Mikel Astarloza tests positive for EPO

I wrote about Mikel Astarloza winning Stage XVI of the 2009 Tour de France, and commented he didn’t look very happy when he won the stage, he looked angry. Maybe it was because he knew he’d be banned due to a positive test for EPO in a urine sample collected June 26.

Robbie McEwen summed it up nicely when he said, “Astarloza, you’re a wanker.”

In other cycling news, after accusations of doping, Bradley Wiggins released more than a years worth of blood tests. Wiggins hope to dispel any ideas that his 4th place finish was due to the dope. It may work, Garmin-Slipstream has said there is no evidence of “blood manipulation.” Also, Contador has turned down an offer to stay with Team Astana (surprise, surprise).

Of course, Astarloza’s b-sample has yet to be analyzed, but I still think he’s a guilty wanker, If you’re not smiling or crying when win a stage, you’re probably a doper.

My first real celebrity contact? Mythbuster Adam Savage

When I created my account on Twitter, I didn’t know who to follow. When I signed in, I saw very few messages and was discouraged by the social networking site. After awhile, I asked Google to tell me who to follow. I got several suggestions and now I follow people like Lance Armstrong, Johann Bruyneel, Rainn Wilson, and Adam Savage of the Mythbusters. I of course read their updates and as you might imagine I was interested in the tweets of Lance and Johann during the TDF. I am also amused by Rainn Wilson’s musings.

Reading their status updates was akin to being a voyeur, but a sanctioned voyeur. It wasn’t until I made contact with Adam Savage that I became more than an observer.

I’ve seen celebrities before, but never engaged them. In 2001, friends and I went to Omaha, NE to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Foo Fighters. As we checked into our room at the Embassy Suites and were waiting in the lobby, John Frusciante walked in, his face buried in a chinese take-out box. Anthony Kiedis walked through the lobby going the other way singing “American Band.” Then we saw Chad Smith in the Bar with Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. After the show we went to Foo guitarist Chris Shifflett’s room where he and Flea, and other fans, were sitting in a living room area discussing “Office Space” and not drinking. None of the fans spoke, we all just listened.

Most notably though was when I saw Leonardo DiCaprio at the Villa Borghese in Rome, Italy. The Villa Borghese was used by Cardinal Scipione Borghese and family as their home in the city and to house their art collection, which includes works by the famous sculptor, Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Leo wore a “Gangs of New York” hat and had a large entourage. As he toured the gallery, he emulated the famous sculptures. In front of the David (below) he crouched down to mimic the pose. At Apollo and Daphne (also below) he actually touched the delicate marble leaves, a big no-no. I didn’t talk to Leo though, I’m pretty sure his entourage would have dropped me.

On Twitter though, people can converse with the celebrities they follow. Yesterday, Adam Savage tweeted:

Please RT!Life expectancy in countries with Universal Healthcare vs. the US. http://bit.ly/yHnEM

The web-address links to a figure of several countries with Universal Health care and their life expectancies. Savage’s point was that people in countries with universal healtcare live longer.

I responded:

@donttrythis As a mythbuster, are you sure you can trust that Universal Health Care CAUSES increased life expectancy?

@donttrythis I apologize if that came off as snide. Universal Health Care sounds great, but I’m not sure it will make us live longer…

Now today, Savage has responded, but not to me directly. Does that mean I talked to a celebrity?

Okay okay. I totally agree correlation /= causation. AND I won’t post another graph w/o documentation. If the Public Option goes away …

Apollo & Daphne (G. Bernini, 1625)

David (Bernini, 1624)

Contador — “I have never had great admiration for Armstrong”

Interesting news about the Armstrong-Contador dynamic. Contador cuts loose in a recent news conference. In a way, I feel bad for Contador when he says the time in the hotel was harder than the time on the road. Then again, he could have won the tour and been a good teammate.

Read about the news conference at the New York Times (link: Contador news conference).

Tour de France Stage XXI: Montereau-Fault-Yonne — Paris Champs Elysees (101mi)

Today is the last stage of the Tour de France. While the ride around Paris and down the Champs-Elysees is mostly ceremonial, there will be at least one fight between Thor Hushovd and Mark Cavendish for the Green Jersey.

The Versus Commentators (all clad in suits) told their favorite moments from the tour.

Phil Liggett: Armstrong’s ride on Mont Ventoux.

Paul Sherwan: Cavendish’s finish in Stage 19.

Bob Roll: Seeing Armstrong on the start ramp in Monaco after a 4-year absence.

For me, this year’s tour has been full of rich characters and story arcs. For Team Astana, it started on Stage I when Armstrong showed he could still ride a bicycle but the team leader position would not be his by default. Armstrong showed he was a wiser cyclist than Contador on Stage III and overtook him in the GC.

Team Saxo Bank displayed their prowess immediately too, when Fabian Cancellara won Stage I, the invidual time trial. Frank and Andy Schleck, the brothers from Luxemborg, would be formidable. On Stage XVIII, one day after their teammate Jens Voigt crashed, they were relentless in attack and won.

