2013 Pro-cycling season thread

In the continuing Sky TdeF saga, Shane Sutton backs Froome

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sutton-wiggins-needs-to-support-a-froome-led-sky-at-tour-de-france

Interesting as Sutton is/was quite close to Wiggins ?

Sutton's not as hands on this season and Yates has left so I think there's not as much control over Wiggins. He hasn't looked that interested and hasn't won a race. Classically resting on his laurels methinks and Sutton is trying to give him a blast: Froome's got the focus and form, and perhaps more importantly momentum while Wiggins is idling along in neutral this year. Perhaps Sutton is worried that Wiggins' tilt for the title may derail the entirety of Sky's effort.

Wiggins just needs to stay quiet, then nick it off Froome in the ITTs......

wiggo should just stick laxatives in his waterbottle on a hilly stage so froome spends all day shitting himself on the bike before withdrawing in a fugue of faeces and global humiliation.

#powerinthesideburns

right.. OK.

have managed to endure the wiggo bio, it did sound like he was desperate for some family time, cant blame him

vid?

jfgi

http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/8027

Internal tension causes sky to implode, all the Spanish, Columbians and Italians busted for some new drug, thus paving the way for Cadel to take the Mayonnaise Yawn once more.

I think they should replace Froome and Wiggins by Cameron and Johnson in the Tour:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/29/boris-johnson-andy-coulson-fail

^^^ le oofff!

Made it along to the Cycling Anthology Vol 2 launch this evening (really enjoyed the first volume and looking forward to reading the second)...made for a good evening with enough anecdotes to keep me happy.

Did make for an interesting reminder of how white professional the spectating audience is and how those watching aren't necessarily riding (at least of as a mode of transport)

I saw you in the crowd, Gus. Sorry didn't spot you after talks to say g'day. I exited, bought the first volume and then headed home.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-wiggins-to-miss-tour-de-france

Sigh, could be on the level or could be a smokescreen for either conflict within the team, perhaps Froome refusing to ride with him, or Sky management getting fed up with his malingering and decided he may be a liability at the Tour, not on good enough form and they're better off with some other dom.

Or it could be on the level.

Wiggins on a new team next season I predict. Head to head with Froome for the Tour de Yorkshire. Victor has bragging rights for ever after.

I'm reminded of the Coundawg tweet predicting Froome and Wiggins wouldn't line up for a race in the same team kit again

it's not going to be Wiggins who leaves though is it? Not unless the plan is to finish off Rupert Murdoch with a heart attack. In which case, bye bye Brad and thanks!

^My thoughts exactly - even if Froome wins the TdF by 20 minutes whilst doing Sagan style celebrations on his 5 stage wins he won't be worth as much to Sky as Sir Brad wot people recognise from the Olympics...

I'm reminded of the Coundawg tweet predicting Froome and Wiggins wouldn't line up for a race in the same team kit again

Uran and Henao obvs think Froome's a bit of a fanny too.

I'm fickle-I thought Froome deserved the support last year as he appeared to be the stronger rider, now I'd rather see Brad have another crack at the whip and either Froome relegated to bottle carrier a la Cav or just not riding, mostly because Brad's grown on me post Tour/Olympics where Froome's come across as what some on the forum would describe as a 'wetlip/bedwetter/>>>>>>>>>>>>>'

Would be great to have them on rival teams, internal drama is just distracting and will lower both their chances so I imagine Brailsford will be relieved not to be forced to make a selection if indeed he's unavailable for selection. Vuelta is looking pretty unhospitable for Brad either-very hilly, not much by way of TT's.

Looks like it's designed for Rodriguez...

In all seriousness though I hope Wiggo can start the Tour. I would love to see a battle between him and Froome. That'd be strangely awesome.

Wiggins is out of contract at the end of the season....

if wiggins didn't start would fuck with a lot of pre press, hinualt/lemond comparisons...

would prefer if bradley did start and was the enemy within, trying to help froome, by breaking him and the competition.

on another note, not sure how competitive this tour is actually going to be? Who are the riders that will be challenging? After Froome and Contador, Wiggins if he goes, though think the mountains will break him if he does, who else is there? Gesink, Van Garderen, Hesjedal, Evans, Valverde? Andy Schleck?

Is it a two rider race already?

And where's the 2013 tour thread so I can repost these thoughts there.

No.

And I am so bored of the Team Sky 'kremlinology' already. Stop it.

if wiggins didn't start would fuck with a lot of pre press, hinualt/lemond comparisons...

would prefer if bradley did start and was the enemy within, trying to help froome, by breaking him and the competition.

on another note, not sure how competitive this tour is actually going to be? Who are the riders that will be challenging? After Froome and Contador, Wiggins if he goes, though think the mountains will break him if he does, who else is there? Gesink, Van Garderen, Hesjedal, Evans, Valverde? Andy Schleck?

Is it a two rider race already?

And where's the 2013 tour thread so I can repost these thoughts there.

I was thinking the same.

My main problem will be who to get behind. I can't even contemplate liking Cuntador. Froome is fast becoming a butthead. Schlecks well, I can only wonder where they've been for two years.

Hero needed. Apply within.

was hoping Nibali would be there, but supposedly he's concentrating on the world championships and possibly the vuelta, so as you said hero needed.

want to put some money on thibault pinot from fdj but haven't seen him do much this year so far, and I could be putting too much on him after his epic mad marc madiot inspired stage win last year, but he can climb, needs to improve his tt but could be top ten, maybe, possibly?

Cavendish will win the tour of yellow jersey