Interbike was packed when I arrived this afternoon - the parking garage was jammed solid and I ended up in the 14th floor rooftop parking lot. The joint was jumpin' with all the who's who of cycling, live music, beer and margaritas. I shmoozed and only took a dozen or so photos. You can check them out at www.velogal.smugmug.com or click on the Link below.

I took this image of Dave Zabriskie at Interbike 05 - he was signing autographs like crazy at the CSC booth. I’m heading out to Las Vegas early tomorrow morning to catch the last two days of Interbike 06. I’m missing some good autograph sessions today, like the Eddie Merckx appearance, but prior commitments means staying home till tomorrow.

No, I don’t get autographs from the riders, but it’s a great photo op. So, we’ll see who all will be around on Thursday afternoon and on Friday. Since I always have a media credential, I’ve been deluged with flyers and advertising promos from the folks who have booths there. However, I’m not in the celeb crowd, with all the parties and freebies, and flowing food and beer. It’s a humongeous event and a blast to attend. So, more from Interbike tomorrow night....

Link is to a story in the IHT, quoting Patrice Le Clerc (TdF honcho) in a L’Creep interview, where he calls Floyd Landis a “cheat” and says, “Anything that goes in the direction of the fight against doping is fine by me". Hmm, anything goes... Anything? Flawed lab tests, incompetence, gross errors, innuendos, statements of guilt before test results are released, guilt by association, press leaks to L’Creep, selling copies of lab tests to L’Creep writers... Certainly seems so - anything goes - And any semblance of truth is mired down, and disappears in the cesspool of Chatenay-Malabry

This is a tribute to my long-time client, Judith, who died last night from metasticized breast cancer. Judith was first diagnosed in 1993, and then again with metastatic breast cancer in 2002. She became my client in 2003, and I was privileged to walk the long journey with her, in many sessions over the past three years. Judith was a sweet, gentle woman who faced her cancer with courage, determination, and a will to survive. The cancer spread to many parts of her body over the past two years, and finally to her brain. She died at her home, where she wanted to be.

This poetry is by Michael Samuelson Hayes, who is a male breast cancer survivor. It is in his book, "Voices From The Edge".

Close the Door When You Leave

I never asked you to visit
...at least I don't believe I did
Maybe...I don't know
It's so confusing

At any rate, you're a rude guest
You take my energy,
rob my sleep and with a stick,
You swirl and distort my dreams

All right, You are here...for now
But understand
There are two places
that are forever off limits

You may not tread on my spirit
You may not occupy my soul

I have heard of your visits to others
I know the damage you leave
in your path
The wanton disregard for innocence,
value, and what some
would call fairness

Also, I hear that laughter
confuses you;
that good food makes you feel bad, and
That nothing causes you more distress
than an autumn sunset,
the forever blue of a summer sky
Or the unconditional radiance
of a child's smile

Listen and understand
You might pilfer my closets,
empty all the drawers,
and trash my house
But there are two places
forever off limits

You may not tread on my spirit
You may not occupy my soul

Do not mistake my nausea, weakness,
and pain as signs of your victory
They are simply small dents
in the armour I wear to fight you
Instead, look deeply into my eyes

They will once again remind you
that there are two places
forever off limits

You must not...
May not...
Will not tread on my spirit

You must not...
May not...
Will not occupy my soul

Judith's cancer never occupied her soul nor tread on her spirit... The rest of her journey will be in peace and without pain...

Road cycling is winding down - the most movement now is riders changing teams. Astana and T-Mobile are doing/have done some serious recruiting, and both teams are looking pretty good for next year. T-Mobile will do a presentation shortly, with names of riders who have signed on. As I said a few days ago, Michael Barry will join the T-M team - he signed on with them, for two years, before the Vuelta. Dede Barry, Michael’s wife and ex-Pro racer, was with Bob Stapleton when she was riding with the women’s T-Mobile team, so Michael knows and trusts Bob as the new head honcho of T-Mobile. Now word is that Axel Merckx will be with T-Mobile next year. Axel has moved around thru quite a few teams over the past years.

I have to give credit to the T-Mobile organization for staying with their support for cycling, and not abandoning their sponsorship like so many others have done. T-Mobile is so identified with cycling that it is really an extension of their branding. So, instead of dropping their sponsorship, they are cleaning house, starting with an American manager, Bob Stapleton, who vows to have a clean team with integrity and drug-free. You can read an interview with Bob Stapleton on the T-Mobile website by clicking on the Link below.

