tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142224142024-03-23T13:51:24.900-04:00Tour de France Lanterne RougeCelebrating the last-place rider in the General Classification. Because you couldn't hang on his wheel for thirty seconds.Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.comBlogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-44094519790701066162014-07-09T17:18:00.002-04:002014-07-09T17:18:58.181-04:00ApologiesI haven't kept up the blog here since 2012. Sorry! It still has some good historical nuggets back in the archives.<br />
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I'm still active on Twitter as @TdFLanterne however, please ping me there!<br />
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See you on the roads....nancytobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513676148599380377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-81005458835436885802012-07-12T14:33:00.000-04:002012-07-12T14:44:10.282-04:00American Tour de France Lanterne Rouge HistoryA bit of history was made today as Tyler Farrar became the first American in recent memory to hold the Lanterne Rouge of the Tour de France. There has never been an American Lanterne Rouge at the end of the Tour, in Paris. At this writing I'm not sure if there has ever been an American in last place in the General Classification after a Tour de France stage, although Americans have been final finishers in stages (Dave Zabriskie, Stage 8, 2005).<br />
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Can any Tour statisticians help us here? There are online historical archives at <a href="http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/fr/TDF/index.html">http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/fr/TDF/index.html</a> but I haven't been able to pour through them.<br />
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I've heard that Bob Roll was once TdF Lanterne Rouge but I don't believe it's true, although he may have been a final stage finisher and came close to being overall Lanterne Rouge a few times: 200th/206 in Stage 1, 1987; 189th/190 in Stage 10, 1988; 194th/197 in Stage 4, 1990. See all USA participations here: <a href="http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/fr/TDF/recherche/USA/all/participations.html">http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/fr/TDF/recherche/USA/all/participations.html</a>nancytobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513676148599380377noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-4794054942464488282012-07-07T16:16:00.001-04:002012-07-07T16:16:41.940-04:00Brice Feillu in 2012Brice Feillu, French rider on Saur-Sojasun, has completed his 6th stage of the Tour de France as Lanterne Rouge. I'd like to offer this amusingly bad translation of <a href="http://www.rue89.com/rue89-sport/2012/07/04/etourderie-ou-gastro-ils-ont-fini-dernier-dune-etape-du-tour-de-france-233550?com=select&c=3" target="_blank">the troubles that put him in last place in the peloton</a>:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">Brice Feillu experienced only a tower of France in 2009, and it was fabulous. </span><span lang="en">He was young, virtually unknown, and he won a stage of the Pyrenees, Andorra-Arcalis.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">Brice Feillu, Orchies, July 3, 2012 (Clement Guillou/Rue89)</span></div>
<div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">The start of the second round is a galley for the climber of the Saur-Sojasun. </span><span lang="en">He lives in quarantine. </span><span lang="en">He sleeps alone, travel without the rest of the team, short, the gastro.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">When it is pointing to the start of the second stage, to Visé in Belgium, he had not kept a meal since Sunday morning.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">Fortunately for him, the platoon led a train of Senator during this second stage. </span><span lang="en">He finished ten minutes in releasing taking 15 kilometres from the finish.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">"Finish last it is not necessarily annoying but yes, it was a day Galerius.".</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">The fever had fallen from 40 to 39 degrees at departure. </span><span lang="en">I had no forces, I had nothing in the belly... but it's still ballonnait. </span><span lang="en">In another race, I would not take the start.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">The slightest little thing that I ate, I wanted the vomit. </span><span lang="en">I not stopped on the side, I had no paper toilet in the Pocket! </span><span lang="en">But when even drugs that block it huh.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">A 50 terminals of the arrival, I had cold sweats. </span><span lang="en">I me water. </span><span lang="en">I said to myself "this is wrong party" but ultimately, I still have hook me up to 15 km from the arrival. </span><span lang="en">After I went quiet, but even 35 kilometres per hour, I was wrong the mouth. </span>»</div>
