The classics season is upon us.
George Hincapie will be seeking the elusive Paris-Roubaix win that he deserves more than anyone in the pro peleton.
Fabian Cancellera will be aiming for Flanders. Can he get over the climbs?
Martin Maskant will be looking to follow up his surprise (not to Jonathan Vaughters) 4th place finish at Paris-Roubaix. Will the Argyle youngster have what it takes to pull through?
Lance is riding Flanders.
How will Quick Step manage the inevitable stand off between Devolder and Boonan?
Bring on the cobbles.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Twitter and Solvang
Twitter is online crack.
8:53 am from @trek_ben "Getting ready for a ride with Lance and Levi"
We promptly hit the TT course.
10 minutes later, Lance rides by.
Classic.
The TT stage in Solvang was exciting. It had all of the dressings of a Tour De France stage. Lance fans everywhere. Dave Zabriske and Levi Leipheimer were clearly the strongest riders of the day. As they blew past me, you could see the red in their eyes. They were both out for blood. In the end, it was defending champ Levi that took the stage.
8:53 am from @trek_ben "Getting ready for a ride with Lance and Levi"
We promptly hit the TT course.
10 minutes later, Lance rides by.
Classic.
The TT stage in Solvang was exciting. It had all of the dressings of a Tour De France stage. Lance fans everywhere. Dave Zabriske and Levi Leipheimer were clearly the strongest riders of the day. As they blew past me, you could see the red in their eyes. They were both out for blood. In the end, it was defending champ Levi that took the stage.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Night Before Solvang
And so the climax to the Tour of California is tomorrow. Well there are two tough stages after tomorrow, but tomorrow will set the pecking order.
Levi will win.
He already won this time trial several times in his head over the past few months. He is dialed in and unbeatable on this course. We will all witness his dominance tomorrow.
Well I am in the car on 101 North leaving L.A. for Solvang. My crew consists of Joe Praino and Antonello Guzzo. We will be looking for trouble.
It's always nice going to races and connecting with so many of the people who saw our show on Discovery.
I will be Twittering until my fingers bleed tomorrow.
Levi will win.
He already won this time trial several times in his head over the past few months. He is dialed in and unbeatable on this course. We will all witness his dominance tomorrow.
Well I am in the car on 101 North leaving L.A. for Solvang. My crew consists of Joe Praino and Antonello Guzzo. We will be looking for trouble.
It's always nice going to races and connecting with so many of the people who saw our show on Discovery.
I will be Twittering until my fingers bleed tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Interview With District Cycling
About a year ago, I did an interview with Gregg from www.districtcycling.com. Gregg is a DC area cycling enthusiast/blogger. Check out his blog when you get a chance!
DC: This Is Gregg with District Cycling and I’m here with Adam. How are you doing Adam?
A: I’m doing really good, thanks.
DC: We know you from the Living the Dream Discovery Channel Special where you had an opportunity to actually go to Johan’s house as well as ride a stage of the Tour de France. Let me ask you: What happened? Can you lead me up to when you got the call?
A: Oh yeah. I saw the commercial on TV like I’m sure a lot of people did. I got a video together real quick, sent it in, basically telling them why I should be on the show and talked about how much of a fan I was and how cool of an experience it would be. They called me up like two days later and set up an interview. Maybe a few hours after that they called me back and said “can you get off of work for a few months in the summer to do the show?” I was completely psyched.
DC: That’s awesome. Now they got you a brand new bike, the new Madone as it was coming hot off the press.
A: Yeah.
DC: Do you still have the bike?
A: I still have the bike. I ride it all the time. It’s like, you win the lottery and win a farrarri, you’re gunna drive it everywhere. Definitely love the bike.
DC: In the series they hooked you guys up with some kits. How much stuff did they actually give you?
A: Almost everything the riders get. So we got three kits, we got shoes, we got jackets, we got sweatshirts, we got hats, we got socks, we got waterbottles. I laid everything out on my table and took a picture and I couldn’t get it all on the table. Lots of gear, lots of shwag.
DC: Tell us what you’ve been doing since?
A: Yeah, since then I definitely keep up with Joe, the other guy from the show. We are cycling junkies so we’re at every event, we’re at all the races. We’ve actually been doing some races together. This summer I started doing some time trials. Still out on the bike quite a bit.
DC: Any local races that you’ve hit in the area?
A: Yeah, I’m actually going to be doing the Route 29 36K Time Trial out in Jersey in a couple of weeks. I did the Church Creek Time Trials a couple of weeks ago. I’ll be doing the Virginia State Games, another time trial. I’ll probably make my way out to the Greenbelt Series at some point this summer too.
DC: We’d love to see you out in some road races! Are you Riding with any teams right now?
A: I’m riding, I’m just kind of like a mercenary kind of jumping around to different places…a free agent or whatever! (laughter) I ride with some really cool guys, the Blue Suit Pacers, they’re sponsored by the Air Force, a lot of Air Force guys that get together and ride a few times a month. That’s the kit I’m wearing right now and the guys I ride with. They’re a really good group.
DC: How old are you?
A: 33
DC: And you’ve been riding for a couple of years now?
A: Uh, yeah…seriously for about two years. When the show came on I had only been riding pretty serious for a few months before the show. But since then I got the bug and was hooked.
DC: What kind of training do you put yourself though nowadays?
A: Yeah, now I mean they (Discovery) hooked us up with some coaches from the Carmichael Training Systems and they gave us a whole layout of training schedule that I’ve kind of recycled and reusing. I work a pretty crazy schedule, so I have to get up really early in the morning to get out. The show kinda got me on the right track and I get out as much as I can.
DC: I know on the show you were concerned about losing some weight so you’d be able to hit those hills. How do you think that has come along?
A: Good! Johan gave me some really good advice. He was like “think like you’re carrying a 20 kilo bag on your back and you have to drop it,” and I really lost quite a bit in a short period of time. I think for the show I may not have gone about it the best way. So now I’m just kind of focused on a long term because I was losing a lot of power when I was crashing weight. I kept up with the Carmichael coaches and they gave me some really good advice.
DC: I think a lot of riders nowadays would love to have the opportunity to go out to the Tour, to see the Tour, to try out one of the stages. What was that like doing that stage?
A: Brutal. That was the hardest thing you can imagine. Your wrapped up cause your fan and your excited to see everything you watched on TV, but at the same time you’re doing the hardest physical thing you can imagine in your life. It was a bit mix of emotions that is pretty hard to manage when you’re riding your bike uphill. At the same time I knew it was something I would think back on and really love.
DC: And of course being able to be on the inside with the Discovery Channel and talking to George, Levi and those guys on the inside, again you’re doing things that would be our (cyclists collectively) dream. Where there any conversations outside of what we saw on the Discovery Channel that you had a chance with those guys that you could share with me here?
A: Yeah, probably the coolest experience is that we got to do a couple of training rides with George and Levi. This is right before they went to the Dauphiné Libéré and just hangin with them and hearing them talk about crazy stories about the Giro and some other races they did and in an informal setting. A lot of stuff wasn’t on camera. Just riding behind these guys is just pretty awesome. Then we went to visit Tom Danielson up at his house, which is just right at the base of a ridiculous mountain and got to hang out with him and his wife. We talked about his struggles. He’s a young guy so he was really fun about music and hip-hop. He was like “I got to get me some hip-hop over here.” We still keep up and exchange emails so it’s probably my favorite part of the experience.
DC: Have you gotten any haters since the show. Do you run into anyone that gives you a hard time?
A: Yeah, yeah…there is quite a bit. All you have to do is Google my name with Tour de France and you will see quite a few blogs that pop up that hate Joe and I for everything we did. That was a kind of strange part of it all, but whatever! Opinions: everyone can have them!
DC: I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that I hated you for being able to do all of that! (laughter) So you’re doing some races as a Cat 5, I assume?
A: Yup! Just got my license a few weeks ago.
DC: We’re going to keep an eye out for you man! It was great to meet you and good to see you here. The last question I have is: Do you think Johan is going to recognize you when he sees you?
A: I don’t know! We’ll see! I think he’ll recognize me but he won’t remember my name, but I’m pretty sure he’ll recognize me.
DC: That’s cool. He seemed like a really good guy when you where meeting with him (on the show). Thanks for talking to me, I appreciate it!
DC: This Is Gregg with District Cycling and I’m here with Adam. How are you doing Adam?
A: I’m doing really good, thanks.
DC: We know you from the Living the Dream Discovery Channel Special where you had an opportunity to actually go to Johan’s house as well as ride a stage of the Tour de France. Let me ask you: What happened? Can you lead me up to when you got the call?
A: Oh yeah. I saw the commercial on TV like I’m sure a lot of people did. I got a video together real quick, sent it in, basically telling them why I should be on the show and talked about how much of a fan I was and how cool of an experience it would be. They called me up like two days later and set up an interview. Maybe a few hours after that they called me back and said “can you get off of work for a few months in the summer to do the show?” I was completely psyched.
DC: That’s awesome. Now they got you a brand new bike, the new Madone as it was coming hot off the press.
A: Yeah.
DC: Do you still have the bike?
A: I still have the bike. I ride it all the time. It’s like, you win the lottery and win a farrarri, you’re gunna drive it everywhere. Definitely love the bike.
DC: In the series they hooked you guys up with some kits. How much stuff did they actually give you?
A: Almost everything the riders get. So we got three kits, we got shoes, we got jackets, we got sweatshirts, we got hats, we got socks, we got waterbottles. I laid everything out on my table and took a picture and I couldn’t get it all on the table. Lots of gear, lots of shwag.
DC: Tell us what you’ve been doing since?
A: Yeah, since then I definitely keep up with Joe, the other guy from the show. We are cycling junkies so we’re at every event, we’re at all the races. We’ve actually been doing some races together. This summer I started doing some time trials. Still out on the bike quite a bit.
DC: Any local races that you’ve hit in the area?
A: Yeah, I’m actually going to be doing the Route 29 36K Time Trial out in Jersey in a couple of weeks. I did the Church Creek Time Trials a couple of weeks ago. I’ll be doing the Virginia State Games, another time trial. I’ll probably make my way out to the Greenbelt Series at some point this summer too.
DC: We’d love to see you out in some road races! Are you Riding with any teams right now?
A: I’m riding, I’m just kind of like a mercenary kind of jumping around to different places…a free agent or whatever! (laughter) I ride with some really cool guys, the Blue Suit Pacers, they’re sponsored by the Air Force, a lot of Air Force guys that get together and ride a few times a month. That’s the kit I’m wearing right now and the guys I ride with. They’re a really good group.
DC: How old are you?
A: 33
DC: And you’ve been riding for a couple of years now?
A: Uh, yeah…seriously for about two years. When the show came on I had only been riding pretty serious for a few months before the show. But since then I got the bug and was hooked.
DC: What kind of training do you put yourself though nowadays?
A: Yeah, now I mean they (Discovery) hooked us up with some coaches from the Carmichael Training Systems and they gave us a whole layout of training schedule that I’ve kind of recycled and reusing. I work a pretty crazy schedule, so I have to get up really early in the morning to get out. The show kinda got me on the right track and I get out as much as I can.
DC: I know on the show you were concerned about losing some weight so you’d be able to hit those hills. How do you think that has come along?
