The Hard Men of the Peloton
by Seahorse on Oct 26, 2009 5:46 AM EDT
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They don’t make it to the Hotitude threads, they’re not the subject of debate when we talk about Grand Tours, but they’re there every day ‘driving the peloton’, ‘hammering out the rhythm’… choose your favourite cliché.
Whilst Bert and Andy remain almost hidden from sight behind the big boys, wrapped in metaphorical cotton wool waiting for their moment, the old stagers call the shots, rarely seeking personal glory and apparently happy working for the greater good: the yellow jersey, pink jersey, ochre… Pick a colour.
We’ve waited, perhaps not long enough, to find out who will be at Sky and The Shack and whilst we know who the GC contenders should be, we worry more about a roll call of the workers: the men who turn up every day without the expectation of anything but reflected glory.
Ironically, their moments sometimes come – the maillot jaune for a day, a stage win, a blessing from the man in spotlight. And we celebrate for these hard and self effacing men, and weep almost in frustration when their moments of glory are denied. Garmin and Astana seemed like rapacious hordes when they ‘denied’ Hincapie his win in July.
Anyway, who are your ‘hard men’? I suspect they vary according to team allegiances. I of course can’t go past Stuey, but I’m thinking Eisel, Hincapie, Rogers, Vansummeren (that spelling now looks correct thanks Majope), Jens! will all be named by someone, but what about Rast and Dessel, Popovych and … well you fill in the blanks. Who do you think is a wingman with few peers?
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I didn't say, but Stuey is my vote ;)
Of course that doesn’t mean there aren’t others ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I thought you did say Stuey, and good choice however biased.
And btw, you’re wrong to include Astana with Garmin the day GH was denied.
No horn, watch for finger.
Wrong about Astana
They were trying to work it so Lance wasn’t going to be too far out. They screwed up and the race went on and George waited for someone to carry him to the line, he needed to be his own workhorse if he wanted the “yellow johnny”.
Formerly known in some circles as flying dog.
Thanks guys... and oops :(
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
It didn't matter what George did at that point.
They would have worked off of what ever size gap he created or helped create. To look at it in hindsight and say George should have gone 15 seconds faster is ludicrous.
No horn, watch for finger.
Didn't help that Columbia were trying to have their cake & eat it that day though
with both George & Cav to think of.
It's ludicrous to imply that George was denied.
It just didn’t work out, Astana didn’t manage the race the way they wanted to. Astana had everything to gain if George was in yellow but Garmin weren’t giving Astana any gifts.
Formerly known in some circles as flying dog.
Michael Barry
Seemed to spend an immense amount of time on the front for Columbia at the TdF – can’t remember when he last had a moment of glory
Summie
Gets a great deal of quiet love from me.
Etched into my memory is the image of him attacking on the lower slopes of d’Alpe last year. Summoning up every lasy scrap of strength for Cadel, before detonating.
And he inspired one of Flatbagger’s classic comments, about Summie’s breakaway effort in this year’s Tour…“Not right…even he felt unconfortable there without 175 in tow”
I wish him the very best at Garmin. The news of his transfer was a pleasant surprise :-)
I realised when I was writing this that there were whole teams about which I knew little.
I’m hoping others fill in the blanks. Interestingly, and in contradiction of what I’ve implied about ‘hard men’, Gesink riding with his injuries in the Vuelta definitely earned my respect.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
By mid-April
you will know all…
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 26, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup. A favorite of mine, too.
Also, very impressively tall.
And, since you brought it up first, Seahorse…the correct spelling is Vansummeren (one word, two Ms).
Yes, huuuuge. And impressive.
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Thanks! I genuinely looked and knew something was wrong... and I was on a roll
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
If Hard man means not egocentric teamplayer I could nominate ome Dutchman.
1. Ten Dam. Have you seen the Giro. He did wonderfull.
2. Clement. That guy is though. Most of you have missed the Tour of Belgium but man.. What was he working his ass of for Boom’s win.
Fantastic definition: 'not egocentric teamplayer'
Great nominations. I’m sorry i don’t know enough to put up a poll.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I'm ashamed to say it's the cyclists.
