Seven kidnapped Estonians on a bicycle tour gone seriously wrong are free after French diplomats negotiated their release in Lebanon.
The men, in their 30s and 40s, were kidnapped at gunpoint after crossing over the border from Syria on their bicycle tour on March 23.
The May 20 video at left is one of two posted on YouTube.com.
The seven arrived at the French embassy in Beirut on Thursday. There was no immediate word whether a ransom was paid or other conditions of their release.
The French volunteered to help in the case …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/14/kidnapped-bicycle-travelers-released-to-french-authorities/
A series of attacks and counter-attacks behind the winning ride of Spain's Sammy Sanchez, left, changed the complexion of the Tour de France as it entered the Pyrenees on Thursday.
We may finally have caught a glimpse of the leading cyclists in the race after the mountain-top finish on Stage 12, a 211km (130-mile) bike race from Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden that went over the Tourmalet for the 76th time in Tour de France history.
Meanwhile, France's Thomas Voeckler showed us he has the heart to hold onto the yellow jersey on Bastille Day. He put in a similar performance the last time he held the yellow in 2004 ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/14/tour-favorites-reshuffled-in-first-mountain-stage-but-frenchman-retains-yellow/
Sammy Sanchez for Eukaltel Euskadi wins Stage 12 at Tour de France.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/14/sammy-sanchez/
Some would say that the Tour de France doesn't start until the peloton hits the mountains.
Well, that would be today, Stage 12, when the 177 remaining cyclists enter the Pyrenees.
They'll be greeted by one Category 1 and two above-category ascents, one a mountain-top finish on the 211km (130-mile) route from Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden: La Hourquette d’Ancizan — Category 1; Col du Tourmalet — hors catégorie; and Luz-Ardiden — hors catégorie. ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/14/first-tour-de-france-mountain-stage-steeped-in-history-streetview-of-final-climb/
Tour de France profile
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/14/stage-12-2011-tour-de-france/
Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel went at it again in the final sprint in Stage 11 of the Tour de France on Wednesday, but this time Cavendish's lead-out companions were with him to clear the way to victory.
The “Manx Missile's” 18th career stage win at the Tour de France (his third this year) followed a narrow defeat in Stage 10 at the hands of former teammate and rival Greipel (Omega Pharma).
After the race, Cavendish said he had “redeemed” himself.
Meanwhile, France's Thomas Voeckler …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/13/former-teammates-now-rivals-face-off-in-sprint-sequel/
Mark Cavendish met his match on Tuesday when he was overtaken by former teammate Andre Greipel by less than a wheel length at the end of Stage 10 of the Tour de France.
The sprint followed a lumpy 99-mile stage from Aurillac to Carmaux that saw the sprinters struggle to stay with the peloton as Phillippe Gilbert set a torrid pace in the closing kilometers.
France's Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) survived easily in the yellow jersey …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/12/former-teammate-settles-score-at-tour-de-france/
Andre Greipel wins for Omega Pharma
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/12/andre-greipel-3/
Three friends whose bicycle tour around the U.S. ended 25 years ago in a life-threatening crash will return to the road this month to complete their 8,141-mile journey.
The western New York trio plan to resume their bike tour from the scene of the crash in Seguin, Texas, on July 29 and finish the final 2,500 miles to Buffalo, N.Y., by the end of August.
It reminds me of Dutch bicyclist Frank van Dijk who returned to the U.S. last fall to complete his TransAmerica bicycle tour 34 years after it was interrupted by a collision with a car in Eureka, Kansas.
Having a bicycle-trip-of-a-lifetime cut short by a car crash must leave people with a severe sense of unfinished business ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/11/long-distance-bicycle-tour-resumes-after-25-year-interruption/
Update: Frenchman Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), left, earned the yellow jersey of the Tour de France on Sunday after surviving in a long breakaway that itself was not immune from a series of crashes that injured cyclists, causing at least five to abandon the race.
The Stage 9 victory went to Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank), another member of the 3-man breakaway.
That break comprised 5 cyclists — Voeckler, Sanchez, Sandy Casar (FDJ), Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoliel) — when the most bizarre crash of the race occurred …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/10/lead-changes-at-tour-de-france-as-crash-carnage-continueszabriskie-vinokourov-van-den-broeck-among-victims/
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