2011 Vacansoleil-DCM season

2011 Vacansoleil-DCM season
Manager Daan Luijkx
One-day victories 6
Stage race overall victories 2
Stage race stage victories 14
Previous season • Next season

The 2011 season for the Vacansoleil-DCM cycling team began in January at the Tour Down Under and ended in November at the Amstel Curaçao Race. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour; Vacansoleil-DCM became a ProTeam for the first time ahead of the 2011 season.

Improving upon 14 victories in the 2010 season, Vacansoleil-DCM managed 22 victories during the season. Having previously been invited to the 2009 Vuelta a España, Vacansoleil-DCM contested the other Grand Tour events – the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France – for the first time. Despite rumours that the team faced exclusion to the doping scandals involving team members Riccardo Riccò and Ezequiel Mosquera, they were included pursuant to UCI rules.[1] The team rarely featured in the Giro, while the team was more successful at the Tour de France. Johnny Hoogerland held the lead of the mountains classification on two occasions, while Romain Feillu finished in the top five on four stages during the first half of the race. Hoogerland also made headlines when he and Team Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha were sideswiped by a car while they rode in a breakaway. Outside of the Grand Tours, Thomas De Gendt took World Tour stage victories at Paris–Nice and the Tour de Suisse, with Borut Božič also taking a stage win in Switzerland.

The team were also successful in single-day races, with six different riders all achieving a victory. Despite all the victories, the team finished last in the UCI World Tour rankings, since the majority of their victories came during UCI Europe Tour races. ProTeams, though eligible to participate in the races, were not eligible to earn points toward the Europe Tour ranking (just as Professional Continental teams could not earn points toward the World Tour ranking).

Contents

2011 roster

Ages as of January 1, 2011.

Rider Date of birth
 Santo Anzà (ITA) November 17, 1980 (aged 30)
 Maxim Belkov (RUS) January 9, 1985 (aged 25)
 Borut Božič (SLO) August 8, 1980 (aged 30)
 Matteo Carrara (ITA) March 25, 1979 (aged 31)
 Thomas De Gendt (BEL) November 6, 1986 (aged 24)
 Stijn Devolder (BEL) August 29, 1979 (aged 31)
 Romain Feillu (FRA) April 6, 1984 (aged 26)
 Gorik Gardeyn (BEL) March 17, 1980 (aged 30)
 Michał Gołaś (POL) April 29, 1985 (aged 25)
 Johnny Hoogerland (NED) May 13, 1983 (aged 27)
 Martijn Keizer (NED) March 25, 1988 (aged 22)
 Sergey Lagutin (UZB) January 14, 1981 (aged 29)
 Björn Leukemans (BEL) July 1, 1977 (aged 33)
 Pim Ligthart (NED) June 16, 1988 (aged 22)
 Bert-Jan Lindeman[N 1] (NED) June 16, 1989 (aged 21)
 Marco Marcato (ITA) February 11, 1984 (aged 26)
Rider Date of birth
 Barry Markus[N 1] (NED) July 17, 1991 (aged 19)
 Wouter Mol (NED) April 17, 1982 (aged 28)
 Ezequiel Mosquera (ESP) November 19, 1975 (aged 35)
 Jens Mouris (NED) March 12, 1980 (aged 30)
 Alberto Ongarato (ITA) July 24, 1975 (aged 35)
 Marcello Pavarin (ITA) October 22, 1986 (aged 24)
 Ruslan Pidgornyy (UKR) July 25, 1977 (aged 33)
 Wout Poels (NED) October 1, 1987 (aged 23)
 Riccardo Riccò[N 2] (ITA) September 1, 1983 (aged 27)
 Rob Ruijgh (NED) December 12, 1986 (aged 24)
 Mirko Selvaggi (ITA) February 11, 1985 (aged 25)
 Joost van Leijen (NED) July 20, 1984 (aged 26)
 Frederik Veuchelen (BEL) September 4, 1978 (aged 32)
 Willem Wauters[N 1] (BEL) November 10, 1989 (aged 21)
 Lieuwe Westra (NED) September 11, 1982 (aged 28)
Riders who joined the team for the 2011 season
Rider 2010 team
Santo Anzà Ceramica Flaminia[3]
Maxim Belkov ISD-NERI[4]
Thomas De Gendt Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator[4]
Stijn Devolder Quick Step[5]
Martijn Keizer Rabobank continental team[6]
Pim Ligthart neo-pro (stagiaire: Vacansoleil)[7]
Ezequiel Mosquera Xacobeo-Galicia[8]
Marcello Pavarin Colnago-CSF Inox[3]
Ruslan Pidgornyy ISD-NERI[4]
Mirko Selvaggi Astana[4]
Riders who left the team during or after the 2010 season
Rider 2011 team
Brice Feillu Leopard Trek[9]
Martin Mortensen Leopard Trek[10]
Matthé Pronk Marco Polo[11]
Stéphane Rossetto Nogent-sur-Oise[12]
Bobbie Traksel Landbouwkrediet[13]
Arnoud Van Groen Veranda's Willems-Accent[4]

One-day races

Spring classics

The team suffered a slow start to the single-day season, with Feillu taking third place at the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise in January,[14] and neo-pro Ligthart taking a similar placing in February's Clásica de Almería.[15] In March, Westra took his first victory since the 2009 Tour de Picardie, by winning the Classic Loire Atlantique, in France.[16] After creating a four-man breakaway with Anthony Geslin of FDJ, Saur-Sojasun's Jean-Marc Marino and Landbouwkrediet rider Frédéric Amorison, they were joined by five other riders within the last 5 km (3.1 mi); one of the five, Amorison's team-mate Bert Scheirlinckx attacked in the closing stages but Westra followed and outsprinted him to the line, eventually winning by two seconds. Four days later, Marcato finished sixth in Dwars door Vlaanderen.[17] Ligthart won his first race as a professional in April, by winning Hel van het Mergelland in a sprint finish of 26 riders.[18][19]