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><div class="force_dir" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span lang="en">The next day at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Brice Feillu has still finished last, more than a quarter of an hour. </span><span lang="en">This was another victim of the gastro, Marcel Kittel, and three teammates, including Roy Curvers.</span></div>
</blockquote>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-33748056264607473662012-01-20T15:43:00.002-05:002012-01-20T16:07:45.743-05:00Chaplin and ContadorIn another in our very limited series on "<a href="http://tdflr.blogspot.com/search?q=separated" target="_blank">Separated at Birth</a>" may we present <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/19/famous-black-and-white-photos-colour_n_1216442.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false&just_reloaded=1#s623233" target="_blank">a young Charlie Chaplin</a> and Alberto Contador!?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpH6rEtmP990JcEQymvGkAtlcK18mcsBCFjy4x4v3zxW6KpCzy1GvKhCUeuGfSg4NXOTHVv1wXTyhVnit4QY5B-9o4iPeJ9pYRscV9cNOcdv0ByPKostZ5Cw5KWX69xzMsUxiHA/s1600/c+and+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpH6rEtmP990JcEQymvGkAtlcK18mcsBCFjy4x4v3zxW6KpCzy1GvKhCUeuGfSg4NXOTHVv1wXTyhVnit4QY5B-9o4iPeJ9pYRscV9cNOcdv0ByPKostZ5Cw5KWX69xzMsUxiHA/s320/c+and+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-67414704117529964392011-07-24T13:50:00.009-04:002011-07-24T14:57:24.976-04:00Respect the Lanterne Rouge<a href="http://procyclingtv.com/wp-content/gallery/liquigas/Fabio%20Sabatini.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 620px; height: 409px;" src="http://procyclingtv.com/wp-content/gallery/liquigas/Fabio%20Sabatini.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><br /></div>Every year I see dumb comments and jokes about the Lanterne Rouge of the Tour de France and "the race" for the honor. I don't like that type of demeaning ridicule, personally (at least not at the guys who are doing massive amounts of work for relatively little pay and attention), and they're one of the reasons I started this blog. <div><br /></div><div>Before anyone jokes about 2011 Tour de France Lanterne Rouge <b>Fabio Sabatini </b>of Liquigas - let's recognize the magnitude of his accomplishment. Over a span of 3 weeks, he was racing for 90 hours, 10 minutes, and 5 seconds at an average speed of 23.63 mph. Over the Pyrenees and Alps. </div><div><br /></div><div>166 fellow professional cyclists were with him along the way and took up to 3 hours, 57 minutes, and 43 seconds less time to pedal exactly the same course - a difference of only 4.39%. </div><div><br /></div><div>And 32 of the pro cyclists who started the race 3 weeks ago were unable to finish it at all (16.1% attrition).</div><div><br /></div><div>Bravo, <b>Fabio. </b>Carry your Lanterne with pride.</div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-2357167320261065482011-07-23T14:22:00.003-04:002011-07-23T14:28:28.182-04:002011 Tour de France Lanterne Rouge<b>Fabio Sabatini</b>, Italian rider for Liquigas, had the honor of rolling down the starting ramp first for individual time trial today and will carry the fabled Lanterne Rouge into Paris. He finishes 3:13 behind the previous holder<b>, Andrey Amador </b>of Movistar.<b> Vincent Jerome</b> finished today 155th out of 167 Tour de France finishers.<br /><br />The final finisher of the 2011 26.4-mile ITT was<b> Jeremie Galland</b> of Saur-Sojason at an average speed of 23.7 mph - ahead of 31 DNFs this Tour. <div><br /></div><div>Best wishes to both of them in their future professional careers. We'll be cheering you on!</div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-69880151821412049302011-07-20T12:06:00.004-04:002011-07-20T12:11:11.734-04:00Italian LanterneToday<b> Andrey Amador</b> got into a breakaway and arrived in 11th position on an Alpine stage, moving him up the overall classification.<div><br /></div><div>The new Lanterne Rouge is<b> Fabio Sabatini</b> of Liquigas-Cannondale, who is riding in support of <b>Ivan Basso's </b>podium aspirations.