July 14, 2009
Arvesen exits with broken collarbone
Saxo Bank - Taking the Lead | Kurt-Asle Arvesen Leaves the Tour
The terrific (if Flash-heavy) new Saxo Bank site offers a post-stage interview with Norwegian champion Kurt-Asle Arvesen, who broke his collarbone in today's action, but finished the stage. His exit leaves Andy Schleck one rider down in the upcoming Alps.
Arvesen won Stage 11 of last year's Tour into Foix.
Arvesen is scheduled for surgery on Thursday.
Also:
Eurosport | Saxo Bank lose injured road captain Arvesen
Posted by Frank Steele on July 14, 2009 in 2009 Stage 10, Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Top Stories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 07, 2009
Tour de Twitter
This is the third Tour de France I've Twittered. In 2007, it was pretty lonely. Last year, we had a core group of fans using the service. This year, Twitter has exploded. Lance Armstrong has been one of the top celebrities to adopt Twitter, alongside Stephen Fry, Ashton Kutcher (I almost typed “Astana Kutcher”), and Barack Obama.I've developed quite a list of riders, journalists, bloggers, and photographers in preparation for the Tour, and thought I would share it with you.
I started with Carlton Reid's massive, 600+ strong list of “Bike Trade Tweeps”. As I've found more, I've been adding them. I left off a few that appear inactive, like @carlossastre, who has nearly 4,000 followers awaiting his first tweet (what pressure!); likewise Denis Menchov and Robert Gesink, and a few fakes.
Also, these are all in English. Please send me additions, either on Twitter (@TdFblog) or by commenting this post. Thanks!
Riders/Teams
Astana
- @TeamAstana : The official team ID
- @lancearmstrong : The 7-time Tour winner
- @johanbruyneel : Team director Johan Bruyneel
- @levileipheimer : Levi Leipheimer (He finally lost the underscore)
Garmin-Slipstream
- @TeamSlipstream : The official team Twitter feed
- @Vaughters : Team Director Jonathan Vaughters (Newly unshackled from the official team Twitter ID)
- @dzabriskie : David Zabriskie
- @christianvdv : Christian Vande Velde
- @Bradwiggins : Bradley Wiggins
- @thedpate : Danny Pate
- @allencolim : Team physiologist Allen Lim
Columbia-HTC
- @TeamColumbiaHTC : Team updates
- @ghincapie : George Hincapie
- @mickrogers : Michael Rogers
- @markrenshaw1 : Mark Renshaw
- @isleofmanhood : “Cav” (??)
Silence-Lotto
- @cadelofficial : Cadel Evans
- @wegelius: Silence-Lotto's Charlie Wegelius, author of my two favorite rider tweets of the Tour so far
Cervelo Test Team
- @cervelotestteam : Official team feed
- @carlos_sastre : Carlos Sastre
- @bdlancaster : Brett Lancaster
Quick Step
- @stevendejongh : Steven De Jongh
Skil-Shimano
- @Fumybeppu : Ex-Discovery rider Fumy Beppu
- @koendekort : Koen de Kort
Saxo Bank
- @fschleck : Frank Schleck
- @andy_schleck : Andy Schleck
- @kaarvesen : Kurt-Asle Arvesen
Rabobank
- @laurenstendam : Laurens Ten Dam
Press
- @bicyclingmag : Official Bicycling feed
- @julietmacur : NYTimes Tour reporter Juliet Macur
- @velonews : VeloNews official feed
- @cyclingweekly : Cycling Weekly
- @cyclesportmag : UK's CycleSport magazine
- @cyclingnewsfeed : CyclingNews official feed
- @neilroad : Neil Browne of ROAD Magazine
- @eurohoody : Andrew Hood of VeloNews
- @rupertguinness : Australia's Rupert Guinness
- @johnwilcockson : VeloNews correspondent emeritus
- @bonnie_d_ford : Bonnie D. Ford, ESPN's Tour reporter
- @jeremyschaap : Jeremy Schaap, ESPN reporter
VS broadcasters
- @vscycling : the official feed of the US Tour TV network
- @philliggett : Phil Liggett
- @paulsherwen : Paul Sherwen
- @bobkeroll : Head schlug Bob Roll
- @h2o007 : Craig Hummer
- @RobbieVentura : Robbie Ventura
Photographers
- @GWcom : Graham Watson
- @lizkreutz : Liz Kreutz, who's been photographing Lance Armstrong's comeback
- @kwc - Ken Conley of Spare Cycles
Pros not racing this year
- @allandavis27 : Allan Davis, the 181st rider in the 2009 Tour
- @ivanbasso : Ivan Basso
- @hornerakg : Chris Horner
- @robbiehunter : South African sprinter Robbie Hunter
- @mcewenrobbie : Katusha's Robbie McEwen
- @janibrajkovic : Astana's Jani Brajkovic
Bloggers
- @TdFblog : That's me!
