SB Nation User Blog: Frinking

Thomas Dekker Out of the Tour!

Frinking — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:44:56 -0000

Silence-Lotto's Thomas Dekker will not start in the Tour, says organizers ASO. Dekker tested positive for EPO in an out of competition control 2 years ago. He rode for Rabobank at that time. The test was held in December, 2007. The reason why he just tested positive is because they couldn't track EPO during the test. In 2008 Thomas Dekker has suspicious bloodvalues so they retested the samples from 2007. With the better equipment the test was positive.

Rabo had signs about the strange blood values last year. This was actually the reason he didn't go to the Tour, and why he never rode for Rabobank again. He's the third rider who signed for Silence who tested positive. None of them were their fault but that's tragic isn't it?

p.s. if there are editors who want to edit/correct the mistakes. Be my guest! [Ed: done!]

Source (Dutch)

Results 2007 He won the TA and Romandie

P.p.s Ooo and! Wegelius is his replacement in the Tour

Chris's Soapbox: This shoe was waiting to drop for a long time, IMHO. I think a number of us had this very concern when he and Rabobank had their falling out last year. I also had the pleasure of riding with a former Dutch pro who lives in Seattle now and who knows a lot of the current generation (though he's my age). He pretty flatly stated that Rabo are extremely skittish about doping in general, and that Dekker looked like trouble to them, for unspecified reasons. Well, here you go. Consequently, this doesn't really bother me. It's sad, seeing a young, special talent go this route, but given this background Dekker was one of the cases waiting to get taken up. I say let's get it over with; maybe during his long vacation he'll rediscover the real sport of cycling.

AG2R selection le Tour

Frinking — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:25:48 -0000

AG2R selection le Tour

Christophe RIBLON
Cyril DESSEL
Hubert DUPONT
Jose-luis ARRIETA
Lloyd MONDORY
Nicolas ROCHE
Rinaldo NOCENTINI
Stéphane GOUBERT
Vladimir EFIMKIN

Staaaaagehunters! But they have Vladimr. Maybe he goes steady to a top 10 place and maybe, very(?) maybe we see them pulling on the Alpe d'Huez. How cool would that be!

Interesting article about Boom.

Frinking — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:26:49 -0000

Interesting article about Boom.

Dutch So I will put the translaton up..
Put the translations up for myself and because it's sometimes hardly noticed the sacrifices the cyclists made.. That's made clear in the article. If you don't like Boom you are probably not going to like the story. Be warned!

Article: Thijs Sonneveld. That guy is really good. He writes nice and some pretty fun stories about cycling. This is more serious though.

Sleeping in the red-white-blue

Sunday: The NC cycling. A peloton vultures are circling above de red-white-blue jersey of Lars Boom, hoping his hunger is over.

A boys room.. Or a little Boysroom. Measures are 3 by 3. Not more than that. How Boom can enter the room with his tall body is a mystery. There is a bed and under the oblique(? roof, in the corner a closet. The roof and the the doorcases are covered with cyclingphoto's. Hanging on the door 4 World Champion jerseys.. They are hardly noticed with all the red-white-blue jerseys. Above the bed there are frames with folded jerseys in it in coloms and rows of five. There are some more hanging at the closet ('Haven't found the time to put them in frames) So many jerseys, so many Nationals: The red-white-blue is living here.
Lars Boom grins: 'Every National I entered I won the last couple of years. In the field on the road and the time trial.'
Look at him sitting, on his bike. Everything in red, white and blue. Helmet, socks, gloves, cases over his shoes. There isn't a day where he isn't riding in red-white-blue. He even sleeps in it. 'It's tradition' he says. 'I sleep in every jersey once. Normally after the race but I was so drunk after the TT NC last year that I forget that. So I did it the day after'

Boom has already won so many Championships that it has become his trademark. 'Me Mister NC? Well they say so" He raises his shoulders. Just give me the jersey. Boom is a master in focussing on specific races. He wins what he wants to win, Frinking note.. Indeed not in Hoogherheide last year. His big secret, the couch in his livingroom. Whole days he spend on it, chilling in the grey couches with his legs up. Saving energy, let the blood filter itself, spare his muscles. A cyclist must be a good rester. It's a quality. It's like a huge lung capacity or knowledge of the course. Very good cyclist are masters in resting. And Lars Boom? ' I'm extremely good at resting'

