Cycling 2009

[Bluebeard]

Astana, Saxo and Columbia will need to be at their best on this course

Sounds like it so far. I heard that the Bouygues crash was fair carnage. Looking forward to seeing that at home tonight!

[Dodge]

Ok seeing as some will be watching highlights, I'll spoiler it.

Astana win by 18 seconds from Garmin. Saxo ended up putting in a great ride and only lost 40 seconds to Astana. Cancellara holds onto yellow by less than a second. I'd guess Armstrong is gutted ;)

[Stuttgart88]

What a brilliant start to this year's tour. Gutted that Martin isn't in it but there's been so much drama and so many sub-plots already it's been fascinating.

Cavendish is a machine and his team are doing a great job for him. I like him a bit more than I did last year but wish another sprinter would be in a position to take him on.

I know Liggett can be a bit Murray Walker-esque but the ITV4 highlights production is superb. It's the TV highlight of the summer for me & even my wife agrees. Her previously disinterested mate is also now hooked. She now rings every evening asking for an explanation of some of the many tactical nuances that come up!

[Bluebeard]

Good to hear, Stutts, another convert! My other half is starting to enjoy it more - yesterday's crashes appealled to her. It has been enjoyable, though I am kind of in fear that it will end up being all about one sprinting team and one GC team. Still, it has been good thus far. Do I recall that you and the Mrs. did the Etape last year?

The Tour de France magazine vid is about Nicolas Roche and his da today - they sound uncannily alike.
dqGcj8gKJI8

Check out the classy looking Irish Champ's jersey!

[Bluebeard]

Details for the Tour of Ireland's first stage has been announced (http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_4114.shtml). It's reduced to only three stages this year owing to funding, which is a pity. However, the good news is that the first stage is going to Waterford again, from Powerscourt via Mount Leinster - sounds very similar to last year's first stage thus far. They have not released details of the others yet, the press release up on irishcycling has the usual "In the coming days" guff.

Astana and Columbia are touted as the first big name teams, and Cavendish and Armstrong are supposed to be riding it. The Sean Kelly An Post team should be there, presumably with an Irish National Team to boot. Dunno about any other local teams since Pezula closed shop though - I have a feeling that there is some UCI rule that means the Dan Morrisseys and Banbridge CCs will not be let participate.

From what I have seen on officical websites and reports from riders on cycling news sites, Joker Bianchi, BMC Racing, CSK Navigiare, Halfords Bikehut and Rapha Condor are going to be there. Team Type 1 have it listed, but for the wrong week, and the Tour of Utah is on the week in question, so that may be a non runner. I'd hope we'll see Garmin back too. I'd expect at least two or three decent continental teams like the Rabobank Continental team or and probably Pinarello Candi TV from Britain, but no word on their sites as yet.


LATER EDITS:
I was just thinking about it, and I hope that they might try squeeze in a two stage day - say a short TT in the morning, followed by a short-ish stage in the afternoon. I remember they did it in the Nissan once at least. If they did something like Carrick on Suir to Clonmel as a TT - about 20km - then in the afternoon, Clonmel to Cork, finish atop Patrick's hill after two or three laps -that would really fill out the race a bit.

They are talking about it going back to being a 5 day race next year, which I hope it does, as a 3 day would die on its feet, seeing as it is off on a small Island far from the centre of continental racing. It could be time to re think the broader strategy. I think that the place in the calendar is the optimum, realistically, there is not a better spot. However, it would be an idea to ry to capitalise on the fact that the teams are over for the week - I would love to see something like the GP of Ireland back, as a ranking international criterium, the weekend before the race itself. Perhaps it could rotate between the major cities and towns, taking place perhaps in a city not hosting a finish. Failing that, I recall that the three crits after Roche's win were in Dublin, Cork and Wexford - Wexford is where most of the team buses and trucks are likely to land in Ireland, so perhaps a permanent fixture there? I think of the Tour Down Under and The Tour of Qatar - which both have big crits the weekend before to capitalise on riders travelling so far to take part in the main event.

[Macy]

A big disappointment on the number of days. I doubt I'll get a local sprint this time, but might try and get down to Powerscourt instead.

On le tour, a great couple of days racing. Great to see the race being blown apart on flat stages.

