Housekeeping: A Wee Ardennes Roundup
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 21, 2010 7:06 PM EDT
in Cafe Happy Hour!
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PrintYe (ok, me) of little substance... just a few things I like about today.
#2 tweet of the day goes to our friend Laurens Ten Dam, who congratulated Cadel Evans for winning and doing right by his rainbow jersey, but not without some advice, which boils down to "get a real victory celebration." The evidence is damning indeed:
What is that exactly? Mini-pistolero? Pea-shooter? I'm sorry, but the arc-en-ciel carries certain responsibilities, and a victory celebration that doesn't elicit snickers is one of them.
We've certainly got our headline of the day. I don't remember Evans hitting Contador with a wooden shoe, but then I wasn't able to watch it live, so I can't deny that it happened. This would be our runner-up if I didn't want to klopt all of the names involved, repeatedly.
Onto more serious matters, here's a happy sounding story: Leukemans is in talks to extend with Vacansoleil. Apparently an offer is on the table, though until it's accepted the optimistic tone of the article seems a bit premature. Anyway, he's had a great season, and Vacansoleil will hopefully enjoy the spoils a bit after helping him relaunch his career.
Oh, this Sunday eve (8:30 Eastern, 5:30 Pacific) I will be appearing on Bike Talk Radio with Graham Jones and Jim Strait. You can call in and join the fun, or email questions. You can listen live or wait for the podcast. It's my first time on talk radio, so I am probably making a big mistake alerting some of you to this event, but what the hey... bring it on!
Last, a teaser: we will be previewing Liege-Bastogne-Liege by looking at certain, seemingly random, batches of riders. After you see it, hopefully it will make sense. No guarantees on that last part, of course.
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haha good for Ten Dam,
that was indeed one lame “celebration.”
Can I just say that I’m loving this spring from Hesjedal? This is the best performance of any Canadian since Steve Bauer, that I can remember at least. Great stuff by him, really looking forward to seeing what he brings to Liège, no reason he can’t win there. He’ll need some strong support…let’s go Garmin.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
oh hey good luck on the radio!
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Apr 21, 2010 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I was thinking today
that the “sprint” up the Muur de Huy has to be one of the best couple of minutes in professional cycling. Just when you think you have a winner, the situation changes, and maybe even changes again. I can’t think of another finale that compares.
Chapeau Cadel, you have come a long way since July 2009.
Flahutes: Harden the F--k Up!
well put
I know people don’t like the same thing happening every year – the entire peloton arriving together at the foot of the Mur – but it’s almost worth it to see every single contender right there at the finish.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Apr 21, 2010 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions
that’s what sh
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Apr 22, 2010 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions
celebration
I’m giving Cadel a pass for that one. Just getting a hand off the bars is an accomplishment after chasing down the accountant up the Huy.
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
Radio? Live?
This is going to be awesome
"Do you think we are a bunch a girls?...Go and ride some cobbles and you’ll definately know that we don’t discuss perfume and shaving cream." - Dom
oh no
Did I mention it’s at 8:30 pacific?
"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 Apr 21, 2010 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
8:30 Eastern, 5:30 Western...
You had it correct above but confused things here…?
Be careful not to spend all the time tell about a FABULOUS trip to Flanders, leave some time to expound the virtues of PdC!!!
Or was Chris deliberately trying to misdirect Jimbo.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
Nice work guys
CBB-VW, we should arrange some code words for “hang up on that one”
"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 Apr 22, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
And a little to the south of Canadian performances (Hesjedal)
a big holler for Horner, for the spring he is having.
Love love love what Cadel did today. Sometimes it’s hard to stay upright, much less celebrate, when you crunch out a win like that. And besides, you get all that time on the podium to celebrate.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Yeah, Horner is looking pretty good for a washed-up old guy...
Any top ten in a classic is impressive… but all the more so when you look at who were the only guys to beat him (not to mention the guys that DIDN’T beat him!)—pretty much the creme de la creme. He is very near the top of the sport right now.
Cycling will always be a beautiful sport no matter how many people disgrace it.--Christian Vande Velde
i'm afraid his world's celebration was lame too
and I had plenty of time to compose himself
doesn’t stop me loving seem him win, and it’s far better than the pistol thing…
by thebongolian on Apr 22, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions
I rather like understated celebrations... it's a refreshing change from chest beating.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
But of course
if he would have rode a wheelie across the line while beating his chest and rapping “99 Problems”, you would have said you liked that too :)
"Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs."
99 problems, lolz
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Apr 23, 2010 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
It's just so cool to see a result
in recognition of the fact that Evans is a rider of the absolute elite class. He is one of the very few riders that can win a GT, and he races more and is more vesatile than some of the others. This seems at least as special as the WC, because it’s a confirmation that he can actually take the win in such a race, as opposed to just being someone to mark.
He does everything
except sprint. Of course, pistolero does everything too, and it’s possible we will see Contador pay more attention to the classics, particularly if he wins Sunday. But for now, Evans has joined the upper classes of guys who can win a GT (Vuelta anyone?) and can/does win some big one-day races too.
