The quite American in the world of Cycling

**minddoc** · 05-20-2006, 10:30 PM

While the media focuses on Lance and Hincapie and the glamour boys of cycling guys like Kirk Obee grind it out flying back and forth between the US and Europe on less then half the budge of a team like Discovery Channel i.e. US Postal. However, Obee continues to be one of the best unknown riders in the USA. He gets no press but gets results in Europe. Obee got a 3rd place in last weeks stage of the Pease Race one of Europe’s biggest. He has won and finished in the top 10 in many other major races in the US and Europe. How many other pro bike racers are out their that get no respect? F--- Lance and his pretty boys. Hincapie roles in the money and takes 10 years to win a stage of the tour and still can’t won one day races consistently--if ever

. While Guys like Obee struggle to support a family, train, fly back and forth to Europe, live on a shoe string budget, get no press and still win European races, what’s up with that?

Stage 6 - May 18: Dippoldiswalde - Meerane , 172.0 km
Erwin Thijs of Unibet.com broke out of a five-man breakaway group to win the sixth stage of the Peace Race Thursday. The leader's jersey changed hands again and now belongs to Gianpaolo Cheula (Barloworld).
Thijs, Giuseppe Palumbo, Kirk O'Bee, Lars Wackernagel and Fraser MacMaster broke away early in the race and had a lead of up to nine minutes in the headwind and constant rain. With five km left to go, Thijs made his move and stayed away to finish 29 seconds ahead of Palumbo and 36 seconds ahead of O'Bee.
Back in the peloton, race leader Kanstantsin Siutsou (Acqua e Sapone) was battling it out with the second-placed Cheula. As they finally reached the finish line some five minutes after the day's winner, Cheula managed to finish 9 seconds before Siutsou, who fell to fourth overall.
Friday's seventh stage is the race's longest, 192 km from Delitzsch to Thale. A closing lap to be ridden twice takes the riders up the Category 1 climb, the Hexentanzplatz (Witches' Dance Place).
Results
1 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Unibet.com 4.21.36
2 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Acqua e Sapone 0.29
3 Kirk O' Bee (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 0.36
4 Lars Wackernagel (Ger) Team Wiesenhof Akud 0.42
5 Fraser Mac Master (NZl) Team Vorarlberg 0.52
6 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Acqua e Sapone 5.26

**train07** · 05-20-2006, 10:52 PM

well, he should stop being so quite

**Viva** · 05-21-2006, 02:04 AM

Originally Posted by train07

well, he should stop being so quite

That's quiet a statement you're making.

**minddoc** · 05-21-2006, 02:09 AM

Originally Posted by train07

well, he should stop being so quite

I'll send him an email. Actually maybe it’s a good idea, he should be loader.

**Lurch** · 05-21-2006, 10:31 AM

There are lots of American's on European teams that get plenty of press in the cycling world. Who cares if you hear about them in our major media. If Lance wasn't a cancer survior you wouldn't have heard much about him either. Obee should make the jump to a Euopean team if he is that good, maybe he's ego is to big to serve as someone's domestic.

**truth** · 05-21-2006, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Lurch

Obee should make the jump to a Euopean team if he is that good, maybe he's ego is to big to serve as someone's domestic.

Ding! He's a domestique at best on a top euro team. There are plenty of lower tier euro teams with guys that live lives that are just as obscure.

PS: minddoc....Sprocket Rockets JONG!

**Plakespear** · 05-21-2006, 10:50 AM

Okay, I hate to be a dick, but let's get a few things straght here.
The Peace Race is NOT one of Europe's biggest races. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, it had the distinction of being the biggest AMATEUR stage race in the world. These days it is basically a second tier event. It's not a pro-tour event. The top guns are racing the Giro right now.

While Health-Net-Maxxis is a great North American team, it is not on the level of Discovery, CSC, Phonak, or Rabobank. And there is a big difference between a major US stage race like Sea Otter or even the tour of Georgia, and a lesser Euro stage race like Tirreno-Adriatico or the Dauphine Libre.

Your argument is kind of like saying why does the baseball media focus on Bonds, Jeter, and Clemens instead of some guy who's hitting .400 for the Buffalo Bisons. Thijs, Palumbo, and Wackernagel? Not exactly Petacchi, Basso, and McEwen.

O'bee may be a good rider, but if he was great, wouldn't he have a contract with a Pro Tour team?

Edit:
SPROCKET ROCKETS, JONG!!!

**ShawnB** · 05-21-2006, 04:26 PM

What he ^^^ said.

originally posted by Minddoc:
While Guys like Obee...get no press and still win European races

What Euro race has Obee won? What are you even talking about?

