But spotted on the Garmin Team cars I spotted that all the spare bikes had Continental tyres fitted. I didn't get close enough to the actual riders bikes as I was talking to the HTC riders to see if they had been fitted to them.
Before the days work had started I had the chance to take a look over the HTC bikes, and as a bonus managed to speak to Marco Pinotti & exchanged a few words with Lars Bak.
What was interesting is that this year the Team is using more HED wheels, albeit with a low key set of graphics. My guess is that they supply the Team but don't financially contribute in a way that warrants big graphics (please HED or HTC put me right is I'm wrong). What was really interesting is that the Teams bikes that where there all were fitted with 25mm Conti Competition tyres. I presume that due to the wider rim track these just work better. I'm sure that the lower resistance is welcome, as well as a little more comfort.
It's not the first time the Team gave used a larger volume tyre for 'normal' racing. Previously they'd used 25mm on their TT bikes, in 2010 at the Tour if California.
From a saddle point if view the riders seem to be able to rude whatever they want from either Fi'zi:k's or Specialized's catalog. This must be great from a riders point of view as they able to find a saddle that will work for them.
The riders spared a few words, which was very kind considering they where just about to have another long day in the saddle. The way that they conduct themselves makes me a bigger fan of the Team, even though they must have been tired after this long and difficult Giro.
Oh, for the record Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre - ISD won in a controversial finish, but for me that wasn't the story of the day.
As much as the next fan I enjoy watching these epic stages in the Giro, but and there's a but sometimes they are a little unbelievable. Spain seems to have produced a bunch of riders that currently are smashing the Giro to bits, but happen to make it look like a regular Sunday Club run.
Euskaltel-Euskadi have won two stages back to back with riders who to me have popped out of nowhere. hold my hand up as A. I am no expert and B. I don't really follow the exploits of Grand Tour riders that closely. Well I hope that this Giro doesn't finish under a cloud of questions, but with a rainbow of hope.
un·be·liev·a·ble
–adjective 1. too dubious or improbable to be believed: an unbelievableexcuse.
I had an interesting discussion with a friend over dinner and we debated at length trying to put the cycling world to right. He argued that racing would be boring and viewers would switch off. My repost was that I thought it'd be more exciting as the collapses could be greater as we are asking the body to do more than it's possible of doing. This was his argument that PED's were not going away as the demands are high on their bodies. The omertà culture lures riders into the belief that they need to do it. I can't imagine the pressures and stresses on the body & mind as I've never raced at that level, many have families and the pressure to perform so that they can provide must be great. I think as fans all we are looking for is belief in their performance rather than the best medical help.
With Contador dominating the Giro and making the hardest stages look easy it promotes more questions than answers. His technique is amazing to watch, so smooth and fluid, a bit like Lance; but I watch it with a sick feeling in my stomach, rather than with jaw dropping awe.
If we come to the table with a child like belief and take Teams like Sky, Garmin Cervélo and HTC on face value what are these Teams doing to enable their riders to even compete in the same races. This isn't something often asked or talked about, but how close to the WADA banned list line do these Teams skirt. They may not want to disclose this as it would give other teams an edge, but in the spirit of openness I think it'd be a big positive to declare how, why and what the Teams are using/doing to help their riders.
Many commentators over the years have said that an amnesty is the only way forward. But I think that's the tip of the ice berg as there seems to be corruption at all levels, and I'm afraid that in the human psyche many will do everything to win, while thankfully there are those that won't and will hold a flag of ethics to ask the questions others dare not.
Having kids changes you, and for me they ask hard questions about the Sport I love All I ask is as they grow is that they have heroes to believe in.
I had an interesting discussion with a friend over dinner and we debated at length trying to put the cycling world to right. He argued that racing would be boring and viewers would switch off. My repost was that I thought it'd be more exciting as the collapses could be greater as we are asking the body to do more than it's possible of doing. This was his argument that PED's were not going away as the demands are high on their bodies. The omertà culture lures riders into the belief that they need to do it. I can't imagine the pressures and stresses on the body & mind as I've never raced at that level, many have families and the pressure to perform so that they can provide must be great. I think as fans all we are looking for is belief in their performance rather than the best medical help.
With Contador dominating the Giro and making the hardest stages look easy it promotes more questions than answers. His technique is amazing to watch, so smooth and fluid, a bit like Lance; but I watch it with a sick feeling in my stomach, rather than with jaw dropping awe.
If we come to the table with a child like belief and take Teams like Sky, Garmin Cervélo and HTC on face value what are these Teams doing to enable their riders to even compete in the same races. This isn't something often asked or talked about, but how close to the WADA banned list line do these Teams skirt. They may not want to disclose this as it would give other teams an edge, but in the spirit of openness I think it'd be a big positive to declare how, why and what the Teams are using/doing to help their riders.
Many commentators over the years have said that an amnesty is the only way forward. But I think that's the tip of the ice berg as there seems to be corruption at all levels, and I'm afraid that in the human psyche many will do everything to win, while thankfully there are those that won't and will hold a flag of ethics to ask the questions others dare not.
Having kids changes you, and for me they ask hard questions about the Sport I love All I ask is as they grow is that they have heroes to believe in.
So I went down the tried and tested route of Assos. I've ridden various versions of their shorts and I've never felt short changed in the comfort department. So out I pulled my S13 shorts (S5 pad). It would be the first time I'd have ridden Assos over the pavé as I've tended to use a Roubaix (brushed) short for the extra warmth on those cold April days. This year with projected temperatures of 22*c I went for a summer weight option and would have to man up for when it was colder at the start.
So as a well used product I was really impressed that I had no bruising or sores afterwards. It felt like a normal ride, the excellent Assos/Cytec pad doing it's job without missing a beat. These are the reasons you pay more for your shorts, an average of 85 revolutions a minute, 5,100 in a hour and a total of 28,050 across the duration of the ride means the fabric and pad needs to be of a high quality, and thankfully it is.
The downer I normally ride with a really small seatpack, enough for 1 tube, tyre levers and a micro tool. But as part of the start list I had to use a larger Velcro mounted pack to hold the four recommended tubes. I was gutted to find out at one of the stops that it'd worn a hole in one side of my shorts!! In disgust I emptied my pack and packed my pockets and threw away the offending seatpack, never to be seen again. Gutted to ruin an expensive pair of shorts I'm hoping that Assos may be able to fix them, we'll see but I'm sure it's worth asking & I hope the cost isn't too much.
But all in all the legendary comfort prevailed again and apart from the incident mentioned I couldn't be any happier.
Beautiful words from two friends. Speaking to people and listening to everything that has been said about Wouter over the last week NOBODY has a bad word for him. I met him very briefly once at the Quick Step Team launch in 2010. He was the embodiment of 'EURO'. I've been touched by Jon Cannings words about his friend on the work blog and in private. The loss felt by his friends is a massive void that will never be filled. RIP Wouter Weylandt, I'm proud to be part of the community that has shown you deep respect, but like all we wish you where here.
