Pro Cycling Discussion Thread 2015

George Hincapie · 26 Jun 2015 at 16:57

What a lovely win by Gilbert on Stage 12 Giro

George Hincapie · 28 Jun 2015 at 18:49

Lizzie Armistead wins her 3rd British National Champion's Jersey. Kennaugh his second. Cav placed 2nd in an incredible show of form. Bodes well for the TdF.

Cav was asked after immediately after if he was pleased to be able to show what he can do. He replied "I've already done that by winning 25 stages of the TdF!" Excellent

touch · 28 Jun 2015 at 19:01

George Hincapie said:
Cav was asked after immediately after if he was pleased to be able to show what he can do. He replied "I've already done that by winning 25 stages of the TdF!" Excellent

He didnt understand the question IMO.
The interviewer talked about him getting in the break, working with Rowe to chase down the leaders and battling up the climb. A lot of people will never have seen any of that from him before and think that he cant do anything other than a flat sprint. That's clearly what the interviewer was asking about.

George Hincapie · 28 Jun 2015 at 19:06

touch said:
He didnt understand the question IMO.
The interviewer talked about him getting in the break, working with Rowe to chase down the leaders and battling up the climb. A lot of people will never have seen any of that from him before and think that he cant do anything other than a flat sprint. That's clearly what the interviewer was asking about.

He understood the question, he just (IMHO) felt it was stupid hence his response. He is touchy post-defeat. I think he should be happy with his ride; he's surprised a lot of people on the other forum I use.

touch · 28 Jun 2015 at 19:13

George Hincapie said:
he's surprised a lot of people on the other forum I use.

Yes, because he showed that he can do the things we dont normally see him do (in the break, working on the front, fighting up the climb).

Winning sprints in the TdF doesnt show everything he can do - we already know he can win a sprint.
Today he got the chance to show what else he can do - that's what I thought the interviewer was asking him about.

GSVBagpuss · 28 Jun 2015 at 20:33

Never doubt the Cav! He's always strong in the TTT so he has an engine for sure. I certainly wouldn't use it if I could sprint like that though!

I guess he's aiming for some of those first week stages, watch out Sagan

xdcx · 29 Jun 2015 at 09:38

Meh, he still isn't going into my fantasy team. I have taken JD as my sprinter.
I am not so sure about Sagan either, I'd still take Kristoff after JD before taking Sagan or Cav.

Sitting looking at it now, this TdF is absolutely loaded. The scariest thing is going to be the first week and hoping all these big names get through OK with no dramas, because if we don't lose anybody early on, this is going to be one hell of a tour.

touch · 29 Jun 2015 at 11:29

Team Sky confirmed lineup:
Froome
Porte
Thomas
Kennaugh
Stannard
Rowe
Roche
Konig
Poels

Looks to me like they are planning to team time trial up all the climbs again.
I hope some of the other teams/riders are strong enough to break up their train and get some attacks going.

Berger · 29 Jun 2015 at 11:41

Bouhanni out with broken ribs it seems.

He seems a bit of a ****, but it would have been another sprinter in the mix which is only a good thing on those stages.

xdcx · 29 Jun 2015 at 11:49

touch said:
Team Sky confirmed lineup:
Froome
Porte
Thomas
Kennaugh
Stannard
Rowe
Roche
Konig
Poels

Looks to me like they are planning to team time trial up all the climbs again.
I hope some of the other teams/riders are strong enough to break up their train and get some attacks going.

They destroyed everyone at Dauphine with this tactic, but Astana destroyed everyone at the Giro using the same tactic. So this could be quite fun!

That is one hell of a team for Froome though :cool:

SoliD · 29 Jun 2015 at 12:39

touch said:
Team Sky confirmed lineup:
Froome
Porte
Thomas
Kennaugh
Stannard
Rowe
Roche
Konig
Poels

Looks to me like they are planning to team time trial up all the climbs again.
I hope some of the other teams/riders are strong enough to break up their train and get some attacks going.

Great team there, all guys on very good form, (except Roche imo) and as you say going to just boss the mountain stages, with Roche/Poels taking last man duties I suspect. Looking at the line ups, so many strong strong teams for both green and yellow jerseys, going to be a fabulous tour if everyone stays on their bikes!

Good to see a chunk of brits in the sky and other squads (10 in total according to BBC)

Thomas. PLease. · 29 Jun 2015 at 12:55

Berger said:
Bouhanni out with broken ribs it seems.

He seems a bit of a ****, but it would have been another sprinter in the mix which is only a good thing on those stages.

Yeah, I can't stand Bouhanni.

Really happy to see Dowsett in the Movistar squad too. Hopefully he can get a decent result in the prolougue, and potentially get in a few breaks.

Anyone see his descending at the Nationals? :eek:

GSVBagpuss · 29 Jun 2015 at 13:13

SoliD said:
Looking at the line ups, so many strong strong teams for both green and yellow jerseys, going to be a fabulous tour if everyone stays on their bikes!

This is the key - got to expect to have at least one high profile casualty in the first week.

touch · 29 Jun 2015 at 13:14

SoliD said:
Good to see a chunk of brits in the sky and other squads (10 in total according to BBC)

Yep, a load in the sky team.
I dont think Orica have announced their team yet? (should be later today?) but I expect at least 1 of the Yates brothers to be in, probably both.

Steve Cummings is on MTN Quebeka. He did the TdF with Team Sky in their first ever season then moved to BMC and was on their TdF team a couple of times too.

touch · 29 Jun 2015 at 13:15

GSVBagpuss said:
This is the key - got to expect to have at least one high profile casualty in the first week.

Yeah, and got to expect it's probably going to be Froome.

...please look where you're going

xdcx · 29 Jun 2015 at 13:25

OGE announcing tomorrow I think.

S Yates be there GC guy, his bro I think will be going but Matthews is obviously a good shout and very well might get a stage win and I reckon Gerrans will also be riding due to early exit from the Giro, plus also because he's a bad ass.

Calpol · 29 Jun 2015 at 13:44

touch said:
Team Sky confirmed lineup:
Froome
Porte
Thomas
Kennaugh
Stannard
Rowe
Roche
Konig
Poels

Looks to me like they are planning to team time trial up all the climbs again.
I hope some of the other teams/riders are strong enough to break up their train and get some attacks going.

Unusual not to see Kiryenka or Sivtsov in there. Experience is very important in those races but I guess they feel that they still have enough that know the ropes. I wonder if Kennaugh, Rowe and Stannard rode their way into the team after yesterday. Considering the Giro team had no Brits, this is a much better representation. How long before G falls off!

SoliD · 29 Jun 2015 at 14:52

Calpol said:
Unusual not to see Kiryenka or Sivtsov in there. Experience is very important in those races but I guess they feel that they still have enough that know the ropes. I wonder if Kennaugh, Rowe and Stannard rode their way into the team after yesterday. Considering the Giro team had no Brits, this is a much better representation. How long before G falls off!

Both of the guys have had busy seasons, so perhaps not in the best of form, and you can hardly say the rest of the team is inexperienced at Grand Tour riding

George Hincapie · 30 Jun 2015 at 12:58

Not sure whether to put this here or not, but apparently David Millar is now a Maserati Ambassador. Nice add for the car and the Factor bike.

touch · 30 Jun 2015 at 13:14

Orica Confirmed team:
Albasini
Durbridge
Gerrans
Impey
Matthews
Tuft
Weening
Yates
Yates

Good to see both Yates brothers in there.

Also just noticed that Lotto Soudal have confirmed their team (a long time ago - but I missed it). Adam Hansen is in there, riding his 12th consecutive Grand Tour - all of which he has finished.