New Cycling season

[Rich Taff]

Just spotted a link to the world rankings on Skysports.

http://www.skysports.com/cycling/rankings/

Apparently Froome isn't even in the top 10 and Valverde is numero uno.

Anyone know how these are calculated? (Valverde enters every race, including charity cycle rides for the under 12's, so kinda understand his position )

 

[Tony Manx]

As I said on a rugby thread about their rankings, statistics, damn statistics!!

 

[Horacito]

This is not elo ranking precisely.

To begin with: cycling is HUGE. Grand Tours are a tiny bit of it, it's only that they bring the greater fame and recognition. Valverde participates in everything and works like a donkey. So, between grand tours, his marks are actually better: only think about his team: he's over Nairo Quintana, who is the leader of movistar. Why? Because Nairo is targeting GT.

I am assuming that most of you think Chris Froome is the best cyclist in the world, why do you do that? What is your criteria? Win the tour?

Froome is not the best, he is one of the best 5, but he does have the most dominant team in ages, which is going to be desbanded when most ot them realize they want to lead their own teams. Next seasons are gong to be exciting!

 

[Rich Taff]

I think you supported my statement that Valverde will race in anything. He's the cycling equivalent of a 'celebrity' who is said to turn up for the opening of an envelope

What do you think of the SKy team for the Giro? Froome is lead, and G is the (no.1)super domestique again, but I wonder if they'll be able to recover in time.

I get the feeling Froome is only riding it because Contador rode two this year.

 

[Horacito]

I have a huge respect for Valverde: he was a star and he realized he was too old to do that anymore, so he became a great team player and made his best tour at 34.

I think Froome feels strong enough to give it a try. Also, there must be a certain pressure to try on La Vuelta: without Contador, is between Nibali, Quintana and Froome... or maybe Sagan. Quintana and Froome prepared all year for Tour: well, one of them was succesfull. The other one wants revenge. I think they are equall now. Give a body like Froome's a couple of weeks of rest and he gets perfect back again. Nairo finished the tour better but I don't think that counts too much anymore.

We should take a look at the road: 6 stages at flat roads and 13 at mountain; but only 5 of those will be really tough, and the last week is almost all quite easy... for them.

Let me tell you something: if Chris Froome is there, he has chances. He has proven to have the best strategic mind in the group, he won le tour on the first week. My bet is on him, but we'll see. Nibali is so strong...

I will see a part live. Somebody told me that Nairo Quintana rides a specially made bike for him because is so small they don't have a model for him, even with those 10000 pound bike they ride at world class. I'm crazy to see it.

 

[Rich Taff]

10000 pound bike they ride at world class. I'm crazy to see it.

I'm sorry, but I had to pick up on that. 10000 pound is about 5000kg, and that's just too much

I haven't actually looked at the stages yet, have been pretty busy doing work stuff (darn work stuff, always gets in the way of my cycling viewing!). If there are more flat stages then I expect Froome to have an even better chance. Apart from his climbing skills, his ability to time trial on the flat seems to be what makes the difference (rather like Wiggins when he won - extreme time trialler and decent climber).

Think it could be an interesting race this year, as opposed to 'the final grand tour', and often overlooked after the no.1 which is the tdf.

Once again, it's nice to have other opinions than myself and Tony on this thread

 

[Horacito]

Sorry for the mistake. Actually would be a different price, because that's the numbe in euros. No idea in pounds.

La vuelta could be better or have a greater impact, but the choosing of locations doesn't help. In the tour, the french make the guys go around like farmes and craft beer monasterys and old castles, while in spain they choose simple roads and boring cities. They don't see the value of good pictures. They should travel around castles while bull fighting and fallas and tomatina, that could be and equivalent of a french person throwing their pee at you. Once in spain you realize they lack the sense of spectacle.

Cheers!

 

[Rich Taff]

As atrocious as that TTT course was, I refuse to believe that the 'King of small margins' Brailsford, didn't send a team to reconnoitre it beforehand. Guess a lot of the teams decided a TTT that appeared to be based on a pub crawl was not a good idea.

 

[Tony Manx]

Will not be able to follow on TV until next weekend but I agree with Horacito and shame on you Taff for picking him up on his language!!!

Euro to £......take 30% off and it will be near enough!!

 

[Rich Taff]

If you look at the time posted, I really did initially think he was talking about weight

 

[Tony Manx]

If you look at the time posted, I really did initially think he was talking about weight

It just shows as yesterday for his and your reply!! Were we under the weather?!!!

I am trusting you to keep me up to speed this week!!!!!!

 

[Rich Taff]

Nibali meet karma. Karma meet Nibali

 

[Horacito]

If I can get a picture with Nairo next week I will post it here.

Today I realized one of the problems of la vuelta: the heat. I went to the mountain, and it was pretty great there, but then, when I came down at 14:00 it was hell. In the first two km a wave of hot air like it just came out of an oven hit me on the face. Also I forgot sunscream and my wrist has the shape of my watch.
Tomorrow I'll start my particular vuelta.

 

[Rich Taff]

Sounds fantastic (if a bit hot). Be careful with that mountain sun, can be really nasty, and hate to see a picture of Nairo + Lobster

Update:

Nibali thrown out of Vuelta.

 

[Horacito]

Yeah, sleeping was quite tough last night.

PETER SAGAN

 

[Tony Manx]

I am back and that was a nothing stage for the main guys but Froome was not great!

He has a lot to do.........

I am think maybe time to go and watch live..............maybe the time trial in Burgos as I love that place.......a beautiful young plastic surgeon lady there sewed my finger back on after my trapping it in a door!!

 

[Rich Taff]

I've only been catching the ITV4 highlights. It's not been the most exciting Vuelta from what I've seen. Still pretty flat though.

 

[Horacito]

The heat is the worst.

The problem here is that la vuelta wants to steal viewers from giro and tour, and they are last of all three major competitions, so they need to schedule it either before the giro (may) or after, august or september. Problem: in may, champions league and la liga are competitors, they would take all viewers. In sept, football again.

But this is unbearable, Peter Sagan has already complained about heat, and they are currently giving riders 25 bottles of water every day, along with iced-maiots and staff. Obviously, this favors colombian riders, they're used to heat like this.

Anyway, two weeks left. Sagan is not loving it.

 

[Tony Manx]

The heat is the worst.

The problem here is that la vuelta wants to steal viewers from giro and tour, and they are last of all three major competitions, so they need to schedule it either before the giro (may) or after, august or september. Problem: in may, champions league and la liga are competitors, they would take all viewers. In sept, football again.

But this is unbearable, Peter Sagan has already complained about heat, and they are currently giving riders 25 bottles of water every day, along with iced-maiots and staff. Obviously, this favors colombian riders, they're used to heat like this.

Anyway, two weeks left. Sagan is not loving it.

Know what you mean!

Just the other side of the Pyrenees and 9 miles from Spain! The temperature in the shade on the patio today was 42!

 

[Rich Taff]

Have to admit I do enjoy it when Sagan throws his toys out of the pram.