terça-feira, 31 de agosto de 2010

Ford Ironman Louisville 2010



Ambrose and Keat take Kentucky and Marques takes fifth.....


Kevin Mackinnon recaps the day that saw Paul Ambrose and Rebeka Keat win Ford Ironman Louisville


Ambrose and Keat take KentuckyBorn in Great Britain but raised in Australia, Paul Ambrose (pictured being interviewed by Mike Reilly, photo courtesy Action Sports International) helped to make it feel like a day for the Aussies as he captured his first Ironman title today while Rebekah Keat, who has always called Australia her home claimed her second official Ironman title. Both used stellar bike splits to ride away from their competition to take the race run in Louisville's hot and humid conditions.
Even at 5AM this morning the temperature here in Louisville was 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius) – and it only warmed up from there. The athletes swam in the 84 degree waters of the Ohio River – the last time that speed suits will be allowed in an Ironman event – and then took on the challenging bike course as the temperature and humidity steadily rose.

After exiting the water about three-minutes behind swim leader John Flanagan (a former winner of the Waikiki Rough Water Swim in his home town of Honolulu), Ambrose gradually took control of the race thanks to the day’s fastest bike split that put him over 12 minutes ahead of Denmark’s Martin Jensen and Australian Jason Shortis entering T2. Shortis would eventually walk much of the run due to stomach issues, while Jensen remained in second position for the entire marathon. Max Longree, in his first major race since getting hit by a car three days before last year’s Ford Ironman Arizona race, ran his way to third.

5bc8ccb548f42e9a7f64f1d92131e5cc.jpg

Paul Ambrose 26 GBR 48:39/ 4:31:36/ 3:05:09/ 8:29:59
Martin Jensen 27 DEN 48:39/ 4:44:43/ 3:03:36/ 8:41:54
Max Longree 29 GER 1:00:14/ 4:49:09/ 2:55:28/ 8:50:10
Patrick Evoe 33 USA 56:07/ 4:48:06/ 3:03:40/ 8:53:14
Sergio Marques 30 PRT 57:30/ 4:53:07/ 3:08:56/ 9:05:04

Keat, fresh off a win at an Ironman distance race two weeks ago, also used the day’s fastest bike split to arrive at T2 well ahead of her competition. With a nine-minute lead over Caitlin Snow (who chose not to do the run today) and a lead of about 14 minutes over Americans Kim Loeffler and Bree Wee, an obviously fatigued Keat held on through the run. Loeffler quickly moved into second place and tried to chase down the Australian leader. Having dealt with stomach issues early in the day, Loeffler’s charge for the front eventually stalled at the 20-mile point of the marathon, at which point Keat, who was suffering calf-cramps, cruised in to take the title with an 11-minute-plus cushion. Wee held on for third, while age group athlete Whitney Henders took fourth overall, just ahead of Denmark’s Lisbeth Kristensen.

b7975cbd5aa3b9ce077c03c7e702abc3.jpg
Women's top five:Rebekah Keat 30 AUS 55:36/ 5:08:25/ 3:23:50/ 9:33:15
Kim Loeffler 38 USA 1:04:29/ 5:13:25/ 3:21:08/ 9:44:23
Bree Wee 31 USA 55:32/ 5:22:21/ 3:26:17/ 9:50:35
Whitney Henderson 30 USA 66 57:53/ 5:19:53/ 3:39:32/ 10:04:29 (AGE GROUP)
Lisbeth Kristensen DEN 49 56:11/ 5:22:31/ 3:46:45/ 10:12:06

Over 2,500 athletes competed at today’s race.

segunda-feira, 30 de agosto de 2010

Rudisha melhora recorde dos 800 metros....




 
O queniano David Rudisha voltou a melhorar o recorde do Mundo dos 800 metros, apenas uma semana depois de ter destronado o dinamarquês Wilson Kipketer, que detinha a marca (1.41,11 m) anterior há 13 anos.

