Wannabe Bike Girl

I’m not really in the mood to talk about the links today, except to say that I loved the interview with Dave Zabriskie and I’m happy for both José and Ag2r. Anyway, here are the links for today.

>> Dave Zabriskie: From A Different Angle (pez)

>> 2006 Tour de Georgia route announced (cyclingnews)

>> José Antonio Baños Turns Professional: The young rider has signed a contract with the new continental professional team “Murcia Turística – 3 Molinos Resort”. (liberty seguros)

>> Ag2r into ProTour (cyclingnews)

Music: diffuser karma

This whole thing makes me sad and really, I’m not even the biggest Heras fan. Back when I used to love Armstrong, I hated that Heras left him. Sure, I understood the logic and why he had to leave (I believe that good cyclists can only stay with Armstrong so long before they have to give up any dreams they might have of winning, although it was nice to see that change last year — perhaps the only good thing to come out of the ProTour), but I was bitter. But now? I am a big Liberty fan and Heras is their guy (was — I mean, I know they have Vino now) and he’s been seen as the next great Spanish hope after Mayo has consistently disappointed.

So this is all upsetting. Almost as upsetting as when Hamilton tested positive. Now, if he’s really guilty, then I hope he gets suspended and if he’s not? I hope they find a way to prove that. But I’m honestly not getting my hopes up. That’s pretty much I have to say on the subject, because I don’t even know what to think any more. What is interesting is Saiz’s reaction.

>> Saiz plows ahead (velonews)

It’s just a short article, but it reminds me (again) of the whole Hamilton situation. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Isn’t that what we always do, anyway?

Music: toxic holiday – stars

At least in the States it is. I’ll be off to Ohio tomorrow morning, probably back on Saturday. I might have ‘net access, I might not, we’ll see. Hopefully I’ll have it Friday. Why? Because that’s when Heras’ results are supposed to be ready. Supposed to be, because, well, there have been some problems. This is from cyclingnews.

Heras B test will take longer

The testing of Roberto Heras B sample taken at the penultimate day of the Vuelta a España this year will take longer than expected, according to Spanish media sources. The result of the test carried out on Monday at the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD) laboratory in Madrid was said to be inconclusive at this point, with further examinations necessary to establish a clear result. Previous reports thought to have been issued by the rider’s surroundings, that the CSD made a formal error in its analysis, have been refuted by the Spanish cycling federation, as well as the laboratory.

CSD director Francisco Rodríguez has told the press that “the processing is not finished; it is long and complicated and will take another 48 hours.” The results of the B sample, which might put an end to Roberto Heras’ career if the suspicion of EPO use is confirmed, are therefore expected on Friday.

At a press conference held in Madrid hotel Villarreal on Wednesday evening, the Liberty Seguros rider doubted the validity of the urinary rEPO test. “The method isn’t valid because it’s not precise,” Heras said. “I was expecting a negative result, because I have been saying all along that I haven’t doped, and that there must be an error.” If the result of the counter-analysis remains inconclusive, legal observers say that the case will be suspended.

I’ll say it again, I really hope he’s innocent. But we’ll all just have to wait. Hopefully they’ll get the tests right, but who knows? It doesn’t sound promising.

Music: golf on tnt

From velonews: San Fran GP may move to San Jose

The city of San Jose is considering hosting the race formerly known as the San Francisco Grand Prix, which was cancelled Monday, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Dean Munro, executive director of the San Jose Sports Authority, plans to talk to race organisers San Francisco Cycling LLC next week about the race.

“We have interest in finding out about the event,” Munro said Monday. “We want to see if San Jose is a good match.”

San Francisco Cycling director Dave Chauner said representatives of two Bay Area cities had shown interest in hosting the race, but declined to name the cities. “We’ve had substantive discussions with groups with enough clout and power to really make it happen,” he said.

It’s not unknown for race organisers to ‘cancel’ an event in order to shake the tree and see what extra support falls out. Frank Scioscia, race director of the San Francisco GP in 2001, told the Mercury News that the San Fran GP cancellation, “seems like it is a pre-emptive announcement that gives them time to shop it.”

