Bruyneel: “Contador cycling is no different”

Johan Bruyneel (Izegem, 1964) happens to be one of the voices of reference in the international peloton. This season starts a new project with a banner and Schleck brothers, Kloden with them and seeks its tenth trump in the Tour de France. But Contador, signed by the TAS, the season changed dramatically for him and for all.

QUESTION. Start a new project, what is your feeling?
ANSWER. It was a marriage resort pool. From mid-August months have so far been very complex, but when you see the end result is to be satisfied. We have done almost everything we wanted to do. In terms of image quality is one of the best teams you can dream to lead.

P. Do one of the best teams he has been in charge?
R. Is different. I used to have very strong teams, but with a very specific objective. Everything was focused on a corridor, Armstrong and Contador, and one goal: the Tour de France. Now is different. We still have the quality and ambition to focus on the Tour, but we also have many other brokers for players throughout the year. For me, the big news is that finally I have a rider to aspire to the classic: Cancellara. Before I had good results with others, but now we can hope to win one of the great ‘monuments’. That would be a great relief to me.

P. However, talking Bruyneel team is inevitably talk of the Tour.
R. Of course. Because there is nothing greater in cycling than the Tour de France. I’ve won nine times and the taste of that victory is irreplaceable. Winning the Giro or the Vuelta is fine, is satisfactory and if we can, we will, but as winning the Tour there is nothing.

Q. Has not lost the desire to win, although he has already won nine times?
R. Not at all. Win it also has a third row would be successful.

P. Do you feel that Andy is the cyclist who will win the tenth?
R. Should it be for youth, record, quality … But Frank also was third, has great quality and no one doubts that you can also win. We also have Kloden, who knows what he is up to the podium in Paris and if last year had not been dropped would have had chances to win. We have several options, but logic says it should be Andy.

P. The youngest of the Schleck was second three times, the CAS has given him the victory in 2010 -. What has failed to win?
R. Has lacked maturity, because it clearly has talent. It has been three times second in the Tour and the Giro. Been shown to have quality to be there, but is maturing and seeing how he has to get to the Tour. Because one has to learn to listen to your body, knowing analyze … That’s what we’re taught to do and hopefully this year we give another step closer to winning, although the route of this year we are not very favorable.

P. Andy went on to state that is obsessed with winning the Tour, is that a problem or an advantage?
R. Obsessed with winning the Tour is good because it is the only way to touch perfection, which is what it takes to win. The problem is obsessed with being first and a fear of being second. Armstrong and Contador were obsessed with winning the Tour and that favored them because they did give 110%.

P. Would you have changed many things to Andy?
R. We tried to change things, but there is much room as if he had won the Tour for over 10 minutes. It has been three times second and the differences are becoming shorter, so there is not much room for improvement. But yes, we changed some things.

P. What issues are affecting more?
R. Above all we try to change their mindset, how to deal with the season and how to analyze. The how to make things perfect to reach the target. Alberto and Lance were very similar in their thinking, Andy and Frank, however, are very different and would be a mistake to apply the same method with them. You can not change the personality of people.

P. What does Andy do not have to defeat Count?
R. They are very different. The natural talent of Andy calls me much attention. It is made for up to attack, to run three weeks, where the bottom and recovery is essential. Counter is very talented, but his system of work is very organized, very methodical … Alberto was doing very well, but Andy would not work. Schleck needs more freedom.

P. Does it change much without Alberto cycling?
R. Without Alberto Contador changes everything. It’s a different bike we have seen in recent years. This is the reference runner now and without it the picture is very different.

P. What did you think when he met the judgment of the TAS?
R. Nobody can be happy for what happened. This is bad news for Albert, for Andy and for all. To have told Andy to win the Tour, but he has not won. The honors will say yes, but his feelings still say no.

P. How might it affect the sanction to Albert?
R. This resolution will make it stronger. And when you return to the competition will be stronger mentally, though it was the strongest in this regard. That will grow as a cyclist and a competitor.

P. Back in the Tour of Spain.
R. If you want to do the Tour and the tour there, it’s better than the others in August to look elsewhere.

