On Tap...

With the sizing up process of week one completed, the Tour de France kicks into high gear [or more appropriately low gear] this Sunday when the riders hit the Pyrenees. The town of Toulouse and the Cols that the peloton will traverse over the next few days hold a special place in the hearts of the Triple Crankset as we began our journey together there back in 2003.

If there is one specific day to mark and to call in sick for, it is Monday. The 156km Stage 10 from Pau to Hautacam, which was also the route of this year's L'Etape du Tour will cause a major shake up in the General Classification with an ascent up the Col du Tourmalet (18km uphill at almost 8 percent to 7,000 feet elevation) and a mountain top finish on Hautacam.

Stage 8 - Saturday, July 12 - Figeac – Toulouse (172.5km)
Stage 9 - Sunday, July 13 - Toulouse - Bagnères de Bigorre (224km)
Stage 10 - Monday, July 14 - Pau – Hautacam (156km)
Rest Day 1 - Tuesday, July 15 - Pau
Stage 11 - Wednesday, July 16 - Lannemezan – Foix (167.5km)
Stage 12 - Thursday, July 17 - Lavelanet – Narbonne (168.5km)
Stage 13 - Friday, July 18 - Narbonne – Nîmes (182km)

You can catch it all on the Versus channel.


Bend In The Road
The Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic, which began on Wednesday, July 9th, concludes this weekend.

Buttressed by an opening day victory, Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo-Lifeforce) leads in the women's general classification after the first two stages. She will look to extend her lead today in her favorite discipline, the ITT.

General Classification After Stage 2
1 Kristin Armstrong Savola (Cervelo-Lifeforce)
2 Julie Beveridge (Aaron's Pro Cycling)
3 Christine Thorburn (Webcor Builders)
4 Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders)
5 Kristin Sanders (Aaron's Pro Cycling)
6 Janel Holcomb (Webcor Builders)
7 Gina Grain (Webcor Builders)
8 Felicia Gomez (Aaron's Pro Cycling)
9 Alison Testroete (Aaron's Pro Cycling)
10 Martina Patella (Value Act Capital Cycling Team)

Although riders like Levi Leipheimer (Astana), teammate Chris Horner , Santiago Botero (Rock Racing) and Tom Danielson (Garmin-Chipotle presented by H30) are in the men's field, it is Team Type 1's Matt Wilson who currently holds the lead.

General Classification After Stage 2
1 Matt Wilson (Team Type 1)
2 Levi Leipheimer (Astana)
3 Santiago Botero (Rock Racing)
4 Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United)
5 Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling Team)
6 Jeff Louder (BMC)
7 Chris Wherry (Toyota-United)
8 Chris Jones (Team Type 1)
9 Darren Lill (BMC)
10 Thomas I Peterson (Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O)

Schedule
Friday July 11 - Stage 3: Bend Research Inc - Skyliners Time Trial
Friday July 11 - Stage 4: Desert Orthopedics & Rebound Physical Therapy - Downtown Crit
Saturday July 12 - Stage 5: Pacific Power - Cascade Lakes Road Race
Sunday July 13 - Stage 6: Deschutes Brewery - Awbrey Butte Circuit Race


Around The Way
In the Midwest, today kicks off close to three weeks of continuous racing with the International Cycling Classic, better known as SuperWeek. For other local races in or around specific areas of the country, consult the listings below.

07/11/2008
The Piedmont Triad Omnium
Lexington, NC
SuperWeek Pro Tour - International Cycling Classic
WI & IL

07/12/2008
Shreve Chiropractic Cycling Challenge
Shreve, OH
Omaha Cycling Weekend
Papillion & Omaha, NE
Porcupine Hill Climb
Salt Lake City, UT
UMPC TT and Community Cycling Day at the Track
Pittsburgh, PA
Charles Kulp Memorial Race #1
Indianapolis, IN
Coyote Creek Circuit Race
San Jose, CA
Peiffer Hill Road Race (TM)
Stevens, PA
Illinois State Junior Track Championships
Northbrook, IL

07/13/2008
Oley Valley Junior Road Race
Oley, PA
JBN Bicycle Race
Bethlehem, PA
Chicago Time Trial Series-Hampshire Time Trial
Hampshire, IL
Lafayette Criterium
Lafayette, CA
Junior Omniums
Carson, CA

For results and photos of some of the races above, click through to Truesport.com .


Up The Road
07/18/2008
Capitol Reef Classic
Torrey, UT
French Broad Cycling Classic – 2008
Marshall, Henderson County, and Asheville, NC

07/19/2008
Nicole Reinhart Memorial Tour de FCCC
Maxatawny/Trexlertown, PA
Watsonville Criterium
Watsonville, CA
Troy Classic on the Square
Troy, OH
Indiana State RR Championships
Fishers, IN
Nature's Path/3 Sports Time Trial
Midlothian, VA
Cornhusker State Games Time Trial
Yutan, NE
Northern California/Nevada Junior Track Championship
San Jose, CA
Sundance Hill Climb
Provo, UT
Sisquoc Road Race and SoCal/NV Jr St Championship
Santa Maria, CA

07/20/2008
Ontario GP Race #4 - 10th Annual
Ontario, CA
Bryan Park Circuit Race
Richmond, VA
Berkeley Bicycle Club Criterium
Albany, CA
Koehlinger / Kelley IN State TT Championship
New Haven, IN
Fort Cherry Road Race
McDonald, PA
San Luis Obispo Downtown Criterium
San Luis Obispo, CA
The Comeback Criterium
New Holland, Lancaster County, PA
Tour d'Burg
Miamisburg, OH