June 2009
42 posts
Interesting bit from Lance Armstrong today
(via Twitter: lancearmstrong)
This from the man himself, concerning the Tour’s looming team time trial.
Just pre-rode the TTT course with the team in Montpellier. Incredibly technical. Throw out all your TTT predictions. This 1 is different..
I’m going to presume dear Lance meant for that sentence to trail off in a rather ominous way as opposed to just looking Shermanator-awkward...
VeloNews: Cervelo seeks kit change →
No Valverde in this year's Tour →
This should come as a surprise to no one, Alejandro Valverde wa effectively banned from the Tour by his two-year ban in Italy, but at least this officially clears this up.
VeloNews: French court to hear Boonen case →
Interesting observation from Robbie McEwen
(via Twitter: mcewenrobbie)
“I’m sure the “secret” new drug test at the tour will be for growth hormone. UCI are doing specific tests out of comp.”
For those not in the industry, “out of comp” refers to out of competition drug testing, which is where most top-level cyclists find themselves right now, with the Tour just less than two weeks off.
Growth...
In the meantime...
Lance Armstrong’s comeback bid finally nabbed a race victory, as the Livestrong man took the Nevada City Classic out in Cali.
Rudy Project has fluorescent glasses now, which really more begets this pretty sweet deal on the stuff RP is trying to move out the door to make way for the new digs.
Missed this one at first, but Russian-funded squad Katusha has taken a rather more stringent...
Total Tour list coming soon
VeloNews has revealed that it will soon reveal that which we have all been waiting to be revealed: A final list of teams and riders for the Tour. Pepper needs new shorts!
VeloNews: La Ruta in trouble →
This cannot be allowed to happen. CANNOT.
VeloNews: Tour tries radio silence →
I guess Bernard Hinault might get his way after all…
It will be interesting to see what this does to the Tour. More on this when I’ve wrapped my mind around it a bit.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
Oh yes, boys and girls, it’s that special time of year again — it’s time for the Tour.
News today that Astana has narrowed its TdF roster and Euskatel has named theirs only heightens the suspense. Or something.
One way or the other, we’re just about two weeks and change away from Bob Roll’s first “Tour DAY France” shout-out, and I say bring it on.
On a...
VeloNews: Quick Step might sue over Boonen Tour... →
So they’re backing their promise to probably provide legal support with a threat to maybe sue. Get ready for this to draaaaag on.
Big ouchie for Boonen: Still no Tour →
UCI won’t pursue action against Tom Boonen “after the Belgian rider supplied a number of elements in his defence.” But the Tour still won’t have him.
Boonen’s team, Quick Step, has promised the Belgian its backing, including legal support, according to the report. Still, it would do no good, as UCI has said it cannot complete such the requisite appellate process in...
Astana solves money problem, the rest is still...
Astana’s in the Tour, that’s finally done and dusted. What’s still not clear is who exactly is riding for whom.
Alberto Contador just notched a podium finish in the Dauphine, Levi Leipheimer finished sixth at the Giro and Lance is still carrying his Texas-sized name into the July 4 start, so the question remains: Who’s in charge at Astana?
UCI names first five biological passport violators →
The Explainer - What happened to the lifetime ban? →
An interesting read…
VeloNews: Hamilton accepts 8-year ban →
And so it goes, and so will you soon, I suppose.
Robbie McEwen's Twitter says things are going well
(via Twitter: mcewenrobbie):
up to two sessions on the home trainer per day now. Sunny 25 deg here tomorrow, will have a go out on the road! looks like july 29 return…
Good for the Aussie. The field sprints in this year’s Tour won’t be right without him though.
Valverde's Dauphine victory underscores cycling's...
(photo credit: VeloNews)
Alejandro Valverde (pictured above) took his second Dauphine win in as many years across the Atlantic this afternoon, and thus, the sport of cycling took another body blow in the department of respectability.
It’s been an up-and-down year for Valverde, who in May was banned for two years from competition in Italy, effectively ruling him out of this year’s...
A little bit about us
It stands to reason that, since we’ve been around for a little while now, we ought to introduce ourselves.
The word “ourselves” probably betrays a larger band of souls than actually operates this finely-tuned machine. In truth, it’s a team of two here at PBT.
There’s the creative, driving force, Jim, and me, the scribe, Zach.
