But they reckoned without Cav’s hunger, power, commitment to his team and God-given positioning sense.

There were in excess of 300 metres to go when he went – a long, long way in sprinting circles but that famous ‘jump’ gave him too many metres to pull back.

Nizzolo can bang his bars as much as he wants, Cav is the King.

Cavendish had a long sprint and looked wiped out when he pulled to a stop. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

The slump against the barriers was no show boating, he’d gone way deep to win.

A big part of his success is his position, so low over that Specialized; his watts don’t match those of Greipel or giant Dukla Prague sprint flyer, Alois Kankovsky who lays down over 2,000 watts.

But Cav is so low over the bike that his aerodynamic signature is tiny compared to ‘house ends’ like Greipel and Kankovsky.

It’s looking less and less like my spy’s tip off that Cav will be moving on from QuickStep at the end of the year is correct.

QuickStep’s East European money isn’t going to let a man who can win four stages in a Grand Tour slip through it’s fingers.

And Cav has little to complain about his team in this Giro d’Italia.

Cavendish always expresses his gratitude to his teammates. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

But there’ll be little mention of Cav for the next week as the race heads into the Alps and Dolomites.

For the sprinters there will only be the gruppetto, pain, endless grades, no limelight or press conferences and just the thought of the Brescia finishing straight a week tomorrow to keep spirit and flesh rolling on through those ‘kilometres to go’ signs.

The Giro organisers give each stage winner their national flag to wave on the podium. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

"Last year's winner, 1 Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp), 100 Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ), 181 Bradley Wiggins (Sky Pro Cycling)."

The official race communiqué was matter of fact about the non-starters list; but it’s actually a sensational sentence – two of the race’s biggest favourites dropping out on the same day.

With Ryder it’s hard to say – maybe a virus?

Wiggins has looked uncomfortable on many stages. Photo©LaPresse

But I never thought that Bradley looked comfortable throughout the entire race – and as I said yesterday, I don’t think he was prepared for how aggressive the first week of the Giro is.

In addition, his skeletal build was never going to cope well with the weather which was thrown at it.

It’s fair to say that you’d expect sunshine in the Giro – but then you should always remember those pictures of Andy Hampsten and snow drifts.

Those lines through the Briton and Canadian’s names in the Gazzetta ‘partenti’ list are good news if your name is Nibali; but not so clever if you're called Brailsford or Vaughters.

Brailsford is better served for GC with the highly capable Uran in third spot and Sky still having some very strong boys in there to support him – Henao, Cataldo, Siutsou, Zandio are all accomplished support riders when the tarmac rises.

Garmin are nowhere on GC, Tom Danielson is 37th at 37 minutes; but in fairness to the man he did look good in the early stages and lost much of that time in shepherding a wasted Hesjedal.

A stage win for him is possible, I believe.

GreenEdge at the arrowhead. Photo©Ferrari

It’s been a great Giro so far with the last week sure to contain more surprises and drama as the race today (Saturday) heads into the Alps – Climate Change permitting.

It could be a calm stage if the GC guys declare a truce and let a break go – or it could be brutal.

My guess is the former.

Busseto welcomes the Giro. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Result - Giro d’Italia 2013 – Stage 13: Busseto – Cherasco 254km

However, before we get into the tactical battles up on the moors, welcome to the world to Fletcher John Oliphant born a month ago and weighing 8 lb 15.5 oz.

Not as skinny as his dad, then?

Congratulations to Annette and Evan on their happy event from VeloVeritas.

And more congratulations to Evan for turning round a Stage One deficit of five seconds to overall victory in The Reservoir by 13 seconds over Team UK Youth’s Chris Opie, the man who took that first stage.

Evan tops the podium. Photo©Andy Jones/CyclingWeekly

Two stages now for The Reservoir?

"This was the first year it’s been two stages; the Saturday stage was 120km over five laps with a climb similar to the Nick o’ Balloch.

"It went straight out the blocks, ending up with a group of 14 up the road – I had to go round a lot of bodies to get up there.

"Rapha missed it, there were four Sigmas and four UK Youth; I had Rob Britton with me. We rode through and off until two to go when Simon Yates (100%ME) attacked, Rob countered so UK Youth and Sigma chased.

"Then I went away with Steve Lampier (Node 4) and Yates but it was a block headwind to the finish and we were caught.

"At the death I was 12th out of 14 @ 5 seconds behind Opie.

"On the Sunday, UK Youth had four in the top 10, so it was up to them to control things. We put Lachlan Norris in the break which was perfect for us; but it was really windy and UK Youth split it up with their riding to control things. But it’s eight laps and on the last two you could see that they were tiring.

"We put Rob Britton up the road and they had to chase hard to get him back. With a lap to go, I went with Andy Tennant and Liam Holohan (both Madison-Genesis) and Lampier.

"With six miles to go I could see they were all on our knees, so I put it in the big ring and went solo – I could see that the chase group was coming up but I only needed five seconds advantage to win overall.

"I reckoned I needed 20 seconds at the bottom of the climb to the finish to win – if someone had been strong then they could have got up to me but everyone was wasted and I held on with 13 seconds over Opie to win overall by seven seconds."

When I see pictures of that race it always looks so bleak.

"Saturday was in the moors – middle of nowhere stuff - but Sunday’s parcours takes in some nice villages and there were actually a lot of folk out to watch."

Has ‘no Endura’ changed things, this year?

"They can’t ride most UK races now because they’re Pro Continental – but I think it makes for better racing.

"The tendency last year was for everyone to wait until Endura took control – albeit we won the last Premier of the year because we took control of things and didn’t wait around."

There seem to be some strong UK teams on the go, this year.

"UK Youth had eight strong guys at the Reservoir and there’s Madison, Node 4, 100% ME, Sigma...

"We were at a wee bit of a disadvantage at the Reservoir because we only had five riders – the rest of our guys were in France and we have Alex Blain out with knee problems."

It doesn’t seem as if you’ve been disadvantaged by not riding in Europe, this season?

"I was at the Haut Var and Lilliers but there were so many races affected by the bad weather.

"I was supposed to ride the Tour of Normandy and in the Ardennes but that was when the baby was due so I didn’t go.

"But I knew in the Scottish races at Gifford and in the Drummond that I had good form – maybe I’m fresher as a result of not racing so much?

"I had six days off when the baby arrived – so maybe it’s like Rob Hayles says; ‘when you’re going well, don’t touch your bike!’"

Is The Reservoir a Commonwealth Games qualifier?

"Strictly speaking, no.

"UCI races qualify – but I don’t think it’ll have done me any harm."

Evan wins Stage 2. Photo©Andy Jones/CyclingWeekly

What’s next?

"I have The Ràs coming up for the Scotland team – I ride with Alex Coutts, Michael Nicholson, Robbie Hassan and Ben Greenwood.

"Ben is our ‘Secret Scot’ – he qualifies because he lives up here now.

"He’s going very well, I was first and he was second over the Crow Road on Saturday; then we swapped places in the Kilmacolm race on Sunday.

"Because I’m at the Ras I’ll miss most of the Tour Series crits then it’ll be back in to Premiers; and we have a stage race in France."

The British Road race in Glasgow must be a big goal?

"Yeah, it’s like a big crit through the streets of Glasgow – like the Melbourne Commonwealth Games course.

"I liked that course for the British at Abergaveny in 2009, a lot of it was in the town – I was seventh there, my best in the Elite Championship.

"I hope to be well prepared for it, this year."

And on the subject of Glasgow . . .

"I haven’t been on the track there for about six weeks but I’ll be going back to it to prepare for the Commonwealth Games track racing.

"I was fifth in the Points in Delhi and fourth in Melbourne, so I think it’s my best opportunity."

What about those other games . . .

"I might ride a few Highland Games if there’s nowt else on – I like to ride at Halkirk; go back to my roots.

"I first raced up there on the grass track when I was 13 or 14 – I’m 31 now.

"Racing there is good fun and you can win a lot of bottles of whisky – they’re handy for Xmas presents!"

Evan is looking forward to his team stepping up a division next season. Photo©CyclingWeekly

What’s your take on the current Scottish road scene?

"I think the standard has improved but I think that often the courses are too hard for the level most riders are at.

"I mean, the Crow Road - it takes a lot for most guys to just get up it, never mind race up it.

"The Balfron course for the Scottish Road Championship is a good one – the race was still together with a lap to go."

Does it look like you’ll be with Raleigh for 2014?

"I think so, the team has plans to go Pro Continental and with Alex Blain and Eric Berthou they have serious riders who have raced at the highest level and who you can learn a lot from.

"We’ve had some strong European results – Tom Scully won the prologue in Normandy and Blain was close to winning it overall, just three seconds behind Dillier."

What else would you like to achieve, in 2013?

"I’m going to target the Premier Series – there are five more to go.

"First we have the Lincoln; then the Beaumont and Ryedale – and I’ve won both of those.

"The harder the race, the better it suits me!

"The British road race is a big goal and at the end of the year I’ll get back on the track in preparation for the Games.

"Riding the track has definitely helped me – I feel it in my pedalling on the road."

Chances at the Lincoln?

"The best I’ve been there in the past is fifth – it’s a great race with huge crowds in Lincoln.

"But the field will be enormous – maybe 180 riders and there’s always chaos going into the climb every lap.

"Maybe it’s a day for the early break..."

Result - Tour of the Reservoir 2013

Checking out a piece of Route 66 in California... home of SmartStop Self Storage!

As reported in that previous post, I got struck down with an illness soon after arriving in the US.

Though I was getting back on the bike as I wrote that post, just ahead of training camp and the start of the season, things have just not been right since.

Something I'm not going to dwell on for long, but the effects of the illness itself and training missed in that month were multiplied as the season got underway. Quite simply I just felt extremely out of sorts. When I'm going to a bike race and not enjoying it there must be something wrong!

The famous road.

Hollywood, baby!

Certainly not the way I intended my 2013 season to start with Team Smartstop Pro Cycling P/B Mountain Khakis.

However I'm happy to report there have been much better sensations on the bike in these last weeks, suggesting the turning point on this season.

Sometimes in these situations you just have to let the body do its thing and have a little faith.

Its not all been Hollywood glamour so far this season!

Nothing too much to shout about in those opening races for me personally so I'll give you the highlights show, recapping more recent events.

Mid-April saw my first podium of the year at the Dilworth Criterium.

A dominating ride by teammate Nate Ward saw him take the win from a two man breakaway.

I was to get ahead of the peloton in the closing stages to take 3rd. It was a good team performance and a sign of what was to come in the coming weeks.

Team Smartstop Pro Cycling P/B Mountain Khakis 2013!

Before I get to that, sandwiched between was the Foothills Road Race in Alabama, which saw top 10 placings for myself and teammate Travis Livermon.

A bit of a game of 'cat and mouse' at the end, which on another day could have produced another outcome.

But of course that's cycling sometimes.

Amazing country and scenery.

Stunning views.

Recently I'm happy to report that as well as another podium, I was also to take my first win of the season and secure second on overall at the 'Heart of Carolina Omnium'.

A three day Omnium (basically a stage race but decided on points for placings on each stage rather than time) comprising of two criteriums and one road race. And so it turned out to be quite the successful weekend for me and my four teammates in the race. It was nice to actually look forward to racing once again. A clear sign that the body was coming around.

Across the weekend we raced well as a team and throw in the fun that we had in doing so, success was never going to be far away for Team Smartstop Pro Cycling P/B Mountain Khakis.

Jon Hamblen - Winner!

And so it proved!

Teammate Jon Hamblen taking the win in the 'Adam Little Memorial Criterium' solo from the breakaway, backed up by another strong ride by Chris Monteleone in 3rd. Pat Raines and Nate Ward also secured top 10 placings in the finale.

The 'Asheboro in Motion Criterium' on the second day was about helping Jon keep the overall lead aswell as securing our dominance as a whole on the overall Omnium. That we did and in fact the only thing we didnt quite do that day was win the bike race. 2nd for Jon, 3rd for myself and 4th for Nate securing our dominance on the overall Omnium.

Sometimes it's all you want.

Onto Sundays 'Denton Tour de Kale Road Race' and that was about three things;

1. Helping Jon to secure the overall Omnium.
2. Of course trying to win the race.
3. Try for all of us to move up a little bit more in the overall Omnium (after all there were a nice amount of $'s up for grabs!).

It was one of those days where everything fell into place after another good team performance.

Always in control of the race, we had riders in the right moves at the right times. Nothing more nothing less.

Soon after bridging to the breakaway in a chase group, I wanted to test the breakaway out by making it a bit harder up front. After covering a move with around 35km to go I rolled off the front and into TT mode and the correct decision it proved to be, soloing the remainder of the race for the win... happy days!

I love a breakaway! My first win of the season!

This was backed up by Pat in 3rd, Chris in 4th and Nate 15th.

The impact of this result was great for the overall Omnium too. Jon remained on top, I moved up to 2nd, Pat 3rd, Chris 4th and Nate 9th. A nice weekend indeed!

So there it is.

There have certainly been ups and downs over these past months. Luckily the pathway on this US season is on its way upwards.

The remainder of May is pretty low-key, but this on the plus side allows some time to re-establish some routine in all aspects and prepare for June and the rest of the summer ahead.

Thanks once again for all of your support over these last months, greatly appreciated as always!

My crackin' team issue bike...

...and footwear.

And on that note please remember to check out the Dave Raynor fund website, Twitter and Facebook who continue to support me and many riders racing abroad.

The rest of the season awaits for me and my Team Smartstop Pro Cycling P/B Mountain Khakis teammates... until next time!

Season 2013 looking brighter again!

He's the best roadman sprinter in the world - and his partnership with Steegmans is developing into something special.

It's not as if anyone is going to lean on Big Gert . . .

The Belgian is quick in his own right and has found the perfect niche as Cav's final 'booster,' developing the power to take Cav clear of the peloton's gravitational pull and launching him to the top of the podium.

Mark Cavendish reached a career tally of 100 wins today. Photo©LaPresse

The other day I was saying that Bouhanni is quick, he is, but Cav is even quicker.

To achieve 100 wins in any avenue of the sport is something that only the best can think of - but to do so in the Pro Tour and at just 27 years-of-age is remarkable.

Conceivably, he has a good five years at this level before his star begins to wane.

I well remember my surprise when I heard he'd won the Scheldeprijs; the man had to be taken seriously.

He'd had wins in Germany and Poland; but the 2007 Scheldeprijs, in Flanders, beating Robbie McEwen - and a certain Mr. Steegmans, well, that was a different level.

I was fortunate enough to witness at first hand two of the three wins he cites as his best - the first was his first Tour stage, I missed that one.

Cavendish squeezes past Haussler to take Milan-San Remo.

But was on hand, with Martin for the second, which was 2009 Milan-Sanremo where he snatched what looked like a sure victory from Heinrich Haussler right on the line.

His closing speed was remarkable - he was at a different level.

And the third was the Worlds in Copenhagen in 2011 - albeit the whole GB team should have a rainbow jersey for that one.

Winning the Worlds with the full backing of a strong team GB, was a long time in the planning.

But even as Cav finally gets into full stride with the laminated floor team, the rumours are circulating.

Mark Renshaw has discovered that there's a big difference between being the 'best lead out man in the world' and one of the best sprinters in the world; especially when there's a Dutch fast man in your Dutch team.

Word is he'll be back with Cav for '14 - but there's also word that the Manxman 'isn't fitting in at QuickStep' and will be offsky.

But that was before his hat trick at the Giro . . .

Mark gets a brake tweek after a wheel change. Photo©LaPresse

And let's not forget what the Giro is really all about - selling things.

Cavendish loves the Specialized brand. Photo©Tim de Waele

Specialized weren't slow to get their pitch in;

"The Manxman's legendary kick saw him cross the line in first place for his third win of the 2013 Giro d'Italia. No rider has had as much success aboard the Specialized Venge as Mark Cavendish.

"While winning sprints has become expected of the Manxman, garnering 100 career victories is no small feat and one that few racers lay claim to.

"Having won the Green Jersey, a World Championship and numerous Tour stages all aboard the bike it seemed only fitting to celebrate Cav's 100th victory with his very own custom S-Works Venge.

"As arguably one of the sports best ever sprinters, Cavendish embodies the spirit and pure speed the Venge represents," explains Brent Graves, Director of Road Bike Product Development.

"We wanted to create a Specialized edition bike that not only celebrated Cav's 100 wins, but also highlighted the many accomplishments he's already achieved," added Graves.

"With some of Cav's monumental wins gracing the top tube as well as a beautifully executed green theme, this limited edition frame is sure to quickly become a collector's item."

Cavendish's Specialized. Photo©Tim de Waele

That'll be at least ten grand, then ?

Can he make it 101 on Friday ? - it's perfectly feasible.

And we got back into the Gazzetta Groove on Thursday.

Unfortunately, it's Tuesday's - so with Monday as the rest day, there's no racing.

There's no racing but we do get lots of Vincenzo - including wedding photos. And a nice shot of him 'sleeping' on his maglia rosa pillow.

The organisation gives these to the day's leader - instead of one of those rather disconcerting stuffed Alpine rodent things which they've done for the last few years.

I'm writing this on Friday and Radio Two has just reported that Bradley Wiggins is OUT.

Uran's big chance and more uncertainty for Froome - 'cos we know what Brad will have to go after, now ?

Result - Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 12: Longarone - Treviso 134km

Hesjedal is one of the nicest professional athletes you’ll ever meet, polite, grounded, sincere, soft spoken and likeable.

To see him languishing in the gruppetto with Cav, yesterday was really quite sad.

He was strong at Liège, paving the way for the win which took Dan Martin from ‘up and coming,’ to firmly, ‘arrived!’

The outlook was all positive for Ryder at the pre-race conference. Photo©LaPresse

Garmin’s poor TTT wasn’t a good portent for him; but the Canadian’s spirited riding next day was a good sign – or was it?

As I wrote at the time, he seemed to be trying to convince himself that all was well.

But since then it’s been all downhill – I knew he couldn’t win this year, not with Sky v. Astana bout at the top of the bill.

But I did think that a podium was possible – sadly, it’s not to be.

And with 10 stages still to go that podium is far from settled – and that can only be a good thing for the fans.

Respect is due to the Garmin squad, however for Ramunas Navardauskas’ fine stage win - Daniel Oss is a big strong boy, but the Lithuanian was stronger.

Oss and Navardauskas were well matched. Photo©Ferrari

The team could have slid into the ‘Post Ryder Collapse Blues,’ but responded to their disappointment in the best possible way.

And across in California, Tyler Farrar under scored that Vaughters’ team is far from ‘on a downer’ with the stage win in Santa Barbara.

Farrar started the season strongly but hasn’t had a win – his morale will have been done no harm with this one.

And whilst the Biggest Beasts – Cav, Greipel and Kittel weren’t there, he still had to beat local fast man, Ken Hanson (Optum-Kelly) who’s US criterium champion and has Euro wins to his name in 2013; QuickStep’s classy Gianni Meersman and the inimitable Peter Sagan (Cannondale).

Not a bad job at all, Tyler, Ramunas - and Mr. Vaughters.

It takes all sorts of fans. Photo©Ferrari

But back to la Bella Italia – in these days when the strongest potion which should be in the team bus fridge is ‘fat’ Coca Cola, it was inevitable that the break would go so the ‘Bigs’ could recharge their batteries.

If this was ten years ago it would have been fireworks all day – that’s the thing, you can’t have death racing every day and clean cycling.

On the subject of which, we have Mr. Jalabert, ‘summoned by the anti-doping commission of the French Senate.’

Why?

The sport was rotten, we all suspected things were bad – but maybe not as bad as the recent scandals have illustrated - but let’s move on, please.

And no Giro rant worth it’s salt could fail to mention Sky.

Uran made all the right noises at the press conference but Wiggins’ morale doesn’t seem to be that of a man headed for glory.

Although yesterday didn’t put him under too much presh and today’s stage should be for Cav – he’s hungry for that land mark 100th win.

But it’s by no means cast in stone, with riders now up to 2:39 off the pace, there are plenty of guys who Astana, BMC and Sky will be happy to see disappear up the road.

But either way, it’s good for Bradley; it gives his battered system and morale a chance to recover.

Perhaps Wiggins' morale needs a little boost? Photo©Ferrari

Stage 13, similarly, whilst long and lumpy at the death will be for escape artists or the sprinters and shouldn’t be too much of a handful for the GC men.

But in this Giro, you never know.

Ciao, ciao.

Result - Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 11: Tarvisio - Vajont (Erto e Casso) 182km

But as has happened to Sky numerous times in this Giro, things didn’t go according to the script.

Wiggins couldn’t respond when the ‘digs’ went in and he lost a minute to Nibali, Evans – and Uran.

If the trend continues then Sky will have to switch horses and bet on Uran.