Discovery Channel is looking to the future, and are signing young riders, like Fuyu Li of China. I’m sure you’ve read the press release from PJ Rabice on every cycling site, so I won’t repeat it here. PJ did note that Discovery Communications has emphasized the importance of having an international team, which is giving such a great opportunity for young riders like Fuyu, and Fumi. Johan really has the eye for signing young guys, like Janez. Johan and Dirk know just how to bring them along without undue pressure and demands.

Photo is from this year’s training camp - Janez is smiling for my camera, while Zap Espinoza (from Trek) is getting a shot at some part of a Trek bike.

Here is yet another appalling story about a dying dog, on the end of a chain in a Pennsylvania town. And yet again, the local Humane Society refused to take action. A member of Dogs Deserve Better, Tammy Grimes, rescued the animal and was arrested. Here is part of the story, go to the Link below to read the entire story, and see the videos from before and after the dog was treated and cared for by Tammy Grimes of DDB.. Thanks to the blog reader who sent me the alert... What the Hell is with the state of Pennsylvania and lack of action about animal cruelty?

Update September 22, 2006 Following a preliminary hearing, a state court judge ordered Tammy Grimes of Dogs Deserve Better bound over for trial. Judge Craig Ormsby found probable cause to try Grimes on charges of theft and receiving stolen property. Other charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief were dismissed. Grimes' bail was reduced to $10,000 unsecured.

It was agreed the court would consider at the appropriate time the offer of Best Friends Animal Society to provide free vet care for the dog and find it a good home. Best Friends' attorney, Russ Mead, was in court to present the offer.

The offer could help resolve the charge against Grimes. Typically, in a theft case, if convicted or as part of a plea, the defendant cannot keep the property, in this instance, a poor suffering dog. If Best Friends' solution is accepted and the dog is removed from Grimes' care, it could pave the way for a resolution of the criminal charge.

In attempting to present a justification defense, Grimes attorney, Thomas Dickey, argued the dog's owners, Steve and Lori Arnold, abandoned Doogie. The judge ruled that evidence was not relevant at this stage of the proceedings though it may be admissible at trial.

Indeed, the Arnolds were nowhere to be found as Doogie was chained and dying in their backyard. Kim Eichner, a neighbor, reported the dog had not moved for at least 2 days. His water bowl and empty food dish were not close to where the dog lay dying. The humane society failed to respond to calls for help.

Grimes may have taken matters into her own hands, but she did not steal a car or a stereo. She took a living, sentient being to the vet for much needed care. She rescued him from abuse. Instead of a medal, though, Grimes was presented with handcuffs and taken to jail.

At least one other member of Grimes' group, Dogs Deserve Better, has been charged criminally for trying to help a chained dog. Kathleen Slagle, who also authored an anti-chaining bill pending in the Pennsylvania Assembly, sent a couple of anti-chaining brochures to Charles and Dawn Solliday who chain their beagle day in and day out. Slagle has been charged with harassment for these actions. And, the humane officer in that county, Clearfield County, PA, has said she will support the Sollidays. The humane officer encouraged the filing of the charge.

As Animal Law Coalition reported below, in response to these outrageous abuses of the justice system, Best Friends Animal Society has proposed a citizen's good Samaritan law. Under such a law, the text of which is set forth below in the earlier report, citizens would be able to enter the property of another for the limited purpose of taking an animal to a veterinarian, if needed, or otherwise providing emergency care for an animal. Of course, efforts must first be made, as they were in Grimes' case, to notify the owners and animal control.

If you are interested in passing such a law in your community or state, contact Animal Law Coalition for a copy of the proposed law or download it from our Resources section.

Update September 21, 2006 The rally to support Tammy Grimes and Dogs Deserve Better was a resounding success. Tammy's preliminary hearing is scheduled to start shortly in a Roaring Spring, Pa courtroom.

There were about 100 people who gathered to protest charges of theft among others, brought against Grimes all because she saved a dog dying at the end of a chain. The dog's owners, Steve and Lori Arnold, left the dog, Doogie, sick and in a great deal of pain, just lying on the cold wet ground on a chain outside their house.

The dog could not even stand let alone walk. It is unlikely he could even reach his dirty water bowl let alone the flimsy plastic crate they provided for "shelter".

