The 2010 Cycling Thread!

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

I know its still a month and a half away but what's the early outlook of the 2010 Radioshack TDF team?

As I've said numerous times I really only follow the sport closely during the TDF each year.

I was looking at the Shack's roster and came up with these nine names as a potential roster. Please feel free to correct me if I'm way off or missing someone that will probably be on there.

Lance Armstrong
Levi Leipheimer
Andreas Kloden
Chechu Rubiera
Yaroslav Popoyvch
Haimar Zubeldia
Sergio Paulinho

Those seven I would think would be locks baring any injuries or sickness etc.
The last two spots I would see as up for grabs between:

Sebastien Rosseler
Gert Steegmans
Jani Brajkovic
Gregory Rast
Chris Horner
Dimitray Murayev

Thoughts?

 

[Titleist]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Straight answer:
Horner and Brajkovic are the two best for the tout pour Lance approach. If there were a TTT this year, Rosseler may get the call. And if The Hog wasn't worried about destroying RS's best rider this year, Machado should get the call.

Less straight answer:
Steegmans should get a ride since he has the best chance at getting RS some glory.

Really crooked answer:
His Yellowness won't ride. He just crashed out of the ToC and had been talking about how bad his form was anyway. If he loses significant training time, he has ZERO chance and his ego won't let him ride. Also the French will be going NUTS over FL's allegations. That would likely see LL or even AK as the leader, neither of whom has a real chance, I think.

P.S. You really should be watching the Giro. Its the best stage race I've ever seen so far and the really crazy mountains don't start until the weekend. (Not counting the Monte Grappa stage on Friday)

 

[MattS]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Really crooked answer:
His Yellowness won't ride. He just crashed out of the ToC and had been talking about how bad his form was anyway.

You fell for this? I think any injuries got about 100x worse as of FL's "stunning announcement" yesterday. He used that as an excuse to get out of the lime light for a few weeks. Never the less I think he will reappear in time for the TdF.

 

[Titleist]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Oh, I didn't really fall for it but I did see pictures of him on his TT bike and he looked huge. I'll see if I can find a picture.


And I certainly agree that with Landis' allegations any injury get worse, but I'm not sold on his form. I've heard rumors since Feb that Lance wouldn't ride and this was all a huge front, but had dismissed them. This fall may be the perfect excuse. Conversely, this fall is a built in excuse why he won't win.

OK found some pixs...

I'm no rider, but that doesn't look really in shape to me.

 

[brianvf]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

I think it's hard to judge how fit a rider is based on TT pictures.
Anytime you exhale in the TT position, it accentuates your midsection and makes it look much larger than it actually is.

My wife does triathlons, and a few years ago I was watching her compete and took a bunch of pictures. When we looked at them later, some of the pics from the bike portion made her look much larger than usual (is she pregnant? ), while others she looked tiny in the midsection. She either lost 30lbs during the course of the race, or I just caught her at separate times inhaling and exhaling.

 

[Titleist]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Fair enough, as mentioned, I have no real knowledge here, just going off the pictures. However, I still wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't ride. I reserve the right to modify this statement based on what LA's injury is.

ETA: Ok just saw the images of LA post-crash and he looks to have cuts and bruises as well as some damage to the face, he looked to be bleeding from the eye. So possibly orbital fracture or just standard cuts and bruises. Rubiera also went down and had some real nasty road-rash.

 

[rufus]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

I saw yesterday, on VS, they listed his weight as being 165 pounds, and when he was winning Tours, he was at 150-155.

I don't see him competing for a podium spot in the Tour regardless. Last year was a fluke, and he's not gonna get any better.

 

[MattS]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

I don't see him competing for a podium spot in the Tour regardless. Last year was a fluke, and he's not gonna get any better.

The only way LA gets a podium is if Levi/Kolden/Horner pull him there.

 

[sagard]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

I saw yesterday, on VS, they listed his weight as being 165 pounds, and when he was winning Tours, he was at 150-155.

I don't see him competing for a podium spot in the Tour regardless. Last year was a fluke, and he's not gonna get any better.

I hope Lance takes the next step. Drops out of contention early. Then wins a couple stages for a last hurrah.

 

[brianvf]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Semi off-topic discussion:

I've been hesitant to discuss this because nothing is for-sure yet, but things are starting to fall into place a bit more. If all goes as planned (does that ever happen?), I could be the proud new owner of my very own bicycle shop starting Oct 1st of this year!

We just started going into negotiations with the property mgmt on the lease details, so things are coming together. I'm very excited about the possibility, but also reluctant to get too optimistic with all the details that could still go wrong.

The next couple weeks will be important to see if we can lock down a good lease rate and get the location that we want. It's very exciting, but very stressing all at the same time!

 

[sagard]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Semi off-topic discussion:

I've been hesitant to discuss this because nothing is for-sure yet, but things are starting to fall into place a bit more. If all goes as planned (does that ever happen?), I could be the proud new owner of my very own bicycle shop starting Oct 1st of this year!