[Dodge]

A big disappointment on the number of days. I doubt I'll get a local sprint this time, but might try and get down to Powerscourt instead.
Good to read though that they hope to bring it back up to 5. Considering the amount of races dropping out, its good to have any race


On le tour, a great couple of days racing. Great to see the race being blown apart on flat stages.
I'm absolutely dying for the next couple of stages. Think today's finish could see 1 or 2 breakaway, and maybe even an attack by lance for that 1 second

I backed Roche to win the stage @ 100/1 as I think he'd like that short sharp hill up Montjuic

[Bluebeard]

I backed Roche to win the stage @ 100/1 as I think he'd like that short sharp hill up Montjuic

I'd love to see you make money today:D

[Dodge]

Terrific finish to today's stage

Roche had a go, but got reeled back in. In a battle between the tough man sprinters Hushovd beat Frieire. The lead group was whittled down to 40 or so but I think all the GC boys were up there. Roche eventually finished 12th

[Bluebeard]

Today's still going on - listening to Kelly and Eurosport online, sounds absolutely fantastic: deffo for watching tonight. Sounds like one to show an interested novice. I'll just spoil that it is not a sprint finish won by Cavendish:D

[Bluebeard]

So, first rest day. What do people think of the first week?

Personally, I quite enjoyed it: plenty of good attacking cycling coming from all different angles, a couple of exciting and successful breaks, and Nicolas Roche doing reasonably well.

[Dodge]

Strange sort of week. Delighted that plenty of attacks were made but only Contador made any time in the mountains on the GC boys. In fairness both Evans and Andy Schleck tried the stage didn't suit. Next couple of days look flatter than the usual intermediate stages too.

Roche rode hard at the start of the stage on Saturday and sacrificed himself for the team. It was great to see him lead the peeleton up the Tourmelet though yesterday in his Irish jersey. I read that the couple of days in yellow for the team have secured funding for the entire year which can only be a good thing for Roche. In his Indo column today he states that he got shot by something before yesterdays' stage too!

[Macy]

Interesting first week, some great stuff on some of the flat stages. The Pyrenean stages were a bit of a let down, but I guess it does keep the race alive rather than someone minutes up riding defensively for the rest of the race.

Really interesting to see Wiggins up there through the mountains. That's two on Garmin (one of the totally committed clean teams) that have really made breakthroughs in the last two tours, and good for Dan Martin to have those people in the team (Although I guess Wiggins is probably now in line to lead Sky next year).

[Dodge]

Apparently Wiggins is staying with garmin. SOme of the Sky signings have started to leak out, but no GC contendor as of yet

[Macy]

Apparently Wiggins is staying with garmin.
I posted that before I'd read the feature on cyclingnews with him saying how happy he is at Garmin


SOme of the Sky signings have started to leak out, but no GC contendor as of yet
Any link, just out of interest? The early rumours were Millar (who part owns Garmin, so it'd be a strange one), Wiggins, Cummings and Thomas, but I've seen a few names linked (lots of aussies for the supposed brit team from what I've seen!)

[Dodge]

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=1063

later pages have the more "secure" leaks

Horrible forum. There's a plain white "print" feature if the colours don't suit

[Macy]

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=1063

later pages have the more "secure" leaks

Ta. I'm already not warming to the team, but I guess it'll be packed with English speakers, and ultimately could include some of the Irish guys...

[Dodge]

I remember Ciaran power got his break with the Linda Mccartney team. I'd be gutted to see Martin join them...

[Macy]

I'd be gutted to see Martin join them...
I wouldn't see any advantage to leaving Garmin to go there, plus they'd pile on the pressure (again) for him to declare for Britain.

[Bluebeard]

Phil Deignan was lionked to them a lot a good bit back, probably largely down to Sky wanting to capitalise on the Irish Market. Similarly, I don't see any advantage in that move to him.

[Dodge]

I'm nearly certain that Deignan signed a two year deal with cervelo at the start of this year. Tbh if I was a top class cyclist Cervelo and Garmin are exactly the two teams I'd be looking to get signed by.

[Bluebeard]

I'm nearly certain that Deignan signed a two year deal with cervelo at the start of this year. Tbh if I was a top class cyclist Cervelo and Garmin are exactly the two teams I'd be looking to get signed by.

Were I a fifth class cyclist, they's still be the two teams I'd be looking to get signed by...

Joking aside, they seem to be really about building a team of equals, and everyone seems to have their chances in races. At CTT, Deignan had a few shots in that Spanish race earlier in the season, Haussler was encouraged to become an equal to Hushovd, rather than a train; Martin is being carefully coached at Garmin, Farrar is now a "name", Vandevelde is a tour leader, and by the looks of things, Wiggins is given his chance to show.

I am thinking at Sky it will be a very "follow the leader" style organisation, largely towards the benefit of the better British cyclist, or the big name: fair enough, they pay the wages, but not where you'd go if you have ambition to win, or develop, I am thinking.

[Dodge]

Levi Leipheimer becomes the first big casualty of the tour. He broke his wrist in a crash towards the end of yesterday's stage and won't start today

I'm hopeful (rather than expectant) that today's stage shakes things up a bit. A couple of decent climbs but, again, without the mountian finish, its hard to see too much changing between the real GC contendors.

