School’s finally out for the summer, so expect to see Pavé back to a more frequent/regular post schedule. There’s also a new site design in the works, so keep checking back for changes, updates, and possibly a new address (don’t worry, I won’t surprise you with that). As always, your constructive feedback are always appreciated—I want to make the site as user-friendly and accessible as possible.
Without further ado, here’s this week’s Monday Musette.
1. Have we discounted Lance Armstrong’s chances in this year’s Tour a bit too much? Following a solid 2nd-place finish in last week’s Tour de Suisse, it’s beginning to look like perhaps we have. Lance rode with the main group of favorites on the tough mountain stage to La Punt, hung-in on a surprisingly difficult transitional stage Saturday, and then cemented his place on the podium with a respectable time trial. While I still have a hunch that Armstrong’s a bit closer to his ceiling than many of the other favorites, his performance last week indicates that he’s at least capable of remaining relevant in July—but just how much so remains to be seen.
2. Lost in the Armstrong hype were the top-10 performances of Andreas Kloden and Levi Leipheimer. These two—plus Dauphine-winner Janez Brajkovic and Pais Vasco-winner Chris Horner—give Radio Shack the deepest team in this year’s Tour. While inter-squad tactics might hurt the team’s best chances for a yellow jersey in Paris, there’s a strong possibility the team prize will be theirs.
In other Tour de Suisse news…
3. While Tony Martin missed the overall win I had predicted he would earn, he still performed solidly all race, beating Fabian Cancellara and David Zabriskie to take the final stage’s individual time trial. If Martin continues to develop as a climber, thus limiting his losses in big mountain stages like Thursday’s, he’s certainly a rider HTC can build around for grand tour success—and Germany’s first legitimate grand tour contender since Jan Ullrich. Look for him to take the first white jersey of this year’s Tour in Rotterdam—and if beats the men he defeated yesterday—the first yellow one too.
4. Andy and Frank Schleck seem right on track for the type of Tour de France we expect from them. With a stage win and the overall title, older brother Frank should be perfectly content in dedicating all of his energy toward helping Andy. As for Andy, his form’s not quite there yet, but with three weeks until the Tour’s first mountain stages—and four before the race hits the Pyrennees—he should be firing on all cylinders when he needs to be. I also have a hunch that Bjarne Riis will be announcing a brand new sponsor before the starts the Saturday after next—Schleck’s win might have been enough to seal whatever prospective deal he’s had in the works.
5. Roman Kreuziger’s another rider who appears to be peaking at just the right time for a good Tour result. While I expected a bit more from him during Thursday’s stage to La Punt, he think he’ll be fine in July. Unfortunately, he’s still not guaranteed the leadership of his Liquigas team—especially with Ivan Basso training well and Vincenzo Nibali winning races. All in all, there’s enough going-on for the men in green to make Liquigas’ choice of a team captain one of the Tour’s more intriguing sub-plots.
6. Stijn Devolder seems to have just enough fitness to have tricked himself—and at least several thousand Belgians—into thinking he can pull a top-10 result in this year’s Tour. Don’t drink the Kool Aid though—Devolder would fare much better hunting for stages wins. That said, look for him to impress this weekend in the Belgian national championship—a second title is well within reach.
7. At what point is Maxime Monfort going to get the win he deserves? He rode his butt off in Saturday’s breakaway, ultimately falling to Caisse d’Epargne’s one-two punch of Da Costa and Rojas. He followed that up with an 8th-place finish in yesterday’s time trial. Let’s hope Monfort gets a chance or two to ride for himself in the Tour—I’d love to see him take a stage.
8. Was Christian Vandevelde even racing last week? If Garmin’s smart, they’ll be putting the majority of their eggs in Tyler Farrar’s basket next month—he’s a much safer bet for success. I’d take a stage win or two over another mid-top-10 finish anyway.
9. We can’t finish the conversation about this year’s Tour de Suisse without discussing the now infamous crash at the end of Stage 4. While I love bashing him just as much as the rest of you do, it’s hard for me to assign 100% of the blame to Cavendish for causing Tuesday’s crash. Haussler and he were both sprinting at a bit of an angle—Cavendish just deviated from his the most.
On the other hand, if he really did spit on Haussler as they were picking themselves up off the pavement—as has been reported—then Cavendish deserves every bit of the flack he received from the rest of the peloton. As long as Cavendish makes himself the center of attention, he should expect to receive all the attention—positive and negative—that he seems to crave.
10. As for the rider protest to Start 5, it’s a shame the riders have more courage to police their ranks than the UCI—the sport’s governing body—does. Maybe a little peer pressure will help Boy Racer become Man Racer—credit the riders for trying.
11. But while riders policing riders is one thing, races policing teams is another. At first I felt a bit of schadenfreude upon hearing the news of Team Radio Shack’s exclusion from this year’s Vuelta, but I’m less supportive of the organization’s decision once I became able to take an objective look at the situation. While the Vuelta’s organizers might be said to have had the best of intentions in leaving Bruyneel and his men at home this autumn (who knows where the federal investigation will be by the time late-August arrives), they are acting hypocritically in singling them out this time. Have we already forgotten the name of last year’s “winner”?
Spain has long been considered one of the dirtiest countries in cycling—from a doping standpoint at least. Once France and Italy began cleaning house (as best they could), the Iberian Peninsula became a hotbed for the sport’s most cutting-edge “preparation” methods. Letting Radio Shack bear the brunt of recent allegations only emphasizes the disparate methods by which information is revealed and dealt with. It’s not the job of race organizers to punish teams for their alleged unsportsmanlike activities—it’s the job of the UCI and the various other “professional” organizations charged with ensuring the sport is as clean and as fair as is humanly possible.
All this begs an even more important question: when will the UCI start policing the ranks so the rest of its stakeholders (riders, organizers, fans, etc.) don’t have to? It’s an answer they’ll need to answer soon—especially if Landisgate becomes as big a scandal as some think it might be. If the sports own governing body could do a better job in handling brats, cheats, and hypocrites, individual interests wouldn’t have to take matters into their own hands.
That’s enough time on the soapbox for one week.
Share your comments below.
Showing posts with label monday musette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label monday musette. Show all posts
Monday, June 21, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Monday Musette - Magazines, Movies, and Two Races You Might Have Heard Of
Here’s today’s Monday Musette!
1. While flying to the Tour of California on Friday, I had a chance to catch-up on the latest in cycling print journalism. I’ve only recently started reading ROAD magazine, lured by glossy cover shots and a solid mix of domestic and European racing coverage. The June issue includes Jered Gruber's terrific interview with Saxo Bank’s Jens Voigt. Read it for two reasons: Voigt’s description of how he’s been so successful in the Criterium International and his re-telling of a stage in the 2006 Giro when he “let” Quick Step’s Juan Manuel Garate take the win on a day when Voigt was obviously the stronger of the two. Great reading!
And while you’re at it, check out Peter Easton’s essay on Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a piece from which came this fabulous quote:
“If the Tour of Flanders is in your heart and Paris-Roubaix is in your head, then Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a race that is clearly in your legs”
I couldn’t sum up these three monuments better myself.
2. Moving to Italy and the Giro d’Italia, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying La Gazzetta dello Sport’s iPhone App. Download it for free to enjoy live video streams of each day’s action. We’ve been enjoying each stage over breakfast here in California. When will other race organizations get on this bandwagon?
3. Speaking of the Giro, it was an exciting weekend of racing. Saturday’s strade bianche had a bigger impact than expected, mainly due to the rain that turned the limestone roads into slick, muddy pathways. Sunday’s finish on the Monte Terminillo extended the damage for some favorites, especially Carlos Sastre, who lost even more time on today’s flat stage from Frostinone to Cava De’ Tirreni.
While much racing remains, I see a two-horse race developing between BMC’s Cadel Evans and Liquigas’ Vincenzo Nibali. Evans is no surprise as we expected him to perform well in his return to Italy’s Grand Tour. Nibali however, was a last-minute edition following Franco Pellizotti’s irregular medical passport values. Nibali’s biggest obstacle might just be his teammate, Ivan Basso—but not for the reasons you might expect. Nibali is far and away the team’s best chance for victory; if Liquigas asks him to sacrifice his own chances for Basso, it can say “ci vediamo” to its chances for a maglia rosa two weeks from now.
4. From Italy to California and a race of an entirely different flavor. Chasing Legends is the new documentary from the men who brought us A Ride With George Hincapie. The film chronicles Columbia-HTC’s 2009 Tour de France, offering never-before-seen footage of the team from behind the scenes. I was fortunate to have attended the premier Saturday night in Sacramento, an event hosted by Phil and Paul and attended by HTC-Columbia’s Tour of California roster. Great footage, an inspiring soundtrack, and of course, terrific interviews, make this another film worth adding to your collection. I do have a few minor criticisms—like Mark Cavendish being identified as “Columbia-HTC Rider – Sprint Prodigy”—but they do little to detract from what is ultimately an incredible viewing experience. Watch for it soon!
5. As for the racing itself, yesterday’s Stage 1 went pretty much to plan for HTC-Columbia, as Mark Cavendish romped to a stage win in Sacramento. With 2 crashes inside the final 3 kilometers, the day was not without some drama. Tom Boonen, George Hincapie, and Fabian Cancellara hit the deck, with Boonen taking the brunt of it after Liquigas Peter Sagan took-out his front wheel after the final corner.
It’s rainy and cool today, hardly the type of weather the organizers expected when they moved the race from February to May. With 4 categorized hills on tap for the riders, look for a small group top duke it out in Santa Rosa. My pick? Sagan.
For more from the ToC, feel free to follow @backseatds on Twitter—the guy’s a close friend of mine. And he’s trying his best to make his wife and family proud by earning a living at this.
6. Finally, two bits from Bill Strickland. While I guess I’m not really an impartial advocate anymore, I loved this piece from Bill’s Sitting In blog over at Bicycling. If you’ve ever a.) yelled at someone new; or b.) been yelled at by someone more experienced you’ll appreciate this essay. I’m interested what side of the debate you’re on.
7. Strickland brought this to my attention as well. Smoked Out is Richard Sach’s attempt at exposing small frame builders to a wider audience, giving them a chance to share their philosophies with the rest us. Check it out—you might learn something about the world that exists beyond carbon fiber.
So that’s it for this weeks’ Monday Musette. It’s a bit late for some of you, but we’re on West Coast time this week.
Thanks for reading and as always, share your comments, insights, and questions below.
1. While flying to the Tour of California on Friday, I had a chance to catch-up on the latest in cycling print journalism. I’ve only recently started reading ROAD magazine, lured by glossy cover shots and a solid mix of domestic and European racing coverage. The June issue includes Jered Gruber's terrific interview with Saxo Bank’s Jens Voigt. Read it for two reasons: Voigt’s description of how he’s been so successful in the Criterium International and his re-telling of a stage in the 2006 Giro when he “let” Quick Step’s Juan Manuel Garate take the win on a day when Voigt was obviously the stronger of the two. Great reading!
And while you’re at it, check out Peter Easton’s essay on Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a piece from which came this fabulous quote:
“If the Tour of Flanders is in your heart and Paris-Roubaix is in your head, then Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a race that is clearly in your legs”
I couldn’t sum up these three monuments better myself.
2. Moving to Italy and the Giro d’Italia, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying La Gazzetta dello Sport’s iPhone App. Download it for free to enjoy live video streams of each day’s action. We’ve been enjoying each stage over breakfast here in California. When will other race organizations get on this bandwagon?
3. Speaking of the Giro, it was an exciting weekend of racing. Saturday’s strade bianche had a bigger impact than expected, mainly due to the rain that turned the limestone roads into slick, muddy pathways. Sunday’s finish on the Monte Terminillo extended the damage for some favorites, especially Carlos Sastre, who lost even more time on today’s flat stage from Frostinone to Cava De’ Tirreni.
While much racing remains, I see a two-horse race developing between BMC’s Cadel Evans and Liquigas’ Vincenzo Nibali. Evans is no surprise as we expected him to perform well in his return to Italy’s Grand Tour. Nibali however, was a last-minute edition following Franco Pellizotti’s irregular medical passport values. Nibali’s biggest obstacle might just be his teammate, Ivan Basso—but not for the reasons you might expect. Nibali is far and away the team’s best chance for victory; if Liquigas asks him to sacrifice his own chances for Basso, it can say “ci vediamo” to its chances for a maglia rosa two weeks from now.
4. From Italy to California and a race of an entirely different flavor. Chasing Legends is the new documentary from the men who brought us A Ride With George Hincapie. The film chronicles Columbia-HTC’s 2009 Tour de France, offering never-before-seen footage of the team from behind the scenes. I was fortunate to have attended the premier Saturday night in Sacramento, an event hosted by Phil and Paul and attended by HTC-Columbia’s Tour of California roster. Great footage, an inspiring soundtrack, and of course, terrific interviews, make this another film worth adding to your collection. I do have a few minor criticisms—like Mark Cavendish being identified as “Columbia-HTC Rider – Sprint Prodigy”—but they do little to detract from what is ultimately an incredible viewing experience. Watch for it soon!
5. As for the racing itself, yesterday’s Stage 1 went pretty much to plan for HTC-Columbia, as Mark Cavendish romped to a stage win in Sacramento. With 2 crashes inside the final 3 kilometers, the day was not without some drama. Tom Boonen, George Hincapie, and Fabian Cancellara hit the deck, with Boonen taking the brunt of it after Liquigas Peter Sagan took-out his front wheel after the final corner.
It’s rainy and cool today, hardly the type of weather the organizers expected when they moved the race from February to May. With 4 categorized hills on tap for the riders, look for a small group top duke it out in Santa Rosa. My pick? Sagan.
For more from the ToC, feel free to follow @backseatds on Twitter—the guy’s a close friend of mine. And he’s trying his best to make his wife and family proud by earning a living at this.
6. Finally, two bits from Bill Strickland. While I guess I’m not really an impartial advocate anymore, I loved this piece from Bill’s Sitting In blog over at Bicycling. If you’ve ever a.) yelled at someone new; or b.) been yelled at by someone more experienced you’ll appreciate this essay. I’m interested what side of the debate you’re on.
7. Strickland brought this to my attention as well. Smoked Out is Richard Sach’s attempt at exposing small frame builders to a wider audience, giving them a chance to share their philosophies with the rest us. Check it out—you might learn something about the world that exists beyond carbon fiber.
