November 10, 2008
It’s not the Tour de France or even international pro racing, but Lance Armstrong can’t lose. He’s now three-for-three in regional competition since announcing his comeback in September.
Armstrong, 37 claimed the 27-mile the Rocky Hill Roundup in Smithville, the finals of the Texas Cup Series mountain bike race Sunday by 48 seconds.
Armstrong rode early in 10th position, but then was part of a three-rider break in the reace in moderately steep single-track fire trails. When a slight gap opened, Armstrong took advantage and rode to an easy win.
Last weekend, Armstrong won the individual time trial was also victorious in the two-man team time trial and the Tour de Gruene, near his home is Austin, Texas.
Armstrong is scheduled to return to the pro road peloton, Jan. 20-25 in the Tour Down Under beginning in Adelaide, Australia.
Posted in Cycling, Tour de france 
No Comments » by James Raia
October 31, 2008
Jeannie Longo
The world’s best athlete no one knows turned age 50 today. She’s cyclist Jeannie Longo of France. Racing for nearly 30 years after an alpine skiing career, Longo has won more than 1,000 events, including 55 national titles an Olympic gold medal and victories in countries around the globe.
Although widely revered in the cycling world, Longo remains unheralded in the mainstream media. But she she shouldn’t be, particularly considering her legacy.
Longo, who has a doctorate in Sports Management, was born Oct. 31, 1958 in Annecy, France. She began her athletic as a downhill skier. After winning the French schools’ ski championship and three university skiing championships, she switched her main athletic endeavor in 1979 to cycling at the urging of her then coach (and now husband) Patrice Ciprelli and won her first national title.
As one of the 10 oldest athletes in the Summer Olympics in Beijing in August, Longo, 49, finished fourth in the individual time trial.
Posted in Cycling No Comments » by James Raia
October 31, 2008
Floyd Landis
Floyd Landis, the dethroned winner of the 2006 Tour de France, has signed to race next year with the newly sponsored OUCH squad base in Southern California. The Australian-based cycling web site, cyclingnews.comn reported late Thursday that Landis would ride for the squad formerly known as Health-Net. The team is by owned Momentum Sports Group and will be officially named OUCH presented by Maxxis. Landis will join the team following the end of his suspension in January 2009.
(more…)
Posted in Cycling, Tour de france No Comments » by James Raia
October 27, 2008
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador of Spain, winner of the 2008 Tour of Italy, will not defend his title in 2009, opting instead to focus on winning a second Tour de France title. Contador, who rides for Astana, won the Tour de France in 2007, but his squad wasn’t invited to cycling’s prestige event this year because of past doping offenses. The team hasn’t officially been invited to the 2009 event, either, But it’s expected to receive a position in the race.
Contador’s announcement seems like a savvy move by Astana. Since Lance Armstrong, the newest Astana team member, will competed in the Tour of Italy as his first grand tour since coming out of retirement, he will avoid racing against his own teammate.
Likewise, Armstrong, the seven-time winner of the Tour de France, recently said he’s unsure he would vie for his eighth title. Of course, that would again allow Armstrong and Contador to avoid direct competition.
Contador also won this year’s Tour of Spain, the final grand tour of the season, in September.
Posted in Cycling No Comments » by James Raia
October 20, 2008
Mike Singletary
Mike Singletary replaced Mike Nolan on Monday as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Nolan was largely ineffective in his tenure with the team that dominated the National Football League during the heydays of Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice and a coach named Bill Walsh.
But now, with Singletary in the charge, the team will be run by the middle linebacker some say was the best in league history. And he’s also the player whose image represents television technology at its best.
Remember the first time the close-up camera captured Singletary’s intense look as a play was being called? Has there ever been a more vivid image in NFL history?
If Singlestary can install some the same intense degree of concentration, they’ve got to improve, right?
Posted in Football No Comments » by James Raia
October 18, 2008
Every year, lots of folks try to speculate what route Tour de France organizers will select for the following year’s event. The starting city of the cycling’s most prestigious event is usually known a year in advance. But the rest is kept secret until the annual fall unveiling.
This year, the presentation will occur Wednesday, Oct. 22 in its usual lavish presentation at the Palais des Congres in Paris.
(more…)
Posted in Cycling, Tour de france No Comments » by James Raia
October 17, 2008
The National Football League has announced the price of Super Bowl ticket will both increase and decrease for next year’s game.
Twenty-five percent of the tickets for the game Feb. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. will be $1,000. A majority of tickets will be priced at $800 with the remainder priced at $500. The latter two prices are lower than last year.
The first Super Bowl was played 43 years ago in the Los Angeles Coliseum and the tickets cost $6, $10 and $12.
Ticket prices surpassed $100 in 1988, which means they’ve increased ten-fold in 20 years.
I’m not a NFL fan, but a Super Bowl ticket for $1,000?
Let’s see . . . with $1,000 I’d rather . . .
1. Buy a new laptop;
2. Make an extra mortgage payment;
3. Make a sweet credit card payment;
4. Throw a great party, buy a lot of pizza and beer and chips and salsa and watch the game at home with good friends . . . and probably save $800.
Posted in Football, Special Interest/General Interest, Sports Business No Comments » by James Raia
It’s not the Tour de France or even international pro racing, but Lance Armstrong can’t lose. He’s now three-for-three in regional competition since announcing his comeback in September.
content rss
Recent Comments