Tour Squad

The Tour de Georgia has been canceled for 2009. I’m kind of bummed about that. I knew that they were having a hard time getting sponsors for the race, and they haven’t even paid some of the bills for previous races, but I was hoping it would be a race that would endure for years to come. Having Lance Armstrong come back out of retirement and not target Georgia a one of his races had to have been the last straw.

The organizers say that they will regroup and try to get it back on the UCI calendar in 2010. Perhaps if the economy turns around this will be possible. But I for one believe we have probably seen the last of this cycling race. I sure as hell hope not, but when things like this get canceled it usually stays canceled. Particularly given that the sport isn’t exactly much more than a novelty to the folks in Georgia.

I enjoyed going to see the cycling race. I’d go to the mountain stage by Fort Mountain and watch them grind up that highway. I have some good memories of standing in the cold watching guys like Floyd and Lance battle it out on the road.

The Tour de Georgia will be missed. The cyclists enjoyed it. They always comented about how well organized it was. It does no good for cycling fans to have events like the Tour de Georgia cancelled. Here’s hoping we haven’t seen the last of this fine race.

There is truly some stupid shit swirling around cycling these days. First it was Lance Armstrong coming out of retirement. Of course the shock waves that coursed through Team Astana is not yet complete. Levi Leipheimer seems to be taking it in stride. Alberto Contador is probably looking for the exit. Not to be outdone we hear that Alexandre Vinokourov wants to come out of retirement. Remember the jackass quit without fully realizing his impending suspension after testing positive at the Tour a couple years back. Oh, and where does he want to go? Yea, back to Team Astana. Getting a bit crowded in there I believe. Anyway, I doubt the UCI will let that fly. They’ll reopen the doping case. And if Astana aspires to go to the Tour de France it might want to consider the ramifications of employing both Armstrong and Vinokourov. Armstrong continues his war of words with the newly crowned head asshole at ASO, Jean-Etienne Amaury. Apparently the seven time winner has “embarrased” the Tour. Nothing gets the Texan more motivated than someone pissing him off and giving him something to prove.

Not to be outdone it appears that famed Mexican 1980’s rider, Raul Alcala is ready to come back to the peloton. He wants a shot at racing the Tour next year too. Really? He’s 44. Next thing you know you’ll hear that Greg Lemond is making a comeback and training with Big Mig.

And then there’s Erik Zabel, who just can’t quite leave the peloton. He was supposed to be done but he’s put off retiring until the beginning of 2009. There’s just a few more races he needs to finish second in before he’s done, you see.

And a post about cycling is just not complete without mentioning the latest dickhead trying to dope and get away with it. Apparently the science is catching up with these jokers. The latest who have been busted are Leonardo Piepoli and Stefan Schumacher based on new results from their blood samples taken during the 2008 Tour. If you are a pro cyclist and are continuing to dope, you are plain stupid. You are destroying the sport. You are fucking around with the livelihood of hundreds of guys who are trying to make a living in this sport, not to mention the support staff. You should be sued and your teammates should take you out back and beat you to within an inch of your life. I doubt anybody would help you.

That’s all for now. Apparently the Tour is readying more doping results from this year’s Tour so when they get released I’ll make sure to mention the morons who continue to put this great sport in jeopardy.

Well according to sources, Armstrong is set to rejoin Johan Bruyneel at Team Astana. They are going to sacrifice the future of cycling with Alberto Contador for a one last fling from yesterday’s star. It’s crap. It sucks. Contador is not going to take a backseat to Armstrong. He has 3 major tour wins. How many did Armstrong have at age 25? None. Contador is a captain that anyone in the peleton will be thrilled to have. And I’m sure they will get their shot because if Armstrong signs I wouldn’t be the least surprised to see AC pack up and split.

And do you think Levi Leipheimer wants to take a backseat to Armstrong at the California and, assuming it happens, Georgia tours? Not likely.

