What a difference four years can make. In Beijing, Nicole Cooke was the dominant rider in Women’s Cycling, taking wins in every important race on the Women’s calendar for several years running. Fast finish, good in the hills, good against the clock, she helped give context to what we mean by the term “all rounder”.
Four years on, she’s been struggling with injury and the pressures of forming her own team which has resulted in the inevitable reduction in results. But don’t count her out just yet; she has been showing some form already this year and during the last Olympic year, she burst into form for the event to take Gold. Add to that the motivation a British rider is sure to feel racing at her home Games, and you’d be a fool to leave her off your list of considerations.
Be that as it may, she’s facing up to a strong field. Kristen Armstrong dropped out of the Cascade Classic (while leading it) in order to prepare for the games. Not to mention Marianne Vos, who dominated the Giro last month – or Giorgia Bronzini, whose website I find vaguely frightening.
Review the route and study the weird, paged roster if you like pretending that helps you, and get your picks in by 5am Pacific on Sunday. (If you find Time Zone Mathematics too complicated, just get your picks in by the time the giant countdown timer in the banner goes to zero), regular One-Day VSP rules apply. Good luck.
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@Fausto
Sure. And this makes a difference how? I still don't get it. Not sure, but I think pro women cyclists push a 53x11 on 700mm wheels. And each and every one of them can kick my ass; twice on a sunday.
Ai kinda dug Vaughter's tweet:
"There are two kinds of people I can't stand in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and the Dutch."
@eightzero As taken from the film Goldmember. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ882QYzr-M
Or, to take us even further off topic, remember that there are only 10 kinds of people: those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Can't believe I missed it by one point! Oh well, still my first VSP Podium.
I was very confused as the women's race reached its climax. There I was, seeing three riders: Vos, Armistead and Zabelinskaya. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Paul Sherwen could see a fourth rider called Armitage. She must have been there because he called her by name many times. Then, by the end she magically disappeared. Amazing what highly paid, experienced commentators can see that we mortals can't.
PS Damn you Oracle and your smart-ass lawyer picks.
Nice article:
http://viciousvelo.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/olympics-fuckyeahwomensroadrace.html?spref=tw
If you're in the United States and have an iPad, I was able to watch a full replay of this race on the NBC Live Extra Olympics app, even though I don't have a cable TV subscription.
@Bianchi Denti Good article. And, in that spirit, here's Lizzie A on sexism in pro cycling: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armitstead-speaks-out-over-sexism-in-professional-cycling