Inspiring Olympian mom snatches third gold

RIO DE JANEIRO - On the one hand there was Kristin Armstrong, hoping to complete a fairytale return to road cycling with a third consecutive Olympic time trial gold the day before her 43rd birthday.

On the other there was Olga Zabelinskaya, a Russian rider with a doping past who was nearly booted out of the Games.

So when Armstrong, the last of the field to tackle the 29.7km course on a wild and wet day next to the Atlantic breakers, crossed the finish line five seconds quicker than Zabelinskaya had managed it felt fitting in so many ways.

Not only had Armstrong become the first rider to win the same road event at three different Olympics -- providing a fillip for all 40 somethings to boot -- she also spared the Games what would have been a controversial victory.

Double London medallist Zabelinskaya, who served an 18-month suspension for a banned stimulant and who got a last-gasp reprieve to compete after the IOC's attempt to ban Russia's previous dopers collapsed, had looked poised for victory.

She was almost celebrating at the finish, only to watch Armstrong, pedalling like fury, roar home in 44 minutes 26.42 seconds before collapsing on to the tarmac in exhaustion.

Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen confirmed her reputation as women's cycling's new force by adding a bronze medal to the gold she took in Sunday's road race, finishing 11 seconds back.

But the day belonged to Armstrong.

She retired in 2009 to start a family but returned to win gold in London before calling it a day again.

After a three-year break and three hip surgeries she made another comeback last year with an eye on Rio.

No wonder she cried with joy at the finish where she cuddled her son Lucas, who she later admitted had preferred watching the fencing because he thought it looked like Star Wars.

DIFFICULT JOURNEY

"It's amazing, I don't know if it has hit me yet," Armstrong told reporters after hugging her five-year-old son and holding up a sign that said "USA STRONG".

"This has been the most difficult journey. I took time off. The mind gets tired. So when I came back I was focused on Rio and it's been difficult because I've had some poor performances over the last six months."

The race was run in treacherous conditions but thankfully there were none of the accidents that marred the road race although former world champion Ellen van Dijk fell into the roadside foliage when riding uphill.

Armstrong used all her vast experience to tackle two tough climbs and stayed calm as the seconds ticked away on the run-in.

"When I looked out of the window at 4am I thought, 'Oh!' But I had two choices, get nervous, or say I'm the most experienced person out here and just attack it."

Zabelinskaya, who finished third in the road race and time trial in London, was also in tears at the end.

She warmly congratulated her American rival though and the greeting was returned despite some riders openly questioning why Zabelinskaya was racing, given the IOC's pre-Games stance.

"I didn't really think about (the doping issue)," Armstrong, the oldest female Olympic cycling champion, said.

"Olga gave me a hug on the podium and said 'I saw your son' and she said it made her smile.

"You can get really stressed out around what somebody is or is not doing so I just try to eliminate those thoughts."

Zabelinskaya said she was "happy" to end a traumatic week with a medal, having been about to board a plane home for Russia two days before the Games started.

"I am also disappointed that I could not win the gold medal because it is only five seconds to first place," she said. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris and Toby Davis)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Froome slams Nibali for 'unsportsmanlike' behaviour

LA TOUSSUIRE, France - Race leader Chris Froome hit out at defending Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali for launching his stage-winning attack just when the Briton suffered a mechanical problem on Friday.

The incident was reminiscent of that on the 2010 Tour when Alberto Contador attacked Andy Schleck as the Luxembourg rider, then wearing the yellow jersey, had problems with his chain.

The Spaniard then went on to win the race although he was later stripped of the title following a positive dope test with Schleck promoted from second to take the honours.

"It's pretty self explanatory really, going up to the col de la Croix de Fer I had a mechanical problem," said Froome after the 19th stage.

"A piece of asphalt got stuck between my brakes and my rear wheel and the rear wheel just jammed up. I had to stop and get it out before I could continue.

