"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Tour des Flanders & Paris-Roubaix

I would really love to see Johan Museeuw win both races.
He is the old Lion of Flanders and in his last season he should win at least of them.
I allways liked the Spring Classics, especially Paris-Roubaix (the so called hell of the north)...

:D

Speaking of which, the request still stands. Anyone in the U.S. who gets OLN and would be willing to tape some of the races for us poor canadians? I know it's piracy, but who cares? Until OLN canada wakes up, we're desperate. Anyone willing to make tapes and mail them to us? We'll pay for any expenses.

Anyone in the U.S. who gets OLN
Wabbit,
Down here in Texas, the OLN we get is the same as you
are seeing. I have all the oppertunity in the world to retape
the TdF. I think we might get Paris Roubaix, if so I can tape it
and send you a not for commercial use
(a stab a legalize :D ) copy!
I've checked the schedule and do indeed see P-R, Tour De Flanders and a few others so if they show em (and not shotgun life...) I'll tape em, let me know what you'd like.

Marty

MArty:

In fact, OLN Canada bears little resemblance to OLN in the US. There is no cycling -- NADA -- outside of the TdF. No mountain biking, nothing.

See for your self at OLN Canada's Web Site. (http://www.facetheelements.ca/)

Wow, I thought that OLN was OLN
As I said previously I can tape some of the events
I have a VCR that will record either PAL or NTSC
(if I just RTFM :lol: )
I will be taping TdF for nephew who doesn't get
OLN.
If interested let me know.

Marty

You guys are swell! It's possible OLN canada may wake up and decide to show the GIRO, but we'll probably be stuck with the usual dreck.

Lotek, I can't email you, so I'll post a reminder. I think you can email me, though and I can give you my mailing address.

All I ask is that any tapers don't use crappy no name brand tapes- they guck up the VCR.


Thanks guys! if we had any stuff you can't get on tv we'd tape it for you.

Wabbit,

Fixed my profile so e-mail is turned on.
I tend to use JVC tapes, they tend to be ok.
Let me know what events, and your mailing address.
Format (i.e PAL or NTSC) as I'm not sure what ya'll use
in the Great White North :D
Marty

Thanks lotek.

Are you going to watch it live? It's going to be on really early!

We're thinking of having a paris-roubaix viewing night for our friends, it should be fun.

Nope,
I'm gonna watch the tape before I send it on to you.
I'm doing the Ride for the Roses that particular
sunday morning.

Marty

Well OLN has done great coverage in the USA. I give them that.

However video sales were super low last year. Here, I had no requests all year. OLN coverage of cycling has csted the video industry lots of money. This is something that is being passed around the table now.

As usual the consumers tend to loose. Why pay $44.95 for Paris Roubaix when you can see for free basicly same day.

I do at least hope OLN at least continues to show. Even if it is German, Eurosport or British versions. If this is the case, then viewers like me will actually win on the deal. Want to see Mr. Ligget? Pay the $45

Mapei seems to have big plans for the Tour des Flandres and Paris-Roubaix...
let´s wait and see. Perhaps Bettini or Freire...who knows.

I heard rumors that Armstrong was going to do Roubaix, but he's going to be at the ride for the roses, so I don't se how that's possible. I don't think he likes Roubaix very much. But I hear Cipo is going to be in it, it'll be wild. However, it's really too bad that Dekker, Vainsteins and a number of others like Wadecki are out for a while. Domo is in bad shape!

I think that for Lance to ride Paris-Roubaix is
more risk than USPS wants to take. His
focus is TdF and P-R provides way
too much oppertunity for crash/injury (thus the
hell of the north reputation).
I think Lance would like to start P-R but its not his
kind of race (at least before this season,
seems he is committed to riding the spring classics)
And yes I don't think he would miss his
signature fund raising event.

Friere is injured again and had to abandon
la Panne due to tendonitis. He's questionable
for Flanders as well.

Marty

by the way check out the ramps ("hellingen") of the Ronde :

www.rondevanvlaanderen.be

;)

Hey I can read some of this!
(piratello's link)
I guess 5 years in South Africa were
good for something.
Dutch is very similiar to Afrikaans
(same as some dialects in Flanders!).


Marty

Apropos Roubaix...
Cippollini said, he doesn´t start in Paris-Roubaix, because Mr. Leblanc didn´t invite his team (Saeco) last year to the TDF and now he doesn´t see a reason why he should follow their invitation to Paris-Roubaix. It seems, that Cippollini didn´t do himself and his teammates a favour in regard of an invitation to the Tour this year...
In addition to that, he said that he wants to stay healthy this season and the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix would be too dangerous.

Can't say I blame him. One fall in the Arenburg forest and you're done! There's a reason why guys like Armstrong and Ullrich and grand tour riders avoid Roubaix.

Regarding Paris-Roubaix on sunday I dare to make a guess :
Museeuw !
It reminds me on 1996. The situation was almost the same. Museeuw said that he was too bad and wanted to end his career and two days later he became world champion.
I hope for the old lion to clinch one spring classic victory in his final season...
Guys like him are getting less and less.

I think Museeuw could do it. He was probably a bit peeved at not winning the Ronde, and Roubaix is his thing. Also, there are are fewer contenders this year with all the injuries, and Cipo's out. Hincapie's a possibility, Knaven won last year so you never know, and maybe Van Petegem or even Zabel. I can't wait to see that tape, Lotek!

Cippollini said, he doesn´t start in Paris-Roubaix, because Mr. Leblanc didn´t invite his team (Saeco) last year to the TDF and now he doesn´t see a reason why he should follow their invitation to Paris-Roubaix. It seems, that Cippollini didn´t do himself and his teammates a favour in regard of an invitation to the Tour this year...

According to the Swedish commentators during Gent-Wevelgem today, Cipollini has said that he would not accept an invitation to this year's TdF even if he got one..

I'm certainly looking forward to Sunday, Eurosport will broadcast four hours. A great way to spend an afternoon :).

/Csson

Apparently Cipo wants to do the Giro and the Vuelta, so the tour is out. I saw the Vuelta last year and I'm glad Cipo will be in it this time.

Cipo now takes a break, the rides the Giro, then the Vuelta and then the worldchampionships in Zolder (which he said he will win this year !) and afterwards he will most likely end his career.