Here's another race report from our mate Jon Malnick.

Tour of Eastern Lanna, Stages 5 & 6.

The flat 80km stage 5 from Phayao to Chiang Rai was covered at a businesslike 45 km/h and heralded no surprises. With the well-drilled Royal Thai Air Force team marshalling the front of the peloton, any escapes were always going to be short-lived.

The final city centre circuit race saw plenty of attacking riding but ultimately no changes in the overall. Chiang Mai riders were as usual well represented on the podiums with the biggest cheer going to Wisut Kasiyaphat's trademark "superman" solo across the finish line for the stage win.

Somewhat less flamboyantly, we managed to protect Team Cuore's 3rd & 5th positions in the 40+ GC in a tight tactical battle with the Bianchi team which unfortunately bored most of the spectators to tears.

A fun race, great scenery and thanks again to Crouching Tiger for the pre-race bike service.

Photo credit: ภัธนา มูลมณี

Tour of Eastern Lanna

A good mate and fellow cyclist Jon Malnick is currently racing in the Tour of Eastern Lanna, in Northern Thailand.
I asked him if he could give us an account of his experience at the race. Jon is racing with Team Cuore and is supported by Crouching Tiger Cycles, Chiang Mai. Here is his first race report for us.

Jon Malnick
Tour of Eastern Lanna, Stage 4, Nan > Phayao, 75 km.

With 1300m of climbing squeezed into a 40km section of devilishly-contoured tarmac, this scenic corner of north Thailand was always going to provide the backdrop for the Tour's killer stage. 

As late August marks the middle of Thailand's rainy season, grey clouds were massing on the nearby peaks as the 130 riders rolled away from the start line. Drizzle turned to rain and crashes in the jittery peloton soon followed. But the sun was poking through as we hit the first of the lung-searing 15%+ inclines.

The indomitable Peter Pouly, just returned from a string of victories in the French Alps, took the stage win - and then apparently rode another two hours to the team hotel to ensure a decent workout for the day.

Chiang Mai riders continued to show strongly in the closely-fought masters categories, with Nic Magnan holding onto yellow in the 30+, just ahead of Junya Juisakul. In the 40+, Henrik Tolstrup stole the lead from local hero Wisut Kasiyaphat, while your weary correspondent hangs onto 3rd place with three stages to go.

Cycling around Chiang Mai with Croching Tiger Cycling Tours through the eyes of Di and Bernie McGoldrick.

Bern & I have just done a fantastic 4 day bike ride around the Chiang Mai area of Northern Thailand and thought we'd let all the Bandidos back in chilly Melbourne know what great riding is to be had in this area. 

Chiang Dao in the clouds

We organised the ride (a 60th birthday present for Bern from the family) through Marcus Maguire (ex Melbourne - now International Bandido) and his Crouching Tiger Tour company and can't speak highly enough of the organistaion, support and best of all the choice of rides Marcus  mapped out for us.
As it was low season, Bern & I were the only riders with Marcus as our  personal guide and a well stocked a/c support van trailing behind.


Marcus specialiss in 'road bike tours' so has a small kitty of Trek bikes to hire. As we travelled straight from the boat, we hired ours from Marcus but apparently most customers bring their own bikes,which is a good option if you love your bike so much and want to take it on an exotic holiday!

Chiang Mai itself is a relatively flat city, situated in a valley bound by mountain ranges either side. So the choice of rides is vast. Most of the riding we did was out of town on well-sealed roads in surprisingly, excellent condition. As it was just the two of us the rides were customised to suit us but  involved a mixture of flat, undulating and a couple of challenging climbs. We averaged 100kms each day starting out at 7.30 each morning and with stops for cool drinks and fresh or dried fruit mid-morning and finishing by early afternoon for lunch. This was good timing, as by midday it really starts to warm up. And for hill climbers there is so much on offer around this area. Marcus is as fit as a mountain goat and keen on hills! The scenery is beautiful- green and lush with rice paddies in abundance and dense jungle growth through the mountains and eye-catching temples everywhere!