I feel i would not be fair to the French or Spanish teams… and as you can see, I wasn’t great with the Dutch teams either :(
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
The Spanish teams!
And Stangelj of Liqui next year other team. Never have ridden a race for himself.
And you can go on and on and on for long..
Zeits Astana. Wonderfull Tour
Szmyd.. D’uuh
Docx. Has done a lot of work for Silence. Kasien and Jacobs also
Napolitano. He is a very good sprinter but works his ass of for lesser sprinters and so ruin his own chances
Some other riders worth noticing.. Would be plenty more!
btw.. Haven’t we done something like this before?
Of corse we've done things like this before
At the moment it seems to me we’re in a holding pattern… but we’re living in a postmodern world. nothing is new. But I’m annoyed that I missed Szymd :(
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
+1 for Sylvester Szmyd
He wasn’t on my radar until this year when he sat on the front and decimated the peloton for many kms. His first pro stage victory on Ventoux at the Dauphy was deserved even if it was accomplished in part with Valverde’s blessing.
by Spot of Bother on Oct 26, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
That would be one hell of a huge poll
…don’t you think?
I mean, I’m already contemplating a homage to Sevie (yeah I know he’s retired… but only slightly. Plus this photo amused me hugely… so all of *Lotto’s Belgian diesels look the same, do they CN? Sheesh!). And then I might move on from the Belgians… maybe…
There is that ;)
I could do ten in my head without even mentioning some teams, so i know it’s a vexed question. But had my knowledge been greater, i could have generated more debate…
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
+1
How many pros drive sleep in a campervan when they go off to do crits?! very entertaining.
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
He just seems to really enjoy what he's doing.
Met him briefly in Darlo; he was being very charming with a dad & his (very) little daughter who had decided it would be fun to try & pull his hair.
If you read his website
it sounds like he was raised a little differently. But, agree he seems to be a great guy. Love him on twitter too. Would love to see him race the Toc or ToM.
Christian Meier
The young Garmin rider aka “The dimunitive Canadian” (thanks Matt) was seen at the front of the peleton for many hours in a couple of tours this year. Not quite legend “Hard Man” status yet, but he seems have what it takes.
a couple?
The Vuelta, anyway. Yes, it was impressive & topped off (before he had to go home) with a day in the break, I think.
All Canadian riders are hard men
It goes with the territory. Harsh winters, low budgets, minimal training programs, negligible international presence – you gotta be hard and you have to really want it to get where Christian et al have gotten to.
I'm Cdn and I'm pretty soft myself ;)
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 26, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Seeing as Helsy is still offline and she has taught me to agree: Imanol Erviti!
Underappreciated, and under-noticed.
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
:)
I have taught you well. He and Garcia Acosta spent a LOT of time at the front in the Vuelta, only GA got the appreciation though
Venga Caisse d'Epargne!
Ah, not so totally offline ;-)
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Hey, how about some appreciation for the oft-invisible Haimar Zubeldia?
"As you can imagine, there are better places to have your birthday party than in some village called Mushny Mush Mishme." --The Wisdom of Jens
Oh gosh, how could I have forgotten him?! I love Zubes, though some people think he's the most boring rider alive.
He does in fact have a personality and he’s been an awesome helper all year, even if most people fail to notice he’s there. Phil and Paul constantly though he was someone else at the Tour…
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Zubie a super helper?
Have you forget he’s only 2 years ‘supporting’ other guys? Before he was the man for Euskaltel
I know, but his role has changed now, and he's doing it very very well.
(only one year actually)
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Depends on your definition of a hard man.
He was at the front in the mountains for mile after mile…surely having the strength to be a capable leader in your own right means you’re likely to be physically better at doing this, not worse?
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
i actually think that lends him grace
Like Kloden, Rogers and others he’s made the transition with commitment. Hats off I say!
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
+1
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
+2
"As you can imagine, there are better places to have your birthday party than in some village called Mushny Mush Mishme." --The Wisdom of Jens
lol.. He knew he would never going to make it..
afte numerous anonymous top 10 place in le Tour he would be in the winning team.. Well done but hats off?
