Santiago Botero watch is ON!

Ronde Champ

Hey,

This nut pulled the same stunt on T-Mobile this year after it failed
so miserably last year. He has been hiding from kidnappers in his
parents attic in Colombia all year, and now thinks that he can
challenge the best in July in the Tour de France. What a loon! Well,
he is pulling down $725,000(USD)annually, so maybe he's smarter than I
thought.
Any guesses on when the excuses start pouring in? This guy thinks he
can watch Tour DVD's all year for training, and then win the race.
Yeah, right!

Thanks,
Ronde Champ

Richard Adams

Ronde Champ wrote:
> Hey,
>
> This nut pulled the same stunt on T-Mobile this year after it failed
> so miserably last year. He has been hiding from kidnappers in his
> parents attic in Colombia all year, and now thinks that he can
> challenge the best in July in the Tour de France. What a loon! Well,
> he is pulling down $725,000(USD)annually, so maybe he's smarter than I
> thought.
> Any guesses on when the excuses start pouring in? This guy thinks he
> can watch Tour DVD's all year for training, and then win the race.
> Yeah, right!
>
> Thanks,
> Ronde Champ

At least he doesn't post on rbr, at least under his own name.

Tom Arsenault

Richard Adams <ackthpt@concentric.net> wrote in message news:<c7sg98$qdu@dispatch.concentric.net>...
> Ronde Champ wrote:
> > Hey,
> >
> > This nut pulled the same stunt on T-Mobile this year after it failed
> > so miserably last year. He has been hiding from kidnappers in his
> > parents attic in Colombia all year, and now thinks that he can
> > challenge the best in July in the Tour de France. What a loon! Well,
> > he is pulling down $725,000(USD)annually, so maybe he's smarter than I
> > thought.
> > Any guesses on when the excuses start pouring in? This guy thinks he
> > can watch Tour DVD's all year for training, and then win the race.
> > Yeah, right!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Ronde Champ
>
> At least he doesn't post on rbr, at least under his own name.

As much as I like the guy, Botero = Head Case...

Then again, he is on a team that revolves around Jan and pretty much
nothing else, according to an interview in Cycle Sport that they had
with Bobby Julich this past month. I'm thinking T-Mobile revolves
around Jan even more than Postal around Lance. Maybe Botero should
jump ship and ride with Bjarne and CSC as well?

Tom

Sonarrat

In article <b44a1227.0405131220.c9e1c9b@posting.google.com>,
giantcu92@hotmail.com (Tom Arsenault) wrote:

> Richard Adams <ackthpt@concentric.net> wrote in message
> news:<c7sg98$qdu@dispatch.concentric.net>...
> > Ronde Champ wrote:
> > > Hey,
> > >
> > > This nut pulled the same stunt on T-Mobile this year after it failed
> > > so miserably last year. He has been hiding from kidnappers in his
> > > parents attic in Colombia all year, and now thinks that he can
> > > challenge the best in July in the Tour de France. What a loon! Well,
> > > he is pulling down $725,000(USD)annually, so maybe he's smarter than I
> > > thought.
> > > Any guesses on when the excuses start pouring in? This guy thinks he
> > > can watch Tour DVD's all year for training, and then win the race.
> > > Yeah, right!
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Ronde Champ
> >
> > At least he doesn't post on rbr, at least under his own name.
>
> As much as I like the guy, Botero = Head Case...
>
> Then again, he is on a team that revolves around Jan and pretty much
> nothing else, according to an interview in Cycle Sport that they had
> with Bobby Julich this past month. I'm thinking T-Mobile revolves
> around Jan even more than Postal around Lance. Maybe Botero should
> jump ship and ride with Bjarne and CSC as well?

I think he would be much happier with a small, underfunded team like the
one whose jersey he was wearing in his greatest moments. Colombia-Selle
Italia, for example, would be ecstatic to have him, and I have a feeling
it would be mutual. There seems to be a very real psychological benefit
to riding with other people who speak your language, and a pretty big
problem when they don't.

