WEDNESDAY, Sep. 1st, 5:00pm:
Castelli Happy-Hour.
Join us at our Prosecco party and bring your friends.
Music, drinks, snacks and more.

THURSDAY, Sep. 2nd, 2:00pm:
Meet Heinrich Haussler and Claudia Häusler of the Cervélo TestTeam.
Bring your Cervélo TestTeam jersey, and have it signed by the two impressive riders. We’ll have a bunch of signature cards to sign in case your best friend can’t make it to the show.

Castelli got rave reviews when introducing the BodyPaint bibshorts at the Eurobike show last year. It’s called BodyPaint because it feels like it’s, well, you know, painted on. And, now we added the BodyPaint jersey and most slippery, used by the Cervélo TestTeam, BodyPaint Speedsuit to the family.

Come and have a look at our innovative and performance-driven Winter’10 and Summer’11 collection at the Eurobike show:

Where: Friedrichshafen, Germany
Castelli: Hall B5-504
Date: Sep. 1st - Sep. 4th. 2010.
www.eurobike-show.de

Five hours in the saddle done today and I’m starting to feel like a professional bike rider again. I’m away from home right now, staying with Paul Martens, who rides from Rabobank. We’ve been getting in some really good training here in the Ardennes, and today was the longest ride I’ve done in a long while.

I’m not sure it will be enough to get me selected for the Worlds though. I know I’ve said before that I’d love to go but as the clock keeps ticking, time is running out for me to prove that I’ve got what it takes to get ready in time. Don’t get me wrong, if I’m selected you’ll have to rip me out of my seat on the plane to Australia but I would totally understand if the selectors chose someone else over me.

You just have to look at the riders that are already on the short list to see what a great team we’ve got. Well you’ve just got to be realistic.

I also don’t want to risk my knee either. It’s been a long road to recovery and I’ve missed so much of the season that I can deal without any more setbacks and problems. I had my last CAT scan last week and everything came back okay, no injury, no pain, and I want to keep it that way.

Saying all that, if I get the call and they want me there, I’d be there in a flash but it would probably be to work for another rider, like Robbie (McEwen) or Alan Davis. I’m more than willing to work for others.

So right now I’m putting all my efforts into getting ready for next year. I’ll probably race the Tour of Britain for the first time next month, which I’m really looking forward to, and from there I’ll do a few one day races in Europe.

The big news in the last few weeks is that Carlos Sastre has left the team. It was a shock to me. I had no idea that he was going to leave but I fully support the guy.

You might think that because we’re on the same team, we know each other really well but I think I raced with Carlos once - at last year’s Tour - and met and trained with him at camps so I don’t really know the guy that well.

He was certainly one of the reasons why I came to the team, he was such a big signing and so was Thor (Hushovd) and they made a big impression influencing whom I signed for.

I first heard that he’d left the team was when I was sent an email from the team. I immediately logged on to Cyclingnews (I’m not even kidding), and it blew me away. Some people have said that he didn’t have a great time here or rather his results weren’t great, but he came third in the Giro (d’Italia) and won two stages, so he was pretty good. More importantly he led our team admirably and was a great ambassador for us.

I guess he’s at that age where he wants to try something different and sometimes change is good for you and gives you a different environment to work in.

I don’t know what the team’s plans are or if they want a GC rider, but if we’re fit for the Classics, we can do some damage in them. As a team, we’ve not had much luck this year but last year we had a lot.

Fingers crossed that next year we’ll have better luck, I’ll have better results and I’ll be writing about my challenge for the Worlds.

By: CyclingNews Photo: S.Smith

Sunday’s 115km ride with moderate climbing on some of the rougher roads around the Bassano area were a good test of the futuristic Body Paint bibshort.

The minimalist short absolutely disappears underneath you, and you really don’t feel it on. The fabric is great in both mild and warm weather, and the bibs don’t rub against your chest  like most other bibs.

The new multi-density Progetto X2 seatpad also features 3 gel inserts – two under the ischial sit bones and one in the perineum area. They’re called a ‘viscous comfort zone’ and are so thin, I could not tell they were even there, which says a lot about how well they integrate with the pad.

As this was the first real spring heatwave, I also put on the Aero Race Jersey — the fastest jersey in the ProTour. Only the colors were different from the Cervélo TestTeam version. In wind tunnel testing, the Aero Race Jersey saved about 40 seconds every hour compared to a standard jersey. So either you can ride faster or with less effort. – its your call! For me, it was not about saving watts, but at least I looked good.

