Cycling: Vuelta Stages 1 and 2
The Vuelta cycling race has finally seen their first Spanish stage winner, which is Igor Anton. On the fourth leg of the race he took the win, while the Belgium overall leader was Philippe Gilbert. Vuelta Cycling Race always been online betting fans’ favorite.
300 yards from the finish line, Anton was able to break away and take a one second victory over the Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, Spain's Joaquin Rodriguez and Slovakia's Peter Velits. In total, Igor Anton finished in 5 hours and 28 seconds the 114 miles.
Russia's Dennis Menchov was only 19 seconds behind Igor Anton and took 19th place. The 2008 Tour de France winner, Carlos Sastre from Spain, who coincidentally is a climbing specialist, was in the 25th spot at 1:34. Currently, Gilbert has a 10 second overall lead over both Rodriguez and Anton.
Previously in the race, Belgium's Philippe Gilbert was ahead in the standings overall. He was able to surge to the finish line, even though the afternoon was sweltering hot and came out the winner in the third stage.
The first grand tour for the young American, Tejay Van Garderen, was able to place fourth in the overall and managed to survive his first hill test. 26 seconds behind is Team HTC-Columbia rider.
The 98 mile ride from Marbella was completed by Gilbert in 4 hours, 6 minutes and 12 seconds. He then able to take the red jersey. Katusha's Joaquin Rodriguez was beat by the Pharma-Lotto rider by only 3 seconds during this stage. For the overall classification, he has a 14 second lead over him.
Contador Wins 3rd Title Amid Controversy: Cycling: Tour de France 2010
Under controversial circumstances, Team Estana and Alberto Contador of Spain took the Tour de France lead from Luxemborg's Andy Schleck. The remaining mountain stages, Contador then held the lead and the final time trial to beat Schleck for his third Tour de France title.
In the Pyrenees Mountains, during Stage 15, the controversy occurred when Schleck, the overall leader at the time, lost his chain and he was forced to make a mechanical repair. Contador streaked by taking the overall lead, as Schleck and his team were on the side of the road. Later, Contador said that he did not realize he had passed Schleck. He also did not relinquish his lead. After such a mechanical failure, it is normally common courtesy to let the overall leader catch up and regain his time.
During Stage 16, on the very next day, Contador was strong in the hills and Lance Armstrong made an attempt to win his only stage of the 2010 Tour de France. When it came down to a six man sprint in the end, Armstrong was sixth, although he made a valiant effort. With Schleck running out of time, Contador maintained his lead over him.
With every intention of disappearing from Contador and blasting out fast, Schleck went out for Stage 17. Contador was on his back tire the entire time, although Schleck ran the race of his life. Contador held the overall lead by eight seconds and he was right with Schleck, when the latter won the stage.
In the final stages of the Tour de France, Contador maintained his overall lead, asserting himself in the time trial stage finishing Schleck's only hopes of a comeback.
Cycling: Alberto Contador & Andy Schleck Duel for Tour de France Title
Luxemborg's Andy Schleck is still not over Spain's Alberto Contador's perceived lack of etiquette during Stage 15 of the Tour de France. Schleck lost his chain on the steep climb up the Pyrenees while leading by 31 seconds over Alberto Contador.
Contador blew by, as Schleck received repairs from his team losing the lead of the Tour de France as Contador finished 39 seconds ahead. Although it is cycling etiquette to wait for an opponent under such circumstances, it is not a rule.
The cycling world was focused on stage 17 of the Tour de France because this would be Schleck's last chance at vindication. Schleck set out to win the stage and to regain the eight seconds he had lost to Contador because of the mechanical failure.
As Stage 17 of the Tour de France was winding down to the last ten kilometer climb up Col du Tourmalet, Schleck attempted to separate himself from Contador, who was right on his back tire. Contador did break for the front in their head to head battle once. Later Contador said, “My attack was because I wanted to show him I had legs."
Schleck tried several times to shake Contador, to make a dent in Contador's eight second lead but Contador never left Schleck's back tire. Schleck said after the race, “It wasn’t possible to drop him. He was too strong today.”
Schleck did win the stage but he knows he also lost the Tour de France to Alberto Contador.
Tour De France: Tour Gets Chippy as it Heads into Final Week
The Tour de France of 2010 will probably go down in history as the wildest Tour de France in history. This years Tour has had its share of spectacular crashes, fisticuffs among rival riders and today a rider was ejected for repeatedly headbutting a rival rider.
The events at the close of the stage 11 have created a controversy that has been brewing during this Tour De France. Cycling can be a contact sport on occasion but the incident, involving Mark Renshaw and Julian Dean was over the top. As the riders began to jockey for a strong finish they engaged in some borderline combat.
Prop betting favorite, Renshaw said Dean elbowed him for position and Renshaw retaliated by headbutting Dean several times, as his teammate Mark Cavendish swooped in for the stage 11 win. Cavendish is not in the top five of the Tour de France but he is back on track this year winning his third stage in the first 11 stages. Cavendish was all but written off at the start of the Tour.
As the Tour de France began on July 3rd, many were expecting a showdown between defending Tour de France champion, Alberto Contador and seven time champ and former teammate, Lance Armstrong. The rivalry has never developed in this years Tour, as Armstrong has dealt with equipment failures and some nasty tumbles in the first 11 stages.
Contador is instead locked in battle with Tour de France veteran, Andy Schleck. Schleck has the upper hand after 11 stages and Contador is within striking distance, 41 seconds behind.
Cycling: Tour de France Led by Cancellara After Stage 5
The first five stages of the Tour de France have been surprising and exciting to this point and Mark Cavendish of Britain and Team HTC-Columbia capped off Stage 5 with a spectacular and emotional dash to the finish just 200 yards out from the line.
