“Lefevere suggest shortening the Grand Tours to 15 days
A few days ago Tinkoff-Saxo owner Oleg Tinkov’s claimed he’d stump up €1 million to be shared by Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quinta if all four complete the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta in one season. Omega Pharma-QuickStep CEO Patrick Lefevere has responded, telling Het Nieuwsblad that it might be time to shorten the Grand Tours, particularly if we want to see the best of the best facing off against one another.

“As the Grand Tours now are organized, it is not physically feasible for them to race all three”, Lefevere said. “The Giro starts in early May, the Vuelta ends in mid-September, and in between is the Tour. Whoever races them all has 66 days of racing over about 120 days.

“The solution is to shorten the Vuelta and the Giro to 17 days, or in my opinion, 15 days.”

@Sauterelle

Seattle paramedics are en route.

I’d need them myself if *that other guy* was wearing that shirt!

Seattle paramedics are en route.

Just getting back on line and catching up on articles and comments.  Spent my holiday in @wiscot ‘s town of West Bend, WI and it never got above -3C the entire time I was there!

@Deakus

Awesome little instructional vid. His treatment of The Netherlands is even better because he manages to sneak in the word “jackalope.”

For the benefit of foreigners, a jackalope:

Frank may appreciate this – particularly as he also manages to sneak in Hawaii which appears to be the place to be just now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_575176&feature=iv&src_vid=rx0iYx66svM&v=eE_IUPInEuc

Awesome little instructional vid. His treatment of The Netherlands is even better because he manages to sneak in the word “jackalope.”

For the benefit of foreigners, a jackalope:

@strathlubnaig

@McTyke

@strathlubnaig

Lord above I hope Wiggins / Sky do not win the Giro next year, it’s bad enough listening to the Anglos still going on about 1966…. I’d need to re-migrate back to the Le Vieux Pays again.

As a Yorkshireman living in Scotland, I never bring up 1966 and don’t know any Englishmen who do either. In my experience it’s the Scots who like to perpetuate the myth that we keep going on about it, as it gives them something to complain about!

Living in Scotland that’s a good tactic. It’s the meeja in englandshire who harp on.

For the avoidance of doubt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10&feature=share

I saw this clip last year somewhere…perfect and the fact that it was done by a Merican was not lost on me!

@McTyke

@strathlubnaig

Lord above I hope Wiggins / Sky do not win the Giro next year, it’s bad enough listening to the Anglos still going on about 1966…. I’d need to re-migrate back to the Le Vieux Pays again.

As a Yorkshireman living in Scotland, I never bring up 1966 and don’t know any Englishmen who do either. In my experience it’s the Scots who like to perpetuate the myth that we keep going on about it, as it gives them something to complain about!

Living in Scotland that’s a good tactic. It’s the meeja in englandshire who harp on.

For the avoidance of doubt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10&feature=share

@Daccordi Rider

Well I just had my V moment for the year, heading up Greenhill Rd climb (6.5% for 7km) and right at the bottom Rachael Neylan comes past me. Naturally the compunction is to chase, swapped a couple of turns, reduced to wheel sucking about halfway and dropped about three quarter way to finish 50m back. I was utterly on the rivet, I suspect she was not! Still I smashed my best time and probably will spend the rest of the day in the foetal position.

http://app.strava.com/rides/34459603

Got confirmation of this from Miss Neylan this morning, when I brought it up she said ‘oh was that the MIttiga guy? Yeah he did ok to start with…’

Ouch!

@Roadslave525

Not wanting to be a) starstruck, or b) nervous about making anti-Boonen comments, bout take it y’all saw him retweet the link to this article last night at 7pm CET?

Jeeezzhus! I think that The V site just climaxed! Un-fookin-believable!

I blacked out for two days after that. Has anything cool happened in the mean time? Because if it did, I missed it.

@brian

great choice,boonen’s the MAN.

Yes he is.

Rabottini on stage 15 of the Giro gets my vote. God knows only how he found that final kick to take the stage win.

I still get goose bumps thinking about watching that race..