A: Good! Johan gave me some really good advice. He was like “think like you’re carrying a 20 kilo bag on your back and you have to drop it,” and I really lost quite a bit in a short period of time. I think for the show I may not have gone about it the best way. So now I’m just kind of focused on a long term because I was losing a lot of power when I was crashing weight. I kept up with the Carmichael coaches and they gave me some really good advice.
DC: I think a lot of riders nowadays would love to have the opportunity to go out to the Tour, to see the Tour, to try out one of the stages. What was that like doing that stage?
A: Brutal. That was the hardest thing you can imagine. Your wrapped up cause your fan and your excited to see everything you watched on TV, but at the same time you’re doing the hardest physical thing you can imagine in your life. It was a bit mix of emotions that is pretty hard to manage when you’re riding your bike uphill. At the same time I knew it was something I would think back on and really love.
DC: And of course being able to be on the inside with the Discovery Channel and talking to George, Levi and those guys on the inside, again you’re doing things that would be our (cyclists collectively) dream. Where there any conversations outside of what we saw on the Discovery Channel that you had a chance with those guys that you could share with me here?
A: Yeah, probably the coolest experience is that we got to do a couple of training rides with George and Levi. This is right before they went to the Dauphiné Libéré and just hangin with them and hearing them talk about crazy stories about the Giro and some other races they did and in an informal setting. A lot of stuff wasn’t on camera. Just riding behind these guys is just pretty awesome. Then we went to visit Tom Danielson up at his house, which is just right at the base of a ridiculous mountain and got to hang out with him and his wife. We talked about his struggles. He’s a young guy so he was really fun about music and hip-hop. He was like “I got to get me some hip-hop over here.” We still keep up and exchange emails so it’s probably my favorite part of the experience.
DC: Have you gotten any haters since the show. Do you run into anyone that gives you a hard time?
A: Yeah, yeah…there is quite a bit. All you have to do is Google my name with Tour de France and you will see quite a few blogs that pop up that hate Joe and I for everything we did. That was a kind of strange part of it all, but whatever! Opinions: everyone can have them!
DC: I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that I hated you for being able to do all of that! (laughter) So you’re doing some races as a Cat 5, I assume?
A: Yup! Just got my license a few weeks ago.
DC: We’re going to keep an eye out for you man! It was great to meet you and good to see you here. The last question I have is: Do you think Johan is going to recognize you when he sees you?
A: I don’t know! We’ll see! I think he’ll recognize me but he won’t remember my name, but I’m pretty sure he’ll recognize me.
DC: That’s cool. He seemed like a really good guy when you where meeting with him (on the show). Thanks for talking to me, I appreciate it!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
California Dreaming...
This has to be the most exciting time of the cycling year. Sure the Classics are great. The Tour is epic. However, there is something special about the excitement that comes with the beginning of the cycling season. The die hard fans are glued to Versus or Cycling.Tv analyzing every move their favorite pro makes in the first few races.
Things kicked off with a hot Tour Down Under. Lance made his return to the peloton, and the media circus was on. Lost in the craziness was Allen Davis and his triumphant return to winning races in his home country.
A few races in countries we can't even pronounce, and now we find ourselves in the good ol' USA! The Tour of California is represented by one of the deepest fields ever assembled in North America. It has the feel of the Tour de France.
Was anyone surprised to see Fabian dominate the prologue? Macebo tried to steal some glory with his Gladiator effort on stage 1. He picked up a well deserved win, but paid for it the next day when Levi looked over at Popo and said "fire it up". The young argyle lad Peterson took the stage win with Levi going into yellow. I will continue blogging about the Tour of California, but it's pretty safe to say that it's Levi's race to lose. When I had a chance to ride with Levi back in October 2008, he was talking about the Tour of California. He wants it bad. Prelude to France?
Stage 3 came down to the sprint most were hoping for. Cav missed the train, and Thor took the win. Where was Boonan?
Well tomorrow I begin my trip to California for a live look at the race. I am picking up the race in Solvang for the time trial and will be following till the end in San Diego.
Still living the dream...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)