Video: Vaughters says progress being made on race radio debate and Tour of Beijing negotiations
Wants independent commission to carry out a thorough study of contentious subjectDespite the tension that existed earlier this year over the race radio issue plus the proposed boycott of the Tour of Beijing, AIGCP president Jonathan Vaughters has said that progress is being made and that both issues could move forward in the near future. The Garmin-Cervélo CEO spoke to VeloNation this week, talking one day after the UCI’s announcement of details of the Tour of Beijing. That announcement confirmed that the race would go ahead, and that the UCI would partner with Tour de France organisers ASO in running the event. According to Vaughters, if negotiations continue to progress, teams are likely to agree to compete in the Chinese race. “Things are much more positive [than before],” he said in a video interview at the team hotel. “The UCI has proven to want to partner with the teams and [...]
Video: Jelle Vanendert to battle with Samuel Sanchez for Tour de France mountains competition
Belgian says he’s already exceeded his own expectationsTour de France mountains competition leader Jelle Vanendert is preparing himself for the most important three days of his professional career, with a victory in that classification on the cards if things go right for him. He has held the polka dot jersey since his victory atop Plateau de Beille, the Belgian Omega Pharma Lotto rider breaking clear on the long climb to the line. While the race contenders marked each other out of stage contention, he raced onwards and hit the finish well clear. That result plus his second place in Luz Ardiden means that he is now two points clear of Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskadel-Euskadi) and a full 29 ahead of Jérémy Roy (FDJ). There was no change to the standings on today’s stage to Gap, with the points going to other riders on the second category Col de Manse. [...]
Video interview: Philippe Gilbert says Tour de France performance won’t prompt Grand Tour focus
Belgian champion likes winning too much to accept lessDespite a strong, aggressive showing in the Tour de France where he won a stage and wore each of the leader’s jerseys, Philippe Gilbert has said that he is unlikely to ever specifically target a Grand Tour. The Belgian rider was speaking at yesterday’s Omega Pharma Lotto press conference in Valance, and admitted that the attraction of winning races for him was stronger than the urge to land a high placing in a three week event. “I am not somebody who can fight for second, third, fourth or fifth place. I can’t understand this,” he told VeloNation during the rest-day meeting with the media. “For me it is difficult…I cannot give everything for three weeks to get fifth place. “For some riders, it is important because they cannot win the Classics. But for me, I can win the Classics, and I don’t [...]
Dan Martin Video Interview: Seeing one upside to missing the Tour
Says team wants to take him there when he’s capable of challenging for overallAlthough he still describes himself as disappointed to miss the Tour de France, Dan Martin has accepted that there may be advantages to not riding the race until he is stronger and able to go there capable of aiming for a high result. “Obviously the Tour is the Tour…the amount of publicity I have got from not riding it this week says a lot about how the race is. It is the one race that everybody knows, it is the one race that every professional wants to do,” he told VeloNation in a near-eight minute video interview recorded after the end of the Irish national championships on Sunday. “But we’ll get there...the team wants me to progress as well. “I think it was Greg LeMond or Bernard Hinault that Guimard held back from doing the Tour until [...]
Video Interview: Matt Brammeier enjoys double championship win, names upcoming races
HTC Highroad rider pulls off remarkable double successIrish champion Matt Brammeier has a solid programme of upcoming races, with some WorldTour races on his schedule between now and the end of September. The motivated HTC Highroad rider is in strong form, as evidenced by his performances in the Irish championships, and is keen to show what he can do in order to secure a contract for 2012. He’s currently halfway through a one year deal with his current team and with its future being uncertain due to a lack of sponsorship, wants to underline his qualities in the next couple of months and secure a good contract. That could be with his current team if it gets backing, or it could be elsewhere; either way, riding strongly in races is the best tactic. “Next week I do the Tour of Austria, then I have a few weeks at altitude,” he [...]
Video Interview: Irish women’s champion Siobhan Horgan ready for upcoming UCI events
Following two runner-up slots in French Cup races, Tour du Limousin is nextAfter having a limited international race programme during the spring, Irish road race champion Siobhan Horgan (The Edge) is looking forward to a better run of races in the months ahead. The 32 year old took her fifth national championship on Saturday when she outsprinted breakaway companions Lousie Moriarty (Look Mum No Hands) and Thursday’s time trial winner Caroline Ryan (Garda CC).It means she is back in the distinctive white and green jersey after a two year absence, and she’s keen to get some good races in with it on.“I have a dual licence this year. I am rejoining my UCI team, GSD, in July,” she told VeloNation after Saturday’s finish. “Then I am doing a lot of the UCI Tours in France and I will do a few World Cups, and maybe the world road race. We [...]