Wiggins makes Team Sky move

Bradley Wiggins on-off move to Team Sky has finally been completed. Wiggins has signed a four year contract with the new team. Wiggins is now expected to be the team's leader in the Tour de France assuming Sky are one of those invited.

The transfer had been problematic as Wiggins already had a contract for 2010 with Garmin-Transitions. Garmin boss Jonathan Vaughters had wanted to keep Wiggins but eventually agreed a deal with Sky allowing the transfer to take place.

Team Sky will be Wiggins' seventh team in his professional career. In the past ten years he has ridden for Linda McCartney, La Française des Jeux, Crédit Agricole, Cofidis, Columbia-High Road and Garmin-Slipstream. In that time he has taken 11 victories of which 8 have been in individual time-trials.

British riders at ProTour & Pro-Continental teams 2010 (updated)

Cervélo Test Team (SWI)
Roger Hammond
Jeremy Hunt
Dan Lloyd

Columbia-HTC (USA)
Mark Cavendish

Footon-Servetto (SPA)
Tom Faiers

Garmin-Transitions (USA)
David Millar

Omega Pharma-Lotto (BEL)
Adam Blythe
Charly Wegelius

Saxo Bank (DEN)
Jonathan Bellis

Team Sky (GBR)
Steve Cummings
Russell Downing
Chris Froome
Peter Kennaugh
Ian Stannard
Ben Swift
Geraint Thomas
Bradley Wiggins

Fleeman to join Raleigh

British climber Dan Fleeman has joined the new Team Raleigh squad for 2010. Fleeman is a last minute addition by Raleigh as they had already announced their line-up last week.

Dan Fleeman rode for Cervélo Test Team last year but his contract was not renewed after a quiet season. His biggest international result came in 2008 with victory in the Tour des Pyrénées while riding for the An Post-Sean Kelly Team.

Ben Swift to get transfer to Sky?

Ben Swift has been named in Team Sky's line-up for the Tour Down Under in January. However, Swift has not yet been signed by Sky as he is still under contract at Katusha. The rider is trying to get his contract terminated on the basis that he was allegedly made to sign their anti-doping contract without being able to read it in English.

The team manager, Dave Brailsford, has said that the inclusion of Swift was the result of planning ahead after receiving information that Ben Swift was to become a free agent.

Sigma Sport apply for Continental status

Sigma Sport-Specialized has announced that it has applied for UCI continental licence for 2010 which acts as evidence of a significantly increased budget for the year ahead. The team has also announced its' riders who will be lead by Simon Richardson, the winner of the FBD Insurance Ras this year.

The other riders will be Stephen Adams, Dan Duguid, Kit Gilham, Tom Last, Gareth Montgomery, Tom Murray, Tom Snape, Matt Stephens, James Williamson and Dutchman Wouter Sybrandy.

Team Raleigh line-up announced

Team Raleigh have announced their line-up for the 2010 season. They intend to register as a UCI Continental team which would allow them to compete in the Tours of Britain and Ireland (if selected).

The most experienced rider on the new team will be Tom Barras. He will be joined by six young British riders - Dale Appleby, Michael Cumings, Richard Handley, Liam Holohan, Daniel Shand and James Stewart. Making up the squad will be Australian Peter Smith and German Julian Rammler, both 22 years old.

Endura Racing announces line-up

Endura Racing has revealed their team for the 2010 season. Rob Hayles joins from Team Halfords and will be combining riding with be the new manager of the team. Coming with Hayles from Halfords is sprinter Ian Wilkinson. Also amongst the new arrivals are two New Zealanders, Jack Bauer and Jason Christie.

The rest of the team will be Ross Creber, Gary Hand, Sandy King, David Lines, James McCallum, James Moss, Evan Oliphant, Robert Partridge, Scott Thwaites and Callum Wilkinson.

Rapha-Condor announces 2010 team

Rapha-Condor has announced its team for the 2010 season. Staying with the UCI Continental team will be Kristian House, Matt Cronshaw, Dean Downing, Ben Greenwood, Chris Newton, Tom Southam, Dan Craven and Darren Lapthorne.

They will be joined by Graham Briggs, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke and two Australians, Zak Dempster and Dean Windsor both previously with Drapac-Porsche Cycling.

Simon Richardson has left to join Sigma Sport, while Liam Holohan and Rhys Lloyd will be joining the new Raleigh squad.

