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Find out more about James: James, a journalist since 1976, is co-author of Tour de France For Dummies. He owns several websites, contributes to many print and online publications and is also the Monterey Peninsula Examiner. A long-distance runner for nearly 30 years, Raia also rides his bike -- to nearby coffeehouses. E-mail: james@byjamesraia.com. |
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There was never a dull moment in cycling in 2008. I previously posted in two parts the sport's memorable moments I witnessed during the year. Now, here's a list of cycling occurrences throughout the year I didn't witness but that remain memorable. Some months in the two-part listing have more than one item.
January — Fabio Carlino, a former discothèque manager, is jailed for 4 1/2 years after being found guilty of dealing drugs and contributing to the death of Marco Pantani, the 1998 Tour of Italy and Tour de France winner. Pantani was found dead in an Italian hotel room on February 14, 2004 having overdosed on cocaine. Examiner comment: Pantani’s death remains one of cycling’s saddest mysteries.
February — Alberto Contador, the 2007 Tour de France winner, will not be able to defend his title after his Astana is not invited to participate in any event ASO organizes. Levi Leipheimer, third in the 2007 Tour, doesn’t get to ride, either, of course. The ASO says it makes its decision via the team’s past offenses. Examiner comment: Ego overshadows commonsense. Contador pedals on, winning Tour of Italy and Tour of Spain. ASO remains prideful but looks stupid.
March — Officially, ASO announces the Tour of France’s 20 teams and there’s a surprise: American-based Slipstream-Chipotle gets the nod. Examiner comment: ASO proves it's not always unwise. The newbie squad becomes the hit of the Tour.
April — Davis Phinney, former 7-Eleven and Coors Light pro, undergoes successful surgery at Stanford University to help his Parkinson’s disease. Examiner comment: It’s great to see Davis from time to time. I don’t do many impressions, but I do a mean impersonation of German sprinter Andreas Kappes and his pat answer every time he beat Phinney in one of the duo's many sprint finishes: "Und I look for David and I vin." Phinney laughs every time I do the impression, and it makes me feel good to see him laugh. I look forward to shaking Phinney’s hand in 2009, and I realize the impression may be getting old.
May — Astana gets surprise invite to the Tour of Italy. Examiner comment: Think Angelo Zomegnan, the Giro boss and former newspaperman knows what he's doing? In a word, yes.
June -- Floyd Landis loses his CAS appeal. Examiner comment: There was a glimmer of hope, right? Not! Did anyone really expect he would be exonerated?
June — The July issue of Men’s Journal includes an eye-opener of a profile of Greg LeMond. Family anti-depressants. Infidelity. A command attack dog as a family “pet.” Lawsuits. Greg’s childhood abuse. Greg vs. Lance. Examiner comment: If half of the story is true, it settles it once and for all. Greg’s a great guy. He gives his time away. He’s gregarious as the day is long. But guess what? He ain’t exactly Huckleberry Fin. And as he approaches age 50, he looks old.
June — Chad Gerlach, former Lance Armstrong teammate who won about 100 pro races and another 50 as an amateur, is “featured” on the season debut of the A&E program, Intervention. Gerlach was a homeless drug addict for five years. The show is frightening. Fast forward several months and Gerlach signs to ride in ’09 with the Italian team, Amore&Vita-McDonald’s. Examiner comment: No pro cyclist I’ve spoken with trusts Gerlach. But if the troubled rider makes it back, there’s no better story in sport.
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