Cycling 2009

[Bluebeard]

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.

[Bluebeard]

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.

[Macy]

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).

[Dodge]

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.

[Bluebeard]

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...

[Shilts]

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.

[Dodge]

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

[Bluebeard]

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...

[Dodge]

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.

[Macy]

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...

[Stuttgart88]

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/

[Bluebeard]

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.

[Dodge]

Martin out of the tour with Tendonitis!!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/garm...-knee-problems

[Bluebeard]

Boonen is in. CAS decided in his favour, ASO are gracious about the matter.

Read all about it at Cycling news.

[Bluebeard]

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

[passinginterest]

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?

[Dodge]

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 enough

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

[Bluebeard]

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.

[Dodge]

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

[Dodge]

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