Chris Froome to miss the worlds, as you might expect
The Pro Cycling Thread (Part 2)
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A quick diversion to the 2015 Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships, which concluded last weekend:
Many people have eulogised the versatility of Marianne Vos - well, it seems the French now have their own legend in the making, as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (who is already the reigning world road race and cyclo-cross champion) is now the world cross-country champion as well!
Winning three individual elite rainbow jerseys on three forms of terrain - in the space of less than a year (!!) - has never been achieved before to the best of my knowledge. Two of those disciplines also feature in the Olympics, which makes for a very interesting season next year.
Special mention also goes to Rachel Atherton, who won her third world downhill title to go with her near-total dominance in the World Cup.
Many people have eulogised the versatility of Marianne Vos - well, it seems the French now have their own legend in the making, as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (who is already the reigning world road race and cyclo-cross champion) is now the world cross-country champion as well!
Winning three individual elite rainbow jerseys on three forms of terrain - in the space of less than a year (!!) - has never been achieved before to the best of my knowledge. Two of those disciplines also feature in the Olympics, which makes for a very interesting season next year.
Special mention also goes to Rachel Atherton, who won her third world downhill title to go with her near-total dominance in the World Cup.
Back to road racing - today's ITT in the Vuelta will decide whether or not Dumoulin puts enough time into Aru / Rodriguez et al to create a leading margin that will survive to the end. He is perhaps stage win favourite as well, although Kiryienka will have something to say about that.
It is also a great opportunity for Cummings to stake his claim for a place in the WCh ITT. Considering he was 10th in the TdF ITT, I'd be shocked if he wasn't further up the day's standings.
It is also a great opportunity for Cummings to stake his claim for a place in the WCh ITT. Considering he was 10th in the TdF ITT, I'd be shocked if he wasn't further up the day's standings.
How many places do we get in the World Champ TT ?
Dowsett ?.......not sure who else would be in contention without Wiggo and Froome
Dowsett ?.......not sure who else would be in contention without Wiggo and Froome
In the men's elite category - all federations may enter 2 riders each; on top of that, the reigning world champion and non-European continental champions may compete as well.
The other berth will probably go to Cummings or Thomas if they enter 2 riders.
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The current leader of stage 17 is Maciej Bodnar with a time of 47:05. Kiryienka & Cummings are currently 2nd and 3rd.
Live results for today are available.
The other berth will probably go to Cummings or Thomas if they enter 2 riders.
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The current leader of stage 17 is Maciej Bodnar with a time of 47:05. Kiryienka & Cummings are currently 2nd and 3rd.
Live results for today are available.
Great sprint by Gaviria to win today's ToB stage ahead of Greipel! Doull finished in 4th place - another great result for him.
Cummings is still 5th at the moment. All the riders have left the starthouse.
Cummings is still 5th at the moment. All the riders have left the starthouse.
They've got high hopes for Gavaria........he's only 21 but already looking like a surefire star of the future
Earlier this year he beat Cav in two sprint finishes in the early season race Tour of San Luis........Cav apparently said he'd never heard of him before he finished ahead of him
Ettix have signed him as a stagiaire
Earlier this year he beat Cav in two sprint finishes in the early season race Tour of San Luis........Cav apparently said he'd never heard of him before he finished ahead of him
Ettix have signed him as a stagiaire
Dumoulin is tearing the whole field to shreds!
Looks like he will take the red jersey AND the stage win.
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Indeed he does - but he's only 3 seconds ahead of Aru in the GC. Surely he can't defend that margin to the end - can he?!
Cummings ended up in 9th place - great performance by him. Aru and De Clercq edged Thomas out of the top 10 in today's ITT.
Looks like he will take the red jersey AND the stage win.
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Indeed he does - but he's only 3 seconds ahead of Aru in the GC. Surely he can't defend that margin to the end - can he?!
Cummings ended up in 9th place - great performance by him. Aru and De Clercq edged Thomas out of the top 10 in today's ITT.
Good day for Sky.......winning today's stages in GB and Espana
Dumoulin finishes alongside the other GC contenders to maintain his 3 second lead over Aru
Although there was a long climb today it wasn't a steep one and Dumoulin had no problem staying with Aru and Co. Similar story tomorrow with a couple of climbs along the route. The final climb is a Cat 2 but looks quite steep and could be a good attacking point with the summit about 20K from the finish
There's also the difficult but incredibly scenic race finish into the walled City of Avila which is a very regular stage finish in the Vuelta
A rumour mentioned by the ES commentators was that Europcar have secured a new main sponsor to ensure their survival ...........it was thought the team were going to fold at the end of the season.
Dumoulin finishes alongside the other GC contenders to maintain his 3 second lead over Aru
Although there was a long climb today it wasn't a steep one and Dumoulin had no problem staying with Aru and Co. Similar story tomorrow with a couple of climbs along the route. The final climb is a Cat 2 but looks quite steep and could be a good attacking point with the summit about 20K from the finish
There's also the difficult but incredibly scenic race finish into the walled City of Avila which is a very regular stage finish in the Vuelta
A rumour mentioned by the ES commentators was that Europcar have secured a new main sponsor to ensure their survival ...........it was thought the team were going to fold at the end of the season.
Welcome good news: After his crash in stage 8 of the Vuelta, Lotto Soudal's Kris Boeckmans is out of the induced coma and improving: http://www.lottosoudal.be/good-news-...kmans/?lang=en
Big crash in today's ToB stage has resulted in Cav abandoning the race and more than half the field currently running 30 minutes behind the leaders!!
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British Cycling have announced their squad for Richmond - in light of today's developments, it might be subject to a few late changes.
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British Cycling have announced their squad for Richmond - in light of today's developments, it might be subject to a few late changes.
Spoiler
Hadn't realised that there is also a women's race - another La Course super criterion - associated with the final stage of the Vuelta on Sunday. Live on Eurosport.
Great finish to today's ToB stage - 10km or so from the finish Trentin attacked from the breakaway as the rest of it was caught; EBH attacked and joined Trentin to gain time on Poels.
Trentin won the stage, EBH increased his GC lead and Doull came third (now 4th in GC!)
EQS have won 3 stages and lost 3 riders - it has been quite the roller-coaster for that team.
Trentin won the stage, EBH increased his GC lead and Doull came third (now 4th in GC!)
EQS have won 3 stages and lost 3 riders - it has been quite the roller-coaster for that team.
Originally Posted by swingaleg:
“Good day for Sky.......winning today's stages in GB and Espana
Dumoulin finishes alongside the other GC contenders to maintain his 3 second lead over Aru
Although there was a long climb today it wasn't a steep one and Dumoulin had no problem staying with Aru and Co. Similar story tomorrow with a couple of climbs along the route. The final climb is a Cat 2 but looks quite steep and could be a good attacking point with the summit about 20K from the finish
There's also the difficult but incredibly scenic race finish into the walled City of Avila which is a very regular stage finish in the Vuelta
A rumour mentioned by the ES commentators was that Europcar have secured a new main sponsor to ensure their survival ...........it was thought the team were going to fold at the end of the season.”
“Good day for Sky.......winning today's stages in GB and Espana
Dumoulin finishes alongside the other GC contenders to maintain his 3 second lead over Aru
Although there was a long climb today it wasn't a steep one and Dumoulin had no problem staying with Aru and Co. Similar story tomorrow with a couple of climbs along the route. The final climb is a Cat 2 but looks quite steep and could be a good attacking point with the summit about 20K from the finish
There's also the difficult but incredibly scenic race finish into the walled City of Avila which is a very regular stage finish in the Vuelta
A rumour mentioned by the ES commentators was that Europcar have secured a new main sponsor to ensure their survival ...........it was thought the team were going to fold at the end of the season.”
dumoulin was so impressive. just stayed glued to Aru's wheel, and then on the descent looked like getting away fro a few seconds. Must have been completely soul-destroying for Aru.
