Pro-cycling thread

Rowe always looks strong but I worry he's always destined for 5th place. Just can't imagine when he's going to beat the competition

He's only just 26. My age!
He's got time.

It's a fair point. He's still only 26 though, so you'd expect him to physically mature for a couple more years yet, so that might make the difference. There is no shame in being beaten by a once in a generation talent like Sagan though.

Yeah you just can't have one group using them and others not. Queenberrys rules

Caleb makes up for his early celebration and apparently it can rain in Abu Dhabi.

I think it's more about how he's going to beat the competition.

Unless he develops a sprint, he may be destined to end up heading down the path of many podiums at this sort of race without reaching the top step.

How does this sound for a theory behind Sagan tactics in the cobbled classics?

Because his team lacks strength in depth, he knows he'll be isolated in the final 50 kms of a race, especially against teams that do have that strength in depth like QuickStep, BMC and Sky. To counter this, he makes the race selective much earlier than is normal to put himself in a position where he's racing the other team leaders without them having supporting riders, knowing that he can match them in strength and, on the whole, beat them in a sprint.

Saturday, which is the more prestigious race, definitely followed this pattern, but he probably did more than his condition allowed, meaning Van Avermaet could beat him in a sprint. On Sunday, because of the nature of the course, other teams were prepared to work hard from a long way out, but when it looked like the race might all come together, Sagan made sure he was in a good move with strong riders all looking to get a result, meaning they had the incentive to work with him to the line.

I think it's clear that in the past few years his 'tactics' have really come on leaps and bounds. I am not sure who's been behind it, but if it's a DS or someone special, they've taught him and guided him. He has really learnt how to race.

This is funny, sagan telling vanmarcke how he should have ridden; https://twitter.com/ChroniqueDuVelo/status/835538059060002818

To a noob like me that sounds well argued and reasonable.
Hulk smash *Hulk recover*Hulk smash again

Is the gist of it right?

It's the fact he can do it back to back days too; from Saturday's podium GVA blew up/couldn't follow and Sep VM didn't even start.

He needed the racing ahead of Strade Bianche and Tirreno. The other two have more race days already this season.

The more interesting question becomes - how do you beat Sagan in this kind of situation?

Recruit someone who can go with the selection, then go beyond his recovery skills?

Or someone with the stones of Wout.

They need to work together and do him over.
Only by combining forces can they beat him. But they've got to be willing to loose to win.

Only by combining forces can they beat him. But they've got to be willing to loose to win.

That's not going to happen though is it.

Basically, you've got to anticipate him, so get someone up the road who's strong enough to win then use your other riders to mark Sagan so heavily that he can't get across. I think the 2011 season with Cancellara could be indicative, he [Cancellara] was so strong that it was obvious you had to out think him and his team, rather than over power him. So at Flanders QuickStep got Chavanel up the road early, then when Cancellara went, he was there to sit on him and not work. At Roubaix, Garmin got Vansummeren up the road, then Hushovd sat on Cancellara and wouldn't do a tap until it was too late.

Yes, ideally you can do it from the beginning as a team.
My answer was more what you can do, if you find yourself in a finishing brake with Sagan, as happened at the weekend.

I do think Bora are pretty strong, a few big engines. And they're all for Sagan, unlike some other teams (quickstep). What a shambles from them.

My answer was more what you can do, if you find yourself in a finishing brake with Sagan

Lose mostly :)

If he's 'braking' then I'm winning. If he's 'breaking' well then, that's different, unless it's bones.

Sounds about right.

Interested to see how Benoot and Stuyven shape up to challenge him in the next few years. Grest to see strong classics riders coming through.

Big fan of Gougeard as well. Hope he becomes more than a suicidal breakaway specialist.

Strade Bianche this weekend, possibly one of my favourite races of the year. I will go watch it soon.

And paris nice starts too, the season is underway!

Bloody great innit ? Felt good to see it all kicking off in Belgium over the weekend. Would be good to see some of the up and comers making their presence felt rather than Peter dominating everything.

Strade Bianche this weekend

Betancur's down to ride!

I've heard you can get good pizza in Siena.

He posted a photo of him on a plane the other day, so he must be coming!

If you look through his instagram page, it's quickly clear what the most important things in life to him are. Much respect for him, for the love for his family.