Loving the bike, thinking of Cyclocross

Could it be time to race? My fitness is great and I'm aching for fun. I don't have a clue how to begin cx racing, but it might be a lot of fun. Riding my cross bike on the trails and through the muck is so much fun. Might just have to try it , if only to keep busy during the cold autumn. If anyone's got a link or comment about newbies and cyclocross, kindly post! :)

Rolling along

Dave Zabriskie had a great Tour of California and is now eating it up at Vuelta a Castilla y León.  He's still a strong time trialer and his climbing is stronger.  Could he surprise top-ten in a classic?  Could he hold the yellow jersey in a big race?  Could he do well in a time-trial heavy race such as the Tour de Suisse?  I have a very similar reaction about Staf Clement, a very young Ducthman who knows how to time trial.  Menchov seems to be on track.  Could he take home a big prize this year?  Only if he's continued to improve.

Graeme Brown is sprinting well... Watch out for him in races like the E3 and the Gent-Wevelgem.  

Cunego is ripping at the Coppi e Bartali!  Wow.  Watch out for him at Liege!  Could this be a sign that he's ready to contest the Giro again?  

2009 Paris-Roubaix, First thoughts.

Paris-Roubaix, first thoughts.  Flecha should be in the mix, as usual.  Hushovd too.  What about the miraculous 4th place finish of Maaskaant?  

Can Devolder return to form?  And Ballan?   Can Cancellara come back from injury and missed training build-up?  

You'd be foolish to overlook Nick Nuyens.  He's a young and rising talent, and he'll be fighting for the prestige of Belgian wins for himself and his Silence-Lotto.  Old standby O'Grady busted his collarbone at the MSR.  One older rider who remains strong and crafty for a race like this is George Hincapie.  Remember: he's the one who pulled Cavendish all the way to the win in MSR.  He's always deadly in the Paris-Roubaix.  Too bad his body may not be up to the final push.  Under the radar is Bernard Eisel.  One fancied as a sprinter, he's really trying to become more of a classics guy.  He's done well in the Pari-Roubaix and there's no reason to think he won't put everything into this one.  Maybe he'll just have to work for Big George, but Eisel is younger.  He's got a decent sprint too.  

I'd like to investigate about Svein Tuft.  He seems like the type of rider who could do well in the P-R.  But nobody wins in their first 1-2 goes.  This is a race that demands experience, both in this race and on the cobbles.  I'll do a bunch of research on the riders and then post more thoughts

After the MSR, looking to the northern classics...

Whoa!  Didn't see that one coming!  Thought Cavendish wasn't strong enough for the whole Milan San Remo and thought both Cav and Haussler were too young.  Zoinks!  Boonen's excuse was cramps.  Why more don't pool efforts for a breakaway I don't understand.  Also, Haussler got the point that many others should note: don't wait and watch in a sprint, unless your name is Petacchi.  Take a flying leap.  

Farrar crashed badly and is in recovery mode.  Bummer: he's having a really nice year, with a with at the Tirreno-Adriatico and a 2nd there too.  Ahead of Cav once, 2nd to Cav the next.  Take notice cycling world.  

It's time to begin thinking about the Pais Vasco, the Paris-Roubaix, the Gent-Wevelgem, the Scheldepriis, and the Rund um Koln.  And of course, the Tour of Flanders.  Say what you want about Boonen: he'll be a big favorite for the Paris-Roubaix, the Scheldepriis, and the Vlaandaren.  He ALWAYS does well in all three.  One quote worth noting: Boonen says he's got his eye on Haussler for the Classics! 

2009 Milan SanRemo predictions

The 2009 Milan SanRemo is likely to end in a small bunch sprint.  It usually does.  Why it will probably happen again this year: a lot of the best teams bring hot, in-form sprinters to the race and they will use all of their enormous firepower to reel in attacks.  The ride is reputedly a tad harder, with another climb: this will add a card to the "punchers" (puncheurs) hands.  

To win, you've got to endure an incredibly loooooooong race, a then a few small steeps.  That kills off many of your pure sprinters.  That favors:

Boonen.  He's come very close and has listed this as a major goal.  I really like him for this year's MSR.  He's got a superb team to back him and the full support of his Belgian bosses. If I had to take one guy, he'd be my pick.  

Petacchi.  35 yrs old but still a fast mo-fo.  

Pozzato.  A puncher who can also sprint.  Might be the one to watch, if things get shaken up.  Very confident as has set huge goals for this season.  Might be my number two.  

Bennati.  My gut says "no, not yet."  My gut says "not ready yet, and hasn't yet won something big."  Everyone, everyone, everyone says he's the sprinter to pick.  I'm just not feeling it.  

Haussler.  Too young.  I love the Aussie-German kid but I just don't think he's experienced or strong enough yet to take a race this competitive.  

