Changes...

Change in crown holder.

Fabian Cancellara is no longer the man to beat as a Time Trial Specialist. He has abdicated his throne for German rider, HTC Specialized Time Trial beast and new king Tony Martin. Fabian rode hard in the Grand Tours, in both the Tour de France, and the Vuelta (Tour of Spain) and only relinquished his title in 2008 because of the Olympics, and a tough Grand Tour Schedule that year. This year, a well trained and very fit Tony Martin, had his way! not once but 5 times! Fabian had a few slips, trying to override, and his mistakes proved to be costly, but in all honesty, the slips that he had going all out, showed that he was determined but knew that Martin had swag for a reason! The Big Swiss did not go quietly, but nevertheless had to settle for a bronze medal this year. So my Win didn't win, and my show didn't show, but my place was dead on! I had a feeling that Wiggins was gong to be on fire, but just not have quite enough to pull off the major upset. Realistically I expected Martin to win, but as a Cancellara fan, and as a Trek fan, my bias blinded me. Here are the final results of the 2011 ICU World Championship Time Trial:

1	Tony MARTIN (Gold Medalist & new World Champion)	GER	GER	26	53:43.85
2	Bradley WIGGINS (Silver Medalist)	GBR	GBR	31	+1:15.83
3	Fabian CANCELLARA (Bronze Medalist)	SUI	SUI	30	+1:20.59
4	Bert GRABSCH	GER	GER	36	+1:31.76
5	Jack BOBRIDGE	AUS	AUS	22	+2:13.86
6	Richie PORTE	AUS	AUS	26	+2:29.54
7	David MILLAR	GBR	GBR	34	+2:45.62
8	Lieuwe WESTRA	NED	NED	29	+3:18.52
9	Alexsandr DYACHENKO	KAZ	KAZ	28	+3:19.76
10	Jakob FUGLSANG	DEN	DEN	26	+3:30.59
11	Jonathan CASTROVIEJO NICOLAS	ESP	ESP	24	+3:34.37
12	Gustav LARSSON	SWE	SWE	31	+3:34.62
13	Svein TUFT	CAN	CAN	34	+3:35.89
14	Janez BRAJKOVIC	SLO	SLO	28	+3:44.74
15	Taylor PHINNEY	USA	USA	21	+3:52.58
16	Andrew TALANSKY	USA	USA	23	+3:57.89
17	Nelson OLIVEIRA	POR	POR	22	+4:14.98
18	Jesse SERGENT	NZL	NZL	23	+4:26.31
19	Jack BAUER	NZL	NZL	26	+4:26.99
20	Stef CLEMENT	NED	NED	29	+4:33.93

Change in team.

Levi signs with Quickstep Merckx... This is not quite the Darrell Waltrip leaving Chevy, and going to Ford for me, but still wished that Levi could have finished his career with Trek. Not to say that he can't still, but at 38 and a two year deal... the Giro, Amgen Tour of Cali, Tour de France, USA Pro Cycling Challenge, or the Vuelta, will put the miles on a body in a hurry. Actually, in a months time with each race, or at the very least a very grueling week (Tour of Utah/California/Colorado) of it anyway!

Remember when franchise owners were loyal, and players were too? When you stayed in the city that loved you, raced for the fans that loved you? Well there are those fans again... The fair weather, manufacturer, player/driver, fan. I am a little partial to all the above. Levi being an American rider, is one of my favs, and I love the Trek brand! So this is a tough one for me, but I will still pull for Levi. It would be hard for me to pull against him. But then again, it is hard for me to pull against the guys and gals from Waterloo also!

Change of character?
The British are not shy in cycling in most cases, that's for sure, but was this Wiggins talking a bit out of class today? This is usually a trait displayed by Mr. Cavendish. Cavendish is usually the bold one, doing the trash talking or calling shots...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wiggins-suggests-tour-de-france-and-olympics-are-too-much-for-cavendish?ns_campaign=news&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=cyclingnews&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0

The Road Race is tomorrow, and there are plenty of men that could be World Champion.
Thor Hushovd, Andy Schleck, Phillipe Gilbert, Jakob Fulgsang could all come away with the title. Or could the Time Trial specialist do it, with the rolling hills? If so watch out for Wiggins, or TT Champion Tony Martin. And if it is not a rain soaked day, and the switchbacks don't affect them, then you could see the sprinters bring it home... Sagan, Bennati, or even Rui Costa. I am hoping for a close race, and a major upset! Bring on Trek and Mr. King!!! That would be a lovely week of UCI World Championships.

