Planckaert wins La Poly Normande

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Belgium's Baptiste Planckaert of Wallonie-Bruxelles etched his name on the record book of the Poly Normande right after his compatriots Jan Ghyselinck and Oliver Naesen as he fended off Ryan Anderson of Direct Energie for the victory.

"French Cup races suit me really well, especially with a false flat finish like this one," Planckaert told Cyclingnews at the finish. "Apparently I'm the third consecutive Belgian to win here. This kind of race with a strong wind in the finale is very good for us."

One of his teammates, Tom Dernies, took part in the long breakaway of the day along with Pierre Gouault (HT BTP-Auber 93), Jordan Levasseur (Armée de Terre), Johan Le Bon (FDJ) and Daniel Diaz (Delko Marseille). AG2R La Mondiale chased them down as they were ambitious for Samuel Dumoulin to profit from his post-Tour de France form to increase his lead in the French Cup series.

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With two laps to go, two local riders from Normandy took over from the quintet in the lead. One month after hosting the Grand Départ of the Tour de France, the huge crowd in La Manche was full of hope for Marc Fournier (FDJ) and Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).

The latter was the last man to be reined in with 3km to go. It was an unusual bunch sprint finish in the village of legendary Tour de France [former] speaker Daniel Mangeas. Cofidis did the work for Nacer Bouhanni, who was on his come-back race after he failed to start the Tour due to a fight with a drunken man the night before the French championship. However, the Frenchman was nowhere to be seen (30th) on the finishing line. 

Anderson was the closest man to Planckaert. "This is a very good result for me," the Canadian said. "I had the freedom to race for myself pending if I was going well in the climbs. Tony Hurel and myself were protected but I wasn't confident for a sprint finish because it's usually a winning breakaway here. I'm thankful to [Direct Energie team manager] Jean-René [Bernaudeau] to have given me the opportunity to come back to Europe after I had a first experience with [Canadian Pro Conti team] Spidertech."

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Gustavo Cesar Veloso wins Volta a Portugal stage to Senhora da Graca

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Elite and Junior Track Nationals conlude with elite Madison and more junior racing

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Elite and Junior Track Nationals concluded in T-town on Sunday.

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RideLondon: Tom Boonen wins dramatic sprint finish

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Etixx-Quick-Step rider Tom Boonen wins the RideLondon-Surrey Classic after Team sky's Geraint Thomas is caught by the peloton with 5km to go.

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Chris Froome says Rio 2016 Olympics are a 'big deal'

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Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome says he's "extremely motivated" for the Rio 2016 Olympics, with a "realistic chance" of a medal in the individual time-trial event.

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Talansky using Tour of Utah as final tune up for Vuelta a Espana

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Andrew Talansky has one clear memory from the only other time he raced the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah – in 2009 before it was a UCI race.

Talansky told Cyclingnews on Saturday that he entered the 2009 event on a composite team and endured a long week of suffering. He expects suffering of a different kind this year, as he helps Cannondale-Drapac teammate Joe Dombrowski defend his 2015 title and to keep alive the team’s streak of three consecutive overall wins dating back to 2012.

“There was a lot of suffering that year and it didn’t really go great for me,” Talansky said following Saturday’s team presentation in Cedar City. “There’s probably going to be a lot of suffering this year, but I’m hoping it yields a better result.”

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“Joe smashed everybody in this race last year, and after all the help he gave me at Swiss and at the Vuelta with me, I’m looking forward to the chance to repay that a bit,” Talansky explained.

“He’s in great shape and it’s an important race for him, myself and the whole team. And when you have the defending champ it’s obvious you are going to support him.”

Forgoing the Tour, targeting the Vuelta

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Purito Rodriguez says 'adios' to Spain at the Clasica San Sebastian

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Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) has revealed that the Clasica San Sebastian was his last ever race in Spain, indicating that he will not ride the Vuelta a Espana or any other race on home roads before formally retiring at the end of the 2016 season. 

