I am writing this blog post a little earlier than normal due to the simple fact that I only raced today and sadly will not be partaking in tomorrow's planned race, this is because I am stubborn man who really should know better with my vast experience in sport over the years. I picked a niggle in my right knee a couple of weeks ago, I R.I.C.E.d it for a bit and continued training and racing as per normal on it, with only ill effects shown after a hard/long ride. However one should never ignore such an issue as it will comeback to haunt you one day and it will simply not just go away, not when someone like myself is asking so much of my body each day. My day of reckoning was today and after about two-thirds of the race completed in what was left of the bunch, it had split into three distinct groups after about 3 laps, I called it a day as the niggle had become more persistent and was now actually affecting me riding the bike. I believe there are 2 reasons for this, one old shoes and second, just straining the tendon, but we will have to see what the osteopath says when I see him this week.
Today was a 2/3/Junior race 16x6km laps, windy and quite flat so made for me really, as stated above I did not/could not perform, fortunately there are many good lads out here on tour with me to more than make up for my flaccidity with an all-British podium. Sam Allen won, Doug Dewey got second and George Moore got third, all great rides by the fellas who would definitely pick up some decent awards and nicknames at uni for their performances recently. Due to this though I feel I would win an award out here in France that I became synonymous with during my time at Swansea, that of 'Being the biggest wet cock', something that I rather would not happen.
During the week George's Mum, Dad and his Dad's parents came to stay as it was Monsieur Tash's birthday thanks to them for the lovely meal they all took us to on Thursday evening and Friday's lunch at their gite.
I will keep you all updated on my knee situation, I hope all is going well over in Britain or wherever you may be. I'm off to watch some stuff to cheer me up, Arturo 'Thunder Gatti vs 'Irish' Mickey Ward springs to mind as does the Flight of the Conchords, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmDTSQtK20c.
Bonne Courage
Saturday 27 April 2013
Monday 22 April 2013
Short and sweet
Hi Ladies and Lads, the week just gone has been quite a good one for me, as now I have finally taken delivery of my Aprire Celeste frameset, which is currently getting built up at the local bike shop, Macarini's and just a solid week of hard training with nothing really going wrong. Here in Brittany, we have been blessed with some warmer temperatures too making the whole experience and series of sensations this week much more pleasant, on a side note, my tanlines have come on leaps and bounds drawing many an envious and admiring glance.
I had the one race this week on the Sunday, Le Ronde de Poerhut, a 1/2/3 race covering 134km. The race was rapid from the off as the weather was good and very little wind. There was lots of activity at the front of the bunch with lots of breaks constantly going and coming back with nothing properly sticking until a break went with about 8km before the finishing circuits, 9 laps of 7.5km on a tough, draggy route. I was nearly in this break and could go with the first time, however when they stuck their heads down and went for it a second time I just didn't have the legs. That's the difference compared to most British races, as in the latter you only need to launch the once, you don't necessarily always have to go again on top off the initial attack.
Once on to the finishing circuits the peloton stayed pretty much together until about 2 and half laps in when all hell broke loose and lots of little groups were breaking away, re-forming, all very liquid. I ended up in a group with George where we sat in thinking we were going to sprint for about 20th place at best, at worst 30th. The rest of our group also seemed to think this too and so the sprint was quite keenly contested. unfortunately the sprint was at the top of a hill, albeit not a serious one and I made the cardinal sin of launching my sprint too early, with about 200/250m to go. I was winning the sprint and then cramp hit my thighs with 100m to go and so I had to try and sprint sitting down. At this point a couple of riders come flying past, including one who was trying to do his best Theo Bos impression, George. He won the sprint, I think, but sadly for us it was not for 20th or 30th, but 40th and so that's where he came and I finished in 44th. Sam Allen and Doug Dewey had great races finishing 10th and 3rd respectively.
My Pinarello held up well during the race and hopefully I can continue with another good block of training and being able to race without any issues, this will definitely help with the new bike and then when I finally get the bearings for the Reynolds front wheel, then I should be really flying.
