Buninyong Nights: The Ballad of Jacky Bobby
Close the polls. Shut the books. No need to tally the votes. It’s only three weeks into the new year, but folks, we may have already witnessed the V Ride of the Year.
While the Euros are trying to escape the bitter chills of winter, the Aussies and Kiwis were turning up the heat with their National Championships being contested last weekend. And both races threw up some true hard racing, and produced two outstanding rides for the titles. Here in NZ, it was a hardass masterclass from HTC’s Hayden Roulston, but the ride that has everyone gushing came from Garmin’s young gun Jack Bobridge.
We know this kid’s got talent, already a World Champion on the track plus a road U23 time trial gold, but the way he decimated a ProTour rider-laden field in the hills of regional Victoria was the stuff of legend. To wait for the ‘right’ break to form, and then leave it to the last minute to attack or sprint from the group is one thing, but to bridge across solo to the early break, drive it for hours to breaking point, then decide to go it alone for the last 30km, well that’s a whole other deal; Merckxian, if you will.
“Just… sometimes, things click”
We received an impassioned email this week from one of our Aussie contingent, Matt, imploring us to dedicate a post to Jacky Bobby’s win. Well Matt, we’ll gladly doff our caps to young Bo Bridges, but leave the final words to you…
“I believe there may be a new champion of The V Cause. Jack Bobridge won the Australian Open Road Cycling Championships last week with what can only be described as a true ‘hardman’s’ ride.
Although it wasn’t mud, sleet and cobbles, 160km around Buninyong (featuring 16 laps up a 2.2km, 6% climb) off the front of a bunch featuring half of the Sky and HTC teams (among others) is harder than most riders will ever be.
Hopefully in a generation they will describe Jacky Bobby by some nickname like ‘The Animal’ (as ‘The Cannibal’ has already been taken!)
Until then, I’ll be enjoying him attacking everybody all the time.”
A-Merckx to that, Matt, so will we…
Jacky Bobby, “it’s time to be a man! You got hair on your peaches or what?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E6DgyJ9T6Q
Killer stuff: Sagan, Bobridge, etc. The kids are alright!
Hey guys, first time poster and just want to say I love your blog. As for jacky, well even Lance agrees- Tele article.
“Jacky Bobby, it’s time to be a man! You got hair on your peaches or what?”
And aint that just it? The Avatar, EBH, Jacky Bobby. Young talents we hope to see slugging out in the front for years to come.
Well played Brett and Matt. For some reason I love that Simon Gerrans didn’t win and Jacky Bobbie did. It really was a great move to ride away with three laps to go. No one at the US nationals would have the peaches to make a move like that and have it stick.
Too bad for Garmin that all these Aussies will bail at the end of this season for a made-in-Australia team but good for Oz.
That video frank posted about Talledega Nights amuses me endlessly. Especially the youth cussing out the grandfather. Magic stuff.
A ride deserving of its own post – well done, Brett and Matt. A bloody fantastic way to get the season off to a roaring start. And ain’t it a grand feeling that the season has started? Am eagerly anticipating TDU live on TV tonight (in NZ) – and not merely because it might mean more discussion of racing and less fixation on dodgy photos of Cipo et al. (Though perhaps that’s a naive hope.)
@Billy
Welcome mate!
Yep, made me register and post. We also saw another pretty solid effort from Luke Durbridge tonight over at rAdelaide.
Also at the Aust nationals was the Natl. Criterium won by young Tasmanian Ben Grenda but reading the post http://genesysprocycling.com.au/?p=1152 the ride of 18 year to quote “came to the front with only five laps to go and single handedly reduced the deficet (sic) from 25 seconds to just 5”, to do that with a senior field of the quality of Aust. championships currently a hardass of the future.
