Ah, Jiminy Peak. The New England spring classic that embodies most of what I hate about road races; wide roads, non-selective climbs, uphill finish, dead-ahead descent. It is, however, extremely pretty. I figured I’d finally do it this year because it passes, for a time, through my hometown. Registration was bliss. It was like someone…
Basso "Attempted" but Raced Clean, Wiggins Takes Dunkirk TT.
Man, can I call it or what? Not even a day after the big “confession” and the claim of “complete collaboration”, we have nothing but a little omerta and some “attempted doping”. “Attempted” doping! LMAO!! Ah, when any chump 16 year old in East Bumble, MO, can dose up on designer ‘roids, one of the…
Basso "Confessed", Valverde Accused, Dekker Victorious
So the Giro start list is out. But where’s Ivan Basso? Why, finally “confessing” to the Operation Puerto charges, of course. Though I really can’t say what, if anything, he’s confessed, since it was the Italian Olympic Committee, not Basso, that broke the news. And all CONI says is that Basso’s admitted a connection –…
A "sacred union" to "confound riders"?
Phew! Yesterday, I almost thought I was reporting on like, golf, or some sport where things actually make sense. Good thing I’ve got Christian Prudhomme, Pat McQuaid, and Tyrannosaurus Lefevere to call for a “coalition of the willing” – I’m sorry, I mean a “sacred union” – to fight against “terrorist kil -” excuse me,…
Sanity Reigns Supreme
I’m sorry, but if it weren’t for Sammy Sanchez, I’d think the world had gone sane for a second. An anti-dope hearing held out in the public eye, so that the accusers have accountability and what not? It’s as if the all the Internet’s fingertips worn hoarse from typing suddenly got through. And lest you…
From Puerto to Romandie and Back
Some people out there must have a sense of humor; after all, these are sold out! And I’m pretty sure Dick Pound couldn’t have bought all of them (though he does work three, very highly-paid jobs…). If the Onion were more up on its cycling (kind of surprised they don’t read Cyclocosm, really) they’d have…
Henninger Turm, Romandie Prologue, Liege Views, Dope News
Am I slipping? I feel like I am. I seem to recall I was once funnier, more incisive. I used to watch races on the Internet, instead of whining about the weak dollar. I feel two Giros d’Italia ago, I would have been able to make more light of Ivan Basso’s ridiculous statement that he…
Was LBL that Great? More Puerto News.
Was the finish of this year’s Liege that good? Truth be told, I didn’t watch it live because 50 bucks (it was 36 or so last year – damn weak dollar) seemed a bit steep for two weekends’ worth of races. Pez seemed fairly psyched about the quality of the event, but post-race chatter and…
DiLuca wins Killer LBL, Hinault, Eurosport
Now that’s how a one-day race is supposed to end. 30k of attacks while the creme de la creme try to whittle each other down. DiLuca and Schleck making the-all-or-nothing move at 4k; Valverde, stuck back in the group, trying to will the field back together; the daring jumps by DiLuca and Valverde as they…
Petacchi Back, Cunego Fit, Gibo Ready, Wiggins Angry.
Wooo! it’s Friday, 11:33pm, I just woke up from a nap and I’m starving…for some pro cycling madness! Begin with the racing, where Petacchi has returned to form in Germany. Well, returned to form kinda. Meanwhile, Damiano Cunego showed he’s fighting fit for next (¡OMG!) week’s Giro d’Italia with a GC win at Giro di…