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.

Did Vinokourov pay off his rival?

Alexander Vinokourav might have retired from professional cycling, but there are a few controversies surrounding him that refuse to die down.

During the ending months of last year, the Olympic gold medallist was accused of paying off a rival in order to secure the pole position in the one day classic race which was held in Belgium in the year 2010. The accusation was brought forth by an Italian daily.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera had reported that Vinokourav had made a payment of $120,000 to Russian rider Alexandr Kolobhev and asked him to ease off during the last sprint at the Liege-Bastonge-Liege Classic, 2010. To support its claim, the newspaper had published emails that prove that the race was fixed and Vinokourav and Kolobhev had exchanged bank details between themselves. The newspaper had also claimed that the Swiss authorities had provided the details of the bank transfer.

Vinokourav’s win in the 2010 race was first after serving a two year ban for blood doping during the 2007 edition of the Tour de France. During the race, he had finished six seconds ahead of Kolobhev. The details of this alleged fixing were handed over to the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the authorities in Belgium.

According to the reports, the first email was sent on the 26th of April, 2010, one day after the race from Kolobhev to Vinokourav. In the mail Kolobhev said that though he had a great chance, he did not do it (win the race) not for the contract but for the position which Vinokourav was in. He said that he was waiting patiently and also gave Vinokourav his transfer details and asked him to delete the mail.

Vinokourav has responded to this mail 12 days later and said to Kolobhev that he had done everything right. Vinokourav also wrote that he will take care of everything.