Rigoberto Uran. Photo©LaPresse

A podium for the former Columbian track champion plus his stage win, the TTT and anything else that Sky picks up between now and Brescia mean that the race has hardly been a disaster for them.

There’s a big ‘but’ though, old Rigoberto may be a quality rider but he doesn’t come from Wigan, has a dodgy haircut and will be jumping ship at the year’s end – so even if he does make the podium it’s of little PR value to Sky.

Brad is the story, not Rigoberto – and nor is Chris Froome the story.

The Brits like their heroes home grown; with Middle England in particular suspicious of Johnny Foreigner.

So what about Brad’s less than spectacular Giro?

Far be it from me to question Sky’s methods, but he looks to me like he lacks race miles – it wouldn’t surprise me if he comes in to good form in the last week.

Bradley Wiggins. Photo©LaPresse

Last year he came into the Tour of a full stage race programme and with solid wins under his belt.

It doesn’t matter how good you are, if you haven’t demonstrated to yourself that you have good form then there’s always that doubt there.

Merckx at the peak of his powers would be panicking if he hadn’t won a race in the last week.

It doesn’t matter what your time is up such-and-such a mountain or what your watts are – it doesn’t start to pour with freezing rain on a WattBike and there’s no crazy Italian trying to derail your rhythm.

And the downside of Sky’s - and most of professional cycling’s - obsession with riders’ body fat; when it’s cold and wet it’s a nightmare if there’s hardly a pick of flesh on your bones.

Sky’s Classics campaign wasn’t the best; when boring old pains in the bum like Vik, Ivan, Dave and I saw they weren’t riding Tirreno or Paris-Nice our eyebrows raised.

The results proved us correct and it looks to me like Bradley is suffering from the same malaise as the Classics guys – too much analysis, tech and watts and not enough racing.

And whilst I’m not a ‘tweeter,’ I hear tell that Froome tweeted congratulations to Uran, apparently his first comment of the whole race . . .

But there’s still a long way to go to Brescia.

And it’s too far for Ryder Hesjedal, today was a disaster, he dropped a monstrous 21 minutes on the stage, finishing in a gruppetto.

On the plus side he’s no danger now and will be allowed to go up the road; JV will need something to save his Giro.

In my Giro preview I said that Basso, Evans and Sanchez wouldn’t figure; Basso didn’t even start and Sanchez is at eight minutes – but I got it badly wrong with Evans.

Cadel Evans is surprising people. Photo©LaPresse

Again, today he was there with the very best and a podium looks well possible – but you’d have got long odds at William Hill’s on that, two weeks ago.

And spare a thought for Mattia Gavazzi (Androni Giocatolli) he’s stone last at 2:31:26 – and the race isn’t half way yet.

Result - Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 10: Cordenons - Montasio 167km

Glasgow 2014

The Organising Committee unveiled that access next year to sporting events at one of the world’s greatest multi-sports Games will start from just £15 for adults.

At a launch briefing in the city today attended by Olympic and Commonwealth athletes, Glasgow 2014 promised a simple and accessible ticketing process and pledged that at least 70% of all tickets to all sporting events would be available to the public.

The Games Competition Schedule was revealed for the first time and it gets off to a flying start with 12 sports on Day One, including Swimming and Track Cycling.

The first weekend will be very busy with both Rugby Sevens and Weightlifting expected to attract peak audiences.

Where do the tickets go?

Three easy steps for buying tickets.

See the best athletes from £15.

I did a race preview for, ‘a well known North American website’ so thought I’d take a rest day wander back and see how my tips for the top are doing:

Vincenzo Nibali. Photo©Ferrari

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy & Astana)

All you need know to confirm how serious Astana are about this race is that last 200 metres flyer Guardini has been left at home – there’ll be no sprint stage distractions on this campaign.

Nibali was brilliant in Tirreno; he won Trentino and has men like Paolo Tiralongo, Fred Kessiakoff and Valerie Agnoli by his side.

He has to limit his losses in the long chrono, keep his powder dry until the Dolomites but grab any chances that arise on wet, technical days where he excels.

If he can do that, he can win.

‘The Shark of the Straights’ has certainly made the most of the bad weather and tricky descents but did much better than limit his losses in the chrono, taking the jersey in fine style.

But he has the jersey to defend for a fortnight – is he up to it?

I think so.

Sir Bradley Wiggins. Photo©LaPresse

2: Sir Bradley Wiggins (GB & Sky)

Wiggins hasn’t had the same inexorable progress through the early season stage races as one year ago but with the best sports scientists, nutritionists and logistics men in the sport behind him, it’s hard to believe that he’ll be in anything other than imperious form for Naples.

His team is second to none; indeed, if someone has a robust enough cheque book to tempt Uran and Henao away from the News International team, they’re both potential Grand Tour winners.

And that’s before we mention Cataldo, Knees or Pate.

The TTT, long chrono and ‘diesel’ mountain TT are in his favour, too.

But Nibali has the team, too – and I believe that those nasty Dolomite days tip the balance in the Sicilian’s favour.

The race stuck to early Sky script for Sir Brad; Cav won stage one - Sky blasted the TTT with the team letting their young Italian, Puccio care take the jersey.

Stage three went well with Paolini taking the stage and the maglia rosa with Brad well there.

But on stage four, as young Battaglin proved he wasn’t just a ‘one win wonder,’ the first signs came that Brad wasn’t comfortable – and certainly not enjoying the narrow roads and rain, dropping 17 seconds, despite protests that he was delayed by a crash.

Stages five and six went back to the story board with no surprise in Degenkolb or Cavendish winning.

But on stage seven, as Adam Hansen at last got some glory we saw a different Bradley Wiggins to the majestic (arrogant?) knight who dominated the Tour and Olympics.

More like the nervous young Brad on the start line of Het Volk that Vik remembers from a decade ago – patently spooked by the tricky descents.

The Stage Eight TT had been where the Englishman was supposed to put his stamp on the race.

Instead it was his countryman and ex-team mate Alex Dowsett proving that there is ‘life after Sky’ and he’s not just a work horse to be told what to do.

Wiggins was second – with a puncture – not a triumph for Baron Wigan but hardly a disaster.

But on Stage Nine – as Katusha continued to show their grinta, with Belkov winning - there was even less joy for Wiggins, again exposed on the wet descents into Florence and finishing the day at 1:16 on Nibali in fourth spot on GC.

On paper, his position is far from untenable – but ideally he should be going into the mountains with a buffer, not with a deficit.

The man dominated stage racing in 2013, he’s Olympic time trial champion and a master of being in the right shape for the big event – and he’s been handling pressure since he was a junior.

All of that means that it’s way too early to write him off – but as one wag said on Facebook; ‘get Steve Peters on a plane to Italy!’

Ryder Hesjedal. Photo©LaPresse

3: Ryder Hesjedal (Canada & Garmin)

Hesjedal was an unexpected but brilliant winner of a great Giro in 2012.

His usual long, steady build up sees him peaking at just the right time – setting up La Doyenne perfectly for Dan Martin.

He’s resourceful and unafraid to attack; and shouldn’t concede too much time to Wiggins in the time trials.

But Wiggins and Nibali just look too strong to me for Ryder to finish higher than third.

The TTT was a bad portent for Garmin, previous winners and specialists in the discipline they took a pasting – from which Hesjedal bounced back the next day with a aggressive display in the finale.

But he dropped a minute on Stage Nine and now lies some 3:11 and in 11th position behind Nibali – it’s difficult, but not impossible, to envisage a circumstance in which he can stand on the podium.

Michele Scarponi. Photo©LaPresse

4: Michele Scarponi (Italy & Lampre)

I like Michele, he has grinta, quality and a sense of humour – but he needs to more careful about the company he keeps; even though they have the same name as a nice model of car.

Very hard to drop, resilient and intelligent – but he’ll hate that long chrono; and with Pozzato and Ferrari in his team it won’t be ‘all for Michele.’

A fact which will not have gone unnoticed to Scarponi’s rivals is that but for a crash on Stage Three, the Lampre man would be very close to leading this race, he’s currently fifth @ 1:24.

His chrono was rock solid and with his favourite stamping grounds to come I’m saying he’ll be on the podium in Brescia.

Robert Gesink. Photo©LaPresse

5: Robert Gesink (The Netherlands & Blanco)

The Dutch team’s brilliant start to 2013 has faded a little – a bit like Gesink’s campaign.

He was fourth at Murcia, sixth in Catalonia but a distant 54th in Romandie.

However, he’s experienced enough to know how to be on form for the big occasions; he was sixth in the Vuelta in 2012 after crashing out of the Tour – a not uncommon occurrence for the skinny man from Varsseveld.

But given the parcours, if he can keep it between the green bits then he could be there – and should come away with a stage win.

The man with a reputation for falling off so far has ridden a great race and is third on GC @ 1:15 with his natural habit of the high mountains still to come.

It bodes well for Gesink and that first Grand Tour podium is certainly a possibility.

And whilst my predictions for those five weren’t bad at all, I got it way wrong for a certain Mr. Cadel Evans (Australia & BMC).

Along with Robert Millar on Cyclingnews.com I thought we’d seen the best of the man who wore the maglia rosa as a pup, a decade ago.

It’s a long time since his star has shone – but the man is nothing if not experienced and professional.

I don’t think he’ll make the podium – but it’s good to see a champion back riding like one.

Two weeks to go; but just one week before Velo Veritas lands in Bergamo – proper cappuccino, a Gazzetta on every High Street and the most colourful race in the world to follow home.

I can’t wait!

On a cold and blustery morning Peacock was fastest at all our time checks, hurtling around the Freuchie 'sort-of-out-and-back' course 15 seconds short of a 30mph average speed, only seven seconds quicker than regular championship winner Arthur Doyle (www.dooleyscycles.co.uk), with Arthur's teammate bronze medallist Iain Grant a mere six seconds slower still, keeping Sandy Wallace Cycles' Alan Thomson off the bronze by three seconds.

Ben Peacock led at all our time checks to take a superb win.

Despite having two riders on the podium, Dooleys Cycles 'only' finished third in the team competition, albeit a single second slower than Peacock's Paisley Velo threesome, with Sandy Wallace Cycles riders Silas Goldsworthy and Kyle Gordon supporting Thomson and taking the top slot 10 seconds ahead. SWC also took the ladies' team prize, with winner  Anda-Jay Burgess backed up by Victoria Hunter who finished in fifth place.

Anda-Jay Burgess took the ladies' top spot.

Arthur Doyle was second this time around.

Iain Grant took a very close third.

Sunday wasn't Peacock's first Scottish medal, he won the bronze in the ‘10’ on Westferry last year behind Doyle and Grant, as he says,

"It was the same top three this year, just re-arranged. But there are also riders like Silas Goldsworthy and Alan Thomson – they can all win on their day."

Fourth placed Alan Thomson is always someone we put a watch on.

Silas Goldsworthy helped his team to the win.

Peacock seems to have exploded on to the Scottish scene, he's only been racing since 2010 but before that had gained strong endurance by doing lot of long distance riding. He completed Land's End to John O’Groats and toured in Europe.

"It was 2010 when my sister-in-law sent me an email which she said I might find of interest – Scottish Cycling was having a recruitment drive, so I sent off the forms and they invited me in for a Wattbike test. I met the figures they were after.

"They said I should join a club, I met the folks from Johnstone Wheelers and they got me into stuff like turbo training. I got myself a bike and in 2011 I tried everything.

"But it was time trials that seemed best for me, and when Willie Cosh from the Johnstone Wheelers started up Paisley Velo, I joined."

Peacock has been rattling out some rapid '10' times, doing 19:42 in the Rob Robertson Memorial last year, an evening event, but despite some great form he doesn't have designs on the '10' record;

"I definitely favour evening events, I’m not a morning person!

"I don’t even know what the record is!" [It stands to the late, great Jason MacIntyre at 18:49]

The '10' wasn't a particular target for Peacock, his training is concentrated on the track pursuit, but he did taper into the race, having his last hard training session on the Wednesday before - something he says he doesn't normally do, finding that tapering isn't usually the way to get the best out of himself. He mixes his training sessions, finding that he needs the stimulation of variety;

"I do a bit of everything; I find that if I do too much of the one type of training then I get bored. I ride the turbo once a week, I train and race on the track, I go out on the road and ride with the chain gang.

"I’ve also recently started riding the Wattbike; Ian Simm has put together a programme for me which is very effective."

Ben Peacock picked up a twig in his cassette and had to grind out the last few miles in the 11 and 12 sprockets.

Despite initially thinking it would put him at a disadvantage, Peacock's evening job - he's a barman - works well for him as it allows training time during the day and his bosses are very supportive when it comes to time off for racing.

Ben is curious to see what times could be done on a true drag strip course.

Fife's Freuchie course isn't really a drag-strip like the Westferry course near Greenock, but it is fast;

"That drop at the start helps – I really enjoyed the course, there’s a lot of variety with the technical sections and those stretches where you ride through the woods.

"I did 20:14 which is a similar time to what I’d do on Westferry; but the wind was a big factor today.

"For the first two miles I was getting so much turbulence around the back of the bike I thought maybe my rear skewer had slipped. I came up off the tri bars so I could look down to check – but there was nothing wrong, it was just the wind."

Going south to chase drag strip times isn't a priority for Peacock, but he admits to being curious to go down to England;

"It’s The Promised Land for time trialling, isn’t it? I mean there are a lot of guys doing 18 minute 10’s down there. In Scotland it’s so much harder to post the fast times with the cold weather – but that makes the times we do up here all the more credible.

"I’m not sure about the ‘50’ Champs – I’ve never ridden one, but I’ll ride the ‘25’ for sure, even though it clashes with the British ‘10’ – I missed the Scottish ‘25’ last year so I’d like to ride it this year.

We noticed that Peacock is a man for the big gears;

"Yes, I ride 54 x 11 up. In the championship with the wind in the last two miles I had to ride the 11 and 12 – when I looked down I had a twig jammed in the cassette and couldn’t get the 13 and 14.

"I had to laugh! I just had to grind it out in the 11 and 12 – that’s not easy when your legs are full of lactic.

"But maybe that’s how I found those seconds on Arthur Doyle?"

He's not particularly into using the latest or lightest equipment, calling himself 'old-school', and has ridden the same Bianchi for the last couple of years with ZiPP 404 wired-on wheels. Peacock believes that getting bound up thinking about the equipment can be distracting; riding, training and racing hard is what it's all about. Suspecting he 'sounds controversial', Peacock reckons disc wheels are overrated;

"But then I have a beard, don’t I?"

Peacock is obviously very strong, and has enjoyed some success in road racing, winning in his category, but doesn't feel that bunch racing necessarily offers him more options; he 'just likes time trials';

"Road racing is a different animal. Coming from a touring background the time trials suit me – out there on my own!

"I’m good at gauging my effort, I don’t ride to a heart rate monitor or power meter."

Ben sees his biggest wins on the track. Photo©Paisley Velo

This year though, Peacock is clear on his targets, and they're on the track.

The dual aims of a good result in the British Pursuit Championships and achieving the Scottish qualifying time in the discipline for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – which is 4:30 - are undoubtedly a challenge. At 32 years of age he feels it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to the Games.

"The ambition is to ride the pursuit – and hopefully team pursuit – for Scotland in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"After that I think I’ll go back to cycle touring – Mark Beaumont was a big inspiration to me when he did his round the world ride. I’m a bit of a traveller so I think that’s what I’ll end up going back to doing."

Kyle Gordon.

Peter Ettles.

Results - Scottish 10 Mile Time Trial Championship 2013

Gallery

The Aussie rider, a "big unit" in the World Tour and hugely respected as a team player and lead-out engine extraordinaire is nevertheless a softly-spoken, modest and shy man.

He had identified today's route and distance as suiting a long break and figured such a move had the potential to stay away - not such a common occurrence these days - but despite the calculations and planning that he put into his ride today, he still looked at the same time astounded and delighted as he freewheeled over the line to take the biggest professional win of his career, and in his fifth appearance at the Giro.

Adam's biggest win so far. PhotoGian Mattia D'Alberto

A pro since 2007, Adam is more comfortable away from the spotlight, working for the team and doing what he can to ensure wins for his colleagues. He's no stranger to success himself, winning the Ster Elektrotoer 2.1 Stage Race in 2010 and the Australian Time Trial Championships two years before that, but Adam's value to his team lies in the power and organisation he can bring to the sprint train - particularly in his beloved grand tours, not to mention that his off-beat sense of humour and imaginative Tweeting is good for team morale.

Adam drills it on the last climb, and the win 'is on'. Photo©Ferrari.

Back in early 2010 when we spoke to Adam, he was looking forward to working with HTC-Columbia team-mate Andre Greipel more, and their friendship and working partnership has only become stronger since then, with Adam playing a large part in each of Andre's three stage wins at the Tour de France last year; there's no doubt his team will be absolutely chuffed for him today and will make sure he's a little spoilt on his 32nd birthday tomorrow.

The stage started in sunshine. Photo©Ferrari

Adam got into the hard-won break which began around 29km into the race and took some strong riding by the six for over 30km to establish, before the peloton relaxed sufficiently and allowed the lead to stretch out to around seven minutes, but as the weather closed in and the hills took their toll Adam rode his fellow escapees off his wheel one by one, each of them eventually being caught by the chasers and spat out the front group.

Last two riding; Emanuele Sella and Adam Hansen. Photo©Ferrari

Cayetano Sarmiento Tunarrosa needs a hand. Photo©Ferrari

Meanwhile behind the steady and stable Australian, Danilo Di Luca (Vini Fantini) was very active in the finale once again - his team clearly able to see the sense in controlling the break's lead with both Di Luca and Mauro Santambrogio in such great shape, but the greasy roads were proving a challenge to some of the best bike handlers and descenders in the game.

Vini Fantini worked hard for Di Luca and Santambrogio today. Photo©Ferrari.

Last man in the break to cling onto Adam's wheel until 20km to go, Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) locked up his rear wheel and bounced off the kerb, upending himself and sending spectators and police marshals running, then crashed again a few k's later, fellow breakaway rider Pim Ligthart (Vacansoleil-DCM) needed seven stitches later to a sliced elbow, master downhiller Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) simply lent over a little too far over on a left hand bend and thumped down on his hip, but had gained enough time on his group to quickly get back on his bike and back into his group, only losing a few places.

Just as Wiggins is thinking 'this is a safe speed' he sees Fran Ventoso crash in front of him. Photo©Ferrari

But it was the tumble that Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)  took with around five km to go which raised the commentators' excitement level and woke the cat. Wiggins was up on his feet quickly but then rode the remainder of the descent in slow motion losing even more time to his main rivals, clearly unsettled - as anyone would be - but also unwilling to take any more risks, particularly with the time trial tomorrow and a chance to jump back up the General Classification a genuine possibility.

He'll be towards the top of the TT finish sheet tomorrow, but it wouldn't surprise us if today's events have taken a little out of him and he's not the stage victor.

Wiggins' shorts bear the evidence - he's been down. Photo©Ferrari.

The beauty of stage racing - no two days are the same, and in this Giro nothing is predictable.

"Una victoria piu bella", and a day Adam will remember for the rest of his life. PhotoDaniele Bottallo

Result - Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 7: San Salvo - Pescara, 177km

Adam has blogged for us a little.

Enrico Battaglin. PhotoGian Mattia D'Alberto

Today's Edinburgh edition of the Gazzetta deals with Battaglin's fine Stage Four win. The Italian journo's are already thinking about when he's going to buy a Lambo/date a model/move to Monaco and they can say; 'he's not serious!'

And I have to put my hands up; "Non e parenti" means "is not family", or "is no relation."

Says the Giro of the Giovanni/Enrico Battaglin genes. Sorry.

La Gazzetta Dello Sport's pink pages explore the exploits of the older and younger Italian riders.

The Italians are blessed with a good crop of youngsters at the moment; as well as aforementioned Enrico there's:

Elia Viviani (Cannondale) is still only 24 and has 18 pro victories. Photo©Daniele Bottallo

Salvatore Puccio (Sky) may not have big palmares at 23, but the fact that he was there at the end of Sky's TTT to take pink says it all. Photo©Daniele Bottallo

Moreno Moser (Cannondale) is definitely related to Francesco and at 22 already has a Strade Bianche to his name. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Diego Ulissi (Lampre) at 23 has nine victories. Photo©Sirotti

Andrea Guardini (Astana) beat Cav to take a Giro stage last year and is still only 22. Photo©Pro Team Astana

Fabio Aru is also with Astana and at 22 already a key man in Nibali's victory bid. Photo©Ferrari

If the super cars and models don't take their toll, Italy will have a fine generation of riders in a year or two.

The Gazzetta also prints a selection of a none too comfortable looking Brad. So it's not just me who's noticed how ill at ease the reigning Tour de France winner looks?

