Ok, seriously. Vuelta: Quesada escapes to win. Oooooh, it’s such a big deal because he’s 5th on GC. NOT. Even after getting away, he’s still six minutes back of Sr. Heras. The only real suprise going on is that Quesada’s team, wild-card entry Communidad Valencia is beating everyone else down in the teams competition. By the way on an entirely unrelated note, CV used to be this outfit called Kelme, which is alleged to have had this teensie-weensie problem with doping, but that’s neither here or there…
And, Tour of Poland, man, you used to be cool. Late-season race, Eastern European riders looking for their ticket out of the post-Communist kleptocracy and throwing down huge moves and solo escapes. But the ProTour has made you so boring. 3 days, 3 group sprints. At least Team Iron Curtain is showing out: Today’s stage winner was 36-year-old Jaan Kirsipuu, who outfoxed all comers (Paolini, VanHeeswijk, Bennati), and, before it all came together, Piotr Chmielewski (now that’s a name) from Polska’s own Intel-Action squad rocked out in the long break.
Aside from the dull predictability of racing at the moment, there’s all sorts of gossipy intrigues going on with the selection of Worlds teams. The Belgians, for example, are worried that the Davitamon-Lotto riders they’ve selected will work for Og’s Robbie McEwen and not homeboy Tom Boonen. Still, Boonen seems ok with it, though his boss, Quick.Step manager Patrick LeFevere has his doubts. The Dagoes, Mics and, uh, Butter Cookies (I guess…) have all finalized their Worlds Team selections, the only suprise being Alexandro Valverde, fit and ready to race after late season bout with tendonitis in his knee. It seems the Frogs have also nailed down their team, but for now its all eyes on the Eye-ties, as we wait to see whether Paolo Bettini’s brilliant win in yesterday’s Vuelta stage was enough to get him in azzuro in Madrid.