But a question arose concerning the amount of rain in the Classics area, and there was a suggestion that our riders should be developing webbed feet as a precaution, or possibly to make them go faster. Clearly, this would require re-naming of the teams.
As you can see, the kit is stylish and classy in this new incarnation: don't worry about the lack of sponsor names, it's only due to my very basic graphics package and my lack of time....
RadioQuack will of course be chased by the other teams, who would no doubt try to copy this new strategy, before the UCI ban it.
LiquiQuack were first to leap into the breach, closely followed by EusQuackTel, who were very pleased that their orange kit nicely complemented the beak colour.
SaxoQuack, still with only 32 points, oh dear, were prepared to try anything that might help them get through this season.
Omega Pharma QuackStep (currently leading the UCI team rankings) are looking very promising.
Sky ProQuacking Team and GreenEdge ProQuacking Team - well, I think those two haven't fully embraced the philosophy. Perhaps once they see how well the others are doing, they might participate a little more whole-heartedly.
Garmin-Quack-a-cuda, however, are splashing away like mad, they are really keen to get their little webbed feet pedalling.
AG2Quack la Mondiale, likewise, are coming up fast, and are determined not to let SaxoQuack overtake them in UCI points.
The Dark Lords of Katusha were a bit reluctant to get involved: they wanted to be known as The Quack Lords of Katusha, but it was rejected by the UCI, so for the time being they have settled on a tentative Ka-QUACK-ka, with the emphasis firmly on the middle syllable.
Right, time I got on with some work.... have a nice day, everyone!
Hahahaha!! It's a quack-a-thon of teams!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd if they were swimming and running as well, they could enter the Tri-Quack-a-thon!
ReplyDeleteROFL!
Coug
(shouldn't laugh at my own jokes, still do...)
Laughing at your own jokes is the sign of well-adjusted mind! I thought I was pretty quackers, this time last year (psst, I may have gone to France just to see the Tour, or possibly the ice cream...)
ReplyDeleteI like the Canada goose on Team Quack-a-cuda.
I only saw Joaquim Rodriguez cross the line at Fleche Wallone--did the dynamic duo ducks of Lux finish?
And from the "Yes, this is actually a thing files":
http://in-luxembourg.blogspot.ca/2011/05/photos-from-2011-luxembourg-duck-race.html
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Yc6392iUUe8&
--
LOL
ReplyDelete*cheeky grin* ... Sooo would that make you Captain Quack? *ducking for cover under the desk* Just askin' ... ;)
Kat
Hahaha! Does this mean there will also be a Tour de Quack? Then they can put the leader in a yellow jersey for sure. After all it's the colour of small ducks, Andy said so himself! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat video of the Duck Race is hilarious. Must have been really funny to be a not-knowing-tourist in Lux City that day and then all of a sudden see thousands of little plastic ducks floating by, lol.
Inge
Quacktain Coug?
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about it...
Love the Duck Race video, thanks Bufflehead for that! We have them in the UK, but I didn't know they had them in Lux, and such a big one, too.
Hey Inge, I'd forgotten about the the colour of small ducks, well remembered! Ah, who could forget the lovely Ushi and her hilarious interview.
Tour de Quack? Quack de France?
Giro d'Quackia?
Quack! Er, sorry, should have been "Coug"!
I like that you capitalised Bufflehead, Coug.
DeleteI couldn't find a species of duck that was from Luxembourg specifically, but I did learn a lot of waterfowl names--someday, I hope to be a fulvous whistling duck!
Ah, the colour of small ducks line... we don't have rubber ducky races in Ontario, that I know of (I would have attended one by now, if we did). Glad you liked the video. I'm more curious about how they keep track of which duck wins--I'm guessing each duck is assigned a number?
Inge, that's the kind of local custom that would attract me to a place, as a tourist :)
Kind of hoping Brother of Frank, or Frank, place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège this weekend. It's a bit dull rooting for no one in particular.
Quack quack quack... *cough* ahem. Sorry, got caught up in all the quackiness. How funny about the duck race - we have a big one too here in Brisbane as a fundraiser for charity.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I thought the news in this article was a little sad (and maybe a little worrying as well):
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andersen-wont-be-at-tour-de-france-for-radioshack-nissan.
