Cycling

Welcome to the Galibier. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

As a kid, I loved riding my bike. It was my favorite tool for exploration and I took...

Sicilian defends maglia rosa at Pantani monument

Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) claimed the final yellow jersey in the 2013 Amgen Tour of California after Peter Sagan (Cannnondale) won the final stage in Santa Rosa. Thomas De Gendt (Vaconsoleil-DCM), Jason McCartney (Bissell) and Antoine Duchesne (Bontrager) formed the early break of the day, after a neutral stretch over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, and 52km into the 130.4km race they had nearly four and a half minutes on the bunch. With 40km to race their advantage was under two minutes, though, as Garmin-Sharp pushed the pace for sprinter Tyler Farrar. As the gap slipped under a minute with 22km to go, Duchesne decided to go it alone. De Gendt sat up to wait for the inevitable. McCartney gutted it out, riding back up to Duchesne, as Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Cannondale began taking an interest in the chase. The two had 45 seconds in hand with 16km to race. But with 10km to go it was all over — Duchesne was the last man standing, and he too was swept up just before the bunch roared into downtown Santa Rosa for two laps of a finishing circuit. Cannondale took the front for the first go-round, hoping to launch Sagan to the stage victory, and then Garmin assumed command for the second. Going under the red kite Cannondale shouldered forward once again, as did Orica-GreenEdge. The bunch drove into the tunnel and toward the finish — and Sagan hit the sunlight very much a man on the move. He went early on the right, holding his advantage all the way across the line. Daniel Schorn (Team NetApp) took second with Farrar third. When the overall numbers were crunched, it was van Garderen clinching the victory by 1:47 over Michael Rogers (Saxo-Tinkoff). J.A. Acevedo (Jamis) finished third overall at 3:26. Editor’s note: Stay tuned for more from Santa Rosa.

Race Results Giro d'Italia (2013) - Stage 15 Cesana Torinese to Col du Galibier (149km) 19 May 2013 Stage 15 | Stage 14 | Stage 13 | Stage 12 | Stage 11 | Stage 10 | Stage 9 | Stage 8 (ITT) | Stage 7 | Stage 6 | Stage 5 | Stage 4 | Stage 3 | Stage 2 (TTT) | Stage 1 Stage Position Name Nationality Team Time 1 VISCONTI, Giovanni ITA MOVISTAR 4:40:48 2 Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, Carlos COL AG2R LA MONDIALE 42 3 NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw POL LAMPRE - ISD 4 MAJKA, Rafal POL Saxo Tinkoff 5 DUARTE AREVALO, Fabio Andres COL COLOMBIA 47 6 SCARPONI, Michele ITA LAMPRE - ISD 54 7 NIBALI, Vincenzo ITA ASTANA 8 EVANS, Cadel AUS BMC RACING 9 SANTAMBROGIO, Mauro ITA FARNESE VINI 10 URAN URAN, Rigoberto COL SKY PROCYCLING 11 KISERLOVSKI, Robert CRO Radioshack Leopard 12 CARUSO, Damiano ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling 58 13 PELLIZOTTI, Franco ITA ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI 14 KELDERMAN, Wilco NED Blanco +1:00 15 TROFIMOV, Yury RUS KATUSHA 16 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI +1:06 17 DI LUCA, Danilo ITA FARNESE VINI +1:09 18 ATAPUMA HURTADO, Darwin COL COLOMBIA +1:24 19 INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Benat ESP MOVISTAR 20 CAPECCHI, Eros ITA MOVISTAR +1:27 21 KANGERT, Tanel EST ASTANA 22 DUPONT, Hubert FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE +1:39 23 POZZOVIVO, Domenico ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE 24 ROSA, Diego ITA ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI +1:49 25 RABOTTINI, Matteo ITA FARNESE VINI 26 GESINK, Robert NED Blanco +1:52 27 PANTANO, Jarlinson COL COLOMBIA +1:55 28 ARU, Fabio ITA ASTANA +2:02 29 Luis HENAO MONTOYA, Sergio KHM SKY PROCYCLING +2:04 30 MOUREY, Francis FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +2:12 31 GARATE, Juan Manuel ESP Blanco 32 CLEMENT, Stef NED Blanco 33 HERRADA LOPEZ, José ESP MOVISTAR +2:27 34 PETROV, Evgeny RUS Saxo Tinkoff +2:34 35 DE GREEF, Francis BEL LOTTO BELISOL +2:47 36 MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Egoi ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI +2:58 37 GRETSCH, Patrick GER ARG +3:05 38 KNEES, Christian GER SKY PROCYCLING +3:23 39 MORABITO, Steve SUI BMC RACING 40 SERPA PEREZ, Jose Rodolfo COL LAMPRE - ISD +3:26 41 RUIJGH, Rob NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM 42 KRUIJSWIJK, Steven NED Blanco +3:41 43 VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Gorka ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 44 WEENING, Pieter NED ORICA-GREENEDGE +3:55 45 DAMUSEAU, Thomas FRA ARG +4:33 46 SIUTSOU, Kanstantsin BLR SKY PROCYCLING +4:59 47 SANTAROMITA, Ivan ITA BMC RACING +5:13 48 KARPETS, Vladimir RUS MOVISTAR +5:28 49 ZANDIO ECHAIDE, Xabier ESP SKY PROCYCLING +6:32 50 AGNOLI, Valerio ITA ASTANA +7:07 51 PIRAZZI, Stefano ITA BARDIANI VALVOLE - CSF INOX 52 RUBIANO CHAVEZ, Miguel Angel COL ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI +7:09 53 LUDVIGSSON, Tobias SWE ARG +9:53 54 BENNET, George NZL Radioshack Leopard 55 STETINA, Peter USA Garmin-Sharp 56 PRONI, Alessandro ITA FARNESE VINI 57 AZANZA SOTO, Jorge ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI

