The NCB Radio “Road to the FA Cup”

Here on our NCB Radio “Road to the FA Cup”, we are following the winners in each round, all the way through to Wembley
We started with local side, Bodmin Town, who got through to a 3rd Qualifying Round Replay, before going down 5.1 to Ryman League side, Godalming Town. Godalming Town in turn, went out of the FA Cup in the 4th Qualifying Round. In a match where both teams knew the winners would be in the draw for the 1st Round (proper), where League clubs from League 1 and 2 join in, visitors Maidenhead United won 5.0 at Wey Court. In the 1st Round, Maidenhead United  earned a home tie against League 2 side, Aldershot Town, in which they held them 1.1, but went down 2.0 in the replay.  In the 2nd Round, Aldershot Town went down 1.0 to League 1 side, Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
In the 3rd Round, Sheffield Wednesday surprisingly defeated West Ham, 1.0, also at Hillsborough, and in the 4th Round have drawn away to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. 

You can see Sheffield Wednesday’s website at http://www.swfc.co.uk

The NCB Radio Road to Wembley so far:
21st Aug 2011: Ext Prel Rd: BODMIN TOWN 6.3 Falmouth Town http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
3rd Sept 2011: Prel Rd: BarnstapleTown 1.2 BODMIN TOWN http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
17th Sept 2011: 1st Qual Rd: AFC Tavistock 1.3 BODMIN TOWN http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
1st Oct 2011: 2nd Qual Rd: BODMIN TOWN 4.1 Yate Town http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
15th Oct 2011: 3rd Qual Rd: BODMIN TOWN 1.1 Godalming Town http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
18th Oct 2011: Replay: Godalming Town 5.1 BODMIN TOWN http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
29th Oct 2011: 4th Qual Rd: GODALMING TOWN 0.5 Maidenhead United http://www.godalmingtownfc.co.uk
12th Nov 2011: 1st Round: MAIDENHEAD UNITED 1.1 Aldershot Town http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenheadunited/
22nd Nov 2011: Replay: Aldershot Town 2.0 MAIDENHEAD UNITED   http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenheadunited/
3rd December 2011: 2nd Round:  Sheffield Wednesday 1.0 ALDERSHOT TOWN  http://www.theshots.co.uk
8th January 2012: 3rd Round:  SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1.0 West Ham United  http://www.swfc.co.uk
28th January 2012: 4th Round: Blackpool -v- SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY  http://www.swfc.co.uk

The NCB Radio “Road to the FA Cup”

After a bit of a gap, welcome back to our NCB Radio “Road to the FA Cup”, where we are following the winners in each round, all the way through to Wembley
We started with local side, Bodmin Town, who got through to a 3rd Qualifying Round Replay, before going down 5.1 to Ryman League side, Godalming Town. Godalming Town in turn, went out of the FA Cup in the 4th Qualifying Round. In a match where both teams knew the winners would be in the draw for the 1st Round (proper), where League clubs from League 1 and 2 join in, visitors Maidenhead United won 5.0 at Wey Court. In the 1st Round, Maidenhead United  earned a home tie against League 2 side, Aldershot Town, in which they held them 1.1, but went down 2.0 in the replay.  In the 2nd Round, Aldershot Town went down 1.0 to League 1 side, Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
In the 3rd Round, Sheffield Wednesday have been drawn against West Ham, again at Hillsborough.  You can see their website, at http://www.swfc.co.uk

The NCB Radio Road to Wembley so far:
21st Aug 2011: Ext Prel Rd: BODMIN TOWN 6.3 Falmouth Town http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
3rd Sept 2011: Prel Rd: BarnstapleTown 1.2 BODMIN TOWN http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
17th Sept 2011: 1st Qual Rd: AFC Tavistock 1.3 BODMIN TOWN http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
1st Oct 2011: 2nd Qual Rd: BODMIN TOWN 4.1 Yate Town http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
15th Oct 2011: 3rd Qual Rd: BODMIN TOWN 1.1 Godalming Town http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
18th Oct 2011: Replay: Godalming Town 5.1 BODMIN TOWN http://clubwebsite.co.uk/bodmintownfootballclub
29th Oct 2011: 4th Qual Rd: GODALMING TOWN 0.5 Maidenhead United http://www.godalmingtownfc.co.uk
12th Nov 2011: 1st Round: MAIDENHEAD UNITED 1.1 Aldershot Town http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenheadunited/
22nd Nov 2011: Replay: Aldershot Town 2.0 MAIDENHEAD UNITED   http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenheadunited/
3rd December 2011: 2nd Round:  Sheffield Wednesday 1.0 ALDERSHOT TOWN  http://www.theshots.co.uk
8th January 2012: 3rd Round:  SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY -v- West Ham United  http://www.swfc.co.uk

