Author Archives: Whit

About Whit

My experiences might easily fit many cycling fans' definitions of “living the dream.” Since getting hooked on the sport watching Lance Armstrong win the 1993 U.S. Pro Championship, I've raced as an amateur on Belgian cobbles, traveled Europe to help build a European pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux. As a former assistant director sportif with Mercury-Viatel, I've also seen the less dreamy side of the sport – the side rife with broken contracts, infighting, and positive dope tests. These days, I live with my lovely wife in Pennsylvania and share my experiences and views on the sport at Bicycling Magazine, the Embrocation Cycling Journal, and at my own site, Pavé.

Weekend Preview РBess̬ges, Mallorca, and Qatar

Posted on February 4, 2011 by

Lots of racing this weekend—let’s take a quick look: 1. In France the Etoile de Besseges wraps-up with two stages this weekend, the most difficult of which is Saturday’s Stage 4.  The stage starts and finishes in the town of Ales and tackles three categorized climbs on the day—although the last is not too close … Continue reading →

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2011 Team-By-Team Season Preview – Number 17

Posted on February 3, 2011 by

For second year running, we’re previewing the the 2011 season with a countdown of the teams we consider to be the top-20 in the sport.  We started yesterday with #’s 20 and 19; and continued earlier today with #18.  Here’s the next team on our list: #17 – FDJ Of all the French teams in … Continue reading →

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2011 Team-By-Team Season Preview – Number 18

Posted on February 3, 2011 by

#18 – Team Saxo Bank & Geox-TMC (tie) A year ago it would have been hard to believe that we would be mentioning Saxo Bank and the team that was Footon-Servetto in the same breath—and in the bottom quarter of our Season Preview.  Unfortunately, professional cycling is a fickle, “what have you done for me … Continue reading →

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2011 Team-By-Team Season Preview – Number 19

Posted on February 2, 2011 by

#19 – Ag2r – La Mondiale The only French team to have made the UCI’s list of ProTeams, Ag2r hits our list at #19.  That said, if a few of the team’s key riders can improve upon their performances from last year, the team might end the season ranked much higher. Ag2r enjoyed a successful … Continue reading →

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Pavé’s 2011 Team-By-Team Season Preview – Number 20

Posted on February 2, 2011 by

It’s that time of year again, and rather than save all 20 teams in our 2011 Season Preview for the week before the season “officially” opens with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (a momentous task that very nearly killed me last Februaury), I’ll be rolling this year’s top twenty squads over the next several weeks—starting this … Continue reading →

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Monday Musette – Cross, Cobbles, & Coaching

Posted on January 31, 2011 by

Here’s this week’s Monday Musette: 1. This weekend’s World Cyclocross Championships have come and gone, and while I’ll leave the bulk of the commentary to Mattio, I do have two comments. First of all, winless this weekend, Belgium has been shut out at Worlds for the second-consecutive year.  Pre-race favorite Niels Albert was nowhere to … Continue reading →

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