Snowtradeballzone

First, hearty congrats to Robert Gesink for winning the Best Young Rider at the Amgen Tour of California, and for Mario Cipollini for winning the Best Old Rider at the ATOC. What's that? There is no 'Best Old Rider' classification? There sure should be, open to racers in pro events 35 and older. I daresay I was more inspired by Super Mario in Cali than I was by when I was in high school and saw pictures in 'Winning Magazine' of Andy Hampsten in white at Le Tour.

Obviously, the more important racing over the weekend was out here, with the Snowball Crit #1 kicking off the season down in the Commonwealth:

• FireBike has some photos of the B race. No race report there, other than the report that his wife kept warm in the car during the A race. (Early season can be a real eye-opener. How many A racers wish they had done the same thing?)
• N Plus One has a link to a big ol' gallery from Snowball on his site. Click away.
• The Tao of Shawn has a report of the goings on and, yes, more pics.
• Stormyworld toed the line at Snowball too, and noticed that "This may be an interesting season as there were a LOT of new faces out on the track and a lot of people that could turn in to strong racers." Remember that all that extra suffering to be dished out this season is good for the sport.

Up near the District it was another Trade Zone Training Race weekend. I'm getting the sense that while last week's emphasis was still on the 'Training' part, things are heating up and by next week we'll be squarely in 'Race' mode.

• Bryan, for example, was in it to win it. And he would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling kids.
• And their dog domestique.
• Kyle at Pedal'n Around even defied a direct order from a coach to get out to Trade Zone.
• Flamenco Chuckwagon went toe-to-toe with Kyle for worst starting spot at Trade Zone. (And while not entirely topical, his post on Kiwi Muscles is must-read.)
• The Granfalloon has got his fast on this season. He also has a picture of TerribleCyclist with a pair of underwear in his derailleur. The 'fast' I can figure out, as he has the same coach as Tom Soladay had last season when he got a pro contract, and Matt Cooke the season before when he got his. The underwear I'm afraid I can't do much with.

Comments

[Dave Kirkpatrick]

I love it. Le Maillot Gris. Or Grigio for the Giro di Coppi.

[Chris D]

Cipo was awesome. Hated to see him tangle with Cavendish. Maybe he handed him a torch.

The image of Hamptsen I most remember from Winning is from the Giro when he won the stage and the race in that epic snowstorm.