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Cycling: Sky boss says Froome is their Tour leader

Agence France-PresseMay 6, 2013 09:30

Chris Froome is set to lead Team Sky's bid to win this year's Tour de France, principal Dave Brailsford said Monday. Ever since Froome played a key role last year in helping team-mate Bradley Wiggins become the first Briton to win cycling's most prestigious road race there has been intense speculation as to which one of the riders would be in the 'number one' position for the 2013 edition.

Cycling: Cheng to make Giro history for China

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 21:30

Argos-Shimano rider Ji Cheng is set to make Giro d'Italia history on Saturday when he saddles up as the first Chinese to take part in the epic race. Ji made his Grand Tour debut at the Tour of Spain last year and his participation at the Giro has attracted no less than eight journalists from his homeland who will be covering his every move. Although having modest personal ambitions, Ji is hoping his endeavours as part of Argos's nine-man team help garner a win for their top sprinter, John Degenkolb.

Cycling: Cav eyes pink jersey as team face Giro test

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 08:45

British sprint king Mark Cavendish could pull on the Giro d'Italia race leader's pink jersey on Saturday as his Omega-Pharma team's sprint-train credentials face their first big Grand Tour test of the season. Cavendish, arguably cycling's most successful sprinter, has since 2008 won a total of 10 stages on the three-week Italian race which opens with a fairly flat 130 km stage around Naples. It is the first time in 10 years the race opens with a road stage.

Cycling: Cav eyes pink jersey as team face Giro test

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 08:45

Cycling: Cavendish leads Omega Pharma Giro bid

Agence France-PresseApril 30, 2013 21:45

Isle of Man sprinter Mark Cavendish is the leading name in the Omega Pharma Quick-Step team for this year's Giro d'Italia, which starts in Naples on Saturday. Cavendish, 27, will not however be able to count on the support of the Italian sprint veteran Alessandro Petacchi, who had been linked with a move to the team by local media. Petacchi had said after leaving the Lampre team last week that he needed a break from the sport but later admitted that he could be tempted by the prospect of teaming up with another leading sprinter, such as Cavendish.

Cycling: Astana's Nibali eyes Giro success

Agence France-PresseApril 30, 2013 05:02

Cycling's Astana team believe they can win the forthcoming Tour of Italy, which starts in Naples on Saturday with their in-form team leader Vincenzo Nibali. The Sicilian-born rider, already a winner of one of the other main tours, Spain's Vuelta, was tipped for success in the Giro d'Italia on Tuesday by the Kazakh cycling federation-backed outfit's manager Alexander Vinokourov. "He's already won the Tour of Spain and he has taken third place in the Tour de France," pointed out Vinokourov, who retired from race riding after his Olympic road race title in London last year.

Cycling: Basso to lead Cannondale at Giro

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 12:30

Twice former winner Ivan Basso will lead Cannondale at the Tour of Italy, which begins in Naples on Saturday. The Italian team will be putting their efforts behind Slovak Peter Sagan at July's Tour de France, leaving the 35-year-old Basso to have a crack at a home treble. Winner at the Giro in 2006 and 2010, Basso has had few impressive results this season, but his team isn't worried. "Basso's results and preparation are to be expected. He's lining up the Giro," said the Italian team's sports director Stefano Zanatta.

Cycling: Wiggins eyes Nibali threat in Giro

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 11:16

Bradley Wiggins on Monday said that home favourite Vincenzo Nibali will be his main threat at the Giro d'Italia but hoped that his improved climbing skills will aid his chances of becoming the first Briton to win the race. Wiggins claims the Giro, which begins in Naples on Saturday, is his main priority for 2013, after winning the Tour de France and an Olympic gold medal last year. And he viewed Astana rider Nibali, who is not racing in the Tour de France in June, as a real danger to his prospects.

Cycling: Wiggins expects last-minute decision on Tour

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 10:30

Bradley Wiggins on Monday claimed Team Sky could wait until the Tour de France is underway before deciding their team leader for the race. Wiggins, 33, won the Tour, as well as a gold medal in the Olympic time trial, last year and starts his attempt to become the first Briton to win the Giro D'Italia in Naples on Saturday. In November, team principal Dave Brailsford confirmed that Chris Froome, who completed a victory in the Tour de Romandy at the weekend, would be the team's principal rider for the Tour de France.

Cycling: Froome boosts Tour de France bid with Romandie win

Agence France-PresseApril 28, 2013 11:46

British rider Chris Froome won the Tour of Romandie on Sunday for his third big win of the season. The 27-year-old Team Sky cyclist - the Olympic time-trial bronze medalist and second in last year's Tour de France - had 54 seconds to spare over second-placed Slovenian Simon Spilak while Portugal's Rui Costa filled third spot just as he did last year. Germany's time-trial specialist Tony Martin displayed his expertise in the discipline by winning Sunday's final stage in Geneva.