Alberto Contador is within a stage of winning his second Tour de France as the much anticipated Mont Ventoux stage failed to shake up the GC standings. Tried as they may, the Schleck brothers launched attack after attack, but were not able to shake the rest of the GC contenders.

For Rabobank, Juan Manuel Garate was able to win the penultimate stage 20, staying away with an early break and finishing ahead of Tony Martin for the win. Andy Schleck and the GC leaders finished 38 seconds afterwards.

Stage 20 Results
1 Juan Manuel Garate Cepa (Spa) Rabobank - 4:39:21
2 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC - 0:00:03
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:38
4 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
5 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:00:41
6 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:43
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - 0:00:46
8 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas - 0:00:56
9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:00:58
10 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:01:03

Read the rest of this entry �

World-Class, Accomplished Teams to Compete in February 14-22 Stage Race

‘Best Field Ever to Compete on U.S. Soil Anticipated For Nine Day Stage Race’

LOS ANGELES, CA – The 2009 Amgen Tour of California will once again bring together a world-class field of cycling teams from multiple nations, including eight of the sport’s top-rated ProTour teams. Race organizers confirmed today that entries for the fourth annual race will include Lance Armstrong and the Amgen Tour of California’s two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer’s team, Astana, along with two of the top U.S.-based teams, Garmin-Slipstream (new to the ProTour circuit) and Columbia Highroad (formerly Team High Road). Also racing will be Team Saxo Bank, which finished in the top-three of the world rankings last season and Quick Step, which claimed 55 victories in the 2008 season.

The 2009 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following eight ProTour professional cycling teams:

• Ag2r-La Mondiale (FRA)
• Astana (LUX)
• Garmin-Slipstream (USA)
• Liquigas (ITA)
• Quick Step (BEL)
• Rabobank (Netherlands)
• Columbia Highroad (USA)
• Team Saxo Bank (DEN)

The recently expanded 750-mile, nine-day stage race, considered to be the most important and popular race held on U.S. soil, will take the world’s top professional cycling teams from Sacramento to San Diego County from February 14-22, 2009.

Read the rest of this entry �

Giant bicycles has agreed a two-year sponsorship deal with professional cycling team, Rabobank.

Under the deal, which begins in 2009, Giant will provide Rabobank’s elite team of riders, U23 developmental squad and the cyclo-cross team with bikes. Current sponsor Shimano will continue to be the team’s primary component sponsor.

Giant chief executive officer, Tony Lo, said: “We’re pleased Rabobank has chosen to ride Giant. It’s a natural fit—two organisations with a long-term commitment to competitive cycling. Combine Rabobank’s talent with Giant’s ability to create superior products, and great things are sure to happen.”

Photo by Ken Conley

Oscar Freire wins the bunch spring into Digne les Bains, beating out fellow sprinters Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) and Erik Zabel (Milram). This is the triple world champion’s fourth tour stage win of his career. Freire had this to say after the stage, “I hope to keep green,” said Freire. “And in the mountains we have a leader like Menchov. We hope he can take yellow… For me, Menchov is the best candidate [to win] this Tour.”

Missing from the sprint was Team Columbia sensation Mark Cavendish. Cavendish had a hard time making it over the catagory four climb 9.5km before Dignes les Bain, finishing 3:27 back. “It was really hard. We knew all along it was going to be hard. I tried to hang on, hang on,” said Cavendish to Versus reporter Frankie Andreu after the stage. “I’m just getting tired.” Cavendish is expected to take an early exit from the tour and not start stage 15. Cavendish’s next goal will be the Olympics.

Jersey standings remain the same. With Cadel Evans in the Maillot Jaune, Oscar Freire in the Maillot Vert, Sebastian Lang in Polka Dots, and Vincenzo Nibali in the Best Young Rider Jersey.

Stage 14 Results
1 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank - 4.13.08
2 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
4 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
5 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step
6 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre
7 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
8 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
9 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step
10 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole

Read the rest of this entry �