terra unfirma

beer mat

2010-02-23T06:42:00.001-08:00

Beer? Freddy? The Classics are looming...

chris horner

2010-02-17T07:53:00.000-08:00

Just checking that you are all reading his blog.

apples

2010-02-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

everybody gets knocked down...

2010-02-12T03:06:00.000-08:00

Human Chain from NikeSportswear on Vimeo.

good vibrations

2010-02-10T10:48:00.000-08:00

Sean Yates. Roubaix 1994. With his cobbled Classics face on.

a ride with andy hampsten

2010-02-09T12:01:00.000-08:00

"The natural beauty, you can argue, is better in America than Europe. At least I think it is. But Europe has this great peculiarity. They put roads over mountains on goat paths where they don’t really need a road but they make a road anyway. And then someone comes along and opens a little café at the top." - Andy Hampsten

Check out the entire collection of words and pictures over at Rapha. Andy's musings make for a great, great read.

franco ballerini r.i.p

2010-02-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

need for speed

2010-02-04T05:10:00.001-08:00

Massan by Jason Rosete.

Straight Outta Compton

2010-02-04T04:35:00.000-08:00

This is inspiring stuff. You can check out more about Rahsaan's foundation here.

priority

2010-01-28T10:26:00.000-08:00

Found this here. A real gem.

don't call it a comeback...

2010-01-26T06:26:00.000-08:00

1-2-3

2010-01-25T10:31:00.000-08:00

an apology

2010-01-22T04:02:00.000-08:00

I've been responsible for five consecutive Lance Armstrong and/or RadioShack posts, so I thought I better get all EURO on this one.

sixteen years later people

2010-01-22T03:15:00.000-08:00

I thought it quite apt that on the day a video of Lance getting passed by Big Mig in '94 did the rounds via twitter, the very same LA was on the attack in the 2010 TdU. With black socks on. I nearly spilled my espresso all over my copy of bicisport.

youth

2010-01-21T03:54:00.001-08:00

just a thought...

2010-01-20T07:10:00.000-08:00

The 2010 racing season is barely a few days old and the Lance debate is underway. Can he win the Tour? Can he challenge Alberto? Can he even make the podium? July isn't close to being on the horizon but if Lance isn't a factor then why all the talk? I thought psychological warfare was supposed to be a little smarter and a lot more fun than this?

new season

2010-01-18T04:46:00.001-08:00

The beginning of a new year of road racing is always interesting; the excitement building for the Classics yet the Grand Tours seemingly a long way off. The early races a chance to see new teams, new kits, new bikes. To look closely for any indicators of form that may show themselves in the races that really matter to us. And also just to simply watch bike racing again.

introducing...

2010-01-14T01:19:00.000-08:00

one of a kind

2010-01-13T12:36:00.000-08:00

Marco Pantani would have celebrated his 40th birthday today. I'm gonna raise a glass to him...

dan sharp

2010-01-12T03:25:00.000-08:00

So I got my copy of Dan Sharp's Il Centenario today. It's been featured on more prominent blogs like embrocation and twmp, so I'll send you there rather than cover old tracks but suffice to say, it's a great photo journal of an equally great race. I've yet to visit the Giro but the passion of the tifosi, the majesty of the landscape and the suffering of the riders leaps out from every page. I'd also suggest checking out Dan's website, which features more of his images. If you want to get hold of a copy of Il Centenario (and you do) contact Myles at ampersandvintage@mac.com and he'll hook you up. Mine travelled from Portland, OR to Bristol, UK and arrived without bend or crease. Thanks Myles!

the champion of champions

2010-01-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

Fifty years since his death and as relevant as ever.

los angeles to inland empire

2009-12-24T07:31:00.000-08:00

Emi Brown: Los Angeles to Inland Empire from Matt Lingo on Vimeo.

I'm always into documentations of a 'bike ride' and this film of a sixty-mile jaunt is a nice example. The essence of cycling; getting from A to B. And just enjoying the ride. Check out Emi's blog too...

il centenario

2009-12-23T03:52:00.000-08:00

Il Centenario - Una Storia from j. dunn on Vimeo.

