Videos

German was victorious on same course in Critérium du DauphinéHis hopes of a high overall placing didn’t translate into results during this year’s Tour de France, but Tony Martin believes he has a chance to end his race on a high in today’s final time trial. Last month the HTC Highroad rider won a race held on the same course in the Critérium du Dauphiné, beating Britain’s Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling) by eleven seconds and Edvald Boasson Hagen by 43. He will be up against more big name riders today, but is psyched for a strong ride. “I am really motivated for the time trial and feel I can do a good race,” he told VeloNation yesterday. He will have an advantage over many of the other riders, having chosen the Dauphiné rather than the Tour de Suisse and thus covering the course in competition. “It is not too bad,” [...]

Doesn’t think Voeckler will finish on final podium, says Contador is back in formCharismatic Leopard Trek rider Jens Voigt was in a chatty mood as usual at this morning’s start, and said that the team was set for an important day in the saddle. “The mood is good…everybody knows about the importance of today and everyone is ready to go all in,” he told VeloNation. “We will see what the day will bring.” Voigt is working for two leaders, namely Frank and Andy Schleck, and the team has tried to play its tactics to ensure that both remain in contention at this point. Frank Schleck started today’s stage third overall, one minute 22 seconds back, while his younger brother Andy was one place and one minute 14 seconds further behind. Asked by VeloNation if he envisaged that some riders might attack before the final climb up to the Col du [...]

Belgian says Schlecks and Contador simply must make their move todayEddy Merckx has said that he doesn’t know if Thomas Voeckler can win this Tour, but he is clear on what his performance has meant over the past two and a half weeks. “He was very impressive in this Tour de France,” he told VeloNation at today’s start in Pinerolo. “Also in the Pyrenees he did well. We will see today – today has much higher climbs, the altitude is higher. He is the revelation of the Tour de France.” The Frenchman has stirred up national interest on the basis of how he performed in this race. Previously seen as an attacking rider who would put it together on selected days, he has shown a consistency that not even he expected. As a result, he continues to lead the race with just three crucial stages remaining. Merckx is believes that [...]

His challenge was derailed by the crash which saw himself and Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky Procycling) left wounded after an incident involving a badly-driven car, but Johnny Hoogerland has vowed to return to the Tour de France in future years and take the King of the Mountains classification. The Vacansoleil rider led the competition this year but his grip on the jersey was loosened after his heavy crash on stage nine to Saint Flour. He ended that day with a six point lead over Thomas Voeckler and a 17 point advantage on Tejay Van Garderen (HTC Highroad); the jersey slipped away from him on stage 12 to Luz Ardiden. “I felt very good, actually, better than I ever felt,” the Dutchman told VeloNation in a video interview this week. “Then I had the big crash which changed everything…from my goal of having the polka dot jersey in Paris, it is [...]