le grimpeur

The limits of performance5
Guy WR posted in Doping on August 20th, 2009

Cycling fans, and fans of climbing in particular, were able to enjoy an epic Tour de France this year. While the race may have whimpered through the Pyrenees for the overall contenders, there was plenty of action in the Alps before the final torture test of Mont Ventoux.

The transformation of Bradley Wiggins from track star to a grimpeur of the highest order was one story. The other stories, perhaps to be told here later, are of the breakaway victories on major climbs, most notably on Mont Ventoux itself. The major story, though, was the incredible climbing performance of Alberto Contador.

While the Tour overall certainly raised the bar from last year – and more on this below – it was the ride by Contador on the relatively short climb to Verbier that sent commentators and pundits into a frenzy of analysis and, ultimately, finger pointing with the thinly-veiled accusation that Contador was doping. (more…)

Défaillance, part 12
Guy WR posted in Classic Stages, Climbing Skills on August 9th, 2009

The diocese of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne honours Saint Aprus, who founded a refuge for pilgrims and the poor in the seventh century. Greg LeMond found little refuge in the town of the same name during stage 14 of the Tour de France in 1992 but could certainly feel our pity.

The town is at the foot of the road that climbs westward up the Col de la Croix de Fer on the main local highway that leads to the local alpine ski resorts and over the border into Italy. On this day during the Tour, LeMond had already made it over the lonely road that climbs the Col du Galibier but abandoned before the tough ascent of the Croix de Fer.

LeMond had failed to ignite the race. But it had already been a thrilling affair. Continuing to lead the so-called Italian renaissance in cycling, Claudio Chiappucci had completed an epic escape the day before, leading for 250 kilometres – almost the entire stage – and winning at Sestriere, over the border in Italy. “One of the finest escapes I’ve ever seen in any of twenty Tours,” said commentator Phil Liggett. LeMond was 130th on the stage, nearly 50 minutes adrift.

And on stage 14, LeMond’s American compatriot, the leader of the Motorola team, Andy Hampsten, was setting himself up for a massive win on Alpe d’Huez, holding off the big names chasing his breakaway and cementing what would be an impressive 4th place overall in Paris.

It would be triumph for one American and disappointment for another. Already lagging behind as he rode with a teammate into Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, LeMond looked tired. Almost emotionless, he pulled over to the side of the road, hopped his bike up onto the curb, and abandoned the Tour. Just two years prior, LeMond had won his third Tour; now, he was stepping off his bike – defeated. (more…)