Nelson cyclist dies after crashing into the Maitai River
July 16, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
A cyclist has died after he crashed into the Maitai River in Nelson this morning.A police spokesperson said emergency services were called to the river at the end of Clouston Terrace around 9.45am."Initial reports suggest the... More...

Cycling: Kiwi cyclist Dion Smith is set to continue riding in the Tour de France with broken thumb
July 16, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Dion Smith is set to continue racing in the Tour de France after a chaotic ninth stage crash left the Kiwi cyclist in doubt.The 25-year-old was caught in a chain-reaction accident yesterday during a stage that featured treacherous... More...

Froome happy as Tour de France heads for the mountains
July 16, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
ANNECY, France (AP) " Chris Froome believes the mountains will reveal the true Tour de France contenders as he looks forward to the first of three grueling stages in the Alps."I'm feeling good and optimistic about the upcoming stages,"... More...

Tour de France Standings
July 16, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
1. Greg Van Avermaet, Belgium, BMC Racing, 36:07:17.2. Geraint Thomas, Britain, Sky, :43.3. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium, Quick-Step Floors, :44.4. Bob Jungels, Luxembourg, Quick-Step Floors, :50.5. Alejandro Valverde, Spain,... More...

Cycling's 'servants' do the dirty work at Tour de France
July 16, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
ROUBAIX, France (AP) " Mouth gaping, his huge body bent over the bike, Tim Declercq is doing the dirtiest job at the world's most prestigious cycling race.The 29-year-old Belgian cyclist is riding at the front of the pack, his 1.90-meter... More...

Cycling: In a day of carnage Richie Porte out, Dion Smith injured but will continue in the Tour de France
July 15, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Kiwi cyclist Patrick Bevin has lost his team leader at the Tour de France.Australian hope Richie Porte has been forced to abandon the Tour after crashing 10 kilometres into the ninth stage and suffering a suspected broken collarbone.Kiwi... More...

Misfortune knocks at Porte's door again in Tour de France
July 15, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
ROUBAIX, France (AP) " Richie Porte said before the Tour de France that his hopes of dethroning Chris Froome rested on not having any more bad luck " such as the fall that knocked him out of last year's race.Misfortune struck Porte... More...

Taste of the Tour: Creamy cheese in 'Venice of the Alps'
July 15, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
ROUBAIX, France (AP) " At long last, it's time to climb.But while the Tour de France's cyclists face the first of a triple-header of mountain stages in the Alps, the mere mortals in tow can relax in the "Venice of the Alps" and... More...

Tour de France Stages
July 15, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
July 7 " Stage 1: Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile_Fontenay-le-Comte, flat (201km-124.9 miles) (Stage: Fernando Gaviria, Colombia; Yellow Jersey: Gaviria)July 8 " Stage 2: Mouilleron-Saint-Germain_La Roche-sur-Yon, flat (182.5-113.4) (Peter... More...

Degenkolb masters cobblestones as Porte crashes out of Tour
July 15, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
ROUBAIX, France (AP) " Richie Porte sat on the pavement grasping his right shoulder and grimacing in pain. A fan helped Chris Froome get going after he tumbled onto grass lining the road. Romain Bardet recovered from three punctured... More...

Cycling: Dutch star surges to silence his critics
July 14, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Dutch rider Dylan Groenewegen beat favourites Fernando Gaviria and Peter Sagan in a sprint to win the longest stage of the Tour de France yesterday.Four-time champion Chris Froome and the other favourites finished safely in the... More...

Feared cobblestones up next at the Tour de France
July 14, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
AMIENS, France (AP) " Every cyclist at the Tour de France, from title favorite Chris Froome to the lowliest support rider, has Sunday circled on their calendar.That's when the world's greatest bike race leaves behind the smooth... More...

TASTE OF THE TOUR: Mussels, fries and cobbles in Roubaix
July 14, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
AMIENS, France (AP) " After a bumpy ride on the cobblestones to Roubaix, settle your stomach down with some moules-frites (mussels and fries), beer and a cheese dedicated to " what else? " the "pave." That's French for cobbles.The... More...