I'm not saying that I definitely know the answer - but just as
conjecture, how many GT winners have you seen who were not riding for a
home team, even in recent years - with globalization now a larger force
than ever before? Aitor Gonzalez, Paolo Salvodelli, Jan Ullrich, Lance
Armstrong, Gilberto Simoni, Stefano Garzelli, Angel Casero, all rode for
home teams.

Roberto Heras is the one exception, and we all know what happened with
him afterwards. The last GT winner not riding for a home team was Alex
Zülle, who won the Vuelta in O.N.C.E. colors in '96 and '97...

So back to Botero... it's probably too late for him to win a Grand Tour
outright. He's a bit under a year younger than Armstrong, and his
always slapdash form is not becoming better with the passing years. But
no rider is ever too old to show flashes of brilliance in the twilight
of his career, and he's definitely made of the right stuff to make some
inspired moves, whether he rides for Kelme or Telekom or CCC-Polsat.

-Sonarrat.

Sonarrat

In article <sonarrat-CD314A.18364213052004@corp.supernews.com>,
Sonarrat <sonarrat@stormloader.com> wrote:

> Paolo Salvodelli

Goddammit, I did it again. At least I got the right number of l's this
time.

Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli
Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli
Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli

-Sonarrat.

Howard Kveck

In article <sonarrat-CD314A.18364213052004@corp.supernews.com>,
Sonarrat <sonarrat@stormloader.com> wrote:

> I think he would be much happier with a small, underfunded team like the
> one whose jersey he was wearing in his greatest moments. Colombia-Selle
> Italia, for example, would be ecstatic to have him, and I have a feeling
> it would be mutual. There seems to be a very real psychological benefit
> to riding with other people who speak your language, and a pretty big
> problem when they don't.
>
> I'm not saying that I definitely know the answer - but just as
> conjecture, how many GT winners have you seen who were not riding for a
> home team, even in recent years - with globalization now a larger force
> than ever before? Aitor Gonzalez, Paolo Salvodelli, Jan Ullrich, Lance
> Armstrong, Gilberto Simoni, Stefano Garzelli, Angel Casero, all rode for
> home teams.
>
> Roberto Heras is the one exception, and we all know what happened with
> him afterwards. The last GT winner not riding for a home team was Alex
> Zülle, who won the Vuelta in O.N.C.E. colors in '96 and '97...

Don't forget Bjarne Riis for Telekom in '96.

> So back to Botero... it's probably too late for him to win a Grand Tour
> outright. He's a bit under a year younger than Armstrong, and his
> always slapdash form is not becoming better with the passing years. But
> no rider is ever too old to show flashes of brilliance in the twilight
> of his career, and he's definitely made of the right stuff to make some
> inspired moves, whether he rides for Kelme or Telekom or CCC-Polsat.

I agree with you about Botero's team situation - I think he'd be better
off riding for a team that is perhaps more focused on him. But, in
retrospect, he did pretty well on Kelme, and they had Gonzalez and Sevilla.
Maybe it is the language thing. Or maybe he just needs a good sports
psychologist (the afore-mentioned Riis, perhaps?)

--
tanx,
Howard

"Moby Dick was a work of art, What the hell happened?"


remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Benjamin Weiner

Sonarrat <sonarrat@stormloader.com> wrote:

> I'm not saying that I definitely know the answer - but just as
> conjecture, how many GT winners have you seen who were not riding for a
> home team, even in recent years - with globalization now a larger force
> than ever before? Aitor Gonzalez, Paolo Salvodelli, Jan Ullrich, Lance
> Armstrong, Gilberto Simoni, Stefano Garzelli, Angel Casero, all rode for
> home teams.

Casero = Festina = not technically a Spanish team.

> Roberto Heras is the one exception, and we all know what happened with
> him afterwards.

He signed for a team that made him the sole GT leader?
Not clearly a language issue, but an issue of the team's
priorities. Garzelli left Mercatone after winning the Giro.

> The last GT winner not riding for a home team was Alex
> Zülle, who won the Vuelta in O.N.C.E. colors in '96 and '97...

