All of your cycling news – January 21, 2010

In today’s cycling news, Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador take diplomatic tones, heat a major factor at the Tour Down Under and Liquigas promising transparency…

• Stage 3 of the Tour Down Under was hot, with rolling hills keeping things interesting.
  • Lance Armstrong said of the stage, “Ouch”, but added that he felt better than he has recently.
  • George Hincapie tweeted that temperatures were over 100 degrees.
  • Race leader Andre Greipel suffered from cramps throughout the ride, but finished in 23rd, close enough to hang on to the ochre leader’s jersey.
  • Team Sky’s Chris Froome likened the stage to riding in a sauna. Teammate Davide Vigano said that the heat was a major factor. He found himself leading Team Sky to the finish as other teammates faltered in the final kilometers.
• Manuel Cardoso was able to power through the uphill finish even as the sprinters faltered. Cardoso’s victory makes this the second victory for the Footon-Servetto team early in the season. His teammate Rafael Valls won the 2nd stage of the Tour de San Luis earlier this week.
• Aussie fans were glad to see their World Champ Cadel Evans hanging tight at the front of the race.
• Alberto Contador likes being the center of attention at the mostly new Astana team. He enjoys holding the sole position of Grand Tour contendor and the infusion of new talent to support his efforts. When asked about his relationship with Lance Armstrong, Contador said: “I have great respect for him as a rider and competitor. And you never know what can happen in life.” Contador added that Armstrong was among a group of ten riders that could be favorites for the 2010 Tour de France.
• Over the weekend, Lance Armstrong told reporters that the Astana team was not as weak as some would think and that it is strong enough to help Contador to a repeat win. He added, “If I was Contador, I would not be afraid of Lance.”
• Armstrong says that he will likely have to employ new tactics to win his 8th Tour de France, saying that he will be “calculating and maintain a more restrictive stance.”
• Liquigas is throwing open its doors to the media and will make themselves available during five training camps. “We do this intentionally,” says team manager Roberto Amadio.”We have nothing to hide. Journalists can see everything, experience everything. I believe that this approach may represent an important contribution to the sport’s credibility…”
• 26 year old former German time trial champion Charlotte Becker has officially signed with the Cervelo Test Team. She comes from the downscaled Noris Cycling (former Equipe Nurnberger) squad.
• HTC-Columbia’s Mark Renshaw, a key member of Mark Cavendish’s leadout train, is down for the early part of the season with the Epstein-Barr virus. He will still be allowed to do light training, but competition is out of the question.
• Details of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2011 will be announced Tuesday in Vendée during a press conference by Philippe de Villiers, President of General Council and Christian Prudhomme, Tour director.

Other Results:

• Albert Loddo (Diquigiovanni) took the third stage of the Tour de San Luis over Danilo Napolitano and Nick Swisher.
• Nicolas Rousseau (AG2R-La Mondiale) won the third stage of the Tour of Gabon over Amaël Moinard (Cofidis) and Ian McLeod (MTN Cycling Team).

Tags: 2010 tour de france, Ag2r, andre greipel, astana, cadel evans, cervelo, cervelo test team, chris froome, Cofidis, Danilo Napolitano, George Hincapie, Lance Armstrong, Liquigas, Mark Cavendish, Mark Renshaw, Team Sky, tour down under