BiciRace.com :: News :: October 2005

News :: October 2005

1 October 2005

Backstedt Goes For Hour Record

Backstedt For Hour, photo: BiciRace.com

In one month Magnus Backstedt (30) will attack the current Derny Paced Hour Record. The Liquigas-Bianchi giant is on great form after completing the three week Vuelta a España and World Championships. Backstedt is starting a special training on the Newport track, where Saturday 29 October he will try to break the current 66.114K record.

Backstedt usually does training behind the derny in the winter but this time he will push it a little further. "I finished the Vuelta in a very good shape," confirmed Backstedt. The Swede is now in Las Vegas doing promotional work before returning to his adopted home country, England. "I'm ready to start the tough derny paced training in the Newport Velodrome. The secret will be joining rhythm and power ... I will do my best to beat Pronk's record."

The current record holder is Dutch Matthé Pronk. Last November in Pronk covered 66.114K, 1.568K more than Belgian Theo Verschueren, who had been the holder since 1970. BiciRace.com wishes Backstedt the best of luck, and we hope that soon after he will attack the non-paced hour record. (Read: Ondrej Sosenka Breaks Boardman's Hour Record, 20 July)

Team CSC and Carlos Sastre Renew

Sastre TTs, photo: © Unipublic

Carlos Sastre has upped his contract with Team CSC. The Spaniard just finished an impressive Vuelta a España, where he finished on the podium in 3rd. Sastre is always the guy to have on hand in a stage race. In addition to the Vuelta he raced the Tour de France, where he helped Ivan Basso to his second place.

"I chose to stay with Bjarne and Team CSC because I feel so strongly about this team," said Sastre. "Bjarne and I met in Madrid and really managed to talk everything through in a positive way, and afterwards the decision was easy. I have everything on this team – especially a lot of good friends, whom I wouldn't want to be without. I've achieved a lot in my career, and I think, I'll get even further at Team CSC."

Züri Metzgete, Swiss One-Day Classic

The 92nd Züri Metzgete (or The Championship of Zurich) is the last of three ProTour races on the calendar for 2005. This year the Swiss race has a later slot on the calendar, following the World Championships by only one week. That means that the race will be an opportune time for the new world champion to show off his stripes.

The course consists of 5 loops that start and end in the city of Zurich. The first is a large 71.0K loop, followed by four shorter 41.4K loops. It is on the smaller final loops where the riders will encounter the race's principal danger, the Pfannenstiel climb. The Pfannenstiel tops out with 17K to go, making it a perfect place to attack and stay clear. The smaller Wetzwil climb follows 3K later, and should finalize the deal for the strong men. Although this was not quite the case last year, when the attacking group was reeled back in and there was a small bunch sprint. ... Read the rest.

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