</div><div><ul><li><a href="http://www.teamliquigascannondale.com/2011/eng/main.php?mod=scAtleti&id=21">Fabio's team page</a> with a short video, "Bike for me is freedom"</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabio_Sabatini">Fabio's wiki page</a> says that he has finished 2nd in a Vuelta stage and 3rd in a Giro stage, and he was also on the winning team time trial at the 2010 Giro. </li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-82605132944077585132011-07-16T13:08:00.005-04:002011-07-16T13:31:46.010-04:00Lanterne Rouge is one tough guy<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Andrey Amador</b> of Movistar was the final official finisher inside the time limit in Stage 14 of the 2011 France, keeping his hold on the Lanterne Rouge.</div><div><br /></div><div>He'll hang on a while longer. He's tough as nails.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/01/news/movistar%E2%80%99s-amador-attacked-by-thugs-on-training-ride_154338">Last December while training at home in Costa Rica</a>, he was beaten so severely by thugs who stole his bike that he laid in a ditch unconscious for 6 hours. He sustained <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/amador-describes-assault-as-most-frightening-moment-of-his-life">kidney and lung damage</a> from the attack. </div><div><br /></div><div>In <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/collarbone-break-means-movistars-andrey-amador-will-miss-giro-d%E2%80%99italia_170346">April he broke his collarbone</a>, which kept him out of the Giro.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>On Stage 1 of his first Tour he <a href="http://yfrog.com/h2525hbj">sprained his ankle</a> badly. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the brighter side, he's not only the first Costa Rican to ride in the Tour de France, he's the <a href="http://www.universalsports.com/news-blogs/article/newsid=541025.html">first rider from any Central American nation</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>He's been honored in his home country with <a href="http://www.aldia.cr/ad_ee/2011/julio/16/deportes2846170.html">his image on a postal stamp</a>.<br /><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGUnZiIb_9b12_sN9oEnPvFzrPFyH2WwrWrUlvQOsbLlbLtqCB6n_FrQQj7r0nS0OSouyw5XvhTPIrn6OiNiTohMHFT2BFoj6-6Pt06I75rox8WJCkdDr4NX_iMgP17BoKwyjIQ/s320/amador+stamp.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 144px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629999599567858818" /><br />I have a hunch he will hang on a while longer. Best wishes to him! Note he's also the first Tour de France Lanterne Rouge who is active on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Andrey_Amador">@Andrey_Amador</a>. Give him a shout of encouragement, <a href="http://www.movistarteam.com/equipo/andrey-amador">he appreciates it</a>!Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-81666252377218954442011-07-15T12:13:00.002-04:002011-07-15T12:18:12.862-04:00Turnover!<span style="font-weight:bold;">Vincent Jérôme</span> of Team Europcar has held the Lanterne Rouge for 12 consecutive stages of the 2011 Tour de France. Today, by finishing at about 9 minutes after the stage winner in Lourdes, while the autobus finished at about 22 minutes, he reliquished his position and moved up one in the overall standings.<br /><br />The new Lanterne Rouge is<span style="font-weight:bold;"> Andrey Amador</span> of Costa Rica, riding for Team Movistar. Since I was previously unaware that there was a representative of Costa Rica in the Tour (and probably not alone in that), I welcome him taking over the role and gaining the recognition associated with the Lanterne Rouge. Bravo!Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-17546542231931685152011-07-12T06:37:00.037-04:002011-07-27T09:39:10.709-04:00ESPN, suspend Michael Smith<span class="Apple-style-span">In his feed at <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith">http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith</a> <http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith=""> for which he has 95,225 followers, on July 11, 2011:<br /><br />It started with this, concerning a crash in which a cyclist was hit by a speeding car and another thrown into a barbed wire fence:<br /><br /></http:></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith=""><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90532487813537792">http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90532487813537792 </a><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90532487813537792=""><br /><b>"For real, am I wrong for laughing at that Tour de France crash? Can't get over the driver speeding off as if he didn't know he hit someone!"</b><br /><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90539435388715008=""><br /></http:></http:></http:><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90532487813537792=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90539435388715008="">and he followed up with discussions with several outraged people, and defended his statement with:<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90539435388715008">http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90539435388715008 </a><br /><b>"I'm sorry that crash is hilarious. Every. Time."