Letters to Cyclingnews - May 27, 2005

Great Giro!

What a race this year. Maybe the Pro Tour HAS made the difference that the UCI speculated.

Revelations like Danilo Di Luca (HEY! Where's his race diary now that we REALLY need it?), Paolo Savoldelli (Welcome back Carter!), and Gilberto Simoni. Disappointing performances from two gifted riders like Basso and Cunego (next year this is bound to be a knock-down, drag-out fight). And still more to come! Why, when I come to think about it I have to wonder how well Paolo Savoldelli would be doing if he had a couple of team members with him on the climbs. Go Discovery!

Tom Kunich
Monday, May 23, 2005

Respond to this letter

Double or nothing...

Pantani's Giro/Tour double in 1998 - can this be repeated? The answer has to be a resounding "yes". Until stage 13 of this year's Giro, the time seemed right for Basso to take what was within his grasp. Of the current crop of Grand Tour candidates Basso is more than a bike's length ahead. Armstrong is in the twilight of his career so the double is out of the question. Ullrich's aspirations are no doubt placed solely on one more win at the Tour before he also heads into retirement. Heras, Simoni and Garzelli are past their best.

Savoldelli is showing great form at the moment and clearly can lay claim to at least a podium finish at this year's Giro, if not the win. However, he also perhaps has only a couple more years at the top. The answer is; we can now look to the likes of Valverde, Cunego, Popovych and Basso for the next Grand Tour double. Both Cunego and Basso have said they want to be competitive at both this year. Of the two, Basso is showing the kind of form to achieve this.

At the Tour 04' the only rider to match Armstrong in the mountains was Basso. His weakness was in the time trials, where he effectively lost himself the Tour and second spot on the podium. One year on and we have a guy who has improved his time trialing no end. So what we have is a man capable of claiming the double - bring it on!

Alexander Canvin

London, UK
Friday, May 20, 2005

Respond to this letter

Colle delle Finestre and a Cipo farewell

Marek,

I don't know about UCI rules allowing or prohibiting 'cross tyres in a road race, but they make special tyres for Paris-Roubaix which will probably get used for the Colle delle Finestre. As an example, I think Vittoria's are 27mm tires with a real deep tread, pretty close to a Cross tyre. I don't personally think anyone would want to ride the entire stage on Cross tires, but we could see bike swaps at that point, especially for the GC contenders.

I'm in agreement regarding Cipo's farewell: for the PT Barnum of cycling, this was subdued and classy. I think he was overwhelmed himself and not in the mood for any hijinks. I certainly don't think we're going to see his like again for a long, long time. He was the best sprinter in the world for so long no one remembers who he supplanted. His successor will have trouble maintaining a Cipo-esque level for half as long as he did. Witness what happened to Ale-Jet in the Giro this year. Did I say half as long? Try a quarter as long.

Raymond Martin
Friday, May 20, 2005

Respond to this letter

Joseba Beloki

In 1995 I broke my femur in two places after a bizarre crash was caused by a car, an unexpected boulder-sized pothole and a bit of excessive zeal and speed on my part. In truth I was lucky not to break my neck.

When Joseba Beloki crashed out of the tour a couple years back I experienced fellow-feeling with him. I limped for several years after that 1995 crash, and it was 3-5 years before I was anything like 100%, or capable of a top ten finish (although I raced well in some messenger alleycats). The high speed of pack racing was unattainable for me, and missing that top end 5-10% saw me dropped often. Demoralized, I gave it up. Ten years on, I feel that I am really back to 100 percent form, after three years of solid effort at training, and I'm looking like being back into category 3 in the US again later this year.

Therefore, using my experience as a guide, Beloki has a lot to overcome. I wouldn't expect too much from him, a leg fracture like that really messes a person up both body and soul. Switching to CSC with a patient positive thinker like Rijs, over a cajoler like Saiz would be a wise move.

