Cycling thread

[Bruce Wayne]

Would you say Tony Martin, as wonderful as he's been is on a downward curve now?

Bit gutted there's no nibali in the giro, but sounds like he was very surprised at the tour de France route, seeing it as such an opportunity he's resting up for it

Without a doubt, but you'd still say he'd beat Yates and Pozzo in a TT, even if he's not at his best any more. Likewise someone like Kiryienka, who was way off. Indeed, I'm not sure many would have put Betancur as high as he got (11th). An unusual TT in many ways.

 

[Armel]

Phew finally a Quickstep win.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Phew finally a Quickstep win.

They have gone a while without one

 

[Black Belt Jones]

I think he's faking. In his last two he was 2nd and 3th. Last year and the year before he was quite bad, although he was impressive on La Planche des belles filles. I think he could again do something similar, especially since there are not a lot of TT KM's. Plus he's an Italian, most of the time they are much better in front of their home crowd. I just hope he can do it for three weeks. Ideally Froome and Dumoulin shadow each other and he/or someone else who wants to attack takes advantage.

Will be interesting to see if Dumoulin still gets stomach problems. He switched from bananas to kiwis.

Like Bruce I'd be shocked if Aru pulled off another GT win - he has the physical talent to crush anyone on a big mountain day but just doesn't have the mentality to bring it day after day. Takes enormous strength of mind to refuse to let yourself have un jour sans. Obviously he's never beating Froome at this game but even when Froome starts to significantly decline I can't see him taking charge, think it will be someone else who rises to dominance.

 

[Armel]

Like Bruce I'd be shocked if Aru pulled off another GT win - he has the physical talent to crush anyone on a big mountain day but just doesn't have the mentality to bring it day after day. Takes enormous strength of mind to refuse to let yourself have un jour sans. Obviously he's never beating Froome at this game but even when Froome starts to significantly decline I can't see him taking charge, think it will be someone else who rises to dominance.

I am not saying he'll dominate the sport, but he's quite capable of winning one in the future again- especially if they make the parcours to his strong points. He's only 27. He's not like Cunego.

 

[Armel]

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Good stage that. Early indications are that Froome shipped more time, with talk that he's now nearly a minute behind Dumoulin.

 

[Armel]

Lol at Wellens; winning a stage just on the day that his interview is released where he states that he doesn't like Valverde because he rides faster now than before his suspension. He'll enjoy the interviews later today.

 

[Walken]

made up to see yates take the lead, credit chaves, what a day for the MS team

even sweeter with the personality vacuum froome losing more ground

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Super days racing that, and a great attack by Yates to take the pink jersey. He's looked really good thus far and it's fully deserved. Dumoulin didn't look all that good, and of course neither did Froome or Aru. The Giro is renowned for back-loading difficulty into the final week however so still very early, but it's shaping up to be a super race. Also nice to see Pozzo riding so well. The diddy men are doing us little 'uns proud.

 

[Wat Tyler]

Yates looks so good so far.

 

[Walken]

another good showing from yates, well done to bennett as well on his first stage win, froome as usual relying on his expensive team mates to keep him in it

 

[Frang]

another good showing from yates, well done to bennett as well on his first stage win, froome as usual relying on his expensive team mates to keep him in it

hasn't yates gotta serve a 4 month ban?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

hasn't yates gotta serve a 4 month ban?

Seldom consistency in fandom is there?

 

[Frang]

Seldom consistency in fandom is there?

cheats still winning stages then?

lol