I always thought Oracle had his good points...but then I am burdened with an open hearted, forgiving and generous spirit.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
It's the cross I carry.
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I always thought Oracle had his good points...but then I am burdened with an open hearted, forgiving and generous spirit.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
It's the cross I carry.
Oops. The lateness of the hour obviously blurred my memory. Fingers crossed he has not been awakened!
Whilst medicine and treatment have improved, human physiology hasn't. When breaking a bone, (or possibly more than one in Pogačar's case), near to a joint, the resultant mend doesn't always heal to enable the joint to be as good as it was beforehand. We'll only know just how well it's mended next spring, when the classics season come around; if he's not at Paris-Roubaix, and the other cobbled classics, then we'll know that it's not what it was.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
PS I have my stake and garlic ready :)
He won't be coming back.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
I've just caught up with Romandie.
It's comical listening to the commentators running through the potential sprint contenders approaching the end of a stage.
Stage 5, it seemed to me that there was only 3-4 in the running rather than the 20+ they name dropped. I suppose it's to fill up time.
Bernal looking like he's on the way back. Not sure what his programme is. He might be Ineos's only podium contender for the TdF but I think it might be better to save him for the Vuelta.
Froome looks like he should just retire gracefully.
That has been apparent for some years. I don't think much of Dave Brailsford's integrity but he is no mug with regards to sponsor's money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
As I have intimated previously, a really bad crash in Pro cycling is usually career changing - and not for the better. A really, really bad one is frequently career ending, so in that respect he's done quite well since.Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
If the rumours are to be believed, he's on a multi-million pound salary. I therefore guess he's just making himself financially comfortable before he retires, and in all honesty if I was in his position that's what I would do.
Only two days until the start of the first Grand Tour of the year, the Giro d'Italia.
Unfortunately, the only free TV coverage this year is on S4C and S4CHD and the commentary will be in Welsh. Although that might appeal to some of you :)
For those of you not familiar with the arcane rules of the cycling governing body, a Grand Tour is a major stage race, (currently a national tour), over three weeks of racing.
In the build up here is a quiz question:
Who was the first British professional cyclist to win a three week tour?
If you find this easy, can you state the race and year?
Wiggins, TdeF, 2012 I believe?
You would have been forgiven for writing The Grand Tour of the year.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Nope.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
I had a feeling that I would hear the QI klaxon with that...Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
So now I am assuming some race in the early days of British professional cycling was a 3 week tour?
I'll give you two big clues. It was after 1982, and the race is a bona fide, long established European tour that's still going.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
I'm sure Graham will have the details in his old Cycling Weekly collection. Somewhere :)
Still don't have a clue. I'll have a punt at Robert Millar given the year but no idea which race
If you'd said Robert Millar in the 1985 Vuelta a España I'd have given you half marks. (There was some serious cheating by officials, and unsportsmanlike behaviour from the riders, in this race to deprive him of the win that was rightfully his.)Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
I'm hoping Graham, or anyone else for that matter, will have a punt before I tell you tomorrow.
I have no idea. I know about Kelly and Roche of course but they were born in the Republic of Ireland and so aren't British.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I met Roche at the TDF hanging around for the peloton, near Bourg D'Oisans.
I suspect his great year was fuelled by EPO whereas Kelly was just a much better rider. One can compare and contrast their post-retirement subsequent careers and reputations and in that competition I think Kelly is the one with his hands in the air and Roche is beating his bars. When he isn't sticking a needle into an effigy of Kelly that is.:)
And poor Robert? Yes he was cheated, yes he was naive but that was the person he was - unlike Roche who had a dagger to hand when needed.:)
The answer is Cayn Theakston, who won the 1988 Volta a Portugal (Tour of Portugal)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Before 1995 La Vuelta a España started in April, and finished in May. On occasions it finished after the start of the Giro d'Italia, preventing anyone from riding them both. The one advantage of this was that it enabled space in the race calendar for a fourth three week tour at the end of the season. By the early 1990s the Volta a Portugal was a two week race, and La Vuelta a España got moved to follow it at the end of the season, leaving just three three-week tours.
[QUOTE=Marco;683438]The answer is Cayn Theakston, who won the 1988 Volta a Portugal (Tour of Portugal)
Never heard of him Marco. I wonder if he is a member of the brewing family?
[QUOTE=Marco;683438]The answer is Cayn Theakston, who won the 1988 Volta a Portugal (Tour of Portugal)
Thank you.
I've now looked at Wikepedia and received an education.
I had never heard of him either.
Every day is a school day so they say.
I don't know what impresses me more, that Marco knew, or that Graeme didn't :D
Haven't got in to the grove of watching the live racing yet.
Life still settling down after house move and hope to get better organised during the course of this week.
Enjoyed catching up on the GCN+ extended highlights though this week.
The old Sky wouldn't have let themselves get caught in that crash on Stage 3 so close to the finish.
It'll be interesting to see how Evanpoel copes as the Tour goes on. He looks very strong at the moment, but so did Pogacar at the TdF last year.
Despite time lost, I've got a sneaky for Tao GH.
