Stage 11 News
Mark Renshaw's head-butting dangerous: Tour de France race officials
THE decision to boot Mark Renshaw out of the Tour de France was unanimous because the Australian's riding had been excessively dangerous, according to race officials. Swiss commissaire Pierre Curchod described Renshaw's head-butting of Julian Dean and his blocking of Tyler Farrar as intolerable. Curchod said Renshaw's late-race conduct was worse than the stage six brawl involving Spaniard Carlos Barredo, who attacked Portugal's Rui Costa with a wheel before the pair had a brief fist fight. "He (Renshaw) did it (head-butted) three to four times a very bad thing," Curchod said.
Link:
Mark Renshaw's head-butting dangerous: Tour de France race officials | Herald Sun
HTC-Columbia defends Renshaw
Bob Stapleton heard that Mark Renshaw had been kicked out of the Tour de France as he returned to the HTC-Columbia bus after seeing Cavendish win the sprint from just beyond the finish line.
Link:
HTC-Columbia Defends Renshaw | Cyclingnews.com
Cavendish rues Renshaw Tour KO
Mark Cavendish expressed dismay after his chances of winning the Tour de France green jersey were hit by a key team-mate being ejected from the race for headbutting. Cavendish claimed his third victory of the 2010 Tour and 13th of his career in controversial fashion, as his HTC-Columbia leadout man and room-mate Mark Renshaw was expelled for using his head to out-manoeuvre an opponent.
Link:
The Press Association: Cavendish rues Renshaw Tour KO
Vaughters says Renshaw disqualification was fair
Immediately after seeing a replay of the Mark Renshaw and Julian Dean clash on television, Garmin-Transitions team manager Jonathan Vaughters and directeur sportif Matt White headed to the finish area, determined to make a protest. Before they got there, the race jury had already made a decision and kicked Renshaw out of the Tour de France.
Link:
Vaughters Says Renshaw Disqualification Was Fair | Cyclingnews.com
Renshaw harshly done by
THE decision to kick Mark Renshaw off the bike race was harsh. I really feel for him.
In my book he didn't do anything different from hundreds of similar incidents I've witnessed first hand as a rider and in later years as a team manager. As Mark Cavendish's last lead out man, it's Renshaw's job to start sprinting about five to six hundred metres from the finish with the former sitting in his slipstream, saving his pennies for a big finish.
Link:
Mark Renshaw harshly done by | The Australian
Cavendish unhappy with Renshaw's ejection
A day that should have ended with Mark Cavendish and his HTC-Columbia team ecstatic after the Manxman claimed his third bunch sprint victory in succession had much of its gloss taken off it when lead-out man Mark Renshaw was ejected from the race. Informed in the middle of TV interview just after he had come off the podium that the commissaire's decision had been made official, Cavendish responded: "It's always us, isn't it? There were two guys fighting the other day. I can't really make a comment."
Link:
Cavendish Unhappy With Renshaw's Ejection | Cyclingnews.com
Headbutt a blow to Cavendish's hopes
Mark Cavendish's tough 2010 season continued apace yesterday as, despite winning his third stage of the Tour de France, he was forced to contend with a team-mate's expulsion for headbutting a rival in the bunch sprint. The HTC-Columbia rider was cruising towards a comfortable victory — his 13th stage win in the Tour — when team-mate Mark Renshaw took a decidedly overenthusiatic approach to clearing the Manxman's path.
Link:
Tour de France: Headbutt a blow to Cavendish's hopes - Other Sports, Sport - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Farrar and Dean furious with Renshaw over Tour sprint
The stage 11 sprint to Bourg-lès-Valence seemed like another formulaic victory for Mark Cavendish, but the drama leading up to the line left his foes in a rage and led to the expulsion of his main lead-out man, Mark Renshaw.
