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The Pro Cycling Thread (Part 2)


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Old 08-07-2013, 11:35
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This will probably come back and bite me - but I think that Valverde and Contador are over as big threats now. If they hadn't got the legs to even get a few seconds back then they weren't going that well either. Looking to names outside the established ones for challengers now. All they really achieved was to get Froome on his one and then give him an armchair ride to the finish.

It reminded me of the tactics of the likes of ONCE and Mapei with Indurain when Banesto was crumbling, as it usually did. Now, as then, there is no point flogging yourself to beat the team if you haven't got the legs to beat the man.

I think that Porte just had a bad day. A really bad day - but I think when he knew he had lost second and couldn't get back to Froome he just rode tempo rather than busting a gut to finish 10 minutes earlier - which would have made no difference anyway.

It would have been interesting to see how Kennaugh went if he hadn't fell and it will be interesting to see how Thomas goes in the TT.

I think because Froome/Porte and Kennaugh rode so well on Saturday it's easy to forget it was just the 3 of them then. I think Boasson Hagen is a fabulous rider but he's the one I'd be worried about if I were in the Team Sky camp. He's been MIA for days now.

Continuation of: The Pro Cycling Thread
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Old 08-07-2013, 12:38
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Originally Posted by aggs

This will probably come back and bite me - but I think that Valverde and Contador are over as big threats now. If they hadn't got the legs to even get a few seconds back then they weren't going that well either. Looking to names outside the established ones for challengers now. All they really achieved was to get Froome on his one and then give him an armchair ride to the finish.

It reminded me of the tactics of the likes of ONCE and Mapei with Indurain when Banesto was crumbling, as it usually did. Now, as then, there is no point flogging yourself to beat the team if you haven't got the legs to beat the man.

I think that Porte just had a bad day. A really bad day - but I think when he knew he had lost second and couldn't get back to Froome he just rode tempo rather than busting a gut to finish 10 minutes earlier - which would have made no difference anyway.

It would have been interesting to see how Kennaugh went if he hadn't fell and it will be interesting to see how Thomas goes in the TT.

I think because Froome/Porte and Kennaugh rode so well on Saturday it's easy to forget it was just the 3 of them then. I think Boasson Hagen is a fabulous rider but he's the one I'd be worried about if I were in the Team Sky camp. He's been MIA for days now.
Completly spot on.

The Froome/Sky haters over at Cycling news forum think that Movistar - Saxo can or should have crushed Sky and Froome yesterday.

They seem to forget that Valverde and Contador just don't have the legs or form to even come close to the form of Froome. Contador is sending men up the front to pace him. If he had the legs, he would have been attacking all day... He'll be gone by the end of the TT, and Valverde has settled for 2nd.

I was half hoping that on that last climb while Quintana was 'faffing about' Froome just thought sod this, and just gave it hell for the last 1km. Waited at the top, looked around and said 'is that all you got?' Well i can dream i suppose!

Sky don't have to do hardly anywork this week. The sprinters teams will do the pace setting.

And by the end of the TT. Froome could be 3m+ on his nearest rivals. Plus i think he's gonna go for the win on Mont Ventoux.

As for some of the Sky team... It wasn't just yesterday, some of them have been no use at all. Thomas is doing more work then Lopez and Siutsou put together.... Being dropped on the first climbs?

Should have brought the Colombians.
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Old 08-07-2013, 12:57
swingaleg
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I was wondering if Froome might attack on the final climb as well.............for all the talk of being worked over by the other teams all he faced was a few half-hearted attempts by Quintana and as soon as Froome chased him he gave up

Apart from that, Froome had a relatively easy time............instead of sitting behind his own team, he sat behind Movistar

I'd have loved it if he'd have ridden away from them in the last K and that wasn't out of the question...............it's the kind of thing he might do
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Old 08-07-2013, 13:05
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While I don't see Valverde as a threat (he always has a bad day, somewhere along the line), Contador can never be underestimated. Remember last year's Vuelta? He started very low key & many people thought he didn't have it anymore but he rode himself into form over the course of the race.
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Old 08-07-2013, 13:21
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While I don't see Valverde as a threat (he always has a bad day, somewhere along the line), Contador can never be underestimated. Remember last year's Vuelta? He started very low key & many people thought he didn't have it anymore but he rode himself into form over the course of the race.
Agree with this. He's not the rider he was 4/5 years ago, but he'll still be a threat in week 3. I think he's also more tactically astute than Froome.

That said, I still can't see Froome losing it from the position he's in right now.
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Old 08-07-2013, 13:39
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The Froome/Sky haters over at Cycling news forum think that Movistar - Saxo can or should have crushed Sky and Froome yesterday..
The key word being 'should' - the fact is they didn't, so they've only got themselves to blame for either poor tactics or a lack of firepower. Or they could blame Chris Froome for being too good. Either way, yesterday certainly didn't win Movistar the Tour, and it may well have cost them it.
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Old 08-07-2013, 15:06
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Contador still talking a good game...

