The professional cycling thread

[Gizmoish]

pablo said:

Quintana and Rodriguez are targeting the Giro and La Vuelta this year apparently leaving le tour wide open for Froome. Movistar want Quintana to ride La Vuelta for sponsorship reasons and Rodriguez being Spanish also wants a crack at it. I'd suspect Porte may go for the Giro for Sky and Wiggo will aim for La Vuelta. It could prove to be an interesting three weeks in France without J-Rod and Quintana...

... If it wasn't for Nibali, Valverde and Contador all aiming to knock Froome off his perch. TJVG and Mollema will be there and thereabouts too.

Expect to see lots of concerted attacking between teams to blow Sky apart, like the stage after Ax3D last year.

Quintana and Purito are rumoured to be getting start bonuses to ride the Giro, without them the top talent looks a bit thin - just Cadel (past it), Porte (won Paris-Nice but can he do a 3-wk GC?) and Uran (with little support from OPQS).

[Gizmoish]

Anyway, tours? I'm looking forward to the classics Cancellara, Sagan, a fit-again Boonen, Stybar and (rumours suggest) Wiggo going for Roubaix...

[mrbicyclet]

The classics make me wet. Keepig an eye out for stybar at Paris Roubaix, hope he wins after last years shambles. I cant see Wiggins making the final selection

[VEA]

I thought this might interest a few in here... (didn't want to start a whole thread on it)

http://fizik.it/an_eloquence_of_movement/

[mcelliott]

pablo said:

It could prove to be an interesting three weeks in France without J-Rod and Quintana...

What odd logic - so you take two of the most attacking, exciting riders in the world out of the premier grand tour and it becomes interesting?

[ewenm]

Just saw a BBC headline about the sad death of a South African cyclist and assumed it was another road crash with a vehicle, but it turns out it was a track crash during a keirin race - I thought track was safer but I guess travelling at high-speed on a bike has inherent risks even in a controlled environment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/26161673

RIP

[Highway Star]

Sad indeed.

Also noticed its 10 years since Pantani died. He may have been sky high, but I loved watching him ride.

[Dr Imran T]

Tour of Oman starts on Tue 18th

Been watching this race every year and it is a good indicator of early season form.

Lots of big names in this year.

Looking forward to see how Froome is doing.


More info here:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/to...

[anonymous-user]

Spartacus, Mexico, 3rd August....

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/fa...

[Rouleur]

Ian Stannard has won Omloop

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuws...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKlaPjhWGM4

Edited by Rouleur on Saturday 1st March 17:26

[central]

[Gizmoish]

Stan the man

Brilliant. So happy for him.

[anonymous-user]

Thats a great result, he proved he had potential last year, especially after MSR when he was in the mix with the worlds best right to the end. I was critical of him in le tour suggesting he didnt have two big consecutive days in him and whilst I still think thats true, its good to see him winning one days races rather than just competing. Sone good early season rides from Chavanal, Phinney Ciolek and Roelandts too.

Lets see what KBK tomorrow brings...have Stybar and Boonen saved something?

[Alex Langheck]

That was a really enjoyable race - and in proper Classics weather. Shame I could only watch it on a stream - why weren't Eurosport covering it?
I do think cycling is years behind when it come to promotion & televising of it's races. Something the UCI need to get sorting out.

[Highway Star]

Alex Langheck said:

That was a really enjoyable race - and in proper Classics weather. Shame I could only watch it on a stream - why weren't Eurosport covering it?
I do think cycling is years behind when it come to promotion & televising of it's races. Something the UCI need to get sorting out.

It might be a licensing issue with the local broadcasters - I can't remember Eurosport ever showing the Omloop. I think they've only done KBK highlights before. I guess its because they aren't that high profile so ES don't want to shell out for them.

[anonymous-user]

KBK is on eurosport from 1330 and streaming on various feeds listed at steephill. Weather in Ghent is dry by all accounts

[Highway Star]

pablo said:

KBK is on eurosport from 1330 and streaming on various feeds listed at steephill. Weather in Ghent is dry by all accounts

Yeah, just seen that

[Dr Imran T]

pablo said:

Thats a great result, he proved he had potential last year, especially after MSR when he was in the mix with the worlds best right to the end. I was critical of him in le tour suggesting he didnt have two big consecutive days in him and whilst I still think thats true, its good to see him winning one days races rather than just competing. Sone good early season rides from Chavanal, Phinney Ciolek and Roelandts too.

Lets see what KBK tomorrow brings...have Stybar and Boonen saved something?

Andre Greipel is surely in with a shout. Been in super form so far.

[Gizmoish]

I'm amused to see that the Keirin at Cali is behind a 'proper' motorbike and not a silly little Velosolex-type derny

[mcelliott]

Great win by Tornado Tom today in the K-B-K. The Quick Steppers delivering him to the line to perfection. Love to see him get the top spot in the Paris Roubaix. Gonna be a mega Spring Classics season.