Picked this up from Embrocation and now trying to get my hands on a copy. Amazing photos by Dan Sharp in a beautiful package, produced with an independent spirit that mainstream publications always lack and can never replicate. Just so nice. Watch and enjoy. And then try and get hold of a copy too.

winner?

2009-12-14T05:18:00.000-08:00

From almost the moment it began, I decided to pay little attention to the 'Wiggins to Sky' developing plotline. Not that I wasn't interested in where he would end up, it's just that protracted signings in any sport that are played out in the press usually leave a bad taste in the mouth; truth buried deep below the headlines, the speculation, the lies. Viewing from afar and through the most twisted of lenses, we have little with which to develop an informed opinion with. Now it's done and dusted, I'm still not sure what to make of it all. I've always liked Bradley Wiggins but I can't help feeling cold over the whole Sky Team and their seemingly win at all costs mentality. The underdog will never lose his appeal. The cash rich are always viewed less favorably. These pillars of sporting law will remain. But so to the harsh reality that a pile of cold, hard cash often leaves the underdog with little choice but to chase his tail. The Yankees win. Man Utd win. So I'm guessing that Sky will too, in some shape or form. But winning in road racing doesn't have a singular definition and it depends on what Sky demand? Stage wins? A Classic or two? A Grand Tour title? If it's the latter, and Wiggins is their chosen one then they may well come up short. I think a lot of riders like Michael Barry, Serge Pauwels and Boasson Hagen but I'm not convinced that they are enough to vault Wiggins above Contador, A Schleck and Armstrong. For better analysis than I can provide, you should read this piece by Whit Yost, who expertly breaks down the battle that is Garmin Vs Sky.

franco bitossi

2009-12-12T06:51:00.000-08:00

bike ride two

2009-12-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

However sometimes cruising isn't the order of the day. Another Rapha Continental ride again beautifully documenting that some journeys require a little more effort; elicit a lot more pain. So here's to pushing yourself and suffering too.

bike ride

2009-12-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

Going for a bike ride will always remain one of life's simple pleasures. Every journey is different. No matter how long or how short the ride, it will always be a fresh experience. To me, this collection of photographs captures the essence of the bike ride perfectly. New sights. Old haunts. Not training. Just riding. Here's to cruising and smelling the roses along the way.

preparing for another day in the mountains

2009-12-03T07:21:00.000-08:00

barry

2009-11-25T07:35:00.001-08:00

petro

2009-11-25T02:35:00.000-08:00

Got to get your Petro designed 'Worms' t-shirt. Available here.

not minor but...

2009-11-21T14:06:00.000-08:00

...M ajor.

style and substance

2009-11-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

After reading the Richard Williams piece in the Guardian this week about the Velodromo Vigorelli, I found these photos of Fausto Coppi on said track among my collection of cycling images. Seeing them again reminds me exactly of why I first became fascinated by a cyclist that I am too young to have ever seen race. In fact, it was the image that came first, a black and white photo of a man who encapsulated style, who had an effortless cool that was timeless and who had that something else too, that thing you can't quite put into words. Seeing a picture of Coppi before I knew it was him, what I did know was that he would always look 'right', on the bike and off, transcending time and trends and fashion in a way that very few can ever do. But icons need to be multidimensional and road racing is an unforgiving pursuit that never actually gave a flying fuck about style. It is us the cyclists who covet it. Obsess about it even. Pros too of course. "Who's got the best style?" is always a valid question. Just one that the record books, the top of the mountain pass and the finish line never bother with. So I was glad that when I began to find out all I could about Coppi, his palmares, the nature of many of his wins, his entire story more than matched the images that I couldn't get enough of. Style AND substance. A rare combination indeed.

