Giro d'Italia - Blazin' Saddles: Giro States its case
Eurosport - Fri, 06 Nov 09:12:00 2009
Saddles was woken from his close-season stupor with the alluring rumours that a Giro in the not-too-distant future may start in Washington DC.
What's next - the Tour of Britain starting in Afghanistan with a showpiece prologue around Kabul?
On paper, it seems crazy that a bike race around Italy should start 6,800 kilometres and one ocean away in what is clearly the next step in a war of one-upmanship that is infiltrating the grand tours.
First we had the Tour commencing in Ireland (1998) and London (2007). Then we had the Vuelta riding its first four stages through the Netherlands and Belgium last summer - with both the Giro and Tour following suit in 2010.
But surely leaving Europe and going to the States is a step too far? Besides the logistical nightmare of an eight-hour flight back to Milan, there's the small matter of the six-hour time difference. And for a sport that purports to be green, that's a load of unnecessary carbon emissions.
It would be quite a spectacle, mind. Taking in the US capital and White House before finishing alongside the Washington Memorial would be stunning - and certainly give the motor-racing track at Assen, or the streets of London for that matter, a run for their money.
Tom Boonen (pictured) would like it: his coach would just tell him to head at top speed for the big white line that juts into the sky.
Two road stages would follow, including the mouth-watering possibility of a sprint finish in New York. What's there not to like? Granted, a rest day on day four of a three-week race would be a bit frivolous, but it can never get as bad as the Milano No Show earlier this spring.
The man supposedly behind the whole idea, the ridiculously young Mayor Adrian Fenty (just 36!), has an Italian-American mother, while his brother Shawn is a bicycle expert. Fenty is a keen rider himself and competes in triathlons to maintain his muscular physique (having no hair, he has no need for a swimming hat).
Come to think of it, Saddles is all over a bit of Soprano Cycling in the Giro; the sooner, the better. And while we're at it, it's about time the Tour visited one of France's outré-mer departments and started in Guadeloupe with a prologue up the Souffriere volcano. Take note, Monsieur Prudhomme.
TEAMTALK: Like most of you, Saddles was surprised by Cadel Evans's switch to Team Big Mac (more commonly known as BMC). One Australian newspaper - in fact The Australian newspaper - reported on the same morning that Evans was joining Garmin-Slipstream.
The paper in the same article then used a load of quotes from Robbie McEwen about how Evans would be well suited to a place on Team Sky. Talk about confusion.
Anyway, the truth soon came out: the world champion will ride for the same second-tier American outfit as Big George Hincapie and the previous rainbow jersey Alessandro "The Nose" Ballan. The obvious problem is that without ProTour status, BMC are not guaranteed an invitation on the Tour, which puts Evans's plan of fighting for the title into jeopardy.
It seems a trifle unfair that Lance Armstrong's RadioShack team has ProTour status when BMC doesn't but, then again, the Tour needs Lance as much as the Texan needs the Tour. The 2010 race has already been billed as the Contador-versus-Armstrong-but-this-time-in-a-team-of-their-own Tour - a kind of Rocky VI on wheels if you will.
The presence of John "Phonak" Lelangue at the helm may prove a stumbling block for BMC with the memory of Floyd "The Bionic Man" Landis still fresh in the minds of the ASO. But with Evans, Hincapie and Ballan, BMC should be at the start of the race in Rotterdam.
Saddles just hopes that BMC's likely inclusion is not at the expense of Vacansoleil and their star riders Brice "Not From Nice" Feillu and Johnny "Testosteronny" Hoogerland.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "This may be the only chance to ever see two legends, in Lance Armstrong and Cadel Evans, compete against one another on Australian soil." South Australian state premier Mike Rann gushes ahead of next year's Tour Down Under.
It's funny how one race can put you on the same plane as a seven-time Tour winner.
Feast on some splendid pictures of Jan Ullrich and follow Blazin' Saddles throughout the day on www.twitter.com/saddleblaze.
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Comment 24 - 43 of 43
Truth threatens those who prefer fraud!
