The Bicycle Racing Thread 2015

[The Boy]

San Sebastian tips? Was going to punt on Alaphillipe when he was 22s but is now at 12. Can't really see much beyond Valverde though really.

I've had a (very) small e/w bet on Pinot purely because he finished the Tour strongly and was available @ 151.00.

Alaphillipe is an interesting proposition, but it's so long since he raced that he doesn't have any sort of form to justify backing him @ 13.00 imo. Valverde is the obvious pick, but as much as I admire his pantomime villain-ness and as much as he's a hella smart cookie when it comes to racing I just can't find it in me to back someone in a one day race at prices as low as 3.25.

 

[stavros]

Any time I watch BMX I spend the first half hour getting used to the "large clown on a tiny tricycle" visuals. Bikes are not supposed to be that small.

Once you buy into it it's really good, seeing the cornering and jump techniques, not to mention some spectacular crashing. One Aussie landed on another, hitting his shoulder with the pedal.

 

[twistedAM]

I've had a (very) small e/w bet on Pinot purely because he finished the Tour strongly and was available @ 151.00.

Alaphillipe is an interesting proposition, but it's so long since he raced that he doesn't have any sort of form to justify backing him @ 13.00 imo. Valverde is the obvious pick, but as much as I admire his pantomime villain-ness and as much as he's a hella smart cookie when it comes to racing I just can't find it in me to back someone in a one day race at prices as low as 3.25.

Katusha have a strong team out for this as well so those odds are harsh. And, indeed Alaphillipe hasn't raced since the French champs. Maybe he's targeting the Eneco (love that tour).

I hope Paddy Power do in-race betting and then I might have a punt. They have a weakness for installing Dan Martin as favourite if he gets in a breakaway and offering good odds on the others I got Majka's TdF stage win at 4/1 when Martin was odds on.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Great win by the other Yates brother. My God that chase group though. A half dozen of the strongest riders in the sport absolutely refusing to work with each other at all.

 

[The Boy]

Great win by the other Yates brother. My God that chase group though. A half dozen of the strongest riders in the sport absolutely refusing to work with each other at all.

Aye. Gifted the win to him really.

Lolsome celebration though. A reverse pozzato of sorts.

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Aye. Gifted the win to him really.

Lolsome celebration though. A reverse pozzato of sorts.

Did he think that GVA (who was taken out by a motorbike while in the lead solo) was still in front I wonder.

That chase was infuriating to watch, even though I wanted Yates to hold on.

 

[The Boy]

Did he think that GVA (who was taken out by a motorbike while in the lead solo) was still in front I wonder.

That chase was infuriating to watch, even though I wanted Yates to hold on.

Aaaaaahh. Did not see that. That will explain it.

I was rather conflicted watching the end though - like Adam, hate Greenedge. To cheer or not to cheer etc.

 

[twistedAM]

Did he think that GVA (who was taken out by a motorbike while in the lead solo) was still in front I wonder.

That chase was infuriating to watch, even though I wanted Yates to hold on.

Oh right, that's why he was on the radio.
Stupid Spanish TV provider made a right balls of today. How long was the race off air for?
Also did a few people (like Alaphillipe for instance) tail onto the back of the chasing group at the end?

 

[Nigel Irritable]

Oh right, that's why he was on the radio.
Stupid Spanish TV provider made a right balls of today. How long was the race off air for?
Also did a few people (like Alaphillipe for instance) tail onto the back of the chasing group at the end?

Apparently the problem was with the plane relaying the signal. Not a lot the broadcaster can do about that.

Yes, the chase group chased so badly that they were caught by another group.

 

[The Boy]

Tom Danielson positive for testosterone.

 

[twistedAM]

First time I really watched the Danish Tour and enjoying it (nice prelude the magnificent Eneco) but can't really get into Tour of Poland. Always seems a bunch of sprints, TTs and a day of mountaineering. Plus those inflatables get on my goat.

 

[Hollis]

Vuelta is looking interesting..

 

[The Boy]

Pozzovivo to do a cobo/horner and shock everybody by coming in fresh and killing it.

The fact that his odds are going out with the turf accountants only proves me right.

 

[The Boy]

In other news, Betancur didn't start Tour de Pologne, nor does it look like he will be starting Tour de l'Ain,. Anyone seen any pics of him? I'm guessing he hit the pies back home again.

 

[DownwardDog]

I see Roompot are running discs in the Eneco.



First time ever at this level I think.

 

[twistedAM]

Boonen

 

[Ponyutd]

Pozzovivo to do a cobo/horner and shock everybody by coming in fresh and killing it.

The fact that his odds are going out with the turf accountants only proves me right.

Excellent use of the words 'turf accountants' there

 

[The Boy]

Dan Martin looks to be off to Etixx. Good move in terms of support in the classics, but Lefevere is a tube.

 

[The Boy]

Do we need a separate vuelta thread? In any event, there's a meeting between UCI and race organisers about the opening TTT - sandy paths, wooden boardwalks, bollards. Sounds a bit of a disaster tbh.

edit: oh yeah, and they finish on the beach. Seriously.

 

[The Boy]

This is Matt Stephens riding the route of *that* TTT:



Apparently the times will now count towards the team classification but not the individual. Absolute farce.

 

[The Boy]

And Fatty Betancur sacked with immediate effect. Sad, but inevitable.

 

[hash tag]

What a start for the Vuelta. Stage 1, if you can call it that was unfit to race and Nibali disqualified for a tow after a crash!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-disqualified-from-vuelta-a-espaa-for-holding-onto-team-car/

 

[Ted Striker]

The Nibbles tow was proper lol. Would have loved to been in the group he zoomed off from for the shared WTF

 

[stavros]

That was very impressive from Dumoulin to haul himself up that mountain yesterday and keep pace with Chavez.

Memo to ITV4: please give Ned and Dave the permanent commentary places, including for the TdF.

 

[hash tag]

Goodness, who old is Chaves? In post race interview he looked about 10
Sagan? Result at last.

 

[stavros]

He's 25, apparently. I didn't think he looked that young, but his demeanour is like a kid in a sweet shop. Surprisingly excellent English too.

 

[stavros]

Caleb Ewan (or Ewan Caleb as ITV's graphics fucked his name up as) looked pretty impressive today, out-Sagan-ing Sagan and jumping Degenkolb.

 

[baldrick]

I'm enjoying the Vuelta. I like to record the eurosport coverage and watch it in the evening. Annoyingly I managed to spoil the ending yesterday by carelessly reading cycling news at work

I probably ought to avoid this thread!

 

[hash tag]

Aru, errrreeerrrr, what aaaarrrrrr, an awful aaaaaarrrrrrrhhhh interview. chaves, what a great smile, long may he keep winning n smiling

 

[stavros]

That kick he had today was very impressive, especially in that it was right at the bottom and he pretty much maintained it to the top. I'm very keen to see how he fairs tomorrow on a long summit finish.

Dumoulin is also going great. Does he have the potential to climb steadily at a good pace over the long climbs, a la Indurain or Wiggins?