Austin Murphy of Sport Illustrated reports on Taylor Phinney’s Olympic bid and his fast rise as a cycling talent.

From the article: “A year ago, the kid didn’t know the individual pursuit from Trivial Pursuit. But Connie explained it to him — she’s a former world champion in the discipline — and he decided to give it a whirl. He won the U.S. national championship. In his first race. His fourth race was a World Cup event in Carson, Calif. He won. He qualified for the Olympics, then set a junior world record in the 3,000-meter pursuit.”

I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of my recovery. I’ve had a pretty relaxed summer, although it has definitely been the most difficult period of my life up to this point. Traumatic brain injuries are so frustrating in so many ways. I never imagined how many areas of my life it would affect, with my ability to race being only one of them. And nothing but time and rest will fix it. It’s difficult because to any one hanging out with me, or even riding with me, I would seem perfectly normal. But there are still a handful of invisible, yet critical things that are only slowly coming back to me. Getting that last 5% back remains the toughest part of the process. I’ve really had to relearn a lot of the little tricks up my sleeve, the ways of processing things and dealing with situations, and just trusting my instincts. All the little things that make a big difference and make you “sharp.” Fortunately my family, friends, and my team have been unbelievably supportive through the whole process.

I’ve been riding now for about six weeks, beginning before my neurologist had wanted me on the bike again. For me the bike has been the most healing tool I’ve had, so I’m really glad to be out on the road again. As I started increasing my training load after a few weeks of easy riding, I was feeling surprisingly good. Then I had a total break down where I was in a fatigue- and depression-induced lull and I hardly got out of bed for a week. A few training program modifications ensued, and since then I’ve taken what I’ve learned about my decreased recovery ability to train much more effectively.

I met with my doctors at Craig Hospital last week to get another CAT scan and devise a time frame for my return to racing. We did a CAT scan instead of an MRI because my neurologist wanted to see if there was any new bleeding or anything that may have caused my massive week of fatigue and depression. Luckily there was nothing remarkable on the scan except that a scar has developed from the hematoma. This doesn’t really mean much other than it is there and is a representation of the severity of the injury. That was encouraging and an indication that my healing has progressed.

The things I’m still trying to correct will just take more time and rest. Consulting with my neurologists, my team doctor, my coach and my family, I’ve decided to not participate in any further races for this season. I will, however, take the line at the US Professional National Championships in Greenville, SC in the individual time trial. Having nationals as a goal is a good way to keep me sane for now while I am training to return to competition. It will fit in well with what I have been capable of doing in training at this point.

Lately, I have been able to do short, hard rides, and long easy rides, but long AND hard rides are still a little much for me as it takes days to recover. However, that’s not a big deal with a 40-minute time trial. So this month I have been training for that. I’m hoping my legs can come around in the next couple weeks and I can put in a good ride. But if not, that’s ok too. Really the biggest victory is just to be back with my team and competing. I’m really looking forward to pinning on a number again soon.

Thanks for checking in - Timmy

Mike Friedman riding with Madison partner Bobby Lea competed in the fast 50 km Madison today in the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing. The 200-lap race included sixteen sprints. The Americans started out hot finishing second in the second sprint and first in the third sprint before losing ground on the field.

Olympic Track Cycling Madison Results
1. Argentina
2. Spain
3. Russia

16. USA - Mike Friedman & partner Bobby Lea

The risk of crashing on a bike is to a considerable extent decided simply by how much time a person spends out on the bike. While race time is obviously the time we see and think about most with our guys, in fact they spend a lot more time on the bike outside of racing. So when they injure themselves in training, it always comes as a bit of a surprise though it probably shouldn’t.

Dan Pate, just home from strong Tour of Utah effort in support of Blake Caldwell, managed to eat it today while out on a training ride on his mountain bike. He sustained a sizeable laceration on his shin just below his knee. The wound was cleaned and sutured at a local Colorado Springs emergency department. Dan will have to take antibiotics for five days, but should be able to train normally after two days of rest. Next on his schedule are the US Pro Championships and the Tour of Missouri, which he should be good for if all goes well.

With the Tour de France but a distant memory, Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O has squads racing throughout Europe this month before several of the American riders head home for the national championships.

The ten-day Volta a Portugal is already well under way with young Irish national champion 11th in the overall and currently leading the Best Young Rider classification. Tyler Farrar too is on top of his game, with several top ten finishes.

With the youngsters kicking it up in Portugal, several of the Tour riders are getting back in gear with the Tour du Limousin in France. Magnus Backstedt, Trent Lowe, Martijn Maaskant and David Millar are together to take on this four-day through the Creuse, Haute-Vienne and Correze regions of France.

After the Tour of Limousin, most of the same crew will head north to Ireland where they will join Julian Dean, Chris Sutton and Dan Martin for the Tour of Ireland. This five-day stage race will take in all the famous hills and dales of this lovely country, from Dublin to Limerick to Cork.

WGN Radio in Chicago interviews Christian Vande Velde on his Olympic experience in Beijing, life in Girona, Spain and the Schleck brothers.

VeloNews profiles Dr. Julie Emmerman, a psychotherapist who specializes in athletes and who also happens to work with several of Team Garmin-Chipotle’s cyclists.

From the article: “So often athletes are put on a pedestal and looked at as beyond the realm of human suffering,” said Dr. Emmerman. “But just because you are privileged athletically doesn’t mean you are removed from the trauma of life. And even if you don’t have any hardships going on, you’ll still want to know how to improve as an athlete.

“In general I think cyclists are people who take responsibility for themselves, so seeing a psychotherapist is an extension of that. You take care of your training and diet, and this is just one more part of that.”

Giving it their all to the end, Team Garmin-Chipotle wrapped up the 2008 Tour of Utah with four riders finishing in the top 15 of the final time trial. Tom Danielson (right) had a solid ride finishing fourth while Peter Stetina (below right) further confirmed his status as a top all-around talent by finishing 9th, handily taking the Best Young Rider classification.

Despite not being his forte, Blake Caldwell (below left) had one of the best time trials of his career. Unfortunately, he finished 16″ behind Jeff Louder giving his main competitor the time he needed to take the overall. Blake finished second in the overall.

From a CyclingNews report: “Regardless of how Louder was at the time checks, I knew I was on a good pace,” Blake said. “It was just me against myself out there. I was hoping it would be good enough and so it’s a little disappointing. I’m still satisfied with the race. My team deserves all the credit for my second place.”

The team as a whole rode aggressively throughout the five-day event and finished second in the overall classification.

Said Directeur Sportif Chann McRae, “All I can do is praise how well the team rode together this week. We rode offensively from stage 1 on. Two stage wins, four days in yellow, and 2nd in the final GC is something that we can walk away with and know that we delivered our a game.”

“Congrats to Louder for winning in his home state and for giving us such an awesome fight,” Chann continued. “Way to go Blake for showing us that you are one of the best.”

**Awaiting final GC results from Tour of Utah.**

Team Garmin-Chipotle stage 5 ITT results
1. Tom Zirbel 13′50″
4. Tom Danielson +21.6″
9. Peter Stetina +27.8″
11. Jason Donald +29.4″
14. Blake Caldwell +31.8″
21. Tom Peterson +41.9″

Team Garmin-Chipotle GC
1. Jeffry Louder
2. Blake Caldwell

Best Young Rider by Vitamin Water
1. Peter Stetina

Team GC
1. BMC
2. Team Garmin-Chipotle