The Hour *** spoilers ***

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  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Pokerface, OT but what do you think of Alex Zanardi? In Italy is considered God, but he doesn't seem to get much credit over here... is it because hand bike is not big in the UK or else?

    Being Italian, he gets most of his coverage there. Like others have said though, he doesn't get much coverage here because it just isn't big news.

    He just completed the Kona Ironman World Champs (Handcycle category) but most people wouldn't even know that. In Italy, he is royalty. Would be probably the same if Damon Hill ended up the same way and went the same route as him in the UK.

    I've seen him around a lot, but never really interacted with him myself beyond saying hello.
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    Pokerface, OT but what do you think of Alex Zanardi? In Italy is considered God, but he doesn't seem to get much credit over here... is it because hand bike is not big in the UK or else?
    Foreign parasports people don't get much coverage any way. Other than Pistorius few would be able to name one. Zanardi may be the next best known.

    I always found bizarre how someone not that young coming from Formula 1 becomes that good that quickly... but then again, extraordinary people exist!


    He would have been very physically fit before his accident, plus as a wealthy ex Formula 1 racer he can afford to train full time with the best gear and coaches etc. but that in no way detracts from the hard work and dedication he has put in - hats off to him.
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    People do seem to forget just how fit you have to be to drive an F1 car, he would have been in pretty good health as a driver and most likely a highly motivated person
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  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Zanardi also has the benefit of a custom carbon handcycle designed by BMW. But he still has to do most of the work :)
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    Pokerface wrote:
    Being Italian, he gets most of his coverage there. Like others have said though, he doesn't get much coverage here because it just isn't big news.

    He just completed the Kona Ironman World Champs (Handcycle category) but most people wouldn't even know that. In Italy, he is royalty. Would be probably the same if Damon Hill ended up the same way and went the same route as him in the UK.
    Interestingly I remember reading interviews with Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella complaining that they didn't get much Italian press coverage because they weren't driving for Ferrari, where as Ferrari's at the time Italian test driver (whose name I can't even remember now) got loads of coverage because he was driving a Ferrari. Zanardi had a relatively unsuccessful F1 career (raced for 5 seasons in total and scored a single point) but won the CART championship twice in the states. It wouldn't surprise me if his fame in Italy came mostly after his accident rather than before.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Graeme_S wrote:
    where as Ferrari's at the time Italian test driver (whose name I can't even remember now) got loads of coverage because he was driving a Ferrari.
    Luca Badoer
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  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    RichN95 wrote:
    Graeme_S wrote:
    where as Ferrari's at the time Italian test driver (whose name I can't even remember now) got loads of coverage because he was driving a Ferrari.
    Luca Badoer
    That's the one! :mrgreen:

    He also raced in 5 different F1 seasons (although fewer races than Zanardi) and scored 0 points in total.
  • johnboy183
    johnboy183 Posts: 832
    British Eurosport are televising Matthias Brandels attempt at the hour record. Starts at 17:45
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    Does anyone have a view on why it's Matthias Brandle doing this next? Austrian TT champ, but only 35th in ITT at Ponferrada and no track pedigree I can see. He says he's doing it cos he admires Jens which seems more like PR banality than an actual reason.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    Does anyone have a view on why it's Matthias Brandle doing this next?
    Because he wants to do it. That's about it really.

    He's no less likely a candidate than Graeme Obree or Michael Hutchinson
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    As if he nips in there now and beats Jensie (Which he probably will do to be fair) he will be on the list of holders forever. That would be my assumption. If he waits for Wiggins or Fabu, he's got no chance
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  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    Taking the chance then - fair play to him. I just wondered if there was something else that meant it was him rather than any of the many other riders you'd fancy to beat Jens in a 1 hour TT.
  • johnboy183
    johnboy183 Posts: 832
    Financial rewards?
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    RichN95 wrote:
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    Does anyone have a view on why it's Matthias Brandle doing this next?
    Because he wants to do it. That's about it really.

