Pro-cycling thread

Who?

I realise Pogacar is the race favourite, and justifiably so given his performances over the past twelve months, but his team, which has just been announced, is going to have to really step up if he wants to win again.

Ineos could get rid of all his climbing domestiques and still have four riders in the front group, and that’s a difficult problem to manage alone.

BUt SKy ArE GOIng To BE RaCINg WiTh NEW uNEXpeCtEd TaCTics

https://mobile.twitter.com/JumboVismaRoad/status/1406997279291154438

Glad they didn't mess this up

what's the meaning of the names?

Quite sponsor heavy isn’t it? But I suppose they do pay for the sport so fair enough.

He doesent need a team around him; Jumbo will carry him

You think JV are going to do that again?

I have no idea why they did in the first place. Some sort of countryman loyalty from Roglic?!

Beacuse they didn't realise quite how strong Pog was

Haha yep, bit late!

Chris Horner recons JV will let Pogacar sit in because they will be too scared of Ineos and recon Roglic can beat him in the TTs. Not sure if he watched last year’s tour.

I think JV, and any other team who have ambitions to win the race, will be looking to eliminate rivals as and when they can and to do that you sometimes need to form temporary alliances, as Ineos and JV did in Stage 7 last year.

Given the relative weakness of UAE, when compared to Ineos and JV, and the fact that they lost time in a transition stage last year, then they may well be on the receiving end of further attempts to split the field if the wind blows.

Every cross wind day is going to be mental.
Looking forward to it!

DQS will be game for any cross wind day too.

I want Carapaz to win, I like his low cadence out the saddle, in the drops attacks. Hopefully Ineos use him aggressively.

Every cross wind day is going to be mental.

Anyone know when the first realistic day is that this is a chance? Are any of the Brittany stages exposed enough?

I’d love to be there. Lots of holidays in Brittany as a kid.

Agree but I think that ineos having 4(?!) leaders makes things more complex when the chaos arrives. JV are all in for Roglic so Pogacar just needs to cement himself to his wheel and pray he doesn’t get a puncture when he’s isolated.

Any other team than Ineos and you’d bet they’d be all over the place when the race fragments not knowing which rider in which group to support. But its Ineos so regardless of their “new style” I can’t imagine Dave won’t have a firm plan.

I think They’ll ride for G until he crashes or can’t follow Cara. [Edited for ADSA style.]

They’ll keep as many of their riders in contention for as long as they can. If they are then in a winning position they’ll revert to type.

C'aaaaaaarn Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaane! went riding for Russia to get a spot in the 'lympics

he’s beaten the US pro crit champ multiple times, proving that he could get that jersey if he wanted to

I'm not sure that's how Championship wins work.

What about this young Australian prospect who finished on the podium last year, moved to the strongest team in the world tour, and has just won the Dauphine for the first time? You can back him at 35-1.

Is it Cadel?

SHANE-OOOO

LUC-OOOOOOO