Jacky Bobby… that’s outstanding. I’ll be looking for him on the tv and net. Which brings me to my question – please forgive if I break protocol asking a question outside the subject of the post, but frickin Versus is only showing 30 mins of TDU coverage in my area! Can anyone help a brother out? Any suggestions for a newbie to catch the races this year online? -bk
From the topside of the planet it certainly seems there’s been attention duely paid to Australian cycling as of late (last couple years or so) with Aussie riders producing some good results, increased attention on the TDU, last fall’s worlds, Pegasus (even with the fail) etc. Does it seem that way from down there on the inside? In other words, have you all who live down there noticed an upsurge in cycling? More enthusiasts, local races, clubs, bike sales and such are what eventually help to produce champions. I’m aware of the tradition of cycling down there but it seems it’s gaining from my point of view. I can only imagine it’s a matter of not too much time until you guys produce a number of regular contenders in the European peloton.
@Marko
@Marko I don’t have a detailed knowledge of Aussie cycling but apart from actually winning the Tour I’d say they already are at that level.
In the last few years there’s been O’Grady, Rogers, Cadel and of course McEwen and Cooke.
And quite a few coming through – Gerrans, Haussler, Renshaw, Alan Davis, Matt Goss, Mathew Lloyd.
You could name a pretty top drawer Australian team that wouldn’t have any makeweights and would be right up there.
Well you could if you didn’t screw up your application. :-(
And now GreenEdge Cycling set for 2012?
Man, another NASCAR reference creeping into the “V” site. Stuff is like a cancer! :)
@ChrisO
No doubt they’ve been around and are here to stay. It just seems to me, as a country, the Aussies are moving from a country that produces a few good riders to a cycling country. Like when I think of Belgium, Italy, Spain I think of places that, on the whole, produce good cyclists and are also places woven into the fabric of the sport. It seems to me that Australia is sort of on that trajectory. Granted Australia, or any place for that matter, will never be steeped in the traditions of European cycling it seems like there’s still room for people to look at a country and assume that because a rider is from there, they will be good. Not just that a rider is good and they happen to be from there. Make sense?
That’s fantastic for our sport!
@Marko
Cycling has definitely become more popular in Australia across the board – a lot of that is driven by the “over-30s” participating more. Cycling thoroughfares like Beach Road in Melbourne are now taking huge numbers of cyclists. However that is not the explanation behind the rise of young guns.
Instinctively (ie. without any factual base) I believe that our (Australia’s) relative increase in visibility at the international level is due to a number of factors including:
– success begats success and makes team management more likely to go with an Aussie. Before the likes of O’Grady, McGee and McEwen (and don’t forget Cookie) started being very visible in the Euro races, it was a pretty risky call for a team manager to pick someone from Australia or for that matter any non-Euro country. Think of guys like Stephens, Peiper, Hodge or whoever – they had to pretty much take a punt on themselves and almost “become” Spaniards/Belgies or Frenchies by going through the amateur ranks of that particular country. Now there is a lot greater likelihood of an Aussie (or Kiwi or whoever else) being “noticed” earlier – because of the Aussie development teams that race in Europe and because of things like to Tour Down Under, etc.
– along with getting noticed, globalisation of cycling makes it “easier” for a non-euro pro to get a start in Europe. it’s less of a closed shop than when the likes of Phil Anderson et al had to battle through a foreign country/language barrier, etc. So there might have been a lot of non-euro cyclists that in previous decades were good enough but just didn’t get the opportunities or couldn’t get through the “off the bike” challenges. Phil Anderson often comments on how much easier it is now for antipodeans to get a foothold in the pro ranks.
– less likely (but one that gets touted around by some stupid countrymen of mine who believe Australians never cheat – we have our fair share of cheaters, like everyone else) the gradual removal of institutionalised doping has opened the door for non-cheaters… Bait in the water, see if anyone bites!
– and finally, refer to Chopper’s HTFU video under Rule #5.
@Marcus
That’s sort of what I was getting at. It makes sense. I’ve read a bit about the Beach Road scene in Melbourne as well. Seems a matter of critical mass. And yes, Chopper wasn’t too far out of my mind as I posted above. Australian’s seem like a fairly hard lot and none too unfamiliar with the V. We Americans, while certainly well acquainted with the V, seem to be on the down swing as a country.
@Marcus
Do you think the sporting structures in place (e.g. Institute of Sport) also have something to do with it? Australia typically punches well above its weight across the sporting board. As a Kiwi, I can only say this because we do the same – though not, regrettably, to the same extent as our Antipodean cousins. And it often seems to us, over here, that this is in part the result of the Australian sporting organisations (and their funding).
@G’phant
I think that the sporting structures no doubt help greatly – but our AIS has been churning out (and through – via Charlie Walsh) cyclists since as early as the late 1980s (I think that timing is about right). But I don’t think it is just our sporting structures that allow us to perform better than New Zealanders. It is also because we are better and tougher.
If my internet skills were better I would post up some Rule #5 footage of Jake the Muss to challenge that last claim!
@Marcus
Spot on & well said. One point on Aussies and’the gear’ though, I have my doubts about Stevo condoning its use (look at his connections in his racing career and teams he worked on too) and am worried if he’s in charge.
There were 11 Aussie Pro’s on the TdF start list last year. This hasn’t happened in the past 6 months.
Jacky Bobby is almost so obvious we’d forgotten about him down here. His stage in the TDU a couple of years ago blew the doors off everyone and got Lance excited. Enough said.
The amount of Pro’s coming from Tasmania is amazing (Matt Goss, Richie Porte, Will Clarke, Wes Sulzberger, etc.). FYI – Tassie is cold, usually wet and with lots of hills, but with a population of less thgan 500,000 (don’t do a headcount though, that number will double…). Breed em tough there though. New Zealand more so, the Pro’s coming from there is (and their general V attitude) awesome.
Beach Road is a straight road along the beach in Melbourne, no hills and allows you to get a good quick 50km ride in before work in the mornings. It gets up to 10,000 cyclists per day on a sunny weekend. Interestingly, there are now ‘No Standing’ signs being put up along the route to get cars off the road and make it safer for cyclists. There are also lots of cafes along the route (Cafe Racer is the icon) for the older riders to talk up how good they were on the sprint to the ‘gas station’ etc.
Melbourne in January can be awesome for cycling, ‘usually good weather’ and Pro riders everywhere. Just last week a bunch rolled past me with Simon Gerrans and Mark Renshaw in it (after I rolled through and had a chat with them near the end, they asked if I wanted to join them for a coffee). Another day I stopped in Cafe Racer and sat next to Baden Cooke (Saxo) and Matt Wilson (Garmin) and talked with them. Can’t see that happening in other Pro sports. On the whole, the Aussie Pro contingent is great, friendly guys who are always approachable. They also turn out to watch local races here (ie. Richie Porte at the Bay Crits) which is great for the kids & up and comers. Ironic that Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria, whose sporting teams are universally known as ‘the Big V’…
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has churned out lots of great Aussie cyclists, with each State having a strong Institute cycling programme as well. Plus, there seems to be a culture of support for fellow Aussies in Europe too (including contracted riders recommending a DS look at their mate).
Richie Porte is a classic case – slugging it out without success in Italy and about to quit, then bumped into the wife of Brett Lancaster (Cervelo) in a shop, who asked him over for dinner. Months of support from the Lancasters, a recommendation, and some seriously good work and viola. Giro superstar. Last year, Richie put up another young Pro (let him crash on his sofa and recommended Bjarne look at him), and he’s now with Sunguard Specialised. Lots of V in that kid.
I don’t see any need for an Aussie team though, the inevitable in-fighting and boys-club mentality may cause massive damage to the sport. I’m also sceptical it will benefit the riders, if an Aussie is good enough to be a GC winner he’ll get his chance on a Pro team (ie. BMC). I’d prefer it we didn’t have one.
There are plenty of young Aussies coming up too, a few on the US Conti teams (Joe Lewis, Ben King, Fabio Calabria), and neo Pro’s David Tanner (Sunguard Specialised) and Cameron Wurth (Liquigas). Wurth especially is a domestique with a massive engine, plenty of V in him. Look out for him dragging Nibaldi to the front in the Giro.
I don’t think there’s any arrogance with the success down here which is good too (see reasons for demise in the Australian cricket team).