The following day, Leukemans was in contention for victory at the Tour of Flanders,[20] attacking off the front of the field on the Molenberg, remaining in contention with the persistent attacks by other riders within the last 50 km (31.1 mi) of the event; Leukemans was aided by De Gendt and Devolder, but could do no better than a seventh place finish.[21] In the Grand Prix Pino Cerami, Marcato finished in second place, having been part of an eleven-man breakaway formed with around 40 km (24.9 mi) remaining, before losing to Scheirlinckx in a two-man sprint after the two had jettisoned their fellow escapees.[22] Leukemans suffered the same result in Brabantse Pijl, losing out to Omega Pharma-Lotto's Philippe Gilbert – starting his unprecedented run in the month of April – in another two-man sprint, after the two riders attacked off the front of a seven-man lead group.[23] Following a second place at the Grand Prix de Denain,[24] Feillu won the Tour du Finistère in mid-April, gapping the field in an uphill sprint to the line.[25] Leukemans continued his good form into the Ardennes classics, taking seventh place in the Amstel Gold Race,[26] and ninth in Liège–Bastogne–Liège.[27]

May was not as successful for the team, as Marcato finished in sixth place in the Eschborn-Frankfurt City Loop at the start of the month,[28] and Ruijgh took seventh place in the Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan, towards the end of the month.[29] The next day, Keizer took his first professional victory, by winning the Boucles de l'Aulne. From a breakaway of five riders, Keizer attacked in the closing stages, and soloed to the win.[30] While in June, Gardeyn finished fourth in the Tour de Rijke,[31] Ruijgh finished second to Landbouwkrediet's Dirk Bellemakers in the Ruddervoorde Koerse national event,[32] and Veuchelen finished eighth in Halle–Ingooigem.[33]

The team also sent squads to the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, Le Samyn, the Nokere Koerse, the Handzame Classic, Milan – San Remo, the Cholet-Pays de Loire, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke, Gent–Wevelgem, the Scheldeprijs, Paris–Roubaix, the Tro-Bro Léon, La Flèche Wallonne, the GP Herning, the Rund um Köln, the ProRace Berlin, and the Gullegem Koerse, but placed no higher than 12th in any of these races.

Fall races

Shortly after the Tour de France, Božič took third place in the Vattenfall Cyclassics.[34] Willem Wauters – who joined the team as a stagiaire in August – made an immediate impact for the team, finishing second behind SpiderTech-C10's Svein Tuft in the Grote Prijs Stad Zottegem,[35] while the following day, Leukemans followed up his overall win from the Tour du Limousin with victory in Druivenkoers Overijse – for the second year in succession[36] – beating Landbouwkrediet's Davy Commeyne and Jurgen Van Goolen of Veranda's Willems-Accent to the line.[37]

The team showed further good showings in September, taking six top-ten placings within the space of a week; Božič finished ninth in the Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen,[38] and sixth in Paris–Brussels,[39] while Leukemans finished sixth in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec World Tour race,[40] and third on his return to Europe, in the Grand Prix de Wallonie.[41] Feillu and Marcato each took a seventh place in the Grand Prix de Fourmies,[42] and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal respectively.[43] Mouris and Keizer finished third in Duo Normand,[44] while on the same day, Božič finished fourth in the Grand Prix d'Isbergues.[45] In October, Marcato took his first professional win in the Tour de Vendée,[46] and also finished second to BMC Racing Team's Greg Van Avermaet in Paris–Tours,[47] Feillu finished eighth in Paris–Bourges,[48] and Devolder finished seventh in the Chrono des Nations time trial.[49] Hoogerland completed the team's year, in November, with third place in the Amstel Curaçao Race.[50]

The team also sent squads to the Clásica de San Sebastián, the Dutch Food Valley Classic, the Châteauroux Classic, the GP Ouest-France, the Schaal Sels-Merksem, the Grote Prijs Jef Scherens, the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen, Omloop van het Houtland, Binche–Tournai–Binche, the Nationale Sluitingsprijs and the Giro di Lombardia, but finished no higher than 11th in any of these races.

Stage races

The team was very successful at the Tour Méditerranéen in February, as Feillu won three consecutive stages and the points classification and Poels finished as the best young rider in third place overall, having finished in the same position on the final and most difficult stage.[51] Westra finished third in the Volta ao Algarve,[52] before De Gendt took the team's first World Tour stage win of the season, managing to just outlast the advancing field in a sprint finish to the opening stage of Paris–Nice.[53] Feillu took another stage victory at May's Tour de Picardie,[54] en route to an eventual overall victory in the race.[55] The following week at the Circuit de Lorraine, De Gendt won the third stage – giving him the race lead for a time[56] – and Feillu won the fifth and final stage,[57] with De Gendt finishing at the top of the mountains classification, and the team won their respective classification.[57] Westra won the opening prologue of the Tour of Belgium,[58] with the squad eventually winning the teams classification.[59] Feillu took his eighth victory of the season at June's Tour de Luxembourg, taking the final stage win.[60]

