2013 Pro-cycling season thread

I have to admit I'm on Lynchmans side here. The message it sends out is if it's too wet, too tough and we haven't got of chance of winning then give up. If the Lions were getting their arse kicked by the All Blacks they'd still come out after half time and finish the game.

Ultimately I feel its disrespectful to the race and the other riders.

It's a race, not a sportive. If you're not going to be in contention for the win then there is no point in finishing. It's not like they all get a t-shirt and a medal.

It's their job.

Let's move one. JTL. Anyone surprised?

It's their job.

BC don't pay their wages, their trade teams do.

^ Doping>>>>>>

And really, so many people with no know chiming in.

Try racing the best in the world, when you've no form, see how long you last.
Give him/them a break.

Out of what near 200 starters? Only 3 made it to the finish in contention. Or 40odd into the main group. The race was seriously attritional.

BC don't pay their wages, their trade teams do.

I said move on

But Brave you can't wade into the debate, then stop it mid tirade, thats just plain unfair, unsportamanlike even..

It's a race, not a sportive. If you're not going to be in contention for the win then there is no point in finishing. It's not like they all get a t-shirt and a medal.

There's always a point finishing.

If a project you're working on is going wrong do you leave the office early?

They're on a circuit though. Would have been pulled out.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to andyp again.

..

I said move on

you said 'move one'

It was that shit adidas kit that was the problem; it was a day made for Rapha

Pussies.

BC don't pay their wages, their trade teams do.

Some of them are paid to try and win things like the Worlds.

No crash, no quit.

They're on a circuit though. Would have been pulled off.

Ahh, the unmentioned perks of a professional cyclist.

I agree that it would have been pointless for British riders to continue and they didn't have anyone particularly suited to this course. Although there are very strong riders, we don't seem to have any great 'racers'. It all seems to rely on team wide strength. Why did they take early responsibility for pace making? Why was Cav selected to ride?

Bear in mind that Rui Costa won, despite Portugal having a three man team.

This. I don't think it's disgraceful that no British rider finished, but it certainly is embarrassing. And why on earth they talked up Froome's chances beforehand, they would have been better riding for someone like Stannard or Thomas. And they certainly shouldn't have ridden on the front for the first 100k and burnt themselves up. They need to get some smarts, learn to sit all back of the bus sometimes, preserve their strength and ambush a race like Costa did rather than trying to out muscle the entire peloton.

Rui Costa doesn't seem to need a team

On Valverde, agree that it is inexplicable that he didn't mark Rui Costa. Only possible thought is that he preferred that Rodriguez lose.

Jimmy do you not think that perhaps it was a convenient story for the media to go with: "remember that bloke who won the tour this year, not Sir Brad, the other guy - he's going to win the World Championships, you know - the one that Cav won. He's the other cyclist, married to Peta Todd? He'll be there too." etc etc. It's all just exposure. GB/Sky have met their targets for the year, job done. The Worlds was a real feather in their cap when Cav won it, but that was pre-SirBrad and also on a conveniently flat course.

GB were never really in the running and didn't have enough riders in FORM to really make much of a case - whereas lots of other riders had timed the whole back end of their season for this race. It's pretty ridiculous to start saying stuff like "it's unacceptable" and "disgrace" when a) 5 years ago no-one would have batted an eyelid.. and b) it's fucking bike racing, sometimes it just doesn't work out.

Valverde.. WAC. Seriously.

Rui Costa doesn't seem to need a team

He's going to Lampre, so he wont really have one.

The missing element for TeamGB was David Millar, (yes with his baggage).
Street smart Road Captain who masterminded Cavs WC.

It's a fucking omnishambles that Sky couldn't organise their riders better for this competition. Where was Porte? Where was Stannard? Where was JTL? What about Thomas? Henao? Come on! For fuck's sake, Brad and Chris are the best in the world.

I'm disgusted, I don't see footballers quitting playing for England.

And that Tony Martin. How fucking selfish not to drag Cav around again.