Tour de France 18 – 21

So there it is,  this year’s edition and the 98th Tour de France is over.  It’s been a fascinating Tour this year,  with the coverted Yellow Jersey being won, and richly deserved by Australian Cadel Evans,  in a time of 86h 12’22”,  1’34” and 2’30” ahead respectively of brothers Andy and Frank Schleck,  who them themselves had excellent rides.   The Green Jersey went to Britain’s Mark Cavendish.
I hope you have enjoyed following the Tour de France here, as much as I have, putting it together.

Here then, is the final result of the 2011 Tour de France.

2011 Tour de France winner, Cadel Evans.

1 EVANS Cadel 141 BMC RACING TEAM  AUS  86h 12’22” 
2 SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM LEOPARD-TREK  LUX  86h 13’56” +01’34”
3 SCHLECK Frank 18 TEAM LEOPARD-TREK  LUX  86h 14’52” +02’30”
4 VOECKLER Thomas 181 TEAM EUROPCAR  FRA  86h 15’42” +03’20”
5 CONTADOR Alberto 1 SAXO BANK SUNGARD  ESP  86h 16’19” +03’57”
6 SANCHEZ Samuel 21 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI  ESP  86h 17’17” +04’55”
7 CUNEGO Damiano 161 LAMPRE – ISD  ITA  86h 18’27” +06’05”
8 BASSO Ivan 91 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE  ITA  86h  19’45” +07’23”
9 DANIELSON Tom 52 TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO  USA  86h 20’37” +08’15”
10 PERAUD Jean-Christophe 108 AG2R LA MONDIALE  FRA 86h 22’33” +10’11”

Green Jersey (Points) winner, Mark Cavendish

Green Jersey: CAVENDISH Mark 171 HTC – HIGHROAD  GBR  334 points
Polka Dot Jersey: SANCHEZ Samuel EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI  ESP  108points
White Jersey: ROLLAND Pierre  FRA  86h 23’05”
Team Competition: TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO  258h 18’49” 

Stage 18:

In one of the most exciting stages ever in the history of the Tour de France, a brilliant solo ride saw Andy Schleck take victory at Galibier, although he missed out on claiming the yellow jersey by just 15 seconds

Stage 18 results:

1. Andy Schleck (Team Leopard-Trek) 6:07:56
2. Frank Schleck (Team Leopard-Trek) + 02:07
3. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) + 02:15
4. Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) + 02:18
5. Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar) + 02:21
6. Pierre Rolland (Team Europcar) + 02:27
7. Damiano Cunego (lamprey – ISD) + 02:33
8. Rei Taaramae (Cofidis Le Credit en Ligne) + 03:22
9. Tom Danielson (Team Garmin-Cervelo) + 03:25
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Team Garmin-Cervelo) + 03:31

Stage 19:

France finally has its first stage win in this Tour, after a phenomenal ride from Pierre Rolland, saw him first over the finish at Alpe d’Huez.  He climbed the 21 hairpin turns of Alpe d’Huez brilliantly, winning by just 14 seconds from Samuel Sanchez.  This also allowed him to claim the white young riders’ jersey.

Stage 19 result:

1. Pierre Rolland (Europcar)  3h 13’25”
2. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel)  + 00’14”
3. Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard)  + 00’23”
4. Peter Velits (HTC – Highroad)  + 00’57”
5. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing)  + 00’57”
6. Thomas de Gendt (Vacansoleil)  + 00’57”
7. Damiano Cunego (Lampre)  + 00’57”
8. Frank Schleck (Leopard Trek)  + 00’57”
9. Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek)  + 00’57”
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin – Cervelo)  + 01’15”

Stage 20:

Cadel Evans,  who has been consistent throughout the whole Tour, chose just the right day to make his mark in the General Classification, winning the individual time trial to easily overcome the 57-second deficit he had to make up on Andy Schleck.

