Pro-cycling thread

Not Plan A, just a plan. Just like MSR, multiple options and they showed today they are using them well.

Kwiato!!!

Starting to really feel for Sagan; the argument about peaking etc. I can see but I don't fully agree with, Kwia is targeting Flamders but his biggest goal is the Ardennes, he's not even scheduled to ride Roubaix I don't think.

I thought Sagan played it perfectly until 3km to go when he was doing basically all of the pulling, I think he's got to remember that you have to be willing to lose the race in order to win it. That's what he did in WC's and look where it got him.

He really needs a new team now too, Tinkoff were awfully positioned when it started heating up, and Sagan did well to make it into the final break, after the team missed the first one entirely. You also have to ask, if he had a mechanical like Cancellara, would Tinkoff been able to bring him back like Stuyven, Devolder et al did? Because given how poor they were before that, I really don't think so.

Etixx in another monumental fuck up too, when Sagan and Kwia went, who was it that covered their move? Terpstra? Boonen? Stybar? No, their man if it comes to a sprint - Trentin. I'm armchair DS-ing hard I know, but who's mastermind idea was that?!

Sagan in Tinkoff reminds me of Cav in Sky.

But did having Cav in sky worked for sponsors as well as having sagan in tinkoff? ROI-wise.

I'm a little creeped out by this.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/debesay-gets-lost-during-his-flemish-debut-at-e3-harelbeke/?utm_content=buffer32f1f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Also, Sagan in 2015 (and so far in 2016) has, arguably, been more successful in Tinkoff than Cav was in 2012.

(Of course, they're different types of riders).

I was thinking from the rider point of view rather than the sponsor point of view.

The rider who reacts does so on instinct and being in the right place, not tactics. The unfortunate thing for EQS, was that Trentin didn't have the legs to go with Kwiatkowski and Sagan.

Cav at Sky won 3 stages at the Giro and 3 stages at the Tour, and KBK

Sagan won the WC's, the green jersey and the tour of California, and a tonne of second places.

Given there season goals, I'd say that's pretty even, unless Sagan's main target is second places.... which I'm currently starting to believe

Saw Debasey at the back on the Paterberg, glad someone looked after him.

I've just seem the Movistar team hilariously riding around the middle of town amongst the tourists crowds.

I did say arguably, but:

a tonne of second places.

You say that like it's not big deal.

He also won the points classifications and stages in Tour de Suisse and Tirreno–Adriatico, and a stage in Vuelta.

I tried checking procycling stats to see what their UCI points were, but it looks like I need to add them up by hand, so I really can't be bothered.

N/m, UCI web page made it easy. Cav was 40th in 2012, Sag was 17th last year.

It all depends on what we're measuring, but nonetheless, my point that he's been arguably more successful stands, I think.

You can only win the lottery if you buy a ticket right?

I think the fact that we're discussing it only goes to prove your point haha

I didn't include the other stages Cav won in week long races, but qatar, britain and tirreno all featured I think, and whilst I see your point about the second places, the old "no one remembers who came second" comes to mind.

I'm not saying Sagan had a bad season, but I think Cav's 2012 is often remembered as a "bad" season, only because the previous three were stupendously good.

Sagan post-race said the DS was shouting at him to push hard otherwise he'd get caught. Kwia wasn't under the same pressure with Stannard all back of the bus in the chasers, so Sagan worked hard and by doing so meant he blew the chance of winning but at least guaranteed himself second place. But for a teammate or two at the sharp he might have taken it. That said he's capable of winning on his own, look at the worlds.

The whole Sagan and second place thing is laughable. How many other riders are in contention as often as him, and on extremely varied courses?

Granted, he doesn't seal the deal as often as he perhaps might or should and he could be accused of not racing as intelligently as others, but that will probably come with experience and a decent DS. The fact remains the man is a fucking beast to even have come second as often as he has when plenty of other big names are happy to get towed in by the bunch race after race.

The route for G-W is supposed to be a bit more selective this year. They usually go up the Kemmelberg twice, the same way. This year they're going up that way the first time and a steeper route the second time.

There's still over 30km after that to bring it together but there should be some thinning out of the sprinters. Greipel, Demare, Bouhanni are all riding as well as all the strongman-sprinters. So potentially plenty of teams to work against the escapees.

We'll be in Ypres to see them go through

Kirby's doing his "You paid for them!" bit on roads in Spain again. Such a slimy thing to say, especially right now.

Cam Mayer though

Yuck

Good bit of insight into Hugh Carthy, albeit littered with spelling mistakes.

http://www.ciclismointernacional.com/a-brit-abroad-a-year-in-the-life-of-hugh-carthy/

He's ninth going into the final of Catalunya, sandwiched between Froome and Uran, which is fucking impressive.

Apparently there's a story emerging in the Belgian press the Etixx DS' car blocked the Trek one when Canc had a mechanical. Saucy

Anyone want to post a badly photo-shopped picture of an EQS car in front of a Trek car to Lefevere's twitter?

What was van de sand complaining about in Catalunya?