le grimpeur

L’elixir du grimpeur & thanks for reading2
Guy WR posted in Climbing Skills on December 21st, 2007

As the popular festive song says, “the weather outside is frightful”, and it is currently hard to muster much enthusiasm for riding in Vancouver. It is not the harshest winter weather here, but it still takes a physical and mental effort to do much on the bike at this time of year.

Sean Kelly had different ideas on winter training, once apparently saying that one doesn’t really know how cold it is outside until one actually starts riding. You just have to get out there!

Or as another hard man, Peter Van Petegem, said, Paris-Roubaix is not won on the day but in December and January when all the ‘hard kilometres’ get done. Indeed.

Unless one actually is training for Paris-Roubaix, the best option as this time of year is to watch the televised highlights while on the indoor trainer, or perhaps even perched on the couch with an appropriate festive tipple. (more…)

Souffrance3
Guy WR posted in Climbers, Classic Climbs, Classic Stages on December 18th, 2007

For professional cycling, suffering, or souffrance, is the nature of the game. Ultimately, part of the appeal of the sport is the visceral connection to be had between competitor and observer, as the latter sees the former overcome (or submit to) the suffering, often against backdrops of stunning natural beauty or breathtaking difficulty.

Le grimpeur was reminded recently that this year is the 20-year anniversary of one of the most exciting years of pro racing, 1987, when Stephen Roche won the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championship all in one season - a truly Merckxian feat.

While each race included plenty of suffering (the Giro passing into legend with the politics involved), the Tour de France that year added its own particular brand, and Roche was right at the centre. (more…)

Coeur de grimpeur - part 2 - the Polti years2
Guy WR posted in Climbers, Doping on December 10th, 2007

Following the Festina trial in Lille in 2000, Richard Virenque was suspended until 15 August 2001 and his future was uncertain.

He had already been rescued once, by Franco Polti, owner of the team for which he rode the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

“He’s a great rider,” Polti reportedly said of Virenque. “He’s got character. That’s why I said let’s sign Virenque. I like riders like Virenque.”

The two years leading up to the Festina trial in 2000 were already mentioned in part 1. With the confessions from the majority of the other riders on the Festina team, Virenque remained isolated with his denials during this time.

His popularity, at least with his fans, seemed not to diminish. He also rode with some success in the Tour de France and, unusually for Virenque - who targeted key races - the Giro d’Italia. A brief pause, therefore, to look at these years in more detail. (more…)