So that’s it for this weeks’ Monday Musette. It’s a bit late for some of you, but we’re on West Coast time this week.
Thanks for reading and as always, share your comments, insights, and questions below.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Rest Day Musette - Things We Missed During the Classics
Apologies for getting this to you a day later than usual--hopefully the Giro’s Rest Day gives a bit of time to enjoy it. I don't know about you, but I feel like I missed a lot of quality musette material over the past several weeks as the classics dominated my attention. Here's a sample of what we might have missed:
1. I included this terrific short film about Paris-Roubaix in my Pavé Spring Awards, but it bears mentioning again.
2. Have you had a chance to check-out the parcours for next month’s Dauphiné Libéré yet? The ASO has taken over the organization of this important Tour de France build-up event, creating an exciting course for 2010. Highlights include 2 time trials, a summit finish atop Alde d’Huez, and a final stage with finishing circuits in Sallanches, the site of Bernard Hinault’s World Championship in 1980. This is one of my favorites races; this year looks to be one of the best yet.
3. In case you thought they didn’t exist, here are The Rules. Read them.
4. El Cyclista's Battenkill photography deserves a moment of your time.
5. Velorunner posted this video of former Garmin rider Will Frishkorn riding some cobbles. This and Michael Barry’s terrific videos of Team Sky’s pre-Flanders and pre-Roubaix training come close to re-creating the experience in the comfort of your own living room.
6. I loved this photo from Velopresse. There’s something about the current trend in cycling photography that really excites me. I won’t try and describe it—I’ll just butcher the jargon. Whatever it is, it works perfectly for the spring classics. And while you’re there, spend some time looking around the Velopresse site; there’s much to enjoy.
7. If you use iCal as much I do, you’ll appreciate this downloadable, iCal-friendly version of the UCI’s 2010 road calendar.
8. Am I the only one who thinks Alberto Contador looked out of place riding next to Peter Van Petegem on the pavé? While Contador was riding team issue equipment, Van Petegem apparently needed to borrow a set of wheels for his Museeuw. As for the kit he’s wearing, he and his wife have started a bed and breakfast in the Flemish Ardennes. Might have to get me some of that kit!
9. V for...Vino? Vulgar? Vapid? Welcome back, Mark.
10. Has Thor Hushovd been training with Denis Menchov?
11. After a used Schwinn Le Tour, a Greg LeMond Tourmalet with Columbus SL tubing was my first “real” road bike. Once again, Tears for Gears has me feeling nostalgic.
12. And speaking of bikes, thanks to BQ at Competitive Cyclist for the heads-up on the new limited edition Renaix 88 model from Fondriest. I was a bit disappointed to see the frame wasn’t made from aluminum in the way that aluminum frames were made when aluminum was high-end, but it’s a great piece of eye-candy nonetheless.
13. I kinda like the retro Team Radio Shack kits used by Lance & Co. at the Tour of the Gila. Here’s a great post from Embro as to how it all came together. And by the way, the Rapha-Speedvagen kit that James Selmann designed is going to be great.
14. Wow.
15. And last but not least, the Giro is underway. Following 3 rainy, windy, crash-filled days in Holland. The race reconvenes in rainy, windy, and crash-filled Italy tomorrow with a team trial trial from Savigliano to Cuneo. So far it looks as if two of my 5 pre-Giro questions have been answered with Tyler Farrar taking Stage 2 and Vinokourov taking the maglia rosa after yesterday’s Stage 3.
All in all, this year’s race looks to be one for the Anglo’s, with 2 of the first 3 stages and 2 of the first 3 maglia rosa’s being taken by English speakers. Mark your calendars for the appearance of the strade bianche on Saturday—that might be one stage worth setting your watch for.
15. Two notes before concluding:
First, an apology to anyone who has sent an email or posted a comment and not received an immediate reply (or anything at all for that matter). Not to make excuses, but Pavé’s still a one-man operation. I’ll always do my best to return your attempts at communication as quickly as my other responsibilities allow (sometimes it’s all I can do just get new posts together “on time”). Thanks for the understanding and support in the meantime—your visits and recommendations are always appreciated. Keep spreading the word.
Second, I’ll be at the first half of this year’s Tour of California as a member of Bicycling’s team. If you plan to attend in some way, shape, or form, feel free to say hello.
That’s it for today—share your comments, thoughts, and feedback below!
1. I included this terrific short film about Paris-Roubaix in my Pavé Spring Awards, but it bears mentioning again.
2. Have you had a chance to check-out the parcours for next month’s Dauphiné Libéré yet? The ASO has taken over the organization of this important Tour de France build-up event, creating an exciting course for 2010. Highlights include 2 time trials, a summit finish atop Alde d’Huez, and a final stage with finishing circuits in Sallanches, the site of Bernard Hinault’s World Championship in 1980. This is one of my favorites races; this year looks to be one of the best yet.
3. In case you thought they didn’t exist, here are The Rules. Read them.
4. El Cyclista's Battenkill photography deserves a moment of your time.
5. Velorunner posted this video of former Garmin rider Will Frishkorn riding some cobbles. This and Michael Barry’s terrific videos of Team Sky’s pre-Flanders and pre-Roubaix training come close to re-creating the experience in the comfort of your own living room.
6. I loved this photo from Velopresse. There’s something about the current trend in cycling photography that really excites me. I won’t try and describe it—I’ll just butcher the jargon. Whatever it is, it works perfectly for the spring classics. And while you’re there, spend some time looking around the Velopresse site; there’s much to enjoy.
7. If you use iCal as much I do, you’ll appreciate this downloadable, iCal-friendly version of the UCI’s 2010 road calendar.
8. Am I the only one who thinks Alberto Contador looked out of place riding next to Peter Van Petegem on the pavé? While Contador was riding team issue equipment, Van Petegem apparently needed to borrow a set of wheels for his Museeuw. As for the kit he’s wearing, he and his wife have started a bed and breakfast in the Flemish Ardennes. Might have to get me some of that kit!
9. V for...Vino? Vulgar? Vapid? Welcome back, Mark.
10. Has Thor Hushovd been training with Denis Menchov?
11. After a used Schwinn Le Tour, a Greg LeMond Tourmalet with Columbus SL tubing was my first “real” road bike. Once again, Tears for Gears has me feeling nostalgic.
12. And speaking of bikes, thanks to BQ at Competitive Cyclist for the heads-up on the new limited edition Renaix 88 model from Fondriest. I was a bit disappointed to see the frame wasn’t made from aluminum in the way that aluminum frames were made when aluminum was high-end, but it’s a great piece of eye-candy nonetheless.
13. I kinda like the retro Team Radio Shack kits used by Lance & Co. at the Tour of the Gila. Here’s a great post from Embro as to how it all came together. And by the way, the Rapha-Speedvagen kit that James Selmann designed is going to be great.
14. Wow.
15. And last but not least, the Giro is underway. Following 3 rainy, windy, crash-filled days in Holland. The race reconvenes in rainy, windy, and crash-filled Italy tomorrow with a team trial trial from Savigliano to Cuneo. So far it looks as if two of my 5 pre-Giro questions have been answered with Tyler Farrar taking Stage 2 and Vinokourov taking the maglia rosa after yesterday’s Stage 3.
All in all, this year’s race looks to be one for the Anglo’s, with 2 of the first 3 stages and 2 of the first 3 maglia rosa’s being taken by English speakers. Mark your calendars for the appearance of the strade bianche on Saturday—that might be one stage worth setting your watch for.
15. Two notes before concluding:
First, an apology to anyone who has sent an email or posted a comment and not received an immediate reply (or anything at all for that matter). Not to make excuses, but Pavé’s still a one-man operation. I’ll always do my best to return your attempts at communication as quickly as my other responsibilities allow (sometimes it’s all I can do just get new posts together “on time”). Thanks for the understanding and support in the meantime—your visits and recommendations are always appreciated. Keep spreading the word.
Second, I’ll be at the first half of this year’s Tour of California as a member of Bicycling’s team. If you plan to attend in some way, shape, or form, feel free to say hello.
That’s it for today—share your comments, thoughts, and feedback below!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday Musette - Liège-Bastogne-Liège Wrap-Up
Yesterday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège brought the first major portion of the season to a bittersweet close with a win for Alexandre Vinokourov. Vino’s win begs several questions, the answers to which depend upon your perspective. Was yesterday’s result a victory for redemption—proof that even the most tarnished riders can earn a chance for atonement in the sport’s biggest races? Or, was the race nothing more than confirmation that cheaters really do rule the sport—more spit in the eyes of those naive enough to think progress really has been made?
Controversy aside, it will be interesting to see how many of yesterday’s top-10 finishers do the same in this year’s Tour de France. With at least 6 riders capable of high finishes in Paris, it’s easy to see the effects that Liège-Bastogne-Liège’s new place on the calendar has had on the early season programs of Grand Tour riders.
Here’s what we noticed:
1. We begin with the yesterday’s winner, Alexandre Vinokourov. A last-minute starter, Vino must have caught a quick flight from the Tour of Trentino, a race he won in semi-convincing fashion. A cunning rider, Vinokourov took advantage of a lull in the action following the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, a smart move considering Contador’s presence in the group behind. Were it Iglinsky, Grivko, or any other rider from Astana, we would call the move a textbook example of team tactics: send your second-best rider off the front to set things up for your best rider should the break get caught. Unfortunately for the fans, Astana’s second-best rider just so happens to be one of the sport’s most detested.
Like it or not, Vino deserves credit for the win—he won the race fair and square, so to speak. As for his past, he doped, he was caught, and he was suspended. Now he’s back, and like it or not, we have to grant him the right to win races under the assumption that he’s doing it cleanly. That said, I still think he’s a jerk—and there’s no suspension for that. Just because he wins doesn’t mean we have to like him.
2. As soon as Vino starting missing pulls yesterday, you I knew Katusha’s Alexandr Kolobnev was doomed. I wonder if Vino had convinced him that he had nothing left, or that Gilbert, Valverde, and Evans were closer than they actually were. Whatever the case, Vino’s final attack was perhaps the most obvious race-winning move of the Classics—aside from Cancellara’s Paris-Roubaix pocket angel, that is.
Despite the loss, Kolobnev had fantastic week with aggressive rides in all 3 races from Amstel to Liège. Kolobnev now has top-10 finishes in 3 World Road Races, 2 Olympic Road Races, 2 Liège-Bastogne-Liège’s, 1 Amstel Gold Race, and 1 Tour of Lombardy to go with the win he took in the first edition of L’Eroica in 2007. Clearly, this guy’s due for a major win sometime soon—and he’s only 28.
3. As for Alejandro Valverde, Philippe Gilbert, and Cadel Evans, they did everything they could once they realized they had let the cat in with the pigeons (my favorite Ligget-ism).
Gilbert tried his best to make the race with Andy Schleck on the Roche aux Faucons and attacked valiantly on the Saint-Nicolas hoping for one last miracle. Luckily for Gilbert, he took the win last Sunday in Amstel, otherwise he might have found himself lumped-in with Tom Boonen, the victim of yet another series of near-misses. His consolation prize for the day is the World #1 ranking. Now he heads to the Tour of Romandie—a race he could very well win—before enjoying a well-deserved rest before the Belgian Championships.
Valverde rode solidly but never really seemed in it to win it—as if his head weren’t in the game. He too heads to Switzerland for Romandie—will he finally get his season’s first important win?
And Evans? His rode impressively yesterday, at one time bridging-up solo to Valverde and Gilbert. He now heads to the Giro as one of the top favorites for the overall victory—can he take the first Grand Tour win of his lengthy career?
4. As for Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador, I had hoped that Contador’s acceleration to join Schleck and Gilbert on the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons was going to be the move of the race. Unfortunately, negative racing and a lack of any real impetus from the trio doomed the move, paving the way for Vinokourov’s attack moments later. I was a bit surprised to have seen less of a Saxo Bank presence earlier in the day, perhaps that’s the result of an over-taxed team in major need of a rest before summer.
5. Credit Euskaltel’s Igor Anton for quietly taking top-10 finishes in both Flèche and Liège. Anton’s only 27 and has top-10 finishes in both Romandie and the Vuelta on his resume. Could a breakthrough be in the cards for the young Basque? And speaking of Euskaltel, where’s Samuel Sanchez been hiding?
6. As for the North American contingent, while many had their hopes up for something more, Chris Horner (8th) and Ryder Hesjedal (13th) finished just about where they should have given the competition. Great job, guys.
7. Thomas Voeckler seems to be beginning his summer crescendo for BBox while Team Sky’s Simon Gerrans finally decided to pop his head into the top-15 of a major race this season. Does another solid summer beckon for the Australian?
8. As for Rabobank, the German Paul Martens was the squad’s best finisher following ten days of solid riding going all the way back to the Brabantse Pijl. And Robert Gesink? 16th is a good result for the young Dutchman, but it’s far from where his potential and talent dictate he could be.
9. And what about Italy? Remember the days when the Italians used to rule La Doyenne? Stefano Garzelli was his nation’s top finisher in 18th, while perennial Ardennes contender Damiano Cunego could manage no better than 21st. The Giro begins in less than 2 weeks, the tifosi are becoming anxious.
10. Speaking of Italy, Liquigas underwhelmed me yesterday. Vincenzo Nibali was the team’s top finisher in 29th, while pre-race favorite Roman Kreuziger came home in 51st. Maybe Romandie and the Giro will begin turning the team’s season around.
11. And last but not least, Jérôme Baugnies was Belgium’s second-best rider following an impressive 23rd-place finish. It might not be worth writing home about, but it’s nice to see young riders from smaller teams performing well in the world’s biggest races.
And just like that, the classics are behind us. I’ll be spending the next two weeks wrapping things up while still trying to find some time to take a look at what’s ahead. I’ll also be giving some awards and taking a look back at the effects the various calendar changes had on the racing we witnessed (as well as some suggestions for 2011).
To everyone, thanks for your support and comments over the past several weeks—keep it coming!
As always, share your comments and feedback below!
Controversy aside, it will be interesting to see how many of yesterday’s top-10 finishers do the same in this year’s Tour de France. With at least 6 riders capable of high finishes in Paris, it’s easy to see the effects that Liège-Bastogne-Liège’s new place on the calendar has had on the early season programs of Grand Tour riders.
Here’s what we noticed:
1. We begin with the yesterday’s winner, Alexandre Vinokourov. A last-minute starter, Vino must have caught a quick flight from the Tour of Trentino, a race he won in semi-convincing fashion. A cunning rider, Vinokourov took advantage of a lull in the action following the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, a smart move considering Contador’s presence in the group behind. Were it Iglinsky, Grivko, or any other rider from Astana, we would call the move a textbook example of team tactics: send your second-best rider off the front to set things up for your best rider should the break get caught. Unfortunately for the fans, Astana’s second-best rider just so happens to be one of the sport’s most detested.
Like it or not, Vino deserves credit for the win—he won the race fair and square, so to speak. As for his past, he doped, he was caught, and he was suspended. Now he’s back, and like it or not, we have to grant him the right to win races under the assumption that he’s doing it cleanly. That said, I still think he’s a jerk—and there’s no suspension for that. Just because he wins doesn’t mean we have to like him.
2. As soon as Vino starting missing pulls yesterday, you I knew Katusha’s Alexandr Kolobnev was doomed. I wonder if Vino had convinced him that he had nothing left, or that Gilbert, Valverde, and Evans were closer than they actually were. Whatever the case, Vino’s final attack was perhaps the most obvious race-winning move of the Classics—aside from Cancellara’s Paris-Roubaix pocket angel, that is.
Despite the loss, Kolobnev had fantastic week with aggressive rides in all 3 races from Amstel to Liège. Kolobnev now has top-10 finishes in 3 World Road Races, 2 Olympic Road Races, 2 Liège-Bastogne-Liège’s, 1 Amstel Gold Race, and 1 Tour of Lombardy to go with the win he took in the first edition of L’Eroica in 2007. Clearly, this guy’s due for a major win sometime soon—and he’s only 28.
3. As for Alejandro Valverde, Philippe Gilbert, and Cadel Evans, they did everything they could once they realized they had let the cat in with the pigeons (my favorite Ligget-ism).
Gilbert tried his best to make the race with Andy Schleck on the Roche aux Faucons and attacked valiantly on the Saint-Nicolas hoping for one last miracle. Luckily for Gilbert, he took the win last Sunday in Amstel, otherwise he might have found himself lumped-in with Tom Boonen, the victim of yet another series of near-misses. His consolation prize for the day is the World #1 ranking. Now he heads to the Tour of Romandie—a race he could very well win—before enjoying a well-deserved rest before the Belgian Championships.
Valverde rode solidly but never really seemed in it to win it—as if his head weren’t in the game. He too heads to Switzerland for Romandie—will he finally get his season’s first important win?
And Evans? His rode impressively yesterday, at one time bridging-up solo to Valverde and Gilbert. He now heads to the Giro as one of the top favorites for the overall victory—can he take the first Grand Tour win of his lengthy career?
4. As for Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador, I had hoped that Contador’s acceleration to join Schleck and Gilbert on the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons was going to be the move of the race. Unfortunately, negative racing and a lack of any real impetus from the trio doomed the move, paving the way for Vinokourov’s attack moments later. I was a bit surprised to have seen less of a Saxo Bank presence earlier in the day, perhaps that’s the result of an over-taxed team in major need of a rest before summer.
5. Credit Euskaltel’s Igor Anton for quietly taking top-10 finishes in both Flèche and Liège. Anton’s only 27 and has top-10 finishes in both Romandie and the Vuelta on his resume. Could a breakthrough be in the cards for the young Basque? And speaking of Euskaltel, where’s Samuel Sanchez been hiding?
6. As for the North American contingent, while many had their hopes up for something more, Chris Horner (8th) and Ryder Hesjedal (13th) finished just about where they should have given the competition. Great job, guys.
7. Thomas Voeckler seems to be beginning his summer crescendo for BBox while Team Sky’s Simon Gerrans finally decided to pop his head into the top-15 of a major race this season. Does another solid summer beckon for the Australian?
8. As for Rabobank, the German Paul Martens was the squad’s best finisher following ten days of solid riding going all the way back to the Brabantse Pijl. And Robert Gesink? 16th is a good result for the young Dutchman, but it’s far from where his potential and talent dictate he could be.
9. And what about Italy? Remember the days when the Italians used to rule La Doyenne? Stefano Garzelli was his nation’s top finisher in 18th, while perennial Ardennes contender Damiano Cunego could manage no better than 21st. The Giro begins in less than 2 weeks, the tifosi are becoming anxious.
10. Speaking of Italy, Liquigas underwhelmed me yesterday. Vincenzo Nibali was the team’s top finisher in 29th, while pre-race favorite Roman Kreuziger came home in 51st. Maybe Romandie and the Giro will begin turning the team’s season around.
11. And last but not least, Jérôme Baugnies was Belgium’s second-best rider following an impressive 23rd-place finish. It might not be worth writing home about, but it’s nice to see young riders from smaller teams performing well in the world’s biggest races.
And just like that, the classics are behind us. I’ll be spending the next two weeks wrapping things up while still trying to find some time to take a look at what’s ahead. I’ll also be giving some awards and taking a look back at the effects the various calendar changes had on the racing we witnessed (as well as some suggestions for 2011).
To everyone, thanks for your support and comments over the past several weeks—keep it coming!
As always, share your comments and feedback below!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday Musette - Amstel Gold Race Wrap-Up
Phillippe Gilbert finally took a victory in a major spring classic, winning yesterday’s Amstel Gold Race with an impressive surge up the final ascent of the Cauberg. It was an exciting finish to a rather quiet race, as the favorites seemed content to wait until the final to begin testing their legs.
Here’s what I noticed:
1. Credit Gilbert for another aggressive performance in a major classic. Gilbert covered, attacked, chased, and still had something left at the end to take the win. I’ll admit I was a bit surprised to see him pull it off—I feared he went on the attack too early, perhaps overestimating his fitness. And credit Jurgen Vandenbroeck with some fabulous teamwork in support of his captain—without his efforts to bring back Sergei Ivanov between the Fromberg and Keutenberg, we might have had a different result. Now Gilbert heads into the Ardennes as a top favorite to take both Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, a serious threat for the first “Triple Crown” since Davide Rebellin’s in 2004. And while we’re at it, let’s credit Gilbert for an excellent spring including top-10 results in Milan-San Remo, Ghent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, and the Brabantse Pijl. If he continues his winning ways, he might just make Belgium forget about its lackluster cobbled campaign.
2. As for Ryder Hesjedal, he has to be the happiest rider ever to lose a race following his 2nd-place performance. Hesjedal’s evolution from mountain biker to elite roadie is well-documented. Following an impressive ride in Pais Vasco, the Canadian seems primed for more success over the coming days. While the Muur de Huy might be a tough sprint for him to win, Liege-Bastogne-Liege might suit his talents a bit more. With Christian Vandevelde and Daniel Martin joining the team in Belgium, it looks to be a good week for Garmin.
3. I completely omitted Astana from my race preview Saturday, a terrible oversight considering I’ve been one of only a few to consistently herald the team’s recent performances. While hindsight’s always 20/20, I’m not at all surprised by Enrico Gasparotto’s 3rd-place finish considering his aggressive riding thus far. With Maxim Iglinsky, Andre Grivko, and Gasparoto, Astana’s future in the northern classics looks bright. And with Alberto Contador arriving in time for the Ardennes events, Astana’s successful spring looks certain to continue.
4. When Bert De Waele burst from the peloton midway up the Cauberg, I momentarily wondered if Belgium’s first major win of the season might come from the most unlikely of places. My hopes were immediately dashed, but chapeau to De Waele for his 4th-place finish. It’s been quite a year for Belgian Continental teams, as teams like Topsport Vlaanderen and Landbouwkrediet have more than proven they deserve invitations to bigger races.
5. As for Liquigas, Roman Kreuziger took 5th-place while Vincenzo Nibali came in 21st. The duo rode well yesterday, ultimately falling a bit short in the end. Clearly, Kreuziger’s the more aggressive of the two, while Nibali might be more suited to a role as a super-lieutenant. Fleche is a race well-suited Kreuziger’s talents, especially with Nibali covering attacks and perhaps driving the group into the bottom of the climb. All in all, with two more races and two incredibly gifted captains, there’s still hope for a big win at Liquigas.
6. I was pleased to see Damiano Cunego’s competitive performance yesterday. Clearly he’s rid of the sickness that knocked him out of Pais Vasco, and ready to make a serious attempt at winning one of the Ardennes classics. His Lampre teammates rode cohesively to position him well for the finale—a good sign heading into Fleche and Liege. If Cunego continues to progress between now and Sunday, Italy could grab its first win of the classics.
7. Led by the Schleck brothers, Saxo Bank rode another aggressive race—even though they fell short in the end. Of the two, Andy clearly appears to be the stronger man—he put in some attacks that could have been devastating had he been willing to see them through. When it was all said a dn done, Frank ended the day better than his younger brother, but I think Saxo Bank’s “all about Andy” at this point. With one more week in his legs, the champion of Luxembourg will be ready for a repeat at Liege. As for my pre-race pick, Jens Voigt failed to finish—we’re both looking to Fleche for some redemption.
8. As for Vacansoleil, Marco Mancato’s 8th-place finish was the best they could muster—but not for lack of trying. Mancato and teammates Johnny Hoogerland and Bjorn Leukemans rode an aggressive and tactically sound race, doing what they could to force a selection before the race re-entered Valkenburg. Vacansoleil has inexplicably not been invited to the Ardennes, so Amstel was effectively the end of the team’s classics campaign. But with several high finishes in the major cobbled classics, I think the Dutch squad has enough reasons to consider the month a success. The first item on Vacansoleil’s “To Do” list? Re-signing Bjorn Leukemans.
9. BMC’s Karsten Kroon led the squad Sunday with a respectable, yet unspectacular 9th-place finish. World Champion Cadel Evans raced true to his word, closing gaps and reeling-in attacks to set-up his Dutch teammate for a possible home win. (Too bad he wasn’t racing for Phillippe Gilbert this time.) Evans looks ready to tackle the races in the Ardennes, perhaps boosted by newfound confidence following his world title in Mendrisio. With Gilbert and Cunego arriving in terrific form as well, we might get a replay of last year’s fireworks.
10. Chris Horner carries the hopes for Team Radio Shack. His 10th place bodes well for the next 2 races, but it’s hard to see Horner overcoming the likes of Gilbert, Cunego, and Valverde. Still, stranger things have happened and could again—especially if Horner happens to find himself in a break with top favorites more eager to stare at one another than cover surprise attacks from a savvy veteran.
11. As for Rabobank, before the race, would you have thought the team’s first finisher would be Paul Martens? Would you have bet not one of the team’s riders would finish inside the top-10? Robert Gesink raced aggressively, but faded toward the end; while Oscar Freire did well to arrive at the bottom of the Cauberg fresh and in good position before succumbing to riders more suited to the Cauberg’s steeper pitches. In the end, it was a disappointing day for a team expected by many to be the strongest in the race. Look for Gesink to rebound at Fleche Wallone where distance won’t be a limiting factor.
12. Last but not least, give credit to Katusha’s merry band of Russians for doing their best to take the race into their own hands. Sergei Ivanov and Alexandr Kolobnev put in several attacks, hoping one would stick. Kolobnev came closest—he had a decent gap heading into the final climb but fell victim to the surges of fresh chase group. Joaquin Rodriguez abandoned after being dropped in the last hour. If he can rebound in time for Wednesday, Katusha might have what it takes to avenge yesterday’s near-misses.
And what about you? Were you as bored as I was during the first hour or two of live coverage? Please share your comments and insights below.
Come back tomorrow for a preview of Wednesday’s Fleche Wallone. And if you’re in the area, consider joining us at Sunday’s Fools Classic, a terrific classic-inspired ride in scenic Bucks County. Pre-registration’s open for another few hours!
Have a great day!
Here’s what I noticed:
1. Credit Gilbert for another aggressive performance in a major classic. Gilbert covered, attacked, chased, and still had something left at the end to take the win. I’ll admit I was a bit surprised to see him pull it off—I feared he went on the attack too early, perhaps overestimating his fitness. And credit Jurgen Vandenbroeck with some fabulous teamwork in support of his captain—without his efforts to bring back Sergei Ivanov between the Fromberg and Keutenberg, we might have had a different result. Now Gilbert heads into the Ardennes as a top favorite to take both Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, a serious threat for the first “Triple Crown” since Davide Rebellin’s in 2004. And while we’re at it, let’s credit Gilbert for an excellent spring including top-10 results in Milan-San Remo, Ghent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, and the Brabantse Pijl. If he continues his winning ways, he might just make Belgium forget about its lackluster cobbled campaign.
2. As for Ryder Hesjedal, he has to be the happiest rider ever to lose a race following his 2nd-place performance. Hesjedal’s evolution from mountain biker to elite roadie is well-documented. Following an impressive ride in Pais Vasco, the Canadian seems primed for more success over the coming days. While the Muur de Huy might be a tough sprint for him to win, Liege-Bastogne-Liege might suit his talents a bit more. With Christian Vandevelde and Daniel Martin joining the team in Belgium, it looks to be a good week for Garmin.
3. I completely omitted Astana from my race preview Saturday, a terrible oversight considering I’ve been one of only a few to consistently herald the team’s recent performances. While hindsight’s always 20/20, I’m not at all surprised by Enrico Gasparotto’s 3rd-place finish considering his aggressive riding thus far. With Maxim Iglinsky, Andre Grivko, and Gasparoto, Astana’s future in the northern classics looks bright. And with Alberto Contador arriving in time for the Ardennes events, Astana’s successful spring looks certain to continue.
4. When Bert De Waele burst from the peloton midway up the Cauberg, I momentarily wondered if Belgium’s first major win of the season might come from the most unlikely of places. My hopes were immediately dashed, but chapeau to De Waele for his 4th-place finish. It’s been quite a year for Belgian Continental teams, as teams like Topsport Vlaanderen and Landbouwkrediet have more than proven they deserve invitations to bigger races.
5. As for Liquigas, Roman Kreuziger took 5th-place while Vincenzo Nibali came in 21st. The duo rode well yesterday, ultimately falling a bit short in the end. Clearly, Kreuziger’s the more aggressive of the two, while Nibali might be more suited to a role as a super-lieutenant. Fleche is a race well-suited Kreuziger’s talents, especially with Nibali covering attacks and perhaps driving the group into the bottom of the climb. All in all, with two more races and two incredibly gifted captains, there’s still hope for a big win at Liquigas.