In other related news this week I haven't had the opportunity to conduct as many discussion with Marie as I would like, but French is gradually becoming easier and I can get my point across, though ruefully, in quite a barbaric manner, not only with my heavy English accent, but using the infinitive form of words and roughly describing the actions of an object, for example, that I am attempting to describe. Hopefully my advances in French won't be disrupted by me beginning a new book after finally getting over Captain Scott's fateful journal, this book is called The Balkans 1804-1999 by Misha Glenny. I initially began to read this about two years ago, however it had to be put on the back-burner due to my degree and the necessary reading for it getting in the way. From what I remember it was great read, however I did only read 120 pages out of the nearly 700 so I can not really judge yet.
I hope everyone is well and their racing is going great too, congratulations to Graham Howell on his first win of the year also.
Another great week of professional road racing this week, it's just a shame that we didn't get to see the anticipated showdown between Nibali and Wiggins, but it only makes me pine for the Giro to start as soon as possible especially with Hesjedal return to form as demonstrated by Martin's win at La Doyenne yesterday.
Check out Graham Howell's and Verity Ockenden's blog, they've written some great, interesting pieces that are nowhere as disjointed as this blog entry.
I had the one race this week on the Sunday, Le Ronde de Poerhut, a 1/2/3 race covering 134km. The race was rapid from the off as the weather was good and very little wind. There was lots of activity at the front of the bunch with lots of breaks constantly going and coming back with nothing properly sticking until a break went with about 8km before the finishing circuits, 9 laps of 7.5km on a tough, draggy route. I was nearly in this break and could go with the first time, however when they stuck their heads down and went for it a second time I just didn't have the legs. That's the difference compared to most British races, as in the latter you only need to launch the once, you don't necessarily always have to go again on top off the initial attack.
Once on to the finishing circuits the peloton stayed pretty much together until about 2 and half laps in when all hell broke loose and lots of little groups were breaking away, re-forming, all very liquid. I ended up in a group with George where we sat in thinking we were going to sprint for about 20th place at best, at worst 30th. The rest of our group also seemed to think this too and so the sprint was quite keenly contested. unfortunately the sprint was at the top of a hill, albeit not a serious one and I made the cardinal sin of launching my sprint too early, with about 200/250m to go. I was winning the sprint and then cramp hit my thighs with 100m to go and so I had to try and sprint sitting down. At this point a couple of riders come flying past, including one who was trying to do his best Theo Bos impression, George. He won the sprint, I think, but sadly for us it was not for 20th or 30th, but 40th and so that's where he came and I finished in 44th. Sam Allen and Doug Dewey had great races finishing 10th and 3rd respectively.
My Pinarello held up well during the race and hopefully I can continue with another good block of training and being able to race without any issues, this will definitely help with the new bike and then when I finally get the bearings for the Reynolds front wheel, then I should be really flying.
In other related news this week I haven't had the opportunity to conduct as many discussion with Marie as I would like, but French is gradually becoming easier and I can get my point across, though ruefully, in quite a barbaric manner, not only with my heavy English accent, but using the infinitive form of words and roughly describing the actions of an object, for example, that I am attempting to describe. Hopefully my advances in French won't be disrupted by me beginning a new book after finally getting over Captain Scott's fateful journal, this book is called The Balkans 1804-1999 by Misha Glenny. I initially began to read this about two years ago, however it had to be put on the back-burner due to my degree and the necessary reading for it getting in the way. From what I remember it was great read, however I did only read 120 pages out of the nearly 700 so I can not really judge yet.
I hope everyone is well and their racing is going great too, congratulations to Graham Howell on his first win of the year also.
Another great week of professional road racing this week, it's just a shame that we didn't get to see the anticipated showdown between Nibali and Wiggins, but it only makes me pine for the Giro to start as soon as possible especially with Hesjedal return to form as demonstrated by Martin's win at La Doyenne yesterday.
Check out Graham Howell's and Verity Ockenden's blog, they've written some great, interesting pieces that are nowhere as disjointed as this blog entry.
