[Burkni]

The Rake, on 14 September 2011 - 10:21 AM, said:

As for Cobo, I'd be interested to know what the "personal reasons" Sastre has for leaving the team. Of all the teams in the Vuelta Geox were the only one that seemed to get stronger as the race progressed.

But, for all the above, it was hardly a strong field for the Vuelta, and the likes of Nibali were more disappointing than the leaders were phenomenal

Sastre: He's probably leaving because he sucks. He is finished as a rider, whatever the reason. Would imagine he is asking for a lot bigger paycheck than anyone will offer and that he will announce his retirement.

I'd say it was a strong field but that a lot of big names strangely faltered ... i.e. all the main protagonists from last year.

[VdB]

The Rake, on 14 September 2011 - 10:21 AM, said:

Umming and ahhing about both of these riders.

In the past Froome has shown flashes of talent, but has generally found himself in a worker role so either had to sacrifice himself early on or save energy for future stages. He has ridden solid TTs in the Tour de France in the past, and showed well at the Tour of Romandie this year.

Cobo I know little about other than he was the man who finished behind Piepoli (or was it Ricco) in the Tour and the team left the race before the remainder could be caught too.

That said, Barloworld wasn't the squeakiest clean team either, and pulled out of sponsorship after a positive or two.

Brailsford says Froome has great "numbers", so could be one to watch. With CF I guess I would put him on a watch this space status. See what he does next year.

As for Cobo, I'd be interested to know what the "personal reasons" Sastre has for leaving the team. Of all the teams in the Vuelta Geox were the only one that seemed to get stronger as the race progressed.

But, for all the above, it was hardly a strong field for the Vuelta, and the likes of Nibali were more disappointing than the leaders were phenomenal

For me, Cobo is an almost definite doper, and Froome suspicious but with little circumstantial evidence to back it up...so I prefer to give him the benefit of doubt.

[VdB]

VdB, on 14 September 2011 - 12:21 AM, said:

I made my challenge on September 12th, so if Cobo is still not in trouble by the 12th next month you can expect those beers coming your way.

I just returned from holiday, and it would appear that Crockett has won our bet! Unless Cobo was nabbed somewhere and I missed it while I was away of course, but I doubt it.

I'll send you a PM to get things moving Crockett.

[Burkni]

VdB, on 26 October 2011 - 04:49 PM, said:

I just returned from holiday, and it would appear that Crockett has won our bet! Unless Cobo was nabbed somewhere and I missed it while I was away of course, but I doubt it.

I'll send you a PM to get things moving Crockett.

Crockett may not be online, so I'll let you have his address so you'll know where to send those yummy beers:

Crockett
Hjallaland 23
108 Reykjavik
ICELAND

[N.B.O.L.]

Burkni, on 26 October 2011 - 10:30 PM, said:

Crockett may not be online, so I'll let you have his address so you'll know where to send those yummy beers:

Crockett
Hjallaland 23
108 Reykjavik
ICELAND

Why do I feel like Crockett could get very very thirsty waiting for a delivery if the beer were sent to that address?

[crockett]

Burkni, on 26 October 2011 - 10:30 PM, said:

Crockett may not be online, so I'll let you have his address so you'll know where to send those yummy beers:

Crockett
Hjallaland 23
108 Reykjavik
ICELAND

Thanks for the help, Burk! I can't believe some of you doubted Cobo. Clean as a whistle!!

[VdB]

I'll be sending the beers to Iceland soon. No idea you guys all lived in the same area!

And yeah, I owe Cobo an apology. I guess he just is really talented and finally managed to crawl out of his depression long enough to win the Vuelta. Imagine what he could have done if he'd been mentally healthy during all of his career!

[Burkni]

crockett, on 27 October 2011 - 08:56 PM, said:

Thanks for the help, Burk! I can't believe some of you doubted Cobo. Clean as a whistle!!

In my defense, I doubted him only because Geox didn't have an internal testing programme.

