Saturday Night Haiku

Hitting the love potion hard

It's Saturday night

Time to let it all hang out

World Chamionships 2013

Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver

Not a happy man

In Giro, Vuelta, now the Worlds

He was the also ran

Rui Costa took the stripes

Combining tactics and might

A stunning win in Firenze

Igniting a Portucalian frenzy

Valverde took third

Without a kind word

His race spelled confusion

Nibali was beat

But his race was sweet

Escaping without a contusion

Gilbert gave it all he had

We would expect no less

Probably it's best to focus

on Rui Costa's happiness

World Championship Individual Time Trials 2013

World Champ

Tony Martin performs a hattrick--

A Tutonic triple win

Three years the time trial's gold

Has been won by him

Bradley Wiggins came in two

Cancellara three

But today's time trial laurels

Belong to Germany 

Happy Friday!

Phil Wins in Spain!!! Stage 12 Vuelta a España 9/5/13

World Champion Phil Gilbert

Took Stage 12 in Spain

So glad for his victory!

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 7 8/13

USA Pro Cycling Challenge stage 7

TeJay wins the Challenge

Pro Cycling's  mountain gem

A solid victory was carved from

motivated men

BMC gave him a solid crew 

to abet and aid

Seven cycling days like this

reputations can be made

Peter Sagen took four stages

A sprinting man for the ages 

(Also good at mountain ranges)

Tom D, Matt Cooke, and Freddie R

showed they have a special star

Also Señor  Acevedo

taking his stage with canny brio

Chris Froome abandoned 

What was up with that?

Perhaps it was the altitude

which made him throw in his cap?

The stages were all run full bore 

Speeds which will go into lore

Colorado was the star

But the USA Pro Challenge 

Will go far

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 6 8/13

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 6 8/24/13

The finish was Fort Collins

the town that I am visiting

Chuck and Sheryl Higgins

In case you are inquisiting

They took me to a condo

Where I watched stage three

Today we went to Teds' house 

to see what we could see

Ted as it turns out

Has 55 inches of HD

We had to tear ourselves away

To see reality 

The temperatures were pleasant

like Jamaica in the hills

Seeing the peloton speed by 

was a total thrill

Their average speed mph 28

BMC did agitate

Ditto Garmin 

While absolutely TCB

they found time to be charmin'

Although a little worse for wear,

compared to Tuesday afternoon

Peter Sagan and Cannondale

soundly lowered the boom

TJ remained in yellow--droopy but content

Peter adding 14 points

to his sprinters' complement 

BMCs van Avermaet came in third

Two is Luka Mezgec,

of whom I haven't heard

In 8th place Fast Freddie

Our local lad made good

He came in eighth

restoring faith

in riders from the hood

Rodriguez, Fred from Jelly Bell

has been riding very well

The only yank in the top ten

He proves himself man among men

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 5 Haiku 8/13

USA Pro Challenge Haiku Stage 5 8/23/13

TeJay makes it look easy

Andrew Talansky

excels and comes in at two 

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 4 8/22/13

USA Pro Challenge Stage 4 8/22/13

Matt Cooke with 46 points KOM

Is one of the most delighted of men

At age 34 he's toiled without fame

No reason at all to remember his name

Now he's a podium veteran 

The KOM jersey looks good on him

He's walking on air

Climbing like a hawk

Having won fair and square

He's now talking the talk

He's trailing  behind the break 

But what ever's next 

It won't be heartbreak

56 mph now in the 5 man break

A speed hard to contemplate

Radio Shack  has Gallopin, T

He's a danger man for the GC

A cat one climb is Bachelor Gulch

Garmin wants Gallopin to squelch

For Cannondale Vilella, Davide

A debutant with style and speed

Joining Garmin is BMC

Keeping an eye on Gallopin, T.

Jelly Belly holds Rodriguez--Fast Freddie

If you're looking for a sweet team, they're ready

TeJay  van Garderen rated high

In Beaver Creek rain falls from the sky

TeJay's prediction is coming to fruition

As BMC and Garmin duel for position

Tom Danielson for Garmin Sharp

Says his team has lots of heart

He wants to out climb TeJay

and ruin BMC s entire day

Both lads hail from Colorado

Who'll be the sun?