Great site & postings as ever guys.
@ChrisO
Not sure if the application was the issue. There were clearly more issues with the funding of Pegasus than a piece of paper would solve. David Kemp is one young Pro who got shafted there and deserves a Pro team look at him.
The requirements and system of selection of Pro Teams by the UCI selection is a complete joke. I’m not the first to say it obviously, but having a private company virtually owning Pro cycling but the UCI trying to ‘manage’ it, clearly doesn’t work.
The ASO still decides who it will and won’t invite (they own all or part of the TdF, Giro and Vuelta, plus most of the classics), and usually do so just a few months before. The teams therefore can’t guarantee which races it will compete in, and no sponsor would sign up to that. Better to put your sponsorship $ into a sport where the fixture is known each year. Same with the riders, who are forced to sign up on “if it happens, then..”
The sponsors who do sign up, usually only do so condition of a team getting a Pro Tour licence, TdF entry, etc. Existing teams are therefore at a natural advantage (no idea why FdJ failed though). Outside of Europe, the only people willing to put the $ into a cycling team it seems are the more “entrepreneurial” types (entrepreneur may also mean shyster in some countries – ie. Pegasus’ main backer was supposedly George Gillet Junior, former Junk Bond dealer, Nascar owner and responsible for the mighty Liverpool FC’s near demise).
With the perpetual shadyness of Astana ownership and the re-hiring of drug cheats at Vacansoleil, it seems like the UCI and ASO just want the music to keep playing and no one will notice. Don’t change the system in other words.
Teams trying to break into Pro ranks like Pegasus are forced to juggle, promise, etc. and the inevitable happens. Their Fly V Pro Conti team was going along fine, so I don’t think it’s Chris White who is really at fault.
Jack is my favourite rider right now, after his work anchoring the Commonwealth Games team persuit who went amazingly fast at Delhi and blew the Kiwi’s to bits,and (I know it’s different but) instead of the Mercxx comparison, how about Stuey winning Paris Roubaix?
The 33-year-old set about erasing a winless streak dating back to the 2004 season when he rode away from a group featuring Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic) and defending champ Fabian Cancellara (CSC) with about 25km to go in the hot and dusty 259.5km run over the cobbles of northern France.
O’Grady – who rode through last year’s Tour de France with a fractured vertebra in his back – reeled in and then passed a four-man group that included Wesemann, Flecha, Bjorn Leukemans (Predictor-Lotto) and Roberto Petito (Liquigas). From there, he barreled over the final four of 28 pavé sections with clear roads to a standing ovation inside the fabled Roubaix velodrome.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2007/04/road/ogrady-plants-1st-aussie-flag-in-roubaix-velodrome_12067
@minion
Nice one mate, that was an outstanding ride from Stuey, which could itself be described as ‘Merckxian’. Young Jack has the added TT ability that Stuey didn’t possess though…
@Brett
it has only just occurred to me (and will mean nothing to most velominati) but what about the parallels between David Boon* and Stuey O’Grady. Both tenacious and talented fighters in their chosen sports and both more than a little partial to a tipple.
* For the great unwashed, Booney is one of Australia’s most loved cricketers/sportsmen. A pugnacious batsmen who took on the might of the West Indies and also holds the World Record for drinking 52 cans of beer on a flight from Australia to England. Massive amounts of Rule #5.
Yeah, Stuey had a good background in track racing and riding as a young fella too, dunno about his TT ability but I reckon he’s a good example of the ability and mindset of the Aussies. Been supporting Aussie riders when the Kiwis have been thin on the ground in Europe, and unlike some Euro Pros, (where you expect it anyway) I’ve never barracked for someone who was later found to have doped.
And on any religiously inspired V – hymns, if the verses are about Merckx, the chorus could go ‘O Gra – aaaaa – ahhhh – aaa – dy, O Gra – aaaaa – ahhhh – aaa – dy’, and so on. Mock away, I have way too little to think about while I’m riding.
