After 1997 (victory Béarnais David Married) and 2009, Miramont-de-Guyenne host tomorrow (starting at 13 hours), for the third time, the Aquitaine Championships elite road cycling. Still on the same circuit 14.3 km concocted by Daniel Barjolin.

A native of Charente, but installed in Miramont-de-Guyenne for ages, Daniel Barjolin, soon 75 years, including fifty as a runner (with more than 700 victories in the key) is the man by whom the championships regional come to Miramont-de-Guyenne, with technical support from the CC Marmande. On the road, he rubbed shoulders with the biggest and he knows his stuff. When, before the 2009 race, Loïc Herbreteau, came recognition complained about the ease of the circuit, Daniel Barjolin had replied with a smile: "We'll talk ... ". And winner Herbreteau had blown down from the podium: "I do not think it would be so hard! "

Certainly not dangerous side throughout the circuit, but a succession of dishes that go wrong on a big development and ultimately undermine the energies, as long as the wind is from the game. "We do not say, but at the exit of the city, it continues to rise for almost 6 km," says Daniel Barjolin who knows his stuff. And repeated ten times ...

They measure about 1.60 m and weighs just 50 kg. Colombians who caused a sensation in the mid-1980s when they landed on the Tour de France came back. They arrived in Europe two weeks ago and started the Tour of Asturias. "In Spain we just arrived and we had not yet recovered from the travel and jet lag," said Juan Ernesto Chamorro, 21, second in the Tour de l'Avenir last year, 1 second of Warren Barguil.

Winner of the Ronde de l'Isard, the Colombian perfectly controlled the first two steps before going on the offensive Saturday when the collar turned up. It was however worried about his fate at the foot of the last climb before the pass Latrape, it was more than 6 minutes of the young Belgian Gertjan De Vos, party in the first kilometers of the stage, and yet 5 minutes 5 km from the summit of the Col de La Corre, the last of the day. But before diving into St Girons, he returned 3 min 22 s of the Belgian who was losing his title virtual leader. Side region, we note the good behavior of Roman Guillemois every day at the forefront and Alexis Guerin, often attack. Colombians will be found from Thursday on the roads of the Tour de Gironde, where the terrain is less favorable to them.

Sunday so exciting on paper proved to be a quiet day for most leaders. At the edge of a busy week of ascents or Alberto Contador, or Chris Froome have wanted to send their troops to the front of the race. And team Saxo Bank and Sky agreed without hesitation to let the fighters compete for the bouquet of the day. "It's a nice scenario for everyone. There is a beautiful winner David Veilleux with Europcar team that will defend the jersey, told arrival Nicolas Portal, Sky sports director. This leaves us with a few days respite "Faced with a sluggish peloton had escaped the first reason. Canadian David Veilleux was his initiative. He concluded in beauty just three hours later, winning solo at the end of the circuit around Champéry.

The Europcar rider is not a winner by default. Professional since 2011 in Bernaudeau, he realized his potential by winning the Three Valleys Varésines a beautiful classic Italian, last fall. Sunday, he launched the breakaway from the third mile with two French, Bideau (Bretagne-Dried) and Damuseau (Argos) and a Spaniard Garcia (Euskaltel). He flew solo when the pack ate three minutes apart in 10 kilometers (9 to 60 km from the finish, 5'43'' 50 km). Nobody has seen him before arrival where he wore the yellow jersey and the jersey of best climber. "Now, we have to defend this jersey," laughs Pierre Rolland, of Europcar leader.

A Ivrea in Piedmont, Benat Intxausti recalled that his Giro had not stopped when he spent pink Meillot Vincenzo Nibali on the evening of the first lap. On Tuesday, the Spanish won the sixth stage by dominating a sprint three. He produced his effort about three hundred meters from the line while Tanel Kangert, one lieutenant Vincenzo Nibali and Przemyslaw Niemiec is watching a little too close. They had managed to get out of the pink jersey group five kilometers from the finish with Robert Gesink put offside soon after by a broken chain. What was left of the pack (set by Ramunas Navardauskas) arrived fourteen seconds later with most of the leading general, except Mauro Santambrogio. Victim of a failure, the runner Vini Fantini, fourth Tuesday morning was spent with more than a minute behind the top of the hump Andrate, 18 km from the line, and he had more than two upon arrival.

