Bicycle Racing News and Opinion:
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
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Upcoming Racing
This is national championship week. Since some countries hold their championships earlier in the year, I've got the 2015 national championship page already going.
Then, on July 4th, the Tour de France and the Tour of Austria (Osterreich Rundfahrt) begin.
E-Bike Shimmy Solution
Bike Europe had this good news on its website:
WEINSBERG, Germany – Unstable driving behaviour of e-bikes and speed pedelecs caused by the shimmy effect of the handlebar often causes accidents. The TLD inside steering damper can prevent this and ensure a trouble-free ride.
The shimmy effect generally occurs when the frequencies of various components on the e-bike, like the frame, fork and tires overlay in a mutually reinforcing way. This effect usually occurs only in a certain speed range.
Thanks to the higher average speed, this phenomenon happens more frequently when riding an e-bike. Especially with low entry models, but also e-bikes with diamond frame and even some cargo e-bikes. The luggage carrier battery even strengthens shimmying as it acts like a pendulum.
The TLD inside steering damper with an integrated friction damper counteracts the oscillation of the handlebar. Currently the steering damper comes in only one version. This is compatible for Ahead 1 1/8-inch semi integrated headsets (pressfit). The damper is available in the colours: red, black, red/black, black/red, polished/black and polished/red.
TLD inside has been developed by bicycle mechanic Tilo Chlupka from Weinsberg, Germany. Tilo Chlupka runs his own bicycle shop with a workshop. As specialist in the field of suspension and disc brakes he developed this steering damper system.
The shimmy impact is clearly visible in this film:
Malori Italian Time Trial Champion
La Gazzetta dello sport just posted these results (Noon, Pacific time):
Adirano Malori on his championship ride
1. Adriano Malori (Movistar) km 36,2 in 44’13”, media 48’036 km/h;
2. Moreno Moser (Cannondale-Garmin) a 1’01”;
3. Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo) a 1’13”;
4. Marangoni a 1’44”;
5. Senni a 1’45”;
6. Boaro a 1’56”;
7. Antonini a 1’58”;
8. Canola a 2’13”;
9. Dal Santo a 2’29”;
10. Dall’Antonia a 2’57”;
11. Zurlo a 3’01”;
12. Stacchiotti a 3’13”;
13. Sterbini a 3’30”;
14. Scartezzini a 4’33
Lotto-Soudal Announces Tour de France lineup
The team sent this update:
On Saturday 4th July the 102nd Tour de France starts in Utrecht. Lotto Soudal has selected these nine riders: Lars Bak, Thomas De Gendt, Jens Debusschere, Tony Gallopin, André Greipel, Adam Hansen, Greg Henderson, Marcel Sieberg and Tim Wellens. Manager Marc Sergeant explains this choice.
“This choice is based on trust: in what they did for the team in the past, their current condition and the way we want to approach the next Tour. André Greipel remains one of the foundations of the team. Since 2011 he won at least one Tour stage each year, he got a confidence boost the past weeks in several races and with a good team around him we aim for another stage win. It’s true there are less sprint opportunities than previous years, but still this is our biggest chance of a stage win.”
Lars Bak will be part of lotto-Soudals Tour de France effort.
“Greg Henderson, Jens Debusschere and Marcel Sieberg will support André as good as possible to achieve our goal, but the other guys will do their part of the job as well. Just think of the hundreds of kilometres Lars Bak pulled at the front of the peloton last year or the experience and tranquillity of Adam Hansen in an exciting finale. With Greg Henderson we have one of the most experienced lead-outs of the peloton. André won his most important races with Greg. Jens Debusschere can take over the role of Jürgen Roelandts, if necessary he is fast as well and can have a go of his own in the stage over the cobblestones for example. He has grown a lot and is ready for his Tour début. Marcel Sieberg is indispensable in his role, he knows André very well and works together perfectly with the other guys.”
"We want to continue our attractive way of racing of the first part of the season. We got lots of publicity and positive reactions. In each stage that won’t end with a bunch sprint our riders can attack. The fact that we don’t have a GC rider this year gives more freedom to this type of riders. Tony Gallopin, Tim Wellens, Thomas De Gendt and also Adam Hansen and Lars Bak can join a breakaway in stages that suit them. Except for Tim Wellens, for whom it’s the first Tour, they all proved they can win a stage in a Grand Tour. Tim can go the Tour without any pressure, like he raced in the Giro last year.”