Who'll be the shadow? 

The rain is a factor if it doesn't stop

TeJay says that his form is top

The Columbians climb up the seven mile peak

A mountain stage is what they seek

Rogers attacks for Saxo Tink

'Interesting!' Phil L. thinks

Gallopin is falling behind

Lady Luck no longer kind

Tommy Danielson and TeJay

Or will Michael Rogers take the day?

Acevedo moving well

Up this piece of climbing hell

T and T neck to neck homeboys

Wacky fans make lots of noise

A wet descent adds to the angst

TeJay leads a merry dance

Tommy D follows quick

Along roads rain soaked and slick

Mathias Frank gets involved

The yellow jersey not yet solved

TeJay has everything to gain 

Another couple km of pain

Adding in torrential rain

Cycling is a hard man's game

Acevedo wins the stage four

A day with riding thrills galore!  

TeJay takes two the sun appears

T. Danielson is in arrears 

A rainbow arches over stage five

A great day just to be alive! 

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 3 8/13

USA Pro-Cycling Challenge Stage 3 8/13

Watching stage three in high definition

I tell you that life can be totally

bitchin'

Jens Voight once again

makes his years disappear 

As he leads the break from

the  get with no fear 

He says the best defense is an attack

Correcting mistakes they made one stage back

Frank, Mathias  is pleased as punch

To win stage two from a hard hitting bunch

Pete Sagan came up roses stage one

I bet his conditioning stay has been fun

Colorado seems a welcoming state

For a young champ to operate

I went to Breckenridge to view stage two 

The finish was swell with great hullabaloo 

The organizers kept things ship shape 

This USA challenge is coming on great!

Lachlan Morton does Garmin proud

Race leader--at this moment

One of the crowd

Chris Froome summarizes Sky strategy

A warm-up race for late season victory

As an eye-witness I must testify 

The pack looked super as they galloped by

Ignited by heights of Independence

Pass

They finished like freshmen on first day of class

Breaking news!! A nature break en masse

For the five escapees --  they're not abashed

Cooperation in the extreme

Let's just call them a tinkling team

Dombrowski is out leaving Sky on a hunt

Other teams' stage hopes will sure feel the brunt

Porte and Froome have lost too much time

Feeling the pressure of climb after climb

Jens compares Le Tour to childbirth 

He attacks from the break showing his worth!

51 km to go the gaps over five

and he's going for broke

The group comes alive and starts to stroke

Jens is well spoken and very game

He gives middle age a good name

Lochlan Morton remains cavalier 

Garmin has his backside through Rabbits' Ear

5 km to the top of the pass

Jens shows the rest of the lads his ass

There's a climb, undulations, and then a steep drop

Can Jensie possibly stay on top?

I shed a tear at his heroics

He's so wild and yet so stoic!

Jens starts the plunge

In a skiers' crouch

Those famous legs of his say 'ouch!'

The peloton careens at speed

four miles to go it's close indeed

The Peloton is a frothing beast

They take out Jens like lightning, greased

Peter takes it with élan 

He seems so chill, the winning man!

Old and young make special marks

At least on this one bloggers' heart

Tour de France Stage 21 2013

Tonight's final stage

reports I peruse

including the Guardian

and Cycling News 

Featuring beaux Parisian views 

And a final sprint which Cav did lose

Marcel Kittel took the stage

A studly sprint after scenic parade

Chris Froome in Yellow

Celebrates on the Champs

Consolidating Sky's victory dance

Le Tour one oh oh is now part of history

How the riders survived it

is still quite a mystery

Tour de France Stage 20 2013

Tour de France Stage 20 2013

This Saturday in Annecy

The weather is sunny

Also dispositions

jockeying for podium position

in the final minutes of the final stage

(Jens Voigt simply won't act his age)

Pierre Rolland craves the Polka Dots

Talansky wants to show what he's got

Quintano waiting in the wings

Alberto C--one of those things. . .

