T-Mobile Gran Prix

"Tom Kunich" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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I have to admit that this was the best race yet and a large part of that was due to Chris Horner
who has often irritated me with his attacking personality.

Chris was absolutely a Lance yesterday. Five laps from the end he started his move, four laps from
the end he had a flat and was dropped. Three laps from the end he took the first group. He and
McCarthy were absolutely spectacular with their attack and attack at precisely the right time.

McCarthy is so nerdy that you expect him to have a pocket protector and be pushing his glasses up
his nose every other word. Knowing his spectacular performances in the bike really contrasts with
his personality. I hope he murders them all this year in Cyclocross as well.

Fillmore climb was narrowed down near the top this year to prevent, I assume, the really extreme
tacking back and forth. Those who didn't have at least a 39/27 were killed and the best guys had a
Campi 29 10-speed setup.

Taylor street climb wasn't as severe as Fillmore but it was nevertheless damned imposing when you
came around the corner and looked at that wall.

I was pulling for Ekimov and he might have made it if he had two more laps. He was closing like
gangbusters near the end.

This race was so hard that Horner, McCarthy and Ekimov were all nearly exhausted and their real
persionalities came out. Horner seemed a really nice kid much to my previous encounters with him
(always from a distance granted).

McCarthy was a surprise to me because he was so nerdy. On the bike he was anything but nerdy
though. His riding was world class and extremely sophisticated.

Great GREAT racing.

Who is McCarthy??

I think he may mean Mark McCormack.

He is a nice guy but all things considered I would have to classify him as a nerd.

My appologies to Mark McCormack. Too early in the morning.

When I was in the Air Force I had a guy working for me that reminded me of Mark. That guys seemed
like a world class nerd as well. We were being transferred to different bases and in front of the
who group I got off a really world class insult and everyone laughed as I got in my car and drove
off to California.

I was out at the war and walking through the baracks in the middle of the night in absolute pitch
darkness when someone gave me a kidney puch that almost decked me. I heard this guy's voice say, "I
ALWAYS GET EVEN".

So I'm really really REALLY sorry Mark. Really I am. Honest.

"DanSchmatz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think he may mean Mark McCormack.

He is a nice guy but all things considered I would have to classify

him as a

Quoted message said:

nerd.

Quoted message said:

Fillmore climb was narrowed down near the top this year to prevent, I assume, the really extreme
tacking back and forth. Those who didn't have at least a 39/27 were killed and the best guys had a
Campi 29 10-speed setup.

The Telekom guys had a 39/25, (ouch) I looked at them in the bike room while their mechanic worked
on my teammate's bike. So he's got her bike up on the stand, with 4 or 5 of us chicks standing
around talking to him, when who should walk in but Vinokourov, just back from a ride. We were too
star-struck to think about taking a picture; all I could think about was "oh [censored], what if he needs
his bike worked on?" "Uh, sorry Vino, you're going to have to wait- can't you see Jane Doe's bike
(not her real name, but just as anonymous) is on the stand?"

Quoted message said:

Taylor street climb wasn't as severe as Fillmore but it was nevertheless damned imposing when you
came around the corner and looked at that wall.

My third time up Taylor was when I threw in the towel. Mind you, I have never DNF'd a race. But I
was not feeling at my peak, and lost contact with the lead pack shortly after the first time up
Fillmore. I was riding with a group of maybe 10, but this group kept dwindling. A teammate told me
she was going to drop out before the next time up Fillmore, and I almost did too, but for some
reason, as it loomed up ahead of me for the second time, the momentum of the remaining riders, and
the excitement of the crowd carried me right up to the base of it, and there was no turning back. At
the top there were only about 3 of us, and one was a T-mobile girl- #8, whom I was assuming was one
of their new domestiques, but I would find out later, was Amber Neben, (how did THAT happen? Unless
they did a number switcharoo.) Anyway, with only a few riders, it was getting pretty tough, with no
time for recovery, and even the bottom (less steep) portion of Taylor was hurting a lot, and my head
was pounding. I pulled out before the steep part with the crowds, and a minute later (when I was
recovered) regretted my decision. But today, with my legs still hurting and my last stage race of
the season coming up this weekend, I THINK I made the right choice...

Quoted message said:

This race was so hard that Horner, McCarthy and Ekimov were all nearly exhausted and their real
persionalities came out. >

Women's winner Nicole Cooke said it was the hardest race she had ever done, even though the course
"suited her perfectly".

