Pro-cycling thread

Lets hope so. Are you watching?
Just nipped out to Kirk Michael to watch a bit of the Time Trial.

http://www.energyfm.net/cms/news_story_482560.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

A Manx Winner!

That's amazing news!

Sadly my great plans to go home and watch in person have been sabotaged by our bloody builders inability to start/finish anything on time so I'm currently sat in Bristol looking at a giant pile of scaffolding. Somewhat ironically it's the first Nat Champs I've missed in 4 years.

Well Froome doesn't look the dominant climber on form so far this season, whether he'll peak just right for the Tour is to be seen. But then he didn't dominate the climbs last year, he nicked time on a descent and then added to it in the TT. If his form is sketchy then the train-of-death simply won't work, but they have looked more flexible recently.

And the strength of teams like Movistar means its difficult to out-muscle the peloton like they have in the past.

Froome's train will be clad in white at the Tour this year.

I'd be surprised if the ASO would let them ride in white jerseys, because white jersey (they deemed the 1st version of NL Lotto Jumbo's kit 'too yellow, because yellow jersey' ...and that was almost half black)

La Gazzetta dello Sport says he'll move to Movistar...

Good point - they also banned Tinkoff's kit, no?

Maybe it's only yellow they have a problem with.

I'm pretty sure a team that pays attention to the details made sure ASO approved their kit before they unveiled it.

To be Valverde's domestique? Fuck that.

His agent wants guaranteed GC leadership, so he'll go where he gets that.

I'm pretty sure a team that pays attention to the details

Unless it's medical records.

Are the TT national champs live to watch anywhere?

Actually it's a bit late now, only Dowsett is still going. Which means Tao is definitely on the podium. Great ride!

Poor dowsett.

Yes Stevo!!

Stevo
Dowsett
Gullen.

Well done to James Gullen, he's class.

Not bad for someone injured.

Steve Cummings TT champ wut?

He's won TTs before.

Got to wonder if we'll see him win on sunday.

I'd love that.

I reckon he's got a good hour in him, not sure he'll have the same for an additional 3 hours. Yet.

@skinny in a late, surprise-the-peloton-breakaway preferrably

I dunno, I understand why you say that. But He's got years in his legs.
Plus I bet he's been hammering the turbo trainer, didn't hurt Hayman.

Wish full thinking!

Yeah @peter_v

There's at least two theories on Froome's form;

1. He's wobbled at the end of all three of his Tour wins, so is coming in a bit behind in terms of preparation so he's at his best in the final week.

2. The workload Sky put on their best riders is so intense that riders will burn out after enduring it for multiple years. Froome, uniquely, has been on the Kerrison programme since it's inception so is burnt out.

We'll find out if either of these are right over the coming weeks.

There won't be much of a peloton after two laps of the mountain circuit. The continental pros will thin it out so they've less competition for the finishing circuits.

I'd be surprised if there are 10 riders in contention on the final 2 laps.

Racing a single day classic on a diet of turbo training is very different from racing a GT on the same.

Indeed. But I did say, I wonder if we'll see him win Sunday.

I don't think anyone will be disappointed if he does. Bar lil' Pete.