Krushing the Giro: Stage 17

"My cojones are THIS BIG"

I'm making today's post shorter than usual because I'd rather you spend the time downloading and listening to the new episode of the podcast.

A few years ago when Giovanni Visconti first came into my radar while riding with ISD-Neri I could see the dude had balls, but I didn't think they were this big. Only a few days after winning the unbelievably trying stage to the Galibier, Visconti makes it three in a row for Movistar. After a difficult year the Italian comes back swinging. Simply Amazing.

And speaking of amazing, my infatuation with the left side podium girl and her wide array of hair-dos has hit the cyber-web with full force. Everyone is talking about it. (No one is).

Left Side Podium Girl sporting a bun

Nothing to do with this Giro, but plenty to do with the Colombian Conspiracy are rumors that Uran is headed to Omega Pharma-Quick Step for 2014. I'd heard some murmurs here and there, but this morning L'Equipe joined the other media outlets making noise. Some of the bigger Colombian cycling journalists have already said it's a done deal, but until the team, or in fact Uran make an statement, I won't believe it. For a while Movistar were the team a lot of folks were talking about for Uran. It made sense. Valverde isn't as young as he used to be and Uran already knows the team, from his three years with Caisse d'Epargne. Also, it's a team built for GC contention, while OPQS is not. The Belgian team's main objectives are the classics and during stage races they work 100% for Cavendish. Did we not learn anything from the Wiggo / Cav soap opera last year? I guess we will have to wait and see.


Randomness:

- Mario Cipollini mention counter: 5
- Helmet talk counter: 17
- Euskaltel guys on the deck counter: 3
- Stage winner wearing
     Cycling cap: 1 (Uran)
     Baseball hat: 12
     No hat: 1
     Visor: 1

Episode 63: Playing Cycling Risk

The Colombian Conspiracy?

Subscribe to Podcast on iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)

In my head: Maiko at the ToC

 WTF WERE WE TALKING ABOUT?
- Intro and outro music by Asesino

- Carlos Betancur's newsponsor?

- Today's RAI Processo alla Tappa featuring Uran and a crappy "ska" band

- G+D Fantasy Giro page

- Order Cycling Anthology Vol. 2

Mike's photo of a genuine NYC douche

MAIKO'S IMAGES OF THE TOUR OF CALIFORNIA

Asian lady camped out in front of the BMC bus

Large murder scene perimeter around the RadioShack bus area

Cannondale had a plate of cheese cubes out. IN THE SUN.

David de la Cruz warming up under a tree next to Garmin 'cuz NetApp had no tent

Westra accosted by Asian tourists in front of porta potties.

  
GET IN TOUCH
Email:
SpeedMetalCycling [at] gmail [dot] com

Links:
Gage+Desoto
Cycling Inquisition

Twitter:
Speed Metal Cycling (@SpeedMetalCycl)
The SkullKrusher (@TheSkullKrusher)
Gage+Desoto (Mike Spriggs) (@GageDesoto)

Other:
Speed Metal Cycling on Facebook
SkullKrusher on Instagram
Speed Metal Cycling YouTube Channel

Krushing the Giro: Stage 16

Beñat Intxausti dedicated today's to the memories of Xavi Tondo and his grandfather

Today's stage reminded me of an old school Welterweight fight. It was scrappy, messy and unpredictable with lots of attacking and sudden bursts of speed. Of note Pirazzi's apparent complete lack of restraint. And thank God for that. I absolutely love tough, head-strong, stubborn riders like that. Reminds me of Ludo Dierckxsens in the Classics of the 90s. A guy who'd look dead one minute and would be out the front the next, just to get dropped again, only to attack again 10 kilometers after. That type of passion is what attracted me to cycling in the 80s and I'm glad it's still out there.

At the end, only one acceleration mattered, and that was Beñat Intxausti's. The Basque outsmarted Kangert and Niemiec to take his first stage in a Grand Tour and climb one step in the GC to ninth, leaping over a struggling Pozzovivo.

The big loser today was Santambrogio. As I write this, I still don't know if he lost time because he had an off day or because he had some sort of a mechanical. Either way, he fell down to sixth in the general classification.

Santambrogio and his doppelgänger, wrestler Matt Stricker

Uran, who did a good job of following wheels today, was a guest on RAI's post stage show along with teammate Dario Cataldo. Alessandra de Stefano took the opportunity to make fun of Rigo's awesome mane, which looked especially amazing exploding out of his Rapha winter cap. When asked how the mood in the team had changed since Sir Wigg-a-lot's departure Uran said that the first thing that changed was the language of conversation within the team. I'm sure Hey-now was happy, since I've heard his English is terrible. Cataldo added that the team is much more relaxed and that riding for Uran is easier, since he doesn't require Sky making tempo the way Wiggins did. Besides, he pointed out, Uran is a bit of a jokester in the bus. I don't see Wiggo cracking any jokes on the way to the start line.

Uran, his hair and Cataldo laugh it up during RAI's post stage show

Speaking of cycling caps, Cavendish was wearing one before the stage, when blowing out the candles on his birthday cake. Happy birthday, Mark, and thank you for not wearing a baseball hat. Now, if we can just get you to do the same after stage wins...

Happy birthday, Mark

Finally, my dear brother and podcast co-host, The Almighty Klaus is landing in Italy later today. He will be there for the rest of the Giro working on a few assignments. I wish him the best of luck and hopefully he can send me some images I can use in the blog.


Randomness:

- Mario Cipollini mention counter: 5
- Helmet talk counter: 16
- Euskaltel guys on the deck counter: 3
- Stage winner wearing
     Cycling cap: 1 (Uran)
     Baseball hat: 11
     No hat: 1
     Visor: 1

Krushing the Giro: Stage 15

Betancur takes over the White Jersey

I'm feeling pretty lazy this morning. I went to see Ghost live last night, so I'm tired and a little hung over. Therefore, I don't feel like searching through stats to see if Betancur finishing second AGAIN is some sort of record. It must be. This kid was second on stage 9, stage 10, third on stage 14 and again second today. He took over the White Jersey, too. Bananito is making moves. Also of note, Fabio Duarte finally showing his face coming in fifth.

I've made it perfectly clear before that I hate it when riders neutralize a race. I understand if it's done out of respect, like the stage after Wouter Weylandt's death in 2011, but when it's done in the name of "safety," that's just silly. A race is a race and if you feel that the conditions are unsafe, then YOU slow down and let the guys with bigger balls than you beat you. These guys are professionals and are being paid to RACE. If some sort of deal is struck between some of the teams and they decide not to race, fine, BUT insulting a rider who decides to do what all of them are there to do, is unacceptable and it hurts our sport.

Ballsy performance by the three-time Italian champion

What can I say about Visconti's ride today? Snow, cold, Galibier, tears... Dare I say "epic"?

I sent a special thanks to Rapha for supplying Sky with real cycling caps, today I wanna thank the organizers of the race for making the stage happen.


Randomness:

- Mario Cipollini mention counter: 5
- Helmet talk counter: 14
- Euskaltel guys on the deck counter: 3
- Stage winner wearing
     Cycling cap: 1 (Uran)
     Baseball hat: 10
     No hat: 1
     Visor: 1