Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Jul 16, 2011, 3:45 pm
Another amazing week at the Tour de France, as the week one crash carnage gave way to dramatic racing as the Tour hit the first huge mountain stages in the Pyrenees. In the end, it was the Frenchman Thomas Voeckler who made out the best, as he emerged as the overall leader of the race by 1:49 over h...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Jul 11, 2011, 9:00 am
It was one hell of a first week at the Tour de France. Thoughts from week one of three . . . Thor Hushovd showed his class with a gritty defense of the yellow jersey right up until the day before the first rest day. It's a bit of a pity he wasn't able to carry the jersey into the second week, but it...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Jul 9, 2011, 10:31 am
Try though I might, I can't seem to pull myself away from the sport of pro cycling. The continued scandals boil my blood, but the pure, raw beauty of the sport continues to compel me. There are still good stories in the sport of cycling, and for that I continue to watch. What else can I do? Tyler F...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Jun 13, 2011, 3:14 pm
Total lack of desire to write about cycling lately. Too many scandals. Hopefully the motivation returns soon, but unless something changes quickly it is unlikely that more posts will come. Then again you never know. Sorry.
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - May 26, 2011, 3:20 pm
This year's Giro seems to lack a bit in drama as Alberto Contador has ruled the GC battle with an iron fist. No one has come close to the Spaniard thus far in the three week stage race, and "El Pistolero" looks poised to roll through the final week unchallenged as the "Patron" of this year's Giro. T...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - May 23, 2011, 3:43 pm
To those in the know, Chris Horner has long been considered one of the best riders America has ever produced. He has garnered top ten placings in both stage races and one day classics alike, and this past weekend he added the overall Amgen Tour of California title to his palmares. Horner has been ri...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - May 19, 2011, 11:18 pm
From an exchange with Tyler Hamilton dated June 26, 2006: Tyler, I have been an avid fan of cycling for 25 years, since I was five. I have enjoyed watching the sport over all these years, despite the various doping scandals over the last ten years. I remember your selfless work for Lance Armstrong...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - May 11, 2011, 4:11 pm
Another addition of America's premiere stage race is upon as, as the 6th running of the Amgen Tour of California commences in several day's time. As ever, the line up for the event is solid, but with more climbing on the docket many of the world's top sprinters chose not to ride the event this year....
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - May 9, 2011, 3:32 pm
Absolutely crushing news form the Giro d'Italia today as Leopard-Trek's Wouter Weylandt died after crashing on the third stage of the Giro. Weylandt was a well-liked pro who will be greatly missed by the cycling community. His death is another grim reminder of the harsh reality of elite cycling. As ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - May 6, 2011, 4:32 pm
It's hard to believe that Stefano Garzelli is still riding as an elite professional. The Italian battle ax has seen his share of wars on two wheels, yet he comes back year after year and seems always to be a player in his home tour. This year, as ever, he'll lead his team at the Giro, where he'll no...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - May 5, 2011, 4:01 pm
With the Giro just a few days away, there are five riders who must put in good showings at the year's first grand tour. Each of the following riders have specific reasons for why they must perform well, as some are hoping to remain in leadership roles while others are simply looking to be able to ex...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - May 2, 2011, 12:21 pm
The Giro d'Italia opens the summer pro cycling season, and as usual it is positioning as the most exciting of the three grand tours. There are a host of GC contenders taking to the start line this weekend, but there are many other riders too who should help make it an exciting and memorable race. Ou...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Apr 20, 2011, 9:48 pm
About one year ago at this time, the entire cycling world was aghast at the capabilities of Fabian Cancellara. Seemingly able to ride away from his competition with ease, Cancellara rampaged through the first part of the cycling season en route to a banner year that included two monuments and a host...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Apr 14, 2011, 4:15 pm
The first part of the spring has centered around the hard men of cycling, those riders who use brute power and strength of character to beat their opponents on some of the toughest races courses the world over. But as we approach the final days of April , it is the climbers who come to the fore, as ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Apr 10, 2011, 8:06 am
The 2011 Paris-Roubaix race will be remembered most as the race where an entire peloton conspired to prevent one rider from winning. On a dry, dusty day a very interesting race unfolded, even if it was the least exciting race of the spring classics season. Post-race thoughts and analysis below . . ....
