Pro Cycling (inc Tour de France) 2008

[Bluebeard]

I really hope Evans cleans up on the time trial and wins this years tour. Living in Oz they are quite arrogant about what they achieve in all sports - some idiots seriously felt they should have won the 2006 world cup - Evans winning however would go some way to rebuilding the reputation of the TDF and pro cycling in general, there has never been any hint of him using drugs and he is so modest and down to earth in interviews that it beggars belief. The man is a machine, even more determined than Armstrong and it is obvious that a win would mean everything to him. I'm no expert on the sport so was just wondering how you guys felt about his chances?

I'd been against until earlier this week when I had a moment of clarity. The man is clean, determined, works with what he was given, tactically astute, has no team about him, doesn't complain, wears a "Free Tibet" T-shirt and really wants it. He may not be the most exciting cyclist ever, and is Australian, but damnit, he is a really good example in so many ways. Hope he wipes the floor with Riis's vascillating superstars today (Cancellara & Voigt excepted, of course).

[Macy]

Sastre pulled it off, or perhaps more Evans didn't have enough left in the tank. He never looked comfortable in the time trial. Having a weaker team, along with the crash took it out of him in the end. It's good that the winner came from one of the teams that have all the independent testing too, although never much of question mark around Evans either. Hopefully all sponsors will insist on such an approach from now on, which with the UCI passport system can only improve the sport. Looking forward to the Tour of Ireland now, and also hoping that there's decent coverage of the Olympic races on BBC.

[Dodge]

The track races will get great coverage on the BBC as they have 8-10 genuine medal shouts.

Agree re the independent testing. Despite the late positive tests (****ing Kazakhs...) good to see that the tour is generally being seen as a good one, and a much needed boost.

Only recently found out Sastre's nickname in Spanish cycling is Mr Clean. Hopefully that isn't sarcasm.

I'd say his ride meant Evans would've had to win the ITT to claim yellow and I'm not sure he'd ever be on that kind of pace. Personally I'm glad that the only contender to have made a solo break in the whole tour (on Alp D'Huez no less) went on to claim victory.

[Dodge]

Nicholas Roche going well in the Tour of Wallonia. He's placed 6th overall after a couple of top 5 finishes (He was one place ahead of Bettini in the sprint yesterday)

[Bluebeard]

Nicholas Roche going well in the Tour of Wallonia. He's placed 6th overall after a couple of top 5 finishes (He was one place ahead of Bettini in the sprint yesterday)

Fingers crossed that he might pick up a stage win, and keep in the top of the GC - Boonen and Bettini are both in it, but I reckon they'll be tapering down for the Olympics.

[Dodge]

No reason to think Roche isn't doing the same (and by no means am I saying he's in their league). Read a piece on bettini at the weekend where he said he's not ruling out coming abck next season. His dream is to win his second Olympics though so I'd guess if he won that he'd retire

[Macy]

Ricco has admitted taking epo and doesn't want his B sample tested. Although I read it as him trying to make out he was clean for the Giro...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jul08/jul30news3

[Macy]

No reason to think Roche isn't doing the same (and by no means am I saying he's in their league).
Nice timing, with Credit Agricole pulling out and no sign of a sponsor yet.

[Dodge]

Nice timing, with Credit Agricole pulling out and no sign of a sponsor yet.

In fairness his sprinting has been much improved this year and has several top tens (and of course his first win in portugal in may)

[Dodge]

He Finished 7th overall

1 Sergei Ivanov (Rus) Astana 22.32.08
2 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto 0.19
3 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step 0.23
4 Marco Marcato (Ita) Cycle Collstrop 0.39
5 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française des Jeux
6 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team CSC-Saxo Bank - Saxo Bank 0.41
7 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Crédit Agricole 0.42

[Dodge]

Daniel Martin finished 5th in todays stage of the Tour of Denmark (the first hilly stage). He was a late replacement in the Garmin team

[paudie]

Daniel Martin finished 5th in todays stage of the Tour of Denmark (the first hilly stage). He was a late replacement in the Garmin team

In Denmark does that mean they went over a speed bump?:D

[Dodge]

Will he wear it though - previous continental pro's haven't bothered...

