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2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

manurespreader said:
sure was impressive. I was looking for Rodriguez to excel, but he didn't. I have also been real impressed with Thomas throughout the entire first week. It wasn't a surprise that Nibili got dropped, but when he got dropped was. They might as well ride for Fogelsang.
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Might start seeing that soon.

Really underwhelmed by Bardet and Pinot this year..::
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Titleist said:
Just putting this here:
THOMAS Geraint
5/04/2015 1.WT1 Bel 14 Ronde van Vlaanderen
29/03/2015 1.WT2 Bel 3 Gent - Wevelgem
27/03/2015 1.WT2 Bel 1 E3 Harelbeke
14/07/2015 GT1s Fra 6 Tour de France, Stage 10 : Tarbes - La Pierre-Saint-Martin
Seems Legit.
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Can you explain the notation here and the gist of what you're getting at? :o


(I think I understand it but I'm missing some nuance here)
 
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Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Happy too. Pave specialists tend to be bigger riders who can pump out huge amounts of power. Their weight allows them to carry more muscle and power. It also helps keep the bike from bouncing around over the pave. Boonen, Cancellara, they are big riders, both round 180 pounds. Its part of the reason many expected the tiny Quintana (~125 lbs.) to struggle over the pave, because his physiology argued that he should struggle.

Climbers, tend to be tiny. Pozzovivo for example only weights 117 pounds. Contador is less than 140. Weight must be kept low for climbing purposes. The Mythical watts to pounds stat that always appears in doping discussions. Again its why in the modern era of cycling we don't really see someone winning on the Pave and the high mountains.

I was pointing out that Thomas, within 6 months, went from excelling on the Pave to dropping the word's best climbers on an legitimate mountain pass where his watts to pounds was relevant. There is only one why, in my opinion, for that to happen and its drugs.

Simply put... Tom Boonen is never dropping Pozzovivo on Stelvio unless drugs are involved and lots of them. Then he certainly isn't following along behind Contador after he drops off the pace.
 
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Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Titleist said:
Happy too. Pave specialists tend to be bigger riders who can pump out huge amounts of power. Their weight allows them to carry more muscle and power. It also helps keep the bike from bouncing around over the pave. Boonen, Cancellara, they are big riders, both round 180 pounds. Its part of the reason many expected the tiny Quintana (~125 lbs.) to struggle over the pave, because his physiology argued that he should struggle.

Climbers, tend to be tiny. Pozzovivo for example only weights 117 pounds. Contador is less than 140. Weight must be kept low for climbing purposes. The Mythical watts to pounds stat that always appears in doping discussions. Again its why in the modern era of cycling we don't really see someone winning on the Pave and the high mountains.

I was pointing out that Thomas, within 6 months, went from excelling on the Pave to dropping the word's best climbers on an legitimate mountain pass where his watts to pounds was relevant. There is only one why, in my opinion, for that to happen and its drugs.

Simply put... Tom Boonen is never dropping Pozzovivo on Stelvio unless drugs are involved and lots of them. Then he certainly isn't following along behind Contador after he drops off the pace.
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No question that when some guy does an otherworldly, unbelievable, performance, it probably is... unbelievable. Greg Lemond talked about it in a round about way in that 30 for 30 movie he was interviewed on, " Taming the Badger" I think was the name of it.

I love the Col D'Aspin. Not too steep, but man the downhill is really fast.
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Thanks. I kind of figured that's what you were getting at. But since I really only follow the grand tours I'm still obviously learning the lingo and how those particular stages were significant. :)
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Not a problem, and you really should follow the classics! Usually far better racing, this year was a bit of an aberration.

Incidentially, the group is down to ~20 riders and Thomas is the only SKY with the Dawg...
EDIT: ERRR stupid NBCSC, Porte is still there. I'm only half watching and NBCSC had the dots graphic chasing the MJ group.
 
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Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

I thought I lucked out with my team, as at various points I had Dumoulin, Pinot, and Costa among my riders. Luckily, I dumped them, and so most of my team made it through the first week unscathed by the crashes.

But none of them have done crap in the race.
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Titleist said:
Not a problem, and you really should follow the classics! Usually far better racing, this year was a bit of an aberration.

Incidentially, the group is down to ~20 riders and Thomas is the only SKY with the Dawg...
EDIT: ERRR stupid NBCSC, Porte is still there. I'm only half watching and NBCSC had the dots graphic chasing the MJ group.
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Are the races available on cable or stream?

