dave Brailsford: Cycling needs F1-style TV revamp

Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford has told the BBC that cycling should take a leaf from Formula 1’s book and allow TV viewers to hear radio communication between teams and riders.

“It would be super interesting to hear what the sporting directors are saying to the riders,” he said. “It’s a complex sport. You’ve got all the sporting directors in the cars trying to play out hundreds of scenarios, like ‘who is going to chase?’

“They all wait and watch the gap get to nine minutes, 10 minutes, and then suddenly you think, ‘hold on, I might be throwing the Giro away here.’ I think if everybody knew what each team was trying to do it would be fascinating and add a whole new level of intrigue and understanding.”

Click here to read more at the BBC.

The Snob by Ritte Cycles

Here’s a nice video by filmmaker Brodie Farren about The Snob, a stainless steel bike made by Ritte Cycles.

To quote from the video description: “We designed the Snob to be a balance between tradition and contemporary thinking: its compact geometry, oversize tubes, and tapered head tube makes the Snob as fresh and modern as the latest carbon bikes, but with the feel and soul of a master-made steel frame that is comfortable for all-day rides.”

Click here to read more about The Snob.

Orbea’s 175th anniversary

It’s hard to believe but Orbea has now been around for 175 years. The company began in 1840 by making rifles and other firearms and started building bikes in the 1930s. This video is a nice look back at the company’s history.

An inside view of Mark Cavendish’s final stage win at the Tour of California

In the short time on-board cameras have been in the peloton, the footage from those cameras has become a staple of post-race highlights videos. In some cases that footage has even started to seem passé, when not used to tell a bigger story. But this video, from the final stage of the Tour of California, stands on its own.

It comes from the handlebars of Drapac sprinter Wouter Wippert who finished second on the stage behind Mark Cavendish. It provides a great perspective of the final stages of the sprint, including Graeme Brown dropping Wippert off on to the wheel of Peter Sagan (sort of) and Cavendish’s powerful final sprint.

What You Missed

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

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Today’s feature image comes from stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia and shows Ilnur Zakarin en route to a solo victory.

jules

wouter wippert isn’t hanging around is he?
- Kieran Degan
  
  He impressed me in the TOC. Was consistently second best to Cav, huge effort.
Neil_Robinson

God I love a good sprint video. POV or overhead videos are both great in giving a sense of the movement each rider makes. The fight for the perfect position, little adjustments to one side of the wheel in front or the other to sight the exit line, the momentary drop of the wheel before starting the final kick, then just everything going into the pedals.

Is it just me or did the TdF used to (think McEwan days) have more overhead tracking camera shots of sprints?
- Kieran Degan
  
  That power through the pedals when he goes for it is phenomenal. I’d love to see the power graph for that.
Gaz

Brownie is a classy bike rider.
Matt

Andrew Hood’s article hits the nail squarely on the head…
- velocite
  
  Egwetter gree. Although I’m not so sympathetic towards the race jury’s decision. Given that rules are frequently bent, in my opinion bending them was the right thing to do in this case. They may have been criticized for it but so what, if they had good reason? The PR level crossing jury didn’t even quote a good reason - their excuse was I think that they couldn’t identify all the riders. But what’s their reason for not penalizing the riders they could identify?
  
  These team collusion rules look like they need re-drafting. I’m not even sure what the intent is. Armstrong’s alleged offer/payment of $50k to another team not to attack back in 1993, so he could collect the $1m bonus for winning a series of 3 races, is that sort of thing a target?
Arfy

Loved Andrew Hood’s comment that “nothing can escape the collective moral microscope of Twitter.”

What I find most disturbing about the UCI jury’s decision is that they didn’t investigate the planned collusion between the local Italian riders from different teams on the same stage. They were quoted boasting about it by VeloNews:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/05/news/italians-in-cahoots-send-breakaway-to-success_370859
- Sean
  
  Thats completely different.
  - Arfy
    
    It’s a different rule, but it’s a black & white rule that they CHOSE to ignore. “Cheating, attempted cheating, collusion between riders of different teams” has a prescribed punishment of 200CHF and 10 minute penalty for the first offence, and elimination for a second offence. This is a harsher punishment than Porte’s, which means that the UCI views this as a much more serious offence. But they choose to ignore because it’s Italians racing in Italy’s biggest race? What a joke.
    - Dave
      
      Racism has nothing to do with it, Porte decided it was a good idea to cheat. Cycling has no room for colluding with competitors from other teams, it should be policed more seriously.
      - Arfy
        
        You really think Porte thought he was cheating? If he’d realised it was cheating, I’m sure he would’ve refused the wheel rather than risk getting caught cheating.
        
        BTW, I don’t think it’s racism, I think it’s that the organisers don’t want to offend the Italians and risk losing interest in the Giro in its home country. There would be a huge outcry in Italy if they did, and it’s not the first time the Giro has been seen to favour Italians. But let’s face it, if they did apply the 10 minute penalty, that could change the outcome for other riders going for points or time bonuses.
        
        Eyetie
        
        settle down gringo.
James

Very good piece by Andy Hood. It’s just a pity the fine couldn’t have been larger without the time penalty. Losing time through the puncture alone was penalty enough.
velocite

That ‘Snob’ looks interesting. I say this having just re-fettled my 1981 Apollo IV. I had forgotten what it felt like. Hard to describe, but compared with my carbon bike it feels alive. It weighs 10kg, however. The Snob link doesn’t quote a weight for the frame.
- Bob Barrett
  
  Hi Velocite, I work for Skol.co the new distributor for ritte in Australia. We’ve just built one for a customer that came in at 7.4kg.
  There’s some snaps and details on the @ritteaustralia instagram.
  If you want any information feel free to contact myself [email protected] or [email protected]
  - velocite
    
    Thanks Bob. Snob disk looks attractive. I don’t need a new bicycle right now, but….
    - Bob Barrett
      
      N+1 ;)
Grego

I have to say, I think the Giro jury gave a proper and measured response. Instead of enforcing the real rule they could have-throwing Simon Clarke out for giving Porte a push-they instead did the only other thing they could have by enforcing a lesser rule instead. If Clarke hadn’t given Porte the push, and perhaps if he hadn’t been caught on camera giving it, then the wheel might have been overlooked. But that push was flagrant.
- Sean
  
  I agree, to push a competitor toward the finish line is the worst kind of collusion.
Derek Maher

Great to see Kristoff back in action and sprinting well.
Well done to Tatiana Guderzo in winning the sprint across the line.
Not sure about suggestion that DS instructions to the riders should be on air.First off can see language problems given the different team nationalities.Plus may need to censor some of the words used ?.
Nice to see a steel framed bike reviewed.
Thanks Matt.