Pro-cycling thread

Reaching for my tin foil hat and asking have ASO designed the course for Alaphilippe?

No, they’ve designed it for Pinot.

Is Bardet a busted flush?

Not a good week for cycling legends with Roger De Vlaeminck and Raymond Poulidor also in hospital.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/roger-de-vlaeminck-intensive-care-fever-440403

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/raymond-poulidors-condition-improved-significantly-440147

Or Sagan.... #trollface

The route is seriously tough and anyone who wins it will need to be in form for the entire three weeks, be able to cope with the heat and have a strong team who can control the race. That last time trial is a killer, everyone will be on their knees by that point and having to pace a 36 km with an uphill finish will be a real challenge. Go too hard too soon and you'll blow and lose minutes, or start too conservatively and struggle to pull back the time you lost on the flat.

Anyone who thinks Alaphillippe can win this needs their head examining.

Just seen speculation on Twitter. I think they are probably basing it on the fact he won the uphill TT in the last edition. Looks like a fun route anyways

That TT was a) in the middle of the race and b) hilly. This one is on the last Saturday of the race and finishes up a Cat 1 mountain. They are very different beasts.

Alaphillipe won’t be in the top ten come the final week.

Also, QS don't have the team to protect him over a tour like this unless PCS is wrong about their 2020 roster.

It'd just end up like this year, the power of Ineos, Jumbo etc would blow Alaphillipe off the road sooner or later even if they bided their time until late in the race. Then again, I have a sneaking suspicion that the French press love a valiant failure almost more than wins.

Sure on current logic. But that same logic said Geraint Thomas would never win the Tour. I haven't had a hard look at the course but anything can happen, especially if unfancied riders change their targets and training.

route looks good for Froome

Froome

who dat?

Skinny African chap. Falls off a lot. You'd like him.

In a move that probably comes as no surprise, Taylor Phinney is set to retire from the sport after the Japan Cup.

Didn't he do fairly well in the spring classics last year?

"I’m stepping away so that I can be more true to myself, which means to make art, to make music, to create and cultivate"

(Via The Inner Ring on Twitter)

Quite proud of myself for managing to keep a straight face while posting that.

Yes, top ten in Paris-Roubaix. But ever since his accident he's been less motivated and more interested in pursuing interests outside of cycling. This has been a long time coming.

Good for him.

Life is too short to not do what you love.

I don't mind phinney...bit west coast ridiculous tho but still interesting the way he shifted his focus post crash.

He said he only wants to ride mountain bikes from now on so let us just never speak of him again

The podcast he did with Mitch docker was pretty interesting about his ethos and what motivates him since his crash

Fortunately he has two well grounded parents.

Guys, he said enduro is the thing for me.