The Katusha team dropped a hint that Rodriguez could even hang up his bike after the Rio Olympics and never ride again for the Russian team.  

Purito was awarded a special prize as the most aggressive rider in the Clasica San Sebastian and emotionally collected the award with his young children. His attack on the late climb blew apart the group of favourites before Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) passed him near the summit and surged away to take a solo victory. Rodriguez finished fourth, behind Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), waving to the crowd as he reached the finish rather than sprinting for a spot on the podium.

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He quickly confirmed his farewell before joining up with the Spanish team to travel to Rio for the Olympic road race. He first revealed he will retire at the end of the season during the Tour de France when the race enjoyed the first rest day near his home in Andorra. The end of the 37-year old Catalan’s career appeared much closer in San Sebastian.

“I enjoyed my last race in Spain,” Rodriguez said. “This was a nice goodbye. The climb was super with the fans cheering for me. I really enjoyed it. I’m sorry I missed the top 3, but in the end there were three riders faster than me.”

As in the final stages of the Tour de France, Rodriguez took the race from the front, attacking at the key moment on the climb of the Murgil Bidea, as the gradient kicked up to 20%.

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Morton looking for top result in Tour of Utah

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Lachlan Morton is no stranger to the podium at the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. In 2013, while riding for Garmin-Sharp, the then-21-year-old soloed away on the final climb of stage 4 from Richfield to Payson to win alone and take the yellow jersey, which he kept until teammate Tom Danielson took it two days later on the Queen stage to Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort.

Now 24 and after taking time out from the highest level of the sport, Morton is riding for US Continental team Jelly Belly-Maxxis. The Australian climbing prodigy is aiming for the overall podium at the seven-day 2.HC race that starts Monday. He will serious opposition from 2015 winner Joe Dombrowski and his strong Cannondale-Drapac team plus riders from the BMC, IAM Cycling and Trek-Segfredo WorldTour teams.  

“We’ve prepared really well, and I’ll try and go for a podium this week,” he told Cyclingnews Saturday evening at the team presentation in Cedar City.

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“That’s the goal. It’s a pretty similar start to three years ago when we had it here,” he said. “It’s got the same stage over to Payson. I think there will be a bit of a shake up there, for sure. It’s a really hard climb.”

This year will be Morton’s fourth Tour of Utah, and so he knows there will be plenty of hard climbing, with multiple ascents that top out over 3000 meters, throughout the week. The biggest test will come in the final two days, with the Queen stage on Saturday and the final test on Sunday that starts and finishes in Park City.

Over those two days the riders will climb Guardsman Pass, Little Cottonwood Canyon and Empire Pass, among others. Since the Tour of Utah became a UCI race in 2010, it has always been decided on stage six or stage seven.

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Mollema builds confidence ahead of Olympic Games after victory in San Sebastian

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It was an emotional victory for Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) at the Clasica San Sebastian, held just one week after a disappointing final few days at the Tour de France. The Dutch rider has come out of the French Grand Tour in good form, however and is looking forward to the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“The last days of the Tour de France were really disappointing for me,” Mollema said after crossing the finish line in San Sebastian. “This is a good way to fight back and I think I showed that I have good form and that I can look forward to the Olympics.”

Mollema was sitting in second overall at the Tour de France heading into the final stages in the Alps. Although he maintained his high placing after a challenging stage 18 mountain time trial to Megève, he slipped to tenth overall after crashing during stage 19 to Mont Blanc on a slippery descent before the final climb, and he never regained contact.

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In San Sebastian on Saturday, Mollema attacked over a new final climb; Murgil Tontorra, located just eight kilometres from the finish, and he soloed to the line.