- @cyclingfans - Pete Geyer of CyclingFans
- @cyclelicious - Fritz at Cyclelicious
- @steephill - Steve from Steephill.TV<
- @_gavia_ - Gavia from Steephill.TV
- @bikehugger - Main feed for Bike Hugger
- @TDFLanterne - Nancy Toby's TdF Lanterne Rouge
- @lambsimon - Simon Lamb of La Gazzetta dello Bici
- @cyclingfansanon - cycling fans anonymous.com
- @cyclocosm - Cosmo from Cyclocosm
Posted by Frank Steele on July 7, 2009 in About the Tour, Andy Schleck, Bradley Wiggins, Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Chris Horner, Christian Vande Velde, Danny Pate, Dave Zabriskie, George Hincapie, Ivan Basso, Janez Brajkovic, Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Mark Cavendish, Michael Rogers, Robbie Hunter, Robbie McEwen, Tour news, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack
July 16, 2008
Arvesen takes Stage 11
CSC-Saxo Bank's Kurt-Asle Arvesen took Stage 11 by outsprinting 2 of his breakaway companions to the line in Foix.
Amaël Moinard of Cofidis attacked up the slope of the day's biggest climb, and stayed away for about 50 kilometers, but he was no match for a classics-heavy breakaway that included Filippo Pozzato, Fabian Wegmann, Martin Elmiger, and Alessandro Ballan.
As he was reeled in, Elmiger attacked, followed by Arvesen. Alessandro Ballan bridged up, and Arvesen tried to attack, but Elmiger reeled him in, and the Norwegian sat up. Koos Moerenhout of Rabobank bridged, and the foursome rode into the final kilometer.
From a right-hander about 300 meters out, Arvesen wound it up from the first position, a tough place to be, sprinting near the left barrier. As he pulled to the middle of the road, Ballan came up on his right while Elmiger shot the gap on his left, and Elmiger was closing fast, but Arvesen held him off in a photo finish.
It's Arvesen's first-ever Tour stage win.
Stage 11 Results
1. Kurt-Asle Arvesen, CSC-Saxo Bank, Norway, in 3:58:13
2. Martin Elmiger, AG2R, Switzerland, same time
3. Alesssandro Ballan, Lampre, Italy, s.t.
4. Koos Moerenhout, Rabobank, Netherlands, @ :02
5. Alexandre Botcharov, Credit Agricole, Russia, @ :11
6. Pierrick Fedrigo, Bouygues Telecom, France, @ :14
7. Filippo Pozzato, Liquigas, Italy, same time
8. Benoit Vaugrenard, Française des Jeux, France, s.t.
9. Fabian Wegmann, Gerolsteiner, Germany, s.t.
10. Marco Velo, Milram, Italy, s.t.
11. Dmitriy Fofonov, Credit Agricole, Kazakhstan, s.t.
12. Amael Moinard, Cofidis, France, at :29
Hushovd also waves the Norwegian flag, taking the field sprint back at 14:51, ahead of Erik Zabel, and 3 ahead of Oscar Freire. Hushovd makes up 4 points on Oscar Freire in the green jersey hunt.
Overall standings are completely unchanged.
General Classification after Stage 11
1. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia
2. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg @ :01
3. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, @ :38
4. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Austria @ :46
5. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, @ :57
6. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Spain, @ 1:28
7. Kim Kirchen, Columbia, Luxembourg, @ 1:56
8. Juan José Cobo, Saunier Duval, Spain, @ 2:10
9. Riccado Ricco, Saunier Duval, Italy, @ 2:29
10. Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R-La Mondiale, Russia, @ 2:32
Posted by Frank Steele on July 16, 2008 in 2008 Stage 11, Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Top Stories | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Stage 11 on the road
Today's another mountain stage, but nothing like yesterday's. The biggest climb of the day is the 1400-meter Col de Portel, whose summit comes almost 60 kilometers before the stage finish. There's a 3rd Category climb early, and another on the run-in to Foix, as well as two sprints before the feed zone.
Jersey leaders:
Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto
Oscar Freire, Rabobank
Riccardo Ricco, Saunier Duval (worn by Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas)
Riccardo Ricco, Saunier Duval
Versus broadcaster picks:
- Roll: Oscar Freire
- Hummer: Filippo Pozzato
- Sherwen: Erik Zabel
- Liggett: Damiano Cunego
At the day's first sprint, the field was still together.
