2 reasons Fabian Cancellara is one of my favorite racers

Exhibit A: Responding to the recent UCI decision to ban his aerodynamic Specialized Shiv time-trial bike from competition, Cancellara had this to say:

Do you remember the ONCE team? They had avant-garde bikes. When people look at the pro bikes, they should go crazy with the desire to have one the same. Anyway, I'd win, even if they give me a steel bike.

Exhibit B:

Viva Espana!

Tour of Murcia Bans Italian Teams

Tradition

Rest Vacation

The first half of the season is now over. I had good sensations, and I felt that the form was there, but the results don't quite match up. That's racing. There was some bad luck along the way, but luckily I never crashed or became ill. Now, I retire to a quaint chateau in the mountains of the American Northwest with Alejandro Valverde to rest and prepare for the closing races of the season.

Culture Shock

Today at work a lovely American girl who was walking by asked me, "Wanna give me a pump back to my office?" and motioned toward my beautiful Italian bicycle. I thought she was being serious, and I asked her to...how you say...become my wife. She laughed and smiled and broke my heart. I was being serious.

The Hammer Falls - Part I

Apologies for the delay in this update. Immediately following the racing in Fort Davis, I retired to a super-secret location somewhere in the rugged mountains along the Mexican border to receive emergency blood transfusions from hyper-oxygenated Himalayan sherpas. After a week of hot oil massages and rest, I can now say I am fully recovered from the savage festivities of the Fort Davis Hammerfest.

Before the first race day even arrived, my team, the might Wooly Mammoths began to take casualties. One of our hardiest racers, Giuseppe von Slatesonvald (who, in order to prepare for racing in the thin air of the West Texas mountains, had planned to camp at elevation with nothing but a pocket knife, a couple of matches, and a long-sleeve wool jersey for warmth) succumbed to a common viral infection. This was but a sign of things to come...

Update 2: Spring Classic

It's a bit unusual for a seasoned Euro-pro to take on an unsanctioned race, but the annual Austin Spring Classic benefits a worthy cause (YBP) and is possessed of its own unique quaintness and charm. The course was fast and treacherous, criss-crossing central Austin and challenging the combatants with an array of tasks to be completed. My favorite stop was the tea-chugging at Ruta Maya, followed by push-ups. Rolling in a solid fourth behind two of Austin's most experienced pro cyclists and a young up-and-comer, I am quite pleased. Plus, I won a nifty shirt and hat and wallet and $10.

This weekend is Belterra and Manda. I will, as always, be on the offensive.