GreenEdge storm the European cycling castle

Overnight, Australia's professional cycling team, GreenEdge, stormed to victory in its first ever competitive team time trial in stage one of the week long Tireno-Adriatico. This tour, often called the Race of Two Seas, is a seven stage tour held early in the cycling season and is generally the lead up race to the San-Remo classic.

GreenEdge blew away rivals like the Big Bad Wolf. The RadioShack-Nissan team, featuring four time world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara, were no match finishing second a whopping 17 seconds behind GreenEdge over the 16.9km course. The manner of the victory was even more comprehensive given that Cadel Evans, last year's winner of this tour, and his BMC team finished in 16th position more than 1minute behind GreenEdge.  

If the European cycling super teams didn't think much of GreenEdge's entry into the cycling big time, they do now. Yes it is early days, but GreenEdge's intentions are clear....the boxing kangaroo on two wheels is here to shake up the establishment.

Lance Armstrong has the Sh*ts

Lance Armstrong's 2010 Tour De France preparations have been thrown into disarray with the cancer survivor spending more time on the porcelain throne than in the saddle.

Armstrong has been struck down with a severe case of gastroenteritis with only 2 months before the Tour commences and with no sign that he will recover quickly, there are doubts that he will make the start line in competitive condition. Armstrong was in the middle of the four-day Circuit de la Sarthe race, in the north-west of France when the illness struck. The bout was so bad that Armstrong returned home to his native Texas and has spent the last week recovering.

Armstrong recently tweeted that he was"Not so lucky I guess. Sicker than a dog now. This sucks." He has only just started eating food again. As such, serious questions now have to raised as to how ready Armstrong will be for the Tour. That said, if anyone has the willpower and determination to overcome the odds, Armstrong is a good bet.

Le Tour - Stage 4

Last night saw the team time trial stage (absent from the tour since 2005) which at times resembled an episode of 'Its a knockout' or 'Wipeout'. 

The crashes were spectacular (see team BBox) and comical (see Menchov, Ballan and Van Den Broeck), and ultimately affected some of the serious contenders, namely Evans, Menchov and Sastre.

What the stage also illustrated was the potential rift that could undermine Astana's tour aspirations. During the warm up the tension between Armstrong and Contador was more obvious that Dolly Parton's cleavage in a bikini.  Whilst you cannot argue with Armstrong's desire to succeed, you have to empathise for Contador who must be feeling like the black sheep with so many people cheering for his 'number 2' rider Armstrong. It will be interesting to see if Armstrong continues with his surge at the expense of his own team mate or whether he learns to take a back seat and do the role that he was apparently hired to do, that is, help Contador to win the Tour.

Last nights results were:

1. Astana 46 minutes 29 seconds
2. Garmin-slipstream + 18 secs
3. Saxo-Bank +40 secs
4. Liquigas +58 secs
5. Columbia + 59 secs

Overall standings:

1. Cancellara (Swi/Saxo Bank) 10 hrs 38 mins 7 secs
2. Armstrong (US/Astana) same time
3. Contador (Spa/Astana) +19 secs
4. Kloden (Ger/Astana) +23 secs
5. Leipheimer (US/Astana) +31 secs

http://www.letour.fr/us/homepage_courseTDF.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/cycling/article6659958.ece

Le Tour - Day 1

Well the Tour beginning lived up to the hype.

Of the pre-race favourites Armstrong started very well, as to did Contador and Evans. There was, however, no surprise with the winner of the stage. Swiss time trial maestro and reigning Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara blew away the field, racing around the challenging circuit in 19mins 32 secs - a massive 18 seconds faster than 2nd placed Contador.

The top ten were as follows:

1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi/Saxo Bank) 19mins 32sec
2. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana) +18 secs
3. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +19 secs
4. Andreas Kloeden (Ger/Astana) +22 secss
5. Cadel Evans (Aus/Silence-Lotto) +23 secs
6. Levi Leipheimer (US/Astana) +30 secs
7. Roman Kreuziger (Cze/Liquigas) +32 secs
8. Tony Martin (Ger/Columbia) +33 secs
9. Vincenzo Nibali (It/Liquigas) +37 secs
10. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +40 secs

Tonight we head to the Provence region. Can Cancellara hold on to the yellow jersey or will the his team surrender it after just one day.....

Le Tour de France 2009

Tonight the Tour De France kicks off in the principality of Monaco. Otherwise known as the tax haven for the stinking rich and the heaven of all heavens for gold diggers.

Australia has a fair representation in the race, although Cadel Evans, and perhaps Michael Rogers, remain Australia's only realistic hopes of finally claiming the yellow jersey for more than just a loan period.

Yes, there is all the hype about Armstrong returning and whether he and Contador can gel together in the same team, but there are also a number of other issues about the race, not the least being who are the favourites for the race. Many betting agencies have Contador, Armstrong, Evans and Menchov as near favourites, whilst last years' winner, Sastre, is a bit off the pace already.

Importantly, if the 37 year old retiree (Armstrong) can come off a 4 yr retirement, which included running 3 marathons and numerous celebrity dates, and claim the yellow jersey it will be a slight against the abilities of the other cyclists in the race but at the same time underline Armstrong's own incredible drive to succeed.

The Tour kicks off with the 15.5km time trial tonight, which will sort out the men from the boys early on with a demanding hill section mid time trial, and over the race Full Time Sports will keep you up to date with the results and breaking news.

http://www.letour.fr/us/homepage_courseTDF.html