Ageless!

If you skim the results of the “lesser” races that fill the calendar these days, you may miss some things. Such as the Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg. Oscar Freire took the win over the weekend. Look closer. The man he pipped right at the line was none other than Erik Zabel. How old is he now? 125? While he has not won a race in a while, he remains very competitive. Also, how many races have we seen the result Freire – Zabel or Zabel – Freire? These two make any race exciting. I for one will never forget 2004 Milan San-Remo when Zabel raised his arms in apparent triumph only to see Freire’s wheel surpass his at the line.

Larry King Interview with Floyd Landis

We all know Larry King is the cushiest of cushy interviewers.  Recently, he interviewed Floyd Landis.  VeloNews has the full transcript for those who are interested.  Here it is.  Don’t expect hard questions like “Did you cheat?”  Instead, you get classics like: “What does testosterone do for a race driver?” 

Did he forget who he was interviewing?

An Open Letter on Cheating from Ray Cipollini

Printed in the Daily Peloton. Passionatly written. Ray clearly outlines why cycling needs to be seen as a sport to be benchmarked by other sports who want to see clean competition.  Also, he shows that we need to wait until all the facts are in until judgement.  Look how many riders are now cleared in Operation Puerto!  To see how cycling stacks up against other sports, click here.

Now for a PSA

I’m a live and let live kind of guy. If you log a significant amount of miles, then you need to think safety. Do you wear a helmet? Good. Do you tell your friends that you only shave your legs because it helps road rash treatment? Then look at this. It is a great idea and for 20 bucks a no brainer. That is why you wear a helmet right? To save your brain to make these kind of decisions.

I only wish my brain thought of it first.

So, you think you can do better?

How many times did you think the Director was making the wrong move? Not sending riders into the right break. Letting a rider get too much time. Well, Johan/Bjarne here is your chance to do better.

This game looks fantastic. Here is a review. You can show T-Mobile how to win the tour, or take advantage of their tactical blunders. Either way, who of us hasn’t wanted to see the Champs-Elysées from the team car! When I try it, I’ll let you know. If you have it, do tell!

And now back to our show

If you like blogs, you are probable looking at vlogs (video blogs). Given the success of YouTube, I can’t be far off. Well, If I’m right, why not videos on the subject of cycling. Thanks to my friend Wayde, I am hooked on this site.

Make sure you check out the videoblogs from Christian Vande Velde.
I can only hope that you come back. Fantastic stuff. Thanks Wayde.

A must read if you want to bring yourself up to speed

It is rare these days to find articles that give you just the facts.  Here, cyclingnews lays out the issue facing Floyd Landis.  Add it to your databank when you look to make your own decision.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=features/2006/landis_beer

When you realize your hero is an ass

Even before I really got into the sport of cycling, I respected Greg LeMond. He was bigger than life. When I accidentally bumped into him at the Tour duPont I was awed. Then he takes shots at Lance Armstrong. Now, before you go judging me, I’m not a blind follower of Lance. I get angry by anyone who prejudges and makes personal statements. For example when the last story from L’Equipe published allegations that Armstrong doped in 1999, Greg was one of the first to denounce Armstrong. He even seemed to go on a crusade against the cyclist. When it turned out that the subsequent investigation Cleared Armstrong, Greg went personal.

I figured that all this was due to the long running animosity between the two. Also, Lance has the unique ability to piss people off. So I wince and moved on.

Now, Greg runs to the camera to take a premature shot at Floyd Landis. First he gives the hug by saying:

“I know and like Floyd and his famiy. I can’t imagine the disappointment for Floyd and his family.”

The hug, as it turns out is to get Greg close enough to plant the knife squarly between the shoulder blades.

“I really did believe Floyd was clean. The problem is the sport is corrupt and it corrupts everybody.

“You will always find riders who transgress the laws. I really did believe Floyd was not among them, that he was clean. Hopefully, he will be able to step up and tell the truth.”

So, you are insinuating that Floyd needs to tell the truth as he is not telling it now? Are you saying that you believe him guilty before even the “B” sample comes in? Here is what I think. Let the process run out. Then make the judgement. Give the rider the benefit of the doubt until doubt is removed. Then praise or punish him. No matter who the rider is.

Stop trying to improve your image in American cycling history by bringing down everyone else around you. Your record will keep you there for all time. Those who did not see you ride will not see you as a mythic figure but instead as a bitter ex-pro.

Something missing?

Below is a quote included in the AP story on Floyd Landis. 

Testosterone is included as an anabolic steroid on WADA’s list of banned substances, and its use can be punished by a two-year ban.

Testosterone can build muscle and improve recovery time when used over a period of several weeks, said Dr. Gary Wadler, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency and a spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine. But if Landis had been a user, his earlier urine tests during the tour would have been affected, he said.

“So something’s missing here,” Wadler said. “It just doesn’t add up.”

Who do I believe?

Do you ever watch CourtTv? Have you ever seen a trial?  I have.  It generally ends with a passioned, believable plea for mercy.  The plea includes either claims of innocence or promises of the straight and narrow if given one more chance.  I always am moved to believe them.  Right up until the judge slams the gavel and crushes their spirit.  I guess the judge hears this all the time.  I can imaging that early in their career, they believe the story and give someone a break.  Then, they live to regret it. 

What happens to the really innocent person coming before the hardened judge?  Their story sounds just like all the others.  How can you tell the difference?  I believed in Santiago Perez.  I believed in Tyler Hamilton. Actually, I still might.  I didn’t believe Joseba Beloki and seem to be proven wrong.

I am believing Floyd Landis.  Why?  His mom sounds like there is no equivocation in her values and that must have been instilled in Floyd.  But, that’s not it.  He seems to be a straight up guy.  I don’t think that’s it.  Is it because he is not acting guilty?  He seems to be acting the way I would act if I were wrongly accused of doping.  I sense some anger, but more depression and shock. 

Read his words, While he says he’ll prove his innocence, he seems resigned to the fact this has permanently stained him.  This is not one of the two reactions normally seen. 

The first is the PR offensive.  Whining publicly on his innocence and blaming someone else for incompetence, malice, etc.

The second is lawyering up.  Here, your lawyer whines for you while you hide.  Then the lawyer games begin.  This has the effect of making you look guilty regardless.  Look at Ivan Basso.  I really want him to be innocent. His lawyer says that Ivan wants the DNA test that would prove if his blood is in Dr. Fuentes possession.  His lawyer also says that he is preventing Ivan from taking the DNA test due to the unreliability of the test. This is bad PR.   Having the lawyer take the hit and muddy the waters around the validity of DNA testing looks like you are preparing for a positive result.  Bad, bad, bad. The CSI generation is not going to buy this one.

We know the “B” sample will be positive.  This lab can’t have another embarrassment after being raked over the coals by the UCI investigator in the Lance Armstrong case.  No way. Then what.

I really don’t know.