The Bike Lane: The Spring Hot Lap Carnival

Season 3, Episode 5

Welcome to episode five of The Bike Lane's third season. With Matt Keenan laying on the beach in Noosa this week, we welcome former women's Giro stage winner Rebecca Dicello as our co-host with Scott McGory in the hot seat.

In this edition we fly the Canadian flag at half mast and talk about Ryder Hesjedal's admission to doping. We interview the most bad-ass name in pro cycling, Steele von Hoff, we speak to Argos-Shimano rider Koen de Kort about how to prepare for crit racing, have a chat to Australia's newest World Tour signing Calvin Watson and Nicole Witburn goes under the pressure cooker in the hotlap.

We also speak to Dirty Deeds Cyclocross founding member (and two-time Walkley Award winner) Hamish Fitzsimmons about the CX phenomenon that's hit Australia, and last but not least, we ask: who is the most important cyclist when it comes to funding the sport in Australia?

In this episode of The Bike Lane we:

Welcome co-host Rebecca Dicello who is filling in for Matt Keenan who’s currently working on his tan in Noosa
Put your questions to Aussie Garmin-Sharp rider Steele von Hoff
Get some advice from Argos-Shimano rider Koen de Kort on how to prepare for races, for Health.com.au
Speak with Calvin Watson ahead of his leap from the NRS to the World Tour, where he’ll be riding for Trek
Head to the Hot Lap and see if Nicole Whitburn can beat the time set by Jenny MacPherson last week
Chat to journalist and cyclocross aficionado Hamish Fitzsimmons about the rise of CX in Australia
Discuss the role of the VIS and other state institutes of sport

Be sure to follow The Bike Lane on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also subscribe to the show on iTunes by heading here or searching for “The Bike Lane” at the iTunes Store.

Special thanks to our season sponsor Health.com.au, Country Road for dressing us and to Malachi Moxon for letting us film the show at Northside Wheelers. Also, thank you to The Sweetshop, our production partner.

If you’d like to support the panel’s Movember efforts, you can donate to the CyclingTips Movember network here.

Tags: The Bike Lane

Matt de Neef

Discussion thread #1: What’s your reaction to Ryder Hesjedal’s doping admission? Do you see it any differently to Stuart O’Grady’s admission?
- Neil
  
  I do. If Ryder talked to anti doping authorities before this coming out, then I view him in a better light than O’Grady.
  Sure, both only told the public when they had to, but at least Hesjedal had talked to the authorities before hand.
  Also, the way O’Grady ‘retired’ and the reasons he gave for this, full well knowing what was coming left a bad taste in my mouth. If he had have admitted what happened during the Vance inquiry, very different story.
  - Ivan Von Dork
    
    Agreed. Stuey really did end his career most ignominiously.
  - simonnix
    
    Mostly agree with this, although I still feel that the vilification of O’Grady was excessive. He did as many dopers (named and unnamed) have done - he put his head down for fear of backlash. A fear that turns out to be very well founded.
    
    As for Ryder, I feel much the same as I did about Stuey - disapointed, but willing to take it at face value.
    
    What concerns me is that Vaughters knew about it before the disclosure to authorities and yet Garmin sat on it without any pressure to do so. In the end this makes the situation almost identical to O’Grady’s admission. Riders admit only when all hope of dodging the bullet is gone. Is it gutlessness, or the foaming at the mouth of the fans, or do those two things just feed on each other, making the situation worse and worse?
- Ivan Von Dork
  
  My reaction? Just more proof how dirty the 1995 - 2005 era was. My greatest area of curiosity however will be long term health effects, if any, in the decades to come.
  - Neil
    