Later in June, the team took two stage victories in the Tour de Suisse; in the fifth stage into Tägerschen, following an attack by Marcato, Božič took out the uphill sprint to the line,[61] and on the seventh stage that finished in Austrian town Serfaus, De Gendt triumphed after breaking clear of a 17-man group with 25 km (15.5 mi) remaining on the stage, eventually winning the stage by over half a minute.[62] Held concurrently with the Tour de France, van Leijen won the second stage of the Tour de Wallonie,[63] with Selvaggi later finishing on top of the mountains classification, and the squad took another teams classification win.[64] Poels claimed a stage win during the Tour de l'Ain in August,[65] eventually finishing the race second overall after cracking from the race lead on the final stage, but did win the race's sprints classification.[66] Hoogerland also took the team's sixth mountains classification win of the year.[66] Leukemans completed the team's stage race successes with a stage and overall win at the Tour du Limousin.[67]

The team also won lesser classifications at the Étoile de Bessèges,[68] the Critérium International,[69] the Three Days of De Panne,[70] and the Tour de Pologne.[71] The team also sent squads to the Tour Down Under, the Vuelta a Andalucía, Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, Vuelta a Murcia, Tirreno–Adriatico, Volta a Catalunya, the Tour of the Basque Country, Ronde van Drenthe, the Tour de Romandie, the Four Days of Dunkirk, the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Delta Tour Zeeland, the Ster ZLM Toer, the Danmark Rundt, the Eneco Tour, the Tour of Britain, the Tour de Wallonie-Picarde and the Tour of Beijing, but did not achieve a stage win, classification win, or podium finish in any of them.

Grand Tours

Giro d'Italia

Following the continued investigations into doping regarding Mosquera and Riccò, the UCI considered a potential revoking of Vacansoleil-DCM's ProTeam licence in February,[72] which would stop the team from automatically being invited to any World Tour race and be demoted to a Professional Continental team, as they were in 2010. Despite talk of a potential exclusion from the race due to these scandals, the team were included in the list of 23 teams admitted, on March 7, per UCI rules.[1]

Carrara was the team's leader for the race, while Božič and Hoogerland were named to the squad to aim for stage wins and breakaway representation.[73] The team's showing in the stage 1 team time trial was average, as they came home 10th of the 23 teams, 37 seconds off the winning pace set by HTC-Highroad.[74] Božič finished near the front of the field in the Giro's first road stage, taking fifth in the mass sprint finish to the second stage, in Parma.[75] Hoogerland and Selvaggi made breakaway attempts on stages 7 and 8, but neither could hold a sustainable advantage until the end of each stage. Carrara moved into the top ten overall after stage 9, finishing 14th on the race's first summit finish, at Mount Etna.[76] Selvaggi took the team's only top-ten placing in the second half of the race by finishing eighth in a mass sprint finish on stage 12,[77] while Carrara eventually finished the race as the team's highest placed rider in the general classification, finishing 17th overall.[78]

Tour de France

Feillu was the team's leader for the Tour,[79] leading a youthful team into the race, with three riders – De Gendt, Poels and Ruijgh – eligible for the young rider classification. Westra made the first breakaway of the Tour along with two other riders, while the team had a mediocre performance in the team time trial, coming in 20th of 22 teams,[80] and it was not until stage 3 that the team finished highly; Feillu finished second behind Garmin-Cervélo's Tyler Farrar, with Božič also making it into the top ten, in eighth position.[81] Hoogerland and Westra made breakaway manoeuvres on stages 4 and 6 respectively, but again could not muster a big enough advantage for a stage victory. Hoogerland did however take the lead of the mountains classification at the conclusion of the sixth stage, where Feillu had finished fourth and Marcato ninth.[82] Feillu took another fourth place the following day on the seventh stage into Châteauroux.[83]

Hoogerland made another break from the peloton on the ninth stage, as he was joined by five other riders who extended their lead over the field. With 36 km (22.4 mi) remaining, Hoogerland and fellow escapee Juan Antonio Flecha of Team Sky were involved in a dramatic crash; while attempting to overtake the riders, a support car from France Télévisions sideswiped Flecha, and as a result, caused Hoogerland to crash into a barbed wire fence, and would later require 33 stitches to close gashes on his leg.[84] Prior to the crash, Hoogerland had gained enough points on the stage to retake the lead of the mountains classification from HTC-Highroad's Tejay van Garderen. Flecha and Hoogerland both finished the stage and were jointly awarded the combative rider award for the day.[85] Marcato made the breakaway on stage ten, with Feillu and Božič again making the top ten at stage end; Feillu finished fifth with Božič three places behind, in eighth place.[86] Feillu closed the first half of the race, with sixth place on stage 11.[87]

None of the team's riders featured prominently in the early mountain stages, as it was not until stage 16 when Vacansoleil-DCM returned to the top ten of a stage result, with Marcato finishing eighth into Gap.[88] Božič was tenth on stage 17 and seventh on the final stage, sandwiching two top ten placings for De Gendt, who finished sixth on stage 19 to Alpe d'Huez, and fourth on the following day's individual time trial. At the race's conclusion, the team's highest-placed rider was Ruijgh in 21st, some 33 minutes down on race winner Cadel Evans of BMC Racing Team.[89]

Vuelta a España

Although the team had 2010 runner-up Mosquera on their books, they elected not to send him – having been on the team's pre-selection list[90] – to the race due to the ongoing investigation into his positive doping case for hydroxyethyl starch. Instead, the team elected to place leadership upon the shoulders of Poels, who had taken second place and a stage victory in the Tour de l'Ain, held one week before the Vuelta.[65][66] The team started with another mediocre performance in the team time trial, coming in 18th of the 22 teams,[91] but Pidgornyy was part of a successful four-man breakaway on the third stage, and although he eventually finished 15 seconds down on the eventual stage winner Pablo Lastras (Movistar Team), Pidgornyy moved into fourth place in the general classification.[92]