That was fucking classic, wasn’t it? My goodness my Merckx – and even the motorcycle drivers (if you can call those scootery things that) were pumped. Great moment. Like we said – lots of great moments this year – hard one to call!

Well I just had my V moment for the year, heading up Greenhill Rd climb (6.5% for 7km) and right at the bottom Rachael Neylan comes past me. Naturally the compunction is to chase, swapped a couple of turns, reduced to wheel sucking about halfway and dropped about three quarter way to finish 50m back. I was utterly on the rivet, I suspect she was not! Still I smashed my best time and probably will spend the rest of the day in the foetal position.

http://app.strava.com/rides/34459603

Got confirmation of this from Miss Neylan this morning, when I brought it up she said ‘oh was that the MIttiga guy? Yeah he did ok to start with…’

@strathlubnaig

Lord above I hope Wiggins / Sky do not win the Giro next year, it’s bad enough listening to the Anglos still going on about 1966…. I’d need to re-migrate back to the Le Vieux Pays again.

As a Yorkshireman living in Scotland, I never bring up 1966 and don’t know any Englishmen who do either. In my experience it’s the Scots who like to perpetuate the myth that we keep going on about it, as it gives them something to complain about!

Living in Scotland that’s a good tactic. It’s the meeja in englandshire who harp on.

@strathlubnaig oh I hear ya! I spent a large portion of my military career in a highland regiment. Nothing like ‘neeps & haggis. Accept an Englishman making himself look stupid.

@McTyke bloody Campbell.

VLVV

I posted in another thread where I was guessing you being in Alberta you was an ex- PPLI, regardless, Chapeau.

@McTyke bloody Campbell.

VLVV

What are the opinions on Sky & their tactics during this race? Could they simply not real Boonen in or did they do a poor job of chasing him & using their numbers?

One of the only things I’ve learned riding the Roubaix cobbles is: it’s impossible to draft. Everyone is trying to get across to the next paved section. When Boonen is the strongest on the cobbles the only chasing can happen on the asphalt parts. And that means everyone has to be finishing the cobbles together so they can form a paceline. And that is very hard to do.

Roubaix is a particular race. Team tactics don’t work well once the cobble sections begin. The baddest, strongest rider on the stones can really open up some gaps that are very hard to close on the short asphalt parts.

Lord above I hope Wiggins / Sky do not win the Giro next year, it’s bad enough listening to the Anglos still going on about 1966…. I’d need to re-migrate back to the Le Vieux Pays again.

As a Yorkshireman living in Scotland, I never bring up 1966 and don’t know any Englishmen who do either. In my experience it’s the Scots who like to perpetuate the myth that we keep going on about it, as it gives them something to complain about!

Great job, especially considering the company she keeps.

http://www.rachelneylan.com/

http://app.strava.com/rides/34459603

@strathlubnaig

@Dan_R

@Tobin

@Dan_R small consolidation is that Ryder did win the Lionel Conacher for 2012. Plus, without the Leafs to broadcast, TSN has to figure out an alternative way to aggravate the country.

Yeah, I just that on the Toronto Sports Network! Of course, ask an average Canadian who Lionel Conacher is and you’ll get a blank stare. Even in Toronto!

For the Americans in the crowd, he’s our version of Jim Thorpe, but he played more sports… so better.

Yep, bon choix Canada…. was there ever any real alternative to Ryder though ? Pleased for the lad.

You never know in Canadian sports media. Canadians don’t always get that hockey is only watches by a few hundred million people, where as cycling has about a billion fans – based on unique google searches that is. With the hype surrounding Wiggo’s plan to go after the Giro, it seems to me that even the cycling media is writing off Ryder’s chance of a defence. By all means bring it I say. Contador and Purito, Nibbs. The whole bunch should be striving to take the Giro from RH

Lord above I hope Wiggins / Sky do not win the Giro next year, it’s bad enough listening to the Anglos still going on about 1966…. I’d need to re-migrate back to the Le Vieux Pays again.

@eightzero I think Boonen deserves to have his pint hand delivered to him by the Velominati at KT2013.