Bateu o máximo correndo em 1.41,09 m e, no meeting de Rieti (Itália), registou 1.41,01 m, menos oito centésimos de segundo do que fizera no dia 22, em Berlim.

«Sabia que estava em forma e as condições eram perfeitas. Ambicionava bater dois recordes em sete dias», admitiu o atleta de 21 anos - filho do vice-campeão olímpico na estafeta 4x400 m dos Jogos México-1968, Daniel Rudisha. «Agora quero voltar à preparação para os Campeonatos do Mundo do próximo ano», acrescentou Rudisha, que ficou pelas meias-finais nos Mundiais de 2009 e deseja também lutar pelo título olímpico nos Jogos Londres-2012.
Por Sofia Coelho

quinta-feira, 26 de agosto de 2010

Vuelta a España 2010

It starts saturday with a night TT...


official site

domingo, 22 de agosto de 2010

Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines 2010

Jacobs Rules Cobra Ironman 70.3



Pete Jacobs of Sydney, Australia withstood the hot and humid weather to win in the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines in the CamSur Watersports Complex. Jacobs timed 3:58:41
“It feels so nice to win it. This is my first win in the 70.3 distance. This (Cobra Ironman) is my favorite race. The support was non-stop. It was a little bit disorienting. You couldn’t tell whether you were inside the town or outside. There were always so many people. The cheering was non-stop,” said Jacobs.
Placing second behind the 29-year-old Jacobs was last year’s champion Terenzo Bozzone, 25, who timed 4:05:54. Jacobs had to outlast Bozzone, of Auckland, New Zealand, in the run leg, even trailing the former champion briefly early in the run.
Thirty year old Fredrik Croneborg of Sundborn, Sweden, took home third place with a time of 4:14:36.

Magali Tisseyre of Canada, 2009 Ironman 70.3 Boise champion, won the women’s category. She timed 4:27:01. Michellie Jones of Australia, 2006 Ironman World Champion and 2000 Olympic silver medalist, grabbed second place. She had a time of 4:29:23. Rachael Paxton, with a time of 4:42:38, took third place.
MEN

1 JACOBS, PETE 1/1/1 29/MPRO 00:24:52 02:09:29 01:21:15 03:58:41
2 BOZZONE, TERENZO 2/2/2 25/MPRO 00:25:03 02:09:24 01:28:28 04:05:54
3 CRONEBORG, FREDRIK 5/4/3 30/MPRO 00:27:14 02:14:29 01:29:04 04:14:36
4 GRIFFIN, LEON 3/3/4 30/MPRO 00:26:15 02:08:26 01:39:27 04:17:30
5 OGDEN, COURTNEY 4/5/5 38/MPRO 00:27:08 02:19:48 01:30:02 04:21:00

WOMEN

1 TISSEYRE, MAGALI 2/1/1 29/WPRO 00:27:12 02:22:10 01:33:49 04:27:01
2 JONES, MICHELLIE 1/2/2 41/WPRO 00:27:04 02:22:24 01:36:02 04:29:23
3 PAXTON, RACHAEL 3/3/3 26/WPRO 00:29:56 02:26:00 01:42:42 04:42:38

Ironman 70.3 Timberman Gilford, New Hampshire, USA


Andy Potts led from start to finish as he won 70.3 Timberman three straight times now. Chrissie Wellington also never trailed in this triathlon as she took the title for the third time in as many attempts and finished 10th overall.
 Women  Potts and Wellington highlight Timberman field

1 Wellington, Chrissie 1/1/1 34/WPRO 00:25:40 02:22:14 01:19:06 04:10:11
2 Naeth, Angela 10/2/2 26/WPRO 00:30:46 02:21:49 01:29:33 04:24:59
3 Jackson, Heather 14/4/3 26/WPRO 00:31:42 02:24:38 01:27:10 04:26:08
4 Gervais, Annie 13/6/4 35/WPRO 00:31:12 02:30:07 01:24:49 04:29:04
5 Griesbauer, Dede 2/3/5 40/WPRO 00:25:47 02:27:44 01:33:27 04:30:12

