Monday Musette – Weekend Wrap-Up

That was quite a weekend, huh?  The Vuelta, semi-classics in Belgium and France, the Tour of Britain, the new Canadian Pro Tour events ,and the opening events of the domestic cyclocross calendar meant a busy weekend for teams, fans, and pundits.  Let’s take a look:

1. It was a dramatic Saturday in Spain where Liquigas’ Vincenzo Nibali took over the lead in the Spanish grand tour following the crash and abandon of Euskaltel’s Igor Anton.  For Nibali, it was his second chance to wear the leader’s jersey in a grand tour this season following his time in pink at the Giro. ...Continue Reading

Monday Musette – 5 Questions

1. With Igor Anton, Joaquin Rodriguez, and Vincenzo Nibali a mere two seconds apart from one another and the next-closest rider another 40-seconds back, has this year’s Vuelta already been reduced to a three-caballo race?  And of the three, who has the best chance to win?

2. Do Radio Shack’s new recruits (and the ominous lack of one more) indicate dire straits for the American squad?

3. And what of Team Schleck/Luxembourg?  They’re riding Treks in 2011, does a merger Radio Shack beckon?  Would that make the most sense for both programs?

4. With Katusha signing an agreement with Focus for 2011, where will Ridley...Continue Reading

Weekend Preview – The Vuelta Heads for the Hills

The Vuelta d’Espana continues this weekend with two difficult stages in the regions of Alicante and Valencia.  Saturday’s 190-kilometer Stage 8 includes five categorized climbs on the way from Villena to Xorret del Cati—the toughest of which (the Cat. 1 Alto Xorret del Cati) summits a mere 4 kilometers from the finish.  While not particularly long, the climb is steep and comes after what should be a long, hot day in the saddle featuring constant attacks and tempo changes.

Omega Pharma-Lotto’s Philippe Gilbert isn’t a lock to lose his red leader’s jersey, but he’ll face tough challenges from several men with...Continue Reading

Monday Musette – Vuelta, Garmin-Cervelo, and Metaphors

Here’s this week’s Monday Musette.

1. The 2010 Vuelta Espana kicked-off this weekend with a midnight team time trial through the streets of Seville.  By the end of the evening, Mark Cavendish was wearing the red jersey as leader of the race, after his HTC-Columbia team took the stage victory.  For HTC-Columbia, the win was reminiscent of the 2009 Giro d’Italia, when Cavendish pulled-on the pink jersey following the team’s Venetian TTT victory.  (Garmin was the big loser that day too, if you recall.)

On Sunday, we expected Cavendish, Garmin’s Tyler Farrar, and Lampre’s Alessandro Petacchi to rekindle their exciting sprint battle...Continue Reading

2010 Vuelta Espana – Team Preview

Admittedly, it’s been a slim August here at Pavé as work, family, and other obligations have led me astray from my regular schedule.  But with a new school year beginning—and my regular work week as well, I’m hoping to get back on track—beginning with a preview of the year’s final grand tour: the Vuelta Espana.

Here’s a run-down of each team’s chances:

1. Cervelo TestTeam – The big news this week is the demise of the Cervelo TestTeam and the absorption of its remnants by Garmin.  Before heading their separate ways, Thor Hushovd and Carlos Sastre—two of the team’s three biggest stars—take...Continue Reading