Mark R. Kerlin

Washington, DC
Monday, May 23, 2005

Respond to this letter

Ivan's training ride

OK, I am sure that I about the last to weigh in on this point, but what better way to prepare for the tour than to have a stressful, but not too stressful, three week warm up race like the Giro d'Italia? I mean, it would be one thing to have to ride really hard and try to be competitive in both the Giro and the Tour (as you and your team previously stated you would do) and one cannot go back on one's word without losing face with the loyal and committed (committable?) tifosi.

But what if one was to "get sick" from drinking too much cold water and then have to ride uncomfortably at the back of the grupetto for a few of the tougher days in the mountains? That would suck. Then again you might be able to save face by toughing it out for a few days and then bouncing back with a stage win or two before Milan. No pressure to make the podium any longer but good opportunity to check your condition and fire a few warning shots across the bow of the competition's barge.
Then there's the boys at Lampre and how they seem to be going about it...

Whatever the heck Bjarne and co are thinking is fine by me - especially if this leads to an exciting July and some real heat for the defending champion. To Basso, Cunego, and the rest-go get 'em!

PS - Yep, I am an American. Yep I think Armsrtong is a great tour star. But nope, never been a fan. Can't really say why - he just never caught my imagination. Then there's his whole girlfriend thing, UGH - as those boys in the Undertones article you ran say - less said the better on that!
PPS More Dave Zabriske quotes please! "It was a bike race - I need some food." That had me laughing out loud.

Pete Lester
Thursday, May 26, 2005

Respond to this letter

Hell on Wheels

Great review of the outstanding cycling film "Hell on Wheels." This is certainly one of the very best cycling documentaries I've ever seen - how wonderful, for a change, to see all those sprinters struggling at the back of the field where few cameras seem to go when it comes to TV coverage. You truly realize what a tough sport this is!

Your readers might like to know that the film has been playing on long-distance Lufthansa flights around the world. I've seen it twice now on trips between Vancouver, BC and Frankfurt, Germany. Lufthansa is a great airline - especially its business class - and now we know they have excellent taste when it comes to in-flight entertainment. Keep up the great work at cyclingnews.com!

Tony Whitney

Vancouver BC, Canada
Saturday, May 21, 2005

Respond to this letter

Matt Wittig

I read the diary of Brian Smith on his last recollections of Matthew Wittig. While I was not friends with Matt, I will remember racing against him during his 2005 collegiate season. It makes me realize that anything can happen in bike racing, and there is so much more beyond just racing your bike, it is the connections you make with people.

Matt's perserverance through his first accident is remarkable and it makes me relish every ride. To those of you who take cyclling as a trivial pursuit of goals and results, maybe you should look beyond towards bigger picture of how good some feel just being able to race their bikes, regardless of how fast or how long. Rest In Peace Matt! The condolences of the Western Michigan Team go out to his family, friends and loved ones.

Jeremy Woolcock

Kalamazoo, MI
Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Respond to this letter

How Ullrich can win the Tour

First I would like to say that if I were Ullrich, I would be more fearful of facing Basso and Cunego in 2006 than in squaring off against Armstrong this year. What would you do if you were planning the strategy for this year's Tour de France?

Ullrich must beat Armstrong in two mountain stages I feel. Since he cannot descend well or attack on two climbs back to back, he must attempt to beat Armstrong on stages 10 and 14. Why? The first major climb will thin things out a bit, including part of the Discovery train. There are two mistakes to avoid:

Firstly, driving your own team too fast and too early. This will leave you alone for most of the final climb; against Armstrong and his two best men, it's not a good idea.

Secondly, you cannot follow the Discovery boys until Lance is ready to attack near the final summit. Even if you beat him up the climb, the few seconds would be of very little value.
What has worked well is to launch a teammate up the road early, like Vino. He can get up the first big climb and descend well enough to stay ahead of the field before the final climb. Then Ullrich would have to attack before the halfway point, with the intention of hooking up with his teammate for the last half of the climb.

If you want to win, you have to attack. Following behind Armstrong too long will only put you into a position to defend second place. If you are a rider with a body like Ullrich, you know while power is not a problem in climbing, accelerating several times on a climb like Simoni is nearly impossible.

