The professional cycling thread
Discussion
okgo said:
You don't see because you have no idea how their legs probably felt after nearly 6 hours of riding on that terrain.
yeah I appreciate that, my point was no one in a world class bunch of 12 riders reacted and I know its a glib comment to say "whats another 4kms having already done 250" but from a man (Wiggo) who said he was "prepared to leave it all out on the road", rolling in with a bunch to me suggests he still has a stage race head on his shoulders at the moment. That no one reacted to me suggests they were happy to let Terpstra go and protecting their backs, like Cancellara was happier for Terpstra to win than chase and drag Boonen et al back in to it... sure thats tactics and I dont think it spoilt the race as a result.
Fastest Paris-Roubaix average speed ever apaprently?!...
I think there will be more surprises in the coming weeks, no one really had Kristoff or Terpstra down as winners of the monuments this year and I think one more surprise is left to come possibly a Dutchman...
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 14th April 10:25
They didn't chase as they were f
ked. Do you not get that concept?
OPQS played the game well, Boonen and Stybar were up there and Stybar was sitting on, they had the numbers and played it perfectly. Cancellara had been worked over and had f all left, Thomas was dead, Wiggins likely dead, and had semi attacked not long before and then had to bridge over to that group with him and Thomas doing the lions share. Considering he was where he was I think 'still got his stage head on' is a massive piss take, he rode out of his skin, and beyond nearly everyone (perhaps except his own) expectations and silenced his doubters, I bet even Cancellara will be happy to eat his words.
If Sagan can get anywhere near the finishes of the ardennes I think its going to be hard to look passed him.
ked. Do you not get that concept?OPQS played the game well, Boonen and Stybar were up there and Stybar was sitting on, they had the numbers and played it perfectly. Cancellara had been worked over and had f all left, Thomas was dead, Wiggins likely dead, and had semi attacked not long before and then had to bridge over to that group with him and Thomas doing the lions share. Considering he was where he was I think 'still got his stage head on' is a massive piss take, he rode out of his skin, and beyond nearly everyone (perhaps except his own) expectations and silenced his doubters, I bet even Cancellara will be happy to eat his words.
If Sagan can get anywhere near the finishes of the ardennes I think its going to be hard to look passed him.
Edited by okgo on Monday 14th April 10:34
Edited by okgo on Monday 14th April 10:36
Wiggins was very impressive actually, seeing as the race really wasn't 'his cup of tea', I was very pleased that he was in the Cancellara group at the end.
Thomas is starting to hit his straps well too - coped very well with the Sagan and Boonen attacks as part of the groups and kept his cool.
Thomas is starting to hit his straps well too - coped very well with the Sagan and Boonen attacks as part of the groups and kept his cool.
meh, so i was overly critical, it was a superb ride from Wiggo and Thomas, its simply frustrating as a spectator to see the people you are supporting fail to respond in those situations, do you remember watching Cancellara get beaten up in the 2009 Worlds?
...and i do know from experience, what it feels like to have nothing left in the legs and be dropped from a group... its miserable.
...and i do know from experience, what it feels like to have nothing left in the legs and be dropped from a group... its miserable.
okgo said:
They didn't chase as they were fked. Do you not get that concept?
We get that loud and clear ked. Do you not get that concept?
that's what I thought BUT from the comfort of our arm chair we want this level of commitment:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qgXQ3zPSN4
Watch it from 19:15 onwards - one of the greatest moments in cycling history.
Really depends how bad you want it and whether it is worth pushing yourself beyond the limit.
I will stick to saying they 'could' have done better with a fine drink in one hand and a cigar in the other
Dr Imran T said:
okgo said:
They didn't chase as they were fked. Do you not get that concept?
We get that loud and clear ked. Do you not get that concept? that's what I thought BUT from the comfort of our arm chair we want this level of commitment:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qgXQ3zPSN4
Watch it from 19:15 onwards - one of the greatest moments in cycling history.
Really depends how bad you want it and whether it is worth pushing yourself beyond the limit.