Rapha-Condor will be competing in events such as the Tour of Taiwan, Tour de Vaucluse and the Tour de Normandie in the early part of the year before their first British races.

Dowsett signs for Trek-Livestrong

Alex Dowsett has signed for American continental team, Trek-Livestrong. The 21-year-old had agreed a deal with Rapha-Condor for 2010. However Rapha-Condor manager John Herety allowed Dowsett to tke the opportunity to join the feeder squad to Lance Armstrong's Radioshack team.

Tom Faiers signs for ProTour team

British rider, Tom Faiers, has signed for ProTour team Footon-Servetto (known as Fuji-Servetto in 2009) for the 2010 season. Faiers has been racing as an amateur in Spain for the past three years having been encouraged by the likes of Luis Leon Sanchez that he had the potential to make it as a professional rider.

Team Raleigh to return in 2010

Team Raleigh will make a come-back in 2010 and have registered an application for UCI Continental status. They say they will be targeting the UK Premier Calendar, Tour Series and intend to try and secure an invitation to the Tours of Britain and Ireland.

It will be 30 years after Joop Zoetemelk won the Tour de France for TI Raleigh in 1980, and they return with an ambitious plan. Chris Truett has been appointed as the manager for the new team which aims to race 'at the very highest level' in five years.

No riders have yet been announced for the team.

Wiggins wins Herald Sun Tour overall

Bradley Wiggins has won the Jayco Herald Sun Tour by finishing 11 seconds ahead of team-mate Chris Sutton. The winner of the final stage was Jonathan Cantwell who finished in third place overall, 20 seconds behind.

The victory in the 2.1 classified event is Wiggins first overall win in a stage race during his 8 years as a professional road race rider.

Stage Result
1. Jonathan Cantwell - Fly V Australia
2. Michael Matthews - Jayco-AIS
3. David Tanner - Rock Racing

Overall Result
1. Bradley Wiggins - Garmin-Slipstream
2. Chris Sutton - Garmin-Slipstream +11"
3. Jonathan Cantwell - Fly V Australia +20"

Bradley Wiggins Victories

Wiggins wins Herald Sun Tour time-trial

Bradley Wiggins won stage 5 of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour to take the overall lead of the race. Wiggins completed the 10km time trial 14 seconds quicker than team-mate Svein Tuft.

In the overall Wiggins leads another team-mate, Chris Sutton, by 5 seconds. Sutton has already won three stages of the race in sprint finishes and may be favourite to take the victory with the time bonuses available in Saturday's final stage in Melbourne.

Result
1. Bradley Wiggins - Garmin-Slipstream
2. Svein Tuft - Garmin-Slipstream +14"
3. Bernard Van Ulden - Jelly Belly +32"

Bradley Wiggins Victories

Bellis out of coma - remains in serious condition

Jonny Bellis has been brought out of his coma but remains in a serious condition in hospital in Italy. The Isle of Man rider suffered head injuries in a scooter crash in September.

A statement read, "Jonny Bellis was brought out of his medically induced coma late last week but remains heavily medicated. Whilst his condition is still serious, the hospital staff are slowly bringing him off the ventilator and are keeping a close eye on his progress."

Paris - Bourges

Roger Hammond continued his recent strong form with fourth place in Paris - Bourges. The sprint finish was won by German Andre Greipel ahead of JJ Haedo, Alexandre Usov and Hammond.

Result
1. Andre Greipel - Columbia-HTC
2. JJ Haedo - Saxo Bank
3. Alexandre Usov - Cofidis
4. Roger Hammond - Cervélo Test Team

Circuit Franco-Belge final stage

Roger Hammond finished third in the final stage of the Circuit Franco-Belge from Mons to Tournai. The stage was won by Argentine sprinter JJ Haedo. Meanwhile Tyler Farrar took the overall classification with Hammond again in third place, 14 seconds behind.

Stage Result
1. JJ Haedo - Saxo Bank
2. Yauheni Hutarovich - Française Des Jeux
3. Roger Hammond - Cervélo Test Team

Overall Result
1. Tyler Farrar - Garmin-Slipstream
2. Tom Boonen - Quick Step +8"
3. Roger Hammond - Cervélo Test Team +14"

Hammond second in Circuit Franco-Belge stage 3

The third stage of the Circuit Franco-Belge was won by Tom Boonen who just beat British rider Roger Hammond and American Tyler Farrar in a sprint finish from a nine-man breakaway group. The result moves Hammond into third place overall, 18 seconds behind Farrar and 10 seconds behind Boonen.

