Pro-cycling thread

Was it Gaviria again?

It's worth watching the last kilometre. That's it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPHeXzeIjuI

Apologies for the Kirby commentary (notice he doesn't have a clue who's won).

Shame Bennet couldn't take out a stage.

Great work by Gaviria. Seems to have the instinct that Cav has/had.

Keisse and Richeze look incredibly well drilled too.

Having watched it a few times, it was Gaviria's leadout man that unclipped, but only as a result of holding his line. That was awesome by Gaviria.

Cav tweeted how happy he was Nando wasn't going to TDF. Yet. #stillneedasponsor

Wow, thanks. At least the end made up for the rest.

Nah, he's just too small to push people out the way and gets boxed in.

I don't think his extreme sprinting position helps with that either

He came from a long way back. Amazing turn of speed in the final 150 metres.

Chapeau to Jon Dibben for his first pro win at the ToC. @taogeogheganhart is now 7th overall and leading the young rider competition.

LottoJumbo-NL's George Bennett leads after an excellent TT. Am I right in thinking that part of his improvement can be put down to work by @xavierdisley?

What are the broad future expectations of Tao? GC potential for GTs?

I think he's hinted he likes one day races. Hasn't he got a podium at junior Paris Roubaix?

Means nothing of course.

Unless your skills/physique are as defined as, say, Gaviria or Hugh Carthy, there's scope to mark out your own future to a degree.

Sure Sky will have a view on how they want him to develop.

He's skinny right? Must be a climber. 8th up Mt Baldy isn't something to be sniffed at.

#armchairDS

Can Tao climb? Is the Pope Catholic?

Good results a LBL juniors and L'Avenir (it says on the internet).

I think he's seen as a GC rider. He's very versatile though, which could be beneficial or a drawback. I think it's tough to develop as a GC rider for GTs at Sky though, as they race most of them with realistic GC ambitions, it's hard for young riders to breakthrough.

7th on GC at ATOC is very impressive for a neo-pro.

On a side note, I find it really tough to see Taylor Phinney posting average TT results. Such a shame that awful crash took away some of his potential, despite the fact he is still a very good rider.

Good to see these young riders coming up. expecting a lot from my hometown rider Sam Oomen too, comparable to Tao but less points as yet

today's profile for the Giro stage. doesn't look like a lot will be happening before the final 10k. provided there's no(t enough) wind...

Unless your Tao. He's on a sky red carpet to stardom.

The next week of the Giro is going to have to be a heck of a race to justify the first two weeks.

I enjoyed the first week.

I'm not sure why I've not been excited by it. Bad luck with the wind on Etna didn't help. The race that is, not me. Then losing Thomas and Landa, a lack of variety in the stages. Just something about it that has all seemed less than gripping.

I do think the Tour of California is good though, makes a change from European scenery and roads. Shame that teams like Axeon can't do it now it's World Tour though.

Giro has been great so far. Some brilliant racing.

Seeing this breakaway politics is really interesting. I laughed at gavaria wagging his finger at teklahaimenot.

And muhlbergers favourite movie is fault in our stars apparently ha

If your Arborio tastes funny next year, it's the helicopter hovering just over the paddy fields of northern Italy.