2013 Pro-cycling season thread

Wiggo has lots of work to do if he wants to stand a chance at the Worlds TT

The result in Poland offers a counter opinion.

Phinney to take overall at eneco? Looks possible. 17 sec back before today.

doing 64 kph through a town during the TT, very funny to see the lights flashing saying

"you are doing 64 km/h :-( "

on the speedometer meant to confront drivers with their actual speed in urban areas (30 or 50 kph max)

The result in Poland offers a counter opinion.

was that flat, or hilly? this tt has 2 minor hills

and maybe a longer tt suits him better

anyway, very unimpressed with his performance

I would take today with a pinch of salt. Very technical short course. Italy is long and fast.

I'm sure he's disappointed with today's performance. But it's a very short TT, compared to the 57 kms for the Worlds, and we don't know where he is in his training cycle.

the leisurely cruising phase, I guess ;-)

He has been deathly dull to watch this season. Sure the Worlds TT title will make it all ok for him, but as a spectator feeling a little short changed.

I miss the spring.

Why? He's had a terrible year, not his fault he got ill. Then suffered de-motivation and had a hard road getting back into the grind it takes to be racing at that level.

Good for him for still trying. Not easy after having a down time.

Google translate jist of a interview with wiggo this afternnon.
http://www.nusport.nl/wielrennen/3552337/wiggins-keert-niet-meer-terug-in-tour-france.html

With the supremacy of Chris Froome for the next five years, it is clear that I do not have to search. I would prefer my attention back toward the track,'' Wiggins unveiled in Sittard-Geleen, where the pack a race against the clock based finished.
It turned out that Wiggins still necessary homework has to perform towards World Time Trial. The superstar of Team Sky came to the Eneco Tour to the daily rate in the individual time trial to claim, but dripping with their tails between their legs. The Briton finished fifth, nine seconds behind winner Sylvain Chavanel.
'' I'm pretty disappointed,'' he acknowledged afterwards,'' though I knew since the survey it would be to keep. Specialists on this trail as Taylor Phinney and Jesse Sergent of me difficult The first part was technical. "
"In addition, these distances just too short for me. Besides, I think anything I could have been at a disadvantage because of my early start time because the wind later in the afternoon which is to lie.''

he mentioned in his biography that he wanted to close his career out on the track at rio, he also wanted to win paris roubaix, and i think the worlds tt and another gt, but close out career on track and roubaix for sure.

P-R is some race to aim for, very curious as to his training plans for a track comeback, riding as domestique in the Tour and that.

Also, just in from the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad, edited Google translate:

Ex-Tour winner Bradley Wiggins spoke to Nieuwsblad and explained his future plans. And the Briton had big news: he will cease his competition with teammate Chris Froome, and has no ambitions to win a grand tour.

"I do not think I ever will ride as team leader in a grand tour", Wiggo surprises us in an interview with Nieuwsblad during the Eneco Tour. "I would be in a more subservient role for Chris Froome. Chris has shown in the past that he can dominate grand tours in the coming years. So it is normal to do that. "

When did this thought come to you?

"In June. I sat down to think about my future. The way Chris then rode in the Tour has confirmed that thought. "

very impressive ride from both Tom Dumoulin and Zdenek Stybar today, looking forward to tomorrow's fight for the over all

Boom turned out not to be the strongest, Gilbert and Phinney are out (which seems to be the more important news on cyclingnews). They were in a crash together with Tom Dumoulin (!)

mini Ronde van Vlaanderen today, 208km with multiple battles on Bosberg and

Stannard riding for all he's worth at 10k!

Stybar!

This ^

Deserved win, love that guy. He rode smarter than Dumoulin who wasted too much energy on Saturday in his youthful vanity/stubbornness to close gaps and do work at the front. On Sunday wearing the leader's jersey he had no team support at all - especially Degenkolb's abandon after Saturdays stage was very unlucky for him.

btw I loved the way Greipel fought for red in the breakaway, pulling his weight op those nasty climbs like a proper hard man! Boom still took it in the end though.

Not bad at all, this Eneco Tour. Some nice pics by Kristof Ramon here.

CN says Tinkov is sniffing round the Euskatel WT license now he has dumped Saxo

http://roadcyclinguk.com/racing/bradley-wiggins-to-quit-road-and-return-to-track-at-end-of-2014-season.html

Wiggo tv interview, from 12:50

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/programmas/sportweekend/EP_130818_sportweekend

http://radioshacktourtracker.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/

another race using the tour tracker thing, this things just so good, if all races were covered via this thing on one website I'd deffo pay a sub.

Sagan is too versatile man. When the breakaway move didn't work he didn't even panic, rejoined the group and won the bunch sprint. Now that's gangsta

Swiss Federation may have withdrawn it's challenge to the appeal against PMcQ nomination = no nomination from Ireland or Swiss feds.

Ha, Pat's been on the phone in less than 30 mins to cycling news saying it's rubbish so that's it all settled.

Take the fucking hint, Pat.