And from Pez: Dear Sven, Let Someone Else Win

Sven Nys is on a rampage seldom seen in the history of cycling. Over the past year and a half, Nys has won virtually every race he has entered, and if memory serves me correctly, has not finished lower than the podium during that stretch (in major races – World Cup and Superprestige).

Nys won once again this weekend Gavere, Belgium – the 4th stop in the Superprestige circuit, which sits perhaps one rung lower than the World Cup in terms of…prestige.

It seems that the name atop the result list is always the same, but is challengers are always a’changin – on Sunday it was Gerben de Knegt and Enrico Franzoi, who were the lucky two riders able to keep Nys at a manageable distance. Bart Wellens slogged to 4th, and now with the apparent drop in Wellens’ performance in the past two weeks – is there anyone who can possibly TOUCH Nys?

You know, I like that Sven Nys wins a lot, because, well, I like him a lot. But it’s got to be frustrating to be, you know, everyone else. That being said, go Sven!

Music: Charmed

It looks like David Millar will be racing again: Millar confirmed with Saunier Duval

David Millar’s return to elite racing is confirmed after signing a contract to join Saunier Duval for the 2006 season.

Spanish daily Dario Vasco reported that Millar – who is serving a two-year racing ban for admitting to taking the banned blood-booster EPO – has finalized his contract with the Spanish ProTour team.

The duration of the ban, pegged to the date of his confession in June 2004, opens the door for Millar to return to the Tour. If he’s named to the Tour squad as expected, he’ll line up as one of the favorites to win the prologue on the streets of Strasbourg.

Millar was stripped of his 2003 world time trial title, kicked off the British national team and slapped with a two-year racing ban after admitting to authorities – while being held in a French jail – that he used banned products to earn some of his biggest results.

Music: Folk Implosion – Free to Go

Again, I still have other things to discuss, but sometimes I can’t figure what is going on with the UCI. I mean, sure they’re bitter about the grand tours not doing what they want. Sure they’re upset that the Giro is going to be harder than the Tour (again — or as always?) by why do they have to take it out on other ProTour races as well? I mean, what is the point (except the fact that they CAN)? I don’t think there is one, but revenge (unless someone tells me otherwise, because I’m not buying the ‘we don’t think split stages will work’ theory, since they DO work).

I got this from procycling: Basque Country requests extra day: The organisers of the Tour of the Basque Country have asked for an extra day to be added to their event in order to accommodate the loss of their final day split stage. But the omens are not good.

So, not only are they going to change a race that’s worked for quite a few years, they are probably going to make sure that the race doesn’t get extra stages. And therefore, the towns that are sponsoring those last to stages will lose money and probably be unlikely to want to host stages of any race again for the fear that UCI will just up and change things. I cannot understand the logic. If the UCI wants more people to like the sport, why do they keep doing things to ruin it? If they want the ProTour to be popular, why do they go out of their way to discourage the racers and the race organizers from being part of it? You’d think (using basic logic) that they would encourage things like split stages (although I am not sure it’s right for the Giro, it would be interesting and people would watch) because, in a way they are something like a gimmick, because they are somewhat rare.

But of course, the UCI doesn’t work like that and I’m left wondering what the point of this move really is. Other than an exercise in control.

Music: morning edition

I had a lot of stuff I wanted to talk about, but it’s late and I’m tired, among other things. So here’s just one of the things.

My respect for Dave Zabriskie is pretty high right now. In case you didn’t know, he updated his site recently. And, among many things, defended himself against the people who were getting on his case about what happened in the tour, and his bike riding ability (these people who, it seems, don’t know much about him at all). This is what he said:

[...] Then there was Pro Cycling’s September issue. Life after Lance, by Jeremy Whittle. At the end of the article there is a page titled The Other Americans. I got a piece of the page down in the corner. It says I was “offloaded to CSC;” actually, I chose to leave and I stand by my decision. I found the last paragraph particularly interesting: “Why he might fail to win. He’s been labeled a poor bike handler by some, too eccentric by others and something of a loner too. But then so was Charly Gaul… There’s little doubt about his time trialling skills, but would his nerve hold??” I had one crash in 2005, this out of more than 80 races, the thing was the whole world was witness to it. I don’t mind adding a bit of drama to a race that big. And as far as being a loner. I’m sure most people would agree that a loner doesn’t go up to people in a bike race and conduct interviews.

