Re: Cycling : Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:47 am  

Gutted to have missed the stage.

I knew Froome had something about him (I think I might have even tipped him to win the British Nationals earlier on this thread) but I had no idea he was this good.

Re: Cycling : Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:46 am  

Gutted to have not been engrossed in the Vuelta this year. Sounds like it was a a great race.

My question following the Vuelta is.......what does this mean for Team Sky and British cycling?

Bradley Wiggins - Is this a tremendous result or a great opportunity missed. Would it have been in fact easier for him to win the Tdf had he not fallen off?

Chris Froome - OK, born in Kenya but representing Britain. Is he the real deal? Are we talking about someone who can challenge for GC at the Tdf next year?

Team Sky - A 2011 they can be rightly proud of. A team which just went out and tried to win things this year without the shackles of expectation and self made pressure. Assuming Cav is there in 2012 then next year could be even better.

Thomas could target the spring classics, Froome/Wiggins the Giro/Tdf. Cav green jersey and mabe wearing rainbow next year too.

Is this the true re-birth of road racing in the UK?

Re: Cycling : Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:56 pm  

dave brailsford is a smart cookie - he's going to do as he said and deliver a british tour winner very soon

Re: Cycling : Sat Sep 17, 2011 1:22 pm  

the artist wrote:

dave brailsford is a smart cookie - he's going to do as he said and deliver a british tour winner very soon

Thing is if we do have a british tour winner it'll be inspite of Brailsford rather than because of him. Froome was about to get ditched by Sky hence why they hadn't even discussed contracts with him prior to the Vuelta. His shock podium has forced them to pay him decent money now as other teams came sniffing as it became apparent that he was stronger than Wiggo and many other big names.

Brailsford expected the person to be Wiggo. then after their first year at the tour realised that he'd got it all wrong and then had to change to team mission statement when he realised he was out of his depth. Why else would sky risk everything to secure Cav. A decision which could severly blow up in their faces should they not have the depth in the tour to give Cav the train and race support he needs as well as ensuring there are enough domestiques to kill themselves up the hills to help out Wiggo/ Froome/ G/ Uran ( delete where appropriate)

I think it's more realistic to expect to see someone like G or Eddy Bo podium a Flanders / Paris - Roubaix type race than win a grand tour to be honest. Either way Sky have the makings of a very exciting season ahead of them next year

Re: Cycling : Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:08 pm  

i'm not sure about wiggins this season, his main target was the tour but the injury meant he perhaps wasn't at his peak going into the spanish event. lets see what happens in olympic year

Re: Cycling : Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:58 am  

I'd have to agree that I think Wiggins what at the peak of his powers at the Dauphine/Tdf and whilst he maintained good form for the Vuelta....it wasn't good enough. Just look at his time trial at the Vuelta compared to the Dauphine.

Wiggins could have won the Tdf but we'll never know and he maybe never will have a better chance to do it. Wiggins showed that when it comes to going up serious hills - he's still a big man in a little mans body. The Mountains are not his natural terrain. If Alpuerto Clenbutador is competing next season then he'll target the Tdf and win it comfortably.

I agree with Fungus about Froome. Dave Brailsford really didn't know what he had there. With Froome fighting for a contract (and what a contract he'll have got there!!) he gave everything to the Vuelta - I hope there is more to come from him.

Looking forward to 2012 already. Mind you - small matter of Cav maybe winning the world champs next week....

Re: Cycling : Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:43 pm  

All I have to say is

All hail DAS PANZERWAGON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That had to be one of the best and most entertaining TT races I've ever watched.

Well done Wiggo for what must be the best year of road racing he's ever had. A silver medal is an outstanding result.

Now roll on Sunday and come on Cav. I'll be waking up early after my night shift to watch the whole race on eurosports

Re: Cycling : Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:49 am  

Saw the highlights this morning. Nice result Tony Martin - looked like the man to finally end the reign of Spartacus last year. Is this the end of the Swiss maestro? Poor year for him really. Too much expected of him early season in the spring classics.

Great ride by Brad - if I'm honest.....I didn't expect him to figure (he was still in my fantasy team though). BTW Fungus - I look forward to doing battle again with you next year. Lets see if we can tempt a few more RL fans into the league next year.

Road race

Some nice odds available yesterday on Cav to win the thing - the bookies are understandably making Gilbert the favourite. Stuck £10 on him via Betfair yesterday when his odds were 10.5/1. He's now at 8.4/1 with Gilbert 5.2/1.

Really hoping Cav can do it - it's a strong team that GB are taking and the streets around Copenhagen reminded me a lot of the streets where Team Sky looked imperious at the Tour of California for Ben Swifts win. So.....I have no fear about Cav doing it as long as they can keep the thing together. The rest of the world vs Team GB may be a bit too much for them to take.

Re: Cycling : Sun Sep 25, 2011 3:56 pm  

Mark Cavendish = legend.

Re: Cycling : Sun Sep 25, 2011 3:57 pm  

Mark Cavendish, the Manx Missile and now WORLD CHAMPION. Team GB, simply awesome. Enough said