"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Tom D. is still consistent

....at never finishing a race.

the weather is always a good backup when the digestive system is played out and allergy season is a month out.

"Once on the road the attrition rate was constant. Riders dropping out included Tom Danielson (Slipstream-Chipotle), Burke Swindlehurst (Bissell), Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United), Johnny Sundt (Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast) and Matt Crane (Health Net-Maxxis). The Bissell Clean Sweep broom wagon was so overloaded with bikes that the driver was forced to unload them in a feed zone."
-Velonews

oh boy, another Danielson bashing thread!!!

again, the boy has unbelievable talent, but fragility is his middle name

Slipstream will get their money's worth though, he always comes through with a big result here and there.

this seems like kicking him while he's down... it's something outside his control, so why doesn't he get credit for his tenacity?

this seems like kicking him while he's down... it's something outside his control, so why doesn't he get credit for his tenacity?

....tenacity for calling shotgun first in the broom wagon?

TD has got to be the most talented American roadie who never really lived up to his potential. He would get less grief if he sucked. He doesn't. He should have delivered more results given his rather impressive talent. Shows how difficult bicycle racing is. 50% physical, 90% mental. Or something like that.

That's why you anti-Lance weenies will never get him. He's on his own mental plane from us lesser mortals.

50% physical, 90% mental.

You must really suck then.

TD has got to be the most talented American roadie who never really lived up to his potential.

Is there an official competition?

Is there an official competition?

If there was, there should be separate pro and amateur categories.

I can think of a few people who would be good candidates for the amateur category...

this seems like kicking him while he's down... it's something outside his control, so why doesn't he get credit for his tenacity?
Sure, nobody quits a race with more legit-sounding excuses than ole TD. In no country other than America would a guy 30 years old next month still have the title of "next big thing".

From his own bio:


Three years of mediocre results saw Tom's career on the mountain bike stagnating. In the fall of 2001, Tom met Rick Crawford who would eventually turn his career around. That fall, with Crawford's assistance, Tom won a National Championship with Fort Lewis College. That winter Tom worked closely with Crawford who helped him realize his potential on the road.
Then two very commendable years on the US road circuit followed by some very inconsistent European results not quite wiped out by a TdG win and a Vuelta stage.

I don't care what you jokers say ... I'm still calling it.

-mark