Seems at least equally likely that it is a question of
team and GT contender both needing to concentrate on the
same tour, most likely to happen if it's the home tour or
TdF. For example, even if Savoldelli were in one piece, he
couldn't ride well in the Giro, because T-Mobile isn't there.

Howard Kveck

In article <40a446e2$1@darkstar>, Benjamin Weiner <bjw@mambo.ucolick.org>
wrote:

> Sonarrat <sonarrat@stormloader.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm not saying that I definitely know the answer - but just as
> > conjecture, how many GT winners have you seen who were not riding for a
> > home team, even in recent years - with globalization now a larger force
> > than ever before? Aitor Gonzalez, Paolo Salvodelli, Jan Ullrich, Lance
> > Armstrong, Gilberto Simoni, Stefano Garzelli, Angel Casero, all rode for
> > home teams.
>
> Casero = Festina = not technically a Spanish team.

The Cyclingnews team database for 2001 lists them as French (though they
were racing under Andorran registry in '96). One thing to consider,
perhaps, is that the DS, Juan Fernandez, was Spanish, so that might be a
way for a rider to relate more easily (in the way Sonarrat seems to be
thinking). There were 10 Spanish and 10 French riders on the team.

--
tanx,
Howard

"Moby Dick was a work of art, What the hell happened?"


remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Sonarrat

In article <YOURhoward-ACFEBE.20331713052004@netnews.comcast.net>,
Howard Kveck <YOURhoward@h-SHOESbomb.com> wrote:

> In article <sonarrat-CD314A.18364213052004@corp.supernews.com>,
> Sonarrat <sonarrat@stormloader.com> wrote:
>
> > I think he would be much happier with a small, underfunded team like the
> > one whose jersey he was wearing in his greatest moments. Colombia-Selle
> > Italia, for example, would be ecstatic to have him, and I have a feeling
> > it would be mutual. There seems to be a very real psychological benefit
> > to riding with other people who speak your language, and a pretty big
> > problem when they don't.
> >
> > I'm not saying that I definitely know the answer - but just as
> > conjecture, how many GT winners have you seen who were not riding for a
> > home team, even in recent years - with globalization now a larger force
> > than ever before? Aitor Gonzalez, Paolo Salvodelli, Jan Ullrich, Lance
> > Armstrong, Gilberto Simoni, Stefano Garzelli, Angel Casero, all rode for
> > home teams.
> >
> > Roberto Heras is the one exception, and we all know what happened with
> > him afterwards. The last GT winner not riding for a home team was Alex
> > Zülle, who won the Vuelta in O.N.C.E. colors in '96 and '97...
>
> Don't forget Bjarne Riis for Telekom in '96.

Yes, and for that matter, the Giro winner in the same year was Pavel
Tonkov. That year all three Tours had winners with riders who were
foreign to their team's home country, then Zulle won again, then it
didn't happen again until Heras won the Vuelta in '03.

> > So back to Botero... it's probably too late for him to win a Grand Tour
> > outright. He's a bit under a year younger than Armstrong, and his
> > always slapdash form is not becoming better with the passing years. But
> > no rider is ever too old to show flashes of brilliance in the twilight
> > of his career, and he's definitely made of the right stuff to make some
> > inspired moves, whether he rides for Kelme or Telekom or CCC-Polsat.
>
> I agree with you about Botero's team situation - I think he'd be better
> off riding for a team that is perhaps more focused on him. But, in
> retrospect, he did pretty well on Kelme, and they had Gonzalez and Sevilla.
> Maybe it is the language thing. Or maybe he just needs a good sports
> psychologist (the afore-mentioned Riis, perhaps?)

Kelme has been unbelievably prolific so far in this decade, providing a
very effective launchpad for about a half-dozen riders who are not
merely in the first rank, but nearly incomparable in their individual
specialties. Given the track record of their DS, then, I think the fact
that their riders are gravitating away from the team to be a little
mysterious... I would think they would want to stay where there has been
conspicuous, and continuous, success in a big way. For a team,
especially one which is short on funding, to win a Grand Tour three
years in a row, with THREE DIFFERENT RIDERS, is unbelievable.

