Tour Down Under: Stage 3

So, another stage, another winner I've never heard of. Now I know what Frankie would feel like if she ever watched a cycling race. By the way it was Michael Matthews.
And Cavendish was pissed by the end of the stage because they opened the road to public before he finished....I know how to solve that..RIDE FASTER!!!
-Star

Tour Down Under: Stage 1

It's a sprinters stage race, so the winner of the first stage will be a sprinter, and the winner of the whole race will be a sprinter. The peloton is packed with sprinters that will probably be racing in France in July. So the winner is . . . . Matt Goss of HTC-Highroad!! What the what? Who is this?
This is Matt Goss.
The ironic thing is, is that Andre Greipel's was second. Andre used to ride for HTC-Highroad and has had words with Mark Cavendish. So Mark sent Andre's replacement to the front of the peloton to beat Andre. It's Mark's world, we're just living in it.
-Star

"I'm so sorry...

until someone else pisses me off." That's not a direct quote from Mark Cavendish, but it could have been.
-star

***first May post!!!

VINO...the cyclist, not the drink (updated twice)

Love him or hate him (and sometimes both at the same time) he's back. This last Sunday Alexandre "Vino" Vinokourov won the last Classic of the season, Liege - Bastogne - Liege. Much to the chagrin to some fans at the finish, and the media afterwards. But Vino's not going to put up with that, and will definitely add interest to the rest of the season (rubbing hands together).
On a note that makes my eyes sad, Karsten Kroon is having facial reconstruction surgery today. I know it's not a name I throw around a lot here, but believe me it should be. He did the whole "face catch me" with 70 km left in Fleche Wallone and turned into a bloody mess (open with caution). I prefer the precrash photos.

UPDATE: Karsten's surgery went well, with little to no scarring. It's a good day.
MORE UPDATE: The Mark Cavendish vs. Andre Greipel saga is still going. I guess someone will have a new team next year.

EVEN MORE UPDATE: Mark Cavendish is going to make this season interesting. This salute in Britain is same as flipping the bird in the U.S.
-star

Oh happy day...

Where do I start? Ok we'll start in Spain. Tyler Farrer won a stage at the Vuelta a Espana! He has ridden in every Grand Tour this year and it took him until the 12th stage to win one....he has had numerous 2nds & 3rds, but finally pulled though. Well done Tyler!!!
Now the real big news: THOR beat Cavendish in a sprint at the Tour of Missouri. Yippeee God of Thunder!! And he also took the leaders jersey from Cav, hehehe.
On some cycling sidenotes:
-Christian Vande Velde broke his hand during the 1st stage of the Tour of Missouri. That's sad.
-!Jens! Voigt made the team for the Tour of Missouri. That's awesome.
-Both of the Schlecks have dropped out of the Vuelta because of illness. I stopped watching them for the same reason.
-George Hincapie is wearing the Stars and Stripes at the Tour of Missouri. He does look like a super hero.
-Big Mig was at the Vuelta today. Check the comment on the pic.
-Dave Z should not be a model.

Crashtastic....

that's about the best way to describe Stage 4 of the Vuelta. Take a look at the last crash, and probably one of the largest I've seen, there was many more before that. One rider ran into the back of a tanker that was parked on the side of the road....it had to hurt.
Chris Horner is out with a broken wrist :( I say he calls it a season, I think he needs a hug.
David Millar is really funny. And so is Ryder.

Hot of the wire: Big George has signed with BMC...wtf? Team BMC signed a couple big international names. I guess they're hoping for some invites to the Grand Tours. What I find interesting is Marcus Burghardt flew from Columbia to BMC, as well...Big George and Marcus were Mark Cavendish's final 2 leadout men all season. Last year it was Gerald Ciolek and he didn't stick around. I'm pretty sure that's a trend, but is it because of Cav or Columbia management?

Heckle the Fastest Man on wheels. . . in person

Well Star & Boo, sounds like you're gonna have to start practicing now, your heckling will have to be short and to the point since he's going by at 50mph.

Good luck with that.

Or just stand on the smallest incline, then you can read the entire paragraph you've prepared.

Tour de France - the stage all riders have been waiting for

Well done France for once again hosting the greatest sporting event ever.
I think Cav has sent the message that he is the fastest man on 2 wheels. Even his leadout man got second they were going so fast.
Just taking a guess that Alberto is not going to be on Team Radio Shack. I wonder which party Johan went to?
I have to give a shout out to Garmin-Slipstream. Who though a little upstart team from the US in the first year as a proteam could place 2 riders in the top 10 of the Tour de France? I didn't think they could, but glad they did. -Star
It was great to see G-S do so well. It must be the team doctoring... or was he just the chiropractor? Hopefully he can get that extra gear out of Tyler. He deserves a stage or two. Is he riding the Vuelta, or will he be at the ToM? - boo
I finally found the pic of Dave Z warming up for the time trial. Have I mentioned he's crazy.
I don't know if Tyler is doing the Vuelta or Missori. Cav did the Giro, so he won't be in Spain.-Star

Tour de France - Stage 11

Cavendish won again today. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one that thinks Cav's a prick.
Oh Tyler, so close, yet so far. One these days, but probably after Cav's out of the race. -Star

If you watched VS this morning, one thing they do that is both entertaining and irritating is their own little Performance Prediction bit. Annoying that Hummer is doing so well, and entertaining because I'm not sure they know what is going on half the time. Today Paul was speechless due to the fact that he thought he picked Feirre but they put up Rojas. Mayhem ensued. Well, as much mayhem as can be had on a set with one dork, 2 retired cyclists and good ol' crazy Phil.

