2014 Pro-cycling season thread

Would Sagan get the same chance at tinkoff with most working for Bertie? Or as we have seen he doesn't need a train?

Sagan would not go anywhere that didn't let him do d'funk he wants.
He doesn't always need a train. But not having a team to pull things around could leave him disadvantaged at times. But he's a marked man anway.

Contador's a busted flush now anyway. I don't think he'll win another GT.

I reckon Oleg and Sagan will get along like a house on fire. Both mad as hatters.

Gazzetta was reporting he and Basso will go to Saxo.

Why on earth would Saxo need Basso?

Soigneur?

So is the Alonso team not happening next year? I remember there was wrangling with the UCI as they wanted them to guarantee World Tour status before they had signed the riders.

Adam Yates won the GP Industria & Artigianato

Pretty sure there's an EU regulation on minimum mini skirt lengths being flouted in that pic.

nah. just inside the Italian maximum mini skirt length regs.

It's embarrassing to be a cycling fan sometimes.

Soigneur?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vAJ-WGpJ05I/TZCbdzZgdjI/AAAAAAAAPis/25pobs8A4Nk/s1600/sidi%2Bgold%2B1.JPG

I honestly thought Basso had retired. Who does he ride for?

He rode very cleverly for Cannondale at the Giro, saving his energy for... er... next year's Giro?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vAJ-WGpJ05I/TZCbdzZgdjI/AAAAAAAAPis/25pobs8A4Nk/s1600/sidi%2Bgold%2B1.JPG

Contractual obligations or is this Vincenzo on his journey to 6w/kg?

No man should ever have to eat a shoe.

http://www.nbcsports.com/cycling/tour-de-france/chris-froomes-spirits-are-high

Froome is up for the Vuelta, it seems

Contractual obligations or is this Vincenzo on his journey to 6w/kg?

No man should ever have to eat a shoe.

Perhaps thats just a bet Basso had with Nibs-

'If you win the Giro in front of Bertie and Froome, then I'll eat my shoe.'

The TV ad of that is even weirder: Basso cooks the chopped part of the shoe in a stir fry and serves it to Nibali IIRC

Emma Pooley has announced today that she is going to retire from road racing after the Commonwealth Games.

Which is a real shame, as she's been a tremendous asset to British and womens' cycling.

I wish her much success in her future endeavours.

At least she's retiring while she's done good. Not letting the flame whither.

Emma Pooley has announced today that she is going to retire from road racing after the Commonwealth Games.

Which is a real shame, as she's been a tremendous asset to British and womens' cycling.

I wish her much success in her future endeavours.

Indeed. However, she's not completely lost (at least to the slvlss fraternity)... apparently she'll be focussing on Long Distance Tri from now on. Which I think is awesome... I've no idea what her swim is like but she's a very handy runner.

Ironwoman.

Wonder how much difference that'll make to her in terms of earnings. Don't know what she was on as a cyclist, but many good Iron-distance pros are on buttons. If she comes 6th in the European Championships at Frankfurt, she earns $3000. Unless she isn't within 8% of the winner's time, in which case she gets zip. Take into account travel, accommodation and kit costs, if you don't have a generous bunch of sponsors, you're stuffed.

Same with womens cycling isn't it?

She's on record saying she earned more from 3rd place in a Tri in Philippines than she ever did for a bike race.

Shamefully I think so. Wasn't it Emma Pooley who spoke on TV relatively recently about how little the women are paid?

I'm really excited to see how she performs against the established female pros. With a bit of specific training, and her known ability on both the bike and the run she could do really well.

Wiki says:
2013
1st Swissman Xtreme Triathlon (IM distance)
5th Ironman Switzerland
2014
3rd Challenge Philippines

Those aren't a bad set of results for someone who isn't concentrating on the discipline full time!