Pro-cycling thread

Sky themselves think differently. This press release from their website is pretty much 100% cringe.

Fans are being given the opportunity to be right behind Chris Froome
and his teammates at this summer’s Tour de France, where riders will
be wearing a special white jersey edition of the Team Sky kit.

The new design, which has been produced in partnership with Castelli,
will still feature all of the elements which have made Team Sky riders
so recognisable in the peloton, but with the traditional black jerseys
swapped for a new, white design. The jersey will continue to carry the
distinctive data pattern featured on the 2017 Team Sky kit. And
fans will have the chance to see their name featured on the jerseys
worn by Team Sky at the Tour de France team presentation in Dusseldorf
on Thursday 29th June. A selection of lucky fans will see their
names printed into the blue line on the back of the jerseys which will
be worn by riders as they are introduced to the crowds.

Fans who want to apply for the chance to see their name featured on
the back of the special edition presentation jersey have until the
13th June to enter their details at: teamskypromotions.com/whitejersey

Speaking about the new Team Sky Tour de France jersey, Team Principal
Dave Brailsford said: “We have always admired Castelli given their
heritage and our shared passion for innovation. That’s why our kit
this season reflects our history as a team and our ambitions for the
future - with Italian flair and design. And our riders love it.
“Castelli also looked at different colours during the design process
last year. We all loved the white. We are always up for doing things
differently and decided the best time to unveil it would be at the
Tour - the world’s biggest bike race. We can’t wait to get racing
wearing it.”

Chris Froome, who this year will be targeting a fourth Tour de France
victory, said: “The backing we get from Team Sky fans means so much to
the riders, and it really makes a big difference to us wherever we are
racing. “Giving fans an opportunity to be right there with us as
we kick off this year’s Tour de France is just a small way for us to
say thank you for that support.” The Team Sky 2017 Tour de France
kit will be available for purchase as a limited edition from 12 June
through http://www.castelli-cycling.com and through selected Castelli
retailers. Steve Smith, Brand Manager at Castelli, said: “One of
the designs we looked at for the 2017 season was a white version of
what eventually became the 2017 Team Sky kit. We all knew that we
wanted to use the new design, and the Tour is the perfect opportunity
to do that. “The kit looks so modern, and yet classic at the same
time. We can’t wait to see it being worn by Team Sky.”

Read more at https://www.teamsky.com/#IYfkkazzjQDgjuih.99

what colour are the shorts though?

You'd think this year's giro would act as a cautionary tale...

And does this finally confirm that Castelli > Rapha?

@HoKe have you got yours yet?

Minimal aero losses!

Two-Face?

Sunday 4 June

1235-1415 LIVE stage one on Eurosport 2
2100-2230 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
2200-2300 Stage highlights on ITV4 HD

Monday 5 June

1400-1530 LIVE stage two on Eurosport 2
2100-2230 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
2200-2300 Stage highlights on ITV4 HD

Tuesday 6 June

Stage three will be LIVE on the Eurosport Player
1825-2000 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
2200-2300 Stage highlights on ITV4 HD

Wednesday 7 June

Stage four will be LIVE on the Eurosport Player
1825-2000 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
2200-2300 Stage highlights on ITV4 HD

Thursday 8 June

1400-1530 LIVE stage five on Eurosport 2
2100-2225 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
2200-2300 Stage highlights on ITV4 HD

Friday 9 June

1400-1530 LIVE stage six on Eurosport 2
1830-2000 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
2200-2300 Stage highlights on ITV4 HD

Saturday 10 June

1230-1400 LIVE stage seven on Eurosport 2
1730-1830 Stage highlights on Eurosport 2
2200-2305 Stage highlights on ITV4 HD

Sunday 11 June
2200-2305 Stage eight highlights on ITV4 HD

Not rapha, then GTFO

Why wear a jersey that will clash with a leader's jersey? Why are they allowed? It's shit, a white crappy jersey, so edgy, piss off.

I surprised myself at how much this annoys me.

Any thoughts on the upcoming Hammer Series?..

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/hammer-series-2017/preview/

A terrible, terrible idea.

For those with time to spare this afternoon, it's being broadcast via Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/hammerseries/videos/435450043476978/

Given the riders don't really understand how it's going to work it's either going to be a disaster or wildly entertaining because it's a cycling equivalent of the Wacky Races.

It's got a surprisingly strong field for such a bonkers format. The potential for talented riders to tear each others legs off seems quite high, so I will try and watch some of it.

It's got a surprisingly strong field for such a bonkers format.

Because it's owned and being run by their bosses.

What is the Velon ownership structure? Do each of the member teams own an equivalent stake? Or is their third party involvement?

It's owned and operated by the teams.

Is there any information on how and who in particular devised the format?

Format of Velon or Hammer series? The got a CEO with a history in sporting, but not cycling, to take on the day-to-day running of things. Can't remember exactly what his past is though.

Thanks - was thinking specifically of the Hammer series.

edit - then the stuff below won't really interest you!

https://cyclingtips.com/2014/11/velon-interview-part-i-how-ceo-bartlett-believes-group-can-transform-cycling/

Launched yesterday in what the group hopes will represent a major step forward for the growth and stability of the sport, first details of the Velon project were finally unveiled.

Comprising eleven of cycling’s top WorldTour teams and targeting goals of making the sport more dramatic, introducing new technology and building a more sustainable and credible future, the group aims to transform the landscape of the sport.

It hands member teams new negotiation power in discussions with the UCI and with race organisers such as ASO, thus strengthening the hand of one of the most important stakeholder groups in cycling.

However while the launch document introduced Velon to those who follow the sport, many important details were not explained due to its brevity. CyclingTips spoke in depth to the group’s CEO Graham Bartlett, who previously worked with UEFA and Nike and was commercial director for Liverpool Football Club, getting greater detail on a variety of topics.

Hammer Series- Keeps on being compared to the Old Omnium. Which was confusing as fuck and only ever really appealed to the more hardcore fan.

I do think the Team TT at the end could be interesting, if you have a 30 second lead, surely you have to go out as hard as possible in order to not be caught? Pacing goes somewhat out the window? Unless you are confident your sprinter can win anyway.

The final time/win in the team event is counted by the fourth rider crossing the finish line, so they'd need to have four sprinters there

What happens if the catch is made? Can they then draft the lead team, or are they obliged to ride in teams?

A circuit race with two climbs sounds great fun. Of all pro races, this is probably the closest format to what most amateurs race regularly.

As long as this is an add on to the existing calendar, I'm all for it.

So we could see teams absolutely "Hammering" it out of the blocks to avoid the catch. Possibly fairly quickly dropping a rider/riders who can then attempt to interrupt the chase? Could be interesting, definitely a wacky races feel and could introduce some interesting tactics.