Wow, Tour of California prologue – a week of hype for a mere 5 minutes of racing. And the American (I can’t imagine any foreign riders willing to go all out for a February tune-up race) who came out on top? Levi Leipheimer. He bested that lying dog Bobby Julich, who claimed just a week ago not to have good legs. Former Tour de France (you know, a race that actually matters?) prologue winner Fab Cancellara was the first foreigner in 6th. I know it seems like I’m speaking harshly of the ToC, but it’s not an attempt to belittle it so much as an attempt to keep it at the correct size. Taking a global view of the sport, the only February races that matter are Het Volk and KBK.
Speaking of those two Belgian season openers (pursued with ferocity by the current World and Olympic Champions if you doubt their gravity), they’ll be available live and free of charge on Cycling.TV, along with a whole host of other Spring races, including Amstel Gold. Plus there should be highlights of the ToC and the recently concluded Classic Haribo, in which a certain cocksure Norweigan was made to look the fool by a little-known Frenchman. In Portugal, the Volta ao Algarve continued today, no one really paid attention because, as I mentioned before, it’s a February stage race, and none of the big names are going all out yet.
And finally, in Olympic action today, the infamous Italian paramilitary police made what I believe to be their first non-cycling raid last night (it’s their first Olympic raid – maybe they’ve hit a soccer team or something), awakening the Austrian XC Ski Team in the wee hours. The article tells of the usual disturbances, plus bags of “medicines and needles” being tossed out the windows and a daring escape via minivan. No accusations have yet been made, though two Austrian biathletes were kicked off the Olympic team just after the raids were completed. The Austrian nordic skiers, meanwhile, rallied bravely to finish dead last in today’s Men’s 4x10k relay, while the Italian team, functioning on a full night’s rest, walked away with the gold.
Well, as somebody who gets excited about the women’s time trial in the Valley of the Sun stage race, obviously I disagree with you about the ToC. (On the other hand, I think it’s a crime that Hincapie’s not gonna be there to defend in K-B-K). Anyway, what I wanna know is what’s the deal with Toyota-United Pro Cycling’s bikes? Look throught the photos at CN. Cruz and Baldwin rode Cervelos? And Dominguez (I think that’s Dominguez) had some kind of “problem?” Come on, you’ve got all week before Het Volk! Use those mad insider skilz to find out what’s up there!
Please spare us your commentary of what races “matter”. To 90% of working pros a win is a win no matter “when” it comes.
The US sees the strongest pro peloton in decades, and you’re describing the race as rinky-dink and insignificant? Maybe, just maybe if people like you came to see the race as significant, it would grow into a Grand Tour one day.
Don’t be such a fucking snob.
I stayed up last night to see the TofCA prologue, and was SO excited and yet disappointed.
Excited to see such great cyclists racing in a new US race that might have a chance of being a “big deal” in the future.
Excited that they showed Jens Voight (go Jens!) I can’t wait for his attacks this week.
Excited that so many CSC and DSC guys did so well. I was yelling so loud when Julich took the lead (temporarily,) that I woke up my husband.
Disappointed in the time it was broadcast – midnight central time – how the hell are they going to entice viewers to watch bike races when they have coverage that time of day? I guess I should be grateful for the hour every day, instead of a one-hour weekly recap of the whole race…
Disappointed in what they chose to cover: they didn’t mention Zabriskie’s results, they didn’t show his run, or mention that his chain came off. No coverage of George Hincappie except the last 100 meters? No list of the top 20 finishers at the end? There were numerous long shots of the empty road with no riders on it, waiting, waiting for the rider to come into view. And no clock on the screen, letting the viewers know what the times were.
I’ll be up tonight at 1am Central, hopeing for better shots and more intelligent coverage. I remember reading that they guy producing the program had experience in covering bike races…maybe that will be more evident this evening.
insignificant race?
you’re a douche bag.
Are you even literate? Try reading the post again.
(Though, if you are, in fact, unable to read or write, it would a great deal of the way toward explaining why you can’t manage to type your own name into the comment box…)
Het Volk and K-B-K won’t be very significant if they get called because of snow. Still, it would be a major accomplishment if euro teams saw the ToC as a viable warm up for Paris-Nice and other early season one week races.
hey asshole, ToC has now become a major race in the world of cycling. blah blah blah – so fuck you. – anonymous
Give me break anonymous. Cosmo calls it as he sees it which is why i keep coming back here. i may not always like what he has to say, but a majority of the time he is right.