Cycling 2013

**passinginterest** · 07/02/2013, 2:28 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Roche and Martin kick off their season at the Tour of the Med. Roche 8th in today's TT, his best ever TT result. Promising! Martin 25th.

Must be having lunch with Contador

Good to see him make a positive start anyway, hopefully he'll win some stages this year.

**swinfordfc** · 07/02/2013, 2:48 PM

Thats a excellant by both of them

**Mr A** · 09/02/2013, 12:38 PM

Martin out of Tour of the Med after the team's bikes were stolen overnight.

Meanwhile Roche seems really confident currently: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13...oNation.com%29

**swinfordfc** · 10/02/2013, 5:17 PM

Finish 5th overall so a good start to season for Roche

**BonnieShels** · 16/02/2013, 9:45 PM

2014 Giro to start in Ireland

http://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2013...rt-in-ireland/

**Mr A** · 18/02/2013, 3:01 PM

Bit on Dan Martin: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dan-...-needed-belief

Bit on Brammeier: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13...on-System.aspx

Bit on Roche: http://teamsaxobanktinkoffbank.com/n....asp?n_id=3894

Bit on Deignan: http://uhcprocycling.com/2013/02/17/...ta-ao-algarve/

Link rampage!

**Mr A** · 21/02/2013, 11:14 AM

The Giro is coming: http://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2013...eland-in-2014/

Fantastic news, looking forward to this already. Unfortunately though with the stages seeming to be Belfast-Belfast x2 and Armagh-Dublin it's hard to see any of them suiting Roche or Martin. But sure maybe we'll have more candidates by then.

Meanwhile Martin Irvine is into the Gold medal race at the track world championships. Sweet.

**Dodge** · 21/02/2013, 11:28 AM

Some Giro related titbits in there; http://balls.ie/cycling/giro-ditalia-ireland/

Great ride by Irvine. The final is later today.

Caroline Ryan was 5th in the women's pursuit yesterday too

**BonnieShels** · 21/02/2013, 11:42 AM

Giro confirmed in 2014.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/cycling/2013...eland-in-2014/

I cannot wait for this.

I'll never forget the Tour in 1998. Watching the stage live on TV then cycling up the Kylemore Road to the Naas Road. Unreal experience to see the cyclists zoom down Walkinstown Avenue to turn the corner onto the Naas Road and then into town. ANd then cycling back to teh house to watch the finish of the stage. Incredible.

**Macy** · 21/02/2013, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Unfortunately though with the stages seeming to be Belfast-Belfast x2 and Armagh-Dublin it's hard to see any of them suiting Roche or Martin. But sure maybe we'll have more candidates by then.

Around the outskirts to Tallaght, up over the Sally Gap, left turn and up over Djouce and then back into Dublin.

**Dodge** · 21/02/2013, 11:48 AM

Yeah, it passed though Inchicore. There was a bit of festival on. Road blocks etc meant they could put up a stage. great day

**BonnieShels** · 21/02/2013, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Yeah, it passed though Inchicore. There was a bit of festival on. Road blocks etc meant they could put up a stage. great day

Watching on TV as I did every summer before I could work never did it justice until I saw it in the flesh.

**Real ale Madrid** · 21/02/2013, 1:28 PM

Got the bus into the City (Cork), waited by a barrier for about 3 odd hours, and it took about 15 drug fueled seconds for the field to pass by. One of the biggest waste of times in my sporting life experience! Was great for the country at the time though, and I've loved riding my bike before and after, so in a way, I'm kinda glad I saw it.

Would be great if one of the étapes ( what's the Italian for étape ? ) was in Ireland as well - give us all a go!

**BonnieShels** · 21/02/2013, 1:32 PM

Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Got the bus into the City (Cork), waited by a barrier for about 3 odd hours, and it took about 15 drug fueled seconds for the field to pass by. One of the biggest waste of times in my sporting life experience! Was great for the country at the time though, and I've loved riding my bike before and after, so in a way, I'm kinda glad I saw it.

Would be great if one of the étapes ( what's the Italian for étape ? ) was in Ireland as well - give us all a go!

Etapio?

Always wanted to do the Etap in France. One day. One day.

**Real ale Madrid** · 21/02/2013, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Etapio?

Always wanted to do the Etap in France. One day. One day.

In Italy Google tells me they are known as "Gran Fondo's" and although there doesn't seem to be one during the Giro - there is a yearly Gran Fondo Milan-SanRemo coming in at a mere 294kms should you have the legs for it!

http://www.sportingtours.co.uk/index...giro.html~main