Pro-cycling thread

My feed crapped out with 4km to go.

Raging.

The official Sporza one dropped at 1.4km but kicked in with about 500m to go

Good prediction! Great ride from Brambilla too.

Brambilla rode like a demon today, glad he got the conciliatory 3rd.

Currently sat above vino at LVV. Waste a pint on his bonce?

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I love Vino.

Etixx have a numerical advantage and fail to make it pay. Again. Maybe a bit unfair in this case as Cancellara looked fucking strong. I really hope he wins PR and RVV.

As for the women's race - Armitstead is leagues ahead of everyone else. It's a bit predictable.

What else could Etixx have done? Their tactics were spot on, it's just that Cancellara was stronger than Stybar in the final 500 metres.

I think Stybar could have attacked rather than waiting for Cancellara to jump. He looked equal to him but was a bike length behind from the start.

twas a bit closer than that!

Yup. At the time, I thought Cancellara was just too strong, but after watching it again, I looked up last year's race, and GVA attacks much lower down, with Styby soon powering past on the steepest section.

Yesterday, having Brambilla up ahead worked perfectly for Canc, who could ride up at his own pace with Styby sat on, before attacking much further up the climb.

Great shot @peter_v

I only found it at Fabs' own twitter timeline, would've loved to be there

That pictures makes me want to do comedy Arnie gurning noises. Gnnaaarrrrgh!

I don't even think it was a case of Cancellara being leagues ahead of Stybar, Stybar couldn't attack as Brambilla was up front, so Cancellara just rode and then attacked near the top and because those roads are so narrow, Stybar couldn't get round.

Watching Merci Sven on Belgium national tv now - incredible. 16 thousand people in the Antwerp sports palace to salute the cx champ. His son dj-ing at the moment this pic was taken

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I've watched cycling in Dutch, Turkish, Italian, Spanish and French rather than listening to Carlton Kirby. All make for a more amusing improvement to proceedings.

Sporza any day over Kirby. Oy-oy-oy-oy

Has the Paolini judgement come in yet?

Nope - and as someone who has no insights into the UCI and how it works, it makes me think they're trying to bury it, which makes me think he's been cleared.

He was "ready to race" so I guess we will know if he has been cleared when he lines up somewhere.

Bring on Gent-Wevelgem!

^^nice

Echelons at Paris-Nice.

The season has started.

I'm listening to it while working, but did Rob Hatch just reference someone winning the "Eurosport sponsored pedaleur de charme" award? Hilarious.

I can hear that now, in a comedy over-emphasised French accent.

Ever the consummate European.