Video: Sean Kelly assess Boonen’s Classics chances and names Evans as Tour favourite
Cycling expert and former world number one believes Australian could repeatCycling legend Sean Kelly has said that Tom Boonen’s return to form has been impressive, but believes it’s still too soon to be able to say if the Belgian will be in top shape for the Classics. The Irishman won most of the major Classics during his long career as well as a host of other races, Vuelta a España included. He was very strong tactically while competing, and is regarded as one of the most astute race analysts on TV. The Eurosport cycling commentator advises caution for anyone making predictions or assumptions on the basis of Boonen’s four victories this year. “He trained very hard over the winter time and put in a lot of work,” the Irishman told VeloNation in a video interview filmed at last weeks An Post Sean Kelly team launch. “At the moment is he [...]
Video: Sean Kelly surprised by tough CAS sanction for Alberto Contador
Wonders if there is more to case than meets the eyeEurosport analyst and former world number one Sean Kelly has expressed surprise at the Alberto Contador verdict, saying that the penalty handed down to him by the Court of Arbitration for Sport is far in excess of what he was expecting. The Spaniard was given a two year ban last Monday, backdated in part, as a result of his positive test for Clenbuterol in the 2010 Tour de France. He also had his win in that race plus each of his results since then taken away from him, including the 2011 Giro d’Itala trophy. “I was surprised that he was given a two year ban,” Kelly told VeloNation yesterday at the An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team launch in Tielt, Belgium. “I have always said six months, maybe a year maximum, when you considered the evidence that we had [...]
Video: Phinney targeting pink jersey in first Giro d’Italia
American rider looking forward to make racing debut in ItalyPrologue winner in the 2011 Eneco Tour and runner up in the same test in the Tour de Romandie, talented 21 year old American rider Taylor Phinney has a big ambition in mind for the new season: grabbing the race lead in the Giro in May. “I am really excited to go for the pink jersey on the first day of the Giro d’Italia,” he said in a video interview. “I think it is an 8.7 kilometre time trial to start it off in Denmark – it is flat with a bunch of turns, so it is my thing. To be able to go for the pink jersey in a race that is my speciality is really going to be a huge goal for me. Then to make it to the final time trial is the second goal…I really want that [...]
Video Interview: Sam Bennett determined to have a strong season with An Post Sean Kelly
Rider could be next young Irishman to make pro breakthrough Former European points race champion Sam Bennett is heading into his second season with the An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team and believes he could be on course for a very strong year. “Things are really good. I am really happy with my pre-season…I’ve never got such a clear run,” the 21 year old told VeloNation in a video interview conducted at the recent launch of the An Post Rás in Dublin. “I have done a lot and I feel like my condition is really good. I think it should be a totally different year for me, hopefully a good one.” Bennett comes from the same town, Carrick on Suir, as former world number one Sean Kelly and showed his potential when he took that junior points race title in 2008. He turned senior the following year and despite [...]
Video: BMC Racing Team carries out time trial training in Spain
Riders evaluated over course of dayWith the BMC Racing Team currently participating at a team camp in Denia, management have been working with the riders on several different areas. One of those has been to perfect time trial technique and in order to boost performance in this area, a full day was given to the discipline earlier this week. Riders were divided into groups and did two hard tests. They firstly did a two kilometre prologue effort, and then later did a ten kilometre time trial. According to BMC Racing Team Director Sportif John Lelangue, the idea was to examine how they functioned over the course of the day, including in the tests themselves, but also in the preparation and recovery from the efforts. “Obviously there was no crowd, no number, but it felt like a race,” said Steve Cummings, who has moved to the team from Sky Procycling. “I [...]
Video: BMC Racing Team honing pre-season form in Spain
Evans, Hushovd, Gilbert and Van Garderen together in American ProTeamSoaking up the sun and mild January conditions in Denia, the BMC Racing Team is currently clocking up vital pre-season mileage at its Spanish training camp in advance of what it expects will be a superb 2012 season. The squad already features names such as defending Tour de France champion Cadel Evans and promising US talent Taylor Phinney, but has now signed up several more big guns including the 2011 WorldTour champion Philippe Gilbert, the 2010 world road race champion Thor Hushovd and young American GC hope Tejay Van Garderen. Also coming on board are the multiple Italian national time trial champion Marco Pinotti plus the 2010 Circuit Franco Belge winner Adam Blythe, a good future prospect. Those riders have been at the training camp since last Sunday week, working hard, dealing with the media and also handling sponsorship obligations. The [...]