2014 Pro-cycling season thread

...the most decorated cyclist?

Jimmy Saville's bling takes some beating.

Vos won again. Based on wins alone is she the most decorated cyclist?

yes

procyclingstats' head-to-head shows the advantage is still Eddy's, maybe his wins are worth more points.

yes

procyclingstats' head-to-head shows the advantage is still Eddy's, maybe his wins are worth more points.

comparison doesn't include her non road cycling wins does it which includes World Championship on track and cyclocross

"Andy Schleck: rupture of both the collateral and cruciate ligaments of the knee + a tear in the meniscus and a lot of bone bruises."

In surgery right now, apparently.

Jesus.

Might get rid of that horrific green kit at last.

That kit is ace.

Imagine the mash up. GREEN TARTAN.
YES.

That kit is ace.

Imagine the mash up. GREEN TARTAN.
YES.

Oh, I know just the designer!
http://news.images.itv.com/image/file/426653/article_img.jpg

That kit is ace.

Imagine the mash up. GREEN TARTAN.
YES.

Do not even go there.

If they go green tartan.
I'll be full kit wanker in about 4 seconds.

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2014/07/profile-sprint-take-win-sprint-stage/

They've already been doing market research on the readiness of the peloton to adopt Scottish styling:

Marianne Vos wins yet another stage in the Giro Rosa

Froome out of the Tour. That decision not to take Wiggo isn't looking so good now.

don't think Wiggo would have enjoyed the wet conditions today

but I sure would have liked to see him ride the TdF this year

I don't think Wiggins likes cycling that much these days. (2mins)
The Best & Worst Things About Being A Pro Cyclist - YouTube

"Andy Schleck: rupture of both the collateral and cruciate ligaments of the knee + a tear in the meniscus and a lot of bone bruises."

In surgery right now, apparently.

after surgery press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Andy Schleck has successfully undergone surgery in the Crossklinik in Basel, Switzerland. An MRI scan prior to the operation provided pictures of the right knee allowing the doctors to confirm the diagnosis of the team doctor.

Andy Schleck’s knee is severely damaged: there are partial ruptures in the collateral and cruciate ligaments, the meniscus is torn and an injury to the articular cartilage has been diagnosed during the procedure, raising further concern about Schleck’s rehab.

Team doctor Andreas Gösele: “Besides the ligaments and the meniscus, we can also confirm that the cartilage behind the knee cap is damaged, which is the worst and most painful part of Andy’s injury. The surgeons have removed a part of the meniscus and have arthroscopically shaved the damaged cartilage. In terms of rehab he cannot put load on his knee for at least two weeks, so crutches will be necessary.”
Physiotherapy on a daily basis will be used to reduce the formation of scar tissue and encourage healing.

Andy Schleck: “I’m feeling pretty bad, to understate it. I’m gutted. My knee looks like there’s been an explosion inside. I’ll be on crutches for at least two week and from there on we will see. I cannot ask for a detailed time line right now, and that is hard to deal with. There’s nothing else I can do. Acceptance is the first step of my rehab and I’m working on that now. There’s lots of work to be done before I’ll be back, but I’m used to fighting back.”

Can't...stop...watching...

No idea where this is from, English stages of Le Tour mabbe?

Yeah stage one or two I think.

Stage 2, I think - yellow jersey is behind those fluoro'd up CS7 promuters.

^^^ Really similar to the case of Lopez v. TheBritishPublic (Stg3 on Monday).

Regardless of your feelings towards him Andy Schleck has had terrible luck in recent years. Time for him to retire and go and become a land scape gardener, a banker, an electrician, or a bassist in a prog rock band.

don't think Wiggo would have enjoyed the wet conditions today

but I sure would have liked to see him ride the TdF this year

It was only wet descents he was struggling with. Did you all forget about his sopping wet smashfest at the National TT recently?

And in the Giro he was suffering from a chest infection, and had already crashed once - anyone can have a bad day. You don't become world champion in the Madison without being a reasonably competent bike handler.

Like Froome. There's been very little slagging Froome's handling off like Wiggo copped during the Giro. iamdisappoint. It was probably mostly me anyway.. :P

The way he abandoned yesterday felt odd, like it was already a forgone conclusion... And everyone at Sky seemed quite matter-of-fact about it.

Almost like he had abandoned the night before but needed to fall off in front of the cameras a few times for narrative purposes..

Its a shame we won't get to see him and Bert shoot it out in the mountains but it is going to make it a more interesting race.