Jul 10, 2012 at 05:41 PM
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ferrari-del-moral-and-marti-banned-for-life-in-us-postal-case
I think this qualifies as a Big.Fucking.Deal.
I think this qualifies as a Big.Fucking.Deal.
Tour de France 2012
Jul 10, 2012 at 07:40 PM
Yes, I agree.
Is cyclingnews.com behaving strangely for others? The formatting of the web page is all buggered up when I view it in firefox. Looks like something from the days of NCSA mosaic.
Is cyclingnews.com behaving strangely for others? The formatting of the web page is all buggered up when I view it in firefox. Looks like something from the days of NCSA mosaic.
Jul 10, 2012 at 08:13 PM
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kelly-wiggins-is-mentally-fragilei'm banking on BMC exploiting this
Jul 11, 2012 at 12:43 AM
Ian,
It is the job of journalists to ask questions. They get shit on for asking too easy questions. Then they get shit on for asking too hard questions. They're just doing their job, and with all the Armstrong stuff swirling around, they should be asking. That's why I used solipsism to describe Wiggins; he's unaware that others have a job, too. His sponsor is a media property, so he should be aware. And if he and/or Sky didn't think this issue would come up, then they're not doing their job. It's not like he had a bad day to justify his behavior. That he's wasting his time reading tweets during the Tour is no one's problem but his own, and getting aggrieved over twits is no way to do your job.
Jul 11, 2012 at 04:33 AM
Wiggins had this to say in response to Kelly's comments in yesterday's Rest Day press conference:
"That dumb fucking Irish prick says I'm mentally fucking fragile? I'll show him mentally fragile, the stupid fuck. At least you can understand what the fuck I'm fucking saying, unlike that dumb paddy cunt, the fucking..."[continues in similar vein for four minutes]
Can't find the link on cyclingnews.com - but will post it when I do.
"That dumb fucking Irish prick says I'm mentally fucking fragile? I'll show him mentally fragile, the stupid fuck. At least you can understand what the fuck I'm fucking saying, unlike that dumb paddy cunt, the fucking..."[continues in similar vein for four minutes]
Can't find the link on cyclingnews.com - but will post it when I do.
Jul 11, 2012 at 11:19 AM
This is why I can't get behind the Schleck brothers:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-admits-tour-de-france-podium-spot-is-almost-impossible
I am quite possibly the worst TT rider in the world. I'm routinely beat by Cat 4 women. But if I was a professional cyclist, whose major objective for the year, included roughly 1000 kilometers of time trials, I would bring my blanky and my binky and my computer and a cot and live next to a wind tunnel for like 3 weeks, then train on my TT bike so hard and so often that I'd need a new one for the start of the tour.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-admits-tour-de-france-podium-spot-is-almost-impossible
I am quite possibly the worst TT rider in the world. I'm routinely beat by Cat 4 women. But if I was a professional cyclist, whose major objective for the year, included roughly 1000 kilometers of time trials, I would bring my blanky and my binky and my computer and a cot and live next to a wind tunnel for like 3 weeks, then train on my TT bike so hard and so often that I'd need a new one for the start of the tour.
Jul 11, 2012 at 01:30 PM
Love this:
...then train on my TT bike so hard and so often that I'd need a new one for the start of the tour.The very idea brings a smile to my face. Yeah, you climbed a bajillion meteres at altitude? He wore out his TT bike.
Jul 11, 2012 at 06:13 PM
And Outside Magazine swerves back into the Armstrong Camp
Jul 11, 2012 at 07:03 PM
Just doing a little reading: this guy Brian Alexander can't even quote himself accurately:
From: http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/Drug-Lord.html
You've been on the receiving end of intense criticism. A lawyer for U.S. track star Marion Jones—whose name came up in the BALCO doping scandal—once accused you of "a litany of anti-American smears" and said you had "no business being involved in the Olympics." Does that get to you?
No. I have to look at what they're saying, who they are, what they represent, and then start parsing it. The louder they scream, the more likely it is that you've hit pretty close to home.
No. I have to look at what they're saying, who they are, what they represent, and then start parsing it. The louder they scream, the more likely it is that you've hit pretty close to home.
Yet, when a few people have objected, anti-doping officials have acted as if they’re traitors to the cause. “For all the folks wondering who the bad guys are, it is easy,” former WADA chief Dick Pound told me once. “They are the ones complaining.”
Jul 11, 2012 at 07:08 PM
ARRRGGHH. Wiggins just trotted out the "I've been tested a lot" line.
Now I feel foolish for defending him. As a penance I will not play any Who, Kinks or Small Faces records for the rest of the tour.
Jul 11, 2012 at 07:24 PM
Wiggo didn't exactly look tired following Cuddles wheel as Cadel turned himself inside out at the end there.
Hey, he trained a lot. That's why he's been winning everything in sight all year long.
Jul 11, 2012 at 08:49 PM
“I’m tested by the UCI God knows how many times a year, God knows how
many times on this race and the Dauphiné, blood tested every morning…
What more can I do ? I don’t know really ? I’d love to know.”
many times on this race and the Dauphiné, blood tested every morning…
What more can I do ? I don’t know really ? I’d love to know.”
how about making the data public? It's not a novel concept. I thought he was once in favor of doing so.
Jul 11, 2012 at 09:03 PM
That's presumably a bit moot though, no? Surely as the data on his tests are not public that meant hat they fall within the realms of 'normality' which are accepted by the governing body. Such that we assume they show no evidence of doping as they have not been publicised by WADA.
I know what he could do; stop bitching and moaning. It's not like he's had to put up with this for decades and it's finally getting to him. He only wore the yellow jersey for the first time 3 days ago! Moreover, he won his first and only stage of the Tour 2 days ago. He comes over as if he has been hounded and bullied his whole life about drugs. Not really. no-one genuinely believed he would actually win until about 3 months ago.
Jul 11, 2012 at 09:06 PM
So Wiggo is having a season like Gilbert had last season? Nobody can beat him. Not even uphill when you've got him two against one (oh wait that was Schelcks, it doesn't count).
Jul 11, 2012 at 09:19 PM
Have you seen how skinny Wiggles is? Seems even more so this year. He's being fussy and having hissy fits b/c he's hungry. Cyclist are just like toddlers: when hungry or tired, they start whining (me included). Just needs his blankie.
Jul 11, 2012 at 09:28 PM
re: Solipsism: "There’s one reason I’m in this position and that’s because I’ve worked hard,” Wiggins said Wednesday."
Yup; it's all his hard work. Nothing to do with winning the Genetic lottery, nothing to do with the people who came before him, or helped him along the way. 100% his own doing.
What an ass.
Jul 12, 2012 at 03:02 AM
Yeah, I hate the old "I work harder than anyone else" explanation for one's success. It's bullshit. I can guarantee you there are at least 20 guys on our club that work just as hard as a random selection of 20 guys from the Tour de France.
Years ago, when I was still chasing the dream, I was at a BBQ with Danny Pate and Mike Creed. Those two struck me as a couple of slackers. I mean, I don't know about how hard they trained or whatever, but at the time, they had full ride from the US National Team, and mostly blew them off to do their own thing. Or they said something to that effect, in that annoying slack jawed teenage open mouth kind of way. Danny Pate at least has a good reputation in the pro peloton (Creed less so), but I really despise any time anyone trots out the "I work harder than anyone else" line.
Years ago, when I was still chasing the dream, I was at a BBQ with Danny Pate and Mike Creed. Those two struck me as a couple of slackers. I mean, I don't know about how hard they trained or whatever, but at the time, they had full ride from the US National Team, and mostly blew them off to do their own thing. Or they said something to that effect, in that annoying slack jawed teenage open mouth kind of way. Danny Pate at least has a good reputation in the pro peloton (Creed less so), but I really despise any time anyone trots out the "I work harder than anyone else" line.
Jul 12, 2012 at 03:04 AM
In other news....Jens Voigt rocks my world. While figuring out middle names for baby boy Bertucco, we were going through family names...guess what my German grandmother's maiden name was?
That's right, Voigt! Hmmm.....
That's right, Voigt! Hmmm.....
Jul 12, 2012 at 04:27 AM
Jul 12, 2012 at 12:50 PM
And this from Jens' blog on Bicycling.com (sounds a lot like our race reports)
By Jens Voigt
Wow! I haven’t come that close to winning a stage in the Tour de France for a while, but even though I got third I cannot say that I am disappointed.
I didn’t start today’s stage thinking about getting into a breakaway.
But then there were so many attacks that I had no choice but to follow.
You know sometimes us bike riders make this hard sport just that much
harder. I mean we were already racing at 50 kilometers per hour for the
first hour, and there were some real hard climbs waiting.
As a result, I had to cover the moves. I mean that is just part of my
job description. And, what do you know, pretty soon I was in a 25-rider
break with a lot of strong racers.
I knew it would be hard to win, because I was not going to be the
strongest up the climbs. On the Grand Colombier, I went into survival
mode. I couldn’t follow the first group with Thomas Voeckler and Luis
Leon Sanchez. That climb was just so long and steep. But I got in a good
group that included Sandy Casar and Marcus Burghardt. I was on the
limit, but happy to survive and we hit the summit with only a 55-second
gap, I think.
Fortunately, the last climb was not nearly as steep and I felt good. I
could tell that the others were dead and we were losing time, so I
attacked. It was my only chance to catch the front group.
It worked. I caught the leaders with just a couple of kilometers
left, but I had been chasing for something like 15 kilometers. I tried
to sit on and relax, but I was not the strongest rider, and knew that I
would have to be lucky to win.
The first guy to get away was Dries Devenyns from Omega Pharma and he
got a good gap. I tried to get the other guys to work together, but
that was not happening. So I just attacked. At that point it was like
playing poker—I had to take a chance. And it almost worked. If they
would have hesitated for, say, 30 seconds, I think I could have stayed
away.
I was trying to catch Devenyns slowly so that he would spend more
energy out in front. But I also had to keep an eye on things behind me.
Then, all of a sudden, I saw Tommy Voeckler moving up. And he looked
very strong.
When he caught me, oh wow, I had lactic acid coming out of my ears!
Voeckler was clearly fresher and stronger and there was nothing I could
do about it. Even my fingertips were hurting. It had been a long time
since I hurt like that.
I was just happy to finish third, and save my spot on the podium.
That said, I promise you that I will do everything possible tomorrow to
stay out of the top 100!
Jul 12, 2012 at 01:07 PM
^further proof that Jens is one of the best things to ever happen to pro cycling.
Jul 12, 2012 at 01:30 PM
Jens is so incredibly fun to watch, read, listen to and root for.
I'm not sure how he's kept his distance from all the dopage controversy for so long; as a veteran he must have seen it all. I'm sure it must be a case of "non gc/world champion riders who speak up don't get contracts renewed" or a similar fear... such a pity.
Self edit: that sounded wrong when I wrote it, and sure enough it didn't take long to dig up this gem of an interview with him: http://www.bicycles.net.au/2011/03/jens-voigt-interview-part-5-doping-and-the-uci/
Apparently there is in fact, NO LIMIT to the awesome that is Jensie...
I guess it goes without saying that if I learn he's on the juice I might just cry.
I'm not sure how he's kept his distance from all the dopage controversy for so long; as a veteran he must have seen it all. I'm sure it must be a case of "non gc/world champion riders who speak up don't get contracts renewed" or a similar fear... such a pity.
Self edit: that sounded wrong when I wrote it, and sure enough it didn't take long to dig up this gem of an interview with him: http://www.bicycles.net.au/2011/03/jens-voigt-interview-part-5-doping-and-the-uci/
Apparently there is in fact, NO LIMIT to the awesome that is Jensie...
I guess it goes without saying that if I learn he's on the juice I might just cry.
Jul 12, 2012 at 01:32 PM
And apparently there is such a thing as Cycle Polo
Jul 12, 2012 at 04:18 PM
Are you kidding? They play this at Houston and Christie Streets on a regular basis . . . so I'm told. I think they use fixies.
Jul 12, 2012 at 06:34 PM
Dude, I've got a Japanese lifestyle magazine that has a feature article about NYC bicycle polo, and their silly homemade front wheel covers.
Jul 12, 2012 at 07:25 PM
It is really fun to watch.
Jul 12, 2012 at 08:59 PM
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/froome-breaks-from-the-script-at-la-toussuire/231126
I have a feeling that this picture will be a famous one in years to come...
Jul 12, 2012 at 09:04 PM
like this one...
Jul 12, 2012 at 09:57 PM
Exactly
Jul 13, 2012 at 12:50 AM
Lovely. Froome's wife went all ragey on Twitter...