<br /></b><br />then he dismissed numerous objections with a cavalier:<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90606872075321344">http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90606872075321344 </a><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90606872075321344=""><br /><b>"It had far been too long since I'd angered an entire community. Today I've managed offend cyclists everywhere. Guess what? It's still funny."</b><br /><br />Finally, he issued this pathetic faux apology:<br /><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90613389457502209">http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90613389457502209 </a><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90613389457502209=""><br /><b>"i'd like to apologize to cyclists, people who ride bikes, people who know people who ride bikes, and even paperboys. Happy? I miss anybody?"<br /></b><br />Totally and completely unacceptable behavior by an ESPN employee and spokesperson.</http:></http:></http:></http:></http:></span></div><div><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90532487813537792=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90539435388715008=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90606872075321344=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90613389457502209=""><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></http:></http:></http:></http:></http:></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90532487813537792=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90539435388715008=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90606872075321344=""><http: com="" 21="" mrmichael_smith="" status="" 90613389457502209="">Make your opinion known at </http:></http:></http:></http:></http:><a href="http://espn.go.com/espn/contact">http://espn.go.com/espn/contact</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">-----------</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Followup:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Excellent articles on this issue followed at:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/post/tour-de-france-car-crashing-into-cyclists-draws-laughs-from-espns-michael-smith/2011/07/12/gIQAM3pxAI_blog.html"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/post/tour-de-france-car-crashing-into-cyclists-draws-laughs-from-espns-michael-smith/2011/07/12/gIQAM3pxAI_blog.html</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://mobilelocalsocial.com/2011/espn-michaelsmith-tourdefrance/"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://mobilelocalsocial.com/2011/espn-michaelsmith-tourdefrance/</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2011/07/13/the-apostasy-of-idiocy/"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2011/07/13/the-apostasy-of-idiocy/</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-france/expert-analysis/bikesnobnycs-tour-de-france-stage-10-report-oh-indignity?page=0,0"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-france/expert-analysis/bikesnobnycs-tour-de-france-stage-10-report-oh-indignity?page=0,0</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/sportsnewser/michael-smith-is-not-popular-with-the-cycling-community_b11709"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.mediabistro.com/sportsnewser/michael-smith-is-not-popular-with-the-cycling-community_b11709</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.bikebiz.com/index.php/news/read/barbed-wire-car-bike-tdf-smash-is-laughing-matter-tweets-us-tv-anchor/011508">http://www.bikebiz.com/index.php/news/read/barbed-wire-car-bike-tdf-smash-is-laughing-matter-tweets-us-tv-anchor/011508</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://deirdrereid.com/2011/07/14/tour-de-france-espn-social-media-failure/">http://deirdrereid.com/2011/07/14/tour-de-france-espn-social-media-failure/</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2011/07/do-twitter-and-freedom-of-speech-go-hand-in-hand/">http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2011/07/do-twitter-and-freedom-of-speech-go-hand-in-hand/</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://watrickp.