Stage 20 Result:

1. MARTIN Tony 175 HTC – HIGHROAD 55’33”  
2. EVANS Cadel 141 BMC RACING TEAM 55’40” + 00’07”
3. CONTADOR Alberto 1 SAXO BANK SUNGARD 56’39” + 01’06”
4. DE GENDT Thomas 203 VACANSOLEIL-DCM 57’02” + 01’29”
5. PORTE Richie 5 SAXO BANK SUNGARD 57’03” + 01’30”
6. PERAUD Jean-Christophe 108 AG2R LA MONDIALE 57’06” + 01’33”
7. SANCHEZ Samuel 21 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 57’10” + 01’37”
8. CANCELLARA Fabian 12 TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 57’15” + 01’42”
9. VELITS Peter 179 HTC – HIGHROAD 57’36” + 02’03”
10. TAARAMAE Rein 151 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 57’36” +02’03”

Stage 21:

Mark Cavendish won this final stage of this year’s race, his 20th of his Tour career,  to become the first ever British winner of the green jersey, while Cadel Evans secured his first ever Tour de France win with a trouble-free ride into Paris.

Stage 21:
(In a mass finish on the Champs-Élysées,  151 riders came in together, here are the top 10 places)

1. CAVENDISH Mark 171 HTC – HIGHROAD  2h 27’02”  
2. HAGEN Edvald Boasson 114  SKY PROCYCLING  2h 27’02” +00’00”
3. GREIPEL André 33 OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO  2h 27’02” +00’00”
4. FARRAR Tyler 54 TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO  2h 27’02” +00’00”
5. CANCELLARA Fabian 12 TEAM LEOPARD-TREK  2h 27’02” +00’00”
6. OSS Daniel 95 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 2h 27’02” +00’00”
7. BOZIC Borut 202 VACANSOLEIL-DCM  2h 27’02” +00’00”
8. VAITKUS Tomas 68 PRO TEAM ASTANA  2h 27’02” +00’00”
9. CIOLEK Gerald 123 QUICK STEP CYCLING TEAM  2h 27’02” +00’00”
10. ENGOULVENT Jimmy 214 SAUR-SOJASUN  2h 27’02” +00’00”

Tour de France: Stages 16 & 17

 
As we move into the final four days of this year’s Tour de France, here is the General Classification following Stage 17 (Wednesday 20th): 

Thomas Voeckler

1 VOECKLER Thomas 181 TEAM EUROPCAR   FRA  73h 23’49”
2 EVANS Cadel 141 BMC RACING TEAM   AUS  73h 25’07” + 01’18”
3 SCHLECK Frank 18 TEAM LEOPARD-TREK   LUX  73h 25’11” + 01’22”
4 SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM LEOPARD-TREK   LUX  73h 26’25” + 02’36”
5 SANCHEZ Samuel 21 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI   ESP  73h 26’48” + 02’59”
6 CONTADOR Alberto 1 SAXO BANK SUNGARD   ESP  73h 27’04” + 03’15”
7 CUNEGO Damiano 161 LAMPRE – ISD   ITA 73h 27’23” + 03’34”
8 BASSO Ivan 91 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE   ITA  73h 27’38” + 03’49”
9 DANIELSON Tom 52 TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO   USA  73h29′ 53″ + 06’04”
10 URAN Rigoberto 118 SKY PROCYCLING   COL  73h 31’25” + 07’36”
Green Jersey:  CAVENDISH Mark 171 HTC – HIGHROAD   GBR  320 pts
Polka Dot Jersey: VANENDERT Jelle OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO   BEL  74 pts
White Jersey:  URAN Rigoberto  COL  73h 31’25”
Team Competition: TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO   219h 41’46”

Stage 16

It was a one-two for Norway, as Thor Hushovd won his second stage win ahead of fellow Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Hushovd formed part of a breakaway group of 16 riders which led the stage from about 87 kilometres right up to the finish line.
Further back, Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador bit deeply into Thomas Voeckler’s lead in the general classification at the expense of yellow jersey rivals Andy and Frank Schleck.  Thomas Voeckler held on to the yellow jersey, despite at one point in the stage losing control on a corner and ending up in someone’s back garden.

Stage 16 result:

1. Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo)  3h 31’38”
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) + 00’00”
3. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervelo)  + 00’02”
4. Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad)  + 00’38”
5. Mikhail Ignatyev (Katusha)  + 00’52”
6. Alan Perez Lezaun (Euskaltel-Euskadi)   + 01’25”
7. Jeremy Roy (FDJ) + 01′ 25″
8. Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil)   + 01’55”
9. Dries Devenyns (Quick Step)   + 01’55”
10. Andriy Grivko (Astana)  + 01’58”

Stage 17

Edvald Boasson Hagen won his second stage win in Italy  The talented Norwegian attacked on the final climb and navigated the difficult descent into Pinerolo

Stage 17 result:

1  Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) 4h 18min 00s
2. Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) + 00’40”
3. Sandy Casar (FDJ) + 00’50”
4. Julien El Fares (Cofidis) + 00’50”
5. Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) + 00’50”
6. Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana) + 01’10”
7. Maciej Paterski (Liquigas) + 01’10”
8. Dmitriy Muravyev (RadioShack) + 01’10”
9. Jonathan Hivert (Saur-Sojasun) + 01’15”
10. Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil) + 02’20”

Tour de France 2011

This weekend sees the start of the greatest cycle race in the world, and here, I will keeping track of what is happening. Before we go any further, here are all the stages, with dates and how long they are….

Stage 1  En ligne Saturday 2 July Passage du Gois La Barre-de-Monts > Mont des Alouettes Les Herbiers 191.5 km

Stage 2  Team TT Sunday 3 July Les Essarts > Les Essarts 23 km

Stage 3  En ligne Monday 4 July Olonne-sur-Mer > Redon 198 km

Stage 4  En ligne Tuesday 5 July Lorient > Mûr-de-Bretagne 172.5 km

Stage 5  En ligne Wednesday 6 July Carhaix > Cap Fréhel 164.5 km

Stage 6  En ligne Thursday 7 July Dinan > Lisieux 226.5 km

Stage 7  En ligne Friday 8 July Le Mans > Châteauroux 218 km

Stage 8  Medium mountains Saturday 9 July Aigurande > Super-Besse Sancy 189 km

Stage 9  Medium mountains Sunday 10 July Issoire > Saint-Flour 208 km

Rest Day Monday 11 July Le Lioran Cantal

Stage 10  En ligne Tuesday 12 July Aurillac > Carmaux 158 km

Stage 11  En ligne Wednesday 13 July Blaye-les-Mines > Lavaur 167.5 km

Stage 12  High Mountains Thursday 14 July Cugnaux > Luz-Ardiden 211 km

Stage 13  High Mountains Friday 15 July Pau > Lourdes 152.5 km

Stage 14  High Mountains Saturday 16 July Saint-Gaudens > Plateau de Beille 168.5 km

Stage 15  En ligne Sunday 17 July Limoux > Montpellier 192.5 km

Rest Day Monday 18 July Département de la Drôme

Stage 16  Medium mountains Tuesday 19 July Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux > Gap 162.5 km

Stage 17  High Mountains Wednesday 20 July Gap > Pinerolo 179 km

Stage 18  High Mountains Thursday 21 July Pinerolo > Galibier Serre-Chevalier 200.5 km

Stage 19  High Mountains Friday 22 July Modane Valfréjus > Alpe-d’Huez 109.5 km

Stage 20 Individual time-trial Saturday 23 July Grenoble > Grenoble 42.5 km

Stage 21  En ligne Sunday 24 July Créteil > Paris Champs-Élysées 95 km

The Tour de France starts on from Saturday July 2nd and ends on Sunday July 24th 2011.  This, the 98th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,430.5 kilometres, or 2131.6 miles. It comprises of 10 flat stages, 6 mountain stages, with 4 summit finishes, 3 medium mountain stages, and 1 individual time-trial stage (42.5 km (26.4 miles)). and 1 team time-trial stage (23 km (14.3 miles)).

What do the different color Tour de France jerseys mean?

YELLOW: The maillot jaune, the yellow jersey, is worn by the overall leader of the race so far. Each day the total amount of time taken to finish that stage is added to the cumulative time of all previous races, and the overall leader is determined. The next day, he wears the yellow throughout the stage. Whoever is awarded the yellow jersey following the final stage in Paris is the overall winner of that Tour de France.

GREEN: The green jersey, or maillot vert, is the sprinter’s jersey. At every stage, points are awarded to the first 10-25 riders that cross the finish line. The amount of sprint points awarded depends on the day’s course (a flat course produces more points than the mountain terrain) and in what place the rider finishes that day. Some stages have mini-sprints within the stage that are worth points. German Erik Zabel holds the record for winning the final green jersey in the Tour six consecutive times, between 1996 and 2001.

WHITE WITH RED POLKA DOTS: This is the King of the Mountains jersey. Points are awarded to the first rider to reach the crest of designated hills and mountains. Mountains are graded according to steepness, length, and position on the course, and points correspond to the grade.

 WHITE: This jersey is worn by the fastest overall rider under the age of 25 (as on 1st January in the year of the race).

Alberto Contador (pictured here) and Andy Schleck, the 2010 winner and runner up respectively,  will be in with a good chance this year.  Australia’s Cadel Evans and Robbie McEwen,  Italy’s Ivan Basso, Belgian Phillipe Gilbert, Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara, Russian Denis Menchov, and Britain’s Mark Cavendish will also be up there vying for the Yellow Jersey. Expect to see one of these winning the Green Jersey competition too.