I was just thinking and wondering about Eki's accident and the lack of information since the mis-information over the weekend and wondered how much of the story we've read is true. I'll also preface this by saying that I like Eki and Lance so I don't want to hear how I'm disgracing him.

The Paceline website had pics of these 2 out riding the day before, I think, on the website on some pretty desolate roads and there is no media trail following them. So the day this happens, presumably its a similar situation, these 2 a team car or so and thats it. So who would have reported this accident? Not to mention that it wasn't even reported at first, he went back to LA's and then decided he still hurt and then went to the hospital. Now I know rumors start in weird ways but it's a far stretch from that to "he and Lance are hit by a car." So he's treated and released, sounds like he's ok but he has a cracked sternum and vertebrae. How minor of a cracked vertebrae can you have to be treated and released? Almost like a bruised rib or something but vertebrae is serious stuff, is he in a brace immobilized? Since Sunday there really hasn't been any news other than I think he went back home and cyclingnews is reporting that he won't be in the Tour. Paceline hasn't officially said he's out but they have posted an 11 man pick list to get the 9 riders and he isn't listed. What I'm curious about is Paceline hasn't said ANYTHING more about him. "He's doing fine", "He's out for the season but will be back in the Vuelta or next year", "His career is over", nothing. Eki is a pretty like guy and he doesn't have his own website that I can find like some riders so paceline is pretty much it and I would think they would want to let us know how he's doing, good or bad.

So here's my point, is it all a Disco psych out? Is he hurt at all and if he did fall was it that bad? It seems like more and more this sport is turning into more than just training and going out to pedal to a win. All sports are becoming a soap opera now a days and becoming more of a part of our lives than just a Sunday race and if anyone was going to try to do something like this, this would be the team to do it, especially an American one. They've already made us wait a month for the BIG announcement at the press conference and everyone here on the boards came up with every possible announcement he could make, quitting, doping, marrying Sherryl, doing the Giro, etc. But we all knew what it was deep down. But they made a big deal about it and got the whole world to watch him announce his retirement, I don't recall seeing Mario's press conference, does anyone have a copy? Would this be enough of a psych to make other teams happy about Eki not being there and then boom, 3 days before the race there's Eki on the start list?

So there it is, a little more fodder for the forum. I actually almost would like to beleive it because that would mean Eki is ok and I will hate to see him miss the Tour this year leading that train on the TTT or blasting up the mountains. I hope he's somewhere secluded wearing a plain kit with no logos training back in the "Motherland" to for the race.

Get well Eki

Take off the tinfoil hat and go for a ride, friend. Ekimov crashed, no TDF for him, end of story.
Look on the bright side -at least it wasn't Danielson who crashed. Then we would have had to hear Tommy Brown-nose thank Armstrong for the opportunity to crash for his team. "It's just an honor to be on the best team in the world and crash behind the Boss."
I can just hear Ekimov, "Damn, hick Americans living out in the Texas hills, riding on dirt roads. I'm from freaking *Russia* and we don't have roads like this. Oh well, they at least they pay well."
It will def. be interesting to see how this affects Disco's performance at TDF. Another chink in the teflon coating? Sure is a shame for Ekimov, a true hard man who demands respect.

I thought the same for a little on my ride yesterday. I believe Eki is hurt...How bad? I am not sure. I would hope it is not as bad as they believe because I would like to see him break the record of TDF finishes because he deserves it. Also the Russians might be able to pull off some serious rehab on him. If it he was an NFL player they would have him suited out within a couple of weeks. But if he isn't back on the bike within a 2-3 weeks he will NOT be in the TDF.

Eki is a great rider, but I don't think he strikes a lot of fear into the hearts of competing teams. Whether or not he makes the Disco TDF team won't affect any other team's strategy.

Eki is a great rider, but I don't think he strikes a lot of fear into the hearts of competing teams. Whether or not he makes the Disco TDF team won't affect any other team's strategy.

I think the other teams do give him alot of respect because on or off the bike he brings something heavy to the situation. If Simeoni was verbally threatened last year in TDF it was more likely Eki instead of Lance.

Spinal and Sternum Injuries quickly. I hope he's able to return in time for the Vuelta. he will be missed as he's one of the big engines for the TTT and controlling pace in the flats.
These guys never get any credit as their work is never televised. Every year George and Eki should get the Cliff Bar dom of the year. The fact that these guys do a huge portion of the work on the flats and still have the legs to lead over the first few Cols says volumes. The Marquee Doms (climbers) sit as protected as Lance until their moment when they help deliver the Coup De Grace, but it's George, Eki and the Roulers who throw all the body blows in the first 10 rounds that soften the opposition.

aww, I thought we would have a real conspiracy theory...someone would throw out a "crystal ball dope positive in the near future"...or Tyler got some revenge for the Russian Federation Oly TT thing...