 MEN

1 Potts, Andy 1/1/1 34/MPRO 00:22:43 02:09:27 01:16:08 03:50:51
2 Tissink, Raynard 6/2/2 37/MPRO 00:24:59 02:09:59 01:15:55 03:53:32
3 O'Donnell, Tim 2/7/3 30/MPRO 00:24:30 02:12:44 01:16:08 03:55:36
4 Gambles, Joe 4/4/4 28/MPRO 00:24:58 02:11:50 01:18:07 03:57:35
5 White, Matt 9/3/5 33/MPRO 00:25:03 02:11:36 01:20:42 03:59:55
6 Allen, Rich 5/5/6 36/MPRO 00:24:59 02:11:59 01:22:07 04:01:32
7 Rix, Josh 7/6/7 32/MPRO 00:25:01 02:11:57 01:23:31 04:03:05
8 Poulsea, Breaf 8/9/8 28/MPRO 00:25:02 02:16:23 01:21:09 04:05:17
9 Thomas, Christopher 7/1/1 38/M35-39 00:27:45 02:17:02 01:19:03 04:06:36
10 Tollakson, Tj 3/8/9 30/MPRO 00:24:57 02:15:42 01:23:13 04:06:50

Rudisha sets new 800m world record

 David Rudisha broke a 13-year record


Kenya's David Rudisha smashed the men's 800 metres world record at an IAAF World Challenge meeting in Berlin on Sunday.
Rudisha's time of 1:41.09 surpassed the record that Wilson Kipketer set 13 years ago in Cologne.
It was a remarkable achievement that showed the extent of Rudisha's recent improvement - he only reached the semi-final of the event at the World Championships last year.
"I have the ability to improve and go faster," he said. "This was my first real attempt to break the world record, I knew I was good, I had trained hard."

sexta-feira, 20 de agosto de 2010

quinta-feira, 19 de agosto de 2010

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games



European Squad Wins Tight Finish at First-Ever YOG Team Triathlon

Youth Olympic Games bronze medallist Alois Knabl (AUT) edged out the Youth Games champion Aaron Barclay (NZL) in a thrilling finish, claiming the YOG Team Triathlon gold medal for Team Europe 1.  Knabl’s European squad, which included Eszter Dudas (HUN), Miguel Valente Fernandes (POR) and Fanny Beisaron (ISR), clocked the total time of 1:19:51.42, finishing less than four seconds ahead of the Oceania Team, anchored by Barclay.
 article

results

terça-feira, 17 de agosto de 2010

De volta ao trabalho...

Back to work...usual weekly schedule...

De volta ao trabalho...

horário normal semanal...

seg/quar/sext/Alhandra...
terça/quinta/Linda-a-Velha...

segunda-feira, 16 de agosto de 2010

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games


Singapore 2010 - Women's Triathlon




Raquel Rocha 18.ª em Singapura
PORTUGUESA CAIU E TERMINOU EM ESFORÇO
Raquel Rocha foi hoje a primeira atleta portuguesa a entrar em cena na jornada inaugural dos Jogos Olímpicos da Juventude, que decorrem até 26 de agosto, em Singapura, ao ser 18.º na prova de triatlo.
Para a portuguesa, que completa 17 anos a 29 de agosto, a prova ficou marcada por uma queda, quando seguia no grupo da frente, o que condicionou a jovem que a partir de então fez a prova em grande esforço, na única final do dia.
Raquel Rocha completou os três segmentos que compõem a prova de triatlo (natação, ciclismo e corrida) em 1h06m09s, mais 5.19 minutos do que a vencedora, a japonesa Yuka Sato (1h00m49s).