    The biggest question will be did this all end in 2005 as we have been led to believe, or is it ongoing today? If you listen to Rasmussen or look at Contador’s result post ban I’m finding it harder to believe that everything became clean all of a sudden.
  - Tom
    
    who says it was just 1995 - 2005, many sports were doping well before 2005, cycling included. And never forget, we have a sport that is testing in and out of competion, many sports, tennis and soccer included, don’t test out of competition. Let’s get off the bandwagon of cycling being ‘dirty sport’, many others are happy for us to have that mantle, you ever stop to wonder why…
- velocite
  
  My reaction is that wouldn’t it be wonderful if Cookson/WADA could come up with a design for a truth and reconciliation comission which would not only allow people to tell the truth but also to tell their stories so we could see them as human beings rather than just cheats. And so we could believe what they’re saying now.
- dbranson
  
  I’m appalled that Wade does not have a hockey stick for his sad little Canadian flag. Wade if you need an emergency hockey stick flag shipment from Canada we can have one rushed from home.
- http://subcontinentalcyclist.wordpress.com/ Ankush Agarwal
  
  I didn’t feel cheated after Stuey’s admission mainly because I wasn’t following cycling in his era. But I invested lot of emotions and put my trust in Hesjedal when he won the 2012 Giro. I didn’t know that Ryder doped over his career & who knows if he was still doping.
  
  Most importantly, Ryder didn’t come out in open and face his fans. He hid behind a fake apology and probably expects “us” to understand. I have no respect for him or his cunning boss Jonathan Vaughters. Both of them are in this sport to make money, one way or the other.
Matt de Neef

Discussion thread #2: How do you prepare for crits? What do you make of Koen’s advice?
- jules
  
  if i prepared for every crit like that i’d never do any real training! it’s not that practical when you’re racing every week, or even twice a week. maybe for important road races.
Matt de Neef

Discussion thread #3: Have you dabbled in cyclocross? And do you think we’ll see Australian cyclocross continue to rise? If so, what needs to happen to grow the sport here?
- Neil_Robinson
  
  at a grass roots level, i think access to venues can make or break the sport.
  
  riding over to brunswick velodrome to the DDCX races is easy for both competitors and supporters. this means there’s a fun vibe at the event. cowbells, beer handups, hecklers… even when the racing was intense, the fun exists, and the sport is accessible to all levels to view and take part.
  
  compare that to the vic state champs, that required a 40 minute drive south, it was basically just competitors at the event. it doesnt make for the same loving and inviting atmosphere.
  
  i feel xc mountain biking has sort of suffered from this. i for one stopped racing it as much because i found i spent more time driving than i did racing.
  - jules
    
    good point. driving to cycing events is a large proportion of my total driving - a bit ironic.
- Peter C
  
  Cyclocross in Oz is nothing more than a few Melbourne cycling hipsters trying to “immerse” themselves in Belgium culture. Grow a mo’ or a beard, drink some Leffe, ride around a park in the rain and pretend this is what true cycling is about. Its about one up-manship, no longer is it cool to have toured the TdF, now if you haven’t been to Belgium your just a MAMIL, and not a ‘true’ cycling fan. Its a novelty that will have its 5 minutes and then move on. 20 years ago everyone wanted to pretend to be Italian.
  - Monsieur Pi Pi
    
    Dear me Peter C, you seem a little bitter about something. Whether it lasts 5 minutes or 5 decades it’s bloody great fun and brings lots of different people together, yep there were some hipsters there, some MAMILs, roadies, mountain bikers, kids and families all having a great time so I don’t think you should get so hot under the collar, just don’t worry about it. I actually drank Italian beer between races at Spooky Cross the other night, hope that’s ok!
- simonnix
  
  True story: My fiancée had a dream last week in which she attended a bike race through an abandoned apartment building where the riders had to stop at a particular room and handle tiny snakes. I told her she had dreamt of cyclocross.
  
