UCI WorldTour and other pro cycling nonsense 2011

I wouldn't be surprised is the peleton either rides together that day or stops at the top to descend slowly together.

^ I can't see that happening, to be honest. The climb of the crostis will have split things up too much. The descent does look terrifying, though. But having said that, there were some terrifyingly steep, twisty and wet descents last year - I remember Nibali charging off alone on one of them. The thing is, the descent on Monday wasn't especially steep or tricky - it was relatively straight and fast. The tragic thing is he was looking over his shoulder.

Today's stage was good, the Strade Bianche made for some great racing again. Millar did very well to chase back on to the leading group, especially considering how cut up he was from his crash, but then blew up on the climb to the finish line.

One thing that I think will come in to play...

WW's death came very early in the race before massive time gaps had virtually eliminated the pretenders from the contenders.

By the time Crostis figures large, it will be pretty evident who is in GC contention and thus, who is willing to risk their lives to maintain balls-out speed on the descents versus those who will ride more within their limits.

This potentially gets tied up in the radio issue. The piece in today's guardian about the crotsis has a quote from Sean Yates(I think) about being led down he son plan by a teammate telling him what to expect. Not that the radio issue had anything to do with wouter's death but I think that it's added to an already charged issue relating to rider safety.

Even in the absence of this tragedy I would have been surprised not to see some kind of protest at the giro and the tour over he radio issue.

It's a tough call though. Nibali is an exceptionally talented descender and if coming down off the crotsis could win the giro for him; would you ask him to hold back to make a point?

They don't have a radio ban in the Giro, do they? I thought it had only been phased in to lower category races so far.

No radio ban at world tour, grandtour or HC level yet but it's slated for next year IIRC.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Kermithimself/226725_10100207719400577_12605091_49433476_1118426_n.jpg

ewwwwww

Hmmmm.... so why the fuck did Petacchi gift the stage win to Ventoso? He was coming round him, looked across and then just stopped pedalling when it was obviously there for the taking.

Mount Etna erupts three days prior to Giro d'Italia stage

No credit to Movistar? Movistar's pacing esp. towards end of race sapped the legs out of the entire peloton (eg, HTC was nowhere to be seen). I knew Petacchi was in trouble earlier with about 500m to go, he slipped from 3rd wheel to 5th without a fight. Deceivingly uphill finish as well.

psyched for tomorrow

^^^

Any guesses who can hold Contador's wheel? Nibali? Anton? Scarponi?

I don't buy it. Petacchi threw that. He only had to turn the pedals twice more and he would have won. He didn't even look fucked, just casually glanced across - realised he was going to win - and then stopped.

... and then collapsed and fell to the ground after the finish and blearily didn't talk to reporters for several minutes despite their microphones jammed into his face.

Dude was zombified.

I still think it was weird. I can totally understand why he would be zombified, but he seemed to give up precisely at the moment that victory was assured.

maybe he was on a heavy bike

That would explain a lot

:\

i'll go out on a limb, DI LUCA (booooo) for the win tomorrow, favourites to stay together.

it's a pretty short stage!

I mean, compare Petacchi's sprint today to Cav's sprint...

Oh wait, Cav was shelled OTB in the gruppeto on a relatively flat stage...

No credit to Movistar.

he just looks like he cooked himself to me, idk

heavy bike, I'm calling it. will place a call to my contact at UCI

Doesn't he know he's only supposed to *train* on a heavy bike?

(I was reading Cav's bike is a kilo heavier than the minimum because he needs it strong)

Significant LULZ:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13052011/58/tour-de-france-uci-angry-doping-index-leaked.html

If Basso is a three, doens't that mean everyone further up the list is 100% deffo on PCP and miaow miaow?

God knows why Geraint Thomas is considered such a high risk

schleck 3
armstrong 4
contador 5

looooool were barredo & popovych gurning all the way to paris?

cancellara 0

yes but what about the engines-in-bikes index eh

Are there any former dopers in the 0 category? I reckon they should each start on a minimum of 5 whatever their passports say.

today's Giro winner de Clerq was a UCI elite 2 last year:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/who-is-giro-stage-winner-bart-de-clercq_172960

that was brilliant

supreme from bertie

Yep, the race has finally burst into life.

Rumors around the peloton is that the race for 2nd is quite significant as Contador's results could be officially erased when verdict is made next month.

I have deliberately avoided picking Contador in my fantasy cycling team in case he suddenly gets disqualified.

It's snowing heavy in Lake Tahoe right now for start of Tour of California.

Journalists are leaking that the riders will protest the opening stage due to ice/snow conditions.

No Passo di Gavia parallel it seems.

wait... was andy schleck not just riding the giro?

Nope

apologies, scratch that. crossed wires
xp

dug the rapha amgen tour of california vids; UK coverage is on tonight on eurosport at 10pm

Current conditions gallery:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/road/2011-amgen-tour-of-california-pre-race-a-casey-b-gibson-gallery-2_173366

It looks like a go. Abbreviated route today, they took 1 of the 3 KOMs out of the mix, should be cold, wet and slippery.

Leopard-Trek neutral 1km rollout to honor WW#108.

And with that, they cancel the stage LOL.

impressed with rujano's epic sufferation trying to hold contador's wheel.

less impressed with getting out of bed for a cancelled stage!

Just watched a couple of videos of the descent of Crostis. Absolutely, comPletely and utterly ridiculous, safety nets or not.

link?

impeccable from sky

indeed.

crostis vid that i haven't watched yet: http://youtu.be/Zv-j9c7dmzg

crostis descent is gonna own

why is cav even riding this giro? hardly any hunting ground for him at all