Tejay van Garderen took his first major stage race general classification victory with an impressive all-round performance in stifling heat at the eight-day Amgen Tour of California. In so doing, the 24-year-old American, who finished fifth at last year’s Tour de France, strengthened his claim to be BMC’s team leader at this year’s race. Continue reading
On a snowy and curiously subdued afternoon, Movistar’s Giovanni Visconti took maximum advantage, securing a place in the day’s decisive breakaway and then picking the perfect moment to solo away to victory on the slopes of the Col du Galibier. Continue reading
At the time of writing, due to weather conditions this stage is due to finish 4.25km below the summit of the Galibier at the site of the Pantani Memorial, although it is entirely possible this plan will continue to be revised even once the race is under way.
Before the Galibier is even reached the peloton must get over the Col du Mont Cenis and Telegraphe, so this could be a ripper of a stage regardless of where it finishes. Of course, it was on the Galibier that Andy Schleck showed that he could look into his suitcase full of courage and come up with the goods, when he took the stage in an audacious breakaway in the 2011 Tour de France. Continue reading