2011 Pro-cycling season thread

Right, let's have one thread to discuss pro cycling this year, rather than random threads popping up all over the place.

I'll start - I'm shocked to find I'm looking forward to the TDU. Mainly because I want to see the much awaited Greipel vs Cavendish showdown.

Its come around quickly..... but i'm looking forward to it.

Looking forward to the cyclo-x world champs too. Wondering if Stybar will magically peak for it...

Lance to bow out of Pro Cycling at TDU. Will this really be the end or does he now become 'advisor'

He'll be convicted of fraud before the year is out.

When it matters Cav is gonna own Griepel this year, then it will be all about Cav has a good lead-out train blah, blah, blah

Milan San-Remo will be more interesting though

He'll be convicted of fraud before the year is out.

I'd take a £10 on that not happening

^There's a Sports Illustrated article by the journalist who got the A-Rod baseball doping story rumoured to be on the way next week although it was also going to be this week and week before that.

I'd take a £10 on that not happening

Remember in the summer when Armstrong said he was just a rider on the Tailwind Sports team, and had no stake in it? [ame="http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=11733"]Oops[/ame].

Defrauding the federal government is a serious offence. He'll have to pull in lots of favours to avoid going to jail.

I'd like to discuss the racing on this thread, and keep the politics to random other threads.

Dov started it. Maybe.

Who's gonna win the 5 monuments? Predictions

MSR -
Flanders -
Roubaix -
LBL -
Lombardia -

I feel like Fabian will have a crack at MSR this year aswell as Flanders and Roubaix

I thought he was focusing on Liege and Lombardy?

He's too heavy to win either of those, in my opinion.

No idea to be honest, I reckon he'll want to win them all before he retires.

Vino to hold on to LBL?

I predict there will be a drug scandal involving a pro cyclist this year.

Hippy wins

i predict that Contador will come out of the closet this year..

I predict there will be a drug scandal involving a pro cyclist this year.

No way, everyone will have got used to the drugs by then and not bat an eyelid.

MSR - Mark Cavendish (teeth fixed, early season point to prove)
Flanders - Boonen. (He needs the win so badly, he'll do anything, I mean anything, to get that win)
Roubaix - Cancellara. (Explanation not needed.)
LBL - (tricky one this... but I reckon Frank Schleck with Andy's help, then he'll happily slave for Andy in the Tour.)
Lombardia - Damiano Cunego (to make up for another sub-standard season)

i predict that Contador will come out of my closet this year..

hmm. Interesting.

MSR - Mark Cavendish (teeth fixed, early season point to prove)
Flanders - Boonen. (He needs the win so badly, he'll do anything, I mean anything, to get that win)
Roubaix - Cancellara. (Explanation not needed.)
LBL - (tricky one this... but I reckon Frank Schleck with Andy's help, then he'll happily slave for Andy in the Tour.)
Lombardia - Damiano Cunego (to make up for another sub-standard season)

You don't think the most versatile Classics rider of his generation will win one this season then?

I thought he was focusing on Liege and Lombardy?

He's too heavy to win either of those, in my opinion.

Did you just have a conversation with yourself?