Sunday, June 12, 2011

IG Markets Nocturne Criterium & Paul Smith!


The event held yesterday down at Smithfield markets yesterday was quite a large event. Going by the organisers website it was record crowd. For me it was the first criterium event I've been to and also first race in London.


What I liked about the event was the relaxed atmosphere and what it means for a country to have it's own UCI Professional team in Team Sky. What I would love to see eventually happen in Australia with GreenEDGE cycling. Also a night time criterium would always be a welcome novelty

The event's day started with support races with Penny Farthing bikes, folding bikes, fixie skids and the womens criterium. The womens criterium was 30 minutes plus 5 minutes of a 1.1km track. Eventual winner Hannah Barnes riding for Motorpoint was all class leading many of the laps before taking out the sprint finish ahead of teammate Lucy Garner and Helen Wyman for the Horizon Fitness team. The three riders stormed away from the peleton and was never caught again



Results:
1. Hannah Barnes         Motorpoint
2. Lucy Garner              Motorpoint
3. Helen Wyman            Horizon Fitness
4. Annie Simpson          Horizon Fitness
5. Amy Roberts             For Vioned Brookvex 
For the Elite Mens Criterium, the course consisted of 60 minutes plus 5 laps. It was a 70 strong field with riders from the UCI Pro teams Garmin Cervelo, HTC Highroad and Team Sky.
HTC Highroad Irish road champion Matt Brammeier
From the outset the pace was frantic and by 15 minutes in, Alex Dowsett from Team Sky had set the pace so high he was lapping the back of the field. He continued this pace and there was nothing that the chase group could do to react. An excellent ride!

My timekeeper friend
Rapha Condor Sharp sporting Paul Smith design


Leigh Howard HTC Highroad

The photos I took during this night haven't turned out as well as I had hoped however flickr user bluetrainatlondon has a great set that he has taken.
With race winner Alex Dowsett

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Nice sunny day in London. Time for a Crit!

Hi avid readers, I am back in London now from where I'm based. It is a rare sunny day and I'm headed to smithfield markets (nearest tube station Farringdon) for the IG Markets criterium.

If you are around London drop by as it is a free event. Cycling stars Cameron Meyer, Matt Wilson, Leigh Howard, Alex Dowsett and Russell Downing will be racing.

Cam Meyer is the Australian time trial champion coming off good form from the Giro and won the Tour Down Under earlier this year. Leigh Howard comes off winning a stage in the Tour of California whilst supporting Milan-San Remo winner and team mate Matt Goss in team HTC Highroad.

Alex Dowsett and Russell Downing represent British stars from UCI professional Team Sky. This event highlights Team Rapha Condor Sharp, Team Raleigh as well as local stars from London cafe Look Mum No Hands - where you can catch good coffee and lots of spring classics & grand tour coverage

Event photos to come shortly from the 10 lap 1.1km criterium. Looks to be a great race in store today

Cheers,
Cyclespokes

http://www.londonnocturne.com/




posted from Bloggeroid

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Grazie Giro, arrivederci

And so ends another great year of the Giro. This has been the toughest yet, we've seen the sad passing of #108 Wouter Wegmann and numerous other riders pull out - Pinotti and Lewis the latest.

#108 Woulter Wegmann's memory still strongly remembered in the peleton


Italian tricoloured finish marking the 150th yr unification of Italy


Thankfully I've learnt my lesson and taken a few photos from my android phone so picture quality is improving until I can upload better resolution snaps.





Yeh... i like the way she holds the trophy too

Alberto has had an amazing race wining by a margin greater than six minutes seeing him overcome all contenders. We saw the rise of a little known hero in Jose Rujano keeping with Contador for most of Mt Etna. The crowds would roar at the mention of his name.







Australian time trial champion Cameron Meyer



"Good time trial. You get a Fanta "
Jose Rujano
Russell Downing being interviewed by cyclingnews
Swiss BMC rider Johann Tschopp
Stage winner David Millar post time trial



Congratulations Alberto on your second Giro win!

Alberto seems to have mastered the champagne celebration look...
very well...
Fingerbang has done it again

After the Giro my next stop is beautiful Lake Como to visit the patron saint of cycling - the Madonna del Ghisallo

Til then, ciao

Greenedge's Matt White



posted from Bloggeroid

Saturday, May 28, 2011

The final countdown



Streets have been warned, pigeons swept aside and the pink carpet rolled out. Bring on the stage 21 time trial in Milan.


The Duomo, finish line for this year's Giro


posted from Bloggeroid

Friday, May 27, 2011

Giro 2011 stage 19

Today's Giro stage starts in the town of Bergamo just east of Milan. I got a chance to see cycling's superstars plus a Team Movistar Pinarello was on hand equipped with Campagnolo's yet to be released electronic groupset. But first a disclaimer. As I'm travelling and relatively new to posting while away, most photos and videos are from my camera retaken on my android phone so I can post to Cyclespokes. [UPDATE: have reuploaded original photos now] Next time I shall be prepared






Early photos from a cyclingnews story mentioned the size of the battery unit on Campag's group but seeing in real life reaffirms that view.

Even the map placeholder is a Pinarello!
Felice Gimondi


Skoda man, always a blast





Jerome Pineau

HTC Highroad Craig Lewis

Marco Pinotti


Michele Scarponi wearing Maglia Rosso Passione
Roman Kreuziger best young rider


Stefano Garzelli Maglia Verde
Jose Rujano


Last year's Giro best young rider Richie Porte




Maglia Rosa Alberto Contador



One final word for those diehard roadies that insist on only gels for nutrition. Spot what Dave Millar packs in his jersey pockets. No it ain't a yellow cucumber.

Ciao!










posted from Bloggeroid