Re: Porte's frame size, he rode the custom Shiv TT size made for Alberto Contador in 2010 onwards. This later was put into production as size XS.

His road frame appears to be size 51.5 or 53 in Pinarello's sizing for the Dogma Think2.

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Slam your stem.

Love this Porte quote: "I love it when the armchair experts say that Chris rides off an SRM. Cycling's not mathematical. Some of the times that he's been criticised for doing that, he doesn't even have an SRM on. For example, that last stage of the Dauphiné he'd swapped bikes and he still rode away from everyone. I'm sure I'm going to get slaughtered for saying that, but I really don't care."

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Don't take me too seriously.
Bike
Strava

Most likely a 46.5. I have a 50 and looks bigger than his.

Re Gesink -- I think he is beaten mentally. I don't see him coming back soon. Vaughter's team is not anywhere close to SKY.

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I think Gesink is a great rider and the couple of times I've met him, a super bloke. However, I think he needs to fly the coup to find new motivation and less coddled surroundings. I think Garmin would be a fantastic home for him.

Nick, since you work for Ride, any chance one of your colleagues had the frame & fork weighed prior to building it up?

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Exp001 || TeamLACBC

So who's gonna get tomorrow 1st stage?
Usually Cav doesn't win the 1st stage on GTs and it seems that the route might be more difficult than what it looks due to strong wind and many corners/tight roads.

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ciclismo-espresso.com

Sagan is quite good at this.

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Bikes: Raw Ti, 650b flatbar CX

It's long and hard? Kristoff will be there, and Goss.

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Bianchi-Campagnolo

The last 2ks see some corners, but no tight bend. It's also a little downhill so the speed will be quite fast. How wide is the road to finish? It should be a proper drag race if it's wide enough. All have equal chance I think. Lotto and Argos bring good trains and both Gripel/ Kittel have the power to drag it out. Sagan will find his line and his brute strength should provide decent chance of podium place. Cav however, has the best acceleration. I am rooting for Cav, if he kicks at the right moment, it will be hard to beat him. Hopefully, no crash!

Interesting observation on stage 1's.... team time trial @ Giro in 2011 and short prologue @ Vuelta 2010 were the only ones I found for Cav in 3-week tours (he's won them in 1-week stage races). But road stages on stage 1 are rare.

The finish looks like total chaos: tight turn then narrow, rough roads to the finish. You can StreetView here:

NBC Sports Stage Info

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Fuji SL/1

giro 2012 1st stage an 2013 first stage

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"Smart may have the answers, but stupid have all the interesting questions."

Bianchi. They got it right!

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"Smart may have the answers, but stupid have all the interesting questions."

Sagan has won like 12 stages this season, Cav has 10. all the signs say it's gonna be close. and there's still Greipel to mess things up for those two. and Farrar (ok, just joking, sorry). thing is, Cav has a really nice team this year, even Chavanel said he wo't aattack on 'Cav stages'. i hope they fight till the very last sprint and the green goes to the man who wins in Paris - unlike the yellow jersey, that's gonna be won during one, maybe two stages, and then kept protected. that'd be spectacular

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If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a.... clean cyclist!

Lightweight disc for Contador and Oakley sunglasses for Mick Rogers.

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Slam your stem.

You're both right. The route is more difficult than what it looks, especially the ending in which the rider has to ride up on a hidden ramp which sort of looks like a windshield washer, onto the car roof, and park his bike on the roof rack - Sagan is quite good at that, and he may make up any time there that he loses earlier in the course.