Pic of Martin in his National champrion jersey on the page below

http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2008/08/01/denmark-stage-3-dan-martin-5th-on-hardest-stage

[Bluebeard]

Pic of Martin in his National champrion jersey on the page below

http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2008/08/01/denmark-stage-3-dan-martin-5th-on-hardest-stage

Good to see it: while the argyle is toned down a lot, unfortunately the shamrock thing is a bit too kitsch for my liking. I dread to see what this year's version of the national jersey is at the Olympics. Plain green was good enough for Roche to win the Worlds, so let's go back to that.

Speaking of the Olympics, what do people reckon? Hopefully Deignan will put in a good show, but I cannot see beyond Italy, Spain and Luxembourg for the medals. My money will be on Bettini. Outside him, Kirchen and Valverde are looking very good for a win.

[Dodge]

Agree on Kirchen and Valverde. I think the big climb in Beijing will be too much for Bettini IMO (although he has based his whole season on it, and willl have the whole italian tema working for him). If Deignan or Roche can get into an early breakaway with some of the top teams involved like Ciaran Power in Athens, who knows?

Oh and I think they had to change the national champion's jersey as it was too close to several of the green points jersies around. I'd imagine the jersey at the Worlds will be,at least, more green

[Dodge]

So a climber won the Olympics anyway. Shame O'Loughlin wasn't on top form in the pursuit.

Meanwhile... Dan martin had a good opening prologue in the Tour of Portugal. He finished 24th, and now lies in 17th overall after 2 full stages. He's 3rd in the young rider classement

Oh and the Sean Kelly An post team had a big win lat week, winning the 2.2 ranked Tour of the Pyrnees. British rider Daniel Fleeman taking the jersey. He was second on stge 2. 3 of the 6 lads on the team are Irish

[Dodge]

Martin finished 11th yesterday in what looked to be a very hilly stage. He's 11th overall now too

[Bluebeard]

Teams are mostly announced now, and listed here (http://startlist.cyclingfever.com/startlist.html?_p=startlijst&sw_i=z&jaar=2008&maand=8&id=18711).

Provisional time itineraries and route profiles are here (http://www.tourofireland.ie/stages.html).

No sign of either Nicolas Roche or Deignan, sadly. I thought that they might get a guest call up to the National side, like McCann did. Decent Pezula and An Post teams might be our best chances of home glory, aside Dan Martin of course. And Malcolm Elliot at 47 will be there, having been in the Nissan Classic in 1987 and 88, racing against Boy Van Poppel, who's father Jean-Paul just beat him in the sprint at the Champs Elysée in the Tour 20 years ago this year!

I'm coming back watch the end of the first stage and then the Cork finalé. Anyone know what time the RTÉ highlights of it will be on, or is there any chance of live coverage (even on radio)?

[Macy]

I'm coming back watch the end of the first stage and then the Cork finalé. Anyone know what time the RTÉ highlights of it will be on, or is there any chance of live coverage (even on radio)?
Not sure the times have been annouced for RTE, but ITV4 appears to have an hours highlights a night at 7.

I'll be watching the first stage through Roundwood anyway at the sprint. Doubt it'll be as fractured as the Ras was by the time it made it up to us earlier in the year.

[Stuttgart88]

Regarding the Irish jersey, is there a retro version of Roche's jersey available?

Here's a current version from PBK, presumably unofficial.

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=C10025

[Dodge]

RTE had live TV coverage last year. Might have the same this year (prticularly for the internet...)

Deignan and Roche are both missing it due to riding in the Vuelta I think. (Roche definitely is).

[Bluebeard]

RTE had live TV coverage last year. Might have the same this year (prticularly for the internet...)

Deignan and Roche are both missing it due to riding in the Vuelta I think. (Roche definitely is).

Roche is down for Credit Agricole, but unfortunately, Deignan doesn't seem to be listed for AG2R's outline squad.

Any word on Roche's chances on a contract for next year? CA are leaving cycling, and the way things are, with possibly Gerolsteiner going out of business, and the Protour's minimum 25 rider clause likely to go with the Protour, it is going to be tight for places on a competitive team next year.

