The week’s top bike news from around the world, brought to you every Friday.
Local news
Aussies hold their own in the Ladies Tour of Qatar
Going into the fourth and final stage of racing, Australia is dominating the field with Orica-AIS the leading team, four Aussie riders in the top ten and Chloe Hosking (Hitec Products UCK) in the lead for the young rider jersey and in overall second place behind Kirsten Wild (Team Argos-Shimano).
Perth beaches get a facelift
The State Government has allocated $70 million in funding to revamp three of Perth’s beaches, redirecting heavy road traffic away from popular picnic areas and adding a new playground, barbecue facilities, fitness equipment, walking tracks and bike paths.
Tour Down Under wraps up
Australia’s biggest bike race and the first event on the UCI calendar was taken out by 23-year old Dutchman Tom-Jelte Slagter (Blanco Pro Cycling) with Radioshack Leopard named top team. The Aussies did particularly well on the hills, with four riders finishing in the top ten for the Skoda King of the Mountain jersey.
International news
Frank Schleck banned from 2013 Tour
After failing a doping test in the 2012 Tour de France Frank Schleck has incurred a one-year ban from professional cycling that will see him miss this year’s Tour. He maintains he did not knowingly ingest the substance.
Bikes take to the stage
A production for the upcoming Wellington Fringe festival titled Wheels of Justice gives ‘active viewing’ a whole new meaning, with actors leading the audience on a bike tour of the city’s underbelly as they attempt to solve a murder.
Bucks for bikes
British Transport Minister Norman Baker has announced £62 million in funding for cities outside London to improve their bike infrastructure, stating “Cycling is win-win for everybody. It is good for the environment, it cuts carbon emissions, it reduces congestion on the roads and it is good for public health.”
Health
No more fries with that
Regular consumption of deep-fried foods has already been linked with several types of cancer, including breast, lung and pancreatic, and now researchers have added prostate cancer to the list. A new study has found that men who consume deep-fried foods more than once a week are 30-37% more likely to develop the cancer than those who consume deep-fried foods less than once a month.
Video
Highlights from Stage Three of the Ladies Tour of Qatar
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