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The Pro Cycling Thread (Part 2)


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Old 27-08-2015, 22:48
cmq2
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Dan Martin going to Ettix quickstep and Michael Kwiatkowski reportedly going to Sky leaves me wondering where Geraint Thomas stands with Sky after this seasons vast improvement in his status
Kwiatkowski has a year or two to mature into a GT rider. In the interim, Thomas could be given the same opportunity as Porte in the Giro but that would end his increasing strength in spring classics. Obviously, Froome will have a dedicated Tour team built around him again for 2016.

No news on which team Cavendish will ride for next season. He is confirmed as EQS leader for the ToB starting a week on Sunday: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/news/...p#.Vd-FZvZViko
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Old 28-08-2015, 15:09
swingaleg
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The GC should start to take shape today with a 20K climb to a mountain top finish. Doesn't look overly steep but there is a short 14% kick near the finish

I guess it's unlikely that any of the GC contenders will attack until the final kilometre but the interest will be to see if anyone goes out the back and drops out of contention

the whittling down process.......

oh blimey.......coverage just started and the breakaway has 12 minutes......
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Old 28-08-2015, 16:51
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I guess it's unlikely that any of the GC contenders will attack until the final kilometre but the interest will be to see if anyone goes out the back and drops out of contention

the whittling down process.......
...........and it's Froome......
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Old 28-08-2015, 16:56
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Froome managed to limit his losses to around 25/30 seconds on the GC contenders but it doesn't bode well if you crack on the first mountain.......
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Old 28-08-2015, 17:08
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Aru looked like he was about to take a half minute lead out of the lead group. He could not sustain the pace and was being drawn back at the line.

Waiting to see what brought Cousin down.

EDIT: Looked like he touched Koskevoy's wheel. Probably tiredness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR8Rpfowd3Y
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Old 29-08-2015, 15:38
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Alex Howes just damped his speed enough to avoid a nasty clash with the armco barrier. Twice over this climb today on one strange stage profile: http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/...Stage8-details
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Old 29-08-2015, 15:42
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Tejay out of the race........

few injured riders in a big crash......

Bouhani was down again.........is he very unlucky or very careless ? He doesn't half seem to hit the deck a lot.
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Old 29-08-2015, 16:04
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Bouhanni and third place, Dan Martin, abandon.
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Old 29-08-2015, 17:26
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Peter Sagan goes all Incredible Hulk on various cars, motorbikes and road signs, fortunately no actual people!
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Old 29-08-2015, 20:12
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Sadly, Lotto Soudal's Kris Boeckmans in an induced coma: https://twitter.com/Lotto_Soudal

Like BMC after the GVA incident at San Sebastian, Tinkov Saxo are threatening action against the organisers for reckless motorbike manoeuvres.

Yesterday, showed the lack of respect for the riders even at the finish line. Barely a minute after the winner crossed the line it was partially blocked by an official car and motorbike: https://youtu.be/8egH6GiYeA8?t=10m25s
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Old 29-08-2015, 20:36
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Peter Sagan goes all Incredible Hulk on various cars, motorbikes and road signs, fortunately no actual people!
Sagan fined 300 Swiss francs for insults, threats and damaging cyclings image. The offending motorbike rider is thrown off the Vuelta.
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Old 29-08-2015, 21:45
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Its a shame as one of the reasons I watch the Tour/Vuelta is the skill shown by the press bike riders (being a biker myself)
I do though feel that they are under enormous pressure to get in close so the rear camera man can get the best shots ETC, so that being the case (?) needs to be addressed.

Did any other moto riders notice how the riders who fell on the bends (the leading rider today & one from the tour is fresh in my mind) had target fixation & it was odds on they were going to crash from what I could see.
From those in the know do teams explain/train the riders about this known issue that most Moto riders keep in mind.
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Old 30-08-2015, 09:55
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Sagan too raw to start today. Because of a broken scaphoid in his left hand, neither will yesterday's stage winner Stuyvens of Trek Factory.

For a downhill transition stage that was quite a toll.
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Old 30-08-2015, 16:58
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What a finish to the stage! For all its faults the Vuelta can deliver open, unpredictable racing,
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Old 30-08-2015, 16:59
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Tom Dumoulin takes today's won, narrowly pipping Chris Froome on the line on one of those insanely steep Spanish hills where riders practically have to use ice axes and crampons. Froome gets back a lot of the seconds he's been losing over the last week.
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Old 30-08-2015, 18:22
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Fantastic finish by Demoulin.......he's not really a climber and when he was overtaken by Froome and Rodrigues near the finish that looked to be it........but the way he fought back was pretty magnificent !

Chapeau !

Actually Froome had also been dropped on the climb but he paced himself back and then attacked

Very exciting stage finish all round.......
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Old 30-08-2015, 20:28
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Quite a typical Froome performance today. I've lost count of the number of times we've seen him dropping off the back of a lead group, staring at his power meter, only to realise a K or two later that he's back, and grinding his way towards the front. I think Dumoulins win today was somewhat less scientific - just pure guts and determination. It's been a very enjoyable first week, marred by yesterday, to an extent.
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Old 31-08-2015, 11:26
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Lizzie Armitstead retains the overall Women's World Cup with her third WC win of the season in the GP de Plouay in France. Turned out to be very exciting - she had lost her lead last weekend after being held up by a crash in a race in Sweden and finishing out of the points, so needed this win to regain it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/34098923
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Old 01-09-2015, 09:33
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Meanwhile Victoria Pendleton had her first ride as a Licensed Amateur Jockey at Ripon yesterday on the 14/1 shot Royal Etiquette (red with yellow cap drawn in 14)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGkxj-wnxCU

marvellous !
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Old 01-09-2015, 12:37
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I see that Kristian Sbaragli won stage 10 of the Vuelta for MTN-Qhubeka. What a season they've had!

Glad to hear Armitstead retained her World Cup title - it'll be the last one in the current format since the women will have their own WorldTour next year.

After coming third in the men's omnium at the Dudenhofen GP, Cav has earned enough points to compete in this season's TWC. I didn't see this year's Cyclassics, but I hope his 66th place finish is not a portent for Richmond or he'll be nowhere near the action at the business end of the road race.

Speaking of Richmond, British Cycling has published its longlist and included the number of berths available for each race.
Spoiler
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Old 02-09-2015, 09:04
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Early start on ES today (12.30) for the Queen stage of the Vuelta

It's a beast.........One 'hors' category (the Gallina), 4 x category 1 and a category 2 climb with a mountain top finish

I expect there'll be a mad rush to get in the break and try to mop up mountain points on the first 5 climbs before the GC contenders take it up on the last climb.

Will anyone attack early enough to open a decent gap or will it be an attritional day to see who can stay with the leaders ?
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Old 02-09-2015, 13:12
swingaleg
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The whole stage on ES today........the first climb came up after a few kilometres and Froome was already on the deck at the foot of the climb. Looks like he wasn't looking ahead and crashed into a pole ?

Anyway he gradually worked his way back to what they're calling the peloton although the field were well splintered on the first climb
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Old 02-09-2015, 16:42
Cissy Fairfax
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Another Tinkoff Saxo rider taken out of the race by a TV motorbike.

Getting silly now, I have never found the TV coverage that bad for the last 30 years. That is needs this many extra bikes.
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Old 02-09-2015, 16:43
Cissy Fairfax
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Going to be a late finish for this stage today. Froome off the pace.
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Old 02-09-2015, 16:49
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Froome lashé !

Aru didn't ride the Tour........should be fresher than the other GC contenders
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