Pro-cycling thread

Fingers crossed! He seems like quite a level-headed guy (we'll forgive him for the pirate ear ring). Good luck to him.

Micheal Matthews to Giant-Alpecin, finally got fed up of having to ride against Gerrans?

It was obvious those two couldn't co-exist. But who would you try and keep at this point in their respective careers? Good move by Giant-Alpecin.

Exactly, Gerrans always seemed to get a free pass in riding for himself, now they lose Matthews who is going to win an absolute hatful of races. Mad by OBE, unless they are shedding sprinters as they transition to a GC team.

I think they've put their sprinting money on Caleb Ewan, Kluge was also acquired to complete their sprint train for him.

So perhaps they hope to get one or two more years out of Gerrans to let Ewan mature a bit whereas they would have had to hang on to Matthews for much longer.

Matthews is a puncheur rather than pure sprinter though, more Classics potential than Ewan. I guess Giant-Alpecin wanted a direct replacement for Degenkolb, and Matthews will be able to mix it with Sagan if the race is a bit lumpier.

Oh, didn't realise Degs was leaving. Where's he off to?

Trek I believe

Where good riders go to whine and die!

Chris Boardman's autobiography is very factual but a little dull. I did discover that I've been past his house in Hoylake many times.
If anyone wants an as-new hardback copy and can collect from Stoke Newington they can have mine for a fiver.

hatful

Nice Millar reference there.

Sep Vanmarcke is a perfect fit for Cannondale-Drapac

Frank Schleck is the fourth or fifth Trek rider to announce retirement at the end of this season, non? Big change in the roster so a good opportunity to shake things up a bit.

And he's punctured already

Good move for both. One day Vanmarcke will tear everyone's legs off at Roubaix.

Why the talk of a perfect fit? Sep Vanmarcke has real potential but one of the things that was holding him back was the team. There's Dylan Van Baarle but other than that, results on Flanders and PR haven't been particularly strong recently

will arredondo still be a trek next year?

MIA.

What has happened to him this year? I don't think he's finished a stage race he's started.

An item in Cycling Weekly this week linked not only Hugh Carthy but also Jon Dibben and Tao with Cannondale. Any truth in that (particularly concerning Tao)?

Jon Dibben is riding as a stagiare with Cannondale at the Tour of Utah, so there's a fair chance of him going there next season I'd say.

No idea on Tao, I'm sure he has a WT team for next year though.

Does the riders have radios in Rio Olympics?

Apparently not. Is there a thread for the Olympic road race or are we just talking about it here? Anyone else settled down for the whole race?

Spain kit is nice. Bit obvs. But nice in the sun

enter code here

Nice to see em in their national jerseys. Peloton is properly dawdling now

Cummings for the win!