embrocation props

2009-11-10T04:30:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if anyone, outside of a very small circle that comprises of my girlfriend, my brother and a couple of friends, reads my blog. But I'm guessing that if they (you?) do, then they (you?) are already well aware of embrocation cycling journal, in both its print and online form. I've been a fan for a while now but have stupidly yet to buy a copy, relying instead on embrocation's online presence, in the form of an always excellent website that recently went pro, a blog and plenty of twitter tweets. As a print obsessive, I need to get hold of the mag and cannot think of a single reason why I haven't done this already. The point of this post however was to mention that there is a nice little interview with embrocation's creator Jeremy Dunn here. Lots of DPS teasers from the latest issue accompany the interview too, where I learned that both of Jeremy's parents were teachers, just as mine were. Nice.

velodromo vigorelli

2009-11-10T03:39:00.000-08:00

There's a nice piece on the Guardian's sports blog today about Milan's legendary velodrome. Written by Richard Williams, it's well worth a read.

six-day

2009-11-09T10:36:00.000-08:00

off the beaten track

2009-10-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

The freedom and adventure that a bicycle offers has always been, for me, one of its greatest attractions. While on a day-to-day basis my bike is first and foremost my mode of transport, it's the pull of the wild, with its rarified air, unrelenting gradients and lack of any safety net that really stokes the fire. In the same way that I'm drawn to legendary tales of alpinists, rock climbers and big-wave surfers, it's cycling sans normality that excites me the most. Harsh conditions. Big mountains. Grit, gravel, mud and dirt. Away from the streets and lanes and traffic that form the well-ridden map of my very normal cycling experience. I promise myself that I'm going to visit these places. Create a new map. Maybe I will. So I'm still constantly drawn to these tales, to these images, to these experiences. Like these photos here and here from Rapha's trip to Norway. You may dislike the idea behind imagery that tries to sell you a £200 jacket. You may dislike the brand for their romanticism, for their perceived pretensions. But whatever your thoughts on Rapha, these images make me want to ride my bike. To ride a cross bike for the first time, in the mud and rain and wind. And that can only be a good thing. For me. And, I guess, for the brand selling £200 jackets too.

ottavio bottecchia

2009-10-22T01:53:00.000-07:00

bicycle diaries

2009-10-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

I need to get a copy of David Byrne's latest book, it looks likes a great read. Here's a short Q&A with David, aptly describing why the bike is the best way to get around.

oregon manifest design challenge and race

2009-10-16T04:49:00.000-07:00

The Constructor's Design Challenge and Race – Great looking bikes, with amazing solutions to everyday quandaries like having to carry stuff, seeing in the dark and how to lock your bike safely. And to prove that the bikes indeed work, they then raced them for 77 miles, up hill and down dale, picking up said stuff as they went. Looks like they had a ball...

TdF 2010

2009-10-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

A quick glance at the 2010 parcours is enough to get even the most apathetic of us excited. A little flavour of the Classics to get things started and then some beautiful, brutal days in the Pyrenees, including two visits to the Col du Tourmalet, with the second visit a mountain top finish. One for the climbers for sure but mostly one for the fans.

coppi e soldani

2009-10-14T04:09:00.000-07:00

The 1950 edition of the Giro di Lombardia was the year that Renzo Soldani broke Coppi's stranglehold on the race, ending his run of four straight victories. Having to deal with a level crossing didn't seem to faze either rider; Coppi's style as perfect as ever. Soldani's career was a strange one. A rapid rise to prominence followed by an even quicker descent into obscurity, finally calling it quits in 1955, with his last victory the 1951 Sassari-Cagliari. He was 30 years old.

r.i.p fvb

2009-10-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

Remember the great stuff...

saronnial elegance

2009-10-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

No one wore - or wears - a biretta quite like Beppe Sarroni.

fair dinkum

2009-10-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

A two-week jaunt to Spain meant I've been slack on the postings but I did manage to catch the Worlds on the BBC. Cadel Evans is another of those bike riders who seems to always divide opinion - wheelsucking whinger to some, a dogged fighter to others - but I was really glad to see him finally triumph in a race of significance. Certainly he can no longer be accused of lacking the cojones to go all out for victory. His attack was everything an attack should and needs to be. Well-timed. Sustained. And with an element of surprise. How else are you going to beat Cunego, Sanchez, Cancellara, Kolobnev, Rodriguez and Valverde? I should have listened to my girlfriend and put a few bob on him.