'If I'm not training, I lay in my bed or on the couch. I don't walk or barely. It cost my legs if I would do that. What I'm doing instead?' He's scratching his head 'Well, not so much If I'm honest with you. Watch some tv, listening music or absolutely nothing.'
'I'll never plan a meeting in town. I have to walk if I do it and if I do that I know I'm doing something wrong. Even if it's for a short period. Even when my legs don't suffer from it at least my head is. My parents told me that if you give it a go, do it with everything you got. Whatever it is. I stick with that. I life for my sport. For the full 100%. I don't make concessions. And certainly not when i'm in preparation for an important course. In preparation I ride a calm round on my bike every day but for the rest totally nothing.'
However it seems he has a subscrition on the red-white-blue the winningstreak wil stop once. It would look strange, an other cyclist in the national 3-colour and Boom in the ordinary traditional orange jersey from Rabobank.. 'That's something I have to get used to. But I rather prefer to delay that hapenning of course. But if that's the case I take it that way. I know it's not normal that I always ride in that jersey.' He's lauging about it. 'No, I swear. It seems like a normal thing but it isn't it. Every victory gives me a boost. Especially if you get such a jersey with it. What I think about sunday?' Again that grin. 'I feel well so let's see'
Hungry as always. Poor vultures. The red-white-blue jersey will sleeps where it belongs next sunday. At home in the little boyroom.

Btw.. If I Frinked something and you want it out.. Say it.. Maybe I'll change it.

Is Le Tour trying to get Alejandro V. in?

Frinking — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:40:21 -0000

Is Le Tour trying to get Alejandro V. in?

It's Spanish, for this time. I don't really get the text but the title says: The Tour wants to unblock the situation of Valverde..

I so hope this is not true.. If it's true I so hate the ASO.. Than they are the most hypocrite organisation on earth, after probably the WoW makers and no I don't play WoW or oilcompanies. Let's see..

Btw.. Translating can be made here

2 stages without the famous 'ears' in Le Tour..

Frinking — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:32:48 -0000

2 stages without the famous 'ears' in Le Tour..

Spoiler: Link is Dutch.. Dutch is a language only spoken by few. They only have the privilege to the language. Everyone else who want to know what's going on among those very few people has to rely on inner sources.. So far the warning.

The UCI didn't say why but the stage Limoges - Issoudun (14 juli) and Vittel – Colmar (17 juli) going to be ridden without ears..

Of course we know why.. They want to experiment.. Measure the result from those things and they hope the course will be more open. I will post the stages below in the comment box, thing

Plintyheelder with a French link

Steegmans out of the Dauphine? Nope.. But it was a close call

Frinking — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:14:23 -0000

Steegmans out of the Dauphine? Nope.. But it was a close call

Steeegmans out of the Dauphine.. He refused to sign an anti-doping paper which was made after Pfannenberger tested positive.. He refused to sign it so Katushya didn't let him start. He's playing with fire.. Also for the Tour de France.

Edit: Steegmans: I like to start here but they say I can go home. I will do everything I can but I still haven't signed my number. What's the clause about anyway? If we get in discredit we have to pay 5 years salary! You can like Rutger Beke, get in discredit when you are innocent but that doesn't matter. You're failliet/bankrupt after that"

"We've come up with a 'counter-proposal'(?) where you have to pay the squad compensation if you are tested positive. We just have to wait now. I hope I can ride the Tour but the situation now is far from ideal"

Edit 2- Kenny de Haes and McEwen are also refusing to sign

Edit 3- Had to look up Rutger Beke, the person he names as someone who falsely tested positive—Belgian triathlete who came up pos for EPO and successfully argued bacterial contamination of the sample. -Majope-

Edit 4- It's going to be a game. Due sportwereld.be he may start again. Why or how I have no idea..

-edit 5 He's out again.. Was he out? He's starting.. It's getting confussing..

More to follow

Samoilau and Kunitski to Quick-Step..

Frinking — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:12:21 -0000

Samoilau and Kunitski to Quick-Step..

They really made a quick step to let them join Quick-Step. Their sponsor Amica Chips-Knauf is in difficulties and the future of the team with stars like Bertagnolli and Samoilau isn't very stable. Quick-Step saw the opportinitie with the splendid sell of Samoilau.. He's really good.. No kiding.. With Seeldrayers, Cataldo en Samoilau they certainly have something in their hands.

Rabo's bus

Frinking — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:07:30 -0000

Rabo's bus

Most of the things you don't understand but the moment supreme need no words.. I will translate a bit.. (Edit: It became the whole thing.. I would watch first.. Translation isn't important or interesting but I think even without you know what they are saying you find it impressive.. But here it goes:

Goodevening ladies and Gentleman. If you are in Rome you have to do what Roman do. You're going to stand here. This was the place. This was the place where the emperorrs put their dumb up or down. And today it was the day for 2 time trialers in the last stage of the Giro d'Italia. 20 seconds was the difference. The difference between Menchov, of the Rabo team, and Di Luca, of the LPR team. 20 seconds in advatage of the Russian. We're looking to this men while he's warming up for his 14km and 400 meter. What do we know about him? We call him ' De Grote zwijger' (Silent person) He won two times a Grand Tour. One time on his own if I can call it that way and one way they gave it to him when the number tested positive. So he already won 2 GT and today, yeah what about today. He know he can expect an attack but he looks good in the warm up, sereen and calm. He don't tallk much.. Cycling does he better. Then he goes. Riding his time trial and we are going in. It isn;t usual but we're happy we get a viw inside. And what catch our eyes.. From inside we see Bram de Groot. But what is he doing? His eyes are fixated on the shops. Back in the calmness of the bus.. Or calmness? Look and watch with us. The moment supreme is coming. No words are needed.

