Cycling 2011

[Real ale Madrid]

Surprised no one commenting about Evans' superb time trial yesterday, a great tour , and a happy ending.

[sixesandsevens]

He was fully deserving of his win really, the way he rode throughout the final stages was fantastic... Even he does interview about as well as Michael Jackson.

[Macy]

After how good the racing was, I found myself a bit underwhelmed by how easily Cuddles took it in the end. It was kinda how 2008 should've finished for him! Some of the comments have been a bit harsh, given he was up there in the first week and won a stage - his reputation pre-world championship still lingers when he's turned himself into a race winner. Schelcks are just too happy with first and second loser - I don't think they'll ever win it now.

Disappointing showing from Roche - kinda reminds me of Wiggins last year, although Roche hardly had the same pressure to talk a good game? Be interesting to see how he goes in Spain.

Overall, a really brilliant tour. I'm not naive to believe it's 100% clean, but it's certainly the cleanest it's been for years and I believe/ hope the scourge of epo (the real donkey to thoroughbred game changer) might finally be behind us. The times for the Alpe stage compared to the late 90's and early 2000's makes fairly grim reading for those years, especially given it was such a short stage this year (iirc 5 minutes slower than 98 and 99?).

[Dodge]

http://bikepure.org/2011/07/a-cleaner-tour/

The Bike Pure people seem happy enough with it.

Don't forget Roche was injured coming into it. His indo diary always facscinating. I personally think he's better suited to try and go for stage wins rather than hang on to leaders group and finish top 10-15 in GT

Spain will be interesting. I'm hoping for a big big result from Dan Martin there too

[Macy]

Don't forget Roche was injured coming into it. His indo diary always facscinating. I personally think he's better suited to try and go for stage wins rather than hang on to leaders group and finish top 10-15 in GT

It was the injury and the effect on his form that I was getting at really. He kept the expectations high himself. I'd agree though - better a stage win than a decent but non podium, anonymous GC ride. Or shift more focus to the week long stage races rather than build totally around July.

Spain will be interesting. I'm hoping for a big big result from Dan Martin there too

Yeah, really looking forward to seeing how Martin goes. Hopefully they'll build the team around him, or at least give him freedom if Daneilson or VV are team leaders.

[Mr A]

Evans getting a bit of stick for not speaking about doping (towards the end of the article).

I think the criticism is a bit unfair. I can see why Evans, in the biggest moment in his career wouldn't want all the headlines to be about doping rather than about what he and his team had achieved. Also, anything he said about less doping allowing him a better chance to win might be construed as an attack/ innuendo on the people who've beaten him in the past and could be seen as very unclassy.

That said, the omerta around the issue has done cycling no favours in the past, so maybe it's not enough for him just to 'give a good example'. He probably should have come out and said "I'm clean and always have been, so I've proved it can be done, and the biological passport is definitely a good thing" and avoided anything too specific.

[Macy]

They are a bit damned if they do, damned if they don't. No matter what they say it'll never be enough.

For what it's worth I think he's clean - a dirty rider wouldn't have lost some of the times he has in the past if nothing else. Plus Sassi was his coach. On the negative side Rominger is his manager.

[Mr A]

Matt Brammeier's upcoming races: Kristianland Criterium, Herentals, San Sebastian, Eneco, Hamburg, Plouay, TOB, Pairis Bourges, Paris Tours. !

[Dodge]

Some decent races there alright. hard to gauge how HTC feel about his season. He's been the archtypal domestique, and usually first to really crank it up in the chase for Cav (or Goss)

He also tweeted that he hopes to go to World Championships too

[Real ale Madrid]

Matt Brammieir's upcoming races: Kristianland Criterium, Herentals, San Sebastian, Eneco, Hamburg, Plouay, TOB, Pairis Bourges, Paris Tours. !

I'm heading to the criterium in Herentals on Thursday night if the weather is ok. Might try and post a few pics if I can get anything decent.

[Dodge]

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/92...ds-future.aspx

Interview with Brammeier

[Mr A]

Dan martin 2nd today in stage 4 of Tour of Poland which notches up a few more UCI points. He's in 4th with harder stages to come so looks to have a decent shot at defending the title and should be in good shape for the Vuelta.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tou...tage-4/results

[Macy]

Highroad gone. Never warmed to the team, but still pretty shocking that they couldn't get a sponsor. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/htc-...sponsor-search

[Mr A]

Martin wins the stage and takes yellow in Poland: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tou...tage-6/results

Sagan is a good sprinter though and if he can take bonuses in the sprints he can still win the jersey back on that last stage.

[Mr A]

Martin second overall as Sagan does enough in the sprints. Disappointing, but still a very good result. Roll on La Vuelta.

Brammeier wearing 1 in the Eneco Tour.

[Mr A]

Big long bit on Martin ahead of the Vuelta: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/94...realistic.aspx

Looking forward to this.. we should learn a lot about Martin's potential. Hard to know what to make of Roche, not sure he has raced since le Tour at all.

[Macy]

For fellow Free To Air TV heads, itv4 are covering the Vuelta - 2 hours live, half hour highlights (looks like at 7, unless clashing with the football). I suspect it'll be similar to their california coverage, but still a good addition.

[Mr A]

Roche speaks ahead of the Vuelta- is unsure of form.

[Mr A]

Roche leads home the peleton to take 5th and a UCI point today.

[Mr A]

Martin takes third on today's first real mountain stage Another 4 UCI points. Sitting 11th overall.

Bad news is that Roche dropped some time to the main favourites.

Report: http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-...tage-4/results