I know the Tour of California is but haven't seen the others.
 
Interesting happenings in today's stage.

22 riders have escaped the peloton with Purito, Bardet and Fuglsang in it and have a nearly 9 minute lead.

Rain is on its way. Looks like this break has a good chance at staying away today.

Good news for me with Bardet and Barta from my team in it!
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Virtually every race is streamed. I usually use http://www.steephill.tv/ or http://www.cyclingfans.com/. They are usually on TV, NBCSC or Bein, but usually not live.

Like I said, this years, monuments were a bit disappointing but Gent-Wevelgam (despite the winner) was really good, and Brabantse Pijl was probably the best of the Ardennes races.

Gent-Wevelgam
Brabantse Pijl (In Flemish)

One of the newest races: Strade Bianche (Part 1) and Part II

One of the best races from recent years: Ronde van Vlaanderen
And although it wasn't a great edition the best 5 minutes of the year: Trouee d'Arenberg

And finally, a must for any post about the classics, Documentary about Paris-Roubaix: Sunday in Hell
 
Probert said:
Where were the French ? I really don't hope this is the end, I'm not going to watch Thomas and Porte riding tempo for Froome for the next 10 days. Hopefully Quintana won't be satisfied and race for second like 2 years ago. The only saving Grace is that Contador, and probably Nibali will at least try for the win and not be satisfied with a podium spot.
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I can't imagine Contador won't try at least one go at glory. It isn't in his make up. Perhaps something reminiscent of when he launched himself from 110km out or whatever it was on the Alpe stage in attempt to make up time on A. Schleck. And that one did work...though not quite well enough.
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

XYZ said:
I can't imagine Contador won't try at least one go at glory. It isn't in his make up. Perhaps something reminiscent of when he launched himself from 110km out or whatever it was on the Alpe stage in attempt to make up time on A. Schleck. And that one did work...though not quite well enough.
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Exactly, I've seen a quote from 'Berto something to the effect of "Second place is no good." And besides the Alpe, didn't he an Kreuziger go on the attack on the decent from Col de Sarenne a couple of years ago maybe 2013? I think he'll ride along until the Alps and see where he is then start looking for the big attacks. Fuente De was like stage 17 wasn't it?
 
Titleist said:
Exactly, I've seen a quote from 'Berto something to the effect of "Second place is no good." And besides the Alpe, didn't he an Kreuziger go on the attack on the decent from Col de Sarenne a couple of years ago maybe 2013? I think he'll ride along until the Alps and see where he is then start looking for the big attacks. Fuente De was like stage 17 wasn't it?
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I think so, and it remains one of the best stages I've ever watched. Purito was left with his nuts in his hand and had absolutely no answer.
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Yup, Purito even had Valverde attack him at the end too!

As for best stages thats definitely up there along with the Gardeccia stage from the Giro.
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Not sure how Sherwin can do this with a straight face. Thomas pulls back Quintana and he says that Thomas is super strong. Then Thomas pulls the group past Van Marke and he says well its not a day for VanMarke he is a man for the flats, ride of his life, he's just too big... stuff like that. Then I look across and there is the winner of E3 pulling by him. Ok Paul...
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

Five in the top 14 today for my velogames team. That will help.

Wish I could have watched the last hour of the stage live but alas a work meeting got in the way.
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

PrezdeJohnson09 said:
Five in the top 14 today for my velogames team. That will help.

Wish I could have watched the last hour of the stage live but alas a work meeting got in the way.
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You missed out on watching...Geraint Thomas...smash Armstrong's times on Plateau de Beille. In other words: you didn't miss much.
 
Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

XYZ said:
I can't imagine Contador won't try at least one go at glory. It isn't in his make up. Perhaps something reminiscent of when he launched himself from 110km out or whatever it was on the Alpe stage in attempt to make up time on A. Schleck. And that one did work...though not quite well enough.
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In 2013 Contador could have "raced for second" he opted to try and win and finished 4th. Quintana opted to ride for second and finished second. Nibali's the same type of rider so I expect the same from him. The interesting part will be if TJ and Movistar go for it or are content with podium. Not that exciting today from the contenders pack the attack were pretty short and once countered by UK Postal they just went behind Porte and Thomas. The moves up front were good to see.
 
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Re: 2015 USCHO Cycling Thread

TJ made it sound like they are biding their time until the alps and have been since the start. He looked fairly strong today.
 
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