Concern mounts for absent Bruyneel

Amidst the glitz and glamor of the Amgen Tour of California, concern for the whereabouts of Johan Bruyneel began to mount today, as his larger-than-life persona has been absent from the race declared by the organizers as “The greatest stage race in all of the Americas.”

Bruyneel and Maertens is semi-happier times.

RadioShack-Nissan representatives were tight-lipped after Bruyneel was the target of reporters’ questions last Saturday and Sunday, when he was barraged with queries about the subpoena delivered to Bruyneel as he disembarked a plane from Europe. The details and contents of the subpoena are still unknown, as neither Team Press Officer Philip Maertens nor Bruyneel would issue a comment other than Bruyneel’s typical “Who the fuck are you?” question he fires at all reporters.

Bruyneel mysteriously disappeared from the race Sunday and has been absent from all team functions since. Speculation has run rampant in the pro peloton, and RadioShack-Nissan team members are rumored to be extremely unhappy with certain circumstances surrounding the newly-recognized general manager of the organization.

Many in the bicycle community have been approached and asked if they had seen Bruyneel at all during the California race, including Jim Felt from Felt Bicycles, who was rather surprised not to have spied Bruyneel during the week.

“Usually he’s larger than life, and it’s either him or Armstrong commanding a large media scrum here,” commented Felt.

Bruyneel has been present on Twitter, issuing a tweet to Andrew McQuaid telling him to give hell to his dad about the race radio issue. However, the tweeting has been less frequent than normal, and he’s not been active at all since May 14th.

However, SBS Cycling Central commentator Mike Tomalaris pointed out this was the second time in two years Bruyneel has disappeared in May.

“Is there something in the water? Is there something in the air? Bruyneel has gone missing in action during May two years in a row. Last year, he disappeared from the Giro in the middle of the night and wasn’t seen for two weeks until he resurfaced in Dubai for breakaway league funding meetings, allegedly. Now he’s disappeared again, in May, from California. Could he be a super spy and cycling is his cover story? It would explain his demeanor and the sudden disappearances,” commented Tomalaris.

Other pundits weren’t so gracious.

“Can he just stay away and not come back? It would be a favour to us all,” declared Ned Boulting.

It remains to be seen what the real circumstances are behind the disappearances, and also the contents of the mysterious subpoena. The Amgen Tour of California continues Wednesday in Sonora and finishes in Clovis.