During the Team Time Trial, Astana put aside all else and won Stage IV as a unit.At Arcalis, Contador made a savage accelearation up the mountain to earn back the best GC position for Astana. El Pistolero won again at Verbier and took the Maillot Jaune.

And who could forget the constant battle for sprinter supremacy and the green jersey? On days when the stages were colorless until the last kilometer, Mark Cavendish, Thor Hushovd, and Tyler Farrar lit up the road in frame-bending bursts of speed. Cavendish was clearly the man to beat, he would go on to win 6 stages in the tour. But Hushovd was more than just a sprinter, by winning critical intermediate sprint points, he was able to win the battle for the Green Jersey. Americans can look to Tyler Farrar to beat out both men and win a stage in the Tour de France 2010.

On the day of the final time trial, the riders in the top ten GC were solidly there. However, the final configuration was certainly not set. Cancellara, like Stage I, set the time to beat early on, but beaten it was by the final rider and yellow jersey of Contador.

Then up Mont Ventoux, hundreds of thousands of people watched as five men fought for their positions on one of the most fabled climbs of the Tour de France. Ultimately, we were all left with the status quo in the GC, which is not to say it wasn’t a brillant race.

In Paris, around the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs-Elysees, Cavendish annihilated the other sprinters. Everyone else of consequence were just holding on to the rapid pace set by Columbia-HTC.

1. Contador, 2. Shleck, & 3. Armstrong

Congratulations Alberto Contador.

Tour de France Stage XX: Montelimar — Mont Ventoux (103mi)

Since I helped today, Can I come to Radio Shack?

The beast is done, the riders are over Mont Ventoux in one piece. Aside from the parade on the Champs-Elysees the 2009 Tour de France is over.

Stage Winner: Juan Manuel Garate

General Classification Leader: Alberto Contador (81:46:17)

Lance Armstrong (GC): 3rd (+00:05:24)

Laura Antoine: You tell me… I’m tired of keeping tabs on this one.

Woke up fairly early to watch the last “real” stage of the TdF today with my wife and good neighbor, one of the first times I’ve had company for the tour this year. I expected Mont Ventoux would be the best stage of the tour to watch, with so much on the line, this late in the Tour, there would be fireworks (as Bobke would say). I can say it was fun to watch but there wasn’t much (any?) shake-up in the GC.

On Ventoux, the riders to watch were the current holder of the Maillot Jaune, Alberto Contador, the Maillot Blanc, Andy Shleck, his brother Frank Schleck, Lance Armstrong and the Brit Bradley Wiggins. They were all marked by each other and stayed in a close pack for a good amount of time. Andy accelerated up the beast several times always with Contador on his wheel. Once Andy realized he was only losing his brother, he sat-up.

Armstrong needed only to prevent Wiggins or F. Schleck to gain time on him. When it counted, Armstrong was able to do that, and stayed on the wheels of his opponents. Eventually “the elastic snapped” for Wiggins and he became a non-threat for Armstrong. The Schlecks saw an opening for Frank to leap-frog Wiggins in the GC but their efforts were to no avail.

In summary, today’s race up Mont Ventoux went alright, it could have gone better, but it definitely could have gone all wrong for the “old fart.” Welcome back Lance, looking forward to next year and everything in between.

As an aside, pretty sure ol’ Zombie-Face, Tony Martin, blew chunks a handful of times on his way to a second-place finish.

Tony Martin's Zombie Face of Pain (Middle)

Tour de France Stage XIX Bourgoin-Jallieu — Aubenas (110mi)

Cavendish for Stage Win and GBR Record

Stage Winner: Mark Cavendish (GBR record, 9 stage wins)

General Classification Leader: Alberto Contador (77:06:18)

Lance Armstrong (GC): 3rd (+00:05:21)

Laura Antoine: The return of the Podium Girl — Laura and Andy Schleck kiss cheeks.

Big ups to Mark Cavendish who was able to stay with the peloton over the climb and make a v. strong finish. A deserved win. Hushovd retains the green jersey with a second place finish, but there is no question Cavendish will fight for it on the Champs-Elysees.

Anyone else ready for Mont Ventoux?

Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France Annoucement: Radio Shack

With a planned-surprise announcement posted online today, Texas based company, Radio Shack has partnered with Lance Armstrong to form a new professional cycling team. It was not mentioned who would be the General Manager (directeur sportiff). Johann Bruyneel has said he will not return to Astana, and I can’t imagine Lance riding without Bruyneel.

You can read the Radio Shack press release here, and view Lance’s video here.

With this announcement and the happenings of the 2009 Tour de France, it is clear Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador will be arch-rivals in the 2010 Tour de France. And, Oh! What a fight it will be!

Tour de France Stage XVIII: Annency — Annency (TT) (25mi)

Yesterday I predicted the results for the individual time-trial. I thought Armstrong would finish first. From 1999 to 2005, Armstrong won each individual time trial except 2003. As a time trial specialist and now a GC contender, I thought Bradley Wiggins would finish second. Finally, Kloden would finish third, the German has always been a strong time-trialist.