P. Is there any way to stop the bad news in cycling?
R. It’s a shame. Cycling is organized in a very unprofessional. There is much interest divided and there is no intention of doing things differently. I know of no sport where the rules are adapted to situations. Here, however, be improvised in the moment, there are no rules. As is organized cycling is a very easy victim to some absurd situations.

P. What is the way to save cycling? Can you survive without the ICU?
R. In this life no one is indispensable. Sometimes you have to reach certain limits to see what you can do other things. The UCI must regulate and top it all, but I could do otherwise. The UCI reaches certain extremes that exceed their duties and leaves no room for the rest to expand.

P. A private league is crazy?
R. For cycling is unrealistic. This is a traditional sport and can not lose some references, but could learn from other structures and adapt them to our system.

P. Recently, Armstrong has been acquitted of charges that fell upon him. How do you feel?
R. I feel what she could feel Albert, as we have seen in a similar situation but the result was very different. In the case of Lance did not expect more than a final acquittal. Armstrong has lived this chase for 10 years. They wanted his head, but found nothing. And they can continue looking for 10 years, because they will find nothing. So you can enjoy what he has done, and with his head held high.

P. Something is wrong if you can not savor the victory until 10 years later, right?
R. It is a price to pay. When you take a long time at the top there is always someone who does not want to see you there. This happens in all areas of society: in politics, in business …

Djokovic gives only two games against Mahut

Novak Djokovic reached the second round of Australia Open after crushing the French track Nicolas Mahut, Which inflicted a severe defeat 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 in one hour and 14 minutes. The world number one is showing intractable in the first Grand Slam of the season in which he defends the title won last year, and only granted to rivals 10 games in the three games he has played.

The Balkans took pity on the French player, who played with discomfort in his knee A disadvantage too large for Mahut, who could not physically respond to a party of the requirement imposed his rival. Djokovic did not miss the opportunity that presented itself to meet fast-track the match in just over an hour, and thus to save energy for the second week of the tournament, in which rivals await more difficult than those found so far.

In the next round, will face the winner of the match between Canadian Milos Raonic, one of the great promises of the circuit, and veteran local player Lleyton Hewitt.

Tsonga also wins easily
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also reached very easily qualifying for the knockout stage after beating the Portuguese Frederico Gil by a triple 6-2 in just an hour and a half game. The player of Le Mans was much higher in the track and made a great game against Gil, who had succeeded after the historical record of being the first Portuguese player to reach the third round of a Grand Slam.

Tsonga displayed a very aggressive game, getting ten points of serve-volley, of the thirteen who tried, and 26 with their excursions to the network, but from the bottom of the track also laid down the law to the player helpless Luso attended festival of blows from his opponent.

At the end of the game, the player Gallo acknowledged that “I play better every game. Today I played very well and did not spend much time on the track and that’s good for the rest of the tournament.” Tsonga, who faces this year’s Australia Open without a coach, said he did not know whether to continue without long technical. “We’ll see what I do, if I keep improving my game, why do I have to change,” he asked.

In the second round, the sixth-seeded Japanese will face tournament Kei Nishikori, Who beat Frenchman Julien Benneteau in four sets.

No problem for Murray
Andy Murray is reaching cruising speed in the Australia Open and qualified for the knockout round after completing his best game against Frenchman Michael Llodra, Which exceeded by a score of 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 in 1 hour and 49 minutes.

The finalist of the last two editions of the tournament improved his game significantly over his previous two games against a rival always uncomfortable surfaces such as French, who was slightly diminished their game a sore left knee.

Murray signed a very complete game. Just made mistakes and was reunited with his tennis fluid. Llodra, very aggressive, rose thirty times the net in the first set, but the British counter knew his game well and earned the first leg.

The Frenchman took advantage of five break points he had in the first set and that was granted licenses to serve the Scot, as Murray pulled out with authority to serve and hit winners fifty comfortably closed their place in the second round, where they will face Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

The ‘Red’ revving in Lanzarote

Monday started the second stage of preparation of the Spanish team for the upcoming European Serbia is just around the corner (January 15-31). And what better place to heat engines Lanzarote, where Valero Rivera’s charges will be until next January 9, when they return to the mainland for further tuning.