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Great GREAT racing.

Yup.

"Tom Kunich" <[email protected]...

Quoted message said:

My appologies to Mark McCormack. Too early in the morning.

When I was in the Air Force I had a guy working for me that reminded me of Mark. That guys seemed
like a world class nerd as well. We were being transferred to different bases and in front of the
who group I got off a really world class insult and everyone laughed as I got in my car and drove
off to California.

I was out at the war and walking through the baracks in the middle of the night in absolute pitch
darkness when someone gave me a kidney puch that almost decked me. I heard this guy's voice say,
"I ALWAYS GET EVEN".

So I'm really really REALLY sorry Mark. Really I am. Honest.

Nice report TK.

Nerd or Not, Mark McCormack is SMART (nerd?), fast, strong, and tactically super intelligent (and
has a wicked Bahston accent).

-Ken

Photos going up all evening and most of tomorrow:

kenpapai.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

"DanSchmatz" <danschmatz@@mb-m24.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

I think he may mean Mark McCormack.

He is a nice guy but all things considered I would have to classify him as a nerd.

"Suz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Fillmore climb was narrowed down near the top this year to prevent, I assume, the really extreme
tacking back and forth. Those who didn't have at least a 39/27 were killed and the best guys had
a Campi 29 10-speed setup.

The Telekom guys had a 39/25, (ouch) I looked at them in the bike room

while

Quoted message said:

their mechanic worked on my teammate's bike. So he's got her bike up on

the

Quoted message said:

stand, with 4 or 5 of us chicks standing around talking to him, when who should walk in but
Vinokourov, just back from a ride. We were too star-struck to think about taking a picture; all I
could think about was

"oh

Quoted message said:

[censored], what if he needs his bike worked on?" "Uh, sorry Vino, you're going to have to wait- can't
you see Jane Doe's bike (not her real name, but just as anonymous) is on the stand?"

Quoted message said:

Taylor street climb wasn't as severe as Fillmore but it was nevertheless damned imposing when
you came around the corner and looked at that wall.

My third time up Taylor was when I threw in the towel. Mind you, I have never DNF'd a race. But I
was not feeling at my peak, and lost contact

with

Quoted message said:

the lead pack shortly after the first time up Fillmore. I was riding with

a

Quoted message said:

group of maybe 10, but this group kept dwindling. A teammate told me she was going to drop out
before the next time up Fillmore, and I almost did too, but for some reason, as it loomed up ahead
of me for the second time, the momentum of the remaining riders, and the excitement of the crowd
carried me right up to the base of it, and there was no turning back. At the top there were only
about 3 of us, and one was a T-mobile girl- #8,

whom

Quoted message said:

I was assuming was one of their new domestiques, but I would find out

later,

Quoted message said:

was Amber Neben, (how did THAT happen? Unless they did a number switcharoo.)

It seem unlikely it was her because 1) she voluntarily removed herself from competition and 2) can't
see her losing contact w/ the group at that point if indeed she was racing

Quoted message said:

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group of maybe 10, but this group kept dwindling. A teammate told me

she

Quoted message said:

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was going to drop out before the next time up Fillmore, and I almost did too, but for some
reason, as it loomed up ahead of me for the second

time,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the momentum of the remaining riders, and the excitement of the crowd carried me right up to the
base of it, and there was no turning back.

At

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the top there were only about 3 of us, and one was a T-mobile girl- #8,

whom

Quoted message said:

I was assuming was one of their new domestiques, but I would find out

later,

Quoted message said:

was Amber Neben, (how did THAT happen? Unless they did a number switcharoo.)

It seem unlikely it was her because 1) she voluntarily removed herself

from

Quoted message said:

competition

I removed myself voluntarily too- just didn't want to be there anymore.

and 2) can't see her losing contact w/ the group at that point if

Quoted message said:

indeed she was racing

Yeah, I think so too; most of the race is kind of a blur, and I don't remember if she came up from
behind me (maybe she had a flat?) or if she had been there the whole time, but I just remember
thinking, hmm, a T-mobile girl, I wonder who #8 is. Maybe she was not trying very hard by then and
just wanted to ride back to the start/ finish.

Suz said:

Quoted message said:

Great GREAT racing.

Yup.

Nice effort, anyway. Too bad about your cadence magnet.

"Robert Chung" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Suz said:

Quoted message said:

Great GREAT racing.

Yup.

Nice effort, anyway. Too bad about your cadence magnet.

