The 44th GP Samyn is on the docket as this Wednesday's cobbled race. I didn't really know much about this rig so I decided to take a look at what was out there on the intertubes. Follow me on the flip to learn more.

Continue reading this post »

Crazy, I know, but it is the truth.  Many (ok, a few) of you know that I and my amazingly cool pals are actively building the best mountain bike trails in North Carolina.  We're two years in and the results (Moore's Springs Trails) already kick major ass.

What you may NOT know is that we have a blog and we have an ongoing quiz (think of it as a warm-up for teh upcoming Cycling Revealed throw down).  This week's quiz revels in the leadup to Oscarito's historic 4th win of the WC RR.  Link on the flip...

Continue reading this post »

Here's the Linky.

I don’t get as excited about the Tour as I used to. It’s not all Lance’s fault, it’s not FLandis’ either. I love the Tour, really I do, but it’s just not the same with Bert. He’s worse than LA in the boredom factor, I know, I know, 2002 and 2004 were stupefying, but what have we had to show for it since? Andy dropped his chain! OMFG, dees es en drama!

What DOES get the old blood boiling is the f*%@-ing VDS, baby! Yeah, especially since tshwatchamacallit, gravel road, dinomite, TrailMonkey and I have a little local VDS pool; wherein each of us puts up $20 in a winner take all, no holds barred, season long, smack talk fest for who gets bragging rights for the 2011 VDS (and $80). The "real" VDS does not even come into the equation for me, as a wise woman once said, "All politics are local." Can you guess who’s leading now? I knew you could.

Initially, my TdF 5 were going to be 5 guys from my squad that are going to continue to kick butt. But, the more I thought about it the more I realized that I was about to miss a great opportunity to take this local slagging to a whole new level! This should be fun. Follow me, below the fold.

Continue reading this post »

Rognes Aix-en-Provence 27 km

The long-ish TT makes a rare appearance  in Paris - Nice. Making the race more or less interesting is the question?  Can Klodi hold on?

Live video: 15:30 CET (09:30 US EST, 01:30 AUS EDT)

Live video is on

Video:  steephill, cyclingfans, Myp2p, Procyclinglive and BVLS.  

Official site , Startlist , Parcourse Starttimes TT

No more thread Schlecking. First live thread is here.

Greg Henderson won the sprint ahead of Matty Goss. Thomas De Gendt still leads the overall classification by 4 seconds. Official results.

Where are those Europeans?  Wasn't someone supposed to have this up by now?

Live video starts at 9:45 EST.  Tickers up now at the usual places.

VN is reporting that Lance has withdrawn form the Leadville 100 due to issues related to accidents at the TdF.  Apparently, his hip still hurts.  Link after the jump

Continue reading this post »

'Wheels in the Gutter' is rolling with:

SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon

VANDEVELDE Christian

FREIRE GOMEZ Oscar

EVANS Cadel

IGLINSKIY Maxim

MONCOUTIE David

VELITS Martin

Not the most star studded line up.  But I bet I get someone on the podium.

Here is VeloNews' version of the P-R Startlist

P-R 2010 Startlist

Take a look and let us know who you got.

'Wheels in the Gutter' on the flip.

Continue reading this post »

Ok, Pozzato is out.  Barbie is out.  Oscar's not riding.  Crap!

I was so going to score some points here.  So, who do I have left?

Lars 'Lower the Boom' Boom

'The Maximum' Iglinsky

Lloyd 'Yippe' Mondory

Yauheni 'Hooter' Hutrovich

Danilo 'Not a Motorcycle' Hondo

Joost 'Not Juiced' Posthuma

Kurt 'The Great Norwegian Hope' Arvesen

Martin 'No Nickname' Velits

Baden 'Cookie' Cooke

George 'Hink' Hincapie

Dom 'Rollin'' Rollin

I know, I know... not as bad as those teams dependant on Devo, but oh, what could have been.

What you got?

On the way back from Richmond, Gravel Road had us in stitches with movies from xtranormal.  I could not resist making my own and the Live Thread seems to be an excellent source for material.  I hope you enjoy.

Looks like grouppo compacto at this point.   Will someone get away or is this another day to watch for a Cavalanche? 

Here's a bit of vid from the Eroica.  I've just found it but it looks good.  CTV should step up and cover this.  I love me some gravel roads so this joint has my vote for instant classic.  That an Italian or lance Armstrong have not won it yet makes it even better.  Next year I'm going VDS shopping for the winner of this race, all else be damned.  How's that for 75 words?

Enjoy!

CN is reporting that Vladamir Gusev will not be taking part in the Oly Games after his sacking by Astana. Apparently the Russian Federation decided it didn't want to risk Goose winning the thing. That or they caved under pressure form the IOC. 

Menchov will replace him in the TT and will race with lots of other Vlads (Efimkin and Karpets) in the RR.  Ivanov and whoever they can drag off the "beach" will support.

Hi all- 

First off, I love the v2.0!  I'm geeking out over all the goodies and I've just scratched the surface.  I do have a few questions though.

To wit...

The amazing number of Oakland A's fans.  What a shock to find that our dear Hons is a Barry Zito fan, along with many others.  Nikki I could understand, perhaps chris as well (I believe those are some I've noticed.).  But Hons...?  Why is he all signed up?  Now I do have some hardball blog subscriptions on SB Nation ( I'm a sucker for American League teams.).  But I'm wondering what's up with the amazing coincidence of A's fans here.  Any thoughts?

