Pro-cycling thread

Doping ban.

When he was a child. But fair enough.

Yeah, been thinking this, hadn't appreciated their consistency until I say your comment. They seem to have developed a very fluid approach, with 3 or even four riders capable of going for the win, then adapting to the conditions and strengths of the riders. Everyone thought Kwia was the protected rider, yet he was used as a foil like Bentancur to tenderise the remaining peloton. Presumably that was just a decision taken on the fly, rather than a rigid race plan. Lucky lady who picked up Poel's discarded gloves, better than bidon as a souvenir.

Everyone thought Kwia was the protected rider

before the race Chris Froome said he'd do all he could for Poels, so I didn't share that thought

To be fair I think the backstage pass will feature much swearing from Matt White this time round

Ah Froome was doing the old reach-around for services rendered. I hadn't heard that, just assumed Kwia was the nominated leader. if he was Plan A then Sky perfectly executed it. The Netherlands must be pleased as punch

I'm not so sure... Can you imagine the amount of phlegm wiped away by those gloves during a race in the cold and wet ? I'd want a set of tongs to pick them up from the floor.

Tony Martin probably has to put his gloves in a Biohazard waste bin after every race.

Haha yes, hadn't considered that. Still the Rapha mitts that won a monument unwashed would go for a song and a dance on ebay

And his blood-soaked chamois.

Edit: And I can't begin to imagine what Ten Dam's gloves look like.

Mick Rogers has retired with immediate effect; his dicky ticker to blame.

Poels wants a spot in the Dutch team for the hilly Olympics race, and he picked Fleche Wallonne (4th) and LBL to prove himself worthy. Must have been discussed with Sir DB I'd think.
Pleased as punch, yes, at least I am so here's another pic :-) #hippying

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skinny: I wonder how long Rapha are going to milk this? Hopefully they can milk it in castelli's face, because I'm bored of them trotting out the gabba photo every time it rains.

Apparently poels drove back to holland just to get his shaddow jersy. Jesus wept.

I travelled back home especially to have my Shadow kit for Liège-Bastogne-Liège and it allowed me to perform at my best, even in that tough weather.

Rapha appear to be milking it until 23:59 BST on Sunday 1st May 2016 precisely (when the newly announced 10% of shadow wear offer ends).

For us plebs who don't get new kit every season, how long does the 'hydrophobic' coating last on Shadow/Gabba etc ?

It's less than 20 kms from Liege to the Dutch border. Obvious it depends on where Poels is from, but it could've been less than an hour round trip.

Meerlo, that's about 120km from Liege. One way. Must have used one of those posh Sky Jags...

Do they have to look after their own kit? It's like my school rugby kit, taking it home to wash it.

Surely the team have this stuff for each race in case the weather changes rather than Wout having to do 240km warm up ride to make sure he's got a jacket to wear for a monument..?

More that you'd think SKY would bring enough spare kit with them!

I'm wearing my 3 year old assos bonka still. And my 2 year old gabba. I don't get new stuff ever.
Waterproof stuff just needs looking after. Washing and re proofing with DWR, it's just the dwr coat that's waterproof. No idea about shadow, not bought one.

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They issue the kit to the riders, it's their responsibility to ensure they have the right kit for the race(s) their at, not the team.

Hey I'm trying to light-heartedly bash on rapha and their marketing here.
You're not helping!

Why did Sky put the Estonian flag on their jersey? It's confused me in every race so far.

Jaan Kirsipuu was the first rider to gain an advantage from marginal gains, so it's a homage to him.

Thought this might elicit more comments, maybe @hippy missed it.

A shame his career ends like this.

I liked rodgers. Like the way he raced. Was great watching him win the stages last year.