Rest Day Open Thread

by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 6, 2010 11:52 AM EDT in Vuelta a España

Sentiment over at twitter is of the hallelujiah variety, put best (once again) by Tejay Van Garderen. [And the prize for best use of Lebowski on a grand tour rest day goes to...]

After 9 days of racing I think we deserve some Shomer fucking Shabis.

Hey, does anyone ever twitter about how a grand tour is easy? What does it mean when Carlos Sastre says that the "mid-mountain stages make this a hard Vuelta"? Was last year an easy Vuelta? If so, did anyone twitter to this effect? I get that some Vueltas are harder than others. This is about language: "hard" and "easy" are relative terms that should pretty much offset each other 50-50, but in cycling the ratio is more like 90-10.

Denis Menchov is telling the media the Vuelta starts Wednesday, with the stage to Andorra. It's true that the race hasn't begun much in earnest (as far as I could tell from my undisclosed location), and history is full of guys chunking 3.29 to their rivals in week 1 only to come back and storm the competition in the latter stages. The problem for Menchov is that he hasn't much history of coming from so far back. In his three grand tour wins Menchov has positioned himself to strike early, seizing control and holding on. In the 2005 Vuelta, Menchov was the only race leader besides Bradley McGee, once you cross out Roberto Heras (meaning Menchov was thought to be either first or second at the time). In 2007 Menchov was in command from stage 9, which he gifted to Leo Piepoli in exchange for the leader's tunic that he never came close to relinquishing. And in the Centenary Giro, Menchov grabbed the lead in the stage 12 time trial (before which very little occurred) and defended with aplomb. So is he ready to play the comeback kid this week? Not bloody likely, unless a lot of other guys start folding.

Christian VandeVelde twittered rather chirpily about his form today. At 56 minutes down he's not talking about making a move in Spain, but he is thinking about heading to Australia. Team Garmin's "loss" (if you can call having VDV as a domestique a loss) is Team USA's gain.

Got any other rest day hijinks to share?

Tweet Comment 39 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

What do guys like Menchov know?

according to CN this Vuelta is down to just 3 guys already.

"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton

by sminer on Sep 6, 2010 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

Rest days suck

eom

I'll eliminate you like I eliminate gluten from my diet.
www.battleredblog.com

by tehGrindCrusher on Sep 6, 2010 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

I think Menchov's best chance would be to try a breakaway on another stage like yesterday's

Hope that Anton, Nibali and J-Rod are too focused on the who wears the jersey the next day.

I think any breakaway is going to have a good chance until the GC breaks up a little bit more. The race between the top GC guys is really tactical right now.

Of course it would be crazy to let Menchov go up the road. But I don’t see him taking back time outside of the TT and 3:30 is a lot. And at least Nibali can TT.

I say take risks and hope the other GC guys are too busy marking each other

"Oh man, it’s going to take days to kill all these people!"

by lieutenantmudd on Sep 6, 2010 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

This thread really hasn't taken off

tis a pity

"You know if there's any contact at all Cristiano Ronaldo's gonna go down...maybe even just a puff of wind"

by agl on Sep 6, 2010 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

national holiday in the US

"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell

by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 6, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

So this thread should be really vibrant

Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...

by TheFigurehead on Sep 6, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I like that thinking

but the rest of my family, not so much.

"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell

by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 6, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

And in Europe it appeared after work hours.

For normal people. Me, I work whacked out hours so I’m still here.

by tgsgirl on Sep 6, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

me?

I was too busy resting to join in on rest day

moo

by Willj on Sep 6, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Roman Kreuziger

Finally rest day!now on beach drinking cold beer w/t team-mates!well to stay relax!

Though it doesn’t look like beer. And then a stop at a Scottish restaurant (no news on whether or not someone nicked the bike).

Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...

by TheFigurehead on Sep 6, 2010 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

Hm

I smell a rest day sandbagging. The old Anquetil “I’ve been out partying all night” ploy.

"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell

by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 6, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

disappointed

was hoping for neeps & tatties & deep fried mars bars for dessert

"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK

by civetta on Sep 6, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

The deep fried Mars bar is a starter, traditionally.

