2013 Pro-cycling season thread

Did it just "settle" against the wall??

which turned into the coolest bit of bike parking seen for quite some time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_433526&feature=iv&src_vid=BNv4M32FEmM&v=O1uZ2M9f6Iw

how to park your bike

I bet he'll say he meant to do that..

Very smooth. But not as smooth as Nibali's 11 speed Campag electronic groupset.

#obvioushippytrapbaited

RaceRadio?

Wiggin's bike toss was certainly elegant, but not as elegant as the smooth shifting of Nibali's @campagnolosrl electronic 11 Speed

Sad we didn't get to see the Brad V Nibbles show down. Nibbles just ate the road up though. Giro is going to be amazing.

RaceRadio?

Busted.

Nibbles looks very strong, been training on Teide, reckon he got a few marginal gains up his sleeve too. Shame about the mechanical today.

Giro should be ace, only 2 weeks away!

#obvioushippytrapbaited

Not a mechanical, he just didn't have the legs and needed a rest.

Looking forward to Liege!

I've got a cheeky fiver on Dan 'Elbow Face' Martin, and a fiver each way on Gilbert. Phil seems to be lacking finish this year but he's still got a podium in him.

What's your bets?

Nibbles looks very strong, been training on Teide, reckon he got a few marginal gains up his sleeve too. Shame about the mechanical today.

Giro should be ace, only 2 weeks away!

Been working all winter on his TT position on the track as well.

Has he got the team for it over a three week race though? Sky aren't pretty to watch but it's effective.

Tellingly he had two teammates with him on that last climb when Wiggins had none, and one of them Aru, leap frogged Wiggins in the GC because of it.

For all their marginal gains guff, and frankly they should bury that horrible phrase along with stuff like 'inner chimp', the fact Wiggins' spare bike didn't have the same compact gearing so he struggled on the steeper gradients was a crass oversight and cost him the race.

Not the first time either: they got the gearing wrong on THAT stage at T-A, maybe Nibbles has got the Sky mechanics on the payroll

Can't Sky riders just be beaten by the better man on the day?

^ Depends on your definition of 'better'.

Geraint Thomas is, for my money, one of the strongest riders in the peloton, but I think he lacks race nouse. His position in the group is often badly judged and he turns on the gas at the wrong moment.

Oscar Freire was often not the fittest in the group, but his incredible sixth sense when it came to judging a race is evident in his impressive palmares. (assisted with dope, I'm guessing)

Same with strong riders in a weak team. I'd say the strength of the team can often be more important than the strength of the individual. I don't think Wiggo would have won the tour on any other team.

I'll be in Rapha from 3-ish til the finish.

Good to see Sky in formation at the front of the peleton. They've been too quiet this season

They're only there because there is still a long way to go.
It won't last!

Go Dan!

Brilliant!

Gets it!

Dan Martin wins a classic.

Isn't that mentioned in the Book of Revelations somewhere? Armageddon round the corner?

GET THE FUCK IN!!!!!!

I'm just £100 the richer too! Thank you, Dan Martin, you fucking diamond!!!

Elbow face... Ha!!
Congrats Luci

Awesome result, I nearly fell off my chair shouting at the screen when Dan rode across to Purito; then he jumped!

Almost nipped to the bookies this morning after seeing GLs cheeky fiver comment, wish i had now :'(