2017 'PRO' cycling discussion.

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

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tymon_tm
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by tymon_tm

nah I don't see Bardet outclimbing Froome. he couldn't during the Tour, why would he be able now?

FWIW what initally looked like a promising and very competitive GT is rapidly turning into another Froomefest... and he's not even trying that much. there's just few basic things other "main rivals" seem to neglect. one: if you lose nearly a minute to Froome before the race even starts, you're done. of course there are those stupid-steep ascents yet to come, but there's also an ITT ahead, and the second rule should state: if you're a crappy TT-ist, don't even think of beating Froome unless you've a 2-3 minute advantage beforehand.
kkibbler wrote: WW remembers.

by Weenie


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wingguy
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by wingguy

tymon_tm wrote:and he's not even trying that much.


That attack wasn't trying? Damn - he's good but he's not that good!

My prediction is that the only worries he'll have will be on Angliru and that super steep concrete road thingy. But I think every other contender will ship time on at least one stage too, and then with the TT buffer he will be extremely hard to beat.

petepeterson
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Location: 604

by petepeterson

katusha-alpicin really departing from the Russian team images other than being named after a soviet weapon or a wartime song about a girl longing for her beloved? Registered in Switzerland and signing lots of western riders.

Haydn
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Location: UK

by Haydn

He looks strong after 4 days of the race but we've seen him crack on tough climbs before, if he has a bad day or some bad luck he could well lose time to Bardet or Aru etc

KWalker
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by KWalker

Katusha is evolving in life after Rodriguez and Kristoff's one great season. With so many failed doping controls on their team and their amateur squad they probably realized they had some growing up to do if they truly wanted to win. Now they have a Russian GC contender, but enough talent to not be a one rider or one trick pony team.
Don't take me too seriously. The only person that doesn't hate Froome.
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maquisard
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Location: France

by maquisard

That was always the plan with Katusha, that is was turning into a German Team and moving away from being funded by a rich Russian business man. This is coming true with the signing of big German names and with Swiss register and big German sponsors in the form of Canyon and Alpecin.

Good to see.

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tymon_tm
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by tymon_tm

apparently a virus decimates Bora and causes Majka's (and Poljanski's) problems - he has some stomach issues preventing him from eating during the race. same thing happened to Kolar earlier on... perhaps contaminated steaks? :roll:

one thing's for sure - he's far from being lucky as a GC contender
kkibbler wrote: WW remembers.

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tymon_tm
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by tymon_tm

wingguy wrote:
tymon_tm wrote:and he's not even trying that much.


That attack wasn't trying? Damn - he's good but he's not that good!


well, sadly I'm inclined to think he is..

wingguy wrote:My prediction is that the only worries he'll have will be on Angliru and that super steep concrete road thingy. But I think every other contender will ship time on at least one stage too, and then with the TT buffer he will be extremely hard to beat.


I can't see no one but Chavez able to gain some time when it gets freaky steep - but he'll lose even more in the ITT.

maybe in the polka dot/stage win department we can expect some fireworks. Bertie, Alphaville, Majka (if he gets better) - some prime names here, and I bet this list will get longer with time
kkibbler wrote: WW remembers.

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Kjetil
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by Kjetil

micky wrote:There's a bit of cycling cap mania at the podiums at this year Vuelta.
Now that's improvement.
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micky
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by micky

Pozzovivo to Bahrain-Merida.
Free role at Giro or help Nibali on the hilly stages? Maybe both?

Antoine
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Location: France

by Antoine

Help Nibali I think ... next year Dumoulin, Quintana and Pinot won't ride the Giro, so it's going to be easier for Nibali

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prebsy
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by prebsy

maquisard wrote:That was always the plan with Katusha, that is was turning into a German Team and moving away from being funded by a rich Russian business man. This is coming true with the signing of big German names and with Swiss register and big German sponsors in the form of Canyon and Alpecin.

Good to see.


Still really confused as to what katusha is (russian state backed cycling foundation) / who owns the team ......... where does katusha sports clothing fall in this whole thing.

bilwit
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by bilwit

begin the Team Sky/Froome procession

mike
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by mike

I think it is too early to declare froome the winner here. nibali is off by less than a minute. it is a long tour with uphill finishes. he is the freshest of the GC folks not having done the tour. I think he will surprise us.

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petepeterson
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by petepeterson

TJ yo! Not usually a TJ fan but man I love an underdog!!!!!

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