Pro-cycling thread

People were saying this exactly three years ago. But about Quintana.

But I agree, I don't think there is any doubt that Dumoulin has been the strongest rider in the race. In his breakout performance at the Vuelta in 2015, he couldn't hang with the best climbers but limited his losses brilliantly. Here, he's been able to put the best climbers in trouble at times.

He's just got two more days to hold it all together.

Yeah and he has achieved a lot since, so they were right.
Though he's still not beat froome at the tour.

Part of me wonders if Quintana arrived at the giro a bit underform and planned to use it to build form for arriving at the tour in form. Perhaps he thought he could ride and win the giro not at 100%. But that's speculation.

Everything I've read about Dumoulin yesterday does make him sound like he was being a bit arrogant, tbf. He's upset that they didn't help help him chase down Pinot. Pfft. That's his job. And apparently, according to the cycling podcast, he said the "knock them off the podium" thing to every reporter he spoke to after the race. Bit OTT. This was Nibali's response: "Has he ever heard of karma? He should do less talking because even he might miss the podium." In the context of everything seems fair.

Jokes right? Nibali is all too often pulling super-twattish moves in races. Hope he has heard of karma.
Pinot was nowhere near as much of a threat to his #1 as he was to NQ and VN's podium places. If they wont work to keep them, that's their choice, but I don't see how TD should be doing the pulling. You can't ask the Maglia Rosa to do "do the honours" of controlling the race and then attack when he has trouble on the road. Nibali expects respect and gives none.

TD is better placed for arrogance than the others. He's the strongest rider in this race.

TD is better placed for arrogance than the others. He's the strongest rider in this race

Which is why it's arrogant to have a go at your competitors with every journalist who will listen.

You can't ask the Maglia Rosa to do "do the honours" of controlling the race and then attack when he has trouble on the road.

It's not about honours. It's tactics. They want him to chase down attacks to wear him out. Why help him in any way and keep him fresher?

Edit to add:

They're not worried about Pinot. They're still after the number one spot. Rightly or wrongly they still see themselves as having a shot. That's a good thing for us.

And in turn, why should he help them? Pinot threatens all three. It's tactics.

Its all entertainment though isn't it. Thats why we watch it. Its refreshing to have someone say stuff in the press conference that riles people, gets people talking and adds bite to the racing. Bring it on. Cycling needs more trash talking. Every sport benefits from having grudge matches.

He's not helping them. He's helping himself. He has the most to lose. That's why he was angry.

(Also see my edit about them not being concerned with Pinot right now).

Lols at all the folk who on another day with other riders would criticise them for riding to protect second or third when they could be aiming for the overall.

If you look at how ridiculously high average speeds have been on a lot of stages I think Quintana's just not been able to sustain them and make attacks stick-none of the pure climbers really have and it's exactly the tactic Froome/Sky have used the last few years so successfully in the Tour.

This!
I thoroughly enjoyed the provocativeness

TD repeating that line struck me as purposeful - it sounds like he's been told or agreed with his team to get that message out. It reminded me of a politician getting lines out during an interview. Maybe he's trying to wind Nibali and Quintana up and make them do something rash?

That was my immediate thinking. Nibali especially responds when his pride is stung.

such a role model.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0Db10odClg

I think Tommy D is still annoyed with them for taking advantage of his emergency situation.....but didn't want to seem like sour grapes to have a go at them at that point.

Nibali and Quintana seem a lot more focused on winning rather than caring where they podium which makes for a much more exciting race and makes sense given they already have great GC records. Hence it was fair enough for them not to chase down Pinot.

But in short Tommy D is showing himself to be a hero and hopefully he holds on for the win.

I love the pantomime aspect. Nibali as pantomime baddy is my favourite.

Quintana laughing when interviewed. Now that was scary!

TD is playing mind games, Sunweb definitely have this down, throughout the Giro what TD and the team have said has seemed so much more planned than what Movistar or Bahrain Merida say.

wait, whut? he can actually move his facial muscles?

Exactly!

Fuck him.

He's forever on my shit list for not riding for Cadel.

It's always a lot harder to repeat a big win.

I know. But Quintana has let's not forget. He beat Froome and Contador to win the Vuelta last year.

karma, oed, noun; the act of hanging onto a car during a bicycle race to gain time and/or positions on rivals.

Did I get that right.

Fuck off Nibs.

I'm not sure my message should be construed into support for Nibali's vuelta hitch. Or Nibali. Just adding context.