Poels featured in the top ten of the next two stages, the sharp incline to Sierra Nevada – finishing eighth, two places behind team-mate Lagutin[93] – and was the closest to Team Katusha's Joaquim Rodríguez on the steep finish into Valdepeñas de Jaén.[94] He also tried to make a late-stage move, within the final 5 km (3.1 mi), on the eighth stage, but was unsuccessful, as he was swallowed up by the main field prior to the 20% gradient final climb to the line.[95] Ligthart and Keizer made their way into the breakaway on stage 9, with both being dropped before the climb to La Covatilla.[96] Pidgornyy made it into his second breakaway of the race, as the race moved into its second half, on stage 12, but he and Cofidis rider Luis Angel Maté were overhauled with just 6 km (3.7 mi) remaining.[97]

As the race began to take shape in the Cantabrian Mountains, Poels continued his impressive Vuelta to date by again featuring in the top five of a stage, by taking fourth place on stage 14.[98] Having stayed with the main group of overall contenders, Poels managed to stay with the likes of Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, while others such as Rodríguez and defending race winner Vincenzo Nibali of Liquigas-Cannondale had faded out of contention.[98] The next day, the race headed to the summit finish of the Angliru for the first time in three years, and while Geox-TMC's Juan José Cobo soloed into his eventual race-winning general classification lead, Poels was his closest challenger, 48 seconds in arrears but sufficient enough to move him into the top ten overall.[99] Poels slipped out of the top ten after losing time on the finish to Peña Cabarga, and thus tried to make a breakaway the following day, on stage 18, but was not given the freedom to break and finished with the main field.[100] Poels ultimately finished the race 17th, but the team's best-placed rider honour went to Lagutin, who finished almost three minutes ahead in 15th place.[101]

Season victories

Date Race Competition Rider Country Location
02012-02-06 February 6 Étoile de Bessèges, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 3]  France
02012-02-10 February 10 Tour Méditerranéen, Stage 2 UCI Europe Tour  Feillu, RomainRomain Feillu (FRA)  France Rousset
02012-02-11 February 11 Tour Méditerranéen, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour  Feillu, RomainRomain Feillu (FRA)  France La Farlède
02012-02-12 February 12 Tour Méditerranéen, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour  Feillu, RomainRomain Feillu (FRA)  France Biot
02012-02-13 February 13 Tour Méditerranéen, Young rider classification UCI Europe Tour  Poels, WoutWout Poels (NED)  France
02012-03-06 March 6 Paris–Nice, Stage 1 UCI World Tour  De Gendt, ThomasThomas De Gendt (BEL)  France Houdan
02012-03-19 March 19 Classic Loire Atlantique UCI Europe Tour  Westra, LieuweLieuwe Westra (NED)  France La Haie-Fouassière
02012-03-27 March 27 Critérium International, Mountains classification UCI Europe Tour  Ligthart, PimPim Ligthart (NED)  France
02012-03-31 March 31 Three Days of De Panne, Mountains classification UCI Europe Tour  Westra, LieuweLieuwe Westra (NED)  Belgium
02012-04-02 April 2 Hel van het Mergelland UCI Europe Tour  Ligthart, PimPim Ligthart (NED)  Netherlands Eijsden
02012-04-16 April 16 Tour du Finistère UCI Europe Tour  Feillu, RomainRomain Feillu (FRA)  France Quimper
02012-05-14 May 14 Tour de Picardie, Stage 2 UCI Europe Tour  Feillu, RomainRomain Feillu (FRA)  France Château-Thierry
02012-05-15 May 15 Tour de Picardie, Overall UCI Europe Tour  Feillu, RomainRomain Feillu (FRA)  France
02012-05-20 May 20 Circuit de Lorraine, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour  De Gendt, ThomasThomas De Gendt (BEL)  France Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
02012-05-22 May 22 Circuit de Lorraine, Stage 5 UCI Europe Tour  Feillu, RomainRomain Feillu (FRA)  France Hayange
02012-05-22 May 22 Circuit de Lorraine, Mountains classification UCI Europe Tour  De Gendt, ThomasThomas De Gendt (BEL)  France
02012-05-22 May 22 Circuit de Lorraine, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 4]  France
02012-05-25 May 25 Tour of Belgium, Prologue UCI Europe Tour  Westra, LieuweLieuwe Westra (NED)  Belgium Buggenhout
02012-05-29 May 29 Tour of Belgium, Young rider classification UCI Europe Tour  Ligthart, PimPim Ligthart (NED)  Belgium
02012-05-29 May 29 Tour of Belgium, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 5]  Belgium
02012-05-29 May 29 Boucles de l'Aulne UCI Europe Tour  Keizer, MartijnMartijn Keizer (NED)  France Châteaulin
02012-06-05 June 5 Tour de Luxembourg, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour  Feillu, RomainRomain Feillu (FRA)  Luxembourg Luxembourg City
02012-06-15 June 15 Tour de Suisse, Stage 5 UCI World Tour  Božič, BorutBorut Božič (SLO)  Switzerland Tägerschen
02012-06-17 June 17 Tour de Suisse, Stage 7 UCI World Tour  De Gendt, ThomasThomas De Gendt (BEL)  Austria Serfaus
02012-07-24 July 24 Tour de Wallonie, Stage 2 UCI Europe Tour  van Leijen, JoostJoost van Leijen (NED)  Belgium Houffalize
02012-07-27 July 27 Tour de Wallonie, Mountains classification UCI Europe Tour  Selvaggi, MirkoMirko Selvaggi (ITA)  Belgium
02012-08-06 August 6 Tour de Pologne, Mountains classification UCI World Tour  Gołaś, MichałMichał Gołaś (POL)  Poland
02012-08-06 August 6 Tour de Pologne, Teams classification UCI World Tour [N 6]  Poland
02012-08-12 August 12 Tour de l'Ain, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour  Poels, WoutWout Poels (NED)  France Lélex
02012-08-13 August 13 Tour de l'Ain, Mountains classification UCI Europe Tour  Hoogerland, JohnnyJohnny Hoogerland (NED)  France
02012-08-13 August 13 Tour de l'Ain, Sprints classification UCI Europe Tour  Poels, WoutWout Poels (NED)  France
02012-08-16 August 16 Tour du Limousin, Stage 1 UCI Europe Tour  Leukemans, BjörnBjörn Leukemans (BEL)  France Guéret
02012-08-19 August 19 Tour du Limousin, Overall UCI Europe Tour  Leukemans, BjörnBjörn Leukemans (BEL)  France
02012-08-24 August 24 Druivenkoers Overijse UCI Europe Tour  Leukemans, BjörnBjörn Leukemans (BEL)  Belgium Overijse
02012-10-02 October 2 Tour de Vendée UCI Europe Tour  Marcato, MarcoMarco Marcato (ITA)  France La Roche-sur-Yon