Hushovd.  What a guy.  Just getting better and better.  Watch out for him in the classics.  He can climb well, maintain his stamina, then kill you in the sprint.  Foolish to bet against him.  If he improves on last year's form, he'll have some big spring results.  Could be my number three pick.  

Lorenzetto.  Talented, but not enough stuff for this race.  

Alan Davis.  Man, the guy's fast, can take small climbs, keeps his endurance, and has a wicked finish.  He's come close before.  His only drawback is being on Boonen's team and having to make way for Boonen.  Could easily finish top ten or top five.  

Rebellin.  The old man just won't slow down!  Phenomenal legs and brilliant bike IQ.   Could easily land in the top 10 with his form, but lacks the oomph to win a sprint.  He'll try to get away late, and he's got plenty of firepower on his team to help. 

Cavendish.  Sorry, bud. Yer too young and too weak on the climbs.  I see him trailing in way down the line.  

Gilbert.  Hot, confident, and talented.  A serious puncher to watch out for.  He's come close and he knows how to get away.  He's got loads of strength and a fast kick.  Something tells me he goes too soon and gets eaten up before the end...

Elmiger.  He's the right age, he's done well in this race, and he gets better every year.  One of these days he's going to win something big and get the respect he deserves... but this race is out of his reach.  

Breschel.  Wonder boy from 2008 hasn't shown up yet this year.

McEwen.  The downhill slide has begun.  He's still a fast-comer, but he just doesn't have the juice for these climbs and miles, and he's losing a bit of his burst.  

Ciolek.  I love this kid, but he crashed recently and is too young.  

Team MILRAM.  Although Ciolek probably can't do much, I think we'll hear from these guys.  Wegmann is a big talent, and I like young Peter Velits and Nikki Terpstra too.  The latter guys are too young to win it, but they might create a stir.  Wegmann, though, on the right day, could really get in the mix. 

Koldo Fernandez.  The guy is a real underachiever.  But he can actually stick in there for the climbs and he's got a good kick.  

Nocentini.  A lovely rider.  Like a course with some climbs and he's got a fairly fast finish.  Can he get away and stay away?  Probably not against this field, but look for him to be active.  

The Unknown Italian.  The prestige of this race: fame for life, if you're an Italian winner, is seriously motivating.  There are always two or three Italians who sneak into the top ten.

Flecha.  Nope: sorry, not enough speed or getaway speed.  Ditto for Nuyens.  DiLuca's not there yet, and his best may be behind him.  Farrar won't hang for the long haul.  Cunego can't get away.  Nor Basso.  Visconti and Garzelli might make some noise, before dying.  Paolini to me was sort of a flash in the pan--I just don't believe in him. 

So let's call it Boonen's year.  I can't wait to find out. 

GC Notes on the 2009 GIRO D'ITALIA

Notes on the Giro.  A number of riders have been showing their serious intentions for the Giro by previewing and practicing various stages and climbs.  

They are: Marzio Brusheghin (9th in 2005, 8th in 2007, 3rd in 2008), Lance Armstrong, Ivan Basso, Damiano Cunego, Arroyo.  

Surprisingly quiet in the news: Pellizotti.  He's showed great promise in recent years, is the right age, and has been tagged a team leader.  Has Basso's arrival relegated him again to domestique?

Then what of the new boys?  Andy Schleck (2nd in 2007, but no ride in 08), Gesink?  What about a big talent like Vladimir Karpets?  Or Linus Gerdemann?  Why waste them in the Tour de France when they have the talent to win the Giro or the Vuelta?  

Siotsov looks far from winning a grand tour (but keep yer eye on him).  Ditto for Soler. 

This should be one of the more competitive Giros in years.  Neither will a rider walk away with the Giro (a la a doped-up Basso in 2006) nor will a weak overall rider (a doped up DiLuca in 2007) win it.  Instead some strong riders should contend.  The competition is still inferior to that of the Tour de France, but so it goes. 

Notes from Europe

Updates:

Injuries: Cancellara has another crash, still not quite right. Greipel still hurting from Down Under. Same for Steven De Jongh.

Giro note: one surprise today: Basso and Pellizotti will be co-captains for Liquigas. On the one hand this is well-deserved for Pellizotti, who has shown great talent. Hard to believe he's good enough to win the Giro, but he has come a long way. However, it is also an indication that the team doesn't see Basso as fully ready yet. Is he missing something from his blood? Is he still finding form? We don't know. So far, we haven't seen any sign that Basso, once the heir to Armstrong, is anywhere near his former self.

Jürgen Roelandts is not on form yet (61st in KBK), but don't forget about him as the spring goes on. The man is a real rider. If he continues to grow this year, he will bag a big one.

Lorenzetto has put up some nice results so far, but something tells me it's too early and the competition was too weak. Still, this man is coming along nicely. Some have him tipped for success in the Milan SanRemo. I think he'll find that's another universe of competition. The same is true for the likes of Wouter Weylandt, who just took home the Le Samyn. It's a nice win, but when the classics kick in, Wouter will get woofed.