Tuesday 16 April 2013
The French, bonne chance et malchance
This post is a mixed bag really involving many different emotions and covering differing subjects, but as ever I am going to start this chronologically and so it begins with Marie. She and I have both decided to try have a proper sit down discussion each day to improve on each other's respective language skills of the other peron's language. This has been highly enjoyable and is really eye-opening on so many different levels, certainly how the French view us, the English/British and themselves. Firstly the French look at the English and to some degree the rest of the British Isles to be Norse and do actually refer to us as being such, not just that we are closely related or that we have similar cultural and lingistical aspects, this I find absolutely fascinating and goes some way to explaining why the French view us the way they do. They see us as very different to themselves and in view us in the usual British/English stereotypes, proper, slightly cold etc... what's interesting though is how much this is all reflected in the languages and everyday speaking. When a Frenchman asks a question, half the time they will miss out the beginning question word/s and the establishment of context, they presume you should be able to answer and recognise that's it's a question in the first place, just by the slight inflexion at the end of a sentence. It's quite off-hand and has made learning French even more of a struggle. Whilst in Britain, we mostly or always use question words to ask a question because how can you ask a question without them? It's just a statement otherwise surely?
What the French think of themselves is interesting too because they also see themselves as uncommunicative and not just with foreigners, but to each other, having said this nearly everyone I have met as made a real effort to communicate with me. On the otherhand though whilst us English will usually slow down and pronounce words correctly to help foreigners who are struggling with speaking English, the French don't really seem to embrace this attitude, what they will do is try to say what they are saying in as many different ways as possible until we get something. Any of them that do speak English will readily employ as much as they know for us during conversations which is most welcomed, though since I arrived I have been surprised by either the amount of French that do not speak any English or necessarily any other language, this makes me think that Brits are not quite as ignorant of other languages as before, but only slightly.
On to the racing, I picked up my first top 10 on Saturday coming 9th in G.P. Peaule 2/3/Juniors, a very stormy day, the race was held on a square-ish 4.5km circuit around town, with a long draggy hill in it that came in 2 stages. We had to do 22 laps altogether. I was in every move in the race except the one that got away and would contain a good few of the top 10, someone in about 8th wheel for no real reason put the brakes on literally, allowing a group of 7 to go up the road, I was 20th wheel at the time. This was with about 10 laps to go, with lots of the favourites markking each other and racing so hard earlier to try and get away, as well as most of the decent teams represented in the break, there was no real concerted effort to chase. Sam Allen managed to jump across to that group and then take a great win, unfortunately I just didn't have the legs to go with Sam thus costing me a higher position, which on balance I should have got. Anyway I sat in for the sprint and got 9th, not too bad, though I should have gone earlier as many from the break were crawling across the line as I was finishing. Pleased, but also this performance was tempered by disappointment at not getting as high a placing as I should have done.
Nevertheless after yesterday's performance I was feeling confident about the Bignan race also 2/3/Juniors, this race was longer than Saturday's totalling 120km and a lot hillier, including going up Plumelec Hill from two different sides. Anyway today was lovely day with not as strong winds as the day before, therefore I switched to my deeper section wheels. Unfortunately this would prove to be my downfall as the front wheel has some bearing issue, these are getting replaced however the new bearings have not arrived yet, still I thought it would be fine to continue using the deeper front wheel until the new bearings came. This was not that case as at the beginning of the race I felt rubbish and like I was cycling through treacle, no where near as easy as the previous day's performance felt. I believed I was having an off day, however on a big climb about 55mins, this is where the peloton really shattered, I was alright postionallly, but it felt so difficult cycling up the hill and my front wheel was giving me real cause for concern actively resisting me. I changed the wheel at the top of the climb, but I had to wait a good while before the car got to me because of how strung out the peloton was (incidentally Sunday's race had a lot of starters, close to 200). I changed the front wheel and chased back on to the peloton. Sadly, the race had well and truly gone from me at this point, so all I could make sure to do was get in the next move and make it as good a training session as possible, so I drove the break finishin 62nd.
