It was just hours away from the start of Stage 2 at the 2011 Tour de France. The narrow road we were walking on was filled with the typical frenzied crowd of fans, riders, mechanics and team cars. Suddenly, there was a commotion over at the Team Garmin cars consisting of some loud arguing and hand gesturing between UCI officials, Mavic technicians and team mechanics. As I stood by the wayside, it soon became apparent that something was amiss with the wheels on Team Cervelo. More arguing and phone calls ensued. And then it all went down.

In an instant, the Mavic techs literally began stripping the wheels off some sort of liner that was wrapped at the inner face where the rim and tire met. Whatever plans Mavic had with the secret wheel technology was no more. Unfortunately, getting any answers to what was going on was impossible—nobody was talking (at least in English)!

A NIGHTMARE ANEW

Fast-forward a few months later and I was back in France suiting up to ride the very same wheels that had caused all the commotion the previous July. Apparently, just as many other brands make use of the publicity surrounding the Tour de France, Mavic had hoped to use La Grande Boucle as an unofficial launch for the new 80mm-deep aero wheels that used a special aero-enhancing feature dubbed the “CX01 Aero Link.” It was this feature alone that had forced the UCI’s bold action.

The Aero Link was a semi-elastic plastic strip that fit into a special channel filling the gap between the rim and tire wall. Mavic said they had computer data that showed the combination of all three—the CXR80 wheel, the Aero Link and their own Yksion tire—created enough of a unified airfoil to achieve substantial aero gains.

The production wheel was known as the Cosmic CXR80 wheel, and Mavic had assembled a fleet of Canyon aero bikes for a pack of journos to test. The wheels weighed in at 2170 grams (995 front/1175 rear) and sold for $2799. Before the ride began, the obvious question was raised: “What if the Aero Links somehow dislodged while riding?” In typical French fashion, Mavic engineers laughed the notion off before assuring us that the strips were designed to break before locking up a wheel. Of course, as was often the case at new-product launches, the nightmare scenario occurred when the Aero Links on two bikes became dislodged during the ride! True to form, the Aero Links did break apart, but as we watched the tech support untangle the mess, none of us could imagine how much worse a PR disaster it would’ve been if a similar mishap had occurred during a televised Tour stage! While the UCI is renowned for their ham-fisted technical rules, just maybe it was a good thing they had the strips pulled that day at the Tour!

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Jeff Spencer is one of a handful of people in this world who can lay claim to having won the Tour de France eight times. As a licensed chiropractor, physical trainer, former Olympic track cyclist and all-round nice guy, Spencer was able to provide Lance and the Postal/Discovery teams with the kind of crucial injury care and survival management that allowed them to endure the rigorous 21-day schedule.

After being part of the seven-time winning team with Lance, Jeff figured his Tour de France days were over when Lance quit racing. But in the spring of 2007 he got a call from Johan Bruyneel, who called him back into action to help oversee the winning effort of Alberto Contador. With the impending publication of his first book, ‘Turn It Up! How To Perform At Your Best For A Lifetime’ by Health Communications Incorporated, Jeff now spends his time working the lecture circuit as well as guiding top motocross racers who look to him for the same winning edge he was able to provide Lance and company.

Of course, long before Jeff found his way to the Tour de France, we had become acquainted with him when he was a trainer for the Team Honda motocross team where he aided the likes of Johnny O’Mara and David Bailey in their Championship pursuits.

DAYS WITH LANCE – BEFORE THE FALL

RBA: If you had to recall the most memorable Tour moments for you, what would they be?
Jeff: That’s really, really hard to do. They all had their own merit and were magical in their own way. Each Tour encapsulates so many things; the people, places and events, and when I think back on the eight that I was so fortunate to be part of, it’s really overwhelming. There are so many stories from each race. I would say that we witness an amount of sadness, pain, and joy in three weeks that most people don’t see in a lifetime.

