Cycling - Tours, Giros & UCI events

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by Moose, Jun 18, 2018.

  1. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    Self confidence is so important in sport.

    From BBC review of the Tour:

    Cav's one to watch: Mark Cavendish (GB/Dimension Data)
     
  2. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    We’ve been denied the big sprint off so far by crashes and loss of form. Sagan looks on top form though and Gaviria a new superstar.

    Team TT today. A new yellow jersey?
     
  3. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    They do have a lot of good young riders. I think the problem is that their teams are weaker than Sky or Bora or BMC etc. Bardet will probably lose all that time advantage to Froome today.
     
  4. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    Carlton Kirby on top form yesterday, ‘Sagan with the World Champion’s rainbow bands across his breasts’. :eek:
     
  5. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    It's a long event, which is tough even on the commentators, but for CK to be drifting off into a Partridgean sexual reverie on Day 2 is a bad omen.

    Brian Smith to keep legs crossed at all times would be my advice.
     
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  6. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    BMC on top in the TT. Porte moves up as does Froome.
     
  7. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    My same Sannino season one.

    Superstition & an unwillingness to mess with Carlton.
     
  8. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    So, Moose, who really believes they can beat Froome?

    Isn’t G the best bet?

    CF is pushing the limits of legend status.

    (That’s even more than Fessi status.)

    And when legends do that, it is powerful difficult to stop them.
     
  9. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    Fantastic victory for Dan Martin in Brittany. Great stage.

    All the GC contenders suffering a bit, including Froome. I couldn't call it right now other than Porte probably has the best team to rival Sky, but over three weeks Porte is suspect.
     
  10. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    I’m traveling so not upto speed.

    Why did CF drop more time today?

    Careless or lacking vavavoom?
     
  11. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    He lost 8 seconds on a short uphill finish. Couldn't stay with G.

    It's no disaster and fairly typical for Froome in the first week - he'll be primed to peak from midway which is why he usually wins.

    But, it does offer hopes to rivals if they can attack in sufficient numbers on full gas.
     
  12. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    There’s a few big ‘uns next week so hopefully the great man isn’t down on energy.

    Can’t bank on the 80km breakaway every time.
     
  13. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    No, I would have thought there is no way he could do that here.

    The whole race has the feeling that battle is yet to commence. Tomorrow over the Roubaix cobbles in 30 degree heat will change that. Carnage I reckon.
     
  14. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    Moose, you are my Chris Boardman.

    Has CF been getting good support from the team? Have they been at the front of the peloton at all? How has G fitted in? Has he been given license to roam or just popped out to do his own thing on a couple of stages?
     
  15. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

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    Richie Porte really doesn't get a lot of luck in the Tour.

    Crashed out again early.
     
  16. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    P
    Porte is out?

    Behind on my homework & Moose daily bulletin eagerly awaited.
     
  17. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

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    Crashed early and broke his collar bone .
     
  18. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    Thanks.

    Just seen.

    Odds shortening on CF, I would think.
     
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  19. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    Ultra brutal Roubaix stage. No wonder it’s been mild race so far. Carnage. Like the Grand National at times.

    Does look as if G has some licence, though he won’t get the support Froome does unless something changes. And if he falls down the GC he becomes Froomes lieutenant again.
     
  20. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    Is there a Wiggins/Froome scenario in the offing?

    Or maybe Sky aren’t guaranteed to win.
     
  21. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    Could be for a variety of reasons, a need to keep G onside, worries about Froome following the Giro so soon or the planning was done when it seemed Froome might not ride. Yesterday’s stage may have had something to do with it too, concerns that any team could suddenly be leaderless.
     
  22. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

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    Thomas in yellow - Froome 2nd.

    What will team Sky do ?
     
  23. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    I was actually wondering if there would be a Froome/G one, two, with G the stronger man.

    How can Froome beat G?

    Time trial?
     
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  24. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

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    I wonder if with all the negative press surrounding Froome and Sky before the TdF kicked off has led Brailsford and Co to put the race into Geraint Thomas’ hands. It’s either that or they are utilising him to blow the GC contenders apart through the Alps and then let Froome pick the bones in the latter stages. Froome looked like he could’ve joined Thomas at any stage yesterday but was happy to just sit and disrupt the chasing group instead.
     
  25. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator

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    Another win for "G" and he was rather lost for words !

    Froome 4th and almost knocked over by a spectator...
     
  26. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    Fantastic Alpe D'Huez stage. Shame there are so many arseholes that go to watch it. One clearly ended Nibali's Tour.

    I think the Froome/Thomas thing is very simple. Sky said it would have two leaders, but Froome was more leader than Thomas. That plan is working perfectly. Thomas recognises that he isn't a Grand Tour winner in one or two good weeks, he needs to do it over three. It's not unlikely that like Yates in the Giro Thomas could yet crack. Sky's best bet then is still Froome. But Thomas's strength at the moment is being allowed to flourish.

    This didn't happen under Wiggins and there was conflict between him and Froome. Thomas looks happy and loyal.

    Those booing Froome are pathetic and partisan.
     
  27. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    I’m in Norleans where cycling takes second place to drinking & consequently haven’t watched this week.

    How strong is G?

    Can anyone else touch G or Froome?

    What chance team orders will be invoked in week 3? A Froome win takes him to legend level so a decision to be laissez faire & sanction a G win, if he is indeed the stronger rider, is significant.
     
  28. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    I still think it will be Froome - there are quite a few showdowns to come and he lasts them best. But we may be witnessing the transition and Team Sky could have a different look next year. In saying that, if Froome wins he will probably come back for at least one more.
     
  29. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

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    I reckon you’d have to shoot Froome to stop him coming back.

    He is hugely underestimated by the press.

    Merckx aside, there are very few who rank ahead of Froome in the all time list.

    If he were French, they would be building statues.

    Anyway, I return to the fray tomorrow having spent a week & aged a decade in Norleans.
     
  30. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    The abuse of Froome is getting ridiculous. The organisers need to do more as do the French Police.

    Quite extraordinary hypocrisy of the French public, many of whom hold Richard Virenque as a hero, a guy who used a cocktail of pharmaceuticals. The charge list against him (compared to a closed case for too many blue inhaler puffs) is overwhelming.
     
  31. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

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    Sorry I can't see the appeal of cycling. Its beyond me.
     
  32. Moose

    Moose First Team Captain

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    We thank you for your apology, but it's really not necessary.
     
  33. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

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    I’m sure it must be interesting if you get right into it, but it’s really not a spectator sport for the layman is it?
     
  34. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

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    I'll take it back then.
     
  35. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

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    Maybe. Half seem like they're out for a Sunday jolly.
     

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