Trek Factory Racing Tour de France Team
The Trek pro team announced its Tour de France lineup on Twitter.
The Trek riders scheduled to be lined up at the grand depart on July fourth: Fabian Cancellara, Marko Irizar, Bob Jungels, Laurent Didier, Stijn Devolder, Haimar Zubeldia, Gregory Rast, Bauke Mollema and Julian Arredondo.
Frank Schleck at stage four of the Tour of Switzerland
It was originally thought Frank Shleck would be part of the Trek effort, but a stubborn knee injury that has been plagueing the Luxembourg rider since he hurt it this Spring at Liège-Bastogne-Liège has refused to heal.
Schleck said about the decision: "This is a big disappointment for me, of course, but it had been in the air for a while now," said Schleck, who pulled out of the final stage time trial at the Tour of Switzerland on Sunday because of the knee.
"The pain never really lessened and the only way to let it heal would have been to take complete rest."
Fran Schleck's damaged knee.
BMC roster for national championships
BMC sent this note:
A dozen riders from the BMC Racing Team will compete in their respective countries' national championship races this week.
Here are the dates, countries (events) and riders.
Wednesday:
Italy (time trial): Manuel Senni.
Switzerland (time trial): Silvan Dillier, Danilo Wyss.
Thursday:
Luxembourg (time trial): Jempy Drucker.
Saturday:
Italy (road race): Manuel Senni.
Sunday:
Belgium (road race): Ben Hermans, Dylan Teuns, Greg Van Avermaet, Löic Vliegen.
France (road race): Amaël Moinard.
Germany (road race): Marcus Burghardt, Rick Zabel.
Luxembourg (road race): Jempy Drucker.
Switzerland (road race): Silvan Dillier, Michael Schär, Danilo Wyss.
Rick Zabel will ride the German road championships on Sunday
And here's BMC's Tour de France lineup:
Santa Rosa, California - The BMC Racing Team announced Tuesday the eight riders who will support Tejay van Garderen in this year's Tour de France.
Roster:
Damiano Caruso (ITA), Rohan Dennis (AUS),
Daniel Oss (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA),
Samuel Sánchez (ESP), Michael Schär (SUI),
Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Tejay van Garderen (USA),
Danilo Wyss (SUI).
Tejay van Garderen will be BMC's protected rider at the Tour de France
Bora-Argon 18 announces Tour de France team.
The German squad put out this news:
German professional cycling team Bora-Argon 18 has selected its nine riders with whom the 102nd edition of the Tour de France will be tackled. Four German riders provide the largest contingent of the wildcard team. With the only 22-year-old neopro Emanuel Buchmann, Bora-Argon 18 presents one of the youngest participants of this year's Tour de France. While Sam Bennett will also make his debut at a Grand Tour, the remaining riders of the selection had already 22 appearances at three-week races.
Line-up: Jan Barta (30, CZE), Sam Bennett (24, IRL), Emanuel Buchmann (22, GER), Zakkari Dempster (27, AUS), Bartosz Huzarski (34, POL), Jose Mendes (30, POR), Dominik Nerz (25, GER), Andreas Schillinger (31, GER), Paul Voss (29, GER)
Sam Bennett (shown at the Tour of Bavaria) will be on the start line for the Tour de France.
"We currently see a very high performance level of the entire team. Accordingly, it was a close decision to name the final places in the tour squad. Ultimately, we decided for an experienced team that supports our dual leadership with Sam Bennett and Dominik Nerz at its best. For this year's profile of the Tour de France, we appointed a good balance of classic specialists and climbers", Ralph Denk, Team Manager of Bora-Argon 18, comments the selection.
"We have proven in the past three years, what we are capable of at Grand Tours thanks to a perfect team performance and very high motivation: attacks until the last kilometer, podiums, stage wins and top placings in the GC. This year, we want to use the biggest event in our sport again to convince with results – at best, of course, with a stage win", Denk provides the objectives of BORA – ARGON 18.
Two replacement riders who can be appointed until July 1st in case of an injured teammate complete the nine-member squad.
- Reserve: Patrick Konrad (23, AUT), Cesare Benedetti (27, ITA)
- Team Manager: Ralph Denk (41, GER)
- Sport Directors: Enrico Poitschke (45, GER), Christian Pömer (37, AUT)
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