Cycling thread

[Wat Tyler]

Gilbert to win Sunday , QS have been so strong.

 

[Armel]

That was a superb race - the mighty Tom Boonen done on the line. Think QS will be tough to beat on Sunday - both Terpstra and Phil Gil looking extremely strong, Stybar due a monument win too. WvA as an outside bet for the podium. Gilbert not ridden Roubaix for several years, though, but then again he is Belgian so it probably won't matter. Cobbles in the DNA.
Do you know if you need a Eurosport subscription to watch it, or is it free to view?

Was reading about Boonen talking about a ramp training plan he used to do - 8 minute blocks raised at 40W intervals. Starting at 100W, which is barely pedalling, then 140, then 180 etc. In his best shape he could hit 460W for 8 mins, after 80 mins total ramping up. Just insane levels of power. Makes you realise that the strongest riders any of us know locally, who are levels above where we are in microcosm, are basically more or less the same as us when you zoom out to the Boonen scale. Just in a different solar system.

It was a very sad moment for me. 199/200 times he'll win that sprint and he lost; very sad.

He's my favourite.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Interesting comments by Tommeke recently btw.

"To call salbutamol doping is ridiculous," Boonen is quoted as saying in Humo.

"My daughter has to puff every day and something wrong can happen. I get the impression that Team Sky riders have already been declared guilty."

So far, there is little hard evidence against Team Sky," Boonen said in Team Sky’s defence.

"I’m really against cheats, they should be suspended for life, but you would be surprised to know how many athletes with respiratory problems need salbutamol to do their sport. Are we going to treat them all as EPO users?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tom-boonen-defends-chris-froome-and-team-sky/

 

[Bruce Wayne]

On more of a racing note, a cracking photo of Terpstra from last weekend.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Crashes starting to have an impact. GvA and Demarre having to fight their way back, whilst Thomas has had his customary crash. Moscon also had a tumble.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Quickstep bossing it at the front as expected.

 

[Armel]

Crashes starting to have an impact. GvA and Demarre having to fight their way back, whilst Thomas has had his customary crash. Moscon also had a tumble.

He abandoned.

Goolaerts; fell after he became unwell. And now he's getting support from a medic (reanimation). Sounds bad.

 

[Armel]

I hope he's okay.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Thomas is out. The bloke would be so much better if he could avoid crashing.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Goodness, reports that Goolaerts's heart had stopped?

 

[Armel]

Goodness, reports that Goolaerts's heart had stopped?

Yes a cardiac arrest; intubated etc...

I'd already seen on television that he was in a bad state:

(I hate pictures like that; shouldn't be allowed)

I hope he's okay.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Yes a cardiac arrest; intubated etc...

I'd already seen on television that he was in a bad state:

(I hate pictures like that; shouldn't be allowed)

I hope he's okay.

Terrible stuff

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Gilbert playing skittles in the chase group. Understandably no one is going to chase whilst Quickstep sit there doing nothing.

 

[Armel]

Gilbert playing skittles in the chase group. Understandably no one is going to chase whilst Quickstep sit there doing nothing.

I think it was Lampaert or Terpstra
.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I think it was Lampaert or Terpstra
.

Ah, beg your pardon. Terpstra dragging a small bunch with him.