Eki was the USPS rep at the "captain" meetings last couple years, right? he carries a lot of respect and people in the peloton listen to him. But, his job of grinding out the miles at the front is undervalued...but just grinding.


OH OH! how bout this being the setup for an early abandon from LA during the tour?

(personally, I will miss him...liked cyclingnews' comments about him and us thirtysomethings who have a glimmer of hope while older men ride the Tour...with Ludo D and Eki going, who will be the glimmer of hope?)

aww, I thought we would have a real conspiracy theory...someone would throw out a "crystal ball dope positive in the near future"...or Tyler got some revenge for the Russian Federation Oly TT thing...

Eki was the USPS rep at the "captain" meetings last couple years, right? he carries a lot of respect and people in the peloton listen to him. But, his job of grinding out the miles at the front is undervalued...but just grinding.


OH OH! how bout this being the setup for an early abandon from LA during the tour?

(personally, I will miss him...liked cyclingnews' comments about him and us thirtysomethings who have a glimmer of hope while older men ride the Tour...with Ludo D and Eki going, who will be the glimmer of hope?)

No, that would have been cannondale_boy. I guess no one thinks this is even a possibility? I wasn't here to try to convince you he wasn't hurt. I have no clue. But I don't know how others can say he is most definitely hurt, "end of story." There's parts of the story that are weird. I figured someone would bite thinking it could be a tactic.

Hell, I'd be intimidated if a 39 year old that had ridden 15 tours, started cranking and dropped me with a cracked sterenum and vertebrae. Would be a lot of eyebrows raised in the peloton when he pulled to the front and turned up the pace. "$hit, I can't hang on and I'm healthy, this guy's broken up and older than me, what am I doing here????"

Spinal and Sternum Injuries quickly. I hope he's able to return in time for the Vuelta. he will be missed as he's one of the big engines for the TTT and controlling pace in the flats.
These guys never get any credit as their work is never televised. Every year George and Eki should get the Cliff Bar dom of the year. The fact that these guys do a huge portion of the work on the flats and still have the legs to lead over the first few Cols says volumes. The Marquee Doms (climbers) sit as protected as Lance until their moment when they help deliver the Coup De Grace, but it's George, Eki and the Roulers who throw all the body blows in the first 10 rounds that soften the opposition.

Sternum injuries don't repair quickly at all. Ask Stever McNair of the Tennesse Titans. He has been suffering a long time with his sternum fracture.

Eki is a great rider, but I don't think he strikes a lot of fear into the hearts of competing teams. Whether or not he makes the Disco TDF team won't affect any other team's strategy.

I would have to respectfully disagree with you. Eki has a ton of respect from the rest of the peleton probably more so than most. The guys has completed 14 TdFs, Olymipc champ 3 times (2 gold one disputed silver), and a World Track Champ. The guy has been a competitive cyclist for what seems to be forever. He also is Lance's protector/muscle on the flats during the Tour-see visula pic of he and George pacing Lance over the cobbles last year. He is also one of the key players in Discoverys TTT . So if you are trying to say that he doesn't strike fear as a potential podium finisher then I would agree. I am sure though that the other teams, though not happy for Eki's injury, are happy that he won't be part of Discos team for Le Tour.

Uh huh, starting not to sound so crazy now.

Fromcyclingnews.com
Danielson Giro departure leads to tour speculation
Tom Danielson's departure from the Giro d'Italia on Monday has led to speculation that there might be more in store for the Tour de Georgia winner than treatment for an injured knee. Danielson's coach, Rick Crawford, has told the Durango Herald that he thinks Danielson's Discovery Channel team could be preparing Danielson for a role in this year's Tour de France.

"That was the first thing that popped into my head," said Crawford. "I think I would have known if his knee was hurt, and this is the first time I've heard anything about it.

"I'm sitting on pins and needles. I don't know how to take it. I don't know if it's real or not real. Sometimes there are ulterior motives with these things where they say one thing to the press, but then there's a lot of different things going on.

"They're sneaky with this stuff."

However, Crawford said he had not spoken to Danielson since his decision to drop out of the Giro.

"I hope his knee really isn't hurt, and that he's good to go; I'm not really sure. But I am worried as heck about it," said Crawford.

Danielson confirmed that his knee is injured. He was scheduled to have an MRI examination on it yesterday. "I started the Giro thinking if I kept going easy each day I could get over it, but it has gotten so bad I can't even walk," he told the Herald. "We decided to stop as it could turn into something that would affect my career."

Danielson has been suffering a sharp pain under his kneecap since the final stage of the Tour de Georgia.

"We will see after the MRI if something really got damaged," he said. "As for the rest of the season ... one day at a time."

So Tom is being flown to Russia to train with Eki and they will emerge in July as SuperTom and the Bionic Eki :D !