Pro-cycling thread

But I don't think anyone was going to beat Kristoff today. What a beast.

did Sky do too much donkey work as per or G just marked out? I only caught the last 50 and seemed that Stannard and Rowe could have been better used than grinding away on the front and giving the other teams a tow.

Fuck knows how you prepare for a 270km cobbled-hill-fest like that anyway... Still disappointed Griepel didn't monster home solo but Kristoff was pretty beasting in his own right, Terpstra looked like he pulled out his slipstream then got sucked 10ft backwards.

Sagan cuts a bit of a sad figure these days as he's always in the mix but never on the teat-I know the podium girls probably feel safer but hope he breaks the duck soon.

Kristoff's son hiding from the champagne. https://vine.co/v/OlxAFLWxjVh

I couldn't have been more wrong about that one! I thought he would get dropped on Kwaremont or Paterberg. As it was, he was the strongest man on the climbs!

You were pretty spot on with your other picks though.

Good race, would've liked to have seen Thomas, Stybar, GVA attack more on the climbs and really force a selection though, they just seemed spent

As soon as EQS got Terpstra up it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Sky having used too many riders earlier on, no clue why Astana or Lotto didn't pull more in the earlier stages of the Kristoff-Terpstra breakaway

But I don't think anyone was going to beat Kristoff today.

My money was on a Shimano car.

I should have put a bet on. I wonder if the absence of Canc and Boonen made it more difficult for Thomas as he was the most marked man in the race. Even if he had managed to follow the winning move Kristoff was climbing well and would have smashed him in the sprint

Kristoff reminds me of Sagan two seasons ago. Reckon Pete be up against it to retain his green jersey come July. More ominously is the comparison to Gilbert circa 2011. Wonder what odds you would have got pre-season on a Flanders/Roubaix double? I wouldn't bet against it. Thomas has tweeted he didn't have the legs he had last weekend. Maybe the distance told?

I was expecting Terpstra to drop Kristoff who is much bulkier on the Paterberg but he was just so solid and strong. What an incredible week he had, crossing the finish first 4 times, with a monument to close it off. Just wow.

Oh and the weather was way too nice

Lotto have shown some pretty sweet tactics in classics this year. Brailsford take notes plz. Thinking is free.

#armchair

The guy holding up the Topsport deflating inflatable arch gets man-of-the-match.

Yeah he's just winning for fun atm

Kristoff has an absolute barrel of a chest. On this form I don't see how anyone can touch him at Paris Roubaix, but it can come and go fast.

I will also be amazed if Wiggins can do anything at Paris Roubaix on this showing, but I still have my fingers crossed.

Kristoff really doesn't look that bulky to me. He looks like he's shed quite a bit of upper body weight in the last two years.

How many have they won though?

No major classics but 10 wins this year to Sky's 16. Not bad considering they're run on half the money.

Kristoff was talking down his Roubaix chances saying it doesn't suit him as much as Flanders. I'd have said he's now probably the favourite.

I was confused by that too, it's flatter so less chance to get dropped, he's bigger so can cobble-bash, Paolini is more likely to stay with him longer at Roubaix as well; if I had to pick one that he'd do better in I'd say Roubaix

What gets me is that Kristoff seems to have raced just as much as others who are starting to look a bit tired and frayed. I think being at the sharp end of these races is getting to Thomas now, for example.

Kristoff had never entered my mind for Roubaix before now but he's suddenly the favourite.

It really is a different beast but he looks like he can do anything.

The only thing that would make me rule him out would be rain.

some footage from the bike cams:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/RSkp07FgIsM

Sounds like loads of support for wiggins in that last cobbled climb. Do the Belgians love him?

I think he was born in Belgium.

I figure so, he was all over the sports media last week, most of them saying it's a pity he's quitting the pro tour because cycling needs 'characters' like him

How much work has he done though? Apart from yesterday, have you seen him pull once or cover a single attack? Its easy to look strong and fresh when you've got Paolini to do so much of the work. All the other classics hitters have been in breaks or been making moves, he's pretty fresh by comparison.