36th Coors Classic next August in Colorado!!

In our mind's eye the most epic American bicycle stage race has gone on every summer since Mo Siegel started the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic in 1975. The amazing imagery and romance of the mountains of Colorado combined with the toughness, daring and speed of road bike racing has become an absolute monument in the history of velo sport in the United States. Next August 22-28 will see the newest rendition of an old classic, the Quizno's Pro Challenge, announced by Lance Armstrong and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, and even though it will be a first year event, this battle on two wheels has raged on in the imagination of American cyclists around the country summer after summer since the beginning.

No matter if one's heart was touched by the Red Zinger or the Coors Classic that followed, the setting, the mountains of Colorado, were always the back drop. Even if they came from the midwest or the east coast and The Hell of the West with a young Kevin Costner was all they knew of the real thing, riders around the country longed to ride in Colorado and to race up and down the high passes, just like Greg Lemond, Bernard Hinault and Davis Phinney. Even when the Coors Classic ventured to California and even on to Hawaii, the race yearned for it's home in Colorado.

Quoted earlier this week, Graham Watson, the veteran cycling photographer said,
- "I find the Colorado news more exciting than when TOC launched in '06, it's like USA cycling coming home to its birthplace..."-

Such are the memories of this race that they come dancing back periodically due to some random event... For me any ride or drive at, or near the Colorado National Monument has me thinking about the Tour of the Moon stage out of Grand Junction. Man that was awesome, such an epic course that provided amazing racing. Every time I drive into Boulder from Golden, I mean every single time, I realize that I'm on the Morgul Bismarck! And for sure, any time I see a guy riding in a full black beard, I think of the Russian from American Flyers. - YOUUU GO GET HIM, he says to Muzin every time.

This got me thinking of some possible stages and I thought I'd have a go, how about a nice look back as we go forward. This would be my ideal opening edition of the Quizno's Pro Challenge:

August 22: Tour of the Moon Road Race, Grand Junction
August 23: Aspen Circuit Race
August 24: Aspen to Copper Mountain Road Race
August 25: Vail Pass Time Trial
August 26: Vail Criterium
August 27: Morgul Bismarck Road Race, Boulder
August 28: Denver Cicuit Race

Looks AWESOME to me, I hope they do it!

How nostalgic, how joyous to have the race actually coming back for real. I mean the imagination is great, and it usually means that we're out riding, but to actually have it happen... well, THANKS QUIZNO'S.

Think I'll go get a nice toasted sammy to celebrate.

Wow, for some reason I just thought about Greg Lemond and Taco Bell.... Hhhmmmm, somebody's trying to tell me something.

Cheers to Quizno's, Lance Armstrong, Bill Ritter, The Colorado Board of Tourism, thanks a ton for getting this off the ground. Hope to see you all following the Challenge next August!

Armstrong to win 8th Tour title this July

To some that may be a shocking headline. For me it's a shock to pick Lance to win this month in Paris. I've thought about this for a long time and while I do think Alberto Contador is clearly the best rider today, there can be no denying that cycling is a team sport and Alberto's squad is simply not up to the task. Astana is a top flight team, enough to deliver a super star to the top step of the podium. However, standing in the way is the Radioshack juggernaut, Team Director Johann Bruyneel at the helm. Lance and Bruyneel form a tandem rarely seen in sports, akin to Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan at their best in Chicago. Plug and play the other guys at will and knock off championships like bowling pins.

In this case Radioshack is sitting in a better situation than even the Bulls of lore. Andreas Kloden, Levi Leipheimer, Chris Horner and Janez Brajkovic are more than mere teammates, they can pretend to be Lance in their dreams and every single one of them can manifest those dreams on any given day. This gives Boss Hog Bruyneel a winning hand, one King and four Deuces Wild. Contrast this with Astana and their Team Director.....Vinokourov, the Joker. Well nobody really ever knows what will happen with Vino in charge. Contador is the Ace, but in the world of cycling the Joker on this team is the one to watch. Will Vinokourov dedicate himself to towing Contador around like a guardian angel? I doubt it. Vino attacks, that's what he does. It's probably a better tactic as well. Things that make you go hhhmmmmmm.

