Checking the bike before a spin!
Friday File time, let's get started...
It's not only bipeds that love the bike, the image above (from Facebook) is a famous riding quadruped mammal of the family Ursidae.
I recently posted a story about Thomas Voeckler and whether he will be ready for the Tour. Well, he will return from knee injury to lead his Europcar team... hopefully with his usual panache! See his grimace below...
Speaking of Panache...
George Hincapie, just turned 39, will make Tour history riding his 17th Grand Boucle in his 19th pro season. Cadel Evans will try to win his second Tour and he's lucky to have Big George as 'his escort.'
George's last Tour!
georgehincapie.com
lucky seventeen...
His stunning birthday present!
His stunning birthday present!
velonews.com
If ever there is an unassuming hero of cycling, it has to be Ryder Hesjedal. Having won the Giro he is now catapulted to be a co-leader for Garmin Sharp Barracuda. Here's a revealing look at our laid back Canadian hero living in Girona, Spain...
I'm looking forward to the 99th Tour de France. The three week odyssey begins with Saturdays's 6.4km prologue in Liege. My prediction: World Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin will win it.
Garmin Sharp Barracuda on board...
Dan Martin (far right) starts his first Tour and look for him in the high mountains!
What's Friday without a cool bike?...
This could be the fastest and most expensive three-wheeler Bianchi around!
Unsung heroes are not only riders but support...
I'm talking about the Mavic neutral assistance! That's the yellow/black vehicles zipping in every stage providing immediate assistance to all riders.
Mavic was created by Charles Idoux and Lucien Chanel, known as Manufacture d'Articles Velocipediques Idoux et Chanel (Mavic), trademarking the brand in 1923. It was until 1973, that Mavic created the well known Service Course neutral support. It was Bruno Gormand's brilliant idea to provide support to race leaders and to serve as a liaison between the caravan vehicles and racers. In 1972, the idea came about when Gormand lent his car to a panicked team director whose own car had broken down before the start of the Dauphine Libere.
The Service Course started at the 1973 Paris-Nice. Then in the mid-80s Mavic added the famous motorcycles at the 1984 Paris-Roubaix.
before...
... and now!
Just one more...
1984 TdF...
Fons De Wolf & Frank Hoste (points jersey winner) attack the fruit!
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