BMC 2012 in Review

BMC had an ambitious recruitment policy at the end of the 2011 season in which they snared several big name riders, making headlines for the expensive outlay in acquiring Thor Hushovd and Philippe Gilbert. Along with the two big riders the collapse of HTC-Highroad allowed for the capture of up and coming American Tejay Van Garderen as well as the Italian veteran Marco Pinotti. The team had stage wins at the Giro and Vuelta and several other stage races across the season but it was again the Tour de France that was the focus of the teams GC ambition in 2012. The two big name recruits were to deliver the early season classics but it would take until May at the Giro when the team had its first significant wins in 2012. 

Gilbert Delivers after Fearless Attack on the Cauberg

Philippe Gilbert had pencilled in September 23rd 2012 as the day he would win the rainbow stripes. When the parcours for the 2012 worlds was announced, Gilbert was installed as the favourite. 2009 and 2010 had been close with Gilbert in contention until the final kilometres in both those races. 2011 was the flat track that had Mark Cavendish pencilled in as the favourite just as Gilbert was for 2012.

Men's Road Race Starting List: 207 Riding for the Rainbow

Mark Cavendish will be wearing the number one dossard as he looks to defend his title. Cavendish is unlikely to go back to back with Belgian Phillipe Gilbert the number one favourite. Cavendish has said the course is too hard for a sprinter such as himself and a select group will most likely arrive at the finish together. That group looks like containing Gilbert, Simon Gerrans (Australia), Alejandro Valverde (Spain), Peter Sagan (Slovakia), Vincenzo Nibali (Italy) and a dark horse or two. Spain and Belgium have the strongest teams for the Road Race but Australia and Italy have the class to spring a surprise. For the smaller nations, it will be hard to work against 9 man teams but there is always the possibility of a two or three man team benefiting from trade team allegiances or simply being opportunistic at the right time.

2012 Men's ITT World Championships: 58 Riders Battle for the Rainbow

Tony Martin will roll down the ramp at 3:24pm today with 57 riders having gone before him. Second last in the order is the recent Vuelta a España champion Alberto Contador who was the 2009 Spanish ITT Champion. Martin's teammate on Omega Pharma-Quick Step Sylvain Chavanel will be riding in the French colours and may just challenge the reigning champion for the rainbow stripes. 

Specialized - lululemon win Women's TTT WC Event

The Specialized - lululemon team has taken out the first event of teh 2012 UCI World Championships. In second place 24 seconds off the pace was Orica-AIS who were the only team to come within a minute of Specialized-luluemon. In third was AA Drink - Leontien.NL Cycling who were a distant 1:59 minutes off the winners.

2012 UCI World Championships Women's TTT Results

1st Team Specialized - lululemon 46:31

2nd Orica-AIS + 24

3rd AA Drink - Leontien.NL Cycling + 1:59

4th Rabobank Women Cycling Team + 2:20

5th Rusvelo + 2:30

6th Be Pink + 3:15

7th S.C. Michela Fanini Rox + 4:37

8th Hitec Products-Mistral Home Cycling Team + 4:38

9th Dolmans-Boels Cycling Team + 5:00 

10th Lotto-Belisol Ladies + 5:32

11th Skil-Argos +5:33

12th Sengers Ladies Cycling Team + 5:45

The Men's TTT begins shortly with BMC, Orica-GreenEdge, Team Sky and Garmin-Sharp favourites for the first TTT world title in 17 years. Start list for the 2012 UCI World Championships Men's TTT event

http://www.limburg2012.nl/upload/documents/06_ROA_CM2012_Startinglist_TTT_ME.pdf