Oh Sweet Baby Jesus if you throw Bonnen into the Keepers Tour you will have to have caddle prods to keep the people from over-running it.

@minion

And I didn’t say Roubaix’s were ugly bikes, I said he looks like a monkey humping a tennis ball.

Ha! I like that. I believe the photo is of the much disliked, @pedale disapproved, super wide angle shot that makes the great Tomeke look like a monkey fucking a tennis ball.

He looks a little more stretched out here

(shudders orgasmically) eeerrggghhh yeah that’s the spot. I have massive Boonen man love, that’s more like it.

Have to agree with Pedale that fisheye lenses don’t always improve the image.

@eightzero I think Boonen deserves to have his pint hand delivered to him by the Velominati at KT2013.

Agreed!

@Dan_R

@Tobin

@Dan_R small consolidation is that Ryder did win the Lionel Conacher for 2012. Plus, without the Leafs to broadcast, TSN has to figure out an alternative way to aggravate the country.

Yeah, I just that on the Toronto Sports Network! Of course, ask an average Canadian who Lionel Conacher is and you’ll get a blank stare. Even in Toronto!

For the Americans in the crowd, he’s our version of Jim Thorpe, but he played more sports… so better.

Yep, bon choix Canada…. was there ever any real alternative to Ryder though ? Pleased for the lad.

You never know in Canadian sports media. Canadians don’t always get that hockey is only watches by a few hundred million people, where as cycling has about a billion fans – based on unique google searches that is. With the hype surrounding Wiggo’s plan to go after the Giro, it seems to me that even the cycling media is writing off Ryder’s chance of a defence. By all means bring it I say. Contador and Purito, Nibbs. The whole bunch should be striving to take the Giro from RH

And I didn’t say Roubaix’s were ugly bikes, I said he looks like a monkey humping a tennis ball.

Ha! I like that. I believe the photo is of the much disliked, @pedale disapproved, super wide angle shot that makes the great Tomeke look like a monkey fucking a tennis ball. 

He looks a little more stretched out here

@eightzero I think Boonen deserves to have his pint hand delivered to him by the Velominati at KT2013.

Yes!

Perhaps Minion should present it to him right after repeating his statement above.

@brett

@Jay

@brett

@windy rider

@itburns

I wouldn’t worry about what Frank says about ugly bikes; he rides a Cervelo after all.

I too ride a Roubaix and find it to be an exceptional bike. Don’t disparage another’s ride unless you have ridden in their shoes, so to speak. If we all thought the same way, there would only be one choice of bike (or at the very least a much more limited selection). So long as the bike is compliant with the Rules does it matter otherwise?

I owned two Roubaixs. And I didn’t write the article. And Cervelos are ugly.

Touche’

https://twitter.com/tomboonen1

RT @velominati V isn’t about sensibility or calculation. V is about bending the odds to your vvill.Boonen: http://bit.ly/UttaWM@tomboonen1

Retweeted by tom boonen

That’ll teach me to check my Twitter account more than quarterly – what about a whip round for a V Pint and a decal – you never know the team publicity people just might let him stick one on his winter training steed.

Not wanting to be a) starstruck, or b) nervous about making anti-Boonen comments, bout take it y’all saw him retweet the link to this article last night at 7pm CET?

Jeeezzhus!  I think that the V site just climaxed!  Un-fookin-believable!

https://twitter.com/tomboonen1

RT @velominati V isn’t about sensibility or calculation. V is about bending the odds to your vvill.Boonen: http://bit.ly/UttaWM@tomboonen1

Retweeted by tom boonen

 

Ah, that’s what I like to see here – budding bromance springs eternal. I’m thinking a certain Tommeke deserves a custom engraved v-pint for his win here.

RT @velominati V isn’t about sensibility or calculation. V is about bending the odds to your vvill.Boonen: http://bit.ly/UttaWM@tomboonen1

Someone get Fronk the smelling salts!

2012 Cycling Season Compilation by Sporza (Flemish commentary and subtitles. Anyway, nice footage)

part I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVRigW3TESs

Part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcbq6Csv_HE

@windy rider

@itburns

I wouldn’t worry about what Frank says about ugly bikes; he rides a Cervelo after all.