 

Santambrogio, however, did not count his efforts to try to make the gap. But head, runners survivors of this difficult coast (6 km to 13%), unable to move for the sprinters, even on the 28th anniversary of Mark Cavendish led a cracking pace. All the mighty men of the Giro tried to attack or cons-attack in the final, except Evans. Even Vincenzo Nibali went after Carlos Betancur and Samuel Sanchez, who made the descent head. This is all the more special when you know that this step was not less than 238 km, the third longest in the Giro, with the first category climb of the Mont-Cenis as an aperitif.

The long career of Levi Leipheimer, pro happened in 1997, ended a six-month suspension, side effect of the investigation into Lance Armstrong. Without a contract since the Omega Pharma - Quick Step had broken his engagement last fall, American announced Sunday that he had not found a team to pursue his career. "I stopped, he explained to The Press Democrat Sunday on the sidelines of the Tour of California. My retirement was done without ceremony. I miss the competition. I love cycling. "

As part of the investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Leipheimer was told he had used blood transfusions and other doping practices, particularly in the years when he accompanied Armstrong to the U.S. Postal (2000-2001). His confession has lost the most beautiful lines of his record, including his third Tour de France in 2007. Very good rider, the rider in small size (1.68 m) nevertheless ensured that he stopped taking drugs after the 2007 season and he won the Tour of California (2008 and 2009) and the Tour of Castilla - Leon (2009) being clean.

Brought in as a chair by the FDJ team, Arnaud Démare dominated the sprint unblinking who completed the first stage of the Four players Dunkirk Tuesday Courriere. Picard was set for a duel with Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil), but when the Dutch began to pinch, two hundred meters from the line, Démare had not yet started his sprint! "I really make an effort at the last moment, Van Hummel made ​​his to five hundred meters, I was ensconced behind Mickaël Delage, having been behind Geoffrey Soupe" appreciated the former world champion hopes on Eurosport.

Démare, 21, beat another young sprinter Dutch Ramon Sinkeldam (Argos-Shimano), although Van Hummel rebounded to jump on the line. Third sprinter expected on Tuesday, Adrien Petit (Cofidis) was seventh. It was said in any case that this step would be a finisher, the latest escaped being taken early in the pressure rollers of the FDJ (Boucher, Ladagnous, Vaugrenard, Offredo ....). "This is a collective victory, all riders of the JDF have controlled from beginning to end," said Démare, who won his second victory of the year after the GP Denain From the twelfth team.

Suffered a fall during the third stage of the Tour of Trentino, Domenico Pozzovivo should be well at the outset of the next Giro on May 4, despite two broken ribs. Eighth last year, the Italian climber, now with AG2R, must return to competition at the Grand Prix of Frankfurt (May 1). This will allow him to find the rhythm of the race three days before the start of Naples.

Sensation of Ardennes, Carlos Betancur is also the beginning of a still very mountainous Giro, as candidate for the best young rider jersey. Davide will Appolonio sprinter team.

Bassoons, who abandoned the race before his term was already on the way back from an hour and three quarters to the Gironde (...) when he meant by telephone that he had 45 minutes to present to the control, he always argued.

For this, he was sentenced by the FFC 12-month suspension (plus two-month ban) initially, before the sentence is reduced to one month on appeal in December 2012 and the runner is declared "innocent"

"The facts have not been verified by the Federation launches Jean-Christophe Lapouble. We have evidence that the speaker says he has never announced the names of the riders who were to be controlled. We really feel that the test was done to catch Mr. Bassoon. "

The FCC wants to "wanting to pay Bassoons positions against doping, ten years ago," he insists.

"I would have taken a sports warning a month, I would not have gone further. But when I saw that I took 14 months, I actually asked. Either at the federation, people are incompetent or there reckoning. I demand the absolute discharge "advance Bassoons.

