Cycling 2013

[Dodge]

back leader of the combination jersey too. Great ride. Who knew actually training with a TT bike would help...

[Schumi]

back leader of the combination jersey too.

He'll have worn all four jerseys on a stage now. That must be pretty unusual.

[swinfordfc]

Now is the big question - can he maintain this till sunday week?

[Macy]

Who knew actually training with a TT bike would help...

And a bit of self belief too. Also, as the doping conspiracy* theorists are ramping up, an up and down course and out of the GC contenders none that have TTing as their real speciality also helped. Brilliant performance none the less, as even with those factors, he previously would be losing 4 or 5 minutes to Martin or Cancellara. Really hopeful of a podium for him now - key stage is that Tour de France-esque one, which is kinda different to the normal Veulta stages. Amazing performance whatever happens from here.

*I'm pretty cynical about cycling performances, but I wandered into The Clinic to see how his performance went down. Christ on a bike, the whack jobs twist everything to suit that a rider is doping. One of them suggested he'd transformed from a sprinter to a tdf mountain domestique since going to saxo, ignoring his previous GC results and the fact he was pretty rank in the high mountains of the Tour! There's been no exceptional improvement, bar the TT. His results on the climbs are remarkably similar to his previous results on the very same climbs!

[Dodge]

The big reasons for Roche's results being better in this Vuelta are

a) the field is remarkably weaker than in previous years IMO. No Wiggins, Froome, Contador. Of the young guys Mollema and Martin crashed. Rodriguez never really gets going until half way through the race. The only genuine GC challenger in the race is Nibali and he's leading (and should win comfortably). If Roche was to win, it would be no real different to Hesjedel winning the 2012 Giro.

b) his confidence is sky high after that win (on a one mountain parcours, it should be noted, not the long up and down days to come).

His record in the Vuelta is 13th, 7th, 16th and 12th and that was with a poor team behind him

[Mr A]

Yeah, the clinic is a fooking Zoo. I'm very cynical also, but some of those guys can't accept that any cyclist ever is clean. Like you say, everything is taken as evidence of doping.

[Macy]

Just to clarify, I have no doubts about Roche. There's been nothing exceptional, and even his TT was within what you'd expect considering one of the factors of moving was to work on that area. Great performance - veulta has been a success for him whatever happens from here on in!

[nigel-harps1954]

Philip Deignan officially confirmed move to Sky team.

[swinfordfc]

Philip Deignan officially confirmed move to Sky team.

Thats great news

[Dodge]

All the "experts" think he'll be part of Richie Porte's team for the Giro. Him being an Ulsterman should mean he gets a fair bit of publicity from the opening weekend

[Macy]

Delighted for him. Although must admit to being slightly disappointed that he only got a 1 year deal - sky have chewed up and spat out a few riders since their formation (Russel Downing the prime example).

[Mr A]

Roche up to 5th as Saxo repeat their Tour De France feat and split the peloton in crosswinds. Great stuff, and super to see the team going all out to back him. He closed the gap in the green jersey competition too as he came in 10th.

How that one bad day in the cold messed thing up though

[Mr A]

Roche holds out today despite not being on a good day and ends up 5th. Very good performance from him and he has racked up some nice UCI points as well. Hopefully he can carry the form into Lombardia and the Worlds. Pity he had that bad day in the cold. But reassuring that he isn't on top form every day.. looks human at least.

Meanwhile Brameier has been going pretty well in Belgium while I think Lavery has been solid enough with Cofidis to date.

Felix English, Peter Hawkins, Philip Deignan, Sam Bennett and Daniel Martin all doing the Tour of Britain this week. Pity to see Ronan McLaughlin miss out on selection.

[Mr A]

Bennett just lost out on a stage win to Ciolek (winner of Milan SanRemo) earlier this week. Has been rewarded with a place on the worlds team- http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15...nd-Martin.aspx

Martin, Roche, Brammeier, Bennett. Deignan unfortunately misses out as he crashed at the Tour of Britain.

Edit: Just read back through this thread and what a year it has been! Not over yet either

[Mr A]

Martin on the attack today at the Tour of Britain, but it's Sam Bennett that wins the stage! Nice!

[Dodge]

Brilliant win for Bennett. That was very hilly and the "peleton" was down to 15 a the end

Matt Brammeieir won a race in Belgium too

[Mr A]

Bennett's win.

[Mr A]

Another super result for Sam Bennett as he takes second in a bunch sprint to Cavendish. Excellent effort and he beat some serious class. Big things ahead for this lad.

[Mr A]

13th for Roche at the Worlds TT. Excellent stuff. Really looking forward to the Road Race.

[Real ale Madrid]

Brian Cookson is the new President of the UCI - he has ousted PMQ by 24 votes to 18 in this mornings vote in Italy. Rumours were abound on twitter this morning that Cookson allegedly offered €25k to the Greek delegate in return for its backing.

It's funny and as great as it is to get rid of McQuaid - I have the same feeling about cycling now than i did when Tommy No Bobs took over Cork City from Arkaga. It's like delaying the impending doom.