**minddoc** · 05-25-2006, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by Plakespear

Okay, I hate to be a dick, but let's get a few things straght here.
The Peace Race is NOT one of Europe's biggest races. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, it had the distinction of being the biggest AMATEUR stage race in the world. These days it is basically a second tier event. It's not a pro-tour event. The top guns are racing the Giro right now.

While Health-Net-Maxxis is a great North American team, it is not on the level of Discovery, CSC, Phonak, or Rabobank. And there is a big difference between a major US stage race like Sea Otter or even the tour of Georgia, and a lesser Euro stage race like Tirreno-Adriatico or the Dauphine Libre.

Your argument is kind of like saying why does the baseball media focus on Bonds, Jeter, and Clemens instead of some guy who's hitting .400 for the Buffalo Bisons. Thijs, Palumbo, and Wackernagel? Not exactly Petacchi, Basso, and McEwen.

O'bee may be a good rider, but if he was great, wouldn't he have a contract with a Pro Tour team?

Edit:
SPROCKET ROCKETS, JONG!!!

The Peace Race is a UCI 2.HC so yes one of the bigest. I maybe a bit bias, but a lot of the guys who race the Peace Race, ride the tour. I don't aways think the best riders ride the tour. He should have a Euro contract soon, he is one of the States best, I believe its just a matter of time.
Yes Yes I know JUNG--Sprocket Rockets....

**minddoc** · 05-25-2006, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by ShawnB

What he ^^^ said.

What Euro race has Obee won? What are you even talking about?

He has won races like 37th GP Pino Cerami, GP Ville de Rennes. and a lot stuff in the top 10. Beleive me or not hes good.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...lr%3D%26sa%3DG

3rd in the this race in the Netherlands(sp?) http://www.navpro.com/images/events_...he-020-web.jpg

just a cool photo http://www.procyclingphotos.com/imag...igpsf05_38.jpg

Yes Yes I know JUNG--Sprocket Rockets....

**J-Rad** · 05-26-2006, 12:16 AM

quiet a lot of problems with the spieling thing

**Superstar Punani** · 05-26-2006, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by minddoc

While the media focuses on Lance and Hincapie and the glamour boys of cycling guys like Kirk Obee grind it out flying back and forth between the US and Europe on less then half the budge of a team like Discovery Channel i.e. US Postal. However, Obee continues to be one of the best unknown riders in the USA. He gets no press but gets results in Europe. Obee got a 3rd place in last weeks stage of the Pease Race one of Europe’s biggest. He has won and finished in the top 10 in many other major races in the US and Europe. How many other pro bike racers are out their that get no respect? F--- Lance and his pretty boys. Hincapie roles in the money and takes 10 years to win a stage of the tour and still can’t won one day races consistently--if ever

. While Guys like Obee struggle to support a family, train, fly back and forth to Europe, live on a shoe string budget, get no press and still win European races, what’s up with that?

Stage 6 - May 18: Dippoldiswalde - Meerane , 172.0 km
Erwin Thijs of Unibet.com broke out of a five-man breakaway group to win the sixth stage of the Peace Race Thursday. The leader's jersey changed hands again and now belongs to Gianpaolo Cheula (Barloworld).
Thijs, Giuseppe Palumbo, Kirk O'Bee, Lars Wackernagel and Fraser MacMaster broke away early in the race and had a lead of up to nine minutes in the headwind and constant rain. With five km left to go, Thijs made his move and stayed away to finish 29 seconds ahead of Palumbo and 36 seconds ahead of O'Bee.
Back in the peloton, race leader Kanstantsin Siutsou (Acqua e Sapone) was battling it out with the second-placed Cheula. As they finally reached the finish line some five minutes after the day's winner, Cheula managed to finish 9 seconds before Siutsou, who fell to fourth overall.
Friday's seventh stage is the race's longest, 192 km from Delitzsch to Thale. A closing lap to be ridden twice takes the riders up the Category 1 climb, the Hexentanzplatz (Witches' Dance Place).
Results
1 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Unibet.com 4.21.36
2 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita) Acqua e Sapone 0.29
3 Kirk O' Bee (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 0.36
4 Lars Wackernagel (Ger) Team Wiesenhof Akud 0.42
5 Fraser Mac Master (NZl) Team Vorarlberg 0.52
6 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Acqua e Sapone 5.26

Well fucking marry him then!

**Phatstix** · 05-26-2006, 01:17 AM

Nothing like a good laugh before bed.

**PNWbrit** · 05-26-2006, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by minddoc

JUNG....

that could catch on

**Platinum Pete** · 05-26-2006, 10:01 AM

Sometimes I read posts on this board that make me think people are exchanging messages in code. This is one of those posts.

I hope everyone is okay.

I wish I could shake this hangover.