Ji Cheng - interesting member of the Giant-Shimano TdF squad

[wallymann]

first chinese rider in the tour. very cool.

but looking at his frame, the dude looks like he's 5' tall on a good day...wikipedia says he's 5'10" but i have my doubts...see pic below.

anyways, he's on a team consisting of 6ft+ roleurs! if he is so short his teammates must be cursing when cheng rolls to the front of the paceline only to find no draft of any value for a big-boned european!

anyways, very cool pioneer cyclist and hope he finishes!

http://pelotonmagazine.com/feedzone/ji-cheng-hopes-to-make-history/

http://static0.demotix.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/a_scale_large/2000-0/photos/1367624090-opening-ceremony-of-96th-giro-ditalia-cycling-tour-italy_2020270.jpg

[kramnnim]

Various commentators/podcasters have been talking about him a lot... Funny how Kittel/Degenkolb allegedly didn't want him on the squad, I bet they are glad for him now. He deserves the award for "rider who spens the most time pulling at the front"...

[vqdriver]

Which podcast?
I'd love to listen to a good tour podcast. Didn't even think to look for one

[kramnnim]

http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/podcast

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/bespoke

http://thecyclingpodcast.com/

[christian]

He doesn't look that small to me. That head tube looks like at least a 52-53 bike, which I think as a pro would make him at least 5'8-5'9. Those other chaps are tall though!

[r_mutt]

Giant website lists him as 178cm. 5.8.

[wallymann]

He doesn't look that small to me. That head tube looks like at least a 52-53 bike, which I think as a pro would make him at least 5'8-5'9. Those other chaps are tall though!

i dont buy it! hmmmm....do they include a kittel-style coif in that 5-8 height spec?! then, maybe... ;-)

http://www.thrownchain.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/mkittel1.jpg

[jpritchet74]

He was interviewed on The Cycling Podcast the other day. I was surprised at how good his English was.

[thegunner]

he's known as the 'breakaway killer' for his work in the vuelta. i'm sure kittel and degenkolb love him now.

[velotrack]

Giant website lists him as 178cm. 5.8.

178 is 5'10.

He was interviewed on The Cycling Podcast the other day. I was surprised at how good his English was.

If you know three languages, you are trilingual. If you know two you are bilingual. If you know one, you're American.

Most Chinese kids have fairly decent English that they learn alongside their Chinese from a rather young age. Far earlier than our education systems start teaching a second language.

[ultraman6970]

THe chinese dude has been busting his ass off at the front in the last few stages.

[r_mutt]

178 is 5'10.


5.84 feet is 5'-10"! Not 5'-84" Bad math skills!

[ericssonboi]

Looks he's taking a break from riding..

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/07/news/chinas-ji-cheng-take-post-tour-break-earning-lanterne-rouge_338747

[velotrack]

Props, glad he made it all through in one piece. A well needed break.

[redir]

The lanterne rouge made a bit of history in this last Tour.

Having made history as the first Chinese rider to compete in the Tour, Ji said he hopes to be a pioneer for his countrymen, but said it will take more than just him to change things.

“I hope so but a cycling project in the country cannot be one man like me,” he said.

“Maybe I can show them something but I cannot change anything. I hope they can see it’s possible to build a team or train riders to be top professionals. That’s what I hope.”

I can see why he wants a bit of time off the bike after something like that! It's a tough job to target breakaway's all day long.

http://pelotonmagazine.com/feedzone/ji-cheng-makes-history/

[ptourkin]

Who else heard Phil call him a "Chinaman?"

[nathanong87]

Who else heard Phil call him a "Chinaman?"

i came in here just type the exact question lol

[wallymann]

i came in here just type the exact question lol

see...in many circles, thats not a bad term!

englishman, irishman, etc...

[thegunner]

see...in many circles, thats not a bad term!

englishman, irishman, etc...

yeah, no. i think it might be ingrained in the older generation, but it is absolutely a term with negative connotations :)

[MadRocketSci]

yeah, no. i think it might be ingrained in the older generation, but it is absolutely a term with negative connotations :)

older generations also still use the term "oriental," which is probably about the same level of perjorativeness in modern parlance.

having said that, I don't think Phil meant anything but respect when talking about Mr. Ji.

[roydyates]

Who else heard Phil call him a "Chinaman?"

My wife and I both heard it. A few minutes later, after a commercial break I think, Phil corrected himself and called him a Chinese cyclist. The inappropriateness of "Chinaman" has been a subject of recent discussion on the web in relation to a new book "A Chinaman's Chance" by Eric Liu. See

http://www.amazon.com/Chinamans-Chance-Familys-Journey-American/dp/1610391942/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406656258&sr=8-1&keywords=a+chinaman%27s+chance&dpPl=1

In any event, he sure doesn't look 5' 10" in the photos.

