Commentators just said that One Pro Cycling have got a Pro Continental licence which means we might see them in a few of the races that Eurosport now cover.
This puts them on the same level as teams like Europcar, Caja Rural, Cofidis, Topsport Vlanderen, teams which often get invites to the world tour races
They only started racing this year so it's quite a rapid promotion..........the team is co-owned by former England wicket-keeper Matt Prior, who says the teams ambition is to become a World Tour team within 5 years
GB Team for World Cup 2 in New Zealand, see the return of Becky James after two years injury. We badly need a decent sprinter again. Most of the distance A-team have been rested. It will be a tough meet, antipodeans will be dying to do well.
The long trailed Richard Moore article on the Froome data release in Esquire. A more technical review to follow next week http://chrisfroome.esquire.co.uk
Figured it wasn't being covered by BBC after they've had a couple of articles about it on their website focussing on Becky James return as she tries to get to Rio next year, but no mention of how to watch.
Fingers crossed she's somewhere back to her double world champion form a couple of years ago, and isn't too far behind Vogel and the other world leaders to make a serious challenge for the medals next year.
Figured it wasn't being covered by BBC after they've had a couple of articles about it on their website focussing on Becky James return as she tries to get to Rio next year, but no mention of how to watch.
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They'd normally only cover World Cups when in the UK.
Skipped through the world cup highlights on that youtube link and was saddened by the lack of GB participation in so many of the finals. I know the 'a team' were rested but it doesn't help us gauge where they are in terms of competing with the best, many of whom were there.
Am I the only one worrying what genuine gold medal chances we'll have on the track in Rio?
It's looking like it will be a proper battle for every one, even if GB turn up in top form and without any major injury worries. Certainly not going to be anywhere near the dominance they had in London, which while good for the sport it ain't good for our nerves!
Road race
Her performances as a super-domestique were key to Cooke and Armitstead winning gold in 2008 / silver in 2012 respectively; she could provide the same level of assistance to Armitstead in Rio, or even challenge for a medal herself given how hilly the course is.
Time trial
She won silver in 2008 and can also win a medal in Rio - this is her main target (she specifically wants gold) and must be why she was in the Chrono des Nations a couple of months ago. She'll have to compete in the RR first, which happens 3 days beforehand.
She'll continue with her career as a triathlete and isn't making a full return to road cycling outside of the Olympics.
Hope she makes the road race team as well as the time trial. Armitstead needs a stronger team than she's had in recent years if she's not to become isolated in the latter stages of the race.
Hope she makes the road race team as well as the time trial. Armitstead needs a stronger team than she's had in recent years if she's not to become isolated in the latter stages of the race.
I did think that Emma Pooley got done over by Lizzie Armistead at the Commonwealth Games, though. Pooley had made what was clearly a winning break with about 10k to go but Armistead counter-attacked her and brought up a South African on her wheel, which should have been a big no-no.
Haven't been talking about it so far, but the winter Cyclo-Cross season is well underway. All live with commentary on YouTube, highlights on Eurosport. Next race is on Sunday in Namur. Previous races on the archive, if you are at a loss over the holidays.
Hope she makes the road race team as well as the time trial.
It's a requirement - only those selected for the RR can also be selected for the ITT. Barring a major incident (though 7 or so months is a long time), it's hard to see the selectors leaving her out of either race.
I did think that Emma Pooley got done over by Lizzie Armistead at the Commonwealth Games, though. Pooley had made what was clearly a winning break with about 10k to go but Armistead counter-attacked her and brought up a South African on her wheel, which should have been a big no-no.
To be fair, working for Armitstead (who still sought her maiden victory in an international championship RR) was always Plan A and Pooley didn't seem at all unhappy about the race outcome or the manner in which it was delivered. She had done a lot of attacking earlier and staying ahead of the chasing group throughout the last 10km was thought to be a bit of a stretch at the time, which is why Armitstead opted not to ride with Pooley after she dropped her rivals (easily) on George Street.
What happened in the commonwealth road race does mirror to some degree what happened in the London Olympics road race, with Pooley attacking and Armitstead counter-attacking to break free. Though that time Armitstead was part of a small group doing the counter-attack so didn't want to be left behind by what turned out to be the decisive break.
It's one of the tactics you hear the commentators with some biking strategy knowledge talk about. The team leader sends a team mate up the road to use as a counter attack at the end of a race, so the team leader can sit in the wheels while the opposition tries to close down the team mate.