What about Bjarne Riis' Saxo Bank team? He's got a decent hand with one Ace, Andy Schleck, and one Jack, Frank Schleck. But without the Wild Card Sastre in the mix, Saxo is left a little short. What about Sastre? All that leads to is more and more questions; what about Basso?, what about Menchov?, what about Cadel Evans?, what about Mick Rogers? Those are all good questions. But we're talking about winning the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong and Johann Bruyneel quite simply, will not let any one of those guys win the Tour. Nope, this is about defeating Contador and Vinokourov. The others are supporting cast at best, chorus members, some may get an outstanding solo but that's it.

Lance has announced that the intention is to control from the first pedal turn to the last. He has also announced that he is close to his all time fitness with a final lead up test on the Col de la Madone near his home. This is a regular test he has done nearly throughout his career. This behavior signals a different Lance than we saw last year. This behavior is more reminiscent of his earlier self, the one who not once ever accepted defeat. When Lance announces these things, the peloton is on notice. I'm coming through, get the hell out of the way.

This year's course is yet another bike pump to throw into Contador's front wheel. Holland, Wind, Cobbles, Le Tour... these are all institutions, monuments to the sport of cycling. Alberto Contador is still but a child, almost a baby, while Radioshack is the Dream Team. You tell me, how in the world is the immature, almost infantile Contador going to handle all of this? He could barely handle it last year when he was an ally. Now he is enemy number one. By hook or by crook, Contador and Vino are going down. I just hope nobody gets hurt when it's all said and done, it could get ugly.

Trecker's Tour de France top 10 GC
1. Lance Armstrong
2. Andy Schleck
3. Alberto Contador
4. Bradley Wiggins
5. Michael Rogers
6. Roman Kreuzinger
7. Robert Gesink
8. Christian Vande Velde
9. Andreas Kloden
10. Levi Leipheimer

Points Classification (Green Jersey)
1. Oscar Freire
2. Tyler Farrar
3. Thor Hushovd

Mountains Classification (Polka Dot Jersey)
1. Damiano Cunego
2. John Gadret
3. Christophe Moreau

Giro picks - No surprises

Still just time to get my Giro favorites down, race is under way in Holland right now but here goes.

Overall General Classification
1. Cadel Evans
2. Alexander Vinokourov
3. Carlos Sastre

There are several challengers to these top three. Domenico Pozzovivo is on excellent form and could pose a threat on the big climbs. The Lampre tandem reunited, Damiano Cunego and Gilberto Simoni also could challenge on the climbs. Garmin-Transitions has a trio of talent, the veteran Christian Vandevelde leads the squad but Aussie youngster Jack Bobridge and Irishman Dan Martin could also show themselves at the front. Former winner Stefano Garzelli, Marzio Bruseghin, Ivan Basso, Vincenzo Nibali and Vladimir Karpets could all find their legs as well and threaten for a podium spot by the finish. However, World Champ Evans is the most prepared and focused of the real three week challengers. Vino is certainly going to be dangerous but I feel he still lacks a little something to last three weeks with no bad days. Former Tour winner Sastre looks and sounds ready, but his fragility seems to prevent him from winning consistently. Should be fun and let's hope it's a little slower than last year.

Go VDV!!

Cancellara - a la Merckx! Swiss crushes Roubaix

I sit here and watch Roubaix live on Flemish TV, and the direct quote from one of the lead announcers was perfect... "Cancellara, a la Merckx."

The Swiss chrono specialist used a perfectly timed attack to secure a place in the history books, but also a place of legend and myth. With nearly 50km to go, Spartacus slid away from a small chase group and quickly bridged to the lead trio. He dispatched to small group on the next set of cobbles and assumed his all too familiar time trial position. The chasers, particularily Belgian rock star Tom Boonen, two-champ of Roubaix, were dismayed and defeated immediately, resigned to race for 2nd and 3rd.

