I'm back...

I’ve been away for a while, joining the other team. No, not the chaps who arrive at this site  by googling “Mark Cavendish Thighs” instead of “Peta Todd Boobs”, I mean the other gang of road users. I’ve learnt to drive.

It’s kept me busy, which is why I’ve not commented on Joaquim Rodriguez’s excellent Fleche Wallone win or yesterday’s gripping stage of the Giro del Trentino. I’m back now though, and very pleased with the points Rodriguez bagged for my www.road.cc fantasy cycling team.

I’m now watching the final stage of Giro del Trentino. You’d assume it couldn’t possibly live up to yesterday’s epic assault on the Punta Veleno. The ‘poisonous sting’ is precipitous on the ascent, the crest looks like a spot where you could fall off the edge of the world, and the descent  is made of  mud, mist, potholes and crash nets. The Passo de Pordoi may be more famous, but it looks less like a landscape from a Tolkien novel.

Still, as they always say, it’s not how hard the climb is, it’s how hard it’s raced. With Szmyd and Cunego within spitting distance of Pozzovivo, and wild bull Rujano doing his usual unpredictable thing, lots could happen.

Personally, I’d love to see Sylvester Szmyd take the overall. He’s been such a tireless worker for others it would be great to see him get his biggest win since the Dauphine’s Mt Ventoux stage in 2009. It won’t be easy, he’s hard as nails, but he’s still more mountain domestique than natural GC man. Nevertheless, Ivan Basso has just put in a strong turn at the front, repaying years of hard work that Szmyd has put in for him. Let’s see what happens...

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee...

If you get nettle rash on your knee during a ride, the best solution is to crash into the kerb until the afflicted area has been completely abraded.

Interestingly, this is the very last sight that all those people who come here after googling "Peta Todd" wanted to see.

Chapeau Tommeke

I'm away from home right now, so I'm not blogging as much, and I'm not the undisputed master of the TV remote control. It was surprisingly nice that I didn't get to watch Paris-Roubaix until the early hours of this morning. I was tired and sore-eyed, but watching space-telly at silly o'clock in the morning has a special feeling to it. It reminded me of staying up to watch boxing from Las Vegas; the sense of grandeur and occasion that you used to get from World Title fights.

It seemed fitting that Paris-Roubaix should get the 'main event' treatment, and unlike some of those late night fights (Trinidad vs De La Hoya and Lewis vs Grant spring instantly to mind), Tom Boonen actually dished out a main event performance. He's been on fire since the start of the season, but I still wasn't expecting an attack more than 50K from the finish, well over 40K of solo riding and the ability to hold off a dedicated pursuit from Sky. It was one of the toughest rides I've ever seen.

My last ride was a miserable day of rain, roadkill and cement lorries, but I enjoy the way that when the pastime of cycling isn't holding your attention, the professional sport will always keep you interested until your enthusiasm returns.