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Looks bad for Boonen. He was meant to be hearing from the court today whether he'd be allowed ride the Tour or not. The judge announced that he was not competent to rule on the case, according to cycling news. He'll do well to get a court together between now and Friday.
Anyone know the rout of the Tour of Ireland this year? There is nothing on the official website or on Irishcycling, other than it is on from the 19th to the 23rd of August, and that Lance Armstrong has said he'd be in it - not updated since February. I read today on Cyclingnews that Kristian House will be at it with Rapha-Condor; I would imagine there'll be the national team, the Kelly team, probably Candi-Pinarello, and repsumably an Astana / Armstrong vehicle team. With the conference in Dublin, it suggests that the finish might be in Dublin, but still nothing. I'm due to come back to the South East the weekend, but I'd shift it by a day if that meant catching it on local streets.
I've been keeping an eye out myself, but there's been nothing - well there was a release saying the route would be released "soon". Garmin and Columbia will also be there I'd imagine, although hopefully Dan Martin will last a bit longer (he barely made Roundwood last year).
I think I read that with LA in it, they'd have "consider the route carefully" or something like that.
IrishCycling.com will be the place with most updates. Phil Deignan said its in his schedule recently. Whether thats with Cervelo or with the national team i've no idea.
Cervélo's team website says nothing about racing after July, so it is possible they could be there - I'd quite like to see that.
While on the subject, Garmin has nothing listed beyond the TDF either, but I would suspect that they'll be back too, with Dan Martin being an important figure within the squad. AG2R doesn't list the Tour of Ireland either, though I'd imagine they'll be prioritising the GP Ouest France Plouay at the weekend, the Tour du Limonsin, and probably even the ENECO Tour, so I'd say Roche is going to be part of a National Team if there.
The "caution" being practiced by the Tour is understandable if infuriating. LA will be the biggest draw they'll h ave had since Kelly and Roche were racing. If he turns up (a large if, I fear), there'll be huge crowds. I'd say there are a number of demands that will have to be fulfilled first. I can tell you this for nothing, Ceramica Flamina and Fillippo Simeoni, will not be invited...
Anyone know when the Tour of Ireland stages will be announced?
Not listed on their site.
I'm not a big cycling fan but I want to go and see Armstrong.
He he. Bluebeard just asked. Its not announced yet and probably won't be for a little while (after TdF)
Just had a quick check there and most teams weren't confirmed until July last year so I'd imagine it'l be the same this year
EDIT; found the article talking about Lance and the route on the Irish times website
Apparently Thomas Dekker has been kicked off the Silence Lotto team for the Tour - testing of blood from 2007 B sample showed up EPO. Wegelius in instead. From cycling news.
Seeing as Dekker left Rabobank half way through the season last year under mysterious circumstances, one is inclined to leap to conclusions...
Yeah I think I lept to that conclusion last year when he was announced on the team for the tour, and then dropped
He protested his innocence of course.
It'll be interesting how they handle this case though - normally they'd only test the "b" sample if the "a" is positive. Hard to see how he can get another sample to test in a lab of his choice...
R5 Live had a good 45 chat about cycling last night, though I had to turn off after the Magnus Backstedt interview.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...rance_Special/
Dan Martin out of the Tour - tendonitis hasn't cleared up and he is replaced in the Garmin team by by Martijn Maaskant.
Roche's comments are probably on the mark about it being a bug jump for him, and that the Vuelta is a better stepping stone. @rse all the same.
Martin out of the tour with Tendonitis!!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/garm...-knee-problems
Boonen is in. CAS decided in his favour, ASO are gracious about the matter.
Read all about it at Cycling news.
Nicolas Roche is off! Great to see the Tricolour trim on the sleeves of the skinsuit. Looking forward to seeing the national champion's jersey tomorrow!
EDIT: Roche twenty seconds down at half way mark. Not bad going, though this is long before most of the big names start
In 28th a the moment with a good amount finished. That's if I'm looking at the Tour website correctly. That seems good to me, where would you more knowledgeable cycling folk expect him to place?
I'll let Blue beard answer the more nowledgeable but I'd have placed him in the top 50 and he eventually finished 43th so I guess he'd be happy enoughQuote:
Originally Posted by passinginterest
Cancellara had another great ride and won by 18 seconds from Contador. Interesting to note that Sean kelly piced Cancellara for overall GC winner
Contador should have done enough to claim leadership of the team, if there was any lingering doubt. Astana had 4 of top ten with LA in 10th
I'd hardly claim to be more knowledgeable, but who am I to disagree with others;)
I'd have been satisfied for Roche to be top fifty or 60 at the end of the day. He isn't really a time trialist, and the world's best are on display, plus a couple of guys who are stoked up to the max for it. I'd rather he saves his powder for the stages he could feasibly win. Stages 6, 13, 14 and 19 look best for him, unless he really turns on his sprinting pedals, where he could take on something in the second week.
Roche finished 8th today. Not enough for any world ranking points but a decent result considering he isn't a top tier sprinter
Cavendish and Columbia won easily
Caught a bit of the TTT and every team so far has had a crash. Menchov being the biggest casualty
I had though the TT wouldn't really effect the GC but Menchov could lose several minutes today.
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Ok seeing as some will be watching highlights, I'll spoiler it.
SPOILER: 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 ;)
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!
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.
Check out the classy looking Irish Champ's jersey!
Details for the Tour of Ireland's first stage has been announced. 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.
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.
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 raceQuote:
Originally Posted by Macy
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 secondQuote:
On le tour, a great couple of days racing. Great to see the race being blown apart on flat stages.
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:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
Terrific finish to today's stage
SPOILER: 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
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
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.
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!
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).
Apparently Wiggins is staying with garmin. SOme of the Sky signings have started to leak out, but no GC contendor as of yet
I posted that before I'd read the feature on cyclingnews with him saying how happy he is at GarminQuote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
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!)Quote:
Originally Posted by 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
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...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
I remember Ciaran power got his break with the Linda Mccartney team. 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodge
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.