2014 Pro-cycling season thread

I had thought that Taxx bio-degradable bottles we're going to be used by the pro-teams to minimise the impact at land-fills, but seems like that has fallen by the wayside

Oh, I just assumed they were plastic plastic.

Judging by this:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-corsa-team-550ml-water-bottle-2014/

If that's the same bottle you're right, they're biodegradable polythene.

Woo. such environments, very degradable, wow.

Still I suppose its a small step. I'd also guess that it pales into insignificance compared to the number of amateur riders with unused bottles sitting around un-used (although they at least are not heading to the landfill)

Is it only me who loves the TdF ticker with the little animated cyclists showing positions, profile, gaps, etc., graphically, and more detail below? Why doesn't this exist for every race?

Budgets.

I guess in my mind it's a pretty cheap thing to do. Once the software is written you just need an intern listening to race radio entering data. Or if the GPS thing ever happens...

But in my mind a lot of things are different from reality.

Ideal for a philosopher.

Purito abandons after a crash :(

Bye bye Andy

Yeah, I didn't fancy it today.

He injured his knee in the same crash that took out Rodriguez apparently.

Pictures!

Adverts!

"Some of you in the English speaking world will know it as Fleche Brabanconne".
It's going to be a long afternoon.

Not for everyone:

Other riders to abandon thus far are Thomas Dekker (Garmin-Sharp), Nicki Sorensen (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Arnaud Courteille (FDJ.fr).

Tanner (Belkin) ...and Dan Martin... also out

Mollema <3 Di2

Did I hear them say Thomas is out?

sky twitter has confirmed thomas is out, but nothing serious

"Some of you in the English speaking world will know it as Fleche Brabanconne".
It's going to be a long afternoon.

Simon Gerrans just pronounced it "Babantzen Peel". So, yes, just some in the English-speaking world.

Can't seem to find a working stream, bah!

Watch it in Dutch, much better commentary than in English. If you don't know Dutch yet, it's a fun way of learning some more. :)

Steephills and cyclingfans failed me. But! http://www.procyclinglive.com/livestream/#

sky twitter has confirmed thomas is out, but nothing serious

Some big names out then, and Andy Schleck

Is there a list of abandons somewhere? Seems like it could be a lot, but maybe that's just reporting bias for Sky + big names in crashes.