Pro-cycling thread

Kennaugh had a run in with dan lloyd on twitter last year too, lloyd simply said that he liked watching echelon riding though it might be tough for the riders and Kennaugh told him to "get a life".

He does seem to be in the right here though, following team orders and protecting a lead, it's literally his job to ensure that happens.

And regarding Sky turning up with a good team - Froome etc. were probably paid extra to be there, he turns up and wins, that's the script and Avanti just seem pissed at that situation.

They being sky could of just turned up and sat on the back using it as a recovery ride . They would of been accused of taking the pee then . So either way its sour grapes at having your ass kicked by fitter stronger guys .

Potentially yes. It's a common tactic, if someone who's a threat on GC goes up the road, send your second best placed rider with him, and tell him to sit on.

Sky can't win in a race like this, if they don't win they'll get criticised for not taking it seriously, if they do win, they'll get criticised for being greedy.

I doubt very much that Froome went there for free, so if the race sponsors ponied up the cash for him to race they'll have wanted him to make an effort, rather than rolling in with the laughing group every day.

Can't imagine Chris laughing. Ever. It would be one of those weird hybrid laughs from Mary Poppins.

The Herald Sun, the sponsor, is a Murdoch owned newspaper. That's why Sky are there, with Froome, and why he is going to go for a win, regardless of sentiment or 'fairness'.

Or like Skully's avatar

This is all just foreplay and dry humping until the Nieuwsblad signals the proper start of the season anyway.

I doubt EQS will miss the money for an exhibition race with no spectators.

Meanwhile over in Valencia, Stijn Vandenbergh wins solo with a plastic bag wrapped around his left rear stay

It's an aero trip. All the amateur testers will be using them this year.

It's to stop the motor from getting soaked.

Caveat #internetbikefit, but that bikes does look a little...

All the pros ride small bikes with long stems and loads of seat post showing.

Think Titchy Richie was on a 47cm frame at Sky.

Might look a bit silly. They'll go for the lighter, stiffer option of a smaller frame.

Winning looks better than not winning though, no matter what you look like on a bike.

I get that, but Vandenbergh looks huge even compared to his wheels which they tend to not go down a size on..

EDIT: Just looked it up, he's 6ft 5, no wonder he looks big on the bike

Vandenburgh is a giant though and/or Uran is tiny

Plus they have no torso to speak of, so they're less likely to knee themselves in the gut/tits when in an aggressive position.

Or knee themselves in their own elbow, causing the bars to wonk sideways like what happened to, er, my friend.

FUN FACT: Turns out Vandenbergh is actually the tallest pro cyclist in the peleton

Cavendish wins the opening stage in Qatar.

Maybe in the worldtour, but connor dunne (JLT condor) is taller (1.99m compared to 2.04m).

Sneaky cunts getting altitude training in, just walking around..........

......grumble grumble.....

Cavendish seemed to go from a long way out from the video I've seen on Twitter. Not top rung competition but nice for him to get his first win.

Wonder how he and Farrar are getting along these days.

They'll go for the lighter, stiffer option of a smaller frame.

Thought it was the shorter head tube they were after #aero

and getting more out of wheel suck.

Their 'race' bikes should already have short head tubes.
Smaller frame might have an aero benefit as you're swapping seatpost for head and down tube frontal area. Wheel suck?

20mm shorter top tube (20mm extra stem length) brings you 20mm closer to the wheel you are sucking.

If that was a real consideration you'd see a team riding a fleet of 650C bikes to 'sit in'.