Well, it's been a hectic year for us Schlecklanders, we all had to move our loyalties from SaxoBlank onto the new team, and we had barely had time to get used to the new kit before we sadly lost one of our new team members, Wouter Weylandt.
It seems as though we had hardly had time to recover from that before the Tour was upon us, and of course we had the immense thrill of Andy and Franky taking two podium places, balanced by the disappointment that we had all wanted Andy to be on the top step. (*pets Andy: "there, there, next time."*)
But then things all went spectacularly wrong, with the leaked news that Leopard Trek was a dead duck, and was being taken over by RadioShack, a team which unfortunately brings with them connotations of past misdemeanours, and the present iron rule of their current DS. They also bring with them a feeling of obligation to support their particular charity, another reason that many of us Schlecklanders have not opened our arms to them.
Still, we won't have much longer to wait before we see the new kit, the new operation, the new team: and let's all hope that it's going to be a fun, thrilling, and enjoyable new year for the new team.
So Merry Christmas to all Schlecklanders, past, present and future: Good Luck to all RadioShack-Nissan-Trek riders, old and new: and let's hope we all enjoy a successful 2012.
Obviously there will be a bit of a gap in blogging for a few days, there's this little celebration thingy that we have to do, but I hope you all have a good time, and I look forward to your merry comments on future posts.
Coug
(Virtual Hugs all round)
Is it just me or does Andy seem less "bucky beaverish" since the wisdom teeth were removed?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe he's just growing up. I saw an interview with F&A and Andy looks so much older (and more like Frank).
Happy Holidays to you all!
BE
Happy Holidays from Belgium!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blog,old fangirl here,merry xmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks Coug for a great blog; I've so enjoyed it this year.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your readers a lovely holiday season! Take care and best wishes for 2012 everyone.
Kat
Thank you Coug for bringing a light to a lot of days in the past year (and before).
ReplyDeleteMay you, Coug and all other Schlecklanders, have pleasant holidays and a superb 2012!!!!
Barbara.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Coug and everyone.
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed your blog all year, through good times and bad.
Emjay
Merry Christmas from Hungary! :)
ReplyDeleteCoug, you made my day with the antlers. I hope your holidays are grand, and that the New Year is filled with many novelty socks and dried fruit snacks.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and happy New Year to all!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Everyone!
ReplyDeleteWe've got a super white one in Colorado - that's for sure.
Thank you Coug for all you do!
BE
Coug, thank you so much for all your wonderful posts <3 Keep up the excellent work!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas everyone! And have a good time during the holidays! :)
PS: Auntie, your Christmas version of that picture of Andy has just made my evening!!
Thank you for all the posts! I think this is one of my first comments but I have been reading your blog for a long time now :) Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMarleen
Merry Christmas and happy New Year, Schlecklanders!! (Better late than never! Have been away myself).
ReplyDeleteCoug - thanks, as always for your humour and unique take on the cycling world. Hope you have a wonderful holiday :)
Christmas-Andy also made me giggle!
<3
Happy New Year Everyone~
ReplyDeleteBE
PS...Ken announced on Twitter that he is "out".
Sad. Hope he didn't just find out today! That would suck!
https://twitter.com/#!/KenSommer/status/153266939869921281
ReplyDeleteWHY??! :,(((
Hey, all. I won a contest through the local newspaper, and I am one of ten lucky people who get to meet The Brothers (and Laurent Didier) on Thursday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteIf YOU could ask Frank/Andy questions, what would you ask them? (I'm hoping to be brilliant here . . .)
Thanks for your help
@The Expatresse.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, congrats, congrats!!!
I would like to know how they cope with all those negative opinions. Do they feel sad about those comments?
Barbara
Barbara: Good one. I added it to my list. My husband wants me to ask how they train to fly down mountains with the team manager yelling in their ears to go faster. I was also trying to formulate a question to see if they will tell any funny sibling rivalry stories from when they were kids.
ReplyDeleteWoo-Hoo! Lucky You!!!
ReplyDeleteEvery question I can think of - I don't think they'd want to answer in public - especially since Johan will likely be at their shoulders....
Very exciting for you at any rate and I'm most happy a Schlecklander will be able to get up close and personal! Represent!
BE
@The Expatresse
ReplyDeleteCongrats!! Paint me jealous...
1. Bring camera
2. Take loads of pictures
3. Give us link to pictures so we can enjoy your good luck as well
I'd ask them if the interview with Ushi was the most fun (and perhaps most bizzare experience) they ever had in an interview - or have they had more fun with The Johnies?
ReplyDeleteThat question should at least generate big smiles.
BE
BE