The Cycling Thread

[defoes5]

Yeah, gutted for G. Was out this morning and tuned in with 30km to go just as he was being dropped. He rode through a broken pelvis at the TdF some years back but he was a mere domestique then. Has he pulled out?

I was concerned about Yates' form, hadn't seen him ride much since the restart. He's not completely out of it yet though, the two TTs should see him claw a couple of minutes back but it's hard to see him winning from here. This is wide open now.

yeah i remember you saying about yates, spot on there, the riders form this year has been all over the place with covid restrictions meaning some have done more training that others, i don’t think G has pulled out yet but there’s little incentive for him to persist with it considering i doubt he’ll be able to fight for stage wins, i’d say it’s definitely between nibali and fuglsng but both have stinker days in them so it’s so excitingly wide open, hence why it’s always been my favourite grand tour

 

[PCozzie]

yeah i remember you saying about yates, spot on there, the riders form this year has been all over the place with covid restrictions meaning some have done more training that others, i don’t think G has pulled out yet but there’s little incentive for him to persist with it considering i doubt he’ll be able to fight for stage wins, i’d say it’s definitely between nibali and fuglsng but both have stinker days in them so it’s so excitingly wide open, hence why it’s always been my favourite grand tour

I can't see him carrying on. It's not just a muscle injury that he can get over in a few days. In not sure there is a lot of good form among any of the challengers. That Caicedo could maintain a 2 min lead so easily v the peloton up Mnt Etna suggests anything could happen. Next few days in hills/medium mountain stages are going to be carnage!

 

[defoes5]

I can't see him carrying on. It's not just a muscle injury that he can get over in a few days. In not sure there is a lot of good form among any of the challengers. That Caicedo could maintain a 2 min lead so easily v the peloton up Mnt Etna suggests anything could happen. Next few days in hills/medium mountain stages are going to be carnage!

aha yes really will, the varying and all-round poor form of the riders remind me of those under 23 races quality stuff, don't know if your already aware but if you're looking for extra in-depth analysis of the stages check out Lanterne rouge on youtube first but he does brilliant free podcasts on each stage and all the other races, definitely worth a listen if you've got the time and the extra interest.

 

[PCozzie]

aha yes really will, the varying and all-round poor form of the riders remind me of those under 23 races quality stuff, don't know if your already aware but if you're looking for extra in-depth analysis of the stages check out Lanterne rouge on youtube first but he does brilliant free podcasts on each stage and all the other races, definitely worth a listen if you've got the time and the extra interest.

I'll check that out, hadn't heard of it.

 

[PCozzie]

...I think an eye should be kept out for wilko kelderman, dark hose for a top 5 finish in my opinion

Looking a good shout now!

 

[defoes5]

Looking a good shout now!

absolutely, always fancied him, you’d tbink disregarding a horrible day he would be favourite

 

[PCozzie]

absolutely, always fancied him, you’d tbink disregarding a horrible day he would be favourite

Yep. Almaida looks isolated but Kelderman will have good support in the remaining mountains and is solid in the TT. Crashes/testing +ve tomorrow notwithstanding, I'd back him quite strongly now. Really pleased for Tao too, he looked strong but I can't see him taking back 3 minutes, and his TT is decent but not his strongest suit.

 

[aussiespursguy]

Julian Alaphilippe had a really nasty crash during Flanders. Now needs surgery.

 

[PCozzie]

Julian Alaphilippe had a really nasty crash during Flanders. Now needs surgery.

Yeah that looked pretty bad. I don't really think anyone was to blame. Hopefully he heals up quickly.

 

[Wsussexspur]

what a stage of Giro this is turning into! Tao Geoghegan Hart is having the ride of his life!

 

[defoes5]

what a stage of Giro this is turning into! Tao Geoghegan Hart is having the ride of his life!

and what a stage it was, fascinatingly close going into the last 3 days, my moneys still on kelderman despite losing some time today as he’s so strong in the TTs but would love Tao to win it

 

[PCozzie]

what a stage of Giro this is turning into! Tao Geoghegan Hart is having the ride of his life!

He had quite a ride. Jai Hindley looked strong on his back wheel and deserved his win, but this is wide open now. Stage 20 on Saturday is now required viewing and I'm predicting fireworks of the highest order.

I can't call it. Kelderman had the strongest TT but it's only 15km(?) Stg 20 is a saw blade and minutes could be lost.

Beers in, this is going to be epic.

 

[PCozzie]

and what a stage it was, fascinatingly close going into the last 3 days, my moneys still on kelderman despite losing some time today as he’s so strong in the TTs but would love Tao to win it

Idk. What's Hindleys TT like? Saturday is going to have more of an impact that the TT I think, and of of Tao, Wilko and Jai, Jai's legs look best by a nose over Tao.

Can't wait!

 

[onthetwo]

Saturday will be interesting as Sunweb might have to ‘anoint’ a leader while Ineos will have the whole team (Dennis in particular) smashing it for Tao in the mountains so it could be quite a day.

 

[PCozzie]

Good old fashioned riders strike in the Giro this morning. Was only missing Bernard Hinault punching a farmer.

(They are right though. 260km on stage 19 in the pissing down rain, anyone?)

 

[defoes5]

Good old fashioned riders strike in the Giro this morning. Was only missing Bernard Hinault punching a farmer.

(They are right though. 260km on stage 19 in the pissing down rain, anyone?)

i don’t know, i understand that how hard the giro is being made this year is insane, but a big part of me likes that as cycling, classically, has been known to be wholly arduous full of monster stages in all sorts of conditions

 

[PCozzie]

i don’t know, i understand that how hard the giro is being made this year is insane, but a big part of me likes that as cycling, classically, has been known to be wholly arduous full of monster stages in all sorts of conditions

I wonder if the same decision would have been made if it wasn't such bad weather. Their reasoning was that the spray from the road lessens their immune system, making them more susceptible to Covid. I have no idea of the science there, but as a layman I can kind of see their point. And this would have been the 5th 200km+ stage this week.

In them olden days with the monster stages, although they were often over 300km and sometimes 400km+ they didn't tackle multiple HCs like the Stelvio on the same day, or repeated mountain days, and there were only around 8 or 9 stages in total.

 

[al_pacino]

Related to this I really recommend this book if you haven't read it.

Riding in the Zone Rouge: The Tour of the Battlefields 1919 – Cycling's Toughest-Ever Stage Race: Amazon.co.uk: Isitt, Tom: 9781409171157: Books

Buy Riding in the Zone Rouge: The Tour of the Battlefields 1919 – Cycling's Toughest-Ever Stage Race by Isitt, Tom (ISBN: 9781409171157) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[PCozzie]

Related to this I really recommend this book if you haven't read it.

Riding in the Zone Rouge: The Tour of the Battlefields 1919 – Cycling's Toughest-Ever Stage Race: Amazon.co.uk: Isitt, Tom: 9781409171157: Books

Buy Riding in the Zone Rouge: The Tour of the Battlefields 1919 – Cycling's Toughest-Ever Stage Race by Isitt, Tom (ISBN: 9781409171157) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Thanks, I'm always on the lookout for cycling books. Will take a look.

 

[Trotter]

Don't have major issue with it.
Was always going to be a non-event after yesterday and what they have to deal with over next 2 days. Maybe given Kelderman bit of an advantage as he was certainly looking the worse for wear after yesterday. Will certainly have it on rather than pay per view football tomorrow