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The Pro Cycling Thread (Part 2)
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batdude_uk1
25-07-2016
Originally Posted by 10000maniacs:
“The "British" link is a bit tenuous to be fair.
One of the 5 Live commentators made a similar point on Sunday morning.”

There is the point, if someone feels British, and is more than happy to classify themselves as such, who are we to say otherwise??

Does Friome feel any less British than Cav or Sir Brad??
(all of whom were not born in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, yet are viewed as being British.)
grassmarket
25-07-2016
Sky Team for the Ride London classic on Sunday - Chris Froome! Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Christian Knees, Danny van Poppel. So a bit of a celebration ride and a couple of guys to support Ben Swift, I suppose.
swingaleg
25-07-2016
Wallonie race has started......before live coverage they showed brief highlights of the first 2 stages which weren't on TV

Blimey.......huge crash in the bunch sprint finish on stage 2. Only 10 riders came to line, the rest of the peloton was either down or stuck behind those that were down and blocked the road completely
Edward_Sloley
25-07-2016
Originally Posted by grassmarket:
“Sky Team for the Ride London classic on Sunday - Chris Froome! Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Christian Knees, Danny van Poppel. So a bit of a celebration ride and a couple of guys to support Ben Swift, I suppose.”

Last race before the Olympic RR (+ ITT for Froome) is an interesting time for a 'celebration ride'. Cummings was also confirmed for the race a few days ago.

Less than 24 hours after Adam Yates secured the maillot blanc, Simon won the Prueba Villafranca-Ordiziako Klasika - his second pro win (almost 3 years after winning a ToB stage).
RRL
25-07-2016
So Nairo Quintana now admits he had problems in the Tour

http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2016/u...-problems.html

Not really surprised as the commentators did hint at this a few times

Still think he did well.
wns_195
25-07-2016
Originally Posted by batdude_uk1:
“Does Friome feel any less British than Cav or Sir Brad??
(all of whom were not born in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, yet are viewed as being British.)”

Cav is fromm the Isle of Man, which like the Channel Islands is is in Britain and a British overseas territory.
Anybody from an overseas territory can represent the UK. They have British passports.
batdude_uk1
25-07-2016
Originally Posted by wns_195:
“Cav is fromm the Isle of Man, which like the Channel Islands is is in Britain and a British overseas territory.
Anybody from an overseas territory can represent the UK. They have British passports.”

Yes, hence why I just mentioned the main places, as it does seem to be the case that in some peoples minds, you are more British if you are born there.

I just don't get this degrees of British, you either are, are you are not, Froome is, and so there should be no debate about it, or comparisons made.
cmq2
25-07-2016
Originally Posted by batdude_uk1:
“I just don't get this degrees of British, you either are, are you are not, Froome is, and so there should be no debate about it, or comparisons made.”

Froome was born in Kenya and spent his teens in SA. As a pro-cyclist he lives in Monaco during the summer and winters in SA. His wife is South African and his son was born there. He rose through the south African racing scene. The British Passport eligibility arises solely from his parent's birthplace. He expresses no desire to retire to the UK.

In national team events, I cannot blame him for switching sporting allegiance in 2008 due to the abysmal lack of support from Kenya.

I have no concern in his being African or some international Anglophone group with nominal nationality. In the same way, I do not give a second thought to the scouser Cummings riding for the African Quebeka cause.

Pro-cycling is an international sport raced by trade, not national, teams. However, this thread often makes it quite clear that nationality is seen as the principal reason for backing a rider or team.
wns_195
26-07-2016
Originally Posted by cmq2:
“Pro-cycling is an international sport raced by trade, not national, teams. However, this thread often makes it quite clear that nationality is seen as the principal reason for backing a rider or team.”

Some of the teams do market themselves as representing particular areas. Chris Froome is marketed as a British rider. The achievements of the most successful riders from Britain are used to promote cycling in this country.

Even if Froome was British because Britain is where he was born and lived all his life, Team Sky's success wouldn't be entirely British. However, the way cycling is covered by the media means that only the winner of a race gets a mention. People who weren't watching the TDF don't know who else was riding with Froome, or who finished second or third.

Remember on Friday when Froome gained time after crashing? That makes little sense when presented without any additional information, but that is how it was presented.

If there were 10 British riders in the TDF and none of them were in the top 10 GC positions and none of them won a stage, how much would the general public hear about it from sports bulletins?