Hard to go from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a big one
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Deserve what? This is not some award...we're just pointing out that he's good at his new job, not trying to say he's the best helper ever!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Exactly... nine times in TDF qualifies I think
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I don't see how you can disagree that he's doing a good job at Astana in this type of role...that's all I was saying!
But never mind….disagree if you want to!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Haha I will..
But he did a good job but I think he’s not a hard men as in:
but they’re there every day ‘driving the peloton’, ‘hammering out the rhythm’
Not in the classic Jens! type of way, but in the mountains he was a regular fixture up front and did his fair share of driving!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
That probably is true, never saw the Tour,
but he’s not an Eisel or Stangelj or Erviti who doing the hard work season after season. That’s why I am ‘cynical’. Or well// I’m always cycnical
He hasn't had season after season as you point out...he was a leader last year.
We’ve only got one season to go on and he passed the test very well. Maybe in a couple of years we will be able to judge his staying power…
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Fair enough...
I think we’re both right…he’s been a noteworthy hard helper this season….but we’ll wait to see what posterity bestows on him
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Alright, change: how about Robbie McEwen?
He’s a mongrel. Protected at times, but willing to go it alone… And Haimar has participated nine times in the TDF. He has staying power ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
You have tried to move the goalposts...
This is about hard men, not necessarily helpers, although Ole robbie did a good job with Cuddles in 2008.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
If we accept your 'not egocentric' then I admit that McEwen is a stretch...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I recognise a putdown ;) but...
He acted as a captain on the road and he didn’t just hang in the autobus. For a sprinter, that’s all good news. But given the fact that he also attempted to win a number of sprints solo, I’d say that was pretty tough.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Absolutely! Out of 200 riders there's only one winner
To have helped selflessly is something. And if you don’t believe me check Big George’s bank balance ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Nearly went there, but I thought I'd already concentrated too closely
on only a few teams :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
What about Nicki Sorensen?
It seems he was always at the head of the peloton in this year’s Tour. And he had a great stage win to go with that.
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
I agree on Eisel.
Great article on him a few months back in Cycle sport about him and Cav. I also would throw in Kevin Hulsmans and Addy Engels.
Kevin Hulsmans is a dude...did you see that series of funny photos Pro Cycling did of him a while back?
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
No I didn't. I must find it.
He is probably one of my favorites. I will be pissed off at QS if they ever let him go. Addy too. These guys are always there sacrificing themselves…I can’t think of a race that Addy hasn’t finished.
+2 on Eisel
One of the sometomes overlooked part of being a hard man is not just looking after your GC guy up front, but looking after your sprinter in the gruppeto. Eisel (and others) spend hours leading the grupetto home, then the next day can be going all out for a sprint win for (channels Paul Sherwen) “my man”.
+1
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 26, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Christian VandeVelde earned his team captaincy in the trenches
but guy has trouble being the leader, was more than glad to help Wiggins this year and still placed top ten.
Formerly known in some circles as flying dog.
Even though he is on a Pro-Conti Team...
my favorite hard-man is Niko Eeckhout. That guy is a ball of aggresion.
Some other favorites include: Kevin Hulsmans-The guy is Boonen’s main domestique so he has to be a hard guy
Jez Hunt and Roger Hammond-These guys will kill themselves over for Hushovd/Haussler in the spring
Garcia Acosta and Inigo Cuesta- They have enough Grand Tours to almost cover a half a century.
and even though he just retired…
Steven De Jongh- He was a beast in the North and rode all day for his leaders and he was rewarded because of it.
I also think that there should be a distinction between hardmen/domestiques and super domestiques like Szmyd. When I think hardmen I think of guys who sit out in the wind for their leader for 6 hours a day and not just the guy who sits in with the leader and then lights the dynamite on the climb but I know people will argue this.
Good point on Szmyd
I heaped compliments on him earlier in the thread but I understand your distinction. Szmyd knows how to light the fuse though!
by Spot of Bother on Oct 26, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Man..you read my mind!!
