The Chain Gang

Radio-free Tour de France stage produces no changes at the top

Ken Gladstone — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:15:24 -0400

Check out all the latest race photos in the Sentinel's Tour de France photo gallery The Tour de France went technology-free Tuesday, and although the debate about the pros and cons of riding without earpieces continued, the lack of communication...

No respite from controversy on Tour de France's day of rest

Ken Gladstone — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:01:19 -0400

Check out all the latest race photos in the Sentinel's Tour de France photo gallery The Tour de France took its first rest day Monday but there was no respite from controversy. The growing tensions between Astana teammates Lance Armstrong...

"Death discs" on SR 415 contribute to crash

Mary Shanklin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:37:36 -0400

We had a pretty serious crash on SR 415 yesterday. Anyone who has done the full Sunday ride knows that riding down 415 in Deltona towards 46 is a death-wish.

Gainesville shop builds bikes

Mary Shanklin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:36:39 -0400

Anthony Clark, business editor of the Gainesville Sun, writes about a custom-bike-building operation there. The process isn’t pretty, taking place in a dingy workshop in a warehouse in the Northeast Industrial Park. But the end result is a custom-handcrafted bicycle,...

Still 3rd after 9th stage, Lance Armstrong says this Tour de France probably not his last

Ken Gladstone — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:47:23 -0400

Check out all the latest race photos in the Sentinel's Tour de France photo gallery The ninth stage of the Tour de France, the last of three days in the rugged Pyrenees, produced no changes among the overall leaders Sunday....

Lance Armstrong still 3rd in Tour de France as top spots remain unchanged

Ken Gladstone — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:06:52 -0400

Check out all the latest race photos in the Sentinel's Tour de France photo gallery There were no changes at the top of the overall standings in the Tour de France after the completion of Saturday's eighth stage, the second...

Editorial on Pine Hills trail is dead-on

Liam Miller — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:18:05 -0400

This editorial from Thursday's Sentinel discusses the Pine Hills bike trail promised with a 2006 groundbreaking but never delivered. Here at the Chain Gang blog, I have documented the lack of progress every year or so via photos of the...

Lance Armstrong drops to 3rd in Tour de France but proves he'll still be a force as the race unfolds

Ken Gladstone — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:41:48 -0400

Lance Armstrong proved he still has the legs for the mountains, and although he dropped to third place overall, he served notice that he'll have to be reckoned with in the Tour de France. Armstrong ended the brutal seventh-stage mountain...

Lance Armstrong ready as Tour de France heads into crucial mountain stages

Ken Gladstone — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:03:21 -0400

The mountains are here. After six relatively flat stages the Tour de France heads into the mighty Pyranees on Friday where Lance Armstrong will find out if his 37-year-old legs can carry him to another victory. Armstrong retained the No....

Exclusive interview: Renowned Tour de France commentator Phil Liggett weighs in on Lance, Team Astana and the race

Ken Gladstone — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:34:55 -0400

Phil Liggett has heard all the talk, read all the speculation and watched all the reports that claim when crunch time comes in the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong’s powerful Astana team will be a team divided. What does he...