Oh, Cav. You dashing young blade, you. Getting all self-righteous that Garmin Slipstream was practicing (OMG!) for the TTT in Stage 1 of this year’s Giro . As we all learned from Chariots of Fire, that’s simply not what persons of quality do. And Lance Armstrong, Mr. Millimeter himself, inexplicably agrees.
Never mind that Columbia Highroad won the TTT at Romandie last week, or that Franti Rabon was quoted as saying “[Columbia-Highroad’s] big goal coming here was to win the team time trial” after the victory. Garmin-Slipstream’s notion that the season starts today is utter nonsense, and somehow disrespectful. How embarrassed must Cavendish be now? Why, those hammy British cheeks must be as pink as that jersey he’s got on.
Speaking of jerseys, Lance, and the rest of his squad, all started in their Astana kits today, despite widespread speculation that they might finish wearing something a little different. I had tabbed them for the win, with Lance as the first rider over the line. The order was sound, but the squad came up a few seconds short. Look at that face, though, and tell me that the Texan didn’t come here to win. The hills may still be a question mark, but his game against the clock appears to be spot on.
Going into tomorrow’s stage to Trieste, sprinters Tyler Farrar and Alessandro Petacchi could potentially take the jersey if Cav seems as poorly put-together as he did at Romandie. Cyclesport magazine and I have a beer riding on the Manxman’s performance tomorrow, and I’m feeling much less confident about it now that he’s in the maglia rosa. That having been said, I’m going to stick with Petacchi.
how’s the beer? cheers!