Narrow, slick roads, rain, deranged Pro Continental team riders desperate for TV time and glory and a general unwillingness among his fellow players to stick to the script of Brad's smooth run at another Grand Tour win are all taking a toll.

Baron Wigan may well make me eat my words, but I think it's now Nibali from Hesjedal.

Wish I wasn't missing tomorrow's chrono!

Ciao, ciao.

The baby and Paul Smith on the podium, mouthing off about his team, the swearing...

But when I see him sprint, I could forgive him just about anything.

Mark Cavendish finishes the "perfect stage" for his team in Margherita Di Savoia. Photo©Tim De Waele

He has the coolness under fire, the spacial awareness, the grinta and the raw speed – but most of all he wants to win so badly.

Maybe that’s why he says inappropriate things about his team; defeat hurts him so much that the emotion pours out - he’s disappointed in himself and his boys because he knows that they all could have done better.

Elia Viviani is rapid, I first saw him in action at the Grenoble Six Day a few years ago; he was posting lap times not that far behind those of Gregory Bauge and Kevin Sireau.

It’s apparent that consciously the Italian isn’t scared of Cav – but the problem which all the sprinters have is that in their sub-conscious mind they know that the Manxman is virtually unbeatable.

But it’s their job to try and beat him.

Matt Goss just doesn’t seem to have the edge he did a year or two ago.

Vik’s theory is that the Orica-GreenEdge team is a wee bit too cosy, all those Aussies – lots of fun, but who’s cracking the whip?

Italy is in thrall of the Giro each year, but Wiggins has support too. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

For me, from the current crop of fast chargers if there’s a bona fide Cav challenger then its F des J's French champion Nacer Bouhanni.

He has that sprinters’ arrogance about him, he doesn’t seem overawed by Cav and is seriously fast.

If you watch the video of Stage 6 below, check out the rate at which he crosses the finish line...

Li Cheng didn't start today following his spill yesterday. Photo©Ferrari

There could be no criticism of QuickStep today, they were excellent.

They rode tempo on Bobridge and Wurf, kept calm through the crashes and moments when it looked like they may be washed away and delivered Cav immaculately.

When Steegmans is good in the lead out role, he’s one of the very best in the world.

F des J too did their share – but GreenEdge are getting themselves a bad rep for letting other teams do the work and then setting their train up very late in the day.

In the unspoken protocol of the pro peloton, that’s not the thing to do, especially when there are Pro Continental teams well in the mix.

But I do miss Super Mario’s trains; those Acqua e Sapone and Domina Vacanze boys in their prime were a sight to behold – with Mario Scirea not only the man who could ride fastest for longest but the brains of the operation.

No quarter asked or given; he once rode a rider who had infiltrated the train into the barriers, he took himself down too – but the point was made that you didn’t mess with Scirea and his men.

And Cav must look back to those heady days of Tony Martin, Mark Renshaw and Matt Goss at HTC – now that was a train...

The Gazzetta hunt was successful; and they like Luca Paolini.

"The beautiful debutant".

‘The beautiful debutant,’ says the headline; at 36 riding his first Giro and taking the maglia rosa with great panache.

He’s first rider from Como to wear the jersey and only the third rider from Como to win a stage.

His victory gesture meant ‘the head and the heart’ and somehow didn’t make me feel nearly as ill as babies’ dummies getting poked into gobs or imaginary arrows being fired.

I listed his palmares the other day but had actually missed his Worlds U23 silver in Verona behind Leonardo Giordani in 1999.

Giordani is still around, with Vini Fantini, but never found his feet in the Elite ranks the way that Paolini did.

The jury is still out on whether the new style helmets will catch on with the buying public. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

The Gazzetta gives Paolini 10/10 for his day’s work – and they’re not known for chucking praise around lightly – whilst Hejedal gets 8.5 for his aggression.

Stage 7 doesn’t have a nice flat salt marsh finish for Cav; within the 177 K from Marina di San Salvo to Pescara there are 3,300 metres of climbing so we may well get a big shake of the GC crisp bag even before the chrono...

Ciao, ciao.

Mark Cavendish wants to win more than anyone else, and has all the qualities to make it happen. He dedicated his victory to the memory of Wouter Weylandt. Photo©Tim de Waele

The race leaves Mola di Bari heading for Margherita Di Savoia. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Result - Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 6: Mola di Bari - Margherita di Savoia, 169km

Contrasting footwear. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

The premise of the film is that for some people luck isn’t a matter of sheer chance; it’s a commodity which they possess and which they can trade – or steal.

Argos fast man John Degenkolb may be one of them.

Degenkolb celebrates a solo win in a bunch sprint. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Granted it wasn’t luck that he was actually in the group of 95 which contested the finish – which is more than can be said for Cav, Gavazzi, Goss and Modolo – that was due to his ability to get over the climbs; something I’d expected Goss to do.

But the German still had Bennati, Bouhanni, Ferrari, Ventoso and Viviani to worry about stealing from him.

When Degenkolb’s Argos team mate Luca Mezgec went down near the front inside the last kilometre - causing a chain reaction on the slick white paint of a pedestrian crossing - it looked like Bardini’s Marco Canola, who was on lead out duties for Battaglin, was going to score a fabulous double for the men in lurid green.

After one of the several simultaneous crashes, Marco Marcato and Ramunas Navardauskas get themselves untangled. Photo©Ferrari

Oscar Gatto puts his chain back on. Photo©Ferrari

Being on the front he’d missed the carnage and was well clear at the front.

But while others, fell, braked and hesitated, not Degenkolb – despite being in the middle of the chaos, he stayed upright, launched, made up an impossible gap and took the stage.

Lots of watts – but more than a touch of luck; Max von Sydow would be proud.

Respect to Degenkolb – but lose the moustache, John.

Degenkolb is delighted with his win. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

I’ve told everyone before that Fabio Baldato was the only pro ever, in the history of cycling to get away with a moustache and beard.

It was just possible that a break could sneak clear on the closing ‘lumps’ today, but despite the lack of QuickStep and GreenEdge to nitrous oxide boost the chase, the lesser Italian teams took up the challenge – they know that come the chrono and mountains, TV time will be harder to come by.

Rabottini was away again for Vini Fantini, but looking a bit weary on it.

The weather was atrocious during the day, but thankfully improved towards the stage end. Photo©Ferrari

Saxo made an appearance for Bennati but his days of winning mass Grand Tour charges may well be over.

BMC rode well to keep Cuddles out of trouble – and again he looked comfortable in the finale.

Cadel Evans kept out of trouble today. Photo©Ferrari

Tom Danielson showed at the front of the peloton but also had his problems. Photo©Ferrari

But it was all about Argos; with only man who had his picture taken more than Degenkolb being poor old Canola who was swamped by photogs as he lay on the deck trying to get himself back together.

But like our buddy, professional super-snapper Wessel van Keuk says; ‘for sure, if you don’t take the picture then someone else will!’

Luca Mezgec struggles to regain composure after sliding out on the painted lines of the zebra crossing. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Movistar take the team award for the day. Photo©Daniele Bottallo

And it wouldn’t be the Giro without me scouring Edinburgh – usually in the rain – for the Gazzetta.

Today’s £1:80’s worth was from Monday with the TTT providing the stage copy and pictures.

But if any reminder is needed that cycling is a long way behind football in terms of popularity in Italy, just have a look at the Gazzetta’s front page.

The Gazzetta Dello Sport may be the race sponsor, but they know their readership well too.

Juventus of Turin’s second consecutive League Title dominates the paper – with the palmares of the league saying much about the North/South wealth divide in the nation.

The last time a club from anywhere other than Milan or Turin won the League was Roma in 2001, albeit Napoli was second, this year.

The race coverage is pretty minimal.

The Giro is way back on page 28 getting just two-and-a-half pages.

‘Sky like a train with the young Sicilian taking the jersey’ says the headline.

And as well as the jersey and the headlines, young Puccio got to ride back to mainland on the same high speed motor launch as used by ‘Bob’ De Niro and also the cast of ‘The Talented Mr. Ridley’ when the movie was shot on Ischia.

And last word to QuickStep’s Matteo Trentin;

"I launched my sprint maybe a little bit too early, and I couldn't do better than fifth place. I'm happy about my finish, as this is my best yet in a World Tour race.

"Probably with a more attentive sprint I could have finished fourth, but it wouldn't have changed much. Tomorrow I will return to work for Cavendish in a stage that suits him and the team perfectly."

I’ll second that.

The moment a pro relishes; Degenkolb Celebrates the stage win on the podium. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Results - Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 5: Cosenza - Matera, 203km

He rides for low budget Pro Continental squad Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox; who produce respectively, pneumatic valves for food and sanitary processing equipment, and centrifugal pumps – I’m not sure I want to know anything more about, ‘sanitary processing equipment’ though.

Battaglin won a true power sprint to take Stage 4. Photo©Daniele Bottallo

Ranked 11th in the UCI European Tour at the start of the season, they silenced any moans about their right to be in Naples last Saturday not just with

Enrico Battaglin.

Battaglin’s win but also with their aggressive riding to try and put Stefano Pirazzi in the mountains jersey. They failed on the latter count but after just four stages their Giro is a success. Battaglin enjoyed a stellar amateur career, including the GC in the hotly contested Giro delle Regione stage race.

As a stagiaire he took the 2011 Coppa Sabatini ahead of the likes of Visconti and Gerrans. Last season wasn’t so stellar with a third in the GP Lugano and a top ten in the Tour of Turkey as high lights. But this season is already a success after today’s rain sodden grind over those huge stone sets in the last kilometre.

Enrico’s uncle (and don’t believe CyclingNews when they tell you they’re not related – they are. ed) was one of my heroes. No one looked cooler on a Pinarello than Giovanni Battaglin and in 1981 he pulled off the magnificent double of Vuelta and Giro – and bear in mind that they came one after the other back then. He also won a Tour de France King of the Mountains title, the Pays Basque and a clutch of Italian semi-classics.

Another man with a famous name was in the mix, today – Vini Fantini-Selle Italia’s Matteo Rabottini who won the King of the Mountains and a stage in last season’s Giro.

Dad, Luciano was a solid pro with an overall win in the 1986 Tirreno-Adriatico to his credit; he has a bike shop in Citta Sant'Angelo in the Abruzzo, where Dave and I enjoyed a blether with him, a year or two ago. Young Matteo tried his hand in the break on the final climb but Katusha and Sky weren’t having it.

Wiggins looked very comfortable today, but lost time at the end of the stage. Photo©Ferrari

Vincenzo Nibali looks like he's enjoying events thus far. Photo©Ferrari

Sky’s Colombians, Henao and Uran in particular look solid.

My man of the day was 37 year-old Di Luca – I know he was up to his rear mech in more than one of the messes which have plagued Italian cycling over the last decade – but we have to put it in context; who the hell wasn’t?

He attacked on the last climb, rode a good descent and was only caught within spitting distance of the line in a slow motion sprint, with Battaglin just having that wee bit more left than the rest.

Danilo Di Luca, 'colourful' as the Eurosport commentator would have it. Photo©Ferrari

Paolini retained his pink jersey; always at the head of affairs with his Katusha boys riding hard to make sure Luca hangs on to it until the inevitable happens on Saturday and Wiggins tears it from his back.

On the subject of Sir Brad – as we said t’other day, ‘it’s not just all about chronos and mountains,’ there are plenty of other places where a Grand Tour can trip you up.

The Knight of the Realm conceded 17 seconds to slip to seventh @ 34 seconds.

At time of writing there was talk that he may get the seconds back on the grounds that he was delayed by a crash.

But as this is Italy and there’s an Italian in pink it might be a mistake to look for ‘marginal gains’ from the judges panel on this one.

Evans looked sprightly again, as did Hesjedal – but hills are hills whilst mountains are mountains.

And nice to see the Italian champion’s jersey of Franco Pellizotti well up there.

The weather really closed in towards the end of the stage. Photo©Ferrari

Yesterday, Paolini said that he rode the finale as if it was a Classic; and that’s the thing about a Grand Tour; every day is like a Classic – today was a 6:27 day for the gruppetto.

It’s not just the ‘Bigs’ battling for time and prestige, it’s the young Italians like Battaglin who know that a stage win in the Giro means a much meatier contract for the following season.

Vini Fantini set Di Luca up perfectly today, but the finish line came just a little too late. Photo©Ferrari

Tomorrow, the race starts the long haul north, again – Serra San Bruno being the most southerly point the race reaches in 2013.

The next two days should be for the sprinters – but with lumpy bits in the finale tomorrow, it’s by no means certain it’ll be bunch gallops.

If you’re a sprinter team domestique it’ll be a hard old shift.

Time to stretch out the quads. Photo©Ferrari

And finally, every time there’s a break in the Eurosport reportage and the advert for Festina – who ran a team which prototyped US Postal’s systematic substance abuse - pops up, I remember what really matters in pro sport.

Dollars, nickels, dimes, quarters, hundred dollar bills; not forgetting Euros, of course.

Young Battaglin earned a great victory today. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Result - Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 4: Policastro - Serra San Bruno, 246km

It’s only stage three but already the ‘Bigs’ are at it, knocking lumps out of each other.

Luca ponts to his new bunnet. It's not pretty, but it's helped in the watts department, so who cares? Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

I was thinking of an ABC of ‘key words’ for each of today’s protagonists – for big Ryder Hesjedal it was ‘aggressive’ but maybe it should be ‘anxious?’

Whilst yesterday’s uncharacteristic Garmin failure in the TTT was, in the overall way of things, little more than a distraction, the head is as important as the legs in pro bike racing.

It looked to me like Hesjedal was reminding himself, as much as the opposition that he is one of the favourites and has the power and will to be on the podium.

Ryder Hesjedal lit the stage up with a superb attack. Photo©Ferrari

Sir Brad’s words would be ‘box ticked’ – there’s no room for any of that emotion stuff at Sky, so to finish with the leaders and stay out of trouble on a stage which saw several bite the dust in the finale means that he’s another day closer to the time trial on Saturday which will be the bed rock of his Giro challenge.

Sky will be quite happy with Paolini as maglia rosa; the chances are that Katusha will defend it as long as they can – taking the pressure of Pate, Knees and Siutsou until they’re really needed.

The race took in the beautiful Amalfi coast. Photo©Ferrari

Nibali was ‘cruising’ as is 'The Shark of the Straights' wont; but whilst he had a few exploratory bites, he knows that his real killing ground lies at much higher altitudes.

I’m not usually into that nickname nonsense, but don’t mind Vincenzo’s.

I was chatting to our pal Vik the other night and he reckons that Brad has a better team than Nibali – but with Valerio Agnoli, Fred Kessiakoff, Paolo Tiralongo and Alessandro Vanotti to call upon, I think the Sicilian has rock solid support.

And remember, Astana left one of the world’s fastest finishers, Andrea Guardini at home so as there are no distractions from the team’s sole objective.

Michele Scarponi bust a rear mech in a tumble today and lost exactly a minute. Photo©Ferrari

Scarponi’s words of the day, ‘drama’ and ‘disappointment’ – whilst all the other favourites inhabit the top dozen on GC with deficits of 45 seconds or less on the jersey, the genial Italian is now 22nd @ 1:23 with a painful day in prospect tomorrow, when the adrenalin subsides.

And the rub is that Lampre produced a solid TTT to limit the former Giro winner from Filottrano’s losses.

Scarponi's crash was far from the only one today. Photo©Ferrari

If Scarponi was disappointed, then Evans surely ‘exceeded expectations’ with second on the stage.

Cadel Evans was a fine second today. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

It’s a while since ‘Cuddles’ has sparkled but there was little doubt about who the BMC rider who was ‘in the mix’ from the helicopter shots – his style on a road bike, really is dire.

But he was third in Oman and eighth in Trentino, so maybe it’s too early for Vik and I put him in the, ‘one season too many’ file.

The BMC press release had this to say:

"BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Fabio Baldato said good knowledge of the course came into play.

"We knew every corner of the final descent and spent 30 minutes studying it in the pre-race meeting, so it was perfect," he said.

"The guys did a great job, particularly Ivan, Steve Morabito and Danilo Wyss, who had a bit of a bad day yesterday."

Evans said he didn't expect the time gaps that would open up on the run-in to the finish.

Only 30 riders finished within a minute of Paolini.

"I was just looking to avoid trouble like the problems Michele Scarponi had after the two Blanco riders crashed in front of him. Like everything that counts for the race, we prepare for it as best as we can."

And perhaps we shouldn’t forget that Evans rode his first Giro more than a decade ago – so he doesn’t have much to learn.

Luca Paolini has been around a long time.

He rode for Mapei way back in 2000, winning a stage in the Tour de l’Avenir and stayed with them through 2001 and a win the GP Lugano and 2002 with victory in the Giro del Piemonte.

In 2003 he followed Patrick Lefevre to QuickStep and took the GP Beghelli as well as third spot in the Primavera.

A year later and he became one of the elite club of Northern Classic winners who hail from the south – winning the Brabantse Pijl and taking bronze in the Worlds.

In 2005 he visited the UK and took two stages in the Tour of Britain.

With Liquigas in 2006 he won the GP Citta di Camaiore, a Vuelta stage and was again third on the Via Roma in Sanremo.

In 2007 he sported a cool ‘Tony Curtis’ haircut which much impressed Vik and I when we saw him at the Three Days of De Panne: where he won a stage before making the podium in the Ronde.

He moved to Acqua e Sapone for 2008, taking out the Trofeo Laigueglia and Coppa Placci; with the Coppa Bernocchi coming for the same squadra, the following year.

In 2010, still with the Italian team there were no wins but strong finishes like fourth in Het Nieuwsblad and third in the Coppa Agostoni.

Katusha became home for 2011 with fifth in Het Nieuwsblad and third in Piemonte perhaps the best of a raft of placings.

Last year he was second in Piemonte and top 10 in the Ronde – but this year he’s back at the top of podiums.

He won a Siberian Het Nieuwsblad and then again today, with fifth in the Primavera and eighth in the E3 along the way.

I make it 15 UCi wins for Katusha, this year – and a spell in pink, to boot.

Enjoy it, Luca - and his word? Fox!

Luca Paolini takes the stage. Photo©Daniele Bottallo

Result - Giro d’Italia 2013 – Stage 3: Sorrento - Marina di Ascea, 222km

Italy goes mad for pink and il Giro in May. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Pucci is 23 and doesn’t have much of a pro palmares – but he’s a worker for Sky, not a winner.

But if you check back his amateur palmares you’ll find an U23 Ronde Van Vlaanderen in there – so there’s little doubt about his quality.

Salvatore Puccio, relaxed at the launch of the new Rapha team issue kit.

According to Wikipedia, Ischia is German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s fave holiday spot – we knew it wouldn’t be Greece – Truman Capote and Henrik Ibsen spent time on the island and parts of the movie, ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ were shot here.

It measures approximately 10 km east to west and 7 km north to south and has about 34 kilometres (21 miles) of coastline and a surface area of 46.3 square kilometres (17.9 sq. miles) and the TTT uses just about all of the main road on the island.

It’s almost entirely mountainous; the highest peak being Mount Epomeo at 788 m and the population is around 60,000 people.

The island may be beautiful but some of the hardware the teams were riding wasn’t.

It was Stephen Roche who said that the advent of the ‘velo plongeant’ – low profile bike - in the late 70’s spelled the end of beautiful, sleek, slim time trial bikes.

Wiggin’s Pinarello Bolide may come up with all the correct coefficients in the wind tunnel – but it’s anything but bonnie.

The Graal was not a thing of beauty and the Bolide is even uglier – but ends justify means in the world of ‘marginal gains.’

Sky Pro Cycling team blasted into the pink today. Photo©Ferrari/LaPresse

On the subject of which, the Sky ribbed skinsuits would be interesting things to handle and chat to their designer about – but they’ll be ‘top secret’ no doubt.

But is that the best their designers could come up with for Cataldo’s Italian TT champion skinsuit; ‘come on, we’ll stick an Italian flag on the front!’

Mega aero bikes, futuristic skinsuits – so why have Uran’s locks flowing in the breeze?

Back when Fignon lost the 1989 Tour to Lemond in the final time test, one of the US aero gurus of the time worked out that it was his hair which cost him the race – if his ponytail had been tucked neatly inside an aero helmet the reduction of drag and watts saved would have been enough to give him the seconds he needed.

I must mention that to Sir David, next time I bump into him...

Astana await their start. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Watching riders drop off the string reminded me of how spectacular it is when a rider blows in a TTT.

Dave and I followed CSC – with Cancellara and Zabriskie - in the Giro TTT in Sardinia back in 2007; when riders cracked they went backwards past us so fast that it was difficult to get a picture of them.

In a TTT at the highest level, some of the riders will be right on the edge of their capabilities – when the grade kicks up, there’s no more heart rate left and once you’re out in the wind, it’s over.

