Rujano could still push for podium place in Giro d’Italia
Savio talks about rider’s new equilibrium in video interviewSixth overall and a stage winner heading into the final phase of the Giro d’Italia, Jose Rujano will start today’s mountain time trial knowing that he is once again riding at a very high standard in cycling. Six years ago he stunned the sport when he took a stage victory at Sestrière, won both the King of the Mountains and Combativity competitions and finished third overall. Much was expected from the-then 23 year old but several quiet years followed. He showed first signs of a return to form last year when he won the Tour de Langkawi with an impressive solo victory on Genting Highlands, but when his-then ISD team missed out on a Giro invite that comeback stalled. He’s shown more progression this year, and in signing for Gianni Savio’s Androni Giocattoli squad, he knew that he would be heading back [...]
Video: ‘No doping’ initiative at Giro d’Italia
50,000 water bottles handed out at start of stagesA glance over the results list of the last decade or so of the Giro d’Italia has unfortunately included a high proportion of riders who have been implicated in doping practices. The race has had more than its fair share of problems, and while cycling is much loved in Italy and the tifosi remain passionate about the sport, its clear that continuous pressure needs to be applied to effect a change in culture. The current doping investigation into the Lampre-ISD team and others is a further sign that much work needs to be done. The UCI’s biological passport has improved the situation and the general perception is that the sport is cleaner than before, but the battle is an ongoing one. As part of this, the Giro d’Italia features an anti-doping initiative backed by sportgoverno.it, RAI and Radiouno. Entitled ‘Niente doping solo [...]
Mark Cavendish Video: Sing When You're Winning
HTC Highroad leader on song before stage startStage 12 of the Giro d’Italia worked out perfectly for Mark Cavendish, who clocked up his second win of this year’s race prior to heading home and beginning his preparations for the Tour de France. Cavendish predicted before the start that it would be a bunch gallop and so it proved. This was mainly due to the work of his HTC Highroad team, which dragged the peloton along for many kilometres, reeled in the day’s break, and then gave him a perfect lead-out to the line in Ravenna. The sprinter wasn’t feeling the pressure this morning, despite his focus on grabbing win number two. He signed autographs with fans and, as the video below shows, even accepted Italian television’s request to sing a tune prior to heading off. We’ll leave it up to you to decide whether he’s got a career ahead in [...]
Video: Cavendish aiming for sprint victory on his final stage of 2011 Giro d’Italia
HTC Highroad rider says no more opportunities after today Mark Cavendish knew at this morning’s start in Castelfidardo that he had an important day ahead of him; bunch sprint opportunities have been scarce in this Giro, and he has his final chance to take a stage victory in the race today. Despite the weight of expectation, he was in a relatively relaxed mood. He signed autographs for fans, posed for photographs and even sang a few bars of a song at the request of Italian TV in the sign on area. Afterwards, Cavendish spoke to VeloNation about the chances for a big gallop. “We hope so,” he said, when asked if a bunch finish was a certainty. “It is probably going to be down to our team to control it, nobody really wants to help until the last few kilometres. We will try our best…hopefully a good group goes that [...]
Video: Cavendish aiming for sprint victory on his final stage of 2011 Giro d’Italia
HTC Highroad rider says no more opportunities after today Mark Cavendish knew at this morning’s start in Castelfidardo that he had an important day ahead of him; bunch sprint opportunities have been scarce in this Giro, and he has his final chance to take a stage victory in the race today. Despite the weight of expectation, he was in a relatively relaxed mood. He signed autographs for fans, posed for photographs and even sang a few bars of a song at the request of Italian TV in the sign on area. Afterwards, Cavendish spoke to VeloNation about the chances for a big gallop. “We hope so,” he said, when asked if a bunch finish was a certainty. “It is probably going to be down to our team to control it, nobody really wants to help until the last few kilometres. We will try our best…hopefully a good group goes that [...]
Mark Cavendish Video: Sing When You're Winning
HTC Highroad leader on song before stage startStage 12 of the Giro d’Italia worked out perfectly for Mark Cavendish, who clocked up his second win of this year’s race prior to heading home and beginning his preparations for the Tour de France. Cavendish predicted before the start that it would be a bunch gallop and so it proved. This was mainly due to the work of his HTC Highroad team, which dragged the peloton along for many kilometres, reeled in the day’s break, and then gave him a perfect lead-out to the line in Ravenna. The sprinter wasn’t feeling the pressure this morning, despite his focus on grabbing win number two. He signed autographs with fans and, as the video below shows, even accepted Italian television’s request to sing a tune prior to heading off. We’ll leave it up to you to decide whether he’s got a career ahead in [...]