sexta-feira, 13 de agosto de 2010

Etapa 8: Oliveira do Hospital – Oliveira do Bairro, 169,9 km | Média: 44,136 km/h


 Sérgio Ribeiro vence após desclassificação de Cândido Barbosa

Cândido festejou, Sérgio protestou e ganhou
Cândido festejou, Sérgio protestou e ganhou
Sérgio Ribeiro (Barbot-Siper) foi declarado vencedor da oitava etapa da Volta a Portugal, depois de Cândido Barbosa (Palmeiras Resort-Prio-Tavira), que cruzou a meta na primeira posição, ter sido desclassificado por sprint irregular. A decisão do colégio de comissários dá a Ribeiro uma confortável vantagem de 20 pontos na luta pela camisola branca. Alheio às disputas dos sprinters, David Blanco (Palmeiras Resort-Prio-Tavira) terminou no pelotão a viagem de 169,9 quilómetros, entre Oliveira do Hospital e Oliveira do Bairro, manteve a camisola amarela e selou o triunfo na classificação da montanha.
Cândido Barbosa cometeu um erro de principiante que poderá impedi-lo de conquistar a camisola dos pontos, principal objectivo pessoal desde a etapa da Senhora da Graça. Nos últimos 400 metros, o corredor da equipa algarvia seguiu o francês Jimmy Engoulvent, decidindo arrancar ainda muito longe da meta, levando na roda Sérgio Ribeiro. Quando o matosinhense se preparava para o ultrapassar, Cândido atravessou a estrada, da direita para a esquerda, quase lançando o homem da Barbot ao solo. Com a desclassificação de Barbosa, Sérgio Ribeiro foi declarado vencedor, Boy van Poppel (Rabobank Continental) foi segundo e Juan José Lobato (Andalucía-CajaSur) fechou o pódio da tirada.
O final vibrante foi o complemento ideal de uma viagem feita a alta velocidade, que não deu um metro de descanso aos 127 corredores que saíram de Oliveira do Hospital. As tentativas de fuga foram imensas, mas não foi fácil que alguma conseguisse consolidar-se, tudo por causa das classificações secundárias ainda em jogo. Inicialmente, a Caja Rural tentou levar o pelotão compacto até à montanha de terceira categoria instalada em Lavegadas (km 43,1). Só que Sérgio Sousa (Madeinox-Boavista) resolveu estragar a festa aos espanhóis, passando em primeiro e retirando ao ucraniano Oleg Chuzhda (Caja Rural) a hipótese de ser consagrado rei da montanha. David Blanco tornou-se ali virtual dono da camisola verde.
As movimentações sucederam-se, mas sem conseguirem impor-se. Foi o caso de uma que tinha dois “pecados”. Um homem da Barbot-Siper, que luta pela classificação colectiva, e Tom Slagter (Rabobank Continental), um dos adversários do boavisteiro Ricardo Vilela na classificação da juventude. Tendo isso em conta, a Madeinox-Boavista pegou na corrida e anulou mais esta escapada. Aquela que pode designar-se por “fuga do dia” apenas se formou a 56 quilómetros da chegada. Inicialmente formada por quatro homens, acabou por juntar seis corredores, todos de equipas estrangeiras.

