Category: Racing

Doping bans and probes continue; Ullrich and Longo

Last Friday's news about Lance Armstrong seems to have injected more interest in news about cleaning up the doping mess in cycling.

It's evidence that the UCI and World Anti-Doping Agency are continuing to search for cyclists guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs and won't let past offenses go unpunished.

Here's a quick run-down of some recent developments from the past week, in reverse order:

Thursday — The Court for Arbitration of Sport found former German cyclist Jan Ullrich guilty of blood doping. All his results from May 1, 2005, until his retirement have been annulled.

The winner of the 1997 Tour de France and longtime Armstrong rival …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/09/doping-bans-and-probes-continue-ullrich-and-longo/

Alberto Contador banned in doping case; loses 2010 TdF and Giro titles

Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador has been stripped of his 2010 Tour de France and Giro d'Italia titles and banned from competing in any races until August.

The Switzerland-based Court for Arbitration of Sport handed down the two-year ban against Contador for doping with clenbuterol during 2010.

The court didn't believe Contador's claim that, during the latter stages of the 2010 …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2012/02/06/alberto-contador-banned-in-doping-case-loses-2010-tdf-and-giro-titles/

Mt. Washington bike race suits the masochist in us

If you revel in cycling challenges and you keep a bucket list, then the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hill Climb is a perfect candidate for it.

The 7.6-mile scramble to the summit of the New Hampshire peak has an average gradient of 12% with sections of 18%. The last 50 yards, where it really counts, maxes out at 22%.

Viewing the unnatural upward tilt of some bicycles in this video makes my thighs burn, but I can understand some cyclists' desire to return here year after year. …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/12/20/mt-washington-bike-race-suits-the-masochist-in-us/

Big coup for Coup de Cascades – RAAM qualifier in 2012

Ultra marathon bicyclists will be marking next year's calendars for the Redmond-based Coup de Cascades on Aug. 14-15 after the Race Across America chose it as a qualifier this week.

Since the 2012 RAAM starts in Huntington Beach, Calif., on June 13, the Coup de Cascades will be one of the qualifying events for the 2013 RAAM.

The 425-mile loop around the Cascades launched in 2011 as a polio fund-raiser for the Redmond Rousers Rotary. The weekend event also featured a century and half-century ride for those …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/11/18/big-coup-for-coup-de-cascades-raam-qualifier-in-2012/

Around-the-world bicycle race rolls out of London next year

Any argument over which is the “most epic” bicycle race should end in February 2012.

That's when about 20 cyclists will roll out of London on the 18,000-mile Global Bicycle Race.

They're aiming to beat the time of Englishman Vin Cox, left, who set the current Guinness World Record of 163 days, 6 hours and 58 minutes in 2010.

Cox is organizing this around-the-world bicycle race, set to start on Feb. 18. That date was picked so the winner and new record-holder will be showing up in London just as the 2012 Summer Olympics gets underway.

I don't use the term epic lightly, but this bicycle race certainly qualifies. …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/14/around-the-world-bicycle-race-rolls-out-of-london-next-year/

Mountain bike racer survives the unexpected

This is probably the last thing this guy expected to happen when he zipped up his jersey and snapped on his helmet for a mountain bike race in South Africa recently.

According to Wikipedia, there are 130,000 Red Hartebeests living in southern Africa. Evan van der Spuy of Team Jeep South Africa met one of them.

Travis Walker caught the collision while filming the action at the …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/11/mountain-bike-racer-survives-the-unexpected/

Cycling dates for six pro cycling races in the US in 2012

Cycling fans in the US will have a six-pack of UCI classified road race events in this country next year as cycling's governing body recently set its 2012 America's Tour calendar.

In all, there are 26 bicycle races on the calendar for North and South America.

It's good to see the Tour of Utah and USA Pro Cycling Challenge, both won by Levi Leipheimer, back on the calendar in 2012. …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/06/cycling-dates-for-six-pro-cycling-races-in-the-us-in-2012/

Cyclists compete for bragging rights on Mount Diablo

There's an easy (well, maybe not so easy) way to decide who is the best climber among San Francisco Bay Area bicyclists — take the Mount Diablo Challenge.

More than 600 cyclists completed the 30th anniversary of the event on Sunday, some in all seriousness and others for the pure joy of climbing 3,249 feet in 11.2 miles.

The fastest cyclist to the top of the peak that dominates the Bay Area skyline in  Danville was Nathaniel English …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/10/03/cyclists-compete-for-bragging-rights-on-mount-diablo/

“Manx Missile” Mark Cavendish wins Worlds bicycle championship

The winningest pro cyclist in recent years is adding the rainbow jersey to his wardrobe of green, yellow, red and pink jerseys.

Great Britain's Mark Cavendish won the sprint finish in the world road race championship on Sunday in Rudersdahl, Denmark.

That means he'll wear the rainbow strips of the UCI world champion throughout the 2012 season. Australia's Matt Goss finished second with  Andre Greipel (Germany) in third.

This being the world championships, the 200-some cyclists represented their countries …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/09/25/manx-missile-mark-cavendish-wins-worlds-bicycle-championship/

RadioShack-Nissan-Trek Professional Cycling Team introduced

The Labor Day merger of RadioShack and Leopard-Trek may already be vying for a title — longest team name in professional cycling.

Here are some details about RadioShack-Nissan-Trek Professional Cycling Team gleaned from press releases and wire services:

Personnel — Announced so far are The Brothers Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, Chris Horner …

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/09/06/radioshack-nissan-trek-professional-cycling-team-introduced/