You can all wave “goodbye” to your Post GT Depression Syndrome, because the Men’s Olympic Road Race is only three days yonder. I don’t typically give two shits about this particular event; while contested by national teams, unlike the Worlds it appears as just another one-day race on a calendar filled with events that carry much more historical and nostalgic significance. What’s worse, it seems the brilliance has faded from the flame of Olympic Spirit – after all, what is an international sports rivalry without the associated political Boggie Dance of Political Superiority? Merckx, I miss the Cold War.
But this time is different. Contested in London over a route that may or may not favor the squat little speed demon Mark Cavendish, the Cycling world has been abuzz about whether his presence on Team Sky alongside Pippi Longstockings implies his impending doom or his certain success – because everyone knows those are the only two possibilities. Be that as it may, the route boasts to be lumpy enough for breakaways or small field sprints, which makes this particular Velominatus, for once, really excited to see what happens. Oh, and as a special request to the riders, if we could keep everyone off the juice this time round, that would be peaches and creame.
With that, check the start list and pretend like that is going to help you make your predictions. Then look at the route and do the same before making a wild guess and hoping you come up good. One-Day VSP rules apply; get your picks in by the time the countdown timer goes to zero and pray for daylight.
Good luck.
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How timely. While reading the comments above I noticed THIS article in the "Recent & Random Articles" section below. Curiously, it only received one comment but in light of the characters in the article and all that has played out this season concerning them - namely, Cavendish and the Schlecks - I think the article deserves a re-read. It seems that perceptions change over the course of three years and also that a "leopard (not a LeOpard) cannot changes its spots". What say ye, Fronk?
@Daccordi Rider
I'm not sure your enjoyment of another nations failure is that healthy. It may be time to move on.
All I know is I can't stand that picture grewal ahead of Bauer.....
Yes, an Olympic road race structured as a team event would make sense from a sporting point of view. But...there is still an issue with team dynamics, much less selection. For a good look into this, see the movie "Miracle" about how the USA Hockey team was constituted for the 1980 Olympics. "Who do you play for?" Classic.
What we have in Olympic road cycling now is...meh. Crikey, the only excitement to this race was in that it was *The Olympics*. Sure, generally the best riders all there, but I gotta say there are stages of the Grand Tours that were a buttload more interesting to watch. And dream about riding. While I'm sure the London countryside is a fine ride, who the fuck would give a left nut to ride it? Betcha anyone here could say something different about the Galibier...Aubisque...The Flanders route...l'Aple...Gavia....Stelvio...
@Dan_R
It looks gheyer than two cocks touching.
@G'rilla
And nevertheless infuriates ting to see him looking around like a Hincapie in the final 5 km whe he should have chasing with Gilbert or Gesink to close it down and have a chance for fucking Gold.
I will never in my life understand the mentality where one hedges their bet in order to take third when they could go all in and take gold.
Third is meaningless. The only place that matters is first. The rest is just different grades of losing.
@frank.
I think this is the point that Cav missed when assessing the Aussie effort in the race. With Stuey in the break, at least there was a slight chance of getting on the top step (and without radios, how could they have known how much he had left for the finish?). Had they assisted in pulling the sprinters to the line, it would most likely have been to get Gossy first- or second-loser status.
@frank
Yes. But this begs the question; you can't do it alone (or Sagan would have won), so can you as an individual take as much pride in getting your guy to the line as the guy himself (and be happy with 38th for the effort). Or is the only "thing" crossing the line first. Because you know, you can't do that alone.
Vino gets gold accents for 4 years. I wouldn't have guessed that in my most inebriated state.
I like this from the press:
Landis leads Vinokourov tributes
Former professional rider Floyd Landis was quick to make light of Vinokourov's Olympic win. While the Daily Mailcalled the race winner a 'nobody' and CBS ran with the headline "Ex-doper Vinokourov wins Olympic road race", Landis contacted Cyclingnews with the following:
"If Vino says 'it's a victory for clean cycling" he'd be my hero. Alternatively if he said 'f*** every single mother******* one of you,' that would work too."
@frank
bullshit Frank. Achieving your best is the measure. Otherwise losers like us wouldn't try things like your half-arsed little mountain climbs.