Ag2R have been working unbelievable hard all week so this might be the day that they let the yellow jersey go

[Macy]

Levi Leipheimer becomes the first big casualty of the tour. He broke his wrist in a crash towards the end of yesterday's stage and won't start today
One less leader in Astana anyway, will probably help them!

[Dodge]

Nah, Leipheimer was definitely a Lance man

[Bluebeard]

Might help Contador so!

Of those remaining, I reckon Popovych would lean to Armstrong, seeing as he knows who the boss is from before. Paulinho was cited as being Contador's domestique by Horner when he wasn't called up for the tour.

Kloden of course is still a contender, and likely to be still there when Contador sets up with Alonso's new team, and the Armstrong bloc sets up Livestrong Nike, so he may have aspirations of his own.

You'd think that Dmitriy Muravyev and Rast would pair in their allegances as they are with the team around the same length and are likely to be in the new old Vino Astana. If Kloden doesn't decide to go for it himself, I'd expect all three of them to row in behind Contador. Zubeldia could swing either way.

Hopefully, the lot of them will be blown out of it today and someone outside of Astana comes along and shuffles the deck completely!

[Mr A]

Roche away in a break... 13 riders at about 4 minutes.

[Pauro 76]

Come on Nicolas!

[Mr A]

Ivanov wins, blew the rest away.

Roche second, great ride.

[Pauro 76]

Hope he gets a stage win under his belt in this Tour.

[passinginterest]

Felt sorry for Roche I think he had enough to beat Ivanov but team orders meant he couldn't try to chase him down. It worked too with Nocetini retaining the yellow, the way Roche comfortably held off the rest for second suggests to me he would have won it if allowed to chase him.

[Dodge]

Roche didn't have team orders not to chase him. Ivanov attacked just as the group caught a Roche attack. He was unlucky at the timing of Ivanov's break, thats all

Obviously he wasn't allowed move until the 10k mark, and the team are going to be extremely happy with him, and the way theday turned out

Fun and games over Hincapie missing yellow. He blamed astana. Astana blame garmin. Squabbling like babies. Its pro bike racing and if hancapie buried himself for the last 5k he'd be in yellow

[Billsthoughts]

stephen roche seems to rate him failry highly if his comments on eurosport are anything to go by....great result....was a bit of a weird one tactically with so may in the breakaway and they all seemed to be keepin an eye on roche as well...tomorrow should see an attack of some sort from the big guys..

[Dodge]

Oh and for those who missed it, more info was released on the Tour of Ireland

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cork-finale-for-tour-of-ireland

[passinginterest]

Roche didn't have team orders not to chase him. Ivanov attacked just as the group caught a Roche attack. He was unlucky at the timing of Ivanov's break, thats all

Obviously he wasn't allowed move until the 10k mark, and the team are going to be extremely happy with him, and the way theday turned out

Fun and games over Hincapie missing yellow. He blamed astana. Astana blame garmin. Squabbling like babies. Its pro bike racing and if hancapie buried himself for the last 5k he'd be in yellow

I'm not so sure, Roche was in a good position to counter Ivanov, I thought his own little attack was half hearted and just an attempt to take some of the legs out of the others for the closing stages, when he saw Ivavnov have a genuine go he just let him off. Then again you probably know a lot more about cycling than I do. :)

[Dodge]

Roche's take (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/roche-rides-to-best-finish-of-tour-debut)

Its possible he could've chased but if you look at the video Ivanov attacks the exact moment Roche is caught, so he was probably expecting someone else to chase, and then get on the back of that chase (if that makes sense)

[Macy]

Felt sorry for Roche I think he had enough to beat Ivanov but team orders meant he couldn't try to chase him down. It worked too with Nocetini retaining the yellow, the way Roche comfortably held off the rest for second suggests to me he would have won it if allowed to chase him.
Yes and no. Like Dodge says, Ivanov's attack was a counter to a Roche attack. But also team orders allowed Roche (quite legitmately) to do bugger all in the break to get that point freshest.

I'd also agree that Hincapie could've driven the break on more instead of getting involved in the fun and games over attacks and counters in the last 10km. He could've been shot, but I can't see how he wouldn't have got more time out of it.

After yesterday, Contador looks like he has it sown up. Another amazing ride by Wiggins. He's always been so anti-doping, and the team he's riding for too, that it is great to see him right up there going for the podium.

[Dodge]

Yeah, fabulous last 15km or so yesterday. Contador is a truly exceptional climber.

Great rides too by the Schlecks and Wiggins. I'd expect Wiggins to finish on podium now.

[Stuttgart88]

I hope he does tbh, he's a great rider. Such a shame Dan Martin isn't there. At worst he'd be Wiggins "chaperon" in the hills.

Do people think Cavendish's stage DQ was justified? I think he kept his line, but he knew that the fencing was narrowing and knew full well he was cutting up Hushovt. Totally unnecessary as he had the beating of him easily. Harsh lesson, but one he needed to be taught.

I think only a crash or illness can stop Contador. He's a cut above everyone in the hills and a quality TTist too.

Great ride by Roche. Where is he now in the GC?

[Dodge]

Roche is in the 35-38 region on GC now

I thought Cav's DQ was harsh until I read Robbie McEwan's view of it. He basically said that he wasn't disqalified for moving off the line, but rather for turning around and "lining up" Hushovd. Made a bit more sense to me.

Cav's mouth is the reason Hincapie didn't get in yellow too. Garmin obviously aren't happy with his constant sniping and worked pretty hard in the last 10k that day. His sprinting speed is the main reason breaks were allowed get away though as the other teams know there's no point in clawing back a break if they can't beat him in a sprint.

[Macy]

I thought Cav's DQ was harsh until I read Robbie McEwan's view of it. He basically said that he wasn't disqalified for moving off the line, but rather for turning around and "lining up" Hushovd. Made a bit more sense to me.
But he was disqualified for cutting him up. I thought he could've been done for blocking as well though, as he wasn't really sprinting either, and there was a few of them across the road.

So my summation is that it was harsh for the reasons given, but ultimately he can't have too many complaints.


Cav's mouth is the reason Hincapie didn't get in yellow too. Garmin obviously aren't happy with his constant sniping and worked pretty hard in the last 10k that day.
That maybe true, but Garmin are getting a hammering over it*. Or were before Wiggins kinda shut up the "whole look what we've done compared to Garmin" stuff that they were coming out with. Fairly below the belt for Stapleton to threaten to call the sponsors to complain though.

*the cyclingnews.com/ bike radar podcast was really going for Garmin. However, yesterdays wasn't through on itunes this morning, or zencast so far to see how the humble pie's going after the slating the day before.

[Dodge]

Fair enough on Cav, I had hear it was for "irregular" racing or something similarly vague.

I thought it was hilarious to see columbia/Astana gang up on garmin, and I though Vaughters handled it briliantly to be fair.

I'd have just asked them how come it was OK for Astanta to ride for Columbia but not OK for Garmin to ride for Ag2R. Silence/lotto also rode a little as payback for not allowing Evans to break in the Pyrenees

[Macy]

I guess if you think about it a few of the teams owed them one from that split in the first week, never mind anything else. Columbia have gone down in my estimation the last few days - I mean you expect (fast) sprinters to mouthy hot headed types as Cav is, but the team management shouldn't be so bloody whingy.

[Dodge]

Well that’s exactly it. I've no bother with anyone cocky, if thye can back it up like cav but he's no business talking about the race for yellow, and commenting on Garmin going for the TTT etc

He started to grate for me in the Giro and he's worse here.

For the record, Columbia have "World's Greatest Cycling team" painted on the side of their bus, so they're not exactly trying to endear themselves to the peleton.

Odds on Hincapie being on the new Nike/Armstrong team? Pretty short I'd imagine

[passinginterest]

Roche is having a good ride again today by the sound of things, looks like it could be a thriller of a finish.

[Mr A]

Roche came in fourth and now leads the young riders classification.

Having a very impressive tour it must be said.

[Stuttgart88]

Is he ahead of Tony Martin? Great stuff. Could have been Dan Martin too :(

I saw before today that AG2R are in third in the team classification. I understand it's the aggregate times of your top 3 riders. Nocentini is obviously one, but is Roche one of the 3?

Cracking first tour for him anyway.

I'm a semi-keen cyclist & think the Irish champ AG2R jersey is cool. Are they available?

I know Contador is a decent TTist, but does Wiggins have any chance to make an impression in Thursday's TT in Annecy?

wrt TV production, 2 points: (1) Gary Imlach is a god and (2) I'd love to see in the bottom right corner the current speed of the rider(s) being shown.

I was in a triathlon last weekend and downhill I peaked at 52kph. I have never ever hit higher than 57kph. These guys go faster than that for decent stretches on the flat.

[Stuttgart88]

Andy Schleck is holding best young rider position.

Roche in 30th place, 16 mins back from Contador. Very impressive.

[endabob1]

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/roche-up-to-30th-as-tour-enters-17th-stage-1834216.html

Classic piece of Indo Journalism, spot the error time :D

[Schumi]

The son of 1980s cycling star Sean Kelly:eek: Does Stephen know?