Mongo Bats .333

Oscar Freire wins his third Milan-San Remo in grand style by beating Boonen and Petacchi in a sprint at the end of almost 300K of racing. This guy is one of the great Pro cyclists of all time. Three World Championships to go along with his seventy career wins...not too shabby!

(Photo:Sirotti/CyclingNews)

I'm Feeling This One...Milan-San Remo Predictions Sure To Go Wrong

1...Edvald Boasson Hagen

2...Alessandro Petacchi

3...Tyler Farrar

What's With The Pictures...It's A Parking Lot

Mongo did an easy forty miles with my buddy, "Boonen" today. It was good to get the legs pumping again after the Hammerfest on Monday.

I need to concentrate on my out of the saddle climbing. All Winter long I worked on seated climbing and cadence, which turned out well, but for the fast, violent climbs on the 'Fest, I really need to be more explosive while standing.

Many Years Have Passed Since Those Summer Days

"Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.

Shine on you crazy diamond.

Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.

Shine on you crazy diamond.

You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom, blown on the steel breeze.

Come on you target for faraway laughter, come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine!

You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.

Shine on you crazy diamond.

Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.

Shine on you crazy diamond.

Well you wore out your welcome with random precision, rode on the steel breeze.

Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!"

(Pink Floyd)

To The Victor Go The Spoils

The Smyrna Bicycles 23/2300 Monday Night Ride Hammerfest season has begun!...and this year we have a food sponsor. With the winner of each ride receiving a delicious, and complimentary, Calzone.(Week one winner Clay's trophy pictured)

A good time was had by all and the usual suspects patrolled the front of the peloton. Mongo felt strong all ride and pulled out a legit, fifth place finish in the Sprint after leading out, getting dropped, and fighting my way back.

"You Talkin' To Me?"

And finally, the "Piece de Resistance".

It's On...The Fest Begins Tonight

After a strong final weekend of training "heavy" on LPE, Mongo is ready for the first 23/2300 Hammerfest of the season. I have no legitimate expectations or delusions of grandeur that all of a sudden my Winter of "Cat 5 Domination" training will propel me to the front of this high-quality peloton, but...Mongo may surprise some folks this year.

I'm Not Crying...I'm Tired

World Champion, and making sure everyone knows it wherever he goes, Cadel "Face Spinnaker" Evans, continues to ride like he means it...and has solidly moved moved into podium contention at Tirreno-Adriatico with one stage remaining.

(Photo:Bettini/CyclingNews)

Cycling Needs Rahsaan Bahati

Straight outta Compton...literally! This dude has more "flava" than all the white dudes in the peloton combined. Lucky for them that he is the best Criterium racer this country has to offer and doesn't bring his "flyness" to road races very often. R.B. is also a new team owner and his Bahati Foundation continues to do great things in bringing cycling to the kids of inner-city Los Angeles.

(Photo:BrianHodes/CyclingNews)

The Eyes That Tyrannize

Standing on the shoulders of repeat offenders

Allowing the spaces to quietly grow

Remembering when truth was a noble ambition

Tomorrow believes in the idea of tomorrow

Let Me Know If You've Heard This One

"Two Polish brothers take EPO and finish 1-2 at the U-23 Cyclocross World Championships..."

(Photo:CyclingNews)

Tirreno-Adriatico: This Week's NIT

Tom Boonen quiets all the skeptics who questioned whether he left his good form at the hotel in Oman...with the two "Hostesses" and the "China White". Boonen beats actual Europeans in a European race.

(Photo:Bettini/CyclingNews)

Same As It Ever Was

"The Pistol Is In The Pinto" lays down some smack and beats a quality field on the first mountain stage of Paris-Nice...and takes over the lead on GC.

The cream has already risen to the top, with Valverde, Kreuziger, and both Sanchez's chasing the "Bandito". Levi has dropped about ninety seconds back and VDV is stinking up the joint at the back of the peloton.

(Photo:CyclingNews)