Result
1. Tom Boonen - Quick Step
2. Roger Hammond - Cervélo Test Team
3. Tyler Farrar - Garmin-Slipstream

Circuit Franco-Belge

The Circuit Franco-Belge started today with a stage to Mouscron in Belgium. Four British riders are taking part; Roger Hammond, Jeremy Hunt and Dan Lloyd for Cervélo Test Team and Matt Green for Cinelli-Down Under. Hammond finished in eigth place in the sprint which was won by Garmin-Slipstream's Tyler Farrar.

Result
1. Tyler Farrar - Garmin-Slipstream
2. JJ Haedo - Saxo Bank
3. Tom Boonen - Quick Step

Men's Road Race

Cadel Evans has won the World Championship title. Evans attacked his breakaway companions Alexandr Kolobnev and Joaquin Rodriguez on the final climb and powered away to take the win.

The only British riders to finish were Steve Cummings and Roger Hammond in 52nd and 92nd places respectively. Team leader David Millar suffered from a number of mechanical problems and did not have the form to keep with the pace.

Result
1. Cadel Evans - Australia
2. Alexandr Kolobnev - Russia +27"
3. Joaquin Rodriguez - Spain +27"

Women's & Men's U23 Road Races

Tatiana Guderzo of Italy has taken a solo victory in the Women's Road Race at the World Championship. Guderzo attacked a leading group of four on the final lap and, despite the efforts of Marianne Vos and Kristin Armstrong, had enough strength to hold on to a comfortable lead.

British rider Emma Pooley had been at the front for much of the day but could go with the final attacks. Team-mate and reigning champion Nicole Cooke pulled out during race after being involved in a crash and suffering at the back of the field.

In the Men's Under 23 race Peter Kennaugh put in a strong performance although he was unable to match Romain Sicard's attack. Kennaugh finished in a good fourth place 49 seconds behind.

Result
1. Tatiana Guderzo - Italy
2. Marianne Vos - Netherlands +19"
3. Noemi Cantele - Italy +19"

Result
1. Romain Sicard - France
2. Carlos Alberto Betancourt - Columbia +27"
3. Egor Silin - Russia +27"
4. Peter Kennaugh - Great Britain +49"

Men's world championship time trial

Fabian Cancellara comfortably won the world championship time trial at home in Switzerland today. As expected Cancellara dominated the fiela and won by a margin of 1 minute and 27 seconds from Gustav Erik Larsson with Tony Martin in third.

Bradley Wiggins was in contention for the bronze medal when his chain came off on the final lap. Wiggins threw his bike away in disgust when he saw that the team car was not right behind him with the replacement. Wiggins eventually finished in 21st position just behind team-mate Chris Froome in 19th.

Result
1. Fabian Cancellara - Switzerland
2. Gustav Erik Larsson - Sweden +1'27"
3. Tony Martin - Germany +2'30"

World Champs day one round-up

Day one of the World Championships featured the women's and men's under-23 time trials. The women's event was won by Kristin Armstrong of the USA. Britain's Emma Pooley finished in 11th with Wendy Houvenhagel in 23rd. The men's under-23 time trial was won by Jack Bobridge of Australia with British rider Alex Dowsett in 7th place and compatriot Andrew Fenn in 45th.

Meanwhile Mark Cavendish has withdrawn from the men's road race team. Contrary to previous reports, Ian Stannard will take his place for the race on Sunday.

British team for world championships

The British tema for the world championships in Switzerland has been announced. David Millar will be the captain for the men's road race. Mark Cavendish is doubtful for the race after suffering from a lung infection in the Tour of Missouri. Jeremy Hunt is reserve rider should Cavendish decide not to race. Bradley Wiggins will not take part in the road race as he will concentrate on the time trial event.

Elite Men's Road Race
Mark Cavendish
Stephen Cummings
Russell Downing
Chris Froome
Roger Hammond
Dan Lloyd
David Millar
Ian Stannard
Ben Swift
Geraint Thomas

Elite Men's Time Trial
Chris Froome
Bradley Wiggins

Elite Women's Road Race
Lizzie Armitstead
Katie Colclough
Nicole Cooke
Nikki Harris
Sharon Laws
Lucy Martin
Emma Pooley

Elite Women's Time Trial
Wendy Houvenaghel
Emma Pooley

Under 23 Men's Road Race
Mark Christian
Peter Kennaugh
Jonny McEvoy
Luke Rowe
Erick Rowsell

Under 23 Men's Time Trial
Andy Fenn
Alex Dowsett

Bellis injured in scooter crash

Jonathan Bellis is in a serious condition after a scooter crash in Italy. The crash happened early on Saturday morning and Bellis was taken to hospital in Florence after suffering head injuries.

