Follow along  with the crew on twitter: @rippfinklemann, @thejonnygunn, @Bridie_OD, @CyclismasMercer, @saddleblaze. Follow show updates on Twitter @CCNN_TV.

Here we go!

Kittel received legendary support from his team this week, at his first race for 2012 Etoile De Besseges (photo by Isabelle Duchesne courtesy of CyclingNews)

Best of the Week

Number Five

No Croatian licence for Riccardo Ricco 

This is just plain sad. Look, Ricco, your 15 minutes of cycling fame are up.  If Alessandro Petacchi can’t get an Asian licence, then you’re up shite creek without a paddle, a boat, and a life preserver. I might even suggest some therapy, or an extended holiday on an island without bicycles or any technological connection with humanity. Take a break. Spend time with the family. Learn a skill. Like dishwashing. Or ditch digging.

Number Four

Vanderkitten adds Bridie O’Donnell to the roster

So Bridie writes for us and she’s a panelist on the Hotstove. And she’s sharp, smart, and funny. Are we biased? Hell yes. But beyond that, she is an important voice for women’s cycling, and an advocate for fairness in the sport, not to mention society at large. We’re looking forward to her exploits with the new crew, and making her case for inclusion on the Australian Olympic Cycling Team. Vanderkitten is another shining example in the women’s peloton of providing outstanding support for their riders beyond the paycheque.

Number Three

Remaining Garmin women end up with AA Drink

I would love to hear the real story on this. But I’ll leave it alone this week and say that I’m glad to see Pooley, Armitstead, and the rest of the ladies find a secure home in an Olympic year. We all know there’s a real story behind the public relations fluff, but we’ll just have to wait until 2013 for that to come out.

Number Two

SHIFT Active Media lands RCS 

Now you all may be asking yourself why this is important, but please pay attention. Firstly, SHIFT Active Media has a strong understanding of cycling and the impact of “new media.” They represent some of the key players in the cycling industry and do savvy media buying, communications work, publishing, and creative. Their principals are some of the who’s who in the sport – including the ex-COO of Future Publishing, which owns cyclingnews.com and ProCycling Magazine. The also provide their services to 3T, Colnago, and fi’zi:k to name a few.  They understand the importance of new media and social media, even though Stephen Farrand still has a reluctance to fully embrace Twitter. Sorry, Stephen, I’m still smarting over that unfollow last year. (chuckle) Savvy move by the folks at RCS, as they understand the impact of the changing playing field of brand awareness, as seen in our own @pedalingtheroad interview with Marco Gobbi Pansana. Be thankful, cycling fans – they could have picked a dinosaur agency that would put, say, the Tour Down Under on Channel 9 rather than keep the coverage on the innovative SBS.

Number One

1t4i handles the Marcel Kittel situation in superior fashion

Imagine you are a rising superstar who has come off a record-setting rookie performance. You pride yourself on being clean. You ride for a team that has a stellar reputation when it comes to anti-doping initiatives. Then, you turn on German TV to see that you’re linked to a “doping” scandal.  Kittel was devastated. But you know what? His teammates rallied around him, all of them making phone calls to each other. The team spoke to Daniel Benson from cyclingnews.com right away to get the story out. But that wasn’t enough, they even put a detailed explanation of Kittel’s and teammate Patrick Gretsch’s involvement with the UV treatment on the team’s website. Plus, they even went so far as to note that John Degenkolb visited the doctor but didn’t receive the treatment.  For a team that prides itself on anti-doping initiatives and transparency, it’s outstanding to see that they hold true to those ideals when crisis hits. That’s great leadership by Iwan Spekenbrink. In addition, the cycling twitterati jumped on the bandwagon to call out the ambulance chasers of the news realm and hold them accountable.

Worst of the Week

Numero Cinco

Team Time Trialling  at World Championship Events Part II – The Belgian Sand

Is this a new trend in men’s elite racing? Just TTT to a win? It’s rather coincidental that the same thing happened at the road championships in Copenhagen. No matter. What’s the real story? Is it the Belgians taking full advantage of home sand, where they have expertise like no one else? Was it superior preparation to other nations? One thing is for sure, it certainly was an eyebrow-raising performance the likes of which has never been seen. However, on the plus side they had a phenomenal turnout of 62,000 people, something that the UCI attempted to limit to 42,000. Why? I just don’t know anymore. Nonetheless, if seven U.S. riders dominate next year, we pretty much know the answers to all of our questions – a home side win is good for business. The fix is in.

