Cycling 2014

[Mr A]

Can it even go close to the epic 2013 Irish cycling had?

Kicks off at the Tour Down Under were Deignan will make his Sky debut. Not a course that suits him so basically just a warm up for him I'd say.

[Mr A]

Interview with a confident Sam Bennett: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/sam-bennett-eager-to-hit-the-road-running-after-turning-professional-1.1649927?page=1

Netapp looking for a Tour wildcard rather than one for Giro.

[Mr A]

Both Netapp and UHC miss out on Giro wildcards, but Netapp get into Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan San-Remo and Lombardy while UHC invited to Milan San Remo.

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/martyn-irvine-and-sam-bennett-to-miss-giro-but-bennett-in-line-for-big-races/

Somewhat staggering that YellowFluo were chosen given they had two EPO positives last year. New generation eh?

[Mr A]

A piece on the new riders at An Post Chain Reaction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra22s-3dTfY&feature=youtu.be&a

San Luis under way now and the Tour Down Under starts tonight- the 2014 season has truly begun :)

[Mr A]

Netapp get a wildcard for Le Tour. Could Bennett feature? He'll have to show some real form in early season, but it's possible.

He starts off at the Tour of Qatar- a great chance to go up against some of the world's top sprinters.

[Mr A]

Marcus Christie gets in the break and comes 6th in his first pro race for An Post at Etoile de Bessèges. Decent start!

[Dodge]

Felix English was 4th in the prologue of the Herald Sun Tour. He was best young rider.

Slipped down the field on the first stage

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/jayco-herald-sun-tour-2014-2014/prologue/results

[Mr A]

Decent opening to the season for Bennett with three top tens in Qatar.

Roche interview here: http://us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ec3e8e1740086f503f9ba786b&id=6277dd5e75&e=06ca824e5f He is planning for Tour of Oman, Heroica, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Sanremo.

[Mr A]

Another broken collar bone for Deignan: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/disaster-strikes-for-philip-deignan-broken-collar-bone-puts-giro-start-in-real-doubt/

[Mr A]

Roche on the attack today in Oman:
http://www.stickybottle.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/NRRRRR-600x398.jpg
Image borrowed from Sticky Bottle, which also has video highlights: http://www.stickybottle.com/races-results/video-highlights-of-stage-3-from-tour-of-oman-featuring-nicolas-roche-on-the-attack/

Bennett going rightly with a couple of top tens, although he wasn't in the front group today.

[Mr A]

3rd for Bennett in the final stage in Oman. Very decent sprint. Hopefully he makes the breakthrough for the season soon.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EDwvBy6r94

[Mr A]

Brammeier starts at Langawi this week. Martin will start with Tirreno Adriatico, Catalunya, Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallonne, Liege Bastogne Liege, Giro.

[Mr A]

Deignan back in training: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/deignan-back-in-training-after-broken-collarbone

[Mr A]

Brammeier 2nd on the first stage: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/le-tour-de-langkawi-2014/stage-1/results

He also took first on all the king of the mountains so leads that classification and sits 3rd overall (due to intermediate time bonuses)

[Mr A]

Brammeier 8th on stage 2. Clearly going well. There's a Cat 1 and HC climb later in the race, so chances are he'll have to mop up a lot of lower cat climbs to keep the mountains jersey- which all points to another breakaway. That in turn means he may have to drop time to allow that to happen.

[Dodge]

Martyn Irvine won silver in the Scrath race in the World Championships. He won gold last year. Brilliant achievement

http://balls.ie/cycling/video-martyn-irvine-wins-medal-in-world-championships-track-cycling/

Ryan Mullen (only 19) was 4th in the Individual Pursuit (Irvine was 12th)

[Mr A]

Nice one, meant to post that, but good that someone broke up my run so I don't look like too much of a mental case.

[BonnieShels]

Just about to post it as well.

The good start to the year has transpired.

[swinfordfc]

Sam Bennett win a sprint today in Spain! :)

[Macy]

Sam Bennett's win is being called his first pro win (even on the likes of cycling news not just general media). Are the An Post team not pro? I thought Continental level teams were pro?

[Mr A]

I was wondering that too- I know the An Post guys do get a salary, even if it's pretty low.