Bellis had been in Quarrata, Italy to train with the British national team.

Tour of Britain final stage

Italian Michele Merlo won the final stage in London to record his first professional win. Edvald Boasson Hagen took the overall victory by 23 seconds from Chris Sutton. Russell Downing finished as the top British rider in fifth place.

Result
1. Michele Merlo - Barloworld
2. Koldo Fernandez - Euskaltel-Euskadi
3. Chris Sutton - Garmin-Slipstream

Overall
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Columbia-HTC
2. Chris Sutton - Garmin-Slipstream +23"
3. Martin Reimer - Cervélo Test Team +25"

David Millar wins Vuelta time trial

David Millar won today's time trial in the Vuelta a España to record his first win in just over two years. Millar completed the 26km course 5 seconds quicker than Samuel Sanchez and 9 seconds ahead of Cadel Evans.

Result
1. David Millar - Garmin-Slipstream
2. Samuel Sanchez - Euskaltel-Euskadi +05"
3. Cadel Evans - Silence-Lotto +09"

David Millar Victories

Wiggins to Team Sky?

Bradley Wiggins has once again been linked with joining Team Sky in 2010. A fee of two million pounds has reportedly been agreed with Garmin-Slipstream for his release.

Jonathan Vaughters, boss of Garmin-Slipstream has denied that any deal has been done and stated that Wiggins is under contract for 2010.

Swift takes Tour of Britain stage 7

Ben Swift won the seventh stage of the Tour of Britain after being setup perfectly by his teammate Filippo Pozzato. It is Swift's first victory as a professional. Boasson Hagen had to be content with third place on this occasion.

Earlier in the stage Barloworld had tried to challenge the yellow jersey. Juan Mauricio Soler and Geraint Thomas attacked up Cadbury Hill and gained a gap of around 30 seconds. Columbia-HTC however had enough strength to pull them back. Thomas also tried to attack on the final hill of the day but could not gain more than 5 seconds as Columbia-HTC and Katusha worked to setup the sprint finish.

Result
1. Ben Swift - Katusha
2. Filippo Pozzato - Katusha
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Columbia-HTC

Ben Swift Victories

Tour of Britain stage 6

Edvald Boasson Hagen took his fourth victory in the sprint finish at Bideford. The stage featured a long breakaway by five riders including three from Britain. The escapees were Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas, Serge Pauwels and Thomas De Gendt - leader of both the Mountains and Sprints classifications. They stayed away until 4km to the finish where Boasson Hagen once again timed his effort perfectly.

Result
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Columbia-HTC
2. Martin Reimer - Cervélo Test Team
3. Russell Downing - CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta

Tour of Britain stage 5

Edvald Boasson Hagen made it a hat-trick with a win in Stoke for the second year in a row. Boasson Hagen took off from the final corner to head the field up the steep hill to the finish. Filippo Pozzato and Russell Downing were left to trail in in second and third places. Boasson now leads overall and looks likely to win the race in London.

Result
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Columbia-HTC
2. Filippo Pozzato - Katusha
3. Russell Downing - CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta

Tour of Britain stage 4

Edvald Boasson Hagen won his second stage in a row in the sprint finish in Blackpool. A big crash inside the final kilometre delayed most of the field, leaving just six riders to contest the finish. Boasson Hagen comfortably held off Sutton, Reimer and Russell Downing to take the win.

Result
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Columbia-HTC
2. Chris Sutton - Garmin-Sliptream
3. Martin Reimer - Cervélo Test Team

Tour of Britain stage 3

Edvald Boasson Hagen won stage 3 in a sprint finish. He held off young Italian Michele Merlo and stage one winner Chris Sutton at the line in Gretna Green.

Result
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Columbia-HTC
2. Michele Merlo - Barloworld
3. Chris Sutton - Garmin-Slipstream

Tour of Britain stage 2

Kai Reus was the surviving member of a breakaway today on the stage into Gateshead. Reus dropped his breakaway companions, Tanel Kangert and Thomas De Gendt, in the closing stages. He then rode strongly to beat the charging peloton to the line by just nine seconds. Reus also took over the overall lead with the win.