Another thing that made me even angrier than my front wheel bearings completely going was the fact that Sebastien, the team president, discovered that my Pinarello has two cracks either side of the cranks and bottom bracket. Sunday was certainly a black day for me. On top of this I've got some swelling on my right knee, but this has really gone done now with some R.I.C.E.
Nevermind, it is all a learning experience and hopefully no more bad luck occurs, now I've only got one race this week, another 2/3/Juniors where I hope I can really perform.
Hope you are all well and enjoying what little Sun that has managed to shine through.
What the French think of themselves is interesting too because they also see themselves as uncommunicative and not just with foreigners, but to each other, having said this nearly everyone I have met as made a real effort to communicate with me. On the otherhand though whilst us English will usually slow down and pronounce words correctly to help foreigners who are struggling with speaking English, the French don't really seem to embrace this attitude, what they will do is try to say what they are saying in as many different ways as possible until we get something. Any of them that do speak English will readily employ as much as they know for us during conversations which is most welcomed, though since I arrived I have been surprised by either the amount of French that do not speak any English or necessarily any other language, this makes me think that Brits are not quite as ignorant of other languages as before, but only slightly.
On to the racing, I picked up my first top 10 on Saturday coming 9th in G.P. Peaule 2/3/Juniors, a very stormy day, the race was held on a square-ish 4.5km circuit around town, with a long draggy hill in it that came in 2 stages. We had to do 22 laps altogether. I was in every move in the race except the one that got away and would contain a good few of the top 10, someone in about 8th wheel for no real reason put the brakes on literally, allowing a group of 7 to go up the road, I was 20th wheel at the time. This was with about 10 laps to go, with lots of the favourites markking each other and racing so hard earlier to try and get away, as well as most of the decent teams represented in the break, there was no real concerted effort to chase. Sam Allen managed to jump across to that group and then take a great win, unfortunately I just didn't have the legs to go with Sam thus costing me a higher position, which on balance I should have got. Anyway I sat in for the sprint and got 9th, not too bad, though I should have gone earlier as many from the break were crawling across the line as I was finishing. Pleased, but also this performance was tempered by disappointment at not getting as high a placing as I should have done.
Nevertheless after yesterday's performance I was feeling confident about the Bignan race also 2/3/Juniors, this race was longer than Saturday's totalling 120km and a lot hillier, including going up Plumelec Hill from two different sides. Anyway today was lovely day with not as strong winds as the day before, therefore I switched to my deeper section wheels. Unfortunately this would prove to be my downfall as the front wheel has some bearing issue, these are getting replaced however the new bearings have not arrived yet, still I thought it would be fine to continue using the deeper front wheel until the new bearings came. This was not that case as at the beginning of the race I felt rubbish and like I was cycling through treacle, no where near as easy as the previous day's performance felt. I believed I was having an off day, however on a big climb about 55mins, this is where the peloton really shattered, I was alright postionallly, but it felt so difficult cycling up the hill and my front wheel was giving me real cause for concern actively resisting me. I changed the wheel at the top of the climb, but I had to wait a good while before the car got to me because of how strung out the peloton was (incidentally Sunday's race had a lot of starters, close to 200). I changed the front wheel and chased back on to the peloton. Sadly, the race had well and truly gone from me at this point, so all I could make sure to do was get in the next move and make it as good a training session as possible, so I drove the break finishin 62nd.
Another thing that made me even angrier than my front wheel bearings completely going was the fact that Sebastien, the team president, discovered that my Pinarello has two cracks either side of the cranks and bottom bracket. Sunday was certainly a black day for me. On top of this I've got some swelling on my right knee, but this has really gone done now with some R.I.C.E.
Nevermind, it is all a learning experience and hopefully no more bad luck occurs, now I've only got one race this week, another 2/3/Juniors where I hope I can really perform.
Hope you are all well and enjoying what little Sun that has managed to shine through.
