The Pro Cycling Thread

How does he always find himself the victim of such luck. He’ll never win the tour.

Porte = goldilocks
Race can’t be too hot, too cold, too long, too short, too steep, too flat. But in his sweet spot he’s great.

Over-reaction to Porte’s bad day - Horrendous conditions on both days - He’s not the only GC contender who has been blown out of the water at PN.

Stage 2 was all over the place with groups all over the road - came back together but some of the leading sprinters had nothing to give - Orica expected Cort to sprint, except he couldn’t lift his legs - Anyway Stage 3 today is in better weather and Cort can sprint for the stage win - Early days yet but I suspect Adam is riding better than Simon, which was the same as 2016 - Tirreno Adriatico starts tomorrow - Reckon Durbridge can nearly win the TT which is the final stage - Expectations will be for Ewan to win a stage and A.Yates do a decent GC - Interesting no Howson for each of these stage races.

And Sam Bennett wins the sprint finish from Kristoff, Degenkolb, Kittel and Matthews with Cort 10th.

Today is ITT day - It’s 14.5km with the final 4 km up Mt Brolly which averages about 6.5% - Ultimately should suit the GC riders - Interested to see how S.Yates performs - Should TT better considering his pedigree on the track as a World Champion in the points race.

Stage 1 of Tirreno Adriatico is a TTT over 22 kms - Orica has a decent squad for this event with Hepburn, Durbridge, Impey, Kreuziger and Kluge decent at this discipline - Expect Orica to finish top 5 - Big question - How many kms before Ewan loses contact ? My guess is 13kms.

Pro Cycling’s Zaharakis.

Too harsh?

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Sky’s TTT team at the Tirreno-Adriatico derailed when 3 of their riders had front wheel failures, including the one below for Moscon.

BMC won the TTT.
Orica Scott in 5th, but only a few seconds down on Movistar (GC favourite Quintana)

At Paris Nice, Alaphilippe wins the ITT and moves into the GC lead.

A good solid performance by Orica in Stage 1 of TA - Today is very much a puncheur’s stage, though a GC rider in form could win the stage.

S.Yates was a touch disappointing in his ITT - Did the flat part better than expected, but then struggled a bit on the uphill section- Alaphalippe who is a super talent smashed the ITT - Today should be a sprinter’s stage.

Sky woes in the TTT - Sabatage ?

Ewan crashed out of the TA - perhaps a collarbone injury, which would rule him out of MSR.
Kluge also pulled out sick.

A bad day for Orica at TA - Saw Ewan crash and get back onto his bike - 5 minutes later Orica tweeted that Kluge had withdrawn - 20 minutes later flashed on the live coverage that Ewan abandon - At first thought they may have confused Ewan with Kluge - Anyway reckon A.Yates is in form and every chance he can finish top 5 in GC - Anyway Thomas broke away with 5kms to go and win stage 2 of TA.

Greipel dominated the sprint finish fpr stage 5 of PN with Cort finishing 6th - Cort has shown his inexperience in sprint finishes by being poorly placed and losing the wheel of his leadout - He could have finished top 3 in that stage if he didn’t lose the wheels of Keukeliere and Hayman.

Simon Yates wins the 6th stage at PN.

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S.Yates completed another long range attack to win stage 4 of PN. Up to 8th on GC and if he performs well on todays tough stage, he coud end up top 10.

Sagan dominated the finish of stage 3 of TA with Mezgec a credible 5th. Todays stage climbs Terminillo and will be decisive in the GC battle. Noticed that Kreuziger is nicely shadowing S.Yates.

Porte wins the queen stage of PN, easily accounting for Contador and the other climbers. Henao in to the race lead.
Quintana wins the big stage at TA atop Terminillo. Thomas and Adam Yates 2 & 3rd; Adam in to 2nd in the GC.
Tejay had a shocker, but that wouldn’t surprise anyone, so Rohan Dennis now BMC’s lead rider in 5th.

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Reckon Porte had lots left in the tank. Thought S.Yates may struggle after his exploits the previous day - A.Yates rode well, though Quintana is on another level.

My understanding is A.Yates main target is the Giro, while Simon’s main target is the Vuelta - Hence you’ll find they will have different programs leading into the GC - Adam is riding Catalunya and will have a strong team of climbers inc Howson, Verona and Plaza.

Adam Yates abandoned TA with stomach issues. Sagan put on a master class to take the stage.
Rohan Dennis up to 3rd in the GC, 1.05 down on Quintana, with the ITT to go, 2nd in GC is in play. It’s a short ITT at 10km, so I don’t believe he can make up enough time to catch Quintana.
With Tejay’s woeful performance again, Dennis will become BMC’s 2nd GC option after Porte.

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A.Yates withdrawal was a disaster for Orica as he is riding well and a podium spot was his for the taking. Anyway A.Yates has every chance to podium in Catalunya starting on 20 - Stage 2 is a 41km TTT and Orica have chosen a strong squad for the race - Howson, Tuft, Plaza,Edmondson, Impey is a great engine room for the TTT - The profile of Catalunya only has one MTF. though its still a hilly race.

Sagan is in form ( as always ) and can figure in today’s sprint finale. Durbridge can finish top 3 in the ITT - Noticed in today’s stage it was Hepburn working for Kreuziger while Durbridge rested up.

The disaster at TA continues for Orica - Kreuziger withdrew with illness in the morning and Durbridge lasted one hour before withdrawing - Durbridge could have gone close in the ITT.

Seems like quite a few riders have had issues with sickness at the TA, not just Orica Scott.

I note Ewan on the provisional start lists for the Belgian classics: Dwars Door Vlaanderen & Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields - all next week.
I’d assume he’s in the mix for E3 Harelbeke as well.
If you consider MSR is on Sunday and Catalunya is also next week, it’s a HUGE week in cycling.

Think Ewan rode Gent Wevelgem last year and made the final selection - Think he may find Vlaanderen too tough.

Orica team for MSR

Ewan
Gerrans
Keukeliere
Cort
Albasini
Hayman
Impey
Mezgec

Think Cort will be the number one option - Gerrans to be kept in reserve - Doubt Ewan will make the final selection.

Had to laugh at Orica in stage 6 of TA - Hepburn and Impey did a good lead out but Mezgec lost the wheel in the last km.

Dennis wins the ITT at TA, Heppy 3rd.
Dennis takes 2nd in the GC.