2011 Pro-cycling season thread

I'm more concerned about the Specialized or Pinarello outcome?

Hows the team going to be split between supporting cav or wiggo?

I'd imagine given the leaked parcours for the TdeF , Sky will be all behind Wiggo and/or Froome with Cav using it as training to peak for the Olympics.

They'll be able to sort it out amongst themselves who leads for the other races.

It won't be Froome. One hit wonder.

^^ How's the time machine working out for you ?

Ha - fair point.

Someone should've told Team GB this, rather than them wasting all day riding for him at the World Championships .

Team gb =

Anyway, he's just a scouser who can swim.

That's fighting talk.

So, what's Team Skys lineup for the TdF then (assuming no injuries, and no-one leaves).

Cav
Wiggins
Thomas
EBH
Eisel
Pate

and 3 of:
Froome?
Uran?
Swift?
Rogers?
Knees?
Xandio?
Flecha?
Porte?

Tough job to pick a squad there.

Speculation is like buses eh..

It won't be Froome. One hit wonder.

Probably, but Brailsford tried to sign him on a 5 year contract weeks after releasing him. Which possibly says more about DB as a manager. Sky could well crumble next year. No team with 2 GT leaders seems to ever really do well and it has been many years since a team seriously challenged for yellow and green (Ullrich/Zabel).

Am i right in thinking Cav has only signed a 1 year contract?

Speculation is like buses eh..

Smelly, expensive and full of common people?

Smelly, expensive and full of common people?

Wouldn't know. I don't use public transport..

This is a very good website, showing the sheer scale of the problem the sport faces:

http://www.dopeology.org/

Doesn't list cheap, online suppliers. Would not read again.

http://www.dopeology.org/statistics/people/

Millar makes top 20.

Italy "well dodgy".

Vino to ride TdF next year.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/ticker/hub/cycling/index.html?item=2987694&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

So, what's Team Skys lineup for the TdF then (assuming no injuries, and no-one leaves).

Cav
Wiggins
Thomas
EBH
Eisel
Pate

and 3 of:
Froome?
Uran?
Swift?
Rogers?
Knees?
Xandio?
Flecha?
Porte?

Tough job to pick a squad there.

Rumours are that the course is more Wiggins friendly next year. I'd guess they'd pick the 3 riders best suited to helping him. But with Wiggins near the front in the mountains, and Cav falling off the back. Somethings gonna have to give. Whats the set-up at Lampre with Scarponi, and Pettachi?

I'm mostly looking forward to Thomas and EBH attacking the 'Classic' stages anyway TBH.

http://www.dopeology.org/statistics/people/

Millar makes top 20.

Italy "well dodgy".

...and someone got done for 'Hashish'. WTF.

So, Giro Di Lombardia predictions?

It's hard to look past Gilbert, but I fancy Bauke Mollema's chances as a dark horse.

My favourite race of the year.

It's hard to see anyone dropping Gilbert, but maybe Cunego and Scarponi can cause him problems? I hope Gilbert takes the win.

My favourite race of the year.

I'm interested to hear that! It tends to get indifferent coverage and that's a real shame.

What's your thought on the date change next year?

As for the win, I always think of Bartoli rescuing his shitty seasons with this race. I agree PhilGil looks odds on, but Cunego always comes good late season and he has previous.

Outside bets/local interest, I think Cummings could suit this, as could Dan Martin, if he can snap the elastic at the right time.

Dan Martin crush nowhere near over yet then?

I've been over to see it at least five times. One year I was chatting to Charly Wegelius and Michael Rogers at the start (neither were riding) and they couldn't believe a group of us had travelled over to Italy just for the race. Riding up the Ghisallo ahead of the race in 2008 was one of my all time cycling highlights, as thousands of excited Italians cheered us on.

I think the date change is a good thing for Lombardy, as it should see a higher quality field at the start line given it's proximity to the World Championships, but it may have an adverse effect on some of the lesser Italian one day races like Emilia.

Dan Martin crush nowhere near over yet then?

No.

I still fancy him and his lovely knee-like face.

*At a guess I'd suggest that most, if not all, of the following will be leaving (those in bold are confirmed);

Arvesen (retiring)
Gerrans (Green Edge)
Augustyn (some team you've never heard of)
Barry
Carlstrom
Cioni
Downing
Froome (although his Vuelta performance may have saved him - it has)
Henderson (Lotto)
Knees
Lofkvist
Pauwels (Omega Pharma)
Rogers

Barry and Knees have re-signed for another year.
*