Castelli Blog

Who was the fastest sprinter in this year’s TdF, Cavendish who won six stages, or Hushovd who captured the second green jersey of his career.

In 1999, Erik Zabel won the green jersey points competition, but he didn’t win a single stage. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Zabel)

“I won this jersey because I’m more experienced. I know how to win it,” Hushovd said. “I’ve done it before and I’ve fought for the jersey many, many years. Cavendish is the fastest sprinter, but I am the most consistent, and that’s why I won the jersey.”

The interesting thing about the green jersey competition is that it’s the only jersey competition contested by riders who are not going to be high up in the overall classification.

The fact the green jersey point contenders are not able to ride at the front of the peloton during a significant number of stages within the race makes the competition more difficult to win. To win, the rider has to carefully pick the places where he’s going to apply his best efforts. The obvious places are the handful of stages well-suited to sprint finishes. Cavendish certainly capitalized on those, crossing the finish line first on six occasions, including Champs-Elysées . With 35 points for winning a stage, his victories alone earned him 210 points. For Hushovd to win the green jersey despite Cavendish taking maximum points on six individual stages is incredible.

There’s little doubt that Cavendish is the fastest sprinter on two wheels.

Hushovd won the points competition by a mere of 10 points. It is often said that the green jersey is won by the most consistent rider in the Tour de France, but this year I don’t know if that is true. For consistency, you have to look to Cavendish, who won a quarter of the stages in the whole race. Hushovd’s path to the green jersey had more in common with Alberto Contador’s path to yellow: He kept his rivals close at all times, and found a few key places where he could turn big efforts into maximum gains.

“It’s very emotional to stand on the podium and receive this jersey. I’m proud of what I’ve done,” he said. “It was a hard battle to get more points than Cavendish, but that’s what I’ve done in the end. His big goal was to win the green jersey and I know he’s going to get many of them in the future, but I am going to give him a big fight in the next few years.”

Thor will be going back to Norway this week to relax, celebrate with family, friends and do a few criterium races in his home country.

It seems that most fans and observers of this year’s tour are talking about the Mont Ventoux stage. Nevertheless, there’s equally day awaiting the riders today on the 17th stage of the tour. The 167,5km journey from Bourg Saint Maurice to Le Grand Bornand will show the final five or six riders who will be in contention for the overall win ahead of the final time trial and the Ventoux challenge.

One bad decision or bad moment by a top GC rider, and its all over.

“Stage 17th is the most difficult stage of the Tour. There are going to be a lot of attacks. We expect another break to go early, much like today’s stage, without anyone of danger. The last two climbs will be the most important part of the stage and we can expect Saxo Bank to attack again,” said sporting director Alex Sans Vega last night. “Carlos will be vigilant and, depending on how he feels, will try to stay with the best and take advantage of the attacks of the others.”

The Castelli van will keep following the riders to Paris on Sunday. Tomorrow, we’ll have a closer look at Carlos new BodyPaint skinsuit. Stay tuned!

Congratulation Herinrich, this gotta be one of the best victories of the year. Rainy skies and wet roads greeted the riders for this 200km parcours from Vittel to Colmar and Heinrich Haussler proved to be the best attacking his breakaway mates to take a beautiful win! As Haussler came across the line, the water streaming down his face was not only rain.

After 195k off the front, Haussler took the win in fine solo fashion.

Stage 13 Results
1. Heinrich Haussler Cervelo Test Team in 4:56:26
2. Amets Txurruka Euskaltel - Euskadi at 04:11
3. Brice Feillu Agritubel at 06:13
4. Sylvain Chavanel Quick Step at 06:31
5. Peter Velits Team Milram at 06:43
6. Thor Hushovd Cervelo Test Team at 06:43
7. Vladimir Efimkin Ag2r La Mondiale at 06:43
8. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream at 06:43
9. George Hincapie Team Columbia - Htc at 06:43
10. Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank at 06:43

Cervelo TestTeam dominated the Giro Donne’s final stage, with Kirsten Wild sprinting to her second stage victory on the final stage while Claudia Häusler secured the overall victory.

Cervélo TestTeam’s sports director Manel Lacambra said after the race, “It was a very technical and dangerous course today,  we tried to control the race and take care of Claudia. There was a break of 19 riders, but we were not thinking about winning the stage, only bringing the maglia rosa home safely.”

“It was a victory for the entire team,” said Claudia Häusler. “We all worked very hard for the victory and we are all very happy that we won the Giro. After the third place last year, it was amazing to be on the top of the podium - it was an unbelievable feeling. The best part was that had so much fun as a team the entire 10 days. That was surely a contributor to our victory.”

Final general classification:

1   Claudia Hausler (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam                    25:21:32
2   Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia HTC Women
3   Nicole Brandli (Swi) Bigla Cycling Team
4   Emma Pooley (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam
5   Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus) Fenixs Edilsavino
6   Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Selle Italia Ghezzi
7   Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Michela Fanini Record Rox
8   Carla Ryan (Aus) Cervelo TestTeam
9   Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint
10  Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago
11  Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo TestTeam