Countdown to the Cobbles: Aches and Pains Edition
by Chris... on Mar 15, 2010 11:04 AM EDT
in News
190 comments
One more week of prelude (if that's a polite description of Milano-Sanremo) and it's back to the cobbles! No great hurry, I have been checking the weather every day and haven't seen a high in Gent over 43 degrees fahrenheit. Maybe another week and the tulips will start coming up...
3. Patellar Barbie
2009 Milano-Sanremo runner up Heinrich Haussler is looking like a no-show at La Primavera this weekend, and his spring could be in jeopardy thanks to knee pain from his crash in stage 1 of Paris-Nice. Reports in Sporza say that Haussler had to bail on a training run after a mere 15 minutes and can't push a heavy gear. The article even uses the word "surgery" in a (so far) hypothetical sense.
Cervélo Test Team aren't sinking into panic just yet -- in the short term they still have Thor Hushovd on hand for MSR and wherever else he can get a result. But, I dunno, it just won't be the same for the Knights of é without Haussler's aggression and strong riding.
2. Take Me For a Ride in Your Car, Car
Jurgen Roelandts checked out of the Race to the Sun with a back issue. The culprit is supposedly a long transfer by car and the team is calling it "precautionary." They also don't seem too bothered by the small hernia afflicting Leif H\o/ste. Apparently it only bothers him when he's bent over. Like, you know, during a bike race. The whole race.
1. No Making Benefit for Glorious Nation
Not sure if the pain has set in over at Astana, given that Sunday was one of their better days in a while. But the same organization, ASO, that crowned Alberto Contador champion of the Race to the Sun was just putting the finishing touches on the Paris-Roubaix team invitations that didn't include, uh, Astana. The Kazakh outfit was the only Pro Tour team left out of the lineup. Backstory? I haven't heard one yet, so for now I will accept the simplest one, where in the eyes of the French hosts the Kazakhs can't be trusted to find their way around Hell. Frankly, I don't blame them. There isn't a single rider on the current Astana roster who has any history worth noting at the Queen of the Classics. The three Astana riders in the top 100 last year have all moved on. It's not personal, for once -- ASO just doesn't feel overly excited about a team led by Bolat Raimbekov.
Teams getting wildcards: BMC (Hincapie and Ballan), Saur-Sojasun (French guys), Acqua e Sapone (Paolini), Androni Giocatoli (no fricking clue), Cervélo Test Team (Thor), Skil Shimano (KVH?), and Vacansoleil (Feillus, Bozic, etc.).
Cuddles' Corner!
"On Friday I announced the Way of the Cross contest, where you were asked to mimic the Andrea Tafi quote in useful and informative ways. The three finalists are:
WillJ: Only the Spanish, Germans, Italians, Americans, Brits, Belgies, Dutch, Khazaks, Czech’s, etc can do well at the Tour de France. For the French, it’s the Way of the Cross
Tenchu: Only Fabian Cancellara can crack walnuts using his arsecheeks. For everyone else, it is the Way of the Cross.
Majope: Only even-tempered cyclists can treat their bikes with respect after a mechanical. For Dave Millar, it’s the Way of the Toss.
Who wins? Take the poll:
0 recs |
190 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
O/T Comment to start
Better than ‘first!’, I reckon
My train was cancelled today, having overshot one of the platforms at a station and then sat for twenty minutes on the tracks at the station, with another train between stations just behind. Peak hour morning rush. About four thousand stranded people just in those two trains. We were eventually told it wasn’t going to move and were told to get off.
So we all trekked off to a station at the nearest different train line, where, ten minutes later, a train already full, with half the usual number of carriages, attempted to pick up the residue of the trains that wouldn’t move. It didn’t work. The next train wasn’t due for another twenty minutes. There’s a song about that train station.
Anyway, relaxed in the hubbub with his wife?/girlfriend? and his border collie was Phil Anderson. Looked as fit as a Mallee bull.
So, although I had to walk to work today, at least I had my fill of celebrity-spotting. And I otherwise got to thinking, ‘Gee, I should have ridden my bike today.’ Mr Anderson would no doubt agree.
should have asked him about that fight with Hinault
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
If I'd had a phone with internet access
I just might have.
Talking about Hinault beating the daylights out of a protestor? It happens every year—even now. Great shot, though.
It's not a hernia
It’s a hyena – just ask Long Duk Dong.
"Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation."
lolz
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Cobbles
meh, after moved into top 50 for the first time, my team will no doubt suck again and go down to the normal 300ish place….
Lou, you made the front page. 'The Glorious Nation'
is becoming a PdC legend ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Listen, she asked us not to say...
you know how humble those Glorious Nation types are.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I voted for it, and I have nothing against Millar,
but the ‘Way of the Toss’ is too good to ignore.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I never want to find out... and frinking's probably gone into shock about now..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Oh please... i can think of much sweeter things to research ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I tell you when you've left home;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Moved out...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
He only has to give them a death stare and they crack...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Everybody knows Lance's glutes have gone since he came out of retirement...
and he’s not used to having nuts in his pants anymore.
