Cycling

Two of the UK’s biggest motoring schools, the AA and BSM, will give learner drivers dedicated instruction on how to drive safely around cyclists. AA president Edmund King said today that instructors in both schools would take a module to standardise and improve teaching learner drivers about cyclist safety. Learners will also be taken through a worksheet to help them drive more carefully and considerately near riders. “I am personally committed to breaking down the ‘two tribes’ attitude displayed between some drivers and cyclists. Often we are the same people,” King said. “This new module means we now have a standardised approach to teaching learners how to drive safely around cyclists from two of the country’s leading driving schools. I am convinced that this initiative will change attitudes and save lives.”The AA and BSM instructor module covers dos and don’ts for driving around cyclists, and includes guidance for teachers to help get the message across. The pupil worksheet sets out facts about cyclists on the roads, and encourages learners to think about the care, courtesy and consideration they should afford riders.In September last year, Red Driving School surveyed its instructors and found that 75 percent favoured the introduction of a cyclist awareness module into the driving test. The news comes in the same week that young driver Emma Way hit a cyclist and later boasted about it on Twitter, saying she had right of way because she paid road tax. She apologised yesterday. The AA and BSM are part of AA Driving Services.

This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.Danilo Di Luca has returned a positive test for EPO in an out-of-competition control carried out on April 29, the Monday before the Giro d’Italia began.The veteran Italian had belatedly signed for Vini Fantini-Selle Italia the previous week after being left without a team when Acqua & Sapone folded at the end of the 2012. He made his return to racing on April 27 at the GP Larciano, finishing in 10th place.Vini Fantini directeur sportif Luca Scinto confirmed the news of Di Luca's positive for EPO to Cyclingnews."It's true," Scinto said in a quiet, sad voice. "He's mad, he's a cretino, he needs treatment. There's nothing else to say. We gave him a second chance and the sponsors put their faith in him and this is how he pays us back. It's crazy that a rider thinks they can get away with it like that."Di Luca did not answer his phone when contacted by Cyclingnews.Di Luca previously tested positive for CERA at the 2009 Giro d’Italia and was handed a two-year suspension, subsequently reduced to 15 months after he apparently provided information on doping methodologies to the Italian Olympic Committee.The 37-year-old Italian also served a three-month suspension in 2007 for his implication in the Oil for Drugs doping investigation centred around Dr. Carlo Santuccione. He had also been prevented from riding the 2004 Tour de France for the same reason.Di Luca’s 2007 Giro d’Italia victory was also mired in controversy when he returned a suspect sample after the Zoncolan stage – the so-called “pipì degli angeli” – although he subsequently escaped sanction.In spite of the fact that he had only two days of racing in his legs before this year’s Giro, Di Luca put in a series of eyebrow-raising performances at the race. He came close to stage victory after a late attack on the road to Serra San Bruno on stage 4 and was also aggressive in the finale to Vicenza.Di Luca had also put in a startling bout of pace-making on the Jafferau in support of teammate Mauro Santambrogio on stage 14.Speaking to Cyclingnews earlier in the Giro, Di Luca insisted that his strong performances were explicable by “training well all winter” and said that he hoped to continue racing for two more years.In recent days, reports in the Italian media had linked Di Luca with a move to Astana for the 2014 season.