Away from competition

Dismissal of Riccardo Riccò

Having made his season début with a seventh place in the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise in France on January 30,[14] and prior to travelling to the Tour Méditerranéen, Riccò was admitted to hospital in Pavullo nel Frignano on February 6, with his father Rubinho stating that his son had apparent "kidney failure" and a body temperature of 104 °F (40 °C); he was later transferred to a hospital in Modena.[102] Two days later, the Italian State Police confirmed that they were investigating Riccò for blood doping, after an apparent self-administered autologous blood transfusion at his home, and obtained his medical records while Riccò was in hospital recovering.[103] His team also released a statement that day, calling the reports "a rumour", but started their own investigation into the matter, and if found to have doped, Riccò would be sacked as a violation of UCI anti-doping rules.[104]

Personalities within the cycling world condemned Riccò for returning to doping,[105][106][107] having already served a 20-month ban for the banned blood booster CERA in 2008. After conducting their investigation, the team announced that they had suspended Riccò on February 11, also indicating that they had sent a letter of their decision to Riccò.[108] Following this scandal, as well as the continued allegations over team-mate Mosquera in 2010, the UCI had planned to look at the credibility of having the team at the highest echelon of the sport – as a ProTeam – with Riccò's points making up a proportion of the team's allocation in regards to a ProTeam licence.[72] Riccò was sacked by the team on February 19,[2] on the basis of their "zero-tolerance policy" on doping.[109] The team later announced a more stringent policy on how they deal with doping. Having previously given Leukemans a second chance after a positive test for artificial testosterone, team manager Daan Luijkx stated that the team would not give riders a second chance to prove their capabilities after Riccò's situation.[110]

Riccò annnounced his intention to never race again in March,[111] but signed with Continental team Meridiana-Kamen in June in the hope of competing in the Tour de Serbie, several days later after his signing.[112] This was scuppered as he was suspended by the Italian National Olympic Committee, in relation to the February blood transfusion.[113]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c Rider joined the team on August 1 as a stagiaire.
  2. ^ Riccò was sacked by the team on February 19 for a violation of team rules.[2]
  3. ^ The riders on the squad were Borut Božič, Stijn Devolder, Frederik Veuchelen, Gorik Gardeyn, Johnny Hoogerland, Björn Leukemans, Marco Marcato, and Lieuwe Westra
  4. ^ The riders on the squad were Santo Anzà, Thomas De Gendt, Romain Feillu, Pim Ligthart, Ruslan Pidgornyy, Wout Poels, Marco Marcato, and Rob Ruijgh
  5. ^ The riders on the squad were Stijn Devolder, Gorik Gardeyn, Björn Leukemans, Jens Mouris, Pim Ligthart, Joost van Leijen, Lieuwe Westra, and Wouter Mol
  6. ^ The riders on the squad were Matteo Carrara, Ruslan Pidgornyy, Romain Feillu, Michał Gołaś, Martijn Keizer, Sergey Lagutin, Marco Marcato, and Wout Poels

