Weekend Preview – Clasica San Sebastian

by Whit

The rest of the season kicks-off in earnest tomorrow with the annual running of the Clasica San Sebastian. Starting and finishing in San Sebastian, the 237km race usually suits punchy climbers and one day specialists able to hang over the race’s major climb, the Jaizkibel, coming with about 39km to go.Locally called the Donostia-Donostia Klasikoa (Basque for “Winner Gets a Funny Hat”), the race always features an intriguing start list of riders coming-off the Tour and others beginning the slow build for the Vuelta and Fall Classics. This year is no different.Topping the list of Tour participants is none other than...Continue Reading

Team Radio Shack – What Should Lance Armstrong Do?

by Whit

The cycling world has been a-twitter (literally) since last Thursday when Lance Armstrong announced the formation of Team Radio Shack.And while per UCI regulations riders and teams are not allowed discuss contract negotiations and signings before September 1st, it’s never too early to speculate. Rumors are flying! Apparently, the usual Astana suspects are in for Team Radio Shack including Levi, Kloden, Horner, Rast, Zubeldia, Brajkovic, and Popovych. Rumors swirl around Andy Schleck too. It’s said that Armstrong wants him on the team, but without his brother Frank. (Lance thinks Frank will limit Andy’s progression.) Andy and Frank’s manager (their dad)...Continue Reading

Tour de France Wrap-up – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

by Whit

Ever seen a spaghetti western? To me, this year’s Tour might as well have been directed by Sergio Leone and played over a soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. Stark landscapes, aging heroes, young upstarts, pistols, you get the idea… Where they had Clint Eastwood, we had Lance Armstrong. Where they had a cast of Spanish-American outlaws, we had Alberto Contador. They had their showdowns, we had Mont Ventoux. And don’t get me started on dialogue!So whether or not you think the good guy won or lost, here’s Pavé’s look at The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the 2009 Tour...Continue Reading

Tour de France – Stage 21 Wrap-up

by Whit

To be honest, the final stage of the Tour de France is always a bit of a let-down for me. Not because of the racing, but because it means the end of the race…like going to bed after your birthday party or on the night before school starts again…We’ll have more wrap-up throughout the week, but for now, one thought:Mark Cavendish, despite all his shenanigans, is truly in a class above the rest. Hats-off to his team too, for getting him where he needs to be when he needs to be there. Flying under the flamme rouge for the final time...Continue Reading

Tour de France – Stage 20 Wrap-up

by Whit

If I told you before the Tour started that a Rabobank rider would win on Ventoux, would you have thought it would be Juan Manuel Garate? Didn’t think so. But he did, and in doing so salvaged what has to be considered a disappointing Tour for the oranje.Tactics and wind certainly took their toll today, effectively negating the chance to see one of the race’s elite taking the win. But we did see some great racing, racing that produced the true champions of the 2009 Tour de France.When it was all said and done, the GC remained largely unchanged. The...Continue Reading