2013 Pro-cycling season thread

So.. Breaking news is that Petacchi has signed for OPQS.. Done deal.. His bike is already built..

Lamest retirement since Cippo's 13th.

I do like Petacchi though, mostly because he's nicknamed after an incident in a small bar in his home town..

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.955310.1318385542!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/alg-bronx-ale-house-jpg.jpg

He said he wasn't retiring, just wouldn't be racing to win, and that he fancied being a lead out man, either fluttering come hither eyes at Lefévère or had already signed. What does it mean for Renshaw, since he has been fluttering come hither eyes at Lefévère all season.

Ok that's exaggerating BUT Cav with a Pettachi/Renshaw lead out train? Oof

It's simple. We have more talent.

<<<< Especially this hot piece of ass. Mmm hmmm yeah... tssss hot to touch

Ok your ass aside, this is true, but surely they could have sneaked one or two Brits into the Giro team. The classics team is currently doing fuck all, get Stannard off his arse and on his bike and stick him in every break away, especially when it's raining

He said he wasn't retiring, just wouldn't be racing to win

He may well have said that, but he said it after he was 'pausing his career'...

"At the threshold of the 200 victories in career, I feel my life reaches a peculiar moment, a turning point in which I perceive the need to find a new dimension and to have more time to dedicate to my family. These considerations induce me to the decision to pause my career."
Read more at http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/538025/alessandro-petacchi-retires-from-professional-cycling.html#P1qr1uLQOHxEoeuK.99

Ok your ass aside, this is true, but surely they could have sneaked one or two Brits into the Giro team. The classics team is currently doing fuck all, get Stannard off his arse and on his bike and stick him in every break away, especially when it's raining

Why? So he can tow everyone else to the line, getting all your hopes up unnecessarily? :)

Not sure how they are getting round registering in-season though?

Isn't there a transfer window now?? Further rumours are he's going to be in the Giro team for Cav....

As per usual with the UCI nonone has a clue which rule applies http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/omega-pharma-quick-step-interested-in-petacchi-for-lead-out-role?ns_campaign=news&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=cyclingnews&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0

Isn't there a transfer window now?? Further rumours are he's going to be in the Giro team for Cav....

Rule 2.15.120 specifies: "A UCI ProTeam or licence applicant may only recruit riders during the transfer period. For the purposes of this article «recruit» shall be deemed to mean concluding a contract with a rider to ride for the UCI ProTeam or licence applicant’s team."

However a conflicting rule (2.15.121) states that riders 'with no contractual links to a team may be recruited outside the applicable transfer period."

Lifted from Cycling News. Maybe a palm or two will need to be greased

Petacchi is out of contract, therefore he can sign. The transfer period applies to riders under contract.

There you have it..

Always thought it is a little dodgy to end contract-retire-change mind- start new contract though? Wouldn't Lampre still hold some form of contract?

Freshly tweeted:

Michelle Cound ‏@michellecound 3m Chris & Brad on the same start line, in the same kit? Mmmmmm… doubt it!

Looks like it could turn ugly before July!

She really fucking irritates me.

Looks like it already is. Wonder what Wiggins' game is, because he's certainly playing one. Froome's response was a little ominous:

“Attempting to win the Tour de France, is a massive undertaking, and will take total commitment from each and every team member. The Tour team has yet to be selected but with the depth of talent that we have at Team Sky, I have no doubt that the strongest and most willing riders will be there to support me.”

Sounds like people are being asked to take sides, and even casts a little doubt on whether Wiggo will go to the Tour

Freshly tweeted:

Looks like it could turn ugly before July!

slaps head

She's an idiot.

Froome is only gonna come out of this badly methinks. And she's not doing him any favours.

I'll start...

#teamfroomedawg

I"m still suspicious of Froome's performance.

I choose Wiggins.

Come on Porte

Cound is such a horrible surname.

It's short for 'Cunt Hound'.

#cyclingfacts

If Wiggins wins the Giro then the momentum is with him, I'd love to see him have a crack at the double but Froome is the stronger rider overall...and Brad's just messing with him for de lulz right?

ala:

If Wiggins wins the Giro then the momentum is with him, I'd love to see him have a crack at the double but Froome is the stronger rider overall...and Brad's just messing with him for de lulz right?

I'm not sure Froome really is the stronger. True, he looked like he could have ridden away at any time in 2012, but he didn't. If he'd zipped off and taken a stage he might have blown the next day. Every day he rode within the same boundaries as Wiggins - it would be very interesting to see them race against each other.

Wiggins.

At least he speaks his mind. And doesn't have his wife piping up every ten minutes.

(ie - Froome is bitching at a million miles per hour to his wife behind closed doors, but continuing with his not so subtle hints in the media...which results in his wife blurbing shit on twitter)

I also think Wiggins could put more time into Froome on TTs than Froome could put into him on the mountains. At least for one more year.