By Lily O Ramos

MANILA, April 29 (PNA) — The cyclists participating in the eighty-day, 15-lap Padyak Pinoy will not only be competing against each other but will also promote the protection of ecology and tourism as well, Dos-1 organizer president Gary Cayton told mediamen during the PSA Forum Tuesday at the Shakey’s U.N. Avenue branch in Manila.

“Competition of such magnitude, although not as grand as those of the previous years, would bring out the best of everyone; whether as a cyclist-tourist or mere spectator, aside from enlivening the sport,” Cayton said.

A total prize of P2.2 million is up for grabs with the team champion getting P500,000 and the individual winner receiving P50,000.

The King of the Mountain and Rookie of the Year will also receive P20,000 each.

Former Tour champions Santy Barnachea and Arnel Querimit, internationalist Sherwin Carrera and Merculio Ramos are among the big names skippering the teams.

Tour 2002 of Calabarzon champion and 2006 Padyak Pinoy champion will captain the Air21 squad, while Querimit, who ruled the 2003 Tour ng Pilipinas, will banner Columbia Sports.

“I’ve been preparing for the past month and I expect to do well in the Tour,” said Barnachea, who was joined in the forum by Querimit and A Freight rider Emilito Atilano.

Also present at the forum supported by Pagcor, Outlast Battery and Accel were Paquito Rivas of the Philippine National Cycling Association and Smart Sports’ Art Aro, who said that the telecommunications firm is envisioning the Tour as Asia’s version of the prestigious Tour de France.

Ramos will lead the Wow Magic Sing team, while Carrera, fresh from stints in two international races, will spearhead one of the two Tanduay teams along with Rener Clauna.

Also skippering their respective teams are Sherwin Diamsa (Burger King), Oscar Rindole (Ube), Ericson Obosa (A Freight), Baler Ravina (Navray), Warren Davadilla (Mail and More), Lucien Reynante (IWMI), Frederick Feliciano (Cargohaus), Hilson Mangahis (Tanduay 2), Joel Calderon (Smart). (PNA)

Lily O Ramos

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Andy Schleck timed his attack to perfection on the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, the penultimate climb of Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and rode on alone to victory in the 95th edition of La Doyenne.

The 23-year-old Luxembourger chased down and dropped a surging Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) and then held off a chase group full of favorites to win the 265km finale to the spring classics season. Spaniard Joaquím Rodriguez (Caisse d’Epargne) crossed for second at 1:12 and Davide Rebellin (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) won the bunch sprint for third to make his fourth career podium appearance here.

“I knew it with five kilometers remaining that I had won,” Andy Schleck told VeloNews. “I had over one minute and I figured that would be no problem. There is one climb to go (Côte de Saint-Nicolas), but after 260 kilometers they should all have tired legs.”

The victory is the biggest single-day win for Andy Schleck, a former national time-trial champion who last year claimed the white jersey awarded to the best young rider at the Tour de France. It also salvaged a less-than stellar classics campaign for Saxo Bank, which was shut out at the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Flèche Wallonne. Matt Goss took third at Gent-Wevelgem and Karsten Kroon second at the Amstel Gold Race, but close calls are below par for the squad many consider the world’s best all-around cycling team.

Saxo boss Bjarne Riis applauded his young rider, calling the victory “beautiful” and “perfect.”

“It is a nice way to end (the classics),” he added.

Read race detailes at Velonews.com

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Track sprinters do track stands to psych their opponents high on the velodrome. For us though it is just a balance excercise and something to do mostly… for fun.



When you had enough practice to feel comfortable in your track stand there is a scenario where it can be useful on the road.

You are coming to a crossroad and the traffic light turns red, normally you would have to unclip your cleats and dismount your bike. Track standing in this case can give you the ability to stay balanced and upright without having to dismount your bicycle.

To practice this trick find a safe place free of other vehicles. A slightly sloped spot is preferable, having gravity give you some resistance will make it easier if never did this before. Actually if you have a mountain bike you may want to try with that first (Not having to bend forward will make it easier).