I kid. Since I heard about deep fried butter though, anything anyone can say about Scots and heart attacks is water off a duck’s back.

by Triki on Sep 6, 2010 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I heard that too.

Flabbergasting. Really.

"I was just trying to keep warm" - Ian Stannard on finishing third in KBK

by civetta on Sep 6, 2010 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Is the butter deep fried in bacon grease?

If not, they have room to improve.

Dat was echt een schwalbe!

by pigilito on Sep 6, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Jezus

are there restaurants in Scotland where you can take in lard intravenously? Because that’s where this is headed.

"Good thing I never said out loud that I was pulling for France, before this all started." -Mark Blacknell

by Chris Fontecchio on Sep 6, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Deep fried butter = American.

Was apparently available at Indiana State Fair (majope posted a picture somewhere), and was described on a BBC radio programme today. You crumb and fry a block of frozen butter on a stick.

Wouldn’t be that surprising if it was invented by someone called ‘Donald McGlinty’ or s/thing though.

by Triki on Sep 6, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

just heard that deep-fried beer's on offer

this year at the Texas State Fair.

Won’t be going, personally.

But the Tour of Austin this weekend—in addition to featuring Chann McRae, Pat McCarty, and Raul Alcala in the P12s—featured a new brewery (Thirsty Planet) giving away free beer. Free Good Beer

by R Mc on Sep 6, 2010 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Dolphin Watch 2010:

Alessandro Petacchi is the latest addition to the roster for Amstel Curacao (Amstel Gold’s hotter, drunker cousin). For those keeping score, he’ll be joining Robert Gesink, Niki Terpstra, Jurgen van den Broeck, and Bauke Mollema.

I really do not understand the truth.--Riccardo Ricco (per Google Translate)

by majope on Sep 6, 2010 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

(Amstel Gold’s hotter, drunker cousin)

you should be in marketing ;) – I now can’t wait

moo

by Willj on Sep 6, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

And if that wishing well has any credibility, tgsgirl

by tgsgirl on Sep 6, 2010 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Oooo he could look purty on a beach with not much on!

And Niki…I do like me some Niki.

Gora Euskaltel! Sorte on azenarioak!

by Albertina on Sep 6, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

You two ( You and Niki ) look good together on the one of your picks.

I used to be a big fan of the Racer Formerly Known as Bert! But then again, I used to believe in Santa ,Tooth Fairy and innocence of Floyd!

by holmovka on Sep 6, 2010 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Ooo we'd make a fine couple would we?

Pity he’s taken…bah!!

Gora Euskaltel! Sorte on azenarioak!

by Albertina on Sep 7, 2010 3:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I am pleased to report that in one or two hours in Copenhagen

you get to see more beautiful women on bikes than most people get to see in a lifetime.

by Jens on Sep 6, 2010 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

fail

where are the pics ;)

moo

by Willj on Sep 6, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

The danish tourist-board is paying me to get you lazy gits to go there and see for yourselves

not for sitting on your butts staring at pictures on the internet.

by Jens on Sep 6, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I am still bitter

at how disappointing the little mermaid is …. the Danish tourist board has a lot of questions to answer

moo

by Willj on Sep 6, 2010 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't see that the complaints have any merits

She is little and she is a mermaid. It’s called “The Little mermaid” , how is this false advertising?

by Jens on Sep 6, 2010 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

All I shot while riding around town was this beautiful lady. Dare I say, her funbags could use a little support.

Ceci n'est pas une signature.

by tedvdw on Sep 6, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I have no pics to back it up but so I will have to ask you to trust me on this

Based on your pic: Copenhagen > Utrecht

by Jens on Sep 6, 2010 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Well that started off well........

Ricco/Vacansoleil snubbed at the Giro di Lombardia. Hoogerland must be jumping with joy too.

(Oh, and RadioShack can’t play either)

by Jens on Sep 6, 2010 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

Lieutenantmud put up a fanshot

by Jens on Sep 6, 2010 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's some news:

Hayden Roulston posted a picture on Facebook of Tejay van Garderen yesterday. Apparently Tejay was stung by a bee after Saturday’s stage and his eye is swollen.

LINK

Are the evil sideburns at work?

by ZoeRochelle on Sep 6, 2010 8:49 PM EDT reply actions