Cycling 2014

Interview with Martin ahead of the Giro: http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...ideo-interview

I'm hearing that there's a good bit of promotion around Dublin but in general the lack of hype about the Giro coming here has been abysmal compared to the efforts made by Tourism NI.

Still, looking forward to heading up for the stage finishing in Dublin- any of the rest of you going to it?

Only see the top ten from Romandie Queen Stage so far and Roche isn't there :(

Not a good day for Roche, finished way back at almost 6 minutes. http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/news/spil...majka-crashed/

Deignan interview: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/o...an-267370.html

Roche Diary: http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...-30240740.html

Roche just doesn't seem to have it - why is he carry extra weight a week before the giro?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by swinfordfc

Roche just doesn't seem to have it - why is he carry extra weight a week before the giro?

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Because his season isn't set around the giro? I doubt he'd do it if it wasn't visiting Ireland

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Because his season isn't set around the giro? I doubt he'd do it if it wasn't visiting Ireland

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No - your right - he did say that the only reason he is doing the giro cause it's start in Ireland this year - but why have a right crack at it if your going to go through 3 weeks of pain like - it's better to be in top 5 of giro than a top 20 in Le Tour!

I think he has aimed to peak for the Giro but it hasn't quite come off for him. Maybe he'll improve as the race progresses. Currently it looks like Majika could be Tinkoff's main man.

Last diary from Romandie: http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...-30243835.html

Bennett will lead Netapp at the sprint heavy Five Day Four Days of Dunkirk this week. http://www.netapp-endura.com/en/news...-de-dunkerque/

Long Martin piece: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/othe...rget-1.1783400 Martin also feels he's not in peak shape this year.

Lineups for the teams with Irish riders:

Garmin Sharp

91 Ryder Hesjedal (Can)
92 Andre Fernando S Martins Cardoso (Por)
93 Thomas Dekker (Ned)
94 Tyler Farrar (USA)
95 Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa)
96 Nathan Haas (Aus)
97 Daniel Martin (Irl)
98 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned)
99 Fabian Wegmann (Ger)

Team Sky

191 Dario Cataldo (Ita)
192 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor)
193 Philip Deignan (Irl)
194 Bernhard Eisel (Aut)
195 Sebastian Henao Gomez (Col)
196 Chris Sutton (GBr)
197 Salvatore Puccio (Ita)
198 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr)
199 Ben Swift (GBr)

Tinkoff-Saxo

201 Nicolas Roche (Irl)
Rafal Majka, Nicolas Roche, Michael Rogers, Chris Anker Sørensen, Pawel Poljanski, Evgeny Petrov, Ivan Rovny, Jay McCarthy and Christopher Juul-Jensen.

A bunch of changes for Tinkoff and indeed other teams due to slow processing of visas by the UK.

INRNG preview: http://inrng.com/2014/05/who-will-win-the-giro-2014/
Piece on Deignan: http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...-30250515.html

Edit: Bennett 5th on stage 1 http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/4-j...tage-1/results Team report: http://www.netapp-endura.com/en/news...ys-of-dunkirk/

Guardian interview with Dan Martin

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...n-giro-ditalia

Roche's Giro Diary has started already: http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...-30254969.html

Philip Deignan has been made team leader of Sky for the Giro after Peter Kennaugh's last-minute withdrawal.

Dan Martin down with what looks like a collar bone break :(

Disaster. I think everyone feels devastated for Dan. Looking good for Deignan and Roche.

Just saw the video. Freak crash. Devastated for Dan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/27353152

Deignan diary on Stick0y Bottle: http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-n...n-all-my-life/

Roche Diary: http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...-30261882.html

Onlookers in Cushendall:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BnSMLI1IAAAs9JG.jpg

This was on the BBC website today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-27354787

Unreal.

Roche Diary: http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...-30265165.html
Deignan Diary: http://www.stickybottle.com/races-re...d-in-my-mouth/

Took a spin up to Dublin yesterday and watched the race go by at Clontarf. A long way to go for about 8 seconds worth of seeing the race. Had a wander around the finish area later as well. Serious crowds out for it, impressive considering the premiership was finishing at the same time.

Roche said in Twitter that the Irish are best fans in the world, but where are they for the local club events, eh?

Anyway, Martin in Dublin for surgery. Deignan, who has had two similar injuries, is upbeat about Martin's prospects saying he won't lose too much fitness

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/o...in-268250.html

But at the same time, surely Martin would also be looking to gain fitness for france from competing in the Giro.