Link:
Farrar And Dean Furious With Renshaw Over Tour Sprint | Cyclingnews.com
Blazin' Saddles: Yeah but no butt
Zinedine Zidane was given a red card for his infamous head-butt so what makes Mark Renshaw think he merits any different? Ramming rivals with your head before consciously trying to run a fellow rider off the road is all "part and parcel of sprinting" according to Renshaw, who obviously follows the Mario-Cart code of racing.
Saddles was intrigued to listen to the reaction of Mark Cavendish's lead-out man just moments after the bruising finale to Thursday's stage 11 – so intrigued that he here dissects his points one by one.
Link:
Tour de France - Blazin' Saddles: Yeah but no butt - Yahoo! Eurosport
Petacchi gets green jersey, wants to take it to Paris
Alessandro Petacchi has taken the green jersey in the Tour de France after coming second to Mark Cavendish in Bourg-lès-Valence. The Italian overtook Thor Hushovd, who led the points classification for eight days in a row since winning stage 3 on the roads used in Paris-Roubaix.
Link:
Petacchi Gets Green Jersey, Wants To Take It To Paris | Cyclingnews.com
Renshaw kicked out of Tour de France
Australian Mark Renshaw was disqualified from the Tour de France today for his aggressive actions in the sprint finish of the 11th stage to Bourg-les-Valence. The HTC-Columbia lead out man for Cavendish had help the Manxman win three stages in this year's race.
Link:
Renshaw Kicked Out Of Tour De France | Cyclingnews.com
NO IFS OR BUTTS RENSHAW'S OUT
Mark Cavendish won his third stage in a week on the Tour de France - but then his 'minder' was thrown out for headbutting. No sooner had Manx missile Cavendish been catapulted back into the race for the coveted green jersey than Mark Renshaw, his HTC-Columbia team-mate and widely regarded as the best leadout man in the world, was expelled in shame.
Link:
NO IFS OR BUTTS RENSHAW'S OUT - mirror.co.uk
Dean has no sympathy for Renshaw
Julian Dean has no sympathy for a rival thrown out of the Tour de France for repeatedly head-butting the New Zealand cyclist. Australian Mark Renshaw was disqualified from the tour after an ugly head-butting incident as the two sprinters jockeyed for position to lead out their team's respective top riders in the final stages of the 184.5km 11th stage to Bourg les Valence.
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Dean has no sympathy for Renshaw
Before the Race
Andy Schleck in Yellow: Power Data from Team Saxo Bank
In Stage 9 of the 2010 Tour de France, Saxo Bank's plan for the day went perfectly. "The plan was to put on huge pressure if Andy [Schleck] was feeling alright and thankfully, he was flying," said team owner Bjarne Riis. "Jens [Voigt], Chris [Anker Sorensen] and Jakob [Fuglsang] put in a world class effort and they actually started the massacre on our opponents."
Link:
Andy Schleck in Yellow: Power Data from Team Saxo Bank - Cycling Training and Health - Roadcycling.com
U.S. fraud and drug probe edges closer to Lance Armstrong
After years of whispers, suspicion and accusatory French media reports, superstar cyclist Lance Armstrong is in for the second toughest fight of his life. Mr. Armstrong, a hero to millions for beating cancer and going on to win a record seven Tour de France titles, is reportedly being investigated by federal authorities in his native United States on allegations of fraud and doping. A New York Times report Wednesday said Mr. Armstrong and former team associates could be among witnesses issued grand jury subpoenas as part of a probe into allegations made by disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis.
Link:
U.S. fraud and drug probe edges closer to Lance Armstrong - The Globe and Mail
ZABEL DISMISSES CAVENDISH HOPES
Erik Zabel believes it will be a "miracle" if Mark Cavendish wins the Tour de France green jersey in Paris on July 25. With three probable sprint stages - including Thursday's 184.5-kilometre 11th stage from Sisteron to Bourg-les-Valence - and one possible sprint stage remaining in the final 10 days of racing, Cavendish must overcome a 41-point deficit to claim the points classification title and the maillot vert.