@Marcus
Though I reckon Stuey would have a greater chance of surviving an over of Malcolm Marshall / Courtney Walsh / Joel Garner than Boonie would of making it across the cobbles (at least without a massively reinforced bike and a motor several times the size of Spartacus’).
Great ride, JB. Also brilliant ride from the brothers Meyer to snuff out any attacks.
@Marcus
S. O’Grady = S.Waugh. Started as one thing (sprinter/bowler) and then became all round awesome. Plenty of The V from both.
@viva les cinq
F*** yeah… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. In a mini-pump death match between O’Grady and Voigt my money’s on Stuey.
And @SupermanSam, yes I wasn’t trying to sum up the demise of Pegasus in 6 words. Poetic licence old chap. I focused on the application as that saga seemed to sum it all up in a “Have they, haven’t they, what the f**k are they doing ?” sort of way.
@ChrisO
Don’t forget that Avanti is sponsoring a New Zealand team, Pure Black Racing, that wants to compete in the TDF by 2015, that’s their stated goal. So if your Aussies can’t organise a team soon, I’m sure they’ll be welcome over ere…
@ChrisO
right you are Chris O, wasn’t having as go, damn the lack of an irony font… I’m peeved at the UCI’s licensing system and the fact that good blokes were shafted in that saga (mainly the boys who were signed up by Pegasus, but to some degree the Pegasus outfit who after all were just trying to get a team up and who look like they were undermined by Cycling Australia and the UCI).
If you want to know how mentally tough a rider can be, look at Darren Lapthorne (was with Rapha, then signed for Pegasus..). Anyone who has met him will tell you he’s a great bloke, and we all know what knocks he’s taken in life..He’s one who deserves a look on the new Green Edge team.
As much as we all love Der Jens, I heard a great story from a guy in the bunch a couple of years ago about drinking with Stuey on a stage of the Sun Tour. The stage finished with a sumnmit finish to Mt.Buller, ‘A’ has a few beers after the stage with Stu, which continues until about 6am with ‘A’ falling in bed and Stu falling onto the bikes in the mechanics’ room (who had just woken up to start their day). Stu is put to bed for a couple of hours, then gets back on his bike for the 180km stage to Melbourne. Boony like…
Jens is awesome, though. Any guy that can time trial Alp d’Huez with his countrymen yelling ‘Judas’ the entire way because of the lion-like ride the day before to drag back Ullrich, and finish 60th (Stuey 63rd that day), is a whole other level of awesome, not to mention hard.
Pretty sure a Jens v Stuy MPDM would result in the universe imploding. Thank Christ they’re team mates.
Jacky Bobby’s ride was pure V.
The “Freckle” is another hardman with plenty to support the arguement.
The reference to Boonie @Marcus & his drinking abilities, was he a hard man or just a piss-head?
I completely missed this since I was traveling so thanks for the heads up on a Hardman Ride I missed.
Just about to watch the video that was linked right off the bat. Can’t wait.
I’ve spend a fair amount of time in Australia. Next time I need to make sure I have a road bike with me.
@Gianni
I’m with you; Gerrans seems like a douche. O’Grady is obviously aces, and Haussler is just a repeat away from being one of my favorites.
@all
Missed this whole thread; what a great ride, what a great article, and what a great thread.
@SupermanSam, @Marcus
Great stuff; @Marko – great question to start with. I personally stand with @SupermanSam on the claim that the UCI is a cancer. The problem with having an organization like the UCI involved in the determination of both the calendar and and anti-doping program is that they are much too invested in the short-term success of the sport (i.e. making the calendar predictable for sponsors and getting just the “right” number of positive tests to make us think the sport is clean. (Same problem with the race organizers being involved in either activity, BTW) For them, it’s a business like everything else and businesses are very much focussed on profitability from quarter to quarter, rather than making moves that will improve the landscape in 2 or 5 years down the road, especially if it means short-term loss in profitability.
