So little time
I haven't been blogging much lately. Mostly that is because I've been saving my writing inspirations for school, but also there are just too many things I'd like to write about that I can't seem to choose. So it looks like I'm back at square one, unable to make a decision. I suppose there isn't a restriction, I can write about every topic that comes to mind if I want.
I'll start with Dave Zabriskie. I think he is the future of American cycling. Lance Armstrong is on the verge of retiring. Tyler Hamilton would have been the heir apparent, but he is embroiled in a doping scandal. I believe Tyler is innocent and I hope with all my heart that he will be exonerated. If Tyler is able to race next year, I think it's entirely possible that he will win the Tour de France in 2006. Tyler is a force of nature and I find it hard to believe that anything can stop him. However, he's 34 now and that's fairly near the age most professional cyclists retire from racing. So he may, god willing, keep American's interested in cycling for another couple of years, but then what? Dave Zabriskie is the next rising star. For me, his story was the most interesting one at this years Tour and when he abandoned the race the Tour didn't hold as much of my attention anymore.
Zabriskie has come back from the brink of death, which isn't a new story in the Tour de France, or in American cycling. Both Greg Lemmond and Lance Armstrong have done that, but I'll tell the story anyhow because it has a twist, I think. You see, Lance came back from advanced cancer and Greg Lemmond was nearly killed in a hunting accident, but Zabriskie's near death experience came when he was hit by a car while riding his bike. He nearly died in a bicycle accident and 2 years later was riding in the Tour de France. Not just riding in the Tour, winning the prologue and wearing the yellow jersey in the Tour.
His team director says that he's not a GC contender yet. apparently he needs to lose a little weight before he can compete with guys like Lance Armstrong in the mountains. That's an idea I always have to laugh at, that cyclists need to lose a few kilos. Anyone who has watched the sport knows that most of them haven't any spare weight, certainly no fat, on them. So the only thing left is muscle. Can you imagine being an athlete and having your manager tell you that you need to to tone down. Bizarre.
I was truly heartbroken when Dave Zabriskie hit the ground with 1 1/2 kilometers to go in the TTT (team time trial) last week. He's posted on his website (http://www.davezabriskie.com/) that he doesn't feel his team abandoned him, but they did finish the race without him. I think they could have left a guy or two with Zabriskie, they only needed 5 guys to finish together. My breath caught when he went down and I think I held it at least until his team crossed the line, but my heart truly broke when I saw him cross the line about a minute and a half later. His skin suit was all torn up and there was blood on his yellow jersey, he just looked at the ground. He should have had someone with him. I think.
Dave Zabriskie's had some bad luck recently, but I think he's in for great things in the years to come. Tyler Hamilton, too, has had some bad luck but I wouldn't count him out just yet either. I think Americans have a lot to look forward to and root for in the world of professional cycling.
I'll start with Dave Zabriskie. I think he is the future of American cycling. Lance Armstrong is on the verge of retiring. Tyler Hamilton would have been the heir apparent, but he is embroiled in a doping scandal. I believe Tyler is innocent and I hope with all my heart that he will be exonerated. If Tyler is able to race next year, I think it's entirely possible that he will win the Tour de France in 2006. Tyler is a force of nature and I find it hard to believe that anything can stop him. However, he's 34 now and that's fairly near the age most professional cyclists retire from racing. So he may, god willing, keep American's interested in cycling for another couple of years, but then what? Dave Zabriskie is the next rising star. For me, his story was the most interesting one at this years Tour and when he abandoned the race the Tour didn't hold as much of my attention anymore.
Zabriskie has come back from the brink of death, which isn't a new story in the Tour de France, or in American cycling. Both Greg Lemmond and Lance Armstrong have done that, but I'll tell the story anyhow because it has a twist, I think. You see, Lance came back from advanced cancer and Greg Lemmond was nearly killed in a hunting accident, but Zabriskie's near death experience came when he was hit by a car while riding his bike. He nearly died in a bicycle accident and 2 years later was riding in the Tour de France. Not just riding in the Tour, winning the prologue and wearing the yellow jersey in the Tour.
His team director says that he's not a GC contender yet. apparently he needs to lose a little weight before he can compete with guys like Lance Armstrong in the mountains. That's an idea I always have to laugh at, that cyclists need to lose a few kilos. Anyone who has watched the sport knows that most of them haven't any spare weight, certainly no fat, on them. So the only thing left is muscle. Can you imagine being an athlete and having your manager tell you that you need to to tone down. Bizarre.
I was truly heartbroken when Dave Zabriskie hit the ground with 1 1/2 kilometers to go in the TTT (team time trial) last week. He's posted on his website (http://www.davezabriskie.com/) that he doesn't feel his team abandoned him, but they did finish the race without him. I think they could have left a guy or two with Zabriskie, they only needed 5 guys to finish together. My breath caught when he went down and I think I held it at least until his team crossed the line, but my heart truly broke when I saw him cross the line about a minute and a half later. His skin suit was all torn up and there was blood on his yellow jersey, he just looked at the ground. He should have had someone with him. I think.
Dave Zabriskie's had some bad luck recently, but I think he's in for great things in the years to come. Tyler Hamilton, too, has had some bad luck but I wouldn't count him out just yet either. I think Americans have a lot to look forward to and root for in the world of professional cycling.
posted by Beth at
12:00 PM
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