Groenewegen wins 2nd straight stage at Tour; cobbles ahead
July 14, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
AMIENS, France (AP) " Dylan Groenewegen has turned the sprinting battle at the Tour de France into a three-man race.The 25-year-old Dutch rider won his second consecutive stage on Saturday, joining world champion Peter Sagan and... More...

Tour de France Stages
July 13, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
July 7 " Stage 1: Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile_Fontenay-le-Comte, flat (201km-125 miles) (Stage: Fernando Gaviria, Colombia; Yellow Jersey: Gaviria)July 8 " Stage 2: Mouilleron-Saint-Germain_La Roche-sur-Yon, flat (182.5-113) (Peter Sagan,... More...

TASTE OF THE TOUR: Macarons in Macron's birthplace
July 13, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
CHARTRES, France (AP) " Macarons will be an appropriate treat to try in the birthplace of French president Emmanuel Macron on Saturday as the Tour de France arrives in Amiens at the end of Stage 8 on Bastille Day.Made of sugar,... More...

Texas tough: Injured Craddock soldiers on at Tour de France
July 13, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
CHARTRES, France (AP) " Lawson Craddock is giving new meaning to the term "Texas Tough."After breaking his shoulder and bloodying his face in an unfortunate crash during the first stage of the Tour de France, the American rider... More...

A 'transfer' stage: Time to relax on longest leg of Tour
July 13, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
CHARTRES, France (AP) " Peter Sagan thrust his arm and fist forward like Superman.Chris Froome calmly dropped back to his team car to get his seat adjusted by a mechanic.Other riders chatted as they admired the rolling countryside.With... More...

Cycling: Dion Smith falls just short of regaining polka dot jersey
July 13, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Kiwi cyclist Dion Smith has fallen just short of regaining the polka dot jersey on stage six of the Tour de France.Smith became the first New Zealander to wear a distinctive jersey at the Tour after stage two, but lost the jersey... More...

TASTE OF THE TOUR: A potpourri of poultry to reach Chartres
July 12, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
MUR -DE-BRETAGNE, France (AP) " There's plenty of poultry to provide sustenance for the longest stage of the Tour de France.From the prized Coucou de Rennes chickens to the grass-fed Sougeal or Couesnon geese, foodies should have... More...

Cycling: Daniel Martin wins Stage 6 of Tour, Van Avermaet keeps lead
July 12, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Daniel Martin of Ireland won an uphill finish to claim Stage 6 of the Tour de France on Thursday, while Greg Van Avermaet kept the yellow jersey for a third consecutive day.Defending champion Chris Froome crossed eight seconds after... More...

Julian Dean: The Tour de France is always suprisingly unpredictable
July 11, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
After starting my 13th Tour de France - seven as a rider and now six as the performance manager of the Let's Go-Scott team, it still astounds me how unpredictable the race is.To gather intelligence for our riders I drove the entire... More...

Tour de France Stages
July 11, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
July 7 " Stage 1: Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile_Fontenay-le-Comte, flat (201km-125 miles) (Stage: Fernando Gaviria, Colombia; Yellow Jersey: Gaviria)July 8 " Stage 2: Mouilleron-Saint-Germain_La Roche-sur-Yon, flat (182.5-113) (Peter Sagan,... More...

TASTE OF THE TOUR: Cod and potatoes to scale Brittany's wall
July 11, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
QUIMPER, France (AP) " It's time for the Tour de France climbers to stretch their legs on what Brittany proudly refers to as its cherished, if miniature, version of an Alp.After several days when the sprinters shined, the race gets... More...

Cycling: Dion Smith hands over polka dot jersey, Sagan wins hilly Tour de France stage
July 11, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Kiwi cyclist Dion Smith has handed over the King of the Mountain jersey following Stage 5 of the Tour de France.Smith earned the polka dot jersey in the second stage but it was handed over to Latvia's Toms Skujins today after the... More...