6. I was pleased to see Damiano Cunego’s competitive performance yesterday. Clearly he’s rid of the sickness that knocked him out of Pais Vasco, and ready to make a serious attempt at winning one of the Ardennes classics. His Lampre teammates rode cohesively to position him well for the finale—a good sign heading into Fleche and Liege. If Cunego continues to progress between now and Sunday, Italy could grab its first win of the classics.
7. Led by the Schleck brothers, Saxo Bank rode another aggressive race—even though they fell short in the end. Of the two, Andy clearly appears to be the stronger man—he put in some attacks that could have been devastating had he been willing to see them through. When it was all said a dn done, Frank ended the day better than his younger brother, but I think Saxo Bank’s “all about Andy” at this point. With one more week in his legs, the champion of Luxembourg will be ready for a repeat at Liege. As for my pre-race pick, Jens Voigt failed to finish—we’re both looking to Fleche for some redemption.
8. As for Vacansoleil, Marco Mancato’s 8th-place finish was the best they could muster—but not for lack of trying. Mancato and teammates Johnny Hoogerland and Bjorn Leukemans rode an aggressive and tactically sound race, doing what they could to force a selection before the race re-entered Valkenburg. Vacansoleil has inexplicably not been invited to the Ardennes, so Amstel was effectively the end of the team’s classics campaign. But with several high finishes in the major cobbled classics, I think the Dutch squad has enough reasons to consider the month a success. The first item on Vacansoleil’s “To Do” list? Re-signing Bjorn Leukemans.
9. BMC’s Karsten Kroon led the squad Sunday with a respectable, yet unspectacular 9th-place finish. World Champion Cadel Evans raced true to his word, closing gaps and reeling-in attacks to set-up his Dutch teammate for a possible home win. (Too bad he wasn’t racing for Phillippe Gilbert this time.) Evans looks ready to tackle the races in the Ardennes, perhaps boosted by newfound confidence following his world title in Mendrisio. With Gilbert and Cunego arriving in terrific form as well, we might get a replay of last year’s fireworks.
10. Chris Horner carries the hopes for Team Radio Shack. His 10th place bodes well for the next 2 races, but it’s hard to see Horner overcoming the likes of Gilbert, Cunego, and Valverde. Still, stranger things have happened and could again—especially if Horner happens to find himself in a break with top favorites more eager to stare at one another than cover surprise attacks from a savvy veteran.
11. As for Rabobank, before the race, would you have thought the team’s first finisher would be Paul Martens? Would you have bet not one of the team’s riders would finish inside the top-10? Robert Gesink raced aggressively, but faded toward the end; while Oscar Freire did well to arrive at the bottom of the Cauberg fresh and in good position before succumbing to riders more suited to the Cauberg’s steeper pitches. In the end, it was a disappointing day for a team expected by many to be the strongest in the race. Look for Gesink to rebound at Fleche Wallone where distance won’t be a limiting factor.
12. Last but not least, give credit to Katusha’s merry band of Russians for doing their best to take the race into their own hands. Sergei Ivanov and Alexandr Kolobnev put in several attacks, hoping one would stick. Kolobnev came closest—he had a decent gap heading into the final climb but fell victim to the surges of fresh chase group. Joaquin Rodriguez abandoned after being dropped in the last hour. If he can rebound in time for Wednesday, Katusha might have what it takes to avenge yesterday’s near-misses.
And what about you? Were you as bored as I was during the first hour or two of live coverage? Please share your comments and insights below.
Come back tomorrow for a preview of Wednesday’s Fleche Wallone. And if you’re in the area, consider joining us at Sunday’s Fools Classic, a terrific classic-inspired ride in scenic Bucks County. Pre-registration’s open for another few hours!
Have a great day!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Monday Musette - Roubaix Wrap-Up
All Photos by Tim Vanwichelen
Admit it, you found yesterday’s race a bit boring. Unless Cancellara happens to be your favorite rider, there was something a bit anti-climatic about the way he quickly and authoritatively disposed of his competition, motoring away from them all with a little less than 50 kilometers remaining in the race. There was no drama, no tension, and no tactics; he simply picked his moment, and rode off to victory.
1. But let’s not allow our unfulfilled expectations to prevent us from giving Spartacus his due. His ride yesterday was nothing short of astounding, the kind of dominating performance we see in a classic only once every 20 years or so. As we did after his win in Flanders, we must credit Cancellara’s team for providing him with a stress-free ride to the race’s decisive phases. Saxo Bank controlled the peloton for much of the day, at one point having 7 men spread across the front of the leading peloton. Interestingly, the man widely assumed to be Cancellara’s strongest teammate, Matti Breschel, disappeared just as things got interesting. But in the end, the day belonged to Fabian Cancellara, a truly worthy winner, and the second Swiss rider to complete the Flanders-Roubaix Double. The question now is whether or not Cancellara will take a shot at the Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Given what we’ve seen, I won’t discount his chances. Will you?
2. Thor Hushovd raced to a fine 2nd-place, the first of two Cervélo riders in the top-5. Thor overcame much this spring, ultimately going one better than his 3rd-place in last year’s edition. He rode a relatively quiet race, receiving some criticism for his apparent unwillingness to help Boonen chase Cancellara. While it cannot be explained why a team with two men in the group would seem so apprehensive, there’s the distinct possibility that they just had nothing to give. When you go back and watch the highlights, it’s clear that each rider was at his limit and doing everything he could just to hold the wheel directly in front of him. Congratulations as well to Thor’s teammate, Roger Hammond, for another great ride in Roubaix. Believe it or not, it’s not Hammond’s best result on the pavé though; he finished 3rd in 2004.
3. Juan Antonio Flecha put Team Sky on the podium in the team’s first foray into Hell with 3rd-place on the day. Overall, it’s the Spaniard’s third visit to the podium in Roubaix and his fifth finish inside the top-6. Sky’s pleased with the ride, but Flecha has to be wondering just what he has to do to win. His team did well to protect him into the race finale and he made no errors, tactical or otherwise. In the end, he simply succumbed to two stronger riders—nothing more, nothing less.
4. Tom Boonen was the day’s biggest loser, taking 5th in a race he was favored to win. Much can be said about Boonen’s performance—there’s a lot of blame to go around. First of all, Boonen’s Quick Step team left its leader far too isolated when the race began to intensify. Even before the Forest of Arenberg, Boonen was all but alone while his competitors—especially Cancellara—had several teammates at their sides. Heading into the final 60 kilometers with a relatively large group, Boonen’s anxiety began to show as he launched a series of unsuccessful attacks inside a span of about 10 kilometers. These were moves that should have been made by his teammates, but they were all too busy dropping-out, crashing, or chasing back to the front. Had Boonen some help in softening the front of the field, he might have had the legs to go with Cancellara’s race-winning attack moments later. Had he been paying attention, that is.
In the end, it’s easy to fault Boonen for a mistake many might have made. The road was wide, the group was tired, and a small group had just escaped to give the group some purpose. Surrounded by other favorites, it was—he thought—the ideal time to slip to the back, grab a drink, stretch his legs, and follow wheels for a bit. While Cancellara certainly wasn’t planning to attack at such a moment, once he looked back and saw Tommeke’s poor placement, he had to take his chance.
Boonen chased valiantly upon realizing the severity of the moment—he was clearly riding at a level better than his companions—but in the end it wasn’t enough to close the gap created during his moment of inattention. Overall, Boonen’s spring was one most riders would love to have had; but for a man boasting such an impressive resume, it’s a disappointment.
5. Bjorn Leukemans continued his impressive run with a 6th-place finish, two spots below his best-ever result in Roubaix. Watching Leukemans bury himself to hold Cancellara’s wheel is perhaps the best highlight of all the cobbled classics. As for his fist pound, I’m not sure Leukemans was responding to Cancellara’s speed as much as he was expressing his frustrations with a front tire that was losing air and a moto that seemed slow to accelerate. (Here’s a great link to a video of the entire sequence--feel free to form your own assumptions.) Regardless, hats-off to Leukemans—let’s see what he does in Amstel.
6. Filippo Pozzato came home in 7th-place, taking the Ballerini Prize as first Italian finisher. It was a good result for the Italian, but one that only begs the question as to what he could have accomplished had he not been hit with the flu in the week leading up to Flanders. The black kit was a nice touch, if for no other reason than it softened the effect of those god-awful Lazer helmet covers.
7. As for Leif Hoste, he can at least say he tried. His attack with Leukemans and Sebastien Hinault set-up Cancellara’s winning attack. His 8th-place finish is a solid result; but looking at the competition, it’s tough to see him ever getting the win he so craves.
Looking down the rest of the finishers from Sunday—which is easy to do considering there were only 74 of them—there are few highlights:
8. George Hincapie was literally right next to Cancellara when the Swiss rider snuck up the left side of the road. I took some heat for touting George’s chances in the days before the race; now it appears I need to read the writing on the wall. One comment yesterday compared George to Levi Leipheimer, another man known more for his misses than his hits. After another Roubaix where George seemed able to do little more than follow, it’s looking like the comparison might be appropriate. I’m sorry George, but maybe Roubaix is one nut you’ll never crack. George’s BMC teammates fared no better; none of them completed the race.
9. Other non-finishers included Peter Sagan and Lars Boom, while Stijn Devolder—after another day spent at or off the back—could manage no better than 42nd.
10. As for Garmin, we expected big things from Tyler Farrar and his colleagues—what we got was Martijn Maaskant in 22nd, the team’s only finisher.
On a day of sunshine and dry conditions, a strong headwind is the most common excuse for the attrition—that and the other-worldly exploits of a rider enjoying the best form of his career. Domination might be boring, but it never fails to impress.
Enjoy your Monday—share your thoughts below.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday Musette - Special Wednesday Edition
With so much going on this week, I thought a special edition of the Musette was in order. Here we go:
1. Tyler Farrar won today’s Scheldeprijs, continuing the fine form he’s displayed so far during this year’s Belgian Classics. It’s Farrar’s second win of the season following his victory in Stage 3a of the 3-Days of DePanne. More importantly, it’s the young American’s fifth major top-10 result on Belgian soil this season following his 3rd-place finish in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 9th-place in Ghent-Wevelgem, and 5th-place in the Tour of Flanders. All Tyler needs now is a solid finish in Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix to cap a fantastic spring for the Garmin rider. With Roubaix being a race known to favor the strong and powerful, Farrar’s streak might not be over.
As for the race itself, it pretty much went as expected. Filippo Pozzato was a last-minute addition to the start list; he finished in one of the front groups along with several other favorites for the Hell of the North on Sunday. Tom Boonen did hit the deck with about 37km to go, but was able to rejoin the leaders with enough time left to still finish 18th. I was a bit surprised to see Andre Greipel finish so poorly—especially after his team (and his mouth) worked so hard to position himself for the win.
2. Lost in the hoopla surrounding Sunday’s Tour of Flanders was an interesting Tweet from George Hincapie following some criticism he received from a fan via a comment at Podium Cafe.
First this:
Then this:
Not too sure if any of it's earth-shattering, but I find it interesting that the line between riders and fans grows increasingly thin thanks to sites like Twitter.
3. And speaking of George, check this out from his first year at Roubaix. Tears for Gears is a terrific site for fans of the 1990’s--it’s helping me getting over throwing away my old copies of Winning Magazine.
4. In case you missed it, here's this again:
5. The Tour of the Basque Country is underway, and all signs point to the controversial Alejandro Valverde having a terrific Ardennes campaign. Oscar Freire and Garmin’s young squad seem poised for some nice results as well. Freire currently leads the GC, but tomorrow’s “Queen” stage looks certain to shake things up. Stay-tuned.
6. Speaking of Pais Vasco, Francesco Gavazzi won today’s stage for Lampre, a squad in an uncomfortable spot thanks to some doping products found in the home of Lorenzo Bernucci. According to Bernucci, the products belong to his wife and brother. Sure they do, Lorenzo.
Some are already talking about Lampre being booted from the Tour—could Vacansoleil finally get its chance?
7. And last, but not least, I did a fantastic ride this past weekend called the Hell of Hunterdon. If you happen to live near Philadelphia, you need to participate in next year’s edition (or for that matter, in this year’s edition of its sister-event, the Fool’s Classic). Just over 76 miles in length, the ride includes about 12 miles (18 sections) of some of New Jersey’s finest unpaved and gravel roads—like L’Eroica, but without the wine, costumes, and vintage bikes. If you plan on doing Battenkill next year, you’re a fool if you don’t ride the HoH as training.
The ride’s organization was smooth and efficient, and free beer and pizza were offered to all finishers. While I was a guest of the organizer, the registration fee was nominal for such a wonderful day—especially for those who pre-registered. Better still, of the 100 or so people registered in advance, 28 of them won raffle prizes from companies including Lazer, Belgum Budder, and Classic Cycling Essentials. Be sure to bookmark the event’s website, and add it to your calendar for next spring.
8. And by the way, I'm looking for a pair of 700x23 Vittoria Open Tubular CX's with black rubber and tan/skin sidewalls.
I've also been inspired by a recent Twitter conversation to track down some Briko Stingers or Zens.
Drop me a line at paveblog@gmail.com if you think you can help me out.
Have a great Wednesday--our Paris-Roubaix coverage begins tomorrow!
1. Tyler Farrar won today’s Scheldeprijs, continuing the fine form he’s displayed so far during this year’s Belgian Classics. It’s Farrar’s second win of the season following his victory in Stage 3a of the 3-Days of DePanne. More importantly, it’s the young American’s fifth major top-10 result on Belgian soil this season following his 3rd-place finish in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 9th-place in Ghent-Wevelgem, and 5th-place in the Tour of Flanders. All Tyler needs now is a solid finish in Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix to cap a fantastic spring for the Garmin rider. With Roubaix being a race known to favor the strong and powerful, Farrar’s streak might not be over.
As for the race itself, it pretty much went as expected. Filippo Pozzato was a last-minute addition to the start list; he finished in one of the front groups along with several other favorites for the Hell of the North on Sunday. Tom Boonen did hit the deck with about 37km to go, but was able to rejoin the leaders with enough time left to still finish 18th. I was a bit surprised to see Andre Greipel finish so poorly—especially after his team (and his mouth) worked so hard to position himself for the win.
2. Lost in the hoopla surrounding Sunday’s Tour of Flanders was an interesting Tweet from George Hincapie following some criticism he received from a fan via a comment at Podium Cafe.