Some losses are promises of victories. That was the case Sunday to Philippe Gilbert. Gone too far, a little lonely, the world champion was unable to return to Roman Kreuziger, winner of the Amstel Gold Race. He had been surpassed by Alejandro Valverde, Simon Gerrans and intriguing Michal Kwiatkowski. All are still in contention Wednesday. They go to the Province of Hainaut Liège through the Namur with one goal: to be there when it counts, for the third and final climb of the Mur de Huy formidable (1.2 km 10% passing a 22 %).

All plus some others who were absent from the final of the Amstel: Peter Sagan, worn favorite disappeared in the Cauberg, which can be hard to believe he has found the punch in such a short time,'' Joaquim Purito ''Rodriguez, the defending champion, shot in the left thigh and hesitated 48 hours before embarking, Richie Porte, who comes to this classic officially help Sergio Henao, and even Alberto Contador, not very committed volunteer. Between a tired, a cripple, a deputy and a forced Gilbert seems more capable. Sunday, the Belgian showed great things leading the chase behind Kreuziger. This is not the Gilbert of 2011, the year of his only victory on the Fleche Wallonne. The 2013 will be a favorite without margin. The suspense wins.

Two days of the Amstel Gold Race, Andy Schleck has an update on his health after a fracture of the sacrum in June 2010 which ruined the season the winner of the Tour de France in 2010, and his early season winded. "I had the wind in the face, as they say in cycling. But it will turn out, "he told the newspaper including The Daily Luxembourg. The younger of the Schleck brothers did not want much to do with plans for the future. "I do not know when I'll be fine. I do not know if it will be this year or next year. I realize now that it was not possible for me to go from almost nothing at the top level in just six months. For an injury, it's not as if we continued to train. "

The Luxembourger however relied on his partner and his family through this difficult time. "I came out of the tunnel. Now I do not want to dwell on it. I prefer to focus on positive things and there are many. "Starting with a gradual return to competition. Inevitably, his ambitions will be measured in the Ardennes classics. "If I can not even pretend to win one, I'll show me, keep working, see how I am in the race," he says. Andy Schleck said he plans to participate in the Tour of California in May, before making a tough course with mountain reconnaissance stage of the Tour. "Then the Tour de Suisse, national championships and then the Tour de France."

Before deciding against the clock, Chavanel had already slipped into the group of strong men Tuesday in the step of the mountains, which served small rehearsal before the Tour of Flanders. Sunday in the Round, given its history in the event (2nd in 2011) and its current form, it will necessarily runners to watch: "Now I'm going to get. I'm not a favorite of the race, a good outsider but not a favorite. We have a strong group and I hope we will have a strong team for Sunday. "The declaration of the winner is not trivial because Tom Boonen, not starting Thursday morning after tested for two days, will be the leader announced OP-QS, despite a state of uncertain form. "And there will be more competition in the coming days," admits Chavanel, with a thought for 

In the absence of great leaders, the Three Days of De Panne had the opportunity to discover new names at the top of the rankings. After a lot of work to Arnaud Démare, the second step of the first and fourth Wednesday again, Johan Le Bon (FDJ) has confirmed his good on Belgian roads and know-how against the clock to hit the fourth final position, a second from the podium. The runner 22 years ago earned its place (taking advantage of the package Dominique Rollin) for the Tour of Flanders.

A week after his failure on Milan-San Remo, Peter Sagan (Cannondale) has learned from his mistake. Nervous and lacking clarity in the final in Italy, the Slovak had missed a great opportunity to win his first classic. About Ghent-Wevelgem, still sharp, he decided Sunday to bend the case alone to clinch the 75th edition of the Belgian semi-classic, which he took second place last year. Aided by his teammate Maciej Bodnar, he placed a particularly effective against, four kilometers from the finish line to part company with twelve other breakaway companions. Eisel, Popovych and Vandenbergh, author of the first banderille few moments earlier, could not follow him to challenge the victory. Fan of the show, Sagan crossed the line and wheeling with a smile. And he signs his sixth win this season. Borut Bozic (Astana) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) completed the podium while Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ), the first French rider took the 6th place.