Eric must be talking about me on the watts group again...

"Suz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Fillmore climb was narrowed down near the top this year to prevent, I assume, the really extreme
tacking back and forth. Those who didn't have at least a 39/27 were killed and the best guys had
a Campi 29 10-speed setup.

The Telekom guys had a 39/25, (ouch) I looked at them in the bike room

while

Quoted message said:

their mechanic worked on my teammate's bike. So he's got her bike up on

the

Quoted message said:

stand, with 4 or 5 of us chicks standing around talking to him, when who should walk in but
Vinokourov, just back from a ride. We were too star-struck to think about taking a picture; all I
could think about was

"oh

Quoted message said:

[censored], what if he needs his bike worked on?" "Uh, sorry Vino, you're going to have to wait- can't
you see Jane Doe's bike (not her real name, but

just

Quoted message said:

as anonymous) is on the stand?"

Quoted message said:

Taylor street climb wasn't as severe as Fillmore but it was nevertheless damned imposing when
you came around the corner and looked at that wall.

My third time up Taylor was when I threw in the towel. Mind you, I have never DNF'd a race. But I
was not feeling at my peak, and lost contact

with

Quoted message said:

the lead pack shortly after the first time up Fillmore. I was riding with

a

Quoted message said:

group of maybe 10, but this group kept dwindling. A teammate told me she

What does your uniform look like? (Ashmead King 5 ? Your were #91) I bet I have a picture.
Let us know.

-Ken

Quoted message said:

was going to drop out before the next time up Fillmore, and I almost did too, but for some reason,
as it loomed up ahead of me for the second time, the momentum of the remaining riders, and the
excitement of the crowd carried me right up to the base of it, and there was no turning back. At
the top there were only about 3 of us, and one was a T-mobile girl- #8,

whom

Quoted message said:

I was assuming was one of their new domestiques, but I would find out

later,

Quoted message said:

was Amber Neben, (how did THAT happen? Unless they did a number switcharoo.) Anyway, with only a
few riders, it was getting pretty

tough,

Quoted message said:

with no time for recovery, and even the bottom (less steep) portion of Taylor was hurting a lot,
and my head was pounding. I pulled out before

the

Quoted message said:

steep part with the crowds, and a minute later (when I was recovered) regretted my decision. But
today, with my legs still hurting and my last stage race of the season coming up this weekend, I
THINK I made the right choice...

Good effort given I am sure. Not all types of race courses are for all types of racers.

-Ken

Anybody else see the Sierra Nevada rider with the mechanical just past the start line? Looked like some kind of chain problem but the team car changed his rear wheel and drove off - didn't fix the problem though and the guy got up on the sidewalk in among the large crowd and threw his bike down on the sidewalk - a real temper tantrum. I can imagine the frustration of getting all psyched up for probably the biggest race in his life and it's over after 100m.

So after the next parade lap the team car had him back up and was adjusting his seatpost at 50mph while he caught up to the pack. I'd like to know if he managed to catch on and finish if anybody knows who it was. I was across the street and couldn't see his number.

"DiabloScott" <[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Anybody else see the Sierra Nevada rider with the mechanical just past the start line? Looked like
some kind of chain problem but the team car changed his rear wheel and drove off - didn't fix the
problem though and the guy got up on the sidewalk in among the large crowd and threw his bike down
on the sidewalk - a real temper tantrum. I can imagine the frustration of getting all psyched up
for probably the biggest race in his life and it's over after 100m.

My guess -- it was Sterling Magnell, the youngest on the team.

kenpapai.comsterling0703.jpgOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

So after the next parade lap the team car had him back up and was adjusting his seatpost at 50mph
while he caught up to the pack. I'd like to know if he managed to catch on and finish if anybody
knows who it was. I was across the street and couldn't see his number.

in article [email hidden], DiabloScott at [email hidden] wrote on
9/16/03 9:18 AM:

Quoted message said:

Anybody else see the Sierra Nevada rider with the mechanical just past the start line?

<snip>

Quoted message said:

I was across the street and couldn't see his number.

#156

abbiorca.comsf tOpen ↗ mobile_03_r_398.html

Quoted message said:

Good effort given I am sure. Not all types of race courses are for all types of racers.

-Ken

Yup, I'm more of an endurance climber, and those hills were DEFINITELY all about power. No regrets
though, it was an awesome experience.

