VeloLosers

After the UCI Vampires left the Yellow Jersey holders home last week, an injustice was uncovered!  It turns out that the Yellow Jersey had been given to the WRONG RIDER last week!  A small typographical error in the spreadsheet cost Alex a week in yellow!  The ramifications of this were HUGE!  Feeling dejected and sad, Alex chose to wallow in the hardship and over-indulge on his birthday.  Had he had the pride and glory associated with holding the jersey another week, experts say he surely would have overcome all of the adveristy and had a more successful stage 4.  When asked to comment, Scott could only say “The calculations were wrong, I wore the jersey as I thought it was deserved.  Alex was the better man – I hope he can pull out of this.  If I am the yellow jersey this week, I will not wear it in respect for Alex!”  Organizers agree – in Stage 5, the leader will not wear the yellow jersey.

Back to this weeks battle!  Don and Nathan were sidelined due to their travel schedules, this week only allows them back into the competition.  They were not eligble for prizes.   Alex, Scott and Carleton took off on a path unkown.  Carleton experienced glory early in the week, winning his first ever race on the velodrome, attributing much of his success to the VeloLosers campaign against fatness.  Scott fought through a night at a pizza buffet to post a 1.2 pound weight loss this week, coming in for another stage win.  ”It’s hard, given the circumstances, but I think Alex will be back this week.  I can’t worry about the past – I just have to attack before the guy gets back his momentum!”

With a full Peloton, guys coming of the sheduled reserve – stage 5 should be a demanding one!

Stage 4 Results:

1. Scott (0.48%)
2. Carleton (0.23%)
3. Alex (+0.88%)
4. Don (OOC)
5. Nathan (OOC)

General Classification:

1. Scott (5.77%)
2. Alex (4.59%)
3. Don (2.36%)
4. Nathan (1.85%)
5. Carleton (1.74%)

This week saw our virtual peloton of fatties take a strange road.  With Don and Natan taking a fork in the rode – away from home, they are ineligible for competition and subsequently safe from the win and/or the loss.  That left Alex, Carleton and Scott still on the road.

Heading north into the cobbles of Roubaix, Scott learned the danger of equipment failure and had to battle his way back from being stranded at a road side gas station with nothing but Coke and Pork Rinds … a bad combination for this competition.  After getting the ride sorted out, Scott was able to fight in there for a respectable 2 pound loss.

Everything was not all colored eggs and jelly beans for Alex, either.  After battling it out with Lincoln and spending some time learning about the healing priciple behind staples, Alex was able to sprint for the stage win!  It’s toughness in this time of of adversity that helped Scott and Alex to continue reasonable weight loss this week.

The week was not a complete loss for the VeloLosers Yellow Jersey – Scott was able to maintain his overall lead in the race.  “It’s hard to rally for every sprint, sometimes you have to sit in the field, play it safe and save a trick or two for the next one.  That was this week – I was hoping to maintain my weight and I still shed 2 pounds.  I can’t complain about that!” was all Scott had to say.  He did indicate a renewed focus and drive heading into the weekend, looking forward to some good fat burning miles and some lawn work.

Stage 3 Results:

1. Alex (1.52%)
2. Scott (0.79%)
3. Carleton (0.08%)
4. Don (OOC)
5. Nathan (OOC)

General Classification (Corrected – 4/24):

1. Alex (5.43%)
2. Scott(5.32%)
3. Don (2.47%)
4. Nathan (1.85%)
5. Carleton (1.05%)

After a week of frustration and anguish, Scott has pulled himself together and scored another stage victory.  It wasn’t easy as the rest of the VeloLosers peloton took to the roads and to the track for some serious training.  Natan Zeep was out and about, rain or shine, fixed or free riding 2+ hours a day trying to score that ellusive stage win.  Don decided it was time to take to the road and headed off on his first group ride.  Investigators are still trying to determine if foul play caused a wheel slippage!  The French Doping Authorities are looking into the Mechanical connection between VeloLoser competitor Natan Zeep who also regularly serves as Don’s mechanic.  Much like the soap on Lance’s bag… this may all go down the drain as an unkown.  Alex hit the secone week slump and didn’t enjoy it too much.  He’s home refocussing and hoping for clear skys in the Mid Atlantic.  Carleton analyzed and conteplated and posted his biggest loss 200m at a time.  Enjoying his first big loss of the race – Carleton is pondering dropping the Waffle House sponsorship.

Stage 2 Results:

1. Scott (1.55%)
2. Carleton (1.44%)
3. Alex (0.86%)
4. Don (0.62%)
5. Nathan (0.15%)

Scott was excited to cross the line first, but also pointed out “This win is just part of the race – this is a long race.  Once the Indy team starts firing on all cyclinders, it’s going to be a long drag race!  We have to remain vigilant, we can not rest!”

In the overall standings, Scott will hold the burden of the Yellow Jersey another week.  Scott won the Prologue and stage one but failed to follow through in stage one.  Could the weight of the Maliot Jaune be slowing down our Biggest Losers?  As he left the podium, we spoke to Scott.  “Yeah, its a lot of responsibility.  Not only to yourself, but to your competitors.  As soon as you pull that jersey on, you are a marked man.  The man to beat.  you want to give people a challenge.”  When asked if the Yellow Jersey cost him a stage win in week 2 Scott commented “Nah… ribs did that!  And too many munchies on Thursday night.  It happens – You can’t win them all – you just have to be consistent!

The GC layout is interesting.  We have our two stage winners in the lead.  Don Walker is driving towards the break … will his wheel hold on the chase?  Only time will tell.  Carleton has pulled himself up with Nathan.  These two working together could yield trouble for the the rest of the field as we head into later stages.

General Classification after Stage 2:

1. Scott (4.57%)
2. Alex (3.97%)
3. Don (2.47%)
4. Nathan (1.85%)
5. Carleton (1.44%)

The staff here at VeloLosers would like to point out a few facts about our race for fat-free days!

• The Racers have lost 38 pounds in 3 weeks
• That’s an average weight loss of 2.82%
• The combined decrease in BMI is 5.15

We will be back next week with Stage 3’s exciting results!

There was a lot of action in the peloton this week. We saw one rider crash out of he competition, a new entry in the competition took the race by storm while other riders struggled to make the time cut. Let’s break this down for you here.

The stage win, without out doubt goes to our newest rider, Alex. Alex stayed focus, hit the gym and kicked Ron to the curb. Pulling off a dramatic 7.5 pound loss – the biggest of this competition. Don rode hard and dropped 3.5 pounds, pulling himself up to second place. While this is a step higher on the podium Don was not able to take the stage win. Last weeks winner, Scott felt the hardships of a birthday week. While he did make the podium he was not happy with his insignificant weight loss. Carleton and Nathan were at the back of the laughing group with Scott, hoping to post some big numbers this week.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the week was Alex’s meteoric climb into the Yellow Jersey. This newbie, not only to VeloLosers, but Cycling itself has taken the lead almost as fast as MiniPhinney wins world championships. Scott, last week’s leader was quoted as saying “Alex is an unknown. We don’t know when he will attack, we don’t know when he will falter. My eyes are on him. He’s only .06 up on me. I can make that up!”.

The battle rages on as we head into April. Check back next week for the news about Stage 2.

Stage 1:

1. Alex (3.13%)
2. Don (1.19%)
3. Scott (0.31%)
4. Nathan (+0.15%)
5. Carleton (+0.27%)
   Ryan – DNF

General Clasification:

1. Alex (3.13%)
2. Scott (3.07%)
3. Don (1.86%)
4. Nathan (1.71%)
5. Carleton (0.00%)
6. Don Walker (1.85%)