Pro-cycling thread

L'equipe are normally pretty solid for rumours.
He must be in advanced talks at least.

Maybe just to boost his worth at sky. Playing people against each other is always a good negotiating tactic.

that would be a right pain in the arse for Richie

Would this depend on the result of this year's Tour? Why would they want Froome if Porte wins and vice versa?

Maybe it's a him-or-me ploy regarding Brailsford?

monetary gains

better bikes

Might give Thomas a better shot at GC if Froome leaves... though maybe the tour will be the time a lot of info comes out about skys jiffy bag gate and it will sink?

When's sky's sponsorship up?

Porte or Thomas will never win the TdF.

Must be unhappy over the Brailsford/doping thing and wants to avoid being associated with a UK Postal?

Sky to shop for the Yates'?

Thomas, no way. Porte - this is his year, IMO.

They can only sign Adam, unless they abandon the zero tolerance policy (which was mandated by Sky Corporate as far as I understand).

It runs through to 2019 I believe.

I thought that following recent revelations that would have been placed in the same category as saying you speak fluent Russian on your CV when in truth you can just about manage to order a beer in Polish.

Froome has denied the BMC rumours this morning apparently. He is under contract at Sky for another year, fwiw.

Was it at the Dauphine last year where Porte ended up sleep walking into working with Froome on a climb? Physical attributes aside, Porte is so unlucky/naive/honest, I'll be really impressed when he wins a GT.

What happened to Sky/Brailsford's public desire to get a Frenchman to win the Tour? Wasn't Pinot rumored to be signing at one point? Bardet's contract is up for renewal next year...

kenny elissonde

Not a chance.

If your team was unpopular in France what would be a free PR win that might help change attitudes?

Agree with @croft - Porte for the win this year as long as he doesn't get hit by a motorcycle or a dog.

There is no logical reason for Porte being unable to win but I just struggle to imagine it happening. Too much time as a domestique? Echoes of his pug faced predecesor? Too nice?

He does have a bit of the eternal second about him - but, man he looks in good nick this year.

He does tend to have a bad day

Every year he does well in some early races, people say he's in for a shot of winning something big, then he seems to just hover in the top 10 for the TdF and the like.