Link:
ZABEL DISMISSES CAVENDISH HOPES | Sporting Life | Tour de France, Athletics, MotoGP, Rallying
Hunter and Wegelius out of Tour de France
Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions) was unable to start stage 11 of the Tour de France after breaking a bone in his elbow. The South African crashed during Wednesday's stage and despite finishing, was taken to hospital, where x-rays revealed the extent of his injuries.
Link:
Hunter And Wegelius Out Of Tour De France | Cyclingnews.com
Fine chance for sprinter Cavendish in 11th stage
Mark Cavendish will be the rider to watch as the Tour de France leaves the mountains for the flat in a 184.5-km 11th stage from Sisteron to Bourg les Valence on Thursday. The Briton won the last two sprints before the Alps and while most of his rivals also made it up the mountains without too much damage, he fared unusually well in altitude.
Link:
Fine chance for sprinter Cavendish in 11th stage | Sports | Reuters
Vote One Andy Schleck
Not your favourite to win the race but which one do you want to see wear yellow into Paris? Without the help of an AC Neilson poll I’m going to tip it’s an election that would be won by Andy Schleck. To attract an audience beyond the hardcore devotees to just about any sport requires a personality at or near the top of the food chain.
Link:
SBS - Special Broadcasting Service
Sky aim for stage wins
Dave Brailsford, Team Sky’s team principal, has admitted that the British squad’s priorities have changed after Bradley Wiggins’s podium ambitions faded in the Alps, with top ten in the overall classification and a stage win now the twin aims.
Link:
Sky Aim For Stage Wins | Cyclingnews.com
Rolland reacts to black day in the Alps
Despite joining compatriot Maxime Bouet of Ag2r-La Mondiale in yesterday's day-long breakaway to Gap, Bbox Bouygues Telecom rider Pierre Rolland couldn't make it a French win on Bastille Day.
Link:
Rolland Reacts To Black Day In The Alps | Cyclingnews.com
Hushovd says green jersey battle is on
orwegian Thor Hushovd said the battle for the Tour de France green jersey is now on after seeing Italian rival Alessandro Petacchi reduce his points competition deficit by three points on Wednesday. "Now the big battle for the green jersey begins. Every point counts," said Hushovd, who dominated the competition in 2005 and 2009.
Link:
AFP: Hushovd says green jersey battle is on
Cavendish set to overtake his mentor
Mark Cavendish could overtake his mentor and sprint coach Erik Zabel if he wins the expected bunch sprint at the Tour de France in Bourg-les-Valence today.
Link:
Cavendish Set To Overtake His Mentor | Cyclingnews.com
Thor Hushovd favourite to win Green Jersey ahead of Mark Cavendish
Norwegian star sprinter Thor Hushovd remains the bookies’ favourite to clinch his third Tour de France green jersey, despite losing three points to Alessandro Petacchi yesterday. Hushovd leads the overall points standings with 138 points and is 8/11 (bet £11 to win £8 profit) with Ladbrokes and Stan James to still be leading the points standings when the race finishes in Paris on July 25. The ‘God of Thunder’ claimed a valuable six points in the Cluses sprint in Stage 9, and also took a stage victory in Arenberg to sail into an early lead.
Link:
Tour de France odds – Thor Hushovd favourite to win Green Jersey ahead of Mark Cavendish | Live Odds and Scores
Farrar finds strength to continue sprinting
Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) expects Thursday's 11th stage of the Tour de France, finishing in Bourg-lès-Valence, to see the only bunch sprint of the Tour's second week, with the American keen to resume his role as the team's protected sprinter.
Link:
Farrar Finds Strength To Continue Sprinting | Cyclingnews.com
Plain Stages Up for Grabs in Tour
After passing through four mountain stages in a row, riders in the 2010 Tour de France will be faced with three plain stages over the next three days, beginning with Stage 11 on Thursday.
Thursday’s 184.5km route from Sisteron to Bourg-lès-Valence in southeastern France sets the stage ideally for the sprint specialists on the Tour, who are contending for the points classification and the green jersey worn by its winner.
Link:
Plain Stages Up for Grabs in Tour | Bettor.com
