The Argyle Warriors

Argyle is back and badder than ever.

I think it's fairly safe to say that even after only 5 days of racing the folks at Garmin are having their best Tour de France ever. A win at the Team Time Trial followed by Tyler Farrar's first Tour de France stage win followed by a stunning uphill climbing effort by Thor Hushovd to stay in the yellow Jersey is a pretty stinkin' awesome way to charge through the first week of Le Grand Boucle

And equally exciting...Argyle is back! I for one was pretty unhappy when the always recognizable Garmin argyle got replaced by a classy-but-bland Garmin-Cervelo uniform at the beginning of the cycling season. Having made the typical team Cervelo move of changing from black to white in the heat of the summer, Vaughters must have used a little leverage to bring back that Garmin trademark we've all grown to know and love. I couldn't be happier (with their uniform or their results).

Best of luck to the Garmin boys as the take the Tour by storm.

Ben King: a Real American Hero

I think I just might have a new favorite US Rider.

Last Fall when Ben King rode his way to a US National Championship out of an early break that turned into a long solo finish I knew he'd be a rider to watch. I was right. King was racing on the Trek-Livestrong team last year when he burst onto the professional scene and now is riding for Team Radioshack in the stars and stripes. I've tried to keep tabs on him a bit this year while he's making his ProTour debut and it's been quite rewarding. He's had is fair share of trial by fire including short stage races in the European circut and even a shot at Paris-Roubaix (see picture above). King is classy and articulate, bordering on eloquent. Clearly enjoying the ride and a great representative for US National Champ. Right now he's duking it out at the Amgen Tour of California in support of Chris Horner.

Check out his three part series at his velonews blog about what the transition has been like so far.

Hopefully he'll have a shot at defending his title with the switch in seasons for the USAC Road Championships this year. It won't be long before we find out.

Cycling is a team sport

The Spring Classics this year have proven that while individuals most often get the credit for winning cycling races, cycling is nonetheless a team sport. Let's take a look at some good examples from this Spring's phenomenal racing.

First of all I will say that there are occasions where a strong individual can blow away the field. However, this usually is because other teams have failed to anticipate that individual. Last year's Flanders-Roubaix double by Fabian Cancellera was a great example of this. No one expected him to be able to ride away from Boonen the way he did from so far out during Flanders. As a matter of fact they were so stunned that no one expected him to do the same thing a week the following week.

This year, however, the other teams were ready and Leopard-Trek unfortunately was not.

Fabian Cancellera came out swinging at the E3 Prijs Harelbeke. He attacked and no one could follow. He chased down the lead group and swung past them as if they were standing still. I have to admit it was a bit of an ironic twist. He passed the group alone the way that a group usually passes a lone breakaway rider. It was pretty awesome.

Then came his troubles. His strength at E3, though, was his undoing. He made it seem as if he could defeat the world all alone and so the world challenged him. No one in the upcoming races was willing to work with him and in the end it was Cancellera stick all. He stuckit to them pretty good, too. But without the team support he needed for Flanders or Roubaix he missed the top spot on both podiums. Both losses were a result of teams working against him. And while Quick Step's Sylvain Chavanel only managed 2nd for his work against Cancellera, Garmin-Cervelo reaped the benefits and placed Johan Van Summeren on the top step, although at the expense of Thor Hushovd's chance to win in the World Champion's Jersey (but that's something different altogether).

Enough of Fabian's sorrow over this year's cobbled classics. (even though they were good examples of teams working it out especially Garmin-Cervelo's Roubaix win). I like the guy and have to admit I'd rather not rub it in. It did take an entire team/several teams/the whole peloton to beat him and even though he didn't win Flanders or Roubaix this year he single-handedly made them spectacular races to watch.

