The professional cycling thread

[Alex Langheck]

HereBeMonsters said:

Haha - I wanted some decent bib shorts, as my bike has green bits all over it, I wanted them to match. Saw the Cannondale kit at the TdF last year, and since I didn't have a full zip jersey either (and being a bit of a sprinter myself, and a massive Sagan fan) I thought the deal for the full kit (€99) was better than spending €79.99 on a pair of shorts.

It's weird being a cycling fan though, as the team can change its entire name from year to year, not just its personnel. Imagine if Arsenal, say were called JVC for the entire time I was growing up, and then Sega, and now Emirates?

It's something I feel needs to change if the sport is going to progress.

As you say using the Arsenal example; here are some cycling ones;

Rabobank-Blanco-Belkin-…. Is the same team
BBox BouygesTelecom-Europcar = same team
TMobile-HighRoad-Columbia-HTCHighRoad = same team
Banesto-Caisse D’Epargne-Movistar = same team

I know it will never happen, but it needs to be a main sponsor/team name/bike manufacturer;

Tinkoff-Riis-Specialized
Sky Pinarello
Garmin-Slipstream-Cervelo

[Highway Star]

So, Bertie is turning up on the line in Spain then.

Contador vs Froome vs Quintana - this should be the best GT of the year.

[Sway]

How effective is he likely to be though, with such a short period of recovery from a fracture/break?

[okgo]

Sway said:

How effective is he likely to be though, with such a short period of recovery from a fracture/break?

With blood like marmalade, he should be alright

[Highway Star]

Stick a steak on it, it'll heal in no time.

I'm sure he wouldn't go if he didn't feel he could compete, he's got no reason to otherwise.

As an aside - am enjoying the Eneco Tour - nice to get some Classics-type stuff at this stage of the season.

[counterofbeans]

okgo said:

With blood like marmalade, he should be alright

zzzzzzzzzzz

[okgo]

counterofbeans said:

zzzzzzzzzzz

Its the only feasible way he can be competitive after so long off the bike. If he starts smashing it up then I'm not going to believe it.

The amount of fitness you lose with a month off is massive.

[HereBeMonsters]

Highway Star said:

So, Bertie is turning up on the line in Spain then.

Contador vs Froome vs Quintana - this should be the best GT of the year.

Is it wrong (as a Brit) that I'm supporting Quintana?

I saw him on le Tour last year, he's just brilliant.

[Highway Star]

I like him too. Every time I see him climbing out of the saddle with his little Colombian face, I get the theme tune to 'Mysterious Cities of Gold' stuck in my head.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

okgo said:

counterofbeans said:

zzzzzzzzzzz

Its the only feasible way he can be competitive after so long off the bike. If he starts smashing it up then I'm not going to believe it.

The amount of fitness you lose with a month off is massive.

I agree. He has bascially been sat on his backside nursing a broken leg. To then come back and be competitive in a Grand Tour - especially given the competition - is beyond the pale for me.

[okgo]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

I agree. He has bascially been sat on his backside nursing a broken leg. To then come back and be competitive in a Grand Tour - especially given the competition - is beyond the pale for me.

Especially as Froome was back training a lot sooner even outside, he was probably on the turbo almost days after the crash. Bertie was still not riding up til the other day I think?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

okgo said:

Especially as Froome was back training a lot sooner even outside, he was probably on the turbo almost days after the crash. Bertie was still not riding up til the other day I think?

A week ago he hadn't been on the road

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-ruled-out...

[HereBeMonsters]

Once a cheater...

[Grandfondo]

okgo said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

I agree. He has bascially been sat on his backside nursing a broken leg. To then come back and be competitive in a Grand Tour - especially given the competition - is beyond the pale for me.

Especially as Froome was back training a lot sooner even outside, he was probably on the turbo almost days after the crash. Bertie was still not riding up til the other day I think?

You have said that leg strength is irrelevant in cycling ,that it's all cardio.what if Contador had been doing hand cycling and kept his cardio fitness at it's peak?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Grandfondo said:

okgo said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

I agree. He has bascially been sat on his backside nursing a broken leg. To then come back and be competitive in a Grand Tour - especially given the competition - is beyond the pale for me.

Especially as Froome was back training a lot sooner even outside, he was probably on the turbo almost days after the crash. Bertie was still not riding up til the other day I think?

You have said that leg strength is irrelevant in cycling ,that it's all cardio.what if Contador had been doing hand cycling and kept his cardio fitness at it's peak?

Then he'll have massive shoulders and be carrying a load of extra weight.

[Grandfondo]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Grandfondo said:

okgo said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

I agree. He has bascially been sat on his backside nursing a broken leg. To then come back and be competitive in a Grand Tour - especially given the competition - is beyond the pale for me.

Especially as Froome was back training a lot sooner even outside, he was probably on the turbo almost days after the crash. Bertie was still not riding up til the other day I think?

You have said that leg strength is irrelevant in cycling ,that it's all cardio.what if Contador had been doing hand cycling and kept his cardio fitness at it's peak?

Then he'll have massive shoulders and be carrying a load of extra weight.

Why hasn't Froome got massive legs then?

[Chicken Chaser]

HereBeMonsters said:

Is it wrong (as a Brit) that I'm supporting Quintana?

I saw him on le Tour last year, he's just brilliant.

Well there's no Brits running for GC is there?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Grandfondo said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Grandfondo said:

okgo said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

I agree. He has bascially been sat on his backside nursing a broken leg. To then come back and be competitive in a Grand Tour - especially given the competition - is beyond the pale for me.

Especially as Froome was back training a lot sooner even outside, he was probably on the turbo almost days after the crash. Bertie was still not riding up til the other day I think?

You have said that leg strength is irrelevant in cycling ,that it's all cardio.what if Contador had been doing hand cycling and kept his cardio fitness at it's peak?

Then he'll have massive shoulders and be carrying a load of extra weight.

Why hasn't Froome got massive legs then?

They're bigger than his twiglet arms.

[Kermit power]

Chicken Chaser said:

HereBeMonsters said:

Is it wrong (as a Brit) that I'm supporting Quintana?

I saw him on le Tour last year, he's just brilliant.

Well there's no Brits running for GC is there?

At least you've got Cav in the sprints and I'm sure Millar will be trying to get into a lot of the breaks after not getting to ride the Tour...

[Dr Imran T]

HereBeMonsters said:

Is it wrong (as a Brit) that I'm supporting Quintana?

I saw him on le Tour last year, he's just brilliant.

Not at all, I really like him seems like the most humble guy in pro cycling.

He's also a huge talent and I expect he's going to a a serious force in the next 5+ years.

He was superb in the Giro and I can't wait to see how he well he does in the Vuelta.