Being a freelance journalist covering mostly cycling-related people and events
has its ups and downs. This past week, I logged 350+ miles on the bike, doing
um, uh, um, research. This coming week I will be logging over 1000+ miles,
unfortunately, they won't be on two-wheeled vehicle.
On Monday, I have an interview with Michael Ball. His people are calling my
people. As soon as that interview is completed, I will be driving six hours
from my winter home in the San Francisco Bay Area down to LA to visit the CSC
Professional Cycling Team camp where I will be doing interviews for two
articles for Pro Cycling Magazine during the day on Tuesday.
Late Tuesday night, I will be making the six hour drive back up north arriving
in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. As soon as I am functional, I will
begin transcribing the interviews for Pro Cycling as my deadline for the
articles is Thursday. Hopefully things go quickly as I have to pick Phil
Liggett up at the SFO airport on Wednesday afternoon as Phil flies in from
London. Phil and I are hosting a charity fundraiser on Wednesday night, it is
not entirely clear which one of us will be suffering from a worse case of jet
lag (well, in my case 'road lag').
Thursday during the day sees me finishing the pieces for Pro Cycling then
heading off to cover a charity fundraiser in Palo Alto with Levi Leipheimer,
Chris Horner and a few other pros in the early evening. Later that evening, I
am off to the Oakland Airport to pick up my production assistant. Oh, yeah, I
forgot to tell you that I will be working with Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen on
the official Amgen Tour of California DVD. Phil and Paul will be doing the
race call and I will be doing the pre-stage and post-stage interview with the
riders and team personnel.
Friday during the day, I will be transcribing and writing the Michael Ball
interview I did on Monday then it is off to Sausalito to help host the official
Amgen Tour of California Team Presentation on Friday night. Phil, Paul (those
guys again!) and Bob Roll will be introducing the teams. I will be on the
microphone for the fashion show and the live fundraising auction. Last year, I
raised almost $3000 for an all expense paid weekend for two to Las Vegas to see
the Celine Dion "It's a Brand New Day" show. Just try selling that to a crowd
full of cyclists!
Saturday during the day will be consumed by picking up my press credentials and
car pass and dealing with a few production items then Saturday evening is the
Davis Phinney Foundation Fundraiser. You know, when the race finally begins on
Sunday, things may actually get a bit less hectic. Not! Look for my blogs on
Active.com during the Amgen Tour of California as I bring you all the most
interesting peoples, places and things from behind-the-scenes. Welcome to my
world.
Bruce
I don't know Bruce, can't you do MORE?
And that you know the names 'Project Runaway' & Tim Gunn, well, I'm thinking you really DO have an inner fashionista. Shhhhh, I won't tell!
Anyway, thanks so much for replying to my comment & answering my questions last week. Yes, I can see why the Grand Tours don't like the Pro Tour much. But that the sport can be held hostage to the whims of this small group of men is exactly why I think the Pro Tour or some controlling entity is necessary.
And now ASO has announced Astana is barred from ALL their races this year. What's really going on here? Are they just being vindictive to to a team that caused them SOME of the embarassment at last year's TDF? Even though the current team & management is almost completely different? Is it a smack at Johan &/or Alberto because they think they are connected to doping? Is it just PR to "SHOW THE WORLD" that THEY, the ASO are so "tough on doping" that they will barr last year's winner due to 'tainted' connections? And what if they invite Rabobank? The team truly responsible for the worst stories & biggest humiliation at last year's TDF : the race leader & probable winner being kicked out of the race with 3 days to go. If that team is invited, I will never be convinced that the following did not occur - that ASO made a deal with the team to get Rasmussen out of the race & then Rabobank would be invited back in 2008.
I am disgusted. By the ASO & the sport of pro-cycling that allows it to happen. And I feel terrible for Levi, Alberto, Chris Horner & all the Astana riders. And I am sad for myself as I was so looking forward to watching Alberto & Levi team up once more & possibly switch podium positions in this year's Tour. As much as I love the Tour de France, those men in charge remind me more & more of the Indy 500 owners. Who pretty much single handedly destroyed open wheel racing in the US. All because THEY wanted more power over that sport.
For the last several years I have told friends that it would not be doping that kills my enthusiasm for this sport as much as the narrow-minded, power-crazed honchos in charge. Can you be a clairvoyant if you didn't "know" you were?
I'm not giving up the title of "cycling fan" just yet but it is slipping. I will try to hold on to the memory of last year's TDF start in London. Of the 23 Tours I've watched on TV, it was by FAR, my favorite start. It truly was FABulous. And I agree with the ASO on at least one thing - get the TDF back to London as soon as possible.
Update. I just saw that Rabobank has been invited to Paris-Nice. It is what it is.