The First 100 Miles

Hibernation

The cycling season is all but over for the year.  It's cold here at my place and my bike hasn't seen the road for weeks.  I haven't been to Cycling News in days and traffic here at the Inane Asylum is way, way down.  It's winter and I just feel like crawling back into bed and sleeping until the Tour of California.

Not quite sure what I'm going to write about here for the next three months.  Now I see why Marty resorts to writing about cross-country running.  Oh no, wait, he actually enjoys that. 

Anyway, Happy Halloween to all.  I'll be out Trick or Treating tonight with a very excited little tiger and penguin and I can't wait.

I'm sure I'll come up with something new to chat about here in the coming days.  I could always resort to Velo News' strategy during this dry period and do a new feature every day on what yet another pro rider thinks about the Tour course for 2008.  Yawn.

Cycling Through Facebook

Anyone else out there into the world of Facebook?  I resisted for a long time, even mocked my husband for getting hooked early on, but eventually I caved and now I can't give it up.

It's fun, when you first get on, to look up all your old friends from high school, people you used to work with or even ex-boyfriends or girlfriends.  It's like spying on people that you haven't seen in years.  It's great.

But the next best thing about Facebook is all of the wacky groups that you can join.  You name it and there is a Facebook group dedicated to it.  And the world of cycling is no exception.  Groups that I belong to include: Women Cyclists, The Tour de France Dominates My Month of July, and I'm Tired of Explaining Cycling.  My buddy Bitch Kittie has even started her own group (which I joined, of course) called George Hincapie Super Fans (she has a real thing for that guy).

Here are just a few of the other jewels that I have stumbled upon so far:

Cycling Is The Sport of Gods

Hi, I Have a Cycling Dependency

I'm a Dude, I Shave My Legs, And I'm Proud Of It

I Wish That Phil Liggett Would Narrate My Life

I Ride Bikes Because the Boys Are Hot

Bob Roll is the Greatest Sports Announcer Ever

After Lance Armstrong Quit Riding I Lost the Will To Live

And last but certainly not least, there is a veritable cornucopia of groups assembled to swoon over that sexy Beligan - Boonen.  These include, but are in no way limited to:

I Love Tom Boonen

I'd Do Boonen

Tom Boonen Appreciation Society

And, by far the best...

I Wish I Was Tom Boonen's Bike Seat (this group has 22 members)

All Aboard the Astana Bus

It's official.  Levi Leipheimer and Alberto Contador are heading to Astana next season to join their old boss, Johan Bruyneel.  They join a large contingent from the old Discovery team including Jani Brajkovic, Benjamin Noval, Sergio Paulinho, Tomas Vaitkus, and Sean Yates.

I have to say that I'm kind of suprised to see Levi sign with a team with a Tour de France winner already on it.  Levi turned 34 yesterday and it really seems to me like he wants to win the Tour before he retires and like he feels that he can win the Tour before he retires.  That's going to be harder without a team that's soley working for him.  This is the same criticism I had of Vino and Kloden being co-leaders on Astana last season. I really think that, to the win the Tour, you need to have a strong team pulling exclusively for you from day one.  If the team has to support two leaders and kind of wait and see who's stronger before coming up with a plan to support one of them, it weakens the whole unit.

All my thoughts and best wishes for anyone living in California, or anyone with friends and family out there.  Take care and please be safe.

A "No" For Mayo

Mayo's B sample was clean.  Great news.  I'm assuming that this revelation will get just as much media coverage as when the positive samples are announced.  Headlines about clean cyclists will abound, no doubt.  The UCI is always quick to get a news release out when a rider tests positive - I usually have something in my Inbox before the day is out - so I'll wait with bated breath for their news release on this A sample error.  Should be coming along any minute now...

Rick Mercer is a Canadian comedian who has a show here on CBC that's  bit like the Canadian version of the Daily Show.  This week on his show, The Mercer Report, he did a funny spoof ad that made reference to Floyd.  It's not very pro-Landis, but it still made me giggle (sorry Paula).  Check it out at http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/backissues.php and click on "Mercer: Ben Johnson."

Congrats to Cadel Evans for his top spot in the UCI's 2007 Pro Tour rankings.  It's a bit odd as it's another one of those wins with the asterisk, having come after Danilo DiLuca - who was previously in first place - was disqualified last week as he is being investigated for doping.  However, after the Giro di Lombardia, Evans had enough points to win on his own (of course DiLuca wasn't able to race that because of his suspension) and if he gets the five points from Tour de France stage in which he came in second to Vino, then there really shouldn't be any doubt that he deserves the title.

As a Canadian I was also really proud to see Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) take the top spot in the UCI's Americas Tour this year.  Svein had a fabulous season this year.  He absolutely deserves the win and I'm so happy for him.

You Won...Sort Of

Congratulations Oscar, you won the 2006 Tour de France...sort of.  Congratulations Alberto, you won the 2007 Tour de France...sort of.  And a big shout out to Cadel Evans, you're on your way to taking top spot in the 2007 UCI Pro Tour standings...sort of.

