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Beijing road set for twists and turns
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Enlarge textSBS Cycling Commentator Mike Tomalaris isn't quite ready to put his money on the favourites for the road race at the Beijing Games.
- 25 Comments | Join the discussion
When it comes to the cycling men's road race at the Olympics, I'm not in the business of hanging myself out to dry.
If there's one event which is perhaps the most difficult to predict it's this one.
A one-day race over a distance of around 200 kilometres is a lottery as far as I'm concerned.
The Tour de France has just been completed and therefore you'd think Carlos Sastre would be an obvious choice for the gold medal with Australia's Cadel Evans battling for the minor placings. But I just don't necessarily see it that way.
Spain has named a super, super team of five super riders with super credentials.
Sastre will be joined by Alberto Contador (the 2008 winner of the Giro), Oscar Freire (winner of Tour de France green jersey), Samuel Sanchez (Tour de France top 10 finisher) and Alejandro Valverde (Tour de France stage winner and winner of the Dauphine Libere).
Don't discount the Aussies either.
Cadel Evans will spearhead an experienced and successful squad which includes Simon Gerrans, Stuart O'Grady, Matt Lloyd and Michael Rogers.
Italy has also named a strong squad but I'll be frank - given the suspension of Riccardo Ricco from the Tour and the latest positive return by the Giro's winner of the mountain competition this year, I'm hoping the Italians get burned in Beijing.
There's obviously a major doping culture that still exists in that country, and a gold medal to Italy would not be justified in my opinion, given the recent series of drug-related events.
So here are my medal tips for Beijing.
Gold: Alejandro Valverde (ESP)
Silver: Andy Schleck (LUX)
Bronze: Matt Lloyd (AUS)
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Comments (25)
Previous 10 |
13 Aug 2008 22:22 AEST
From: perth
Cadel Evans !!!!!!!!1
All the TALK...Talk and the talk !!! SO how many medals has he won? What is the new excuse ??
13 Aug 2008 20:02 AEST
From: Brisbane
No spectators is a good idea.
I think the Chinese have got it right for a change. The relise how crap cycling is and to protect the dim wits out there from their own stupidity the limit spectators. I thing the Chinese should go one step further and dig a huge hole in the road to swallow poofey riders on their poofy bikes. Go for gold, and keep your eyes of the road!
13 Aug 2008 13:35 AEST
From: Janda
Olympic Spectators
Again - no families allowed on the course - I would have thought with so many bike sin China - that this of all sports would have been the " People's Event" - I suppose the local VIPs will be asleep again in the viewing stands.
13 Aug 2008 13:23 AEST
From: Jandakot WA
Track Cycling Coverage
Whoops - losing my English. That should read " How come when SBS is....... " Sorry guys John
13 Aug 2008 12:50 AEST
From: Mount Waverly
Road cycling what a joke!
Instead of giving out gold medals they should beat them severley instead then donating their crappy bikes to the Chinese who would then use them as a remninder to their slanty eyed people to shut the fuc# up and conform. Go for Gold, cause I have my fisty gloves on and can't wait to use them. Aussie aussie smash!
13 Aug 2008 12:48 AEST
From: Jandakot WA
Track Coverage
How come as the only TV Channel that has a knowledgeable commentator ( Mike T ) who knows about cycling - all the track events seem to be under the Channel 7 banner ? Very disppointing. SAd to say the Road race commentaries were appalling. Phil should be honorably retired - he just doesn't have it any more - too may mistakes and becoming anothe David Duffield.
11 Aug 2008 7:30 AEST
From: gordon d
squeeky clean
There's obviously a major doping culture that still exists in that country, and a gold medal to Italy would not be justified in my opinion, given the recent series of drug-related events. -hey mike, i can think of 3 Australian pros who have tested positive in recent times including an ex national champion. (and we don't have many pros) how come you never report that?
10 Aug 2008 17:40 AEST
From: Ashgrove
Auxilliary brake levers
Also, these levers are different from the so-called "safety levers" that were around on some mass-produced bikes in the 70's. Those old levers involved a linkage that operated directly on the main brake lever, and were unable to transmit force efficiently, but these newer auxilliary levers , as Cameron said, are in-line, and operate directly on the brake cable.
10 Aug 2008 17:24 AEST
From: Coburg
Womens Road race Commentators FYI 'strange levers'
I'm surprised and at the lack of knowledge the two 'well known' commentators showed, when making such a fuss over the German riders 'strange, never seen before' handlebar levers. These are 'cyclocross' levers. Used on the road by some riders as a safety pre-caution. Accidents can happen quickly and they save the time taken to react and then reach down to brake. Can mean the difference between crashing and riding on.
10 Aug 2008 17:14 AEST
From: port melb
Cyclocross brake levers
Cyclocross-racers can sometimes be seen riding bikes with four brake levers. Two additional brake levers allow them to actuate their brakes when riding at the flat section of the bars. Hanka Kupfernagel, 2000 and 2001 CX World Champion and one of the best women on the road circuit as well, rides such a setup because it greatly increases safety.
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About this Blog
Stay in touch with the ProTour road cycling season with SBS's cycling blog, featuring race reports, video highlights and blog coverage of every race of 2008, as well as details of SBS's racing coverage
Mike Tomalaris is SBS's cycling presenter, who has covered the Tour de France for 12 years. Mike is a keen cyclist himself, and covers a few hundred kilometres a week in a social weekend bunch ride. For cycling fans around Australia, Mike Tomalaris is cycling.
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