I know the one thing that I think of most is just the approach of the team itself. Both Lance and Johan were so creative in our approach to the race. They were never trapped in tradition. As a team director, Johan especially was innovative and open to embrace new ideas, ideas that eventually were able to pay big dividends. We never believed that the previous year’s success would work again-we always adapted to the circumstances we found ourselves in each year.

What made the team unique was the level of trust and confidence that Johan and Lance inspired in us all. You knew why you were there, you knew what was expected from you, and the level of trust we felt between and for each other was its own kind of inspiration. No other team was able to do that.

RBA: Was there one particular year that stands out now as you look back?
Jeff: If I had to pick one it would probably be 2003. That was the year that Lance had challenges in finding his form. He lost the time trial to Jan Ulrich by a big margin and that caused quite a bit of concern. It was after the TT that we all witnessed Lance’s ability to grasp the situation and embrace an unorthodox solution. Ironically, what he did was stick with the proven methods he used to win before. As obvious a solution as that may seem, it really wasn’t, because most people would’ve started to look for some kind of magic answer. Lance didn’t get desperate and he showed restraint and respect for the process. He stayed true to the mission and showed up for duty day after day. That’s a really hard thing to do under such difficult conditions.

And then in typical Lance fashion, a few days later he destroyed the pack on a hilltop finish. Afterwards, he came bounding into the team bus (Lance would always leave a race in his own car, and had called the bus driver to pull over on the road) and shouted out, ‘What do you think of me now?’ Everybody cheered and we knew Lance was back! I sat in the back of the bus and once again marveled at Lance’s talent as a team leader. He was very emotional with a strong sense of the community that surrounded him and he recognized the need to keep them going. That’s really the mark of a team leader, because success pyramids down from the top and Lance recognized that.

RBA: How would you contrast the first win with the seventh?
Jeff: The first Tour in 1999 was so special because no one thought we could win, but we were propelled by a hope and a dream. None of us thought we weren’t going to win. By 2005 so much had changed. With each new year everything got much more complicated. There were more people, more press, and more responsibilities, which made logistics more complicated. Everything was growing exponentially and it had gotten to a point where the whirl of publicity had become an impediment to what we were trying to do. For the seventh Tour I think we had hit critical mass and we knew we had to get back to our early style and streamline things.

RBA: How exactly did you come to get picked for the job with the team?
Jeff: In 1984 I was an advisor to Mark Gorski, helping him win an Olympic Sprint gold medal at the Olympics that year. In later years Mark became the general manager of the U.S. Postal team and he was aware of the extra dimension I brought to the sports world and knew the advantage it would bring the USPS team. Mark brought me to the Tour in 1998 which is where I met Lance. I formally began my tenure with the team the following January at the team’s training camp in California.

RBA: What do you think was the formula to the team’s success?
Jeff: The one thing we had that no other team had was agreement. We were in agreement that we would do our best and bring out the best in each other. I think that’s what gave us a decided advantage. Still, it starts with the athletes themselves-what a talented group of riders! Our success also relied on Lance and Johan not just embracing innovation, but expecting it from everyone. Each of us knew that we were chosen to be there for a reason, and so it was absolutely necessary for each of us to be there for the team and Lance. Lance is the sort of person that people would rise 110 percent to the occasion for because the riders knew he would do the same for them.

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Well, it wasn’t exactly the best kept secret, but it looks like British star Mark Cavendish will finally get his last, best chance to beat Eddy Merckx’s Tour de France stage win record…

CAVENDISH SIGNS WITH ASTANA

Veteran British road cyclist Mark Cavendish has signed a one-year contract with Astana, who as a World Tour team are slated for July’s Tour de France.

The 37-year-old Briton holds the joint all time record of 34 Tour de France stage wins with Belgian great Eddy Merckx, and the 2023 Tour route is packed with sprint chances.

“He is the best sprinter of all times, and I am happy to welcome Mark in Astana Qazaqstan Team,” said his new sports director Alexandr Vinokurov. “As always, the objective will be for us to stand on the top podium,” said
Cavendish.

