I can’t decide if Tony Rominger was an Evanescent Rider or not. After all, his wins range from 1988 all the way to 1996, which technically means the word “evanescent” doesn’t seem to fit. That said, after a successful streak in the Vuelta, he suddenly discovered a “cure” for his allergies which previously kept him from performing at the Tour de France in July. I can’t help but notice that the most successful era of his career was in perfect alignment with the EPO sweet-spot of the early to mid nineties.
I also can’t decide if Rominger was cool or not. He rode one of my favorite bikes of all time – the twin-downtube Colnago Bitubo – and had an enviably Magnificent Stroke. At the same time, he was somehow a bit ungainly on the bike and was always had something amuck with how he looked; the jersey a bit too big, the sleeves on his dotty jumper cut too crooked, or his cycling cap too askew.
In any case, this photo has a nice composition of classically doped-up riders, flattening out the Pla d’Adet like only jet fuel can. I spy with my little eye the unmistakable nose piece on Zenon Jaskula‘s Briko Shots, and I think that might be Claudio Cappuccino hiding behind his right shoulder. Not sure who the bloke is in the red with the hairnet, but he looks familiar as does the gregario with Big Ring Leg on the front.
The most surprising bit of this photo is that it appears that Armstrong smoked them all and had time to come back down the mountain to snap a few pictures. Who ever said he couldn’t climb pre-cancer?
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@Jarvis
Curiously, he also is/was Cadel Evans' agent.
See e.g, http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/features/at-home-with-cadel-evans/2014.html
Interesting article Frank, I wasn't a fan of Rominger then he looked to me a rider of many promises and less results. At least he tried hard.
I see on the photo the Ariostea jersey (the one of Riis) what a team!
I thought this might have blown up during the World Cup in South Africa last year, but I think this might be the beginning of a doping scandal of pro cycling proportions. Over the past decade, the sport has changed dramatically, and football has seen its own rise of evanescent players. Skill has very definitely been relegated behind physical strength and fitness. Not wholly cycling related, but I've long suspected that doping has been rampant in football. And football could start a real domino effect through professional sports (although I expect the North American leagues will continue to isolate and insulate themselves as best they can). All of which could have an interesting impact on how cycling is viewed by the mainstream sporting world...
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in reality used to be a amusement account it.
Glance complicated to far brought agreeable from you!
However, how could we keep up a correspondence?
Dear Sirs,I saw your new stuff named "Velominati "º Anatomy of a Photo: Evanescent Riders of the 90s" regularly. Your writing style is witty, keep it up! And you can see my website about æŽå®—ç‘žè¦–é ».
Un Curs Valutar de Velominati › Anatomy of a Photo: Evanescent Riders of the 90s conversie valutara nu este o graviditate usoara de a a fauri de zi cu zi
cu modificarea ratelor Curs Valutar straine . Fiind o para
straina , urinar la cine piesa locala se va a socoti
pentru Curs Valutar puterea de cumparare
in insuficienta straina se a preschimba in oricine moment uro .
@Steampunk
You're absolutely right. I read there were a bunch of footballer names in nthe Operation Puerto records but they seem to have remained hidden while cyclists got exposed. Hardly surprising as FIFA is way more corrupt and powerful than the UCI (see special courts for troublemakers at the SA World Cup) and the Machiavellian tactics of Sepp "who'll dare run against me for my 4th term as President" Blatter.
Cycling has suffered fairly, or unfairly, depending upon your point of view, because it actually has substantive (compared to other sports) doping controls. Tennis is rumored to be rife with doping and has basically no testing. When I get in conversations with folks who find out I'm a cyclist and the issue of drugs comes up and how cycling is full of dopers, I ask they how things would shake out at the end of an NFL, NBA, MLB game if chaperones rushed the field and took top players away for a drug test before they could go to the locker room. Think everyone would come out clean? Hell no.
Mind you, got to give the Milwaukee Brewers credit for coming up with the "Hank, the cute stray dog" storyline in spring training to divert everyone's attention from Ryan Braun and his lying over his drug bust. That was marketing genius.
This short manual should be no means be considered the finish-all to the Small Arcana.
Of program, there are times when an advisor will tell you
something that you don't want to hear.
Good day! Do you use Twitter? I'd like to follow you if that
would be okay. I'm undoubtedly enjoying
your blog and look forward to new updates.