(Photo credit: Mark Miller\TdF)
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 August 14, 2010 Bourgeois Hall, UL Aquatic Center Early Registration ends August 1st!
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Photo by Elizabeth Kreutz via Tonic
1 Jacob Falgout 27.00 mph
2 Cole Leblanc 25.22 mph
3 Phil Barnidge 24.35 mph
4 Eryn Schilling 24.32 mph
5 Paul Howard 24.14 mph
6 David Leblanc 24.28 mph
7 Adam Falgout 23.71 mph
8 Martin Boutte 23.68 mph
9 Phillip Breaux 23.07 mph
10 Bo Deal 22.98 mph
11 Michael Kinler 22.57 mph
12 Thomas Stelly 21.62 mph
13 Brent Benoit 21.51 mph
14 Brain Theriot 20.61 mph
15 Amy Leblanc 20.01 mph
16 Ryan O'Brain 19.44 mph
17 Matt Reed 19.38 mph
18 Kevin Payne 18.46 mph
19 Will Craig 17.92 mph
20 Debbie Howard 16.42 mph
Thanks to all participants for taking on the new challenge!
A heartfelt thanks to Jennifer "Zipp" Lastraps, Saul Dupuis and Jesse Melancon for volunteering!!!!
Bastille Day is traditionally celebrated with fireworks all over France.
Unfortunately, the Tour de France forgot about that custom on what became a crawl to Gap.
Even by the slowest estimates, the peloton should have arrived by 5.45pm local time. They eventually rolled in at half past — or almost 15 minutes after first-time stage winner Sergio Paulinho, who beat his escape partner Vasil Kiryienka by a quarter of a wheel in what was an isolated frisson of excitement.
Andy Schleck of Luxembourg vs. Alberto Contador of Spain.
Schleck took the yellow jersey from a banged-up and bawling Cadel Evans of Australia in Tuesday's last ride on the high Alps in Stage 9, finishing two seconds behind French winner Sandy Casar and astride defending champion Contador.
Sunflowers, sunflowers sunflowers - the commentator’s saviour when there’s nothing much happening in the race, and today’s stage, 187.5km from Épernay to Montargis, featured a lot of them, alongside recommendations for cycling books and ruminations on church architecture.
The peloton relaxed in the sun as a three-man break of riders from Quick Step, Caisse d’Epargne and Cofidis toiled away fruitlessly up the road. At 10km they were still away, and at 6.7km José Ivan Gutierrez (GCE) jumped, but was caught with 4km to spare.
HTC-Columbia were massing behind, determined to perform better than yesterday, as were Sky, Lampre and Garmin, whose sprinter Tyler Farrar had recovered from his wrist fracture sufficiently to give the stage a pop. Garmin led the peloton around a tight right hander into the last 600m, but HTC’s train finally delivered Cavendish to a stage victory. The delighted sprinter’s celebration proved how much it meant to him. Gerald Ciolek (MRM) and Edvald Boasson-Hagen (SKY) took second and third, with Hushovd (CTT) fifth and Farrar 10th.
GC after five stages:
1. Fabian Cancellara (SAX)
2. Geraint Thomas (SKY) + 23″
3. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 39″
4. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM) + 46″
5. Sylvain Chavanel (QST) + 1′01″
6. Andy Schleck (SAX) +1′09″
7. Thor Hushovd (CTT) +1′19″
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (AST) +1′31″
9. Alberto Contador (AST) +1′40″
10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (OLO) +1′42″
What a long, hard, and eventually gratifying weekend. I’d have to say, one of the best races we’ve collectively put on to date – I dare say in the history of Lafayette. A race of this magnitude takes at least 6 months of preparation – from DOT permission, insurance coverage for riders and property, financing, dependable equipment to run the event, course safety, parking constraints, hydration supplies, food supplies, shade, fans, referee accommodations, race advertisement, online registration, support trucks, moto escorts, road guards, medical preparedness, police placement, portalets, cash payouts - I could go on forever. Everyone involved from financing to volunteering knows who they are and can also congratulate themselves for being a part of such a successful event. I could not have done it without you. Each year the event becomes more popular and more gratifying – the more I would like to see the race grow. I love competitive cycling and I am glad to see the city and businesses embrace this type of event. My bigger mission is to get more of the public involved in cycling – nut that’s another post altogether. Congratulations to Adam, Jed, Tony, and Nick on the top 3 GC placements. Once again – thanks everyone, I hope to see you on the road!
For results, please click here
>>RR>>
Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) sprinted to his second victory of the 2010 Tour de France on Wednesday in an exciting conclusion to an otherwise-leisurely stage 4.
The peloton waited until the final 3km of the 153.5km leg from Cambrai to Reims to retrieve a break that had been out front all day, and while HTC-Columbia set about assembling its train for Mark Cavendish as per usual, it was derailed by a last-ditch surge from Petacchi’s teammate Danilo Hondo, and the Manxman couldn’t catch his traditional lift to the line.
Petacchi steamed across for the victory, trailed by Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions). Team Sky’s Edvald Boasson Hagen roared through for a narrowly won third place, while Cav’ finished outside the top 10 entirely, crossing in 12th position.
“I’m not like a little old man, as some have said. This win is really important for me and for the team,” said Petacchi.