"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 Apr 21, 2010 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions
How about Giro...in a month
Bert doing well today is no surprise, I’m much more intrigued for Sunday which is a more pure classics course(whatever that even means).
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
Hold the phone..
Evans and winning a GT? In other words you are putting him in Levi’s and fat Schleck’s class Triki and Chris.
Hm, yeah i realised that "absolute elite" might be incorrect because he hasn't actually won a GT.
but saying that he can, I’m ok with putting him in Levi’s class. In that class, but with better current form, better opportunities, and at a better age. I don’t put Franck in that category, because he’s missing the TT, and apparently not outclimbing the others either. But Levi: obviously aging, but at the Giro and the Vuelta 2008 he was basically hanging out with Contador, no? I could see him winning a GT enough to consider him a good VDS buy at 16 (?) points (I only thought about this in a general sense, so which GT I don’t know).
He's better than both Levi and Schleck (F)...
Could well have got last years Vuelta. And 2nd in the TdF (with no real support) is a heck of a lot better than either of those two have done
Cadel would have won last year's Vuelta had it not been for horrific neutral service "help"
I wouldn’t doubt he can win a GT this year if that GT happens to be in Italy…and in May.
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
And if his team stayed away from doping scandals....
As of today, three riders lost through drug related stuff who were on BMC’s Giro team.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Doesn't matter
he still has Leaky who is everyone’s team when it comes to the Giro, if 2009 tactics are any indication.
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
Excellent and Cadel speaks Italian too :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Yeah
I rate him higher than Levi and worthy of a grand tour win. His two close shaves in the Tour plus that Vuelta nonsense… would you take Denis Menchov and his three wins over Evans? Not me.
"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 Apr 21, 2010 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Is he stuck in Siberia?
because I don’t believe he has raced since he won the Giro last year.
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
Nah
I’m with Chris. I think Cuddles is better – faster uphill and at least as good a TTer. And now with added sanity.
But I agree that there isn’t a huge difference.
And dogged... no-one does dogged like Cadel..
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
have you seen levi's zoo?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
No...should I have?
I always equate the Australian love of Cadel, with the American love of Levi… I don’t think they cross borders that well.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Yes...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
All this DiLuca attacks, and dramatic last day TT.
One day, one stage, one race, one tour at a time.
The TT on the last day was unbelievable... I had my hands over my eyes.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
It was awesome... high drama... and the right man won :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Sure
I mean no disrespect to Menchov. But Evans has finished #1 in the world. He does more than Menchov, particularly in the Tour.
"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 Apr 22, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Evans
I only started following cycling last summer, but my opinion of Evans has turned 180 degrees. I don’t know why I disliked him so much, but I distinctly remember finding him finishing behind Thor Hushovd on a Tour mountain stage hilarious.
Now, he’s one of my favorite cyclists. I guess I’m a fair weather fan.
…I also like when Professional Continental teams win big
heh
you’re entitled. Also he’s had some bad press for his personality. But if you watch him turn himself inside out on the bike, it’s hard not to be impressed. I haven’t been a fan but I would say I like him and sometimes root for him now. Especially as I turn off from some of the grand tour competition (Cunego, for example, no longer a fave).
"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 Apr 21, 2010 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Hendy had this covered
There is something cool about seeing the rainbow jersey win. Gives me goose bumps. Awesome. Not quite as cool as his victory salutes tho.
Gave me a chuckle :-)
Cadel had a sly, satisfied grin on his face that said it all to me – I think he did just fine. But then you knew I’d say that, didn’t you? Personally, I like a little understatement – it hit the right note for me following such a classy win.
i agree totally... but I'm biased too.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
ok ok
take the high road. Not exactly a Podium Cafe tradition, but hey.
"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 Apr 21, 2010 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Well they do an interesting line in chest beating and sunglasses polishing.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Or was it,
Take the (Team) Highroad vs. Take the HTC-Columbia
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
I think he was just knackered...
… he had just ridden Bert down on the last 200m of the climb. He can’t have known he was going to win till the final 50. In fact, he can’t have even been confident that he would be in the mix (when you get to the foot of the climb, who the hell knows what’s going to happen). No time to plan. And even if he did, it’s not his style anyway.
Stuff the celebration -
Can someone tell me when was the last time we say the rainbow stripes with anything at all to celebrate?
It may be the GT bias of my watching, but I cant remember seeing them at the pointy end in either tours or classics since – well, since I started obsessing…
Bettini
his tribute to his brother in Lombardia was about as memorable a WC moment as you’ll find. But yeah, otherwise it’s been a bit slim pickings since Boonen.
"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 Apr 22, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
also
what about Poland? [sorry, I had to]
"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 Apr 22, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Cool
Before my classics watching time… but if someone was going to make it relevant it would have to be Boonen!
Bike Talk Radio gig
will this be archived for later enjoyment? I suspect that I will still be driving home from a race in New Hampshire when you are on the air.
"Today I was honked at...I caught up and made a great honking noise back...he caught up and said I'm gonna punch you in the face...I laughed."
~DZ
I believe so
My wisdom will be preserved for all time. Or at least until the BTR people come to their senses and edit me out.
"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 Apr 22, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
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