Timothy Shame

USA
Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Respond to this letter

UCI fines

Mr. Weller's recent letter raises an excellent point about fines levied by the UCI. Some of them apparently are considered by teams, riders and sponsors to be "fairly good value." I am referring specifically to those fines levied against riders who sport nonstandard team uniforms. There seems to have been an explosion in this type of behavior recently. When a rider at the Giro is in the pink jersey for example, suddenly his shorts, socks, bicycle, sunglasses and even team car are pink. Not to mention the outrageous (in a good way) uniforms employed by a certain recently retired Italian sprinter.

Studies have shown that when fines that are meant to deter a particular behavior are not sufficiently punitive, they can actually encourage the targeted behavior. If the amount of the fine is less than the value of the additional publicity, then there is not only no deterrent, but there is a means provided for assuaging any guilt a team may feel over engaging in disruptive behavior. Perhaps the UCI should be consulting media buyers when setting their fines.

P.S. The yuan is pegged only to the U.S. dollar and the Swiss franc is not pegged to any foreign currency, so there is a conversion rate involved in the situation you describe.

Ethan Glading

Houston, TX
Saturday, May 21, 2005

Respond to this letter

Armstrong and class

So, I'm not usually one for conspiracy theories, but I just thought of something that would be, for me, quite impressive to see. Armstrong has already announced that he is retiring after this year's Tour. He has made statements saying that six was magic, but seven would just be another tour, or something along those lines.

Step aside and look at Yaroslav Popovich for a second. He was brought to discovery to be a grand tour rider, and has showed talent in grand tours already, having made the Giro podium. He's also showing good form in the Volta a Catalunya.

Given both of these conditions, how classy would it be for Armstrong, in his last tour, to work for Popovych, leading him to his first tour victory? Conspiracy theory, sure, but wouldn't it be fun to see?

Tim Root

Columbus, OH
Friday, May 20, 2005

Respond to this letter

Eddy Merckx Interview

I have to take issue with you regarding Eddy Merckx where you say:

"...but even a cursory glance at the palmares of Eddy Merckx shows that he is the colossus in the sport of cycling." http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2005/may05/may22news

Shouldn't it instead read:

"...but even a cursory glance at the palmares of Eddy Merckx shows that he is the colossus of all sports."

When you look at the magnitude and diversity of events that Merckx won, and taking into account the toughness of the sport, I don't think anyone else comes near him.

Not Bradman, not Jack Nicklaus, not Heather Mackay, Mohammad Ali or Walter Lindrum. They were all greats, but Merckx could win on the track in both short and six day events, on the flat, in the hills and mountains, over one day or twenty days, etc.

Let's try and get more recognition for who must surely be the greatest competitor ever. It is sad that most people in the World have never heard of him or his great exploits.

Leith Brown

Australia
Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Respond to this letter

The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov

Too bad that Ekimov has to pull out of this year's Tour. I'm pretty sure Armstrong is the one that will miss him the most!

But even considering how much I admire Ekimov, he still has a little bit to go before he can enter the books of history. Didn't Joop Zoetemelk complete 16 Tours in a row, almost all of them inside the top 10, including one victory and five or six second places? How that is possible is beyond my understanding, but it surely must rank among the greatest achievements in cycling history. And to add to this, he became World Champion at 39 (or something like that). Maybe there's still hope - I'm only 38...

Kai Larsen

Oslo, Norway
Sunday, May 22, 2005

Respond to this letter

You have let us down Paolo

What seems to have been missed by many who are commenting on the Bettini/Cooke incident, having seen it from internet photos or a two-second news highlight is that Cooke started moving down the left when Bettini was still almost in the middle of the road. After that, Bettini looked back twice, as he himself admits, but continues to move further and further to the left. For the Italian judges to say that an Italian in the maglia rosa was in the wrong is very telling.

Patrick Charles.