Leo-Shack!?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-confirms-merger-with-radioshack

http://www.leopardtrek.lu/news/leopard-trek-welcomes-radioshack-and-nissan-new-main-sponsors


http://www.livestrong.com/teamradioshack/news_press-release-radioshack-nissan-trek-cycling-super-team-links-top-riders-sponsors/

Rumors, rumors, rumors... First Leopard was shutting down, then it was said that Leopard would be financing a big part of the merge. So I have posted a few links above for your reading pleasure.

Most cyclist know their roll. It is one of the most loyal sports that a sports enthusiast can be a part of. Be it a fan, or participant. I am praying for the chemistry to be with the new Trek team. Hopefully the leadership and the merge will bring forth growth in the combined team. It is said that Leipheimer has not yet received an invitation to this merger, nor Jen Voigt. Fuglsang among other names have been excluded because of the 30 member limit. Regardless, the combination of riders will be lethal, and I believe will do some remarkable things. But will Andy be strong enough to lead? Frank showed great character in the Tour de France, and in the USA Pro Challenge seemingly outshining his brother on several occasions. Does Andy have the toughness to step up to the next level? Can he out battle Contador, Evans, and the rest of the world? Time will tell, and I pray that Trek and all of it's riders fair well.

Well onto the Vuelta to take care of business in Spain. I am praying that Fuglsang, Monfort, and all others looking for spots will use this Tour of Spain as a strength builder to their resume`s. Well back to the mountains of Spain... see ya tomorrow.

I am not getting any funding for the use of the pictures, they come courtesy of Steephill, and are not meant for reproduction or redistribution for any monetary gain... thank you. Now that, that is out of the way let's talk cycling shall we...

La Vuelta A Espana

Jakob Fuglsang is now third, and Monfort holds on to Top 10 spot, resting in tenth, in the Vuelta. So a very condensed update today... Go Trek Go! Joaquim Rodriguez is now the overall leader in the CG. The Shack owns the top team spot, and Leopard is third.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge

Levi still maintains his eleven second lead over Vandevelde, with other riders not much farther back than that. This could be a sprinters dream if they can get an early jump on Levi... So where is Hincapie again? Tomorrow starts with a big climb, and ends with a bit more level and somewhat downhill ride into Denver, and closes with a circuit in Downtown. I have a feeling it's going to be a dog fight!!! Again let me finish with the condensed update, and say: Go Trek Go!

P.S. Levi, we'd sure like to see an American on home soil, on the worlds finest machine bring home the main prize! Git it did brother. Oh yeah Team Standings :
Team Shack is fourth in the team standings, and Leopard is fifth. OK, I am spent! Goodnight.

Blazing (Bicycle) Saddles

Photo Courtesy of Steephill

Michal Golas received some rear burns from the crash in the sprint to the finish. I know this is bad, butt (punn intended) are you ready to take a psychiatric test? Step back from your computer, put your hand up to block the white portion of Michal's legs, squint, and take another look at the picture above. What do you see? Looked like a guy with his eyes rolled back in his head wearing a mask to me upon first glance. All jokes aside it was a pretty wicked crash, you can see part of the pile up in the picture below. Michal Golas had to have medical attention after the race. Reports say that Golas had dental and facial injuries. It was a fabulous sprint, just a shame that it was closed out with the crash.

Photo Courtesy of Steephill

Of course, no bike blog is complete without a Trek picture. That is Fabian Cancellara just behind J Rod (Joaquin Rodriguez). J Rod appeared to have damage to his left wrist or elbow. This could affect the standings if he has to drop and is unable to start tomorrow morning. I am not certain if Fabian was involved in the crash or not, but I needed a Trek pic so there you have it.

