Everytime one of the young up and comers hits the scene they are invariably compared to the hardmen before.  Louis Leon Sanchez, of Spain, is now that guy.  Being compared to Miguel Indurain is no small thing, but these comparisons are always dangerous.  Witness the comparison of Tom Danielson and Lance, this was being made a couple of years ago, his tree has yet to bear fruit outside of Georgia.  But Mr. Sanchez yesterday put the world on notice.  His attack with 4km to go yesterday was stunning.  Descending at over 50mph, pushing serious G’s, he held off the pack to the line and won with a margin of less than a second.  It is the best finish that I have seen this year.  Balls to the wall.  I can’t come up with enough metaphor for how tough that performance was…The Bonebell tolls for Sanchez.  No ridiculus comparisons, just tolling.  And props to Rebellin for winning the overall, this would have been three years in a row for blowing the lead on the final day, he finally brought it home.  Gerolsteiner is looking tough this year.

 My next new jacket after I destroy my current best buddy…

I finally got out and did some real bicycle riding this weekend.  I shoveled the sand out of the way and made it out to the burbs for some Chicago style hill training. Paolo, Ted, Keith and I packed up the Derka Derka van and rolled out.  3 times up the Violent Hill, passed the ski jump, made most of us sick.  Due to the conditions of the road there, i.e. really nice, I took the hotness out for a spin.  Full race wheels and everything…. everyting, well, not everyting.  I left the flimsy race tires at home and put on some armadillos.  Still fast, and I am convinced they are the only thing that kept me upright when half of the group hit the deck on an ice patch.  She was not due to appear until somewhere near mid April, when the crap is off the streets and some of the potholes are filled, but duty called.  So the dude abides…  Really this is where the best riding in the area is I am convinced.  I have no idea why it is so difficult to get others to go.  Is there a better way to finish off a ride/race than with butterburgers from Culver’s?

Answer:  NO