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/michael-smith-versus-the-world-of-cycling/">http://watrickp.wordpress.com/2011/07/15/michael-smith-versus-the-world-of-cycling/</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://lavamagazine.com/features/op-ed-no-anonymous-smith#axzz1S1czQl1G">http://lavamagazine.com/features/op-ed-no-anonymous-smith#axzz1S1czQl1G</a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110717/A_NEWS0804/107170303">http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110717/A_NEWS0804/107170303</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.firstoffthebike.com/features/2236-dont-mess-with-the-two-wheeled-crowd">http://www.firstoffthebike.com/features/2236-dont-mess-with-the-two-wheeled-crowd</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">A petition with<b> over 1,500</b> signatures at my last check (7/27):</span></div><div><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/espn-demand-the-resignation-or-fire-michael-smith-for-tdf-comments"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.change.org/petitions/espn-demand-the-resignation-or-fire-michael-smith-for-tdf-comments</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">and a truly hilarious video take on it at:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHWrkdE_kM&feature=player_embedded"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHWrkdE_kM&feature=player_embedded</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Additionally, you can listen to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AroundTheHorn">Around The Horn</a> broadcast of July 11, 2011 in which all the commentators seemed to find great amusement at the car hitting cyclists in the Tour de France (at the beginning and about 13 minutes into the broadcast):</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=2839445">http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=2839445</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>or a shorter clip is here:</div><div>Audioboo / ESPN - Around The Horn - TDF Crash: <a href="http://bit.ly/nSyXwk">http://bit.ly/nSyXwk </a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">You may wish to provide feedback to the sponsors of the Around The Horn show via feedback on their websites or at:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AroundTheHorn">http://www.facebook.com/AroundTheHorn</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/PizzaHut">http://www.facebook.com/PizzaHut</a> (sponsor)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/hanes">http://www.facebook.com/hanes</a> (sponsor)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">A Facebook page entitled, "Fire Michael Smith of ESPN" (over<b> 480 "likes" </b>at last check on 7/27)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fire-Michael-Smith-of-ESPN/247929945218143">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fire-Michael-Smith-of-ESPN/247929945218143</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">or directly to the individuals on the Around The Horn broadcast on their twitter feeds at:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; "><a class=" twitter-atreply" name="MrMichael_Smith" href="http://twitter.com/MrMichael_Smith" rel="nofollow" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; "><span class="at" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline-block; opacity: 0.5; ">@</span><span class="at-text" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">MrMichael_Smith</span></a> <a class=" twitter-atreply" name="TimCowlishaw" href="http://twitter.com/TimCowlishaw" rel="nofollow" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; "><span class="at" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline-block; opacity: 0.5; ">@</span><span class="at-text" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">TimCowlishaw</span></a> <a class=" twitter-atreply" name="woodypaige" href="http://twitter.com/woodypaige" rel="nofollow" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; "><span class="at" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline-block; opacity: 0.5; ">@</span><span class="at-text" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">woodypaige</span></a> <a class=" twitter-atreply" name="BillPlaschke" href="http://twitter.com/BillPlaschke" rel="nofollow" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; "><span class="at" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline-block; opacity: 0.5; ">@</span><span class="at-text" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">BillPlaschke</span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">July 12, Michael Smith added on his Twitter feed a statement:</span></div><div><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90964379046117376"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/90964379046117376</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 36px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>"I apologize for my insensitive remarks re: the TdF crash. I recognize my comments were inappropriate given the serious nature of the crash."