[Dodge]

Any word on Roche's chances on a contract for next year? CA are leaving cycling, and the way things are, with possibly Gerolsteiner going out of business, and the Protour's minimum 25 rider clause likely to go with the Protour, it is going to be tight for places on a competitive team next year.
The flipside of that is that with no limit on top division teams, riding for so called second tier teams like Slipstream, Tinkoff (I know they're stepping up but...) isn't seen as a step back now

[Bluebeard]

The flipside of that is that with no limit on top division teams, riding for so called second tier teams like Slipstream, Tinkoff (I know they're stepping up but...) isn't seen as a step back now

True with that. Maybe he'll join one of the Irish teams.

Like LPR Brakes of CSF Navigiare;)

[Bluebeard]

Speak of the devil, Nicolas Roche won the first stage of the Tour du Limousin today with a break finishing just 3 seconds ahead of a bunch including Feillu and teammate Seb Hinault. He now figuratively wears the Yellow jersey, the Youths jersey and the combined jersey, with an 11 second lead thanks to time bonuses. He rated it as the finest win of his career.

Results on Cyclingnews (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2008/aug08/limousin08/limousin081).

Report on Irishcycling.com (http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_3310.shtml).

[Dodge]

He's certainly beat a good few previous race/stage winners there. Very promising. Looks like he was going for everything today too judging by sprints and mountians classifications

[Macy]

RTE had live TV coverage last year. Might have the same this year (prticularly for the internet...)
Father in law had the flyer/ leaflet last night for the Tour. Only mention of RTE coverage was an hours highlights starting after 11 each night, mainly at 11.20. LoI style sure we'll put it on really late and it'll prove no one wants to watch it :rolleyes:

[Dodge]

Drat...

[Bluebeard]

Roche second on the stage this evening - seemed to be a bunch sprint, based on the brief results on Cyclingnews.

Meanwhile some comment from him on yesterday's result (second section), also from Cyclingnews (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/aug08/aug20news2).

[deadman]

Roche is down for Credit Agricole, but unfortunately, Deignan doesn't seem to be listed for AG2R's outline squad.

Any word on Roche's chances on a contract for next year?

i hear Roche agreed a two year contract with AG2r yesterday ... joining up with deignan

[Bluebeard]

i hear Roche agreed a two year contract with AG2r yesterday ... joining up with deignan

Good news! It's up on Cycling News now. Is Deignan contracted to AG2R for next year too? Hopefully so, and it'll be an advantage when they come to race in the World's next year.

On the downside, it really does seem that after years as various Peugeot teams, then GAN, and recently Credit Agricole, that venerable old team is going out of existence. I feel particularly sorry for Roger Legeay who's run them since 1996.

Meanwhile Dan Martin seems to be riding well in Portugal and only 5m38 down: with a small uphill finish today, hopefully he might put in a few seconds and scrape into the top ten.

[Macy]

On the downside, it really does seem that after years as various Peugeot teams, then GAN, and recently Credit Agricole, that venerable old team is going out of existence. I feel particularly sorry for Roger Legeay who's run them since 1996.
Not forgetting "Z" one of the classic garish tops. :D

Good news about Roche getting a decent team for the next couple of years.

[Dodge]

Aren't Ag2r won of the teams planning on scaling back next year. I think they said their sponsors won't to conctrate on French races. Roche has already said his main aim is to amke the tour (and compleete his grand tour set)

[Macy]

Aren't Ag2r won of the teams planning on scaling back next year. I think they said their sponsors won't to conctrate on French races. Roche has already said his main aim is to amke the tour (and compleete his grand tour set)
Cofidis were the team that announced during the tour they were going back to being a continental team from ProTour because of the sponsors, but Ag2r could've been the same as it seemed to be an issue in several teams. I would've thought they'd be okay for the Tour though?

[Dodge]

Oh yeh, they definitely should be OK for the tour. And I'd imagine they'd still have a fairly full European schedule. Teh fact they don't have a superstar would help Roche too, as if he's finishing races as strongly as he is now, he'd have enough chances to win.

[Dodge]

Roche had a bad day today. Ending up 30 minutes behind leading group. He's still 6th in points competition

Martin finished 7th on another mountain stage in Portugal. He's still 11th overall

[Bluebeard]

AG2R have provisionally named Deignan in their lineup for the Deutschland Tour.

[Dodge]

http://www.volta-portugal.com/classifica.html

Tour of Portugal results above if you can't wait for cyclingnews.

