Letters to Cyclingnews - May 12, 2006

Bruyneel's Giro comments

Regarding Dr. Roberts' comments about Johan Bruyneel:

I think that Dr. Roberts should get a grip on reality. His comments sound like nothing more than sour grapes. The TDF organizers plan the course, Johan and his team simply respond to that course. The other teams have the same opportunities, Discovery Channel and US Postal just responded the best in the Tour over the last seven years.

Despite not controlling the Giro last year, Discovery Channel still won, with a rider who had almost no results the previous two years. Johan's comments about this year's course were his studied opinion as a former pro rider and after Savodeli and Danielson had reconnoitred some of the stages. The planned race has already been changed because of a planned split stage late in the race, as a result of a rider revolt. It is certainly not just Johan who is complaining about the course difficulty. Why do so many Europeans have difficulty with a winner?

Michael Gilliland

Sunday, May 7, 2006

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Criticism of Jan Ullrich

I am going to make this as short and sweet as I possibly can because this doesn't even need to be said. Jan Ullrich has been one of the most consistent bike riders the world has ever seen. I mean, Jan has finished on the podium in the Tour de France a ridiculous number of times. And, I think it is absolutely nuts that anyone can actually criticise his accomplishments in cycling.

I mean, yes, he has made some mistakes in the past preparing for le Tour, but big deal, he's human. He still comes back in June and gives Lance Armstrong one heck of a challenge. Lance has always publicly feared, respected, and enjoyed racing against this man, and who are any of us, devoted cycling fans and by no means cycling gods, to say anything negative about Jan Ullrich's astronomical achievements?

As well, he's a class-act and a very good sportsman, so it doesn't make sense at all to be so negative about him. He is a great guy on top of being in possession of two of the most powerful pistons in the world, as has been proven time and time again. I seriously hope that Jan wins this final Tour and then graciously steps down to enjoy the rest of life. And, even if he doesn't win, he will still do great, he will put up one heck of a fight, and the world will continue to respect this man for himself as a cyclist and, more importantly, as a human being.

David Cramer
Toronto, Canada

Sunday, May 7, 2006

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Criticism of Jan Ullrich #2

Mr.Beasely, I agree 100%, as Jan is a great rider, who came along perhaps at the wrong time or perhaps at the right time as he is always seem to be mentioned in stories of Lance. That itself is self-explanatory in how great a rider he is.

One also has to relate to his weight-factor as every season he has to shed weight to obtain his tour weight. I personally think this year he is being guided correctly to be perfectly honed to be the most feared and be the winner of the TDF. Also I believe Lance predicted Jan as his choice ,and I think he knows better than anyone of Jan's capabilities ,and natural power he has when he is in his zone. I also relish the fact that he always becomes stronger as the Tour progresses, and if it is close the last week as I expect it will be, I myself will be one who would put my money on the German-Powerhouse to prevail.

So in closing,I must say this about his negative criticism talk, when you say something bad about someone people listen, and it makes an interesting story, so let them say whatever, for anyone who follows cycling knows that Jan is a living legend, who has one goal this year, and I pity the hurt and suffering he is going to put on his opponents at this years TDF!

Thom Heffner,
Harpers-Ferry, WV

Sunday, May 7, 2006

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Criticism of Jan Ullrich #3

It is easy to see Jan Ullrich's career as one of unfulfilled potential as Oli Brooke-White does. I think this does a disservice to Lance Armstrong. I am no LA fan, although I have enormous respect for him, and have always rooted for Jan. Take away Armstrong, and Jan would be the dominant rider of his generation. It is easy to see all the problems (injuries, crashes etc) but what rider doesn't suffer some of these from time to time - Armstrong that's who.

Over the seven years of his tour domination how many serious crashes, injuries or illnesses has he had? One or two, but many fewer than most of his rivals. The man has phenomenal resilience and a good dose of luck (maybe he deserves it). Yeah, maybe he is also the most professional and scientific rider the peloton will ever see, so all other riders compare poorly to him in that respect.

But only Jan, despite his 'poor' preparation and 'lack of professionalism' has seriously challenged him. None of the other rivals to LA have been as consistent as Jan. They have all had their problems too. We are yet to see whether Basso can maintain his level of recent Tours for as long as LA or Jan.

I think what is behind most of the criticism of Jan is a belief that he should have beaten Armstrong. Maybe Lance was just too good - at the Tour anyway. Jan's misfortune has been to compete during the Armstrong era. Jan, you are an incredible rider in my opinion.