Mark Cavendish's only day in pink was to last less than 23 minutes. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

It was a surprise to see Sky finish with just five riders and also a surprise to see Lampre just one second off the Sky pace at the time check – a fact which the commentary team at Eurosport missed.

But they didn’t miss that Movistar went through two seconds faster than Sky – remember that the Spaniards won the Vuelta TTT in fine style, last year.

Spain’s other Pro Tour squad, Euskaltel messed it up badly, with their fifth man way off the back – Sanchez’s slim chances of a podium now even slimmer.

Lampre lost time on the second half of the course, having to sit up and wait for their fifth man on one of the drags – a one second deficit at the time check became 22 by the line.

Movistar – despite the screamed exhortations of their DS – also let it slip in the second half, finishing seven seconds down on Sky.

Movistar are keyed up for a good time trial. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

And despite us hearing about all the time Nibali was going to lose to Sir Brad in the time trials, the man from Messina will not be too disappointed that his Astana boys dropped just 14 seconds.

Adam Blythe ‘popped’ out of BMC – but with Phinney driving, that’s no shame.

BMC were destined to finish middle-table. Photo©Ferrari

The Shack didn’t trouble the time keeper as QuickStep’s time at the check meant that Cav would be just one (short) day in the pink.

Garmin’s ride was a surprise, seventh when they crossed the line – they won it last year and the TTT is their specialty. JV won’t be fun at dinner, tonight.

Garmin wanted to win in an event they regard as their speciality. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

And as with Sanchez, Evan’s slim chances of a podium received a body blow when the watch stopped for BMC at 37 seconds down on Sky.

GreenEDGE disappointed too, 28 seconds back for another squad with a name as TTT experts – that’ll be another quiet dinner table.

Matt Goss looks over as the GreenEDGE team get the countdown. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

And as the intermediate time check indicated, the maglia rosa slipped from Cav’s shoulders – with QuickStep way off the pace.

Not a good day to be asking Cav for quotes, I’m thinking.

As we said, a great start for Brad and Sky, but by the time we get to the Dolomites it’ll all seem so long ago...

Exclusive ferry travel for the new race leader. Photo©Daniele Bottallo

Result - Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 2: Ischia - Forio (TTT), 17.4km

The QuickStep boys did their job early but it all went mass critical on that last lap. Steegmans was with Cavendish coming into the final, then seemed to have a mechanical - it was all down to Mark.

He jumped the GreenEdge train, eased out of the box and proved yet again that he’s the fastest man alive.

I’ll even forgive him for the ‘f*** it!’ when he was speaking to Dan Lloyd after the finish.

No caveats, he’s the best.

Mark Cavendish take the first stage and the Maglia Rosa. Photo©TeamOPQS/Tim de Waele

Naples

It was dark when Dave and I drove into the place for the penultimate stage of the 2009 Giro.

The traffic was crazy and sat-nav couldn’t find the hotel due to road works of Edinburgh Trams proportions; so we had to go round the block a time or two.

Hookers on street corners; drug dealers in the shadows; kids scavenging in rubbish skips then laying their spoils out on the street to try and sell them.

Welcome to Naples.

It’s a scary town; a wee bit less menacing in the daylight but the driving is even worse when the sun comes up.

Claudio Corti told us, next morning; ‘Naples is not Italy!’ – that wasn’t the last time we’d hear folks from the North tell us that.

It looked good on the tele for stage one, though; the sunshine, the sea, Vesuvius, everyone riding brand new kit – and all that pink.

Despite the millions of words written about the contenders, there are just two men who can win this Giro – Nibali and Wiggins.

Sir Bradley’s lack of results this year means nothing.

Whilst Sky’s scientific approach may seem soulless to those from the ‘Old School’ - like me - and led them to a lack lustre Classics campaign, where you have to expect the unexpected; for stage racing there’s comfort in the numbers.

Wiggins seems relaxed and confident and at the press conference has been telling us that his numbers are good.

For ‘good’ read ‘other worldly’ to those who don’t live a monastic lifestyle at high altitude.

He could be in pink as early as tomorrow, after the TTT and should certainly be so after the long stage eight time trial.

As well as the presentation girls, Cavendish was joined on the podium by his daughter and the designer Paul Smith. Photo©TeamOPQS/Tim de Waele

Nibali’s chances come when it rains and parcours are tricky – and in the two very tough days in the Dolomites on the final Friday (stage 19) and Saturday (stage 20).

But much can happen in three weeks and not just in the chronos and mountains . . .

Robert Millar made a good point in his pre-Giro piece on CyclingNews; perhaps it would have been better if our Knight of the Realm had kept schtum about who’s going to lead Sky in le Tour.

Now, every press conference will be peppered with questions about that vey subject – some of which are guaranteed to upset Sir Bradley’s cool.

Man of the day, Cav apart, was Cannondale’s 29 year-old Cameron Wurf who led solo for much of the stage.

Cameron Wurf grabbed a lot of the TV time this afternoon. Photo©Bettini

Originally an Olympic rower, in 2007, his first serious year as a rider, he won the prestigious Chrono Champenois and the Oceania Games individual time trial title.

That season he rode for the US team, Priority Health; moving to Austrian team Volksbank for the following season.

In 2009 he stepped up to the top division with Mauro Gianetti’s Fuji-Servetto team in Spain.

For 2010 he was in Italy with Gianni Savio’s Androni team – with whom he rode the Giro.

He remained in Italy in 2011, moving to ‘super squadra’ Liquigas, with fifth overall in the Tour of Turkey his best result.

For season 2012 he was with Asia’s first Pro Continental team; Champion System for whom he took second in the tough, high altitude Tour of Qinghai Lake in China.

This year, he’s back on a Cannondale in lime green and doing a good job for his new team.

But really, it was all about one man – Mark Cavendish (GB & QuickStep).

Sir Brad in pink, tomorrow?

Cavendish signed on knowing he was the favourite for the win today. Photo©Gian Mattia D'Alberto

Result - Giro d'Italia 2013 - Stage 1: Naples, 130km

We felt we needed a proper look inside an Ardennes Classic; so who better to speak to than Amstel top 20 finisher, said Mr. Fuglsang (Astana & Denmark)?

Jakob Fuglsang is much happier at Astana than his previous team. Photo©BettiniPhoto.

Fuglsang came into the sport via the ‘Cadel Route’ – Mountain Biking.

Danish National Junior MTB Champion in 2002; by 2007 he was being crowned World U23 Cross Country Champion at Fort William, Bonnie Scotland for his Danish Continental team, Designa Kokken.

He rode for them again in 2008 but got the call from Bjarne and was stagiaire with CSC for the end of the season – winning the Tour of Denmark pretty much put the seal on a full contract for 2009.

With Riis’s team under the Saxo bank banner for ’09 he won the Tours of Denmark and Slovenia.

The following season he made it a hat trick of Tour of Denmark wins, took the Danish Time Trial Championship and was fourth in Lombardia.

Joining the exodus from Saxo to Leopard for 2011 he was fourth in the Tour of Switzerland, took a stage in the Danish tour and finished 11th in the Vuelta.

The team morphed into RadioShack-Nissan-Trek for 2012 and despite an empathy failure between Fuglsang and team boss, Johan Bruyneel the Dane won the Tours of Luxembourg and Austria as well as the Danish TT Champs and took sixth in Tour of Colorado.

Jakob won the World Championships in the home country of VeloVeritas; Scotland. Photo©Leon Neal/Getty Images.

This season saw the man who was born in Geneva move to Astana and settle down to his season build up free of political drama.

Sixth in the Ruta Del Sol was followed by 11th in Catalunya and 17th in the Amstel – and that’s where we came in.

Was Enrico Gasparotto as Amstel winner in 2012 the designated leader, Jakob?

"We went in with two leaders, Enrico and Max Iglinskiy (2012 Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner) and my task was to look after Enrico."

You worked very hard for Enrico in the finale, I believe?

"I spent a lot of energy to keep him protected through the difficult parts of the parcours – but I was pleased because I still had good legs.

"Not as good as they would have been if I’d saved them – but I was able to pull for Enrico from the top of the Cauberg to 300 metres to go.

"Normally he would have done better than ninth – but he had a high speed crash behind the scooter when he was training the week before the race."

Did you get worried when the break went to 11 minutes.

"No, it’s such a long race, we had no worries that they would stay away – we didn’t pull, that was down to Cannondale for Sagan.

"But no, we had no worries regarding the break; when the race enters the final phase it really speeds up and if you’ve been out there for 150 kilometres then you have to be very strong to survive."

Jakob is looking forward to the chance to lead a team in a grand tour. Photo©BettiniPhoto.

The Amstel has a name as a dangerous race.

"It’s a race where for sure you need to pay attention but luck plays a part even though you keep good position.

"But you have to stay awake!

"Maybe the new parcours makes it a little less important always to be in the right place; but it’s a race where you have to spend energy to keep position."

How about the heat which affected Sagan?

"It was more or less the opposite for me; I had good legs in the final.

"When the heat arrives you need less clothing – I’ve been really suffering with the cold.

"In particular I’ve been struggling to get my maximum heart rate up; the team doctor thinks that the cold has been one of the reasons for that.

"The thing about the temperature going back is that you have to pay attention to drinking; but cramp has never been a problem for me – and it’s not like it was 35 degrees."

What did you think of the finish being moved further out from the top of the Cauberg?

"Before the start I wasn’t sure because I liked the old finish; but it makes for a more open and interesting race – it means it’s not just for the explosive finishers any longer."

Kreuziger’s win?

"If you’d asked me before the race I’d have said, ‘no.’

"But he did the right things, chose his moments and played it smart."

You raced in Spain for much of the early season.

"My preparation is geared towards the Tour de France, after the Ardennes Classics I’ll take a break then do a training camp where I’ll rehearse the Alpine climbs.

"Then it’ll be the Dauphine; in the past I’ve done the Tour of Switzerland too – but not this year.

"I think I have a good programme."

The cold weather hasn't agreed with Jakob this year. Photo©Astana ProTeam.

For the first time you’ll be Grand Tour captain.

"I’m looking forward to the challenge of being team captain in the Tour; I want to see how far I can go.

"I trained a little more in the winter but not with so much intensity; in the early season I have no major goals except to get in shape to be 100% prepared for the Tour.

"My basic condition is very good – even though I haven’t had the results I think I should, given my shape.

"But there’s no stress, I’m taking it as it comes."

I believe you’ve been doing work on your time trial position?

"For sure, I’ve been working with Specialized at the Montichiari Velodrome in Brescia.

"They have a really good set up where they can measure your aerodynamic efficiency for time trials – I’ve found a really good position but I haven’t had much opportunity to try it, yet.

"But it’s an important aspect – there are two flat time trials and team time trial in the Tour.

"I have to do more training on my time trial bike – the position is really aero but I have to do work to get used to it and produce the power.

"There’s always a trade off between watts and comfort when you’re setting a time trial position."

Jakob feels he has a bit of work to do on his TT position. Photo©BettiniPhoto

Your state of mind must be better this year . . .

"For sure, I’m much more relaxed and happy now that I’m away from the problems I had, last year.

"This team believes in me.

"Last year I was told that I wasn’t riding the Giro; I thought that was OK because Johan Bruyneel told me that I would be riding the Tour.

"But when they took me off the Tour team; I didn’t want to go and do a three week race after that - so there was no Vuelta.

"But it wasn’t such a problem because I had good results in Luxembourg and Austria."

From a Luxembourg to a Kazakh (and Italian) team . . .

"It’s a different culture – Astana is much more relaxed than The Shack.

"The Shack felt more like a business than a team, you felt that if you made one wrong step you would get your fingers chopped off – Astana is much more relaxed.

"You have to think more as an individual and make your own decisions, be more responsible.

"I had two years with Saxo then two years in Luxembourg so what I want to do now is what’s best for me – I don’t want to just follow."

Jakob suffered a well-publicised tumultuous season last year under Johan Bruyneel's management.

How about the Fleche and Liège?

"We don’t have an explosive guy for the Fleche – so we’ll have to open up the race further out if we want to do anything – but we have to save one rider for the finale.

"At Liège we have the whole of last year’s podium – Iglinskiy, Nibali and Gasparotto – we’ll try to repeat that.

"We know we have the guys, so we’ll try to be there in numbers but not wait around and end up with five guys in the bunch and just one guy at the front."

In the event, Enrico Gasparotto was Astana’s best finisher in both races – 30th atop the Mur de Huy behind surprise Spanish winner Dani Moreno of Katusha, and sixth in Liège behind not so surprising Irishman (out of Birmingham, that is) Dan Martin of Garmin.

As a winner of the national tours of Austria, Denmark, Luxembourg and Slovenia can the Dane move up to be a Grand Tour contender?

This will be the year we find out.

Second was country man, team mate and fellow Elite rider, Tommy Bustard – the two having ridden clear of the survivors of the near day long break which proved to be the winning move, on the last of two finishing laps.

Harry Tanfield and Tommy Bustard took a convincing one-two for Herbalife.

The last podium spot went to Dillon Byrne of Champion System/Maxgear who the two men in green shed on that final lap of the finishing circuit.

With 2013 results which include, 10th Heist Op Den Berg; 2nd Evergem Belzele and 8th Tourinne-Saint-Lambert Kermises in Belgium, Tanfield’s win would have come as no surprise if we’d done our homework.

Dillon Byrne made the winning move and took third.

The race goes back a long way, I hope Glasgow Wheelers don’t mind us borrowing from their website to explain the race’s early history:

"The race was first run more than 40 years ago and became the David Campbell Memorial in 1969, the talented, young Glasgow Wheeler having tragically died in a collision with a car in the 1968 edition of the event.

"The next four years saw the Wheelers make the race their own.

"In 1969 a rampant Billy Bilsland was laying the foundations for a five year pro career with Peugeot and Raleigh as well as honouring his club mate.

"In his last Scottish race before heading for France, he won all the primes, the king of the mountains and soloed to the victory.

"With versatile Sandy Gordon in second and Bilsland’s brother Ian in third it was a Wheelers whitewash.

"In 1970 it was Highlander moved south, Sandy Crawford who kept the trophy for the Glasgow men.

"The talented Crawford would subsequently race in France but never really lived up to his early promise.

"The following year saw Crawford second with Sandy Gordon taking the win on a very hard day.

"It was Gordon again in 1972 underlining the talent that saw him win Scottish titles in road, time trial and track events."

VeloVeritas’s first sight of the race on its first lap was in glorious sunshine at the top of Cadgers Brae – scene of many a hill climb in the ‘good old days’ when you had five sprockets to choose from at the back, not an 11 speed cassette.

Our first encounter with the race and the eventual winner is already on the front and pulling the break clear.

Six or seven were clear; we had Tanfield plus Veli-Matti Raikkonen (Granite City), Craig Adams (GSJ Cruise Racing), Callum Wilkinson (The Bicycle Works) and Andrew Whitehall (Velo Ecosse) in the lead group.

And already we were saying to each other; ‘that looks like that!’

Behind were another six or seven with Bustard leading the chase; we were a tad puzzled as to why he was chasing his team mate – but he obviously had the strength and confidence to get up to Tanfield and provide support.

The bunch is already showing cracks.

There didn’t seem to be commitment or cooperation within the peloton – and sure enough, the two groups up front would never be seen again.

Cadgers Brae comes late on the lap, followed soon after by the ramp of Porters Brae, then the plunge down Langside Brae to Kennoway.

TheBicycleWorks and ChampionSystems riders are easy to spot in the bunch.

The lap starts in Kennoway with a long, long, heavy drag up to the old curling pond at Montrave before dropping off the Cults Ridge down to what used to the Fife ‘10’ course – the Kingskettle to Cupar Road.

A left hander announces the approach to Cadgers; but at least there was a tailwind – which also had the effect of making the ‘10’ course a killer.

For lap two we headed down Cadgers so we could see the race approach along the main road from Kingskettle; the two front groups had merged to give around 15 riders up front with the gap back to the peloton around 1' 10" – our initial impression had been proved correct.

We can see in the distance the front groups have merged.

You ignore the early break in Scotland at your peril.

One brave soul attacked out of the break – maybe it was the sight of Martin’s mega Nikon lens? – but a Glaswegian voice was on hand to offer immediate tactical guidance; ‘thurz anither two laps tae go, there’s nae pint in attackin!’

Shane Sutton couldn’t have put it better.

The front group tackle the climb for the second time.

Messrs Ross Crook (Edinburgh RC) and Stuart Munro (East Kilbride) were trying to break the elastic out of the bunch; but two against 15 weren’t good odds – especially in that wind.

There was an air of Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow creeping in, with men all over the hill in ones and twos – and it was only going to get worse.

The bunch is over a minute in arrears and we're only a third of the way into the race.

Four times up here will sting a bit.

One of a number of small groups off the back of the bunch.

A stop for baguettes at the excellent ‘Fast n’ Fresh’ compromised our next sighting of the race on lap three, at Springfield Crossroads.

As Martin de-beetrooted his salad roll and I attacked my tuna baguette, the break whistled past.

A glimpse of the leading riders.

Sorry guys!

Three stalwarts were in 'No Man’s Land;' we made them Kenny Riddle (Moray Firth), Scott McRae (Extreme Nutrition) and number 78 – the start sheet only went to 77, so more apologies.

Three brave souls chase the fifteen up front.

Tired legs starting to show.

The drive back to the foot of Cadgers saw us pass a lot of tired riders – the drag up from Kingskettle before the wee drop to the foot of Cadgers looks innocuous but into a strong westerly, it’s a sore one.

The top of Cadgers affords great views north to the snow topped Grampian foothills – and to the rain clouds swirling round the Lomond Hills.

We made eight survivors, with two Herbals and two Champions – after that it got messy, three, two, two then a much-reduced bunch of around a dozen.

"One swallow does not make a summer, neither does one fine day; similarly one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy." It's sunny and hot just now, must be going to rain.

On the final big lap the race hangs right between Cadgers and Porters to head through Star Village and then back to Kennoway before climbing the long drag of Langside Brae – the hill which has been descended three times in the opposite direction, on the main circuit.

Two laps are ridden, with the first ascent seeing a freezing squall sweep in just to make it all the more tempting to skip the second lap and head for the showers if you were out of the placings.

Dillon Byrne's a big lad but looked comfortable on the climbs.

The Scott McCrae group is joined by others.

The climb has flattened out but is still very hard and fast due to the tailwind.

The hill is the scene of personal success for your scribe – not wishing to blow my own trumpet, but I won the Kirkcaldy and District Cycling Club Junior Road race Championship here in the Kennoway APR back in 1972; out foxing roadman/chancer Rab Speirs – but that’s another story. [There's more about Rab in this article where he attempts to - shocker!- alter the outcome of a race. Editor.]

There isn't one main bunch anymore, but several smaller ones.

Craig Dale is also very good triathlete.

We made it seven over the top on the first wee lap with young Whitehall stretching his legs – a lap too soon, we thought; but you have to go with your instincts.

The front of the race tackle the Langside climb for the penultimate time.

Whilst McRae had made it over to the break, he was paying for his efforts now, having slid out of the lead group.

The squall and headwind makes the climb tough going.

A tough day.

Gordon Murdoch.

Stuart McGregor.

Graeme McGarrity works hard in his group.

The final time up Langside just four men remained in the lead – the two Herbals, Smith and Scott McCrossan (Rock to Roll Cycles).

Scott McCrossan leads the eventual first and second placers.

Wilkinson and Whitehall were next, then Raikkonen and Jamie Kennedy (Paisley Velo Race Team) after that it was; ‘boys all over Langside!’

We agreed that if it wasn’t a Herbal Life first round that bottom corner into the finish straight then there would be something wrong.

They must have heard us.

Harry Tanfield took a fine win.

Fourth was McCrossan, fifth Whitehall and sixth Wilkinson – we left it to the judges after that.

Callum Wilkinson rode well, taking the KoM prize and 6th spot.

Herbalife dominated the day riding ‘la course en tête’ – just a pity it wasn’t Scotsman Gary Hand in one of those nice green and white jerseys . . .

Result - Davie Campbell Memorial Road Race 2013

Once over the finish line, a lot of riders showed how tough this race had been.

Here in part two Walsh tells us about his time spent with Team Sky during their training blocks in Tenerife, what's happening with the action group "Change Cycling Now" and exactly what he thinks about Garmin rider Dan Martin's win in Liège last Sunday...

David is enjoying the access he's granted with Team Sky, and has been with them for weeks during their classics season preparation.

On Doping

With Team Sky taking the wins they have – and you’ve been spending a lot of time with them in their training – do you feel that the sport really is in far better shape nowadays?

"I do think the sport is, in a general sense, healthier now than it has been for some time.

"I mean Dan Martin’s win in Liège-Bastogne-Liège was a great thing for the sport, and he’s made a lot of good progress this year, his win in Catalonia showed his form, and was just great.

