K. Todd Storch

Read This Book! The Tour by Dave Shields

Back in June of 2005, I interviewed Dave Shields, the author of The Race.  I found Dave through an article in a cycling magazine about his book, found his website and I was hooked on his writing.

Dave has finished the sequel to The Race, aptly titled, The Tour.

Why you should be interested in this book:

- you've read The Race
- you are a cycling fan
- you are interested in the Tour de France
- you are a Tour de France freak!
- you would like to know about the behind the scenes activities of a pro cycling team
- you enjoy reading "page turner" books

The Tour continues the story about Ben Barnes and his quest to win the Tour de France.  The way this book reads, you feel like you are in Ben's shoes the whole way.  The battle to make a name on the team, the in-fighting between coach and owner, the struggles and pain of the stages; it is all here.

I nearly read the entire book in one night and I wouldn't be suprised if you end up finishing it in one sitting.

As you can tell, I highly recommend this book.  If you haven't read The Race, pick them both up; you won't be disappointed!

Be sure to check out Dave's blog as well here.

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tags:  dave shields | the tour | the race

Family Vacation

We took a wonderful trip down to Wild Oaks Ranch, just out of San Antonio.  It is a new Hyatt property, next door to the Hyatt Hill Country Resort.

We went with our friends the Sunshine's, and just had a great time.  On the way back to Dallas we stopped in Austin and signed the Lance Armstrong "Thank You" card that the television network, OLN, was sponsoring for Lance's 7th Tour de France win.

Another Summer vacation is coming to a close and this was a perfect, relaxing, fun-filled trip with the kids and friends.

[view] pictures

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tags:  family vacation | san antonio

2005 Tour de France!

What an exciting time of the year!

We just got back into town from Playa del Carmen yesterday and I'm playing catch up with the Tour.

Some good websites to stay in touch include:

• OLN TV
• CyclingNews.com
• Active.com
• Eurosport.com (includes live feed)

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tags:  tour de france

2005 Tour de France Discovery Team

Getting very excited about this year's Tour de France!

Here's the riders that Discovery Channel will be bringing to the race.

[link] via Tour de France 2005 blog

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tags:  tour de france | discovery channel

2005 Discovery Channel Team Presentation

Its only a matter of time before the 2005 Tour de France!

Here is Lance Armstrong's new team.

[read] via

UPDATE - 1030p
[link] to new Team Discovery's website

TdF - Lance Creates History

Day 23 - Stage 20, 7/25/04 (Montreau - Paris-Champs-Elysees, 163 km)

What a ride. An unbelievable feat winning 6 Tour's in a row. I'm almost sad its over. You will need to read the full story and see the results, but I will miss fitting in 3 to 4 hours of OLN each night. Lance, I sure hope you will be back for #7 next year, but I do want you to ride the Giro d'Italia as well!

My top 10 moments of this year's TdF (in no particular order):
1) My almost 4 year old daughter, Peyton, saying 'George Hincapie' and 'Floyd Landis'
2) Lance zipping up his jersey before sprinting to the win on Stage 17
3) The Blue Train spread out across the road on Stage 20 with LA right in the middle
4) George Hincapie blazing a trail across the pave
5) Voeckler nearly crying as he fought to keep the Yellow Jersey in the Pyrenees
6) Lance thrusting his arms in the air and to his side as he won Stage 15 to take the Yellow Jersey
7) Seeing USPS captain Johann giving Jan Ulrich a sip of champaign during Stage 20
8) Listening to Phil and Paul describe Voeckler 'dipping into his bag of courage'
9) Sitting in my chair with my 8 year old daughter, Taylor, to watch the TdF on a Saturday morning
10) Explaining team race strategy with Tara on many a night watching the Tour

TdF - Armstrong Strikes!

Day 15 - Stage 13, 7/17/04 (Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille, 205.5 km)

Lance takes on Basso again on a hard mountain stage today and almost takes the Yellow Jersey as well. Everyone thought this would be a 2 man race, they just picked the wrong second man...

This was textbook Lance and you can count out any chance for Mayo as he struggled most of the day. Could Basso be the one to spoil Lance's sixth? It will make for an unbelievable TT up Alpe d'Huez!

