The Cycling Thread

[Marty]

saw the highlights of the big stage overnight. Roglic getting better as the race progresses. Delighted to see him top three, and is a rider that will be a genuine contender next year. Boy can time trial but a huge ask to get over the World Champ.

Agree, Roglic has come on massively. Maybe he or Dumoulin can actually break the Sky hegemony next year.

Watch out for Egan Bernal though. Give him two years and he'll be ready to take up the mantle from Froome and Thomas. Once in a generation talent.

 

[aussiespursguy]

Kudo's Valverde. Well done

 

[LaSpurs]

It seems the Belgians have found their new Mercx in Remco Evenepoel. I dont know that I’ve seen such superiority in cycling. Apparently he was a talented footballer until he recently switched to the bike

Future TdF winner, you heard it here first

 

[dave5150]

It seems the Belgians have found their new Mercx in Remco Evenepoel. I dont know that I’ve seen such superiority in cycling. Apparently he was a talented footballer until he recently switched to the bike

Future TdF winner, you heard it here first

Sure I read that he played for the Belgian U16 side?
Should put some money on him winning the Tour de l'Avenir for the next four years!
Quickstep (or whatever the window company is called that's sponsoring them next year is called) have done well to sign him up. Definitely got a few Grand Tour wins in him!

 

[dave5150]

Kudo's Valverde. Well done

I was really hoping Woods would win but Valverde definitely deserves it after so many near misses.
Incredible that 2 of the top 3 had come from the Vuelta. It's a shame Thomas didn't fancy it.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Most corrupt sport in the world?


90-year-old American cyclist to be stripped of title after failing drugs test

Carl Grove claimed contaminated meat was the reason he tested positive for epitrenbolone after the US Masters Track National Championships.

Grove, the oldest participant in the event, had won the men's 90-94 sprint title in July.

The US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) said he would be stripped of the record following the violation.

Usada said Grove had provided information that showed contaminated meat he had eaten the evening before competing had "more likely than not" caused the positive test.

 

[Paolo10]

What a fucking scumbag...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-47609436/cctv-shows-hackney-cyclist-kicked-into-car

 

[aussiespursguy]

The Spring Classics kick off with Flanders today. Cant wait. Two of my favourite races in the next two weeks.
Flanders and The Hell in the North. Bring it on!

 

[absolute bobbins]

Verts is watching.

Does anyone else watch whilst on the turbo trainer?

 

[tototoner]

Froome breaks leg and will miss Tour de France

 

[onthetwo]

Froome breaks leg and will miss Tour de France

Jesus, Ineos are having no luck this year at the Grand Tours.

 

[nidge]

It's being reported that he took his hands of the handle bars to blow his nose whilst doing 60km/h on a practice run.

 

[Marty]

It's being reported that he took his hands of the handle bars to blow his nose whilst doing 60km/h on a practice run.

Which is something cyclists do all the time, it seems he was caught by a sudden gust of wind just as his hands left the handle bars. Incredibly unlucky.

They still have GT and Bernal to race for in the Tour, Froome out will probably give those guys a bit more freedom from day one.

 

[Marty]

Le Tour is a strange one this year. No Froome, no Dumoulin, a host of current and former top sprinters missing like Gaviria, Kittel and Cav. It makes it very interesting in that all stages and the GC are very open but lacking a little bit of star power.

A Cat 4 and three Cat 3 climbs in the last 50k of tomorrow's stage, hoping for loads of action now that the TTT is over and done with.

 

[spurslenny]

Knee twinge 40 miles into a 65 mile ride

Anyone on Strava?

 

[Nebby]

Chapeau Bernal. Got to feel for Alaphillipe though.

 

[Marty]

Chapeau Bernal. Got to feel for Alaphillipe though.

Yeah, I feel almost more for Pinot. The way the route was designed meant this will probably be his best shot and he was in such a good position to strike hard in the Alps, all for a busted knee to ruin it.

Alaphilippe did absolutely brilliantly and it's a shame he doesn't end on the podium but realistically if yesterday's and today's stages hadn't been amputated chances are he would've been even further behind.

Bernal will be a force for the whole next decade. I feel like the Ineos tactics don't allow him to flex his absolute max, they are mostly a very defensive team, but this Tour he and GT had to do most of it themselves and it worked out pretty well for them!

 

[Nebby]

Yeah, I feel almost more for Pinot. The way the route was designed meant this will probably be his best shot and he was in such a good position to strike hard in the Alps, all for a busted knee to ruin it.

Alaphilippe did absolutely brilliantly and it's a shame he doesn't end on the podium but realistically if yesterday's and today's stages hadn't been amputated chances are he would've been even further behind.

Bernal will be a force for the whole next decade. I feel like the Ineos tactics don't allow him to flex his absolute max, they are mostly a very defensive team, but this Tour he and GT had to do most of it themselves and it worked out pretty well for them!

Yes, Pinot had an excellent tour and was looking very strong. And you're right about Bernal; if Ineos build around him he could dominate for years. Kinda harsh on G so wouldn't be surprised to see him switch teams. Great Tour. Bring on Spain.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Not at all into road cycling, but the world championships are starting in my home town of Northallerton today.

 

[NorfolkArgus]

Reports that Nicolas Portal, Team Ineos' (ex Sky) Directeur Sportif has died of a heart attack age 40.

Very sad.