Numero Cuatro

Wanted: Investors in a private venture set up by non-profit funds borrowed without approval

This would be just sad if it wasn’t so absolutely atrociously funny. As @fmk_RoI noted on Twitter, why would the UCI want to invest in their own Ponzi Scheme? However, “speaking to people of means” could be your local loan shark, or even worse, a Russian gas magnate who runs Russian cycling, is President of the European Cycling Federation, and sits on the UCI Management Committee. He’s a great one with all sorts of connections, including Ukranian mafia, but I won’t go there, no, @inrng has a cracker post coming up on that (keep your eyes peeled starting Thursday at inrng.com). No, you see, the ASO said no to investing in the Ponzi Scheme as they preferred to be paid as the technical service provider for the races that have already been set up – like the Tour of Beijing – rather than risk losing money as an investor. You see, the UCI has a bad habit of misusing, misplacing, or flat out losing money. Of course, conventional wisdom would say that the ASO are positioning themselves to be bought as they continue to divest of a variety of  assets. Anyone remember how the GCP was set up? With funds borrowed from the ProTour fund, of course.

Numero Tres

Kathryne Bertine’s brush with an inept Aigle

The UCI addition of the worst of the week continues with Bertine coming out publicly to voice her frustration in her dealings with the cycling governing body that  resemble an accounting firm from a bad Monty Python sketch. No kidding. Losing points retroactively, and her federation files paperwork a couple of days late means that she may miss the Olympics? Due to a pencil pusher? It’s interesting to note that UCI rules have been bent and out right broken for many, especially if you have a brown envelope. In this case? Letter. Of. The. Law. However, is this more of a statement about federation politics? Bertine is a dual citizen, and she smartly saw an opportunity to go to the Olympics riding for a small nation rather than the United States. Could this be a politically motivated backlash? Heaven forbid a small nation sends one cycling athlete to the Olympics at the expense of another “cycling power.”  Stranger things have happened in Aigle.

Numero Dos

Levi Leipheimer wins Tour De San Luis

You all know why.

Numero Uno

Pat McQuaid and Hein Verbruggen and the UCI sue Paul Kimmage

I have an idea. I’m a public figure, and I’m fair game for criticism. But in my world no one should have an opinion but me. Because apparently I’m all knowing. Now, I run a semi satire via twitter on the fine Irish gentleman, but I’m a fooking parody. He’s not supposed to mirror my attitude in real life. But he is. I mean, could you imagine Guardian commentator Patrick Wintour being sued by former RBS honcho Fred Goodwin for Wintour’s comments about him losing his knighthood? Of course not! However, as reality doesn’t exist for McQuaid, Verbruggen and the UCI, and they insist that the cycling world “Eat Fooking Cake,” they can pretty much do whatever the fook they want. I appreciate the fact that they picked on Kimmage, because the gent will fight back. In fact, this may galvanize the cycling journalists around the world to zero in on the UCI and their pattern of behaviour. You don’t pick on an award winning bloke who has a history of standing up, because then he becomes a M-A-R-T-Y-R for others to gain a backbone. Like Joe Lindsey. Looks like the line for journos’ collective mouths up the UCI’s arse like that centipede horror film has shrunk to almost zero. And it’s only January. Well folks, grab your popcorn, as we’re in for a long year of bullshite politics. It’s an Olympic year after all.

It's back to basics for the RadioSchlock team. Maybe that's a good thing. (photo courtesy of RadioShack-Nissan-Trek)

Best of the Week

Numero Cinco

Greipel blazes to early-season victory in Australia

I waxed the philosophical on this topic during my 2012 season preview with Neil and Dan on @TourChats two Sundays ago.  While other pundits were discussing Goss, Renshaw, Cavendish, and the rest of the usual suspects, I’d been having some conversations with those close to the Lotto-Belisol team. These gents have long ties to the former HTC sprint train, and above all, actually enjoy working together. Henderson hadn’t been able to contain his excitement about his move to the team since the ink was barely dried on the contract last last summer, and was privately and publicly thrilled to reunite with the Gorilla after a year of anonymity at Sky in spite of stellar performances. While many are saying that it’s premature to discuss who will be successful in the sprints for 2012, there’s no doubt in my mind that the Lotto-Belisol team will be the benchmark.

Numero Cuatro

Cycling Australia issues a “suspended” fine to Chloe Hosking

A fitting end to this story. Nice to see that the highly-political organization decided to avert a mutiny in the ranks by issuing a quasi slap on the wrist. Privately, there were  legions of the Aussie brass quietly applauding Chloe’s outspoken attitude towards the UCI. It would seem that the politicos at the federation level have noted the shift in the winds away from the “top” and are aligning with those at the “bottom.”

