The Pro Road Cycling Thread

[Shands]

It looked really cold out there today! 17th for Adam Yates though, excellent effort on his part.

 

[Nervous Nedum]

Catalunya today, first mountain stage, not steep or sustained enough for Froome or Contador to show their full hand really.

I'm fascinated in a freak show kind of way to see how the most recent Grand Tour winner is going to fair in this event and across the rest of the season ;-)
Not much sign of him on the coverage today.

Funny you should mention Horner, because he isn't on the start list for today's stage. ProCyclingStats are saying he's withdrawn due to Tendonitis again, the same reason he withdrew from Tirreno-Adriatico.

Stage 4 preview, courtesy of INRNG: http://inrng.com/2014/03/volta-a-catalunya-stage-4-preview/

 

[Shands]

Catalunya today, first mountain stage, not steep or sustained enough for Froome or Contador to show their full hand really.

I'm fascinated in a freak show kind of way to see how the most recent Grand Tour winner is going to fair in this event and across the rest of the season ;-)
Not much sign of him on the coverage today.

Funny you should mention Horner, because he isn't on the start list for today's stage. ProCyclingStats are saying he's withdrawn due to Tendonitis again, the same reason he withdrew from Tirreno-Adriatico.

Stage 4 preview, courtesy of INRNG: http://inrng.com/2014/03/volta-a-catalunya-stage-4-preview/

Maybe he's using his winning formula from last season, injured and out of competition from T-A onwards then return to crush everyone at the Vuelta, easy peasy *shakes head at the thought*

Sky seem to be in a strange place at the moment don't they? Henao and JTL suspended; Dombrowski nowhere to be seen; Porte struggling for one reason or another; Froome, Wiggins, Thomas, Stannard, Eisel all making unexpected changes to their schedule. There doesn't seem to be the same meticulous planning and structure as previous seasons. Don't know if that's just a necessary reaction to a string of bad luck/unforeseen events, or rather is it a change in perpetration ethos? Either way the aura of dominance they had this time last year is not evident this time around, and psychologically that must be a big boost for other teams and riders in the lead up to the grand tours. I think ideally Froome would like to put a marker down today to snuff out any self belief that might just be starting to build amongst one or two of his competitors - be interesting to see who prevails.

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

Catalunya today, first mountain stage, not steep or sustained enough for Froome or Contador to show their full hand really.

I'm fascinated in a freak show kind of way to see how the most recent Grand Tour winner is going to fair in this event and across the rest of the season ;-)
Not much sign of him on the coverage today.

Funny you should mention Horner, because he isn't on the start list for today's stage. ProCyclingStats are saying he's withdrawn due to Tendonitis again, the same reason he withdrew from Tirreno-Adriatico.

Stage 4 preview, courtesy of INRNG: http://inrng.com/2014/03/volta-a-catalunya-stage-4-preview/

Maybe he's using his winning formula from last season, injured and out of competition from T-A onwards then return to crush everyone at the Vuelta, easy peasy *shakes head at the thought*

Sky seem to be in a strange place at the moment don't they? Henao and JTL suspended; Dombrowski nowhere to be seen; Porte struggling for one reason or another; Froome, Wiggins, Thomas, Stannard, Eisel all making unexpected changes to their schedule. There doesn't seem to be the same meticulous planning and structure as previous seasons. Don't know if that's just a necessary reaction to a string of bad luck/unforeseen events, or rather is it a change in perpetration ethos? Either way the aura of dominance they had this time last year is not evident this time around, and psychologically that must be a big boost for other teams and riders in the lead up to the grand tours. I think ideally Froome would like to put a marker down today to snuff out any self belief that might just be starting to build amongst one or two of his competitors - be interesting to see who prevails.

Shands tries to upset Sky fanboy Rasc ;-)

A long way to go until Le tour, i imagine that Froome, Wiggins, Thomas and Porte will be a very intimidating foursome come 5th July, add in a bit of quality support in EBH, Peter Kennaugh, Juan Antonio Flecha and the like, they will still be the team to beat, no matter what Movistar and Saxobank are thinking right now.

 

[Nervous Nedum]

Funny you should mention Horner, because he isn't on the start list for today's stage. ProCyclingStats are saying he's withdrawn due to Tendonitis again, the same reason he withdrew from Tirreno-Adriatico.

Stage 4 preview, courtesy of INRNG: http://inrng.com/2014/03/volta-a-catalunya-stage-4-preview/

Maybe he's using his winning formula from last season, injured and out of competition from T-A onwards then return to crush everyone at the Vuelta, easy peasy *shakes head at the thought*

Sky seem to be in a strange place at the moment don't they? Henao and JTL suspended; Dombrowski nowhere to be seen; Porte struggling for one reason or another; Froome, Wiggins, Thomas, Stannard, Eisel all making unexpected changes to their schedule. There doesn't seem to be the same meticulous planning and structure as previous seasons. Don't know if that's just a necessary reaction to a string of bad luck/unforeseen events, or rather is it a change in perpetration ethos? Either way the aura of dominance they had this time last year is not evident this time around, and psychologically that must be a big boost for other teams and riders in the lead up to the grand tours. I think ideally Froome would like to put a marker down today to snuff out any self belief that might just be starting to build amongst one or two of his competitors - be interesting to see who prevails.

