Pro encounters of the first kind!

Eldron

Over the weekend I went shopping in France (took the channel tunnel train - how cool is that). And I sound so posh to boot!

On the way to a shopping centre in Calais I see a truck with Alessio Alumino on the side - don't they sponsor a cycling I ask myself? On closer inspection I also see Coppi signs.....IT'S THEM!!! I put 2 and 2 together and realise they're doing the Four Days of Dunkirk!

On the way out of the shopping centre I see the truck open with about 10 bikes and 3 mechanics cleaning and prepping the bikes for the next stage.

I didn't see any riders or even get near the truck but it get the old ticker thumping and made me feel like part of something HUGE! I love being a cyclist.

dimboy2

lol lucky you!

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crankin

One of the benefits of living in Arizona is that it is spring training for many cool teams.  Postal, Rona, Prime Alliance, Saturn just to name a few.  It's funny, but when I used to race (7 yrs ago) in New York, it was usually just the local (and a few nearby towns) crew.  HERE, I get to rubs handlebar tape with some of the best!  I raced with Jeannie Longo in April, and I constantly (to my dismay) compare my TT times to the amazing Genevieve Jensen (Rona).  As soon as I upgrade, I will actually be racing with her...or behind her as most ladies do!...I am going to sandbag just a bit longer.

Ciao!

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only one who does nothing makes a mistake

Eldron

What big name droppers we are!  ;D

In South Africa we get squat! Ullrich and Cipo train in Cape Town (about 1200km from my home) in December but we only ever get second string team racing in SA (or the odd first string guy that's seriously out of shape).

Living in the UK and mingling with people like Chris Boardman and Sean Yates still blows my mind.

Guest

My Australian friend told me stories of riding with Zabel, Armstrong, and even of Bernard Hinault running across their pack. I'm sure our Aussie friends over here have a lot fo stories to tell. From what I hear, most of the Euro pros go there during winter?

Guest

I've spoken to or raced with some of our top riders  ;D btw i cant drop any real big names like some of the above  :

Had a chat with Marcel Wust for 10 or 15 minutes here in ballarat a couple of years ago, this guy is a total legend.

Raced in cadel evens' age group when i was 17-18

Ummmmm Phill Anderson at Bright 3 or 4 years ago  ;D

Scott McGrory and Jason Phillips on the sun tour in ummm 98 i think it was....my father was the team cook (or something like that) ;D

Jacques Jolidon in 1996........he's from Switzerland and no-one here has probably heard of him, he's a bloody good rider IMO.

We often see guys like o'grady, McEwan, vogels, mcgee, jonker etc etc etc at race's when they're in OZ

Eldron

Perhaps we should start a gratuitous name dropping thread  ;D

Wait until I'm back from France in July - one of two things is going to happen - either I'll come back with a pack of autographs or I'll be jailed for stalking. Reckon I'm going to give the Armstrong brigade a miss - apparently he's up to 5 security personnel for TdF 2002....

dimboy2

My dad was put training and he met Dave Millar and he got on his wheel & started chatting giood thingn about cyclists they don't turn you away wen u ask for autograph or a photo like most footballers etc

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Guest

Lucky prick *;D you probably wont get near lance tho, I read somewhere he gets a chopper to and from the mountain stages LOL.....the things you can do when you have money.

dimboy2

lmao

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Guest

Well, nothing big here...

I haven't seen Lance Armstrong, yet.  Although, I have had plenty of opportunities.  Austin is just a 2 hour drive from here and he does a lot of public events.

I did get to see some tri pros that you have never heard of.  Here are the pics:
http://community.webshots.com/user/agoodwin78

Look under the Florida Gulf Tri picture album.

Guest

I've never met any cyclists, can I name drop some other sportsmen  :

Guest

yeah why not  ;D

Guest

You mean there are no other cyclists in your part of the world?  Where do you live???