The Spin Cycle

Geek my Race

The TdG official website has a killer neat way of following the race live.

Click Here.

Amateur Hour?

The local rag has a TdG section again this year, and I'm sorry to say that once again, it's gotten off to a not-so-great start. For instance, did you know that the CSC rider to watch is Jens Voigt? I'm sure he'll be surprised, since he's not even in the race. Let's not forget Credit Agricole's Cristophe Moreau - I mean, we really don't need to remember Saul Raisin, Georgia native and the 2003 winner of the Young Rider's category. And John Murphy may or may not be "the" rider to watch on the USAC U-23 team, but he's also a Georgia native, and a well known motor in Georgia racing circles. Research, people, research!

On the other hand, this article by Karen Rosen was a really nice look at the local Pro team in the race - Jittery Joe's / Kalahari. Go Bean Team!

The AJC really needs to retain the services of someone in the cycling world for their coverage. I'm not saying they need any credit, or write the stories, but someone who can fact check their assets, and help them avoid mistakes like these...

Let the Festivities Commence

The Dodge Tour de Georgia (TdG hereafter!) commences tomorrow, but all everyone is talking about is the potential for two huge announcements today.

First and foremost is the Lance Armstrong press conference today at 2:30 PM (EDT). What exactly will his Lanceness announce? No one knows for sure, but rumors abound - everything from "He's quitting immediately" to "He's riding the Giro, the Tour (the other one - in France), and doing the hour record, all this year." OLNTV will have live coverage,  and I'll have an update as soon as something substantial is announced.

The other potentially huge announcement is the possible decision in the Tyler Hamilton doping case (Here's a good LA Times article about the case). The arbitration panel is rumored to have come to a decision, and it's possible it will be announced today. One huge rumor is that TH will be absolved of wrongdoing, and will start the TdG. Curiously, the Phonak team (the team that TH was fired from last fall - at his (TH's) request) has only 7 riders listed on the start list for the TdG, even though each team is allotted 8 start positions.

So, lots of excitement, and the race hasn't even started yet. Should be a good week!

UPDATE: Armstrong: Retiring. Hamilton: Guilty.

April Fools, Fools, and Reporters

Much to do has been made lately over bloggers, their ethics (or lack thereof), and the fact that they (we) are essentially unedited.

I guess it's a good thing that Boston Globe reporter John Powers checks his sources, and has editors and stuff, because otherwise he'd run something like this in his Olympic Notes column:

The dope on UCI

Yes, the Dick Pound who may take over as president of the international cycling federation is the same Dick Pound who heads the World Anti-Doping Agency. Seems that Pound and UCI chief Hein Verbruggen had a heated encounter inside the Los Angeles airport after the world championships over Pound's longstanding criticism of the federation's foot-dragging on doping. Verbruggen reportedly called Pound a windbag and challenged him to do better. Pound, who says that the number of doping cases in cycling last year was "pathetic," agreed and is likely to be named president as of the end of June.

Oh, wait a minute...

Behold the April-Fool's-Joke-Turned-News meme of 2005.

UPDATE: Here's a screen capture, lest history be re-written: