Watch Gerben Löwik’s nasty crash below, courtesy of cycling.tv. The Dutchman’s brake cable snapped during Stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse. I can’t think of another time when a cable snappped, it’s a rare thing. It’s a grizzly crash, we can only watch the rider knowing he cannot stop. Löwik had to leave the … Read more
Ah, Monaco! Monte Carlo! Images of the Formula 1 GP, Grace Kelly, James Bond holding court at the casino, the shimmering seas, the yachts. It’s all good. Only it’s not quite like that. Yes it can be a pleasant part of the world but not everyone likes it. I do some work for small outfit … Read more
Recent images from the Dauphiné seem to have upset some TV viewers as both the broadcaster and the race organiser received complaints about some riders going bare chested. In reality the riders in question simply had the jersey zip undone all the way. Nevertheless French cycling supremo Laurent Jalabert – presumably sitting somewhere comfortable – … Read more
Falco’s Wiener Blut Wiener Blut means “Vienna blood”, but also “Viennese spirit”. Austrian cyclist Bernard Kohl got caught but there seems to have been an industrial scale doping network here and few other clients of the clinic have been investigated, yet alone sanctioned. Anyway, it’s an excuse for a bit of Falco. Note the “wir … Read more
Johan Bruyneel is fuming at Unipublic’s decision not to invite Team Radioshack to the Vuelta a Espana. And he’s got a point. Here’s the UCI rankings for the top-25 teams in the world:(click to enlarge) Note that Radioshack sits in eighth place. Use the alternative Cycling Quotient Team Rankings and the team is in fifth … Read more
Having watched the Dauphiné on French TV it was nice to be able to watch the race on a proper TV screen rather than a pirate feed over the internet. But it wasn’t perfect thanks to the commentary on France Télévisions. The pair of sports generalist Thierry Adam and ex-rider Laurent Jalabert doesn’t work. Thierry … Read more
US rider Matt DeCanio is a former pro on the US circuit, he published a taped conversation that apparently incriminated a former team mate, Kayle Leogrande. Since then he’s started an outspoken – to say the least – website at stolenunderground.com which advocates a militant stance against doping and dopers. DeCanio is now racing in … Read more
From today it is now legal to bet on cycling races in France. Until now, it was banned but of course many would simply use the internet to place a bet with an overseas operator. But France has now partially liberalised this law, ending the state monopoly ending what was increasingly becoming a farce, a … Read more
As part of the series on the 1980s, here are five items related to hair styles plus a bonus on facial hair. Whilst the 70s saw some new cuts, the 80s gave rise to actual styles and creations. And fans got to see the hairstyles, it was the norm for riders to ride without helmets, … Read more
Just a quickie… writing on his blog, Polish climber Sylvester Szmyd says that one additional factor behind Astana’s and Contador’s willingness to chase him was because the Pole turned down an offer to ride with Contador for next year. Szmyd tried everything for Alpe d’Huez, even “chewing my breakfast more slowly” but above all he … Read more