coppi

2009-09-19T05:08:00.000-07:00

the boass

2009-09-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

Seems like Columbia have this whole dominating sprint finishes thing pretty much down. Fourth ToB stage win for Edvald yesterday against the backdrop of serious crowds in Somerset and Devon. The South West always delivers!

cent cols steel

2009-09-16T03:57:00.000-07:00

A bike worthy of the challenge indeed.

still a knobhead

2009-09-16T03:36:00.000-07:00

This is the definition of half-assed.

cent cols challenge

2009-09-16T02:21:00.000-07:00

The Cent Cols Challenge is exactly the kind of riding that gets me excited - incredible scenery, historic climbs, plenty of suffering, glory too. It's far removed from my everyday cycling experience, which makes it all the more appealing. The inspiring event is the brainchild of Phil Deeker and is taking place right now. Rapha have a team riding in the Challenge, including Ira Ryan and Graeme Raeburn, with the latter keeping us up to date on their progress with these great blog posts. Follow and enjoy.

knobhead

2009-09-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

He's writing for the Mail so I guess it shouldn't be much of a surprise but still, what a complete wanker! Attempting to imitate Jeremy Clarkson is neither big or clever.

how do you say chapeau in spanish?

2009-09-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

For some, the Vuelta will always be a mere afterthought; the not quite as grand tour; the stepbrother with the less fanciful lineage. But while its current position in the racing calender may affect it adversely, the race itself continues to be, in my mind, great. And this year is no exception. I had grown a little bored of The Comeback and the Astana shenanigans and watching a race unfold without Armstrong or Contador has been refreshing. Not that I don't enjoy watching them both race, I do. Bring on next year and all that jazz but right now I'm enjoying the space they have vacated, the limelight briefly up for grabs before it's consumed again by those who crave it, demand it, (sometimes) earn it. Yesterday's stage was epic in the true sense of the word; the riders clinging to the mountain, covered in rain and dirt and pain. Switch to black and white and lose the the 21st century equipment and you had the kind of old-fashioned, sepia-toned suffering that makes those historical images of agony such an essential component of cycling history. Cunego's win was oh-so impressive and I hope hints beyond just a return to form for this year's World Championships. Valverde was equally gutsy, as were Mosquera, Sanchez, Gesink, Evans and Basso, all of who left everything they had on the slopes of the Pandera.

over the mountains...mountains

2009-09-11T03:55:00.000-07:00

The Vuelta gets tough today...Valverde? Evans? Gesink? Basso?

hell yeah

2009-09-10T09:40:00.001-07:00

we're almost somewhere

2009-09-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

I posted a picture of one of David Byrne's great bike racks a while back. Here's a little film about his designs that are now dotted around New York City (see above).

missing ingredient

2009-09-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

sky pie

2009-09-09T05:34:00.000-07:00

Team Sky has just announced that it's signed these guys. Glad to see that they had the good sense to get Russell Downing's signature. But we all know that they really want...

clean as a whistle

2009-09-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

always a winner

2009-09-08T02:48:00.000-07:00

I think we've seen this outcome before... running out of fresh victory salutes so Cav now opting for the tried and tested 'point to the sky' celebration.

the prince and the vuelta

2009-09-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

A great ride by Cunego today. Always a favourite rider of mine, I had in recent years resigned myself to the fact that his Grand Tour days were over. Maybe he won't ever repeat his Giro win of 2004 but for today, at least, he's back!

at the races

2009-09-04T01:33:00.000-07:00

real deal

2009-09-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in my last post the plethora of new bikes that have that hand-built look to them so I thought it only right and proper that I showed a few photos of some real hand-built machines. These are all crafted by frame builder Ira Ryan out of Portland, OR and are, simply put, works of art. Works of art that enjoy mile after mile of tarmac, grit and gravel that is.

globe bikes

2009-09-03T01:46:00.000-07:00

I posted a photo of Trek's new 'city' bike a while ago, and here is the Specialized version. Seems like both companies have been inspired by the growing popularity of hand-built bikes, or at least bikes that look as they have come from a small, sweaty workshop instead of an impassive factory line . As with the Trek models, I like how these Globe bikes look and while their website copy is pretty painful (I haven't figured out what a "competitive urban assault" is just yet, but apparently their fixed-gear model, called Roll, is more than ready for one), I'm a believer in the more affordable and practical bikes available the better.

the curious case of...

