Cycling 2012 [Archive] - Page 2

Mr A

22/05/2012, 8:44 PM

Macy

28/05/2012, 9:14 AM

Garmin get a Grand Tour before Sky - Wigan 1, United 0? Although hard not to see Wiggins going well in the Tour if he can maintain his form.

btw Finished Millars book. Gotta say I've warmed to him after reading it. He doesn't come across as contrived as he can do in interviews imo.

Mr A

28/05/2012, 10:20 AM

The build up around Wiggins in some of the UK outlets has been pretty mad. The pressure on him to deliver will be absolutely immense and he is set up for a hell of a fall.

That said, he has nailed it so far this season and the course suits him well.

Incidentally, I'd quite like to see Roche go to Sky for a few years.. obviously they'd not have him as team leader, but I really think they'd help him improve.

Macy

28/05/2012, 11:00 AM

Sky would at least get/ allow Roche, to give more focus to time trialling. He could be a really decent week long stage racer imo, where as I'm not sure he'll ever be a genuine contender in a Grand Tour. Garmin mightn't be too bad a fit either - they've a few that are coming near the end of their careers (VDV and Danielson) so there should be space in next year or two, and they definitely have a track record of allowing riders to have a shot if they're going well. Superdomestique to Martin, if he's not going to challenge himself?

Mr A

28/05/2012, 11:08 AM

Martin's time trialling is even worse though :(

As long as he gets out of AG2R and finds another world tour team that's the main thing.

Macy

28/05/2012, 11:12 AM

No doubt, but his climbing is better, and I don't think it's the team holding him back if he had the desire to really work on it. So yeah, get him out of AG2R, with a team like Sky or Garmin the preferred option!

Dodge

28/05/2012, 11:57 PM

Great news- looks like Martin is going to le Tour: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/daniel-martin-on-course-for-tour-de-france-debut

Reckon Brammeier may make his Grand Tour debut this year too.

Funny I think if Roche built his year around the Giro I think he could go really well there.

I'd love Dan to get the Polka Dot jersey. Just to complete the set for Ireland.

Delighted for Garmin winning Giro. Think we all agree a rider like Hjesdal would have no chance in the HGH days either so taking that as a positive

Mr A

30/05/2012, 2:58 PM

Interesting to see An Post Sean Kelly (http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11990/Video-An-Post-Grant-Thornton-Sean-Kelly-team-pushing-for-Pro-Continental-licence.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+velonation_pro_cycling+%28Cyc ling+News+%26+Race+Results+|+VeloNation.com%29) looking at stepping up to Pro-continental but also keeping their continental team as well. Would love to see this happen.

Dodge

05/06/2012, 9:31 AM

bad crash involving Dan martin yesterday. Initial fears were that he'd miss Tour but as the pic shows, he's been taped up and is continuing on today

https://twitter.com/DanMartin86/status/209937775573745664

It was 3 years ago he got injured after being selected for his first tour

Mr A

07/06/2012, 1:53 PM

Roche seems to feel good about his Tour build-up: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12054/Roche-expecting-time-trial-improvement-after-wind-tunnel-work.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+velonation_pro_cycling+%28Cyc ling+News+%26+Race+Results+|+VeloNation.com%29

Has been doing wind tunnel work to improve his TTs, let's hope it pays off.

Stuttgart88

07/06/2012, 2:17 PM

Does anyone think TTs should play a role in major tours? I suppose they break the day in / day out regularity of stage races, give TT specialists something to shoot for rather than just the sprinters or climbers, they create a chance to split the riders and they're entertaining. Despite all that I just don't think they really fit.

Macy

07/06/2012, 2:26 PM

For what it's worth, I think ITT's should be there. Grand Tour winners should be an alrounder rather than a specialist climber or specialist TTer. I also think the grand tours should include stages like the roubaix ones a few years ago, or the puncheur suited stages of last year, and stages where the wind can rip the race apart.

I'd more question the Team Time Trials to be honest, as I feel it leads to a more focussed team make up rather than all round team make up, and can distort the individual standings a bit much for my liking (even though my favourite team is good at them!).

Dodge

07/06/2012, 6:56 PM

Agree with Macy. ITTs definitely have a place. It's not like a dominant TTer has had a shot at a grand tour since Indurain (maybe Armstrong).

Need to be an all rounder these days

Mr A

11/06/2012, 10:41 AM

Decent start in Switzerland for Roche.. 25th in prologue and 6th on mountaintop finish. 5th overall currently. A good indication of decent form ahead of the Tour, let's hope he can keep it going.

Dodge

11/06/2012, 11:08 AM

Olympic team was selected. Martin, Roche and David McCann. Cycling Ireland's points system was ridiculous and meant Brammeier missed out. He's appealing. Hopefully they re-consider (if unlikely)

Mr A

12/06/2012, 3:25 PM

I like Peter Sagan- but this is getting boring. 3 stages in four days in Switzerland. Roche still 5th overall.

