Pro Cycling - 2012 Season

touch said:
You're right that sky cant support both wiggins and cav, and if they try, i suspect neither will achieve what is expected of them.
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But in a way, they don't need to. I was looking at the parcours the other day, and there's something stupid like 7 flat stages. Cav is very good at choosing which wheel to follow, and given that he has some serious competition this year from Guardini, Goss and Griepel, he can rely on Farnese Vini, Green Edge and Lotto Belisol to reel back any breaks.

Most importantly, Big George sets the record for the most ever TdF starts this year (17). I'm getting emotional already! :)
 
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George Hincapie said:
Attacking will not win the Sclecks the TdF. They need to put significant time into Cadel and Brad in the mountain stages to make up for the fact they both can't TT to save their lives. As we saw last year, attacks are just wound back in. Especially if they don't commit 100%.

Watching the Schlecks ride is an exercise in frustration - I'll attack, ride 50m up the road, then 'OMG! Where's my brother?!1111!'. Argh! :(
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When I said attacking, I meant gaining time on Evans. Yes it was so frustrating to see them ride small time last year. Lack of courage?
 
George Hincapie said:
They could own the TdF 1 & 2 for years, but they just don't see it.
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They will know that they have to attack hard to make up time on the climbs this year. If it goes well and they realise how much time they can make up if they really go hard, then i think that might set them up for next year. I still dont think a schleck can win this year with >100km of TTing. (Although we still dont really know how well they are going. Andy finished 10mins down in the dauphine TT but i dont know how much of that was lost due to him falling off).

If they attack hard and make up a lot of time in the hills, i can see them getting in the mindset and becoming more aggressive riders.
 
touch said:
They will know that they have to attack hard to make up time on the climbs this year. If it goes well and they realise how much time they can make up if they really go hard, then i think that might set them up for next year. I still dont think a schleck can win this year with >100km of TTing. (Although we still dont really know how well they are going. Andy finished 10mins down in the dauphine TT but i dont know how much of that was lost due to him falling off).

If they attack hard and make up a lot of time in the hills, i can see them getting in the mindset and becoming more aggressive riders.
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I think the thing that irritates me both about both of them, but particularly Andy, is that they have huge talent but are doing nothing with it. Andy could be a legend, but he just can't be arsed. I'd do anything to have a 10th of his ability :mad:

As regards TT, he did manage to stay within 30 secs of Contador at the 2010 TdF, so he can TT when he pulls his finger out.
 
As it's fathers day and my Dads 50th coming up I've managed to get two tickets to the womens road cycling at box hill for the Olympics.

Also, for his 50th I've booked the eurotunnel and a hotel in belgium for the tour de france. Going to see the Liege-Seraing and Vise-Tournai stages on the 1st and 2nd of July!

Although I'm not into cycling much, he lives and breathes it. Doing 21/22 minute 10mile TT's, i'd take twice that!
 
InsomniaCalls said:
Poor performance in the mountains today from Schleck, and then withdraws from the Dauphine. Looking even better for Wiggo and Evans next month :D
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Dauphine spoiler.
Hugely impressive from sky today. They all worked at the front to bring back the break, then they controlled the pace all the way up the hill and dropped the entire peleton. Of the group of just 10 riders who managed to stay with the pace, 4 of them were Sky! Seems like Evans was struggling more than Wiggins as well, but it's hard to tell, he never looks happy :p

Things are just looking better and better for wiggins.
Will be interesting to see what some of the other GC contenders who are riding the tour de suisse (gesink, valverde, danielson, etc) are riding like.
 
George Hincapie said:
I'll tell you what, if Schleck turns up at the TdF and slaughters everyone in the mountains after that Dauphine performance then I am calling BS. Just want it on record.
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I wouldnt be so sure, for a couple of reasons:
-There was nothing for him in today's stage. He cant make up enough time on GC and didnt have much chance of winning it with a descent/flat section after the final climb.
-He did fall off in the TT. Admittedly, that was a couple of days ago, but sometimes it can take a few days to catch up with you.
-Schlecks are notoriously bad for having poor form early in the season. With the level that those guys are riding at, even at a few percent off your best, you'll be left behind as if you were standing still.


It looks to me like he's struggling a little, but i wouldnt be surprised if he was sandbagging to take a bit of pressure of for the tour.


I wonder what Johan Bruyneel's tactics meetings are like these days....
;)
 
touch said:
I wouldnt be so sure, for a couple of reasons:
-There was nothing for him in today's stage. He cant make up enough time on GC and didnt have much chance of winning it with a descent/flat section after the final climb.
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There was pride to ride for if nothing else. He's done nothing the entire race.

-He did fall off in the TT. Admittedly, that was a couple of days ago, but sometimes it can take a few days to catch up with you.
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Yes, you're right about that. have a look at this.

Schlecks are notoriously bad for having poor form early in the season. With the level that those guys are riding at, even at a few percent off your best, you'll be left behind as if you were standing still.
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Not true. They were in good form for LBL last year. They even led Gilbert out for the win!

It looks to me like he's struggling a little, but i wouldnt be surprised if he was sandbagging to take a bit of pressure of for the tour.
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I hope you're right. I think my problem is that I really admire attacking riders, even if the attack fails. I want to see determination and a suitcase of courage not the pathetic display we've had from him this week. Where was the Andy Schleck that attacked solo on Stage 18 of the TdF last year and put 2 mins into the leaders? Oh, and an Oscar for him if you're right. I doubt many people will be expecting a serious challenge from him.

I wonder what Johan Bruyneel's tactics meetings are like these days....
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I saw this recently - very good though! I'd love to be a fly on the wall ;)
 
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It's hard to tell how much kidology is going on from the Schlecks and Evans at this stage but I can definitely see the latter finding his form for the Tour, he doesn't look a million miles away. The Schlecks are probably finding it very difficult to get excited about the Tour given the volume of TTing this year.
 
touch said:
Thats impressive. Even more so when you consider that in 9 of those races he was domestique for the winner.
This year will be his last though, as he announced that he will retire at the end of the season.
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Yes, I saw that earlier.

Gutted, but he has had an amazing career. He has a young family and a successful family business and at 38 (39 when he retires), I don't think anyone will begrudge him hanging his shoes up.

Hopefully I'll get to have a quick chat with him again at the Tour this year. I am such a groupie! ;)
 
David has gotten the nod for the Olympics - to be announced this afternoon.

He is a member of my club (High Wycombe) and I received the following from our secretary at lunch:

Sky News have just been on the phone to me regarding David Millar - it is likely to be announced at 1.00pm today that David has been selected for the GB Olympic team. They are aware that David is a life member of the Club and was with us in his junior days.
 
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