Pro-cycling thread

And irrelevant

Supposedly Kittel is in talks with Jumbo-Visma. So on the cusp of GT success with their own top prospect sprinter, they are talking to a guy who left the world tour less than a month ago to get his shit together. Unless he’s super cheap (or they know Dylan Groenewegen is leaving) it seems like self-harming.

This sounds along the same lines as the Van Aert/Sniper cycling shindig with an actual WT team.

It's just the corporate parents of the sponsors; neither own or have a significant stake in the cycling team they sponsor. Corendon has said they've got two more years to run on their sponsorship.

Nibali to Trek seems to have been confirmed by the boss of Segafredo. Where GC riders go to die (with a fat pay cheque)

At least he's broken with his tradition of taking money off cunts with horrendous human rights abuse records. A bit of good old fashion catholic death bed repentance before he retires maybe

True. that said Massimo Zanetti (said boss of Segafredo) used to be a politician in Berlusconi's party...

Interesting. From bunga-bunga parties to meetings about coffee supply chains, I bet he's bored stiff

He’s just finished second in the Giro, he’s not exactly dying yet.

Where GC riders go to die

Which reminds me, how's Richie Porte doing this year ? I don't think I've watched anything he's raced in

He went quick up that one hill in Australia like 4 months ago.

And that’s been pretty much it. Nothing to justify what I suspect will be yet another year listed as a tour contender.

He didn't win the tour of California

Marcel Kittel has just announced his girlfriend is pregnant so hopefully that means his life is ok even if his sporting life is not great.

Whatever he does he gets criticised. Wins week long stage races all spring, received opinion is he’ll be knackered for the Tour. Doesn’t win races, don’t know why he bothers, he’ll never do well in a GT.

Hope he's the father then...

When it rains it pours!

Don’t have anything against him. I think he’s a great 1-week race rider but there is something lacking for a grand tour. It’s not like everyone can win them.

but there is something lacking for a grand tour

The ability to stay upright for three weeks ? I thought he had a good chance in the 2017 TdeF until he launched himself into Dan Martin

MvDP confirmed to be riding the road Worlds in Yorkshire.

^^ Agree, 2017 was looking very good for him. People write Porte off too easily.

start the hype machine!

He’s riding the Tour of Britain as preparation too, so plenty of potential for hyperbole.

People forget he was 5th in 2016, and wasn’t far off the podium.

Porte's finished!

Is Porte doing Dauphine or Suisse? Probably would write him off until after that. But I do think he’s yesterday’s (nearly) man.