Crash Course: TdF

Excellent collection of gasps and ohs on the Star's sports page today. See the carnage here. The first four stages have all featured race-changing pile-ups with most notable disappointment being Saxo-Bank's Frank Schleck's tour-ending broken collar bone (in three places, requiring immediate surgery ... owww). Schleck was considered a GC contender, but looks like he'll be on an extended rest.

If you want to follow the tour, but don't have OLN, follow the live blogs on http://www.letour.fr/ or http://www.velonews.com/. Not the same as seeing it on screen, but better than nothing! Racing begins at 8:30am and goes until approximately 11:30. OLN usually does an evening show of race highlights, but this year it is notably absent.

Finally, check out this photo ... what's the caption? (Left: Alberto Contador. Right: Lance Armstrong. They get along like oil and vinegar.)

Oh, and by the way ...

Floyd Landis admits to drug use and accuses Lance Armstrong

From The Star.

NEW YORK, N.Y.—Disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis has admitted to systematic use of performance-enhancing drugs and accused seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong of involvement in doping, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping but had always denied cheating, sent a series of emails to cycling officials and sponsors acknowledging and detailing his long-term use of banned drugs, the newspaper said.

Read More ...

No one likes a quitter ...

Some words of wisdom from the boss himself in this famed cameo from "Dodgeball" ...



Tour drama continues as media speculates as to whether or not Contador will remain Astana's prima donna or if Lance will ever-so-innocently steal the spotlight. Stay tuned.

For now, I leave you with the star of Dodgeball, and the star of the Tour, hamming it up before the TTT.

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TdF

The Tour started this Saturday with a time trial out of Monaco. Although in my last post I noted that road is not my most favouritest thing, the soap opera that is the Tour de France is definitely excellent TV drama.

This year, seven time Tour champion Lance Armstrong is back from retirement, making bold claims that he's there to win. The only problem is that he's supposed to be there working for 2007 tour winner Alberto Contador, the 26 year old phenom who never got the chance to defend his title in 2008. That year's tour went to Carlos Sastre, a very nice Spaniard who's time had finally come after spending years working for other team leaders.

Today marks stage 3 of a 21 stage race run clockwise around France. Fabian Cancellara grabbed the yellow jersey on day one and he's got a good grip on it -- commentators say they expect him to keep it until at least stage 7. But it's the Green jersey that is the race to watch in these early days before the big mountain stages; right now, that belongs to Mark Cavendish.

For all the info on the race, standings and its rich history, check out the Tour's home on the web. My other source for tour coverage is http://www.velonews.com/ so be sure to stop there too. Live updates are provided at both sites so even if you don't have cable (like me), you can read the tour as it happens.

See you at the pub for the 8pm repeat coverage on OLN!

Cavendish takes Stage 2

Me And Lance Ride A Trek

This is Lance Armstrong's Trek Top Fuel 9.8 that he raced in "12 Hours of Snowmass" this past September.

This is my new ride. Same frame as Lance! Good enough for The Boss, good enough for me.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! New Bike Day has finally arrived. I'm really excited, but alas!! It's February and I haven't even had my leg over it yet. You can see it hanging in the shop window at Sweet Pete's, the best bike shop in the universe. Can't thank these guys enough! I'll be blogging about this beauty again once I make the changes I want and have something to say about how it rides. But for now, she's a brand-spanking-new, sparkling example of mountain-bike perfection and I'm so friggin stoked.



In a lot of ways, this bike is a first for me.


- First full carbon frame I've ever had. Until now, I never really thought I was worthy. But ladies and gentlemen, I have arrived!


- First time I've ever had lock-out available on the handlebars!! How trick is that? It'll be great for training rides but I have never made use of lockout in a race before. In my experience, I get to the bottom of a hill and reach down for the off-switch and motor up. By the time I get to the top, I'm in complete oxygen debt, my vision is spotty at best and I don't realize I've forgotten to release the suspension until I'm halfway over the bars. BUT!! with the lockout switch on the handlebar instead of the crown, maybe I'm a changed woman!


- First time I've tried a "woman specific design" although I've been over the geometry charts and I can't see any difference besides my bike is rockin a pretty sweet paint job that a dude probably wouldn't appreciate

- First time using a RockShox Sid ... or any Rockshox since my first Judy, back in the day

- First time I've opted for Shimano SPDs. They were a little cheaper, a little lighter and they match the full XT Drivetrain on ...

- my first Trek!

Here are the full specs:

Frameset
Size: 17.5
Frame: OCLV Red Carbon w/ABP Race, Full Floater, magnesium EVO Link, oversized bearings, 100mm rear wheel travel


Front Suspension
RockShox SID Race w/remote Pop Loc lever, dual air, Motion Control, rebound, alloy steerer, 100mm


Rear Suspension
Fox Float RP23, custom "race tuned" w/3-position Pro Pedal, rebound; 6.5x1.5"


Wheels
Wheels: Bontrager Race X Lite Disc wheel system, centerlock, tubeless ready
Tires: Bontrager Jones XR w/Kevlar bead, 26x2.25/2.2"; 127 tpi


Drivetrain
Shifters: Shimano Deore XT
Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT, high mount
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deore XT "Shadow"
Crank: Shimano Deore XT 44/32/22
Cassette: SRAM PG970 11-32, 9 speed
Pedals: Shimano Deore XT


Components
Saddle: Bontrager Race Lite FIT w/hollow stainless steel rails
Seat Post: Bontrager XXX Lite mast system
Handlebars: Bontrager Race X Lite, carbon, 0mm rise, 31.8mm, 620mm width
Stem: Bontrager Race X Lite, 7 degree, 31.8mm
Headset: Trek Mountain Integrated System w/sealed bearings
Brakeset: Shimano Deore XT Ti, hydraulic disc, custom Ti; 160mm rotors (Trek exclusive)



MSRP: CAD 4,899.99