Trainer Wisdom

by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 4, 2008 12:15 AM EST in News

You can learn a lot watching old cycling videos on the trainer. Today's lesson: professional cycling, the Danilo DiLuca way.

Stage 3 of the 2005 Giro d'Italia took the peloton up its first undulating course, in the hills of Calabria, with an uphill drag to the line that is sure to please the classics climbers. Sure enough, DiLuca's Liquigas outfit puts him on the front with 1km to go, but Paolo Bettini is glued to his wheel. His teammates have melted away, so it's left to DiLuca to finish on his own. Being a professional, he has zero interest in towing Bettini up to a win, but instead of giving up, DiLuca seizes his chance. Bettini is coming around on the right left just as they hit a sweeping right hand turn. DiLuca, ahead by half a bike, conveniently decides to use the entire road, easing ever so gently to the left until he's at the barriers. Never so much as grazes Bettini, but Bettini refused to come around when he should have, and now it's checkmate. Frickin brilliant.

I know I should be more pious about guys with DiLuca's doping problems, but I just can't. There is nobody I enjoy watching more than il Killer di Spoltore.

Update? Oh, and I just watched the next stage, where Bettini puts Baden Cooke into the barriers. What would a how-to lesson be without a how-not-to?

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Sometimes it's Awe, not wisdom

Love me some Killer, but I just watched the ‘92 MSR where Kelly drops the chasers down the Poggio to catch Argentin and then out-sprints him. Even Phil ws surprised. Argentin gives it half a go but knows he’s beat and then just looks around in hopes that he’s got second with the group closing fast. Funny to see Sean makin his Vitus do things it was never, never designed to do… (was my first pro-bike after saving for a year 1st Gen DA no less) Also great to see them all reaching down to shift… Campy aero levers were as cool as they came at the time! Thank the lord I haven’t tossed out the vcr just yet!

btw, my 10 (15?) year old Minoura Mag trainer has seen its best days. Sonofa… now I gotta spend more $$ to hang out in my basement? Where’s the justice? the love?

Kids like Kix for what Kix has got, Moms love Kix for what Kix has not.

by snakeboat on Dec 4, 2008 1:09 AM EST reply actions

2005 Giro Fav!

I’m glad you are getting to see one of the top Grand Tours ever in my book. It was cool from start to finish. Even “throw away” stages are neat like the one where Le Mevel picks the right point and leaves the rest of the breakaway in the dust. Or the stage where Petacchi’s boys overshoot the corner. I have the same DVD’s I guess and it is the only cycling ones I’ve ripped to disk to watch on the road.

That race and some of his classics the year he won the overall Pro Tour Jersey have always made me a DiLuca fan. He is one of the few racers whose failures are as interesting as his successes. The 2008 Giro for me was about him trying, and failing and losing more than Contador winning.

by Markk on Dec 4, 2008 2:05 AM EST reply actions

I've only just got an indoor trainer but am already seeing the fun of this.

I pedalled away while watching this year’s Paris Roubaix on Tuesday and it makes for great interval training: put the hammer down when the hit the cobbles, ease off a little on the proper road and then every time Phil or Paul says ‘Big George Hincapie’……sprint!

by Albertina on Dec 4, 2008 7:31 AM EST reply actions

I always liked...

the fact that he races without a radio!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on Dec 4, 2008 7:47 AM EST reply actions

Why don't you want to leave a gap next to the barriers?

Watch Stage 10 of the 2007 TdF.

Cedric Vasseur punks his breakaway mates in the final few meters. IIRC, he’s sitting on the back of the break while Jens! & Halgand are duking it out. They cease and desist for just a second, a little gap on the right opens up and Vasseur shoots through it. He was calm and attentive; not wasteful in the final few K’s when Voigt & Halgand were getting antsy. Total veteran, head’s up maneuver for the win against a decent breakaway.

That was a move to be learned from.

by swells on Dec 4, 2008 7:48 AM EST reply actions

Video?

There’s a real art to closing the door on someone. Obviously if you don’t do it right, you’re looking at relegation. And if you don’t do it at all, you’re likely to get punked at the post. So I am always impressed to see it done artfully.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 4, 2008 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

Another move (or "non-move") I admire...

is the “don’t turn around to see the field bearing down on me whilst I make my breakaway mate sweat it out” in the last few meters maneuver.
Stage 13 or 14 of 2006 TdF, Pierrick Fedrigo was in a 2-up break with Salvatore Commesso coming into Gap. The pair are up against the left hand barriers and Fedrigo is sitting on Commesso, calmly NOT coming around. Commesso is nervously turning around looking at Fedrigo AND at the rest of the field charging from behind them both. Pierrick NEVER looked back, he was completely focused on Toto’s every move. When he jumped at 200m Commesso was spent from the leadout but I think he also was wasted from nervousness.
I thought, for sure, the seasoned veteran would find a way to win, but I became a Fedrigo fan that day. That move reminded me alot of Jalabert.
That’s how you play it right…as opposed to the Horner-Chavanel episode.

Video? Sorry, Chris…I’m straining my brain on memory.

by swells on Dec 4, 2008 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

The 2005 Giro was awesome.

I worked at a bike shop in 2005. My boss would record the RAI coverage at the crack of dawn, then bring in the DVD to put on a widescreen TV all day. That was a very climactic Tour, one of the best I’ve ever seen. Watching races in other languages (Italian or Dutch) is great because you don’t get the commentary until they say a rider’s name. Seeing that Giro everyday is probably what hooked me on road cycling. I feel I was very lucky to see that.

by brunopitton on Dec 4, 2008 12:02 PM EST reply actions

'05 Giro

I have very fond memories of the RAI stream calling DiLuca’s cramp on the Sestrieres climb. Meanwhile, the WCP video with Phil & Paul has them wondering if DiLuca is ahead or behind. Not good.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 4, 2008 12:53 PM EST up reply actions