In article said:

Anybody else see the Sierra Nevada rider with the mechanical just past the start line? Looked like
some kind of chain problem but the team car changed his rear wheel and drove off - didn't fix the
problem though and the guy got up on the sidewalk in among the large crowd and threw his bike down
on the sidewalk - a real temper tantrum. I can imagine the frustration of getting all psyched up
for probably the biggest race in his life and it's over after 100m.

So after the next parade lap the team car had him back up and was adjusting his seatpost at 50mph
while he caught up to the pack. I'd like to know if he managed to catch on and finish if anybody
knows who it was. I was across the street and couldn't see his number.

I saw that. It looked like a wheel change the Mavic guys started (I didn't see the beginning of
what happened). Then the team car pulled up and their guy went to work, but the mechanic was
fooling with the wheel for what seemed like a -very- long time. He appeared to be having a hard
time getting the chain and mech. synched. The guy started to ride away and the chain popped off
after a few feet. The car pulled up next to him and they spoke for a second before the car drove
off. I was surprised that the guy didn't just get off and put the chain back on himself at that
point. He just stood and looked and gestured at it. Then he really fired his bike across the
sidewalk. I had been thinking of going over to help until that point. I can understand his
frustration, but it was kind of cringe-worthy.

--
tanx, Howard

"Head of a cat, body of a monkey, Here comes a plague upon the land." The Billy Nayer Show

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Howard Kveck <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I saw that. It looked like a wheel change the Mavic guys started (I didn't see the beginning of
what happened). Then the team car pulled up and their guy went to work, but the mechanic was
fooling with the wheel for what seemed like a -very- long time. He appeared to be having a hard
time getting the chain and mech. synched. The guy started to ride away and the chain popped off
after a few feet. The car pulled up next to him and they spoke for a second before the car
drove off. I was surprised that the guy didn't just get off and put the chain back on himself
at that point. He just stood and looked and gestured at it. Then he really fired his bike
across the sidewalk. I had been thinking of going over to help until that point. I can
understand his frustration, but it was kind of cringe-worthy.

abbiorca.comsf tmobile 03 r 398.htmlOpen ↗

Sabine

Actually there were two Sierra Nevada riders who had problems...one with a chain skip issue and the
other with a flat.

The parade laps were a bit hectic, with 11 services in the first 10 minutes of the race.

Chuck Mavic Motor 1

"sabine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Howard Kveck <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I saw that. It looked like a wheel change the Mavic guys started (I

didn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

see the beginning of what happened). Then the team car pulled up and

their guy

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

went to work, but the mechanic was fooling with the wheel for what

seemed like a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

-very- long time. He appeared to be having a hard time getting the chain

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

mech. synched. The guy started to ride away and the chain popped off

after a few

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

feet. The car pulled up next to him and they spoke for a second before

the car

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

drove off. I was surprised that the guy didn't just get off and put the

chain

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

back on himself at that point. He just stood and looked and gestured at

it. Then

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

he really fired his bike across the sidewalk. I had been thinking of

going over

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to help until that point. I can understand his frustration, but it was

kind of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cringe-worthy.

abbiorca.comsf tmobile 03 r 398.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Sabine

In article <[email hidden]>, "Chuck Hodge"

Quoted message said:

Actually there were two Sierra Nevada riders who had problems...one with a chain skip issue and
the other with a flat.

I'd bet that the one I was seeing was the chain skip guy. It was down fairly close to the turn at
Broadway. There was a Mavic guy working at the back of the bike and it looked like he'd already
done a wheel swap (at least tht's what I assumed had happened) when the team car guys got there
and went to work. I'm pretty sure it was rider #151 (Adham Sbeih) who rocketed his bike across
the sidewalk.

Quoted message said:

The parade laps were a bit hectic, with 11 services in the first 10 minutes of the race.

Chuck Mavic Motor 1

That many services -has- to keep you on your toes. That's a tough job you guys do.

--
tanx, Howard

"Head of a cat, body of a monkey, Here comes a plague upon the land." The Billy Nayer Show

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Quoted message said:

That many services -has- to keep you on your toes. That's a tough job

you

Quoted message said:

guys do.

What was especially intereting was stopping for a service at the top of Fillmore. I had the front
wheel locked and actually began to slide backwards until I could get my foot on the rear brake!
(thanks to the spectators who tried to grab me) The motors had to take the services because the cars
often can't get going again...we turn the traction control off on the Saturns so they can resume
forward movement on the climb.

Glad I am not paying for the moto clutches...

Chuck