Wonder how the brothers will cope with this?
Bris. Gal
Well, I came bouncing over here with the news that Bruynel will be DS'ing at TdF instead of Kim...and there ya go - you all are way ahead of me - with a humor appetizer to boot!
ReplyDeleteI love it here in Schleckland!
So...we have duck races in Boulder too. Down the Boulder Creek on Memorial Day. The whole town shuts down and we have The Boulder Bolder - a 10 K race. Pro's and citizens, separate races. It's quite a day - ending at Folsum Field at Boulder University - military fly overs, flags...amazing day! Vertigo while watching (yes, I only watch, mama don't run no more) thousands upon thousands of runners coming down the street. I live in the middle of it all - so one can't get in or out of the neighborhood by car. It's a good day. *Sorry, I can't come to work today*.......
So - I'm a bit disturbed about this news that Kim will not be DS for the team at TdF. What has JB got planned???? Better not be those little white lunch bags he's so famous for! From JB's posts, it al most sounds like last year - him saying, we've got a bunch of contenders, let's see who can make it? We know the carnage that ensued.
BE
Quack!
ReplyDeleteIn Nova Scotia we have duck races for charity as well. They do number the ducks to correspond to your tickets, just like a lottery really.
I'm not surprised Bruyneel is DS for the Tour. He is the "big man" and it is the "big race". Not sure about Kim's absence. Maybe JB is afraid of too many cooks.
So far I've been disappointed with RaNT this season. I'm afraid the bad luck has followed RS - maybe a self-fulfilling prophecy if they dwell on it too much.
Emjay
Quack!
ReplyDeleteHey Figgy, for your information, yes, each duck is numbered - usually underneath - and the "owner" of the first duck to the end gets a prize. But you have to give the duck back. *disappointed face*
I thought the best job was the person in the little boat who paddled along at the rear with a long pole, rescuing any little duckies who were stuck! No,not in the Lux race, in a UK one which I attended.
So, Kim's been booted off the Tour, huh? Seems to me a clear case of Mr Bruyneel wanting to be In On The Action in the highest profile race of the year. Actually, this could be seen as a very good sign: he wouldn't be so keen to be there if he thought he was unlikely to have a winner, now would he?
My concern, as an Andypants fan, is that if Chris Horner is looking strong at the start, our boys might be told to run domestique for him, which might impact badly on Andy and Frankie's chances of coming good later in the race, which is rather what they tend to do.
Oh well, I think we can trust Mr Bruyneel to play to win: no doubt he will use the riders as he thinks best, and hopefully we'll get at least one Leopard on the podium.
Coug
Hmm..don't like the tone of the article at all. Sounds almost as if Bruyneel is ruling the team with a big stick in his hands and those who don't listen and/or get in his way....
ReplyDeleteI know he's good at tactics, but I often get the impression he thinks of Andy as a second Lance, which he is not. Not at all!
Inge
Fränk said (Velonews) that they will be in phone-contact with Anderson 3 times a day during the TdF....
ReplyDeleteNo idea what this means. True, sarcastic, just numbing the press?
Barbara(quack)
Quack! I don't think those phone call's being planned, or announced (!) is a good idea. Hummmm. I'm also hearing rumors of Jakob's discontent....and I'm heartbroken that Fabu is having challenges after his injury. My son has all kinds of nerve issues after his surgery - and it' just ain't fun at all! So I'm really concerned for him (Fabu) THis could be really serious for his future.
ReplyDeleteAll we can do is wait....
LBL this weekend! Wonder how it will go?
BE
Quack! Are we going to see our team texting during the race, do we think? That could lead to some interesting moments.
ReplyDeleteI can fully understand why Mr Bruyneel would insist on being present at the Tour, as it is the biggest race: but it seems a bit mean, not to mention tactically unsound, to take Kim away from the Schlecks during this most testing time. No matter how they spin the route, it's not particularly favourable for Andy, and he is (again) going to be under huge pressure to win.