Tour de France Results
July 10, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
1. Fernando Gaviria, Colombia, Quick-Step Floors, 4:25:01.2. Peter Sagan, Slovakia, Bora-Hansgrohe, same time.3. Andr Greipel, Germany, Lotto Soudal, same time.4. Dylan Groenewegen, Netherlands, LottoNL-Jumbo, same time.5.... More...

Tour de France: Dion Smith still in polka dot, Fernando Gaviria wins stage four
July 10, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Kiwi Dion Smith has retained the polka dot jersey following the fourth stage of the Tour de France.Only one point was on offer for the King of the Mountains jersey today, which went to Frenchman Anthony Perez and with Smith finishing... More...

TASTE OF THE TOUR: Oysters and apple cider in Brittany
July 10, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
SARZEAU, France (AP) " The Age of Discovery has left its mark in Lorient, the starting point for Stage 5 in the Tour de France on Wednesday.A town in Brittany featuring five ports, Lorient was created in the 17th century to host... More...

Gaviria beats Sagan again to claim 2nd Tour win on Stage 4
July 10, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
SARZEAU, France (AP) " Fernando Gaviria and Peter Sagan have turned the first four days of the Tour de France into an enthralling duel of rising star versus world champion.And Tour newcomer Gaviria is winning so far.Gaviria edged... More...

TASTE OF THE TOUR: Salted sea bass and boating in Brittany
July 10, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Heading north up the Atlantic coast, the Tour de France enters Brittany where shellfish and refreshing white wines await at the end of Stage 4 on Tuesday.The rolling route starts at the coastal town of La Baule before running inland... More...

Tour de France: Kiwi Patrick Bevin picks up stage win in team time trial
July 10, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
New Zealand's Patrick Bevin is a stage winner at the Tour de France after his BMC team took out the team time trial in the third stage overnight.Bevin is the third Kiwi to win the TTT following Chris Jenner in 2001 and Julian Dean... More...

Froome faces early challenge from BMC team at Tour de France
July 10, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
CHOLET, France (AP) " Besides still having to make up most of the 51 seconds he lost in a Stage 1 crash, Chris Froome faces another challenge as he seeks a record-tying fifth Tour de France title " Richie Porte's BMC team.BMC beat... More...

Cycling: I took a Paris short cut while some keen Kiwis are riding the whole Tour de France route
July 08, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
It's an easy 30km bicycle ride from the point where the first Tour de France began to the point where it ended.On the afternoon of July 1, 1903 the first stage of the first Tour started outside the Cafe Au Reveil Matin, just south... More...

Tour de France Stages
July 08, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
July 7 " Stage 1: Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile_Fontenay-le-Comte, flat (201km-124.9 miles) (Stage: Fernando Gaviria, Colombia; Yellow Jersey: Gaviria)July 8 " Stage 2: Mouilleron-Saint-Germain_La Roche-sur-Yon, flat (182.5-113.4) (Peter... More...

TASTE OF THE TOUR: Bloody handkerchiefs in Cholet
July 08, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
There is a bloody past to the red handkerchiefs that many fans will wave during Monday's third stage of the Tour de France."Les mouchoirs rouge" are the symbol of Cholet, the site of a team time trial that should shake up the overall... More...

Sagan wins Stage 2 in Tour de France, Froome has calmer ride
July 08, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
LA ROCHE-SUR-YON, France (AP) " A year after leaving the Tour de France in disgrace, Peter Sagan earned the race's yellow jersey on Sunday after doing what he does best: Powering past the competition to reach the finish line.The... More...

Cycling: Dion Smith takes King of the Mountains jersey at Tour de France
July 08, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Dion Smith has recorded a slice of New Zealand cycling history at the Tour de France.Smith has pulled on the polka dot jersey at the end of stage two of the 2018 Tour, as leader of the King of the Mountains competition - making... More...

