Vuelta a España 9: Gilbert scores in Barcelona

Gilbert snatched the win from race-leader Rodriguez (Photopress.be)

This article was originally published on on Cyclingnews.com.

After a year of frustration, Philippe Gilbert finally opened his account as a BMC rider when he won stage 9 of the Vuelta a España in Barcelona, outsprinting red jersey Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha). The pair slipped clear on the climb of Montjuic in the finale, belatedly illuminating a stage that had taken the best part of 200 kilometres to ignite.

Rodriguez, a native of Barcelona, was eager to impress on home roads and he shut down an attack from Alessandro Ballan (BMC) before bounding clear of the main peloton with disarming ease on the day’s main strategic difficulty, the 3rd category Montjuic, which came just four kilometres from the finish.

The response from his rivals for overall victory was a sluggish one. Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) had attempted a speculative effort on the approach to the climb but the Spaniard – who returned from suspension in early August – didn’t have the legs to follow that effort up on Montjuic. Chris Froome (Sky) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) were similarly marked absent as Rodriguez stretched out his lead.

It was left to Gilbert and Nicolas Roche (Ag2r-La Mondiale) to try and make up the deficit, with the Belgian eventually leaving Roche behind and inching his way across to Rodriguez’s rear wheel shortly before the summit of the one-kilometre climb. After a brief discussion on the pace-making duties at the beginning of the descent, the pair collaborated smoothly thereafter to carve up the spoils between them.

“The team’s plan was for Alessandro Ballan to attack on the steep climb and I was to wait for the sprint,” Gilbert explained afterwards. “But I realised that the climb was longer than it seemed in the roadbook. Ballan went a bit early and exploded a little, so when I saw Rodriguez up there, I knew I had to follow him. On the last 50 metres of the climb I went full gas and made it across.”

The picturesque descent from the Alto de Montjuic evoked images of the destructive discord between Freddy Maertens and Eddy Merckx at the 1973 world championships, but Gilbert and Rodriguez seemed to quickly understand that they both stood to gain from working together. “I knew he was riding more for the seconds than the win and I knew I would be faster than him in the sprint,” said Gilbert succinctly.

While Rodriguez may harbour some disappointment that he did not triumph on home roads, he had the considerable consolation of buttressing his overall lead still further. A disorganised pursuit behind meant that Froome and Contador both came home 12 seconds down, while the second-placed Rodriguez also picked up an 8-second time bonus for his troubles.

As the Vuelta enters its first rest day, Rodriguez has extended his advantage over Froome to 53 seconds, while he has a minute in hand on Contador, with Valverde a further 7 seconds back in 4th. Rodriguez may be set to struggle in Wednesday’s Pontevedra time trial, but he has prepared accordingly by diligently accumulating seconds over the course of the opening week.

Valkenburg calling

Sandwiched in between the Vuelta’s foray into the Pyrenees and the lengthy rest day transfer across northern Spain, stage 9 seemed destined from the outset to be decided wholly on the streets of Barcelona.

Inside the first kilometre of racing in Andorra, a four-man group featuring Mickael Buffaz (Cofidis), Bert-Jan Lindeman (Vacansoleil-DCM), Javier Chacon (Andalucia) and Martijn Maaskant (Garmin-Sharp) was allowed to go clear, and the quartet dutifully built up a maximum lead of around five minutes without ever threatening to stay clear for the duration.

The break was duly swept up inside the final 25 kilometres thanks to the efforts of a coalition of teams, including Rabobank, Argos-Shimano and BMC, before Katusha began to flex their collective muscle in support of Joaquim Rodriguez in the finale.

As was the case in Andorra on Saturday, and indeed, for much of the 2012 season, Team Sky attempted to take over as the road began to climb on the approach to Montjuic, but their rhythm was upset by Contador’s surprise attack. Although Richie Porte snuffed that move out, the scene was set for aggression on Montjuic, and it was Rodriguez and Gilbert who emerged as the strongest.

For Gilbert, the win comes as something of a liberation after a torrid campaign. Winner of 18 races last season, there has been an inexplicably large gulf between Gilbert’s levels of performance in 2011 and 2012.

“It’s been one year since I last won and I’m very happy to win with BMC,” he said. “It’s a special victory because I had a hard season and I had a lot of criticism from the Belgian press. I never answered but I kept fighting from the beginning of the season to bring the shape back.”

After finding a spark of form on Montjuic, Gilbert will hope to stoke the flames still further as he builds to the world championships in Valkenburg in four weeks’ time. He may yet find Joaquim Rodriguez among his rivals there, although for now, the Catalan has more immediately pressing matters at hand.

Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamPaolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamTomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamDaniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-NissanAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamNacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ-Big MatGorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiGianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamIgor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialePrzemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDBauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamAlberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha TeamLloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamRob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamEros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleAndre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralLars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamJose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankBart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamKevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepBenat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar TeamMaxime Monfort (Bel) Radioshack-NissanMatti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling TeamAndrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - SharpSteve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRobert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamDario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickstepNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeIvan Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiJuan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar TeamSerge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepSergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamJan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-NissanLaurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamMaxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneKoen De Kort (Ned) Argos-ShimanoChristophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - SharpWinner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre - ISDBenoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ-Big MatChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingSergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky ProcyclingPablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar TeamJurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamMichel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpAlessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamKevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Astana Pro TeamMikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiAmets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiDavid De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Caja RuralJuan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiGrégory Rast (Swi) Radioshack-NissanRémi Pauriol (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRuben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiDamiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISDJuan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamAssan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamEgoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneAllan Davis (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeZdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepFredrik Carl Wilhelm Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro TeamAndrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamPim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamJuan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamJavier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Movistar TeamLeonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneTiziano Dall'antonia (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleBrent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing TeamMaciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleMauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing TeamNairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar TeamCayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Liquigas-CannondaleNico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneFlorent Barle (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneMarkel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Radioshack-NissanDenys Kostyuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISDCristiano Salerno (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleBenjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRafal Majka (Pol) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankEgor Silin (Rus) Astana Pro TeamKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamGustavo Cesar Veloso (Spa) AndaluciaElia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleSimon Geschke (Ger) Argos-ShimanoXabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Sky ProcyclingGabriel Rasch (Nor) FDJ-Big MatMatteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeDaniel Teklehaymanot (Eri) Orica - GreenEdgeGert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepDavide Vigano (Ita) Lampre - ISDWilliam Bonnet (Fra) FDJ-Big MatJohn Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-ShimanoJohan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - SharpKristof Vandewalle (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepAlexandre Geniez (Fra) Argos-ShimanoRomain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel - EuskadiHernani Broco (Por) Caja RuralMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneThomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamMartijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamArnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ-Big MatNiki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-QuickstepManuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralSergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankMauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleMaciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleLaurent Didier (Lux) Radioshack-NissanJohannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos-ShimanoAngel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Katusha TeamDenis Menchov (Rus) Katusha TeamJulian Dean (NZl) Orica - GreenEdgeAdam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol TeamVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto Belisol TeamWouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamArnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJ-Big MatXavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Katusha TeamBen Swift (GBr) Sky ProcyclingSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeChristophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeMitchell Docker (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeTony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepGrischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamLinus Gerdemann (Ger) Radioshack-NissanHayden Roulston (NZl) Radioshack-NissanImanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamAmaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamRichie Porte (Aus) Sky ProcyclingPavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha TeamGatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha TeamRafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamRaymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpThomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin - SharpBen Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeThomas Peterson (USA) Garmin - SharpKoldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - SharpAlexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamDanny Pate (USA) Sky ProcyclingThierry Hupond (Fra) Argos-ShimanoDominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-Big MatFrantisek Rabon (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepBruno Pires (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankPieter Weening (Ned) Orica - GreenEdgeJens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamFrederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamMatteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankWesley Sulzberger (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeIan Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingTiago Machado (Por) Radioshack-NissanAitor Galdos Alonso (Spa) Caja RuralAntonio Piedra Perez (Spa) Caja RuralDennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamStef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamDavide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - ISDNicki Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankMikel Landa Meana (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiBlel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La MondialeDavid Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneMikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamRigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky ProcyclingDaniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankJesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankAdrian Palomares Villaplana (Spa) AndaluciaJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaJose Vicente Toribio Alcolea (Spa) AndaluciaRudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneYukihiro Doi (Jpn) Argos-ShimanoJohn Gadret (Fra) AG2R La MondialeSergio Carrasco Garcia (Spa) AndaluciaStephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing TeamCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeYannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamMarco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - ISDJonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa) Movistar TeamJoost Van Leijen (Ned) Lotto Belisol TeamJesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) AndaluciaOlivier Kaisen (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamPablo Lechuga Rodriguez (Spa) AndaluciaBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamOleksandr Kvachuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISDMorris Possoni (Ita) Lampre - ISDDanail Andonov Petrov (Bul) Caja RuralJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralJuan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) AndaluciaTravis Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeMartijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - SharpDaniele Ratto (Ita) Liquigas-CannondalePoints Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamPaolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamTomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamDaniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-NissanAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamNacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ-Big MatGorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiGianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamIgor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialePrzemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDBauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamAlberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha TeamSprint 1 - Cardona, km. 96Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamSprint 2 - Martorell, km. 162Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamMountain 1 - Alto de la Collada de Clarà (Cat. 3) km. 71 Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneMountain 2 - Alto de Montjuic (Cat. 3) km. 193Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeTeamsVacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling TeamGeneral classification after stage 9Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamRobert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeIgor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiLaurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamBauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamPrzemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDEros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleTomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamSergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky ProcyclingWinner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre - ISDAndrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - SharpRinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeSteve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing TeamMaxime Monfort (Bel) Radioshack-NissanBart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamKevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Astana Pro TeamGorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiBenat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar TeamMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralAndre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralMaxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeJuan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar TeamSerge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamAmets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiAndrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamJan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-NissanRémi Pauriol (Fra) FDJ-Big MatMikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiAlberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha TeamSergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamIvan Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiChristophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - SharpJuan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky ProcyclingLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRomain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel - EuskadiTiago Machado (Por) Radioshack-NissanMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRafal Majka (Pol) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankLaurent Didier (Lux) Radioshack-NissanDaniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankFredrik Carl Wilhelm Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro TeamDamiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISDCayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Liquigas-CannondaleHernani Broco (Por) Caja RuralJohn Gadret (Fra) AG2R La MondialeMauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing TeamAlessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamPaolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamBrent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing TeamJuan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamKevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepJurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamMarco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - ISDZdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepJohannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos-ShimanoDenis Menchov (Rus) Katusha TeamKoen De Kort (Ned) Argos-ShimanoCristiano Salerno (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleNairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar TeamDario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickstepMorris Possoni (Ita) Lampre - ISDThomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamPhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamLinus Gerdemann (Ger) Radioshack-NissanDenys Kostyuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISDGianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto Belisol TeamMichel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpJohan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - SharpDavid De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Caja RuralKristof Vandewalle (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepJavier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Movistar TeamAmaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamMatteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeJesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankAlexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeRichie Porte (Aus) Sky ProcyclingMikel Landa Meana (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiSergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankPablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar TeamAlexandre Geniez (Fra) Argos-ShimanoRuben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiTony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepGrischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamJose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamEgor Silin (Rus) Astana Pro TeamThierry Hupond (Fra) Argos-ShimanoAdrian Palomares Villaplana (Spa) AndaluciaBruno Pires (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankGrégory Rast (Swi) Radioshack-NissanMaciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleArnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJ-Big MatBen Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeMarkel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Radioshack-NissanJose Vicente Toribio Alcolea (Spa) AndaluciaRafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaArnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ-Big MatMauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleJuan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingBenjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankSimon Geschke (Ger) Argos-ShimanoAntonio Piedra Perez (Spa) Caja RuralXabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Sky ProcyclingGabriel Rasch (Nor) FDJ-Big MatDaniel Teklehaymanot (Eri) Orica - GreenEdgeLeonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneNico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneSergio Carrasco Garcia (Spa) AndaluciaJesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) AndaluciaNiki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-QuickstepPim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamFlorent Barle (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneLars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamPieter Weening (Ned) Orica - GreenEdgeAssan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamGert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepMatteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankYukihiro Doi (Jpn) Argos-ShimanoGustavo Cesar Veloso (Spa) AndaluciaAngel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Katusha TeamPavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha TeamChristophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeYannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamMartijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamXavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Katusha TeamJohn Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-ShimanoThomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin - SharpGatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha TeamDavid Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneBenoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ-Big MatKoldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - SharpDominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-Big MatPablo Lechuga Rodriguez (Spa) AndaluciaLloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeAdam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol TeamDaniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-NissanElia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleDavide Vigano (Ita) Lampre - ISDEgoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneWouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamWilliam Bonnet (Fra) FDJ-Big MatAllan Davis (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeOleksandr Kvachuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISDDanny Pate (USA) Sky ProcyclingStef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamMaciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleFrederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamThomas Peterson (USA) Garmin - SharpFrantisek Rabon (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepHayden Roulston (NZl) Radioshack-NissanBlel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La MondialeIan Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingJonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa) Movistar TeamImanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamTravis Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeMatti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling TeamOlivier Kaisen (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamDennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamTiziano Dall'antonia (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleMitchell Docker (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeStephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing TeamBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamNacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRaymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpBen Swift (GBr) Sky ProcyclingJulian Dean (NZl) Orica - GreenEdgeNicki Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankDaniele Ratto (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleManuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralDanail Andonov Petrov (Bul) Caja RuralMartijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - SharpDavide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - ISDWesley Sulzberger (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeJens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralAitor Galdos Alonso (Spa) Caja RuralMikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamJuan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) AndaluciaJoost Van Leijen (Ned) Lotto Belisol TeamPoints classificationJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamJohn Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-ShimanoAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingDaniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-NissanElia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankAllan Davis (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeGianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamNacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ-Big MatPhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamBen Swift (GBr) Sky ProcyclingEros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleBauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamTony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRobert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamIgor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiTomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamBenat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar TeamAssan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamPrzemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDRinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LignePaolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamLloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeAndrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - SharpDennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky ProcyclingManuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralLaurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamWinner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre - ISDAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamLinus Gerdemann (Ger) Radioshack-NissanVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto Belisol TeamRaymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpDavide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - ISDLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneThomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamMikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamGorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiMauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing TeamJose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamLeonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneGert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepKoldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - SharpDavide Vigano (Ita) Lampre - ISDJan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-NissanPim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralSergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky ProcyclingRuben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiDominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-Big MatPablo Lechuga Rodriguez (Spa) AndaluciaJuan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar TeamFrantisek Rabon (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepSteve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing TeamAndre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralAlberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha TeamKristof Vandewalle (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepPablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar TeamMarkel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Radioshack-NissanCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeJesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) AndaluciaMartijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamGatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha TeamMaxime Monfort (Bel) Radioshack-NissanJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaJuan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingPieter Weening (Ned) Orica - GreenEdgeJuan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) AndaluciaMountains classificationAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgePim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LignePhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankTony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaAssan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamJesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) AndaluciaThomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRafal Majka (Pol) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankNico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamAmaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamSergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankMikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamCombination classificationJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralPhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeTony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepThomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamAssan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamPim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeJesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) AndaluciaBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamMikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralTeams classificationVacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team

