Author Archives: Whit

About Whit

My experiences might easily fit many cycling fans' definitions of “living the dream.” Since getting hooked on the sport watching Lance Armstrong win the 1993 U.S. Pro Championship, I've raced as an amateur on Belgian cobbles, traveled Europe to help build a European pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux. As a former assistant director sportif with Mercury-Viatel, I've also seen the less dreamy side of the sport – the side rife with broken contracts, infighting, and positive dope tests. These days, I live with my lovely wife in Pennsylvania and share my experiences and views on the sport at Bicycling Magazine, the Embrocation Cycling Journal, and at my own site, Pavé.

Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Rabobank

Posted on June 29, 2012 by

Rabobank’s endured a bit of a tough season so far.  In fact, Rabobank (the company) admitted that it hesitated before renewing its sponsorship agreement with the squad. But success at the Tour de France has a funny way of healing all wounds and Rabobank comes to this year’s race with several riders capable of at … Continue reading →

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Orica-GreenEDGE

Posted on June 28, 2012 by

Like any team new to the World Tour and the Tour de France, Orica-GreenEDGE brings a roster full of stage contenders to Liege. In fact, five of the nine riders on Orica’s roster have Tour stage wins on their resumes, led by Stuart O’Grady with three. Stage 1 is likely to be the team’s first … Continue reading →

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Omega Pharma-Quick Step

Posted on June 28, 2012 by

After all the hype surrounding the pick-ups made by Omega Pharma-Quick-Step this past off-season, the team’s biggest results this season have so far been earned by riders who were already on the team. But with classics stars such as Tom Boonen and Niki Terpstra staying home to prepare for the Olympics in London, the Belgian … Continue reading →

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Movistar

Posted on June 28, 2012 by

Movistar heads to this year’s race with a deeply talented roster full of riders who will challenge for stage wins and one or two who might score a high overall finish in Paris. Movistar will likely spend the first week trying to nab a stage win for Jose Joaquin Rojas while positioning the talented sprinter … Continue reading →

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Lotto-Belisol

Posted on June 28, 2012 by

For a major Belgian team like Lotto-Belisol, the season has two main points of interest: the classics and the Tour de France. In the classics, the team came up empty. Andre Greipel and Jelle Vanendert did their best to snag wins on the cobbles and in the Ardennes, but in the end they just didn’t … Continue reading →

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Liquigas-Cannondale

Posted on June 28, 2012 by

After a disastrous Giro d’Italia in which the team failed to win a stage or mount a serious GC challenge, Liquigas-Cannondale heads to the Tour de France with Vincenzo Nibali and Peter Sagan—the team’s most successful riders so far this season. Nibali last rode the Tour de France in 2009 and finished seventh in a … Continue reading →

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