By the way I also might fail to win because I’ll be working for my team leader Ivan Basso, and that is fine with me! [...]

And I have to tell you, that is one of the best things I have read. I mean, seriously. Did people just forget that he’s won all sort of stuff? Sure, it’s luck with the prologue, but still. It’s not luck that he kept the yellow jersey for that many days. Sure, it was back luck that he fell, but really. Don’t write him off. He’s too good for that.

Music: amelie soundtrack

Riders condemn Giro route: The route of the 89th Giro hasn’t even been released yet, but the Italian riders’ association is already complaining about it, claiming that it is a route designed for “supermen”. (procycling)

The Official site (before, flash intro) has more information in French and Italian.



Cyclo-Cross
Jaarmarktcross Niel in Belgium on November 11. (cyclingnews)
Elite (44 starters)
1 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank
2 Niels Albert (Bel) Palmans-Sapim-Collstrop
3 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
4 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
5 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank

Wim Jacobs was 17th, Sven Vanthourenhout was 8th and Tom Vannoppen came in 9th. The second race was a time trial.

Time trial, 3km (gem 33,642 km/u)
1 Bart Wellens (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
2 Sven Nys (Bel) Rabobank
3 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Fidea Cycling Team
4 Bart Aernouts (Bel) Rabobank
5 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre – Caffita

Tom was sixth, Wim came in ninth, and Sven was 12th. And, least you think I’d forgotten about Francis, I have not! He’s off racing in France at the Prix de l’armistice (cyclingnews). Sadly, he did not win the race.

Senior

1 John Gadret (Fra) Jartazi Revor Team
2 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Auber 93
3 David Pagnier (Fra) Charvieu-Chavagneu
4 Romain Villa (Fra) U.V Aube
5 Julien Belgy (Fra) Vendee U Pays De La Loire
6 Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona
7 Loic Herbreteau (Fra) Cr4C Roanne
8 Guillaume Benoist (Fra) Vc Dinan
9 Francis Mourey (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux.Com
10 Stephane Belot (Fra) Athis-Team 61

He came in ninth. And, as you can see, the American Ryan Trebon did pretty good coming in sixth!

Road
According to velonews, David Millar wants to make a comeback.

“I want my comeback to be credible and inspiring, for me and for others and for younger kids. I owe that to cycling and my friends,” he said in an interview with the London newspaper. “I want it to be unquestionable and good to watch, because it is possible to win without doping.”

That quote is from the following article in The Times.

It’s possible to win without doping, Millar confesses: Our correspondent talks to the Scot planning a return to competition after the shame of a two-year ban.

Well, I don’t know. I haven’t read the whole article, American football has sort of taken over and then it’ll be Spain and Norway (European football). Plus, I’m not sure I want Millar to come back. Does he even have that right? I guess the answer to that is yes. If Richard Virenque can come back, then why shouldn’t Millar? But then again, he confessed right away and Virenque just kept lying. But, well, Millar lied to us as well. What are we supposed to believe? To support? I honestly don’t know. I guess we’ll just see what happens. I hate that Millar doped, almost more than anyone else, because I really liked him. I wanted him to do well and he just … He let me down more than, hell, more than almost anyone else. But I guess that’s the price I pay for liking a sport that dopes so much.

Music: Ohio State Football

I’m pretty lax on covering Americans here, mostly because my favorites are European or Australian, with the exception of a few, like Saul Raisin and Dave Zabriskie. Anyway, here’s a great interview with American cross rider Ryan Trebon.

PEZ Q&A: Crosser Ryan Trebon (pezcycling)

Music: Law & Order

Is is January yet?

2006 Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under: 17 – 22 January 2006

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 23: Spanish rider Luis Leon Sanchez of the Liberty Seguros team celebrates on the podium with champagne after winning the Tour Down Under cycle race January 23, 2005 in Adelaide, Australia. The Tour is held over 6 days in and around Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Tony Lewis/Getty Images)

Music: michigan radio news