Now that Amstel Gold Race has come and gone we are officially transitioned into the Ardennes Classics and while the terrain has changed, the importance of a team has not. Philippe Gilbert pulled off a fantastic win at Amstel bursting clear of his adversaries on the final assault of the Cauberg climb to the finish. I don't want to take away from his win by saying his team did it, but his team did do it. Their goal was for him to win and as the captain of the team for the day he did a good job marshaling his troops and making sure things turned out in his favor. Ultimately, Gilbert was the strongest and best tactician on the day which led to his win. But what we saw from Omega Pharma Lotto at Amstel was what Cancellera was missing in the cobbled classics. Almost every time the camera showed the front of the race as it got more serious, Gilbert's men were there. He was there with them and took responsibility for his own racing when he needed to, but he always had a couple of men around him to help out.

We'll have to see how things play out as we head towards the final Spring classics to round out this week. A good show from Andy Schleck at Amstel might mean that he gets to put another Classics win in his belt within the next few days. Personally, I'm hoping Ryder Hesjdal has some better luck and stands on at least one of the next two podiums. Regardless of who wins at Fleche Wallone or Liege-Bastogne-Liege this year, it's a good bet he'll have had some help from his team to get there.

This is why the spring Classics are awesome!

The past few weeks have been filled with races known as the Spring Classics in cycling. They are generally very long one day races that take a lot of skill, a lot of courage and a little bit of insanity. They tend to be in gross spring weather ranging from pouring rain to sleet and snow, although this year was warm and sunny. Still, the dirt is unavoidable as you can see above with this post Paris-Roubaix example.

One reason that these races are great, besides the dirt and warzone-shell shocked feel that all of the riders seem to finish with (if they finish), is that you never really know what's going to happen. It's only one day and everyone wants to win. Teams still have their team leaders and all but there is no strategizing for position in the general classification like stage races, because it all comes down to the one day, the one finish line, the one result! It's pretty exciting to see them all put it on the line. I'm fairly new to following the Classics of cycling as they are called, but I'm all in and loving every minute of it.

We've just finished the cobbled classics (truly brutal) and next week begin the Ardennes classics which tend to be made for the lighter weight riders and hill climbers who can't take the pounding on the pavé. We'll see who decides to show his hand this week as we shift gears. The brothers Schleck perhaps? I can't wait!

Smart Racing Can make a World of Difference

The Montepaschi Strade Bianchi was this weekend. It's a pretty cool race. They had a stage during the Giro last year in similar area on similar roads and it was epic!

Today was good weather and good racing. The video below shows the last 15 minutes of the race, but what I think is most impressive happens in the last 2 minutes. Philippe Gilbert has been riding about 5 spots back from the front until this point and then, knowing what he has to do, comes to the front and controls the race all the way to the finish line.

What's most impressive to me here is not necessarily his show of power. He does power up the steep finishing climb, which allows him to take the position he needs, but the finishing touch comes when selects his line through the narrow roads. Even when it looks like Ballan (BMC, in red) is going to overtake him, Gilbert keeps his cool and sticks to his game plan. The result...I'll let you see for yourself.




An excellent win in excellent style, if I do say so myself.

Is that really necessary?

Today Mark Cavendish won his second stage of La Vuelta. He won in a pretty distinct fashion (as usual) and couldn't help but celebrate...

Yeah, that's right. He bunny hopped over the finish line. I asked myself the same thing: "Seriously?"

Cavendish gets a lot of flak for being a rather brash guy. And I have to be honest, I think the success has gone to his head. I'm not one to stand behind his outrageousness, and I've never really supported the whole dance in the end-zone thing, but this is hilarious.

It's maybe a bit dangerous, but otherwise completely inoffensive. And when you look at his face you know it's just his inner child bubbling over.

So for this one, I say nice work Cav. You earned it.

YES!

The only thing sweeter would be if big brother Frank was still in it. However, even with his untimely demise, I'm happy to see Andy in Yellow. Although, it is a long ways out from Paris still. We'll see if he can hold on to it.

I do have to admit that I am a bit disappointed to see Evans crumble the way that he did, but that's going to happen when you are trying to race the Tour de France with a broken arm...

