Pro Cycling Discussion Thread 2015

One More Solo said:
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.
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Totally agree - it made no sense for Stybar to chase his own team mate down. It wouldn't have helped Terpstra and the chances are he would have dragged more capable riders with him.

The other major factor that influenced the race was the fine (benign) weather. there just wasn't the early selection that bad weather can force at times. The finish is a bit dull but the race has to differentiate from other races at this time of year and wants to offer something for all types of rides.

If you look at races like Amstel Gold with its late ramp it pretty much favours the puncheurs whereas its not inconceivable that Flanders could end in some sort of bunch finish. The same rationale applies to MSR where they took out the steeper climbs again to encourage the likes of Cavendish etc to race.

Despite Liege Bastogne Liege being a pig ugly finish its much more engaging with that uphill drag near the end
 
kiteloopy said:
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?
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steephill.tv

Always has multi links to Eurosport coverage, not as good quality as a sub to the actual Eurosport player but I've watched ever race this season so far with no bother via sketchy live streams. I prefer to keep my £4 a month for things like scones and cakes when out on the bike :p

But in all seriousness, I am considering getting Eurosport player, if you pay for anything, get that! But you will get by with live streams on steephill.
 
xdcx said:
steephill.tv

Always has multi links to Eurosport coverage, not as good quality as a sub to the actual Eurosport player but I've watched ever race this season so far with no bother via sketchy live streams. I prefer to keep my £4 a month for things like scones and cakes when out on the bike :p

But in all seriousness, I am considering getting Eurosport player, if you pay for anything, get that! But you will get by with live streams on steephill.
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Nice! thankyou.

Like you...i'll end up going for eurosport no doubt but I really want to try to get into watching pro cycling.
 
Does anyone else find that the new cycling news website crashes safari a lot now on their ipad?

I think it's something to do with the new photos that you can browse sideways, the page fully loads then crashes safari.

IPad 3 32gb with the pre thunderbolt connector and iOS 7.

Works fine on my iPhone 5 with the newest iOS.
 
Berger said:
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.
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Good point, plus they may have not expected Terpstra to work too hard with Kristoff. Or they could have just been done - it's a long race!

Krsitoff's season is getting a bit ridiculous now, although it was coming with the almost bridge to the front 4 in Flanders last year and third in the Olympics. He clearly likes the long races.

Something I don't understand - why is it so easy to call the sprint? It seems that everyone has an in-built top speed and it carries through no matter what they've ridden over to get there. I've never raced but I know that some days I have good legs and some days I don't!
 
I think Kristoff would have to be on an awful day to lose a sprint to Terpstra. :p I can't imagine Terpstra does any sprint practice whatsoever, and having the form and technique makes a big difference (and the power too obviously). I imagine also physiologically to time trial like Terpstra, you don't have the mix of fast twitch muscles to sprint well.

That was the biggest surprise for me, once Kristoff and Terpstra had the big gap, the only way Terpstra could win was going long. Amazed he sat in for the sprint.
 
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Great final 20km on the Basque yesterday, worth a watch if you get the chance, final climb was absolutely packed with spectators and looked brutal!
 
Will have a watch later, just realised I'll be racing this Sunday when Paris-Roubaix is on which is dissapointing, always love watching it. Gutted Fab is out though, and Kristoff will probably win it anyway if current form is anything to go by.
 
Thomas. PLease. said:
Will have a watch later, just realised I'll be racing this Sunday when Paris-Roubaix is on which is dissapointing, always love watching it. Gutted Fab is out though, and Kristoff will probably win it anyway if current form is anything to go by.
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I'm away for the weekend so will miss it! Can't see Kristoff winning it myself, he'll be bullied out of it before it gets to the end.
 
Well deserved, not much of a surprise when it came to a group sprint. Signature podium for GVA, but i was really impressed with Keukeleire. Not on anyone's radar at the start of the race, but managed to keep in touch with the leading group right until the finish. Bodes well for OGE in the future.

Sky probably could have done something if they were better at strategising, but alas...
 
I was disappointed with Wiggins' performance. I thought he was holding back to make a planned break which he looked like he did at the 30km point, but he didn't or couldn't stick with it. It was probably a blow losing Geraint Thomas, but the other guys weren't relying on team-mates for their positions.
 
Jonny69 said:
I was disappointed with Wiggins' performance. I thought he was holding back to make a planned break which he looked like he did at the 30km point, but he didn't or couldn't stick with it. It was probably a blow losing Geraint Thomas, but the other guys weren't relying on team-mates for their positions.
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Impressed with Luke Rowe though. 8th place is good going.
 
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