“I’ve come here to win stages and I’ve shown twice that I’m not here to make up the numbers.
A dramatic crash on the pavés at 27km from the stage end saw Fränk Schleck, one of the top five GC contenders, crash out of the Tour de France. He lost control on the crown of a left-hand bend, taking Tony Martin out with him, but it was the Luxemburger who didn’t get up off the floor.
The crash left Fabian Cancellara leading Andy Schleck in a small group also including Cadel Evans, Thor Hushovd and Geraint Evans to chase stage leader Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions).
Lance Armstrong was in a second chasing group, though a puncture with 16km to go frustratingly left him in the gutter as Alberto Contador speed past. The puncture also dumped him out of the top 10 in the GC. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step), who started the day in yellow, was also unfortunate to puncture twice and saw his hopes of retaining the jersey disappear.
Cancellara, meanwhile, motored on, shepherding Andy through the final pavés, and the group caught Hesjedal at 5km to go. Then, inevitably, Hushovd, a cobble-lover and the best sprinter of the lot, went past them all to take the stage win. He was, ironically, pulled to the line by Cancellara, the very man he was annoyed with only 24 hours earlier for neutralising the preceding stage. Geraint Thomas was second and Cadel Evans third. Bradley Wiggins came in eighth, 53 seconds back.
Alberto Contador, who could have been one of the day’s losers, coped with the cobbles well, and can’t be too worried at the time gap now separating him from Andy Schleck. Lance, meanwhile, showed incredible determination to claw all the time back he could, coming in 55 seconds after the Spaniard, but he now seems marooned back in the GC. Fabian ‘Spartacus’ Cancellara moves back into yellow, but the real surprise is Geraint Thomas, the British champion, sitting in second just ahead of world champ Cadel Evans in third.
Tomorrow’s short, flat stage, 153.5km from Cambrai to Reims, should be something of a respite for the peloton, and may either see Thor cement his hold on the green jersey or, alternatively, may give Cav a pop at a first victory. Tyler Farrar, who was injured in a crash on the disastrous second stage (reportedly a broken wrist, though it looked more like an elbow problem), seems out of sprint contention for now.
Provisional GC after 3 stages:
1. Fabian Cancellara (SAX)
2. Geraint Thomas (SKY) + 23″
3. Cadel Evans (BMC) + 39″
4. Ryder Hesjedal (GRM) + 46″
5. Sylvain Chavanel (QST) + 1′01″
6. Andy Schleck (SAX) +1′09″
7. Thor Hushovd (CTT) +1′19″
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (AST) +1′31″
9. Alberto Contador (AST) +1′40″
10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (OLO) +1′42″ 
When the 97th Tour de France rolled out of Rotterdam on Saturday, Zipp will once again be heavily represented among the major contenders. Each of our three teams РAstana Cycling Team, Cerv̩lo Test Team, and Team Saxo Bank Рcarry serious ambitions and high expectations. (image - SaxoBank loaded and ready to ride)
We’re backing them up with the industry’s broadest range of race-ready wheels: six options from the 202 climbing wheel to the Super-9 disc. Here’s where we expect to see them shine.
The super light 202 will be the wheel of choice as the GC leaders trade blows in the Alps and Pyrenees. Winner of the 2007 and 2009 Tours, Astana’s Alberto Contador is the clear pre-race favorite. But last year’s 5th and 2nd place finishers, Frank and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), could have the firepower to make this their year. Cervélo’s Carlos Sastre is coming off an injury but the 2008 Tour champion is always a rider to watch in the mountains. 
Riding the rugged-yet-aero 303 wheelset, Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) put on a clinic at this spring’s Paris-Roubaix while Thor Hushovd (Cervélo) placed second. Stage 3 of the Tour will traverse many of those same cobblestone roads, where Saxo Bank’s Stuart O’Grady is another former winner. Riders will also select the lightweight 303 on moderate mountain stages, as Cervélo’s Heinrich Haussler did for a memorable stage win in 2009. Unfortunately, he’ll miss this year’s Tour due to a knee injury. (image - Special Edition bikes for Astana's Contador and Vinokourov)
The versatile 404 is never a bad choice on any terrain for attacking all-arounders like Astana’s Alexander Vinokourov or Saxo Bank’s Nicki Sorensen, who won a stage last year on the 404. Its balance of aerodynamics and stable handling should prove especially useful in the strong crosswinds expected on Stage 1 from Rotterdam to Brussels. The 404 could also make an appearance on the punchy climbs of Stages 2 and 13.
Both sprinters and time trialists love the stiffness and aerodynamics of the 808. On flat stages, Cervélo’s formidable crew of leadout riders will likely take advantage of its 81mm-deep profile as they support Hushovd’s quest to defend the Green Jersey he won last year. Although the 808 is not quite as fast as the 1080 in the time trials, it will still be a popular choice among riders who are neither TT specialists nor GC hopefuls.
There’s no faster combination than a 1080 front wheel and Super-9 disc for flat time trials like the Tour’s Prologue and Stage 19. Cancellara’s unparalleled track record makes him the man to beat in the “race of truth”, although Contador’s TT win at last year’s Tour established him among the world’s best. Meanwhile, the Schleck brothers have worked hard to improve in the discipline and Frank’s time trial performance to win last month’s Tour de Suisse surprised many.
