NewsWire: Museeuw on new Flanders route, Pozzato: ‘I’m in shape just in time’
Pozzato finds his form just in time; Yorkshire submits bid to host Tour de France start; Cav may miss Scheldeprijs for childbirth; Museeuw talks new Flanders finale
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
In our daily NewsWire, we bring you a collection of intriguing stories from newspapers, journals and elsewhere around the world of competitive cycling. Pour your coffee, mute your phone and read on.
Museeuw: the new Flanders route is ‘much harder’ — La Dernière Heure
Classics legend Johan Museeuw talked La Dernière Heure through the finale of the Tour of Flanders.
“In racing, the chain of the Old Kwaremont and the Paterberg is vital,” Museeuw mused. “From the foot of this first climb to the top of the second, there is not a single moment of respite: the stress is maximum.
“The peloton swallows the narrow paths at over 60kph,” said the former world champion. “A regular cyclist would lose more than a minute on these three kilometers in front of a pro. The golden rule, which prevails elsewhere throughout the Ronde, is not to touch the brake levers. If you decelerate, you automatically lose ten to twenty places in the line of riders.”
Full Story >>
English version>>
Pozzato will follow moves and attack on the Oude Kwaremont — Sporza
Filippo Pozzato believes he has found his form just in time, and plans to go with any big moves in the finale of this Sunday’s Tour of Flanders. He has shown form throughout the early spring races, with sixth at Dwars door Vlaanderen and ninth at Ghent-Wevelgem.
“If Cancellara or Gilbert goes, I will also try to counter-attack,” said the Italian of Farnese Vini-Selle Italia. “If Boonen attacks on the final slope of the Paterberg, I’m going after him. But, better still, I take own first opportunity on the slope just before: the Oude Kwaremont.”
Full Story >>
English version>>
Yorkshire submits bid to host Tour de France start — BBC
Tourism bosses in Yorkshire, England, have confirmed they have made a formal bid to host the opening stages of the 2016 Tour de France.
The first two days of racing, the Grand Départ, are held in a new location outside France every two years. Yorkshire is competing against Barcelona, Venice, Berlin and Scotland.
Welcome to Yorkshire is leading the bid and said the route would take in Leeds, Scarborough, York, Hull, Sheffield and the Yorkshire Dales.
Cavendish may miss Scheldeprijs — Sporza
Mark Cavendish may miss next Wednesday’s Scheldeprijs, a race he was won three times including last year, next week due to the imminent birth of his child.
“Hopefully he’s already become a father,” the race organizer Peter de Smet said to Sporza. “His team has put him provisionally on the reserve.”
“His girlfriend (Peta Todd) is due the day after the Scheldeprijs. Hopefully the child will come quickly to the world. Her father is also a swift,” laughed De Smet.