Timmy Duggan won the 2012 U.S. road title with a brash, solo attack. Along with women's champion Megan Guarnier, he'll look to repeat on Monday. Photo: Casey B. Gibson | www.cbgphoto.comThe new-look U.S. professional road championships are set to kick off on Saturday in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with wide-open men’s and women’s fields, equal prizes, and live video coverage. National champions Megan Guarnier (Rabobank) and Timmy Duggan (Saxo-Tinkoff) face tall orders in their repeat bids, but a win in Chattanooga could be the highest profile national title since the race moved out of Philadelphia almost a decade ago. After seven years in Greenville, South Carolina, the Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial National Championships will debut in Chattanooga this weekend. The event, the first in which the men’s and women’s professional races will coincide at the same location, promises fans both twice the action and unprecedented broadcast coverage — including a live telecast of the men’s road race and streaming online and mobile coverage of both events. The men’s and women’s time trials will be held Saturday, May 25, with road races scheduled for Monday, May 27. Defending road race champions Duggan and Guarnier will both be on hand to defend their distinctive champions’ jerseys, each adorned with the stars and stripes of the United States. They’ll be fighting for the same prize money as well, as the event is offering equal payouts to the top 20 in each race. Despite its new locale, the road course features a familiar format, with beginning and ending circuits through downtown Chattanooga separated by 16.1-mile laps, each including a three-mile climb of Lookout Mountain (1,150 feet of elevation gain). The men will complete the climb four times for a total distance of 100.6 miles, with the women completing two laps (63.1 miles). Though eager to stage a defense of his title, Duggan admitted his year in the stars and stripes has been less than ideal. The Saxo rider, a resident of Nederland, Colorado, suffered a broken tibia and collarbone during stage 3 of January’s Santos Tour Down Under. Early season injuries aside, Duggan considers Monday’s defense a major priority. “Winning the national championship has meant a lot to me,” he told VeloNews. “It’s an honor you’re reminded of each day when you put that jersey on. I’m sure hoping to win again in Chattanooga. I do not want to give my jersey back.” Duggan returned to racing at April’s Presidential Tour of Turkey and arrives in Tennessee fresh off of the Amgen Tour of California. Like her male counterpart, women’s road champion Megan Guarnier plans a vigorous, albeit solo, defense. In late 2012, the New York native became the first American woman to sign with the Rabobank squad of world champion and Olympic gold medalist Marianne Vos. For Guarnier, who was named to the long team for the 2012 Summer Olympics — but ultimately not to the team — the chance to wear the stars and stripes was an opportunity to regain her confidence. “It was an emotional roller coaster of a year, but wearing that jersey has been amazing,” she said. “There’s a lot to road racing that’s unpredictable. [Winning again] will be hard, but I’ve come to Chattanooga to give it my best.” Though they’ve never met, the defending road champions will share more than a jersey this weekend. Each is the lone American representative for a European squad. In Guarnier’s case, this means her Tennessee support team consists of a party of one: her fiancé. Duggan, who will also be without his team’s logistical support, has made plans to partner with former Cannondale teammate Ted King and 2011 champion Matthew Busche (RadioShack-Leopard) — all three are without teammates, with RadioShack’s Chris Horner and 2010 champion Ben King set to miss the race with injuries. But don’t expect the loose alliance the trio have dubbed “Team No Team” to extend to the road. Busche told VeloNews that all bets

Currently an unknown quantity in most riders’ eyes, Cole may become better recognised thanks to a recent distribution deal with Evans Cycles. The Aries 920 are Cole’s mid-range cross-country wheels. At 1,910g a pair they aren’t the lightest, but you do get rim tape, skewers, six-bolt disc adapters and 9mm/15mm axle adaptors. The 21mm anodised aluminium rims are laced with 28 double-butted spokes, and each spoke is treaded at both ends – the hub end threads into a replaceable brass barrel. The aim is increased strength, but it does mean spoke replacement is very specific. Both hubs are Centrelock and run silky smooth thanks to well-sealed cartridge bearings. Once rolling, the nice noisy ticking of the freehub is reminiscent of a Pro 2 – even if the engagement isn’t. The nearest comparisons to the Aries 920 are the Mavic Crossride wheels, which are two-thirds of the price and slightly lighter, although they’re blessed with bladed spokes. The Aries are versatile and attractive, but otherwise unremarkable. This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

It's been chucking it down all night so there's no chance of racing today. read more

Vini Fantini rider out of Giro

Friday's 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia has been cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.

Snow and cold weather to blame

Hands up those of you who are addicted to For Goodness Shakes? These popular milkshakes are sold as recovery drinks but work just as well as a nutritious snack any time of the day. Their combination of carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and minerals is ideal for getting you refuelled and repaired for your next training session.If you're after a sports drink then NECTAR by For Goodness Shakes is worth checking out. It's a 2:1 mix of glucose and fructose containing five electrolytes to keep your energy and hydration levels up while cycling. It's available as a concentrate that you can mix to your desired strength, as well as energy gels and carbohydrate-free hydration tablets.This week BikeRadar has partnered with Athlete Store - the official outlet for For Goodness Shakes and NECTAR - to offer our readers 25% off purchases of a great range of their nutritional products. Visit athletestore.co.uk, select your products and enter the voucher code BIKE25 at the checkout to claim your discount. The offer is applicable worldwide subject to shipping costs, but if you live in the UK you can get free delivery for orders of over £30 after the discount is applied. It's valid until 2 June and doesn't apply to POLAR items, Nectar Concentrate Micro Tank (15 X 50ml), Samples and Starter Kits, except the Deluxe Starter Kit (£20.09). Fuel cycling with For Goodness Shakes and NECTAR

Carousel short title: Garmin Edge 510 Price: £299.99 Gallery Image Reference: Garmin 510 on stem 2 Gallery Reference: Garmin Edge 510 Just In The new Garmin Edge 510 is a reasonably compact GPS-based bike computer that can work alongside a smartphone to provide interesting features like LiveTracking – where your family and friends can follow your position and performance online. Road.cc verdict: Very clever GPS bike computer that's relatively easy to use, but only worth the price hike over the Edge 500 if you're going to use alongside a smartphone Road.cc rating: 8 Weight: 82g Contact: http://www.garmin.com/en-GB read more