Lance Pharmstrong has MANY drug busted teammates too! (flunked SEVEN drug tests in 1999)
Frankie Andreu (EPO confession of doping on the USPO TDF 1999)
Stephen Swartz (Motorola EPO and steroid confession)
Floyd Landis (DQed in 2006 TDF)
Tyler Hamilton (blood doping, post menopause drug, steroids and Operation Puerto)
Roberto Heras (EPO bust in 2005)
Benoit Joachim (June Lux Nationals 2000)
Manuel Beltran (1999 TDF and again in 2008 TDF)
Pavel Padrnos (2001 Giro di Italia arrest)
Ivan Basso (Operation Puerto and confession)
Alberto Contadoper (Operation Puerto)
Greg Strock (confession and lawsuit v USCF, Rene Wenzel and Chris Carmichael)
Erich Kaiter (confession and lawsuit v USCF)
Gerrik Latta (confession and lawsuit v USCF)
David Francis (confession and lawsuit v USCF)
Chad Gerlach (homeless in Sacramento, appeared on TV on a reality rehab show)
Alexandre Vinokeurov (DQed from the 2007 TDF)
Michele Ferrari (CONVICTED in Italian court, Oct. 2004)
Dead alums too:
Stive Vermaut (DEAD)
Michel Zanoli (DEAD)
Stephen Larsen (DEAD)
LIVE WRONG = Nike sneaker sales! TRUTH is NOT LIBEL! Peter
I propose 'therealblazinsaddles' be given the power by Yahoo to remove posts in the category of Peter 'spamming' Joachim, after all, he did write this article (no help from anyone called 'mojo'). It also would appear Pete has forgotten about a certain Bjarne Riis,the only reason i can assume is the great dane must wear Reeboks or some other sports apparel brand that isnt Nike.
Fair treatment = BANNED for LIFE!
Floyd Landis a DRUG CHEAT without a Nike contract and withour Lance Pharmstrong's cover/support.
Besides all that, Floyd is a creepy freak. Even his friend/father-in-law blew out his own brains.
The media invents the personas that SELL.
Floyd Roid Flandis has become a NO SALE steroid and EPO addict has been.
Lance Pharmstrong has MANY drug busted teammates too!
Frankie Andreu
Stephen Swartz
Floy Landis
Tyler Hamilton
Roberto Heras
Benoit Joachim
Manuel Beltran
Pavel Padrnos
Ivan Basso
Alberto Contadoper
Greg Strock
Erich Kaiter
Gerrik Latta
David Francis
Chad Gerlach
Alexandre Vinokeurov
Michele Ferrari
Dead alums too:
Stive Vermaut
Michel Zanoli
Stephen Larsen
LIVE WRONG = Nike sneaker sales!
''how about Cadel showing up at Leadville, CO, USA and see if he can even finish the race. i'm sure there are a few amateurs who would beat him.''
I am under the impression cadel is a former uci MB world champ?? correct me if i am wrong. A few amatuers may beat him, ON the DAY but not many, i would think.
And if they were to run the race every day for 21 days with only three off, i would put a little money on him wipping the floor of ANY amatur. To finish a tour de france nevermind come second a few times is some achievement.
Lance Pharmstrong has MANY drug busted teammates too!
Frankie Andreu
Stephen Swartz
Floy Landis
Tyler Hamilton
Roberto Heras
Benoit Joachim
Manuel Beltran
Pavel Padrnos
Ivan Basso
Alberto Contadoper
Greg Strock
Erich Kaiter
Gerrik Latta
David Francis
Chad Gerlach
Alexandre Vinokeurov
Michele Ferrari
Dead alums too:
Stive Vermaut
Michel Zanoli
Stephen Larsen
LIVE WRONG = Nike sneaker sales!
Fair treatment = BANNED for LIFE!
Floyd Landis a DRUG CHEAT without a Nike contract and withour Lance Pharmstrong's cover/support.
Besides all that, Floyd is a creepy freak. Even his friend/father-in-law blew out his own brains.
The media invents the personas that SELL.
Floyd Roid Flandis has become a NO SALE steroid and EPO addict has been.
how about Cadel showing up at Leadville, CO, USA and see if he can even finish the race. i'm sure there are a few amateurs who would beat him. PJ, go away.
ps peter you and i need to get back together and discuss this cows blood!!!
dear peter j. love your posts. love the way you stirr up a little trouble. keep up the good work.
I love the Yahoo UK format with the thumbs up and thumbs down icons.
This allows cycling posters to block posts that are inane, stupid, and abusive.
Thanks Yahoo UK. Please get in touch with Yahoo US and suggest that Yahoo US adopt the UK format.
Also, please get a new article posted, this one has run its course.
Yawn, yawn, Peter Joachim. Can we keep the comments pertinent and to the point, please? You've gone on about all this doping stuff for a stricken age now and BS for one is rather bored of it. As for demi162's allegation: all untrue. BS just has one account, this one, which he opened this past week to engage posters in debate. Saddles is perplexed by the idea that the Boonen comment was taken from some chap called Mojo too... a ridiculous suggestion, the "joke" is BS's own.
It is POSITIVELY wonderful that doper Floyd Landis was BANNED foir two years and exposed as a Lance Pharmstrong alum and drug cheat.
It was GREAT that Frankie Andreu confessed under oath and in the NY Times to EPO injections art the 1999 Tour whilst riding for Pharmstrong, THUS discrediting that victory as a doped USPO win.
