Pro-cycling thread

Froome slaving ruined Stannard.

Oh hang on, Knees has been doing that job recently.

True. Gilbert was distinctly off after his ridiculous 2011 and GVA was winning these races for fun last year. Hope he finds his way back.

See? This is Stannard in his pomp, animating the race from a long way out, attacking, working at the front and then outsprinting motherfucking GVA no less. Next year he laid waste to Quickstep’s finest. The year after that he podiumed at Paris-Roubaix after causing the race-winning selection on the last few cobbles. He looked a future winner that day, and down-playing his achievements is just blinkered. Sky is just built around Froome and possibly Thomas, and stage racing and the Tour its priority. I mean just look at Viviani unleashed this season, he is smashing it:

https://twitter.com/quickstepteam/status/977958885788192768?s=21

I think it was maybe prioritising making the Tour squad that neutered him in the classics. He hasn’t ridden the Omloop, a race he won fucking twice, for the last two years. The sense is he is taking easy early season to prevent burnout for July, with Moscon as Sky’s new classics token rider. Both should join Quickstep #armchairds

Sep Van Marcke is such a consistent not-winner of bike races whilst animating them immensely

The sense is he is taking it easy early season to prevent burnout for July

Castroviejo will ride the Tour in place of Stannard this year.

I don't think we're ever likely to be directly competitive, unless it's pizza speed eating or something.

I think you’re forgetting I win that too!

You've heard the term pool shark?

<-- pizza shark

Final climb on the Innsbruck circuit i.e the one they only do once...

https://twitter.com/gazettedessport/status/978300924111310849?s=21

I am reminded; Wout Van Aert = what the fuck is that boy capable of once he bins off riding in the park at the weekend

@%~} Cool, thanks.

Over 5,000m climbing... Colombia ftw.

Yep, he definitely has the minerals. 23 as well, him and Benoot look like the future.

Was reading this the other day as it goes:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wout-van-aert-belgiums-next-big-thing/

These videos are great. Too bad he stopped making them.

He made one for msr on eurosport.
https://www.eurosport.com/cosmo-catalano_aut2021/author.shtml

He made one for msr on eurosport.
https://www.eurosport.com/cosmo-catalano­_aut2021/author.shtml

Thank you!

Not a bad shout that, for Stannard in particular.

Let's see how these two fare in today's expectedly very wet edition of Dwars Door Vlaanderen. There's talk of El Imbatido joining the team selection for De Ronde as well!

Spanish cycling Twitter is getting very excited about the prospect of Valverde riding Flanders. They seem to think he’ll win too.

#letshopetheirdisappointmentiscrushing

He better fucking not. I can't afford to replace the TV.

I think if any non-specialist could come into ride Flanders and do well it’d be Valverde. But I really can’t see him outriding the likes of Sagan, Van Avermaet, QS etc.

I hadn't even considered him until you mentioned it. #POC

Nothing would surprise me less.

Valverde Forever!