Very uncanny…but Niko is such a hard man…he is the hard mans hard man. When I think hard man I think cold, rainy, cobbles, misearble. To that end I am sorry to see De Jongh retire from racing. Great list!!
"If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out. And it wouldn't be the monkey."
"I don't really trust a sane person."
"I never met a man I didn't want to fight." The one and only Lyle Alzado
All the names that I think of are Rabo
They’re a bit like one of those neurotic little dogs who insist on chasing off every motorbike in person, it’s as if they’ve decided that if they don’t personally take charge of the peloton for the first hundred miles then the world wil come to an end.
Bram Tankink is another one who deserves a nomination.
Top three
Hincapie, Stuey, Cance in any order. My definition of a hard-man first has to be a guy who can ride in the front across cobbles and threaten to win any race. A guy who can drive a breakaway and win from it. A guy who can chase a breakaway to keep his main man in contention. His all around riding abilities with his strength is frightening and demands respect (except from the evil ‘Garmen’). He can help the team in every aspect of racing no matter what the terrain or conditions, and he is someone you do not want to leave at home, ever.
No horn, watch for finger.
This is a really hard one
since so much of what we are talking about here takes place in the hours before we have TV coverage and away from the cameras.
My vote would go to Vansummeren because, as sminer says, he’s the kind of guy you want on your team at every race. McEwen’s tales of his greatest wins (in CS) almost all include some act of heroism by Vansummeren btw.
my man, chechu.....
also, jrod, moreno
of course, jens! and stuey, hincapie and barry
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
gotta say, I’m still loving your “how to make a cover” instructions, for reading the books in public…absolutely brilliant ;)
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 26, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions
+1, hilarious.
Really majope, you should have done a cycling book by now. Get to it! I’d buy one!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
hehe
very nice
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 26, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions
ps if we're taking hard men in that sense
then the winner absolutely has to be Eddy Planckaert ;)
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 26, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I was thinking that, too :-)
I don’t think that there’s a single one who we’ve not seen laying it on the line for their team-mates.
So was I, but I tried not to be pathetically partisan ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
How about Bruseghin?
He’s generally more protected, but he showed major hard-man status in last year’s Worlds. On the front decimating everyone for a long, long time.
My ultimate vote is Michael Barry, though
Because even Jens! knows it’s going to hurt when he hits the front.
by Douglas Ansel on Oct 26, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
yup
love that quote
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 26, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Is your 'feverished' tag a Frinkism or is there an even higher power? ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
of course, he’s the ultimate hard man of the peloton
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 27, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
You understand how many ways this can be misconstrued...
You’re looking for trouble aren’t you :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Henk Vogels
Okay, he’s not in the peloton anymore. But still…
Anyone remember that Giro stage where he ran the peloton off his wheel not far from the line, only to falter just at the end?
OT. Really no appropriate place to post this.. but brown and ochre? Errrgh...
(I prefer the brown/taupe/mushroom colour to the ochre though and it’s easier to read fanposts with the brown rather than the green. That said, reading gold on orange is unnecessarily challenging for recent posts :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
hey, he was my pick above...
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
by umwolverine on Oct 27, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
The more Chechu love the better :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Would Sean Kelly get the award for beinh hardest and hardiest rider ever?
"As you can imagine, there are better places to have your birthday party than in some village called Mushny Mush Mishme." --The Wisdom of Jens
Oh yes...if he wouldn't win that award then something is wrong.
His calendar was jammed packed with racing and he was riding to win in 90% of them. I’m sure you could make an argument for other riders but Kelly, even though he is Irish, is the last of the true Flandrian hardmen.
Fun Fact: he would normally race de Ronde, fly to Spain and race Pais Vasco and then come back for Roubaix…all in a week. And on atleast one occasion he won Pais Vasco and Roubaix in the same year.
by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 28, 2009 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions
"fly to Spain"
You’re sure he didn’t ride over for the race, eh. The first man who came to mind when I saw the title of this post. Saw him in the World Cup race in Montreal a few years back, the only rider still in toe-clips and he grounded out in a corner pedaling hard with the leaders who had a little more clearance. When I watch Jens! I am always reminded of Sean Kelly. Not sure if he meets the criteria of this post though, “the men who turn up every day without the expectation of anything but reflected glory”, he was there to win.
