Cycling thread

[Bruce Wayne]

I think they're really in transition at the moment... a lot of guys aren't what they were, a lot of talent is still developing and a lot are leaving too.

But then a 1-2 in the Tour papers over a lot of cracks.

Thomas is perhaps not that surprising, but I've been very surprised by the performances of Kwia and Moscon this season. Both well off the pace all year, and a major factor in the relative weakness of the GT squads. Both should still be in their prime.

 

[sbbefc]

Thomas is perhaps not that surprising, but I've been very surprised by the performances of Kwia and Moscon this season. Both well off the pace all year, and a major factor in the relative weakness of the GT squads. Both should still be in their prime.

It's such a tough sport though, I guess many riders after having accomplished what they wanted in their careers just dont have the drive to do it over and over again? And in the cases of these super-domistiques for no personal glory.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It's such a tough sport though, I guess many riders after having accomplished what they wanted in their careers just dont have the drive to do it over and over again? And in the cases of these super-domistiques for no personal glory.

I thought both would be real challengers for the classics this year as well as doing their stuff in the GTs, but apart from Kwia's 3rd at MSR, they've been well off the pace.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Thomas is perhaps not that surprising, but I've been very surprised by the performances of Kwia and Moscon this season. Both well off the pace all year, and a major factor in the relative weakness of the GT squads. Both should still be in their prime.

Kwiatowski put a warrior's ride into Amstel gold, might well have won it if not for vdP producing one of the finishes of the century.
He finished 11th in the end but only because about 8 blokes got free seats on the vdP express.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Had a good weekend cycling - raced Sat and Sun which I've not done before. 25 on the Sat and CX on the Sun - given how ruined I normally feel after either of these things I thought I'd be riding the cross like a geriatric. Ended up being completely fine - did a local pb on the 25 with a long 58, stayed off the ale and had a good night's kip. Legs were sore on the Sun but did a good steady warm up on the turbo and the race felt normal - a few places down on what I might have done fresh as I did feel empty the last two laps, but not a great deal in it. Conditions starting to improve as well - some proper mud so way more tactical as we all start to make mistakes.

If I were a younger man I reckon I'd double up racing all cross season as it would sharpen you up like nobody's business (you can often get a Sat and Sun race if you're prepared to travel) - too much of a time commitment for me now, though, as it basically blocked out the whole weekend.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Yorkshire weather is causing havoc

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Carnage

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Shouldn't run a TT in those conditions - I mean that is not a marginal call, the road is completely flooded.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Shouldn't run a TT in those conditions - I mean that is not a marginal call, the road is completely flooded.

The women seem to be going off smoothly (thankfully).

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Great performance from Rohan Dennis today in the time trial - the hardest of the hard men, crushed the field. Hugely emotional win given his unhappy exit from the Tour earlier this year - don't think he's raced since.
The phenomenon that is Remco Evenepoel second at nineteen years of age - unheard of for this event, and Ineos man Filippo Ganna took bronze also pretty young at 23. Some very credible showings from the British riders with Dowsett fifth and Archibald (a late replacement for G) eleventh.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Great performance from Rohan Dennis today in the time trial - the hardest of the hard men, crushed the field. Hugely emotional win given his unhappy exit from the Tour earlier this year - don't think he's raced since.
The phenomenon that is Remco Evenepoel second at nineteen years of age - unheard of for this event, and Ineos man Filippo Ganna took bronze also pretty young at 23. Some very credible showings from the British riders with Dowsett fifth and Archibald (a late replacement for G) eleventh.

I often wonder whether the race is a bit like the Vuelta in the sense of who's fit after a long season, as I suspect relatively few target the World TT event, but fair play to Dennis, he was clearly the best of those racing today.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Who do people fancy for the road race? Reckon the bookies must love bets on this - so hard to call with the depth of talent, national team dynamics - looks a long, tough parcours as well with rain forecast.

Seen Alex Kristoff mentioned in a few places as a decent EW bet at 40/1 - palmares not in question and will not be phased by hardman conditions, veteran rider but still wins races - had a quiet TdF IIRC. The Norwegian's aren't rolling deep like Belgium, say, but they're still good and a stellar team can create its own problems anyhow.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Who do people fancy for the road race? Reckon the bookies must love bets on this - so hard to call with the depth of talent, national team dynamics - looks a long, tough parcours as well with rain forecast.

Seen Alex Kristoff mentioned in a few places as a decent EW bet at 40/1 - palmares not in question and will not be phased by hardman conditions, veteran rider but still wins races - had a quiet TdF IIRC. The Norwegian's aren't rolling deep like Belgium, say, but they're still good and a stellar team can create its own problems anyhow.

The Dutch and Belgians both have incredibly strong teams so they're the natural place to look for the winner, but you'd imagine Sagan and Valverde will be there abouts. GBs relatively lacklustre year has resulted in them only having 6 riders, which won't help, and despite being on home turf I'd be surprised if any were left by the end.

 

[Black Belt Jones]

Reckon Ben Swift will go well actually, national champ must respect the colours in an event like this. Can see him on the premises if the race holds together.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Reckon Ben Swift will go well actually, national champ must respect the colours in an event like this. Can see him on the premises if the race holds together.

Forecast is for horrible weather as well. Interesting looking at the British riders this year, and it's not been a vintage year. Froome obviously had his crash, Thomas has done nothing outside of his Tour result, Simon Yates had an underwhelming year, with Adam not really doing much either, while Rowe didn't manage to get any results in the classics campaign (and the less said about Cav the better). The only ones who have perhaps done better than expected were Carthy and the young QS climber whose name I forget who came 11th in the Vuelta.