Same but different

The face of the peleton has changed, there's no need to be Einstein to see that. It use to be CSC v Team Discovery (nee. US Postal), T-Mobile was there too but were more comedy near the end that contender. Even Saunier Duval was a regular on the scene, and their season launches provided amusement.

But now there is Garmin - Slipstream, Team Columbia - Highroad and the new kids Cervelo Test Team (although they are a Conti team). Is it just me or do these three in particular just seem to be mirror images of each other. The names, and blandness that is oozing from these is quite disappointing. I mean even Team Saxo Bank seem to have lost the edge and strut they had when they were CSC? I know it's a new world with sponsors running scared for both drug and economic issues but is Vlad Karpets the only one in the peleton that will provide any humour with his outrageous hair?
I'm use to Francaise des Jeux, Cofidis even Bbox Bouygues Telecom being the French fill ins and not doing anything for years but the peleton is becoming too bland. It started when over 50% of the team kits were all blue.
We need some colour and excitement back in the peleton, please. It's getting so bad I'm looking forward to the post stage interviews with Cadel Evans!

As one door closes.....

It didn't take long did it?? Just at the cusp of another Spring Classic season and the Colbach is back up for grabs this year....

Judith Arndt of Team Columbia-Highroad broke her collarbone in a training accident near Melbourne, Australia, last Monday. Apparently Arndt hit a car door which opened unexpectedly in front of her and which she was unable to avoid.

Damn silly car drivers not watching for on coming traffic and just flinging their car doors open. I really hope one day the idiots do it as the No 64 tram or (better still) a Mack truck comes "sneaking up" behind them - might teach them to be aware of their surroundings. It's bad enough these people have been given a license but they most probably vote as well - that actually explains a few things....

The good news is no surgery is necessary and she hopes to be racing again within six weeks.

And so it begins

The season proper has started. The TDU and Tour California have come and gone and now are exposed as the 2nd rate pre-season races they are (sorry but they are).
Now we head to the Classic's season and we can get interested in cycling again. Omloop Het Nieuwsbald started it off and Thor showed how strong the Cervélo TestTeam will be in the coming year. Next was Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne where the usual stuff happens; Big Tom showed he is a Classics king and Team Silence-Lotto failed to live up to their own hype (not that anyone hypes them up anymore).
With five days to go to Paris-Nice and the stretch into April, this is the time of year i love.