That’s exactly right. There is an enormous list of things I find ugly, some of them I use myself and cherish – for instance, my Bonts – and many of them are very good products. Being a perfectly good product and being beautiful things are different subjects entirely.

I prescribe a massive helping for Rule V to anyone getting wound up about this.

@Marko

Since you haven’t done the Anti-V moment of the Year yet, maybe you can switch it to people getting their panties in a bunch over a joke.

Boonen is da man right enough, but one of the highlights of the year for me was Keisse (another Omega-Pharma lad) taking Stage 7 in the Tour of Turkey, the solo breakaway, the crash, the recovery, the remounting his chain and being oh so cool as the peloton charged towards him…… ‘kin-A !

This was probably the racing moment I got most excited watching all year – or maybe Rabottini winning stage 15 of the Giro, but I have to agree with Frank’s pick here on Boonen’s decision to go it alone in PR.  Being a huge Boonen fan as well, when he took off I was disappointed and remember posting on the VSP page that he blew it and went too soon, but as I watched kilometer after kilometer, I was happy to have to remove a little more of my foot from my mouth after each one.  A deserved win in both PR and the V-Moment of the Year (I think we all know which is more prestigious)

Here’s the P-R video in case ya want to watch it again and haven’t found it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZWbZoX3rig

Thanks for the link. As I started watching it I thought I would have to search for the part where Tornado Tom drops everybody and its the first thing on the broadcast with like 1 1/2 hours left.

Soloing to victory with 55 km to go.

Amazing everytime

Ha, I have been a big fan of the Specialized helmets since the M-series ones of the early 2000s. But, their top model for the last year or two has been bulky and ugly. Good call, Frank! People continue to buy them ’cause lots of top PROS are in them, but I just think they’re ugly.

And I had no idea about the jammed gear; now I’ll have to go rewatch that!

Here’s the P-R video in case ya want to watch it again and haven’t found it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZWbZoX3rig

@Adrian

What, no votes for Veino winning the Olympic RR? One final salute to the Edgar before the Lance affair?

Both your posts need to go in the Rusty Chain award. i’m with Deakus on the Sorenson affair. Dumb + tough cancel each other out.

Veino was a support player in the Olympic RR. The lead role was Uran Uran who recognised the Britishness of the occasion and replayed the world the old Landy / Bannister manoeuvre. An all-time classic. How embarrassment!

I agree with you both, the Veino comment was definitely tongue in check but there was a something about watching a man who ended up having to have plastic surgery for, agreed a very dumb act, go deep in the TT to maintain his GC placing.

What, no votes for Veino winning the Olympic RR? One final salute to the Edgar before the Lance affair?

Both your posts need to go in the Rusty Chain award. i’m with Deakus on the Sorenson affair. Dumb + tough cancel each other out.

Veino was a support player in the Olympic RR. The lead role was Uran Uran who recognised the Britishness of the occasion and replayed the world the old Landy / Bannister manoeuvre. An all-time classic. How embarrassment!

For me a special V mention has to go to Chris Anker Sorensen for finishing the tour after mashing his hand in the spokes trying to retrieve the daily issue of Le Monde.

I saw the damage and it must have been very painful indeed but he was a bit of a twit to try and reach in to his spokes and remove newpaper whilst trying to keep going…what would he have lost….10 seconds at most….they are called “bladed” spokes for a reason, I bet he never does it again!

There is a fine line between idiocy and heroism…I would say he strayed the wrong side of it but pulled it back with a heroic continuation once the damage was done..

Thomas de Gendt. Stelvio. Rides onto the podium.

Fuck Boonen. He looks like the proverbial monkey humping a tennis ball on that bike too.

Have to agree with you …..   Mortirolo then backs it up on the Stelvio ……    Bingo

@Tobin

@Dan_R small consolidation is that Ryder did win the Lionel Conacher for 2012. Plus, without the Leafs to broadcast, TSN has to figure out an alternative way to aggravate the country.

