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…
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Aw hell no, I think he's kept his tail clean by earning huge amounts of money and done a professional job of covering his tail and probably being able to aford lawyers increadibly quickly. I'd be very skeptical about believing fairytales mired in accusations, backbiting, vanity and money.
Not stealing readers but one of the posters to this thread is Mike Anderson, who testified against Lance in Texas. http://www.vorb.org.nz/what-dick-t110618.html
Damn, an early season trip to Oz for the TdUnder sounds like a great idea.
$2 M to appear. That has to really fuck up your mind when you are in that position.
I got to thinking about fame and celebrity the other week. I was in the airport in St. Maarten, waiting for my brother to arrive on another flight. I see Shaun O'Hara, a NY Giant, a Pro Bowler, and a Super Bowl champion walk through the customs. Huh? Woah. (I'm a Giants fan). Yet no one blinked an eye. Likely because they don't care so much about the NFL in St. Maarten, but also because the guy plays in a helmet and isn't a RB, WR, or QB.
But, if he was someone a bit different, say a QB, he'd have been swamped with people. Funny how that works.
I do wonder what will happen to Pharmstrong. I am almost sad thinking about how many people are going to be crushed when it is finally revealed he's dirty; anyone being objective already knows it.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
@Oli Brooke-White
WAKE UP, OLI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yeah I know, I'm being a bit cynical but reading that article he did come across a little bit whiney.
@Oli Brooke-White
yeah sorry Oli, I get your point. Back to JB!
Bit late to the thread but I was lucky enough to be standing near the top of the hill outside the township of Sterling last January for stage 3 of the 2010 edition of the Tour Downunder (same stage that was held yesterday) when Jacky Bobby was riding for the UniSA team - i.e. before he was picked up by Sky - its a great team to watch as the young guns are always going out on the attack for a bit of airtime. He and one of the other riders in that team, possibly one of the Meyer brothers, attacked off the bunch through the town and hit that hill full gas - I mean they just flew up it - it would be a good 9 percent or so - and lead a break for a lap or so as I recall - man you could tell then he was destined for great things seeing that - it was pretty exciting to watch in person.
@Kiwicyclist - Wow, that is a great experience. Nothing like seeing someone on the rise, before they have been heard of by everyone else.
Watching dudes that fast in person is always exciting.
This puts the whole CoTHO thing to rest once and for all.
@Marko
"If you're doing that stuff sober, something wrongs with YOU."
Love the emphasis on you.