Mind you *cheers up* he's very good at working under pressure, we've seen this before in previous years, and when Frankie was injured.
The obvious conclusion for all us "outsiders" is that Mr Bruyneel considers Kim's presence to be less important than we do: or possibly, taking a dim view, that he is giving preference in the Tour to his own riders, rather than to our Leopards.
On which subject, to take a side-issue for a moment, can you imagine how all the Shack fans must feel? I wonder if they are fuming at the way attention has swung onto the "new" members of the team? Perhaps they feel that their own favourites have been sidelined in favour of the Sclecks etc? We ought to spare a thought or two for them....perhaps?
Quack!
Coug
Apparently Kim knew he would not be at the Tour since winter. But I thought this quote was telling...
ReplyDelete"Of course it’s hard to live with it, but I understand this decision because it’s the best way to avoid conflicts,” Andersen told L’Équipe. “You can’t have two chefs on the same team.”
Reading that Kim said the above...I have to wonder what went on at Paris-Roubaix when they also had Lance in the car? I have to remind myself that Kim says this was not a surprise....so I may be looking for drama where there is none....(snigger, or is there????)
There are Shack fans? Ooouufff...that was mean BE!
My thought is that Shack fans might be appreciative of some "new" challenges for the team for a change! And...most people genuinely like Horner (he's a very likable guy) and also Klodi. I suspect many fans are just glad some of their guys got to stay together. Levi leaving was a biggie.
BE
OGL needs to shut his pretty mouth about Kim and the TdF. Things he is saying is NOT the way to make nice with Johan! Making me very, very nervous. Politically incorrect sweetie!
ReplyDeleteBE
For Kat and any other Canadians: Looks like we are going to get some cycling on Canadian TV (SportsNet One) next week - the Tour of Turkey. Seems an odd choice to cover that when they haven't had anything else this season. And, it's only Monday to Friday. Seems that the weekends are reserved for cricket.
ReplyDeleteemjay
Thanks Emjay! :) Umm ... CTV know how to pick those key races don't they?!?! ;) Kat
DeleteMore hoopla about Schlecks vs Johan...and Johan statement that "it's been decided".....
ReplyDeleteWell, this is going to be challenging. The last person I recall challenging Johan was Alberto.....didn't work out well for him. Seriously, long term repurcussions could be a result of a couple of interviews the last couple of days. Bjarn may have more riders than he knows what to do with in 2013.
BE predicts....RaNT relationship...fragile. Will break.
Wonder if Bjarn would take them back? Hummm. I do also predict pretty much nothing from them this year....
BE
Sad...but I have to wonder what Astana is putting in the morning oatmeal??? These last two wins have been, ahem, surprising! I want to see the testing results!
ReplyDeleteBE
BE, as you pointed out a while ago, this is an interesting season to watch unfold; the comments to the media are certainly revealing. I hope that the completion of this part of the season marks the beginning of a postive turn for the team.
ReplyDeleteGame on!
Kat
And now.....Richardo Ricci is saying he is now "reborn" and will tell all he knows about:
ReplyDeleteRiccó on twitter: A new life is starting. I am reborn. (...) Now I’ll start talking about all the shit in cycling and everything I saw inside this world full of hipocrysy and falseness (...) and I saw so much and know so much! And those who seem like little angels are the worst, I tell you (...) Just got a phone call about it. Now I'll have fun myself" (translated by @danibici
Interesting......
Oh, I tweeted with Jordan - the kid on RSNT who got face slammed while trying to fix Fab's tire. He's OK. Nose is straight but injuries still very apparent. I told him I was sorry but what a great story to tell the kids and grandkids!!
Always looking for the sunshine, really. Bitter as I may sound sometimes!
BE
"Bitter" or realistic? I appreciate your realism.
DeleteAs for Ricco ... it's time for him to move on with his life. The sport has enough challenges without him lashing out.
I would buckle up...likely he will lash.....
DeleteIt will be part of his own healing process. And, I doubt it will be pretty for cycling in general.
I expect he will fill in lot's of blanks.....
Still more gunk to purge....but we're getting there!