“I’m looking forward to being part of a successful team, whether working with the team for wins, crossing the line first myself, or cheering on my teammates,” he said.

Cavendish parted ways with the Belgian Quick Step team in December after missing out on a Tour de France slot to Dutch ace Fabio Jakobsen, 11 years Cavendish’s junior. The previous season however Cavendish rolled back the years to win four stages on a roller-coaster 2021 Tour, drawing level with Merckx’s long-standing record.

Cavendish was present at the route reveal for the 2023 Tour de France and said the course in itself was an inspiration. “I think the start is going to be the hardest I’ve seen in my career,” he said of the Basque Country rolling hills that host the 2023 Grand Depart. “There’s maybe seven or eight sprint opportunities. It’s a lot, you know.
Real sprint opportunities.” As the 2022 British road race champion, Cavendish will wear a red, white and blue Astana shirt instead of the usual pale blue.

Top photo: Bettini/Sprint Cycling

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Time Pedals expands its presence at the pinnacle of professional cycling with a new multiyear agreement to be the exclusive pedal supplier for Trek-Segafredo men’s and women’s WorldTour teams.

The agreement, part of SRAM’s partnership with Trek, marks the return of Time to the men’s WorldTour and the expansion of its pedals to now three women’s WorldTour teams. Trek-Segafredo joins Canyon//SRAM Racing and Team SD Worx in riding Time. An accomplished and iconic clipless pedal pioneer, Time pedals were ever-present winners in pro cycling in the 1980s through the 2000s, with legends including Greg LeMond, Miguel Indurain, and Tom Boonen, who relied on Time.

“Time is proud to support this first-class WorldTour team for the coming seasons. It’s a huge step for us to return to the biggest races with Trek-Segafredo,” said Benjamin Marinier, Time Pedals product manager. “Time Pedals are the best in many aspects, such as lightweight, aerodynamic, comfort, adjustments, or floats. We spent much time with the athletes to set up everything according to their needs.”

Time Xpresso Pedals VS. Look Keo Blade

“There is no better demonstration of the quality and performance of a pedal than a WorldTour team who has so many choices in selecting them for their use. We are excited to see what Trek-Segafredo can accomplish on arguably the most proven pedal system in the world,” said SRAM CEO Ken Lousberg.

Trek-Segafredo will ride Time XPRO Pedals, engineered with a focus on the rider. Time road pedals feature ICLIC Technology for easy entry, low stack height for improved efficiency, a large pedal platform for improved power transfer, and float and Q-factor clears to reduce strain and prevent injuries.

For more info on Time Pedals, head to SRAM.com

Photo credits: Ross Bell

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Despite a few up and down moments, there’s no denying the amount of winning and magic moments that the Mark Cavendish and Team Quick Step partnership provided the racing world. Although the prospects of  “The Manx Missile” gaining a team berth to compete in the 2023 Tour de France where he could battle to become the all-time leader in  stage wins are looking dim, there’s always hoping that some team will seen the benefit of trying to make it happen.

Regardless, the Quick Step team produced this video to celebrate their shared years that included some historical wins.

Photos: Bettini/Sprint Cycling Agency

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             GET READY FOR THE 2023 TOUR DE FRANCE!

Bilbao on July 1  next year is where the Tour de France will celebrate its 120th anniversary. The Grand Départ in the Basque Country precisely offers the kind of scenery and roads that will pay tribute to the pioneers of 1903, because their successors, from the beginning of the race, will be plunged into a Pyrenean sequence with many twists in store, on both the Spanish and French sides of the border.

The punchers will tuck into a menu of their favorite flavors on the roads of the Classica San Sebastian (on stage 2), whilst the sprinters will have a free rein in Bayonne (on stage 3) as well as on the Nogaro circuit (on stage 4) and the climbers will already have to get to grips with the slopes on the stages finishing in Laruns (on stage 5) and on the Cambasque plateau near Cauterets (on stage 6). The rare starts of the Tour that take place in southern climes generally give rise to a dense program, but this time the total of 30 climbs rated category 2 and above is chiefly due to the mountainous grand slam to be tackled this year, because each of France’s five mountain ranges will be visited by the pack.

