SB Nation User Blog: lyne

Been having fun - part 2. The first race was a mudfest and the second race was dry, sunny and...

lyne — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:19:45 -0000

Been having fun - part 2.

The first race was a mudfest and the second race was dry, sunny and warm, but same winners. Sun, sand and barriers in Ohio, includes interview with winner Katie Compton and Jeremy Powers bunny hopping the barriers - which he did on every lap, the only one to do so.

Been having fun at cross races this season. And having fun with photos and videos too. So I thought...

lyne — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:10:35 -0000

Been having fun at cross races this season. And having fun with photos and videos too. So I thought I'd share.

Katie Compton (Planet Bike) and Jeremy Powers (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) solo to win the muddy, slip sliding Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede in Covington KY, the first race of the Cincinnati UCI3 Cyclocross Festival. Includes interview with Powers

tweets and blogs

lyne — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:05:17 -0000

tweets and blogs

For twitter fans - North American riders and races

How Scott Zwizanski tamed Beauce

lyne — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:16:02 -0000

How Scott Zwizanski tamed Beauce

I went to my first Tour de Beauce last week, and it's one of the toughest races I've been to. The winner came down to the final day. What fun!

Anyway, here's my final report on the race.

O/T: It's a girl!

lyne — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:56:25 -0000

Congratulations to guidemd (Jen) and patrickbpenguin on their new baby girl: 6lbs 7oz Chloe Jessica (Sai Bo) born at 10:37am.

Best wishes to all.

edited to add: Yes Jen missed Blockhaus :)

Interview: Astana's Jani Brajkovic

lyne — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:31:36 -0000

In his Back Pocket Preview of the Astana Team, Chris said: "Brajkovic, meanwhile, is perhaps just coming into his own: 26 years old, coming off his best season with a late-season peak that got him second at Lombardia, arguably the best result of his career. His early glory at the Vuelta, when he briefly took the lead in 2006, got him pegged as a grand tour rider, and his improvement against the watch speaks well of his future in stage racing. But on this team, he can afford to pick his spots. He's got to be gunning for September and October again, if he can excel at Lombardia he'll love Mendrisio."

Earlier this year, I had a chance to grab a few minutes with Jani Brajkovic who kindly answered my questions while fighting a serious case of jetlag.

Go back to 2008, what happened at the beginning of the season?
I had really bad health problems, one after another and then I lost some motivation, just one thing and another, I just I don't know. The second part was really good, I started to feel really good in August and then it just went better, better and better. I was supposed to do the Olympics in August but … basically I got flicked, I just went to other races and that worked out really well.

Wait... there's more on the flip

How did get recover last year?
I don't know, I just did some tests at the clinics and they said it was general fatigue, overtraining so I had some rest and then I started over again and I just motivated myself 'oh you have to do something' in one month, I started to feel really good and it went better and better.

You were eighth at World Time Trial Championships and second at Lombardia. Which one was the best result for you last year?
For sure, Lombardia, I'm not a one-day specialist, the route profile is not really what I like. I really like long climbs, steady climbs and Lombardy has short climbs but it's a long race which suits me. I was really surprised to do that well and I think Lombardia is special.

After the World Championships, I said this is the race that I want to do well. I want to go on the podium and that was the goal. Before a race, I never say that I'm going to be on the podium but for that race, they asked me what is the thing that is going to make you happy about it. And I said podium, anything else would be disaster. And it happened.

Are you becoming a one-day racer now?
I hope not (laughs) I hope I can do one-stage races, stage races, everything but I prefer stage races. They are not so stressful. Stage races, after a few days, generally good riders are there and there's no fight for position, it's not so stressful. In the classics, it's really like all or nothing.

For this year, did you change your training so you won't have the same problems as last year?
Oh yes, during the winter time, honestly I haven't been training so much. At this point, I'm feeling a lot better and I'm also a lot fresher. I'm not saying that I'm really strong now but I don't want to be super-strong at this point of the year because my goal is the Giro. I am feeling really good, really motivated, fresh so that's good.

What are your goals for the year?
First goal is the Giro. Getting everything ready for the Giro. The goal is just to be as good as I can to help the team. I don't think about the GC I just want to be there to help the team.

What do you want to accomplish this year?
I want to perform really well over the whole season, maybe finish one of two Pro Tour races in Top 3.

So the goal is top 3?
Oh yeah, oh yeah. I've been tenth so many times, ninth and seventh, I was third in Tour of Germany last year. Podium is the objective.

And where do you want to be in 3-5 years?
On the top of Big Tours. (big smile).

Oh and you can follow Jani on twitter: @JaniBrajkovic

Photos copyright Lyne Lamoureux. Used with permission

Interview: Catching up with Levi Leipheimer

lyne — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:11:45 -0000

Interview: Catching up with Levi Leipheimer

Steph caught up with Astana’s Levi Leipheimer as he talks about doing the Giro and Tour double, Astana’s financial stability, and differences between his previous teams and his current team.

Calling Jimbo

lyne — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:10:54 -0000

This is your chance to plead your case - the man himself will be in San Francisco:

Apr 16, 2009: Lunch time event with Fausto Pinarello

Lombardi Sports is celebrating the introduction of the Pinarello bicycle, an expression of art and history, as a new product line to our store. In doing so, we are welcoming Fausto Pinarello, head of Cicli Pinarello SpA, with an event in our cycling department, this Thursday, April 16, 1:00PM, Lombardi Sports, 1600 Jackson Street, SF. Refreshments will be served.

Are you ready?

George Hincapie talks about cycling and cobbles - from outside all day

lyne — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:42:52 -0000

George Hincapie talks about cycling and cobbles - from outside all day

Caisse d’Epargne service course (is Jimbo crying?)

lyne — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:18:29 -0000

Caisse d’Epargne service course (is Jimbo crying?)

(yes it's in French) and they have 120 frames hanging around