The professional cycling thread

The professional cycling thread

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Talksteer

4,843 posts

232 months

Wednesday 31st October 2018
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louiebaby said:
Talksteer said:
On the cycling podcast Francais Tommaso made the point that in the history of the TDF it is basically won by strong TT guys.
Interesting stats. I'm a strong proponent of up hill time trials, and the short lumpy day trialled this year was an interesting slant too.
Interesting feature of uphill time trials is that they tend to favour the best GC time trialists.

The climbers who don't practice TT efforts are still likely to be less good a pacing and holding the TT position. It's not just FTP/weight.

Generally the worlds best time trialist tends to have a pretty good power to weight anyway, certainly people like Indurian, Wiggins and Dumulain were able to retain their full FTP and loose weight. These guys frequently even have the measure of a Cancellara or Martin who are only actually 5-10% heavier.

Actually the biggest factor holding back a TT specialist who doesn't practice all out efforts up hill is that the biomechanics of where the force is applied in the pedal stroke is different when climbing vs flat TT's.

In short I don't think you can produce a TDF course that doesn't favour Sky, they are the best at grand tours.

JuniorD

8,616 posts

222 months

Wednesday 31st October 2018
quotequote all
Talksteer said:
JuniorD said:
The 27km TTT on stage 2 will put an immediate end to all but two or three people's GC hopes
On the cycling podcast Francais Tommaso made the point that in the history of the TDF it is basically won by strong TT guys. When a climber wins it is something of an exception.

Year, TT Pos

2018 3rd
2017 3rd
2016 6th, 2nd, 1st
2015 2nd TTT
2014 4th
2013 2nd, 1st
2012 2nd,1st, 1st
2011 2nd TTT, 2nd
2010 5th
2009 2nd, 1st TTT, 1st
2008 12th
In the years listed 2008-2018 above, the winners were Sastre, Contador, Schleck, Evans, Wiggins, Nibali, Froome, Thomas. They are are all exceptional climbers, maybe Sastre and Evans slightly less so. With the exception of Schleck, they are also top TTers.

It is arguable that that the last non-climber to win the Tour was Indurain, and the last non TTer to win was Schleck.







johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Wednesday 31st October 2018
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It would be interesting to see the list of riders weights I doubt any of them are more than 70 kg's. I think Wiggins was less than 70kg in 2012 probably a lot less by the end of the TDF

Barga

12,241 posts

205 months

Wednesday 31st October 2018
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IT would also be enlightening to see how many of them had TUEs for corticosteroids for breathing difficulties which may have benefited their exceptional w/kg?

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Wednesday 31st October 2018
quotequote all
Barga said:
IT would also be enlightening to see how many of them had TUEs for corticosteroids for breathing difficulties which may have benefited their exceptional w/kg?
change the freakin record and start your own thread and leave people to enjoy this one

Barga

12,241 posts

205 months

Wednesday 31st October 2018
quotequote all
johnxjsc1985 said:
Barga said:
IT would also be enlightening to see how many of them had TUEs for corticosteroids for breathing difficulties which may have benefited their exceptional w/kg?
change the freakin record and start your own thread and leave people to enjoy this one
I didn't realise you could only contribute if you have blinkers on!


Edited by Barga on Wednesday 31st October 18:40

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Wednesday 31st October 2018
quotequote all
Barga said:
I didn't realise you could only contribute if you have blinkers on!


Edited by Barga on Wednesday 31st October 18:40
well done you must be so proud of yourself. I am out of here another thread ruined by a smartarse

Talksteer

4,843 posts

232 months

Tuesday 6th November 2018
quotequote all
Barga said:
johnxjsc1985 said:
Barga said:
IT would also be enlightening to see how many of them had TUEs for corticosteroids for breathing difficulties which may have benefited their exceptional w/kg?
change the freakin record and start your own thread and leave people to enjoy this one
I didn't realise you could only contribute if you have blinkers on!


Edited by Barga on Wednesday 31st October 18:40
Man gest thin in a 5 year period shock

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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RIP Paul Sherwen

“Voice of the Tour” with Phil Liggett when I was getting into cycling.


ferrisbueller

29,260 posts

226 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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Just seen that buried half way down the BBC sport page. It's going to be a bit odd not hearing him when watching the TV.
RIP

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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Just 62 years old how sad. I loved the Combination of him and Liggett. He was a big local star when I was growing up and went on to ride quite a few TDF.

DS240

4,636 posts

217 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Sky announce end of team sponsorship at the end of 2019!

That’s bound to shake things up a bit. I’m sure some teams won’t shed a tear.

Whether this will be good or bad for the sport, we’ll have to see. Did it raise the standard across the teams and improve the sport or damage it with budget increases to keep up?


mooseracer

1,843 posts

169 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Just saw this! There will be some bloody good riders retiring and/or looking for new teams at the end of 2019 as I can't imagine the team will find a title sponsor willing and able to fund like Sky have.

All in all it's a real shame in my view.

Johnny

9,652 posts

283 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Agreed, it's a massive shame.

thegreenhell

15,111 posts

218 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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A shame indeed, and just as McLaren announce their cycling plans...

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-cycling...

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

227 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
quotequote all
thegreenhell said:
A shame indeed, and just as McLaren announce their cycling plans...

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-cycling...
Makes sense. A lot of cycling performance is based on aerodynamics. I know they haven't been the best at it lately, but their knowledge will help. Also useful if they have a wind tunnel.

I guess it's time for Sky. They have been around for a while now. I wonder where the riders will go.

Alex Langheck

835 posts

128 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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In any normal sport, the loss of a sponsor wouldn't be a problem, as there are other revenue streams for teams, and a new sponsor would be found. However, with the outdated funding model for cycling - were the sponsor is the main funding for teams, it's a massive blow.

In the grand scheme of world sport, £30-35M isn't a great amount of money. But, who is willing to chuck that type of money towards the sport?

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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It is hard to consider how Cycling can fill this financial void easily . I am sure lots of people will be glad to see the back of them but they have definitely added to the Sport and it will be interesting to see what happens in 2020.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Won’t it be particularly bad for british cycling. SKY have been central in the success of U.K. riders since they got involved.

BMWBen

4,899 posts

200 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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I think it's probably going to hurt the lessor riders in other teams more than any Team Sky rider. If another sponsor doesn't take over, there's going to be a hell of a lot of talent out on the market and other teams will drop people to make room for it!