2012 Pro-cycling season thread

Did J T-L ride for Rapha last year? He seemed untouchable on the climbs in some of the domestic races if I'm thinking of the right guy.

^ yep he was KOM on TOB I think.

He's probably just got himself a Pro Tour contract with that performance. Dan Martin, Le Mevel, Navarro etc and he put 30 seconds into them

Ah yeah, that's the guy, I'd forgotten about his ToB KoM. He was awesome in the Premier Calender stuff they showed on Sky.

He's 27, I think his chances of riding for a World Tour team, regardless of this performance, have passed.

Just read the article on Endura in the current issue of Rouleur. Apparently their strategy is to recruit riders in middle of their careers with a point to prove. Jtl may not ride at pro tour level, but this win could help drive Endura towards pro continental next season.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tiernan-lockes-signature-already-in-demand

This race has the top classics riders in the world going flat out to get some speed in their legs with some big fucking tailwinds. Is it any surprise, therefore, that the average speed is high?

Not really, no.

He's 27, I think his chances of riding for a World Tour team, regardless of this performance, have passed.

After being signed by Sky, he'll win the Vuelta this year..

Wigskinandbones column in the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/feb/13/bradley-wiggins-tour-de-france

First blood to Greipel in a head to head with Cavendish.

#innowaysignificant

Does it count as a head to head if only one of them actually contests the sprint?

Pass.

As noted it is quite meaningless, but I do think Greipel will give Cavendish more problems this year.

What dictates a teams nationality? I just noticed on Steephill that Farnese are apparently registered as a GBR team, but there seems to be nothing british about them. Italian name, italian website, mostly italian riders (no brits) blah blah...

Since most teams are fairly international (in terms of riders at least) what makes one team Italian and another British, and what influences a team's decision where to register?

^Tax for Farnese as Italian social security contributions are prohibitive. Inner Ring has a blog post about it.

Got it, Thanks. Next time I've got a bike in London I may dress up in my best flouro kit and make a fan's pilgrimage!

http://inrng.com/2011/12/greenedge-registered-as-an-italian-team/

.

what the hell is Sagan taking?

Why do you ask that?

Got it, Thanks. Next time I've got a bike in London I may dress up in my best flouro kit and make a fan's pilgrimage!
http://inrng.com/2011/12/greenedge-registered-as-an-italian-team/

"Greenedge’s official address is in Victoria, Australia"

Of course it is.

#vicbest

Sagan was a bad ass junior MTB rider at world level so he's probably got the genes.

Plus he busts sweet no handed wheelies on the Angliru

Pro cycling's main issue is that no-one can believe in riders who burst onto the scene and instantly start winning races, precisely because most of the riders who've done that in the past 20 years have subsequently been shown to be doping. It was fairly common for exceptional talent like Coppi, Merckx, Roche and Lemond to start their pro careers with a bang, i.e. Roche won Paris-Nice as a neo-pro.

The biological passport does seem to be having an effect though, so unless Sagan has been doping since he was a junior, which is not unknown, then it's not without precedent.

Anyway, he's currently the centre of the latest spoof from Cyclismas to be taken at face value by a serious media outlet.

The spoof and RTBF, the main French speaking channel in Belgium, being taken in by it.

Oh dear. Yes, the issue of whether fresh talent is legit or not is one of the main things I mean.

If he was a Brit or an Aussie we wouldn't be having this conversation. I hope he is clean because I like his riding.

Sky getting Richie Porte going again is a strong look.