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Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Saul Raisin Update: Very good news as Saul is responding: Saul had a good day (Saul Raisin official site) A loving squeeze from comatose Dalton cyclist (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, may require registration) Traingate scandal grows
The merde may be about to hit the fan in France over "Traingate". According to DH/Net, a spokesperson for French rail company SNCF says that they might have slowed the train on Sunday, or even stopped it, had Paris-Roubaix race organizer A.S.O. just asked. That seems hard to believe given that A.S.O. representatives met with SNCF officials during the planning stages for the race, though apparently they only discuss passenger trains. Maybe the freight train guy wasn't invited to the meeting or was out to lunch or something... The incident is becoming a growing embarrassment for A.S.O. The UCI (International Cycling Union) is investigating Sunday's incident and ASO's responsibility. The UCI also stands by the decision of their commissaries to disqualify Leif Hoste, Peter Van Petegem, and Vladimir Gusev. With Davitamon-Lotto and Discovery Channel protesting unequal application of the rules, and with growing criticism generally, it now seems certain that the UCI will have no choice but to disqualify Tom Boonen, Alessandro Ballan and Juan Antonio Flecha as well. (Unless the UCI finds that those three riders violated rules only after a race official waved them through the still-closed train crossing...and also decides to allow that as an excuse. Either way, the official would have to be disciplined it would seem.) That would mean the final podium for the 2006 Paris-Roubaix would be as follows: 1. Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) 2. Bernhard Eisel (Francaise des Jeux) 3. Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) EXCEPT that DH/Net also reports that according to witnesses, the red lights were blinking when Cancellara himself crossed the tracks -- surely a road violation according to law. If the UCI finds that to be the case, could they go so far as to disqualify Cancellara and declare Eisel the winner of Paris-Roubaix? That seems unlikely to happen because the UCI rules (2.3.034) state that "It shall be strictly forbidden to cross level crossings when the barrier is down. Apart from risking the penalty for such an offense as provided by law, offending riders shall be eliminated from the competition by the commissaires." The phrase "barrier is down" likely means Cancellara has nothing to worry about unless the UCI rules that for its purposes blinking lights are the start of the crossing closed period. Chances are, Cancellara is eligible for a traffic ticket but keeps his cobblestone trophy. We certainly hope and expect that Cancellara remains 2006 Paris-Roubaix winner... What a mess...
DH/Net: Paris-Roubaix - Train affair not over
DH/Net: Cancellara alone in the train's front car (both stories Google-translated) Tuesday, April 11, 2006 Paris-Roubaix notes, Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen Wednesday Trains, and fires, happen
Axel Merckx, Bobby Julich and Alexandre Vinokourov chat while race organizers scramble to create an alternate, and shortened, race route after a fire broke out in a store near the planned route; fire officials have taken control of the road. The 12 teams already on the road have been stopped and will have to start over. 2003 GP Eddy Merckx (two-man time trial), Brussels, Belgium (photo Copyright © 2006 Pete Geyer) First, "chapeau bas" (hats off) to Swiss-Italian Fabian Cancellara for his Paris-Roubaix win on Sunday. He made the race a big objective, prepared for it, then went out and won it. He simply rode everyone off his wheel, then time-trialed to the finish. Train or no train (see below), no one was going to catch him. This is a guy who at age 22 had a top-ten finish in the 70km (!) Grand Prix des Nations time trial in 2003. Who finished ahead of him that day? Seven powerful time trialists...Michael Rich, Bert Roesems, Serhiy Honchar, Uwe Peschel, Lazlo Bodrogi, Michael Rogers (then 23), Jens Voigt...and, uh, Philippe Gaumont of Cofidis scandal fame. Too bad the GP des Nations was discontinued after the 2004 edition; Cancellara would be one of the favorites today. 
Fabian Cancellara, on his way to a top-10 finish in the 2003 GP des Nations time trial (70km!) at just 22 years old (photo Copyright © 2003 Pete Geyer) Cancellara, now 25, has said he will aim to win the Tour of Flanders next year, then focus on targeting the Tour de France. Can the big guy follow his idol Miguel Indurain's example? We posted Fabian Cancellara wallpaper in our wallpaper section a few weeks ago. We like this guy, he's not afraid of Tom Boonen and a developing rivalry is great for the sport. 
