The Bicycle Racing Thread 2014
- Thread starter The Boy
- Start date
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
It's the most bizarre cycling kit since that Bob the Builder themed Castorama one.
I had a large post half-written which mused on the issue of risk and value and so on in the context of Chris Horner. However, I see that he is now in talks with Christina Watches, so alls well that ends well.
Not sure whether to laugh or cry tbh.
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
I think the 'regular' team kit pictured is more to dissipate heat build up from having a black kit. Its silly having an all black kit, fine if like the NZ rugby team you compete in winter but for long days in the July sun? Style over practicality. I recall the original La Vie Claire kit was supposed to be all black but the DS (Paul Koechli) thought it a terrible idea for this reason. The mondrian one they ended up using was knocked up in an evening sans ordinateur.
I quite liked the castorama dungaree kit - it had a sense of humour.
DownwardDog
Riding a Brompton with a power meter.
Or the Carrera faux denim one.
Stone cold classic imo. I'd almost forgotten about it till it was mentioned up thread.
Now that one i *had* forgotten about :d
Barking_Mad
Non sibi sed omnibus
I cant wait until fat middle aged men start wearing them.
Argos-Shimano will ride as Giant-Shimano for this year only. Apparently their new title sponsor who had signed a three year contract pulled out. Bit a bad situation when a team has multiple GT stage wins, an up and coming GC rider, strong classics team and the man most likely to challenge Cav and they still find themselves in this situation.
Granted it seems that some of it has simply been bad luck/timing, but still.
Granted it seems that some of it has simply been bad luck/timing, but still.
There's bicycle racing today! Chipper in Gabon and no television coverage, but there are actual WT riders and pro-contis and everything.
And Eurosport have published their provisional broadcast schedule http://2014tvguide.eurosport.com/m/index.html#/page/14 . Might just be me, but looks like they've included a few races they don't usually cover - especially non-WT one day races like Roma Maxima and Tro Bro Leon. Possibly upping their game due to Sky getting involved?
And Eurosport have published their provisional broadcast schedule http://2014tvguide.eurosport.com/m/index.html#/page/14 . Might just be me, but looks like they've included a few races they don't usually cover - especially non-WT one day races like Roma Maxima and Tro Bro Leon. Possibly upping their game due to Sky getting involved?
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
Ballan finally banned. Presumably that's his career done and dusted.
Hopefukky, though no doubt some two bit italian conti outfut will have him troubcing younger pros well into his forties.
Berhane scores his first win of the season and the green monster's furst since stepping up to WT. All of which reminds me, isn't it about time the uci awarded him ladt year's tour of Turkey?
Berhane scores his first win of the season and the green monster's furst since stepping up to WT. All of which reminds me, isn't it about time the uci awarded him ladt year's tour of Turkey?
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
I see Oleg Tinkoff is threatening to take ASO et al on so he can get a share of the TV money...and has mooted he might boycott the TdF in future years.
Why is N.Roche mixed up with these cunts? (I know, I know its the money).
Why is N.Roche mixed up with these cunts? (I know, I know its the money).
Probably bad form to quote one's self, but Berhane is officially winner of last year's Tour of Turkey.
edit: And are we allowed to add Evans to the 'list' after his recent comments on Ballan?
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Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
I suppose with Europcar joining Ag2r and FDJ in the World Tour and Sojasun dying, Bretagne Seche got there by default. With four wild cards and only two remaining Pro Continental teams in France, it pretty much doesn't matter how good or bad they are.
I don't really mind that sort of nationalistic invitation policy when it's two from four. The local audience is the bread and butter of the big races after all. I get a bit cranky when its three from four though, as it used to be at the Tour and probably still would be if there was a third French team to invite. And as it is with the Giro inviting Yellow Fluo even after they took a collective dump under the race organiser's duvet last year. MTN should have been invited to the Giro. Or perhaps Net App to the Giro and MTN to the Tour.
I can't really object to IAM getting in. On paper they are the strongest Pro Conti team. And Net App earned a Tour (or Giro) spot by making the best use of a GT invite of any team last year, when they did very well at the Vuelta.
Cofidis, well, I really hate that a team that invisible seem to be guaranteed two GT spots every year when there are loads of teams which have never received even one invite. I'd much rather see MTN or a left field choice like Wanty or UHC or Caja Rural. That said, I can understand Cofidis getting yet another Tour invite for nationality reasons. The part that makes me grind my teeth is the likelihood that they will also get into the Vuelta.
With only one Spanish team left in the Pro Conti ranks, that leaves three spots in the Vuelta once Caja Rural are accounted for. I hope they go nuts and bring three outfits that have never been to a GT, but it will probably be Cofidis, Net App and IAM again. Maybe MTN will sneak in on the grounds that it will get the Vuelta some bonus publicity.
I don't really mind that sort of nationalistic invitation policy when it's two from four. The local audience is the bread and butter of the big races after all. I get a bit cranky when its three from four though, as it used to be at the Tour and probably still would be if there was a third French team to invite. And as it is with the Giro inviting Yellow Fluo even after they took a collective dump under the race organiser's duvet last year. MTN should have been invited to the Giro. Or perhaps Net App to the Giro and MTN to the Tour.
I can't really object to IAM getting in. On paper they are the strongest Pro Conti team. And Net App earned a Tour (or Giro) spot by making the best use of a GT invite of any team last year, when they did very well at the Vuelta.
Cofidis, well, I really hate that a team that invisible seem to be guaranteed two GT spots every year when there are loads of teams which have never received even one invite. I'd much rather see MTN or a left field choice like Wanty or UHC or Caja Rural. That said, I can understand Cofidis getting yet another Tour invite for nationality reasons. The part that makes me grind my teeth is the likelihood that they will also get into the Vuelta.
With only one Spanish team left in the Pro Conti ranks, that leaves three spots in the Vuelta once Caja Rural are accounted for. I hope they go nuts and bring three outfits that have never been to a GT, but it will probably be Cofidis, Net App and IAM again. Maybe MTN will sneak in on the grounds that it will get the Vuelta some bonus publicity.
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Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
Its only Feb and my first prediction is shot out of the water...oh well.
Beaten only by the winner of Paris-Roubaix 2014...
ChrisFilter
Like a boss.
Have been watching the Tour of Dubai on Eurosport Player (which is really good, btw). Air of inevitability about Cavendish being nowhere to be seen and Kittel taking the stage today.
I know it means nothing at this stage but I can't imagine the Cav of old letting anyone ride roughshod over his reputation the way Kittel is at the moment.
I know it means nothing at this stage but I can't imagine the Cav of old letting anyone ride roughshod over his reputation the way Kittel is at the moment.
ChrisFilter
Like a boss.
Kittel's very likeable.
