Jet lag is a pain in the arse. Thankfully, I finished up on Wednesday in the Land of Oz, but it still caused me delay in this week’s offering. Thirty lashes from Nicola Cranmer should punish me adequately. The past week featured all your usual suspects, delays, and some well-documented argy bargy. Don’t forget the Heart revival, but you’ll have to read on to find out what that means. Slainte!
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
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
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)?
2 Comments
You need to read basketball coach John Wooden’s biography to get some background on doing parking lot drills.
John Wooden would start every season the same, no players excused from being taught how to put on their socks and shoes. http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/wooden-shoes-and-socks-84177.aspx
There’s always room for parking lot drills. In the spring it pays off on the tight classics roads. In the summer it pays off blazing down a col or two.
I’ve been involved with cycling for a very long time. I have no problem with drilling the basics. In fact, I encourage it. However, RadioSchleck’s is a poor attempt at PR. An empty gesture. Big difference.