I will stick to saying they 'could' have done better with a fine drink in one hand and a cigar in the other
ETA. "But just who's that coming up behind? That looks like Roche. That looks like Stephen Roche. IT'S STEPHEN ROCHE!!!!!!"
Edited by Rocksteadyeddie on Monday 14th April 20:31
or maybe he did have the legs but lost his head?
“There’s a tinge of disappointment. I really had legs, even in the final, I felt strong,” Wiggins explained. “I was pinching myself a little bit, I don’t mind admitting that. It was a real honour to be in the final, going past Boonen on the Carrefour [cobbled sector] was special. And then to come on the velodrome with a group like Cancellara. To be there was great. It gave me confidence that I can do it now and match those guys.”
ho hum, its on to the next one...
“There’s a tinge of disappointment. I really had legs, even in the final, I felt strong,” Wiggins explained. “I was pinching myself a little bit, I don’t mind admitting that. It was a real honour to be in the final, going past Boonen on the Carrefour [cobbled sector] was special. And then to come on the velodrome with a group like Cancellara. To be there was great. It gave me confidence that I can do it now and match those guys.”
ho hum, its on to the next one...
Rogers is free to race again
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-ban-for-rogers-...
UCI found a 'significant probability' that the positive came from contaminated meat
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-ban-for-rogers-...
UCI found a 'significant probability' that the positive came from contaminated meat
okgo said:
They didn't chase as they were fked. Do you not get that concept?
OPQS played the game well, Boonen and Stybar were up there and Stybar was sitting on, they had the numbers and played it perfectly. Cancellara had been worked over and had f all left, Thomas was dead, Wiggins likely dead, and had semi attacked not long before and then had to bridge over to that group with him and Thomas doing the lions share. Considering he was where he was I think 'still got his stage head on' is a massive piss take, he rode out of his skin, and beyond nearly everyone (perhaps except his own) expectations and silenced his doubters, I bet even Cancellara will be happy to eat his words.
If Sagan can get anywhere near the finishes of the ardennes I think its going to be hard to look passed him.
Wiggins said himself “I really had the legs,”ked. Do you not get that concept?OPQS played the game well, Boonen and Stybar were up there and Stybar was sitting on, they had the numbers and played it perfectly. Cancellara had been worked over and had f all left, Thomas was dead, Wiggins likely dead, and had semi attacked not long before and then had to bridge over to that group with him and Thomas doing the lions share. Considering he was where he was I think 'still got his stage head on' is a massive piss take, he rode out of his skin, and beyond nearly everyone (perhaps except his own) expectations and silenced his doubters, I bet even Cancellara will be happy to eat his words.
If Sagan can get anywhere near the finishes of the ardennes I think its going to be hard to look passed him.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycli...
I got the impression from other accounts read that he felt good at the end and regretted not going for Terpstra at the time. It seemed that he was a little in awe and surprise with his company at the end, and didn't demonstrate the do-or-die killer instinct.
Not exactly professional, but certainly cycling, an account of riding the route of the 1914 Giro on a vintage machine.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/recreational...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/recreational...
pablo said:
Interesting Sky team for the Giro in Porte's absence, leading with Kennaugh but good support from Eisel, Swift, Sioutsou and Henao. I hope the do well given the absence of Froome and Wiggins too but I suspect it will be a tough three weeks for Kennaugh.
Big step up for him to lead the team at a GT.Its going to be fascinating to watch how he reacts, he lacks the experience and tactical acumen to take the fight to the likes of Quintana, Scarponi and Rodriguez but given Wiggo and Froome are having a love-in in France in July, Porte is ill, there is no-one else around.
http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/#rosters
http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/#rosters
Rocksteadyeddie said:
pablo said:
Interesting Sky team for the Giro in Porte's absence, leading with Kennaugh but good support from Eisel, Swift, Sioutsou and Henao. I hope the do well given the absence of Froome and Wiggins too but I suspect it will be a tough three weeks for Kennaugh.
Big step up for him to lead the team at a GT.Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff