Soldato
Oops, just seen your reply. I think some places publish the confirmed riders on the start list and the teams often get confirmed 1 rider at a time.
Pro Cycling Discussion Thread 2015
- Thread starter Calpol
- Start date
Soldato
Sky have a new Dogma for the cobbles - looks very nice:
http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/features/article/44809#P7xmZeU4CDQLl45V.97
http://www.teamsky.com/teamsky/features/article/44809#P7xmZeU4CDQLl45V.97
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bradley-wiggins-finds-team-skys-next-talisman-in-geraint-thomas
News that made me smile. G is the main man, as we all know right now!Interesting stuff and I for one love to see innovation. They seem to have tested it well so anything that can give you an edge over them cobbles should be a good thing. Fingers crossed for G on Sunday
When I was out in Majorca, there was some very hush hush talk about this bike, as it was so close to be developed in time, they weren't sure if it'd be ready in time, and thus they haven't tried it at all so far! Hope it works out for them, but think they are worried about failures, I don't know if they'll all be riding it come Sunday!
I have to say I was mightily impressed by Paolini on Sunday. That was one of the best rides I have seen for some time. He is one of the oldest guys in the race and has been turning himself inside out for Kristoff this season. He was all but dropped in the last 20km but fought back on single handed before springing for the win. Respect to him for that.
Sunday looks interesting. Can Thomas's form hold for another week. Probably. Its a much more even race without Cancellara. Fabs blew Sagan away last year on the Peterberg and I can't see anyone who has that sort of explosive power to use and can then hold off until the end. Thomas has shown he can climb well but can he respond to a big effort from somene like Degenkolb near the end of the race. Hopefully Ettix will **** it up again and G will land Sky's first monument.
1. Thomas
2. van Marcke
3. Boom
Sunday looks interesting. Can Thomas's form hold for another week. Probably. Its a much more even race without Cancellara. Fabs blew Sagan away last year on the Peterberg and I can't see anyone who has that sort of explosive power to use and can then hold off until the end. Thomas has shown he can climb well but can he respond to a big effort from somene like Degenkolb near the end of the race. Hopefully Ettix will **** it up again and G will land Sky's first monument.
1. Thomas
2. van Marcke
3. Boom
Soldato
Fell asleep watching that to be honest, didn't hold my attention at all.
Soldato
Yep, not a classic edition by any means. I think the dry weather didn't help, although I'm sure the riders didn't mind!
Great ride from Kristoff, everyone knew Terpstra would go long but he was the only one smart enough to get on his wheel. Kristoff will be a big contender next week if he shows the same race skills to make the final selection.
Great ride from Kristoff, everyone knew Terpstra would go long but he was the only one smart enough to get on his wheel. Kristoff will be a big contender next week if he shows the same race skills to make the final selection.
Considering the additional racing he's done of recent the other big names hadn't, I was surprised but it was a good and actually controlled effort for him today.
Cars wiping riders out though, the commentator on EuroSport made a very valuable point saying "I am wanting to break something, these people could be ruining our sport". Just stupid mistakes from NEUTRAL vehicles. What is the purpose today of those neutral Shimano branded cars? Cameras are all on bikes, then teams have their own cars of course, what are those Shimano neutral cars even for at the back of the peloton???
Cars wiping riders out though, the commentator on EuroSport made a very valuable point saying "I am wanting to break something, these people could be ruining our sport". Just stupid mistakes from NEUTRAL vehicles. What is the purpose today of those neutral Shimano branded cars? Cameras are all on bikes, then teams have their own cars of course, what are those Shimano neutral cars even for at the back of the peloton???
Wasn't a classic today unfortunately, think the weather put paid to that, but good on Kristoff, as much as I like Cav, I can't get behind Quickstep in the classics, they're just completely uncommitting and kill the race! Wiggo an absolute disappoint, he has got no hope next week, and I'm sort of hoping he doesn't win as he doesn't deserve the support after his mostly woeful team play over the past few months.
Sponsorship mainly, yes they're there for the wheels, but in the main, they ship around VIPs and bring some money to the events.
Sponsorship mainly, yes they're there for the wheels, but in the main, they ship around VIPs and bring some money to the events.
Soldato
Is it just me, or are far too many teams now happy to mop up spots further down the race rather than go for the win? It seems like people are happy to just compete for world tour points. Terpstra just seemed resigned at the end to Kristoff winning, knowing he would beat him in the sprint, and didn't even seem interested in trying anything else.