Aero technology saves 10 watts at 40km/h compared to a normal race-fit jersey. Open mesh back for breathability with no stretch, so you easily can load your rear pockets without having the jersey bouncing.

Aero insert around the arm and shoulder.

A pad has to do two things: caress your skin, and cushion your bum. So we created two completely distinct components, each one that does a job without any compromises.

Visit product page: Body Paint Bibshort -  Aero Race Jersey

When it comes to iconic cycling locations in the US, not many can compare to the awe-inspiring spectacle of the California coast.

We retraced sections of the Tour of California from years past, up aching climbs and down whipping descents.

With their distinctive Castelli Servizio Corse custom kits, the team looked every bit an offshoot of the pro peloton as we followed the sweep of Highway 1 along the coast.

STAY DRY AND LIGHT WITH UNO:UNO PLASMA BASE LAYER.
If you’re looking for state of the art technology in your base layer then Uno:Uno Plasma is the one. With a lightweight fabric that dries almost instantly from rain and sweat.

Nano-technology comes to base layers, in this case through a plasma treatment and a double layer material which wicks moisture away immediately into the fibers and away from the skin. It is lighter (120 g / size L) and more breathable than most mid-warm base layers. And being so thin and silky, heavier layers slip over it, making it just as suitable for when the temperature drops.

The cut is good for spring use, longer on the back to protect from road spray, with a soft touch allied with a tighter elastic, but unrestrictive fit. Its all stitched up with minimal flatlock seams for maximum comfort.

It also looks good enough to be worn on its own for off-season cross training, or when paired with a gilet or other Castelli windproof garments. Temperature range: 8-16˚C.

Visit product page, click here >>

It’s fully wind proof with outstanding breathability, and surprisingly water resistant if you get caught out in a shower, but in the absolute minimal package and with a close-to-body fit so the jacket won’t flap in the wind and slow you down.

Leggero Jacket hits the scales at just 91 grams, and the vest only 62 grams (size large). The cycling-specific cut is slim so there’s little flapping, and the generous length at the rear keeps your lower back covered.

The sleeves are plenty long enough to cover your wrists, and the cuffs are elasticized for effective sealing. Back vents and small perforations on the sides help increase breathability. If you do start to get hot, just whip the jacket off; it will compress to the size of an apple in its stuff sack and fit easily into any jersey pocket.

Sometimes with a light rain you can overheat with at full jacket.
This piece will keep your core body warm, but let you ride at full intensity. It’s semi-transparent so your jersey is still visible underneath.

For those training rides in the mountains, or for when you get caught in a downpour, try the jacket over the vest. They’re so small that it’s easy to take both on a training ride, and the double layer keeps you even drier and warmer.

Visit product page, click here >>

Cervèlo TestTeam shines with a special kit for the 97th edition of the Tour de France.

Prologue Ignatas KONOVALOVAS (Ltu) / Rotterdam - Rotterdam (8,9 Km)

Stage 4 Daniel LLOYD (Gbr) / Cambrai - Reims (153,5 Km)

Stage 3 Thor HUSHOVD (Nor) / Wanze - Arenberg Porte Du Hainaut (203 Km)

Stage 3 Daniel LLOYD (Gbr) / Wanze - Arenberg Porte Du Hainaut (203 Km)

Stage 11 Carlos SASTRE (Esp) / Sisteron - Bourg-Les-Valence (184,5 Km)

Jérémy HUNT (Gbr)

Stage 7 Thor HUSHOVD (Nor) / Tournus - Station Des Rousses (165,5 Km)

Stage 14 Volodymir GUSTOV (Ukr) / Carlos  SASTRE (Esp) / Revel - Ax 3 Domaines (184,5 Km)

Stage 10 Andreas KLIER (Ger) / Chambery - Gap (179 Km)

Stage 9 Thor HUSHOVD (Nor) / Morzine - Avoriaz - Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne (204,5 Km)

Stage 5 Brett LANCASTER (Aus) / Epernay - Montargis (187,5 Km)

Stage 2 Andreas KLIER (Ger) / Brussels - Spa (201 Km)

Training Cervelo TestTeam / Tour de France stage 3

Thor HUSHOVD (Nor)

