Cycling 2012

**Mr A** · 14/08/2012, 5:23 PM

Roche and Martin 16th and 18th at San Sebastian. Good that they were in the front group, but disappointing that they couldn't finish higher as they're both pretty quick and there weren't a lot of real fast men up there. Both in decent shape before the Vuelta though.

**Dodge** · 15/08/2012, 9:02 AM

Both mentioned the lack of a hill on the finish as a bit of a problem

Didn't realise Martin was riding the Vuelta. Delighted with that

**Mr A** · 15/08/2012, 10:38 AM

Yeah, haven't seen him in a start list but he seems to think he's going anyway!

**Dodge** · 17/08/2012, 1:41 PM

No Martin in the Vuelta though Roche nominally named as team leader (with panto villain adret in there too) for Ag2R

Hopefully he's looking for stages

**Mr A** · 19/08/2012, 9:40 PM

Roche confirms in the Indo that he's there as a stage hunter and the team won't be supporting him for GC. Should be interesting. In a way it's a pity as I think the route suits him for GC.

**Mr A** · 20/08/2012, 4:05 PM

Roche 11th on the first real test.. if he really is stage hunting only maybe he should have rolled in half an hour down. On the other hand he could easily end up in a decent GC slot without team help- he didn't get that much at the Tour!

Meanwhile Lance Armstrong's case to get the USADA investigation of him stopped has been dismissed. One in the eye for Lance and the UCI.

**swinfordfc** · 20/08/2012, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Roche 11th on the first real test.. if he really is stage hunting only maybe he should have rolled in half an hour down. On the other hand he could easily end up in a decent GC slot without team help- he didn't get that much at the Tour!

Meanwhile Lance Armstrong's case to get the USADA investigation of him stopped has been dismissed. One in the eye for Lance and the UCI.

Roche never gets any support from his team AG2R cause they no good in the serious mountains, he's going for GC by himself but i would not mind that. His biggest problem though is that he can not time trial and that is costing him a top 10 in le tour and a top 5 in the vuelta!

**Mr A** · 21/08/2012, 9:37 AM

Yeah.. but the only time trial in this race isn't overly long and has a mountain in the middle, so should suit him pretty well. He also showed in the first TT at the Tour that he is getting better in that discipline.

**swinfordfc** · 21/08/2012, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Yeah.. but the only time trial in this race isn't overly long and has a mountain in the middle, so should suit him pretty well. He also showed in the first TT at the Tour that he is getting better in that discipline.

Yes saw that so that will suit him for sure. And yes he did well in the first time trial in Le Tour but his last time trial which was the important one to hold onto 11th spot, he was brutal and in the end was lucky to hold on to 12th spot, which was his best finish on the Le Tour. The Le Tour was a missed opportunity this year for him i think - he should have made the top ten if he went of a break in the mountains with other riders but he took the easy option to stay in the peleton.

**Mr A** · 21/08/2012, 2:14 PM

Dan Martin re-signs for two years with Garmin according the the cycling news guy.

Edit: story here: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12...-end-2014.aspx

**Mr A** · 21/08/2012, 4:49 PM

Roche 5th today.. he put at least a little time into a lot of the other big favourites with a late attack. Up to 8th now, just 24 seconds off the lead. He's been really aggressive so far, great to see.

**swinfordfc** · 21/08/2012, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Roche 5th today.. he put at least a little time into a lot of the other big favourites with a late attack. Up to 8th now, just 24 seconds off the lead. He's been really aggressive so far, great to see.

Bravo Roche .... great to see him back what he used to do best, attack - being aggressive. Next big test is thursday finish - tomorrow is just for the sprinters

**Mr A** · 23/08/2012, 4:03 PM

Roche 9th today, 7th overall.. he's really going well.

**swinfordfc** · 23/08/2012, 9:18 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Roche 9th today, 7th overall.. he's really going well.

He lost time today in last km ..... could got ahead of Gesink. Saturday is next big long test so here's hoping .....

**bennocelt** · 24/08/2012, 8:59 AM

Can anyone explain exactly what LeMond is on about here, its not very clear. Is he talking about the lung capacity not changing through time or what,lol! Sounds interesting.
Good day for P Kimmage id say.

**Spudulika** · 24/08/2012, 10:01 AM

"The bottom line is I played by the rules that were put in place by the UCI, WADA and USADA when I raced" - Anyone thinking of Clinton when reading this? "I did not have s''''l relations, with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...g-3209108.html

In fairness to Armstrong, being called a cancer is deliberately going to the lowest level for a man who beat the disease.

**Mr A** · 24/08/2012, 11:37 AM

I don't think anything is too low for that dirtbag to be perfectly honest. He has consistently used cancer as a smokescreen and a defence, and this was another example of avoiding questions using that by deliberately taking Kimmage's comments utterly out of context.

**Dodge** · 24/08/2012, 1:24 PM

Thats not to suggest Kimmage isn't a bit of a dick. Because he is. However right he is about Lance's doping

**BonnieShels** · 24/08/2012, 1:25 PM

Here here.

Just reading about it there as I had a late night. Have to say I have spring in my step today.
The Sunday Times will be a must buy this weekend.

It is a shame that Armstrong isn't gonna fight it in one sense as this will limit the mud that will stick to him but victory is victory.

Huzzah.