Big boys

I am so bad. Sick even.

While Thor was lying there, on the ground, bleeding all over his bright yellow jersey, confused and in pain....I couldn't help but admire his legs. Look at the footage again and you will know what I am talking about. He has one leg slightly bent and its sort of rocking back and forth and its all tan and uber muscley.

I'm sorry Thor. But now that you are all better and racing again, I can admit it.

Thor.

I'm having fun just typing that name.
T-H-O-R

now where was I?

.....Oh yeah, so..... the commentators keep talking about "big Thor" or the "big Norweigan". I was curious, how big is Thor? (ladies...don't go there. I'm talking weight and height here) Its so hard to tell on tv because its tv and because most bike racers are generally slender and slight.

It turns out that Thor is 6 feet tall and weighs 178 pounds. Hardly a big Norweigan. He'd have a hard time playing collegiate football and would have to gain about 25 pounds to play hockey. But in cycling, he's "big".

I got to wondering who are the big boys of the tour and how big are they? To find out I had to click on all the names on the start list. (I didn't really have time to click on all of the names, so I just skipped all the french ones.)

Here are all the tour riders that are over 6 feet tall and weigh more than 180 pounds (plus or minus and according the official Tour website):

Pavel Padrnos: 6'2", 180 lbs
Pavel is a former member of the red guard, the famous Saeco lead out train that ushered Cippolini to so many victories. Now he is a rolleur and "bodyguard" on the road for Discovery.


Gert Steegmans: 6'3", 180 lbs
I don't really know much about this young rider from Belgium. And I couldn't find much in my quick little online search except that he has a degree in accounting. So, there you go.


Tom Boonen: 6'3", 176 lbs
At 176 lbs, Boonen almost didn't make the cut. But I have to include him because he's just the cutest thing and I by the looks of those biceps, I think he might be fibbing a bit on the weight.

George Hincapie: 6'3", 180 lbs
Its a bit unusual to have one of the biggest guys also be a G.C. contender. But Big Mig could do it, so maybe Georgie can too. Still, I don't know if I believe that weight. This would make George heavier than Boonen. Maybe George used to weigh 180 lbs...but judging from those medical photos, I think not anymore.


Magnus Backstedt: 6'4", 198 lbs
With a name like Magnus, you gotta be big. Magnus has almost 20 pounds over the next guy, so he's certainly the biggest guy in the bunch (except for Commeso in the off season). But come on 198 for a guy thats 6'4" is not all that big. He's not even a Clydesdale.

Thor Hushvod: 6', 178 lbs
T-H-O-R .... lets just look at him for a bit, shall we.