If he can hang in on the hills, there’s no stopping Pete Sagan, especially when the finish is downhill into a flat sprint. The World Champion rode that last two miles of the 2016 tours longest stage (133.6 miles) like a boss and after letting Nathan Haas make the first jump, Sagan blazed around to take his 15th Amgen Tour of California stage win and his second of 2016.
“It was hard, but good,” said Sagan, when asked about today’s stage. “I’m very happy for my other teammates, and I’m very happy to have won.”
For the official word from the Amgen Tour of California, please follow the jump.
Watching Bikes vs. Cars has given us a much better understanding of the reasons for the drama we all face every single day as we try to do something as simple as riding our bikes. One of the best cycling documentaries every made, Bikes vs. Cars is now available on Netflix. Search for it, watch it, and then share it with everyone you know.
It used to be that serious dives into Strava data were reserved for off-the-bike time when you could plow through the numbers and see exactly how you did against all your nemeses. Now, Strava has changed all that with Live Segments for Android and iOS. With Live Segments all the performance details of a segment are delivered while you’re on the bike and riding the segment.
How does it work? First off you need to be a Strava premium member ($59 per year). Then you need to go in and “star” all your favorite segments on the web or your phone. After the segments are starred then each time you ride one, Strava will give you the KOM and the fastest ride of the people you follow and compare your ride to theirs in real time showing you exactly where you are. Strava will count in the number of feet to the start of the segment and then count you out to the end of the segment (so you can kill yourself just like in a spring for the line).
This works on the phone fine, but if you don’t what your phone out on your bars (and really, who does) then the best option is a Garmin Edge 520. With the Edge 520 paired with your smartphone via Bluetooth, all the counting down, counting out, and live segment results will show up right on your Garmin display, making every single training ride a do or die race to the line. And, if you don’t like the results, you can immediately turn around and hit it again.
It really looked like Trek – Segafredo’s Peter Stetina was on his way to his first pro tour win (really?) until stage 3’s last kilometer in the Amgen Tour of California when Etixx-Quickstep’s Julian Alaphilippe (the guy who lost the GC tour in 2015 to Peter Sagan by three seconds) turned on the afterburners and blasted to the line for the win.
“Today was really hard, everyone waiting the last climb for the big fight, so I was a little bit nervous we arrived here [at the final climb]”, said Alaphilippe. “I wanted to wait until the last moment because I don’t know my condition after the break, so I’m really, really happy to win today.”
It’s all on the video. Follow the jump for stage and GC results.
Wonder if Nor Cal’s Evan Huffman is done thinking about how he could have done the Amgen Tour of California stage 2 sprint differently? After staying off the front in a break for the back half of the 92 mile race, it was down to Huffman and Cannondale Pro Cycling’s Ben King. At 200 meters (with the peloton breathing down the necks) Huffman went first and hit it like a mad man. King was able to hang on and blast around Huffman five meters from the line to take the stage.
“I knew Evan was a pretty quick sprinter. He smoked me in both of the King of the Mountain sprints, so I was hesitant to let it come down to a sprint,” said King. “I couldn’t drop him on the climb, so in the end we both fully committed to make the breakaway stick to the finish, and in the end, Evan let out the sprint, and I was able to come around him in the finish.”
For the official word from the Amgen Tour of California, please follow the jump.
Pivot Cyclse has just released the details on the latest version of their hardtail XC race machine the LES and it looks delicious. Follow the jump for all the technical details.
Heard about the Belgian Waffle Ride and wondered what it is all about? Wonder no longer. Just click play and watch the pain roll right out. You’ll be left dumbfounded and drooling, much like the warriors who complete this 135+ mile ride each year.
Most of all you’ll understand exactly why the Belgian Waffle Ride has become the most unique cycling event in North America. If you’re inspired by this, and how could you not be, there are still four spots for the April 24, 2016 event. Click here to register.
If you’ve ever wondered why some frames are just magical, a new documentary by Canadian documentarian Tony Girardin will help explain it all. Marinoni: The Fire In The Frame is a bio doc on cycling icon Giuseppe Marinoni — his life, his life work, and his quest to break the 70+ hour record.
MARINONI: The Fire in the Frame is a fascinating look at a craftsman who still works in the traditional and time honored trade of frame builder, but more importantly, it’s a story of passion and perseverance which confirms that every person’s reach can exceed their grasp, no matter their age. . . The film also reveals the man-of-steel’s sensitive side when he reunites with one of Canada’s greatest cyclist, Jocelyn Lovell, whose career ended when he was hit by a truck and paralyzed during a training ride. Marinoni built Lovell’s Commonwealth Games record-setting track bike, and now that Lovell has returned it to him as a show of gratitude, decided that he would use this bike in his world record attempt.
Not to give anything away, but anyone who likes bikes will love this film and more importantly Marinoni himself. Marinoni: The Fire In The Frame opens today (April 1, 2016) in New York City and will show in Los Angeles on April 15, 2016. For more info, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
. . . have been greatly exaggerated. . . by SRAM. We will continue working out our left thumbs for just a little while longer. But we’re crusty that way. We’re still not fans of rear suspension.
