Shimano triple to Dura-Ace groupset
“We all want to ride like a pro, but let’s face it: Not everybody has the legs for it,”
said Harald Troost, press officer for Shimano Europe and who can argue?
This is in response to requests from consumers for a 52-39-30 ratio in Dura Ace. It will be available in 165, 165.5, 170, 172.5, 175, 177.5 and 180mm crank lengths.
“The technology and materials are the same as used in the double group, based on the concepts [of] speed, smoothness and strength,” Troost said. We should have pictures in a month or so and they will be available from May ’05. (Just in time for the Etape). For those who can’t wait the Ultegra group is already available in a 10 speed triple (30 gears?!)
Wyman ‘flying’
Two weeks ago Helen Wyman was 4th at European Cross Champs which was impressive enough. She added to this performance by finishing 6th at the Uitslag round of the World Cup yesterday. The Team Fat Birds Don’t Fly rider has shown excellent form in the opening rounds of the National Trophy and could be coming to form ready for the World Championships next year. Watch this space…
Women’s result
1. Daphne Van Den Brand (Ned)
2. Laurence Leboucher (Fra) 1.32
3. Nadia Triquet (Fra) 2.09
4. Maryline Salvetat (Fra) 2.22
5. Anja Nobus (Bel) 2.38
6. Helen Wyman (GBr) 2.51
Also
9. Louise Robinson (GBr)
19. Gabriella Day (GBr)
22. Victoria Wilkinson (GBr)
Elsewhere Tom Last finiashed 12th in the Juniors 1.58 behind the winner. The Belgians continue to dominate the seniors category.
Surrey League ‘Starter Pack’
This is an idea to form a ‘coaching group’ that is open to anyone who plans to start competing next season, plus novices who did fewer than 10 races in 2004 and still feel to be in need of guidance.
The suggestion is to gather once every month, or perhaps once every three weeks, or even fortnightly – whichever turns out to be the most appropriate.
Brockham, near Dorking in Surrey, as that is where I live, though with the potential to move elsewhere, especially if the Starter Pack concept attracts enough riders to warrant booking a room. But as things stand, the starting point would be the front room. If you travel, I’ll do the free coffee and cups of tea.
The suggestion would be Sunday evenings, 7pm to 8.30pm, but with Mondays (7.30pm–9pm or 8pm-9.30pm) as an alternative if preferred, through the winter.
The aim is:
- to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses
- to help you spell out your goals
- to listen to the goals of others
- make a plan a training programme for the coming week
- make a plan a training programme for the coming month
- to meet others at the same “raw” stage of racing as you
- to help you recognise that you are not the only one worrying about the same things
- to relax and make friends
- to feel to be part of a like-minded community
The Surrey League thrives on having a steady flow of new riders. We want them to feel welcome and to have somewhere to turn for answers. A strange contradiction in cycle racing is that while everyone is trying their level best to beat the rest, the sport contains many people who are more than happy to share experiences and offer useful advice.
A coach can do more than most at this early stage by helping you with your winter training schedule, followed by your racing season programme. The Starter Pack is an open house. So feel free to come along. There are no boundary lines, no need to switch clubs. Just a pooling of new riders still slightly nervous, but also excited at what their body might be capable of when prepared properly and then put under stress.
If you are interested please contact John Leitch
Pro Tour 2005
Organisers of the ‘grand Tours’ are still trying to get in on the Pro Tour. And also missing is the Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Tours and the Paris-Nice stage race (all organised by ASO, the Tour de France organisers). Surely these races cannot be missed out?
The UCI ProTour will include the following races in 2005:
Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) (Belgium)
Vuelta a País Vasco (Spain)
Gent-Wevelgem (Belgium)
Amstel Gold Race (Netherlands)
Tour de Romandie (Switzerland)
Vuelta a Cataluña (Spain)
Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (France)
Tour de Suisse (Switzerland)
TTT Eindhoven (Netherlands)
HEW-Cyclassics (Germany)
Eneco Tour (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)
Clasica San Sebastián (Spain)
Deutschland Tour (Germany)
GP Ouest-France (France)
Tour of Poland (Poland)
Züri Metzgete (Switzerland)
Happy Birthday to ‘The Badger’
Anyone who started riding in the Eighties will remember Bernard Hinault as being the gritty bloke that won every type of race on the calendar, including 5 Tours, a World Title and several of the big classics. He was the last ‘old skool’ rider to race from January to October and not peak for one type of race. Although not quite as prolific as Mr. Merckx he was just as cunning and classsy on the bike. He’s 50 today (for those born after 1980 he is the little man in a tan jacket who presents the jerseys at the Tour de France).
