2013 Pro-cycling season thread

Ridiculous move from Sagan, can't work out whether the group behind didn't have the legs or the heart to chase him, they certainly spent too much timelooking at each other, then it was too late. One thing about Sagan now: he's practically won a race before he turns a pedal. As soon as he went you thought the other riders switched in riding for a podium place mode.

more on what happened in the group from one of the guys in it:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/haussler-frustrated-in-gent-wevelgem-breakaway

Given there is stage four team trial and a stage 11 individual time trial before any serious climbing, Porte could be in yellow heading into the mountains (on current form at least).

Given that Sky will send Froome, Wiggins and him to the tour it will be interesting if he was in the box seat in yellow, who do you ride for? Given that Froome attacked him, he is clearly still the leader. Just as he attacked Froome looked back, him and Porte made eye contact and Porte gave him a nod and off he went, and Porte was able to mark any counter attack.

Another domestique-turned-GT contender gives the conspiracy theorists further ammunition unfortunately. Apparently Sky 'utterly dominate' the peloton but, apart from Oman, when they have come up against genuine top class GT talent, i.e. T-A and Catalunya, they have come up short. And their classics campaign is a glorious mess at the moment.

more on what happened in the group from one of the guys in it:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/haussler-frustrated-in-gent-wevelgem-breakaway

He definitely didn't sugar the pill did he? As I said, they started racing for second place almost immediately as Sagan gapped, so no-one wanted to pull hard in case they burned up ahead of the sprint.

BTW. Crit Int highlights repeated at 1.55 ITV4 today..

Not worth the incessant ad breaks.

Also on ITV player

https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/cycling-spring-classic-highlights

FFS.. They really need to advertise these more..

I caught Highlights of Crit Int on Eurosport last night and it was fucking brilliant.

I know a lot of people have a problem with Sky tactics but the Froome, Porte 1, 2 was just beautiful to watch.. Really exciting.

Kiriyenka (sp?) was a lesson in riding tempo, brilliant technique and interesting to watch his stoicism slowly crumble with his facial expression as he buried himself on that climb, before Froome attacked and made the decisive move. What people who cry foul at Sky seem to miss is these guys are riding right at their limit for a portion of the climb, rather than actually out-climbing anyone per se.

Cannondale join the Gabba party

You're obsessed with jerseys this year..

Gabber Party - YouTube

Definitely worth an each way. I said he had that potential earlier in this thread I am sure, and Hippy shouted at me

I never shout. I'm a picture of nonchalance.

He'll be expected to work and if Froome and Brad are actually well and racing he should have no hope if he's doing his job properly.

BTW: Froome can do one. If Porte was strong enough to come second in the CI then he should've been left to win it. I hope Porte attacks Froome in the Tour like he did to Wiggo. Bloody insect.

And perfect his victory wheelie..

Would be good to see Gilbert and Boonen in the mix for RvV, to lift the spirit of the locals.. Two years ago I watched Flecha in a breakaway at Oudenaarde, managed to catch the race in three different spots, got wrecked on local beers..

Can you remember where you managed to do this? Weather looking ok for Saturday and Sunday, dry at least and above freezing, but plenty of time for the weather forecasters to change their minds.

I never shout. I'm a picture of nonchalance.

He'll be expected to work and if Froome and Brad are actually well and racing he should have no hope if he's doing his job properly.

BTW: Froome can do one. If Porte was strong enough to come second in the CI then he should've been left to win it. I hope Porte attacks Froome in the Tour like he did to Wiggo. Bloody insect.

Froome did a Vettel. Seemed a weekend for doing your Aussie teammate over.

I agree: by winning the short TT Porte should have been left to win it, but you get the sense that would have clouded team leadership issues: winning P-N and CI but then relegated to domestique for a GT? Doesn't happen often. FRoome was probably smarting from having thrown away T-A, he may have been happier for Porte to win this if not. It shows Porte's character though, definitely more loyal than Froome and lacking a pitbull girlfriend on Twitter to boot.

It creates a headache: Porte has rocketed to the top of the undercard of Sky's roster. I expected Uran or Henao to get the leader's spot for the Vuelta, but maybe it should be Porte, unless they burn him up in the Tour supporting Froome. And Wiggins is the wild card suddenly, talking about riding all three. The Giro is his unquestionably, and he will ride the Tour in some capacity. If he was smart he would skip the Tour and try to win the Giro and Vuelta, but as current holder he almost has to go.

