Deadpool wrote:


Ahh the Danes, they all look the same to me, and why should they not, their Europe's Canadians

Maggot wrote:
Hugh Porter is worse. He doesn't know a thing about Road Racing.

Ruben wrote:
Yeah, like the Dutch commentators.

Sørensens style is so recognizable

Dankan wrote:
Do you mind if I comment something funny on this almost outdated thread?

The Spanish squad found their internal radio frequence attacked while entering into the last laps. Everything Freire, Valverde, Rodriguez... could hear for the last minutes of the WCh's was... OPERA!

Reporter: Too many team members failed at their tasks...

Gárate: I'd rather not give any names, and it's a fucked-up thing to say, but some were just not up to it (note: "up to" as in "at the required level" ). Valverde, Freire and Joaquín were very well (note: physically). Samuel told me he was a bit more (explitive. Gárate uses a lot of them).

But I got a problem with my backwheel at km180 and had to change it. The race was going so fast and the cars were so behind...

Reporter: Why did it all fall apart? Because the excuse with the radios...

Gárate: It was a mix of circumstances. Yes, the radios didn't work at any time. I was in charge of bringing a little order to the race, but when I talked, they didn't look at me and nobody reacted. Paco, the few times he talked, nobody cared either. Joaquín could only hear music.

But people like us can't depend on the radios to know what to do. The tactics were clear as day. Freire was supposed to be with Bettini, and Valverde with the rest of the italians. Same with Purito (note: Joaquín Rodríguez), since he was a key piece.

Reporter: And nobody went with Cunego and Rebellín

Gárate: When I did my work I fell back. I saw Ballan going and I said to Valverde "You go! GO!!" but he didn't react.

The key was Bettini who screwed with his mind, telling him "I'm the leader of Italy, I'll attack at the end". And I told Valverde twice "don't listen to him, it's bullshit, he's tricking you!".

And that's how it went, Bettini screwed him, making him believe Bettini would attack at the end and they'd duel then. Valverde was expecting his attack, but it never came. Then Bettini moved other pieces (note: pawns, riders, etc.) and the race was done further ahead.

Reporter: You know Bettini well

Gárate: Fuck! I know him perfectly and I know he's capable of this and more.
In the meeting the previous day I told the team the key pieces would be Ballan and Purito. Some thought that weird, but I saw it clearly because Ballan is phenomenal in false flats and could do a lot of damage, while Purito could go with attacks without bringing along team leaders.

Reporter: At the start of that breakaway, Ballan tells you to relay and you say you're not going to

Gárate: Of course! when I saw the riders in there I told Valverde that with Bettini there, that break was no good for us. But he told me "it is, it is". But we hadn't planned that

Reporter: And since you couldn't hear Antequera on the radio

Gárate: No, we couldn't hear a thing. It was all our own initiative, but since I was put in charge of leading a bit, saw the situation as very simple and clear, I didn't relay while Freire wasn't in the group. When he got in, I relayed.