"He rode a really good race in Liège last year, it’s not like this has come out of nowhere. So that was encouraging.

"I’ve spent about three weeks with Team Sky this year so far, and everything I’ve seen about them indicates that they’re clean. It’s not proof that they’re clean, and I’m not saying that they’re clean, but nobody has come up with any evidence that they’re doping, nothing."

USPS were declaring a great deal more medical kit to the Tour de France organisers than other teams were. I wonder if there’s any mileage in asking teams like Sky not just to declare the contents of their medical chest at the big races, but to publish them?

"Yes, absolutely.

"I think that would be a great thing to do. That’s a really good point - and in fact I’m going to ask Sky to do that.

"I’m going to say ‘give me a list of all the medical products you’re carrying and tell me what it’s for. I will do that at the Giro, I’m there from the 13th of May and staying on the race until the end.

"Brailsford was involved with the track team for eighteen years, and no one really said that they were doing it in any way other than correctly, and I don’t believe after all that time he would suddenly change his ethics.

"I was with some of the Sky guys in Tenerife when they were training this year, and they didn’t bring any medical personnel, none. And when you consider that Ferrari was the key man for USPS in Tenerife…"

Do you feel that there is a place in the sport for guys like Levi Leipheimer, who received the reduced USADA ban for cooperating, but nonetheless admitted to doping for pretty much his entire career?

"Well, there is a difference between the guy who admits to doping, and the guy who tries to blame a false positive or use some other excuse to try to minimise his responsibility.

"I think there’s a case to be made regarding USADA giving all those riders who admitted their doping a reduced ban; they volunteered their information, and would not have received any ban if they had done nothing, it wasn’t like they were caught – they weren’t, so I think they did deserve a significantly reduced ban."

Do we view things differently to other nations do you think? We see Richard Virenque still being fêted at the Tour where he’s a commentator for Eurosport, and Johan Museeuw still carries an aura and is so popular in Belgium…

"We have the old ‘Anglo-Saxon, puritanical view’ - but it’s not our problem, it’s their problem.

"What they’re saying is that if someone decides to not play by the rules and then gets screwed, that’s okay.

"But we can never say that’s okay - it’s not okay, it’s wrong. Totally wrong."

When we drive the stage at the Tour what strikes us is the many people at the side of the road, their tables laid out with the bread and wine and cheese, the families who come together to see the race passing their house... they don’t really care about the doping problem or the result; it’s the show they’re there for, the occasion.

"I think through the last survey that ASO did they discovered that 25% (and this figure is rising each year) of the people who go to see the Tour de France passing are primarily there to see the publicity caravan.

"That number is huge, and ASO are very mindful that as well as everything else, the Tour is a show.

"But you know, if we are to treat it as a legitimate sporting event as well it has to have integrity.

"Professional sport has a way of destroying much of what drew us into sport in the first place, but that’s always been the case."

Do you reckon the testers are still two years behind the cheats?

"I always think of it as the analogy of the pursuit on the track. On the one side you have the dopers and their facilitators and on the other the testers.

"No matter how fast the testers go, the dopers go just that little bit faster to maintain their advantage. It’s a never-ending pursuit."

And now we’re hearing about the black-market drugs, maybe coming out of China, not even completed clinical trials but finding their way into the hands (and bodies) of athletes…

"Yes, but at the same time we’ve got the biological passport, reduced speeds... so there are some positive signs.

"I’ll believe the manufacturers putting markers into their products to assist anti-doping when it happens; it’s such a big business. The EPO manufacturers were never going to do that because a significant amount of the product is being sold into the sporting market."

Jamie Fuller and Greg LeMond at the 'top table' during the CCN press conference. Two bright guys who want the sport to turn the corner.

On Change Cycling Now

In theory an admirable collection of like-minded, frustrated, cycling lovers. In practice though, it hasn’t altered the landscape much. Why not?

"I just don’t believe it had a means to do so.

"Jamie Fuller [CEO of Skins Compression Clothing] has done sterling work to try and get out there and change things, but he just hasn’t succeeded. Perhaps it was never going to.

"It was admirable and it was very well-intentioned, but I just couldn’t see how it was going to achieve change.

"They weren’t ‘inside the tent’ of administrative cycling so therefore we weren’t going to be able to turn up at a UCI Management Committee meeting and say ‘guys, Pat and Hein have got to go’."

You’re talking about the group in the past tense, is it finished?

"I don’t hear anything more about it, I don’t hear that it’s going anywhere, but I don’t mean that as a criticism of Jamie, I think his heart was very much in the right place; he has all the right ideas.

"If you were to tell me that Pat McQuaid had decided to step aside and that he had persuaded Jamie Fuller to be the new president of the UCI I’d say ‘good, that’s a good change’.

"But then if Pat decided to go and he nominated a hundred people, any one of whom could be installed in his place, I’d consider that a good deal. I hear names of people who may be interested..."

I've heard British Cycling's Brian Cookson's name may be in the hat...

"When Lance admitted on the Oprah interview that the Emma O’Reilly claim about the ’99 cortisone cover-up was in fact true, I heard Brian Cookson say in a  TV interview that ‘obviously people in the UCI were - at best - looking the other way’.

"So Brian, how can you work with people who covered up for the Tour de France winner?

Jonathan Vaughters presented an article which set out ideas for improving the professional sport, including the teams giving a larger percentage of their budget towards anti-doping and receiving a share of the revenues, as well as others propositions. Do you think these suggestions have any merit?

"Oh yes. Jonathan is a bright guy that I would always listen to.

"Again, if someone said that Jonathan was going to leave his team role at Garmin and become President of the UCI I would regard that as positive."

What do you think of Greg LeMond’s idea of using power measurement as a means of anti-doping?

"That’s how Team Sky monitor their own riders.

"Tim Kerrison and Dave Brailsford know – to a minute level of detail – what power output of their riders is capable of producing and if riders exceed that to a significant degree, well that’s an alarm.

"I actually experienced that myself, towards the end of Paris-Nice. I was with Tim and he spoke with Ritchie Porte before the time trial up Col d’Eze. Tim was trying to reassure Ritchie that he would be able to do what was needed to win, and he said to the rider ‘Look. On that climb, you’re capable of a power output of 400w, and if you do that it should be good enough’.

"For the first half of the time trial he was sitting at 413w, and for the second half it was something like 387w. It actually averaged out at bang-on 400w, and that’s what Porte does in training all the time, they knew that was his capability. If he’d produced 430w average that would have rung alarm bells. Tim says ‘we like to think that we know what power output we have to produce to win the race’.

"They do a lot of recon, but they missed a fair bit of recon for the Giro because when they visited earlier this year, Wiggins and some other riders, they missed two days because they couldn’t get up the climbs because of the snow."

What’s Next?

You said last night at your talk in Edinburgh's Lyceum Theatre that ‘the journey is nearly over’, but with the doping investigations in Italy and Spain still not concluded, the USADA cases against Bruyneel et al to be heard, the new Chinese drugs being found, it feels far from over.

"That’s true, it’s going to go on.

"Even today I woke up to the news that the biggest operation in British racing, Godolphin, the biggest player in world bloodstock, has been shown to be systematically doping its most valuable race horses. That’s a big story and I’m going to have to write about it this week, but I’m looking forward to it.

"It’s not about doping in cycling but it is about integrity in sport and being able to believe what you are seeing.

"The problem with Godolphin doping their horses is that if you were a small trainer and you’ve got ten horses, chances are you don’t have enough resources to dope. That was always the problem in cycling; people with the big contracts went to Michele Ferrari – if you had a small contract Ferrari didn’t want to know you, because you wouldn’t be able to pay him enough for his trouble.

"His fee was 15% of your salary, so if a rider was on 200 grand that meant 30,000 to Ferrari, totally worth his bother. And Lance paid him over a million, according to the records.

"But for me doping in sport will never be over because I think people will always seek an advantage and my motivation will always be to protect the guy who doesn’t want to dope or who just wants a career and to do it properly, the guy who’s got a sense of morality, he’s the guy we have to take the side of.”

An eight-year ban was imposed on disgraced trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni for administering anabolic steroids to 15 horses belonging to Dubai’s ruler Sheik Mohammed. From a cycling point of view delivering a verdict only 72 hours after publishing the test results is incredibly quick, but why the haste?

Do you think it’s sad that youngsters who are into cycling today know about blood vector doping and Hct percentages, or do see it as necessary education to help them avoid the errors of their elders?

"I see it as totally necessary.

"I think young, talented riders should never turn up at a team and not know what’s being put into their bodies or not knowing what's beign suggested to them, in relation to performance enhancing.

"They should know, and they should be very mindful and know exactly what's in every product that they are given.

"USPS use to try out their young riders in the 'States by giving them little supplements that were legal. They would see the reaction of the kid who'd been given the supplement. If the guy said 'What's in this? What's it made of and what's it going to do to me?' well he probably wasn't going to be going forward to the senior team. If they got a kid that gulped it down without thinking or questioning that kid had promise. On the pharmaceutical level, he was the kind of kid they were looking for.

"That was Bruyneel and Armstrong's policy, that's what they did. USADA found this out; they were basically grooming young kids... horrendous."

Knowing this, and all the other things we've covered this morning, how do you retain any kind of enthusiasm for the sport? Were you leaping off the couch on Sunday afternoon when Dan Martin jumped Rodriguez going up the Rue Jean Jaurès to win in Liège?

"I didn't watch Liège live, but I recorded it and sat down in the evening to watch it, and I absolutely loved it! I may not have loved it quite so much if somebody else had won!

"But I believe in Dan Martin - it's not just because he's Irish (because he's not really!), but his mum is Irish and I love the fact that he wants to race for Ireland.

"I thought he timed it so well, perfectly... he was keeping an eye on the guys chasing and needed to get the jump just right. He didn't look like he had incredible power when he made his last acceleration but it was just enough to get home clear.

"So I've no trouble with enthusiasm - but I've no trouble with skepticism either."

Dan Martin's win in Liège has meant a lot to fans of the sport. Photo©Garmin-Sharp.

You've mentioned the Giro, are you going to cover the Tour as well?

"Yes I am, I'm going to both races with Team Sky - hopefully we won't fall out.

"Someone has described me on Twitter as 'Sky's bitch' [laughing], which has got some unpleasant connotations - but I was made a really interesting offer from the team, I've really enjoyed my time with them, and from what I've seen I've got the impression that this team does not have a doping programme, in my view.

"That isn't to say that some rider in the team may be 'freelancing' on an individual basis, or maybe more than one is behaving independently of the team, but it's not team organised.

"I have zero doubt about Tim Kerrison's ethics, and those people who say 'Sky's success makes them suspicious', well at least they should be less suspicious after this year's classics campaign! They got it wrong; training guys like Bernie Eisle and Matt Hayman up mountains didn't really work.

"Ian Stannard was excellent in Milan-San Remo but apart from that what did they have?

"So, if anyone out there has proper evidence about Sky cheating, well, I'm a journalist and I would love to hear it."

Check out part one of this interview.

The award-winning journalist is the author and co-author of a number of books on the shamed rider's career and his subsequent fall from grace, the most recent being "Seven Deadly Sins" which Walsh describes as 'more light-hearted than the others'!

Walsh has been giving talks around the country since cyclings' governing body's decision to ratify USADA's recommendation that Armstrong be stripped of all seven of his Tour victories, and this he week appeared on stage at Edinburgh's beautiful Lyceum Theatre in the heart of the city to tell a full house of nearly 700 Scottish cycling fans his story.

He's a good story-teller and it was obvious that the last 14 years have taken their toll on the man, but talking about his involvement with Armstrong from first interviewing him as a young Tour debutant to becoming one of the US Postal Service team leader's most despised critics, Walsh held the audience enthralled from start to finish and made time for some questions at the end.

We sat down for a chat with Walsh the following morning, before he enjoyed the fresh Edinburgh air with a run around Arthur's Seat, the huge, beautiful park - complete with extinct volcano - in the city centre, and in part one of the interview we discuss Armstrong and his motivation for behaving the way he does, and what can be done about the lack of faith the cycling community has in the UCI leadership.

David feels no joy at the final outcome of the Lance Armstrong story, but he is interested in what drove the man to behave the way he did.

On Lance

The second part of Greg LeMond’s quote has turned out to be the accurate one; “...the greatest fraud in the history of sport”. But what now? The sport seems to have weathered the storm, Lance is not the same hot property he was, and cycling continues on…

"Ideally, the thing that most needs to happen now is that the leadership of the UCI needs to change. And I would say that if Pat McQuaid was sitting here saying ‘I’ve done nothing wrong, I’ve been anti-doping since I’ve been President and we’ve made great progress so why should I resign?’. I would say Pat, you’ve got to resign because you were there in a position of power, whether it was on the Management Committee, or incoming President, or the President when Lance came back and the UCI facilitated his comeback by bending its own rules, you were there through this horrific period and as long as you remain the sport is going to lack the credibility it deserves.

"If Pat McQuaid could see what cycling would look like without him, if he stepped away from it and Verbruggen stepped away from it, people would immediately say ‘OK, let’s see this new guy, let’s give him a chance’. A lot of people are not going to give these two guys a chance again because they feel so betrayed by the leadership of that era.

"Also, people have got to talk openly about anti-doping and say ‘yes, we understand how expensive the testing is, but we can’t have the sport without rigorous testing – the feeling will always be that when budgets need to be tightened, anti-doping will be adversely affected – and has been, and that’s going to keep happening. The UCI are basically motivated to make a profit to be able to keep their staff in jobs, in the lifestyle they’re accustomed to. I’m sure when the UCI officials – sports administrators in general, not just in cycling – fly they don’t fly economy, and business class 1st class travel is hugely expensive; and that all has to be paid for but I’d rather that money went on anti-doping.

"Imagine if a leader of the UCI came in and said ‘I will never travel Business Class, and no member of our staff will because that’s money we could be spending on anti-doping, everybody would say ‘brilliant! Here’s people who think about the sport and love it like I do, who are prepared to make the sacrifices I would make if I was in a position of power.’

"It would be a symbolic statement for Pat McQuaid to make – I’ve done a number of talks now, and in these venues where I’ve said cycling cannot have credibility in terms of its governance until Pat McQuaid and Hein Verbruggen leave, there’s been a spontaneous round of applause, so cycling fans (certainly in Britain and Ireland where I’ve spoken) are all adamant that there’s something wrong and it needs to move on."

Isn’t it odd to have a President of a sports governing body (and this doesn’t just apply to cycling) who should really just be the mouthpiece or maybe the chair of the management committee and who seems to have an extraordinary amount of power within the organisation?

"Certainly it comes closer to a dictatorship than a democracy.

"You have the sense that Pat McQuaid has the right to act in an autonomous way - he should only be representative of the organisation’s or the committee’s views, not just of himself."

One of the quotes I remember from your book ‘From Lance to Landis’ was Emma O’Reilly saying to Lance ‘you’re a paranoid freak’ (Lance had set a ‘trap’ in his hotel room in case an angry local tried to get to him), and it makes me wonder whether Armstrong’s behaviour and attitude was a choice, or was he programmed that way?

"I asked a forensic psychiatrist ‘what’s the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath?’ and he said ‘there is none. People think sociopath is a milder form of the condition, but in technical terms there is no difference’.

"There’s a psychopathic scale of measurement in this field that goes from something like five to 32, with 32 being ‘serial killer’ and five being the most benign; honest decent people who would feel compassion for everybody, where a serial killer feels compassion for no one  We all sit somewhere on that scale.

"People say to me ‘if you were ever to interview Lance and had just one question to ask him, what would it be?’, and whilst there isn’t really one specific question there is one area that I’d like to explore, I’d want to discover why he is the way he is – nature and nurture.

"Was he just born with a natural predisposition to want to succeed at all costs or was this something that was brought on through a difficult childhood? Abandoned by his biological dad would definitely make a difference to someone, make them harder; I'd ask him ‘what was it that made you put your hand on a bible in the SCA tribunal and speaking under oath about Emma O’Reilly say the things you did… what is in you that makes your behaviour different from people we would call normal?’ Because normal people don’t behave like he does…

"Oprah asked this question and his answer was to say that ‘when I am attacked my response is to attack back’.

"Okay, we know what you did Lance – I want to know why you did it."

Most people would, for example, realise the importance of putting their hand on a bible and swearing a testimony in front of lawyers and a video camera. It’s pretty obvious to anyone that his body language in the SCA video testimonies indicates he’s lying.

"Yes, all the signs are there.

"Apparently a psychiatrist has looked at the video of the Opera Winfrey interview and he says that the tell-tale signs of being a psychopath are all there.

"It was really difficult for Lance in that Oprah interview and I felt a certain amount of sympathy for him, on the basis that he knew that he had to look and seem remorseful but in the end he couldn’t carry it off, emotionally or intellectually.

"He couldn’t see the significance of talking about the period the sponsors left him and he had his ‘$75 million’ day, expecting people to feel sorry for him, but we were actually all looking at him thinking ‘but that money wasn’t rightfully yours in the first place’ but he can’t see it like that, he thought it was his money and now somehow it was being unjustly taken away from him.

"Imagine if he had said ‘I lost all that money and I actually felt good about it because I’d always felt that I got it under false pretenses’…"

That sounds like the kind of thing that Tyler Hamilton might have said…

"Yes! ‘I'm glad it’s gone and now I can start again, from a better place’.

"Lance is only sorry he got caught, not for what he did.

"Lance thought that his life was like a set of weighing scales; on one side he was putting the bad and on the other the good, and he thought there was a balance there. He was addressing the bad by his work in the cancer community, but life doesn’t work like that; Al Capone was a great cancer donator in Chicago but he still went out and murdered people. Doing some good doesn’t necessarily mitigate all the bad.

"He says he was ‘caught in a trap’, he was created into an iconic figure and he ended up having to act the role... well, actually, he did a lot too to build that image.”

Emma O'Reilly was Armstrong's soigneur for a while, and despite trying to steer clear of their 'medical programme' became involved on a number of occasions.

I imagine Lance and his entourage realised the power of the fairy tale early on and did what they could to maximise the earnings from it?

"Well there is the quote that I used in “Lance to Landis” that Bill Stapleton gave to journalist Mike Hall way back in 2001, where Stapleton talked about this ‘brash Texan’, from a single parent family, who wins the Tour de France… it’s a big deal, but not that much of a story.

"'But then' he said, ‘you layer on “Cancer Survivor” and that creates a different brand - much bigger’. In terms of the creation of the icon, the cancer aspect was the key factor; winning the Tour was big, but winning the Tour as 'the guy who beat cancer' lifted it to another level.

"Lance said himself that he ‘beat cancer’, which I always though was wrong - you survive cancer, you don’t beat it. Did that mean that Lance felt that other people ‘lost’ to it?

"Lance was unique in so many ways… cycling was at a crossroads in 1999 [following the Festina scandal at the Tour de France a year earlier] and we all believed that things were surely going to head off in a better direction. The French started their longitudinal testing system then, monitoring people regularly, and Jonathan Vaughters wrote that when he went to Crédit Agricole he was staggered by how little medications they used (not just relative to USPS but by any comparison), they didn’t even use much in the way of legal products.

"USPS used to travel with a virtual pharmacy! I heard talk about the riders ‘filling their bags’; they had a white bag for legal products and a black bag for doping products. Two bags, but they needed both.

"When Jonathan went to  Crédit Agricole he found that the team had transitioned to a much less ‘medial supplements culture’ – and that’s the way the sport could have gone, but Lance was hugely influential in ensuring the sport didn’t go that way because if he won the Tour de France by doping, well then he set the bar at that level meaning that the others would have to dope too, in order to reach it."

Do you think Armstrong realised after the Festina scandal in '98 that the French (if not other nations or teams) had backed off from the organised and institutionalised doping regimens, and thought that if USPS ramped things up a gear they could distance a good proportion of the Tour peloton before the race even began?

"Absolutely. He would have known exactly what the French were doing, and he also likely realised that the Spanish were not going to change and some of the Italians weren’t going to change, the Dutch may or may not change (and we know now many didn’t)…

"What was really offensive about that era was that the French were complaining that the sport still had a problem, was operating ‘a deux vitesse’, and very few people said ‘you know what, they might have a point here, they might indeed be clean and the rest doping’. The French haven’t produced a winner of the Tour de France since Hinault in 1985, twenty-eight years ago.

"That’s completely illogical, and simply would not be the case unless doping had had such a profound effect on the sport. France was the number one country in the world for cycling in terms of its roads, its mountains and its climate, its love of the sport, the amount of racing that goes on in the place – the bottom of the pyramid is really wide, the French authorities are much more serious than those in other countries, the French teams got the message and bought into the idea of a cleaner sport, they were the first country to make doping a criminal offense… so it’s reasonable to believe that France would have produced a big star in the sport every so often, but if that person is clean he’s at such a disadvantage that’s he’s never going to become the great champion he should.