"Yesterday in training I did the last climb twice and three times the descent, so I knew what was coming," Mollema said. "I was a few places behind when [Joaquim] Rodriguez went, and it was a narrow climb, so it was difficult to pass the other riders. But I felt quite good and knew that I could close the gap in the last few hundred meters of the climb. On the top, we were four and Rodriguez slowed down a little bit, and I think that was the perfect time to go.

"I just wanted to try something, and it was a good moment for an attack, it was still 500 meters flat at the top. I tried and saw I had a gap and then it was just full gas until the finish. I think with two kilometers more or less I knew I had it. I still felt I had some power in the legs, so I was not going to blow up, and when I looked back, I didn't see the second group. I felt I could keep it until the finish – it was a nice feeling, especially in the last few hundred meters."

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Poels wins the RaboRonde before heading to the Rio Olympics

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Wout Poels (Team Sky) sacrificed his chances of success at the Tour de France to help Chris Froome win for a third time but on Friday night the Dutchman got a chance to win himself, taking the RaboRonde criterium in Heerlen before travelling to Rio for the Olympic Games.

The 28-year-old Dutchman, triumphed in front of his home crowd, with a reported 45,000 people enjoying the evening racing as Poels beat Stef Clement (IAM Cycling) and Dutch champion Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo).

At the Tour de France, Poels – who won Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April, was often the last Team Sky rider available to support and protect Chris Froome during the race. Poels played a fundamental role when Froome crashed in the rain on stage 19 to Saint-Gervais and rode to the finish on Geraint Thomas’ bike. Poels paced his teammate and controlled attacks, earning a grateful pat on the back from Froome as they crossed the line.

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Poels will race against Froome in the road race putting their friendship and loyalty on hold for a day before perhaps riding together at the Vuelta a Espana.

Poels also rode in the nearby Boxmeer earlier in the week but was beaten by Clasica San Sebastian winner Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo). The two will fly to Rio this weekend as part of a strong four-rider Dutch squad for the Olympic road race that also includes Steven Kruijswijk and Tom Dumoulin.

Dumoulin crashed out of the Tour de France on stage 19, fracturing the radius bone in is forearm but is set to race with a brace. A final decision on his participation will be made in Rio next week. It is possible he misses the road race or rides only part of the 256km race to ensure he is full recovered and in limited pain for the time trial where he is favourite for victory.

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Peter Sagan continues WorldTour lead after Clasica San Sebastian

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The WorldTour continued at the one-day Clasica San Sebastian on Saturday with Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) taking a solo victory ahead of a two-up sprint for second between Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).

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The race didn't put a dent in the WorldTour ranking, however, as Tour de France green jersey winner Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) continues his lead with 445 points. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) is in second with 407 points and Tour de France overall winner Chris Froome (Team Sky) is in third with 396.

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Boonen wins RideLondon Classic

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Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) paid back his teammates for their hard working during RideLondon Classic, winning the sprint on The Mall in central London, after they chased down Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) after he made a 50km solo break away.

Boonen timed his effort perfectly, letting other sprinters go first on the wide finish. He tucked up along the barriers and found the speed to come through and hit the line first.

Mark Renshaw (Dimension Data) beat fellow Australian Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange) to take second, with Jens Debusschere (Lotto Soudal) taking fourth.

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Team Sky anticipated their rivals by attacking early in the Surrey hills with 90km to race and that split the race. Thomas and Ian Stannard joined the break of the day and then sparked their own attack on the other hills. Thomas hit alone and looked set to win it but the peloton spoilt his day, giving Boonen a big win.

How it unfolded

The RideLondon Classic got underway on The Mall in downtown London on Sunday at Horse Guards Parade. Parts of the lumpy 200km course was used in the 2012 London Olympics making it an iconic route. The race offered the field a series of intermediate challenges with mountain points available at Leith Hill (76.4km), Ranmore Common (93.7km, 112.8km and 132.1km) and Box Hill Summit (150.5km).