BE
Tour de Romandie trials....gad Thomas Geraint is sweet! And Welsh (my Dad was also) and....it's Lausanne! I went to school for a couple of years in Territet - just up the road. Ah, Lake Geneva! Memories!
ReplyDeleteBE
There is a tweet from OGL regarding his gift to Jil. I had to laugh at myself because I couldn't open the picture fast enough to see if the gift was a ring. It wasn't and I must admit that I was slightly disappointed but when you are young and in love you have all the time in the world! :)
ReplyDeleteWas a sweet looking bike though!
ReplyDeleteBE
Very nice indeed. :)
DeleteHe gave her a bike... ok, it's a pink bike, but still.. does he seriously think that they will ever go out cycling on it together?
ReplyDeletePoor TinkerJil, now she will have to be one of those cyclist-Wives-And-Girlfriends who go out cycling on their girly bikes together while their other halves go out training.
And woe betide if she doesn't use it: "But I bought you a lovely bike?" "Sweetie, it's cold and wet, the hat squashes my hair, I have to wear the special shoes so I can't get off it and walk into the shops, and there's no handbag holder. Besides, the roads are dangerous - look how many of you got hit by cars recently. Honestly, I love it, best present ever, but I'm going out in my car."
Coug
Greetings...
DeleteI dunno. I know you're saying it with tongue-in-cheek, but from what I've read TinkerJil appears to be a rather athletic sort. I just wish he hadn't gotten her the stereotypical PINK bike (unless that's specifically what she wanted). I'm also sad that she apparently couldn't hold up the bike by herself in the picture ;).
I heard somewhere that she's a basketball player - tall and skinny, that figures. I have no idea what she does for a living, presumably she works? But even if she's a professional basketballer (how can you earn a living doing that??) that doesn't mean she'd be anywhere near the standard of a pro cyclist. I can't imagine them going on training rides together.
ReplyDeleteBut pink! Pink! *face of disgust*. If it turns out that she asked for pink, I will have no respect for her at all.
Coug
Greetings...
DeleteHeehee, I have a friend that found out she had breast cancer. Her first reaction was "But doctor, I don't LIKE PINK!"
Ladies, ladies, I went thru the same thing. How "typical"...(pink - yes unless she asked for it, and if she did, I'm with Coug!). I don't know how tall Jil is, but I'm guessing 5'6" OR 8". I had to turn down a "gifted" bike once because it was so heavy I wasn't sure if I could lift it off me if I fell. So - they can be heavy. My son has a "street" bike now that I can lift with one hand - so you never know?
ReplyDeleteTrek's...are they heavy?
AND....did it cost Andy anything more than shipping? A "freebee" just cuz is one thing - but on your birthday??? Nope. Especially since I seriously doubt finances are an issue!
Yee gads, we're critical aren't we? Oh well.....
Have you all read "inring" (twitter) on trouble at the Shack? Good article I thought. Got people talking for sure. Lot's of interesting comments! http://inrng.com/2012/04/schleck-brothers-radioshack/
BE
Hey BE, and there was me trying NOT to say that he probably didn't even have to buy it, Trek probably fell over themselves to give it to him!
ReplyDeleteCoug
I was reading the INRNG blog on the way into work and it is a good read as you've already said, BE. Although the information is presented in a different writing style, I couldn't help but grin at the fact that it's all already all been said in one way or another on Coug's blog through posts & comments. - Kat
ReplyDeleteI most certainly noticed that as well Kat. I mostly was nodding and even thought to myself...this has all been covered in Schleckland!! Pat's on backs all!
ReplyDeleteWonder if Inrng is here with us???
BE
Well, if there's anyone from other blogs here, welcome! I don't read other blogs (remember that awful Scary Stalker Bitch? *shudders* ) but it's good to hear that we are saying the right things on here.
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased at the way that we've moved away from being a specific fan-site into being more of a "we like cycling, oh and we're quite keen on this Andy bloke" sort of site. And we have a sense of humour!
LLB does still keep an eye on it, btw, and I get occasional warnings about being sent back to Andyhab... mutter mutter...
Coug