sminer
Jul 17, 2008 Jun 02, 2012 51 9559
RSSUser Blog
US Pro RR Championships in Greenville (Last Edition)
by sminer on May 28, 2012 9:35 AM EDT
on Podium Cafe
This can be used as a live thread and for people on scene to dump updates and live shots and stuff. Here's today's startlist. Some notables are George Hincapie, Chris Horner DNS (bummer), DZ, Ted King, Tejay Van Garderen, Tom Danielson, and returning champ Matthew Busche. Tyler Farrar is making the trip over for the race, will be interesting to see how the big guy handles the pace up Paris mtn. Team Optum/Kelly Benefits is all in swamping the startline with 12 guys, if they miss the early break... shame on them.
One (Floyd) Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
by sminer on May 11, 2012 8:34 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
Floyd gives an interview I guess, or answers some questions at least, about an article on LA in Men's Journal magazine. Floyd declares this way and that again that LA cheated just like he and everyone else did. He gives us his own little insight into what he thinks is going on in LA's mind and what might be getting ready to go down with the USADA.
The interesting/funny thing that stood out to me is when Floyd says LA's biggest lie is when LA says he doesn't care. I haven't read the Men's Journal article, so I don't know if LA really said he doesn't care or if he said as they quoted him: "I'm truly done. You can interpret that however you want. But no matter what happens, I'm finished. I'm done fighting. Case closed." Anyway, after rambling and speculating and accusing anyone who believes in LA at this point to be absent of rational thought, Floyd then declares that he doesn't care. That's right, LA is a liar when he says he doesn't care anymore, but we're suppose to believe this...?
"To me it doesn't matter one way or another," Landis said when asked if a USADA case would give him some vindication.
18 comments
|
1 recs |
Tweet
The SKY is falling
by sminer on Mar 9, 2012 2:57 PM EST
on Podium Cafe
What did Sky do today?, they sent a strong message out to the other sprinters and their teams.
Andy Schleck is really very short on... Charm
by sminer on Oct 8, 2011 7:29 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
Andy Schleck has called an end to his season sighting dental problems. There's nothing troubling at all about this decision, but his comments to the press as more questions were asked of him about the upcoming season raised a lot of troubling questions in my mind. Has Andy lost his mind?
62 comments
|
1 recs |
Tweet
Sooo OT/ Be Swedish for a Day
by sminer on Oct 4, 2011 10:47 AM EDT
on Podium Cafe
I would feel very guilty if I didn't share the news I heard on the radio this morning with my fellow PdC'ers, today is National Cinnamon Roll day in Sweden. That's right, October 4th is a national holiday in Sweden known as Kanelbullens Dag. I just made a trip to my favorite coffee shop and consumed my first cinnamon roll of the day. I say my first because I plan on celebrating this great day several times. I was dropping my son off to school when I heard this news and promised to celebrate Kanelbullens Dag when I pick him up this afternoon. So go out and celebrate, many times if you dare, and thank Sweden for such an awesome national holiday.
Cav to where?... Open the speculation lines
by sminer on Oct 3, 2011 8:58 AM EDT
on Podium Cafe
It's been the given assumption that Mark Cavendish is going to sign with Sky. "Why the delay of the announcement?", has been my growing question. Seems to be a few answers now why there is still a blank spot in the headline... Cav signs with _______!
Jani Brajkovic to Astana
Still some big transfers trickling in as Astana has confirmed that Jani has signed a two year deal to ride for GC results in the big Tours. JB has stood by this kid and they seemed to have a very tight working relationship, but here we are left with this merger, and Jani was left to go his own way. Say what you want about JB, but Vino mentoring Jani is suppose to be a good thing?
Lost Art of the Group Ride (Updated slightly) Storytime
by sminer on Sep 1, 2011 4:07 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
Lost Art of the Group Ride
The headline is actually the title of a concise (you know how I love short) article on group riding by Peter Wilborn of BikeLaw here in Charleston, SC. Like Peter, I do enjoy group rides (sometimes), but I find myself riding more by myself or with a few people willing to sit on my wheel or do what it is that I want to do on that given day. Times have changed, but one thing's for sure, we're not marketing our sport as well as we could out there. Is your area as guilty as charged as ours?
Should Thor be riding the Vuelta?
by sminer on Aug 15, 2011 10:55 AM EDT
on Podium Cafe
The polemica over Vaughter's decision to exclude Thor from the Vuelta rages on, and it will likely continue for awhile with more and more people from the sport weighing in on the matter. tgsgirl's post on the polemica surrounding Vaughters is still ongoing here. The debate is actually quite interesting, amusing, yet simple. At least, I plan to make this poll simple.