2009-09-01T02:21:00.000-07:00

Inigo Cuesta. Forty years young. Sixteenth straight Vuelta. Inspiring.

dz

2009-08-30T09:03:00.001-07:00

sneak peek

2009-08-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

New Rapha products. Time to raid the piggy bank again.

bike rack nyc

2009-08-29T04:36:00.000-07:00

pedro and miguel

2009-08-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

The Vuelta starts tomorrow. Two of Spain's finest here...

coming soon

2009-08-24T04:43:00.001-07:00

ireland

2009-08-24T04:04:00.000-07:00

Russell Downing's victory yesterday was epic. Pro Tour teams throwing everything they had at him. Outnumbered but never outridden. Twenty-five percent gradients and crappy weather be damned, let attack be the best form of defence. One for the underdogs.

cooler than a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce

2009-08-21T02:42:00.000-07:00

Be like Felice.

Adrien Niyonshuti

2009-08-21T02:18:00.000-07:00

Pro cycling has always thrown up interesting characters. Adrien Niyonshuti is another, with a background as tough as they come. The Tour of Ireland, which begins today, will be Adrien's first European professional race.

dressed to impress (and win)

2009-08-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

Talking of the Tour of Ireland, Rapha Condor will of course be racing and their seven-man team will be sporting their new kit, including Kristian House in his Champions jersey. Despite the necessity of additional sponsors names, Rapha have still managed to create a clean and classic kit, which puts all others to shame.

warming up

2009-08-20T06:14:00.000-07:00

The Tour of Ireland begins tomorrow and it boasts an impressive list of riders, including Cav and Lance. Armstrong has been preparing for the 3-day stage race by flying to Scotland for a U2 show, preceded by a ride around Paisley, where he played pied piper to a couple of hundred cyclists. I have a real disdain for celebrity culture and have grown to question the whole notion of having heroes but I tip my hat to LA for making himself available to his fans and fellow cyclists in such a manner. A true 'star' in my book...

sweet

2009-08-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

I'm really liking the look of these new Trek bikes. Designed essentially for getting from A to B, they have done a great job in combining functionality with some understated style. I hope these make it to the UK...

vinokourov - don't call it a comeback

2009-08-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Every sport loves a comeback story but there are a few hard and fast rules about which comebacks we can get all excited about and those we must dismiss as unwanted. Cycling comebacks in recent years have been heavily scented with the odour of scandal, and unless you really had a (strange) thing for Rock Racing and their tacky 'lets sell rebellion' image, they have been, by and large, easy to forget. Lance's return to racing changed that of course but even a man not shy of a little self promotion knows that on your comeback trail you should probably have a higher purpose (a plight for example) and at least change a few letters on your jersey so the whole thing doesn't reek of narcissism (logos of bike shops you co-own is just fine, photographs of yourself, not so fine). Oh, and if your comeback is from a doping suspension then an admission of guilt and/or remorse would also be appreciated. Vino 4 Ever? Let's hope not.

keep on ridin'

2009-07-31T01:18:00.000-07:00

Inspirational stuff. This also reminds me of a group of older Italian dudes I once saw riding up the Tourmalet. They all appeared to be in their sixties, super slim, riding state-of-the-art De Rosas and Colnagos, climbing like mountain goats and having a ball. A love affair that lasts a lifetime.

english classics

2009-07-30T05:36:00.000-07:00

Weller, Smith and Wiggins.

