Ramblings of a retiree in France
I’ve been a bit slow off the mark here largely because I’ve been out enjoying myself in the snow! As usual there were many lowlights in 2017 – no need to depress ourselves by listing them – but I’ve always been a glass half full… Continue Reading “Sheree’s 2017 Sporting Highlights”
Yesterday was Tom Boonen‘s last professional cycling race. For me, it’s the end of an era. Tom won the first race I ever watched and I’m going to have to come clean that my first thought was “Now there’s a guy that looks good in… Continue Reading “A fond farewell to Tom Boonen”
What do my beloved and Tom Boonen have in common? Well, neither of them will be lining up at this weekend’s Amstel Gold Race because they’re both suffering from an inflamed foot. In Tom’s case, he’s aggravated a tendon, all that stomping on the pedals over the… Continue Reading “Pain in the nether regions”
There are two things I absolutely love doing: anything to do with cycling and ditto cooking. Ahead of today’s Gentlemen, I’ve been whipping up a few cakes to satisfy the hoards. In theory, it’s only around 150 cyclists and 20 or so volunteers. In practise… Continue Reading “Creamed but never crackered”
I had thought with my beloved away yesterday that I’d find the time to put finger tips to keyboard, but no! All too soon he was back, gone barely 24 hours and back until the week-end. However, I’m going to snatch a quick hour… Continue Reading “Recapping and recalling”
At the beginning of each year, L’Equipe journalists pose ten key questions about the forthcoming cycling season and ask their readership to vote “Yes” or “No” to each question. Here’s the questions and the all-important results:- 1. Are the Olympic Games going to be… Continue Reading “L’Equipe poll”
Visits to my family in the UK are such rare occurrences that I never take my laptop with me. Not, of course, that my parents have access to the internet. But, even if they did, I would feel guilty spending even half an hour… Continue Reading “Out of sight, out of my mind (not)”
A recent article in L’Equipe looked into how much it costs to run a Pro-Tour team and how much it costs to organise a race. To illustrate the latter they used the recent Tour de L’Ain, a 2.1 UCI race whose budget of Euros 552,000 is financed… Continue Reading “How much?”
As the World Road Race Championships kick off today in Copenhagen, I find myself in the unusual position of still being at home. Pressure of work and flight schedules mean that I’ll be watching only the Road Races and not the Individual Time Trials. Of… Continue Reading “Countdown to Copenhagen”
I rode with my coach yesterday morning; always a pleasure never a chore. Despite choosing a route with plenty of shade, it was extremely warm, particularly towards midday. These are the (only) times when you actively seek out a head wind but, as soon as it’s… Continue Reading “Viva La Vuelta III”