The Sticky Bidon – January 10, 2011

Posted on January 10, 2011 by

Fotoreporter Sirotti

Interesting and/or amusing cycling items from across the Internet, January 10, 2011

Seen any cool links we missed? Share ‘em in the comments below!

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Monday Musette – Why Leopard Has Big Stripes

Posted on January 10, 2011 by

Fotoreporter Sirotti

While an abundance has already been said in other places, I thought today’s Monday Musette might be as good a time as any to share my own thoughts following Thursday’s presentation of Team Leopard-Trek (and there will be no pictures of indigenous people sporting full-body tattoos).

1. Overall, the presentation itself was an incredible let-down—we should all feel duped for having contributed to the hype. I’m glad I didn’t go out of my way to watch it live.

2. In fact, the only real news came before and after the event when it was announced that the squad would be called Team Leopard-Trek, assumedly following a major infusion of funds from the American bike manufacturer.

Trek’s co-title-sponsorship raises a few interesting questions, first and foremost: “that’s it?”  It’s hard to believe the only title sponsor Bryan Nygaard could find was one already on the hook. There was really no one else willing to step up to the plate?

3. Even more interesting is the fact that the team will be riding Shimano components—a major coup for the Japanese firm, but a curiosity considering Trek’s close ties to SRAM.  Maybe SRAM’s budget was already tapped—or maybe Trek’s not supporting the team as much as some might like us to believe.  Either way, Shimano’s presence makes the long-rumored Radio Shack/Leopard merger harder to see coming to fruition in the near future.  (But don’t rule it out.)

4. And what about Radio Shack? Trek’s been supporting Armstrong and Bruyneel since the late 1990’s—doesn’t it seem a bit odd (and telling) that Trek’s apparently putting its chips elsewhere?  Who will have access to new technology first?

5. As for the team’s kit, I think it resembles El Cyclista more than Rapha in terms of its design.  Regarding the clothing’s coloring, I wonder what will happen the first time we see Juan Antonio Flecha from Team Sky, Thor Hushovd from Garmin-Cervelo, and Fabian Cancellara from Leopard in a break together.

6. But what’s really startling about Team Leopard-Trek’s jersey is the abundance of blank space—wide canvases and bands just begging for a major sponsor to jump aboard.  Did last minute deals fall through?  Or is the team hoping to attract someone by essentially dressing the riders in giant “Your Ad Could Be Here” signs? Peculiar.

All in all, it was a bewildering event on a day that yielded more questions than answers.

In other news:

7. Thursday’s press conference did reveal one interesting bit of information: Fabian Cancellara won’t be riding Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy.  While the Swiss star had hoped to make a serious assault on adding the only two monuments missing from his resume, it appears as if management has convinced him to change his mind for now.  Would another Flanders or Roubaix win help fill some of those empty spaces?

8. Danilo DiLuca has apparently signed a one-year contract to race for Katusha—for FREE. The Italian will ride the Giro in support of Joaquin Rodriguez and the Vuelta for himself—both races should be all the more exciting as a result.  That said, someone might want to remind Andre Tchmil that not paying a rider doesn’t absolve his team from the consequences should DiLuca revert to his old methods of preparation.  Money might not be invested, but in this day and age, you can’t put a price on transparency and respect.

9. And last but not least, thanks for your patience with our 2011 team kit.  We’re in the final stretch and should have something to share with you soon.

Thanks and enjoy your week!

Share your comments below.





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European National Championships Preview

Posted on January 8, 2011 by

Photo by Ciaran O'Grady, http://ogradyc.blogspot.com/

With nearly a dozen national championships on the line throughout Europe, this weekend promises to be one of the most exciting of the year. In addition to the general hype and excitement of national championships, a few late developing storylines have added to the drama. Lars Boom, the defending Dutch national champion, may not even make it to the start line after nasty crash last weekend. Meanwhile, four-time world champion, Bart Wellens, may miss the Belgian national title race due to a crash. Those are just a few storylines, that have made this weekend all that more interesting.

As I said, there are nearly a dozen national championships that are going to be awarded this weekend. We decided to break down what we think are the most interesting and exciting races to watch. I’m not saying that other countries races won’t be as interesting, these are just our picks as the races to watch.

As previously mentioned, Lars Boom may not be able to defend his national title. This leaves all the odds on one of the oldest members of the cross peloton, Gerben de Knegt. De Knegt, seemingly had the race locked up last year, but a determined Boom passed him in the final lap. Should neither man capture the victory, the battle could come down to two of the longest names in cross. Thijs Van Amerongen and Eddy Van Ijzendoorn are the Netherlands best unknown riders. Look for Van Amerongen to land on the top step should de Knegt falter.

Despite his mid-season injury, Zdenek Stybar is the odds on favorite to repeat as the Czech national champion. His top competition, Radomir Simunek, is out with a broken collarbone, leaving Stybar in a world of his own. Martin Zlamalik has had some recent success, but is nowhere near Stybar’s caliber. However, if Stybar has a bad day look for Zlamalik to take the top step.

Two other races of note are the Italian and Swiss national championship races. Obviously in Switzerland, Christian Huele is the heavy favorite. He has been the most dominant Swiss racer this season. In Italy, Enrico Franzoi has to be the top favorite. Even though he hasn’t had a particularly good season, he looks poised to take a national title. Should he not take top honors, Marco Aurelio Fontana, the 2010 champion could take the top spot. On a more personal note, GO LUCA!

