2014 Pro-cycling season thread

"I'm genuinely surprised that the announcement has been made so early because now there's a whole month to mull over who said what, when, where and why. Maybe that's Dave Brailsford's plan; get it out the way, so that when the Tour starts it's old news. A whole month of speculation and analysis of Team Sky's politics and relationships. Fantastic. Stand back and watch the fireworks.".

But Sky, and Brailsford, didn't announc it, Wiggins did in two interviews. William Fotheringham in the Guardian had some thoughts about why.

Linky? I did wonder how much had been sanctioned. I wonder if was an attempt to force Brailsford's hand. Froome had already strongly hinted Wiggins wasn't going though.

Because he wasn't critical, and didn't burn any bridges

^^^^^ "stoke more ire" - nice

Found it, read it, good piece.

Edit: Millar nails it. Wiggins is a legend, Froome is a cunt.

Was it the thing about wooly mammoths?

srsly people need to stop projecting onto the blank canvas that is Chris Froome.

Was it the thing about wooly mammoths?

srsly people need to stop projecting onto the blank canvas that is Chris Froome.

I think that's partly the problem. Personality-wise he's like a big cloud of nothing, floating around, nothing-like, so it's nearly impossible to form an opinion of him beyond what is formed for you by Michelle Cound. Which is probably, erm, less than ideal.

Thomas is staying at Sky, he was just rustling jimmies for cash.

I think the whole scandal of his attack in '12 just made him look like a bit of a Judas, then Wiggo being counded (counded, geddit?) by his manager on twitter makes him look like even more of a douche.

Blank canvas is probably the best way to put it-you get very little from him, where Wiggo is both loved and reviled in equal measure from his sideburns to his oh so petulant middle finger raising. Froome's just a foetus headed-sneaky pete who likes michelle cound and mammoths.

To be fair to Froome he doesn't have sex as often as he'd like, maybe that's why he's a bit grumpy?

...maybe that's why he's a bit grumpy?

Always growling and staring at his stem?

gets coat

It's not possible to change teams mid season unless you bend the rules.

Edit: Millar nails it. Wiggins is a legend, Froome is a cunt.

I really wish you wouldn't mince words and really tell us how you're feeling....

I think that's partly the problem. Personality-wise he's like a big cloud of nothing, floating around, nothing-like, so it's nearly impossible to form an opinion of him beyond what is formed for you by Michelle Cound. Which is probably, erm, less than ideal.

Repped for the lulz

Always growling and staring at his stem?

And ditto

Synopsis of the Froome book over on Velorooms; he signed his contract on understanding he could go for the win at TDF in 2012 and speculates Sky signed him up only to stop him going elsewhere and beating Brad.

Also all his problems before that Vuelta ride was Sky's fault too.

What language is that review written in? It has a passing resemblance to English.

^^

Stage 15: Angliru – 1km into the 12.3km climb and it was froome and wiggins alone again in the skytrain. Cobo attacked and froome said to himself “Stay clam. Don’t bridge. Just keep the even pace for brad”. Both of them battled up the climb in the wrong gears (again) Wiggins cracked and Froome went past chasing after Cobo. At the finish line Wiggins said to Froome “Well done, you go for it now”
– the 2011 Vuelta.

I remember watching Wiggins (in red) grind to a snail's pace. They should stop willy waggling and fit compacts. ;-)

http://youtu.be/QoeuRAn7_6E?t=34m58s

I remember him cracking in a massive way, those were the days.

The synopsis is written with distinct cynicism but it's hard not to wonder if Froome is intentionally making people not like him. Given that him and Porte have managed to completely supplant Wiggins in the pecking order shows how beholden Brailsford and Sky management are to Froome. To me sounds like a very poorly run team.

I can't see the sponsors being happy with any of this at all. Froome is laying a floater in the pool while Wiggins is making a power grab.

Comedy gold.

http://inrng.com/2014/06/book-review-the-climb-chris-froome/

You bastard, I was about to post that. There's no fucking way you are riding in my team this year Piffo even if you are a British legend.

And you can't borrow my copy of the book, either.

I'm guessing Froome misses the irony of listing several sketchy teams and characters like Riis and Vino wanting to sign him because everyone believed he and Sky were clean.

YouTube not quite getting it.

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I think the No campaign have used science to determine that the key to winning the referendum is the 'middle-aged-post-hipster-used-to-ride-fixie-but-now-eat-pork-pies-cry-drink beer-and-watch-re-runs-of-paris-roubaix-and-dream-of-a-life-where-they-were-actually-paid-to-ride-bikes-and-wear-unlikely-clothing-at-the-same-time' demographic and have used very sly key words to subliminally influence their decisions.

no?

Brailsford says the team selection isn't down to Froome

Methinks Froome's book may have ruffled a few feathers. Having read various snippets, I think it's a huge gaff from him. I think he may well turn the peloton against him and will have antagonised a few teammates. What is it with sportsmen and writing autobiographies while they're still....sporting? Mental