Well if nothing else it gives us something to write about for awhile. Never thought I’d be rooting against a fellow American but dammit the guy already quit. He stupidly quit at his prime. He’s upsetting the applecart, as it were. Granted it will be interesting to see if he can come back and win, but frankly I’m over Armstrong. It’s time for new heroes like Contador. sigh

Stay away Armstrong. I bet that’s what Johan Bruyneel, Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer are thinking after the Vuelta. Seriously, Astana does not need Armstrong. Contador has proven that he is the best stage rider in the peleton. If Armstrong wants to make his big comeback then he needs to build his own team. As far as I’m concerned he gave up his spot when he stupidly retired at his prime.

Can you imagine what Leipheimer and Contador will think if Armstrong joins Astana? They are professional. They enjoy cycling so they will say having Armstrong back in the saddle is good for the sport. They will publicly talk about how great it is he is racing again. How they will be a stronger with him on the team. Privately they will be thinking how it sucks. The great Armstrong experiment will be all anyone talks about. I hope he does not join Astana. I like the team as it is and frankly I would love to see Armstrong have to race against Leipheimer and Contador, not have the two support his efforts at winning number eight. Stay away Armstrong.

Yep. The Texan is back. Why? Okay when he retired we all knew it was too soon. The dude was squarely in his prime. He walked away the greatest Tour de France rider ever. Now he comes back to raise awareness for cancer. Sure he is.

Cancer sucks and his foundation is very important. But I don’t think for a minute he is doing it solely for cancer awareness. No effing way. Supposedly when he quit the peleton he was doing so in part because he wanted to work more with his foundation. Wouldn’t he be more helpful working at his foundation rather than training for a race?

I think it sucks for Levi and Alberto, assuming he goes to Astana. I think he risks botching his legacy for his little thrill ride. Why can’t these guys stay retired? I think it sucks he’s coming back. It’s sad he can’t find something else to do with himself.

Sources close to the situation are saying that Lance Armstrong is expected to come out of retirement and race next year. Apparently the man wants to race the Tour de Georgia, Tour of California, Paris-Nice, Dauphine-Libere and the Tour de France. He will kit up with Astana.

Are you kidding me? I bet Levi and Alberto are thrilled with the news. We all knew the guy retired too soon. That his need to compete would get the best olf him. But we sort of hoped that running would be his outlet. Maybe go back to Triathalons. He raced the Leadville 100 so I assumed if anything he might give mountain biking a go. But to return to the peloton? At age 37?

Of course it’s all rumor. I kind of doubt it’s true. Rumors also swirl around that he wants to race mountain bikes and try his hand at cyclocross. I have to wonder if this is Lance’s idea of “punking” the cycling media.

I hope he doesn’t return. I like Team Astana with Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer as leaders. They can win all the major tours without Lance. What the dude doesn’t get enough attention now? I thought he was concentrating on curing cancer. You asked to be relieved of your peloton duties 3 years ago Lance. Find something else to occupy your time with.

I rode my first 29er today. And I can’t wait to own one. Owen Cyclery in Chattanooga sponsored a Trek/Fisher bike demo at Raccoon Mountain today. I am in the market for a new mountain bike and decided to drive down and check out what was available to ride. I’ve never been to a real bike demo and was pleasantly surprised to find that they come to the trail with only the top of the line gear. They explained that it was a chance for the average Joe to try out bikes that may never be available to ride in the stores. Man was I glad I went.

OK, so I walked up and said I’d like to ride a mountain bike. I was interested in a dual-suspension rig as that seems to be what I needed to upgrade to. I had test rode a Fisher HiFi Pro at a local bike race in the spring and thought that was were I leaning. Anyway, the guy said OK let’s try you out on a Superfly hardtail 29er. I kinda scrunched up my nose but decided I should give it a try. It was the top of the line carbon fiber model. The Trek guy adjusted the post for my height, and then asked my weight to adjust the tire pressure and shocks. These guys were serious about you getting the best ride.