"People need to face up to that bloody reality; they might laugh at the French and say they’re lazy or whatever, but that’s unintelligent nonsense and I saw some really serious journalists making that argument and I just thought it was disgraceful."

It's hard to imagine the horrendous cheating that went on inside the USPS bus.

What could - or should - Lance do now to try to help the sport he says he loves?

"I think there’s one main thing that he could do: go to WADA, be the first guy through the door at a Truth & Reconciliation Hearing (or whatever the mechanism turns out to be). Say ‘I want to do a full interview and I want to tell you everything’.

"Actually though, I don’t think he can do that now.

"People think he wants to hold onto as much of his fortune as he can, but that’s not the biggest challenge facing him.

"What he's contending with now is keeping himself out of prison, because when you perjure yourself as much as he did, when you go into witness intimidation as he did – and in multiple countries, you don’t know where something’s going to come back and bite you."

It’s strange that with all this hanging over him Lance is still trying to enter swimming competitions and appears to be able to brush it off, he seems to operate almost unaffected.

"Yes, he needs to compete.

"I don’t think he really has a feeling that he has hurt or wronged anyone, he has the sense that he is the victim."

Paul Kimmage has a better relationship with Floyd Landis these days after sitting down with him, hearing and working through his story directly. Do you think there will ever be a time when you and Armstrong turn the corner in your relationship?

"Eh… no.

"Because I’m not sure he has the capacity to really see what he did in the way that I believe he has to see it.

"He has to understand that he behaved in the most disgraceful way. Even if he has done a lot of good things, it doesn’t mitigate that. That’s where Oprah was brilliant in her interview; she didn’t allow him to explore that."

Thinking about the actual mechanics of what went on, the blood bags hanging from picture hooks in hotel rooms or taped onto the wall of the bus, it’s truly horrid.

"It is, it's horrendous.

"Hollywood is now very interested in the story, and apparently there are a number of films being planned. The first film that shows – and makes it clear that this is a true story – that USPS team bus on the small Alpine road, with Johan Bruyneel telling the driver to pull in the next chance he sees, get out and pretend that there’s something wrong with the engine, and the riders all lying down and getting their blood bags transfused into them... it’s going to be staggering.

"The greater public think that doping is done by taking a little clean pill and you only get blood transfusions in a hospital, they don't imagine it happened on a team bus in the late afternoon at the Tour de France with fans milling around and camper vans driving past, they will see this and are going to be astonished, that this appalling deception at the biggest bike race on the planet was being acted out in their midst."

We know now that USPS wasn’t unique amongst the teams in their methods used during that period, but what was it about their approach that set them apart from the others, like Rabobank for example?

"They had a lot of money to use on the program, which was key, but I also think that Michele Ferrari was very bright and clever in the way he did things.

"If you eliminate the question of morality and ethics and just focus on the need for results, you would say that Lance was brilliant in terms of how he organised the team, the way they trained, the nutrition... Lance was excellent at all that stuff.

“You had guys in that team who said ‘I don’t want a full-on programme, I’d rather follow a 'doping-light' programme. I don’t want all that stuff in my body but I do want an advantage’, but Lance would have been the one saying ‘no, you work with Michele’."

It was a necessary component of the Tour squad preparation as well as the pervading culture in the team...

"Yes, it was; In Christian Vande Velde’s USADA sworn affidavit he describes a scene where he’d ridden the Tour in 2001 and crashed, not finishing the stage; he was out of the Tour.

"That evening the team doctor Luis Del Moral gave him an ampule of cortisone telling him to inject half now and half later – not even for performance gains; he was leaving the race next morning for home, but it was just to help with his recovery.

"So Christian drew half the ampule’s contents into his syringe and took it, and placed the ampule down on the table.

"Bruyneel was in the room and came over.

"He picked up the ampule and pulled the remainder of the contents into a clean syringe and injected it into himself, there and then! Just to make himself feel better, just for a sense of well-being!”

David gave an interesting talk at the Edinburgh Lyceum.

On the UCI

Paul Kimmage talks about a “root and branch” clearout being the only way to turn the page in the sport of cycling, but as you said earlier it needs to start at the top. What about blocking Pat McQuaid’s nomination for a third term as President of the UCI by having the cycling clubs in Ireland call for an EGM and vote against backing McQuaid? Would you take part in such a move?

"Yes, I’d have no problem in being involved in such a lobby.

"I’d love to see a grassroots movement against Pat McQuaid, but it would need to be very concerted because the people involved at the top of Cycling Ireland, and indeed sports federations everywhere, well they’re not easily moved – even when it’s clear the majority want movement. They’re resistant to change and they're  people who are prepared to brazen it out.

"Anthony Moran [former Vice President of Cycling Ireland and the one man who voted against backing McQuaid at the recent CI Board Meeting] makes the point that going into the meeting he thought it was going to be 4-1 or 3-2 against McQuaid, but when it came to the vote it was 4-1 in favour of McQuaid, and he was staggered, so that’s how difficult it is. It's how dictatorships work; each person pursues his own agenda, and keeps himself beyond scrutiny."

When the UCI came up with the 50% Hct limit, it effectively gave the green light to those riders prepared to dope to a certain level using substances like EPO for which there was no test at the time. What more, or what else, could the UCI have done once they knew there was a big problem in the sport?

"The rule itself wasn’t so bad I guess, but it did legitimise doping up to a very high level, given that the riders knew how to get their Hct levels down using saline solutions and whatnot.

"If the UCI had really wanted to eradicate doping at that time, what they would have done is say ‘we know there’s an EPO test nearly ready, in the next 18 months, and we suspect many of the current top riders are doping using EPO. We whole-heartedly disapprove of this so we’re not going to announce anything, we’re going to - very quietly - speak to the French lab and tell them to hang onto all of the samples from the testing and when the test is ready we’re going to retest all the samples, and then if necessary we’re going to ban the lot of them.

"What a message that would have sent out! Lance would have lost his first two Tours, along with all the other victories he got in that time, and he would have got a four year ban. The message would have been really powerful because it would have been a lot of riders sanctioned, virtually everyone they tested, but so what? The message would have been ‘don’t presume what you’re doing won’t come back to bite you’.

"The UCI didn’t want to take that stance because the commercial potential of Lance winning the Tour was huge, and you could argue that cycling has become more famous because of Lance Armstrong…"

I’d rather have my ‘not quite so famous sport’ back please!

"Absolutely! A bit more purity for a bit less popularity would be a fair trade."

Neil Stephens (here working for Liberty Seguros as a directeur sportif at the 2005 Giro d'Italia) has admitted to using EPO whilst a rider but blamed the doctors, saying he wasn't told what they were giving him.

Riders with a doping sanction on their records cannot now go into team management, but the sport is still full of guys who – perhaps – don’t know any other way to achieve success. Some, though, are widely regarded as doing a good job (like Jonathan Vaughters) and some clearly feel they are unable to tell the truth about what happened when they were racing. What should be done about those people?

"I think we maybe just have to wait until it gets to the end of their natural lifespan in the sport.

"There are two types of former doper: the guy who denies everything, says he doesn’t know what you’re talking about; guys who just lie about their past doping. I’m very uncomfortable about having guys like them in the sport.

"Then you have a guy like David Millar come along and tell the truth and want to discourage others from doping. I’m much more supportive of that type of person.

"My feeling is that too many continental Europeans who have doped almost have a vested interest in the sport going back to how it was before, in order to legitimise their own careers. It’s not a coincidence that it was Eddy Merckx who introduced Lance Armstrong to Michele Ferrari…

"I’ve said this many times; Bernard Hinault felt he was utterly entitled to ‘correct hormonal imbalances’, to wake up the morning after a hard stage and replace the hormones and testosterone he 'lost' the day before.

"But what you had with Anquetil, with Merckx and with Hinault was guys who had the capacity to win the Tour de France clean, and importantly when they first rode it at 21, 22, 23 years of age, whereas in the Armstrong era we saw that EPO and blood transfusions gave riders an entirely new capacity, it changed riders."

Check out for Part 2 of the interview where Walsh discusses more doping topics, being embedded with Team Sky, Change Cycling Now and what's coming next for him.

Palle Lykke, RIP.

Friday 19th April was a sad day if you're a Six Day fan; Denmark's best-ever Six Day rider, Palle Lykke died in Belgium at 76 years-of-age.

Born in Denmark in 1936 Lykke won 21 Six Days between 1958 and 1967 - Aarhus, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dortmund, Frankfurt, London, Montreal, Munster and Zürich all fell to the handsome man from Ringe.

In addition to his 21 victories he took 20 second places and 32 third places as well as 15 fourth places.

But Lykke wasn't just a Six Day man; he was four times sprint champion of Denmark, won a European omnium title in 1962 and the European madison title in 1963 with father-in-law, Rik Van Steenbergen.

'Rik 1' was not a man to be messed with, on or off the bike and it says much for Lykke that he was able to handle being a regular partner of the harder than nails Belgian.

Lykke rode professionally for 12 seasons; Monark, Quelle, Ignis, Solo, Caballero and Willem 11 all appearing on his chest.

Despite a demanding winter schedule, Lykke was a good roadman with third in the 1966 Gent-Wevelgem behind Herman Van Springel and won the flat, fast and furious Championship of Flanders in Koolskamp in 1965.

VeloVeritas mourns his passing and wishes there were more like him on the winter boards in 2013.

Joshua Cunningham.

With our Flatlands boys Douglas Dewey and Llewellyn Kinch heading south to race in France for 2013 we decided we’d best have a word with Rayner Fund rider Joshua Cunningham to see what’s happening in Belgium?

Here’s what he had to say;

Remind us which team you rode for in 2012 Joshua, why leave?

"I was with Viasport-Publie LED last year, a team on the periphery of both the Top Competition and Beker Van Belgie - which meant a good, if not indefinite calendar!

"There was a few other Anglophones and I got some good opportunities so it turned out ok.

"The team disbanded at the end of 2012, but I had sought out pastures new before that came apparent, luckily."

How did 2012 go?

"2012 was another step forward for me, being the first year I became properly ‘competitive’ at the races.

"Lining up thinking “am I going to win?” rather than “am I going to get into the break” or even “am I going to finish?” was a good feeling.

"I didn’t manage to get that elusive win, but I made the podium and had plenty of top ten placings at both Kermises and Inter Clubs, so was able to end the season happy nonetheless."

Joshua racing in Wanzele, Flanders.

What are the biggest lessons you come out of 2012 with?

"That winning a bicycle race is a complex beast!

"Oh wait, no I already knew that.

"Specifically, I learnt a lot about how to read a race, about how to make it into the group that contests the win, how to change my style of riding between varying races.

"In general, I came out with a much clearer picture of what it takes to turn professional.

"I think 2012 was the year it went from being a faraway dream, to being a task in hand, which is quite a barrier."

How did your winter go?

"I had a really great winter, with the help of various people.

"I was able to start training on power, which has seen my physical capabilities take a massive leap forward in the way that everyone says it does!

"I was also able to get out to Mallorca for a few weeks before and after Christmas, which again allowed a standard or training that just wouldn’t be possible at home.

"Off the bike I earned my pocket money at local triathlon shop, The Tristore, and made the most of UK residency with my family and girlfriend."

Are you still on the Rayner fund?

"I am, and I am as grateful as ever for the ongoing support from everyone at the fund.

"This is my second year as a supported rider, so hopefully I’ll be able to repay everyone by making the same amount of progress as I did last year.

"It’s a gratitude that can’t really be expressed, as doing what I do now simply wouldn’t be possible without such a great organisation."

Tell us about your new team for 2013.

"This year I am riding for Terra Footwear-Bicycle Line.

"It’s a Belgian Top Competition team, with a great calendar and again a strong English speaking contingent.

"As well as the TopComp, we’ll be doing a lot of stage racing in France, UCI 1.2’s in Belgium, as well as the staple diet of the Kermis scene!

"Another benefit of being a TopComp team is we get to ride Pro Kermises, which kick off in the summer."

Joshua and some of his new teammates.

Nice bikes?

"Very!

"We’re on a combination of Fuji SS1s and Altimiras, with an appreciated return to Shimano after riding Campagnolo last year."

703 items of clothing like Team Sky?

"No, not quite as abundant!

"But with it all being made by Bicycle Line, it’s really good quality Italian stuff; no bagginess or fraying edges which is very luxurious!

"I am one set of kit down though after somebody stole an entire set – socks and all – while I was in the showers after The Kattekoers.

"It was a filthy race, so I can only assume with the amount of mud covering everything that either someone mistakenly took it as theirs or it was a bidon/jersey collector taking things to the extreme."

Did they have a training camp?

"We didn’t go away together, but a lot of the guys in the team have been on camps over the winter, as is the growing trend.

"All of the Antipodes had one of the hottest summers ever down in the Southern Hemisphere though; just one long training camp!"

How are the palmares, so far in 2013?

"Not as glittering as I would have hoped, as with the physical condition I’ve had I would be expecting to have a lot to shout about.

"Racing is not as easy as having a good set of legs though, so the best I’ve managed so far is 11th.

"I’m showing myself well in the bigger races, but haven’t been able to play my cards right in order to get that result.

"The ‘racing rhythm’ didn’t really hit me until late April last year, but from then on I just got better and better.

"Looks like things might be following a similar pattern..."

Josh leads at Kattekoers, but the win is proving elusive so far this season.

Who are the big 'coming names' for 2013?

"Where to begin?

"There is so much talent residing in Belgium that a lot of people are just a race or two away from becoming a ‘name’.

"But from a brief English speaking point of view, Dan McLay (Lotto u23) is a class act and has been getting up there in some big races so far and my Irish housemate Conor Dunne (VL Technics) will probably have a good year.

"Both are on the Dave Rayner Fund too.

"There is also an American guy called Thomas Gibbons who I don’t know, but he won back to back kermises last week which is always impressive."

Do you have a good programme?

"Absolutely; like I said before, we’re one of the TopComp teams so there is that series of 8-9 races throughout the year to focus on.

"Then we have quite a bit of stage racing in both France and Belgium, which is actually a rarity for a lot of amateur teams.

"Around that there’s some UCI 1.2s, Inter Clubs, and both amateur and pro kermises.

"It’s a really good calendar so I’ll get a good few opportunities to ride some big races."

And where's home?

"Home!

"Home is Eastbourne, in the UK, but while I’m racing it’s just outside of Zottegem in East Flanders.

"I’ve been based around Zottegem for a couple of years now, so it really is beginning to feel like a home away from home.

"Should I be worried about that?"

Belgium is starting to feel like home for Joshua.

Any Anglos to chat to?

"Plenty!

"Like I said a large part of the team this year is English speaking, so with the team house just five kilometres away I see the guys a lot.

"Then there’s my housemate Conor who I see pretty regularly - funny that.

"There are a few houses in and around Oudenaarde with riders in too, so there’s always someone around to go riding with or bump into in the smoky sign on of some kermis."

How's the Vlaams?

"Ja, altijd verbeteren!

"Ik studeren met ‘Rosetta Stone’ en natuurlijk Ik spreken met de locale volk een klein beetje.

"Maar het is moeilijk omdat hun Engels is altijd beter!"

We reckon that's something like "It's getting better all the time ! I'm studying with Rosettta Stone , and of course I speak a little bit to a locals. But it's hard because their English is always better than my Flemish!"

Winning a bike race is indeed complex, particularly in Belgium. Understanding the structure of the system and how to progress up it helps Joshua plan his season. (Click for the full image).

I saw a picture of you on the track, where and what was that about?

"I wasn’t riding myself, but I was at the Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx in Gent helping my coach and my housemate gain some aero advantages on the TT rig.

"Tinkering, timing laps, tinkering, timing - I tend to keep my distance from TT bikes, but it was an interesting morning nonetheless.

"It’s a great facility they have there."

What do you want from 2013?

"Just to keep the progression going, reach some new levels, in order to keep bike racing as a justifiable priority in my life.

"I am 22, so I have to keep the momentum going and move through the ranks swiftly if I am to make a career out of this.

"I’m at the stage now where I can really hold my own in the races that people take note of, so in 2013 I just want to capitalise on that really.

"In a sentence though; I just need to get my arms in the air."

Tell us about your Open University course.

"Well, after training and racing, there often isn’t a great deal to do in Belgium!

“Don’t stand if you can lean, don’t lean if you can sit, don’t sit if you can lie down” is the golden recovery rule, so I wanted to do something productive while still adhering to it!

"The course I’m doing is called ‘Making sense of the arts’ and is a combination of English, History and Art.

"It’s only an openings course, but I’m enjoying it’s another string to the bow so I’m glad I signed up."

Have you encountered any of the Belgian or Dutch guys who write poetry about bike races, yet?

"Not about bike races specifically, but bicycles are a pretty common topic!

"Saying that, Dave Millar and some chums from Garmin formed “The Procyclist Book Club” on Twitter so maybe they would have more of an idea than me.

"If I ever get a contract I’ll see if they let me join and let you know!"

But he’s left the kassein and bergs behind for the Atlantic wind, rain and endless hills of Brittany - and the Hennebont Cyclisme squad.

There are less frîtes, but the galettes are nice; rough pancakes with cheese, ham or honey – and so is the Pelforth Brun.

But I digress – Douglas first pops on to the palmarès websites with a stage win and third on GC in the Totnes-Vire stage race in England in 2009.

The following season saw him third in the British U23 Time Trial Championship; a race which he would go on to win in 2011, along with the GC of the Totnes-Vire – not to mention wins in Belgium, notably Langemark-Madonna.

Last season saw him runner-up to Alex Dowsett in the British Elite Time Trial Championship, finish third in the British Elite Pursuit Championships and post numerous strong results in the Flatlands – most notably, Gent-Staden.

Dewey has hit the ground running in France, with wins in the 138 kilometre/198 starters Etoille De Tressignaux – and you have to check out their website, the accordion music is cool – a stage win plus the GC in the two day Fleche d’Armor and a stage win and spell in yellow in the Tour de Lesneven.

We caught up with Douglas on a trip back to Blighty to have a minor injury checked out.

Douglas in the race lead in Fleche d’Armor.
Photo©Point De Vue Objectif / Tiphanie Delory.

Some nice results, Douglas.

"The past month or so has been awesome, yes; I got my first win in the Etoille De Tressignaux then I won the Fleche d’Armor stage race.

"The first day was flat and one for the sprinters; then on Sunday there was a 7.5 kilometre time trial in the morning – which I won by 11 seconds – and a 120 K road stage in the afternoon.

"At around 80 K on the second big climb it split to pieces with all of the top ten at the front and turned into a bit of a ‘smash fest.’

"My team mate Sam Allen was there though – and worked really hard for me, he’s a really good ally to have. Two riders got away with 12 K to go and one of them was the guy who was second on GC but we kept the gap under control and I won overall by five seconds.

"Then I won the opening hilly stage of the Tour de Lesneven and took the jersey.

"Our team finished second in the Stage Two team time trial but we put time into my overall rivals.

"Stage Three was another rolling day with more wind. Unfortunately I made a mistake and got caught out at the back on a day when a lot of tired bodies weren’t working brilliantly. The split rode off early on in the day and with it so did my hopes for another tour win."

Sometimes it’s hard to be a foreign leader on a French team . . .

"Now that they know me more I think that they like me more – they weren’t the most receptive at the start.

"It’s great having Sam here, he’s my strongest team mate – we actually knew each other before when we worked in the same Halfords."

Winning the Etoille De Tressignaux was a great start in France for Douglas.
Photo©Adeline Roué.

I believe that Sean Yates was involved in getting you on board Hennebont?

"Yes, I’ve had a lot of help from Sean – not just in getting a club but in how to deal with living in France.

"John Sharples at TrainSharp has been a big help to me, too."

How is the team?

"It’s OK, but we’re still waiting on our team bikes, I’m just glad I brought a bike with me.

"We’ve also still to get a team house organised; at the moment Sam and I live in a shared house with other folks – it’s not a pure, ‘cycling house.’

"It’s a shared kitchen and we do our own cooking – so that keeps our diet under our own control."

The terrain in Brittany is pretty tough.

"They’re my kind of training routes, rolling, decent climbs but not super steep.

"It’s awesome country to train in with the forests and seas side roads.

"I train with Sam but do quite a lot on my own – but because we’re racing so regularly there are a lot of recovery rides involved."

Brittany used to a favourite area for British cyclists.

"There are three British riders with UCLS which is another team in Hennebont.

"But apart from Sam, all of my team mates are French – but it’s good to immerse yourself in the culture and learn the language."

What’s the biggest difference between competing in France from Flanders?

"The style is completely different; in Belgium it’s the aggression and constant attacking which makes the selection.

