Chris Horner on the Nevada City race.

[BroDeal]

As someone mentioned above, Armstrong and his posse's slumming has scewed the BMC team big time. That team might as well fold or downgrade its license.

 

[BigBoat]

No doubt cycling has been "picked on" by Lance. And now he has it so he is a market force, that cycling wants. He's laughing all the way to the bank. /]

Cycling is so ability driven, like all sports.

 

[Anonymous]

i was in this year's pro12 race at nevada city, finished top twenty.

first off the rest of the pro12 field didn't care who was in the race, in fact before lance announced he was racing it, only 20 guys had pre-registered. on the day of the race, the field was full (125+ riders) before noon.

second, we see all sorts of pro riders in our races here in norcal, and in the early season we get pro tour guys entering our races quite often. had astana brought 9 guys to nevada city, i might consider that bullying. but three? not a problem, and dont care.

third, i've done this race three years in a row now, and finished top twenty every time. yes lance lapped us twice, but we also got lapped last year by nydam and england, and the year before darrin lil lapped us as well.

finally, the crowd was outstanding, and they cheered for everyone, not just lance. if this is what it takes to get bicycle racing back to the forefront (and give anther boost to the 2010 tour of california) im all for it.

`b

Thank you bringing in some fresh air here.

It was much needed with all the venom spewed around. To a lot of people here Lance can do nothing right.

What about the European racers? Is it uncommon for them to do local races as training or tune up?

 

[Escarabajo]

i was in this year's pro12 race at nevada city, finished top twenty.

first off the rest of the pro12 field didn't care who was in the race, in fact before lance announced he was racing it, only 20 guys had pre-registered. on the day of the race, the field was full (125+ riders) before noon.

second, we see all sorts of pro riders in our races here in norcal, and in the early season we get pro tour guys entering our races quite often. had astana brought 9 guys to nevada city, i might consider that bullying. but three? not a problem, and dont care.

third, i've done this race three years in a row now, and finished top twenty every time. yes lance lapped us twice, but we also got lapped last year by nydam and england, and the year before darrin lil lapped us as well.

finally, the crowd was outstanding, and they cheered for everyone, not just lance. if this is what it takes to get bicycle racing back to the forefront (and give anther boost to the 2010 tour of california) im all for it.

`b

Thanks. It is good to know these things. I did not think it was a big deal for the other riders and not to mention for the organization who benefits greatly from the three boys showing up.

It is probably a bigger deal for the three Astana riders that are in Nevada at this point when, maybe they should be in Europe doing some prep work.

My opinion, thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

As someone mentioned above, Armstrong and his posse's slumming has scewed the BMC team big time. That team might as well fold or downgrade its license.

Ok. lets get this one right, Lance and Astana have not screwed the BMC team, the UCI and the regulations have unfortunately conspired to screw the BMC team.. you cannot blame riders for wanting to race, to therefor causing inconvenience for another.. you really do need to get over your lance hatred, if you cant get over it, at least stop blaming him for everthing that goes wrong..

The seven-time Tour de France winner and two Astana teammates will race the SRAM Tour of the Gila in Silver City, New Mexico, after USA Cycling and the UCI negotiated a compromise over the international governing body’s rules regarding UCI Pro riders’ participation in national events.

The nature of that compromise is unclear. According to Andy Lee, communications director for USA Cycling, “the UCI interpreted one of their rules in a way that ultimately allowed Lance as well as two other Astana riders to compete.” A UCI spokesman, meanwhile, told Agence France Presse that the international governing body notified American officials about a loophole within their own rules.

"It was actually the UCI who told USA Cycling about the existence of a rule within their own regulations, which allows three riders from the same professional team to compete wearing neutral jerseys," the spokesman said. "USA Cycling were unaware of this."
UCI rules
Chapter VIII, Individual races
2.8.003 1. riders enter on an individual basis;
2. riders of a UCI ProTeam can take part a maximum of 3 times a year in an individual race;
3. a maximum of 3 riders of the same team registered with the UCI can take part in an individual race;
4. the minimum prize money shall be 8000 Swiss francs;
5. the maximum distance shall be 170 km for men and 120 km for women;
6. if the race is ridden on a circuit, that circuit shall be at least 10 km long;
7. technical support shall be provided by neutral cars;
8. team vehicles shall not be admitted to the race.


According to Lee, UCI rule 2.8.003 permits a maximum of three riders from a UCI Pro team to enter national-calendar races as individuals, but bars them from competing in their pro-team kit.