The emergence of Porte has got the clinic buzzing, but to me he fits the bill: good TTer, decent climber and has now shed a lot of puppy fat, plus he's tiny. His was the more impressive attack even.

Another topic that has them buzzing is Rogers: he was a powerhouse last season now's he's little lamb at Saxo. Marginal gains all forgotten? Can't believe he's turned over a new leaf riding for Riis.

Fiance.
Get engaged.

Froome was probably smarting from having thrown away T-A, he may have been happier for Porte to win this if not.

This makes a lot of sense but after PN I think that even 2 wins each for Porte and Froome might have further clouded the issue(s) of leadership. At 2-1 Froome can more easily assert the authority to lead.

The way this is going Sky could end up with three GT leaders and could conceivably claim them all with different winners. Can't believe that has ever been done before by one team.
And if that was what Sky aimed for, Wiggins' Giro tilt then looks the weakest link, as he seems to be more reliant on having the strongest support riders - who would be focussed on winning elsewhere for themselves.

Until Porte gets on the podium in a GT, he is going to play at least third fiddle to Wiggins and Froome.

GT are nothing like short stage races. And Sky haven't dominated those. When set against proper GT contenders, Sky has won once. In Oman.

that may be a disservice to Hesjedal and more pointedly Evans, but the former hasn't yet impressed and the latter looks, well knackered. But in terms of Valverde, Rodriguez, Nibali and Contador

Can you remember where you managed to do this? Weather looking ok for Saturday and Sunday, dry at least and above freezing, but plenty of time for the weather forecasters to change their minds.

I stayed in Oudenaarde in 2011, i did the sportive on the Saturday. But instead of shelling out 100 euro taxi fare at stupid o'clock getting to Bruges for the start.. I rode out to hill 1 and picked up the route from there and did 95miles to Ninove along the entire route i think there was 17 climbs in total and no laps. Oudenaarde could be either sold out or very expensive. You can try the Outsider.be hostel on the lake for accommodation it'll be around 180 euros for three nights including dinner. i think its close to the finish.

On race day I rolled into town with some lads over from cirencester for breakfast of waffles, pancakes, ice cream and coffee.. Saw the podium presentation of the elite women's race.. Gave Emma Pooley a wave. Then saw the girls off at their start with their trade teams. Then hit a bar til Flecha and two other riders flew through, with a decent break on the Peleton. We then rode out south to catch the riders at the feed stations. Stood opposite the sky pick up.. The Peleton was broken up by then, watched most if the riders at Ronse, but missed the breakaway.. pub flogging tee shirts and beers for 5 euros.. Spotted Cancellara et al grinding slowly up the hill before Ronse. Finally rolled back into Oudenaarde town square to see the rest of the race on the telly outside a pub. Weather was amazing and atmosphere carnival like.

Now most of the action is situated around Oudenaarde, so movement may end up being very restricted during race day. The sportive was massive must have been +30,000 riders on the Saturday. Climbing the Koppenberg was like waiting in a queue, riders going up in waves. Feedstations were chocker.. The Muur was the highest of the ride With huge crowds to welcome us up. Alas not featuring in the RvV this year.

Good luck getting there Colin, It'll be heaving, for sure.
Almac

And skidz!

Like a boss!

Watched the Crit Int again last night on ITV player.. Fantastic tactics by Froome and Porte.. The two attacks, first by Froome and then the later by Porte were just so dynamic. Dropping quality riders for dead.

I just can't see Wiggins ever having that kind of attack in him..

To be fair to Wiggins, he put in some attacks in Catalunya, igniting two stages, but was unable to respond to Dan Martin's long range attack. And the CI was an underpowered field.

People are already starting to call Wiggins as the weak link in Sky's GT assault but I'll reserve judgement. If they do field all three in the TdF it's going to be so difficult to mark them all.

The Crit Int tactic was class.. Froome goes.. You wanna win? You chase him.. And drag the yellow jersey up.. Didn't happen like that of course and Porte had plenty of power anyway. But a great tactic to employ come GT time.

At present it would seem Sky are so strong in strenght and depth that they could play this out with those three and win any of the GT's.. I mean. At the end of the race as long as it's a team win.....???

Anyone who is writing Wiggins off is a fool.

Wiggins is going shit this year, he won't win anything.

Am I doing it right?