My next Tubular is a Hutchinson...

from cyclingnews.com:

Meticulous preparation or just plain good luck? The Saunier Duval-Prodir team had a combination of both on their side at this year's Giro d'Italia, not suffering a single puncture throughout the entire 3442 kilometre route. In fact, team mechanics didn't even get out of the car once during the race. The team itself took four stage wins thanks to its climbing trio of Gilberto Simoni, Ricardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli.

Not so tough at Tulsa Tough

This weekend was Tulsa Tough, a big $$$ event for a 2nd year in a row now. It was fast as always and with some more pro's even harder than last year. That's how I felt at least. Coming to Tulsa, I didn't expect too much in terms of performance since I've been racing the last 6 weekends w/ out taking a break (if you consider a rally not a race...). Especially my coughing is still bothering me - Chad Cagle called it "SARS" and others told me to stop smoking...Well, I don't know what it is.
Anyways, Friday Night's Blue Dome Crit was a wet 80minute crit and it was more a question of who can go fast through slippery turns w/ out falling. I didn't fall but my head was just not in the right place that night and on top of it I flatted. I got a Zipp 404 from Jose of SRAM but that slick Michelin at 120psi didn't help at all so I called it a day. Chad placed 18th and was the best place rider that night for us.
Saturday's race was way more fun and relaxed comparing to the night before in downtown. I felt better but still not great. We rode more aggressive that night and I was able to help Chad at least once to get a prime. With 11 laps to go I tried bridging from the field to the winning move of 3 guys (2 Successful Living) - unfortunately, I fell short about 10 yards as it took me a lap to get close to them and finally losing them right in front of me. I just don't have it right now; my HR avg. was at 180 that night. Way to high, and my legs can go only one lap out.
Sunday's race was my best finish last year (15th) and it looked pretty good at the beginning, too. Chad was out front solo for a lap and I got to counter attack and was later joined by "great Dane" Brian Jensen, Brad White (Einstein's) and some SL guy. We rode well together and the move stuck. But I messed up again, as my chain flew off right when we hit the base of the grueling climb up to backside of the course. It was horrible. I couldn't get it back on w/ out stopping and seeing Jensen & Co. riding away. Well, I was back in the field after a push from some stranger (THANKS) and that was pretty much it. I tried to help some more but the race was over for me as soon as I was out of the break. They ended up lapping (!) the field...and Jensen won.
Now I'm taking a little break from racing and shift my focus on other important things like write my thesis, plan a wedding and applying for that magic card, the Green Card that is ;-)

new site is up...

The last couple of days I spent racing in DFW and playing with the blog - and came up with this. Make sure to check in every morning from approx. 8-10am CST to see the live video & audio stream from the Giro. It's in Italian, but pretty cool to watch.
As far as racing goes: I spent 60minutes in a break of four at the GS Tenzing Crit yesterday and my numbers were pretty bad (HR avg. 182), 4th place. At the State Crit today I was only able to do the "shake" part of the famous "shake'n bake" (Talladega Nights). Once it started raining the racing/crashing/dropping/sliding went nuts and at the end only 25 guys finished our race, I did my part and came in 40 seconds after Nathan of CD who won the race.
Oh well, Chad pulled off another Top 5 result for us and hopefully by Friday I will get rid of that cold which is bothering me since Joe Martin so we can lighten it up for Tulsa Tough.

Chad takes 3rd

Today's Glickman Crit was lame, for me at least. Don't have the crit yet legs yet so I did a one-lap pull for my "man" Chad up to the front group and called it a day after that. Tomorrow I will go out and play again, this time in Frisco. Maybe I can get 60minutes in and be ready for Monday, huh?

Confessions of "Generation EPO", Mister 60%

This is getting bigger and bigger; now day by day another former Telekom-rider comes out of the closet. Today: Bjarne Riis. He said abot his 1996 TdF win: "The jersey is in a cardboard box in my garage, if you wanna come and pick it up, you're welcome." When asked about side effects he experienced with the use of EPO, he simply said: "The only effect was that I was riding faster." It's a good thing, though. Maybe next week Jan Ullrich? It would be time. Erik Zabel's confession was very emotional...He admitted using EPO and said [..."the point is that it was forbidden to dope, and I doped. I doped, I lied"...]

Pro's are just humans, too ?

Wow, what a great finish today in Stage 10 of the Giro. It looks like those guys are actually exhausted after finishing 250km through the mountains. That's what we want to see!

Tri-Peaks "Challenge"

Just got back from Arkansas (again). Another NRC is done, and this time it went better than Joe Martin. I had a good time and spent some miles in break-aways and had a somewhat descent time trial (more later)

(gotta love photoshop...in which order did the above finish? Email me!)

Quick update from Arkansas...

In the words of my buddy Adam, Joe Martin was "bitter sweet". Sweet in the way that I got into a break on Day 1 and had a 11:30min gap; bitter that we got caught, I only did average in the uphill TT and crit (more later).





(in the break w/ Hartman and Abraham)

Another 'V' at Mineral Wells

This last week was dedicated to getting some miles in, and I was also able to win the small P/1/2 event at the Mineral Wells Road Race ahead of 4 guys from the same team (more soon)

Anyone up for Training Camp ?

I will be working a USA Cycling South Central Athlete Development Camp at Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX in early June. Should be a good week of training, fun, and learning. As of right now, there are 30 guys registered from all over the country.