Nearly 20 years ago some 350 mountain bikers congregated to race cross-country and dual slalom at the Laguna Seca Challenge. The events of that 1991 weekend eventually grew into the Sea Otter Classic, which this year will host multiple thousands of racers competing in the widest range of disciplines of any event in North America.
Just outside Monterey, California, Sea Otter kicked off Thursday with criteriums on the Laguna Seca racetrack, plus dual slalom and downhill practice and qualifying runs. On tap over the four-day weekend are pro and amateur road races, circuit races, cross-country, short track, downhill, dual slalom, super D and more.
Sea Otter organizers claim last year’s event drew 9,500 race entries and some 50,000 spectators over the four-day weekend. Similar numbers are expected this year… Details
107th Paris – Roubaix – In the Roubaix Velodrome
The day in the life of a spectator winds up in Roubaix. An eventful race and popular winner produce a day full of positive memories. Here is Paris-Roubaix through the eyes of one of the many who witnessed the race first hand today…
Onward to our third and final stop of this wonderful week of racing, Paris-Roubaix. The Hell of the North, as it is endearingly known to some, is one of the most feared races in world cycling. Many have started but not finished it. It has reduced grown men to tears. It was even described as the hardest and most unpleasant race of all by Bernard Hinault, one of the hardest men in the history of cycling who could only bring himself to start (and subsequently win) this classic once in his distinguished career… Details & Pictures
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No team will be able to control the Tour de France during all three weeks because the route is too difficult, race director Christian Prudhomme said on Friday.
Astana’s Alberto Contador, a Tour winner in 2007, will be the overwhelming favourite when the race starts with a 15-km time trial in Monaco, on July 4.
But despite possible support from team mates Lance Armstrong, a seven-times Tour champion, Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden, keeping the yellow jersey all the way to Paris should prove too tricky.
“I don’t believe one team will be able to control the whole race,†Prudhomme told reporters at the Monte Carlo tennis Masters.
“A team could seize power early in the race but given the route, they should not be able to keep it all the way,†he said … Details