Very Proud Venezuelan Pedalist? WTF?

Most of you know I'm nuts about outdoor sports and cycling in particular. Mountain or Road, baggies or lycra, I love it all. I watch all the three major Tour's (Il Giro d'Italia [Tour of Italy], Le Tour de France and La Vuelta a España [Tour of Spain]) like it's the NBA finals (Is anyone watching the NBA finals?) Yes, I've been rooting for the feisty Texan since before he lost one of his nuts (Did you know he raced for a French Team before US Postal ever was?) Over the years, it has been very satisfying to watch Lance destroy records and critics and I can't wait to watch him achieve what will stand as a record for the ages: Seven consecutive TdF's. Once in a while though, you want to root for an underdog. I can report to you that this has been a great 88th Il Giro d'Italia which was just completed over the weekend. The competition was very close and the "Maglia Rosa" (The Italians are "maricones" and they give a pink jersey instead of a yellow one to the leader of the race) changed owners many times during the three weeks of the race. It was so competitive that the guy wearing it, Paolo Salvodelli, virtually lost it, on the penultimate day of competition based on time while on the road, only to regain it in the final 4k of the decisive stage.

What was really satisfying was watching a countryman win the "King of the Mountains" jersey, the "Most Combative Rider" title, one major stage and come in third overall in the general classification. What is really amazing is that this guy is just 23 years old and this was his first major Tour. He weighs all of 104lbs. looks like a hobbit but has been nicknamed "The Incredible Hulk" for no small reason. The "King of the Mountains" jersey is for some cycling connoisseurs, the real deal: Just you, your bike and the mountains. Every major Tour gets decided on the mountains where the team tactics fall apart, the drafting is ineffectual and the underdogs give the big guys a real scare. At one point, Jose Rujano Guillen came close to walking away with the Maglia Rosa but thankfully for Salvodelli, he ran out of uphill road. You can read all about that epic stage here and more about Rujano here. Keep an eye on the tough little guy!

Labels: cycling, sport