2011 Pro-cycling season thread

I think I may have.

I was also surprised no-one had mentioned Gilbert. He'll take the Amstel Gold at least...

I think he'll win Flanders or Liege this year.

Gilbert is definitely going to be up there, in LBL too, but he's such an old fashioned all-rounder, compared to other riders tailoring their training for a single event, that he will end up having a go and fading in the final mile of many events.

He will get some good results though.

I'm a fan.

I'm interested to see what Taylor Phinney can do this year.

He really seems to be a rider on the edge of greatness.

I hope expectations aren't weighing too heavily on his shoulders. He's going from being a big fish in a small pond, to being a small fish in a big pond so hopefully he'll just try and learn as much as he can and not get too bothered about results.

The thing I'm looking forward to most is Cavendish's excuses when Greipel beats him. It's going to happen for sure, and he's bad mouthed Greipel so much that it'll be funny to see what he comes up with.

I think Pozzato and Haussler will both be determined to get a win, if only to upstage the podium girls.

The thing I'm looking forward to most is Cavendish's excuses when Greipel beats him. It's going to happen for sure, and he's bad mouthed Greipel so much that it'll be funny to see what he comes up with.

I was just thinking along these lines after reading GL's comment. After he wears himself out in the early season trying to prove a point with no bad teeth to hold him back.

Though, since none of our lot stand a chance I'd like to see Cav take green.

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

How can you separate them?

When setting up the team in 2010, Nygaard told [I]Cyclingnews that the team was based on trust, especially when it came to signing riders.[/I]
*"You look at a rider's past and how they've behaved too. The most important thing when you hire someone is that you trust them," he said in August 2010.*

Team Leopard-Trek. The team that has Frank Schleck in it.

I think Basso will win the TdF this year.

The tedious circular stuff is just that. I know what you mean, BTW.

+1 to Basso. He's got the motive, for sure.

I've got a sneaky feeling Basso will win the Tour this season too. Don't know why, but I just think he's got a bit more nous about him than Schleck Jr.

Hold on, you are supposed to say it first and then I quote you.

Boonen is surprisingly high up in the odds to win tdf. WTF? Great stage rider but overall winner?
http://www.betbrain.com/cycling/#/cycling/france/tour-de-france-2011/winner/

I don't understand that table. But it did draw my eye to Breschel who surely is going to take a big one day win soon.

Surely Breschel will fall foul of the Rabobank curse?

Thor is ripe to win a classic in the rainbow jersery, you'd think.

I agree with big Andyp that Schleck probably won't win the tour this year - the pressure, the inevitablity, and the fact that he's too nice. he needs to get some simmering bitterness under his belt.

Flanders - Boonen. (He needs the win so badly, he'll do anything, I mean anything, to get that win)

how exactly is he going to get away from the man on the motorbike, though? he's out of form, and cancellera kicked the shit out of him in lasts years ToF..

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

Me too, the world cup and superprestige races have been amazing recently, plenty of drama with Nys vs. Albert, hopefully the champs will be more of the same. Going to Derby to watch the British national cross champs on Sunday too, which will hopefully be no less exciting.

I hope Ian Field wins on Sunday, he deserves it.

Is it abnormal to have a great interest in road riding and have no interest at all in cross or MTB?

no.
it's only right and proper to reserve your interest for the purer disciplines.

I'd watch two monkeys racing on bikes.

But not MTB racing, that's just boring.

I'd watch two monkeys racing on bikes.

Well obviously I would watch that too, who wouldn't?
Just not people in mud who have to carry their bikes for some of the time.