Monday 8 April 2013
Heavy (but not the Dizzee Rascal/Chase & Status song)
This blog will be pretty loaded and heavy so best be prepared, firstly I must of course mention the death of Thatcher, I certainly did not agree with many of her policies as many do not, but even though I and many of my family are socialist or possess socialist leanings, including myself, there is still a great amount of respect for her and what she did. This is because she believed in her convictions, stood by many of her descisions and wanted to do her very best for Britain as well as breaking down so many barriers by becoming Britain's first woman Prime Minister. Many people point to fashion, music and trends to define the '80's, but these tell you all you need to know about the far-reaching pull that Thatcher had during a turbulent period in Britain's history. From Punk in the late '70's to the early '80's, the Ska movement and the New Romantics, all these reference Thatcher. The rise of the Yuppies and the 'Loadsamoney' figures, her refusal to bow to the I.R.A., miners, the Soviets, the Argentines etc... (the list gets quite long), Thatcher changed Britain directly socially and cultrally as well as politcally and economically showing a profund reach that many politicians simply do not have today, have not had in yesteryear and will not ever have. The Iron Lady changed Britain fundementally and that she was still being discussed regularly even after her retirement as MP shows just how far-reaching her policies and her character was. She was a giant that bestrode global politics who tried to solve the many problems that were deeply inflicting Britain and the world, at least Scargill has finally beaten her, I wouldn't be surprised if he dies soon too as I suspect his only reason for living over these past couple of years was just so that he could finally beat at something.
I think the fact that Thatcher's legacy has always been discussed is testament to her really because Tony Blair, the more recent PM who served only a year and half less as PM as Thatcher, and his legacy is not discussed as much in comparison I feel. Spitting Image put it perfectly in this little piece, though it obviously refers to her ousting when she was PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1jY5fYjV-U
With regards to my previous post it drew much attention some positive and some negative, including Verity, who said that I simply had not gone far enough in that I didn't call for podium girls to be got rid of in future cycling events. My reply was that this is simply to radical, not for me, but society, especially captialism and by getting rid of podium girls you are beginning to unravel the thread of the fashion industry that is entwined with other threads that make up the rope of capitalism. The problem is more profund when unravelling the thread of fashion as this represents the epitome of capitalism and everything it stands for, a greed, a wanting, all objects and lifestyles that are unattainable to the masses and more importantly, useless. Podium girls are the personification of this, I am not having a go at them per se, but the occupation and so that is why I feel I could not suggest such an idea, it is too big with too many vested interests.
I rested up this week, starting training on the turbo on Wednesday and training on the turbo everyday except Saturday because of the weather being so poor and my cold. I then looked forward to my first race back on Sunday, 18 laps of a flat and open 5.5km course, a 2/3/Junior race, the second in a series of 4 races that began the previous Sunday, yes that's right I missed the first one. As George came second last week in Sunday's race he was also second in the G.C. so we believed, quite rightly, that the whole team would be working on behalf of George, unfortunately only me and Hamish did. After a couple of laps a break went of about 10 containing 3 of our teammates as well as the overall leader, they stayed away till the finish much to our collective dismay, I was riding strong all race, but I punctured with 4 laps to go, race over, very gutting. The peloton subsequently split into two with George the right side of the split this time and Hamish the wrong side, George eventually came over in about twenth, putting in fifth in the G.C. and Hamish rolled over in about 30th. The weather was good with a fair wind, nothing else to note really.
In stark constrast Monday's race was abysmal with a strong wind and heavy, sudden downpours, though the course was relatively well sheltered. It was a 1/2/3 race over 36 laps of a 3.5km course right by the coast, flat again, but with a good 2.7km of it on crap roads so us riders got very muddy in deed. Feeling completely fine during the race, was near the front, in all the moves etc... but then disaster struck with about 20 laps left, my rear skewer undone itself slightly when I hit a big bump in the road. I stopped and put it right however I was never going to get back to the peloton so I took a lap and was forced to join the peloton. This was rather annoying as a big split occured on the lap I sat out with about 25 riders going clear, including George, I tried to get across a couple of times, but to no avail, as did Hamish, but then eventually I got in the right move, three of us, including Sam Allen worked well to bridge across the gap to the lead group that got to a minute at one point. It took us a bout 4 laps to get across, but we did. What helped was this group had slowed as a group of nine guys had jumped away with about 6 laps remaining and the others that were left were all fried. It came down to a sprint for 10th place, unfortunately I chose the wrong line and got boxed in slgithly, but that's sprinting, still I managed to get 17th. George finished just behind me in 20th and Hamish came in with the peloton in 37th. A good weekend of racing considering that disaster struck in both races, but I took away a lot from all of them and I am just happy that I am now fully recovered from my illness.