I was at that race too!
cool
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 28, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Even though I’m Irish, I might let Hinault beat him for it. I have a vague recollection of watching Kelly receiving stitches while being interviewed, but he cried like a big baby when he broke his collar bone. Hinault smashed his nose in a fall coming into St Étienne and still went on to win the Tour.
I’d happily let Kelly come second behind Hinault though.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
I also remember Hinault bitching about cobbles too.
by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 28, 2009 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
Yes that is true but you also simplified of Kelly "crying like a big baby" when he broke his collarbone in the Tour
Only reason he was crying was that all his hard work that he had put into the race was gone. You can’t really ride when you have a major break in your collarbone, which is different from smashing your nose.
by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 28, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Sean Kelly's legs after winning Liege in 1984...
From Bobkestrut.com
by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 28, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh my word...
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
She's a legwoman... nothing wrong with that ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Well shoes are important too. I was always a fan of Fabian's red shoes ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Hercules incarnate.
"As you can imagine, there are better places to have your birthday party than in some village called Mushny Mush Mishme." --The Wisdom of Jens
Jens! answers a question.
In Japan. From here.
http://www.jsports.co.jp/cycle/blog/2009/10/006046.html
Translation by Babel:3. When we assume that it is accustomed to the ancient and modern east west other bicycle player, becoming someone, like?
Answer: Sean Kelly.
Maybe it is not in line with what you are defining as hard man
but when I look at Van der Flecha i think this is a hard man.
Your bike doesn't want to crash so relax and let it roll!!!
I think it's completely in line :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
It has to be Hincapie
The guy’s a throwback. He’s Sean Yates.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
Is that a jab for me sometimes asking for a source?
Anyway, thanks for the challenge; apparently it has been too long ago, I was mistaken. It was page 149 of “Tour de France van A tot Z” (1989, ISBN 9072864115). Still out of print.
We're shifting the initial question here..
Kelly and Hinault both meet the criteria, but this thread was about the guys who are riding for others, and rarely for personal glory. I’m talking about ‘wingmen’ ;) BTW Ted, I love that photo…
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Wingman? As in the homoerotic Top Gun meaning of wingman?
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
You mean that men's pro-cycling, and in fact all team sports might
might NOT have a homoerotic element? And I make it a point never to watch a Tom Cruise film unless Dustin Hoffman’s in it ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Are you dissing Tom Cruise?!? Bad move buster. Tom in Far & Away? Far and away the most authentic Irish film ever. Disrespect the Cruiser at your peril.
As for the homerotic subtext of cyling … perish the thought. Those men are burning hunks of mas-cue-lin-ity.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
Absolutely on both counts ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Going back a bit I want to nominate...
…Claude Criquelion.
Even though he was a classics winner in his time as he got towards the end of his career he started to show incredible strength.
I remember the L-B-L (in about 1990) when he rode for Lotto-Superclub and he pulled on the front for 50km and no-one else in the break of top favourites could get alongside him let alone past him.
Best ride I have ever seen.
What goes here?
Thanks, I like that story ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
It all happened only a few weeks after we first got...
…Eurosport at home!
What goes here?
by jimmythecuckoo on Oct 29, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions
Shirley worth nominating for the (apparent) non sequitur of the year award.
If you’ve any author friends, send that line to them. There’s places they could take it that I’d love to go.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
Jan Boven
Sure fits the description. He’s retired now but he has been the silent power of Rabobank teams for years. Doing his job with his nose in the wind protecting the team leaders long before television coverage would start. Only won a minor race once in his whole career. Every year the young kids on the team would complain that the old geezer was taking up space better given to young talent. And every year the young kids had to change their attitude after dying in his wheel for kilometer after kilometer on training rides.
De FIETS en anders NIETS
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