Cycling's (unwitnessed) memorable moments, 2008: Marco Pantani to Davis Phinney (Part 2)

December 26, 5:48 PMCycling ExaminerJames Raia

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Tyler Hamilton, circa 2004

Cycling had many great moments in 2008 and I am fortunate to have witnessed and posted a two-part series on those occasions. But there was never a dull moment in cycling this year, and a lot of memorable stuff I didn't witness. As such, here's part 2 of cycling's (unwitnessed) memorable moments:

July — Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo Bank) of Spain had been so close and yet so far away in his superior Grand Tour career. But he finally shows himself at his best in the mountains and wins the Tour de France. Examiner comment: Nice to see a class rider get his turn in the limelight.

July — It was a small U.S presence at the Tour de France. There were four American starters, George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde and newcomers Will Frischkorn and Danny Pate and there were four U.S. finishers, including Vande Velde’s surprising fourth. And good ol’ Boy George finishes for the 12th time. Examiner comment: Can’t comprehend how many times I typed in Vande Velde’s and Hincapie’s names into articles and race results. Don’t know either rider well, but I must be getting soft. Are there any better spokesmen for American cycling than these two guys?

August — Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) edges (a great photo finish image) Blake Caldwell (Garmin Chipotle) to win the US professional road championship. Hamilton finally finds closure to his two-year suspension for a positive test at the 2004 Vuelta a España. Examiner comment: Hamilton will race most of the 2009 season in the stars & stripes national jersey as a 38-year-old reigning titlist. Not sure what that means other than, Tyler, what a long, strange trips it’s been.

August — Jeannie Longo of France finishes fourth in the Beijing Olympics women’s time trial, and at nearly age 50 concludes her seventh Olympiad. Examiner comment: Is there a better cyclist in history? Longo has mellowed in middle age, but she’s still Queen Jeannie. And she took about five minutes after her China experience to talk about possibility competing again in the London Olympics in 2012. Eddy Merckx? Who’s he?

September — Lance Armstrong announces he’s returning to the international peloton in 2009. He’ll ride the Tour de France. No he won’t. Yes he will. He’ll double in the Giro and Tour. No he won’t. Yes he will. Examiner comment: Has anyone else written about Armstrong’s return? I haven’t read much about it. Just kidding.

September — Bobby Julich announces his retirement after a long, divers career, which was actually two careers — pre-and-post CSC. Examiner comment: The guy had his moments when journalists didn’t want to be around him after a race. But he was always fair with me. Smart guy, nice array of victories and team cycling. Still, I can’t figure out why he wore the CamelBak in the 1999 Metz time trial at Le Tour. Never mind. Bravo, Bobby. All the best.

September — Rumor spreads at the Tour of Missouri that Floyd Landis will return in 2009. Two months later, the team’s new sponsor OUCH is announced to replace the former title sponsor, Health-Net. Headline writers will have a field day in ’09 with a team named OUCH, the acronym for the firm of the physician who reconstructed Landis’ hip. Examiner comment: How about Armstrong, Hamilton, Landis and Leipheimer climbing together during a stage of the Tour of California?

September — Greg LeMond's appearance at Lance Armstrong's comeback press conference in Las Vegas makes for some uncomfortable moments. LeMond questions the Armstrong camp’s sincerity and its pending testing procedures. Armstrong responds in rare form: "Greg, can I just step in for a second? I understand. You'd like to make a show. You've done your job. We're here to talk about a few things: the global cancer campaign, the comeback to cycling, and the credibility in and around that. It's time for us, everybody in this room, to move on. We're not going to go negative here. I appreciate you being here..." LeMond begins to respond. Armstrong interrupts: "I almost wish we had a fourth seat up here. Greg, Greg, Greg... You know what, bud? We appreciate your feedback. Thank you..." Examiner comment: LeMond knew he was speaking to a potentially hostile camp. It was a public forum and had a right to say what he said. I respect that. Armstrong is a big boy, too, and he had a right to respond. He did, and he made LeMond, whether he’s right or wrong, look like a bitter former Tour de France titlist.

October — Following the positive A sample tests for CERA by Tour de France stars Stefan Schumacher and third-place finisher Bernhard Kohl, UCI President Pat McQuaid confirms UCI will double its maximum sanction for doping to four years in 2009. Examiner comment: Wanna clean sport? Let's not screw around anymore. Find a way to institute a lifetime ban.

November — The Tour de Georgia is cancelled for 2009, with organizers citing 'tough' economic times. Race organizers say the event will back in 2010. Examiner comment: I’m selfish. I want the Tour of Georgia to return. I need a Waffle House fix, like grits and a waitress who calls me "sugar" or "darlin."

December — Michael Ball, boss of the Rock Racing squad, threw his money and substantial ego around the domestic scene and ruffled a lot of feathers in 2008. Word comes that the parent company, Rock & Republic, is just like everyone else. It’s feeling economic pain. Some of Rock Racing’s roster goes amateur for ’09. Let’s see, Rahsaan Bahati. You’re the reigning national criterium champion. Kudos. But guess what? A few months pass. Now you’re an amateur. How does that work? Examiner comment: I wonder how many of Rock Racing’s gas-guzzling, over-the-top Cadillac Escalade team vehicles will make the race scene next year?

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:

• Cycling's (unwitnessed) memorable moments: Marco Pantani to Davis Phinney (Part 1)
• Cycling's (witnessed) memorable moments:  Cipollini to Cavendish (Part 1)
• Cycling's (witnessed) memorable moments: (Cipollini to Cavendish (Part 2)