TOBLACH, Italy – In all the confusion of travel, race coverage, and eating delicious Italian cheese, we failed to post the Tour Day 5 A to Zeller. While slightly dated, here it is in all its glory…Ranging from ‘A’ for Alexander Legkov to ‘Z’ for…well you should know by now.
A – Alexander Leglov: Victorious today.
B – Benzene: This is not diesel. Don’t put this in your vehicle over here. Ooops!
C – Cappucino: Looking forward to another one. We’ll be hooking up an IV of this stuff.
D – Diet: This will begin after we eat the unlimited cheese here (free at the media center) after departing Toblach.
E – Excuses: Excuses are like rear-ends: we all have them and they all stink. Save them for another time.
F – Farmer’s Blow: AKA ‘Snot Rockets’. Nordic skiers might be the only athletes that can do this technique well.
G – Guri: Hetland. Head coach of Switzerland, and wife of superstar Tore Arne. Fasterskier scored an interview with her, but canceled it due to the ‘Benzene incident.’ Fortunately rescheduled and accomplished later.
H – Hotel: Grand Hotel. Quite possibly the fanciest hotel to ever house the media center at a sporting event. Thank you Toblach!
I – Illegal: To strap your skis on the roof of your car. After spending 30 minutes strapping bags on the roof, we took it all off after a lady scowled at us.
J – Japarov: Dmitriy. Russia. One of the many Russians in the mix.
K – Kilometers: Total TDS distance=many of these.
L – Lungs: “I like it, but not my lungs!” cough cough cough….Dario talking about the 5km distance.
M – MRI: Revealed yesterday that Holly Brooks has several ‘non-dislocated fractures in her radius and ligament damage around the scaphoid.’….and she’s still racing. Tough girl. Pain meds anyone?
N – Neunundziebzig: The price of a Rittersport bar. 0.79 euros
O – OMG: This place here in Italy is gorgeous! I want to move here…. Oh wait, I’d go broke in 6 months. 78 Euros per night. Ouch.
P – Pickled: Herring for breakfast. Nat agreed to eat 5 fillets of this stuff all for unlimited cappuccinos for the rest of the Tour. He failed, we laughed.
Q – Question: How many Italian wine companies exist? Try guessing. (hint, go big)
R – Reto: Burgermeister. Alexander Leghov referred to Reto (Russia’s coach) as a ‘super trainer’ in the post race press conference.
S – Shopping Carts: Small, compact, Eurocarts with 4-wheel steering. Way cool.
T – Trains: Everywhere. One really doesn’t need a car in Europe to vacation around. Just jump on the train. America could learn something….
U – UP! The tiny compact Volkswagen fuel efficient car….such a contrast to the USA’s big gas hogs.
V – V-Markt: German gas station. Learn the difference between the fuels. J
W – Whop-Job: Adjective stated by one coach describing the final kick was combination on one athletes skis.
X – X Number: (X as in the unknown number of ski resorts in the Dolomites). Toblach is a pin-prick on the map.
Y – Yilmaz: Our new Turkish friend who towed our car to the AutoHaus. Thank you for not laughing.
Z – Zeller: 12th place today, considering she was the third German woman…behind Boehler and Fessel. The German ladies are picking it up big time.