O sexteto ainda passou pela primeira vez na meta adiantado, mas Emanuele Sella (CarmioOro-NGC), que se escapou aos outros cinco, não resistiu à perseguição, movida pela Barbot-Siper no pelotão, e foi alcançado a 4 quilómetros do final. Na aproximação à meta, deu-se o sprint irregular que faz desta sexta-feira 13 um dia de azar para Cândido Barbosa, que ainda não venceu qualquer etapa na presente edição da Volta e que dificilmente conseguirá levar para casa a nona camisola por pontos da carreira.
O percurso plano e a colocação da etapa, entre a montanha e o contra-relógio, indiciavam que seria uma jornada calma para os favoritos. Mas não foi isso que aconteceu, pelo menos na perspectiva de David Blanco. “Com este vento todo, houve muito nervosismo. Não tivemos tempo para tranquilidade, mas não tive qualquer acidente nem perdi tempo. Ficou tudo bem, embora nada esteja ganho. Ainda hoje, à entrada para o último quilómetro, fui à valeta e nem sei como saí de lá”, confidenciou o camisola amarela.
O principal vencedor da jornada foi Sérgio Ribeiro, que conquistou a segunda etapa nesta corrida e passou a comandar a classificação da regularidade com uma margem de 20 pontos sobre Blanco e Barbosa. Instado a comentar o polémico sprint, o matosinhense optou pelo politicamente correcto. “As imagens falam por si. Não vou entrar em polémicas porque essa não é a minha maneira de ser na vida e no desporto. A vitória é muito importante para a equipa, embora seja óbvio que preferimos ganhar noutras circunstâncias. Mas aconteceu assim e temos de aceitar. Não guardo rancores nem ressentimentos”, prometeu Sérgio Ribeiro, uma das grandes surpresas da Volta a Portugal.
Cândido Barbosa discorda da desclassificação. “Não fiz nenhum sprint menos correcto. Ultrapassei o francês e olhei para baixo. O que queria era chegar depressa à meta. Não quis estorvar ninguém, até porque não senti ninguém a meu lado”, garantiu o corredor do Palmeiras Resort-Prio-Tavira, que encontrou em David Blanco um advogado de defesa. “O Sérgio Ribeiro é que tentou passar pelo meio dos dois [Cândido Barbosa e Jimmy Engoulvent]. Não concordo com a decisão do colégio de comissários, mas não sou comissário”, declarou o camisola amarela. O director-desportivo dos tavirenses preferiu a diplomacia. “A decisão é dos comissários e todos temos de a respeitar. A minha opinião é pouco relevante”, disse Vidal Fitas.
Amanhã corre-se a nona etapa, que irá desfazer as dúvidas que ainda possam existir relativamente à disputa da geral individual. O contra-relógio individual de 32,6 quilómetros, entre Pedrógão e Leiria, é a última oportunidade para colocar em causa o domínio de David Blanco, que se revela confiante: “Os 53 segundos constituem uma vantagem semelhante à que tive para gerir para o Héctor Guerra, em 2008. Vou ter referências ao longo de todo o percurso, o que torna tudo mais fácil. É melhor ter vantagem do que precisar de recuperar tempo”.
CLASSIFICAÇÕES
Etapa: Oliveira do Hospital – Oliveira do Bairro, 169,9 km | Média: 44,136 km/h

Pto Dor Nome Nac Equipa hh:mm:ss Bon
~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~
1º 13 RIBEIRO, Sergio POR BARBOT-SIPER 3:50:58 10″
2º 158 VAN POPPEL, Boy NED RABOBANK CONT. mt. 6″
3º 117 LOBATO, Juan Jose ESP ANDALUCIA-CAJASUR mt. 4″
4º 83 RATTO, Daniele ITA CARMIOORO-NGC mt.
5º 39 SANCHO, Bruno POR LA- ROTA DOS MOVEIS mt.
6º 124 GENE, Yohann FRA BBOX BOUYGUES TELECO mt.
7º 41 PETROV, Danail BUL MADEINOX-BOAVISTA mt.
8º 132 ENGOULVENT, Jimmy FRA SAUR-SOJASUN mt.
9º 95 SOBRINO, Joaquin ESP CAJA RURAL mt.
10º 131 CASPER, Jimmy FRA SAUR-SOJASUN mt.