Numero Tres

Contador and Basso to testify at Operation Puerto Trial

We can analyse this in a variety of ways, but said trial could reveal some truths surrounding the actions of the doctor known as Fuentes and his dealings with the pro peloton. While everyone is distracted by one of the items on my worst list, this is going to be the revelation of 2012. Expect some interesting stories – that many of us behind the scenes have known for years – to be revealed, including links to CONI, the Giro, and ultimately the UCI.

Numero Dos

O’Grady accused of assault

Why is this on the best list? Because finally someone outside of cycling has experience and reported what O’Grady has been guilty of for years. Look, Stuey is a great rider and a very nice guy on the bike and around the bus. However, you put alcohol into the gent and it’s game over; he does have an alleged tendency to be an angry gentlemen when tipsy (that’s an understatement). He’s had some interesting run-ins over the years with members of the media and also billets. There was an episode where he grabbed one journalist by the throat after he’d had five beverages too many following the final stage of the 2008 TDU. How about  the rumours of O’Grady assaulting one of the house parents at the AIS when GreenEDGE assembled their camp in December? Or how about Delgado’s comments to another journalist that he was gobsmacked that O’Grady was able to start one of the stages at the 2007 Vuelta in spite of the fact he’d been on such a bender the night before? And what about the Schleck incident? There’s no doubt in my mind O’Grady’s reputation has been protected by the cycling inner circle due to his abilities on the bike. What happens when he retires? Mel Gibson anyone?

Numero Uno

35 Women’s teams are registered for 2012 

What a great story for women’s pro cycling after the questionable demise of several top women’s teams, including the Garmin program. This represents an increase of eight teams, amplifying the voice that was somewhat muted for a number of years. My appreciation goes out to those corporate citizens who have joined the ranks of sponsors in women’s cycling.

Worst of the Week

Number Five

Barracuda

Oh, Vaughters. Great you have a title sponsor. Great that you explained how it couldn’t save the women’s program. It all makes complete and total sense. Yes, the metrics may not justify supporting women’s cycling (not that you ever cared to), but if folks relied on that sort of thinking, the personal computer would never have been created. That’s just one example of unconventional thinking creating something outstanding to benefit society as a whole. However, in honour of Barracuda, I leave you with this video.

Number Four

GreenEDGE courts controversy by throwing their weight around at Aussie TT championships

Nothing like being the rich kid who abuses his playground power to ensure getting the honours he bought and paid for. GreenEDGE takes the top two podium places, utilizing race radios after exerting pressure on the commissaire. Look, gents, winning at all costs went out two years ago. It’s a hollow victory. You should be haunted by the fact that you exploited officials in order to profit. Shame, shame.  How about the UCI ignoring any investigation? *Chuckle* nothing like a new holiday home in Melbourne courtesy of Gerry Ryan, GreenEDGE rich kid.

Number Three

Australians whinging about pro peloton nature breaks

TDU boss Mike Turtur is a horse’s arse. Public urination has been a tradition in professional cycling since the dawn of time. Rider are on a bike, nature calls, they need to stop. Everyone pisses. The fact that Turtur says, “It’s illegal to urinate in public – full stop” is about the most ludicrous thing he could say to the press outside of declaring that it’s illegal to block traffic for races. You’re the guy running the show. And a warning to those watching the sport for the first time, if a rider stops and whips it out, look away and go about your business. We all have pee pees and hoo hoos and when nature calls, nature calls. If you’re going to have a UCI-level race, you better goddamned make sure you’ve done all your homework to allow these boys to race without getting in shite for something like that. It’s not like they whizzed on someone, or a team car, or an official’s car. *chuckle*

Number Two

Aussie Cricketer wins world’s worst person award – Australia edition

My good mate Bridie O’Donnell said it best. Click on the link for her take. Brilliant read, my dear. Let’s hope Karma pays a visit to this douchebag.

Number One

Radioshack-Nissan requires remedial bike handling/cornering programme

I will give Johan full credit for realising that a certain members of his troupe are really uncomfortable on their bikes in most situations, naming no names.  However, it’s completely embarrassing for them that you would do this sort of PR stunt to “raise” the profile of your team. It’s like demonstrating to a football club the basics of offside, or a to a hockey player the finer points of stopping on skates, or to an American football player how to throw a ball, after they’ve been signed to the professional ranks. So, the question is, again, was this a really bad PR stunt by a blundering team, or was it a smokescreen cover up of a team that has no idea how to ride or race outside of climbing (Fabs and Jens excluded)?