Astana Out of the Tour and More February 13, 2008
Posted by Lorne in Bicycle Race, Bicycling, Cycling, Doping, Rant, Road Racing, Tour de France.add a comment
ASO, the Amaury Sport Organization has decided to bar Team Astana from all of its events this year., as reported at Velo New. This is a bit of shock to lots of people, especially Johan Bruyneel and other members of Team Astana. (more…)
Say it Isn’t So Vino July 24, 2007
Posted by Lorne in Bicycle Race, Bicycling, Cycling, Doping, Rant, Road Racing, Tour de France.add a comment
Oh man here we go again, from hero to zero. (more…)
New Jersey Quick Release Ban July 6, 2007
Posted by Lorne in Bicycling, Cycling, Rant.add a comment
Boy this piece of news is really scary, and it does make one wonder how politicians come up with these brilliant ideas. (more…)
Almost Spring Training March 11, 2007
Posted by Lorne in Bicycling, Cycling, Rant.add a comment
Over the past of days the weather has started to get in Edmonton and that means almost spring. You can tell by the melting snow, people wearing shorts in +2 temps, huge puddles, and of course pot holes. Now over the past few months I’ve been busy peddling away on my trainer at home and getting beat up at spin classes twice a week. With a little luck we’ll be out on the road a few weeks, manditory spring dump of snow not with standing. I can hardly wait.
So a few things to get done, get this years racing license, secondary membership in EMCC, get a few tires and the ride tuned up. I’m looking forward to fresh prairies air and pot hole dodging, Which brings me to another point. Why is it with a province supposedly swimming in cash are the roads in such poor shape? It boogles the mind. An friend of mine says the city’s have gotten screwed by provincial government. This is the same person who thinks the PC’s can;t do anything wrong. Whatever the reason Ihope they can do a few road repairs this year. It sure was sweet riding on sections of Anthony Henday drive before they were open to cars, what a treat.
Cheers!
Tour Shocker June 30, 2006
Posted by Lorne in Bicycling, Cycling, Rant, Road Racing, Tour de France.add a comment
Well a real surprise tonight from the Tour de France. After watching a series of high-lites on OLN from 2001 to 2005 it was a shocker to hear 9 riders had been dismissed from the Tour on the 2006 preview show. In what I would say was a courageous decision by the directeaur sportifs, the riders who were named in documents obtained in the Spanish Operation Puerto were sent home from the Tour. Now the fact the riders included Basso, Ulrich and Mancebo means no top riders from last year will be competing. This really opens up the Tour.
Now, the riders sent home are innocent until proved guilty, but it’s nice to see the directeurs sportif are doing the right thing. Cycling has really got to clean up its act in the doping arena. There have been too many scandals over the past couple of years and this just another embarrassing moment, given we are on the eve of the greatest race event of the year it sure makes the sport look bad. We to give the legal process time to do its job as no charges have been laid. Until then we can only wait and watch as details are released.
It’s sad to see doping cropping up in any sport and personally I find it takes away from the accomplishments of those who participate in the sport in general. The public is all too quick to paint all the athletes with the same brush in some cases and the innocent get hurt just as badly as the guilty. Maybe I’m a bit naive in thinking there are still some athletes who make it on their own with out performance enhancing drugs. However I suppose there will always be people who do anything to get a edge in a competition, must be human nature. One hopes the cheaters get caught and the true champs rise to the occasion.
Overall it’s going to a really interesting few weeks in cycling this July.
