The professional cycling thread

[okgo]

You better hope Tornado Tom does the business or that kid is gunna get bullied

[anonymous-user]

I have people ready with tacks in case Stybar comes into the velodrome leading!!!

[DJRC]

No comment Sir DB stepping down from British cycling to concentrate on just Sky?

Some bloody strength in depth. Leaving Shane Sutton in charge...the 2nd best in the world...sending The Chimp off to LFC, England and the FA and SDB himself to deliver a triple TdF.

In my more cynical moments I almost feel like sending a memo off to the RFU and asking them their thoughts...

[Gizmoish]

pablo said:

I have people ready with tacks in case Stybar comes into the velodrome leading!!!

A mate of mine is expecting too. I've told him he has to call the forthcoming sprog Zdenek, or at the very least Fabian.

[Jonnny]

Contador and Valverde have been brilliant in the 'Tour of the Basque Country' - one attacking on a climb, the other immediately on his wheel.

[anonymous-user]

Jonnny said:

Contador and Valverde have been brilliant in the 'Tour of the Basque Country' - one attacking on a climb, the other immediately on his wheel.

Yes the cobbled classics seem to have diverted most peoples attention away from this race but Contador looks like he is very strong at the moment. Slagter looks like he is enjoying the step up to GRS too and it was great to see Ben Swift pick up a stage win yesterday too.

25km TT today, could be really interesting as there are some fast riders under a minute behind Contador... Evans and TvG may fancy their chances but I suspect 25kms isnt enough for them to bring back a minute on Contador.

[okgo]

Contador is a better tester than them anyway is have thought. Especially over the hilly route.

[Gizmoish]

And so it proved. I do wonder whether Kwiatkowski, with a bit more age and guile, could have mugged Bertie this week. He was chasing sprint victories when there weren't any bonus seconds on offer... Could have saved his energy for the TT.

Good riding from Tony Martin though too, I do like the OPQS squad.

[Johnny]

Just stuck last weeks winnings on Cancellara to win today... Odds weren't great but can't see a different outcome.

[iiyama]

Highway Star said:

Great race, slightly spoilt by Carlton Kirby's 'commentary' on Eurosport. David Harmon, come back, all is forgiven!

Carlton Kirby is the worse commentator in the history of commentators.

[Dr Imran T]

Jonnny said:

Contador and Valverde have been brilliant in the 'Tour of the Basque Country' - one attacking on a climb, the other immediately on his wheel.

The time trial last night was superb. AC is looking in super form.

Has to the top contender for the grand tours.

[Johnny]

Fantastic racing today!

Will be happy to see my winnings go if a Brit could do this, seems so open...

[Johnny]

And so much for Wiggo not having the heart for it!

[anonymous-user]

what a fantastic race, a well deserved win for Terpstra too. Cant help but think that Wiggo and Thomas couldnt have worked up a plan in the closing kms but Terpstra didnt half have some speed to pull out that gap although no one seemed to want to chase him. For such a talented final group that seemed to fizz out a bit....

[Rouleur]

Great race all round, but tough on Boonen having had to do so much of the work. That's the way it goes for a rider like him though. Nice ride by Wiggins.

[Dr Imran T]

pablo said:

what a fantastic race, a well deserved win for Terpstra too. Cant help but think that Wiggo and Thomas couldnt have worked up a plan in the closing kms but Terpstra didnt half have some speed to pull out that gap although no one seemed to want to chase him. For such a talented final group that seemed to fizz out a bit....

that's what I thought re. the final group. Had some very capable riders in it. Although I am sure OPQS were happy to let him go.

Was a lot more tactical today's race..

Shame Fabian got knocked off his bike too..

Top ride by Geraint and BW though. Geraint did plenty of work

[anonymous-user]

with 4kms to go, i was shouting "Brad FFS do something!" at the telly but he obviously didnt hear me! a two-up TT with Thomas to the line would have been and could have secured victory but I just dont see what they were doing, waiting for someone else to make the jump? biding their time for a sprint for minor placings? I just felt that having the two strongest Sky riders in that final group and to emerge with nothing but a good effort and a top ten was a bit of weak team management. They both rode superbly throughout the day though and I'm pleased Brad stayed true to his comments early in the weak of "leaving it all out on the road"

In other news, pablo junior isnt being named "Niki" though i liked the Lauda connection... and please David Millar, dont go out on a whimper and not a bang!.... one big day, thats all we want, a stage win in le tour or a doomed but heroic 200km solo break, thats not asking much is it?!??

[okgo]

You don't see because you have no idea how their legs probably felt after nearly 6 hours of riding on that terrain.

[Rouleur]

Yeah, none of them reacted at all to Terpstra's attack so it's safe to say that they were all buggered. I wouldn't be suprised if Wiggins is already planning to have a more serious crack at it next year having done so well with barely any experience of the race.

So, Amstel next Sunday and Fleche Wallone the following Wednesday. Sagan will be looking for a big win and Gilbert will be out to play

[Rich_W]

Rouleur said:

Yeah, none of them reacted at all to Terpstra's attack so it's safe to say that they were all buggered. I wouldn't be suprised if Wiggins is already planning to have a more serious crack at it next year having done so well with barely any experience of the race.

So, Amstel next Sunday and Fleche Wallone the following Wednesday. Sagan will be looking for a big win and Gilbert will be out to play

And Leige the last weekend of April.

I don't think any of them expected Terpstra to make it. And the rest were just doing what Cancellara did last week at Flanders. Play poker and not chase until someone blinks and goes for it. Sadly no one blinked.

I was super pleased for both SBW and GT for their efforts today. More so Wiggins. Whoever thought he'd do THAT well? I mean I hoped, but I feared he'd get shuffled out by the constant attacks.

Carlton Kirby. Too much shouty. Getting too much for my ears these days. Where was Rob Hatch or Declan Quigley? Matt Stevens is a good co-commentator though. Far better than Sean Kelly or Brian Smith.