Bike shop Ontario: Team Sky's tested strategy

  As we followed the 2012 Tour de France at our Ontario, California bike shop, one thing that stood out about this year's competition was the winning strategy of Britain's Team Sky, reminding anyone who might forget, that this is, after all, a team sport.
Bradley Wiggins won the first yellow jersey for Britain, and appeared to do so with little effort. Wiggins established his lead so early on in the race, and held it for so very long. The win was a virtual certainty on Saturday, barring some crazy turn of events, when Wiggins won his second time trial. 
Wiggins finished the Tour with his teammate Chris Froome close behind. Froome was only 3:21 after him, and this was especially dramatic considering how things went down between them in the race. 
Froome exceeded expectations with his incredible performance on mountainous stages, putting Team Sky's winning strategy to the test. The team had its bets on Wiggins, given his edge in time trials, and Froome was held back in several stages for the sake of keeping Wiggins ahead. The tension over this strategy erupted in a stream of back-handed tweets between Froome's girlfriend and Wiggins' wife, beginning in the 11th stage. 
 Team Sky's teamwork also made its mark when they aided Mark Cavendish in taking a fourth consecutive stage win on the Champs-Elysees. Wiggins was happy with the team's strategy. "It's magnificent," said Wiggins. "For us to finish like this as a team, helping Mark to victory and allowing him to defend his record here... it's incredible."

Wiggins still leading stage 17 Tour de France

 Nicolas Bouvy / EPA / July 18, 2012

Our bike shop in Ontario, California is following the Tour de France in the final three days!

Briton Bradley Wiggins endured the trying, mountainous 17th stage of the race on Thursday, and said sensed the race is "pretty much over". 

With just three stages remaining in the Tour de France of 2012, Wiggins seems to be secure in his lead. Wiggins finished 3rd in stage 17, with a two minute five second overall lead ahead of his teammate Christopher Froome, who came in ahead of Wiggins in the 17th stage, in 2nd place. 

The remaining stages in the Tour de France are two flat stages and a time trial, which Wiggins is expected to do well in. With any luck, Wiggins will, in 3 days, be the first Tour de France winner of Great Britain.

Alejandro Valverde of Spain enjoyed an emotional win in the 17th stage, after returning from a two-year doping ban, and a rough start to the tour, surviving three crashes. A teary Valverde said of his victory, “It erases all of the past.”

2012 Tour de France 12th stage: bike shop Ontario

Are you following the Tour de France with our bike shop in Ontario, California?
Britain's David Millar claimed an emotional win in the twelve stage yesterday after what has been a very difficult tour for the Garmin-Sharp team. The team has lost a number of riders including their team leader, Ryder Hesjedal. 
Bicycling.com asked David Millar about his 12th stage victory and the team's recent difficulties. "It's massive. It's been a horrific tour for us so far," Millar said. "I really wanted to do something...prove that we're still here and show that Garmin-Sharp is one of the best cycling teams in the world." 
France's Pierre Rolland took his maiden victory in the 10th stage, followed by another win in 11. 
Britain's Bradley Wiggins further secured his lead against Australia's defending champion Cadel Evans in the 11th stage. Evans had begun stage 11 in second place, only one minute, 53 seconds behind Wiggins, but dropped to fourth overall at 3:19. 

bike shop Chino Hills: Greipel takes Stage 4 and 5 of Tour de France

Our bike shop in Chino Hills is watching the events of Tour de France all this month. The race is approaching the end of week one, and its been an exciting start.
There were a number of news developments regarding Tour de France in the weeks leading up to the race.  This year has been marked by some special situations such as rider injuries, changing of teams, and high-profile doping charges that recently stripped Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong of his titles.
The first week of the race had plenty of excitement as well, with several crashes, such as a multi-bike pile-up that included Mike Cavendish, in the closing of Stage 4. Cavendish emerged from the crash uninjured, and unhappy.
Andre Greipel of Germany won Stage 4, and coming through the finish elated at his first Tour de France victory.
He then came in ahead again in Stage 5, pulling in front in the final hundred meters in what he called "the hardest sprint of my life."
Looking forward to what the Tour de France brings next. Watch our blog for updates!