Two takes from the weekend’s racing: the Boonen-Cancellara duel and why the Critérium International needs reviewing.
Forget the politics
I know I give the politics of the sport plenty of attention here. For me it would be good if the sport could be run better, everyone stands to gain and taking a look at the issues is often interesting. But probably like you, I find it’s much better watching actual racing rather than following the politics.
March isn’t finished but it’s been a superb start to the season. Whether it’s via a suspect pirate video stream or in glorious HDTV, watching some of the racing so far has been a joy. For all the infighting off the bike, the battles on the road are much more gripping. That said, there’s a start point and and an end to the racing, the issues facing the sport are obviously more nuanced and complicated. Whether it’s race radios or Alberto Contador, we simply don’t know what the future will bring. Plus there are rumours a rider has tested positive. Let’s hope it’s a false alarm.
Motorpacing as training
I’m slightly reluctant to cover this topic in case someone decides to go out and try this in a rush and ends up the wrong side of local traffic laws or worse, in hospital. So a word of caution first in that this is dangerous and I’m covering what the pros do rather than suggesting you try it for yourself.
Motorpacing is a common technique used by the pros. It has several uses:
Goofy: the UCI’s skateboarding grab
News that the UCI was looking to become the world governing body for skateboarding is doing the rounds. Only it’s not news, it’s been on the agenda for some time. The New York Times covered this in 2007.
Dumoulin wins
A quick post to point out that Samuel Dumoulin won in the Volta Catalunya today. He’d already won twice but this time last year the Cofidis rider was the most prolific winner in the bunch. He admitted that he rushed things last year, peaking early in the season and not carrying it through after April.
Cycling, an evolving team sport
One of offshoots of the radio debate has been an idea that riders are now radio controlled, mere chess pieces to be manipulated by their manager. Indeed part of the desire from those wanting to scrap radios is to make the sport more reliant on individuals, to diminish the role of the team.
The rise of the team within cycling is one of the unmentioned themes in the sport. Here’s a quick sprint though the last 100 years…
How it works (blog housekeeping)
If you’ve been a regular for a year, ignore this as this post as it’s a bit like when you look between your legs to see which gear you’re in. This post explains things but won’t necessarily give you anything new.
There are more and more readers these days to the point where I feel some responsibility. I feel cautious about expressing views and worry that I can’t spot spelling mistaks before hitting the “publish” button. But it’s great to see so many interested in the things I’m covering and if you’re new, just a pointer for things.
What next for Contador?
Rather than filling up Twitter with a series of 140 character statements, questions and thoughts, it’s better to put everything into one post.
First, the news has just arrived that the UCI is going to take Alberto Contador and the Spanish Federation, the RFEC to the Court for Arbitration for Sport in order to appeal the verdict given by the RFEC following Contador’s non-negative test for Clenbuterol.
Replacing Pat McQuaid
Many cycling fans love the sport but not the politics and certainly the mention of UCI President Pat McQuaid can quickly elicit boos and hisses from many. The case for the prosecution is quite strong, take your pick from the chaos in the sport, murky dealings, bizarre public statements and much more. But more recently frustration with the President has grown. Joe Lindsey sets out a strong case over at the Boulder Report.
Not many are making the case for the defence, least of all the UCI. For what it’s worth, I tend to think McQuaid’s got a mixed record. Let’s not forget he’s overseen the introduction of the toughest anti-doping rules, that the sport is spreading around the world athough I can hear irate readers saying he was never the driving force for these things, they’ve (had to) happen under his watch. But there’s a lot of behind the scenes activity where his chatty, relaxed ways can work wonders.
But if you wanted to replace the UCI President how do you do it? What’s the mechanism and who’s involved? A reader’s asked these questions this morning and it’s time to take a look.
Colombia with passion
It was in the late 1980s when I first began to catch the Tour de France. At the time the Colombians had an almost mythical ability in the Tour de France. I didn’t understand much about the sport but I knew in the mountains that Lucho Herrera, Pablo Wilches and Fabio Parra were able to win and to liven up any summit finish. There were two teams from Colombia, Café de Colombia and Postobon. In time the South Americans collected a very respectable list of results, from stage wins to placings in races like the Vuelta, Dauphiné and Tour de France.
The Colombians also brought very animated commentators who would give typical latin flair to their flow. I can’t find a clip but here’s the soccer equivalent. It wasn’t just heated commentary, in time they also brought cocaine.