Martin still upbeat with just having finished Dauphine. (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dan-martin-happy-to-make-it-through-criterium-du-dauphine)

Macy

14/06/2012, 8:10 AM

Armstrong charged by USADA. Not just a simple doping charge either. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrong-charged-with-doping-by-usada

Kimmage welcomes it http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12114/Kimmage-There-is-no-other-conclusion-other-than-Floyd-Landis-told-the-truth.aspx

Also optics bad for Contador in terms of dot joining.

Dodge

21/06/2012, 2:54 PM

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12181/Hesjedal-confirmed-as-leading-Garmin-Barracuda-in-Tour-team-lineup-announced.aspx

Dan Martin confirmed for Tour

Stuttgart88

22/06/2012, 7:39 PM

Also optics bad for Contador in terms of dot joining.What are the dots? Same doctors / team mnager (Bruyneel)?

Stuttgart88

23/06/2012, 10:22 AM

Armstrong's legal defence

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/lance.html

Macy

25/06/2012, 8:54 AM

What are the dots? Same doctors / team mnager (Bruyneel)?
One of the trainers listed was also his personal trainer for a period.

passinginterest

25/06/2012, 10:02 AM

Macy

25/06/2012, 10:40 AM

I see Brammeier won the national championship. What's the story with the apparent dislike for him? Even on the article I read the first comment was by someone saying they can't take to him and they were dissappointed that he won. Can any of you dedicated cycling fans shine any light on this? It seems he should have been a cert fot the Olympic team and he's only being left out for some sort of personal reasons.
To start from the last point - the reason he wasn't selected was because of the (ridiculous) points system used. Never going to suit a rider who's essentially a domestique. There seems to be some debate on how hard Box Hill actually is, but if it was on the easy side of the commentary he'd probably be the best suited of our top riders. I think it's still in the appeal process though. Dan Martin was giving out about the points system earlier in the season too.

Never met the guy, so unless it's his personality, I'd say any ill feeling is because he was a very late decision to represent Ireland. He was born in Liverpool, represented Wales in a commonwealth games and now represents Ireland. Must admit this type of nationality hopping doesn't sit too well with me, but thems the rules in cycling, so he's one of us now. Also, would've been nice to see Roche take it for the simple fact he'll be in the tour.

Dodge

28/06/2012, 1:18 PM

Didn't realise there was any dislike for him. In fairness to Brammeier he's attended every National Championship (winning the last 3 and a TT one too) and rode for the Sean Kelly team. Think he left GB as he asn't happy with how they treated him after injury.

He absolutely should be on the team ahead of McCann. he didn't win any points because he raced pretty lightly (as a domestique) as he's expected to race the Vuelta.

Anyway, Tour starts on Saturday. Roche's diary returns in the Indo. Dan Martin has one in the IT too. He seems as frank and opinionated. Really looking forward to this Tour

Dodge

28/06/2012, 2:03 PM

And just like that brammeier confirms he's heading to Vuelta

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12230/Video-Brammeier-looks-forward-to-Vuelta-debut-celebrates-historic-nationals-win.aspx

Macy

28/06/2012, 2:55 PM

Didn't realise there was any dislike for him.
Hadn't really myself until recently, but he certainly doesn't get the attention or support the other guys get.

I have seen a few people comment on things he said after the timings debacle in the TT championship as not really being acceptable if someone does actually consider themselves Irish, but that's purely going on others opinions as I didn't see anything untoward in what I've come across tbh.

Dodge

01/07/2012, 10:22 PM

good start for the Irish lads. Not a bad prologue. Martin 8th, Roche 18th today. Few top 10 hopefuls lost time (Froome, Kessiakoff)

Real ale Madrid

03/07/2012, 4:08 PM

Sagan won his second stage today, Roche 7th - lots of crashes and can't find any word on Martin.

Mr A

03/07/2012, 4:36 PM

Just over 5 minutes down.. think he got caught behind one of the crashes/ had to go back for Danielsen.

Real ale Madrid

03/07/2012, 4:49 PM

Thats a bit of a disapointment for Martin, might have more scope to go for a stage win now.

Mr A

03/07/2012, 5:04 PM

I think he is targetting the mountains jersey and a stage win, so no harm to shed a bit of time. Still a pity as he could well have done something on that sort of finish.

Real ale Madrid

03/07/2012, 7:10 PM

According to his twitter feed Danielson has separated his shoulder and is out of the rest of the tour.

Dodge

04/07/2012, 8:52 AM

Pretty mad how much resources Garmin put to Danielson. Left Ryder on his own in the lead peleton.

As above the bit of time loss may help get away on a mountain stage. Not that he won't lost 6 minutes on the titme trials...