During this second phase, the 14 players from the final list of selected and played the next Championships. Europe, not just train all week, as they will play against Argentina Barcenas trophy Sunday (Friday 14.00 h. Teledeporte) and Tunisia (Sunday 14.00 h. TLD), a certain level rivals that will serve to show the level the national team one week before the start of Europe. Spain will return to the mainland on Monday, when after two days of rest, re-focus on Leganés to complete its preparation.

The Red players already had their first practice today at the Palace of Sports of Arrecife, in a specific session of physical work, which was directed by the coach Francisco Seirul-lo. Tomorrow the Spanish train back into the sport recently mentioned Lanzarote from 11.30 to 15.00 (GMT).

Spain begins its concentration on Monday for the European

The Spanish men’s handball in Barcelona on Monday begin the first phase of its concentration to prepare the European handball, to be held in Serbia from 15 to 29 January next.

After completion of the official competitions of 2011, with the dispute Asobal Cup Lion, the above are enjoying a few days off before starting the preparation for the continental tournament, where Spain will come as world bronze and with the aim of fight for the podium, and even the only Olympic tickets will be at stake.

Valero Rivera has designed a specific plan, starting in Barcelona, ​​where the national team will be up on Friday December 30. The coach wants to take a longer break to international and some rest and will not join the group until 2012, which will use the hand to continue the process of observation of many players who are knocking loudly on the selection.

Thus, in this first stage, the brothers Entrerríos rest, ‘Juanín’ Garcia, Julen Aguinagalde and Iker Romero, to be replaced by Valero Rivera Folch (Nantes), Aitor Ariño (FC Barcelona), Gideon Guardiola (AMAYA Sport San Antonio), Antonio Garcia (ADEME) and Mikel Aguirrezabalaga (FC Barcelona).

The new center will be the Dani Sarmiento (FC Barcelona Intersport), which is ranked by Chema Rodríguez (Atlético BM), and goalkeeper José Manuel Sierra (four stripes), which replaces Arpad Sterbik (WB Athletic), which in January, with partner Jonas Kallman, will undergo a surgical treatment for cardiac arrhythmia.

Later, with the entrance of the new year, the entire selection and Lanzarote will focus on the January 2, where the weekend of 6, 7 and 8 will play the International Tournament in Spain, ‘Memorial Sunday Barcenas’.

On Monday September the expedition returned to the Peninsula, and after two days of rest, concentrate again on Thursday, January 12, in Madrid, home of the final stretch of preparation for the European, where at noon on Saturday to travel to Serbia face a European Championship game where they are in a place for the Games, and two seats for Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Federer: “Whom I most admire is Valentino Rossi”

By surprise, Nike hosted a chat on his Facebook page with one of its icons, Roger Federer. The Swiss did not hide and answered countless questions.

“I’m a fan of Basel. My idol is Michael Jordan. In today’s athletes, whom I most admire is Valentino Rossi. I love everything that has been achieved in their sport. I like cricket because my mother is South African,” says .

As for his career, it was also clear. “I had no serious mishaps in my career because I always knew my plan well organized. Very well balanced all elements of my life. Hard work and rest are equally important,” he acknowledged.

Federer also took stock of his 2011 that ended with his victory at the Masters in London. “I had a good season. Certainly I’ve had tough losses, but managed to find a way to be in a good position ahead of 2012,” he said.

“I am determined to stay with Marc and win a ring”

“I want to sit down and reach an agreement with Marc I am determined to stay with Marc and I am determined to win a ring.” Michael Heisley, Grizzlies owner has not been able to make it clearer just informally opened the free agent market.

He has already spoken with Arn Tellem waiting to formalize a written offer from the day 9. “We will be very aggressive in this regard, it is clear, said Chris Wallace, Grizzlies general manager in the Commercial Appeal.

As reported BRAND, The middle of the series Gasol wants a contract at least nine million dollars or seriously weigh return to Europe. It seems that Memphis is going to let him get away: As with the previous agreement, the Grizzlies can offer one year longer than any suitor and also by a greater amount.

Wallace has been adamant about the plans of the franchise: We want you back Shane Battier and Haddadi. Clearly we need more players. Can we make a major move outside the Marc? No “.

“I think Memphis has been a good place to Marc has become one of the best centers in the league and we are determined to keep him”