Use a flat pedal first and set your bike to a light gear. Roll to a stop with the cranks horizontal and your left foot forward. As you approach to your stop point stand on the pedal with a slightly bend knees and your body weight centered while keeping your grip light on the handle bar.

Approach the slope going upward slightly to your left, with your left foot in front so you can avoid hitting the front tire. Avoid looking down as you come to a stop. As you gradually stop turn your front wheel to the slope while pressing your left front pedal hard enough to hold your spot.

Just feather your brakes and let the slope do the resistance. Gently release your left pedal and let the bike roll back a little bit and then push down again as if you were rocking the bike back and forth. If you feel like falling to your left, push left pedal harder. If you feel like falling to the right, ease the pressure.

Practice until you gain confidence, pretty soon you will be able to stand longer and eventually it will become second nature, you will feel safe even when motionless just as if you were standing on your two feet.

Rodge

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Russian cyclist Sergei Ivanov won the one-day classic Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, a 257 kilometres ride from Maastricht to Valkenburg.

The 34-year-old Russian national champion – second in the 2002 renewal – beat home two Dutch riders in the shape of Karsten Kroon and Robert Gesink.

“This is a great day for the team,” said Ivanov, referring to his Russian financed Katusha team. “All the Russians worked hard to achieve this result. This is a Russian operation and I am very proud. I have been coming here since 1998 and I knew that I could do something special.”

Belgian cyclist Philippe Gilbert took fourth while last year’s winner Damiano Cunego of Italy was fifth.

Cunego at least fared better than the 2006 winner Frank Schleck, who suffered a heavy fall. The Luxemburg national champion – second last year – fell whilst 70 kilometres from the finish along with Australian Matthew Lloyd. Both cyclists remained on the ground and were fitted with surgical collars before being taken to hospital.

According to his team, Schleck never lost consciousness and was later diagnosed as having suffered a mild concussion.

“It is not as serious as we first feared,” said his team sporting director Kim Andersen.

“Frank is fine and that is the most important thing. I was really concerned for him when I saw him lying on the ground,” added Andersen, who was unable to say when Schleck might return to action.

© AFP 2009

Results

1 Sergei Ivanov (Rus|Team Katusha) 6:38:31
2 Karsten Kroon (Ned|Team Saxo Bank)
3 Robert Gesink (Ned|Rabobank) 0:00:08
4 Philippe Gilbert (Bel|Silence-Lotto)
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita|Lampre – N.G.C.)
6 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus|Team Saxo Bank)
7 Simon Gerrans (Aus|Cervelo Test Team)
8 Nick Nuyens (Bel|Rabobank)
9 Christian Pfannberger (Aut|Team Katusha)
10 Andy Schleck (Lux|Team Saxo Bank)

For full results, report and photos, visit Cyclingnews.com

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Sram Double Tap Control Levers the lightest shifter in the market. Custom tunable reach adjusment,carbon brake and shift levers, 280 gm.
Front Derailluer the lightest in the market with hardened Ti cage plates 58 gm.



Rear Derailluer the lightest int he market Carbon inner link and plates, Ti hardware and Black Box Ceramic pulleys 153 gm. OG 1090 Cassette Power Dome and Open Guide technology. 15% stronger due to one piece construction. Bottom Bracket Black Box Ceramic bearing for smoothness.



Sram Red is an upgrade of their Force group. The shifting is vastly enhanced and ceramic bearings were used to reduce drag. Red provides a front derailleur trimming when you’re in the big chainring. Sram Red is the first to use ceramic bearings in their components.

Black Box ceramic cartridge bearings are used in the rear derailleur pulleys and in the bottom bracket. Red grouppo is lighter than DuraAce or Record group. SRAM claims that it’s the first-ever true sub-2000gm road group. The new OG-1090 Power Dome cassette saves 75gm over the Force OG-1070 cassette and you also save 10-20gm per component between Red and Force.

Rodge

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