This was my feeling whilst watching it , couldnt get my head around Terpstra pretty much settling for second by dragging Kristoff along for 13km essentially. Also disappointed in the other teams not actually trying to hunt down the 2 leaders , only Thomas seemed bothered about chasing until it was too late. Pretty underwhelmed by the race as I was looking forward to it.
I dunno, because the points has changed to favour the winner more, although I'm guessing if teams haven't really accumulated any points, they're thankful for the 2nd or minor placings just to get on the board, after BMC and Sky have been mopping up a big chunk so far this season!
Terpstra was unfortunate in the sense that once the two of them got away and no-one bridged then he was always going to lose in a sprint. He got a bit lucky with Roubaix last year in the way that he attacked with about 5km to go and no-one responded as they were all marking each other!
I think the biggest culprits were BMC and Astana. Both teams had three riders in that group and could easily have worked with Thomas/Greipel to pull Kristoff and Terpstra back. Why BMC didn't work for van Avermaet I have no idea. In the end GVA had to use Sagan to get back in play. Had his team ridden for him then he might have had a stronger chance. Must mention Luke Rowe who buried himself in order to keep Thomas in contention
I don't really know if this comes into it for the bigger teams. You see it time and again where a group don't react to a move as they are too concerned about carrying a sprinter to the line and losing out on all their hard work. With Degenkolb, Sagan and Kristoff all together in that final selection group it was always likely to end up that way.
Kristoff was awesome. I could see him dominating these races for some time.
Terpstra did the best he could. Work with Kristoff and have a shot at the win, he sat on the last three km to try and save something for the sprint but he wasn't strong enough.
Don't work and come back together with the chasers to a bunch sprint and they then have Stybar and Terpstra vs 20 other guys inc Sagan and Kristoff who would probably beat them in a sprint. Stybar had trouble eating as his false teeth came loose/out so had no legs.
After 250km the guys behind were probably all popped looking at each other to do the work, it's a lot easier to sit on and do nothing than roll turns.
I can see why BMC gambled the way they did, they got within 15 seconds of the leaders, if they had got close enough then Van Avermaert would have bridged and been fresher and maybe rolled straight over them.
Don't work and come back together with the chasers to a bunch sprint and they then have Stybar and Terpstra vs 20 other guys inc Sagan and Kristoff who would probably beat them in a sprint. Stybar had trouble eating as his false teeth came loose/out so had no legs.
After 250km the guys behind were probably all popped looking at each other to do the work, it's a lot easier to sit on and do nothing than roll turns.
I can see why BMC gambled the way they did, they got within 15 seconds of the leaders, if they had got close enough then Van Avermaert would have bridged and been fresher and maybe rolled straight over them.
I may not have the tactical nouse to understand these things , however for the life of me I cannot see why Stybar didnt help out with Thomas and help get back to the leaders. This effectively would have given EQS 2 in the front group of 4 and a much better chance of trying to jump away from Kristoff with repeated attacks to wear him down
Soldato
Other views may differ but the chasing group didn't have the legs to make it back from what I could see. Even if Stybar had made it across, Kristoff is very strong and there's nothing to say a two up attack from Etixx would have softened him up, he would have just followed the wheels.
So at least leaving Terpstra out there guaranteed EQS a second place. Kristoff would have won a bunch sprint anyway so I don't think there was much incentive for EQS to bring the race back together and risk getting no one on the podium.
It does race some questions about the final 15kms of Flanders though, it's a pretty dull finish that does little to influence the outcome of the race after the final ascent of the Paterberg.
So at least leaving Terpstra out there guaranteed EQS a second place. Kristoff would have won a bunch sprint anyway so I don't think there was much incentive for EQS to bring the race back together and risk getting no one on the podium.
It does race some questions about the final 15kms of Flanders though, it's a pretty dull finish that does little to influence the outcome of the race after the final ascent of the Paterberg.
Soldato
sorry for the newb question...but whats the best way of watching pro cycling?
Im guessing sky sports subscription...but I want to keep the cost down. (I dont watch live TV).
I know that eurosport have a subscription catch up service, is that any good?
Im guessing sky sports subscription...but I want to keep the cost down. (I dont watch live TV).
I know that eurosport have a subscription catch up service, is that any good?
Eurosport have the majority of it, sky sports have very little apart from the Giro I believe. ITV obviously have Le Tour, and usually Vuelta, plus some bits in between.
I'd get eurosport player if I was you, but I don't know the quality of it.