It’s funny how malleable our definition of “local” becomes when emotion gets involved. Seattle is a fiercely independent town where “local” is meant to imply your immediate neighborhood and we struggle to consider people who inhabit a community less than a kilometer away to be little less than an étranger. On the other hand, I have yet to meet a cyclist in town who does not consider T-Bone Farrar a hometown boy, despite the fact that he hails from Wanatchee, which is quite a distance (and an entire mountain range) away from Seattle.
But such are the wonts of fans; we’re not required to be rational, and what a beautiful thing that is. In any event, I was delighted to see hometown boy T-Bone make an amazing jump at the line today. As the bunch approached the finish, he seemed hopelessly poorly positioned and likely to get closed out in the final dash. Cavendouche was in his usual spot, tucked in behind Matt Goss, and I almost walked away, taking another Cav’ win as a forgone conclusion. But, in a masterful jump that showed a combination of skill and power in maneuvering up from a relatively poor position, he accelerated past the front of the fastest leadout in the world to take his second stage of the race and demonstrate what an exciting bunch sprint can do for a race.
And, given his roots in the Hard Rock capital of Seattle, what would be more fitting than the Metal Horns Salute? The answer is, of course, “none”. It certainly is quite a bit easier to understand than the J-Rod Cyclops.
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@Ron
it seems that *rash generalisation* Americans, known for being *rash generalisation* brash, uncompromising and in-your-face. Don't seem to like Cavendish because he is brash and in-your-face.
William Fotheringham, the british journo, interviewed Cav for one of the broadsheet British newspapers after Madrid. Fotheringham tweeted that Cav said Madrid was the hardest sprint he's ever done because of the wheel rubbing. Make of that what you want
@Jarvis
Good one, but I think we all know the difference between "American's" and a Velominatus who happens to be an American: it's about La Vie Velominatus. The fact that Cav is brash has little to do with it. The fact that he's a bitchy little prick has everything to do with it.
That bit about him being upset with T-Bone for not mentioning HIS mechanical is precisely the kind of self-centered, egotistical bullshit that makes me label him a "douchebag".
Tyler won the sprint and all the reasons Cav lost it have nothing to do with him. It's like Andy being pissed off that Contador didn't mention the dropped chain while he was on the podium.
Cav is obviously hard-as-nails on the bike, but that kid needs to learn to harden the fuck up when he's off it. Take a note from Marko's students.
@frank
haven't heard about that, stopped paying attention to La Vuelta the day before. Been scouring ebay for cheap Dura-Ace since then.
@frank
you been editing your comments?
@Jarvis
I sometimes do, if I forgot to say something or see a typo, usually nothing substantial. Why?
No reason at all, I just noticed.
@Dan O
Cool little tale of the grunge tax man! Hope he didn't charge you an Arm and a leg...
@Marko
Maybe it was this guy, circa 1989...
@Flying Crowbar
It is fitting if the start of the travesty was a pink Coors Light Silver Bullet cap. The horror!
@itburns
I was just ruminating on that very aspect of it. Pink. Baseball cap. Coors. Light.
So much failure.