"But in Brittany the hilly terrain makes the selections; it’s less about brute force – more of an art form and less of a ‘smash fest!’"

Douglas doesn't mind immersing himself in the culture.
Photo©Bruno Perrel.

Does Brittany still have the ‘Heartland vibe?’

"Definitely, there are so many teams and many folks on the outside of the sport have friend or relatives who race.

"We were talking to the cleaner the other day and her brother races – and it transpires that Sam and I know him.

"The Bretagne-Seche Environnement team are based close by and the local papers have great coverage; pros, amateurs, women, juniors – I’m building up a great collection of clippings!"

Is there as much racing as there is in Belgium?

"There’s some mid-week – we had one last Wednesday – but not as much as Belgium.

"There are plenty of weekend races – but I believe there’s a bit of a lull in May."

Who are the big names, locally?

"David Chopin was a stagiaire with Credit Agricole in 2008; he’s a really nice guy but I think he rides more to enjoy it now than with professional aspirations."

There are always ex-pros racing in Brittany.

"Yeah, there are a number of guys racing here who were professionals – they’re still very good.

"In fact, the guy who won on Sunday was a professional; he’s very good – and cunning!"

Kit?

"I haven’t seen anything to alert my suspicions; but maybe I’m naive?

"But I’m racing at French Elite level and I’m clean so why wouldn’t the others be clean?"

Have you had any ‘sniffs’ from pro squad talent scouts?

"I hope so!

"I’ve had an offer to join another team but I’d see that as a sideways step, if I’m going to move it’ll be to move up. And I’ve been told that a coach from a big team has been talking to my DS . . .

"Having Sean Yates fighting my corner doesn’t do any harm; I have test result and now I’m starting to get race results.

"You can quote test results but it’s palmares that count – you can’t argue with them.

"I’m 24 now but once you pass 25 it’s hard to get a place on a team – although Jack Bauer came from nowhere, got the results and did it.

"I’d really like the chance to ride stagiaire at the end of this season."

If Douglas keeps going the way he is, a stagiaire ride is a real possibility.
Photo©Point De Vue Objectif.

Let’s get to the important stuff – French TV?

"We have a shared TV in the house but I’ve avoided it – the favourite show seems to be the French version of ‘The Voice’ and it’s God awful!"

And have you bought any Johnny Hallyday CD’s yet?

"Who?"

The ‘French Elvis’ – at nearly 70 he’s kinda like Cliff Richard but with more attitude and leather.

"Sounds awful!"

And on that note we said ‘adieu’ to Monsieur Dewey – but we’ll be keeping an eye on his results.

Julian Wheat gave it a 'right good go'.

Brittany, the summer of 1977 and a group of Scottish cyclists including Vik, Ivan, Dave and yours truly are over there as competitors in the Roscoff–Lorient road race as part of the ‘Festival Interceltique de Lorient.’

A celebration of Celtic music, dance, traditional tests of strength – tug of war and the like – and with a bike race to start things off; just so the foreigners could get a good spanking.

There were participants from Ireland, Wales, Brittany and Scotland.

Off a diet of APR’s (handicapped road races) and time trials it’s needless to say that we enjoyed much of the splendid rolling Breton countryside from the comfort of the ‘sag bus.’

The good thing for us however was that the race was on the first day of the Festival, giving us ten days to pedal around beautiful Brittany and go and watch races.

At one of these races, a criterium on a sunny day at a venue long forgotten, we met an English chap called Julian Wheat who had chucked his job and set up shop in the depths of Bretagne.

I always remember his comment that; ‘I don’t want to get to 40 and wish I’d given it a right go as a cyclist.’

He did give it a right go, making it into the Breton Mafia, avoiding the temptations of "the kit" and winning 15 races during his seven seasons in what is only second to Flanders as ‘Heartland.’

Julian took time out from his career as a successful artist to tell us about those days when there was no internet, Twitter, Skype – and EPO was just a twinkle in a researcher’s eye.

What had you done on the bike in the UK before you headed to Brittany, Julian?

"I’d won the Berks, Oxon and Bucks Divisional Championship four times, twice as a junior and twice as a senior.

"I’d turned 20 and was at a reasonable level for the British race scene.

"I went to France to improve but despite being in what I thought was decent shape I was dropped in my first race!"

You left behind a good job, as I recall?

"I worked with Oxford University Press; it was potentially a very good job as a trainee technical illustrator.

"My coach was Les Woodland (who was also a very well known cycling journalist) who told me that to progress I had to move to Belgium or France."

Why France?

"I met a guy from the Oxford University Cycling Club who studied French, Trevor Pope – he taught English at a school in Brittany on the university holidays and raced out there, too.

"He said to me, ‘why not come with me?’"

Racing in the hard local races certainly developed character and robustness.

Where did you stay?

"In a farm gîte, (defined as; ‘a simple, usually inexpensive rural vacation retreat especially in France’) near Gourin in Morbihan.

"It was very basic but I was there for two years.

"The first season, 1977 wasn’t so good, as I said I was at a decent level in the UK, when I won the Divisional Champs I rode the last 20 miles on my own but was dropped in my first race in Brittany.

"Many of the circuits were very hard – you’d have to ride up some big hill or other maybe 30 or 40 times. I think it’s different now when British guys come over; they tend to ride the bigger races in France.

"But riding those smaller, tough, local races gave you a great background."

The first year was tough, you said?

"Yes, it took me four years to actually win a race and it was the second season before I started to find my feet.

"The president of the club I rode for in Bigouden had a construction company with two depots and the guy who ran the one in Fouesnant was mad about cycling; he gave me the use of an apartment above his garage.

"I was there for four seasons; I’d race over there in the summer and come home for the winter and work as a car valeter to get money together for the next season’s campaign."

Julian raced for several seasons in a hard environment.

Tell us about the ‘Mafia.’

"Ha! So you’ve heard of that?

"The main guy was an Irishman called John Mangan...

***

If you’ve never heard of John Mangan, it’s no surprise because he never turned pro – but here’s what the entry about him in the official history of Ireland’s most famous race, The Ràs – won by Mangan in 1972 - has to say;

"John Mangan: 'Anyone who knows how it works would realise just how difficult it is for a cyclist, say from Ireland, to break into the French race scene. You have to win respect and to do that you have to win races.'

"Win he did; in fact he won 156 races in all and he ended up as one of the two riders who controlled this group (the Mafia.)

Tough as teak John Mangan (r). Photo©rastailteann.com

"'At the end of the day my job would be to tot up the individual placings and then divide the prize money. There would be between 2,000 and 5,000 French francs for the winner and I would ride between four and six races a week.'

"Mangan was the envy of his peers when he brought his Mercedes home in the mid '70s's. He was enjoying a high standard of living.

"'We were probably making as much as money as some top pros. A good amateur could do that and some of the professionals returned to their amateur status. They included Yves Maveleu who was a key figure in the group. There was also Jean Rene Berneaudeau, who would go on to distinguish himself as a professional, winning the Midi-Libre four times.'

"Mangan, himself, would ride against and best some of the world's best professionals in the criterium races after the Tour de France. He rode alongside Bernard Hinault and became friendly with him."

We Scots saw Mangan at a criterium on our trip in 1977; the Ràs history describes him as ‘teak tough’ – which was totally accurate. You could almost see the aura around him.

***

"John was a proper character, he did things his own way. He's the only guy I ever knew that could put away six bottles of beer in the course of a race.

"I rode a stage race with him early one season; we were in the same team. He rode practically the whole five stages without hardly eating anything because he said he needed to loose weight, having spent the winter in Ireland. I think all the beer got him through each stage!

"But the guy was as strong as an ox - he also had possibly the worst position on a bike I've ever seen, he never looked comfortable,and churned huge gears.

"The Mafia was basically a group of the best riders who controlled the races they rode – they didn’t just ride in Brittany, they’d be up in Normandie or down in Bordeaux.

"How it worked was that if you were in a move with them and they could drop you, then they would. But the breakthrough came when they couldn’t drop you; as soon as you were strong enough then they’d let you join the group.

"The other guy who was a member was Dave Wells, the English rider [Wells won the amateur GP des Nations in 1974 and the Circuit Franco Belge in 1975, ed.] who was a very good rider and really nice guy. In fact I remember one race where Mangan, Wells and I were the podium.

"They’d pool all the prize money at the finish and then split it among the group – and remember that it wasn’t just the placings; there was good money for primes, too. I’d get my share but I was also on bonuses for good performances from my club.

"It was possible to make £100/week – when I left to go to Brittany I was on £20/week with my job.

"No wonder Wells and Mangan drove Mercedes."

How did your palmares end up?

"I won around 15 races all-told but only five of those were on my own merit – the rest were with the Mafia.

"I was always top ten but I’d have to take my turn at grabbing primes or chasing down breaks.

"But I didn’t mind that, I loved it."

Julian won over a dozen races, some of them with the help of his 'Mafia' colleagues.

Was there ever any thought you might turn pro?

"There were two years where I was stomping, winning against ex-pros but not riding the Classics.

"A guy from CSM Puteaux - which was one of the big Paris clubs and a feeder team for the pros – noticed me and I was invited up to Paris.

"They offered me a ride for the next season but it meant I would have to have spent the winter in Paris, which I didn’t want to do because I had no work there – so I went home to Oxford."

How big a factor was the kit (doping), back then?

"In the amateur ranks riders knew that there was no point in taking it if they wanted to turn pro.

"The best riders rode clean as amateurs and only took it when they had to as pros.

"I only ever dabbled once, one of the Mafia guys said to me; ‘here, take this!’ He gave me a caffeine injection before the final stage of a race – it was the most painful injection I’ve ever had in my life!"

Julian travelled the world for years, on his bike.

You quit racing at just 28?

"I’d had my time and didn’t want to suffer any more – I used to have train so much and so hard to be successful.

"But I was still feeling wander lust and spent the following 11 years travelling.

"Having always cycled, it seemed natural that the best way to travel was on the bike.

"I’d work 5-6 months of the year, so as to finance travels to such far flung places as the Rocky Mountains of America, and Alaska".

One of Julian's beautiful paintings.

And you live in France, now?

"In the Correze area, I bought a property down here and now I paint full time for a living.

"I still ride the bike when I can but the weather has been so bad.

"There used to a big bike racing culture down here; I believe Arthur Metcalfe and Bill Bradley based themselves in the area, back in the day.

"But up in Brittany it’s still very much part of the culture, every village has a fête and there’s still a lot of racing."

Regrets?

"Age makes you philosophical; I’d gone as far as I could, I was as good as I was ever going to get.

"I didn’t have the physical capabilities to be a really top rider – you need the huge lungs and the big slow heart.

"But I enjoyed my time in Brittany, and I love my life here ..."

And if you'd like to see some of Julian's work, check out his website julianwheat.com.

But like Dylan said; ‘The Times They are a Changin’ . . . .

Sunday was horrible, wind, rain, cold – just what my bad throat and chest didn’t need.

Step forward our Editor, Martin who, despite having been riding in the storm all morning to help with filming John Anderson's Tour o' the Borders sportive, braved the ghosts from the biggest Iron Age in Scotland, which sits up on the 1400’ White Meldon to brandish the Nikon into the gale force storm.

Winner through the murk and driving rain was Sandy Wallace Cycles’ Alan Thomson, holding off teammate Silas Goldsworthy by eight seconds in the Tour of the Meldons - incorporating the Scottish Olympic Time Trial Championship.

‘Super-tester’ Arthur Doyle (Dooleys) suffered a rare defeat, a further 13 seconds behind Goldsworthy.

The race is a ‘classic’ – first held in the 1930’s it’s been run in more or less the present format for almost 40 years.

We rang Alan on Monday to get the low down on his win.

Alan Thomson is the new Scottish TT Champion 2013.

Congratulations on the title, Alan – but is April not a bit early for National Championships?

"Yes but it’s at the other end of the scale from The Tour de Trossachs which the championship is usually incorporated with.

"The Trossachs is in October and there’s a big gap in racing to keep momentum through to it.

"This is only my second race of the year; I rode a 10 at Stirling in March and then the weather broke – since then I’ve done the bulk of my training on the turbo and concentrated on staying healthy."

But isn’t the Trossachs a great climax to the season?

"The Trossachs is a really special race and the weather hasn’t been bad for it in recent years.

"The weather at Eddleston was grim and the parking facilities weren’t great, not like the big car park at Aberfoyle.

"But that said; the organisation on Sunday was first rate."

This isn’t your first national title?

"Last year I couldn’t pull one off; I took silver in the ‘50’ and bronze in the ’25.’

"But I did win the ’50’ in 2011, yes.

"I’ve really enjoyed this victory; it came as a complete surprise. I fell off after I had a mechanical on a training run in the winter and broke my elbow – I meant I had an enforced rest and was only on the turbo and rollers before I came in to racing.

"It was a very different winter for me.

"Arthur Doyle really knows how to hit form for an event and Silas is going really well, so like I said, it was a surprise to win."

Alan rode well for third in last summer's 25 Mile TT Championship.

Was Sunday your first Meldons?

"No, I’ve ridden every year since 2008 or ‘9 so I’m really familiar with the course. I was close to winning last year but Jim Cusick was just too quick for me, so I’ve been after the win here for a long time.

"The other years I’ve ridden it the weather has been dry but Sunday was epic; the bike was a real handful if you were on deep section rims with that cross wind over Shiplaw."

How do gauge your effort in a time trial, on power?

"Last year I bought a set of SRAM Quark cranks – I used a PowerTap hub before that, so yes, I ride on power.

"But yesterday I had to keep my head up because the weather was so bad – I was more interested in keeping it between the hedges than looking at my power output!

"I used to have a habit of going off to hard so riding on power does help. I know pretty much how my power is developing from my training, but sometimes you surprise yourself – the adrenalin kicking in makes a difference.

"If I’m still feeling good then I really give it everything in the last five minutes."

Were you getting checks on Silas?

"No, I didn’t know how close it was, I just battered on – the conditions were so bad that I just concentrated on staying safe.

"I heard that [team boss] Sandy Wallace was on the course but I have no recollection at all of seeing him."

Silas Goldsworthy was a close second to Alan.

What do you do for a living and how do you fit in training?

"I’m a chartered surveyor and it can be quite tricky fitting it all in – but it helps that I work conventional office hours.

"I do an hour before or after work – sometimes both.

"It’s mostly on the turbo – that reduces the variables, lets you focus on the specifics."

Do you have a coach?

Yes, Peter Ettles.

"He gives me a lot of advice, we discuss alternatives ways of doing things, what to focus on.

"He’s very much into the modern methods and understands the numbers to the extent that he’s very good at predicting what will happen in the race."

Martin says you’ve been riding the Glasgow Track League?

"I started riding there soon after I came back from my broken elbow and it was a bit of a shock to the system.

"I was dropped in at the deep end in the bunch races – but I’m getting there now.

"It’s like a completely different sport; but I’d like to get into timed efforts and the try the pursuit."

If you're squeamish...

...don't expand this...

Alan gave us this photo of his elbow after one of the operations.

What’s the next goal?

"I’ll have to sit down with Peter and work on my strategy for the next part of the season.

"I’d really like to ride the British Cycling Time Trial Championship on the Commonwealth Games circuit in Glasgow.

"And of course there’ll be the Scottish titles – TTT, 10, 25 and 50 Championships.

"But I’d also like to do a bit down south and see how I match up to the likes of the Michael Hutchinson and Matt Botterill . . ."

The riders enjoyed the tailwind over the Meldons towards the finish, if not the potholes, the mud and the rain.

Arthur Doyle looked strong with only the ride over the Meldons and the drop into Eddleston to go.

Jim Cusick is seldom away from the top of the results boards.

Alastair Robinson was last man off, and rode to fifth place.

Steven Lawley heads across the standing water to 8th place.

Result - Meldons Hilly Time Trial 2013

Not when the date of the Tour of Lombardy is changed to accommodate a new race in China - bearing in mind the strict list of criteria the UCi wheeled out for races to be added to the World Tour.

There was the race’s history, the competency of the organisation, safety record . . .

But all that actually matters – is money.

And then, when said Chinese race is cancelled and not an eyebrow is raised, it’s hard for us to enthuse.

Tsgabu's team 'hero card'.

However, there is a more positive aspect to ‘Mondialisation’ – like the rise of the Malaysian track sprinters at world level and the emergence of road talent from Africa.

And whilst Flanders and Brittany must remain the Heartland and the big Euro races must be supported and remain the bedrock of the sport, Professional Cycling would be the poorer without competitors from the Americas and Australasia.

So why not the African Continent?

The Spring Classics are like a black hole which sucks in all of the worlds cycling fans and media attention.

But there are other races taking place – like the UCi 2.1 Tour of Korea; 2.1 is the same status as the Tour of Britain and carries the same number of UCi points.

Stage Five of the race was a historic one - the first ever win for an Ethiopian rider at this level; youngster, Tsgabu Grmay of South Africa’s first Pro Continental team, MTN-Qhubeka powered by Samsung.

And lest you think it was a ‘soft’ field, the likes of La Pomme Marseille, United Healthcare and DRAPAC were on the start sheet.

Grmay’s win was all the more spectacular, given that it was a mountain top finish.

The Ethiopian is only 21 years-old but has already racked up some nice palmares.

In 2010 he scored a number of top ten placings in UCi Africa Tour races and by 2011 he was based at the UCi Centre in Aigle, Switzerland taking a podium on Stage Three of the Toscana Nations Cup race and ended up fifth overall against the best of European U23 opposition.

There were more Africa Tour points in 2012, including a win in the African Nations U23 TT championship.

But this year has seen the man from Mekele, 2,000 metres up in the Tigrayan Highlands of Ethiopia land a top ten GC placing in the Tour of Langkawi as well as second on GC in Taiwan to go with his stage win.

We caught up with him upon his return to Europe to ride the Tour of Trentino.

Tsgabu on the podium at the Tour of Taiwan, celebrating his stage win.

Tell us about your stage win please, Tsgabu.

"Yeah, it’s a nice result, I’m very happy with it.

"The race route suited me with the last 50 kilometres being up and down – and then the mountain top finish where I was able to get away on my own."

You were only 24 seconds of the GC win – any regrets?

"No, Bernie Sulzberger and his DRAPAC team were really strong so I was happy with being on the podium."

How did you get into cycling?

"I started about five years ago, my father and brother cycled and I used to go out with my brother.

"I started to race locally and when I showed potential my brother organised that I go to the UCi Cycling Centre in Potchefstroom near Johannesburg in the Republic of South Africa.

"The ex-professional rider Jean Pierre Van Zyl runs it and when I started to get results on the Africa Tour he recommended me for the Centre at Aigle in Switzerland."

[Van Zyl is a former Worlds Keirin medallist and lap record holder at Gent’s Kuipke Velodrome, ed.]

How was Aigle?

"Cold!

"It was a big step up for me but I survived and after two or three months I started to go well.

"I was there for seven months and gained a lot of experience."

Like his teammates, Tsgabu enjoys modern training methods.

Do you have a coach?

"All the guys on MTN-Qhubeka powered by Samsung are trained by Dr. Carol Austin – she uses all the modern methods, like SRM power meters and makes sure our nutrition is good."

You can time trial and climb – not many can do that.

"I want to be like Alberto Contador – so I have to be able to do both!

"I have an advantage because where I live is up at 2,000 metres so whilst I’m not a great sprinter, I’m a good climber – I think the time trialling is just something I’m naturally good at."

He can climb and time trial, we'll be seeing more of Tsgabu, for sure.

How did you get the ride with MTN?

"The introductions came about when I was still at Aigle; Jean Pierre Van Zyl is my manager now and he made the connection to MTN for me."

Trentino is a tough one.

"After Langkawi and Taiwan I think I’m ready for it – I’m good climber but it will be interesting to see how I go against the top opposition in Trentino."

You’ve raced in Italy before...

"Yes, I rode the Toscana race when I was at Aigle, I was third on a stage and fifth on GC and I think people began to realise that there that I had some potential."

Tsgabu on the way to his stage win in the Tour of Taiwan. Photo©Aaron Lee.

What’s it like training in Mekele?

"It’s not flat!

"There are no easy roads; you’re climbing wherever you go – every day."

I heard that you wanted to a soccer goal keeper?

"Yes, but I’m glad my brother talked me out of that one – I’m very happy with how my cycling career is going."

Are the Ethiopian Media beginning to take an interest in your career?

"Soccer and running are the big sports at home; but with my doing well in the African Championships and winning the stage in Taiwan I’m generating interest, yes."

What’s your biggest goal in the sport?

"I want to start the Tour de France at some stage in my career; I want Africa to be proud of me and to give something back to my country."

The first win by an Ethiopian pro cyclist, a stage in the Three Days of West Flanders, the South African Road Race title and the Primavera – it’s not been a bad Pro Continental debut at all for the men from the Rainbow Nation.

