So I'm watching a 2002 tape of the Vuelta and notice something interesting. Check the results from the mountaintop finish on stage 18. Flecha was in a break with Caucchioli, Horrach, Oriol, Guerra, Garmendia, and Gutierrez( all darn good climbers) about 2 minutes behind Blanco at the start of the final climb. The next results are from the 2005 Paris-Roubaix. Talk about excelling at the extremes.

1 Santiago Blanco (Spa) iBanesto.com 5.04.17 (38.19 km/h)
2 Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service 0.39
3 J.Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com 0.47
4 Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 0.51
5 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio 1.09
6 Félix Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93
7 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.16
8 Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
9 Angel Casero (Spa) Team Coast 1.26
10 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1.31


1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 6.29.38 (39.88 km/h)
2 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
3 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Fassa Bortolo
4 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas-Bianchi 1.09
5 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC 2.43
6 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Davitamon-Lotto 3.49
7 Florent Brard (Fra) Agritubel
8 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo
9 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole
10 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone

So I'm watching a 2002 tape of the Vuelta and notice something interesting. Check the results from the mountaintop finish on stage 18. Flecha was in a break with Caucchioli, Horrach, Oriol, Guerra, Garmendia, and Gutierrez( all darn good climbers) about 2 minutes behind Blanco at the start of the final climb. The next results are from the 2005 Paris-Roubaix. Talk about excelling at the extremes.

1 Santiago Blanco (Spa) iBanesto.com 5.04.17 (38.19 km/h)
2 Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal Service 0.39
3 J.Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com 0.47
4 Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 0.51
5 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Alessio 1.09
6 F鬩x Garcia Casas (Spa) Bigmat.Auber 93
7 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.16
8 Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
9 Angel Casero (Spa) Team Coast 1.26
10 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1.31


1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 6.29.38 (39.88 km/h)
2 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
3 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Fassa Bortolo
4 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas-Bianchi 1.09
5 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC 2.43
6 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Davitamon-Lotto 3.49
7 Florent Brard (Fra) Agritubel
8 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Fassa Bortolo
9 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole
10 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone

Flecha has always been a decent climber, as most Spanish guys are, and he is a great breakaway rider. Remember his stage win at the Tour de France. But he has always focused primarily on the classics, which is unusual for a Spanish rider. Flecha is the man, he can put it down on tough mountain stages, and on the pave. He's always been that way.

and you've gotta love his victory salute...

and you've gotta love his victory salute...
word...

Flecha has always been a decent climber, as most Spanish guys are, and he is a great breakaway rider. Remember his stage win at the Tour de France. But he has always focused primarily on the classics, which is unusual for a Spanish rider. Flecha is the man, he can put it down on tough mountain stages, and on the pave. He's always been that way.

Yep. He's always been a great rider. There's a great quote from Euskaltel Euskadi rider Egoi Martinez in an interview that in a race "one should have a head and an attitude like the one Juan Antonio Flecha has." That's a great tribute to Flecha's perseverence and positive attitude in racing.

Yep. He's always been a great rider. There's a great quote from Euskaltel Euskadi rider Egoi Martinez in an interview that in a race "one should have a head and an attitude like the one Juan Antonio Flecha has." That's a great tribute to Flecha's perseverence and positive attitude in racing.

there was an interview with Cancellara last year (I think) where he gushed over JAFs energy and ability to mark all of the contenders at once. i really like Fabian and Juan as a duo, and can't wait to see them attack at PR again next year. As powerful and energetic as they both are they seem like a deadly serious breakaway risk when together.

Flecha doesn't get screwed again like he did this past Spring- I think it was Gent-Wevelgem, wasn't it? What a travesty.

Flecha doesn't get screwed again like he did this past Spring- I think it was Gent-Wevelgem, wasn't it? What a travesty.
That pissed me off in big way. Mattan totally cheated and still only gapped him by like 2 bike lengths. JAF was clearly the strongest that day.
Even cooler than Flecha's victory salute (all time great one) is that there is a reason to watch for the Fassa Bortolo boys even when Ale Jet isn't racing.

Viva Flecha!!!!!!!!!!!!!