Bad news for all of the Tyler Hamilton fans...he had to abandon the race today after the feed zone. His earlier crash and bruise on his back was too much to deal with this year. Come on 2005, Tyler!

Selected GC:
1 Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) 58.00.27
2 Lance Armstrong (USPS) +0.22
3 Ivan Basso (CSC) +1.39
4 Andreas Klöden (T-Mobile) +3.18
5 Francisco Mancebo Pérez (Illes Balears - Banesto) +3.28
6 Georg Totschnig (Gerolsteiner) +6.08
7 Jose Azevedo (USPS) +6.43
8 Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) +7.01
14 Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) +10.47

Read the detail and see the full results.

I'm headed out for vacation tomorrow, so don't look for the recaps. You'll have to keep track on your own. More on Thursday.

TdF - The Stage You Have Been Waiting For!

Day 14 - Stage 12, 7/16/04 (Castelsarrasin - La Mongie, 197.5 km)

Basso takes the stage, and Lance is right on his wheel at the finish line. The Big News is that LA made quite a statement today. Lance moves up to #2 in Tour's GC today, only behind Voeckler.

Here's a quick run down on the damage Lance puts into his main competition today:

Mayo: +1.03
Ullrich: +2.30
Julich: +2.28
Heras: +2.57
Hamilton: +3.27

Selected GC:

1. Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) +51.51.07
2. Lance Armstrong (USPS) +5.24
3. Sandy Casar (Fdjeux.com) +5.50
4. Richard Virenque (Quick Step-Davitamon) +6.20
5. Andreas Klöden (T-Mobile) +6.33
6. Ivan Basso (CSC) same
7. Francisco Mancebo Pérez (Illes Balears - Banesto) +6.43
8. Jakob Piil (CSC) +6.53
12. Leipheimer (Rabobank) 8.50
16. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) +9.01
17. Bobby Julich (CSC) +9.11
20. Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) +9.46
26. Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) +10.42

Click here for results.

TdF - The French love this tour!

Day 13 - Stage 11, 7/15/04 (St Flour - Figeac, 164 km)

Another French rider takes the stage. Cofidis rider David Moncoutié takes the stage. His family is from the local region and what a feeling to win in your backyard.

Lance and the other favorites sprint in at the finish to keep their times pretty much the same.

Big day in the Pyrenees on Friday!

Click here to see the details and the full results.

GC:
1. Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) 46.43.10
2. Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) +3.00
3. Sandy Casar (Fdjeux.com) +4.13
4. Richard Virenque (Quick Step-Davitamon) +6.52
5. Jakob Piil (CSC) +7.43
6. Lance Armstrong (USPS) +9.35
7. Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) +9.58
8. Jose Azevedo (USPS) +10.04
9. José Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) +10.09
10. Francisco Mancebo Pérez (Illes Balears - Banesto) +10.18
11. Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) same

TdF - Viva la Virenque!

Day 12 - Stage 10, 7/14/04 (Limoges - St Flour, 237 km)

The longest stage of the tour and the toughest day so far. Quick Step's King of the Mountain machine (he's going for a Tour record, 7 KoM jersey wins), Richard Virenque blows through the stage, picks up his 7th career TdF stage win, picks up enough KoM points to put him in the lead and makes a very good jump in the GC today.

Lots of struggling today as there were virtually no flat stages throughout the day. Virenque will set his French "God" status in concrete today with his stage win on Bastille Day.

Six straight days of Yellow Jersey for the French golden boy, Voeckler. He better enjoy and appreciate it...its only a matter of time before it will be off his back.

Select GC - Place/Time:
1. Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) 42.42.14
2. Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) +3.00
3. Sandy Casar (Fdjeux.com) +4.13
4. Richard Virenque (Quick Step-Davitamon) +6.52
5. Jakob Piil (CSC) +7.31
6. Lance Armstrong (USPS) +9.35
7. Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) +9.58
11. Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) +10.18
15. George Hincapie (USPS) +10.26
17. Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) +10.30
18. Bobby Julich (CSC) +10.42
19. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) +10.50
20. Ivan Basso (CSC) +10.52
21. Floyd Landis (USPS) +10.53

Yellow Jersey (Leader): Voeckler
Green Jersey (Points): Robbie McEwen
KoM Jersey: Virenque
White Jersey (under 25): Voeckler

Check out the final results for the day.

Check out OLN.com for video and live feeds!