two climbs near the finish today which the guys think might be stiff enough to sort out the sprinters and leave the race up to the Sagan types.....
The Pro Cycling Thread (Part 2)
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Anyone have any ideas why David Lopez (Sky number 4) always seems to be lurking at the back of the main peloton? Is it a team tactic for someone in place to relay riders after accident/puncture? Or is he just tired?
Originally Posted by Dozyrosie:
“Anyone have any ideas why David Lopez (Sky number 4) always seems to be lurking at the back of the main peloton? Is it a team tactic for someone in place to relay riders after accident/puncture? Or is he just tired?”
“Anyone have any ideas why David Lopez (Sky number 4) always seems to be lurking at the back of the main peloton? Is it a team tactic for someone in place to relay riders after accident/puncture? Or is he just tired?”
there could a number of reasons.......but it's quite possible they've just told him to take it easy at the back of the pack to keep himself fresh for the mountains (he's a climbing domestique)
I don't think they'd leave somebody at the back specifically to relay riders after punctures or crashes because they have radio contact so get back quickly from near the front and of course they might want 3 or 4 guys to relay if it was an important person like Froome or Porte
What's the point of the intimidate sprints. Do they get points or something because it just seems a waster of energy otherwise.
Originally Posted by basdfg:
“What's the point of the intimidate sprints. Do they get points”
“What's the point of the intimidate sprints. Do they get points”
Points for the green jersey competition. I suspect there might be some money too but I'm not sure.
Originally Posted by basdfg:
“What's the point of the intimidate sprints. Do they get points or something because it just seems a waster of energy otherwise.”
“What's the point of the intimidate sprints. Do they get points or something because it just seems a waster of energy otherwise.”
yes, they get points for the intermediate sprints which count towards the points (green jersey) competition
the general idea of intermediate sprint points along the course is that it encourages riders to go in breakaways which makes the day more interesting
Also they usually put the intermediate sprints in towns or villages where a bigger crowd might gather than on the open road so it gives them something to watch......a sprint out amongst the breakaway riders, then another sprint for the minor places when the pack comes through
Originally Posted by swingaleg:
“there could a number of reasons.......but it's quite possible they've just told him to take it easy at the back of the pack to keep himself fresh for the mountains (he's a climbing domestique)
I don't think they'd leave somebody at the back specifically to relay riders after punctures or crashes because they have radio contact so get back quickly from near the front and of course they might want 3 or 4 guys to relay if it was an important person like Froome or Porte”
“there could a number of reasons.......but it's quite possible they've just told him to take it easy at the back of the pack to keep himself fresh for the mountains (he's a climbing domestique)
I don't think they'd leave somebody at the back specifically to relay riders after punctures or crashes because they have radio contact so get back quickly from near the front and of course they might want 3 or 4 guys to relay if it was an important person like Froome or Porte”
Thank-you. That's quite right! Seems very obvious now you've said it! D'oh!
Anyone else switching back and forth between cricket and cycling?
Originally Posted by Dozyrosie:
“Thank-you. That's quite right! Seems very obvious now you've said it! D'oh!
Anyone else switching back and forth between cricket and cycling?”
“Thank-you. That's quite right! Seems very obvious now you've said it! D'oh!
Anyone else switching back and forth between cricket and cycling?”
there's too much on......
I'm switching between the cycling and the Newmarket racing
I had the cricket this morning and I'll have it again when the cycling finishes
It's a long day !..........
Peter Kennaugh 3rd on a mountain stage of the Tour of Austria today, and extends his lead in the yellow jersey.
http://www.oesterreich-rundfahrt.at/en/index08_en.htm
Last stage tomorrow is a time trial which he should be well in. I was mistaken earlier - all of his lead so far has been gained on mountain stages after he won the first mountain stage, so it's pretty impressive considering there are some decent names in the race.
http://www.oesterreich-rundfahrt.at/en/index08_en.htm
Last stage tomorrow is a time trial which he should be well in. I was mistaken earlier - all of his lead so far has been gained on mountain stages after he won the first mountain stage, so it's pretty impressive considering there are some decent names in the race.
