Thursday 24 September 2009

13 Facts About Fabian Cancellara



In honor of his competing this week in the UCI Road World Championships - specifically in the Time Trials competition, and since I can't be there in person (although it's only in Mendrisio, Switzerland, for Heaven's sake, I shoulda just taken a bloody train... grumble, grumble...) today I'm bringing you:

13 Facts About Fabian Cancellara


1) Fabian started racing at an early age, and won the Junior World Time Trial Championship twice - when he was 17 and 18 years old .



2) His first professional team was Mapei-Quick Step, back in 2000. He currently rides for Saxo Bank, and will through 2011.



3) His specialty is Time-Trialling. He rides alone, competing against the clock.


4) At present, he holds the third fastest prologue speed for the Tour de France, having maintained an average of 53.561 kph for 6.1 km in 2004.


All tuckered out...

5) He was born in Wohlen bei Bern, Switzerland, to Italian parents.



6) His racing nickname? Spartacus.



7) As of the 2009 Tour de France, Cancellara holds the record for the most stage wins by a Swiss national (eleven total, six in 2009 alone).



8) He has been the Swiss Time-Trial Champion six times (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008)


Look Ma! No hands!

9) He has won the Tour of California Prologue two years in a row (2008 and 2009).


10) In 2008, Fabian came in second in the Tour de France's final time trial. However, the winner of that event, Stefan Schumacher, tested positive for EPO - a performance-enhancing substance.



11) He won both Gold and Bronze in the 2008 Olympics, in the Individual Time Trial and the Road Race, respectively.



12) At 6'1" and 175 lbs, he is quite large for a cyclist. However, these are also contributing factors to his success as a time-trialist.

There's power in them thar legs, y'all!

13) This year, he also won the Tour de Suisse.


Edited to add:
Fabian just won the UCI World Time Trial Championship, with a lead of almost one-and-a-half minutes!!!

Congratulations, Fabian!!! I love you, Spartacus!!!

BONUS:
14) He serves as the inspiration for the main character in my current WIP, "27 Stages." ;-)











Don't worry, I haven't forgotten.











Although for me, the previous pics were candy enough!










Still, I know what you're *really* here for.











It is a repeat pic, but I thought I'd keep it in the "theme" of today's topic, as it were.














So I give you the gent Fabian held at bay for six stages of the Tour de France:

























Go, Lance! Go!

18 comments:

Shelley Munro said...

Wow, that's an impressive record. He must train for long hours each week.

Inez Kelley said...

Sweeeeet! And I love the idea of you new WIP! Very unique!

Anonymous said...

Wow, impressive man... in more ways than one. ;)

Happy T13

Stephanie Adkins said...

Ouch! Wouldn't riding a bicycle hurt, especially if you're a man? LOL Great list! He's really cute too. ;) Happy Thursday!

Stephanie Adkins said...

Oops ... I mean riding a bicycle NAKED! LOL Sorry about that.

Ms Menozzi said...

I'm watching Fabian race, now... Oh, my word - he's exquisite when in motion...

Alice Audrey said...

Watching him mount the bike really brings home the miracle of balance that is the human body.


It's great to see you doing regular TTs again.

Ms Menozzi said...

Alice, I believe you mean the pic under #5?

He's actually doing that while in mid-race - or more accurately, I think, during the promenade on the final day of a race. It's his "Superman" pose - he tends to clown around a bit at the end of a race.

Unknown said...

Impressive. Imagine the dedication it takes to accomplish any of this. Great list. It's nice to see you back. Happy T13!

Cassandra said...

Wow~ very cool T13! And he's a hottie! Thanks for the eye candy, sugar.

My own T13 is up over at the MMC blog:

http://midnightmooncafe.blogspot.com

Paige Tyler said...

Cool facts! Great pics!

*hugs*
Paige

http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/

Elise Logan said...

so much yum in one blog entry! I love your eyecandy.

He is tall for a cyclist - I imagine his bikes have to be highly customized for such a tall frame.

Ms Menozzi said...

Funny you should mention that, Elise - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5O4HQKA0xw

Anonymous said...

He certainly is easy on the eyes! Happy Thursday!

Heather said...

Sounds like an impressive racer!

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Ella Drake said...

I love watching cycling, though I don't do it frequently. I live by a bike path that gets a lot of training cyclists. Lots of eye candy!

I love that pic of Lance Armstrong.

Felicia Holt said...

My sis and her husband has a house up in the mountains in the Alpes Maritimes and there are SO many cyclists on the roads there. Totally impressive. I get exhausted just watching them!

Janice Seagraves said...

I see why you like him so well.

Happy TT.
Janice~