[crockett]

VdB, on 28 October 2011 - 10:18 AM, said:

I'll be sending the beers to Iceland soon. No idea you guys all lived in the same area!

And yeah, I owe Cobo an apology. I guess he just is really talented and finally managed to crawl out of his depression long enough to win the Vuelta. Imagine what he could have done if he'd been mentally healthy during all of his career!

We've all been there. I believe the only things standing between me and a GT title is proper motivation......and perhaps a little wind tunnel testing.

VdB apparently forgets that Cobo exhibited great promise when he was younger. His confusion is understandable as Cobo, due to his nature of reporting all suspicious activity he sees, has twiced turned government witness against the mob and has gone into witness relocation with a name change. Back in 2000, when he was still riding under the name "Iker Flores", he won the Tour de l'Avenir, and then while riding under the name "Alexandr Bespalov", podiumed in the U23 TT in 2002 and 2003. You can read all about it in his new book "It's About The Truth: My Long Journey Back."

[crockett]

Burkni, on 26 October 2011 - 10:30 PM, said:

Crockett may not be online, so I'll let you have his address so you'll know where to send those yummy beers:

Crockett
Hjallaland 23
108 Reykjavik
ICELAND

Burk, VdB let me know that there he was able to locate a Westvleteren 12 for my consumption. While it isn't a PBP apricot-mango beer, it has me pretty excited. You guys should have believed in miracles, er, I mean, Cobo.....

[Jayhawk]

Back from a week in Rome followed by a week-long power failure due to a freak snowstorm. And laughing hysterically at this thread (oh how I miss DPF when I'm gone!)

Shipping beers to Crockett's Reykjavik address is a little expensive. Is it ok if I send money instead?

[N.B.O.L.]

Jayhawk, on 05 November 2011 - 12:49 AM, said:

Back from a week in Rome followed by a week-long power failure due to a freak snowstorm. And laughing hysterically at this thread (oh how I miss DPF when I'm gone!)

Shipping beers to Crockett's Reykjavik address is a little expensive. Is it ok if I send money instead?

If you send anything to "Crockett's" Reykjavik address, the only person smiling will be Burkni.

[N.B.O.L.]

Jayhawk, on 05 November 2011 - 12:49 AM, said:

Back from a week in Rome followed by a week-long power failure due to a freak snowstorm. And laughing hysterically at this thread (oh how I miss DPF when I'm gone!)

Shipping beers to Crockett's Reykjavik address is a little expensive. Is it ok if I send money instead?

P.S.

I envy you the week in Rome. The week without power I don't envy you even a little bit. A couple of years ago during an ice storm I was without power for 9 days, and was one of the lucky ones because I had heat that would work without it. A lot of other people weren't so lucky.

[crockett]

Jayhawk, on 05 November 2011 - 12:49 AM, said:

Back from a week in Rome followed by a week-long power failure due to a freak snowstorm. And laughing hysterically at this thread (oh how I miss DPF when I'm gone!)

Shipping beers to Crockett's Reykjavik address is a little expensive. Is it ok if I send money instead?

Yes, money is always appreciated!

[Burkni]

N.B.O.L., on 05 November 2011 - 03:08 PM, said:

If you send anything to "Crockett's" Reykjavik address, the only person smiling will be Burkni.

Burkni is smiling even now

[Jayhawk]

N.B.O.L., on 05 November 2011 - 03:08 PM, said:

If you send anything to "Crockett's" Reykjavik address, the only person smiling will be Burkni.

(but I knew that )

[Jayhawk]

N.B.O.L., on 05 November 2011 - 03:10 PM, said:

P.S.

I envy you the week in Rome. The week without power I don't envy you even a little bit. A couple of years ago during an ice storm I was without power for 9 days, and was one of the lucky ones because I had heat that would work without it. A lot of other people weren't so lucky.

Aughh! Contador is honeymooning in Rome right now. If only my husband's business conference were two weeks later...

re power outage, at least we have a generator that we bought last August during the Hurricane Irene power outage. But some of our neighbors had no water, no toilets. That's suffering!