First this:
Then this:
Not too sure if any of it's earth-shattering, but I find it interesting that the line between riders and fans grows increasingly thin thanks to sites like Twitter.
3. And speaking of George, check this out from his first year at Roubaix. Tears for Gears is a terrific site for fans of the 1990’s--it’s helping me getting over throwing away my old copies of Winning Magazine.
4. In case you missed it, here's this again:
5. The Tour of the Basque Country is underway, and all signs point to the controversial Alejandro Valverde having a terrific Ardennes campaign. Oscar Freire and Garmin’s young squad seem poised for some nice results as well. Freire currently leads the GC, but tomorrow’s “Queen” stage looks certain to shake things up. Stay-tuned.
6. Speaking of Pais Vasco, Francesco Gavazzi won today’s stage for Lampre, a squad in an uncomfortable spot thanks to some doping products found in the home of Lorenzo Bernucci. According to Bernucci, the products belong to his wife and brother. Sure they do, Lorenzo.
Some are already talking about Lampre being booted from the Tour—could Vacansoleil finally get its chance?
7. And last, but not least, I did a fantastic ride this past weekend called the Hell of Hunterdon. If you happen to live near Philadelphia, you need to participate in next year’s edition (or for that matter, in this year’s edition of its sister-event, the Fool’s Classic). Just over 76 miles in length, the ride includes about 12 miles (18 sections) of some of New Jersey’s finest unpaved and gravel roads—like L’Eroica, but without the wine, costumes, and vintage bikes. If you plan on doing Battenkill next year, you’re a fool if you don’t ride the HoH as training.
The ride’s organization was smooth and efficient, and free beer and pizza were offered to all finishers. While I was a guest of the organizer, the registration fee was nominal for such a wonderful day—especially for those who pre-registered. Better still, of the 100 or so people registered in advance, 28 of them won raffle prizes from companies including Lazer, Belgum Budder, and Classic Cycling Essentials. Be sure to bookmark the event’s website, and add it to your calendar for next spring.
8. And by the way, I'm looking for a pair of 700x23 Vittoria Open Tubular CX's with black rubber and tan/skin sidewalls.
I've also been inspired by a recent Twitter conversation to track down some Briko Stingers or Zens.
Drop me a line at paveblog@gmail.com if you think you can help me out.
Have a great Wednesday--our Paris-Roubaix coverage begins tomorrow!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday Musette - Flanders Wrap-Up
Sometimes it’s okay to be wrong, I guess. While I expected to have to wait another week for a real showdown between top favorites Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara, and co., I was pleasantly surprised to see an aggressive and exciting race. Here’s what I noticed:
1. Hats-off to Fabian Cancellara for adding a third jewel to his Monument Crown. With victories in Milan-San Remo, the Ronde, and Paris-Roubaix, he’s only a Liege and a Lombardy away from completing the “Quintuple Crown”. I was wrong to think Cancellara wouldn’t have the acceleration and snap to handle attacks from the likes of Boonen and Gilbert—watching him ride away from Boonen on the Muur (in the saddle) I could see he clearly didn’t need it. Now, Spartacus heads to Paris-Roubaix as the odds-on favorite for another victory in the Hell of the North. Did you know the only non-Belgian rider to have completed the Flanders-Roubaix double was Swiss?
2. As for Boonen, there’s no shame in his 2nd-place performance; he rode a fantastic race and was simply beaten by a stronger opponent. He raced attentively, confidently, and clearly read his opposition correctly. And had his team done a better job in support of the Belgian Champion, he might have had just a little bit more left in his tank for the Muur. Luckily for Tommeke, he gets another chance at Cancellara this Sunday in Roubaix.
3. As for Phillippe Gilbert, for the second year in a row he occupied the podium’s third step. Had he been better placed for the Molenberg, he might have been able to follow the two leaders. He gets a rest now before continuing his spring campaign at Amstel and Liege. I have a hunch we haven’t seen Gilbert at his best yet; a Monument win is still a possibility for the Belgian.
4. Bjorn Leukemans has officially justified the hype he received at Pavé during last year’s Spring Classics. In fact, one has to wonder the attention Leukemans would get were he riding for a bigger team. Look at his results over the past 10 days: 2nd at Dwars Door Vlaanderen, 7th at the E3 Prijs, and 4th in the Ronde. Aside from Flecha, Boonen, and Cancellara, there are few men who have had more success in Belgium this spring. Now Leukemans heads to Roubaix, a race in which he finished 4th in 2007. Will he be overlooked again?
5. As suspected, Tyler Farrar came through to take the field sprint for 5th-place. It’s a good result, but nothing to get too excited about, as winning a large group sprint in Flanders is hardly an indicator for future success. That said Farrar has the build and the personality to find success in these races some day, especially if he successfully makes the switch from field sprinter to classic rider—as many have before him. Now, I’m eager to see how handles Roubaix. And give David Millar credit as well for riding one heck of a race, ultimately enabling Farrar to rest comfortably for the finale. Like Farrar, I can’t wait to see what Millar does this Sunday in Roubaix—he’s clearly racing at a high level.
6. George Hincapie finished in 6th-place, a bit of a surprise as I had expected Marcus Burghardt to be the protected man for BMC. Many have been quick to discredit Hincapie’s form as of late, but he certainly seems right on track for another assault on the race that has eluded him his entire career. My ideal scenario: Boonen, Cancellara, Pozzato, and Hincapie enter the velodrome together to fight for the win—a battle of national champions and a photographer’s dream.
7. Speaking of near-misses at Roubaix, Leif Hoste seems to be shaping-up quite nicely. And with Gilbert taking the week off, he might have guaranteed himself top billing on Omega Pharma-Lotto’s team for Roubaix. With Roelandts and Vanavermaet riding in support, Hoste might have the ability to score another top result—but a win would still be considered an upset given the level of the competition.
8. Were you as excited as I was to see Steve Chainel in the first group after the Paterberg in the chase group after Cancellara and Boonen’s attack on the Molenberg? He’s another rider who has enjoyed the last 10 days in Belgium. He and his teammate William Bonnet will give the French someone to cheer for come Sunday.
9. And they’ll need one considering Patrick Lefevere’s recent announcement that Sylvain Chavanel will be staying home Sunday in favor of Stijn Devolder. It appears as if Devolder’s ride Sunday earned him one last chance to show Lefevere that he is worthy of a spot on next year’s roster. (Not that it matters; I’ll bet almost anything he’s heading to Radio Shack in 2011.) While Devolder did well to fight his way back to the front 3 times, the question has to be asked: why did he get dropped in the first place? Shouldn’t he have known to be better placed for the climbs? Regardless, I expect a good ride from him Sunday as his form might just be on the upswing.
10. As for Chavanel, he rode a rather anonymous race, ultimately finishing with the first group in 24th-place, ironically one place ahead of Devolder. While Chavanel’s not riding as well as he was last year—when he finished 8th in Roubaix—he’s not riding poorly enough to justify Lefevere leaving him home Sunday. Both men need to be on the starting line for Quick Step to have it’s best chance to get Boonen a record-tying 4th win. I wonder what’s really going on at Quick Step.
11. Someone needs to buy Matti Breschel a copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People. Clearly one of the strongest riders in the race, Breschel rode up the Paterberg so fast that he seemed to wait for the rest at the top—had they been closer to the finish he might have just ridden away from everyone. But then a strange series of mechanicals (rubbing brakes) ensued for the Saxo Bank co-leaders, offering a glimpse at a key difference between Riis’ two stars. Cancellara handled his bike change calmly, at first heading back to the car for a quick fix, then quietly returning to the peloton only to quickly receive a new bike at a well-timed corner just up the road. As for Breschel, he drifted off the back for his bike change only to find a mechanic apparently confused as to which spare bike was which. Breschel, obviously upset, waved his arms and stomped his legs like a child with a broken toy. By the time he rejoined the race just before the Molenberg, there was no time for him to regain his place at the front before Boonen and Cancellara left everyone behind.
Now don’t get me wrong, I feel for Breschel and his missed opportunity. The mechanic should have done a better job of getting him the right bike quickly. But then again, these things happen. As for Breschel and his post race comments, I won’t feel sorry for him the next time he needs a favor from a mechanic and doesn’t get it. A professional cycling team is more than just riders—just as a rider wouldn’t publicly call-out a teammate or director (unless he rides for Quick Step), he shouldn’t use the press to blame a mechanic. Their jobs are thankless enough as it is, Matti; don’t add insult to injury. I guarantee he feels much worse about it than you ever will.
12. And speaking of giving credit where it’s due, let’s give Lance Armstrong some points for a terrific ride. He played an active role in the race’s final phases, chasing down Matt Hayman just before the Molenberg. He then held-on to finish in the lead peloton, ultimately ending his day in 27th-place—not bad. I wonder what he could do were he to try and peak for these races.
From here, we head to the Scheldeprijs—a race that doesn’t quite get me as excited as Ghent-Wevelgem would have had it retained its traditional place on the calendar. I’ll have a race preview tomorrow; it will be interesting to see how many favorites for Roubaix choose to take part.
Otherwise, tot straks for now. And what about you? What did you notice from this weekend’s Ronde? Any early thoughts for Roubaix?
Share your comments below.
1. Hats-off to Fabian Cancellara for adding a third jewel to his Monument Crown. With victories in Milan-San Remo, the Ronde, and Paris-Roubaix, he’s only a Liege and a Lombardy away from completing the “Quintuple Crown”. I was wrong to think Cancellara wouldn’t have the acceleration and snap to handle attacks from the likes of Boonen and Gilbert—watching him ride away from Boonen on the Muur (in the saddle) I could see he clearly didn’t need it. Now, Spartacus heads to Paris-Roubaix as the odds-on favorite for another victory in the Hell of the North. Did you know the only non-Belgian rider to have completed the Flanders-Roubaix double was Swiss?
2. As for Boonen, there’s no shame in his 2nd-place performance; he rode a fantastic race and was simply beaten by a stronger opponent. He raced attentively, confidently, and clearly read his opposition correctly. And had his team done a better job in support of the Belgian Champion, he might have had just a little bit more left in his tank for the Muur. Luckily for Tommeke, he gets another chance at Cancellara this Sunday in Roubaix.
3. As for Phillippe Gilbert, for the second year in a row he occupied the podium’s third step. Had he been better placed for the Molenberg, he might have been able to follow the two leaders. He gets a rest now before continuing his spring campaign at Amstel and Liege. I have a hunch we haven’t seen Gilbert at his best yet; a Monument win is still a possibility for the Belgian.
4. Bjorn Leukemans has officially justified the hype he received at Pavé during last year’s Spring Classics. In fact, one has to wonder the attention Leukemans would get were he riding for a bigger team. Look at his results over the past 10 days: 2nd at Dwars Door Vlaanderen, 7th at the E3 Prijs, and 4th in the Ronde. Aside from Flecha, Boonen, and Cancellara, there are few men who have had more success in Belgium this spring. Now Leukemans heads to Roubaix, a race in which he finished 4th in 2007. Will he be overlooked again?
5. As suspected, Tyler Farrar came through to take the field sprint for 5th-place. It’s a good result, but nothing to get too excited about, as winning a large group sprint in Flanders is hardly an indicator for future success. That said Farrar has the build and the personality to find success in these races some day, especially if he successfully makes the switch from field sprinter to classic rider—as many have before him. Now, I’m eager to see how handles Roubaix. And give David Millar credit as well for riding one heck of a race, ultimately enabling Farrar to rest comfortably for the finale. Like Farrar, I can’t wait to see what Millar does this Sunday in Roubaix—he’s clearly racing at a high level.
6. George Hincapie finished in 6th-place, a bit of a surprise as I had expected Marcus Burghardt to be the protected man for BMC. Many have been quick to discredit Hincapie’s form as of late, but he certainly seems right on track for another assault on the race that has eluded him his entire career. My ideal scenario: Boonen, Cancellara, Pozzato, and Hincapie enter the velodrome together to fight for the win—a battle of national champions and a photographer’s dream.
7. Speaking of near-misses at Roubaix, Leif Hoste seems to be shaping-up quite nicely. And with Gilbert taking the week off, he might have guaranteed himself top billing on Omega Pharma-Lotto’s team for Roubaix. With Roelandts and Vanavermaet riding in support, Hoste might have the ability to score another top result—but a win would still be considered an upset given the level of the competition.
8. Were you as excited as I was to see Steve Chainel in the first group after the Paterberg in the chase group after Cancellara and Boonen’s attack on the Molenberg? He’s another rider who has enjoyed the last 10 days in Belgium. He and his teammate William Bonnet will give the French someone to cheer for come Sunday.
9. And they’ll need one considering Patrick Lefevere’s recent announcement that Sylvain Chavanel will be staying home Sunday in favor of Stijn Devolder. It appears as if Devolder’s ride Sunday earned him one last chance to show Lefevere that he is worthy of a spot on next year’s roster. (Not that it matters; I’ll bet almost anything he’s heading to Radio Shack in 2011.) While Devolder did well to fight his way back to the front 3 times, the question has to be asked: why did he get dropped in the first place? Shouldn’t he have known to be better placed for the climbs? Regardless, I expect a good ride from him Sunday as his form might just be on the upswing.
10. As for Chavanel, he rode a rather anonymous race, ultimately finishing with the first group in 24th-place, ironically one place ahead of Devolder. While Chavanel’s not riding as well as he was last year—when he finished 8th in Roubaix—he’s not riding poorly enough to justify Lefevere leaving him home Sunday. Both men need to be on the starting line for Quick Step to have it’s best chance to get Boonen a record-tying 4th win. I wonder what’s really going on at Quick Step.
11. Someone needs to buy Matti Breschel a copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People. Clearly one of the strongest riders in the race, Breschel rode up the Paterberg so fast that he seemed to wait for the rest at the top—had they been closer to the finish he might have just ridden away from everyone. But then a strange series of mechanicals (rubbing brakes) ensued for the Saxo Bank co-leaders, offering a glimpse at a key difference between Riis’ two stars. Cancellara handled his bike change calmly, at first heading back to the car for a quick fix, then quietly returning to the peloton only to quickly receive a new bike at a well-timed corner just up the road. As for Breschel, he drifted off the back for his bike change only to find a mechanic apparently confused as to which spare bike was which. Breschel, obviously upset, waved his arms and stomped his legs like a child with a broken toy. By the time he rejoined the race just before the Molenberg, there was no time for him to regain his place at the front before Boonen and Cancellara left everyone behind.
