Tonight is the Cancer Classic crit – Lance’s first (I think) appearance back in the Pro-Tour peleton. So here I am in the Adelaide sun (actually sitting in the shade of one of the trees in Rymill Park, watching my cleverly placed stool at the last turn) jotting down a few thoughts.
Started off this AM with a bit of a blast from the past – coffee at Al Fresco in Rundle St – I think it has been almost 20 years since Susie and I were here having coffee-and it’s still great! And, now there’s coffee bar named ‘Scoozi’ next doo (photos do not lie) – guess we should have copyrighted the name! While I’m sitting there, Lampre and Bouygues Tele com (now BBox) ride by on the way back from training. Unfortunately I am too slow on the camera to document. Guess the Scouts are right – Be Prepared ( or be quick).
Rest of the day spent checking out the race course and the Tour Village in hopes of crossing paths with some of the riders, but all I found was great display of vintage track and road bikes from the 30’s 40’s and 50’s. Snapped a few pic’s of some of these and have included them for your enjoyment. Check the paintwork out on the red Healing track bike. Very cool, Bill DePue – what do you think????
Team presentations at 5 hosted by Phil and Paul – packed beyond belief, almost as much crowd support for all the Auustrlians as there was for Lance. Guess what – rumor has it he wanted to know what the record was for climbing Willunga Hill! And rumor also has it he put the hurt on all his teammates and climbed it at about 40kph. Wait until next Sat.
Cancer Classic was a typical circuit race – just pretty fast pace – laps of just over 2min for 1.7km – if I have done the math right that’s about 50kph avg. 2 primes won by 19yo South Australian Jack Bobridge, 2 won by FDJ riders. Most of the big names were keeping their heads down and a low profile. Columbia drove the pack for the last two laps trying to set up Andre Griepel –but guess what- McEwen , pretty much invisible the whole race, has his lead out man Gert Steggemans get him on to Greipels wheel and Robbie comes by on the inside to take the win. On the podium he likens riding behind Steggemans to like being behind a barn door!
Rest day for the peloton tomorrow and then things start in earnest. Brett kindly delivered the seat collar so will get to spin the legs out.
Started off this AM with a bit of a blast from the past – coffee at Al Fresco in Rundle St – I think it has been almost 20 years since Susie and I were here having coffee-and it’s still great! And, now there’s coffee bar named ‘Scoozi’ next doo (photos do not lie) – guess we should have copyrighted the name! While I’m sitting there, Lampre and Bouygues Tele com (now BBox) ride by on the way back from training. Unfortunately I am too slow on the camera to document. Guess the Scouts are right – Be Prepared ( or be quick).
Rest of the day spent checking out the race course and the Tour Village in hopes of crossing paths with some of the riders, but all I found was great display of vintage track and road bikes from the 30’s 40’s and 50’s. Snapped a few pic’s of some of these and have included them for your enjoyment. Check the paintwork out on the red Healing track bike. Very cool, Bill DePue – what do you think????
Team presentations at 5 hosted by Phil and Paul – packed beyond belief, almost as much crowd support for all the Auustrlians as there was for Lance. Guess what – rumor has it he wanted to know what the record was for climbing Willunga Hill! And rumor also has it he put the hurt on all his teammates and climbed it at about 40kph. Wait until next Sat.
Cancer Classic was a typical circuit race – just pretty fast pace – laps of just over 2min for 1.7km – if I have done the math right that’s about 50kph avg. 2 primes won by 19yo South Australian Jack Bobridge, 2 won by FDJ riders. Most of the big names were keeping their heads down and a low profile. Columbia drove the pack for the last two laps trying to set up Andre Griepel –but guess what- McEwen , pretty much invisible the whole race, has his lead out man Gert Steggemans get him on to Greipels wheel and Robbie comes by on the inside to take the win. On the podium he likens riding behind Steggemans to like being behind a barn door!
Rest day for the peloton tomorrow and then things start in earnest. Brett kindly delivered the seat collar so will get to spin the legs out.
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