Andrew Shaw
Melbourne, Australia

Saturday, May 6, 2006

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Jan bashing

Recent criticism of Jan may be harsh given his career victories but it is easy to understand why people get so frustrated with him. He was blessed with tremendous natural talent that so many would kill for, but barring the odd win here and then since 1997 he has squandered. When it comes to the greatest race on earth; Le Tour, cycling fans like to see a contest, riders pushing themselves to their limits and further for the win, unpredictability y in the racing, tension all the through the race till the final TT.

Since 1999 there has been no such enjoyment, except of course in 2003 when Jan was on form, and gave us a thrilling race. Armstrong's domination of the race has taken the enjoyment out of the tour as a contest, and while you can't fault him for his meticulous preparation, you have to look at why he was never challenged close enough, and that boils down mainly to Jan's poor preparation and form every year. This is why I think there is so much frustration and anger towards Jan, it is not slagging him for what he has achieved, but for what he could have achieved, and given us some enjoyment along the way instead of enduring seven long years of mundane Texan domination.

I can't wait for this years Tour, it will be so unpredictable now that Armstrong has gone, yet I don't think Jan will win - Vino or Basso for the top step.

Andrew Coyle,
Dublin

Friday, May 5, 2006

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Jan's weight

Is it just me or has anyone else failed to see this supposed huge weight gain of Jan Ullrich. I just don't see it. I have looked at the pictures of him at the Giro Presentation very carefully and he looks very fit to me. His legs look huge but they always do (Nice to see he looped off some of that mullet too). I am not sure what his optimal racing weight is but I don't think he looks heavy at all even by comparison with many others in the peleton of his general stature. Maybe he is several pounds/kilos overweight but I wish that I looked that fit.

I have been struck by some other things though in looking at his pictures carefully. The first thing is the almost constant cold sores he has around his mouth. I guess he is very vulnerable to viruses as he has always said. The other thing is the size of the scar on his neck from when he went through the back window of the team car just prior to the prologue at last years Tour. No wonder, Armstrong passed him, that wound is very large and he must have lost quite a bit of blood. I would like to point out that even though a very fit Armstrong beat and passed him in that Prologue, Ivan Basso was still behind him in time. I say if he can avoid other injuries in the lead up to the Tour this spring, and with a very hard Giro under his belt as training, he is going to be one tough customer in July.

Scott Wilcox
Ontario, Canada

Friday, May 5, 2006

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Defeatism in Discovery

Here is a puzzling quote from a Giro post-TTT interview with Tom Danielson: "This was my first TTT so I couldn't really tell if it was good or bad. It's all new for me. The only time I'd ever done this before was with my friends in Durango".

In the Lance Armstrong era Discovery used to practice the TTT.

It appears that, until they can find the next Lance Armstrong, Discovery is not interested in thorough preparation.

They also announced today that they will not match offers for Leif Hoste's services. This makes sense because, while one is not preparing thoroughly to win Grand Tours, why would one want to pay extra to win classics?

In good news, I have discovered the next Lance Armstrong. He's a neighbour of mine. He won Paris-Nice, Tour of California and Tour de Georgia. Keep your eye out for him; he looks sort of like Elvis...

Allan Snavely
San Marcos, CA

Thursday, May 11, 2006

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Lance talking up Basso

Hi Ed,

It is interesting that Lance is talking up Ivan as the favourite for both the Giro and Tour. I think it is mind games like the "Jan is my biggest threat" that he would say every year. He has gone from saying Savoldelli would win the Giro to "Basso is the favourite" even when Savoldelli has shown he is in great form.

It's a good way for him to take public pressure off Paolo anyway. Lance can have a word to Sovoldelli in private to say what he really thinks.

On another topic, it'd be great to get some video footage from a pursuing moto of Il Falco on a crazy descent on your website.20

James Hall
Melbourne, Australia

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

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The same old Lance

Dear Editor,

After seeing and reading about the interview Lance Armstrong did with RAI, Italian TV, it's apparent that retirement hasn't changed him any. He is still the same, don't turn on me or I'll never forgive you kinda guy. When asked about potential contenders in the Tour, he mentioned Ullrich and Basso, but not Floyd Landis. They were once friends, as we all know, but it seems Floyd has been relegated to the category of Kevin Livingston in Lance's world view. Stood by you, helped you win, but you thought about yourself over me so I'll shun you…petty.

