Ryder Hesjedal, the first Canadian champion of the Giro d'Italia, and only the second time in Giro history that the overall title has been determined on the final day (in 1984 Francesco Moser overtook Laurent Fignon on the final stage to don the Maglia Rosa). In the past, Ryder has shown that he possesses the ability to be considered an overall contender in a major Tour. Over the last three weeks he has shown the physical ability over a range of terrain, and the tactical knowledge required, to turn possibility into reality. Congratulations are in order.
We may still be a month away, but all eyes now turn to France, and what is shaping into quite a show.
"... forget Navardauskas, he's a long way back now" - heard during the morning race coverage.
In every race there is a place to which we, the spectators, attach an emotive marker. There is a time, as short as a split second or drawn out to minutes or more, through which passage somehow alters, slows. A rider begins to struggle, slipping from wheel to wheel, sliding back. With only space behind him, he digs deep, finds a little extra and holds on, hoping the group will slow. But the pace is relentless, the slope unforgiving. In a moment a gap opens behind another rider just ahead. It widens. But the rider yet again finds, from some untapped depth within, just a little more energy. Enough to close the gap. He hopes the group will slow, and for a flicker of time it does. But the groups forward drive is inexorable and the gap opens again, this time for good. A noticeable change comes over the rider; where the merest moment before was a look of desperate struggle, now there is the shadow of resignation. The bright optimism the rider exhibited at the race start has been extinguished. Head bowed, shoulders slumped down, his pace slows and the group rides away.
Sometimes not even the maglia rosa is a strong enough shield to protect the gregario. The team must put its efforts where they will bring results. Sometimes those results do not lie with the race leader. The camera might linger for a while, searching for some indication, a sign of fight, rekindled defiance, but none is forthcoming. Whether with compassion or indifference, the camera speeds away in search of the next hero.
Whether these past two days in pink prove to be the one highlight in the cycling career of Ramunas Navardauskas, or but one in a series of highlights, it is unlikely he will forget them.
I believe these two images, swiped from the Quick Step Team site are of the Monte Zoncolan, at this years Giro d'Italia. The sound must be deafening as the riders race through that tunnel. Madhouse, just crazy.
Alright, I have given up on Blogger getting the original post back, and while this may not be the exact same as that first version, I think I have reconstructed most of the information.
If you are reading this from the United States, you may be asking, Addy Engels? Unless you follow the sport closely, his is not a household name. That in itself may be a good enough reason to profile him on this blog. But there are others as well. First, I don't have to borrow a photo from somewhere else. The one above, I shot at the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Stage 7 that year finished with four circuits at the Rose Bowl. Engels had worked himself into a ten man break earlier in the race. That break stayed clear to the end crossed the finish line more that two minutes clear of the peloton. Anyway, after crossing the line, Engles pulled up in front of me, accepted a cold drink, and gave me time to snap the photo.
But there is more. A little known, and kind of surprising fact: Engels has started more Giro d'Italia than any of his fellow countrymen. More than Jan Janssen or Hennie Kuiper. More than Peter Post or Jan Raas, or Erik Breukink, or Frans Maassen. If the above named have not given it away, Engles is Dutch. The Giro includes some of the toughest climbs of any Tour, and while Engels' countrymen have rarely been known as outstanding climbers, there have been notable exceptions, such as Gert-Jan Theunisse and Steven Rooks, two riders who made their fame in the mountains. Engels has more starts that either.
Typical of any of the peloton's workers, those who ride for the greater good of the team, and the teams leader(s), Engels does not have a mile long palmares list, nor one studded with wins. Rather, it is indicative of a rider who has found satisfaction in helping others achieve victory, knowing that the ultimate victory was made possible, in part, through his earlier efforts. As an amateur racer, Addy Engels won the Under-23 National Road Race Championship in 1998, and followed that up with a second place finish in the same race the following year. The big Dutch Rabobank Team signed him up, and his first year as a professional came in 2000. He was with Rabobank until 2003, at which time he raced one year with the Bankgiroloterij Team. In 2005, he signed with Quick Step and has been with that squad ever since.
The role of a team domestique rarely affords opportunities for personal glory, but in the process of working for various team leaders over the years, Engels has managed some top 10 finishes over the years. These have included:
2nd at the 2000 Continentale Classic
5th on stage 12 of the 2000 Giro d'Italia
10th on stage 17 of the 2002 Giro d'Italia
3rd on stage 4 of the 2003 Vuelta a Espana
6th on stage 16 of the 2005 Giro d'Italia
2nd in the 2005 Hengelo Criterium
2nd on stage 12 of the 2006 Giro d'Italia
3rd in the 2006 Gouden Pijl Emmen
10th on stage 7 of the 2009 Tour of California
5th in the 2009 National Road Race Championship
Though only thirty-three years old Addy Engels is a veteran of the peloton, and through his longevity has acquired invaluable knowledge and experience. Quick Step Director Sportif, Davide Bramati says, "He brings so much experience to the team, which will be even more important this year for us as we're bringing some younger riders to the Giro... He's more motivated than ever and wants to win a stage." While Engels will race this year's Giro in a support role for his team leader (which currently appears to be Dario Cataldo) I will be hoping he does indeed find that stage win.
For a little fun. Not only is Addy Engels an accomplished bike racer, but in his spare time he is a musician, guitarist and singer. Unfortunately my mastery of the Dutch language is just a myth, so I have no idea what he is saying during the interview portions of the video clip below, but he does sing Bruce Springsteen in English. Enjoy.
Oh, I almost forgot, he does have a blog on the Quick Step Team website.
There seems to be a nice interview here; I spent considerable time attempting to translate it, and while I came away with a general idea for some of the paragraphs, it was pretty sketchy, and I am not at all confident enough to post that translation. What I really need is a friendly Dutch reader to see this and help out. Anyone? The job pays in ample satisfaction, and many thanks. The last sentence of the interview, however, was very clear: Engels' pick to win the Giro? Same as mine - Alberto Contador.
Update Giro d'Italia, Stage 10. Addy made television coverage today on the Universal Sports broadcast. Following a painful crash by teammate Kristof Vandewalle, which required medical attention to his chin, Engels, ever the loyal teammate, stuck with the injured rider to the finish. At one point they were shown riding beside each other, Engels holding the saddle of Vandewalle's bike as he attempted to resolve a mechanical problem to his chain or front derailleur. Both riders finished 3:47 down; a textbook example of one rider giving up any aspirations on the stage to help a teammate.
Update Giro d'Italia, Stage 16. Engels put in a good effort during the days' individual time trial. The stage was a mountain time trail to Nevegal, only 12.7 km long, but with a maximum grade of 14%, it had almost all the riders opting for their regular road bikes. I noticed a couple guys had put on aero bars, but that was it. Anyway, Engels was the second best Quick Step finisher, ending the day with the 51st fastest time, two minutes fifty seconds behind Contador's blistering run. Team leader, Dario Cataldo was quickest Quick Step rider, finishing in 28th with a time of 2:04.
One final note: I found a cool little post about what the riders in the Giro do before the start of a stage (and on rest days), and there are a couple photos of Addy Engels relaxing with his wife, and giving/receiving a farewell kiss before heading out to the start. Jump here if you wish to see.
Alright, well one more now. From Addy's blog on the Quick Step team site, check out his touching remembrance of friend, Wouter Weylandt.
Well today's stage finish of the Giro d'Italia was one of those yell-at-the-television kind of endings. I was yelling at De Clercq to get out of the saddle and sprint as the hounds, bearing the names Scarponi, Kreuziger, Garzelli, and others, biting at his heels came charging after him. I knew full well that he absolutely could not, that he had put everything into his solo attempt, and had nothing left to give. Rising out of the saddle would have been impossible. I've been there, many of you reading this probably have as well; you are just so drained that the act of standing on the pedals and sprinting, actually sees your speed decrease. So it was well played; but did De Clercq hold on? I won't reveal it.
