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Around SBN: Bill Stewart Dead From Apparent Heart Attack

Rider Quote of the Year: Nominations, Please!


Who said what? Search through the news sites, your sig lines, stacks of cycling magazines, etc.  for the funniest, wisest, most shocking, or otherwise memorable statements made by a pro cyclist in the past year. As with previous polls, nominations will be open all week, and a separate voting thread will go up next Monday.

We've already had two mentioned in another thread:

Frinking nominated "Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race."  --Edvald Boasson Hagen, Cyclingnews

addict suggested "Unfortunate day for Alberto. Amazing talent but still a lot to learn."  --Lance Armstrong, on Twitter

If possible, please look up the exact quote, or at least try to remember where you read it so I can verity the wording before I put up the poll. No biggie if you can't--I'll still try to track it down, but it will help a lot if you know the source. Thanks!

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You could also go with Lance's fury getting the best of him after Bert said he didn't admire him

which was “(Hey) pistolero, there is no ‘i’ in ‘team.’ what did i say in March? Lots to learn. Restated.”

or the qoute from Bert that lead to that response
“My relationship with Lance is non-existent. Even if he is a great champion, I have never had admiration for him and I never will,”

Look, it's a bird...no, it's a plane....oh never mind it's just fucking balloon boy

by Phil H. on Dec 7, 2009 12:50 PM EST reply actions  

Eh sources

I just googled Bert saying he didn’t have admiration for Lance and got those two quotes from an article on the NY daily times. But Lance said that on twitter and Bert’s quote you can find all over the cycling press.

Look, it's a bird...no, it's a plane....oh never mind it's just fucking balloon boy

by Phil H. on Dec 7, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions  

as I remember it

once translated ….. the gist of AC’s comment was that Contador admired Armstrong as a cyclist but not as a person ……

Moo

by Willj on Dec 7, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions  

Anybody have the original Spanish, and can provide a better translation?

Though Lance’s tweet was probably a response to the English version Phil quoted.

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 7, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions  

True, the on a personal level is ignored

as it the part where he said he had great respect for what he has done on the bike.

Look, it's a bird...no, it's a plane....oh never mind it's just fucking balloon boy

by Phil H. on Dec 7, 2009 4:00 PM EST up reply actions  

"Don't stand on my dog"...

…but in the context of the T-shirt he was wearing in 2009, not the ranting from 2008.

Think it shows both humour and self knowledge. Puts me firmly in the pro Cuddles camp

by addict on Dec 7, 2009 12:55 PM EST reply actions  

One of Hinault's Interviews had many good quotes:

On earpieces: "I am against them. It is just a ‘Game Boy’ that has a gigolo attached at the end telling the racer when to take a piss.

http://velonews.com/article/92900/hinault-blasts—well-everyone

Moo

by Willj on Dec 7, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions  

+2

Anything Hinault works for me. Either he’s right, or he comes off as the crazy, drunk Uncle at the holiday party.

It’s a win-win to me.

I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?

by Drew Davis on Dec 7, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions  

+3

and I’m sure Drew’s nieces and nephews agree too.

by Jens on Dec 7, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions  

Indeed

Many times I’ve been described as “The Bernard Hinault of the Christmas Party.”
Just ask Chris.

I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?

by Drew Davis on Dec 7, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions  

“The diet of the Eurasian badger consists largely of earthworms, insects, and grubs.

Badgers have been known to become intoxicated with alcohol after eating rotting fruit"

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Dec 8, 2009 4:17 AM EST up reply actions  

are you calling Greg LeMond an earthworm? ;)

Moo

by Willj on Dec 8, 2009 6:05 AM EST up reply actions  

Are you accusing me of eating rotting fruit?

Aren't we forgeting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa

by Drew Davis on Dec 8, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions  

Well duh

Aren't we forgeting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa

by Drew Davis on Dec 8, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions  

Only to get drunk.

I mean, badgers can’t be choosers.

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Dec 9, 2009 1:46 AM EST up reply actions  

Two words

Shunning Stick

Aren't we forgeting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa

by Drew Davis on Dec 9, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions  

it has to be the one i stole from you, majope

“at the end of the day, it’s only the tour de france”
- brad wiggins

great stuff

"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09

by Ben Shave on Dec 7, 2009 1:09 PM EST reply actions  

That is a classic!

I think voting is going to be tough.

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 7, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions  

i know

especially when pie is thrown into the mix

"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09

by Ben Shave on Dec 7, 2009 1:26 PM EST up reply actions  

Ah, always good for a quote, he is

Not quote of the year material like that one, but I also like his most recent effort: "I still think I’m a better rider than Lance and a few of the other guys."

by Krtek on Dec 7, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions  

Some of his better ones after the Tour

“You have to earn you place at the front on the climbs, just like you do in the sprints.They don’t really want you there if they don’t think you deserve to be there. No one wants to be on your wheel when you go pop because it means more work for them.”

“Michael Rogers said everyone is two minutes away from pulling the plug and sitting up. If you can last another two minutes, you get to go for another two minutes. You just have to break it down. Every time someone gets dropped you think “well I lasted longer than him”. It’s like a ramp test or the beep test. You dont think you can possibly last any longer, but you do. And every time someone drops out, you get a buzz out of it."

Both in Cycling weekly print edition 6 aug 09.

And this paragraph from cyclesport sep 09

As he crossed the top of one of the summits in the Pyrenees, he shouted out “That’s what I’m talking about” which startled Armstrong and the others.."

by andrewp on Dec 8, 2009 6:32 PM EST up reply actions  

A couple from MSR:

“Second place is the first loser.”—Heinrich Haussler (multiple sources with different surrounding quotes so I think he said it more than once, here’s Cyclingnews)

"Crossing the line first was the sweetest thing, but the second sweetest thing was seeing Boonen go past me backwards on the climbs."—Mark Cavendish (also exists in multiple forms—this one from The Guardian)

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 7, 2009 1:24 PM EST reply actions  

Cav

“Who said that, ”http://www.podiumcafe.com/2009/7/15/950245/mark-cavendish-in-his-post-race" target="new">Internet Forum People?"

by tedvdw on Dec 7, 2009 1:45 PM EST reply actions  

ah yeah

that was sweet

"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09

by Ben Shave on Dec 7, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions  

"I got dropped after 15km, not even that, 10 km.... Character!

Kenny van Hummel after completing almost the whole TdF stage to Verbier solo behind the peloton and finishing within the time limit.

video

It's a girl, and a boy!

by Lopex on Dec 7, 2009 2:32 PM EST reply actions  

This one is from 2008 but it still sticks out in my mind...

Riccardo Ricco – "I was really impressive; I was so fast. The mountains are my domain and it’s great to be able to perform so well."

Right before he was caught doping! Ha!

by seanmdo on Dec 7, 2009 2:41 PM EST reply actions  

Drugs

are amazing things…

"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen

by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 7, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions  

Here's a rather sweet one from Emma Pooley,

asked to comment on the official team gels: “I haven’t had any stomach problems with these products”

OK to be fair the full quote was "The bars are really delicious. The drinks are not too strong and not too sweet, and I haven’t had any stomach problems with these products" (from Zipvit website) and no-one else had anything much better to say, but that line seemed to be just a razor’s edge away from saying “Zipvit gives my poo just the right consistency; not too hard and not too soft.”

by Monty. on Dec 7, 2009 3:06 PM EST reply actions  

I can imagine Dave Zabriskie's answer of that same question

“It didn’t make my IBS any worse.”

I mean uh... hasn't that ever occurred to you, man? Sir?

by Drew Davis on Dec 7, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions  

In some way I really should have met Pooley but haven't...

…was at the same Uni, at the same time, studying the same subject and have friends who know her and her cousin… and she probably kicked my butt in Uni cross-country events… and she’s nearly steam-rollered me practising her TT-ing around London’s premier cycle training roads… nonetheless I haven’t

But depsite that I think I know a little of her and I’m pretty sure she has a dark sense of humour and I imagine that quote was laced with heavy irony

by thebongolian on Dec 8, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions  

sounds like if maybe you were a little faster,

you might have maybe actually met her once. (ducks. sorry, couldn’t resist ;) )

by yeehoo on Dec 8, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions  

she'd lap me so often

that i’d get to know her through sheer familiarity

by yeehoo on Dec 9, 2009 5:39 AM EST up reply actions  

I'm sure a lot of it is down to the fact that no-one on the women's side

gets much in the way of advice on how to handle the “press” (and if whoever was talking to the riders on behalf of the sponsor had any sense they would be making up nice quotes too – "do you think that …… "). If you look on YouTube for the Giro Donne videos, a couple of them have short interviews with Emma waiting for the race to start, and there’s a certain “why is this strange man asking me these silly questions” quality to her replies.

by Monty. on Dec 9, 2009 3:19 AM EST up reply actions  

Sounds like something Jens! would say

Look, it's a bird...no, it's a plane....oh never mind it's just fucking balloon boy

by Phil H. on Dec 7, 2009 4:02 PM EST up reply actions  

Of course it was him..

I thought it was so well-known I could leave the introduction.. I just have to search for a Million dollar quote for my tagline..

by Frinking on Dec 7, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes, it was obvious

I think you were right to leave off the attribution.

Who else could have said that?

In my mind I can even hear him saying it.

Great quote.

by johnw on Dec 7, 2009 6:01 PM EST up reply actions  

Ah

The good old nonsatiation assumption. Where would consumer theory in micro-economics be without it…

It's a girl, and a boy!

by Lopex on Dec 8, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions  

Minus Trivia Monday points for Edvald!!!

“Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race.” Edvald Boasson Hagen

Not only minus points for the quote, there should also be a fine for anyone who doesn’t know Sean Kelly!!!

by CCB-VW on Dec 7, 2009 4:19 PM EST reply actions  

He meant

“sorry I am not so good with interviews. I just want to race.”

"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen

by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 7, 2009 4:52 PM EST up reply actions  

Mine is from just the other day

‘’He is strong physically, but he is possibly even stronger mentally. He ain’t easy to disintegrate.’ – here

Disintegrate. Hell of a word choice!

by andrewp on Dec 7, 2009 4:54 PM EST reply actions  

'Roos loose in the top paddock

Source: the Australian people (via Lou).

by tedvdw on Dec 7, 2009 5:41 PM EST reply actions  

I second majope:

"Second place is the first loser."—Heinrich Haussler

by ZoeRochelle on Dec 7, 2009 7:15 PM EST reply actions  

Except

It’s such an American cliche

by R Mc on Dec 7, 2009 8:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

HH can't be given credit for that saying though...

it’s been around for longer than he’s been around.

No horn, watch for finger.

by sminer on Dec 7, 2009 9:13 PM EST up reply actions  

I don't think that matters for "quote of the year."

Lance didn’t make up “There’s no ‘I’ in team” either, but it had specific and relevant meaning when he directed it at Contador. Likewise, whether or not Haussler made up “Second place is the first loser,” it honestly reflected his disappointment at losing MSR—and for me really sums up the drama of that incredibly close sprint.

It’s all in the context. “I can get you a toe” has probably appeared here dozens of times, but if dropped at exactly the right moment could end up PdC Quote of the Year.

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 7, 2009 10:31 PM EST up reply actions  

got ya

I was thinking it was rather relevant given MSR.

No horn, watch for finger.

by sminer on Dec 7, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions  

You can always count on Jens! for a good quote:

Discussing the Sexy Back survival camp:

Of course, I am looking forward to days without food or sleep with nocturnal walks in complete darkness. Who wouldn’t?"

by Katiek on Dec 7, 2009 9:37 PM EST reply actions  

David Millar

“my tip to any up ‘n’ coming cyclist - keep your shoes clean. It makes you feel better "

http://www.cycleto.com/videopopups/millartip.html

I waited a half an hour to give my two toddlers breakfast until I had my Eneco tour coverage sorted, then made sure I got them fed before the sprint. --- Bought With Blood. ..... Hmmm, my kinda people. If only they could explain to my wife why my bike belongs in the house and not the garage. --- Thevaro

by thevaro on Dec 7, 2009 11:41 PM EST reply actions  

ahhh darn, scratch that. That was 2008 !

I waited a half an hour to give my two toddlers breakfast until I had my Eneco tour coverage sorted, then made sure I got them fed before the sprint. --- Bought With Blood. ..... Hmmm, my kinda people. If only they could explain to my wife why my bike belongs in the house and not the garage. --- Thevaro

by thevaro on Dec 8, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions  

Well clearly *I'm* gonna have to be the one to mention it...

…“If Bruyneel does not want me, it will be Bruyneel who will be leaving the team”

by Lou... on Dec 8, 2009 3:09 AM EST reply actions  

Creepy and prophetic.

The only thing that could make this one better is if he said it while stroking a cat.

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Dec 8, 2009 4:23 AM EST up reply actions  

sorry strike that

He didn’t say that this year. I googled “cycling quotes 2009” and found a list of quotes, but they just chose one quote each week. I twigged when I saw one by HG Wells (which was actually pretty awesome- “When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race”).

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Dec 8, 2009 4:27 AM EST up reply actions  

I think I'll stick to my 'little pushie' where we only hit 80 -100k an hour," ...

…" I’m now the one lap wonder." Stuart O’Grady

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Dec 8, 2009 4:52 AM EST reply actions  

What was it that diLuca said...

When he tested positive after the Giro? “I have fallen from the sky…” or something like that? Can’t remember the exact quote and can’t find it either, but the poetry of it (or melodrama if you prefer) was cool, I thought.

by tgartner on Dec 8, 2009 5:00 AM EST reply actions  

"Cado dalle nuvole"

Google Translate gives it as “I fall from the clouds.” Italian speakers?

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 8, 2009 7:20 AM EST up reply actions  

what was that quote by one of the schlecks?

we don’t say anything, it’s just words that come out – or something to that affect. No luck finding it. Not quite quote of the year material anyway, but worthy of mention.

by yeehoo on Dec 8, 2009 9:56 AM EST reply actions  

Hons used it for a sig line:

“It looks like talking, but it’s just words that come out.”—Andy Schleck, from this video. Sure you don’t want to throw it in the ring?

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 8, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions  

oh sure, be my guest to include it

(I have a vote? I thought i was just watching.) I like some of the others up above better, but surely it’s worth being included.

by yeehoo on Dec 8, 2009 10:35 AM EST up reply actions  

This is a community--if you're registered here, you can nominate and vote when the poll goes up.

I just wasn’t sure from the “not quite quote of the year material” whether it was an actual nomination. It’s on the list now—thanks! Poll will go up next Monday.

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 8, 2009 10:44 AM EST up reply actions  

Still do

and I’ll second that nomination

"It looks like talking, but it’s just words that comes out"
~ Andy Schleck

by Hons on Dec 8, 2009 6:16 PM EST up reply actions  

"I know how to race"

Spartacus after Le Tour stage 3 polemica.

Your bike doesn't want to crash so relax and let it roll!!!

by perezbike on Dec 8, 2009 3:23 PM EST reply actions  

I'm not finding this quote, at least not from Cancellara

Closest I’ve found is “It’s the Tour and I know the Tour; I know how to race it ,” but it was Lance, not Fabian. Was that what you were thinking of? If not, can you help me find it?

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 10, 2009 10:37 AM EST up reply actions  

I saw it on another blog

I think on the same of the trivia monday. I found it interesting because it was in the same line of this is not rocket science (from LA) but this time from Cance. Not sure if he really said it. I will try to find out.

Your bike doesn't want to crash so relax and let it roll!!!

by perezbike on Dec 10, 2009 10:58 PM EST up reply actions  

"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"

Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009

"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"

Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009

by CycleGirl on Dec 8, 2009 7:38 PM EST reply actions  

Jens! quote regarding the TdF stages without race radios

“Why don’t we have two days without helmets or where they cut the brake cables just to make it interesting?”

by dheadrick on Dec 10, 2009 12:52 AM EST reply actions  

Old Jan quote that bears mentioning

“Simoni, Salvoldelli, Cunego, Bettini… The Jan has not seen this much back hair since he was watching King Kong. When we are being hitting the mountains, and the Italians are beginning the huffing and puffing and the sweating, it is smelling like a donkey’s ass. That is, if the donkey’s ass has triple espresso on its breath and a couple of cigarettes are being matted in its ass-hair.”

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=31414033

by dheadrick on Dec 10, 2009 1:08 AM EST reply actions  

Tom Southam

"Apart from Stefano Zanini, I cannot think of an Italian who isn’t completely crooked"
http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=14480

by lucybears on Dec 10, 2009 10:43 AM EST reply actions  

First time I've seen that one--wow!

It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro

by majope on Dec 10, 2009 11:02 AM EST up reply actions  

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