Cavendish won six stages last year but every expert was doubting he could win a stage this year. Exotic bets star, Fabian Cancellara held tightly to his yellow jersey with a 23 second lead over Britain's Geraint Thomas. Other notables after Stage 5, Alberto Contador, who is in ninth one minute 40 seconds off the lead and Lance Armstrong who is two minutes and 30 seconds back in 21st place.
Both Tour de France champs will make their time up in the Pyrenees later and neither are feeling any pressure for being off the pace at this point of the Tour De France. Armstrong has already had an eventful Tour de France in 2010, crashing hard during Stage 2 but he did not receive any serious injuries aside from bumps and bruises.
Stage 3 was the stage all riders feared from the moment the stages were announced. Stage 3 featured a cobblestone or pave' section for the first time in the Tour since 2003 and none of the riders looked forward to it. Frank Schleck was the first victim, as he fell hard in front of the peloton and broke his collarbone. Lance Armstrong did not fall but he fell victim to a flat tire from the rough conditions.
Recap of the 2008 Tour de France
The 2008 Tour de France marked the 95th version of the famous cycling road race.
Team Astana was not included in this race due to the doping scandals of the 2007 Tour de France. Race officials’ refusal to allow Team Astana to compete took 2007’s champion, Alberto Contador, out of the running. Due to this team’s absence, the new favorites were Denis Menchov, Alejandro Valverde, Damiano Cunego, Carlos Sastre, and Cadel Evans.
Unlike previous years, there were no time bonuses awarded for intermediate sprints or for winning stages. There were only fifty-one miles of time trials this year. As usual, the race took place almost entirely in France with a small percentage in Italy.
The King of Mountains was Bernhard Kohl; however, after the race it came out that he had taken a doping product. The title of King of Mountains is no longer his. The best young riders were Andy Schleck (first), Roman Kreuziger (second), and Vincenzo Nibali (third).
Oscar Freire earned the Green Jersey for Best Sprinter. The overall winner of the Tour de France 2008 was Carlos Sastre, who completed the race in eighty-seven hours, fifty-two minutes, and fifty-two seconds. In second and third were Cadel Evans and Bernhard Kohl respectively.
Carlos Sastre’s victory gave Spaniards their third victory in three years.
Can Lance Armstrong Pedal to Victory in 2010 Tour de France
The question biking enthusiasts are asking is, "Can Lance Armstrong win his eight Tour de France title?" The bicyclist himself contends that he is stronger and more fit than last year. However, he is still uncertain if he can overtake competitor Alberto Contador. He reported to the Spanish daily newspaper, 'El Pais,' that last year he was more about brute force compared to this year, which he says is more cycling power. He went on to say that he feels he is a better cyclist now.
Armstrong's RadioShack Team Manager, Johan Bruynned said the competitor needs more competition. He explained that Armstrong's physical fitness is okay. However, he also added that Armstrong needs to get the speed as well as acceleration.
Armstrong seems to believe that Contador has some advantage; however, he said that he is high strung. Armstrong concluded that all the great champions are high strung including himself. Armstrong concluded that it would be tough for a man his age, 38 years, to overtake someone Contador's age of 27. He said is does not look in his favor. Still, he intends to go to the race to see who is the best. Armstrong does not believe it is essential for him to win indicating he has seven wins under his belt. Still, he said the tour will make for a great story. Lance is considered as a favorite player for the betting professionals who like to bet on sports and cycling race in specific.
Lance Armstrong, can he win the Tour de France? Only time will tell but he concludes, "...it won't change my life whether I win or not."
Tour de France Profile: Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador, riding for UCI ProTeam Astana, is widely regarded as the favorite to win the 2010 Tour de France. Such and accomplishment would bring his total titles to three for the race and continue his establishment as the most dominant rider in cycling.
Alberto is only the fifth rider (and the first Spaniard) to gain a win in each of the three Grand Tours of cycling. This accomplishment is so impressive because of the training practices of professionals to choose one race a year to "peak" during.
Alberto was signed to Discovery Channel's racing squad for the 2007 season where he won his first Tour de France and rode alongside Lance Armstrong, the sport's most well-known and accomplished rider. His success in the most important cycling race of the season was only a sign of things to come for this young rider.
Contador now commands a total of four grand tour titles and is regarded as one of the best in the mountain stages. Even though he is considered to be a specialist in climbing, he has earned respect in time trials as well after his memorable performance in the last stage of the 2007 Tour de France.
Alberto Contador is no doubt the rider to beat this year. He has a strong bid in this year's tour, where he is riding on the defending champion of the team classification's roster whilst defending his own yellow jersey.
Road Bicycle Racing – Tour de France
Bicycle racing is one of the most popular and celebrated sports across the globe. When racers indulge in racing on their cycles on roads, it is termed as road bicycle racing. Road bicycle racing, also known as road racing is the most popular sport in Europe. Some of the countries that are known to be enthusiasts in this sport are France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.
Some of the biggest events of this sport are actually some of the earliest road bicycle races of Europe. One of the most famous amongst these races that attracts road bicycle racers from across the globe is Tour de France.
Tour de France, as the same suggests is a race that covers all France and a bleeds into bordering countries. It is an annual road bicycle race that covers almost 3,500 km. to cover all of France. Tour de France continues for 3 weeks and is divided into day-long segments that are called stages. The course of the race changes every year but the culmination point is always Paris. The winner of the race is decided according to the cumulative performance of each racer over the period of the entire 3 weeks.
There are three such “Grand Tours” in road bicycle racing that are held every year. Out of all these, Tour de France is considered to be the most popular and prestigious one. All racers and enthusiasts of this sport look forward to the commencement of this event.