Pro-cycling thread

Steve will never forgive MTNQ for signing TF. :)

That whole passage reads like a parody of an overbearing sports team owner.

United HealthCare had 4 more finishers than MTNQ.

Brian Smith kills teams quicker than Harry Redknapp

I'm sure his infectious sense of humour helps to lift spirits when things are tough though.

Got a power meter? Compare your efforts to what it takes to help John Degencobble to the finish in Paris Roubaix

"Race organisers have said the riders could not stop in time".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/32284180

Certainly, those final 3 riders from Cannondale(?), Bretagne(?) and BMC(?) couldn't have stopped in time...

The UCI have announced that teams can trial disc brakes in any two races of their choosing in August and September with a view to introducing them fully in 2017.

This is a great blog, you feel like you're in there with the writer

http://rouleur.cc/journal/racing/paris-roubaix-2015-Mavic-car

Probably just as well he didn't do it the week before though

Looks unbelievably stressful. I'd rather not do it even just as a passenger.

See I don't see how it will work, unless the neutral service cars will carry compatible spare wheels, or they standardise the brakes the teams use. I think it will also slow down wheel changes.

Surely they just have to agree on a rotor size?

Serious question - how often do you think a rider uses neutral service in a season?

Depends on the race. In the mountains and when the peloton is splintered and the roads narrow the team cars can be a long way back I'd imagine it more frequent. Definitely saw a couple of changes by the NSC in P-R and Flanders. And playing devil's advocate I suppose all it takes is the one time you puncture and the team car is a long way back, the NSC doesn't have a compatible wheel and your GC ambitions go up in smoke.

I honestly don't know, I would expect some sort of standardisation, but I remember setting up disc brakes on my MTB, bloody fiddly. Things have probably improved since then though.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/cavendish-fights-back

Good feature on Cav on CN

I really want one of those old Highroad jerseys

Some riders on discs, and others using carbon pads / rims in the same race?... Yeah, I can't see that causing any problems descending in a bunch. Will be especially lolz if it rains.

More reason to ditch rim brakes and carbon rims.

But I think it's a corner case. Most of the time a rider has a team mate or team car to hand, it's very rare for neutral service be needed, even rarer for it to be a factor in deciding a race.

"C'mon Mark let's just have a chat, all your old team mates are here, you'll fit right in"

"Fuck off Smithy!"

"You'd look great in it!

Sure, but shouldn't everyone just be on the same kit... At the same time?

Just like they do today you mean?

That's not happened in the past, why would it now?

EDIT: What he said.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/the-problem-with-disc-brakes-in-road-racing-is

You do get the sense that it is a the bike companies that want it more than the teams. I realise use of the NSV is rare, but when you do need it is usually when you REALLY need it. Plus I don't like the idea of a mass crash with red hot brake discs everywhere. That said in a mass crash you're going to get fucked up anyway.

Quite a scatty narrative, although I suppose that's the point.

Enjoyed reading it though, can't imagine how hype it must be from start to finish