I watch live updating at work from cyclingnews.com. (don't tell my boss...) and there are some funny items. Unfortunately, today was the guy who isn't as funny as the girl. Yesterday, she mentioned that there was a snail convoy attempting to cross the road. She said that one was sent out and got a 2 inch gap on the rest of the snail peleton. Ok - I thought it was funny... - boo

You should have heard Paul & Phil worry about the snails. Was the highlight of the day. That and VdV's post-race interview. - Lil

Tour de France - Stage 3

It was a sprint stage, so it is ok to assume that Mark Cavandish won, because he did. But so much more happened too. It was a "must watch" last 30 k.
I thought the team not to piss off this TdF was Astana, but I think Columbia is not a team to trifled with. Big George looks like a softy until you don't help chase down the breakaway!
I would like to be a fly on the wall in the meeting post-stage in the Astana bus. I wonder how much Spanish Lance and Johan know. I'm sure they've heard all the cuss words before.
Boo's favorite team director!! - Star

Awww... I love Matty.... thanks to Vs. for shooting that spot with him from an angle. Took the big ears right out of the picture.

Damn... Cav is fast. I thought Thor was going to give him a battle, but Mark just kicked it a little bit more and pulled away. Crazy fast. But boy he sure was a jackass in his interview at the end. I didn't see him pulling at any point. - boo

Dear Mark Cavandish,
Don't be such a jerk, if you weren't so good and a practical lock on winning every sprint, then other sprinters teams would help Columbia pull back the break-a-ways.
Sincerely, Star
PS - Does Great Britain know that braces have been invented?

Just gotta chip in on this one. I don't know if LA "accidently on purpose" managed to get in the lead group with 2 strong domestics but that showed experience and some ball(s), which he as plenty of... experience that is.

Note to self: The next time I'm asked to manage a pro cycling team I'm gonna look for a ratio better than 1.25 domestics to each GC contender - somebody has to get the water.

Astana=Kazakhstanian for ¡OMG DRAMA!

Tour de France - Stage 2

Stage 2 with another predictable winner. If it's a sprint finish on the stage, there's only 1 guy that is really favored: Mark Cavandish. I think we'll be seeing him cross the line first a lot on flat stages.
Tyler Farrar was close, but no cigar. He did beat Thor 'the God of Thunder' Hushovd and 'Tornado' Tom Boonen. I guess the new guard is passing up the old guard.....if the old guard is 31 and 28 years old?
I wonder what Frankie Andreau has in his contract with VS. that has him interviewing Lance Armstong? For those unfamiliar to the backstory, Frankie (a former teammate of Lance's) and his wife have gone on record accusing Lance of doping. Uncomfortable!

Tour de France Preview One Final Time

Tom Boonen was not going to race because of testing positive for cocaine twice in the last year. But now he's in. So we'll see tomorrow if he is at the starting gate of Stage 1. I'm looking forward to seeing the big Belgian.
But Tommeke will have to battle Mark Cavendish in all the sprint finishes. It should get interesting.
The rider I'm really, really looking forward to seeing in big George Hincapie. Yep, I'll enjoy seeing him again.
Although I'm excited to see Jens Voigt race. He is my favorite racer that reminds me of a Malmo farmer.
I'm not sure how much time and effort I want to devote to the continuing saga that is life in Astana. The latest rumour is that Alexander Vinokourov has got the Kazakh backers to bump Johan & Lance out of the organization, and make the team up of Spanish and Kazakh riders starting with Alberto and Vino. How many times does Johan have to say that the team is united for it to actually be so?
I think we should just start racing!
-Star

Giro Update (stage 13) by star

Mark Cavendish won again today. That's his third individual win in 13 stages, plus he was part of the ITT win in stage 1. To bad he's done for the race. The finish was 15 K from his home in Italy, so he's probably going to bike home and stay there until the Tour de France. Ok, maybe not, but that's what I'd do.

Denis Menchov is still in pink. He must be Russian, even when he's leading a Grand Tour he can't smile. Maybe because he knows that there are pretty much a week of mountain stages left, and he doesn't have much of a team to help him.

Chechu moved up a spot, but I don't know why. I think Universal Sports should have a 'Chechu Cam'. He's 43rd, 32:14 back.