Garate still without a team for 2014

In September, it was reported that Juan Manuel Garate had signed a deal with the Dutch team, but it was never formally signed. The Spaniard is currently without a contract for 2014.

“It is unclear to us what is going on,” Merijn Zeeman, directeur sportif for Belkin, told. “We would have loved to keep Juanma onboard because of his qualities as a rider. He agreed upon a new deal but all of a sudden he refused to sign.”

It was reported that the deal included a significant pay cut, but Garate said that this was not the reason for refusing the verbal offer. He was coy on the real motivation for backing out. “My reasons are private,” he explained.

“If Belkin needs me, I am ready to come back. But at the moment I am not welcome with Belkin. It's a personal thing and has nothing to do with money. And no, it’s not to do with doping either.”

Garate has been a professional since 2000 and has taken a stage victory in all three of the grand tours. Most famously, he won atop Mont Ventoux at the 2009 Tour de France. He has ridden a total of 26 of the three-week races, only failing to finish two, with his best result being fourth at the 2002 Giro d’Italia.

The Spaniard joined Belkin back in 2009, when it was Rabobank, and has ridden for its many leaders, including Robert Gesink with whom he is a good friend. The 37-year old was at the Belkin team training camp in November, but has since made no appearances with the team and is not named for any races.

Team manager Richard Plugge told that he wasn’t aware of Garate’s reasons for backing out of the deal. Plugge was the team’s communications manager, but took over the running of the team when Rabobank left at the end of 2012.

Philip Deignan pull out from Ruta del Sol due to injury

Philip Deignan was set to ride at the Ruta del Sol, which starts on Wednesday, but has had to pull out. The 30-year-old will have to delay his return to racing in Europe for a little while longer after he broke his right collarbone in a training crash, in Monaco.He now left his base in Monaco to head to Ireland while he recovers.

“The medical team have taken a good look at it and we’ve decided not to have surgery, so I’m back home in Donegal now getting ready to go again,” Deignan told

This is the second time in five months that he has suffered from a broken collarbone. At last year’s Tour of Britain, he fell and injured his left side. Despite the setback, Deignan remains positive that he can be back to racing soon enough. “My collarbone’s a lot more mobile than the last time this happened so I’m hoping I’ll be back on the bike sooner rather than later,” he explains.

It is expected that the Irishman will be able to use the home trainer in the next couple of weeks.

“It’s frustrating more than anything else when something like this happens. I was happy with the way things went at the Tour Down Under and I was looking to continue building my form at the Ruta del Sol. It’s not the end of the world though, it could have been a lot worse, so I’m trying to look at it in a positive way.”

Deignan returned to the WorldTour with team Sky this year after two years of racing in America with the UnitedHealthcare. During his time at the team Deignan suffered from a number of health issues, which was put down to a reoccurring viral infection. He managed to conquer the infection and put in some strong performances last season, including top 10 placings at the Tour of California and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

Taylor Phinney lead at the Dubai Tour

Taylor Phinney teammates protected him throughout the stage and he responded to all the attacks in the rolling finale to set himself up for overall victory in the four-day stage race. Phinney leads teammate Steve Cummings by 15 seconds with just Saturday's 123km circuit stage on the flat Dubai seafront left to race.

"For sure this was the biggest day, the queen stage if you will, of this Dubai Tour. I couldn't have asked any more from the team today," Phinney told

Phinney spun a low gear on the climbs and then showed his strength and determination by following attacks and showing himself at the front.

"If I wasn't leading, I'd be one of those guys who would be attacking. It was more out of defence that I was bridging up to some guys up the road. I like a finish like this and think it was also really exciting for the viewers. I like that as well, to keep things entertaining. That's what it's all about."

Phinney and BMC face just one stage of racing in Dubai before they can celebrate overall victory. Phinney has won time trials and road stages in his professional career with BMC but has not won a stage race since taking the Olympic Tour while riding as an Under 23 rider with Trek-Livestrong.

Aerodynamic clothing for WorldTour team Movistar

The partnership between Endura and Drag2Zero was already well established when  Endura's sponsorship of Movistar was publicly announced in September 2013.The two companies worked to prototype and wind tunnel test clothing ready for the 2014 racing season. The primary focus was on skinsuits and overshoes.

The two companies plan to take this collaboration further and offer aero clothing for amateur riders too, which will be branded Endura-Drag2Zero.

Endura's MD Jim McFarlane commented: "We’re very excited at formalising our collaboration with Drag2Zero; Simon is recognised internationally as the leading authority on aerodynamics in cycling and the facility at Brackley is arguably the best in the world ... The pairing of the Brackley cycle wind tunnel facility and Simon’s skills and experience in aero with Endura’s in-house ability to prototype and develop product rapidly in response to each set of test results puts us in a really strong position for aero product development."

Darg2Zero's technical director Simon Smart said: "We have been looking at the gains to be made in cycle clothing for a number of years now and have seen in the wind tunnel how using the right fabrics and cut can see big improvements in performance. Teaming up with Endura is really exciting for us. they have a fantastic production facility here in the UK which means that between us we have everything we need close by to develop things quickly.  Endura also share our goal of developing products through necessity and giving cyclists what they need."