Martin 10th in another mountain stage, still 11th overall though. Still leading the young rider classification

[Bluebeard]

Tiago Machado managed to evade Dan Martin today and got up enough time to pip him to 9th on GC and the Youth Jersey by 7 seconds.

10th in Portugal is a great result for him all the same, he was the top rider for Garmin, the only non-Iberian in the top 10, and managed to keep with it in a fairly tough 10 stage race. This, coupled with him completing the Tours of Ireland and Britain, which he should do, will give him 23 stages racing in just over a month, so he should be considerable as a potential starter for a Grand tour with Garmin next year, should they get an invite. Vaughters rates him, but didn't think he was ready yet for the Tour. Fingers crossed for 2009!

[Dodge]

Martin was still 18th in today's time trial though, so he can definitely take away a lot from this

[Bluebeard]

Martin was still 18th in today's time trial though, so he can definitely take away a lot from this

Didn't realise it was a TT - I'm very impressed with that performance, as I would not have put him down for one!

One of the big boys at British Cycling sees him as a potential TDF winner, and "The one that they let get away". He will improve and that is a good place to start improving from.

[Bluebeard]

The Tour Of Ireland starts tomorrow. Anyone going to be able to catch it live?

I'm off to Waterford for tomorrow and Cork for Patrick's Hill on Sunday

[Dodge]

Hoping to get to see the start of it in town. Depends on work though. Other than that it'll be nightly updates on RTE

[Dodge]

First stage over. Cavendish winning. Time bonuses mean he's GC leader too

[Bluebeard]

Didn't ever think I'd be in a position to hear myself say this but "Damn football coverage!" Liverpool's inability to score has led the coverage to be half an hour late, having been an hour and a quarter late into Waterford. And I'm meant to be up early tomorrow:rolleyes:

Good buzz down on the quay in Waterford today. I was talking to a bloke from Wiltshire who booked his family holiday to Ireland around coming to the Waterford stage - let the family know last night:D

Also talking to two boys who cycled down from Dublin this morning. Seven hours cycling, two hours waiting and all over in 15 seconds. Back on the train back to Dublin after, but they are threatening to cycle to Cork too for Sunday:eek:

Any good a buzz at the, eh, Grand depart?

Is it getting anywhere near yourself Macy?

[Dodge]

BTW for those who are in work (or whatever) IrishCycling.com is doing live updates for every stage

Nice diary thing from Dan martin on the Garmin team site too http://www.slipstreamsports.com/

[Macy]

Is it getting anywhere near yourself Macy?
I was in Roundwood for the first sprint to see Cav take it (and I have the crap An Post T shirt). They were late even at that stage. David Duffield there doing a bit of commentary as we were waiting - way younger than I thought he'd be! Although he was talking up Dan Martin as going for the King of the Mountains points as he was getting dropped off the back on the Long Hill (Sugarloaf). Not a bad crowd considering, and decent enough buzz around the place.

Did you make it to the Depart Dodge? Going from the RTE coverage not many about, looked like it would've been easy enough to meet the pro's? Probably would've headed there if that was the case.

I assume the RTE Coverage is just the same as the ITV coverage, or rather the Tour of Ireland is producing the programme and selling it? I didn't really need Imlach to tell me, unconvincingly, how great Dublin Docklands are! Recorded the ITV coverage as we were out last night, but saw the start of the RTE highlights....

Reading the report Cav didn't take the first sprint apparently, looked like he had at the time, and I thought it was on the highlights he had!

[Dodge]

Missed the start. I hate having responsibilities...


I assume the RTE Coverage is just the same as the ITV coverage, or rather the Tour of Ireland is producing the programme and selling it? I didn't really need Imlach to tell me, unconvincingly, how great Dublin Docklands are! Recorded the ITV coverage as we were out last night, but saw the start of the RTE highlights....


Didn't see the ITV programme but I'd imagine it was the same. Imlach wearing a Tour of Ireland polo and no TV station logos anywhere. Apparently its been sold to a good few territories. Sherwin seemed to think (or know...) that he was commentating for a new audience. he explained about drating and the lead out for sprinters. Interview with Martin Cullen at the end, just for you macy ;)

[Macy]

Interview with Martin Cullen at the end, just for you macy ;)
Was it as bad as the awful one with Pat Carey at the start?

[Dodge]

Probably. Missed it though