Result
1. Kai Reus - Rabobank
2. Alexander Kristoff - Joker-Bianchi +9"
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Columbia-HTC +9"

Tour of Britain stage 1

The first stage of the Tour of Britain took place today - a 173km journey from Scunthorpe to York. A two rider break consisting of Thomas De Gendt and Martin Mortensen was clear for most of the day. The pair built up a twelve minute lead but could not hold of the peloton lead by Katusha and Columbia-HTC.

In the closing kilometres Garmin-Slipstream took over the head of the race with Bradley Wiggins working to lead out Australian sprinter Chris Sutton. Sutton was able to take advantage and hold off Michele Merlo and British riders Ben Swift and Russell Downing to seal the victory.

Result
1. Chris Sutton - Garmin-Slipstream
2. Michele Merlo - Barloworld
3. Ben Swift - Katusha

Team Sky announce next 10 riders

Team Sky have announced the names of ten more riders for next season. These are in addition to the six British riders announced yesterday.

One of the most notable names is that of Edvald Boasson Hagen, winner of Gent - Wevelgem, the Eneco Tour and third in the UCI world rankings this year. Other big signings are Juan Antonio Flecha, Simon Gerrans and Thomas Lövkvist.

Riders
Kurt Asle Arvesen < Saxo Bank
John Lee Augustyn < Barloworld
Edvald Boasson Hagen < Columbia-HTC
Kjell Carlström < Liquigas
Juan Antonio Flecha < Rabobank
Simon Gerrans < Cervélo Test Team
Greg Henderson < Columbia-HTC
Thomas Lövkvist < Columbia-HTC
Lars Petter Nordhaug < Joker-Bianchi
Morris Possoni < Columbia-HTC

Cavendish beaten in sprint!

Cervélo Test Team found the right tactics to enable Thor Hushovd to beat Mark Cavendish on stage 3 of the Tour of Missouri. Cervélo decided not to use a lead out train, instead Brett Lancaster attacked nearing the finish forcing Columbia-HTC to chase rather than setup the sprint for Cavendish. With 500m to go Hushovd was much better placed and went on to win the stage while Cavendish finished fifth.

Thor Hushovd said, "Lancaster attacked in the finale and put pressure on Columbia's Hincapie and Cavendish so I followed him and sat on his wheel and had a great sprint the last 15 meters. Cavendish is the fastest sprinter in the world at the moment so it always feels good to beat him. I'm really happy for myself and also the team."

Hushovd also takes the overall lead on countback from Cavendish.

Result
1. Thor Hushovd - Cervélo Test Team
2. JJ Haedo - Saxo Bank
3. Dario Cataldo - Quick Step

Team Sky announces six riders

Team Sky has announced the first six riders who will make up their team for 2010. The half-dozen consist of three riders from Barloworld, Steve Cummings, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas. Barloworld has announced that they are withdrawing their sponsorship at the end of the year leaving the riders free to look elsewhere.

Russell Downing has been signed up after impressing recently by winning a stage and the overall of the Tour of Ireland. Ian Stannard has also been in good form recently with multiple attacks in the Tour of Poland in August. The sixth rider announced is Peter Kennaugh who has been riding with the British academy team based in Italy.

Riders
Steve Cummings < Barloworld
Russell Downing < CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta
Chris Froome < Barloworld
Peter Kennaugh < GB Academy
Ian Stannard < ISD-Neri
Geraint Thomas < Barloworld

Cavendish wins Missouri stage 2

Mark Cavendish has won the second stage of the Tour of Missouri from St. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau. Cervélo Test Team lead out the sprint for Thor Hushovd, but Cavendish was on his wheel as they rounded the final corner. The Manx rider sprinted past Hushovd with 100m to go to win comfortably.

Result
1. Mark Cavendish - Columbia-HTC
2. Thor Hushovd - Cervélo Test Team
3. JJ Haedo - Saxo Bank

Cavendish wins in St. Louis

Mark Cavendish won the first stage of the Tour of Missouri, a circuit race around the city of St. Louis. This was not a straightforward victory for Cavendish as lead-out man George Hincapie hit a pothole approaching the finish. This forced Cavendish to follow the lead-out of Thor Hushovd, who he was able to get around to take then win. Argentinian JJ Haedo came through to take second place.

Cavendish also leads the Tour overall due to the bonus seconds awarded at the finish.