Great win for Bennett (http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-de-almeria-2014/results)- posted about it last night but it disappeared and couldn't face retyping it on the phone.

Brammier meanwhile has been in two more breakaways and has kept the mountains jersey after the queen stage- but it's tighter now. He has the sprint jersey as well, but haven't seen the full results from today yet. He's clearly going really well though.

[gastric]

Mr A and co, keep up the good work here. It is great to read about the exploits of our established and upcoming riders. Is Bennett as good as the hype suggests?

[Mr A]

Found some video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PVcyV8IKbM

Spanish commentary, watch from about 17.20 minutes to capture the sprint. Very impressive stuff- Movistar had five guys there and still had a leadout man there when Bennett went. He was blocked slightly too but blasted past them and never looked like losing. Not the greatest sprinters in the final but still a super win.

Irish Times Report: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/sam-bennett-digs-deep-to-break-his-pro-duck-in-spain-1.1710104

[Dodge]

Sam Bennett's win is being called his first pro win (even on the likes of cycling news not just general media). Are the An Post team not pro? I thought Continental level teams were pro?

There's 3 main levels of cycling team

World tour
Professional continental
Continental

Bennett has moved from the Continental An Post team to the Pro-continental NEt App Endura team so I assume that's what they mean

Continental teams can be professional, amateur or a mix of both. pro-Conti teams are all professionals

EDIT; bit of background here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2014_UCI_Professional_Continental_and_Cont inental_teams

[Mr A]

Report on Brammeier's progress: http://www.stickybottle.com/races-results/brammeier-loses-blue-points-jersey-in-langkawi-today-but-retains-red-jersey-of-mountains-leader/

Points jersey lost despite being on equal terms with holder, 1 point lead in KOM.

[Macy]

There's 3 main levels of cycling team
I get all that, I just thought An Post were a pro team. So I'm still going with they're wrong to say it's his first pro win :)

[Mr A]

Brammeier down to fourth in the sprints classification, but extends lead to three points in mountains: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/le-tour-de-langkawi-2014/stage-6/results

There are five cat fours left in the race, all early in stages. He'll be hoping breaks go and hoover up the points. Or even better, perhaps he'll attack again himself.

[Mr A]

No change in KOM today fro Brammeier.

Meanwhile the the Sean Kelly Team are looking at stepping up a division, have registered in Ireland rather than Belgium and are generally employing English speaking riders. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/d%C3%A1il-sketch-enda-and-eamon-blow-birthday-candles-and-their-own-trumpets-1.1712688?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Mr A]

Sticky Bottle piece on Bennett: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/bennett-reveals-massive-spring-race-programme-when-i-lose-more-weight-ill-get-better/

His program is ride Tirreno Adriatico, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent Wevelgem and possibly Paris-Roubaix and he feels there's better form to come.

[Mr A]

No change in KOM standing in Langkawi today- only 2 more cat 4s to come, both early in tomorrow's penultimate stage.

Interview with Jack Wilson: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/you-get-no-respect-in-the-bigger-races-its-just-a-massive-****-fight-kill-or-be-killed/

[Mr A]

Booyah- Brammeier just needs to finish inside the time limit on the last stage to win the Mountains jersey after successfully defending his lead today. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/le-tour-de-langkawi-2014/stage-9/results

[swinfordfc]

Well done Brammeier - KOM jersey - what a start to the year!

[Mr A]

Ryan Mullen interview: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/its-my-biggest-objective-for-the-year-to-win-the-world-champs-im-up-for-it/

[Mr A]

Nothing in the way of excitement this weekend as Roche didn't feature prominently in the Strade Bianche and the SKT lads had a tough time in West Flanders.

Martyn Irvine meanwhile has begun his road season in Taiwan, Stephen Clancy is there also.

[Mr A]

Big news for Irish Track cycling: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/irish-cycling-gets-massive-boost-as-government-approves-e8-million-indoor-velodrome/

Still a lot of hurdles to get over before it's a reality though.

[Mr A]

Dan Martin Interview about Tirreno and beyond: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dan-martin-happy-to-make-late-start-to-season-at-tirreno-adriatico

[Mr A]

Bennett 4th at Stage 2 of Tirreno.

