Sunday, October 26, 2008

How to Build a Better Giant

Easy. Just add Karl Bordine, Chris DeMarchi, Antony Galvan, and Kirk Bausch. And maybe throw in former NetZero pro Michael Johnson. 2009 additions to the already dominant Amgen/Giant Masters team, as told to me today by Rich Meeker (visiting SB for Rob Lettieri's bday party).

What else is shaping up for 2009 SoCal racing? Seriously, I'm asking. CBR reports a beefed up Sho-Air team with Jamie Paolinetti and Jason Bausch. And a Rock Racing Masters team!?! Wow! Where will C-Walk go? I suppose I could wander two blocks over and ask...

5 comments:

Unknown said...

seeing how Walker is competitive racing P12, I don't see him on a Masters team

Marco Fanelli said...

Lots of these guys are as competitive as CW--or even more so--in P/1/2. That's what's so crazy... Masters is getting ridiculously hard!! Chris won the Elite Nationals RR in 2004 while riding for a Masters Team (Labor Power). I think he will go (or has already committed to go?) where he can get the most money. Yes, believe it or not, guys like him get paid to race their bike. That said, it's true that CW doesn't like racing Masters because people race negatively against him and sometimes he gets upset (ref: Mothballs 30+ a few years ago!)

Anonymous said...

Then why don't they have a Master's Pro category.

Most of us work 50+ hours a week, have a family, etc...

Tell those guys to FINALLY get a job like we all did. It is getting late unless they expect Obama (and you and I) to cover their health, etc, so they can train.

Well Balanced in Low Cal

Anonymous said...

WAAAAAHHH!!! There's lots of people who work and race P/1/2 races. You don't need to train all day to do a 1 hour parking lot race.

Marco Fanelli said...

Good one RB! Sticking up for some of your ex-teammates, eh?! But yeah, the "Pro Masters" issue is always controversial. Personally, I love it when the best guys do Masters events... the races are more exciting and their presence legitimizes the results.

But I think Well-Balanced-in-Low-Cal has a point... bike racing is a hard addiction to shake for some people, and so they continue on well into middle age, forsaking many of the socially-expected responsibilities like saving for retirement and getting good health insurance. Sometimes I seriously worry about CW. On the other hand, he's pretty resourceful so I'm hopeful he'll be fine.

BTW, I should have gone straight to the Big Cheese for the Amgen/Giant team before posting those names. GJ says Bordine will not be racing for them in 2009 because he's gonna do the Pro Triathlon gig. Loser! (just kiddin') And also no to MJ. But the others are a go. I think DeMarchi had a lot of fun in 35+ this year. Look to him to be on a ton of podiums in 2009.