Category Archives: Not Cycling

Ode to Covid-19, the Italian Classics and hand hygiene

Dear Rouleurs,

It seems that professional cycling in Europe and quite possibly the Olympics in Japan are about to take a massive ‘haircut’. Unless you have have been living a cave in the Tarkine wilderness in Tasmania, you would know that a global pandemic is taking place. The so-called coronavirus Covid-19 is cutting a swath through China, Iran, South Korea and weirdly Italy.

Of these, its Italy that MMT is most disheartened by. The classics season was just about to start in Italy and country’s government has hit the ‘panic’ button. It has started implementing drastic measures to slow the spread of the virus. According to cyclingnews.com, it appears almost certain that men’s and women’s Strade Bianche (March 7), Tirreno-Adriatico (March 11-17), Milan-San Remo (March 8) and the Tour of Sicily (April 1-4), will all be cancelled.

This would be an unmitigated disaster for the races’ organiser, RCS Sport. MMT wonders whether RCS will survive these loss of high profile events this year. Closer to home, Australia’s Mitchelton-Scott team have announced that they were withdrawing from all races until the 22 March. A number of teams are already quarantined in Abu Dhabi UAE after four riders tested positive for the virus.

Here in Melbourne, there have been 6 reported cases and, fortunately to this time, no fatalities. As MMT has cycled and driven about Melbourne it does seem to be significantly quieter than usual. Overall, Australia has been relatively unscathed with 52 confirmed cases and 2 deaths. Quite frankly this is becoming quite grim, lets hope that this virus doesn’t get completely off the chain like Swine flu did in 2009/10.

So with that in mind MMT was delighted to see a little levity about this horrible situation by Will Dyson in today’s Age. Whilst its amusing it has a serious message, that all Melburians need to take to heart.

So until next time, ride safe and exercise good hand hygiene

Marv

Oh we’re from Tigerland….Premiers 2019

Dear Rouleurs and Tigers fans,

Its been a huge 2 weeks since MMT’s last blog. The Tiges rolled the Cats in the Preliminary Final and then destroyed the GWS Giants in the Grand Final. To quote one of MMT’s favourite Vinnie Jone’s lines from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, ‘Its been emotional…’ Saturday’s Giant killing spree meant that the Grand Final was all but over by the 10 minute mark of the third quarter. What followed was an unbridged celebration of Tiger football, where the opposition was left to play the role of witches hats in Richmond training drill. MMT could go on, on, on, on….

MMT had a tough week leading into the Grand Final. For starters, he caught the late season Melbourne flu and was down for the count all of that week. Further, due to his incompetence, completely missed the Ticketek ballot widow for club members and didn’t have a Grand Final ticket. The a series of very fortunate events occurred. First, GWS Giants knocked Collingwood out of the finals race and in the process forced another 10,000 or so club tickets to be released. Second, the gods of Ticketek on Tuesday, 12.15pm, gifted MMT a decent ticket to the big dance. You bloody beauty……

Any how, here’s a photo of the victorious Richmond team, the 2019 AFL Premiers.

Gee…Trent that cup looks heavy 😉

Finally, speaking of Collingwood, MMT heard a cracking Pies joke the other day –

Question: Do you know what’s the difference between a pyromaniac and the Collingwood football club?

Answer: A pyromaniac doesn’t waste 22 matches. Boom, boom.

After the 2018 Preliminary Final aka Tiger Ambush , MMT thinks the Pies deserve a bit of trash talk.

Until next time, Go Tiges

MMT

Still not really thinking about cycling

Dear Rouleurs, or really should I say fellow Tiges Fans,

The big game Richmond vs Geelong is on at the G at 7.50pm. MMT is very, very nervous. Last time, these teams played, Geelong treated an under strength Richmond team like witches hats at a training session, as it went on 67pt rampage. This time its Geelong that looks like its a bit underdone with some key players out. So with that in mind, MMT isn’t really thinking about work or cycling, hence this blog.

Collingwood blew Richmond off the park by half time, to be 40 odd points up, in last year’s preliminary final. MMT was about 10 metres away from the Collingwood Fan Club at the city end. MMT had to bear the agony of watching Joffa put on his gold ‘pies are gonna win this jacket’ before half time. That really sucked…..

Any how here’s something liberated/plagiarised from today’s Herald-Sun.

MMT wishes his boss was elsewhere. That way he slip off to the gym and then home. Given MMT’s level of distraction its unlikely that anything useful will get done today.

Until next time, Go Tiges

MMT

Football, Football, Football, oh the La Veulta and the Ashes…

Dear Rouleurs,

Honestly, MMT’s mind has not been on cycling, at all. No it has been thoroughly preoccupied with the trials and tribulations of his beloved AFL team, Richmond. MMT is still trying to figure out how his team won enough games to be in the final to begin with. At one point, 3 of the team’s best 5 players were out injured. Richmond’s 4 time All Australian fullback, Alex Rance, has been absent the entire season with a knee injury.

Friday night’s Preliminary Final against Geelong is looking like a doozy. The Cats have lost their main forward Tom Hawkins due to a silly suspension. Richmond have a full strength, excluding Rance and Sydney Stack and an in form list to choose from. Richmond’s VFL side is in the VFL Grand Final having beaten Port Melbourne in the Preliminary Final.

The one gloomy cloud on an other wise promising horizon, is that MMT, wasn’t paying attention when the Grand Final ticket ballot was on and missed the brief 2 hour window to register for the ballot. Bother!!! Any how this is the maths that is occupying MMT’s time – will Richmond get past Geelong and will it be Collingwood or the GWS Giants they meet in the Grand Final.

Oh yeah, MMT mention that Primoz Roglic (tell me that his doesn’t sound like brand name for meat smallgoods, MMT digresses!!) riding for Jumbo-Visma, became the first Slovenian to win one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, La Vuelta. Also the Aussie cricket retained the Ashes but its paper thin batting, poor fielding and dreadful use of the DRS system cost it the final test at the Oval. Mere footnotes in history, if Richmond wins the flag in 2019.

Until next time, Go Tiges

MMT