Result:

1 Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) IAM Cycling
2 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr
3 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol
4 Sam Bennett (Irl) Team NetApp - Endura
5 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
6 Davide Appollonio (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
7 Filippo Fortin (Ita) Bardiani-CSF
8 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida
9 Tony Hurel (Fra) Europcar
10 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - Qhubeka

Netapp Team report: http://www.netapp-endura.com/en/news/detailview/news/sam-bennett-places-fourth-for-the-stage-david-de-la-cruz-in-the-group-of-the-day/

[swinfordfc]

Sam Bennett finished 4th in today's stage in Tirreno!


Mr A raced me to this! :)

[Mr A]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BituC9_IMAErelj.jpg

Roche and Martin today at Tirrenno Adriatico.

[Mr A]

Just read Sean Kelly's book, Hunger. Very good, although so far it has been very expensive so I'd wait for the paperback.

Roche piece from Eurosport: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/blazin-saddles/roche-m-doing-something-completely-074709661.html This will be a regular thing it seems.

[Mr A]

Roche piece after Milan San Remo: http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicolas-roche-things-got-crazy-when-it-started-to-lash-hailstones-30118771.html

Dan Martin opens his defence of his Tour of Catalunya title today. http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/in-such-a-good-field-in-catalunya-im-not-a-favourite-but-being-an-underdog-always-suits-me/

[Mr A]

Not a great week. Martin has made little impression in Catalunya while Bennett did not finish Dwars door Vlaanderen. Bennett is in Gent Wevelgem tomorrow- I think the race may suit him but he's mixing with the very best in this one.

[Mr A]

Bennett finished 12th. I think he was involved in a late crash so that's an OK result.

Edit: report here: http://www.stickybottle.com/races-results/sam-bennett-takes-solid-12th-place-in-crash-marred-gent-wevelgem-classic/ Bennett didn't go down but lots of his team did.

Meanwhile Deignan is back- http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/philip-deignan-forced-out-of-comeback-race-in-italy-but-collarbone-passes-first-crucial-test/

Martin finished 16th overall in Catalunya.

[Mr A]

Missed the fact that Bennett rode the Tour of Flanders, don't think he was listed when I checked the start list last week. http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/i-nearly-got-across-to-the-move-with-phinney-in-it-but-they-just-about-pulled-away-from-me/

Pulled out with stomach issues. Will ride Scheldeprijs and Paris-Roubaix. Fabulous experience for him and great to have Irishmen on the start line of the monuments especially.

[Dodge]

He's been listed as team leader too for most of his races. Big sign of their confidence in him

Deignan had to pull out of Tour of Basque Country. Poxy start to his season

[Mr A]

Bennett 5th at Scheldeprijs! Superb performance.

Edit: video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VCkW3SiOE

Report: www.netapp-endura.com/en/news/detailview/news/bennett-sprints-to-fifth-place-in-the-scheldeprijs/

[Mr A]

Roche on the Giro etc.: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/if-theyd-had-a-giro-stage-finish-up-st-patricks-hill-i-might-have-been-able-to-do-something/

Bennett on Scheldeprijs http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/its-a-good-result-but-its-not-a-podium-or-a-win-id-like-to-be-able-to-get-a-few-more-big-wins/

Like his attitude and ambition.

[Mr A]

Bennett finished in the last group, almost half an hour down. But still, he finished Paris-Roubaix, which is a hell of a thing in itself.

Looking forward to the Ardennes classics now. Hopefully Martin is closer to his best than yet seen this year and I've a feeling Roche will be in fine fettle.

[Mr A]

Sam Bennett wins Rund um Köln (http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/rund-um-koln-2014/results)

Edit: found video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SClpUCwwOBE

Not a massive race, but winning races in Germany for a German team is a big deal.

Report and interview with Bennett: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/sam-bennett-video-interview-it-was-a-crazy-race-i-nearly-left-it-too-late-in-the-sprint/

[Mr A]

Dan Martin takes 2nd at La Fleche Wallonne, Valverde wins. I thought Roche was going to do these races but he has not appeared.

Meanwhile Deignan is with Sky at Trentino.