ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)—Lance Armstrong is returning to the Tour of the Gila.
The seven-time Tour de France champion competed in the New Mexico event last year and has decided to return for next week’s five-day race, held in the Silver City area.
“Not only do the state and the local fans embrace this race, but the terrain, competition, and timing is perfect,” Armstrong said in a statement released by bicycle components manufacturer Sram Corp., the event’s title sponsor.
“We are looking forward to taking the start in Silver City. It’s a great event,” he said.
Armstrong will be joined by his friend and teammate, Levi Leipheimer, who claimed two stage victories in winning last year’s Tour of the Gila overall title. Armstrong finished second.
“The second time around is even better,” race director Jack Brennan said Wednesday. “They saw the race. They experienced it and they wanted to come back. They had a good experience last year. They found the race to be of value in their preparation for the Tour of California and the Tour de France.”
Jason McCartney, another member of Armstrong’s Team RadioShack, will join them.
However, the three Team RadioShack cyclists will compete independently of their squad because of a rule barring ProTour teams from national level events. Like last year, Armstrong will wear the kit of the Mellow Johnny’s bike shop in Austin, Texas.
Chris Horner raced with Armstrong and Leipheimer in 2009, when all three were members of the Astana team.
Armstrong wasn’t expected to come back to New Mexico, but he’ll be on the start line Wednesday. The race, which covers 339 miles and features 25,231 feet of climbing, runs through May 2.
Last year, the Tour of the Gila fit into Armstrong’s comeback schedule as he recovered from a broken collarbone. While it helped him prepare for the Giro d’Italia, team general manager Johan Bruyneel indicated then that Armstrong and Leipheimer normally wouldn’t have attended the Gila.
Armstrong changed his mind, encouraged not only by Silver City’s support of the race but because the Gila competition will again feature his developmental squad. The Trek-Livestrong team is led by young talent Taylor Phinney.
Showing posts with label Team RadioShack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Team RadioShack. Show all posts
Armstrong Sick as a Dog?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 1 comments
ANGERS, France (AP)—Lance Armstrong has pulled out of the Circuit de la Sarthe race in western France before the second day because of an illness.
The seven-time Tour de France champion, who was looking forward to Wednesday’s time trial, was suffering from diarrhea, vomiting and a fever, Team RadioShack spokesman Philippe Maertens said.
“It’s really bad, believe me,” Maertens said by phone.
The team released a statement Wednesday saying Armstrong had come down with a “viral intestinal infection” after the first stage Tuesday.
“He will return to the US as soon as his condition allows,” the statement said.
Overnight, Armstrong wrote on his Twitter page: “Sicker than a dog now. This sucks.”
The American, who was riding in the four-day race as part of his preparation for the Tour de France in July, had previously tweeted that several of his eight teammates who rode in Sunday’s Tour of Flanders had caught “a stomach bug.”
The race was Armstrong’s first competition in mainland France this year and he was 29th overall after the first stage on Tuesday, won by Spain’s Luis Leon Sanchez.
“Lance was really keen on performing well, especially in the time trial of Wednesday afternoon,” said Team RadioShack sporting director Alain Gallopin in the statement. He said Armstrong showed improvement at the Tour of Flanders.
Team RadioShack announced Tuesday that Armstrong would not compete as previously planned in the Amstel Gold race on April 18, and he will return to the United States after the Sarthe race.
Maertens said Armstrong wanted to spend time with his family and felt fit enough to prepare at home. He plans to ride in the Tour of California in May before returning to Europe for the Dauphine Libere or the Tour of Switzerland in June.
The seven-time Tour de France champion, who was looking forward to Wednesday’s time trial, was suffering from diarrhea, vomiting and a fever, Team RadioShack spokesman Philippe Maertens said.
“It’s really bad, believe me,” Maertens said by phone.
The team released a statement Wednesday saying Armstrong had come down with a “viral intestinal infection” after the first stage Tuesday.
“He will return to the US as soon as his condition allows,” the statement said.
Overnight, Armstrong wrote on his Twitter page: “Sicker than a dog now. This sucks.”
The American, who was riding in the four-day race as part of his preparation for the Tour de France in July, had previously tweeted that several of his eight teammates who rode in Sunday’s Tour of Flanders had caught “a stomach bug.”
The race was Armstrong’s first competition in mainland France this year and he was 29th overall after the first stage on Tuesday, won by Spain’s Luis Leon Sanchez.
“Lance was really keen on performing well, especially in the time trial of Wednesday afternoon,” said Team RadioShack sporting director Alain Gallopin in the statement. He said Armstrong showed improvement at the Tour of Flanders.
Team RadioShack announced Tuesday that Armstrong would not compete as previously planned in the Amstel Gold race on April 18, and he will return to the United States after the Sarthe race.
Maertens said Armstrong wanted to spend time with his family and felt fit enough to prepare at home. He plans to ride in the Tour of California in May before returning to Europe for the Dauphine Libere or the Tour of Switzerland in June.
Bruyneel set to lead RadioShack in Tour de France
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 0 comments
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP)—Johan Bruyneel has a new team but an old feeling as he gets ready to go for a 10th Tour de France title this year.
Bruyneel helped lead Lance Armstrong to seven straight Tour de France titles from 1999-2005. He also won eight team Tour titles with USPS and Discovery before winning with Astana last year.
Now, he is the director of Armstrong’s newly formed RadioShack Cycling Team and said he’s happy to have total control after a tough year with Astana.
“It’s my team, it’s the team I built, and it’s going to be a good atmosphere,” Bruyneel said Friday. “That’s the main reason I’m back into my team. Astana has never felt as my team.”
Bruyneel was in Colorado as the featured speaker at the USA Triathlon International Coaching Symposium. During his nearly two-hour speech, he talked about his relationship with Armstrong and his struggles with Astana in 2009.
Despite winning the team title, and coaching overall winner Alberto Contador, it wasn’t a fulfilling experience for Bruyneel. He clashed with Contador and the sponsors, and his loss of control led to his decision to leave the team.
“It was not a very hard decision because of the sometimes stress-filled relationship with Alberto, and the difficulties within the team and with the sponsors of the team. It was a very difficult relationship I had,” he said.
There was tension between Contador and Armstrong, who finished third. Contador said publicly he “never had admiration for Armstrong,” and Armstrong countered that Contador had “lots to learn.”
Bruyneel and Armstrong left Astana to form RadioShack.
“It’s basically the same relationship with the same people. It’s a co-partnership with Lance and his management,” Bruyneel said. “It’s like Discovery and Postal again.”
Bruyneel said Armstrong, even at 38, is motivated to win his eighth Tour. The cancer survivor came out of retirement last year.
“He’s super motivated to beat Alberto, but at the same time he knows it’s going to be difficult,” Bruyneel said. “I think that brings his motivation to a higher level.”
Bruyneel helped lead Lance Armstrong to seven straight Tour de France titles from 1999-2005. He also won eight team Tour titles with USPS and Discovery before winning with Astana last year.
Now, he is the director of Armstrong’s newly formed RadioShack Cycling Team and said he’s happy to have total control after a tough year with Astana.
“It’s my team, it’s the team I built, and it’s going to be a good atmosphere,” Bruyneel said Friday. “That’s the main reason I’m back into my team. Astana has never felt as my team.”
Bruyneel was in Colorado as the featured speaker at the USA Triathlon International Coaching Symposium. During his nearly two-hour speech, he talked about his relationship with Armstrong and his struggles with Astana in 2009.
Despite winning the team title, and coaching overall winner Alberto Contador, it wasn’t a fulfilling experience for Bruyneel. He clashed with Contador and the sponsors, and his loss of control led to his decision to leave the team.
“It was not a very hard decision because of the sometimes stress-filled relationship with Alberto, and the difficulties within the team and with the sponsors of the team. It was a very difficult relationship I had,” he said.
There was tension between Contador and Armstrong, who finished third. Contador said publicly he “never had admiration for Armstrong,” and Armstrong countered that Contador had “lots to learn.”
Bruyneel and Armstrong left Astana to form RadioShack.
“It’s basically the same relationship with the same people. It’s a co-partnership with Lance and his management,” Bruyneel said. “It’s like Discovery and Postal again.”
Bruyneel said Armstrong, even at 38, is motivated to win his eighth Tour. The cancer survivor came out of retirement last year.