Secondly, what gives with this blank space here? 

Why is this valuable space blank indeed?  Any guesses or outright answers would be apprecieated and make them entertaining as my VDSentry has nothing for the Giro.

Peace,

egoat

CN is reporting that the Vuelta is once again considering some sort of first week "play-off" for their race.  The idea is to make the first week of the GT more "entertaining" and suggest that the Giro and TdF would follow suit.  Not only would the toss some teams after the first week, they would also allow the remaining team to bring in a completely different roster to complete the race.  WTF???  The problems with this idea just as it relates to the VD Sentry alone makes my head spin.  

Not F-ing likely Victor.  How about you just scrap the first week of the Vuelta all together and be done with it?  I mean, Espana's reluctance to get their act together regarding doping has pretty much trashed interest in the race and caused you to begin to lose your status as the 3rd GT to TdGermany.  So why not just throw in the towel rather than try to put lipstick on a pig?

This has got to be a non-starter.  The whole idea of  GT is that it is GRAND!  Like ONE BIG RACE, not two random little races.  The boys at Unipublic, or whoever owns that race now, are grasping at straws.

Continue reading this post »

The hats are in!

Some of you may know that I organize a Century here in my beloved Sauratown Mountains called the Foothills Classic.  We always try to give away some good swag and this year we've got hats!  Check them out.  

If you are going to be in the area on April 19th come ride the event.  Info here.

This guy has some great photos from recent US Pro races.  Past two ToC's, Tour of Miss. and other cycling photos.  Clicking here gets you to a good looking cycling blog. Enjoy.

CN is reporting that the 100th Rund has been canceled due to snow.  It's usually a bit of a revenge run for the sprinters who didn't win at MSR.  This year Ale Jet and last years winner JJ were not racing, so perhaps Ete missed a chance at one last win.

Just watching todays Due Mari Stage 6 (which is working great, thank you c.tv) when I had to stop part way through and write this down.  Tony is the man!  All through the highlights you can see him running the peloton, ordering people around, directing traffic.

In a, dare I say it, Hinault-like manner he was constantly near the front. In control.  Schlek the Younger scampers up to ask his wishes, disappears back into the group and returns with reinforcements.  

He started the race by co-leading a rider protest (Hinault '78) and then was just the man all day long.  When Gasparatto went on the last time up the hill, the big man controlled the climber like the pro he is, allowing him to pound away while he sat on his wheel, then powering up beside and around him as they his the top of the steep section.  "Take that beyotch..."

You want to win Flanders this year?  If your name ain't Tony Spartacus, you'd best be scared!  He is really great to watch ride and I believe, the perfect remedy to the ASO/UCI malaise.

Oh yeah, Oscarito is also in wicked form (but is an anti-patron) and is my pick for MSR.

The second annual MPE, Italia's answer to Paris-Roubaix is right around the corner, due up this weekend Saturday March 8.  This year's event keeps the same winning formula as the first and that means DIRT ROADS Baby!  

Now those who know me know that I love to ride me a road bike over some dirt roads.  These rare beauties are almost a thing of the past here in my beloved Sauratown Mountains, NCDOT having had their way with them over the past decade.  This has forced us further up into the hills of Virgina in search of these rare diamonds of the rough.

Now along comes this equally rare, retro-event over some of the most beautiful gravel roads I've ever seen, the sterrati bianche (white gravel).

Some of you may remember this find of a month or so ago, video from the 2007 edition. Video Link

There is a whole website of info here but it's all in Italian, so I can't pass on much info  about it.  One of the news article does seem to say the Cipo will be there?!!!  Will someone please check this out and confirm?

Team Slippy will be there with the big news being Maggie's return to racing action.  Cue the Jaws Music.

There are more tid-bits here, here and the Chef's review from last year is here.

The only new kink in this retro new event is it's date on the calendar, moving from October to March.  The Chef does a great job at listing why it should have stayed put.  Basically that we (I at least) begin to lose enthusiasm for Pro Racing after the euphoria of the TdF.  Falling Leaves and the WC's are all there is to fill the void of the fall.  Eroica was perfectly positioned to fill the void and give us something to really look forward to.  I assume that it was moved to the spring to serve as a build up for P-R and to attract more pros.  This seems to be born out by the line up which includes Ballan, Stuey and now Mags, who will have the support of Meatball and Cozza von Tutti.

Should be great fun.  No word yet from CF about broadcast, so if you find something let us know.

Startlist here.

The new season bring with it many things...

The least of all are the new team kits.  Some of you may have heard my previous rants about the RR kit and conversely, the QS kit.  I'd say they all rest safely between those two extremes, that is, for my taste at any rate.  Both are very recognizable for diametrically opposed reasons.

Here's a chance to rank 'em.  What'd ya think? Hit entry link below to take the poll.

The Dallas Morning News is sizing up LA's rapidly expanding political influence and stature.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-armstrong_24tex.ART.North .Edition1.368fc28.html

Hi all-
I seem to remember mention of a rider palmares site here a few months back.  Anyone have the link?

Continue reading this post »

ok, I've laid in some fitness (and more than a few beers) this summer and I want me a race bike for next spring to spare the Serotta...

Continue reading this post »