Low blow.
too soon?
"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
You sound like...
A French GC contender.
Keep pedalling!
by tenchu on Mar 15, 2010 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Comment of the week
and it’s Monday.
"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
If it's the comment of the week
You should Rec it. Laurens ten Dam taught us that. It would be so cool to see comments of regular Joe’s becoming green all of a sudden…
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
I had to vote "against" Majope.
She’s on a roll, she’s in the zone, it’s not fair for the rest to have to compete against Unicorns! But I will concede what she wrote was very clever. The only chance we mere mortals have is for her entry to be disqualified on the grounds that she’s a . . ., she’s a . . ., a genius. It’s not fair. WAAAAAH! . . . sniff . .sniff . . . Mom always liked Majope best.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
Oh, please!
If Mom had liked me best, would I need to compete for votes on the internet to build up my self-worth?
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
by majope on Mar 15, 2010 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
completely off-topic
what’s up with Cav-eeen-dish?
I’d freak out that he’s way out of form—and then I notice that his company in the autobus includes Boonen, Farrar, and a bunch of other folks.
So . . . is this Pozzato’s MSR year again>
Boonen is in the break today.
I think he has ambitions this year.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
Got to wonder.
Everybody knows he sandbagged last year, so if he wanted to try it again this year, taking a genuine problem and playing it up might be the only way he could get away with it.
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
Boonen
thinks he might be sandbagging. But Boonen is predicting Benna for the win. Best team and said Benna looks good! He predicted Flecha correctly!
Ha!
Boonen had better make up his mind, because he’s been anti-sandbagging a lot lately.
"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
Losing is humiliating enough
but that it is also clear that I voted for myself ……
the shame of it all :)
http://www.sbnation.com/users/Willj
Moo
Well, someone had to...
;-)
majope probably garnered the British votes because of his wordplay rather than Millar’s popularity or otherwise.
'her' wordplay ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
oops
note to self: I should spend more time at PdC – I can make a fool of myself and/or demonstrate my ignorance more often.
No problem--my fault for cutting my hair so short.
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
Ezzactly!
I wouldn’t be surprised if she was related to Millar…
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
Uncannily similar.
Neither of us has doped for years.
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
by majope on Mar 15, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well that's two of us accounted for
Correction: one of you – I haven’t voted yet… but I suppose I ought to.
You have the power to make your own poll.
A sort of “Power Poll” if you will.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
I liked mine a lot better too!
This is just some Angelsachain conspiracy against the coming Dutch hegemony!
We’ll see who’s laughing last at www.podiumcafe.nl!
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
That's not the site for one of them Rickroll thingys, try again. : D
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
Rickroll?
Does not ring a bell…
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
So Rickrolled
= being lured to click on a link to a music video?
Pfew, hahalol, those internet forum people really crack me up.
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
Well.. Not to a music video...
To Rick Aston!
And you were asking about what it was.. Not why it was funny.. I’m most of the time lost for that too
Thanks for explaining
Good to know you have my back! ;)
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
Oh
And why Rick Aston/ who is Rick Aston?
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
As for the why, completely random I think
Might be more here, I didn’t read it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickrolling
Many have asked
“Rick Astley… WHY?!?”
"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
It's a comedy law
If you start with something not funny it will become humorous through repetition – opposite is true if the original joke is funny.
The late show writers use it alot.
Dude, I can see my house from here
And I thought it was because Rick Ashton was such a bad singer..
It was your punishment after a stupid question
You know, that site is available...
I am so tempted.
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
On the Paris-Roubaix invites
quite amazint that the only country with more teams participaing than the US is France. Who’d ever have imagined a day?
yeah
something is afoot. Something strange. Not sure yet if it’s good or bad.
"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
Wild speculation
Maybe Astana said they won;t ride unless Vino is there. ASO replys no Vino and voila, no Astana.
the key word
is wild.
"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
I'll be good!
"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
p.s.
excellent grafix! love the blood.
"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
Quick fashion question:
Can I still wear white athletic socks with black glitter Chucks?
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
What is all this non-sense?
it is that time of year when it is time to find out how the European cyclists, who surely are very knowledgeable and interested in the American college basketball scene, filled out their brackets!
Ahem
UVM in tha house! Til Friday, anyway.
"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
Did you see their hockey season?
Somehow they piece together back to back 1-0 wins over UNH. Still won’t get in the tourney though :-(
"Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation."
bah
we were ranked even before the two wins, so I wouldn’t count us out yet. BC sucks.
"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
19-17 is not a great record to get in with. Now, if they win the Hockey East Tourney
then you’d have something. East in general is not a power this year.
"Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation."
hm
large # of western seeds would be a problem. If we make the HE finals we’re on the brink. If we win, we’re in. But I think if we lose Friday it’s probably over.
"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
Yep.
