Cycling 2017

Listening to the TV you'd think Landa was a backstabber and even Froome told him off for not waiting. Listen to Landa himself and he's clearly 100% for Froome. Very composed guy and should be fun to watch next year when he leaves Sky.
 
Could be a stage for the breakaway today, if the sprinters don't keep things in check.

Massive stage for the GC tomorrow, so the GC guys will be well behaved other than maybe Froome trying to get a few cheeky seconds!

Edit: Cross winds all day could make for a nervous peleton. Could be in for an interesting stage yet...
 
Last edited:
Thanks, and sorry. I really only just started following cycling. There'll be plenty more of silly questions. :nervous:


Btw, what I said kinda works too! ;-)
 
Mrs Smoker said:
How did Kittel got back to peloton? My commentator already made his eulogies for him, now confused as well.
Click to expand...

Held onto his team car to repair his shoe and then the medical car to sort his wounds out.
 
According to ITV the yellow jersey group also slowed down to allow any stragglers to catch up.

Technically it is allowed but all riders try to take full advantage of how much time it takes for repair/doctor, so is all above board.
 
Seems like this will be a very tough day for Kittel. I could easily see him finish outside of the time limit. But what about Matthews? What a man, he's this year's Sagan in the Tour. He even took the mountain points away from De Gendt to defend Barguil's mountain jersey. I'd love to see Matthews really hit top form in the Spring classics. In this sort of form he could win from the Strade Bianche all the way to the Amstel Gold Race. The Tour of Flanders should be well within his capabilities.
 
RedFish said:
Still in awe of Contador after all these years.....
Click to expand...
Yeah, he has a lot of heart. Shame his legs aren't what they used to be, would love to see a showdown between peak Contador and peak Froome.
 
Jev said:
Why? Two years is the standard punishment.
Click to expand...

Ainu said:
Rubbish. Even his ban was dubious, considering he was miles and miles below the threshold, but let's not get into that again.
Click to expand...


Yeah....Sort of agree with both of you, but....

Just me, but I think ALL sports should have a 'one-strike-and-you're-out' when it comes to performance enhancing drugs....

So called recreational drugs I'm OK with - I mean, alcohol and tobacco are drugs just as much as weed....

But performance enhancing - no, to me that's straightforward cheating....
 
Full bodied red said:
You guys speaking about the Contador full of drugs, or a different Contador ?

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/contador-banned-for-two-years-after-clenbuterol-positive-45544



Should have been banned for life.
Click to expand...

Dodgy beef don't ya know ;)

I can't help but love him. His style of riding is etched on my brain, and watching him race stages like that long attack in the Vuelta's some years ago, to nick the overall from Purrito, was pure joy.

Best Grand Tour rider I've ever seen, and a total legend.
 
Full bodied red said:
Yeah....Sort of agree with both of you, but....

Just me, but I think ALL sports should have a 'one-strike-and-you're-out' when it comes to performance enhancing drugs....

So called recreational drugs I'm OK with - I mean, alcohol and tobacco are drugs just as much as weed....

But performance enhancing - no, to me that's straightforward cheating....
Click to expand...
The problem is that there is a certain amount of reasonable doubt in many of these cases, given that these prohibited substances can come from variety of sources and not just doping. In Contador's case, he maintains that he never used performance-enhancing drugs and that the clenbuterol substance came from a steak. Whether or not you think that's a ridiculous explanation, it's hard, if not impossible, to actually disprove.
 
I think Matthews has got the green jersey in the bag. Kittel is already at 18 minutes, just finishing would be an accomplishment, let alone doing it within the time limit. He may just as wel abandon.
 
You were right: Kittel abandons. Shame. That means Matthew has the green jersey all to himself.
 
Re drugs....

I suppose the problem is that they have a list of 'stuff' you can't take, when it would be better to have a list of 'stuff' you can take and everything else is a lifetime ban.

As it is, too much of too many sports these days is as much about the abilities of the Team Doctors as the athletes....

But Contador ? I reckon he was an out and out cheat - no doubts about it.
 
Full bodied red said:
Re drugs....

I suppose the problem is that they have a list of 'stuff' you can't take, when it would be better to have a list of 'stuff' you can take and everything else is a lifetime ban.

As it is, too much of too many sports these days is as much about the abilities of the Team Doctors as the athletes....

But Contador ? I reckon he was an out and out cheat - no doubts about it.
Click to expand...
So what? So were 99,99% of his competitors.
 
Full bodied red said:
SKY really are awesome....

Almost as if just another day at the office for Kwiatowski.

Same stuff again tomorrow from Kiryrienka most probably.
Click to expand...

You're right in stressing it's the team thats incredible. There's something admirably selfless about top, top riders who are happy to ride themselves into oblivion for one man. A tour win is a win for the team for sure. * I guess 6 figure salaries help though lol

Kwiatkowski has been so enthusiastic in his Dom role he reminds.me of Herrera. Still pinching myself he left Quickstep. Big fan his, just a brilliant all round rider.

Kiriyienka I agree too, is just unbelievable at pulling the Peleton. He's a hard motherfecker!

......and Landa, feck, the form he's in he'd probably win the damn thing in a straight fight a with Froome if I'm being honest.....and with the Giro in his legs too ! Hope he wins a GT soon, he's too good not to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.