Geral Individual
Pto Dor Nome Nac Equipa hh:mm:ss
~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
1º 1 BLANCO, David ESP PALMEIRAS RESORT-PRI 35:45:09
2º 33 BROCO, Hernani POR LA- ROTA DOS MOVEIS a 53
3º 11 BERNABEU, David ESP BARBOT-SIPER a 01:04
4º 81 PARDILLA, Sergio ESP CARMIOORO-NGC a 01:16
5º 71 SINKEWITZ, Patrik GER ISD-NERI a 01:16
6º 14 SOUSA, Rui POR BARBOT-SIPER a 01:47
7º 5 CARDOSO, Andre POR PALMEIRAS RESORT-PRI a 02:01
8º 32 SANTOS, Virgilio POR LA- ROTA DOS MOVEIS a 02:27
9º 31 SABIDO, Hugo POR LA- ROTA DOS MOVEIS a 02:36
10º 13 RIBEIRO, Sergio POR BARBOT-SIPER a 02:38

Josecarlosgomes
13 Ago 2010 17:15

quarta-feira, 11 de agosto de 2010

Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Kitzbühel 2010!


Saturday 14. August 
14.00  
Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Kitzbühel
Elite man (65 athlets) / Event Area Schwarzsee Stadtbad


Sunday , 15. August
14.06
Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Kitzbühel
Elite woman (65 athlets) / Event Area Schwarzsee Stadtbad


start lists
 

 

sábado, 7 de agosto de 2010

The Broadsider


Mike Hammond designed The Broadsider as a concept bike for the Trek World show this year. He explains that the concept, which stemmed from an earlier discussion within their MTB design group, “comes straight out of a post-oil, post-apocalyptic graphic novel based on its namesake.”
“It tells the story of the legendary ‘Cliff Racer’ Max Malco who lost his life saving a young boy from his racing rivals.” Make sure you check out the comic book that they created to go with the concept bike in the last image below.



Mike points out that “this is not a bike Trek will ever produce – it is an outlet for innovation and creativity. It is through executions like this the design team continually dreams up new directions to keep up the excitement and enthusiasm for bicycles.” Pretty cool stuff! It looks like a fun project and I am sure it will be a hit at the show. I can’t wait to see more from Trek World 2011 soon.




quinta-feira, 5 de agosto de 2010

New Swiss Engineered On Running Shoes Using CloudTec Technology

A new shoe has landed. Fresh off the boat, I'm excited to have had my first good look at the new running shoes from On.
True to its unconventional name, the shoe itself is anything but the "norm." I'm instantly drawn towards the cool contrasting colours of the bright green sole and black upper, as well as the spring-like lugs that are positioned around the sole. This shoe is different and I'm excited to give it a run.

Before heading out, a little about the shoe...

With a vision to re-design the running shoe, a Swiss engineer has developed the On shoe to bring the fun back into running. Through a revolutionary cushioning system coined CloudTec Technology, the shoe features an outsole that consists of 13 green shock-absorbers. These semi-soft rectangular tubes are designed not only to reduce vertical impact, but also the On Running Shoehorizontal forces which are present when the foot hits the ground. The inner surfaces of the lugs are ribbed - the inside is designed not to slip when the runner moves through the toe-off part of the running gait when the lugs are compressed.  This technology is combined with a lightweight upper and a high level of mid-sole flexibility, resulting in a natural feeling, lively shoe. This liveliness, or lack of "control," forces the stabilising muscles of the foot and ankle to become engaged while running encouraging the running to naturally become stronger and less prone to injury.
So how did it go?? Always in the pursuit of a more efficient running technique, I was interested to see what the CloudTec Technology would mean in terms of allowing for a natural running pattern. I was not disappointed. While the On shoe had a very cushioned feeling, a lower than normal heel height combined with the lug design and flexible midsole meant that a natural mid/forefoot strike came easily. The great aspect of the shoe for me was an instant reduction in "shock" when running down a slight incline, and I could see that a lot of runners would benefit from this.
The On proved to be exactly what was promised - a lightweight, well-cushioned training and racing shoe, with a twist. It looks great, feels smooth and is ideal for runners who are after a high level of cushioning across the whole shoe, while still achieving that natural running aspect and a high level of performance.
Olivier Bernhard, a former world class international triathlete who is a spokesperson and co-developer for On states: "On is the higher performance shoe from which also On Running Shoe Solenon-professional runners can fully benefit." Olivier, you might have something here..
The first On shoes have recently arrived in Australia after seeing huge early success in Germany and across Europe. The model pictured is one of three colourways, all of which can be seen on the On website (www.on-running.com). Due to the nature of the shoe, this first model is designed for runners up to 85kg, with a lightweight model in the pipeline as well as a more robust version for heavier runners.
It's going to be great to see brand move forward. With a high level of innovation, technical knowledge and industry involvement, I'm expecting big things from this shoe with a twist.
On is available from leading running stores across NSW (soon to touch down in SA and WA too) - check out Northside Runners for a look at the On!