References

  1. ^ a b "Giro d'Italia: RCS Sport invites 23 teams". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 7 March 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-rcs-sport-invites-23-teams. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "Vacansoleil fires Riccò over doping". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 19 February 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-fires-ricco-over-doping. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "Anzà and Pavarin sign for Vacansoleil-DCM". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 29 December 2010. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anza-and-pavarin-sign-for-vacansoleil-dcm. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  4. ^ a b c d e "Transferts 2010-2011 [Transfers 2010-2011]" (in French). Velochrono.fr (Velochrono). http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/transferts-cyclisme-2010-2011/. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  5. ^ Gruber, Jered (22 November 2010). "Vacansoleil signing Stijn Devolder: "I'm going for a third Tour of Flanders"". VeloNation (VeloNation LLC). http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6444/Vacansoleil-signing-Stijn-Devolder-Im-going-for-a-third-Tour-of-Flanders.aspx. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  6. ^ "Martijn Keizer naar Vacansoleil [Martijn Keizer to Vacansoleil]" (in Dutch). NOS.nl (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting). 20 July 2010. http://nos.nl/artikel/173190-martijn-keizer-naar-vacansoleil.html. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  7. ^ Atkins, Ben (1 November 2010). "Pim Ligthart signs two year agreement with Vacansoleil-DCM". VeloNation (VeloNation LLC). http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6224/Pim-Ligthart-signs-two-year-agreement-with-Vacansoleil-DCM.aspx. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  8. ^ "Mosquera confirmed to Vacansoleil for two years". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 21 September 2010. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mosquera-confirmed-to-vacansoleil-for-two-years. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  9. ^ Farrand, Stephen (3 November 2010). "Denifl, Clarke and Feillu join the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/denifl-clarke-and-feillu-join-the-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  10. ^ Farrand, Stephen (5 November 2010). "Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project announce three more riders". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-project-announce-three-more-riders. Retrieved 1 December 2011. "The team's latest signings are young Danish riders Anders Lund and Martin Mortensen and Dutchman Tom Stamsnijder." 
  11. ^ "Matthé Pronk in Marco Polo Cycling Team 2011". Marco Polo (Joomla). 6 May 2011. http://www.marcopolocyclingteam.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=494&Itemid=5. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  12. ^ "Stéphane Rosseto au CC Nogent sur Oise en 2011 [Stéphane Rosseto to CC Nogent sur Oise in 2011]" (in French). Association Echo du Vélo (Nord Pas de Calais). http://www.echoduvelo.com/Stephane-Rosseto-au-CC-Nogent-sur.html. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  13. ^ "Bobbie Traksel departs Pegasus, signs with Landbouwkrediet". VeloNews (Competitor Group, Inc.). 3 January 2011. http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/01/news/bobbie-traksel-departs-pegasus-signs-with-landbouwkrediet_154378. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  14. ^ a b "Jérémy Roy wins the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 30 January 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-la-marseillaise-1-1-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  15. ^ "Pelucchi takes Clasica de Almeria victory". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 27 February 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-de-almeria-1-1-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  16. ^ Quénet, Jean-François (19 March 2011). "Westra wins Classic Loire Atlantique". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/classic-loire-atlantique-1-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  17. ^ "Nuyens victorious at Dwars door Vlaanderen". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 23 March 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dwars-door-vlaanderen-a-travers-la-flandre-1-1-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  18. ^ "Ligthart bests Canuti for home turf win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 2 April 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/38th-hel-van-het-mergelland-1-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  19. ^ "Nederlander Pim Ligthart wint Hel van het Mergelland [Dutchman Pim Ligthart wins Hell of the Marl]" (in Dutch). De Morgen (De Persgroep). 2 April 2011. http://www.demorgen.be/dm/nl/1001/Wielrennen/article/detail/1245037/2011/04/02/Nederlander-Pim-Ligthart-wint-Hel-van-het-Mergelland.dhtml. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  20. ^ Decaluwé, Brecht (3 April 2011). "Nuyens makes his big break through". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  21. ^ "Leukemans has to settle with 7th place in the Tour of Flanders (WT)". Vacansoleil-DCM (Vacansoleil Eindhoven). 3 April 2011. http://www.vacansoleildcm.co.uk/news/leukemans-has-to-settle-with-7th-place-in-the-tour-of-flanders-wt.html. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  22. ^ "Scheirlinckx slays the Dragon". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 7 April 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-pino-cerami-1-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  23. ^ Decaluwé, Brecht (13 April 2011). "Gilbert wins De Brabantse Pijl". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/de-brabantse-pijl-la-fleche-brabanconne-1-hc/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  24. ^ "Casper claims GP de Denain". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 15 April 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-de-denain-porte-du-hainaut-1-1-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  25. ^ "Feillu victorious in Tour du Finistère". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 16 April 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-du-finistere-1-1-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  26. ^ MacLeary, John (17 April 2011). "Philippe Gilbert becomes first Belgian to win back-to-back titles in Holland". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8457105/Amstel-Gold-Race-2011-Philippe-Gilbert-becomes-first-Belgian-to-win-back-to-back-titles-in-Holland.html. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  27. ^ Decaluwé, Brecht (24 April 2011). "Gilbert the great!". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/liege-bastogne-liege/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  28. ^ Westemeyer, Susan (1 May 2011). "Degenkolb snatches win in Frankfurt". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/rund-um-den-finanzplatz-eschborn-frankfurt-1-hc-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  29. ^ "Georges triumphs in Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 28 May 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/35th-grand-prix-de-plumelec-morbihan-1-1/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  30. ^ "Keizer claims Boucle de l'Aulne title". Yahoo! Eurosport (TF1 Group). 29 May 2011. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/29052011/58/keizer-claims-boucle-de-l-aulne-title.html. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  31. ^ "Bos nets sprint win in Tour de Rijke". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 5 June 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/22nd-tour-de-rijke-1-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  32. ^ "Bellemakers bests Ruijgh in Ruddervoorde". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 21 June 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/ruddervoorde-koerse-2011/results. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  33. ^ "Curvers nabs Halle-Ingooigem victory". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 22 June 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/halle-ingooigem-2011/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  34. ^ Gallagher, Brendan (21 August 2011). "Team Sky registers wins in Vuelta a España and Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8714384/Team-Sky-registers-wins-in-Vuelta-a-Espana-and-Vattenfall-Cyclassics-in-Hamburg.html. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  35. ^ "Tuft solos to victory in Belgium". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 23 August 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-stad-zottegem-1-1-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  36. ^ Haake, Bjorn (24 August 2011). "Leukemans wins Druivenkoers in Belgium again". VeloNation (VeloNation LLC). http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9524/Leukemans-wins-Druivenkoers-in-Belgium-again.aspx. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  37. ^ "Leukemans best in Overijse". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 24 August 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/druivenkoers-overijse-1-1-2/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  38. ^ "Van Hummel victorious at Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 7 September 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/memorial-rik-van-steenbergen-1-1-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  39. ^ "Galimzyanov prevails in Paris-Bruxelles". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 10 September 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/parijs-brusssel-paris-bruxelles-1-hc-2/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  40. ^ Frattini, Kirsten (9 September 2011). "Gilbert triumphs in GP Quebec City". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-upt-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  41. ^ "Gilbert triumphs in Grand Prix de Wallonie". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 14 September 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-de-wallonie-2011/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  42. ^ "Blot tops GP de Fourmies". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 11 September 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-de-fourmies-la-voix-du-nord-1-hc-2/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  43. ^ Frattini, Kirsten (11 September 2011). "Costa claims GP Montreal". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-montreal-upt-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  44. ^ "Van Summeren and Decker win Duo Normand". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 18 September 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/duo-normand-2011/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  45. ^ "Jorgensen edges O'Grady to win Isbergues". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 18 September 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-disbergues-pas-de-calais-1-1-2/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  46. ^ "Marcato wins from the break". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 2 October 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-vendee-1-hc-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  47. ^ "Van Avermaet victorious in Paris-Tours". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 9 October 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  48. ^ "Hayman tops sprint for Paris-Bourges win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 6 October 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-bourges-1-1-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  49. ^ "Martin wins Chrono des Nations time trial". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 16 October 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/chrono-des-nations-1-1-2/elite-men/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  50. ^ "Kittel claims Amstel Curaçao". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 5 November 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/amstel-curacao-race-2011/amstel-curacao-race/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  51. ^ "Moncoutie wins on Mont Faron". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 13 February 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-mediterraneen-cycliste-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-5/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  52. ^ Westemeyer, Susan (20 February 2011). "Martin takes stage and overall title". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ao-algarve-2-1-1/stage-5/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  53. ^ Quénet, Jean-François (6 March 2011). "De Gendt holds on in Houdan". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/paris-nice/stage-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  54. ^ "Feillu sprints to stage win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 14 May 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/65th-tour-de-picardie-2-1/stage-2/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  55. ^ "Feillu secures overall success". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 15 May 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/65th-tour-de-picardie-2-1/stage-3/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  56. ^ Hinds, Alex (21 May 2011). "De Gendt too good in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-de-lorraine-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-3/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  57. ^ a b "Roux does enough on final day to win Circuit de Lorraine". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 24 May 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-de-lorraine-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-5/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  58. ^ "Westra wins Tour of Belgium prologue". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 25 May 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-belgium-2-hc-1/prologue/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  59. ^ "Gilbert wins Tour of Belgium". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 29 May 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-belgium-2-hc-1/stage-4/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  60. ^ "Feillu finally gets his win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 5 June 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/71st-skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2-hc/stage-4/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  61. ^ Hymas, Peter (15 June 2011). "Tight teamwork nets Bozic a stage win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-5/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  62. ^ Ryan, Barry (17 June 2011). "De Gendt caps long break with solo win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-7/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  63. ^ "Van Leijen wins stage 2". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 24 July 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-2/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  64. ^ Farrand, Stephen (27 July 2011). "Van Avermaet wins overall". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-5/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  65. ^ a b Hymas, Peter (12 August 2011). "Poels tops Rolland in Lélex". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-la-route-du-progres-2-1/stage-3/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  66. ^ a b c "Moncoutie takes overall victory". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 13 August 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-la-route-du-progres-2-1/stage-4/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  67. ^ Hymas, Peter (19 August 2011). "Leukemans wins Tour du Limousin". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-du-limousin-2-hc/stage-4/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  68. ^ Farrand, Stephen (6 February 2011). "Haddou tops final stage". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/41st-etoile-de-besseges-2-1/stage-5/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  69. ^ Quénet, Jean-François (27 March 2011). "Schleck defends overall lead". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/80th-criterium-international-2-hc/stage-3/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  70. ^ Decaluwé, Brecht (31 March 2011). "Rosseler wins Three Days of De Panne". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/kbc-driedaagse-de-panne-koksijde-2-hc-1/stage-3b/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  71. ^ "06.08.2011 Kraków-Kraków 128 km: Komunikat Numer 8" (PDF). Tour de Pologne. Polskiego Związku Kolarskiego. 6 August 2011. http://tdp.infocity.pl/pdf/editions/34/wyniki.pdf. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  72. ^ a b "UCI considers revoking Vacansoleil-DCM's ProTeam license". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 17 February 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-considers-revoking-vacansoleil-dcms-proteam-license. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  73. ^ Atkins, Ben (2 May 2011). "Vacansoleil-DCM looking forward to team’s first ever Giro d’Italia". VeloNation (VeloNation LLC). http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8303/Vacansoleil-DCM-looking-forward-to-teams-first-ever-Giro-dItalia.aspx. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  74. ^ Farrand, Stephen (7 May 2011). "HTC-Highroad triumphs in team time trial". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  75. ^ Westemeyer, Susan (8 May 2011). "Petacchi wins the sprint in Parma". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-2/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  76. ^ Clarke, Les (15 May 2011). "Contador climbs to stage victory and into overall lead". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-9/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  77. ^ Cossins, Peter (19 May 2011). "Cavendish reigns in Ravenna". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-12/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  78. ^ Ryan, Barry (29 May 2011). "Contador claims second Giro d'Italia victory". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-21/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  79. ^ "Romain Feillu to lead Vacansoleil into Tour de France". VeloNews (Competitor Group, Inc.). 23 June 2011. http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/romain-feillu-to-lead-vacansoleil-into-tour-de-france_179894. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  80. ^ Clarke, Les (3 July 2011). "Garmin-Cervelo wins team time trial". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-2/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  81. ^ Cossins, Peter (4 July 2011). "Farrar nabs his first Tour de France stage". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-3/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  82. ^ Clarke, Les (7 July 2011). "Boasson Hagen edges Goss for soggy stage win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-6/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  83. ^ Cossins, Peter (8 July 2011). "Cavendish repeats at site of first Tour success". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-7/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  84. ^ "Johnny Hoogerland stitched up after stage 9 crash". VeloNews. Agence France-Presse (Competitor Group, Inc.). 11 July 2011. http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/news/hoogerland-receives-33-stitches-after-stage-9-crash_183191. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  85. ^ Cossins, Peter (10 July 2011). "Luis León Sánchez wins crash-hit stage". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-9/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  86. ^ Farrand, Stephen (12 July 2011). "Greipel defeats Cavendish for stage win in Carmaux". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-10/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  87. ^ Westemeyer, Susan (13 July 2011). "Cavendish gets stage number three and green jersey in Lavaur". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-11/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  88. ^ Clarke, Les (19 July 2011). "Hushovd smashes breakaway for second stage win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-16/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  89. ^ Ryan, Barry (24 July 2011). "Cadel Evans wins 2011 Tour de France". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-21/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  90. ^ Atkins, Ben (26 July 2011). "Ezequiel Mosquera named in Vacansoleil-DCM Vuelta long-list". VeloNation (VeloNation LLC). http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9196/Ezequiel-Mosquera-named-in-vacansoleil-DCM-Vuelta-long-list.aspx. Retrieved 1 December 2011. 
  91. ^ Clarke, Les (20 August 2011). "Leopard Trek claims team time trial". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  92. ^ Cossins, Peter (22 August 2011). "Lastras solos to Vuelta stage win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  93. ^ Cossins, Peter (23 August 2011). "Moreno climbs to stage victory in the Sierra Nevada". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-4/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  94. ^ Farrand, Stephen (24 August 2011). "Rodriguez powers to stage victory". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-5/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  95. ^ Clarke, Les (27 August 2011). "Rodríguez climbs to stage win". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-8/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  96. ^ Clarke, Les (28 August 2011). "Martin triumphs atop La Covatilla". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-9/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  97. ^ Cossins, Peter (1 September 2011). "Sagan pounces in Pontevedra". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-12/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  98. ^ a b Clarke, Les (3 September 2011). "Taaramae tackles La Farrapona". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-14/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  99. ^ Clarke, Les (4 September 2011). "Cobo climbs into Vuelta lead on Angliru". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-15/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  100. ^ Westemeyer, Susan (8 September 2011). "Gavazzi wins big in Noja". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-18/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  101. ^ Clarke, Les (11 September 2011). "Sagan steals final stage from pure sprinters". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results. Retrieved 2 December 2011. 
  102. ^ "Riccardo Riccò hospitalized with fever, apparent kidney failure". VeloNews (Competitor Group, Inc.). 7 February 2011. http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/02/news/riccardo-ricco-hospitalized-with-fever-apparent-kidney-failure_159118. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  103. ^ Farrand, Stephen (8 February 2011). "Italian police investigate Riccò for blood doping". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/italian-police-investigate-ricco-for-blood-doping. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  104. ^ "Vacansoleil investigating Riccò doping "rumours"". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 8 February 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-investigating-ricco-doping-rumours. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  105. ^ Westemeyer, Susan (9 February 2011). "Ricco to be questioned about blood doping investigation". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-to-be-questioned-about-blood-doping-investigation. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  106. ^ Ryan, Barry (10 February 2011). "Pozzato says Riccò scandal damages cycling". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pozzato-says-ricco-scandal-damages-cycling. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  107. ^ "Cavendish, Aldag and Kelly react to Ricco doping news". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 10 February 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-cavendish-aldag-and-kelly-react-to-ricco-doping-news. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  108. ^ "Vacansoleil-DCM suspends Riccò". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 11 February 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-dcm-suspends-ricco. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  109. ^ "Team fires Riccardo Ricco". Vacansoleil-DCM (Vacansoleil Eindhoven). 19 February 2011. http://www.vacansoleildcm.co.uk/news/team-fires-riccardo-ricco-.html. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  110. ^ Gruber, Jered (2 March 2011). "No more second chances at Vacansoleil: "We will not do that anymore."". VeloNation (VeloNation LLC). http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7630/No-more-second-chances-at-Vacansoleil-We-will-not-do-that-anymore.aspx. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  111. ^ "Riccò reveals he will never race again". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 12 March 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-reveals-he-will-never-race-again. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  112. ^ Farrand, Stephen (7 June 2011). "Riccò registered with Merdiana-Kamen team". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-registered-with-merdiana-kamen-team. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  113. ^ "CONI suspends Riccò". Cycling News (Future Publishing Limited). 10 June 2011. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/coni-suspends-ricco. Retrieved 3 December 2011. 
  • Acqua & Sapone
  • Andalucía-Caja Granada
  • Androni Giocattoli
  • Bretagne-Schuller
  • Caja Rural
  • CCC Polsat Polkowice
  • Cofidis
  • Colnago-CSF Inox
  • Colombia es Pasión-Café de Colombia
  • De Rosa-Ceramica Flaminia
  • Team Europcar
  • Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli
  • FDJ
  • Geox-TMC
  • Landbouwkrediet
  • Saur-Sojasun
  • Skil-Shimano
  • SpiderTech-C10
  • Team NetApp
  • Team Type 1
  • Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • Veranda's Willems-Accent