World Championships: Cancellara, Gerdemann out
by Jen See on Sep 21, 2008 4:38 PM EDT
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Current world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara has decided not to defend his title in Varese. So ends the week of will-he-or-won't-he speculation. Though the Swiss federation named him to the team, he postponed his final decision until the conclusion of the Tour of Poland. After a long season, Cancellara decided that Worlds was a race too far, and citing fatigue declined the invitation. In a press statement, Cancellara said he "lacked power." He began his season in February, and "after only a brief pause," Cance rode the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de France before turning to the "enormous task" of preparing for Beijing. "After the successes of Beijing, I can no longer motivate myself for new stress." The just-concluded Tour of Poland is Cancellara's last race of this season. Said Bjarne Riis over at CSC-Saxo Bank, "I respect Fabian's decision and I know he's being realistic in terms of his performance if he was to participate." Added Riis, "Now he needs a break... and I'm convinced we'll see a top-motivated at the Spring Classics next year." See you next February!
Meanwhile, in Germany, Linus Gerdemann has also decided not to ride Worlds. Gerdemann has suffered from a sore neck since the Tour of Germany. Despite work with a physical therapist, he has proven unable to shake the problem. Gerdemann told the press that he could not ride much more than two or three hours without pain. He still hopes to ride the Münsterland-Giro, which he considers his home race. Concluded Gerdemann: "Now I hope next year everything will be better, and I will be able to fulfill my plans!" After all of this season's bad luck, the German is due.
Last, but not least, Fränk Schleck is also considering a withdrawal from Worlds. He has not yet decided for certain, but the elder Schleck brother may not race in Varese. More on that soonest.
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The horror!
Worlds without Tony?! No freakin’ way! I was sure that he was doing his sandbagging effort… I just can’t get my head around the concept…
It surely doesn't
And come next season when Cance is in his Swiss top in the TT’s and someone else is in the rainbow stripes I’m sure I’ll do a double take and think that something about the picture is just plain wrong!
wait, he's met you before...
…. and, if i remember correctly, did steph just stand there and drool?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
lame excuse
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Not lame-the same happened to me!
I was in a room in Alpe d’Huez with Fabian, Jens! and Frank and could I say anything sensible, or in fact anything at all? No. I just stood and grinned like an idiot.
Ah... but you shared pics so the rest of us could join you in the drooling! :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Okay... I just reread what you wrote...
I was in a room in Alpe d’Huez with Fabian, Jens! and Frank
I can’t help but laugh at just how that could seem…. LOL! You’re pics were great and you truly looked excited, happy, and like a true fan. We are all just very jealous. Heck I think CrashDan would’ve been happy to have touched your shoulder that you shared with Jens! in that pic. Very cool.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Ha ha ha! It was actually a dining room. Shame that.
My friend actually spoke to Andy Schleck outside his bedroom door but being well behaved she didn’t even THINK about trying to push her luck!
Now those are tidbits that make the pics and smiles all the better!
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
You must encourage her...
We can always use some more fan girl fun here. :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
More help on hotitude threads!
Bring her on over! :-)
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Can you drop me an email?
Fun times to be had I thinks….
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Heh
1. The guy in #1 shows up in #6. Do the math.
2. Underwater fairies are notoriously hard to film.
3. The one with the nuclear sub has to be real.
"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."
by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 22, 2008 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I watched the second installment of the BBC's Tess of the D'Urbervilles last night
and it suddenly struck me how much the guy playing Angel Clare looked like Linus:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tess/characters-and-cast/angel-clare.shtml
Not an exact spitting image I’ll grant you but on the screen it was quite freaky, with the mannerisms and all!
Cance out of power.
What is the sound of one clean racer clapping?
"I won! I won! I don't have to go to school anymore." -- Eddy Merckx, after winning his first bike race
Don't say things like that!
What will be will be, but in terms of rumours I’ve always felt the French have it in for anyone on CSC due to Riis’ past etc so they like to spread rumours about them anyway.
I just hope none of them are true in this case (not least because it doesn’t say anything good about the testing as Cance has got to be one of the most tested athletes out there due to the whole CSC program, the Swiss program etc etc)
It’s bad enough when riders you don’t follow turn up as positive, but if it were to happen to one you are a fan of…well that could be the thing to destroy any love I have for the sport (goes off all depressed now)
nah, don't be depressed
i tend to think the rumors are because of the heavy testing – and the well-publicized heavy testing, after all, the press chose to focus on CSC, but it’s possible and even probable that other teams were also heavily tested. hard to say for sure with these things, but i suspect the positives will likely come from people we’ve been expecting all along, though there’s always the possibility of a surprise.
i think it perfectly reasonable that cance is too tired for worlds, there’s no need to look further than that.
still puzzled about the US team
as I wrote elsewhere, interesting to see the following on the official UCI listing of who’s “registered” (not really a startlist, more the long lists that many countries announced before paring it down to the actual team):
1) that apparently the alternates would be Danny Pate and Brent Bookwalter, and yet there are supposedly only 5 riders for the RR even though the US is entitled to 6 – I’m wondering how many others turned down the Worlds opportunity besides those already mentioned in media reports
2) that hopefully UCI’s “registered” list that doesn’t include Lucas Euser isn’t really a big deal, seeing that USA Cycling has Euser as riding in the RR.
I bet Euser isn't on that list cause...
He’s racing U-23 isn’t he? That link pulls up the Elite start list
by Christopher See on Sep 22, 2008 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Joaquin Rodriguez questionable for Worlds
Todays Cyclingnews.com has Rodriguez as questionable for Worlds with injuries from Sundays Vuelta crash finish. Lastras or Rubiera tapped as possible replacements.
by Christopher See on Sep 22, 2008 12:38 AM EDT reply actions
In news that wll surprise no-one
especially as I was surprised to see him on the provisional list to start with…
As well as announcing Cance wouldn’t be going, Swiss Cycling have also announced that Michael Albasini also won’t be going to Varese. Apparently his legs are fine, but he’s still having problems with his shoulder (having broken his collarbone in a training accident in Beijing). In the statement he said he didn’t want to take a place on the team from someone who is in better shape.
Swiss Men’s Elite TT riders down to just the two: Rubens Bertogliati and Thomas Frei
Road Race places for Cance and Albasini to be taken by: Andreas Dietziker and Thomas Frei
http://www.swiss-cycling.ch/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=676&Itemid=67
maybe it's just me, but why does riis's opinion matter in this situation?
cance would have been representing switzerland, not csc-saxo bank
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
When you have a rider of Tony's type
the worlds TT is one of the races you build the season around. Even if he’s not riding in CSC colours it’s obviously a big thing for the team that he performs well there.
Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets
and for the next season
to have a world champion is nice pr for the sponsors and extra attention for the team whenever the world champ guy rolls out in the rainbow.
simply I assume that the press person called him (or emailed him probably) to get a quote for the PR
or actually, probably emailed the CSC PR guy who emailed back a quote from Riis
Maybe I'm the only one (ok, Zoe too)
but I’m psyched that Levi has an excellent chance at Gold based on his current form. I’ll be pulling for him big time.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
Not the only one.
Levi is on form and will have cheers here from me for sure.
I’m not a huge fan but I still like him and I hope he kicks some butt after playing 2nd all year.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Love you avatar Bruce
I would buy that jersey in a heartbeat if it were available.
"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."
all youse countries are the same tho....
yellow cross on blue for sweden
white cross on red for denmark
red cross on blue fof iceland
blue cross on red for norway
…..
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
of course, it does come in handy when i have to toggle btwn languages on websites for work
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
oooh, slam .... NOT
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
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