Team News

Photographer Will shoots The Shack on Stage 1 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

From the back of the motorcycle, Will gets into the heart of the peloton and catches all the racing action of the stage. 

Vuelta a España
Stage 5:  Sierra Nevada to Valdepeñas de Jaén, 200km/124mi
By Cathy Mehl

It was a perfect finish for Spanish climber Joaquin Rodriquez (Katusha) who managed to hold four seconds to Wout Poels (Vacansoleil) and his teammate Daniel Moreno, with another group at seven seconds that included Team RadioShack’s Haimar Zubeldia.   It was the second of two climbing days in the first week of the Vuelta.

After 40k of racing a large break of 18 riders managed to get away, and included in the mix were team riders Tiago Machado and Markel Irizar.   Efforts broke down over the stage before the final climb to Valdepeñas de Jaén and Katusha went to work for Rodriquez.

  
By Chris Brewer
 
There was no question at all that Stage 1 was going to be a classic escape and capture and then the big boys mixing it up on the final climb to the line, thanks to good weather, wide roads, and a relatively short course at 160km / 100mi. (Point of reference: most pros think a race needs to be at least 200km / 124mi to break all but the strongest, terrain and weather not withstanding – and tomorrow is 215km / 133mi.)  And that’s just how it played out with Levi taking the stage win and the race lead in the process.  But what were the keys for Team RadioShack?  Two words: patience and performance.
 
Patience first. You didn’t see a Shack jersey on the front of the race literally until the last couple of kilometers, nor should you have.  With HTC-Highroad in yellow and Garmin just one second back, the responsibility for race control fell squarely on their shoulders and they did their jobs.  But you could always see Levi and a couple of teammates at the front in around 10th position, safe and sheltered in the draft.  And then even more patience paid off in not panicking when Andy Schleck attacked first with about 4km to the finish.  His pace and the distance left allowed them to efficiently reel him back in before the final fireworks occurred.
 

USA Pro Cycling Challenge
Salida to Mt. Crested Butte, 159.8km/99.3mi
Team RadioShack’s Levi Leipheimer claimed the victory in the first stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge (22-28 August). Leipheimer rode away from the opposition to take the 2.5 mi (4 K) uphill stage win on Mt. Crested Butte (CO).  The Tour of Utah winner bested Colombian Sergio Henao with 4 seconds. Frank Schleck was third, seven seconds behind. Prologue winner Patrick Gretsch lost one minute. Leipheimer takes the yellow jersey and leads now with 11 seconds to Chrstian Vande Velde.

The Finishing Touches - Sunday, August 21, 2011

Team presentations have always been a bit of a drag but last night’s presentation was off the chain. We were up nearly last so the audience had the whole evening to go to town on the open bar. They were in high “spirits” by the time Team RadioShack hit the stage.  It was a dress-up VIP dinner consisting mostly of cycling supports and race sponsors, snapping team photos and getting amongst it.

Tour du Poitou Charentes
Stage 1: Sugeres  to Cognac, 184.2km/114mi
Team RadioShack have teams racing in three countries these days, including France with the start of today’s four-day five-stage Tour du Poitou Charentes.  Team rider Fumy Beppu made the break today with nine other riders after 20km of racing and maintained their gap until less than 10km to go.  A sprint finish gave Davide Appollonio (Sky) the win, with Sébastien Chavanel (Team Europcar) and Arnaud Demare (FDJ) rounding out the podium.
Team RadioShack welcomes stagiaire Evgeni Shalunov who is a 19-year old Russian rider with much success on the track.

Vuelta a España
Stage 4:  Baza to Sierra Nevada, 172km/107mi
By Cathy Mehl
For a second day in a row, a rider from Team RadioShack put himself in the right move to make the break of the day.  After only 10k of racing, US Pro Matthew Busche found himself with the group that managed to get away and stay away until less than 10k to go.  Busche and his six breakaway companions built a solid advantage and worked well together but GC contenders went to the front and brought them back, allowing a win to come from Katusha’s Daniel Moreno.  Sylvain Chavanel (Quick-Step) took over the race lead, followed by Moreno and Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) to round out the top three.  The Shack lead in the overall Teams classification and riders Jani Brajkovic and Haimar Zubeldia continue to ride well in the first week of the Vuelta.

The backdrop has been coined the "Garden of the Gods," and fittingly cycling's most elite rolled out of the gates for the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Most of the Team RadioShack squad have been local to Colorado for the past week, some transplanting to Boulder after supporting Levi Leipheimer in his Tour of Utah victory.

By Chris Brewer
 
The inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge kicked off in beautiful Colorado Springs with a fast 8.3km / 5.2mi, leaving from the spectacular Garden of the Gods area.  But what did we learn from the 130 riders who all finished within just 2’04” of each other?  Who’s ready and who isn’t, for one thing…
 
There were definitely some surprises, starting with the winner, Patrick Gretsch.  Now he’s got some skills in this area, but to beat out the likes of Christian Vande Velde, Cadel Evans, and Team RadioShack’s own Levi Leipheimer was quite an accomplishment.  The young German averaged 59.1kmh / 36.7mph to just edge out VDV and Brent Bookwalter for the top podium spot, so kudos to him.  Solid performances were also logged by Cadel, Levi, Tejay Van Garderen, George Hincapie and the always popular Jens Voigt.

Enjoy photographer Will Swetnam's images from Colorado's opening stage