Seems to be a common theme these days.  Winning with an asterisk beside your name.  It makes things messy and, I can only assume, less than satisfying for everyone involved.

Okay, I tried to be nice.  I did.  I tried to take the high road and let the two part profile on Mark Cavendish that was up on CN last week go without a single nasty remark from me.  But I was honestly lying awake in bed last night thinking about it so now I just need to vent in order to get it out of my system.

He says he sees no reason why he can't win the green jersey at the Tour in the next five years.  Maybe no one's explained to Mark how the green jersey is awarded.  Mark, if you're reading this - and why wouldn't you be? - let me try to walk you through this.  The green jersey is given out via a points system.  The rider with the most points at the end of the whole race, wins.  Now, you can win points here and there at intermediate sprints throughout the course, but really, if you're going to rack up enough points to wear green in Paris then you need to WIN A %$&*ING STAGE!!  That means riding your bicycle fast enough so that it crosses that little white line before the bicycles of Robbie McEwen, Tom Boonen, and Thor Hushovd, just to name a few.  Until you can do that - even once - in the Tour, let's hold off on the talk of winning any green jerseys, okay?

Why do I dislike that boy so much?  I don't know.  Oh wait, yes I do.  It's the arrogance without the goods to back it up.  I'm not saying that the kid doesn't have talent.  He probably will win that green jersey - one day.  But there's a lot to be said for recognizing that you're a rookie, trying to learn all that you can from those around you who still do it better, and shutting your mouth until you can man up and let your performance on the bike speak for itself.

Been There, Done That

Tom Boonen isn't the only pro rider out there with his own comic book these days.  Earlier this year, my own Canadian pro team, Symmetrics (S-Team), launched a new comic book that will promote the team and their sponsors in a fun, new way. 

The idea came from my friend Matt Hansen who does PR for the team and also works at Marvel Comics.  He's a former pro rider himself (used to ride with Jet Fuel) and he thought this would be a fresh and funky way of building the team's profile.

And speaking of Canadian riders, check out my interview with Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery).

I know you might not have thought it was possible, but things got a little bit worse for Floyd this week.  France's anti-doping agency (AFLD) has decided that they are going to press formal doping charges against Landis in order to prevent him from riding in the Tour de France while he's under his two-year suspension from the UCI.  Apparently some bright light over there realized that, now that it looks like the Tour won't be part of the UCI universe any longer, there's no reason why Landis wouldn't be able to participate in the event, despite his ban.  They want to close up that loop hole - tout de suite - and this is the way to do that.

I'm really bummed to hear about the two Russian U23 riders who got popped for doping this week.  We always hold out hope that the next generation is going to do better and it's disheartening to hear stories like this.  Makes you fear that nothing is ever going to change.

Sorry to hear that Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) won't be able to ride the Giro di Lombardia this Saturday.  He had planned to make that his farewell race to end off a stellar career as a professional bike racer.  But, an infection in his knee that he developed after suffering an injury during a crash in training has made it too painful for him to ride and he and his team have made the decision that there is just no way that he could finish the Lombardia race.

It's not the kind of ending that he deserves - especially after getting royally screwed at the Tour this year after working so hard to support Rasmussen.  How can we forget watching those huge white teeth, gritted against the pain as he pulled the peloton through stage after stage at this year's Tour?  He's a great rider and I hope he knows that he doesn't need some big, spectacular finish to prove anything to anyone.

Happy Place

Sorry guys.  I promised that Monday's post would be my last post about Oscar in yellow and then I go and leave that creepy picture up for a whole extra day, giving you all the willies.

Today, I just want to take a break from the Oscar vs. Floyd, and Di Luca vs. the UCI, and all the other negative stories that we're bombarded with in this sport and just enjoy a moment of pure, selfless teamwork that occurred in the final moments of the Paris-Tours Classic on Sunday.

Petacchi won the race after being led out by teamate Erik Zabel.  Zabel beat Petacchi in the final spring of this race in 2003 when they were on differernt teams.  But this weekend, Zabel gave it everything he had, in a race that he has handily won before, to support his teamate for the win. 

"I wish to thank Eirk Zabel who sacrificed his chances for me. It's always great to win a race when you're helped by such a great champion," said Petacchi.  I love that.  In all of the ugliness that so often distracts us, there is something beautiful in this sport and I want to remember that today.

In other news - I'm catching up here folks - I was so excited to read that the Slipstream team has produced a pilot for a potential reality show about the team that could air next season.  How much fun would that be?  And it might go a long way in attracting new fans to the sport in North America.  Dave Zabriskie on a reality show - I can hardly wait!

Last Post About Oscar In Yellow

I promise, this will be my last post about Oscar in yellow (well, unless something really juicy happens).  But I just wanted to share this weird doctored photo that the Caisse d'Epargne team sent out to me along with their news release after the odd little ceremony held this morning in which Oscar was officially named the winner of the 2006 Tour. 

