| RIDER BY RIDER: Jonathan Vaughters on our Tour de France roster selection |
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SEBASTIAN LANGEVELD
"Sebas is the road captain. Highly intelligent and always aware of the race situation, wind direction, roads coming up, and clairvoyant as to what will come. Crucial part of the team for the first part of the race." |
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MATTI BRESCHEL
"Along with Langeveld, Matti Breschel forms the brain of the team. A handy sprinter on his own right, Matti also knows how to handle the intense and dangerous first week of the TDF." |
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LAWSON CRADDOCK
"Pierre needs a sidekick in the mountains and we all know Texans love Frenchmen. Lawson proved he's up for that role in the Vuelta last year. He's also as durable as the Texas sun is hot. I have no doubt we'll be hearing a few hoots of "remember the Alamo!!" as Lawson makes Sam Houston proud from his grave." |
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KRISTIJAN KOREN
"Koko can do a bit of everything. He can climb quite well when needed, he knows how to keep a leader up front and in good position on the flat, and is an all-around very nice guy. Koko knows his work and gets on with getting it done. He speaks with his legs, not his tongue." |
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ALEX HOWES
“Loyalty and dedication. There has never been a bike rider willing to do
more for his team and his team leader than Alex Howes. Loyalty deserves loyalty in return.” |
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TOM-JELTE SLAGTER
"While Tom- Jelte isn't a pure climber, he handles smaller pitches with the best. Winning TDU and two stages of Paris-Nice proves this. Tom will be crucial for middle mountain days and for shepherding Pierre early on in bigger mountain days." |
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RAMUNAS NAVARDAUSKAS
"Ramunas has won stages in both the Tour and the Giro. He has a knack for finding the right breakaway at the right time. A bronze medalist at last years world championships, Navardauskas is not only a selfless worker, but an outright champion on his own two feet." |
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DYLAN VAN BAARLE
"Dylan can serve as a body guard and wind shield for Pierre in week one. But Dylan is more than that. Come week three, he'll start to climb with the leaders, like last year. When others get tired, Dylan starts to roll. Also, he's got a neat little sprint and a good tactical nose. Pair that with tired bodies in week three, and the boy can win from a breakaway." |
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PIERRE ROLLAND
"I truly believe Pierre has untapped potential as a grand-tour rider. He's never been able to start a Tour de France without a sizable deficit after the first week. If we, as a team, can give him a good first week, I have no doubt he will repay in treble during the tour’s final week." |
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| 2016 Tour de France in numbers |
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1. 103rd edition - first organized in 1903 to increase sales for magazine L'Auto
2. 198 riders, 22 teams of 9 riders, 35 countries represented
3. 21 stages, 3535 kilometers covered
4. 9 mountain stages, 9 flat stages, 2 time trials, 1 medium mountain stage, 4 summit finishes, 2 rest days
5. 237.5 kilometers - length of longest stage (4); 113 kilometers - length of shortest stage (21)
6. 2408 meters - highest point of the Tour (Port d'Envalira)
7. 4 countries visited - France, Spain, Andorra and Switzerland
8. 10-12 million estimated spectators on the roadside
9. 40,000 hotel nights reserved for race staff and teams
10. €500,000 awarded to Tour de France winner
11. Cannondale Drapac represents 6 countries: France, United States, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Slovenia and Denmark
12. Previous TDF starts: Rolland - 8, Koren - 7, Langeveld - 5, Navardauskas - 5, Breschel - 2, Howes - 2, Slagter - 2, Van Baarle - 1, Craddock - debutante
13. Rider ages: Breschel - 31, Craddock - 24, Howes -28, Koren -29, Langeveld - 31, Navardauskas - 28, Rolland - 29, Slagter - 26, Van Baarle - 24
14. Previous TDF stage wins: Navardauskas 2014 (stage 19), Rolland 2012 (stage 11) and 2011 (stage 19)
15. Number of Cannondale-Drapac staff at the Tour: 29 |
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| Vaughters makes ‘Moneyball’ bet on French underdog Rolland |
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How do you take on the big-money teams like Sky and Astana when your budget is less than half of theirs? Play cycling’s version of “Moneyball.”