The UCI model was more effective when the sport was smaller and less well organized. The UCI is, at this point, a relic of those times and hasn’t managed to grow with the sport. The UCI should become focused on enforcing rules rather than setting them; on judging the races and ensuring that they are being conducted fairly, etc. I think having a third-party (non-profit?) or with no investment in either the races or success of marque names in the sport would be a more effective group to set the rules and calendar themselves.
Despite all that, it’s cool to see the countries and teams who “stand” for clean racing (who knows what that means in execution, but hopefully they are at least “more” clean) come to the front; it’s a good sign for the sport that maybe it is cleaning up. Good on Aussie and NZ, and here’s to the season!
Forget the potential early identification of the V-Ride of the Year (great ride, but keep dreaming!) this is probably the most important and useful bit of information that will come from this site in 2011. So you can all stop reading now.
@mightyninja
booney was a hardman, a star and a world class boozer – in no particular order.
@frank
where on God’s green earth did you get the idea that Gerro was a douche? He is a ripping fellow – was it because he confirmed he rides with a pump and a saddlebag? If so, shame on you.
Quote from Gerrans coach, Dave Sanders, “If there’s ever a nuclear explosion, the first thing to crawl out of the rocks will be the cockroaches, closely followed by Simon Gerrans.
“Because he’s such a survivor, he’s indestructible. He never knows when he’s down.”
And if you aren’t familiar with the story, the way he got into cycling was pretty cool – he lived in a small Victorian country town called Mansfield and was into snow sports and motorbiking. He hurt his knee and a fellow who lived “up the road” suggested he get into cycling to help with the rehabilitation. This neighbour lent him a bike and the rest is history. The neighbour’s name? Phil Anderson!
@frank
Gerro is certainly not a doucheb. Couldn’t be further from the truth.
Comes down to local club crits when he’s in town and talks to the younger guys racing. He’s not off the Institute of Sport production line either, he lived on a farm next to a retired Phil Anderson. Hurt his leg riding motorbikes and asked Phil about rehabilitation, seems bike riding was his answer. It all went from there.
On the bike, he is a gutsy little bloke who can get the sniff for a breakaway better than a customs beagle on a hippie coming back from India. When he’s in that group, he has a great skill of ‘getting along’ with those guys to stay away too (remember Cadel’s effort spot in one and Spartacus’ response in the Tour last year?). A stage win in each of the Grand Tours and a Classic win is pretty handy palmares.
Stage 3 of last year’s Tour: “Not long after that sector of pave I dropped back to the car to get some bidons for the guys. After handing out the bidons, the bunch slowed down to squeeze through a one lane roundabout. I didn’t notice this immediately and once I did I had to hit the brakes really hard to slow down. I went up on my front wheel…I think someone came across in front of me, as the next thing I knew I was going straight over the bars. I hit the deck landing on my face. The only way I can describe this would be to dive off a diving board into an empty swimming pool.”
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Gerro1.jpg
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/gerro2.jpg
Later on stage 10 he crashed again and broke his arm. Continued on to finish the stage 70km’s + later though. Enough V for you?
Recently he signed up as an ambassador for a kids’ charity (free of course) run by a mate of mine. He can’t stop offering ways he can help them, signed Sky kit to auction, sending them a video blog while on the Tour, etc.
Dunno where you got the idea he’s anything other than a good bloke?
@frank
UCI. FIFA. IOC. Common themes? Anyone? Anyone?
You can all forget about the young Aussies for a little while and concentrate on the old ones. Robbie McEwen into the lead at the TDU.
Looking forward to watching COTHO acting in his capacity as Robbie’s Little Bitch tomorrow.
@SupermanSam
“he is a gutsy little bloke who can get the sniff for a breakaway better than a customs beagle on a hippie coming back from India.”
++1 2 frikin funny!
Yes, totally agree about McEwen. He’s been a little overlooked of late but glad to see him in the lead. Can be temperamental but not unusual for a sprinter
@SupermanSam
Hehe; imagined my first post would be agreeing with someone’s choice of seat and bar tape colour, not defending Simon Gerrans from douche allegations.
Great guy, imo, based on a few words here and there at Tours, both Down Under and de France.
Also interested in what makes Frank think so.
