Fleche Wallone Results

1 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas
4 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Astana
5 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir
6 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Ag2r Prévoyance
7 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
8 John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance
9 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital

1/3 on the podium and 4/10 on the top 10. My longshot Valjavec managed a top ten.
Gerlosteiner are owning the Ardennes and all three podium spots are by former winners. Experience pays off.

Gotta wonder about the curse of the rainbow jersey with Bettini. Terrible season for him compared to last year.

Cunego takes the second stage of Trentino and Petachi scores the win in Germany. All the contenders are shaping up for the giro.

Fleche Wallone Predictions

Midweek madness today with Fleche Wallone. While not as prestigious as LBL it is still a tough race and a big win for anyone. Perhaps some of the favorites for LBL will not go full gas today. Can Valverde repeat? He has been quiet yet consistent this season-not unlike O'Grady before Roubaix.... I predict a podium of Bettini, Sammy Sanchez, and Valverde. Voigt, Diluca, Frank Schleck, Contador, and Ricardo Ricco should be in the top ten

Damiano Cunego won the Giro de Trentino, could the picolo prince finally be ready to kick some ass? Another Giro title could be his if he could time trial better. Especially if Basso gets banned. The Giro could be a real changing of the guard this year with a lot of younger riders ready to step up as GC contendors.

midweek cycling predictions

Fleche Wallone is tomorrow. CSC and Quickstep look strong with Shleck and Bettini. But there are a lot of potential winners Valverde, Contador, Sammy Sanchez, Cadel Evans, Thomas Dekker, DiLuca, Freire etc. And some longshots I like Astorloa and Tadej Valjavec. Based on their Amstel performance, Gerolsteiner need to be taken seriously.
Giro De Trentino starts today as well-4 stages in Italy. Tour of Virginia in the states.
I failed to comment on a race with one of my favorite names, the Tro Bro Leon a second tier French race. That name always makes me laugh. I think it deserves a sister race in America, maybe the "Yo Dude Philly" or something. Anyway it was won by Bouygues Telecom rider Saïd Haddou. Team Slipstream was there and their best place rider was in 15th
Leige on Sunday-between Amstel last Sunday and Fleche tomorrow some potential winners should show themselves. Will someone be able to pull the increasingly common Fleche/Liege double?
The world of doping is heating back up. Landis looks fucked with his b-samples and his lawyer's statements just seemed designed to muddy the waters. Basso is also in trouble and might regret signing that contract that requires him to submit DNA if asked. Not starting Leige can't be good for his build up to the Giro (if he can ride that. On the eve of the grand tours, I don't think cycling's reputation can withstand many more scandals and the multiple governing bodies need to get together and figure something out fast. Pull the teams license if riders are doping and after a couple sponsors sue everyone they can find, the problem should work itself out.

Michael Cassidy Nature's Secret Krsna Rock #14

Krsna rock #12 was a crucial point in my journey into being the world's leading expert on Krsna rock. Some dots started to connect and I was able to discover this record. Michael Cassidy is the common denominator between Golden Avatar and Progress-both on Sudarshan Records. There is a connection to Hansadutta. This record is on Golden Lotus Records(GL-1) Recorded in LA in 1977 falling in between Golden Avatar(76) and Progress(78) 10 songs.

The cover photo needs some serious analysis. A man in monk robes sitting peacefully in the woods with a bunny as a doe approaches him. The picture of serenity. Is that Mike in the robes looking like Mr.Spock? Even better their appears to be another pressing with an alternate cover-a painting rather than a photo.
As far as the music goes this may be my favourite of the Michael Cassidy productions. A little less produced than Golden Avatar. Serious keyboard fireworks are busted out on "Spirit of Reason". "Simple Living" is a nice pastoral ode to the good life that morphs into the Maha Mantra dueling with a guitar. The lyrics are full of Krishna imagery and thoughts. Catchy.
Once again, this is a record you will see listed as "acid folk" or "xian folk", and the cover could get you thinking that, but the music is above average west coast country rock to my ears.

Ride of Silence

May 16th. 7PM. A day to remember those killed or injured on bikes.
Mass ride locations here Suprisngly not one listed in Boston yet
Here is the site for more details.
Even if you aren't on an organized ride, it's worth doing on your one on that day

Disco and Gerlosteiner clean up

Gerolsteiner drop the one two punch at Amstel and leave everyone behind. I didn't even give them much thought but Schumacher and Rebellin stomped on DiLuca, Valverde, Freire, Bettini etc. Rabo must be pissed and of course Boogerd goes out without the win. Classy racer, not much luck. Frank Shelck crashed hard but managed to chase back for 10th a minute plus down. Sammy Sanchez finished a quiet 15th and could be a man to watch in the Ardennes next week.
JJ Haedo gets another win on the last stage of the Tour of Georgia. It will be exciting to see him mixing it up at the Giro. Freddie Rodgriguez got him yesterday so he must have been gunning for it today. Brajovic gets the overall for Discovery. Disco is heavy with guys who can dominate one week races. It will be interesting to see who can hold up for 3 weeks and Leiphemer looks like the go to guy if Basso gets denied. Vandevelde gets 2nd which is great for him and coupled with JJ's stage wins make it a good race for CSC

Dunkin D

I never thought I would write this-especially with the obvious whipping boy of Starbucks out there, but Dunkin Donuts has been pissing me off.
1.This whole trend of people putting a styrofoam cup around their giant plastic bucket of ice coffee??? I am not Al Gore but what the fuck are these people thinking? How about get the size that you can drink before it gets warm and if you want more WALK YOUR FAT ASS back to the DD. Are they supposed to pack it in ice and shrink wrap it for you?
2. Since when has asking for a "black coffee" required answering the additional question "With sugar?". It's like some one changed the vocab and didn't tell me. I used to think this problem didn't go beyond Alston/Brighton, but I have heard it all over Mass.

And I am still waiting for the most obvious Red Sox/Dice-K promotion, when can I order a Dice Coffee? Come on summers coming.