John M. Spidaliere
Termoli, Italy.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

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Rasmussen's time trial position

Hi,

Thanks for the very interesting article on Rasmussen's time trial position and bike. However I can't understand why pro cyclists and their sponsors spend any money on wind tunnel tests without altering the obvious areas of their equipment that will save them lots of time at little cost. I would go so far as saying this is why teams with a well-organised, rigorous program to optimise performance do consistently better than others. Some first thoughts based on the pictures:

1) Get some new handlebars and stem. Riding bars wing-section bars pointing upwards at 45 degrees will only help on take-off
2) Get a new frame which doesn't have the following features: lugs and down and seat tubes less than 8cm deep and wider than absolutely necessary

- Tubes only approximating to an aerofoil
- Exposed gear cables
- Exposed brake cables
- Big, angled seat clamp
- Big gap between the tyre and seat tube
- Fat rear stays with a B-stay
- Fat forks with a strengthening rib down the middle
- Standard headset

3) Tape over the valve hole in the tri spoke and rear disc
4) Tape over the hole in the pedals
5) No bottle cage at the moment - an Arundel bottle or Camelback would be a good idea for longer events

I am also stunned that Pro Tour teams and equipment suppliers aren't organised enough to tick this list off and get the star rider training in his optimum position from January. These are not 'secrets of the peloton' or esoteric ideas known only to rocket scientists as most of the aerodynamic ideas listed at least a decade old and are freely available on the internet. Even UK cycling magazines tell us that Tom Danielson gets on his TT bike in his optimised position once a week throughout the winter, and that the Trek engineers did everything to win, including drilling lightening holes in Lance's headset cups last year. If I were on the Rabobank board I would be asking some difficult questions of the team management and equipment suppliers.

Andrew Salmon,
London, UK

Thursday, May 11, 2006

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Giro team time trial

Hm, I suppose after watching the Giro TTT, Bruyneel and Riis may not be so disappointed after all that the TTT is omitted from the Tour this year. After all, as everyone has been so quick to point out, Ulrich is well off form still and Rogers is only riding the Giro for training - imagine what they will do in July!

Keeping with T-Mobile, does anyone rate Gontchar's chances for pink in Milan? This is his strongest Giro start to date, and he usually gets stronger as the race progresses. I know he'll probably lose some time in the mountains, but the last two years he's managed to limit the damage - and there's still the 50 km ITT to come.

OK, here's my wild grand tour prediction - Valverde will win the ProTour in spectacular fashion by winning the Tour and the Vuelta (if he rides it). Whatever the case, though, its good to see the Grand Tour riders back at the front of things in the classics this year.

Eddie Bethel
Montreal, Quebec

Thursday, May 11, 2006

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Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix

Or another way to look at is:

Strategy is putting a condom in your wallet before that hot date you're about to go on. Tactics is trying to smoothly get the condom after dropping it in between the car seats.

Chris
Chicago

Friday, May 5, 2006

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Riders under helmets

I long for the days when I knew by sight all the riders who mattered in any important race. With the new helmet rule, I frequently have to wait to find out who has just attacked or been dropped, etc. Thank goodness, then, for Bettini's golden helmet, for the jerseys on the backs of the national champions, for any marks that let us quickly identify a rider in the group.

So I wonder whether the pro teams might be good enough to extend themselves and find a way to make the riders more easily identifiable in the age of helmet and sunglasses: helmets with individualized designs? maybe numbers that belong to individual riders in every race throughout the season? maybe even riders' last names printed prominently on the backs of their jerseys, as in so many other pro sports? Any improvement will add just a little more excitement for the devoted fan (and take a little pressure off the beloved but, oh, a little mistake-prone Liggett and Sherwen).