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Valgren wins Tour of Denmark

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Michael Valgren (Tinkoff) sealed the overall victory at the Tour of Denmark on Sunday. The Danish all-rounder took the overall lead during the third stage and held onto it through the finale stage 5, winning by 10 seconds over magnus Cort Nielsen (Team Postnord Danmark) and 57 seconds ahead of Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Virtu Pro-Veloconcept).

Phil Bauhaus (BOra-Argon 18) took top honours in stage 5, a 175km race held from Karrebæksminde to Frederiksberg. He won the sprint ahead of Moreno Hofland (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff). 

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“It was a perfect day. Rudi (Selig) brought me in a good position, with 1k to go he dropped me at the Tinkoff train. In the sprint I catched the wheel from Hofland then and could overtake him on the last metres. I am super happy with this win," Bauhaus said.

 

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William Clarke wins stage 3 at Volta a Portugal

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Gavazzi wins stage 2 at Volta a Portugal

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Wild wins Prudential RideLondon Classique

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Kirsten Wild (Hitec Products) did exactly what most predicted and smashed the bunch sprint on The Mall to win the Prudential RideLondon Classique on Saturday. The powerful Dutch rider won the crash-marred finale ahead of Nina Kessler (Lensworld-Zannata) and Leah Kirchmann (Liv-Plantur).

Organisers of the Prudential RideLondon Classique offered the women’s field €100,000 prize money, equal to the prize given at the men's race the following day. That made it the richest race on the women's calendar, where the winner took home €25,000, and Wild a happier champion.

The race took place on a new 5.5km circuit in central London, beginning on The Mall in St James’s Park, going up Constitution Hill, turning at the top to come down and on to Birdcage Walk, then passing Big Ben and turning left on to Whitehall and right on to the Strand before turning again to come back up the Strand, through Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch and back for a flat finish on to The Mall. The women raced for 12 laps for a total of 66km.

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The women set off for an aggressive start on lap 1 but it was Roxanne Knetemann (Rabo Liv) who was the first to create a gap during the second lap. The move resulted in a bigger split in the field with five riders clearing the peloton. That move also included Lotta Lepisto (Cervelo-Bigla), Valentina Scandolara (Cylance), Spoor, Plichta and Marta Tagliaferro (Ale Cipollini).

The five-rider breakaway didn’t last long as the speeds from the peloton were too fast, and they were reeled in by the third lap.

Claire Rose (Podium Ambition) and Annauska Koster (Rabo Liv) were the next to clear the field but there was a group of riders trying to bridge across. Neither groups stayed out front long as Wiggle High5 led the field to bring them all back.

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Boonen wins RideLondon as Thomas falls short

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Etixx-Quick-Step rider Tom Boonen wins the RideLondon-Surrey Classic after Geraint Thomas is caught in the closing stages.

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2016 RideLondon Classic start list

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Cervélo R3 Disc review

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Cervélo’s R3 is without doubt one of the best racing frames currently available. It’s a heady mix of aggressive geometry and super-low weight, all wrapped up in a whip-fast-handling machine. In taking the R3 into the disc era, Cervélo has been careful in trying to retain that character.

The R3 Disc’s rear end has been redesigned; the slender seatstays now flow all the way into the seat-tube, giving a much wider, stiffer platform than the existing R3’s monostay design. The seatstays and chainstays are asymmetric, with the disc side’s seatstay joining the chainstay behind the thru-axle, with the mech side’s seatstay meeting in line with the axle.

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The other benefit of that wider footprint comes when you point the bike downhill and really exploit the R3’s handling qualities

By using a custom spec FSA SL-K chainset with a 5mm offset to ensure the correct chainline, the R3 has managed to maintain short 405mm chainstays rather than having to shift to the 415mm recommended by disc brake manufacturers. This should help retain the bike’s race-ready handling while keeping the improved braking offered by discs. The rear chainstays look particularly minimal and the R3 wears flat-mount standard callipers.

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On the road the R3 feels every inch as rapid and nimble as its rim-braked cousin, and at 7.94kg for this Ultegra-equipped model it’s not exactly a heavyweight. On rolling, twisty terrain the R3 Disc is a blast, it’s quick to accelerate and sharp to turn, but the most surprising aspect — given its racy credentials — is the increased comfort.

By eschewing standard brakes and redesigning the back end, and plugging in a disc-specific fork, Cervélo has been able to switch to wide HED Ardennes Plus disc wheels and fit slightly larger 25mm Continental Grand Sport tyres. This adds a layer of cushioning that’s most welcome on poor surfaces.

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How to avoid and treat saddle sores

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Saddle sores are an annoying side-effect of cycling that most serious riders have experienced at some time or other. At best they mean uncomfortable riding, and at worst they can keep you off the bike altogether.

Put simply, a saddle sore is an irritation of the skin that occurs in the area where you are in contact with the saddle, caused by chafing and sweating, among other factors. People new to cycling are often more affected as their skin isn't used to the pressure and rubbing associated with sitting on a saddle for hours.

More experienced riders are generally less susceptible, but that doesn’t mean that they never get them. Sean Kelly, the Irish cycling legend, was forced to pull out of the 1987 Vuelta a Espana while leading the race with just two days to go, because he had sores so bad he could no longer sit on the saddle.

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• How to choose a bike saddle
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So what exactly are saddle sores?

Any discomfort is your body letting you know that something is not right and can quickly develop into visible and painful conditions known collectively as saddle sores.

Ischial tuberosities are your ‘sit bones’ and these bony prominences – which bear most of your weight when riding, along with your perineum (the area between your anus and genitals) – are the primary pain hot spots.

Chafing

Folliculitis and furuncles

Skin ulceration

How to avoid saddle sores

1. Choose your saddle wisely

• Tom Boonen's Specialized Roubaix SL4

2. Check your positioning

3. Use a good chamois

3. Try chamois cream

4. Keep it clean

How to treat saddle sores

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Smith Rover helmet first ride review

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Smith's Rover helmet is aimed at the can't-get-enough trail rider, with a fantastic design and the colors and protection to match.

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Smith Rover spec overview

• Lightweight Aerocore In-Mold Construction
• Zonal ventilated protection featuring patented Koroyd material (a tubular core structure that absorbs impact energy)
• MIPS system available in all colors
• VaporFit Adjustable Fit System
• 20 optimized vents
• X-Static with Reactive Cooling Performance lining
• Ultra-Light single layer webbing
• AirEvac ventilation
• Integrated visor

Smith Rover is for the everyday rider

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Smith's Forefront helmet has won plenty of awards and won over plenty of mountain bikers with its outstanding blend of protection, style, and integration for sunglasses, goggles, lights, and cameras. It was clear to the folks at Smith that they had the high-end nailed, but what they didn't have was a helmet for the common, everyday rider. This is where the Rover (and Route for the road) fit in. 

Coming in at a lower price point ($180 vs $260 for the Forefront), the Rover is still flush with most of Smith's protection and features. To keep the low-profile, Koroyd is featured in the sides of the helmet over strategic impact areas. Smith's VaporFit adjustment fit system is thankfully carried over from their higher-priced lids, as is the AirEvac ventilation system. MIPS is an option as well, and is available in all colors.

The more expensive Forefront has more vents (21 vs. 18), more Koroyd material, an integrated skeletal structure, and an integrated camera or light mount. Plus, lighter materials are used throughout, and the visor is adjustable and removable. 

Smith Rover helmet first ride impressions

Smith Rover helmet price

Smith Rover vs the competition

Early verdict

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Shimano AM9 SPD shoes review

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There’s no getting away from the fact that the new AM9s have some, er... big shoes to fill, replacing the incredibly popular AM45s as Shimano’s top-tier downhill/trail riding offering.