John Marsh
Northside Runners Crows Nest

Volta a Portugal 2010

Jimmy Engoulvent. Um papa-prólogos com jeito para rotundas


Francês da Saur Sojasun somou em Viseu a terceira vitória em prólogos este ano. E é o primeiro a vestir de amarelo


O amarelo deixou de estar só nos pés de Engoulvent para passar a estar também na camisola
A Volta a Portugal tem pontos de passagem obrigatórios. Ninguém perdoa se a maior prova de ciclismo do país não passar pela Torre, na serra da Estrela, pela Senhora da Graça, em Mondim de Basto ou... por Viseu. É verdade: esta capital de distrito do Centro do país tornou-se há algum tempo ponto de passagem obrigatório na Volta. A população gosta, recebe bem toda a comitiva e fica à espera que no ano seguinte os ciclistas voltem a rolar pelas ruas da cidade.

Desta vez, Viseu até teve direito a receber duas etapas seguidas. Sim, porque a última tirada de 2009 - o contra-relógio individual - já tinha sido aqui. Na altura, Hector Guerra foi o mais forte e Nuno Ribeiro, também da Liberty, confirmou a vitória na Volta. Depois aconteceu o que toda a gente sabe: o ciclista português acusou positivo num controlo antidoping. E o espanhol David Blanco ficou com o primeiro lugar, pela terceira vez na sua carreira.

Este ano, o ciclista do Palmeiras Resort-Prio-Tavira partiu à procura de igualar o recorde de Marco Chagas - o homem com mais vitórias na Volta a Portugal (quatro). Mas a amarela só passou 5,5 quilómetros junto ao seu corpo. O oitavo lugar no prólogo obrigou-o a ceder a camisola ao francês Jimmy Engoulvent.

Apesar de já ter 31 anos, o nome do homem da Saur Sojasun não faz grande eco nos ouvidos portugueses. Mas o prólogo de Viseu chegou para perceber que Engoulvent é especialista neste capítulo. Aliás, o palmarés de vitórias do francês diz tudo: este foi o quinto triunfo da sua carreira em etapas, todos em prólogos. E na Volta ao Luxemburgo até já conseguiu esse feito duas vezes. Na última, há dois meses, a concorrência até era bem mais forte (Lance Armstrong e Frank Schleck saltavam à vista como dois dos nomes mais sonantes). E apesar de ser mais curto - 2,6 quilómetros - tinha uma subida íngreme com 400 metros de extensão.

Ontem, em Viseu, não havia nada disso. Apenas umas quantas rotundas - 13, para ser mais preciso - que prometiam dar a volta à cabeça dos mais desprevenidos. Mas antes de se fazerem à estrada vários ciclistas até desvalorizaram o grau de dificuldade do percurso. Enquanto aquecia numa bicicleta de spinning, Cândido Barbosa explicou à RTP que não era assim tão difícil porque as rotundas estão "bem construídas" e "têm espaço suficiente" para passar sem grande sofrimento. Pois bem, havia que reconhecer o mérito dessa arte na cidade com mais rotundas.