Result
1. Mark Cavendish - Columbia-HTC
2. JJ Haedo - Saxo Bank
3. Thor Hushovd - Cervélo Test Team

Blythe signs Silence-Lotto contract

Adam Blythe has signed a two year contract with the Silence-Lotto team. Blythe had been riding for the team's development squad, Davo-Lotto, this year. He joined Silence-Lotto as a stagiare (trainee) in August.

Wiggins takes National Time Trial crown

Bradley Wiggins has taken his first national title in the time trial event at Botolph Claydon. Wiggins was the overwhelming favourite and won the title by over two minutes from defending champion Michael Hutchinson. Third place rider, Chris Newton, finished nearly four minutes back.

Result
1. Bradley Wiggins - Garmin-Slipstream
2. Michael Hutchinson - InGear-Quickvit + 2'19"
3. Chris Newton - Rapha-Condor + 3'59"

Cancellara from Millar in Vuelta time trial

Fabian Cancellara has beaten David Millar in the stage 7 time trial of the Vuelta a España. Unsuprisingly, the olympic and former double world champion was dominant on the flat course through Valencia. Cancellara will also retake the overall lead of the race.

Result
1. Fabian Cancellara - Saxo Bank
2. David Millar - Garmin-Slipstream +32"
3. Bert Grabsch - Columbia-HTC +36"

GB team for Tour de l'Avenir

The Tour de l'Avenir for national teams starts this weekend. The race is for riders less than 23 years old, and will consist of 9 stages across north-east France finishing in Besançon on 13th September. The British team will be as follows:

Team GB
Mark Christian
Andrew Fenn
Peter Kennaugh
Jonathan McEvoy
Luke Rowe
Erick Rowsell

Final Tour of Britain teams announced

The final four teams for the Tour of Britain have been announced. They are two ProTour teams in Rabobank and Katusha as well as Joker-Bianchi and ISD-Neri. Russian team Katusha will feature British sprinter Ben Swift in their lineup. However, Ian Stannard is unlikely to take part for ISD-Neri due to injury.

Teams
AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)
Agritubel (FRA)
Barloworld (GBR)
CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta (GBR)
Cervélo Test Team (SWI)
Columbia-HTC (USA)
CSF-Navigare (ITA)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP)
Garmin-Slipstream (USA)
Halfords Bikehut (GBR)
ISD-Neri (ITA)
Joker-Bianchi (NOR)
Katusha (RUS)
Rabobank (NED)
Rapha-Condor (GBR)
Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator (BEL)
Vacansoleil (NED)

The race starts on 12th September in Scunthorpe and finishes a week later in London.

Official Website

Hammond takes 3rd on Vuelta stage 2

Roger Hammond has taken third place in the sprint finish of stage two of the Vuelta a España. The stage was won Gerald Ciolek ahead of Fabio Sabatini.

The sprint came at the end of a 203.7 km stage from Assen to Essen in the Netherlands. Quick Step and Garmin-Slipstream did most of the work to bring back the day's breakaway. However, their sprinters Tom Boonen and Tyler Farrar began their attacks too soon and faded away as the line approached. Ciolek took the stage fractionally ahead of Sabatini with Hammond slipping through to take third.

Roger Hammond, remarkably, is competing in his first grand tour at the age of 35.

Result
1. Gerald Ciolek - Milram
2. Fabio Sabatini - Liquigas
3. Roger Hammond - Cervélo Test Team

Downing takes overall Irish victory

Russell Downing has taken the overall victory in the Tour of Ireland after finishing second in the event last year. On that occasion Downing lost the lead in the final circuit up St. Patrick's Hill in Cork. He had no intention of letting the same thing happen twice in a row.

The final stage took place in torrential conditions at times, causing the number of finishing circuits in Cork to be reduced by one. At the start of these circuits a leading group had formed containing some of the main contenders such as Matti Breschel, Karsten Kroon, Mathias Frank and Marco Pinotti as well as race leader Downing. Alexandr Kolobnev joined on the second lap to make it three Saxo Bank riders in the group of eight.

Despite the numerical disadvantage Downing was able to mark all the attacks impressively, including one by Lars Petter Nordhaug which turned out to be the winning move. The two riders worked together to build a lead of over 30 seconds. Nordhaug took the stage victory and moved up to second overall. Downing did not contest the sprint as he wrapped up the overall victory in the appalling conditions where less than half the riders finished.