In this collection of more or less demanding climbs, the one attracting most attention is likely to be the ascension of Puy de Dôme (on stage 9) whose roads will once again be open to the riders on the Tour (but not to their fans), 35 years after the last ascent to overlook Clermont-Ferrand. This reunion with the past, which brings back memories of the duel between Anquetil and Poulidor in 1964 or recalls the victory by Fausto Coppi in 1952 on the edition of the first high-altitude finishes, especially promises an initial and extremely tense battle between the pretenders for the title. The last four kilometers of tarmac before the finishing line, with an average gradient of almost 12%, could be the fuse that awakens the dormant volcano.

The leading lights of the pack will be following in mythical footsteps on the Puy de Dôme, but will also be testing each other’s mettle on peaks that are set to play host to the fiercest contests of the future. For example, an emerging legend will have pride of place on Bastille Day, with the battle taking place on the Grand Colombier (on stage 13), where the finishing line will be set up for the second time in the race’s history. Following the summit of the Jura, the big shots will fight for supremacy on the Col de la Loze, just before soaring down to the high-altitude airstrip in Courchevel (on stage 17), to conclude a sequence in the Alps where the strongest riders will simply become untouchable.

The Col de Joux Plane pass and its subsequent descent before Morzine (on stage 14), the climb up to Le Bettex the following day (on stage 15), as well as the Côte de Domancy slope which is on the program for the sole time-trial of this edition (on stage 16), will in effect make and break the hierarchy between the handful of riders concerned by the Yellow Jersey. The temperament observed among the expected favourites on all the roads of the cycling world suggests that they will not miss any opportunity to go head-to-head.

The same will again be true on the penultimate day of the race, where the relief of the stage through the Vosges Mountains to the ski resort of Le Markstein will include 3,500 metres of climbing over a distance of only 133 km, taking in the Col de la Grosse Pierre and the ascensions of the Petit Ballon and the Platzerwasel (on stage 20). The leader designated in Alsace will be honoured the following day on the Champs-Elysées, where the race will close with a sprint festival that will have also visited Bordeaux, Limoges, Moulins and Poligny, allowing prestigious victories to be enjoyed in all the classifications!

Photos: Sprint Cycling Agency

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As fabulously wonderful as the Tour de France is, there’s actually more to its greatness than just the race itself. I remain fascinated about how a three-week race in France can have such a direct effect on SoCal group rides. No different than the annual gathering of swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano each year, so, too, do the local rides heat up every July. Coincidence? I don’t think not.

At least with the Saturday-morning Montrose ride that starts well after the race coverage has begun (and frequently finished), most riders arrive seemingly fueled up after watching the breakaway exploits of Wout van Aert and the explosive climbing of Tadej Pogacar. As we sit in the Trader Joe’s parking lot waiting for the ride to start, “Did you see when…” seems to be the standard precursor to most conversations as one rider after another recounts their favorite on-screen moment. 

And then the time comes to click-in and roll. Thankfully, things remain calm as they normally do for the first mile until we take the left turn onto Huntington Ave. It’s at that point when everyone’s noses point down and the air is filled with the cacophony of downshifts reverberating through all the carbon wheels. In short, it’s on! As early into the 45-mile ride as it is, if the group gets the next few green lights, this is where anyone lacking fitness will immediately get flicked. I’ve lost track how many times I’d be looking up hoping to get a red light only to be forced to maintain speed following the pack through a yellow. Ouch!

“Let’s all be as fast and fit as we can. But, let’s also remember to be friendly and recognize that not every moment on the bike is about beating one another.”

