Cycling 2009

[Macy]

I thought Cav's DQ was harsh until I read Robbie McEwan's view of it. He basically said that he wasn't disqalified for moving off the line, but rather for turning around and "lining up" Hushovd. Made a bit more sense to me.

But he was disqualified for cutting him up. I thought he could've been done for blocking as well though, as he wasn't really sprinting either, and there was a few of them across the road.

So my summation is that it was harsh for the reasons given, but ultimately he can't have too many complaints.

Cav's mouth is the reason Hincapie didn't get in yellow too. Garmin obviously aren't happy with his constant sniping and worked pretty hard in the last 10k that day.

That maybe true, but Garmin are getting a hammering over it*. Or were before Wiggins kinda shut up the "whole look what we've done compared to Garmin" stuff that they were coming out with. Fairly below the belt for Stapleton to threaten to call the sponsors to complain though.

*the cyclingnews.com/ bike radar podcast was really going for Garmin. However, yesterdays wasn't through on itunes this morning, or zencast so far to see how the humble pie's going after the slating the day before.

[Dodge]

Fair enough on Cav, I had hear it was for "irregular" racing or something similarly vague.

I thought it was hilarious to see columbia/Astana gang up on garmin, and I though Vaughters handled it briliantly to be fair.

I'd have just asked them how come it was OK for Astanta to ride for Columbia but not OK for Garmin to ride for Ag2R. Silence/lotto also rode a little as payback for not allowing Evans to break in the Pyrenees

[Macy]

I guess if you think about it a few of the teams owed them one from that split in the first week, never mind anything else. Columbia have gone down in my estimation the last few days - I mean you expect (fast) sprinters to mouthy hot headed types as Cav is, but the team management shouldn't be so bloody whingy.

[Dodge]

Well that’s exactly it. I've no bother with anyone cocky, if thye can back it up like cav but he's no business talking about the race for yellow, and commenting on Garmin going for the TTT etc

He started to grate for me in the Giro and he's worse here.

For the record, Columbia have "World's Greatest Cycling team" painted on the side of their bus, so they're not exactly trying to endear themselves to the peleton.

Odds on Hincapie being on the new Nike/Armstrong team? Pretty short I'd imagine

[passinginterest]

Roche is having a good ride again today by the sound of things, looks like it could be a thriller of a finish.

[Mr A]

Roche came in fourth and now leads the young riders classification.

Having a very impressive tour it must be said.

[Stuttgart88]

Is he ahead of Tony Martin? Great stuff. Could have been Dan Martin too

I saw before today that AG2R are in third in the team classification. I understand it's the aggregate times of your top 3 riders. Nocentini is obviously one, but is Roche one of the 3?

Cracking first tour for him anyway.

I'm a semi-keen cyclist & think the Irish champ AG2R jersey is cool. Are they available?

I know Contador is a decent TTist, but does Wiggins have any chance to make an impression in Thursday's TT in Annecy?

wrt TV production, 2 points: (1) Gary Imlach is a god and (2) I'd love to see in the bottom right corner the current speed of the rider(s) being shown.

I was in a triathlon last weekend and downhill I peaked at 52kph. I have never ever hit higher than 57kph. These guys go faster than that for decent stretches on the flat.

[Stuttgart88]

Andy Schleck is holding best young rider position.

Roche in 30th place, 16 mins back from Contador. Very impressive.

[endabob1]

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-n...e-1834216.html

Classic piece of Indo Journalism, spot the error time

[Schumi]

The son of 1980s cycling star Sean Kelly

Does Stephen know?

[passinginterest]

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-n...e-1834216.html

Classic piece of Indo Journalism, spot the error time

Stephen won't be happy when he hears that

[Macy]

I was in a triathlon last weekend and downhill I peaked at 52kph. I have never ever hit higher than 57kph. These guys go faster than that for decent stretches on the flat.

Voigt is said to have been going 85kph when he crashed yesterday!

[Schumi]

Mad stuff today with Hushovd away at front over the first two climbs. There's no way he'll last the stage there but he has a few sprints to pull out his green jersey lead.

[Macy]

Mad stuff today with Hushovd away at front over the first two climbs. There's no way he'll last the stage there but he has a few sprints to pull out his green jersey lead.

Cav's bs about a stained jersey obviously got to him, and he's going to try and make the disqualification irrelevant.

[Macy]

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

Di Luca has tested positive for CERA in this years Giro....

[passinginterest]

Another top 10 for Roche up to 23rd overall and 5th in the Green jersey race. Could he be a potential winner in the future? He seems to be a decent sprinter and climber, maybe needs to improve his time trialling? What do the cycling experts think?

[Dodge]

Could he be a potential winner in the future? ?

Nope. He's a terrific talent, but he's only a year behind Contador, and older than Andy Schleck

Lets just hope he has a nice career out of it

[Stuttgart88]

Super performance by Roche in his first tour. Maybe top 10 potential?

I was really cheering for Wiggins. Is Dan Martin not considered the better climber within Garmin, or is it just that he's got youth on his side?

Great tour all round. No drug stories (not yet anyway - Kohl & Schumacher were busted quite a bit after 2008 TdF finished). Great sub-plots: Contador vs Armstrong & rest of Astana, Cav vs Hushovd etc. Great & really imaginative route - potentially important stages and TTs were dispersed well throughout the race. More breakaway wins than usual, presumably because nobody wanted to help Columbia HTC earn even more stage wins. And a (reasonably) prominent Irish interest. Great stuff, can't wait for 2010.

[Pauro 76]

http://www.itv.com/sport/tourdefranc...l/default.html

The inevitable fallout about to happen. Can't wait for next year's, missed a lot of coverage this year.

[old git]

http://www.itv.com/sport/tourdefranc...l/default.html

The inevitable fallout about to happen. Can't wait for next year's, missed a lot of coverage this year.

make sure you dont watch it on british eurosport.. watched final day into paris and commetators and studio experts nearly wet themselves waffling on about the great cavandish victory he destroyed the field with his power etc... i always thought last day was all about the yellow jersey and this mafnificent achiement... but oh no eurosport seemed to be more worried about final stage win and british winner he's some ridder cavandish as he always wins these stages on his own