Pro-cycling thread

Surely Millar deserves more than 6/10 for distance?!

Was it a crank snap or pedal/cleat fail? Definitely good distance, clear over the barrier and out if sight

His chain snapped.

This makes me very excited...

Bradley wiggins Roubaix interview

+1 I read that also, seems like hes been researching the race a fair bit. /wiggo4PR

+2 I'd read that one, interesting interview.

Like with Cuddles and the Great Ocean Race, there's so much hype around Brad and P-R, see also this :
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/bradley-wiggins-will-win-paris-roubaix-says-luca-paolini-164490

As much as I'd love him to win, I just can't see it. Maybe top 5, but not no.1. It seems like he should have HTFU and completed a few more of the recent classics and really got his race head on rather than wussing out. But I'd love to be wrong as I like Wiggins.

YOu see Fabian who is hard as fuck? He's not got a broken back. Tommy B is out too.
So you can sing that Brad should do races till your blue. But if he's got epic form and all he cares about is PR. He's ridden all the classics before and knows them. I think he's making the right discission.

It's a risk to not get in the mix in races. But maybe the risk is bigger that you'll injure yourself. And this is his last season, he only gives a damn about PR, so is willing to put every egg in the basket.

110 km/h winds forecast for the 3 Days of De Panne today, 30 km/h more than Sunday's wind speed. Let's hope the organisers see sense and either cancel or shorten today's stage.

What's his best placing before last year? I'm looking but can't find it.

I know there's the famous pic from his Garmin days where his legs look really thin after the race but not sure where he came that year.

My point is this: he romanticses the race but yet this is the first and only time he's going to full tilt at it?

I know he's had other priorities but to have luck and form align this year is a big ask.

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to have luck and form align this year is a big ask.

Hence his realistic attitude in the media about winning.

Up until 2008 his main focus was on the track and the IP in particular. After that he started focusing on the road more and, to the surprise of many (including himself I think) he was 4th, now 3rd, in the Tour at his first real attempt at riding for GC. It's no surprise then that he focused on stage races for the next 4 years. It's only now, in the twilight of his career, and with Froome looking a better bet for GC success, that he's started thinking about other goals. 9th last year shows it is a realistic goal but I think he knows it's a hard one to achieve. I wish him luck though, I think it's great that he's prepared to put his reputation on the line for one race.

Let's hope the organisers see sense and double the number of cameras to catch all the fally-offy fun

/calls IT to finally ask for a second monitor

What's his best placing before last year? I'm looking but can't find it.

I cannot recommend this site enough. check out the head-to-head option as well. cool stuff

I know he's had other priorities but to have luck and form align this year is a big ask.

He's had a bit of luck so far, what with 2 of the main contendors out injured. He also has 2 team mates who, this year, have proven excellent form and race tactics.

I would love for him to win, but I don't see it happening. There are way too many variables out of his control in P-R, but from what he can control (form and prep), it sounds like he's put in the hard work and done all he can do.

Cheers - always nice to find a new site where I can waste a few hours.

He finished 1,000th in 2003 apparently. Must have ridden the sportive the day before.

He's only ever won three races on the road that weren't time trials/prologues.

Hasn't he actively said that P-R is all he is targetting on the road this year? Given his and Sky's experience and success at hitting their mutual targets I'm very hopeful and very excited.

I might even put tenner on it.

I'll take that tenner.

£10 on top-3 at P-R

There are a handful of riders who can win (and Wiggins is one), but it's a lottery because a crash or mechanical at the wrong time will end your chances, or the tactics may go against you on the day.

Paolini fancies his chances.
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/bradley-wiggins-will-win-paris-roubaix-says-luca-paolini-164490

My one reservation is that Wiggins usually wins by reducing his objectives to a science, but there are too many uncontrollable factors at P-R.

I wouldn't take that tenner.

For the record, I'd love to see him win.

Tailwind muthafucker

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first 12km is neutralized, no further measures. full gas it will be

I think it's easy to say "I can't see brad winning it" because even the best rider on the best form is a longish shot to win at PR, but surely he is up there with the favourites, especially with the obvious absentees.

As someone who has followed him in the big events for most of his career, and always very Britishly expected him to do OK but actually win anything, he has consistently smashed my expectations to pieces. He has a ridiculous engine and possibly the best sports scientists to help him maximise it for a particular event. So I don't think its probable that he will win, but I think he has as good a chance as anybody. And if something happens to him on the day, G unit could step up and that would be just as amazing. So excited.

Edit: thanks for the interview links as well folks.