Category Archives: Cycling

Rest is Good for You

By R. Michael Brown, Freelance Writer

#Cycling rest day for me. From my days as a coach at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs… the most important part of training is rest.

I can really feel my legs and the soreness after 6 straight days of cycling. I’m just spinning, not pushing, but the cumulative days add up.

Since it’s raining all day here in Lake Placid, it’s a perfect day to rest.

Will still do a rehab upper body workout to keep my shoulder replacement limber and getting stronger.

What are you doing today?

Tour de France – Anatomy of an Illegal [Dangerous] Sprint

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Jasper Philipsen started his sprint from way over on the left side of the road and swung all the way over to the right in front of the bunch sprint. Illegal move #1.

Red up arrow shows second line (lane) of Jasper Philipsen (Green jersey). Starts to go off-line to the right instead of staying on his second original line – the legal way to sprint. Illegal move #2.

UCI Cycling Rule 2.3.036 Sprints
Riders shall be strictly forbidden to deviate from the lane they selected when launching into the sprint and, in so doing, endangering others.

Philipsen continues to veer to the right off his second original lane (red up arrow).
Philipsen illegally bullies Grmaye Biniam (white jersey with yellow sleeves) to the right. Biniam swerves to avoid crash. (Red arrow up shows original lane). Illegal move #3.
Philipsen’s illegal move complete but he’s not satisfied with just that.
Philipsen continues to move to the right forcing Biniam toward the barrier in a dirty move. #Illegal move #4.
Philipsen forces Biniam within inches of the barrier causing Biniam to lean away from barrier and completely back off so he won’t crash.

Philipsen uses Mark Cavendish draft to go on and illegally win the stage. Cavendish had a mechanical rear gear malfunction in the middle of the sprint which slowed his forward momentum. But, if Philipsen had stayed on the required sprint lane he was originally on, Cavendish probably would have won, even with the mechanical. Plus, Biniam was denied the opportunity to sprint around Cavendish by the bullying move by Philipsen.

Where are the Tour de France UCI judges? AWOL AGAIN! Allowing a dangerous second sprint by Philipsen.

And where is the press? So willing to let this slide…

*Beginning to End* – From left side of road all the way to the right pushing Biniam into the barrier.

THE GIRO’S RACE OF SURVIVAL CONTINUES BEFORE THE MOUNTAINS HAVE EVEN ARRIVED

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Illness, crashes, bad weather – there’s a lot more than just rivals to battle against at the Giro right now

Flooding rain and COVID have made the Giro de Italia a bicycle race from Hell. Now snow is expected in high mountain stages.

www.rouleur.cc/blogs/the-rouleur-journal/the-giros-race-of-survival-continues-before-the-mountains-have-even-arrived

#1 Bicycle Racer in the World Still on Track for Tour de France Race After Crash

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April 28, 2023

Tadej Pogačar’s six-week program of recovery from his Liège-Bastogne-Liége crash and injury may still include a spell of altitude training from mid-May to early June, Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reports.

After a busy and highly-successful first part of the season, the Slovenian star had always planned to use the next two months as his build-up for the 2023 Tour de France, with a repeat of just one stage race, the low-key Tour of Slovenia, on his program prior to July.

There had been fears that the scaphoid fracture (wrist) caused by his crash in Liège-Bastogne-Liège could have seriously affected that process.

But according to the Belgian newspaper report, citing team sports manager Joxean Fernandez Matxín, Pogačar could yet be training as planned at an altitude camp by mid-May.

On his way to another Tour de France win even with this setback?

See More [CyclingNews]

Bicycle Racing #ThrowBackThursday

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Throw Back Thursday #BicycleRacing during the Lions Clubs International Ride for the Blind race in Boca Raton. Circa 1977 at Florida Atlantic University.

R. Michael Brown leading charity race at Florida Atlantic University in 1997. — *R. Michael Brown leading the charity race at Florida Atlantic University in 1977.* *Victor Beltran finished 2nd in 1977 but went on to win in 1978 with a new course record of 115 miles.* Press Photo: Atlantic Sun

I won it by completing 115 laps (about 103.5 miles) in 4 hours, setting a course record. I was racing for Florida Freewheelers Club out of Orlando at the time.

I got folks to pledge donations per mile before the event. Most said a dime or a nickel per mile. One of my professors told me a $1 per mile thinking I would go maybe 20 miles or so. When I told him I did 103 miles, he backed out of the deal and gave me $40…. and grumbled about it.

Grew the beard because I had started working as an ocean lifeguard for the City of Boca Raton Beach Patrol and the constant wind, salt, and sun was tough on your face.

2023 Road Cycling Season Starts Here!

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The GCN Racing News Show

Road racing is back with a bang as the Australian National Championships start the season in style & Zonohoven cements itself as one of the most exciting cyclocross races on the calendar! Dan is here to round up the last week of action and look ahead to more exciting racing in the weeks ahead!

Brought to you by the world’s biggest cycling channel, the Global Cycling Network (GCN), GCN Racing brings you the best of the world’s bike races to your screens, wherever you are: the finest live race commentary, in-depth analysis and behind the scenes access from your favourite events are all here. So get involved, join us, and get ready to be in the thick of the action.

Tour de France crash 2021: fan avoids jail amid court case

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The spectator behind one of the biggest pile-ups in Tour de France history appeared in court charged with injuring dozens of riders but seemed set to avoid jail after prosecutors demanded a suspended sentence.

The 31-year-old French woman, whose identity was withheld after she was targeted by a torrent of online abuse, has already told prosecutors of being ashamed at her “stupidity” for causing what some dubbed the “worst crash ever seen”in the famous race.

Wearing a blue sweater, she fled the scrum of journalists waiting at the courthouse in Brest, in western France.

But the presiding judge rejected a request by her lawyer to have the trial held behind closed doors.

While jail time was a real possibility, the prosecution requested that she be given a four-month suspended sentence on the charges of endangering lives and causing unintentional injuries.

Under French law she could have faced a fine of up to 15,000 euros ($AUD23,00) and a year in prison for the charges.

Prosecutor Solenn Briand acknowledged that she had recognised “how dangerous” her conduct had been and had expressed regret.

— Read on www.news.com.au/sport/cycling/twist-in-case-of-fan-who-caused-worst-crash-ever-seen-in-tour-de-france/news-story/3448e9c7c1040ea0e253eb2632f22278

Brownie Bytes doesn’t agree with this outcome. Turning the perpetrator into the victim is ridiculous. She caused real harm by her foolish actions to get attention. A slap on the wrist and suspended sentence is morally wrong and sends a message to her and foolish fans that anything goes at races.