Tour of California

The Amgen Tour of California has been terrific so far and it's been great to see the American riders and Domestic teams doing well. The newly formed Toyota-United Pro team has two stage wins with Jaun Jose Haedo taking them both in impressive sprint finish fashion.

The overall lead has only been contested by Amercans as local bay area resident Levi took the lead for the first two stages, then giving it over the Discovery Channel's George Hincapie. However, Phonak team leader Floyd Landis put the hurt on everyone in the Time Trial and now has a nice lead of 0.29 over another American Dave Zabriskie of CSC. The next several stages don't seem to have enough climbing to change the overall outcome and I fully expect Floyd to take the overall win.

One complaint is to ESPN and it's coverage. The coverage is above average and I will accept that for what it is. Cycling on TV in the USA. However, as the race is shown at 10pm pst I Tivo it to watch the following day. ESPN has been showing college basketball games on ESPN2 prior to the race and you can never know for sure when the games will end. So far I've only seen the finish of 2 stages as the other ones have cut off recording prior to the finish. It's very annoying and I can't wait for cycling on OLN again. OLN knows how to present cycling.

Happy St. Valentine's Day

Although V-day isn't the massacre that Capone dished out in 1929, it can have the same effects if not taken seriously enough.

The picture says it all.

Happy Valentine's Day and may you get what you want and need today.

Tyler Hamilton Suspension upheld

Tyler Hamilton's suspension for a positive blood transfusion test result was upheld this weekend. Tyler can return to racing in September of 2006, at which time he'll be 35. This case had so many variables and odd quirks that I have a hard time swallowing the guilty verdict. I understand the need to punish the dopers (although this wasn't a positive drug test, just positive for taking a transfusion of someone elses blood) but when you have strange occurrences and some false positive results it's difficult ruining the career of an athelete that may be innocent.

Another note on the positive test issue in regards to Roberto Heras. You have to question the test itself and ask yourself why would Heras be tested positive on the very last day of the Vuelta and note earlier in the race. Heras was leading Menchov by over 4:30 going into the final time trial and so why would he need to be drugging up for the time trial? Also, if he was doping the entire race, why didn't the test find him positive earlier? It's odd indeed.

JANKE.CC

Cycling Season kicks off

The cycling season has officially started and at two remote places around the globe. The Tour of Qatar and the Tour de Langkawi (Malaysia) and soon the Tour of California. Look for updates soon.

JANKE.CC

Aaaahhh, isn't that cute!

Avery....just over a year old.

Avery is walking now......

Remember her?

According to Snopes.com, this quote isn't a real one. But that sure looks like a really big billboard and will probably stain her reputation.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the downside to cycling

The Infamous Lance Armstrong Crash in the 2003 Tour

Cyclingnews.com

2005 Tour de France.

In the women's stage 2 sprint (Redlands Classic), Lyne Bessette (Saturn) failed to control her bike after running over teammate, Ina Teutenberg (seated), who had prematurely raised her hands in victory.

George Hincapie (USPS), Johan Museeuw and Servais Knaven (Domo) look like creatures from another planet on the pavé.

Cyclingnews.com

Cyclingnews.com 2005 Pictures of the Year

Cyclingnews.com
Robbie McEwen head butts fellow Aussie Stuart O'Grady while Tom Boonen takes the win.

Pic of the year #2

Cyclingnews.com

A group climbs the Galibier.

Pic of the year #3

Cyclingnews.com

No great cycling picture gallery is complete without a picture of Paris-Roubaix.

Pic of the year #4

Cyclingnews.com

Europe has some amazing views, and they look even better with a bike race.

Pic of the year #5

Cyclingnews.com

Picture of the year #5. Great sprint photo with Eric Zabel edging out Bennati and McEwen.

ill mitch - American Success Story

This isn't about cycling or politics. But sometimes, something is too important NOT to mention. Ill Mitch...he could be the next great "thing".

Chris Horner interview

I know I've blabbered on before about Chris Horner, but he is a great success story and one of the best tactical riders I ever met or raced against (Although Jonathan Vaughters was great too). He is truly gifted at being able to read a race and react to it. It also helps to be extremely talented physically and strong as an ox. Chris should be looking for another great year in Europe riding with another good guy American, Freddy Rodriguez on the Davitamon-Lotto squad.

1 finger, 2 fingernails

Circus freak? Perhaps. My lovely sister took my finger off with the hinge of the door when I was just over a year old. But luckily the Doctor did a decent job of sewing it back on. The finger is fine, but I now have two fingernails growing from that one finger. Some say I'm cursed, others say I'm blessed, I just think it's more difficult to keep clean.


I haven't found a way to cash in on my sisters brutality or my disfigurement but I'm forging ahead with a few thoughts in mind. Maybe I should take a few pictures of my scars from years of racing and hitting the deck from 35 mph. Maybe. But for now, just another finger shot!

Racing for 2006

So I cut my racing and riding totally off in July this year. The reason? Well, there were actually a few.

1. It was really really hot and this isn't my job now.
2. I was golfing more and went on a great golf trip to Bandon Oregon. I decided to spend more time on the range than in the saddle.
3. My job at work changed and I was putting in more and more hours. Therefore I wasn't getting off work earlier and had no time to ride.
4. This isn't my job anymore and so I was really lazy. Did I mention that I was golfing more?

I feel a strong need to start riding again but the weather is COLD (not quite Colorado cold, but still cold) and it's just always dark outside. Time to get the indoor trainer going and the 3rd bay in the garage setup. Here is to a strong 2006 season.

Colorado Springs Bike Shop Theft

I have many memories of my first season racing in Colorado (1995) and one is of a cocky guy with very nice bike equipment, Reese Houghton. Reese was from Colorado Springs and worked for Colorado Cyclist, a giant online cycling store. He always had the nicest stuff and a cute girl by his side.

So now it turns out he's a crook and got caught steeling over $380,000 worth of cycling goods from a local store in Colorado Springs and then selling it on EBAY. Having worked in a bike store I know it's a tough business to keep afloat and then you get a guy like this undermining the entire operation. I hope he gets what is coming to him.

Urine EPO tests unreliable?

Cyclingnews.com investigates the validity of the urine EPO test in this linked article. This past year has seen a rash of positive tests for EPO and other enhancing drugs. But it has also seen several of those results reversed with a negative "B" sample or the results thrown out all together. As was the case with a Tri-athlete that was able to determine he was indeed clean and the test was wrong.

To make sure the sport isn't turned upside down we need to be getting these tests correct and with greater probability assurance. It's also not fair if these tests are wrongly accusing a cyclist of being a cheat. With the world taking notice of the drug problems in cycling, a riders career, finances and reputation can be ruin with one false result. On the flip side, the better the test and the more accurate the results, the greater the opportunity to nail those that are guilty.

Bettini destroys the field at the Championship of Zurich

A rain soaked Paolo Bettini soloed the last 40km and put almost 3 mins into the group he left to win this years Championship of Zurich. It was a brutal display of power and strength and a bit of revenge for the poor results from the week before at the Worlds in Spain. The Italian team was the focus of debate after the Worlds road race as they seemed to be working against each other and not in lock step for their sprinter "Ale-Jet". Bettini at least, was able to make up for his own gambles the week before.

Boonen ends season with a Rainbow Jersey

Tom Boonen lasted the longest of all the favorite sprinters and finished with a flurry. The 273km road race was brutal because of it's distance and especially the pace on the last 2 laps. No American made the top ten, but our only hope was a Fred Rodriguez sprint and he missed the split on the final climb. Congrats to Tom for a great year.