@Marcus
Great timing or did you see today’s results? McEwen into leader’s jersey while Cav face planted in first of two bad crashes in last km. Cav brought down Farrar too. Cav’s crash was a familiar one (what is it with Cav and bends?). The aerial footage was damning, riders in the centre of the road and at speed, suddenly sitting up?!
@Blah
Lleyton Hewitt, now there’s a total douchebag Aussie sportsman!
Picture this – v early morning at Heathrow post check-in. Myself & wife mooching around filling in time, spot Lleyton & Kim Clisters doing same. Walk up to Lleyton “G’day mate! Would you mind if…” errr, no chance to finish speaking or grab for camera as Lleyton scowls “nah, no way!” and darts off, leaving Kim standing embarrassed, me feeling stupid.
Hack.
@G’phant
All corrupt, boys’ clubs, that see the sport as last in their priority. But… The UCI is a unique body, where it doesn’t run the ‘event’ yet sits there like some moronic Pop Idol judge making stupid decisions (radios, bike licensing?) out of nowhere, that blows everyone away because of their massive irrelevancy and being more out of touch than Bjarne Riis at a barbie at Stuey O’s place.
Has cycling ever considered a draft system, and an expansion of the UCI points system? Established ‘franchise’ teams that won’t fall over trying to do that circus trick of spinning plates that the UCI demands. We all know ASO runs the sport.
Great post and chats fellas… My thoughts on bits…
JackyBobby is a solid gold legend!
It was great to see him post the big win and get to ride in the Aussie jersey for 2011! He’s a genuine freak – I know the track is not for comparisons, but his IP time is awesome: only a couple of seconds slower than Boardman on a superman bike (since banned) carrying (allegedly) the dirtiest blood since good old Bjarne in Pyjamas had to wake up nightly during his ’96 TdF win to ensure he didn’t develop a clot from carrying a haematocrit of 63.
But I digress. He’s a complete freak, loves riding for non profit motivated causes like his country, and complete competitive animal. Hard not to love him!
As for Pegasus: to paraphrase the bald captain on the aircraft carrier at the start of Top Gun: “Son, your mouth is writing cheques your body can’t cash.” They built a house of cards of promises to sponsors, riders and races, relying on promises of races and sponsors to get riders; promises of races and riders to get sponsors; and riders and sponsors to get races. Unsurprisingly it didn’t work.
As for judging Stevo for the teams he was in, was there anyone who rode a bike pre the Slipstream (Garmin) and Highroad (HTC post T-Mobile) clean trains who you can’t ask the question about? Vaughters himself is a former Lance rider.
As for Gerro: top bloke. Very serious, but a genuine good man.
And GreenEdge? Weird name! I hope they get it together and the Aussies get the Pro Tour team they deserve.
@Marcus, @SupermanSam
I was wondering if you blokes would ask the question; what you say about Gerrans definitely strikes the “undouche” chord.
We’ve spent several summers vacationing in Aspet, in the French Pyrenees. Awesome place. O’Grady lived in Toulouse at the time, Voigt in the next time over, and Gerrans in Aspet or nearby as well. They were all riding for CA at the time and the Gerrans fan club was based out of the bakery in town. Very cool; his picture was always up in store windows, posing with the locals. Instant fan.
Then his alleged lie to trick his breakaway companions into towing him to the line in the Tour was narrowly neutralized by (a) the stupidity of a rider believing a line like that and (b) his awesome Giro stage win.
What bothered me was his attitude towards CTT. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but in my book, you publicly treat the people paying your salary with respect. I can understand he was pissed that he wasn’t chosen for the Tour team, but that attitude of entitlement always kills me – whether in cyclist or anyone else (Sastre has the same problem). CTT made a decision, and Gerrans was more than welcome to argue it behind closed doors, but no need to bitch about it publicly.
Unfortunately, no matter how cool you are, entitlement (or arrogance) puts you in the douche book.
I might forget, though, if he does some cool shit. I only remember about one or two incidents back, so once he’s done a few cool things (that I notice), we’ll be right as rain.