Basso's Big Day

That is the bad news, hopefully he gives his DNA and lets the chips fall where they may. In better news Salvodelli won the Tour of Romandie prologue with Chris Horner in 3rd! This race has always been kind to Horner. Hard to pick an overall winner but a Giro contendor seems likely. Brajkovic might have a chance since it is a week long race, but Discovery sent less than the B team. How about some long shots like Cadel Evans, Mick Rogers, Thomas Dekker, Kashechkin, or Julich. Looking over this race it shows that the Pro-Tour is stretching teams thin. Several of the line ups seem doomed from the get go. Stage 4 should be decisive with 4 Cat 1 climbs ending in a mountain top finish. Stages 1-3 are all hilly and should keep the race lively. Ends with a 20K TT which you can't count out in a short stage race.
German race Henninger Turm went to T-Mobile's Sinkewitz. Danny Pate was the best placed American at 77th.
Romandie is the main race action for the week, but one of my favorite named French races is up on the 6th the "Trophée des Grimpeurs".
Countdown to the Giro is on. Salvodelli, Cunego, and Popovych are my favorites without seeing the start list. I hope that DiLuca animates the race in Vino like fashion, but don't know if he can hold that Ardennes form through the end of may

Shirley Bassey is Something LP

Famous for singing the themes to Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, and Moonraker, Welsh singer Shirley Bassey is the only person to sing more than one Bond Theme. This LP is noteworthy for some orchestrated covers of the Beatles,Doors, etc. As stated and repeated I am a sucker for covers and especially overly orchestrated pseudo swinging covers of pop hits. Shirley goes for the throat with a cover of the Beatle's "Something". Blood, Sweat, and Tear's "Spinning Wheel" gets the treatment next and is pretty transcendent with some sick horn stabs. Here cover of "Light My Fire" slows down the tempo and has a nice chugging rhythm propelled by bass and horns more than keyboards. Real nice. Mandatory cover of a song from Hair
Not a mandatory purchase but if you are a geek that loves odd covers a decent purchase for a buck or two. I got mine at an antique shop for $0.75
Is she the female equivalent of Tom Jones? Wale's best female singing export? Hard to say but she is a "Dame Commander of the British Empire" which is pretty fucking cool.

Incredibly Steep 10 minute bike movie Rad

Props to whoever thought it up and shot it.
Props to EvilCycling which was ths site I saw it on.

Deep Purple with the Royal Philharmonic LP

I remember buying Machine Head on cassette when I was in 7th or 8th grade. Thought it was OK with a few killer moments. Overtime I have grown to love Deep Purple. Between today and when I was in 7th grade is a lot of time to grow... Despite that I do not consider myself a Deep Purple expert. So when I saw this in a box in the back of a book store, I snatched it up my mind a pinball machines of hope and expectations. "Concerto for Group and Orchestra composed by Jon Lord" Are you fucking serious?
It opens slowly and I was nervous this was going to be a legit attempt at playing classical music, but Richie Blackmore kicks off the fire works half way through the "first movement". The orchestra and band coexist more that intermingle and overall it has a disjointed feel rather than an epic Wagnerian journey type of vibe. Richie B's classical guitar hero moves were heavily influential on a young Yngwie who is probably falling off a bar stool right now telling someone about what could have been. Which may or may not be a better fate than Richie B wandering around Renaissance Fairs strumming a lute.
You might remember that DP had a singer and you might be wondering what his role would be on this project. You'll have to wait til half way through side 2 for him to appear and it's not some bittersweet symphony. He belts it out and then the maestro Jon Lord steps back to the organ. Side 2 is really where it is at for this LP as the band and orchestra start to work together more effectively. And fear not the drum solo is in full effect about half way through the 2nd side. Classical music and a drum solo??
Jon Lord's liner notes are an added bonus.
This record is so pretentious and demented it is jaw dropping. It only makes me wish someone like Lil Wayne was ambitious enough to try and get down with the NY Symphony Orchestra or something.

This is a stereo version on WB but their might be an earlier version on Polydor for the true collector.

Classics Wrap Up

Het Volk
1.Pozzato 2.Flecha 3.Boonen
Milan San Remo
1.Freire 2.Davis 3.Boonen
Tour of Flanders
1.Ballan 2.Hoste 3.Paolini
Ghent Whevelgam
1.Burghardt 2.Hammond 3.Freire
Paris Roubaix
1.O'Grady 2.Flecha 3.Wesseman
Amstel
1.Schumacher 2.Rebellin 3.DiLuca
Fleche Wallone
1.Rebellin 2.Valverde 3.DiLuca
Leige Bastonge Leige
1.DiLuca 2.Valverde 3.F.Sheck

Somethings really stand out on this list Where is Bettini? Ditto for Boonen. Fuck yeah or Ballan and O'Grady. DiLuca was a beast can he hold it for the Giro? Valverde is strong will it translate at the tour? Awesome springs for Liquigas, Gerlosteiner, and CSC. Can Flecha pull out a big win next year? Astana was extremely quiet and that will put some pressure on their grand tour performance. What about the weather hot and dry in April? Someone call Al Gore. And can someone fix the roads in Tirenno Adriatico? A few less crashes there would help everyones season.
Tour de Romandie and Henninger Turn coming up this week and about 15 days til the start of the Giro. Grand Tour season is here so be prepared for the shorter stage races and the 3 week bangers. These races should be wide open this year and I am expecting some changing of the guard at the Giro and Vuelta. The Tour should/could boil down to Vino vs Valverde vs Sastre vs Leiphemer. Hopefully the drug scandals will be resolved before they stain another years races.

LBL Killer grabs the prize

DiLuca grabs a huge win at LBL,Valverde 2nd, Schelck 3rd

So I go 1 for 3 on podium picks. 5 for 10 on the top 10.

Sanchez landed in 13th

The timing of your final attack is so critical. The final kilometer seems to take a lifetime.

LBL predictions

Poduim=Rebellin,Valverde, Sammy Sanchez
Top Ten includes Kroon,Bettini,DiLuca, Contador,Cunego,Thomas Dekker, and Chris Horner