Cycling: Froome fires up over Wada's flawed testing
July 07, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Controversial British cycling star Chris Froome has said it would be "scandalous" if it emerged Wada had sat on unpublished data proving its salbutamol tests were not fit for purpose, although he stopped short of saying he would sue... More...

Gaviria rekindles Colombian glory at Tour de France debut
July 07, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
FONTENAY-LE-COMTE, France (AP) " Colombia, the land of climbers, finally has a cyclist back in the yellow jersey at the Tour de France.And it took a sprinter to do it.Fernando Gaviria won the opening stage on his debut on Saturday,... More...

TASTE OF THE TOUR: White beans and chocolate Napoleons
July 07, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
What do savory white beans and chocolate treats in the shape of Napoleon's head have in common besides melting in your mouth?They can both be enjoyed on Sunday when the Tour de France swings away from the salt water and wind-swept... More...

Tour de France Stages
July 07, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
July 7 " Stage 1: Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile_Fontenay-le-Comte, flat (201km-125 miles) (Stage: Fernando Gaviria, Colombia; Yellow Jersey: Gaviria)July 8 " Stage 2: Mouilleron-Saint-Germain_La Roche-sur-Yon, flat (182.5-113)July 9 "... More...

Froome flies off the road into a ditch in opening Tour stage
July 07, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
FONTENAY-LE-COMTE, France (AP) " Down in a ditch, Chris Froome had to hoist himself and his bike back up to the road.It was a startling scene when the Team Sky rider tumbled into a grassy field in the opening stage of the Tour de... More...

Cycling: Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana struggle in opening Tour de France stage
July 07, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Down in a ditch, Chris Froome had to hoist himself and his bike back up to the road.It was a startling scene when the Team Sky rider tumbled into a grassy field in the opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, immediately... More...

Froome starts pursuit of 5th Tour de France title
July 07, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L'ILE, France (AP) " Chris Froome's pursuit of a record-tying fifth Tour de France title has begun amid big crowds under sunny skies on an island off the Atlantic coast.The full peloton of 176 riders split between... More...

Cycling: Kiwi quartet line up for 'month of pain' at Tour de France
July 07, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
Four Kiwis will be lining up as the 105th edition of the Tour de France gets underway tonight. Jack Bauer, Patrick Bevin and Dion Smith all return to the Tour after competing last year, while Tom Scully makes his debut.Radio Sport's... More...

Tour de France director calls for 'serenity' with Froome
July 06, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
MOUILLERON-LE-CAPTIF, France (AP) " Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme urges fans to "keep both feet on the ground" when four-time champion Chris Froome rides by.Freshly cleared of doping, the Team Sky rider was booed at... More...

Movistar launches 3-man attack to end Froome's Tour reign
July 06, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
CHOLET, France (AP) " Movistar is launching a three-man attack to foil Chris Froome's quest to win a fifth Tour de France.While most teams appoint one leader to fight for the title, Movistar says Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde,... More...

Julian Dean: Big task ahead for Kiwi quartet at Tour de France
July 06, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
For the second consecutive year there will be a solid collection of our top Kiwi riders, spread across various teams, lining up at the start of the 2018 Tour de France. It is no coincidence that three of the four Kiwis taking part... More...

Van Garderen embraces No. 2 role for team at Tour de France
July 05, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
LA ROCHE-SUR-YON, France (AP) " For years, Tejay van Garderen has been the United States' best hope of winning the Tour de France.But for this edition of the world's biggest cycling race, Van Garderen is tasked with doing all he... More...

TASTE OF THE TOUR: Pricey potatoes and sailing in the Vendee
July 05, 2018 (20:00) [ Indexed from New Zealand Herald ]
LA ROCHE-SUR-YON, France (AP) " The normally clear-defined lines between land and sea will blend together during Saturday's opening stage of the 105th Tour de France.Crosswinds will likely be a factor, too.The race begins in the... More...