Matt Slater ‏@mattslaterbbc

Q: Why didn't u attack Froome y'day? Contador: There were too riders at front & I wanted to stay fresh for Wednesday's time trial
Well he lost around 2 minutes to Froome last time out in a TT, and was overtaken by Porte. That's going to be some increase in form, which he hasn't shown all season or this tour.

Matt Slater ‏@mattslaterbbc 1h

Contador said he's not in top form & that Froome is stronger but said he gets stronger in 3rd week, whereas Froome faded at Vuelta
That's true, but Froome had just come off the Tour & the Olympics, while Contador had just come off his 'Gardening leave.'
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Old 08-07-2013, 15:37
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Well, yes - Wednesday's time trial. After a rest day. And a sprinters paradise day. If you can't manage a kick to take a few seconds back 3 days before, it's not looking sunny.

The time trial is 20 miles - which is what 45-50 minutes of riding?

Last year in the first TT which was about 10 miles longer, Bradley took half a minute or so out of Chris Froome who finished second. Can't really see Contador making much in the way of in roads into the deficit somehow.

I think if Thomas and Martin are feeling anything like on the way to behing half way recovered, they will be the ones with the most to prove.

The problem Contador has is that even riding himself into form he is starting from 2 minutes down on someone who has specifically targeted and trained for the race. It's not the 'yeah, have a go, you've had a good season and done well so lead the team' the Vuelta was.
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Old 08-07-2013, 18:59
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Poem from my nephew;

Zoom, Zoom. Froome,,,, dance to his tune. It's Cantodor doom,,, Valverde gloom,,, and Evans may as well be on the Moon.
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Old 08-07-2013, 19:26
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...but is Schleck back in tune?
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Old 08-07-2013, 21:35
afx237vi
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Poem from my nephew;

Zoom, Zoom. Froome,,,, dance to his tune. It's Cantodor doom,,, Valverde gloom,,, and Evans may as well be on the Moon.
Pam Ayres is your nephew?
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Old 09-07-2013, 14:22
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Cross winds look likely today... Could be interesting.

Will a GC team try something in the last 5km's.... We shall see!
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Old 09-07-2013, 15:01
Mystical123
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Will a GC team try something in the last 5km's.... We shall see!
Not likely, it's a sprinters' stage, and with the ITT tomorrow everyone will want to remain as fresh as possible to limit their losses to Froome and the other good time trialists.
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Old 09-07-2013, 15:03
swingaleg
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Intermediate sprint coming up.............Cav is now over 100 points behind Sagan

Cav says he's not given up so let's see if he puts full effort into the intermediate.............on previous days he's looked a bit happy to come 3rd or 4th and not give too many points away

5 guys up the road will take the top 5 sets of points............
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Old 09-07-2013, 15:13
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Euskatel are pulling out at the end of the season............the Basque team will need new sponsors
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Old 09-07-2013, 15:17
swingaleg
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Griepel - Sagan - Cav

pretty much the usual pattern for the intermediate sprints.............none of them looked like they were giving it 100%, going through the motions really.............
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Old 09-07-2013, 15:27
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Cav says he's not given up so let's see if he puts full effort into the intermediate..
Looks as if he has now - still over 100 points behind, and the last week of the tour is very mountainous so he doesn't have an awful lot of time to gain points back.

Not much left in this Tour for Cav now except the possibility of winning a couple more stages this week and/or on the Champs-Elysees. And the latter depends on whether he makes it through the Alps or not!
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Old 09-07-2013, 16:32
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Cav never seems that fussed about the intermediate sprints. If it's not the big finish, it's like he's just going through the motions.

And if he lights up in the final straight of an ordinary stage, he's on full beam on the Champs.

He'll be there, barring accident, even if he does have to haul himself over Alpe d'Huez - twice!
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Old 09-07-2013, 16:50
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What a strange ending
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Old 09-07-2013, 16:51
divingbboy
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Oh dear, looks like Cav started the crash. Must say, Cav did no look happy......
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Old 09-07-2013, 16:51
Lucidia2011
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Oh dear indeed.....
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Old 09-07-2013, 16:57
divingbboy
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Think the race jury may want a word with Cav. Looked like quite a brutal shoulder there.
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Old 09-07-2013, 16:59
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Not a massive fan of cycling, I'm guessing barging isn't allowed?
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Old 09-07-2013, 17:01
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Not a massive fan of cycling, I'm guessing barging isn't allowed?
Nope. Not sure Cav intentionally barged him, though, which is really the issue.
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Old 09-07-2013, 17:04
Lucidia2011
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My first reaction was ****, that was an unnecessary and dangerous attack. Cav's in trouble. Replays are not helping all 'that' much.
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