</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 36px;">then shortly thereafter when someone who sent him a message saying<i> "</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; "><i>All of these people attempting to ruin ur life and ur the jerk? It was a joke. Just like these people attacking u. A joke"</i> he responded:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; "><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/91164219457802240"><span class="Apple-style-span">http://twitter.com/#!/MrMichael_Smith/status/91164219457802240</span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 36px; ">thanks man. believe me i'm good. not gonna succeed."</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 36px;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Update July 13: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; "><a class=" twitter-atreply" name="MrMichael_Smith" href="http://twitter.com/MrMichael_Smith" rel="nofollow" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; "><span class="at" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline-block; opacity: 0.5; ">@</span><span class="at-text" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">MrMichael_Smith</span></a> has deleted the offensive statements from his timeline on Twitter, but not his numerous statements defending them to outraged respondents. Deleting them does not make them unsaid, nor does it change the hilarity in the Around The Horn broadcast. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; "><a href="http://twitpic.com/5pervw">HERE is a screenshot</a> of the original unexpurgated set of Michael Smith's tweets.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div></div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-12960075176407149062011-07-11T07:28:00.002-04:002011-07-11T07:31:24.814-04:00Tour de France Lanterne Rouge analysisNice use of some of the data on this long-neglected blog by the good folks <a href="http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/7/11/2267417/Lanterne-Rouge">over at Podium Cafe</a>. <br /><br />"Anyone who thinks that being the lanterne rouge means you're a shit rider is missing the point."Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-2432871880773257272011-07-07T13:28:00.003-04:002011-07-07T13:48:33.282-04:002011 Stage 6Another rain-soaked crashfest.<b> Vincent Jerome</b> is hanging in there as Lanterne Rouge, and although he got caught behind in a split, finished with the final grupetto of 21 at 12:26 back from the stage winner today. <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.sports.fr/cmc/cyclisme/201127/dinan-lisieux-en-direct_371005.html">At the start of the stage he said</a> (roughly translated):<i> "My condition is stabilized. Now I manage to use my left leg. It will go better and better. The red lantern is anecdotic (legendary?), but people encourage much."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>2010 Lanterne Rouge<b> Adriano Malori</b> of Lampre was in an unsuccessful breakaway, but finished in mid-pack and is 95th in the overall standings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Five riders are out of the Tour, bringing the peloton down to 193.</div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-2453541939700050582011-07-04T18:30:00.005-04:002011-07-04T18:34:35.895-04:00Two first namesAs someone who also has two first names, I should know better. I keep getting <b>Vincent Jérôme</b>'s name backwards. He's holding on to the Lanterne Rouge for the third consecutive stage of the 2011 Tour de France. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me">Here's the good-looking young man's profile at Wikipedia</a>.<div><br /></div><div>There have been no DNFs so far, despite a number of crashes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right next to him in the penultimate spot in the GC is <b>Dimitry Murayev</b> of Radio Shack. We probably will see more of him - he was the Lanterne Rouge last year in two stages of the Toru de France and was the overall <a href="http://tdflr.blogspot.com/2010/07/volatile.html">Lanterne Rouge of the 2008 Vuelta</a>. </div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-67442950725938127982011-07-03T12:50:00.007-04:002011-07-04T19:11:18.667-04:002011 Tour begins<div style="text-align: left;">The first two stages of the 2011 Tour de France have seen Frenchman <strike> Jerome Vincent </strike> <b>Vincent Jérôme </b>hold the position of Lanterne Rouge for Team Europcar, after seeing some trouble in a crash-ridden first stage. Here he is getting things untangled:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsIEary37saBqgiFWRA7Wky7sP45PgYX2d4NOcs2D_L1lk4CngceCIfItwYwv3pnrlMI3ULBqPXtadY_Xyfd5WoRNrpddOHUWYKrIC6-nP7z5SoAObWfzGO_5j4_i3BUvf0vHCQ/s320/stage+1+2011+vincent+jerome.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625638522192965042" /> <div><br /></div><div>Pre-Tour favorite clenbuterol-positive <b>Alberto Contador</b> finished Stage 2 in 75th place, 1:42 back from the leader, which makes me happy. Naturally he and the team aren't happy with that result, so they're <a href="http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo/saxo-bank-pedira-solo-descuenten/20110703dasdascic_2/Tes">asking for the rules to be retroactively changed in their favor</a>.</div></div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-75681790889698978102011-06-29T11:51:00.003-04:002011-06-29T11:58:05.216-04:003-time Tour de France Lanterne Rouge Vansevenant bustedBig news coming shortly before the 2011 Tour is that retired cyclist and 3-time<span class="Apple-style-span" > Lanterne Rouge</span> <b>Wim Vansevenant</b> has been arrested for receiving a shipment of high-end<a href="http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8893/Doping-products-intercepted-by-Belgian-customs-officials.aspx"> "ultra-modern" doping products</a> from Australia. <div><br /></div><div>His former long-term team, Omega Pharma Lotto, denies all knowledge. Wim claims that they were for personal use to shore up his apparently rapidly-aging body. He was scheduled to be a driver for VIP tours at the Tour de France but that gig was hastily canceled.</div><div><br /></div><div>One wonders about the Australian connection on his former Belgian team - which could conceivably include Australian riders such as <b>Cadel Evans, Robbie McEwen</b>, and <b>Adam Hansen.</b></div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-23740651835828271372011-05-29T12:20:00.002-04:002011-05-29T12:22:37.701-04:00Lanterne Rouge rocks time trial<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; "><b>Jos Van Emden</b>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Lanterne Rouge </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; ">of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, rocked the final individual time trial and took 6th out of 159 finishers. He is only in his second year as a professional cyclist, a Dutchman riding for Rabobank. Watch him in the future! Bravo!</span>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-4582195847470116002011-01-23T07:58:00.004-05:002011-01-23T08:03:37.348-05:002011 Tour Down UnderCelebrity sprinter <b>Mark Cavendish</b> stuck it out to the bitter end of the Tour Down Under to finish as <span class="Apple-style-span" >Lanterne Rouge</span>, 129th at 33:51. He was supporting HTC-Highroad teammate<b> Matthew Goss</b> who finished 2nd overall by 2 seconds. Earlier in the race Cavendish had suffered a nasty crash and sported lots of bandaging in later stages. Well done completing the job!<div><br /></div><div><b>Cavendish</b> is not a stranger to the <span class="Apple-style-span" >Lanterne Rouge </span>slot, holding that position for Stage 7 of the 2007 Tour de France before he abandoned the race.</div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-76911478695729648392011-01-21T20:05:00.005-05:002011-01-21T20:10:44.818-05:00Should Wim Vansevenant be worried?It looks like Jimmy Casper may be <a href="http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7175/Its-there-for-the-taking-for-French-sprinter-Jimmy-Casper.aspx">returning to the Tour de France in 2011</a>, riding for Saur-Sojasun, which will give him an opportunity to tie Wim's record of three<span class="Apple-style-span"> <span class="Apple-style-span" >Lanterne Rouge</span></span> finishes. <div><br /></div><div>Still, he cannot do them consecutively as did Wim, the ultimate<span class="Apple-style-span" > <span class="Apple-style-span">Lanterne Rouge. </span></span></div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-75219903669530246752010-12-23T09:28:00.003-05:002010-12-23T09:29:58.662-05:00What it's like to be Lanterne RougeSeveral intriguing first-hand accounts of what it's like to ride in the Tour de France, including the <a href="http://www.cyclesportmag.com/news-and-comment/what-its-like-to-ride-the-tour-de-france/">appropriately final account</a> by legendary<span class="Apple-style-span" > Lanterne Rouge</span><b> Wim Vansevenant.</b>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-59837958503692092682010-11-14T14:44:00.003-05:002010-11-14T14:48:46.669-05:00Adriano MaloriThe <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Lanterne Rouge</span></span> of the 2010 Tour de France, <b>Adriano Malori</b>, was<a href="http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6280/Adriano-Malori-Interview-Looking-back-on-his-first-year-at-the-highest-level.aspx"> interviewed recently in VeloNation</a>.