The Arnolds were nowhere to be found. The humane society failed to respond to calls from at least 2 people about the dog's condition. Tammy thus rescued Doogie, took him to the vet, and now, as you can see from Animal Law Coalition's earlier reports below, authorities including the humane society have mounted a campaign against Grimes and her organization, Dogs Deserve Better.

At the rally Best Friends Animal Society again announced its offer to provide vet care for life for Doogie and find him a good home. It is hoped this offer will help resolve the charges against Tammy.

Bummer - we’re losing more of my favorite riders on the Discovery Channel team. Michael Barry is leaving the team, and so is Benoit Joachim. Michael will ride for T-Mobile and I think Benoit will go to Astana. That makes five of the guys who have supported Lance in his seven Tour de France victories. Ace, Triki, Eki, Paolo and Benoit all rode with Lance at the Tour. All of these guys rode to the absolute end of body limits every stage to get Lance to the podium. Eki, of course, is staying on as a Directeur Sportif, but it’s sad to see these guys go.

The Spaniards always borrowed my car, every year at training camp to go shopping. They always brought it back with a big box of chocolates. Max Van Heeswijk borrowed my car several times each year, and always returned it straight from the carwash, shiny clean, with a full tank of gas. Damn, I’m gonna miss those guys. And Michael Barry always had Dede there for a few days to visit - last year I got some of the cutest pics of them with their little guy. I sure hope he continues to write for us when he's with T-Mobile.

It’s kinda like losing family members when guys go. I do miss them. And it will be great to see Tony Cruz come home again. We’ll have lots more new faces as the season ends. Newest signings are Uros Murn of Slovenia and Gianni Meersman of Belgium. And, you know what? I’m hoping that Floyd gets his name cleared from that horrible cesspool French lab fiasco, and that we will see him on the Discovery Team in 2007.

And I see that Dave Zabriskie took second today at the Worlds Road ITT Championship. He was 1.30 down from Fabian Cancellara.

OK - I admit it - I totally slept thru Stage 20 of the Vuelta this morning. I burned the midnight oil working on images of the interior of a home from an assignment that I shot a few days ago. Doing home interiors is a tricky thing... Shooting inside is so totally different than the kind of photography I usually do. Like the shot above at the Toyota Challenge Dew Action Sports Tour in San Jose... From his expression, I guess the next jump seemed a little scary for Cameron White of the Mongoose Team at the BMX Dirt Park. Or maybe he thought he was getting ready to crash into the hay bales near me, like some other guy did.

I was shooting at the end of the “runway” and some dude came flying right thru the bales and zoomed past, barely a foot away from me. Later, I saw it on NBC - the cameras were right near me. We were all laughing and some guy said to me, “Damn, you didn’t even flinch”... The rider ran over the camera bag of another photog standing behind me....

So it looks like Egoi Martinez of Discovery has the Mountains Jersey in hand for the Vuelta, and Vino looks like the GC winner. Tomorrow will be the parade, just like the Tour de France. And the winners will stand on the podium, and pee in the bottles and wonder if somebody is gonna screw up their test results. Especially if their samples are tested in the cesspool at Chatenay-Malabry.

So much pressure on Tom Danielson, mostly from the media. But he came through in fine form today, and here is the Discovery Channel Team press release from PJ Rabice:

DISCOVERY CHANNEL TEAM TAKES SECOND TOUR OF SPAIN STAGE WIN

“Danielson Wins Stage, Team Has Four Riders in Top 12”

(Granada, Spain) – The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team (DCPCT) continued their success in the 2006 Vuelta Espana with Tom Danielson capturing the team’s second stage win. In similar fashion to his Spanish teammate Egoi Martinez who won Stage 11 last week, Danielson rode away in an early breakaway and fought hard all the way to the finish. For both Discovery Channel riders it was their first Grand Tour stage win.

“Today was an amazing day for me. I got away in the early breakaway and worked really hard to make the break work. I began to tire on the final climb but focused on just turning the pedals over and on trying to win the stage. This is the biggest win of my career,” stated Danielson.

Team Sports Director Johan Bruyneel is very satisfied with the way his Discovery Channel team has been riding in Spain. “I have asked the guys to work very hard every day to be in the breakaways, not only to win stages but also to preserve our Team Classification lead,” said Bruyneel. The Discovery riders have rode a very aggressive Tour and their hard work has obviously paid off. The Team currently has two stage wins, four riders in the top-12 overall and is leading the Team Classification.

