FFS. Cavendish and Brad have just both withdrawn.
The Pro Cycling Thread (Part 2)
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Wiggins and Cav called it a day after being 13 mins down. Surprised Wiggins fell back so much on the first lap of the circuit after being at the back of the peleton.
Wiggins is a strange one. How someone that lives and trains in the north west of England is not suited to wet conditions or hilly descents. I can assure you both are common in that part of the world.
Shame the weather is so bad, it's bound to dampen the spirits of those that would otherwise be attacking. As it is they're more worried about staying upright.
Wiggins is a strange one. How someone that lives and trains in the north west of England is not suited to wet conditions or hilly descents. I can assure you both are common in that part of the world.
Shame the weather is so bad, it's bound to dampen the spirits of those that would otherwise be attacking. As it is they're more worried about staying upright.
Originally Posted by Virtual Paul:
“Wiggins and Cav called it a day after being 13 mins down. Surprised Wiggins fell back so much on the first lap of the circuit after being at the back of the peleton.
Wiggins is a strange one. How someone that lives and trains in the north west of England is not suited to wet conditions or hilly descents. I can assure you both are common in that part of the world.
Shame the weather is so bad, it's bound to dampen the spirits of those that would otherwise be attacking. As it is they're more worried about staying upright.”
“Wiggins and Cav called it a day after being 13 mins down. Surprised Wiggins fell back so much on the first lap of the circuit after being at the back of the peleton.
Wiggins is a strange one. How someone that lives and trains in the north west of England is not suited to wet conditions or hilly descents. I can assure you both are common in that part of the world.
Shame the weather is so bad, it's bound to dampen the spirits of those that would otherwise be attacking. As it is they're more worried about staying upright.”
I think descending in the wet is a young person's game, as you get older you think about it too much, how insane it is.
This year's rainbow jersey is going to be really hard earned, sitting here in our Indian summer watching Tuscany getting our Lancashire weather.
Originally Posted by grassmarket:
“Didn't see any Brits in the main pack.”
“Didn't see any Brits in the main pack.”
Thomas in 85th is the only one going and 3 mins down on the peloton.
Sky and GB are pretty clueless at these one day races and classics. Why they had to take charge of the peoloton and show their faces so early I have no idea.
Belgium, Colombia, Spain and the big nations haven't shown a thing, just sat there in 50th at the back of the peloton hiding away anonymously.
That said, EBH or Uran would still have a chance with this.
Should have known the World Champs would be a let down with the BBC doing coverage. The commentary (and that background noise) is appalling.
Some decent odds on the in running. Costa and Van Avermaet still 30/1 Gesink double that. Even Satan is still 5/1.
Poor showing for GB. None in the top 70 less than half way through the 10 circuits, then all but one or two DNF soon after. Could it be they were all out of form having had different targets and priorities for the season, or that the bad weather put paid to any ambitions?
Certainly been lots of retirements. Hope none are through serious crashes and injury.
Oh well, still a cracking finish to come, unless the breakaway stays away as attrition withers the chasers.
Certainly been lots of retirements. Hope none are through serious crashes and injury.
Oh well, still a cracking finish to come, unless the breakaway stays away as attrition withers the chasers.
Originally Posted by Virtual Paul:
“Poor showing for GB. None in the top 70 less than half way through the 10 circuits, then all but one or two DNF soon after. Could it be they were all out of form having had different targets and priorities for the season, or that the bad weather put paid to any ambitions?”
“Poor showing for GB. None in the top 70 less than half way through the 10 circuits, then all but one or two DNF soon after. Could it be they were all out of form having had different targets and priorities for the season, or that the bad weather put paid to any ambitions?”
The weather must be a massive factor, if you look at the names who have retired - Dan Martin, Nicholas Roche, Ritchie Porte etc - it's full of people who've got great pedigree on the type of course that they're on today. They've also all had good runs in a Grand Tour this year, so that must be a factor as well.