Sprint 1:
1. Duque, Cofidis, 6 pts
2. Hushovd, Credit Agricole, 4 pts
3. Freire, Rabobank, 2 pts
An early break of 12 has collected all the points since:
- Arvesen, CSC
- Pozzato, Liquigas
- Ballan, Lampre
- Botcharov and Fofonov, C.A
- Elmiger, AG2R
- Wegmann, Gerolsteiner
- Moerenhout, Rabobank
- Fedrigo, Bouygues Telecom
- Vaugrenard, Française des Jeux
- Moinard, Cofidis
- Velo, Milram
1st Climb, a 3rd Category:
1. Botcharov, CA, 4 pts
2. Fedrigo, Bouygues Telecom, 3 pts
3. Ballan, Lampre, 2 pts
4. Moinard, Cofidis, 1 pt
Gert Steegmans, who initially was in the breakaway, fell out on that climb, and rejoined the peloton, which was 5:30 behind.
Paolo Longo Borghini abandoned with a broken collarbone suffered today, leaving 167 riders in the race.
Sprint 2:
1. Pozzato, Liquigas, 6 pts
2. Velo, Milram, 4 pts
3. Moerenhout, Rabobank, 2 pts
The gap continues to climb, to 12:00 at the feedzone, and to 14:25 as the Col de Portel approaches.
On the Col de Portel, Amaël Moinard out of the breakaway, and soon after, Oscar Pereiro attacked from the field. Pereiro's attack triggered a response from CSC, who moved to the front and raised the pace.
Moinard would be first to the top with 1:46 in hand.
Col de Portel, 1st Category:
1. Amaël Moinard, Cofidis, 15 pts
2. Dimitriy Fofonov, Credit Agricole, 13 pts, @ 1:55
3. Pierrick Fedrigo, Bouygues Telecom, 11 pts
4. Allessandro Ballan, Lampre, 9 pts
5. Fabian Wegmann, Gerolsteiner, 8 pts
6. Benôit Vaugrenard, Française des Jeux, 7 pts
7. Kurt-Asle Arvesen, CSC-Saxo Bank, 6 pts
8. Filippo Pozzato, Liquigas, 5 pts
The peloton is 16:30 back of Moinard, and almost 2:00 down on Pereiro, despite CSC's efforts.
The break slowly began to reel in Moinard, and Pereiro has never gotten out over 2:00 ahead of the field.
Atop the day's last climb, Moinard had about a minute's advantage.
Col del Brouich, 3rd Category:
1. Amaël Moinard, Cofidis, 4 pts
2. Alessandro Ballan, Lampre, 3 pts
3. Kurt-Asle Arvesen, CSC-Saxo Bank, 2 pts
4. Marco Velo, Milram, 1 pt
With 15k to ride, the chase has closed within 22 seconds of Moinard, and the field is within about 45 seconds of Pereiro.
As Moinard is caught, Elmiger launches an attack. He's matched by Arvesen. Now Ballan is trying to bridge up, and we've got 3 leaders.
Arvesen launches a testing attack, but Elmiger reels him in. Now Moerenhout is bridging up. They're in the final kilometer.
The come around a right-hander with 300 meters to go, and Arvesen is in the lead, and has to lead out the sprint. He's coming up the left side of the road, and Ballan's to his right. Now Elmiger comes fast up on his left, and as they hit the line, Arvesen signals that he's taken the win.
I'm waiting for confirmation on this one, Elmiger was closing fast, coming up the gap on Arvesen's left. There it is, Arvesen has taken the stage over Elmiger and Ballan.
Posted by Frank Steele on July 16, 2008 in Kurt-Asle Arvesen | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 29, 2007
Z's in! CSC announces Tour roster
Team CSC | Team CSC Announces Line-Up for Tour de France 2007
- Team CSC 2007 Tour roster:
- Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Norway)
- Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)
- Inigo Cuesta (Spain)
- Stuart O'Grady (Australia)
- Carlos Sastre (Spain)
- Fränk Schleck (Luxembourg)
- Christian Vande Velde (USA)
- Jens Voigt
- David Zabriskie (USA)
Two of the peloton's best time triallists in Cancellara and Zabriskie and two possible GC threats in Sastre and Schleck.
Left off were veterans Bobby Julich, and Karsten Kroon.
Update: And I somehow left off Jens Voigt, leaving CSC with only 8 riders. Fixed.
Posted by Frank Steele on June 29, 2007 in 2007 team rosters, Bobby Julich, Carlos Sastre, Christian Vande Velde, Dave Zabriskie, Fabian Cancellara, Frank Schleck, Jens Voigt, Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Stuart O'Grady, Top Stories, Tour de France 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack