Cycling Thread

[Baz]

Excellent win for Greipel. He's been by the far best sprinter this tour. Sadly for Cav it seems his legs are going however this was a tough tour for the sprinters overall.

Quintana's time will come. Too early to say if next years will be for him until the route is revealed, but it's been an excellent battle between him and Froome.

 

[Destruction]

Looking forward to the Tour of Britain, be there for Stage 2.

 

[Tilbury]

Didn't this stage finish at a later time the last few years?

Pretty sure it has. Thought it might have been because they ran La Course earlier in the day but forgot they did the same last year.

Anyway this has been a seriously well contested tour and chuffed for Froome and team sky.

 

[Super_horns]

It did in 2013 when they had a special night time stage..

 

[TimeyWimey]

Going to be a cracking Vuelta.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Not as good as Eneco tho.

 

[TimeyWimey]

True, Viviani doing the business for my late late fantasy team entry.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Giampaolo Caruso returns positive test for EPO from March 13. More importantly, could see Katusha suspended pre-Vuelta and there's a few nice stages for Rodriguez.

 

[SUTSS]

Seems to be some suggestions that they've got a new way of detecting EPO. If so could see a few names falling.

 

[lordofthepies]

Katusha insist that they're shocked by this news even though it's his second positive, he rode for Manolo Saiz and he was named in the Operación Puerto case. It can't be THAT shocking.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

This TTT palaver is a nice little shambles.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Erm...

 

[TimeyWimey]

That is hilarious.

Astana want 10 min penalty but he could be chucked out last I read? Plays havoc with my fantasy team that.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

He gone. DQ.

 

[Tilbury]

That is hilarious. How did they think they can get away with something so blatant.

 

[TimeyWimey]

@nedboulting:

Some UCI fines so far:

Grmay 400 CHF (wrong jersey)
Sagan 300 CHF (being angry after nearly being killed)
Nibali 200 CHF (cheating)

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

That was a pretty awesome finale.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Went to see yesterdays climb on Cumbre Del Sol, didn't see much of the main attacks but that climb was an absolute beast.

Watched the replay on a stream last night, amazing finish.... But Dumoulin is ringing alarm bells. He's Just in incredible form. "On another planet" attacking those gc riders on a hill like that.

The mountains should see him drop off tho, along with a few others in the top 10. Im hoping Louis Meintjes places highly, Just cos I'm following his progress. Great youngster.

Stage 11 looks an absolute monster. Can't wait for that.

 

[lordofthepies]

Yeah, Wednesday's stage looks incredible. Some riders are gonna really suffer. They'll have Joaquim Rodriguez to thank for it and all.

Still, should be entertaining for us spectators.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Looks like Froome has blown.

 

[TimeyWimey]

A lot of hot air from Tinkov re: pulling out of Vuelta...

Oleg Tinkov ‏@olegtinkov 49m49 minutes agoSouth Aegean, Greece
Oleg Tinkov retweeted Vincenzo Russo
I am for it. Now it is up to the management @Tinkoff, will see if my guys have the balls? #Vuelta2015

 

[lordofthepies]

He's obviously a giant lunatic but I'd be pretty pissed off too...

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

This a great race. Blimey. Dumoulin 1m 50s down with the TT to come.

Poor old Rodriguez looks like he's gonna end up 2nd or 3rd again.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Dumoulin will take it I reckon, I see him taking nearer 3 mins off those two in the TT.

Followed the Tour of Britain round today, saw it in three spots including the start and last km. Bloody good day tbf.

 

[lordofthepies]

I'm gonna ride over to somewhere near Whaley Bridge on Friday to watch the race, I think.

This Vuelta is bloody mega.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Next year's Giro to include three ITT's. Congrats to two time Grand Tour winner Dumoulin.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

One up an alp (apparently, anyway), one a smidge over prologue length, and even the Chianti one looks designed to ameliorate time loses versus the pure crono men, with a combo of rolling terrain and reasonably lengthy descents.

Not sure the headline matches the actuality.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Dumoulin finally pops. Just when I thought this race was done.

> Off the podium, out the top 5.... feel bad just watching this.

 

[TimeyWimey]

That Dumoulin interview on the ITV highlights. Heartbreaking.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]