Shands tries to upset Sky fanboy Rasc ;-)

A long way to go until Le tour, i imagine that Froome, Wiggins, Thomas and Porte will be a very intimidating foursome come 5th July, add in a bit of quality support in EBH, Peter Kennaugh, Juan Antonio Flecha and the like, they will still be the team to beat, no matter what Movistar and Saxobank are thinking right now.

I'm not convinced Wiggins will be in any sort of form come July, he appears to have gone completely off the boil since 2012. As for Porte, depending on how tough the Giro is this year he might also be of little use at the Tour. He's stated openly that he wants to win that and then support Froome again but whether he will actually be able to do it is a different matter.

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

Maybe he's using his winning formula from last season, injured and out of competition from T-A onwards then return to crush everyone at the Vuelta, easy peasy *shakes head at the thought*

Sky seem to be in a strange place at the moment don't they? Henao and JTL suspended; Dombrowski nowhere to be seen; Porte struggling for one reason or another; Froome, Wiggins, Thomas, Stannard, Eisel all making unexpected changes to their schedule. There doesn't seem to be the same meticulous planning and structure as previous seasons. Don't know if that's just a necessary reaction to a string of bad luck/unforeseen events, or rather is it a change in perpetration ethos? Either way the aura of dominance they had this time last year is not evident this time around, and psychologically that must be a big boost for other teams and riders in the lead up to the grand tours. I think ideally Froome would like to put a marker down today to snuff out any self belief that might just be starting to build amongst one or two of his competitors - be interesting to see who prevails.

Shands tries to upset Sky fanboy Rasc ;-)

A long way to go until Le tour, i imagine that Froome, Wiggins, Thomas and Porte will be a very intimidating foursome come 5th July, add in a bit of quality support in EBH, Peter Kennaugh, Juan Antonio Flecha and the like, they will still be the team to beat, no matter what Movistar and Saxobank are thinking right now.

I'm not convinced Wiggins will be in any sort of form come July, he appears to have gone completely off the boil since 2012. As for Porte, depending on how tough the Giro is this year he might also be of little use at the Tour. He's stated openly that he wants to win that and then support Froome again but whether he will actually be able to do it is a different matter.

Wiggo is a class act, and should he be fit he will be an excellent domestique to have for any team, he was also second in the world TT last year, so not completely off the boil.

 

[Shands]

Funny you should mention Horner, because he isn't on the start list for today's stage. ProCyclingStats are saying he's withdrawn due to Tendonitis again, the same reason he withdrew from Tirreno-Adriatico.

Stage 4 preview, courtesy of INRNG: http://inrng.com/2014/03/volta-a-catalunya-stage-4-preview/

Maybe he's using his winning formula from last season, injured and out of competition from T-A onwards then return to crush everyone at the Vuelta, easy peasy *shakes head at the thought*

Sky seem to be in a strange place at the moment don't they? Henao and JTL suspended; Dombrowski nowhere to be seen; Porte struggling for one reason or another; Froome, Wiggins, Thomas, Stannard, Eisel all making unexpected changes to their schedule. There doesn't seem to be the same meticulous planning and structure as previous seasons. Don't know if that's just a necessary reaction to a string of bad luck/unforeseen events, or rather is it a change in perpetration ethos? Either way the aura of dominance they had this time last year is not evident this time around, and psychologically that must be a big boost for other teams and riders in the lead up to the grand tours. I think ideally Froome would like to put a marker down today to snuff out any self belief that might just be starting to build amongst one or two of his competitors - be interesting to see who prevails.

Shands tries to upset Sky fanboy Rasc ;-)

A long way to go until Le tour, i imagine that Froome, Wiggins, Thomas and Porte will be a very intimidating foursome come 5th July, add in a bit of quality support in EBH, Peter Kennaugh, Juan Antonio Flecha and the like, they will still be the team to beat, no matter what Movistar and Saxobank are thinking right now.

Shhh, reel him in, reel him in ;-)

No I just find it interesting that’s all. As you know the last two years they’ve very successfully dominated the stage races pre-July, and I think they’re on record as saying that strategically they wanted to do that in order to build their own riders confidence and diminish the spirit of their rivals – in effect have everyone else turning up at the Tour start line already feeling they were second best and that a SKY victory is inevitable. It makes sense, given how much of the sport is mental and there’s no substitute for the confidence that comes from believing you have more in the tank than your rivals.

I can’t remember exactly but in 2012 Wiggins won (I think)Paris-Nice, Romandie and The Dauphine in the lead up to le Tour didn’t he. Last year was even better; Froome won Oman, Crit Int, Romandie, Dauphine, and was runner up in T-A; Porte won Paris-Nice and came second in Crit Int and Pais Vasco (where Heano also podiumed) and they had a few stage wins in there too (Henao, Svitsov, Thomas – who podiumed TDU actually).

This year Froome won Oman, but that’s it really. Porte won a stage at TDU and Thomas put up a good effort before crashing at an unusually non mountainous Paris-Nice, but so far it’s been nothing like the controlling dominance we’d probably expect. I don't know, it just seems to me that they're not functioning as the same efficient unit they have been the previous two years and their domestiques don't seem to be dictating the tempo of races and the peloton the way they have previously. It’s early days still, and It might not make a bit of difference come July, but as I say it’s just interesting to compare the difference and see how it develops.

One things for sure though, they wont pick Flecha....what with him having spent last season at Vacansoleil...and now retired! Pfft, knew that fantasy league win was a fluke, the man knows nothing!!! ;-)

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

Maybe he's using his winning formula from last season, injured and out of competition from T-A onwards then return to crush everyone at the Vuelta, easy peasy *shakes head at the thought*

Sky seem to be in a strange place at the moment don't they? Henao and JTL suspended; Dombrowski nowhere to be seen; Porte struggling for one reason or another; Froome, Wiggins, Thomas, Stannard, Eisel all making unexpected changes to their schedule. There doesn't seem to be the same meticulous planning and structure as previous seasons. Don't know if that's just a necessary reaction to a string of bad luck/unforeseen events, or rather is it a change in perpetration ethos? Either way the aura of dominance they had this time last year is not evident this time around, and psychologically that must be a big boost for other teams and riders in the lead up to the grand tours. I think ideally Froome would like to put a marker down today to snuff out any self belief that might just be starting to build amongst one or two of his competitors - be interesting to see who prevails.

Shands tries to upset Sky fanboy Rasc ;-)

A long way to go until Le tour, i imagine that Froome, Wiggins, Thomas and Porte will be a very intimidating foursome come 5th July, add in a bit of quality support in EBH, Peter Kennaugh, Juan Antonio Flecha and the like, they will still be the team to beat, no matter what Movistar and Saxobank are thinking right now.

Shhh, reel him in, reel him in ;-)

No I just find it interesting that’s all. As you know the last two years they’ve very successfully dominated the stage races pre-July, and I think they’re on record as saying that strategically they wanted to do that in order to build their own riders confidence and diminish the spirit of their rivals – in effect have everyone else turning up at the Tour start line already feeling they were second best and that a SKY victory is inevitable. It makes sense, given how much of the sport is mental and there’s no substitute for the confidence that comes from believing you have more in the tank than your rivals.

I can’t remember exactly but in 2012 Wiggins won (I think)Paris-Nice, Romandie and The Dauphine in the lead up to le Tour didn’t he. Last year was even better; Froome won Oman, Crit Int, Romandie, Dauphine, and was runner up in T-A; Porte won Paris-Nice and came second in Crit Int and Pais Vasco (where Heano also podiumed) and they had a few stage wins in there too (Henao, Svitsov, Thomas – who podiumed TDU actually).

This year Froome won Oman, but that’s it really. Porte won a stage at TDU and Thomas put up a good effort before crashing at an unusually non mountainous Paris-Nice, but so far it’s been nothing like the controlling dominance we’d probably expect. I don't know, it just seems to me that they're not functioning as the same efficient unit they have been the previous two years and their domestiques don't seem to be dictating the tempo of races and the peloton the way they have previously. It’s early days still, and It might not make a bit of difference come July, but as I say it’s just interesting to compare the difference and see how it develops.

One things for sure though, they wont pick Flecha....what with him having spent last season at Vacansoleil...and now retired! Pfft, knew that fantasy league win was a fluke, the man knows nothing!!! ;-)

You are of course right, they arent dominating like previous seasons, but i dont think Rascal will have reason to panic until after the Dauphine, i will maybe think another team has a chance should they not dominate that.

Lol - thats a good point, although you should have more respect for the fantasy league reigning champion (even if it was by default) and you failed your transfer test late on. I was thinking Kiryienka not Flecha (back tracks out of the thread slowly hoping nobody will realise his blagging). *curses Shands - but remembers he who laughs last and all that...

 

[Nervous Nedum]

E3 Harelbeke

Spoiler

Wow, what a race. Well worth a watch if you get the chance. Fantastic performance from Thomas to get where he did. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place with Sagan and the two guys from OPQS, but handled it well. Sagan is looking good for Sunday.

 

[Rascal]

Kennaugh wins Copa Bartoli

G gets a superb 3rd at E3

Froomey eases himself back into 6th at the volta catalunya

what we need is the Sheik to take over the velodrome change team sky to team city and away we go :))



E3 was brilliant today, good to see G ride so well but Sagan is a beast.