78 miles of Alpine climbs

The finish is uphill

These steep and final inclines

Are sure to give a thrill

Who will taste of victory

 and who a bitter pill?

On whom will Lady Luck confer

that extra bit of will?

Second to fifth place

are in dispute

Who will go to Paris

having earned winners' repute?

Five brutal climbs put all to the test

But Truth won't be told 'til the final minutes

Movistar are motivated

Both for Quintana and the team

Tinkoff-Saxo disagrees

they'd like to spoil that dream

Jens Voigt all natures' laws defying

Pulls away--he's flying

Up the heights of Mont Revard

Zoot Alors! He's riding hard!

TeJay and Gilbert take a try

Voigt is still the leading guy

by more than 3 minutes half-way up

Mont Revard

It's hard to believe he has come so far

With brains and brawn belying his age

he could actually win this stage

He takes points at the top

Why the heck not?

Chis Froome looks strong 

As he powers along

Contador loses ground

Rodriguez looks for third

Quintana two

Andrew Talansky 

Sacre blu!

The crowd is a zoo!

Froome and Quintana

battle it out

Nairo knows what he's about

Taking KOM as well as the stage

A veterans' run at a rookies age

He wins the White jersey and podiums two

Rodriguez takes three

We're proud of you!

All the top ten have earned their oats

The GC also fulfills our hopes

100th  edition of Le Tour

in hearts and minds will long endure!

Tour de France Stage 19 2013

Tour de France Stage 19 2013

Right out of the gate

is Hesjedal, Ryder

and also Izaguirre

'tho mighty peaks await them

which must engender fear

It's three AM in Cali

and I am on the case

my inner alarm clock

has adjusted to this race

All eyes are on the yellow 

Is Chris a tired fellow?

Five brutal climbs ahead

Does he wish he'd stayed in bed?

Rain ramps up the dread

Skies overhead are lead

The Col de Madeline

Humbling to all men

Looms like a giant 

stunning but malevolent

Bob Dole says he's never seen

a race so hard by increment

Ryder and Rolland take the peak

with mutual compliment 

Team Sky has unzipped their kit

Yumminess you must admit

30 KM of descent

Challenges with no relent

Sieberg faces abandonment

A flat for Rolland, Pierre

with chase group on his derrière

Ryder is left in his dust

Has his brave ride become a bust?

Rolland tops le Col de Tamie

He looks like a winner today

11 minutes on the peloton

Hesjedal remains long gone ;0(

Chasers are gaining on Pierre

It's tough to be a solitaire

Saxo-Tinkoff leads the main group

hoping to give Sky the boot

and help their chances of Best Team

as they climb the Col de l'Epine

Rolland gets closer to mountain king

Wonder what he must be thinking?

Storm clouds gather with thunder

Will rain decide the race,

I wonder?

The final climb Col de la Croix Fry

Is known for being grizzly

Navarro attacks 

Nieve as well

Costa is there

Rolland's in hell

The rain pours down 

A total bummer

Bad luck for these Lads of

Summer

Rui Costa rides alone

I'm chilled to the bone

watching them struggle home

Rodriguez attacks

Froome fights back

Costa wins the stage

Kloden two despite his age

Bakelants is third

Radio-Shacks' bright bird

All tour leaders finish as One

Stage 19 was too much fun!

Tour de France Stage 18 2013

TeJay van Garderen with Moser

and Christophe Riblon

has merrily been rolling along

until his gears go out of whack

Leaving him open to attack

Riblon goes off  into a ditch

The Col de Serenne is a bitch

Moser regains his spot in the lead

TeJay is back on the road

contending with a heavy load

Contador attacks on the descent

a champion spoiler is a compliment

Working with Kreuziger his teammate

 rough roads and rain complicate

Sky must wait out this move by Tinkoff- Saxo

having  l'Alpe d'Huez times two to go

The Sky team holds pat

Taking the risk 

That Contador can't continue like this

The lead group of three

Re-forms with TeJay

Who's having a wonderful ride today

Sky muscles on 

At the end there will be a weighing of bikes

Disqualifying those that are too light 

Scrambling for Quintano is Movistar

Hoping he can go be the new star

No more Mr Nice Guy

TeJay looks a brute

He could win this stage

Wouldn't that be cute?