It's one of the tactics you hear the commentators with some biking strategy knowledge talk about. The team leader sends a team mate up the road to use as a counter attack at the end of a race, so the team leader can sit in the wheels while the opposition tries to close down the team mate.
No, I understand the tactics alright, but what annoyed me a bit was that most of the other riders were out by that point, By attacking from the chasing group instead of covering someone else's attack, as riders normally do, Armistead was directly attacking Pooley and potentially bringing up a rival. I've seen other Championship races where the team leader has just sat back and let the support rider take the win rather than risk helping an outsider. But then people like Brian Smith say that in big international championship races, unlike team-based World Tour races, riders understand that the normal rules don't apply.
If anyone wants to see highlights of the race again, here it is. The fact that a rainbow appears during the attack (5:12 and 5:26 into the video) is rather uncanny...
To be clear, Pooley's website mentions only the ITT. RR support role for Armitstead comes from Sutton. Reading her website article in detail, she does not imply any intention of being a player in the final RR laps at Rio. With only a couple of days to recover that could take the edge off her ITT performance. http://us12.campaign-archive1.com/?u=c7748efd34fe5c946e2814371&id=d3e950a19b&e=8edaaea5ad
Armitstead and Froome are on SPOTY tomorrow night.
Comments
It doesn't look like there's a lot of 'stars' on show........
http://www.cyclingrevolution.com/news/article/olympic-champions-return-to-london.html
Of the people mentioned I've only heard of Thomas, Kennaugh and Blythe but hopefully there'll be a good smattering of the up and coming British riders
That's about normal; last couple have been exceptional with WC points on offer.
This puts them on the same level as teams like Europcar, Caja Rural, Cofidis, Topsport Vlanderen, teams which often get invites to the world tour races
They only started racing this year so it's quite a rapid promotion..........the team is co-owned by former England wicket-keeper Matt Prior, who says the teams ambition is to become a World Tour team within 5 years
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/34899867
UCI has its usual highlights reel / live coverage of the last day on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvQY8IRL1Mg
Sunday 04:00 if you are keen enough to watch it live, but it'll be on delay afterwards of course.
Fingers crossed she's somewhere back to her double world champion form a couple of years ago, and isn't too far behind Vogel and the other world leaders to make a serious challenge for the medals next year.
They'd normally only cover World Cups when in the UK.
Am I the only one worrying what genuine gold medal chances we'll have on the track in Rio?
It's looking like it will be a proper battle for every one, even if GB turn up in top form and without any major injury worries. Certainly not going to be anywhere near the dominance they had in London, which while good for the sport it ain't good for our nerves!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35040528
Road race
Her performances as a super-domestique were key to Cooke and Armitstead winning gold in 2008 / silver in 2012 respectively; she could provide the same level of assistance to Armitstead in Rio, or even challenge for a medal herself given how hilly the course is.
Time trial
She won silver in 2008 and can also win a medal in Rio - this is her main target (she specifically wants gold) and must be why she was in the Chrono des Nations a couple of months ago. She'll have to compete in the RR first, which happens 3 days beforehand.
She'll continue with her career as a triathlete and isn't making a full return to road cycling outside of the Olympics.
Hope she makes the road race team as well as the time trial. Armitstead needs a stronger team than she's had in recent years if she's not to become isolated in the latter stages of the race.
I did think that Emma Pooley got done over by Lizzie Armistead at the Commonwealth Games, though. Pooley had made what was clearly a winning break with about 10k to go but Armistead counter-attacked her and brought up a South African on her wheel, which should have been a big no-no.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ucichannel/videos?shelf_id=27&view=2&sort=dd&live_view=502
It's one of the tactics you hear the commentators with some biking strategy knowledge talk about. The team leader sends a team mate up the road to use as a counter attack at the end of a race, so the team leader can sit in the wheels while the opposition tries to close down the team mate.
No, I understand the tactics alright, but what annoyed me a bit was that most of the other riders were out by that point, By attacking from the chasing group instead of covering someone else's attack, as riders normally do, Armistead was directly attacking Pooley and potentially bringing up a rival. I've seen other Championship races where the team leader has just sat back and let the support rider take the win rather than risk helping an outsider. But then people like Brian Smith say that in big international championship races, unlike team-based World Tour races, riders understand that the normal rules don't apply.
Armitstead and Froome are on SPOTY tomorrow night.