There’s no television coverage or throngs of spectators cheering us on. We’re all just a bunch of two-wheeled local maniacs filled with our own visions of speed and fitness. We’re not in France but inspired thus so by the pro riders participating in La Grand Boucle. There’s an obvious trickle down of their passion, dedication and effort into the minds and legs of so many Johnny nobodies. Vive le Tour!

AND THEN THERE’S THIS GUY
Of course, as much as I celebrate the Tour-inspired mindset, there is also another competitive side that is not so fun. And, knowing SoCal riders being SoCal riders, maybe this once incident had nothing to do with the race. The moment came during a mid-week ride when I was coasting down a shallow descent when some guy in a murdered-out ensemble rode by close enough to make me jump. As he rode by, he didn’t bother to wave, nod or even speak a word. Of course, it’s SoCal. About a mile later, when I attempted to veer into the left-turn lane as he did, my egress was thwarted by a line of cars not turning left. To best maintain my forward progress, I decided to ride around the non-turning cars and poke out near the front of the left-turning traffic—and, as it turned out, a few cars ahead of my friend.

As I made the left on Orange Grove (where the Rose Bowl floats line up each year), there’s a gentle climb that I love powering up. Thanks to my head start, I made it over before he did, but this time when he rode past me, he suddenly found the gumption to speak: “You know, you cut to the front ahead of me.” Really?! Not “Hey, how are you doing?” or “Nice day for a ride” or—gasp!—“That was a cool move you made around the traffic.” 

The moral of the story? Let’s all be as fast and fit as we can. But, let’s also remember to be friendly and recognize that not every moment on the bike is about beating one another. Vive le Tour! 

FLOYD’S GIFT
Unfortunately, after attending the Tour a dozen times over the years, I haven’t chased the race in a few years. But, thankfully, the memories of those July festivities still flourish in my mind—shooting photos dockside in Monaco during the 2009 time trial, all the seedy hotels, arguing with the gendarmes for parking access, standing in a sea of orange insanity in ’99 at Dutch Corner on the Alpe d’Huez, sitting on the Champs for the 100th Tour parade, and so many more. 

One of my best came on July 7th in 2004 when the Lance-led Postal team swept the Cambrai-to-Arras team time trial in dominating fashion. As memorable as the race was, as well as the raucous Mexican food dinner with U.S. journos afterwards, what I most remember was standing outside the U.S. postal team bus when the winning riders returned from the awards ceremony. It was then that Floyd Landis handed me the stuffed lion doll he had just been given. I was touched by the gesture, which I think was based on all the years I spent covering his exploits on the mountain bike circuit back in the ’90s.

When I got home, I realized the stuffed doll was not really my style, so I gifted it to Trek president John Burke after learning that, despite all the winnings that Trek had done in the Tour, the guy who owned the winning bike brand had yet to be a recipient of one of those dolls. I hope that lion is still sitting somewhere on a shelf with a good view of Lake Monona. Vive le Tour!

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With a heatwave building towards a sweltering peak this weekend, Tour de France organizers are ready to pour tens of thousands of gallons of cold water onto a route that risks melting at road temperatures over 140 degrees. Riders suffered in Friday’s heat as the peloton gave up its pursuit of an escape group. The peloton had already been punished by the two days of monster mountain climbs, such as the Alpe D’Huez won by Tom Pidcock.

On Wednesday’s dramatic stage to Col du Granon, two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar, known to dislike heat, wilted and lost his lead in temperatures well over 90 degrees.

“It was horrible, a furnace,” said French climber Thibaut Pinot. His compatriot Romain Bardet said the following day had been worse. “I was trembling and my pulse was racing,” he said.

But with sizzling air temperatures over 100 degrees forecast for the weekend, as the race moves towards the Pyrenees, the situation will be even worse. As a result, special measures are being readied. French road safety organizer Andre Bancala told reporters at the foot of the Alps on Friday that record road temperatures of 140 degrees could be beaten.

“During a heatwave, such as the one we are expecting of over 100 degrees, the road temperature gets much higher than that, around 140 degrees degrees,” Bancala said.

