2013 Pro-cycling season thread

The thing that struck me about E3 was Cannondale just imploding after delivering Sagan to the front group, there were 5 guys who just disappeared within a km.

Sky are going to win something just by having 4-5 guys in the mix in the last 10km where other teams only have 1-3. Someone will make a mistake.

Sky have a lot of dangerous riders (Eisel, Hayman, Stannard, Thomas, EBH) and the tactic seems to be to front load the race and get into the elite group with numbers. The problem is once there they lack the rider with the explosive element. Or at least that should be EBH but he lacks form. And even on form you feel Sagan's got his measure.

After EBH I think Thomas. In E3 he was stuck further back and missed the Boonen move and had to chase with Cannondale. ONce he made it to the elite group he was the strongest of the Sky riders. He hung back when Cancellara made his move in the hope Hayman and EBH could get back and only belatedly worked with the group to bring back Cancellara, probably why he and Sagan had words at the finish line.

Races like that are all about being in the right place at the right time. I think Thomas lacks a bit of nous and experience, so I hope he's learning. I hope he may be able to do a long range attack and make it stick.

BTW Gent isn't appearing on the Eurosport listings, is it only on stream in the UK?