The compromise also affects BMC, a Continental Pro team subject to the UCI’s restrictions. As a consequence, team manager Gavin Chilcott said his squad, "per se, is not participating in the Tour of the Gila." Five of his riders are leaving Silver City, and while three will remain to compete — Scott Nydam, Florian Stalder and Chad Beyer — "they are not entered as a team and they will not be allowed to wear team uniforms," Chilcott said.

it was USA cyclings lack of knowledge of their own rules that has screwed BMC, but i was under the impression the UCI where looking to fix that..

more recent article here> http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lelangue-hopes-for-a-solution-to-bmc-calendar-woes

its unfortunate for BMC but then maybe it isnt.. they are the ones who want to be pro-continental level and enjoy some of what comes with that, wild card spots etc, but they still want the luxury of being able to compete, (and i dont know much about the us cycling scene but) i assume dominate on a national level.. maybe they should bite the bullet and decide what they want to be..

but one things for sure, it aint lances fault.. lol

It is probably a bigger deal for the three Astana riders that are in Nevada at this point when, maybe they should be in Europe doing some prep work.

i reckon they know what they are doing...

but if astana mess up the tour, dont worry, we shall come back to this post and you can tell us all you told us so..

 

[quadsRme]

I expect the Tour of Gila and the Nevada Classic to be full of Euro riders preparing for the Giro and Tour next year - after all, these races are obvioulsy so much more demanding and against so much tougher competition than the silly old Dauphine and the like

I like this comment. It appears that some of the US riders would rather train in the US against lesser talent than participate in Europe where the real racing is. Just look at the outcome of the Giro and you can see what that great training in the US did for the the boys.

Although the hog needs to make appearance for his organ-I-zation. just had a new baby, I can understand why he is stateside versus over seas.

Time will tell as the saga continues with the hog returning to the grand Boucle, hopefully his bike will not be the same paint job as the Giro model....

 

[Anonymous]

I like this comment. It appears that some of the US riders would rather train in the US against lesser talent than participate in Europe where the real racing is. Just look at the outcome of the Giro and you can see what that great training in the US did for the the boys.

Although the hog needs to make appearance for his organ-I-zation. just had a new baby, I can understand why he is stateside versus over seas.

Time will tell as the saga continues with the hog returning to the grand Boucle, hopefully his bike will not be the same paint job as the Giro model....

so levi didnt win the giro purely because he road in the Gila... ?

In that case.. im not riding the gila next year.. Reckon i will win the giro... I do sometimes wonder if people think before the post..

(and yes i know.. i dont generally)

 

[quadsRme]

No, i didn't post that. He chose to train in the US versus in the tuneup races in Europe with the other pros. Plus he went out too early in the season and peaked early.

think, i gave that up years ago

 

[Rice Daddy]

If he hadn't won, no doubt someone would have said, 'see, he can't even beat a bunch of amateurs'.

You can only beat the opposition you have.

Unless they're a bunch of Russians and Italians in a super-hard grand tour...then you finish 12th.

 

[Anonymous]

No, i didn't post that. He chose to train in the US versus in the tuneup races in Europe with the other pros. Plus he went out too early in the season and peaked early.

think, i gave that up years ago

I wish someone would spend half as much time talking about the comings and goings and critiques of European teams as they do Astana.

Levi trains here because he lives here.

He's in shape early because he defends his Tour of California title, which has now been moved to May, which should give a great alternative to teams that want to focus on the Tour without griding up their riders in the Giro.

 

[dgodave]

It is probably a bigger deal for the three Astana riders that are in Nevada at this point when, maybe they should be in Europe doing some prep work.

My opinion, thanks.

Interestingly, Nevada City is in CA.
.

 

[Escarabajo]

Interestingly, Nevada City is in CA.
.

My mistake. Thanks.

 

[Threshold]

As an AM I used to love it when ex pros or super elite guys used to show up and lap the field... or just get on the front and lift the race speed by 5kph it is a spectacle...

and lets you know that more than most sports going fast on a bike is all about your parents.

 

[quadsRme]

I wish someone would spend half as much time talking about the comings and goings and critiques of European teams as they do Astana.

Levi trains here because he lives here.

He's in shape early because he defends his Tour of California title, which has now been moved to May, which should give a great alternative to teams that want to focus on the Tour without griding up their riders in the Giro.

that's cool, I don't have a problem where they train. Results are what they are most likely graded on by their teams. What we say here is just fodder as far as what the teams think.

I agree about the ToC for Levi. it just makes it such a long season when you try to peak early and then come back later in the year and peak again for a GT or two. i have a lot of respect for USA races pro or conti riders. It is s tough way to carve out a niche in a predominately Euro sport.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

ime will tell as the saga continues with the hog returning to the grand Boucle, hopefully his bike will not be the same paint job as the Giro model....

Uh, JB is the hog, not LA.

He's in shape early because he defends his Tour of California title, which has now been moved to May, which should give a great alternative to teams that want to focus on the Tour without griding up their riders in the Giro.

