This morning was the Judy Ride. A 30-mile charity ride to raise funds for breast cancer. Our team was recruited as pseudo-guides to escort the others along the route and help out where needed. It is the epitome of a small chainring ride. About 3 hrs to finish the 30 miles but that includes about 15 minutes at the turn around point and stopping to fix two others tires. It's a nice easy ride. Too bad it started out with spitting rain and wet roads from the overnight rain. The roads had dried well by the halfway point, though, and it turned into a nice day.
News Item of the Day: According to reports in Italy, Mario Cipollini is close to a deal to join Cofidis. The 2002 world champion is considering the offer to join the French team following two lackluster seasons with Domina Vacanze, according to a report in Tuttosport.
There seems to be plenty of problems at Domina Vacanze, which will ride on next season as part of the Pro Tour after joining forces with De Nardi, but team management has accused the team sponsor of not paying wages since mid-summer.
Cipollini, meanwhile, might like a change of colors. Since winning the rainbow jersey at the end of the 2002 season, the Lion King has struggled to maintain his winning form. The 37-year-old Tuscan pulled out of both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France this year with injury.
Viewpoint: I'm very surprised Cipo didn't retire at the end of the season. He doesn't seem to have the winning sprint anymore but I guess he feels he can still pull off a few victories. He is a publicity machine, so I can understand a teams willingness to take a chance on signing him
One of the neat things I did this year was getting a chance to see Cipollini at the Tour of Georgia. I stood not more 5 ft from the guy as he had his bike checked for the time trial. He seems like a genuinely nice guy, laughing and joking with others. The Tour of GA being a smaller race probably makes it easier to more lighthearted but he at least didn't seem to have the kind of attitude that someone of his fame could.
News Item of the Day: According to reports in Italy, Mario Cipollini is close to a deal to join Cofidis. The 2002 world champion is considering the offer to join the French team following two lackluster seasons with Domina Vacanze, according to a report in Tuttosport.
There seems to be plenty of problems at Domina Vacanze, which will ride on next season as part of the Pro Tour after joining forces with De Nardi, but team management has accused the team sponsor of not paying wages since mid-summer.
Cipollini, meanwhile, might like a change of colors. Since winning the rainbow jersey at the end of the 2002 season, the Lion King has struggled to maintain his winning form. The 37-year-old Tuscan pulled out of both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France this year with injury.
Viewpoint: I'm very surprised Cipo didn't retire at the end of the season. He doesn't seem to have the winning sprint anymore but I guess he feels he can still pull off a few victories. He is a publicity machine, so I can understand a teams willingness to take a chance on signing him
One of the neat things I did this year was getting a chance to see Cipollini at the Tour of Georgia. I stood not more 5 ft from the guy as he had his bike checked for the time trial. He seems like a genuinely nice guy, laughing and joking with others. The Tour of GA being a smaller race probably makes it easier to more lighthearted but he at least didn't seem to have the kind of attitude that someone of his fame could.
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