Kittel vs. Cavendish
by sminer on Aug 10, 2011 9:51 AM EDT
on Podium Cafe
The moment sprint fans have been waiting for is coming to the SSSR spread out over 3 weeks known as the Vuelta a España. Don't mean to slight the Spanish GT, many of the pro riders have already done that. To be fair, it was a tough TdF for GC contenders and other contenders are still on the injured list. But the Vuelta is possibly going to have a nice sprint showdown between the sprint champion Mark Cavendish and the impressive German challenger Marcel Kittel. Both should be on good form, the other sprinters will have fun watching the two of them go at it from behind while chasing for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th placings and so on.
World TTT Championship coming in 2012
by sminer on Aug 3, 2011 3:00 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
This probably isn't news to some, but I tend to miss things like this when they are announced. Must have been the day I was out riding and double flatted 45 miles away from home, and no other cyclists ventured my way. I found this story within a transfer story that Rosseler was leaving the Shack for Garvelo. Apparently the Garmen are eager to win this thing next year, they like this discipline, I like that about them. I like it too when their hopes are dashed by some other team, oh, like HTC.
TDF Rest Day Blues
by sminer on Jul 10, 2011 11:13 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
As much as I hate a day without racing, I need this rest day to recover myself. The last few days have been so marred by crashes, trips to the hospital, and abandons, I needed the Tour to stop a couple days ago.
The stages of the Tour have been great with equally great racing from the riders. Crashes are always part of racing, and I accept that, but this first week has been a little much to swallow. The word carnage is often thrown around when crashes happen in races, but this Tour is suffering carnage on a higher level. Some of it has been so bad it just makes you glad that everyone is alive at least.
Tour de France: 5 Studs that kicked things off
by sminer on Jul 2, 2011 4:20 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
I just love the hoopla around the Tour de France, nothing like it in cycling and that's a fact Jack. And while the traditional opening prologue is fine with me, starting off with a stage like today with a finish that was sure to be exciting was just a little better kick-off (maybe that was too overstated). But who were the riders that put on a show for us on this opening day?, just some of the peloton's major f-ing studs is who.
The UCI is asking us to play nice with Contador.
by sminer on Jun 16, 2011 10:06 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
Apparently someone is trying to intervene before playtime starts on the roads of France. Seems we all need to be set straight and take a few subtle hints from the UCI before we decide to attend the big dance.
New toys for a new team
I'm a sucker for new bikes, but Scott bikes just seems like something I should be on.
Gilbert the Greedy
by sminer on Apr 20, 2011 8:29 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
Mankind has seen a few mighty and ruthless men such as Khan, Attila the Hun, Alexander the Great, Charles the (other) Great, Napoleon, and Caesar. Cycling has had it's fair share of these kind of men who have earned all kinds of nicknames, but few have launched their prowess across the full cycling season like Philippe Gilbert.
On my way home from work today I opened my phone to find a text from a buddy that simply read "Gilbert again! Fuck". I immediately thought that this guy Gilbert has an addiction... winning. And then I thought "he's greedy, he wants to make history and he wants his name known throughout..." And there it was, as clear as the thought, he deserves a name and wants a name that can be yelled by adoring fans on race day.
Anyway, above is my suggestion, below you can make yours. In the end we must choose a worthy name for Philippe Gilbert and say it everyday that he charges out to destroy his competition.
Oscar Relegated (not DQ'd)... Can Spaniards be trusted?
by sminer on Apr 8, 2011 2:09 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
What is it with the Spaniards and cheating? Is there something in the history of the peninsula that I don't know about? Spain has been dominating in sports, but it's heroes soon fall under a dark cloud of suspicion of cheating.
Recently the RFEC has come under more questions regarding their lack of integrity. Their sporting heroes seem to be falling under suspicion of doping one by one. Apparently today at the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco Luis Leon Sanchez couldn't resist giving his teammate Oscar Freire a nice push to victory today. While I didn't get to watch the race live, I'm pretty sure Lulu realizes that there are others watching for such obvious infractions that might assist a rider to victory, no? Am I missing something?
Whenever I am locked up with these types of questions and in doubt about anything, I look to the Man in Black for his knowledge and expertise on all matters. And it comes as no surprise to me that he was aware of this problem with Spaniards. If you were to give your word as a Spaniard to the Man in Black he would simply reply:
"No good, I've known too many Spaniards"
Plasticizer Test moving right along
Autologous transfusions being so hard and/or costly to detect, this test sounds good to me.
Cycling Advocacy with a Danish Twist.
by sminer on Dec 20, 2010 10:44 PM EST
on Podium Cafe
Ask me why I cycle without a helmet
Mikael Colville-Andersen is an interesting Dane who happens to be passionate about cycling. Yes, this is a different look at cycling advocacy, and worth a full look. It's also liable to rile the helmet police in the crowd. And speaking to the helmet police out there, watch this video and think about this before you go badgering a fellow cyclist for not wearing a helmet.