WTF?!?!?  It's beyond weird. It's actually kind of creepy like in the movies when stalkers cut out the heads of people in photos and stick themselves in beside the object of their affection.  Do you think that Oscar's room at home is plasterd with photos of that podium on the Champs d'Elysee with Floyd's face cut out and his pasted sloppily in its place?

The release also included the following quotes from Oscar:

"I have the feeling to arrive at the end of a thriller, after having spent 14 months thinking about that and not being able to concentrate as I should have to on my job", declared Oscar Pereiro after he received the yellow jersey. "I am glad to have received this jersey, but it is essentially a kind of release. It is the end of a problem which lasted more than one year and today I think that what had to be made happened that the history finishes as it had to finish. It is the logical conclusion considering the regulation is clear on this subject. I know that it is a life-lasting story, which will be a part of the history of cycling, but it is clear that after such a long time the feelings which one can have are not the same as the ones one can feel in the moment, as for example those which were mine in Montélimar when I put on the yellow jersey, without imagining that someday I would be declared winner of the Tour. These emotions, it is impossible to feel them in a ceremony like this one, which is organized so that everyone understands and sees that Oscar Pereiro is the winner of the Tour 2006. The moment I received the profit of my work, I had mixed feelings, something between satisfaction and regret for we were deprived of."

Wacky picture aside, his words just remind me that the whole situation just sucks all 'round.

Robbie 1, Horse 0

"Rocket" Robbie McEwen proved this week that, in a flat out sprint, he can beat just about anything out there, whether it be on two wheels or four legs.

This Tuesday Robbie particpated in the festivities of the 151th Kermisdinsdag in St. Eloois Winkel where he lined up for a 400 metre sprint against celebrated race horse, Baron, and his jockey, Jan Pattyn.

Belgian rider, Nico Matten, had previously participated in this event, winning the race in 2004 over Silver Blue, but losing last year to his equine opponent.

McEwen ended up winning by more than a bike length, but admitted that the horse gave him a run for his money, "We were doing a top speed between 54 and 58 kilometres an hour, and the horse just kept going well," he said. "In the first part of the race the horse was ahead of me. I wanted to switch gears, but I was already in my highest gear."

Robbie was pleased that, unlike some of the boys he's come up against in the bunch sprints, the horse was an honourable competitor, "I am relived the horse held its line," said the Australian after the race.

I love this story, and my favorite part is that on Robbie's website this event is listed on his race calendar for the year as, "Robbie vs Horse in St Eloois Winkel."

Let's see Mark Cavendish beat a race horse.

A big thanks out to Amy who sent me my shiny new HTFU bracelet.  You are the sweetest for packing that up and sending it to me.  I was thrilled to see it in the mail yesterday and, while I'm still not sure exactly where I'll be able to safely wear it, it makes me smile every time I see it sitting on my dresser.

And thank you to Jessica for your kind words about our little community here.  I'm so glad that you joined us.  And no, Janann, I can tell you that when I started this little project last year I had absolutely no idea that it would become the warm, welcoming family that it has, or that so many people would come to visit every day.  But I can tell you that I'm enormously grateful that it has.

Courage

Atticus Finch, the hard-working lawyer in Harper Lee's stunning 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, said that, "courage is when you know you 're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what."

Floyd started this fight for himself, to get back something that was taken from him.  But over the last 14 months this case has become about so much more than who wears a yellow cycling jersey.  At some point, the sacrifice that Floyd was making to fight this battle in terms of his time, his career, his family and his finances, took on a new level of importance as he began to realize that this was about something bigger than him alone.  It was about a system that's flawed.  A system that's unfair.  A system that needs to change.  That's the fight that Floyd is fighting now and no matter what you believe about Floyd's own guilt or innocence, that's a fight that's worth getting behind.

I don't think that Floyd will win his appeal to the CAS.  I think Floyd probably knows that.  But he's going to follow this thing through to the end anyway because it matters. 

He may not emerge from this journey with the trophy that he sought when he began, but I hope he understands the enormous impact that he's had, regardless of the outcome at the end of the day.  Floyd has always had fans who loved his school-boy-like antics.  We loved watching him pop wheelies while wearing those crazy Elivs sunglasses and we snickered at the stories of him standing up to his bosses on the USPS team.  He was the bad boy and we loved to watch him swagger.  But things are different now.  Duirng the 2006 Tour we watched a cocky school-boy turn into a leader and a strategist.  We were so moved by his infamous performance on stage 17 that we carried it over into our own lives and used his perserverance as a reminder to ourselves to never give up - even when we so desperately want to. But it has been in the aftermath of his positive test, and the war that he has waged on the orgnaizations that have tried to take him down, where the true nature of this man has been shown.  It is here that we have seen the cocky school-boy, the strategic leader and now the man of true courage come together. 

As Atticus tells his young daughter Scout when he explains his defence of poor Tom Robinson, "we were licked a hundred years before we started."

Floyd may have been licked the day that test read 'positive,' but the fact that he continues on speaks volumes.