“He’s super motivated to beat Alberto, but at the same time he knows it’s going to be difficult,” Bruyneel said. “I think that brings his motivation to a higher level.”
O'Grady Likely Out of Tour Down Under
Monday, December 21, 2009 0 comments
Australian cyclist Stuart O’Grady has been diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia and could miss the Tour Down Under in January, race officials said Monday.
O’Grady was admitted to hospital after arriving in Adelaide from his home in Monaco last week. He was later discharged and doctors were expected to reassess his condition this week.
Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur said it was extremely unlikely that O’Grady would be fit to ride. The Jan. 17-24 race will feature seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong riding for his new RadioShack team as well as Australia’s world road cycling champion Cadel Evans.
Turtur said doctors had ordered O’Grady to take a complete break in order to make a full recovery.
“That being the case I think it would be a week or two before he could even think about going for a ride,” Turtur said. “He needs to get this knocked on the head.”
O’Grady, who has ridden the Tour de France since 1998 and finished second four times, is a member of Team Saxo Bank. He and Graeme Brown won a gold medal for Australia in men’s Madison at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
O’Grady was admitted to hospital after arriving in Adelaide from his home in Monaco last week. He was later discharged and doctors were expected to reassess his condition this week.
Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur said it was extremely unlikely that O’Grady would be fit to ride. The Jan. 17-24 race will feature seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong riding for his new RadioShack team as well as Australia’s world road cycling champion Cadel Evans.
Turtur said doctors had ordered O’Grady to take a complete break in order to make a full recovery.
“That being the case I think it would be a week or two before he could even think about going for a ride,” Turtur said. “He needs to get this knocked on the head.”
O’Grady, who has ridden the Tour de France since 1998 and finished second four times, is a member of Team Saxo Bank. He and Graeme Brown won a gold medal for Australia in men’s Madison at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Presenting Team RadioShack
Monday, November 23, 2009 0 comments
Lance Armstrong’s new RadioShack racing team is getting ready to ride.
Team manager Johan Bruyneel announced a 26-rider lineup for 2010 on Monday, including Armstrong’s former Astana teammates Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloeden and Yaroslav Popovych.
Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France champion, came out of retirement to race the 2009 tour with Astana and finished third at age 37, making him the second-oldest rider to make the podium.
But there was friction with teammate and race winner Alberto Contador, and Armstrong struck out to form his own team where he could be the lead rider again. Bruyneel directed all of Armstrong’s seven tour victories and was with Astana in 2009.
RadioShack draws riders from 16 countries, and Bruyneel called it a good mix of experience and youth.
Kloeden finished sixth at the 2009 Tour de France. Leipheimer was in fourth after 12 stages when he broke his wrist and had to withdraw. Also joining RadioShack from Astana is Haimar Zubeldia.
“Our main goal will be the Tour de France and other stage races, but I am confident that, with these riders, we can perform very well in the one-day races as well,” Bruyneel said.
The team has scheduled a two-week training camp in Tucson, Ariz. in December. It is scheduled to make its racing debut at the 2010 Tour Down Under in Australia.
Team manager Johan Bruyneel announced a 26-rider lineup for 2010 on Monday, including Armstrong’s former Astana teammates Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloeden and Yaroslav Popovych.
Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France champion, came out of retirement to race the 2009 tour with Astana and finished third at age 37, making him the second-oldest rider to make the podium.
But there was friction with teammate and race winner Alberto Contador, and Armstrong struck out to form his own team where he could be the lead rider again. Bruyneel directed all of Armstrong’s seven tour victories and was with Astana in 2009.
RadioShack draws riders from 16 countries, and Bruyneel called it a good mix of experience and youth.
Kloeden finished sixth at the 2009 Tour de France. Leipheimer was in fourth after 12 stages when he broke his wrist and had to withdraw. Also joining RadioShack from Astana is Haimar Zubeldia.
“Our main goal will be the Tour de France and other stage races, but I am confident that, with these riders, we can perform very well in the one-day races as well,” Bruyneel said.
The team has scheduled a two-week training camp in Tucson, Ariz. in December. It is scheduled to make its racing debut at the 2010 Tour Down Under in Australia.
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