The Pro Road Cycling Thread

[andyhinch]

Was it worth turning up for Nervous Nedum?

It was a great day out if I'm being honest, I really enjoyed it. I've never been to anything like it before so it was all new to me. I got there a good couple of hours before the riders started and watched all the team buses turn up and start unpacking the bikes. Was like Aladdins cave in some of them, packed full of stuff!

Then the riders turned up in the cars and it went a bit crazy for a while, and eventually some of them meandered out for a warm-up. I was genuinely shocked with how close you could get and how chatty they all were. Eventually I wandered up to the last few corners inside the final kilometre and spent a few hours there taking pictures and cheering the riders on.

Overall, an enjoyable afternoon watching some top quality sport!

Missed todays stage live and just caught ITV4 highlights. Looked a real quality race. Wiggo riding upto Marin and Quintana on Penn Y pass was quality. Its not to steep that road but fair play to him.


Having not watched it live the snippets i got had Cav riding on the Skytrain everytime. A pact perhaps? You ride with us and take the bonus secs on offer?

Say that after you've ridden up it! ;) I'm going to give it a go next week, see how far off the pros I really am.

I think Cav was just keeping out of trouble and waiting in prime position hoping that Sky would pull it back together. Worked a treat, was a fantastic last 10km.

Well done to Cav, last 10/15k was quality

 

[Rascal]

Another interesting stage of the ToB with a superb last 20k of attacking action.

I expected Wiggins to lose time today to Martin and Quintana but Stannard was immense bringing them back. The young Irish kid was really thrilled with his win and it was well deserved. Great crowds out again on the route especially on Caerphilly mountain. Watching it i was thinking how great would it be if they did it 3 times and the last was an MTF.

Those Yates twins look pretty special dont they.


Also why is Maggie such an Anglophile?

 

[Shands]

Another interesting stage of the ToB with a superb last 20k of attacking action.

I expected Wiggins to lose time today to Martin and Quintana but Stannard was immense bringing them back. The young Irish kid was really thrilled with his win and it was well deserved. Great crowds out again on the route especially on Caerphilly mountain. Watching it i was thinking how great would it be if they did it 3 times and the last was an MTF.

Those Yates twins look pretty special dont they.


Also why is Maggie such an Anglophile?

Dan Martin really put the hammer down on that last time up the climb didn't he. A repeat of that in the world championships would be welcome. Good on Quintana too, he could easily have turned up and just soft pedaled at the back of the bunch all week, but instead he's gone out and tried to race, which is not only great for the spectators but also the prestige of the race. They've done well with the big names in that sense because last year Basso and Sanchez both got involved in the action too. Good value so far as a race.

 

[Rascal]

Dan Martin really put the hammer down on that last time up the climb didn't he. A repeat of that in the world championships would be welcome. Good on Quintana too, he could easily have turned up and just soft pedaled at the back of the bunch all week, but instead he's gone out and tried to race, which is not only great for the spectators but also the prestige of the race. They've done well with the big names in that sense because last year Basso and Sanchez both got involved in the action too. Good value so far as a race.

Yeah last year the delight on Sanchezes face whn his team mate won in Devon was great for the ToB and Basso saying he loved the support. Hopefully a couple more world tour teams have a look at racing but im enjoying seeing the lower Brit teams have a go and especially the GB under 23s

Martin looks like he will be in form for the worlds as does Quintana too and from a Brit point of view its brilliant to see Brad, Stannard and Edmondson looking very good.

Sir Brad must have a great chance of winning the ITT and we will have a very strong team backing the Dawg for the win as well. It was interesting to see Cav wants to ride the worlds even though he cant win, but Maggie was going on today about how valuable a team mate Cav can be in the race before TV comes on air as a Domestique. His speed chasing down breaks etc

 

[Shands]

Yeah last year the delight on Sanchezes face whn his team mate won in Devon was great for the ToB and Basso saying he loved the support. Hopefully a couple more world tour teams have a look at racing but im enjoying seeing the lower Brit teams have a go and especially the GB under 23s

Martin looks like he will be in form for the worlds as does Quintana too and from a Brit point of view its brilliant to see Brad, Stannard and Edmondson looking very good.

Sir Brad must have a great chance of winning the ITT and we will have a very strong team backing the Dawg for the win as well. It was interesting to see Cav wants to ride the worlds even though he cant win, but Maggie was going on today about how valuable a team mate Cav can be in the race before TV comes on air as a Domestique. His speed chasing down breaks etc

Florence is also where he lives so he's very familiar with the intricacies of the course.

Agree on the u23's, very interesting to see how they acquit themselves.

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

Yeah last year the delight on Sanchezes face whn his team mate won in Devon was great for the ToB and Basso saying he loved the support. Hopefully a couple more world tour teams have a look at racing but im enjoying seeing the lower Brit teams have a go and especially the GB under 23s

Martin looks like he will be in form for the worlds as does Quintana too and from a Brit point of view its brilliant to see Brad, Stannard and Edmondson looking very good.

