Gilbert wins Lombardy, scores an almost impossible "double"

Phillipe Gilbert(BEL) of the Silence-Lotto team benefitted from strong team work from Cadel Evans and used a blistering attack on the San Fermo climb to break away with Sammy Sanchez. He then controlled the sprint to win his second classic in a week. The nearly impossible double of Paris Tours and Lombardy in the same season has only been accomplished thrice previous. Given the fact that Paris Tours is often called the sprinters classic and Lombardy a week later is the climbers classic, its not surprising that only Phillipe Thys in 1917, Rik Van Looy in 1959 and Jo de Roo in 1963 were able to score the double. In more recent times not even the greatest of all rounders like Sean Kelly, Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser and Laurent Jalabert could accomplish what Gilbert has done. Bravo Phillipe, great win, and congrats on finding your place in the history books. Also a big congrats to Cadel Evans, he truly is honoring the rainbow jersey just like he said he would. And to Damiano Cunego... you're starting to sound a little bit whiny, suck it up and leave the poorly chosen post race comments to Cav.

Lombardia tomorrow, Cunego looks to repeat

The annual celebration of fall in the Lombardy region of Italy, the Giro di Lombardia, or "The Race of the Falling Leaves", is set for tomorrow. Damiano Cunego of Lampre has made this race his personal playground, having scored a hat trick of wins in recent times, and he looks to have the form to win a 4th. In his way will be the new World Champion Cadel Evans of the Silence Lotto team and a host of other contenders including; Ivan Basso of Liquigas, Alexander Kolobnev of Saxo Bank and Robert Gesink of Rabobank.

The Lombardia is usually even more selective than the Worlds and because of that reason, the typical climbers usually can get away from the sprinters that can climb. This means that even though Phillipe Gilbert is on stomping form, he likely won't make it to the finish with the leaders. Another sprinter that can climb is Fillipo Pozzato, however, he no longer has to stress because he got sick and won't even take the start. Alejandro Valverde, the recent winner of the Vuelta Espana, is not at the start either due to his doping ban in Italy. Valverde is scheduled for a appeal to the ban in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland this weekend instead.

Predictions: The field trims to the climbers through attrition and Cunego outguns whoever is left.

Starred favorites:

***
D. Cunego
C. Evans
A. Kolobnev

**
J. Brajkovic
C. Horner
A. Vinokourov
J. Rodriguez
S. Sanchez
D. Martin
I. Basso
R. Gesink
M. Scarponi
J. Van Den Broeck
K. Kirchen
F. Wegman
J. Fuglsang

*
A. Ballan
R. Nocentini
T. Valjevec
P. Deignan
T. Danielson
V. Milhojevic
G. Stangelj
M. Barry
M. Monfort
K. Siutsou
S. Ivanov
J. Hoogerland

Prediction:
1. D. Cunego
2. A. Kolobnev
3. C. Evans
4. M. Scarponi
5. R. Gesink
6. F. Wegman
7. C. Horner
8. A. Vinokourov
9. J. Fuglsang
10. I. Basso

Tour 2010, no walk in park for Radioshack

The route and stages have been announced for next summer's Tour de France. Go to www.cyclingnews.com for the latest updates on the course. It appears that once again the Tour organizers were not pleased with the way this past year went. In 2009, from the beginning, Astana held a stranglehold on the other GC contenders. With a relatively long opening TT, a Team TT and another long individual race against the clock, the ahem, Kasakh outfit left little doubt that one in their fold would take the title.

2010 will not be the same. The opening tt(prologue this time) is only 8km. There is no TTT and the remaining race against the clock is on the second to last day. Given this formula, Lance Armstrong's Radioshack as well as Alberto Contador's team, whoever that might be, will have a hard time using the same old formula for victory. If Radioshack controls the race from the beginning, Contador, as well as several of the other contenders, will get a free ride to Paris. If Radioshack doesn't control the race, who will? Look for an attacking ride around France in 2010, perhaps even Lance will stick his nose in the wind a few times?

My early prediction for 2010: A wide open, attacking race with several surprises, but in the end a very familiar podium.

1. Alberto Contador
2. Lance Armstrong
3. Cadel Evans

Roggen Brown wins Severy Memorial

Durango's Roggen Brown used a strong ascent of Raoul's Revenge to break away from the pack in the Chris Severy Memorial on Saturday. Brown won the event with a time around 18:30 for the 5k. He finished by himself, cruising down the home stretch comfortably. Brown is also a national caliber Nordic racer in the winter and a sure fire talent of the future. I was unable to secure results or the names of the other medalists on Saturday, but it was a great day of racing with fantastic weather. Especially since the Front Range was getting hammered with snow and freezing temperatures at the same time.

2010 Aspen Cup dates announced

2010 Aspen Cup Nordic Series
presented by The Ute Mountaineer, Aspen Cross Country Center, Snowmass Cross Country Center

Sun. Dec. 13: Free introduction to racing / Early season training session, Aspen XC Center, Time TBD

Sun. Jan. 3: ARC/Moore Circuit Race, 9AM-8/12k classic, mass start, 10:45AM- 8/12k freestyle, mass start. Registration, S/F at The Aspen Recreation Center , 1.25 mile up Maroon Creek on the right, adjacent(west) to the public parking lot. Entry fees: Adults $15- $7 for second race, Juniors $7- 2nd race free.