Thankfully some of the AM45s’ key features have been carried over, including the massive lace flap, which does a great job keeping puddle splashes out. Shimano have added a Velcro strap, which helps you properly cinch things down to prevent any movement when you’re putting the power down. There’s also a raised, heavily padded inside ankle to prevent those eye-watering knocks when scrabbling to clip back in.

The fit is secure, with little heel lift even when walking

Underneath, there’s an extended cleat pocket dubbed the ‘Pedal Channel’, designed to guide you back into the pedal when unclipped, along with more aggressive tread sections on the toe and heel to deal with off-the-bike shenanigans.

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In use, there’s no escaping just how comfortable the AM9s are. They also feel much lighter than the AM45s (our size 43s weighed 920g), especially after a proper soaking. The fit is secure, with little heel lift even when walking, and they’re roomy enough to remain comfy even after long hours on the bike.

When it comes to stiffness, there’s a small amount of flex in the sole. Although this is great in terms of pedal feedback for downhillers, we found it better to use the shoes with caged clipless pedals for trail and enduro riding, because of the extra support provided.

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Heller Shagamaw GX1 first ride review

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Heller's Shagamaw GX1 represents a new breed of nicely capable, non-race focused bikes. With a carbon frame, 130mm fork, and most importantly some big 27.5+ tires, this hardtail brings some not-so-serious, rowdy fun to the dirt.

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Heller Shagamaw GX1 spec overview

• Lightweight carbon fiber frame with dialed geometry
• Internal cable routing for a clean look
• Internally routed dropper post
• Powerful 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes for more control
• 148x12 Boost spacing
• WTB Bridger 27.5+ x 3.0 tubeless ready tires
• WTB tubeless compatible rims
• RockShox Yari 130mm suspension fork
• SRAM GX1 1x11 drivetrain

Heller Shagamaw GX1 ride impression

My first ride impression of the Shagamaw was that this thing is sweet. I was as shocked as anyone having ridden a few 27.5+ bikes before and coming away with mixed feelings on the handling and performance. 

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The 68.5 degree head angle is on the steep side for all-mountain, but works well with the 130mm RockShox Yari fork. The fork is a bit of a budget item to keep costs in line, but it works well and is plenty stiff.

...the bike industry is finally switching from racer focused everything to creating bikes that everyday riders actually want to ride

The stem could be a tad shorter and wider bars would be welcome. But all that stuff is personal preference, what matters is the frame and the ride and that's where the Shagamaw surprised me. 

Heller Shagamaw GX1 pricing and availability

$2,599 and in-stock now (UK and Australian pricing not available)

Heller Shagamaw GX1 vs the competition

The 27.5+ category is still relatively new and bike companies are still tweaking the formulas. The Shagamaw's carbon frame fares well against some of the other aluminum plus bikes out there from Specialized, Kona and others. No matter what brand, in my opinion it's fantastic that the bike industry is finally switching from racer focused everything to creating bikes that everyday riders actually want to ride. 

Heller Shagamaw GX1 early verdict

The Shagamaw GX1 was a real surprise, honestly. I've played around with 27.5+ bikes before and was left wanting something more. The Shagamaw was fun; plain and simple. The short rides on it had me pondering how I could exploit the traction in the corners and made me wonder how fast I could romp through techy terrain before smashing on the brakes. A longer review might see me getting into trouble. 

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Two riders injured in RideLondon-Surrey

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Two riders are injured, one seriously, in separate crashes during the RideLondon-Surrey cycle race.

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Juniors take over Day 6 of Track Nats

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Despite another rain out on Day 6 of the2016 Elite and Junior Track National Championshipsin Trexlertown, Pa., Saturdayandrsquo;s action decided another 10 champions at the legendary Valley Preferred Cycling Center.

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RideLondon: Dutch rider Kirsten Wild wins the 2016 RideLondon Classique

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Dutchwoman Kirsten Wild wins the 2016 RideLondon Classique in a thrilling sprint ahead of her compatriot Nina Kessler and Canada's Leah Kirchmann.

