Headlines

This may be the most assinine headline I have seen in a long time.

Inside Cycling with John Wilcockson: Man of the week Sagan — a Merckx in the making?

Oh sure, I may proven to be wrong but its about a .01% chance that Sagan becomes Merckx. Very good young rider but let's get real Mr. Wilcockson.

And so it begins....

And so it begins...

The 2011 road racing season began yesterday with a whimper. Four members of our modest little team came out to contest Missouri's traditional season kickoff, Froze Toes.

The race name was more of an oxymoron this year, as the temperatures were expected to be in the 50's. It seemed Wet Toes was going to be a more appropriate name. Half the drive out I-70 was marked by a light misting rain. But, shortly before leaving the interstate, the rain stopped. But, would it stay that way?

I guess I arrived a little later than normal. There was no parking behind in the small lot behind the school and had to park a quarter mile away.

Registration was a breeze. There were NO lines at all. I stepped up, paid, went to another table and got my number. Smooth as silk. Maybe it was a case of good timing but I give them kudos for a pleasant registration experience.

Neither Aaron, Patrice, Seth or I seemed eager to get kitted up. Heck, Patrice didn't even want to register for the race but he finally took the plunge. Eventually I went back to the car, and made final clothing decisions. It was one of those days that you could easily overdress or underdress. Especially with the precipitation looming as a variable.

I dont think I ever had less of a warmup for this race. I rode about a mile total. Half with the tailwind. Half with a headwind.

Thankfully, no one seemed eager to go hard from the start as I led the group of the parking lot and set the early moderate pace. The roads were still damp and kicking up a little spray and the skies were low and gray. So low, in fact, that the roads eerily snaked in and out of small fog banks that had settled upon the rolling, barren farm fields. There was a certain Euro, early Spring Classics feel to it.

I sat at or near the front and comfortably marked some of the early forays by riders that I deemed dangerous. Shortly after turning onto Hwy O, I sat second wheel. Dennis Koscielski launched a little attack. I waited a moment to see what responses would take place. There were none, so I decided to shut it down. I rose out of the saddle and my rear wheel felt like it was slopping around. I took a few more pedal strokes and began to feel the rough pavement begin to vibrate through the wheel as it rode on just rubber and a disinct lack of air. I threw up my hand and watched as the field streamed by.

The start of the season began with a pssssssssstttttt. There are days when you pray for a flat tire. This was not one of those days. I was comfortable and felt good. Too good to stop after only 10 miles.

The new team rode solid and with some nice teamwork. Patrice stuck with the main group and finished 8th. Seth got seperated from the pack but was an asset early on and Aaron suffered a slowly leaking tire, but was able to nurse it to the finish after a stop to pump it up.

The next real race is a month away at Forest Park. Time to start working the intervals a bit more and prepare for Crit racing. In the meantime, Tuesday Worlds start in mid-March. The racing starts to be a regular thing from then on.

Less than a week...

We are less than a week from the start of the road season in MO. This coming Sunday is Froze Toes, the traditional kick-off to the season. A training road race with big fields and lots of ambition in the hearts and minds of the entrants on a one lane roads. The race is both exhilirating because it is the start of the season and frustrating because of the nature of the racing.

I raced Masters last year and found the racing entertaining. Far better than the Cat 3/4 cluster-bleep that happens almost every year. Once in a while, that race will generate some goodness, but not often. I was fortunate enough a few years ago to initiate the decisive move and and create a breakaway of two riders. I was, of course, the second place rider but it was nice to not have to deal with the argie-bargie of 70 people charging toward the finish.

I have the usual uncertainty heading in to the season. Generally, I hold good form through winter because of my cyclocross racing. This year, my last race New Years Eve. So, my off-season has been "off" in the slightest sense.

A few weeks, I was feeling really good and hammering up hills in the big ring out of necessity (because my bike didn't shift in cold temps). The last few weeks have been a down period. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad. Strong last Saturday, then sucking eggs on Sunday.

This weekend, I was somewhat off the pace early in the ride on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, stronger at the end of the ride on Sunday. Who knows what this weekend will bring. If things go well, and my back isn't acting up, Sunday could be an okay race.

Let's get this season underway.

Separated at birth?

Juan Valdez and Jose Serpa. Or, is it Jose Serpa and Juan Valdez.

Helmet... check. Shoes... check Shorts... checkered

Sweet Mother of the One Above! Look at those shorts.

Yeah, whatever.

Contador dopes and gets cleared the crooked Spaniard cycling federation. Armstrong retires. Is there anything interesting going on in the world of cycling.

Oh yeah, these shorts are REALLY ugly.


Also at the Volta ao Algarve, Phillipe Gilbert kicked some arse. God Bless, Phillipe

"The Foot" is officially gone. Geox-TMC, formerly Footon-Servetto, unveiled their new kits yesterday. Based on the number of races they NOT been invited to attend, they likely could have delayed the presentation until May and no one would have noticed.

But, they went ahead and unveiled the new kit anyway. The unfortunate flesh colored kits with a giant footprint of Servetto-Footon have been sent to the scrap heap. Geox's jerseys are something a little different from the usual and should stand out when watching on TV. However, I am thinking the big black circle may look like a Magic 8-ball from the overhead shots. Will Carlos Sastre win the Tour? Magic 8-ball says "Not a chance"

I know Geox is a shoe company but I was unaware of the technological advances they have been making. Not since Maxwell Smart's shoe phone


and Jimmy's Vertical Leap athletic shoes

has there been such an advancement in shoe technology.

A closer look at the Geox jersey seems to indicate that they have developed steam iron shoe. A simple press of the insole and the shoe releases enough steam to neatly press your dress shirt while at work. How great is that? Sure, your filthy shoe bottom might leave a mark but your shirts and pants will be crisply ironed.



Also on display at the jersey presentation, were the whitest pair of Italian legs... ever. Like fine veal, Giampaolo Cheula has been kept out of the sun for his entire life.

Qatar

What happens when they put on a race and nobody comes?

What is the point of the Tour of Qatar? The country is willing to put on the race and I am thankful for that. And, there actually is some entertaining racing, despite the fact that every stage has about 6 inches of elevation gain. When the winds start blowing you have excellent examples of racing in the wind and using echelons.

All that is well and good, but it seems the goal is also to have people spectate. Qatar can hardly be considered part of the "globalization" of the sport, when no one watches.

I watched the prologue this morning and am exagerating much when I say there were about a dozen people watching. The turnout was pathetic. Local Cat 4 Women's races draw bigger crowds than this race.

Look at this video and discount the corner workers, photographers and race officials.