Pro-cycling thread

Just Instagrams them.

Stupid, sexy Flanders tho

Great comeback by Kittel today after the crash

Oh. And now I see he's riding RVV. I guess that tells you what you need to know about Drapac's squad depth.

That makes you worry whether he'll Phinneysh.

#oncemoreforthegoodtimes

Why are people so sneery about Phinney? He's one of the good guys, has exemplary integrity and had a very serious injury. If he never gets back to his old form then that's a real shame but not something to be snotty about. Is he damned by association because he rides for Cannondale?

Thanks for posting that. I was on the hill that day, and was in that crowd when Boonen won. One of the best spectator events I have ever been at.

They're not so happy when he gets outsprinted by Matt Hayman though.

This.

That he's returned at all is testament to how tough he is. He oozes talent on a bike, but he's also realised there is more to life than that.

Catching up with de Panne, fuck me on the first stage they rode the pavements a lot, esp up the Mur. I see they all got fined for it but it definitely detracted from the spectacle. Next thing they'll be running red lights

Ultimate slow tv: Sporza journo Ruben van Gucht (with a lot of enthusiasts joining him) riding the entire Ronde van Vlaanderen live on Sporza now (no geoblock)

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http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/taylor-phinney-primed-super-bowl-sunday-tour-flanders-322880

Having not raced any Classics so far this year because of a slight set-back to his injured leg, Phinney is looking forward to testing his form.

I learnt today that BMC have never won a monument, which surprised me. Given their budget and their star filled roster how they don't get more scrutiny in the cycling press surprises me. They have a similar budget to Sky yet win far fewer races, even with Van Avermaet on his winning streak. Definitely punching below their weight.

And Orica have won four out of the five, Flanders being the one they have missed.

All those years nursing the Antipodean Pug to glory were quite frustrating to watch as a spectator so the sponsors must have been feeling it too.

I've never been able to figure out BMC either-maybe Ochowicz just doesn't know how to do Sky's ahem, marginal gains, but then you'd think with Porte on board he'll be spilling any secrets. They're definitely not a team at the forefront of my mind when thinking of potential winners anyway.

I like Phinney fwiw-that leg break was horrific and would have ended most folks careers so it's surprising he's even close to what he was before, hipster leanings and all. That custom paint job he did a couple of years back was hilarious

A work of art so pure Amey would stick some Paul cantis on it.

Dude realised there was more to life than pedalling. Bit like Lachlan.

Hope we get a worthy winner tomorrow.

It's been a long time since we had a lucky winner, probably Durand in 1992 was the last one.

Last year's Ronde on Eurosport, Stannard on the attack, reminds me just how anonymous he has been so far this year. I'm hoping he's just being all back of the bus and going to flip out tomorrow

Also watching Kwiato animate the race with Sagan, seems nuts he's not riding tomorrow

Not sure who I want to win.
I just loved the win by Matt H in roubaix last year. So deserved.

I would like Bossen H to get a monument. I think he deserves one. But I don't think he will. Standard deserves a roubaix. But no one deserves on more than Sep.

It's going to be interesting how the Quickstep 'group dynamic' works. Massively powerful lineup.

I learnt today that BMC have never won a monument

Surprised they never played GVA and Gilbert together. Worked for Quickstep (sometimes)

Betancur watch:

He's looking better than he has in a while.

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Lovely film