After announcing that he saw today’s today’s stage as “an appetizer” (that’s “anitpasto” en italiano), Gilberto Simoni rode it as just that; not a filling meal, but certainly enough to whet his appetite for later. While Ivan Basso came back from the dead to claim the stage (a much easier thing to do when you’re…
Snowmass Village Circuit Race – Report
So after Sunday’s debacle, I was ready for a little revenge on the various bike shop teams of Aspen [BTW, the “Telco” guys are really “Jelco” guys; they’re from Ajax Bikes, I believe]. Today’s course was a short circuit that basically went up moderately, and then down less moderately. I think the loop was 3-5…
Simply 'Mevel-ous' – News
You’d think that coming off a rest day, with only one other flat stage left in the race, the handful of remaining sprinters would be raring to go today. But you’d be wrong. As the Discovery Channel-lead peloton languished 20 minutes behind, young Frenchman Christophe Le Mevel sprung away from his breakaway companions with 2k…
Giro Rest Day World Update – News
So it’s a Giro rest day; that means no news, right? No way, man. The world of competitve cycling never stops turning. Let’s begin on the home front where American U23 phenom Tyler Farrar (gotta love the victory salute) was recently reported to have signed with Cofidis. Well, turns out he didn’t. Or at least…
Petacchi gets rainy hat trick – News
After two grueling 200k+ days of climbing, the Giro organizers decided to take a boring, downhill stage, and making even boring-er, lopping off 50k of today’s race, and neutralizing part of the final circuit. It was an easy ride in for the Fassa train, and Petacchi put well over a bike length on second-place finisher…
Aspen Criterium – Report
After Saturday’s hill climb, I was a little more prepared for the “Aspenness” of this morning’s crit. Like when I noticed they ran the A Women (these aren’t USCF races, after all) simultaneously with the Veteren Men (35+) Sure, it worked out well for the one chick who could keep pace, but sure wasn’t fair…
Ride for the Pass – Report
If I had to sum up this entire weekend in a single acronym, it would be “WSM” (Western Slacker Mentality). Let’s start with the Ride for the Pass, an alleged hillclimb race from Aspen to the top of Independence Pass. I declined to actually race this, electing instead to ride with my friend Sam who…
Parra makes it 2, Basso loses – News
Parra makes it 2, Basso loses. Ivan Parra scored a second consecutive stage win for himself, Team Columbia-Selle Italia and non-ProTour teams, while Ivan Basso got shat so far off the back that he hadn’t managed to finish by the time the OLN broadcast ended. Rujano was first over the top of the Stelvio today,…
Savoldelli Crackles, Basso Pops – News
Action today! Big break (that got clear!), lots of abandons, attacks and a change in leaders. Savoldelli managed not to bust out on a hot decent and instead flew away on his own coming up the other side while Basso floundered in his wake. Up the road, Ivan Parra took the stage, and made it…
Petacchi Strikes Back – News
With arms fully extended, Alessandro Petacchi took the 12th stage of the 2005 Giro. Looking more like his old self, the gentleman sprinter cruised to victory over young gun Paride Grillo (not to be confused with “Il Grillo,” Paolo Bettini) and Isaac “podium” Galvez, whose claim to fame will continue to be crashing World Champion…