You can only spend so much time with the Schlecks before you start talking like them, and the fabulous Fabs seems to have crossed the threshold. I’ve heard more complaining from him this season than I have talk about pushing harder on the pedals or going steady up with more speed or going full gas like everyone else, but just doing it for longer – his Flanders win notwithstanding. Instead, he’s making ridiculous suggestions along the lines that wet muddy cobblestones don’t belong in the Tour de France. That’s crazy talk, yo. Of course cobbles belong in the Tour, just like being able to eat an energy bar without crashing out. Being able to eat without falling off should be a requirement for completing any race just the same as having some bike handling skills and making sure you have overdraft protection at the V-Bank, that’s basic bike racing.
But despite his recent whingings, I still love my Fabs, which means he’s got absolutely no chance of winning the Worlds. But this is a man who would do the bands some honor, provided he sign a contract with the Style Police (Velominati) that he “Shant Wear Le Knicker Blanche”. Seeing the bands crushing the cobbles during the Cobbled Classics is something we’ve been deprived of for too long. Speaking of which, I fancy my other man-crush Boonen has a shot. I’ll be happy if either one wins. Maybe Boonen will show us his tattoo when he puts on the jersey.
So what do we have? We have a 20km loop with 300 meters of climbing per. That 300 meters is similar to my favorite gravel climb in Cle Elum, and while it’s spread over two climbs, we all know the “easier” climbs are sometimes harder. It reminds one of the Chambery Worlds when LeMond won a few years back; a solid climb a few km from the finish with a technical (wet) descent and lumpy run-in to the line. I don’t think this is a finish for a final-ramp attack specialist like Gilbert; this is a course for a true rouleur with some tactical sense, like LeMond. I’m not sure I know which rider that might be these days, but Fabs is probably pretty close.
In 1989, LeMond won on a similar route riding a 54/42. Sean Kelly rode a 53/39 so as not to burn out the guns on the many repeats of the climb. He also chose a 13-26 over LeMond’s 12-23 which tells you a thing or two about why we call him LeMan around here. He got over the climbs and when it came to the sprint the massive 54×12 he was turning was no match for Kelly’s 53×13. From what I understand, this singular moment is the Ghost of Lost Opportunity that comes to knock at Kelly’s door at 2am most often.
So who is going to win? I don’t know, so don’t ask me. I’m just here to provide some bad writing you can skip over on your way down to the Picks Entry form. All the interesting stuff will be in the posts, as usual.
Good luck, and remember there are some serious prizes on offer for the overall. Go get em, cowboys and cowgirls.
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Knock me over with a feather - another podium! Best keep those darts for next season.
Chapeau to him. I think it's a bit unkind to call him uninspiring, my abiding memory of him is comprehensively kicking Sagan's arse on the climb to the finish in Siena, and I remember thinking 'wow'. But then I might have used the same word to describe the previous champ, which is also probably unkind.
I sometimes wonder if the event is too big to be exciting, in the sense that no-one wants to risk losing it in order to win, and the conservative riding lets the dark horses in. That certainly happened in the ladies' race yesterday.
They should move it to March, in my view, make it the first big race of the year, no tactical entries (and exits) of GTs to manage form. Train your hardest over winter, win the jersey there and wear it for the rest of the year.
Great rides by Kennaugh, Albasini, and Martin, though, they all spiced things up a bit.
@Geraint
They should move it to March, in my view, make it the first big race of the year, no tactical entries (and exits) of GTs to manage form. Train your hardest over winter, win the jersey there and wear it for the rest of the year.
Great idea. Well done to a worthy winner, that was class right there.
@frank
By uninspiring, do you mean a guy who isn't Dutch? The kid has surprised everyone with his tenacity--in a very short period of time, he's found his way into the key selections of many of the most important races. And largely on his own initiative. Your list of uninspiring champions is weird: Rui Costa was about the only thing inspiring about last year's Tour.
@Steampunk Indeed, I am a lifetime Philadelphian. Grew up watching the US Pro Championship (when we had the honor of hosting it) every summer. I even have a newspaper from 1993 with a photo of Pharmstrong rounding the corner at the top of the Manayunk Wall and there in the background is my dad lifting a five year old me up so I can see over the barrier. Interestingly, 1993 was the year Pharmstrong is alleged to have paid his rivals to not attack him in that race.
Monk's is great, isn't it? Not getting ahead of myself, but if I am so fortunate as to hang on to this lead, I might have to stop in for a tripel and some pommes frites.
@Steampunk
Its mostly the 99.9999% chance that there will (or should be) a positive test. Amazing year for Polish riders, quite suddenly.
@Geraint agreed on all counts.
@frank
Oooh. Big call Fronk. I'll agree about Majka, but I think Kwitakowski is the real deal. But who really knows, eh...?
@frank
Ohhhhhhhh. You didn't go there. Minus that.
@frank
Wow. So he's effervescent. So now we don't like Pantani either, because he, y'know, probably doped, too? One of the things I always liked about this site was how it didn't get into the mudslinging, and simply acknowledged panache when it was warranted. B'sides: it takes some pretty inspiring chemistry to dodge the controls these days. For now, I'm happy to congratulate the kid for animating the race and for busting a nut to stay away. Shame on him if he was the only doper in the race...