Columbia - HTC (Page 2)

Happychick - 2009-07-06 9:49 AM I just finished my first stage of 90 mins for this challenge...only 485 more to go!

So I'm just curious (and quite talkative) but who has races coming up?  I have my first Oly coming up in a few weeks and I'm a bit worried since my training has been more laxed than I am comfortable with.  Unfortunately, life gets in the way sometimes and well...what can you do, right?!  


Hey look...page 2 and I'm on top!  He, He, He!   Aaaah, the simple things in life that amuse me...

Australia's in the off season so there won't be any triathlons until about Nov/Dec. There is a 12k City To Surf running event at the end of August which I should do, but it means I have to start running again and its really not my favourite. Mainly because my stomach doesn't like it.

Hi Bryan! WOW thats a huge goal! You really do like cycling don't you LOL?

I've just returned from a trip to Canada, I have family in Vancouver, it was my third visit and I LOVE Canada

Stage 1 is in the books, 2hr 40min, 67.17km.  6 more stages to go. 

I've never really followed the Tour, until last yr when I signed up for the TdF Challenge, my first BT Challenge ever.  I was assigned to Team Columbia, a team I've never even heard of.  But boy, was that a treat.  I made new friends and we came close to winning the BT challenge, and it was so exciting following Cavendish, who IMHO is the best (looking) sprinter today by far.  Which is why I requested to be on Team Columbia - HTC again.  One of the things I really enjoy is the colours and the pictures...

Stage 1 - Individual Time Trial (July 4th), Monaco, Monaco - If there was any doubt about Fabian Cancellara's time trial superiority, the big Swiss rider erased it by stomping his way to a commanding win in the 15.5km opening stage of the TdF in Monaco. His finishing time of 19:32 put him well ahead of 2nd place Alberto Contador.

Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg and Team Columbia - HTC trains on the time trial course prior to the 2009 TdFrance

Seven-times winner Lance Armstrong of USA and team Astana in action during the Individual Time Trial

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland strains as he crosses the finish line to win the first stage of the 2009 TdF

Wow, we've got quite an int'l team, just like the other Team Columbia - HTC, and another Canuck too.  Hey Brian, 21 stages, that's impressive, not to mention your expertise on the TdF, but I don't see a time / distance goal for you on the spreadsheet?  Same for Tammie too.  I'll try to put together a team list, if I remember how.  Any suggestion for the background pic for the team list?

If I have something wrong just update the spreadsheet yourself.... as long as its not massively different I have no problem withthat!

It could be my error!

I've team list up on my blog.  And for anyone else that wants to copy -

I was chomping at the bit waiting for the 24hr ban to pass to post some Stage 2 photos.  YEEEESSSSS!!!!

Stage Two - Monaco to Brignoles (July 5th) - Mark Cavendish of Columbia - HTC blasted to his first victory of the 2009 Tour de France on Sunday's 187-kilometre stage from Monaco to Brignoles, a victory that also places him in the green jersey as the leader of the race's points classification. 

Toys are displayed on a marbles track on July 5, 2009 in the Principalty of Monaco, before the start of the 187 km second stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Monaco and Brignoles.

The peleton passes throught the Promenade des Anglais Nice

Mark Cavendish wins Stage 2 and the green jersey.

Alysher, I used velonews last yr for live text coverage, but it looks like they have a video version this yr, not text, which makes it difficult to follow while at work.  I'm trying BBC.  I also tape the Versus / OLN TV coverage. What about you, Bryan?   BTW Alysher, my team list post had a couple of incorrect links before, it's now corrected, so you may want to copy and paste again.  Bryan, are you still having problems with the team list?  I think you just click "quote" on the post, then copy and paste to your own blog.

I grew up in Warren area, not too far from Painesville, but I prefer TN over Ohio. 

Happychick - 2009-07-05 7:49 PM I just finished my first stage of 90 mins for this challenge...only 485 more to go!

So I'm just curious (and quite talkative) but who has races coming up?  I have my first Oly coming up in a few weeks and I'm a bit worried since my training has been more laxed than I am comfortable with.  Unfortunately, life gets in the way sometimes and well...what can you do, right?!  


Hey look...page 2 and I'm on top!  He, He, He!   Aaaah, the simple things in life that amuse me...

I am only doing bikes races this year.  I have a Road Race and a Time Trial this Saturday, and a Moutain bike race next Monday night. 

Ugggg!  It's raining here today also and as much as I hate to do it, I won't be able to get outside to ride anyway (have to work around hubby's schedule) so I will be hitting the spin bike tonight for a short one since I don't have a trainer!  But, I am happy to say that I have a chiro appt today so hopefully my hip/leg issues will be resolved and I can start training like I should be!!

The skies cleared enough for me to get in another 35k (22 miles) this morning. I think I am going to increase the amount of stages (but not distance) I'm doing - I see myself doing lots of shorter rides in this challenge to meet the distance goal. Go team!

OK, Michelle, 2nd consecutive time you're first on the page, you're looking for a yellow jersey or sth?

I'll give this a try, others feel free to correct or add.  Running from Saturday July 4^th to Sunday July 26^th 2009, the 96^th Tour de France is made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometres. These 21 stages have different distances and profiles:

• 10 flat stages,
• 7 mountain stages,
• 1 medium mountain stage,
• 2 individual time-trial stages,
• 1 team time-trial stage.

Jerseys - The biggest prize in cycling is a yellow jersey in Paris. This signifies overall victory in the Tour de France, an honour won seven times by Lance Armstrong and five by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.  Last yr, sb explains the various jerseys this way -

Yellow: This is the jersey everyone wants. Awarded to the leader in the general classification, i.e. the man in front overall. If you are in it, you are the overall race leader on aggregate time since the start of the Tour. It was created in 1919 as an homage to the yellow paper of l'Auto magazine, founder of the Tour de France in 1903. Eddy 'the Cannibal' Merckx wore it for a record 111 days.

Green: The next most prestigious jersey is given to the leader in the points classification which rewards sprinters.  During each stage, points are attributed during the intermediary sprints and at the finish. The jersey was introduced in 1953. Germany's Erik Zabel won it a record six consecutive times between 1996 and 2001.  Columbia's Cavendish has a good chance taking this, if he survives to Paris.  Last yr, he abandoned the Tour early to prepare for the Olympics.

Polka dot (red and white): Awarded to the rider who earns most of the points at each summit of a hill or pass. The winner is known as the King of the Mountains. Although the award was introduced in 1933, the distinctive jersey was not introduced until 1975.

White: The newest of the jerseys was introduced in 1975. Given to the best young rider (i.e. under 25) in the general classification, it was abandoned in 1989 but reintroduced in 1999.

The winner of the challenge goes to the team which scores the highest in % stages and % distance / time achieved (stage and distance/time goals each count towards 50% of overall %).  For example, if your goal is 10 stages and 500 mi, and you complete 9 stages and 480 mi, the score would be 50% x 9/10 + 50% x 480/500 = 93%.  Team score is calculated by averaging all individual members' scores.  No person can score > 100%. 

Yay converting someone new to the tour?

Any questions you need a hand with let me know... I love dragging people into tour madness!!!

Patricia - your explanations are fantastic!