[54ny77]

could've been a howard cosell moment for him.

older generations also still use the term "oriental," which is probably about the same level of perjorativeness in modern parlance.

having said that, I don't think Phil meant anything but respect when talking about Mr. Ji.

[enr1co]

My wife and I both heard it. A few minutes later, after a commercial break I think, Phil corrected himself and called him a Chinese cyclist. The inappropriateness of "Chinaman" has been a subject of recent discussion on the web in relation to a new book "A Chinaman's Chance" by Eric Liu. See

http://www.amazon.com/Chinamans-Chance-Familys-Journey-American/dp/1610391942/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406656258&sr=8-1&keywords=a+chinaman%27s+chance&dpPl=1

In any event, he sure doesn't look 5' 10" in the photos.

Heard it also but filtered it as non malicious or as Wally mentioned similar reference as stating "Frenchman, Englishman...".

but back to Ji's TdF- thought he rode a phenomenal tour riding selflessly in the front for hundreds of miles for Kittel. Lots of camera time for him and increased his value when it comes to signing contracts next year.

Felt bad for him that he had to ride in alone and wasnt able to finish with the main group due to the crash going around the Arc but happy that he finished. Also amazing was how well he reacted from that crash by almost landing feet up after going over his bike. Likely slid on his bum on the cobbles but better than hitting the ground w/ torso, shoulders or arms.

[thegunner]

would love to see him in a breakaway himself next year. i mean, if he's not there to kill it... maybe!

[MattTuck]

Who else heard Phil call him a "Chinaman?"

Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature.
http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/422002_10150684703711509_774287023_n.jpg?oh=93b71f 761604fb217299b0cf7a7552d1&oe=5442CCD8&__gda__=1413081355_490fda61488e8bfd79f197a621783b0 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNGkHK8Umew&feature=player_detailpage#t=64

[Keith A]

Moderator note: Merged the two Ji Cheng threads together.

[mtechnica]

Phil is so old you can't be offended by it, plus they say frenchman and englishman so there's really nothing offensive about chinaman unless you want there to be, or if you refer to all asians as chinamen. Ji Cheng is a freaking beast though.

[CunegoFan]

Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature.


The preferred nomenclature changes every few years. A cynic might suspect the changes are done so groups always have a means to draw attention to their victim status. Personally I go by intent. Liggett can barely remember a rider's country. It would not surprise me if he called any rider who is not pasty white a Chinaman.

[54ny77]

Anyone notice Phil renaming Nibali to Vonchensi Nobalo?

He must really be going steadily bonkers over the years, or he takes a swill or three between breaths. Or both....

[mtechnica]

Anyone notice Phil renaming Nibali to Vonchensi Nobalo?

He must really be going steadily bonkers over the years, or he takes a swill or three between breaths. Or both....

Vinchenzi Noboli :banana:

I think it's hilarious I don't even care anymore

[Md3000]

Phil is so old you can't be offended by it, plus they say frenchman and englishman so there's really nothing offensive about chinaman unless you want there to be, or if you refer to all asians as chinamen. Ji Cheng is a freaking beast though.

So old people can keep saying "negro" too, just cos they're old? Also as far as I know "chinaman" was never the official name for a citizen of china, while Frenchman, Englishman and Irishman are. There is a difference. On Dutch TV they kept repeatedly saying "the Chinese guy" while every other cyclist was named correctly: "voeckler, kittel and the Chinese guy." Or: "the Chinese guy was at the front most of the day". It got really annoying. Show some respect and learn the guys name, it's not that hard. /rant

[Nags&Ducs]

5.84 feet is 5'-10"! Not 5'-84" Bad math skills!

Good one braghhh!!! I got foo'ed too! I read 5'8", not 5.8 ft!

[54ny77]

i was cracking up when he said it.

he's gotten to be like that nice old man who royally f's things up in terms of names and/or details, but politeness calls for just letting him run with it.

that said, i'd rather hear him than van duh vel duh.

:bike:

Vinchenzi Noboli :banana:

I think it's hilarious I don't even care anymore

[flydhest]

So old people can keep saying "negro" too, just cos they're old? Also as far as I know "chinaman" was never the official name for a citizen of china, while Frenchman, Englishman and Irishman are. There is a difference. On Dutch TV they kept repeatedly saying "the Chinese guy" while every other cyclist was named correctly: "voeckler, kittel and the Chinese guy." Or: "the Chinese guy was at the front most of the day". It got really annoying. Show some respect and learn the guys name, it's not that hard. /rant


+1
And they might say "Frenchman" but not "Franceman" cuz ... That doesn't make any sense.

[r_mutt]

+1
And they might say "Frenchman" but not "Franceman" cuz ... That doesn't make any sense.

so chineseman is the preferred nomenclature dude?

:banana::banana::banana:

[spartanKid]

so chineseman is the preferred nomenclature dude?

:banana::banana::banana:

At least then it'd be consistently senile with "venchenzi nobioliililio"