Melbourne, Australia.
Thursday, May 26, 2005

Respond to this letter

You have let us down Paolo #2

In response to the letter by J McHugh of Westport; I'm sure you'll have many similar responses to this, but the photos J McHugh saw on the internet were AFTER Bettini had done 'the switch' - if there doesn't look too much room that's because Bettini presumably wanted it that way. SBS TV coverage in Australia showed the before scene and 'the switch' from the front, but the helicopter shot only showed the after scenario. The finish was a very, very gentle right curve on a two lane road that wasn't overly wide. Bettini started his sprint 20cm to the left of the centreline (ie: 'the long way round' for such a finish) and then moved very suddenly about 2 metres to the left (ie: going even more 'the long way round') just, conveniently enough, as a Mr B. Cooke was trying to come past - the photos on the internet pick up from this point. Hmmmmm, well, everyone's free to make up their own mind, but I know what I think....

Ian Garrity

Sydney
Friday, May 20, 2005

Respond to this letter

Recent letters pages

Letters 2005

• May 20: Colle delle Finestre tactics, Rogues, It just keeps happening, Davis Phinney, Joseba Beloki, Australia - number one, You have let us down Paolo, Bettini/Cooke, What's up with pro cyclists these days?, Cipo, Cipo, Cipo, A question about team names, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!
• May 13: Hit and run, Bettini vs Cooke, Bettini's Illegal sprint, You have let us down Paolo, Giro, Bettini/Cooke, Cookie's crumble, Bjarne's right: There's only one Jens Voigt!, Jens Voigt and the blind, South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, It just keeps happening, Liberty Seguros, The disappointment of Viatcheslav Ekimov, Go Eki!, Australia - number one, Irresistible in July, UCI weight rule
• May 6: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 29: South Australians protest against hit-and-run death, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton and the facts The USADA decision on Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton, Tyler, Testing and the Virenque Comparison, How do dopers live with themselves?, General view on doping, Hamilton guilty regardless of the facts, Hamilton verdict, Tyler is good going uphill, Hamilton interview, Klöden comments, Tyler H, Simoni, Grazie Mario, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono
• April 22: Lance Armstrong's retirement, W is for Witchhunt, Tyler's mishandling defense, Not for real, is it?, Bad Science, Blood testing issues, Hamilton - finally a decision, Regarding the Tyler Hamilton decision, Tyler Hamilton, Satisfying Verdict for Hamilton Case, How do dopers live with themselves?, Hamilton's case, Tyler Hamilton's case, Hamilton, Hamilton verdict and a call for outside expertise, Tyler Hamilton saga..., Tour de France preview...2006!, Klöden comments, Tour de France Training, The New Dynamic Duo, Sheryl Crow, or should we say...Yoko Ono, Random Musings
• April 15: Glenn Wilkinson, USADA and Hamilton, Bergman; so sad, ProTour leader's jersey, That's a Jersey?, Too many chiefs?, Track World Championships, What do you think?
• April 8: The New Dynamic Duo, Boonen's Hairdo, Viral infections and antibiotics, George Hincapie, What do you think?, Track World Championships, VDB?, A little bit more about blood doping, Blood testing issues
• April 1: Well done Ale-jet, Eyes of tigers..., Viral infections and antibiotics, Let's talk about cycling…, What's worth talking about in cycling?, First Ride of the season, The New Dynamic Duo, Blood testing issues, Sydney Thousand, UCI Pro Tour Grand Theft, not Grand Tour
• March 18: The Forgotten Hero!, Way to go Bobby, Bobby J, Lance has lost the ‘Eye of the tiger’, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, With all Due Respect, All this Lance Talk..., Is Lance getting soft?
• March 11: Blood testing issues and Hamilton, Cycling on TV, In Defence of UCI president Hein Verbruggen, Defending the Pro Tour?, Is Lance getting soft?, Lance has lost the "eye of the tiger"
• March 4: In Defence of the Pro-Tour, Grand Tours back down...for now, Armstrong and Simeoni,Help - what’s on the TV?, Cycling on TV, Lance Defends His Title!, Hamilton movie role downplayed, Blood testing issues and Hamilton, I really don't know when it happened
• February 25: Lance Defends His Title!, Build it and tear it down?, Build, dismantle and donate!, Lance's Hour Record attempt, I really don't know when it happened, Can't get enough!, Dream on
• February 18: Build it and tear it down?, Remember Marco, One Reason I Love Cycling, The ongoing Hour Record Saga, Lance’s Hour Record attempt, Can't get enough!
• February 11: One Reason I Love Cycling, Francisco Cuevas, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Can't get enough!, Greatest of all time
• February 4: F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Armstrong and the Hour, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can't get enough!, Help, Greatest of all time Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 28: "I am the greatest of all time", Armstrong and the Hour Record, F-One - Come down to earth Lance!, Lance Drug Probe, Armstrong and Simeoni, Can’t get enough!, Help, NBC's 2004 RAAM Coverage, Doping, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Eddy is King, but who is second best?
• January 21: Professional Cyclists, Der Kaiser's Goals, Jan Ullrich's problem = Lance, Rider of the Year, Crash distance from 1km to 3km, Help, Lance vs. Eddy
• January 14: Der Kaiser's goals, Help, Foreign stage races, Lance vs. Eddy, Tour '05, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Quick Step helmets
• January 7: Death of Dmitri Neliubin, Der Kaiser’s goals, Rider of the Year, Best bikes for heavy riders, Who's Greater? Come on now!, Virenque "most charismatic"?, Downhilling, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, No flat tyres, Spring classics trip advice, Bettini's trainer
• January 3: Spring classics trip advice, Big Bear ends downhilling, Armstrong and Simeoni, Holding teams accountable, Downhill time trial, Trendy cyclists, Bettini's trainer, No flat tyres

