Here are three quick thoughts as I wait for the race to start and my sports world will go complete. With the Sox starting to warm up and the Celtics and Bruins still playing, all I need is the world's most beautiful bike race to start to fill out my dance card completely.

Vincenzo Nibali

This year, I shift my personal allegiance in this race from one Liquigas Cannondale rider to another. Where last year I jumped up and down in my living room cheering on Ivan Basso on as he dropped Cadel Evans on the slopes of Monte Zoncolan, I'm hoping to do the same for Vincenzo Nibali on the slopes of Mount Etna (or any of the other million climbs in this race.)

Nibali is going to be a rider I pull for for a long time to come. Why? For starters, he's Sicilian. That's an important part of my heritage. There aren't a ton of pro cyclists from il sud at all, never mind Sicily, so he gets my vote on just that factor alone. And then there's the way he rides. He's an attacking, competitive all-around rider who's going to bag some interesting victories outside of just the grand tours. I understand the riders who focus solely on the grand tours. Grand Tours are important. That doesn't mean I can't appreciate a rider who wants to do well in other races throughout the year and Nibali is one of those guys.

Oh yeah, and he can descend like a demon. I love going fast downhill on my own bike, so watching people like Nibali who can really rocket is always a treat.

Alberto Contador

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Yes, I read BIKE SNOB Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling . I mean, of course I read it. I'm a bike nerd on at least three different level (I commute by bike, ride a road bike and watch pro cycling year road,) so I'm drawn to this like a Dentist to a Serotta (< - a stolen bike snob joke. GUILTY of stealing.)

It was a while ago now, but that's the nature of these reviews this year. I'm way behind.

On with the review...
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We had some bike racing today, a raw and windy day in Boston. It's a lot of fun having racing right downtown. Unfortunately I missed the women's race, but I did catch most of the men's which was a confusing, hotly contested mess of a thing (in a good way, I swear.)

Here are a couple of photos:

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I was watching this stage of La Vuelta

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I did Bike Friday last week. It was a lot of fun riding into town a big convoy like that. Sure, it probably took 20 minutes longer than my normal commute, but it was still very cool.

Plus, FREE coffee and food when you get to city hall (thanks to the awesome sponsors)

I took some photos:

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