Results for Monday's race are here http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/25394-grand-prix-rene-le-mene-a-crac-h-classement.html
Again fantastic international racing this week in both the men's and women's side of cycling it really has been entertaining and is a great advertisement for the sport.
The next race will be Saturday, so until then I bid all of you a due. Thanks for reading and rememeber, don't give up.
Me with Sam Allen and some French gezzer jumping across to the break at Crac'h
I think the fact that Thatcher's legacy has always been discussed is testament to her really because Tony Blair, the more recent PM who served only a year and half less as PM as Thatcher, and his legacy is not discussed as much in comparison I feel. Spitting Image put it perfectly in this little piece, though it obviously refers to her ousting when she was PM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1jY5fYjV-U
With regards to my previous post it drew much attention some positive and some negative, including Verity, who said that I simply had not gone far enough in that I didn't call for podium girls to be got rid of in future cycling events. My reply was that this is simply to radical, not for me, but society, especially captialism and by getting rid of podium girls you are beginning to unravel the thread of the fashion industry that is entwined with other threads that make up the rope of capitalism. The problem is more profund when unravelling the thread of fashion as this represents the epitome of capitalism and everything it stands for, a greed, a wanting, all objects and lifestyles that are unattainable to the masses and more importantly, useless. Podium girls are the personification of this, I am not having a go at them per se, but the occupation and so that is why I feel I could not suggest such an idea, it is too big with too many vested interests.
I rested up this week, starting training on the turbo on Wednesday and training on the turbo everyday except Saturday because of the weather being so poor and my cold. I then looked forward to my first race back on Sunday, 18 laps of a flat and open 5.5km course, a 2/3/Junior race, the second in a series of 4 races that began the previous Sunday, yes that's right I missed the first one. As George came second last week in Sunday's race he was also second in the G.C. so we believed, quite rightly, that the whole team would be working on behalf of George, unfortunately only me and Hamish did. After a couple of laps a break went of about 10 containing 3 of our teammates as well as the overall leader, they stayed away till the finish much to our collective dismay, I was riding strong all race, but I punctured with 4 laps to go, race over, very gutting. The peloton subsequently split into two with George the right side of the split this time and Hamish the wrong side, George eventually came over in about twenth, putting in fifth in the G.C. and Hamish rolled over in about 30th. The weather was good with a fair wind, nothing else to note really.
In stark constrast Monday's race was abysmal with a strong wind and heavy, sudden downpours, though the course was relatively well sheltered. It was a 1/2/3 race over 36 laps of a 3.5km course right by the coast, flat again, but with a good 2.7km of it on crap roads so us riders got very muddy in deed. Feeling completely fine during the race, was near the front, in all the moves etc... but then disaster struck with about 20 laps left, my rear skewer undone itself slightly when I hit a big bump in the road. I stopped and put it right however I was never going to get back to the peloton so I took a lap and was forced to join the peloton. This was rather annoying as a big split occured on the lap I sat out with about 25 riders going clear, including George, I tried to get across a couple of times, but to no avail, as did Hamish, but then eventually I got in the right move, three of us, including Sam Allen worked well to bridge across the gap to the lead group that got to a minute at one point. It took us a bout 4 laps to get across, but we did. What helped was this group had slowed as a group of nine guys had jumped away with about 6 laps remaining and the others that were left were all fried. It came down to a sprint for 10th place, unfortunately I chose the wrong line and got boxed in slgithly, but that's sprinting, still I managed to get 17th. George finished just behind me in 20th and Hamish came in with the peloton in 37th. A good weekend of racing considering that disaster struck in both races, but I took away a lot from all of them and I am just happy that I am now fully recovered from my illness.