Fabian Cancellara, 2004 Paris-Nice Time Trial (see our Wallpaper section) What to say about Discovery Channel's George Hincapie? If he's not falling into a Paris-Roubaix ditch one year or missing an entire spring classics season due to illness another year, well then all that was left was for his bike to fall apart beneath him on the cobbles on Sunday. Unbelievable. The current thinking seems to be that an earlier crash on Sunday may have weakened his bike's steerer tube, which later snapped resulting in the crash that took him out of the race. Already the subject of an award-winning photo a few years ago that showed an exhausted and crushed warrior in Roubaix, Hincapie may very well be the subject of another award-winning photo this year. George has a few more Paris-Roubaix in him. That he keeps trying year after year will make an eventual win that much sweeter... How about that train incident at the end of Sunday's race, resulting in the disqualifications of Davitamon-Lotto's Peter Van Petegem and Discovery Channel's Leif Hoste and Vladimir Gusev? Again, unbelievable. Thierry Gouvenou, race regulator for race organizer A.S.O. and himself a former pro cyclist, was seen on TV with a helpless look on his face as Hoste, Gusev and Van Petegem went through the closed train crossing as a freight train approached. Not long after, Gouvenou stood and blocked the passage so that Juan Antonio Flecha, Alessandro Ballan and Tom Boonen wouldn't attempt to cross. Good thing too because they'd have been crushed by the train. But immediately after the train went by, and with the train still visible in the television frame, these three riders started crossing the tracks despite the fact that the barriers were still down. Gouvenou's primary job as regulator from the back of a motorcycle involves regulating the flow of race vehicles. It is not at all clear that the track crossing was his responsibility. But surely SOMEONE should be responsible for manning track crossings? Was a course marshall even present at the crossing? Race director Jean-Marie Leblanc said that A.S.O. consults schedules for *passenger* trains when planning race routes. Freight trains are more problematic and in any case, trains can be off schedule just as the race can be off schedule, as it was on Sunday. So why was special care not taken with regard to this train crossing, especially just 10 kilometers from the finish? And surely someone with A.S.O. knew the race was ahead of schedule? UCI president Pat McQuaid in justifying the disqualifications said that rider safety is the primary concern. In that case, why were Flecha, Ballan and Boonen not disqualified for going through the same closed train crossing? The explanation that the train had already passed is unacceptable because there are times when a second train, coming from the opposite direction, is hidden by the first train. If your concern is safety, then as long as the crossing guards are down, one should not cross. If you do, automatic disqualification. Do not leave a potentially life-or-death decision up to the athletes. "Gee, that train seems to be coming awfully fast....but so will fame if I win this race!"....or...."The train has passed, now I can cross even though the barrier is still down. Hopefully the train isn't blocking my view of a second train!" If the second group of three riders, including Boonen, was waved through or otherwise allowed through the closed train crossing, under whose authority exactly was that decision made? Leif Hoste was correct to raise the question of why there was no one there to prevent them from crossing the tracks, though as an excuse it sounds like an NBA player who might question why a security official didn't prevent him from violating league rules by going into the stands after a heckler. All along the race course, riders can ignore stop signs, red lights and other traffic signals since the organizers effectively "own" the road as the race passes through. Though their crossing the train tracks was understandable in the heat of competition, they should not have done so and the disqualification is appropriate...if only to help make a future tragedy less likely. It's an unfortunate situation because the riders deserved their hard-earned top placings in this very important race. Had the crossing been manned, for safety reasons, the only issue would have been the ill-timed train. Safety first....but it would also have preserved the integrity of the race on a sporting level. We're instead left with the feeling of a narrowly-avoided tragedy and a race runner-up, Boonen, who himself says his proper placing is 5th. Johan Bruyneel's questioning of the train crossing so close to the race finish seems valid too, though it isn't clear that there is any way to totally avoid rail crossings on the approach to Roubaix. What if Cancellara had had to stop for the train, allowing his pursuers to catch up? In that case, race officials normally should immediately take note of the time differences and then let the riders depart again at those intervals. Why not stop the train? Well, they don't stop trains during the Tour de France either. When the barriers come down, the race comes to a halt. Stopping freight trains, especially in situations where you have a splintered peloton, surely is a complicated, and expensive, proposition. We're lucky to have such a beautiful sport that travels along the roads through great scenery. But even during a race, real-world events such as the passing of trains and fire and other emergency vehicles will always have priority. Fortunately, conflicts at critical moments of races don't occur that often. Both A.S.O. and the UCI, who last Friday announced that a draft agreement had been reached with Grand Tour organizers (including ASO) on April Fool's day (!) regarding their ProTour dispute, need to do a better job of explaining exactly what happened at that train crossing, why only three riders were disqualified (UCI), and what needs to be improved next time. Related content:
Monday, April 10, 2006 Note: RAI Sport should have a re-broadcast of the final hour and a half or so of Paris-Roubaix at around 14:05 CET today (8:05am U.S. EST), after a women's volleyball match. Link at left. If you have problems getting video, try clicking Stop, then Play a couple of times in your media player. Sunday, April 9, 2006 Note: The Paris-Roubaix highlights broadcast on RAI Sport will start earlier than originally scheduled. It should now be on at around 18:55 CET (12:55pm U.S. EST)
Saturday, April 8, 2006 Below is a guide to live internet coverage of 2006 Tour of the Basque Country Paris-Roubaix: Teams presentation in Compiègne 
Paris-Roubaix weekend is underway with the teams being presented to the public this afternoon in front of the chateau in Compiègne, from where the race will set off tomorrow. It's a chance for cycling fans to see all the teams, get some autographs and browse some booths set up by various vendors or cycling associations. Note: Cycling.TV (link at left) will be showing Paris-Roubaix live on its premium (pay) channel. We'll have links to live internet coverage (video, audio, tickers) of this great race tomorrow morning. Alberto Accountant to add to last year's Basque Country TT win?
