Results tagged “Alessandro Ballan”

It's the time of year when I spend a week or two raising an eyebrow at the shuffling of riders around the teams. Until you see a signature on a piece of paper, it's barely worth believing the vast majority or the rumours. I mean look how some of these have (apparently) panned out:

• Alessandro Ballan moves to Team Sky BMC
• Karsten Kroon moves to Team Sky BMC
• Damiano Cunego moves to Team Sky stays at Lampre
• Danilo Di Luca moves to Team Sky Team FAIL!
• George Hincapie stays at Columbia moves to Radio Shack BMC

I never thought I'd be relying on New Zealand as a source of breaking news but the BMC rumours came via Teamtalk.

Remember that back in February it was rumoured by Cycling Weekly that Clément Lhotellerie could be a possible target for Team Sky. Shame he managed to get ditched for a positive yonks ago. That's how fast and reliable any cycling rumour is, no matter how good the source looks, and that's everything from doping to form and whether or not someone bought a win.

What we can say are that there are some trends emerging this year:

• No one seems to be able to put together the cheque that would get Wee Bert Contador out of his Astana contract nightmare
• Astana are barely going to have a squad to speak of next season
• Radio Shack could end up being Lance and Friends/USPS Mark 2
• If you're young and British there's a seat for you on the Team Sky bus, regardless of your neo-pro contract situation
• Garmin/Vaughters are getting value for money with old and young mix
• Cavendish's shadow looms large over Columbia, judging by those likely to leave/join
• Bradley Wiggins is a dreadful tease

Went out on Tuesday for my first long ride in ages through the Surrey Hills. They form one of the main hubs of activity for cyclists in the South East of England and I've been riding them ever since I was a child.

I think I rode for around 5 hours, missed a couple of hills and turns, but enjoyed the mild spring weather. Rode through Peaslake which is always pretty and pleasant, managed to miss Whitedown Vale and the more challenging side of Leith Hill (well the one I dislike more). Those were accidental but skipping Ranmoor Common was a deliberate choice as I was in need of a cup of coffee and some cake and it was taking longer than expected to get to Box Hill.

Next day I was absolutely ruined. I've never recovered well from long rides and this being the first in a while meant that I felt worse than ever. I don't think I would have made a stage racer.

This weekend is Milan-San Remo which I'm rather looking forward to. I'm not tipping anyone as it's usually the way to jinx them. Then again, looking at the list of injured/ill riders, I don't need much help: Ballan's out with the curse of the rainbow jersey, Cancellara's injured, Schleck too and Freire.

Still first of the men's classics traditionally signals the beginning of the cycling year for me.