The Pro Road Cycling Thread

chesterbells said:
Yes, agree too. Ayuso has flattered to deceive many times now. He needs to step up, though I do wonder whether he and his team would secretly be happy with a podium being enough(?). Though I think he should be aiming higher.
Yeah, Yates has flashes doesn’t he?
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On his good days, there’s not many who can sit on Yates wheel and it’ll be interesting to see the dynamic between him and Ayuso and how they play it tactically. I think the team would be happy with a podium but Ayuso himself doesn’t look the most straightforward of characters to work with
 
Didn’t seen LBL yesterday though seen brief highlights. Apparently it was quite an uneventful race.

I love watching Pog win, but I do think the other teams need to give their heads a wobble re tactics. As in, Ineos go up the road early, fine, but then instead of leaving it 100% to UAE to bring them back, and use up all their domestiques, other teams started helping with the chase.
Almost as if they’d all rather Pog win than dare to let Ineos chance a breakaway victory.

It doesn’t sound a great situation for the sport to be in, but surely it should be a mindset of “anyone but Pog/UAE” in a one day race with a profile like this, with all the other teams leaving all the work to UAE(?)

Anyway, focus moves to the likely Roglic procession of the Giro next month, but then next appointment-to-view is gonna be the Criterium Dauphine, 8th to 15th June I think.
I wouldn’t normally bother watching this Tour warm up race, but it is due to feature Jonas vs Pog for first time this year, plus Remco too, so really looking forward to seeing that, and if either of them try and “hide” their form, or whether both will show their full hand and what real form they have.

Edit.
And I think ITV4 has daily highlights of it in June (for one more year at least!) @normskih
 
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Just seen that it seems Quest HD are showing a 1 hour Giro highlights shown at 7pm every race day, starting next Friday.
At least it’s something for those that don’t have TNT.
 
The BBC in general, and BBC Sport in particular gets a lot of criticism on this forum, much of which I don’t agree with. What I do agree with is the criticism of BBC Football, and especially the online/website output from Salford.

Anyway, here’s a good example of what excellent output they can produce. It’s a shocking article to read; I personally had no idea how far he had fallen, and all this from his past. I knew some of it, like his estranged relationship with his Dad, but not other aspects. The last I saw of him he was on the sofa (or the motorbike) for the Eurosport team.
I wish him well with his demons….

www.bbc.co.uk

Bradley Wiggins: Sadness at troubled times for cycling great

Bradley Wiggins' admission that he was addicted to cocaine after retiring from cycling is a sad chapter in a story that had brought troubles to go with the glory. BBC Sport's Matt Warwick examines Wiggins' character.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
 
chesterbells said:
The BBC in general, and BBC Sport in particular gets a lot of criticism on this forum, much of which I don’t agree with. What I do agree with is the criticism of BBC Football, and especially the online/website output from Salford.

Anyway, here’s a good example of what excellent output they can produce. It’s a shocking article to read; I personally had no idea how far he had fallen, and all this from his past. I knew some of it, like his estranged relationship with his Dad, but not other aspects. The last I saw of him he was on the sofa (or the motorbike) for the Eurosport team.
I wish him well with his demons….

www.bbc.co.uk

Bradley Wiggins: Sadness at troubled times for cycling great

Bradley Wiggins' admission that he was addicted to cocaine after retiring from cycling is a sad chapter in a story that had brought troubles to go with the glory. BBC Sport's Matt Warwick examines Wiggins' character.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
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He has always come across as having self destructive side to his personality. I remember he also once had a problem with alcohol. It's very sad. I know he is not always been everyone's cup of tea but he was a supreme athlete with a dedication and determination that only the elite sportspeople have.
 
Massive transfer news this … if true (!)

He’s got to be classed one of the top 3 riders in the sport at the moment, certainly top 5. A man who can win TT’s, one day races, stage races and Grand Tours.

 
chesterbells said:
Massive transfer news this … if true (!)

He’s got to be classed one of the top 3 riders in the sport at the moment, certainly top 5. A man who can win TT’s, one day races, stage races and Grand Tours.

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Sorry mate when I saw this I could only think the the scum have less money to spend :-)
If we class Ineos as a Brit team then fair fucks hope it works out. Regarding the Ineos team this year I do like their approach much more fun to watch.
 
big gaz said:
Sorry mate when I saw this I could only think the the scum have less money to spend :-)
If we class Ineos as a Brit team then fair fucks hope it works out. Regarding the Ineos team this year I do like their approach much more fun to watch.
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This is true.

Tbh, some time ago I had to compartmentalise my thinking (or whatever the right word is), cos otherwise thinking of them would spoil a bit of my cycling enjoyment. I’ve managed to do it ok so far, so I find I can still cheer on an Ineos Grenadiers rider, esp a British one, without thinking about that lot at all.

… but if it ever does enter my mind, I just think about team UAE and think I’m gonna make a City connection there ;-)
 
johnnytapia said:
The big stuff next week but he’s definitely in with a shout. Be very interesting to see how UAE play this now. I still think Ayuso will put serious time into everyone, especially at Sestrierres. What a ride by Asgreen today btw!
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Agreed.
Yes the IDT / Ayuso dynamic is the big talking point at present. Also what is Roglic’s performance limit at the moment and has he shown it/is he holding anything back?
Carapaz could be an X factor - fascinated to see if he tries anything tomorrow with a rest day to follow. Last big(ish) climb is a full 30km from finish though so I reckon that could be a bit too far out …
 
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Well, so it all comes down to tomorrow. Basically a one day race to settle a Grand Tour. The gap between the top two is so small it could go either way.

My heart says IDT takes it. Mexico will go bananas for cycling if it happens. It does depend on Carapaz though. If he can fire it up again like he did midweek, I think it could happen for him. And he has experience of winning it before.

Anyway, bring on the morrow …
 
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