Friday, April 7, 2006
Friday night Saul Raisin Update: Velonews interviewed Credit Agricole team doctor Dr. Joel Menard this afternoon regarding Saul's condition. The hard truth is that doctors just do not know at this time the extent of brain damage involved. The next few days are critical: Velonews There is a Guestbook on Saul's website if you want to leave a note. ---- Saul Raisin Update: Apparently it was a good night for Saul, all things considered. He remains in stable condition. He is being kept in a coma but his doctors will gradually reduce the drugs to see if he reacts or moves. (Source: Yahoo: (French) ) Saul's parents should be at the hospital in Angers by now; his girlfriend Daniela arrived yesterday. ----- Below is a guide to live internet coverage of 2006 Tour of the Basque Country Also on today: Circuit Cycliste Sarthe
Thursday, April 6, 2006 Paris - Saul Raisin Update: Saul underwent surgery this afternoon. Doctors are reportedly pleased with how it went but refuse to give a prognosis. Apparently Saul is undergoing a second operation. He remains in a coma and the waiting begins. Saul's parents are on their way to France tonight from the U.S. Our thoughts are with Saul and his family and friends, Credit Agricole teammates and team staff as we all await better news. Hang on, Saul
Saul Raisin (Credit Agricole), Grand Prix des Nations 2004 Update: We are stunned to learn that doctors last night had to place American Saul Raisin in an induced coma following his crash Tuesday in stage 1 of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe race.... Below is a guide to live internet coverage of 2006 Tour of the Basque Country Also on today: Circuit Cycliste Sarthe
Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Lots of racing on today: Tour of the Basque Country, Gent-Wevelgem and Circuit Cycliste Sarthe. Note: This afternoon's time trial at the Sarthe race, where Ivan Basso and Bobby Julich will perhaps put in big efforts, should get underway at about 15:45 CET (9:45am U.S. EST). World time trial champion Michael Rogers is also competing. The Sarthe ticker link below points directly to the time trial ("CLM") page which should go "live" once the first rider departs. Note: If you have problems with the RAI Sport TV video stream, sometimes it helps to click Stop, then Play on your media player a couple of times. Below is a guide to live web coverage of 2006 Tour of the Basque Country Note: There are 2 video streaming options for Gent-Wevelgem today: Cycling.TV (premium (pay) channel only) and RAI TV. Also, depending on which Eurosport audio feed/language you access, Gent-Wevelgem may interrupt or replace the broadcast of Tour of the Basque Country. Also on today: Gent-Wevelgem and Circuit Cycliste Sarthe
Tuesday, April 4, 2006 Below is a guide to live web coverage of 2006 Tour of the Basque Country Also on today: Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, Tomorrow: Ghent-Wevelgem
Monday, April 3, 2006 Live video flash: Eurosport has just gotten into the game of live online video streaming too. (This is in addition to its separate live audio streams.) That means that both Cycling.TV and Eurosport are offering live video streams of Tour of the Basque Country. Link has been added to the "Live Guide" below. Note: Cycling.tv has live video streaming of Tour of the Basque Country. Today: Tour of the Basque Country, Tomorrow: Circuit Cycliste Sarthe
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