It is terrific that David Walsh (Rupert Murdock) London Times) wrote two books outlining Lance's drug cheating and how Floyd Landis was DQed from the TDF in 2006.
It was POSITIVE that Lance's long-time STEROID dealer, Michele Ferraari was CONVICTED of illegal pharmacy in October 2004.
It was great news that Laurent Fignon (French Champion and doouble TDF) CONFESSED his steroid and stimulant injections NOW, at age 47, before he dies of his Pancreatic Cancer.
Super positive news in the charade of TV steroid, hGH, hCG, EPO sports which most morons lust after.
Thanks for asking.
Lance Pharmstrong has MANY drug busted teammates too!
Frankie Andreu
Stephen Swartz
Floy Landis
Tyler Hamilton
Roberto Heras
Benoit Joachim
Manuel Beltran
Pavel Padrnos
Ivan Basso
Alberto Contadoper
Greg Strock
Erich Kaiter
Gerrik Latta
David Francis
Chad Gerlach
Alexandre Vinokeurov
Michele Ferrari
Dead alums too:
Stive Vermaut
Michel Zanoli
Stephen Larsen
LIVE WRONG = Nike sneaker sales!
SEVEN positive tests, two AWOLs and pile of medical waste filmed beiing dumbed.
Two teammates confessions and three dead teammates!
Not circumstantial. Absolute proof. Lance's is Marion Jones II.
Lance Pharmstrong has many drug busted teammates:
Roid Floyd Landis is a CONFIRMED drug cheat and liar. He threatened Greg Lemond too.
Tyler Hamilton: blood doping, hGH, EPO, insulin and post menopause hormones
Roberto Heras, EPO
Benoit Joachim, Deca Durabolin
Manual Beltran, corticosteroids & EPO
Pavel Padrnos, EPO, hGH and insulin
Ivan Basso, blood doping confession
Frankie Andreu, EPO confession (1999 USPO TDF doped squad)
Stephen Swartz, EPO & steroids at Motorola
Michele Ferrari, convicted of illegal pharmacy and sporting fraud (Lance's dealer)
You cannot make this Pharma cheating stuff up. Nike Lance is dirty!
BOYCOTT TV acts!
It is POSITIVELY wonderful that doper Floyd Landis was BANNED foir two years and exposed as a Lance Pharmstrong alum and drug cheat.
It was GREAT that Frankie Andreu confessed under oath and in the NY Times to EPO injections art the 1999 Tour whilst riding for Pharmstrong, THUS discrediting that victory as a doped USPO win.
It is terrific that David Walsh (Rupert Murdock) London Times) wrote two books outlining Lance's drug cheating and how Floyd Landis was DQed from the TDF in 2006.
It was POSITIVE that Lance's long-time STEROID dealer, Michele Ferraari was CONVICTED of illegal pharmacy in October 2004.
It was great news that Laurent Fignon (French Champion and doouble TDF) CONFESSED his steroid and stimulant injections NOW, at age 47, before he dies of his Pancreatic Cancer.
Super positive news in the charade of TV steroid, hGH, hCG, EPO sports which most morons lust after.
Thanks for asking.
Lance Pharmstrong has many drug busted teammates:
Roid Floyd Landis is a CONFIRMED drug cheat and liar. He threatened Greg Lemond too.
Tyler Hamilton: blood doping, hGH, EPO, insulin and post menopause hormones
Roberto Heras, EPO
Benoit Joachim, Deca Durabolin
Manual Beltran, corticosteroids & EPO
Pavel Padrnos, EPO, hGH and insulin
Ivan Basso, blood doping confession
Frankie Andreu, EPO confession (1999 USPO TDF doped squad)
Stephen Swartz, EPO & steroids at Motorola
Michele Ferrari, convicted of illegal pharmacy and sporting fraud (Lance's dealer)
You cannot make this Pharma cheating stuff up. Nike Lance is dirty!
BOYCOTT TV acts!
Giro promoters posturing to TofC promoters.
As for Peter Joachim aka PJ...privileged or empirical information? Answer. unknown?
It is a silly exercise to engage PJ.
Peter Joachim = thumbs down.
Post #11. It would be interesting to know what the attendance at the Tour de France was the years that Lance was not there, plus the TV rating. I am a loyal Lance fan and was not as interested in the Tour when he wasn't riding. Although last year when he returned, it wasn't quite as an exciting tour as I thought it might be. 2010 should be exciting. Granted I will be one of the first to admit, that he more than likely will not win, but, he will be there and "Will" do it takes to make the podium. There are so many good young riders out there to challenge him, that it should make for a very interesting tour. I'm very surprised that Alberto didn't move to another team.
Peter, you must be that 'mustardjunkie' guy from YouTube.
Riccardo Ricco here, nice to meet you.
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