Personally I didn't think that Andy was really pushing hard - did anyone else get that feeling? He didn't particularly look as though he was struggling, he just wasn't pushing on that much.
Mind you, phoning home while time trialling is maybe not the best way to win:
"Coug? Coug? Are you there? Why aren't you here?" (Just kidding. I know he's probably phoning Nim to make pj arrangements, or possibly reminding Jakob to order the pizza.)
And yes, I know that wasn't really part of ToC, it was the Mercedes presentation.
How about this one, below: what do we think he's saying here?
"Now look, this is supposed to be a serious cycle race and you're only a GUURRRRLL!"
PS look at that upper lip, he really is trying to grow a caterpillar, isn't he? (Cries of "Oh Noes!" from all the lolcats in the audience)
This is the Leopard Trek Senior Division inspecting their road rash:
Is it me, or has Our Glorious Leader - below - just about outgrown this bike?
And finally, Andy Schleck having trouble dealing with a toffee:
Glad to see the rear Tuftage making a welcome return!
Where was I? Oh yes, Tour of California. The Mount Baldy stage was pretty exciting (Gnasher, I looked for you but didn't see you..) except for the bit towards the very end where OGL lost a bit of steam, allowing the commentators to make rude remarks about him not being in very good form etc etc. He's training guys, he's training!
One thing I noticed - Ryder Hesjedal (as opposed to Mechanic Hesjedal and Sponsor Hesjedal) from Garmin Cervelo appeared to wearing a Leopard Trek helmet. Anyone else notice that? Sadly, I can't find any pics of it...
...but here's a "taken from the TV hence the terrible quality" pic of Johan Van Summeren ("Yay! We like him!") also known as Garmin Two, (see Loupe earlier) from the final stage, and look!
What is it, JVS, with you and those blue sleeve bands?
Don't you like them?
Do you just want to be different? (No need, my dear, we can easily spot you in the peloton on account of you being about a foot lankier than everyone else....)
There must be someone out there who knows him, or has a friend who works for the team - can anyone find out?
Well, we've finally finished watching the ToC, it got a lot better towards the end, and I'm beginning to see that the US might have a winner on their hands. I know that they want to make the ToC into a big UCI Tour, I think I read somewhere that they'd like to get it big enough to be considered in the same sentence as the TdF and I can see that happening, some day. Exciting stuff.
Now we're onto the Crit Dauphine, we're going to be getting some spotty coverage of that over the next week, but not of all the stages, so hopefully next week I might have some semi-intelligent comments to make on that race.
In the meantime, I have to say how nice it is to have seen Ned Boulting and Matt Rendell in the flesh: they're the guys who do the Real Peloton, and they make a good presenting team, Much better than Phil Liggett and whoever the other one was, who seemed a) not to be able to see the on-screen graphics, as they never seemed to know which rider we were looking at: b) unable to hear each other, as they would repeat what the other one had just said, but in slightly different phrases, and: c) to have been given a list of sponsor names and places of interest, and were compelled to mention one of them every 2.5 minutes. It was all quite strange to listen to!
I was impressed with the TOC, although I hoped for a better outcome for Andy and Ryder. I didn't realize there would be such big climbs.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Radioshack Tour Tracker coverage, but I agree with all the negative comments I've seen about Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin. They just didn't seem to be on form at all, not their usual "spot on". They are usually great at the TdF, or many I just had never seen any other racing coverage until this year.
emjay
LOL Coug! I love your captions!
ReplyDeleteIn fairness to Liggett et al., Andy did say he will go "full gas" in the ToC. Although I also had the impression he was holding back. When he passed by us in the moutains, all sweaty...hold on...revisiting happy moment :P :P...ok back, he looked a bit too smiley when a couple of cute girls *coughs* cheered for him. When I say smiley, I don't mean that all teeth pain face he gets. Anyway, that moment happened before he lost steam.
In defense of OGL, Leipheimer & Horner trained to be in top condition for this race. Andy didn't and yet he placed 8th. That is above and beyond his past performances at the ToC, so I'm excited about Andy's condition (and motivation).
I'm hard to spot, Coug. The camera passed by me in a flash. I can only find myself because I know where I was standing and recognized my hat. :) Husband with rainbow wig is easier to spot. Maybe next year I'll dress up as a fried egg or something equally hilarious and run alongside OGL. LOL. No, not really, I would collapse.
I really hope the ToC lasts and succeeds!
Lightbulb turned on when I logged off. I need to dress up as a ketchup bottle! Of course!! :) :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gnasher,
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, let's all dress up as ketchup bottles! (*rushes off to sewing machine*). Actually I quite like the fried egg idea, too...
I agree with you, I think OGL would be well pleased with 8th place overall, when he clearly wasn't in top form yet. I think the whole world and his wife would be aware that TdF is Andy's main priority this year.... therefore he wasn't likely to win the ToC and as you quite rightly say, he did better in it this year than last year, (24th in CG and 36mins down) despite it being a much harder race.
I think the ToC is looking really good for future years, yay! Loved that Mount Baldy, the ridge was tailor-made for helicopter shots, wasn't it?
Coug
Natasha, I have been enjoying your Amgen reports immensely, though slightly disturbed to read about this apparent phenomenon of girls feeling at liberty to tap Andy Shcleck's gluteus maximus (nee ass) during, before, and after a race. It takes a lot of temerity to carry out a thought process like, "There's Andy Schleck's bottom, perhaps I should grab it as a gesture of goodwill."
ReplyDeleteDressing up as ketchup bottles? I'm game, but I want to go as Toblerone! Of course, that would present its own logistical problems, as I expect people to come up and ask for free samples of chocolate. Man, we should all show up in France as Andy's favourite foods. Who would show up as the gourmet dishes from Noma? According to signor Schleck, the best "resturante" in the world. Looking at their lunch menu, you could dress up as sorrel, hen, and oyster!
I'm seriously behind on comments. Just wanted to come in here and thank Figgy for the nice comment about my ToC posts. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and there's a great deal of creativity among Schlecklanders! Toblerone costume is a great idea! Then you could lure Andy over with chocolates. :p