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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@Blah Haha! Touche!
Vinokourov's letter in full:
"While reading the press comments regarding my last victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege I was deeply saddened. I don't understand this persecution against me.
I can't do anything against the doubts hanging over me since the 2007 case, but I reject all the accusations brought against me today, without any evidence. Since my return in August, I have always been honest with the press, I responded to all requests for interviews, I have hidden nothing.
Ironically, my victory in Liège seems to revive old jealousies for which I am not responsible. The media comments contrast with the hundreds of congratulatory messages from fans that I keep getting on my website and my Facebook page. I don't understand this discrepancy.
As if I had to be forbidden of success on my bike to leave everyone with a clear conscience. In which sport are we allowed to be at the start of a competition without the right to win?
I love cycling, it gave me everything and I want to give it good things in return. I paid two years on suspension for the dark years of my career. If I repeated that I didn't want to talk about it, it's only for the sake of my sport. I don't think cycling needs to reconsider all these dirty stories to move forward. This is my personal vision of this problem, everybody is not obliged to share it. Obviously my attitude that I consider the most correct and most respectful way possible is one more time misinterpreted. I'm sorry.
Again, I have nothing to hide. Since my come back I have been the subject of more than 30 doping tests, all negatives, including 21 in the context of the Adams [the whereabouts system]. This allows me to validate my biological passport and therefore to race. In Tenerife, where I had my recent training before the Tour of Trentino that arose the indignation of some journalists, I was subject to two unannounced blood and urine tests in two weeks. I can't do more than what the sport regulations ask me, to prove my honesty.
Today, I only wish to be respected as I respect everyone, my colleagues in the peloton as well as the journalists. I don't want to be the only and too easy target for all the ills of cycling."
- Alexandre Vinokourov
Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/3938/Alexandre-Vinokourov-An-open-letter-to-the-cycling-community.aspx#ixzz2260wxJi5
At least Vino has retired and we won't have to put up with four years of gold bling hanging off his bike and kit for a one day race!
@meursault
It's something only Aussies understand ...
So I've lurked for a while here, and I thought this would be a good place to first post as this is really the first road race I've been able to watch start to finish.
I have a question about GB's tactics here. If they had 5 guys, why near the end of this race did they not go with the second breakaway group? They were all up at the front, and knew there was a dozen or so racers up ahead. With the last lap of Box Hill coming and another 40k(?) or so to go, why would they need another team to go with them if they all said "Ok lads, this is it!" and took off with the second chase?
@Oli
Was hoping you'd like it. So very much wanted to Stuey to win or get a medal. Oh well, he's done that and been there, if not on the road (don't think he'd trade his cobble for it, either). Easily my favourite rider since I started watching road cycling back in the nineties.
One over-arching comment -Monday morning quarterbacking on race tactics is an argument without answer.Which is why it is good fun.
Secondly - this talk of Stuey never being a chance is crazy. He was there and he has the smarts and a pretty decent all rouNd set of legs. He was as good a chance as many others. And this brings me to my real point - imagine if the Aussies had joined the chase, Cav had wonand Goss finished out of the medals. You would have had people like me ripping into the Aussies about chasing down our greatest ever rider etc etc.
Yes, yes. All you Aussies can put down your righteous umbrage. Of course Stuey could have won, and I was wrong to say he couldn't. Hopefully my ill-considered comments don't detract from my actual point, which is that Cavendish isn't a wanker cunt just because he spouted off again.
@Oli jack bauer could have won too. Richard Hadlee is a wanker cunt
Two words: Shane Warne.