I hear what you're saying, but I'd personally much rather win the Giro than the Tour of California.

 

[Bagster]

Unless they're a bunch of Russians and Italians in a super-hard grand tour...then you finish 12th.

This would have to be one of the stupidest comments I have seen on here. A "bunch of Russians and Italians"?? That doesn't need commenting on it's so dumb.

"then you finish 12th"?... Yes you do and most half intelligent, unbiased commentators who actually know something about the sport would say that: given it was his first Grand Tour in three years, plus the slight problem of a broken collarbone only weeks out from the Giro, 12th was a bloody good result.

I cast my mind back a little over six months ago when the naysayers were calling Armstrong's comeback a joke and how things had moved ahead, how he would be too old, too slow, just a publicity stunt. etc etc. Well here we are on the eve of the TdF and suddenly those people are very quiet (people like Jonathon Vaughters) They are going to be a lot quieter at the end of this three weeks I predict.

 

[patswana]

Well here we are on the eve of the TdF and suddenly those people are very quiet (people like Jonathon Vaughters) They are going to be a lot quieter at the end of this three weeks I predict.

Unlike Dr Ferrari, who gets a % of Lance's winnings. He won't be quiet at the end of the Tour.

 

[BroDeal]

Unlike Dr Ferrari, who gets a % of Lance's winnings. He won't be quiet at the end of the Tour.

Yes, good old Doctor Ferrari. In 1999 his daughter was disqualified from a triathlon when on the bike leg she was spotted being pushed along by another rider. The other rider turned out to be her father, Dr. Ferrari, wearing a fake race number. This is clearly a man who believes in cheating any and every way possible.

 

[Anonymous]

This would have to be one of the stupidest comments I have seen on here. A "bunch of Russians and Italians"?? That doesn't need commenting on it's so dumb.

"then you finish 12th"?... Yes you do and most half intelligent, unbiased commentators who actually know something about the sport would say that: given it was his first Grand Tour in three years, plus the slight problem of a broken collarbone only weeks out from the Giro, 12th was a bloody good result.

I cast my mind back a little over six months ago when the naysayers were calling Armstrong's comeback a joke and how things had moved ahead, how he would be too old, too slow, just a publicity stunt. etc etc. Well here we are on the eve of the TdF and suddenly those people are very quiet (people like Jonathon Vaughters) They are going to be a lot quieter at the end of this three weeks I predict.

I predict that in four weeks ****er fanboys like you will be long gone from this forum. I love it when the tourists leave.

 

[Bagster]

I predict that in four weeks ****er fanboys like you will be long gone from this forum. I love it when the tourists leave.

Sorry pal but this fanboy has been with cyclingnews for years so not much chance of that. You just keep working on your latest conspiracy theory just in case. To be honest I don't really care who wins as long as it is exciting racing. Having said that it would be great to see LA win just because I know that it will make people like you gag. But hey, the upside would be that you could dream up a whole lot more non detectable reasons why he did it.

 

[Bagster]

Unlike Dr Ferrari, who gets a % of Lance's winnings. He won't be quiet at the end of the Tour.

LOL where do you dream up this stuff. U people are seriously disturbed.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry pal but this fanboy has been with cyclingnews for years so not much chance of that. You just keep working on your latest conspiracy theory just in case. To be honest I don't really care who wins as long as it is exciting racing. Having said that it would be great to see LA win just because I know that it will make people like you gag. But hey, the upside would be that you could dream up a whole lot more non detectable reasons why he did it.

And they all have the same things to say. It is almost as if they are the same person. Unfortunately for the gene pool, that is not the case.

 

[Anonymous]

notice nobody has a problem with Brad Wiggins stickin it to the amateurs/semi pros in the beaumont trophy a couple of weeks ago..

rode straight off the front, took four of the best with him including russel downing, and then one by one just time triallied them off his wheel....

Didnt see them complaining though..

 

[runninboy]

notice nobody has a problem with Brad Wiggins stickin it to the amateurs/semi pros in the beaumont trophy a couple of weeks ago..

rode straight off the front, took four of the best with him including russel downing, and then one by one just time triallied them off his wheel....

Didnt see them complaining though..

Good point, shows the difference between UK & America. I believe there is a small minority in the US who want to protect what little they have.
A few years ago there was alot of noise about ex pro's & ex olympians beating up on lessor riders. It kind of came to a head when two 40 year old ex pro's won amateur nationals and then two days later were on a break together far in front of the Pros in the Olympic team selection race. They probably would have stayed away if they had not had to race over a hundred miles before the Qualifier. Officials and riders were screaming that it was bad for cycling if a couple of old men made the Olympic team, it would make cycling a joke blah blah blah
and yet in England it seems no one is mad that Malcolm Elliott still races

different culture