Bike World News

In today’s rest day news, Monfort skips the massage to see new daughter, Contador grows in respect for Lance Armstrong, Moreau announces retirement, Radioshack to focus on Leipheimer and more…

• HTC-Columbia’s Maxime Monfort took advantage of the rest day to fly home to Belgium to spend a little team with his girlfriend and newborn baby daughter. She was not due to come until August, but surprised Dad and Mom on Friday. Monfort left his bags in France, to ensure that he would return.
• Alberto Contador had long said that his team would be the weakness in the moutains, but yesterday, he proved to be the one holding the team back. He admitted to having problems with shortness of breath.
• Contador says that Andy Schleck remains his most dangerous rival. “Last year, he caused problems and this year he will be my most dangerous rival in the mountains,” said the Spaniard, who wasdistanced by the Luxembourger in the last hundred meters. “During the attacks (in the last pass), I could not answer that question, and Schleck attacked. I tried to go but when I saw that they took a few meters, I preferred sit and wait for people behind,” he said.
• Contador says that Armstrong’s downfall only served to increase his respect for the seven time champion: “He really had some bad luck. Yesterday, we lived through an experience that we will never see again. When I saw the repeat of the stage last night on television, I was thinking about all the victories that he has won. He obviously didn’t have his best day. All of the bad luck came together at once. I didn’t enjoy seeing this. I’ve always had a lot of admiration for him. If he finishes this Tour, I will have even more.”

• Carlos Sastre of the Cervelo Test Team is in the position of observing the duel between Schleck and Contador. On his own chances, he said, “At the physical level, I’m fine. After the Giro, I made efforts to return soon despite my back problems. I have not set any definitive objectives for this Tour. I am enjoying the race from a different point of view this year. I am taking it day by day. This Tour is going to be one of resistance. If it stays hot, the Pyrénées are going to be a barbarity. If I have the opportunity, I will try something, but I haven’t made any specific plan. I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to start the Tour.” Asked about the race favorites, he said “This is the first Tour in a long time where there are so many favorites from so many teams with options to win. It’s very wide open. Andy Schleck proved he’s the most explosive right now, I don’t know if he’s the strongest. Cadel Evans is very strong psychologically. It will be very hard to take the yellow jersey away from him.”
• Christophe Moreau of Caisse d’Epargne used the rest day to announce his retirement at the end of 2010. At 39, he says that he wants to turn the page and end his career with style. He admitted that his decision was based in part on Lance Armstrong’s rough day on Sunday.
• Johan Bruyneel said RadioShack will rally its forces around Levi Leipheimer after Lance Armstrong lost all hope of winning the 2010 Tour de France. Armstrong lost 11:45 after a crash at the base of the Col de la Ramaz knocked him out of contention, but Leipheimer kept RadioShack’s podium options alive after he finished safely with the elite group of 13. Leipheimer crossed the line eighth at 10 seconds behind Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) and slotted into eighth overall at 2:14.

Other Bicycle Racing News:

• Skil-Shimano and Tom Veelers have negotiated a two-year extension to the rider’s contract. Currently in his third year at the team, the 25-year-old has now committed to staying at Skil-Shimano until at least the end of the 2012 season. Veelers has continually improved in his time at Skil-Shimano and this season he’s been one of the best Dutch riders in the spring classics.
• The Skil-Shimano cycling team has formed a partnership with Herzog Medical for 2010 and 2011. The riders of the Skil-Shimano team will wear Herzog Medical compression tights commencing 1 June 2010. “In this partnership with this ambitious, modern cycling team the elite riders will benefit from the advantages provided by the Herzog sports compression tights,” says Harald Herzog of Herzog Medical about the partnership.
• Mara Abbott (Boulder, Colo./Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY 12) riding for the USA Cycling Women’s National Development Program, won the overall Giro Donne today in Italy. The 25-year-old soloed to wins in stages 8 and 9 and finished in the main pack in Sunday’s final stage 10 to win the race’s general classification.

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• Max Armstrong prepares for first trip to the Tour de France (0)
• Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador to new teams? – Rest Day News and Notes (1)
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