Events - When is the...
Tour of Ireland August 18-22. CANCELLED due to the recession in Ireland. The 2009 edition was a quality event, with breathtaking scenery, high-ranked cyclists and top-notch commentating, and a thrilling finish. Organizers intend and fans hope for the event's return in 2011.
Vuelta a Espana Tour of Spain, August 28 - September 19. In 2009, Alejandro Valverde lived up to the hype, winning the overall title. Admittedly shocking himself, Ryder Hesjedal earned Canada's first ever stage victory in Stage 12. After placing 7th overall at the 2010 Tour de France, Hesjedal might shred the peleton if he races the Vuelta this year. Armstrong's Tour de France team RadioShack hasn't been invited....
Central Hockey League season October 15 - March 27 + playoffs. Welcome Komets! Congrats to the 2009-10 CHL Champions, Rapid City Rush - and the Allen Americans for challenging Rapid City in a record-setting, 4hr 20min double overtime, cup-clinching Game 6 in their inaugural season.
Spring Training baseball, baby! Late February through early April in AZ (March if you're smart).
Frozen Four April.
Tour of the Gila Late April. Lance Armstrong competed for a second consecutive year, while teammate Levi Leipheimer won it again despite 60 mph wind gusts on Day 2. Dave Zabriskie was another big-name show. See photos from 2009. In Jan. '08, Horner told me about the Gila, "It's always well done. You're at altitude, too. They're kind of limited on the roads but it's a really well put-on race and a great little city."
Tour of California May. After two consecutive years of harsh conditions in February, the ToC changed its race dates, perhaps altering the end result as well. Having previously won three consecutive years, Levi Leipheimer settled for third in 2010 behind Dave Zabriskie in second (the "Jan Ulrich" of the ToC?) and Michael Rogers in first. Armstrong crashed out.
Giro d'Italia May 8-30. The 2009 Giro ended with edge of your seat excitement after a race in which Menchov and Di Luca raced neck-n-neck to the very end, with Menchov the victor. Check out these photos of the 2006 Giro.
Tour de France July 2-24. In 2010, the rivalry between Schleck and Contador was epic, with virtually matched talent between the two. Contador placed first overall by a margin of time gained on Schleck during an attack while Schleck suffered a mechanical issue. While Schleck dug his initial deficit in the Tour's opening prologue, his final time trial hints he very likely could stand on the high podium in 2011. Menchov earned 3rd and Canada's Ryder Hesjedal earned fans world-wide by hanging tough with the big dogs and placing 7th overall.
Grande Boucle Feminine Internationale July. Apparently, this race has been scratched. See this article on the sad state of women's cycling.
World Cup 2014 June - July. Viva Espana 2010! They did what Brazil couldn't. These past couple years sure have been good ones for Spain, with Nadal on top of the tennis world and Contador leading the pack in cycling. And now the World Cup!
Websites
VeloNews: The Journal of Competitive Cycling
ROAD: The Journal of Road Cycling and Culture
Movies
Bull Durham - minor league baseball, way funny
The Triplets of Belleville - animated cycling, unique
Mystery, Alaska - pond hockey vs. the NHL, humor
Breaking Away - oldtime cycling drama
American Flyers - oldtime cycling drama
Fight Club - "No fear. No distractions. The ability to let that which does not matter truly slide." Certainly not for everyone, the first 3/4ths of the movie is a highly entertaining, thought-provoking, cultural commentary with some brutal street fighting mixed in.
Books
OPEN An Autobiography by Andre Agassi, 2009
We Might As Well Win by Johan Bruyneel, 2008
The Agony of Victory: When Winning Isn't Enough by Steve Friedman, 2007
Gimp: When Life Deals You a Crappy Hand, You Can Fold - or You Can Play by Mark Zupan, 2006
Lance Armstrong's War by Daniel Coyle, 2005
Downhill: The Life Story of a Gravity Goddess by Marla Streb, 2003
Bobke II by Bob Roll, 2003
Not by Accident {Reconstructing a Careless Life} by Samantha Dunn, 2002
The Punch by John Feinstein, 2002
Zamboni Rodeo: Chasing Hockey Dreams From Austin to Albuquerque by Jason Cohen, 2001
It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins, 2001
Tropic of Hockey: My Search For the Game in Unlikely Places by Dave Bidini, 2000
Open Net by George Plimpton, 1985