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Apr 8, 2011, 12:16 am
Such an exciting time of the cycling season is Paris-Roubaix week. All of the major cobbled classics have been run, and so Paris-Roubaix is a culmination of racing ahead of the fast approaching hilly classics like the Amstel Gold Race, La Flech Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Leige. As we all look forwa...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Apr 3, 2011, 10:07 am
The 2011 Tour of Flanders couldn't have been more different than the 2010 version, but it was equally exciting, as a resurgent Nick Nuyens edged an awe-inspiringly strong Fabian Cancellara in a three up sprint. Sylvain Chavanel, after a long two man breakaway with Cancellara, managed to edge Cancell...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Mar 29, 2011, 9:00 am
Face it: Fabian Cancellara deserves to be a heavy, heavy favorite heading into this week's Tour of Flanders. He defended his E3 title with ease this past weekend and his form is seemingly as good as it's ever been. Add to that a strong team surrounding him and all signs point to another display of p...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Mar 26, 2011, 3:37 pm
Big time European racing was on tap this past weekend as three different races offered a complete early season view of the European peloton. The E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, as a final tune up to next week's Tour of Flanders, ran on Saturday while in France day one of two began at the Criterium Internationa...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Mar 23, 2011, 9:06 pm
It has been an excellent start to the 2011 procycling season, with both veterans and new comers alike finding big results early on. From Alberto Contador's controversial return to the exciting running of "La Primavera", it has been one hell of a start to the year. Some impressions thus far on the se...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Mar 19, 2011, 4:13 pm
Matt Goss officially entered the conversation of best sprinters in cycling today at the season's first one day monument of cycling, Milan-San Remo. Goss emerged victorious out a small group of elite one day racers to win San Remo convincingly with a powerful finishing sprint. Using a combination of ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Mar 16, 2011, 3:22 pm
You gotta love Milan-San Remo, the cycling season's first monument. At nearly 300 kilometers long, it is the longest one day race on the pro calendar, and is truly a test of mind and body for each rider that contests the Italian tradition. As usual there are a host of favorites for this year's editi...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Mar 6, 2011, 3:34 pm
In the spring of 2010, Fabian Cancellara went on a rampage, taking wins in some of the most prestigious one day classics. It was the way he did it though that resonated, as the rest of the peloton just looked a gear slower than the Swiss machine. From Tom Boonen to Filippo Pozzato to Thor Hushovd, n...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Mar 4, 2011, 2:49 pm
The Strade Bianchi has got to be considered one of the coolest one day races on the pro cycling circuit not only for the fans, but for the one day stylists who attack it each season. The new Italian classic heads into its 5th year and already some of the world's best have put their names on the top ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Mar 1, 2011, 1:28 pm
Steven Cozza, one of the designated leaders for the NetApp team in the cobbled classics, was notably absent at the start of the Het Niewsblad race on Saturday, as the American was dealing with a tough head cold that kept him out of the race. His team was not invited to the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne race...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Feb 26, 2011, 12:14 pm
Sebastian Langevelde broke clear from the field at the Het Niewsblad (formerly Het Volk)with over 50k left in the race before being joined by defending champion Juan Antonio Flecha with under 10k remaining. As in 2010 Flecha seemed in the driver's seat, against a tired opponent who had been away and...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Feb 25, 2011, 5:04 pm
This is how sad the professional cycling scene has become. When a young rider wins a ton of races in dominant fashion, the first thought that creeps into the mind of a fan is whether that athlete is clean. Young 21 year old Peter Sagan has been absolutely scintillating thus far in the 2011 season, a...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Feb 23, 2011, 3:26 pm
Ask any big cycling fan and they'll tell you the same thing: the true beginning of each cycling season comes at the end of February at Belgium's one day semi-classic Omloop Het Niewsblad. The Niewsblad (formerly known as Het Volk), is the first of the spring cobbled classics and holds bigger prestig...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Feb 20, 2011, 8:41 pm
Bjarne Riis made it look pretty easy last year didn't he? With virtually the same group (less powerful on paper in fact) as the present day Leopard-Trek team, Bjarne Riis had his riders charged and ready to head into the meat of the northern classics season with a handful of wins under their belt. W...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Feb 17, 2011, 3:28 pm
Somewhere in Spain Andre "Gorilla" Greipel is punching a wall. Despite a complete lack of form and results from Mark Cavendish, the HTC monster continues to devour podiums, as the team has notched multiple stage wins in a variety of races across the globe. Cavendish will clearly get his wins later i...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Feb 16, 2011, 3:24 pm
What the hell is happening in professional cycling? Alberto Contador gets cleared by his own federation after they do an about-face on their sanctioning plan. Ridiculous. And a very dangerous precedent. Basically the RFFC is saying that because the levels of Clenbuterol were so low, the test is inva...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Feb 8, 2011, 3:02 pm
It's still very early in the cycling season, but already there are riders who seem ahead of schedule while others seem to be well behind in their season preparations. Some have legitimate excuses, while others simply look as tough they took it a bit too easy during the off season. Some observations ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Feb 2, 2011, 11:00 am
