Unusual facts about Pro Cyclists

Abdoujaparov

The Delgado's second album cover featured a picture of Sean Kelly riding a donkey up Mont Ventoux.

BikingBernie

Abdoujaparov wrote:

BikingBernie wrote:

When the Belgians were competing in the international "It's a knockout' competition in the mid 70's, they drafted Roger and Eric De Vlaemink into the team in order to ride the bicycle obstacle course. (This is absolutely true!).

Is that true? Can't find any details online

Yes, it was reported in 'Cycling'. As I recall the report said that the original game was going to involve a tandem, so Roger was brought in to steer whilst a rugby player was assigned the role of carrying the bike when necessary. Then the game was changed to two solos, so Eric was brought in as Roger's partner.

P.s. Back in those days (about 35 years ago) pro cyclists would do almost anything to supplement their income no matter how embarrassing, as anyone who remembers the piss-poor performances of many pro cyclists on 'Superstars' will remember. Freddy Maertens once even took part in a race with a horse.

pb21

In a 1995 post tour criterium in Belgium, Miguel Indurain managed to go off course and ended up gate crashing a local wedding reception. Unfortunately, in the process, he destroyed the cake and got grease all over the bride’s dress. He was never the same cyclist again through fear of going the wrong way.

disquieting_museeuws

No tA Doctor wrote:

Sean Kelly is mortally afeared of Donkeys.

He pronounces it 'Dunkey' (as did my Grandad).

If Sean happens across a dead donkey he is compelled to jump over the corpse, it being good luck.

warrior4life

Cadel Evans died in 2004 when he put his false teeth in backwards and eat himself. The current one in the peleton is actually a badger dressed up to look like Cadel Evans... FACT!

emadden

A number of riders dont like leaving their donkeys at home whilst riding.

David Moncoutie is one such rider who frequently brings his family to watch him race.

RichN95.

BikingBernie wrote:

Freddy Maertens once even took part in a race with a horse.

They still do that sort of thing at a criterium in Spain. Oscar Freire raced a horse, Valverde raced a dog sled and here's Oscar Pereiro racing a camel.

Hibbs

Levi Leipheimer is head of the Californian section of the Mob.

Cav is Tammy Thomas's daughter.

Geraint Thomas keeps a small family of voles in a bucket under his bed for late night snacks.

disquieting_museeuws

After he retired, Jean-Cyril Robin had transgender surgery and now finds a role in life as the lovely actress, singer & model Shadi Robin.

Gazzaputt

Philip Gilbert's tailor also dresses Frank Butcher and most of the traveling community.

No_Ta_Doctor

When not cycling Mark Renshaw likes to relax by reciting the scientific names of marsupials in alphabetical order, but always gets stuck on the wallabies.

Tusher

Bjaerne Riis is an alien space lizard.

It was only when they discovered the rows of caged white mice in the spare wheel bay of the Saxo-Bank tour bus, that the Schleck brothers fled.

love2ride

Jens Voigt has been known to fall asleep while doing the plank.

Andy Schleck once restled a bear!

Alexander Vinokourov cried like a 4 year old girl when he saw Borat.

Anonymous

Vino has no tear ducts and has poo's made of cement and semtex.

secretsqirrel

love2ride wrote:

Jens Voigt has been known to fall asleep while doing the plank.

Andy Schleck once wrestled a teddy bear!

Borat cried like a 4 year old girl when he saw Alexandre Vinokourov.

FIxed for you

No_Ta_Doctor

The real reason Jakob Fuglsang doesn't want to ride for Contador at Saxobank is that he once cuaght Contador fondling his favourite donkey, Pedro.

Homer J

Cadel Evans can carry a water bottle in his chin dimple

No_Ta_Doctor

TdF Lantern Rouge Adriano Malori is far from unfamiliar with red light, orphaned at the age of five he was brought up by the "staff" of the Casa di Affetto Negoziabili in Parma.

No_Ta_Doctor

Jens Voigt cries himself to sleep at night clutching his childhood teddy bear Bernard, due to the pressures of maintaining the hard man facade which is entirely alien to his true nature. Every time he falls off he wants nothing more than to cry for his mummy to come and put a plaster on it and kiss it better, but has to act tough so as not disappoint his fans. He's currently in psychotherapy.

Tusher

Now, that's being really silly.

simon johnson

It's actually Dennis Hopper speaking to Jens Voigt through his earpiece, gruffly repeating that if the speed of the peloton drops below 50km/h it will blow up

paulcuthbert

None of the peloton have a director sportif shouting commands and delivering course information and tactics in their earpieces. They're all listening to The Banker from Channel 4's 'Deal or No Deal', and whenever you see someone attack, they've just dealt.

No_Ta_Doctor

The TdF peloton have a secret purple jersey for points accumulated in their daily Countdown Conundrum, Stuart O'Grady has three of them at home, locked in a hidden draw.

love2ride

Contador is a wizard and can make peoples chains fall off with a single glance!

billy.

andy schleck can eat 21 energy gels and deep fried turkey without throwing up.

evidence on specialized advert.

csp

1987 Tour stage winner, Dag-Otto Lauritzen was in the Norwegian Marines, broke one of his legs, started cycling on doctors' recommendation for recovery.

Jean Nuttli, a briefly succerssful time triallist, who won the Chrono des Herbiers and was French time trial champion a few times, weighed 285 pounds before he started cycling.

(from Cycle Sport May 2007)

giantorangedale

marco pantani was actually born in scunthorpe.

Scrumple

Mark Cavendish is the patron saint of teeth.

ratsbeyfus

Bradley Wiggins always rides with one of Paul Weller's pubes sellotaped to his Garmin magnet.

disgruntledgoat

Gianni Bugno rates getting a free Double Decker from a vending machine as his greatest achievement.