2014 Pro-cycling season thread

I didn't see the bastard tweet that! Bloody press release bollocks..

Gerro for the Worlds.

I'd like to see Kennaugh have a go at an escape. I think it'll end with a bunch of about 15-20. If Degenkolb is ill though, I reckon Greipel has a chance.

http://cycling.org.au/News/All-News/Road/ArtMID/2913/ArticleID/11836/CA-reflects-on-Cadel-Evans-retirement-announcement

Nobody picking Valverde? I know he has a great talent for losing races he should win but he's always up there and maybe this year, in Spain, he'll finally do it. Makes me sick to think about it.

That would require him to take the initiative, not something that comes naturally to him. He would need to arrive at the finish in a small group where he's the best sprinter and have enough team mates with him to keep that group together, which is a hard situation to engineer.

It would be hysterical if Rodriguez was in that group and either won, or let one of his trade team mates win.

Odds here

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/cycling/world-championships-2012

Degenkolb and Kristoff look like the best value.

Can I just throw Dan Martin's name into this, or will he still be tired from the Vuelta? Hopefully he wont fall off his bike.

I don't know what I'm talking about either.

Navardauskas is a decent shout at 33-1. Loves a long day off the front and has got a decent kick on him.

Pacman? Noooo

@andyp - Good point Re: Purito's trade team mates - Moreno might still be with him by then.

Or Kristoff. Even Spilak.

If the opportunity arose for Rodriguez to stitch up Valverde, I think he'd grab it with both hands after last year.

Sagan might finally get some help in a race - from Tinkoff riders?

Indeed. All 6 of the Danish team ride for Tinkoff, and you can imagine them giving Sagan some help should it come down to a sprint.

@andyp - True. I was thinking along the lines of Spanish team mates who also belong to Katusha, but it would be interesting to see him help set up a sprint for Kristoff!

Ladies junior race ended in a sprint from a group of 10-15, mens U23 on the road now

Go Mathieu!

Stream on UCI Youtube channel, use hola.org in Chrome if it's blocked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9CEO5fBK5o&feature=youtu.be

Litter carnage in the women's race, one of the worst crashes I've ever seen. Ouch

Vos was caught in it but back in the peloton now. Armistead was clear of it. I think

Christ, that was horrible.

Now I've seen the course I think an on form Nibali would have had a good chance.

Armistead very heavily marked. There was a little wave of panic when she went to the front.

"I think she's going to have it."

That's jinxed it.

Odd that they sat up, I am disappoint