saronni

The Classics are over. Time for a little Italian styling...

wot no racing?

Andy Schleck's solo victory at Liege was fun to watch and further illustrated both his class and his gleaming future. His perfectly timed attack was the real deal, in stark contrast to the response - or lack of - from his rivals around him. It's impossible to imagine Merckx, Hinault or Kelly watching another race favourite disappear down the road with the only reply a look over the shoulder to monitor the response of those around you but this year's La Doyenne was a largely muted affair, dulled by the inability of Schleck's challengers to either co-operate or simply show a willingness to race. Saxo Bank's strength however was there for all to see, with Kroon and Kolobnev, Sorensen and Frank Schleck all contributing to Andy's triumph but I was left intrigued by the tactics of Caisse d'Epargne and others. As a side note, I tip my hat to Cadel Evans, who despite his wheelsucker reputation actually looked like a rider prepared to have a dig in the closing few kilometres. 

paris-roubaix niceness

Jeremy Dunn has posted some great coverage of this year's race over at his embrocation blog. Photos, videos and tales that include getting a bidon from the Liquigas team car and meeting the legend Erik Z. And all the while I'm watching the race from the comfort of my sofa. Next year I'm there, viewing the beauty and the brutality up close.

raas

venice here i come...

From hospital bed to the Giro start line in a few short weeks. Another fine comeback brought to you by Lance Armstrong.

cunego

Amstel Gold this weekend. I think, I hope, Cunego may repeat. He's taken a lot of crap for not backing up his Giro win in the subsequent Grand Tours but he's still a rider of immense talent and always fun to watch. 

tornado tom

Congratulations to Tom Boonen. Three Paris-Roubaix wins puts him in some pretty select company indeed.

sheeeeeit!

Update on Lance's Injury, Response to Drug Testing Allegations -- powered by http://www.livestrong.com

Regardless of your feelings about Lance's return to pro cycling, this seems like some real ALFD bullshit. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

emozionante

I'm off to Italy for the weekend...

dapper dan

When your suit costs more than your bike...

the lion of flanders

ronde van vlaanderen

black cloud bike prints

My brother runs a small gallery here in Bristol and he's just teamed up with Black Cloud to produce the print you see above. The hand-pulled screenprints are limited to a run of just 20 and are available at the Friend & Co online store now.

april fools

...nor would koblet

very shady

So the UCI are banning sunglasses from all of their races starting today? Cipo wouldn't approve...

big george

I've always been a fan of Hincapie. He personifies the selfless team rider so I'm hoping that he'll get that bit of luck he needs to bag one of the upcoming Classics. He deserves it.