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.

2010 Team-By-Team Season Review: #9

Posted on December 15, 2010 by

#9 – Lampre (Preview Ranking: #15) What We Said: Poor Lampre.  Not only did they lose one of their best riders this past off-season—former World Champion and Tour of Flanders winner Alessandro Ballan—but they also almost didn’t even make it to the Pro Tour without the help of some last-minute legal wrangling.  Ballan’s departure takes … Continue reading →

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2010 Team-By-Team Season Review: #10

Posted on December 14, 2010 by

#10 – Euskaltel (Preview Ranking: #16) What We Said: With perhaps one or two exceptions, Euskaltel’s going to live and die on the back of Samuel Sanchez in 2010.  A force to be reckoned with in just about any hilly race, Sanchez is more known for the races he’s just missed winning (too many to … Continue reading →

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Monday Musette – The UCI’s List of Approved Mechanical Enhancements

Posted on December 13, 2010 by

We’re still letting the mud settle from this past weekend’s US National Cyclocross Championships.  But in the meantime, here’s this week’s Monday Musette. 1. By far the weekend’s biggest non-CX news was the announcement that Pegasus Sports has lost its main backer, prompting immediate reports of the team’s demise.  Team manager Chris White has apparently … Continue reading →

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2010 US Cyclocross Nationals – Editors’ Picks

Posted on December 10, 2010 by

Of his first season of elite cyclocross racing, a guy I used to race with said, “The top five or ten guys are racing one race, and the five guys behind them are racing another race. And then there are the rest of us.” This description of the steep steps up the talent pyramid seems … Continue reading →

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2010 Team-By-Team Season Review: #11

Posted on December 10, 2010 by

#11 – Team Radio Shack (Preview Ranking: #14) What We Said: Some will say I ranked this squad too low.  But look at the facts—the team is built for one thing and one thing only: Lance Armstrong.  Geert Steegmans was signed to give the team at least somewhat of a presence in the classics, but … Continue reading →

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2010 Team-By-Team Season Review: #12

Posted on December 9, 2010 by

#12 – BBox – Bouyges Telecom (Preview Ranking: #20) What We Said: If it not for the heroics of Thomas Voeckler and Pierrick Fedrigo in last year’s Tour de France, this team might not be around this year.  Bumped from the Pro Tour after 2009 (although don’t put too much stock in that distinction), Jean-René … Continue reading →

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