Yeah, I just that on the Toronto Sports Network! Of course, ask an average Canadian who Lionel Conacher is and you’ll get a blank stare. Even in Toronto!

For the Americans in the crowd, he’s our version of Jim Thorpe, but he played more sports… so better.

Yep, bon choix Canada…. was there ever any real alternative to Ryder though ? Pleased for the lad.

@DerHoggz

@RedRanger

Don’t the pros get one without the massive flagpole/headtube? That is what really gets me about the “endurance” market.

nope. looking at the measurements, Specialized uses the same geometry at every price point in the line. The Pros just have the stem slammed, where as Joe Schmo may have a few spacers(just like any other bike.) does the Roubaix have a longer head tube than the same size Tarmac? yes, but thats the point, part of the design.

Trek does have like 3 different geometries on the other hand.

Actually, I’m quite sure I read an article in Bikeradar profiling Tommeke’s bike, which stated that he gets a custom-sized frame which is a hybrid of a 58’s top tube and a 54’s head-tube, to match the fit coordinates he needs. He rides the Tarmac already slammed, so the slamming the Roubaix’s stem won’t suffice.

Sagan, by the way, rides a similar 58cm SuperSix EVO with a 54’s head-tube.

Pros ride the right tool for the right job – if that job requires a plusher frame (Roubaix, Domane) then so be it, but they’d rather stay on the same fit-coordinates. Fit-wise, a bike is just three points floating in space – bars, saddle and pedals. Keep those constant and you can use the more aero bike on the breakaways or the plusher one for the cobbles.

Squeezed a six foot, 90 something kilo frame through a gap tighter than Marcus after half a Foster’s shandy at 60 plus kilometers per hour.

Only a few days left for Marcus and minion to send the year’s last salvos.

Like Spesh or not.  No big deal.  I’m just glad we all agree Cervelo’s are ugly.

The Pain. The Hard Work. The Dedication. And when one celebrates one celebrates with the V.

Boonen makes me wish I was an underage girl at a Belgian rave.

(Without getting all giddy) me too, that’s the line of the day.

And I didn’t say Roubaix’s were ugly bikes, I said he looks like a monkey humping a tennis ball.- which could be down to the angle of the photo, the turn he’s making or the fact he’s on the rivet.  If that led you all to decide that the Roubaix is ugly, unattractive or rides like a POS, then I’m better at this than I thought.

Also see Chris Hoy’s win in the Kieren at London for big baller V moment. Squeezed a six foot, 90 something kilo frame through a gap tighter than Marcus after half a Foster’s shandy at 60 plus kilometers per hour. Fuck yeah. And also anti V can go to the cunzors who own the broadcast rights to the Olympics not making the video publicly available. I spit in their bidons, the wankspanners.

Thomas de Gendt. Stelvio. Rides onto the podium.

That was a badass day of racing as well. Also there was this:

Credit where credit is due and Boonen just absolutely killed it in P-R. One of the best rides ever and a worthy winner of the V-Moment.

@Dan_R small consolidation is that Ryder did win the Lionel Conacher for 2012. Plus, without the Leafs to broadcast, TSN has to figure out an alternative way to aggravate the country.

Yeah, I just that on the Toronto Sports Network! Of course, ask an average Canadian who Lionel Conacher is and you’ll get a blank stare.  Even in Toronto!

For the Americans in the crowd, he’s our version of Jim Thorpe, but he played more sports… so better.

She started the year taking the cyclocross world championship on a very technical course. Went on to take road Olympic gold and road World Championship with pure athleticism.

@RedRanger

Don’t the pros get one without the massive flagpole/headtube? That is what really gets me about the “endurance” market.

nope. looking at the measurements, Specialized uses the same geometry at every price point in the line. The Pros just have the stem slammed, where as Joe Schmo may have a few spacers(just like any other bike.) does the Roubaix have a longer head tube than the same size Tarmac? yes, but thats the point, part of the design.

Trek does have like 3 different geometries on the other hand.

Don’t the pros get one without the massive flagpole/headtube?  That is what really gets me about the “endurance” market.

meteres

I’m not familiar with this form or measurement.

