Pro-cycling thread

I know we were spoiled with Roubaix but I'm struggling to see the appeal of Ardennes week the way the races are ridden now.

With the weather conditions today, was anyone really expecting anything other than a war of attrition? I'm surprised we didn't have a group of 15-20 sprinting for the win.

I thought LBL was quite engaging and unpredictable.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/wout-poels-from-horrific-crash-to-team-sky-success-166941

Enjoyed that and it went to a deserving winner considering what he went through after THAT crash in the TdF.

Oh and OGE didn't win

I think it's been firmly established that the man can look after himself!

Very much this. Nibbles looking like he's a fair way off form from his performance on the 2nd last climb.

For all my ripping on Betancur in the past he looks lean and motivated now, it must've been the French cuisine at ag2r that disagreed with him.

Could someone point me towards that recent video, an overhead shot of a sprint with the rider dodging through at an incredible speed for the win?

Dan McLay, GP Denain.

Thanks Oliver, you've made photoben very happy.

Did you have a bet about who it was?

No, it's all about social media. I'd explain, but then I'd have to explain.

You could use 'social' media to explain, though.

(I think the forum is better than 'social' media.)

Well, Oli, it's like this. We're on fb and someone posts a gif of it and ben's all like, who is that, and I'm like, fml, I know that, can't remember, hold on blud, let me ask the bike nerds on the forum, and he's like, yeh cool, and I'm like, hey anyone know who this is and you're like, it's whoever, and I'm all, thanks dude, rad af.

To think that all this time you could be chatting on here. What a waste of life to spend any time away from the forum.

Just watched the final 30km, my man Betancur's looking good, certainly having a presence in the peloton again.

It's no surprise Betancur did well today, his natural insulation would've held him in good stead in those conditions.

I wonder how long Rapha are going to milk this? Hopefully they can milk it in castelli's face, because I'm bored of them trotting out the gabba photo every time it rains.

Trust Sky to get their first Monument in the least interesting way...

I think the conditions dictated the racing, yes it was a large peloton for L-B-L, and yes the racing was mostly a sufferfest until the last 20k, but importantly Valverde didn't win.

^Or Zakarin

And Dan Martin did a Dan Martin.

Why the dislike for Zakarin?

He's Russian so totally on all the drugs.

That's what I'm guessing (why he's disliked, not that he's on drugs), but maybe there's something I'm missing.

I think Zakarin is a super exciting young rider. Him, and other youngster Alaphilippe, were the most exciting parts of LBL.

Enjoyed yesterday's race, absolutely gutted that Albasini didn't win as I had him at 125/1, but Poels was a worthy winner and I'm happy for him, leading out the sprint was a big move too.

Also, Mr. Cool, Calm and Calculated Davey B went a bit mental at the win here...
https://twitter.com/TeamSky/status/724260112924311552/video/1

I wonder how many videos like that exist when teams don't win. I want to see some of those. (EQS and Sky must have quite the library).