So I hop on the Fisher Superfly and immediately noticed how fast it seemed just as it rolled along the asphalt. Then I hit the trail and was loving the feel on a flat portion. This was a sweet riding bike. It handled great. I’m 6′, 155 pounds, and it felt really comfortable. I hit my first downhill and was immediately hitting the brakes. It wasn’t handling like I had hoped. I figured it was just the tires and me not being used to the bigger wheels. So I roll up to a pretty nice uphill with plenty of roots and rocks to maneuver over. I begin my limb and was just taken a back by how…easy…the climb was. It was not a simple uphill but the bike just rolled over the obstacles like they were nothing. I rode back down and did it again. I freakin’ loved the way this thing climbed!

So I ride the Superfly 29er back to the Trek trailer and told them how much I enjoyed the climbing ability of the bike. I told them I was ready to try out a dual suspension trail bike. They hooked me up with, I believe, a Fuel EX 9.9. It was a beauty. I rolled out to the trail and was immediately noticing how much I was already missing the big wheels of the 29er on the asphalt. No big deal I thought as I would be trail riding the rig that I ultimately buy 99% of the time.

I hit the trail and was enjoying the feel of the flat. I had the rear shock adjustment totally on and was enjoying the way the suspension was feeling over the rocks and roots. Then I came to a downhill. It was amazing. I’d never handled a downhill as good as what this bike was allowing me. It was phenomenal. Like there wasn’t a root or rock in the way. It handled the turns and twists of the trail with ease. I was loving this…until I hit the bottom and began my climb out. Now remember, I had the rear shock switch on. I started the climb and felt like I was ascending in mud. I had much more difficulty riding over the same terrain that was such an ease on the 29er. I get to the top way more tired on this bike. So I turned it around, enjoyed the downhill again, and got ready for another ride back up the hill, but this time with the rear shock off. The switch allowed for very little movement in the rear. So I started the climb and was happy that it felt at least as good but not quite as good as climbing with my own hard tail. Meaning, I can definitely climb better with a hardtail than with the most expensive dual-suspension trail bike. As I rode back to the Trek trailer I wondered if a dual-suspension bike and climbing was something I could get used to or if I was to enjoy climbing I would have to continue to ride a hardtail. I wondered that if I couldn’t fully enjoy a $7,000 dual suspension bike, would I really enjoy one for less than $3,000?

I get back to the Trek trailer and they say now I have to ride the Gary Fisher HiFi Pro 29er. I was game but honestly a bit disappointed in the dual suspension bike I rode as I never expected to love riding that big 29er hardtail. And I didn’t think that a 29er dual-suspension bike would be much different than the Fuel EX.

They dial in my measurements and I hit the pavement leading to the trail. There it was. That fun feeling I had on the hardtail. It felt great being on a 29er. I loved it. I hadn’t had this much fun riding a bike in 15 years. I hit the trail and it was the same really as riding the 29er hardtail but with a little more give obviously due to the shock. The shock on the 29er was an inch less than the Fuel EX but because of the big wheels it didn’t feel that way. Anyway, the test was the downhill. I hit that section and was overjoyed to note that it felt comfortable and I felt like I had more control over this dual-suspension than the Superfly. So far so good. I hit the first climb hoping for good sensations. It climbed like a dream! Almost, not entirely as, but almost the same lack of effort feeling as the Superfly. I climbed to the top and turned it back around to go back downhill. How I was loving this. I get to the bottom, turn around, then flip the switch to turn off the shock. I begin my climb. It felt almost as good as climbing with the Superfly. This was going to be my bike.

I never expected to want a 29er. The Fisher HiFi Pro 29er changed my mind. Hell, the Superfly changed my mind. With the HiFi Pro 29er I got the best of both worlds. I was surprised at how much difference climbing a steep hill was with Trek EX. I didn’t enjoy it even as much as my own hardtail. Sure it was fantastic downhill but I didn’t enjoy the climbing. The 29er is a different story. The big wheels just eat up so much more trail. I cannot wait to save up enough to buy this bike. I’d like to get the top of the line with XT components but it may be just out of reach. Luckily the whole line uses the same frame. Obviously to allow for cheaper bikes they skimp on parts as you go down the line.

I don’t know a lot about technical reviews of a bike. You know, the kind you read in the magazines. All I know is the HiFi Pro 29er is the best feeling trail bike I have ever ridden. And I will be getting one.