-Sonarrat.

Sonarrat

In article <40a446e2$1@darkstar>,
Benjamin Weiner <bjw@mambo.ucolick.org> wrote:

> Sonarrat <sonarrat@stormloader.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm not saying that I definitely know the answer - but just as
> > conjecture, how many GT winners have you seen who were not riding for a
> > home team, even in recent years - with globalization now a larger force
> > than ever before? Aitor Gonzalez, Paolo Salvodelli, Jan Ullrich, Lance
> > Armstrong, Gilberto Simoni, Stefano Garzelli, Angel Casero, all rode for
> > home teams.
>
> Casero = Festina = not technically a Spanish team.

Ooh, you're right. My mistake. I thought he was on Kelme, and had gone
back to them for this year... this also nullifies my argument about
Kelme having three different riders win the Vuelta in 3 successive
years...

> > Roberto Heras is the one exception, and we all know what happened with
> > him afterwards.
>
> He signed for a team that made him the sole GT leader?
> Not clearly a language issue, but an issue of the team's
> priorities. Garzelli left Mercatone after winning the Giro.
>
> > The last GT winner not riding for a home team was Alex
> > Z?lle, who won the Vuelta in O.N.C.E. colors in '96 and '97...
>
> Seems at least equally likely that it is a question of
> team and GT contender both needing to concentrate on the
> same tour, most likely to happen if it's the home tour or
> TdF. For example, even if Savoldelli were in one piece, he
> couldn't ride well in the Giro, because T-Mobile isn't there.

Solid points all. However, Heras did comment on Road to the Tour (in
broken English) about his poor English skills being a major source of
stress while on USPS...

-Sonarrat.

Richard Adams

Sonarrat <sonarrat@stormloader.com> wrote in message news:<sonarrat-A6CA47.19574513052004@corp.supernews.com>...
> In article <sonarrat-CD314A.18364213052004@corp.supernews.com>,
> Sonarrat <sonarrat@stormloader.com> wrote:
>
> > Paolo Salvodelli
>
> Goddammit, I did it again. At least I got the right number of l's this
> time.
>
> Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli
> Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli
> Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli Savoldelli
>
> -Sonarrat.

It's spelled D-I-E-R-C-K-X-S-E-N-S

Richard Adams

giantcu92@hotmail.com (Tom Arsenault) wrote in message news:<b44a1227.0405131220.c9e1c9b@posting.google.com>...
> Richard Adams <ackthpt@concentric.net> wrote in message news:<c7sg98$qdu@dispatch.concentric.net>...
> > Ronde Champ wrote:
> > > Hey,
> > >
> > > This nut pulled the same stunt on T-Mobile this year after it failed
> > > so miserably last year. He has been hiding from kidnappers in his
> > > parents attic in Colombia all year, and now thinks that he can
> > > challenge the best in July in the Tour de France. What a loon! Well,
> > > he is pulling down $725,000(USD)annually, so maybe he's smarter than I
> > > thought.
> > > Any guesses on when the excuses start pouring in? This guy thinks he
> > > can watch Tour DVD's all year for training, and then win the race.
> > > Yeah, right!
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Ronde Champ
> >
> > At least he doesn't post on rbr, at least under his own name.
>
> As much as I like the guy, Botero = Head Case...
>
> Then again, he is on a team that revolves around Jan and pretty much
> nothing else, according to an interview in Cycle Sport that they had
> with Bobby Julich this past month. I'm thinking T-Mobile revolves
> around Jan even more than Postal around Lance. Maybe Botero should
> jump ship and ride with Bjarne and CSC as well?
>
> Tom

It is an excellent article. As Bobby pointed out, even when Jan
wasn't riding or on the team it still seemed to revolve around him.
Shame is Erik Zabel is a great rider, yet seems to exist in Jan's
shadow, which seems terribly unfair. i wonder if Erik would ever
consider signing with CSC.