"It seems to me that Nibali had the whole climb to attack but he chose the moment I had a mechanical to make his move and I've heard from other riders that he turned and attacked. In my opinion it's very unsportsmanlike.

"It's not in the spirit of the Tour de France."

Nibali, not a threat to the yellow jersey after dropping out of contention in the first block of racing, went on to win the stage ahead of Colombian Nairo Quintana and Froome, who were second and third respectively.

Some riders believe the wearer of the yellow jersey should not be attacked if he suffers a mechanical problem or a crash.

Nibali, however, said he did not see the incident.

"I had turned around to talk to my team mate Tanel Kangert," said the Italian, who is now fourth overall 6:44 off the pace.

Froome went to confront Nibali after the finish.

Asked what he was told by the Briton, Nibali replied: "It can't be repeated."

Froome said: "I told him what I thought of him." (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Over 100 cyclists expected for 2015 Ronda

MANILA, Philippines – Over 100 cycling hopefuls from all over the country chase their dream as they battle for slots in the championship round when the Ronda Pilipinas 2015 unfurls on Tuesday with the three-stage Visayas qualifying leg in Dumaguete City.

"We're expecting a hundred, probably more to participate in the Visayas qualifier," said Ronda executive director Moe Chulani.

A total of 54 slots – 50 elite riders and four juniors – to the championship round set from February 22 to 27 unfolding in Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and culminating in Baguio will be up for grabs.

Stage One will be a 172.7-km Dumagueta-Sipalay race to be followed by the 157.8-km Bacolod-Bacolod Stage Two and the 120-km Bacolod-Cadiz Stage Three on Friday.

The Ronda will then go up North for the two-stage Luzon qualifiers with a 138.9-km Tarlac-Tarlac Stage One on February 16 and a 102.5-km Antipolo-Antipolo Stage Two on February 17, this time staking a total of 34 slots (30 elite, four juniors).

Then, all the 88 qualifiers from the Visayas and Luzon legs will make it to the main event alongside last year's winner, Reimon Lapaza of Butuan, the nine-man national team spearheaded by Mark Galedo and a composite European team composed mainly of Dutch riders.

Meanwhile, Dutch Martin Bruin, Ronda's chief president and head commissaire, and five foreign officials have all arrived along with the rest of the 150-man Ronda caravan running the race.

"We're all accounted for. We're just waiting for the final list of participants and we're ready to roll," said Ronda administration director Jack Yabut.

Joining Bruin, a Tour de France veteran who has been around Ronda in the first four stagings, are Micky Rob, Eduard Park, Ji Jin Qiu, Beatrice Lajawa, and Jamal Mahmood.

The Mindanao riders will be ferried from Dipolog for free on February 10, according to Yabut.

Visayas' Stage One will start at the Negros Oriental Provincial Capitol and end in Sipalay City Plaza (172.7 kilometers for elite, 120.2 kms for juniors); Stage Two will start at the Bacolod City Plaza and end at the Bacolod Government Center via Don Salvador Benedicto and San Carlos (158 kms for elite, 110.5 kms for juniors) on Feb. 12 ; and Stage Three will open at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol and end in Cadiz City (123 kms for elite and juniors).

Interested parties may get their registration form online at Ronda Pilipinas' official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/RondaPilipinas, and Twitter account, @rondapilipinas, or aspirants may register a day or two hours before qualifying race day for just P1,000 per entry per stage.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com







 

Lance Armstrong barred from Ironman amid new charges

PARIS (AP) — Organizers of Ironman France say Lance Armstrong can no longer compete in the triathlon this month after the U.S. anti-doping agency filed new charges that he doped as a Tour de France cyclist.

Ironman France spokeswoman Delphine Vivet said Armstrong was told Wednesday that he is out of the June 24 race in Nice, southern France, because of the new USADA proceedings against him. She said he is barred from the race under World Triathlon Corporation rules.

source: USA Today