Sir Brad must have a great chance of winning the ITT and we will have a very strong team backing the Dawg for the win as well. It was interesting to see Cav wants to ride the worlds even though he cant win, but Maggie was going on today about how valuable a team mate Cav can be in the race before TV comes on air as a Domestique. His speed chasing down breaks etc

Florence is also where he lives so he's very familiar with the intricacies of the course.

Agree on the u23's, very interesting to see how they acquit themselves.

I can see Sky snaffling up the Yates boys, good win today, look like they have bags of ability.

That stage should see Brad take the win now, and hopefully another win or 2 from Cav just to round things off. For a superstar Cav isnt afraid of hard work, the sight of his jersey full of bottles in 2012 tour was another example of his ability to work well in a team.

The worlds RR seems set up for Gilbert to win for me, he seems to be coming back into form and the parcour suits him. The ITT seems a 3 way battle, think the lump in the middle suits Brad the best of the 3 favs. Should be good.

 

[Shands]

Yeah last year the delight on Sanchezes face whn his team mate won in Devon was great for the ToB and Basso saying he loved the support. Hopefully a couple more world tour teams have a look at racing but im enjoying seeing the lower Brit teams have a go and especially the GB under 23s

Martin looks like he will be in form for the worlds as does Quintana too and from a Brit point of view its brilliant to see Brad, Stannard and Edmondson looking very good.

Sir Brad must have a great chance of winning the ITT and we will have a very strong team backing the Dawg for the win as well. It was interesting to see Cav wants to ride the worlds even though he cant win, but Maggie was going on today about how valuable a team mate Cav can be in the race before TV comes on air as a Domestique. His speed chasing down breaks etc

Florence is also where he lives so he's very familiar with the intricacies of the course.

Agree on the u23's, very interesting to see how they acquit themselves.

I can see Sky snaffling up the Yates boys, good win today, look like they have bags of ability.

That stage should see Brad take the win now, and hopefully another win or 2 from Cav just to round things off. For a superstar Cav isnt afraid of hard work, the sight of his jersey full of bottles in 2012 tour was another example of his ability to work well in a team.

The worlds RR seems set up for Gilbert to win for me, he seems to be coming back into form and the parcour suits him. The ITT seems a 3 way battle, think the lump in the middle suits Brad the best of the 3 favs. Should be good.

Very impressive kick from Simon Yates wasn't it. Apparently the team his brother rides for in France is the same one that Pinot, Ellisonde and Barguil all came through, so some good footsteps to follow in there.

I've no idea who'll win the worlds, not a clue - except that it wont be Gilbert :p

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

Florence is also where he lives so he's very familiar with the intricacies of the course.

Agree on the u23's, very interesting to see how they acquit themselves.

I can see Sky snaffling up the Yates boys, good win today, look like they have bags of ability.

That stage should see Brad take the win now, and hopefully another win or 2 from Cav just to round things off. For a superstar Cav isnt afraid of hard work, the sight of his jersey full of bottles in 2012 tour was another example of his ability to work well in a team.

The worlds RR seems set up for Gilbert to win for me, he seems to be coming back into form and the parcour suits him. The ITT seems a 3 way battle, think the lump in the middle suits Brad the best of the 3 favs. Should be good.

Very impressive kick from Simon Yates wasn't it. Apparently the team his brother rides for in France is the same one that Pinot, Ellisonde and Barguil all came through, so some good footsteps to follow in there.

I've no idea who'll win the worlds, not a clue - except that it wont be Gilbert :p

Is he injured?

 

[Shands]

I can see Sky snaffling up the Yates boys, good win today, look like they have bags of ability.

That stage should see Brad take the win now, and hopefully another win or 2 from Cav just to round things off. For a superstar Cav isnt afraid of hard work, the sight of his jersey full of bottles in 2012 tour was another example of his ability to work well in a team.

The worlds RR seems set up for Gilbert to win for me, he seems to be coming back into form and the parcour suits him. The ITT seems a 3 way battle, think the lump in the middle suits Brad the best of the 3 favs. Should be good.

Very impressive kick from Simon Yates wasn't it. Apparently the team his brother rides for in France is the same one that Pinot, Ellisonde and Barguil all came through, so some good footsteps to follow in there.

I've no idea who'll win the worlds, not a clue - except that it wont be Gilbert :p

Is he injured?

No, he'll be there on the start line. I was just teasing you because I don't think he's got it in the legs this season.

 

[mrcunny]

you pro boys..building myself a bike..wheels..fulcrum quattro,. shimano rs80 or campag zonda..which would you lot choose..i presume im making a mountain out of a mole hill but hey...your advice will be appreciated .