As it was a 'package tour' accommodation, all meals, transport etc was inclusive and of an excellent standard and well chosen. So for a cycling holiday doing what you love most in a warm climate check out www.crouchingtigertours.com

 P.S.I've just re-read what I've written and I know I sound like a tourist brochure, but the description is how it really is!!!

Many thanks to Di and Bernie McGoldrick for this account of their tour with us last month. Come again soon guys!

Crouching Tiger Tours congratulates Cadel Evans!

Cadel Evans has now become a National hero in Australia following his victory in this year’s Tour de France. Here at Crouching Tiger Tours we would like to offer our congratulations to Cadel for his awesome and historic achievement! Our own Melbourne born Crouching Tiger, Marcus is especially  delighted for Australian cycling, and hopes Cadels achievement will inspire the next generation of Australian cyclists. He is the first Australian to win the prestigious Tour de France.
Announcing at the age of just 14 that his ambition was to one day win the Tour de France, Cadel is an example of a champion who took a dream, and made it real – through sheer resolve and determination. Cadel joins the sporting heros of Australia.

Join Crouching Tiger Tours in Adelaide in January 2012 at the festival of cycling that The Tour Down Under has become. Take this unique opportunity to see your cycling heros up close and maybe even see and meet Cadel Evans. The teams still have to be decided and negotiations are already underway to ensure Cadels participaton. Having an Australian winner of the TDF racing in Adelaide will bring in the crowds at The Tour down Under at what is promised to be “bigger and better” than ever before. Cycling fans inspired by Cadels win at the Tour de France are already signing up for the Bupa Challenge Tour to ride a stage of the Santos Tour Down Under just hours before the professionals tackle the same route, on Friday, January 20, 2012.

Dream o f joining us there? Make it real like Cadel did ..

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Hurry and book now to ensure your place on our 8 day fully supported cycling tour to Adelaide 15 to 22 January 2012. 10% discount for bookings made before September 30 2011.

Contact us at info@crouchingtigertours.com for bookings and more information

Tour Down Under 2012 tour package.

Join Crouching Tiger Cycling Tours on a cycling tour to follow the TDU in January 2012. Ride with us through the Adelaide hills and famous wine growing regions of South Australia. 

Mark Cavendish on Wulunga Hill

 
Santos Tour Down Under UCI World Tour event
Adelaide, Australia,  13 to 23 January 2012

On ya bike with the Crouching Tiger… 



Be part of our tour to the Antipodes at the next TDU to be road-side at this unique road cycling race.

The biggest professional road cycling race in the southern hemisphere and Australia’s version of the Tour de France, the TDU kicks off the UCI World Tour cycling season in thrilling style attracting many of the world’s best cyclists.


During this “festival of cycling” Adelaide buzzes with all things vélo. The spectator friendly 6 stage race has gained a reputation for being one of the most intimate and accessible races of its kind. Where the public are isolated from riders and teams at most professional cycling events, the Tour Down Under stands apart as a rare opportunity to get up close to your cycling heroes like at no other pro bike race.

 

Racing through Stirling

With experienced cycle tour leaders, fully supported rides, and a high level of personal service Crouching Tiger Cycling Tours gives you the chance to ride the same roads as the Pros, watch starts and finishes of race stages, stroll through the Tour Village, maybe scoring an autograph or two from your favorite athletes or chat with the team bike mechanics at work.









9 day / 8 night package / 7 days cycling
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 1 dinner at a local winery
For tour itinerary, price and more info please visit our website www.crouchingtigertours.com

Book early and receive BIG savings!

15% discount for dead keen cyclists! – Book before 1 August 2011
10% discount for eager cyclists! – Book before 30 September 2011
Slow coaches pay full price from October 01 2011.
Booking closed 01 November 2011

Getting up close at the start of stage 5