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FROM THE SUMMIT
July is one of my favorite time of the year thanks to the Tour de France. I look forward to seeing Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen, and Bob Roll and watching the best cyclists in the world battle it out for cycling's most prestigious title. I enjoy waking up early and listening to "the voice" and Bobke as I drink my morning coffee and eat madeleines. It is a time for me to celebrate eight to ten hours of cycling on television. I am constantly inspired by these athletes and I attempt to harness that inspiration and get out and ride as much as possible between airings As with many recent Tours, this one is not without controversy. As many of you have heard, the team Astana has not been invited to this year's Tour. Astana is the team of Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer and defending 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador. The officials behind the Tour claim this is because of doping indiscretions of former Astana members. Since their drug-tainted 2007 season, Astana has undergone a makeover and promised a clean team. Astana has hired former USPS and Discovery Channel manager Johan Bruyneel. Unfortunaltely, not even this has helped them get to the Tour. Because you might be unsure of who to root for in this year's Tour, let us not forget that American George Hincapie is riding for High Road, formally the T-Mobile squad. Also new to the Tour is Slipstream/Chipotle. American riders like Danny Pate, Christian Vande Velde and Will Frischkorn are adding to the already potent squad featuring David Millar, Julian Dean, and my favorite pro cyclist: Magnus Backstedt. Magnus is easy to pick out of the pro peleton, as he is the same height as I am, 6'4". One can't count out Australia's Cadel Evans and Spain's Alejandro Valverde. If either are on form, this could be their year. As with any Tour de France, anything can and usually does happen. It should be quite a July... Finally, I would like to mention some rides from the upcoming calendar. Paul Arvins is leading a triathlon training series. If doing a triathlon is a goal of yours, Paul will be able to get you on the right path. Nikki Grimes is leading a ride through the Oakland hills, Dale Blanchard leads an Old La Honda/Alpine loop, Mike Williams wants to tear your legs off on Welch Creek, and Andy and Carrie Payne are hosting July's pizza rides. See you one the road,
Jeff G |
Summer is here. That was official as of June 21, which marked the summer solstice. The days now are the longest of the year and, as of the past week, some of the smokiest. As I write this, there are over 1,100 fires burning in California alone. My views of Mission Peak from my dining room table are obscured by a white haze. I have been getting as many miles in as possible before midday, when the winds blows more and more smoke into Silicon Valley. On the upside, I have seen some of the most brilliant sunrises and sunsets in many years thanks to the recent pollution.