Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Standard Obnoxious Sprinters Photo

I don't like sprinters. Robbie McEwen turns me off more than Alessandro Petacchi did (but I like him now for riding through a broken kneecap the other day in the Giro). And why is Paolo Bettini always second? (Photo by Graham Watson)

3 comments:

53rd Tooth said...

Wow 03, you're really marking your targets this year.

Regardless of what one may think of the varying personalities that make up the current sprinting boys club, you really must give credit where due.

I mean these guys hang for 125-200KM to come up to a break in one of the most dangerous conditions in sports and sustain power outputs of 400-600 watts in all out sprints. I mean that's as good as it gets. That's racing baby!

Without these guys we wouldn't even get The Tour televised. Have a power bar and relax already.

Unknown said...

I guess I'm just not into "positioning" for most of the race, only to have the part that matters come down to a sprint. Just hand me a polka dot jersey, eh? I like the climbing strategies, and that, after all, is where the stage races are determined (along with the time trials).
As for targets, well, it's a blog!

Granny's 30 said...

Gotta agree with 53rd as the essence of bike racing is getting to the finish line first...whether its in a crit or just beating a riding buddy to the next light post...I've even seen in some articles where some of the guys top out at over 1000W in the sprints...I think I saw where Ben Jacques-Maynes of Kodak Sierra Nevada hit 1400W on the power meter in a sprint at the Amgen TOC, and he didn't even win.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Standard Obnoxious Sprinters Photo

I don't like sprinters. Robbie McEwen turns me off more than Alessandro Petacchi did (but I like him now for riding through a broken kneecap the other day in the Giro). And why is Paolo Bettini always second? (Photo by Graham Watson)

3 comments:

53rd Tooth said...

Wow 03, you're really marking your targets this year.

Regardless of what one may think of the varying personalities that make up the current sprinting boys club, you really must give credit where due.

I mean these guys hang for 125-200KM to come up to a break in one of the most dangerous conditions in sports and sustain power outputs of 400-600 watts in all out sprints. I mean that's as good as it gets. That's racing baby!

Without these guys we wouldn't even get The Tour televised. Have a power bar and relax already.

Unknown said...

I guess I'm just not into "positioning" for most of the race, only to have the part that matters come down to a sprint. Just hand me a polka dot jersey, eh? I like the climbing strategies, and that, after all, is where the stage races are determined (along with the time trials).
As for targets, well, it's a blog!

Granny's 30 said...

Gotta agree with 53rd as the essence of bike racing is getting to the finish line first...whether its in a crit or just beating a riding buddy to the next light post...I've even seen in some articles where some of the guys top out at over 1000W in the sprints...I think I saw where Ben Jacques-Maynes of Kodak Sierra Nevada hit 1400W on the power meter in a sprint at the Amgen TOC, and he didn't even win.