We just started going into negotiations with the property mgmt on the lease details, so things are coming together. I'm very excited about the possibility, but also reluctant to get too optimistic with all the details that could still go wrong.

The next couple weeks will be important to see if we can lock down a good lease rate and get the location that we want. It's very exciting, but very stressing all at the same time!

I really hope it works for you Brian. I'm really hoping my next job is in a bike shop, but probably hopefully still 15-20 years away.

Would it be a franchise or your own local shop? Any chance your moving to the cities and becoming a Gopher fan?

Best of luck and thanks for all the bike advise over the last few years. My insurance came through after my last crash and I again have way too much bike for my skill set. Sure is fun though.

 

[pardonme]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

What brands are you going to carry. I assume trek, but what else?

 

[CarlS]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Haven't been able to post in a long while as life has been getting in the way ... but brianvf's store is bringing me back. brianvf - you do realize that you are going to have to have mail order service for the USCHO board, post the standings in the shop of our fantasy teams next cycling season ... and most importantly create a cycling shirt with USCHO somewhere in the design.

Great news to hear. A friend of mine left his corporate job last year and started a very specialized micro brewery. A year later he can't keep up with demand and is expanding. As they say do what you love and love what you do.

That being said I have to get going to catch the bus for my morning 2 hr commute

 

[brianvf]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Would it be a franchise or your own local shop? Any chance your moving to the cities and becoming a Gopher fan?

Best of luck and thanks for all the bike advise over the last few years. My insurance came through after my last crash and I again have way too much bike for my skill set. Sure is fun though.

It would be a Trek Concept Store, but they are not really setup like a normal franchise. I would still have 100% ownership rights, but the name on front would still have the Trek logo.
No, the Cities is pretty well taken care of on the Trek front with Penn Cycles. Plus, I can't live in Gopher country.

Glad to hear that your insurance came through! Which bike did you end up going with?

What brands are you going to carry. I assume trek, but what else?

Since it is the concept store model, we'll for sure carry Trek, Gary Fisher, and Mirraco (kids/bmx bikes). But we can also carry other smaller companies as well if we want. I was thinking of carrying a smaller, custom steel brand that isn't represented in the area...Independent Fabrication, Seven, something along those lines.

brianvf - you do realize that you are going to have to have mail order service for the USCHO board, post the standings in the shop of our fantasy teams next cycling season ... and most importantly create a cycling shirt with USCHO somewhere in the design.

Yes, these ideas are now all part of the business plan.

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. I really hope things work out as this has been a dream of mine for about 15 years.

 

[brianvf]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

A big name abandoned from the Giro today.
Domenico Pozzovivo is no longer in the race. Tough for him, as his fun terrain in the mountains is still coming up.

It's probably only a matter of time before the sprinters start the exodus out of the Giro as well. Not many sprint stages left.

 

[brianvf]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Two Italian wins in a row, as Belletti from Colnago takes the win from the breakaway. My fantasy team gets some help with Henderson getting 2nd.

Interesting move from Karpets attacking solo with over 60km remaining.
He finished 5min behind the winner and the peloton finished 7:27, so he made up a couple minutes, but used a ton of energy in the process.

Tomorrow's stage has a big climb with the Monte Grappa, but then there is 40km of downhill/flat remaining after the summit, so I doubt many GC favorites will do much...unless they can pressure Porte, then we might see some racing.

 

[Titleist]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

brian, even if they do drop Porte, I'm not sure they push hard with the Zoncolon the next day. I'm not sure that they rate Porte as a contender and unless Arroyo or Tondo or someone is in trouble, it may just be tranquillo to the finish.

Too bad about Pozzovivo, they guy is like 99 lbs and I was looking forward to seeing him climb. Good for Colongo that Belletti won today then, I guarentee that they only got selected because of Pozzovivo and Modolo, no both have dropped out. ISD would have been looking like a better selection as a wildcard...

 

[Probert]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

First interesting stage in the Tour of California today. Great attacks and up and down action as Sagan continues to impress. Hoping for anybody but Levi to take the jersey tomorrow. Would like to see Zabriske win though with his snakebitten luck he will probably crash.

This is the best Giro I have watched in years probably since 2005 when the top 3 finished less than a minute apart. Kind of expected some attacks today but I guess Evans, Vino and Basso expect to make it all up in the last week.

 

[brianvf]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Looks like Liquigas wants to take this Giro back.
Nibali, Basso, Evans, and Scarponi all descending together after getting away on the Grappa. Nibali is a bit in front, Vino is chasing just behind.
Porte was dropped hard, Sastre/Tondo/Arroyo/Wiggins are chasing on the downhill.

EDIT: Wow, Nibali is descending like an animal. That's some serious talent.
He's opening up a good gap on the chasing three of Basso/Evans/Scarponi and could take the stage.

 

[Titleist]

Re: The 2010 Cycling Thread!

Looks like I've been brainwashed about bike racing after so many years of watching Disco/USPS/Astana/RS and forgot that you can actually make bold attacks on non-finishing climbs. GREAT RACING! I'm going to be so disappointed in the tour, aren't I?

Nibali is an animal! GC is slowly starting to shake out.