  I haven’t dabbled myself - I keep telling myself I’m not coordinated enough - but it does look a lot more welcoming and a lot less of the blokey, sledging nonsense that I’ve seen in more traditional racing scenes (and even some charity rides!).
  - Monsieur Pi Pi
    
    Don’t hesitate Simonnix, it is great fun and the races I’ve done this winter, both Dirty Deeds and the Syca Cross series have been competitive and friendly. My bike handling was average at best but I feel it’s improved fate one season of CX. It is also very family friendly from a time management perspective, no need for long training rides, just an hour here to there and races are all over in 45 minutes. The best thing though is it makes riding in the rain fun.
Matt de Neef

Discussion thread #4: Cyclocross or track racing? Which is more entertaining for the fans?
- Matt DeMaere
  
  In terms of potential by how the two sports are presented as spectator events, I would have to say Cyclocross has a decent edge on Track for Australian crowds.
  
  Track is a pretty serious sport today, with black visored helmets, short intense races and beautiful indoor venues which explicitly set apart spectators from athletes. Its your classic Olympic style sport, and with that influence you get administration.
  
  In contrast cross is a little feral, for some perhaps a slightly cringe-worthy cousin. In part, that might come from being an up-n-comer here, but it doesn’t appear to shed that nature at the top end in Europe. Spectators can take a little of everything from watching, from respect to schadenfreude.
  - Hamish Fitzsimmons
    
    Big track events still pull way more people than cross though.
    
    I was talking just this morning with another Dirty Deeds person about to bring some of the CX vibe to track racing- if it’s possible.
    
    Brunswick is starting up Saturday evenings again at Harrison Street again which will be cool.
    
    Would like to hear any suggestions.
    - BC
      
      Euro style, less fit people and more beer, oh, hang on they do the for both 6 days and CX
  - Ed
    
    Aren’t you forgetting the majority of country tracks that are often open air, many are shared resources, can be a fun evening for the family as well as the racers, just a couple of hours racing then off to a cafe on a Friday night? Or is that a bygone era?
  - simonnix
    
    Have to agree. Track requires a hell of a lot of skill and training and there’s no let up at any point - it makes the whole thing seem a bit dour.
- http://subcontinentalcyclist.wordpress.com/ Ankush Agarwal
  
  I think both the formats are equally exciting and entertaining. They are two completely different form of racing and I would like them to be branded more aggressively. There’s so much to be done and I think both national federations and UCI need to become extremely professional if they wan’t to make cycling a big sport (revenue wise) just like football or tennis.
Matt de Neef

Discussion thread #5: What are your expectations of Calvin Watson and his time at Trek?
- Ed
  
  Who cares about expectations. Well done Calvin for making it onto the Trek team, you must be over the moon, congrats lad, good on ya!
  - http://subcontinentalcyclist.wordpress.com/ Ankush Agarwal
    
    I haven’t followed or heard much of Calvin Watson before he joined Trek. I hope he builds up gradually like Luke Durbridge.
  - Paolo
    
    Mmmhh, that might be one reason why many of our awesome U23 are not so awesome anymore when they turn pro. There seems to be a way of thinking that you made it when you sign a contract and can call yourself a pro, but that’s where it only starts really. Being a pro is actually not that hard, being a good one is a different thing. I hope he’ll get some good results in his first year.
Matt de Neef

Discussion thread #6: Who do you think has had a greater impact on the development of cycling in Australia: Anna Meares or Cadel Evans? Someone else?
- Neil_Robinson
  
  you all touched on it, but never expressed it together.
  
  anna has a big impact on government funding*.
  
  cadel has an impact of corporate funding.
  
  both are important to the existence and growth of our sports.
  
  * don’t forget the DH/4X/BMX boys and girls, aussies love to shred a bit of dirt and have the stripes to prove it.
  - Ivan Von Dork
    
    Double post…
- Ivan Von Dork
  
  It’s a great question. In my view, the single biggest take up in cycling in the past 3 decades was definitely during the Armstrong era. His name’s mud now of course, but at the time his aura and magnetic charisma dwarfed almost every other athlete on the planet.
- dbranson
  
  Scott McGrory has had a hand in there.
- Jono_L
  
  Scott, if you’re having a hard time explaining and justifying
  what you admit to being a ‘bizarre’ funding structure, then that should tell
  you something. Why not have a small portion of ASC funding go to the NRS/continental
  teams that work so well to complement the state and national institutes?
  