That’s what Cannondale – Drapac manager Jonathan Vaughters is doing with his unconventional bet on French climber Pierre Rolland in this year’s Tour de France. Twice in the top-10, Rolland could be this year’s Tour surprise, or at least Vaughters is betting on it.
Read the full VeloNews story here.
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| Lawson Craddock: A TDF debut, and staying sane before the race |
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The start of the Tour de France is only one day away now. We caught up with our Lawson Craddock, making his debut, for a few questions on his first TDF, his ambitions and what he’s doing to keep his emotions in check before it all begins.
Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team: You’re lining up for your first Tour. Can you actually believe it?
Lawson Craddock: This race is iconic for a reason, and I’ve been dreaming of it ever since I got on two wheels. I’ve worked really hard over my career to perform to the standards that I know I’m capable of, and to see that work paying off to earn a spot in the biggest race in the world is truly a dream come true. But the easy part was making the team. Now I’ve got to prepare myself to race at a level that I’ve never raced at before, and most importantly put the team in a chance to succeed.
Read the full Q&A with 2016 Tour de France rider Lawson Craddock here.
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Vive le Tour! Summer is here and that can mean only one thing: the Tour de France. Celebrating its 103rd year, the 2016 Tour has a little bit of everything. This summer, get the food the riders of the Tour de France eat. Team partner, The Feed has collaborated with some of the best nutrition brands in cycling to put together the Tour de France Feed Box. This diverse selection of bars, healthy whole food snacks, gels, chews and waffles are designed by experts and tested by athletes. Get this box to fuel your longest summer rides!
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| The Feed is offering a FREE Camelbak podium bottle with any purchase. Start shopping today with the Tour de France Feed Box and get the food the pros eat. |
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POC-ish
Quintessentially Scandinavian, suitably Swedish: Stockholm's radical thinkers using their own design language
POC is celebrating its tenth anniversary. It began in snow sports, before expanding into cycling, and offers helmets, clothing eyewear and armour in both sectors. Its sub-divisions include the POC Aid digital silo sub-label and POC Lab, an informal panel of esteemed medical practitioners that includes Claes Hultling of the Karolinska Institute.
Read the full story on Rouleur.cc here. |
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We are going to help POC celebrate, beginning at the Tour de France! We'll wear the POC10 Anniversary edition helmet and sunglasses in the new flourescent yellow color starting with the Grand Départ tomorrow and throughout the remainder of the season. The limited edition helmet and sunglasses are available to buy at select retailers.
In honor of POC's 10 year anniversary, we will be hosting a contest on social media later on during the Tour to give one lucky follower a helmet and sunglasses. Be sure to follow @Ride_Argyle on Twitter to learn how you can participate for a chance to win. |
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Power play: What cyclists teach us about energy efficiency
A road bike race is about just one thing: energy. Pro and elite amateur riders obsess about their personal power data extracted from sensors on bikes, but total energy—power multiplied by time—is what really counts. The team that reaches the finish line in first place is the one that figures out how best to create, conserve, and expend that energy.
“It’s good to have a Cannondale because it’s one of the lightest bikes in the bunch,” said Wouter Wippert at the end of Stage 3. “[Weight] makes a difference uphill,” Wippert said. “It makes a difference in your legs, but also in your head."
Read the full story by Tom Taylor of Sports Illustrated here. |
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Phil's Fondo
Registration is open for Phil Gaimon's Gran Fondo, Nov. 6 in warm and scenic Malibu, California. Offering distances from 34-117 miles, there's something for everyone, but courses will be hilly and challenging. Of course it will be cookie-themed, with baked goods and classy post-ride food from celebrity chef Jeff Mahin, for a true Los Angeles experience. Phil will offer provide plenty of swag from participating team sponsors, as well as other guest pros for you to meet. Check out www.philsfondo.com for registration and more info. |
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CONNECT WITH THE CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING TEAM
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