Pro-cycling thread

He's got to be the joint favourite, alongside Sagan.

But the last three winners all rode Paris-Nice rather than Tirreno-Adriatico, so maybe it is better preparation.

Was that Gaviria's first road win of the year? I'd love to see him do it on Saturday.

Odds here:
https://sports.paddypower.mobi/#sport/70/competition/8113/event/11429835

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That was his 4th win of the season. Two stages in Argentina, plus a stage at the Tour of Algarve before yesterday.

Wonder what dowsetts form is like.

I'd really like to see him get a TT result.

I'll go with R Dennis though.

Bit short for Dowsett I think? Plus he's been towing the peloton around Italy the past couple of days. If anyone from Movistar is going to win, it's more likely to be Castroviejo.

I reckon Dennis is the favourite, but Roglic at LottoJumboNL has been riding well this season so might surprise.

Ah missed Roglic. Good shout. He's smashed most short TTs recently.

Yeah I know, I just really want dowsett to get a result. It must be tough for him, never getting one.

I doubt he cares that much, continuous employment at the top level is a good reward for his constant hard work on the flat(ish) roads, where Movistar are not exactly overstaffed with quality rouleurs. Charly Wegelius made a whole distinguished career of winning nowt.

Sagan just had to swerve to the wrong side of the central reservation to avoid a pedestrian+dog crossing a zebra crossing in the middle of the ITT.

I disagree. We all start racing becasue we love to win.

I've read an interview with him before, saying he hates training and only trains because he loves to race.

Thomas is clearly in the form of his life too.

Shame he lost that time. Keen to see how he goes at the giro, over 3 weeks. Looks promising.

Not only one of the best pro cyclists around but prommute skillz as well... Is there anything he can't do?

But as Wegelius' excellent book makes clear, he'd like to have won a race as a pro. He got a pro contract because he could win races, like just about every other member of the peloton.

I hope he's got a bit more to gain. But Saturday's ride was impressive, there's no shame at all in coming second to Quintana on a mountain top finish. Given the disaster on stage 1, he's done well to get a stage win and finish 5th overall.

Yeah. Anyone would be happy with a stage and 5th overall, without the disaster he had!

Tejay needs to concentrate on winning more one day races going forward. Normally being TT heavy this would have been suited for him but he doesn't seem up to it anymore. He should now try and corner the gap to be left by Valverde's inevitable retirement.

going forward

what have you become!?

Meh, English is my 2nd language, sometimes I use superfluous language to overcompensate. Going forward, I will desist from using that phrase.

There are very few races you can win while riding backwards. :)

He's shown no aptitude for one day racing whatsoever. Nor have I ever seen him sprint. He just needs some luck and good health.

Of course Charly Wegelius wanted to win, as does Alex Dowsett, it is just that their basic job limits their opportunities. 'Domestique' is probably my favourite cycling book and radiates with pride for a job well done and comparatively little regret for lack of wins. I presume Alex Dowsett feels a similar pride. Alex is more likely to get a few opportunities to win longer TTs, hopefully being given a day hiding in the wheels the stage before. He has already cashed in on chances he has had.

Not true.

Ask Matthew Pincent.

Oh no doubt. There is immense pride if your team wins. It's almost as much your victory as theirs. There is no winning without team mates.
My point was just, everyone like to win themselves and I'd love to see dowsett take another would tour win. But I'm sure he'll settle for the hour record again! Good win that.

Plenty going on here so thought I'd share. I don't recall seeing many of these helmets in other pics from this era.

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Rumour has it that Kelly, who had a keen sense of his value, was due a large bonus from Brancale if he won whilst wearing that helmet.

I've lost count of the number of times I've watched the closing 10 kms of that race, and I still wander how he managed to get across the gap to Argentin.