  You’ve been to the NRS this year Scott, you know that state
  institutes don’t have a hope of standing up against the privately run teams. Of
  course you can bring guys [like Morgz, who is a stomper] to races at specific
  times and they’ll do well. But on the whole, the individual scholarships and
  racing schedules of those within an institute do not lend themselves to racing
  a dedicated NRS season.
  
  Why should government money be wasted on taking institutes
  to races to get beaten by private teams who do it better?
  
  Why not develop up from juniors, then have an arrangement
  through U23s where you negotiate a deal for scholarship holders to guest race
  with NRS teams. In a similar fashion to the WTA set-up with guys like Flakemore
  being half Genesys, half AIS, and Phelan with Drapac and AIS.
  
  Efficient allocation of resources always demands
  specialisation; allow those who excel at a specific tasks to do that task and
  do it damn well. State institutes are phenomenal at developing junior cyclists
  bringing track cyclists from junior worlds through to the AIS and onto Olympic
  teams.
  
  NRS/Continental teams are best at developing road riders who
  have not made it onto an AIS Road Team.
  
  If the funding structure does not reflect this, then it’s
  those who instigate and protect that structure that are misguided, not those
  who argue against it.
  
  We’ve finally got the point where the NRS has respect from
  those running international teams, it’s just a shame it hasn’t got the same
  respect from its own sports commission.
  - jules
    
    i could be wrong but i thought the ASC was a political beast in which some pollies got together and decided that we needed to win more gold medals. they probably don’t even know about the NRS.
    - Jono_L
      
      No but those who petition them for funding, AIS and CA, do…
      - Robert Merkel
        
        Yes, but the ASC doesn’t give a shit about participation rates, Aussie riders going to pro teams, , etc. etc. etc.
        
        My understanding is the conversation will go like this:
        
        ASC: how many Olympic gold medals will spending $X on the NRS get us?
        CA: Well, 0, but it has all these other benefits…
        ASC: Well, we’ll give you a million bucks per gold medal. So here’s your cheque for $0 then.
        CA: so let’s talk about the track program…
        
        Jono_L
        
        “So let’s talk about the track program”
        Tim Decker, national track endurance coach, said the he believes the NRS has developed to a level now that track endurance riders can use it for their preparation with overseas stints not as necessary as they may have been in the past. The NRS is part of the bigger picture
        Secondly, my only point is that any of the funding given to institutes that is then spent on sending individual institute teams to NRS races is an inefficient use of those funds. They would go further if they were divided and used to grow more private NRS teams that could take on guest riders from state institutes/
  - Scott McGrory
    
    Jono, it’s not difficult to explain, it’s simply misunderstood. Your post is evidence of that.
    
    ??The ASC fund sports to showcase Australia to the world by winning medals at World Champs, Comm and Olympic Games. I don’t agree, but it doesn’t include the big road events such as the Tour de France in their equation, but Athletics for example can’t use the New York Marathon either.??
    
    For Aus, Track cycling wins ten-fold more international medals than road. And therefore the state institutes are starting to push even more towards developing track riders, albeit while track racing globally is struggling. The Olympic medal tally is to the ASC, what the NRS is to Huon Salmon so to speak.?? That said CA do channel a large portion of their funding (that comes from the ASC) towards running the NRS. And the face and functionality of the NRS changed dramatically in 2013 due to CA’s commercial arm stepping in. But it would be foolish to direct funding directly to the NRS Teams. Some of those teams would use it wisely but I’m sure we can all see that getting very messy. ??And besides, for ASC funding you need to show evidence that NRS Teams consistently identify and develop riders to win those medals, not just turn Pro?
    
