I really like Jan Ullrich; and you have to feel for the guy. If it weren’t for Lance Armstrong he likely would have joined the pantheon of immortals himself, with at least 5 Tour de France wins. As it is he has one win, a string of second place finishes, and a fourth.
Saturday’s opening time trial was like years of Ullrich’s TdF frustration magically distilled into just over 20 minutes.
Here’s the scoop on stage 1, courtesy of Cycling News.
Here’s a photo and here’s another that speak volumes. The poor guy… not even 12 miles into a 2000+ mile race and he has to know that barring disaster (or a miracle, depending on your perspective) he’s racing for second (again).
I hope he races in next year’s Tour… I’ll be pulling for him if he does.
I’m giddy with excitement. Le Tour de France starts today! Later this morning! Thankfully OLN will be providing the same outstanding coverage they have for the last several years; live daily coverage along with repeats in several time slots.
Don’t even get me started on how disappointed I am with them for pulling the plug on their daily coverage of the other two Grand Tours. OLN’s cycling coverage is literally the main reason I got (and have kept) cable TV. I fear for the future of cycling coverage in America post-Lance. I can’t bear the thought of going back to the dark days of CBS’s weekly hour of “coverage” which featured maybe 10 minutes of actual bike racing. Who knows, maybe the Discovery Channel will pick up the torch and televise some races. Lord knows they should, with the money they’ve invested.
I can’t wait to watch as Lance and Team Discovery (nee US Postal) attempt to re-write history (again).
Last year on the podium in Paris, Ivan Basso (3rd) was holding his baby (son/daughter… I forget) and it broke my heart; you could see in his eyes that one of Lance’s greatest moments was diminished by the absence of his children; having a rock star girlfriend doesn’t equal sharing a moment like that with your own progeny. This year, though, his kids are reportedly going to be there, in “Daddy’s office”. I so hope I get to see Lance, the boy, and the twins all on the podium in Paris, resplendent in yellow.
I think that this year will be (barring disaster) more or less a repeat of last year. I don’t see him repeating the mistakes that nearly cost him the victory in 2003, I think we are in for another exhibition of LA and team totally controlling and dominating the race. One thing is for sure; I’ll be savoring every moment of it… several times a day!
Allez Lance!!!!
You thought I was going to make some weird Bloodhound Gang reference, didn’t you? No, now get your mind out of the gutter! Anyway…
…have you seen the promos which start with a view from outside a hotel room… you hear grinding and see sparks flying beyond the door. Lance Armstrong walks up, in full Discovery team kit, opens the door and there sits his bike all ‘chopper-ized’ surrounded by the guys from American Chopper. There’s a long pause where he just stares, dumbfounded, while they sit grinning expectantly at him. Finally Mikey, with a downcast gaze, mutters; “Sorry Lance” and Paul Sr. shouts at him “Shut it!”
That cracks me up.
Oh, and by the way:
Yes I’m Siskel, yes I’m Ebert
and you’re getting two thumbs up
You’ve had enough of two-hand touch
you want it rough you’re out of bounds
I want you smothered want you covered
like my Waffle House hashbrowns
Ha!
I couldn’t resist.
The Daily Peloton had an interesting story about Mario Cipollini at the 2002 Gent-Wevelgem:
At the start of the Gent-Wevelgem race in Gent’s Citadel Park, there was a small boy in a wheelchair along the barriers and he was trying to get autographs from the riders, but being low to the ground, he was wasn’t having much luck. Cipo rode past him on the way in to the sign-on but he must have noticed him because, as he went to ride out, he pulled over to where the young boy was sitting. Cipo got off his bike, kneeled down next to the boy, put his arm around him and motioned for the boy’s mom to take a picture. She was completely unprepared and he patiently waited while she fumbled with her camera. After the picture, Cipo signed the boy’s autograph book and took his cycling cap out of his jersey pocket and gave it to the boy. The kid’s face was glowing. It was a touching moment. It was a gesture done away from any reporters or TV cameras. I remembered this scene as I later watched the Lion King cross the finish line, arms raised in victory.
http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=602
This was posted on 03/24/2003 9:52 PM in rec.bicycles.racing by “Laff@me.com” with the subject line of “Cipollini: he is an Goddamm Stud”.
I think it’s one of the funniest thing’s I’ve ever read… I’m sharing it in an attempt to divert my attention from my own winter-time cycling jones. Bear in mind, it’s satire, I mean no offense to any of those (Australians) insulted herein.
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From:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2003/mar03/mar25news
World Champion Mario Cipollini wasn’t quite as gracious in defeat as his post race comments indicated, being involved in an altercation with FDJeux.com’s Bernhard Eisel (12th) after the finish. Cipollini punched Eisel in the head, believing him to be Australian sprinter Baden Cooke. The reason for the outburst was that Cooke did not let Cipollini take Erik Zabel’s wheel in the final kilometre, after Cipollini’s leadout train had burned out between the Cipressa and the Poggio…
..snip
Imagine the temerity of that ingrate, Cooke. Not giving up his wheel. Who the hell does he think he is? Cipollini, he of the many superlative nicknames: The Lion King, Super Mario, The Fastest and Best Looking Cyclist in The World, is the WORLD CHAMPION.
What is Cooke? Some goddamm Aussie whose ancestors were sent to that continent because they were no better than common criminals. Their descendents are no better than they, not knowing their place, stealing (like the Aussie criminals that they are) the wheel of SUPER MARIO, THE WORLD CHAMPION!
Next time Cipo, I implore you to punch out the lights of Cooke (or any of his teamates, who cares) BEFORE the race starts. That will let them know What is What and Who is Who.
Bravo, Mario!
BRAVO!!!!
Even if bike racing isn’t necessarily your cup of tea, play along. Today’s Giro d’Italia stage was amazing. Mountains, rain, snow, crashes, the wounded soldiering on… it was truly epic. Take a look at:
http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/4011.0.html
And bear in mind that all of this took place after nearly 3 weeks of racing. If you want to see one of the greatest spectacles in sports for yourself, it re-airs on OLN tonight at 8pm (note that I said spectacles, not testicles… the greatest one-testicled spectacle in sports was the 2001 Tour de France, stage 10, Lance Armstrong’s win on Alpe d’Huez).