In a very nervous and amputated fifty kilometers due to weather conditions (183 km instead of 253 km) race, attacks quickly Fuse. From the first kilometers after the start given Gistel, the peloton split ... five, before finding some difficulty unit. As André Greipel, Mark Cavendish tried his luck before entering the rank and cross the line in complete anonymity. Winner of the GP E3 Friday, Fabian Cancellara put ashore during refueling. The Swiss chose to preserve for the Tour of Flanders next Sunday, which will be the main favorite. Other big names expected on the Ronde, Tom Boonen, titleholder may go down in history if successful fourth, also threw in the towel on Sunday after a fall.

François Parisien won Friday the fifth stage of the Tour of Catalonia between Rialp and Lleida (175 km). Canadian training Argos-Shimano beat the French sprint Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Stéphane Poulhiès (Cofidis). The race was animated by Olivier Kaisen (Lotto-Belisol) and Tristan Valentin (Cofidis). Parties after fifty kilometers in this transition, the two men have long resisted the peloton but were eventually taken less than 15 kilometers from the finish. Andrey Kashechkin (Astana) and Marcus Burghardt (BMC) have in turn attempted a coup before the finish but it is a sprint that victory was played and Parisian French is surprised his opponents.

Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp) still leads the overall standings ahead Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Quintana Rojas (Movistar). Irish took advantage of subsidies an intermediate sprint to earn a few seconds. Bradley Wiggins remains on him at the foot of the provisional podium. Program Saturday's penultimate stage of 179 kilometers between Almacelles and Valls.

After denial for one year, Rolf Soerensen end confessed to doping during his career. "I took EPO periodically during the 90s, he said through a statement Monday. In some cases, I also resorted to cortisone. There is no excuse for what I did, but I felt compelled to do as the others. "

"I will not give any names. No allegations against a particular person. It's not my type, said Soerensen, winner of two stages of the Tour de France, one in 1994 and one in 1996. The only thing I can say is that, as everyone now knows, I was not the only one. "

Two years in prison were required by the trial attorney in Puerto doping case Friday in Madrid, against the main defendant, Eufemiano Fuentes. The Spanish doctor is accused of leading a "fraudulent and criminal wrongdoing," whose goal was to improve the performance of athletes against compensation network. Billed as "the soul and the ideologist" of the network in the indictment of the prosecutor Rosa Calero, Fuentes, like his four co-defendants are charged with endangering public health by practicing several blood transfusions cyclists. They pleaded not guilty.

Rosa Calero pointed method Fuentes, who was carrying bags of blood in backpacks in the middle of cold drinks to keep them at the right temperature. This process "neglects hygiene standards and creates a real risk to the health of those receiving transfusions," she said. Another representative of the Crown also emphasized the role of the four co-defendants, including Manolo Saiz and Vicente Belda, former Liberty Seguros team managers and Kelme, who have presented their riders to Dr. Fuentes.

Like last year, the Italian Vincenzo Nibali kept through the blue jersey of overall Tirreno-Adriatico, against a yet more elevated plateau. "I'm really happy with this second win in a row, because it is a valuable victory against opponents known as Contador, Froome and Rodriguez," said the climber of Astana. Nibali has more than held in against the clock of 9.2 km, which closed the race, finishing in 12th place with 26'' of the winner, the German Tony Martin (Omega Pharma), champion the world of specialty.

Better, he took over four seconds to Alberto Contador, third overall after the disappointment of Joaquim Rodriguez (36th, 43'' Martin) and dropped eleven seconds Britain's Chris Froome, the leader of Sky, the only could still dethrone. In the final standings, Nibali, first rider to achieve doubled since Tony Rominger in 1989 and 1990, finished with 23'' ahead of Froome and 52'' on Contador. The Italian, who had seized the blue shirt at the formidable sixth stage Monday confirmed its status as favorite in the Tour of Italy in 2013 where he will be particularly opposed to Britain's Bradley Wiggins, winner of the 2012 Tour de France.