<div><blockquote><i>". . . a 12th place finish in the prologue in Rotterdam seemed to herald a shot at a solid first week. However a crash in Stage 2 during the infamous stage to Spa put paid to that. The young Italian was left to struggle just to continue in the sport's most difficult race. Eventually, <b>Malori </b>would finish as lanterne rouge in the 2010 Tour de France, but it was a finish nonetheless, and absolutely nothing to scoff at when considering that was his first ever Grand Tour. More importantly,<b> Malori </b>was a vital cog in the team in support of<b> Alessandro Petacchi </b>and his quest to take his first ever Green Jersey in Paris - which he did." </i><br /></blockquote></div><div>Best wishes to him on continued success!</div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-76490626396093462992010-11-14T14:28:00.004-05:002010-11-14T14:42:27.873-05:00Is the Tour de France too hard?Interesting analysis over at <a href="http://theinnerring.blogspot.com/2010/11/is-tour-de-france-too-hard.html#comments">The Inner Ring</a> on this topic.<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://bikeraceinfo.com/tdf/tdfstats.html">Bike Race Info</a> shows the numbers of finishers over the years that the Tour de France was held, yielding these figures for recent years:</div><div><br /></div><div>1995 - 61%</div><div>1996 - 68%</div><div>1997 - 70%</div><div>1998 - 51%</div><div>1999 - 78%</div><div>2000 - 71%</div><div>2001 - 76%</div><div>2002 - 81 %</div><div>2003 - 78 %</div><div>2004 - 78 %</div><div>2005 - 82 %</div><div>2006 - 79 %</div><div>2007 - 75 %</div><div>2008 - 81 %</div><div>2009 - 87 %</div><div>2010 - 86 %</div><div><br /></div><div>So on average for the last decade, for every 187 starters that begin the Tour de France, 80% of the riders finish in Paris, while 37 riders drop out along the way. </div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-75990757638367927922010-09-19T14:33:00.002-04:002010-09-19T14:36:46.971-04:00Vuelta a Espana 2010Danish rider <b>Lars Back </b>of HTC-Columbia has become the Lanterne Rouge of the 2010 Vuelta, finishing 156th. There were 42 DNFs (21% non-completion rate). Back rode in support of Mark Cavendish's successful bid for the overall sprinter's jersey.Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-46802754985883476552010-07-25T13:48:00.003-04:002010-07-25T13:52:04.002-04:00Malori is 2010 Tour de France Lanterne RougeCongratulations to <b>Adriano Malori,</b> Italian rider on Lampre, for finishing the 2010 Tour de France - an accomplishment that 27 of the starters this year failed to achieve. He rode a total of 2263 miles in 3 weeks at an average speed of 23.4 mph - and half the time he was riding faster than that! His pace over the course, finishing as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Lanterne Rouge</span>, was a mere 1.1 mph slower than the Tour winner. Bravo to <b>Malori!</b>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-42604887710394351502010-07-24T12:00:00.002-04:002010-07-25T13:48:44.117-04:00999 scoochesFrom my calculations, that's how many times<b> Alberto Contador</b> scooched back in his saddle during the individual time trial today.<br /><br /><b>Bert Grabsch</b>, former world champion, rode an incredible time trial today for 3rd place on the stage, pulling himself out of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Lanterne Rouge </span>slot.<br /><br /><b>Adriano Malori</b> of Lampre regained the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Lanterne Rouge </span>of the 2010 Tour de France on the penultimate stage and will have the honor of carrying it into Paris.Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14222414.post-78450101773347909672010-07-14T17:45:00.004-04:002010-07-15T10:01:23.919-04:00Bicycling.com challenges LanceCould <b>Lance Armstrong </b>rise to <a href="http://bicycling.com/tour-de-france/expert-analysis/new-goal-lance">the challenge of becoming the first American <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Lanterne Rouge</span></a> of the Tour de France?<div><br /></div><div>I have my doubts, personally. I don't think he's built that way.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also figured out that he would need to lose an average of 22 minutes per remaining stage, more or less, to make it to Paris as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Lanterne Rouge</span>. Not very likely.</div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, here's a <a href="http://gerrysdailyride.blogspot.com/2010/07/lanterne-rouge-race-began-on-col-de.html">blog post about launching the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Lanterne Rouge</span> on the Col de Madeleine</a>.</div>Nancy Tobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18402516081283603553noreply@blogger.com1