Pro-cycling thread

Crossed wires I meant Dan martin.

Whoever leads it it always feels like an afterthought for BC, Copenhagen aside. Shame really

Not a Yates? Thomas doesn’t have form that I know of in hilly one days, and froome has zero results in races like that?

Will either of them have the legs after the Vuelta? Anyway, if GB could put together a full strength squad (Froome, Thomas, A Yates, S Yates, P Kennaugh, @taogeogheganhart, Cummings et al) they'd have a decent chance of a good result.

I've low expectations though.

Are they both doing the vuelta? I would have though Adam would sit it out after tdf given hes quite young? Although I know it’s supposed to be good prep for the next season. Haha well on paper they’d be great as you say I’d be pleasantly surprised if it comes to anything

Simon Yates did the Tour/Vuelta double last year, so I'd expect Adam to do the same this year. It's a logical progession, and how Micheltson-Scott develop their leaders, i.e. single GT for their first couple of years, then the Giro/Vuelta double, followed by the Tour/Vuelta double.

FFS Geraint

Don't lean!!

Does he have some kind of balance disorder? He has got to be one of the crashiest people in the peloton...

Looks like he might have won that had he not fallen...

Oh well, we know who Sky's team leader is now at least.

Bernal not present so looks like he's defo a shoe-in for the Tour. Will be rooting for the youthful massive of Tiesj Benoot, Jobby Bungels and Emmanuel Buchmann to animate proceedings amongst the big hitters instead...

Why is everyone convinced Sky are taking Bernal to the Tour? He's never ridden a GT before, taking a rookie to the biggest race of the year when you're riding to win seems risky. He's not going to add anything that another one of their more experienced riders could bring to the team.

was reported in Cyclingnews, with quote from his manager that it would be less pressurising than going to the Vuelta and being expected to win it.
Wasn't sure myself but he's not starting the Dauphine so follows what was reported...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bernal-set-to-make-tour-de-france-debut-after-california-victory/

quote from his manager that it would be less pressurising than going to the Vuelta and being expected to win it.

Is anyone really expecting that, apart from his manager? The number of riders who've won their debut GT can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

I could be wrong, but I'd be very surprised if Sky took the risk of trying to win the Tour with a team of just eight riders and include Bernal in that selection.

No you’re not wrong. It’s bullshit clear as day.

He will not be at the tour. Nor riding for the win at the Vuelta.

Maybe young rider win not overall.

Can you name the last young rider winner of the tour for the last 5 years? No one cares, which means sky don’t.

Quintana twice, Pinot and both Yates?

lol

Well, might be the case but he was provisionally down for the Dauphine so his schedule seems to have changed...

Quite impressed Thomas only lost 21 secs after that crash-looked a sore one

Maybe it’s just me that doesn’t remember then!
Though I didn’t check if you’re right on pcs.

He's not going to add anything that another one of their more experienced riders could bring to the team.

style. tons of.

Well, might be the case but he was provisionally down for the Dauphine so his schedule seems to have changed...

Tour de Suisse maybe, Sky's number of riders on the start list is only 6

Quintana was the Colombian young sensation when he did his first tour, and by all accounts Bernal may be a better overall rider.

As a mountain domestique, he would be exceptionally useful I reckon (if he had bad days, he can rest and still set tempo up climbs as necessary), and given his trajectory, may never be a domestique for anyone again.

I’ve no doubt he’s going to clean up. But taking a rookie without 3 week pedigree to the tour is mad. Plus expecting him to work for 3 weeks could end up buying him. He’s 21 and is think sky will take his development seriously, which means slow and steady. Not jumping in at the deep end.

He won the Tour de l'Avenir which if you have a look have a few interesting names pop up the last few years.

Not saying he will start but he has talent and could be useful. There will be some fresh legs at the TdF and it's going to be a tough race for Froome so having strong riders round him will be the plan.