The hits just keep on coming from Floyd Landis. In an exhaustive interview with Paul Kimmage, Landis expounds on his decision to dope to win the 2006 Tour de France and makes other extraordinary claims regarding doping in the International peloton. Just when you thought Landis had nothing left to te...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Feb 1, 2011, 1:00 pm
Although the 2011 cycling season "officially" begins in January, it is not until February that we are treated to the first big European races. Typically run in poor weather, these early season races mark the true start of the pro cycling season as riders try to combine their season preparation with ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Jan 31, 2011, 12:09 pm
As we head into the 2011 season, there are a host of young, hugely talented riders who will be expected not only to ride the biggest races in the world, but also garner results in those races. This may come in the form of individual results or in supporting team leaders, but either way these young r...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Jan 28, 2011, 9:00 am
The cobbled-classics races in Europe are, year in and year out, some of the most exciting races of each season. Battling tough roads, weather and competition, some of the strongest one day specialists in the world do battle for top honors at races like the Omloop Het Niewsblad, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Jan 27, 2011, 11:00 am
Andre Greipel talked a big game heading into the 2011 season. Free from the enormous shadow of Mark Cavendish, Greipel headed to the Santos Tour Down Under last week hoping to become the first rider ever to win the overall three times. By the time the event was complete, not only had Greipel failed ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Jan 26, 2011, 3:39 pm
Alberto Contador today was sanctioned by his national federation to a one year ban for his positive Clenbuterol test from last year's Tour de France. The Spanish stage racing star will most certainly appeal the ban, leading to months of speculation about how his case will finally stand. For the time...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Jan 4, 2011, 12:40 pm
Over the past two years the HTC team has seen many talented riders leave for new opportunities. 2010 saw the team particularly hard hit, as several key domestiques left the squad to ride for rival teams. Adam Hansen, Marcel Sieberg, Maxim Monfort and Gert Dockx are all gone for 2011, leaving Mark Ca...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 30, 2010, 1:18 pm
Jan Ullrich has been retired for several years now, but at only 37 years old he could still hope to make a comeback if the desire was there. Recently the German expressed that he feels better than ever, but steadfastly shot down any notions that he would return to the sport. he allowed that he train...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 29, 2010, 9:26 am
The 2011 cycling season is nearly upon us and with the news season comes enormous pressure for a select group of star riders. These 7 names must garner big results in 2011 or face being relegated to support riders . . . or worse . . . in 2012. 1. Stijn Devolder had some great years with Quick Step,...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 28, 2010, 11:40 am
Despite the fact that they haven't ridden a single race as a team, despite the fact that they haven't even officially announced the name of their team, the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project already is operating under enormous pressure for the 2011 season. Having signed most of the main team leaders fro...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 27, 2010, 2:48 pm
Where has Rock Racing gone? Just a couple of years ago the R&R team seemed poised to join the elite ranks of pro cycling in Europe. They had thoroughly dominated the US domestic scene and were loading up on talent in hopes of cracking the Euro ranks. Today though all that is long gone as team owner...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 24, 2010, 1:02 pm
I never thought I'd see the day. Danilo Di Luca, thrice implicated for doping, has finally come forward and admitted that he has participated in doping throughout his professional career. The fact that he doped is not the story here, but rather that he has finally shown the courage and class to admi...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 21, 2010, 10:40 am
Big news today out of Richmond, Virginia as city officials unveiled their intention to bid to host the world cycling championships in 2015. This is huge news to American cycling fans, as the world championships have not been held in America since 1986. Competition is always fierce for the honor of h...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 20, 2010, 11:43 am
'Tis the season to be greedy! Here are ten wishes for the upcoming cycling season. Fingers crossed . . . 1. Epic rainy and muddy Paris-Roubaix. The "Queen of the Classics" is always a great race, but with mud and rain it becomes legendary. Here's hoping the skies open up and chaos ensues. And that ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 19, 2010, 2:42 pm
Floyd Landis can consider it a safe bet that he has very few friends left in professional cycling. On the fan side though, Landis is turning into a sort of dark hero, a man willing to compromise his own reputation and standing for the sake of his sport. It took the deposed Tour de France champion aw...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 16, 2010, 11:12 am
Eddy Merckx is the greatest cyclist of all time, simple as that. He won classics, stage races, time trials, world championships, everything. He won mountain top finishes, group sprints and breakaway chess matches. He won on long-range solo forays. There wasn't a race Merckx entered that he wasn't a ...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 15, 2010, 11:51 am
Lance Armstrong had a very tough 2010 Tour de France, filled with bad luck, crashes and a huge dose of humility. Even before the race was over the 7-time Tour champ allowed that he would be retiring from the sport at the end of the race. A few months later though the news came out that Armstrong had...
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Briggs H. posted an article on Euro Peloton - Dec 14, 2010, 2:00 pm
Is Stuey O'Grady the most accident prone cyclist in the history of the sport? This, this, this, this, this and this would suggest that he is. And now, enjoying a pre-season get together with his new Luxembourg teammates, O'Grady has once again managed to do major damage to his body, as he broke more...
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