    I think lots of people would like to try it. If just for something new to do. I have thought about renting the local race car track(1/2 mile smooth asphalt) for the day and setting up a sort of 4 riders at a time, every hour thing. Am having trouble getting a handle on how to keep track of it all with 4 guys out there at once(lap counting, position on track at the finish, etc.). Could be a fun day IF I can figure out HOW.
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    Paul 8v wrote:
    As if he nips in there now and beats Jensie (Which he probably will do to be fair) he will be on the list of holders forever. That would be my assumption. If he waits for Wiggins or Fabu, he's got no chance

    Nail hit squarely on the head :D
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  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    Paul 8v wrote:
    As if he nips in there now and beats Jensie (Which he probably will do to be fair) he will be on the list of holders forever. That would be my assumption. If he waits for Wiggins or Fabu, he's got no chance
    +1

    As soon as Wiggo has a serious dig at this it will out of reach for the remaining riders on the planet - bar Martin perhaps. Today of course, not forever!
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  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    My original question wasn't "why now?" but "why him?". I'm none the wiser other than "cos he fancied it" LOL
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    Surely the question is 'why nobody else?'. Definitely low hanging fruit for most pro's.
    https://gibworth.mypixieset.com
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    My original question wasn't "why now?" but "why him?". I'm none the wiser other than "cos he fancied it" LOL
    Because he's a half decent time trialler but isn't ever going to win anything big, so this might put his name in lights for a while before Wiggo smashes it.

    I'm not sure Martin will get anywhere near Wiggo, he doesn't have Wiggos track heritage and experience. Whilst he is immensely powerful, you also need to be silky smooth.
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  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    t4tomo wrote:
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    My original question wasn't "why now?" but "why him?". I'm none the wiser other than "cos he fancied it" LOL
    Because he's a half decent time trialler but isn't ever going to win anything big, so this might put his name in lights for a while before Wiggo smashes it.
    Absolutely. Which does somewhat beg the question why Eurosport is broadcasting it live. Very easy exposure at the moment
  • The_Boy
    The_Boy Posts: 3,099
    2 Cameras, Kirby + 1 in a comms booth and a lot of dead air time to fill. Seems a no brainer.
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  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,858
    t4tomo wrote:
    FleshTuxedo wrote:
    My original question wasn't "why now?" but "why him?". I'm none the wiser other than "cos he fancied it" LOL
    Because he's a half decent time trialler but isn't ever going to win anything big, so this might put his name in lights for a while before Wiggo smashes it.

    I'm not sure Martin will get anywhere near Wiggo, he doesn't have Wiggos track heritage and experience. Whilst he is immensely powerful, you also need to be silky smooth.

    Yep, think thats it. So who's next? Svein tuft is getting on a bit and never won much. Go on tuft, you could beat whatever brandel does.
  • The_Boy
    The_Boy Posts: 3,099
    Chava?
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  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    It's a good off-season endeavour. Would probably help spice up a lot of Pro's boring training and minimise downtime. Hopefully see more and more having a crack at it.

    Unless Wiggins smashes it and then we may have another period of inactivity as there's won't be anyone capable of beating it, so people won't bother trying.
  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    It depends which Wiggo you get, CBA Wiggo or motivated Wiggo. If motivated Wiggo rides it you can forget it for a while like you say!

    I'd like to see Phinney give it a go
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  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Paul 8v wrote:
    It depends which Wiggo you get, CBA Wiggo or motivated Wiggo. If motivated Wiggo rides it you can forget it for a while like you say!
    I don't think there's any doubt you'll get motivated Wiggo. It's working towards a long term goal. CBA Wiggo appears when he's doing something which doesn't move him towards his next goal.
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  • Paul 8v
    Paul 8v Posts: 5,458
    You're probably right to be fair
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  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    RichN95 wrote:
    Paul 8v wrote:
    It depends which Wiggo you get, CBA Wiggo or motivated Wiggo. If motivated Wiggo rides it you can forget it for a while like you say!
    I don't think there's any doubt you'll get motivated Wiggo. It's working towards a long term goal. CBA Wiggo appears when he's doing something which doesn't move him towards his next goal.

    I agree. When Wiggo sets himself a goal he gets pretty serious about it and normally delivers. Admittedly I laughed when he said he wanted to win the Tour de France back in 2009... and I laughed again last year when he said he wanted to be a Paris-Roubaix contender... so this time I'll better not laugh... :wink:
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  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,317
    Can it be agreed, then, that if Wiggins gets the hour record AND has a podium place in P-R (as well as going on to an Olympic gold performance in 2016)... Then he's definitely the most complete cycling champion of his generation?


    Unless he ever says "lads from Kilburn don't become their generation's most complete cycling champion...".
    Then he'd lose everything...
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Not achieved much in cross though, has he?

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