Letters 2004

• December 24 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Business and cycling, Big Bear ends downhilling, Off-bike weight gain, No flat tires, Armstrong and Simeoni
• December 17 letters - Business and cycling, Tom versus Axel , Big Bear ends downhilling, Shane Perkins, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark Webber interview, Armstrong and Simeoni, Injured and missing it: an update, Clyde Sefton
• December 10 letters - Why are cyclists so trendy?, Big Bear ends downhilling, Floyd's choices?, Merckx, fit and trim, Pound must go, Spring classics trip advice, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Punishment: Vandenbroucke vs Hamilton, Prosthetic hip, Armstrong and Simeoni, Dave Fuentes, Homeopathy, Jeremy Yates, TDF coverage for Australia, Weight limits and maintenance, Mark Webber interview
• December 3 letters - Domestiques vs Lieutenants, Tyler Hamilton, Phonak and the UCI, Dave Fuentes, Santa vs Hairy Guy, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Mark French and homeopathy, Shane Perkins, Jeremy Yates, Weight limits and maintenance, UCI regulations, Armstrong and Simeoni, Prosthetic hip
• November 26 letters - Mark French and homeopathy, Two big guns in one team, Tyler Hamilton case, Bartoli's retirement, Dave Fuentes, Shane Perkins, Merckx and Armstrong, Training like Lance, Lance Armstrong, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Phonak gets what it deserves, Armstrong and Simeoni, Bike weight, Spouseless riders, Mary McConneloug, Adam Craig, Mark Webber interview, Santa vs Hairy Guy
• November 19 letters - Tyler Hamilton case, Phonak gets what it deserves, Are you there Mr Coates?, Bike Weight, Merckx and Maertens make up, Heart troubles, Where to find cycling spouses, Mark Webber interview, Lance Armstrong, Where's Greg?, What ever happened to..., Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, l'Etape du Tour registration, Still Laughing
• November 12 letters - Why Armstrong will ride the 2005 Tour, Scott Sunderland, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Armstrong and Simeoni, Where to find cycling spouses, Lance on Italian selection, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Tour 2005 team time trial, What ever happened to..., Love and a yellow bike
• November 5 letters - Love and a yellow bike, Tour 2005, Where to find cycling spouses, Why are cyclists so trendy?, Lance on Italian selection, Armstrong and Simeoni, Tour of Southland, Construction technique for veloway, Heart troubles, l'Etape du Tour registration, Rahsaan Bahati
• Letters Index – The complete index to every letters page on cyclingnews.com