Now don’t get me wrong, I feel for Breschel and his missed opportunity. The mechanic should have done a better job of getting him the right bike quickly. But then again, these things happen. As for Breschel and his post race comments, I won’t feel sorry for him the next time he needs a favor from a mechanic and doesn’t get it. A professional cycling team is more than just riders—just as a rider wouldn’t publicly call-out a teammate or director (unless he rides for Quick Step), he shouldn’t use the press to blame a mechanic. Their jobs are thankless enough as it is, Matti; don’t add insult to injury. I guarantee he feels much worse about it than you ever will.
12. And speaking of giving credit where it’s due, let’s give Lance Armstrong some points for a terrific ride. He played an active role in the race’s final phases, chasing down Matt Hayman just before the Molenberg. He then held-on to finish in the lead peloton, ultimately ending his day in 27th-place—not bad. I wonder what he could do were he to try and peak for these races.
From here, we head to the Scheldeprijs—a race that doesn’t quite get me as excited as Ghent-Wevelgem would have had it retained its traditional place on the calendar. I’ll have a race preview tomorrow; it will be interesting to see how many favorites for Roubaix choose to take part.
Otherwise, tot straks for now. And what about you? What did you notice from this weekend’s Ronde? Any early thoughts for Roubaix?
Share your comments below.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday Musette - E3 Prijs and Ghent-Wevelgem Wrap-up
Sorry for the delay, but here are my thoughts following a jam-packed weekend of racing:
1. It’s hard to believe that Saturday’s E3 Prij was Fabian Cancellara’s first win in Belgium—aside from an ITT stage at the Tour of Belgium. Clearly, Spartacus is hoping it’s just a taste of better things to come—and with a team that’s turning-out to be one of the strongest in the peloton, it’s easy to see why his confidence is brimming. I haven’t been able to ascertain whether or not he knew about that tight left-hander just inside 1km to go, but one can only assume he—or his director—did. It just goes to show what can happen when brains meet brawns.
2. As for Tom Boonen, Saturday was his second consecutive 2nd-place in a race he won 4-years running from 2004 to 2007. To be honest, I’m not sure why everyone’s making such a big deal about Boonen’s performance. The only time anyone ever spoke about last year’s E3 loss to Pozzato was immediately before and after this year’s event—don’t you think Pozzato would have much rather won Roubaix and lost the E3? Exactly. A win on either of the next 2 Sunday’s is all Boonen needs to erase any lingering thoughts following Saturday’s loss—at least until next year’s event. That said, Boonen intimated that he was not prepared for the change in the race’s finish. Had he known about that last corner, he might have taken a faster line, and perhaps come a bit closer to catching Cancellara. With several other men riding at the top of their game, Boonen is in no place to take anything for granted—Saturday proved how costly even the slightest of mental lapses can be.
3. Sky’s Juan Antonio Flecha seems to have picked-up right where he left-off in February’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. I see him as a better contender for Roubaix than Flanders though, as he seems less explosive than he once was. Remember, when he attacked to win the Omloop, he simply motored-away from the rest on a flat section of cobbles. As for teammate Edvald Boasson Hagen, he was a non-factor in both races this weekend—that’s too bad as we all had high hopes for the young Norwegian. Can he get it together in time for Flanders?
4. And speaking of non-factors, Stijn Devolder might become the only former winner of the Tour of Flanders to be left-off his team the following year. Patrick Lefevere seems unimpressed by his team’s lack of urgency, even going as so far as to speculate just how many of his current riders might be looking for new jobs by the end of the season. While Sylvain Chavanel’s ridden well enough so far to be given a little bit of latitude, Devolder clearly has more to prove. He’s starting tomorrow’s 3-Days of DePanne, his last chance to show us—and his team—what he has to offer.
5. Hopefully Filippo Pozzato learned his lesson—he needs to be well-placed for every climb, not just the ones on which he thinks Boonen will attack. I don’t expect we’ll see him make the same mistake again—especially with Sergei Ivanov likely to have received a lecture as well following Saturday’s gaffe. Despite the mistake, Pippo’s clearly at the top of his game right now.
6. I picked Nick Nuyens for the win Saturday; he responded by hitting the deck not once, but three times. It’s a shame too as his Rabobank team was clearly up to the challenge, placing 3 riders in the top-10. One can only wonder what they would have done had Nuyens kept the rubber-side down.
7. Vacansoleil put in an impressive team performance as well, placing 2 riders in the top-10 including none other than Bjorn Leukemans. Okay, Bjorn, after 2nd-place in Dwars and 7th in the E3, you’re back on the radar. Please don’t disappoint me.
8. Were you surprised to see a Footon-Serveto rider finish 10th and a Xacebo-Galicia rider finish 18th? It’s okay, you can say it—I was too.
9. And speaking of Spanish teams, there was an interesting moment Saturday when Euskaltel had 4 riders struggling at the back in the E3 Prijs while 4 of their teammates were riding tempo at the front in the Criterium International. How’s that for universal balance?
Now to Sunday’s Ghent-Wevelgem…
10. It’s beginning to look like the only thing that might get in Fabian Cancellara’s way next weekend might be his own teammate, Matti Breschel. It was obvious to everyone that Breschel was the strongest man in the field. Had he not flatted, he might have added a major classic to the minor one he won last Wednesday. He and Cancellara are saying all the right things heading into Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, but one can only wonder what might happen between now and the finish line Sunday. One thing is certain: Saxo Bank clearly has the best one-two punch in the peloton right now—something few other teams can match.
11. But before we forget, let’s give some credit to HTC-Columbia’s Bernhard Eisel, the man who actually won the race. He admitted to not liking Ghent-Wevelgem very much in his post-race interview—that’s too bad as he’ll certainly be expected to ride it every year from now until he retires. Bob Stapleton must have been relieved to see his team take a big win—especially given the amount of success his former riders have garnered since their departures. Eisel was not eager to count himself among the favorites for next Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, but his teammates Marcel Sieberg and Matthew Goss still warrant attention following impressive rides yesterday. This year might be too soon, but it’s clear that HTC’s future is bright.
12. Hats-off to Topsport Vlaanderen’s Sep Vanmarcke for what was one of the gutsiest rides I’ve seen in a long time. Not only did he attack in the finale of Ghent-Wevelgem, but once he was caught he was still able to sprint to 2nd place—which is more than can be said for some of his companions. Vanmarcke also made the main selection in Dwars Door Vlaanderen. Let’s see what he can do in this week’s 3-Days of DePanne.
13. As for Philippe Gilbert and Omega Pharma-Lotto, it’s déjà vu all over again as their 2010 spring campaign has started as poorly as last year’s. With 2 men in a 6-man breakaway, it’s hard to see how the team didn’t come home with the win. Both Gilbert and Roelandts said they told the other to go for it, but that’s hardly an excuse for not even trying to attack. Worse still, there seemed to be no attempt at teamwork in the final sprint. Still, Gilbert’s riding well and is hoping DePanne will put the finishing touches on his form for Flanders. But this is Belgium—wins in Paris-Tours and the Tour of Lombardy will only get him so far.
As for Jurgen Roelandts, we could forgive him for his failure to come through for his team yesterday—had he made more of an effort in the final to lead-out Gilbert for the win. While I think he’ll play a role on Sunday, his true calling could be Paris-Roubaix two weeks from now.
14. And give George Hincapie credit for a solid ride Sunday—a ride I can’t say I was expecting. Despite the performance, I think Flanders is a bit out of his reach at this point—Marcus Burghardt might be a better bet for BMC. But Roubaix is still a race I think he can win, especially with two more weeks to improve. Sometimes getting sick can be a good thing—if it gets you to your peak at a time when others are starting to fall from theirs. Could this be George’s lucky year?
And while we’re talking about BMC, is Alessandro Ballan this team’s Stijn Devolder? Like the Belgian, Ballan’s riding DePanne, but I can’t help but if it’s too little, too late.
15. As for Liquigas and Astana, not riding Saturday clearly had an effect on their performances Sunday. Daniel Oss is a name to remember from Liquigas while Enrico Gasparotto and Maxim Iglinsky continued their impressive seasons for Astana. All three are listed for DePanne—I expect we’ll be hearing from them again. One interesting note for Astana, I think Iglinsky getting dropped from the break shows the decline of his form, while Gasparotto’s move to bridge a gap on the Kateberg shows his fitness might still be on the rise.
16. And finally, the organizers of Ghent-Wevelgem couldn’t have been happy with Boonen and Cancellara not finishing—and almost not even starting, for that matter. This weekend proved that riding both races at a high level is clearly not possible. Expect more calendar changes next year.
And that’s that as far this weekend’s cobbled races are concerned. What are your thoughts?
Share them below.
1. It’s hard to believe that Saturday’s E3 Prij was Fabian Cancellara’s first win in Belgium—aside from an ITT stage at the Tour of Belgium. Clearly, Spartacus is hoping it’s just a taste of better things to come—and with a team that’s turning-out to be one of the strongest in the peloton, it’s easy to see why his confidence is brimming. I haven’t been able to ascertain whether or not he knew about that tight left-hander just inside 1km to go, but one can only assume he—or his director—did. It just goes to show what can happen when brains meet brawns.
2. As for Tom Boonen, Saturday was his second consecutive 2nd-place in a race he won 4-years running from 2004 to 2007. To be honest, I’m not sure why everyone’s making such a big deal about Boonen’s performance. The only time anyone ever spoke about last year’s E3 loss to Pozzato was immediately before and after this year’s event—don’t you think Pozzato would have much rather won Roubaix and lost the E3? Exactly. A win on either of the next 2 Sunday’s is all Boonen needs to erase any lingering thoughts following Saturday’s loss—at least until next year’s event. That said, Boonen intimated that he was not prepared for the change in the race’s finish. Had he known about that last corner, he might have taken a faster line, and perhaps come a bit closer to catching Cancellara. With several other men riding at the top of their game, Boonen is in no place to take anything for granted—Saturday proved how costly even the slightest of mental lapses can be.
3. Sky’s Juan Antonio Flecha seems to have picked-up right where he left-off in February’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. I see him as a better contender for Roubaix than Flanders though, as he seems less explosive than he once was. Remember, when he attacked to win the Omloop, he simply motored-away from the rest on a flat section of cobbles. As for teammate Edvald Boasson Hagen, he was a non-factor in both races this weekend—that’s too bad as we all had high hopes for the young Norwegian. Can he get it together in time for Flanders?
4. And speaking of non-factors, Stijn Devolder might become the only former winner of the Tour of Flanders to be left-off his team the following year. Patrick Lefevere seems unimpressed by his team’s lack of urgency, even going as so far as to speculate just how many of his current riders might be looking for new jobs by the end of the season. While Sylvain Chavanel’s ridden well enough so far to be given a little bit of latitude, Devolder clearly has more to prove. He’s starting tomorrow’s 3-Days of DePanne, his last chance to show us—and his team—what he has to offer.
5. Hopefully Filippo Pozzato learned his lesson—he needs to be well-placed for every climb, not just the ones on which he thinks Boonen will attack. I don’t expect we’ll see him make the same mistake again—especially with Sergei Ivanov likely to have received a lecture as well following Saturday’s gaffe. Despite the mistake, Pippo’s clearly at the top of his game right now.
6. I picked Nick Nuyens for the win Saturday; he responded by hitting the deck not once, but three times. It’s a shame too as his Rabobank team was clearly up to the challenge, placing 3 riders in the top-10. One can only wonder what they would have done had Nuyens kept the rubber-side down.
7. Vacansoleil put in an impressive team performance as well, placing 2 riders in the top-10 including none other than Bjorn Leukemans. Okay, Bjorn, after 2nd-place in Dwars and 7th in the E3, you’re back on the radar. Please don’t disappoint me.
8. Were you surprised to see a Footon-Serveto rider finish 10th and a Xacebo-Galicia rider finish 18th? It’s okay, you can say it—I was too.
9. And speaking of Spanish teams, there was an interesting moment Saturday when Euskaltel had 4 riders struggling at the back in the E3 Prijs while 4 of their teammates were riding tempo at the front in the Criterium International. How’s that for universal balance?
Now to Sunday’s Ghent-Wevelgem…
10. It’s beginning to look like the only thing that might get in Fabian Cancellara’s way next weekend might be his own teammate, Matti Breschel. It was obvious to everyone that Breschel was the strongest man in the field. Had he not flatted, he might have added a major classic to the minor one he won last Wednesday. He and Cancellara are saying all the right things heading into Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, but one can only wonder what might happen between now and the finish line Sunday. One thing is certain: Saxo Bank clearly has the best one-two punch in the peloton right now—something few other teams can match.
11. But before we forget, let’s give some credit to HTC-Columbia’s Bernhard Eisel, the man who actually won the race. He admitted to not liking Ghent-Wevelgem very much in his post-race interview—that’s too bad as he’ll certainly be expected to ride it every year from now until he retires. Bob Stapleton must have been relieved to see his team take a big win—especially given the amount of success his former riders have garnered since their departures. Eisel was not eager to count himself among the favorites for next Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, but his teammates Marcel Sieberg and Matthew Goss still warrant attention following impressive rides yesterday. This year might be too soon, but it’s clear that HTC’s future is bright.
12. Hats-off to Topsport Vlaanderen’s Sep Vanmarcke for what was one of the gutsiest rides I’ve seen in a long time. Not only did he attack in the finale of Ghent-Wevelgem, but once he was caught he was still able to sprint to 2nd place—which is more than can be said for some of his companions. Vanmarcke also made the main selection in Dwars Door Vlaanderen. Let’s see what he can do in this week’s 3-Days of DePanne.
13. As for Philippe Gilbert and Omega Pharma-Lotto, it’s déjà vu all over again as their 2010 spring campaign has started as poorly as last year’s. With 2 men in a 6-man breakaway, it’s hard to see how the team didn’t come home with the win. Both Gilbert and Roelandts said they told the other to go for it, but that’s hardly an excuse for not even trying to attack. Worse still, there seemed to be no attempt at teamwork in the final sprint. Still, Gilbert’s riding well and is hoping DePanne will put the finishing touches on his form for Flanders. But this is Belgium—wins in Paris-Tours and the Tour of Lombardy will only get him so far.
As for Jurgen Roelandts, we could forgive him for his failure to come through for his team yesterday—had he made more of an effort in the final to lead-out Gilbert for the win. While I think he’ll play a role on Sunday, his true calling could be Paris-Roubaix two weeks from now.