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RideLondon: Dutch rider Kirsten Wild wins the 2016 RideLondon Classique

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Dutch cyclist Kirsten Wild puts in a powerful final sprint to win the 2016 RideLondon Classique.

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Lutsenko to miss Olympics after training ride collision

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Kazakhstan’s Alexey Lutsenko will miss the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after a collision with a car during one of his final training rides in Monaco on Friday. 

The Astana rider was taken to a Monaco hospital after the collision and diagnosed with a foot injury that will keep him out of action for three weeks. He was due to travel to Brazil during the weekend for the road race scheduled for Sunday August 6, the day after the official opening ceremony of the Rio Games. He was also due to represent Kazakhstan in the time trial on August 10. The news was first reported by Kazakhstan media and confirmed to Cyclingnews by the Astana team.

Astana team manager Alexandre Vinokourov had hoped the 23 year-old rider would follow in his footsteps after his gold medal in the road race at London 2012. Vinokourov gave Lutsenko special attention and freedom within in the Astana team, setting him a race programme that would leave him in peak form for the Rio Olympics.

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Lutsenko was considered an outsider for a medal in Rio due to his strength and aggression in one-day races. He has the climbing ability for the tough course in Rio but the speed and tactical acumen to take on expected favourites Alejandro Valverde of Spain, Vincenzo Nibali of Italy and the Great Britain team lead by Tour de France winner Chris Froome. He won a stage at Paris-Nice with a solo attack and did the same to win a stage at the 2015 Tour de Suisse. Lutsenko also won the Under 23 world title in 2012, beating Bryan Coquard of France in a mass sprint after the climb of the Cauberg.

“It's a shame that it happened right now, during his final training!” Vinokourov was quoted as saying on Kazakhstan website vesti.kz.

"Alex has just successfully completed a difficult Tour de France, which was his preparation before the Olympics, and he was in great shape. The news is a shock for all of us. Things had gone smoothly all year preparing for Rio and now this happened in the final stretch. I really believed he was going to be a contender for a medal.”

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Carlos Verona set for mid-season transfer from Etixx to Orica

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In the last few hours Cyclingnews has learnt that Carlos Verona could be added to the Orica-BikeExchange roster in time  for the Tour of Burgos which begins on August 2, meaning that he will be the second rider in recent years to make a rare mid-season transfer.

Earlier this week Cyclingnews broke the news that the 23-year-old Verona would move from Etixx-QuickStep to Orica at the end of the season on a two-year deal. The Spanish rider signed for Etixx in 2013 and raced the Giro d'Italia earlier this year. He has not raced since then, although the Vuelta a España was meant to be on his schedule for the second half of this year. Cyclingnews understands that his programme came under threat when it was confirmed that he would move to Orica.

Etixx's general manager, Patrick Lefevere was angered by the move, telling Cyclingnews on Wednesday that, "I'm not happy at all. I kept him for five years. He was always sick and always injured and we had a lot of patience. Then the first time he does a good race, he leaves. I don't like this. He and his agent said he was interested to stay but he signed with Orica during the Tour."

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Under UCI rules riders can only make mid-season transfers if all parties agree and the paperwork is accepted by the UCI. The last rider to make use of this procedure was Rohan Dennis in 2014 when he moved from Slipstream Sports to BMC Racing. He raced the Vuelta a España a few weeks after making the move.

Verona may ride the Vuelta a España in Orica colours although that is yet unclear. Cyclingnews understands that the Orica team have now secured the release of Verona from Etixx QuickStep and if possible he may even start as early as the Tour of Burgos.

The UCI transfer window only opens on August 1, meaning that the paperwork must be approved by the UCI on Monday.

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Lagkuti wins Tour of Qinghai Lake

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Vasylyuk wins time trial at Tour of Qinghai Lake

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