2013 Pro-cycling season thread

To be fair, what makes you think teams are less likely to be 'racing as training' in the lesser-rated one day races than in the lesser stage races? In fact isn't it more common to do exactly that in preparation for the classics?

I don't personally think the Omloop is lesser rated, it's what most people see as the opening race of the season, while It's not de Ronde, PR or Milan-Sanremo, of course. The 1st race to be shown by Belgian national tv is what I consider the 1st real race of the season ;-)

but of course that's a stupid romantic 'old cycling' idea, it's all about the UCI points for these races, I've not been able to find the points per race lke in this 2009 points sheet

Paris Nice is the start of the season for me, its from when i started watching cycling in the 80"s. although Millar was/is my hero. Sean Kelly was kicking ass big time, i remember reading about it, this Irishman dominating a "European race".

Het Volk is the first proper race of the season, let there be no argument.

andy has spoken

andy has spoken
Andy may have spoken but The Race to the Sun is where the shit hits the fan..

ToO live twitter doing a really good job.

The pave is where the shit hits the fans. Looking forward to the gung ho, nutty intensity of the one day classics, more than the more tactical and pragmatic stage races, although both are good

Boom Rod takes a win, froome 2nd, cuddles and nibali.

From yesterday, FF to 21mins.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flys5ZiynLE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flys5ZiynLE[/ame
]

we're going to see many actors on finishline pics this year, Sagan might have started a trend

I think it's awesome. Finish line celebrations add some humour!

I liked Sagan's "where is everybody?" celebration yesterday :-). Personally, I've never crossed the line of any race with anything more flamboyant than to collapse in an exhausted heap.

It is a stellar field isn't it?

It is. Money talks.

As does warm weather at this time of year.

Froome finished second in the 2012 Tour de France and 2011 Vuelta a Espana but has never won a major stage race.
He only has two more days left to keep his lead and end that record.

Um what? Major stage race?

Quite.

That said, the quality of the lead group today was worthy of a high level race.

Major Stage race, forget GrandTours! Major stage races include Paris Nice, Tour de Romandie, Dauphine, Tour de Suisse etc, lets see if Froome can win one of those, this is micky mouse! Then maybe step up to grand Tour..

Paris Nice is the start of the season for me, its from when i started watching cycling in the 80"s. although Millar was/is my hero. Sean Kelly was kicking ass big time, i remember reading about it, this Irishman dominating a "European race".

Het Volk is the first proper race of the season, let there be no argument.

andy has spoken

Erm ... cough ... it's called (Omloop) Het Nieuwsblad nowadays. :)

Froome out sprints Bertie and Purito to win stage 5..

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-oman-2013/stage-5/results

man i wish i could watch this race. It also sucks waiting 24 hrs for some highlights. Are there any up of Puritos win yet?

I just found that Eurosport actually has this on. Shitcakes.. I could've been watching this.

I did fucking tell you a few pages back..

30 min highlights at 6.30pm and 10pm (followed by Tour of Algarve)

Really? I've not been paying much attention. You should obviously post a funny picture on FB or something with a message to me about the TV schedule...