Cycling 2009

[Dodge]

yeah, that sounds about right. Knew I was in the general area of being being right

[Billsthoughts]

deignan(?) done well today - in breakaway til near end and was swallowed up by peleton

[Dodge]

In the current Tour du Romandie, Dan martin is leader for the Garmin team. he finished 5th on todays' stage

Phil Deignan has turned out to be a great lieutenant for Carlos Sastre and is almost certainly heading to his first ever Tour de France. He's just been confirmed for the Giro d'Italia (which starts on May 9th)

I fully expect 3 Irishmen in this year's tour (Roche being the other)

[Stuttgart88]

That'll be fantastic. Does Martin wear the Irish national champion jersey racing?

[Dodge]

That'll be fantastic. Does Martin wear the Irish national champion jersey racing?

Yeah, loads of them here

http://www.slipstreamsports.com/phot...oto=3486118869

[Billsthoughts]

is deignan only irish in giro? who does anyone reckon is gonna win? I have to do some fantasy thing in work were you pick 2 sprinters ; 2 climbers and 2 overalls....I actually won the tour one we did in the summer despite fact I hadnt a clue who anyone was....

[Dodge]

Deignan is the only Irishman in it, yeah

Wide open Giro IMO. Suits a strong time trialists rather than a climber though so maybe someone like Leiphemeir. Sneaky feeling for Rogers too

[Dodge]

Deignan having a very solid start to the Giro. Placing 17th and 16th in the first two road stages. There were small breaks in the peleton on both days and he was in the leading bunch on both days.

As a result he's up to 21st position. Tomorrow's stage has an uphill finish and a strong ride could see him enter the top ten.

[Stuttgart88]

I didn't realise until recently that Tom Boonen was caught doing cocaine again, missing the Giro.

Will he also miss the TdF? A shame if he does, I'd like to see Cavendish have some competition in the sprints, though I see Petacchi (spelling?) beat him in one last week.

[Dodge]

I'd guess that Boonen will definitely miss the Tour. Stupidity from him having already failed one test for Coke

Deignan had a poor(ish) end to the week and was caught out by a couple of crashes in the peleton. He's in 81st place (36 minutes down on leader di Luca)

The FBD ras started witha win for the Sean Kelly/An post team and Niko Eeckhout

The Tour de Catalunya starts today with Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin both riding it

[Dodge]

Deignan showed his on his way to recovering from the crash with a fine 29th place on a very mountainous stage yesterday. he's in 65th overall

Nicolas Rche was 12th in the prologue and 4th in the fiorst stage in Catalunya. He lies 7th overall. Dan Martin is 37th

[Stuttgart88]

Wasn't Di Luca found gulity of doping after his Giro win a couple of years ago?

[Macy]

He was suspended in the close season following that, because of links to a dodgy doctor. He's never tested positive afaik.

[Dodge]

Deignan caught behind another crach today. very unlucky...

Dan martin 3rd on a very tough stage (3 cat 1 climbs) in Catalunya behind Valverde and David de la Fuente 9ad ahead of Olympic champion Samuel sanchez). He's now 6th in GC, only 19 seconds behind Valverde. Roche is still OK in 15th position overall

[Dodge]

Dan Martin second in a monster of a mountain stage in Catalunya. Presumably he's moved up in GC (no idea who won, or time differences etc)

Deignan 35th in ITT stage in giro. Should move up in GC. Menchov won stage to take over the GC too

EDIT; Dan is now 2nd on GC, only 15 seconds behind Valverde (who he beat by 2 seconds today)!!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009...s/catalunya094

Roche was a decent 21st and lies in 17th overall.

[Dodge]

http://www.slipstreamsports.com/2009...ge-4#more-6752

Some great pics of Dan in his Irish champion jersey

[Dodge]

Deignan currewntly in breakaway group in giro. Winner should come from his group. Live on eurosport

[Dodge]

He finished 5th. His best grand tour result. His team mate gearrens won the stage

[Bluebeard]

Magnificent performance by Deignan. Hopefully he can build on this during the season, maybe get in another successful break during the week.

[Dodge]

From reading what sastre, Gaerrans and Van poppel had to say it seems like he was the star of the show yesterday, attacking non stop.

They were placed up the road to help Sastre but got far enough in front to win.

Jonathon vaughters (head of the garmin team posted this on the grmin facebook page;

"Just wondering if Dan Martin might be a contender for the white jersey in the Tour this year? I can dream - and dreaming is free! JV"