Overall Individual Standings:

5. Jakob Fuglsang LEO
7. Maxime Monfort LEO
14. Haimar Zubeldia RSH
18. Janez Brajkovic RSH
23. Tiago Machado RSH
46. Oliver Zaugg LEO

Team Standings:

1. Team Radio Shack
4. Leopard Trek

Photo Courtesy of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge

The Challenge had a fairly tame finish compared to the Vuelta. No sprint to the finish crashes, just a sprint that produced a battle of the sprinters that was superbly controlled by Team Liquigas Cannondale. Italian rider Elia Viviani of Team Liquigas won the 4th Stage, but no changes were made in the CG, and Leipheimer is the first to hold the Yellow Jersey for consecutive days, and the first repeat Yellow Jersey holder in the Challenge. If he holds onto the Yellow through tomorrow, he will be the first and only rider in the inaugural race to hold the Yellow for consecutive days. If he wins, he will be the only rider, to this point, to win consecutive and multiple Yellow Jerseys.

Trailing American, Levi Leipheimer the leader of The Shack and overall race leader, is another American and Team Garmin Cervelo, rider Christian Vandevelde, whom trails Leipheimer by 11 seconds. Team Garmin Cervelo has Vandevelde in second place overall, but holds the top spot in the Team Standings. Sunday closes out the Great American race, but Saturday promises to be a showdown for the ages. It is the last of the mountain stages, and the stage that could very well determine the race, or set up the final stage to be one of the most promising finishes in American cycling history! It would be a sprint, and a dog fight if something major happens on the mountain tomorrow afternoon! See you then!

Whose House!!!?

 

Photo Courtesy of Steephill

I am dedicating this one to the High Priest, with another Preacher's lyrics... We have, we have, we have, we have, say what!? (echoing from the turntables of Jam Master Jay) a whole lot of Superstars on this stage (Stage 3 to be exact) here today! But Levi wants y'all to understand one thing, and that is that the USA is his HOUSE! SO when I say whose house, y'all know what time it is! "Whose house...!!!? Levi's House!!! Loving the fist pump in the picture! Power to the people! Levi bring it home brother!

First I have to give props to Levi's teammate Jason McCartney, for setting a really good time for the first half of the Time Trial. Jason was in the top spot for a hot minute! Actually several hot minutes, so I ask that the Grammar Po-po pardon the hood comin' out in me. Mac finished 23rd, and helped keep Team Radio Shack in the Top 5 in the Team Standings as well. Also helping Trek stay in the Top 5 was Frank Schleck, whom also had a decent time finishing in 20th place. The Top 3 Time Trialers for Leopard Trek were:

Frank Schleck - 20th, Bruno Pires - 12th and Jens Voigt 8th, helping keep Leopard Trek in the Top 5 and allowing them to rest in 5th place in the Team Standings at the Time Trials end.

The Top 3 Riders for Shack were:
Jason Mc 23rd, Ivan Rovny 11th, and Stage Winner Levi Leipheimer. Shack lost the top spot in the Team Standings, but gained the Individual Yellow back with seeing Leipheimer win the Stage. It was one of the most dramatic Stages I have ever witnessed!!!

Mac held the top spot, for Shack, then along comes Zabriskie rocketing past and taking it from him. Evans was in good form and looked as though he might win yet another TT, but the Tour de France Champ, was just not as strong today as he was in the Tour de France. Colombian rider Rafael Infantino of Team EPM (I love the Spanish pronunciation... use the long "A" sound... Ep-A-M-A) took top honor momentarily, only to surrender it to Vande Velde whom just happen to break the race, and course record with his finish of 25:47.01! Levi would come along gritting his teeth, aerodynamically poised and out for YELLOW! 25'47" for Leipheimer, a new race and course record by .01 over the most recent record holder Vande Velde (whom had just finished a few minutes ahead of Leipheimer)! It was truly an incredible time trial!!!

 I had to post this pic! You can find these on Steephill, along with other great write ups, but I am hoping you drop by and see me too! My son is a huge Captain America fan, so I had to post the Z-man in his Patriotic National Champ attire! He was one of the first riders that I saw today catch the man in front of him.

Frank caught the rider in front of him as well, and put in a valiant effort, but still needs work on his Time Trialing. Frank has improved a bit more so that his brother Andy, but they can both stand to improve in their Time Trial efforts.