Sagan is an absolute beast. Didn't quite get the job finished today, but he has just been awesome throughout the entire tour so far - yet to finish outside the top five.
But poor tactics from Sagan in trying to win the stage two ways instead of waiting for the sprint with the main sprinters out of contention. His team did a lot of work for another close miss.
Just a tyre's width in it, if that!
Nice win by Trentin (that's his second career TdF stage victory now), no doubt Cav will be delighted for him.
Nice win by Trentin (that's his second career TdF stage victory now), no doubt Cav will be delighted for him.
On SSN ' s tickertape breaking news , it is reporting that Chris Froome has a fractured left wrist and right hand
Long injury list from yesterday's stage: BMC's Darwin Atapuma and IAM's Matthias Frank both out yesterday with broken legs. NetApp's Voss looking unlikely to start with broken nose and finger from final sprint crash. Van Poppell and Clement also out with less serious injuries.
From a few stages ago, Andy Schleck's knee injury is serious and potentially career ending.
From a few stages ago, Andy Schleck's knee injury is serious and potentially career ending.
Originally Posted by cmq2:
“From a few stages ago, Andy Schleck's knee injury is serious and potentially career ending.”
“From a few stages ago, Andy Schleck's knee injury is serious and potentially career ending.”
Cripes, where did you read this?
The medical update is on the Trek Factory website. Non- performance in recent seasons, lengthy recovery period, and no contract for next season makes a return to WT level look doubtful.
Originally Posted by Aftershow:
“Sagan is an absolute beast. Didn't quite get the job finished today, but he has just been awesome throughout the entire tour so far - yet to finish outside the top five.”
“Sagan is an absolute beast. Didn't quite get the job finished today, but he has just been awesome throughout the entire tour so far - yet to finish outside the top five.”
I'd love to be impressed by Sagan but unfortunately I'm not convinced it's entirely natural. I suppose time may tell.
Off we go - Oleg Tinkov himself is in the team car, so expect lots of action from the Tinkoff team, or they'll all be sacked. Simon Yates is in the break! 120k to go, climbs start at 40k to go. Looks like the break is going to be given a pretty long leash, they're already at 4 minutes with no interest from the peleton.
The next two and a half hours on the cycling will have to go some to match the last two and a half hours at the cricket !
Originally Posted by swingaleg:
“The next two and a half hours on the cycling will have to go some to match the last two and a half hours at the cricket !
”
“The next two and a half hours on the cycling will have to go some to match the last two and a half hours at the cricket !
”
Yes I am hoping to be bowled over by today's stage.
Originally Posted by deivu74:
“Best day so far today. I'm on the edge of my seat hoping Blel Kadri makes it. Thoroughly exciting.”
“Best day so far today. I'm on the edge of my seat hoping Blel Kadri makes it. Thoroughly exciting.”
He did - impressive performance and will certainly make the local happy.
Very solid performance from Simon Yates and Ritchie Porte managed to get himself up to 3rd overall.
Do you think Contandor and Nibali will be the main ones battling out for yellow come the end?
Originally Posted by grassmarket:
“Off we go - Oleg Tinkov himself is in the team car, so expect lots of action from the Tinkoff team, or they'll all be sacked. Simon Yates is in the break! 120k to go, climbs start at 40k to go. Looks like the break is going to be given a pretty long leash, they're already at 4 minutes with no interest from the peleton.”
“Off we go - Oleg Tinkov himself is in the team car, so expect lots of action from the Tinkoff team, or they'll all be sacked. Simon Yates is in the break! 120k to go, climbs start at 40k to go. Looks like the break is going to be given a pretty long leash, they're already at 4 minutes with no interest from the peleton.”
Good call
We're off in Alsace - couple of big breaks trying to get away, but the peleton is holding them at 2 minutes. Seemingly Contador did not know there was still an escapee out there yesterday, thought he had won.
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