Giro d'Italia

A difficult Giro d’Italia could be ideal for Quintana

 May 9, 2014   John Welsh

, ,

A 21km team time trial which starts and finishes in Belfast on Friday seems a strange way to begin the 97th edition of the Giro d’Italia cycle race. However, in keeping with recent developments in its sister race the Tour de France, beginning the race in a different country is becoming a popular trait. Staging […]

Read more
Tour de Romandie

Froome retains Tour de Romandie title but questions still remain

 May 5, 2014   John Welsh

, , ,

Prior to the staging of this year’s event, the previous three winners of the Tour de Romandie in Switzerland had also claimed victory in the Tour de France just two months later. When Chris Froome won the time trial in Neuchatel on the final stage of the 2014 renewal, he not only retained the title […]

Read more
 
Rodriguez

Rodriguez thwarts a select group of riders to capture Volta a Catalunya title

 March 31, 2014   John Welsh

, ,

In one of the more prominent clashes of the leading professionals in stage race cycling for 2014, Joaquim Rodriquez regained the Volta a Catalunya title which he previously won in 2010 and in doing so defeated Alberto Contador and reigning Tour de France champion Chris Froome over the seven day event. It was by no […]

Read more
Alberto Contador

Contador shows glimpses of his old climbing prowess in Tirreno Adriatico

 March 22, 2014   John Welsh

, ,

aAs many athletes will testify, a successful spell of pre-season training often provides a useful background for serious competition in the ensuing months ahead. Various sporting disciplines share this concept and professional cycling is no exception with the outcome of the European spring road events usually offering a guide as to which riders are beginning […]

Read more
 
Paris-Nice

Betancur displays his 2014 Tour credentials with impressive Paris-Nice victory

 March 18, 2014   John Welsh

,

It may still be the early stages of the 2014 European cycling racing calendar but the March Paris-Nice event usually provides a good indication of riders in decent form and those for whom further training is a necessity. Alberto Contador and Bradley Wiggins won the race in 2010 and 2012 respectively before securing the Tour […]

Read more
Lance Armstrong

Latest Armstrong allegations extend the doping generation blame culture

 November 20, 2013   John Welsh

,

Doping and drug taking in sporting events has been a controversial issue for many decades, but it appears to be a never ending saga in the professional cycling world. The latest revelation by Lance Armstrong that the authorities were responsible for allowing him to be cleared when allegedly failing a drugs test in 1999 is […]

Read more
 
costa-cycling

Costa displays greater strength to clinch World Cycling title

 September 30, 2013   John Welsh

Portugal’s Rui Costa proved his reputation for strength and durability when winning the Cycling Road Racing World Championship in Florence and the surrounding Tuscan hills, in a race which featured several punishing climbs during predominantly adverse weather conditions. Several of the favourites withdrew in a battle of attrition on treacherous roads over a distance of […]

Read more
Chris Horner 2013 Tour of Spain

Fresh legs help Chris Horner claim Vuelta prize

 September 16, 2013   John Welsh

,

Just a month short of 42nd birthday, American Chris Horner defied his age to win the Vuelta a Espana by 37 seconds from Italian Vincenzo Nibali. Over a demanding course featuring a considerable number of summit finishes, Horner perhaps proved that fresh legs at this stage of the professional cycling season matter more than reputations. […]

Read more