14. And give George Hincapie credit for a solid ride Sunday—a ride I can’t say I was expecting. Despite the performance, I think Flanders is a bit out of his reach at this point—Marcus Burghardt might be a better bet for BMC. But Roubaix is still a race I think he can win, especially with two more weeks to improve. Sometimes getting sick can be a good thing—if it gets you to your peak at a time when others are starting to fall from theirs. Could this be George’s lucky year?
And while we’re talking about BMC, is Alessandro Ballan this team’s Stijn Devolder? Like the Belgian, Ballan’s riding DePanne, but I can’t help but if it’s too little, too late.
15. As for Liquigas and Astana, not riding Saturday clearly had an effect on their performances Sunday. Daniel Oss is a name to remember from Liquigas while Enrico Gasparotto and Maxim Iglinsky continued their impressive seasons for Astana. All three are listed for DePanne—I expect we’ll be hearing from them again. One interesting note for Astana, I think Iglinsky getting dropped from the break shows the decline of his form, while Gasparotto’s move to bridge a gap on the Kateberg shows his fitness might still be on the rise.
16. And finally, the organizers of Ghent-Wevelgem couldn’t have been happy with Boonen and Cancellara not finishing—and almost not even starting, for that matter. This weekend proved that riding both races at a high level is clearly not possible. Expect more calendar changes next year.
And that’s that as far this weekend’s cobbled races are concerned. What are your thoughts?
Share them below.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday Musette - Milan-San Remo Wrap-up
Saturday’s Milan-San Remo went-off without a hitch--despite the weather’s best attempts to ruin the day. After 298 kilometers of racing in cold, rainy conditions, it was a Spaniard who ended-up with the victory. Funny how two men from warmer, sunnier climates have taken wins in two of the season’s grimiest races thus far. Here’s what we learned:
1. I remember watching the 1999 World Championship Road Race in Verona, Italy with friends on a television in my apartment in Leuven, Belgium. When a young, unknown Spaniard surprised a select group of favorites including Francesco Casagrande, Frank Vandenbroucke, and Jan Ullrich, we all felt a bit ripped-off. But after 2 more World Titles, 7 Vuelta stage wins, 4 Tour stage wins, 1 Ghent-Wevelgem, and now 3 Milan-San Remo’s I think it’s time for me to officially apologize to Oscar Freire for years of underrating him. With the changes to this year’s Belgian calendar, Freire has a terrific opportunity to take yet another win in Sunday’s Ghent-Wevelgem—especially since many of his main rivals might choose to take Saturday’s E3 Prijs more seriously. Congratulations, Oscar. I won’t overlook you again—at least for one more week.
2. Tom Boonen was satisfied with a respectable 2nd place in San Remo—even though Freire blew his doors off in the sprint. What impressed me most was Boonen’s positioning on the Cipressa and Poggio—he rode attentively and comfortably at the front of the peloton, consistently placed within the first 10 or so riders. Clearly his form for Flanders and Roubaix has arrived. Unfortunately, I wonder if he might find himself too heavily marked in Flanders to take a third win. On the other hand, it’s essentially every man for himself on the pavé of Paris-Roubaix—at this point only Pozzato, Hushovd, and Cancellara look to have the condition to ride with him there. Then again, those races are still 2 and 3 weeks away—maybe it’s too soon to speculate?
3. As for Pippo Pozzato, he seemed to ride as if he had read the “This will come down to a sprint” writing on the wall. Knowing he had relatively little chances against sprinters such as Freire, Boonen, Bennati, and Hushovd, he seemed content to treat the race’s finale as an opportunity to test his legs on the attack. To be honest, when he rolled-off the front in pursuit of Vincenzo Nibali with 2km to go, I thought he would take his second victory—too bad the rest had other things in mind. At Flanders though, they might find catching up to Pozzato an entirely different enterprise.
4. And speaking of Hushovd, he made the leading group, ultimately sprinting to a slid 6th-place finish. With Flanders and Roubaix still weeks away, Thor looks to have starting his crescendo at just the right time. Unfortunately, it was also announced that he won’t have the support of Heinrich Haussler; his knee injury seems to be worse than expected, keeping out of races until later this spring.
5. Philippe Gilbert’s attack on the Poggio and subsequent 9th place finish confirmed his candidacy for a win in Flanders—Roubaix’s not very suited to his strengths. While his attack had little effect on the race itself, it served noticed to everyone—including the Belgian press—that he’s not to be overlooked.
6. And finally, we must mention Fabian Cancellara, another rider who led a quiet build-up to Saturday’s race. Spartacus rode comfortably with the lead group, finishing the day in 17th place. Like Hushovd, he appears on-track for a solid cobbled campaign.
7. Moving away from the pre-race favorites, Quick Step’s Sylvain Chavanel looks to be peaking quite nicely. If Boonen finds himself too heavily marked, Chavanel could play Devolder’s role in Flanders, possibly getting the win we all know he deserves. Regardless, his condition means teams will have two Quick Step riders with which to contend; an advantage few teams are able to match.
8. BMC’s Marcus Burghardt was his team’s only rider to finish with the leaders. As he seems to be peaking a bit sooner than his teammates Ballan and Hincapie (both of whom came in with the second group, 1:40 behind), look for him to impress this Sunday in Ghent-Wevelgem, a race he won in 2007. The German has also recorded top-5 finishes in both Dwars door Vlaanderen and the E3 Prijs in the past—it’s a shame they weren’t invited to Dwars, but it still could be a good weekend for the squad.
9. As we expected, Colnago’s Sacha Modolo finishing 4th on Saturday, continuing his string of top results from Tirreno-Adriatico. I know it’s a bit early to talk transfers, but look for him to be snapped-up by a team with an aging sprinter before next season—Lampre and Katusha might be possibilities—especially if he manages to grab a stage win or two in this year’s Giro.
10. Liquigas rode a fantastic race for Daniele Bennati with Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger playing roles as prominent as we expected. Unfortunately, Bennati could manage no better than 5th. Clearly he’s a second-tier field sprinter, able to win only when better, faster competition is absent. Stick to Tirreno, DePanne, and the Vuelta, my friend. And by the way, give Liquigas the first “What Were They Thinking?” Award of 2010 for leaving Peter Sagan—a double stage-winner in Paris-Nice—at home.
11. Unfortunately, Tyler Farrar’s performance Saturday might put him in the same category as Bennati—although Bennati made it to the finish with the lead group. If Farrar’s team can’t position him well in a finale as straightforward as Milan-San Remo’s then what will they do in the cobbled classics, races with much more difficult profiles?
Two final thoughts from Saturday:
12. What the heck was Stefano Garzelli doing on the Poggio? Several sources claimed he attacked, but in my opinion he simply set a hard pace—but for whom?
13. Did you notice the prevalence of super-deep carbon fiber rear wheels? If this is indeed a new trend, I don’t get it. But I’m like that.
Time permitting, I’ve got a big week planned for Pavé. Here’s the schedule for the next several days:
Tuesday: Dwars Door Vlaanderen Preview
Wednesday: 5 Questions for the Cobbled Classics
Thursday: Dwars Door Vlaanderen Wrap-up/What We Learned
Friday: Weekend Preview(s) E3 and Criterium International
Saturday: Ghent-Wevelgem Preview
It’s an ambitious program, but I think I’m up for it—at least I hope so.
Thanks for reading! Share your comments below
1. I remember watching the 1999 World Championship Road Race in Verona, Italy with friends on a television in my apartment in Leuven, Belgium. When a young, unknown Spaniard surprised a select group of favorites including Francesco Casagrande, Frank Vandenbroucke, and Jan Ullrich, we all felt a bit ripped-off. But after 2 more World Titles, 7 Vuelta stage wins, 4 Tour stage wins, 1 Ghent-Wevelgem, and now 3 Milan-San Remo’s I think it’s time for me to officially apologize to Oscar Freire for years of underrating him. With the changes to this year’s Belgian calendar, Freire has a terrific opportunity to take yet another win in Sunday’s Ghent-Wevelgem—especially since many of his main rivals might choose to take Saturday’s E3 Prijs more seriously. Congratulations, Oscar. I won’t overlook you again—at least for one more week.
2. Tom Boonen was satisfied with a respectable 2nd place in San Remo—even though Freire blew his doors off in the sprint. What impressed me most was Boonen’s positioning on the Cipressa and Poggio—he rode attentively and comfortably at the front of the peloton, consistently placed within the first 10 or so riders. Clearly his form for Flanders and Roubaix has arrived. Unfortunately, I wonder if he might find himself too heavily marked in Flanders to take a third win. On the other hand, it’s essentially every man for himself on the pavé of Paris-Roubaix—at this point only Pozzato, Hushovd, and Cancellara look to have the condition to ride with him there. Then again, those races are still 2 and 3 weeks away—maybe it’s too soon to speculate?
3. As for Pippo Pozzato, he seemed to ride as if he had read the “This will come down to a sprint” writing on the wall. Knowing he had relatively little chances against sprinters such as Freire, Boonen, Bennati, and Hushovd, he seemed content to treat the race’s finale as an opportunity to test his legs on the attack. To be honest, when he rolled-off the front in pursuit of Vincenzo Nibali with 2km to go, I thought he would take his second victory—too bad the rest had other things in mind. At Flanders though, they might find catching up to Pozzato an entirely different enterprise.
4. And speaking of Hushovd, he made the leading group, ultimately sprinting to a slid 6th-place finish. With Flanders and Roubaix still weeks away, Thor looks to have starting his crescendo at just the right time. Unfortunately, it was also announced that he won’t have the support of Heinrich Haussler; his knee injury seems to be worse than expected, keeping out of races until later this spring.
5. Philippe Gilbert’s attack on the Poggio and subsequent 9th place finish confirmed his candidacy for a win in Flanders—Roubaix’s not very suited to his strengths. While his attack had little effect on the race itself, it served noticed to everyone—including the Belgian press—that he’s not to be overlooked.
6. And finally, we must mention Fabian Cancellara, another rider who led a quiet build-up to Saturday’s race. Spartacus rode comfortably with the lead group, finishing the day in 17th place. Like Hushovd, he appears on-track for a solid cobbled campaign.
7. Moving away from the pre-race favorites, Quick Step’s Sylvain Chavanel looks to be peaking quite nicely. If Boonen finds himself too heavily marked, Chavanel could play Devolder’s role in Flanders, possibly getting the win we all know he deserves. Regardless, his condition means teams will have two Quick Step riders with which to contend; an advantage few teams are able to match.
8. BMC’s Marcus Burghardt was his team’s only rider to finish with the leaders. As he seems to be peaking a bit sooner than his teammates Ballan and Hincapie (both of whom came in with the second group, 1:40 behind), look for him to impress this Sunday in Ghent-Wevelgem, a race he won in 2007. The German has also recorded top-5 finishes in both Dwars door Vlaanderen and the E3 Prijs in the past—it’s a shame they weren’t invited to Dwars, but it still could be a good weekend for the squad.
9. As we expected, Colnago’s Sacha Modolo finishing 4th on Saturday, continuing his string of top results from Tirreno-Adriatico. I know it’s a bit early to talk transfers, but look for him to be snapped-up by a team with an aging sprinter before next season—Lampre and Katusha might be possibilities—especially if he manages to grab a stage win or two in this year’s Giro.
10. Liquigas rode a fantastic race for Daniele Bennati with Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger playing roles as prominent as we expected. Unfortunately, Bennati could manage no better than 5th. Clearly he’s a second-tier field sprinter, able to win only when better, faster competition is absent. Stick to Tirreno, DePanne, and the Vuelta, my friend. And by the way, give Liquigas the first “What Were They Thinking?” Award of 2010 for leaving Peter Sagan—a double stage-winner in Paris-Nice—at home.
11. Unfortunately, Tyler Farrar’s performance Saturday might put him in the same category as Bennati—although Bennati made it to the finish with the lead group. If Farrar’s team can’t position him well in a finale as straightforward as Milan-San Remo’s then what will they do in the cobbled classics, races with much more difficult profiles?
Two final thoughts from Saturday:
12. What the heck was Stefano Garzelli doing on the Poggio? Several sources claimed he attacked, but in my opinion he simply set a hard pace—but for whom?
13. Did you notice the prevalence of super-deep carbon fiber rear wheels? If this is indeed a new trend, I don’t get it. But I’m like that.
Time permitting, I’ve got a big week planned for Pavé. Here’s the schedule for the next several days:
Tuesday: Dwars Door Vlaanderen Preview
Wednesday: 5 Questions for the Cobbled Classics
Thursday: Dwars Door Vlaanderen Wrap-up/What We Learned
Friday: Weekend Preview(s) E3 and Criterium International
Saturday: Ghent-Wevelgem Preview
It’s an ambitious program, but I think I’m up for it—at least I hope so.
Thanks for reading! Share your comments below
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday Musette - Weekend Wrap-up, Great Videos, and Two Rides You Should Do
We’ve got a lot to get to today—let’s dive right in! First, a brief recap of the weekend’s events:
1. While I didn’t come right out and say he would win, give me some credit for indicating that Frantisek Rabon was someone to watch for. Yes, there were bigger names behind him, but at this point in the season, Rabon had to be considered a threat. Aside from Rabon, Bradley Wiggins seems to be building quite nicely for April and May. I’m eager to see how well he fares at Paris-Roubaix and the Giro. As for Lance, Bruyneel’s apparently decided that Radio Shack needs more racing, an uncharacteristic admission from a team usually known to have all its I’s dotted and T’s crossed.
2. In L’Eroica—I mean, the Montepaschi Strade Bianche—Astana’s successful start to the season continued with Maxim Iglinsky taking the win following an aggressive ride in the final 10km. Pippo Pozatto, a man who seems to be simmering just in time for Flanders and Roubaix finished 4th. Garmin’s Ryder Hesjedal was 5th on the white roads; L’Eroica’s quickly becoming for him what Roubaix is for George Hincapie.
3. And speaking of L’Eroica, many of us were dismayed at the lack of live coverage available. Clearly this race has yet to warrant the kind of large-scale publicity we all know it deserves. For a good video overview though, I’ve found 2 sources on YouTube—one in 5 parts, the other in 2 parts. Here’s a link to 1 of 5; and here’s a link to 1 of 2. Enjoy!
