Track Cycling World Cup, Koppenbergcross And Transfer News - GCN Cycling News Show - Episode 45

This week saw the first round of the Track World Cup, the legendary Koppenbergcross and the usual off-season mix of transfer and doping news.
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The first round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup took place in Manchester. As might be expected, the British riders were to the fore in most events, with the women setting a team pursuit world record and Laura Trott coming away with two golds. The Germans dominated the sprint events, so we're looking forward to some hotly contested world cups and world championships in this Olympic cycle.

The Belgian cyclocross scene had one of the biggest events the the season on the Koppenberg. The Koppenbergcross is one of the toughest races of the year. Helen Wyman won the women's race from Sanne Cant and Nikki Harris, whilst on the men's side Tom Meeusen took the win from Kevin Pauwels after a group of eight entered the final lap together.

The Superprestige series hit Zonhoven. The course at Zonhoven is famous for it's sand- banks, with riders often seen to haul themselves up using the course tape. This year, Sven Nys and Niels Albert came to the fore, with Nys taking a sprint win from Albert.

In transfer news, Michele Scarponi will be joining Vincenzo Nibali at Astana. Scarponi looks set to lead Astana at the Giro before turning super-domestique for Nibali at the Tour.

Cycling can't escape it's past, and the doping headlines continue. This week, Michael Rasmussen has published his book. It's worth noting that he's already had to retract statements about Oscar Freire and Juan Antonio Flecha. Despite this retraction, Rasmussen has already forced one public confession. Ryder Hesjedal, whom Rasmussen claims he taught to dope, was forced to come clean. Hesjedal has stated that his doping was for a limited time and occurred outside the statute of limitations, so he will face no sanctions.

Moving onto the GCN community. We've got news from our Strava club and Facebook page. Have you won a bottle? You'll have to watch and find out! We've also got Tweet and Tech of the Week.

Why not comment and let us know what you thought of the week in cycling?

Music:
Cally D - Take the time: http://gcn.eu/1a39Ch2
Temper Trap - Resurrection: http://gcn.eu/1a2Jze1
Inqredible - Thinkin' bout you
Detboi - Step back: http://gcn.eu/12JjdYG

Photos: © Bettiniphoto / http://www.bettiniphoto.net/ & ©Tim De Waele / http://www.tdwsport.com

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