Dalian update: Hangzhou is on!

The first thunderstorm of the year in Dalian produced quite a lightshow last night. Unfortunately, the weather sucks all weekend and riding is just not feasible, mainly because the drainage systems here are not as developed yet compared to Europe. Yesterday I went jogging for 40 minutes instead. I need to get the running shoes back on as I have signed up for a run-bike-run duathlon in Hangzhou next weekend. I will be travelling there together with some 20 members of the cycling and triathlon club I came across on my long training ride last week. A couple of days ago I had a formal meet & greet with Xiao Pei and a 40-ish guy from Iceland called Ketill. We discussed details about the event and Ketill assured me that these people know what they are doing and organise several such event trips per season. In fact, Xiao Pei claims their Dalian club is the number one triathlon club in China according to some kind of international points ranking! Hmm, I have already found out their cyclists are indeed pretty strong. Anyway, apart from the triathlon race, participants can also opt for a sprint duathlon (5 km run, 25 km cycling, 2,5 km run), which is what I will do. The plan is to fly on Friday morning and return on Tuesday evening. There is a good chance I will stay a few days more. The event actually takes place at Qiandao Lake, three hours southwest from Hangzhou by bus, which is rather close to Huang Shan - the Yellow Mountain. Ah where is Hangzhou? It's some 2 hours south of Shanghai, and a very popular tourist destination for Chinese people.

I hope my right foot can cope with the running after the major inflammation I had to deal with last winter. At least, yesterday's first jog since was hasslefree, but while watching the Giro at night my upper foot tendons did feel a bit stiff. I put some ice and Qoleum oil on it as precaution. I figure I can run those initial 5 km in 20 minutes without much preparation, so I might just not bother running too much before the event.

The foul weather outside provided a great opportunity to catch up with the international news and to read all those reports, opinions and analyses I had been bookmarking for weeks. I was also made aware of some form of 'mechanical doping' in today's professional cycling world. Amongst others, Fabian Cancellara has been suspected (also by other riders who have said the Swiss champion's bike produced a whirring noise in some of the Flemish classics) of having used some sort of invisible battery-charged system hidden in the seatpost that provides up to 100 watt extra power! Guess what, by coincidence Italy's famous TV commentator Davide Cassani yesterday confirmed electric bikes have made its way into the pro peloton! Check: Davide Cassani on electric bikes

The device seems to be orginally developed in Austria (Gruber Assist), but is currently better known in the United States for use by touring and recreational riders to help people get across slopes. However, it has already been mentioned in American MTB circles as well and it is an item on several online bike fora. Remember, MTB is still the main market of bike brands like Specialized. Apparently, the device was also on display at the latest bike fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Let us hope that top stars like Cancellara (Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix) or Contador (remember his phenomenal and nearly inexplicable power output in last year's Tour de France climb to Verbiers?) are not relying on devices like these to obtain their most impressive victories. So far it is rumours only, but Cassani's statements on the matter yesterday are extremely worrisome. The UCI, of course, denies it is being used by some pro riders already, but admits at the same time it will be checking the bikes thoroughly before the start of major events like the upcoming Tour de France.

Meanwhile, it does seem that the past may still catch up with Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel when you read reports and interviews like these:

A dirty deal - the Gusev case

Interview Michael Ashenden

Maybe Armstrong made a big mistake in coming back last year. Also read this obituary on Charlie Francis, the famous athletics coach (a.o. Ben Johnson) who died of cancer recently.

Charlie Francis