Race Results Tour of California (2013) - Stage 7 Livermore to Mt. Diablo (147km) 18 May 2013 Stage 7 | Stage 6 (ITT) | Stage 5 | Stage 4 | Stage 3 | Stage 2 | Stage 1 Stage Position Name Nationality Team Time 1 KONIG, Leopold CZE TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA 3:54:17 2 ACEVEDO COLLE, Javier Alexis COL JAMIS - SUTTER HOME 7 3 VAN GARDEREN, Tejay USA BMC RACING 12 4 ROGERS, Michael AUS Saxo Tinkoff 5 FRANK, Mathias SUI BMC RACING 23 6 BUSCHE, Matthew USA Radioshack Leopard 29 7 CRADDOCK, Lawson USA BONTRAGER LIVESTRONG TEAM 32 8 MANCEBO PEREZ, Francisco ESP KENDA - 5-HOUR ENERGY 38 9 PIMENTA COSTA MENDES, José Joao POR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA 44 10 DE MAAR, Marc AHO UNITEDHEALTHCARE 11 DENNIS, Rohan AUS Garmin-Sharp 12 MEYER, Cameron AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE 48 13 DEIGNAN, Philip IRL UNITEDHEALTHCARE 53 14 MOINARD, Amaël FRA BMC RACING 56 15 MEERSMAN, Gianni BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +1:02 16 HAGA, Chad USA TEAM OPTUM PRESENTED BY KELLY BENEDIT STRATEGIES 17 VOSS, Paul GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +1:06 18 JUNGELS, Bob LUX Radioshack Leopard +1:09 19 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar ESP Radioshack Leopard 20 VANDBORG, Brian DNK Cannondale Pro Cycling +1:17 21 DE GENDT, Thomas BEL VACANSOLEIL-DCM +1:22 22 MANNION, Gavin USA BONTRAGER LIVESTRONG TEAM +1:27 23 BALDWIN, Christopher USA BISSELL CYCLING +1:31 24 DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO, David ESP TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +1:38 25 FLECHA, Juan Antonio ESP VACANSOLEIL-DCM +2:00 26 ZAUGG, Oliver SUI Saxo Tinkoff +2:08 27 BEYER, Chad USA CHAMPION SYSTEM +2:17 28 BUTLER, Chris USA CHAMPION SYSTEM 29 PINOTTI, Marco ITA BMC RACING 30 HUZARSKI, Bartosz POL TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA +2:22 31 GAZVODA, Gregor SLO CHAMPION SYSTEM +2:33 32 DIDIER, Laurent LUX Radioshack Leopard +2:41 33 VOIGT, Jens GER Radioshack Leopard +2:44 34 STEMPER, James USA KENDA - 5-HOUR ENERGY +3:03 35 VAN KEIRSBULCK, Guillaume BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +3:26 36 CHAVANEL, Sylvain FRA OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP 37 BOOKWALTER, Brent USA BMC RACING +3:37 38 ENGLISH, Nathaniel USA KENDA - 5-HOUR ENERGY +4:13 39 WESTRA, Lieuwe NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +4:39 40 FAIRLY, Caleb USA Garmin-Sharp 41 EUSER, Lucas USA UNITEDHEALTHCARE 42 JONES, Christopher USA UNITEDHEALTHCARE +5:09 43 STUYVEN, Jasper BEL BONTRAGER LIVESTRONG TEAM +5:34 44 DE WEERT, Kevin BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +6:11 45 VERONA QUINTANILLA, Carlos ESP OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP 46 SULZBERGER, Wesley AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE 47 MORTON, Lachlan David AUS Garmin-Sharp +6:14 48 SCHLECK, Andy LUX Radioshack Leopard +6:19 49 TOSATTO, Matteo ITA Saxo Tinkoff 50 MCCARTHY, Jay AUS Saxo Tinkoff +6:40 51 MCCARTNEY, Jason USA BISSELL CYCLING +6:45 52 JENKINS, Max USA KENDA - 5-HOUR ENERGY +6:54 53 DUCHESNE, Antoine CAN BONTRAGER LIVESTRONG TEAM 54 SCHÄR, Michael SUI BMC RACING +7:16 55 RATHE, Jacob USA Garmin-Sharp +8:10

