After a year watching me on the rollers and touring Washington, DC (pictures to come), its time for Johan to find a new home. Roadside Garden Gnome Pick the Podium Contest! The rules of the contest are simple enough... pick the damn podium. In order. Your submission will be scored as follows:

• Ten points for picking the winner;
• Six points for picking the runner-up;
• Three points for picking the third-place finisher; and
• One point for any correctly selected podium finishers placed on the wrong step (i.e., if you pick Menchov to win, you'll get one point when he finishes second).

Most points wins. Tie-breaker! Pick the number of HTC  will win. But here's the interesting part: the winner will receive Roadside's garden gnome, a 14-inch-tall ceramic gnome, customized for Podium Cafe members

Please post below

Anyone know of some nice road routes to ride near the Resort? I know they have a ton of mountain bike trails but I want to bring my road bike too and get on some hills in this nice weather.  I know this is kind of a random blast but I figured someone on here may have some privy info, even if it is in the middle of nowhere.  Thanks so much for any suggestions ! 

Pezcyclingnews.com

Check out the third picture in Pelo Pics, the one with Big Mig passing Lance. Was the RR World Champ allowed to sport their stripes in the TT?

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I wanted to address a about a less talked about aspect/ability (IMHO) in the sport: descending. I feel like climbing and time trial skills are easier/more popular to identify and discuss in a public forum, but I think that’s due to them being the two skill sets that are essential to winning a Grand Tour.  Sprinting skills are usually easy to rank as well. It seems like descending is starting to be a more noticeable aspect of races (especially in the late half of the year) this year, as far as it having the ability to be the race winning move or lesson someone’s chances due to their lack of ability. Example: the whole Vuelta was talking about Samu’s big plan to bomb that last descent on Stage 19 and the fact that few were going to be able to stop him. In the end it didn’t work, but he has proven that he can bomb a downhill and have a crack at the win. Paolo Savoldelli, aka "il falco", is another great example as he saved his Giro in 2005 on the last mountain stage by letting it all hang out on the downhill.

 So along with that discussion, let me ask/poll on you on who the best descenders in the peleton are? What makes them the cream of the crop (bike handling, gravity, nerves etc.)? Can you remember any particular races where a descent is/has been a significant factor in the result? Or maybe just add your opinion or insight on some of your favorite instances where someone went apeshit on a descent and blew the race apart.  I personally love crushing descents more than anything as well as watching someone else do it with absolute grace and fearlessness. I think that it is a distinct skill set that some people have the mojo for and others don’t. I remember reading VeloNews mag a while back where Simoni and Ricco were mocking Basso because he "descends like molasses" and later went on to say that it is every bit a natural instinct as climbing or sprinting. I also think that it is an area of the sport that is less affected by doping.

 One of my favorite examples is Fabian at the Tour hauling ass between cars and motor bikes in the yellow jersey chasing back after he had to stop for a wheel change. There was a video of the entire descent on youtube that had chamber music in the background, it was absolutely beautiful (I believe it was taken down). His bomber skills also landed him a podium in Beijing.

Some of the traits that I think play a huge part are weight, just because gravity loves you when you are going downhill and are a little heavier (one of Fabu’s advantages); bike handling skills obviously; and balls/will to win/knowing hometown roads.

Riders off the top of my head:

Nibali

Cance

Samu

Valverde

Savoldelli

So those are my thoughts, let me hear yours.

Last post in America until the 16th:

I am flying into Milan, then going right down to Cinque Terre for a few days before scooting over to Monaco for the TT and the start of Stage 2 soo...

...Keep your eyes peeled for a PdC sign or some road paint representing the best cycling site on the net! Either way I'm coming back with some sweet pics, which I might be able to upload onto the site while I'm over there.

I don't know if anyone else from the site will be there (if you are let me know here so we can meet up) but I will do the best I can to get a solid on the scene report and pics...

Cafe,

  I am traveling to Europe for a little over two weeks, starting the around 27th, and I really want to catch a few stages of the Tour but also be able to see the best parts of the continent. I would be flying into Amsterdam or London, so should I rush down to Nice/Monaco for the start and backtrack or take my time and catch another key stage.  I have never been to a stage race so I dont know what kind of stage would offer the best viewing experienceand good time.  The Grand Depart seems like it would be a great spectacle and once in a lifetime deal.  I would be traveling on a Global Rail pass so I can get around quickly...

I know this might be kind of noobish but any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated!