Turkey for Me, Turkey for You…

by Whit

I’m still reeling from the video of yesterday’s final stage of the Tour of Turkey. What a way to bring the sport to new audiences! I hope ESPN includes it in this week’s “Plays of the Week”. Maybe they can create a montage combining this footage with pictures of Tyler Hamilton winning Gold in Athens and Michael Ball firing riders to cut costs. (Don’t you hate it when a pet needs more care than you thought it did? “But Mommy, he looked soooo cute in the window.”)And we complain when our sport isn’t taken seriously.While we’re at it, let’s take a minute...Continue Reading

Tour of Turkey Stage 8 – Yellow Jersey Mayhem!

by Whit

This just in from the Tour of Turkey. Absolute mayhem! Fast forward to about 3:35 and watch as a Rabobank rider grabs the Barloworld rider wearing the yellow jersey and literally throws him into the barriers.I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about this as more details arrive, but for now watch and be amazed. When will our sport cease to fill the mainstream media with more examples of its stupidity? ...Continue Reading

Amstel Gold Race – Live Stream

by Whit

If you have Windows Media Player, click here.Otherwise, you might need to wait until 9:15EST when more coverage is set to begin.Update #1: Unfortunately, I’m not getting reliable links to streams today. Maybe because I’m using a Mac? Others say the link above works, so hopefully you’re able to enjoy the action. ...Continue Reading

Amstel Gold Race – Preview

by Whit

Yes, this comes a bit late in the day (the soigneurs might even be stirring soon—or at least returning to their hotels after a night on the town), but there’s still time to talk about tomorrow’s Amstel Gold Race.A relatively “new” classic (this year is only the 44th), the Amstel Gold race used to be the final cherry on the Spring Classics sundae. However, following the recent calendar change, it now serves as the bridge between the cobbled and the Ardennes classics. Team trucks will drive east from Flanders and north from the Basque Country, exchanging bikes, equipment, and staff for...Continue Reading

The Stones of Belgium – Part 3

by Whit

The following is the third and final part of a story I wrote for Embrocation Cycling Journal, the brain-child of Jeremy Dunn. The story appeared in Issue Number 2. (You can buy issues 2 and 3 here. Please support them!) The first and second sections of the story can be found here. Two kilometers from town, I turn from the main road toward Oud Heverlee. This cobbled strip is just enough for one final burst, one last test of my power and souplesse. I make a right, sweeping down the little hill through dilapidated brick houses, barns, and rotting barbed wire fences. Slipping...Continue Reading