Riche Porte is on fire

Is Chris Froome tired  ?

Five miles straight up

TeJay tries his luck

Nairo follows Chris

Seeks podium bliss

Quintana hangs tough

Can Chris do enough?

Contador runs out of gas

The crowd shows its' ass

Literally, in fact

We've had quite enough of that!!!!

Richie Porte revivified 

 Froomes' Sherpa guide

TeJay holds his line in

mob madness 

Shows one and all he is a badass

Chris is in trouble

Porte feeds him like a bird

Quintana takes his chance to be heard

Riblon fights hard for the French

He passes TeJay-- a Gallic mench

100 years of history

A hungry French crowd goes crazy!!!

TJ comes two in a valiant ride

Did his mechanical turn the tide?

Chris and Rich try to limit their loses

Contador fate once again crosses

A dejected TeJay so near but so far

Chris hits the wall

But Richie took the hit

You want to see teamwork :

This is it

Chris increases his lead

Something he'll need

Riblon wins the ride

What joy for French pride

Tour de France Stage 17 2013--ITT

Le Tour golden boy Chris Froome

Eclipsed Alberto

Perhaps it was the bike change ?

Tour de France Stage 16 2013

A big, brawny breakaway

dominates the stage today

Although Sky team leads the pack

They're more than twelve minutes back

Not trying to the break attack

As it races to the town of Gap

In front group is Philippe G

Ridin for Team BMC

He wants to win

As World Champion

You know my heart goes out to him

The Col de Manse a cat 2 climb

begins the bells of pain to chime

for twenty plus escapees

like tired mouses chasing cheese

Contador wants to gain some time

Rui Costa leads the climb

A dizzying descent for the Portuge

at speeds above KM fifty

He wins the stage handily

A second race for the GC

Is fought with Froome and Albert C

Chris aided by stalwart Richie P

Ends the day quite happily

Before tomorrow's TT

Tour de France Stage 15 2013

Today the climb of Mont Ventoux

makes veterans and neophytes

tremble in their boots collective

A brutish climb from base to tip

All tremble at the sight of it

A terrible objective

Of anguish non-selective

Inspiring extreme invective

of fear and loathing reflective

Mont Ventoux Provenc-ial Beast

Just tap away and grit your teeth

The first three hours of the race

have been run at a ripping pace

of thirty miles P H

Where peloton its' fate will face

on rocky crags which give no grace

Thirteen hard miles the will erase

for cowardice there is no place

Mont Ventoux--the cyclists' grail

Each one prays that he won't fail

A high profile breakaway

Would like to win this Bastille Day

Including Roy and Chavanel

A Gallic victory would be swell

Spoil the lad and spare the rod

In territoire of Marquis de Sade

MoviStar has lead the charge

Hopes Quintana will live large

21 KM of straight up pain

The victors will have earned their fame

On Green Pete S keeps his grip

With this sprint he may have clinched it

Anticipation makes me weak

Empathy from a non-athelete 

In a plot line straight from

Marquis de Sade

This is the Charge of the Light Brigade

Sky leads the pack

Will Contador attack?

Valverde is alive

Schleck has imploded

Bakelants survives

Quintana exploded with 7 miles to climb

He'd like to take 5 mins of time

Sky sneaks a meal in the final ten

There will be fines for them

Kennaugh cracks after giving his all

The harder they climb

The further they fall

Quintana moves like an Aztec eagle

Richie Porte plays a role regal

Protecting rule of king Froome 

Chris is free! He starts to zoom

Alberto cracked

Quint has yellow at his back!

It's Nairo and Chris amazingly

Dueling up the grade

This is the sort of moment

Where history is made

Chris dominates

Mont Ventoux

A textbook ride

Respect to you!!!

Sky's hand is shown

The penny dropped 

Chris Froome is 

the man on top!