New Cycling season

[Tony Manx]

National cycling championships...that is the UK ones!!

1st - Peter Kennaugh (Isle of Man)
2nd - Mark Cavendish (Isle of Man)

Chapeau Lads!!

 

[Rich Taff]

Great National championship race.

Crazy strong Sky TdF lineup.

Froome
Porte
G
Kennaugh
Stannard
Rowe
Roche
Konig
Poels

Going to be some major damage in the mountains.

 

[Tony Manx]

No Kittel is huge for Cav and here is hoping Froome can stay upright right to Paris.......It is time for sunflowers and jaunty music!! Bring it on......!!

 

[Rich Taff]

No Kittel is huge for Cav and here is hoping Froome can stay upright right to Paris.......It is time for sunflowers and jaunty music!! Bring it on......!!

If it stays dry, I can't see anyone getting near the big 3. If it's wet, Nibali makes it a big 4. Still the most exciting TdF for year.

More points for stage wins is huge for Cav. Sagan has won the Green Jersey by being a semi-decent climber, staying near the front and out-sprinting people who don't want the points. It's nice to see the organisers stop that from being the way to win the green jersey.

Was the best Criterium de Dauphine I've seen this year, so hope it continues into Le Tour.

 

[Rich Taff]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/raci...on-from-uci-over-lars-boom-replacement-180445

What a surprise....

 

[Tony Manx]

Great finish and worthy winner!! Tough old day on the cobbles but at least no rain and Froome stayed upright!!!

 

[Rich Taff]

Just started a new job, so having to watch highlights at 7pm. Deliberately not said anything yet, as unsure when you're able to view it now @Tony Manx

Great finish today, worked out well for Froome as well, as he knows Martin won't be a threat in the mountains. Probably happy for him to wear yellow. Also don't think a single rider would begrudge Martin the change to wear the yellow.

 

[Tony Manx]

Like you Taff, usually the highlights although this week caught the ITV4 live coverage!

Next week will be at the Open all day and the next week traveling most of the week back to France!!

Building up to be a terrific TdF this year..........

 

[Tony Manx]

Will comment later so you can watch highlights @Rich Taff without knowing the result but worth a watch......!

 

[Rich Taff]

How many times are Ettix going to mess up?
Also, how many times are Katusha riders going to attempt to force people off the road? (Maybe something is bringing out unneccessary agression in their team.....)

 

[Tony Manx]

I noticed the katusha riding too especially when two of them tried to knock Froome off yesterday!!

I think that maybe old Cav has lost that bit of speed now he is a Dad and maybe his best years are behind him. Felt he lost his way today behind his trusty old lead out man and went too soon?

 

[Tony Manx]

Wow! Yellow jersey is a curse this year!!! Three holders crashing out!

Great for Tickimaginotline to be the first African polka dot jersey holder and chapeau to Martin's courage, an oft used but rightly used word on this occasion, to ride in with a broken collarbone and do the interviews before hospital!

Bring it on!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Brilliant for the Manx missile! Very enjoyable for his first win since 2013 and he had to work for it.......

At least there were no crashes today...

 

[Rich Taff]

I was waiting to say anything again. Nice to see Cav talk about the fact he's been going to early in these headwinds, and actually do what he does best. (to be honest I want anyone except Sagan to win the green).

Yesterday's stage was crazy, with Nibali somehow thinking it was Froome's fault and quite literally throwing his toys out of the pram (at Froome).

Barring some extreme bad luck, I can't see Froome relinquishing the jersey now though, with the mountains up next, and the (comparatively) huge time difference he has over his main rivals.

Nice to see Teejay keep up his form this tour, and Katusha winning nothing. (Maybe they'll all come out looking like Ben Johnson on Mont Ventoux)

 

[Tony Manx]

I can see your thinking on Froome but there isa long way to go yet and this is probably most fiesty Tour I have watched. Elbows and pushing and shoving!

I think Froome is in top form and has showed it once or twice but Rodrigues had the better of him on, the only climb as yet, the climb to the finish on stage 3 was it? I am putting that down to it being comparatively short if steep!

Not a bad first week though for action. Unfortunately i have to watch the ITV 4 highlights package which fills in most of the time with adverts and the tosser Boardman! He thinks himself so cool and is constantly auditioning to be a Bond baddie when in fact he is just boring!!!

 

[Rich Taff]

Rodriquez is a short climb specialist. Usually drop him quite early on the long ones though.
Quelle surprise! Luca Paolini booted out for drugs.... the team? Katusha of course.

 

[Tony Manx]

Chapeau to ITV4...in their highlights programme tonight they dealt with remuneration and must admit staggered me!!

Domestique - 35/50,000 per annum
Up and Coming - 1 million plus
Potential stage winners - 2/2.5 million
Top guys 3.5 million per annum

That is sterling not the broken down euro!!

Must get the bike down off the back of the motorhome and do a few hills....will they pay the same for an aged guy on an electric bike...............?!!

 

[Horacito]

If you are close to the spanish border, shouldn't you be able to watch Tdp? Spanish coverage is decent, they show the whole thing and the comments are usually quite decent, since they bring pro or former pro cyclist to the show. Also, lots of historic facts about churches and staff.

Cyclist here, since I got two hernias I am unable to play rugby, so cyclism is a great relief and the best way to exercise without pushing the nerves of my back too much. Though I do mostly MTB, I don't mind road except for the accidents and so, I've come to love the sport.

We'll see now with the mountains, I expect Contador and Quintana to close the gap a lot. I don't think Rodríquez can pull a serious contender performance, perhaps next year. Anything over 4th would be great for him, even forth.

EDIT: also Televisión Española app, all their programs for free, if your internet can manage it, full hd.

 

[Tony Manx]

If you are close to the spanish border, shouldn't you be able to watch Tdp? Spanish coverage is decent, they show the whole thing and the comments are usually quite decent, since they bring pro or former pro cyclist to the show. Also, lots of historic facts about churches and staff.

Cyclist here, since I got two hernias I am unable to play rugby, so cyclism is a great relief and the best way to exercise without pushing the nerves of my back too much. Though I do mostly MTB, I don't mind road except for the accidents and so, I've come to love the sport.

We'll see now with the mountains, I expect Contador and Quintana to close the gap a lot. I don't think Rodríquez can pull a serious contender performance, perhaps next year. Anything over 4th would be great for him, even forth.

EDIT: also Televisión Española app, all their programs for free, if your internet can manage it, full hd.

I am in the UK at the moment (Open Golf!!!) and will not be back until the last couple of days of the Tour! However, many thanks and will give it a go when get back!!

 

[Rich Taff]

wow