Thanks to MTN-Qhubeka powered by Samsung for the use of their images.

We thought we’d give him a shout and see how he’s coping with a world of sunshine, no Euro pop, real food and proper toilets.

Guy messes around with the moto-pacer at Grenoble Six last year.

How's the PSDSD going? 'Post Six Day Stress Disorder'

"I miss the Six Days!

"After the completing two back-to-back six-days in Berlin and Copenhagen the only thing I wanted to do was to continue racing!

"I’m in a polar opposite world now in Tijuana enjoying the beach, studying, working and living in a lower intensity environment.

"I have a strong passion for the Six Days though. There is something special about them I can’t explain. I love them. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in them over the years.

"Every time I finish one I want more!"

What do the Six Days have to attract you that the road doesn't?

"The Six Days are magical. I love the tradition and culture. Few people have had a glimpse into them. Much of the appeal for me comes from their history.

"It’s Six Days of suffering. The Sixes are full of stories of men overcoming all odds, and have embraced sport as entertainment. They’re under no allusions there - the organizers try to attract a full gamut of spectators.

"In Copenhagen they brought in professional boxers to spice things up. Sometimes it’s sensory overload with constant stimulation all the way through night. The environment in the Six Days is more familial and generally close-knit.

"I also like the exclusivity of the Sixes. It’s difficult to gain entrance which can be frustrating but it makes them more “sexy” in my opinion."

"Six Days of Suffering", but Guy can't get enough of it.

How did you get the rides in Berlin and Copenhagen?

"I sent a request to the promoter of Berlin after the race in Grenoble but he turned me down because the field was full. I’m a man of faith and I prayed for this opportunity to race in Berlin and Copenhagen.

"Then a couple of months later he got back and said I was in for Berlin and Copenhagen!

"It’s cool what God can do!"

Grenoble/Berlin/Copenhagen - which track is fastest; most difficult to ride; and how does the racing compare?

"I just get on my bike and ride as hard as I can. I couldn’t tell you which is the fastest, but I like the boards in Grenoble, it’s a great track. I was most comfortable in Copenhagen though.

"It has taken me a while to feel “at home” in the sixes but in Copenhagen I felt smooth and at ease on the track. Racing-wise Berlin was the fastest.

"It was a tough race in Berlin.I was nervous and fidgety before all the big chases because I never knew what to expect. They were not easy but we had a good time."

Copenhagen Six earlier this year, and Guy is happy with his racing.

The 75 K handicap madison at Copenhagen - tell us about it - and did you dare to dream you could win with Zak?

"We went into the race with a sizable handicap. I lined-up knowing the limitations that we had all the while hoping to make it through 300 laps with an opportunity for victory.

"It’s the centerpiece for the Six Days of Copenhagen but I was realistic and let and cards fall as they did."

On top of the leaderboard - for a while. 75kms of madison racing is an epic task.

How was acceptance by other riders?

"I feel at home with the Six Day guys. I remember watching the UIV races (U23) in 2007 and being in awe of the professional riders. Then, I was nervous whenever I was on the track with any of them.

"My first Six Day was terrifying. I didn’t know what to do or how to fit in. It’s a tight knit community and I feel like outsiders aren’t generally welcomed.

As the 2009 UIV Champions we were known by the riders but we were still the 'new guys.' Things have changed now. I’m not easily intimidated anymore and I feel at ease and comfortable with everyone.

"My world has shifted dramatically since my first pro Six Day in 2009. I’m much more confident. I know why I’m there and I know what I’m doing and I love it. I appreciate the way the guys have welcomed me. They are all helpful with racing tactics and so forth.

"I’ve received a lot of encouragement from them which is hard to come by in bike racing! I’ve made a lot of friends in the Six Day world.

Who impresses?

"I like Peter Schep. He’s smooth and strong.

"I like riders with charisma; Iljo Keisse is a favorite. He’s feisty and full of personality.

"In the Sixes it’s important to have strength and stamina but there are other aspects that make riders shine too. I also like the Italians Ciccone/Masotti; they’re a good team with a touch of flavor.

"And watch out for the colorful American team on the rise - you’ll be seeing them in Fiorenzuola!"

Guy apologises to Erik Zabel during the Berlin Six in January for pinching his cap when just a boy years ago.

Erik forgave him.

Which is your favourite discipline in the Six Days?

"I like the super-sprint eliminations.

"I was too ambitious in Berlin in Copenhagen wanting to immediately take control and stay out of trouble. But over the course of the two events I gained a lot of valuable experience on positioning and minor tactical details. It’s a race of strategy and strength - I’m more tactical than I am strong.

"I hope to continue progressing in these races. Obviously the madisons and Derny races are favorites too."

Which is your least favourite discipline?

"I don’t like timed events on the track. I could care less for pursuits. Although I did like the two kilometre team pursuit in Copenhagen; every once in a while they’re cool.

"It’s always nicer when you’re the stronger of the two - otherwise it’s pure misery."

Guy has been on the Six Day circuit for years, here catching his breath after a hard chase in Grenoble in 2009.

What was your toughest time during the two Six Days?

"Balancing my gratefulness for the opportunity to compete with my disappointments for not having better results. Everything is easy in the Sixes when you have a good cabin with an encouraging soigneur and positively-minded runner. It made the weeks pass quickly.

"I don’t like being around perverse and vulgar talk nor do I like condemning or judgmental attitudes. I thrive in a wholesome environment.

"A rider’s Six Day experience hinges on the people he has in his cabin. I was content with our situation. In Copenhagen we had Benjamin Edmuller too; he’s a good friend and great guy."

What about those Six Day kitchens?

"I am grateful for the food on my plate! I know a lot of people who have it worse off than I. I will say that Grenoble is cozy.

"The soigneurs cook the food for the riders because there isn’t a kitchen for the riders. Microwave pasta, chicken, rice, etc - I kind of like it.

"There is more ’bro time’ in tight quarters."

You don't often hear from a Pro bike rider that he races purely for the love of the sport.

Have you considered perhaps looking for a place on the US track squad to ride madison at the World Cups?

"I don’t want to ride the World Cups. I wouldn’t gain anything I don’t have and care about obtaining. I don’t chase medals, results and records.

"You can call me crazy but World Cups are too much stress for me. I’m chilled out and over all that stuff. I do not thrive when there is pressure to improve my performance.

"In fact I meet my demise when people put pressure to perform on me. I don’t race to win, I race because I love it and every once in while winning is a result."

How's the track scene in San Diego and Mexico?

"There are four tracks within a 2.5 hour drive from where I live. Tijuana has a great 250m wood track built by Peter Junek but it’s tough to get on and there aren’t many races.

"Racing in San Diego has a good following by the hipster/fixed gear crowd - it’s always fun to go out there.

"But one of my favorite tracks is the Major Taylor Velodrome in my hometown of Indianapolis. They are making great strides forward as one of the hot beds for development and racing.

"Dean Peterson and Marian University have undertaken a great initiative to revamp that facility."

Guy and fellow 'murcan Zach exchange at Copenhagen.

It's a gruesome way to earn a living, although there are one or two perks at the Six Days.

Could a Six Day work in the US?

"Of course!

"With a well-thought plan and motivated organizing committee it can happen.

"Money is obviously important too but I’m much less concerned about the money than the first two items I mentioned."

How are the plans going for the winter of 13/14?

"I’m planning on racing in Fiorenzuola. It’s one of my favorite places to race. Claudio Santi, the organizer, has been very welcoming over the years and I appreciate his efforts. I’m going to take another American there this year with hopes of a continuing with him into the winter.

"I want to create a small American “Six Day Team” so we can comfortably race the Sixes every winter.

"Right now I buy my bikes and pay for everything. More Than Sport, Oakley and Predator Bars are the only supporters I have now. Hopefully that changes.

"I also want to see a revival of spirituality and service in the sporting world in the coming years. I want to help reintroduce optional chapel services during the Six Days and encourage athletes to step out in service and give back.

"Needless to say, I am ready and excited for next season!"

Russell is clearly relishing the opportunities open to him this season.

Having had Michael Mørkøv’s take on de Ronde, we thought we’d chat to a man a bit closer to home about his experiences in what is at least in the top three of the world’s single day races – along with Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix.

The Tour of Flanders was one of the few races left on Russell Downing’s ‘to do’ list – but now he can wear the T-shirt.

Lest we forget the fact that Russell is one of the most versatile and prolific bike riders that the UK has ever produced, let’s have a wander through his palmares . . .

***

It was 1995 when he won the schoolboy points and sprint championships, with the junior points title coming in 1997.

He wasted no time in turning pro – the team was the immaculately presented, but short lived Brite Voice in 1998.

1999 saw him with the ‘team that never was,’ Linda McCartney. He was third in the National road race and won the Havant International.

A year later in 2000 he was with Miche Penna winning the GP Essex.

For 2001 he was back with McCartney and spent a spell with French team UVCA Troyes. He took ten wins including a stage in the Ronde de l’Oise – and a whole raft of top ten placings.

Unfortunately, 2002 saw another vaporous team for the man from Rotherham – iTeam Nova. But there was a stage win in the Brandenburg Rundfahrt, wins in Belgium and the UK, including the National 20 kilometres on the track.

It was Team Life Repair for 2003 and British titles in the points, criterium and madison – with brother, Dean. Not to mention solid rides all over Europe and a criterium win in Perth, Western Australia.

Recycling was home for 2004 with wins in the Havant, East Midlands Classic, three stages and the GC in the Ras Mumham in Ireland a stage in the tough Circuit des Mines in France. The track wasn’t neglected, with a World Cup team pursuit win in Sydney.

For 2005 he stayed with Recycling and was rampant – winning the British road race title, the Havant, the Lincoln, a stage in Girvan, three stages in the Ruban Granitier Breton and one in the Giro del Capo in South Africa.

DFL was the name on the jersey for 2006 with an excellent win in the Triptyque Ardennaise, kermis wins in Belgium, a stage win in the Tour de Beauce in Canada and an exotic addition to the palmares in the shape of the Bermuda GP.

The United States was supposed to be home for 2007 with Health Net; visa hassles meant slim US palmares but there was the Richmond and Beaumont in the UK and another win in Bermuda.

Phil Griffiths’ Pinarello RT was a good move for 2008 with Downing rampaging to the Premier Calendar title, including the Girvan, Reservoir, Richmond, Lincoln and East Yorkshire Classic. There was also a stage and second on GC in the Tour of Ireland against the very best opposition.

Staying with Griffiths for 2009 - with the team now Candi TV -the Premier Calendar again went his way, as did the national criterium title. But the big result was taking the UCI Tour of Ireland, ahead of the likes of Breschel and Kolobnev.

The Sky was the limit for 2010 and with wins in the Tour of Qatar TTT, a stage win in the Criterium International, a stage in the Tour de la Region Wallonne and the GC in the same race his Pro Tour debut was of the highest order.

But 2011 wasn’t of the same level – despite a top 20 in Het Nieuwsblad and a finish in a horrendously mountainous Giro – Downing’s opportunities were few, more often put in the service of other riders.

There was no renewal for 2012. But not for the first time, Downing reinvented himself, this time with Scottish squad, Endura. The wins came thick and fast; the Soens, GP Lillers, a stage in the Circuit of the Ardennes, the Lincoln (for a record fourth time) and a stage in the Tour of Norway leaving the likes of Simon Clarke, Tosh Van Der Sande and Edvald Boasson Hagen in his wash. Back home there was a win in the Beaumont Trophy and five top six stage placings in the Tour of Britain.

This season saw Endura merge with strong German Pro Continental squad NetApp – so yet another jersey to add to Mr. Downing’s collection.

Here’s what he had to say, two days after Fabian Cancellara showed us that whilst Sagan may be the ‘coming man,’ the man from the land of Edelweiss and Toblerone is still the ‘Daddy.’

Russell prepared for the classics season with races in Oman and Qatar.

Your first Ronde, Russell – impressions, please?

"A pretty exciting race, it’s hard to explain that atmosphere around the course; I’d say it’s a bit like the Worlds – but better!"

What was the NetApp game plan?

"We wanted in the early move; we had Zak Dempster up the road early with Dowsett and Klier – but it was just so fast in that first hour."

How did the cold affect you?

"It wasn’t too bad on Sunday, the weather got better as the day went on – De Panne was pretty chilly though, you needed your winter vest for that one. I loaded on calories the night before, I ate so much!

"Usually I’m pretty good but I ate a few things I wouldn’t normally – but figured that I needed fuel. I just topped up in the race with bars and gels."

It looks so dangerous on those narrow roads.

"Yeah, there’s one too many riders, one too many motor bikes and one too many cars –but it’s all good fun."

The travelling and the chaotic Belgian races don't faze Russell one bit.

Positioning is everything, isn’t it

"Yeah, unfortunately I punctured going in to one of the early climbs – I got back on but couldn’t move up. On the hills you can’t move up, that’s why there’s such a fight for position going into the climbs.

"I ended up walking the Koppenberg, someone crashed in front of me and me and another 20/30 guys had no option but to walk. It was disappointing because my legs were good – but I was in good company, with Stannard and Terpstra."

There’s been a lot of debate about the new course.

"I can’t comment on the old course because this is my first time – I like it and it’s not really a finishing circuit because it’s different each lap.

"The Patterberg is savage, you have a real struggle to keep your front wheel down; you end up popping wheelies if you’re pulling too hard on the bars."

You had Voss 28th and you were 62nd at the end.

"You always want better and personally I’m not happy - but for that incident on the Koppenberg I think I could have done much better.

"But we’ve both learned a lot and I know if it hadn’t been for me having to put my foot down, I’d have made the final selection."

How’s recovery been?

"I feel fine, even on Sunday night I felt OK. On Monday I did two hours easy and then today, Tuesday I did two hours with a few efforts – tomorrow I have the Scheldeprijs.

"We have Roger Kluge for it; the Scheldeprijs is a sprinter’s race (in the event, Michael Schwarzmann was best for the team in 18th place in the same time as winner, Marcel Kittel of Argos. ed)

"I’ve tried it all ways of recovering between races; total rest and keeping training hard – you just have to try to find a happy medium.

"I try to just relax and ride the bike a bit."

Does the time hang heavy between races?

"I’m actually staying with a family I know; it’s something different and a change from all those hotel rooms.

"You spend so much time in hotels that it’s nice to be in a normal house with cats and dogs – it’s easier to relax."

How has the team merger been?

"It’s been good; at the start, the first training camp, I wasn’t sure – it was like two teams put together. But by the second camp we’d got to know each other and it’s working well – although few of the Endura staff came across with the riders."

Russell is presented to the crowd before the Qatar race.

Do you think that the desert races are vital now to prepare for the Classics?

"They’re very important if you’re preparing for the Classics – you have to race as part of your preparation.

"It used to be Mallorca was the tune up, then came the Tour Down Under; but now it’s Qatar and Oman first up.

"I did Down Under with Sky – it’s a nice race, I had no complaints about it."

What comes after the Scheldeprijs?

"Paris-Roubaix and maybe the Amstel? "Then I’ll have a break – but we have a couple of big strong boys for Roubaix with Roger Kluge and Blaz Jarc. (Kluge was NetApp’s best finisher in 33rd @ 3:29 on Cancellara, ed.)

"I want to have a solid Classics season, have a break and then I’ll think about the rest of the season.

"Russell finished 115th in Paris-Roubaix, in the same group as Sky’s Luke Rowe and Greenedge’s Luke Durbridge."

Our thanks to Team NetApp-Endura for the use of their images.

He won stages in the Giro, Vuelta, Tour de Suisse and Tirreno – but it’s different now, the young Aussies come up through their track programme, race and train and Europe and are more than welcome in the professional teams.

Jordan has already worn rainbow bands in his young career.

The work ethic it takes to be reach and remain on the Australian National Squad is well known to the ‘Euros.’

The latest young man to take note of is Queenslander, Jordan Kerby; in his short career he’s achieved much – including two world titles.

It was 2009 when the palmares began with a bronze in the Australian Junior Points Championship and a win the Australian Junior Team Pursuit Championships alongside current reigning World Elite Pursuit Champion, Michael Hepburn.

One year later he’d exchanged bronze for gold in the Aussie junior points and added the world title at the same discipline plus a world title in the junior team pursuit.

His best result in 2011 was silver the Australian Team Pursuit Championship; but 2012 saw the results turned on, again – but on the road.

He took the prologue in the Tour of Thailand, a stage in the Mersey Valley Tour in Australia, the prologue in the North West Tour – also in his homeland; and 10th overall in the Tour of China.

Kerby was one of the ‘names’ of early 2013 with a prologue win and spell in the leader’s jersey in the Australian, Herald Sun Tour - but really caught the eye with his win in the Australian U23 Road Race Championship.

VeloVeritas spoke to the 20 year-old as his career began with Danish Continental squad Christina Watches-Onfone.

How did you get into cycling, Jordan?

"Cycling has always been in the family, both my father and grandfather used to ride. I did a lot of football and rugby as a kid and dabbled in a bit of triathlon as well.

"I found that I liked bike aspect the most, needless to say the swimming and running didn't last long. So it started from there, from about 10 or 11 years old cycling became my passion."

You were double World Junior Champion - points and team pursuit - did you ever consider going down the senior team pursuit road?

"I guess so, but these things don't just happen overnight. I tried my hand in a few senior team pursuits at the World Cups in Beijing and Manchester.

"It was definitely great experience as well as development but from 2012 onwards I decided to focus solely on the road."

Jordan on top of the world as a Junior.

We've heard that the Aussie junior track programme can be very mentally - as well as physically - demanding?

"Australia has one of the strongest track programmes in the world - of course it's going to be very physically and mentally demanding.

"But that goes with every discipline in this sport. If you want to be at the top, you've got to be willing deal with the demands."

Jordan leads his Aussie teammates to gold.

Tell us about your Aussie U23 title - prior to that you were best known as a prologue specialist.

"In my opinion I'm more proud of this victory than my junior World Titles.

"Yes, prologues are something I'm consistently strong at; so it's even more rewarding to win in a discipline I'm not particularly renowned for."

January was pretty special for you, wasn't it?

"January was the best month I've had in my career, to cap off my two wins in the Herald Sun Tour and the Nationals I was privileged enough to be selected for team UNI-SA for Tour Down Under."

How will you plan your Euro season - you've had a tough southern season, it would be easy to do too much.

"I've had to dial it back quite a bit after TDU. I don't think it's possible to be flying in January and continue to have form all the way until a mid season break.

"After TDU I had some time off then flew into the Christina Watches-Onfone training camp on Lake Garda where I gradually started to build up for the euro season."

Knowing when to knock things off to avoid overtraining or exhaustion is important.

How did you get the Christina ride - do you have an agent?

"The Christina Watches-Onfone ride came about after conversing with the team after Tour of China last year.

"They seemed to be pretty impressed with both Mitch Lovelock and myself, things just fell into place.

"I do have an agent who I've just recently started working with towards the end of last year."

Jordan is enjoying his new team and new life.

Where's 'home' in Europe?

"Home for now is Lake Garda in northern Italy; I've been here since the training camp. It's a really nice place.

"I will also be living in Denmark for some time this year

How are you dealing with the northern hemisphere weather?

"Well, being a Queenslander, I can't emphasise enough how much of a difference there is.

"I've had to wear pieces of winter kit I've never had to wear before.

"So yeah, it's cold!"

How's the team organisation so far – clothing, bikes, travel?

"Everything is spot on, the team has friendly staff and there's great communication.

"Heaps of equipment and so on; we’re really well looked after."

It must make it easier having a countryman in the team with you?

"Absolutely, it's great having Mitch here with me.

"He's a good guy, really easy to get along with – but about 90% of the team speak English.

"However, it's great to have another guy who speaks 'Aussie'."

Tell us about your programme.

"We were supposed fly to Mexico for a couple of tours there but they were cancelled - which was a big disappointment - so I've been training here in chilly Italia.

"But we fly out to the Tour of Morocco tomorrow (Wed. 27/03) so I'm excited to be getting back to racing, again.

"Then it's back to Europe for some UCI races in Denmark, with also a few Eastern European tours in the following months."

Jordan will be splitting his time between Italy and Denmark this season.

What's your favourite type of race?

"I'm yet to really find out; it's something I'm going to learn about myself this year.

"I do enjoy time trials, and I do like tough conditions - but it's definitely something I'm going to discover about myself in the coming months."

How did the Tour Down Under compare to the Asian UCI races you rode last year?

"The Tour Down Under was a whole other level.

"Don't get me wrong, some of the Asian tour can be pretty tough.

"But every competitor at Down Under was a strong rider so naturally it makes the racing tougher."

What's your mindset for season 2013?

"To progress as a rider, find where my strengths truly lie, and very importantly - I'm going to try and win some races!"