the wrong fight to pick

2009-07-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

I was disappointed to read Contador's comments that followed his Tour de France victory. You would think that 24 hours after a Grand Tour win, Contador would be thanking his team instead of bemoaning the lack of support and attacking Lance Armstrong. First up, from an outsiders point of view he seemed well supported by Popo, Zubeldia, Kloden, Paulinho AND Armstrong . I'm a believer that you can't win a three-week tour without huge efforts from the troops and Astana's first and third on the final podium points only at a serious, concerted effort from ALL involved. Even after Contador's boneheaded attack that dropped Kloden, his teammates were there until the end, ensuring his second Tour win. Secondly, I'm unsure what he is hoping to achieve by stating that he has no admiration for Lance. It seems a strange admission at best. Undoubtably he has been upset since Lance's return and this is somewhat understandable. One minute you are sitting pretty on your throne and then the King returns from the dead and asks for his crown back. But if Contador feels overshadowed by LA despite winning four Grand Tours in as many starts, then he just needs to get over it. You just don't survive cancer and then go and win seven Tours. But Lance did and just like every other rider from Armstrong's (extended) era, Contador will have to accept that it's Lance who has transcended his sport and in doing so wields a disproportionate amount of power. In the end, the old racing adage that the road will decide who is number one proved true and this is all the solace that Contador should need. Looking for anything more just appears childish.

a cleaner, brighter tour

2009-07-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

I always get the post Tour blues. No matter that I spend much of the year telling non-cycling friends that there are indeed OTHER races worthy of their intention, when the final lap around the Champs is complete and the jerseys are presented I'm already looking towards next's years race. Maybe it's just the blanket TV coverage, the constant web updates and actually seeing bike racing in the newspapers that makes withdrawal symptoms a natural response to the conclusion of the race. Or perhaps it's just the magnitude of the race itself. Of course their are other races, and sometimes they are more exciting but there is nothing remotely like the Tour de France in terms of sheer scale, both real and imagined. Watching the human bouillabaisse that threatened to swamp the slopes of Ventoux was to witness the power and the pull of the Tour in all its glory. Anyone who has attended a mountain stage knows that the seething mass of humanity teetering on the brink of chaos defines the Tour as much as the courage and the suffering of the riders that they have climbed, camped and clambered to see. Fifty thousand plus clinging to every available space on Ventoux was a beautiful confirmation that bike racing's demise has been greatly exaggerated. Doping scandal after doping scandal may have filled column inches, may have encouraged those who thrive on the negative to ready their pens for an obituary of a sport that is rarely understood by those who watch from afar. But for those of us who cared bike racing wasn't going anywhere and this year's Tour is reason for more optimism. As I write this there have been no positive tests among this year's riders. This may change of course. I sat enthralled by the performance of Di Luca in this year's Giro only to have to stomach that feeling again when his positive results were announced. But unlike the darker years, when suspicion clouded entire races and entire teams, I have confidence that the riders who cheat now, cheat alone and will get caught. It's not bike racing that is sick, just a few individuals who chose to disrespect a sport that has given them so much. That professional cycling does more than any other sport to weed out those who dope means that the spotlight will always shine brighter on it and that sometimes the glare will unfairly incriminate those who are only guilty of working hard and making sacrifices. But as I watched Armstrong, the Schelcks, Wiggins and Contador climb Ventoux I saw thousands of believers cheering them to the summit. And more importantly I saw believers who now have a real reason to be just so.

paris

2009-07-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

Another Tour ends and ends with a bang. I'm not sure how many bike lengths Cav won by but it was a margin of victory that you rarely see in today's sprint finishes especially in a stage as prestigious as the Champs-Elysees. Dominant doesn't really do Cav justice but it will have to suffice for now! I'm going to attempt to look at the Tour more closely over the next few days but a quick summation would be a successful Tour, in spite of the Pyrenees being muzzled. I think the best three riders ended up on the podium and there were some great individual performances that punctuated the battles, squabbles and dominant story lines of the three weeks.

ventoux beckons

2009-07-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

After yesterday's impressive TT win, Contador's lead looks unassailable. However the race for the final two podium places is on with Ventoux the perfect battleground. It will be explosive for sure, with the Schelck brothers, Lance, Wiggo, Kloden and Nibali all having to monitor attacks while looking to land a counter punch too. It will be brutal!

get ready...

