Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati
It’s down to four seconds between the reigning Tour de France champion and the young “Cobra” Ricco going into an epic weekend that features a brutal mountain stage and final time trial in Milan. This Giro could be one of the closest in memory after a week that featured a brutal uphill time [...]

My second year as race promoter for the Syracuse Race Weekend is in the books. The lead-up to the race was more hectic than expected as the wife was admitted to the hospital for fear of pre-term labor. So here I am calling people about things like insurance for firemen and last minute hay-bales while [...]

So to compare, David Millar’s throw seems to have gotten more air, but it is probably a much lighter bike. The Pinarello that Riis had probably weighed 19 pounds while Millar’s bike should weigh in at the UCI standard 16 pounds. Riis seems like such a douche when he throws the bike as opposed to [...]

Hmm, maybe David Millar won’t be doing promos for SRAM’s chains anytime soon. Bonus points for getting some good distance on the bike. Bjarne Riis would be proud. After 4 plus hours in a breakaway having your chain snap just as you are about to make a sprint has got to be the most frustrating [...]

(AFP/Damien Meyer)
Rain Sicilian roads made for a slick crash filled stage. The processional pace must have been a result of the crashes and recovery from the previous two stages. Passing from Catania to Messina there were many crashes highlighting the Giro coverage. Bradley McGee is the latest early exit from a nasty crash. That is [...]

(AFP/Damien Meyer)
One of the exciting aspects of the Giro are these brutal climbing circuit finishes that bring out the small Italian sprinting/climbing types. The Davide Rebellin’s Danilo Diluca’s and Paolo Bettini type of racers that can power up brutally steep climbs and sprint to win in a small pack. The new kid on the block [...]

There is a local TV show called Brdige St. which follows the Regis and Kelly format. This is the second year in a row that we were able to get a segment on the show. Sam Sampere of the Onondaga Cycling Club did the on air honors showing some gear and a Trek Madone 6.9 [...]

Photo (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
The Giro is upon us once again. The funnest Grand Tour started today in Palermo, Sicily with a Team Time Trial. Twenty years after Andy Hampsten last wore the Maglia Rosa in Milan to win the 1988 Giro D’Italia witha young American 7-Eleven team Christian Vande Velde wears the Maglia at the [...]