Stage Winner: Alberto Contador (00:48:30)

General Classification Leader: Alberto Contador (73:15:39)

Lance Armstrong (GC): 3rd (+00:05:25)

Laura Antoine: You’re guess is as good as mine. Is she no longer a podium-girl?

Watching time trials are nerve-wracking, I can’t imagine being a rider, racing against the ticking clock. An early man out, Fabian Cancellara made the best time, until the final man on the course finished. Alberto earned the best time of the day.

Astana was afraid of Bradley Wiggins for good reason, he was setting the bar at each of the time checks but slowed down near the end. He ended up 43 seconds behind Contador. Next, Andreas Kloden finishes 54 secs behind Contador’s time.

Now for Lance Armstrong. At the first time check he was a little over 20 secs behind the best time of Wiggins, and over 40 secs behind Wiggo’s time at the summit of the small climb. In a great finish he bested Wiggo with a final time of 50 min to secure his 3rd position in the GC.

Frank and Andy Schleck were both expected to drop lots of time against the others because time-trialing is not their speciality. Frank lost 2min 34 secs to Contador, while Andy exceeded expectations with a finish of 1min 45secs behind Contador

Alberto Contador tore it up and I was dissapointed. Not only were my predictions incorrect, but also the cyclist who has spurned his teammates has been rewarded again.

I am my own team.

Dave Zabriskie – Cyclist

I don’t have much reason to post about Dave Zabriskie other than the fact I found this cool picture of him. He’s also an interesting tweeter. Zabriskie wore the Maillot Jaune for a few stages in 2005 and is known as an excellent time-trialer. Check out the picture below and enjoy his enigmatic tweets…

Dave Zabriskie - Cyclist

Hoping Jens is ok.11:32 AM Jul 21st

Pawns in their game…11:07 AM Jul 18th

Just found out I’m in 69th place.11:04 AM Jul 12th

Watching Voeckler get manhandled by his team-mate, he seems to be enjoying it.10:51 AM Jul 12th

It’s down there somewhere, let me take another look.11:31 AM Jul 8th

just had a dream…I was playing basket ball with @levileipheimer…he was hittin a few jumpers…so I had to go dunkathon on him.2:36 PM Jul 2nd

Ryder is perfect roommate. He has no sense of smell. You know what that means…3:21 PM Jun 29th

Reading Cat’s Cradle outloud to my new roomate, Ryder Hesjedal. I think its going well.1:08 PM Jun 29th

Time to cropdust.7:52 AM May 26th

Holding the gas in while on massage table…7:33 AM May 26th

Today was the kind of day that made me wish I could piss over my head while riding.2:13 PM May 20th

Tour de France Stage XVII: Bourg-St.-Maurice — Le Grand Bornand (105 miles)

Four Arms are better than Two.

Stage Winner: The Schlecks (take your pick)

General Classification Leader: Alberto Contador (72:27:09)

Lance Armstrong (GC):  4th (+00:03:55)

Laura Antoine: Maybe Skoda fired her…

Today was to be the hardest stage in the TdF 2009, according to Paul Sherwan and a few others (e.g. Armstrong), the Alpine Triology, part III. Earlier in the Tour, Mark Cavendish was penalized for a bit of rough activity with Thor Hushovd near a stage finish. As a result, Hushvod was able to take the green jersey. Cavendish has been quoted saying the green jersey will have a “stain” on it.

Regardless, Hushovd broke away today and led the race, earning valuable sprint points along the way. It will be near impossible for Cavendish to take the sprinter’s title now. He will be back with a vengeance next year.

Phil Liggett spoke to Levi Leipheimer via telephone from California today. He made several predictions, one of which was that Bradley Wiggins, Lance Armstrong, and Andreas Kloden would be on the podium in Paris. His prediction for today’s stage was that the Schlecks would attack early on the penultimate climb of the day, the Col de Romme, when the inclines were 10-12%.

The attacks came fast but not from the Schlecks, Carlos Barredo and Carlos Sastre set out immediately, but they didn’t last long. Halfway up the Col de Romme, with an incline of 12.5%,  Frank Schleck, not Andy, made an attack but Armstrong followed. Now Andy attacks, Contador and Kloden follow. Frank attacks again, Armstrong and Wiggins follow. Andy goes again, Contador follows, Kloden bridges the gap, Wiggins cracks.

Contador looks relaxed and “resplendent in yellow” with co-leaders A. Kloden and Schleck Bros.  at Col Du Romme Summit. Armstrong, Christian VandeVelde, and Wiggins are making a good “diesel” tempo 1 min behind the lead group.

On the Col de la Colombiere with 1 mile to the summit, Contador attacks, Schleck Bros. follow but Kloden cannot. Bad move by Contador. In the first chase group, Armstrong attacks and drops Wiggins, deja vu. The Texas Flag leads Armstrong up the mountain. Armstrong made a great descent and caught up with his teammate Kloden as the lead group, Schlecks and Contador crossed the finish line.

Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador will be rivals in the Tour de France 2010.

Good for the Lone Star state.