Sa. Jan. 23: Aspen Pursuit Day 1, AHS Circuit Race, 11AM 10/15k freestyle, mass start. Registration, S/F at the Lower Ball Field of the AVSC/AHS trail system, Park at the Aspen Middle School parking lot about .5 mile up Maroon Creek on the left. Walk to adjacent ball field and trail system. Entry fees: Adults $15 Juniors $7.

Su. Jan. 24: Aspen Pursuit Day 2, Ashcroft Classic, 9:30AM 12k classic pursuit start. Registration, S/F at King Cabin, Aschcroft Ski Touring, 11 miles up Castle Creek, park on the left and walk to the cabin. Entry fees: Adults $15, Juniors $7

Su. Jan. 31: AXCC Circuit Race, 9:30AM 10/20k freestyle, mass start. Registration, S/F on the “Teaching Loop” of the Aspen XC Center, at the Aspen Golf Course, west of the roundabout on the north side of 82. Entry fees: Adults $15, Juniors $7

Sa. Feb. 13: Aspen Nordic Festival Day 1, Start TBD, AVSC Classic Race, see www.owlcreekchase.com for event details, 5/10k classic, individual start. Event takes place at the AVSC/AHS trail system, about 1 mile up Maroon Creek, left side. See website for all details.

Su. Feb. 14: Aspen Nordic Festival Day 2, Start TBD, Owl Creek Chase p/b City of Aspen, see www.owlcreekchase.com for event details, 25k freestyle, mass start. Race starts at Snowmass XC Center and finishes at the AVSC/AHS trails. See website for all details.

Mo. Feb. 15: Skate with the Pros free clinic, 9:30AM, Aspen XC Center, Improve you skating with the pro skiers from the Owl Creek Chase. The AXCC is located at the Aspen Golf Course, west of the roundabout, north side of 82

Su. Mar. 7: Silverboom Race, 10AM, 1/10/20k freestyle, mass start, 1k Kiddieboom to follow main event. Aspen Cup Finals, Double Points. Registration, S/F at the Snowmass XC Center, about 4 miles up Brush Creek on the left. Entry fees: Adults $15, juniors $7, Kiddieboom 1K Free

Contact: For all events see www.utemountaineer.com or contact series director Mike Trecker, trecker@utemountaineer.com , or phone (970) 925-2849 x17

Scoring: A simple yet effective scoring system will be used for all events, for overall and for age group scoring. The total number of starters will equal the first place points given, eg. 20 starters equals 20 points for first and 1 point for 20th place., regardless of age, gender, etc. Therefore, more weight will be given to those events with larger participation and it will be simple and easy to cross reference other racers in different age groups and gender. There are 8 possible scores throughout the season. A racer’s total will be the best 5 scores. A minimum of 3 starts are required to count towards the season Aspen Cup total. There will double points awarded at the end of the year event, The Silverboom on Mar. 7. Awards and BBQ will take place immediately after the Kiddieboom event after the Silverboom.

2009 Aspen Cup winners: Pierre Willie, Basalt and Natalie Ward, Woody Creek

There are some more details to work out and post on the website but at least here are the dates for your calendars.

Jason Anderson wins the 2nd annual Fall Classic, Max Taam 2nd, Tim Clement 3rd

The peloton set a brisk pace all day, around 1:30 to Glenwood Springs and just over 3.5 hours total for the round trip from Woody Creek and back including stops. A fabulous crisp day for the Fall Classic #2 and some fun, fast riding from start to finish.

Jason Anderson used a well timed move to seperate from Max Taam and Tim Clement in the final kilometer to win the second edition of the Fall Classic, a fun, club ride patterned after the Fondos of Europe. Other strong finishers were Ambre Levy in 4th, Christian Garlapow in 5th as well as Charlie Eckhart and Elliott Larson. In addition to 3rd overall, Tim Clement took the sprint competition by one point over Taam with Anderson in 3rd.

Above left: Jason Anderson takes out the 2nd annual Fall Classic, right: Tim Clement takes 3rd behind Max Taam(not pictured)

Amber Levy outprints Christian Garlapow for 4th.

The Fall Classic, Woody Creek-Glenwood Springs-Woody Creek, Oct. 3, 2009

65 miles

1. Jason Anderson, Natural Grocers, 3:34

2. Max Taam, Horizon Organic, @:05

3. Tim Clement, Ute City Cycles/DBC, @:10

4. Ambre Levy, DFT p/b Treadz, @:24

5. Christian Garlapow, Zone 4/Timberline West, st

Also: Charlie Eckhart, Mike Armstrong and Elliott Larson completed the full course, finish order unknown

Sprint Competiton

1. Tim Clement - 7

2. Max Taam - 6

3. Jason Anderson - 4

4. Christian Garlapow - 4

5. Agustin Goba - 2

5. Ambre Levy - 1