North American Cyclocross Preview: NBX Showdown

This weekend marks the finale of the inaugural Shimano New England Professional Cyclocross Series presented by Verge as well as the final leg of the Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series. Over the past three months, we’ve been treated to the best and most competitive racing in the country, boasting huge fields with marquee riders from across the globe. With the New England hotbed of cyclocross racing’s storied past, this season has been able to showcase the heritage through America’s best courses, while also, through the rapidly growing Amateur fields for both men and women, demonstrating that New England is also...Continue Reading

On the Nys-Pauwels Sprint

If you tuned in on Twitter or any of the cycling media, you probably heard of the contentiousness of the sprint. Nys attacked Pauwels before the final corner, nearly overshooting the corner as he entered the pavement on the far left side of the course. He immediately opened his sprint, steadily drifting all the way to the right side of the course, effectively blocking in Kevin Pauwels. Once Pauwels was firmly blocked in, he raised his hands in animated protest and sat up – among other things, a way to discredit for posterity your opponent’s win in the resulting photographic...Continue Reading

2011 Tour de France – Stage 18 Wrap-Up

Stage 18, the Queen Stage of this year’s Tour de France, was a 6+-hour slugfest over 3 Hors Categorie climbs in the Alps–the Agnel, the Izoard, and finally, the monstrous Galibier.

1. Andy Schleck’s attacked on the Izoard with about 60km to go, gaining 2 minutes over the yellow jersey group by the top of the climb and extending it to 4:25 on the descent and the early slopes of the Galibier. Schleck’s move seemed to catch everyone off guard, as there was little to no effort to join or haul back the man who many seemed to have written off...Continue Reading

Rider/Team of the Month – May

This month’s Rider and Team of the Month comes a bit late as yours truly took his time to get it edited. Special thanks to Julius and Cog for their teamwork in composing it! ~WY

With the largest race in the month of May being the Giro d’Italia, this month’s Rider of the Month award goes deservedly to maglia rosa winner Alberto Contador. ‘El Pistolero’ dominated the race from early on with a savage display of strength on the slopes of Mt Etna, leaving nearly all of his rivals coughing in the volcanic dust from his explosive attack.

After the Giro’s tragic start (the...Continue Reading

Monday Musette – Giro Rest Day Update

Ah, the rest day – when we finally get caught up with the weekend’s racing, and begin our work day without keeping one eye on the Gazzetta stream. Let’s take a quick review of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s racing at the Giro d’Italia:

• It was a weekend that started to shake out some of the contenders as the Giro moved from rolling hills into some serious mountains. Friday’s Stage 7 set the bar for an exciting stage, with Bart de Clerq holding on to a slim margin after an attack from 8 kilometers out. I don’t think there’s anything more exciting...Continue Reading