C'Mon! C'mon Boy!
Vincent push! Push!

After that it comes clear they Menchov won the Giro of 2009

C'mon! C'mon!
Tjallingi: Yeah please beat me! (He was 9th on the stage)

How do they celbrate that? Champagn in plastic glasses.. The real cycling. Then we look to the podium from the commentar position to a Russian who's extremly happy. His anthem who's played in Rome.. The winner of the Giro d'Itali of 2009.. And with in mind this is a practise round for him.. He thinks he can repeat this form in the Tour of France.. They have other architectonic.. This was Rome..

Ok I was multitasking so can be wrong.. But the reaction was priceless..

A black cat crossing your path is bad news isn't it.. But what if.. Wtach yourself

Frinking — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:06:41 -0000

A black cat crossing your path is bad news isn't it.. But what if.. Wtach yourself

Power Poll Youngster of the year 2009

Frinking — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:32:49 -0000

Don't know the excast meaning of it but when Chris put it up there is ranking involved. Excactly what I'm going to do.. I wrote a post of th Youngster 2009 (with help of some comments) here. Here I'm going to rank some, not all, in number.. Why now? Eehm why not? Youngsters doesn't usually very well in GT so no need to include the Giro.

So start!

1 Edvald Boasson Hagen

What a surprise! But what a beautifull win in GW. Pure gold and on his age such a killerinstinct.. They rode with 25 cyclist in the breakaway! And he manage to get the win! And if that's not god enough. 4th in Monte Pasachi el blabla.. (You know.. Where the Swedish guy won.. What is his name again?) and 2 second places in the Trofeo's.. Not a bad start but a little predictable for everyone.. Ooh we can enjoy him in the Giro! Excited? Yes! Maybe a Greipel stage!?

2 Taaaaraeme

That Cofidis guy. I admit I underestimate Taaraeme. 3 in Romandie.. Almost winning a stage and the only one who where found close to Kreuziger. Let's hope he can because I like the guy. His look a like, in cyclist perfomance, Kangert is nowhere to be seen. (Think I read that he has some injury and he's afraid he is nevver going to be race anymore)

3 Swift.

What I said

Great Brittain has talent!

And indeed they have.. He didn't know what he could.. Was trying stuff out he said after his second place in Nokere Koers. And so he did.. He was close at the Vuelta el Pais Vasco and Nokere Koers with 2 second places.. The new Cav? Why can they only time trial and spring in Great Brittain?!

4 Uran Uran

Rigoberto. Quiet season so far.. But watch out.. Don't think he is at his top form. Already was fifth in Romandie and was draging the group of favorites.. Couldn't hang on by Kreuziger but he has lots of changes left.. Suisse, Spain?

5 Coppel

French guy (D'uh!) Haven't seen him but in the shadow he's perfoming ok. Won the Route Adelie de Vitre a catagorie 1.1 race. Did ok in Criterium Jens! with a 6th place. What can we expect more? Some climbing and tt.. Wait for the Dauphine, I think, or some of the numerous French courses to see him in action..

6 Galimzyanov

Ok.. I never heard of the guy but he can sprint? 5th in Nokere Koers and second in some Italien race behind good looking ass, just heard that, Bennati. Maybe he sprint again in some smaller stages but with Swift, Steegmans, does he sprint? and McEwen not too much chance..

John Lee Augustyn

Not ranked. Raced to few/less. But watch out.. He's racing the Giro.. Don't know who it is? Remember.. Downhill and TdF 2008.. You remember

20/21

Ciolek/Mollema

What I said about Ciolek.

This is gonna be the future of spring. A Freire type who's gonna rock..

Or something like that.. OUCH! The shame.. Where was he.. Afraid of camera's.. The pre first year season.. Don't know but dissapoinig Herr Ciolek.. Phil will explain..

Mollema

Too early to put some conclusions on it? Maybe.. He was 19th in Californio and after that.. Misere as we say in Dutch. Hope he's going to be OK. He will doesn;t he.. Maybe Lopex or Tedvdw has a explanation? Saw nothing in the news but I have to get a nice , ahum, talk on school so I'll search later..

Edit: Mono he has. Thanks to Lopex

Please correct me or put riders in do anything.. I love discussions!

p.s. As you know.. Grammar is not that good.. Sorry for that!