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When Alexander Vinokourov derailed the British

Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan broke free and snatched the title of the men’s cycling road race from the British team frantically trying to set up a win for Mark Cavendish, the world champion. It happened in the London Olympic when he overtook Rigoberto Uran of Colombia near the Buckingham Palace and that left a one minute gap for the star British team to deal with in which they failed collectively.

Born Alexander Nikolaevich Vinokourov on 17th September, 1973 in Kazakhstan, he is the General Manger of Astana, the UCI Pro Team and retired rider now.  He has for his career credits two  world championship bronze medals, four Tour de France stage wins, four stage wins in Vuelta a España and  the 2006 overall title, one Amstel Gold Race, two Liege Bastogne Liege monuments and the now legendary 2012 London Olympics Gold in the men’s road race. He was also a double medal winner at summer Olympics and the past national champion and world known celebrity of Kazakhstan.

Vinokourov turned professional in 1998 after he moved to France to finish his career as an amateur rider a year before. During Tour de France 2007 he was found blood-doping and the entire Astana team had to pay the price of withdrawing from the race.

He returned back in 2009 after serving the two year suspension to take part in competitions and cycled for his cherished team Astana and his country. He met with a crash in the Tour de France 2011 and it was serious enough to put a question on his cycling career.

However Vinokourov made his intention clear with the announcement of his continuance for another season in 2012 keeping in mind the London Olympic Games. He proved a nightmare for the much touted British team and made the gold for men’s road race his own after he dramatically won it.

Sagan Is Expected To Participate

The Slovakian cycling star, Peter Sagan is most probably going to be associated with the Tour of Alberta this year. Sagan has won many prestigious races at the age of twenty-three because of which he is considered to be one of the most promising and talented young cyclist.

He has won stages in races such as Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriatico, Tour de Romandie, Tour de Pologne, Tour of California, Tour de Suisse and Giro di Sardegna. Along with these he has won four stages of the Tour de France and three stages of Vuelta a Espana. Sagan’s victories signify that he is in fact the best sprinter Team Cannondale has ever had. Continue reading Sagan Is Expected To Participate

Charteau intends to retire soon

Former Tour de France mountains jersey winner Anthony Charteau has decided to call an end to his career, with the 34 year oldest to hang up his wheels after contesting the Tour de Vandée on October 6th.

The French rider is at an age when several others carry on, but he showed family reasons as top factor in his decision.

Recently, he told that the idea of stopping has been running through his head since previous winter. He loves this sport, but it has started to cost him. He feels like he as have not seen his kids grow up. The pattern of races leaves very less chance for riders of his kind, the baroudeurs. He could not go back to his 2010 level.

That 2010 season was Anthony Charteau’s best season, with the cyclist receiving the King of the Mountains jersey in Tour de France. He also took the 1st in a series of 3 overall victories in Tropicale Amissa Bongo cycle race. Even though, he also became victorious in the African event in year 2011 and 2012, and took other victories such as a stage in Route du Sud 2011 as well as win this year on stage – 4 of Tour de Normanie, he has been less visible.

Charteau also did not complete the Tour de France since the year 2011. That year he helped his teammate Thomas Voeckler to defend the yellow jersey for most of the race. Charteau knows quite well that his cyclking career has been waning, and he wants to go out rather than stay for long time. He told that he want to stop with the memory that he did not do 1 season too much.