Pro-cycling thread

http://detskatour.sk/detska-tour-petra-sagana-partneri-pre-vas-pripravili-vytvarnu-sutaz-s-temou/

How do you embed an image with a link in it these days?

Anyway here's my entry:

Win for Guardini in Oman. Sagan all the way back in 7th. Thought the finish might have suited him.

1 Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana Pro Team 3:45:38
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx-QuickStep
3 Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) IAM Cycling
4 Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Giant-Alpecin
5 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha
6 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis
7 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo
8 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18
9 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida
10 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ

stage 2: Sagan again not doing what I'd expect him to :-/

At least Sagan is up there with all the serious Classics men......

Oddly 'Peter Sagan' is a character in the novel 'Sashenka' by Simon Sebag Montefiore (pub: 2008), he's a somewhat unpleasant Russian secret policeman.

Sad news about the untimely death of Claude Criquelion today. He was only 58.

A former world champion, one of the only French speaking Belgian winners of Flanders, and a consistent GT rider, who will always be remembered for the World Championships he didn't win.

Criquelion he was a great champion indeed, RIP. For some years now, there's a sportive in the Ardennes named after him. Aug 29th this year if you want to pay tribute...

In the Ruta del Sol meanwhile, lots of riders tumbled over each other only just outside the 3k mark yesterday, causing some GC riders to lose their chance at the podium. Sadly the organisation has not made amends for that.

Following Hugh Carthy's progress at Vuelta Andalucia as I raced (well was on the same start line) as him last year. 108th on the first stage and 135th in the TT. Not exactly lighting it up, but hoping he'll go well in the hillier stuff. Would love to see him deployed in a break

Another win for Kristoff today.

I think he's turning into the new Hushovd. Discuss...

i think hes better than that

You might be right. I remember when he won in San Remo last year and everybody was saying how he's the quickest after a long stage, but I genuinely think he's got the edge on the likes of Sagan at the moment.

Love to see him do it at Flanders.

I get excited just typing the word Flanders.

Soon.

And Gee is winning too rubs hands

Yep - even though it sounds like OPQS tried to force the pace. Why is none of this on telly? Really annoying.

Profile of Gee from a while back featuring his tagalong Saffa mate that never gets a mention

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXDfxI3U_j4

Has Froome's position on the bike always been that bad? I'd need to see some recent footage but he rides on that film like he's shit his pants.

Loads of good racing that isn't on the telly, the INRG did a piece about why not which essentially boiled down to too bloody expensive, but it definitely feels like a lot less than this time last year

Contador looks very very good. Where is Froome?

25 seconds back

Froome and Contador are clearly on different schedules.

Contador is doing the Giro so you'd expect him to be some way ahead.

And the rest of the field are planning on riding the Vuelta.

Turns out maybe the season isn't already over...Great riding from Froome/Sky.

Yes! Allez Froome.

Bodes well for an ongoing ding dong between the 2 for the entire season. Carthy in the break as well!

He must've seen your post.

So hot in Oman the tub glue returning to liquid

RDS highlights on Eurosport; Roche, Kennaugh and Nieve looking like an awesome set of super doms. Pete looks like the 2013 version again.