Ivan Basso - Half way to the Tour double

Ivan Basso put on a display in winning his first Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy) by 9:18 over Jose Gutierrez and 11:59 over two time winner Gilberto Simoni. Basso is now the favorite for the upcoming Tour de France with Lance Armstrong retired and Jan Ullrich dropping out of the Giro (and way back).

The past 2 years has seen only Basso being able to hold Lance's wheel in the Tour and he showed all those in the Giro that they can't hold his wheel. But putting the smack down on those in May, just might come back to haunt Ivan come July. Remember Iban Mayo in the Dauphine a few years ago as he ripped Lance and everyone else apart in the ITT up Mont Ventoux, only to whither in the mountains during Le Tour de France.

It was a bit disappointing seeing Tommy D get sick while in the top 5 and not really ride to his capability and even more disappointing to see Paulo ride so poorly. He was never in contention.

Back from golf

My brother-in-law, myself and two other guys did a golf trip up to Sunriver, Oregon (Bend Oregon area) and we played around 110 holes from Thursday thru Sunday. We hit Running Y Ranch in Klamath Falls both up and back. In Sunriver we played the Woodlands and Meadows courses and also Crosswater, which ripped me good. We all played well and I was in the 80's with a 79 and an 82. The first day at Crosswater I got an 85 or 86, so I was happy with that. The downfall is that I was off my bike for over a week and now I'm so entranced with golf I don't feel like riding. But the saviour in that line of thinking is that I just blew a bunch of money so I won't be golfing much right now. Onto the bike it its! Hmmm, I would really like to buy a new bike or a bunch of new stuff. Probably not.

Back on the bike

Two weeks ago I did a monster ride up through the foothills and the lower climbs of the Sierra's with 3 other guys. It was about 6.5 hrs and unfortunately I only had a 39x23 gear for the climbs. We went up some long steep climbs that I really needed at least a 39x25 for, at minimum. One such climb was called "prospector road" off of Hwy 49, before we got to Georgetown. This climb I did about 4mph the entire way up and my knees about popped whenever I tried to climb sitting down. The good news is that I didn't stop on the climb or on any of the numerous climbs and for the entire ride I didn't bonk either.

I followed up that ride with some good workouts that week and then a nice hard ride last Sunday as well. My intervals are going fine and I'm seeing some big improvements on my stamina, weight loss and power. I still need more time during the day to ride and really get my fitness to a better place. I would ultimately like to do some Masters racing and look to do Masters Nationals. But I still have to golf, so that's a tough one.

Cycling Videos

Cyclingnews.com has two short videos of Paris-Nice and Paris-Roubaix with Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin do the commentary. Enjoy.

Paris-Nice
Paris Roubaix

Colorado Cyclist Classic Stage Race 1995

Here is a pic of me going over the climb at the Garden of the God's circuit race in 1995. The World Championships were in Bogata Columbia that year and none of the big pros wanted to train there. So we had the privelage of racing Indurain, Armstrong, Hamilton and about anyone that was a big time racer in 1995.

Racing from 1996

1996 Colorado Superweek Omnium. Tyler in a break away - on 4th of July!

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.