It should be obvious by now that this...
The man who saved the day ... and the Giro →
I can't decide if wooden bikes are more or less... →
VeloNews: Liquigas's Sylvester Szmyd wins atop... →
Katusha's Toni Colom suspended after positive EPO... →
Beater Bikes, the Cheap Workhorses of Cycling →
Nothing beats a beater. Nothing I say!
Which is a perfect segue into...
This (from Bryant Gumbel on Bryant Gumbel’s Real Sports):
“Finally tonight a few words about Lance Armstrong, the cyclist whom many Americans view as a champion and many Frenchmen have labeled a tricheur, or cheater. Having won the Tour de France a record seven times under a never ending cloud of suspicion, Armstrong is saying that he may not be allowed to compete for an eighth title this...
VeloNews: Astana's problems resolved →
So that’s that.
Long-awaited, still not sure about it: Shimano Di2... →
Bernard Hinault: Awesome or bat-s**t insane? You... →
In the shorter end of the course of a career in journalism, you’ll come to recognize the regular phenomenon known as the slow news day. It’s pretty much just what it sounds like, a day when there’s just not a lot of news.
The Tour of Luxembourg isn’t likely to fire too many people up, most of the big guns are licking their wounds and waiting for the Tour and the Dauphiné...
Astana still not in the clear
This story just keeps taking new turns, doesn’t it?
This time, it’s team director and everybody’s fav Belgian Johan Bruyneel speaking, and he says Astana still has “loose ends” to tie up regarding a bank loan. So it would appear Lance and Levi’s boys are not quite out of the water yet.
It doesn’t appear as though it’s time to press the panic...
Crashes suck
Heard the news that another friend wrecked, this time with a broken collarbone to show for it. Too much of that going around right now.
Wishing you guys a speedy recovery.
The (Other) Young American - A Conversation with... →
VeloNews story on Astana →
It’s short and to the point, dirty jokes aside. The Tour of Luxembourg is up next for the boys in light and dark blue.
Some housekeeping
So we’ve made the switch, officially, to www.purplebartape.com, as you can see.
You can also reach us at purplebartape@gmail.com, and you can follow us on Twitter @purplebartape.
Cycling program helps students build confidence →
VeloNews report: Astana's got the money
(via Twitter: velonews)
UCI says Astana has met its financial obligations and can start upcoming races. Story soon.
Phinney to feature in coming issue of VeloNews
Everyone’s favorite next-big-thing, Taylor Phinney, will splash his long-legged looks across the cover of the July issue of VeloNews.
Fresh off his win at the U-23 Paris-Roubaix, Phinney is the talk of the cycling world. Or at least he is in America, a country thirsting for another champion since Mr. Armstrong drifted from the spotlight (though that didn’t last long).
Also in the...
VeloNews: FSA working on road group? →
For serious?
Changes afoot at Purple Bar Tape
Hey folks,
Just a quick note from the good people here at Purple Bar Tape. We are in the process of trying to move beyond the simple borders of a .tumblr blog into our own domain name, which may come complete with some other new widgets (www gadgets) such as Twitter in the coming weeks.
We’re not entirely sure where this all will lead, but short-term, you can expect a move, rather soon,...
WatchI think it’s safe to say that no sport, save perhaps men’s college basketball, has adopted the use of Twitter quite like cycling. There doesn’t seem to be an end to the list of racer-dudes who’ve picked up on the micro-blogging sensation and made it their own.
And, despite the reality that the most pertinent fact you can sometimes glean from these 140-character bits of...
Late-night links
Been setting up the new hotness most of the day, so the lack of posting is once again entirely my fault. As a gift, I bring to you a post-10 p.m. rundown of cycling news, in link form, for your enjoyment.
Just click on the blue stuff.
—In the category of those who have been living under a rock, Denis Menchov won the Giro d’Italia this weekend, surviving a late crash. And he...
Schnell sets the hardcore bar way higher →
SRAM finds new stuff to make me miss my old... →
Sorry for the complete disappearance these last few days, I’ve been out of town at a friend’s wedding and therefore completely irresponsible and irreverent (much like, might I say, this entire blog).
Considering it’s likely you baby-oiled roadie types (me) were too busy drinking (also me) or facelooping this weekend (also me too), we’ve got the VeloNews straightness on the...