The CCHA did alright this year (last I saw), and there could be some lesser league teams sneaking in. Overall, Hockey East and ECAC were not all that great in 2010. Happens.
"Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation."
you guys play hockey down there?
who knew?
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions
as opposed to what?
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions
now there’s a noble sport
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Last time I checked
the Cup resided in Pittsburgh :-)
"Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation."
hehe
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Bob Johnson
Really … and WCHA are kind of shaky this year.
Yay, Pittsburgh!
My hometown! Oh, and the Cup’s likely to stay in American hands for the near future, too.
…Malkin’s, Crosby’s and Fleury’s hands have dual citizenship? ;)
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 16, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Shero, Bylsma, Orpik, Guerin
Anyway, you know what I meant. Which Canadian team’s got a snowball’s chance of winning the Cup anytime soon? Vancouver, maybe. Maybe.
Toronto vs Edmonton final, mark my words
Oh, you mean you’re not talking about the first draft pick?
But I think Vancouver is the Canadian team that’s the closest to the Cup… Calgary is a mess, I have no faith in Ottawa goaltending, and while I love the way Montreal is playing right now, they will fail again in the first or second round.
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
yah, I'm just being snarky
if I were to continue being snarky I’d say “they’re all Canadian teams,” given where the highest percentage of their players are from, but hey, I’m done being snarky ;)
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 16, 2010 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions
And I thought it was because Rick Ashton was such a bad singer..
It was your punishment after a stupid question
dude Rick Aschenbach is awesome!
and don’t call me shirley!
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
But only 16 teams get in the tourny
my CC Tigers have also stunk it up royally this year.
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
(checks updated standings)
I’m 70th!!!! Right behind crashdan….I will get a draft behind him and then pounce in final meters.
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
YAY Will!
Couldn’t be because of two Canadians on the team would it. : D
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
go miners!
we haven’t won it all since ‘66 and don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell, but who cares? Wonder who we’re up against in round 1 – can’t be good.
UTEP?
are going out against the Butler Bulldogs in round one according to my bracket….which surely will win me 10 grand on espn’s bracket challenge.
But. Does anyone pick against uconn wymyn?
by R Mc on Mar 15, 2010 1:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
butler bulldogs?
Ah, we’ll take care of them, no problem. Nice doggy. Niiice little doggy. Actually i have no clue, haven’t followed the sport for a long time. But grew up listening to utep games on the radio as a kid back in the days of nate archibald – heard they were in the tourney again, woohoo! And of course i’ll never stop bragging about the 66 season (even if i was too young to be aware)
Butler is 28-4(18-0 in the Horizon league)
they have some great shooters and stud muffin Gordon Hayward, UTEP struggled against good shooting teams like BYU and Houston just Saturday. Yet they could dominate Butler on the inside with Louisville recruit Derrick Caracter and some other good bigs, it should be a close contest but Butler’s experience will prevail…and you didn’t want all that break-down info.
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
Hopefully worldwide for people in the services.
Keeps them off the streets, for a while anyways.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
Gophers destroyed them and will win national championship
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Well if winning by 9 is destroying
than what do you consider winning by a score of…oh lets say 90-61?
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
fluke
Gophs will win championship easy, mark my words, dominance
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions
hehe
well clearly one of the two
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Mar 15, 2010 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions
For Chris and Gavia..
Jacopo Guarnieri seems a perfect guy to be interviewed by all of us..
He also tweets and a relax guy so it seems.. But maybe you want another American.. Which is cool..
That's an improvement
If she would also get half of your sentences you guys could really hit it off…
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
I really like
Freire too but he has won before. Boonen hasn’t. Hmm which non-sprinter? One of the work horses would be nice. I of course would love to see Carlos or Sylvain win.
by cyclingdiva on Mar 16, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not going to tell you who will win or how
but I’ll give you a hint: think of how the 2008 RvV winner looked and how popular that was in the country where the race was held.
Is this a variant of the old
“clothes make the man” argument?
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
Phil
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Mar 16, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I really wish I could find a short clip
of the drunken german fan screaming “scheisse!” in the SVT World Cup 94 documentary. That and the juxtaposition with the german team and the Scorpions “Winds of change” is funny shit.
It's so sad
I believe I know exactly what clip you’re thinking of.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Mar 16, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
No because I used all four letters
although the image could be a self-portrait.
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
Valverde's ban in Italy has been upheld by CONI
Extending the ban will be addressed at a hearing on Thursday
If you start a fan post, I'll stick it up on the front page.
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
TheFigurehead beat me to it. Anyway, the story is up now.
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
Second again?
This is getting bad…
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
The DS of Team Barbie Barbie in winning position?
Disaster is dooming!
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Podium Cafe
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
¡Viva la Vuelta!
Celebrate La Vuelta a España at Podium Cafe.
Stop by each day for Vuelta updates, live race chat, post-race happy hour, and more.
Visit our Vuelta section for all the latest stories.
Mountains. Many much mountains!
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