Result
1. Lars Petter Nordhaug - Joker-Bianchi
2. Russell Downing - CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta
3. Matti Breschel - Saxo Bank +33"

Overall
1. Russell Downing - CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta
2. Lars Petter Nordhaug - Joker-Bianchi +23"
3. Matti Breschel - Saxo Bank +43"

All Victories by Russell Downing

Cavendish wins second stage in Ireland

Mark Cavendish comfortably won the sprint into Killarney today. Columbia-HTC was able to gain control of the race despite numerous attacks approaching the finish. Russell Downing opened the sprint early but once Cavendish hit the front there was no-one else able to stay with the Manx rider.

Result
1. Mark Cavendish - Columbia-HTC
2. Michael Van Staeyen - Rabobank Cont.
3. Stuart O'Grady - Saxo Bank

Russell Downing of CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta retains his overall lead of 5 seconds over Alexandr Kolobnev of Saxo Bank. Sunday is the final stage of the shortened tour this year.

All Victories by Mark Cavendish

Downing wins first stage in Ireland

Britain Russell Downing has won the first stage of the Tour of Ireland. Downing was part of group of 24 escapees which also included Lance Armstrong, Jakob Fuglsang, Marco Pinotti, Stuart O'Grady, Andrei Grivko and Dan Lloyd amongst others.

Philip Deignan caused a further split with eight riders breaking away. The other riders were Alexandr Kolobnev, Matti Breschel, Haimar Zubeldia, Marco Pinotti, Frederik Wilman, Oleksandr Kvachuk and Downing.

Wilman attacked coming into the finish but was not able to create a big enough gap. Russell Downing launched his sprint with about 400m to go and no-one else was able to respond. Downing finished a second clear to win and take the overall lead.

Result
1. Russell Downing - CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta
2. Alexandr Kolobnev - Saxo Bank +1"
3. Matti Breschel - Saxo Bank +1"

All Victories by Russell Downing

Coppa Bernocchi

Italian Luca Paolini won the Coppa Bernocchi today in Legnano, Italy, ahead of Danilo Hondo and Enrico Gasparotto. British riders and Barloworld teammates, Steve Cummings and Geraint Thomas, finished fourth and fifth in the sprint.

The 91st edition of the Coppa Bernocchi started and ended in Legnano, and featured five climbs up the Morazzone. The winning escape went free on the penultimate ascent featuring Cummings, Thomas, Gasparotto, Hondo, Paolini, Enrico Magazzini, Mauro Finetto and Alessandro Proni.

Thomas worked for teammate and last year's winner Cummings in the final kilometres, but Gasparotto and the others marked him. Danilo Hondo then initiated the final sprint but was beaten to the line by Luca Paolini.

Result
1. Luca Paolini - Acqua & Sapone
2. Danilo Hondo - PSK-Whirlpool
3. Enrico Gasparotto - Lampre-NGC
4. Steve Cummings - Barloworld-Bianchi
5. Geraint Thomas - Barloworld-Bianchi

Mi-Août Bretonne final stage

The Mi-Août Bretonne finished today with another successful breakaway group. Davy Commeyne of Belgium took the stage win in the sprint, Norweigian Frederik Wilmann was also in the break and took the overall victory. Britain Kristian House of Rapha-Condor took sixth place overall.

Result
1. Frederik Wilmann - Joker-Bianchi
2. Kevin Lalouette - Austreberthe +23"
3. Julien Berard - Chambéry +28"
-----
6. Kristian House - Rapha-Condor +1'58"

Mi-Août Bretonne

Rapha-Condor are taking place in the Mi-Août Bretonne this week in Brittany. Chris Newton (GBR), Dan Craven (NAM), Darren Lapthorne (AUS), Kristian House (GBR), Tom Southam (GBR) and Simon Richardson (GBR) make up the squad.

Stage 2 consisted of a large breakaway eventually containing 30+ riders. In the finale two Russian riders, Timofey Kritskiy and Alexander Prishpetniy, broke away and were chased home by Kristian House and Florent Barle.

Result
1. Timofey Kritskiy - Katyusha CT
2. Alexander Prishpetniy - Primorsky DSP +1"
3. Kristian House - Rapha-Condor +52"

World Championship training camp

Thirteen British cyclists are taking part in a two-day training camp in Mendrisio, Switzerland, this week in order to prepare for next month's World championships.

