Pro-cycling thread

I’d love to see his contract with ISUN. Surely they don’t think he’s going to be winning grand tours for him so maybe he’s just bringing attention and experience.

Ineos mountain train in full flight, where are Jumbo Visma?

I wonder how Froome feels about being dropped and constantly followed by the TV moto. I guess he has his millions in wages to comfort him out the back of the bunch.

Froome almost walking down. Looks like he wants to make sure he is able to start his contract at ISUN.

How do Israel Cycling Startup Academy Nation Endgame feel? LOOL

He’s convinced he can return to the highest level. Given his track record you’d be a brave man to bet against him as you know he has the motivation.

brutal 1st stage

I feel sorry for him really. After a career like he's had (all be it at a dominant team) for it to be seemingly ended, in effect, as a serious contender in GC's at least by a freaky training crash seems unduly unlucky. I can't help but think he would have won another TdeF or other Grand Tour otherwise...he's nothing if not driven.

Not that I'd bet against him returning to his old form, mind. -it's just whether he'll have a team around him to help him win GC's again when he leaves Ineos, really...

Was Ineos still insisting Froome was its GC contender this morning?

slugfest in the last few Ks

No.

Spanish tv still obsessed with Valverde.

Sepp Kuss is really an excellent super domestique

Climber sprint coming up!
Roglic is going to win probably?

primo

Great first stage for Bernal!

The BBC certainly were...

@Zdrenka coached WvA once

'Last active 2016'--tell him/her to get back on here and tell their story. :)

me too!

Can't believe none of us resident armchair DS' didn't answer this.

Ineos are short of mountain support, so can't do what Sunweb did on Sunday. The first priority must be to get Almeida out of pink so you've got to hope that Sunweb attempt to do that today or, more likely, tomorrow. If Kelderman shows any sign of weakness as they do this, then attack on the final climb but don't stress if he's still there at the finish.

That just leaves Saturday's stage, and I'd use the team to isolate Kelderman as much as possible on the penultimate climb, then try and break him on that and repeat on the finish climb. It's a long shot but Kelderman hasn't been in this situation before so we don't know how he'll handle it. Neither has Tao though, so we don't know if he'll be as strong in these last few stages as he's looked in the past few.

The Stelvio looks snowy but the roads are clear. Is there any reason to think they won’t go over it?

https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/passo-dello-stelvio-stelvio-pass/webcams/

I wonder how many riders finished their classics season at Tour of Flanders before flying straight to the a Vuelta? I’ve scanned through and can only see Terpstra, Stybar, Van Baale and Valgren as a definites but there must be others.

Probably only if there is a heavy fall the night before. Given it’s altitude that’s possible I’d say.

I’d think they’d want to ensure the descent was clear of ice, even if the road was clear of snow. They are coming down the south side so it should be okay, although the sun won’t get into the tunnels.