The national media encourages this attitude of only caring about sports participants from the UK. The public isn't used to the non-tribal cooperative culture of cycling.

I remember when the Tour de France was in Yorrkshire. Some people spoke about it as if it ended on the second day. All they could say about it was that it came to Yorkshire.
aggs
26-07-2016
I can remember having to explain to friends that no, Chris Boardman hasn't won the Tour. He has won the very first stage. Yes, he is wearing the yellow jersey - but that's a yellow jersey not the yellow jersey

I remember when the tour came to England in the early 70's and the only TV coverage was about half an hour on World of Sport
culttvfan
26-07-2016
Anyone know if there's anywhere to watch coverage of this year's Tour again? ITV Hub seem to have got rid of all their TdF shows - I don't think the live shows were ever available on catchup but the highlights shows were.
gemma-the-husky
26-07-2016
I struggled with the incessant "The first Briton to win the TdF 3 times"

He was already the only Briton to win it twice.
gemma-the-husky
26-07-2016
Surely Sagan would be better with less hair.

A bit cooler in the sun, at the very least.
wns_195
26-07-2016
Originally Posted by culttvfan:
“Anyone know if there's anywhere to watch coverage of this year's Tour again?”

TV Player Plus has some of the stages.
apaul
26-07-2016
Originally Posted by gemma-the-husky:
“Surely Sagan would be better with less hair.

A bit cooler in the sun, at the very least.”

Maybe he's like Samson.
swingaleg
26-07-2016
Froome to ride the Vuelta says BBC Sports News
Mark F
26-07-2016
Originally Posted by swingaleg:
“Froome to ride the Vuelta says BBC Sports News”

Probably wants to try and win all 3 Grand Tours?
swingaleg
26-07-2016
Originally Posted by Mark F:
“Probably wants to try and win all 3 Grand Tours?”

Well he didn't ride much early season so he's still probably quite fresh..........and if Sky are looking at their squad to pick the best bet to win the Vuelta......it has to be Froome

At this time of year you possibly have complications with riders due t leave teams at the end of the season and maybe teams go to the Vuelta with team leaders who they know will be staying with them
swingaleg
26-07-2016
Just mentioning Froome and the Vuelta got me remembering that fantastic Vuelta of 2011 which saw a 4 way tussle between Froome, Wiggins, Valverde and the eventual winner Cobo.......

er, who ?

Juan Cobo........I had to look him up. He didn't do anything much after that race but is still riding for a Turkish 3rd division team based in Anatolia and sponsored by the local chocolate factory, now aged 35. He must love riding his bike or chocolate.

That was a terrific race and was the first real indication that Wiggins and Froome might be GC contenders for the Tour
cmq2
26-07-2016
Originally Posted by swingaleg:
“Just mentioning Froome and the Vuelta got me remembering that fantastic Vuelta of 2011 which saw a 4 way tussle between Froome, Wiggins, Valverde and the eventual winner Cobo.......

er, who ?”

I can recall you asking the same question on the thread at the time and afx237vi outlining the reasons for Cobo's erratic career.

There were similar questions about the unknown Sky domestique and, after a good start, how far into the race he could hold a top ranking alongside Wiggins.
swingaleg
26-07-2016
Originally Posted by cmq2;*****378:
“I can recall you asking the same question on the thread at the time and afx237vi outlining the reasons for Cobo's erratic career.
”

blimey........you've got a good memory !

I can't remember last year's Vuelta........
JonDoe
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by swingaleg:
“Froome to ride the Vuelta says BBC Sports News”

Yes!

Hope he lasts longer than last year.
culttvfan
27-07-2016
How many more Tours do people think Froome will win? As long as he is able to retain his position as Sky team leader, I would say an absolute minimum of 2, most likely 3, and possibly 4.
JonDoe
27-07-2016
Originally Posted by culttvfan:
“How many more Tours do people think Froome will win? As long as he is able to retain his position as Sky team leader, I would say an absolute minimum of 2, most likely 3, and possibly 4.”

Eddy Merckx thinks he'll get five. I'd be surprised if it was less than that as long as the team stays as strong as it currently is.
Dixon
27-07-2016
In Olympic years, why don't they move the tour to a week or two earlier? I want to see the top riders compete at their best for both.
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