So apparently there was this big explanation of AHM’s tattoo in this VeloNews…well, I don’t know what to call it. Column? Editorial? Blog? My best description would be “amorphous blob of marginally relevant cycling information that does little else beyond proclaiming to the world of the Internet that, yes, Fred Dreier is a bike industry insider”. I don’t generally read the “Fred’s Eye” or “Rogers’ Neighborhood” columns, and the second paragraph of the article linked above is a pretty good indicator of why. If you can make it through that second paragraph without reflexively jabbing yourself in the eye with a fork, you are by far the better man. Anyway, I wasn’t really sure after reading the original article that this was AHM’s chest. Sure, it says “photo courtesy of Adam Hodges Myerson” now, but I’m pretty sure that it didn’t last night.
We have some news for you, too. (Well, not “we”, per se, but you get the idea.) Davide Rebellin, who responded to his snub from the ’04 Italian World’s team after one of the best classics seasons in history by attempting to become Argentinian, apparently wants back into Italy. Or at least I think that’s what it says. Rebellin’s results still list him as “(Ita)”, so maybe he already swtiched back. If that is the case, I have no idea what that article is about. Moving back to VeloNews, John Wilcockson has come out staunchly against the Grand Tour organizers in their recent tiff with the UCI. Though I admire his exposé of L’Equipe’s non-reporting, I find his assumption that AIGCP actually represents the will of the riders uncharacteristically naive, and his implication that the ProTour sqauds (25% of which are French) would skip the Tour de France out of spite utterly moronic. Still, as the man has been involved in cycling since my father was in short pants, the careful Cyclocosm reader would do well to give his arguments more consideration than I have.
The Rebellin blurb is confusing. The headline doesn’t relate to the story.
Rebellin never did become a citizen of Argentina. It was all rush rush and at the last minute he still needed yet another form as I recall. The quote opposite his name in the Bici reference is what – an ironic or mocking reference or historical ‘reminder’ to the reader of this incident?
It seems unnecessary. “I don’t want to/will not (I think it might be future tense) become an Argentinian I want to return to the blue.” He still wants to be on the National team – azzuri.
Simoni considered Austrian citizenship due to being shut out of the National team. Simoni really wanted to go to Athens in 2004. Of course, Ballerini – the national selector – delivered gold with Bettini in Athens. In Verona Paolo banged his knee and Ballerini in retrospect stayed with him as leader for too long. Oscar may still have won because he’s Oscar and his team was riding perfectly but I wish Paolini had the green light earlier in the race. Then again, I would have been thrilled to see Alan Davis win as he was my darkhorse pick.
Since the Rebellin reference reminded me of World’s I want to thank and applaud you for your coverage of Worlds in Madrid. I attended Hamilton in 2003 and I want to attend another Worlds in the future. I wish more North Americans attended Hamilton. It seems like spectators were scared off – too bad because I have 5 days of wonderful memories.
And, may I put in a plug for Mancebo? He finshes two Grand Tours with good placings and rides in support on the National team two yrs in a row.
Many thanks for your blog.
I have a question regarding the UCI rankings: Has anyone compiled rankings based on the old UCI formulas? The new system sucks without question. The guy ranked 150 has 3 points. How does a brother judge the merit of a rider outside the top 200 (because that’s very important information to know)? I sat next to Max Testa at dinner back in 2000 and he told me that each UCI point was worth about $1000/year in salary. I thought the old system was pretty good a gauging who sucked and who didn’t suck. Love your site!!!!