Nectar Hydro tablets review

3 out of 5 stars

"Work as well as any hydration tabs if you like the taste, and offer pretty good value too"

Mon 27 Aug 2012, 12:00 pm BSTBy Triathlon PlusThe Nectar range of sports nutrition products is expanding rapidly and the latest additions are these sports hydration tablets. They come in three different flavours. 

As far as we could tell there’s nothing revolutionary about the ingredients; each tab makes up a hypotonic drink containing five ION electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and calcium). 

They are low calorie, giving just 1.3-2kcal per 100ml, so you can use them alongside other carb products to keep you hydrated during a hot race. 

The instructions that come with the tabs say each one makes a strong drink in 500ml of water and a weaker tasting drink in 750ml water – with the lemon/lime flavour we actually found the more concentrated 500ml impossible to finish, but at a weaker concentration it’s refreshingly sharp. 

Each tube contains 20 tabs, which represents good value.

This article was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine, available on Zinio.

What's the score with BikeRadar reviews? You can find a full explanation of our ratings here.

BikeRadar Deals of the Week – Mountain Bikes

Deals of the Week (BikeRadar)

BikeRadar's weekly round-up of great online MTB deals from our recommended retailers brings you the best mountain biking products for less. BikeRadar discovers a wide range of deals with products including MTB accessories, clothing, tools, components, frames and full road bikes.

In addition to the best cycling deals on the web listed below, we've also added manufacturer descriptions and BikeRadar reviews - so you can make sure you're fully in the picture before parting with your hard-earned cash.

These offers won't last forever though, so be quick if you want to bag yourself a bargain. This page is updated weekly, so why not bookmark the URL and check back next week for more cheap bikes and money saving deals.

Diadora Sprinter 2 Road Shoes (2012) Buy Now from Chain Reaction for £49.00 and save 30%Dawes XC 1.2 Disc Mens Bike (2011) Buy Now from Winstanleys Bikes for £215.99 and save 38%NiteRider Minewt 700 Dual Front Light Buy Now from Wiggle for £150.00 and save 50%Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.1" Evo Double Defence Buy Now from Merlin Cycles for £31.96 and save 29%

Azkargorta regresa a Bolivia

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El español Xabier Azkargorta fue nombrado nuevo seleccionador de fútbol de Bolivia en reemplazo del dimitente Gustavo Quinteros, un cargo conocido por el Bigotón cuando clasificó a La Verde a la Copa Mundial de la FIFA Estados Unidos 1994, informó la Federación boliviana (FBF).

"El presidente de la la FBF, Carlos Chávez, anunció la contratación del profesional Xabier Azkargorta Uriarte como nuevo director técnico de la selección nacional de Bolivia" afirmó la entidad deportiva en un comunicado.

Acotó que "previo a este anuncio el nuevo entrenador se reunió con todos los integrantes del ejecutivo (de la FBF) y del comité de selecciones para intercambiar criterios sobre su plan de trabajo presentado y la ejecución del mismo" para Bolivia.

La FBF informó que "los demás profesionales que lo acompañarán a integrar el cuerpo técnico, hasta la culminación de las actuales eliminatorias, son Marco Antonio Etcheverry, Vladimir Soria y Marco Antonio Sandy, todos ellos en la función de Asistente Técnico" y que fueron parte de la selección que llegó a EEUU.

