Re: Cycling : Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:15 am  

Haggis Fax wrote:

Shame we can't get a few more off the site here to join our league - at least if someone else joined I wouldn't be last as things currently stand.

My transfers are in - think I've got a well balanced team for this week with a few in purely based on price.

I'm doing the Paris-Roubaix sportive next year so I'll be watching with even more interest this Sunday.

I see that theres been a bit of controversy re - paris Roubaix sportive this year. So much that it's been scaled down significantly. It's still one I'd love to do though. Plus I need to reorganise a flanders ride as well now I missed last weeks.
Who are you going over with to do it? Are you organising it yourself or going with a organiser?

I managed to transfer in a half decent team I think for sunday. Fingers crossed now lol

Re: Cycling : Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:21 am  

syphur55* wrote:

I'd join, but I dont like finishing last so wont bother lol!!

just caught the last 5k of the Basque tour, so cant really comment on much of it, but vinukorov(sp) was going very very hard at the end there and took the win easily! Going to be a tough cookie with Astana behind him this season.

Yeah Vino took them all by surprise and powered to a good win. I'm not sure where I stand with Vino. I can't make my mind up if I like him or not since coming back from his doping ban. I'm interested to see what he will focus on this year. I don't see him being strong enough for TDF so will he try and target the Giro as his main goal?

Re: Cycling : Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:01 pm  

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

Yeah Vino took them all by surprise and powered to a good win. I'm not sure where I stand with Vino. I can't make my mind up if I like him or not since coming back from his doping ban. I'm interested to see what he will focus on this year. I don't see him being strong enough for TDF so will he try and target the Giro as his main goal?

Depends if Contador is allowed to race in the TDF this year or not. If not then it's going to be quite an open race IMO.

Re: Cycling : Sat Apr 09, 2011 2:37 pm  

Ordsall Quays Red wrote:

Depends if Contador is allowed to race in the TDF this year or not. If not then it's going to be quite an open race IMO.

Yeah exactly. Though whether he is or not I can't see past Andy Schleck especially if he can improve his ITT time. We'll just have to wait for the court of sports arbitration to sort it out.

From what I've read on it Contador amongst others have been allegedly doping for years. Infact taking into account potential dopers the 2009 TDF may actually have given Wiggo 2nd place instead of 4th.

Re: Cycling : Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:15 am  

What a superb Paris-Roubaix this year. You kind of think that with the glorious weather it would have been a procession with no incidents but they were falling down all over the place.

Looking forward to Amstel Gold now this weekend. Predictions anyone?

Re: Cycling : Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:24 pm  

Haggis Fax wrote:

What a superb Paris-Roubaix this year. You kind of think that with the glorious weather it would have been a procession with no incidents but they were falling down all over the place.

Looking forward to Amstel Gold now this weekend. Predictions anyone?

you can't look past gilbert. wheel suckers like hushoft might be able to get a free ride on flat courses like roubaix but come the final climb on sunday it won't be that easy.

vino's one of my favourate riders despite being a cheating scumbag. there's no way he'll challenge for the tour or any other gt though

Re: Cycling : Fri Apr 15, 2011 8:26 am  

I've picked Cadel Evans for my want to win option on Sunday. Since winning the worlds he became a new man and highly enjoyable to watch. I also think Vino could be a potential winner he can be a very strong rider at times and think after the way he rode last week he was testing his legs and a strategy for sunday. It wouldn't surprise me if those 2 and Gilbert came in on the podium. With maybe Frank Schleck as another outside pick.

Re: Cycling : Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:23 pm  

Shame Cadel had to pull out injured. I turned from disliking the guy completely to being really impressed with him last year.

So then - Liege Bastogne Liege. Gilbert again? No idea how he managed to get up that hill in front of all the climbers yesterday. He's really impressing me right now. Or can Vino win and get cheered this year? (I know my position on Vino - as much as he rides with panache he's a dirty stinking cheating doper, no better than Ricco).

Re: Cycling : Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:33 pm  

I think that L-B-L may just be one race to many for Phillipe. Like you say he was awesome yesterday he rode up the Huy like it was a mole hill. So glad I had him on my fantasy team lol. He is truly a classics specialist and could dominate them for a good few years to come.
I wonder how he would fair if he had a proper pop at the TDF?

As for Cadel I had him as my team capt. Didn't realise he was injured until it was to late as I'd used all my transfers. DOH!

Nearly time for the first grand tour and I haven't a clue who will win it. Basso is out of sorts Cadel I think is targetting the TDF. I wonder if someone like Scarponi or Zonda will have what it takes?

Re: Cycling : Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:20 pm  

You've got to wonder haven't you - it'd need to be a flatter TDF and I've no idea what he's like at time trialling. If it was like the old days and everyone went out to win every race then maybe he'd stand a chance. Would probably stand a better chance in the Vuelta.

I had Gilbert in the team and Rodriguez so I managed to claw back a bit more ground on you. Not sure I'm totally happy with my team this week.

I'll stick my neck out for the Giro and say Nibali. Depends whether Basso is riding the Giro of course as to who the team captain is but I think he can do it.