The riders taking part are:

Jonathan Bellis (Saxo Bank)
Mark Cavendish (Columbia-HTC)
Steve Cummings (Barloworld-Bianchi)
Russell Downing (CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta)
Dan Fleeman (Cervélo Test Team)
Chris Froome (Barloworld-Bianchi)
Roger Hammond (Cervélo Test Team)
Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo Test Team)
Daniel Lloyd (Cervélo Test Team)
David Millar (Garmin-Slipstream)
Ian Stannard (ISD-Neri)
Ben Swift (Katusha)
Geraint Thomas (Barloworld-Bianchi)

Bradley Wiggins is not present but it is expected that he will be selected for the time-trial. An eleven man long-list will be selected next week.

Senior coach Rod Ellingworth said, "The whole idea is we want to win the world road race championships. Maybe not this year but we want to win it in the future and how do you do that? It's about getting the group together and motivating people. This camp is just part of that process."

...from cyclingnews.com

World Championships team sizes decided

The amount of riders a nation can send to the world championships has been decided. The top ten nations in the current UCI ranking can send a full team. Great Britain are currently in eigth place largely due to Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins. Traditional cycling powers France and Holland are among the countries to miss out on the top ten.

UCI Nation Rankings
1. Spain - 1334
2. Italy - 910
3. Australia - 710
4. Germany - 661
5. Russia - 590
6. Luxembourg - 563
7. Belgium - 505
8. Great Britain - 462
9. Norway - 414
10. USA - 389

... full rankings

Tour of Poland round-up

Ian Stannard was the only British rider involved in the Tour of Poland from 2 - 8 August. He was on the attack for his ISD - Neri team in breakaways on stages 5 and 7 but couldn't avoid being swept up by the peloton.

Stannard finish 73rd overall in the race which was won by world champion Alessandro Ballan. Norweigian Edvald Boasson Hagen, who is rumoured to be joining Team Sky, impressed by winning two stages and finishing third overall.

Result
1. Alessandro Ballan - Lampre-NGC
2. Daniel Moreno - Caisse D'Epargne +10"
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Columbia-HTC +11"
-----
73. Ian Stannard - ISD-Neri +23'43"

Hammond finishes third in Tour of Denmark

Roger Hammond has finished the Post Danmark Rundt in third place overall. Hammond finished 47 seconds behind the winner Jakob Fuglsang of Saxo Bank, primarily due to a breakaway on Stage 4 which was won by fellow British rider Jeremy Hunt.

Result
1. Jakob Fuglsang - Saxo Bank
2. Maurizio Biondo - Ceramica Flaminia +02"
3. Roger Hammond - Cervélo Test Team +47"

Cavendish wins Sparkassen Giro

Mark Cavendish took his 20th win of the season with victory in the Sparkassen Giro in Bochum, Germany. Cavendish beat Gerald Ciolek in a sprint finish to the 180km one-day race.

Team manager, Rolf Aldag commented, "He had a tough Tour de France and he’s been winning all season, but the victories just keep coming. And this was not an easy race at all. It was held on a tough little circuit, with two short but hard climbs and then a fast descent to the finish, and on top of that it was raining most of the day. A break of five guys got away but in the last lap and a half we managed to bring things back together for Cavendish. He seems to be totally unbeatable in the sprints right now.”

Result:
1. Mark Cavendish - Columbia-HTC
2. Gerald Ciolek - Milram
3. Andreas Stauff - Kuota-Indeland

2009 UCI Victories:
1. Mark Cavendish - 20
2. Andre Greipel - 15
3. Jose Rujano - 12

Blythe to Silence-Lotto

Adam Blythe has secured a position as a stagiaire on the Silence-Lotto team for the rest of the season.

Blythe has been riding for amateur team DAVO this season, a Silence-Lotto development team. He has achieved many good results including a stage win in the Thüringen Rundfahrt.

“The ideal scenario is to turn professional but I don’t want to turn pro too early and get my head kicked in. May be if I had gone pro this year, that would have probably happened and that would not have been good for me long term.”

...from Britishcycling.org.uk

Hunt wins in Tour of Denmark

Jeremy Hunt claimed his first win of the season in stage 4 of the Post Danmark Rundt. Hunt got into a break with fellow Cervélo Test Team rider Roger Hammond, Daniel Holm Foder and Morten Voss Christiansen which finish 1'30 up on the peloton.

The result moves Roger Hammond up to fourth overall, 37 seconds behind leader Jakob Fuglsang of Saxo Bank.

Result
1. Jeremy Hunt - Cervélo Test Team
2. Daniel Holm Foder - Concordia
3. Roger Hammond - Cervélo Test Team +02"