The Pro Road Cycling Thread

Yeah the Giro hasn't been great thus far really. I think a combination of the bad weather, crashes and that imposing third week, have left the GC contenders tentative and unwilling, or perhaps physically unable, to animate the race. The stage where Arredondo struck out from the breakaway was pretty good (aesthetically certainly, the climbing route they took was very scenic) and well done to Pozzovivo for trying something successfully the next day, but aside from that it's not been a great deal to write home about has it.

Evans will doubtless be in a decent position following that first TT, and from there on I'm sure he'll fight as hard as he always does to defend what he has, but I agree with Nervous Nedum, Quintana, Uran and Pozzo will all be eyeing the large climbs and the second TT as a chance to hurt him and take significant time, so I definitely wouldn't call it over yet. It'll be interesting to see how Majka goes too, 5th is the best I think he can hope for but who knows.

Oh and pleased to see Vuillemoz riding really well, he's a favourite of mine. The move to AG2R is working out really well for him. I don't know if it's still the case but he and Pinot used to train together apparently.

I enjoyed Cali too. Nice to see Dombrowski back on the bike, Wiggins looking very smooth and Adam Yates again showing his considerable talent.
 
I was talking about this with another cycling fanatic friend of mine yesterday. Wiggins is great. No doubt about that, but to be honest, he won the TDF because he had the best team and he is a beast at TT. The 2012 TDF should have been named the "lets build a Grand Tour that favors Wiggins" as you couldn't have put together a 3 week race that fit a single rider as well as that one did him. Stupid amounts of TT miles made it where others had to make up a ton of minutes on the mountains and even the descents weren't nearly as nasty as they are in normal years which again played into his wheelhouse. When you have Froome pulling your ass up the mountain, what more can you ask for. Froome was by far the most complete and talented rider in 2012 and he would have won it himself if he hadn't been held back to help Wiggins up the mountains.

In looking at the TDF this year, I really don't know how much Wiggins will be a great escort for Froome. First of all, Froome has to get healthy. I believe he lost too much weight and as a result is in one of those constantly sick ebbs and flows that we sometimes see cyclists go through. He's not been on particularly great form as a result. I know that Sky will feel that they can turn the team over to Wiggins if Froome isn't up for it. But with only one TT this year although it is a long one being a bit over 30 miles and teams like Astana who will not let Sky just control the race as they did in 2012 (not so much in 2013) , I'm thinking that if Sky has the GC winner again, it will not be an easy flight.

Now back on the Giro, it is a foregone conclusion that Evans will be in pink for another week. That is pretty much a given. He'll likely extend his lead on Quintana in the TT though Uran could cut in a bit. Evans looks as good as he did in 2011 at the TDF. I think he's up for whatever the other teams can throw at him.

To me the funnest rider to watch so far is Ullisi (probably spelled it wrong). He has had a great strong race. I think he'll continue to work hard and will likely end up as KOM. He really is riding smart and picking his spots. Same can be said for Pozzovivo other than that I expected him to do well, based on how he has raced coming into the Giro.

Biggest Goats so far - Scarponi and Team Garmin. Garmin is my favorite team as Garmin is headquartered about 3 hours North of me up in Kansas City. But damn they have shit tactics. They always ride at the back which means they are in every wreck. By the time a grand tour is over, they are just beaten to hell. I just don't understand it. As for Scarponi, to see him completely die on the medium mountain stages just shows that the guy is vastly overrated as a GC guy right now. Like Ryder Hesjedal, his reputation is based on one amazing turn leading to a GC win in the Giro.
 
Thought some of you chaps may be interested in this -

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.tyre-amnesty.co.uk/index.php/offer-details" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.tyre-amnesty.co.uk/index.php/offer-details</a>
 
Wish I were close enough to go get some of them. I've got Continentals on my time trial bike and LOVE them. Great feel and easy roll. I don't know how they will hold up long term because they sure seem soft, but I'm going to enjoy them while they last.
 
BillyBonds said:
Thought some of you chaps may be interested in this -

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.tyre-amnesty.co.uk/index.php/offer-details" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.tyre-amnesty.co.uk/index.php/offer-details</a>
Click to expand...

Cheers for that, just rang up my LBS which is on the list but they only received a small batch all of which have gone so far. They've put me on a waiting list so will hopefully get a call back when they get some more in.
 
Pokes28 said:
Wish I were close enough to go get some of them. I've got Continentals on my time trial bike and LOVE them. Great feel and easy roll. I don't know how they will hold up long term because they sure seem soft, but I'm going to enjoy them while they last.
Click to expand...

I use Conti 4000s on my road bike and they feel as you say. They last me a good few k, and I've only ever had one p......e and that was a sidewall, not the Vectran layer. Some people hate them though!
 
The Giro proper starts this weekend! I had an inkling given the way he briefly responded on Stage 9 (?) to Pozzovivo's attack that Uran was feeling strong, and at that point I just about had him down as my favourite to win the race, but even so I was amazed with the way he dominated that TT the other day, 1.17 to second place is crazy. Can't bring myself to rule out Quintana though, he looks well below his best, but if he does find form he's capable on a mountainous day of taking a real chunk of time on anyone in this field.
 
Great stage today. Looking at the GC now the final week is shaping up to be potentially a bit of an epic - can't wait!
 
Yep, the final week is looking tasty. What are the best days to look out for? I've not really studied the profiles & I don't know the Italian Alpine climbs that well really either, so advice appreciated.

On another note, bought the Sunday times today for the Froome book extract; some scathing stuff in there re the Sky set up for 2012 tour & esp about Wiggins.
It's fair enough, and it's his view, but what I do question is the timing - he surely doesn't need the cash at the mo & surely all this would be better to come out with as his career is ending?
It certainly won't endear him to the Brailsford setup in general or Wiggins in particular on the Sky Team bus this summer, to have revealed all this (I'm assuming Wiggo will get selected here). It's behind a paywall but certainly worth a read.
 
chesterbells said:
Yep, the final week is looking tasty. What are the best days to look out for? I've not really studied the profiles & I don't know the Italian Alpine climbs that well really either, so advice appreciated.

On another note, bought the Sunday times today for the Froome book extract; some scathing stuff in there re the Sky set up for 2012 tour & esp about Wiggins.
It's fair enough, and it's his view, but what I do question is the timing - he surely doesn't need the cash at the mo & surely all this would be better to come out with as his career is ending?
It certainly won't endear him to the Brailsford setup in general or Wiggins in particular on the Sky Team bus this summer, to have revealed all this (I'm assuming Wiggo will get selected here). It's behind a paywall but certainly worth a read.
Click to expand...


Looking at the profiles Stage 16 (Tuesday) has two very big climbs in it, including the Stelvio) before finishing with a third less daunting MTF climb. Could be ripe for a Contador at Fuente De/Schleck at Galibier long range attack if someone (Quintana/Rolland) so wishes.

Stage 17 looks to be a bumpy stage, with lots of little steep ramps. Could be one for the sprinters but should test everyone's legs so who knows.

Stage 18: MTF, similar to today's - less altitude, but with more climbing preceeding it.

Stage 19: 25 km TT, the final 19KM's of which is climbing to a mountain top finish.

Stage 20: Mount Zoncolan. All the GC contenders throwing all in for what they can get.

So emm basically, just watch every stage!
 
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