Pro-cycling thread

Good job I managed to get him there then!

G's on really good form, that attack on the Poggio and then this, I thought Stybar would have more to get to him, but Sagan seemed to be trying, just not succeeding, then getting in his way, then too late, a 2 up sprint between those two would've been interesting.

I'm genuinely curious about this anti-Wiggins sentiment that you seem to be alluding to. There's loads of people on Twitter expressing strong opinions on this too. Surely he showed last year that he's a contender for Roubaix? He's also got a long history of identifying targets and turning up for them in perfect condition.

I think Roubaix is a race where having 3 or 4 strong riders up front in the closing 50 kms is an advantage, not a hindrance. Sky have, with Thomas, Stannard, Wiggins and Rowe, as strong a team as anyone. Let's hope they get their tactics right this year.

I would actually like Wiggins to win it more than anyone. I'm a big fan of his and I really really hope he turns up in the condition we know he can. I just worry that he might not be as good as he can be and that Geraint will suffer because of it.

I think it's just because Sky in the past have tended to have one plan and one plan only. However I accept that they have been tactically much better so I probably have nothing to worry about.

I bloody hope they've changed their tactics from the past few years. Too often they've been reactionary, where I think they should be committing riders earlier and forcing other teams on to the defensive.

Surely Sky are now team #2 in terms of potential number of winners at Roubaix?

Noone is going to give Thomas, Stannard or Wiggins anything.

I think it's just because Sky in the past have tended to have one plan and one plan only.

I think this perception has come through their GT campaigns and a lot of fans being a little niave.

So far this season they've had fewer injuries and fewer tactical wobbles than last, so it's going pretty well.

True. It also might be because they have never had as many good options for the classics.

Sooooooooooooo

Chris Froome?

He's in Spain I've heard.

Watched the race at 4am a few sheets to the wind. Awesome ride by. Geraint, and I'd say Sagan looked cooked a long time before G actually launched his attack. Oleg must be tearing his long wizard locks out of his head, that teams looks in meltdown, and his star signing looking short of form going into the cobbled classics. Thomas timed and executed his attack perfectly, at 4k, the distance he is so good at in pursuit.

Sagan finished 30th at e3. First Strada Bianche then this, Oleg's going to flip.

Sagan's mum isn't going to have many fingers left by the end of the season. There was a great piece by INRNG this week about Oleg and Tinkoff-Saxo.

anyone got highlights from E3? Very happy for G

:(

Loads here;

http://www.steephill.tv/classics/e3-harelbeke/

Youtube has this if that helps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR0xehM1iHc

.

[note to self: refresh page before commenting]

Chrome + Hola and the on demand full broadcast works from andyp's link

cheers all, G seemed in total control of that break. The other two were just waiting for the inevitable it seemed.

Hes finally got a big (ish) win. Sagan really looks out of shape though, maybe hes looking to peak a bit further on in the season?

maybe hes looking to peak a bit further on in the season?

I think this is what we have to assume / hope.

Gahh the link stopped working before I could screengrab Peter Sagan sitting on a throne made of beer crates.

He clearly took the task of maximising his take for winning his weight in beer for last years race extremely seriously.

Maybe looking at the Ardennes rather than the Belgian/French monuments...

'Bulking' up for the steep climbs of the Ardennes is a novel approach.

Sounds more like motivation.

There has been mention of him being heavy You all think he's fat, I don't really see it.

If he was looking at the ardennes, with a hope of winning, he'd be much better at climbing at this point in the season, he wasn't dazzling on the Poggio, or even putting in the attacks like Gilbert was.

Could be aiming to be a bit more of a sprinter that happens to be able to get over a hill, like Degenkolb or Matthews?