Disputadas seis fechas de la eliminatoria sudamericana a la Copa Mundial de la FIFA Brasil 2014, Bolivia marcha séptima entre nueve selecciones con 4 puntos, a ocho de Chile, líder del premundial regional.

Experiencia previa
Azkargorta ya ejerció el cargo de seleccionador boliviano entre 1993 y 1994, cuando clasificó por primera vez a la verde a una Copa Mundial de la FIFA y luego pasó, sin éxito, a comandar la selección de Chile.

El técnico español habló la semana pasada sobre las posibilidades de Bolivia, cuando se preguntó: "¿quién me garantiza, mirando los números, que estamos fuera (del Mundial)?".

Azkargorta reemplaza en el cargo al argentino naturalizado boliviano Gustavo Quinteros, quien recientemente fue nombrado como técnico del ecuatoriano Emelec.

En la campaña de Quinteros, durante un año y cuatro meses, Bolivia disputó 18 partidos de los cuales apenas ganó dos, un amistoso y un juego oficial ante Paraguay, en junio en La Paz por la sexta fecha de la eliminatoria sudamericana.

Devinci Dixon RC review

The impeccably engineered French Canadian builders Devinci have created a superb mix of state-of-the-art hard-riding balance and bombproof long-term strength with their Dixon aggro trail bike. 

Ride & handling: Super strong on the trails, if heavy on the climbs

Haven supply a shock-volume reducing shim with the bike, which allows you to create a more progressive spring rate by unscrewing the air can and clipping the shim onto the damper shaft.

The spacer addition isn’t a cut and dried choice. Full volume means more bounce and occasional wallow when you get caught deep in the stroke, but bottom-out is never harsh. The bike swallows square-edged slaps like sweets, and more sag means a lower centre of gravity for extra stability. 

Adding the shim definitely gives a firmer feel through your feet if you’re pushing hard through berms, but it’s more abrupt off big stuff. It still manages to drive forward through rock heaps and step downs as though it’s self-pumping. 

Whether you stay with the stock XV air can or stick the shim in to make knocking the travel indicator less likely, the initial travel is remarkably smooth. Part of this is due to the plush initial stroke of the Split Pivot design. The smooth and easy-free movement of the perfectly aligned bearings (very noticeable if you take the shock out) makes a massive difference, letting the bike glide over small rocks, stutter bumps or roots without skipping a beat or losing traction. 

Add the impressive braking and pedal stroke isolation plus decent ground clearance and the Dixon delivers unerring propulsion whatever’s underneath your wheels. That easy initial movement means you’ll be glad of the shock firming ProPedal lever when you’re grunting up a long, smooth climb though.

The extra beef also makes it less playful to hop and flick about at lower speeds. Get some momentum behind you and the surefooted ground connection and beautifully balanced handling is inspiring. The cockpit dimensions are just right, and while the mid-height BB means it’s not an absolute cornering scythe, it’s clearance means you can get on the power earlier. 

Add in that fluid suspension and it also means you can drive it low through rooty, rocky or rutted ‘natural’ corners without pole vaulting off a stubbed pedal. Even on groomed trail centres you can still leave the brakes off, lean in hard and look for the exit very aggressively – as far as the Kendas let you, in fact. 

Having done several runs with our test Fox 34 fork in place of the 32s, we can also confirm it’s more than stiff enough to team up with a tougher fork. You really don’t want to raise the bottom bracket much higher than it is, though.

Frame & equipment: Functional but heavy 

Devinci have stayed resolutely homegrown. No containers of Far Eastern bikes unboxed, stickered up and bolted together for this company – they go for billet alloy and raw tube stock going in, and finished bikes rolling out the other end, giving them total quality control. 

The Optimum G04 tubeset is triple butted and pressure-formed into curved, box and convex-sided rhomboid tubing to match the loads in each frame section. Convex rectangular section rear stays get cleanly machined, open-ended terminals and an asymmetric junction behind the relatively high main pivot. 

The bearing seats in the mainframe, the rear pivot and the rocker linkage are all final-stage machined once the frame’s been heat treated and assembled. It’s more awkward than machining each piece before putting it together and hoping it stays straight during welding and age hardening, but it means the tolerances in bearing alignment are far more accurate than on most bikes. This translates into a noticeably smooth and easy suspension movement, plus better bearing and shock bushing life. 

Switchable ‘Full Response Geometry’ chucks for the rocker link pivots let you slacken the head and seat angle half a degree and drop bottom bracket and standover height 7mm. 

Devinci have hooked up with renowned suspension engineer Dave Weagle to use his Split Pivot design. This joins the chainstay and seatstays at a concentric pivot around the outside of the 142x12mm bolt-thru rear axle. A rocker link then drives the vertically mounted Fox RP2 shock. 