À partida, os portugueses até teriam a vantagem de conhecer bem o local, mas o ciclista luso mais bem colocado acabou por ser Filipe Cardoso, da LA Alumínios, no sétimo lugar. Vladimir Isaichev (Xacobeo) e Alejandro Marque (Palmeiras Resort) juntaram-se a Jimmy Engoulvent e completaram o pódio do primeiro dia.
volta a portugal

quarta-feira, 4 de agosto de 2010

Tour de Charente-Maritime Féminin-EDITION 2010

Du 31 juillet au 1er Août 2010 - 3 étapes dont 1 CLM individuel





Tour-Charente-Maritime-2010-affiche

terça-feira, 3 de agosto de 2010

Swimming shake-up a must for triathlon

JOHN GOODBODY: Swimming shake-up a must for triathlon



THE JOHN GOODBODY COLUMN / An authoritative and exclusive series from Sports Features Communications

LONDON, Aug 03: Being an enthusiastic, some people would say obsessive, competitor in long distance swimming and running as well as a keen observer of cycling, I hailed the arrival of triathlon on the international sporting scene in the 1980s with delight. And even more so, when it was included in the Olympics for the first time in Sydney in 2000.
However, the sport, as constituted, is fundamentally unbalanced and it is time that something was done to change it. Triathlon is supposed to be an all-round test of similar ability in the three different disciplines but it clearly isn’t. The swimming is too short. Eight days ago at the London leg of the Dextro Energy world championships series, Javier Gomez of Spain won the men’s race in a total time of 1 hour 42 minutes 58 seconds. Yet the swimming only took Alistair Brownlee, the leader after the opening discipline, 17 minutes 57 seconds, not even one fifth of the total time for the event. Gomez did 18 minutes 03 seconds. Mario Mola of Spain was 62nd in 19 minutes 01 seconds after swimming 1500 metres but his relative lack of ability in this sport did not matter because he was so close to the leaders he was able to pull himself up to fifth overall after the 40 kms cycling and, finally, the10 kms run.
Even Britain’s David Davies, who has won Olympic medals in both the 1500 metres in the pool and 10 kms in open water, would only be able to come out of the water in a triathlon in about 15 minutes 15 seconds, if that, and so would be unable to benefit from his supremacy. 
However, really good swimmers would be able to have a better chance of success if the swimming were longer, say 2,500 or even 2,750 metres.  They could then come into the cycling leg with a decent lead. As it is, the leading swimmers all finish close together and quickly form a pack to help pace each other in the cycling.
The length of the three disciplines has come about because triathlon was invented with the Iron Man event in Hawaii, which consisted of a 2 ½ mile surf swim, 100 kms bike ride and a marathon. The Olympic event has been scaled down in all three sports from that original concept. However, in understandably reducing the length of each discipline, one thing was not considered. A 2 ½ mile surf swim is a serious undertaking, immensely more testing than the equivalent distance in flat water, in which almost all Olympic-distance races are staged. In cycling, a comparison would be a course going  uphill for much of the distance. In triathlon, many slower swimmers draft off their rivals, following in their slip stream, so further reducing the significance of the discipline. 
 Those, who believe that triathlon is now established and cannot be altered, should observe how the older sport of modern pentathlon has undergone immense changes over the years. Where once it was spread over several days, now it takes place within 12 hours. And since Beijing, the shooting and running disciplines have been conflated. The sport is better for it.
Triathlon has boomed in popularity in the last 30 years but, at the moment, the structure is unfair to outstanding swimmers, several of whom might have been attracted to the sport but could have been put off because  they know they are handicapped before they even start.

** JOHN GOODBODY covered the 2008 Olympics for The Sunday Times, his 11th successive Summer Games and is the author of the audio book A History of the Olympics, read by Barry Davies, the BBC commentator. He was Sports News Correspondent of The Times 1986-2007, for whom he received journalistic awards in all three decades on the paper, including Sports Reporter of The Year in 2001.