I'd have thought they were the obvious ones along with IAM, the Swiss team........but Magnus was saying that the financial implications are such that it might well put them off,.........particularly as they seem to get an invite to at least one of the grand tours every year anyway

At the Vuelta, Millar will ride for Garmin Sharp in a team led by Hesjedal and Martin. Talansky is also in the team.

It seems strange Garmin are dropping back from title sponsor given their involvement in premium GPS cycle computers and the developing area of on-bike cameras.

Cervélo, a former title sponsor of the team, will move on to supply MTN-Qhubeka with their bikes next season.

I suppose we should never be surprised when main sponsors pull out and teams either disband or emerge under a new name........I suspect the average time for a man sponsor or team name is about 3 years ?

I just picked 10 years as a randon number and looked back at the tour de France for 2004.........the only teams that are still going are Cofidis and Francais des Jeux......and neither of them are top level teams

Some of the names that have gone since 2004.........Saeco, Fasso Bortolo, T Mobile, Gerolsteiner, Rabobank, US Postal, CSC, Alessio, Euskatel, Liberty Seguros. Quickstep-Davitomon,

Interestingly from 10 years ago.........there were 7 wildcards !...............originally planned to have 8 but Kelme weren't invited after a dopng scandal

Took them long enough, didn't it? Goodness knows what impact these late decisions have had on the national federations/competitors/etc.

That said, François Pervis must be delighted.

Hasn't London already got the 2016 World Championships ?

Does anyone think that having annual World Championships is a bit too much......especially as the Olympics is 'the big one' in track cycling

Maybe they could hold it every 2 years but expand the number of events and make it a longer meeting........they could include tandem racing !

Jens out in front on his own with 7K to go

It seems like some of the older riders in the peloton are trying to obstruct the chase but the younger guns are not playing.......

This is all very well, but probably the UCI does not have very much money, and so needs at least one guaranteed big pay-day every year. At the moment, the most profitable place in the world to stage big indoor meets is Britain, so we get at least one big event a year.

Yes, but 2015 was still up for grabs because British Cycling specifically bid for Olympic-year editions of the Track WC.

On another subject, what are the chances of the UK hosting the Road WC by 2020? Editions up to 2016 are sorted (and the 2017 bidders are already shortlisted), but I wouldn't be surprised if Verity and co are having serious discussions about it now.

Vuelta team presentations at 8:30pm on ES. Race starts proper with live TTT coverage at 6pm tomorrow on ES with ITV4 highlights on later.

Video interview with Contador about his injury and the prospects for the Vuelta: http://youtu.be/97VvVAsM5u0

Last years winner, Chris Horner, is out of the Vuelta after showing a low cortisol level in a blood test

The whole of Trek Factory racing fell this morning during recce of the TTT route. Froome crashed a couple of days ago during Sky's test run around Jerez.

Despite being a pan flat 12.6km, the route has around 25 roundabout passes! Most are deflected through routes but there are three 90deg, two 180deg, and three 270deg exits.

http://youtu.be/GQPrB1ZnZTc

Quickstep is still a co-sponsor for the (same) team

Some teams exist much longer then those 3 years mentioned though.

T-Mobile, Rabobank and Euskaltel have all existed for at least 10 years (Euskaltel has only stopped sponsoring a year or two ago; same is true of Rabobank who were at least 15 years the sponsor but quit because of doping stories surrounding Boogerd and Rasmussen).

And from the current teams, Lotto and Lampre have been a sponsor for ages.


For anyone who is interested, the TTT will start around 18.00 hours (British time) and the last team will start around 19.30 hours.

Looking forward to this........I love the Vuelta

My favourite race.......

Movistar won the TTT and kept all 9 riders together so they hold the top 9 places on GC

Jonathan Castroviejo crossed the line first and wears the Leaders Jersey

Stage 2 looks like one for the sprinters.......and with a 10 second bonus for the winner there's a chance to get the red jersey as 3 teams were within 10 secs of Movistar..

there's also some bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints but they'll probably be mopped up by breakaway riders

Today, there are a few more obstacles for the sprinter's teams at the end. Three right angle turns in the last 1.2km before a long right hand bend onto the 500m final straight. A roundabout in the last 250m has two straight lanes through - they should be well strung out by then.

The time-keepers have been sharp about recording all the gaps on today's stage. On a sprint stage we often see most riders getting the same time even if a second or two gap opens up in the main field. Probably due to the small gaps from yesterday's TTT.

A look around the start line of tomorrow's Vuelta Stage 3: http://youtu.be/NnHGlxfstfQ?t=1m2s

CWG gold medalist Lizzie Armitstead secured the win in the 2014 Women's Road World Cup today:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/...rld-cup-133695

Any idea what's happened to coverage of the US race ?

According to RT it was due to start at 9pm but no sign.......the Eurosport website shows it starting at 7pm and going until 11pm.........but they've just started showing a live football match that will take us up to 11pm.........

that's a film about an aircraft carrier.......

are they sending a message about Gibraltar ?.........

Rob Hatch has tweeted the race coverage is moving from ES2 to ES1 after snooker finishes.

Carrier is Juan Carlos 1 which, according to ITV4, is a tribute to the outgoing king. The stage starts on one of the decks, presumably not the aircraft ramp!

are they starting the race on the aircraft carrier ?..........help me out here, I'm a bit lost !

the football has started on ES2.......so hopefully we'll get cycling on ES1 when the snooker finishes

cycling on now on ES1.......50K to go

Jens out in the break on his last day in the saddle

Not exactly gripping stuff but live coverage from the Belkin camp on the Cadiz docks: http://www.teambelkin.com/live

They are interviewing riders as they emerge from the bus. Tjallingi spoke about his crash yesterday.

Live coverage started a few minutes early on ES..........they're on the aircraft carrier !.....that might have been pictures recorded earlier

some climbs today, 4 x cat 3.........and a little kick up to the finish line

Grrrr! Carlton busy twisting metaphors and not calling out names. Contador was third for a long stint with Rodriguez behind. Froome and Evans clearly came into the back of picture on the final bend. Bertie by then had fallen away. Yet, no mention; the big guns apparently had missed out back at the bridge.

Dan Martin passed by an OGE rider at the death (but he stayed upright on the final bend ). He seemed to know it was all over when he spotted Matthews closing in.

No Gilbert or Valverde on the final run in? I missed the Movistar feed incident so do not know how it affected AV.

Boassen-Hagan is leaving Sky and going to join the African team MTN Qhubeka, who mainly ride the UCI Continental races...........though they have a wild card for the current Vuelta