2014 Pro-cycling season thread

4 buttons ffs.

Wiggins should be at the Tour. Froome is making himself look like a clown, again.

You'd think, after the amount of times he was left isolated last year, that he want the strongest possible team across all terrains at this year's Tour. Wiggins would be valuable for the entire race.

Does he really need him though? Granted, Froome looks a bit short of rouleurs/diesels with GT and Stannard out, but seeing as Quintana won't be there; he only really has to worry about not falling off on the bumpy bits and whatever Contador has in his bag.

Last year the Tour was over as soon as Froome had made his first attack was what I remember.

His moments of crisis last season were caused by Garmin, Movistar and Saxo (on a flat stage of all places).

The team lacked, in my opinion, a experienced and respected road captain who knows the roads, the teams, the tactics and can read a race. Wiggins could fulfil that role and provide valuable support in the mountains.

From a team perspective, if they want to have an option B again, then Wiggins, as a GT rider of distinction, has shown form this season and is a much better option than Porte (who's never really proven himself in a GT bar the 2010 Giro when he got lucky in a break).

Does he really need him though? Granted, Froome looks a bit short of rouleurs/diesels with GT and Stannard out, but seeing as Quintana won't be there; he only really has to worry about not falling off on the bumpy bits and whatever Contador has in his bag.

No love for Nibali?

His moments of crisis last season were caused by Garmin, Movistar and Saxo (on a flat stage of all places).

The team lacked, in my opinion, a experienced and respected road captain who knows the roads, the teams, the tactics and can read a race. Wiggins could fulfil that role and provide valuable support in the mountains.

From a team perspective, if they want to have an option B again, then Wiggins, as a GT rider of distinction, has shown form this season and is a much better option than Porte (who's never really proven himself in a GT bar the 2010 Giro when he got lucky in a break).

All true but there is too much animosity to make that work?

^^ I like him, but he's never going to win the TdF unless Froome and Bert both fall off.

^^^ I can see what you're saying but Wiggins isn't really that kind of forceful personality is he? He's always struck me as a bit of reluctant leader. Plus all the bad blood etc. Princess Froome is hardly going to be happy with him calling the shots.

hippy, can we put this on a t-shirt for you?

Porte (who's never really proven himself in a GT bar the 2010 Giro when he got lucky in a break)

His moments of crisis last season were caused by Garmin, Movistar and Saxo (on a flat stage of all places).

The team lacked, in my opinion, a experienced and respected road captain who knows the roads, the teams, the tactics and can read a race. Wiggins could fulfil that role and provide valuable support in the mountains.

From a team perspective, if they want to have an option B again, then Wiggins, as a GT rider of distinction, has shown form this season and is a much better option than Porte (who's never really proven himself in a GT bar the 2010 Giro when he got lucky in a break).

Bernie Eisel, underrated at Sky I think

Don't think he's underrated there at all. He's normally road captain and very valued.

He wasn't at last year's Tour though, which was my point. He said he that a year without riding the Tour felt like a wasted year. And that team was poor, saved by Froome's precociousness.

Hence undervalued at Sky, because I can't see him making the Tour again this year, he's not part of the Froome inner circle.

Plus he gives good face.

Ms Cound on Twitter tonight has been a joy. Well done. You da best PR evah

hippy, can we put this on a t-shirt for you?

I don't get it.

He wasn't at last year's Tour though, which was my point. He said he that a year without riding the Tour felt like a wasted year. And that team was poor, saved by Froome's precociousness.

How was Froomes performance precocious? Perhaps that would be true if up you were describing 2012, but not last year. I think Sky were expecting him to perform as strongly he did.

Maybe you meant to use a different word.

hippy, can we put this in a burger for you?

Fixed.

Bernie Eisel, underrated at Sky I think

Don't think he's underrated there at all. He's normally road captain and very valued.

This was his role at the giro. Along with playing-up for the cameras :)

How was Froomes performance precocious? Perhaps that would be true if up you were describing 2012, but not last year. I think Sky were expecting him to perform as strongly he did.

Maybe you meant to use a different word.

I meant even when he was isolated and his team out-gunned, he performed precociously.

Ms Cound on Twitter tonight has been a joy. Well done. You da best PR evah

I thought she had gone private, do tell

This was his role at the giro. Along with playing-up for the cameras :)

Which I know, but not at last year's Tour, which he lamented and was correct as his experience (and Mick's) were missed. I think he missed out because of numbers, hence underrated.

I thought she had gone private, do tell

This quote from his autobiography was doing the rounds and she was jumping on every mention of it.

Ah yes, I have seen that particular nugget do the rounds. To most that's a smoking gun, not the cleverest. Porte beat his time so I understand.

Ahh that's not actually from the bio, that was a Ned Boulting piece for Cycling Anthology that no one got excited about at the time

Good for him.

I believe he is 100% clean. To the rules that the UCI and WADA have. Beyond that it's not breaking the law, which is fine. Everyone wants an edge.

Cycling is moving on and fast. Bicycles have only been around ~100 years so humans are not pre disposed naturally to riding them. So the advances in human adaption will be fast. And froome is clearly naturally made up with more or the genetic needs than others.

Good for him and Porte!

Sorry. Doping >>

I'm looking forward to romandie and Swiss. Will be exciting racing! That's for sure.