Results for Monday's race are here http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/25394-grand-prix-rene-le-mene-a-crac-h-classement.html
Again fantastic international racing this week in both the men's and women's side of cycling it really has been entertaining and is a great advertisement for the sport.
The next race will be Saturday, so until then I bid all of you a due. Thanks for reading and rememeber, don't give up.
Me with Sam Allen and some French gezzer jumping across to the break at Crac'h
Monday 1 April 2013
Easter eggs (previously handled by Sagan)
This Easter was poor to say that least for me, I picked a cold during the week and by Staurday had turned into a cough, regardless I went to Noyal near St.Malo for a 2/3/Junior race lasting 115km. However I was feeling rubbish at the beginning struggling to breathe and get oxygen into my legs, after the winning break had drifted off up the road , including George, I attacked with Hamish about an hour and 20mins into the race, this move eventually saw the second break go with Hmaish in it alas, I went backwards and began coughing heavily all the way to finishing circuits, hwere after 3 laps of the 7, I pulled out, at this point the peloton was racing for 56th. About 170 started, very windy, some shockingly poor handling skills on show and that's all really. George and Hamish both did well as they did the following day, Sunday, and today, with George taking second yesterday. These races were also 2/3/Juniors, containing less people though then Saturday's race, kudos nonetheless as they were still hard races. Doug Dewey and Sam Allen have continued to put in some fine performances too, with Doug winning the first stage of a 1/2/3 stage race near Brest and Sam finishing ninth overall.
I am feeling much better today and hopefully will be right as rain within the next two days so I can do some training before the next race on Sunday, this should go a little better than my previous outings, damn bad luck. At least i got to watch the Tour of Flanders yesterday, which was brilliant, Cancellara is just incredible, as is Vos, there has been some really good racing these past couple of weeks, hopefully it continues
Well Sagan has dramatically fallen in my estimation unfortunately considering how much of a talent he is after his exploits of exploiting one of the podium women. Now, don't get me wrong, many young men have done similar and made mistakes in their lives, including me, but the issue is this is the third occassion Peter Sagan has done something similar and that is just too much. This is because of the international platform that he is on as one of the best riders around and he can ill afford to repeat this mistake too often as the message it sends out to many is completely wrong. It says if you are really good at what you do, you, as a man, can treat women as you please (within reason obviously, I'm not implying that he is a potential rapist) and that social norms need not apply to you as an individual because you are superior. Sadly Peter you maybe on the bike, but this does not make yourself a better person necessarily than anybody else and you have to learn that. Nowehere does it say that these podium girls can have their bum grabbed, I feel very sorry for that young woman, she must have been mortified.
Many gentlemen will say it is just a bit of fun and that the fact the podium girls are there at all is objectifying enough a maybe a little arse grab is nothing. These gentlemen can not be more mistaken as the line has to be drawn somewhere and maybe I would take it as a mistake and let it slide if this had been the first time he had done such a thing, but it's not. Imagine if it was their girlfriend, daughter or sister who had been treated in such a manner, I would attempt to meet Sagan and do him over as many others also would. The podium girls are there because they are pretty, but it's not like they get a lot out of it all and the world is based to a large degree on a beauty, from women to fruit, from holiday destinations to animals. Sagan does not own the podium girls, it is all their workplace and I and most others are not liable to go grab a female colleague's arse simply beacuse it is wrong, a simple and strong case of sexual harassment.
The first of these instances was signing a female fan's breasts at the Tour of California 2012, not that the woman had asked for this in the first place, the next was wearing a t-shirt at petrol station; https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/388458_10151518741864885_351151502_n.jpg.
The top does not bother me too much as many people wear them, even though this is not even a funny inneudo, but a very explicit message, but when taken into consideration the prior antic and the subsequent one, it looks awfully seedy and ill-judged. The latter judegement is especially true considering he does not speak Enlgish very well, about as well as I speak French, so truly does not know what this mean or the message he is sending out.Unfortunately, whether he likes it or not, Sagan is a big star, and it will continue to ascend if he progresses the way he is, being good on the bike however only gets you remembered by so many, your manner on and off the bike is what gets you admired and remembered by the many. That is the difference between great champions and champions, deeds on and off the battelfield, Dixie Dean, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sir Steve Redgrave... these guys aren't just appreciated for being great athletes, but for being great beings.
