Pro-cycling thread

Er, just an Aerohead?

Yep, Aerohead Ultimate. Seems like a perfectly sensible choice for a TT stage.

On a road bike....

Road bike prologue

I thoughts Gerrans had retired already

That aerohead comes in green, too.

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An article about Greipel's departure from Lotto-Soudal:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/transfer-mechanics-andre-greipel-lotto-soudal-and-the-end-of-the-road/

Unpleasant reading

Interesting thought from Rouleur

How’s this for a silly season transfer suggestion: Geraint Thomas should move to Quick Step. We should point out that we have heard no
rumours that this is likely, or that an offer has been made, and is
purely wishful thinking on our part. But it would be good, wouldn’t
it? With his Tour de France victory should come an unlocking of the
next (and presumably last) few years of his career. Sure he could
chase another Grand Tour, even another Grand Boucle, but lightening is
unlikely to strike twice. With so few chances to do so left, Chris
Froome is sure to have dibs on a fifth Tour to elevate him to legend
status and will, unlike this year, throw everything at it. So Thomas
would either be banking on getting his chance again, or have to settle
for the Giro himself. We know how well that went last time. Besides,
he’s never shown any particular interest in becoming a multiple Grand
Tour winner. He’s got one now, proven he’s up there with the best. So
what’s next?

We know he can ride the cobbles with the best of them - he won the
Junior Paris-Roubaix back in 2004 and always seems to enjoy the pavé -
so why shouldn’t he make the jump to the number one Classics team
around and try to bag a Monument as well? It’d be a risk, but it’d be
an adventure too. Plus Bradley never managed it.

Thomas could stay where he is and name his price but Team Sky will
never commit to the Classics in the way Quick Step do. On the other
hand, the Belgian team don’t do leaders like the big money Brits. But
give Geraint Thomas a guaranteed start at both Flanders and Roubaix
and, with such a strong squad beside him, it’s easy to imagine him
winning either one or the other. Although it’s been said that few
riders who leave Team Sky go on to bigger things, even fewer who land
at Quick Step fail to succeed.

It would likely mean a pay cut but is he really that motivated by
money? Brian Holm said last year Thomas is the one rider he’d love to
sign. Have a word, Brian.

G to Fortuneo, calling it.

Don’t worry, it’s all fake news

Moscon 5 weeks suspension. He’s just a good kid though really and he loves his mammy.

A Quickstep move would be the death of his GC ambitions. I mean he can have a crack but he won't get much support, like Dan Martin didn't when he was there.

It depends on his motiviation. It was telling that at the end of his career Wiggins simply couldn't be arsed to put the work in to be in the form to win three-week races. If Thomas is like him and likes to keep moving on and ticking off new achievements then a move away from Sky would make sense, especially if he does want a proper tilt at the classics.

Let's be honest. He needs to stop falling off his bike if he wants to win any of the classics.

awwwww

Oooooohhhh.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ccc-confirm-contract-offer-to-geraint-thomas-for-2019/

Thomas in garish orange next season, riding a Guerciotti.....

He won't leave Sky, only team paying a final salary pension.

This is the reason he won the Tour! Three weeks staying upright.

Yeah but is Froome gonna be willing to share leadership next season? He'll want his fifth win.

Off to BMC for an alliance of utter ineffectiveness with Tichie Ritchie. Or worse, Trek.

BMC

n'existe plus

we can all tell ourselves that but the spirit of the team will not die.

Saying that, maybe EF Drapac will show an interest in an anglophone rider who might retain a glimmer or competitiveness post signing

Has Thomas said he wants another Tour shot?

I guess Thomas is deciding that at the moment. I hope he goes hard for the worlds next.