There are chainguide mounts around the BB and mounts for a remote hose/cable for a dropper post under the top tube. There’s a bottle cage mount on the down tube and the rear brake is post-mount-style for easy alignment. 

Tyre clearance is adequate for a 2.35in tyre in filthy weather or a 2.4in in the dry. It’s not the lightest frame in the 145mm category at 3.17kg (7lb) with shock, but the lifetime warranty shows Devinci are confident they’re more than strong enough. One niggle is the noise from the guide-free gear cable as it clatters around inside the chainstay.

While everything works fine, the frame quality and Canadian origin mean component levels on the complete Dixon RC are par with a mainstream bike several hundred pounds cheaper. The hefty frame and bombproof wheels also mean a chunky overall weight, although adding £250 worth of RockShox Reverb dropper post and a titanium seat collar for £205 is still tempting. It would add another pound or so, but allow you to easily get more from the bike.

There was a definite divide between testers on whether they preferred the shock spaced or full volume with slightly higher pressure, but everyone agreed on the Dixon’s awesome overall balance and performance. If you don’t mind a bit of effort on the climbs to give yourself a big advantage in terms of traction and control on the descents – plus superb hand-built strength – then the Dixon really has to be on your shortlist. 

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.

2013 Orbea Ordu time trial/triathlon bike

2013 Orbea Ordu Time Trial/triathlon Bike - BikeRadar 2013 Orbea Ordu Time Trial/triathlon Bike - BikeRadarSkip menuMain contentSub contentHomeNewsBikes & GearRacingRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoRoadNewsBikes & GearRacingRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoMountain BikingNewsBikes & GearRacingRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoCommutingNewsBikes & GearRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoBeginners & Family NewsBikes & GearRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoTraining & Events Search Training Advice Vuelta a España Magazines You are here: Home news 2013 … bike 2013 Orbea Ordu time trial/triathlon bike 0 comments By Ben Delaney in Boulder, Colorado | Sunday, Aug 26, 2012 8.59pm

The 2013 Orbea Ordu (Courtesy)

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After nearly four years of development, Orbea onSunday released the new Ordu time trial/triathlon bike in Denver. Besidessubstantial gains in aerodynamics over the old Ordu, the new Ordu frames offerhuge adjustability in fit. Also, one model comes with Shimano’s brand newelectric Ultegra Di2 time trial/triathlon wiring system.

One unique feature of the frame is the integratedMonolink stem, which pivots at the steerer tube for 140 degrees of verticaladjustment. Further, each frame ships with four stem lengths (75, 95, 110 and120mm) to dial in handlebar position without a single spacer.

“It’s super clean,” said Orbea USA’s managingdirector Tony Karklins. “There are no spacers, no shims. You don’t have to useany specific handlebars. For a bike fitter, it’s a dream.”

The bike comes in four frame sizes, the smallestof which is a 650c bike. “We’re calling that one a 48cm frame, but it’s muchsmaller than a 700c 48cm bike,” Karklins said.

The bike comes in five models, including the$5,499 GLi2 with the new Shimano Ultegra Di2 time trial/triathlon drivetrain.“We expect this one to be huge,” Karklins said. “With the new Di2 wiring at thenew Ultegra price point, this is going to change the game. Now you can haveelectric time trial and triathlon bikes at a completely new price point.”

The other bikes include the $4.499 Ordu GLT withmechanical Ultegra, the $5,999 Ordu GRD with SRAM Red, the $6,499 Ordu GDR with11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace and, by spring, the GDi2 with 11-speed Dura-Ace Di2.

The integrated Monolink stems feature 140 degrees of vertical adjustment

While many companies have chosen to tuck thefront brake of their TT/tri bikes behind or inside the fork, Orbea stuck with astandard caliper. This move wasn’t out of laziness, however, but theirwind-tunnel work.

“We choose not to go internal on the brakecaliper on the fork, because as we were doing work to put the caliper inside,the fork kept getting less and less aerodynamic,” Karklins said. “Also, thereare lots of great aero calipers out there from Magura, Tetkro and others. Andat the same time, we know the disc brake train is coming for triathlon/TTbikes.”

Each Ordu ships with two tops caps for organizing internal cable routing: one for mechanical systems and one for electric drivetrains

Karklins said that although the bike made hugegains in aerodynamic drag over the previous Ordu, “we still took time to makesure the bike rides the way you want it to ride.”

“You can make some tubes a little too thin, and whileit may look fast, it can compromiseride quality,” Karklins said.

Matching the stem, the Ordu has a Monolinkseatpost, which comes with two kits: one for Monolink single-rail saddle andone for standard dual-rail saddles.

Also, the Ordu is selling with the popular ISMergonomic saddle for the first time.

The bikes will begin shipping in October.

The 2013 Orbea Ordu GRD with SRAM Red

Related articlesOrbea Oiz XC bike announced for 2013Orbea Occam S10 29er - First ride reviewOrbea Orca GDR reviewBehind the scenes at OrbeaPro bike: Georgia Gould’s Orbea AlmaRelated linksOrbeaBikeRadar is not responsible for the content of external websites

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NewsNews archive Most Viewed Most Commented Eurobike 2012: the biggest bicycle trade show is here

BikeRadar's complete coverage means you won't miss a thing

New Continental tires - Eurobike 2012KS eTen seatpost - Eurobike 2012If you build it, they will come - Eurobike 2012Haute Route 6: Fight of my lifeGallery: Pro time trial machines Lance Armstrong won't fight USADA charges

Maintains UCI is only agency with power to ban him

#ShareTheRoadUK - BikeRadar's responseGyroscopic technology to 'revolutionise' way kids learn to ridePipedream Skyline R931 - Just inCreating bikes and parts with a 3D printerVideo round-up: Alex Rafferty vs France Training Log your training

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Guatemala se mantiene con vida (1-1)

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La selección de Guatemala empató 1-1 con su similar de Estados Unidos resultado que avivó sus esperanzas de lograr por primera vez en su historia un boleto a una Copa Mundial de la FIFA de mayores.

Ante un público sediento de triunfos, los Chapines enfrentaron a los estadounidense en el estadio nacional Mateo Flores de la capital guatemalteca, en el partido de ida de la tercera fase eliminatoria de Concacaf para la Copa Mundial de la FIFA Brasil 2014™.

Aunque los guatemaltecos, dirigidos por el paraguayo Ever Hugo Almeida, dominaron el encuentro y pusieron en aprietos en más de cinco ocasiones el arco de los estadounidenses, no lograron concretar en gol ninguno de sus contundentes ataques durante los primeros 45 minutos del encuentro.

Los estadounidenses, sin embargo, en el minuto 39, aprovecharon un fallo de la defensa guatemalteca, y por medio de un derechazo del puntero Clinton Dempsey, se pusieron en ventaja al marcar el 1-0.

La selección guatemalteca, con sus ataques ordenados y de acuerdo a la estrategia diseñada por Almeida, con disciplina y orden dominó el resto del encuentro a los estadounidense que fueron dirigidos por el alemán Juergen Klinsmann, pero sin lograr anotar.

Fue hasta el minuto 82 que el delantero Marco Pappa al marcar un tiro libre con un contundente derechazo venció el arco defendido por Tim Howard, y anotó el gol que le dio el empate a la selección guatemalteca, marcador que le mantiene con vida en la fase clasificatoria.

Obligación de reivindicarse
Guatemala tenía la obligación de reivindicarse ante su público luego de la derrota por 1-2 sufrida el pasado viernes ante Jamaica en Kingston, en la primera jornada del grupo A clasificatoria para el hexagonal final de la Concacaf rumbo a Brasil 2014.

Por su parte, Estados Unidos derrotó de local 3-1 a la selección de Antigua y Barbuda, el otro equipo de este grupo, y está a la cabeza de este cuadrangular, seguido de Jamaica, en tanto que los guatemaltecos están en el tercer puesto.

Según los expertos, Estados Unidos es el favorito para ganar este grupo, que da dos boletos a la hexagonal final de Concacaf.

La última vez que Guatemala jugó contra Estados Unidos en una eliminatoria fue el 19 de noviembre de 2008, para la Copa Mundial de la FIFA Sudáfrica 2010, y los centroamericanos perdieron 2-0 de visita.

Los Chapines continuarán su lucha en busca del sueño mundialista el próximo 7 de septiembre, cuando reciban de local a Antigua y Barbuda, mientras que Jamaica recibirá ese día la visita de Estados Unidos.

Eurobike 2012: New Continental tires

New Continental Tires - Eurobike 2012 - BikeRadar New Continental Tires - Eurobike 2012 - BikeRadarSkip menuMain contentSub contentHomeNewsBikes & GearRacingRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoRoadNewsBikes & GearRacingRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoMountain BikingNewsBikes & GearRacingRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoCommutingNewsBikes & GearRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoBeginners & Family NewsBikes & GearRoutes & RidingFitnessForumVideoTraining & Events Search Training Advice Vuelta a España Magazines You are here: Home news New … 2012 New Continental tires - Eurobike 2012 1 comment By James Huang in Argenbühl, Germany | Tuesday, Aug 28, 2012 3.48pm

New for 2013 from Continental is a tubular version of the rear and front-specific Force and Attack - simply called Force Comp and Attack Comp. Like the clincher versions, the tubulars feature a 22mm-wide casing up front but a more generous 24mm-wide rear casing for claimed better handling, lower rolling resistance and improved wear as compared to matched 23mm tires (James Huang/Future Publishing)

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Some of the first products BikeRadar saw at the Eurobike 2012 Demo Day were the new road, mountain and cyclocross tires from Continental. Here's what we found.

Lighter and tougher road models

Continental's successful Attack and Force clincher tires will be joined in 2013 by a set of tubulars with similar front- and rear-specific designs, called Attack Comp and Force Comp.

Just as with the tube-type version, the new tubulars feature a 22mm width up front and a more generous 24mm out back. Continental says this provides better handling, more efficient power transfer, decreased rolling resistance and better wear.

Both tires are built with the company's outstanding Black Chili rubber compounds and are reinforced with Vectran breaker belts. Claimed weight is 500g for the matched tubular set.

On the clincher side there's a new Grand Prix GT, which offers a smoother ride with its sole 700x25mm size option. It also boasts enhanced puncture protection with three layers of bead-to-bead belting.

The Continental Grand Prix GT road tire, new for 2013

The original Attack and Force clinchers remain largely the same for 2013 but lose about 20g for the pair through revised tread shaping.

New MTB treads for racing

Continental also debuted a radical Speed King tire that's solely aimed for racing on hardpacked (or paved) conditions. The new semi-slick is said to produce 18 percent less rolling resistance than the already-fast Race King, while the modest shoulder knobs and (very) subtle center tread still supposedly provide reasonable grip at appropriately low air pressures.

Despite the barely-there tread, Continental product manager Christian Wurmbäck claims the Speed King will still last most riders about 1,500km. Claimed weight is just 430g in the lone 26x2.2in size.

Downhillers, on the other hand, will get the new Der Kaiser Rammstein Projekt (US$84.95) with pared-down center knobs for reduced rolling resistance but the same trapezoidal-shaped shoulder knobs as the standard Der Kaiser for tenacious and progressive cornering grip.

The new Der Kaiser Rammstein Projekt

Additionally, two-ply construction and a new Apex sidewall reinforcement ward off flats while also lending extra casing support under high load. Claimed weight is 1,150g.

Elsewhere in the MTB sector it's mostly a story of expanded size ranges. For example, the Mountain King and X-King will now both come in a giant 29x2.4in to address the growing 29er trail bike market.

Meanwhile, the Race King will be offered in new 29x2.2in Sport, 29x2.0in RaceSport and 26x2.0in RaceSport variants.

And yes, Continental will offer 27.5in mountain bike tires, but for now only in the X-King tread and 2.2in and 2.4in widths. Both are built on the ProTection Revolution tubeless ready casing and with Black Chili rubber.

Conti debuts production of cyclocross tubulars

We've been playing with prototype Continental cyclocross tubulars for more than three seasons now but the German company is finally ready to launch production versions. They will be using their own casings (previous ones were made by Challenge) and new tread designs adapted from the Continental mountain bike range.

At least for now, the new CycloXKing (US$124.95, UK pricing TBC) will be the sole tubular offering with a 700x32mm, 180tpi casing and a fast rolling, versatile tread derived from the mountain bike X-King.

The CycloXKing tubular tyre

Related articlesContinental Grand Prix tyres reviewContinental Mud King 2.3in DH tyre reviewContinental Grand Prix TT tyres – Just inContinental Grand Prix 4 Season road tyre reviewContinental Mud King 1.8in mountain bike tyre reviewContinental Grand Prix TT tyres review

Most importantly, Continental will build the tread using its Black Chili compound. We expect it to provide similarly impressive levels of grip, speed, and durability as on other so-equipped tires. In fact, Continental specifically claims 30 percent more grip, 26 percent less rolling resistance, and five percent better wear than standard activated silica treads. Claimed weight is 390g and tires should be in stores by the end of September.

A corresponding clincher version – simply called CycloXKing – will be available in both 32mm and 35mm-wide sizes with claimed weights ranging from 320-450g. Suggested retail price is US$54.95 (UK pricing TBC).

Muddy courses will instead call for the new Mountain King CX, built with a tube-type clincher casing but a more aggressive and open tread designed to cut through the slop into the firmer ground underneath.

As with the CycloXKing, the Mountain King CX will be available only in a 32mm width. Claimed weight is 320g.

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Back to top Email to a friend You might also like...Continental Carbon Rim Cement tubular tire glueHutchinson launch seven new tiresTrek World Racing on Bontrager tires in 2012?Continental unveil new Grand Prix TT tyreSea Otter 2012 component round-up: Continental to WTB User CommentsThere is 1 comment on this post

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BG2000Posted Tue 28 Aug, 4:52 pm BST Flag as inappropriate

" And yes, Continental will offer 27.5in mountain bike tires "

eh ? do you mean 650c ?

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