Tuesday, May 20, 2008

David Millar races Italy

David Millar, a world-class professional cyclist from Scotland, writes an interesting blog for his current team, Slipstream. Today's post is particularly good: The good and bad breaks of cycling. He writes about his experience in stage five of the Giro d'Italia in which he's poised to make a winning move when his chain breaks.

Millar's career has had its ups and downs. He's had a great deal of success and, like many of the guys who made it to the winners' podiums in top races, he was caught using a performance-enhancing drug, EPO. He confessed and was banned from competition for two full years. Now he's riding for the cleanest team in the sport -- one that proves its athletes are drug-free by constant testing of its own in coordination with the official testing of cycling authorities.

This year's Giro is one of the toughest ever run and all the more interesting because the number of potential winners is unusually large.

Cyclingnews provides a good review of the race so far. Notice that one of the top favorites is now racing with a fractured elbow. Here's the link: Giro enters second week with demanding time trial.

Pez Cycling News also provides good coverage. Today it features an interview with the guy who's (temporarily) in second place overall: Giro PEZ-Clusive: Matthias Russ Interview!

Here's are some photos of stage five from CyclingNews:

Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Scott)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Stage four winner Mark Cavendish (High Road)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
David Millar waits for the team car
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Pavel Brutt launches his winning move.
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Riders enjoyed stunning views.
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Liquigas has matching pink and magenta jerseys
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Oleg takes a "sip".
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Oleg Tinkov had his own champagne
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Oleg Tinkov was overjoyed
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Simoni and Giovanni Savio
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Emanuele Sella (CSF Group)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Pellizott tucks his hair in
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Gibo Simoni signs autographs
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Pavel Brutt
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Best young rider Morris Possoni
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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British champ David Millar (Slipstream)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)
Fröhlinger has a dig
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Fun!
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Gilberto Simoni is relaxed
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
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Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff)
Photo ©: AFP
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Brutt in major oxygen debt
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)
The break of five approaches Contursi
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

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