Early Summer Recap

Giro Recap

Danilo Di Luca proved to be the strongest rider at the Giro and is a deserving winner. Saunier Duval-Prodir had the strongest team with four riders winning stages, the team winning the team GC competition and the king of the mountains competition being won by one of its riders. That said, there really was not a single moment of the race where you honestly thought that Saunier Duval would put Di Luca in jeopardy. He rode a smart race and was a deserving winner. That said, with all of the turmoil surrounding T-Mobile/Team Telekom and the other goings on in Italy and with weekend coverage only available on VS. it was not really easy to get excited about the race. I did however keep the live text recap of the climb up Monte Zoncolan up on my computer at work.

CoreStates/First Union/Wachovia/Commerce Bank Philly Week

With the loss of the US Pro Championship leaving the Philadelphia week in jeopardy as well as the in sponsorship support, it is clear things have changed for what was once the most important week of American cycling. This year, T-Mobile showed up and had a good week, although the T-Mobile men once again showed how to ride a tactically poor race where they had the final train lined up and could not deliver the win on Sunday in Philadelphia. The races have really lost some of their importance and excitement as evidenced by Discovery Channel's notable absence from any of the three Pennsylvania races. They just aren't as relevant or important as they used to be as noted by my lack of discussion of who actually won any of the races.

Maybe France Will Get It Together After All

In case you missed it, recently elected French President Nicolas Sarkozy received a clear legislative and ruling mandate with Sunday's first round of elections for the National Assembly. I think that the poor performances that the French have had in the last twenty Tours de France is a direct reflection of national malaise and a refusal to accept social responsibility. Sarkozy has struck a chord with the French public who are tired of the bureaucratic and economic chirrosis that permates French life. More importantly, Sarkozy's victory is a reflection of the fact that the French public is willing to support his desire to reform French society. So what does that mean? Nothing really, but the current generation of cyclists in France were born and raised during the Mitterand/Chirac eras. Sarkozy has already in just his first few months in office repudiated the notion that France is right to do things differently by pointing out that 40 years of doing things differently in Europe has resulted in an unproductive workforce and a clear lack of national identity. Maybe in 25 years France will be able to celebrate a French champion once again.

Various Things I Have Experienced Recently

1. Cat 5 blowing a tire and then blowing a gasket when no one would give him a wheel at the Tour of Eagle criterium. Dude, the rule "wheels in, wheels out" applies to everyone. It is not like you were leading the Tour de France.

2. Cat 3 indignantly asking where he was supposed to put his schwag bag after registering for the race. Dude, we gave you a couple of coupons, a t-shirt and some stickers. Put it where ever you want it.

3. Lady in pickup truck pulling on to turn 3 of the Tour of Eagle race course and when stopped telling me that "I know the road is closed but I want to go to my friend's house." When asked where her friend lived she noted it was a block away. She was totally put out at having to walk a block.

4. Saturday as I rode in on the final miles of the metric century at the Bob Lebow Ride in Nampa, Idaho (when you help set up and tear down a criterium course the night before, you don't get up to do the full century) I passed a guy whose bike gloves were leather roping gloves, a girl aparently doing the ten mile route in flip flops, and a guy riding a Specialized Allez with a kickstand.

5. For all that is said in Idaho about 2C and 2O drivers, I did not have a single car honk at me, make me think there was going to be an accident, scream at me, or throw anything during the Bob Lebow Ride. Never have either. The folks in Canyon and Owhyee Counties are always courteous and polite clearly recognizing that they have a great event.