Pro-cycling thread

I thought sky looked fallible this week (esp given that none of the stages were THAT tough). The way that Landa and Henao (is it just me, or is he not very good?) got dropped on the penultimate climb shows that.

If Contador had had a lieutenant with him or if that group had got it together and decided to work him over, Froome would really have been in trouble. I was disappointed that they let Froome control that group until his doms got back on.

Are sky taking G and Roche to the tour? Looks to me like they need them.

Seemed Contador gave all he could and managed to shell out Landa, Poels and Henao on the hardest sections but didn't shake Froome, who just kept staring at his power meter and kept pace. I don't know if having another team-mate would have really done much for him today-Kreuziger went awol again and he's the best domestique Tinkoff's got for Contador atm and he doesn't seem a match for Sky's vast selection of bodies.

lols at Porte and Froome having a chat on the way up the final climb, Porte trying to attack then being instantly shut down by Froome tho.

yeah the 10/11 odds to get green jersey in the TdF look just about right ;-)

Henao (is it just me, or is he not very good?)

This is his first race since Amstel, so I think he did remarkably well considering his lack of racing. So yeah, it's just you.

Were you watching the same race btw? Sky had numbers whenever it mattered, bar the final couple of kms of Friday and Saturday's stages (when it was all down to the team leaders anyway).

Ugh, good race, but so disappointing to see super sky. On the other hand, Cummings, Alaphippe, Bardet, and Martin. Awesome.

Good news from team Lotto Jumbo: Dylan Groenewegen wins Rundum Köln (beating Greipel, wow)

Greipel says Renshaw forced him out of position. No idea if that's just sour grapes or a legitimate gripe.

Sky have a smaller budget than BMC and Katusha. They spend it far more wisely it would appear.

Adam Yates. Wow. Impressive today.

Indeed! Also, wouldn't have guessed that.

what about those with out of date computers and can't stream properly, and/or lack of live showings of bike races. nbcsn only airs criterium after hours the day after. :(

Richie Porte strikes me as a good bike rider but daft bike racer sometimes.

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I was talking about today - agree that they looked good during the rest of the week.

I think everyone was knackered yesterday, that was a tough final three days.

Looks like Michael Matthews is heading to Giant-Alpecin next season, whilst Degenkolb goes to Trek-Segafredo. Is it just me, or does Matthews seem an unusual choice for Giant-Alpecin? He's a sprinter who does well in hilly stage races, so surely his goals will clash with those of Dumoulin and Barguil, who'll want GC support in the same races?

I can't believe EQS haven't gone for Degenkolb, he's a tailor made replacement for Boonen.

I can see Roger Kluge at Giant-Alpecin

Trek have the money?

New sponsors in Segafredo and CA Technologies, plus they'll be saving €3m per year on Cancellara's salary at the end of the season. I read somewhere they have just 6 riders under contract next season, so they can afford to make wholesale changes.

Yeah. Be good for Degenklob, recon there are a few more big wins in him.

I think that's a fairly safe bet.

Yes and don't think he's been given enough opportunity and support thus far.

Trek also have Jasper, unless he's moving. He is a bright star.

Stuyven is one of the riders under contract with them next year. They've got some promising young talent, what with Stuyven and Felline, Theuns, Bonifazio and Niccolo. But having a top tier classics rider like Degenkolb will be good for them, as it a) takes the pressure off the younger guys to get results and b) gives them more opportunity to go on the offensive with Degenkolb there to back them up.

Oh agreed. Young guys need experienced campaigners to learn from. Jasper has been so blessed to be able to learn from Fabian.

I still see fabs doing another year. Or at least another classics.

Sagan blowing people away in TDS.

Yeh, that was a classy ride.