Cadel put in the Time Trial of his life in the Tour de France, and that is what took the race from 2nd and 3rd podium finishers Frank and Andy Schleck. Look at the calves on this man!!! Can we say, "chiseled?" Cadel put in another great ride today, and once again has shown why he is the defending Tour de France and World Champion, and deserving to be called among the elite! However, even though a brilliant ride for the Aussie, he fell just a bit short. Still very much in the hunt of the overall victory, but not in yellow just yet. The Rockies are a tall beast to tame, and not just anyone can tame them! However, the Stage Tamer today was one Levi Leipheimer. I know, I know, if... if's and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas... but what if the rain hadn't fell yesterday? Would Levi's lead be even greater? The pics below show the near perfect form of Mr. Leipheimer. I loved the camera crew today, excellent work! They had some great close up shots, and it appeared that TeJay kept slipping forward in the saddle. He also favored his left, while Levi didn't appear to slip, but seemed to favor his right... Look at the look on Levi's face in the last picture. That is sure bust your heart determination right there boys, and lady girls!!! Well early rise, and it's already past my bedtime, so allow me to conclude with standings from the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, y de la Vuelta!!!

Photo Courtesy of Ricardo Moreno

The Vuelta

Individual Standings look like this:

1. Sylvain Chavanel - Quickstep
2. Daniel Moreno - KAT
3. Vincenzo Nibaldi - LIQ
4. Joaquin Rodriguez - KAT
5. Jakob Fulgsang - LEO

7. Maxime Monfort - LEO
14. Haimar Zubeldia - RSH
18. Janez Brajkovic - RSH
23. Tiago Machado - RSH
46. Oliver Zaugg - LEO

Team Standings as such:

1. Team Radio Shack

4. Leopard Trek one second behind third place Katusha!

No Rain in Spain, No Pain No Gain in Aspen

The Challenge...
Today the USA Pro Cycling Challenge lived up to its name. It was marred by wrecks, and then the elements challenged everyone! Overhead camera crews had to fly lower because of icing, and then the rain cautioned the riders. Race slicks on a rain slicked road could produce tragedy. Tonight is the condensed version, so bear with me...

I don't know the international scene as well as I should, Aussie Cadel Evans is the 2011 Tour de France Champ, and he is still very much in contention (along with about many others), so there is your international report.

The race seemed to have a fairly fast pace in the beginning with no major breaks or attacks. I love the picture above... They left the black top today momentarily and hit the mountains on gravel, and some hit the road. A nasty spill changed things, and rain eventually slowed the pace a bit, especially Levi Leipheimer, coming into Aspen. Better safe than sorry I guess. I believe that theory based on personal experience. I know what paint strips, and water can do, and what affect the combination can have on the human body. I have scars on my left ankle and knee to prove it. The Cottonwood Pass over the first peak on the gravel was a Wisconsin bike manufacturers dream! Look at the picture above, and notice the sea of red, not the Red Sea, although technically I guess one could use that moniker!!! That cycling fans is Team Shack! Oh and the Boys in Black and Blue... that's non other than Leopard Trek. The Shack and Leopard teams did well, but Levi fell from first to 4th in the overall standings with a 9th place finish in Stage 2 today, and Andy Schleck could have very well fallen completely out of contention today with a poor finish. Question earlier was, "Did the Tour de France or the rain sap the energy out of him?" Either way, he is a fair way down on the list of names now. His brother Frank is 12th overall, and has a legit shot, being a climber (and some serious climbing left to do). So the final mountain stages could play out well for Frank if he can survive the last Time Trial tomorrow. It's a slightly uphill TT if I read and remember correctly, so again even the TT could play to his favor? OK I gave props to the Trek guys and now for the winner... From Queens, NY, now residing in Somewhere, SC, give it up for Mr. Georgie Hincapie! I love how the Brits call him Georgie!!! Too funny!

Here's how we close the Challenge today:

Overall Standings
1. TeJay Van Garderen (HTC)
2. George Hicapie (BMC)
3. Tom Danielson (GAR)
4. Levi Leipheimer (RSH)
5. Christian Vandevelde

Hold up y'all! I totally missed Bruno!!! No not Bruno Mars! Bruno Pires!!! 9th place for the Portuguese rider! Portugal doing its thing today!!! OK he deserves a photo op... it's not much better than the top pic, but he's in there on the right on Cottonwood Pass...