4. And finally, the weekend closed with an exciting 8km time trial to open Paris-Nice. For those in the know, Lars Boom’s win was anything but a surprise; if he can continues to ride this well he must considered a favorite for the overall. I’m particularly eager to see how he handles the hills later in the week, as I have a hunch he might turn-out to be better suited to the Ardennes than the cobbled classics.
While all of the favorites were grouped toward the top of the standings after yesterday, things got more interesting today when wind and crashes caused some problems at the end of the stage. Greg Henderson took the win while pre-race favorites such as Alberto Contador, Samuel Sanchez, and Levi Leipheimer lost time, as a small group (including Boom) slipped-away to finish 17 seconds ahead of the next group. While everyone’s still sitting relatively near the top, Boom’s a rider that cannot afford to be ignored—these lost seconds might prove tough to win back. There are still several hard stages left, but Boom looks to have the brains and the brawn necessary to win.
5. If like me, you sometimes have a hard time watching these races live (for training, work, or family reasons); I’ve found something you might find helpful: YouTube’s World Cycling Channel 2 seems to have videos of just about event soon after it’s happened. It’s not live, but it’s worth-it just the same—especially if you can only watch your races in small doses due to other commitments.
Did you miss the final stage in the Vuelta Murcia? WCC2 has it. Did you want to see the Prologue from Paris-Nice but had a ride in the morning and a family dinner in the evening? Don’t worry, it’s there. What about the GP Lillers? Oui, they have that too. Sorry you missed the 3-Days of West Flanders? Normally it’s there directly, as the Belgians say. Check it out!
6. If these videos are too long though, consider Cosmo’s “How the Race Was Won” series over at Cyclocosm. Cosmo gets all the highlights and commentary into one short, digestible segment—perfect for a coffee break or bus ride. Even better, he’s given me permission to embed them here at Pavé, further expanding the content we have to offer. Why not get started now—here’s Het Nieuwsblad:
7. I’m starting to worry a little bit about BMC. A team that’s so stacked really needs to have more of a presence at the front of spring races—especially since the squad’s chances become much longer at the end of April. Now they’ve been uninvited to Dwars door Vlaanderen, an important yet expendable semi-classic run the Wednesday before the E3 Prijs and Ghent-Wevelgem. I understand taking the “slow and steady” approach to building your form, but at some point we’ll need to know for certain whether Ballan, Hincapie, and Burghardt have what it takes to be protagonists this spring or not.
Good luck to Xacobeo, by the way. Have fun in Flanders.
8. It’s spring, and that means time for embrocation. One of the sport’s fastest growing trends is the homemade, all-natural embro market, with Mad Alchemy setting the bar for performance, price, and quality. At NAHBS, I had the pleasure of meeting both Mad Alchemy’s Peter Smith, as well as Brad Ford, the owner of Classic Cycling Essentials, a local guy and the new kid on the block in the embrocation market. Both were happy to donate some samples that I’m looking forward to trying soon. Stop-by both sites and sample their wares—Mad Alchemy has a wonderful chamois cream, while CCE makes Mustache Wax—for the hipster you love.
9. And if you’re in the Mid-Atlantic region and looking for a reason to buy some embrocation, consider these two rides: the Hell of Hunterdon and the Fool’s Classic. Both feature some of Buck’s County’s finest roads, and both offer few conflicts with other events—domestic and abroad. And if you attend, you might even get a free Pavé sticker. If that’s not reason enough of a reason to come then what is? Pre-registration for Hell ends on March 28th and for the Fool’s Classic on April 18th. Hope to see you there!
10. And last but not least, if you haven’t yet added Michael Barry’s blog, Le Métier, to your RSS reader you need to. He’s without a doubt the most talented English-speaking writer/rider on the professional scene, and offers a glimpse into the pro life that few can match. His “Classics” post is just a taste of what he has to offer. Photos too!
That’s it for today—come back tomorrow for a Tirreno-Adriatico Preview.
And as always, share your comments below.
1. While I didn’t come right out and say he would win, give me some credit for indicating that Frantisek Rabon was someone to watch for. Yes, there were bigger names behind him, but at this point in the season, Rabon had to be considered a threat. Aside from Rabon, Bradley Wiggins seems to be building quite nicely for April and May. I’m eager to see how well he fares at Paris-Roubaix and the Giro. As for Lance, Bruyneel’s apparently decided that Radio Shack needs more racing, an uncharacteristic admission from a team usually known to have all its I’s dotted and T’s crossed.
2. In L’Eroica—I mean, the Montepaschi Strade Bianche—Astana’s successful start to the season continued with Maxim Iglinsky taking the win following an aggressive ride in the final 10km. Pippo Pozatto, a man who seems to be simmering just in time for Flanders and Roubaix finished 4th. Garmin’s Ryder Hesjedal was 5th on the white roads; L’Eroica’s quickly becoming for him what Roubaix is for George Hincapie.
3. And speaking of L’Eroica, many of us were dismayed at the lack of live coverage available. Clearly this race has yet to warrant the kind of large-scale publicity we all know it deserves. For a good video overview though, I’ve found 2 sources on YouTube—one in 5 parts, the other in 2 parts. Here’s a link to 1 of 5; and here’s a link to 1 of 2. Enjoy!
4. And finally, the weekend closed with an exciting 8km time trial to open Paris-Nice. For those in the know, Lars Boom’s win was anything but a surprise; if he can continues to ride this well he must considered a favorite for the overall. I’m particularly eager to see how he handles the hills later in the week, as I have a hunch he might turn-out to be better suited to the Ardennes than the cobbled classics.
While all of the favorites were grouped toward the top of the standings after yesterday, things got more interesting today when wind and crashes caused some problems at the end of the stage. Greg Henderson took the win while pre-race favorites such as Alberto Contador, Samuel Sanchez, and Levi Leipheimer lost time, as a small group (including Boom) slipped-away to finish 17 seconds ahead of the next group. While everyone’s still sitting relatively near the top, Boom’s a rider that cannot afford to be ignored—these lost seconds might prove tough to win back. There are still several hard stages left, but Boom looks to have the brains and the brawn necessary to win.
5. If like me, you sometimes have a hard time watching these races live (for training, work, or family reasons); I’ve found something you might find helpful: YouTube’s World Cycling Channel 2 seems to have videos of just about event soon after it’s happened. It’s not live, but it’s worth-it just the same—especially if you can only watch your races in small doses due to other commitments.
Did you miss the final stage in the Vuelta Murcia? WCC2 has it. Did you want to see the Prologue from Paris-Nice but had a ride in the morning and a family dinner in the evening? Don’t worry, it’s there. What about the GP Lillers? Oui, they have that too. Sorry you missed the 3-Days of West Flanders? Normally it’s there directly, as the Belgians say. Check it out!
6. If these videos are too long though, consider Cosmo’s “How the Race Was Won” series over at Cyclocosm. Cosmo gets all the highlights and commentary into one short, digestible segment—perfect for a coffee break or bus ride. Even better, he’s given me permission to embed them here at Pavé, further expanding the content we have to offer. Why not get started now—here’s Het Nieuwsblad:
7. I’m starting to worry a little bit about BMC. A team that’s so stacked really needs to have more of a presence at the front of spring races—especially since the squad’s chances become much longer at the end of April. Now they’ve been uninvited to Dwars door Vlaanderen, an important yet expendable semi-classic run the Wednesday before the E3 Prijs and Ghent-Wevelgem. I understand taking the “slow and steady” approach to building your form, but at some point we’ll need to know for certain whether Ballan, Hincapie, and Burghardt have what it takes to be protagonists this spring or not.
Good luck to Xacobeo, by the way. Have fun in Flanders.
8. It’s spring, and that means time for embrocation. One of the sport’s fastest growing trends is the homemade, all-natural embro market, with Mad Alchemy setting the bar for performance, price, and quality. At NAHBS, I had the pleasure of meeting both Mad Alchemy’s Peter Smith, as well as Brad Ford, the owner of Classic Cycling Essentials, a local guy and the new kid on the block in the embrocation market. Both were happy to donate some samples that I’m looking forward to trying soon. Stop-by both sites and sample their wares—Mad Alchemy has a wonderful chamois cream, while CCE makes Mustache Wax—for the hipster you love.
9. And if you’re in the Mid-Atlantic region and looking for a reason to buy some embrocation, consider these two rides: the Hell of Hunterdon and the Fool’s Classic. Both feature some of Buck’s County’s finest roads, and both offer few conflicts with other events—domestic and abroad. And if you attend, you might even get a free Pavé sticker. If that’s not reason enough of a reason to come then what is? Pre-registration for Hell ends on March 28th and for the Fool’s Classic on April 18th. Hope to see you there!
10. And last but not least, if you haven’t yet added Michael Barry’s blog, Le Métier, to your RSS reader you need to. He’s without a doubt the most talented English-speaking writer/rider on the professional scene, and offers a glimpse into the pro life that few can match. His “Classics” post is just a taste of what he has to offer. Photos too!
That’s it for today—come back tomorrow for a Tirreno-Adriatico Preview.
And as always, share your comments below.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monday Musette - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Edition
Photo by Van Wichelen.
In hindsight, going to NAHBS on the weekend of Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne might have been a bad idea as it prevented me from providing you the most up-to-date commentary on the weekend’s action. That said, last week was probably to most popular and well-read week in Pavé’s 1-year history—for that, I thank you.
So even though many others have beaten me to the punch in providing coverage and analysis on the weekend’s events, I’ll still share what I noticed—after all, this is Pavé, right?
1. Nick Nuyens has to be wishing he either: a) rode for Quick Step; or b) was named Tom Boonen, as it might have earned him some neutral support inside the last 30 km of the race. While it can be understood why he had no team car—the gaps were too small between groups and the roads were too narrow—it’s hard to imagine why it took so long for even a motorcycle to arrive with a fresh wheel. Maybe they were taking a break for a pintje before the finish? Maybe they were all waiting with Boonen in case he triple-flatted? Regardless, it cost Nuyens a chance for the victory, and is certainly embarrassing for the organizers. No matter what happens, there has to be at least one moto at the front at all times.
Tire choice was key on a day when punctures ruled. Photo by Van Wichelen.
2. That said, it’s not Roubaix, but the section where Rabobank punctured is one where I might have thought—if I were Rabo’s DS—of planting a few wheels with team staff on foot just in case someone flatted at a time when support couldn’t be had from a car or moto—which is exactly what happened. Teams do it at strategic points in Flanders and Roubaix, why not here? It was clearly a section where the race was going to blow apart; I would have rolled the dice and had a wheel or two waiting after the Molenberg, the Taaienberg, and the cobbled Paddestraat and Lippenhovestraat.
While not the result he wanted, Boonen can feel good about his form. Photo by Van Wichelen.
3. And speaking of the Taaienberg, Tom Boonen’s attack there was breathtaking. I’m not sure how deep he went, but he rode away from everyone at a rate that has to strike at least a little bit of fear into the minds of his competitors. No one was able to follow his wheel, forcing Boonen to soft pedal while waiting for someone—anyone—to join him. One can only wonder what the outcome of the race would have been had he not flatted several kilometers later.
Chavanel and Quick Step are feeling the heat following a poor weekend. Photo by Van Wichelen.
4. Boonen’s Quick Step had a rough weekend, but never fear, its happened to them before. No doubt the Belgian press will criticize and speculate in the weeks to come, but this is clearly a team with its sights squarely set on the monuments still to come. Ask any Belgian if he would take the Omloop over Flanders or Roubaix and his answer would be an astonished, “Nee.”
5. As for Quick Step’s main rival, Omega Pharma-Lotto, the day went a bit better albeit with similar results. I’m not sure why, but most media outlets claim that Flecha was the first to initiate the attacks inside the final 20km—that wasn’t the case. Gilbert attacked first; Flecha countered and then accelerated once he realized Gilbert was riding at his limit, ultimately pulling away for the win. The wild card here was Jurgen Roelandts, who rode a fantastic race in service of Gilbert. His one mistake was perhaps hesitating a bit too long when Gilbert attacked. It was the safest decision, as he would not have wanted to make a move that might have harmed Gilbert’s chances for the win; but Guesdon and Curvers were hanging-on by a thread—Roelandts could have left them easily to join his teammate in the winning move. He tried to bridge once he realized the frailty of his companions, but it was too late to bridge before Flecha counter-attacked. I’m left wondering what would have happened had Roelandts immediately ridden-away with the other two—would Flecha have dropped him as well?
Roelandts can only ponder what might have been. Photo by Van Wichelen.
Regardless, at 24 Roelandts seems to have all the makings of a solid classics rider. He if can continue to progress over the next few weeks, he’ll prove a valuable asset to Gilbert and Hoste later in the spring, perhaps making the loss of Johan Vansummeren a bit less detrimental to Lotto’s chances for a win in Flanders or Roubaix.
6. As for Flecha, give him and Team Sky credit for a well-deserved victory. Sky rode a smart race, almost finishing 1-2 had Boassen Hagen not started his sprint a bit too soon. Flecha’s win was the first for a Spaniard and only the 10th time a non-Belgian has won the Omloop.
Another 2nd-place finish for Haussler. Photo by Van Wichelen.
7. And 2nd on the day? Yup, Heinrich Haussler. His knee clearly not bothering him, Haussler rode an aggressive race, ultimately missing the only move that mattered. His quest for a monument win will be one of the main stories throughout the next six weeks.
So close! Photo by Van Wichelen.
8. 3rd place on the day went to Garmin’s Tyler Farrar. Kudos to Farrar for hanging-in all day to take 2nd in the field sprint—another 10 meters and he might have nipped Haussler. If Farrar continues finds his top-end speed in Tirreno, he’ll have to be considered one of the favorites in Milan San Remo a little more than 10 days from now. Here’s hoping the rest of his team’s up to the challenge as well.
Devolder wasn't smiling after the race. Photo by Van Wichelen.
9. Finally, several top favorites were clearly content to treat patience as a virtue by taking a more reserved approach to the races this weekend. Several of the men we thought would play leading roles were more content with cameos including Pippo Pozzato, Stijn Devolder, and just about everyone on BMC—a team whose performance has me more than a little worried.
This was the last we saw of BMC. Photo by Van Wichelen.
All in all, it was an exciting weekend of racing that typified all that we love about springtime in Belgium. From here the action moves to France and Italy with Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico before kicking of the monuments with Milan-San Remo.
Share your comments with the rest of below—what stood-out to you from the first Belgian weekend of the year?
Thanks again and enjoy your week!
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