Comparisons to Merckx legends flashed instantly to all those familiar with such stories. But unlike Merckx, who sometimes used such moves in flashes of audacity and ego, Cancellara's move came out of pure necessity and perfect tactical timing. As the race flowed through the 50km point, race favorite number two, Boonen, showed a bit of impatience, and attacked hard to break up a large front group of 25-30 favorites. The move worked, and a small group of around a dozen emerged from the blow. A small raiding party led by Lotto's Leif Hoste, sped away on the exit of the cobbles. The chasers were ever so slightly strung out by a moderately fast pace as Boonen slipped towards the back of the group to asses the damage and take a drink. Cancellara recognized this as the perfect time. He was now isolated without teammate Matti Breschel, and his main rival Boonen, who certainly could outsprint Cancellara, was slacking at the perfect moment.

Cancellara neither lept out of the saddle, nor soft pedalled off the front... he missled his way silently but with enormous power and speed, and left the others, defeated nearly immediately.

I am literally writing this story with 23km to go and the gap is over two minutes. When Cancellara went away, I said, "It's over, he's gone, he's going to win by over two minutes!". A la Merckx indeed! Incredible win for Fabian Canellara, one I'll never forget.

Highlands Closing Party - EPIC!!

Sometimes called "The largest unorganized party in skiing", and sometimes called "Gaper Day", the annual bash on the scheduled closing day of Aspen Highlands is one party not to be missed. EPIC, the best word to describe this past Sunday's events at Highlands, sick snow from top to bottom and crazy parties and partiers from top to bottom. By the time the real party starts rolling at 4PM, things start to get out of control and that's just when it starts to get good. Here are some photos from the annual craziness. Enjoy.
Above left: Natalie Ward and Brad Yule pose for the camera near the top of Highlands Bowl while Kevin Dunkelberg looks on as Russ Bollig arrives. Above Right: The party gets rolling in the Bootpacker's Lounge.

Below left: KDUNK and Trecker get ready to hit the steeps of G3. Below right: Natalie gives us the "Mancuso" pose at the top of the Bowl.













Above Left: Natalie Ward and Andre Willie partake in the fun at the Base. Above right: Dunk shows off his Sunday best.
Above left: A couple thousand revel at the Closing Party. Above right: The hike to the top was windy and tough but brought much freshness to those who perservered.

Below: more random pics

Flanders this Sunday, Devolder to Threepeat

I know this is a stretch but here's my picks for De Ronde van Vlanderen this Sunday:

1. Stijn Devolder
2. Lance Armstrong
3. Tyler Farrar

Shane McConkey day March 26

Today, March 26th marks the one year anniversary of the death of Shane McConkey. If you don't know the man and the legend, check him out. Thanks Shane for everything and R.I.P.

San Remo predictions

Time to get going with the Spring Classics, today's, The Classicissima, La Primavera, The Milano-San Remo epic of 298km.

In brief: I believe it will come to a small bunch sprint of perhaps 30 riders and the sprinters that do well in the finale will be those with the strongest lieutenants that were represented in the earlier break.

My podium call: 1. Alejet Pettacchi, 2. Tomeke Boonen, 3. Tyler Farrar

Let's see how I do

Simi Hamilton makes the Olympics

Huge congratulations to one of our own here in Aspen, Simi Hamilton, who has just been named to the U.S. Olympic Team for cross country skiing. Hamilton helped secure his spot on the team by both, winning the U.S. championship earlier this month, and by winning the sprint qualifier at the U23 World Championships in Germany earlier this week. Although he was taken out by some fellow competitors and a bad glue job on his pole grip in the subsequent heats, Simi must have shown enough speed to garner the final spot available to the United States. Once again, huge congrats to Simi!!