I continue to objectify women, as I also objectify people as a whole, everyday, this is natural and can not be helped, the difference is to know when is the appropriate time, place and company to do such things as the social norms should dictate as well as to what degree. Of course I am going to judge whether that woman is prettier than another, but I don't then go up to the prettier women and grab her arse, especially in front of the world's sporting media.
Rant over, I hope everyone had a cracking Easter and is beginning to race in earnest now. Good luck and stay upright.
I am feeling much better today and hopefully will be right as rain within the next two days so I can do some training before the next race on Sunday, this should go a little better than my previous outings, damn bad luck. At least i got to watch the Tour of Flanders yesterday, which was brilliant, Cancellara is just incredible, as is Vos, there has been some really good racing these past couple of weeks, hopefully it continues
Well Sagan has dramatically fallen in my estimation unfortunately considering how much of a talent he is after his exploits of exploiting one of the podium women. Now, don't get me wrong, many young men have done similar and made mistakes in their lives, including me, but the issue is this is the third occassion Peter Sagan has done something similar and that is just too much. This is because of the international platform that he is on as one of the best riders around and he can ill afford to repeat this mistake too often as the message it sends out to many is completely wrong. It says if you are really good at what you do, you, as a man, can treat women as you please (within reason obviously, I'm not implying that he is a potential rapist) and that social norms need not apply to you as an individual because you are superior. Sadly Peter you maybe on the bike, but this does not make yourself a better person necessarily than anybody else and you have to learn that. Nowehere does it say that these podium girls can have their bum grabbed, I feel very sorry for that young woman, she must have been mortified.
Many gentlemen will say it is just a bit of fun and that the fact the podium girls are there at all is objectifying enough a maybe a little arse grab is nothing. These gentlemen can not be more mistaken as the line has to be drawn somewhere and maybe I would take it as a mistake and let it slide if this had been the first time he had done such a thing, but it's not. Imagine if it was their girlfriend, daughter or sister who had been treated in such a manner, I would attempt to meet Sagan and do him over as many others also would. The podium girls are there because they are pretty, but it's not like they get a lot out of it all and the world is based to a large degree on a beauty, from women to fruit, from holiday destinations to animals. Sagan does not own the podium girls, it is all their workplace and I and most others are not liable to go grab a female colleague's arse simply beacuse it is wrong, a simple and strong case of sexual harassment.
The first of these instances was signing a female fan's breasts at the Tour of California 2012, not that the woman had asked for this in the first place, the next was wearing a t-shirt at petrol station; https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/388458_10151518741864885_351151502_n.jpg.
The top does not bother me too much as many people wear them, even though this is not even a funny inneudo, but a very explicit message, but when taken into consideration the prior antic and the subsequent one, it looks awfully seedy and ill-judged. The latter judegement is especially true considering he does not speak Enlgish very well, about as well as I speak French, so truly does not know what this mean or the message he is sending out.Unfortunately, whether he likes it or not, Sagan is a big star, and it will continue to ascend if he progresses the way he is, being good on the bike however only gets you remembered by so many, your manner on and off the bike is what gets you admired and remembered by the many. That is the difference between great champions and champions, deeds on and off the battelfield, Dixie Dean, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sir Steve Redgrave... these guys aren't just appreciated for being great athletes, but for being great beings.
I continue to objectify women, as I also objectify people as a whole, everyday, this is natural and can not be helped, the difference is to know when is the appropriate time, place and company to do such things as the social norms should dictate as well as to what degree. Of course I am going to judge whether that woman is prettier than another, but I don't then go up to the prettier women and grab her arse, especially in front of the world's sporting media.
Rant over, I hope everyone had a cracking Easter and is beginning to race in earnest now. Good luck and stay upright.
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