With only the parade into Paris, it appears that Carlos Sastre has locked up his first ever yellow jersey. Good for him. He rode a brilliant time trial, and Cadel Evans, the man who was chasing him for yellow, did not ride a good enough time trial to over take Carlos. It’s too bad too because I was rooting for Cadel to win. But he lost too much time up the slopes of L’Alpe d’Huez to Sastre to make up today.

Cadel has always had his critics that say he never attacks in the mountains. The guy is very consistent but he never initiates anything. Well he proved that to be the case again as all he could through the whole of the mountains was stay with his competitors. That conservation lost him the yellow jersey. This was probably his best and last great shot as he isn’t getting any younger, has proved he’s not a great mountain climber and has to deal with Alberto Contador, probably the best stage rider today, in next year’s Tour.

It was a great Tour this year. They seem to be getting a handle on the doping. We saw an American revelation in Christian Vande Velde. He’ll finish the Tour in 5th place. No one saw that result coming. Team Columbia won five stages and held the yellow jersey, white jersey and green jersey at various times in the Tour. They controlled the race in the first 10 days as much as CSC controlled the race in the last 10.

There has been some reports that Cadel is pretty pissed off at his lack of support in the mountains. I would have to agree. His team sucked. I was very disappointed in the ride of Popovych. He should have performed much better. The off-season will hopefully see the team get Cadel some more help.

Another year passes and another Tour has been ridden. I always miss coming home from work and watching the days stage. Checking the results. Checking out the peloton stories. I love the race as it’s presented by Versus. It’s a great event.

Nice win by Carlos Sastre. Team CSC once again decimated the field on the road up to L’Alpe d’Huez. Carlos Sastre came up with the goods big time, riding away from the field and putting a minute and a half on his rivals.

The big question is will it be enough? The time trial on Saturday should be the deciding factor. Evans beat Sastre by 1:16 in the 29 km time trial on stage four. Stage 20 is a 53 km time trial. You could suggest that on a typical day Evans would take out more than four minutes on Sastre on a time trial of this length. But Sastre has the yellow jersey. I bet he is going to make it quite close. Do I think Sastre will remain in yellow? Doubtful. I think Evans, barring catastrophe should pull it out. He’ll probably put 2 minutes seconds on Sastre to win the yellow jersey.

I must say I was disappointed in yet another boring performance by Evans in the mountains. He still did no attacks. He sat on all the way through the Pyrenees and Alps. At least Sastre attacked. I give him credit for that. Anyway, Saturday will be fun. Evans better plan on having a disaster free, ride of his life. He risked it all for a great ride in the final time trial.

Columnist for Yahoo! Sports Roy S. Johnson wrote an article last Friday titled “Tour de France Needs a Hiatus“, where he suggests that the Tour stop for a few years while they weed out the dopers. I wonder if he would suggest baseball or football cease operations for a few years? No, I don’t think so.

Seems that cycling continues to be the whipping boy for performance enhancing drugs (in America) yet I don’t read about anybody getting serious about curtailing the use in other American sports. I don’t hear Peyton Manning complaining about random drug tests when he is on vacation. The point is the testing just isn’t as rigorous.

And that IS the point. Cycling tests it’s athletes more than any other sport, and they catch the cheaters. Seems that is a good thing. It seems like a good idea to catch them on the biggest cycling stage in the world as well to further humiliate the rider. At some point you have to figure peer pressure not to dope will be enormous. No one in the peleton wants to lose their job over some dick who wants to cheat.

Plus the Tour probably employs thousands of people directly and indirectly. Teams might quit for a few years if there was no Tour. Think of the riders and support staff that might not have work. And what exactly is the point of stopping the peloton just at the Tour? Why not stop racing the Vuelta or the Classics or the Tour Down Under or The Tour de Georgia?

Those who actually follow cycling understand that things are getting better. The cheaters are getting caught. There is no tolerance for it and the cheat is forced out of the peloton. This is a good thing. The organizers need to keep doing what they are doing. This year’s Tour de France is one of the best editions ever. There is no reason to stop what they are doing. YThe message is slowly but very suredly getting through.