I haven't either, as despite being around 42 miles from the Welsh border we can't get S4C here :mad:Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
I think it's Evenepoel's to lose. The fact he's lost the lead today is not of concern; it just means his team haven't got to chase.Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
Looking down the standings, it's not that strong a field for a race of this stature. Whilst I think Tao could improve on his current position, I think the win is beyond him. Ineos are no longer a really top team, and they seem to have two leaders rather than one undisputed leader. The route doesn't look that difficult either and, sorry to say it Graham, there is a distinct possibility of it becoming a parade for Evenepoel.
2 crashes for Evenepoel can't have done much good but he still looks like the one to beat. Roglic is having some bad luck and I don't see any other contenders for top spot. I also don't get the 2 leader approach from some teams. If you want to win a GT, then you have to go all in. Though you would have to agree that tactic paid off for G at the TdeF.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
You may be right...but he made an awful fuss about the crashes. Nearly as big a cry baby as Cavendish. Oh no. It is he who knocks other riders off isn't it. Sorry.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
Eve is not averse to a hissy fit and a sulk and he may just say "if I can't win without bruises then I just will not ride and see if I care!"
I would have agreed with you before last years Vuelta a España, but he visibly grew up before our eyes during that race to win it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
I don't think he's the finished article, and I don't think he's as good as Tadej Pogačar was before his crash, but based on the today's result, where he finished top of the contenders, I think he's pretty determined to win the Giro and it's up to the others to try and beat him.
I don't think today's stage showed us much in terms of GC aspirations but I think Evenepoel can mark all the contenders and sit on them. He has no need to attack but obviously has the ability if required.
Isn't it strange how the mind works?
Hugh Carthy, shitting himself about the cable car descent off the mountain today but is quite happy to ride at breakneck speed down a sliver of tarmac with massive drops to the side on two narrow bits of rubber!
Well I was going post about what a great ITT it was yesterday and especially in such appalling conditions. However, the news this morning is all about Remco's abandonment of the Giro having tested positive for covid. That leaves G in pink with Roglic only 2 seconds down and TGH on 5. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the mountains with Jumbo having arguably the stronger team but with Ineos having the tactical upper hand with 2 riders in contention.
And I only read on one of the cycling websites this weekend that it's still a long way to Rome!Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
Just imagine he was diagnosed with a common cold. Do you think he'd be bombarded with vitamins and would try to get through the next couple of days?Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
He's clearly not so bad judging on performance in the TT, probably coming out of it and with a rest day to be had.
But hey let's use the C word and keep the international hysteria going.
Filippo Ganna has already abandoned the race with Covid-19, so it remains to be seen how many more of the Ineos team come down with it and are forced to quit.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
Whilst the advantage has probably swung towards Jumbo-Visma, there are only three truly mountainous stages left (13th, 16th, and 19th) so there could be ambushes by people further down the field at anytime.
I don't suppose any team or rider is safe from covid but you would hope Ineos at least have some protocols in place to try and prevent infection spreading. It would be interesting to know who Ganna's room mate was though!
It may well all be over by stage 20 but the last ITT 18km ending with a 7k climb average 12% may yet prove decisive. Short, yes, but you could easily lose 20-30 seconds and who knows maybe more after 3 weeks of racing.
An absolute mare of a stage yesterday with more covid retirements, TGH out with a fractured hip and Oscar Rodriguez narrowly missing serious injury after some numpty took his front wheel out.
Some very strange tactics today but looking forward to some shake up on the GC tomorrow when we hit the big stuff.
I Marco,
I don't know if Admin knows, but I'm a bit of an underground admin ;)
I can't see any pending posts at all, so not sure what the issue is.
I've moved the racing part of your post here, Graham, as I don't want to reply on the wrong thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
I think Roglic was lucky. Evenepoel had to pull out with Covid, as did Ganna, and Tao G H fractured his hip in a crash. Despite all this, Roglic only won by 14 seconds.
I know you wanted Ineos to lose, as you don't like the Ineos (formerly Sky) team, but had Thomas had the services of Ganna and Tao G H then he would have gained more time before the final time trial. Of course had Evenepoel not contracted Covid, then we'd be looking at another Belgian grand tour win :)
Sorry to have not answered you before, but have been away on holiday and been unable to get a secure internet connection.Quote:
Originally Posted by Witton Park
The post in question was on this thread on the 9th May - ironically it was in a reply to you.
I'm not sure what happened, but on about the 11th it appeared without alteration. I think Noel, or one of the Admin team, put their hand down the back and fished it out of the overflow tank :)
Well yes I am a dedicated ATBI (any team but Ineos) but in the "what if" debate I recall Roglic had a bad day and Thomas didn't...however I had expected Evenepoel to win assuming he didn't throw a hissy fit along the way. But given the story as it actually happened I thought Roglic did a Champion's ride in the TT and with the mechanical as well...he deserved his win.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I'm not sure what everyone else thinks but I'm not a fan of this bike change thing in mountain TTs. To my mind they should finish on the bike they start with and if they do have a mechanical, then they should be replaced with a similar bike.