The professional cycling thread

[Highway Star]

Gizmoish said:

Garmin seem to have bad things happen to them, wonder why that is. Perhaps they're just a bit too "cool".

Their shades are too big.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Highway Star said:

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Exciting finish! How does the GC look now?

1 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 22:48:08
2 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:15
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:18
4 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:22
5 Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica Greenedge 0:00:41
6 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:45
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:00:55
8 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:58
9 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 0:01:02
10 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:01:06

That read like a whose who of the runners and riders. Suspect the final 10 will look similar - although perhaps not in the same order.

[Dr Imran T]

Great stage yesterday and been interesting to see the main GC guys coming to the front.

I wasn't sure what to make of NQ at the end of yesterday's stage. I saw him in the Giro and he was simply unstoppable. Then I watch him in the ENECO tour and he was low key. Given that was not his kind of race or his priority but wasn't sure what to make of his form.

J-Rod looks to be coming good just at the right time, so he will certainly like to contest an overall GC win. He slightly burn't out yesterday at the end of the stage but had a good go of it, looked like he was about to drop off the bike at end of the stage mind.

Valverde looked super strong even with all that pacing on the front. Movistar must be well happy as they have 2 riders in contention for the overall. Hard to see who will take the lead role at movistar even though Valverde openly stated that NQ is the one he is there to support.

[Highway Star]

Dr Imran T said:

I wasn't sure what to make of NQ at the end of yesterday's stage. I saw him in the Giro and he was simply unstoppable. Then I watch him in the ENECO tour and he was low key. Given that was not his kind of race or his priority but wasn't sure what to make of his form.

Was Nairo at the Eneco? His brother, Dayer, was there and they look very alike on a bike...

[Dr Imran T]

^^ I'm sure he was, will check again though. I'm sure he'll find his legs maybe later in the tour. Still early days I guess.

Edit to add - was indeed his brother. I didn't watch much of it and only heard the name Quintana. Didn't think to check which one!

Cheers

Edited by Dr Imran T on Friday 29th August 16:18

[okgo]

It is a w/kg thing but why did he lose 11 seconds the other day up a steep final section?

All grand tours are a w/kg competition. They have been since god knows how long ago. Froome has better w/kg than just about everyone. Hence he wins mountain stages. Quintana is either bluffing or fked, and it about to get worse when we get a proper length climb if it is indeed that he was fked.

[Dr Imran T]

I think there is much more to winning a grand tour than looking at someone's W/kg.

Bike handling skills for example, a good rider can make up time on decent or adverse conditions. Nibali is a class bike handler and put a lot of time in over his rivals on stage 5 of the TdF.

[johnxjsc1985]

Power to weight ratio IS everything in cycling. You can gain far more time on an accent than a decent.

[Kermit power]

johnxjsc1985 said:

You can gain far more time on an accent than a decent.

That'll be those pesky, fast-talking Scousers, won't it?

[Grandfondo]

johnxjsc1985 said:

Power to weight ratio IS everything in cycling. You can gain far more time on an accent than a decent.

Not if your lying on the ground in a blood stained heap!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Kermit power said:

johnxjsc1985 said:

You can gain far more time on an accent than a decent.

That'll be those pesky, fast-talking Scousers, won't it?

[johnxjsc1985]

Grandfondo said:

Not if your lying on the ground in a blood stained heap!

I didn't realise people crashed on accents?

[johnxjsc1985]

Kermit power said:

That'll be those pesky, fast-talking Scousers, won't it?

sorry you have got me on that one

[Grandfondo]

johnxjsc1985 said:

Grandfondo said:

Not if your lying on the ground in a blood stained heap!

I didn't realise people crashed on accents?

Depends how broad it is!

[okgo]

Dr Imran T said:

I think there is much more to winning a grand tour than looking at someone's W/kg.

Bike handling skills for example, a good rider can make up time on decent or adverse conditions. Nibali is a class bike handler and put a lot of time in over his rivals on stage 5 of the TdF.

It's a combo of the both yes. But Spain in the height of summer at least provides fairly decent weather unlike those TDF stages. But I think that was either a great bluff or was Quintana showing he's not in he big leagues yet (yeh yeh, won the giro, but no Froome or Bertie).

[Grandfondo]

okgo said:

Dr Imran T said:

I think there is much more to winning a grand tour than looking at someone's W/kg.

Bike handling skills for example, a good rider can make up time on decent or adverse conditions. Nibali is a class bike handler and put a lot of time in over his rivals on stage 5 of the TdF.

It's a combo of the both yes. But Spain in the height of summer at least provides fairly decent weather unlike those TDF stages. But I think that was either a great bluff or was Quintana showing he's not in he big leagues yet (yeh yeh, won the giro, but no Froome or Bertie).

Or Nibali.

[okgo]

And though not a popular opinion I do to think Nibali is capable of living with Bert or Froome when it comes to long mountains. Only a year to wait and we will find out again I guess!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Quintana looks undercooked to me. And on a climb that ought to have suited him. That said, 3 weeks is a long time and many kn yet to go under the wheels. For me Froome now looks a pretty hot favourite at the moment.

[Kermit power]

johnxjsc1985 said:

Kermit power said:

That'll be those pesky, fast-talking Scousers, won't it?

sorry you have got me on that one

You speak with an accent. When you go uphill on a bike, that's an ascent.

Similarly, if you're a nice chap, you're decent. If you're going downhill on a bike, that would be a descent.

[Dr Imran T]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Quintana looks undercooked to me. And on a climb that ought to have suited him. That said, 3 weeks is a long time and many kn yet to go under the wheels. For me Froome now looks a pretty hot favourite at the moment.

He looks pretty strong. You know he fell.off again yesterday?

Anyone watch the itv4 highlights? Those comments about Froome and his stem made me laugh.

He might have a super w/kg but his bike riding skills needs to be addressed.