Carousel short title: Forme Longcliffe 1.0 Price: £1099.99 Gallery Image Reference: Forme Longcliffe 1.0 - riding 1 Gallery Reference: Forme Longcliffe 1.0 (2013) The Forme Longcliffe 1.0 follows a bit of a trend we've seen this year. With so many manufacturers making ill-advised componentry compromises in order to squeeze in a carbon frame close to the £1000 price point, more and more often we're finding the best bikes feature a middle budget aluminium frame that's offering the same sort of performance, comfort, weight and looks advantages as its carbon framed price competitors. Road.cc verdict: A sweet-handling sub 20lb all-round speed machine with an aluminium frame that makes price room for Campagnolo Veloce gears Road.cc rating: 8 Weight: 8940g Contact: www.formebikes.co.uk read more

The peloton ascends Mont Cenis on stage 15 at the 2013 Giro d'Italia. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com 1. Giovanni VISCONTI, Movistar, in 4:40:48 2. Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, Ag2r La Mondiale, at :42 3. Przemyslaw NIEMIEC, Lampre-Merida, at :42 4. Rafal MAJKA, Saxo-Tinkoff, at :42 5. Fabio Andres DUARTE AREVALO, Colombia, at :47 6. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-Merida, at :54 7. Vincenzo NIBALI, Astana, at :54 8. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at :54 9. Mauro SANTAMBROGIO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at :54 10. Rigoberto URAN URAN, Sky, at :54 11. Robert KISERLOVSKI, RadioShack-Leopard, at :54 12. Damiano CARUSO, Cannondale, at :58 13. Franco PELLIZOTTI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at :58 14. Wilco KELDERMAN, Blanco, at 1:00 15. Yury TROFIMOV, Katusha, at 1:00 16. Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:06 17. Danilo DI LUCA, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 1:09 18. Darwin ATAPUMA HURTADO, Colombia, at 1:24 19. Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Movistar, at 1:24 20. Eros CAPECCHI, Movistar, at 1:27 21. Tanel KANGERT, Astana, at 1:27 22. Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:39 23. Domenico POZZOVIVO, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:39 24. Diego ROSA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 1:49 25. Matteo RABOTTINI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 1:49 26. Robert GESINK, Blanco, at 1:52 27. Jarlinson PANTANO, Colombia, at 1:55 28. Fabio ARU, Astana, at 2:02 29. Sergio Luis HENAO MONTOYA, Sky, at 2:04 30. Francis MOUREY, FDJ, at 2:12 31. Juan Manuel GARATE, Blanco, at 2:12 32. Stef CLEMENT, Blanco, at 2:12 33. José HERRADA LOPEZ, Movistar, at 2:27 34. Evgeny PETROV, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 2:34 35. Francis DE GREEF, Lotto-Belisol, at 2:47 36. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:58 37. Patrick GRETSCH, Argos-Shimano, at 3:05 38. Christian KNEES, Sky, at 3:23 39. Steve MORABITO, BMC Racing, at 3:23 40. Jose Rodolfo SERPA PEREZ, Lampre-Merida, at 3:26 41. Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 3:26 42. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Blanco, at 3:41 43. Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:41 44. Pieter WEENING, Orica-GreenEdge, at 3:55 45. Thomas DAMUSEAU, Argos-Shimano, at 4:33 46. Kanstantsin SIUTSOU, Sky, at 4:59 47. Ivan SANTAROMITA, BMC Racing, at 5:13 48. Vladimir KARPETS, Movistar, at 5:28 49. Xabier ZANDIO ECHAIDE, Sky, at 6:32 50. Valerio AGNOLI, Astana, at 7:07 51. Stefano PIRAZZI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 7:07 52. Miguel Angel RUBIANO CHAVEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 7:09 53. Tobias LUDVIGSSON, Argos-Shimano, at 9:53 54. George BENNETT, RadioShack-Leopard, at 9:53 55. Peter STETINA, Garmin-Sharp, at 9:53 56. Alessandro PRONI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 9:53 57. Jorge AZANZA SOTO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 9:53 58. Tiago MACHADO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 9:53 59. Bruno PIRES, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 9:53 60. Ben GASTAUER, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 9:53 61. Vladimir GUSEV, Katusha, at 9:53 62. Fabio FELLINE, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 9:53 63. Stefano LOCATELLI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 9:59 64. Robinson Eduardo CHALAPUD GOMEZ, Colombia, at 10:02 65. Simone STORTONI, Lampre-Merida, at 10:53 66. Dario CATALDO, Sky, at 11:02 67. Salvatore PUCCIO, Sky, at 11:02 68. Dominique ROLLIN, FDJ, at 11:55 69. Brian BULGAC, Lotto-Belisol, at 13:16 70. Lars Ytting BAK, Lotto-Belisol, at 13:16 71. Paul MARTENS, Blanco, at 13:37 72. Cameron WURF, Cannondale, at 13:37 73. Ricardo MESTRE, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 14:04 74. Nelson Filipe SANTOS SIMOES OLIVEIRA, RadioShack-Leopard, at 14:36 75. Rafael VALLS FERRI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 16:08 76. Emanuele SELLA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 16:08 77. Paolo TIRALONGO, Astana, at 16:08 78. Martijn KEIZER, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 16:08 79. Cristiano SALERNO, Cannondale, at 16:08 80. Guillaume BONNAFOND, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 16:08 81. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 16:08 82. Petr IGNATENKO, Katusha, at 16:08 83. Jackson RODRIGUEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 16:08 84. Pablo LASTRAS GARCIA, Movistar, at 16:08 85. Frederik VEUCHELEN, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 16:08 86. Francesco Manuel BONGIORNO,

Italy's Giovanni Visconti produced a magnificent solo ride to win an epic 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia as compatriot Vincenzo Nibali consolidated his overall lead.

This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.Movistar's Giovanni Visconti transformed a search for points in the King of the Mountains competition into a superb stage-winning performance, finishing alone in falling snow on the Col du Galibier. Visconti was one of a small group of riders who jumped away near the top of Mont Cenis in the search for mountains points and then increased their advantage on the descent off that climb and the run through the valley to the foot of the Col de Télégraphe. Visconti went clear of the group on the Télégraphe, cleared the summit with a lead of 40 seconds and just about maintained his advantage all the way up to the finish, where snow was steadily falling.Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) easily nullified all attempts to threaten his race lead, finishing in a group with all of his major rivals a minute down on Visconti.