By winning in 19 years and one month, Thomas Boudat Sunday became the youngest winner (at least for the last 25 years) of a circuit Blaye wines which ended in a bunch sprint. The ideal scenario for young Girondin whose training Vendée U perfectly managed the race to achieve this outcome. And the cry that sprang from his lungs when he crossed the line spoke volumes about his joy and relief. For, since he said internationally as a junior last year, Thomas Boudat, resident of Pôle France Talence formed VC Langon, decided to follow the path of Joseph Cigano his grandfather (in 1950) and Alain Cigana his cousin (in the 1970s) who ran among professionals.

To this end, he joined the Vendée U formation where we wanted to replace Bryan Coquard young and brilliant past pistard professional Europcar. But in such a team, you have to say quickly because all the riders eat the same ambition. Noticed at the forefront in his early racing in the Vendée, he relied heavily on Bordeaux-Saintes but the strategy of the team has changed at the last moment he found himself delivered to himself in the sprint on the National Course. During the Tour of Canton St. Ciers, two weeks ago, he had good legs but a teammate Romain Cardis, who was appointed team leader. And during the Tour of Canton Courçon March 30 in Charente-Maritime, Thomas Boudat only came from behind the escapees, sprinted a lap too early!

Tirreno-Adriatico has taken a new dimension Sunday in Abruzzo. Tenors took things in hand in this very long period of 230 km. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) won solo in Chieti, where Christopher Froome (Sky) took over the overall lead, following his stage victory. The British took power dispossessing Polish Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma) blue jersey and he probably asked a key option on the final victory in the 2013 edition.

Despite the length of the stage, all came from the big guys in the short but tough final climb Via Salomone. On this slope offering crossings 15% Rodriguez feasted in good puncher he is. However, there is little thought. "This is a step that suited me but I did not expect to win because I did not feel good at all, told Purito. I thought I did not have good legs, especially after all the rain we had this week. this victory means a lot to me because there are a lot of very good runners here. These are not easy to beat guys. "

In this "mountain" along 360 meters, with an average slope approaching 13 percent with a 20 percent passing, Roelandts won the first. Sagan, in turn, was asphyxiated by the pace of Cancellara turned at the top with 6 seconds. But Switzerland has quickly widened the gap thereafter, on the road leading back to Oudenaarde. After this against the clock, an exercise that allowed him to win Olympic gold (2008) and four world titles, Cancellara was preceded by nearly a minute and a half Sagan and Roelandts who crossed the line in that order. A few seconds before the first sprint of the pack, set by the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff before Béarnais the FDJ Matthew Ladagnous. Finally, we also noted that five French (Ladagnous, Turgot, Offredo, Chavanel and Jerome are in the top 20).

"The two strongest were before," admitted Sylvain Chavanel (13th), the French promoted leader of the Omega Pharma team after the premature withdrawal of defending champion, Belgian Tom Boonen, who fell from the 19th km . But, given the recital issued by the winner on a course that delivers a relentless and predictable verdict, it appears unlikely that the presence of the triple winner of the "Ronde van Vlaanderen" would have changed the outcome. Boonen, who suffers no fracture, but has been asked stitches, also not be out of Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, said Patrick Lefevere, his manager.

On the line, located at an altitude of 957 meters, preceded teammate Froome 30 seconds to become the first British winner of the event since Chris Boardman in 1996.

"We agreed with Chris," said Holder, who won two weeks ago in Paris-Nice. "He came to that which had good legs to attack. When there was a gap behind him, nobody reacted. He must have continued effort. "

"Froomie" second last year's Tour de France, endorsed with visible pleasure he hopes the yellow jersey wearing next summer in the 100th edition of the Tour which will start on June 29 Porto Vecchio.

"This course has allowed me to see how I could have confidence in my team for the Tour," said the Briton. "We answered all attacks", including the offensive by Thomas Voeckler 60 kilometers from the finish in order to anticipate the rise of the Ospedale.

In this ascent, everything went according to a predictable scenario when training are presented Sky superior army. Even if all collective dominance is not necessarily good news in cycling, still traumatized by events such as numbers Gewiss team in the Flèche Wallonne 1994, the armada Festina then or in the U.S. Postal Tours of the time Armstrong.