Clijisters Proclaims, "I am the favorite for San Raflaanderrs!"In an uncharacteristicly bombastic manner today, Markus Clijisters staked his claim to the San Raflaanderrs crown for 2010. During an interview with reporters from local KRON 4, Clijisters was asked about his chances for the upcoming King of the Classics:
"I really have good sensations right now and am feeling very confident for the Marin World Cup. Lodewick is reportedly looking sub-par and Hushvod apparently has gained 3 stone over the winter. I am the favorite, no question."
His statements were doubly interesting as most pundits had written Clijisters off after a winter of little to no training due to his recently born daughter but the addition to his family has seemed to have bolstered his confidence rather than diminish it. Many are skeptical however with Clijisters' level of race fitness with several reliable sources noting that he has spent less time on the bike this off-season than ever before. One begins to wonder if Clijisters' is feeling contact fitness from his sister-in-law, Evelyn Stevens, the neo-pro wonder kid of Columbia's womens team. Only SanRaflaanderrs will tell.
Hushvod get new Co-Sponsor Discovery Communications
Despite persistent talk that he was planning his retirement from bike racing, repeated speculations about his motivation and skeptical glances at his robust figure, Ken Hushvod has apparently inveigled yet another high profile sponsor to contribute to his already swollen wallet. It was reported on Saturday that Discovery Communications had extended a lucrative contract to Hushvod for the 2010 season and will share co-sponsor team billing with his current main backer J. Crew. Further revealed was a plan for Hushvod to continue in an advisory role with Discovery Communications after his bike racing career is finished. Rumors that this may include a role in the upcoming Sarah Palin travelogue reality series have yet to be confirmed.
Duvel "Drops a Deuce" on San Raflaanderrs
PHRO Front-man, Joos Litvalk held a press conference today to announce a new competition within the Marin World Cup, the "Duvel Drops a Deuce" classification. Belgian beer maker, Duvel has agreed to sponsor an unexpectedly strange "race within the race" that will award points to the 2nd placed rider in each race. The "winner" of the competition will receive 2 bottles of Duvel Belgian Ale, a #2 pencil and a single used Panaracer tire. While some are calling this the "Fredericcio Jersey" (presumably in reference to the consecutive 2nd place finishes in the GPKH and Marin-Roubaix by the rider of the same name), Lodewick denied any connection and simply stated that, "Everyone like Duvel. Even my butler." What this cryptic missive represents, we can only begin to speculate on.
Lodewick say GP Ken Hushvod Time Trial is "A Formality."
In his, by now, expectedly tiresome fashion, Socialite, Gentleman of Leisure and sometime bike racer, Jonas Lodewick has once again expressed his expectation to dominate the GP Ken Hushvod Time Trial that is the MWC opener. While Lodewick made a similar claim in 2009 and was able to indeed claim victory, the margin by which he won was not exactly the comfortable time gap that he had predicted. Regardless, Lodewick announced his boredom with the competition and proclaimed:
"Perhaps, to make it interesting, this year I will ride my bike with only one leg. Or maybe backwards. Then Hushvod will stand a chance of seeing my finishing time without the aid of binoculars. I predict my winning margin to be between 5 and 15 minutes."
When reminded that the TOTAL time for his winning ride last year was only a shade under 20 minutes in total, Lodewick only nodded, got into his Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe and drove to his spa appointment.
