The Cycling Thread

[wimbo77]

I'd like to see some more Farmer's protests and crashes for entertainment personally. Even the cobbles couldn't dislodge Sky and the Flat Stages were pretty much a snooze fest till the last few km of racing. Be nice to see a rider from another team win instead though. Nothing wrong with Geraint. Nice bloke. As for doping...? I'm not going there.

[mizlaplan]

It really p*sses me off when people moan and groan about Sky and the "boring" SkyTrain.
I've noticed that most of the elite riders from other teams are quite happy to hop on and use the train for their own pacemaking.
The TDF officials deserve a kick up the jacksie for creating an Alps section which saw many sprinters eliminated for being out of time.
Congrats to Thomas on a well deserved victory and a big up for Chris Froome who seems genuinely delighted for his friend's success.
Chris Boardman won't be co-hosting anymore for ITV4, a real shame. I enjoyed his insight and analysis.
All in all, not a great Tour, but perfectly adequate.
Now it's Vuelta time

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by mizlaplan

It really p*sses me off when people moan and groan about Sky and the "boring" SkyTrain.
I've noticed that most of the elite riders from other teams are quite happy to hop on and use the train for their own pacemaking.
The TDF officials deserve a kick up the jacksie for creating an Alps section which saw many sprinters eliminated for being out of time.
Congrats to Thomas on a well deserved victory and a big up for Chris Froome who seems genuinely delighted for his friend's success.
Chris Boardman won't be co-hosting anymore for ITV4, a real shame. I enjoyed his insight and analysis.
All in all, not a great Tour, but perfectly adequate.
Now it's Vuelta time

My thoughts exactly. Where's Boardman off to?

If it wasn't sky being the dominant team someone else would come along to be the 'bad guys'...USPS showed how to dominate tactically and others have tried - sky just happen to have succeeded. But BMC, FDJ and co would love to do something similar.

The Yates might well prove to be the modern Schleck brothers...Quintana was as barely adequate as ever, Bardet was a bit of a let down, Alaphilippe was deserving of his jersey and Sagan is an extraordinary talent. Le Tour has always been a bit of a bike ride at times. There's still enough to enjoy.

[countjimmoriarty]

Originally Posted by motte

Fully agree with you

21 other teams all know the tactics that Sky employ. It's up to them to find an answer.

[countjimmoriarty]

Originally Posted by pierrelm

My thoughts exactly. Where's Boardman off to?

He's got lots of other things to do. Got a bike brand and a performance centre to run. Spending lots of time as an advocate for extending general cycle use - he's one of the main proponents of a scheme for safer urban cycling, starting in Manchester and hopefully extending to other cities. He certainly won't be putting his feet up and doing nothing, that's for sure. Hopefully will still be popping up in the comms box for the BBC.

[motte]

Hi everyone!
Paris-Roubaix is on the road at the present time.
Hell of the North since 1896
My voting is Sagan
Go, Peter!

[cicciobuki]

Originally Posted by motte

Hi everyone!
Paris-Roubaix is on the road at the present time.
Hell of the North since 1896
My voting is Sagan
Go, Peter!

What a spectacular edition of Paris-Roubaix! All the things Wout Van Aert went through...
Sagan disappointed a bit, surprisingly.

Philippe Gilbert didn't steal the victory, well done

[motte]

Oh...
I can't say anythyng....just so many tears
But Gilbert was so great as usual....
Sagan built this race but...
PR is the best cycling race since 1896 up to now
Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck are happy now...Belgian guy is winner!

[cicciobuki]

It's a good week for Belgian cycling, as Victor Campenaerts just broke Sir Bradley Wiggin's one-hour cycling world record!

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/47955952

[motte]

I can't believe but it's true!
More than 55km oh…