cobbled fun.

what a week we have in front of us...



starting today with the us open, a rawkus race from start to finish!
with so many different teams fighting it out for a few moments of face time on national television, it seemed like there was always one dude dangling 20 meters up the road.

so, by the time we saw the final lap, everyone was tried from all the stupid racing and showboating. and we were able to witness the total collapse of both healthnet and toyota-united, as neither were able to get it together to catch a breakaway of just 2 dudes out in the wind alone... yikes.

i am guessing some asses got chewed out over that.

healthnet could win every other race this year, and they still won't make up for not even hitting the podium on the first nationally broadcast cycling race in 10 years.

whoops.

it made an exciting race though. excellent viewing.



oh, then there is a little race in belgium called the tour of flanders tomorrow.
god help those boys.



if you asked me, this is how it'll end:

1. leif hoste
2. j.a. flecha
3. tom boonen
4. p. van petegem
5. nick nuyens

with thor in the top ten.

mark my words.

then we are treated to gent-wevelgem on wednesday. the mid-week masterpiece.
i really enjoy this race.



...it's so tough, but it's so wide open. all the big names don't want to go too hard, in preparation for sunday, and the race is almost a crap shoot.

i am looking to thor to repeat at gent this year.
stewy o'grady for second, and francisco ventoso will round out the podium.

roubaix follows next sunday, and is the cap to an "all cobbles, all the time" week.
i am reserving my final pick for roubaix until wednesday.



stay tuned.