Macy

04/07/2012, 9:16 AM

Yeah, didn't understand everyone waiting with Danielson - maybe him not being the leader was a bluff to take pressure off him, which JV has done before. Having said that, Dan kinda finished in no man's land between the leaders and Danielson - not sure what happened there. He was on Ryder duty on Stage One so maybe he got caught later. I know the focus wasn't GC at all for him, but still a bit disappointed we won't truly see his potential. Hard to see him going too far into the red in the time trials now, which he might've been tempted to do if he'd still been there or thereabouts.

Dodge

04/07/2012, 9:35 AM

Mr A

04/07/2012, 10:35 AM

I think people are a bit harsh on Roche... going for a top ten is likely to yield more UCI points than going for stage wins, even if it's less spectacular and interesting. And it's still a big achievement in itself.

I'm pleased to see that AG2R aren't throwing guys into every single breakaway this year. Maybe this will mean they have more energy left to support Roche in the mountain stages.

Macy

04/07/2012, 11:01 AM

Maybe, but I don't really want to see him bust his balls to maybe finish top ten when he can agitate in the mountains. Much prefer him chasing stages or even the polka dot (to complete the set for Ireland ;) )
Well Vaughters agree's with you, rather than me, so I think he'll be 10 minutes plus down by the time the first mountains come around. I'd love to see him get a stage, and a genuine climber win the polka dot too so it'd be a great double.

I think people are a bit harsh on Roche... going for a top ten is likely to yield more UCI points than going for stage wins, even if it's less spectacular and interesting. And it's still a big achievement in itself.
I probably have more of an issue with it being his complete focus, and would like to see him more focused at other times of the year. For all that could be done better with AG2R, they can't be faulted for giving him space to try for a high grand tour finishes.

Dodge

04/07/2012, 11:11 AM

I think people are a bit harsh on Roche... going for a top ten is likely to yield more UCI points than going for stage wins, even if it's less spectacular and interesting. And it's still a big achievement in itself.
Yeah, but I just don't think he's good enough to finish top 10. His 14th/15th a couple of years ago was a phenomenal result. The other 2 outings were low-mid 20s. Far from knocking that achievement I just think he'd be better suited trying to attck on the medium mountains. A stage win is worth the same UCI points as finshing 14th (ironically enough)

I'm pleased to see that AG2R aren't throwing guys into every single breakaway this year. Maybe this will mean they have more energy left to support Roche in the mountain stages.
Bouet was in the first one.

Mr A

04/07/2012, 11:28 AM

Yeah I know, but I don't mind if they're on stages where a break might actually stick. At times the French teams can be so obsessed with camera time that they'll attack regardless of whether there's actually a chance of success... see FDJ last year or Saur this year so far, and from some of the Roche diaries in the past AG2R have thought the same way.

Dodge

04/07/2012, 11:38 AM

Yeah, pays the bills and all that.

Mr A

05/07/2012, 9:38 AM

Claims that 5 former team mates will admit using drugs and testify against Armstrong and receive only 6 month bans.

Vaughters has said that nobody at his team have received bans though. No one has yet commented on whether they testified.

They are George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), the only rider who was present for every one of his seven victories, Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma Quick Step) and the Garmin-Sharp duo of Christian Vande Velde and Dave Zabriskie. The fifth individual is Garmin-Sharp manager Jonathan Vaughters.

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12294/US-Postal-investigation-Claims-that-Hincapie-Leipheimer-Zabriskie-Vande-Velde-and-Vaughters-testified.aspx#ixzz1zju7Z1Mq

Dodge

05/07/2012, 9:41 AM

Judging by Vaughters on Twitter, I'd say its pretty clear that he testified. Delighted he did too.

Macy

05/07/2012, 9:51 AM

And no way the names on that list can attempt to be written off like Landis and Hamilton could either.

Dodge

05/07/2012, 9:54 AM

And no way the names on that list can attempt to be written off like Landis and Hamilton could either.

No, but you could see why armtrong's people would try and leak them. More pressure

Dodge

05/07/2012, 10:01 AM

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/05/news/garmin-teams-management-says-its-riders-are-free-to-cooperate-with-landis-investigation_118885

vaughters statement in 2010. basically - answer the questions if you're asked them

Macy

05/07/2012, 11:10 AM

No, but you could see why armtrong's people would try and leak them. More pressure
Ups the pressure on them, but it smacks of desperation too. Anyway, I think it's great that people are standing up for it - kind of reassuring to see Vaughters and Co follow through publicly rather than hinting.

Dodge

05/07/2012, 11:13 AM

I mean ups the pressure as in, they don't need this while they're racing. Clearly a desperation move

Stuttgart88

05/07/2012, 8:36 PM

Lazy question. I've heard no mention of Boonen or Hushovd so far. Are they both out? Boonen was on great form in the spring classics.

Also, anyone got any idea why some of the Sky helmets (e.g., Cavendish) have no ventilation holes.

What a finish today. The breakaway guys came so close. Also, interesting Millar interview on ITV4. It seems GB, US and Germany will all work together in London to make sure Cavendish, Greippel and Farrar will be able to contest the medals.