Obviously, the granddaddy of them all will be the Belgian race. It will be one of the most exciting and most unpredictable races in years, as there are nearly half a dozen riders who are capable of taking the title. Also, this race will have a heavy bearing on who makes the world championship squad. The usual names will be in contention, however the possibility of an outsider taking the title seems more likely than ever. The battle should come down to Sven Nys and Niels Albert, but anything could happen. If I had put all my money on one rider, it would be Nys and I can guarantee that he won’t have any mechanical issues. I’ll take it one step further and predict that the winner of this race will in the world title at the end of the month.

All in all, it promises to be exciting weekend throughout Europe. With racing from Luxembourg to Belgium to England, the whole of Europe will crown their national champions. More importantly, these races will help determine who will represent their country at the upcoming world championships. No matter how you look at it, this is one of the best weekends for cross in Europe.

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The Sticky Bidon – January 7, 2011

Posted on January 8, 2011 by

Interesting and/or amusing cycling items from across the Internet, January 7, 2011

Seen any cool links we missed? Share ‘em in the comments below!

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International Cyclocross Power Rankings: Week #15

Posted on January 7, 2011 by

Photo by Ciaran O'Grady, http://www.thebigchainring.com

With the holiday week in the books, it’s time to find out where everyone lays heading into this weekend’s national championships. Last week’s top three (Albert, Nys, and Stybar) remains the same, albeit in a different order.  Let’s see where everyone lands for Week 15:

1. Sven Nys (2) – Nys ends up on top with two second places and one first since last Thursday. Had he not bobbled at the race in Tervuren, he most likely would have ended the week with two victories. He’s the favorite for another Belgian national title this weekend.

2. Niels Albert (1) – Albert looked superb all week, but ended his holiday run with “only” two thirds and one victory. His victory was impressive though, as the course in Tervuren was a complete mess. Albert appears to be peaking at the right time though and is another heavy favorite for a national title. Should everything come together for the Belgian over the next few weeks, he could be the National, World Cup and wWorld Champion.

3. Zdenek Stybar (3) – After a little over a month off, Stybar returned to racing with several podium appearances. His win at the Sylvester Cross shows that the World Champion is coming back into form at just the right time. After losing a chance at pretty much every series title this season, all that remains is the opportunity to win another national and world title. However, his seventh-place on Sunday leaves me wondering what exactly he’s capable of.

4. Klaas Vantornout (n/a) – Vantornout rockets back into the rankings after pair of top-ten finishes. He’s starting to look like the Vantornout of old. I don’t expect a win from the Belgian, but he is definitely a candidate for the podium at Nationals.

5. Bart Wellens (4) – Wellens has had some great success over the past few weeks, including a fifth-place at the GP Sven Nys on New Year’s Day. However, a crash in Tervuren has jeopardized his run for a national title and a potential World Championship squad spot. If anybody can rebound quickly, Wellens is that man. But time is not on his side.

6. Kevin Pauwels (5) – Pauwels’ poor technical skills have come into play over the past two weeks. While he managed two top-ten finishes, his inability to hang with the leaders has cost him a shot at the GVA Trophy and Superprestige. If he can overcome his handling issues, he’s a real podium threat throughout the rest of January.

7. Francis Mourey (6) – Mourey decided to stay close to home this past week as has become the norm for the French National Champion. He picked-up a pair of victories in Bussnang and Petange. Despite weaker fields, Mourey looked very impressive and remains on my short list of candidates for the rainbow stripes.

8. Tom Meeusen (n/a) – Meeusen’s third-place Sunday was one of the most impressive races I’ve seen the youngster race both mentally and physically all season. He is becoming a true team player and has virtually assured himself a spot on the Belgian World Cup and Worlds team. Meeusen ended the week with a pair of top-ten finishes, including a podium appearance in Tervuren. Last year, he made a name for himself by racing with the elites at Belgian nationals. While I don’t think he’s going to win, a spot on the podium is not out of the question.

9. Lars Boom (7) – Boom looked like he was on track for another stellar victory at the GP Sven Nys before a nasty crash on one of the course’s many icy sections took Boom out of the race—leaving doubts about his participation at Nationals. While he would love another national title, Boom’s focus is clearly on the road and another potential injury—or an aggravation of his current injury—would clearly jeopardize his success. Therefore, I will not be surprised if he skips Nationals.

10. Gerben de Knegt (8) – Despite not racing the last half of the week, de Knegt still remains in the rankings. His biggest win of the season could be this weekend if he manages to win another national title. With Boom’s participation in doubt, he has become the front-runner for the title.

Dropped this Week: Philip Walsleben (9) and Bart Aernouts (10).

Obviously, all eyes will turn to the various national championships this weekend. From Luxembourg to England to Belgium, virtually all of the European national titles will be on the line. It promises to be one of the most unique and interesting weekends of the year, especially since Worlds is only a few weeks away. Stay tuned for a look at what you can expect to see this weekend.

And share your comments below.

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The Sticky Bidon – January 6, 2011

Posted on January 7, 2011 by

Interesting and/or amusing cycling items from across the Internet, January 6, 2011

Seen any cool links we missed? Share ‘em in the comments below!

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