Museeuw says Molenberg could be the key to De Ronde

January 31, 2010 at 11:18 pm · Filed under Cycling, My thoughts on recent races and events

De Ronde passes the front door. greenjersey photo

Three times winner Johan Museeuw thinks that the Molenberg could be a crucial point in the Tour of Flanders. The climb with three hundred metres of cobbles and a maximum gradient of 14% is often the first climb of the race. Normally at half distance  this year it will be just 45km from the line.

No doubt it will be important in that for some the race will be lost on the climb but it does seem too far for a winning move. I recall  when  Museeuw attacked on the Tenbosse with 30km to ride and that seemed a risky move, although it paid off for the Lion of Flanders.  Stijn Devolder, who is chasing a third win, thinks that the main contenders will still be together at the bottom of the Muur  at Gerardsbergen 15km from the aankomst but by the chapel at the summit the winner will be known.

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Latest excuse no good for men

January 29, 2010 at 11:08 pm · Filed under Cycling, Doping

Riccardo Ricco’s babymother  Vania Rossi who tested positive for Cera at the Italian cyclo cross championship on 10th January has declared her innocence.  As “evidence” she says she would not dope as she is breast feeding her baby son who was born in July and would not endanger the child’s welfare.

I am dumbstruck.

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Words of wisdom from Wislon

January 27, 2010 at 6:04 pm · Filed under Armstrong, Cycling, My thoughts on recent races and events

L.A. at TDU 2009

Last year I was contacted by an occasional poster, Wislon of West Lancashire, who expressed the view that Lance Armstrong was sitting lower on his bike than in pre-comeback days. Oh really Wislon I thought, I can just see a perfectionist like Armstrong getting the basics wrong. I replied politely about his “interesting” observation and forgot about it.

Wislon didn’t though and he has now sent me this recent quote from Johan Bruyneel. What can I say? Respect Wislon.

“His position looks good right now. He’s currently looking very, very differently on the bike and he feels a lot better,” said Bruyneel. “There’s quite a bit of difference. Last year his seat height was a lot lower and we don’t really know why, he’d kind of lost all the references of earlier on [in his career]. Since the 2009 Tour de France finished we have started to work on his position and it’s a bit different but I think the biggest difference people see is he’s a lot smaller. His upper body is very different.”

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