Astana is out (so far)

So, did anyone really *not* see the chances of this coming??? ASO which owns the Tour De France and most of the other important races in France has banned or rather summarily not invited Astana to any of their parties this year. Its a huge blow. Especially in light of the fact that other teams who have also been naughty in years not so far past, have been invited to at least the first of the major ASO races, Paris Nice.

I think a good part of ASO shutting out Astana is political as much as anything else. The major tour operators have been battling with the UCI for a couple of years now over invitation lists and wild cards in their events. UCI wants to dictate that the organizers have to have the 20 UCI Pro-tour teams. While the 3 different tour organizers want to have more control over who races in their events.

Dont get me wrong, Astana has alot going against it. It was born out of scandal. When Operation Puerto broke just days before the '06 tour, Liberty Seguros had 4 riders eliminated, leaving just 5 and not enough to start as a team. Alexander Vinokorov went to his homeland and drummed up enough support to buy the Liberty Seguros license and started Astana. Since then no fewer than 4 of Astana's biggest names have been busted for doping, most notoriously Vino himself during last years tour, after proclaiming that all the cheats left with the previous management team.

This year they hire John Bruyneel of Postal/Discovery team fame. Johan is not the most outspoken critic of doping. Some might say that he is actually a bit cavalier in his attitude towards doping as a matter of fact. Tho to his credit he has developed a team policy and policing practice that is certainly as thorough as anybody else's at this point. But history being what it is; and the cries of "but were different now", doesnt helps things any.

So, Astana is out. Partially due to history, partially due to politics. And for all those conspiracy freaks out there, saying that the French are just doing this so they can actually win their own tour; I point out that of the highest placed French rider from last year was Michael Boogard in 12th.

Now enough but bike racing. I've written on it almost exclusively for a while now. Sorry. I didnt intend for this to become a bike racing blog only.

I've started at a gym for really the first time. A bunch of years ago I tried for about 2 months and quit. This time has a better chance of taking. Mostly because both Mrs Culimerc and I have friends to work out with. Makes the whole thing a bunch different. So hopefully, I'll turn my flabby, pasty, white butt into a tone, pasty white butt. Good luck to Me.

We're having a wine tasting here this weekend. Should be a good time, its kind of like a tupperware party with alcohol. We'll see how it goes. My brother had no last week (that he didnt invited me to crash.....hmmm). He said it was a good time, s much because it was an adult party as much as anything else. Not having chosen a life of servitude to children, all our parties are adult parties. Take your diaper talk somewhere else breeder. Anyway, should be fun, wine, cheese, pate and all that other good stuff. (read bad for your heart).

Go Slipstream

340 days and counting.

What's not news

So maybe whats even more than what is news ( McCain is all -but- the official nominee and Clinton and Obama are the only 2 contenders left for the Dem's) is what isnt news. I havent heard from Rock Racing all week. Its like the first time since early Dec. Maybe they're losing their touch. And this right before the tour of Cali. Oh no!! Whatever will we talk about?? What without Michael Ball, Tyler, Chipo, and the rest of the circus. Oh yeah there's always Astana, who if you didnt know, has not been invited to the Giro. *snicker*.

If your lucky enough to be in Portland Oregon this week, stop by the hand made bike show. If there was ever a bigger festival of bike porn, I certainly dont know what or where it is. $18 at the door never bought a bigger stiffy. Bring on 2009 baby!! I can go to Pittsburg!!

So my weekend pretty much went into the toilet. For those of you who have never had to be "on-call" consider yourself lucky. Fri., I got called out just long enough not to be able to make the gym (and my first appt with a trainer to find out exactly how out of shape I really am). Saturday, as we are cooking dinner, I got called out again, to a customer prem, 3 hours of running around in circles trying to get anyone else to care that a customer is down and needs help. * am Sun. dispatch from a 3rd vendor is scheduled, so I'm up early waiting for calls that never come. Finally 9:30 I go to help anyway. Its pretty easily proved that its really not my problem, but no one else is helping, so I end up baby sitting. TILL 4: fucking 30 IN THE AFTERNOON!! Thanks a fucking lots folks. Way to help out the customer. So either way, I got almost 1/2 a weekend. I slacked last week and I'm gonna try to got what ever over with quick this week. I'm pretty happy with what I'm paid, but I need time off and away.

So, how was your weekend??

I almost forgot!!! The writers strike may be over!! w00t!! I havent had time to look into what the terms are etc. But this is good.

Go writers!!

344 and counting