It’s a sad day for cycling. And this time, it’s not because of the drugs. Jaan Kirsipuu‘s astounding streak of 13 consecutive Tour de France DNFs will be coming to an end this July (I put that one in DeepQuote to point out Eurosport’s outrageous copy error). What’s even more infuriating is that Kirsipuu’s likely…
The Operation Puerto Space Opera
A lot of you are wondering why I haven’t posted in a while. There are a few reasons for this. The first is that I’ve been in something of a feud with Google over the (previous) contents of this page. Then there was a brief technical issue with TextDrive, my hosting company, that, though quickly…
Being Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a riddle inside a mystery wrapped (9 months out of the year) in thick coating of Rostockian lard. The man has superhuman talent that manifested itself at a very early age. A lot of people think this has lead him into some sort of Michael Jackson /Macauley Culkin early-fame flame out thing….
The Strange State of Americans in Cycling
Ok, so I know I haven’t posted in a week, and I shouldn’t have the chutzpah to criticize anyone, but come on – asking Tom Boonen “Are you the next George Hincapie?” I realize that’s not a direct quote, but the idiocy of sentiment remains. How can Boonen “follow in the footsteps” (that is a…
Americans in the Afternoon – Dauphine Stage 3
Only minutes left to post on today’s news! Don’t worry; not much to report. Item #1 – Dauphine Stage 3. Name four American ex-Posties, each riding for a different team now (though one still rides for Tailwind). Now list them in reverse alphabetical order. Now swap names two and three. There’s your top 4. Click…
Gilbert Wins Dauphine Stage as Apocalypse Draws Near
The fear of the End Times was palpable in the Dauphine Libere peloton today, though not inspired so much by the date (6/6/06, in case you have been on Mars for the last month, in a cave, with your eyes shut and your fingers in your ears) as by the apocalyptic visions of 21 switchbacks…
The Dauphine, Its Results, and Riis' Open Secret
It’s June, that magical time of year where a one-week stage race comes to the fore in cycling, not because its victor will be showered in prestige and paychecks, but because it’s seen as an important warm-up for the Tour de France. And yet somehow, this event, where a win rates mere side-show status, maintains…
The '06 Giro – Not Exactly One for the Ages
So the ’06 Giro is finally over. And thank fµ¢&ing God. Sure, the seven years of bad Tour luck in the form of Lance Armstrong (brought on, I’m told, by Pantani breaking his Coke mirror) delivered more than their fair share of dull Grand Tours. But now, with the Texan retired, to have the light…
The Race to Disgrace Part II: Tailwind Strikes Back
This isn’t a post so much as an update to some previous criticisms I made about Discovery Channel’s harebrained Race to Replace contest. Much has happened since I first posted on the topic in April, including Joe Lindsey and TDFBlog expanding on (“ripping off”) my original sentiments, but today, word finally arrived in my inbox…
Nobody Rages Anymore
Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. When this year’s Giro course was announced, I was pretty freakin’ psyched. I mean, an opening week on the on the cobbles and bergs of Belgium, some seriously rugged mountain-top finishes, and, mirable visu, a final day split-stage that…