2009-07-24T06:25:00.001-07:00

for amy jayne

2009-07-23T02:40:00.001-07:00

brotherly love

2009-07-23T01:20:00.000-07:00

Stage 17 always looked like it could be decisive and it proved to be the case. There were many great performances from the Schelck brothers tag-teaming to perfection to Hushovd's pursuit of points, Vande Velde riding as hard as he could in support of Wiggins to Nibali descending like a man possessed and of course Armstrong, who once again silenced his critics (here's hoping anyway) with a another ride that defied his advancing years and the time he has spent away from racing at this intensity. Contador's attack that left Kloden for dead was a strange move indeed. Maybe it was miscommunication? Who knows? From a possible 1-2-3 on GC standing, Astana will now need to pull out all the stops in today's TT if they are to get Armstrong and Kloden on the podium in Paris. Logic says that both of these riders will be able to make up time on the Schelcks today and with Ventoux still to come, they will need minutes not seconds. More fireworks to follow. Lots more...

jens voigt update

2009-07-22T01:28:00.000-07:00

Looks like Jens is OK, relatively speaking, after yesterday's awful crash. Very glad to hear it. One of my all-time favourite bike riders.

grin and bear it

2009-07-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite like watching a rider completely bury themselves in pursuit of victory. Mikel Astarloza's stage win today made for great viewing as he broke away from a group of four with under two kms to go. It was bike racing at its best with Astarloza's contorted face perfectly capturing the emotion and the pain that always accompanies a hard fought win. A demonstrative rider like Astarloza, whose toothy grin/grimace is something of trademark, is always more fun to watch than a rider who masks the huge effort you know he has just made. Elsewhere, Andy Schleck attempted to claw back some time on Contador on the last climb but Alberto looked more than comfortable and never lost Schleck's wheel. Other GC contenders also looked at relative ease despite Schleck's turn of pace, including Wiggins. Armstrong too looked good, jumping from a select group (and leaving them in his wake) to rejoin Contador, Schleck, etc. before they reached the summit. I'm sure Schleck will give it another dig tomorrow though...

untouchable

2009-07-20T02:57:00.000-07:00

Contador's impressive display at Verbier confirmed that no one can match his explosiveness in the mountains (as we expected). He has that ability to just go, and then go again (and again if necessary) that no other rider in the current peloton has. The pace was brutal on the early stages of the climb and many suffered, making it impossible for anyone to respond to Contador's attack. Leadership issues dissolved as quickly as he climbed the final five km and now he's in yellow, who is going to take the jersey from him? But again it was Armstrong and Wiggins that really impressed me. If my recent posts are starting to read like the LA appreciation society, it's only because my level of appreciation for him continues to grow with every passing day of this Tour. It was very cool to watch Lance and Tom Watson at the Open yesterday, both shattering myths about age and what you can achieve in the twilight of your career. They always say that you never remember who came second but I think the 2009 Tour de France and the 2009 Open championship will prove an exception to the rule.

crapola

2009-07-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

The damage from yesterday's crash turned out to be far worse than first thought. Broken wrist. Tour over. I was looking forward to watching Leipheimer in the Alps and he would undoubtably have played a big role in these tough stages. Here's to a speedy recovery Levi.

a week is a long time in cycling

2009-07-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

So I go to Spain with my girlfriend for a week of sunshine and while the climate, food and general relaxed atmosphere was at odds with our everyday life in England (that means better climate, better food and better atmosphere!) the Tour remained oblivious to our eight day excursion and progressed onwards...which meant more Cav dominance, continued Astana leadership rumblings and some great breakaways that actually stayed away. I managed to catch some live coverage and it was the riding of Armstrong and Wiggins that really caught the eye. Wiggins continues to show the hard work he's done is paying off as he morphs from track ace and TT specialist into a complete bike rider capable of going up super steep stuff in super steep company. Lance looks somewhat like the Lance of old, which is both ominous for the rest of the peloton and frankly quite amusing. Like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, when push comes to shove he will perform and the more that is written and spoken that suggests (and hopes) otherwise, the better he seems to perform. I'm enjoying the new Lance for what it's worth. The harsh, unforgiving edges have softened a little (but not enough to lessen his competitive drive) and his great racing brain is more apparent than ever as age dictates that pure aggression alone will no longer do. I hope he's there doing battle in the Alps. Contador and Andy Schleck may prove too much, who knows? But while they have many more great days ahead of them, this might be Armstrong's last hurrah. Overly sentimental? Yes I am.

