28 replies to this topic

[Ullman]

Cycling's last Grand Tour of the season is underway and this year's itinerary looks a killer. Excellent race today with Contador's repeated attempts to break his rivals coming to nothing. Froome managed to nick third ahead of Contador which won't have done his confidence any harm considering he was riding well within his capabilities.

[Wolford6]

Contador was toying with them today... stop and surge, stop and surge,stop and surge until all his rivals are on the limit. He'll be strong again tomorrow; they might not be.

[Ullman]

Contador was toying with them today... stop and surge, stop and surge,stop and surge until all his rivals are on the limit. He'll be strong again tomorrow; they might not be.

Certainly going to be interesting. I think he's going to find Froome a tough nut to crack but will the exertions of the Tour take their toll on Froome?

[GeordieSaint]

Enthralling viewing on ITV4's highlights package this evening. Froome looked good but Contador looked like a machine! It'll be an interesting couple of weeks...

[Severus]

Sky really are trying to be the most unpopular team in the Peleton. You don't attack when the race leader is involved in a crash/mechanical. It's against the (unwritten) rules.

Edited by Severus, 21 August 2012 - 10:04 PM.

[T-Dub]

Sky really are trying to be the most unpopular team in the Pedleton. You don't attack when the race leader is involved in a crash/mechanical. It's against the (unwritten) rules.

Errm , they dont have previous for that, even when the oportunity arose in the TdeF

That said I haven't caught up with this race yet.

It's a little below my radar as not being in my favourite 3 cycle races which are, in order :-

3. Dauphine
2. Otley
1. Tour de France

Edited by T-Dub, 21 August 2012 - 09:05 PM.

[Severus]

Errm , they dont have previous for that, even when the oportunity arose in the TdeF

That said I haven't caught up with this race yet.

It's a little below my radar as not being in my favourite 3 cycle races which are, in order :-

3. Dauphine
2. Otley
1. Tour de France

The Vuelta has been seen more attacks in the last two stages than the whole of the TDF. I don't like seeing Contador race after only 6 months out but he certainly does make things interesting.

[Wolford6]

The Vuelta has been seen more attacks in the last two stages than the whole of the TDF. I don't like seeing Contador race after only 6 months out but he certainly does make things interesting.

If Contador had been French, he wouldn't have been suspended at all.

[Futtocks]

If Contador had been French, he wouldn't have been suspended at all.

But he would have been whingeing about the British riders' "magic wheels".

[Wolford6]

But he would have been whingeing about the British riders' "magic wheels".

It was quite interesting to hear that, under Olympic (and UCI?) rules, all equipment used in the competition must be freely available for purchase. Team GB made all their new equipment available for sale at the last possible minute; only weeks before the Olympics and with zero publicity. Though other teams could buy the equipment, they didn't have time to work out the correct settings etc.

[Severus]

It was quite interesting to hear that, under Olympic (and UCI?) rules, all equipment used in the competition must be freely available for purchase. Team GB made all their new equipment available for sale at the last possible minute; only weeks before the Olympics and with zero publicity. Though other teams could buy the equipment, they didn't have time to work out the correct settings etc.

That rule was brought in after team GB's domination of the track in Beijing 2008. British cycling spend thousands on R&D only to have UCI change the rules to let other teams copy the designs.

[Student Ram]

Some massive efforts by Froome yesterday on the climb and he still failed to shake the other 3 off. 30 secs down and Rodriguez &Contador looking good. Thought the SKY Colombians may have lasted longer on the climb to be honest. Really enjoying this. Froome has more of an acceleration than Wiggo but still not enough in this field it would seem. Seems more competitive GC than TdF was.

[Severus]

Froome will make up some time in the time trial but I don't think he has what it takes to win a grand tour yet. Hope I'm made to eat my words.

[Ripken]

I think Froome's tactical naivity has been exposed by Contador and J-Rod over the last couple of stages, especially in Andorra where Contador played him like the proverbial violin. I've read things in the past about Froome having all the ability in the world but lacking the tactical brain to use it, and I think he is struggling without Wiggins next to him calling the plays. He will take back time in the ITT, but I don't see him getting enough to beat Rodriguez, and who knows what Contador will do...

Good race though!

[Wolford6]

I think Froome is suffering a bit because his squadmates are not the A team assembled to back Wiggins in the TdF.

In the Spanish mountains, Rigoberto Uran has been disappointing and, after Richie Porte flogged his guts out for three weeks in the TdF, it's asking a lot to expect the same level of performance from him a month later. Froome's being left without support too far from the finish.

[Ullman]

Sky (I think it was an interview with Bobby Julich) have made no bones about the fact they're flogging Froome to see what he can take. He worked very hard in the Tour. If he even stays in contention in the Vuelta I think he'll be doing very well.

[Wolford6]

Sky are going to have to search for a sprinter. Mark Cavendish is expected to leave and Ben Swift's not up to it. I wonder if Ed Clancy is up for it.

[Wolford6]

This year's race is a real classic.

Froome v Rodrigues v Contador v Valverde in the mountains to settle it this weekend.

[Saint Rich]

Sky really are trying to be the most unpopular team in the Peleton. You don't attack when the race leader is involved in a crash/mechanical. It's against the (unwritten) rules.

Bit of a late reply, but I think Movistar complaining about any other team's tactics is somewhat rich.

On the race itself, sadly I can't see Rodriguez holding off the doper. And there's not going to be a challenge from anywhere else. Sigh.

[Wolford6]

It's do or die for Chris Froome today.