2012 Pro-cycling season thread

Caught.

There was no way that Rodregez was getting second again this year. He smashed it. Big Phill and Vandervart (or what ever his name is without googleing) got me a nice bunch of points for the Veluminati preditions as well.

Cunego.

im thinking Voeckler if he can get away early after the break is caught, otherwise PhilGil or JRod to take it at the end....

Voeckler can descend in the rain like no one else.

doo bi doo bi doo do doo
doo bi doo bi doo do doo
duh der de de der de duh duh

....SIDI....cycling shoes

^ best ad ever.

I reckon Dan martin is going to get it.

nibali caught

I've not seen an LBL before.

An exciting race and brave tactics from Nibali.

great racing from Astana and Iglinski, gutted for Nibali too but he had no support

exciting. i think nibali went at the right time if he was gonna have a shot. liglinski so strong when he attacked alone. gilbert got spat out of his little group near the finish.

roll on Giro!

It felt like BMC did too much work, too early. I don't think Gilbert could have won in any case, but if there had been domestiques left to chase Nibali's attack the finale would have looked very different. The pursuit of Nibali against Iglinskiy made for awesome viewing in the end though. I just wished Nibali could have held out.

Nibali's escape in the descent was beautiful to watch, especially since I rode the tourist version the day before and remembered the route. It surprised me that no one was thrown off his bike in the 'streets' of Liege at those speeds, some of the worst roads I've ever been on.

How was the sportive? How much harder is it than it looks on television?

it's actually longer than the pro distance! 272kms in this sort of weather:

headwind up to Bastogne, the meanest climbs in the last 100k... ouch. still have some trouble climbing stairs today ;-)

[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170453626[/ame]

Nibali is one of my favourite riders to watch because he attacks on descents. Makes things much more interesting. It's a shame he lacks the explosiveness on climbs.

holy shit peter, that's some ride! pretty respectable pace as well-did you a lot of training beforehand?

I enjoyed the LBL. Anyone watch that err four stage tour I've forgotten the name of? The one with the steepass climbs up some sketchy roads towards the snow..

Tour of Turkey is on now too.

Good effort. That looks grim.

The commentators were saying that the pros had it easier than the poor bastards doing the sportive the day before. I see why.. nice effort.

That's a good effort there Peter V. Well done.

+1

That looks devastating.

@über_grüber yes but it was the farthest I've ever ridden. and I erm, dented my schedule somewhat by going to/drinking at Roadburn festival the previous weekend (or rather 4 days...)

@hippy: Giro Trentino,

& cheers guys!