Gerry Leonard
Natick, Mass., USA

Friday, May 5, 2006

Recent letters pages

Letters 2006

• May 12: Marion Clignet, Bruyneel's Giro comments, Criticism of Jan Ullrich, Jan bashing, Jan's weight, Defeatism in Discovery, Lance talking up Basso, The same old Lance, Rasmussen's time trial position, Giro team time trial, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix, Riders under helmets
• May 5: Criticism of Jan, Criticism of Ullrich, The Ullrich-bashing bandwagon, Ullrich in 2006, Jan dramas, More Jan dramas, Bruyneel's Giro comments, Team helmets, Volunteering at bike races, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix
• April 28: Working for the team in Georgia, Ullrich's thick skin, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Jan Ullrich racing, Ullrich and THAT wheel, Jan Ullrich, Jan dramas, Paris-Roubaix technology, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix controversy, Paris-Roubaix comments, Paris-Roubaix tech, Team helmets
• April 21: Paris-Roubaix final say, Paris-Roubaix controversy, Paris-Roubaix and technology, George and the fork issue, Quotable quotes, Cycling technology, Behaving like a champion, Paris-Roubaix: UCI Code of Ethics
• April 14: Continuing to behave like a champion, No curse of the rainbow jersey, Tom Boonen, Hang in there, Saul, The gods of cycling, Trek and Paris-Roubaix, Looking out for George, Paris-Roubaix and technology, Broken forks and broken dreams, Jan Ullrich, Jan dramas, Disqualifications, So you know, Paris - Roubaix, THAT railway crossing incident, Need for consistency, Paris-Roubaix - poor Cancellara, Paris Roubaix disqualification, Paris-Roubaix: setting a good example, Roubaix disqualification decision, UCI Roubaix disgrace, Paris Roubaix disqualification, Paris Roubaix affair, Paris-Roubaix fiasco, Paris-Roubaix sham, Racing's railroad crossings, George's bike failure, Let them race, Roubaix controversy
• April 12 (Special Paris Roubaix edition): Paris-Roubaix disqualification, Disqualification on the pave, Level crossing in Paris-Roubaix, Rules are rules, Paris-Roubaix, McQuaid's reasoning, Pat McQuaid and train barriers, Railway crossing at Paris-Roubaix, Disqualifications in Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix crossing, Roubaix controversy, Grade crossings, Railroad crossings, Safety at Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix sham, Paris-Roubaix safety, Paris-Roubaix rail crossing, Boonen and friends cross the tracks, McQuaid's explanation, Roubaix disqualification decision
• April 7: Hang in there Saul, De Ronde parcours, Edwig van Hooydonk, Discovery’s American riders, Tom Boonen, April fools, Hair care product line, Brave new world, Commonwealth Games time trial, Photo of the year
• March 31: Discovery’s American riders, Photo of the year, Commonwealth Games time trial, Edwig van Hooydonk
• March 24: Discovery’s American riders, Samantha Hellyer, Commonwealth Games time trial, UCI needs to grow up, Licensed riders in non-sanctioned events, Strong for the Tour, Electronic shifting
• March 17: Guess who I am, Floyd Landis, The next Lance, The race I'm watching, EPO test and credibility, Blood doping detection and altitude training, Electronic shifting, Electronic Dura Ace, Discovery’s American riders, Petacchi - Shiva
• March 13: The race I'm watching, Tour of California, Floyd Landis, Rory Sutherland and clomiphene, Rory Sutherland, Tyler Hamilton, Effect of doping on young cyclists, EPO test and credibility, Winter Olympics and Cyclocross, Cyclocross in the winter Olympics, Electronic Dura Ace, Big Jan Ullrich
• March 3: Tour of California, Sanctions for doping, UCI/WADA, Tyler Hamilton and Roberto Heras, Tyler Hamilton, Hamilton and testing, Blood doping detection and altitude training, Serrano, Drug testing, Tour of California, Laurie Schmidtke, Our wonderful sport!, Leave Jan alone, T-Mobile and Ullrich, Tour 2006
• February 24: Tyler Hamilton, Tyler Hamilton and Roberto Heras, Sanctions for doping, Drug testing, Doping, Culture of denial, Tour 2006, Ullrich and the 2006 tour, T-Mobile, Ullrich and Godefroot, Davitamon-Lotto outfits, Pantani
• February 17: Tyler Hamilton, Hamilton's decision, Culture of denial, Drug testing, Pantani, Support for Mark French, Heras' positive doping results, EPO, Bergman, Sanctions for doping, Ben Kersten, Hour record, Davitamon circus clowns, Team CSC at Solvang, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Confused about doping
• February 10: Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Too early to call the Tour, AIS crash verdict, Punishment for the death of Amy Gillett, Women's cycling, Support for Mark French, Michael Rassmussen, More Kilo and 500m TT argument, Liberty Seguros at Tour Down Under, Hour record, Sanctions for doping
• February 3: International teams, Liberty Seguros at Tour Down Under, Anti-doping tactics, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Too early to call the Tour, Tour of California, Phonak training camp feature, Aussie national champs, More Kilo and 500m TT argument, McQuaid and the UCI, Australian championships, Support for Mark French, Sanctions for doping, Women's cycling, Team strip
• January 24: Future of Spanish cycling, Australian championships, Aussie national champs - a deserved winner, Aussie nationals, World champion kit, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, With Lance gone, Some observations on Oz, PCA suing Dick Pound, International teams
• January 17: EGO Mania, Basso: seeing double, Aussie nationals, Australian championships, Russell Mockridge, PCA suing Dick Pound, USA cycling, World champion kit, The future, Some observations on Oz
• January 6: The Tour hypocrisy, Pat McQuaid, McQuaid, Bart Wellens, Urine testing, Dope so you can
• January 3: That damn Lance, Bart Wellens, Cyclists in South Australia, EGO Mania, King Pound, Urine testing for rEPO, The Tour hypocrisy, Dope so you can, Give McQuaid a chance, Elimination Tour de France
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