Photo: TDWsport.com  -  www.chrismilliman.com

]]> http://blog.castelli-cycling.com/2010/07/20/into-the-final-week-sastre-hushovd/feed/ http://blog.castelli-cycling.com/2010/07/16/hushovd-back-in-green/ http://blog.castelli-cycling.com/2010/07/16/hushovd-back-in-green/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:33:48 +0000 Castelli http://blog.castelli-cycling.com/?p=2978 The day’s action began when a group of 18 riders broke away on the second climb of the day. Thor Hushovd’s presence was merely to collect as many points as possible, which puts him in the lead position with 6 points ahead of Alessandro Petacchi with 161 points.

Joaquin Rodriguez (Team Katusha) won a thrilling stage 12 of the Tour de France, in Mende. The Spaniard out sprinted Alberto Contador (Astana) in a two-man sprint, while Andy Schleck lost valuable seconds to Contador, finishing in fifth, 10 seconds down on his main rival.

General Classification:
1. Andy Schleck, Team Saxo Bank in 58:42:01
2. Alberto Contador, Astana, at :31
3. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi at 02:45
4. Denis Menchov, Rabobank at 02:58
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Omega Pharma – Lotto , at at 03:31

Points standings:
1. Thor Hushovd, Cervelo TestTeam , 167 points
2. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Farnese , 161 points
3. Robbie McEwen, Katusha Team , 138 points
4. Mark Cavendish, Team HTC- Columbia ,132 points
5. Joaquin Rojas Jose, Caisse d’Epargne , 122 points

Click here to view the embedded video.

THE BATTLE FOR THE GREEN JERSEY IS ON!

Hushovd, a two-time winner of the green jersey, took the lead in this year’s competition when he battled to a superb win over the cobbles during third stage.

Click here to view the embedded video.

With the climbers attacking on Col de Madeleine yesterday, Cervélo’s Thor Hushovd worked into a group of riders to finish safely within the time limit in 159th place.

“It was another hard stage. It was very hot again. I was able to take the points in the first intermediate sprint,” Hushovd said. “I am looking forward to some easier stages after the Alps. The mountain stages are very hard. Maybe there will be a sprint before the Pyrénées, so I hope to be there.”

A tasteful green machine for points leader Hushovd

Pre-Race: July 14 – Stage 10: Chambéry-Gap 179 km
July 14th is France’s National Day so look for a French rider to go for the win. The undulating stage features three rated climbs as it pushes south along the foothills of the Alps and ends after a fast descent into Gap. The first ascent of the day, the steep Côte de Laffrey that leaves Vizille after 77km, will see some attacks. Then the Col du Noyer, a Cat.2, 7.4km ascent of 5.3%, that has the same tricky descent where Joseba Beloki crashed in 2003.

Thor Hushovd (NOR):
On final sprint: “It’s a pity to not be up there. It just didn’t work out today. I would like to be in top 5 or 8 going into the last kilometer, when I crossed the finish line, I didn’t even feel like I was sprinting. These things are sometimes confusing. I was too far off the back. The last kilometer was very technical and I lost the wheel of Lancaster.”

On battle for green jersey: “It’s getting close now. I would have liked to have scored a few more points in the final sprint, but that’s the way it is. I will have a big fight all the way to Paris, but against whom, I am not sure. You have to be consistent and pick up points every day.”

Carlos Sastre (ESP): “I’m not bad. I cannot say yet if I am good, but at least I am not bad. I am not feeling any pain in my back, which is very important. I have some bruises on my ribs from my crash on the cobblestones, but I have no difficulty breathing. We’ll just see how it goes in the Alps. I haven’t planned anything special. I wasn’t able to train like I wanted to before this Tour, so I am just taking it day-by-day. We can reassess things after the Alps.”

Sport director Jean-Paul van Poppel (NED):
“The first week of the Tour has been very successful for us. We’ve done the maximum we could considering the amount of crashes and problems in the race, not just with our team, but throughout the bunch. That maybe cost us a few good results, but we won a stage. The victory with Thor on the cobblestones is one of the most historical stages. We have the green jersey, but the fight is just beginning. There are a lot of riders who look motivated for the green jersey. Carlos is looking strong. It’s important that he doesn’t lose time to the favorites this weekend in the Alps. We’re still focused on doing a good GC with Carlos.”