Joseba Beloki?

Michael said:

Is Beloki riding this year? If so, how's he doing?

M.

he's riding for the French Boulangerie squad but spending alot of time
practicing getting off the bike due to complications from last years
fall. His spring has been a non-factor this year.

"Faster Bordello" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Michael said:

Is Beloki riding this year? If so, how's he doing?

M.

he's riding for the French Boulangerie squad but spending alot of time
practicing getting off the bike due to complications from last years
fall. His spring has been a non-factor this year.

Thanks. I was hoping he had fully recovered. It was a terrible
fall.

M.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Michael said:

"Faster Bordello" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Michael said:

Is Beloki riding this year? If so, how's he doing?

M.

he's riding for the French Boulangerie squad but spending alot of time
practicing getting off the bike due to complications from last years
fall. His spring has been a non-factor this year.

Thanks. I was hoping he had fully recovered. It was a terrible
fall.

He is fully recovered -- he is still able to ride a bike at pro-peloton
speed. He's just way behind in his preparation as a result of his
crash. If he knows what's good for him, IMO, he'll aim to be up to
speed in time for the Vuelta a Espana rather than the Tour.

-Sonarrat.

Quoted message said:

If he knows what's good for him, IMO, he'll aim to be up to
speed in time for the Vuelta a Espana rather than the Tour.

That makes lots of sense. But, since he's riding for a French team this year,
his sponsor might not see it that way. Will Brioches even ride the Vuelta?

Mapei81 said:

Quoted message said:

If he knows what's good for him, IMO, he'll aim to be up to
speed in time for the Vuelta a Espana rather than the Tour.

That makes lots of sense. But, since he's riding for a French team this year,
his sponsor might not see it that way. Will Brioches even ride the Vuelta?

I'd bet it was part of the deal like with Postal and Heras. A different
circumstance to be sure but seems wrong to tell a pro that he can't ride
his home countries GT. Of course they have to be selected, but then why
wouldn't the Vuelta commitee want to have him, provided he has an
acceptable season.

Mapei81 said:

Quoted message said:

If he knows what's good for him, IMO, he'll aim to be up to
speed in time for the Vuelta a Espana rather than the Tour.

That makes lots of sense. But, since he's riding for a French team this year,
his sponsor might not see it that way. Will Brioches even ride the Vuelta?

Keep in mind that Brioches Boulangerie riders were chowing down and
living it up during the 2004 TdF. I'm under the impression the signing
of Beloki is to push the brand name in Spain. If he places well, so
much the better.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That makes lots of sense. But, since he's riding for a French team this

year,

Quoted message said:

his sponsor might not see it that way. Will Brioches even ride the Vuelta?

Keep in mind that Brioches Boulangerie riders were chowing down and
living it up during the 2004 TdF. I'm under the impression the signing
of Beloki is to push the brand name in Spain. If he places well, so
much the better.

Cool. I hope you're right, though I thought the reason they signed him was to
make a bigger splash in the Tour - if that's the case, they might not be
inclined to have him sit out their biggest race of the season. What a shame -
he was definitely headed for the podium again last year.

I'm cautiously optimistic about his chances for a comeback, given what we've
seen with other amazing comebacks in the last few years - Jalabert, Pantani,
Armstrong, Museeuw, etc. Each time these guys seem like history, but they come
back large.

[email hidden] (Mapei81) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That makes lots of sense. But, since he's riding for a French team this

year,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

his sponsor might not see it that way. Will Brioches even ride the Vuelta?

Keep in mind that Brioches Boulangerie riders were chowing down and
living it up during the 2004 TdF. I'm under the impression the signing
of Beloki is to push the brand name in Spain. If he places well, so
much the better.

Cool. I hope you're right, though I thought the reason they signed him was to
make a bigger splash in the Tour - if that's the case, they might not be
inclined to have him sit out their biggest race of the season.

It wouldn't be hard to do, to make a bigger splash, as Didier Rous was
their highest GC placing at 20th.

Quoted message said:

What a shame -
he was definitely headed for the podium again last year.

He looked like he was in the form of his life.

Quoted message said:

I'm cautiously optimistic about his chances for a comeback, given what we've
seen with other amazing comebacks in the last few years - Jalabert, Pantani,
Armstrong, Museeuw, etc. Each time these guys seem like history, but they come
back large.

I doubt it'll be this year, as he's having problems with tendonitis
and I just don't think they have a strong enough team to support him.
The era of Charly Gaul-like wins w/o much support is past.

I think quite a bit of his success came with being on a very strong
team.