Cycling thread 2015

Bruce Wayne · March 23, 2014

Much as I enjoy the Grand Tours, I've grown to love the Classics in recent years. Something epic about them. First one of the season today with Milan San Remo.

Was incredible last year with the terrible weather. Just a shade under 300km, the race always seems to throw up more exciting racing than the course would suggest.

Dharma · March 23, 2014

Fantastic image that..sums it all up.

Bruce Wayne · March 23, 2014

And true to form, it's lashing down with rain. You often associate Paris Roubaix with awful weather, but I think Milan San Remo often gets more than its fair share.

Bruce Wayne · March 23, 2014

Cav didn't quite have it there. He'll be disappointed with that I'm sure, being there at the finish. Good result for Swift to get 3rd spot though, with Cancellara 2nd yet again in a classic. 6 times now he's been on the podium in a classic without converting them to victories, and the 4th year in a row he's podium'd at Milan San Remo without coming in first.

Wat Tyler · March 24, 2014

Cav had great legs yesterday, outclimbed Degenkolb

Looking forward to Froome v Contador at Catalunya

Bruce Wayne · March 24, 2014

Wat Tyler said:
Cav had great legs yesterday, outclimbed Degenkolb

Looking forward to Froome v Contador at Catalunya

Aye, I thought Cav had the race sewn up once he'd got over the Poggio with the lead group. The length clearly plays a big part though.

Contador has certainly in great early season form so him against Froome should be good. Sad to see Wiggins drop out of the race. Supposedly to concentrate on Paris Roubaix, but his stock has fallen massively over the last 18 months, and I'd say his chances in PR are tiny. From winning every stage race he entered, he's now almost an irrelevance in the peleton. I can't think of a GT winner whose stock has fallen so far, so quickly.

Wat Tyler · March 24, 2014

Bruce Wayne said:
Aye, I thought Cav had the race sewn up once he'd got over the Poggio with the lead group. The length clearly plays a big part though.

Contador has certainly in great early season form so him against Froome should be good. Sad to see Wiggins drop out of the race. Supposedly to concentrate on Paris Roubaix, but his stock has fallen massively over the last 18 months, and I'd say his chances in PR are tiny. From winning every stage race he entered, he's now almost an irrelevance in the peleton. I can't think of a GT winner whose stock has fallen so far, so quickly.

Yer I think he has no chance of PR Wiggins, his form this year has been very sketchy be interesting how he does in Cali.

I fancy Froome to try and lay down a marker to Contador this week. One of the best things about Froome, he is a killer

Bruce Wayne · March 24, 2014

I'd be quite happy if Wiggins retired to be honest. His head doesn't seem in it at all these days. With Stannard and Thomas both aiming for Paris Roubaix they have to be the main men. EBH doesn't seem like he's ever going to fulfill his promise.

Wat Tyler · March 24, 2014

Bruce Wayne said:
I'd be quite happy if Wiggins retired to be honest. His head doesn't seem in it at all these days. With Stannard and Thomas both aiming for Paris Roubaix they have to be the main men. EBH doesn't seem like he's ever going to fulfill his promise.

If the tour was next month, I wouldnt take him. His heart isnt in it since Froome emerged

Bruce Wayne · March 24, 2014

Wat Tyler said:
If the tour was next month, I wouldnt take him. His heart isnt in it since Froome emerged

No, me either, and I've no idea what makes him think he deserves a spot in Paris Roubaix either. He's shown no form in classics ever, and very little this year thus far. Add in the way he rode in the rain last season and it's hard to see how anyone would pick him. If he does get a ride then it's almost last chance saloon for me. If he gets off half way round then that's his career over.

Wat Tyler · March 24, 2014

Bruce Wayne said:
No, me either, and I've no idea what makes him think he deserves a spot in Paris Roubaix either. He's shown no form in classics ever, and very little this year thus far. Add in the way he rode in the rain last season and it's hard to see how anyone would pick him. If he does get a ride then it's almost last chance saloon for me. If he gets off half way round then that's his career over.

His career peaked in 2012, I think he will be back on the track next year.

Bruce Wayne · March 24, 2014

Hopefully. I prefer the downside to be more like Cadel Evans though. He's at least giving things a decent go, even if he doesn't have much chance of winning these days. A gutsy rider.

Wat Tyler · March 24, 2014

Bruce Wayne said:
Hopefully. I prefer the downside to be more like Cadel Evans though. He's at least giving things a decent go, even if he doesn't have much chance of winning these days. A gutsy rider.

Yer and to be fair, he got a Giro podium last year even though he is on the decline. Giro should be goodthis year i fancy Quintana

Bruce Wayne · March 24, 2014

Wat Tyler said:
Yer and to be fair, he got a Giro podium last year even though he is on the decline. Giro should be goodthis year i fancy Quintana

Yes, the Giro is always my favourite Grand Tour. The route tends to be better than the Tour. It's just a shame that more big names don't ride it as they used to back in the day. Saying that though, you don't see the big GT riders doing the Classics much either, which is a shame.

Wat Tyler · March 24, 2014

Bruce Wayne said:
Yes, the Giro is always my favourite Grand Tour. The route tends to be better than the Tour. It's just a shame that more big names don't ride it as they used to back in the day. Saying that though, you don't see the big GT riders doing the Classics much either, which is a shame.

Yer I think MSR next year may attract likes of Froome and Contador because it is more climber friendly which I think is a shame