Hard to see Dumoulin not winning now.
I was surprised that one of the movistars didn't try to get away. They probably just aren't up to it.
Cav is in hospital with a shoulder injury.........doesn't look good for the Worlds
Speaking of which........just seen the Eurosport schedule for the first few days of Richmond and it looks like they might be covering all the events this year........that's what they used to do but in the last couple of years they only covered selected events (mainly just the elite races)
Speaking of which........just seen the Eurosport schedule for the first few days of Richmond and it looks like they might be covering all the events this year........that's what they used to do but in the last couple of years they only covered selected events (mainly just the elite races)
He's suffered a contusion, but nothing more.
He may still ride in Richmond, but he has no chance of winning the road race (and his chances before today weren't that high anyway). The squad leadership isn't as clear cut as it was in 2011.
Apparently Dowsett is their only rider for the men's elite ITT, which is odd as Cummings is presuambly doing the road race anyway and has done well in both of the Grand Tour ITTs he's ridden.
He may still ride in Richmond, but he has no chance of winning the road race (and his chances before today weren't that high anyway). The squad leadership isn't as clear cut as it was in 2011.
Apparently Dowsett is their only rider for the men's elite ITT, which is odd as Cummings is presuambly doing the road race anyway and has done well in both of the Grand Tour ITTs he's ridden.
Dumoulin managed to nick another few seconds off Aru over a classic little bit of Low Countries track in Avila - a light cobbled climb leading up to the finish.
Originally Posted by grassmarket:
“Dumoulin managed to nick another few seconds off Aru over a classic little bit of Low Countries track in Avila - a light cobbled climb leading up to the finish.”
“Dumoulin managed to nick another few seconds off Aru over a classic little bit of Low Countries track in Avila - a light cobbled climb leading up to the finish.”
impressive. I will watch later on.
Aru has escaped punishment from the race jury after receiving what appeared to be a hand-sling from LL Sanchez as Dumoulin gapped him on the cobbles into Avilla.
Tinkov's showing no sympathy for Astana on his Twitter feed.
Tinkov's showing no sympathy for Astana on his Twitter feed.
Uran's days with Etixx end on a high note as he won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec! He instigated a late solo attack and held off the punchers, led by Matthews and Kristoff.
Originally Posted by Edward_Sloley:
“Uran's days with Etixx end on a high note as he won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec! He instigated a late solo attack and held off the punchers, led by Matthews and Kristoff.”
“Uran's days with Etixx end on a high note as he won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec! He instigated a late solo attack and held off the punchers, led by Matthews and Kristoff.”
Rapid changes in leading riders on the final laps. Only live on the Continental version of ES this year. Highlights on BES tomorrow prior to the Vuelta Stage 20 coverage.
Reminder that it's an early start on ES for the Vuelta today.......schedule says 11.45
Looks like they'll be showing all or most of the last big stage before the procession into Madrid tomorrow. Be interesting if there's only a handful of seconds in it to see if they race into Madrid but it's safest to assume that they won't so today is the deciding stage.
Four category one climbs........can Astana break Dumoulin ?
should be epic........
Looks like they'll be showing all or most of the last big stage before the procession into Madrid tomorrow. Be interesting if there's only a handful of seconds in it to see if they race into Madrid but it's safest to assume that they won't so today is the deciding stage.
Four category one climbs........can Astana break Dumoulin ?
should be epic........
It would equal the record set in the 1984 Vuelta.
If he holds on, Dumoulin would also become the first Dutchman in 35 years to win a Grand Tour.
If he holds on, Dumoulin would also become the first Dutchman in 35 years to win a Grand Tour.
rolling out.......
let's see who attacks from the start.......surely Astana might try and get a couple of men up the road ?
let's see who attacks from the start.......surely Astana might try and get a couple of men up the road ?
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