Bruyneel went on to say, “With one more climbing stage and one time trial remaining, I think we can possibly have a few guys move up a little higher on general classification. But, regardless of what happens I am very satisfied with what we have done so far. To have had Brajkovic in the yellow jersey and win two stages is fantastic. If we can maintain our lead in the Team Classification into Madrid, the Vuelta will have been a major success.”

Pic is from 2006 training camp....

Another media feeding frenzy - Frankie Andreu discloses that he used EPO on several occasions, in 1995 and then in his1999 preparation for the 1999 Tour de France. Another US Postal Team rider, who asked the New York Times to remain anonymous, (are you kidding me?) because he’s still in the sport of cycling, also confessed... for the good of the sport, they say.

So who was on the 1999 US Postal Cycling Tour de France Team? And who is still in the sport of cycling? Here’s the 1999 TdF team:
Lance Armstrong
George Hincapie
Tyler Hamilton
Frankie Andreu
Kevin Livingston
Christian Vande Velde
Jonathan Vaughters
Pascal Derame
Peter Meinert-Nielsen

And, from the bit I read on cyclingnews.com, it looks like Floyd Landis’ attorney, Howard Jacobsen, is revealing some potential MAJOR screw-ups in the idiotic French laboratory’s testing results... Here is an excerpt:

"WADA's own protocols require that all testosterone metabolite differentials provide clear evidence of testosterone usage to find an athlete positive. Given the data, three of the four testosterone metabolite differentials tested in Landis' sample are reported as negative considering the margin of error.

The only testosterone metabolite that can be argued as positive under the WADA Positivity Criteria resulted from an unknown laboratory error and is not the result of testosterone usage.

The one metabolite that has been identified by WADA-accredited laboratories as the best, and longest-term indicator, of exogenous testosterone usage was reported as negative in Landis' urine samples.

The single [positive] T/E [Testosterone/Epitestosterone] analysis in this case is replete with fundamental, gross errors. These errors include inconsistent testosterone and epitestosterone levels from testing on the 'A' sample as well as multiple mismatched sample code numbers that do not belong to Landis. In the case of the mismatched sample identification codes, the alleged confirmed T/E data on the 'B' sample is from a sample number that was not assigned to Landis. The differences in sample identification numbers also point to issues in the chain of custody of the Landis sample.

Clinical laboratories making these types of gross errors could easily find themselves answering to a wrongful death lawsuit, and often do.. At a minimum, those laboratory errors must go to the defense of the athlete and must result in a finding that the T/E results are wholly unreliable."

Holy Crap - if this is true, that French laboratory should be closed down immediately. Shoddy, sloppy, inept, incompetent, inaccurate, deceitful, libelous, reputation-destroying, career-ending procedures and results. There aren’t words enough to describe the totally F-U’ed testing process from that piss-poor excuse of a lab. It is just one unending CYA by everyone in the cycling governing organization, from top to bottom, about drug testing.

Multiple mismatched sample code numbers that do not belong to Floyd - OMG! And they released those results anyway? People - It is time to say enough! How about a total global boycott by all riders and all teams until the whole damn testing process is moved to that lab in Canada, or anywhere else where there is integrity and competency and accountability....

This is the asphalt parking lot behind the HP Pavilion in San Jose, converted to a motocross dirt park. The parking for (I don't know how many) thousand cars for concerts and for Sharks games looks awesome for this Toyota Challenge Dew Action Sports Tour. The crowd was incredible last night. Each day there are more and more extreme sports fans.

Right across the street is Inn Vision, a shelter for homeless folks. They seem to have been comverted to action sports spectators. Of course, they must be blasted out with the sound of the announcers and music. The sound is deafening in the park, and obviously reverberates for blocks around.

As I walked to the area yesterday, I saw a bunch of guys sitting on the front fence of a run-down house across the street, watching the huge screen that projected the action to the grandstands. There was just a small area between the stands that the guys could watch through - all they could see was the fence, the back of the grandstands and a peek at the screen, which is as large as one in a drive-in movie theater. They were all admiring (I hope) my camera equipment. "Oh, she works for NBC", I heard some guy say... I just said, "How's it going, guys," and kept walking....

I park several blocks away in the Employee Parking area, cause it's freebie. I walked there after the concert on Friday night. It's not a great part of town, and totally deserted that late at night. About two blocks away from my car, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around to face whoever it was, and it turned out to be an EMT guy. He told me he was glad for the company, because HE would never walk to that lot by himself this late at night. Said that Security usually escorts employees. Wouldn't it be weird, I thought, if I had traveled all over at the Tour de France for five years by myself, and then get mugged in my own hometown?