“The absolute record for heat was in 2010 with a road temperature of 140 degrees when Sylvain Chavanel won in the Jura,” he added.

“But this weekend we may even break that, so we are mobilizing between us and the fire brigade, to combat that.

“In certain places, the asphalt is going to start melting, not everywhere of course, but it is going to get much softer. So you can imagine how that might end?

“The solution will be to pour water on it,” he says explaining the Tour has a permanent truck for such demands.

The fire brigade will also be on hand to help execute the maneuvers.

“We will have vehicles with 10,000 liters (2600 gallons) of water taken along the way, the regional departments are going to help us to cool the roads.

“But the logistical nightmare doesn’t end there.

“You have to do it at just the right moment, if you do it too early it just heats up again.

“If you do it too late the peloton rides onto wet surfaces. It has to be around 15 minutes before they get there,” he says.

“Think about it. If the road surface is 140 degrees, and the pedal is only a foot above that, then the rider is subject to exposure to extreme temperatures.”

Much has been made of how Jumbo team riders, including Tour de France leader Jonas Vingegaard, have been wearing cooling jackets ahead of the stages as the heatwave builds up. After Friday’s stage Vingegaard said the heat hadn’t been a problem for him personally.

“Regular cold drinks and ice packs on the back as often as you can during the race to keep the body temperature down, that’s what you do,” said Vingegaard.

Jumbo Visma’s cooling vests in action.

RBA/AFP Photos: Sprint Cycling Agency

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Ted King’s Tour de France debut ended in controversial fashion Tuesday after he missed the time cut-off for the stage four team time trial by seven seconds. King, an American who rides for Cannondale, dislocated his shoulder when he was one of several riders caught up in the crash which marred the opening stage of the race on Saturday.

After battling through two further stages on the French island of Corsica, King saddled up for stage four, fearful of having to adapt his body to the unforgiving position required by his aerodynamic time trial bike. The pain was so excruciating he decided to race with a normal road bike, but he began trailing his teammates early in the 25km race against the clock. King eventually trailed over the finish line in a time of 32min 32sec, just over six minutes behind his team’s effort of 26:30. It was seven seconds behind the cut-off established by officials but despite protests from his team they refused to budge. Cannondale’s press spokesman Paolo Barbieri said: “They didn’t want to listen to our explanation… they did not want to change their minds.”

Bettini Photo

The post THROWBACK THURSDAY, 2013: TED KING’S UNFORTUNATE TOUR DE FRANCE MISS appeared first on Road Bike Action.

Dutch veteran Annemiek van Vleuten produced the perfect ride on Sunday to win the women’s Tour de France with a resounding victory in the eighth and final stage from Lure to La Super Planche des Belles Filles. The 39-year-old Movistar rider, who grabbed the lead with a brilliant solo performance in the mountains on Saturday, bided her time in the peloton before powering up the final climb to seal her triumph. Demi Vollering (SD Worx) finished second to claim second overall with Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon/SRAM) third in the final standings after a fourth place finish on Sunday’s stage.

Van Vleuten, a three-time winner of the Giro d’Italia and time-trial gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, began the 76 mile final stage with a 3:14 lead over Vollering which was never in danger in spite of having a mechanical problem with her bike 35 miles from the finish which required a quick swap with a teammate.

The yellow jersey group reeled in the 11-rider breakaway with just over three miles to go at which point van Vleuten climbed out of her saddle and began powering her way up the final crippling climb.

She crossed the line 30 seconds ahead of compatriot Vollering to give her a 3:48 winning margin over the eight stages. Vollering at least had the consolation of winning the Queen of the Mountains polka dot jersey. Valcar rider Silvia Persico of Italy took third on the stage, crossing the line just ahead of Poland’s Niewiadoma.

TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES 2022 STAGE 8 RESULTS

TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES 2022 STANDINGS

RBA/AFP Photos: Sprint Cycling Agency

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