My favorite part yesterday, though, was listening to Andy's post race interview. Sometimes I can't believe how dumb the questions are that sportscasters ask and Andy just took it in stride and told it like it was. The guy interviewing him asked if Andy was testing Alberto on the climb and why he was attacking so much. Andy simply said "To drop Contador. I was not testing, if I had attacked one more time I would have dropped myself."

Duh! Take that sports reporter. No more questions like "you just won a stage in the biggest bike race in history, are you excited?" Really, who gave these guys a microphone?

An uneventful day today means Andy is still in Yellow and it looks like the race will come down to a mano a mano slugfest between Schleck and Contador in the Pyranees. Woohoo!

Good luck and Bad

Sunday's stage in the Tour de France gave a leap in standings for guys like Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans, but looks like it spelled the end of the Tour for "Lance Factor." It's hard to come back into a race after crashing once at a bad time, but three bad crashes was just too much for even a hardened veteran like Armstrong. When all was said and done he was down over 12 minutes from the lead. It may not be impossible to come back from (considering the amazing flips in leadership during the Giro this year), but I would have to say it's unlikely. Even in his prime, Lance would have had difficulty making up that kind of time.

On the other hand, the day made for a stunning display of climbing prowess as Andy Schleck powered to the line for an impressive victory.




And who isn't happy to see Cadel Evans in Yellow? I for one am very glad to see him have the success that he has had this year after making his move to BMC. We'll see how he does from here on out.

With a couple more stages in the Alps before heading south and west there are sure to be some more fireworks before the big showdown in the Pyranees. I can't wait!

Grand Tour + First Week = Crash Fest

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Sadly this is what today's stage of the tour ended like. After a stellar ride and overall win at the Tour de Suisse, Frank Schleck is out of the Tour de France. He will be sorely missed in the mountains when Andy needs his help, but it may not be the curtain call for Andy and his Saxo Bank team as they have already shown by mostly riding in complete control for the past 3 days. Unfortunately, today disaster struck.

I don't know what it is about the Grand Tours thus far this year, but it seems that no one is safe in the first handful of days. Maybe starting in Holland is just bad luck, but with only three days behind us now there are way too many riders out of the race. At least 5 teams have lost riders and time will only tell who is ready to start tomorrow morning.

Hopefully the next few days will see fewer riders laying on the ground.

Le Tour is Looming

Only 2 more days until Le Tour de France begins! I can hardly wait. My wife just rolls her eyes every time she sees me start to get giddy about the event, but it's so close, that I really don't care(she was giving me the same eye roll a month ago when I was following the live feed ticker for the Giro at 5am in the morning).

With the Tour so close the grand depart only a breath away, there are many questions about this year's parcours. The European national championships have mostly come to a close and riders are resting after testing periods at Dauphine and the Tour de Suisse. The list this year is long for podium contenders including Bradley Wiggins, Lance Armstrong, Christian Van De Velde, Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, Ivan Basso and Cadel Evans to name a few. There is a veritable slew of competitors this year vying for the top spot, but only time will tell (three weeks to be exact) who comes out on top.

While Armstrong has confirmed that this will be his last tour (again) other riders seem poised to start a true tour legacy...cough cough...ahemandyschleckcoughhack...cough. Excuse me.

Regardless of who dons the maillot jaune come the end of the Tour, this race promises to be an exciting one with plenty of competitive individuals and teams.

Of course, what would be a tour without the affable and ofttimes laughable Jens Voigt. To get you in the spirit take a gander at a few of these sample facts about Jens.

• When Jens Voigt rides off the front of a peloton, he’s not actually riding faster, he’s pulling the earth closer towards him.
• Jens Voigt rides so fast during attacks, that he could circle the globe, hold his own wheel, and ride in his own draft. At least as long as he didn’t try to drop himself.
• If by some incredible space-time paradox Jens could ever race himself, he would win
• Jens no longer has a shadow because he dropped it repeatedly until it climbed into the Saxo Bank team car claiming a stomach ailment and retired.
• Jens does not feel pain. Pain feels Jens.

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