Speaking of the Spesh Roubaix, I road tested one two times and liked it, but went for the Giant Defy ’cause I liked it just a little more.

@Marko

Saying something is ugly and that it’s a piece of shit (i.e. disparaging it) are two different things. The Subjective vs. the Objective really, no? I hardly doubt Boonen would be winning, much less racing, on a bike that wasn’t world class. But who says world class has to look good?

You have to wonder if the pros want to ride the Roubaix, or if it is a sponsor obligation deal? Cancellara did rock the Domane all year, but that is more aesthetically pleasing.

I understand that Boonen was pretty key in it’s design. From the first iterations, which were actually POS, to these new ones, he’s been in on the beta. I’m sure though to him, to all of them, it’s merely a tool.

Saying something is ugly and that it’s a piece of shit (i.e. disparaging it) are two different things. The Subjective vs. the Objective really, no? I hardly doubt Boonen would be winning, much less racing, on a bike that wasn’t world class. But who says world class has to look good?

You have to wonder if the pros want to ride the Roubaix, or if it is a sponsor obligation deal?  Cancellara did rock the Domane all year, but that is more aesthetically pleasing.

Pure V moment.

However, on that Sunday in May, I had to pull over the car en route to my own road race, to weep. A holy and reverent weep.

@windy rider

@itburns

I wouldn’t worry about what Frank says about ugly bikes; he rides a Cervelo after all.

Well now, the gloves are off:

@brett

@windy rider

@itburns

I wouldn’t worry about what Frank says about ugly bikes; he rides a Cervelo after all.

I too ride a Roubaix and find it to be an exceptional bike. Don’t disparage another’s ride unless you have ridden in their shoes, so to speak. If we all thought the same way, there would only be one choice of bike (or at the very least a much more limited selection). So long as the bike is compliant with the Rules does it matter otherwise?

I owned two Roubaixs. And I didn’t write the article. And Cervelos are ugly.

@windy rider

@itburns

I wouldn’t worry about what Frank says about ugly bikes; he rides a Cervelo after all.

I too ride a Roubaix and find it to be an exceptional bike.  Don’t disparage another’s ride unless you have ridden in their shoes, so to speak.  If we all thought the same way, there would only be one choice of bike (or at the very least a much more limited selection).  So long as the bike is compliant with the Rules does it matter otherwise?

@itburns

I wouldn’t worry about what Frank says about ugly bikes; he rides a Cervelo after all.

The Man looks a giant on that bike. I note the comment of “ugly Specialized Roubaix” and can only comment that beauty is in the eye of the beholder or should that be owner. I am Specialized I am Roubaix.

Many are the Specialized Roubaix riders in the Velominati ranks.  We are the chosen so have no need to put down lesser frames and so suffer the slings and arrows of those that compensate for their subconscious desire for something better.

Or some such nonsense.

‘Nads and all that standing up to the bullies etc etc. But let’s save all that shitte for the anti-v moment discussion.

Anyway, I can get behind Boonen though, it was quite a spring for him.  I was with a mate this morning riding trainers and watching P-R 2010, remember Faboo with a rocket in his rear at 50k out and poor Boonen looking shocked and then angry that Flecha, Thor, and Potato wouldn’t help in a chase effort. Then the 2011 failure. It was great to see him say screw it and take it over and make the 2012 edition his own.

Fuck Boonen. He looks like the proverbial monkey humping a tennis ball on that bike too.

That was a great moment. Totally excruciating to watch. But it had almost equal amounts of Anti V: A dumb crash then no urgency like he was expecting and waiting to get swallowed up until 300 to go when he decided to give it some. But just about the best racing moment of the year for sure.

One moment that sticks in my head was Tony Martin in the Worlds ITT. He was fading as he hit the bottom of the Cauberg with only an 8 second lead over Taylor Phinney already finished. Martin didn’t panic or waver, He held his magnificent stroke on the climb. As the angle relented he made a cool and deliberate shift back to the big ring and then reached right to the bottom of his suitcase of courage over the last 1000 metres to beat Phinney by 5 seconds. At least 1.5 shitloads of V right there.