92 comments
|
1 recs |
Tweet
Katusha manager Tchmil busted
Tchmil basically claimed he wouldn't hire Menchov as long as he was represented by his current agent who he just can't negotiate with.
Current agent, Raimondo Scimone, says "Really now?, I currently represent 5 riders on your team."
Actual quote:"I work with five riders with the Russian team and that is enough to prove that there is no truth to Tchmil’s veiled accusations about how I work."
Tragedy to cyclists in Italy
Very sad news that hits home to anyone and everyone that rides their bikes on the streets.
The VERDICT is in/The Belgians VS. Mr. F. Pozatto
by sminer on Oct 11, 2010 11:45 AM EDT
on Podium Cafe
The case of: Permanent Marking. The Belgians are claiming being stalked on the bike by one Filippo Pozatto which is preventing them from winning races. Mr. Pozatto counters that claim by insisting that the Belgians are displacing the blame on to him when they only have themselves to blame for 'not having the legs' to win.
Recent article w/ Mr. Gilbert's complaint: here
Respect... Farewell to a Great World Champion
by sminer on Oct 3, 2010 2:34 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
You shouldn't expect a pretty picture of this man. He shows his grit in the toughest of conditions. He grinds the gears and takes his bike by the bit, and we can only be thankful that the bike is an inanimate object, or else we would beg for mercy on it's behalf. No, Cadel has not made the hotitude thread to my knowledge either, but his beauty shone through in his riding. We could see in victory or defeat that he almost rode, not for himself, but to honor the rainbow stripes. For me, pictures like the one above define the "beauty" of Cadel's riding this year.
95 comments
|
14 recs |
Tweet
Make that 26 teams for Lombardy
by sminer on Sep 14, 2010 3:53 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
I guess (according to CN) Radio Shack had a legitimate gripe because they have now been added to the roster at the Tour of Lombardy. All at once now... "Give 'em hell Horner!!!". Yes I do think they will (and want to) make their presence felt after this kind of press, you know, just so they can say "Suck it race organizers". I do think there is no doubt that this attempted exclusion was vindictive and I hope there is a way the sport can move past this kind of behavior.
Yes! Chris Horner is coming to Greenville.
by sminer on Sep 14, 2010 10:08 AM EDT
on Podium Cafe
hornerakg Made it back home from Canada. And yes, I'll be in Ione, CA for @clarkscornerca on Saturday and US Pro Champs road race on Sunday! about 11 hours ago via web
61 comments
|
1 recs |
Tweet
Phinney takes phlight?
by sminer on Sep 1, 2010 9:31 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
Don't say this boy isn't a forward thinker. Taylor Phinney knows that Radio Shack only has a contract to the end of 2011 and he's got suspicions that they may not continue sponsorship at the end of that contract. What on earth could have created such paranoia in this young man? Seems other teams out there like Team Good Lux and BMC are aware of the same rumors causing these suspicions and are tempting Phinney out of his current situation. Will he or won't he go, and if he goes, where will it be? Here's my dream scenario.
Debating Lance/ OT
by sminer on Aug 5, 2010 11:40 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
At the end of the other "Debating Lance" thread someone (JustJoshinYa) jokingly asked "Lance who?" Well I have to reply in all seriousness in a separate post to that question... "Are you kidding me...
101 comments
|
2 recs |
Tweet
Vino may be a bit scorned.
It appears that Contador may not have been up front with his Kazach friend Vino and his teammates. Can't blame him really if he wanted to have the full and all out support that he received from Team Astana at the Tour. It is reported that Vino asked Contador in front of the team if he was coming back and AC replied: "I really hope so".
Vino does not want to believe Contador lied to him and states this while temporarily holding back his scorn.
"We did all we could for Alberto for three weeks by sacrificing ourselves for him. I only hope that he didn't take the decision before the start of the Tour," said Vinokourov. He added that the team had never put pressure on the Spaniard to extend his contract, contradicting Contador's claims that he'd been given an ultimatum to agree to a new deal by July 27. "Alberto had been pushing for a new contract for four months, and it was he who was pressing to re-sign with us," Vinokourov stated.
Let's hope Vino doesn't find out the truth, if that truth happens to be that AC was never planning on resigning.
Final Takes from the Tour de France
by sminer on Jul 26, 2010 10:20 PM EDT
on Podium Cafe
via t3.gstatic.com
So much takes place in a GT, and this TdF didn't lack much in the way of twists and turns. There are some things that took place on and off the road that I shined two copper pennies for... to share my opinion.
Showing 1 - 30 of 51 Older
