The professional cycling thread

[Vocal Minority]

Away from the Hurley Burley of the Adriatico and Paris-Nice...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26557...

• checks calender....nope not April yet.

....huh....ok.

[Vocal Minority]

I think Sky are generally backing Thomas for the classics

[Vocal Minority]

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.

[Vocal Minority]

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

[Vocal Minority]

Highway Star said:

Wonder what Henao thinks about that?

More interestingly, he has been let back in on the quiet (unless I have missed something)

[Vocal Minority]

Slaav said:

Vocal Minority said:

Highway Star said:

Wonder what Henao thinks about that?

More interestingly, he has been let back in on the quiet (unless I have missed something)

Are there not two 'Henaos'?

That would be the something I had missed!

[Vocal Minority]

He's a bit dull - but name me someone at the top of their sport who isn't a bit dull.

[Vocal Minority]

okgo said:

Vocal Minority said:

He's a bit dull - but name me someone at the top of their sport who isn't a bit dull.

Snooker.

Steve Davies. Stephen Hendry. Peter Ebdon.

[Vocal Minority]

Exception that proves the rule I would say Wiggins as well, but I would argue that he isn't at the very top (very good, but not very top).

For every Cav there is a Sebastian Vettel or a Steven Gerrard or a Jonny Wilkinson.

[Vocal Minority]

There were a few decent sprinters there.

The train was having trouble last year, and getting bullied a little and not holding it together. Hopefully they are starting to gel a bit

[Vocal Minority]

Is Renshaw not back in the train?

[Vocal Minority]

In the mean time Kittel has won his second stage of the Giro, and then pulled out with illness.

Decent effort from Swift, but the distance Kittel comes back from shows how much work there is still left to do for the young man.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/27361717

[Vocal Minority]

Will the hope be that Froome is sufficiently competent a TTer that the issue of Wiggin's lead being so imperious that he has to be helped in the mountains at Froome's expense will not arise.

• NB this is all theoretical and ignores the fact that you will have 2 big egos to contain.

[Vocal Minority]

I don't know sufficient detail.

However, but as it was the same offence, and same defence as Bertie, when the higher profile rider got a ban, and the domestique got cleared, the implication is there was some merit in it

[Vocal Minority]

ewenm said:

Natural gift or nurtured body? The commentators yesterday were saying NQ was given a bike to ride to school and back - the route home was uphill all the way and 15km IIRC. Nurture over nature IMO.

Also being born and growing up at altitude rather helps

[Vocal Minority]

Combined with Chris Froome digging up comments over 'I sensed weakness' and 'I nearly quit Team Sky' recently - it all feels a touch sour inside Team Sky.

No one is doubting that froome would have ridden away that day in 2012, and no one doubts he is the better Grand Tour cyclist - it just seems stupid to keep on raking this muck up in interviews.

To omit Wiggins, who is in great form, who would be a great super-domestique....the only reason must be to prevent any histrionics (which it seems both are very susceptable too).

[Vocal Minority]

World ITT is the only really meaningful win for him I think.

Vuelta will not suit him as a rider really, and as you say that will probably be Porte's show after the Giro was taken away from him.

[Vocal Minority]

Sagan's secret weapon was demonstrated to full effect on Sunday. He is there at the front in the lumpy stages where the likes of Kittel, Greipel and Cavendish lose ten minutes.

I can see him going on a Zabelesque green streak personally.

[Vocal Minority]

In fairness, Wiggins is a bit wibbley when the going gets wet as well.

Throw the might of the team behind Richie Porte now. But who is left to help him in the mountains?

[Vocal Minority]

Or will they just be forced to go for stage wins?

May let GT off the lead for today?

ETA: I seem to be about 60 seconds late to each point today!