    So to the NRS. As much as it has developed, and I enjoyed witnessing it’s progression this year, it’s
    still a long way from the World Tour of course. It does have more respect from the Pro Teams, but lets not kid ourselves. Nathan Haas is a good example, blitzed the NRS, but only went directly to Pro after proving himself at the Sun Tour and Japan Cup. Yet his first season at Garmin was nothing short of a disaster. He wasn’t mentally ready to be a Pro. Mitch Docker suffered a similar fate in his first year at Skill-Shimano after coming from Drapac.
    
    There will always be exceptions to the rule, but there’s a long way to go before the NRS has the proper respect we hope for. SRM data and former riders going into bat for young Aussies, at the moment appears to be the best way to move up from the NRS. Jack Haig training with Richie in Dec 2012, and with Cadel last week has given him more chance of a Pro contract than winning the NRS. The NRS win confirmed their
    initial believe, which helps them back him further.
    
    Having the Institute riders in their own teams at the NRS allows them to develop in the exact way the individual rider requires. So a young rider preparing for the Oceania Track Champs for example, doesn’t spend
    multiple Tours sitting on the front of the peloton working for his NRS Team that doesn’t care about the Track. They can also be guided/managed by the coaches from within CA’s High Performance Program, keeping them in line with CA’s 4yr plan. The NRS Teams are not aware of, informed of, or care about that cycle. Nor do they need to, they have their own commercial goals.
    
    Tim Decker’s word’s come from someone being paid by CA, do we expect him to say anything other than glowing re the NRS? We’ll see once we get to Rio 2016 I guess.
    
    So without the Institutes developing riders to win the ‘unimportant track medals’ there will be less ASC funding to CA. Less funding to drive for the NRS.
    
    What the NRS will do if is bring more attention to cycling in Aus. And young riders will see there’s something for them after initially getting interested in the sport from watching Anna, Perko and Cadel, Gerro, Richie and co on TV.
    - Jono_L
      
      Hey Scott, thanks for the response. First thing though, I never said track medals were unimportant.
      Similarly, we agree on just about everything except the role of state institutes racing as NRS teams. I think a hybrid/guest rider approach with just the smallest of incentives from the ASC/CA to those teams is the way forward.
      Finally, in regards to incentives, we would hardly expect a former state institute coach and someone in line for a future job to be give anything less than glowing praise for state institutes. It’s up to everyone else to work out if we can take it at face value. In just the same way that I am riding with Genesys, my bias is obvious :-)
- Notso Swift
  
  I would actually say Dean Woods, Michael Grenda, Kevin Nichols, and Michael Turtur (and Charlie Walsh)
  
  That put us firmly down the path of the current system.
  (That is not a right/wrong, just an is.)
  - Robert Merkel
    
    I’d add Malcolm Fraser and his government, and John Coates.
    - BC
      
      The Montreal Olympics result started the AIS, but those guys were the first to deliver
Matt de Neef

Discussion thread #7: So, what’s on your mind? What would you like the panel to discuss in future episodes?
- The Potato Man
  
  I would like to hear Scott and Wade’s opinions on policing negative or inexperienced behaviour in bunch rides and general cycling. Is there a place for formalising “patrons of the peloton” and what approach do Scott and Wade take when they see “bad behaviour?” Is there a better way to educate newcomers to the sport and does owning an Olympic gold medal mean that people listen to Scott when/if he tells them they have done something wrong.
  - Ivan Von Dork
    
    In my experience, leaderships skills are largely independent of high water mark achievements. Bunch Rides require patrons who have strong leadership skills, first and foremost.
    
    That said, I can testify from personal experience all the way back in 1986 I would listen to what Scott shared with me in a race, or bunch ride - and that was long before he was a Gold Medallist. That indicates he had good leadership skills at an early age I would suggest.
    - The Potato Man
      
      You make a fair point but I would suggest that in order to acquire high water mark achievements one must at least have a good understanding of the fundamental rules, etiquette and skills of the sport.
      
      How else would one qualify someone to be qualified to be a patron (or at least worthy of giving people advice). Age? Have 50 000km in their legs? 100 000km? Years in the sport? Races run and won? Done a coaching course?
      
      Obviously clubs have a role to play here but not all rides and riders are linked to a club.
      
      I think that as more people get into cycling this will be a bigger and bigger issue. I also think that there is a greater societal tendency these days for people to believe they have mastered something earlier and thus will be more resistant to any criticism (but maybe that’s just me).
      - dcaspira
        
        Perhaps the idea of patrons is not applicable anymore. Perhaps we are all Patrons and as such need to step it up. If we feel unsafe in the bunch, drop out. If we see someone struggling, slow down and offer to work with them. Perhaps self-regulating is better than relying on others?
- velocite
  
  Here’s an idea: how about Scott or someone conducts a masterclass on the hot lap? Unpick it. That top corner is a bastard. Do you go all out from the start, or save a bit for the slog to the finish? Etc…
- dbranson
  
  Like to see a Movember tally on funds raised and where to donate.
- Abdu
  
  Back to the technical analysis, watts, etc. from riders and their rides. Always love hearing how awesome these guys are (well how much f’n better they are than me anyway).
  Bored of the doping stories.
  A live test, use a Go-Pro, thrash a bike while talking to camera just like the car test & Top Gear guys do.
  - Abdu
    
    Skills session on rollers, short clip talking to camera again telling us some pro tips.
    A play-by-play analysis of race wins, who won & why.
- Evan Dix
  
  I’m curious to know whether there are any longer term benefits to taking EPO and other banned products? With steroids, your muscles retain the memory of the increased size they’ve been able to gain, is there any residual memory to the increased oxygen carrying capabilities from EPO? If so, I think this should definitely impact on the bans given to dopers.
Ivan Von Dork

Great episode as always guys.

I wanna see just one episode featuring Will Walker and Boonie on the couch, as special guests. Make it an ‘R’ rated episode….
- Sean
  
  Yeah but everyone will just ask him about chicken and the shenanigans that went on at rabobank.
Sean

Rebecca Dicello is a great addition to the show!
- dbranson
  
  Agree! Love to see her as a regular. Scott great job hosting too. I think the pressure is on Matt to keep his seat.
- Abdu
  
  Agree, Rebecca is a natural. Perfect tone, confidence, etc. A natural co-host, in fact I’d like to hear more of her opinions, what’s her background?
  Careful Wade, the hired help is taking over…
Logan

First, having Rebecca on the show is a great addition. Second, I was wondering if you guys could do a more in depth story on each hosts background/involvment in cycling. Maybe your Australian audience knows you all better, but I’ve often wondered how, why and to what extent each person is involved in cycling. Just this episode, I learned that Scott is managing an NRS team and that Wade raced mountain bikes in USA’s cookie jar lid. Personally, that information would validate your credibility by way of history and passion. A 5-minute video bio for each host would be cool with them narrating while old school race photos were shown and so forth. It could also be an avenue to show people what you’re involved with now such as charities, etc.. Just a thought, obviously I still watch the show regardless. Thanks for the great show!
- velocite
  
  Doesn’t have to be on the Bike Lane, but I’d like to see a bio on all CT staff/contributors in the About section. I know you, Matt, from blog posts, and I remember one about a marathon crucifix type ride, but a bit of background would be nice. And Wade needs to update his About entry - don’t work for Rapha any more do you, Wade?
  - Matt de Neef
    
    Yep, great idea.
- Scott McGrory
  
  Logan, I was a Pro road and track rider and I’m now growing a mo! What more do you need lol.
  
  Good idea though and I’d say Wade and Matt de Neef will work on this for CT/TBL.