Bobby J's piece on ESPN today

by NE Observer on Jul 26, 2008 11:39 PM EDT

Bobby writes about the time trial and Carlos and says he is humbled, but I can't quite make out why. That he got Carlos wrong and in fact the laid back non-leader prove-it-with-your-legs leadership worked? That he is at home and not with the team and thus reduced to fan status?

I always enjoy Bobby's posts, but for this Tour I've been struck by the fact that he didn't pick up more on the incredible work done by his friend Jens! Maybe infra dig? Too much like boasting?

I'm also curious about what he's referring to in this quote:

"I''ve always respected Carlos, but now, I have a newfound admiration for him. I honestly think he's had a hard time dealing with the controversies over the past few years at the Tour, where positive tests have popped up and contributed to keeping Carlos off the podium."

What positive tests have kept Carlos off podiums? Seems to me that they've put him ON podiums (2006 Tour) or moved him up a step (Heras Vuelta, forget the year) Anybody have an idea?

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I'm not sure on that quote

but I too was bummed a little he didn’t write more on Jens! and the butt whoopin’ he did. I was hoping on the day Jens! and Tony killed it on the front that he would’ve been excited but he seemed numb almost. These are your teammates and of your great friends – boast away!!!

I thought maybe he was trying to be more neutral being on ESPN but as a fan of his and CSC, I wish he would’ve bragged more about them.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 26, 2008 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

The doping kept Sastre off the podium at the race where it matters most

Sastre was awarded the placing months (year?) after the race was done and never got the right to actually be on the podium, in front of fans. family, media and teammates when it counted. Just not the same to get a notice in the mail months later.

The story today was not about Jens but about Sastre and how he worked all year to achieve his goal. The fact that he didn’t mention Jens or some of the others that also worked their butts off (remember that we don’t see a lot of the stages) is no slight on them by any means. Just probably that he expected it so wasn’t surprised by it.

By humbled, I think he means that Julich thought he knew the way to train and win and now he has to relook at how he approaches racing, that Sastre showed him another way to win and that was humbling to him. And he also had to rethink what he knew about Sastre, Pretty humbling to think to admit that maybe he was wrong, and that’s what he wrote about.

by lyne on Jul 27, 2008 1:23 AM EDT reply actions

si

Sastre won the stage to Morzine, but has never really got much credit for it. That’s too bad, especially for a rider like him who is always consistently at the front, but rarely finds the big wins.

by Jen See on Jul 27, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I also took the quote

to mean that he would have actually been on the podium at more races if others hadn’t been doping, but just to be safe he only specified races where an actual test later proved the doping.

Poor Bobby, I’m sure he’d love to have been riding into Paris with the team.

by Katiek on Jul 27, 2008 7:43 AM EDT reply actions

another question

Hi.
I know this has nothing to do with your post, but you wrote in feb. 2007 that you have seen a picture of Jan Ullrichs brother, Thomas. Where did you see it? :-)

by Guggi on Aug 17, 2008 7:33 AM EDT reply actions