Swelta in the Vuelta!

Props to Portugal's Tiago Machado who finished 29 seconds back today, and 29th in the stage to move into 22nd overall, just 1'37" out of first place. Singing the Campbell Soup song now... "Mmm mmm, Possibilities..."

Chavanel finished back in the pack but still holds on to the red jersey, and Moreno still flanks him in second. Jakob Fuglsang of Leopard TREK is in 4th, and teammate Maxime Monfort drops to 7th overall after finishing in 21st today in the blistering Spanish sun. Team Shack is still looking good as well with Brajkovic in 18th overall, and Zubeldia in 12th overall. The big story for the Waterloo guys, however... drum roll please... Shack has top honors as a team, and Leopard Trek is 4th overall in the team standings. And that ladies and gents of the cycle world is all I have in me. It is time to go dream of how awesome tomorrows stages will be, and how good it will be for me to get back on my bike hopefully this weekend! Good night.

Day 2, Stage 1, Swelta La Vuelta, Stage 4

Photo Courtesy of USA Cycling Challenge

A picture is worth a thousand words! Today I am going to have to start with home cooking! Reason being, because the Chief Priest likes it! He is proven that you don't mess around on his turf! Levi was the chief priest today, and his sermon today was about having heart! He timed his break perfectly!

Beltran was the first man over the big mountain, and started the downhill side over Monarch Pass. He was caught quickly and over taken by the chase group. I thought they looked strong enough to extend their four minute and forty second gap, but I again was proven wrong as the margin decreased slightly with every passing kilometer. The Breakaway group of four did not team, and the group became two. With forty-four kilometer or twenty-five miles to go, the just under five minute gap and two man break had dropped to just over two minutes. At near the eighty mile marker, with just under twenty miles to go, Team Garmin Cervelo rider, Thomas Peterson has a rear brake problem. His mechanic trailed him at twenty plus miles per hour, making adjustments on the fly! Can you imagine what would happen if he over extended a thumb or a finger!? The spokes are flat like helicopter blades on my Madone, so I am guessing it would be like testing a Ginsu at twenty-five mph!

Levi surged in the final kilometer, and held off the rest of the attackers and cruised across the line taking a ten second bonus with him! Congrats to Team Radio Shack, and to the High Priest LSquared! Trek is looking good because of his fine ride today!

In the Vuelta with approximately thirty-eight kilometers to go, Mark Cavendish withdrew. I thought he would go for at least one more stage to get a step closer to Eddy Merckx, but Cavendish had tormented himself enough for the summer session. He had moments of brilliance in the Tour de France, but could not endure the heat, and the punishment of the Vuelta just after the tour. There was a small breakaway group that had a two minute gap in the Vuelta as well, with approximately fifteen kilometers to go, but within half of that distance it shrank dramatically. With just seven kilometers to go, the gap closed to thirty seconds and it was like blood in the water to a hungry shark, when the peleton edged closer. The climb was grueling, and the heat was just as bad. In both races, with the Team Time Trials starting the Vuelta riders went from near worst to first finishes in just a days worth of riding. Today would be much of the same. Leopard Trek sprinter Dianele Bennati once in first dropped to mid pack. Team Movi Star rider Pablo Lastras with a brilliant finish yesterday to claim the leaders red jersey, dropped five minutes back today, and now rest among those in the mid pack also. Strong climbing from Frenchmen Sylvain Chavanel of Team Quickstep and Katusha rider, Spaniard Daniel Moreno saw them finish in first and second. So the overall General Classification looks like this:

1. Sylvain Chavanel (QST) Red Jersey
2. Daniel Moreno (KAT)
3. Jakob Fuglsang (LEO)
4. Maxime Monfort (LEO)
5. Vincenzo Nibali (LIQ)
15. Janez Brajkovic (RSH)
16. Haimar Zubeldia (RSH)

The team efforts are as such:
1. Trek Radio Shack (RSH)
5. Trek Leopard (LEO)

Not that I am biased or anything...