But the number of crashes is insane, even the likes of Contador's been on the deck!
The distance is far, far too long as well. It's going to end up at over 7 hours, which is ridiculous.
Yep 7 hours is long without the 20 climbs! This is just unbelievably hard in the conditions. Especially at the end of a long season.
Anyone that finishes should get a medal.
Over the two elite races GB have only one finisher, Armitstead in 19th yesterday. That says all you need to know about how hard the course is.
Anyone that finishes should get a medal.
Over the two elite races GB have only one finisher, Armitstead in 19th yesterday. That says all you need to know about how hard the course is.
[QUOTE
The distance is far, far too long as well. It's going to end up at over 7 hours, which is ridiculous.[/quote]
It's the World Championship it is meant to be a challenge, sort the men from the boys.
Froome on tv now blaming the weather and saying it's such a disappointment after he had trained so well and this was his main target for the year. Poor boy imo.
The distance is far, far too long as well. It's going to end up at over 7 hours, which is ridiculous.[/quote]
It's the World Championship it is meant to be a challenge, sort the men from the boys.
Froome on tv now blaming the weather and saying it's such a disappointment after he had trained so well and this was his main target for the year. Poor boy imo.
Originally Posted by Mystical123:
“The distance is far, far too long as well. It's going to end up at over 7 hours, which is ridiculous.”
“The distance is far, far too long as well. It's going to end up at over 7 hours, which is ridiculous.”
Make it 200 km and you have the GP Plouay. The distance and difficulty is what makes it the Worlds.
Originally Posted by afx237vi:
“The distance and difficulty is what makes it the Worlds.”
“The distance and difficulty is what makes it the Worlds.”
It's also making it a pretty poor show. I don't really think it's a proper World Championships when two-thirds of the world's finest have retired, and the length and repetition is just making it tedious.
It should be at the start of the season, it's pointless to have such a long race so soon after the Grand Tours.
Originally Posted by Mystical123:
“It's also making it a pretty poor show. I don't really think it's a proper World Championships when two-thirds of the world's finest have retired, and the length and repetition is just making it tedious.
It should be at the start of the season, it's pointless to have such a long race so soon after the Grand Tours.”
“It's also making it a pretty poor show. I don't really think it's a proper World Championships when two-thirds of the world's finest have retired, and the length and repetition is just making it tedious.
It should be at the start of the season, it's pointless to have such a long race so soon after the Grand Tours.”
2/3rds of the world's finest? Sagan, Gilbert, Cancellara, Nibali, Contador, Valverde, EBH, Uran are all still there. All the favourites.
And the Worlds is the same every year. It comes to life with 2 laps to go. All one-day classics are 200 km of shadow boxing followed by 20km of actual racing.
Originally Posted by afx237vi:
“.
And the Worlds is the same every year. It comes to life with 2 laps to go. All one-day classics are 200 km of shadow boxing followed by 20km of actual racing.”
“.
And the Worlds is the same every year. It comes to life with 2 laps to go. All one-day classics are 200 km of shadow boxing followed by 20km of actual racing.”
I think of these races as.............the first 200 plus K are about getting people off the back and the final 20k is about getting someone off the front.............
Who are people cheering on?
I'd like EBH to win it, but fancy Costa or Van Avermaet.
Nibbles would be my pick out of the big 5.
I'd like EBH to win it, but fancy Costa or Van Avermaet.
Nibbles would be my pick out of the big 5.
Originally Posted by Cissy Fairfax:
“Some decent odds on the in running. Costa and Van Avermaet still 30/1 Gesink double that. Even Satan is still 5/1.”
“Some decent odds on the in running. Costa and Van Avermaet still 30/1 Gesink double that. Even Satan is still 5/1.”
Called that over 2 hours ago.
BBC commentary are useless.............they forgot to tell us every 15 minutes that Rodrigues is called El Cigar..........
bring back Carlton !
bring back Carlton !
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