2015 'PRO' cycling discussion

[KB]

Go back to your posts in 2012 and 2013 and read them again. It shows exactly where you stand. The truth is none of us know until someone gets busted. I accept that doping's always been rife. Consequently, I accept all the Tour winners including Armstrong because chances are the one's never fingered were just lucky enough not to get caught, but that does not preclude that the odd rider has been a clean winner.

[tymon_tm]

can we expect anything else for the remaining part of Giro than Bertie sitting and waiting for Astana to do something? even he himself seems to be bored, sprinting for those 2 seconds. from a very exciting first week, to a series of dull mountain stages... used to be another way around.

[Bely]

I have taken the approach that there WILL be doping in all sport not especially cycling... However, I am still a fan of watching the battles on the road between leaders, teams, the riders battling their own demons... It's pretty amazing to watch! I remember watching the first week of the giro and thinking to myself that it was way more exciting than the snooze fest of Mayweather vs pacman.


Sent from my Nokia 3310

[stuka666]

Giro is getting the same kind of boredom as the tour from last year, when Nibali had no opponents.

As for Astana, well.. at some time they will get caught, as they did last year, I just can't understand why the UCI can't make more to stop this.

[KWalker]

Contador has opponents. He rides pretty smart. Aru seems to not understand himself and attacks when he probably shouldn't and then suffers. Contador is not dominating the climbs outright and riding away from everyone in the big ring. If not for the TT this would be extremely close.

[brianthemagical]

I've just been watching one of the GCN videos about the Giro TT tech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2sII6MPHBk

AT approx. 3:46 there's close up of Fabio Felline's pacing strategy on his top tube. If I knew how to post a pic I would.

It's basically;
5 km 330-340
358 - 368
(something) Salita 380 - 400
370 - 390

I found it fascinating, having his pacing strategy written down (maybe because it's so long).

Anybody care to offer any insight? Is this kind of thing normal?

[wingguy]

@wingguy you ASSUME that I feel big by assuming Porte is weak, when I state very clearly that I am disappointed by his lack of will to fight.

Yeah, and I stated very clearly that I think it's sad that you and others feel the need to rush to judgement in that way ('thin sheet of glass' etc) instead of waiting to see what genuine injuries he may have sustained.

It grates because implicit in the criticism is the suggestion of "if I was there I wouldn't be such a pussy". Well, we're not there and he was - and the mental toughness needed just to get to the point in your career where you're riding the Giro, let alone as a team leader, is something you or I have almost certainly never needed to even approach.

[ave]

Well, it still might be an interesting Giro. What if Landa attack from far out? Will Contador go with him? Of course, it's quite a thin line, as Astana probably want Aru to win.

[Rob81]

I've just been watching one of the GCN videos about the Giro TT tech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2sII6MPHBk

AT approx. 3:46 there's close up of Fabio Felline's pacing strategy on his top tube. If I knew how to post a pic I would.

[stuka666]

Contador has opponents. He rides pretty smart. Aru seems to not understand himself and attacks when he probably shouldn't and then suffers. Contador is not dominating the climbs outright and riding away from everyone in the big ring. If not for the TT this would be extremely close.

I don't think it is as simple as that, I really think he is doing just enough to win.

If he is targeting the tour, he can't spend all the meat right now.. and he doesn't need it, Aru is a bit dumb and it's a bit hard to believe that Landa can keep up with this show.

If Landa attacks, Aru will get dropped and Contador just needs to sit on his wheel.

But maybe tomorrow will show I'm wrong

[petepeterson]

Landa said somewhere I read that they are in Italy so Aru is the leader. You could see how difficult it was for Aru to close the gap when Contador responded to Landa's attack. It's clear Contador is on another level. As Michael Rassmussen tweeted on yesterday's climb: @albertocontador is still just breathing throught The noose!

[HillRPete]

Wondering if Contador will go as far as try to go up the road with Landa, so Astana/Aru take the piss when the gap between Aru and Landa comes down.

[tranzformer]

Contador is too strong. Have to start thinking that Astana will have to be happy with their stage wins and one (maybe 2?) spots on the GC podium at the end?

[MattSoutherden]

Who knows how injured Porte is. But Sky are making a habit - for whatever reason - of completely screwing up grand tour favourites position.

Wiggo - Tour 2011 + Giro 2013
Wiggo + Froome - Vuelta 2011 (though one has to say they were undone by a jolly splendid bit of riding...)
Froome - Tour 2014
Porte - Giro 2015

[petal666]

Why stay in the race fighting for 20th spot because some keyboard warriors think you should, when you can go home and be fresher for a support role (or leader) for the Tour?