I was telling the guys at Lat34.com about it, and they said, "Jeeze, what would you do?". I said that I'd point my camera at the mugger and say, "Stop or I'll shoot..."

The competitors are awesome athletes, and just do unbelievable stuff on the BMX and Motocross bikes. I suspect that they are in the same boat, or should I say bike carrier, as most roadies - under paid and under appreciated for the great athletes that they are...

Today is the last day of the event - one more day of roasting in the sun and carrying around a huge amount of equipment... Come to think of it, I'm underpaid, too...

A little change of pace for Velogal - I’m shooting the Dew Action Sports Tour - Toyota Challenge in San Jose this weekend. So totally Extreme... I was there from about 1 pm till 11 pm yesterday, and it was a happenin’ place last night. I’m shooting for www.lat34.com - cool bunch of guys, and great coverage of Extreme sports. I’m doing the Lifestyle shots, rather than the action shots, but couldn’t resist the above shot.

Also shot the big concert for them last night - Dilated People opened for The Roots - the place was packed - jam packed. Lucky me, I was one of a two or three photogs that got the front stage spots. While I was standing inside the security gate beside the stage between sets, I was greatly amused by how some of the gals tried everything they could think of to wheedle their way backstage, from “my brother is in the band” to “ I forgot my backstage pass, but honest, I really have one”, to groveling and pleading, and lastly, to hip-gyrating bumping and grinding in front of the security guard. All to no avail - those guys have heard it all a zillion times.... Lat34.com is heavy-duty into the Extreme scene, so they sent me to get the shots. Look for a gallery the first of the week on my smugmug site. And be sure and check out Lat34.com - click on the link below.

Egoi Martinez did a long, hard ride in the break-away group from early on in the race. He ended up in a trio of riders with Gustov and Landaluze. Egoi took off at about 4k to go, while the other two guys diddle-daddled around about who would do what. Egoi kept those lactic legs powering along, and took the stage win with a big grin. All the Discovery Channel guys wore black arm bands to honor the Discovery Channel television’s Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. Irwin died in a freak accident yesterday while filming an episode somewhere around Australia.

Discovery Communications said in a press release that it began airing special tribute programming Monday night, on Animal Planet, to highlight Irwin's background and his passion for wildlife. On Sept. 10, the Animal Planet channel plans an all-day marathon tribute featuring the Best of the Croc Hunter.

Discovery will name the garden space in front of the headquarters building in Silver Springs the "Steve Irwin Memorial Garden." And it also will create a Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter Fund called "The Crikey Fund," named for Irwin's catch phrase, that will be used for wild animal conservation, education and protection. Steve Irwin was really the person who made Animal Planet the huge hit that it is, and gave DC the humongous ratings.... What will they do without him?

Heard from a long-time reader, Burt, that Chris Brewer said on cycling.tv yesterday morning that Tony Cruz is rejoining Discovery Channel next year. I missed that, but hope it's true - would be nice to see Tony and his family around training camp and at local races again...

Photo of Egoi Martinez and Julien DeVries is from the 2006 training camp....

Word that I hear is that Roger Hammond will sign with T-Mobile next year, and that Discovery did not offer him a new contract. As I said before, I am sorry to see him go. And another great guy who is leaving, Max Van Heeswijk, won the first stage of the Tour of Poland yesterday.

Thanks to the heads-up from a reader that I was forgetting Max - that brings my count up to eight riders who are leaving Discovery Channel... so far.

Are you reading Michael Barry's diary on VeloNews? He's a good writer and really keeps us up-to-date on what's happening with the team at the Vuelta. Yesterday, at rest day, Michael said that Chechu and Benjamin took the team for a sight-seeing ride around Gijon and then out for drinks on a terrace overlooking the water. Now that is the way to spend Rest Day! If Chechu is involved, it's bound to be classy....

GEORGE!!! First place winner, Georg Hincapie, in the US PRO Championships in Greenville, SC. Soon-to-be Discovery teammate Levi Leipheimer takes second, and Danny Pate is third on the podium....

Was great to hear race action live from Dave Towle and Jeff Roark... Special treat to hear Saul Raisin commentating and hear that he will soon be ready to move back to Europe and start training..