start counting

2009-07-05T13:02:00.000-07:00

Is there a surer bet in cycling right now? Perfect leadout coupled with unrivaled speed. Can Cav better his stage win tally of last year? Watching him battle to stay in green right to Paris is going to be fun to watch.

boonen in

2009-07-03T04:55:00.000-07:00

So Boonen will be racing tomorrow after all. I can't imagine this has been the best preparation he's ever had...got to feel bad for Allan Davis too.

red kite prayer

2009-07-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

Fans of the BKW blog will be pleased to know that one of its main men Padraig has launched a new online venture, Red Kite Prayer. Expect the same quality of writing, thoughtful comment, sound observations and genuine passion for bikes and bike racing. I look forward to seeing it develop.

Monaco

2009-07-01T03:32:00.000-07:00

I've been looking at Saturday's opening TT in Monaco and it seems like it plays right into the hands of the GC contenders. With about half of the 15 km's uphill, it's far too lumpy for the rouleurs and prologue specialists but also has enough rolling sections that it doesn't really favour the pure climber either. Contador, Leipheimer, Armstrong and Evans will no doubt prosper and right off the bat we could see the GC order established. Perhaps more interesting will be the performances of Carlos Sastre and Andy Schleck, who will need to minimize their losses in the time trials if they are to grab a spot on the podium.

follow the leader

2009-06-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting video from VeloNews, speaking with Mr. Armstrong about the Astana team leader dilemma that is the hot topic ahead of Saturday's Tour de France TT in Monaco. For me, he says all the right things and I think he showed in the Giro that he is prepared to ride for others if he doesn't have the form. That said, a guy with ability, his record, who can race his first Giro after three years away from the sport and only five weeks removed from a broken collar bone and still place 12th isn't going to France just to make up the numbers. He says that he no longer possesses the absolute confidence of the past but I think it's safe to say he does still possess the absolute tenacity and that will count for something. I think an Astana rider will win this year and probably that rider will be Contador but as a fan who has watched Armstrong throughout his career, I would never underestimate him whatever the odds. Roll on Saturday!

the bicycle thief

2009-06-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

Ouch! I wonder what would have happened if he had stolen Floyd Landis' bike instead?

stage 17

2009-06-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

While at first glance it may appear that this year's Tour de France will all rest on the penultimate stage that ends on Mount Ventoux, there are a couple of other key stages that will surely help decide the final podium, most notably Stage 17 in the Alps, which takes in five cols including the double of the Col de Romme and the Col de la Colombiere. Maybe this stage sees one of Prudhomme's eggs escape the basket?

two down

2009-06-24T01:53:00.000-07:00

So no Boonen and now no Valverde. Purely from a racing perspective, this year's Tour will be the poorer for their absence. I was looking forward to seeing if Valverde could translate the form he showed in winning the Dauphine into something more substantial – a sustained attack in the Tour de France that showed he could eliminate the really bad days that had always plagued his ability to see a three-week tour through to the end. As for Boonen, he would have provided Cavendish with a little more competition, which would have been fun to watch. For the sake of a clean sport, maybe this is what has to happen? Casualties along the way, riders who have made mistakes for sure but somehow leave you feeling like perhaps they still deserved a shot at the big one. Stupidity should never be rewarded and cycling doesn't need any more controversy but as a fan, and a sentimental one at that, it's a shame.

lance wins

2009-06-22T01:46:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Lance Armstrong, who won the Nevada City Classic yesterday to clinch his first victory since returning to racing. It might not be the biggest of events but a win is a win. And coming this close to July only adds significance...

secondhand smoke and mirrors

2009-06-18T03:31:00.000-07:00

Bill Clinton "didn't inhale" and apparently Tom Boonen "didn't injest". So that's cleared that up then.

happy birthday eddy

2009-06-17T11:06:00.001-07:00

Sixty-four years young...