American Bobby Julich of team CSC became the first “Yank” to win the Paris-Nice classic. The first race of the newly created Pro Tour, Paris-Nice has always been seen as the opening bell to the pro racing season. Julich was 3rd in the 1998 Tour de France, but floundered for several seasons afterwards. This huge win is further evidence that he has found a comfortable home with CSC.

Lance Armstrong dropped out of race before stage 4 complaining of a throat and chest illness. His team, Team Discovery continued on in the race with newcomer Yaroslav Popovych finishing 4th in the final stage. The new Pro Tour requirements have drastically changed the team’s racing season schedule as they are required to participate in all three of the ‘grand tours’ as well as a certain number of the classics. Personally, I think that Lance was just getting some miles in his legs and completing the Pro Tour requirements. I think the illness is fabricated and nothing is going to get in the way of his preparation for his seventh straight TdF win.

Congrats to Julich and thanks to OLN for their coverage of a sport that very few Americans follow.


By the way, if you are a cyclist and you don’t have a strong team in your area – join Team Internet. Team Internet is open to anyone interested in any form of bicycle racing. The team is registered with the United States Cycling Federation and the National Off Road Bicycling Association. Oh yeah… and I have been team president for the past four seasons.


May 18th at 7:00PM in more than 50 cities across the country is the Ride of Silence. Join cyclists nationwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on America’s public roadways.

The Houston ride info:
Contact: Chris Holmes
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.BikeHouston.org
Location: Herman Park/ZOO Parking Lot
Distance:
Notes: Wear a black arm band in honor of those who have been killed or a red arm band if you have been involved in a bicycle/motorist accident. Directions:1. Exit the HP zoo parking lot and follow Golf Course Drive to Caroline St. (The street on the east side of the Museum) (Designated bike route)2. Turn Right onto Caroline St. follow Caroline to Alabama. Turn left on Alabama for one block then right onto San Jacinto Street and take San Jacinto into downtown.3. In downtown, turn left on Congress and left again onto Fannin to return.4. Exit Fannin with a left turn on Ewing Street then right onto Caroline St.4. Turn left onto Golf Course Drive from Caroline St. and follow the Golf Course Dr. loop back to the HP ZOO parking lot.

… and the next time you see a cyclist on these tiny shoulders, please share the road.